CHAPTER 8- Career Advice and Quidditch
Harry woke up early the next morning after an extremely uneasy sleep. He pulled the green curtains from his bed and grabbed his school robes in an effort to shower and get to breakfast before anyone else was the wiser. Unfortunately for him, the other Slytherin boys seemed to be early risers, something Harry was not used to coming from Gryffindor where all the boys seemed to sleep until the last possible moment.
Zabini and Nott were both sitting on their beds, while Malfoy was no where in sight. Harry was pleased to see that Crabbe and Goyle were still snoozing away. Just as Harry was finally getting his tie on, Malfoy appeared in the doorway. Harry looked up at him as he came forwards towards him. Malfoy had a note in his hands.
"Here, Potter." Malfoy handed the note to him. "It's from Professor Snape."
"Snape called you to his office this early?" Harry took the note and looked at Malfoy questioningly.
"No. I had to go up to the Owlery this morning and I past him in the halls. He said that I was to give this to you before you went to breakfast."
"Great. Err… Thanks." Harry opened the note and read it to himself.
Mr. Potter- In order to complete your transfer to Slytherin you are to meet me in my office this morning before going to the Great Hall for breakfast. -Professor S. Snape
"What's he want with you?" Malfoy asked.
"Meet with me. To…er…complete my transfer…"
"Probably just to get your classes for the coming term. Nothing to be concerned about." It was Nott. This was the first time Nott had spoken to him that Harry could ever remember.
"Yeah… probably." Harry left the dorm room and took off through the common room which he was pleased to see was mostly empty.
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Reaching Snape's office in record time, Harry felt his nerves twitch. Why was he so nervous anyways? Maybe it was because Snape was always horrible to him. Or maybe it was because Harry didn't know where Snape stood, what side is he on anyways? What side am I on?
Harry knocked twice and waited. The door opened itself and Harry took that as a sign to come in. Snape was sitting behind his desk looking just as sour as ever. Harry just lingered in the doorway before, "Professor? You wanted to see me?"
"Yes Potter. That is why I am sitting here waiting on you."
"I just got the note from Malfoy, Sir."
"Take a seat, Potter." Harry obeyed, sitting on the edge of the stool. "We are here to discuss your future career. Professor McGonagall has informed me that you wish to be an auror," Snape said as if it was the worst possible career choice, "is that still your ambition?"
"Err…" Why did it have to be Snape, Harry was suddenly missing Professor McGonagall, stern but caring. Snape didn't seem to care or think highly of Harry's ambitions. What did Harry want to do with his life? What did his future hold? Joining Voldemort… Maybe he should have asked Voldemort this? Or maybe…
"I'm not sure anymore, Professor. What, erm, like what did you want to be… before… I mean when you were sixteen?" Harry knew it was a long shot and defiantly dangerous territory, bringing up Snape's teen years…
Snape just stared at him with his mask of complete indifference in place. Harry noticed the slight twitch in his forehead. Perhaps this was not the best way to start his first day in Slytherin.
"I just mean, Sir, that…erm… I don't know what I want to do…anymore and I am open to suggestions…" Harry down at his shoes as he was getting nowhere by looking at Snape.
"What has caused such a sudden change in career choices, Potter? McGonagall was ever so certain that you were pursuing an auror career… Yet, we are sitting here discussing your… options… surely something must have brought this on?"
Harry kept his eyes down, if there was one thing Harry remembered from Snape's occlumency lessons last year it was that he needed eye contact for legilimens. Harry wasn't an idiot. "I just don't know what I want to do. Just put me in something so I can get on with it, I don't care."
Snape didn't say anymore for a few minutes, then, "Surely you have some ambitions, Potter? Perhaps your little adventure at the ministry last year was a…ah… turn off towards a career as an auror, however, you will make a decision so I can place you in the appropriate classes and get on with the rest of my day."
"I don't care, you pick."
"Fine. You can continue all the classes for a career as an auror."
"I just told you," Harry looked up at Snape to glare at him, "that I don't want to be an auror!"
"Don't raise your voice to me, Potter!"
"Then, pick some classes so we can both move on with our days!"
Snape looked murderous now and Harry was on the edge of his seat. "I don't care what classes I take! It's not going to matter anyways!"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Harry didn't answer. He hadn't meant to say it. Harry knew this conversation was about to get deadly and he had no desire to continue it. "I'll take the classes for an auror."
Snape started at him for a full minute then grabbed his quill and started to copy down a schedule on the time table. Snape slide the paper to him on the table. Harry looked down at it.
Potions- Monday & Wednesday- (double period)
Transfiguration- Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
Herbology- Monday & Wednesday
Defense Against the Dark Arts- Tuesday & Friday- (double period)
Charms- Thursday & Friday
"Get to breakfast, Potter, I expect you to be on time to all your lessons today."
Harry pocketed his timetable and hurried out the door towards the Great Hall.
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Snape may have successfully gotten his schedule sorted but now Harry had wasted so much of the morning that he was practically late to breakfast. This meant, to Harry's enormous dissatisfaction, that the majority of the school was most likely already there.
Harry kept his head down and made his way to the Slytherin table, completely avoiding eye contact with anyone including the number of Gryffindor's that were practically standing in their seats to get a glimpse of him in his Slytherin robes.
Harry looked up upon reaching the table and saw Zabini nodding to the seat next to him. Malfoy and Nott were directing across from him. Seeing no other solution, Harry sat down next to Zabini.
"Get your classes sorted, Potter?" Nott asked.
Harry nodded, "Yeah."
"What do you have today?" Zabini asked, but before Harry could answer, another Slytherin had taken a seat to Harry's left rather suddenly.
"Good there you are Potter!" Harry couldn't remember his name, but Harry knew he had seen him on the quidditch pitch before. "Erm…" Harry started, "did you need me?"
The large dirty blonde headed kid struck out his hand to shake Harry's, "Urquhart. Erik Urquhart. Quidditch captain."
Realization suddenly dawned on Harry and Snape's words came back to him…
"…I'm sure Urquhart will be looking to speak with you in the coming week…"
Quidditch. They would want him to play quidditch. "I'm uh… pleased to meet you and all, but I'm not sure how I can help. I mean, Malfoy is your seeker and I've never played another position."
Draco spoke up, "I'm taking up the Chaser position this year Potter, which means, we need a seeker. And who better than Harry Potter? The nearly undefeated seeker."
"Right," it was Urquhart again, "So Potter, we've all seen you fly. No need for try outs. Practice is every Tuesday and Thursday, then every other Saturday. So, I expect you to be ready tomorrow for practice, the first matches are coming up quick this year, we will have the cup back in Professor Snape's office this year."
"Uh. Sure. I'll be there." Harry hadn't thought of this. How would his old teammates in Gryffindor think of him now that he was going to be playing for Slytherin?
Urquhart left to go join his fellow seventh years further down the table, he saw him sit down with Warrington, who Harry also had seen on the quidditch pitch in previous years.
Harry finished breakfast in silence and then joined Malfoy, Zabini, and Nott towards the dungeons. They all had potions class together it seemed. Upon reaching the door to the potion's lab, Harry spotted Ron and Hermione waiting with the other Gryffindors. Ron's eyes travelled from the surrounding Slytherins to Harry and gave him a look of disbelief. Harry walked towards his former classmates when Seamus stepped in front of him, "What the hell Harry? Why would you ask for a resorting?" People turned around now, stopping their conversations to listen. This was exactly what everyone wanted to know.
Harry could feel the eyes of his fellow Slytherins on the back of his head. "Doesn't matter. It's my business." Harry hadn't meant for it to come out so coldly. He walked past Seamus straight to Ron and Hermione. Harry dropped his voice to a whisper so that only Ron and Hermione could hear him, "Good to see you guys. I'm sorry about last night…I had no idea Snape was going to come out like that."
"It's fine, Harry." Hermione gave him a sympathetic look.
Ron kept looking over Harry's shoulder to where Harry knew the Slytherins were watching, "Why are they starring? They your new friends now Harry?"
"I don't know. Don't mind them." Harry said dismissively. "They have been fine to be honest. No one has said anything to me."
"I don't like this. I mean Slytherin Harry! Slytherin! You couldn't have resorted into a worse house. How do you know they aren't going to slit your throat while you sleep?" Ron said all this with his eyes still staring at the Slytherins behind them.
"Leave it, Ron." Hermione waved her hand in front of his face to gain his attention, "Just let them be." She turned to Harry again, "How has Snape been?"
"Fine. I mean he made me meet him this morning to get my class schedule sorted out… oh and of course he already got me on the Slytherin quidditch team…"
"YOUR GOING TO PLAY QUIDDITCH FOR THEM?" Ron shouted looking at Harry betrayed. Harry could hear Malfoy snickering behind him. Harry opened his mouth to yell at Ron to shut up when the door to the classroom banged open.
"Weasley! What are you shouting about?" Snape had made his appearance.
Ron's ears went red and he turned towards Snape but before he could answer Malfoy spoke up, "Professor Snape, Weasley was trying to fight Potter because he is going to be playing quidditch for Slytherin, Sir."
Harry turned to Malfoy with his mouth wide open. That son of a…
"That'll be another detention, Weasley, and twenty points from Gryffindor for fighting."
Harry turned to Snape to put this whole mess right when his shoulder was knocked sideways. Ron had shoved right into Harry and walked into the classroom. Leaving Harry and Hermione standing their mouths hanging open in complete disbelief.
"What are you all standing around for? Get inside!" Snape shouted at the rest of the class. Harry couldn't feel his feet. Why did Malfoy have to do that? Harry didn't move, he was in shock. Hermione gently grabbed his elbow and pulled him into the classroom, "It's okay, Harry, let's just go get seats."
Harry and Hermione sat in the back seats together, Ron had paired up with Seamus two rows ahead of them. Snape started his lecture as soon as the door to the dungeon closed. Harry was lost in his thoughts, whatever Snape was going on about, Harry wasn't paying any attention in the slightest. He was angry at Malfoy, angry at Ron, and overall angry that all this was happening to him.
You did this to yourself. You got yourself resorted. Ron isn't going to stick by you now that you're a Slytherin. But did it really matter if Ron hated him? Sure, he was Harry's best friend, his first friend. But Harry had moved on from that life, the day he decided to go along with Voldemort's request, Harry had given up that part of his life. This was something new to accept.
Snape was droning on when Harry whispered to Hermione, "You have to let me go."
Hermione turned her head slightly and her eyes narrowed, "What are you talking about."
"You and Ron. You must let me go. Things aren't the same anymore. I'm not the same anymore. Things are going to change. He's not going to accept that, and I don't think you will either."
Hermione looked on the verge of tears, "We're friends, Harry, best friends. I'm not going to ditch you just because the color of your robes has changed."
Harry sighed. Hermione wasn't one to give up. "I'm a Slytherin now. I'm making…different choices now… you need to let me go. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me."
Tears were leaking out of Hermione's eyes now, but she wiped them away with the back of her hand. Snape had finished the lecture, and everyone was moving to get their ingredients from the store cupboards. Hermione didn't look back at him as she went to gather her ingredients. They worked on their potions for the rest of the class in silence. Snape didn't even give him a zero today.
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The rest of the day past by Harry as a blur. He ate lunch with Malfoy and Nott, Zabini having been in another class at the time, and no one mentioned what had happened with Ron before potions. Slytherins, Harry was becoming to realize, really did stick up for one another. Many comments were made towards Harry throughout the day.
"Traitor" "Slytherin Potter" "Can't believe he is going to play quidditch for them!" Harry had been whispered about before, so he just continued on and shrugged them off. Dinner came and went and soon Harry had successfully completed his first day as a Slytherin. He was currently sitting on his bed with his potions book out working on the gruesome homework that Snape had assigned to them that morning. He may be in Slytherin but hanging out in the common room was not something he was used to yet. He preferred the comfort of his green hangings to hide himself away in, and he also wished to speak with someone…
Making sure his silencing spells were in place, Harry called into the mirror in the language only him and the recipient understood, "Dark Lord". It was almost a full minute before Lord Voldemort's handsome face appeared in the mirror.
"Good Afternoon, my son. How was your first day back at school?"
"Fine. I guess. Slytherin wants me to play quidditch for them, the whole school hates me, and I had to get career advice from Snape."
"Severus is treating you well then?"
Harry paused not sure rather he wanted Snape in trouble with Voldemort or if Voldemort would even care how Snape treated him, "Well, he hasn't deducted any points from me. Although why would he I'm in his house now. He seems different like… like he is tolerating me. Why do you ask?"
Voldemort appeared indifferent to this, "Severus Snape is a complicated man, Harry. But it would not do well for him to mistreat you…"
"He's not" Not yet anyways, he thought. It could only be a matter of time before Snape went back to making Harry's life hell, although, "You think Snape would treat me differently if he knew I was in contact with you?"
Voldemort smirked at him, "I would imagine he would but being apart of his house, this should ease some of your tensions. Afterall, you are on the same side now…"
"Draco Malfoy is trying to be my friend now."
"And your opposed to this?"
Harry pursed his lips together in thought. What was he opposed to anymore? "Maybe? No? I don't know…."
"You need to be sure of yourself, Harry." Voldemort's voice was stern, almost like a father speaking to a wayward son. It was something Harry was sure Lucius Malfoy would say.
"No. I'm not opposed to Draco Malfoy trying to make friends."
"Good," Voldemort smiled gently at him, his red eyes gleaming, "because I have a special mission for you, and Draco Malfoy will be assisting you."
Harry sat up straight. Voldemort had a mission, for him! "What is it?"
"Not quite, Harry. We will discuss this more in person."
"In person?"
"Yes," Voldemort's eyes were like large red orbs now gleaming with happiness. "You will be coming to see me over the holidays for Christmas."
Harry starred at him in disbelief. This was insanity. There was no way he would be able to leave Hogwarts for Christmas break, he never left, and if he did it was always with the Weasleys. If he was expected to leave it would have to be to Headquarters for the Order and Harry knew security would be too tight there.
"Don't worry about the details, Harry, I will make sure that you get safely here and then back to school. For the mean time, I want you to get closer to Draco. You will both need to build a relationship of sorts if your going to work together. Time to put the past where it belongs, in the past. Our future is bright my son."
A/N: Okay so I just wanted to get this out there! Please R&R for me!
I also love suggestions for good stories if your reading any. Cheers!