Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone
Chapter 6
House War
Harry was feeling quite good after his talk with McGonagall and hoped she can prevent her house from attacking them. Why wouldn't the Gryffindor's just leave them alone? He would bet Godric Gryffindor would be furious if he heard about what his house was doing. It was just un-logical for Gryffindor to start a fight with Nero while they are still pissing off Slytherin's with their goody two shoes crap, which they don't even preach.
He shook his head clear of those thoughts as he stepped onto the fifth floor towards his common room and paused, something felt wrong, the air felt thick with tension when he quickly raised a shield with his left hand deflecting a jelly legs hex into a wall. He gulped when several Gryffindor's came out from around the corners including Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Hermione Granger, all three glaring at him with their housemates, some of which are a few years older, and more experienced.
He moved back to retreat, but a quick glance behind him revealed several more Gryffindor's on the stairs. He was trapped and this floors ceiling was too low to fly out of danger, obviously Hermione's idea to trap him here.
"Do you know what you're doing?" he demanded a little panicked.
"Yeah, kicking your ass for corrupting my baby sister!" yelled Ron enraged.
"Taking you down for being a cheat," added Hermione smugly.
"And stopping you from becoming the next dark lord," added Neville. Harry found that one a little amusing. "If you didn't know already, I'm the defeater of You-Know-Who."
"Who… Voldemort?" he asked and they all flinched and hissed. "What his conqueror can't even say his name, or stop himself flinching as its spoken? You're all pathetic, you're supposed to be brave yet you can't even bare hearing that name and a stupid sounding name to, one better suited to a comic book bad guy."
"Shut up, Potter!" hissed Neville angrily. "You don't know what it's like, my parents died because of him!"
"And you think you're the only one who's lost their parents, war or not?" he asked angrily. "My parents are dead too, asshole, but you expect me to give a shit about you and some lame ass scar when all you care about is yourself?"
Neville growled angrily and threw a red beam from his right hand, but Harry sidestepped it and it flew harmlessly by him and into a wall.
"Do you truly understand what fighting me now means?" he asked but waited no answer. "My house will fight back, and we shall wipe the floor with you, and Slytherin wont ever let you get back up once we're done with you!" he said in a commanding voice as he pulled his magic to the forefront, gently burning the air around him, and he knew they could sense him readying to fight.
"That won't ever happen," laughed Ron mockingly. "We Gryffindor's are the light, the good guys… the good guys always win."
"Oh, dear Ronald… this is reality," he replied sadly shaking his head. "In reality, there is no good or evil, just idiots who fight over a different kind of freedom."
"Enough talk, lets teach the stupid cheating fox a lesson!" yelled Hermione throwing a stunner to Harry's surprise, but it was not very strong and Harry just knocked it back with a simple shield, and she cried out in shock as it hit her. She flew back and crashed to the ground, and all hell broke loose as he was hit by several stinging hexes: one in the right eyes.
Harry screamed out in pain but refused to fall as he staggered and closed his right eye in pain. His left eye watering he found it hard to see. He threw several stingers in retaliation forward hoping to hit his adversaries. Hearing some yelps of pain he felt a little triumphant; he followed through with two jelly legs behind him, which tripped his two targets; they tumbled down the stairs with a loud crash.
He then felt something club him extremely hard on the back of the head, followed by the feeling of not being able to control his legs; he fell, tumbling heavily down the stairs to the bottom landing on the two who previously fell. His body felt bruised all over as he looked up with his one good eye he saw many angry yet smug faces.
Harry cancelled the jelly legs on him self and staggered painfully and tiredly to his feet. His face burnt, and one eye closed but not a tear shed. He would not give these bastards the satisfaction; he had been hurt worse in the past. He spat out some blood as he glared up at the Gryffindor's, his emerald eye glowing with power.
"Pathetic, weaklings!" he hissed at them. "The goodie goodie little Gryffindor's are beating up a first year fourteen to one, and he still managed to hurt you!"
"Asshole!" roared Neville raising his fist to punch Harry when a huge purple beam came from down the hall smashing into him and sending him flying into unconsciousness as he crashed to the floor.
Harry looked down the corridor with the Gryffindor's to see four professors fuming and running towards them. Snape was the one to have fired from the front with McGonagall, Lupin, and Flitwick bringing up the rear, 'pretty spry for a tiny guy'. The teachers stopped and glared at the Gryffindor's for a moment before Remus and McGonagall rushed to help Harry stand. He looked at McGonagall sadly, as he used her for support.
"I told you so, b-but I guess I w-was too late," he whispered shakily before he lost the fight to stay conscious. Remus kept him upright just staring at him in horror as he held the boy.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU FOOLS WERE DOING!" screamed McGonagall suddenly with such furry everyone backed up as her power pumped and spiked dangerously. "YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM, YOU ARE DISGRACES TO THIS SCHOOL, AND GRYFFINDOR. I DO PRAY YOU ARE ALL EXPELLED!" she turned from them in disgust to Snape and Flitwick. "Deal with these fools, while Remus and I get Mr. Potter to Poppy," she commanded tiredly.
**
His head was pounding, and his body ached all over, but he felt he was lying on something soft and comfortable. He slowly opened his eyes… correction eye. He slowly opened his left eye as he realised something was covering his right one. He could make out a white ceiling as his eye adjusted to the bright light. He felt something or maybe someone gently stroking his right hand and someone holding his left.
"Harry?" asked a scratchy voice to his right. He turned his head to look… mistake: he winced as his head throbbed. It was Ginny, and she looked terrible with tear streaks down her cheeks and her eyes red and puffy from crying. Since when did Ginny cry? "Oh Harry we're so glad you're ok," she said shakily in relief.
He looked over to his over side slower this time to see Emily holding his other hand, she wasn't all tear streaked or anything but she looked just as worried as Ginny.
"You've been out for two days," she answered his unasked question. "You gave us all a scare little brother… what would we do without you? You have a special way about you, and it brings out the greatness in us all, and you have to help us bring in the Quidditch Cup," she sniffled with a few loose tears she had been holding back. "We won't stand for what they did," she added causing a faint smile to form on his lips.
"B-but if they're ex-ex," he coughed here a little.
"They're not getting expelled," interrupted Ginny bitterly. He looked over at her to see she was beyond pissed off. "Because of that Thing-Who-Lived. The governors won't expel him, so the others can't be either or the school could be sued for favouritism. All that happened is they lost five hundred points and having detention from now until Christmas."
Harry sighed sadly, as he looked back up at the ceiling.
"W-what was wrong w-with me?" he croaked out to change the subject.
"Burns over your body," began Ginny tiredly. "Burnt right eye, but the nurse said it will heal fine… a broken right arm in two places, bruises all over from where you feel down the stairs, and a cracked skull. Madam Pomfree says you'll be up and about as good as new in a week."
"Good, but G-Gin, you look exhausted," he said sleepily. "P-please get some rest."
"She's been here with you since you arrived," said Emily smiling at the pair of best friends. "But you should have seen Snape on my way here; he was fuming over what those Gryffindor's did, and with Lupin. They were actually ranting on the same wavelength, and wanting Longbottom and those others expelled. And according to what the twins found out, Dumbledore is also pissed he can't kick out Longbottom; he actually wants rid of the boy!"
Harry smiled dreamily.
"That's good," he whispered as he lost consciousness again.
"You heard him, Gin, as soon as someone else turns up I'm taking you to bed, and I'll even stay to make sure you don't leave again if I have to."
**
Harry woke with a small yawn later that day and almost jumped as he saw the Weasley twins grinning at him.
"Good morning, Harry," they chimed together.
"Morning," he replied. "Damn I feel like crap."
"Well you would wouldn't you," replied Fred. "Those bastard cowards will pay for this."
"Thanks… oh, what did your parents do to Ron?" he asked interestedly. "Ginny said your mum can be really strict when need be."
They both looked sour at the thought.
"Mum didn't do anything, she said you deserved it," said George sadly. "We just got a letter from dad. It-it says he left her, he left our mum because of all this crap, because she won't see things as they are."
"I'm so sorry," he replied. "I-I didn't mean for all of this to happen, I just wanted to learn, fly and have some fun with my best friend."
"We know, mate, and it's not your fault," said Fred. "Its Ron's fault, and Neville's and Hermione's for not just leaving you alone because they're jealous of your talent, and skill, and the way your house care for each other. We've only been in the house for a few days and they've already made us feel so welcome. And the Nero common room is freaking awesome."
Harry chuckled at that with a small smile.
"So where are you going to live?" he asked them worriedly.
"We're not sure," said George looking a little worried. "Ginny and us will have to go with dad, but we're not exactly well off, well we're quite the opposite actually."
"You can all stay with me if you want," he replied guiltily since it is kind of his fault.
"Really, but would your parents mind?" asked George hopefully.
"My parents are dead," he shrugged but getting pitying looks from the twins. "I lived with my aunt and uncle until the moment I said I'm going to learn magic. They hate me for it, and gave me a choice, a home or Hogwarts," he laughed. "It turned out my mums parents left me a lot of money, and I mean a lot. They were rich, my aunt knew but they had a falling out over something so it all went to me. I was just going to use the wizarding world's stupidity and get the goblins to buy me a house and ward it the hell up, and live alone, but it would be ok to have house guests."
The twins stared at him gobsmacked for a moment.
"You can't just live alone!" they both declared together.
"I have little choice," he answered. "And I'm happy here, I actually have a family. My aunt and uncle stopped looking after me once I was three or four, since then they hardly gave a crap, so I know how to take care of myself. And then I came here, and I met my house, they became that family I had never had and always wanted. I count myself one of the luckiest kids on earth."
"That is freaking sad, man," said George slumping down in his seat. "And you always look so happy."
Harry giggled a little at this.
"That's because I am happy," he said. "Just because my mum and dad are gone doesn't mean I'm sad all of the time."
"Does, Ginny know this?" asked Fred as he too slumped down in a chair.
"Yes," he nodded.
"And she just let you continue like this?" asked George.
"Heck no, she hit me, and demanded I go to Professor Lupin and tell him I'm an orphan with no one to look after me," he answered with a chuckle at the memory. "She looked so sad I almost considered it, but she finally understood. I'm afraid of the magical world like every muggleborn in Nero House because this world is so messed up, it will harm me for anyone to find out."
"Then why trust us?"
"Because you are my friends, and your father left your mother because he sides with us, I feel I can trust him for that alone. Plus I feel a little guilty about all of this, if you get your dad to meet us in the Leaky Cauldron for the Christmas Holiday we can go to Gringott's."
"Ok, Harry," said George.
"Hang on, doesn't your dad earn all the money?" he asked and the twins nodded. "Then what is your mum, Ron, and Percy going to do for money?"
The twins burst out laughing.
"Mum will have to get a job," said Fred.
"She could have done that anyway since you're all away at Hogwarts," said Harry. "Why'd she bother going to school if she's just going to stay at home and live of your fathers earnings. Ginny says your mums always complaining about your dads 'stupid' job not bringing in enough money, so why can't she get off her lazy butt and make some her self. I heard she's brilliant in the kitchen and chefs make a fair amount of money."
The twins stared at him in utter disbelief; unable to comprehend he actually said that. It had only ever been suggested once in their memory and it had not been a happy day at the Weasley house. In fact, it was a very bad day, especially their dad for mentioning it, and was one of the very few arguments they had, and of course, their dad lost, mainly because he gave in to keep the peace; she could keep an argument going for years.
"Dad joked about that last year when Ginny came here," said Fred shuddering. "Mum kicked up a storm about how she needed to take care of the house, and then started criticising his job and saying how that if he had a little ambition and got promoted we would have more money. The fight only lasted a couple of days but in dads letter he said things haven't been the same since, and that he feels that all she wants him for is a free and easy, lazy lifestyle."
"Yeah, so you should make sure Ginny has a career plan, mate," said George with a smirk.
"Um, why?"
The twins laughed in amusement.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll find out eventually."
"So can I get the hell out of here?" he asked looking around in annoyance. "You would think that a hospital would be painted up nice dark colours, because all this white hurts my head."
"I'll go get Madam Pomfree and see," said George getting up, walking over to her office door, and knocking.
The door opened and a woman in light blue robes exited, looked at George and then Harry; she just stalked over tutting.
"He is perfectly safe you know!" she said in annoyance. "You Nero's are the most stubborn people I know, guarding him day and night."
"Well he was brutally attacked by people still free in the castle," reminded Fred reasonably.
"Yes I'm very much aware of that," she retorted a little angrily. "Honestly will they let them get away with murder just for that ill mannered Longbottom boy?" she demanded as she stopped by Harry and started prodding him with a wand. "Hmm, Mr. Potter you are quite exceptional, I checked you just four hours ago when the girls said you woke briefly, and you were magically drained, but now your matrix is almost at full, and I must say for how large your matrix is that seems almost impossible. How do you feel?"
"I'm feeling quite good actually," he answered as he moved about a bit. "Yeah, everything feels fine except a slight stinging in my right eye."
"That would be the potion healing the nerve damage," she told him sternly. "You are lucky, any more damage and you would have gone blind in your right eye." Harry sighed in relief. "I suppose you want to leave?" she asked and he nodded frantically. "Very well, but any other house and I would have made you stay until tomorrow. Now you can't take of the bandage covering your eye until Friday, so if you need it changed before then please come and see me.
"Now you two," she turned to the twins and gave Fred 2 small vials. "These are a mild pain killer, make sure he takes one tonight before bed, and the same tomorrow night or he might not get much sleep with his eye stinging. The stinging should have ceased by then, ok?"
"Yes, ma'am," they chimed together.
"Plus, Ginny will kill us if we don't," added George as an afterthought.
"Too true brother, too true."
Pomfree rolled her eyes while Harry laughed and climbed out of bed, finding some clean clothes he got dressed.
**
"Look whose back from lala land!" yelled out George as Fred helped Harry into the common room.
The Foxes in the common room all looked around and quickly rushed over, the girls all giving him a caring hug, and the boys a shake of the hand or pat on the back. He then went on to tell them of his humiliating defeat, and the brave rescue by Snape, Flitwick, McGonagall, and Lupin. They all like the part where Snape blasted Longbottom best. But they have all already sworn retaliation against Gryffindor.
Apparently, the Slytherin's were even disgusted at such a cowardly ambush especially on an opponent's seeker, so the Slytherin's are mocking them that they're afraid of Nero's new team, which the Foxes, Harry included finds amusing.
It took awhile for everyone to leave him alone for a bit, but he needed space. He asked the twins where Ginny had gone, and they made him laugh when they said Emily had to drag her to bed, so he sat alone watching Nitrous.
"Hey Cub what's on your mind," the fox suddenly said making him jump as he lazily opened his eyes.
"Is it right to go to war with Gryffindor for what they did. For what they've been doing and how they've been acting towards us?"
"You have given them opportunities, and I understand you were ambushed on the way back from talking with their head about your worries of an inter school war between the two houses, something you did not want. Your kin will stand by you because you have given their house back its pride and worth."
"But what would Rosette do?"
"Kick their asses and then make fun of them while they're down."
Harry couldn't help but laugh along with the fox for a while before Nitrous closed his eyes again and returned to sleep. Harry just leaned back in his chair for a while thinking about what will happen at school from here on out. He did not want to be in constant confrontations with Gryffindor's as Slytherin's are, but knew now the Gryffindor's would not leave them alone, so if they want war, then its war they shall get, and Harry did not intend to play fair.
"Harry!" cried out Ginny suddenly from the girls stairs. He looked up as she rushed over and threw herself onto his lap and burying her face into the crock of his neck as she hugged him. He smiled brightly and hugged back while she got comfortable on him. "I'm so glad you're back, but did you escape or were you released. I'll kill Fred and George if they helped you escape."
"Don't worry, Gin," he chuckled amusedly. "I'm sure they're aware you would. Madam Pomfree let me come back, I feel fine and my eye should be back to top notch by Friday."
To Be Continued...