Hey guys! I'm working on things but I have decided to only do one chapter today to relieve the stress of my upcoming finals week.
Disclaimer in Chapter 1. Will add to as needed.
Harriet's first day, in true Potter style, was quite eventful.
She woke up before dawn as usual and slid from bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping snakes who lay curled up at the end of the bed in the spots she had used a heating charm on. She showered and dressed in her work out clothes before she went back into the room to pack her school clothes in her bag along with her potions, transfiguration, and charms books. Then she carefully picked up the three sleepy snakes and tiptoed from the room.
*Harriet?* came Remus' sleepy voice as she paused outside her door. *What's going on?*
Harri moved him around her neck before sliding the still sleeping James and Sirius into her bag and pulling free a familiar blank parchment, *Good morning. We're just going the RoR so I can workout.*
The snake gave an incoherent hiss of acknowledgment as he tried to wake up, the second she said the map password he shook into awareness. His tongue flickered out to test the air, *Is that Prongs' copy of the map?*
*Yep.* Harri answered as she scanned for the clearest route to the seventh floor, *You didn't expect me to come without one or take Wormtail's from my mates did you?* she set off quickly, avoiding all other people.
*No but we weren't sure if you knew about the others.*Remus said, *We were also trying to find it for us to use. We ended up having to get Kreacher to get Sirius' from his vault.*
*I knew about them after I found the Marauder journal. Fred and George spent days pouring over that thing and had it damn near memorized. I had to take it away from them eventually because they weren't sleeping.* Harri said as she ducked into a side passage to avoid Filch.
*They really are fans huh?*
*The biggest.* Harri laughed.
*We may have to intervene when you introduce us.*Remus muttered.
*They're your fans too, Messr Moony.* Harri giggled.
*Yeah but I'm the halfway sane one!* Remus exclaimed, that sent Harriet into a fit of laughter.
Finally, they reached the seventh floor and the other two were just starting to wake up as Harri began her pacing in front of the wall. *What are you doing pup?* Sirius questioned from where his head was poking out of her bag.
Harriet didn't answer until she stopped and the door appeared, *Summoning the Room of Requirement.* she smiled as all three snakes perked up, she opened the door and walked in, happily noting the uneven bars, track, and tumbling mat were all as she imagined them.
*This room can be anything you want and you chose a gym?* Sirius whined.
*Yes, I'm not going to give up my workout just because I'm here. Now that I've upped my stamina I can work on my flexibility and power.* Harri said, setting her bag down and taking Remus from around her neck, *You guys can go back to sleep if you want. I'll wake you when we're headed to breakfast.* she went over to the tumbling mat and began her stretches.
Not even a minute later all three men had returned to normal and were following her lead, "Might as well." Sirius said with a put upon sigh. Harri hid her grin and led them through the new workout, she started to integrate some fighting drills and toward the end had them attempt pull ups on the bars, only she could pull it off.
Harri changed into her school clothes and the Marauders changed back into snakes so they could go to breakfast. They met the twins by the door and went in to eat, Harri set the snakes on the bench beside her and cut up several sausages for each snake to eat off the table before focusing on talking to her mates.
A nearby shriek interrupted her meal, she looked up to see Ron staring at the three snakes with wide eyes and a pale face. The three snakes turned from the table with their sausage to look at Ron curiously, "Wh-hy is th-here sna-kes at the table?" He stuttered.
"They're eating breakfast." Harri deadpanned.
"Ron, leave them be." Fred said.
"Yeah, we don't scream when you eat at the table." George added, causing Harri to laugh.
"I'm not a bloody snake!" Ron yelled.
"Obviously not." Came a refined voice, everyone looked to see a small blond in Slytherin robes approaching, "If you were a snake you'd have manners." He looked down his nose at Ron the best he could, "Of course what can one expect from a Weasley?" his gaze drifted over to Harriet, "You're Harriet Potter correct?" Harri raised an eyebrow at him, "Excellent, I'm Draco Malfoy. Obviously you belong in Slytherin, what with your companions. I will make an exception due to the hats mistake and be your friend despite you being in Gryffindor."
Harriet gave a delicate snort, "Yeah, that's not how you become friends. First of all, you insulted the friends I already have and then just declared yourself my friend. That's not how it works, try again."
Draco spluttered, "Surely you can't be friends with this mess!" he exclaimed pointing to Ron, "He's rude and unmannered and comes from a poor family! I'd make a much better friend!"
Harriet frowned, "I'm not friends with Ron. I'm friends with Fred and George, they're Weasleys as well. Money doesn't make a good friend, nor does manners. That makes a good ally but it's not exclusive. I would rather have friends who aren't here for my fame than an ally who thinks money and the color of my robes is all that matters." Draco gaped unattractively for several second before all but running away.
The twins gaped at Harriet, however Ron was still staring fearfully at the snakes who had gotten a lot more active after Harriet's take down. Sirius had wrapped himself around James and was crying, *Our baby girl is growing up! Did you see her beat down that boy without even rising her voice?! Our mothers would be so proud!*
*Yes Sirius,* James was sighing, *My child, who I and Lily conceived, is perfect. You, as her Godfather, can bask in her perfection and brag to your mother's portrait.*
*You two are such a couple.* Remus was grumbling under all of this, *Honestly, you would think Sirius gave birth to her.*
Harri shook her head and tossed a piece of bacon at them, *You three are embarrassing.*
Of course Harri speaking in parseltongue caused Ron to shriek again and run off. Harriet rolled her eyes and went back to her breakfast and her mates, they all forgot about the conversation between herself and Draco.
After McGonagall passed out schedules Harriet headed right down to Potions, steeling herself for dealing with Snape. The Marauders weren't helping with their commentary on the upcoming class. Just like before, when Snape let everyone into class he immediately focused in on Harri and started asking her questions from the older year's materials. This time however she answered them all with a straight face and the Marauders hissing at him. When he got tired of failing to embarrass her, she felt him enter her mind.
Already tired of this game, Harri let her barriers lock him in place and shoved all the abuse the Dursleys had put her through during her first ten years right in front of his crooked nose. She watched as he paled more and more with each beating, starvation, insult, and cupboard isolation. When she felt his hatred for her disappear and become shame and guilt she cut off the memories and thought very pointedly as she released him, 'Happy now jackass? Stop being such a pathetic follower and be the Slytherin your supposed to be. And stay the fuck OUT OF MY MIND!'
She kept her face innocent as he jumped backward and scolded reflexively, "Language Miss Potter!"
Harri cocked her head, "What do you mean Professor?"
He blinked, realizing that he had been scolding her for something she had been saying in her mind and he couldn't say anything as unsanctioned Legilimency was illegal. "Nothing. Let's continue on." He quickly moved on, pointedly ignoring Harriet. When class let out he called her to stay behind, so she stayed in her seat while the others cleared out.
*What does he want?* Sirius asked.
*He tried to get in my mind earlier and I showed him my time at the Dursleys. That will start him questioning Dumbles and hopefully prevent him from being a complete asshole.* Harri said, *He probably wants to ask me about it or my mental shields.*
"Miss Potter." Snape called, "If your done talking with your pets I would like a word."
"Of course Professor." Harri said genially, she stood with Sirius draped over her shoulders, her father wrapped around her left arm, and Remus looking out from her bag. The second she stood in front of his desk she felt privacy wards slam into place around the five of them and she dropped her act with a grin, "Ah, you noticed the two listening at the door as well?"
Snape looked at her curiously, "Yes, how did you?"
"Several things, but mostly because I knew they would be there." Harri said, "Now what do you want? I do have a transfiguration class to attend you know."
"What exactly was the meaning of earlier?" Snape demanded.
Harri cocked her hip and crossed her arms over her chest, "Earlier? You mean when you interrogated me, a muggle raised student, on material that was years ahead of us? Or are you speaking about when you illegally attempted to breach my mind? The first would be you placing the sins of the father on the child in a petty attempt at revenge. The second I can only assume was a slip in your judgement. After that, the things I showed you, was for you to know that I am not my father and will not stand for treatment such as that or what I've suffered before lightly. That, was your warning." She leaned down and placed her hands on his desk, "And if any of this gets to Dumbledore, know that you will be breaking your vow." With that she spun and walked out of the privacy wards, she didn't hesitate to walk out of the class room and pass the two traitors who were crowded by the door trying to listen.
*How are you sure he won't say anything cub?* Remus asked as the other two hissed curses back at Snape.
*I've already insulted his Slytherinness and he won't chance it without knowing how telling Dumbles would break the vow. He would lose him magic or his life, depending on how serious the infraction was.* Harri said, *I'm not too worried. He'll either stop his behavior and work up the courage to ask me to explain or I'll get tired of his attitude and make good on or add to my threat.*
They made it to transfiguration just in time to grab a seat next to Neville. Harri gave the cat on the desk a smile as she pulled out her book and sat up attentively. The bell rang and a minute later Hermione and Ron stumbled in. "Oh good." Ron said with a sigh, "She's not here yet."
Just like before, the cat jumped from the desk and transformed midair into Professor McGonagall, *Show off.* Harri muttered with a small smile, Remus snickered as James and Sirius hissed agreements.
"Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, how nice of you to join us. Maybe I should transfigure one of you into a watch so at least one of you might be on time." McGonagall said, both blushed and ducked their heads, "Have a seat." The two quickly sat behind Harri and Neville. McGonagall went through her introduction lecture rather quickly and immediately started them off attempting to turn matchsticks into needles. Knowing it would take the class a week and a half to move on from that subject, Harri took out parchment and spelled it in preparation to send to Griphook.
About halfway through her letter to the goblin, Hermione leaned across her desk and interrupted Harri. "Harriet are you having trouble? Can I help you?"
"I'm fine." Harri said, waving her off and continuing to write.
"But you haven't even attempted the spell." Hermione protested.
"I tried it out on the train." Harri lied, "I'm taking notes from the text now."
"You already got it?" Neville asked from his spot next to her. "Can you help me?"
Harri smiled at Neville, "Of course." She rolled up her parchment to finish later and moved to begin helping Neville when Ron interrupted.
"You can't have already gotten it!"
This got Professor McGonagall's attention and she swept over to them, "What seems to be the problem?"
Harri looked up at McGonagall with a smile, "I was about to help Neville with the spell Professor but Ron didn't believe that I had already completed the spell. He believed he should yell it out and disturb class."
"I see. Why don't you show us your needle then Miss Potter?" McGonagall said, "That should clear things up and then you can help Mr Longbottom here." Harri shrugged and cast the spell on the matchstick, immediately it turned into a silver needle with a sharp point and frosted designs in the shape of stars along its length. She handed it to the Professor who looked suitably impressed, "Very good Miss Potter, can you change it back?" before McGonagall could hand the needle back to her, Harri spoke the reversal and changed it back to a matchstick. "Excellent, 20 points to Gryffindor Miss Potter for being the first in class to achieve the transformation. You may help Mr Longbottom with his now."
Harri bowed her head in acknowledgement and turned to help Neville who looked relieved to have assistance. She knew that Neville would have trouble, he was currently working with his father's wand and that just wouldn't do for him. She could tell her father, the transfiguration whiz, couldn't understand why Neville was having trouble with his corrected pronunciation, wand movement, and more in depth explanation of the visualization necessity, so she explained it to him in hushed hisses.
*Augusta was always a hard ass but I didn't think she would be like that.* James muttered.
*Surely you can get him a new wand pup.* Sirius said.
*I can, but I need to gain a bit of his trust so he will keep it a secret when I bring him a box of wands from the RoR Room of Lost Things.*Harriet said, *It's not a big enough secret to require him to learn Occlumency but I don't want him blabbing about it to everyone.*
*Room of Lost Things?* James questioned.
*It's one of the rooms you can call up in the RoR. It holds anything and everything that might have once been lost in the castle.* Harriet said, *It is also where one of the horcruxes is.*
*Great!* Sirius exclaimed, *Let's go destroy it!*
*Calm down. I'll move it down to the chamber by the end of the year but I'm not going to destroy it right away. I want to look for a way to save the piece its being held in.* Harri said, *Helena Ravenclaw, the Ravenclaw ghost, is very attached to it and it would make her happy to have it back to rights. The goblins can do it but I'd like to see if I can do it myself. A bit of a challenge you know, since these repeated school years are going to be a bit boring.*
*Boring with us around? Never!* James laughed with Sirius and Remus, Harri rolled her eyes.
When class was finished they all went to lunch, Harri immediately had a twin on either side asking her how her first classes went and praising her success in transfiguration. The rest of lunch was spent talking about Quidditch and how excited Harri was to learn to fly when lessons started up in a couple weeks. After lunch was done Harri had a bit of free time before Charms, so she went to the library and began trying to look up the transfiguration effects on werewolves. By the time she was to go to her next class she had several titles on the subject.
In charms they didn't do much except start going over magical theory, Harri had her text book open and was listening with half an ear as she skimmed through the library books under her desk. The snakes had taken another book into her expanded bag and were reading over it together with a lumos she provided them. When class was over Harri made sure to check herself for tracking or listening charms before sneaking off to the second-floor girl's restrooms.
*Where are we Princess?* James asked, he froze with his head half way out of the bag as he took in the stalls and sinks, *I see, just leave us by the sinks. We'll be fine.*
Harriet huffed, *Calm down, I'm not here to use the facilities.* she did a quick scan with her wand and nodded in satisfaction when she found that the room was clear, even Myrtle seemed to be out at the moment. She looked to the sinks and hissed, *Open.* all three snakes poked their head out to watch as the sinks rose from floor to reveal the slide down. Harri gripped her bag carefully and jumped down into the hole, giggling hysterically as the snakes gave hissy screeches. When she landed she looked back up to listen for the door closing, once it had she started off down the tunnel.
*Where are we?* James asked again.
*On our way to the Chamber of Secrets.* Harri replied, *We only have an hour and a half until dinner so we don't have much time to explore but I have enough time to talk to the basalisk.*
*You want to go talk to an enormous snake that could kill you with a look?* Remus hissed in alarm.
Harri ignored him as she reached the large snake door, *Open.* she repeated. The snake slithered around the outside, unlocking the door before it swung open. Harri moved through the round door and stalked forward carefully, *Stay in the bag and keep your eyes closed.* she warned the Marauders. She crouched low to the ground and edged forward carefully, she quieted her breathing and strained her ears.
The sound of scales against stone came from her right and she moved quickly to the front of the Chamber where the stone face of Salazar Slytherin was. *Speak to me Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four.* she called out. She watched as the chin slowly lowered and a huge thick, scaly body dropped out of the mouth. Instantly Harri closed her eyes and focused her senses outward as the Basilisk came forward.
*A hatchling speaker has found me.* said a distinctly female voice, *How? This hatchling does not smell of Slytherin linage. Speak hatchling speaker. Answer me.*
*I am the new Lady Slytherin by right of conquest. I came to speak with you.* Harriet said confidently.
*You have defeated the dark hatchling? The last of line Slytherin?* the basilisk asked.
*I have.*
*And Master's ring accepted you?*
Harriet willed the Slytherin ring from the disillusioned necklace around her neck to her hand and presented it to the large snake, *It has.* she forced herself to stay still when she felt the basilisks tongue flick against her hand and ring.
*Open your eyes hatchling. The ring has accepted you fully, you will be safe from my gaze.* the basilisk said surprisingly softly. Harri hesitated but in her subconscious Glacia urged her to do so. The second her eyes opened she was met with piercing yellow eyes from the basilisk who had laid its mighty head on the ground in front of her. *Hello hatchling, I am Samarra. I am Hogwart's Slytherin appointed Guardian and I am pleased meet the newest head of Slytherin. Do you have need of me? I live to serve the Slytherin line.*
*Hello Samarra, I'm Harriet. It is nice to meet you as well.* Harri said, *No, I don't currently have need of you. I just wished to come and speak to you. Next year the last of Slytherin blood will attempt to use you to kill muggle-borns and I wanted to get to you first in case I'm not able to prevent him from coming down here.*
Samarra let out a loud violent hiss, *The hatchling from before? He spoke to me when he was here last but I managed to turn him away since he had not yet claimed the ring. Unfortunately my gaze killed one of the students before I could fully turn him away* Samarra looked to Harriet curiously, *Do you not wish for muggle-borns demise Mistress?*
*I wish for one certain muggle-borns demise but not all of them.* Harri assured, *You can go on living in peace. I will only call for your help if the school is in danger.* she wrinkled her nose, *And please don't call me Mistress. Harri or Harriet is just fine Samarra.*
Samarra stared at her silently for several seconds, Harri forcing herself to stay still under the piercing gaze of the snake. *I like you. You are my hatchling now.* Harri blinked up at the snake, *Come hatchling. I will introduce you to Master.* Samarra turned and slithered back toward the Slytherin statue.
"This should be interesting." Harri muttered softly as she followed the sixty-foot basilisk. She floated herself up into the statue's mouth and looked around curiously as the snake led her down suspiciously clean halls toward a set of double doors.
Samarra hissed at the dark wood doors and they swung open, *Master! Master! I have found a worthy new speaker!*
Harriet had her wand in her hand and her other gripped her bag protectively as she looked around warily, she stood in a huge room that looked to be an office. It was clearly made so that Samarra could be in here comfortably. There was a large desk in rich dark wood in the center and a fire place on each end, one had a completely clear area in front of it like any floo fire would and the other had comfy looking chairs sat around it. Along the walls behind the desk were shelves almost overflowing with books, the titles Harri could see were making her itch to pick them up. Finally, she saw a large portrait over next to the fire, it held a thin dark haired wizard with green eyes who could only be one person.
*I'm here Samarra. Who have you found?* the portrait spoke in a refined voice. It took all of Harriet's control for her mouth to not drop open like a dying fish, she recognized this man. Hell, she had just levitated herself up into the mouth of this man's statue.
*The worthy new speaker! The who can fix your good name!* Samarra said happily.
*Lord Slytherin.* Harri said faintly, bowing shakily at the waist. She had thought all portraits of the founders were destroyed.
The portrait of Salazar Slytherin looked her over with a raised eyebrow, *Lady Slytherin.* he said back when he took in the family ring on her finger.
*Harriet if you don't tell us what's going on we're coming out!* came a slightly panicked hissing from her bag.
Salazar's mouth twitched up at the corner as Harri blushed a bit, *Um, I didn't get the chance to ask Samarra, is there a way to keep her eyes from affecting people?*
*Yes, two actually. For those you consider family you can declare on your status that they are protected from her gaze. If you ever wish to take her somewhere I have a blinder that will allow her to see but keep her eyes from causing havoc in the general public.* Salazar replied.
Harriet nodded, *In parseltongue I assume.* Salazar gave her a look that said 'what do you think?', Harri rolled her eyes, *Men. I, Harriet Rose Potter, head of House Slytherin declare James Charlus Potter, Sirius Orion Black, Remus John Lupin, George Gideon Weasley, and Fred Fabian Weasley are protected from the gaze of Samarra the Basilisk.* green light covered Samarra for several second before it died out. When Salazar gave her a nod Harri pulled the three snakes from her bag, *Alright you three. You're protected from Samarra. You better be polite though.*
The Marauders took in the enormous basilisk with open mouths, their tiny snake eyes almost popping from their heads. Salazar chuckled, *Considering their behavior I assume these three are not, in fact, snakes of any sort.*
Harri laughed, *No, they aren't.* she set all three on the ground and canceled the spell on Remus. A second after he was human Sirius and James followed.
"That was the basilisk you fought?!" James cried, his eyes had yet to leave the enormous snake who was regarding him curiously.
Harri whacked him on the head, "Manners!"
"Fought?" Salazar asked, eyeing Harriet warily.
Harri straightened and folded her hands in front of her, "It is a very long story Lord Slytherin. Rest assured, I will not fight or kill Samarra unless something happens where she taken over and attempts to harm those in my care."
Salazar studied her carefully then nodded, "Alright, but I wish to hear this story."
"I have no problem with that." Harri said, "However, I won't be able to right away. If I miss dinner I could call the attention of enemies within the school."
Salazar's eyebrow rose again, "Enemies in the school? What exactly is going on?"
"Short version?" Sirius asked, "Because the long one took us a couple hours."
"Very well. The short version." Salazar sighed, he settled into his chair in the painting. So Harri told him about Dumbledore and his manipulations, Voldemort and his plans, and finally her part in this and her plan to protect her family. Even as condensed as she made it, it still took them close to forty-five minutes to come to a point where Salazar was somewhat satisfied. "Very interesting." He mused, "I will offer what help I can. Samarra, of course, will do as you ask. You are truly worthy of the Slytherin Headship." Harri bowed her head, cheering internally. "To begin with I can begin to teach you four parselmagic."
Harriet's eyes lit up, "That would be wonderful!"
"What is that?" Sirius asked, "You know, for those of us who aren't Slytherin."
Salazar sent him an amused look, "It is a special brand of magic that can be used only by those who speak parseltongue. It will give you the ability to protect yourself and Harriet even in your snake forms. I assumed that would be a good thing." The Marauders nodded enthusiastically, "Good, you can come down here whenever it is convenient and I will teach. Samarra can help with that."
*Yes.* the basilisk hissed happily, *I can teach them to be true snakes!*
Harriet giggled and James raised an eyebrow at her, "What did she say?"
"That she will teach you guys to be true snakes." Harri said with a grin, all three Marauders eyed the large serpent skeptically. Harriet rolled her eyes and looked back to Salazar, "I'm afraid we have to go to stave off suspicions but we will return in the morning to commence with lessons."
Salazar nodded, "I will see you then my Lady."
As the Marauders returned to their snake forms and Harriet went about picking them all put she looked around consideringly, "Salazar is there an easier way in and out other than the slide? I don't know where you originally put it but now it's in a girl's bathroom and that's not exactly an inconspicuous spot for me to come and go. People will wonder why I spend so much time there."
"You are the Lady of my house and a blooded Gryffindor, the castle will listen to you." Salazar said, "Just focus on what you want and ask her to change it."
Harri blinked, "That sure would have been handy to know last time."
*Could you imagine the pranks we could have pulled with that?!* James hissed excitedly, *The pranks we can pull now? The stuff we can do to Dumbledore?!*
Salazar tried to give him a disproving glare but his mouth twitched upward, *It wasn't made like that for pranks. However, I can't say that I disapprove of using it against the Headmaster.*
Harriet rolled her eyes and concentrated on a door in the room that had a staircase leading up to the first floor and coming up at a doorway hidden by a tapestry in a lesser used hallway that she could protect with a password. "Hogwarts?" she called uncertainly, in the next instant the door appeared on the other side of the fireplace next to Salazar. She walked over to the door and opened it to find a spiral staircase heading up, "Brilliant!" she leaned back and smiled at Salazar and Samarra, *Salazar, Samarra, we'll see you two tomorrow!*
*Goodnight hatchling.* Samarra said, bowing her great head.
*Have a good evening my Lady.* Salazar said with a smile.
Harri bowed her head before going through the door and racing up the stairs, she quickly set the door with a parseltongue password, *I solemnly swear I'm up to no good.* at the Marauders insistence. When she was done she quickly slipped out of the unused hallway and toward the more used part of the castle.
Just minutes away from the great hall the twins appeared behind Harriet, throwing their arms over her shoulders. "Hello there,"
"Miss Lived." The twins greeted.
Harri looked between them in amusement, "Miss Lived? As in Miss The-Girl-Who-Lived?"
"Got it in one!" they answered, Fred continued, "Of course no one ever addresses someone by Miss and their entire name."
"And Miss Who-Lived sounds a bit strange." George added.
"So Miss Lived it was!"
Harri laughed, "Is that so?" They both nodded seriously, Harri rolled her eyes, "I see, so why have you accosted me in the hallway?"
"Of escort you to dinner!" they said brightly.
"We were looking all over for you!" George said, looking her over worriedly.
"But when we heard who else was looking for you we figured you were hiding." Fred said, looking around carefully.
Harri inclined her head, "Ah yes, your brother and that muggleborn."
"Your stalker fan club." George chuckled.
"Maybe you should get a restraining order if they keep this up." Fred muttered, George snorted while Harri gave him a raised eyebrow. He shrugged, "Being a fan is one thing but even after one day they've been getting a bit creepy. They've been methodically searching the entire castle and questioning everyone."
Harri wrinkled her nose, "Wow, that is a bit creepy." She shrugged, "If they don't stop I might." She glanced to Sirius who was snickering, *It would put a damper on their plans.*
*Damn right.* James muttered from his place around her neck.
They all made it to the Great Hall just as the food was appearing at the table, they secured a seat across from Oliver and Lee with the twins sitting on either side of Harri. James and Sirius slithered off to her left to sit between her and Fred while Remus slithered to her right to sit between her and George. The twins both glanced to the snakes before cutting up pieces of chicken breasts and setting them in front of the reptiles like it was completely normal, Harri felt her heart skip a bit and looked down to conceal her smile.
About halfway through the meal Harri looked up with her fork in her mouth when she heard her name called. Hermione was standing behind Oliver and Lee, staring at her with her arms crossed, "Where were you?" she demanded.
Harriet swallowed slowly and slid her fork free from her mouth, "Why do you need to know?"
"I've looked everywhere for you!" Hermione stated petulantly.
Harri raised an unimpressed eyebrow, "What was so important that you wouldn't wait for dinner or until we were in our dorm tonight?"
Hermione's mouth opened to answer before she went red and frowned, "I just wanted to know where you were."
"The library." Harri said simply.
Hermione's eyes narrowed, "I checked there."
"I never said I stayed." Harri said simply, trying to remain perfectly neutral and not snap, "I did a little exploring and found a nice little nook to read in. It's obviously a good place for a little peaceful reading if no one could find me."
Hermione's face got a bit redder and she opened her mouth to say something else when a stern voice interrupted her, "What is going on here?"
Harri looked up and smiled at Professor McGonagall, "Good evening Professor. Nothing much. My roommate here was just questioning me about my whereabouts. I'm not entirely sure why. She didn't seem to have a reason"
McGonagall frowned at Hermione, "Miss Granger, another student's constant whereabouts are not your concern unless you believe they are in danger at which point you should come to me. Please sit." Hermione huffed and stalked down the table a little way to sit with Ron who kept shooting scared looks at the snakes who were still eating from the table. McGonagall smiled down at Harri, "Miss Potter, just where were you that your fellow students were afraid that you had disappeared completely?"
Harriet pulled a book from her bag, "Your lecture was very interesting so I went to the library for some reading material." She handed the book to her Professor, "After that I explored the castle a bit and found a nice, warm sunny spot to relax and read."
McGonagall looked at the cover before giving Harriet a soft look, "Transfiguration: Effects and Limitations? This book covers a great many things that we won't until fourth or fifth year and several that we don't cover at all."
Harri forced a blush on her face, "Yes, well I have already read the entirety of our first year text and can complete the first three changes and their counters. I figured I would pull some extra reading material." She took the book and gave a happy sigh to the cover, "It's just so fascinating."
The Professor beamed, "I glad you enjoy it. I'm sure you'll be a transfiguration whiz just like your father. Good evening Miss Potter." She strode away with a bright smile.
*Spot on acting Pup!* Sirius cheered, *I'd give you the slow clap but I don't have any hands!*
*You're way to good at this.* Remus muttered.
*Loki taught me well.* Harri replied smugly.
Dinner went on without any other interruptions. The four upper classmen did ask if she had really already done the first three transfigurations and Harri demonstrated only to blush as the four praised her work, James bragging about her the entire time. After that they adjourned to the tower where Oliver broke off to work on the homework he already received while Harri, the twins, and Lee played a game of exploding snap and chatted away about anything that came to mind.
When Harri finally went to her room and was able to draw her curtains, placing sealing and silencing charms on them, she was ready for bed. She switched her clothes with a spell and put her bag on the headboard before crawling under the covers and casting several warming charms beside her so the Marauders could curl up next to her. *Glad that's over.* she muttered, watching in amusement as the three curled together in a snakey tangle.
*First days are always the worst.* James said with a smile in his voice.
*I don't know, when the troll is let in on Halloween it won't be the best day.* Remus piped up.
*Nah, that will be fun.*
*Only you would find that fun cub.* Remus said in exasperation.
*I spent the last seven or so years going into battle with the Avenger almost weekly. We fought aliens and robots and failed experiments. Yeah it was hard, but we did it together and we had fun.* Harri said with a small smile, *This is actually the longest I've gone without some sort of fighting in almost nine years. So yeah, taking care of the troll will be fun.*
*It will certainly be interesting.* Sirius acknowledged, he looked up at Harriet, *I didn't expect Ron and Hermione to be this pushy and stalkerish.*
Harry frowned, *Yeah, they weren't last time. However, last time I was introduced to them right away and had compulsions, charms, and potions to ease me into befriending and listening to them. This time, none of those are in effect and I didn't immediately befriend Ron so I'm sure they aren't quite sure what's going on.*
*Shouldn't you act like they're still in effect?* Remus questioned.
Harri sighed, *I had thought about it but I remember way too much of their betrayal to be able to pull that off long term. I have the LeFay and Black temper so I would likely snap within the week. If it is discovered that they are no longer there Dumbledore can't exactly ask me about them directly, I will just say that the goblins did a cleansing ritual on me when I went to get my trust vault. If he tries to replace them, they won't stick due to my phoenix nature and the Ladyship rings.*
*I guess you have a point. We'll have to adjust as we go.* Remus said speculatively.
Harri smiled at him, *Of course. Now let's get some rest. We have to deal with this all again tomorrow.*
Next week, Trolls and Tonys!