Chapter Nine: Diagon Alley and the Start of Second Year

Raiden scowled as he made his way up Diagon Alley to get his books for his second year at Hogwarts. He hadn't been sprung from Privet Drive like Draco had promised, so he'd used his wandless magic to entertain himself with the Dursleys that summer. It had been amusing to scare the living daylights out of them but boring after a few days as well.

Voldemort had stepped up to fill the gap so to speak and had worked his apprentice hard, expanding his knowledge of spells and also having him practice the ones he'd learnt last year but not got down wandlessly. Now he could do all the first year spells wandlessly which had made Voldemort extremely pleased.

Voldemort had told him that he would be doing some research on how to get his body back through the school year but that if Raiden needed him all he had to do was call mentally and Voldemort would come to him. Raiden had shrugged and agreed. At twelve years old he didn't really need his master following him round all the time, and he got enough daily contact during the summer anyway. He did need time to be himself at school, so Voldemort took the opportunity to research ways of coming back.

Raiden was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a familiar female voice call out, "Hey Harry, there you are."

Looking up Raiden smiled before replying, "Daphne, how are you. Did you have a nice summer?"

Daphne looked confused. "I sent you letters telling you about it. What happened to them?"

Raiden looked at her in confusion. "Letters? I never got any letters, from either you or Draco. Come to think of it Hermione didn't write me either and she said she would." Raiden noted a slight tension in Daphne at the mention of Hermione but shrugged it off as some weird female competition thing.

"That's odd. Is that why you were scowling as you walked up the alley?"

Raiden nodded, his bad mood evaporating at the knowledge that his friends had written him but the letters had somehow disappeared in transit as it were. Shrugging again he said, "Shall we find Draco and get our stuff. I've heard the Defence teacher this year is a real Lockhart fan."

Daphne giggled. "If we're lucky we might get Lockhart himself, he's so clever and brave."

Raiden rolled his eyes. "Come on, Daph, the man has no brains whatsoever, he's an idiot. I wouldn't be surprised if he stole the credit for all those "adventures" of his from other people."

Daphne gave her friend an annoyed look. "Really, Harry do you have to be so pessimistic? He'll be good you'll see."

Raiden seriously doubted this but followed along to Flourish and Blott's with no further comment. There they found Draco who was very surprised that none of his letters had got to Raiden. He promised to investigate it and Raiden promptly forgot his annoyance with his friends.

The three friends had to fight against the crowd of witches in the store who were there to get their books signed by Gilderoy Lockhart. Riaden rolled his eyes at the blond idiot and purchased his books from the main counter behind the wizard. With their books purchased the three left the store without Raiden being accosted by Lockhart which he'd secretly feared.

Once outside they wandered to the apothecary to pick up more potions supplies, and then went on to Madam Malkins to get new robes for school. All of them had grown since first year and needed new robes. They also got some casual robes as well.

With their shopping completed, Draco headed for Quality Quidditch supplies, dragging Raiden with him. Daphne rolled her eyes and followed, muttering "Boys!" under her breath. When they reached their destination, Draco was positively drooling over the Nimbus 2001 broomstick in the window. Raiden looked bored, he liked Quidditch well enough but he didn't like to fly the way Draco did. He did well in flying lessons, and liked to dive from heights but had refused all attempts to make him into a future Seeker. When told that his father had played Quidditch and he had to carry on the tradition, Raiden had exploded and told the interfering person that he was not his father and to cease bothering him about the issue. All the other Slytherins had backed off as well, realising that Raiden was content to just be a supporter, and to fly occasionally for fun.

When they walked out of the shop they were accosted by Ron Weasley. The red head was looking at them with an ugly expression. "Hey Malfoy, Potter. What are you doing in there, planning something to humiliate Gryffindor?"

Raiden looked at Draco, and then smirked, seeing Lucius just behind Ron. Raising his eyebrows, Raiden yawned before saying smoothly, "Actually we were just admiring the new broom, Weasley. The thought of humiliating Gryffindor didn't even cross our minds, however, you've just given me a brilliant idea."

Walking into the store again he asked, in a loud enough voice for Ron to hear, "How much would seven of those Nimbus 2001's cost sir?" The amount that came back was expensive but not out of reach and Raiden came back out, smirking.

He inclined his head towards Lucius, who had caught onto his plan quickly. The man smirked as well, and stepped forward saying in a voice as smooth as Raiden's had been, "I suggest you leave, Weasley, your family would probably have to go hungry for three months to pay for even half the twigs in the end of the broom, much less one whole broom."

Turning to face Draco and his friends he smiled slightly and said, "Shall we go, Miss Greengrass, Mr Potter? I find that the air here has suddenly acquired the most dreadful smell."

Snickering slightly, Daphne and Raiden followed Lucius and Draco back towards the Leaky Cauldron, carrying their purchases in their hands. Once they were safely inside, Lucius turned to Raiden.

"I was disappointed to not be able to have you over for the summer, Mr Potter. Draco was as well. Did you not get our invitation?"

Raiden shook his head. "I'm afraid that your letters must have somehow been intercepted, Mr Malfoy. I've received no letters from any of my friends this summer and I don't know why. I've been sending Salazar with letters but he's come back each time looking ruffled and upset."

Lucius frowned. "Hmm, I'll look into it, Mr Potter. It is indeed most strange that this should have occurred. Do you have to be somewhere in particular or do you have some free time?"

Raiden frowned. "My uncle is expecting me back, Mr Malfoy, but I would like to talk to you at some later point."

"Is it about that little idea you had outside Quality Quidditch Supplies?" Lucius asked with a faint smile. Raiden nodded.

"Yes sir but I'd need to discuss it in private," Raiden replied.

Lucius inclined his head. "Very well, Mr Potter, I'll be available tomorrow if you wish to set a time. I can give you a Portkey to Malfoy Manor so we can discuss your idea and so that you can spend time with Draco before you both go back to school."

Raiden smiled. "I'd like that sir, thank you."

Lucius smirked and then quietly made a small medallion into a Portkey before giving it to Raiden. "Password is Freedom," he said quietly before leaving with Draco. Raiden was left to contemplate his upcoming day vacation from his relatives.

Smirking, he returned home from London, once again being driven grudgingly around by his uncle. The Dursleys, hadn't locked Raiden in his room since he'd proved that he could unlock his door with magic, and that it couldn't be traced. Since then they'd been much more accommodating to their unwelcome relative although still unkind and not generally helpful to him.

Voldemort smirked as he sneaked up on his apprentice. Raiden was getting better at sensing his surroundings but he still needed some work. They also conversed almost exclusively in Parseltongue to give Raiden practice at using it when not around a real snake and the young wizard was now almost as fluent in it as he was in English, although it was a talent that Voldemort warned him to keep hidden as most of the wizarding world would look down on him for it. Raiden had agreed and had faithfully kept it secret apart from his friends who knew about it. Since they never spoke of it, it was unlikely that the information would become public knowledge.

Raiden sighed and checked to see that he had his trunk with him. Lucius had sent his house elf, Dobby to tell him that if he wished, he was more than welcome to stay the remaining days until September First at Malfoy Manor. With his trunk and all other magical items with him, Raiden held the Portkey and said, "Freedom."

He landed in a large sitting room, where Draco and Lucius were waiting for him. He was embarrassed that he'd landed on the floor but accepted the hand up from Draco. Looking round, he sat down in the chair that Lucius indicated to him.

"Well, how have your holidays been so far, Harry, apart from the mysterious disappearing mail?" Lucius asked.

Raiden smiled. "They've been pretty good sir, and I'm looking forward to second year a lot. Any excuse to get away from those muggles is good."

"I can imagine," Lucius replied before settling back in his chair. "Pumpkin juice, Harry?" he offered. Once the refreshments had been handed out Draco entered the conversation.

"Come on, Harry; tell me what your idea was. Why did you ask what seven Nimbus brooms would cost?"

Raiden looked at Draco in disbelief. "I thought you were smart, Draco," he said teasingly, smirking at the annoyed look his friend gave him. Seeing that the younger Malfoy was going to explode if he didn't explain, he sighed.

"How many players are there on a Quidditch team, Draco?" he asked.

Draco looked confused at the question but answered, "Seven, why?"

"And what were we talking about when Weasley interrupted us?"

"Ways to humiliate Gryffindor this year. I still don't get what you're getting at, Harry."

Lucius entered the conversation again, saying, "Really Draco, you're planning on trying out for Seeker this year aren't you?"

"Yes, Father, I am, but, ohh I get it now," Draco said with an evil gleam in his eyes. Turning to Raiden he smirked and said, "You're not playing yourself but you want Slytherin to win and giving the whole team the best brooms available would ensure that outcome."

Raiden nodded. "Finally. Yes that's right."

Draco nodded, thoroughly pleased at this. "How are the team going to get the brooms though?" he asked. Raiden looked thoughtful.

"Well, that's where your father comes in," he replied. Looking at Lucius he continued, "I was hoping that we could split the cost of the brooms between us, so I could feel that I was contributing towards Slytherin's good fortune on the pitch even though I don't actually play."

Lucius nodded. "And having Harry Potter buying the best available brooms for the Slytherin team when it's well known that your parents were Gryffindors would shock and humiliate the students of that House, not to mention Professor McGonagall. I'm amenable to this idea, shall we say a seventy/thirty split? That way you don't have to drain your trust fund as you won't be able to access your family vault until you're of age."

Now Raiden was looking at Lucius in confusion. "Family vault sir?" he queried.

Lucius looked shocked, and then annoyed. "You mean you don't know that you have a family vault?" he asked. Raiden shook his head.

"No sir, I thought the vault I was taken to in first year was it, and it was full of galleons so I didn't think beyond that. It seems I was wrong."

Lucius nodded sharply. "You don't need to know much beyond the basics at the present moment, Harry, but just know that all the pureblood families have a family vault, and the Potters, as one of the old families, are extremely wealthy. Your vault that you mentioned is most likely a trust vault set up by your parents to pay for your education and whatever else you wish to buy during your childhood. Once you reach the age of majority you will gain full access to your family vault and take control of the family finances."

Raiden nodded in understanding. "Who has control of my finances now then?" he asked curiously.

Lucius frowned thoughtfully. "Hmm, well, your magical guardian would have control of your trust vault but they can't access your family vault. This prevents any unscrupulous trustee taking all the wealth before you reach seventeen. Draco can teach you the basics while you're at Hogwarts this year if you'd like?"

Raiden nodded again, assimilating this new information. "Yes sir I'd like that," he responded.

Lucius smiled and then said, "Well, now that that's settled, I'll go and arrange the brooms while you two have fun."

With that he left and the two boys were left staring at each other. Finally Draco shook himself out of the staring match and jumped up, saying, "Come on, I'll give you a tour. Have you brought your trunk?"

Draco and Raiden spent the last few days before the first of September generally relaxing and having fun. A day before they were due to leave, Lucius caught them in the entrance hall.

"Draco, Harry there you are. I just thought you'd like to know that the broomstick purchase went off without a hitch. To celebrate I thought you'd both like these" and he pulled out two Nimbus 2001's and presented them to the boys.

Draco grabbed his immediately but Raiden was unsure. Seeing this, Lucius said softly, "Harry, it's alright. I know you don't play but if you and Draco are going to fly together for fun then you need to be able to keep up with him. Besides, we split the cost of the brooms remember, so this one came out of your share of the cash."

Raiden thought about it and then grinned, reaching forward to take the broom. "Thank you sir, it's brilliant" he said with a grin. He and Draco promptly took off, relishing the speed of the brooms and then Draco gave a strangled yelp of horror as his precious watch fell off his wrist.

"My watch!" he yelped as he saw it plummeting toward the lake. Raiden didn't think twice, he pulled the broom round, and dove after it, not seeing Draco and Lucius staring at him in shock as he caught the watch a bare few centimeters from the surface of the lake and pulled up hard, swerving away so he was hovering over grass and not water.

Draco flew down to him, his jaw hanging open. "Merlin, Harry, and you say you don't want to play Quidditch? Ignoring the strap for a minute, the Snitch isn't that much smaller than my watch. We could both try out, you know I'm better at Chaser than Seeker and imagine how much fun it would be to beat Weasley at yet another thing."

Raiden smirked. "Yes but if Weasley is chosen for Seeker the season'll be pretty boring. Remember Transfiguration, about halfway through last year?"

"You mean the lesson where Weasley puts his wand on his perfectly empty desk and then spends the next ten minutes looking for it?" Draco enquired before bursting into laughter. "I can see why you might find that a boring challenge but Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw have pretty decent seekers. Plus, everyone thinks second years aren't much of a challenge so you'll be our secret weapon so to speak."

Raiden smirked and then replied. "I suppose so. OK Draco I'll try out for Seeker and you can try for Chaser. Maybe we can persuade Blaise and Daphne as well, they like playing Chaser. That way we've got a young team who can improve with age."

"Like a good wine," Draco snorted before they fell over laughing again. "It's brilliant. I like it. All we have to do now is suggest it to my two unaware teammates and then beat the incumbents. Shouldn't be too hard."

The next day was noisy and hectic as they got to King's Cross and got on the train. Draco and Raiden claimed a compartment immediately and it wasn't long before Daphne and Blaise joined them. The four second years promptly locked the door and began discussing their plan to take over the Quidditch team.

Halfway through the ride they unlocked the door to admit Emma and Aaron, the two seventh year Prefects. They had been looking for somewhere to sit and were welcomed enthusiastically, joining in the discussion on Quidditch with ease and heartily approving of their plan.

It was only when they reached Hogsmeade that Raiden noticed something odd. "Hey did any of you guys see the Weasel at all on the journey?" Head shakes met his question and he frowned. "Odd. Perhaps he missed the train."

Draco shrugged and pulled Raiden towards one of the waiting carriages. He got in, along with his future team mates and they set off to Hogwarts for their second year.