A/N RE-EDIT, Key additions! Ah, sorry for the delay, am finally on a three month summer break ^-^, please enjoy this chapter and let me know your opinions.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling, I have no intention to make a profit etc., only writing for fun.
Harry spent the remaining two weeks of summer getting to really know his parents. James had seemingly lost his 'cool', less so cocky, James was an over enthusiastic warm father figure, rather than that image he had of him from the past. Quidditch was the late afternoon pastime, after James came home and Lily returned home from the Hogwarts library. Harry had been appalled to find out that it was open through summer, and wondered if Hermione knew. Probably not, otherwise she wouldn't go home.
Sirius often came by for quidditch, and the silliest things had them quarrelling, making Harry an unwilling referee. James was generally very laid back, you couldn't guess he was haunting criminals, and keeping peace in his work hours, whereas Lily on the other hand was a force to be reckoned with. She was inevitably strict, Harry had expected it, but the sheer wrath she summoned when angered was in keeping with Mrs Weasley. But whereas Mrs Weasley let it all out, and shouted to her hearts content, Harry's mother was more cunning, subtle threats were delivered to those who misbehaved, and when these threats were ignored, Harry would take cover in his room. Usually any anger was directed at the pair of Marauders. Although his parents quarrelled, it was the comfortable sort, similar to the way Ron and Hermione quarrelled but without the unrealised feelings. And Harry enjoyed watching them, he missed his friends, and saw them in his parents.
Therefore, Harry could barely wait until he did see them again, and when they met on the platform at Kings Cross, Harry was bubbling up inside with joy, they were alive. Of course he remained cool on the outside.
When he pulled away from the hug, Hermione was smiling at him. "Hey Hermione, it's good to see you again". Again, Harry thought, and many more times to come.
"Yeah, nice to see you, 'sup Harry", an unfamiliar voice greeted Harry, a light punch followed. Harry turned to see a boy about his height with hair as black as his, and eyes of cobalt blue, an unusual combination considering his dark skin tone. This had to be Blaise, Harry had never paid much attention to him, well any of the Slytherins with the exception of Malfoy and his cronies.
"Blaise", Harry smiled, "How are you?"
"Fine of course, although I must concur that we shall have an awesome year ahead of us, if my nose can track it, there is something odious in the air, can you sense it, oh, well hello Mummy's boy", Blaise waved at Malfoy who was being smothered by his mother.
"Do behave this year Blaise, Harry's not bad, until you start…"
"Why, Miss Granger, I cannot help but find that if you are at your wits ends you may abandon us, but since you are still with us, then you might as well go down with us. Our tyrannous trio well smash it this year," Blaise pulled Harry and Hermione into a huddle "between you smarts, my looks, and Harry's…Well let's just forget about him. The three of us can give Malfoy what he deserves eh?"
"Oh don't start that business boys " Hermione said exasperated.
"Nothing to offer, Blaise, I'll blast you out of here if you say that again" Harry played along, something urged him to say "Where's our dear Lady friend Luna, she would stand up for me."
Blaise broke the huddle, "Low blow again from Mr Potter, I'l give. Perhaps I should go ahead and find a carriage that will hold the likes of us, and in the meantime you may express your farewells to your darling parents, I think mine's wrestling with a snake right about now. Farewell Mr and Mrs Potter. Let us leave Miss Granger."
Blaise locked Hermione's arms into his, and walked off, Hermione waved at Harry's parents. Harry turned around to his parents, Lily was whispering in James' ears whilst James stared darkly at Blaise.
"Mum, dad, I'm off, see you in a bit mum, and dad, feel free to come to the matches."
"Oh Harry", his mother pulled him into a stifling hug.
"Oh, Lily, you'll see him, he's taking Potions, I on the other hand may not see him for months," With that James squashed the two of them. Harry missed James wink at Lily. "Mum, dad, if you continue to restrict my airflow, you may never see me again."
With that Harry broke the hug, and quickly escaped to the train.
The train pulled into Hogsmeade station, the air was cool, and Harry was home. Although he had finally been reunited with his family, their house had yet to have that feeling that Harry got when he climbed off the train at the beginning of every term. He grinned at his friends and they were greeted by Luna in a carriage pulled by the largest Thestral. He wondered if it was intentional, Luna could see them after all. "Guys, I've always wondered" Harry started, when the four of them were sitting in the carriage, "but never asked, what pulls the carriages?" Hermione huffed, but Luna supplied the answer quicker: "Thestrals Harry, only those who have witnessed death can see them. I can see them, ever since my mother's passing."
"Me too, Luna," Blaise said sympathetically, before lightening his tone "and this one is awesome."
Harry silently agreed, he didn't suppose he'd witnessed any deaths in this world. Best not to say anything.
As they sat down at the Gryffindor table, Harry noticed Ron coming in alone. His brother John walked in with Colin. The Weasley twins were already sat at the table, though Harry had no idea why, shouldn't they have graduated?. "What's up with Ron?" He asked Hermione.
"Oh, he's just being a prat Harry. You needn't worry about him, although I do feel for him, I mean sorry for him, he and Neville got into a quibble. Ron got a little jealous of Neville's fame." That's right, Harry remembered, Neville had his legacy, he wondered if he was any different from the Neville he knew. "Where is Neville anyway?"
"At a photo shoot, the great sod, I would look better than him any day without trying, why pick him, he hasn't even done anything, a ministry poster boy…"
"Shush Blaise, and please, keep the vanity under control." Hermione hushed. It was only then that Harry noticed: "Wait a second, Blaise, what are you doing? You're not supposed to sit here,"
"Hermione you got to him didn't you? Harry, despite my Slytherin roots, I'm more than welcome here, you know that since you forced me to sit here with you since second year, you prat."
"Right" said Harry. This couldn't be. Slytherins, he'd never heard of houses intermixing at meals, and a Slytherin on a Gryffindor table. And none of the Gryffindors gave him a second look. Well, except Ron, but then again that wasn't so much a look than a deathly glare.
"All right, Harry? Blaise? Nice to see you back Hermione, how have your summers been?"
"Dean, Seamus, hey guys, well you know. Been lying low, no fun getting into trouble without an audience, but that I'm here…" Blaise smirked.
"What's the plan than, live rats in the pudding, running syrups in the juice cups?"
"We'll have none of the sort!" Huffed Hermione. Seamus grinned. "Aaah don't be so modest Hermione, we know that your little group wouldn't function very well without you, these two may be smart but enchanting the paintings to say "purepratt" every time a Slytherin walks by, well I don't think these two" Seamus grinned at Harry "Would have even able to carry that out."
Hermione blushed. "All in a days work right mate?" Blaise answered nudging Harry.
"Yeah. My summer's been uneventful except for when my dad knocked me cold with a bludger and snapped my wand."
"Ouch" Dean winced.
Just then Dumbledore got their attention. They welcomed the first years, and Harry noted the slight tension in the staff table, after all, Voldemort's return had been announced, he realised their was shorter intake this year. The Triwizard tournament had taken place two years ago, and Voldemort had Neville's blood. And now had revealed himself to be alive. However more unnerving than the tension at the table was the presence of his mother, seated next to Snape. Harry couldn't take his eyes off them. It was too odd.
Harry tried talking to Ron that night in their dorms, he asked about his summer; Ron replied "What's it to you Potter, I could do without your malarkey this year."
"Ron, I was just fooling about, you know that mate, why not let bygones be bygones. It's sixth year, we should at least behave civilly with each other."
"Oh yeah and let you rub it in my face. Isn't enough being captain without letting us true players try out."
"What do you mean Ron, you're an excellent keeper, you should be-" Harry halted surprised, then realising his blunder, being the captain, tried to make peace: "Why not try out again this year, perhaps you've gotton better."
"And watch you diss me in front of that girlfriend of yours, you wish Potter, night!"
As Harry went to bed that night he thought, perhaps his relationship wasn't as easy to form with Ron given his alternate personality.
Harry yawned as he awoke unaware that this was his first day of the new Hogwarts year, and more importantly that he was late when he was attacked by a pillow, "Oi Potter, wake up" said Blaise, "you're going to be late."
"Huh, w-what?" Harry looked around the room and saw that non of his fellow Gryffindors were there, the beds were made, he looked at the clock besides him, it said eight thirty-five. Then something clicked, "'I'm gonna be late on my first day, oh this is not good, mum'll kill me, I, I, bloody hell." Harry said running to the bathroom. When he emerged he said thanks before realising, "Blaise what are you doing in here, you're wearing Slytherin colours?"
"Why Harry, my dear friend, I thought you would never ask. Apparently there are secret passages that interconnect all four common rooms, just imagine, we could get away with murder. Or not, anyway back to the story when I was inspecting a portrait of the Bloody Baron" at this Harry snorted, he figured Blaise well enough, "inspecting" was probably the same defacing in his book. "Well, I happened to be invisible at that time thanks to my fathers' potion cabinet, and while I was er dusting his nose, the painting, not my fathers, he sneezed so I said bless you (the least likeliest thing you'd ever hear from a Slytherin, I may add) and next thing you know this writing took up residence on the bottom of the painting "nirehtyls" it said. So I figured this must be a secret passage so I, er, what did I, oh yeah pronounced it out loud, well, attempted to and next thing I knew I had been pulled into the portrait. 'Tis an odd thing that, I was in this chamber, so I decided to return in the morning so I headed back into the tunnel when I chanced upon a knocker, the genius that I am l conveniently pressed it three times and was sucked into the Gryffindor common room. I suspect there are other tunnels leading elsewhere, so I've yet to figure the trigger to the nearly headless nick portrait so I decided to snooze in the dorm and wait until you were alone and here I am." With that Blaise took a solemn bow.
"It's Slytherin spelt backwards" said Hermione from the doorway, Harry who'd seen her come in smiled, Blaise seemed outraged. "This is the boys dorm, Hermione!"
"Yes, well this is the Gryffindor tower, Blaise."
"Check and mate, speaking of which mate, why didn't you just go back to your dorm. You smell bloody awful."
"Yeah well" Blaise looked sheepish. "The potion had worn of by then so when I camped out I did so by lurking in the shadows of your dorm, okay I took Longbottem's bed and drew the curtains. He still hasn't returned though."
"Time's a-ticking boys" said Hermione, they looked at the clock, it was five to nine, "we'll be skipping the visit to the great hall."
The boys looked forlorn at the prospect of missing breakfast when Hermione put them out of their misery.
"But you're in luck, I snuck out some food, we'll eat on the way to Potions, here are your timetables, I have them on merit of being a prefect. Unlike some other prefect hardly worth mentioning" she said looking at Blaise "I went to the meeting this morning."
"Oh yeah," said Blaise with a scowl as the three ran downstairs. Hermione stopped them, and pointed her wand at Blaise, with a flourish he was no longer in his night-wear. "Good call" Blaise said, "now run."
They rushed into Potions five minutes late, and entered a brightly lit room. At the desk, frowning at them was Harry's mother.
"I don't suppose you three would care to explain why you are so late would you?"
"Er, we got lost in the eternal sunshine that is you Lily, I mean Professor Potter."
"Blaise, how many times do I have to stress I'm married."
"Always once more, dump the loser, I'll make a great dad for Harry here".
Harry elbowed his friend's side. "Sit down you three, luckily the only desk free is the one in the front of the class, oh and five points each from your houses. Now if you will…" said Lily continuing with a lecture regarding NEWTS year. Harry inadvertently wondered what Slughorn was doing, at least his mother, despite being strict was fair. Harry recalled doing this potion last year and found he recollected the special notes on it, needless to say the trio got by with full marks with Hermione glaring at Harry for taking unnecessary shortcuts to make the potion perfect.
Next it turned out Harry was free whilst the others had a DADA class. Harry had failed to enter so he made his way to the gryffindor common room to pick up his broom. He headed to the pitch where sitting alone on the benches was John, Ron's brother. Harry understood that somethings were different in this world, but Harry couldn't help but take a disliking towards this boy who had replaced his Ginny in this world. It appeared the boy was about to start playing. "Free time?" John grinned at him, he really did look like Ginny.
"Yeah, did you just get here."
"Yes, this is the only free I have today, I thought I'd practise, I want to try out this year for the team you know, mum finally got me a broom."
A broom it was but an awful one. Harry glanced at it. "Care for a race". John said
"It wouldn't be fair we have different brooms" Harry said embarrassed.
"Yeah but you're the captain aren't you? Your badge is the key to the broom shed so I suppose you could get one to match mine."
"Good plan" Harry grinned at the merits of being a captain.
He went to the shed which opened when he inserted his badge and got a matching broom before locking his in there. In the air, it seemed on equal brooms they were neck to neck, John wasn't have bad at flying.
"That's the problem with similar brooms Harry, John said, "You're bound to end in a draw, brother brooms when used against each other are likely to backfire whereas brooms from different models become more competitive, so if you had used you're nimbus, I still could have won. Next time use yours, than I can be prepared, because let's face it, no one will have a broom like mine. "
"Point taken" said Harry, they each headed off to lunch together brooms in hand, and John went to sit next to Colin as Blaise entered the hall and joined Harry.
"Tough break mate" said Blaise with a slight sarcastic tone. "DADA was pretty good, if you were a Slytherin, but if you had been there, Snape probably would have ripped you to shreds for your miserable effort of doomfullness. In fact-"
"That man is downright urgh!" Books landed on the table with a thud. Harry looked up to see Hermione looking like she was going to explode. "What did Snape do this time?" Harry sighed.
"At least in Potion he was tolerable but now he's picking on all us muggleborns that wormed their way into the class, his word's not mine and giving Malfoy and purebloods," here she gave Blaise a dirty look in annoyance at his smirk "free reign to teaching us about the black arts, not exactly what you would call defence. In fact he forces you into trying out the spell in front of the class without giving you time to practise, which isn't a problem for me, but the others… Oh, Harry, and if you don't somehow manage then you get a fail," by this point Hermione was practically screeching having reached the peak in her argument. "His teaching methods in the area are a bit...well I find myself not learning anything as he picks on anyone who is not pure blooded, well Slytherin anyway."
"Bit of a hypocrite then." Harry smirked. "I am certain that Professor Snape is a half blood."
"Really Harry, I'll look into it, then I can at least answer against the discrimination." Hermione walked out of the lunch hall without eating a thing.
Finally noticing Harry's broom Blaise said, "Well I don't thinks spending your free time flying when you could be spending time in detention is appropriate Potter," in a mock Snape manner.
"Ah, well, being Captain, and all, I think I have some rights, had a race against John, at one point nearly knocked him off his broom."
"Ah be careful mate, Ron is especially protective of him, strange really, anyone would think that John was his little sister. Really could a girl punch Ron in return like that, his nose didn't stop bleeding the whole day.
"Ah yes, be careful what you say, if Hermione was here, you'd probably be in the same shoes as Ron."
Lessons that day continued on the NEWT vein, and Harry, who had recently graduated Hogwarts in his alternate life had little problems in them to the extent he had to fake mistakes as not to stand out. This proved slightly difficult but his friends were concerned with their own efforts at the very least. Harry had a feeling that lessons would be very boring this year. For this reason Harry couldn't help drifting of in Transfiguration He started daydreaming, there was nothing else for it. He remembered his old world. He longed to see the faces of his loved ones, the real faces, the ones who knew him, truly so. This world was quite lonely, knowing that he knew someone but them not knowing him as well in return. At least he had friends and despite his lack of mother problem being solved, he missed Mrs Weasley a lot. It felt like, sometimes he didn't now Lily Potter although she knew him he felt that something was missing, that something about her, his own mother wasn't quite right, but what was it? "Just what is the matter with you Mr Potter?". Harry looked up jumping embarrassed at being caught not paying attention again. Well, he couldn't very well say that somethings didn't feel right. And as the week progressed on he realised what is was, he may not have been the Boy Who Lived, but he still felt responsible, he still wanted to help the war effort, especially after hearing Hermione's tirade against DADA. And whilst he was scheming a great plan he was attacked by a lofffennargle in CoMC. It was only a small bite though, Harry was more concerned about the next lesson, they were looking at snakes and spiders, perhaps he could befriend Ron, as long as he didn't alienate himself from the class, after all, revealing his parseltongue talent would turn him into a Slytherin heir.
At the end of the second week, Blaise was talking about quidditch tryouts, and then Harry realised that he would have to set up a quidditch tryouts, there was no open slot until the first week of October. The twins, who should have gradated the year before were repeating their final year, Harry realised that with no financial benefactor: they had little hope of opening their dream shop; and with no qualifications: little chance of getting work elsewhere, At least he had beaters, now he needed three chasers, and a keeper. Until the tryout Harry had his eyes out on the quidditch pitch, looking for any Gryffindors who showed talent, only John was ever seen. Harry had no doubt that the boy would make the team, he did not know how he felt about it, he had avoided John, if only to get away form the memories of Ginny. But he couldnt really sacrifice a good team player to suit his own comfort. The good thing about the delay was trying to get Ron to join, he tried to drop subtle hints, until he got fed up and outright said, "On my own role as captain, I am genuine about this, tryout, practise with your brothers and tryout as a keeper, I am being serious." It wasn't just that Ron was his friend, and that Ron was a great keeper once he had the experinece, but rather the fact Harry knew with no Ron there wouldn't really be a team, no one else had signed up for it. So Harry was very happy to find Ron's name on the tryout list under keepers the following morning.
He understood that perhaps CoMC had helped him in formng at least a small friendship. The snakes had caused some problems in CoMC, they all circled expectantly around Harry, but Harry didn't reply, they smelt the parseltongue talent on him and quizzed him "whyyyss yooou not talking to ussss?" He made an impression of being unnerved, and caught Ron's sympathy, "Yeah, I have that problem with spiders" he had said. Realising that he had revealed his secret fear, how he had managed to keep it a secret Harry had wondered (perhaps he was ill that boggart lesson); Harry promised not to let anyone know. During the classes, Hagrid unfortunately treated him as any other student.
Amongst the issues relating quidditch Harry had formulated a plan, at the very least for his immediate friends, and how he yearned for Ron to join them, they met in the heart of all common rooms, Blaise letting them in, they had yet to figure about the trigger and studied defence. The room was larger than the common room, and exceedingly comfortable, it was similar to the room of requirements, it's decor changed at will. Hermione and Blaise were impressed with Harry's duelling skills, if not at the very least suspicious. Harry explained he had improved a lot over summer. He had done a lot of light reading, Hermione was naturally pleased and wondered at the fruits of his studies. He asked them how was DADA, of course their only response was that it was rubbish, and he asked if others felt a similar way. Yes, they did, Harry realised he could do something about it, but it would be risky. Still he could pull it off, Umbridge had taught last year he doubted that any of the students felt prepared enough for an attack. So he thought, and thought again about reinstating, well establishing a DA in this universe. "Hey guys how would you feel if we made this study group a bit bigger?"
"Well, we could ask Lovegood?"
"Luna, yes" Harry grinned, he had a feeling Blaise had a thing for Luna. "I was thinking even bigger, Hermione I was wondering if you could figure out a way to communicate with a large group of people, basic details such as meeting times and places."
"Oh," Hermione gushed, "I think I've read something about that, I'm going to the library."
"What exactly are you planning Harry?" Blaise scrutinised him.
"Well, this school has no defence club does it, and I doubt snape would authorise it, how would you feel about setting up an illegal club?"
"Illegal Harry? Well you couldn't have sugar coated it in a finer way. "I'm in!"
As the month of September went by Hermione finally produced the coins Harry knew she could, meanwhilst Harry realised that Neville had yet to return, perhaps then he was training for the final battle? Otherwise, what could explain his absence. Harry had really wanted to meet Neville, he needed to know if he was emotionally prepared. However concerns about Neville were posited into the back of his mind as quidditch tryouts started.
Harry held the quidditch tryouts in the final week of September. He hoped Ron would turn up, and was glad he did, and flew all right: apparently he'd been practising despite having faced rejection so many times. His game was good, thank goodness non of the others trying out were any better, names suddenly appeared on the list after Ron had entered his, so Harry was glad to say he was on the team. One of the chasers who became part of the team was John Weasley. It seemed now that the Gryffindor quidditch team was overrun by certain stubborn redheads, so Harry had to figure out how to assert authority quite well. Do an Oliver his mind thought and that's what he would find himself doing at the next few quidditch practises. Of course all the yelling did nothing to help his friendships but the team improved, A second year, Jennifer Hammond managed to obtain the other chaser role, as did Dean, and he was excellent. Harry had a minor dislike of him, he had dated Ginny, but of course Harry didn't hold that against him in this world, he couldn't really. However one good thing came out of it all was that Harry actually issued a response from Ron in the corridors when he greeted him, he actually got a reply. Perhaps making friends wouldn't be too difficult after all.
A/N: 28/06/10 Does anyone think writing a recap would be worth it at the beginning of each chapter? Since I do update so sporadically, perhaps it wold be appreciated? I actually attempted nano last year but failed, but I have learnt a little thing about commitments, I actually do have this story planned all the way to February in Harrys world. I really want to post longer chapters, roughly a month per chapter, that should cover a lot, but I do need to figure out how to make paragraph separation (astericks for now), I don't really like ffn's paragraphing system at all, it really messes up my chapters. I am working on October at the moment and have written roughly 33,000 words of text for this story total, so there really should be no excuse at the moment. As always, thanks for reading.
~ILoveLilies
PS. Thanks to reveiwers pointing out spelling issues and what not, really helpful. Now to figure out how to edit Hermione's letter in the ealier chapter where she refers to voldie by his name, that does seem unlikely. Anyway quick question, should quidditch and quidditch positions e.g. seeker by capitalised?