The next few weeks were a bit rough. Naturally he suffered some lingering pain and soreness from his injuries for the first week or so. Also, during that week waking up had become a hassle due to Nymphdora constantly occupying his bed due to her nightmares. This is disregarding the few times she actually falls asleep in her own room then come to his in the middle of the night. But knowing his friend needed the reassurance he dealt with it.
By the second week Nymphdora has mostly dealt with her short-lived trauma and moved back to her own room much to Harry's secret relief. Amelia and the other girls held their own worries, but they were much easier to convince. He still had to make room for when Nymphdora stole half his bed the odd night or two. In an effort to help Daphne had spent a few nights with both Harry and Nymphdora citing when she woke to two of her friends it would add that extra layer of safety and comfort. Harry couldn't really argue the logic and made room for Daphne. Despite her being there to support Nymphdora the girl decided that Harry would have to stuck between the two.
There were a few mornings where it became glaringly obvious that Harry was still definitely a hot-blooded male. Nymphdora would smirk and tease him endless completely ignoring the small blush that was practically melting her face. It was only thanks to her metamorph powers it didn't show that much. Daphne on the other hand was trying to look anywhere that wasn't at him while her face flamed crimson. The few times he managed a glimpse of her face she held a rather large smirk and a sort of smug satisfaction in her eyes. Harry for his part realized there wasn't much he could do besides make it weird or just accept his fate and subsequently their endless teasing.
Naturally he debated the former just so everyone could suffer a bit, eventually conceding to the latter. It was a week before school started back up and Harry had just got back from a checkup at St. Mungos. He had this nagging suspicion that he was forgetting something important. It was a talk at dinner that evening that reminded him of what he forgot.
"How was your day at work Auntie?" Susan asked as Amelia sat down to eat.
"Absolutely troublesome. I swear some people are just idiots, especially Bagman. I mean really what is he thinking asking for..." Amelia cut off her sentence realizing she technically wasn't allowed to tell them anything.
For Harry that did not matter for as soon as he heard the name Bagman, he remembered his deal with the twins. Immediately he drafts a letter asking to talk to them day after school starts about their bet and how to go about handling. Harry briefly mentions his injuries promising he can explain more later. With his letter finish he sent it off with Susan's owl. He got his reply the next morning telling him that the twins would set up a meeting once they knew their schedules. With that knowledge Harry allowed himself to fully relax till it was time to leave for school.
It was finally September 1st. Harry and the girls were all at the platform a good bit early due to Amelia needed to go to work sooner. Amelia had told Harry to go grab them a compartment as she needed to have lady talk of sorts. Harry ever the brave alpha male quickly ran to the empty train in what he would forever reference as a tactical retreat.
For Amelia her talk was rather short as it mostly only applied to two of the three girls.
"All right girls you're all around that age where you start getting curious about boys and stuff. I'm not here to tell you not too just to remind you to be careful and take precautions. I also feel like I should tell you guys to go easy on Harry as he is a bit more clueless about that kind of stuff. Susan this mostly doesn't apply to you and Harry but any other boy the advice still stands." She concluded.
Susan took the advice for what it was and said her goodbyes and left. Daphne and Nymphdora on the other hand seemed to just realize that Amelia implied they would do sexual things with Harry. Scorching blushes engulfed both their faces. It wasn't that they were against the idea, if anything he would be the first pick simply because he was the only guy the comfortably knew at that level. They were mostly embarrassed that they somewhat admitted they'd had such thoughts no matter how scarcely it happened. Both recovered after a few moments and rushed off after Susan. When they caught up to Susan she was in the doorway of a compartment. Upon looking over her shoulder they noticed what Harry had done to the compartment he chose for them all.
Simply put Harry had expanded the inside of the compartment giving them all way more leg room. He also added two bean bag chairs to the floor knowing Daphne was rather fond of her bean bag chair at Susan's house. He also transfigured the benches to be softer. The girls all looked at him with pride in their eyes at their friend's talent. Harry not knowing how to deal with such positive emotions simply blushes and looks out of the window. The girls quickly take their seats giving Harry a chance to relax.
The twins stopped by to quickly say hi but left rather abruptly. They said they had something important to put together. Not long after that Harry began to drift off to sleep. Daphne had taken the seat next to him on the bench gracefully resting her feet in his lap. Nymphdora had claimed the bean bag in front of Harry and proceeded to tease him about Malfoy's alleged man crush on the last potter. Harry cast a light sleeping charm on her. Once asleep he settled for petty revenge and simply took his shoes off and stuck his feet in her face to smell when she woke up. Susan had fallen asleep reading one of the course books for the year.
Suddenly the door slams open. This jolts Nymphdora awake, as she jumps up, she accidentally shoves Harry's socked foot into her mouth. Everyone froze even Malfoy was stunned into silence which was rare enough for celebration later. Slowly anger built in Nymphdora's face acting quickly before she can blow up at him, he takes his foot out of her mouth, and takes off his other sock. He then gets up and stands in front of Draco whose mouth is gaping in shock and confusion. Before he could react, Harry shoved his sock into Malfoy's mouth pushed his chin up and close and locked the door on him. Nymphdora's anger finally erupts breaking the tension in the cabin. She tackles Harry to the ground intent on beating him senseless with the other bean bag chair. The whole time she was yelling at him that if he ever put his foot in her mouth again that she would shove her foot so far up his ass that he would choke on her toes. It's with a small grimace that Harry realizes out of all of them Nymphdora is the one most likely to do exactly as she said no matter how tough it could be to accomplish. He quickly swears against any form of retaliation, and she promptly releases him.
Daphne notices that they're approaching Hogsmeade and that they should change into uniform. As such Harry grabbed his house robes to toss on over his current clothes and stepped out. Upon reentering the cabin, he takes note of Susan's and Nymphdora's yellow badgers and Daphne's green snake. He then looks down at his own blue eagle. The girls notice and they all think back to the day they met.
-FLASHBACK-
Harry had just stepped on to the platform. He quickly realized how empty it was. As he was about to set off for the train, he noticed a girl. She was standing off to the side staring in awe at the train, her hair cycling through color as fast as he can blink. Before he knows it, Harry is blatantly staring as this girl. Eventually she takes notice and is quite peeved at his staring. He realizes said girl is glaring at him asking him what he wants.
"Your hair, it was..." It was as far as he got with an answer before the girl got defensive.
"Don't worry about my hair you pervert." The girl snapped waspishly.
Harry took a full step back at the venom in her voice backing up right into the girl that had just crossed the barrier. Said girl was smaller and lighter than him so she hit the pavement. She looked up quite confused at what happened. Before Harry could do anything the rainbow haired girl butted in.
"Wow so not only do you stare at girls like a pervert you knock them to the floor as well you jerk!" the girl hissed at him.
"Wait, what no that's not..I didn't mean..it was an accident..." Harry fumbled his words sitting down in confusion.
Harry honestly didn't know how this could get any worse. Rainbow hair was glaring at him like he was evil incarnate, like his mere existence was an affront to every female ever. For some reason his eyes lit up in mild amusement at her dislike for him. The other girl was still mostly confused and sitting there till it made sense. Unfortunately, Harry's luck was meant to be as another girl came practically waltzing through the barrier only to trip over Harry sitting on the ground. The new girl let out a small yelp of surprise and landed on top of Harry. The redhead looked even more confused, and rainbow hair was practically foaming at the mouth ready to call him all sorts of things like a molester for starters. The new girl sat up yet not getting off of Harry and looked around at what happened. She realized she tripped over a boy sitting on the floor, noticing she was still atop him she squeaked in embarrassment and jumped off him.
"Ow that hurt." Harry shallowly groaned.
Rainbow hair practically growled at him.
He stood up quickly grabbing his trunk and apologized "I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare I was just fascinated about how your hair was changing color. I'm also sorry for knocking you down and tripping you up. it was truly all an accident." and with that he walked away disappearing onto the train.
At that time the rainbow haired girl had recognized the redhead as her friend Susan Bones. Likewise, Susan recognized her friend Nymphdora. The two hug and walked toward the train together. The last girl had already left. Coincidentally she ended in the same compartment as Harry. not that he noticed with his face in a book. Although she too had her face planted in a book. Their train ride was rather quiet and peaceful just how he liked it.
Eventually they reached Hogwarts. Harry appreciated the view from the boats, but he wasn't awestruck by it. It was the same thing in the great hall. Harry had recognized the girls from this morning. He was content to have a name to put to a face. Harry also learned that the girl he rode the train with was one Daphne Greengrass. He found her last name a bit odd, but she seemed pleasant enough to be around. Soon his name was called, and it was his turn to be sorted.
Harry slowly walked up to the stool with a calculating look in his eye. When the hat was put on his head he barely flinched at the voice in his head.
"Oh, interesting very interesting. I've not seen someone like you ever. Mm difficult very difficult to place. Very cunning and moderately ambitious. Extremely hard-working. Yet only loyal to those who have earned your respect. And it seems like your respect is quite difficult to earn. Definitely brave. So many variables to consider." rasped the hat inside his head.
Meanwhile Harry was coming to realize he was a hat stall. He also had no idea when the stupid hat would make a decision either. With this the hat spoke up again.
"Oh ho, stupid hat eh? Well, you'd definitely do well in Gryffindor with a pair of kahunas like that. Yet personally I think you could succeed greatly in Slytherin. Hufflepuff is out due to you not being very trusting per se. I guess there is still Ravenclaw but I'm most definitely leaning towards Slytherin."
"Put me in Ravenclaw." Harry asked of the hat.
"Ravenclaw eh. Hmm yes it could work. Might I ask why you wish for Ravenclaw?"
Harry thought for a moment before answering. " It's rather simple isn't?" Harry asked the hat. "You yourself already ruled out Hufflepuff. That leaves the other three houses. I've heard of the Slytherin/Gryffindor rivalry, and I don't particularly care for it either. Plus, it feels like the public expect me to be Gryffindor. But that was immediately cause rifts between any potential Slytherin friends and allies. Same thing vice versa. So ideally Ravenclaw becomes the default choice that leaves all options open to me while still keeping the attention low towards myself. That would be the logical choice, wouldn't it?" Harry finished.
The hat was quiet for a moment processing Harry's argument. It started out softly but before Harry knew the hat was laughing out loud, the sound echoing through the great hall. This caused a lot of confusion due to Harry being a hat stall and making the ancient hat laugh. When the hat got control of itself it spoke up for the final time.
"Yes, cunning indeed. Ambition, bravery and grit all in spades. Yet a mind ruled by logic and facts. Yes, Ravenclaw indeed. You might be cunning with your planning. You might be brave and bold enough to attempt your plans. Yet you don't so much as form a plan without enough knowledge. Yes, better be...RAVENCLAW!" the hat yelled the final word out loud.
With that proclamation the hall erupted into noise some clapping other complaining their house didn't get potter. What Harry didn't know as he took a seat at the end of the Ravenclaw table is that he now held the record for the longest hat stall ever. Previously Dumbledore held the record at just over four and a half minutes. Harry's hat stall was just shy of eight minutes.
-END FLASHBACK-
When Harry is pulled out of his memories, he realizes he ignored the entire feast as it's now time for bed. He couldn't reach Susan or Nymphdora so he gave them a curt wave as throngs of students exit the hall. Daphne sidles up next to him and bumps him with her shoulder. upon gaining his attention she gives him a small smirk and wink telling him to not be late tomorrow morning. With a small over-exaggerated sigh knowing that with tomorrow being Saturday the girl would wake up early track him down, drag him to the kitchens and give him the 'puppy dog eye' look till he caved and made them breakfast. He never minded cooking for them but sometimes they could be absolute slave drivers in wanting his cooking.
It's with this in mind that he immediately gets ready for sleep upon entering his single dorm. Harry figures he can stuff the girls so full at breakfast it'll leave him time to go find the twins letting them work out their deal and cause untold chaos. Regardless he was tired and those were problems for the morning, so he turned out his light and quickly fell asleep.
AN: cool theyre back at school. ill have to double check my outline but within the next two chapters we should get around to halloween and the tournament drawing.
I also saw someone request i make this a Harry/Daphne pairing. I have no qualms about that pairing but i truly haven't decided yet and i think i'm just going to let the story flow its natural course and let the pairing choose itself. tbh all his options aren't even on the board yet.
another thing i struggled to pick what house to put harry in because truly it has next to zero impact on my story and basically blindly threw a dart at the board and it landed ravenclaw
anyway once again hope its enjoyable
