Chapter Ten
When term started for his second year of magical education, he felt like he was on a steadier foundation than he had started out on this time last year. He also felt that he had been disregarding his duties to his father, which was completely unacceptable. The adults, he quickly discovered, were a biased source of information concerning his father's reign-- especially those who had claimed to be loyal to him. And the books were turning out no better. While Daphne's suggestion of finding his own reliable source proved to be useful to sort through all the unscrupulous pieces of literature no better than a Skeeter article in the Daily Prophet, there was very little reputability to be found, written or otherwise.
"If you keep making that face you will start to look like Professor Snape. We do not want lines, Harry dear."
Harry glanced up at Daphne who sat across the way. The heiress had insisted that he sat with her for the first part of the trip to introduce himself into the upper years. So far he had been introduced to all the Slytherin fourth year girls and one Hufflepuff and two Ravenclaws, all of whom had passed through to pay their respects to Daphne. Harry had been regulated to the same cooing and babytalk of an especially small child. He got the strong urge that all the girls he had met saw him as a puppy just as readily as Daphne did.
"Heir Greengrass, would it be acceptable if I take my leave?" he asked in his best pureblood voice, "It is about time I made my own appearance amongst my classmates."
In reality, Harry could care less personally if his absence amongst the second years for the train ride allowed others to get grand ideas on ousting him as the highest rank in their year. He was rather hoping to test his newly minted conversational skills and court gossip he had been privy to at Lady Malfoy's side. She was positively invaluable as a teacher in the ways of a proper Heir and had a way of handling herself in a much more understated manner than Lucius Malfoy's blatant waving of his money and family name. It was unfortunate that Draco had taken his father's lead in his own political aspirations.
No, what Harry wanted was to get away from the babytalk of all these girls. He felt like Daphne's prized pet being flaunted at afternoon tea. Considering the tea service that was being levitated around, he probably wasn't too far from the truth. "Oh must you go?" a brunette, Emilia Gladstone, a minor house twice removed from the Abbotts, pouted at his announcement.
There was an immediate flurry of complaints from the other girls only to be silenced by a wave of Daphne's hand. "It is only proper that Harry holds court at least once before we are inundated with any newcomers," she addressed the others before turning to him. "Do be careful mon petit chou. I would hate to have to discipline a child if you were insulted in some way."
Harry narrowed his gaze at the slight. "I am more than capable of handling children," he hissed the last word to show how much he thought of her concern that he couldn't handle a couple of first and second years.
In the ever confusing fashion of girls, a vast majority of them broke into giggles and Daphne gave him that smile that Harry felt was a tad too patronizing to be honest. "Of course, my dear. Send my regards to Draco, shall you?"
Effectively dismissed, Harry quickly retreated from the cabin. Girls were absolutely crazy, he decided. He felt that Draco was truly unlucky to be promised a marriage with the Greengrass family if his betrothed was anything like her elder sister. Harry personally feared the day his father would have him promised to some wealthy heiress in a political marriage. He wondered if he could be an eternal bachelor without bringing dishonor onto his household? But then again, even the Dark Lord had sired an heir and although his mother had eventually fled his father's side, that was as indicative of what awaited Harry as anything. If nothing else, it was probably best to pass on the bloodline trait of parseltongue.
"Potter."
Harry had wandered into the back end of the train on his search for Draco, Vince, and Goyle only to run into Hermione Granger. "Granger," he greeted her.
He felt a confusing assortment of emotions concerning the Muggleborn girl. While he recognized the level of risk she had undertaken in her attempt to warn him last term, it had been based on unverified information and that was something a Slytherin could not afford. Harry had revealed to Lady Malfoy some of his secrets and she spoke with conviction how important it was that Harry had the proper information and resources before he acted. Any less and he was bound to make a mistake with far-reaching consequences not unlike his father's own.
She had never outright said as much, nor had Harry asked, but he got the feeling that she knew who his father was.
"You seem to be well," she sniffed with a frown on her lips.
Harry had no idea why she was even talking to him if she found the act so distasteful. As it were, he wasn't technically supposed to be talking to her anyway unless he wanted to form an alliance. But doing so right now with his spot in the hierarchy dependent on his relations with higher members he didn't really know would make it a risk he could not afford. "Good day Granger," he dismissed himself and didn't apologize at the huff of indignation she released before stomping away.
She wasn't all bad. Harry rather enjoyed the endless fountain of knowledge the girl seemed to possess in class. If anything, it gave Harry more sources for his own studies and with Draco's academic tenacity he could really use the leg up. Unfortunately Granger seemed to absorb the knowledge without concern for credibility and regurgitated entire texts. Harry was more a trial and error learner so the words in their books were hardly helpful to his application of their information. "What's with your face?"
"What face?" Harry asked as he was once again stopped in the corridor. This time, it was Zabini.
He waved a hand to gesture at Harry. "The one you're making."
"It's my face Zabini. This is how it always looks."
The Italian snorted. "Oh I wouldn't go so far as to say that. You're not wearing those atrocious spectacles of yours and your hair looks like silk. Sleakeazy, I presume?"
Harry frowned. He detested Zabini almost for the same reason he was fond of Granger. He too was a fountain of knowledge, but where the Gryffindor quoted academic texts, Zabini had a horrid habit of learning the secrets of others and wielding it like an obsidian blade against them. If anyone wanted a trustworthy source of information, Zabini would be a good place to go, but the man was insidiously curious and the few times Harry had overheard anyone trying to make a deal with the boy the interested party had found themselves indebted to him giving away far more than they received in turn. Zabini had a silver-tongue and a way with people that hinted at some foreign branch of magic. Whatever it was, very few seemed to be deterred by it, Draco being one of them. Harry assumed it had something to do with Draco being proficient in occlumency.
"What room is Vincent and Draco in?"
Zabini's smirk stayed plastered on his face and he tilted his head. "Are we ignoring one another now? I thought we were mates."
"Classmates and housemates. No more." Harry said.
He did not trust the Italian as far as he could throw him. Considering Harry was sure he couldn't even pick the other boy up, this was a fitting metaphor. "We should remedy that, Potter. Friends confide in one another and by the look on your face you have a terrible need of a confidant."
Harry bared his teeth in a snarl. One thing he could not stand no matter who it was was another person telling him what was best for him. "If I have a need for such a person you can be sure it will not be you. Furthermore there is very few people born to our lives that have another they should readily consider 'friend' and you can rest assured that such a title will not be bestowed upon the likes of you on my part."
Without so much as another word Harry stalked past Zabini. The boy was always poking and nagging at things that weren't his business and did it in just the right way to not violate any of the rules and ettiquetes of the high houses. It was probably a tactic he had learned from his mother (if Draco was to be believed) and Harry did not care for it one bit.
By the time he found his classmates he was in a foul mood and hid behind his potions text books for the remainder of the ride to school. Thankfully no one saw anything to be gained from bothering him further and left him be. His mood did improve with the knowledge that they were to ride the magic-drawn carriages along with the other upperclassmen. (He wondered if the creepy abraxan-like creatures was a visual charm then and why no one else appeared to see them.) He found he much preferred the ride to the school in the carriage over the boats though. "The view is rather impressive," Harry whispered. The carriage had no roof and gave them a nice view of Hogsmeade on one side and the Forbidden Forest on the other as they drew closer to the castle.
Vince smiled. "I thought you would have had enough of trees living at the Malfoy Manor all summer."
Draco rolled his eyes. "There's nothing as unruly as the forbidden forest on our lands. Everything that grows there does so under the strictest guidelines. Mother has the whole estate plotted off."
"It's more like a park than a forest and I was rarely allowed out on the grounds unless I was flying," Harry added to the conversation. "Not much time for exploring."
Draco looked at him askance. "What else would you do on the grounds besides fly?"
Harry shook his head. He didn't forget that he was different from the other heirs to noble lines, but this was a bit absurd. What type of boy their age didn't go running about outside all hours of the day? Harry might have done it out of necessity to avoid his cousin, but it was common enough he had thought. Then again, most people didn't have houses twice the size of his primary to live in. Draco probably got more than enough exercise running around the halls of his own home.
"Where are we going?"
Goyle's voice broke him out of his thoughts. While the two carriages in front of them and the one behind had continued around the bend of the hill towards the main entrance, their carriage had taken the side path that led towards Hagrid's hut. And the Forbidden Forest. "Maybe it's a prank?" Draco guessed as he looked over the side.
Harry couldn't see any use for such a prank. Unless the carriage continued into the forest... "Does anyone know a stopping spell?"
"I know the incantation," Vince answered. "But I've never been able to cast it. It's a fifth year spell and we haven't learned all the proper wand movements yet."
"It wouldn't really work anyway," Goyle pointed out. "Since the carriage is pulled by thestrals and not magic."
Harry glanced between Vince and Draco. Neither seemed to understand what Goyle was talking about either. "What?" Harry asked. 'Was he talking about the horses?'
"Thestrals. They're like a nightmare version of Abraxans, all skin and bone. My father says most people can't see them." Goyle shrugged. "I can."
Harry glanced back to the front of the carriage. "Invisible flying horses? Why wasn't that in Hogwarts: A History?" (And why could only the two of them see it?)
"Focus Harry," Draco snapped. "We're being abducted before we can even get to school. I bet this is another attempt by the Ministry to upset father."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I doubt the Minister of Magic would codone kidnapping second years."
Draco had been unbearable the last week of their summer hols. The ministry had been raiding a lot of the older pureblood houses and the Malfoy's had not been exempt. Lucius was furious and had traded acerbic words with Arthur Weasley, the Ministry employee in charge of the search. Harry thought the man was doing very little to end the centuries old feud between their two houses.
"Well we can't expect everyone in the Ministry to have the good sense to listen to my father."
Harry rolled his eyes harder. The Dark Lord was twice as cunning, three times as brilliant, and infinitely more powerful than Lucius Abraxas Malfoy could even dream of being but you didn't hear Harry going on and on about his father's greatness. By Morgana's grace, Draco practically waxed poetic about his sire. Vincent shook his head once in warning. Almost reflexively Harry relaxed his face into an appropriate mask. He had gotten better about masking his irritation, but that hardly helped when it came to Draco. It was like the boy was purposely trying to get Harry to hex him.
"We could jump," Goyle said. "The carriage isn't moving very fast. With a featherlight charm we should be fine."
Only a few seconds more was wasted before the other three agreed to Goyle's plan. Draco jumped first, followed swiftly by Harry, Goyle, and Vince. The carriage continued on down the path.
"Well that was exciting," Harry drawled sarcastically.
"Yes and now we'll be late for the welcoming feast. Upperclassmen don't have long to be seated before the first years arrive," Draco said.
Vince grinned. "Then we best hurry up."
Almost as if they were thinking the same thing Goyle and Harry took off at a run up the hill towards the castle. There was the expected shouts of complaint from behind them from Draco, but soon after other footsteps could be heard following their path. Harry grinned and whooped loudly as they raced forward. Goyle laughed to his left and there were answering sounds of excitement at his back. Harry couldn't recall the last time that he had just run. It appeared that the simple act was indeed something that stretched across the magical and muggle divide because when they finally reached the Great Hall, having bound up the steps at an equally fast speed, all four of them were giggling and wheezing in the same gasping breaths.
"You're... horrible... Harry," Draco groaned at his place leaned up against the nearest wall. "We didn't have to run... the entire way."
"It builds character," Goyle grinned.
Harry snickered and went about fixing his appearance. Lady Malfoy had made sure he had known a series of spells specifically tailored for one's appearance. He cleaned his skin of sweat, removed the stains from the grass, released the wrinkles in his attire, and cast an added freshness charm that reminded him of old parchment. The others were casting similar charms, although Draco conjured a mirror to fix his hair. "You can do complete conjuration?" Harry asked impressed.
It wasn't a talent that even third years were well versed in. Draco waved one hand in his direction. "Yes, yes. Only the necessities," he said before conjuring a comb as well.
Harry snorted. A mirror and comb were necessities to him, were they? Goyle snickered and turned to walk towards the Great Hall and froze. Harry could actually see the blood drain from his face. Harry feared to turn and discover why, but knew he must.
The answer was obvious. Death approached; or what could arguably be an apparition of it.
Professor Snape was storming down the stairs in a flurry of black robes darker than their own and a scowl that brought the memory of his anger from last term to the front of Harry's mind. All four Slytherins flinched as they awaited the fury of their Head of House. "Where have you four been? You did not arrive with the other students nearly fifteen minutes ago."
No one spoke. No one wanted to accept the full might of that black gaze. Harry thought that if he were to speak the man would strike him down with his gaze alone. Draco eventually gathered the requisite courage. "The carriage was being hexed. It didn't come to the entrance and was taking us towards the forbidden forest."
The man's gaze narrowed and he whipped to Harry. Harry flinched at the animosity to be found there, so much worse than anything the man had ever shown to any other student. "And how did that happen?" he hissed.
This made anger swell up in Harry's chest. The accusation alone would be enough to warrant his ire, but the fact that the man would think so little of him-- that he would dare to infer Harry would place his allies in danger once again after the almost disastrous conclusion of the third floor corridor fiasco... Harry brought up his occlumency shields, his mask, his magic. He clouded himself in layer upon layer of mist until he couldn't even feel the echo of his anger. Then he met his head of houses' gaze. "I am not skilled in anything advanced enough to affect thestrals although I am sure you will do everything in your power to discover how four of your students were almost abducted off of school grounds."
Professor Snape sneered and turned away in a flurry of robes. Harry was too numb to sneer back, but recognized that he did want to. If Professor Snape was going to continue to be an arse even after delivering punishment for an act committed impulsively by an eleven year old boy then Harry felt he had no need to act any differently. He wouldn't be so foolish as to antagonize the man in his classroom, but respect was earned and his head of house was doing everything in his power to lose all the respect Harry had felt for the man last year. "Come and be seated. You have held up the feast long enough."
It did not improve Harry's souring mood that when they did finally enter the Great Hall, the first years hadn't even arrived yet and more to the point, only about a third of the students had settled into their seats. "I see the Professor is still angry," Goyle said. "He's being mean to Harry still."
Draco sniffed as he sat down pompously on Harry's left. "Yes, well. I'm sure that he was simply worried after our well-being."
"And he reacts with anger and accusation when confronted by such emotions?" Vince asked.
Emotionally constipated would be the term Harry would use, but if he were to speak on it, he was sure to lose the numbness of his mask. Instead he ate his meal in silence, a fact noticed by those nearest to him. Daphne and Helena fell upon him like avenging angels as soon as he entered the common room after the Welcoming Feast. "Who has dared to cross you?" Daphne spoke with a quiet intensity.
"Do we need to start throwing hexes out indiscriminately?" Helena grinned.
Draco and Nott took several hurried steps away from them and towards the second year's rooms. No one ever took it as a joke when the girls started threatening to hex someone. "That will not be necessary," Harry spoke through the levels he had wrapped around him.
He felt indebted to Lady Malfoy for teaching him this technique. "Not even back a full night and already you have the ladies flocking to you. You must tell me your secret Potter."
And here came another that would test his patience. "Zabini."
The Italian had grown over the summer and now stood an inch or so taller than Harry. This was only noticeable as the annoying git was only a foot away from him. "Nothing you haven't already learned, I'm sure."
Zabini's smile tightened around the edges, but Harry's mask remained in place. He had overheard Mrs. Parkinson tittering about Serafina De'Amore and her scandalously long list of deceased husbands. It had taken Harry a few minutes to realize that she had been talking about Zabini's mother, but once he had, Harry had paid even more careful attention. Most of it was gossip, but even that had its use in deterring pests. "You're looking as lovely as ever, Heiress Greengrass," Zabini quickly changed subjects.
Harry grinned internally. Point for Harry. This would only further Zabini's belief that Harry did not trust him, which he didn't. The only person that strove to know more secrets was the Headmaster and no sensible Slytherin would ever trust Albus Dumbledore.
Harry paid whatever pleasantry Daphne required with no mind as he continued towards his dorm room. It wasn't required that the upper years attend their Head of Houses' welcome speech as any pertinent information would be spread by the prefects. Seeing as Harry couldn't see the professor's scowl without wanting to bear his teeth in challenge, it was best he went to bed early.
Something told him that potions was going to be a nightmare this year.
A/N: I know it's been a long time coming by here are the rewritten chapters I promised last year. I'm posting a bunch of chapters all at once-- many of which have been rewritten and the last of which is an update. Because of this it might be helpful to reread at least from chapter 8 onwards where a lot of the additional scenes begin cropping up. That also means the author note will be identical for half of the chapters so every reader that's already started the story knows what's going on. I thank everyone for their patience.
Aerialas