PM7
"I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it." ~ Machiavelli
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Saturday morning at breakfast, the Great Hall was buzzing with conversation as the 3rd years and above were discussing their plans for their very first Hogsmeade weekend of the year. The ones most excited were easily the muggleborns that had never had the chance to really be around an all magical village. There were very few of them in the world anymore and it was a rare treat for the students. Harry was enjoying his eggs and toast and listening to Ron go on about Honeydukes and Zonkos. Harry sipped his pumpkin juice and looked at Hermione. "Anywhere in particular you'd like to go Hermione?"
"Well I might like to have a look around Tomes and Scrolls, and I do need to pop in to Scrivenshaft's, I lost my favorite quill." She sighed.
"I'll go with you," Harry smiled. "I want to have a look at some of the Runes books that Professor Babbling mentioned this week."
"Really? Books on a Saturday?" Ron gave them an incredulous look.
"What's the matter Ronikins?" One of the twins plopped down beside him.
"The idea hurt your poor little brain?" The other chimed in and sat down on Ron's other side.
"It's amazing what you can find….In the right book." Fred and George said together and winked.
Harry laughed a little as Ron's face went almost the same shade as his hair. "Don't worry, we'll hit Zonko's and Honeydukes first, then go to the other shops and we'll end at the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer. Sound good?" He looked to his friends.
"I think that's a plan." Hermione said brightly. "Are you two coming to Hogsmeade?" She asked the twins.
"Of course," George said.
"Wouldn't miss it…" Fred grinned.
"For the world." They said together, smirked and headed off.
"Those two." Hermione shook her head, unable to help smiling.
Harry nodded. "Always keep us on our toes, that's for sure." He looked up to the head table as Professor McGonagall stood and cleared her throat.
"If I can have everyone's attention please? All students participating in the Hogsmeade weekend will assemble in the courtyard in thirty minutes. Once I have all the permission slips in hand, 4th years and above are free to go. Third years will stay and we will go over the rules." She said firmly. "That is all." She said and took her seat again.
Harry stood. "I'm going to head up to the tower and grab my cloak." He said to his friends.
"I should too, and so should you Ronald." Hermione said and stood. Together the three Gryffindors headed towards the stairs.
"Potter!" A voice called them from across the entrance hall.
Harry turned to see Malfoy striding towards him. "Malfoy." He said, his tone not at all hostile.
"Got a moment?" He asked and nodded for him to join him for a quick word.
"I'll be right back guys." Harry said to his friends, and before they could get over their astonishment and answer, Harry headed over to Draco.
"Thanks." Draco said quietly and very carefully handed Harry an envelope. "Mother wanted me to make sure you got this, it's an invitation to this year's Yule Ball." He explained. "Send her an owl back in the next couple of weeks with your reply." He said.
"Thanks Draco." Harry said, slipping it into his robes without anyone seeing it. "See you around Hogsmeade?" He asked.
Draco smirked. "Of course you will….maybe at the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer." He sauntered off, completely aware of how shocked Weasley and Granger looked.
Harry shook his head and returned to his friends. "What?" He said, taking in their incredulous looks.
"What were you doing talking with Malfoy!?" Ron exclaimed first.
Harry's eyebrows rose. "What…I'm not allowed to talk to anyone in Slytherin?" He said.
"No…I mean…yes…but it's Malfoy! He's a complete git!" Ron said.
Harry went to say something but clenched his jaw. "Let's just get our stuff." He finally said and moved past Ron and a silent Hermione. The air was tense the whole way back to the Tower, and Harry really didn't know what to say to his friends. He knew it HAD to look strange, but he also needed them to understand that hating Malfoy like they had was wrong.
Hermione grabbed her cloak, a bit pensive about what she'd seen between the two former enemies. Their posture had been far too relaxed for this to be the first time they'd spoken civilly to each other. Something had definitely happened to Harry over the summer, and she hoped that he might eventually feel safe telling her about it.
"We'd better hurry up, we don't want to be late." Hermione said and smiled as Harry came down, wearing his new school cloak. He'd grown a fair bit over the summer and had realized he'd need a longer one.
"I'm coming." He said, Ron right behind him.
The three friends headed down to the courtyard to hand in their permission slips and had to stand through a long, drawn out lecture about behaving themselves in the village and how their behaviour reflected on the school. Harry really thought it was a bit of overkill but he listened obediently and then let out a sigh of relief when Professor McGonagall released them.
"Finally." Harry said as they started walking, a group of Gryffindors forming together.
Ron was talking loudly with Seamus and Dean about Zonkos and Harry fell back a bit, walking with Hermione.
"So….what's with you and Malfoy?" She asked him quietly, not wanting to draw Ron into this conversation.
"Did you know he's actually my cousin?" Harry said as they walked. "I don't have a lot of family Hermione, and he might be a git but we've come to a kind of understanding. He promised to try and be less of an ass, especially to you." He said.
Hermione looked surprised. "Did you run into each other in Diagon alley?" She asked.
"Yeah, a few times over the summer. I got to learn a bit about mum as well, she hated the rivalries between the houses." Harry said. "I guess, it just made me realize how silly it is hating someone I barely know."
Hermione nodded. "I suppose." She said, still having issues wrapping her head around the fact that Harry and Draco were not enemies anymore.
"There's a lot about my family and my past that I don't know." Harry said. "I want to have a look in Scrolls & Tomes and see if there's a Potter family history, Professor Bins said they generally have them for all the old families."
Hermione nodded. "They might not have it there, but they could certainly order it for you." She said.
"Thanks 'Mione." Harry said as they reached the village. It really was an amazing place. He bought himself some chocolate from Honey Dukes, and while he didn't get anything from Zonkos, he could appreciate the skill of the things there. Ron wanted to stay there longer, so he and Hermione went on to Scrivenshaft's and then the book shop. Harry lost himself between the stacks. "So, what *did* Malfoy want earlier?" Hermione asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
"He wanted to give me an invitation to his family's Yule Ball. His mother asked him to pass it along." Harry said. "Nothing too exciting."
Hermione nodded. "Will you go?" She asked him. "Yule Celebrations in the wizarding world are supposed to be quite spectacular. I wish that we did more here at Hogwarts."
"I'll have to think about it." He said. "I mean it's not like Ron's family is inviting me, it's more complicated than that." He sighed.
"You really did grow up a lot this summer." Hermione said.
"I had to." Was his quiet answer. He took a book off the shelf. "Ready to go?" He asked her.
"Yeah, I found what I was looking for." She said, realizing that she'd need to tread carefully with her friend over last summer. It was clear there was a lot going on.
Harry nodded and took the Runes book up to the desk. "Excuse me Sir, but I was wondering if you'd be able to order a volume for me?" He asked the clerk.
"Certainly, what is that you were looking for?" The gentleman asked, far too polite to comment on the scar on the lad's forehead. He imagine that the famous Harry Potter got far too much of that as it was.
"I'm looking for a history on the Potter family, nothing recent…published before 1980." He explained.
The older wizard nodded. "There are several written on the noble family of Potter, I will send for a selection and you can purchase what you please." He said. "Are there any supplemental volumes you'd care for?"
"What would you suggest?" He asked.
"Well the Potters were quite active in politics, at least in the generations before your father and mother, I might suggest reading about the history of the Ministry as well." He said.
Harry nodded. "That would be perfect, thank you." He said and paid the man for the book he'd chosen today.
"I will owl you when the other books arrive, Sir." The clerk smiled.
"I'll look forward to hearing from you." Harry said and waited while Hermione completed her own purchase.
"Off to the Three Broomsticks then?" She said as they stepped back outside into the crisp fall air.
Harry nodded. "I think we have everything we needed." He smiled and they headed towards the popular student watering hole.
"Potter, Granger." Draco said as he fell into step with them. "You both know Blaise Zabini?" He introduced the other third year beside him.
"Not beyond classes." Harry said and nodded to the other boy.
"Potter….Miss Granger." Blaise said politely, but with a distinct bit of tension to his tone. It was clear this was not *his* choice of company.
"Zabini." Hermione said equally politely.
"Draco tells me that we're to observe his truce with you." Blaise said, clearly finding that fascinating.
"I think that we should judge each other on our own merits, rather than our house affiliations or family names. I think it would be advantageous to all of us." Harry said.
"You have a valid argument. The question is, will your friends observe the new rules?" He looked at the little mudblood with Potter curiously.
"I know that I will, but I can only speak for myself." Hermione replied.
"My friends will, or I'll be in search of new friends that aren't so close-minded." Harry said. "Now if they choose to dislike you on your own merits…fair is fair after all."
Blaise chuckled. "It is indeed. If you'll all excuse me, I need to pick up a few things from Honey Dukes." He nodded politely to Hermione, remembering that even though she *was* a filthy mudblood, she was still a girl and his mother had been adamant that he learn to respect a lady.
Draco nodded and stayed with Harry and Hermione. "In furthering of that, I believe I owe you an apology for my conduct last year Granger."
Hermione was stunned. "Uh….apology accepted?" She managed to stammer out.
Harry smiled, glad that Draco was holding up his end of their agreement. "Let's go and have some butterbeer."
"My treat." Draco said smoothly as they went in, holding the door for Hermione.
Harry was working hard not to laugh at the stunned expression on his brilliant friend's face. They found a booth at the back and sat down, while Draco ordered butterbeer for the three of them.
Hermione looked at Harry. "You called a truce…between Slytherin and Gryffindor?" She whispered, looking shocked.
"No, I called a truce between Malfoy and I. He is the one who has extended it to the Slytherins in his year, and as a courtesy I'll have to try and do the same for our year in Gryffindor." Harry said, clarifying. "Things have to change Hermione, and maybe the two of us are the ones who can do it."
Draco came over and set the drinks down at the table. "I hope every weekend won't be this crowded, it's impossible to move in here." He said, clearly disliking the masses of people pressed around him.
"It's the first weekend, I imagine the others will be less crowded." Harry said, sipping his drink. "Thanks Draco." He said.
"Yes, thank you." Hermione said, still flustered.
"You're welcome. You can buy next time." He shrugged and relaxed.
"Harry mentioned that your mother was hosting a Yule Ball?" Hermione said, trying to think of something to start a conversation.
Draco nodded. "She holds one every year, it's a family tradition." He explained. "It's always on the day of the Winter Solstice and there is a banquet, music, games and dancing. It's a celebration of the old year and welcoming of the new." He said, trying not to sound condescending.
"I wish they did more of that here at Hogwarts." She sighed.
"The Headmaster banned Yule celebrations when he became Headmaster." Draco said. "It was a scandal at the time, and is still a sore spot with a lot of the old families. He felt that it was exclusionary and made muggle-born students feel left out."
"But it's a part of wizarding tradition, and yule celebrations go back to ancient times in England and Europe." Hermione said. "How is that exclusionary?"
"That was the argument the old families made, but he simply ended the tradition of the Yule Ball and feast and that was that." Draco said. "He changed a lot of things after his appointment."
Hermione nodded, trying to wrap her head around that. "There's no mention of that in Hogwarts: A History." She frowned a bit.
"Not everything is in a book Hermione." Harry said. "Something I've been learning of late."
Draco smiled. "A lot of the old traditions are passed along through families, as was the old way. Oral traditions as opposed to written." His mother loved to talk about this.
"How is anyone new supposed to learn then?" Hermione frowned.
"I think a lot of people just assume that you….know." Draco shrugged. "It's not on purpose, and there are *some* books but no one reads them."
"What books?" Hermione leaned forward, curiosity peaked now.
"Well…one you might try is 'Pureblood Traditions and Etiquette' by Bilbus Fagelle. I had to read it before I came to school." He shrugged. "Most muggleborns avoid it because of the title."
Hermione nodded and tried to *not* be offended by the title. "I could try and find a copy." She said.
"I'll lend you mine." Draco said, trying to be nice to her. She was tolerable when she wasn't spouting off ridiculous facts.
"Thank you." Hermione said, watching Harry out of the corner of her eye.
Harry smiled and sipped his drink. "Can I borrow it when Hermione's finished?" he asked Draco.
Draco smiled and nodded. "Just make sure I get it back, it was my father's." he said.
Harry smiled and then paused watching as Ron, Dean, and Seamus approached the table. This could be unpleasant.
"Shove off Malfoy, Harry and Hermione don't need you bothering them." Ron said.
"Actually we're having a conversation." Harry said before Malfoy could rise to the taunt. "You're welcome to join us, but if you can't be civil….it's you that should go." He said, not softening his face at the confused and almost hurt expression that crossed Ron's face.
"But Harry…." Ron said.
"I'm done with this ridiculous House rivalry, you don't have to like Malfoy but I will not listen to it anymore." Harry said. "He'll play nice if you do…and I won't take kindly to anyone starting shit with him." He looked at the others as well. Dean nodded and so did Seamus but they both looked very confused as well.
"Come on Ron….there's a table opened up at the other side." Dean said. "See you later Harry." He said and pulled the shocked redhead along with him.
"He's not going to be happy with you later Potter." Malfoy said watching them go. "Be careful you don't piss off your entire dorm." He warned. He'd been able to execute his side fairly easily. Only Blaise and Theodore had questioned him on it, but had been willing to see where it led. Slytherins could associate with others in the hopes of gaining something, even if they found that person objectionable. Gryffindors however were not known for their subtlety.
"It's not the only thing that's going to piss them off this week." Harry muttered and sipped his butterbeer. He knew that come Monday morning he was going to be a pariah in his own house anyway.
Malfoy arched an eyebrow but didn't press. "Well…I should go, I have an essay to finish for Transfigurations. It was nice speaking with you both. I'll have the book for you tomorrow Granger." He stood and nodded to them both before turning and heading off to his own dorm mates that were getting ready to head back.
"That was…odd." Hermione said, not entirely sure what to think about the whole thing.
"It was, wasn't it?" Harry chuckled and relaxed more now. "But someone had to take the first step."
Hermione nodded. "I may not ever like him, but I can be polite."
"And that is all I ask." Harry said, glad that she understood what he was going for here. "I'm just tired of all the fighting and the arguing, over things that we can't change." He looked into his mug. "After tomorrow, it's not going to be easy to be my friend." He said quietly.
"What's going on Harry? You look like you're facing an execution." Hermione asked him. She could tell something was very wrong.
"It feels like it." He sighed. "Let's head back, we can talk on the way. I just…can't tell anyone else yet." He stood and headed for the door, Hermione with him. He was eternally grateful that Ron seemed to be giving him the cold shoulder for the moment.
As they headed back, Harry made sure that they had enough space around them that no one would be able to eavesdrop. "Tomorrow morning the Daily Prophet is going to be publishing a bunch of articles about me, my parent's will and my new guardian." Harry said, throat a bit tight. "Professor Dumbledore and the rest of the Wizengamot overturned my parent's will, in regards to my guardianship. He forced them to place me with my Aunt and Uncle, against my parent's wishes. After the incident this summer, the head of the Department of Magical Family Services conducted a secret investigation. She removed me from my Aunt's care and placed me under my mother's best friend." He said very quietly.
"But that's good new Harry…why do you look like you're going to throw up?" She asked. "You've always wanted to get away from them and now you never have to go back there."
"Because my mother's best friend is Professor Snape." He said and looked at her, grateful when he saw the understanding in her eyes. "We've talked about it…but it's not going to be easy. He could get sacked for even agreeing to this." Harry said. "Ron and the others are going to freak out, and I wish that we didn't have to tell anyone at all but it's the only way to keep the Headmaster from forcing me to go back to that place." He felt tears in his eyes.
"Oh Harry." Hermione reached over and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "It'll be ok…maybe not right away but it will be. You've got me, and Hagrid, and now Professor Snape. The rest will sort itself out." She said firmly. "It has to."
"I just hope that you're right Hermione." Harry said. "I just hope you're right."
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The next morning in the Great Hall, two people braced for all hell to be unleashed as the first owls arrive with copies of the Prophet. The front page sported a picture of Lily and James Potter and the headline was explosive.
Potter's Final Wishes Ignored! The Boy Who Lived Rescued from Abusive Muggles!
Harry closed his eyes a moment as sound erupted all over the Great Hall.
TBC