An Existing Loophole – Chapter 2 (More Than You Knew)
Since Harry was in the library already, he figured there must be something in the shelves. He doubted the material he needed was in the Restricted Section. Even if it was, that meant he needed a teacher's note and he really didn't want to ask his professors that. Least of all, if they tried to question him on why he needed access.
How embarrassing…
It had to be hours as Harry flickered through each book, even pulled them out of the shelves and skimming it. He couldn't find anything. He was growing more and more desperate, knowing that the first task was only less than a month away. The first task was set for November 24th, and it was already November. Given that it was the day after Halloween. That was a little over three weeks away.
He knew that eyes were on him, he felt it with every step. He tried hard to avoid them and ignore it. Nobody approached him, for that he was thankful. And yet… angry…
His friends… Ron and Hermione hadn't spoken to him since that night. Granted he hadn't even seen either of them. Ron had always waited for him, plus, he liked his sleep, and it was the weekend. But he hadn't been in the dorm. He didn't like the idea on why that was. Granted, he wasn't one to be found often in the library. He liked studying a little bit, but he didn't take it as seriously as Hermione did.
Eventually Harry gave up on trying to find the books, the library was massive. He supposed he could try to find it tomorrow. Granted… he had classes as well. He was not looking forward to Monday at all.
At least he didn't have class with Slytherins, not until right before lunch. He never had any good interactions with them. So, he doubted with the Tournament in the scenario, that it made it better. That still didn't stop where he shared his Herbology class with Hufflepuffs.
Either way, he wasn't looking forward to either. Unfortunately, it wasn't like he could hide in the dorms all year, no matter how much he would like to. He still had yet to have any real interaction with any students.
He used that moment to go to the Great Hall, they would be serving dinner. He didn't make a sound and yet every eye was looking back at him. It felt eerie similar to his first year, when everyone had been curious about the Boy-Who-Lived. Somehow… he wished he was eleven again. At least he wasn't in a tournament that was determined to kill him.
Ducking his head down, Harry's green eyes avoided looking at anyone before choosing a spot at the Gryffindor table. It was closest to the doors that would exit the Great Hall.
Before his eyes, he witnessed Gryffindors move away from him, closer to the other end of the table.
Harry gave a huge sigh, that made it obvious. His own house didn't want anything to do with him. His eyes peeked up and saw them glaring at him before turning to their own food. The small Gryffindor didn't have to listen in to know what they probably thought of him.
Attention seeker.
Not even his own house had paused to think that he didn't want this. Granted he didn't know most of them. But even his own dormmates… The people he had known for four years, all lost and gone.
Then he heard a plate being sat down.
"You…" Harry said.
"Hello again, Harry Potter," the blonde witch said.
Harry noticed she was wearing radish earrings, it was… odd.
"How do you—" Harry cut himself off, that was a stupid question. Pretty much everyone knew who he was. He decided to ask this instead. "Why sit here?"
"Everyone needs a friend," she smiled at him.
"You said that before…" Harry realized.
"Friends are nice," she commented lightly.
Harry furrowed his eyebrows; he wasn't sure how to react to that.
"It doesn't bother you with all the whispers?"
She gave a shrug at him, "it's all but muted conversation that one likes to talk to."
Harry blinked at her confused, "what?"
She didn't answer him as she took a bite from her plate.
"You know Harry Potter, you have allies." Luna said dreamily, "But Nargles can not only infect people but make those around the infected afraid of confrontation with the infected."
"Allies?! What allies? My entire house pretends that I don't exist," Harry replied, giving a side glance down the table. He didn't really care if they heard him.
"No doubt they probably think I stole several people's chances to be the Champion for Hogwarts. It's no secret that several of the houses don't like Hufflepuffs but they rather support them than their own housemate. Then you got the other houses that think I'm a cheat and liar and stole the glory from the real champion that got chosen."
Luna just smiled mysteriously and continued to eat leaving Harry baffled. "Not everything is in black and white. I like color myself. It was nice talking to you, Harry Potter. Though yellow isn't a very nice color this year."
Harry just blinked at her, just watching as she got up and left the Great Hall. This was the second time she has spoken to him. Each time was starting to be more confusing than the last. He didn't even know who she was.
He hunched over and ate quickly, feeling all the glares on him and hearing the whispering, he wasn't going to stick around longer than he had to.
Wondering how much his professors would complain if he decided to forgo eating in the Great Hall. It had been a bit easier with company but now it felt deadening and overwhelming.
He had Herbology as his first class, something he was dreading. Especially given that their real Hogwarts Champion was in Hufflepuff.
Looking up over at the table, he flinched when he saw the looks on the Hufflepuff's faces, contorted into absolute distain and anger. It was enough to send him running from the Great Hall, only just making to the closest bathroom to throw up his meager breakfast. Shakily he slid to the ground, head resting on the green stall wall.
He supposed that was better than it landing on a professor or another student. His stomach felt weak, especially given that the food he ate was no longer in his stomach.
He didn't want to go to class, he rather just skip it entirely. He knew he had a break between classes after Herbology. Then he had Creatures with Slytherin right before lunch. He didn't know which one was worse.
He groaned internally when he heard the bathroom doors open, and footsteps got closer to him, 'please let them leave,' he begged silently.
"Potter?" He heard an unfamiliar voice call, "Come on we saw you run in here, it's not like you can apparate yet."
A loud sigh was heard, and Harry just knew from the last few years with Hermione, the sigher rolled their eyes. "You can't apparate inside Hogwarts anyways, Blaise," the second person spoke up.
The person... Blaise immediately shot back, "did you ever try it? Maybe you just can't apparate going towards Hogwarts or disapparating to somewhere else."
"Why are you like this?" The second asked dryly before moving closer to the stall Harry was in.
"Potter? We aren't angry Hufflepuffs if that helps?" He said and Harry bit his lip debating moving or speaking up.
"Although that moron Zacharias Smith was following you looking like he was going to kill you," Blaise spoke up again. "We hexed him pretty good though," he chortled. "Been wanting to do that for years."
"Blaise, if you had an excuse to curse someone you would," the other snorted. "Granted I am not a fan of Smith myself, got too much of an ego for my liking. Though he is a Hufflepuff, I imagine he was trying to find something to prove."
"Like cursing the almighty Harry Potter?" Blaise quipped.
Harry finally stuck his head hesitantly, "Oh look, he lives!" Blaise grinned.
The Slytherin standing beside, who Harry assumed was Blaise, shoved at him.
"No, really? Thought he died in the stall," he rolled his eyes.
"You never know!" Blaise defended, "Maybe the Giant Squid found its way through the pipes!" Harry laughed before freezing and bringing the attention of the two boys before him. It was only then that he saw the green and silver ties, and Slytherin crest.
"What do you want?" Harry growled. "Curse me like everyone else? To laugh because I'm the lone Gryffindor that everyone hates?"
"If we wanted to curse you, would we have waited for you come out or stopped Smith from getting you?" The smaller boy asked, his brown eyes sparkling with laughter.
"I mean, to be fair, Theo we might have stopped Smith, so that could get to him first," Blaise smirked with a wink at Harry.
Harry's shoulders slowly untensed, he wasn't sure if he believed them. They were Slytherins after all. But they didn't have their wands out and pointing at him. Which was more than he could say for anyone else.
"Say that I believe you, why did you follow me? Slytherins hate Gryffindors, especially me," Harry questioned.
"Not like you," Theo shrugged, "We hate ignorant and brash idiots that like to target us. Unfortunately, your house has quite a few."
"Granted, it was a bit odd to see you rush out of the Great Hall. Anyone can see that you are on the outskirts with Gryffindor. But it wasn't like the behavior went unnoticed, the entire school witnessed it," Blaise admitted.
"Not to mention he was sitting with Looney," Theo brought up.
"Luna," Blaise immediately corrected.
Theo only rolled his eyes, "that she was the only one that was sitting with him."
"Everyone thinks I cheated to get my name in the goblet," Harry scowled, "She is the only one who believes me."
"That isn't entirely true," Theo smiled reassuring.
"I don't think anyone in Slytherin believes you did it, unlike like the fools of the school, we know what sort of magic it would take to trick the Goblet of Fire. No simple spells or charms can bypass it very easily."
"Besides, what hurt will it do to be able to aid Hogwarts for another win," Blaise grinned.
"Long as Diggory don't win, I don't care if it's a Hogwarts victory or not," Theo grumbled.
"Wait... you don't?" Harry asked Theo.
He shrugged, "it's show a powerplay of who is better."
"I thought Slytherin wanted to be champion?" Harry asked.
"Every house wanted theirs to be champion. Slytherin would finally get the recognition that they deserve if that were the case," Theo pointed out.
"Which you can bet that Diggory entered for the glory and pride. Nothing else," Blaise scoffed.
"Isn't he like the epitome of a Hufflepuff?" Harry asked as he picked up his school satchel, frowning when Blaise scoffed.
"Oh please, he may come across kind or sweet, but he has a massive ego and doesn't care about stepping on people. You should have seen him gloating after you fell from almost being hit by lightning last year," Blaise sneered.
Harry felt his heart drop and stomach sink as he realized that meant the show Diggory did in the Hospital Wing last year was just that, a show.
"Even your precious former Captain knew it was all for show. Fucking Hufflepuffs," Blaise cursed.
"So, is that why you followed me? Because you didn't want Cedric to win?" Harry narrowed his eyes. He should have figured... Slytherins had always been about what could they gain.
"What? Can it not cross your mind that Slytherins are not as heartless as you believe?!" Blaise crossed his arms.
"Have you met Malfoy?" Harry shot back. "Or Flint and Snape?"
Theo laughed at that, "Who is to say that every Slytherin agrees with what Malfoy has to say? Granted, Marcus isn't too bad. He just takes some getting used to. A Slytherin isn't going to bare their skin and let you trust them. You say that Gryffindors and Slytherins hate each other. Why do you think that is? Why do you think that Slytherins don't trust anyone?"
"Though, Snape is Snape. I don't think there is a single student that likes him," Blaise brought up. "Or professor for that matter."
"But even Malfoy knows you didn't put your name in the goblet and thinks you wouldn't even try to enter even if you were of age." Blaise smirked, "so really, who is worst here? Malfoy or your friends and house who turned on you immediately?"
"Don't be a prick, Blaise," Theo said as he elbowed Blaise in the gut when he saw Harry wince and man those better not be tears. Slytherins didn't do public emotions well.
Blaise scowled at his friend, "I am not one to hide behind the truth either. You know as well as I do that he's just pretending and needs to hear it. Because you want to know the truth about Gryffindors, Potter? The witches and wizards that call themselves your friends?"
Harry nodded hesitantly, hands clenching his bag straps hard, knuckles turning white.
"They're fake, all of them. All they see is your title and fame. They don't see a fourth-year Gryffindor that is way over his head. They see someone that has fame and clearly does not have enough of it. They see greed and pride. I doubt that there was a single Gryffindor that actually liked you or wanted to be your friend. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been sitting by yourself in the Great Hall, an outcast in this bloody school. You deluded yourself and now you are being shown the truth of what they really think about you. Afterall, it says something good about them if they are known as 'famous Harry Potter's' friend or beloved. Who knows, maybe your entire house has already placed bets on when you'll die in the tournament," Blaise's smirk was wide.
"Merlin, Blaise," Theo gaped as Harry went white, his jaw dropping, and tears of anger, frustration and humiliation welled in his eyes.
"He has to know!" Blaise defended, "Weasel is one the worst social climbers Hogwarts currently has! He has been leading him on since first year and is the main reason Draco couldn't help him when they met!"
"Why the hell would Malfoy help me?" Harry spat, rubbing his eyes forcefully as a few tears spilled out.
"You are kidding right?" Theo blinked. "You are family. Your grandmother was Draco's grandfather's cousin. So distant. But family means something to Purebloods."
"You may not get along at all, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have defended you and would have introduced you to magic and family again." Blaise nodded, "Well he would have if you hadn't of insulted him when you met. Refusing a Pureblood's hand is the highest insult of the first meeting of heirs."
"I'm not a Malfoy!" Harry denied.
"Never said you were a Malfoy. Do you not know anything about your history?" Blaise was baffled.
At Harry's confused looked, he pressed on.
"Your grandmother was a Black, Dorea Black. She is the mother of your father, James Potter. Lucius Malfoy married Narcissa, who was a Black. You are family to the Malfoys through Narcissa."
"I don't have any living family," Harry shook his head, pleading for the Slytherins to be messing with him.
Blaise shared a look with Theo.
"Tell me he's joking right?!"
Theo just studied Potter; it was like the Gryffindor had truly believed that.
"I don't think he is..." Theo mumbled.
"No, my mother's sister is all there is left, and her awful husband and terrible son," Harry frowned, "It's why I was raised by them."
"Dear Merlin, the rumours are true!" Blaise choked, "You were raised in the Muggle world!"
Harry grew defensive at that, "why does that make any difference!?"
Theo just blinked at him, just as shocked by the news. Did the Gryffindor not realize how huge of a deal this was?!
The bell went off loudly, signaling classes, "look, this is going to take more time to explain than we have," Theo muttered. "But we can talk about this later. Just trust us, we are on your side."
"Theo, Potter doesn't know that for sure. All he knows is that we have told him more than the old coot has. All we are to him is Slytherins. But if we don't hurry, we'll be late for Transfiguration and you know that Professor McGonagall does not take tardiness lightly," Blaise's tone turned serious.
"I've got Herbology with the Hufflepuffs," Harry groaned, nodding when Theo and Blaise winced in sympathy.
"Well, at least Smith won't be there," Blaise chuckled, "He'll be in the hospital wing for at least an hour."
Harry still didn't feel too hopeful at that. That still meant he had to attend class. It didn't really matter if Smith was in the Hospital Wing, Hufflepuff still hated him. He was hoping that Professor Sprout wouldn't pick a side concerning her students. But she was still the Head of Hufflepuff, and he knew that she would probably hold it against him.
That wasn't the only thing either... he still had to attend class with his classmates in Gryffindor and he wasn't sure he could do that. He could still feel the tears prickling at his eyes. The words from Blaise were still ringing in his ears.
He didn't want to admit that it was true. But he knew it was. Every word. Ron... he had been his friend for four years. And yet... where was he? Where was Hermione? He didn't really know the other boys in his dorm, never really spoke to them.
Now, he was wondering if that was on purpose, as he thought back Ron always shooing the boys off. Then there was Hermione spending so much time screeching at Ron or her dormmates that it kind of made sense that they wouldn't hang out with them. He always made excuses for her treatment of him, but he did see what Blaise and Theo meant, and that hurt.
"Find us later, or we will find you," Theo promised as Blaise waved goodbye and they both headed off quickly. Harry sighed and forced his feet to move. Heading towards his certain doom.
He was highly tempted to just skip the morning class, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. He would eventually have to go and face the consequences. And he knew that Professor McGonagall would not be impressed with him. It seemed like she was the only professor that was on his side and trying to help.