Hello everyone, here are three chapters that I literally finished about 5 minutes ago.
It is currently 04:07am as I am Editing and Posting this, so if there are any grammatical issues, please let me slide just this one time.
I really hope you guys enjoy these chapters, I loved writing them!
Last time on Black and White:
"Harry Potter! I said 'am I clear'?!"
"Err, yes Hermione, I hear you loud and clear. And uh... I'll let Andrew know too."
"Thank you! Now Goodnight!"
"Goodni-" he didn't get to finish as Hermione left the dorm and slammed the door shut behind her.
Stupid Potter, stupid Krum, stupid boys, stupid Yule Ball. "Stupid bloody tournament." she wiped the make up from her face and got out of her dress before changing into her more comfortable pyjamas and climbed into bed and closed her eyes, content with ending this night as soon as possible.
Book 4 – Chapter 29: Aftermath
"Of all the irresponsible actions! What were you two thinking?!"
"Professor McGonagall, I vould like to remind you, zat it vas your student who first attacked mine. No ze other way around."
"Yes, I am well aware of that, Mr Karkaroff."
"Dumbledore, what do you plan to do about zis... act of disrespect?! Your student has now attacked two people within your halls, are you simply going to let him-"
"Thank you, Igor." Dumbledore said cutting the man off. "I will see to Andrew's punishment, kindly take Mister Krum back to the Durmstrang ship." the Headmaster said in a commanding tone, leaving no room to argue.
Andrew watched as the older boy was led out of the office by an annoyed looking Karkaroff. Once they had shut the door, McGonagall turned back on him.
"Five minutes! Can you not go getting yourself in some sort of trouble for five minutes?!"
"I'm sorr-"
"No! Don't you dare apologize, are you aware that what you did has left a mark on not only the reputation of Hogwarts but also on your school records!"
Andrew grit his teeth. Why the hell was only he being told off?
"Andrew, you say this happened because of Krum's actions?"
"Yes sir, he provoked me."
"And instead of walking away, you thought it prudent to prove that you are nothing but a hot-headed child. Honestly! The idiocy is astounding! Headmaster, expel him, right this second! Hogwarts is no place for this type of behaviour."
Andrew opened his mouth to respond.
"Andrew." he heard in a stern tone, he turned to see Dumbledore shoot him a look and the boy's jaw shut tightly.
There were a few moments of silence from the occupants in the room, each one lost in their thoughts. When finally Dumbledore looked up and drew his shoulders back squarely.
"Andrew, this behaviour is appalling and in no way should represent what Hogwarts is about. You have not only put yourself in an unappealing position, but you have successfully placed Hogwarts in a lose – lose situation. I am afraid, I cannot allow this behaviour to continue." The aged wizard paused as he stared at Andrew, allowing his words to stew in the youth's mind for a moment.
"As such; you will be serving a total of two months detention, you will be on probation until we deem you responsible to have our trust once more, you will be prohibited from attending any Hogsmeade weekends until we deem that you are allowed and a loss of 150 points from Gryffindor."
Andrew blinked, that was a lot. He looked back up at the Headmaster.
"While I was hoping for your expulsion, at least this will prove to you and that arrogant brother of yours that you are nothing special."
Andrew turned to glare at Snape, wanting nothing more than to tell the piece of shit off, but knew that now would not be the best time, and probably wouldn't work in his favour at all. He simply stood and nodded at the Headmaster's declaration.
"Very well. Professor McGonagall, please escort Mister Potter back to Gryffindor tower. I believe that is everything for tonight."
"Very well, come along, Mister Potter."
Andrew nodded and turned to leave the office with his Head of House. Once the door had closed, Dumbledore sagged in his seat and sighed tiredly.
"That boy is a handful, Albus." one of the portraits of the previous Headmaster spoke.
"I am aware, Phineas."
"He's outbursts are becoming more frequent." Snape added.
"I see so. This is becoming more problematic than I had first assumed."
"So, what do you plan to do?"
"Everything I can to ensure that Voldemort is the only Dark Lord England has to face in this era."
"I'm afraid I must agree with Severus in this regard; expelling the boy would save Hogwarts the scandal of harbouring a budding Dark Lord." Armando Dippet, Dumbledore's predecessor spoke as he leaned back in his frame.
"And separate him from not only his friends, but his brother? His only sources of support? No, that would only cause hatred to grow within his heart. We need him here, where we can shape him and hopefully save him."
"Why are you so scared of this curse? Potter hasn't shown any aptitude in any form of Dark magic, and assuming that he will be more dangerous than The Dark Lord himself is laughable."
Dumbledore paused for a moment and looked back up to his Potions professor.
"You remember Andrew's father?"
"Of course, strutted about as if he owned the Death Eaters. He was even informal with You-Know-Who."
"And why do you think that is? Also, why do you think he was the one of the first ones to easily overcome Tom's influence?"
Snape shrugged.
"From what I can gather from the information I have on this curse. I believe Ray, thought Tom either below him or incompetent. I believe he was simply biding his time, before he struck and tried to take Tom out and assume his position."
"He was nowhere near The Dark Lord's calibre, what could he have done to make any difference?"
Dumbledore regarded Snape for a moment, before leaning in his seat.
"What I am about to tell you, must not leave this room, nor must be discussed unless I am present and approve of who you wish to share this information with. Understood?"
Snape frowned, that usually went without saying, this must've been a big deal for Dumbledore to emphasise that point. He nodded nonetheless.
Dumbledore stood and walked over to one of his many bookshelves and proceeded to wave his wand until the shelves moved on their own, revealing a small single shelf, built into the wall with a single book.
He grabbed the book and walked back to Snape, before handing him the object. The book was old, but looked to have a stasis charm on it to preserve the information within. The cover was brown and had slight cracks on the leather, it also had an insignia of a boar etched on the front.
Snape cracked the book open and began reading, he immediately recognized it as a journal. He began reading some of the entries. He skipped a few pages and read some more, all the while Dumbledore waited patiently. Snape suddenly stopped and his eyes widened in shock and horror.
"You mean to tell me..."
"Voldemort, has created Horcruxes."
"Horcruxes?! What the hell was that boy thinking?!" Dippet yelled in disgust.
"How many?" Snape asked his eyes wide in shock.
"That I am not sure of, though we know that one has been destroyed already." Dumbledore said as he opened a drawer on his desk and showed the diary from two years prior.
"The chamber..." Snape whispered in shock.
"Correct, had Andrew's father continued on his path, I believe he would have eventually found all of them, and proceeded to destroy them before he attempted to over throw Tom."
"... Then he met Lisa." Snape said with a frown.
"Precisely. I believe she was able to redirect his mind away from that train of thought and the two fell in love."
"So wouldn't love be the 'cure' to this curse?"
"Again, I cannot say for certain. What I do know, is that Ray was closer than anyone to destroying Tom."
"What do you plan to do with this information? You plan to tell the Potters?"
"In due time. They are too fragile right now." Dumbledore said as he once more leaned back in his seat.
"So what does this information, as interesting as it is – how does this come back to Potter 2?"
Dumbledore frowned at the moniker before speaking.
"I am aware of both boys' magic, Harry has potential to become a powerhouse of a wizard, his core keeps expanding, with the right training he could very well pass me in terms of raw strength by his mid twenties."
"He is that powerful?" Snape asked with a sceptical look.
"He is, he just needs the right motivation."
Snape hummed doubtfully. "And the other one? The one who could become a Dark Lord?"
"Andrew's magic isn't as powerful, I'd say he has a slightly above average core."
Snape snorted. "I could've told you that already."
"But he is more in tune with his core. The curse forces him to act irrationally, if trained to recognize the rise of the curse in his veins, Andrew could be able to manipulate that and redirect it in ways that could be dangerous. Those who rely on power alone are doomed to fail once that power runs out."
"You think he would be more formidable than The Dark Lord?"
Dumbledore paused for a moment before speaking.
"Of that I am not sure, my friend. But tell me, how willing are you to find out?"
HP-AP-HP-AP-HP-AP
Andrew walked silently beside McGonagall as she continued to berate him for his actions before he sighed tiredly. McGonagall paused.
"I'm sorry am I boring you?!"
"No, Ma'am, just wondering why I'm the only one going through this."
"Why you're...?! Of all the...!"
"I just mean, why is it only my fault? Everyone seems to believe that I'm above what I've done, but Krum who is legally an adult in the Magical World isn't above provoking someone younger than him into a fight?"
"That isn't the point here, Mr Potter!"
"You know what you're right, Snape has been doing it for years and none of you seem to care so why should I expect something different with someone else?"
"Watch your tone, Mr Potter..." the Scottish Professor warned.
"Why? Apparently that's what you all want isn't it?! You want adults to continuously provoke teenagers then punish us when we react, but not hold the adult accountable."
"That's another 20 points for your tone, young man."
Andrew simply shook his head and began walking back to Gryffindor tower. They travelled in silence with McGonagall occasionally muttering about cheeky brats. After they made it back McGonagall informed him that he would be expected for his first detention with her for the first week of classes.
Nodding Andrew turned and entered the common room and found it empty except for a couple snuggled up on the love couch. Andrew made his way up to the boys' dorm and immediately began stripping his suit off so that he could get into bed and collapse.
Once he had changed into a pair of soft baggy pyjama pants and an oversized shirt he crawled into his bed. It did not take long for him to be claimed by his exhaustion.
HP-AP-HP-AP-HP-AP
The next day he woke later in the morning and saw the sun had risen higher in the sky. He climbed out of his bed and noticed that he was the last one to awaken. He shrugged and made his way to shower and start his day.
Once his morning routine was completed, Andrew made his way down to the Great Hall to catch the tail end of breakfast, then go back to trying to solve the bloody egg.
Once he entered the Great Hall though, the entire energy changed. The chattering stopped and Andrew was on the receiving end of many looks, stares and glares. He frowned at students and made his way over to the Gryffindor table. He spotted his brother, Hermione and Ron quietly chatting amongst themselves. He quickly grabbed the seat next to Hermione.
"Okay, I think I know why people are staring but can anyone explain why it's so shocking? I mean we've been trashing each other-"
Hermione stood suddenly, causing Andrew to look at her in shock.
"I'll see you guys later." she said before grabbing her book and storming out of the Hall.
Andrew's eyes widened before he turned to his brother and Ron.
"Err, anyone want to explain what just happened?"
"She's seriously pissed at you." Ron said with a shrug.
"Okay...? Why?"
"Similar reason as everyone else, I'd imagine." Seamus spoke from the boy's right.
"Okay are we going to playing a guessing game or is someone actually going to explain?" Andrew snapped.
"Your fight with Krum really got to her." Harry finally said.
Andrew frowned a bit at that.
"And you lost Gryffindor 170 points because of your jealousy." Dean added as he ate his toast, though the anger in his tone bled through.
Andrew bristled at that. "I was not jealous, Dean. I was standing up for a member of our house."
"Bullshite." Seamus said with a harsh laugh. "You've had your eye on Hermione for years but Krum got there before you did, and now you're butt hurt."
Andrew felt his anger build.
"Firstly, watch your mouth, Finnegan and secondly, Hermione and I are just friends. Of course I'm going to be worried when she was clearly upset."
"Never mind all that, you're giving Gryffindor a bad name! Why the hell would you think fighting Viktor Krum would be a good idea?!" Angelina Johnson asked from a little further down the table.
"Because he's a cocky shit who thinks the world should praise the very ground he walks on." Andrew answered easily.
"Nice Snape impression there." Harry commented.
Andrew blinked and turned to Harry. "Never compare me to that twat again." he said seriously.
"Well you're acting an awful lot like him." Ginny pounced in.
"I'm sorry, was your input requested?" he snapped at the younger girl.
"Oi, don't speak to my sister like that!" Ron snapped back.
"Then tell her to mind her damn business!" Andrew retorted.
"Andrew, calm down." Harry told his brother sternly.
Andrew's teeth gritted in annoyance before he turned back to his plate and he stared at the food he had loaded on before pushing the plate away having lost his appetite.
Andrew made to stand when he felt a small compulsion to eat at least an apple. He grabbed one and took a bite before he felt large swell from within him. He felt the swell implode and looked down at his arms and pulled down a strand of his hair. Everything was Gryffindor red.
There was a moment of pause before someone from Slytherin – more than likely Malfoy – gave a loud laugh. This was followed up by the other students laughing. Andrew noticed a few of them looking above his head and he looked up to see the words "Bad Cub" hanging above his head.
Andrew looked at the apple and dropped it onto the table before standing and mustered as much pride as he could before he walked out of the hall while the students laughed. He ignored the jabs Malfoy and his ilk threw at him, he ignored the comments from those within his own house. He ignored the looks of glee on the faces of the Ravenclaws who still had it out for him for what he had done to them. He ignored the smug looking Hufflepuffs who were still convinced he had stolen the spotlight off of their champion. He continued walking away, even ignoring the calls from his own brother.
But most of all he ignored the looks of complete indifference from the professors, excluding Snape, who looked almost gleeful at his predicament. In that moment Andrew Potter remembered something; he remembered his and Harry's time at Primary School with Dudley, and how quickly the blame was pushed onto them from their cousin. How the other students would simply let the two brothers continue to be abused because it would have been inconvenient to help and become the new targets. He remembered how the teachers stood by and allowed it to happen because they were told that the two boys were trouble makers and started the fights.
But most of all he remembered the lesson he took from that environment, the lesson that he had for some reason forgotten since he had arrived at Hogwarts; Relationships were an inconvenience, friendships were nothing but an excuse for lonely people to feel less lonely, and most importantly; relying on others and expecting them to not hurt you was a sure fire way to make yourself weak.
Solitude was the only way to succeed, get what you need from people then get out. He survived this long at the Dursley's because he followed those rules. He would make sure he handled the Dursely's alone since he didn't trust Harry to not die if he had tried. He kept friendships strictly professional, never giving away anything that would work against him. Hell, not even Harry knew about Tabitha and that her... soul? Essence? Consciousness? Whatever... Harry had no clue that she was in his family ring and now, Andrew would ensure it stayed that way.
If everyone was going to turn their backs on him, he was more than prepared to do the same to them.
HP-AP-HP-AP-HP-AP
The Yule holidays were coming to an end and Andrew had still not figured out the egg, he had read as much as he could about mermaids before he felt utterly finished by all the information. He was sitting out near the unfrozen yet still freezing cold Black Lake to contemplate his next step.
"We 'ave to stop meeting like zis." came an amused voice from behind him.
Andrew didn't respond. Fleur frowned at the silence and stepped up beside him.
"'Ave you figured out ze egg, yet?" she asked hoping to prompt him into speaking.
"If I had I doubt I'd be standing out here trying to figure out how to solve it." he answered shortly.
Fleur blinked at the sharp cadence and annoyed tone.
"Vhat iz ze matter?" she asked with a frown.
"Nothing. I've got to go. See you later." Andrew said in dismissively, he turned and walked away from the older French girl who watched him go with a frown of concern.
Andrew avoided the Great Hall, he figured the red skin was something the twins had done, and honestly he was not in the mood to deal with mob justice and being the continued butt of the joke. So he missed the commotion that was happening when the Daily Prophet released a late edition.
The owls fluttered into the Great Hall as the students enjoyed their supper, most students frowned in confusion at the delivery birds.
Everyone including Hermione opened their papers and their eyes widened in shock. Harry leaned in closer and felt his eyes double as well. There was a double feature cover story this evening.
Harry Potter / Fleur Delacour: Yule Ball Provides New Power Couple?
Followed by:
Potter v. Krum: Champions Come to Blows!
Both written by Rita Skeeter.
"Potter with the Veela?! Decided to dirty the Potter line even further did you?"
Harry turned to Malfoy and stood as the boy approached.
"Don't talk about my family, Malfoy." Harry warned.
"I mean, first a mudblood and now a Veela? You Potter men really will bed anything, won't you?" Draco laughed followed by his little gang.
"I'm warning you, Malfoy."
"Oh, and what are you going to do? Your psychotic brother isn't here to help you now."
"I don't need him to deal with you, Malfoy." Harry challenged as he stepped closer to the boy.
"I dare you to try, Potter."
"'Arry."
The dark haired teen turned to see Fleur standing a small distance away from him.
"Do not entertain zis... leetle boy, wiz your time. If you 'ave time, we must speak." she told him as she barely acknowledged Malfoy.
"You bitch, do you have any idea who I am?" Malfoy growled as he sneered at Fleur.
"I jus' called you a leetle boy and I am afraid I 'ave no time for children. Excusez-moi." she grabbed Harry's arm and began lightly pulling him out of the Hall in full view of the entire student body.
Once they were out Harry turned to face Fleur with a look of confusion.
"Zere is something we must discuss, 'Arry." Fleur started.
"Listen Fleur, I'm really sorry about the article, I honestly don't know how Skeeter found out about..."
"'Arry, it is fine, I do not mind. Let zem zink what zey will."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Then he frowned. "Then what did you want to speak about?"
"'Ave you seen Andrew anywhere? I 'eard 'e fought Krum."
"Ah, yeah. I'm sure, Andrew has a tendency to disappear when he's upset. I think he found some secret room in the castle."
"Zat explains what 'appened a few days ago." Fleur muttered while she nodded slowly.
"Don't worry, he'll eventually come out of wherever he is and he'll be fine again." Harry said with a smile.
His smile waned slightly at Fleur's disbelieving frown.
Back in the Great Hall Malfoy had yet to move back to the Slytherin table.
"So where's the unhinged Potter? Bet he'd love to see that he's the most hated person in the Quidditch community. Honestly, how stupid must you be to punch a world renowned athlete? Hey Granger, is it true he did it because he was jealous of you and Krum?"
Hermione easily ignored Malfoy and continued reading her paper.
"Butt out, Malfoy." Ron spoke up instead.
"Oh, now you're showing that Gryffindor protectiveness! Where was that when Crazy Potty was laughed out of the hall?" Malfoy laughed. "In any case, I'm not talking to you, Weasley. I believe I was talking to the mudblood." the Slytherins' around Malfoy laughed at that.
"Call me that one more time and you'll regret it, Malfoy." Hermione spoke in a cold tone.
"What did you say mudblood?" he asked while raising a hand to cup over his ear.
Hermione stood up and faced the teachers.
"Is anyone going to do anything about him repeatedly calling me mudblood?" Hermione asked the professors.
"I did no such thing, Professors!" Draco responded looking utterly offended.
"We cannot punish someone unless we hear what it is they have said ourselves, Ms Granger." Professor McGonagall stated with a small look of sympathy.
"And 10 points from Gryffindor for using an offensive, term." Snape said from his place at the table.
It was obvious with Dumbledore not yet having come to the Great Hall for supper, Snape and Malfoy were going to milk this moment.
At Snape's words the Gryffindor table erupted in protest at this. Demanding McGonagall take back the deduction.
"Unfortunately, I cannot as Ms Granger did say a word that has been banned within the school." McGonagall said in a stern but irritated tone, seeing as Snape got away with punishing the Gryffindors on a technicality.
The groans the Gryffindors let out were of complete anger and frustration.
"See, you can't beat me, you trumped up Mudblood." Draco whispered to Hermione.
There was a bright flash of light and everyone paused when they witnessed Draco Malfoy fly away from Hermione and slam against the wall on the opposite side of the Hall.
"I did warn you. Anyone else want to say something?" Hermione challenged as she turned back to Malfoy's little gang of racists.
"Miss Granger!"
"50 points from Gryffindor for attacking another student and a month of detention!"
Hermione ignored all the exclamations and retook her seat.
"Hermione, that was brilliant!" Ron exclaimed as Snape continued trying to punish Gryffindor.
"I'm just getting sick of boys and their stupid need to feel superior." she answered with a shrug.
"Err, all boys?" Ron asked with a small look of fear in his eyes.
Hermione smiled at the boy. "You're safe, Ronald, don't worry."
"Oh, thank Merlin." he breathed in relief. "I've always known you were mental Hermione, but you just cursed Malfoy in front of the professors... You're mental, but brilliant Hermione."
