Harry took a deep breath, as he felt all his tension go. The match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor was one of the most extreme games he had played. Oh Sure, they had won from Hufflepuff with enough points, to secure victory when Harry caught the Snitch, but it was an ugly game. All of his teammates had to visit Madam Pomfrey as they all had multiple bruises, scratches and even a broken rib or two. Harry watched as he sat next to Oliver Wood as he told each and every team member what he thought about the game that they played.
"And finally, Harry. While you spotted the Snitch quite quickly, you also lost it again. Try to find the Snitch and when you have found it, keep it in your sight." Oliver told Harry, for what seemed to be the seventh time.
"Oliver, Listen. I know that you want to win, I want to win. But I need an explanation as to what happened to my broom." Harry said as he looked around.
Harry's broom was currently being tested by Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick. In the middle of the match, when Harry and Hufflepuff's seeker both chased the Snitch, Harry's broom started to spin around, causing both Harry and the Hufflepuff seeker to aboard the chase.
Harry held on for dear life, while the broom did everything it could to throw him of it. Eventually, Harry found out that his broom was under his control again and started to chase the Snitch again. Catching it mere seconds before Hufflepuff would score the equalizer, Harry flew down to the pitch, that started to fill with cheering Gryffindors, when his broom started to react again, and successfully threw him of, forcing Harry to grasp the broom with one hand, while he held the Snitch in his other.
"Well. It's a good thing that Hooch came by and allowed me to jump on her broom, before my broom threw me away" Said Harry, as he remembered the fear he felt while he was hanging on for dear life. "Still, I just hope that someone can explain these things. Which reminds me, I have a meeting with McGonagall and Hufflepuff." Harry said as he slowly stepped up from his chair.
His teammates nodded and waved him goodbye, before they started to talk about other stuff, that Harry didn't need to know. Harry shook his head, as he left the Gryffindor Quidditch team locker. Living at Beacon Academy, you get used to seeing several students losing some clothing, but what happened last time when Harry didn't leave soon after the match, well, let's just say that Harry now knew the size of his male team members 'Juniors'. Shaking his head, Harry met with Professor McGonagall and Sprout, his friends Ginny, Hermione and Dora. Only one other Hufflepuff student was standing there.
"Are you sure you want to be involved, Susan?" Harry asked as he looked at the red-haired girl. Susan nodded, her hair bobbing up and down. While both having red hair, Susan's was a lot lighter than Ginny's and didn't have any streaks of orange in it.
"Are you ready, Harry?" Susan asked. Harry knew that he needed to give an answer, but he didn't knew what the answer would be.
"What answer do you want, Susan?" Harry asked, as he looked at the young Hufflepuff. "Do you want me to say that their betrayal has cost them the friendship of me, of do you want me to say that I'm terribly sorry for a situation that I had no control over?"
Susan looked at Harry, her blue eyes almost searching his soul. "I expect an answer that come from your heart, Harry. Nothing else matters for me at the moment." She then placed her hand on his heart. "Your story is one of tales and myths, Harry. That is what we all know. What we haven't seen before is a Harry who is just as human as us. That you cry over the loss of your parents, that you laugh over the food-fight that the Weasley twins organized, while you were covered in mashed potatoes. A Harry who bleeds red, just like any mortal. To Hufflepuff House, having the Harry Potter with them was a dream come true. And then they treated you so badly. You need to show them that they need to wake up. To understand that their behavior was unacceptable."
Susan leaned closely to Harry, almost touching his lips with hers. "You need to show them that you are a man, made of flesh and blood. A man, who might have killed the greatest dark lord in the last two hundred years, but lost everything doing so. Show them that, and maybe you'll sway Hufflepuff house." She said softly, before she gave him a small kiss on his lips, before she turned around and moved to the entrance of the Hufflepuff common room.
"Hurry up, children, or else we're going to be late" Said Professor Sprout as she moved past the four first years with a tiny smile one her face. She knew that Miss Bones was a true friend of Harry, and now she had kissed him quickly, before making a 'tactical' retreat. "We'll talk about this later" Said Ginny as she to walked to the Hufflepuff Common room. 'Darn it. I wanted to kiss him.' Ginny mentally screamed. 'Now I need to do things differently'.
Harry shook his head, trying to feel anything but confused. Taking a deep breath, Harry made his way to the common room of his former house, where both Ginny and Susan were talking quietly and Professor Sprout was waiting patiently.
"Are you ready?" Sprout asked and as she saw that everyone nodded, she gave the password. "Unicorn". The largest of the barrels opened up and showed the common room full of Hufflepuffs.
"Remember not to tell the password to Fred and George" Harry said to himself as he entered the common room. A lot of faces looked at him and his friends, while Susan slipped past them all and joined her friends at a table at the back of the common room. "I believe that Mr. Ozpin want to say a few words." Professor Sprout said.
Harry stepped forward, and as he looked around the room, he saw many angry faces, with a couple of faces that showed guilt. Taking from his pocket a knife, Harry held it above his left hand and cut in it, wincing as the blade sliced through his flesh. Holding his cut hand to the entire group of Hufflepuff, Harry started to speak while blood poured out of his hand.
"Many of you see me as a attention grabbing boy, while others see me as a tool to be used for your own ends. I tell you this, because I want to stop fighting you. I am human, just like you. Just like you, I bleed when cut. Just like you, I feel bad when hateful words are thrown in my face. I thought that Hufflepuff house stood for friendship, trust and all that. I beg you, don't allow those valuable believes to be washed away, by events that spiraled out of control."
Harry lowered his arm and focused on his aura, closing the wound. "I may be this great boy called Harry Potter, but I've never been known by that name. The name I am most comfortable with is Harry Ozpin, adopted son of Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy of Vale."
Looking around, Harry spotted several shocked faces. "I know that several of you think that I'm here to collect more glory for me. I am not. I am here, because the blood that flows through my veins, is the same blood that flowed through my birth-parents veins. Parents that I can no longer see, because of a madman who desired his own little corner of the world." Harry said as he started to cry. He did so, every time whenever he talked about his birth-parents, remembering his dreams in which his parents died. He also thought about his birth-parents diaries, and the photo's that he had seen in the library.
"Parents who died, so that I could live." Harry said as he leaned against Ginny, who held him in her arms, while Harry tried to push back the tears. An arm landed gently on Harry's shoulder, and looking up form Ginny's shoulder where he had rest his head, Harry could see a third year student with a gentle smile and blue eyes looking at him.
"I see before me, a young man, who has known hardship at the hands of one of the most dark wizards in history. While I must admit that I was one of those who bullied Harry out of Hufflepuff, I can honestly say that I let my own fear guide me. The words of two first years, who have started this all, scared us all. I see in Harry Ozpin, a true Hufflepuff student, and while I know that he will never return to our nest, I can safely say that I will honor him as an honorary Hufflepuff".
The boy looked at Harry and his friends with gentle eyes. "I ,Cedric Diggory, hereby proclaim Harry Ozpin, Hermione Granger, Dora Tonks and Ginny Goodwitch as honorary Hufflepuffs. So mote it be"
A small flash of light appeared between Cedric and the four first years. Then Susan Bones stepped up. "I will also honor them. I've been friends with Harry and Ginny since the first time we sat together in the library. While not knowing them well enough, I consider Hermione Granger and Dora Tonks to be my friends."
Susan's reaction brought many students forward, each saying that they were sorry, or to tell them they were considered friends. Only two first year students stood their ground. "I refuse to be a friend of Harry Ozpin." Said one of the boys, while the other looked torn between the group that had formed around Harry and his friends, and his roommate.
"And why do you refuse?" Sprout asked as she looked at the young boy. "Well, it's because the Smith family are the heirs to Hufflepuff. We are above everyone, and it's because Harry refused to bunk with us" Smith said. Everyone looked at Smith, like he had a second head. "What?" Susan Bones said, unable to even understand the thought process of Smith. Smith's roommate stepped a few steps back, before he turned to Harry.
"I'm sorry for treating you. You see, I am new in the wizarding world, and Zacharias here was the first who was nice to me. I've stayed with him, in fear of being rejected by everyone else." He said as he stepped forward. "My name is Justin Finch-Flechly, nice to meet you"
Harry looked at the hand that was stretched out towards him, and gently took a hold of it. "I will never forget what you have done, but maybe we can build a brighter tomorrow. My name is Harry Ozpin, and these are my friends. Justin nodded and took a place next to an older girl with black hair that was tied in a pony-tail.
"NO, I am the heir to Hufflepuff. I am the one who will make this house great, Not Diggory, not Vale, and certainly not a boy who came back into our noble world who defeated the dark lord You-Know-Who." Shouted Zacharias Smith, as he pulled a potions preparing knife out of his pocket and pointed it at Harry. Harry only raised his left eyebrow.
"You really think you can defeat me?" Harry asked as he stepped forward, letting go of Ginny's hand. "You really think, that you are a true Hufflepuff? Well, come at me" Harry said as he slided into a fighting stand.
Before any Hufflepuff, Harry's friends or either professor could stop them, Smith charged at Harry, who simply swatted the arm and knife away from his body.
"Smith, stand down" Professor Sprout shouted, while she went for her wand. A hand on her hand stopped her from drawing it, and as she looked at her hand, she spotted Dora's hand resting on hers. "Miss Tonks?" Professor McGonagall asked as she looked at her student, wondering why Dora Tonks would stop Professor Sprout in defense of Harry. Dora raised her own hand and pointed with one finger at Harry.
Harry was merely swatting the hand and knife away from Smith, while he didn't even stepped back in a defensive position. Zacharias swings became more erratic, more sluggish and it wasn't before long that Smith was breathing heavy, holding the knife loosely in his hand.
"Are you done, Smith?" Harry asked as he looked at the panting boy. "NO, I will defeat you" Smith shouted as he ran towards Harry, his knife ready to plunge into Harry's flesh. Seeing the knife, Harry reacted and blocked the arm that was about to thrust the knife in his body. Using momentum from Smith, Harry twisted his own body, forcing Smith over his shoulder and on the ground. The boy lay on the ground, panting hard from the force of landing on the floor that caused his lungs to exhale at a very large force. Harry gently took the potions preparation knife and held it in his hands.
"Useless." Harry said as he threw the knife at the door that led to the dormitories. The knife hit the door and got stuck in the woodworks. Harry looked at the boy on the ground, his breathing barely noticeable. "I am not your enemy, Smith. I never was, and never will be. But continue to harm me, and I'll may have to change that." Harry said as he walked away from Smith, who looked at Harry with nothing but hate-filled eyes.
"Die, Potter" Smith shouted as he pointed his wand at Harry's back and fired a bright red curse at Harry. Harry turned and crossed his arms, as a semi-transparent shield appeared before him. The curse connected with the shield and was sent back at Smith, who only could jump out of the way before his own curse hit him. "What?" Smith asked weakly, but before he could think of another curse to shoot at Harry, he was disarmed by professor Sprout, who then cast a body-bind curse at him. Smith fell on the floor, unable to move.
"I think that's enough" Professor McGonagall said as she looked around. Almost every student in Hufflepuff had seen the beating that Harry had given to Smith, despite being unarmed. Harry nodded and started to move out of the Hufflepuff common room, before he turned to look around once more. Looking at the common room, Harry took everything in. The couches, the tables and the floor where he and his friends had played their first game of 'Remnant the game'.
Harry nodded and left the common room, leaving behind a feeling of emptiness with many Hufflepuff students.
"I hope that you feel bad, as it is just as Harry felt when he was forced to cut himself out." Said Susan Bones as she moved through the crowd, and into her dorm, where she undressed, took a bath and went to bed.
Many students nodded, before they all went their separate way, leaving only Professor Sprout, McGonagall and Zacharias Smith in the common room.
"I think we need to discuss this with the headmaster" Said Sprout as she used a levitation charm to lift Smith up in the air. "I think that is the best course of action. I shall be writing a letter to Professor Ozpin, concerning this event." McGonagall replied as she walked out of the common room.
"Now Mr. Smith, let's talk with the headmaster" Sprout said as she levitated Smith out the common room and to the headmaster's office.
Harry walked through Hogwarts, his head filled with thoughts that floated in his mind. 'Did Smith truly believe that he was better that anyone else, just because he was an heir to Hufflepuff?'
Harry's thoughts were stopped as he saw Professor Flitwick passing him, mumbling about winged keys. 'Odd, why do you need to give keys wings?' Harry thought. Moving further, Harry spotted something strange, when he came at the third floor. The door to the forbidden floor was open.
Harry decided to take a quick look at what was hidden there, and as he looked through the door, he spotted a massive three-headed beast on the floor, being cared for by Hagrid. 'Wow' Harry though as he heard a song being played. Spotting the instrument that made the music, Harry recognized it as a harp. 'So, by playing a harp, you can put that thing to sleep'. Harry thought as he slowly stepped back in the corridor.
That wasn't the end of the strange things he saw or heard. Harry walked past a empty room, when he heard a voice speaking. "M-m-master, it s-s-seems t-t-that s-some s-s-students are n-n-not r-r-reacting as w-w-well as t-t-hey s-s-should. P-p-perhap-ps, if w-we" Harry heard, and knew who was speaking, as there was only one teacher who stuttered. "NO, you fool. If we wait to long for the students, then the stone will be gone. I need the stone to restore me to my full strength. " A second, more darker and sinister voice said.
Harry hid behind a suit of armor, as Professor Quirrell walked out the room, his face pale and sweaty. Careful not to be seen, Harry waited until Quirrell was around the corner and carefully stepped in the classroom, where he heard Quirrell and the other voice talk.
Nobody was there. Harry looked around again and still there was nobody. Shaking his head, Harry turned around and was about to step out of the room, when he felt he stepped on something. Looking down, Harry noticed he was standing on a book. Taking a few steps back, Harry carefully picked up the book, that displayed a blood red stone, with a strange name above it.
"Sorcerers stone" Harry read softly. Looking around, Harry took the book and left the room where he was, taking the book with him to the Gryffindor common room, where he started to read about the stone. It seemed that there was a person who was older than anyone called Nicolas Flamel, and he had created a stone that could turn any metal into gold and create the elixir of life. Harry stared at the last words. Elixir of life.
"Who was with Quirrell that need the elixir of life?" Harry asked himself. Shaking the feeling that he was missing something, Harry closed the book and placed it in his trunk before he went to bed.
That night, Harry had a very strange dream. In it, he saw everything and everyone he ever cared about looking at him from rows and rows of stone. Each and every stone was carved with the name of someone that Harry knew. "You weren't fast enough Harry"A stone face of Glynda Goodwitch yelled at him. "You didn't even try" Ginny's own stone face cried as she looked at him.
Harry watched as more and more stone faces started to yell. Hermione, Dora, McGonagall. All his friends, his team mates, the students of Beacon. The worst was his father. "I'm so disappointed in you Harry" Ozpin's stone face yelled at him, forcing him to sit in a strange pile of rapidly moving roots that tried to grab him and hold him down. Then Harry watched with terror as the three-headed beast from behind the closed door on the third floor, came running towards him and opened it's mouth to swallow him whole.
Harry closed his eyes and waited for the beast to tear him apart. Waiting for more that a minute, Harry opened his eyes slowly, seeing that he was in a place where hundreds of winged keys were flying around. There was a door there, and as much as Harry tried, he couldn't open the door. Shaking his head, Harry looked up at the winged keys. "Maybe I'm supposed to grab a key that fits?" Harry asked himself. The moment the words passed Harry's lips, a key with the same color of the lock flew down and clicked with the lock, and unlocked the door. Harry lifted an eyebrow and carefully stepped forward, until he came to a large room that seemed to be filled with large stones.
Harry stepped forward and as he did so, lights appeared around him, allowing him to see where he was standing. It was a giant chessboard, one made of white stones that resembled him and his friends, with Harry being a white knight. On the other side, Harry smiled slightly as he saw black chess pieces that were shaped like Grimm. Seeing where the black king was supposed to be standing a Giant Nevermore stood there, flacked by a Goliath.
Suddenly, the Nevermore flew up and attacked Harry. Not expecting the attack, Harry could do nothing that hold his hands in front of him, expecting the Nevermore to kill him.
Again Harry waited for a minute before he opened his eyes. He was now standing in a room, where he could see a large golden ornate mirror with strange markings around it. As Harry looked at the markings, he spotted that they weren't markings, but letters that were written backwards. Smiling again, Harry started to arrange the letters and soon found himself saying "I Show not your face, but your heart's desire."
A flash of light came from the mirror, and as Harry looked in it, he saw two faces that he had only seen in some books and pictures. Turning around, Harry saw nothing but darkness. Turning at the mirror again, Harry again saw the faces, and slowly started to reach for it. Harry's arm reached the mirror, and passed right through, causing Harry to fall right through the mirror. Screaming, Harry woke up. His heart was racing like a hundred miles an hour. Holding his hands on his face, Harry tried to take some calming breaths. "They were there" Harry started to tell himself. 'They were there."
Looking at the timer, Harry's face fell as the clock showed that it was only three in the morning.
Taking deep breaths Harry moved out of his bed, and grabbed his journal before he carefully made his way to the Gryffindor common room. Knowing that sleep wouldn't come again soon, Harry started to write down his dream, keeping in mind the faces of his birth-parents that he saw in that strange mirror.
On Thursday, I'll remove the Poll.
As it stands now, 15 out of the 22 voters want the whole story in one go.