A/N: Urgh, more writers block. Sorry if the start of the chapter seems bland. Not big enough for a TW but there is dissing of characters you may stan or like. Please enjoy the chapter and feel free to leave constructive criticism.
A few months passed since the duel between Harry and Draco. Ron Weasley still hated Harry with all his guts. Harry still slept in the Ravenclaw common room. The Ravenclaws were mostly kind to him, however 4th year Ravenclaw Charlie Abbot was obnoxious as fuck. So obnoxious that he sympathized for his Hufflepuff sister, Hannah.
xXxXxXx
"Harry, you're going to miss breakfast," Padma Patil was hitting his face with a pillow.
"Blrurgh," Harry groaned, "Stop hitting me with the fucking pillow I'm awake."
"Well come on, you may be a celebrity but they're not waiting for you," Padma picked up his Slytherin tie.
"You are," Harry pointed out, putting his glasses on.
"Shut up," Padma threw his tie at him.
xXxXxXx
They parted ways at the large double doors of the great hall. Harry going to the Slytherin table and Padma going to the Ravenclaw table. So far, most Ravenclaws and Slytherins knew Harry started sleeping in the Ravenclaw common room, Parvati being the only person who knew whom wasn't in either Ravenclaw or Slytherin - that he knew of. If any professors some how found out, they didn't take action.
Harry sat in the corner against the wall he started sitting at every meal, everyone noticed and started sitting far away from the corner. The blasted idiots probably thought he would curse them if they sat near him, or worse, they might've thought the other Slytherins would notice and that the whole house would attack them for sitting with Harry.
Harry was quite glad nobody sat near him.
He ate some bacon and looked up from his book, he looked past the Hufflepuff table. Harry stared at the Ravenclaw table - or at least a Ravenclaw student. Padma and Victoria Prewett were laughing about something.
Oh, what he would give to go back to the sorting night and change his mind.
"They say the only reason he survived you-know-who's attack was because he is an even darker and more poferful wizard."
He wasn't trying to eaves drop, it's just when you are about five meters away from someone and you and you're talking loudly, they will hear you.
"Nah, he attacked Malfoy, that must mean he's on our side."
"He's a complete psycho!"
Well now he actually was trying to listen, to see what everyone else thought of him. Harry thought just Slytherins and their few allies were scared of him, but people against Malfoy and his crew were also afraid of Harry? What had he done?
"Yeah, but he's on our side, right?"
"Those Slytherins are all the same, Potter is no different. Probably mad at Malfoy for personal reasons, there is a rumor going around that Potter has a dark mark."
Now that was false, the only mark from Voldemort Harry had was his lighting scar.
"It's a rumor for Merlin's sake."
"Whatever, he is still a psycho, he should be locked up and put in azkaban!"
Harry had enough.
"It isn't nice to talk about people behind their backs."
The small group of Hufflepuffs turned to look at Harry. They all looked horrified, serves them right.
"Well at least we aren't psychopaths!"
"Well who the fuck said I was a psychopath?"
"It was obvious that you were a psycho the night you attacked Malfoy!"
Harry was well aware that many people were staring.
"So you're taking his side?"
"I'd rather take the side of the victim over the side of the assualter!"
Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at the third year Hufflepuff.
"Oh really?"
"Oh sit down, Carol," Another Hufflepuff grabbed the sleeve of the third year Hufflepuff whom Harry was arguing with.
"Fine, just know this one thing; you're fucking crazy Potter."
Harry realized that arguing wasn't worth his time. He might as well have a bit of fun.
"And what're you going to do about it?"
"Well," The Hufflepuff said, resuming the argument, "One day you'll go so far down the path of darkness that the aurors will have to lock you up in azkaban."
Harry laughed.
"You have issues, Potter."
"Tell me something I don't know," Harry laughed harder.
"Carol, we're gonna be late to transfiguration, c'mon. Potter's not worth your time."
xXxXxXx
Harry was thankful there wasn't another duel, he was still exhausted from his big duel with Draco and that was over a month ago.
During potions class people kept looking at the back table, hoping something interesting would happen. Snape made Harry and Draco work together for potions class. They both did really well but did so with minimal communication.
Minimal communication was used in every class they had to work together in.
"Potter, Malfoy," Slimy old Snape approached them, "This is a group project, communication is necessary."
"Alright, pass the bean and knife," Draco said.
"No, I'll handle this," Harry smiled, "How about your crush the beetles."
Clearly neither of them trusted the other one with the knife, both with good reason.
"Fine," Draco pounded the beetles against the table.
They both worked aggressively and went back to minimal communication.
"Potter, Malfoy, stay after class," Snape glared at the pair in the back.
After everyone else was dismissed, Harry and Draco stayed in their seats.
"This class teaches the fine art of potion making. If you are to pass this course, communication is a requirement. Now, explain why you two cannot work together and I might give you both new partners."
"We got into a d-" Harry stopped himself, it wasn't safe to tell the truth in this situation, "Arguement."
"Is this true?" Snape turned to Malfoy.
"Yes, professor," Malfoy said.
"I will compose a new seating chart, no complaints."
Harry felt overjoyed.
"Go on, or you'll be late."
xXxXxXx
The next day, Harry fought hard not to smile.
"Look at the blackboard before sitting down. You have new seats."
The Gryffindors and Slytherins walked into the classroom. Most people were quite sad about it.
Harry checked the seating chart.
Astoria Greg
Neville Harry
Hermione Draco
Pansy Vincent Ronald
Daphne Romilda
Theodore Blaise
Parvati Millicent Dean
Lavender Seamus
Holy shit. Was Snape trying to create fights? And wow- He really hated Harry. He was put with Mr Molecular Brain.
He could find faults in every table, most of all putting poor Granger, a muggleborn, with Malfoy.
Only Theo and Blaise were happy about the new seats, everyone else was miserable.
Harry sat at his and Longbottom's table. Harry turned around and looked at everyone else. Longbottom and Weasley were talking about something. Longbottom looked terrified.
Harry would bet almost anything that they were talking about Longbottom having to sit with the school "psycho".
Longbottom was the only one still standing and everyone seemed to notice.
"Longbottom, you are next to Potter," Snape stared at him.
The poor boy dropped his head and walked over to his seat.
Snape wrote the instructions on the blackboard.
"Oi, Longbottom," Harry said to his partner.
Longbottom dropped the bluebells he was picking the petals off of.
"Sorry!" He squealed.
"It's alright," Harry said.
They both bent down to pick the flowers up off the floor. He was even jumpier than normal. The Gryffindor's hands were shaking as he picked up the flowers.
"I'm sorry, was I making the potion wrong? Did I ruin it? I-"
"Hey, calm the fuck down," Harry said, standing up, "I was just going to ask you if you could chop the boar heart. You're doing fine."
That was an understatement, Longbottom put twice the required amount of beetle wings in and now instead of their potion turning a mint green, it was the same color as his toad. A dark, murky green.
Longbottom put the last of the bluebells on the table.
"You ok? You look scared of something," Harry wanted to make sure his partner wasn't going to be both stupid and terrified.
"Well, yeah," Neville started chopping the boar heart, "You."
"Pardon?" Harry stopped mushing the unicorn hooves.
"Well, I saw the duel between you and Malfoy. You looked crazy! I thought you were going to kill him! I'm not taking his side, it's just I really thought you were. When I found out I was your partner I thought 'one slip up and I'm dead.' You were terrifying!"
This kid really could talk.
"Malfoy-" Harry was about to say, "Malfoy had it coming to him," but he stopped himself, Longbottom was already scared enough. Instead Harry said, "He hurt someone I care about."
Well, it wasn't a lie.
"So," Neville put down the knife and put the chopped up boar heart into the cauldron, "Revenge."
Oh shit he was right.
"Essentially."
They worked in silence for a bit.
"Who did Malfoy hurt?" Neville asked, after a few moments.
"Parvati."
Neville shot a quick glance at Parvati.
"She seems fine to me," Neville said.
"Madam Pomfrey is good at her job."
xXxXxXx
Later that day, after classes were over, Harry went to do his homework in the library like he would every day.
He was almost done with his essay for McGonagall when Pansy and some older Slytherin girls approached him.
"Potter, how's your precious princess," Pansy said, the whole group of girls laughed.
"My what?" Harry set his quill down, hopefully this would be quick.
"Look!" Pansy turned red from laughing, "The knight in shining armor is confused!"
What were they getting at? Whatever it was, Harry just hoped it would be quick.
"The Gryffindor Patil! You love Parvati!" An older girl said.
"He's in love! Guess what everyone! Potter's in love with Parvati Patil!"
"Parvati Potter!"
Harry was not in love with Parvati. Harry thought back to potions class, had Neville told everyone? He wasn't completely truthful, but maybe he should've been. Better have accurate rumors than false ones.
Then it hit him, Pansy sits behind him in potions.
The group of girls were giggling so much Harry thought their throats would split in half soon.
"I am not in love with Parvati. Besides, we're only eleven. We're too young for love."
"He's in denial!"
"Ahhhh, young love."
"Aww his face is red, is he embarrassed to show his feelings?"
Harry had enough.
"Shut up," he said quietly.
If they heard him, they didn't acknowledge his remark.
"He's cute when he's mad."
"It's practically poetry, a forbidden couple. The Slytherin and the Gryffindor."
"Shut up," he said again, this time louder.
They were lost in fits of laughter.
Harry stood up and grabbed his wand.
"Shut the fuck up!" Harry said, not loud enough to piss off madam Pince but loud enough to make the group of girls shut up.
They stopped laughing, seeing that his wand was pointed at them.
One of the girls stepped forward.
"I'm not afraid of you," she said, pointing her wand at him.
"Nor am I afraid of you," Harry said.
She was at least fifthteen, while Harry was only eleven. If he was quite honest, he was terrified.
"Boy who lived, eh?" She said, "All I see is a confused little boy who wandered down the wrong path."
Which path? He was a Slytherin who attacked Weasley to save the honor of a racist little bitch. He was also someone who attacked a racist little git twice and tried to leave his darkened past behind. Which path was she talking about?
"You have two choices, Potter," she said, acting like she was superior to him, "First choice, come back, join us. Step into the glory and leave Patil behind."
Like that's ever gonna happen.
"Second choice," she said with a smirk, "Join the filthy blood traitors and die."
"We're all gonna die anyways, either die a hero or die a death eater," Harry grabbed his stuff and walked away.
"Unless you become immortal," The girl said.
Harry stopped.
"Now I caught your attention?" She asked, annoyance leaking through her voice.
Harry didn't respond.
"Choice is yours, Potter. Twenty four hours, right here. Choose wisely."
Harry turned around to look at her. The group of girls were staring at her like she just gave them all death sentences.
Harry left, aware that other people knew about the choice he had to make.
xXxXxXx
"Harry, is it true?" Padma was running towards him as soon as he entered the Ravenclaw common room.
"Is what true, I've been invited to join the death eaters or I'm in love with your sister?" Harry asked.
"In lo- Parvati? Both!" Pdma said, clearly she meant the death eater bit but of course, if Harry was in love with her twin she had to know.
"Ok, I am not in love with Parvati," Harry said reassuringly.
Padma looked like she just took her first breath of clean air in years.
"However," Harry said, trying to look straight into her eyes.
Her happy expression faded slightly.
"The other rumor is true," Harry found it hard to look her in the face. She looked disappointed, as though he already made his decision.
"Wha- I- What're you going to choose?" Padma asked him.
Harry thought about immortality, he could wield all the power he wanted. He would be unstoppable.
No.
No, he wasn't going to fall for their tricks. Why the fuck would he let himself think that?
He imagined himself, older, powerful. Nobody would ever hurt him again, not Voldemort, not Dumbledore, not the Dursleys, nobody.
No dark arts! You have friends, a new life, a freaking home!
He could make those who hurt him pay.
Stop thinking like this!
Power beyond imagination.
At what price?
Some prices were worth paying.
There could be no coming back.
So what?
The argument raged on in his mind.
"Choose wisely," the girl had said to him.
"Harry?" Padma asked, obvious that he wasn't responding.
"Yeah, I'm a blood traitor through and through," He said, a weak smile on his face.
Padma hugged him and he hugged her back.
It wasn't set in stone yet. He had no fucking clue what he was going to choose.
Power and glory or his friends. Twenty-three hours to decide.