Paid In Blood - REVISED (Originally by Zaterra02)

by FrostyTheDopeMan

An aged Dark Lord Harry Potter sends his soul and that of his most loyal friend back in time to prevent multiple tragedies. 4th Year AU. Zaterra02's fanfic, rewritten to correct grammar & language issues.

5. Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Harry Potter walked the corridors of Hogwarts with a smirk, noticing how everyone moved away from his path. He saw the awe and the fear in everyone's face and ignored them all. He was actually in a good mood. He'd had a good night's rest, had a great dinner with a nice dragon roast to celebrate his successful journey back in time, and was on his way to his first Potions class since his return.

Not that he enjoyed the subject - far from it. He was able to see the practicality of the subject and was able to follow the recipes and make a vast array of potions, but in truth he never did enjoy it. In his mind he blamed none other than Snape, his good old Potions Master, due to his treatment of him and the biased classes between Gryffindors and Slytherins.

Good old Snivellus, who had died in the last days before Voldemort's final defeat. The man who had informed the Dark Lord of the prophecy that destroyed Harry's infant life. The man that had been a spy for Dumbledore, taking his chances amid the Death Eaters. Harry had come to admire the man's bravery, even if it had taken Lily Potter's death to change the man's heart, even if he had treated him, Lily's son, with loathing.

Severus Snape had Harry Potter's respect but that didn't mean he was forgiven, far from it, and Harry intended to make the man pay.

Harry arrived at the dungeons with five minutes to spare before the start of class. Dropping his book bag he carried on his shoulder, he leaned on the wall opposite the classroom and closed his eyes, focusing on his Occlumency shields. To say that Snape would attempt a Legilimency attack during the class was as sure as saying that the Slytherin colours were green and silver, so why not prepare him a nasty surprise?

His first class with the Slytherins. His first class with her. Harry smirked, remembering her expression when he revealed that he should have been in Slytherin. It was the same as it had been all those years ago, when he told her during their third official date in Hogsmeade. She had been surprised and angry. How she had ranted against him…he always thought she was cute when angry...

"First things first, Potter," he thought to himself, crossing his arms. He needed to establish a bridge between himself and the house of the snakes first. It didn't matter how much he wanted to have her in his arms, he would only lose everything by rushing in, and although he was prepared for that eventuality, he didn't want it to happen.

He heard voices approaching but didn't move from his place against the wall. He ignored the sound and kept working on his surprise for the Potions Master. That didn't mean that he was unaware of what was happening. He felt two magical auras approaching and felt their shock and distress when they saw him.

"I have no quarrel with you, so try not to be so scared. It's embarrassing," he said, not opening his eyes, but smirking.

"Don't be so full of yourself, Potter," replied the voice of Tracey Davis, attempting to disguise the nervousness in her voice.

"I said I had no quarrel with you, Davis, so can you please lay off?" he asked, opening his eyes and gazing at the Slytherin girl. "Unless you prefer to have a civilized conversation?"

Theo and Tracey looked at each other, but Theo was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

"Why?" he asked, looking at the 'Boy-Who-Killed-A-Bloody-Dragon-And-Flew-Without-A-Broom'. "I can't think of any reason for you to speak favorably of our house, and yet yesterday you actually humiliated the other three houses and wanted to join us, who have never acted favorably towards you."

"I meant what I said," replied Harry, leaning again against the wall. With another sigh he looked at the dark-haired boy, who stood before him with his girlfriend at his side. "It's true that I have no friends in the house of the snakes. It is also true that I never cared much about it, and that I went with the flow and assumed that all snakes were evil and Death Eater wannabees. I could blame the wastebin spewing his filth in my ears for three years or my interactions with Malfoy, but I admit that I never cared to learn the truth.

In exchange for my narrow-mindedness, it is only natural that the snakes, who had no reasons to actually dislike me in the first place, would care little about me and my plight. However, it is also true that most of my problems with the Slytherins are due to four people, and although I have seen your entire house wearing those damn badges, most of you simply ignored me, while the other three houses were more open with their feelings for me."

Tracey actually snorted, feeling more comfortable already.

"You have to admit, it was very strange that your name came out of the Goblet. Besides, you seem to attract trouble."

"Ah, yes, the joys of being me," replied Harry, thinning is lips in a very McGonagall-like manner. "I can assure you that I was actually hoping for a normal and quiet year, but apparently I'm fate's bitch."

"Do you have any clue concerning who placed your name in the cup?" asked Nott, for some reason feeling more comfortable around Potter, who just shook his head.

"None. I was assured that there would be an investigation, but I don't think I'll be expecting any news from that end," lied Harry with a snort and a smirk. "I see that the arguments I presented were enough to clear my name."

To that, Tracey Davis snorted.

"Only a fool would not believe in a Magical Oath, Potter."

"I am willing to bet that many still think I cheated and that I was able to cheat the oath."

"I'd say those would be the dorks and the duffers," replied Nott with a grin, noticing the confusion in Harry's face. "Gryffindor and Hufflepuffs, force of habit."

"I've heard the duffers before but never dorks," lied Harry with a pensive look, "I like it." The three laughed, and Harry was glad he had cast a wandless Compulsion Charm on both Slytherins to make them be more at ease around him.

"It was an impressive display, Potter," praised Nott, earning the green-eyed wizard's attention. "One would think you've been hiding your real power."

Harry shrugged.

"One would be correct," he replied, to the surprise of the two snakes. "Although that is a long story, and as much as I am enjoying our little banter, I'm not in the mood to share it. Besides, more people are coming, and I fear that soon I'll have to dedicate my attention to the red waste bin, the beaver, and their kitten pride."

The two snakes still had questions but didn't voice them, especially when they realized that Potter had spoken the truth. In fact, the new arrivals were none other than Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bulstrode. Both girls were talking among themselves and looked surprised when they saw their housemates close to Potter. In fact, Daphne's surprise quickly turned to anger at the sight of the green-eyed wizard because of his words of the previous day. However, as much as she wanted retribution, she decided to ignore him and continued forward, encouraging the other girl to proceed.

Harry, however, was not going to let the opportunity pass.

"Did you enjoyed the show, Greengrass?" he asked, noticing how the girl glared at him. The other snakes looked between Harry and Daphne, not understanding what Harry meant.

"Bulstrode, I'm not going to go on a rampage nor hurt anyone. You can relax," said Harry, noticing how nervous the girl was and casting a wandless Compulsion.

"You must think yourself so special," replied Daphne with a sneer, leaving the other three in shock, especially Tracey and Millicent, who knew Daphne the best. Harry just smiled while sighing mentally. He could cast a Compulsion on her, but he had promised himself that he wouldn't do that to her.

"I don't think myself special, far from it."

Daphne scoffed and ignored the boy. The three others noticed she was acting differently than usual.

"Daph, what's wrong?" asked Tracey. She knew Daphne had been a bit angry about something since the previous day but never said what.

"Nothing," the girl said, huffing and crossing her arms, looking at the door in front of her. Millicent was the first to realize something.

"It was Potter, wasn't it?" she asked, drawing the attention of everyone.

"What did I do?" asked Harry, narrowing his eyebrows, even though he knew perfectly well.

"Millie, shut up," said Daphne with a glare, intimidating the bigger girl.

"Actually, I'd like to know, what did I do to anger you so much?" asked Harry, actually leaning back from the wall. A small part of himself begged him to stop with the theatrics and just apologize, but he knew that the Ice Queen needed to vent her anger before he could even apologize.

Daphne turned and gave him an icy look and he actually held his breath, something that the other three Slytherins noticed.

"Damn it, I screwed up big time," Harry Potter thought to himself. He had an eighty-year-old soul, he'd faced countless horrors, and was a Dark Lord, but if there was anything he feared it was the cold look that Daphne Potter, née Greengrass was able to give him when she was angry. In his entire life, he had been on the wrong side of that look three times. Ironically, the first was when they actually met, something he was trying to recreate, the second when he had a less than proper behavior at the victory gala after the defeat of Voldemort, and now.

With a sigh, Harry made a small bow.

"Ms. Greengrass, I recognize that I may have offended you by either actions or words, most likely words. I would like to apologize for my offense and beg your forgiveness," he said, surprising all the Slytherins, who gaped at him. The anger in Daphne's eyes was replaced by surprise.

"Just shut up, Potter," she replied with a huff, going back to her initial position.

"Can you at least tell me what I said that offended you so much?" he tried again, earning another glare from the young witch. Harry raised his hands as a sign of peace. "Fine then, I'm sorry."

Theo, Tracey, and Millie just stood there staring, before Tracey started to grin.

"Harry Fucking Potter, who faced a dragon and humiliated an entire school, actually afraid of the Ice Queen? This is gold!" she said, not hiding her laughs, nor did her boyfriend. Millie just smirked, and Harry sighed.

"Great job, Potter," he thought to himself, "Idiot."

"You're an idiot, Potter, did you know that?" asked Daphne with a cold voice, looking the green-eyed wizard in the eyes. "The respect I gained during the task or even during your speech vanished the moment you lumped all of us with Malfoy and his lackeys."

It made sense to Harry.

"I can definitively imagine it," he replied with a sigh, almost ignoring the other three snakes present. "I won't attempt to justify myself. I can't, and I should've known better. My only excuse is that I was eleven and very impressionable after all I had just seen and heard."

He sighed, and Daphne turned her eyes away, ignoring the wizard. The truth was that she wasn't as angry anymore, but she had an image to keep. She ignored him again and he leaned again on the wall, noticing the looks the other snakes were giving him.

"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That was...strange," replied Millicent, to which Tracey nodded.

"Fuck..." was Harry's only thought. Luckily, he didn't need to make excuses because the other students began to arrive, just as Snape unlocked the door.

"Inside," the sullen professor ordered. Within moments, the students were entering the classroom. Harry took a seat in the front and put on a sullen face, crossing his hands on the table. He focused on Snape, who glared at him, making him smirk. That only angered the Potions Master further. Out of nowhere, Harry felt a pressure in his mind.

"Caught you, you son of a bitch!" Harry shouted in his mind, directing the professor's probe into his mind with a smile. Snape didn't realize it in time, and suddenly found himself in a dark room.

"What the...?! POTTER!" the older man shouted, too angry to realize what had happened. Out of nowhere, torches began to light, revealing a pathway with snake statues along it, ending in a massive statue that depicted the face of a man.

Beginning to get curious, Snape cautiously walked forward. He stopped when he heard hissing, not seeing anything amidst the dim illumination provided by torches.

"Welcome, Professor, to the Chamber of my Secrets," Snape heard the voice of Harry say, echoing around him, "Meet Bael!"

From the darkness, a massive snake lunged against the Potions Master without warning. With nothing but a scream, Severus Snape felt himself being thrown back, hitting something with a loud crack, all the while covering his eyes and face.

Not hearing a thing, he looked around to find himself back in his classroom, noticing how everyone was gawking at him.

"Are you all right, Professor?" asked a hated voice, to which Snape immediately turned and glared.

"Potter, one hundred points from Gryffindor for assaulting a teacher!" snarled Snape, sounding looney to all.

"But Professor, I didn't do anything," replied Harry, his glee hiding behind his mask.

"Twenty more for talking back to a teacher!" The Gryffindors were outraged, and Granger had her arm up. Harry, however, just sighed. It was, however, a mock sigh.

"If you believe it's fair, Professor," Harry said again, ignoring how everyone was looking at him in shock.

"But Professor, he's not a Gryffindor anymore," said Parvati Patil, earning nods from all the other Gryffs.

"Oi, Patil, stop wasting valuable class time with useless remarks. No one cares about that," was Harry's reply, shocking everyone again, including the professor, who was about to reply to the Indian girl by taking more points. Harry just smiled, looking at the baffled professor, who just waved his wand.

"The instructions are on the board. Begin. IN SILENCE!" he said, and the students did as they were told. The potion on the board was a more powerful variant of the healing potion. Luckily, Harry had brewed several of those particular potions in his past life and knew the steps by heart. He started to chop his ingredients while the water boiled and quickly went to work, ignoring both the cold glares the Gryffindors were giving him and the confused looks of the Slytherins. Snape, however, despite being angry at the boy, was also curious, noticing his method. The boy was confident, following the recipe, and was actually doing a good job. The Potions professor would be seething if he hadn't been so surprised and confused. Instead he just stood there, occasionally making a round.

At the end of the class, Harry presented a vial filled with a red-coloured liquid, as good as the best brewers in the class, surprising the professor.

"Acceptable work, Potter, although I have no idea how a dunderhead like you could have actually produced this without cheating."

Harry only nodded, looking hard at the man. Snape widened his eyes as Harry's green ones flared. "I know who told Voldemort about the prophecy," Harry whispered, turning his back to Snape, leaving the man in shock.

Harry went back to his place and cleaned up, packed his belongings, and waited patiently for the order to leave. He noticed the nervous and agitated look Snape gave him and relished in it.

When the class finally ended, Harry was one of the first to leave the classroom, walking slowly down the corridors, quickly followed by everyone else.

"Five, four, three, two..." he counted for himself, knowing full well what was coming. On cue, a shriek was heard:

"Harry!" shrieked Granger, stomping after him. He ignored her, and as soon as she grabbed him, she found herself with Harry's wand pointed between her eyes.

"Never touch me again, unless you want to experience what the dragon felt!" snarled Harry, making sure the bitch understood exactly what he meant. Granger was actually terrified and only gaped.

"Oi, you Dark Wizard, leave her alone!" shouted the unmistaken voice of Ron "The Pig" Weasley, as he cast a spell at Harry. Without even thinking, Harry twitched his wand, sending a shrieking Granger into the path of the spell, intercepting it in midair.

Granger fell on the floor and started to vomit slugs, much like Weasley had in their second year after his spell failed due to his broken wand. The Slytherins started to laugh, while the Gryffindors paled and Weasley snarled.

"You bastard!" shouted Weasley again, turning his wand at Harry. This time, he decided to cast something more powerful, but to no avail. Harry lazily dodged the Reductor Curse and with another twitch, sent Granger, who was still weeping and vomiting slugs on the floor, against Weasley's legs, making him fall on top of her, dropping his wand.

"You couldn't wait to fall on top of her, could you, Weasley?" taunted Harry, although it was a cold taunt. Everyone paled at the display, although the Slytherins were amused.

"You son of a..." started Ron, receiving another twitch of Harry's wand that silenced him. To add to his humiliation, Hermione, who attempted to free herself from Ron's weight, vomited two slugs on him, covering his face in slime and making the Slytherins laugh again. None noticed Harry gazing behind them, towards the Potions professor, who stood at the door. He had seen everything and had decided not to interfere.

"Weasley, twenty points from Gryffindor for attacking a student. Granger, ten points from Gryffindor for causing a ruckus. Potter, twenty points from Gryffindor..." Snape hesitated, remembering what had happened in the beginning of the class and the previous day. He again noticed the confused and outraged looks from some of the Gryffindors. Snape drew his wand and cast Levitation Charms on both Granger and Weasley, intending to take them to the infirmary. "Potter, detention with Mr. Filch tonight for assaulting two students. The headmaster will also know about this."

"They deserved it," was Harry's cold reply, shocking even the professor. Harry's wand disappeared into his sleeve, and he simply nodded to the professor, turning his back on him.

Snape left in the other direction, thinking on what he had seen. Potter had shown no compassion whatsoever towards his former friends, had cast only simple spells, non-verbally, and seemingly couldn't care less about his former friends' fate. For the first time in a long time, Severus Snape felt a cold chill up his spine.

The Gryffindors and the Slytherins were left in silence and started to part. Malfoy made some remark, but no one really paid him any attention. They were all thinking on everything that had happened.

Once again, the Slytherins considered the possibility of actually inviting Potter to join them during meals.

Their next class was Charms, again with the Gryffindors. Potter was found to be already at the classroom door, in the same position he was in before Tracey and Theo arrived at Potions. Some Gryffindors were already around, keeping their distance from their former housemate.

"Nice work, Potter," praised Tracey before anyone could say anything. Harry snorted but said nothing in reply. Malfoy, Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini were shocked at the interaction between Davis and Potter.

"Yes, really impressive," replied Millie with a chuckle, attracting everyone's attention to herself. "Of course, you will still get into trouble, but it was impressive nonetheless."

"Snape saw everything," said Harry in a cold voice. "He saw that the waste bin started everything, and he still gave me detention."

"What did you expect?" asked Theo with a snort, "The man loathes you."

Before Harry could say anything, a pop sounded next to him. Dobby appeared, extending his book bag to him. Moments before, he had asked Dobby to take back his Potions kit and bring him his Charms books.

"Here you are, sir. Anything else?" asked Dobby. With a shake of Harry's head, Dobby popped away, leaving everyone amazed by the looks of the elf.

"Was that an elf?" asked Zabini, receiving a smirk in reply.

"Yes, and before you ask, no, you can't know what happened to make him look like that. That's my little secret," replied Harry with a sigh.

"But that isn't a house-elf, is it?" asked Theo Nott with wide eyes.

"He is," replied Harry with a glare that cowed Nott. "He is also my most trusted ally, and I can assure you, there are no walls that can stop him."

It became clear that a change of subject was necessary.

"Wait, it was him that took the dragon," said Daphne, turning to Harry with a question in her eyes. "What did you do with it?"

"Blood, hide, and meat," was Harry's reply, with a small chuckle.

"Meat?" asked Parkinson, widening her eyes, attracting the attention of everyone.

"I don't waste anything. Besides, dragon meat is a delicacy, isn't it?" asked Potter, turning his attention to Malfoy. "You're unusually quiet, Malfoy, did the Kneazle get your tongue?"

The blonde boy just sneered to him.

It didn't take much time until Flitwick open the door and the class started. Harry entered the room quietly. In his past life, Harry had fought beside Flitwick, who was a great ally when the problems began, and he actually helped Harry when needed. Unfortunately, Flitwick would die before the end of the great war. The Dark Lord Potter carried several scars, memories from the former dueling champion's grueling training. The man had earned Harry's respect before, and he wished he would do so again.

The small professor noticed the absence of both Granger and Weasley, asking where they were.

"Potter sent them to the hospital wing, sir," replied Seamus Finnegan, hoping to get Harry in trouble.

"What? Mr. Potter, is this true?" asked Flitwick in a disapproving tone. Harry rose from his seat and looked at the Charms professor in the eyes.

"I was cursed in the back by Weasley and defended myself by summoning Granger into the path of the spell. Not happy enough, Weasley cursed me with a Reducto, which I dodged and banished Granger against him, forcing him to fall on her. Last time I saw them, Professor Snape was taking them to the hospital," explained Harry, noticing the surprise in Flitwick's eyes.

"As you can see, Professor, I am only guilty of casting in the halls and defending myself, while Weasley was the one that cursed Granger and attempted to cast a nearly fatal curse on me."

Flitwick was shocked by the tone used by the young Potter. It was cold and full of anger.

"Mr. Potter, I will believe in your version of the events for now and not give you a detention. We shall speak more about that later on."

"Professor Snape already did it, professor."

"I... I see. Well, I guess we shall hear more about this soon. In the meantime, we are going to review the Summoning Charm and introduce the Banishing Charm today. Considering the story you just told us, Mr. Potter, would you care to tell us about the charm?"

"It is used to throw objects and people away from the caster. The incantation is Depulso, and the spell is sometimes mistaken with the Vanishing Charm, Evanesco. They share nothing but a similarity of the name," replied Harry in a low and bored tone. Flitwick nodded. It was a short but true answer.

"Well done, Mr. Potter. Five points to..." Flitwick hesitated, looking to the houseless young man.

"May I suggest one thing, Professor?" asked Harry with a smirk. As Flitwick nodded, he continued, "Give them to Slytherin. As long as the Gryffs don't get the points, I don't care who gets them."

Everyone was shocked again, turning toward the green-eyed wizard, who was smiling.

"Very well, Mr. Potter. However, I suggest, as do most of the staff, that you ask for a resorting. The time you have passed houseless has been more than enough, especially after proving yourself innocent," said Flitwick. Harry snorted.

"Oh, so now the staff cares? How nice of you," replied Harry with a cold and angry voice. Even Flitwick felt the chill up his spine, feeling guilty. Unable to say anything else, Flitwick waved his wand and several pillows appeared on top of his desk.

"I want all of you to summon a pillow to you. Then, we will work on the Banishing Charm. Remember, the incantation for the summoning is..." Flitwick lost his voice when a green pillow passed him, landing before Harry, making everyone look at him.

"What is it this time?" asked Harry, rolling his eyes as he noticed that everyone was looking at him again.

"You... You did it nonverbally, Mr. Potter," said Flitwick, impressed with the display. Thinking carefully, after the boy's display against the dragon, casting spells nonverbally was almost a child's play. "Take ten extra points."

Everyone was confused. The Gryffindors were angry that Harry was doing a good job and they weren't getting any points, and the Slytherins were divided between being amused by collecting the points for Potter's work or not. Millicent Bulstrode decided on being amused, as did Daphne, Tracey, and Theo.

"Now, everyone, please, summon a pillow to you, just like Mr. Potter did," said Flitwick, noticing that everyone had their wands with them. Before anyone could do anything, the door to the classroom opened and an angry McGonagall entered the room.

"Harry Potter, you shall come with me, now!" she said, her tone clearly allowing for no nonsense. To her surprise, Harry sneered at her.

"Let me guess, your kittens are accusing me of assaulting them and you, the example of a Gryffindor, are jumping to a conclusion without even having all the facts, am I right?" asked Harry, the sneer never leaving his face. For a moment, McGonagall lost heart and was shocked by Potter's attitude.

"Well, let's go, then. Unless you want me to swear a Magical Oath, on my life and magic, stating that I just defended myself from your precious protégés," he said, rising from his seat. "You could try and ask anyone here what happened, but why would you do it? You would certainly not believe the Slytherins if they decided to defend me and your house would just rally against me, wouldn't it?"

McGonagall gaped, but to the surprise of everyone, Theodore Nott rose from his place.

"Professor, Potter speaks the truth. He only defended himself from the spells that Weasley cast at him with a Summoning and a Banishing Charm. For his part, Weasley cast a Slug Spitting Curse, which Potter intercepted with Granger, and a Reductor, which Potter dodged. After that, he merely threw Granger against Weasley, nothing more."

Harry rose an eyebrow towards Nott. That had not been only the work of the Compulsion Charm.

"Theo speaks the truth, Professor," added Tracey.

"Mr. Nott, Ms. Davis, your assistance is both acknowledged and thanked," replied Harry, noticing the curiosity in Daphne's eyes regarding her classmates' behaviour. "Oh, and Professor?" he said, pointing the wand to the pillow and flicking it, making the pillow fly towards Flitwick, who caught it in his hand. Only then did Harry speak, "Depulso."

McGonagall was even more shocked when she heard the diminutive professor whisper, "Ten points to Slytherin, then. Mr. Potter, wait for a moment. Minerva, a word, please?"

Harry went back to his seat while Flitwick accompanied McGonagall outside.

"Why defend me?" asked Harry, and Theo shrugged.

"You gave us the points; I give you support. I don't like to owe anyone anything," replied Theo, making Harry chuckle.

"How did you do it?" asked Daphne, turning to Harry, who raised an eyebrow, forcing her to clarify. "Nonverbal spells."

"Point the wand to your target and focus on the desired effect. Focus your magic and bend it to do what you want," explained Harry, pointing his wand to the pillows again, summoning a new one. "I learned a while ago that speaking the incantation is only useful to help focus on the effect of the spell. As long as you understand the spell, you can cast it without speaking." Daphne looked surprised at him, noticing the enticement in his eyes, challenging her to do it.

She focused on a pillow and did exactly what Potter had said. Nothing happened.

"Don't think on it. Just feel it," advised Harry again, and Daphne focused her magic as she would when casting any spell. She willed the pillow coming to her and to her surprise the pillow actually did it, falling on the floor a couple of centimeters from her table.

"Well done," said Harry with a smile, noticing how everyone was surprised, even the Gryffindors. "That's a sixth year skill. Practice it and you'll see that you'll be able to cast any spell silently."

"How did you learn it?" asked Tracey, her wand in her hand. Harry just shrugged.

"I've had a lot of free time, all thanks to your badges and the constant harassment," replied Harry, noticing how many people paled.

"Sorry about that. It was Malfoy's idea," said a nervous Zabini. Malfoy paled considerably, making Harry chuckle.

"He's definitively too quiet," teased Harry, knowing full well that the reason for Malfoy had shut up was the Compulsion Charm he had cast on the blonde boy. Malfoy spluttered something that made no sense, but Harry's attention was caught by a pillow that was thrown away from the tables.

"Well done, Greengrass," said Harry, leaning back in his chair, noticing how everyone in the room focused on Daphne.

"That's my witch," thought Harry with a smile. For her part, Daphne summoned the pillow again, this time succeeding in bringing it to herself, banishing it again afterwards.

"Ten points to Slytherin for a job well done, Ms. Greengrass," said the voice of Professor Flitwick by the door, who was grinning in front of a shocked McGonagall. "Mr. Potter, ten points for helping a classmate."

Harry nodded.

"Now, Mr. Potter, please accompany Professor McGonagall. You are excused from homework." Harry nodded again.

"Dobby!" Instead of Dobby appearing, Harry's books and supplies vanished before him, shocking everyone. "Thanks, mate."

Harry left the room, followed by a silent McGonagall, leaving behind some very surprised students and a teacher.

"Draco, wasn't that house-elf of yours called Dobby?" asked Parkinson, turning to Malfoy, who just shrugged.

By the end of the class, several Slytherins were able to not only to cast the Banishing Charm, two of them were also able to cast both it and the Summoning Charm silently.

Harry was taken to the headmaster's office. The entire way, McGonagall was in silence, thinking about what Harry had said and her conversation with Filius.

Filius believed that Harry would have had a good reason for whatever he had done and that she had to investigate it properly, instead of jumping to conclusions just as Harry had said. The story that she told him, the same that Mr. Weasley had told her, was clearly faulty.

Harry didn't say a word to her during the walk, which distressed her even more. She didn't even have the heart to speak to him.

When they reached the gargoyle protecting the entrance to the headmaster's office, Harry stopped and waited for her. He didn't speak, he just waited for her to speak the password. Dumbledore and his sweets...

Entering the headmaster's office, Harry saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk, having an argument with Professor Snape. Harry could smile at his luck. In the background, Fawkes started to sing.

"Ah, Harry, my boy, please, sit. Would you like a lemon drop?" asked Dumbledore. Harry noticed that both Snape and McGonagall stood by the headmaster, looking at Harry.

"First of all, it's Mr. Potter or just Potter to you. I'm not your boy nor am I that close to you. Even Professor Snape gives that courtesy to me, and the man loathes me," replied Harry, glaring at the three before him. Dumbledore was shocked and McGonagall looked as if she had just sucked a lemon. Snape silently furrowed his eyebrows.

"Second, thank you but I'll pass on your sweets, and I prefer to stand. I presume that you called me here because of my altercation with the backstabbers?"

Dumbledore looked sadly at Harry, no doubt intending to guilt trip him. It wouldn't work.

"Directly to the point. Very well, Mr. Potter, how do you justify your actions? You purposely assaulted your friends, students in the halls with dangerous spells..." he was stopped with Harry's cold chuckles.

"I have no idea what those two told you, but I can guess it was an embellished version, no doubt," said Harry, clapping his hands. "Now, I can tell you what happened, but no doubt you will not believe me, since you are all biased against me, or I can show you the memory of the event. Which would you prefer?"

"Mr. Potter, we are not biased against you! We simply want to know..." started McGonagall, receiving a glare from Harry.

"Madam, your actions speak otherwise. Get the Pensieve, Headmaster, I know that Salazar Slytherin presented one to the headmaster's office to help in these situations."

"And how do you know that, you arrogant boy?" asked Snape, although it was more curiosity than spite.

"I read the diaries that Slytherin left in his secret chamber. Where exactly did you think I've been spending all my time?" replied Harry with a raised eyebrow. By now it was irrelevant if they knew of his sleeping arrangements or not. He could see, however, the astonishment in their faces.

"The Chamber?" asked a paled Dumbledore, fear in his voice.

"Yes, Headmaster, I spend my time there, learning and training. Now, if you could be so kind as to present the Pensieve, I'd like to resolve this situation and return to classes." Dumbledore just stood there, watching the boy. Harry Potter had changed a lot. True, he hadn't really seen him since Halloween, but still...he had changed a lot. Recovering his composure, he used his disappointed look again.

"I do not believe it necessary, Harry. I believe that you are still upset with your friends and that you caused the fight. I already know what happened, but I'd like to hear your side with your own words. Furthermore, you need to learn to forgive them and move on. It helps to build character," said Dumbledore, making Harry glare at him.

"I believe I told you to call me Mr. Potter, or Potter. Also, I prefer to show you the memory. It's much less troublesome and can't be contested," said Harry. When he saw that Dumbledore wasn't going to bring out the Pensieve, he just rolled his eyes.

"Accio headmaster's Pensieve!" said Harry, and the door of a cupboard opened. A stone basin floated across the office before landing by the headmaster's desk.

"Mr. Potter, what is the meaning of this?" shouted McGonagall with a glare that didn't affect Harry. Snape was strangely quiet, while Dumbledore was shocked with the young man's defiance. Harry brought his wand to his temple and removed a silver thread from it, placing it in the basin.

"Let's make one thing very clear, Professors," said Harry with a cold voice. "I hate most of the school population, students, and staff. I have been accused of being a cheater without proof, and I was mocked by everyone. Not only did the staff not do anything, but this information has also reached the outside, and now I have an entire nation against me." Dumbledore was about to say something but was stopped by Harry. "I meant it when I said I won't return to Gryffindor. Under the Hogwarts charter, I am entitled to a resorting since I was banished under false pretenses, am I right, Hat?" asked Harry, raising his voice a bit.

"Indeed, Mr. Potter," replied the old hat, who was stuffed on a shelf. "I have to say, you have been most entertaining. I'm not one to say, 'I told you so,' but..."

"Yeah, true..." replied Harry with a grin, before turning it to a glare again.

"But..." started McGonagall, not able to continue.

"Now, we will see the memory and then we will speak about my actions," said Harry, making the Pensieve project the memory for all to see. They saw everything as it happened.

"Now, considering that I did cast spells in the halls, I will accept punishment for it, but I refuse detentions for protecting myself."

"Mr. Potter, you deliberately used Ms. Granger as a human shield," said Dumbledore. "You could have hurt her."

"It was Weasley's spell," replied Harry. Snape was somewhat impressed, not that he would admit it.

"You could have dodged it, as you did with the other spell. Besides, did you have to hurt both Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley like that?"

"I could have, but I didn't. And no, I didn't have to hurt them, but they need to learn a lesson. I do, however, hate them and won't mind if I don't see them ever again. If they attack me, I will defend myself and I will do whatever I must to succeed, even if it means using them as shields against one another. They are traitors, all of them in the house of lions, in fact. Those two especially, and I can assure you that if any of them attack me, I will retaliate. I've had enough with them over the past month."

"This behaviour will not be tolerated, Potter," admonished McGonagall. "While it is true that Mr. Weasley cast the first spell, you started the altercation by drawing your wand first. It is equally bad. You will be punished for it, as will Mr. Weasley."

Harry glared at the older woman with a sneer.

"Very well, then. What is my punishment?" he asked in a cold tone.

"Both you and Mr. Weasley will serve detention with Professor Snape," started Dumbledore. To his astonishment, Harry scoffed.

"Brilliant," he mumbled sarcastically, noticing the uncomfortable sideways look Snape gave Dumbledore.

"I am terribly disappointed with you, Harry," said Dumbledore, shaking his head, only to receive a chuckle in reply.

"Don't worry, the feeling is mutual," Harry replied, glaring at the older man and turning his back on the two older professors. "Professor Snape, when shall I report to you?"

"Nine," replied the Potions professor, attempting to maintain his cool. He was trying really hard. Despite wanting to snap at the boy's arrogance, he decided not to. He still hadn't reported Potter's Occlumency, only that the boy knew about him telling the Dark Lord about the prophecy. Of course, Dumbledore had trouble believing it.

Fawkes sang again but Harry ignored it, turning his back on the professors and opening the door of the headmaster's office.

"I haven't given you permission to leave, Mr. Potter!" said Dumbledore, rising from his chair. The green-eyed wizard looked over his shoulder and glared.

"The days when I obeyed you are long gone. We spoke about my punishment. There is nothing else to talk about."

"I'd like to speak with you about your performance in the first task..." started Dumbledore, only to be interrupted by Harry.

"I already told you, Chamber of Secrets," the boy replied with a smirk, waving his hand over the door, unlocking it. "I've learned more in there than I have learnt in my past four years here. Goodbye, Headmaster, Professors."

Harry left the headmaster's office, leaving three flabbergasted professors behind, unable to understand what was happening. Dumbledore felt a shiver up his spine, something he hadn't felt in years, and for moments he believed he had seen someone far more dangerous and lost than the boy who would one day become Lord Voldemort.

He wondered how it was possible to have failed Harry.

"Albus, what will we do? Mr. Potter has changed. He admitted having studied in the Chamber of Secrets. Has he really fallen into the Dark that much? Is he beyond saving? What will we do?"

"I don't know, Minerva, I don't know," was Dumbledore's reply, which shocked her even more.

Severus Snape remained silent, thinking over what had happened. Maybe it was better not to antagonize Potter and wait and see what he would do. Maybe the boy was more like his mother than he ever thought.

~BREAK~

Dinner arrived, and everyone knew what had happened in the dungeons and in the Charms classroom. Weasley had appeared for dinner, angry and sullen, but there was no sign of Granger. According to the rumor mill, she was going to spend the night in the infirmary.

While Weasley ate with his usual manners, many Gryffindors were sullen and depressed, while others were angry. The Hufflepuffs were anxious, and the Ravenclaws were torn. The Slytherins, however, were ecstatic, especially half of the fourth year students. Millicent Bulstrode was particularly pleased, being one of the two students who was able to cast the spells silently. Daphne Greengrass, the other student, was thinking on what had happened earlier. She heard the conversation around her, about how her year mates were impressed with Potter and how they could benefit by having him on their side. He was already giving them points, what if they managed to bring him into the house, where he belonged?

Daphne started to ignore the conversation, considering Potter's actions. Once again, he had proven her wrong, something she didn't like, and proved himself to be actually good with magic. Furthermore, he had actually apologized for the comparison to Malfoy and had done it politely and properly, something he had never done before, something she wasn't even sure he could do. Next, not only did he cast spells silently, but he'd also taught her to do it. He encouraged her to do it. And she did it. She actually cast the spells silently, over and over, to the envy of her year mates. By the end of the class, only Millie had also done it.

She guessed her main question was, "why?" Why did he do it? Maybe she should attempt to ask for some help with her own spell casting. Not that she was an incapable witch, quite the contrary. She was very capable and had good grades, but she was hardly one of the best. Maybe with Potter's help she could improve even more. That would give her a chance to the future.

She was tempted to approach Potter and ask for help. She was, however, apprehensive of what his price may be.

"What do you say, Daphne?" asked Tracey Davis, interrupting her train of thought.

"What?" asked Daphne, looking at her friend.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Millie in a concerned tone, which the blonde witch ignored.

"I'm fine, what did you want?" she asked again.

"We were talking about asking Potter to join us at dinner tomorrow. We are going to propose it in the common room tonight." replied Tracey.

Daphne realized that Theo, Tracey, Millie, and who would believe it, Zabini, agreed with it. She just nodded, making her year mates smirk.

"That settles it," replied Zabini with a smirk. Daphne cut them out again, focusing on her dinner. She felt a nudge against her leg and looked at Millie, who raised an eyebrow at her. Again, Daphne shook her head and smiled to ease her friend. Millie didn't believe her and would want to talk later on, but left her alone for the moment, joining the conversation about the battle in the dungeons, if it could be possible to call it a battle. Potter had been ruthless with his former friends, and the best part was he hadn't used any fancy spells, only basic ones. That had been impressive.

It actually gave new insight into low-level and everyday spell application in dueling.

As she was eating, the voices stopped. They looked at the doors of the Great Hall and saw a smirking Harry Potter, walking slowly towards the head table.

"I apologize for the interruption; I won't take up anyone's time. Any more than needed, that is," he said, with a huge grin. "I am sorry about my delay arriving to dinner, though. I was reading the most amazing report from Salazar Slytherin's voyages into the south deserts during his youth." People gasped and widened their eyes at Harry, which made him chuckle. "I am within my rights to demand a resorting, and just to be clear, I hereby demand a resorting."

Shouts began again, mainly from the Gryffindors, who attempted to dissuade him. Harry simply ignored them. Had he noticed the Slytherins, he would have seen the smug looks of many of them and the astonishment of several others. He would also see the disappointed looks on the faces of the fourth years, who had just seen their plan to bring Potter into their house thanks to them fail.

Before Dumbledore could even say anything, Fawkes flamed into the Great Hall, bringing the Sorting Hat with him, which fell on Harry's head.

"Now this is efficiency," joked Harry, earning a chuckle from the hat.

"Hogwarts is aware of your plight and has decided to personally grant you your request," the hat said in the young man's mind. "So, tell me, Mr. Potter, how did you learn so much, then?" the hat asked, starting to skim through Harry's mind. Harry didn't attempt to stop him. He knew that the hat was bound by Hogwarts not to share anything he could see in the child's mind. Harry simply lowered his head and lost his smirk as he thought about everything he wanted the old, torn hat to see and understand. By the time he had finished, Harry Potter had to fight to keep the tears from falling. Luckily, he won the battle.

"I understand," the hat said in a lowered voice, filled with awe and respect. "It was foolish of you, to attempt such a feat as soul time travel, but I believe I can understand why you did gamble your life. You have attributes of all the four houses, Mr. Potter, and I see them all working towards the same goal. I can see the hard work you performed to succeed in your task to come back and change the future. I can see the loyalty you have to your comrades that accompanied you through thick and thin, the same loyalty you inspired in all of them. You gave them a purpose and hope, and they gave you all they were. More than minions, they were truly dedicated to your cause. I can see the loyalty you inspired in the Zabinis..."

"Don't," warned Harry the moment the word was whispered by the hat. "Yes, they were loyal to me. I know they had a secret agenda, but I also know that they acted out of loyalty. Lady Zabini was extremely loyal and a dear friend to my heart. Please, just don't."

"Very well, Lord Potter," the hat said, continuing to think. "Hufflepuff is out, then, considering you give your loyalty to those who prove themselves to you and no other. I can see your desire for knowledge, your sleepless nights, and your quests, all with a goal. You are not one to seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge, per se. Rather, you seek knowledge with a purpose, to fulfill your ambition. Every bit of research you did for the past half century of your life (from your perspective) was done with a purpose, and therefore, Ravenclaw is out," the hat continued, mumbling.

"We could say that you are brave, as you recklessly rushed into the ritual, knowing that you may have died from it. Yet, your noble heart is long gone, replaced by a cunning ruthlessness tempered with the pain of loss. You strive to achieve several goals, one being the most predominant. You want her back. Both of them in fact, and you are willing to do whatever it takes. More than that, for the past two years, from my point of view, you actually showed great cunning in hiding yourself in plain sight. You hid your potential for years, and actually studied more than required right under everyone's nose, especially Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. A quintessential Slytherin, if I may."

"You gave everyone what they wanted and they never knew any better, and all it took was a couple of trips into Salazar's Chamber to get his books and diaries. Last year, you actually read them in front of your friends, pretending to read Quidditch magazines? This is priceless...and a little confusing. I knew you would be interesting, my lord, but I never thought you'd be quite this interesting."

"Two years for you, nearly seventy for me, my old friend," replied the Dark Lord in a low and amused voice, making the hat chuckle.

"Yes, I saw several meetings between you and myself. Feel free to call upon me once again; the knowledge I possess should be used, even though many think of me as a simple contraption. They forget I am part of Hogwarts herself and have access to more than a thousand years of knowledge."

"I won't lie, your advice was fundamental when I needed it, but your blasted psychology was a pain," admitted the Dark Lord. "I assume you saw our last meeting?"

"I did," replied the hat.

"Then you know how truly grateful I am, even though you are just an artefact. You provided me with counsel, and I trusted you as much as I trusted my best friend," admitted Harry, sighing, "I hope that this time around we can have a similar relation. I always enjoyed our long debates."

"My my, actual debates? Rowena and Salazar would love to have you, my friend."

Everyone was waiting impatiently for the hat to actually shout something. They could see that both Potter and the hat were talking among themselves, but over five minutes had passed and nothing. Then, Harry rose from his seat, and the hat actually laughed.

"Oh, come on, it's not that bad," said Harry Potter, walking towards the Slytherin table.

"No, you just failed spectacularly. The principle states that..."

"HAT!" shouted McGonagall, drawing everyone's attention to herself, especially the hat and Harry.

"This better be good, Minerva, I was in the middle of a nice conversation in here." People gaped. Conversation? He was supposed to be sorting Potter.

"I trust you were, but unfortunately, we were expecting you to sort our young Mr. Potter?" said Dumbledore, himself astonished by the behaviour of the hat, which just scoffed.

"I didn't say it, did I? Well, it's pretty obvious, the boy goes to where he should have been in the first place, four years ago. SLYTHERIN!"

Even though Harry had announced it before, nearly half of the Great Hall was appalled and baffled. The table in green and silver, however, cheered and clapped. The smart ones knew how much they could benefit from Potter's presence in their house. Potter had been right, most of Slytherin treated him with apathy, but if he was one of them, they knew very well what to do in order to benefit from his influence. With Potter, Slytherin house could grow even further, at least it was what several of the older years were thinking.

The fourth years were divided. Malfoy, Parkinson, and his goons were silent while the others applauded. Malfoy seemed as if he had sucked on a lemon and was seeing his dreams crashing down around him. How could Potter, a lousy and good for nothing half-blood be more popular than him? He was nothing. Slowly, in his mind, he made a plan. He would challenge Potter in the common room that night and prove his superiority. Had his thoughts not been inspired by the Compulsion Charm cast by Potter hours before, or had he any sort of mental barriers to resist such Compulsions, the blonde-haired boy would be clapping as well, if only for self-preservation. But Harry Potter had learned how to plan his moves with consideration, and he had many reasons to hate Draco Malfoy. Malfoy's pain and humiliation would be a suitable punishment for now. However, that would have nothing on what's coming to Oberon, Titania, and their so-called Paladins of Light.

There were appreciative claps from Durmstrang, while there was only polite cheering from the Beauxbatons contingent. House Slytherin knew very well what they had just gained. Some intended to manipulate Potter, but the smartest among them knew that Potter was still a wild card. Their thoughts were shared by none other than their head of house. He didn't know how, but he knew that Potter was hiding something big.

After concluding his meeting with the Sorting Hat, Harry returned it to Fawkes and walked to the Slytherin table, being received by his new housemates with smiles, cheers, and claps on his back. He sat by the fourth years and quickly became involved in their meeting.

"You're a bastard, you know that, Potter? We were planning to invite you to join us for a couple of meals, then suddenly you saunter in and destroy all of our careful planning," complained Zabini, making Harry shrug.

"Really? Well, my apologies. Had I known I would've waited, but I wanted to avoid contact with the other houses. I'm sure you understand."

"So, we're nothing more than a convenience for you?" asked a mock-pouting Tracey Davis.

"I prefer to think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement. Besides, even though I don't intend to win this tournament, I do intend to spite the dorks as much as I can. Where better to do it from than from their archrivals?"

"Hold on, you don't intend to..." started Daphne, "you have a good chance to win."

"I'm in last, Greengrass..."

"So?" asked Millicent. "The first two tasks are only used to accumulate points for the last task's beginning order. Even beginning the task last, you may still win."

"Really?" asked Harry with a shrug. "I'll have to think about that, then. Not sure if I want to win, although if I did, I could rub it in the face of the puffs and the dorks."

"You like to use those words, don't you?" Theo asked with a smirk.

"What can I say? They just roll off the tongue," smirked Harry while Theo grinned, as did most of the fourth years. Ah, Compulsion Charms. A Dark Lord has to love them.

"What are your plans for the future in this tournament?" asked Daphne with a curious look.

"At first, I just wanted to survive. After being abandoned, I wanted to survive and get my revenge by proving myself and humiliating everyone that scorned me. I don't really need to win the tournament to do it," replied Harry, looking at her beautiful sapphire eyes.

"You should, though," was Daphne's reply before returning to her dinner, "If you want to humiliate everyone, you can either make a mockery of the task or not do it at all. You said you wanted to prove yourself. If you manage to do anything flashy like you did with the dragon, you'd certainly prove your point, even if you're underscored."

Harry thought about it. Seeing the nods of approval from his housemates, he had to ask, "I thought that as a Slytherin I was supposed to be discrete and employ deception?" Daphne looked at him and saw his taunt. She smirked.

"I don't think it's un-Slytherin to prove your superiority, although you can always be Slytherin about it."

"Huh?" asked Blaise, Theo, and Tracey. Millie laughed and Daphne smirked. Harry just grinned.

"Well then, milady, I'd like to schedule a meeting with you to discuss my strategy for the second task, as soon as I decipher the clue, that is. I would value your opinion on how not to be too un-Slytherin. In fact, I could use the opinion of everyone, considering this is a new thing for me."

Daphne blushed and the others smirked.

"That sounded awfully like an invitation to a date," mumbled Tracey, making sure everyone heard her. She smirked as she saw Daphne glaring at her.

"You should know, Potter, that Daphne tends to curse her suitors. If you value your bits, you should be careful with what you say and do," explained Theo, earning a glare from said girl.

"I'll consider it if I do ask her for a date," was Harry's reply, receiving a look of surprise from everyone. "Now, what else happened in Charms after I left?"

"Millie and Daphne were able to cast the spells silently like you taught," replied Blaise with some admiration in his voice. "No one else did."

"Flitwick was beside himself and said he should invite you to do more class work," replied Tracey, making Harry groan. Everyone laughed.

For Harry Potter, it was nice to be among his friends, even if they were several decades younger and had no memories of their friendship. He actually caught Daphne looking at him twice with an inquisitive look. She looked away both times, and he found it cute.

"I love you," her voice sounded in his mind, an echo of a past memory.

"I love you too, Daph, and that's why I won't force you back to me. It will be your choice."

~BREAK~

After dinner, the Slytherins left the Great Hall in groups. Professor Snape actually came to them and told Harry to be in his office by nine o'clock. The fourth years walked in group, followed by Harry who was talking with Theo and Blaise about Quidditch. When they arrived at their common room entrance, as soon as Malfoy was about to say the password, Harry told him to stop.

"What the hell for, Potter?" he asked with a sneer, earning a glare and hiss in Parseltongue, "Open!" The wall indeed parted, revealing their common room.

"I always wondered if that would work," replied Harry with a shrug. "After you."

His year mates went in before him. The common room hadn't changed at all since Christmas in their second year. As soon as the door closed, Harry noticed that there were several people in the common room, some of which stopped to look at him.

"POTTER! I, Draco Abraxas Malfoy challenge you to a wizard's duel!" Had Malfoy cared, he would have seen some seventh years facepalming themselves, while others groaned. The fourth years looked at Malfoy as if he was an idiot, even Crabbe and Goyle.

"Are you insane, Draco?" asked Pansy, her voice actually sounding like a shriek.

For his part, Harry wanted to laugh but held himself. He just smirked. With a mocking sigh of resignation, he nodded.

"If you insist, Malfoy. I, Harry James Potter, accept your challenge." Everyone snorted at Harry. A wizard's duel, or an honour duel, was only used to resolve slights to one's honour, sometimes used as a last resource in courts. Nothing would be gained or lost except honour and a sense of superiority. Those two idiots had just undermined themselves, at least that's what everyone was thinking.

The floor was prepared, and most looked disappointed with Potter and Malfoy's behaviour. A seventh year, one that seemed to be quite respected in the house, stepped forward.

"Under the ancient laws, all spells short of the Unforgivables are allowed. You shall duel until your opponent is rendered unconscious or if said opponent verbally gives up. Do you agree?"

"I do," said an arrogant Malfoy.

"Under the ancient laws, I, Harry James Potter, accept the terms of this duel," Harry replied, earning a raised eyebrow from the seventh year by using the proper protocol.

"Is he planning something?" the seventh year asked himself. Several others, those who shared the same circle of power, wondered the same.

"Begin!" ordered the seventh year.

Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry and started with a simple Disarming Charm. Harry was already dodging it to the left and pointing his wand at Malfoy.

"ZAEL!" Harry hissed in Parseltongue, making everyone shiver. Then, from Harry's wand, a black light shone, and in a blink, a massive black snake had taken shape in front of Harry. The snake was huge, almost thirty feet long and one foot thick. The scales were dark and sturdy, and it opened its mouth and released an unnerving hiss as soon as it saw Malfoy. The snake's fangs were exposed, with something dripping from them, most likely venom. Most curiously, the eyes of the creature shone like emerald green flames.

No one made a sound, no one moved. Not even Malfoy, who paled as he looked at the massive creature watching at him.

The rest of the Slytherins were in awe. The bloody snake was terrifying, Malfoy seemed to have pissed himself, and Potter was just standing there, wand pointed at Malfoy.

A spell hit Malfoy in the chest, but before he could do anything, Harry hissed a command in Parseltongue and the snake charged at Malfoy, wrapping itself around him and taking him down. People screamed in horror, but there was nothing they could do. Daphne looked at Harry and saw his cold and calculating eyes. His eyes crossed hers and she could swear he smiled. At her.

"Silence!" shouted Harry and everyone shut up. Curiously, they saw Malfoy screaming but no sound was heard. A Silencing Charm, then. "Look at me, Malfoy," Harry said in a cold voice, and Malfoy did look at him, as did everyone else. They almost gasped, seeing his eyes flaring green. "I don't like you, Malfoy. For long time, you have been a thorn in my side, never dangerous, but an inconvenience. You insult me and always get out of trouble by flaunting daddy's money and influence. I had hopes that you would stop being an idiot, but it was too much to ask, wasn't it? You had to anger me, didn't you, and on this of all nights?" With one hiss, Malfoy's silent screams of pain were seen, as the snake pressed its coils around the blonde boy. Pansy had tears in her eyes, and many were scared of what would happen next.

"The ancient laws say that for this to stop, you have either to say you give up or faint. Since I silenced you, I guess you have to faint, right?" Another hiss and Draco screamed as the pressure was applied. Again, Harry ordered the snake to stop, and everyone paled. Harry was doing it on purpose, to prove a point, no doubt. At that moment, all those in the house of the snakes recognized his superiority. Harry Potter had made his stand and came out on top. Everyone would respect him after that, and fear him as well.

"I could, of course, tell Zael to let you go... Yes, that's right, that magnificent creature is called Zael. If you want me to let you go, I will remove the Silencing Charm, and you shall swear to me that you will never inconvenience me again, you shall not taunt me, nor shall you perturb me. Only then do you have my permission to give up. If you decide to try and be clever, give up before swearing your oath, and force me to release you prematurely, I can promise you that one night, Zael shall visit you in our bed, and next time no one shall stop him. Now, Malfoy, think carefully on your decision." With a new command, Malfoy's silent screams were seen by all. They shivered in fear. Another hiss and the snake released the pressure.

"Finite," said Harry, and Malfoy started to shout that he swore, on his life and magic that he would leave Harry alone. The flash of Malfoy's magic was enough to convince Harry.

"I give... I give," he said. A new hiss sounded and the snake let go of Malfoy, slithering to Harry and placing itself in a protective stance before its master.

"Stop being such a baby, Malfoy, it's not as if you broke something," said Harry, caressing the snake's muzzle and hissing to it.

No one attempted to help Malfoy, they were too focused on Harry.

"How long do you think it will take for Malfoy to kill himself by breaking the oath?" asked Harry to the population of the house. Only then, did the Slytherins process the wording of the oath. Many looked at Harry in awe, and at Malfoy with either sadistic smiles or pity. It seemed like the best-case scenario for Malfoy would be to leave Hogwarts very soon.

The seventh year that acted as the judge started to laugh and clap.

"Well done, Potter, well done indeed. And the best part is, you acted within the bounds of the ancient laws and there is nothing anyone can do to punish you. I have to say, I'm starting to like you."

"Thank you. What should I call you?" asked Harry, hiding his knowledge and starting to build bridges with real snakes. The boy grinned.

"I am Alistair Pince," the young man said with a nod, to which Harry nodded with one of his own.

"A pleasure. Any relation to Madam Pince, our librarian?"

"My great aunt. By order of Professor Snape, I am responsible for overseeing dueling events in our common room, and I have to admit that I have never seen anything like it. You'll go far in this house, Potter. You started off wrong, but you ended very, very well. Congratulations on your winnings."

Then, Alistair turned to a sixth year, "Callahan, take Malfoy to the hospital. I shall go and explain everything to Professor Snape. You, Potter, shall come with me. I understand Professor Snape requires your presence at nine o'clock, for both your introduction speech and some kind of detention?"

Harry nodded and hissed softly. The snake shimmered and disappeared from sight. The platform vanished as well.

"If I may, where did you learn how to summon that snake?" asked the blonde, seventh year girl next to Alistair.

"Salazar Slytherin's own diaries," replied Harry with a smirk, noticing how everyone paled and appeared to be awestruck by the revelation.

"How?" asked a fearful voice, one that attracted Harry's attention immediately. Harry felt his heart break as he saw Daphne looking fearfully at him.

"No, don't fear me, my love, not you," he shouted in his mind.

"Did... Did I scare you?" he asked, and although the question seemed innocent, the seventh year girl and Alistair both realized there was more behind it.

"What do you take me for, Potter, a weakling princess?" she asked, turning her back on him and walking to her dorms.

"Fuck!"

Snape wasn't happy at all. As Alistair reported to him what had happened in the common room, the Potions professor cursed both the blonde idiot he called a godson and the bane of his existence, Harry Potter. Sure, the boy had demonstrated great power and manipulation skills. He had understood the ancient rules that governed the house of the snakes and exploited them to his favour, as any Slytherin was expected to do.

Snape was angry that his godson was an idiot, and that his bane was the Slytherin he wished Draco to be. Harry Potter had changed...or was it more that thanks to the Gryffindors, Harry Potter had revealed his true self?

After hearing from both Alistair and Potter, Snape gave Harry the standard welcome speech and all the rules he was expected to follow. The most important was, of course, that outside of the common room all Slytherins stand together, however, you may resolve your problems inside. A duel is one way to solve them. The professor did make Harry promise (without an oath) not to force an oath on anyone else. The professor would have to change the rules, as there was no prohibition on using oaths in this manner because no one ever thought that such a situation could happen. Clearly Harry Potter was unconventional.

For Harry, it was a strange moment. Snape had actually showed interest in him and actually attempted to be civil. He even ignored the detention he had assigned, which was strange. However, Harry's mind was on the blonde, blue-eyed Slytherin girl.

Daphne sat on her bed, thinking. She ignored Millie and Tracey's comments and kept thinking about what had happened. Pansy, along with Crabbe and Goyle, had run after Malfoy, therefore she only had to deal with Millie and Tracey. And Tracey was already asking questions... How in Merlin's name would she know why Potter had asked her and only her if he had scared her? How would she know why Potter had demonstrated such interest in her?

Of course, Millie scoffed, pointing out that Potter was a boy and therefore it was a question with a simple answer. However, she also said it had been sweet.

Daphne didn't want to think about that. A small smile crossed her lips. Potter... Once again, he had been amazing. She was sure, now more than ever, that she needed to ask him to tutor her, and should he truly have feelings for her, as Tracey insisted, then it might be even easier than expected to achieve that goal. Yet, she was hesitant.

~BREAK~

Harry Potter was laying on the bed with his arms behind his head, looking at the top of the bed.

"So far, most of the plan worked," he thought to himself. "I managed to cast a Compulsion Charm on the fourth year Slytherins. Thank Merlin that I didn't lace the food. I am feared and awed in the castle, and I started to show some of what I can do. I started to give hints about my location for the previous weeks and spread disinformation about why I am so powerful. Even though is only half a lie, I did train at the Chamber of Secrets... I have somewhat gained Flitwick's respect and I was sorted in Slytherin. As I compelled him to, Malfoy challenged me in the common room and I beat the crap out of him by using something powerful, but without showing them anything spectacular, hence Zael. They would all think Zael is a real snake and not the construct it is. I even hinted that I learned to summon Zael from Slytherin's journals... Not a complete lie, Slytherin does discuss golem making in his diaries and I read it after Hogwarts. I was placed in the fourth years boys' room with Theo, Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy. Goyle and Crabbe haven't returned yet. The way Daphne looked at me... Was she frightened? Was I that scary? Vicious? She always said she loved it when I put Malfoy down a peg... Maybe I overreacted? Damn it, Daph, how can I get to you? Will you come and ask me for help to get better? I'll help you my love, just come to me, please, ask me for help... Don't make me compel you, my love. I can't do it... I won't."

Harry's mind drifted to his fifth year, when he started to help her before even the DA. Daphne had approached him in the library at the beginning of the year and told him she believed him about Voldemort's return. It was a shock for Harry, although not as big as the next one that came out of her mouth; she wanted him to help her get better at defending herself from unwanted attention, and was willing to help him in return. She even swore an oath upon her words. When he asked, "why me?" she replied, "Who better than the Triwizard Champion who was three years younger and still defeated the three older champions?"

Harry accepted, and they eventually arranged to meet in an abandoned classroom. Later, Granger came up with the idea of the DA, which wasn't open to Slytherins. Daphne hadn't minded, as long as he kept helping her and the DA didn't mess with their already complicated schedule. It didn't, because for some reason Harry always found time for Daphne. Their moments together served not only as training, but also a way for them to form a bond between them. When Sirius died in the disaster of the DOM, Daphne held Harry tight while he cried. That was when they first kissed. Neither realized who started it, but it happened, and Harry accepted Sirius's death even before leaving Hogwarts.

"Sirius! Remus!" he thought to himself, remembering he hadn't written the letters he needed to. "I can't ask them for help either; one is a man-whore, and the other is almost a célibataire... Although their reaction to my new Sorting should be fun."

It was true that he hadn't sent any type of correspondence to his uncles, but it was also true that they hadn't sent any to him either, therefore, he didn't feel guilty. He sighed and got up from the bed. He wasn't sleepy at all and walked to the desk, where his writings supplies were.

Dear Sirius,

The only reason I am not angry with you for not contacting me is because I understand you are on the run. I don't know if you are in contact with Remus, Dumbledore, or the Prophet, but there have been a couple of events since Halloween, events that I reported in my previous letter to you, which got no reply at all.

As I said before, I was selected against my will to be a Triwizard Champion. Foul play was suspected, and has all but been confirmed. I have no idea who placed my name in the cup, but I was forced to compete anyway. I was bullied and called a liar and a cheat by everyone in Hogwarts from Halloween up until the first task. I didn't like that. If you want to know more, send me a bloody letter and ask, you bloody mutt. I was expelled from Gryffindor tower and from Gryffindor house. I was houseless for a month and took up residence in a chamber which only I can access. I also bonded with an elf, and he has been my friend through all of this. In the first task, I decided to drop the act and reveal part of my real power and persona... Sirius, I managed to kill a bloody dragon and now I am feared and respected by all. That, and seen as the next Dark Lord, but I don't care. I swore a Magical Oath saying that I didn't put my name in the cup and humiliated the school doing so. I even have respect from Durmstrang students for what I did. That, and I seem to have the interest of a half-Veela.

Sirius, I'll be blunt with you. I had a resorting and now I am in the house where the hat wanted me in the first place, the same I'd be in if I hadn't asked him to put me in Gryffindor. Sirius, I am a Slytherin now. The way I see it, you have two choices: accept it or don't. If you accept it, let me know. If you don't, you don't need to contact me ever again.

You have until Christmas to tell me your answer.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Your godson,

Prongslet

Dear Remus,

While I do understand that you may be with Sirius and not informed about what is happening, I know you have a Daily Prophet subscription. If the two of you are together and know what I have been through, you don't need to answer back.

If not, I was selected against my will to be a Triwizard Champion. Foul play was suspected, and has all but been confirmed. I have no idea who placed my name in the cup, but I was forced to compete anyway. I was bullied and called a liar and a cheat by everyone in Hogwarts from Halloween up until the first task. I didn't like that. I was expelled from Gryffindor tower and from Gryffindor house. I was houseless for a month and took up residence in a chamber which only I can access. I also bonded with an elf, and he has been my friend through all of this. In the first task, I decided to drop the act and reveal part of my real power and persona... Remus, I managed to kill a bloody dragon and now I am feared and respected by all. That, and seen as the next Dark Lord, but I don't care. I swore a Magical Oath saying that I didn't put my name in the cup and humiliated the school doing so. I even have respect from Durmstrang students for what I did. That, and I seem to have the interest of a half-Veela.

I'll be blunt with you. I had a resorting and now I am in the house where the hat wanted me in the first place, the same I'd be in if I hadn't asked him to put me in Gryffindor. Remus, I am a Slytherin now. The way I see it, you have the same two choices I gave the mutt: accept it or don't. If you accept it, let me know. If you don't, you don't need to contact me ever again.

You have until Christmas to tell me your answer.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Your nephew,

Prongslet

With the letters done, Harry went to Hedwig and caressed her feathers, making the owl hoot with pleasure. How happy he had been when he saw his trusted owl once more.

"Hey girl, I know it's late, but I have two letters for you, all right? You don't need to go now, you can go tomorrow, ok?"

The owl hooted and offered her legs to Harry to tie the letters. Harry smirked and attached the letters. With a last caress of her white feathers, Dobby appeared and Hedwig flew to his shoulder. With a nod, Dobby popped out of the room, reappearing nearly half a minute later.

"Hedwig is on her way. Would you like a snack? A drink?" asked the elf.

"No, thank you, Dobby. Go rest," replied Harry.

"You should too, Harry."

"I need to think."

"Can I help? Or is it about the mistress?"

"Daphne, yes..."

"Good luck then, Master," said Dobby, popping away. Harry sighed and walked out of the room.

After falling into bed in the Slytherin boys' room, he summoned Dobby, who took him back to the Chamber of Secrets, his secret lair in Hogwarts. He had placed several wards around the bed to make sure it wasn't disturbed.

Near Slytherin's statue, the basilisk's skeleton was mounted in a threatening position, and everything was much cleaner now. Harry sat on the floor and started to meditate. He could usually think more clearly after meditating.

At seven in the morning, Dobby popped Harry back into the Slytherin fourth year dorms. He got out of bed and saw that his dormmates were still asleep. Crabbe and Goyle were back, but Malfoy's bed was still empty. Having done all of his ablutions in the Chamber, he looked around the dorm and took a look at his trunk at the base of his bed, which only he knew was empty. Nothing like a little deception.

He went back to the common room and sat on one of the couches, admiring the room. There were a couple of seventh years already up and leaving for breakfast. They each gave him a nod, to which he replied in the same way.

"You got up early," he heard. He looked at Daphne, already prepared for the day as well, looking at him with an appraising look. "You don't seem like a morning person."

Harry chuckled.

"Usually, I am. It didn't help that I have a couple of things on my mind."

"Oh? Perhaps your 'duel' last night? Perhaps the aftermath?" she asked with a smirk, knowing full well the ancient rules.

"No, the little shite had it coming and there's nothing anyone can do about it. I'm not even concerned about dear old Lucy... I'd give him the very same treatment, or worse."

"You're very full of yourself, Potter," she said, more as advice and a warning.

"You saw what I can do," was his reply, and he smirked. "And I assure you, you still don't know anything."

Daphne felt a shiver up her spine. Her hands trembled as she looked to the green-eyed wizard. It wasn't fear, though, more like excitement, and hope. She drew a breath.

"Potter, I need your help." There, she said it. There was no turning back now, no hiding, no pretending. She had opened a door she had never wanted open, ever. But she did. She admitted he could help her and attempted to ask him. She was also ready to negotiate. He raised an eyebrow, as if he was expecting her to continue. Secretly, he was astonished and overjoyed.

"I want your help in DADA."

"Any particular reason?" he asked, knowing the answer full well.

"My reasons are my own, Potter," she replied in a cold, sad voice, "I can assure you I am not against you and that I need the help. I'm willing to pay and negotiate. What do you say?"

Harry pretended to think about it.

"I don't care if they are your family or not, they are not going to threaten you again, not if I can help it, my love." Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea.

"Let's make a deal, then. I'll help you with your DADA problem and you'll help me with all my tournament problems. Do you agree?" he asked, extending her his hand.

Daphne was surprised, truly. She expected him to ask for much more, but she wouldn't complain. Even so, it was likely that helping him with the tournament would be very troublesome.

"Agreed, Potter," she replied, shaking his hand. She had a small smile on her lips. She hadn't noticed it, but Harry did.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" shouted Harry in his mind, overjoyed.

"By the way, tradition states there is a Yule Ball associated with the tournament," Harry said, drawing her attention. "Unless you're opposed, or wanted to go with someone else, would you like to go with me, in accordance with our agreement?"

Daphne widened her eyes in shock. Then she snorted.

"Well played, Potter, well played."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," said Harry with a smirk. Daphne did her best to hide a smirk of her own.

"Either there is a lot hidden about you or I have just been played by an amateur. I'd rather believe you are just hiding yourself," she said, looking at his smirk. "And I think I am very right," she thought. "A couple of conditions, then."

"Sure, name them and I'll consider them."

"Very well done, Potter," she thought, considering his wording. He hadn't said yes or no, just that he would consider it.

"You'll need to do your best to win the tournament, you'll get proper robes for you if I don't like yours, and you'll teach me properly," she said, looking him in the eyes.

"May I ask why you want me to win the tournament?" he asked, rather curious.

She shrugged.

"I can't give you a straight answer, Potter, but after what I have seen I think you can, and I personally don't like to not live up to all I can achieve," she said.

"That's my girl," Harry thought.

"Besides, like you said, it would crush the dorks and the puffs," she added, making Harry chuckle.

"Very well. I'll do my best to win the tournament, don't worry about my robes, I am already on it, and I promise I'll teach you properly," he said, to which she nodded.

"This better be worth it," thought Daphne behind her smirk, even though she couldn't help but think it would be.

"Would you like to accompany me to breakfast?" asked Harry.

"I usually wait for Millie and Tracey. You can come with us, if you'd like," she replied, receiving a nod. Both of them sat on the couches, waiting.

"Let's begin with our lessons while we wait, then?" asked Harry, to which Daphne turned to him, surprised. "Considering how you managed to cast both charms silently yesterday, I'd like you to try a new thing. I want you to attempt to cast Lumos and Nox several times in succession, silently."

"Why?" she asked, not really seeing the point of the exercise.

"You may think it's useless, but think of it like this. Casting a spell is a matter of controlling the flow of magic from your magical core. Casting silently is a little harder than casting verbally, but it helps to improve your magic control. Before going to the hard spells, I want you to be able to cast spells silently and with as little effort as possible. Besides, sometimes we cast spells using more magic than needed and the extra magic doesn't always improve the spell. It does, however, tire you out quickly."

Daphne was surprised.

"Interesting..." she said in a whisper. "May I ask where you learned this? Or is my answer, 'Salazar Slytherin's Diaries'?"

"Not only, but also, yes," was his reply, drawing his wand, as a demonstration casting Lumos and Nox within short intervals, silently and without wand movements.

By the time Millie and Tracey came down, Daphne was able to cast three sets of spells in succession before she made a mistake. It was harder than it looked.

"Remember, breathe and mold your magic."

"That's a bit frustrating, Potter, and doesn't help at all," was Daphne's reply.

"It will come with practice," he replied.

"So you say."

"Would I lie to you?"

"You'd better not."

Millie and Tracey were gaping at the two of them.

"What in Merlin's name is going on with the shameless flirting?" asked Tracey with a teasing grin, startling both Harry and Daphne.

"What are you talking about?" asked Daphne, narrowing her eyebrows but Tracey and Millie just laughed.

"Let's just go to breakfast."

"What about your boyfriend?" asked Millie, to which Tracey snorted.

"Are you kidding? I'm not going to miss all the fun they can provide us because Theo decided he wanted to sleep in," replied Tracey, earning another glare from Daphne.

"Again, what are you talking about?" asked Daphne, making Tracey grin even more. Millie was chuckling.

"Breakfast and fun first, dearie," said Tracey.

"Good morning, ladies," said the voice of Zabini, walking towards them. "Potter."

"Zabini."

"What's with all the talk?"

"Let's just say that we caught Potter and Daphne flirting," replied Tracey, making Daphne blush imperceptibly.

"Really?" asked Zabini with a grin. "You work fast, Potter. And the Ice Queen..."

"Can I have a word with you Zabini?" asked Harry, pushing Blaise a couple of feet away from them. The girls were surprised, even more so when they saw Blaise blush red and lower his eyes. Then, the both of them came back.

"So, breakfast then?" asked Blaise, leaving three very surprised girls. "Or if you'd like to wait, Theo was just getting up."

Theo took a few more minutes to join them in the common room and was surprised to see them all waiting. The girls were looking curiously at Zabini, Potter was smirking, and Zabini was talking about something. The group went together to breakfast.

"What did you tell Blaise that cut him short?" whispered Daphne to Harry while they were walking to the Great Hall, making sure no one heard them.

Harry smirked.

"I told him that if he didn't stop, I'd tease him about the one he has being moaning about in his dreams," he said, earning a surprised look.

"You know something?" she asked, curious.

"Yes."

"Not really, but I managed to learn two things," he said, earning a look from her. "He does have a secret crush he doesn't want anyone to know about, and from now on he will behave, even if it's only because he's afraid I'd tell."

Daphne was surprised.

"Well played, Potter."

"Thank you, Greengrass."