Chapter IV

An Olive Branch

Harry was not looking forward to Potions. History of Magic was just as boring as ever. Harry quickly found himself dozing off as Professor Binns droned on. He was relieved to see that the Slytherins were just as human as he was apparently in that class, Malfoy was out like a light five minutes in while Nott and Greengrass tried their best to keep awake but their eyes were definitely heavy. Zabini drew the entire class while Parkinson barely took any notes, bothering Davis for them.

Harry did not look at the Gryffindors as they entered the dungeons. He somehow found himself sitting between Malfoy and Zabini right at the front of the classroom. Once settled, Harry chanced to look over his shoulder. Ron and Hermione were at their usual table with an empty spot between them. Ron was again glaring at him while Hermione was busy getting her notes out. The other Gryffindors were all giving Harry dirty looks as well that forced him to turn and regrettably see Professor Snape up close.

"Before we begin today's lesson," Snape said, staring at them all. "I think it's appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting for an important examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an 'Acceptable' in your O.W.L., or suffer my… displeasure.

"After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me," Snape went on. "I take only the very best into my N.E.W.T. Potions class, which means that some of us will certainly be saying goodbye."

His eyes rested on Harry and his lip curled. Harry glared back, feeling a grim pleasure at the idea that he would be able to give up Potions after the fifth year.

"But we have another year to go before that happy moment of farewell," Snape said softly, "so whether you are intending to attempt N.E.W.T. or not, I advise you all to concentrate your efforts upon maintaining the high-pass level I have come to expect from my O.W.L. students.

"Today we will be mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: the Draught of Peace, a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be warned: If you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing. The ingredients and method"—Snape flicked his wand— "are on the blackboard" –they appeared on there— "you will find everything you need in the store cupboard"—he flicked his wand again and it opened— "you will have an hour and a half. … Start."

Snape could not have set them a more difficult, fiddly potion. The ingredients had to be added to the cauldron in precisely the right order and quantities; the mixture had to be stirred exactly the right number of times, firstly clockwise, then in counterclockwise directions; the heat of the flames on which it was simmering had to be lowered to exactly the right level for a specific number of minutes before the final ingredient was added.

Harry's glasses fogged easily, and he was sweating profusely. On either side of him, Malfoy and Zabini looked impeccable, and he felt a sting of jealousy. Zabini caught it and sighed, "Honestly, Potter," he said. "Hold still."

Zabini waved his wand and Harry felt an instant cooling sensation. He gasped as his sweat disappeared and his glasses immediately defogged. He touched his hair to feel that it was normally dry instead of drowning in sweat like it usually is during Potions. "What was that?" he asked.

"A simple cooling spell Potter, a first-year can do it," Malfoy answered smugly. "Shame it didn't change your hair, but you cannot fix a disaster, can you?"

"With your comments about my hair I dare say you're obsessed with it Malfoy," Harry shot back. "It's not going to bite if you touch it."

"Watch it Potter, or I will bite you instead," Malfoy growled irritably. Harry snickered, smiling at the comment. He looked up at the board to reread the instructions and looked down to see that he had made a mistake! He frowned and looked at Zabini, "Zabini," he whispered, "I think I added too much clover."

"Hmm?" He looked at the board and then at Harry, "Were you able to see the instructions?" he asked.

"Not really," Harry said, his cheeks blushing slightly. "This is the clearest I ever saw them. Ever."

Zabini stared at Harry for a moment before turning to look at Harry's old usual seat in the back of the classroom. He shook his head and muttered under his breath before whispering, "One second." He turned around completely to Nott, Greengrass, and Parkinson and said, "I need extra powdered moonstone." Greengrass gave him some and Zabini smiled, "Cheers, Daph." He turned, gave it to Harry without comment, and continued on with his own. Harry stared at him for a second before snapping out it, muttering thanks, and continued on with his potion.

"A light silver vapor should now be rising from your potion," Snape called with ten minutes left to go.

Harry's own cauldron was spitting out white vapors while both Malfoy's and Zabini's were both giving off the silver vapor Snape wanted. Harry quickly looked around on his side and gave a soft sigh of relief to see that most of the other Slytherins were also around that stage. The only ones who weren't were Crabbe and Goyle, whose potions were giving off a mud-colored brown smoke. Harry chanced to look at the Gryffindor's side and had to suppress a laugh when he saw Ron's that was spitting out green sparks.

"Potter!"

Harry spun around at Snape's voice. "What is this supposed to be?"

"The Draught of Peace," Harry said tensely. The Potions Master stared down at Harry's potion and grunted.

"You had help… didn't you, Potter?"

"I realized a mistake and asked how to correct it, sir," Harry said, matching Snape's glare.

Snape made a noise. "Less than twenty-four hours in my House and it seems you've learned something. I guess even imbeciles can be taught one thing every now and again."

Harry did not respond to his provoking, instead, he just continued to glare at the man who moved on without another comment. Malfoy, however, seemed to want to give his opinion. "Looks like he's right, even you can make a potion can't you Potter?"

Zabini sighed.

They were instructed to fill a flagon labeled with their name with a sample of their potion before they were dismissed for lunch. Harry followed behind the others, feeling very odd for having a Potions class without Snape taunting or ridiculing him. "POTTER!"

The whole of Slytherins stopped and turned. Harry felt something heavy in his chest as he turned to see Ron stomping up at him, followed by a rushing Hermione. "You think you're so smart now, eh Harry?" Ron fumed.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.

"That stunt you pulled in Potions! What? Were you just pretending to be bad at potions, so I don't feel bad?" He demanded.

"What? Ron no, I would never do that! Today's the first time I can actually see the board!" Harry argued.

"No, it isn't! You were just playing with me!" Ron yelled. "What? You made me think that you were like me just so you feel special, huh? Did it make you feel good doing that?"

"What is he ranting about? Potter, your friend is insane," Greengrass said.

"It is strange," Hermione said, "that you just suddenly become good at Potions."

"I didn't become good I was finally able to read the instruction! I even made a mistake!" Harry said.

"Then why didn't Snape take points off? Oh, it must be because you're now a slimy snake like the rest of your new friends!" Ron spat.

"No Weasley, it's because he, unlike you, knows how to read," Zabini drawled. "Honestly you impressed me, I had no idea you can mess up bad enough to have sparks flying out of your cauldron." The other Slytherins laughed, and Ron's face started to turn red.

"Shut up Zabini!" He yelled. "What Potter? You're not good enough to talk with me now? You have your slimy friends fight for you?"

"No I can handle my own battles, Ron, you know that!" Harry yelled, getting irritated. "Look mate, I don't get what your problem is?"

"You don't? Maybe it's because you fucking LIED TO US!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, getting the attention of the surrounding students. A crowd started to gather. "You lied to us, Harry! For four years!"

"What?" Harry gasped, staring at Ron. "When did I ever lie to you or anyone?"

"Oh let me think," Ron said mockingly, putting a finger to his cheek in a mocking gesture. "Oh! How about the time when you made everyone believe that you're a Gryffindor when you're just a slimy no-good evil Slytherin!?" he shouted.

"Ron that's—"

"Or maybe the fact that you're now a traitor to us? Huh? Had your laughs with the Gryffindors and how you're back where you belong?" Ron continued, his voice getting louder and angrier as he went on.

"Or how about when I thought that you were just like me and the other boys, but it turns out that you're nothing but a fairy fag all along!?" Ron screamed. "Did you wank off to us in the bathroom, Potter!? You disgusting perv!?"

"Ron—"

"And who knows what you're lying about? Hell if I didn't know better I would say that you offed your boyfriend to get the trophy! Or even better because you're nothing but an evil Slytherin? Huh did you Harry—"

Harry lunged for Ron, screaming in fury but he felt hands holding him back. However, a figure next to him also lunged at Ron, and Harry watched as Zabini punched him across the jaw, a loud cracking sound echoing in the room as Ron fell. "TAKE THAT BACK!" Harry screamed as he struggled against the hands holding him. He wanted to hurt Ron. Punch him. How dare he say that! How dare he do such a thing! "TAKE THAT BACK YOU ARSEHOLE!"

Ron looked up at Harry, his lip split and bleeding. He spat out blood and said, "You're a filthy snake. I should have known better." He shrugged off the people who tried to help him up. "Watch your back Potter, or you'll be seeing Diggory sooner than later."

Harry screamed again, struggling against the hands as Zabini yelled, "Theo, Daph, take Harry to the common room! Lions! Take that idiot away before I murder him!"

"Come back!" Harry yelled out as Nott and Greengrass pulled him away. "Let go of me! Damn it Ron get back here!" He screamed and raved as he was pulled down into the dungeons, his voice echoing in the corridors until the four of them were in the empty common room.

Harry exploded. "THAT FUCKING BASTARD!" he screamed, tears finally falling as his magic radiated off of him. The fireplaces roared with fire as Harry screamed. "AFTER EVERYTHING I DID FOR HIM THIS IS HOW HE TREATS ME!? I FOUGHT FOR HIM! SAVED HIS SISTER! AND THIS IS WHAT HE DOES!? I KNEW HE HAD A PROBLEM—I KNEW HE HAD A FUCKING PROBLEM BUT STILL I THOUGHT HE HAD THE FUCKING MANNERS TO STAY QUIET ON THIS!" He took a breath and continued, "But no, he had to fucking out me in front of fucking everyone! This hurts! This hurts more than any punishment Uncle Vernon gave me!"

"Who is Uncle Vernon?"

The voice stopped Harry. Reality crashed around him, and he turned to see Greengrass, Nott, and Zabini staring at him and the fireplaces anxiously. He felt his energy leave him as the fires died down. "I—nobody," Harry said.

Greengrass frowned and took a step closer, "Who is he?" she asked. "When you say punishment, what do you mean? How did it hurt?"

"I never said that," Harry said quickly.

"Pot—Harry," Zabini stressed. "Please."

Harry looked between the three and he felt his heart beating against his chest aggressively. He swallowed too much and felt his voice fail him. His hands felt clammy, and he looked down at his lap. "Don't tell anyone," he muttered.

"We promise," Nott said. "You're a Slytherin now, so who is this man?"

Harry sighed and found he had no other choice. Perhaps after he told them the truth they would finally leave him alone. "He's my muggle uncle," he said. "I live with him, my aunt, and my cousin Dudley. They all hate me, and I hate them. They had me do all of their chores and cooking since I was four years old. Whenever I do something to anger them, which is often, they would hit me or starve me."

Greengrass gasped. "No," she whispered. "Is that true?"

"I have the fucking scar to prove it," Harry said. He lifted his shirt and turned to show what looked like the white outline of a belt buckle on his lower side. Zabini grimaced at the site of it while Nott's nostrils flared as he breathed deeply. Greengrass just kept her hands to her mouth.

"This isn't like we were told," she whispered.

"What?" Harry said, dropping his shirt.

Zabini licked his lips and said hesitantly. "We were always told that you lived in a protected mansion," he said, "filled with the finest house elves to serve you."

Harry gave a short humorless laugh. "You got it wrong, I am the house elf," he said. "Fuck I was treated worse than that! As soon as I was old enough I was shoved in the damn cupboard. That was my 'bedroom.'"

"That's disgusting," Greengrass whispered. "That is nothing like we have heard."

"Who exactly told you that?" Harry asked, frowning.

"It's just something we grew up with, I don't know who started it," Zabini said. He raked his hand through his hair and cursed softly. "We had you all wrong," he whispered. "That's horrible." He cleared his throat and struck out his hand, "Blaise Zabini, please call me Blaise."

Harry stared at his hand for a moment, frowning, "Is this because you pity me?" he demanded.

"No," Zabini said honestly. "I realized that I've been wrong about you since the beginning, so I want to take the chance to know you for real."

Harry stared at the hand once more before coming to a decision. It would be better if he had friends than three years alone. He took Blaise's hand and shook it. "Call me Harry."

"Theo Nott," Nott said, "call me Theo." Harry shook his hand too and Greengrass stood up next to Theo and struck her hand out.

"Daphnis Greengrass."

"Daphnis?" Harry repeated.

"Yes. Daphnis," Greengrass stressed. "I'm a boy like you, Potter."

"Oh," Harry said. He nodded and took his hand, "Er, nice to meet you, Daphnis."

"We like to call him Daph," Theo said. Harry nodded and Daphnis smiled.

"Thank you," Harry said.

"Not at all Harry," Blaise said, putting an arm around him. "You're one of us now. Besides, punching Weasley felt really good."

Harry laughed at that and gave a shy smile.

"But you and Diggory, really?" Blaise continued on. Harry continued to smile shyly as he nodded. Blaise grinned widely and jostled Harry lightly, "You need to tell me all of the details, now Harry," he said.

A few moments later, Harry walked into the Great Hall smiling brightly as he laughed at something Daphnis said. He was still telling them about how he and Cedric met up, something that Theo called "disgustingly cute" and he didn't mind at all that Blaise still had his arm around him. They reached their spots at the table and sat down. Malfoy raised an eyebrow but kept his mouth shut as Harry said to his new friends, "No seriously, our first date was at the prefects' bathroom after the first task. He taught me how to swim more properly before teaching me 'the joys of underwater snogging.'"

"And how was it?"

"Bloody fantastic!" Harry gasped, causing Theo, Daphnis, and Blaise to laugh. Harry felt his smile grow even more and he looked up. He caught Neville first, who smiled and gave him a thumbs up encouragingly before his eyes rested on the Gryffindors. They all glared at him murderously, Ron most of all, but despite it all, Harry couldn't stop smiling and he returned to his friends as he began telling them another story of him and Cedric.

A/N: Once again thank you all for the follows and favorites and the reviews! Please continue sending them in and I will do my best to reply to them all! 3