Magical Origins
Year 3: The Captain's Rule
Harry didn't like the way Ron Weasley was looking at him. Ron had a broad smile on his face and didn't even bother to hide it. Other students were looking at him as if he would drop dead at any moment.
"Good gracious, what's got into everyone?" Professor McGonagall as she turns back from her cat form. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not gotten applause from a class."
At her words, Ron Weasley turns to Harry and smiles even more widely.
"Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading tea leaves and –" Hermione began.
"Say no more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which one of you is going to be dying this year?"
No one said a word as they look at Harry, Ron Weasley was smiling even more widely now.
"Harry," Lily said slowly.
"Wait? What?" Harry said in confusion.
"Don't you get it, Potter, you're going to die before year ends!" Ron said in a cheerful voice.
"Mister Weasley, there is nothing happy about wishing the death of other students." Professor McGonagall said in a stern voice. "Fifty points from Gryffindor and detention." Ron didn't lose his smile, it was as if nothing could ruin this moment for him. "For your information Potter, Sybill Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she has arrived at the school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is one of her favorite ways of greetings a class."
"I'm not taking Divination Professor," Harry said.
"I see," Professor McGonagall said slowly. "You look extremely healthy to me Potter, so you forgive me if I don't excuse you from homework. True Seers are very rare… so you don't have anything to worry."
"Hey Potter, answer this." Ron suddenly said. "Have you've seen a great black dog that looks like a wolf?"
Harry's mind rushed back to when he saw Sirius transformed into a dog and back again.
"As a matter of fact, I have," Harry said coolly.
Ron let out a massive smile on his face.
"Must have been a stray," Hermione said calmly.
"Nope, it was the grim. Potter is going to die!" Ron said as he stood up and points an accusing finger at Harry.
"Mister Weasley, you really don't seem to understand the concept of respecting your peers. That's another fifty points you've lost for Gryffindor and a week of detention."
It was clear nothing could damper Ron's mood because he kept having that broad smile on his face. He had a large smile on his face for the rest of the class. When the bell rang, he left feeling quite good.
Harry gets up and walks to the Great Hall for lunch.
Harry knew death omens hung around him all the time. His adventures he had with Lily had put them in mortal peril countless times. It was for this reason that he didn't care what people were saying.
He had other things to worry about.
News that he was the new Slytherin Quidditch Team Captain had spread quickly. Even worse was the rumors he selected members from his own year, and he was the first Slytherin Captain to accept girls on the team. While many in Slytherin had concerns with girls being on the team, as they usually only accepted males on the team, Harry was facing a lot of criticism from his peers.
One thing it did do, was it made the other Quidditch teams nervous. Harry only participated in two matches. One as a Seeker and the other as a Chaser, no one quite knew how well he was capable as a Captain.
Oliver Wood himself was nervous. He put his team through countless drills to prepare for the upcoming first Quidditch game.
Harry sighs as he grabs his bag and swings it over as he went to his Care of Magical Creatures class.
Harry said nothing as he knew that oaf Hagrid was an incompetent fool. According to countless Slytherins, he was a drunk who had a habit of setting fire to his own hut. As well as practice magic when he wasn't supposed to.
Harry lines up with the rest of the Slytherins as they brought out their books. Belts were wrapped around their books as these books tend to bite viciously.
"Everyone gather around!" Hagrid said from his hut. He had a broad smile on his face. "That's it. Less talking, if you'll don't mind. I got a real treat for you all today! A great lesson! Now the first thing you ought to do is open your book…"
"How?" Draco Malfoy said in a drawling voice.
"Eh?" Hagrid said slowly, not sure if he heard Malfoy correctly.
"How do we open our books?" He said, lifting his book up that was shaking violently. Clearly not likely the fact that a belt was keeping its mouth shut.
"Hasn' –" Hagrid began slowly as everyone slowly brings out their books. Almost everyone had belts or thick ropes around their books, keeping them clamp shut. "hasn't anyone been able to open their books?"
Almost everyone shook their heads.
"Yeh've got to stroke their spines. Like this…" Hagrid said as he grabs Lily's book and strokes the spine. The book made a sound like it was purring before it just flops open in front of them. It made no attempt to bite or move after that.
"Oh, we've got to stroke them!" Draco sneered. "How could we have guessed?" Draco finished his statement with a mock question.
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Lily snaps.
Harry didn't know why Lily defends Hagrid so much. He already didn't have a good start with his class. Assigning them biting books wasn't smart at all. He was worried about being bitten by the book. Not to mention, he was an oaf who had trouble almost every week.
"Follow me," Hagrid said as everyone began stroking the spine to get their books open.
"Merlin, this place is going to the dogs," Malfoy said in a loud voice so everyone could hear. "That oaf is teaching a class, my father will have a fit when I tell him –"
"Can't you just shut that mouth of yours, Malfoy!" Lily shouted.
They came to a stop as Hagrid stood in front of a padlock.
"Aren't they beautiful!" Hagrid said as everyone stares had a hybrid class species. It was hard to describe it. The head was shaped like an eagle, but the body that was stranger. The front had large talons, wings were folded on their side while a horse hoof was on the rear. There were dozens of them.
"Hagrid, what are those things?" Ron asks in a scared tone.
"That Ron is a Hippogriff. Now the first thing you ought to know about a Hippogriff is that they are proud creatures. Almost like Hufflepuff. Never insult a Hippogriff because they'll attack you if you do. Be polite and kind. Show them proper respect, and you'll have nothing to fear." Hagrid said.
"They're from Greek Mythology," Lily said slowly.
"That's right, Lily. Hippogriffs were first spotted in the Ancient Athenians Region. Before the invention of brooms, people rode Hippogriffs all the time. Proud families use to have huge numbers of them for travel. Not easy to raise and train them, but if you do, then it was a mark you were an excellent wizard and a good one too." Hagrid said.
"Hagrid, are they safe?" Ron said, backing away.
"Of course, they are. Now, to approach a Hippogriff, you look at it and bow. If he bows back, you are allowed to approach them and pet them. If not, you take steps backward. They aren't easy to trust, but children shouldn't be a problem." Hagrid said. "Right, who wants to volunteer?"
Almost everyone took a big step backward.
Harry and Lily didn't.
Harry didn't because he was curious. If you earn a Hippogriff's trust, then that was a mark you were a good wizard. He also wanted to see Ron's face when the Hippogriff let him near him.
"Well done, both of you. Come here, you two can try out Buckbeak and Guardclaw." Hagrid said as he walks into the padlock and walks to Hippogriffs forward.
"Now look at them, and don't blink, they get suspicious if you do. And bow," Hagrid said slowly.
Harry looked at the Hippogriff known as Buckbeak and didn't blink. He could feel his eyes getting a bit watery, but he refused to blink. He slowly bows as Buckbeak stares at him with a calculating look.
Harry said nothing, but to his amazement, Buckbeack bends down.
He looks to the side and could see Guardclaw had also bowed to Lily.
"Right, now approach them carefully. You may have their approval, but don't run to them." Hagrid said.
Harry said nothing as he walks forward with an outstretched hand. Buckbeak did nothing as Harry touch his head and strokes it a few times.
Harry looks to his right and could see Lily was also enjoying petting her Hippogriff.
"Right, I think they'll let you ride them," Hagrid chirped.
"What?" Harry said. This is not what he signed up for.
Hagrid had already picked Harry up and set him on Buckbeak. Hagrid hits Buckbeak's rear end, causing Buckbeak to charge forward. Harry was hanging on trying hard not to fall off, knowing it would be dangerous if he did.
"Wait, Hagrid!" Lily shouted as Hagrid also picks her up and set her on Guardclaw. He hits Guardclaw in the rear end, and Guardclaw takes off with Lily barely in time to get a decent grasp around its neck.
Both took to the skies, causing them to for a brief moment, trying to relax.
Harry paused as he sits up. It was nothing like riding a broom, but it seemed the Hippogriff knew what to do and wasn't turning sharply so that he would get thrown off.
Buckbeak and Guardclaw both took off over the Great Lake. Harry had to admit this was a good feeling, and he wouldn't mind riding some more.
A sharp whistle could be heard as Harry and Lily Hippogriffs turn around and headed straight back.
Buckbeak flaps his wings hard as he lands on the ground. Harry climbs off and quickly pets Buckbeak as he seemed to have enjoyed himself as well.
The rest of the lesson went pretty smoothly. Confident with Harry and Lily's success, the rest of the class began to approach the Hippogriffs. No one else flew as Harry and Lily observed their fellow classmates.
That was until Malfoy started running his mouth at Buckbeak.
True to Hagrid's warning, the Hippogriff didn't take kindly to being insulted. It charged at Malfoy slicing him in the arm and parts of the chest with its talons before Hagrid got involved and manage to get Buckbeak to eat a dead ferret.
"It's killed me, the monster has killed me…" Draco moans on the ground. Blood was splattered everywhere.
"It's okay, it's just a scratch," Hagrid said as he wasn't sure what to do. It was clear he's never dealt with an injured person before.
"Hagrid, he needs to go to the Healer Wing immediately," Hermione said.
"I'm the teacher, I'll do it," Hagrid said as he bends down and picks Draco up. "Class dismissed," Hagrid shouted over his shoulder.
"Trust Malfoy to ruin class," Ron said.
"They should fire that oaf right away!" Pansy Parkinson shouted.
"It's Malfoy's fault!" Seamus shouted back.
The Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff students back away. They knew once the Gryffindor and Slytherin went at it, it was hard to stop them.
"Enough!" Harry shouted. Everyone turns to look at him. "Return to our respectable areas immediately. Or I'll curse the first person who says otherwise."
"Just like you Potter to…" Ron began, but a loud bang caused Ron to swirl upon the ground, moaning in pain.
"I warned you. Now go." Harry said.
The Gryffindor's didn't need telling twice. Dean and Seamus grab Ron and the Gryffindor's march back to the castle.
"We should get Professor Snape," Pansy said. Harry turns sharply to her. "They're going to get Professor McGonagall, we should get Professor Snape too," Pansy said slowly.
"Don't stoop to their level Pansy." Harry hissed. "I can handle Professor McGonagall," Harry said as he leads the Slytherin back to the castle.
"We should come up with a proper story too…" Pansy began.
"You'll do no such thing." Harry snaps.
"You a traitor Potter? You going to turn on…" Nott began but stop when Harry turns around his eyes as cold as ice.
"Malfoy landed himself in trouble. You going to challenge more than three houses to fix a claim we cannot back up? Be smarter, there are other ways to handle this." Harry snaps. "If you fix a story and it is discovered, it's a lie. How much trouble do you think you'll be in? How much deeper trouble Malfoy will be in. The Hufflepuff's, the Ravenclaws, and the Gryffindor are going to blame Malfoy. What is your plan to correct that? They're lying? That they didn't see what happened? If you make such claims, the same could be said about any of you." Harry snaps.
The Slytherin's paused at Harry's word. It was clear they didn't think things through.
"Then what do we say?" Pansy asks in a worried tone.
"Simple, Malfoy was in the back of the class, wasn't he," Harry said.
"Yeah," Nott said slowly.
"That Malfoy couldn't hear everything that was said. That Hagrid didn't make his voice heard throughout the class. You say that then you have a proper defense for Malfoy, you claim otherwise, then you're going to turn this into a legal battle with no hopes of victory. No matter how much pull you have with the Department of Regulations and Control of Magical Creatures. If you turn this into a legal battle, every student that was present will testify about what happened. How many of them, do you think would testify for Draco?" Harry said coldly.
The Slytherin knew at once he was speaking the truth. Draco wasn't well-liked in the other houses. He was barely tolerated in the House of Slytherin. The only reason why people respected him was because of his rich father. He used his wealth to get what he usually wanted.
However, it was hard to argue against Harry Potter. Not only could Harry Potter not be bought, but he also took no nonsense of any kind. Draco made the unfortunate mistake in his first year when he angered Harry. Harry defeated him rather quickly in a duel forcing Crabbe and Goyle to take Malfoy to the healer wing. While many of the older students did what they wanted, it soon became apparent that Harry began to rule the House of Slytherin. This became more official when Harry was revealed to be a parselmouth. Others couldn't help but respect Harry as it showed he had ties to Salazar Slytherin. Of course, if you disrespected Harry, you would find your welcome in the House of Slytherin very unwelcome. Draco had to publicly apologize to Harry after he couldn't sleep. It also didn't help that now the Head Girl did what Harry told her to do. Not to mention, Harry had a powerful pull, and the upperclassmen remembered how he stopped the seventh year in his first year from getting a good job. It was rumored he was working an inn-keeper barely able to scrape by. That alone sent warning bells not to underestimate Harry Potter.
The next day Ron Weasley was clear he wasn't going to let it go. He attempted to ambush Harry on his way to breakfast.
"Really Weasley, even now, you have to pick a fight?" Harry said as he stood with Artemis.
"You told Malfoy to attack Hagrid," Ron shouted.
"You've already got two weeks of detention; must you add more to yourself. Gryffindor must be proud you're in the Lion's Den." Artemis said.
"Shut up, you Snake whore!" Ron shouted.
Those who heard Ron took a deep breath. All eyes turn to two people, and they knew at once that Ron was in deep trouble.
"Mister Weasley, that's a sharp tongue you have." Professor Snape said as he walks forward with Professor McGonagall.
"Indeed, must we really have this conversation with you again?" Professor McGonagall said.
"It's true, she was all over Harry spreading her legs like a…" Ron said with an accusing finger at Artemis.
"That is not our concern or business. A simple chat will not do. Your parents will be informed of your actions." Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"Your father works at the Ministry. I believe you were warned that anything you do could jeopardize your father's job. You must care so little about your father if you're trying to have him become jobless." Snape said.
"But, Professor…" Ron said.
"Enough, we shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this." Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"Get him off my back, will you. He keeps pointing an accusing finger like I did something wrong. I don't like going to class with him, claiming I'm a dark wizard." Harry said sharply.
"Are you spreading more of these rumors, Mister Weasley?" Snape hissed.
"He is a dark wizard," Ron mutters.
"Enough, I believe we have had this talk with you countless times. If you continue, you will be suspended or expelled. Now in my office." Professor McGonagall said sharply.
Harry said nothing as he turns and walks into the Great Hall.
Artemis said nothing as she sits down next to him.
"Weasley jealous or stupid?" Blaise asks.
"Could be both, he doesn't exactly have a brain," Harry said as he sits down for breakfast.
"I'm willing to bet no girl has even kissed Weasley yet," Blaise said in a triumph voice.
"I doubt any girl would want to kiss Weasley. He's not exactly clean," said Harry.
This was true, as Ron ate like a pig every day. All he did during meals was stare at Quidditch promos and stuff his face with food. His robes were typically covered in food as he didn't even bother to clean himself up.
"What do you have today?" Artemis asks.
Harry pulls out his schedule and looks at it carefully.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts and Double Potions," Harry replies.
"What do you think about our Care of Magical Creatures lessons?" Blaise asks.
"I heard that oaf Hagrid wasn't even fired yet. But the Hogwarts Board of Governors has been notified of what happened. Lucius Malfoy himself wasn't happy and insisted that Hagrid be fired immediately." Daphne said.
"He won't get fired. Dumbledore won't fire him after he hired him right away." Harry said slowly.
"Pansy is insistent that we rehearse our story…" Tracy Davis said slowly.
"The last thing I want is for this to turn into a legal scandal. What happened with Malfoy?" Harry asks.
"He claims his arms have been shattered beyond repair. He talked to Professor Snape about… postponing our Quidditch match." Daphne said.
"He can't do that," Harry said.
"Snape has already agreed."
Harry sets his fork down and stands up.
"I'm going to have a talk with Professor Snape and Malfoy," Harry said calmly.
Draco walks in Professor Snape and looks to see Harry in there, not looking happy. Actually, it was hard to tell as Harry's face was emotionless. However, his eyes were as cold as ice.
"What's this about?" Draco asks with curiosity.
"As you know, you requested that our match against Gryffindor in the Quidditch Match be postponed." Professor Snape said slowly.
"Agreed, my arm…" Draco says with a fake sigh, and he ushers his arm up.
"Cut the crap, Malfoy. I know Madam Pomfrey mended your arm in seconds. If you insist on carrying out this act, then I'll really shatter your arm." Harry said.
Draco visibly flinches at Harry's remark. He knew Harry would shatter his arm.
"Threats are not needed here, Mister Potter," Snape said coldly. "As for your request Mister Malfoy, Mister Potter has declined to accept them. He has already told Madam Hooch there is no need for a change in the matches. Slytherin will play Gryffindor as originally scheduled." Snape said coldly.
"But, Professor…" Draco said.
"As I have voiced my - reason with Mister Potter, it is he who team captain, and he has the right to decide the final outcome. He has requested…" Snape said slowly. "that this meeting takes place to decide your place on the team."
"Wait, I don't understand," Draco said in confusion.
"I told you during tryouts Draco," Harry said. "I don't tolerate underhand tactics. This is one of them. You're doing this because you have no desire to play Gryffindor in the rain. Since you're walking out, then that means your chaser spot is up for grabs." Harry said.
"You can't be serious," Draco said in horror.
"I'm afraid I am."
"Professor!" Draco said, turning to Snape.
"It's not up to me," Snape said sadly.
"Let me make this perfectly clear, Draco," Harry said as he looks at Draco. Malfoy took a step back at the ice-cold glare he was getting. "If you wish to waste your time trying to outsmart a drunken oaf, that's on you. You will not jeopardize the Quidditch team in the process. Either you call off this foolish stand you have on your arm and play for Slytherin in the upcoming games, or I'll find another Chaser who will play if you cannot." Harry said.
Draco suddenly realized that things were not going to go his way. He knew the only support he would get would be from Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott. However, that's where it would die. The rest of the house barely tolerated him as it was. Harry was literally the King of Slytherin. He always got his way with the rest of the Slytherins. Draco knew if he did this, Harry would mark him as a coward in the House of Slytherin. Not a pleasant thing if it became known that he was a coward.
"Fine, I'll play… I'll… I'll stop this at once." Draco said slowly.
"Then I'll take my leave," Harry said as he turns away and walks out of the room. He left Draco and Snape in the room as he moved to go to his next class.
Author Notes: How do you guys like Slytherin Harry? Nice to see him handle Malfoy at his own game. One reason why I made Harry Quidditch Captain is because, in the books, Flint was a Sixth Year in Harry's First Year. This would have meant he would be in his eighth year at Hogwarts if he stayed during Harry's third year. As it has been hinted in the books, if you don't pass your year, you drop out of Hogwarts. This was pointed out in the first book when the trio was hoping Goyle would fail. So Flint barely was able to Graduate Hogwarts, and this allowed Harry... (Who Snape is taken advantage of) to be Quidditch Captain. (Hint, Dumbledore got involved) Please R&R and leave suggestions.
