Author's Note: Ok, this is again a slight changing/ summarizing of JK's own
chapter. It will change to my own story more in chapter 7, when they arrive
at Hogwarts, ok? Slash hints will start in Chapter 8, I think... [later
note: alright, so they didn't, so sue me...] Thanks for bearing with me!
You can kind of consider chapters 1-6 as a prologue, ok? Just, a really
long prologue... hehe...
Also, I've noticed that Microsoft Word has an annoying tendency to change
"..." into "." so if you see periods where there should be elipses (sp?),
you know why. lol. [later note: I have gone back to change all of these. I
hope I've found them all...]
Hippy Flower = Voldie's Kid: Thank you for your enthusiastic response! It's nice to know that my stories are appreciated. ^_^ More soon, I promise.
Mnemosyne: I like your name...! ^_^ Don't worry, Harry won't turn out evil, exactly. He'll always be fighting against Voldemort, I promise that. ^_^
ManicGrace: Thank you! I rather liked this perspective, as I haven't seen it often. It's really hard to write it, though, 'cuz I always think of Dumbledore as being a kindly, wise grandfather-type.
Diana Lucille Snape: I agree, I love Harry/Draco, too, and fatherly Snapes, too. ^_^ In this fic, there won't be any Harry/Draco, but they will develop a close relationship... I don't plan the story out before I write it, but I will make sure of that! Note: This was added before I changed the fic to a Harry/Draco pairing. Happy Diana? ::smiles::
Kari: I like the twist, too. I wonder how it'll turn out...
Bluebird161221: Thank you! I will continue this whenever I have a chance.
Zebee: I've always been partial to Slytherin... I hope you enjoy what I come up with! ^_^
TA: Chapter six has arrived! Ba da da dum... Hehe...
Deity: Severus is cool, isn't he? So deliciously cruel, and yet so very, very good... (Interpret this as you will)
Myrddin Ambrosius: I'm so glad you're hooked! I hope you continue to read the story as it develops!
Tima: Thanks! Here's the next chapter! Enjoy.
Catsncritters: Hehe... Harry/Snape is wonderful, huh? Check out my favorite fics, ok? I think you'll like them, if you haven't read them already.
Izean: I'm so glad you like it! Here's the next chapter. ^_^
Maris Slytherin
It was a strange and wonderful experience for him, this new freedom. Harry could do what he wanted when he wanted, and there was nobody yelling at him or beating on his door. He loved it. He spent a good deal of his time watching and listening to the many fascinating people that congregated in Diagon Alley. Aside from doing his homework, he spent most of his remaining time buying his school supplies and browsing the shops.
When he entered Flourish and Blotts, an odd sight met his eyes. A cage in the front window displayed a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Monsters. Glancing at his supply list, he grinned. This was the required book for Care of Magical Creatures. He was wondering why Hagrid had said the book - his birthday present to Harry - would come in handy. The manager was extremely relieved when Harry explained that he already had one; he had already been bitten five times that day. As the manager was getting Harry's copy of Unfogging the Future - required for first year Divination - the young wizard's eyes fell on another book: Death Omens: What To Do When You Know The Worst Is Coming. He was not so interested in death omens as he was the cover illustration. It was a strangely familiar silhouette: a bear- sized black dog with gleaming eyes. Harry glared at the book as if daring it to hurt him and turned away. He bought the rest of his books and left Flourish and Blotts without another glance at the ominous cover.
He dumped his new school supplies on the bed in his room at the Leaky Cauldron and threw himself into the armchair by the fireplace. How stupid - death omens! He snorted to himself. As if he needed anyone to tell him that he was wanted dead. Voldemort was still out there, he knew, and he grimaced. The Dark Lord was biding his time, building up his strength. Harry wanted to be ready. He would be.
As the summer neared its end, more and more Hogwarts students were showing up in Diagon Alley. Harry saw plenty of Gryffindors, including his friends Seamus and Dean, who were admiring the newest broom model in Quality Quidditch Supplies. The Firebolt was its name, and the plaque boasted that each of the twigs in its tail had been honed to aerodynamic perfection. Harry also passed Neville Longbottom, another Gryffindor, and the occasional Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. He found that he was slightly disappointed not to have run into Draco Malfoy. He was still determined to start anew with the boy.
On the last day of the vacation, he was rather surprised that Ron and Hermione had not shown up. Maybe they're just avoiding me, he thought inwardly, and sighed. Later, though, as he was wondering where to have lunch, he spotted the two talking to each other outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. As he made his way over, he noticed that Ron was incredibly freckly, and Hermione's skin was darkly tanned. During the summer, she had written to Harry to tell him that she was spending the holiday in France. As a birthday present, she had sent him a Broomstick Servicing Kit, which he loved. She had also mentioned, Harry now remembered, that Ron's dad had won some sort of prize, and that the Weasleys had spent their vacation in Egypt. Ron, apparently still uncomfortable around Harry, had sent him something small for his birthday with a very short note. Maybe he felt bad about the way he'd treated Harry. He'd received a small top-like thing. 'Harry-' Ron had written, 'It's a Sneak-o-Scope. It whistles and spins when someone untrustworthy is nearby... Bet it'll drive you nuts if you end up in another House. - Ron' ['Slytherin' had been crossed out, 'another House' written in above it. Harry had sighed.]
By this time, he had reached Ron and Hermione's table, and he stopped behind Ron's chair. Hermione looked up and smiled.
"Hello, Harry. I was wondering when you'd show up. Ron said you're staying at the Leaky Cauldron."
Ron looked up and flushed. "'lo, Harry," he said quietly.
Harry sat down in an empty chair and looked at Ron curiously. "How'ed you know I was at the Leaky Cauldron, Ron?"
"Dad," he replied simply.
Ah, of course, thought Harry. Then he'll know all about the incident with Aunt Marge...
As if reading his thoughts, Ron grinned for the first time in Harry's presence since the end of last year. "Did you really blow her up? I heard she was like a balloon, floating up on the ceiling.....!" he snickered.
"It's not funny, Ron!" admonished Hermione. "Harry could have been expelled!"
Harry replied, "I didn't mean to, Hermione," he smirked. "But she deserved it. Honestly, the woman's a monster."
"I assume you haven't been expelled, then. How did you escape punishment?" she asked curiously.
"Forget expelled, I thought I would be arrested. Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?" he asked, turning to Ron.
"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it? Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up an aunt." Ron chuckled. "Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me."
Harry wasn't listening. Famous Harry Potter and all that. Yes, anything for the Boy Who Lived. He hated the title. Those four words seemed to define him to the rest of the wizarding world (1), and they felt they didn't have to get to know him any more. He wondered again if that was how Dumbledore felt. It was probably his first impression, Harry decided, but he thought that, after two years, the Headmaster of Hogwarts knew him a little better. The hard thing was getting people to look past the celebrity and see him. Professor Snape had had a glimpse, he thought... That idiot Lockhart had just assumed he was vain, like himself, and Harry guessed that that was how a lot of people saw him. A self-centered celebrity; untouchable by the 'common people.' He shook his head in disgust.
"Harry?" Ron's voice broke into his thoughts, and he raised his head.
"Sorry, Ron. Spaced out for a minute. What were you saying?" he smiled apologetically.
"He said that we're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight, too," answered Hermione. "You can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow, then, if you'd like."
Harry grinned. "Excellent!" He checked his watch, then. It was two o'clock. He stood up. "I've got to go. Last minute shopping, you know, and packing my new stuff. I'll see you at dinner, then?"
Ron and Hermione nodded, and waved to him as he set off in the direction of the Apothecary. He had read in some book over the summer about a hard-to- find ingredient (banshee teeth), and recalled seeing a bottle of them in the store. Harry had decided to pick it up for Professor Snape as a thank- you for the chess game. He felt rather awkward, going from hating him to not. When he stopped to think about it, though, the only reason he'd ever disliked Severus Snape was because of the treatment he received. He hoped that he would be more tolerable this year. He had a feeling that it would be, even if it was only because he knew why Snape acted as he did. He smiled as he entered the Apothecary.
As last time, it was full of facinating things. A dark, cool place, its shelves were crammed with bottles and jars of every shape and size, each filled with some substance more disgusting than the next.
Hurrying over to the counter, he picked up the last bottle of banshee teeth and, making a face, paid for it. The wizard at the cash register leered at him, and he hastily turned away.
However, passing once more by all the strange items, his curiosity got the better of him. Carefully skirting a glass tank containing what looked like floating orange blobs of toxic sludge (the sign read "Blubberpus Fish - A perfect pet!"), he made his way over to one of the walls. The sign above it called it the "Slightly Nasty Potions Ingredients" section. Harry wondered disgustedly what he would find in the "Really Nasty Potions Ingredients" section as he examined the bottles of dried newts, Essence of Hag, dragon scales, grindylow fingernails, various sized eyeballs, and other pleasantries.
Feeling slightly sick at the aroma, he stepped back - and right into someone. Frantically, the two grabbed each others' arms to keep from falling and breaking anything, and, in a slightly wobbly tangle, managed to move into the center of the store, away from anything breakable. Regaining his balance, Harry let go of the other and turned around to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, it's my fault, I -" he stopped. The person he had run into was none other than Draco Malfoy.
"I'm sorry, Malfoy," he finished. He rushed on, hoping to avoid any snide remarks right off the bat. "What are you doing here? Buying your Potions ingredients?" He knew he was rambling, but was determined to be friendly. "I'm really sorry I ran into you. I've always been a bit of a klutz."
Malfoy was staring at him in amazement. "You're sorry? You're sorry? Potter, are you feeling alright?" he asked, too astounded to sneer. "It's me, Malfoy. We hate each other, remember?"
Harry, embarrassed, scratched his head. "Yeah... sorry about that, too. I've been rotten to you. I guess it's that Gryffindor/Slytherin rivalry thing. Look, I'm really sorry. You probably don't want to talk to me." He looked down at the floor.
Malfoy was, for once, speechless. Then, his eyes narrowed. "What do you want, Potter? You've never been nice to me. I offered to be your friend once and you refused." His eyes widened momentarily. He hadn't meant to say that. "Anyway," he hurried on, trying to cover up, "you won't get anything out of me by sweet-talking me. Run back to your little Gryffindor friends." He spun on his heel, and Harry was shocked to hear bitterness in his voice.
"Malfoy," he said quietly. "I'm serious. I... I had a talk with Professor Dumbledore last year. I realized that he only really liked me at first because I was the Boy Who Lived," the contempt for the name was obvious in his voice, "and because I was in Gryffindor. After a while, I started to wonder why Gryffindors and Slytherins hated each other. There's no reason for it." He sighed, "Unfortunately, Ron and Hermione can't see it that way. They're really upset with me, because-" he stopped. What was he going to do, tell Malfoy? No, he'd wait. The look on his face at Hogwarts would be too priceless. "Well, all I'm trying to say is, you're not so bad." He shrugged. That was a pointless conversation, he was thinking as he turned to leave. He had only taken a few steps, though, when a quiet voice stopped him.
"Draco."
He half-turned. "Huh?"
Malfoy looked levelly back at him. "My name," he said quietly, "is Draco."
Their eyes locked. After a moment, Harry smiled softly. "My name is Harry. Pleased to meet you, Draco."
The other's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and he inclined his head.
With a nod, Harry turned and happily left the Apothecary, the banshee teeth in his pocket and a smile on his face.
Okay, note to readers. I know I said that the sorting would be in chapter 7, but it'll probably have to wait until chapter 8. I have a feeling the next chapter will be too long to squeeze it in, although I might be able too... I don't wanna rush it, you know? So, here's this chapter, at any rate. Hope you liked it! I might add more later tonight or tomorrow, hopefully.
I read a line very similar to this in another fic on Fanfiction.net. I can't remember which, now, but I really liked it. If you recognize it as your phrasing, tell me so I can credit you! -Maris
Hippy Flower = Voldie's Kid: Thank you for your enthusiastic response! It's nice to know that my stories are appreciated. ^_^ More soon, I promise.
Mnemosyne: I like your name...! ^_^ Don't worry, Harry won't turn out evil, exactly. He'll always be fighting against Voldemort, I promise that. ^_^
ManicGrace: Thank you! I rather liked this perspective, as I haven't seen it often. It's really hard to write it, though, 'cuz I always think of Dumbledore as being a kindly, wise grandfather-type.
Diana Lucille Snape: I agree, I love Harry/Draco, too, and fatherly Snapes, too. ^_^ In this fic, there won't be any Harry/Draco, but they will develop a close relationship... I don't plan the story out before I write it, but I will make sure of that! Note: This was added before I changed the fic to a Harry/Draco pairing. Happy Diana? ::smiles::
Kari: I like the twist, too. I wonder how it'll turn out...
Bluebird161221: Thank you! I will continue this whenever I have a chance.
Zebee: I've always been partial to Slytherin... I hope you enjoy what I come up with! ^_^
TA: Chapter six has arrived! Ba da da dum... Hehe...
Deity: Severus is cool, isn't he? So deliciously cruel, and yet so very, very good... (Interpret this as you will)
Myrddin Ambrosius: I'm so glad you're hooked! I hope you continue to read the story as it develops!
Tima: Thanks! Here's the next chapter! Enjoy.
Catsncritters: Hehe... Harry/Snape is wonderful, huh? Check out my favorite fics, ok? I think you'll like them, if you haven't read them already.
Izean: I'm so glad you like it! Here's the next chapter. ^_^
Maris Slytherin
It was a strange and wonderful experience for him, this new freedom. Harry could do what he wanted when he wanted, and there was nobody yelling at him or beating on his door. He loved it. He spent a good deal of his time watching and listening to the many fascinating people that congregated in Diagon Alley. Aside from doing his homework, he spent most of his remaining time buying his school supplies and browsing the shops.
When he entered Flourish and Blotts, an odd sight met his eyes. A cage in the front window displayed a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Monsters. Glancing at his supply list, he grinned. This was the required book for Care of Magical Creatures. He was wondering why Hagrid had said the book - his birthday present to Harry - would come in handy. The manager was extremely relieved when Harry explained that he already had one; he had already been bitten five times that day. As the manager was getting Harry's copy of Unfogging the Future - required for first year Divination - the young wizard's eyes fell on another book: Death Omens: What To Do When You Know The Worst Is Coming. He was not so interested in death omens as he was the cover illustration. It was a strangely familiar silhouette: a bear- sized black dog with gleaming eyes. Harry glared at the book as if daring it to hurt him and turned away. He bought the rest of his books and left Flourish and Blotts without another glance at the ominous cover.
He dumped his new school supplies on the bed in his room at the Leaky Cauldron and threw himself into the armchair by the fireplace. How stupid - death omens! He snorted to himself. As if he needed anyone to tell him that he was wanted dead. Voldemort was still out there, he knew, and he grimaced. The Dark Lord was biding his time, building up his strength. Harry wanted to be ready. He would be.
As the summer neared its end, more and more Hogwarts students were showing up in Diagon Alley. Harry saw plenty of Gryffindors, including his friends Seamus and Dean, who were admiring the newest broom model in Quality Quidditch Supplies. The Firebolt was its name, and the plaque boasted that each of the twigs in its tail had been honed to aerodynamic perfection. Harry also passed Neville Longbottom, another Gryffindor, and the occasional Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. He found that he was slightly disappointed not to have run into Draco Malfoy. He was still determined to start anew with the boy.
On the last day of the vacation, he was rather surprised that Ron and Hermione had not shown up. Maybe they're just avoiding me, he thought inwardly, and sighed. Later, though, as he was wondering where to have lunch, he spotted the two talking to each other outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. As he made his way over, he noticed that Ron was incredibly freckly, and Hermione's skin was darkly tanned. During the summer, she had written to Harry to tell him that she was spending the holiday in France. As a birthday present, she had sent him a Broomstick Servicing Kit, which he loved. She had also mentioned, Harry now remembered, that Ron's dad had won some sort of prize, and that the Weasleys had spent their vacation in Egypt. Ron, apparently still uncomfortable around Harry, had sent him something small for his birthday with a very short note. Maybe he felt bad about the way he'd treated Harry. He'd received a small top-like thing. 'Harry-' Ron had written, 'It's a Sneak-o-Scope. It whistles and spins when someone untrustworthy is nearby... Bet it'll drive you nuts if you end up in another House. - Ron' ['Slytherin' had been crossed out, 'another House' written in above it. Harry had sighed.]
By this time, he had reached Ron and Hermione's table, and he stopped behind Ron's chair. Hermione looked up and smiled.
"Hello, Harry. I was wondering when you'd show up. Ron said you're staying at the Leaky Cauldron."
Ron looked up and flushed. "'lo, Harry," he said quietly.
Harry sat down in an empty chair and looked at Ron curiously. "How'ed you know I was at the Leaky Cauldron, Ron?"
"Dad," he replied simply.
Ah, of course, thought Harry. Then he'll know all about the incident with Aunt Marge...
As if reading his thoughts, Ron grinned for the first time in Harry's presence since the end of last year. "Did you really blow her up? I heard she was like a balloon, floating up on the ceiling.....!" he snickered.
"It's not funny, Ron!" admonished Hermione. "Harry could have been expelled!"
Harry replied, "I didn't mean to, Hermione," he smirked. "But she deserved it. Honestly, the woman's a monster."
"I assume you haven't been expelled, then. How did you escape punishment?" she asked curiously.
"Forget expelled, I thought I would be arrested. Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?" he asked, turning to Ron.
"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it? Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up an aunt." Ron chuckled. "Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me."
Harry wasn't listening. Famous Harry Potter and all that. Yes, anything for the Boy Who Lived. He hated the title. Those four words seemed to define him to the rest of the wizarding world (1), and they felt they didn't have to get to know him any more. He wondered again if that was how Dumbledore felt. It was probably his first impression, Harry decided, but he thought that, after two years, the Headmaster of Hogwarts knew him a little better. The hard thing was getting people to look past the celebrity and see him. Professor Snape had had a glimpse, he thought... That idiot Lockhart had just assumed he was vain, like himself, and Harry guessed that that was how a lot of people saw him. A self-centered celebrity; untouchable by the 'common people.' He shook his head in disgust.
"Harry?" Ron's voice broke into his thoughts, and he raised his head.
"Sorry, Ron. Spaced out for a minute. What were you saying?" he smiled apologetically.
"He said that we're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight, too," answered Hermione. "You can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow, then, if you'd like."
Harry grinned. "Excellent!" He checked his watch, then. It was two o'clock. He stood up. "I've got to go. Last minute shopping, you know, and packing my new stuff. I'll see you at dinner, then?"
Ron and Hermione nodded, and waved to him as he set off in the direction of the Apothecary. He had read in some book over the summer about a hard-to- find ingredient (banshee teeth), and recalled seeing a bottle of them in the store. Harry had decided to pick it up for Professor Snape as a thank- you for the chess game. He felt rather awkward, going from hating him to not. When he stopped to think about it, though, the only reason he'd ever disliked Severus Snape was because of the treatment he received. He hoped that he would be more tolerable this year. He had a feeling that it would be, even if it was only because he knew why Snape acted as he did. He smiled as he entered the Apothecary.
As last time, it was full of facinating things. A dark, cool place, its shelves were crammed with bottles and jars of every shape and size, each filled with some substance more disgusting than the next.
Hurrying over to the counter, he picked up the last bottle of banshee teeth and, making a face, paid for it. The wizard at the cash register leered at him, and he hastily turned away.
However, passing once more by all the strange items, his curiosity got the better of him. Carefully skirting a glass tank containing what looked like floating orange blobs of toxic sludge (the sign read "Blubberpus Fish - A perfect pet!"), he made his way over to one of the walls. The sign above it called it the "Slightly Nasty Potions Ingredients" section. Harry wondered disgustedly what he would find in the "Really Nasty Potions Ingredients" section as he examined the bottles of dried newts, Essence of Hag, dragon scales, grindylow fingernails, various sized eyeballs, and other pleasantries.
Feeling slightly sick at the aroma, he stepped back - and right into someone. Frantically, the two grabbed each others' arms to keep from falling and breaking anything, and, in a slightly wobbly tangle, managed to move into the center of the store, away from anything breakable. Regaining his balance, Harry let go of the other and turned around to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, it's my fault, I -" he stopped. The person he had run into was none other than Draco Malfoy.
"I'm sorry, Malfoy," he finished. He rushed on, hoping to avoid any snide remarks right off the bat. "What are you doing here? Buying your Potions ingredients?" He knew he was rambling, but was determined to be friendly. "I'm really sorry I ran into you. I've always been a bit of a klutz."
Malfoy was staring at him in amazement. "You're sorry? You're sorry? Potter, are you feeling alright?" he asked, too astounded to sneer. "It's me, Malfoy. We hate each other, remember?"
Harry, embarrassed, scratched his head. "Yeah... sorry about that, too. I've been rotten to you. I guess it's that Gryffindor/Slytherin rivalry thing. Look, I'm really sorry. You probably don't want to talk to me." He looked down at the floor.
Malfoy was, for once, speechless. Then, his eyes narrowed. "What do you want, Potter? You've never been nice to me. I offered to be your friend once and you refused." His eyes widened momentarily. He hadn't meant to say that. "Anyway," he hurried on, trying to cover up, "you won't get anything out of me by sweet-talking me. Run back to your little Gryffindor friends." He spun on his heel, and Harry was shocked to hear bitterness in his voice.
"Malfoy," he said quietly. "I'm serious. I... I had a talk with Professor Dumbledore last year. I realized that he only really liked me at first because I was the Boy Who Lived," the contempt for the name was obvious in his voice, "and because I was in Gryffindor. After a while, I started to wonder why Gryffindors and Slytherins hated each other. There's no reason for it." He sighed, "Unfortunately, Ron and Hermione can't see it that way. They're really upset with me, because-" he stopped. What was he going to do, tell Malfoy? No, he'd wait. The look on his face at Hogwarts would be too priceless. "Well, all I'm trying to say is, you're not so bad." He shrugged. That was a pointless conversation, he was thinking as he turned to leave. He had only taken a few steps, though, when a quiet voice stopped him.
"Draco."
He half-turned. "Huh?"
Malfoy looked levelly back at him. "My name," he said quietly, "is Draco."
Their eyes locked. After a moment, Harry smiled softly. "My name is Harry. Pleased to meet you, Draco."
The other's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and he inclined his head.
With a nod, Harry turned and happily left the Apothecary, the banshee teeth in his pocket and a smile on his face.
Okay, note to readers. I know I said that the sorting would be in chapter 7, but it'll probably have to wait until chapter 8. I have a feeling the next chapter will be too long to squeeze it in, although I might be able too... I don't wanna rush it, you know? So, here's this chapter, at any rate. Hope you liked it! I might add more later tonight or tomorrow, hopefully.
I read a line very similar to this in another fic on Fanfiction.net. I can't remember which, now, but I really liked it. If you recognize it as your phrasing, tell me so I can credit you! -Maris