I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year
Chapter Eight
The Welcoming Feast - 1 Sept 1992
Harry had been resistant to his father's idea to ride the Hogwart's Express to Hogwarts but once he got on the train and was met by his friends he saw the wisdom in it. The Quartet had a car all to themselves that saw random, and quick visits from the Weasley twins. Ginny Weasley had invited herself to their car, and she never left Harry's side even as he tried to ignore her.
Draco whispered into Harry's ear, "I don't think she's going to let you go." He chuckled.
Harry grimaced, and sneered at Draco who just laughed more.
"Ginny," said Ron, "Why don't you go sit with Fred and George?"
"I don't want to," she scowled at her brother. Ginny then looked at Harry and slipped her arm around his. "I read what you did last year at school, Harry," she gushed. "You were so brave. Would you tell me the story?"
"No," Harry shrugged her off. "Has anyone seen Luna?" he asked partly because he wanted to know and also because the mention of Luna annoyed Ginny. The aforementioned girl pouted and looked away.
Hermione replied, "I heard her dad went to Africa during the summer so she spent it with the Headmistress."
"I know the Headmistress brought Luna to my birthday," said Harry, "but I didn't know Luna was staying with her."
"If you'd asked…" began Hermione.
Ron chuckled, "If you were nosy!" He stuffed a chocolate frog in his mouth. Draco had bought them all a bunch of sweets off the Sweet Cart.
Hermione glared at Ron. "Shut up, Ron, and shut your mouth. It's gross." She then ignored Ron and turned her attention to Harry. "The Headmistress is Luna's godmother so she takes care of her when her dad is not in England."
"Like my dad is Draco's godfather?" asked Harry. Hermione nodded, and delicately bit into her chocolate frog so it would not jump away. "Do you have godparents, Hermione?"
She nodded. "My dad's brother and his wife. I've never met them, though."
"That's wrong," interrupted Draco. "Your godparents are almost like your parents."
"Who's your godmother?" asked Ron as he tore the silver wrapping from a small pecan pie.
Draco grimaced, then sighed. "My godmother was my crazy aunt Bellatrix but she was removed as my godmother not long after she went crazy. My Aunt Andromeda is my godmother now. She's nice and always remembers my birthday. She's the mother to my cousin Tonks."
"Tonks? That's a weird name," commented Harry.
"It's her last name," explained Draco. "She doesn't like her first name which is Nymphadora. Father says it's a beautiful name so he always uses it. My parents are Tonks' godparents."
"I don't have any," sighed Harry wistfully.
"Yes you do," insisted Hermione and she fetched a book. "Right here in the History of the War of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the chapter about the Potters."
Harry dropped his jaw in dismay. "There's a chapter on my family?"
Hermione continued as she disregarded Harry's outburst "It says your dad made Sirius Black, his best friend, your godfather."
Draco shook his head as he grimaced at a very sour Every Flavour Jelly Bean, "He can't be anymore."
"Why?" Hermione closed her book. "Is he dead?"
"He's in prison," Ron informed Harry. "Right after your parents were killed Sirius Black killed twelve Muggles and one of his friends, Peter Pettigrew."
"A prisoner has no rights so that means Black can't be your godfather anymore," interjected Draco as he rummaged in a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Jelly Beans.
"Prison?! Are they sure he killed those people?" demanded Harry. He did not know much about James but he doubted he could have befriended someone that would kill people.
Ron shrugged in answer. Harry frowned. He was like his father in that he hated that silent, vague gesture. "Don't know, Harry," said Draco almost apologetically. "I don't think there was ever a trial. He was just found with all these Muggles dead, and only Pettigrew's finger was left after Black killed him."
"That's awful," glowered Harry. He slumped in his seat, and crossed his arms over his chest. He did not want to talk anymore.
The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station and expelled the students. Harry could hear Hagrid gathering the new first years for the boat ride to the castle. Professor Flitwick was near and ushering the rest of the students towards carriages pulled by startling creatures that were skeletally thin, and had wings.
"What are those?" asked Harry.
"There's nothing there, Harry!" insisted Hermione. "Come on. The carriages are filling fast."
Harry grasped Draco's robe sleeve, "Don't you see them, Draco?"
"Nothing there, Harry. Come on, Hermione is waiting for us."
"They're Thestrals, Harry," the gentle voice of Luna announced her presence at his elbow.
"They… hey, aren't you supposed to be with Hagrid and the other first years?" Harry was happy to see Luna, though.
"I've been at the castle all Summer so Aunt Minerva sent me here with Professor Flitwick," she replied.
Harry noted that once again Luna never touched him. It was not as though she were loathe to do so. She was just being polite, and aware of his personal space. Ginny Weasley was always either leaning on him, or wrapped around his arm. It was a little flattering, at first, but now it was downright annoying. He looked up as one of the Thestral's flapped its great wings, and pawed the ground. "Luna, you can see them?"
She nodded. "Only people who've seen death can see them. I saw my mother die just as you saw your mother die, Harry." Luna smiled sympathetically at him.
"But, I don't remember her," he said as he looked upon the thestral that waited to pull the carriage Hermione, Ron, and Draco waited for him.
Luna patted his arm. "That's all right. Your mum remembers you." Luna slipped her hand into Harry's. "The thestrals are very shy, but very kind. Let's go."
Harry rather liked Luna's hand in his and decided to forget all of his questions. Together they climbed up into the carriage, and then the Thestral pulled the carriage into the traffic for all of the other filled carriages.
"Luna, aren't you supposed to be with the first years?" wondered Hermione.
"I've been at Hogwarts all summer, Hermione," replied Luna. "I still have to get Sorted, though."
"You'll be in Gryffindor, right, Luna?" asked Harry hopefully.
"She'll probably be in Slytherin," remarked Draco.
Luna laughed softly. "I don't want to give away the surprise."
Luna waved to Harry from the Ravenclaw table as the feast appeared. He was sad she would not be in Gryffindor but at least she would be able to visit.
"Are you going to try out for Quidditch, Harry?" Ginny asked in order to turn his attention away from the Ravenclaw girl.
"My dad said it's all right, and if I make the team I not allowed to go and mangle myself," Harry smiled as his comment garnered a few laughs. Suddenly the smiles and laughter faded as if water were thrown on everyone at the table.
"Take care, Mr. Snape, loss of limb... will not excuse you from homework," purred Professor Snape right behind his son.
Harry turned sharply and smiled up at the imposing wizard. "Dad!"
Professor Snape gave dropped a hand on his shoulder, and squeezed it. "Vegetables, Mr. Snape."
Harry glanced at his plate which was piled with nearly everything else but vegetables. "Uhm… I think I have some… somewhere…"
"Hm, yes," he groused with hooded eyelids. "I expect you shall find them. In the meanwhile I wanted you to know that this week will be very busy for me. Meet me saturday afternoon for tea."
"All right, dad," smiled Harry.
Severus nodded to his son, and gave his shoulder another affectionate squeeze then walked towards the dais where all the other teachers sat.
"Ain't Snape the cold one," sneered Ron.
Harry, who had been watching his father walk away, glared heavily at his friend. "What'dya mean, Ron?"
"He's your dad, Harry, and he's treating you like… well like he treats everyone that isn't a Slytherin!"
"My dad's a busy teacher, Ron!" defended Harry. "He can't go all mushy over me right in front of everyone."
"He should have at least smiled at you as if he liked you," Ron snapped sullenly.
Harry touched his shoulder where his father's hand had been. "He doesn't need to, Ron, so shut it."
"Hey!" exclaimed the usually quiet Neville Longbottom, "there's Headmaster Dumbledore!"
All eyes went to the dais to see that indeed it was Albus Dumbledore at the teacher's table. He did not sit in the Headmaster's chair but next to the Headmistress. Harry noted a wizard sat next to the retired Headmaster who looked a bit scruffy as if he had been in a fight.
"Who's that next to Dumbledore?" asked Harry.
"Nursemaid," chuckled Seamus Finnegan.
"That's a bad thing?" asked Harry looking tightly at the boy.
Seamus looked away from Harry's stare. "S'pose not. Merlin, Harry! You're as scary as Snape!"
Harry ignored Seamus. His father had told him that Remus Lupin would be a companion to Albus Dumbledore to make sure he did not hurt himself. His eyes narrowed. So that was Remus Lupin whom his father disliked because he was one of those bullies who let bullies hurt other people, and never stopped them. And, Lupin was looking right at him!
Harry blanched, looked to his dinner, and tried to sneak a peek at Lupin. The man was still staring at him. Harry then saw that his father was saying something to Lupin to distract him. They started to argue but Headmistress McGonagall stopped them. They backed down but not before glaring daggers at each other.
And, then that creep went back to staring at him!
Because of that Remus Lupin who kept looking at him Harry had pretty much lost his appetite for the wonderful, indulgent feast. He was glad when they were let go to their Houses so he could disappear right into his dormitory. Burrowing under his covers he ignored the stragglers that came into the dormitory later, and finally fell asleep.
2 Sept 1992 - Classes
The next morning Harry rose at 6am as he always did. It was a habit Aunt Petunia had drilled into him from the time he could walk, and it was a difficult one to break. The advantage though was that he had the showers to himself, and so he could strip off his clothing without anyone thinking they were free to look at him. Dudley had always watched him as he showered and it had always unnerved him. And, he did not even want to mention perverted Piers who always wanted to poke him, or grab parts of him nobody should.
Harry's shower was quick, and thorough. He then dug a folded shirt, and trousers along with pants from his trunk, and quickly donned the clothing. His robes were in the large wardrobe they all shared so he took his down and threw them over his shoulders.
Lastly, Harry took his comb through his still wet hair. The length was now just below his shoulders. His hair was no longer sticking up here and there with dozens of cow-licks he could not control. Over the summer he had grown it long, and his father had brewed a shampoo and conditioner just for him. It reminded him of the forest, and he felt grown-up when he used it. His father had also shown him how to make soap and now he had a ton of soap that had oatmeal, almond, and swarthy smelling sage in it. He knew he smelled good. He wondered if Luna thought he did.
Once finished dressing and combing his hair Harry picked up the textbooks for the two electives added to his basic schedule. He had chosen Ancient Runes so he could learn more about the scar on his forehead that Mr. Malfoy kept calling 'Sowelu the rune of mothers and protection'.
His other elective was Care of Magical Creatures. That book, The Monster Book of Monsters, was a vicious book that chased him all over his room, and then snapped at his fingers the first time he tried to read it. His father, while he tended to the injured fingers, had cursed at Hagrid in Latin using words he did not know. The Potions Master had then 'fixed' the book so it would not bite or chase after Harry anymore.
There was no homework, certainly not on the first day of school, but Harry believed it wise to be prepared. His father liked to pounce upon students with surprise quizzes and he had no idea if any of the other teachers were like that.
So he had read the first chapter of each book and was in perfect time to meet Hermione and Ron when they came to the common room.
Hermione had stared warily at The Monster Book of Monsters but it was the textbook of Ancient Runes that she picked up. "I'm taking Ancient Runes, too, Harry. My other elective is Arithmancy. How about you, Ron?"
"Divination," he dug his small crystal ball out of his bag. "Seamus is taking it, too. He says it ought to be easy to pass since you just make stuff up."
"Divination is just mumbo-jumbo," said Hermione with her nose in the air.
Harry smiled. "I'd agree with Ron but there's no way I'd go near Divination. It's all bunkum."
Ron shrugged. "Doesn't matter I guess. I'm also taking History of Magic because Binns is so dead boring you can just sleep in his class."
Both Hermione and Harry frowned. Hermione scoffed, "You'd just sleep and eat your way through school, wouldn't you, Ron?"
Ron grinned. "Speaking of eating, isn't it time for breakfast?" He dropped the crystal ball back into his bag, and stepped through the portrait of The Fat Lady.
Harry shook his head, and followed. "I'm not doing your homework for you, Ron!"
"S'okay, Harry," Ron hollered back with a giggle. "Neville's gonna do mine!"