Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, objects, or anything else that comes from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.
Warning: This story will contain scenes of violence, bad language, and maybe other themes that some audiences may find unsuitable. You have been advised.
"Regular speech or Spell"
"Parseltongue"Text
'Thought'
The True Heir of Slytherin
Chapter 3
"Dissiliunt!" Harry cast before causing the dummy in front of him to explode into an uncountable amount of pieces.
It had been a week since Harry had discovered the true Chamber of Secrets, and now, he spent every night and most of the weekend there, training hard for his new life.
"Well performed. You have improved." Daphne congratulated. "Now, cast it silently."
Harry nodded before using a swish of his wand to summon a new dummy to replace the last. Harry looked at it fiercely before pointing his wand at the target. A second later, a spell rocketed out of Harry's wand with a color that resembled fire. When the spell impacted the dummy, an explosion resonated from the point where it first touched the object.
"Now without a wand." Daphne ordered.
"Silent or not?" Harry asked.
"If you can manage this without a wand, your next spell will be silent." Daphne replied.
Harry nodded as he tucked away his wand in his front pocket. He then summoned another dummy silently without a wand. As soon as it arrived, Harry shouted, "Dissiliunt" as he shoved his hand towards the dummy. A lighter explosion compared to before was the result. Harry shook his head before summoning yet another dummy. He could and had to do better. Harry calmed himself before shoving his open palm towards the dummy as he cast the incantation once more.
This time the explosion didn't even let a single piece of the dummy remain. All of it was disintegrated in the blast.
Harry smiled as he turned towards Daphne. "Silently now?"
Daphne gave Harry one of her rare smiles and nodded. "I think you are ready for it."
Harry summoned one last dummy without even taking a glance away from Daphne. When it arrived, Harry quickly spun around and shoved his open palm out once more, but this time, though, he kept his mouth closed. In an instant, the spell traveled across the distance between Harry and the dummy before there was nothing to note the presence of any object at the dummy's former location. Thanks to the magic of the Chamber of Secrets, there would never be a permanent mark on any surface so as not to let the chamber deteriorate, and the spell obliterated every piece of the dummy.
"Anything else for tonight that we can accomplish?" Harry asked after he banished away the remnants of the other dummies. His wand was still in his pocket, and his lips had not moved.
"That is all I had planned for tonight. Though, we can talk for a bit, asking each other questions." Daphne replied.
Harry looked at Daphne in disbelief. "Really?" Despite his question, Daphne began walking out of the training room. Harry sighed but followed close behind her.
"Between me teaching you and your training, we have never talked in earnest besides when we first met." Daphne finally explained as she led the other teen into the chamber's library.
The library was a small room with shelves lining the walls, excluding the wall that held the doorway allowing access in and out of the room. When entered, a person would notice that the room seemed smaller due to the fact that bookshelves filled half of the library. The front half was a sitting and reading area.
"So, what would you like to ask me?" Daphne sat down on one of the chairs with a pillow. It was positioned without a table. Harry sat down at the one opposite to it.
"How long do you think this training will take? I don't exactly like how everyone is making my life hell, so it would be nice to know when I can turn the tables on them." Harry asked, allowing a little annoyance to slip into his voice.
Daphne nodded. "That's fair. I expect that you should be ready by the end of the year. Now, allow me to ask you a question."
"I take it then that we are trading information?" Harry asked, trying to adopt a more appropriate form of speech suited to his status. Daphne nodded. "Ask away."
"Who raised you before Hogwarts but after that night?"
Harry sighed deeply. "Have you ever heard of a muggle family called the Dursleys?"
"No, I have not."
Harry sighed even deeper than before. "My mother's sister was a muggle and hated magic because of my mother. She married another muggle and shared her hate with him. Later, they would have a son that would be a miniature version of that fat ass. When I was orphaned, Dumbledore had me rescued and delivered to that despicable family." Harry grew angrier as he spoke before let out a slow breath and spoke again. "My turn. Why do you act as the Slytherin Ice Queen?"
"To stop everyone's advances, of course. I know that all of the boys fancy me in a shallow way, so I use a cold front to freeze them in their tracks." Daphne replied nonchalantly.
"Not quite what I meant."
"What do you mean then?" Daphne asked curiously.
Harry smiled. "You just gave up your turn."
"Asshole!" Daphne yelled before realizing how well Harry was learning and calmed down. "Well played. You still have to answer, though."
Harry bowed his head mockingly. "Of course." Harry straightened himself in his chair. "It is very easy to follow your answer, but I'm asking you why you have to be the Slytherin Ice Queen. Why not use us boys to get what you want and throw us away when you are done? Most girls in your position would."
"Ah." Daphne said before she sighed. "I was hoping to not have to tell you this for at least a bit longer, but I suppose the time is now." Harry paid close attention. "Part of the deal for taking care of the Slytherin line was that the eldest unmarried daughter of my family, when the heir discovered his ancestry, would marry said heir. It was another gift Salazar gave my family, and ensured the continuation of the Slytherin line further."
"It could be viewed as a curse. Not being able to marry who you wish." Harry replied sympathetically.
"I grew used to it. That is why I cannot let anyone else past my defenses. My parents made me a deal that if you didn't find out by the end of your Hogwarts career that I could start dating." Daphne responded. "Until then I was to be the Ice Queen everyone knows so well."
Harry nodded. "Your turn."
"I take it from your description of your family that you did not like them in any way. How so?" Daphne asked.
"All of the Dursleys abusing me occurred more than often in that household." Harry spat out, but the ball was just starting to roll. "Vernon beat me senseless most days, Petunia helped starve me, Dudley and his gang whaled on me at and on the way to school, and all of them forced me to do almost all of the work besides Vernon's at his job. On top of that, never was I shown a smidgen of caring or love! That's why I despise them!" Harry ended roughly.
"I'm… I'm sorry. If I had known, I would not have asked." Daphne said, seeing how much pain Harry held on his face and letting her icy persona be warmed slightly.
"Not your fault. You didn't know." Harry replied quietly.
"So… it's your turn." Daphne decided to change the subject.
"Okay. How do you feel about us getting married?" Harry asked.
"Like I said, I have always known what would happen when you discovered that you were the last descendant of the Slytherin line. I have grown comfortable with it after so long. Besides, if I had any problems with it, why would I reveal all of this to you?" Daphne said.
Harry thought a moment. "You have a valid point there, but you know that is not what I meant… How do you feel about us… being a couple?"
Daphne sat in silence for a few moments. "Before, I would have said that this could be one of the worst things that could happen. You were always breaking rules and basing all of your decisions on what your friends said and believed. Take Slytherins as an example. Because of what Weasley always says about us, it is no wonder that you developed the same prejudice and clouded thinking. Sure, we are deceptive and maybe too ambitious, but that is part of what we are as Slytherins. Just because we do all we can to achieve what we want such as trick a few people does not mean all of us are evil, especially Salazar. Nobody really knows what happened between the Founders except my family, and even then, we do not know all of or even most of the stories." Daphne grew more passionate as she spoke.
"Sorry 'bout that." Harry apologized shyly.
Daphne nodded. "Thank you."
"So how do you feel about me now that I have discarded my misconceptions and opened my eyes to view the world in a more open way?" Harry asked.
Daphne discarded their current process and decided to answer Harry's question. "I… don't exactly know yet. It is great that you are starting to stand up for yourself despite what others think or want, and that is only one of many qualities that you have going for you… but…" Daphne drifted off.
"But, you still don't know me that well to know if this is just a front." Harry finished grimly.
"You had it half right. I just don't know you well enough. You can only know a person by going through a broad range of experiences." Daphne corrected.
"That's fair I guess." Harry replied. "Your turn. You get two turns for putting up with me."
"Thanks." Daphne smiled. 'He's at least a gentlemen.' "How about the rumors about all of your adventures here at Hogwarts?"
"That depends. What are the rumors, which years, and what exactly do you want to know?" Harry replied.
"Those are three questions. Don't try tricking me." Daphne tested to see Harry's reaction.
"No tricks." Harry defended as he put his palms in the air facing her. "I just don't know what is going around with those kinds of things."
Daphne nodded, not letting any emotion show despite her happiness at how he handled himself. "First year: you beat our teachers' obstacles to reach the philosopher's stone? Fourth year: you faced Voldemort and won?" Daphne already knew of the events of second year because of her closeness to Deus while only those involved knew anything about the events of third year. Because only these few knew, no rumors had been able to spread with nothing to gossip about.
"Yes to first year. Hagrid, Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, Quirrel, Snape, and Dumbledore in order each set up their own trap to block it. I thought Snape was after it, so I tried getting it first. It turned out to be Voldemort hiding underneath Quirrel's turban. Somehow when I touched Quirrel, he turned to ash, dust, or something of the like. No to fourth year, though. I did face Voldemort but barely escaped with my life thanks to my parents somehow appearing and giving me a few seconds to get to the portkey, the Triwizard Cup. Before you ask how I got entered in the tournament, Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Moody, put it in so that I could make it to the Cup. It took Cedric and I to the Riddle Manor graveyard where Voldemort used my blood to revive himself. You can get the rest." Harry explained, trying to keep it as short and informative as he could.
"Is that all?" Daphne asked curiously.
"Yeah."
"The rumor mill definitely is spitting out all of the wrong things." Daphne commented wondrously.
"How so?"
"Your adventures, while still extraordinary, are much more believable than the rumors going around." Daphne replied. "My turn again." Harry looked at her curiously. "You asked me a question."
Harry silently scolded himself. He was supposed to do better. After he finished his mental berating, Harry motioned for Daphne to speak.
"Have you given any thought on who you want as allies when you reveal to everyone your ancestor?" Daphne drew the conversation more towards business.
"Yes." Harry smiled. She had to wait another turn to find out whom he wished to recruit. "After I reveal my lordship, what are we going to do?"
"We will have to beat back any protests against us, be them violently or not so. I imagine we would have to create our own side against Voldemort." Daphne replied. "Now, who do you believe would be good allies of yours?"
"Here at school?" Harry asked curiously.
"That's a question."
"To define your question." Harry replied wittingly.
"Yes."
"After your speech a few minutes ago, I would need your help with the Slytherins. I do not know any of them well enough to judge at the moment, but I think that most of them will leave me be as the true heir of Slytherin. I would need you to tell me who would join me not just because of my status." Harry paused to see Daphne's reaction. She nodded her understanding and for him to continue. "In Gryffindor, I am done with Hermione and Ron. Ron betrayed me last year, and I now realize that he has always cared more about himself at all times. Plus, he hates Slytherins no matter what, as you know so well. Then Hermione, she fancies Ron, so she'll stick by him. Neville, Seamus, and Dean, though, I think will be good to me after a quick chat. I would have to know more about Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff to make any other decisions."
"You have a good way to go, but I believe that you have made a fairly good start. I'll talk with people in Slytherin to see who would be good, but you will handle the Hufflepuffs." Daphne said.
"What about the Ravenclaws?" Harry asked.
"You gave up your turn." Daphne smiled. Harry scolded himself once more.
"So?" Harry moved on.
"I'll do a rough examination of them, but you look them over before approaching them." Daphne replied. "Now, how about we go back to being personal?" Daphne purposefully forfeited her turn to learn more about her future husband.
"Sure, but I need to know what years to look through for the houses." Harry said.
"Just our year." She knew that he had not asked a question, so she did not ask hers.
Before Harry could begin to speak, though, a bell toll rang throughout the compound.
"I guess our time is up, huh?" Harry sighed.
"Afraid so, but I'll meet with you tomorrow after dinner." Daphne said as she and Harry rose from their seats.
Harry took Daphne's left hand in his right before giving the top a light kiss, showing his growing understanding of pureblood culture. He then looked up at his future wife and current mentor. "Until then, Daphne, have a splendid evening and a well tomorrow."
Daphne withdrew her hand. "I wish the same for you as well… milord."
Harry's brows furrowed together and a slight blush appeared on his cheeks. "No matter what happens, Daphne, please never feel obligated to call me your lord ever again. Harry is just fine."
"All right." Daphne nodded before disappearing as a shadow, leaving behind a cold atmosphere. It would not do for the two of them to be seen together at any interval of time.
Harry quickly ran out into the hall before continuing to the stairs, where he quickly climbed to the always-visible part of the compound. He then went into the staircase along one wall of one of the bigger pipes that crossed the compound. This had him emerge in the hallway outside of Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom. A second after he was clear of the stairwell, the panel of bricks swung back into place. Quickly, he proceeded over to the Great Hall, so as not to rouse any suspicions from his friends. Despite the slight torture it brought him to be by such despicable creatures, he still had to keep up the recently false pretenses. A short look around the hall when he arrived at the giant, open doorway revealed Ron and Hermione, sitting in their usual spots at the table of lions.
As Harry walked over to the two, a thought could not help itself from crossing his growing mind: he was a snake among lions, a deceiver from his very first year even if he did not know it during that time. Harry Potter was a rogue in ways that the Ministry could not have easily predicted even with a prophet, and he was starting to fulfill the position better each day.
Before this thought could unfold further, though, Harry arrived at the Gryffindor table.
"Harry, mate, where have you been? You've been disappearing an awful lot lately." Ron asked after swallowing another dinosaur-sized bite. Hermione was absorbed in one of her textbooks.
'Finally, one of them at least asks. Who would have thought it would be Ron, though?' Harry thought before creating, elaborating, and finalizing an excuse within the span of a few seconds.
"Hanging around the quidditch pitch. It's been nice to just get away from everything for at least a bit." Harry replied.
Hermione finally had looked up from her reading and put her book away. "You really should stay focused on your work, Harry. I mean, honestly, how do you ever expect to pass your O.W.L.'s when you're on the quidditch pitch all the time?"
Harry barely held in all of the anger that threatened to overwhelm him. Despite his efforts, however, more than a slip of rage leaked into Harry's voice. "Hermione, do you have the entire wizarding world against you? Because almost everyone seems to make me aware of the fact that I do, so sorry for wanting to take a few minutes of rest."
"Oh, come off it, Harry! You have Ron, Dumbledore, the Order, and me!" Hermione quickly retorted. She had thankfully kept her voice at a low volume so as not to attract any attention from the other students and the teachers.
"Yeah, big help they are! I didn't know of the Order until a few weeks ago when this is my fight against Voldemort, Dumbledore avoids me, and you just tell me to go to the man!" Harry grew angrier as the two of them spoke. Never before had the two of them fought before. Never before had Harry argued with someone he knew so well like this, but times were changing.
"And what about me, mate?" A quiet voice spoke.
Harry turned to look at Ron, who sat to his left. "You could care less about any of my troubles because you're too concerned about yourself when you're not even taking half of the heat! Plus, you always seem, to your big dismay, to be gone when I need you." Harry spat as sarcastically as he could. "Isn't it funny how that works out? You, safe away from the danger while I'm fighting off the creature or Voldemort!"
"How dare you! I've put my life on the line for you countless times, and this is how you repay me? Screw you; I'm leaving!" Ron replied. Still, their voices were not above whispers despite their words' raging nature.
"No, fuck you! Don't harm yourself getting up amongst the huge mound known as your food scraps! I'll leave, you git!" Harry growled before rising from his seat and walking out of the Great Hall, leaving behind two floored and simultaneously furious former friends.
Harry quickly navigated the halls of Hogwarts to end back up at the staircase to the Chamber of Secrets. With a final glance down both ends of the corridor, Harry hissed, "Open." The panel of bricks didn't appear to have moved. Despite this, though, Harry seemed to walk through the wall, disappearing from the hallway. The illusion then broke as the panel of bricks closed. Harry proceeded down the staircase until he was deep into the underground complex. Ten minutes after leaving the Great Hall, Harry entered the compound's kitchen.
Daphne had informed him that she had updated the room so that it was not the medieval kitchen it once was but a modern room fit for most informal occasions. Black granite counters lined the walls with pure white wooded cabinets supporting the rock and hanging above it. A stove and oven separated this line as well as a sink and fridge. The appliances were a dull silver. In the middle of the room, a black, wood table with four equally black chairs rested.
"Fucking ignorant pricks." Harry mumbled to himself as he removed the necessary ingredients to make London broil, a dish he had made often enough at the Dursleys to perfect. Twenty minutes later, Harry set the plate onto the table. After a quick trip to gather a knife, fork, plate, and a bottle of Coca-Cola, Harry finally sat down to eat his meal.
"Is there room for one more?"
Harry looked over to see Daphne still in her Hogwarts uniform in the door frame. "Sure. You eat dinner yet or do you want to share?"
Daphne gave a slight smile. "That sounds good. I did not have anything at the Great Hall." Harry gave her a curious look. Daphne, meanwhile, had traveled to the fridge and cabinet to retrieve the same utensils and drink as Harry had recently fetched. "I was too busy watching you give away some of your secrets." She explained as she sat down across from Harry.
Harry looked down at his empty plate. "I just couldn't take much more of it when they were questioning me. They just were so… selfish."
Daphne nodded. While beginning to serve Harry, she spoke again. "Don't worry. You were already growing away from them. This just gives you a better opportunity to ally yourself with the list."
"Why are you being so nice?"
Daphne finished serving herself. "I decided how I felt about you." Daphne smiled. "After talking with you, I realized the person you were, and now I feel rather fortunate to be betrothed to someone with such character as you."
Harry chuckled. "That's good to hear." The two then quietly began to eat. "So tell me a little more about yourself. This time how about we be a little bit more happy and personal?"
For the first time, Harry heard Daphne laugh. It was a little higher pitched than her normal voice but was surprisingly melodious to Harry's ears.
"Okay." She then began to describe her family and some of the best moments of her life before Hogwarts. When she was done, Harry told of some of the wonders he experienced when he was first introduced to the Wizarding world. After he finished talking, the two noticed their meal was finished and it was rather late, so they quickly cleaned the remnants of their meal up and departed from the room, feeling better than either had in a long time. One departed as a shadow while the other had to hurry back up to his dormitory without being caught.
AN: I hope everyone enjoyed my latest chapter. Sorry that it took so long but I am now going to try and write three stories at the same time, one after the other by chapter. I also have been imagining the sequel to the Grey Assassins vividly, which unfortunately occupied my imagination. Please remember to review. The more reviews my stories receive, the more inspired I am to write quickly to supply you with another chapter. Occidere Prima Vel Occidi.
