I sat back and watched my husband graduate from a totally different Hogwarts than when graduated. To this day, I never regretted throwing my NEWT scores to attend an additional year. It was that additional year that I finally got my heart's desire and witnessed how history, present and future were changed in a single night. I reflect on what led up to that change.
Flashback
I could not believe that my 8th year of Hogwarts would be without Quidditch. I still could not believe that I threw my NEWTS just to come back for one more year. He only had to look across the Hall for the reason though he would never admit it. The young boy dark haired savior captured his heart from the get-go.
I could see the immediate signs of abuse the first time he sat on the stool. I could see that he did not know about this world or his place in it. I could see how everyone treated him. I sometimes just wanted to shout at everyone and curse the hell out of the Headmaster. Now there was a tournament being held here for only of age students. I just knew that the boy would somehow be roped into the damn thing.
I also knew that I could not do anything. I could only work behind the scenes as I have been doing. I swear that Malfoy is going to find him with the inability to father children. It takes my restraints to a whole new level. I know how people see me. I have threatened enough people over the last 3 years to remain quiet or cursed them to leave him alone without them knowing I was doing it for him specifically.
I know how he sees Slytherins. I know how I am seen. I know people expect me to become a Death Eater. I know I know I am seen as a dumb brute. I know that I will probably be seen as nothing more. It also fits to hide behind my intents and attractions for the ignorant young Lord.
I watch weeks go by. I watch as the schools arrive. I watch as the champions are drawn. I can only sigh when I see the fourth paper, because I know the name on it before it is spoken. I watch as chaos erupts. I see a repeat of two years ago. I can only sigh on the blindness of everyone.
I watch as this time the boy is left completely alone except for two people but surprisingly not the other part of the trio. Yet, he should not be surprised at all. Throughout the last 6 centuries if not longer, the two families have stood side by side in adversity. I can only hope that it would open the ignorant boy through no fault of his own to his ancestry.
I know I have checked the library and all the books on whose who and ones that have mentioned his family somehow disappeared out of the library the year he started school. I looked because after four months I could not understand why he still did not act according to his station. I also noticed wizarding customs were also removed.
I watched him use both his Parseltongue and flying abilities to complete the first task. I watched with annoyance that his flying caught the attention of the famous seeker. I watched the slow changes. They were subtle and slight but still there. I knew that the boy now knew at least about his station.
I had to grip the table when the Yule Ball was announced. I knew that I would have watch him dance with someone. I would have to watch someone else being able to touch him. I knew that he would never see me as more than a brute. I knew that he would not see past my house.
I would have to say that I was shocked when the school owl landed in front of me with a small package and note. It took all my restraint not to react to the note yet alone a book on chaser moves and tactics of the professional leagues alongside a letter that threw my whole world and belief into utter chaos.
Marcus,
I know I should not be using your first name without permission. However, I feel that we are beyond just the use of last names. I have watched you as you have watched me. I know you were behind people easing off the attacks in my second year. What I would like to know is if I were to walk up to the Slytherin table and ask you to be my date to Yule Ball, would you accept?
You may see me as younger brother and I would accept that; however, I have felt a pull to you, since the first time I saw you on the pitch. Hence, the reason for this note. I am trying to gauge where I stand with you: brother, friend, or possibly something more. I want you to be honest.
HP
I spent the whole day rereading the note. I just could not believe that it was real. I sent my reply to him the next morning. I watched him take the note from the school owl. I watched him put it in his pocket. I watched him continue talking to Neville. I watched them leave to go to class. I watched as nothing happened during lunch or dinner that day or the next day. I watched as a package was delivered. I watched as nothing happened that night. I was beginning to have doubts.
I sat in the Great Hall. It had been four days since I sent my reply with no results. I felt the sadness the fill me. I looked around the Hall and noticed that both Longbottom and Potter were missing, and dinner started 20 minutes ago. The door suddenly opened. I was stunned.
There the Potter and Longbottom heirs stood in their in formal robes. I watched as Potter nodded to Longbottom. I watched Longbottom move forward slightly in front of Potter. Everyone including myself watched as they moved towards the Ravenclaw table. They stopped behind Luna Lovegood. I watched as Potter placed his hand on Longbottom's shoulder and nodded. Any pureblood would recognize the custom of a higher house granting consent to a lower house that has sworn fealty to the higher house. "I, Neville Franklin Longbottom Heir Primus of the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom, asks if you would do me the great honor of attending the Yule Ball as my date."
Luna rose and smiled she held out her hand. "I would be honored to attend the Yule Ball with you, Heir Longbottom." He took her hand and kissed it as she curtseyed. I watched as Potter nodded and smiled to the girl who also gave him a curtsy. I watched as he kissed her hand. I watched as something was murmured between the two. I noticed the smirk and mischief in the eyes of the Potter heir.
Everyone kept their eyes on the boy. I noticed that there were many whispers at the Ravenclaw table. I watched as the Longbottom Heir bowed the bow indicating he was in fealty to the one before him. "After you, my Liege." Longbottom stated. Potter nodded and moved in front and Longbottom followed at the proper distance. Everyone thought that they would return to the Gryffindor table.
Whispers got louder as he moved towards the head table and took a moment to nodded at the Head of Slytherin house before turning towards the Slytherin table. My mouth went dry. I watched as he moved closer and I noticed what had Ravenclaw whispering. Potter was not just in formal robes, but he was in formal Lord robes with four house crests on them.
The whispers around the hall grew as he stopped before me. I could see his eyes sparkling with mischief and something else. "I, Lord Harold James Peverell Slytherin Black Potter, Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Houses of Potter and Black and Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Slytherin, asks if Marcus Flint the second son of Lord Anthony Marcus Flint, Lord of the Noble House of Flint, would do me the honor of being my date for the Yule Ball?"
For a moment, my mind went blank, because it was not a joke. I quickly smiled. "I would be honored to attend the ball with you, Lord Slytherin Black Potter." I felt odd as I bowed and held my hand and he kissed it. I took my seat, but Potter still did not move. I could see the mischief in his eyes. I watched him walk up to the crests on the wall near the Slytherin table. "I, Lord Harold James Peverell Slytherin Black Potter, Lord of the Houses of Gryffindor and Slytherin, command that these crests revert back to their original states and to remain in this state till I command otherwise." Potter spoke in Parseltongue.
I and everyone gasped at the Parseltongue and the power that was felt through the Hall. Everyone watched as the crests began to change to portraits. If the portraits were not enough to stun the Hall, the moment the portrait of Salazar Slytherin bowed to Potter and spoke did. "You have done us a great honor in releasing us from what my nephew did. You are a credit to Slytherin House."
Harry's laugh sent chills through me. "I wish I could say I am in Slytherin but cannot. I am Lord Slytherin through your bastard son, who eventually produced a long line of squibs that eventually married an Evans whose second daughter was born a witch who married a Potter that had already absorbed the House of Gryffindor. They were murdered by someone claiming to be your heir but was the heir of your younger stepbrother. I was sent to live with muggles with no knowledge of the magical world till it was time for me to come to Hogwarts. I am ashamed to admit that I listened to the bias and prejudice of others and allowed the actions of one person to influence my decision and argued and forced the hat to put me anywhere other than Slytherin though Slytherin should have been my house. So, the hat put me in the house of my dead parents. A house that is also filled with as much bigotry and hate as Slytherin House. I was placed in Gryffindor because I am almost an even split between the two houses with Slytherin traits being marginally stronger. The other two houses also have similar issues. Yet, all four houses, ostracize me for being a Parseltongue and for something I did not want. I felt it was about time that the four houses learn the true history of the Founders. For it is being taught that Slytherin hated all magical children born to nonmagical parents. It is being taught that Gryffindor and Slytherin were never friends and that the three other Founders forced Slytherin to leave Hogwarts and eventually became a founder of Drumstrang."
The portraits began to start yelling that it was all lies amongst other things. I watched as Potter silently walked out of the Hall with Longbottom. The only thing I could think was oh shit. I could honestly say that there was not a student that did not return to their dorms that night without feeling ashamed and that includes the international student but especially the Drumstrang students.