Thank you all for the follows, favs and reviews!

'Thought'

"Speech"

§ Parsletongue §

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of Harry Potter, only my OC(s) and some plot twists...


"Young Misters must not be drinkings at this age!" was the firm rebuttal I received when I'd asked for something stronger than the usual.

"How can you get so heartless, Riley!" I grumbled, grudgingly accepting the offered cup of steaming coffee she handed me, taking a deep breath and relishing in its aroma. I'd been to the Kitchen a few times before this (yes the elves were as welcoming and generous with their food, as implied in the books) and had befriended a House-elf named Riley.

I'd found out that she'd been the one that had been providing me with my beverage of choice (instead of the usual tea or pumpkin juice during meal times) on one of my Kitchen-visits, and had simply made it a point to express my gratitude for it. Only later did I find out that she'd all but put herself in charge of making all of my meals from that point onwards, discreetly finding my preferences out by taking note of what I mostly ate.

A pale, tiny little thing with big dark blue eyes, probably smaller even than Dobby and thankfully not as eccentric; not that I had anything against Dobby, he was one of my favourite characters. In fact, I think I might even try convincing Potter into taking him as his own elf. No promises though, because a greater part of me still wanted to stay the hell away from him and his friends.


Now, let me quickly clear a few things up first, I found out that I couldn't order or call for any of the House-elves since they technically 'belonged' to Hogwarts.

Only the Headmaster/Headmistress, Deputy Headmaster/Headmistress and the Head of each House could call them at any point in time. So my initial plan of simply stealing the diary away from Ginny was a dud, even my second plan involved one of them tailing the girl into the Chamber, knocking her out before she called the snake and apparating me there (with a Rooster at hand) was a dud as well.

Since then I'd been wracking my brain, trying to come up with alternate ways of dealing with our resident snake problem.

Another point I wanted to make completely clear… I was not gonna go charging in order to right every wrong that has happened - or rather would happen - in the books. I wasn't omnipotent and many of the events that would happen were well out of my reach, not to mention capabilities. Frankly speaking, going down that path would only end up driving me crazy... well, crazier than I already was in any case.

Then there was always the chance of me getting caught. It would go one of two ways depending on my captors: I would either have to answer umpteen questions under Veritaserum before being shipped off to Azkaban, or sent right through the Veil. Else, I'd be Crucio'd till I went completely crack, or spilled my guts out - whichever came first - and then killed off, in an undoubtedly gruesome manner.

I didn't want anything to be everyone's Hero or Savior, heck I wanted nothing to do with those terms 'A Hero's fate was never happy, it is nothing... if not tragic' were very wise words to live by. So I resolved to not go out of my way, and try to play fix-it... I'd act if or only when I, and those I consider close to me, were at risk.

Harsh? Maybe… but all I want is to live happily and actually enjoy the second chance given to me in life, which also included my years at Hogwarts as well.

The Basilisk was a truly unknown factor, it was literally 'sheer dumb luck' that no one was killed off in the second book, I couldn't let things simply play out like that. Another thing I was going to do at the earliest, was to remove the Vanishing Cabinet from the RoR and possibly buy the other one in Borgin and Burkes (I was so gonna spam the shit out of them!) once I managed to make enough dough.

No way in hell was I gonna let the Carrows or Greyback, not to mention the Lestranges, enter and prance around the castle this time around. I can hear some of you going 'But that would mean dear Draco wou-' yeah? I don't care.


"Wakes up Misters, you be lates for yours breakfast!" came Riley's voice suddenly.

'... must've dozed off at some point' I rubbed the crust out of my eyes and accepted the cup handed to me, noting that it wasn't my usual coffee and that the Pepper-up potion I'd been holding in my hand was missing. I took a tentative sip and immediately felt a tingle of invigorating warmth spread across my body, I doubted if the original potion tasted this good there was a dash of ginger that further seems to ease my throat.

"Thank you, Riley!" I grinned widely after I'd downed the cup, "I hope that I'll be lucky enough to find a House-elf half as good as yo–"

"Riley be happys accepting Misters Colin as her new Master!" she all but grabbed my ring-adorned hand and pressed her forehead against the metal lightly "Riley vows to serves Young Master, and his House well!" there was a light blue glow and I felt quite a bit of magic surge around us, before settling just as quickly.

"...huh?" no fucking way… that was too easy, nothing came that easy.

"Thank you Young Master!" she squeaked and almost tackled me in a hug, but then immediately began apologizing profusely. The thought of her pulling a Dobby and punishing herself brought me out of my stupor, and I gave her my first command intending to nip that particular tendency in the bud.

"Riley, you are under no circumstance allowed to punish or inflict pain upon yourself, either physical or mental" she stopped mid-rant "If you feel like you've done something that you think has - or would warrant - punishment in any form, you are to come to me and talk about it before doing anything else, alright?" I grinned at her "Oh and I'd prefer it if you continue to treat me as you have been, as a friend instead of Maste–oofh!" this time she really did manage to tackle me to the ground.

I noticed many of the House-elves scuttling around us give Riley an envious glance, which turned to awe when it came to me, as they continued with their breakfast preparations 'Why are they…?' and then my eyes widened in realization 'Maybe that's why...!'

Wait, let me try to explain before you go all ballistic wondering why I hadn't asked Riley about this earlier, seeing as the entire process was so simple.

My basic answer is equally as simple... I couldn't.

I remember several occasions where I'd visited the Kitchens, with the intention of asking Riley about the nature of the bond the House-elves shared with the school. My follow-up, of course, would have been to ask if there was an exit clause somewhere and if so, were they free to pledge allegiance to a different House (or person) when offered?

I'd also wanted to ask if she could tell me if there were any free elves that had come to Hogwarts seeking refuge or work - I'd learned that they wouldn't be able to survive on their own for long and that Hogwarts acted like a sorta beacon for them - but I always seemed to forget about it somehow, or would only remember it once I'd gotten back to the common room, at times not even then.

'Definitely not by mere coincidence…' I now reasoned.

"Did the someone put something like a compulsion charm on the door? That would trigger whenever someone, other than elf entered?" I asked Riley, who had suitably calmed down by now. She presented me with a platter of food, which I gladly accepted and was currently beginning to dig into.

"Yes! Young Mater is clever to have noticed!" and then she gave me a quick rundown of how it worked, and I gotta say it was a very nice, effective not to mention the sneaky-as-hell method of ensuring that the elves found decent homes.

"Was it the Headmaster's idea?" I asked, to which Riley nodded.

"Yes, but it not be the current Headmaster, great Headmaster Nigellus be the one who done it…" she clarified.

I blanched "Headmaster Nigellus as in Phineas Nigellus, of the Blacks!?" Riley nodded once more and I could literally feel the gratitude and adoration the elves held for the guy. I'm sure that none of them here was from that time, but understood that they were still thankful for his thoughtfulness nonetheless.

'Well, what do you know…' I mused.

Who'd have expected that a stuck-up brood (from what little was said in the books) like him could actually be sympathetic towards, as the purebloods called them 'lesser beings' and actually do something to help them?

'Phinny old boy, your rating just went up in my books!' I grinned, I'd finished everything morsel on the platter and politely declined any seconds, I'd had my fill and it was time I got back to my dorm.

Mentally preparing myself in case this didn't work out, I tentatively asked "Riley, if I asked you to apparate me somewhere… would you be able to do it?" fingers crossed, I waited for what seemed like an age before Riley nodded in affirmation.

"Yes, Riley be able to do that now since Riley no longer be a Hogwarts elf!" she happily declared.

'Hell yeah!' I think she knew about the happy jig I was inwardly doing.

"Then could you apparate me to places like Diagon Alley, Gringotts… or my dorm?" a nod confirmed each case, I took in a deep breath to curb my excitement "Alright, please take me to my dorm now, oh and try to be discreet about it if you can, I'd rather not be noticed…" I started, before amending myself "In fact, do that whenever I ask you to apparate me somewhere"

I then braced myself for the squeezed-from-all-directions-while-being-forced-through-a-pipe feeling, that was said to be expected while apparating, even more so when one side-alonged.

I wasn't disappointed and barely managed to keep the contents of my stomach, mentally kicking myself for my overindulgence and quickly placating my worried House-elf "It's not your fault, don't worry about it" I then instructed her to continue with her old duties, working in the Kitchens and as such until I'd found a place of my own.

I flopped onto my bed after she'd left, disappearing with the barest of 'pops' and stared at my bed's canopy. The dorm room was empty, no doubt everyone else was at breakfast now, which was just as good. A lot had happened over the course of a single night and I needed some time to gather myself... regain my bearings, if you will.

'Damn that's a lot to take in…' Gringotts and Ollivanders were easily accessible now, but I thought it best to probably wait until the weekend, 'That'll give me some time enough to draw up a list of essentials' I mused.

I'd already planned on getting my own owl (I didn't want to rely upon the school owls to send my personal letters) and then, depending upon the amount of money I'd have after my visit to the bank, I planned on making some investments as well, and wait to see where things went from that point onwards.

"Young Master bes getting ready now, else he be late for his classes!" I jumped slightly as Riley re-apparated next to me, my bag clutched in her hands "He be forgetting his bag at the Kitchen, so Riley brings it to him!" she explained.

"Thank you, Riley you're a lifesaver! Best elf ever!" I said as I grabbed my bag and I fumbled for my wand. She literally seemed to glow at the praise, while I cast yet another deciphering - and altogether too long - glance at my pocket watch.

"Fuck!" I quickly splashed some water onto my face and changed into a new pair of robes, she'd already grown used to my crass language, to the stage that I was no longer admonished for it at least.

Getting your mouth washed with soap water is by no means a pleasant experience, let me tell you.

"Okay gotta go, I'll call for - or maybe come visit - you in the Kitchens later alright? Bye!" giving her a wave I made a mad dash for the Charms classroom, there would be a lot of students wandering around now, so I didn't want to risk asking Riley to apparate me. And Flitwick didn't appreciate tardiness without a viable reason. Needless to say, I'd already added a mechanical watch to the list of essentials I planned on getting, under the category of basic necessities.

"Let's get the double Chocolate truffle… I've never tried it before" was what Luna said, by way of greeting me, when I met her in the corridor leading up to our classroom "We'll share one at Florean Fortescue's" she declared, her expression positively sunny "I wasn't able to last time, since Daddy and I were rushing to get all of my school supplies before closing time" she finished.

"... alright" was the best answer I could come up with, panting lightly.

She smiled warmly at that "We should hurry if we want our usual seats" and taking my hand, she all but dragged me inside.

I don't think I'd ever be able to understand exactly how - or how much - Luna knew about all of this. Nor was I going to ask her, I knew that she'd never sell me out in any way. I had no way of justifying myself, of course, but I just... knew.

I've learned that some things in life are better left unexplained, unless you really enjoyed migraines. I for one have already had more than my fair share, so I've chosen to simply shut up, and roll with it.

Call it a hunch if you will, just one that I was completely sure of.

Damn, I sound like such a poser... I blame puberty!


Sullenwhitedevil: I think you mean a Howler? I can tell you that this particular letter wasn't one.

ShadowMoonDragon: Thank you for your suggestion, and for the high praise. I've not actually thought about it frankly, so am not sure... I think I'll 'go with the flow' as they say, for now.

evo123457: Thanks for the review(s) Dunno about the Telekenesis thing, nor the Elementary Magic. Appreciate your suggestions, ramblings or otherwise!

a guy1013: I'll try to keep a frequent update schedule, can't make promises though!


Annnd that's a wrap!

As always, reviews and/or suggestions are welcome and appreciated, as is constructive criticism, though any and all flames will be ignored.

Until next time...

BerserkSpectre out