After joining the Weasley twins singing the school song in their funeral progression Harry and Draco followed the prefects to the common room. The rest of the first years trailing behind them exchanging confused glances at the front that Draco and Harry created. They ignored them, they were going to be leaders of Slytherin getting their year mates in line was the first step.
"The password is Salazar, it will be changed bi-weekly and will be placed on the notice board. If you forget to check and do not know the password you will not be allowed entrance until someone with the password comes by," the prefect stated opening the door and allowing the first years to walk in.
The room was just as Harry remembered it the long room had stone walls and low hanging green lights. High back chairs and tables were sprinkled through out it, pictures of esteemed Slytherins placed in various places complete with a large painting over the fireplace of Salazar Slytherin.
"First years gather around. Our head of house is Professor Snape, he will be here momentarily to provide our house rules. Upper years may go to their dorms."
The room emptied as the everyone left to their own dorms leaving the first years alone with the single prefect. They only waited a few moments before Severus Snape entered the room, his eyes passing on the new students before settling on Harry, his lip curling briefly before moving past.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. You are the newest Slytherins to pass these sacred walls. The next seven years will be spent in these halls, you will find friends and allies. You will find enemys. This brings us to the rules, any traveling in the castle will be done in at least groups of three. This is not only for safety but deniability as well, you will find that students from other houses will not always be fair in their assessment of situations that may happen. A grade of EE is required in all classes, if you fall below the requirement you will be placed with an older student for tutoring. I will provide you with office times in the next week for a personal meeting that you will attend. And finally, anything that happens within the common room stays in the common room. You will have disagreements with each other, but they will not leave this room."
Snape took a moment for them to nod before continuing, "The hallways to the dorms are there, to the left are the boys dorms the girls to the right. You will be two a room, tap the door with your wand and your name will appear on the nameplate outside of it. Choose wisely for this will be your roommate for the next 6 years and you will not be able to change it. I will see you at breakfast tomorrow, promptly at 7am, goodnight."
Without another word Snape left the room through a passage that Harry didn't notice until it had opened. As soon as the door was closed behind him the entire house descended into the room, a group of seventh years in the lead. Harry had no idea who they were but he thought the leaders name might have started with a….B?
The rest of the first years backed up several steps, only Draco remaining beside him. Harry had tried to convince him to go with the rest of the students and bring their friendship out in the open slowly but Draco had rejected the plan instantly. He didn't care what the other students thought and had already sent a letter off to his parents using Hedwig explaining their friendship. They had thought long and hard about the next step to their act. It was imperative that the truth of who they were never came to light, but they couldn't allow the rest of the students to think that Harry could be beaten down.
So Harry would do what he needed to do to make the rest of the students know he was not to be bothered. Hopefully any suspicion will be borrowed down to Harry receiving something from The Dark Lord that Halloween night.
Harry turned his body to Draco, "Do you think they want to play chess?"
"I'm not sure chess is on the table. And your terrible at it,"Draco drawled ,his wand held lightly in his hand. Harry kept his put away, the effect would be so much greater without it.
"I don't know what the hat was thinking allowing a Mudblood like you into the great house of Salazar Slytherin but it cant be changed," the seventh years wand appeared into his hand, "We can't stop you from being in the house but we can show you your proper place."
Harry grinned at Draco, "Did you hear that Draco? They know my proper place. That is a relief I don't want to be lost."
Draco forced his face to stay clear but Harry could see the look of exasperation in his eyes.
Harry waited still for the first spell to be thrown. A bone breaking hex shot out of the hand and Harry quickly lifted his left hand threw up a shield. His right hand making a pulling motion causing all of the wands to be thrown at Dracos feet. Draco gathered them into his hands and he took a step back as planned, this was Harrys show.
Harry bounced on his feet and laughed at the dumbstruck look on the faces of the upper years, "You really thought it was going to be that easy? I know your not Ravenclaw but you must have some sense to be here."
Harry didn't wait for a reply, folding his hands behind his back he threw a nonverbal "Levicorpus" at them and watched as the students who no longer had wands were thrown into the air by their ankles. A quick sticking charm keeping their robes up around their legs, Harry was trying to embarrass them, not traumatize the rest of the students.
A gasp went through the room as everyone took a collective step back from the scene. Harry felt the thrill of power slither down his spine, it was a heady feeling. Walking toward the students that were hanging upside down he hummed quietly and circled under them. He ignored the rest of the students, knowing Draco would protect his back if needed.
Stopping in the middle he turned his gaze to the main perpetrator and wordlessly dropped him. A loud crack filled silence of the room as the 7th year landed at an awkward angle on his shoulder. Before he could even move Harry bent down and ran his finger down his cheek softly, the 7th year cried out as he felt a wave of pain sweep his body aggravating his already injured body, "You are confused on a few things. But don't worry, I'll fix the gaps in your knowledge."
Harry stood and the rest of the students dropped to the floor behind him. He ignored the sounds of pain as they landed onto the floor, some on top of the others.
Bouncing on the ball of his feet he smiled, "Firstly, I am not a Mudblood. My mother may have been a muggleborn but my father was a Pureblood which makes me a half blood. Yes?"
There was no response. Everyone had frozen with shock and just stared at him with wide and confused eyes. That was okay, Harry thought, he wasn't really expecting a reply.
"Second of all,"Harry continued, "the hat placed me in "the Great House of Salazar Slytherin" because my place is here. You can complain to your parents and the school board if you'd ,but as you pointed out there is nothing that can be done. Of course your more then welcome to voice any other concerns you may have."
Harry waited a moment staring out at the rest of the students, no one else came forward. It worked for him, he wasn't trying to actually hurt anyone, just prove his point.
In the silence of the room, he squated infront of the pile of students on the floor, "This is only warning this house is going to get. I am here because I belong here. I dont care if any of you think this is wrong, If you have the need to test my place again I can accommodate you. But not tonight, its been a long day and I'm sure we are all tired from the train ride."
Straightening up he collected the wands from Draco and dropped them into a pile on the floor, "Remember the rules. If anyone, and that includes our esteemed head of house, finds out what happen here tonight you will regret it."
Harry said no other words as he glanced at Draco and they made their way to the dorms. Harry followed Dracos example and tapped the nameplate outside the door Draco chose and they entered the room, locking the door behind them.
"Holy shit," Draco breathed relaxing for the first time since they left the Greathall that night.
"Was that alright?" Harry asked running his hand through his hair. He felt a brief nag of guilt tug at his mind before he pushed it away. He did what he needed to do to keep himself and Draco safe in the house of snakes. But it did make him wonder, and not for the first time, if the trip back to his younger self had addled his brains.
Sure he had anger problems when he was a teenager but he was never violent. Then there was the trill of power he felt when he stood infront of the group of students. He never had moments he truly felt powerful before, and he wondered what it would have felt like before. He shrugged the thought off, he wasn't that same person he used to be. He wasn't even sure he had ever been that person. As long has he didn't develop urges to torture anyone he would worry about it later.
"That was amazing," Draco said, a bright smile on his face, "They are definitely not going to try anything with you for while, if they even do again. You destroyed their pride, and terrified a few of them."
Harry laughed as he sat on the bed that his trunk was placed against before taking a look around the room. It was the same size as the Gryffindor tower room but looked larger as there was only the two beds instead of 5. Next to each bed was a dresser and a desk, there were no windows but artwork decorated the walls. It wasn't the tower, but it felt cozy.
"Good. Lets get some sleep, if I have to deal with the school sleep deprived I might turn into the next Dark Lord."
DUMBLEDORE—
Dumbledore sat in his ostentatious office, his hands folded infront of him, deep in thought.
Harry Potter had been sorted into Slytherin.
He had not been expecting it but knew there was a chance with Harry being in raised with the Dursleys. Children of abuse could often become cunning to try and escape punishments or hide infractions. He had seen it plenty of times with other students that had crossed the halls of Hogwarts.
What was concerning however was the way Harry carried himself. Dumbledore expected him to be smaller, more beaten down. He had ensured the wards carried the correct compulsions for the Dursleys in case they decided to properly care for the boy. It had been a few years since he had checked them of course, but they had been strong and working the last time he had checked on the family.
He would need to stop by and check them, if needed he would renew them for the coming summer. For now he would just keep an eye on Harry it wasn't to late to change things if the boy was getting to strong.
HARRY-
The first week of school dragged on as Harry went to his classes. Both him and Draco were trying to maintain a "Gifted but not Prodigy" approach to the classes. That was the easy part The hard part was staying awake in all of his classes. Relearning first year information in your twenties was it was incredibly boring, Harry had never wanted to nap in class more. That included every history class he had ever been in.
Harry had concerns about bringing to much attention to him but Dracos parents expected perfection and he refused for Harry to do anything that would make people think he was even remotely untalented. The only hiccup in their plan came in their first potions class.
It had started well, they were on time and since Harry was a Slytherin he could partner with Draco easily as he did all of their other classes. The rest of their Slytherin classmates were still scared of Harry and tended to avoid him unless necessary. Draco was convinced they would come around eventually, they just had to wait.
The door leading to Snapes office in the front of the class swung open and he swished into the classroom in all black. Giving his speech before moving to call attendance, pausing briefly on Harrys name.
"Mr. Potter, our newest….celebrity."
Harry raised his eyebrow slightly, it seems not even being in his house would keep Snape from being an arse.
Harry tuned out the rest of the attendance as his thoughts went to the Dark Mark tattoed into Snapes arm.
"Mr. Potter!" Snapes sharp voice broke him out of his thoughts, "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"Draught of living death," Harry said clearly and confidently, if Snape wanted to play this game then they would play it.
If anything the correct answer only irritated Snape more, "Correct. Where could I procure a bezar?"
"The stomach of a goat, a apothecary and I'm assuming your storeroom…Professor."
"There will be no cheating in my classroom Mr. Potter. Switch places with for today, I will make final seating arrangements for the next class."
Draco tensed slightly and gave Harry a look before Harry gathered his things and switched places with Hermione, keeping a slight distance between him and Ron.
Harry had avoided Ron and Hermione for the last several days. He had seen them a few times try and follow him or corner him to talk. He needed to get his cloak and the map as soon as possible, it would make avoidance so much easier.
"Hey mate, names Ron. You sure surprised everyone when the hat put you in Slytherin," Ron said as soon as Professor Snape gave them way to start their potions. Harry ignored him as he left to gather ingredients. He had to play this carefully. He still wasn't sure how he felt about Ron and Hermione, he didn't know if they had been on Dumbledors payroll from the beginning or if it was something that started later. He had absolutely zero intention of becoming any kind of friends with them but he could be polite.
Harry had the cauldron set up and potion started before Ron spoke again.
"It sucks being surrounded by snakes I bet. Maybe Dumbledore could get you resorted somehow and you can come to Gryffindor instead."
Harry glanced at Ron, "I'm a Slytherin, wouldn't that make me a snake as well? Besides, the hat said I wasn't suited for Gryffindor and I'm happy where I am. Snakes and all."
Ron turned slightly red at his snake comment,"Your a Slytherin but not a slimy snake like the rest of them. Alot of their parents followed He-who-must-not-be-named you know."
"I don't keep track of my classmates parents to be honest. They all seem decent to me," Harry turned his full attention back to their potion. Ron hadn't attempted to help him and Harry wasn't going to bring attention to it. He couldn't fail their first potion, Draco would never let him live it down.
The rest of the class passed quietly. Ron made a few other comments about the Slytherins that Harry dismissed and before he knew it Snape was calling an end to class.
"You should come with me up to the Common room. You can meet the rest of the guys," Ron said as they packed up.
"I'm studying with Draco after class, also I thought other students weren't allowed in the commons of other houses?" Harry questioned. He watched as Rons ears went completely red, Harry could almost feel the attack that was building up.
"Malfoy," Ron spat, "Hes the worst of the snakes. You should hang out with us more, you don't want to get to close to someone the likes of him."
Finally! An opening that Harry could use to end the conversation.
"Hey that's rude!," he snapped, "He's my friend and has been nothing but nice to me since I was sorted. I'm starting to think your not the type of person I want to friends with. If your going to be rude to my other friends."
Ron still looked shocked as Harry made his way out of the classroom and to Draco who had waited at the entrence for him. Using all of the shortcuts Harry knew they made their way quickly to their dorm.
"We need to take care of Severus Harry, I will not sit with Granger again. It took every ounce of patience I had to not curse her across the room," Draco ranted as he threw his stuff on the bed and dropped down with a huff.
"I know," Harry said running a hand through his hair, "Ron wasn't as bad, just ranting about dirty Slytherins. But he's completely useless in potions and I won't have him ruining my grade."
"What are we going to do?"
Harry shrugged, "He was my mums best friend, I'll find a way to use that. If not I'll scare him until he complies, most of the older students think I'm the dark lord reincarnated anyway. Maybe he can fall for the same line."
It entertained both of them greatly and they made no effort to disprove the thought.
"So you have no plan," Draco said dryly before pulling out his homework and getting started on it.
"Hey that is a plan, it has steps," harry protested getting his own homework out.
They worked in silence for a while before a thought came to Harry, "Hey do you think Snape would let me onto the Quidditch team as a first year?"
Draco froze before a large smile broke his face and he swung his body to face Harry, "I don't know but we have to convince him if we can. You on the Slytherin team? We would definitely get the house cup this year."
"Get that remembrall again, we will do the same thing we did last time. Plus it will make me look good and like I care for other students."
Before flying classes the next day Harry had a few things he wanted to get done. First up, the Maurders map.
Harry knew the twins got it in their third year but he didn't exactly know when. While Draco was in the library with the only first years who werent scared of him, Zabini, Parkinson, and the terror trio. He was in the middle of making a plan to sneak into Flinches office when he caught sight of the twins sneaking into an abandoned hallway on the 2nd floor. A hallway that he knew for a fact had been abandoned for years and only known on the map.
Harry followed them into the hallway and then to the door of an abandoned classroom. It was the same classroom he and Draco had used all that time ago. Slipping into the door he cleared his throat to get their attention.
Fred and George head snapped up to him and they stuffed their pockets right back up with the products that they were in the process of removing.
"Harry Potter-"
"How can we-"
"Help you?"
Harry almost laughed, he had missed the twins. Draco had said that George was one of the only Weasleys who stood against the Ministry changes and their family when it came out they had been paid before his death. Seeing them together, healthy and whole, warmed him on the inside.
He hoped he could get them on this new path of his, not only were they useful but they were great friends and he had considered them brothers of sorts.
"You have something that belongs to me," Harry said as he came further into the room.
The twins shared a look of confusion, "We didn't take"
"Anything from you?"
"Technically no. But that doesn't mean you don't have something of mine. It's a map actually, a map my father and his friends made."
Fred raised an eyebrow and his hand twitched to his pocket, "What makes you think we have a map your father made?"
"You wouldn't have known the code to this room without it. They warded it quite well when they were in school in fact."
Harry flicked his wand and light filled the room before chest opened and a large banner fell from the ceiling.
"Maruders Den, Enter at your own Risk"
Fred and Georges eyes wided as they stared around the room in awe. Old potion equipment and half done potions littered one side of the room, while the other had books and parchment that were half written.
They shared a look before turning to Harry, Fred pulled the map out of his pocket and they bowed to him.
"Mighty Heir of the Maurders, we bow to their supremacy."
Harry laughed then, and took the map from them.
"You can get up my subjects, no need for formality," He said as pompously as he could, "Thanks for finding it. I heard it was taken by Filch and was wondering how I would get it before I saw you guys come in here."
He reached out his hand, "Your Fred and George Weasleys right? I have heard alot from the upper years about your pranking ability."
"Why thank you kind sir!" George exclaimed as they bounced up from their bows and smiled at him.
Harry glanced around, "I don't know whats in here really but feel free to take or use whatever you want. In exchange for a few things."
"What do you want," George asked curiously.
"Keep me and Draco out of all of your pranking. Thats more for your benefit though, you do not want to get in a prank war with me. Other then that I may need some help now and then, nothing bad of course, but I may need to call on your assistance."
Once again the twins shared a long look before holding their hands out with a smile, "Deal."
Map acquire he took it out and scanned it quickly, Snape was in his private office alone. Excellent.
Harry knocked and waited for the "Enter" before opening the door and closing it quickly behind him throwing up a quick ward.
"Potter,"Snape spat, "I'm to busy to deal with your childish ramblings. You may come back at your assigned time."
Harry ignored him and took a seat in front of his desk, "You knew my mother."
Snape froze slightly before gaining control, "I believe I told you to leave."
"You were friends with my mother," Harry continued, "You knew my Aunt Petunia, the type of person she was. You had to have known how I would have been treated in her house, despite what you may have been told by others."
"I don't know what your talking about," Snape said firmly but Harry could hear the doubt.
"I also know you tried to save my mother. The Dark Lord asked her to move quite a few times before he killed her. Quite a boon for someone who claimed to be a spy"
Snapes face had lost all color, he opened his mouth but Harry didn't care what he had to say.
"Don't bother to deny anything I already know. I know alot Professor Snape, much more then you would want me to know. Much more then you would want the world to know."
Snape straightened out and cleared his throat, "Your trying to blackmail me?"
"Not trying, I am. I remember things, things my parents talked about late at night when they thought it was sleeping. About raids you were on, potions and poisons you have made. I know what it takes to become a Death Eater, the acts you had to commit to get that mark I know is hidden on your arm."
Severus stared at Harry in horror as Harry finished talking. He decided to wait it out and relaxed back in his chair as Snape took in everything that he said. While he waited he focused onto Snapes Dark Mark. He had wondered for a while if he would be able to do anything with it, the Horcux was no longer inside of him but he felt the power inside of him sitting and waiting to be used. Draco didn't know it but Harry suspected the Horcux had been adsorbed when he was brought back and had not just been left at the station.
While sitting in his house waiting for school to start Harry read many books, from healing and defense to everything he needed to know about the wizarding world. From the history of the world to how the government fully worked including everything about heir and lordships. His favorite books however were ones that came from owls that found him while he worked outside wrapped in paper with a "L" written on an attached note.
One day he would find out exactly what Luna knew.
Those books were locked in a Gringotts vault that he opened for safety, they were not books that he would want to be caught with. He didn't need to see the banned book list to know those were going to be right at the top.
There was one in particular that he spent weeks reading and re-reading until he had sections memorized. Harry would bet a vault that it was where the Dark Lord got his idea for the Dark Marks, and how it worked as well.
Harry focused his magic on the mark and touched it lightly, the mark pulsed and Snape flinched looking at the mark and then Harry a look of suspicion in his eyes. Harry frowned and bound him to his chair, he needed to keep him still.
Pushing his magic more into the mark he felt a barrier, harry pushed at it focusing more into it until he finally felt it. The barrier gave and Harry was able to drench his magic into the mark. Severus jerked and let out a scream as the mark absorbed the magic, the mark glowed red for a moment before fading back to the a bright black, as if it was a fresh tattoo.
Harry let out a noise of triumph before hissing, "Keep my secrets."
He felt the vow take inside of the mark and sat back releasing Snape from his bounds. He collapsed into his chair breathing hard and staring at Harry in terror his hand going to grasp over the mark.
"New plan, I wont blackmail you. You will do what I need you to do or regret it."
"My Lord," Severus choked out
Harry smiled, "I'm not the Dark Lord Professor Snape. I wasn't even sure that was going to work, very impulsive of me I know. Salazar Slytherin would be so disappointed, but it did."
Harry reached out and touched the mark, Snape let out a low breath as the pain receded from the mark completely.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," Harry said quietly, "I should have assumed it would but I kinda got caught up in it."
"What do you want," Snape asked just as quiet, a slight shiver running through his body.
"I want to be paired with Draco in Potions. I don't want your anger and hate that I do not deserve. I don't want you go to Dumbledore with what happen tonight, other then that I don't want anything. For now, I may need help later but thats for another time."
"Are you sure your not the Dark Lord," Severus asked sitting back up straight and smoothing his features.
"Positive. I'm probably not what everyone expected but I am far from a Dark Lord. I give you my word on that. Speaking of the Dark Lord, he will no longer be able to do anything with your mark. It belongs to me now."
Severus nodded and picked up his quill, "I will do as you ask. Since you are here we can use this for your meeting, the other teachers are impressed with your workmanship. Are you having any problems with the materials or anything you need to talk about?"
What the fuck?
"Uh, no I'm good?" It come out as a question, Harry had expected, more anger or resentment, something.
Severus placed his quill down and sighed, "I don't know what you are Mr. Potter. I don't want to know where you received the knowledge that you have, frankly I don't think I want to know. But until I see more I will hold my judgment on you."
Did he..did he earn his respect? Or was he thankful that he no longer had a connection with Voldemort and would no longer need to fight against the oath he made Dumbledore?
"Alright. Well I am good Professor, I will let you know if it changes."
"Please do, have a good night Mr. Potter," Severus said dismissing him.
Harry left the room still confused, he would need to tell Draco about it. But first, Flying class.
"You might be mad at me," were the first works out of Harrys mouth that night as he and Draco prepared for bed.
Flying class was a sucess. Draco took the rememball and Harry took off after it and managed to surprise McGonagll In her office. Harry just had to hope that she would pass the information ont othe right person. Snape found Harry shortly after dinner and informed him he was now on the team and would need to get a broom. Draco had already ordered it and it was going to be there soon.
Draco stopped what he was doing and crossed his arms, "What did you do Potter."
Shock crossed Dracos face as Harry explained what happen in Snapes off earlier.
"What were you thinking!" Draco hissed after Harry finished explaining.
Harry felt his face heat, "I wasn't. I got distracted and it just happen! I know it was stupid but at least we don't have to worry about him anymore."
"What were you going to do if it didn't! He could have went to Dumbledore and told him merlin knows what!" Draco spat, his eyes lite up with anger.
Harry worried his lower lip and held up his hands, "I know. I'm sorry."
Draco sighed, "What's done is done. But no more big things without telling me? One of us needs to be the voice of reason and apparently thats me."
"Will do Capt'n!" Harry saluted and threw himself on his bed, "Have you figured out how to tell your dad about the Rat?"
The plan for Sirius was simple. Draco had already told his father about his friendship with Harry, heavily implying there was something special about him. It worked like a charm and his parents had replied telling him to keep him close. With that in their pocket the next part of the plan was for Draco figure out a way to tell his parents about the animagus.
"No," Draco said frustrated, "I have no idea how to bring it up. Nor do I know what they will do with the information, I don't even know if my parents knew he was a Death Eater. If they did it brings to question what they would do with him if they get him."
"If you can get me alone with him for 5 minutes I can fix that," Harry offered.
"No, you don't even fully know what you did. The risk is to big. We will just have to figure something out," Draco said shaking his head.
Harry nodded, that was fair. He wished that damn book wasn't locked in a vault, he needed to know exactly what he had done to the mark. And what he could fully do with it.