Disclaimer: I OWN A PINK FLUFFY BUNNY WHOSE NAME IS HARRY ROTTER! But unfortunately, I do not own a pink fluffy bunny named Harry Potter. Or a book for that matter.
"Speech" "Other Language" 'Thoughts' Parseltongue
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Chapter 9 – Start of School
Kings Cross station was, as usual, the site of a bustling chaos on the morning of September 1st. Within the mass of muggles walking to and from various platforms, a clan of redheads, accompanied by the odd addition of a smirking raven-haired, emerald-eyed boy, made its way to the area between platforms 9 and 10.
If it wasn't for the busy atmosphere of the station and the myriad anti-muggle and notice-me-not charms placed on the barriers between the two platforms, one of the passer-by's might have noted that, pair-by-pair, the people seemed to simply vanish into the wall. If they could have followed them, they would enter a new world, as well as coming before a large crimson train labelled Hogwarts Express.
"Ron! Harry!" sounded a pitched scream from nearby. Two of the boys turned around only to be assaulted by a bushy-haired blur.
"Hello Hermione." Said Ron chuckling and blushing at the same time.
The newly reunited trio spent some time talking before the rest of the Weasley Siblings decided to inform them that they had to get on the train before it left.
Or, as Ginny eloquently put it, "Get your bums over there before Mum turns into a grizzly."
So the large group boarded the train, the twins soon leaving to find their partner in crime, Lee, and Percy pompously declaring that he had to "attend to my duty as a prefect."
So that left a nervous Ginny and a trio to find a compartment.
"How about this?" asked Harry, eyeing a compartment with two girls, who looked unsorted judging by their age.
"There are already people in here…" began Ron.
"Nonsence! There's enough space, and besides, we'll get to make some new friends!" 'Who may turn into loyal fighters…'
"Honestly Ron, why shouldn't we go in there?" asked Hermione, opening the door and walking in. "Hello, mind if we sit here?" she asked.
"Erm…No, go ahead." Said one of the girls, a sandy-haired blonde with dark black eyes. "I'm Jess Drys, by the way."
"Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley" said Harry, pointing towards the others "and I'm Harry Potter."
"Rebecca Applestone." Answered the dark-haired girl sitting next to her. Looking at Harry she continued "You're the one that caught those Death-Eaters aren't you."
"Yeah…almost got killed doing it too…" 'Something which will never have a chance of happening once I finish training this stupid child core and body to its full potential.' "but it was worth it to put them in Azkaban."
"My mother said that it was about time that justice was done…she said she didn't feel safe when they couldn't find them….though she wanted to know how a second year could defeat them…" said Jess
"Well…I'm pretty powerful….and all I did really was hold them off until the Aurors came…"
"What are you talking about?" asked Jess, clearly confused.
"Muggleborn?" said Ron.
"Yes…"
The ones versed in the magical world launched into a short explanation of the rise and fall of the Dark Lord Voldemort, along with the reign of terror his death eaters had. The train had not yet moved from the station when a ferret appeared.
"What do you want Malfoy?" asked Ginny venomously.
"If it isn't the Weasellette, Weasel, Potty, the Mudblood know-it-all and what looks like another Mudblood…really Potter, I would expect you to eventually find better company, though I am sure you would enjoy the services provided by the Weasellette Potter." said the Blonde boy.
From the corner of his eye Harry saw Ron going red and Ginny gaining an evil grin while they were both raising their wands, curses at the tip of their tongues. Hermione looked torn between giving Malfoy a taste of her knowledge of jinxes and abiding by the rules whilst the other two girls just looked scared. Before anyone could act though, Harry stood up.
"Aaahh…Draco! Just the one I wanted to see! Come on, I want to have a word with you." He said, with a very large and very infuriating smile.
"Wha…" started Malfoy, but was pulled outside by Harry, who closed the door behind him. He moved further down the corridor, making Malfoy follow him along with his two goons.
"What do you want Potter?" spat Mafloy.
Harry grinned and held his hand towards Malfoy. The boy was raised in the air and started choking as if his neck was hanging in an invisible noose. Crabbe and Goyle just watched motionless, too dumb to act, although Harry had cast a confusion charm to help them.
"Enjoying this Malfoy?" said Harry smirking. He waved his hand and released the boy, who immediately fell to the ground on his knees, grasping for air. Harry kicked him.
"Malfoy Malfoy Malfoy." started Harry in a babylike voice. "When you speak to me, you do so in the appropriate manner, which means kneeling and kissing the hem of my robes."
He waved his hand again, forcing Malfoy's unwilling body to kiss his trainers, which had to suffice in the absence of robes.
"Much better."
He sent Malfoy into the wall, knocking him unconscious, hearing the snap of bones and feeling satified. He left Crabbe and Goyle to attend to their master and walked back to his compartment whistling an innocent tone.
"What did you do to him Harry?" asked Ginny.
"Ooh, I held him under an illegal dark torture curse until he begged for mercy."
"Harry!" said Hermione, while the two girls looked at him fearfully. "You can't do that! What if a teacher learns?"
"I was just joking! I only hexed him a bit."
Hermione and the girls looked relieved. Ginny however held an almost disappointed look in her eyes. Harry leaved over and whispered in her ear.
"I almost choked him to death, then made him kneel and kiss my feet before knocking him into a wall and breaking some of his ribs."
Ginny giggled "They're going to catch you if you leave visible damage like that Harry."
she whispered back.
"School hasn't started yet, and I don't think that Malfoy will bear the humiliation of telling someone he was beaten. Plus, I think he fears me now."
"We'll have to make sure to reinforce that fear…I think a few nasty pranks should do that." She said, a grin coming to her face as she started thinking about ways to make Malfoy suffer.
"I'll teach you a few ways to make slimy gits like him beg for mercy in our first group meeting." Said Harry, feeling his heart lift as he saw her grateful and contemplative smirk fill her face as her bright brown eyes stared into his soul.
"Oi, what are you two talking about packed over there like a pair of thieves." exclaimed Ron.
"Oh Ronnie" said Ginny "We were just plotting on how to turn some of your clothes into spiders. I was just saying how we should have a camera ready to make sure we immortalise you running around in your underwear screaming your head off."
Ron turned beet read and threw a death glare towards the pair, while to his horror, they and the rest of the compartment started laughing. He compromised for staring outside the window as the train started picking up speed and finally left the station.
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Several Hours later, after the children had exhausted most topics of conversation, munched on the sweets that the trolley lady brought by, Neville came to their compartment, waking up Ginny who reddened a bit when she realised she had fallen asleep leaning on Harry. Hermione looked up from her book ruffled whilst Ron looked up from a chess-match he was having with the muggle-born girl, Jess.
"Quick, hide me!" said Neville frantically
"What's going on mate?" asked Ron.
"There's this kid named Creepy or something, he's stalking me for an autograph! And he talks so much! I can't get a moment peace! You must find somewhere so that he can't see me."
Harry lazily waved his wand, opening his trunk and covering Neville with his invisibility cloak. Right on cue, an exitable short boy with mousy hair came through the compartment door.
"Have you seen Neville Longbottom?" he asked exited
"He just passed by, he went towards the front of the train." lied Harry smoothly.
"Thanks." Said the breathless boy and immediately scurried away.
Once the coast was safe, Neville took off the invisibility cloak.
"That was a close one. I don't know why I didn't think about using my cloak." he said.
"It's a good thing we have Harry to lead us then isn't it?" answered Ginny with a large smile.
"You're Neville Longbottom?" asked Rebecca Applestone.
"Er..yeah." said Neville apprehensively.
"You defeated that dark wizard?" asked Jess, now completely distracted from her chess game.
"Moldywarts. Yes, his killing curse backfired." said Harry.
The two girls introduced themselves to Neville, and the seven of them passed the rest of the journey in a conversation, with Harry trying to convince them to call Voldemort as Voldemort, but only managing to make Ginny and the muggle-born girl say the name out loud.
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Finally, Hogwarts Express arrived at Hogsmeade. As the first years followed Hagrid's giant form, Harry and the others boarder the thestral-driven carriages and went to the castle. Once there, they passed hurriedly through the bustle of the crowd of students, who seemed aching to get to Harry and Neville to question them. They finally reached Gryffindor table, where they sat down, with the Gryffindors friendliest to them sitting around them in a protective fashion.
Finally, the whispers in the tables stopped as the door opened and the Deputy Headmistress, McGonagall, led a group of apprehensive first years in the hall.
She placed a sorting hat on a stool, and the eyes of all the students immediately shifted to it.
The hat opened its mouth and began to sing.
"Thousands of years ago,
there were four great people that you should know.
For they were great witches and wizards indeed.
Each of them had completed more than one mighty deed.
They were Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff but also
Gryffindor and Slytherin, I know.
They sought to teach the world their art
After all, they wanted to play their part.
So they made this great school
That did not produce any fool.
Yet they hit upon a little snag
How to divide the students, now that was hard."
"Gryffindor wanted the noble and the brave,
Ravenclaw the brilliant and intelligent
Slytherin those whose blood was pure and who had cunning
And Hufflepuff would take them all,
and teach them the virtue of loyalty and hard work."
"So they thought long and they debated.
Until finally, I was created.
Into you minds I must look
And into your place you shall be put.
So have no fear, I am no simple hat,
I am the Sorting Hat!"
The students all clapped, and some of the fear disappeared from the eyes of the eleven year olds lined up in front of the hall, though they still looked nervous, which was after all understandable.
McGonagall picked up the scroll and started reading names.
"Abxley, Martin" she called.
A brown haired boy strode confidently towards the hat. It was not long before it shouted:
"SLYTHERIN!"
and the boy walked towards the green-clad table that was clapping.
"Applestone, Rebecca"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Baker, Thomas"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bulston, Miller"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry started clapping with the rest of his table.
"Creevy, Colin."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry once again clapped, withholding a chuckle at the groan he heard coming from Neville.
"Drys, Jessica!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry clapped for the muggleborn girl that he met in the train, while his table was happy that it got 3 students.
Gryffindor had gained three more students, namely Victoria Frobisher, Jack Sloper and Andrew Kirke when Ginny's turn came to be sorted.
The Weasleys and the Shades watched the young girl move to the hat. She put it on, staying under it for a long time until murmurs started appearing in the hall. Finally, Harry concentrated a beam of legilimency towards the hat.
'But I want to be in Gryffindor!' he heard the mental voice of Ginny say.
'Girl, your blood may be in Gryffindor, but you have turned as cunning as any snake. You will do well in' "SLYTHE-" before the hat could finish its words, Harry stepped in.
'Stop.'
'Mr Potter, please stay out, this is not your sorting.' Said the hat irritably.
'Harry?' he heard Ginny ask
'Ginny belongs in Gryffindor. She will never be accepted as a Slytherin, she needs to be with us. Look again, she may be cunning, but she is brave as well.'
'I may have refrained from placing you into Slytherin Mr Potter, but that does not mean that I will do it again…though you seem to have changed a lot.'
'Please put me in Gryffindor.' Pleaded Ginny, hoping it would help her case.
'Do not separate her from the rest of us Albion.'
'How do you know my name Mr Potter?'
'If you place Miss Weasley with us, I promise that I will have a long chat with you…help you ease a boring school year.'
'I was right when I said you would have done well in Slytherin Mr Potter.' said the hat's mental voice, which sounded resigned in the face of the determination from the two students. 'Well, Miss Weasley, since you seem to have so much support, I will put you where your heart belongs.' "GRYFFINDOR!"
Ginny took the hat off her head and walked to the Gryffindor table. Everyone's eyes were on her, and no-one was clapping, as they were too stunned by the Hat's decision being reversed mid-stride. Finally, Harry started clapping, the sound sounding reverberating oddly in the silent hall. Ron, Percy and the Twins soon followed along with Hermione and Neville.
By the time Ginny was half-way to the table, all the Gryffindors had started clapping, followed by a polite clap from the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, but everyone was still confused. Ginny sat between Harry and Neville, slightly red in the face.
McGonagall was still staring at her in surprise, when Harry coughed rather loudly, and she finished the sorting with Zalton, Mark becoming a Hufflepuff and Yalgy, Freisha being sorted into Slytherin.
Once the attention was off her, Ginny leaned to Harry and hissed "How. Did. You. Do. That?"
"Legilimency. I'll teach you later." Offered Harry, who went silent and watched Dumbledore speak and introduce Gilderoy Lockhart as the new professor, to the general applause of the majority of the female population and the slight disgust of some of the male, who looked between him and the girls with glares.
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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was eerily quiet as night approached. Most of the students had already gone to their common-rooms, as curfew was in only one hour. If one were to listen carefully however, they would hear the soft sound of hurried footprints on the seventh floor. If their eyes could penetrate the darkness, they would notice a door appearing out of nowhere into the wall, and then opening and closing, only to disappear again.
If they had managed to enter while the door was open, they would notice five figures appearing, seemingly from the shadows, discarding two invisibility cloaks.
"Well, what do you think about this being our headquarters?" said Harry.
Hermione was eyeing the numerous and useful books that were lined in shelves around the room. "We have everything we need in here! What is this place."
"The room of requirement. If you need something, it shall provide. Nobody but the house-elves really knows about this, so it is a good secret place."
"But what is we get caught while coming here?" asked Ron.
"Well, we do have invisibility cloaks." answered Neville.
"And something else. Did you get the map Ginny?" said Harry.
Ginny nodded, and handed him a piece or parchment. "Fred and George said they've memorised the entire thing anyway."
"That's just some parchment." observed Neville.
"I solemnly swear I am to no good." said Harry
Those words activated the map, and he heard a gasp coming from Ron.
"This is the Marauder's map. My father and his friends made it. Really useful little bugger isn't it?"
"Wow….we can use this for almost anything!" said Ron.
"Very impressive charms on this thing…and it tracks everyone? Wow" said Hermione, fascinated with the magical device in front of her.
The group sat around the fireplace that the room provided, making their plans for the school year. Finally, as they were nodding off to sleep, they returned to the Gryffindor common room.
"G'night Gin, Mione." said Harry, faking a yawn and walking up the stairs. He lay in his bed and closed he curtain covers until he heard Ron and Neville settle into their beds and join Dean and Seamus in dream land. He then snuck out of his bed and covered himself with the invisibility cloak.
He moved stealthily down the stairs to the common room which looked abandoned as the fire started to die. He then pushed on the back of the portrait of the Fat Lady, making her mumble and open. He never noticed a pair of bright brown eyes follow the movements of the portrait.
Running along the corridors and evading Mrs Norris and a Ravenclaw prefect, he eventually reached the dungeons. Here, he hissed Open , opening a hidden path in the wall. He followed it and then went into another path which he opened with parseltongue too. Finally, he crept out from behind a tapestry and came to the low-ceilinged Slytherin Common room.
He went up the corridors until he came to the 2nd year Slytherin dorms. Entering silently, he passed the snoring forms of Crabbe and Goyle and eventually came to Malfoy.
'Silencio, Stupefy, Incarcerus, Agitabilis.' He cast silently, silencing the blonde boy and making sure he does not wake up or move. His final spell allowed him to move the Slytherin silently to a secret and secluded passageway nearby, which he closed behind him with a parseltongue hiss.
'Ennervate'
"Hello Malfoy." He said to the blonde, who looked at him in confusion, surprise and then started shouting without a sound coming out of his mouth and struggling against the magical bindings on his body.
"No need to struggle scum, there is no escape." With those words, he cast charms to fool any magical detectors and to silence the general area. Then, he lifted the silencing charm on Malfoy.
"What is the meaning of this Potter?" snarled Malfoy.
"Oh Draco, haven't you figured it out yet? I am so madly in love with you, that I brought you here to rape you..." he answered, blowing at the boy's ear.
"Wha.."
"Now Drakie Poo, on to business, has Lucy Poo, your dada, been making any deals regarding big bad stuff happening at Hogwarts lately?"
"I have no idea what you are talk…"
"CRUCIO!" Harry cut short the blonde's answer, and felt the satisfying rush of power fill him as he held the screaming boy under his curse. He felt mind clouding in a haze of happiness, and his lips moved to a coy smile as the blood pounded faster in his veins. His Hate for the pale boy fuelled his curse, as he remembered the atrocities Malfoy had committed, torturing members of the DA to death. Finally, he lifted the curse, which he had held for much longer than necessary.
"Wrong answer Drakie…now I shall ask again, did Daddy plan anything for Hogie-warts?"
Draco shivered, and did not answer, which earned him another bout of the cruciatus.
"I am getting impatient Drakie-Poo…."
"N..I don't know anything…"
"CRUCIO!"
"He said…something…clear…mudbloods…"
"Good boy Drakie-Poo…now let's have a peek into your mind shall we?" With those words, Harry unleashed legilimency barrage on the boy, smashing into his mind and collecting all the snippets of conversations that anything to do with the school.
"Draco, if I have my way, you will no longer be taught by that old fool…"
"…the school will only have those that deserve to be in it…not the mudbloods…"
"…the blood traitors will pay as well…"
"…the Dark Lord has entrusted me...with this task…."
Finally, Harry withdrew from the mind of the boy, which had now collapsed on the floor, unconscious.
Harry dragged him to the Common Room and threw him on the coutch.
"Obliviate!"
The curse hit the boy, and Harry, under the invisibility cloak, made his way out of the Slytherin Dorms and on back up to Gryffindor Tower.
He moved into the Gryffindor tower, stepping into a puddle of water as he came in. He cursed silently and moved on towards the stairs, leaving wet footprints on his trail.
Before he could make it, someone grabbed the invisibility cloak, pulling it off him and tackled him.
"Hello Harry. What are you up to so late?" said a soft voice, and Harry turned to peer into the bright brown eyes of Ginny Weasley.
"Ginny?"
"I know my name Harry, now will you please answer my question?"
"I…was having a walk."
"The truth Harry."
"That is the truth!"
"I may not be able to do Legilimency like you, but I know you are lying. You were up to something."
"Okay, so I was, what is it to you anyway? Are you my manager?" he spat back angrily.
"No need to snap at me Potter." Answered Ginny, a brief look of hurt passing through her eyes before her eyes turned steely cold.
Harry sighed. "Look Ginny, I'm sorry. Sometimes I need to do things on my own, no questions asked. I was gathering some information if you must know."
"Okay Harry." She said, her eyes softening "you can have your secrets like everybody else. But if you need anything, know that we will always be loyal to you…I will always be loyal to you."
"Thank you Ginny. That is much more than I could ask for, and certainly more than I deserve."
"You deserve much more than that Harry. Much, much more. Goodnight." She said, moving up the stairs.
Harry followed her form up the stairs before gathering his cloak, vanishing the water and going up to fall to his bed and into sweet dreams himself.
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Harry had just was just finishing lunch on the second day of school. He was one of the few 2nd-year Gryffindors still eating, as everyone else was excitedly waiting for Lockhart's defence class.
Wiping his mouth, Harry stood up only to face Dumbledore who was coming towards him.
"Professor." He acknowledged, his face set into an emotionless mask.
"Ahh Harry my bo.."
"Mr Potter please, unless you will allow me to call you Albus." Said Harry.
"Oh, I would be elated if we talked on first name basis Harry!" said the old man, his twinkle on full blast.
"Well then Albus, what brings you here on this fine day?" said Harry, letting a chuckle escape while thinking about ways to turn his long white beard polka pink.
"Ah to the matter at hand. You see, we have been talking to the Dursley's and we have hit upon a little snag."
"A snag." said Harry, his face returning to his emotionless mask.
"Yes, well, they seem to have somehow found out about the gold in the Potter Vault. They are trying to claim it due to being your guardians for 11 years. They are also saying we abducted you and put strange ideas into your mind."
"I see. Thank you of informing me of this Albus. Do not concern yourself with this situation, I will be just fine."
"Ahh...there is also another matter that you might like to know."
Harry turned and looked at the headmaster.
"We have learned from our contacts within the Ministry that Sirius Black has been moved from Azkaban…though where he is we do not know. Crouch seems to have picked up on it and is causing an uproar."
"Indeed." Said Harry, his eyes not betraying the thoughts that passed through his mind. "It seems that important things have been set in motion at last. If I may be excused now Albus, I have to go to my class with Lockhart."
"Professor Lockhart Harry."
"If you want my opinion sir, he is a fraud. But I shall reserve my judgement for now. Good-day Headmaster." He said, walking off to the staircases.
He came to the class just before the bell signalling the beginning of the period rang.
Harry stared at Lockhart while the man that was probably responsible for the stupidity attributed to blondes gave self-glorifying commentary about himself.
"And now, I think we need a little test to see what you have read!" said the man cheerfully, flashing his disgusting smile and making lavender swoon.
Harry looked at the sheet that the man gave him and grinned as he began answering the questions.
1) What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favourite colour?
White, for it is the colour of the flash of photo-machines that he loves posing for
2) What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?
To kill a flobberworm without wetting his pants from fear.
3) What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?
Being born.
And so on until:
54) When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be?
Probably on a date of no importance, and his ideal gift would be a brain. He really needs one.
In the end, Lockhart collected the papers. He started talking about them, disappointed in their inaccuracy and giving an elated Hermione 10 points. He paused when he read Harry's paper, and narrowed his eyes at him.
"Now Mr Potter, there is no reason for you to be insulting out of jealousy. 5 points from Gryffindor." he said, while Harry just smiled in response.
Lockhart moved to place a large covered cage on his desk.
"Now - be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm."
The class leaned forward apprehensively, and Lockhart put his hand on the cover
"I must ask you not to scream," he said in a low voice. "It might provoke them."
As the whole class held its breath, Lockhart whipped off the cover.
"Yes," he said dramatically. "Freshly caught Cornish pixies. "
The class seemed disappointed, and Seamus laughed, but was soon silenced by Lockhart.
"Well then, lets see how you fare against them!"
Lockhart finally opened the cage, and pandemonium erupted. Lockhart let loose a girlish scream when some of the pixies messed up his hair and most students sought refuge under the desk as the pixies smashed everything in sight.
"Peskipiksi Pesternomi!" shouted Lockhart, but it had no effect. A pixie just took his wand and chucked it out the window.
Finally, Harry waved his wand and, with a flash of blue light, all the pixies fell to the ground, stunned.
"Oh…eh…well done Mr Potter, 5 points to Gryffindor. I could have handled it of course, but I wanted to see how you would react to the situation."
"Bullshit." Said Harry in a voice that, though quiet, was easily heard by Lockhart. Hermione looked livid.
Just then, there was a mad rush to the exit as the bell signalling the end of the period sounded.
"Mr Potter, please do stay." Said Lockhart as Harry moved to leave.
Once the class was empty, Lockhart moved towards Harry.
"Harry, Harry, Harry. Why must you be so jealous and difficult? I understand that you got your show of fame by guiding the aurors to the Lestranges, but you should not try blame me for not being as great as I…"
"I would advise you to be silent you fool, or I will send you were I sent your predecessor and Bellatrix Lestrange, to the grave." cut Harry.
"Now Harry, all idle threats will do is earn you a det.."
"Silence!" said Harry, his voice deepening until it sounded ethereal and demonic. The temperature in the room dropped dramatically and little icicles appeared on the window. Harry's magic made the air around him pulsate vividly while his eyes glowed a menacing red. "Do not pass me for a fool Lockhart. You are a fraud, and if you cross me, all you will be good for is manure for the greenhouses!"
With those words, he stomped out of the room, leaving a pale Lockhart behind him.
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I really wish I could update faster, but this is the dreaded exam period for moi. I will write as often as possible though. And I will not abandon this story.