The Grey Side by henriette.
Not mine, but hers.
"People talking"
Answers to reviews and more information about the poll with be available at the end of the chapter.
A BIG thank you too Nyoka Li(Coc Malfoy2) for betaing this chapter for me.
Warning! Important! Read: I NEED a regular BETA for this story, so I'm asking kindly, if you might want to become my new beta. There won't be much to do, since I'm so slow writing these chapters, so there will be no pressure. All I want from you is the chapter back, beta-ed, one week after I send it to you. Send me an e-mail, or a review with your e-mail address, thanks!
In the previous chapter:
As Harry Potter the once saviour of the wizarding world lay down to sleep he thought of how his old friend would react to him. It wasn't that he hated them; they had been good friends, sometimes. Tomorrow ¤¤Well today actually¤¤ would decide how their future was together. If they had a good excuse to lie to him, then he would considering forgive them, but if they hadn't, well let us just say that they would not be the best of friends anymore.
Slytherin Harry Potter was here, and those who had a problem with it better keep their thoughts for themselves.
Chapter 6: Mask of reality.
The morning sun was as bright as one thousand shining starts. The birds were chirping joyfully and the wind whispered about a great day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, only blue as long as the eye could see, and someone just slammed a black pillow in his face………..
"Get up you lazy wanker!"
"Draco! GET OFF ME!" Harry opened his left eye and found Draco sitting on his stomach with an evil grin on his face.
"Don't think I will, your quite comfortable to sit on, have you gained weight?"
Harry pushed himself up on his elbows and snapped at Draco, "You're telling me that I've gained weight? Who do you think you are? Tinkerbell? Get off me before the bed snaps because of your fat ass!"
Draco gapped like none other Malfoy has ever gapped before. "WHAT?...have you been hanging out with Snape without informing me? I have never been so offended in my life!"
"Yeah, yeah what ever, now get off me!" Harry got up and pushed Draco of him as he went. "So, how long until we leave?"
Draco got over his offence and made himself comfortable in Harry bed. "Around two hours, the house elves has packed all off our stuff and taken them to the cars we're driving. Mother has laid out clothes for you to wear, their in the bathroom, by the pool. My originally mission was to come up here to ask you what you preferred for breakfast. But as I found you fast asleep I saw it as my duty to wake you up."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Aren't you a conscientious son? And I will be having American pancakes with cream and a double cappuccino."
"Yes master! As master wish, master sir!" Mocked Draco as he strolled over to the door, "Dinner will be served 9 o'clock your highness." He curtsied and closed the door. Harry shocked his head and went to take a bath and change into the travelling clothes.
10.30 am
"Have you got everything darlings? Your brooms, owls, wands, money?" Narcissa was saying goodbye to her lovely sons before they left the manor. She wouldn't come with them; long drives was not proper for a lady.
Lucius and two of his 'acquaintances' were coming with them. They were arriving in two cars, two black Land Rovers. Each of the acquaintances, which looked like they could kill you with a finger, was driving the cars. The students were going in one and the school governor in the other. Lucius was coming to Hogwarts with his boys because he was the governor that was to bring the news about the new bill. He offered to take the boys to Hogwarts by other means than the train, and they said their yes. Lucius was very glad for that, he feared for the things inside the train, children, Hufflepuffs and animals, and who knew when the train had last been cleaned?
The plan for today was to take a trip to Paris for some shopping. Since they weren't going to take the train, they had until 8 pm to arrive at Hogwarts. The shopping trip to Paris included a late lunch and theatre visit; Madam Butterfly was on. Both of the blond Malfoys could speak french fluently, and the black haired part of the family was trying to learn to do the same.
They were going to drive to Paris in the Land Rovers, but not by ordinary roads. They were taking the new WWR (Wizard World Roads). It was a new road system that had just been opened after decades of planning and construction. It worked quite easily; the roads were built inside special 'pipes' or all around tunnels. These were unnoticeable by muggles and soundless. Inside the tunnels were a special gas, this gas pushed the vessel forward and gave it extra acceleration, something that made it possible for the vessel to go twice as fast as in real life, ergo; if your speed was 60km/h, your speed in the WWR became 120km/h. The Malfoy's trip to Paris would therefore take under an hour.
Harry loved the idea of the WWR, it sounded so much like muggle science fiction. He tried to look out of the windows of the car, but found it impossible. The tunnel was completely dark, with exception of light signs. When inside the WWR one had little control of the vessel you drove, but the gas and the roads construction made it so vessel could not go out of control. It pushed the vessel forward, following the 'pipes'. And when you wished to get of the road, you only had to blink the lights in the direction you wanted to go. Signs of the major cities the road travelled through, could be seen in the tunnels, pointing to where you had to direct your light if you wanted to go there.
They drove of the road in the centre of Paris. Harry laughed with glee, he had never before been to such a large and significant city, and he thought he would never have the chance either if it wasn't for he's new family. Who of he's old acquaintance would have taking him to Paris to shop and visit the theatre? And besides he was the saviour of the wizard world, he was supposed to save the world, not travel around having fun, honestly!
"Whip that grin of your face Harry, you look like a small kid in a candy shop." Draco said with a mocking frown. Harry just grinned even wider and linked his arm around Draco's waist.
"Oh shove if you, would you rather have me mopping around? I'm much more fun when I'm happy." Draco rolled his eyes and let himself be lead over to his father by Harry.
"Any suggestions as to where we should go first?" Lucius stepped out of the car door as his acquaintance held it open. If you where a person who cared for details you might like to know that those two men really was employees of Lucius. Their job was normally to watch over the families back when necessary, keeping the manor safe from unwanted guests, and doing small jobs for Lucius. But today they also had the pleasure of working as their slaves, caring their shopping bags and escorting them around.
"Yes, I would like to shop for some everyday clothes and my late birthday present to Blaise." Draco said, Lucius nodded his head but turned to Harry for his wishes.
"New clothes sounds good. Oh and I was wondering if there was a Gringotts bank around here. I would like to ask if I could have one of those payment cards you have Lucius, it makes shopping so much easier. Why go around with lots of coins when you can have unlimited money in a small card?"
Lucius smiled at Harry "An excellent idea Harry. Yes I do believe they have a French Gringotts bank here. Well it's actually the same bank as the one in Diagon Alley. Once you walk through the doors to the one here in France you go through a portal of sorts and end up in London. A rather clever idea from the Goblins side I might add. We can go there first, it's around the corner here."
Lucius lead the way over to a much younger and modern version of the London bank Gringotts. The walls where actually horizontal on this building, but the written warning on the doors was still there, though in French mind you.
"How my I help you sir?" the goblin asked Harry (AN: Remember their back in London now).
"I would like to get myself a payment card." Harry said as he laid wizarding documents on the desk stating it was indeed him. Since he hadn't his key, which was in Dumbledore's possession, Lucius said that that would do.
"I see, and which kind would you prefer Mr. Potter?" Harry cocked an eyebrow at Lucius, who answered for him.
"He would like an international gold express card, Mr. Potter has recently turned 16 and is now of wizard age, so it shouldn't be any problems for him to have completely control of his vaults I'm sure." Lucius said in he's best 'You might find yourself quite dead if you don't listen to me' voice.
"Of course Mr. Malfoy, their will be no problems. Here is a card for you Mr. Potter, now just drop a bit of your blood their on the Gringotts mark, and tap you wand on it saying your full name and it would be ready for use. If that was all gentlemen."
The Goblin left quickly after handing Harry his new card. He did as the Goblin had told him and grinned at Lucius. "Thanks. So how does this work?"
They walked down the street as Lucius explained. "It the best you can get. You can use it everywhere in the world, even in the muggle world, which is good, it's a pain to change into muggle money all the time. And if I got caught with some muggle change it would totally destroy my image. The card allows you to take out as much as you want. You might even take out everything in your vault if you wish. Since you have connected you card to yourself by magic and blood, no other person can use it. There is also as you can see a picture of yourself on the card so that you can use it as muggle id.
Gringotts will get a bill from the store you have used your card at and keep it in a file. At every end of a mouth they will send that file to you so that you might watch over them. And you can of course ask them to send the file to you at any time if you want to look over something. I have to do that sometimes when Cissa goes crazy with my card. Awful shopping mood on that woman, and I fear that Draco got her shopping gene too."
Harry laughed helplessly of Lucius and Draco gave them a sceptical look. "What pre tell might be so awfully funny?" he asked in a sour voice.
"Ah, look the D&G store, lets see what they got shall we?" Lucius masterfully got Draco of trace.
"Oh lovely, I hope they got those new low cut pants in Coal black…." Draco nearly ran towards the store, counting of his fingers how many pants in each colour he should get.
Harry walk behind him together with Lucius, "You've does that before I see." He said conversationally to the blond man. "Oh, yes many times, the only way to get those two of trace is to mention something about clothes."
The rest of the day went smoothly. Draco had managed to make a best friend out of the D&G store owner, buying seven pants, nine shirts, thirteen sweaters and three pair of shoes. Though he only found four new pants, five shirts and one pair of shoes in the two next stores. Harry, with the help of both Malfoys, had found himself seven pants, three jeans and four tailor cut once of fine dark fabric. Eleven shirts, eight sweaters and two pair of shoes, one of black leather and the other once in brown hide. Lucius hadn't gotten anything for himself, he said he had enough clothes as it was. Draco had then kindly informed him that:
"One can NEVER have too many outfits; it's a law of nature."
"Just like his mother!" Lucius had muttered to Harry with a groan.
Even though Lucius hadn't gotten anything for himself, he had bought a beautiful dress cloak to Narcissa and an evening dress to have under it.
For lunch they when to Lucius and Draco's favourite restaurant in Paris. There they served the cities best and most traditional French meals, and the best paying guests got their special chocolate dessert. It was a chocolate sculpture of violin or a tree with nougat fruits. Harry got the tree, something he had been hoping for, he LOVED nougat, especially French nougat, nam nam.
At 4.30 pm they were seated at the theatre. It was a dream come true for Harry, though he hadn't said anything to his friends, he had a love for operas. Madam Butterfly was wonderful, he watched with tears in his eyes when Madam butterfly took her own life, and grinned with glee as the people in the play danced around at the wedding.
When it all was over he stood up and clapped frequency. "Did you like it Harry?" Draco asked, he always loved operas himself. "I loved it, it was beautiful!" Harry beamed, and hugged Draco and Lucius "Take you for taking me."
Lucius kissed his forehead "Don't you think about it Harry, I take all my sons to the opera even if they have blond or black hair, and even if they like if or not. You didn't have much of a choice really."
"Oh please, don't go all sappy on me here!" Draco announced annoyed.
"Ah, poor Draco feels left out, come here you!" Harry grabbed the smaller boy and kissed his forehead just like Lucius had done with him. "Oh NOW I feel MUCH better!" Draco sneered and whipped non-existing drool of his forehead.
"Mr. Malfoy? We better get going, its 7 pm." One of Lucius's guards said and opened the car door to them.
"Oh yes, the school, nearly forgot about that."
They stood outside of Hogwarts gates at 8 pm sharp. After taking the WWR they had taken a portkey to the school gates. They could see the new first years being lead by Hagrid towards the main doors.
"Come on, let us go. Don't want to be late now do we?" Lucius announced as they walked towards the castle.
They walked through the doors of the Great Hall and were met with the faces of hundreds of curious students. Lucius ignored them all and looked forwards towards the headmaster, Harry did the same after glancing quickly over to the Gryffindor table. Draco found the need to sneer at the lions and their neighbours the huff n' puffs.
"Ah, governor Malfoy, how nice. Come, come and join us."
Dumbledore stood from the teachers table and smiled widely. Lucius nodded his head in acknowledge and pushed his sons towards each of their attractive tables. Draco strode with a smirk, while Harry stalked towards the red and golden table with a frown on his handsome face.
The hall started to stir once more as Mr. Malfoy sat down by his old school mate Professor Snape. And the first years were brought in. Harry watched the Slytherin with longing and paid the sorting no mind. He was only brought out of his muses by the annoying, to loud, non-friendly and jealousy loaded voice of Ronald Duke Weasley.
"What you wearing those clothes for?"
Harry turned calmly towards him and looked at him with a bored glance. "For your information, I find these clothes comfortable and nice. There is nothing wrong with wearing fine clothes Ron, you might want to try it sometime."
Ron went red and sneered with fury. He obviously hadn't been spending his holiday trying to fix his temper.
"That is just rich Potter, rubbing you fame and money in others faces. Well I guess it's all your good for isn't it? You love your fame don't you, crave it. But let me tell you something; you wouldn't be anything without it or your precious money. You couldn't have done shit without it, no one would have noticed you, you would just be a fly on the dinner table: annoying and not wanted."
Harry took his fork and slammed it into the table, but said in a calm and somewhat cold voice so not to bring everyone's attention upon on himself.
"Let me tell you what's rich Weasley. It's rich that you and Hermoine lied about spending your vacation together, you told me you were leaving for France and Egypt. It's rich that you said you sent me many letters, when in fact you sent none. It's rich that you said I was happy and well when we last saw each other, when I felt miserable and said so to you. It's rich that I told you I would rather die then stay with the Dursleys, I even begged you to ask your parents if I could stay with one of you instead. But you just blew me of, you ignored me completely. That's rich Weasley."
Ron was at first speechless, but that quickly formed into fury and glee on Harry's behalf.
"Finally took the hint did you Potter? We don't want you, never did. The only reason we stuck with you was because we was told to. Albus couldn't have you mingling with slimy snakes now could he? But now you've done it anyway, so I don't see any reason to act like I can stand your ugly face anymore. So stop feeling sorry for yourself, you deserve nothing but pain and misery. The same pain and misery I have felt playing you best friend."
Harry was furious. How dare he? He would die by his hands before the war was over, that he promised. Harry looked over at Hermoine who was sitting some seats away chatting merrily with some of the new first years. He caught her eyes and she smiled and waved at him. He frowned at her act, why should she smile at him, she had been acting along with Ron, doing Dumbledore's dirty work, if he could trust Ron's word.
She too frowned at Harry's reaction at her and excused herself from the first years. She came towards Harry and Ron, the frown increasing as he saw Ron's wicked smirk and Harry's angry eyes.
"What wrong Harry? Ron what is going on?" she asked concerned as she sat down by Ron's side.
Harry didn't answer her; he was confused by her actions. So Ron answered her instead, with a pleased grin on his face.
"Oh, nothing much 'Moine. I was just telling Potter to go screw himself. I told him everything really, can't see the point for us to suffer anymore. The only point for this acting was to keep him from being friends with Slytherins, but since he already done that I see no point in pretending anymore. We are free from him 'Moine, don't you just want to scream of joy?"
Hermoine looked at red headed with shocked brown eyes. Was he insane, how could he destroy 6 years of careful planning just like that! What a moron.
"WHAT on earth are you talking about Ronald Weasley? I have never heard such nonsense before in all of my life. How could you say such a thing, I have never pretended to be Harry's friend; I have always been a real friend. Now, I don't know about you, but I actually like Harry and will always be his friend no matter who he is mingles with. Do not believe a word he says Harry, I don't know what has gotten into him." She sent angry looks at Ron who looked more then confused. He couldn't for the sake of himself figure out why his girlfriend wouldn't drop the act. Didn't she understand that they didn't have to act anymore? Surely even Albus would agree that Harry was now a lost case.
Granger turned towards her boyfriend and sent him an angry glare that clearly stated 'do as I say if you know what's good for you!'
"Leave us Ron, I don't want you to be here when you are like this. Just be glad I don't hex you to the moon and back."
"But 'Moine baby, you don't ha…"
"No Ron, go away! I don't want to see you face right now." She turned her back to him, and he groaned and stood up to leave.
"And don't come back until you have something clever to say!" she said angrily at his back. She turned back to Harry and smiled at him.
Harry blinked several times and looked from Ron to Hermoine. Could it be possible that Hermoine was telling the truth, that she hadn't been acting like Ron? Her reaction towards Ron's words pointed towards it. He felt a smile coming upon his face, yes Hermoine was and would always be a good friend of his. How could she not be, she was so sweet and innocent, and she had always been a good friend. Even though how much he had change that summer, he still wished to keep some of his old friends. He had seen upon them as his family, they were his link to his past; his happy and ignorant past at Hogwarts. Even though he knew that he should let that go, it was so difficult. But he could see anything wrong about keeping one of his old friends who had always been faithful to him.
But the letters, she said she had sent many, though he hadn't received any. And she lied about her vacation plans. He wouldn't let her trick him once more.
"Is that so? Then tell me Hermoine, why didn't I receive any of those letters you claimed you had sent to me? And didn't you spend you holiday at that assholes dump of a house, when you were suppose to be in Egypt?"
Granger looked confused at first but then she smiled at him with worry and took his hand in hers. "Oh Harry, didn't you get them, I sent at least 10 letters, and got very worried when I didn't get anyone back. Are you telling me that you didn't receive them? I can't understand why……..maybe? No, but….." She looked with worry eyes from Harry to a really confused Ron at the end of the table. The girl lent over the table to whisper into Harry's ear.
"Harry could we talk in a more secure place, I have something important to tell you, but not under all these eyes." She hinted towards Ron.
Harry nodded and glared at Ron. "Of course 'Moine, we can talk after the feast, I'll come and see you okey?"
She kissed him cheek and smiled. "Okay?"
Both Malfoys watched with a frown as Granger kissed Harry on the cheek. Something just wasn't right with the picture, and why did Dumbledore seem so interested in their previous conversation?
And the cards were laid. But who would win?
TBC
No resorting in this chapter sorry. I just got this brilliant plot idea about Granger that I had to play out. So the resorting has to wait for the next chapter.
Answers to reviews: Joppa I got over 60 reviews!
Thanks to: mojo-jojo241, Crazedgurl1291, HecateDeMort, katriana souless, Wonapalei, Kage Mirai, Sierra Potter-Malfoy, Night-Owl123, silverhope2001, HAZZAGRIFF, Samurai Demon-God Sekikage, severusdraco, vampyreice, Shadowface, angelkitty77, lady of the myst, Henio41, Virginia Riddle-Malfoy, korka, FreakSun, Sheree, DownInIt, Evil Penguin Slayer, loverofthedarkness, chaosgoddess, Kitty, Itasuko-chan, God Of Mercy, Bonydeadar, Dark Fox, Christy, Kat421, Kaaera, poisen Gertrude Abbernathy, Captain Jack Sparrow 1, evilwilly, onomy, Ello, jezebel, RandomDope, Shadowed Rains, Krutysu, touya pendragon, monica, Wolflady, Lestat's Raven, Draconius Harold Weasley, kik, Hobbs, lisa15, Syrina CharmedMilliE, Missy Gothika, Sweet-single, karenelaine, tessa3, blind-phoenix bandgsecurtiyaw, Redmeadow, Windy River, thedarklordsonlyheir, tenshi noyo Ryu Taiga, mazzoul, fifespice and Nicol.
hermoine21: I haven't decided on the positions yet, though I can assure you that Harry will show his talents any given chance.
Iced Flame. Black Sheep is indeed up.
john1234: Thank you, I will look your story up.
Blu Talisman: Oh it doesn't matter that you have no experience with betaing, why don't you send me a mail and I'll send you the next chapter. The mail is Demon-God Sekikage : Yes I'm going to have a female Blaise, though its really a guy in the book. I'll make it a girl just for you. I have her being one of Draco's best friends.
Poll 1, Harry being friend with Hermoine Granger and the rest of the Weasleys:
Yes: 7/48
No: 27/48
Don't care: 1/48
Hermoine no Ron and Ginny: 3/48
Hermoine no Weasley: 2/48
Some Weasleys no Ron and Hermoine: 8/48
This poll is almost finished, you can still vote if you want Harry to be friends with any other of the Weasleys, but I have decided on what to do with Granger, Ron and Ginny.
Poll 2, Slash between Harry and Draco or friends:
Slash: 35/53
Friends: 13/53
Don't care: 5/53
This poll will still go on, so you who want them to stay friends can fight for your wishes. Though it doesn't look so bright for you.
AN: I'm sure you are all wondering when the hell is she going to update next and which story. Well since I'm was so amazingly smart to start five stories at once I will have to write one chapter for each going by a list. And here is the list for which story that will be updated first.
1: Dark Child, 2: Black Sheep, 3: The New Trio, 4: Changes, 5: The Grey Side.
But if you don't like this system let me know because I'm thinking about coming up with a new chapter system. It will work like this; the story with the most reviews pr chapter will be written and posted first and so on and so fort. So if you want this story to be updated quicker you will have to send me a review or two. So long folks.
An: If you like this story you're probably going to like some of my other stories. (To go read them, just click on my name on top of the page)