The first thing Harry noticed was Ron and Hermione weren't in the Common room. Disappointed Harry made with way up to his and Ron's room. He found them standing around his bed. As Harry entered and made his way over Hermione's eyes met his and instantly Harry knew something was wrong. He quickened his step and that's when he spotted Conor sitting on the mattress.
The boy sat with his arms crossed over his chest and didn't look up at Harry when he called him.
"Malfoy" Hermione told Harry. "Conor it's ok. Show Harry". As she said it Conor winced and raised his eye to meet Harry. Immediately Harry's chest burst with a seething rage. He lent down on his hunches to get a better look. Harry's eyes took in the purple and black bruise around his left eye. Malfoy had fashioned him with a shiner alright. Harry frowned.
"That's it, as soon as I see him I'm going to make sure he comes out with worse, trust me" Harry promised. Conor's eyes met his and he nodded.
"Have you told him?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione. She shook her head. "We wanted to wait in case you changed your mind". Harry nodded in understanding.
"Told me what?" Conor asked.
Harry smiled "I'm moving into Slytherin. You won't have to worry about Malfoy anymore. If he so much as breathes out of line I'll be there". Conor's eyes widened and Harry froze in shock as his hands came around his waist. Conor pressed his face to Harry chest.
"Harry you can't do that" He spoke his voice muffled by the material of Harry's robes.
"Yes I do. I'd rather become and Slytherin than have Malfoy bully my little brother". Harry said, trying it on and not finding it all that strange. Brother, brother, Conor is my brother. It took him a moment to realize Hermione's eyes glittering and Ron was smiling. Feeling heat in his cheeks Harry took Conors arms and pushed him back slightly. "Come on, you can help me pack". Conor beamed and lept up.
As Ron and Conor busied themselves with packing up Harry's clothes and books into his case Hermione pulled him to the other side of the room. Her watery hazel eyes told him everything and he wrapped his arms around her bracingly and rested his chin on her head.
"I feel like this is goodbye" She whimpered. Harry sighed and tightened his grasp on her. "Shh, I'm only down the hall and you'll see me everyday I promise" he muttered and heard her sniffle. She pulled back and Harry rewarded her forehead with a soft kiss. "I have to do this for Conor Hermione, he needs me. You've seen what he's going through". She dried her tears and nodded "I know you do Harry" Harry placed a gentle kiss on her lips and rubbed his hand on her back. She smiled wryly and so did he, happy just in the knowledge that he had her.
She took his hand "Come on. We can use the levitation charm".
She guided him back over to where Ron and Conor were just adding the finishing touches to his trunk before snapping it shut.
Harry collected his last few items from under his mattress. They consisted of a few letters from Sirius, a letter from Voldemort and some chocolate frog cards. Harry pulled out an old square tin from under the bin and opened it to deposit the letters in. Instead he found Matrix curled up inside and deciding not to wake her closed it again.
The four made their way down into the common room and Harry tried his best to ignore to questioning stares of his fellow X house mates.
They opened the portrait and Snape stepped back as they and luggage came floating out. His eyes narrowed on seeing Conor who blushed but turned away. "This way Potter".
Snape led the way, followed by Ron and Hermione and finally Harry and Conor. At the stairs leading to the dungeons Snape paused and told Conor to direct them to the common room that he needed to order Harry new robes.
The trio followed Conor who now walked with a bounce in his step. Despite the twisting in Harry's stomach he knew what he was doing was the right thing. Conor had grown up without parents, and had been raised by a family of muggles. Harry only knew too well what that was like but where Harry had the Weasleys, Hermione and Sirius, Conor had no one. Even though they were only half brothers Harry already knew they would get along fine.
It wasn't long before they reached the stone wall with the painting of three old hags standing over a caudron of bubbling broth.
"Basilisk" Conor spoke and the painting spun open to reveal the entrance. Conor stepped in and Harry stepped waiting for everyone else. Harry sighed and crossed the threshold, closely followed by Ron and Hermione.
Harry couldn't help but feel his nerves fly off the handle. The Slytherin Common room was buzzing with students and the noisy chatter died as all eyes turned to see the Gryffindor invaders.
Ron and Hermione sent him frightened looks. Harry turned to Conor as his case came floating through the portrait hole after them. "Conor will you take my trunk up? I just need a minute with Ron and Hermione".
"Sure Harry" With a swish and flick Conor sent a "Wingardium leviosa" at the trunk which rose up and began to follow him up the stone stairs to their left. Harry sighed still aware of the tension of the room around them.
"You two had better just go. Once I'm settled in Conor and I will come looking for you in the Great Ha-" Harry stopped there for one of the Slytherins had just approached him. Harry stared neutrally into the dark eyes of the seventh year Slytherin prefect who knew as Padhar Monchore.
"Potter, I don't believe you have a license to be here. This is Slytherin Common room". He spat coldly eyeing Ron and Hermione with dirty looks.
Harry frowned. "I know that. I was given instructions to wait for Professor Snape in here". The Slytherin stared at him in uncertainty.
A scrapping sounded from behind and all faces turned as Draco, Crab and Goyle slipped in the passage behind them. "You should have seen his face when he-" Malfoy stared in confusion at the party of three friends. "Potter, Weasley, Granger? What are you doing here? We don't want Gryffindor scum in our Common room" he spat. Harry's eyes darkened on Draco.
"I want a word with you".
"Yeah, right whatever, but like I said, this is a Slytherin Common room".
"I am a BLOODY SLYTHERIN!" Harry's yell startled everyone in the room and some even pulled their wands out. Harry advanced on him.
"What do you mean you're a Slytherin?" Malfoy outright laughed at him. "You wish you were you mean".
Harry smirked "That's right, get used to me knocking around Draco, because I'm moving in here. And if I hear you so much as lay a finger on Conor again I'll rip you a new one" Harry hissed dangerously. Malfoy straightened his back and Harry squared up to him until the portrait opened once more and Severus Snape entered. His dark beady eyes took in the scene and shined in amazement.
"Sir, Potter's telling us he's moving in here" Draco cackled as if it were a joke.
Snape raised an eyebrow at Harry "Have you unpacked yet?".
Harry shook his head.
"You mean it's true?!" Draco cried in shock. The Slytherin's in the room stared muttering darkly.
Snape handed Harry the new robes draped across his arm. "That's what I said isn't it? Go unpack Potter. Your friends will leave. You can see them at Dinner time". Ron and Hermione nodded in understanding and Harry knew they were dying to get out of the common room. Harry couldn't blame them, so did he. He watched as they left, Hermione shooting him a worried glanced before the portrait slammed behind him. Harry turned and headed straight up the stairs to the left where Conor had entered.
As he made his way up the stone steps, he could hear Snape telling the Slytherins not to hassle Harry over why he was making the change. He reached the top of the stairs to find Conor standing at the foot of a dark rose wood four poster bed with black and green draping. The cabinet beside his bed was rose wood too, as was every other bit of furniture in the room. A little card with his name sat on the mattress to mark it as his bed.
There were only four beds in this room including his and Harry's felt his stomach fall as he spotted the nimbus 2001 on the wall wrack over the bed across from his.
Conor was silent watching his reaction and Harry turned to start unpacking while trying to keep to fear and depression from his face. It took them fifteen minutes to sort out his clothes and pack his Firebolt in between the bed and cabinet. He stacked his books up in short piles and tucked them under the bed before he started to hide his more valuable belongs in secret places. As he opened the tin box Matrix popped her head out with a neigh and galloped around the new bed. Harry picked up the little foal. "Did the muggles let you bring an owl or a cat or something?" he asked Conor who loading his sock draw.
"Oh, no" He shook his head. "Thet weren't big on animals".
Harry handed him the little unicorn. "Her name is Matrix, dad gave her to me. You should have her". Harry explained. Conor's eyes widened and he stared at the little foal with a new appreciation. "She's lovely Harry, but I can't take her, it just wouldn't feel right".
Harry smiled "Then take care of her for me".
The backs of his knees to the bed, Harry flopped down backwards and sighed staring at the dark green material over him. He felt the mattress dip as Conor sat down beside him.
"Harry" Conor spoke quietly, quietly enough to catch Harry's attention. The green eyes were warm on him. "Thanks for this, I mean what you're doing, and I'm not even your real brother" Harry stared at him. "You're looking out for me like you were".
Harry puffed his lips out with his breath and sat up ruffling Conor's hair. "Look I know what it's like growing up with muggles, trust me you haven't met the Dursleys, but I can tell you it only get better ".
Conor smirked then "You think the Dursleys are bad? You should meet the Kingsleys. They hate me, they'd be happier if I died". Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really? You've been living with that for thirteen years right? Well I've been living with it for nearly sixteen". Conor chuckled and suddenly they found themselves engaged in conversation about
home life, Quidditch and all sorts.
"So you only found out Voldemort was your dad last year?" Conor asked. Harry nodded and filled Conor in on all that had happened to him since he'd first set foot in Hogwarts.
He also told him about last year when Voldemort had given him the dark mark on his chest and that it had meant that Harry was to be his heir. He relived how he had revived the mysterious letters and followed them to the forest where he'd met Voldemort in person for the fourth time. How he'd escaped and the school had been attacked. From there Harry told Conor about when he was kidnapped and was told the truth and as a result the three White Wizard's had come looking for him. Lastly he told Conor about how Voldemort had joined in the fight with Dumbledore to protect him and that's when their relationship had begun.
In the end Conor looked pale and Harry regretted opening his big mouth. "I don't think I like him very much" he said horrified.
Harry shook his head "He's really not that bad Conor, but you just have to remember, he took a different path from us. You'll meet him eventually but right now he doesn't know about you and we should keep it that way" Harry stopped there for the next moment Draco Malfoy came striding into the room. With an annoyed glance at Harry and Conor he walked for the bed with the broomstick over it. Harry cursed his luck.
Draco turned to him then. "What are you playing at Potter huh? Why are you here?" he asked.
Harry frowned "That's none of your business Malfoy" harry spat. Malfoy huffed and plucked up a quill and parchment and turned to leave as Harry muttered "Be sure to tell you father that he's in Wales won't you?".
Draco sent him a strange look and disappeared down the steps.
"Well, dad will know by tomorrow. I guess we should be expecting a letter" Harry said to Conor.
"Harry, why do you get upset when Malfoy calls Hermione a Mudblood?" He asked.
"It's a not so nice name for someone with muggle parents, and besides, Hermione is my friend and girlfriend and know more than all the Slytherin's combined". Harry reasoned.
Conor smirked. "She's your girlfriend?".
Harry chuckled and grabbed his ear making him flinch "That's right so don't you be going any getting any ideas".
Conor laughed then and Harry smiled and stood up. "Ok, let me just change my robes and we'll go get some dinner, how does that sound?" Conor stood up.
"Can we sit with Ron and Hermione?" He asked in excitement.
Harry nodded "The Gryffindors know me, I'm their seeker so I don't think they'll mind" harry went to change but stopped and turned back to Conor waving a warning finger at him.
"But you're sitting beside Ron".
Well? How did people like it? I have some plot hints below if anyone is interested in whats coming up. I won't be giving away too much but let me just say...
--Harry and Conor become closer than ever.
--Voldemort hears about Harry's change of house and hatches plans for him.
--Draco tries his best to find out why Harry is protecting Conor.
--There's also a pretty big twist in this story when Conor, Harry and Voldemort come face to face and Harry - --relives the horror that was his inheritance.
--Keep reading and sending those reviews :D