Author Note:
hey guys, I hope you're all enjoying the fanfic so far :) I just wanted to clear a few things up that I'd read in the comments:
1) Melissa Drake is Nicholas' older sister, and (SPOILER ALERT) if you've read this far then you would know that she's his adopter sister. It is kind of explained already in Chapter 1.
2) Jake's full name is actually Jacob Anthony Drake, that's what I always imagined it as anyway but when you're trying to think of what a kid would call his baby nephew the first thing that popped to mind was 'Jake', if you don't like it then *shrugs*
otherwise, thanks so much for those still reading. Like I said, this is my first HP fanfic and I appreciate all the support I've had so far. I'm still trying to learn balancing work and writing but imma try to post another chapter by next week xD.
thanks guys.
September 12th, 1991
Nicholas grimaced at the dull pain in his arm as he walked back to the Gryffindor common room, he'd managed to sneak out after Madam Pomfrey had left to go visit Snape about replenishing some of her potions. She'd been able to mend his arm in about a minute, and whilst it was healed it was still a bit sore. Same as his lower back. So she'd made him stay at the infirmary for the night to get some rest.
He'd grown bored of staring at the same four walls all afternoon and knew he wouldn't be able to get any proper rest until he was in his own bed. He struggled to put his robes on, pulling his black robe over his shoulders instead as he made his way to gryffindor tower, silently thankful that Madam Hooch had asked Harry to bring back his bag for him to their dorm.
He ascended up the stairs, only to be faced with Harry and Ron arguing with a very distressed Hermione. Whatever she'd said came out very shrilly however, making the boys wince.
"God, I can't leave you guys for a minute can I?" Nicholas groaned, as Harry and Ron whirled round. He was met with hugs from Hermione and claps on the back from Ron and Harry, all equally happy to see him.
"I thought you were supposed to stay in the infirmary!" Harry said, his eyes looking at Nicholas's right arm. He unconsciously scratched at his right arm.
"Just my back, it's fine. Got bored anyway." Nicholas shrugged off Hermione's concern, his eyes sparkling with mischief realising the two boys were up to something "What are we up to lads?"
"They are not up to anything. We're all going to bed before we get in trouble!" Hermione growled, grabbing Nick by the good arm "I don't want our house to lose any more points!"
"Why?- wait did something happen?" Nicholas turned on Harry and Ron
"Harry's been challenged to a wizard duel!" Ron whispered, "I'm his second!"
"You've got to let me come with you guys!" Nicholas begged "I can keep watch!"
"Nicholas!" Hermione cried out, getting more and more frustrated by the minute "I would've thought you'd be more mature than this!"
"Oh c'mon Hermione. Have a little fun!" Nicholas grinned, following Harry and Ron. Not even turning around to see if Hermione had followed. He briefly heard the sound of her stomping her foot, before following after the boys.
"If we get into trouble and get thrown out of Hogwarts I'm blaming you all!" Hermione hissed, her arms flailing as she struggled to keep up with the others. Harry sent them all a look, telling them to be quiet as they peeked around the corner. Nicholas could only grin, feeling excited at the idea of being caught out of bed at night as he followed Harry down towards the trophy room.
"Wait, it's nearly midnight. Where's Malfoy?" Ron asked, the trophy room was right in front of them "He said he'd be waiting outside with Crabbe."
"Oh shit- you guys didn't even think that this could have been a trap to get you into trouble?!" Nicholas growled, looking between Ron and Harry "What if Filch was here? Malfoy could have set him off!"
"Language!"
"No! Malfoy said he'd be here!" Harry turned back around the corner, looking both ways before sprinting across towards the door. Nicholas groaned, running straight after him after telling Ron and Hermione to keep on the look out.
"Harry!" Nicholas called out into the quiet trophy room, creeping along the stone walls trying to make as little sound as possible "Harry!"
"Shhhh!" A hand shot out of the darkness pulling him to the side, behind a glass trophy case "Shouldn't have come in." Harry whispered, a finger pointing towards a tabby cat patrolled the room. Walking from one corner of the room to the other, Nicholas realised it was Mrs Norris. Filch's cat. As if his night couldn't have gotten any better, the crouched figure of Filch appeared. A lantern held out in front of him, his permanently scrunched face and balding head made Nicholas uncomfortable.
"Ok. This is what we're gonna do." Nicholas whispered, directly into Harry's ear "Sneak out where we've just come in, find Ron and Hermione and we go back to the Gryffindor tower."
"But Malfoy-"
"Do you see him anywhere?! He knew Filch was coming you idiot! He's probably the one that tipped him off!" Nicholas grabbed onto Harry's arm, still in a crouching position he waiting until Filch had turned the other way before pulling Harry into a run towards the door of the trophy room.
The two boys broke out, instantly finding Ron and Hermione crouched behind a pillar they shouted at their friends to start running. Nicholas thought it was his mind playing tricks but he could almost hear the sounds of a small pitter patter close on his heels. He wouldn't be surprised if Mrs Norris had caught onto their scent and was following the young gryffindors, eager to cause trouble between them.
"Here!" Hermione cried out, pulling the boys down a dark and secluded hallway. There was only one door that stood alone at the very end. Ron ran at the front, colliding straight into the door as though expecting the door to just open up.
"It's locked! We're done for!" He yelped, fumbling with the doorknob. Hermione rolled her eyes, shoving him out of the way.
"Honestly! Are you a wizard or not?" She brandished her wand, pointing it towards the doorknob "Alohamora!"
The four gryffindors immediately clambered through into the pitch black room, huddled together slamming the door closed behind them.
"Ouch! 'Mione that was my arm!" Nicholas hissed.
"I'm not Hermione!" Ron grumbled elbowing him harder.
"I was injured today! I'm supposed to have special treatment! Not being physically abused!-"
"Oi! Shut up!" Harry snapped "I can't hear a thing!"
"Perhaps if Ronald wasn't breathing so loud you'd be able to-"
"Oooooh! So the smart girl can get riled up!" Nicholas chuckled into the dark, yelping as he felt someone stomp their heel on his foot "OUCH! What part of injured don't you underst-"
"Lumos." Hermione uttered, pointing her wand out towards the room. Nicholas grumbled about feisty witches and dark rooms under his breath, massaging his aching arm that Ron had elbowed.
"This is the last time I've ever going to be trapped in a dark room with you lot again, I swear it." Nicholas continued to grumble as he looked at his friends. They were looking at something behind him, jaws dropped and eyes full of terror. Nicholas turned around as well, only to be met with a set of black paws as big as a car. Eyes drifting up, he started to shake as they all let out a petrified shout.
A three headed dog?! What did the school need a three-headed dog for?! This was a school! Nicholas ran alongside the four others, not even remotely paying attention to whether if teachers were patrolling the corridors or if Filch was around the corner. They made it back to Gryffindor tower in good time, stumbling through the portrait and into the common room. Harry collapsed onto the sofa, with Ron. With Hermione dropped into one of the armchairs, Nicholas didn't even think of the furniture as he fell on the floor in front of the fire place.
"What the hell was that thing?!" said Ron, leaning forward. "What do they think they're doing? Keeping a bloody thing like that at Hogwarts!"
"You weren't looking at it's feet were you?" Hermione answered, all patience gone from her face as she looked between the three boys.
"I was kind of preoccupied with looking at all three heads!" Nicholas growled from the floor, sending her a look of annoyance. Hermione huffed.
"Well, if you'd thought to take a look. The three-headed dog was standing on a trap door!"
"What? Like the ones in scooby doo?" Harry asked looking at Hermione incredulously.
"Wait, you still watch scooby doo?" Nicholas scoffed looking up at his friend, Harry nudged him in the back with his shoe "Hold on- does this mean the dog was hiding something?"
"I think it's more protecting something Nick," Hermione explained "That dog must be what Dumbledore was on about! At the beginning of the year!"
"What when he was talking about the third floor corridor?" Ron rolled his eyes "Come off it, Dumbledore wouldn't hide a thing like that at Hogwarts. He won't dare put any students in danger."
"And you really think someone else might have been able to sneak a three-headed dog, the size of a christmas tree into Hogwarts without Dumbledore noticing?" Hermione had a look of triumph on her face, watching the boys look at the other with a dumbfounded expression on their faces.
"What if that dog is protecting the thing that Hagrid took from Gringotts?" Harry finally spoke up. "When Hagrid first came to get me from my aunt and uncles, we went to gringotts to get some money. But Hagrid said that he was there on official hogwarts business, took something small from one of the vaults there."
"Harry that could have been anything-"
"No but, that very same afternoon. Gringotts was broken into, someone had tried to get into the same vault that Hagrid had visited." Harry finished, his sparkling green eyes moving from one to the other "I bet you anything that robber wanted in the vault is what Hagrid took with him."
"This is all ridiculous! We don't need to be worrying about what that three-headed dog was guarding at all. That's a job for the adults!" Hermione said, an air of finality in her voice that the boys didn't want to press as the witch stood up. "I'm going to bed, before you boys come up with another stupid idea to get us all killed. Or worse, expelled."
She walked off in a huff, nose pointed upwards as she walked up the stairs towards the girls dormitory. Nicholas looked back towards Harry and Ron.
"I'm sorry but… what?" Nicholas started laughing "Since when-"
"Don't even question it mate. She needs to sort out her priorities." Ron shook his head, chuckling to himself. The boys made their way up to bed as well, wishing each other good night and hoping they didn't have dreams of any three-headed dogs.
September 17th, 1991
"Hermione! C'mon! It's been a whole week!" Nicholas protested, following the witch around the library, ignoring the Madam Pince's constant shushing from her desk. Hermione of course, stayed well away from him replacing the books in her arms back to their designated spots on the shelves.
"Go away." She hissed, not even looking at him properly. Nicholas rolled his eyes, shuffling along after her.
"How many times do I have to say sorry?" Nicholas grabbed the books out of the witch's arms placing them down on the nearest desk as to get her attention. She spun round, her face an image of pure fury. Nicholas could imagine it would terrify Godric Gryffindor himself.
"I'll let you know when you're getting close." Hermione retorted, picking the books back up with a snap. Her eyes glaring into his.
"Hermione-"
"Get lost!" She said through gritted teeth "I don't want to see you right now Nicholas!" Nicholas grimaced, those few words stung him.
"Fine! Don't bother looking for me then." Nicholas turned brisquely on the spot. He started heading towards the doors of the library, where Harry and Ron were anxiously waiting for him. Harry clapped him once on the back before they made their way to lunch.
"Cheer up Nick, Maybe she'll come around in the next couple of weeks." Ron said following his frustrated friend towards the great hall.
"I doubt it. Honestly. Doesn't matter anyway." Nicholas uttered the latter bit to himself, begrudgingly taking a seat next to Harry instead of leaving the normal empty seat for Hermione. She hadn't talked to him, since their venture to the third floor corridor. Nicholas tried to ask her why she was still talking to Ron and Harry, to which she just plainly ignored him and walked the other way.
"Look on the bright side mate," Ron tried again in a more gentle voice, Nick glared at him "Nope, no bright side of course not. May as well set water on the sun. No more brightness. Got it."
"Nick, you're being silly. You know how girls are, they'll get over it. Hermione probably just wants you to feel guilty so you don't go around being reckless." Harry said.
"What kind of Gryffindor would I be if I'm not reckless though?" Nick angrily stabbed at his potatoes.
"Exactly! May as well ignore it mate. We've got other stuff to worry about anyway-"
"Awwww what's wrong Black? Your muggle girlfriend ignoring you is she?" Nicholas stiffened.
"Shove off Malfoy," Ron said "He's doing nothing to you anyway."
"I'm just talking to my lovely cousin Weasel," Malfoy continued forcing his way to sit between Nicholas and Harry "Oh? Didn't you know? Received a nice letter from my mother this morning. Saying to reach out to my sweet cousin in his time of need."
Nicholas clenched his fists on the table, abandoning his dinner in front of him.
"Piss off Malfoy. I'd rather gouge my tongue out than talk to you." Nicholas said, he briefly saw Hermione walk into the Great Hall. Her eyes instantly landing on him with concern etched on her face.
"Don't be like that cousin. We are family after all," he smirked seeing Hermione as well "What happened? Your little mudblood of a girlfriend told you to go away? Not surprised to be honest, looks like even muggle borns have good taste-"
CRUNCH!
"Say that to my face again! I dare ya!" Nicholas shouted, he was quickly pulled back by Crabbe and Goyle. His head whipped to the side as Crabbe sent a punch to his face.
"Oi! You prat!" Harry launched himself onto Crabbe, tackling the boy to the ground. Nicholas righted himself, spitting out blood onto the floor as he felt another body tackle him around his middle. Malfoy leaned over him delivering punches to his face.
"What's wrong cousin? You can throw a punch but you can't take one?" He sneered. Nicholas growled, somehow managing to throw the slytherin off of him.
"Like you can talk!-" Nicholas sent a punch to Malfoy's middle, watching his blond head sink as he clenched his stomach "You don't call her that!"
Nicholas turned his head finding Harry and Ron equally having their own fights with Crabbe and Goyle, holding their own. He briefly saw a pair of ginger heads, as he was punched in the back.
He hissed through gritted teeth, pausing only to find Malfoy grinning through the blood dripping down his face.
"What is the meaning of this?" Came a shrill shout, Nicholas could barely sit upright. His vision had gone dizzy through the pain "Fighting like mad dogs! Are you boys or are you animals? Pick yourselves up now the lot of you!"
Nicholas struggled to get to his feet, leaning heavily against Harry and Ron. His friends wrapped their arms around him, holding him up on his feet.
"Potter, Weasley take Black to the hospital wing. See if Madam Pomfrey can salvage what little brain he has left." Nicholas groaned, still attempting to stand on his feet.
"Professor he was the one who started it!" Nicholas burst out.
"Did not! Shut up!-"
"Bite me!-"
"One at a time!" McGonagall shouted, scowling at the both of them "Mr Black?"
"He provoked me. Came over to Gryffindor table trying to rile me up. Ron and Harry will back me up, he sat at our table and started saying stuff that p- annoyed me." Said Nicholas. He kept looking between Malfoy and McGonagall.
"And yet here I thought that you wouldn't let mere words get the better of you, Black."
"Well I am so sorry I'm such a disappointment! Maybe I should go around calling students and other people mudblood! Maybe my parents would be proud of me then!-" Nicholas snarled.
"Nick!" Harry hissed in his ear.
"Mr Black, I suggest you go to the infirmary right this instant before I decide to dock more than 50 points from Gryffindor." Professor McGonagall's eyes flashed a dangerous shade towards him, which Nicholas returned unwavering.
"Do you want me to pop by the slytherin common room afterwards too? Change into some green and silver robes? Probably what my dear old folks would've wanted too and all right?-"
Nicholas felt his head whip to the side, a stinging pain in his cheek. He let out a groan of pain, seeing Hermione standing before him with a furious expression on her face. He stilled.
"Shut. Up. Get yourself to the infirmary. Now."