chocolatedemon: Hm, that's weird, I don't think it's because u have me on alert twice though. 'Cus that happens to me with another fic I'm reading, I always get 2 alerts, but it's usually the top one that works.
AN: Forever and a day! Sorry about the lack of updates, I've had a lot of crap due for school, and I always wait last minute to do stuff, so I haven't had time to write!
Bloody Gryffindors. Harry scowled as he glared at a crawling spider next to his head. Like I have nothing better to do then sit here.
He had roamed the darkening halls, waiting until it was time for dinner, he didn't have a death wish after all. He knew that the Marauders would come after him if he showed his face before he was seated in a crowd of witnesses.
Gryffindors, loyal to the core, it's sickening. He shook his head.
Harry grimaced as he pulled a cobweb from his matted hair, he could have been hiding out in the comforts of his dorm, but an abandoned classroom just had a more secretive feel to it and added to the excitement of hiding.
Plus he didn't want to run into Snape. He glowered at his dusty footprints; running into Miyake wouldn't do either.
He would show both of them, Mia especially. He wasn't someone to be messed with, he could hold his own.
"They think they can walk all over me." He growled. "Well I'm tired of it, no more." His fist pounded the floor as a puff of dust surrounded him.
The lone Slytherin stood and brushed away the dirt he had collected on his robes.
"I think it's time that I step into the role of a true Slytherin."
--- --- ---
The annoying clink of silverware echoed through the Great Hall as dinner was eaten, and in some cases inhaled. Harry sat brooding, staring at his plate while he remained deep in thought.
Now that he was finally thinking like a Slytherin, he found that he wanted revenge on a number of people. They were lucky he had been distracted by his little crush mid-way through the year, or else Hogwarts would have suffered from the Marauders and Harry Potter.
But that didn't matter anymore, Harry was back and he was ready to prank away the rest of the year.
"Hey Potter, can you pass the chicken?" Someone nudged his side.
Harry glanced at the slight boy and handed him the requested item. He turned back toward his plate and lightly frowned as his fellow Slytherin was distracted by another year mate. He had been neglecting his friends, not that he had a mob following him, but he still had his acquaintances that he talked to from time to time.
I wonder what they've been doing lately. He mused as he looked down the table, searching for the familiar faces.
Suddenly a hush swept through the Hall and Harry turned toward the commotion. Dumbledore, it figured.
The Headmaster had his arms raised, catching everyone's attention and silencing them with a curt nod.
"I am terribly sorry for interrupting your dinner this evening, but it has come to my attention that this month is October."
Well that was a complete waste of time, hasn't he ever heard of a calendar? Harry was about to divert his attention back to his plate, which was much more interesting.
"On that note, it is with my deepest regret that I announce the Halloween celebration has been cancelled this year." Dumbledore said to the polite silence.
What!
A wave of groans and boos greeted his news, yet he continued to stand and merely held up his hands for silence.
"I have decided instead to have a small competition amongst the Houses." He smiled. "It will be up to each House to decide on their task, the goal is to see who can raise the most money."
A flurry of whispers broke out as the Headmaster nodded and sat once more. Mentions of 'fundraiser' from the muggle-borns and 'great joke' from more then one pureblood surrounded Harry as he frowned.
Why the heck would they want to have a competition instead of the normal celebration? He knew that his House wouldn't willingly agree to something so mundane unless they were getting something out of the whole thing. What were they getting out of the whole thing, what was anyone going to take from this experience?
Dumbledore obviously had something planned.
At least he better have, or else he would have an angry House come winning day.
A prissy voice a little ways down the table caught Harry's attention and interrupted his inner thoughts, he managed not to roll his eyes at Narcissa's high-pitched screech.
"I think we should host a feast!" She gushed excitedly. "Purebloods only of course."
Lucius merely nodded and smile beside her, Harry snorted into his potatoes. How did she manage to make it to seventh year with a brain like that? A feast, isn't it enough that they already feed us every night? That's got to be the worst idea we'll get.
"What about a fashion show?" Another witch suggested.
Or not. He scoffed.
His disdain was obviously sensed, or heard, because he was soon on the receiving end of a vicious glare.
"Do you think you can do better, Potter?" Mia snapped, barging into his perfect vision of Severus.
Harry reined in his scathing retort and kept his face calm as he sniffed and turned away with his answer. He would be the better of the two. "I'm not participating in a "competition amongst the Houses", what's the point?"
"We get to put the Gryffindors in their place when we win." Mia scowled at the boy's attitude.
"When? It's more like if with the shit you're thinking up."
The petite witch was about to rise to his silent challenge but Severus held her back with a calming touch.
Emerald eyes glowered as Harry turned his attention toward the blonde beside Lucius.
Narcissa sneered, having taken notice to their conversation. "Yes Potter, surely you want to prove that you are a Slytherin." She smirked. "After all, you've been behaving like a lost little Hufflepuff recently."
Harry saw red. "What!" He angrily stood. "Take that back!"
"She has a point Harry." Mia chuckled darkly, having seen the jealous flash in the boy's eyes. "You haven't proven yourself lately, think of a better idea to ensure our win since you think yourself so high and mighty."
You want an idea, fine! "We have an auction." He hissed past clenched teeth, temper about to boil over.
"An auction?" Narcissa tittered. "That's not much better then our ideas, I'm unhappy to admit, though I find the fashion show very appealing."
You would. "Like your stupid fashion crap will earn us enough money to beat Gryffindor. We sell students; the highest bid wins the witch or wizard for the night." Not that you would ever be bought. Harry glowered.
"A marvelous plan." Lucius leaned forward, appearing over Narcissa's shoulder. "And will you be in the auction Harry?"
There was an incredulous scoff. "Hell no." Harry looked away. "Take willing victims Malfoy, volunteers. I merely supplied the skeleton; you fill in the blanks to this 'marvelous plan'." He waved his fork dismissively.
Gossip – as usual – broke out after Lucius returned his attention to his dinner, Harry tried to ignore the strange smirk on the aristocrat's face, but it sent a sense of foreboding through his body.
His unease seemed to sink within his stomach and he winced at the sickening roil his muscles had taken. Without acknowledging those around him, Harry rose from his seat and simply left.
In the case of Harry Potter, things never seemed to remain simple though, and he didn't try to ignore the whispers following him out. What he did ignore, were the three Gryffindors who had begun to follow him out.
His plan of escape wasn't able to properly form, seeing as the great brutes attacked him as soon as the doors had closed behind them.
"Harry Potter, you little snake." James hissed into his ear as Sirius held onto the back of his robes.
"Sod off James!" Harry struggled. "Why don't you go pick on some Hufflepuffs, or do something productive for once in your life."
"Excuse me?" His brother spluttered. "What crawled up your arse and died?"
Harry growled. "Revenge." A well aimed kick to the groin managed to release him from Sirius' hold and he crouched below them with a glare. "Watch your back James, or you might find yourself hexed."
He lunged past the shocked Marauders, clipping James' shoulder in the process and knocking him to the floor.
"Harry!" James roared.
--- --- ---
The Slytherin dorm was quiet as Harry stood at the center of the room, a tall mirror propped before him. Everyone was probably at dinner still, he didn't really care, he had plans to carry out.
He tilted his chin and brushed a lock of darkness from his vision.
Interesting.
He stared at his reflection a moment longer, drinking in his image until he finally smirked. A plan had been formed.
Severus will regret ever laying eyes on that conniving witch. His eyes flashed. I'll show them all that no one messes with Harry Potter.
AN: I just want this to end but Zoomi is forcing me to add more crap to the fic, damn overachiever. Grr man, grr. And because I've been so mean with the updates, I'll add another chap.
-Red