A/N: Thanks to DesertSandBox for noticing an error regarding Hedwig, which has been corrected :) Her clone has been... dealt with.


-Chapter Fifteen-

Bad Eggs and Omelettes

"May I ask a bit of a personal question?" Harry asked Millicent. While he respected that Millicent's actions were her own - and he was especially particular that he was not taking advantage of her after his public proclamation in response to the life debt - he felt that something didn't add up and wanted some clarity.

"You may ask," said Millicent warily, "but I make no promises on whether to answer." Harry smiled at her. It was a classic Slytherin response.

"I was just wondering how you feel about Draco, considering both that he put you in danger and that he now seems to have a lot of influence. I imagine that it must be quite difficult to, erm, match those up." At Harry's words, Millicent frowned, but he could tell that it wasn't directed at him. It was more conflicted than upset or angry.

"I… yeah, it's difficult," Millicent admitted. "I don't like Draco. I'm very angry at him. But my father has always taught me that I have to take advantage of every opportunity I can. Being on good terms with Draco is an advantage I can't afford to give up, whether I really like him or not."

"That's fair enough." Millicent looked sharply at Harry. "I understand where you're coming from. It may be that forgiving him, or at least acting like it, will benefit you. Perhaps it's the small bit of pain you need to go through for a big positive result later on, and maybe it will be worth it."

"I hope so," Millicent said quietly, looking away.

"I hope so too, Millicent. I want you to have the best outcome. I worry, though. I worry that it won't have a positive result, or not enough of one to be worth it."

"You worry like an old woman," Millicent interrupted, though still not looking at Harry.

"And I won't stop worrying, Millicent," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Not about you, but for you. Being on good terms with Draco is no guarantee of ever getting anything from him. Still, I can understand that not being on good terms with him may prevent good things in the future like business opportunities. Either way, I just want you to know that I support you and, if it doesn't turn out well, you'll always have little old me and the tiny bit of influence I'll be able to build up" Millicent put her hand on top of Harry's and shook her head, though he could see she was smiling.

"You know, for someone who knew nothing about our world until you got your Hogwarts letter, you're surprisingly good at this."

"I do try."

"I suppose it's in my best interests to help you build up your influence then."

"Well, you don't have to," Harry said, squeezing her shoulder, "but I'll never say no to any help offered."

The two exchanged smiles and Millicent headed off towards her chamber. He knelt before his trunk, thinking about what Millicent had said. He had learned a lot about the wizarding world already, currently at the obviously not brought up a wizard, but surprisingly knowledgeable level, but he wondered whether it couldn't be an advantage to have been brought up a Muggle.

From his trunk, he pulled out the little golden bird, the one he was given by Professor McGonagall, and gave it a shake. Even underground, beneath the black lake, the bird sang as though the sun was rising. He smiled. He would never stop being fascinated by magic.

#

The last item on Harry's to-do list was the easiest to complete and so he made an effort to get up a little earlier than was necessary to get to breakfast. He filled his bag with the materials he'd need for the morning - textbooks for Charms and Herbology, as well as parchment, quills, ink and completed homework - and hustled out of the dormitory, through the common room and along the corridors to the great hall. There were only a handful of people who had already started breakfast by the time he arrived, but he could already hear the footsteps and shuffles of others arriving in various states of wakefulness.

Taking a seat at the Slytherin table, Harry first pulled out a sheet of parchment and a self-inking quill. He carefully scratched out a note to the gamekeeper, suggesting Friday afternoon of the second week as a potential time to visit considering that it was a free period. He'd learned from Neville that it was free for the first years of all four houses, so he also asked whether he would be happy to host Neville as well. It would also give him time to settle back into the regular schedule of classwork and homework.

After neatly folding the parchment, blowing on the ink to ensure it was dry enough, Harry began to eat. His dorm-mates arrived not long afterwards and he had just finished the last scraps when owls began to flood through the window high at one end of the hall. The first breakfast of every term was always a busy day for mail, with a large number of packages from home containing items left behind by scatterbrained students. No owl made its way to him, as he had expected, so he excused himself early and headed up to the owlery to send his letter.

Hedwig and Harry were able to spend only a few minutes together, each making sure the other was ok, before Harry, burdened as he was with human responsibility, had to head back down to Charms. It was a calmer and easier start to the week than beginning with something like Transfiguration, which was probably a deliberate choice for first years. With rapid footsteps echoing the flapping of wings behind him, Harry descended the first flight of stairs, heading for the same classroom in which he'd had his first experience of magical lessons over four months ago.

As he strode down the Charms corridor, at a brisk but respectable pace, he saw Blaise smirking at his approach, eyes shining. He reached the door just as it was opened by Professor Flitwick and, without breaking his stride, gave a cheeky bow to Blaise and continued smoothly to his desk. He arranged his parchment, quill and ink in their usual configuration and chuckled when he noticed the inkpot wobbling slowly away from him.

"Well I'm glad to see that Mr Zabini recalls the levitation charm from last term," the tiny Charms Professor said brightly. "Mr Potter, I'll give you a point if you can bring it back using the same charm."

Blaise cancelled his charm, and gave a quick bow in Harry's direction. Harry picked up his wand and confidently swished and flicked it, uttering the charm with the required precision. The inkpot floated smoothly from its resting position on the floor back to his desk. The landing was slightly bumpy, but he considered his attempt to be better than Blaise's, so he sent him a wink.

"Bravo, Mr Potter, one point to Slytherin as promised. I encourage you all to practice your wandwork as a matter of course. The more you practice anything, the easier it becomes and the better your results. This is why we practice spells in class. However, we only have a limited number of classes on the timetable for the year and there are a lot of different spells to learn. We will be taking a much more practical approach from this point onwards, learning spells with a lot of different interesting effects."

With this, Professor Flitwick waved his wand in a number of broad sweeps. Textbooks leapt off the shelves around the room and began somersaulting around. Rolls of parchment inched over the desks like oversized rustling caterpillars. Everybody's inkpots sprouted tiny legs and tapdanced in front of their owners. It was an impressive feat of magic, and Harry recognised that it was even more so due to the silent casting and the need to keep concentrating on many different effects.

"Before we begin with our first spell of the term, the same one affecting your inkpots, I want to tell you about your homework. This will be a bit of a challenge and I want you to try your hardest on this, with rewards for those who can give the best answers. The question is one you might all be asking right now: If the simple levitation charm is tricky to master in your first year, why will you be able to perform this complicated spell faster? I'll give you a week and a half to come up with your best theories."

Challenge accepted.

#

While Professor Flitwick seemed determined to encourage learning in his class by making his subject fun, the other teachers were clearly of the opinion that one term was enough time to settle into life in the castle and began to work them harder. Harry had assumed that the essays set over Christmas were longer due to the extended amount of time they would have to work on them, but the norm for homework was very nearly that same length. Where homework corrections used to be focused on the facts, correcting information and ideas which were wrong, comments began to creep in about the style and structure of their essays. Vincent and Gregory were heard complaining about Professor McGonagall's comments on the size of their handwriting at one point. Apparently she had threatened to increase the length requirements for their essays.

The students were different as well now, and Harry was sure it wasn't down to the increase in workload from the teachers. It was, of course, more noticeable among the Slytherin first years, given those were who Harry was around the most. People tended to be seen huddled together, deep in conversation around the common room, and the arrangement of the furniture seemed to promote that sort of behaviour. Indeed, the Slytherin first years had more time for huddling than Harry would have expected, which led him to believe that their families had undertaken some sort of tutoring over the break.

Tracey and Millicent were often seen to be floating between one or other of these huddles. Harry had tried to approach a huddle in much the same way as he had seen Tracey do so. Tracey was occasionally rebuffed, with the group suddenly falling silent as she approached, but Harry was never successful, always being met with scowls and sneers, mostly from the older students. Blaise was a part of the last whispering cluster he had attempted to join, and he had given the barest hint of a shake of the head.

"It's not going to work, Harry," he said after taking him aside one day. "You know how a lot of the older guys feel about you and they're the ones who hold the power right now. Nobody's going to go against them, not out in the common room, but we'll let you know if anything interesting comes up. When you end up proving yourself, you'll be well informed enough to join the discussions. Just… stop trying to join in with these, alright?"

Harry sighed and nodded. As much as he understood the reasoning behind it, he couldn't help but feel hurt. He'd had a glorious taste of friendship and camaraderie, but it was quickly turning back into isolation. Slytherin house was a difficult place, Harry understood that well. However, that night, Tracey dragged him into her and Millicent's chamber. Blaise was there again and the three of them reiterated Blaise's promise. Harry sighed once again and gave a sad smile.

"May I speak frankly?" he asked. He quickly received three nods. "I understand how this house works, and how it has to be. I also know that you're not taking the easy way out by just joining the others. I'll never make you choose between me and the others, but what I promise you is that I'll make the choice easier for when you are forced to choose. While the others may choose the route of politics from the start, I'm going to focus on magic - that which truly sets us apart, rather than popularity and fear mongering.

"Magic is real power. Tracey, you once told me of how the older families were once respected for the private magic they wielded and kept to themselves. Blaise, you told me how the wheels of politics are often greased by money, even becoming more powerful than the law. And Millicent, you explained the example of the Malfoy family, particularly with the future wealth of the Black family, and how money is already shaping the political landscape of the common room. People pay for powerful magic to protect them and make their lives easier, though. Magic is how we're all expected to make money in the future." Harry nodded to Blaise, who looked like he had a point to raise.

"Well, most powerful families have money coming in from investments, where they've paid a large amount of money to get a portion of the profits from some business. They don't need magic for that," Blaise explained.

"That's true," Harry conceded, "but that's hard to grow without doing anything else. Remember when Professor Sprout said that most magical plants will grow slowly in the wild without anybody tending to them, but the plants we grow in the greenhouses will grow quicker and produce more ingredients and stuff? It's a bit like that.

"Those groups in the common room are like the plants growing in the wild," he continued, really getting into the analogy he'd just thought up. "They'll grow slowly on their own, with no magic and no - erm - outside influence. The land might get flooded or the plants struck by lightning or there's a disease or a giant wanders through and tramples everything and suddenly boom: no more plants. In the greenhouse, though, you can water and fertilise the plants. You can use magic to create the perfect conditions all year round. It's a bit more work but it really pays off.

"So that's what I'm going to do. It'll take me a while - I know I'm still only a first year - but I'm going to work on my magic. I've always liked to make things, and eventually I'll get to make things with magic. With a little bit of help from you guys, that'll go even faster. But even without it, I just want one thing from you guys."

"Go on," Tracey said, her brow furrowed slightly at this.

"When you're forced to make the choice, come and talk it over with me."

#

A large part of Harry was excited to direct more of his focus towards his magical education and his extracurricular research into magic. He could explore the very subject with which he was fascinated. The remainder of him was split between the disappointment of reducing the time spent with his friends, despite the fact that they had chosen the harder path of remaining friends with him, and his conscious choice to further reduce the amount of time he spent in the Slytherin common room and dormitories. However, he reasoned that it was the little bit of pain before the big payout later on, just like he'd advised Millicent.

It was the morning of the first Saturday back that Harry made his way to the kitchens, hoping to have that conversation he had planned with the elves last term. He had timed his visit to end in lunch. The painting swung open to the giggling of the ticklish pair and he immediately felt the warmth emanating from the cavernous kitchen. One of the elves approached him silently as his eyes traced the great arches of the ceiling, giving the appearance, once he noticed it, that it had appeared from nowhere.

"Young sir has returned," the elf squeaked with a smile.

"Yes, I have," Harry said. It was the only response he could think of to the elf's not-quite-greeting. "I hope I haven't come at an inconvenient time."

"Of course not, young sir. You is being kind to think of us. What can we be doing for you, young sir?"

"I was hoping to be able to just talk to you or others in your team, just for a bit. I don't know much about you and your culture, so I'm keen to learn more." The elf bowed and led Harry over to the round table at the side of the room where he had sat and ate previously with the Weasley twins. As they approached, a goblet, cup and teapot appeared on the table, giving Harry a choice of refreshments.

"I will ask Head Elf Tolly who be best to speak with," the elf said. Harry gave his thanks before it scampered off deeper into the organised chaos of the kitchen. Looking around, he could see pots and pans floating around the various counters, with a queue of them approaching a great sink full of suds. In one area, there had clearly been a recent delivery of vegetables as there was a medley of gourds and roots dancing through the air with a gleaming set of knives. The chopped and diced remains zoomed into an array of glass jars and, if Harry peered intently at those jars, they shimmered with some sort of spellwork as they were added to. The filled jars were labelled by an elf with a snap of its fingers and they then wound their way out through a door into what Harry could only assume to be the pantry. At the same time, empty jars replaced those which had been filled and stoppered, and the process continued with the bits of vegetable only flying a brief loop while waiting for their new destination.

"Young sir wants to know about elfses?" said a voice near Harry's elbow, causing him to snap out of his contemplation of the vegetable waste being Vanished in mid air.

"Yes, sir," Harry said politely, "if it's not a bother. And, please, call me Harry."

"Mister Harry sir is too kind. I is being Head Elf Tolly and this is being Mipsy." Mipsy gave a short curtsey as she was introduced.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Would you like to sit with me while we chat?" Mipsy looked uncertainly towards Tolly at this.

""Thank you kindly, Mister Harry sir. We will sits with you. It bes a rare opportunity for elfses to sits with a wizard." Tolly smiled at Harry as he hopped onto one of the other chairs at the table. Mipsy positively beamed. Once they were both up, the chairs resized until the top of the table was at chest height for the elves.

"How come?" Harry asked. He thought back to his time at Longbottom manor and realised that he had never seen Bolly eating with them at mealtimes. He wanted to rationalise the fact as being due to not being used to seeing and interacting with house-elves, but he had the funny feeling that there was something else behind the absence of his usual observational skills.

"It be the way of the elfses," Tolly replied. "Elfses be serving wizardses and elfses cannot be doing this if elfses bes sitting around. Elfses also be eating at different times to wizardses and eats different food. Elfses would not be good dinner companions for wizardses and wizardses would not be good dinner companions for elfses."

"Mipsy eats when young wizardses must be sleeping," the female elf offered.

"What about drinks?" Harry followed up. "Would you be happy to drink with a wizard?"

"Elves be happy to drink the mountain water when wizardses be awake," Mipsy said.

"Then how about we drink together? It doesn't feel fair for only me to have a drink while we talk."

Tolly and Mipsy bowed their heads towards Harry. Three streams of liquid fell towards the table, each perfectly clear. Where they landed, the liquid flowed together, gathering in the shape of a shallow bowl. Not a bowl was in sight, however, and Harry marvelled at the magic demonstrated. Tolly and Mipsy held their drinks with both hands and tipped them to sip from the edge. Harry followed suit, the drink feeling cool to the touch and, when drunk, refreshing beyond measure.

"Thank you for introducing me to that," Harry said with wonder. "I'm not sure I'll ever drink anything that nice again."

"Mister Harry sir be most welcome."

"So why do you serve wizards? Is the pay good? What do elves do if they're not serving wizards?" Mipsy pulled at her ears when Harry mentioned getting paid. "Sorry, did I say something wrong?"

"Elfses not be wanting pay, Mister Harry sir," Tolly said, shaking his head. "Elfses enjoy serving wizardses and other magical beings, but wizardses be best for elfses."

"I don't understand. I had to serve my aunt and uncle when I was younger and I didn't get paid, but I hated it."

"But elfses must serve," Mipsy said quickly. "Elfses don't be making magic like wizardses be making. Elfie magic be coming from wizardses and magical beings, so elfses make sure to be around wizardses and magical beings. If elfses help wizardses, wizardses helps elfses. Happiest wizardses makes happiest elfses."

"Elfses got elfie magic from nature before wizardses, but nature magic be less now. Wizardses be making strongest bonds."

"So have you all made bonds with Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked. If Dumbledore had a veritable army of house-elves, he must have a lot of magic to give them.

"Hogwarts elfses be getting magic from the school mostly. Hogwarts be a very special place. Elfses only be getting a small bit of magic from wizardses in the school when elfses be serving," Tolly explained. "Dinner is being a good time for the elfses."

"You'll always have my gratitude for the wonderful food you make," Harry said, making the two elves beam with pride. "What sort of things do you like doing best?" An idea was slowly forming from where the conversation was going. After the elves confirmed that they were happy to do almost anything to serve, from fetching things and cleaning to keeping secrets and guarding, it was cemented in his mind. He was mindful of how to form his next question. "How does someone find an elf and begin this sort of relationship?"

"Mister Harry sir should not be trying to bond with any elfses without speaking to Master Dumbles. This be very important." Tolly fixed Harry with a stern look. Harry raised his hands placatingly.

"No worries, I promise. I'll always take your advice as you're the experts. Would you be able to arrange a meeting with Professor Dumbledore as I'd be very interested to hear what he has to say."

The house-elves looked relieved and pleased, and were more than happy to carry on the conversation with Harry. All in all, it was a pleasant and informative conversation which ended in a huge platter of mouthwatering sausage sandwiches. It was a nice change to not have to be so on guard with what he was saying.

#

From what little he knew of the oversized groundskeeper, Hagrid didn't get involved in politics of any sort. Thus it was that Harry was rather looking forward to visiting him, despite the rapidly dropping temperatures. Indeed, he wasn't expecting a welcome that was as frigid as the air, Hagrid peering through a crack in the door as he refused Harry entry.

"Sorry, Harry," he said, clearly flustered, "I'm in no fit state ter entertain today." There was a sheen of sweat on his forehead, what little of it could be seen through his wild hair.

"Oh, are you ill?" Harry enquired.

"Ah - no - I mean - ah - well…" It struck Harry that Hagrid was being shifty. He'd had nearly a full two weeks of exclusion from the common room by this point and, though he still had his closest friends, he had reached the end of his tether.

"Look," Harry said hotly, "I don't know what's up, but right now I don't think it would bother me if you had a dead body in there with you. If you wanted to cancel, you should have sent an owl. I never knew my parents were friends with such inconsiderate people." He paused, sighed, then turned away. "I never knew my parents were friends with anyone," he finished quietly.

"Harry!" Hagrid called with obvious emotion. "Look, Harry, I'm sorry. I didn' mean ter be rude. It's a… difficult time right now, but I guess I can trust yeh?" This last utterance had the inflection of a question, so Harry decided to answer it as such.

"Of course, sir. If you could trust my parents, you can trust me." He knew he was laying it on a bit thick, but he was done with being turned away. He assured himself that he wouldn't normally be so pushy and would be more accomodating.

Hagrid waved off Harry calling him 'sir' again and let him into his hut. Harry saw that he was wearing an apron; he had probably been making dinner. As Harry crossed the threshold, he was relieved to no longer feel the cold, though this relief was short-lived.

"Merlin, can we open a window or something?" Harry was pleased with his incorporation of wizarding idioms.

"No!" Hagrid said quickly. "Sorry, no, I need the heat. I'd love ter open a window if I could - I'm swelterin' 'ere - I hope yeh understand." Harry looked around at the roaring fire and saw a huge egg within the flames.

"Sure," Harry said with a smile. "We can go outside ourselves every so often to cool down. How about that?" Hagrid was a big man; it stood to reason that he'd need a big egg for his dinner, and a big egg likely needed more heat to cook. Simple science.