At first, I like to say sorry to my amazing readers for late update. I am currently busy with my M.S. midterm exam. Therefore, I will not able to update this story regularly like before.
Nevertheless, I am promising to you that, I will try to update this story at least once in a week.
At the end, I want to say thanks to all my reviewers for helping this story to cross 100 reviews, please continue to give your reviews to this story, it means a lot for me.
Chapter 8:
Harry was once again forced to tell lies to his friends. He obviously could not tell them about his experience with room of requirement in his home universe. Therefore, he told them that, a Hogwarts portrait helped him in that matter. Daphne, Blaise, and Tracy were surprised to hear that. However, they were feeling excited to see room of requirement.
When four of them had just reached outside of the room of requirement, Harry's friend were surprised to see a solid wall there.
"Where is the room, Harry?" Tracy asked Harry.
"You have to feel in your mind that, it is necessary for you to have access into this room." After responding to Tracy, Harry closed his eyes to feel the necessity of using the room of requirement. After few moments the room of requirement opened slowly for harry and his friends.
Daphne, Tracy, and Blaise were all happily surprised after seeing the mechanism of opening of that room. The room of requirement resembled to a fine dueling room. It had stage for dueling, it had several dummies for dueling practice, and it had several couches for resting during dueling.
"Wow! Harry this room is looking so cool; it has all the dueling facilities. I think we will be able to pass some exciting moments by dueling here." Blaise exclaimed happily. He was obviously impressed after seeing the utility of that room.
"I have to agree with you Blaise, it is a very cool dueling room for practicing new spell. I am feeling very much happy to have this room for ourselves." Tracy added.
"This dueling room is even better than the dueling room of our manor. Harry I must say you are a great finder for finding this room." Daphne was also feeling very much happy about that room. She was also hoping to use that room as a meeting room for them.
Harry on the other hand was pleased to see the happiness and excitement in the faces of his friends after seeing the room of requirement. He was also hoping to use that room for spending some quality times with his friends besides practicing spells with them.
" I am also feeling very happy for finding this room, however, it is not just a dueling room , this room is really unique my friends , this room can change itself according to your requirement, that is why it is called as room of requirement . This room can also provide you various goods apart from foods." Harry told his friends in a dramatic fashion.
"Wow! Harry, this room can do all of that?" Daphne again asked Harry. Her mind was calculating the endless utilities of this room.
Harry decided to give a demonstration about that room's potential. He again closed his eyes and after some moments, the room of requirement was converted into a mini version of Slytherin common room.
As Harry expected, all of his friends were shocked to see the mini version of their common room in that room. However, Harry was not finished; he wanted to shock them further.
Daphne, Tracy, and Blaise were all stunned after seeing the appearance of several money pouches in that room out of nowhere.
"You see Daphne; this room is capable of doing all of this." Harry smiled after telling her that.
After that, all four of them spent sometimes together in that room, while discussing about several utilities of the room of requirement. At the end, four of them decided to explore that further in their future.
Soon, four of them left room of requirement to attend the potion class of their head of house. Harry knew that, it was another chance for him to impress Prof. Slughorn further. Harry knew that, he was already in the good book after gifting him a rare book. Harry wanted to prove himself as a prodigy in front of Prof. Slughorn.
Harry and his friends entered into the potion classroom. They were sharing potion class with Gryffindor. Hermione Granger was giving him some death glares along with some of her classmate. Harry again felt disappointed with her.
Harry was also feeling that, in this new universe he would be never able to become friend with Hermione. Despite her bossy attitude, she was an important part of his life in his home universe. However, Harry knew that, he had to accept that new reality about Hermione. Besides, Harry was happy to find new friends in this new universe.
Prof. Slughorn finally entered into the class wearing an expensive robe. Harry had no doubt that, that expensive robe was also a gift from a former student of Slughorn.
"Hello, students I am Prof. Horace Slughorn your potion teacher and I am welcoming all of you into my class. Many of you may not find the art of Potion as an exciting subject. However, I can tell you that, the art of potion is involved in every aspects of a wizard or witch's life. I am hoping to find some young fine potion master or mistress among you. Now, who can tell me about the types of potion?" Slughorn started the class.
Slughorn also asked some other questions. Harry answered most of them. He also tried to include his own thought in those answer. Prof. Slughorn was very much excited after observing Harry's depth of knowledge in theoretical part potion. After that, Prof. Slughorn assigned students to make basic nutritional potion.
Harry collected the potion ingredients and started his works. Harry was completing every step carefully. However, as Harry had a decent knowledge about potion from his home universe and had experiences of potion making as the assistant of Athena, he was able to complete each step of potion making much more quickly than any other student did. He also tried to apply some methods he learned from half blood prince book in making nutritional potion.
His potions turned into perfect grey color within 5 minutes, which was indicating that, he was able to complete the process of nutritional potion making. He presented his perfect potion on the table of his head of house.
Every other student was shocked to see, how quickly Harry was able to complete his potion. Many of them staring at him in awe as, most of them did not even complete one third of their potion making process. After seeing Harry's brilliance in Transfiguration and History of magic students were already seeing Harry as an exceptional student. However, Harry's potion making skill made them feel they were seeing next coming of Dumbledore.
Prof. Slughorn was also surprised to see the brilliance of Harry in potion making. No students in his long teaching career were able to make that potion within such a short period. He was also little shocked to see the perfect grey color of Harry's potion. Usually only an adult potion master had the ability to produce the perfect grey colored basic nutritional potion, however, Harry was able to do that only at the age of 11. Prof. Slughorn was feeling super excited after finding such a talented student of potion making in the form of Harry.
After giving him a rare potion book, Harry was already in the good book of Prof. Slughorn, but, after finding Harry's raw talent in potion, Harry became his all time favorite student and he was very much interested in mentoring that talented boy.
"You are a genius my boy, the potion is perfect, take 25 points for Slytherin. How you are able to do that so quickly." Prof. Slughorn asked Harry in a curious voice.
Harry was enjoying the praise from Slughorn. His plan to gain trust and confidence of Slughorn was working perfectly. Harry also decided that, he would accept mentorship of Slughorn as it would be beneficial to him both educationally and politically.
However, Harry decided to answer Slughorn's question as little clueless boy.
"I don't know sir; making potions comes naturally to me, besides I was helping Aunt Athena in potion making in the summer, so I guess it also helped me in improving my potion skill." Harry responded with a humble face.
Slughorn was also pleased to see the humility in Harry.
"So, I guess you are gifted in potion making." Slughorn smiled after saying that.
Daphne was next to complete her potions. Slughorn was also pleased to see her potion. He was practically beaming with joy after finding another talented student in potion making. She took only 12 minutes to complete her potion; her timing was among top five in Slughorn's whole career. The quality of her potion was also very high considering the fact that, she was just an 11 years student.
"Take 10 points for Slytherin, Ms. Greengrass for your great potion making ability. I know Athena is very talented in potion making and after seeing Harry and yours talent in potion making, I am feeling good potion making skill run through your family." Slughorn excitedly told them.
Daphne was happy to hear praise from Slughorn. Before coming to Hogwarts, she was planning to become best in every class. However, she understood that, her cousin is a super prodigy; therefore, she might not get a chance to become best in the class. Nevertheless, she did not feel any jealousy for Harry. She did not despise anyone simply for his/her talent and Harry was a very good friend and family to her. She was just happy to impress teachers in classes by her performance in the class.
Daphne was feeling glad, because Harry took initiative to practice spells together. She knew it was more like Harry was trying to mentor them. Nevertheless, she did not have any problem about learning from a more talented student.
She was also aware about the significance of making Slughorn to like them in context of Slytherin house politics. She was feeling glad that, finally she was also able to become one of the favorite students of her head of house. She was hoping to get a mentorship from Slughorn.
Slughorn was also deciding to mentor Harry and Daphne in Potion. In his opinion, both Harry and Daphne would become powerful wizard and witch in few years with immense talent in Potion. He was expecting to get many favors from them.
After 20 minutes, Slughorn told the students to come with their potions. Slughorn approved the potion of Blaise, Draco, Nott, Tracy, and Granger. However, Slughorn was feeling disgusting after seeing the potion of Longbottom, Dean, Parkinson, and Goyle.
Slughorn told the students to write a parchment about the utility of basic nutritive potion, he also told them to choose a potion partner for rest of the year, as potion course of the rest of the year required a potion partner.
Slughorn also offered mentoring to Harry and Daphne in potion. Both of them accept their head of house offer gladly. They told him about their desire to learn more about the fine art of potion.
After that, both of them took leave from Slughorn and joined their friends in the Slytherin house common room.
"Harry you told us, you are a prodigy in the subjects that is related with wand, however, I am seeing that you are also an expert in potion. I also did not know you are that good in potion Daphne." Tracy commented.
"What can I say; I guess I am also blessed with good potion making skill that is running through Sayre blood." Harry responded.
"I am not so sure about it, Harry; my mother is the first witch or wizard with Sayre blood who is showing excellence in potion in centuries. House Sayre is known for its member's excellence in Charms." Daphne told Harry.
Harry was cursing himself for not reading House Sayre's history in detail and he decided that, he would read more about House Sayre's history as early as possible.
"You have to forgive me my dear cousin for not studying House Sayre's history in detail. So in that case, I guess my skillfulness in potion may have come from some kinds of recessive genes of House Sayre." Harry told Daphne.
"What is recessive gene?" Tracy asked curiously.
After that, Harry started to explain them about muggle biology about human genetics. They were all surprised by Harry's knowledge about muggle science. Harry simply told them, knowledge should be acquired regardless of its origin. He also told them appreciating culture of other people did not include neglecting of native culture.
After 30 minutes, Harry and his friends left their house common room for Hogwarts hall room to take their lunch. They sat at the edge of Slytherin table like previous day. Nevertheless, Harry and his friends were also getting increasing attention from rest of the Slytherin, which included upper year leadership of Slytherin house. It seemed like Harry and his friend's performance in the classes reached to the upper year Slytherin quickly.
Harry and his friends were obviously pleased by that development. They were feeling that, finally tide of power in Slytherin in their year was slowly turning in their favor though the speed was very slow.
"Guys our planning is working looked at the upper year Slytherin leadership; they were looking at us with renowned interest." Harry commented.
"Yes, they were now realizing where the talent of Slytherin first year lies. Did you see the face of Lilith Moon in the potion when you completed your potion task?" Blaise asked Harry.
"Yes, she was looking like a stunned person." Harry responded.
"You should be careful Harry; Moon is now looking at you with some funny face. It seemes like she is developing a crush for you." Tracy warned Harry but she was also looking at Daphne when she was giving Harry the warning about Moon.
Daphne decided to give a death glare to Moon after hearing about Moon was feeling towards her cousin from Tracy. She did not like Moon from their childhood, because she found her shallow. As expected, she found Moon was staring at Harry with somewhat dreamy face.
"She is cute, by the way." Blaise commented.
"It seems like you forget to add the words like selfish and shallow while you are describing her." Daphne told Blaise in somewhat bitter voice.
"Yea she is selfish and shallow but you can't deny the fact, she is a cute girl." Blaise told Daphne.
"I did not know that, Blaise Zabini has a crush on Moon." Daphne told him.
"I don't have any crush on any girls. However, I can appreciate when a girl is looking cute and for the record, I can say that you and Tracy are looking cuter than she is." Blaise commented.
"It seems like Blaise you are trying to save your ass from the girls. However, I don't judge a person only by his/her looks and when I will choose my girlfriend it would not be based on just her looks, it will be also bases on her intelligence, vision, goals, and her view about relationship." Harry told his friends.
Daphne nodded her head in approval after hearing Harry's opinion about relationship. She was impressed about Harry's attitude. He was behaving like a mature person despite being just 11 years old. Daphne was also feeling some kind of fascination about her cousin. However, she would not confess it to anyone.
On the other hand, Harry was little surprised when Tracy told him about Moon and her little crush on him. Harry also agreed in his mind with Blaise about Moon being a cute girl; however, he did not want to irritate Daphne by praising her childhood rival. Nevertheless, Harry truly believed what he said to Blaise about relationship and choosing girlfriend. Therefore, he could not imagine himself with a girl like Moon who is selfish to the core and only interested to stay with you in your good time.
However, he was clearly seeing himself with a girl like Daphne, with whom he shared his values and vision for future for Britain. He also thought Daphne as the cutest girl in Slytherin first year. Nevertheless, he would not ask her out until the end of their third year because; they are still just 11 years old.
After thinking about Daphne, Harry moved his attention to teaching stuff, he was sure that, the news about his performance in classes was already reached to the rest of teaching stuff. His thought process was not wrong; Harry noticed that, Dumbledore was looking especially at his group. At one point, Harry caught Dumbledore looking at him, Dumbledore smiled at him and he returned it with his own small smile. Harry knew that, after learning from his teaching stuff Dumbledore would keep an eye on his groups especially on him and Daphne. The old wizard was clearly calculating about Harry and his friend's prospects in influencing magical UK in future.
Harry was also happy about getting mentorship from Minerva and Horace, they were excellent teachers, and Harry was looking forward to learn something new from them. Harry was also looking forward to impress Filius in his Charms class and Sprout in Herbology class.
However, he was waiting most anxiously to attend the class of Quirrell; he wanted to observe the difference between that Quirrell and his home universe Quirrell. He was sure that, that new Quirrell would be more confident than his home universe one. He also wanted to see if Quirrell could demonstrate any new spells in the class.
At last, Harry shifted his thought at the chamber of secrets; he really wanted to explore the chamber in this new universe. It would be a perfect place for him to practice some advance spells alone. He was also hoping to find some hidden room in the chamber of secrets. He would be very much happy if he found a secret room with books that was written in parseltongue in the chamber.
After completing their lunch, the four of them went to write about their first day in class to their family. Harry wrote that about his sorting into Slytherin, he told Shawn and Athena about his observation of first year Slytherin, teaching stuff of Hogwarts except Quirrell. He also informed them that, he and Daphne were looking after each other.
At the end of his letter, Harry asked his uncle and aunt about what is happening in outside of Hogwarts. Harry asked Shawn about latest issues of Wizengamot and Athena about some tips regarding different types of nutritional potion. He also did not forget about his sweet cousin Astoria, he told her about different portraits and ghosts of Hogwarts. He also promised her that, he would write regularly to her about Hogwarts.
Daphne on the other hand, told her parents about her performance in the class .She also told them about Harry's great performance in the classes. She informed them about getting mentorship from Minerva and Slughorn. She also told her parents about her practicing spells with her friends in a secret room of Hogwarts. She also told her sister about her opinion in regards of latest issue of young witch fashion.
In Greengrass Manor:
Shawn and Athena was discussing about some family issues when they got the letters from Harry and Daphne. Astoria also joined her parents in reading her sister and cousin's letters. Astoria left the room after reading their letters. She was feeling happy after knowing many amazing things about Hogwarts.
On the other hand, Athena and Shawn were shocked after hearing that, Harry was super prodigy in all the classes of their first day at Hogwarts. They knew that, Harry was more than a decent student; however, they did not know Harry was that kind of genius in studies. They were amazed after learning how quickly Harry completed his tasks in Transfiguration and Potion classes. They had no doubt that, Harry would break all time academic record of Hogwarts.
They were also feeling happy about Daphne's performance in the class. Her being mentored along with Harry by Minerva and Horace was also a proud moment for them as parents. They could clearly see their daughter would be best student after Harry in her year. They were also happy after learning that, Harry and Daphne were taking care of each other and already formed a strong group of friends with Tracy and Blaise.
They were overall feeling happy after reading letters from Harry and Daphne. They had no doubt that, Harry and Daphne would make them proud both academically and politically.
"I am feeling so much better after reading letters from the kids. I am so happy that, they are doing exceptionally well in studies and internal house politics. I am feeling very proud about them." Athena exclaimed.
"I am also proud about them, getting mentorship from Minerva and Horace is a great achievement for them. However, I think they have to be little careful now. They were brining a lot attention from various kinds of people because of their academic and political activity. I have no doubt that, influential students from politically powerful family have already written to their parents about Harry and Daphne. I do not know what will be consequence of that.
We also have to think about Dumbledore. This person despite being leader of light fraction in the Wizengamot is a great manipulator. I think he is already calculating what are the prospects of Harry and Daphne getting power politically in future and what will mean for his light fraction when there will be no match of Harry and Daphne in terms of magical power from his light fraction's young wizard and witch ." Shawn told his wife.
"I am also thinking in the same way about them Shawn, we are already getting a good amount of wedding contract from various family for both of them. I think after today it will only increase significantly." Athena told Shawn.
"My answer will always be no for every one of them. I will not force Harry or Daphne into a loveless marriage." Shawn told his wife confidently.
"However, many of the rejected family will think, we are only doing this, because we want a marriage contract between Daphne and Harry for concentrating our political power and keeping our financial wealth within the family and increasing it with the addition of Harry's wealth ." Athena told sadly.
"We can't control their thinking Athena; nevertheless I don't care about their opinion in this matter. I will confess that, I will be pleased if Harry and Daphne becomes a couple in future, as it will be beneficial to both House Greengrass and House Sayre. However, I will never force them to become a couple against their wish." Shawn concluded.
In Hogwarts:
It was 1 am and Harry was planning to make a short visit to chamber of secrets. He was waiting for Blaise to fall in sleep before he could make a visit to Slytherin's infamous chamber. Harry applied a strong noticed me not charm on himself .The common room was obviously empty at that time. Harry left the room to go a certain girl's bathroom.
After reaching there, Harry was glad that, there was no ghost present there. Soon Harry hissed in parseltongue and told "open". The sink slowly opened after that. However, unlike Harry's home universe Harry was not interested in jumping into the chamber in dark. Therefore, he hissed the word like "stairs" and "light" in parseltongue.
As expected, the chamber was flushed with brightness and a stair appeared for Harry. After that, Harry used that stair and reached into the chamber of secrets. It was a big room just like his home universe one. Harry was glad to find the room; it would be perfect room for practicing some advanced spells. Nevertheless, he was enjoying the view of chamber of secrets, as he did not get the chance to see the chamber more closely in his home universe. It was a beautiful chamber with bright green background.
"What you are doing here, Kid?" A voice suddenly asked him from one corner of the chamber. Harry was obviously surprised to hear that. "It seemed like my presence in the chamber is being detected by a portrait of great Salazar Slytherin." Harry thought in his mind. Therefore, he move around to see it; however, a Slytherin portrait did not asked him moments ago, it was someone else. Someone, who was looking familiar to him but, at the same time he could not recognize him.
"Oh! Merlin." Harry shouted after finally recognizing that familiar person. It seemed like Tom Riddle left a memory imprint of his fourteen years self into a portrait.
"Hello! Heir Gaunt, I am Hadrian William Sayre and it is my pleasure to see you." Harry responded.
End of chapter
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