AN: Sorry, I've been taking longer than I'd like to update, but I am in college and my schoolwork comes first. Also please excuse the grammar mistakes, I don't have a Beta and I am defiantly not an English major.
Chapter 3 – Settling In
It had been a week since the opening ceremonies, yet everyone was still trying to get used to the new classmates and schedules. Instead of only being taught by their Hogwarts Professors they were in classes that were being taught by both Grummerlich and Drumstrang professors as well so that all the NEWT subjects were covered Teachers from Hogwarts and Grummerlich were flooing into Durmstrang to teach subjects for all the students. Yet the biggest change to all of it was the fact that all the seventh years were grouped into one huge class, as were the 6th years, 5th and 4th years. Durmstrang kept a normal schedule for their younger age groups. This however meant that in order to hit all three school's curriculum they each were learning new subjects, Dark Arts wasn't something that was studied at Hogwarts just the Defense of them, yet both Grummerlich and Drumstrang taught those courses. This was especially tough for the Hogwarts students since they were jumping into it at a 7th year level having no prior experience. While wandless magic was a subject taught by Grummerlich that caused quite a bit of struggle for the other schools. However Harry was surprised when Tom, who'd made quite the spectacle of her wandless magic at the opening ceremony, could barely lift the feather they were practicing on.
She waved him off when he'd asked saying that her magic was still low from that and would be for a while. He was also relieved to learn in wandless magic Grummerlich only started teaching it in their 6th year classes. While Hogwarts students excelled in Care of Magical Creatures, and Herbology, Sprout was a much better teacher than any of the other schools seemed to have. One thing was for certain though, all of them were in for a tough school year, but they also got to meet a ton of new people and get to know new subjects while competing against the other schools.
The oddest part for Harry to get used to though was the Heads all shared a common room, living space and off from it were 5 stair cases of varying height that lead to their own rooms. In each of their own rooms was another door that connected to the dormitory their school's year and gender were staying in, so Draco and Tyler each had a door that opened into the Durmstrang 7th year men's dorm. Harry was pleasantly surprised to see they had a fair number of Muggle appliances as well, including a tv, stereo and refrigerator and a full kitchen. Tom had been quite excited about the kitchen, while Draco, Hermione and Tyler had all yelled "NO!" when she'd commented about it. Hermione had explained later that Hagrid's cooking was safer than Tom's. Harry wasn't sure that was possible til the next night when Tom had attempted to make cookies, he could have sworn cardboard would have tasted better. Ron had thrown a fit when he realized Harry had to share living space with Tom and Draco though. That went on until Harry assured him there were locks on his door leading to the common room so no one could get into his room in the middle of the night and kill him. Ron still made him put up wards on hid door while he watched though just incase.
The inter-school competition though had been expanded to more than the Champions this time around and they had incorporated all types of competitions, from a Potions tournament, to a dueling championship, to broom races, wizards chess and Quidditch leagues to increase the competition level and promote healthy competition as well as camaraderie. Harry had been voted team captain of the top Quidditch team, Hermione the potions leader, and they had stuck Ron with the wizard's chess team, he was ecstatic to say the least. The others competition teams were still up in the air, McGonagall told both Harry and Hermione that she expected them to be leaders in all the competitions, whether they were competing in them or not.
Much to the surprise of the faculty though a prank war had already broken out among the Heads of the schools. The fact that all the student Head Boys and Girls, were either friend or family with one another caused the disturbance none of them could have foreseen. It had all started at dinner the third night, where Tom unbeknownst to anyone else had bewitched Draco and Tyler's goblets so that whenever they took a sip from their glass their hair would change to another random color. Which was quite amusing watching Draco and Tyler take a drink and having their hair change to neon pink and electric blue. However neither of them noticed for most of dinner , they were too hungry to look up at the hall, which was in fits of laughter. But as soon as they did, both glared at Tom, who just smirked only goading them into playing along with her challenge to a prank war.
Harry didn't, expect himself to be next on Tom's prank list, he barely knew her anymore. But sure enough he was. As he took his seat at the table early for breakfast having just gotten back from the first of the three rounds of the Hogwarts joint houses Quidditch team. He had sectioned each day off into a try out for the different positions, today he'd been looking only at Beaters, and he was narrowing it down to 4 people who would then be called back for a practice tonight to decide for sure which two would make the top team and which two would head up the 2nd team.
"Hey Tom" he said plopping down next to her with a yawn. "Did you grow in you sleep?"
She jumped having not heard him arrive. "Jeez Harry, you scared me." She laughed looking around. "I didn't expect anyone to be up this early. And no? I've grown since we were younger though, but compared to you I don't think my 5'9" counts."
Harry laughed, "Well you certainly seem taller" looking around at the 3 people in the hall besides them, McGonagall and two students from Grummerlich. Harry slowly slumped over to the edge of the hall where a full coffee bar resided. He reached for the coffee pouring it into his glass. He froze as he set the pot back down. He glared at Tom who had a wide smile on her face. He fought the urge to open his mouth as long as he could while background music started playing he clenched his jaw, but sure enough Tom's spell won out in the end. "The day starts, the day ends. Time crawls by, night steals in pacing the floor!" He sang glowering at Tom as he finished fixing his coffee and walked back to his table trying to act as normal as possible while singing whatever song it was she had picked. He had to admit he was lucky that he had the voice he did, otherwise it'd have been even worse, even though it was just the five of them in the room. As the song ended Tom clapped delicately with a flourish.
"That was actually really good who knew you were such an amazing Baritone." She laughed as Harry glared at her his eyes narrowing.
"I'm watching you Tom." He said lowly, before returning to his meal.
Tom however only laughed at his weak attempt at a threat. "How did your Quidditch tryouts go?" She asked digging into her bowl of oatmeal, switching the subject away from the prank. Harry had to admit he was relieved he'd gotten that over with before most of the school had seen or heard him.
"Good." Harry nodded. "We tried out Beaters this morning tonight I'll make the final decisions." Harry took a bite of bacon before looking up at her. "What competitions are you competing in?"
She held up a finger for a moment as Tyler walked in sitting down his head falling on to the table he tapped his plate twice with his finger, food flying on to it from the spread. Harry watched impressed realizing the magic he originally thought had just been rolling off of Tom was also coming off Tyler he just had something up blocking his outward magical signature. "I'm competing in the Quidditch tournament, and dueling but I have to choose the teams for all of the interschool competitions." Tom said. "But I have a good idea of what I want to do. I already have the Dueling team decided, the Quidditch teams were mostly made from last year, with a few small changes since each Coterie has a different team,"
"What's a Coterie?" Harry asked still watching Tyler who had decided to eat with his fork floating from his plate to his mouth which was facing away from them, his head still resting on the table.
"Its like the house system for Hogwarts, but we only have three, Myrddin, Maeve and Morgan. We are split at the end of our 3rd year based on a series of tests."
"Wait really?" Harry asked intrigued by the supposedly Dark school's way of doing things.
"Yea they split us by what's in our hearts and minds and how much power we can wield. We are one of the few schools that specializes in training to your class of magic, not just in the basics of the wizard class." Tom explained, she stopped looking at Harry's confused face "Hogwarts didn't teach you about the different classes of magic or how to denote them did they?"
Harry shook his head. "No, I've never even heard of that before."
"Really?" This time it was Tyler who spoke. His coffee must have kicked in, "Hogwarts was run by a Mage for the last few years, and they never talked about classifications?"
"Nope, Hogwarts focuses on equality first, Dumbledore never wanted to draw attention away from the unity of the school by laying out who belonged to which class just by the power of their magic." Draco said sitting next to Tyler. Hermione joining sitting next to Harry, she was still keeping her distance from Draco in public, no need to cause a huge uproar about it.
"How did you-?" Harry started, but Draco cut him off.
"I grew up in a household that believed in division, I was taught that I was better than everyone else because of my blood-status," Draco said putting air quotes around 'blood-status' "Then when I hit thirteen, I was told I was better because I was a higher classification than most others in our grade." He finished.
"What are the classifications and how many are there?" Harry asked.
"There is an order of the classes and in each class there is a 1 through 5 rating. 1 being the weakest and 5 being the strongest. Muggles are first and the weakest, then Squibs, Wizards, High Wizards, Sorcerers, Mages, High Mages, Priestess." Hermione filled in, "Out of all those with magic 65% are Wizards of some type, High Wizards 20%, Sorcerers 9%, Mages are 4% & High Mages are 2% of our population."
"At Grummerlich if you meet a class above wizard you're put into special classes to train for your ability in the magic world"
"Wait what about Priestess'?" Harry asked.
"Priestess' are less than 0.000001% of our population. They are born out of our roots, and one hasn't been known to exist for centuries." Tom explained. Tyler half laughed half snorted at her plugging his nose to keep the pumpkin juice from coming out.
"That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard come out of your mouth." He laughed.
"They are born from our roots?" Harry asked ignoring Tyler's comment.
"Yes, Magic was born from the druids in the ancient times, practiced and passed down, revised and studied until everything we do is based from the old Druid techniques and the way that they studied and cultivated magic until it was passed down through our blood not just through being learned. A Priestess it is said has to come from the Druid beliefs, so she has to have grown up a Druid, this helps with mastery, technique, and knowledge of where magic comes from." Tom explained.
"You keep saying she."
"Yea, in the Druid beliefs, only a woman can fully harness and master the study of magic. Its also why women were always accused of being witches back when magic was more out in the open for Muggles to see, and it scared them since to them woman still aren't seen as equals." Tom explained, shrugging.
"How are the Coteries divided?"
"Oh I've always wondered that!" Hermione interjected, "And how do those who haven't been tested get tested?"
Tom laughed, "Myrddin is for the strongest, and those who look at the world as a whole, Respect, Loyalty, Wisdom and Intelligence are valued the most. Maeve is for those who don't hold as much potential magically but have incredible insight to how everyone fits together, Compassion, Selflessness, Adaptability, and Dignity are held in high regard. Then Morgan, the ones in-between, they are Clever, Disciplined, Freethinking, and Passionate." Tom explained "As for getting tested, I believe you could ask Ms. Darcer. She is licensed to run the classification test." Tom said nodding toward the door, they all understood getting up to leave back to the Head's Dorm.
"What are each of you?" Harry asked as they walked down the hall toward the entrance.
Tom opened her mouth but Tyler beat her to the punch "Draco is considered a Mage : 3, I tested into High Mage : 5, and Tom recently retested into Mage : 4, but that's with extenuating circumstances." Tyler said glaring at the fiery girl who rolled her eyes.
Tom walked out of the hall, first and ran into Ron & Ginny Weasley, who until then had been doing their best to stay away from her. Ron backed around her quickly grabbing Harry's arm "Harry I was just looking for you," Ron said, "I wanted to –" he trailed off as he dragged Harry with him trying to put as much space between himself and Tom as he could.
"Don't mind him, he always takes awhile to warm up to people, and-"
Tom cut Hermione off, "Don't worry about it, everyone has heard of Grummerlich, we get the same weary looks and people making it a point to give us a wide birth wherever we go. Haven't you noticed half of Drumstrang and Hogwarts pick whatever seat is farthest from us when ever any of us walk in the room." Tom shrugged, walking the rest of the way in silence letting Tyler or Draco answer for her.
All the 7th years shuffled into an auditorium like room for History of Magic. Harry sat down next to Ron and Hermione Draco on the other side of the aisle from her, and Tom in front to him which made Ron uneasy.
All Harry could hope for was a teacher who was alive and didn't droan on in a monotone. He was pleasantly surprised when a young man flew swiftly down the aisle to the front. "This year we will be going through many great Wizard's & witches and their accomplishments." he boomed his voice low and deep. That day they learned about Merlin, a wizard who had gone to Hogwarts and much to Harry's surprise had been sorted into Slytherin. He was a High Mage : 5, created the Order of Merlin, invented spells, and charms though out his life.
Towards the last few minutes of class he asked for questions one hang in the front shot up. The professor called on her "I heard that there is also the prophecy of Merlin has that ever been proven? Or is it just a myth?"
"Prophecies are just that, they don't go away til they are fulfilled, so no to the best of my knowledge Merlin's prophecy has not come to pass, and no it is not just a myth.
Anoher hand raised as he finish, the teacher again nodded but this time to Terry Boot "What is Merlin's prophecy?"
"Excellent question." He said smiling "The prophecy of Merlin is one of the oldest and most well known prophecies in the wizarding world, there are many different theories on the subject, but we wont know which are correct until the prophecy comes to pass. Does anyone know the full prophecy?" He asked looking around. Tom leaned over to Tyler as they both started to mutter under their breath to each other. While on his other side Hermione's arm flew into the air.
"Of course you know it Granger," Draco said snidely, keeping up the appearance that they still hated one another.
"Yes Ms.-"
"Granger"
"Ah Ms Granger would you be willing to recite the prophecy?" She nodded.
"His line continued, the magical traits lay dormant as they are passed daughter to daughter to son to daughter, until those of worthy and true hearts, find they are needed by the world most, they shall emerge. With full powers they know not bound inside lying dormant for generations of time until their match is met, the powers unleashed for the world's benefit. They will so be Merlin's Heir. Recognize them for on they shall hold the mark of Merlin. Druid of birth they will be the second of their power the world has ever seen, a priestess and a High Mage together they shall be able to manipulate time, inflict pain with a thought, joy and health with a smile and trigger terror with a glance, they shall be the greatest duo the world has ever known. With their rise so shall the Golden Age begin." Hermione finished. While Tom and Tyler had started playing rock paper scissors and the winner would sock the other in the leg below the table, obviously not listening to the teacher. "Seriously you two?" Hermione hissed watching them play as the teacher congratulated her.
"Very good Ms. Granger, very good, now I want you all to look into a theory about Merlin's prophecy and write me 2 feet on it for next class. Now get into groups of 6 with the row in front of you if you are on an odd row and discuss what you believe is going to happen."
Ron spun around looking frantically counting the rows to find out if they were going to be in a group that wouldn't involve Tyler, Tom and the other Grummerlich girl next to her in it. "1,2,3,4,5 no… 1,2,3,4,5 no… 1,2,3-"
"Ron knock it off" Hermione said giving him a withering look.
"Are you kidding me." He grumbled.
Harry rolled his eyes "Ron this is Tom, I knew her growing up, we went to primary school together." Harry said watching Ron.
"What!?" He yelped staring at Harry like he has three heads.
"She's from Surrey, we grew up down the street from each other."
"But you, you're, you're from Grummer-"
"Yes I'm from Grummerlich, I'm a GA Girl, don't mess with me I'm stronger than you think, but dear lord stop acting like I can smite you!"
Ron turned bright red, "I, umm, why did you go to primary? Grummerlich doesn't take Muggle-Borns, so you had to know you were a witch."
"I grew up with a different family, my mom was in Azkaban and my father was presumed dead, so I was adopted into a family who happened to have a Muggle-Born 1 year old in the family but they didn't know I was going to Grummerlich til I got my visit, they did know I was a witch, the Ministry kept tabs on me because I was marked 'high-risk' based on my mom. So I went to primary school with Harry, the Ministry actually encouraged me to go to Muggle primary."
"I never knew that." The girl on the other side of Tom said "Who is your mom? I don't think you've ever told me."
"I don't think I know either." Hermione commented, her eyebrows narrowing as she thought hard about it.
"Umm well," Tom glanced at Tyler who shrugged. "Ugh ok, just know I am not my mother," Tyler snorted nodding and Draco laughed from the other table he'd heard the discussion and was now shaking his head, causing Ron to stare at Draco's strange behavior.
"Do we know her?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Tom said. "You've met her a few times."
"I thought she was in Azkaban."
"She was, she escaped a few years ago." she was still staring at the desk.
"Tom who you're parents are doesn't make a difference in who you decide to be." Tyler said. "Look at me, my dad is known across the world as the worst serial killer in Wizarding History, he didn't even get prison he was killed on sight by the American Ministry. That's why I go by my moms last name, and you by you're adopted parents name, it's because who they are doesn't define who we are."
Tom nodded and looked up "Ok so this isn't going to be pleasant or easy, then again it never is; Bellatrix LeStrange is my mother." She said then waited, watching them as the wheels slowly clicked.
"I knew you were Draco's cousin but I never thought about it being on his mom's side." The girl next to Tom said.
"Really Chatey?" Tom asked almost laughing, she grabbed a handful of her long dark brown hair and raised it up, "I look nothing like the past 3 generation's of Malfoys!"
"There are recessive genes," Tom looked at her smiling as if she was waiting for Chatey to say something that'd make sense. "Oh shut up Tom."
"It is true, look at Dumbledore," Hermione said slowly.
Harry though was still stuck in his mind, the woman who killed his godfather was one of his, well she was the closest thing he'd had to a friend growing up. "Sorry," he muttered, "its just taking me a bit to wrap my head around this." He said, running a hand through his hair messing it up. Tom just nodded.
"Take all the time you need Harry." She said before the delved back into the conversation about the prophecy of Merlin's heir.
They sat in the courtyard doing their homework surrounded by jars of blue flames Hermione had produced to keep them warm from the grounds already cold with frost, when Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Kent came hurriedly down the stairs, along with a very small stout looking wizard.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, their seems to be an urgent matter that we must discuss with you two, as soon as possible." Professor Kent said.
Harry and Draco looked at each other then at their friend, "Your friends may come with if you would like them too. Just know this is of the upmost importance, and was told to us to do as the very last part of Dumbledore's will and parting testament."
They nodded Harry, Hermione, Ron, Draco and Tom following McGonagall inside and up to Headmaster Kent's office.
"I think its best for them if they hear this alone" McGonagall said, closing the door. Shutting the door behind her.
Tom rolled her eyes, "Yeah sure." She looked over at Hermione presenting the door to her.
Hermione stepped up tapping the door with her wand muttering a spell, the door became see through and they could suddenly hear everything that was going on inside the room.
"Ahem! Mr Potter, Mr - Erhm – Draco, would you both sign this to acknowledge you've received this message?" The squat man asked.
They nodded stepping forward. "Professor I was hoping this would be quick, where is Mrs. Malfoy?"
"On her way I'm sure," McGonagall answered staring at the fire.
"Mother? Why is my Mother coming?" Draco asked as the fire turned green.
"To answer any questions that may arise from this." Kent answered in a clipped tone that left little room for argument.
"Hello dear," Narcissa said hugging Draco, dropping a trunk onto the floor of Kent's office.
"What's going on?" Draco growled his eyes looking at the trunk before they landed on the Ministry Courier.
"Now that we are all here, I have a letter from the late Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. That upon his passing is the last piece of business that must be put to rest, per his request." He stated his voice shaking and squeaky as he looked at the two boys of equal height, who were glaring at him as he spoke. They each nodded watching him closely. He took this as a sign to continue. "This letter so reads! Dear Draco and Harry Potter, I must regret that I am not able to tell you both this in person so I may answer any questions you have face to face. I am sorry that I must relay such important new this way. However I hope that the proper people have been brought in to answer questions, about this subject, as I'm sure many will arise. When Lily Potter gave birth she gave birth to two twin boys, Harry James Potter and Theodore Mark Potter. During the events of Lord Voldemort's attack on the Potter's house Theodore (or Theo as Lily would call him) disappeared, it was unknown what a killing curse would have done to a baby at that time so he was presumed dead. Later it came to my attention that he was not, Narcissa Malfoy wrote me a letter during the summer prior to her son's 6th year at Hogwarts, explaining a side of the night Lily and James Potter were killed I didn't know. Voldemort did not kill little Theo but brought him to Mr and Mrs Malfoy, charging them with the task of raising him as a son to be a force and weapon to be used against his brother. A powerful spell was placed on him to make Theo look more like a Malfoy then a Potter, then Voldemort disappeared only recently returning to cash in on the plan that he had started 16 years ago. Please understand that your division, is what Voldemort counted on, together you are stronger. Sincerely, Albus Dumbeldore." The man finished. Then handing each of them a letter from Dumbledore addressed specifically to them. Then dismissed himself back through the fireplace.
"You mean to tell me I have a twin!" Draco yelled rounding on his mother. She nodded, "He's, Does Father… Oh" he trailed off his eyes wide as the realization hit him. Narcissa smiled sadly "Is that why he always-?" he couldn't finish the sentence.
"Yes." Was all Narcissa answered.
Behind the door Hermione and Tom watched with sad eyes, Ron had stormed off as the Ministry wizard had dismissed himself, not believing that Draco could be Harry's twin brother. "Lucius never was a nice man, especially not to Draco, he treated me more like family, now I know why." Tom whispered.
Harry was still waiting for it to sink in, he did have family he wasn't the only Potter, he had a brother. "Why did you wait so long to say anything?" He asked quietly, his eyes landing on Narcissa.
She walked over to him "I was selfish, I wanted to keep him as my own, even though I knew what he was being groomed for, I'm unable to bear a child of my own, so I wanted and pretended that he was my own, instead of Lily's, the charm placed on him made him look like a Malfoy, I'm sorry, but when their was a chance he could be hurt, I wrote to Dumbledore explaining the situation. He promised to keep Draco safe. I'm so sorry Harry." She said wrapping her arms around the taller man's torso hugging him rubbing his back.
"What happened? How was I the one chosen to be raised by, Father?" Draco asked spitting out the word Father.
Narcissa pulled away. "The Dark Lord, came to Lily and James' house that night back in October when you both were only 15 months old. I don't know the full details only what the Dark Lord told us, which is that Draco, you were found down in the kitchen after, he had killed James and Lily and attempted to kill Harry, and just like Harry he was unable to touch you, since you were protected, we know now it was Lily and James's love for you that protected you. So instead he took you to live with us to be raised in the ways of his followers so that one day you could be used against Harry. It was thought that Voldemort had killed Theo first upon arrival since he was thought to be dead and unprotected by the love Lily and James protected Harry with, but as you now know that was not the case."
Harry had switched from disbelief to anger, he was fuming at this point, "I don't know how you expect us to react to this we spent the better part of 6 years tormenting each other. He spent most of that time focusing that on me, now you say we are brothers, he was still raised by Lucius."
"No, I wasn't." Draco hissed his voice dark as he turned to face Harry. "I was punished by Lucius for not being mean enough, I was forced into things in order to save my own hide. I do not share his beliefs, my mother made sure of that." He said stepping nose to nose with his brother. They glared at each other for a solid 2 minutes the tension building then dissipating in the room, finally breaking when Draco turned to face Narcissa, "Who's older?" he asked, Harry's head snapped to face her as well.
She shuffled in place "um well that's not exactly, well I." she sighed "Draco is by about 2 minutes."
"Yes!" Draco yelled.
Harry cried out in alarm "Are you serious!" at the same time.
Outside the door though Tom watched tears slowly rolling down her face. "Tom what's wrong?" Hermione whispered, she looked at her friends eyes, they looked different, darker and sad like they had seen things no one should.
"It's starting again." She said quietly.
"What is?" Hermione questioned.
"Their journey to defeat Voldemort."
"Ok knock it off you two," Narcissa's voice cut through, bringing there attention back to the two boys, who had been bickering over who was better. The professor's were smirking and Narcissa was shaking her head. "You both act a lot more like one another then I think either of you would care to admit." She noted ending their discussion. "If either of you have questions, you may contact Professor McGonagall, she will know how to reach me."
"Where are you going?" Draco asked.
"Into hiding, since I have told you this I can not stay with your father, he would be forced to turn me into the Dark Lord."
"Will this charm ever wear off?" Draco asked holding up a small bundle of blonde strands tugging on them.
"It has already started too," Narcissa said, "I never re-upped the Charm at the beginning of this summer. It should start to look more and more brown and your eyes will turn Hazel, like James Potters"
"So we aren't identical twins?" Harry asked
"No, Draco's face will become less pointed, its already started to soften, his hair will go a dark reddish brown and his eyes will be hazel but that's all Lucius' concealment charm did, the less he changed the stronger it was." She explained. "But for now I must go. It was nice to meet you Harry." She said with a hug. "Good bye my boy" she told Draco, before grabbing her trunk tossing a handful of flu powder into the fire and stepping in yelling an address they couldn't hear and she was gone.
"Well we best be getting down to dinner, since it started a few minutes ago." Headmaster Kent said effectively telling the boys to go let this new news settle in over dinner "You'll feel better after a good meal."
Hermione tapped the door again returning it to its normal state, Tom and her flopping down on the stairs pretending to look bored.
AN: Can anyone guess what Coterie Tom belongs too?! Special sneak peek to anyone who gets it!
