Here's the newest chapter for the "Harry Potter: the Serpent Lord", enjoy!

* Review response:
mliyanagamage, jafr86, Nanashi113, Naginator, Ayshun Dragon, The Swordslinger, ElementalMaster16, god of all, Kenpachi813, shugokage, Lord Xantos A. Fowl, raw666, dangerverse, Zarosian Chaos, thank you for your reviews, folks!
Awsomeness7, thanks.
Penny is wise, I'll think about this (still have a couple of chapter - not counting this one - before I get to the tournament.
JPElles, 5 champion in the Triwizard tournament, isn't this too much?

Sorry for the delay, I tried to finish the Harry/Violet one-shot for today as well, but I ran into the writers block: I have the intro and the lemon itself, but I can't find a way to tie them together without it turning into a pure PWP. I want to have at least some plot there.

* Disclaimer: I DO NOT own "Harry Potter" and its characters in any shape or form.

"human speech"
"wraith speech"
'human thoughts'
"powered speech / true prophecies by the seer"
"spells / parseltongue"

This chapter is not beta-read yet.

chapter 53: Fourth year begins

The rest of the summer passed quietly for Harry. He did some catching up with his friends, though he dared not to reveal the real reason of why he had been gone abroad to them. So, he called his two months searches for an ancient artifact just a trip, and, even if Neville or Hermione suspected something, they kept quiet about it... The young Potter also did the last of his shopping for the upcoming school year: they was requested to have dress robes – no doubt because of the Triwizard tournament – and it was quite a task to find something that was more robes than a dress...

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On the morning of September the first Harry woke up early as always. So, he had his breakfast and without any hurry double-checked that he had everything he'd need this year packed in his trunk, before apparating to the platform 9¾, arriving there well before the rush of Hogwarts students. This allowed him to claim a good compartment for himself and his friends in the middle of the train, and, after putting his things on the luggage rack, he continued reading a magazine about the most recent developments in the non-magical medicine he had gotten his hands on a couple of days ago..

Hermione joined him about fifteen minutes before the train was to depart, and almost immediately the bushy-haired witch asked him about his eye. Sure, in his letters to his friends the green-eyed wizard had already explained why he no longer wore eye-patch, but still... Once the brunette's curiosity was satisfied, she started talking about how the last days of her holidays were and about what she hoped they would be taught this year and made her guesses about why they needed dress robes. Harry, of course, had a very good guess why, but he wasn't about to give away the information about the tournament just yet, so, instead, he made up a couple of rather outlandish theories about why they needed the dress robes this year.

Just as they were discussing possibility of Hogwarts playing the role of a court for some major political event – which, technically, will happen – Neville finally joined them, adding some of his own 'theories'... Though, the young Potter thought, it was quite likely that his male friend too was just hiding the fact that he knew about the Triwizard tournament taking place at Hogwarts during this school year.

Eventually, the topic was exhausted, and the three teen switched to something a bit less intriguing, like who they thought their new DADA professor would be or what spells and potions they'd be taught this year... That was when the dark-haired wizard decided that he should pay a visit to his Slytherin 'associates', so, excusing himself, he left the compartment and started looking for them... And finding his friends from the house of cunning ones didn't take Harry too long: the four girls found themselves a compartment in the very next car down the train. Politely knocking on their door, he came in.

"Good day, ladies." He greeted the girls.

"Harry!" Astoria called out loudly, almost jumping off her seat, obviously happy to see her 'hero'. The rest of the girls – Draconica, Daphne and Tracey – were more restrained in the way they greeted Harry back, but that didn't mean that they were any cold towards him... The older of the two Greengrass sisters sent her sibling a glare, silently telling the now-second-year girl that she should behave in a way becoming of someone of their social standing.

"Harry, your eye, did you get it back somehow? And did you have your eyesight fixed?" Tracey asked, as Astoria was being calmed down by her big sister. The green-eyed wizard sighed lightly: it was clear that he will be asked this question many many more times in the next couple of days. And he was already feeling annoyance rolling over inside him...

"It's an artificial eye I got while I was abroad." Harry said, while tapping his finger gently just underneath his implanted basilisk eye – now that the colored contact lens was blocking its magics, he had no reason to hide it behind the eye-patch. "And as for my eye-sight, no, it's still what it used to be. I just wear a contact lens instead of glasses now." The girls nodded, accepting his explanation.

"Well, it looks great on you, Harry." Astoria said, while the rest of the witches agreed with her in one way or other: the dark-haired wizard without any questions looked better with his both eyes and with no glasses... Once this topic was closed, the four girls returned to what they were talking about before he came. And like it was in the case with Hermione, the Slytherin ladies were making their guesses about who will be DADA professor this year, about how good he or she will be and they too were trying to find an answer to why they needed the dress robes this year.

The time flew really fast when he was talking to the girls, as Harry noted when the witch with cart full of magical candies knocked on the compartment's door. And, well, it may be a good idea for him to return back to his own compartment and to his Gryffindor friends... Still, before he left, there was one other thing that he needed to do:

"Draconica, if you don't mind, I'd like to have a couple of words with you in private." Far a second the young Potter was afraid that she will tell him 'no', but then the blond witch nodded slowly, before giving her friends a look that told that that she will be alright.

"Lead the way." The Malfoy heiress said as she took the hand Harry had offered her. Once she was standing, though, she let it go. Something that the green-eyed wizard was slightly disappointed in... The two of them left the girls' compartment and headed towards where the young Potter had seen an empty one. It was still unoccupied, so the two teens got in and, once the door was closed, Harry cast a strong locking charm and put up several privacy spells... Just as soon as he was done there, he found himself pushed lightly towards one of the settles. And once he was sitting on it, Draconica took place right besides him with their bodies touching rather intimately. "I missed you." the blonde whispered as she leaned more into him. "What did you want to talk to me about?" She asked then, suddenly being all business.

"Well, I know that there are still almost two months before that day,.." Harry began, and now the blond witch backed away from him a bit so that she could look into his eyes. "But I think that I still should ask, whether you will be alright. And, if you want, I can try making my own bid for your hand." He said with a blush now blossoming on his face. "If it wins, you'll have all the time you'll need to find your life-mate." Draconica was speechless for several seconds, before finally recovering her wits.

"Thank you, Harry." She finally said, before giving him a light kiss on his cheek. "It really means a lot to me, but... I don't think that father will be willing to wait for more than a couple of years for my new contract to be fulfilled and my marriage to be consummated." She sighed quietly, before adding: "And are you sure that he will even consider your contract? Potters aren't exactly on the list of the families he will agree to marry me into."

"You'll never know." Harry said cryptically as he shook his. He wasn't sure that it was time already to reveal himself as the new lord Slytherin to general public, or even to anyone outside Goldsaw and Violet... Draconica nodded, before giving him another light kiss, much closer to his lips this time, while also gently placing her hand on his chest.

"I really missed you this summer, Harry." She whispered into his ear. "And you were so far away, unavailable even through owls... Don't you think you should make it up to me for this?" Harry looked into her eyes, silently asking what she had in her mind. 'Nica made that quite clear when her 'free' hand started raising her skirt to remove the hindering piece of clothing that was underneath it...

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As this year no one of any interest to the young Potter was being sorted, the dark-haired teen didn't pay much attention to the sorting hat. Though, he still noticed that the artifact somehow managed to integrate some clues about the Triwizard tournament into its song. Of course, only those that already knew about the event could interpret those clues correctly, but...

Some other interesting thing that Harry noticed were the absence of their new DADA professor at the table – though the empty chair there indicated that the man would be joining later on – and the unusually high number of the 'firsties'... No, the green-eyed wizard corrected himself, their number was more or less 'normal'; its just his year was noticeably smaller thanks to the war with Voldemort.

During both the sorting itself and the most welcomed feast that followed shortly after it, nothing of any real interest had happened. And once the feast was over, the headmaster rose from his throne-like chair to make his customary speech. First of all, the aged warlock reminded the Hogwarts students about list of banned items being posted at Filch's office, about Forbidden forest being forbidden and about the fact that only those in third year or older were allowed to visit Hogsmeade.

"And now, I would like you all to welcome back Ms. Ginerva Weasley!" Dumbledore said, gesturing towards the Gryffindor table. Damn, Harry didn't even notice the redhead until after the headmaster singled her out. And, well, Ginny looked so small and pale and frail, and she was sitting so very quietly near the end of the table... It was quite obvious that even if the healers managed to heal her body and magic alright, the psychological damage from the possession was not treated well enough. "Due to medical reasons, at the moment she will be retaking her first year, but may advance in years if she shows that she's ready for that." There were some applause, coming mostly form Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, but it didn't look like the redhead was even hearing them...

Before the headmaster could continue with his announcements, the doors of the Great hall were thrown open, revealing a man in a black traveler's cloak, who was leaning upon a long staff. Those who recognized him as the retired auror captain Alastor Moody were quietly informing those who didn't while the ex-auror made his way towards the professors' table, his wooden leg clacking loudly against the stone floor.

"May I introduce out new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Dumbledore said. "Professor Moody." There were some applause, but the terribly-scarred man paid absolutely no attention to the not-so-warm welcome he was given and started eating his meal. And the more observant students noticed that he was drinking from his hip flask even if there was a golden goblet standing on the table right in front of him. The headmaster waited for several seconds, before continuing. "Unfortunately, it's my sad duty to inform you all that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year." Immediately there were cries of disagreement coming from all four houses' tables... The old warlock cleared his throat, making most of the students quiet down. "As I was saying, this is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy – but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have a great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard tournament!"

"What?!" Those who had heard about the tournament, but did know that another attempt to revive it was made, shouted. "You are joking!" Dumbledore's reply made some people wonder again, where he was completely sane or not: the headmaster started telling some joke he had apparently heard this summer. But he didn't get past the first sentence when professor McGonagall cleared her throat, reminding him that he should talk about the tournament.

"Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament..." Dumbledore continued. "Well, some of you aren't aware of what this tournament involves, so I hope that those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely." Here, he gave a brief – just a little over ten minutes long – lecture about the history of the tournament. He also gave a warning that because of the dangers, only those above seventeen will be allowed to try their hand at becoming Hogwarts champion – this caused quite vocal disagreements to rise from all around the Great hall, but the headmaster ignored those... Once the old warlock was finished, he told everyone that it time for everyone to go to the common rooms to get some rest.

Just Harry was about to rise from the table to follow his housemates to the Gryffindor tower, he noticed a note lying in front of him on his plate. Damn, he didn't even notice when or how it got there... Picking the piece of parchment up, the green-eyed youth read the short message that professor McGonagall sent him. In two words, his head of the house wanted to have some words with him before the curfew. Unfortunately, the note didn't specify, what about she wanted to talk. So, after telling Hermione and Neville where he will be, the young Potter headed to the transfiguration professor's office...

"Good evening, professor." Harry greeted his head of the house, when she showed up a couple of minutes later. He knew that her job of the deputy headmistress was consuming a lot of time, so he wasn't upset with a little wait. "May I ask, what did you want to talk to me about?" The dark-haired teen asked, while professor McGonagall was opening the door of her office.

"Of course, Mr. Potter." She replied, while inviting him in. Once they both were seated, she continued. "Anyway, you had everyone under the impression that you've lost your right eye a little more than a year ago in the Chamber of Secrets. Did you get an artificial one as a replacement?" Harry nodded. The Scot witch in front of him was far more perceptive than his fellow students, so he didn't feel the annoyance from having to explain his eye to her.

"Yes. I got it while I was abroad this summer. It was quite expensive and it doesn't have any special 'cool' powers like professor Moody's is rumored to, but it does look almost like a real one." The transfiguration professor nodded, accepting his explanation.

"Very well then..." Professor McGonagall made a pause. "Unfortunately, since you now have an artificial eye, due to how the Hogwarts quidditch cup rules are written, you won't be able to play on the team anymore." The green-eyed Potter nodded.

"To be honest, I was planing to leave the team anyway." He saw his head of the house ready to ask a question, and making a good guess about what this question will be, he continued: "Professor, I'm sure that you remember that I'm a lord of a Noble house." The deputy headmistress nodded. "And even though I have some great people helping me out, I can't totally rely on them forever. Sooner or later, I'll have to deal with my estate and the Wizengamot on my own, and so I shall devote a lot of my time to study politics and economics. I just don't think that between these and the normal school work I will have enough time to play quidditch as well." Professor McGonagall nodded. It was clear that she wasn't exactly happy with this, but she respected his decision.

"Alright, Mr. Potter, if there is nothing else, you may go." The deputy headmistress said: it was already close to the curfew, and she didn't want one of her Lions to get into trouble, especially on the very first day of the school year.

"Actually..." Harry replied. "Since we've started talking about quidditch... Well, there is no cup this year, but I'm quite sure that there will be one next year again." The Scot witch nodded. "Oliver Wood had graduated this past spring and the team will need a new captain. I know that normally one of the most senior players is chosen, but I ask you to choose Katie Bell over anyone else."

"May I ask why?" Professor McGonagall inquired.

"Well, me aside, everyone but her will graduate the next year, and Ms. Bell will a year after that. Do you really think that having the team go through three captains in three years will be a good thing?" He asked. The head of the Gryffindor house thought about this for a couple of seconds, before nodding.

"I see." She said. "And you really do have a point here, Mr. Potter. I will think about it." Nodding her a thank you, the young Potter continued:

"And on the related note,.. I shall speak with the rest of the team first, but, likely, we will want to book the pitch once in a while. To run the trials for the keeper and the seeker – maybe for the chasers and beaters as well – and to integrate the players into the team."

"The staff will be too focused on making sure that the tournament runs smoothly to add the school quidditch cup on top of it, but as the pitch will not be needed there until spring, I can see no reason to stop you from using it until then." Professor McGonagall replied. "And I think that giving the new players extra year to train is a good idea." Harry filed the fact about the pitch being needed for the tournament to the back of his mind, before replying:

"Alright then, I'll talk with the rest of the team and we will inform you about our decision, when we come to one." The deputy headmistress nodded. "Well... I guess this will be all for the moment..." the green-eyed wizard made another short pause. "Good night, professor."

"Good night, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall replied, before returning her attention to the various documents that were on her table... Harry silently backed out of her office, and once he had closed the door, he looked at his watch. It looked like he still had about ten minutes before the curfew. And as today was quite a tiresome day for him for some reason, he decided that he will call it a day as soon as he was back to the Gryffindor common room. Talking to his teammates could wait until tomorrow...

That's all, folks!
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