Disclaimer: I own none of the things you already know of.
Harry Potter and the Smallest Change.
Chapter 19. Fourth Year, Part 1. 1994.
The next day, Harry sat in a compartment of the Hogwarts Express with Holly sitting beside him in the window seat. She watched the scenery pass by while listening to the conversation in the carriage.
Susan sat on Harry's other side. She smiled as she chatted in quiet tones with Hannah about their summers. Opposite Harry sat Ginny, Luna, and Daphne.
Harry smiled as he watched Daphne and Luna huddle together, both reading an article in the Quibbler. He held in a chuckle at the thought of the 'Ice Queen of Slytherin' and 'Loony Lovegood' being so close.
He loved his friends and was glad to see Susan smile after the events of the previous year. Holly had recovered somewhat as well, but it was Susan who was actively spending time with friends. Both girls still stayed by his side as often as possible and neither was comfortable with sudden movements, but they were improving.
Harry let out a contented sigh, drawing Holly's gaze. She quirked an eyebrow, and Harry smiled at the expression. So like their mother.
He sighed again and smiled, leaning into her ear.
'We have a great group of friends.' He whispered, and she smirked.
'Of course we do, it's because we don't have any stupid boys, except for you.' Her eyes shone with mirth, and he huffed.
Susan patted his leg absently while continuing her conversation with Hannah.
Harry frowned and noticed both Daphne and Ginny trying not to look him in the eye, hiding grins. He huffed again, drawing chuckles from the girls.
'Oh, get over yourself and open the door, there's been someone standing out there trying to get in for a few minutes.' Holly laughed and Harry turned to the door and saw silhouettes of three people, though he couldn't tell who it was.
He stood and moved to the door. He opened it to see Neville on the other side, the boy wore a smug grin. Behind the Boy-Who-Lived stood Ronald, who appeared equally smug. Off to the side stood an awkward-looking Hermione.
Harry rolled his eyes at Neville.
'Hello Brother, anything I can help you with this morning?' he asked, and Neville's cheeks turned red for a moment before the smug smirk returned.
'Are you going to enter Potter?' Neville asked and Harry blinked, cocking his head to the side.
'What are you talking about?' Harry asked, and Neville's smirk grew wider, mirrored by Ronald's.
'Oh, I'm sorry. I almost let the secret out. We shouldn't tell any of the lesser Houses about events they aren't important enough to know about.' Neville sneered before he looked past Harry at Daphne, eyeing her up and down.
'I finally understand why you keep the snake around.' Neville added.
Harry clenched his jaw and leaned in close to Neville's ear.
'You're getting very close to annoying me, Brother. You need to leave, now, or not even Hermione asking me to help you will convince me the next time something tries to kill you.' Harry whispered, and Neville paled before Harry closed the door in front of his face.
Harry turned back to the girls and sighed.
'I'm sorry for opening the door, I should have known better.' He said as he moved toward his seat, where Holly patted for him to sit.
Once he took his seat, Holly smiled at him.
'You handled that better than I thought you would.' She said, and her gaze flitted to Daphne, who looked uncomfortable.
Harry leaned forward in his seat and took Daphne's hands in his.
'I'm sorry I didn't take further action on Neville after his behaviour.' He said, his voice soft.
She gave him a weak smile.
'It's okay, it's just that, I wonder if that's what everyone thinks?' she whispered.
Harry blinked for a moment before shaking his head. He gave her a smile.
'We've been friends for a long time. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. What is important is what you think, and your friends, but mostly you.' He said, and she smiled up at him and nodded.
He let go of her hands and she leaned back in her seat and Luna put a small hand on her leg, along with a smile that Daphne returned.
An hour later the compartment door opened to reveal a smug Draco as the boy pushed his way into the small area, Crabbe, and Goyle beside him.
Harry rolled his eyes and met Draco's gaze.
'Hey Draco, did you already hear about Longbottom boasting that he would? Honestly, who goes around telling everyone on the train? I guess that's why he'd never be a Slytherin, right?' Harry said before Draco opened his mouth.
Draco froze, his eyes narrowed before he turned on the spot and rushed away, down the corridor, his two friends close on his heels.
With a wave of his hand, Harry used wandless magic to close the door and released a sigh.
He turned to the girls.
'Does anybody know about this mysterious event that we keep hearing about?' he asked, and received a series of negative responses.
Susan sighed.
'I heard mum drop some hints something big was happening this year, something she wasn't happy with. But I think she had made vows about it, that's the only reason I can think of to explain why she didn't vent more to dad.' She said and Harry smiled at her, referring to them as her parents. It was a big step for her.
He frowned for a moment before he nodded. He couldn't remember anything about it, but he was distracted for most of the holidays.
Luna wore her, as usual for her, spaced out smile.
'I'm sure we'll find out soon, but it would be best to relax until then.' The small blonde said, and the compartment filled with shrugs as the inhabitants returned to their individual conversations. In Harry and Holly's case, a nap. Her head on his shoulder and his head resting on hers.
Harry woke up as they approached Hogsmeade and together, the group went up to the castle where they went to their respective House tables for one of the few times a year where they could not sit together.
After dinner ended, Dumbledore stood at the centre of the head table, and the Great Hall fell silent. From Harry's spot at the table, he saw Draco's smirk grow wide and opposite him, he saw Hannah scowling toward the Gryffindor table. He assumed Neville wore much the same expression as Draco by her scowl.
He hadn't noticed during dinner, but there were unfamiliar faces up at the head table. A severe looking man with a small moustache, and a rotund, jovial looking man who looked like he was once quite fit.
Harry frowned at the man. He looked familiar.
Along with the two unnamed people, there was a man Harry recognised from the holidays, Mad-Eye Moody. He mentally berated himself for not noticing the new potential threats until now. Obviously, his training with the paranoid Auror hadn't stuck quite as well as Harry had thought.
Dumbledore opened his arms wide to the school, welcoming them without words.
'I would like to welcome our newest students to our wonderful school.' He paused and looked down at the first years sitting at every house table.
'But I have a large announcement to make. Hogwarts will not be holding its Quidditch Cup this year-' the Headmaster was interrupted by a sizable portion of the student body booing him.
Harry blinked; he hadn't thought the announcement merited that sort of response. But then, he didn't care too much about school Quidditch.
Dumbledore nodded and smiled down at the almost rioting students, patting the air with his hands.
'Now, now, quiet now. That's not all.' He said, and the Hall quietened after a few moments.
'Instead of the Quidditch Cup, Hogwarts will host the Triwizard Tournament.' He announced, and Harry was sure he could hear crickets in the distance.
'The Triwizard Tournament is a competition first started around seven hundred years ago. Since then, there have been many times it was hosted by Hogwarts. It involves three schools of magic, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang.' Dumbledore paused and whispers erupted among the crowd.
Harry's only thought was whether he might see Fleur this year.
'This competition is intended to foster international relations and to broaden your horizons. The world is much larger than Britain, this competition will prove that.' The Headmaster smiled around the Hall before he gestured to the two unknown faces who sat at the staff table.
'We have guests this year who will oversee the day to day running of the Tournament. Let me introduce Bartemius Crouch and Ludo Bagman. The two will be joined by the Heads of the three schools as judges.' Dumbledore said and Harry realised who the rotund man was, the announcer from the Quidditch World Cup.
'There has not been a Tournament since 1792, where the judges were injured, and all three Champions died. I stress this point to you all, this competition will be dangerous and not for the faint of heart.' The Headmaster let that settle for a moment before continuing.
'However, winning the Cup will award you one thousand Galleons and eternal glory. Not to mention showing the wizarding world that Hogwarts is the Premier school of magic in Europe.' Dumbledore said with a slight grin.
Harry rolled his eyes at the silence in the room as the students digested the information given to them.
He leant over to Susan beside him.
'Why are they hosting such a dangerous competition? If adults, professionals, were doing it, that could be interesting, but students? It makes no sense.' He hissed, and Susan rolled her eyes at him.
'Even though we were raised as Heirs and Heiresses of our Houses, your mother's influence gave us a perspective most magicals don't share. Logic. Of course, it doesn't make sense, it's a death sport for children. But magicals have a logic sized blind spot.' She explained, and Harry nodded.
'Are you willing to bet that Neville will find himself in the Tournament?' he asked, and she scoffed.
'It's almost a guarantee, each year he's been here, he's been in the thick of a plot to kill him, except for last year.' She said.
Harry fell quiet and squeezed her thigh under the table. She gave him a small smile and sighed.
The room burst into noise and both Harry and Susan looked up, blinking at the sudden outcry.
They both turned to Hannah, who huffed.
'There's going to be an age line put around the Goblet of Fire and only those seventeen and older can enter.' Hannah explained, and Harry turned back to Susan.
'Are you sure you don't want to take that bet after all?' he asked, and she narrowed her eyes before shaking her head.
'Neville will still find a way in.' Susan admitted and Harry chuckled, figuring she was right.
The Headmaster sent them all to bed soon afterward.
Harry made his way into his dorm, but before he reached his bed, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
He turned and saw Justin Finch-Fletchley. The boy looked nervous.
'Harry?' Justin asked.
Harry blinked. This was the first time he'd ever really talked to any of the boys in his dorm.
'Justin? What's up? How was your holiday, after, well you know.' Harry asked.
Justin tensed, then let out a breath.
'Awkward.' Justin muttered.
Justin's gaze fell on Harry's desk and Harry led him to sit down, then took a seat on his bed, facing the other boy.
'I bet it was, after everything that happened. But is everything, okay?' Harry hesitated.
He didn't really know what to say to the boy.
Justin shrugged.
'My parents, they tend not to be in the same room as each other any more. Niether of them seemed to want to spend any time with me either, so I was alone for the most part over the summer.' Justin said, then looked up at Harry.
'I saw what Pettigrew did to you, he cast the Imperious Curse on you, and you shrugged it off. How?' Justin asked.
Harry shrugged.
'I'm not sure if I did, I have a bracelet that protects against mental intrusion. Did you want one too?' Harry asked.
Justin blinked.
'A-a bracelet protected you from the curse? But it's an unforgivable?' Justin said and Harry shrugged.
'I don't know what to say, its either that, or I'm somehow able to shake it off. But what I do know is that the bracelets worked for the girls.' Harry explained.
Justin stared at the floor for a few seconds.
'Whatever it costs, I want three of those bracelets. I'll do anything.' Justin whispered, his eyes still locked on the floor.
Harry smiled.
'No cost at all. My mum is going to make them to sell in her shop, but I'll make you three when I get a few moments. I assume the other two are for your parents?' Harry asked.
Justin nodded.
'Maybe, if they have these bracelets, they'll be able to talk to each other again.' Justin muttered.
Harry remained silent for a few seconds.
Justin shook himself.
'I'm sorry, I'll let you go to bed. Thank you Harry, for everything.' the boy said.
Harry nodded.
'Anytime Justin, sleep well.' Harry said.
Justin stood and moved to his own bed. Harry sighed and flopped down on his bed, he drew the curtains around him and warded the bed for silence and against intruders, much like his wards from the year before.
Harry checked his watch once he was set up inside his bed. It was eight thirty. He grinned and pulled out his ornate mirror.
'Fleur Delacour.' He said and a moment later, her face appeared on the surface of the mirror.
She beamed at him.
'I'm coming to Hogwarts this year.' She grinned, and Harry matched her grin with his own.
'I was just told as well, I'm so excited that we'll be able to spend most of a year together.' He said and couldn't help the happiness he felt at that moment.
'Were you told of the age restrictions?' she asked, and he nodded.
'Is your entire year coming, or just the people who want to compete?' he asked.
She grinned.
'The top twelve students will travel to Hogwarts to put their names in to compete. I will be in those twelve students and will, of course, be the Beauxbatons Champion.' She declared, and Harry gave her a soft smile.
'Do you know how the last Tournament ended?' he asked, and her face fell.
'The judges were injured, and the Champions died in the first task.' She said and took a breath.
'Do you think I shouldn't compete?' she asked, her voice soft.
Harry shook his head.
'You should do what you want to. If you compete, then I will do everything in my power to make you win.' He said, and she stared at him.
'Are you sure? Then Hogwarts wouldn't win?' she asked, and Harry laughed.
'I'd rather my best friend win.' He said, simply.
She blushed.
'Thank you, 'Arry.' She said, then narrowed her eyes at him.
'Are you going to enter? You might be able to with your time shenanigans.' She asked, and Harry laughed again.
'I have no interest in the competition. I'd rather spend my time getting good enough to protect those I care about. It would be hard to protect you if I were also competing with you.' He said, and she sighed.
'You're impossible.' She said and tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear.
Their conversation turned to other topics, and they talked long into the night until their drooping eyes forced them to go to sleep.
The next day, a Tuesday, started their classes. In the Great Hall at breakfast, both Neville, and Draco announced they would be a Champion, regardless of the age line. Their squabble erupted into spell fire a few moments later.
Draco fired a Tooth Enlarging curse at Neville, who deflected it. But he didn't pay attention to where it went, which resulted in Luna dodging out of the way and the spell hitting a fifth-year Ravenclaw girl whose back was turned.
Neville's return spell was a Flatulence Hex which Draco batted away into the Hufflepuff table.
Harry created a shield to absorb the spell before it hit anybody.
Harry sighed and stood from the table and before the Professors even left their table to intervene, he ended the fight.
A silent Stunner hit each boy, and both fell to the floor like puppets whose strings were cut. The Hall stared in shock at the two stunned boys, then at Harry.
He stood behind his seat and waited for the Professors to arrive. A few moments later, Professors McGonagall and Snape stopped in front of him, breathing hard.
'I apologise Professors.' He said, then gestured to the crying Fifth-year girl being soothed by Luna and the girl's other friends.
'I didn't want anyone else to suffer from the actions of these two.' He gestured vaguely toward the stunned forms of Draco and Neville.
Snape looked furious, but McGonagall spoke first.
'Admirable your reasons may be, you still attacked two students.' She said and Snape blinked, then stared at McGonagall as she glared at Harry.
Harry nodded.
'I'll accept any punishment you deem fit, assuming the other two suffer the same or worse. All I did was finish their fight, without harming innocents.' He declared.
A small smirk crossed Snape's face, which disappeared as soon as it came.
'Ten points for Hufflepuff for decisive action to protect innocents. But I'm taking twenty points from Hufflepuff for attacking fellow students.' Snape said and McGonagall blinked at the man before she let out a sigh.
She turned back to Harry and waved him away.
Harry nodded and sat back down in his seat and returned to his breakfast amid the stares of much of the school.
'You're now officially the centre of attention.' whispered Susan.
On Harry's other side sat Daphne, who shook her head and ran a hand through her long blonde hair.
'Harry, with that action, there are now three factions in contention for power in Hogwarts.' She said and Harry sighed.
'I don't care about any of that.' He said.
Holly groaned from across the table.
'Like it or not, you have some real influence in the school.' She said, and Harry huffed before he took a bite of toast.
He looked between the girls and shook his head.
'I can't be responsible for everyone. I already have enough on my plate with you guys.' He said, and they all smiled at him.
The clomping gait of Moody alerted the group to his presence, and he stopped behind Harry.
'Well done, Potter.' He growled before he stomped up to the head table and sat beside an uncomfortable looking Professor Sinistra.
A few minutes later, Professor Sprout gave out their timetables, and Harry enjoyed his breakfast before heading to class.
After the last class of the day ended, Harry pulled out the Marauders Map to check it, like he had done periodically throughout the day to check up on his friends. On it, he saw a new name, 'Bartemius Crouch'. The name moved through the castle at speed and Harry narrowed his eyes, thinking hard before the name's significance struck him.
But what was a Triwizard judge doing running around the castle? He shrugged, more surprised the old man could move that fast in the first place.
The first few days of classes went by without issue. Harry was far beyond his peers and, after completing the allotted task, he helped the others around him or did some self-study.
Their first class for Defence Against the Dark Arts on Friday did not follow the same trend.
Harry entered the class, which held Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students. He sat between Susan on his left and Justin, who sat on his right. Justin had been strange since returning for fourth year, he'd been quiet and nervous, jumping at sudden noises. The events of their third year had had a deep effect on the other boy.
Harry felt something off in the air. He tensed in his seat and Susan mirrored his position, ready to leap out of their chairs at the first sign of trouble, wand in hand. Harry's eyes darted across the room. The other students noticed and began whispering amongst themselves.
The gazes of the other students roamed around the room like his, nervous whispers filling the air.
Anxiety filled the classroom and Harry was sure he could feel something hidden near the Professor's desk.
Without warning, Stunners and Body Binds shot out from an empty space beside the desk, hitting students left and right.
Harry alternated between shielding him and his friends with wandless shields, while using his wand to project a new shield he had learned over the other students at a distance.
Beside him, Susan held her shield to protect herself and Hannah, to reduce the strain on Harry's magic. Every few seconds, she fired Stunners down at the spot where they were being attacked from, only for her spells to be deflected mid-air.
After a minute, the spells stopped, and Moody removed an Invisibility Cloak from himself and tossed the cloak on the back of his chair.
'CONSTANT VIGILANCE.' He roared, making most of the class jump in their seats.
'If I could award OWL results in class, Mister Potter would receive an O. Miss Bones too, for that matter.' He growled at the class.
Moody enervated the students he had stunned, then he dispelled the binds he had hit other students with.
'Those two alone realised something was amiss, and both took action to protect the innocent.' Moody barked, then turned to Harry with both eyes.
'How?' the grizzled Auror asked, and Harry shrugged.
'It was just a feeling, sir. At first, it was just something felt wrong. Then, before you started to fire spells, I was sure I could feel you beside the desk. Maybe I could sense the magic you were gathering to cast a spell?' Harry asked, and Moody barked out a laugh.
'Potter here is spot on. That is a technique only the best Aurors can learn, and Potter has a head start and can almost do it naturally. Astounding.' Moody said and waved his hand at the students.
'Take your seats and settle in.' The Auror instructed, and the students pulled out their quills and parchment, ready to take notes.
Moody paced in front of the class; a deep scowl visible on his scarred face.
'Because of the amount of defence professors you've had in your time here, you are behind in several areas. Mostly in actual spells to defend yourselves in standard situations, or Merlin forbid, Death Eaters.' He started, and the class sat enthralled as he paced up and down the classroom, an ominous thunk every second step from his fake leg.
'Now, we'll be starting you off with some of the worst spells you're likely to encounter. What makes these spells the worst is not that they are powerful, which they are. It is because they need certain emotions to cast.' Moody paused and his good eye roamed across the class in a constant cyclopean glare.
'They are almost entirely intent based.' He added and drew his wand. He pointed it at the board behind him.
'Who can name me one of the three Unforgivable Curses?' the scarred man asked, and the class sat in silence for a few seconds.
After the silence began to drag, Su Li, a Ravenclaw Harry barely knew, raised her hand.
'Yes, Li?' Moody prompted, and Su took a steadying breath.
'The Cruciatus Curse.' She said, hesitating halfway through.
Moody looked at Harry with both eyes and Harry felt the sudden urge to hit his father and Sirius, who were most likely responsible for telling the grizzled man.
'Another?' Moody asked, flicking his wand at the board where the curse appeared on the board.
Justin muttered something Harry could not hear, and Moody turned both eyes on the boy.
'Say that again, Finch-Fletchley.' Moody growled and Justin gulped in his seat.
'The Im-Imperius, sir.' Justin whispered, but it somehow carried through the room.
Moody nodded and flicked his wand at the board again.
'Yes, the Imperius is one of the worst spells out there. It not only affects the one it is cast on, but depending on the whims of the caster, their families too.' Moody explained, and Justin paled as tears welled in his eyes.
Harry narrowed his eyes at Moody. He watched the Auror and wondered how much the man knew.
'What about the third one?' Moody asked, and Susan raised her hand.
'Bones?' Moody growled.
'The Killing Curse.' She said, her voice only a little louder than Justin's.
Moody nodded. He flicked his wand at the board a third time, and the name of the curse appeared. The man's eyes settled on Susan, her shoulders trembled.
Harry placed a hand on her thigh, remembering his Aunt Amelia telling him how Susan's parents died. Susan turned a weak smile toward him and wrapped her hand around his and squeezed.
Moody turned away and sighed, waving his wand at an empty fish tank with three spiders in it.
Harry's eyes widened.
'No.' he breathed, unable to believe what he thought Moody was about to do.
At his whisper, Susan looked up, breaking free of her memories, and her eyes widened as well.
The class sat in silent disbelief as Moody levitated one spider out of the tank and sent a silent Engorgio at it, making it the size of a Labrador.
'You need to see the effects of these three spells. Just hearing about them is not enough. None of them leave a mark and casting any of them at a person will land you in Azkaban for life.' Moody explained.
'Crucio.' He said, pointing his wand at the massive spider.
Not one student in the room doubted that the spider felt pain. Harry's body was tense, ready to spring into action. He hadn't known that spiders even made any sound, let alone be able to scream in pain.
It was a high-pitched whistle that would be present in the nightmares of the students for years.
The curse ended, and he dropped it back in the tank, its legs folded up above it as it lay on its back, twitching. He left it engorged and drew another spider out of the tank, making it grow before the eyes of the class.
'Imperio.' He said and the second spider stood perfectly still. It no longer struggled, just stood in front of the scarred Auror.
The class watched, stunned silence giving way to whispers as the spider didn't move.
'This one's not too bad, is it?' Moody asked and a few head nods answered him.
Beside Harry, Justin sat frozen in his chair. Tears flowed down his ashen face, and his brown eyes filled with horror.
Harry glared at Moody.
Then, without warning, the spider leapt into the tank and used its massive legs and fangs to tear apart the twitching spider that was hit by the Cruciatus. The Imperiused spider leapt out of the tank a moment later and stood where it had previously been.
The creature was worse for wear, its body not made for that sort of behaviour. Harry doubted that, if left to its own devices, it would survive very long.
Then the spider was in the air, leaping toward Padma Patil, who sat in the front row.
Harry could not sit and watch any longer and created a shield in front of Padma. The spider crashed into it and fell to the floor.
A moment later, it exploded from a Bludgeoning Hex fired by Justin.
Guts oozed out of the spider as it sat forgotten on the floor in front of Padma's desk.
Forgotten, because Moody took the third spider out of the tank and it grew before their eyes, and everybody knew what was coming.
'Avada Kedavra.' A flash of sickly green light erupted from Moody's wand, enveloping the enlarged spider, which slumped down and died in an instant.
Harry stared at the spell that he'd seen at the World Cup. He had blocked one of those curses aimed at Fleur with a rock. What if he had missed the interception?
The class sat in silence. They stared at the massive dead spider, or the grizzled Auror behind it.
'Those three courses are some of the worst spells you could encounter. They are by no means the worst, but they are up there. However, they are unforgivable because to use them, you have to want to with every fibre of your heart.' He explained, his words transcribing onto the board behind him.
He pointed at the torn apart remains of the spider in the tank.
'The Cruciatus? You must want to cast it, to inflict unimaginable pain. You have to yearn for it.' He said, and Harry felt a shiver run down his spine. And not a good one.
'The Imperius? You have to need to dominate the will of another with your entire being.' The grizzled Auror said. He pointed at the crushed spider on the floor in front of Padma's desk.
His electric blue eye darted around the class, independent of his normal eye.
'The Killing Curse? To cast it correctly, you need to want that person dead with every fibre of who you are. With no hidden doubts or emotions.' Moody growled and looked at the spider on the desk in front of him.
'Only one person is thought to have survived being hit with the Killing Curse, and he goes to school with you.' He said, still looking at the dead spider with his good eye.
Then Moody looked up and watched the class.
'To cast these spells, you need to be a horrible person. I have seen a great deal in my life, young ones. I got these scars over a long career hunting the worst criminals our world has to offer.' He paused, squinting up into the students' still pale faces.
'Most of them can't cast these spells, even less cast all three. That is what made the Death Eaters so terrifying in the last war, they could all cast these three spells.' He said and let that sink in.
Moody paced in front of the class, every eye on him.
'Being an Auror is one of the most rewarding careers I can think of, but be warned, it will not be an easy life. Hunting the scum of our world will become your life. But, with every dark wizard you put in Azkaban, the world becomes a slightly better place, safer for your friends and family.' He explained and waved his wand at the remains of the spiders, and they disappeared.
'Now, before your next class, I want two feet on the Unforgivable Curses. Extra points if you can find a way to justify their use.' Moody said, before moving to stand behind his desk.
That night, Harry sat in the Room of Requirement in front of the fireplace it provided, staring into the flames, his thoughts filled with spiders and visions of the World Cup.
Monday morning arrived and Harry entered the Great Hall for breakfast to find Hermione sitting with Daphne, Susan, and Holly. He joined them moments later and noticed their grim expressions.
'Hey guys, why the grim faces? What did I miss?' he asked, and the girls looked at each other, Hannah, and Luna on either side of Hermione.
Holly sighed and met Harry's gaze.
'We think things are going to get uncomfortable in the castle soon.' Holly paused and took a breath before she continued at Harry's raised eyebrow.
'According to what we've heard-' here she gestured around the group of girls.
'- Neville is going to try to use his influence to make the older students force you to follow him.' Holly said.
Hermione nodded, her eyes downcast.
Daphne leaned forward, her eyes flashing.
'Last night, Draco was power playing in the Slytherin Common room. He is using every shred of influence he can muster from his father to convince the older students to humiliate you.' Daphne explained and Hermione's face fell into her hands as she cried.
Harry looked at Hannah and motioned with his eyes toward Hermione. Hannah nodded and wrapped the bushy haired witch into a hug, which Luna joined a moment later.
Harry smiled before he let out a deep sigh.
'It seems that rather than monsters and evil wizards, this year we have to contend with the rest of the school.' He paused, glancing at Hermione for a moment before turning to meet each girl's gaze.
'I think it would be safest if you all travel in groups, not necessarily in our group, but with your other friends, too. Don't give these older students the opportunity to attack you alone.' Harry said, and his jaw tightened.
He closed his eyes and took a calming breath. When he opened his eyes, he met Holly's gaze first.
'I can look after myself. I have no doubts about that. But you should only have to worry about school, not idiots trying to play politics.' Harry growled.
Hermione sat up, removing herself from Hannah and Luna's embrace. She met Harry's emerald eyes.
'Neville gave me an ultimatum last night. I was either with him, or against him. He said that you've been trying to make him look bad for too long and it was past time to show you where your place was.' She whispered; her eyes filled with hurt.
Harry reached out and took her hand across the table.
'I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to make that choice.' He said, and the girls nodded, and those close enough reached out and patted her arm in reassurance.
Harry released Hermione's hand and stood.
'I need to have a few conversations with people.' He said, and noticed Holly and Susan smirk at each other.
After their time training during the summer, they would be confident that Harry could take any seventh-year student with ease. Harry wore his own smirk for a moment, before it turned cold, and he turned away from his friends and strode toward the head table.
He stopped in front of Dumbledore.
'Do you have a few moments to spare, sir?' Harry asked and Dumbledore quirked an eyebrow over his half-moon glasses and nodded.
'What can I help you with, Mister Potter?' the Headmaster asked.
Harry let out a breath.
'Are you aware of the altercation that occurred last week, between Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy in this very Hall that I stopped by stunning both boys?' Harry paused and Dumbledore nodded.
'I have received word that both boys are planning separate retaliatory actions against my interference. Now, I am not concerned about my wellbeing, I can look after myself. But I am worried about my friends.' He said and resisted the urge to turn around to look at them.
Dumbledore met Harry's gaze and waited for Harry to continue.
'Would the Professors get involved to protect my friends if attacked by the upper year students? I suspect both boys plan to use their respective influence on the older students to enforce their will on me, hurting me through my friends.' Harry said as he pulled a new Marauders Map from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of Dumbledore.
The Headmaster's eyes moved to the blank piece of parchment.
'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' Harry said and the Headmaster's eyes widened as he watched the map scrawl across the parchment.
Dumbledore blinked as he saw all the names in the Great Hall.
Idly, Harry noticed Bartemius Crouch near the greenhouses and wondered why a Triwizard judge would be down there, but instead focussed his attention back on the Headmaster.
'My father and his group of friends in school created the original map. I have used it to keep track of my friends until now, and my friends have access to a few as well.' He said.
Dumbledore continued staring at the map.
'What I am asking, sir, is that if can supply each of the Professors with one of these maps, could they keep an eye on my friends? I can't defend them at every moment.' He admitted and watched as the Headmaster let out a sigh of relief as he looked up from the map.
Harry noted the sigh and wondered what Dumbledore saw on the map to make him relieved, but shrugged it off as a question for later.
Dumbledore met Harry's gaze.
'What do you want in return for such marvellous items, Mister Potter?' the Headmaster asked, and Harry blinked and shook his head.
'Only for the Professors to protect my friends using their best judgement.' Harry said and Dumbledore blinked before he sat back in his golden throne-like chair.
The Headmaster wore a grandfatherly smile and nodded.
'Of course, the Professors will protect any student in the school, and armed with these marvellous maps, they will do so more effectively.' The ancient wizard said, and Harry nodded.
'Thank you for your time, Professor. I'll get the extra maps to the Professor's as soon as possible.' Harry said and gave a quick bow to the Headmaster and turned away, toward the Gryffindor table.
Harry strode across the Hall, toward the red and gold table of Lions. As he moved, he made a mental note to contact his father and ask for more Marauder's Maps.
He stifled a grin at the thought of what Sirius would say when he found out Harry promised maps for all the staff, including Severus. He couldn't stifle a soft chuckle at the thought, and the Marauders thought their pranking ways had skipped a generation.
Harry stopped beside Neville at the Gryffindor table. He noted the looks of distrust and outright hostility aimed at him from the upper years. Harry smiled down at Neville.
'How are you feeling today, Brother? I'm always available for family whenever they need to talk.' Harry said and Neville leapt from his seat, red faced and furious.
'I am sick of being in your shadow. I am the Boy-Who-Lived, it's supposed to be me who is the one that everyone looks to for guidance and leadership. It's been me who has been trained since birth to be the next leader of the light.' Neville snarled and spittle sprayed from his mouth.
Harry turned to face Neville and moved to rest a hand on the boy's arm, which Neville shrugged off.
'I will be Prefect, and Head Boy. It will be me who ushers in a new era of prosperity for the Wizarding World, not you, Potter. The Potter family has fallen from its once lofty heights. It used to be amongst the greatest of Houses.' Neville's face was so red that Harry thought he would explode any minute.
'No more, with someone like you at its head, it will become no more than a memory, nothing more than a footnote in history books that nobody reads.' Neville shouted.
Harry noted the level of hostility aimed at him from the Gryffindors faded as they watched Neville's rant.
He sighed.
'Brother, why have you always hated me? You have always targeted your anger and vitriol at me and my family. Why? What did we do to deserve your hatred?' he asked.
Neville glared at him, unaware of the entire Hall watching them.
'Even after the last few years where I have helped you, you still hate me. Tell me, why are we not brothers in your eyes?' Harry asked, and the Hall fell silent, awaiting the response.
Neville's glare flickered for a moment, revealing a deep pain, but it returned full force as Neville's hand reached out and grabbed Harry's robe, pulling him close.
'Because you still have your parents.' Neville hissed.
Harry stepped back, as if slapped and blinked.
Then he nodded.
He took a deep breath and let it out, then loud enough to be heard by the onlooking students.
'I wish it were different, that we could be the family I know we are. But regardless of that, if you target my friends in any kind of attack, I will take it personally and will hold you accountable.' Harry paused, his gaze bored into Neville's.
'Potters are not known to be forgiving when attacked.' He finished and silence reigned in the Great Hall.
Harry gave Neville a small nod, before sending a wink to Ginny who sat beside him and walked away.
He moved across the Great Hall toward the Slytherin table, every eye in the Great Hall on his every movement.
Moments later, he stood behind Draco Malfoy, the slicked back, blonde hair marking him out amongst the Slytherins.
Harry leant down to whisper in Draco's ear.
'We also have a familial bond, Draco, through my Godfather. The House of Black does not appreciate infighting, at least not in public.' He paused for a moment.
'I have no qualms dealing with any Slytherins who feel brave enough to try to intimidate me. But that is where it stops, my friends are off the table. They will not be targeted. If you have decided to see me as an enemy rather than an ally, that doesn't bother me.' Harry said, his voice low enough that only Draco could hear him.
'But I will not allow my friends to be hurt, and attacks on them will be dealt with. And that retribution will be as swift as it will be terrible.' Harry paused again. He offered a carrot after giving him the stick.
'But we don't have to be enemies. I have no interest in the control of Slytherin House, or any of the houses. I only want my friends to be safe. We could help each other to achieve our goals. Think about that for a while.' Harry said.
'No rush for a decision.' Harry whispered before standing and moving out of the Great Hall, leaving silence in his wake.
He knew the importance of image, and he hoped that what he had just done cemented his. He hoped his image would be a positive one.
Classes that day were odd, there was little conversation and what little there was, consisted mainly of whispers.
By the end of the day, Harry needed solitude. He had become used to being by himself over the weekends in the Room of Requirement and had grown to prefer his own company when out of the room.
He didn't know whether the morning's conversations would stop the upper years or not, nor had he heard from his father about the maps.
Harry walked, lost in thought and was only dimly aware of his surroundings as he delved deeper into the dungeons. Without realising it, he stopped in front of giant black iron doors.
The doors brought back memories of the last year, ones he hoped he'd forget. But he let out a breath and pushed the doors open, which was easier than he expected.
He strode into the room, wand in hand and the red glow he remembered still lit the room. The great crimson sphere in the centre of the cavernous room emitted the same blood red light.
But now, the sight didn't fill him with dread, unlike the last time he was there.
This time, a sense of comfort clung to him, from the moment the red light touched his skin, a sense of warmth and belonging filled him. Harry strode toward the crimson sphere and stopped in front of it, it was bright, but not blinding, even from up close.
He wondered at its brilliance and reached out a hand to touch it, stopping at the last second.
'Mister Potter.' He heard a voice say from behind him.
Harry turned to see the Headmaster, the old man stood only metres away.
Harry blinked in surprise.
'Sir? How did you sneak up on me like that?' he asked, and the Headmaster chuckled.
'Oh, I've been in this room for a few minutes now, you were just so engrossed by the sphere that you didn't notice.' Dumbledore said before looking around the room.
'Do you know where you are?' the elderly man asked, and Harry shook his head.
'No, I don't. It's not on the map, my father, and his friends had never delved this deep into the school.' Harry admitted and Dumbledore smiled.
'This room is special, even amongst the many special rooms in this castle. This is the Heart of Hogwarts. The sphere is the source of the castle's power, and over the years, I believe it has gained a sort of sentience.' The Headmaster explained.
'This sphere is the embodiment of the magic that imbues the school. The wards the founders erected draw their magic from the sphere, as does every other set of protections and strange quirk of the castle, like the staircases for example.' Dumbledore continued and Harry tilted his head to the side.
'How?' he asked.
The Headmaster smiled down at Harry, his eyes twinkled in the crimson light cast from the sphere.
'The Founders created the sphere, using an item which has no name that I'm aware of. I believe the item came from an older magical civilisation which has been lost to us. But the Founders used it as the central point of the castle.' Dumbledore turned to gaze into the ruby light for a moment before turning back to Harry.
'The sphere is charged by ambient magic. This, being a school, is home to magicals using a great deal of magic. Every spell cast, every potion brewed, and enchantment created releases ambient magic. Think of it as a waste product, like heat from a fire.' The Headmaster said and Harry nodded, it made sense so far.
'The Heart of Hogwarts gathers this ambient magic and channels it into the sphere, charging it. Over the thousand years the castle has stood, that much magic seems to have developed a sense of sentience, none know how this happened. But with magic, anything is possible.' Dumbledore said and smiled at Harry.
'This is where you are right now. I am proud of how you dealt with your situation this morning. As you know, I have seen my share of conflict, and dealt with politics for most of my life. What you did, was possibly the only way to resolve the situation for the Greater Good.' Dumbledore let out a small sigh, his eyes twinkling.
The old man rummaged through his robes for a moment before he pulled out a thick tome. It looked old, and he handed it to Harry who took it and read the cover.
'Magical Theory: By Albus Dumbledore.' Harry read out loud and gaped up at the Headmaster.
Dumbledore chuckled.
'Is it truly surprising that I would write an educational book?' he asked.
Harry blinked, looking between the book and the Headmaster.
'It's not so much the writing of the book, as it is the giving it to me that confuses me.' Harry replied and Dumbledore gave a sage nod.
'I admit, I have watched you these past few years. I worried about the path you took, and how you spend your weekends in particular. But now, I am sure that you are on the righteous path and with a bit a guidance, you would be a credit to the Wizarding World in the future.' The old man said, with an odd note in his tone.
'I admit, I will not be around forever, so perhaps I should look for one who might take up the mantle so to speak.' Dumbledore mused aloud before he released a soft chuckle.
The Headmaster gave him a single nod before he turned and walked away from Harry.
'It is late Mister Potter, perhaps you should use your fathers' cloak if you want to return to your dorms without losing points.' Dumbledore called as he exited the cavernous room, leaving Harry alone.
Harry blinked and looked down at his watch.
'Damn it.' He muttered, seeing it read after midnight.
He'd missed his nightly call with Fleur, he resolved to call her in the morning to make up for it.