Fly On The Wall, Snake In The Grass
Disclaimer/Plot/Challenge Information/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Recommended Reads: Harry Potter, Squatter by Enterprise1701-d, Harry Potter, Dark Legacy by The Fallen One 2012, The Son of Storms by PerseusPeverell092, Harry Potter: The Demigod Who Lived by DGJabberwocky, Damaged Raven, Apex and Dark Lord Potter by JustBored21, Harry Potter and the Potter Grimoire by IamZerokun, The Rise of the Last Potter by HPfanfictioner66, Child of the Storm, Ghosts of the Past and The Phoenix and the Serpent by Nimbus Llewelyn, A god's love by LovableOkie and Worthy of Magic by Raul Fictitious
Key Pairing: Harmony; Female-Percy/Luke;
Other Pairings: To be determined
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Mental Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Silverdragonstar: Given what's revealed in this chapter, I daresay that's likely;
Nagiten: The answers will probably be obvious once you reach the end of this chapter;
ALSO;
In case you haven't noticed yet, let me point out that this story is now SOLELY a Harmony – Harry/Hermione – pairing;
Why?
Simplest reason of all: I chose to make it so, seeing as how my idea set everything up nicely for our heroes-not-heroes;
"But…how will you…"
Here, Harry tapped his nose before he chuckled softly;
"Oh, don't worry about my chocolate supply, Mia; in case you forgot, even before I was forced to leave Durzkaban, I made friends with a certain someone who was very happy, if not ecstatic, to serve a better Master nowadays."
Chapter 4: New Friends, New Families
By the time the Hogwarts Express reached Hogsmeade Station, the atmosphere seemed to be tense, if not akin to one skating on the thinnest of thin ice, mostly thanks to the unexpected stoppage and the debut of the Dementors.
As Harry had predicted, several first and second-year students had been left traumatised by the sudden appearance of the cold-inducing soul eaters, while, to Harry's ire – as well as Hermione's when he told her – hardly any of the students, least of all the self-important Bighead Boy, knew the first thing about how to repel such evils.
Therefore, it was no surprise to Harry that the sudden appearance of several different Patroni – the shape and form changing, depending on who you talked to – was the main topic of conversation when everyone disembarked from the train. While Harry and Hermione made their way over towards one of the carriages, Harry also noticed Remus leaving his side, explaining how he needed to send a report, before the two Gryffindors found themselves climbing into the back of the aforementioned carriage.
As Harry sat down, however, a soft, almost-saddened sigh escaped him before, to Hermione's curiosity, Harry seemed to become fixated on the view at the front of the carriage as he whispered one word.
"Beautiful."
"What is?" asked Hermione, earning a low scoff from Harry as he looked back to her.
"Right; I forgot, you haven't seen death yet, Mia; and I really hope you never have to, but, to answer your question, these carriages aren't quite as magically-driven as people believe. In fact, right at the front of each carriage, leading the way to the school, is…"
"A Thestral."
Suddenly, Hermione jumped while Harry smiled as he turned to see they'd been joined by a silvery-blonde-haired young lady, who was dressed in a Ravenclaw-crested robe, yet also seemed to be interested in the magazine she was reading, the Quibbler.
"And you're right, Harry Potter," added the blonde, while Hermione could only look on in amazement as, without lowering her magazine – which the brunette also noticed the blonde was reading upside-down – the strange newcomer added, "They really are beautiful, which makes it a sad act of Fate and the Powers that only those who've witnessed Death can see them."
"The price of beauty is a steep one indeed," agreed Harry before, to Hermione's surprise, he then moved across the carriage as he smiled fondly at the blonde. "But, fortunately, the reward outweighs that price, isn't that right, Luna?"
"Yes Prince," said Luna, earning a soft shushing gesture from Harry before, again, Hermione was left surprised and speechless when the girl, Luna, lowered her magazine before she leaned her head against Harry's shoulder.
As Hermione watched, Harry began caressing the blonde's beautifully-coloured locks with the care and gentle touch of a considerate friend, while Luna sighed contentedly. "I've missed this."
"Me too," said Harry, looking from Luna to Hermione as he added, "Sorry, Hermione: I'm not sure if you've had the chance to meet her yet, so, for now, allow me to introduce my new surrogate baby sister, Luna Lovegood. Luna, this is…"
"The Princess to you, sweet Prince," said Luna, earning a dumbfounded look from Hermione, while Harry kissed Luna on her brow.
"Maybe one day, little sister."
"You're Loony Lovegood!"
Suddenly, Hermione's hand flew to her mouth, if only because of how Luna suddenly cringed and whimpered pitifully when Hermione spoke, while Harry's hand stopped stroking the girl's hair, instead becoming a fist while Harry's eyes shone like the curse that had made him famous as he snapped his eyes in Hermione's direction. "What…did you…just…call her?"
"I…I didn't…it's…it's just…" Hermione began, trying and failing to find her voice while, not for the first time, she wondered what had happened, not only to make Harry go from protective sibling to sleeping-dragon-tickled, but also to make him become so fierce and cold all of a sudden.
"It's not her fault, Big Brother," said Luna, clasping Harry's hand in hers, where Hermione then saw Luna stroking the skin on the back of Harry's hand with her thumb as she explained, "She's only parroting what they all say about me, especially her little stalker and the sick, and silly little girl. If I know your Mia as well as you know her, we both know she doesn't mean such bad things. After all, she herself is a bully's favourite target, isn't that right, Princess Chipmunk?"
Now, it was Hermione's turn to flinch, though not before she wondered how Luna Lovegood – who, she admitted, was the source of one-sided controversy and opinions because of how eccentric she could be sometimes – might know of the nickname that Hermione's tormentors used on her when she was in her old Muggle School.
Harry, meanwhile, looked back to Luna with a softer air about him before he asked, "You're certain, Luna-girl? You know how I feel about bullies."
"I promise," said Luna, lifting her head from Harry's shoulder, but only so she could kiss him on his cheek as she smiled at him, "Your Mia is not like the rest of them, Big Brother. If she were, you would not still feel what you feel when you think about her, and even she knows it's true, isn't that right, His Mia?"
Even though it was someone else using the phrase and nickname – and a girl at that – Hermione still couldn't help but feel a strong sense of attraction and liking for the way Luna used the little nickname that Harry had given her, if only because hearing the name made her think of Harry.
And how angry he was at her for doing to others what some had done to her, like when he'd risked everything for her sake.
Licking her lips nervously, Hermione nodded softly as she replied, "Y-y-yes…she…she's right, Harry; I…I'm sorry for saying it like that, but…but to be fair, you did say you weren't sure if I'd heard of her. Still, it's nice to be able to put a name to a face, Luna and…for whatever reason…I'm glad that Harry thinks he can have such a…a lovely, friendly, happy-go-lucky girl as a friend he can call an honorary sister."
"Surrogate sister, thank you very much, Miss Granger," argued Luna, earning a surprised look from Hermione before, to her curiosity, she saw Luna look to Harry as she asked, "Does she know?"
"No."
"Oh," said Luna, before she shrugged as she added, "Well, in that case, let's just say my Big Bro and I had a rather…animated adventure this summer, roughly about the time we met our new teacher and…well, the rest is history…or a story you're not ready to hear just yet, Princess."
"Err…o-o-okay…" said Hermione.
Before she could say anything else, however, Hermione's eyes widened when Luna suddenly curled up in a nervous, if not fearful look once again; at the same time, Hermione saw Harry slowly drawing his new wand from his robe, before he hissed under his breath, "Don't worry, little sister…I won't let them hurt you…nor Mia…just keep your head buried in my robes…"
"Gladly, Big…Big Brother…" whimpered Luna, before Hermione gasped when the blonde shivered as she gasped fearfully, "No…Mummy…not you; please not you…no…don't leave me…Daddy…why…why won't you wake up?"
"What?"
Turning to look ahead, Hermione saw them: Dementors, two of them, both standing like the guards outside Buckingham Palace, tall and vigilant, outside the gates to Hogwarts.
As their carriage passed between them, Hermione was a little surprised to notice how she wasn't affected by the Dementors, while, as Harry's seat passed the monstrous shadow demons, Hermione thought she saw the tall, imposing sentries slowly edge away from the carriage, as though they actually feared the youth sat there. Luna, on the other hand, seemed all too eager, if not desperate, to bury herself in Harry's robes, earning a low shushing whisper from Harry as he resumed stroking her hair, whispering sweet nothings in her ear as their carriage passed between them.
The fact that Harry himself didn't seem affected by the Dementors – especially since, from the sounds of it, Luna and Harry had a common trauma in their pasts – was also something that Hermione couldn't help but notice.
However, given she'd already risked tickling the not-so-proverbial sleeping dragon inside her best friend by letting slip about the name others used for Harry's new little sister, Hermione chose to keep her peace as their carriage rolled towards Hogwarts.
As soon as they were away from the Dementors, however, Hermione gasped again when Luna perked up as quickly as she'd cowered when she sat upright, hugged Harry and, returning her head to his shoulder, she looked towards the looming visage of Hogwarts.
"Hungry…I hope there's pudding…"
Fly/Snake
"Potter! Granger!"
"Damnit!" hissed Harry, while Hermione looked both surprised and curious by Harry's attitude change, following the call for their attention that came from their Head of House. "Not even able to get to my dormitory bed before someone decides I need to play ball…I hate being me!"
"No, you don't," argued Luna, earning a scoff from Harry before he nodded with an amused-looking air of defeat.
"No, I don't."
As the two unusually-close surrogate siblings shared their moment, Hermione turned to Professor McGonagall as she asked, "Is…is everything all right, Professor McGonagall?"
"No, it is not, Miss Granger," said Minerva, looking to Harry more than Hermione as she explained, "In light of your…disappearance over the summer, Potter, the Headmaster and the Minister have both requested your presence immediately. Furthermore, it has been informed to us that you were taken ill on the train, so…"
"I don't know what blind fool told you that load of, as an old friend would say, codswallop!" exclaimed Harry, earning a soft laugh from Luna as he even impersonated Hagrid's rough brogue, before he continued, "But, as Hermione and our new Defence Professor will reliably inform you, Professor; I wasn't even travel-sick on the train, much less taken ill by anything."
"What?" asked McGonagall, looking around in disbelief, while Harry rolled his eyes as she insisted, "But…but we received word…"
"From whom?"
"Ooh-ooh-ooh, I know, Big Brother," said Luna, jumping up and down excitably, waving her hand in the air in a way that made Hermione's cheeks redden as she compared Luna's excitable energy to how she used to be when answering questions back in their first year, while Luna continued, heedless of Minerva's shock or disbelief at the girl's mannerisms, much less Harry's lack of care for her request for him to do anything she said.
"Very well," said Harry, putting on an air that also reminded Hermione of a teacher addressing his favourite student as he asked in an almost-mocking tone of voice, "Miss Lovegood: can you answer my question?"
"It was the Magpie, or perhaps the Blind One, or even the Scarlet Witch with an obsession for handsome green eyes and thunderbolt scars," said Luna, earning a warm, if not satisfied smile from Harry as he kissed the girl's brow.
"House Points to Ravenclaw, my dear," drawled Harry, looking from Luna to McGonagall as he added, "But, for a few bonus points and some treats later-on, little sister, can you also tell me how a magpie, a blind oaf or an over-obsessed silly, little girl can even know whether I was taken ill or not when the only ones in my compartment were me, my Mia and our interesting new Professor and old family friend?"
"I…I'm sorry, Big Brother," said Luna, feigning disappointment as she added, "But for the Greater Good, I can't tell you that."
"Oh well, EE for effort," said Harry, before he released Luna as he added, "Now, be a good little sis and go join the rest of the broken-winged Eagles in the House that should be like family. Mia and I will join you once I've heeded the call of my shepherd, Farmer Dumbles, as well as his Overly-Sour-Flavoured Sweet Eater!"
"POTTER!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Prof," argued Harry, scoffing amusingly, if not disbelievingly, as he sneered at Minerva. "But were you actually expecting me to be happy and compliant to the two guys who are, basically, trying to fuck me and my family up the ass with all this Dementor-hording bullshit? I mean, seriously: how thick and naïve do you think I am?"
"He…he is the Minister…"
"Bully for him," drawled Harry, sniffing once as he added, "Well, might as well play my role…coming, Hermione?"
"Miss Granger is coming with me!"
"Why?" asked Harry.
As Minerva went to answer, however, her eyes widened in horror when Harry spoke again.
"I'm pretty sure her best friend, the guy who is probably the only one who cares about her wellbeing and the one who has more than a few secrets under his belt that others wouldn't want him to know about, but he does, can keep a secret about Hermione having a fancy new gold necklace to turn back the hands of time with, right, Professor?"
Fly/Snake
"Ah, Harry: thank you for coming, my boy!"
"Not a problem, Albus…old chap!" retorted Harry, striding into the office with all the grandeur and dramatic flair he could muster, while, when the Headmaster and the Minister also saw Hermione following him, Harry winked at Dumbledore as he continued, "Sorry for the unexpected company, dear old man, but I had a feeling that, at some point down the line, it would become necessary for me to know about the special privileges of my favourite third-year Gryffindor…although, I think Hermione's got something to say about that, right, Mia?"
"Err…y-y-yes…" said Hermione, trying not to be cowed by the sight of not only the Headmaster, but the Minister of Magic himself, both of whom looked beyond-shocked, if not alarmed – more Dumbledore than Fudge, Hermione couldn't help but notice – while she also wondered, yet again, how Harry could be so brash and to the point as she spoke to the Headmaster. "I…I thought about it over the summer, Headmaster Dumbledore, sir and…and, before I…I start my third year for…for real, I…I'd appreciate it if…if you'd let me drop Muggle Studies and Divination."
"Meaning more important studies, you understand," said Harry, watching as Dumbledore's face fell, while he added, "And, on that note, I too have had some thoughts about it and, before we make our timetables official, I too wish to drop Divination and, instead…"
"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that, Harry."
"Of course, you can't, Albus," drawled Harry, before he indicated Hermione as he explained, "Just as I'm pretty sure that you can't allow my dear friend here to drop her classes, because you need her holding onto a Time Turner…"
"I BEG YOUR PARDON?"
"Wow…no need to shout, Minister," said Harry in a matter-of-fact voice, taking Hermione's hand in his as he added, "Also, judging by your reaction, I'm guessing you don't know about the old geezer's ambitions to hand a Muggle-born student, albeit the brightest and best since dear, sweet, not-so-old Mum, Lily Potter herself, the keys to Time itself! Makes you wonder what he'd hope she achieves with this…I mean, come on, Albus: are you…Sirius…about this?"
Dumbledore's eyes widened in alarm, while Harry snapped his fingers, as though a thought had just struck him, as he added, "Oh, and by the way, Minister and Chief-Warlock-But-Only-When-It-Suits-You, FYI, as they say in the States: about my oath-sworn godfather? He's as much a Death Eater, traitor to my family and loyalist to Voldemort…as I am!"
The sarcastic growl that laced his final words only made up for the pathetic flinch by Fudge, who suddenly looked like he was going to have a heart attack, while Harry sighed audibly, shaking his head and clicking his tongue, before he indicated Dumbledore.
"And, if you can't believe the word of the guy who, more or less, vanquished old Snake-Face, alias the Dark Lord Voldemort, Minister, why not ask the guy who cast the fucking Fidelius on my family in the first place? Hint: he's the guy who also let you put a nest of Dementors around a school full of children because he won't admit when he's wrong!"
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?"
As surprising as it was for Hermione to see Dumbledore yell at Harry with such rage in his voice, it was nothing compared to what happened next.
Namely the bolt of lightning that Dumbledore suddenly held in his hand, his twinkling blue eyes now mirroring the crackling of lightning as he glared daggers at Harry, "How do you know that, Harry? You can't know about it: I refuse to let you keep that knowledge! Now, forget you were ever here: forget about your little teenage rebellion…forget you know the first thing about Sirius…and that goes for you too, Miss Granger: both of you must forget! And that's an order…"
A hazy atmosphere suddenly filled the room…
Though not before Harry lifted his hand and pushed the haze away, scoffing in disbelief as he faced Dumbledore, while, at the same time, he shook his head as he saw Fudge's eyes glaze over, indicating he didn't see or feel what Harry and Hermione had done.
Harry, however, scoffed at the look of abject alarm, if not rage, which flashed across Dumbledore's face, as he addressed the old man;
"I'm sorry, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Son of Zeus, but do you honestly think that the illusionary compulsions of the Mist can affect not only an awoken Demigoddess, but also the mind and will of yours truly, Harrison James Potter, the SON OF HECATE HERSELF?"
Chapter 4 and, blimey: talk about Clash of the Titans: so, the old fool is, apparently, the son of another Divine Control Freak, and Harry is just as similar as him, but more: The Son of Hecate, huh?
What will this mean for the future, especially now Hermione knows about Harry's secret and something she didn't know about herself?
Also, could Harry's secret have anything to do with the brother-sister love, protection and respect shared between him and Luna?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Harry Potter…the REAL Harry Potter…throws off his blinders once and for all and makes it clear what he expects to happen next, but will the Human Zeus listen to reason? Also, Hermione questions Harry about his revelation, leading to a stunning turn of events for our favourite brunette…
Please Read and Review
AN: Dumbledore
So, the old man has shown his hand: looks like the manipulator got manipulated, eh?
Yes, I did intend for Dumbles to be a Son of Zeus from the start because, let's face it: shrewd, manipulative, obsessed with power and believes the rules don't apply to him – Thalia, anyone? – certainly sounds like the right divine parent for the old coot, doesn't it?
Also, yes, Harry DID know before he entered the office…how?
Keep reading to find out…
OH…and on a similar note: this isn't the ONLY revelation about Harry…
Remember the challenge…
That's all I'm saying…
AN2: Hermione
Also, I imagine I'm tempting Fate here, but I wonder if anyone can guess who I've chosen to be Hermione's divine parent?
Remember I said in the previous chapter that it is NOT Athena, but then…who could it be?
Feel free to guess and, if you get it right, I'll dedicate the chapter of the Revelation to you…
