Harry Potter Singer
For those of you are confused by my note at the end. Ancient Chinese is called that at least according to encyclopedia britannica. It is a different language than mandarin. I don't know that I will have HArry and Daphne get together honestly when I started writing this I had envisioned her with Dean and Harry with Bella Talbot.
The last day of the vacation was the same day Harry would be leaving for Hogwarts. They make sure they are at the platform with plenty of time to spare and Harry walks through the pillar about a half hour before the train leaves giving himself plenty of time to get himself settled on the train. He finds an empty compartment and stores his trunk. He then proceeds to grab one of the books he is reviewing for the upcoming year.
Daphne had never had many friends she was always so different from the other girls in her social circle. She didn't simply want to get married and improve the family standing; she wanted to do something with her life. She wasn't sure what that something was yet but something. Then her dad had signed up for that ridiculous mentor thing and everything changed. This family had appeared to be uneducated and all manor of just wrong but then her preconceived notions got flipped on their head this family that dressed weird and seemed so very out of place began talking to the goblins in their own language. Then she found out the kid they where going to be mentoring was Harry Potter and that he was doing magic beyond masteries because "They where simply the books we had acquired" and the way he said it like it didn't matter. This was certainly not the person she had expected when she wrote those letters all those years ago asking for him to take her on those adventures she had read so much about.
Now she gets to begin Hogwarts and make new friends of all the new exciting people. Hopefully Harry will continue to talk to her and not distance himself now that he is going to be regarded as a celebrity by everyone. She boards the express and begins passively looking for Harry she can't make it obvious that would be counterproductive. She does find him in a cabin all alone she knocks and asks if she can join him. He smiles and responds in the affirmative even getting up to put her trunk on the shelf.
When they sit down he puts his bookmark in his book and they begin to get to know each other better. A few minutes later the train starts going and its here that she catches sight of the book itself and she has no idea what it is. "What book where you reading before I got here?"
Harry shrugs "It's a key of solomon. This one is about runic arrays in magical foci."
She stares at him dumbfounded for a minute before she gets back to herself "How many of those do you have? They are said to be very rare and I don't think I have ever actually seen one."
Harry shrugs "Dad collects all manner of old books. I think we have 7 currently and are looking for more. It's part of why I am learning so many languages."
Its at that moment the door is rudely opened up and a blonde kid flanked by to kids who must be either half giant or half troll Harry wasn't sure which yet began speaking "Miss Greengrass I was most saddened to hear of your fathers actions about this whole mentor thing its most unbecoming of someone of his standing. You who are you and why do you dare interact with the Heiress to ancient and noble family?"
Harry simply looks at him tilts his head like he is examining the boy before him and responds "Daphne here can defend herself but seeing as she is a lady it's my honor to defend her. She can talk to whoever she wants, you are not her keeper. As for her fathers actions, well they do mirror the rest of the rest of the world so I don't know the issue as it is the responsibility of those who lead the people to be moving them forward in the world. As to who I am well my name Harry Singer."
Draco scoffs at what was just said to him "So a mudblood then and worse an American. You have no idea how things work around here so I will forgive you this slight just remember that here Mudblood filth like yourself are and forever will be below us pure bloods."
Harry stares at him with calculating eyes before he starts laughing "Wow they still have those silly labels here I would have thought after Voldemort was killed they would have pushed to eradicate them as they have led to the last two dark Lords in Europe clearly though I was wrong. Perhaps I will have to stay in England and drag it forward kicking and screaming or perhaps I will simply invite all those who are not blood bigots to abandon England to its inevitable end."
Draco is getting angry now "Don't talk about things you can't begin to understand."
Harry looks at him "Leave now and don't bother me or my friends again or we will have problems and we will duel and I will destroy you."
Draco leaves in a huff. After he leaves Daphne and Harry settle into an easy conversation for awhile. After awhile there is a knock on the door and Daphne goes to open it. When she does she was not prepared for what she saw. Before her was a girl that was in tears. "Can I sit in here with you guys? I was just thrown out of my compartment." she says between tears. Harry feals his anger flush HArry and Daphne look at each other and nod.
"Of course come in and tell us about yourself." Daphne says leading her to a seat next to her.
"Thanks. I am Hermione Granger a muggle born. HErmione says while trying to stop the tears and put herself back together.
"I am Harry Singer, American and over there blood status isn't relevant."
"I am Daphne Greengrass, Pureblood but I don't care for blood purity."
Hermione smiles and they begin talking and getting to know each other. After a time the trolly comes and Harry buys everyone lunch not hearing any objections. "It's my honor as a gentleman to do what I can to take care of my friends."
After lunch is finished Harry broaches the subject he had wanted to for awhile but had put it off for fear of scaring her away. "The guy who threw you out of your compartment, he was blonde and flanked by trolls?"
Hermione nods "Yeah how did you know?"
Harry shakes his head "He came by and tried to cause issues here. I'll be back ladies. I have an asshole to challenge to a duel." With that Harry stands up and leaves
Once Harry is out of the door Hermione looks at Daphne and asks "He is going to do what?"
Daphne smiles "He is going to challenge Malfoy to a duel. Basically it's a fight based on honor. Draco, the blonde ponce, dare not refuse especially if he uses the American style of challenge."
Hermione nods "Can he win? What are the differences in style?"
Daphne smiles at her curiosity "I suppose it depends on the rules they agree on but based off what I know I would take Harry against any student at Hogwarts and perhaps some of the teachers. AS for styles well from what my dad said each continent has their own style at least of enacting duels. Europe typically they are done through intermediaries, Asia I am not sure, Africa they spit on the face of those challenged, America well they tend to favor old fashioned things he likely will hit him and draw blood."
Hermione is stunned by this "He is really that far ahead?"
Daphne begins explaining what she knows about Harry.
Harry meanwhile is searching for Draco Malfoy. He finds him a few cars ahead and opens the door. "Draco you couldn't even make it to Hogwarts before you ran afoul of me." Harry steps in ignoring the faces of those in the car. When he is in front of Draco he backhands him hard enough to knock him to the floor. "We will have a duel after the sorting in front of the entire school. At that point I will determine how much I shall destroy you. If you refuse I reserve the right to strip you of all titles and money due to extreme cowardice." Harry then turns and walks out leaving a group of stunned people in the car.
When Harry makes it back to his friends he finds them smiling and laughing this brings a smile to his face as he stands in the doorframe simply watching. After whole they see him and wave him over to sit. "So you really challenged him to a duel?" Daphne asked
Harry smiles "Of course and I will indeed destroy him. AS long as he is not fragile I won't kill him. If he refuses I get everything and he is ruined that way so I win no matter what he decides to do."
Daphne has a concerned look on her face "Lord Malfoy is not someone who should be taken lightly be careful."
Harry nods "I will be. If he starts making issues then I will simply ask you all to come with me and we will go behind wards that he can not break down no matter how hard he tries. Just to be safe though I want the two of you to have these." He reaches into his trunk and pulls out two matching Bowie Knives. He hands them over.
Hermione takes hers and immediately pulls it out like a person who knows what they are doing. Daphne looks at it like she is unsure what to do. After Hermione puts hers away she looks at Harry "This one looks very different than the ones I am used to. My dad grew up in America and after his time in the service stayed over here. He taught me some basic stuff."
Harry smiles at this "Its silver with different runes carved into it to make it better and more effective. Daphne its a Bowie Knife think of it like a multi purpose tool to go with your wand when your to close to cast spells."
Daphne nods and puts it in her bag not really sure what to do with it. "We should likely get in our Hogwarts robes it won't be long now until we are there."
They all stand up and get changed. It's here that the girls get a decent look at HArry and see how much muscle he already has. After he puts his shirt back on he begins arming himself with knives in boots behind the belt and so on. The girls look at him like he is crazy. "Harry, why do you carry so many weapons on your person?" Hermione asks.
Harry turns and with a solem face "My parents where murdered when I was a year old and after that I became a celebrity and honestly I am not sure how safe I will be here given people like Malfoy got out of a death sentence with payoffs."
Hermione nods and in an attempt to change the topic asks "So what House do you guys think you'll end up in?"
Daphne responds "I will either be in Slytherin or Ravenclaw depends on if my ambition out rules my want to know more."
Harry nods "That makes sense. Honestly I have no idea I could go anywhere. I mean Loyalty and Hard Work those should be traits we all pursue. Bravery in the face of danger, a want to question the known and find improvement, the ambition to see the world changed. We will see."
Hermione looks pensive at that "I was going to say Gryffindor since it's supposed to be the best house but Ravenclaw is supposed to be for those who want knowledge right?"
Harry and Daphne nods before Harry responds "I don't know that there is a best house beyond the one thats best for you. For instance it sounds like Daphne would struggle in Gryffindor and you might struggle in Slytherin that doesn't make them bad, just wrong for those people."
Hermione nods at this "That actually makes a bunch of sense. Yeah I guess Ravenclaw is likely the best for me then."
After a few more minutes the train arrives and they disembark and find their way over to the boats. They end up sharing the boat with Susan Bones who seems to be a nice enough young lady. After they get off the boats and are handed off to Proffesor Mcgonagall. Harry quickly approaches and asks for a minute of her time. After she agrees they step away and Harry informs her of the imminent duel between himself and Draco Malfoy after the sorting. "I know its not my place to tell you how things are going to happen but due to Draco Malfoy's inability to keep his views to himself he has brought on a duel. I did warn him before issuing it and he ignored my warning."
Mcgonagall nods "Very well the challenge has been issued and can not be rescinded."
After awhile the sorting starts and for awhile it goes according the books. Until Hermione she goes to Ravenclaw followed swiftly by Daphne. Finally it's Harry's turn and as his name is called out the whole hall goes quite as Harry approaches the hat. He is placed in Ravenclaw as well. After the hat is done and everyone is sorted Albus Dumbldore stands up to address the assembled students "It is not often we have confrontations that end in a duel called however we had one called on the train today. Mr. Singer challenged Mr. Malfoy. How does Mr. Malfoy respond?"
With that said the hall goes deathly quite a duel hasn't been called on school grounds in over 50 years. Draco stands up "Why should I the heir to the Malfoy line a pureblood and a member of the Black family waste my time on an American Mudblood. I decline."
This gets the whole school rilled up after all that is HArry Potter the Boy Who Lived. Albus finally gets the room to quiet down before looking at Severus Snape "As he is a member of your house you can over rule his decision do you wish to discuss this with Mr. Singer?"
Severus nods "Mr. Singer what was the cause for the duel and what did you ask for if he should refuse?"
Harry stands up "I reserved the right to strip him of all titles and moneys and brand him a coward. As for what the offense was he assaulted a young lady and threatened another as well as myself."
The whole hall begins murmuring between themselves keeping it quite. Severus stands up "Very well he accepts I override his denial of the duel for lack of justifiable cause. As you issued the challenge I shall set the rules and they are as follows: nothing lethal or that will cause permanent physical harm also spells only I know you Americans tend to not have that rule so I will state it."
Harry nods "I accept these rules I do however ask that he still be branded a coward for you having to override his decision. I will allow him to retain his titles and money"
Severus nods "He shall be named Draco the coward from this day forth until such a time as he earns a new title. So mote it be. I ask that Professor Flitwick stand in as judge he has proven to be neutral and as a former dueling master he is the one best served to judge."
Harry nods "I agree to the judge and the rules." and with that he walks to the front between the tables and the staff table. Draco is summoned by his head of house to the front.
Albus and the other members of the staff rearrange the tables so that all can view the duel. Flitwick gets up and ensures both have a wand before beginning the duel. Draco is first to act and cast a minor cutting spell HArry catches it with his hand stares it for a second then redirects it to the floor. Harry casts a blue spell that no one is quite sure what it does until it hits Draco and he goes still as a board and stares off into space. Harry then walks over and grabs Draco's wand from his hand. Thus ending the duel. Harry then ends the spell he cast on Draco and Draco looks terrified as though he has seen hell on earth.
