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Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter. Characters and main plot are property of J.K. Rowling. However, in this story the main plot will be manipulated to fit my imagination.
A True Heart of Darkness: Chapter Two
The First Encounter
The first week in Hogwarts was mostly uneventful, filled with boring classes and annoying students. While Ron seemed to want to stick to Harry like glue, the raven-haired boy hid from him in the library in his free time. He knew the red head would never come in and felt safe there. In spending his time there he came to know more about the muggleborn Hermione Granger, and quite enjoyed the witty girl. Under her know-it-all personality she was truly intelligent. She could pick up on people and what they were hiding without even speaking to them. He knew this observant quality would come in handy in the future. The two would spend hours in the library or common room just talking and reading on new ways to improve their wand work.
Harry's main goal at Hogwarts was to make people curious of him, but only the right people. He needed strong allies for his future, and only the best of the best would do. However, at the moment Harry was questioning the addition of the bushy haired muggleborn, as she was quite the curious person. He had told her some of his goals, along with his encounter with the sorting hat. Hermione had taken it well and chose to stand by him.
"I'll be your advisor for the future Harry, you can count on me." Was what she had said, but now Harry had no doubt she knew how to get information and not just out of books.
"Hermione you know that is not true in the slightest." Harry told her as they took their seats at breakfast. Ron always slept in and got there late so the pair made sure to leave the common room early. Right now they were discussing Harry's 'obvious obsession', as Hermione called it, with a certain blonde. While Harry knew she would see right through him, he would never admit his curiosity of the blonde. He would catch glances at him during meals and in a few classes they shared together, but never talked to him outright.
Hermione, however, did not seem to believe her friend., but left the issue alone for the time being. The two ate while talking till the time for classes came. As they were leaving for potions Ron tumbled into the hall. Harry inwardly sighed at his luck.
"Hey Mate, Hermione, you two heading to eat too?" He smiled at Harry, while giving Hermione a strained look. You see Ron didn't like Hermione at all, thinking she was corrupting Harry.
"Actually Ron we just finished, but go ahead and eat. We are going to head to class early so Snape doesn't bite our heads off. Later Mate," And the two left the hall without noticing the jealous look the red head gave them. Nor did they see eyes from the head table looking on at the exchange between the Gryffindor's.
Walking to potions Harry was getting one of the worse headaches of his life. Ever since the opening feast his head had been hurting on and off. He couldn't figure out what had caused it. As Snape strode into the dungeon and threw out orders his thoughts went back to class work. Thankfully Hermione was his partner and not that nimrod of a red head that called him his best mate who, in no surprise, came in late.
As class began Snape took role and Harry was actually excited for this class. He had memorized the potions book in the days before to make sure he did not make a fool of himself. After all the highest qualified potions master in Britain would be a large addition to his allies.
"Ahh, Mr. Potter, our class celebrity," He sneered and then continued down the list of names. Harry heard a snicker and Harry turned to see Draco attempting to stifle a laugh. Harry didn't even give him a glancing look, but a hard glance that stopped his reaction. Then a dark glint came into his eyes 'Oh my Dragon, I'll give you something to be proud of. And then I want to hear that gorgeous laugh of yours' Harry turned to face the front of the class as Professor Snape ended his description of the class expectations.
"Potter!" Snape said suddenly. Harry was surprised but focused on the professor.
"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" The sudden question threw Harry for a loop, but he answered, "Draught of Living Death, sir?" Snape sneered
"Hmm, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" Harry saw Hermione itching to raise her hand, but she knew Harry needed to prove himself right now and her assistance would only hinder him.
" A bezoar is located inside a goat's stomach sir." Snape's eyes narrowed into slits.
"Two lucky guesses. What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Harry actually had a hint of amusement as he answered the professor.
"Nothing sir, they are the same plant." Snape looked at him with a curious and dark look. 'I've got his attention now' Harry thought with humor as Snape snapped at the other students to take down all the information in their interaction. While the students were stunned into silence and took down the notes he demanded. Harry noticed the rest of the class hour the small hints Snape would make and the curious glances when he thought Harry wasn't looking. Having a potions master into his trust would be exceptional, but for now he would leave the man alone. Maybe in a few years when he gets more around his age behind him and more powerful. However, nothing could take away the smug look on Harry's face for the rest of the day.
Later in the day Harry walked into the common room with Hermione and Neville, when Ron bounded up with an excited look on his face.
"Hey guys! Guess what? Flying lessons start Thursday, only bad thing is we are with those slimy snakes again." Ron's mood fell at the mention of the Slytherin house. 'Brilliant! Another time I can see Draco' Harry couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face. Though immediately blushed when Hermione saw his look. Well there went his cover of only being obsessed with the blonde. Harry used the next day to make his plan of action. He had yet to talk to Draco, and Harry wanted to make the right first impression.
Thursday came and the first years went out to the Quidditch pitch to meet Madam Hooch, their flying instructor. She went up to the front and looked around.
"Well, what are you all waiting for?" She barked. "Everyone stand next to a broomstick. Come on that's right. Now raise your right hand over your broom and say 'Up!'" she called out to everyone from the front.
"UP!" was the unanimous shout across the field. Harry's broom jumped into his hand and he smiled silently thanking the broom for doing so. Though his was one of the few that did move. Hermione look terrified of the broom, but was masking it with concentration. Neville was mumbling the command, while he saw Ron was turning red in frustration. He took a glance at Draco and saw the other boy had his broom in hand, a proud look on his face. Harry caught his eyes and was excited to see the look fall to confusion, and then the blonde sneered and went back to his friends.
Madam Hooch waited till most of the students had their brooms in hand and then showed them how to mount their brooms.
"Now when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch.
"Keep your broom steady, rise a few feet in the air, and then come back down by leaning forward slightly on your broom. On my whistle—three—two—"
The only person to rise into the air was Neville. Madam Hooch called after him as he rose into the air and began moving wildly. He shouted for help as he continued to be dragged through the air. He made a sharp turn up and went to about twelve feet before taking a nosedive to the ground. As he was about to impact he jumped off and landed with a scream. Madam Hooch rushed over to him and her face lost almost all its colors.
"He's got a broken wrist and is a little beat up." She helped Neville up and then turned to face the class with a stern look.
"I am going to take Mr. Longbottom to the Hospital Wing! If I hear of or see one broom in the air I'll make sure those students are out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch''. Come on dear." Then the two disappeared into the dark hall. No sooner had they left did Malfoy start to tear down Neville's behavior.
"Huh, did you see his face? Looked like he'd about wet himself!" The other Slytherin's laughed at the cruel joke.
"Shut up Malfoy," said a girl he believed was called Parvati. Malfoy only laughed and then bent down to pick something off the grass.
"Well look at this! The gift Longbottom's grandmother sent him this morning." He held up a Remembral, which was glowing in the sun's light.
"Malfoy give it here," Harry said, his hand outstretched toward the blonde. Malfoy stumbled a second then smirked.
"Oh I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find later. Maybe the forbidden Forest?" And with that He mounted his broom and took to the sky mocking Harry as he went.
This was the first thing the blonde had done to make Harry mad. He was making him look weak, and Harry couldn't let him go with that unmarred. Harry mounted his broom and was about to take off when Ron grabbed his shoulder.
"Mate let it go. Madam Hooch said we would get into trouble. You're the star Gryffindor you can't get caught with filth like Malfoy." He said trying to persuade Harry to not follow the slimy snake. Though what he said only fueled Harry's temper.
"Ron I think I can act on my own thank you very much, now please let go of me." He threw the boys hands off and took to the air, chasing after Malfoy.
Harry was flying around the top of the schoolyard when he finally caught up to Malfoy.
"Now, Now Draco why don't you give me that back?" The Gryffindor asked him with a smirk. Draco's smug look was tainted with worry as Harry flew closer to him. He stopped just in front of the other boy.
"You know Draco, making me look weak in front of everyone was a bad idea. Now hand that over or I might just have to take it from you." His voice was cold and held a dark humor that had Draco trembling in a mix of emotions. He was so curious about the said Boy-Who-Lived. He was nothing like Draco thought he would be. In a confused hurry Draco raised the gift above his head.
"Well go and catch it then!" And threw the Remembrall toward the school. Harry smirked at the boy then took off after it. He was about to grasp it as he flew at a nosedive. He caught the ball and did a flip on his broom to avoid hitting the ground. He held it triumphantly as he flew slowly to the grass, into the cheers of his housemates. He was truly excited, that is till Professor McGonagall came out yelling.
'What have I done now?' Was his only thought as she dragged him away to the charms classroom. She collected another boy called Oliver Wood.
"Harry this is Oliver Wood. Wood, I think I've found you a seeker!" She said in delight the boy only smiled and the two explained to Harry all about Quidditch and flying. Harry began to think this was the beginning of something great.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TimeSkip: Halloween~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was Halloween night and to say Harry was happy was like saying Santa Claus existed, cruel and false. Earlier that day Harry was walking with some other Gryffindor's when Ron commented cruelly on how Hermione corrected his spell casting.
"How could a muggleborn like her know any better than a pureblood like me about charms, she's just pathetic." Harry and the other boys gave him disapproving looks as he smiled smugly at them. Next thing they knew Hermione pushed past them, obviously having heard Ron's cruel words. Harry turned an ice-cold glare to Ron, which took away his smug look, and took off after his close friend. He found her an hour or so later crying in the girls lavatory. He opened the door and yelled "Hermione it's Harry. I'm a boy so I can't exactly come in so please come out? We are going to be late for the feast." He closed the door and waited for her to come out. She emerged about ten minute later, hair fluffier and eyes bloodshot from crying. Harry immediately embraced her to try and ease her hurt.
"Don't listen to anything that leprechaun says. He'll get nowhere on his own I know it. You're my best friend and everyone knows he is just jealous. " He said. Hermione seemed to be calmed down
"Oh Harry, I just hate how fake he is. I understand your need to be wary since you're in Gryffindor, but he is just mean and stubbornly arrogant! Oh I'm so weak to be fussing about this." She pulled from his hug and gave a thankful smile.
"I'll come to the feast soon, just let me freshen up a bit. Can't let him see I was actually crying for so long," She laughed giving Harry one last hug before reentering the bathroom.
"I'll meet you there Hermione!" He yelled and then turned to make his way to the Great Hall. As he was walking to the hall he turned a corner sharply and rammed into someone.
"Sorry!" He said quickly before even seeing whom he hit.
"Well watch where your—" said a voice before surprised grey eyes met sparkling emerald ones. Harry smirked, holding his hand out to the blonde.
"Do you need a hand Draco?" The blonde flushed as he disregarded the Gryffindor's hand and got up.
"Well Potter next time look before you walk. That Weasley seems to be destroying your manners and even affected how you walk. That's what the wrong sort do, taint you with their weakness." He sneered, but Harry could only grin back at him. Draco was caught off guard with the action, expecting the Boy-Who-Lived to hit or yell at him rather than smile.
"Oh him? No trust me, we are not as close as we seem." He looked Draco right in the eyes. "On the other hand, the two of us, I would love to get more acquainted."
He moved closer to the blonde, only to then walk down the corridor. Draco stood there, shocked into silence at the raven-haired boys actions. He shook his head, replacing the look with a scowl and continued his path to dinner.
Harry wore a smile his whole way to the Halloween feast. He was glad to have spoken to the Slytherin again, and confuse the blonde even more. He sat down next to Neville Longbottom, a shy cowardly boy, Dean Thomas, who was quite hilarious, and Seamus Finnegan, an Irish boy who had recently burned off his eyebrows. Other than Hermione and the twins, these were the only Gryffindor's he could tolerate. The feast continued till dessert arrived and Harry was getting anxious because Hermione had yet to arrive. Even stealing glances at his dragon did not calm his nerves. As he was about to get up and look for her Professor Quirell burst into the Great Hall.
"Troll! Troll in the dungeons! Troll in the dungeons!" He paused half way to the head table.
"I just thought you ought to know," and with that statement he fainted.
The hall erupted in chaos.
Students screamed and ran out the doors trampling over each other in their panic to escape the danger of the troll.
"Silence!" Dumbledore yelled and immediately the sound fell.
"Prefects please take your houses to the common rooms and stay there till you are told otherwise. Will all the teachers then please follow me to the dungeons" He spoke and then, in a more orderly chaos, all the students began to file out of the hall. Harry cursed his luck and while trying to get to the common room, slipped by and ran to the bathroom Hermione had been at earlier.
"She better still be there" he whispered as he ran down the hall. He came upon the bathroom just as the troll entered. He cursed and began to think of a plan as a loud "What are you up to mate?" was spoken in his ear.
"Shut up you twat" He whispered loudly while glaring at Ron.
"That troll just went in there we should be heading to the common room like the Headmaster said, Harry. What are you doing down here anyway?" Ron said in the same loud demanding voice. Harry wanted to hex the boy into next week at his stupidity.
"Why in bloody hell are you here than Ron, considering it is dangerous to be out with a troll on the loose?" He snapped back at him
"Well to follow you of coarse. Can't have THE Harry Potter getting hurt on my watch. Plus I am your best mate, what else could I do?" He smiled broadly at Harry, obviously unaware of the annoyance in Harry's eyes.
'Staying out of my way would be a start.' Harry thought as he made his way to the bathroom.
"Just be quiet Ron. Hermione is in there and we have to get her out." Ron snorted from behind him.
"Her? Why blimey Harry I would just leave her to the troll. Good riddance I would say." Harry stiffened and the silence frightened the red head.
"I'll pretend you didn't say that if you help me Ron. So shut up and let's go." The two entered the bathroom in time to hear Hermione scream for help.
The Troll had her cornered at one of the sinks and was continuously smashing everything around her. It was huge, twice the size of Hagrid. It had horned feet that looked like enlarged hooves and a fat belly. Everything was large except for its head that held two large ears and apparently a tiny brain. Ron froze upon actually seeing the troll, while Harry started throwing charms and spells at it.
"Expelliarmus!" He yelled and the trolls club flew and smashed into the other side of the wall. He tried running to Hermione, but the troll still blocked the way. It was searching for its club when it noticed Ron and Harry.
"Ron! Cast a spell at the troll!" Harry yelled as he jumped on its back to get it distracted. Ron stood there looking around, confused on what to cast. The troll now had Harry by the ankles and was swinging him around.
"Ron remember charms class? Use the spell on the club and hit the troll in the head!" yelled Hermione over the grunts of the troll. Ron tried casting the spell, but the club would only lift slightly or move a little.
"Ron hurry!" yelled Harry as he tried to get free of the trolls grip.
"Pathetic!" Hermione screamed as she pulled out her wand and pointed it at the club.
"Wingarduim Leviosa!" She moved her wand in the correct pattern and the club flew into the air. She pointed at the troll's head and, just as it grabbed Harry by the shoulders, the club met its mark. The troll staggered and dropped Harry flat on his back. Large ugly eyes rolled back, and then the troll fell flat on its stomach, snot and saliva spilling from its face.
Hermione walked over to Harry and helped him up while Ron just stood there looking shocked and dumbfounded. Hermione glared at him while she looked over Harry's head.
"Ronald you are a complete waste! How could you just leave Harry up there and fail at a simple levitation spell! You shouldn't even be his friend if you can't even protect him from a troll, you worthless blood traitor!" She yelled, getting all her anger out. However, at the last insult Ron's face turned bright red.
"At least I'm not a filthy muggleborn! Who pretends like she knows everything about being a witch, well guess what. You know nothing! Your stupid voice will attract more danger than the little good you would do! I wish that troll would have just finished you off so I'd never have to listen to your annoying voice again!" He shouted and ran from the bathroom leaving the other two lions to glare at where he stood.
"He'll come back, don't worry. Though I hope not as soon as I think." Harry said
"Harry sometimes I think you made the wrong choice with the sorting hat. You really should have been in Slytherin." She laughed without emotion and went to exit the lavatory.
That is, until all the staff walked in.
"What on earth are the two of you doing here!" Professor McGonagall said as she took in the damage of the room. Harry firmly placed on his Gryffindor mask and gave the professor a sheepish look.
"Professor you see I was worried about Hermione. She never came to dinner and I knew she had been upset earlier. When there was news of a troll I knew I had to find her and make sure she was okay." He looked to Hermione who was slightly red with embarrassment, but gave him a look of approval. "So I came here looking for her, only to see the troll walk into the lavatory. We just knocked it out professor. I was just trying to help my friend." He finished looking downward in submission.
"As foolish and noble as it was I remove five points from Gryffindor for rash thinking and breaking an order to return to the dormitories from the Headmaster." She sighed, "However, I reward you fifteen points for adequate use of charms and lessons in a life situation, and bravery to save your friend, Mr. Potter." She finished with a huff and left the room. The other professors filed out until Snape was left with the two students. Before he left, Harry saw him hide a large gash on his leg and limp away. 'curious' He thought as the two made their way to the common room.
Okay folks! So I know these chapters are kind of weird and jumpy, but they will all make sense in the end. The next chapter is going to start at the beginning of second year for Harry. This is because for the rest of first year, things go mostly according to the book. Except that Hermione and Fred go with Harry to get the Sorcerer's Stone and not Ron. He is pretty much a jealous outsider now, but he still wishes to be in Harry's good graces. Voldemort makes the appearance the same as in the book, and Harry goes back to the Dursly's for the summer. This next chapter will have a little more of Draco in it, but none of the good bits yet :P Be patient I promise to delve into the main story line in the next three-ish chapters. Please continue reading and supporting my writing. I'm trying to get these chapters written ASAIC, aka AS Soon As I Can
Kakeru