Beta'd by:Charlee56, Scottken,and Dr4cu14
Update 9/24/20: Slight error scotted (sorry, spotted. thanks Scott) and fixed. Chapter 11, currently in beta and will be posted soon, likely tonight or tomorrow, look forward to it.
Book II :: Chapter 10 :: The Sorting, Again
Harry watched along with the rest of his classmates as the new first years came strolling in. Patiently Harry waited, his eyes shifting from one head to the next until he found and focused on the fiery red hair he was searching for.
He watched Ginny as she looked around in awe of her surroundings, a mix of nostalgia and intrigue blossoming in her expression.
"Peculiar", Harry thought, since she had informed him that she had spent seven years at Hogwarts prior to their rebirth, and unlike himself, she remembered Hogwarts in its current state far better than he did.
His curiosity didn't last as his eyes were forced from Ginny and onto another girl. Behind Ginny was a dreamy-eyed girl with silver-blonde hair and the second most peculiar pair of glasses he had ever seen. The frames had protrusions that almost resembled toes coming off them and she had this lazy gaze that seemed to take everything in.
Then there was the cheerful boy who looked like he was about to pop out of his robes with excitement. The young boy was nearly tripping over himself while walking, he was so excited. As Harry watched the new arrivals a snicker beside him called his attention.
"Interested in the fresh blood, Potter?"
Harry glanced to his side and shrugged non committedly. "About as much as I am with everyone else," Harry replied to the smirking Tracy Davis who sat beside him. Beyond her was Daphne Greengrass who sat in disinterested silence.
Odd, even for the Ice Queen of Slytherin since Harry knew she usually was just as, or sometimes more observant than he was at times like these. Yet what stood out as strange was her eyes which seemed frozen, blankly looking out into the nothingness ahead of her.
Leaning in, Harry gestured to Tracey who, while suspicious was curious enough to lean towards him to make out his question.
"What's up with your friend? She seems more distant than usual," Harry whispered.
Tracey looked back at her friend and frowned in pity. "She's worried about her sister."
Harry raised an eye at this and turned back to the students, taking a minute to find her. Astoria Greengrass was near the back of the pack seemingly doing her best to blend into the air and not be noticed. The balls of her feet, however, jumped ever so slightly giving away her underlying excitement.
"Afraid she'd be placed in another house?" Harry pondered aloud under his breath.
"The opposite." Tracey admitted.
Harry stilled and his eyes hardened as he remembered and recognized the problem.
"Slytherin Initiation," Harry grumbled. He was going to do something about that. The question was how to take care of it. Looking up at the little blue sprite above him, Harry contemplated a long-term solution.
"Yup," Tracey confirmed with a sigh. "She's not an heiress like Daphne is. So, naturally that means she's an easy target."
Harry rolled his eyes but understood why that was the case. Heirs were protected heavily by magical law, or rather the fallout of magical law. It was a feature in Wizarding society that siblings didn't benefit from.
To attack, harm or threaten an heir was equivalent to threatening the head of the family. It was one of the many reasons Malfoy was accepted as the leader of Slytherin, even at the displeasure of many of his fellow classmates.
In fact, it was actually more so because of these protections. In a way, his constant ranting about his father was more of a threat for those in the know.
Harry groaned as he lowered his head to the table. "And they see her as a possible means of controlling and or dictating Daphne's actions, using her as leverage without dipping their toes in any possible legal consequences for their actions," Harry said, finishing Tracey's earlier statement.
Tracey nodded, "And that's if you don't consider the depraved stuff they normally gat up to."
Harry looked at the students and couldn't help but wonder why the initiation week was even a thing. Looking up, Harry watched Navi float from wooden beam to wooden beam seemingly enjoying the display of the fresh blood stepping up to find their place in the school.
He was definitely going to do something about it. If the threats of abuse, bullying and worse were needed to ensure a unified Slytherin, then there was something seriously wrong with their House.
What was more, old Slytherin himself must have been rolling in his grave for years just watching his House turn into a nursery for Death Eater thugs and seriously criminal wannabes. The question now was how to best secure the safety of all the rest of Hogwarts' students.
Telling a teacher might be the quickest method. But they all likely already knew of the problems. And who would he tell anyway? Snape? Dumbledore?
Harry trusted both of them about as far as he could throw the school and while Harry couldn't quite get why he felt a sense of respect for the greasy bat, Dumbledore was not someone he would trust to get any job done. Drawing in another teacher might help, but then again surely someone else had already tried that. Had they?
Watching Navi, Harry began contemplating on altering the school's wards themselves. A daunting task to be sure, but a possible idea to consider.
As Harry ran a list of possible arrays and wards he could try to implement on a larger scale, the sorting was beginning and Tracey was eyeing Harry with an inquisitive gaze.
"Hey, Potter?" she whispered. "Last year, how did you manage to avoid the 'Slytherin treatment'?"
Harry turned back to Tracey. Her smile reflected the inner workings of her mind. "Probably the same way you did. You used magic to erect a magical barrier or protection of some kind in your room, right?" Harry asked.
"Magical barrier?" Tracey chuckled out while trying to hold in her laughter. "Really? You're definitely muggle raised Potter. There aren't any 'magical barriers' in Magic. Yeah, we have protective wards but magical barriers aren't a thing. We might call them barriers but there really aren't any good ones," she confidently answered.
Harry held his tongue, almost having to bite it to prevent his retort. The way she said it spoke volumes of her understanding of the topic. In his own experiences, Harry had seen masters of Eastern Magic erect protections that would make Hogwarts' look like a novice's work.
"When you're done laughing try not to choke when you answer my question," Harry sighed out.
"Oh relax. Must have touched a nerve," Tracey mockingly smirked. "Yeah, Daphne placed protections on our rooms, but even ours didn't stop the seniors completely."
Professor McGonagall had just called out for Luna Lovegood to step up and Harry watched as the strange silver-haired girl walked up with a skip in her step. Harry filed the name with the face for later. Befriending her aside, from what he had read, the Lovegoods had written records of the past that no one else had.
He'd have to ask, but he was hopeful he could find proof for at least some of his theories he'd been working on regarding magic and its connection to blood.
Tracey looked at Harry with a bit of annoyance. He wasn't ignoring her but at the same time, it felt like he was actually disregarding her.
"There's also a rumor going around that you're too good for Potions lessons and were forcibly kicked out of the class for private lessons," Tracey continued, trying to pry Harry for both an opening and answers both at the same time.
If she could back him into an agreement, then maybe she could not only benefit from the secrets of Slytherin's Potions prodigy, but also help Daphne with both of her problems. Daphne also took notice of her friend's actions and nudged her side. "Tracey! What are you doing?" she asked in a whisper.
Ignoring Daphne, Tracey carried on. "Special wards that protect your privacy and special classes in Potions... makes a girl wonder what other secrets you may have," Tracey said with a seductive tone. Leaning toward Harry while trying to show off her 'girlish charm', Tracey edged closer with a grin. Harry's body language showed he was uncomfortable around her closing in and feeling it was an opening pushed her advantage as subtly as she could.
Harry let out a breath of annoyance. What Tracey saw as an opening was him bracing himself for an attack. Worse still, she was distracting him from watching the sorting and he was very interested in knowing where Ginny would be placed.
"Stop beating around the bush!" Harry bit out. Turning to Tracey she almost fell back at the cold glare in his eyes. "Stop trying to mimic a two-knut stripper. If you want something, ask. If you're after information, ask. Cut to the chase and tell me what you want. If I don't say now, I'll consider it and will talk with you about it later."
Tracey collected herself and pulled herself off Daphne whose body pretty much caught her when she fell backward away from Harry's glare. She sat there uncertain of what to do. On the one hand, she'd be admitting she needed help, a sign of weakness. But if she asked and he agreed, then Daphne could join in and benefit while saving face since there was no way she could ask, considering her position.
"Look, either stop bothering me Davis or ask me. I'm not a pureblood so I don't care for political cloak and dagger BS. Tell me now or back off," Harry said. His tone was final and Tracey didn't miss the underlining ultimatum behind it.
"Okay," she whispered, many times quieter than they already were. "Look, Daphne and I need help and she can't ask. Her sister needs better protection than we can give her and both I and Daphne need tuition in Potions. We cannot ask anyone from our House or we'd lose face, and the candidates to ask are minimal and all are morally questionable."
"I get it," Harry said, cutting her off; he'd just heard Ginny's name being called. "I'll consider it. We'll talk later."
Tracey wanted to jump and celebrate but knew better than to draw any more attention then she'd already done. Daphne, the 'said attention' was glaring angrily at her and Tracey knew it was well deserved. But if her gamble paid off, then all of her friend's problems would be solved.
Pulling her forcibly towards her, Daphne bit out angrily, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Asking Potter for help," Tracey whispered back.
"I know that!" Daphne retorted angrily. "What I want to know is why did you ask him?!"
A sudden chill bit at both their necks as they realized, Professor Snape was glaring at the two of them as if screaming at them to shut up.
As the hat touched Ginny's head Daphne turned back towards Tracey and whispered angrily, "We'll talk later."
Tracey nodded knowing they most certainly would.
The whole of the Schools' mild interest in the sorting grew as two things clicked in their minds. The first was that a minute had passed since the hat touched Ginny's head; and the second, the hat was struggling to sort a Weasley.
"What's going on?" someone whispered.
"You think we might get a hat stall?" another asked.
"The professor did call out Weasley, right?"
"What could be taking so long? It's just another Weasley! Just throw her into Gryffindor already. I'm starving."
Harry ignored the latter comment and directed his attention towards the Gryffindors' table. There, Hermione watched with intrigue while the Weasleys awaited the hat's verdict and sat on the edge of their seats.
At least that was the case for Fred, and George. Percy, rather than being concerned or on edge looked on with a level of interest more like that of a bystander. He was interested yet detached from the situation.
As the seconds ticked by into minutes Fred and George, much like most of the students, whispered between themselves in heated interest with a bit of concern for good measure.
Harry could only imagine the torture they were enduring. Harry couldn't even imagine how Ron would be feeling while seeing this if he was present.
Hermione seemed eager, but having no strong bonds with the Weasleys was more interested in the passing time.
"Hey, one more minute and it'll be a hatstall," Harry heard a second year at his table inform their friend eagerly.
Harry looked on at the hat with curiosity and interest. His own sorting resulted in a hatstall as well. However, back then he had the hat speaking to him to help pass the time. From the outside, it was incredibly bland. Here he was, sitting amongst his peers, watching a young Ginny Weasley suffer a hat stall.
As time passed, discord grew to unrest as many students and even some teachers seemed to grow more restless and more concerned regarding the sorting. It wasn't just them either. Ginny herself with her eyes closed seemed to grow more frustrated and upset as time went on. At the ten minute mark, it became official.
"Slytherin!"
At the hat's announcement, chaos broke out. There was very little cheering and it was quickly replaced with confusion, exhaustion and annoyance. Not to mention many vocal shouts from the Gryffindor table.
"WHAT!" The twins cried out. They looked between each other and Ginny in dismay. Percy simply shook his head in disappointment, or was it shame? Harry couldn't tell.
Ginny jumped out from underneath the hat and walked with a smug smile on her face. The kind someone wore when they had won an argument and was rubbing it in. She rushed over to the table, ignoring the shouts of disgust and insults spouted by the 'pureblood' faction that was spearheaded by Malfoy, and sat beside Harry with a pleased grin.
Leaning toward her, Harry ignored the cries for order and silence from McGonagall in lieu of asking Ginny, "Why do you look so pleased with yourself?"
Ginny smirked and replied, "'Cause I forced the hat to sort me here."
Harry blinked at this as her words slowly processed within his head. She forced the hat… to place her... in Slytherin. His next words fell from his mouth about as intellectually as one would expect.
"Why would you do that?" he asked her.
"Two reasons," Ginny said cheerfully. "First, because you're here," she explained matter-of-factly. "And secondly, Slytherin doesn't have as much supervision looming over its occupants like the other houses. In this house, I can help you out more."
Harry could only shake his head. "You do know what they will try to do to you, right?"
"Oh, I know," Ginny said with a grin. "Let them try." Raising her wand, she gave it a twirl before gripping it firmly. "They try anything and I'll show them just how good at jinxes I am."
Harry just groaned as he placed his head down into his arms, resting them on the table. Ginny sat there beside him just laughing at his frustrations. While Harry was confident she could handle herself, it was probably a good idea to keep an eye out for her.
His task for putting an end to the Slytherin initiation tradition had just taken a front seat on his list of things to do. Checking out the Chamber of Secrets could wait. The Cursed Diary could wait. Now he had to worry about their first night and solving that issue.
When the sorting finally ended, Dumbledore stood and called the attention of all in the hall, solely by standing up at the podium.
"Welcome one and all, welcome back to another wondrous year at Hogwarts! I offer my most sincere welcome to our newest attendees and a warm welcome to our returning students. Before we dig in for the feast, there are a few changes this year that I need to announce." He said with a calm but booming voice.
"First, our esteemed Madam Pomfrey will be doing checkups for all Hogwarts students. In order to ensure all students are healthy she will call upon students for checkups as needed by the school."
A myriad of whispering was born from this announcement. "What does he mean by checkups?" Tracey asked Daphne who was too distracted with her sister to hear her at first.
Harry wondered to himself what that was about but then wondered why hadn't they done this during the past year. What's more, while he hid it well the Headmaster didn't seem keen or eager at any of this. While he appeared to be his same old cheerful and grandfatherly self, something was off in his eyes. There was no glint of cheer to be seen.
"So, he isn't in support of it but went with it anyway," Harry muttered to himself. Harry wondered if this was Pomfrey's attempt to educate students about MUK. It would make sense, and legally Albus couldn't stop her if she put her foot down. More likely, he wasn't aware that was her goal...
Harry knew that it was pointless to speculate on it. The news was hardly a factor worth his concern, especially since he could now hide his scars freely, instead of subconsciously. He would have to thank Tonks for that.
"Second," Ablus continued as the crowd quieted down," As deemed by the Board of Education and in pursuit of maintaining house unity, a new rule has been imposed that all Quidditch house team players, will and must, be composed of their own house's members."
Shouts of anger spewed like fire from the Gryffindor table as every member and a few non-members shouted out in heated dislike of the new rule. A quick glance down his own table showed a knowing smirk from Malfoy told Harry he had a good idea as to who forced that rule upon the school.
"That's not fair!" George shouted out in disgust.
"That's discrimination!" Fred joined in. Hermione could be seen biting back a response to that comment.
Katie Bell, however, looked like her whole world was crushed as if all hope had been killed right in front of her.
Angelina and Alicia while clearly angry also were turned toward their friend with concern and care. The news seemed to hit her harder than the others.
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore shouted, his cry smothering the flames in an instant.
"I am sorry to say this is indeed the case. All members to join a team must be of their own house and must have the permission of their head of house to join the team. They are after all house teams."
Wood seemed to be falling through the five stages of grief in rapid succession. Harry, however, wasn't concerned and if anything, his own lack of interest in the news seemed to piss Malfoy off. Based on his reactions, Harry was certain that the new rule was an attack at him. Harry only grinned upon seeing Malfoy's face turn from a smirk to a frown. The rule was fine, after all, Harry didn't play to have fun, it was to get a feel for flying again.
Furthermore, the new rule only said he couldn't be a member. Nothing said he couldn't still fly while say, "offering his services" as a fellow patron of the sport.
"I would also like to inform all students that as usual, the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden to all students…"
As Dumbledore's tangent ran on, Harry noticed Snape rush off unnoticed by all. "Wonder where he's off to?" Harry muttered.
"Probably my brother." Ginny answered him. "Last time he disappeared, I overheard that he railed on you and Ron.
"Sucks to be him then." Harry muttered to which Ginny snorted in agreement and laughter.
"And now, last but not least I would like to introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart."
At Albus's introduction, the blond putz stood up with much flair and ego, taking the stage from Albus who allowed him to do so. Harry ignored the puffing and huffing of the man's own pride in waiting for it all to be over. When he was finally done boasting, Albus took the stage back and announced, "And without further ado, let the feast... begin!"
The feast passed with surprising speed and soon Harry found himself once again in the dungeons, entering Slytherin House's dormitories. As they descended into the common room, Harry found it interesting that all eyes were for once not on him, but Ginny.
As the upper years went on ahead to their dormitories Harry stayed back to watch the induction of all the fresh blood by the new prefects.
"Now then," The Slytherin prefect announced; "These are our dormitories, and this is the common room for all Slytherins. There aren't many rules here except for one," he glared towards Harry as he spoke.
"Slytherin must always remain unanimous, as one whole to everyone outside our House. We will not tolerate those who disrupt our House's traditions as well as the principles of Salazar Slytherin himself.
"We are the House of cunning, resourcefulness, and ambition, and as such we expect you to be also. Know that failure to heed this will be met with due punishments. Like a snake, feel free to hunt after your goals, but know that making enemies here may see you suffering in the long run."
Many of the first years seemed to shrink in fear at his words although Ginny seemed smug and unaffected by the more senior student's attempts at intimidation.
"And what exactly are these punishments you speak of?" Ginny queried.
"Five points from Slytherin for interrupting Weasley," the Prefect bit out in disgust.
"Good for you," Ginny retorted, "Now answer the question, because it sounded like you were threatening us."
"Learn to respect your betters, Weasley. Unlike the other houses, Slytherin prepares its own for the harshness of the world. We won't hold your hand and cater to you like the other houses. If you want something, use your cunning and wit to get it. If someone wrongs you, feel free to retaliate. However, know that getting caught will see you make an enemy of all your fellow students and know that there are many more who are far better than you, Weasley."
Turning his attention back to the freshmen he concluded, "The dormitories are behind me and down the stairs, and I suggest you prepare your protective wards for the night. Failure to do so, is a failure on your part. Here you protect yourself from everyone else, and suffer if you fail to do so."
Walking off the Slytherin left more than half in fear and a minority smirking almost knowingly.
"Prick" Ginny scoffed out as he left.
"It's not that bad… right?" a small girl asked.
"No." Harry cut in drawing their attention. His answer drew a hint of hope to the terrified girl's face.
"It's worse." The hope died instantly. "If rumors are to be believed, imagine the worst thing that can happen to you, and then imagine ten or so other people joining in on the fun."
The crowd of students turned to each other in confusion and uncertainty. From what Harry could tell, only two had any knowledge of magic capable of protecting their rooms. Ginny being the second.
"Yeah? And why should we believe you?" One snobbish kid asked quite skeptically.
"Because I'm Harry Potter and I defied that one rule of Slytherin."
The first years started muttering amongst themselves.
"This house might have one rule, but it's not unanimous. Last year I broke the status quo and split myself from the house. Before then, you had no option but to submit or suffer. Now since you're all new I wanted to make sure you knew that a third option exists."
"What's that?" The same girl asked who previously was so uncertain.
"Help comes to those at Hogwarts for those who ask for it." Harry said. "Just ask and help will come."
Heading toward his room a boy who like Ginny looked like he knew some form of powerful protective magic scoffed. "Yeah, I've heard about you. Harry Potter, you nearly ruined Slytherin's chance at the house cup last year by getting Slytherin into trouble."
Harry paused as he looked back. "Says who?"
"Greasell Derrick. I heard all about you. You spit on our traditions and on magic, spout your mudblood nonsense saying Slytherin was all about dreams. My brother told me you believed yourself to be the only real Slytherin. What a joke, you're just in it for the attention."
Harry watched as his words caused distrust towards him to grow. Clearly most of the students were pureblood, and while not all of them were from pureblood radical families, Harry understood that traditions were important to magical society.
Pulling out his trump card Harry raised a small book up to them. "Do you know what this is?"
Greasell shook his head as did most of them. "This is Slytherin's. Personal Journal, written and penned by the man himself. Salazar Slytherin's own diary."
His words shocked the freshmen and they all looked on in shock. Opening up the book to a sticky note Harry had marked he read. "The debate over how we would select students for our Houses is finally over. It only took four days for us to stamp out that little problem. Helga wanted fairness in the decision, worried that a human arbiter would twist our wishes for some political gain or motive.
"And to be fair she was right. We decided that we would pick out our students via a sorting. Godric offered his hat to us to be enchanted to perform the sorting. Together with Rowena, Helga and myself we went about enchanting the hat with a portion of each of our own minds.
"A dangerous process if we messed up, yet we were successful. It seems a far more unbiased means of sorting for the future. To Godric will go the brave, noble, and courageous. To Rowena, all those who treasure knowledge above all else. For Helga's House will enter the loyal and the honest.
"And for me, those who would survive. Those whose cunning, wit, and ambition would see us rise to heights never seen before. Those of magic who would see them dream the impossible. Just like this school that we made together. An impossible dream made real."
Harry closed the journal and looked at the stunned freshmen. Greasell was not impressed. "You expect us to believe you have Slytherin's Journal? How stupid do you think we are?"
"I don't care what you think. I plan to remain true to Slytherin's forgotten ideals. The lot of you do your own thing. I, for one, refuse to bend my knee to anyone. I don't care about points, and honestly, I think most of you will come to not care either, in time," Harry said. "A true Slytherin wouldn't bow his head in submission. They would seek a better world, and dream bigger."
Harry's final words left the common room in a state of stilled silence. He was about to leave but was surprised to see both Tracey and Daphne waiting for him.
-A few minutes earlier-
Daphne grabbed Tracey and practically threw her into their room as she shut the door and raised the protective charms placed on it. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" she shouted in dismay.
"Calm down Daph," Tracey tried to say, but she was pelted back by Daphne's yelling.
"Calm Down?! Don't YOU tell ME to calm down Tracey Davis! What were you doing with Potter? Why the hell would you get Potter involved? I told you because you were my friend and you go behind my back and tell fucking Harry Potter that I need help! You practically told him everything! Potter's not an idiot, he can put two and two together!"
Tracey cringed and tried to shrink in order to hide from Daphne's anger. "Daphne, please let me explain. I can't explain with you jumping down my throat."
She looked up at her with soft, begging eyes. "Please?"
Daphne took a breath, folded her arms and exhaled, her cold gaze glaring down at Tracey, but standing silent.
"Having Potter help would solve all of your problems."
"Potter IS the reason I'm in this mess," Daphne bit out.
"No, you're just blaming him because your father met him in person and doubled down on you. Both of us barely passed our Potions class last year. You said it yourself. 'As a Greengrass, the best is expected of us.' Right?"
Daphne, still upset, remained silent, neither denying it nor wanting to acknowledge that Tracey was right. As a Greengrass her father expected high standards in Herbology and Potions, two classes she was struggling in.
She'd achieved 'Exceeds Expectations' for her total course load but that wasn't good enough. Her father expected Outstanding else it was nothing. So here she was, overworked, stressed and worried about her grade when she just barely managed to get an 'EE' on her coursework.
The rumor that Potter was going to be Snape's apprentice in Potions didn't help. She was expected to be the best in her field, at least in the top ten, and a first-year from her own year getting an apprenticeship in Potions from Professor Snape just made her failings stand out to her father.
"Potter didn't help, but he could. Potter's a bloody genius in Potions! Even Snape who hates him recognized his talents. Plus, Potter isn't like the other Slytherins. He won't exploit us like Malfoy would," Tracy argued.
"You don't know that. He's a Slytherin. It could all be an act. A ploy to make us believe he's trustworthy," Daphne countered.
"I know, but just think about it?" Tracey continued. "Potter was hunted down last year and the whole house couldn't even stop him. For the first time, Slytherin isn't united under the likes of Malfoy or any one of the other Purebloods. You have to be powerful, smart, or incredibly skilled, maybe all three to do something like that without the backing of a family."
"He probably has some family magic we don't know about," Daphne huffed in disinterest.
"That's my point!" Tracey said with a smirk. "If it is, then maybe he'd help you protect Astoria. He seemed to really hate the initiation when I told him about it so I'm sure he'll help out if we ask."
"Okay!..." Daphne bit out. "Let's say he can help raise our grades by tutoring or helping us and let's say he helps me protect 'Stori… you're missing one pretty important hole in your argument."
"What?" Tracey asked, crossing her arms.
"What would he expect from me in return?" Daphne stated.
"Us." Tracey countered. "What?!" Daphne asked unsure of what she meant.
"The question really is: What will he want from us? Don't think I'm leaving this all on your shoulders Daphne. We're friends. Where you go, I go."
Daphne bit back her inner desire to shoot down her friend's determination to suffer with her. Tracy struggled enough as things stood as a Slytherin by being a half-blood. She had already suffered enough at the hands of her fellow Pureblood classmates.
Biting her lip, Daphne turned away unable to stare back into Tracey's confident and determined gaze. She knew her friend was winning the argument and Daphne knew that she was going to have to cave in.
"I won't have you suffer in my stead, Tracey. Not for something like this," Daphne spoke out.
"Daphne, where you go, I go. We're friends and we stick together. Even if you're sometimes a stubbornly shy ice queen," Tracey said with a smirk.
Daphne glared at her but relented, knowing full well she came off as cold and callous when she felt uncomfortable about something or being somewhere.
"Fine, we'll go and I'll ask him. I won't have you giving out any more information than you already have," Daphne said.
Tracey's smile turned into a shit-eating grin as Daphne proceeded to walk out of the room. Pumping her fist behind her back she celebrated her victory over her best friend.
Walking up the stairs Daphne and Trace walked into a strange situation. The first years were staring at Harry as he pulled out a book. Confused, they waited to learn what was going on and listened in as Harry began to read from what he claimed to be Slytherin's Journal. The two looked at each other in shock. How the hell did Harry Potter gain access to Slytherin's Journal?
"A true Slytherin wouldn't bow his head in submission. They would seek a better world, and dream big," Harry finished, putting away the book and turning towards the stairway to the dormitories only to spot Daphne and Tracey standing there.
They both remained silent for a moment, staring at each other until Tracey elbowed Daphne into action. Hiding a wince, Daphne spoke up; "Potter… I wish to make a… trade with you."
Harry was caught flat-footed at this, He hadn't expected them to come until tomorrow. He knew Tracey was angling for some kind of goal with his involvement based on what they shared at the sorting feast but Daphne as well; that caught him off guard.
"A trade?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Daphne said flatly with a show of as little interest as one could imagine possible; "a trade."
Turning to Tracey, Harry looked to her for confirmation. "A trade, or help?"
Daphne glared at Harry and intercepted Harry's question and Tracey's response. "I'm the one asking you Potter. I said a trade and I mean a trade."
Harry turned back to her, his legilimency knowing full well she wanted his aid, not an exchange. Calling it a trade was her expectation that he was expecting something in return.
"I have no interest in a trade or exchange of any kind. If you want help, then I'll discuss with you what it is you want help with and what if any compensation is needed to fulfil it," Harry said coldly.
Daphne pulled back into her façade as an "Ice Queen" as her concern turned to worry. She hadn't expected him to flat out deny her nor turn her request on her. Admitting help would be a show of weakness that she couldn't do, it would be shameful even if she was asking for it. What she didn't know was that Harry knew her intentions to ask for aid, but respecting her privacy, he wasn't reading deeply enough to know what she wanted help with.
"Fine, I want to make a deal with you," Daphne bit out.
Harry looked intently at her, the two staring each other down. The battle of wills went on as the first years watched and Tracey shifted nervously in place.
Daphne stared down at Harry, defiant to maintain the position of power in negotiations. But as the 'stare down' progressed, she started to feel like a crushing force was pressing down on her.
His eyes grew colder and more distant, like looking down on trash or something equally inconsequential. For the first time, she felt how powerful he might have been and realized that Potter might really be the best chance she had in protecting her sister. The very same sister who was staring in concern and worry for her.
Sighing, Harry let out his annoyance and made to walk past them, breaking the stare down first.
Fearing he was going to leave, Daphne panicked and went to stop him. Reaching for him she demanded, "Don't walk off when-"
Harry grabbed her outstretched arm and forced it back. They were close enough to the wall of the stairs that his sudden movement forced her back into the wall, Harry looming over her, glaring at her.
"At Hogwarts, help comes to those who ask for it," Harry stated coldly. "There are three things I hate. Those with a "God Complex" who think they own everyone, Those who lie in order to control or dictate to others, and those who take life without a thought for its value.
"I have more pressing matters to deal with than playing your games, Greengrass. Tell me what you want or get out of my way," Harry said calmly with a coldness that matched her persona.
Tracey froze in place, her wand drawn on Harry who seemed to not notice or not care. Panicking that Harry might do something to her friend she blurted out, "Potions…"
Harry turned his gaze at her and she continued; "We wanted help in Potions and with protective wards like the one you used last year in your room," she explained. Daphne cursed internally but saw Harry looked surprised and then smiled.
Turning back to Daphne, with soft emerald eyes that held a surprising amount of warmth. "Ask then," Harry whispered so only she could hear.
It wasn't an order but more like a request. He let her go and gave her space. Tracey relaxed, lowering her wand as the first years looked on with piqued... and peaking.. interest. Many of the purebloods themselves were amazed and confused at the scene before them. It wasn't often a Greengrass could be seen asking another for help after all.
Daphne looked at the first years and then at Harry. Turning to Tracey, she bit her lip before looking back at Harry, peeking glances at the crowd as she eternally fought between admitting she wanted help, and ruining her reputation and her families by showing weakness.
"Which is worth more to you?" Harry asked, causing Daphne to blink in confusion. "Is it worth not asking, risking the chance?" Harry continued.
"Is this worth protecting your sister?" That was what he was asking her. Glancing at Astoria, Daphne felt her love for her sister overwhelm her. She would sacrifice anything to protect her.
"I want your help to protect my sister," Daphne admitted in a whisper. "The protections that kept you safe from the other Slytherins last year, I would like you to teach us those for my sister."
It felt wrong. It all felt very wrong. Admitting she needed help made her feel weak, vulnerable. If word got out, her family would suffer no shortage of mockery. The Heiress of Greengrass, bending to Harry Potter. How weak the family must be that it can't protect its own!
Harry smiled as he saw her concede. "Show me to her room."
Daphne looked up in shock. Harry repeated, "Show me to her room. I'll set up the runes right away."
He didn't even ask for compensation. He would willingly use his family magics freely, without a thought for compensation or worry that someone would try to take them? Daphne was left confused and dumbstruck!
It flew in the face of every logical and rational teaching that she grew up with. Either Potter was an idiot, or he was after something. That was the only thing that made sense. Biting her lip, Daphne wondered if agreeing to this would leave her sister vulnerable to Potter.
On one side, she would be safe from the horde of Slytherins who would use and abuse her, but now she might have just made a deal with a real devil and given him access to her sister.
Harry eyed her carefully, and reading her expressions he chuckled. Daphne took it as a sign of smugness but his words caused her to second guess her initial meaning of his laugh.
"After I'm done, make sure you place your own wards above mine. Not on top of. They won't intersect one another so long as they aren't conflicting. Your sister will be more heavily protected than my own room if you do that."
Daphne looked at Harry in shock. Could he read her mind? No! That shouldn't be possible! She was well practiced in occlumency and would have noticed this if he could.
Harry smirked as he looked at her. "Yes I can!" he replied, causing Daphne to freeze and turn around so fast Harry thought she might snap her own neck.
"No I didn't, it's written on your face!" he said with a smirk as he cut Daphne off as she opened her mouth to comment.
Daphne blushed a very slight pink, giving a bit more color to her pale skin, but not enough to really be noticed. Turning abruptly she told Harry to follow her if he could as she walked down the stairs. Following, Harry joined her as she led him to the first-year rooms. It didn't take long to find the room with her sister's trunk and before she could tell Harry this was the room, he was already kneeling down and working his magic.
Daphne was again being ignored, and again this left her very confused. She could not figure out what Harry's angle was. Why help out, why freely give out magic protection that only he possessed?
Any other witch or wizard would selfishly hold onto their most powerful spells and protections for their own objectives. The only thing she could think of was that Harry Potter was an ignorant idiot, and a fool.
Watching him work however just reinforced how wrong that assumption must be. His rune work was beyond her understanding and used symbols she had never seen before.
She planned to watch in hopes of learning and perhaps breaking down his methods if not just to learn them but know if he was planning to use this to his advantage, but that ploy was dashed as she might as well be reading a foreign language.
As the minutes passed she slowly fell into a daze, watching mesmerized as Harry drew his wand in trained and well-practised motions. Weaving a tapestry of runes into the walls of the room, burning them into the stone without fire or carving implements, his work was completely foreign to her.
"Done," Harry said aloud as he finished.
Daphne was stunned, her eyes darting to the clock on the dresser. He was done? In only fifteen minutes he had finished placing his wards? Impossible, Daphne thought. It took hours to set up a protective ward. And the more powerful it was the longer it took. There was no way he used the same wards he'd placed on his own room!
"You're not trying to pull a fast one on me Potter, are you?" Daphne asked with distrust. "There's no way it's finished."
Harry shrugged and gestured for her to leave. "Then try and break in," he said.
"I'll open the door if you can't breach it in ten minutes."
"An hour." Daphne insisted. With a weak ward, the effects must have a time or durability limit. If he was trying to cheat her he would try to convince her with the least amount of time.
"Too long!" countered Harry, causing Daphne to feel like she had caught a hint of his plans.
"Let your sister or Tracey open it from the inside then, I'm too busy to waste an hour for you to be confident in my work." Harry said causing Daphne to be left standing there, once again uncertain in the wake of his confidence. Leaving, he pointed out a single rune next to the door.
"Tap it once to turn the wards on and off and make sure all doors and windows are closed for it to take effect."
With those final words, Harry left. In his wake Daphne was left thoroughly confused, her sister was grinning like she found a new game to play. Tracey was smirking like she had just won the lottery! Out of the three, only one felt like they had lost completely.
Entering his own room, Harry dropped down into his trunk and wasn't surprised to see Ginny waiting for him.
"I'm not sleeping with you," Harry said flatly.
Ginny stumbled and nearly fell as she got up to greet him. Glaring at him she grumbled out "Pervert" before pouting.
"What are you doing here Ginny?" Harry asked, his words holding more warmth than hostility behind them.
"I'm here because I'm finally free to sleep with the husband I've been separated from for eleven years, and more if you add the thousand I've been dead for!" Ginny said boldly.
Harry looked at her and she at him. A smile replaced Harry's frown and nodded. Ginny jumped up and celebrated. If he was honest Harry knew he would miss and worry over her if she resided in her own room. At least with him, she would have protections from the other students and he would have more time together with her.
"Go get dressed for bed then Ginny." Harry said as he walked over to his work shelf and pulled out a bottle labelled, 'liquid metal'.
"What about you?" Ginny asked. Harry grinned as he raised his wand.
"Oh, nothing much. Let's just say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good'!"