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I hope everything goes well. And here is the next Chapter!
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To Martionmanswife: The one you asked about will get what he deserves. And I'm sure now that this will stay a Harry/Hermione story. I've grown on that pair.^^
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Jaculus, Ravus7, ginnylovesharry07(you are the best!),ladywatertiger, BioHazard82, oceanlover14, Lientjuhh, Teufel1987(One of my very first readers!),TMRHP11, shiftyless, nxkris, mentalkid, bandgsecurtiyaw, sesskagluver09 and all the oter readers who reviewed for the other chapters!
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So that was that.
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Chapter 15
Harry just sat there and stared at Dumbledore without moving a single muscle. The words echoed in his head and kept repeating themselves.
They were dead... killed by Voldemort... gone.
Just like the six other people Voldemort had written about in his letter. He felt Hermione's head against his chest and blinked. He hadn't seen her move. Just a second before she had been sitting next to him and now she was sitting on his lap, hugging him.
Death...
Harry sighed and saw Dumbledore's and Ron's concerned looks. He gave them a soft smile and rubbed his eyes. They sat in silence, because no one knew what to say. At the same time Harry felt a little guilty...
He was not more affected by his relative's death than by the death of six strangers, that he had never met before. Sure, he had known Arabella Figg, but she was more of an acquaintance than a close friend. The same went for the Dursleys, even if he had known them.
"I'm sorry Harry," said Dumbledore once more.
He looked at the headmaster and then at Hermione who looked at him with worry. "You know what?" Harry said to the three of them. "Please don't think I'm cold hearted but... the death of my relatives doesn't really affect me very much now that it has had time to sink in."
Ron tilted his head in question. "Why is that? After all... well... they were your family."
Harry nodded. "Yes, they were. But you all know that I wasn't really close to them. They treated me like a house elf and never had a single kind word for me. You must know...," he looked at Dumbledore now, "... that I didn't consider them my family in anything but blood. And that was just my aunt and to a degree my cousin."
"So you don't feel anything about their deaths?" asked Dumbledore carefully.
Harry shook his head. "It would be a lie to say that I don't. I feel sorry for them and regret it that they had to die because of a maniac. And I feel angry that Voldemort believes it is necessary to kill people, just like he can kill me. But… to be hosest, I won't get sleepless nights."
"You've matured Harry," responded Dumbledore with a sad smile while Hermione again took her seat next to Harry. "I can understand the reason behind your lack of mourning, but I would like to ask you one thing."
With a sigh Harry straightened his back. He thought he knew which question was coming now.
"Harry," said Dumbledore. "I wasn't concerned about the Dursleys when you told us to see if they were okay, because the wards didn't warn us. That is why I'm asking you this now: Do you know why the wards didn't activate? Did you modify them when you were at your relatives?"
He leaned his head back and sighed while he ran a hand through his messy black hair. Harry really had been expecting the question, but how could he answer it?
"You see Professor," he started carefully, "I don't know very much about wards at the moment, because I haven't really learned about them yet. The answer should be clear then. No, I didn't modify them. Not even by accident. The only reason I can give you, is the simplest one."
Dumbledore now looked at him curiously. "And which reason may that be? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean my boy."
Harry chuckled dryly. "You explained it to me some time ago. The reason is that I never – after I set foot into Hogwarts for the first time – considered Privet Drive to be my home."
Dumbledore's eyes widened in realisation and he nodded. "I understand and... I'm sorry once again for not coming to check on you over the years."
He waved it away. "Rubbish! We already covered that and I said that I forgive you, sir."
"Thank you." The headmaster stood up. "The last thing I want to know is... if you wish attend your relative's funeral?"
Harry said nothing and raised an eyebrow at Dumbledore who elaborated.
"It will be held near Nottingham where your uncle's sister Marge Dursley lives. When Nymphadora informed her of your relative's death, she said that she would arrange everything. Will you be going?"
Now Harry shook his head. "No. I won't be attending their funeral." That earned him raised eyebrows from all three of them. "Firstly, Marge would never tolerate it, and might possibly try to kill me because I wasn't killed. Secondly, it would mean that I would be paying them my last respects, and if I'm honest... I don't feel like they deserve it."
Dumbledore nodded with a sigh. "Very well. Then I can only wish you a good day despite that sad news."
Harry nodded. "The same goes for you Professor."
Dumbledore smiled slightly and nodded to Ron and Hermione who were both staring straight ahead of them and not moving a single muscle.
After the headmaster left and his friends still didn't move, Harry started to get annoyed and stood up to put some of the useless books away.
What did they expect? That he would break out in tears and scream bloody murder because of his relative's death? Sure, after the Triwizard Tournament he sure would have done that, but that was over a year ago – for him anyway. He was past that.
When he had taken all the books in his arms to their respective shelves, he looked down at the floor. His mind wandering away from thoughts of death and back to the suggestion about the books he had made earlier.
He would have to speak with Draco about it… it was more than a little bit dangerous to contact the people he was thinking about. Not for themselves, but for those people. Heck, it had been a great coincidence that they had even met them! He remembered their greeting with a slight chuckle.
They – meaning Draco, Narcissa and himself - had been knocked out very rudely and woken up two days later in a room that had just screamed; we are people it's wise not to mess with!
"Mate?" he heard Ron's voice. "Harry where are you? It's time for lunch… you coming?"
"Yeah!" answered Harry and strolled back to the table in the middle of the room. "Sorry, I was thinking."
"You won't start to blame yourself now, will you?" asked Hermione worriedly and opened her bag to but the books they hadn't read in. "You know that won't help."
He looked at her and then at Ron who had the same look as his girlfriend and shook his head. "I was totally honest about what I said to Dumbledore earlier. I'm sorry for their deaths... and I'm angry, but nothing more."
They nodded and left the restricted section, each with a pair of books in their arms and Hermione's bag. Madam Pince followed them with a glare that clearly said; don't touch the precious books, until they were outside out of the library.
"Can you tell me something?" asked Ron hesitantly when they were on their way to the Great Hall. "I know that your relatives didn't treat you very nicely, but… why do you seem to hate them so much? I mean…"
Harry closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Slowly but surely he was starting to get a headache because of this. "Let me explain something; the main reason for my lack of mourning. Listen well because I will only tell you once, and I don't want any questions about it. Is that clear?"
Ron nodded and he looked at Hermione who frowned slightly but nodded as well. He took her hand in his and she squeezed it slightly.
"Okay," said Harry. "First off: I lived in a cupboard for years. My relatives didn't think I deserved a normal room with a bed when I was smaller. They instead gave Dudley two rooms; one for all his broken toys and one for his fat ass to sleep in. I was lucky that I even got my own room after all those years."
Ron and Hermione both stared at him and he could see that they were disgusted with what his relatives had done. Hermione was repeatedly shaking her head and Ron was mumbling something about 'crazy muggles'.
He chuckled slightly when Ron nearly ran into a suit of armor that was standing in the hallway and continued. "I was a freak to them. A burden they couldn't wait to get rid of. A servant, who cooked, washed and cleaned their stuff. I had to wear old rags that were my cousin's clothes once and you know that I looked like I would drown in them. After working, I often lay in bed and tried to forget my hunger, because once again there weren't any leftovers for me to eat. Need any more reasons?"
Ron shook his head a bit shakily. "No… thanks. I pass…"
"Oh, Harry…," said Hermione quietly and squeezed his hand once more. "I had no clue that it was that bad!"
He shrugged. "It's over now, isn't it? Not in the friendliest way, but in some respects I have old snake-face to thank."
"You serious?" asked Ron with a small grin on his face.
He shook his head and grinned himself. "Nope. That's my godfather. I think you already knew that. I guess I was wrong. A pity…"
The redhead groaned and Hermione softly smacked him upside the head when they entered the hall. He pouted and that caused some of the male students that saw him to snicker. He groaned when he heard some whispers amongst the female population of the student body.
"Isn't he gorgeous?"
"Look at him… do you think he will go on a date with me?"
"God his eyes… I could get lost in them!"
"And that body!"
He really had to hold Hermione back now, because she was glaring daggers at every girl that looked in their direction and desperately seemed to be trying not to jump at them and strangle them.
"Relax Mione," he chuckled when she growled at a Hufflepuff sixth year.
"If one of them tries to flirt with you, remind me to kill them afterwards…," she mumbled and he gave her a kiss on the cheek that caused a collective sigh to go through the females.
After Ron had left to go to the Gryffindor table, and Harry continued on to escort Hermione to the Ravenclaw table, he suddenly stopped in his tracks s they passed the Slytherin table.
"How long do you think he will date the mudblood?" Pansy Parkinson asked and Harry frowned.
"Don't know," answered an older student with a sneer. "Probably when he's tired of fucking the filthy piece of trash. You really think he's in love with that mudblood whore?"
In the next instant the older student – a seventh year – found himself lifted to his feet and thrown on the floor with full force. He groaned when his arm gave a loud 'crack' and looked around for the culprit.
His eyes landed on Harry and it was obvious he was scared now when he saw the look in his eyes.
Harry was angry… no, scratch that, he was furious! Totally and absolutely pissed off!
He crouched down so that he was on eye level with the whimpering Slytherin who held his arm in pain and knew that all eyes in the hall were on him now. "Your name is Avery, isn't it?"
The Slytherin just glared at him and he assumed that he was right.
Harry grabbed his throat and leaned forwards to his ear. "Listen… and listen well," he said in an icy cold voice. "If I ever… hear you say something like that again," his eyes drifted from the face of the other to his arm and back, "then a broken arm will be the least of your worries!"
Avery sneered up at him. "Why do you care?! Are you angry because I spoke the truth about your slut of a mudblood?"
Harry tightened his grip on the other's throat and whispered for only him to hear: "Be careful… or you will endure something that not even your Death Eater daddy and his master are capable of!"
He raised his sleeve slightly for only Avery to see. A small silver and black dagger was strapped next to his invisible wand holster. It was a beautiful piece of work with small emeralds on the grip that was made of black leather.
"I know how to use this," said Harry casually to Avery who was now terrified. "And it hurts more than a wand."
He stood up and Hermione looked at him with wide eyes and gave him a big hug. "Thank you for defending me. But-"
"Mr. Potter! What is the meaning of this display?!" screeched a voice he had absolutely hated since the first time he had heard it.
He turned around and looked coldly into the face of the new Defense Professor. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, ma'am."
"Why are you attacking a fellow student?!" she screamed and he rubbed his ears with a pained moan. They were surely bleeding now…
Harry smirked while Hermione glared at the Professor. "I have no clue. This… fellow student wanted to trip me when I passed by and I decided that it wasn't acceptable. Is there a problem with self-defense, Professor?"
Umbridge coughed and blinked at him – smile still in place. "Indeed there is. I don't like it when people lie to me. That will be fifty points from… Phoenix."
Harry feigned horror and clutched his chest. "Oh my god! This is the end! Everybody go and run for your life! I just have lost points!" he threw her a cold look. "Do I look like I care?"
Umbridge's fake smile grew. "Detention Mr. Po-"
"What's going on here?" asked a silky voice and Professor Snape came down from the staff table while the other students watched the display.
He looked from Avery, who was still lying on the floor and clutching his arm, to Harry and then at the pink toad on two feet.
Umbridge smiled wider. "Mr. Potter decided to attack a fellow student without reason and I saw fit to-"
"And you know that how?" asked Snape with a raised eyebrow and Harry chuckled quietly when the smile on Umbridge's face vanished.
She puffed out her chest and took a stance that she probably thought was intimidating. "Because I saw it myself, Severus."
"I don't remember having offered to allow you to call me by my given name," sneered the Potions Master and Harry looked at Hermione who was looking back at him with wide eyes.
"And how were you able to see it yourself?" Snape continued. "I don't recall that you were here two minutes ago. You just arrived."
Umbridge opened her mouth but no sound came out and Harry smirked when he caught Snape's eye and mouthed a silent; Good one.
"But detention seems to be in order," said Umbridge, and the sweet fake smile was on her face again when she looked at Harry.
"Oh, I will handle Mr. Potter," replied Snape. "You should try to get used to the school before you have to spend time with this insolent brat."
After a short silence, Umbridge nodded and glared at Harry before going to the staff table.
Snape glanced at him and cleared his throat before placing the usual sneer on his face. "Outside Mr. Potter. I believe we have to speak about your punishment." He looked down at the Slytherin. "Mr. Avery, get to the hospital wing and get your arm fixed."
Harry nodded and Hermione gave him a kiss and a worried glance before joining the Ravenclaws who were eagerly awaiting their new housemate.
Snape was already at the door and Harry followed as Draco entered and gave him and Snape a questioning glance. Harry just shrugged and gave the Slytherin a wink that he responded to with a small smirk.
When he was in the Entrance Hall, Snape sighed and turned around, just at the moment Avery wobbled up the stairs to the hospital wing. Harry just shook his head.
"Potter, what do you think you were doing?" Snape demanded to know.
Harry blinked innocently. "I didn't do anything wrong and…," his eyes hardened, "I'm sure you heard what Avery said. So I don't regret it."
Snape sighed and rubbed his temples. "Yes… I heard what he said, but that is no reason to attack him in front of the whole school."
He raised his eyebrows. "So I should have done it when nobody was looking?"
"No! Damn it, Potter! Don't you understand?" said Snape exasperated. "I know that you are angry because he insulted Ms. Granger, but still… I'll tell you just this once: Be careful."
"You are giving me a warning?" asked Harry slightly disbelieving.
Snape nodded curtly. "You can call it that. Professor Umbridge is… not the best person to anger. She has the whole Ministry behind her and the consequences could be very… far-reaching if she decides to make your life harder."
"I already noticed that," replied Harry and shrugged. "But I don't really care. Fudge and his cronies are a bunch of idiots. If they decide to call me a liar and make my life a living hell then I wish them good luck with that."
Snape sighed and nodded to the hall. "Go back to lunch. Talking with you is like trying to teach a doorknob."
"Well thanks," grimaced Harry. "I guess I should take that as a compliment."
"By the way," said Snape and smirked. "Sixty points for defending a fellow student, but five points from Phoenix for disrespecting a professor."
Harry nodded unconcerned, but then gaped at the Potions Master when he went back to the Great Hall. He stood there and blinked once… twice, and then shook his head.
"What the heck is wrong with him?" he asked himself. "He awarded me ten points today and defended my actions in front of another professor." Harry looked up at the ceiling when he entered the Great Hall again. "What is the world coming to?"
He sat down at the table in the middle and was immediately patted on the back by Fred and George.
"That was cool what you did back there," smiled Padma and sighed. "I wish I had a boyfriend that would defend me like that…"
"What did Snape say?" asked Ernie curiously and looked around for the pumpkin juice.
Harry shrugged. "He just warned me about our new teacher."
Hannah goggled at him. "And nothing else? No lost points, no detention?"
"Nope," he answered and looked at the two new first years in front of him who were watching quietly. "And? What do you think about the castle? Do you like it here?"
Euan looked at him startled and nodded shyly. "Yes… it's great."
"It's just so confusing," added Rose and looked down at her plate. "There are so many corridors here… it's so big! I don't think that I will find the classrooms on Monday."
"Me too," said Euan. "I think I will get lost."
Harry frowned and then smiled at the two kids. "If you want to, I can show you around tomorrow after lunch. I have to write two tests before that, but after that I think I have time."
"You would? Really?" asked Rose and looked up hopefully.
"Sure. Why not?" shrugged Harry. "I'm a Prefect after all."
"We would like that," said Euan with a small smile after the two first years looked at each other.
Harry meanwhile, placed a sandwich and some sausages on his plate. "Then it's settled. Just remind me tomorrow after lunch."
They nodded and started to whisper excitedly amongst themselves.
"So… does anybody know yet who our Head of House will be?" asked Terry, looking at Daphne and Harry.
"Hey, just because we are Prefects doesn't mean we know everything!" said Daphne and held her hands up.
Terry shrugged and threw her a grin. "I was just curious, that's all."
"I wonder how they will arrange the classes now," said Padma. "I mean, they will have to change all the schedules that they made over the holidays, because no one knew that there would suddenly be a new house."
Harry shook his head. "No. Dumbledore told me that he already knew where some of us would end up. He asked the sorting hat before, because he had to send the Prefect badges. I guess that he changed the schedule then, too."
Now Blaise frowned. "What do you have to write tests for tomorrow, Potter?"
He smirked. "I decided to take Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. I spoke to McGonagall and dropped Divinations. That subject is just utter rubbish."
Padma nodded with a sigh. "I know what you mean. I don't understand how my sister can stand Trelawney. I made the mistake and took it too…"
Harry chuckled. "Parvati is obsessed with Divination. I'm surprised that you are not."
She threw him a mild glare. "I got enough of that subject already during the summer holidays. Parvati didn't stop talking about you dying a very painful death and Trelawney's eternal greatness!"
Harry chocked on his pumpkin juice while everyone who had Divination chuckled. Fred and George were the only ones who hadn't gotten it, but they knew the dragon-fly.
"Point taken," said Harry. "Sorry to say it, but your sister is mad."
Padma just nodded and went back to eating. Harry looked over to the staff table for a short time and saw that all the professors – excluding Umbridge who seemed to be brooding – were in a heated discussion about something.
He dropped his fork when he was finished and enlarged the bag that he carried in his jeans pocket. He took out last year's schoolbooks on Ancient Runes and Arithmancy and started reading.
He'd already decided that this would be a long year… once again they had a total jackass for a Defense Professor. How he wished now, that Remus was still here!
And the term hadn't even really started yet!
I hope you liked it!
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Dark Phoenix of Slytherin