Author's Note- I love you guys so much. You all rock! Also I noticed that I haven't explained the title for this story. In fact, you guys don't know what a chevalier is. But that is ok because you guys will find out in Part 3 of this story. This chapter will show Harriet's Gryffindor side, in both actions and words. Hope you guys like it! On to the story!
Chapter 3: Beware the Kissing Corpse
Harriet
August 31st was both a sad and happy day for Harriet. It was a happy day because Madam Pomfrey had taken her off of the nutrition potions. It was a sad day because she wouldn't be able to sit at the staff table again next summer. Due to how early the Hogwarts Express leaves in the morning, Professor Lupin decided that they would have breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron before they headed for the platform.
Harriet was just finishing her meal when she glanced at the newspaper her guardian was reading.
"They haven't got him yet, have they?" Harriet asked. Minerva flinched while the rest of the staff fell silent.
"No, they haven't. But they will soon." Minerva said confidently. Harriet sighed. She had been hoping that Black would be caught before school started. Hogsmeade Weekends were an option for new third years this year. Unfortunately, Minerva wasn't going to let her go. They made a deal.
"Harriet, I know that you're upset about missing Hogsmeade. I promise the moment Black is caught, I'll march up to the Headmaster's office and sign the paper. Until then, Severus had offered his time. He says that your training is moving rather rapidly and he plans on teaching you more dueling spells." This arrangement pleased Harriet very much. While she really wanted to see Hogsmeade, her tutoring with Professor Snape happened to be her favorite part of the summer. The exercise that dueling gave her was amazing. And the spells that she has learned. Dear God, there was so much more to being a witch than Harriet ever realized.
Harriet finished her breakfast and headed back to her room. Minerva said that if she wanted to, she could stay with her in the quarters. But Harriet didn't think it was a good idea to leave Hermione alone with Parvarti and Lavender. God, Parvarti is going to be so pissed when she sees Crookshanks.
Harriet packed a good amount of her clothes, books and toiletries. She headed to the Gryffindor dorms. Harriet wasn't going to drag her trunk on the train. That would be way too much effort.
"Any particular reason why you aren't using a levitating spell to make your walk easier, Miss Potter?" Dear God, that voice. Why does he have to have such a nice voice?
"Err, I forgot."
"Obviously." Professor Snape then performed the levitating spell and raised his arm to her. Now this, Professor Snape escorting her places was an unexpected surprise but not an unwelcomed one. Harriet learned many things about the man since her change in guardianship.
Professor Snape is a serious man, but his job required him to be so. You have to earn Professor Snape's respect; he refuses to give it freely. Professor Snape favors his Slytherins because no one else does but that doesn't mean he doesn't discipline them. He detests laziness and applauds hard work. He has a sarcastic and dark humor that is so witty that it takes people a few minutes to figure out what he said or if he insulted them. Professor Snape is a gentleman to the women that earned his respect. He has no more problem insulting women that don't however. Actually, he has no problem insulting anyone he doesn't respect. Professor Snape is a loner. He has a shield that protects him, a shield that few has been able to break through.
"Professor, when the term starts, will you go back to hating me?" She asked innocently. She felt him tense, heard him sigh, before he spoke,
"Miss Potter, there are some in my house who believe that you should be dead. They believe that I have an image to uphold. This image is an image I must bear. Know that what I say may be riddled with lies. I must ignore you and at times insult you, for if I don't, events may occur. Events that don't favor either of us. Know that I am your tutor and teacher, Miss Potter. Know that I do not hate you." Harriet could hardly believe his words.
"Will my lessons continue?" Please say they will, please say they will.
"No." Harriet's heart sank. "However, your remedial potion lessons will continue. And Minerva has asked her colleagues to send your 'detentions' to me to oversee." Harriet glanced up at her professor. He was smirking. She smiled.
September 1st at Kings Cross was their busiest day of the year. After a quite nice breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron, Harriet was extremely excited to see everyone. However, the moment Professor Lupin sat in their compartment, he started snoring. He missed breakfast yesterday and was out sick the day before. He must still be tired. Weird.
Harriet pulled out her 'defense' book that Professor Snape gave her. It was actual a history of famous duelers that Professor Flitwick, who loved the fact that she was becoming a duelist, charmed to look like this year's defense textbook. Currently, Harriet was reading about the Sorceress, Sister Lucia. Sister Lucia had been a renaissance witch who was actually a nun. She was forced into the dueling circuit because her small little magical Catholic church was threatened to be torn down by the atheist Magical community. She had vowed that if she won the Italian dueling circuit she would get to keep her church. After Sister Lucia demolished the competition due to her advance illusion magic, her little church became a largest cathedral in Wizarding Italy.
"Harry, there you are. We've been looking everywhere for you." Ron said as he and Hermione entered the compartment. "Who's the bloke?" Harriet was about to respond when Hermione interrupted,
"R.J. Lupin." Hermione, your know-it-all-ness is showing.
"Yes, this is Professor Lupin, the new defense professor. I'm sure he would say hello but…" Harriet trailed off, really wishing that defense was going to be decent this year.
"Ok, I get that you know Harry, but how the bloody hell did you know, Hermione?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"It's on his trunk." Yes, for whatever unholy reason, Professor Lupin decided to drag his trunk on the train. Honestly, it was more work than it was worth.
"Anyway Harry, did you hear about Black?" Ron asked.
"I have. Minerva told me about him." Harriet replied, resisting the urge to open her book.
"I heard that he killed 13 muggles-" Hermione started.
"Thank you Hermione, I know exactly who he killed, why he killed them, and why he is after me. Let's not open that can of worms, shall we." Harriet said and opened her book, no longer caring about politeness. Hermione had to know everything but then she also had to force that information on everyone. Really, Ron was dense in certain situations but so was Hermione. When asked about it, Professor Snape explained to Harriet during one of their lessons why he never called on Hermione in class.
"Miss Granger has the unfortunate ability to absorb information. And yes, Miss Potter, I know that this is a good thing. However, along with this ability comes the ability to regurgitate that knowledge. Miss Granger spews information out so fast that none of your classmates are able to be given the chance in even try to answer any questions presented by the teachers. Tell me, Miss Potter, besides my class, do any of the other Gryffindors in your year prepare for class each day?"
"Well, I like to read the textbooks ahead of time but when a professor asks a question, Hermione answers it… before I can. Oh, I see now, Professor."
"Yes, you do. I knew Miss Granger knew the information for my class since day one. However, I also knew that she would hinder your classmates' learning by her inability to keep her mouth shut. Your year has no incentive to come prepared for class because they know that Miss Granger will answer every question. I've told Minerva multiple times that Miss Granger needs reigning in. Perhaps you can try."
Yes, Harriet would try. Because it was honestly sad that the 3rd year Gryffindors relied on Hermione to get good grades.
For the next few hours, Harriet tried to read her book but that failed miserably. Ron and Hermione had gotten into another argument over their pets.
"Look at what your bloody cat did to Scabbers! He was perfectly fine before you bought that ugly thing. See! Poor Scabbers' losing his fur again!" Harriet had to admit, Scabbers did look awful. He seems skinner, if a rat could look skinner, and his fur was patchy in some places.
"Oh please, Ron. Scabbers' is just old, that's all. Also, don't call Crookshanks ugly! He's the most beautiful cat in Scotland." Hermione, you and I have very different definitions of beautiful. Professor Lupin just snored through the argument.
"Guys, the people in London could hear you arguing. Just keep your pets away from each other. It shouldn't be too hard. You live in separate dorm." Harriet mediated. The two continued glaring at each other.
Suddenly the train halted. Hermione and Harriet nearly flew into Ron and Professor Lupin.
"That's weird." Hermione stated. "We still have at least two more hours before we get to Hogsmeade." Professor Lupin, who jolted awake from the stop, stood up and pulled out his wand.
"All of you stay here. I'm going to go see what's going on with the conductor." Professor Lupin said. He then used Lumos to light his path and left the compartment. A minute later, Hermione glanced out of her window.
"That's strange. It looks like someone's boarding the train." Then the temperature plummeted drastically.
"Bloody hell," Ron said through chattering teeth. His breath was visible. "It's September, not bloody January." Harriet shivered and drew her robes tighter around her. Wait a minute, something entered the train and the temperature dropped. No, it can't be…
The door to the compartment flew open. In the doorway stood one of the guardians of Azkaban. A Dementor. No, stay back. Yet it moved forward. Harriet felt light headed, very light headed. Then there was a scream. And darkness.
Catch me, as I fall. Say you're here and it's all over now.
Severus
Minerva freaked out the moment she received the letter. In fact, Severus was positive that her hysteria caused her logical to fly out the window. Because she ran all the way down from her office to his lab, the blasted letter clutched in her hand.
"Minerva, what the bloody hell happened? And why the fuck did you run down here?" Severus asked as he led her older colleague into a chair so that she wouldn't collapse. Minerva shakenly handed him the letter as she tried to settle her breathing.
Minerva,
An incident has happened on the Hogwarts Express. A Dementor decided to board the train. I was able to drive it way but Harriet collapsed due to the exposure of the Dementor. Luckily she wasn't Kissed and is awake. Everyone on the train has received chocolate. We'll be back at Hogwarts in a few hours.
-Remus
He'll kill him. No, he would skin the wolf alive first then toss the carcass into the lake. After all, werewolf fur was an extremely rare potion ingredient.
"She could have died. She could have died. I could have lost another one of my babies. No, not again…" Minerva was going into shock. Severus silently Accioed a calming draught. He caught it and knelt in front of the older mother.
"Drink this, Minerva. Please, Minerva. Yes, very good. Miss Potter is okay. She's alive and she'll be here soon. Yes, keep drinking the potion." Severus spoke softly as Minerva's shock faded away and the potion toke affect. He heard her breathe out a soft prayer in thanks. Then Minerva straightened, her senses returned.
"Thank you, Severus."
"You are welcome. Now, let us inform the staff of what has occurred." Severus helped the woman up and the pair flooed into the staff room. Severus ushered Minerva into her favorite chair and handed her at extra calming draught. Then he sounded the alarm.
Within five minutes, the staff, sans Lupin, had arrived. Even Hagrid, who had just started working as an actual professor, arrived swiftly from his hut. The Headmaster was the last to enter the room.
"What has happened, Severus?" Albus asked, the worry shining in his eyes. Because Severus rarely sounded the alarm, unless something truly awful occurred. Severus passed the letter to his boss.
"Read it." Severus ordered. Albus read it out loud, his voice growing more grave as his reading continued. When he finished, even the mad bitch Trelawney looked shocked. What, your inner eye didn't see this happening?
"I want them gone." Severus stated harshly. "We could have lost our entire student body. Had Lupin not ridden that bloody train, wizarding England would have faced its greatest loss of life since the war. The Seventh Years don't know the spell to repel the beasts. They leave and they leave tonight."
"I can't." Oh hell no, Albus. That was the wrong fucking answer.
"You can't?" Severus sneered. "Look at your deputy. Now imagine the hundreds of mothers who would come marching in here the moment they hear that their children were exposed to a Dementor. Perhaps I should contact Narcissa Malfoy. The moment she gets wind of this, she'll get her husband to remove the Dementors. No, Albus. You will contact the bloody Minister and Amelia Fucking Bones and get those miserable, soul sucking, fucking beasts away from our students!" Then, a miracle occurred. Filius started to applaud.
"Well said, Severus. Well said." The others nodded in agreement. Albus stroked his beard and consented,
"You are right, Severus. I apologize for my earlier comment. I had not been thinking straight. I'll contact the Ministry and the Governors right away."
"Minerva, will you be ok?" Poppy asked softly.
"I will be when I see Harriet." She replied back in an equally soft voice.
"Minerva," Filius started. "Would you like me to sort the First Years for you?"
"No, we need to show the students that nothing has changed." Minerva said, her strength returning to her.
"Delay the sorting by a few minutes, Minerva." Severus suggested carefully. "Allow yourself some time with Miss Potter. I think you could both use it."
"Capital idea, Severus." Poppy answered as Minerva smiled in thanks.
Severus stood with Minerva in the little side room next to the main entry. He was with her partly because he feared she would collapse in worry. And partly because, though he would never admit this, he worried for Miss Potter. Over the last month, Severus realized what a fool his hatred had made him. Miss Potter, to plainly put it, was a genius when it came to defense and dueling. Her knowledge on the subjects surpassed her classmates and upperclassmen. She had hide her intelligence in fear of her relatives. Now that she had a guardian who cared for her success, she thrived. Severus could see greatness in her, a greatness that he was blinded to before. God, he was a fucking fool.
"Wait here. I'll get her." Severus said as he glanced out the window and saw the still large student body. As he entered the entry hall, his godson's voice rang out,
"I heard that you fainted, Potter. What? Does the little princess need to her smelling salts?" Draco laughed. Miss Potter, who was soaking wet from the rain, stared ahead. She ignored his godson and looked directly at him.
"Good evening, Professor." Draco jumped and turned to him. Severus silently examined his godson and was very pleased to see he was only wet from the rain as well. Draco smiled at him. Yes, his godson was a spoiled brat but he still loved him. Even if Draco was a pain in his arse at times. Miss Granger and Mr. Weasely looked shocked that Miss Potter spoke directly to him.
"Miss Potter. Mr. Malfoy, perhaps you should head into the Great Hall?" The order in his voice spoke volumes. Draco gulped, hastily nodded and rushed ahead.
"Come, Miss Potter." Miss Potter started to follow. Unfortunately, so did her sidekicks.
"Just Miss Potter." Severus stressed harshly. The two paled and Severus was about to send Gryffindor into negative numbers again when Miss Potter spoke,
"You guys go save me a sit. It'll just take a minute." Finally, the two started to head to the hall and Severus led Miss Potter to Minerva, after he casted a drying charm on the soaked girl. Even in her older age, Minerva could move very quickly. Miss Potter ran to her guardian just as quickly. They clutched each other tightly, both resisting the urge to cry. Minerva peppered kisses on Miss Potter's hair as Miss Potter whispered,
"Don't worry. I'm okay now. I'm fine." Severus turned away, giving them their moment. Soon, the two separated and Minerva spoke,
"Harriet, go with Severus to the Great Hall. I have to go sort the First Years. I want you to come to my office with Miss Granger after the feast." Miss Potter nodded and turned to the Potion Master, unsure if he was going to hold out his arm like he often did in the summer. He did, because the girl was still visible shaken by the Dementor. The vice grip she had on his arm was proof enough.
"Will they go away?" Miss Potter asked softly. Her head was still high and her shoulders still back. But the fear remained in her eyes.
"The Headmaster has demanded it. Hopefully, the Ministry will realize the horrible mistake they made after they receive hundreds of Howlers from the mothers of Hogwarts' student body."
"Thank God." Then she paused before saying, "Thank you for bringing me to Minerva, Professor."
"You are welcome, Miss Potter." As they reached the doors, Miss Potter released her grip on him. He opened the door and she walked gracefully to the Gryffindor table. As if nothing had happened on the train.
Severus stalked up to the staff table and glared down at Lupin the entire way there. Fucking hell, it took every bloody inch of self-control to not kill the wolf then and there. But the students were already traumatized enough as it was. No need to cause extra nightmares. Yet.
After the sorting and the feast, Severus marched to Lupin's quarters. He didn't even bother knocking.
"Lupin." He growled out. Lupin looked pale.
"Now Severus, I know you're upset-"
"Upset, upset. Oh, no, I passed that level a long time ago. The only fucking reason I haven't killed you yet is because you actually did something useful and drove away the Dementor. But I'm going to make something perfectly fucking clear to you, Lupin. I don't give two shits about how much this hinders whatever fucking plan you had for classes. The first thing you will teach the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Years is the Patronus charm. And I don't care how fucking it long it takes but you'll keep teaching them the charm until they are all able to. Am I clear?"
"Crystal, Severus. Crystal."
"Good. And another thing. Throw whatever loyalty you had for Black out the window. Because if he so much as glances at Miss Potter and I find out that you helped him in some way, shape or form, I will have no problem killing you." Lupin looked scared. Good.
"Yes, Severus. That won't happen, I promise."
"We'll see."
So stay away from me. The beast is ugly.
Harriet
Parvarti did freak out the moment she saw Crookshanks. In fact, Harriet had never seen her that upset before.
"Why on Earth did you get that thing? You know I hate cats! I made the perfectly clear during our first year that I didn't like them! Hell, we even agreed no cats! Why did you break our promise, Hermione?" Parvarti screeched at Hermione. Lavender and Harriet shared a look.
"Did you try to stop her?" Lavender whispered.
"Yeah," Harriet whispered back. "You know Hermione, she's as stubborn as a mule."
"I got Crookshanks because he looked lonely."
"Looked lonely? That's your excuse? You know what! Forget it! You can keep that bloody monster but if it so much as comes near my side of the room, it's free game!" With that Parvarti shut the covers to her bed. Lavender sighed but headed to Parvarti's bed.
"Come on, Par. Let me in." She said. Parvarti's arm reached out and pulled Lavender in. Hermione sat on her bed, looking defeated. Harriet sat down next to her.
"Well, that went better than I expected." Harriet said.
"I didn't think she would reach that badly."
"Hermione, we made a pack on the first day of school to never have a cat as a pet because Parvarti has really bad experiences with them. You agreed. You broke the pack. I warned you this would happen but you ignored me. Parvarti's mad at you and she has every right to be. You broke her trust. Now you have to earn it back."
"But all of this over a cat-"
"Hermione," Harriet couldn't believe how dense Hermione was acting. Actually, she could. Hermione's social skills were zero to none. "This isn't about Crookshanks. It's about you taking Parvarti's trust and throwing it away. Now, you're going to apologize to Parvarti in the morning for breaking her trust. She doesn't have to accept it but at least you apologized." Besides, Parvarti will forget about it the moment she needs Hermione's help for homework.
"Alright." Hermione said and slouched back into her pillows.
"What did Professor McGonagall want to talk to you about, anyway?" Harriet asked. Hermione tensed before replying,
"Nothing. She just wanted to talk about my schedule for this year, that's all."
"And is it fixed?" Hermione had the ludicrous idea of taking every elective available this year. Why on Earth would Hermione need the Muggle Studies class anyway? She could probably take the OWL today and pass it.
"Yes." Harriet didn't believe her. But she didn't push the issue. No, she just got ready for bed and fell asleep.
Harriet was very happy that she replaced Divination with Ancient Runes, which was a fantastic class. Apparently, Professor Trelawney predicted her death, even with her out of the class. Well, Professor, there are two things certain in this world, death and taxes. Of course you predicted my death. As Ron and Harriet walked with the other Gryffindors to Care of Magical Creatures. Harriet was excited and a little terrified to see what Hagrid was going to do with his first lesson. She told her fellow Gryffindors how to handle the books and Neville nearly sobbed in relief when it stopped hissing at him. The Slytherins were already there. Their year leader, Draco Malfoy stood at the head. Malfoy confused Harriet. He wasn't necessarily evil but he wasn't good either. She added Malfoy to her ever growing list of things she wanted to ask Professor Snape about.
"Ah, Afternoon class. Hope ya ready to start learnin'?"
"How can we?" Pansy asked in her stuck up tone. "These stupid books keep trying to kill us."
"Ya gotta stroke the spine of the book." Hagrid said, his voice entering a slightly more professional tone. "Now, today we got these beauties here with us. The class, met the hippogriff, Buckbeak. Bucky, this is the class." The hippogriff was beautiful
"He's very pretty." What the hell? When did Hermione get here? She should have Muggle Studies right now. Ron looked just as confused as Harriet.
"When the bloody hell did you get here? You weren't with us when we left Divination." So Hermione was taking Divination during the same time as Ancient Runes. But that's impossible, they're during the same time slot.
"Alright, who wants to ride him first? Hm, Har-, Err, Miss Potter, want to give it a shot?" What? Her? Harriet really didn't want to, especially because she didn't want to flash everyone. Though, her skirt was long and she has stockings on. And Hagrid's eyes pleaded with her to do it.
"Ok." She said calmly.
"Great, now walk slowly up to Bucky and bow. Make sure yer eyes don't leave his. Good lass. Now class, when a hippogriff bows back, that means he trusts ya and will let ya ride him. Miss Potter, go ahead and take him for a spin." Harriet climbed on to the creature's back. Uh, so this is what riding a horse feels like. Then Buckbeak opened his wings and the pair soared.
It was amazing, almost better than riding a broom. Buckbeak listened to her every command. They flew a lap around the castle and lake before Harriet told Buckbeak to land. They landed softly. The class looked at her as she dismounted, now they really wanted to ride the hippogriffs.
"Now class, do what Miss Potter did. However, make sure ya don't insult the hippogriffs. They are very proud creatures." Hagrid warned them. But Malfoy didn't listen. He marched up to Buckbeak instead of going to the other hippogriffs.
"Well, you ugly beast. Not so proud are you, you freak of nature." Harriet started running to Malfoy the moment he opened his mouth. Because Buckbeak raised himself on his hind legs, his front talons raised high above Malfoy's head. Harriet threw herself into the Slytherin as the talons fell. Her back stung. But she didn't have any time to worry about her wound because her and Malfoy started to roll down the grassy hill.
Malfoy's arms wrapped themselves around her waist and drew her into his chest as they rolled. Ow, shit, dear God, it hurts. There was yelling but the pain made Harriet deaf to it. When the pair finally stop rolling, they laid side to side, his arms still clutched around her. Harriet's hair, which she pulled into a high pony tail earlier, spilled out onto the grass. Her back felt as if it was burning. Harriet sucked in shaky breath and resisted the urge to scream. Malfoy lifted his right arm, the sleeve drenched in blood that wasn't his own.
"Shit, Potter. I'm… Hang on. Stay like that. Don't roll back." Malfoy ordered as he quickly removed his robe and pressed the fabric onto her bloody back. Harriet bit her tie to muffle her screams.
"Hagrid! Get Madam Pomfrey! Theo, get the Professor!" Malfoy yelled up the hill.
"I'm sorry, Potter. I really am." The honesty and guilt in that whisper made Harriet feel slightly better. Harriet silently reached back and grasped his hand. She squeezed it and didn't let go until she was levitated onto the stretcher. As she glanced back at her classmates, her dorm mates in tears, Ron and the Gryffindor boys holding back their tears (Neville failed miserably), Mal- Draco completely soaked in her blood, and the Slytherins who looked at her in both awe and worry, Harriet didn't regret her decision. Because it didn't matter what house they belonged to, Harriet was going to and always will save every last one of them.
Harriet hated the sterile feeling of the Hospital Wing. And she hated laying on her stomach. However, Madam Pomfrey insisted that she lay like that so that the wound would finish healing itself. The potion the matron poured onto her back stung like a bitch but it was working so she didn't complain. And she felt completely guilty for worrying Minerva so much. The moment she got word that her adopted daughter was injured, Transfiguration lessons were taken over by Headmaster Dumbledore for the rest of the day. Minerva sat at her bedside and held her hand while Madam Pomfrey worked. It was after Minerva had left to fetch her dinner (she didn't call a house elf because she needed the walk) and Madam Pomfrey drew up her screen, that she heard the Infirmary doors open. There were two figures, a tall man and a boy about her age. If she had to guess, it was probably-
"Mr. Malfoy, wait here and try not kill something." Yep, it was Professor Snape and Malfoy. The professor knocked on the nurse's office door.
"Yes, Severus?" Harriet heard the witch say.
"Poppy, would Miss Potter be up for visitors? Mr. Malfoy has something very important to say to Miss Potter."
"Well… I don't-"
"It's okay, Ma'am." Harriet called out. She heard the nurse sigh before Madam Pomfrey moved around her screen. Magically, she wrapped bandage around her wounds and torso. Now properly wrapped up and covered, Madam Pomfrey pulled back the screen. She stared at Malfoy and saw his face turn slightly green. He had a new shirt on but the red from her blood had stained his hands. Malfoy walked up to the chair next to her bed but didn't sit.
"Sit. I don't bite."
"You should, after what I caused-" He protested strongly.
"It's okay. I'll be fine tomorrow."
"I shouldn't have put you in here. I'm sorry, so very, very sorry." She believed him.
"It's okay. I would do it again."
"You shouldn't. I'm not worth it." Then Harriet moved to sit up. Her back and Madam Pomfrey protested but Harriet sat on her knees and held out her right hand.
"Hi, my name is Harriet Potter. I'm a third year Gryffindor who likes to fly and read. I met a boy on the Hogwarts Express two years ago who offered his friendship. I refused because thought he was a spoiled brat. He still is but he's also human. I would like to be his friend now and apologize for rejecting him and all of his Slytherin friends. So I'm sorry and I would like to be your friend." Harriet couldn't tell who was more surprised, Draco or Professor Snape. Her eyes pleaded with Draco to take her hand. Finally, after what seemed like hours of him staring at her, he took her hand.
"Hi, my name is Draco Malfoy. I'm a third year Slytherin who also likes to fly and read. I met a girl on the Hogwarts Express two years ago who I wanted to be friends with. She refused and I was hurt because she was the first person in my life besides my godfather to ever tell me no. I thought she was a pampered princess. She's not, she's just human. I'm sorry for hurting you, Miss Potter, I really am." She smiled brightly at him.
"I know. And just to let you know, my friends call me Harry or Harriet." He returned the smile.
"Mine call me Dray or Draco."
After dinner, Minerva came down with her clothes. She dressed, glad that her back was fully healed and that she could sleep in her own bed tonight. When they arrived, it seemed like the entire House of Gryffindor was packed into the Common Room. Hermione and Ron stood up quickly when they saw her. Ginny, Neville, Lavender, Parvarti and the Quidditch team jumped when they heard Hermione screeched,
"Harry!" And tackle her into a hug.
"Miss Granger! Release her at once! She is still injured."
"Don't worry Professor, I'm all healed up. I promise. Though Hermione, I would really appreciate it with you could allow my lungs to function properly." Air, sweet, sweet air. After Minerva checked one more time to make sure that, yes, Harriet was fine and yes, Harriet didn't need Madam Pomfrey, she left. The Gryffindors ushered her into a chair and Ron told Harriet what happened after she fell down the hill with Draco.
"All we saw was the two of you rolling down the hill. When you stopped, Malfoy started yelling for Hagrid and one of the snakes, Theo Nott to get Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape. Hagrid was a bumbling mess so Dean ran with Nott to get them. When they got there, Malfoy was holding his robe to your back and hissed at us not to touch you." Harriet nodded. Yep, that sounded about right. "You were screaming into your tie, Harry and there was a lot of blood."
"How much?" It was Lavender who answered, because Hermione was a sniffling mess.
"You left a trial down the hill. When Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey got Malfoy off you and you onto the stretcher, Malfoy was coated in it. It was terrifying, Harriet. We thought you died." Harriet smiled ruefully.
"Don't worry guys, it's going to take a lot more before I die."
"Snape let Malfoy have it though." Seamus started. "After Madam Pomfrey toke you away, he removed 50 points from Slytherin! They're in the negatives, Harry. And he yelled at him. Malfoy now has three months of detention with him!" Harriet frowned at Draco's punishment. Fred and George misinterpreted her frown.
"Well, if it makes you feel better Harry." George started.
"We'll prank Malfoy so bad he won't know what hit him." Fred finished. Everyone nodded in agreement. Even Percy, their Head Boy of a brother, said nothing against this.
"Sorry to disappoint you boys but I don't think Draco would appreciate my friendship if you start pranking him. So he's off limits." Harriet struggled not to laugh at everyone. The shocked look on their faces were priceless. 3, 2, 1.
"You can't be friends with him!"
"He tried to kill you!"
"He's a slimy snake!"
"He's a Malfoy!" She waited for them to finish their complaining. She knew that what she was about to say was unexpected and would probably scare her friends to death. But Harriet had an epiphany when she was laying in the hospital bed. The Slytherins were outcasts and Harriet felt really bad for them. Because she remembered what it was like to be an outcast. And she hated it. So she spoke her mind.
"You guys done? Good. Now let me ask you guys a question, would it have been okay to let Draco die? Don't answer that, it was rhetorical. No, it wouldn't be okay for him to die. Yes, Draco is wealthy and yes, he is a Slytherin. He is also 13 years old. He's a boy. Think of how unfair it is to him and every other Slytherin in this school that they are deemed as dark wizards in the making. It isolates the Slytherin House from everyone. You guys wonder why they hate us so much. Because they are never given the time of day. Yes, some Slytherins are vocal about their hatred to Muggles and Muggleborns. But it is wrong to mark an entire house as evil because their point of view doesn't match yours. It's prejudice, rude and hypocritical. So if I want to be friends with Draco Malfoy, I will be. And I want each and every one of you try talking to a Slytherin sometime within the next two weeks. Because I think you will find out how much damage the Slytherin-Gryffindor revelry has caused for people our age." Her speech silenced the House of the Lions and shattered the foundation of nearly everyone's belief systems, sans the First Years because they hadn't been completely exposed to the revelry yet. Harriet Potter didn't realize this yet, but she had just changed Hogwarts' history forever.
Harriet wasn't done shaking the status quo at Hogwarts. The next day, the Headmaster announced that the Dementors would remain on the very outskirts of Hogwarts property and that the Aurors would be stationed at Hogwarts until Black was caught. After his speech, Harriet stood. By now, everyone plus their grandmas' had heard about the hippogriff attack, as it was being called. Harriet gracefully moved to the Slytherin table, well aware that the entire school was watching her. Draco lifted an eyebrow to her. She smiled back mischievously.
"Mind if I sit down?" She asked clearly. The Slytherins were unsure about what to do until Draco stood and offered his sit to her. She sat and looked at the remaining Slytherin Third Years.
"It has come to my attention that I have been very rude. It been two years since we've had classes together and I don't know all of your names. For that, I apologize. I wish to make amends. I'm Harriet Potter. It's nice to meet you all."
All of the windows in the Great Hall could shatter and no one would have moved a muscle. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws abandoned their food completely in order to watch the show. The Gryffindor Table was tense. And the Slytherins, hell they couldn't believe their senses. A Gryffindor coming over and apologizing to a Slytherin, let alone multiple, was foreign. It was unheard of. It was impressive.
Theo Nott and Blaise Zabini shared a look while Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle actual stopped eating to stare at her. Tracy Davis and Daphne Greengrass shifted uncomfortable while Millicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson looked downright confused. It was Blaise Zabini who answered back.
"How do you do, Harriet? My name is Blaise Zabini. It's nice to meet you too." He shook her hand. Then the introductions started to flow.
"I'm Tracy Davis and this Ice Princess is Daphne Greengrass." They waved and smiled.
"I'm Vince." "And I'm Greg." Then they continued eating.
"My name's Millie. This is Pansy." Millie elbowed Pansy so that she would nodded back at Harriet. Theo Nott actually kissed her knuckles before he flirted,
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Harriet. I'm Theodore Nott Jr. but you may call me Theo." She gentle removed her hand from his grip before saying,
"Again, I am truly sorry about not trying to talk to any of you sooner. However, I hope to change that. This weekend, I was thinking of holding a sort of mock Quidditch game between the Third Year Gryffindors vs the Third Year Slytherin. Cedric, the Hufflepuff seeker, has offered his services as referee. However, to change things up, I wanted to have an even number of Slytherins to Gryffindors on each team. How does that sound?" Truthfully, she hadn't asked Cedric for help. But he owned her one and now it was time for him to pay up. Her Gryffindors looked ready to protest except they remember her speech from the night before. They kept silent. After a deliberation amongst all of the Third Year Slytherins, including Draco, they agreed. Harriet's smile out shined all of the lights in the room
"Brilliant! Well, I think it's time to head down to Potions. Shall we?" She asked Draco. He responded in a very similar manner to Professor Snape. He took her knapsack and held out his arm. She rose and wrapped her arm around his.
"See you guys at class." She waved to the still stunned Gryffindors. It truly was a sight to see the Silver Prince of Slytherin escort the Golden Princess of Gryffindor.
Potions class was surprisingly mundane in comparison to breakfast. Professor Snape still gave his usual beginning of the year speech and insulted all of them while doing so. He still moved around the room like a vulture. But the usual tense atmosphere that surround any Gryffindor Slytherin class had disappeared. There was only confusion about what to do with each other.
After Potions, the Gryffindors headed to their first DADA class of the year. Honestly, that class was probably the most important one of the year because it told the students of what their year was going to be like. The Hufflepuffs in the class stared at Harriet in awe as they waited for Professor Lupin. Finally, Professor Lupin let them into the classroom.
"Hello, class. My name is Professor Remus Lupin. I will be your DADA instructor. Hopefully I'll actually make it to next year with you guys." At this, the class stopped staring at Harriet and laughed at the ridiculous idea.
"Now, for class today, we will be heading out of the classroom. Gather your stuff and follow." Hm, this was new. Ok, let's see where this leads them. Professor Lupin impressed nearly everyone when he sent chewing gum up Peeves' nose but Harriet was more curious about his teaching style. Why were they heading to the staff room? Harriet wondered. Professor Snape was there, reading what looked to be Macbeth.
"Leave it open." Professor Snape stood and exited through the door. Oh, he left his book. Strange. When the door shut behind the Potion Master, Professor Lupin turned to the class and said,
"Well, that was probably the most civil thing he has ever said to me." Seriously, standup comedy could be a great back-up plan if you lose your job, Professor. The professor walked them to a rather large and ancient wardrobe. Then the piece of furniture jerked. A good majority of the class jumped and poor Neville turned a shade paler.
"Nothing to worry about," said Professor Lupin. "It's just a boggart." Yes, we have absolutely nothing to worry about Professor. We're just going to face our greatest fears. Hey look, my sarcasm is back. Oh how I missed you. Professor Lupin then asked,
"Now, what is a boggart?" Hermione, who was too far back for Harriet to stop her, raised her hand quickly and answered loudly.
"It's a shape-shifter that takes the form of whatever we fear free most."
"Precisely." Hermione glowed at the praise. "Now, boggarts hide in dark place, in cupboards, under beds, etc. In the darkness of the wardrobe, the boggart doesn't know who it's going to frightened. Thus, we have a rather large advantage. What is that advantage? Yes, Miss Potter?" Harriet raised her hand patiently and wasn't surprised to be called. Professor Lupin was still trying to get brownie points from her.
"There's too many of us. The boggart won't know what to transform into because we all fear something different." Hermione looked genuinely disappointed that she didn't answer the question.
"Couldn't have put it better myself. Now, the charm to repel boggarts is simple. It is called riddikulus. This charm requires the castor to think of an object that they find amusing. This is because laughter ultimately drives off boggarts. Now, let's practice the charm without wands."
"Riddikulus." The class stated.
"Perfect, now I need a volunteer who would be willing to participate. Hm, Mr. Longbottom, if you would." Neville turned even paler.
"No thank you, Sir."
"Come now, Mr. Longbottom-"
"Professor, I do believe you said someone who is willing to participate. If Neville doesn't want to participate, he doesn't have to." Neville smiled at her in relief. "I'll gladly take his place, Professor." Professor Lupin looked shocked and, was that worry?
"If you are sure, Miss Potter."
"I am. Release the boggart, Professor." The wardrobe opened when she stood in front of it. But nothing came out.
Then the temperature fell and Harriet felt light-headed again. Oh fuck, not again. The Dementor left the wardrobe. Harriet began to lose consciousness again. This time, there were two people yelling, a green light and a woman screaming.
Author's Note- The Hogwarts' term has started and Harriet already change the way things are done. I know this may weird to save her befriending Slytherins but I think that Harriet noticed the connections between herself and the Slytherins, thus the offering of friendship. And trust me, there will be good and bad backlash to this in the next chapter. Bye guys. Love you all!