Dauntless Dimensions
Chapter V
Dauntless First Day
Harry was dressed neatly in a black long-sleeve shirt with the top few buttons undone with some long black slacks with black leather belt and black shoes with his shrunken school trunk in his pocket. He was wearing some tinted transition glasses along with an amused smirk. The summer leading up to his first day of school had been interesting. It led to a whole lot of auditing whether that was voluntary with some private citizens or like with some politicians, Hogwarts, and other public funded place, not so much voluntary.
Minister Fudge was one slippery little man as he was just about keeping office, but with some of the 'campaign donations' he had been receiving, which were not going into the correct bank accounts, it wouldn't be long until he slipped up again and his office would be forced to have him resign or oust him, and replace him with someone else from his party and call for a new election soon after.
However, Dumbledore was being surprisingly helpful, as he helped get Sirius his freedom. Though, everyone knew better than to take that at face value. He wanted to get on Harry's good side, probably to keep him in the 'light', or whatever the crazy old man wanted, it was going to be interesting finding out.
Though, they supposed they would just take and give nothing, it got Sirius officially set free, and with that revealed the truth about Tifa Black, which caused an outcry against the Ministry. At least little Tifa could now have medical treatment, and though she wouldn't fully recover she would have a happy, full, free life to do what she wanted in the future. The Ministry had to pay big for Sirius's false imprisonment, but they had to pay even more because of Tifa's situation, so she would want for naught when she was older and finished school, not that she wouldn't have anyway with an Uncle and Big Brother to dote on her.
Mr. Manager had seen fit to hold of integrating the Black vault until Harry had done his thing, but they did audit it for him while they were at it, and though it was linked to Harry's new vault now, Sirius got to keep that and if he had no children, it would go to either Harry anyway, or Tifa.
It was just lucky for the Ministry that no other children were found in the prison, dead or alive, but it brought forward some new legislation to protect children against anything like it happening again. There had even been some noise from the public about keeping the dementors away from the prisoners, if there were any more left alive, especially petty criminals with the hope that they could be rehabilitated.
A lot of anger and mistrust came about because of Sirius's false and illegal imprisonment, and even more because of Tifa. The Ministry was trying to pay Sirius off because of this as they already paid out some money in fear, but with Harry's policy of vengeance is fun when it damages a person's reputation and career Sirius was going down the sue everybody involve route, especially to make sure nothing like that happened to Tifa could happen again. That went with suing for his false imprisonment and Tifa's along with using loads of magical lore stuff to screw with the establishment as much as possible. They should probably ask people to sign things before compensating them, rather than panicking, and forgetting they pay lawyers for a reason.
Harry couldn't have been prouder of his godfather for joining in his fun and games. This put a lot of people in a bad situation – mainly some pureblood families who had to choose sides. It didn't matter to Harry what side they chose but it sure was amusing to watch all of the chaos in government he was responsible for.
Though, on a nicer note, Dumbledore had resigned his post on the wizengamot once Sirius was freed to show his 'support' or more likely before they fired him. It was surprising he was still keeping his job at Hogwarts. The old man was nearly broke from what Harry found out because of sums he had to pay back from his little organisation, the Order of the Phoenix that fought against Voldemort, very poorly or it wouldn't have been down to a fifteen-month-old baby to destroy the 'Dark Lord'.
It had been with amusement that his Accounts Manager, Kandahar had been receiving plenty of pleas from some quite well to do families begging him to waiver all of their 'missed' payments. However, some of them had been offering all sorts of crazy stuff to have them waived, none of which he had any use. They would have never gotten away with making half of the 'suggestions' they had made in the muggle world.
The magical UK was in turmoil and Harry loved it. There was nothing like getting even with greedy morons. He was giving his 'clients' plenty of good rates and deals. If they had a problem, they should see Dumbledore as he was at fault and not Harry's. Harry was actually being very reasonable, and if he left it to the goblins, he would have taken everything from them without hesitation or mercy, so they should think themselves lucky.
Anyway, Harry didn't much care to think about that right now, and didn't want to put any kids out on the streets, or make them go hungry so he was doing his best to be accommodating, but not being a push over. He had more pressing matters such as the amusement of magical school and trying to make friends. Plus, he was sure Dumbledore had some neat stuff at school he could steal.
It wasn't easy getting to Kings Cross Station on the first of September before 11AM. Oh, wait, yes it was, that was very easy, but since he left Sirius at home because people knew who he was, what he looked like, and kept mobbing him he still hadn't found the magical entrance to platform 9¾. It was driving him crazy and Defender Cottage didn't have a phone line to call and ask. He made a mental note to put in a phone line and get Sirius a mobile phone, he was already concerned leaving Sirius to look after Tifa by himself, but they did have a regular medi-witch who would be visiting her every day until the winter holidays, so it should be okay, and Harry figured he would invite the Tonks's over for Christmas, and then Andromeda could get some aunty duties in.
Harry had arrived by the Knight Bus so knew that going back would take too long without teleporting, but he couldn't risk people seeing him do that as it was 'illegal' for kids under seventeen and you needed a licence as apparation was apparently dangerous.
Though, Harry would have thought that someone would have thought to put up a sign for muggle-raised students to make life simpler, or put around an enchantment so the station staff could tell him instead of looking at him as if he was crazy, or at least write instructions on his ticket. It was bad enough that he had to buy a ticket for the turnstiles to get onto the platforms in the first place.
Harry sighed, looking at his magical world ticket; they could have made it smaller, to work the turnstiles: St. Pancras Kings Cross – Platform 9 ¾ was written in neat red writing along with terms and conditions on the back. He was starting to believe that he might have to get the bus to school when he lent up against a barrier between platforms only to stagger through solid wall.
Frowning, Harry just kept his balance and stood up straight. "Oh, nine and three quarters," he said to himself chuckling as he realised it was three quarters along the track. "I should take things a little more literal if I can't figure something out," he muttered to himself as he stood half in the wall, half out, amused by the whole effect.
Shrugging, Harry was about to enter back into the tunnel leading to his platform when he saw some fat ginger woman rushing some boys and a girl towards him. Harry found it amusing that the girl looked agitated as she was dragged along by her arm as they were running late, and two twin ginger boys were pushing trolleys and laughing at her. They were probably up to no good he figured by the gleams they had in their eyes.
The last two boys, one was short, about eleven and ginger with a bit of a dopy-concerned look, and the other ginger boy was older wearing round glasses. He looked like a pompous nerd; the type that would grass on you for cussing after you stub your toe, which was every human's right, cussing made it feel better, and both of them were pushing trolleys too.
Harry wondered whether they had heard about special shrinking trunks when he took real note of their clothes. You could learn something about the clothes a person wore. It became quite obvious as they got closer that they were a poorer family, but still they got what they needed he supposed as they didn't look unhappy.
The girl was a little different from all the ginger or darker ginger hair tones. Her hair was red like theirs, but was more of a coppery orange with some red flashing in it as the light caught it differently. She had a white hair band keeping her hair from her eyes, and a plaid skirt, grey tee, and black shoes, and her scowl at her mother was quite cute he supposed. Harry hoped that Tifa acted more like that when she was older, as the healers assured him that she would recover and could still learn to talk, but would likely suffer from some learning difficulties.
However, Harry looked the red-haired girl over in curious interest, and wondered whether it was okay for him to check out girls his age, and now he was confusing himself. Well, she was the first girl he had really looked at since being back in this world if you discount older women like that hot auror, Hestia. However, Harry quickly shook that from his mind as these weird mages stopped by him and were staring at him in confusion, and the girl was biting her lower lip to stop giggling.
"Oh, sorry," Harry said chuckling nervously as he realised, he was in the way and half through the wall. "I guess you'll want to get passed, well anything for a petty face," he said winking at the girl with a smirk as he disappeared back into the tunnel, but not missing her cheeks exploding into colour.
The big red stream train pleasantly surprised Harry, and it would most certainly be fun getting to ride on one. He had ridden a train once in his life and it was nothing like this one.
Harry walked through the crowds of students saying their last farewells to parents and younger siblings before jumping into a carriage near the back and finding a free compartment void of anyone and relaxed on a seat.
It wasn't long before the whistle blew and the train started leaving. Harry looked out of the window and grinned as that girl was out there with her mother, her cheeks flamed up again as he waved at her. He wondered how many girls he could make blush that red just to amuse him, so that would be amusing to find out, as he did like to think he had a bit of a wicked sense of fun sometimes.
Harry was back in his seat wondering whether he should have bought some comics to read or a book when there was a knock on the door before it slid open. It was one of those brothers, the youngest, and he looked nervous as he stood in the doorway. Harry thought it would have been amusing to mess with the boys' head but he didn't look smart enough to get any of his jokes and teases, and those twin brothers of his probably harassed him as if was.
"Umm… can I sit here, everywhere else so far has been packed," he asked shifting from foot to foot looking uncomfortable, his eyes travelling from Harry's clothes to his made him blush.
"Sure," he said with a shrug. "I'm Harry, what's your name?"
"Ron, Ron Weasley," he said sitting opposite, his eyes flicking up to Harry's forehead but his black hair was long enough and styled in a mess of downward spikes over his forehead and ears.
"Looking for something?" Harry asked in amusement.
Ron started and shook his head. "Oh, no it's just you said Harry and I thought well…"
"Oh, I see," he said smirking with a shrug. "Well even if I did have my hair up you wouldn't see a scar; it healed, mostly. So, sorry to disappoint, nothing to see but me…"
Ron laughed looking embarrassed. "Well, everyone thinks you have a huge lightning bolt scar. I don't think anyone thought about it healing," he said sheepishly.
"Blah, don't worry dude," Harry said while shrugging. "Me, I'm just an ordinary guy, like a muggle-born I suppose."
"Umm… okay," Ron said. "But mum says that I should make friends with you so you don't join the dark."
Harry burst out laughing. "That's stupid man," he said shrugging amused that his mum would tell him that, just looking at him Harry could tell he would be hard pressed to keep that secret, and he had blabbed in the introduction, poor spy quality. "Dark, light, blah… both are idiots if you ask me, both with their own petty stupidity. I say you do whatever, be nice, be a jerk, choose whatever, but don't label it like that or you'll become somebody's minion, and your head will explode."
Ron looked confused. "Um, okay," he said before a squeak caught his attention and he pulled out a large grey rat from his pocket. "This is Scabbers, but he's gotten ill these last few weeks. I don't know what's wrong with him."
Harry looked over his glasses, his cool green eyes just staring at the rat in suspicion as they travelled to its missing toe. "Umm… Ron, I don't think that's a rat," he said while it actually let its beady black eyes rest on him. It was scared. "I'll get you an owl if you let me kill it?"
"W-what?" he asked in shock looking at Harry as if he was crazy.
Harry shrugged as he looked closer while Ron tried to shield it. "Hello Peter, been hiding in your animagi form all this time. Sirius would like to send his love but I'm going to splatter your brains under my foot!"
"W-what," Ron said in shock as he threw the rat as it started growing into an ugly rat faced man. However, moments before the man could do anything he fell to the ground after a shoe from Harry smashed into his face.
"Wow, I never thought to find him so fast," Harry said with a shrug. "Hey, don't worry man, I'll still get you the owl," he said while Ron was just staring at the ugly man in slack jawed horror.
Harry was nonchalant as he pulled out a little Hogwarts badge kissed it with a grin and dropped it onto Pettigrew and he disappeared. "Hey, don't worry man, he'll get his just rewards," he said while back at Defender Cottage, Sirius was startled when the greatest present anyone had ever given him appeared out of nowhere. He so had to look for cars for Harry's birthday as he doubted anything less would match his gift, nothing at all.
"Where did you send him?" Ron asked after a moment as they both sat back.
"To get some justice," Harry said without a care, and hoping Sirius didn't kill him, but then it was believed he killed himself, but he doubted Ron would keep this a secret. Harry shrugged; he could probably find some old pureblood mumbo jumbo to deal with that later.
"I can't believe that Scabbers was-," Ron said looking sick.
"So, what colour owl you want, or you can have a cat if you want?"
"Umm, an owl, one that loves to eat rats," he said with a sigh. "That… he'll be going to Azkaban, right-…?"
"Maximum security," Harry agreed shrugging. "That was probably the best bit of luck I've had all week. So, anyway, I couldn't help but notice that you have a sister," he added after he realised a subject change was probably in order, and that was the first thing to come to mind.
"Oh, you mean Ginny?" Ron asked while Harry shrugged but nodded anyway. "Yea, well, she can be annoying."
Harry just rolled his eyes. Ron just didn't know how good he had life, brothers and a sister and a caring mother. Yuna had been somewhat motherly to him, but it would have been nice to have a real one like that.
"Nah, sisters aren't annoying," Harry said rolling his eyes "I have an older sister and she's always been great to me."
"But that's older, Ginny's younger," he retorted like that settled things.
Harry would have continued with some clever retort in defence of younger sisters everywhere, since Tifa was such a sweetie-pie, she didn't talk, but still? However, the door had been barged open, stalling their conversation. In the doorway stood a girl, eleven at the most. She was dressed in a set of blue robes; her long blonde hair was perfectly straight. It was tied back at her waist with a blue ribbon. Her cool ice grey-coloured eyes glared at Harry while ignoring Ron as if he didn't exist while her pale cheeks were streaked pink slightly.
"You're Harry Potter," she said coolly, but her voice was soft and nice, and her accent was 'The Queens English'. He would have thought that accents like that no longer existed out in the wild anymore. She hadn't asked, but told him, and he could only nod in agreement as he was that confused. "My father believed it would make a better first impression for me to give this to you in person."
She then handed him a neat parchment envelope before giving a small nod and quickly fleeing; the door fell back, sliding shut. Harry frowned and wondered why his life couldn't be a little normal for five minutes as he looked to Ron. He shrugged his shoulders looking just as baffled so if it was a pureblood thing Ron was just as ignorant.
Harry shrugged as he broke the seal and pulled out the letter; his eyes widened the more and more he read, awed by the audacity, and willingness.
"Oh fuck," Harry mumbled startling Ron as pureblood kids weren't as used to cussing as muggles kids, and Harry didn't make a habit of it. "Seriously, he wants to trade his daughter's hands in marriage for the complete ownership of his business. This guys a douche, and that's both daughters; that blonde, Daphne, and her younger sister, Astoria."
"Why would you want girls?" Ron asked obviously not having a clue. "You should just tell him you want the money."
Harry groaned and just shook his head. "He doesn't have the money to keep his company from me taking it, but don't worry about it man," he said, even he knew a little about the facts of life at his age. He also knew that this Mr. Greengrass was not just stupidly handing over his daughters, but giving away his bloodline, which would bring more power to his family with his daughters having heirs to his name with Harry, which would also mean that Harry would become head of his family, which he would have to proxy to one of the Greengrass girls, or something like that; it was complicated magical lore stuff.
Shaking his head clear, Harry had been trying to study up on all this pureblood stuff, but he found most of it confusing, and a lot had so many loopholes or contradictions flooding it; it was hard to pick out truths to the lore's. This tactic was to gain full control over his companies, but it would mean the Greengrass name got a strong, rich, and powerful bloodline to give them not just one hair, but a possible minimum of two, one for each girl. Harry just hoped his other half when he found her found humour in his predicament rather than being jealous or something.
Sirius had known quite a lot about this sort of lore thing that he picked up over the years, growing up a Black, and warned Harry that parents really would hand over their daughters. Harry hadn't really believed that parents would, but here was the proof that at least one family would. The Greengrass family had lost a lot during the war not taking sides, according to his records, and now they couldn't afford to repay him with money, and didn't want to lose what they had built.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to deal with this later," Harry said to Ron while he looked baffled, probably wouldn't get half of the pureblood woes that Harry had too. If he didn't have a girl to find and vengeance and all that he might have ran away. Though he supposed he could deal with this. Daphne was very pretty and he was sure her sister would be too, and she seemed rather nice. Harry just wondered whether he should agree, or try to worm his way out without dishonouring the family.
Harry sighed while rubbing his head when a new girl knocked and opened the door timidly. She had crinkly brown hair and brown eyes, and she was wearing her school robes already. He expected another letter but was thankful when she went off about something else.
"Have either of you two seen a b…" she began to say looking quite the busybody when she trailed off looking at Harry. "Why are you wearing clothes like that… you look so out of place compared to everyone else. Look at him, while not wearing robes wizards born in the magical world look odd."
Harry was surprised as he noticed Ron's outfit did look odd compared to what he was wearing and that was not because of lack of money. "Wow, I never would have taken that much notice if you didn't point it out, but I look good right?" he asked with a grin.
She blushed but nodded her head before blushing more and shaking her head. "Well, anyway, I'm looking for a missing pet bat," she quickly carried on, "a boy named Neville Longbottom lost one. I think he's too shy to look himself. It's called Snivels!"
"What kind of name is Snivels for a bat?" Harry couldn't help but ask while Ron nodded. "Or Snivels for any creature come to think of it?"
"Oh, I asked the same thing," she said embarrassed. "He just said he liked the name."
Harry rolled his eyes. "You know you don't have to run around after some guy who can't look for his own bird, um, bat. If you want to make friends, try something like, hey, my names Harry sit down and hang out," he said shaking her hand and pulling her to sit next to him.
She was blushing brighter than before while Ron tried not to laugh too much. "I'm Hermione Granger… wait, are you Harry Potter?"
"Yep, that's me," he agreed with a smile.
"I've read all about you," she said in awe. "Well, I've read about lots of stuff," she said pulling out a light blue coloured wand from her sleeve. It has a cute little white fox on the end of the handle, and she pointed it at his glasses. "Impervious," she said the spell smiling. "Your glasses should be more resistant to things like rain and breaking now, if it worked right."
"Cool," Harry said as she put her wand away. "You went to the Wand Gadget Stop for your wand, didn't you?" he asked her with a grin while she blushed.
"Yeah," she agreed nodding. "The witch who took us muggle-born's shopping wanted us to go into this filthy looking wand shop called Ollivanders, but we saw the huge special offer signs to this nice place a few doors down. I bought lots of stationary there too, and this cute little fox, and thirty per cent off my holster as a new first year, and some other stuff too. Our guide tried everything to get us to go to Ollivanders, but looking in the Wand Gadget Shop the wands were cheaper, and did you know they aren't just made out of wood, mine is made out of fibreglass, and coloured," she said and Harry looked closer and could kind of but not quite see-through Hermione's wand.
"I got my wand there too," Harry said smirking as he showed his ashen coloured wand as he slid it from under his left sleeve before sliding it back in. "Mine's carbon fibre. I had a look in Ollivanders. I wouldn't shop there, it's a filthy place, and I bet wooden wands would be much easier to break so I'm happy with mine."
Hermione nodded her head with a smile. "I know what you mean. I couldn't believe how insistent our guide was to go into that dust hole. She might have been on his payroll, and get commission or something for every first year Ollivanders sells a wand too. She tried to force us to buy our robes at this one place when another place a few doors down was so much nicer and brighter and had some killer deals."
"I know, I'm fairly well off but I'm still looking for a good deal," Harry agreed while nodding, and feeling pretty satisfied that it seemed other new-blood stores were taking the advice he had given to The Wand Gadget Shop.
"Exactly, our guide didn't seem to understand that," Hermione agreed with a shake of her head. "I don't get that woman…"
"Well-…" Harry interrupted, but trailed to a stop as he recognised the boy with slicked back bleach blonde hair and silk black robes entering the compartment. Two huge and brutish boys flanked him, one of which Harry as Hiro recognised as he beat his dad up that first day home. They could only seem to intimidate Ron and Hermione. Any look they shot Harry seemed to go unnoticed or it slid off with a nonchalance the other two could only dream of.
"So, you're Harry Potter?" the blonde boy asked looking at him, and he nodded his head in agreement. "I'm Draco Malfoy, and I heard you were dressed differently, but I can let that go. You'll soon learn how things are done, and that some people are better than others, but I can help you there," he said offering out his hand to shake while glaring at Ron and Hermione.
"I see," Harry replied while Ron and Hermione looked nervous. "But maybe it I who can help you?!" he said as he stood up and took the blonde boy's hand, holding it tight enough that Draco grimaced.
Draco was surprised. He expected a weak runt, but he got much more than he expected, and once Harry let his hand go, Draco staggered back slightly. Harry's green eyes looked over his glasses like ice, cold and cool, and they could feel strength beyond them emanating from him.
"Don't judge by a person, by their blood Draco, case and point," Harry said with a small smile as he gestured the two flunkies and Draco understood what he meant. "Now, I'm going to give you an offer. You can either sit down and get over yourself or you can leave with your flunkies."
Draco had hesitated as he looked to the other two occupants and a spare seat. He had learnt a lesson from his father a short while back in Diagon Alley, and that sometimes you just are outmatched and should walk away when given the chance. But what did you do when offered a seat? He didn't know. He couldn't join mudbloods and blood traitors, could he?
It took Draco longer than he thought it should, but eventually he quit hesitating and turned, and with a gesture, he and his flunkies left with flunkies looking confused, and the door slid closed behind them.
"Whoa, that was awesome Harry," Ron said as Harry retook his seat next to Hermione. "You showed him whose boss, but his flunkies are huge, you could have gotten beaten up."
Harry looked at Hermione with a grin that caused her cheeks to light up. "Who do you think would have won a fist fight between me and a couple of greedy spoilt brats… magical brats?"
"You," Hermione answered without any hesitation. "I've read the papers… so I knew you grew up in the muggle world, and that you had to deal with those horrible people," she said looking at him and trying to not let him see how sad she was thinking about it.
Harry laughed as he patted her hand. "Hey, don't worry too much Hermione. I can deal with my past. I don't need anyone feeling bad for me. I've been putting right what was screwed up, and now I've made a great new friend…"
Her cheeks lit up more as he smirked cheekily. She then smiled. She finally had a loyal friend, someone who wouldn't use her and then dump her. Someone smart enough to not need her to do his homework for him.
By the time they reached Hogsmeade, Harry had decided that his new best friend was certainly Hermione; she was smart and most certainly nicer to look at than Ron, and it was nice getting to speak with someone who liked learning new things. Harry doubted he would get on too well with Ron in a closer way, as he had too much of as hero-worship thing going on when dealing with Dumbledore, and he wasn't very bright so things had to be dumbed down too much, and Ron would be happier hanging out with more normal boys.
Hermione had been nervous once they left the train, so Harry held her right hand with his left and she relaxed, much more excited since they wouldn't get separated.
Harry didn't know how the whole school seemed to have been talking about Harry capturing Peter Pettigrew. It had only happened a few hours ago and Ron had only blabbed to Hermione, and neither had left him for a moment, not even to use the bathroom. How that was even possible was beyond him, but he could only conclude that Sirius had turned the rat in and the knowledge had entered the school from other sources.
Harry found that totally baffling as he followed the other first years, after this giant of a man with large brown coat and bushy beard had called out to take them to the school. Harry had pulled on a robe over his clothes but left it undone, only because he noticed people staring at him for looking like a muggle amongst sorcerers.
Turning to Hermione as they walked side by side, Ron was ahead of him with a plump brown-haired boy trying to capture the bat fluttering around their heads he frowned.
"Hey, Hermione, are you just wearing normal clothes under your robes?" he asked her out of curiosity as he noticed something about Ron and Neville, as Ron had asked them to give him some privacy to change in the compartment before they left the train.
Hermione looked to Harry in surprise before nodding her head. "Yeah," she agreed nodding. "I hear that some others, boys and girls don't, but I don't know why anyone wouldn't. The shop I got my uniform from had proper none robe uniforms to go underneath, but I just put my robe on over the clothes I came in, so I would fit in, like you have, but I did mine up."
"Yeah, I bought my uniform from there too," Harry said nodding. "I wasn't going to wear robes without clothes underneath. After all, how could I walk with it open like a coat otherwise? It looks cool, right? I could be a superhero! Just imagine me silhouetted with a city backdrop and my robe fluttering about behind me after I have just saved the world."
Hermione looked at him laughing while rolling her eyes. "You have your priorities all wrong Harry. I think this is a Magical School, not some kind of Superhero Academy."
"I guess," Harry agreed half-heartedly as he looked himself over before shrugging. "Wow, will you look at how unsafe those little boats look," he added as they came to a stop and the giant man, Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper of Hogwarts told them they were their transport up to the school as he climbed in one to himself.
Harry shrugged a moment later while Hermione also gave the boats a dubious look before he climbed in behind Ron and Neville before helping Hermione in after him. They sat down opposite the other two, a little cramped before the boats started sailing away with a jerk. Harry figured that magic likely held the boats from letting in water or sinking like magic made them move.
Hermione grabbed Harry's arm as the boats sudden movement made her jump, and didn't seem likely to let go until they get out. He didn't mind and smiled at her, which again made her cheeks streak red. That was fun, but she would likely desensitise to his playful teasing, and maybe tease back eventually.
Harry had almost jumped the gun and attacked a giant tentacle as it cleared the dark water, but Hermione recited some book talking about the giant squid being friendly. He remembered seeing something about that in that huge book about Hogwarts.
Even Harry was impressed when they finally got a good look at the castle on the cliffs over facing the Dark Lake. It stood magnificent, proud, and awesome. Hermione just kept staring with her mouth open so Harry had to push her down when they came to a low natural bridge. Though, by the 'ow ow ow' and cussing (muggle-born's) a few kids hit their heads.
"Thanks Harry," Hermione said looking embarrassed as she held his arm tighter and leaned into him as if she was using him as a shield against her own inattentiveness because she hoped to see more amazing sights and it was rather nice to have a boy who would let her.
"No problem," Harry said with a grin as the boats all too-soon pulled into a small dock and after Ron and Neville had gotten out, climbed out and offered his hand to Hermione.
Hermione's eyes widened as Harry lifted her effortlessly out of the boat. "Wow, you must be really strong," she said in awe.
Harry just shrugged as he led her by the hand to the other students (getting some childish snickering from boys, but they would learn in time, and some awes from jealous girls as most matured faster than most boys).
Hagrid knocked on the door and an old stern looking woman opened the door with a no-nonsense expression as she led them from then on while Hagrid wandered off somewhere.
They all looked around in every direction where-moving and chatting painting greeted them to the school before they were left in a large antechamber. Harry guessed they were waiting for the other students to settle in this Great Hall place he had heard about before the first years were sorted into whatever house they were to stay with.
It was quite amusing to watch them all worrying about the sorting needlessly, even some of the rich purebloods were left guessing. Harry was probably the only person who knew what it was, and the only person who could beat a troll if he had to fight one. Ron should probably stop listening to his twin brothers if he knew they were tricksters, but some people just wouldn't learn.
"So, what do you think the test will be?" Hermione asked Harry nervously. "I've memorised loads of spells, but-."
Harry interrupted her with a laugh while rolling his eyes. "Don't threat Hermione, there is no test, no need to know any spells or any magic and you don't have to fist fight a troll," he added the last looking to Ron, his cheeks flamed as he was laughed at. "It's not even our first day; it's probably just some cheesy piece of sentient magic."
Hermione and others seemed to calm down once Harry became the voice of reason. "What's sentient magic?" asked Ron after a moment looking confused but he wasn't the only first year who was listening that was confused.
"Magic that's kind of alive with a mind of its own," Hermione answered as if he should have been smart enough to know something that simple, which he should have, but he probably had never willingly picked up a book in his life and only ever read those cheesy and racist against muggles comic books Hermione had seen around Diagon Alley. "So, if Harry's right, it will pick our houses for us-."
Nobody had a chance to answer as ghosts drifted through the far wall chatting, and not even noticing the huge gaggle of new students for a moment and they startled everyone, Harry included. They weren't actual spirits, but more like psychic imprints left upon the Earth, and they could technically be 'sent-on' to join their souls with an exorcism, but some ghosts were allowed to stay as long as they didn't cause any trouble.
Harry tuned them out as they talked to the student, freaking a few others out before they drifted off through another wall. It was obvious from his point of view that the ghosts knew first years were there, and probably were every year. It all seemed to be a big show trying to impress the new first years, but it ended up freaking a few out as Harry ended up with another girl (a girl with crinkled blonde hair and light blue eyes) on his other arm before she let go, giggling and blushing.
It didn't take long after the ghosts left for McGonagall to return and explain all of the houses to them, from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff to Gryffindor and Slytherin. Though, she did make her disdain for Slytherin apparent in her voice, which annoyed Harry a little.
Harry doubted all Slytherin's were douche-bags like most of the books he had read about it tried to claim. Also, if McGonagall gave them a chance, she might be able to sway some from walking the wrong path. After all, you catch more flies with sugar rather than lemons – well he didn't think you could catch flies with lemons full-stop.
McGonagall led the first years into the Great Hall between two sets of tables full of students. Harry looked around with the other first years to the enchanted ceiling charmed to look out into the night sky, and some gems in hourglasses. It was a shame those gems didn't belong to Dumbledore because they would look nicer in a treasure chest somewhere back home. Though, Harry mildly wondered why no one had actually stolen them yet; didn't the wizarding world have thieves?
They came to a stop and McGonagall set out a three-legged stool with a ratty old wizard hat on it in front of a wooden podium. Then the hat started to sing, badly. Harry wished he had kept a Materia on his arm to burn it. He would have to think about something more 'normal' to carry a couple with him at all times, preferably sense, break, lightning, and since he would be inside more often than not, Shiva as Leviathan was much too huge, and wouldn't appreciate being summoned on land, let alone inside a castle.
While the hat was singing that awful off-key song, Harry let his gaze wander to the teacher's table. He saw that huge Hagrid guy sitting next to some dude who was glaring spitefully at all the first years. He was a greasy haired douche of a teacher. His black eyes turned to Harry as he spotted him, and glared, harder, so hatefully Harry could almost feel it. He felt like he should probably flip the guy the bird to see what would happen, but held off doing that as it would interrupt the sorting and he was hungry.
Harry felt a sting up against his eyes the moment his made contact with the teachers. It was like tiny little dumper trucks were trying to smash through his eyes and into his mind. He held back from grimacing and glared back as he could just about keep the jerk out. He knew from the teachers frown that his eyes were probably doing that unearthly gold glowing thing his dad told him about when he got angry.
Harry grit his teeth in rage as the teacher wouldn't let up the attack when the sorting hat finished its song the grease ball went flying out of his chair and crashed to the floor. Harry quickly looked away grimacing as he had been so focused, he must have tapped into some magic. That was an interesting bit of knowledge though to work on, banishing without his wand. The bigger and less focused magic was obviously a feat that shouldn't be too hard without a wand.
Rubbing his brow, Harry felt the buzz in his eyes fade, so with that the glowing must have stopped as he relaxed. Harry pushed his transition sunglasses on fully to make finding direct eye contact more difficult. Occlumency came quite easy to him, and he was thankful that Sirius thought about it. He would have had to murder that grease ball if he found out any of his secrets. Some of his secrets were on a celestial level, so evil and meddling old men had to be kept well clear of them.
Hagrid helped the 'man', Severus Snape up to his chair. He was glaring absolute hate beyond hate at Harry now but he couldn't say anything, and Harry could hear loads of people snickering. Sirius had warned him about that twat. He did what he wanted too, and Dumbledore didn't seem to care because he was the 'good' little spy during the war against Voldemort for Dumbledore. No one but Dumbledore seemed to believed that. However, Dumbledore had too much sway and power, and too many people blindly believing in him, even if they didn't believe in Snape.
Though, looking, the old man looked between the two before giving Snape a look of reprimand before the sorting finally got underway. However, Harry did notice that Greengrass girl a little away from him staring at him until it was her turn to be sorted. She must have been the only one to realise what really happened to Snape, she looked curious now, rather than embarrassed by her father's letter.
Harry sighed as he watched her go to Slytherin before looking back at the teachers. Snape was avoiding eye contact this time, but Dumbledore looked over. His blue eyes looked to be straining behind his half-moon specs to see through the light tint of Harry's glasses.
Shaking his head in annoyance; Harry didn't see how the old man thought trying would be a good idea as he turned back to watch others getting sorted. He mildly wondered what house he would be in as he looked at his watch, which was on his left wrist attacked to his holster when he returned to The Wand Gadget Shop, he had given them the idea, and it had every function possible to wizard kind, from watch to small mirror, and then some. He was getting hungry and it was near nine at night.
Couldn't they hurry up?
"Potter, Harry!" McGonagall finally called his name and he grinned, thinking about getting to sit down and slump.
Harry took the stool and McGonagall plonked the hat on his head. "I do not have nits, I assure you Mr. Potter," the hat spoke in his ear in annoyance. "I am also not cheesy, and I'll have you know that everyone loves my singing voice!"
"Wow, a lying hat, that's new," Harry muttered quietly.
"Lying…?" the hat asked more annoyed. "Says the boy who is blocking off most of his life from my sight… how do you expect me to sort you fairly?"
"Umm… don't know," he replied with a shrug. "But I do know it's not really my problem, put me wherever you want. This whole trait thing seems pretty stupid to me anyway, because I'm so awesome if it was really important, I would be in all four houses, and then you would have to invent several for my other traits of personality."
"Yes, and I won't disagree... a house for smug gits would be one, but then, half the students would have to be resorted," the hat said, which made Harry have to hold back from laughing. "But it is still apart of Hogwarts tradition to sort you into just one house of four. Though, I suppose, Hufflepuff...? Slytherin…? Ravenclaw maybe-…? Possibly Gryffindor," it muttered to him thoughtfully.
"Sure, whatever you want," Harry agreed while shrugging. "I look good in all four colours, but I suppose green and blue look best on me," he said not realising that the hall had gotten so quiet so they could watch the famous Boy-Who-Lived be sorted that they could hear every word he spoke, and the hat was talking out loud because Harry wouldn't let him in far enough to see more than some flickering present thoughts.
"Hmm… indeed, I suppose," the hat reluctantly agreed. "If you won't let me fully in, you choose, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, hurry up now. I don't want to have to hear all of the moaning from others because they're hungry!" the hat suddenly spoke louder in his annoyance.
Harry sighed and shrugged. "Okay, okay, no need to be so grumpy, Mr. Hat. Let's see. I've been told that green goes well with my eyes, but I've also been told blue accentuates them or something. Ah, but the Slytherin's live in the dungeons and have that greasy dude as their head, and I hear that Professor Flitwick, Ravenclaws head is pretty cool, so, Ravenclaw it is!"
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat cried out sounding exasperated.
Harry was relieved he finally decided and pulled off the annoying hat and passed it to McGonagall. She was just scowling before she sighed at how oblivious he was and pointed to the Ravenclaw table. They seemed to start and started applauding as he rushed over. But they looked truly befuddled by the sorting, but still pleased they had the famous Harry Potter in their ranks, and he did seem rather humorous and they could use some humour in their house.
Harry hadn't been paying much attention during the sorting but he was happy to sit next to Hermione as she had obviously figured Ravenclaw would be a sensible place too. She was chewing on her bottom lip to keep from laughing about something, but that didn't mean others weren't outright laughing, and for some reason that Snape guy was somehow even angrier with him than before, and he didn't think that was possible.
It took a few minutes for the hall to quiet down and the sorting continued. Harry wasn't surprised that Ron headed off to Gryffindor. However, Harry was surprised that Dumbledore had looked at him, disappointed, probably wanting him to go to Gryffindor too. Sirius would probably be disappointed too. Sirius was a big fan of quidditch and because of Harry's talents he expected him to get on the Gryffindor team and win the cup or something since Sirius still supported high school quidditch.
"Harry," Hermione whispered once the sorting was over and food lined the tables with him grabbing some quickly, he was that hungry. "Did you know you and Mr. Sorting Hat were speaking aloud? I can't believe how you chose to be a Ravenclaw, because of the colour and it's not in the dungeon. I take it that one's the head of Slytherin. He looks so angry at you."
"Oh," Harry replied shrugging as he loading up some pork chops, vegetables, and roast and mashed potatoes with some delicious smelling gravy. He had been hungrier than he thought, so that would explain his lack 'security'. "Well, it's done now, my bad. Anyway, Snape was angry with me for just being here. He was my dad's archenemy at school. He looks quite bitter to me, and should probably just go out and get a life."
"Aren't you worried?" Hermione asked, doing enough worrying for him as she took some pie and chips.
"Nah," he replied, shrugging. "What can he do to me? Give me detentions for breathing? Though, from what my godfather tells me I wouldn't put it passed him, but I can always not turn up."
"And get into more trouble?"
"I don't think so. Dumbledore will side by me because… well. To be honest I'm not really sure what he wants."
Hermione sighed and shook her head before she ate some of her pie. "I don't think I'm ever going to get this world."
"I feel like that too, but I'm sure we will," Harry replied with a chuckle. "So, anyway, Hermione tell me about this trip with the weird lady to Diagon Alley?" he asked to move the subject, and she was happy to regale him with the story of her shopping trip to Diagon Alley where her guide just didn't want to let them shop where they wanted, but in old, dirty, or creepy shops when they had nicer and much cheaper alternatives with better quality items.
The story was quite amusing and a couple other first year muggle-born's joined in laughing with them about her as they had their new wands, and were eagerly telling other students about them and likely drumming up business for a few new stores. It sounded like this woman would have annoyed Harry to no end, but then he would have been the most annoying first year she had ever met and he would have likely ditched her, and taken all the other first years with him to enjoy their first time in the Magical World.
Soon however, the feast was over and they were sent on their way to their dorms and bed. Prefects led the first years, and Harry wondered whether pompousness was required to become a prefect or head boy or girl, because if it was, he would never get the position. It wasn't long before they were in the Ravenclaw common room, told a few school rules and sent to bed.
Harry could only flop back onto his bed and wait a little while the other boys changed into PJ's and whatnot before getting up and leaving while they were half way through changing. He shrugged internally as they gave him looks of confusion and curiosity.
Harry just wasn't tired so once he saw the common room was empty, he left. Maybe a breath of fresh air would help him clear his mind. It always seemed to be hard to sleep when he had plenty to think about, but it was just that Greengrass girl, and it was annoying, and nagging on his mind.
Contracts of that type really weren't up his alley. He didn't feel comfortable with them. They weren't that common in the past fifty or so years as it was easier to let the kids mix at school and get to know someone, and then when they were more informed, they could offer the contract. It was too much like they got to know a person and then treated it like a business deal. He would have to think about the deal long and hard, weigh the pros and cons, and make sure that he protected the girls.
It took Harry a little dodging here and there to keep out of sight and sound of the paintings throughout the school halls. Sirius had shown him a map of Hogwarts to memorise, and added all of the secret passages he could remember off hand with 'orders' to watch out for a certain map he and his friends had created at school with lots of codes and magic to remember to make 'changes'.
Harry had to dive into a secret tunnel when he heard footfalls, and peeking out to see a teacher passing before he turned to see two surprised looking red haired twin Gryffindor's, obviously up to no good as were the tell of their mischievously nervous grins.
"Hey there Potter," one of them said while holding an old piece of parchment with a moving map of Hogwarts on it before quickly hiding it. Harry didn't believe that the good Lady Luck had favour for him until then.
"Yo," Harry answered. "So, you guys out for a trouble-free stroll too?"
"Umm… yeah, a stroll," the other said quickly. "Just a trouble-free stroll...-."
"Give me the Slytherin password or I'll use the maps delete code," he said with a smile while their eyes widened in shock. "My father, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin created it. Sirius gave me all of the codes in case I found it."
"B-but it doesn't tell us new passwords…" one said as he pulled it out.
Harry rolled his eyes and grabbed the map. "Hey stupid, give me the password for the Slytherin common room!" he demanded to the parchment.
Fred and George Weasley were about to laugh at him when the map just zoomed round to the Slytherin common room without him opening it and the password came up in green.
"Thanks map," he said with a smug grin. "Code override, the wolf is under the moon, the dog walks like death, the stag glows with snow, the rat sneaks the school," he said and the twins watched in awe as the map went blank except for black writing asking for commands.
"Delete Wormtail, and Wormtail overrides," he continued and the writing added 'Wormtail full delete confirmed'. "Renew and reset to full default with full security measures." The writing changed to say affirmative before the parchment went from dirty and beaten to perfect white like brand-new in a stream of white light. "Command, new default form, book, full override commands, voice control, and voice print, Hiro Yevon."
The twins' mouths dropped open as the map turned into an open blue leather-bound book. It was open to the middle with silver stitching around the edges and through the centre, and reading: 'Marauder Grimoire' on the front cover in silver stitching in such elegant and perfect calligraph script. Inside the perfect white pages, edged with silver dusting, were blank accept the writing on the left page in a beautiful script, in silvered black ink.
"Command override complete," Harry said and the writing faded away into nothing leaving the book completely blank as he closed it smiling at the twins. "It's more than you ever realised. The idiot creators added quite some functions to this… map, but they didn't think to use them as well as I have, muggle comics can give you some cool ideas. By the time I've finished with this, it will be so much more than just a silly little map of the school."
"You're taking it aren't you?" the twins asked sadly together.
"I wish we knew that override code," Fred said. "But I guess it does belong to you, but why get rid of Wormtail?"
"He betrayed my parents and led to their deaths," Harry said while their eyes widened as they realised who he was. "Well, anyway guys, later, this must have been Fate. Take care getting back to your common room. Oh, and if you ever need anything come to me. I'm sure whatever it is I can get it done."
Harry waved amusedly as he left wondering whether he would get a break sometime during the next week. He shrugged as he just placed the book in his pocket. It should have been too large but just slid in, and he lost its feeling. However, it was now linked to him so no matter what he was wearing the book would come out of his pocket.
The map would be useful as Harry was sneaking through the school but he hadn't fully rebooted it yet. It would take a little work because the map had been designed for the parchment alone and not a book. The creators added the extra features after the map, but they didn't turn it into its book form because they were too lazy to modify the map, which meant Harry would have to do it.
They wanted it to have a book form as it was easier to hide but they hadn't finished that until half-way through year seven, just before it got confiscated, and they never had time to steal it back. Harry was surprised that everything worked as they hadn't really tested it, what with the map taken from them and all. They were actually smarter than anyone ever gave them credit.
It was relatively easy to get to the dungeons and the smooth wall leading into Slytherin tower. Harry said the password and came across a surprise. Snape was in the common room talking to a group of Slytherin's. Harry gulped and should have brought his Materia with him just in case; not that he thought he couldn't beat up Slytherin's with his bare hands, but Snape was still a fully trained sorcerer.
However, to his luck, none of them were facing the entrance and it was surprisingly quiet. Harry snuck in, letting the door close behind him and slipped around a pillar in the dark black and green common room, crouching to hide out of sight and spy on them out of curiosity and nosiness.
"So, families are considering this?" Snape hissed and Harry got a good look at a large supply of boys and girls still in their robes nodding their heads, some were looking concerned, and many of the girls were fretting.
"Father is considering giving Potter my little sister," one boy said in annoyance. "Just because he doesn't want to be paying him off for the rest of his life... and then I would have to continue paying the family debt…"
"And Daphne and her younger sister have already been offered up," a cute girl with short ruffled brown hair and dark skin said looking worried. "I'll probably be next… my family can't afford to buy out or re-mortgage, and if they offer him nothing, Potter could come along and take everything, and the goblins are making life hard. I think they want to be able to put everybody out of home to amuse themselves and all of the money owed to Potter was just fun and games for them to get it all back."
"We should just kill him and be done with it," another of the boys said sinisterly.
"You will stay away from that arrogant boy!" Snape hissed angrily. "I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore; maybe he can persuade Potter to at least drop any continued interest. Potter is strong, and knows how to use magic... has that Tamer in his corner, likely taught by him too… or at least if he is telling the truth; that Tamer must have gotten him some tutors… that much we gathered from his sorting. I doubt any of you could get into a position to curse him let alone kill him, even if you had the stomach to take a life. Now get to your dorms and we shall talk more another time."
Snape turned and stormed off, leaving the common room in seconds. The Slytherin's were quick in hurrying to their dorms, and Harry was thankful that Daphne was going up to the girls' dorms last as she didn't seem to be in any hurry, and looked to be thinking hard.
Smirking, Harry quickly picked up a cushion and hit his mark. Daphne was started as she turned to see him with cool grey eyes. She looked up and back before rushing down and to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him round a corner into a window alcove looking out over the lake. There common room must have been cut into the foundations of the castle.
"Potter, what the heck are you doing here?" she hissed at him, her cheeks tinted while her cold eyes glared at him.
Harry laughed before smiling. "I came to see you of course-."
"Well, you should get out of here. If they find you, they'll lynch you!"
Harry rolled his eyes. "I would kick their arses!" he retorted smugly.
"The hat was right," Daphne said coldly. "You do need to be in a house for smug gits; you can take Malfoy with you!"
Harry laughed, shaking his hands in defence. "Okay then, Saturday morning, the Entrance Hall, you and I will be spending the day together; just the two of us. This way you'll get to know me and decide whether you want me to accept your fathers offer."
"Y-you'll give me a-a choice?" she asked in shock, her eyes wide open.
Harry shrugged with a grin. "Yes, I'll give you the choice, but looking over the letter you'll have to choose for your sister too," he said as he walked off leaving her in the alcove. "But I'm much better than ending up with a douche like Malfoy," he said as he left her and the common room.
Daphne didn't know what to think about that, but she would go, but if he really was letting her choose, could she be selfish and potentially lead her family to ruin because of it?
Or worse, maybe she would like him; maybe he was not so bad. Daphne sighed as she left her hiding place and climbed the stairs to her dorm room. She would have to deal with this when Saturday came around, so she would have time to think.
"At least he's cute," she mumbled with a small smile on her lips. "And when he was being smug and arrogant it was done in a joking manner, unlike that idiot Malfoy who actually meant it!" she sighed as she felt butterflies in her tummy; she realised she was nervous about her day out with her future husband.
Yes, she knew that she would marry him no matter what, with her sister, so that the family didn't sink into ruin; she just hoped that he was the good person he presented himself to be.
to be continued…