FOURTEEN

The next morning, true to his word, Blaise was up and about with Harry at five forty. With a night to think it over, Blaise didn't seem so confident.

'I'm not sure if showing your hand at the start was the best play Harry.' He whispered. Draco was still in the dorm, supposedly asleep.

Harry couldn't keep the amused smile off his face. 'I haven't shown my hand.'

Blaise frowned. 'Then what do you call it? Because I call it a huge play… Also, how on earth did you break Lendowl's jaw?'

Harry winked at Blaise, earning a growl from the lack of answer. They slowly made their way out of the dorm. Harry paused and stopped Blaise just before they turned the corner that would put them in sight of the common room at large.

'Do you think many people will be up?' Harry asked innocently.

'Most of Slytherin.' Blaise said, exasperated.

Harry hummed.

'Tell me, Blaise, do you trust me?'

'Not as far as I could hex you.' He replied promptly. Harry let out a low laugh.

'Perhaps wise. But will you follow my lead?'

Blaise hovered for just a second, but nodded. Harry grinned.

'Excellent. Act natural.'

Harry pulled an apple he'd stolen from the feast last night out of his bag, and casually took a bite as they entered the common room. Harry could feel the air thicken in anticipation of the battles for the lounge once Harry sat down. There was an actual line of people waiting to take him on.

'Do you think Hagrid will be an acceptable teacher?' Harry asked Blaise in an unconcerned voice.

May as well kill two birds with one stone. Blaise still thought he knew what was happening, and replied calmly with ease.

'Well it doesn't matter too much to me, as I didn't choose Care. You may be right about his lack of understanding about danger levels decreasing his bias against the dark. You shall have to let me know.'

Harry had to give him points for guessing the point of Harry's comment straight away, and going right in for the kill.

'Yes, I suppose I will. Care is traditionally a morning practical, isn't it?'

Harry had purposely walked on Blaise's left, meaning he was closer to the lounge and the epicenter of the waiting Slytherins. As such, when Harry continued in a straight line, in the direction of the porthole, not the lounge, Blaise's assumed path was cut off, and he had no choice but to follow Harry, or run into him.

'T-Traditional. Yes.'

The slight stutter was all Blaise let show, but Harry was quite aware that he'd just thrown Blaise's world significantly off course.

'Excellent. I hope it's first off.'

Harry added about fifty points to his mental tally of breaking Slytherin masks. He even glimpsed quite a few students with dropped jaws as he guided Blaise out of the common room. Blaise hummed lightly in agreement, but the moment the wall completely closed up behind them he rounded on Harry.

'What the hell are you doing!?'

'Going to breakfast.' Harry knew his blank stare and tone of bewilderment probably made him quite insufferable, but he couldn't help it. It was just too amusing to watch a Slytherin splutter.

'Going to-…' Blaise gave him a horrified look and didn't seem capable of finishing the thought. Harry paused in their walk towards the Great Hall.

'Will you trust my ability to be King?'

Blaise pulled behind his own mask and fell silent, watching Harry out of the corner of his eye as they walked up the set of stairs.

'Yes.' The answer seemed to be pulled out of Blaise with the uttermost reluctance. 'Yes, I suppose I do.'

'Excellent.' Harry said cheerfully. 'Then do try to act as if giving up the most sought after position in Slytherin in order to get in early on the pancakes is perfectly normal.'

Harry finished talking just in time for them to enter the Great Hall.

There were only a few Slytherin's there, six or so, most of the House being still asleep or waiting in the common room, however one fourth year girl sat studying a Herbology text and absently chewing on some toast. Unfortunately for her, she had chosen to sit right in the center of the table. Harry was having none of that.

'Good morning Ella.'

Harry's greeting startled her a little as she had been absorbed in her book. Once she looked up to see who was talking however, she was a little bit startled.

Her piece of toast fell out of her hand, but she didn't seem to notice.

She (like every other Slytherin) expected Harry to be sitting in the common room, either getting his arse handed to him, or obliterating someone else's attempt at the lounge.

'Sorry to be a bother, but I'm rather attached to this part of the table. I'd kind of like to claim it as my own.'

She seemed to shake off her shock, but obviously couldn't understand why Harry would want the most uninteresting area to sit. She was a Slytherin, however, and having no knowledge on what had changed in the common room since Harry was ruling the night before, she simply scooted down the bench a few places, and appeared to bury herself back in her book. Kings and Queens were dangerous.

Blaise didn't comment during the exchange, but once they were seated in the same spot as the night before, with an ample serving of Pancakes true to Harry's word, he spoke up.

'You aren't interested in the most coveted spot in the common room, but when there is almost a hundred free spaces, you have to ask a fifth year to move?'

'This is my spot.' Harry said, purposely sounding like a child.

'You are bizarre.' Blaise muttered, but dutifully dug into his pancakes and said nothing else.

Slowly students and teachers made appearances and the hall filled up. Flitwick had been the only teacher awake when Harry and Blaise arrived, and there had only been a few of his Ravens and he to witness the odd behavior at the Slytherin table. The Slytherins did arrive sooner than usual. Theo was the next from their year to join them, followed by a surprised Millie and Lillian.

'Morning.'

'Good morning.' Harry returned. Harry could see they were itching to ask what the hell was wrong with him, but didn't have the courage. After shifting from foot to foot for a bit, eventually they just sat down without saying anything and started in on breakfast and conversation as if Harry hadn't gone mad.

There was an odd sort of buzz in the hall as it filled up. But no one else in Slytherin seemed to be capable of asking either, and even the other houses picked up on the odd behavior of the snakes. Snape had shown not the slightest surprise when he entered the hall, but then he might of already have been told. He did sigh rather heavily as he approached Harry's little group, but didn't comment as he passed out everyone's timetables.

Harry had his first moment of doubt regarding class choice as he pulled out his magical diary and started copying the timetable over. It was a rather daunting prospect, extra time or not.

Being Tuesday, Harry actually didn't have too many conflicts, starting with only a double of Transfiguration, then a double of Charms after break. He also had Divination through the second half of Charms. The afternoon got a little bit messier, with both Potions and Herbology in the first slot, then Arithmancy twice in the second slot. One with the Slytherins and Professor Vector, and the other at the same time with the Ravenclaws and Professor Vector's apprentice, Don Courbe.

All in all, not a bad start to the year. He was easily looking forward to Arithmancy and Runes the most, having not studies them before, and he had (essentially) a double of Arithmancy to end the day. Harry finished marking up the day's timetable leaving enough space to note who each class was with in a space next to the time. He would need to keep a careful eye on the Slytherins, and Hermione too, to begin with. Talking of which, Harry carefully looked over his timetable. At no point did transfiguration follow Divination, so they must have shuffled the timetables of the whole year so he could make it to all his classes without doing three at once. No doubt that was Snape's doing. Harry idly wondered whether Trelawney would still predict his death in their first lesson as he finished up his last pancake and reached over to grab some fruit for his bag for the long day ahead. He made a mental note to organize with the house elves for an extra meal or two.

He noticed that Blaise was finished as well, having both started ridiculously early, and was about to suggest a morning walk outside before class, when there was a roar of laughter at the head of the table. With a perfect view of the whole table from where they sat in the middle, it was hard to miss Draco entertaining a large group of Slytherins with a ridiculous impression a swooning fit. The resulting roar of laughter had drawn attention all down the Slytherin table. The other tables too. Harry's eyes flicked across the hall to see Ron going bright red, and the twins leaning in to cheer him up.

'Looks like Draco slunk right in on your empty spot.' Blaise commented. Harry could detect a bit of disapproval towards himself.

'Hmm, looks like it.' Around him Harry could feel the Slytherin's attention switching from Draco to him. One of the biggest advantages (and restrictions) of sitting in the center of the table was that almost the whole table could listen in on your conversations without much bother. It meant the exclusivity of the private conversations held at the end of the table was lost, and it meant every little thing you did was under critique. Of course, that only won you more respect when you didn't falter.

For the moment however, it meant that (intentional or not, and Harry wasn't really sure which, but he expected not) Blaise had just drawn the majority of Slytherins attention away from Draco's little charade. The topic of Harry's seeming advantage had finally been broached. Harry brought a heavy gaze to meet Blaise's as he realised everyone was listening. Blaise wilted just a tiny bit under it, but Harry was actually quite pleased. Blaise would learn that lesson with something useful.

'Why did you give up The Lounge?' Tracey asked from where she was sitting next to Daphne. At the end of the table Harry could see Draco pretending to faint with terror again. Harry let a small smirk grace his lips. Most of the house was focusing on him not Draco, which was obviously frustrating the blonde.

'I don't need it.' Harry said it quietly (and was rewarded by several people who had been pretending not to listen having to lean in to hear) 'Breakfast was of more interest to me today.'

'Today.' Daphne caught. Her eyes met his from her seat opposite him. 'So you'll be taking it back then?'

'Hey, Weasley!' Pansy shrieked across hall at the Gryffindor table from her spot next to Draco, 'Weasley! The Dementors are coming, Weasley! Woooooooooo!'

Harry recognized it as a ploy to bring the attention back to Draco. He let out a light laugh.

'Well, certainly not until there is someone with a little more class to defeat.' Harry's eyes flicked to the end of the table. He had kept his voice low again, but all the eyes that had flicked to Pansy returned easily to him.

'You have to admit it is funny.'

Harry turned sharply to Theo and frowned. That was almost sabotage, and he had really thought Theo would be on his side. Theo had his lips in a restrained purse. Harry's frown narrowed. Unless…

'Well, perhaps if it weren't so hypocritical. I hear Draco went running off to the Weasley twin's compartment looking like he was about to wet himself.' Harry remembered George telling him this during the original timeline. 'Draco is only opening himself up to the Weasley twins retaliation.'

'Perhaps he hasn't considered the fact that the large family he always teases Ronald for possessing, will also translate to a large number of protectors?' Theo nodded.

Harry was pleased to see he'd been correct. Tension released from Theo's shoulders. He had just been setting Harry up to insult Draco.

'Possibly the twins will take it out on Slytherin too.' Harry suggested. Nothing like making Draco's ploy look like sabotage against rule number one. Harry would have to chat to the twins.

Daphne opened her mouth to comment, but at that moment a ball of energy dropped into the empty seat next to her.

'I am so excited for my first class!'

Harry couldn't help but laugh at the look of absolute horror on Daphne's face, as her sister showed not even the slightest hint of behavior befitting a Slytherin.

'Astoria, I presume.' Harry asked.

Astoria switched her attention to him. 'Oooh, Harry Potter! I've heard so much about you! And not just from my sister here.' Astoria wriggled her eyebrows at him. Harry couldn't help but like her.

'All good, I hope?' Harry teased, flicking his eyes to Daphne, who looked absolutely mortified.

'Except all the times when Daphne told me about-'

'Storie!' Daphne interrupted, turning bright red.

Harry grinned. 'Talk about me a lot, does she?' he teased.

'Ye-'

'Shut up Potter!' Daphne hissed.

Astoria finally seemed to notice that she had committed social error, and her colour matched her sisters. Harry took pity on them both.

'What subject do you have first, Miss Astoria?'

'H-History.'

'Excellent. Might I suggest we show the firsties the way to their class?' Harry addressed his little group. 'Can't have Slytherin firsties appearing anything less than all-knowing to the other houses.'

'The History room is close to Transfiguration, and we've got that first.' Blaise offered, having pulled out his timetable to check.

'If we must.' Daphne sneered across at Blaise. Harry noticed that Astoria had stiffened at Blaise's voice.

It was obviously a family matter then.

Without another word Harry slipped his bag over his shoulder and led the group from the hall. He was quite pleased to note that as he was leaving several of the older students collected the other firsties and sent them after him. Obviously the house had been listening still, and approved of his Slytherin loyalty. Harry would definitely talk to the twins.

Not much more was said until they left the firsties outside Binn's classroom. There was tension in their group and the new students had been too busy being awed by the sights and sounds of Hogwarts to want to talk much.

'So are we going to take over a different area of the common room too?' Theo asked bluntly, once the group was alone.

'No.' Harry shook his head. 'For all intents and purposes, it must look like we don't have even the slightest interest in the lounge.'

'For how long?' Daphne demanded.

'Until Draco deals with two or three attempts.'

'He'll lose his spot tonight at the latest.' Theo sneered.

'Don't be ridiculous.' Blaise groaned. 'He has the Malfoy name and isn't completely incompetent. We shouldn't underestimate him. Not all of the house appreciated your win either Harry.' He added diplomatically.

'And you're a half-blood.' Daphne seemed to grimace because she was agreeing with Blaise. 'It's never been done before.'

'Yes it has.'

Harry had opened his mouth to say exactly the same thing, but was quite surprised when Tracey beat him to it. The whole group turned to look at her in shock.

'A boy named Tom Riddle was King for three years in the forties.' She frowned. 'My father told me about it, but I don't know why the house accepted him.'

'He was the Heir to a rather important house.' Harry supplied.

'Even if he was Heir to one of the Nobel Houses it shouldn't have mattered.' Blaise frowned. 'Back then they were even more worried over blood status.'

'Really?' Harry asked. 'Why?'

He had thought that most of the open prejudice came from Voldemort's reign.

Blaise sighed. 'How come you know more than naturally possible about some things, then are clueless about others?'

Harry smirked, but remained silent.

Blaise let out a huff. 'It started building with Grindelwald and was part of the whole greater nation thing he had going.'

'I thought it was the greater good?' asked Tracey.

'That was the main ideal, but the decisions made for his greater good were made to benefit the greater nation.'

'Pure bloods. Just like Hitler's blonde and blue eyes.' Harry realised.

'Who?' all of the little group asked. Harry rolled his eyes.

'You know, you would all benefit from studying muggle studies.'

'Don't get off topic.' Daphne frowned. 'It is going to be tough getting the house past your half-blood status.'

'Which house was Tom Riddle Heir to?' Blaise asked. 'It must have been through his mother's side, because I can't think of any Riddles.'

Harry's lip twitched.

'Nothing more than the House of Slytherin.' He said it in the most blasé voice he could manage.

'Oh, of course. The Chamber was opened at the same time!' Theo grinned. 'Riddle must have opened it.'

Meanwhile Daphne, Tracey and Blaise had jumped three steps ahead in their thinking.

'You must have that wrong.' Daphne insisted. 'Tom Riddle can't have been-…'

'But- No. No. Absolutely not.' Blaise had a look of complete outrage on his face.

'The Dark Lord is the heir to Slytherin.' Tracey corrected.

'Yes.' Harry said.

'But you just said Tom Riddle was a-… No!?' Daphne had her scandalized gossip voice on, which Harry couldn't really fault her for. It was probably the most outrageous piece of information he knew.

'Yep.' Harry popped the p. 'But when you think about it, it should actually give Voldemort more respect.'

'How do you figure that?' Theo asked in a weak voice.

'Because he got where he got from nothing. But he still got there.'

And truth be told, Harry actually did respect Voldemort for that (or rather, he respected Tom Riddle). He had made way too many horrible decisions and mistakes along the way, but while Harry thought Tom Riddle's chosen path was fundamentally wrong, he could respect the man for achieving what he had set out to, against the considerable odds.

'Don't suppose you are secretly the heir to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?' Daphne pulled Harry from his contemplation.

'Nope.' Harry couldn't help but grin at what he imagined their faces would look like if he told them he had essentially thieved the title of Slytherin from Tom.

It was rather lucky actually, as he didn't have a Head of House status of his own despite popular opinion, and unless James Potter died earlier than before, probably wouldn't for quite a while. But Slytherin was his. Much like how the House of Black (among most but not all pure blood houses) had to be headed by a male, Slytherin had a few criteria of his own. Most of them were nominal, but the biggest one, and the reason that very few knew that the Gaunt's had been the Heirs, was that you had to be able to speak and understand Parseltongue. During the time the line fell through the House of Dean, none of the son's (there was very little written about any daughters) had been able to speak with snakes. It wasn't until three generations before Marvolo that the Gaunt's had been able to speak to snakes again. Morigan N Gaunt had been captured and killed by muggle villagers after being sighted exchanging conversation with a serpent only three months after the birth of his only son. Harry had found the information when searching in the library the previous year.

'You can speak to snakes.' Blaise said it quietly, with contemplation.

'Voldemort is alive.' But not heir, Harry added mentally. The group stiffened, but they all knew of his previous years, though Harry suspected they didn't really believe him.

'You could still use it to your advantage.' Blaise pushed.

'No.'

Blaise let out a frustrated growl. 'You seem to be doing your utmost best not to win over the house.'

'Slytherin was never the house for taking a direct and open path.'

'No, however Zabini is right.' Daphne didn't seem pleased to admit it. Harry could only notice she'd not called him Blaise. 'You need to use it before someone uses it against you.'

'Draco is under oath. Tell me Daphne dear, do the girls know?' Harry drawled dangerously. Daphne paled slightly.

'You spoke it on the train.' She tried. Harry was having none of it.

'And their lack of surprise?' he drawled. Daphne winced before pulling behind her mask.

'Last year my loyalty lay only to myself.' Harry could see she was trying to sound confident.

'No doubt you've learnt better.' Harry said sweetly.

It was a pretty big insult, but he needed to know now whether or not she would stay. Both Daphne and Tracey reared back in shock, but when Tracey opened her mouth to spit something nasty out, Daphne put a light hand on her arm. Harry made a mental note to try and win Tracey's allegiance on his own as well.

'You would annihilate me?' Daphne simpered.

Harry remained outwardly cold. 'Without hesitation.'

Daphne flinched just a little, paused, then sighed and answered. 'I know my strength. I would not win against you without joining Malfoy.' Her eyes flickered to Blaise for a moment, but remained hard.

'Your sister is betrothed to him.' It was actually a question, but Harry made it sound like he knew (It had never been publicly acknowledged that way, however Harry remembered that for the first two or three years of their marriage there hadn't been any sort of spark. It had developed however). Theo and Blaise drew in shocked gasps.

'That is a family secret.' Daphne's eyes widened dramatically.

Harry didn't answer. Internally he could admit to being a bit smug, but he didn't let that show.

'Just don't make me regret my decision.' Daphne settled on. Harry tilted his chin up.

'I hardly intend to.'

Before the conversation could get any deeper the Ravenclaws and the remaining Slytherin's turned up as a group, and a moment later McGonagall opened the classroom door.