Unspoken
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
To Harry's relief, Professors Sprout and Flitwick, who taught them during the rest of their first day of classes, were both very friendly. Professor Flitwick merely enquired why Snape had taken so many points off their house, causing several of his classmates to complain about the teacher at once.
"He took one hundred points, because Mr. Potter was able to answer each of his questions?" the half goblin repeated in apparent disbelief.
"He only took the points from Ravenclaw, but as Harry is in two houses, they were taken from Slytherin as well." Hermione shook her head in obvious annoyance.
"He even made me accompany him to the headmaster's office and accused me of having used Legilimency on him to answer the questions."
Flitwick shook his head in apparent annoyance. "He should know why students are sorted into Ravenclaw. Now, let's not dwell longer on my colleague's behaviour but try to get some house points back for your houses."
At the end of their Charms class, the students of both houses including Harry had gained back fifty points for each house.
HP
Between the last afternoon class and dinner, Harry joined Hermione in the Ravenclaw common room, where the points they lost during their Potions class were the main topic.
"Please be careful around Professor Snape. He loves to take points off our house," one of the older boys told him, sounding very friendly.
"Yes, I am sorry," Harry replied.
"It's not your fault." Mandy managed to beat Hermione to a response.
"Of course, it's his fault. Everyone knows that Snape is a git. We all must be careful in Potions."
He realised quickly that Hermione's assessment had been correct that several of the older, female students were bitches.
'Let's leave and do our homework in my suitcase,' he thought to Hermione, who gave him a sharp nod and with a flick of her wand returned the books, parchments and quill that were spread out on the table in front of her into her book bag.
"We'll go and study elsewhere." With that, she strode out of the common room, and Harry followed swiftly.
Seeing that the corridor was empty, Harry quickly reached out for the girl's hand, before he popped them both right into his suitcase.
"Connie!"
"Hi Hermione, hi Harry!" Connie smiled broadly, making Harry feel better instantly.
"Hi Connie. I thought you'd only come here after dinner," he greeted her in surprise, feeling very happy to see her.
"I couldn't wait to see you and hear what made you so upset ever since this morning."
Harry was glad that Hermione did the talking on his behalf. While he still felt upset at Snape's behaviour, he berated himself for not being careful. 'I should have feigned not knowing anything,' he thought in remorse. 'That was extremely stupid.'
They talked, before an alarm that Rebecca or Artemis had installed in their study room alerted them to the fact that dinner was going to commence in the Great Hall.
"Connie, shall we bring you something to eat?"
Connie smiled. "No, Hermione, but thank you. I will just return home for dinner. I'll be back later on, and then we'll really have to study. Remember, I have to catch up with everything you studied during class time."
Hermione nodded in obvious understanding. "And we'll have to do our homework."
HP
At dinner, Harry sat at the Slytherin table between Draco and Neville in the hearing range of the high table. He almost inwardly groaned upon hearing Flitwick address Snape concerning the first-years' Potions class.
"Severus, just tell me why you took one hundred points each of Ravenclaw and Slytherin, because a student was able to answer your questions?"
"Now now, Severus will have had his reasons for that," the headmaster spoke up in a soft voice, sounding like a gentle grandfather.
"May I ask what the reason was?"
'Go, Granny Mina, go,' Harry thought in amusement.
"Potter saw fit to use Legilimency on me. He could answer any question I asked, even about the wolfsbane potion."
Minerva's eyes narrowed. "Why in the world did you ask him about the wolfsbane potion in the first place?"
"Professor Snape, outsmarted by a first-year, who grew up in the muggle world?"
"Argus," the headmaster gently reprimanded the old Squib, while everyone else stared at the caretaker. Apparently, they were not used to him joining their conversation during mealtimes.
"Well said, Argus." Minerva nodded at the man in apparent appreciation. "Severus, just tell me one thing. Who could have taught Harry Legilimency, considering that he grew up with muggles?"
Snape merely shrugged and finished his dinner early, only to leave the Great Hall in a fast pace.
'Thanks, Granny Minerva,' Harry thought to her, noticing how the edges of her mouth slightly pulled upwards.
HP
During the rest of the evening, the three eleven-year-olds busied themselves studying together, and Harry was almost disappointed, when another alarm indicated that curfew was going to commence soon.
"Thank Merlin the Portkey will take me right into my dormitory." Hermione sighed. "I wouldn't want to have the bitches question me where I spent the evening."
Harry shrugged. "You could always tell them that we studied in an empty classroom. Good night then, Hermione, Connie." With that, he popped himself in front of the entrance to the Slytherin common room and quickly joined his housemates.
To his relief, the atmosphere in the common room seemed to be much better than that in Ravenclaw, and Harry inwardly sighed in relief, just when Professor Snape entered the room through a separate entrance.
"The professor always joins us at curfew and remains for thirty minutes, so that we can ask questions," Marcus, a fifth-year and head of the Slytherin Quidditch team, informed the first-years.
"I'll go to bed," Harry informed Draco and Neville, who readily rose from their seats to accompany him.
They swiftly returned to their own room, before Draco began to ask questions about the Ravenclaws and their common room. Harry told them what he knew, only to admit that Hermione and he had studied elsewhere for the rest of the evening.
"Why and where?" Draco's voice was laced with disbelief, and Neville nodded.
"We could have studied together somewhere."
Harry let out a deep sigh. 'They can either swear me a wizard's oath, or I'll have to ask Whisker to cast some kind of spell on them,' he thought, pondering what to do.
"Sorry for asking this, but can you swear me a wizard's oath to keep my secret?" he finally asked.
Neville stared at him in apparent disbelief. "I've heard about such an oath, but I don't have a clue how to do such a thing," he then admitted.
"It's easy," Draco reassured him. "Watch." Raising his wand, he uttered, "I swear on my magic to keep Harry Potter's secret."
Harry realised that a bright, golden glow surrounded the boy, indicating the validity of the oath, and he had to admit to himself that he felt very much reassured by the boy's readiness to swear his oath, especially when Neville quickly repeated the process.
"Now, tell us, Potter." Draco looked at him in expectation, while he held out a box with sweets to them, which a post owl had delivered in the morning.
Harry told them how someone had taken him away from his awful muggle relatives at the age of five and how he had joined the Unspeakables at that time.
"You're an Unspeakable?" Neville's eyes widened in apparent shock.
"A Mini Unspeakable, but you know that you mustn't tell anyone. Now, I can't tell you what I am studying or such, but I will tell you where I use to study, when I am not in the common room." He told them about Connie, who was not able to attend Hogwarts but wanted to study together with him, conveniently leaving out the fact that she was a muggle.
'Who knows how Draco would react if he knew, considering who his father is,' he thought.
While the three friends readied themselves for bed, Harry led a silent conversation with one of his mentors. 'Whisker, I've told Neville and Draco about studying with Connie and Hermione in my suitcase.'
'That's fine. Remember that Lily AKA Rose is a Seer? I've already cast a charm on them, so that they won't be able to talk about your most important secrets, and your suitcase is charmed to give everyone who is not allowed to touch it second degree burns. You should fetch it into your bedroom, as I can't have them in my room, when they suddenly decide to venture out of it.'
'Of course. Will Hermione's Portkey still work?'
'Yes. It would even work if you took your suitcase home with you, for example during the holidays.'
'Oh, that's great. Thanks, Whisker.'
HP
From the following afternoon onwards, Neville and Draco joined Harry, Hermione and Connie studying in the study room of Harry's suitcase. It was equipped with a large, round table surrounded by five comfortable chairs. The walls were filled with bookshelves from the floor to the ceiling, and Whisker had told them that the books were not real books, but images of the volumes in the Hogwarts library. He had even shown Harry and Hermione how to summon the real book using the images.
Connie and Hermione were happy to have the two boys study together with them.
"That's why there were five chairs from the beginning. I was wondering who was going to study with us."
Everyone stared at Connie in apparent surprise.
"Are you a Seer?" Draco enquired.
"No, but Dove is, and I believe that she helped Felina and Whisker charm the suitcase."
"Are you an Unspeakable as well?" Neville eyed her in apparent curiosity.
Connie nodded her head. "Yes, but I believe that we should get a head start at your homework, before you'll have to go and attend dinner."
Draco grinned. "You'd be a Ravenclaw if you attended Hogwarts. Why aren't you, by the way?"
Connie let out a deep sigh, when Hermione came to her rescue. "Her parents are muggles like mine, and they want her to attend a muggle secondary school."
'Oh well, as soon as we'll have to practise magic for one of the subjects, they're going to find out anyway,' Harry thought.
From that time onwards, the five friends always studied together, and they were all happy about it.
Twice a week, however, Harry spent the evenings in the Unspeakables' office, while his friends studied in their respective common rooms to prevent their housemates from noticing their continuous absence. On Tuesdays, he attended the team meeting of Team 13, in which Connie participated as well, and on Saturdays, he had his private meeting with Croaker, who taught him everything that he wanted him to know as his future successor as head Unspeakable.
In addition, he often spent Sunday mornings at the office pursuing his own studies. Considering that he did not have much time, he concentrated on the development of further position brooms, while he still waited for the Marauders to open their own broom shop and announce the new broom models, which he had already invented.
HP
Severus Snape towered behind his desk in the Potions classroom observing the Ravenclaw and Slytherin first-years brew their first potion without as much as a recipe. 'I need to pay attention, as this might quickly go wrong,' he thought, when his mind recalled the first-years' first class a few days ago. He had been so enraged at Potter that he had taken 100 house points off the boy, unaware that they would equally be taken from his own house.
Not only his colleagues had berated him for taking so many points, but also his prefects from the three upper years had loudly voiced their opinions. Thank Merlin Potter had not been present in the common room at that time.
'I can't take points from the imbecile anymore. I'll have to assign him detention,' he told himself, when he let the eyes wander around his classroom, lingering on the boy in question for a moment longer. He could not help staring at the son of his archenemy in shock upon realising that the boy was preparing his ingredients as if he was a professional brewer. He inwardly scoffed at the idea, knowing that he had grown up with Petunia, whom he had known from a very young age onwards. However, the boy looked happy and was even able to prevent his neighbour, Longbottom, from having his concoction explode by stirring into the wrong direction. Any other student, especially from his own house, would have received points at this stage; however, Severus decided to never ever give the boy as much as one point. 'I will use every chance at revenge I can,' he resolved, as he eyed the boy in hatred for his late father and his godfather.
Little did he know that his first opportunity of revenge would only be a few days away.
HP
On Friday afternoon, the Ravenclaw and Slytherin first-years had their first Flying class, and Harry had been looking forward to be able to fly for the whole week.
However, Madam Hooch, the Flying instructor, behaved as if none of them had ever sat on a broom.
"Madam Hooch," Draco finally addressed the teacher, "there are some of us who can fly. May we perhaps play a round of Quidditch, while you teach the others?"
To Harry's relief, Madam Hooch agreed.
"Just do a Seeker scrimmage at first," she instructed them, handing Draco one of the winged balls. "If that works well, we can see about Quidditch."
Uncertain how the teacher would react upon seeing Lucy fly with him, he turned the canine invisible. "Sorry Lulu, I can't use my double broom here and now, so you'll have to sit in front of me."
'That's fine. I am happy that I can fly with you,' she thought back, letting out a series of happy sounds, when Harry took into the air and slowly made her visible again.
Unbeknownst to Harry, Madam Hooch closely observed them, knowing that both the Ravenclaw and the Slytherin teams were in dire need of a couple of good players.
After Harry had caught the Snitch for the third time in twenty minutes, she called him down. "Mr. Potter, please leave your dog on the ground and show me that you'll be equally good at catching the Snitch without her."
Draco and Hermione, who had descended together with him, exchanged a glance. "Lucy can fly with me."
"Thanks, Mione. Lucy, please fly with Hermione for a moment."
At the end of the flying class, Madam Hooch kept the three friends back. "Usually, first-years are not allowed to play on the house teams; however, Ravenclaw and Slytherin need some good players such as you. It's up to the headmaster and your head of house if they'll agree to skip the first-year rule."
The three students nodded in understanding. "If they do, I'll suggest for Miss Granger to play Chaser for Ravenclaw and Mr. Potter to play Seeker for both houses. When Slytherin has to play Ravenclaw once a year, we'll just have the reserve Seekers play. Mr. Malfoy, for you I suggest to become one of the Slytherin chasers next year, when Mr. O'Mahoney finishes his seventh year."
All three of them agreed; however, Harry added, "I will only fly, when Lucy is allowed to fly with me. She is my familiar, and she loves flying as much as I do."
"Understood." Hooch grinned and gently caressed the canine's ears, receiving a thorough hand washing in return. "I'll speak with my colleagues at dinner time."
"Well, I can tell you now that Snape will never agree to have me on the house team," Harry predicted, when he took his seat between Draco and Neville at the Slytherin table with Hermione sitting right behind him at the Ravenclaw table.
"Maybe he will. Madam Hooch already informed me." Marcus, the Quidditch captain was sitting on Draco's other side. "He knows that Slytherin is in dire need of a Quidditch victory, and for that, we need a good Seeker."
"But he hates Harry with a passion." Neville sighed. "I never thought that Flying would be so much fun, by the way. I loved it."
"Sorry for not keeping you company, Neville," Harry apologized, causing his friend to shake his head, smiling.
"Not a problem, Harry. I hope you'll get onto the house teams."
'Me too,' Harry thought, feeling very happy at the idea. 'Perhaps Rebecca, Sirius and Remus will come to watch the matches and bring Regina,' he thought in excitement, although a small voice at the back of his mind told him that Snape would never agree to have him play.
HP
"No, Albus," they suddenly heard a firm voice coming from the high table. "Just because an almighty Potter comes to Hogwarts, we have to skip all the rules? No, not with me."
"You'd ensure the Quidditch cup for Slytherin for seven years in a row, provided the rest of your team is better than that of Ravenclaw." Minerva sounded convinced.
"How do you know that? It's skill that defines the winner, not fame."
Flitwick jumped up and down on his seat in apparent excitement. "I trust Rolanda's assessment and will suggest him to my team captain then."
"Harry, that's great. We can play on the team together," Hermione whispered from behind him in apparent happiness.
"We, that is the rest of the team and I, will give the professor a piece of our mind, when he comes to the common room tonight." Marcus' voice was grim, and Harry pondered for a moment to invisibly be present in the common room for the conversation; however, he quickly dismissed the idea, deciding that his study time together with Connie and his friends was more important.
HP
When the post owls arrived on Saturday morning, an old barn owl carrying a red letter arrived in front of Ronald Weasley, who was sitting across the table from Harry, Neville and Draco.
'A Howler?' Harry wondered in surprise. He knew about the feature, however, had never witnessed someone receiving one. Before he could further ponder the matter, however, a female voice screeched through the Great Hall.
"Ronald Weasley, how dare you allow the Hat to sort you into Slytherin of all houses? You're a disgrace for the family. Wait till your father gets to…"
With a small flick of his hand, unobtrusive enough for everyone but his closest neighbours to not notice anything, Harry stopped the screaming, and the red letter vanished into thin air.
"Thanks," Ronald uttered, glancing at Harry. "My mother loves to write Howlers."
"Twenty points to Slytherin for stopping that nonsense," Harry heard Snape utter at the hight table, before Flitwick began to chuckle in apparent amusement.
"Ah, thanks, Severus, for giving Harry house points. Ravenclaw just gained twenty points as well."
"Harry?" Dumbledore asked in apparent surprise. "How would he know a spell to stop a Howler, which I am not even aware of?"
"Probably accidental magic." Minerva's voice was convincing, and the conversation at the high table turned to other matters, much to Harry's relief. 'I really must be more careful,' he thought in annoyance.
HP
"I'm just glad that my father has better manners and doesn't send me Howlers for being in the same house as muggleborns and sons of muggle loving fools who are a disgrace for the magical world." Draco sounded smug, as he glanced at Ronald.
"Why, you slimy Slytherin. You're a disgrace for the magical world."
"That sounds gross, considering that you're a Slytherin yourself."
"As Snape said, the Sorting Hat must have been drunk. I should be in Gryffindor."
"What a pity."
"Yes. Absolutely."
Draco grinned. "Weasley, prove that you're not a disgrace for the magical world. I challenge you to a Wizard's duel. In the common room at midnight."
"All right."
"Harry, will you be my second?"
Harry shook his head in amusement at the conversation between Draco and Ronald, before he gave Draco a sharp nod. "Of course."
Ronald looked from the left to the right, where Crabbe and Goyle were sitting on either side of him. "Who's going to be my second?"
Harry inwardly grinned, when the two boys in question pointed their hands at each other, simultaneously voicing, "He."
"Crabbe then please," Ronald decided, and the other boy nodded, grimly.
HP
During their study time in the evening, Harry excused himself for an hour and headed to the Unspeakables' office to brew a large batch of the fresh-and-go potion, which he had developed together with Whisker a few months ago. 'Perhaps, we'll need it in the morning if we stay up for hours during the night.'
HP
Needless to say that the whole first-year class was assembled in the common room at midnight to watch the Wizard's duel between Draco and Ronald. Harry had invited Marcus, the Quidditch captain, to referee the match, and the fifth-year had agreed to do them the favour.
"At least, you're doing it within Slytherin. Otherwise, Snape would have your heads if he got wind of it." Marcus smirked. "Now, only Draco and Ronald remain in the centre. Who are your seconds?"
Harry and Vincent stepped forward.
"Very well." Marcus nodded. "Everyone else sit down on the sofas." With a flick of the older boy's wand, all the furniture moved towards the walls leaving a large free area in the centre of the common room. "No muggle means, and no dark spells. Seconds only interfere if your first is down."
The four first-years nodded in understanding, and Harry moved a bit back, quickly followed by Vincent. It was not a second too soon, as Draco already moved his wand to cast his first spell.
To Harry's disappointment, the whole event was not much of a duel, as it soon became clear that Ronald did not know any spells apart from those, which they had learned in class. It took Draco five minutes to have Ronald lie on the ground. While the rest of his body was stunned, his lips moved, stating, "I am an idiot."
"Very well. That was fast. Draco wins. Everyone, please go to bed now."
When the first-years set to follow Marcus' instruction, Harry quickly handed out his fresh and go potion, advising everyone to only take it after waking up in the morning.
HP
When Harry and his roommates readied themselves for the day, Vincent came into their room.
"Why did you give us a potion that made us stay awake for the rest of the night?" he complained before asking, "Draco, can you take the spell off Ronald? He says nothing but that he's an idiot."
Draco smirked. "No, I can't do that. It's going to wear off after twenty-four hours."
"As to the fresh-and-go potion, you were supposed to take it now," Harry informed the boy, shaking his head at Ronald's and his friends' stupidity.
"Cheers," Neville added, as he brought the small phial to his lips.
HP
During the following days, Harry eagerly worked on the final stages of his Chaser broom, deciding to finish it on time for Hermione's birthday. 'If she's going to play on the house team, she needs a proper broom.' After Martin, the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, had allowed Hermione and him onto their team, Flitwick had asked if they had their own brooms.
Hermione shook her head. "No, sir."
"I will ask my godfather to bring my broom and one for Hermione to Hogwarts before the first match," Harry promised.
"Very well. As first-years are not allowed to have their own brooms yet, they will have to be deposited in my office, from where you can fetch them for practice and matches at any time."
"Thank you, Professor."