An Existing Loophole – Chapter 3 (First Day Back)
Harry didn't think he had ever wanted to escape a class fast enough. Unless you count when he got tired of Professor Trelawney predicting his death, each one more painful than the last. He hadn't been back to her class since.
It had happened to be a lesson on Bubotubers. Which required to have a partner, yet nobody went near him.
It had been to the point where Professor Sprout was getting agitated.
"Now, listen here," she fluttered, "everyone needs a partner, and one group will need three. If you can't sort yourselves out, then I will have to pair you up by last names."
Harry bit his lip when nobody continued to move, if anything, they moved further away. None of the Gryffindors would meet his eyes. The Hufflepuffs only glared at him, daring for him to get closer to them.
He doubted that her threat would work. Not even on her own house, it was obvious what they thought of him. They probably thought he was the one that cursed Smith and not a Slytherin, which he happened to know which Slytherin.
"Weasley and Granger, make room for Potter!" She ordered, obviously trying to just slot the ex-friends back together. She hadn't been the only professor that noticed that the three Gryffindors were no longer friends.
"No way!" Ron sneered, his face a similar shade to Vernon's puce that had Harry's widening in fear. The anger in his stomach bubble and surge like never before. "He's a cheat and a liar!"
Hermione huffed, "I already got a partner. I don't need another that doesn't know what they're doing."
Harry heart sank, every word that Blaise had said was coming to light. It wasn't like he thought he was lying to him. Well… that wasn't true. He had wanted it to be a lie and prove the Slytherin wrong.
He could hear the snickers form Hufflepuff, and then he saw Neville open his mouth, only to get an elbow from Hannah Abbott. The blonde scowling at Harry so badly he wondered if she was part Basilisk.
Dean was looking everywhere but at him. Seamus, who he had partnered with, was glaring daggers at him. The witches from Gryffindor were openly laughing at him. They found the entire thing amusing to them. He didn't really know any of their names.
"Fine! But this is a bad show of Hogwarts' support," Professor Sprout scolded the class, but by the eye rolls and snickers, it wasn't very effective. "Mr. Potter, you can stay up with me and demonstrate as my partner."
A flush of embarrassment rose to his cheeks. He would rather have run away. The Gryffindor felt more in the spotlight while in front of the class than ever before. He wished Professor Sprout had either let him work by himself or let him leave the class altogether.
Though he soon realized why it wasn't a solo lesson. Getting the puss and harvesting it was hard.
He worked as methodically as he could, but everyone's glaring had him shaking and very aware of his every movement. His hands were already cramping, and his lower back was throbbing from bending over the plant. Though it didn't help he also got elbowed by anyone that he had happened to pass by.
He was almost afraid that he wouldn't be able to do the lesson. It was lucky enough that his fingers were trying to cooperate to begin with.
Of course, he had to be the one that had to extract the pus while Professor Sprout bottled it.
It was with pleading eyes and a quiet whisper that he asked if he could leave. He didn't want to stand another moment in that Greenhouse. He should have skipped... but he didn't.
Professor Sprout sighed, taking note of how hostile the rest of the class was, before nodding slightly. "Just read the Chapter in your books about these plants, we will be doing this again next lesson so you can try again then. Hopefully with more cooperation from your classmates."
Harry didn't hesitate, he grabbed his bag before slinging over his shoulder. Quickly making his way around and out of the Greenhouse. He wouldn't realize it until he made it back into the castle that he still had around thirty minutes or more before class would have ended.
Normally his class would last around an hour and a half. He wasn't sure if he could stand being there for that long. The stares practically eating him alive.
There was a small part of him that said he should have stayed. No doubt that the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors would now complain that he was able to leave, and they weren't.
Harry groaned, the idea of having to deal with anymore hate had him anxious, he didn't know how he would cope this year. Fuck it, he thought as he spun on his heels and headed to the moving staircases. Back to the Hogwarts Library, most of the students would still be in classes, so it should be empty enough to hide out and do some more research. Unless they happened to have a free period in between, but he was willing to risk that.
That in mind, Harry pushed open the doors to the library.
Several eyes met his own and his head ducked down. Though the library wasn't as full as it had been the other day.
He noticed that it was mostly Slytherins but they didn't glare. Once they saw who it was, they went back to what they were doing. Whether that be writing away on parchment or studying over a book.
It was... weird... So, that was another point to Blaise. There were no whispers made. At least until he got closer to students that were Ravenclaws and Gryffindors.
"Boy who lived for attention," one of the older Gryffindors hissed, McLaggen, Harry thought his name was.
Harry pretended he didn't hear him, knowing that he was the most unruly of the Gryffindors. There were some things that you would hear. He was not brave enough to risk to test if they were a lie or not.
Harry hunched over to make himself smaller as he browsed some of the shelves, moving quickly as he ran his hand over the titles. Not that he really knew which section he should be looking in.
He would occasionally pluck them out and briefly skim a few pages before quickly putting it back. He did this until he heard the bell ring, indicating the end of class.
Harry slumped in on himself, that meant he would only have the library for another hour and a half until his next class. Perhaps before he would have risked skipping that but now it didn't seem as bad. Not like a class with Hufflepuff or another house would.
He paced back and forth nervously, wringing his hands and biting his lip before he finally got the courage and followed Madam Pince down one of the isles that wasn't visited much judging by the dust build up. He would have to ask; he just wasn't getting there alone.
"Can I help you?" Her voice wasn't exactly kind but wasn't rude or hateful either.
"I'm sorry— I was— I was trying to find some books about pregnancy," Harry stuttered. He wasn't even able to get out that he was wanting to know about male pregnancy.
Madam Pince looked over him before her eyes rested at his stomach. It was all Harry could stand and not place his hands there.
"Follow me," she ordered.
Harry gave a hasty nod and noticed they went into a section he hadn't tried before.
Healing and Medicine.
His stomach flipped and flopped, judging by the look, Madam Pince eyes had kept darting at his stomach, he hadn't misunderstood Luna when she spoke of it. But then Pince was loading his arms up with three large tomes.
"Start here," she said sagely before walking away with her cart and returning books to their shelves.
The heavy books almost made his knees buckle but he remained standing. He made his way to a table that was in the corner, out of sight. He still felt embarrassed enough that he didn't want anyone to know what he was reading.
Thankfully it appeared this side of the library was empty, he sat down heavily only to cough when he inhaled a layer of dust disturbed by his books.
He noticed that two of the books happened to be about male pregnancy. Which blew his mind, he honestly didn't believe it was real. Men couldn't get pregnant... or so he had thought. And the third book seemed to be a broad and vague topic about it.
He quickly grabbed one of the male pregnancy books and opened it to the first page, heart racing and butterflies dancing in his stomach.
He didn't quite glance at the words quite yet, but it was obvious on what the book was about. It was entailing different accounts of wizards that had experienced being pregnant and the changes their body went through. It seemed that was what half the book was about, the different changes and risks that a pregnancy could bring for a wizard.
"Fuck," Harry muttered, looking over the account of Kellan Murkins from 1930s, who had gotten pregnant 6 times and carried to term with 5 children. He had been one of the ones with the most information, and apparently had documented everything of every stage.
He couldn't believe this was real. Wizards could get pregnant! This was crazier than magic, dragons, three-headed dogs, and maybe on par with the 60-foot Basilisk.
It even said that he had used some type of ritual, though his writings did not really say what kind of ritual. But it allowed the changes in his body to carry the children to term. Though he had to wince at the thought of being cut open in order to give birth. Though, he supposed that a wizard wouldn't be able to birth children the way a witch could.
He snorted at the idea of the baby coming out of the only two options down there, before wincing and cupping himself and muttering under his breath, "yeah that isn't happening."
There were a few newer entries within the past century of wizards using potions. But like the previous one, it never said on what kind of potion it was. There were no descriptions of it. Not even the aftereffects of the potion. Were there more books?
Unless there was a reason why it wouldn't say... That only meant that the material would be in the Restricted Section. Most likely under the same topic. That was providing it was there at all to begin with.
He quickly opened the second book to check it, skim reading for mentions of a potion but sure enough just like the first book, it had mentions of it, but no recipe or more information on what the potion supposably did.
The book was a bit smaller, there were even sections detailing after carrying the child to term and the effects. Some parts even spoke about how magic would come into play while pregnant. And how some magic could even be dangerous or life threatening while you were carrying.
"Okay, so Wizards can get pregnant," Harry sighed, "There is a potion involved somehow, and certain magic will be dangerous for baby and carrier, the further you get along in the pregnancy the less control over your magic you have. Okay, what next?" Harry asked himself, was he really debating this?
He knew he would most likely get into trouble if they ever found out that it was intentional. But the more he thought about the response from Hogwarts and the tournament. A tournament was designed to test you... and essentially kill you.
Yes... he was. He could only imagine what the third book was about. He had taken a peek at it, and it seemed to be a broad subject about the topic in general. He didn't even know what to expect if he did get pregnant. So, perhaps the book was a good thing to have.
Harry was just debating getting the books checked out so he didn't have to track them down or put them back and hoping no one else would take them so he wouldn't be caught reading them when he heard a laugh coming closer.
"There you are, Potter!" Blaise grinned with a wave. "Thought you might have been showing signs of hexes by now, but you look good."
Theo just sighed and shook his head. "I can't take you anywhere honestly."
Blaise huffed, "You're the one that decided to follow me."
That's when his violet eyes narrowed at the books the Gryffindor was holding. Flickering between the tomes and Harry.
"Got something you want to share?" Blaise wiggled his eyebrows at him.
Theo elbowed Blaise in the side, glaring at him. Though he had a curious look in his eyes. It wasn't hard to read the titles on the books before looking towards Harry's stomach.
Harry blushed profusely, "ah, um, n...no?" he cleared his throat and shook his head, "No. Nothing to tell," he winced at high his voice was right now.
Theo wasn't as abrasive as Blaise was. Plus, the fact that they were still in the library and students around them.
That still didn't stop Blaise.
"And that has nothing to do with that you got books about pre— Ow! Theo that actually hurt!" Blaise whined.
"Maybe that will tell you to shut up for once!" Theo hissed.
Blaise rolled his eyes and ignored Theo as he sat down opposite Harry with a shit eating grin, "So..." he drawled.
Harry's bright eyes darted from Blaise to an embarrassed looking Theo, "So what?"
"Oh, come on, tell me what's going on!" Blaise demanded much like a child, and despite the situation Harry's lips twitched to laugh but he suppressed it.
"Harry, why are you researching books about pregnancy?" Theo's voice was soft. He didn't want anyone to overhear them.
Blaise for once didn't say a word while Theo was talking, his eyes intent on Harry. He, like Theo, knew the books the Gryffindor had. His mother's brother had several children, and the exact books were also located in his ancestral home back in Italy.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Harry denied as he tried to grab the books and shove them out of sight, but Blaise was faster, grabbing the first book easily.
"Talk to us," Blaise said, "We might even be able to help."
"This isn't the Muggle world," Theo encouraged.
"And we are not Gryffindors. So, you will find that we can probably give you some more insights than that bloody book would," Blaise replied.
Harry snorted, "I doubt that unless you can do the act itself..." Once Harry realized what he said he went beet red, and shame filled him.
Blaise cackled with laughter, not even pausing to breathe as he laughed harder when Harry just got redder.
"You are a child," Theo informed Blaise and sat next to Harry, "So I am guessing this has to do with the tournament?"
Harry nodded as Blaise continued to laugh with tears leaking out of his eyes.
It took the Italian Slytherin a few minutes to get his breathing under control.
"It would be his only way out of the tournament," Blaise brought up.
Theo turned to his friend, some of his annoyance lost. "How would you know that?!"
Blaise grinned, "several journals kept in the library. And happen to know several people who know the inner workings of the Ministry."
"So?" Theo turned back to Harry, "You are looking at how to get pregnant to escape the tournament? Or are you already pregnant and trying to protect the little one in the tournament because you didn't know it would get out of the tasks?"
Blaise snorted, "didn't you hear his ramblings? Probably hasn't found someone to bugger him. I wouldn't want another Gryffindor to touch me either. Though as flattering as your proposition is... I'm already betrothed. "
"Betrothed?!" Harry spluttered green eyes huge behind his glasses. "Like engaged by contract?"
Blaise nodded, "it is fairly common as a Pureblood and my family. Most Purebloods already have them written up and sealed. Though mine was of my own choosing. Other Purebloods aren't as lucky."
Theo nodded in confirmation.
"Who are you betrothed to?" Harry asked still feeling blindsided, how many of his classmates were engaged?! And how had he gone four years without knowing about this?
Blaise let a smile show on his face, "Luna. The betrothal was made last year."
Harry's jaw dropped, "What?" He gaped, "Luna?! The same Luna that has been suddenly talking to me?"
Theo rolled his eyes, "you know anyone else that has the name Luna with blonde hair?"
Blaise hit Theo with a minor Stinging Hex for the comment.
Harry laughed before admitting, "She seems sweet."
Blaise nodded, "too bad Marcus graduated last year. Could have been ideal for Potter."
"Flint?!" Harry squeaked, "He would've rather killed me!"
Blaise smirked, "death by sex... Sounds like a good way to die. "
"Like that would have happened in the first place. Have you forgotten his only love is Quidditch?" Theo reminded.
"Sex!" Harry squeaked.
"You do know how a baby is made right, Potter?" Blaise asked laughed.
"Of course, I do!" Harry cried, "But I can't do this, I want out of the tournament, but a baby?! And also no one in their right mind would agree to this with me right now. I am a bigger pariah than second year when they thought I was the Heir of Slytherin!"
"Oh, that was funny!" Blaise chuckled, "It's not even like only Slytherin descents can speak Parseltongue!"
"Any Slytherin would be honored to connect their bloodlines with Potter and Black. You won't find much luck with the other houses. Blaise wasn't lying on what they think of you. Finding an older Slytherin would be your best option, " Theo commented
"Why an older Slytherin?" Harry asked tentatively.
Theo snorted, "You telling me that you would ask Malfoy or Crabbe or Goyle?"
Blaise snickered.
"Draco would decline anyways, he's betrothed to Astoria. And given how much he dislikes Potter," Theo mentioned off handedly.
"I thought he was dating Parkinson?" Harry questioned, but he had to agree, none of them his age was his type or on his good side."
Blaise laughed, "that's what they like the school to think or rather Pansy does. She is under the impression that the Betrothal Contract hasn't been signed and finalized. That she can convince him to break it and have one signed with her family."
"She is another social climber. Yes, she sure is a pureblood, but only by technicality." Theo rolled his eyes. "And they are new money not old money, there is no way the Malfoys would even entertain a courtship without a Prenup in place and Parkinson is such a gold digger she won't agree to one or even treat the heir like a human."
"She is a disgrace to the name of Pureblood and her parents are not much better," Blaise said. "Granted, the families of Goyle and Crabbe are a bit... out there."
"What technicality?" Harry asked immediately, he was relaxing more the two Slytherins spoke and explained things without the condescension that he would get from both Hermione and Ron. "I am a half-blood, so isn't that worse?"
"Her great, great grandparents on her Father's side are Muggleborns, and her Mother's family are all half-bloods. Officially, if all four grandparents are at least half-bloods you are a pureblood. So, her parents are first generation purebloods. The issue with them, is more than they act like old line purebloods and treat everyone with distain while demanding respect. That makes purebloods dislike them."
"And the reason you are better than that," Blaise continued from Theo, "Is because majority of Purebloods don't care about blood but rather social standing, as most of us have Lordships and Old money, we deserve the respect that comes with it. But Muggleborns and blood traitors insult us and our customs. Plus, you have Potter, Black, and Evans blood, that is huge for marriage contracts."
"Don't forget about the ability to speak Parseltongue," Theo chimed in.
Blaise nodded in agreement, "I am surprised that you haven't received offers for a Betrothal Contact already."
"Yeah," Theo nodded, "I swear Higgs said he sent an offer after you came out as Parseltongue and never got a reply."
"I never get many letters," Harry shook his head, "I would remember getting a bloody Betrothal Contract. I only really hear from Hermione, Ron, and occasionally Dumbledore." He purposefully left out Remus, he were his secret, and he wouldn't give them up unless he knew he could trust them.
"Wait, do you ever hear from Gringotts?" Blaise asked suddenly.
Eyes wide when Harry shook his head. "Fuck Theo," Blaise whispered looking over his friend.
"What's going on?" Harry asked looking between them.
"Harry," Theo started, "You become responsible for your Heir vault at the age of eleven, it's the start of training for Purebloods or Half-bloods with titles. You have received letters at least twice a year. Or rather should have by sounds of it..."
"Could have been bribed," Blaise suggested.
Theo's lips frowned, "and we know the punishment for that, but it doesn't change the facts."
"And I rather doubt that James or Lily Potter would have done one. Mother have always said that James had never been the person to make his child have one," Blaise brought up.
"I've got the vault I use for schooling?" Harry added, "It's huge with a lot more gold than I thought I would ever have."
"Is it only gold?" Blaise asked, and when Harry nodded, Blaise grinned, "Yeah that is just a side vault, maybe an Heir vault. The main family vault will have ledgers, portraits, books, it's a place for safekeeping more than gold."
"Could someone have blocked his mail from getting through?" Blaise asked Theo, "He should have been receiving fan mail too,"
Theo whacked Blaise on the shoulder, "it's called a Trust Vault, idiot." That was when he turned to Harry, "they are used as a tool to help manage money and how to budget so that you don't spend the entire Family Fortune."
"And you already know who that probably is," Theo muttered to Blaise.
"There is only one adult known for meddling in the lives of others and also taken an unhealthy interest in his golden boy," Blaise nodded looking over at Harry who was looking white and angry.
"You think he figured it out who that is?" Blaise whispered, loud on purpose. He was smirking over at Theo.
"You are such a dick," Theo sighed, "You alright Potter?" he asked as Blaise spluttered.
"Oh... so you'll ask him but not me?" Blaise huffed. "I was injured already!"
"You tripped," Theo deadpanned.
Harry laughed at Blaise's dramatics, it was nice to be just laughing and even though Blaise and Theo joked with each other, it never seemed malicious. Sometimes Hermione's elbow jabs actually hurt, and Ron's comments did too.
"You pushed me!" Blaise denied.
Theo snorted, "how? By begging Mother Magic and the air to do so?"
Harry chuckled.
"Oh, just wait, Potter," Blaise teased with a wink, "He will trip you one day too."
"Right..." Theo muttered sarcastically, "with your big feet too, I imagine."
"Alright let's get back on track," Blaise defended.
Theo rolled his eyes, "whatever you say, Blaise."
Blaise pouted at that before his eyes lighting up. "What about Graham?"
"Or Higgs," Theo brought up, the older Slytherin had sent Potter a betrothal contract before.
"Who?" Harry asked blankly, he wasn't aware of a Graham, Higgs he knew from being the Slytherin Seeker in Harry's first year but became Reserve when Malfoy bought his way onto the team.
"Higgs or Graham?" Theo asked.
"Graham," Harry clarified.
"Graham Montague?" Theo blinked, "He's a Chaser on the Slytherin team?"
"Wait, his first name isn't Montague?" Harry asked baffled, "That's all I've ever heard Flint call him."
"I don't think Marcus calls anyone by their first names," Blaise laughed.
"Other than his parents and probably baby sister," Theo reminded him.
"He's got a sister?" Harry blurted out.
Theo blushed while Blaise nodded.
"She's only a year younger than you," Blaise confirmed.
"I didn't know," Harry shrugged, "What's she like?"
"She's not as obsessed with Quidditch as her older brother for starters and likes to give Theo a hard time," Blaise cackled.
Theo glared at Blaise which only made him laugh harder.
"Oh, are you two dating?" Harry blushed. "I guess, contracted?"
Theo nodded, "it's called a Betrothal Contract. Which is also the reason why Marcus was never required to have one despite being the Heir to the House of Flint."
"So, you if want to do this, we can help, but there aren't too many without Contracts, still inside Hogwarts," Theo continued.
"But you will need to be the one to approach them," Blaise recommended.
"What the hell would I say?" Harry cried, "Hi, I am fourteen and want out of a deadly tournament, will you put a baby inside me even though I am male and didn't know I could until today?!"
Harry was stressed as he gripped his hair, but his rant had set Blaise off into hysterics again.
"Okay, maybe not like that," Theo sighed.
Blaise snickered, "that's actually a pretty good start."
"It really isn't Blaise." Theo groaned.
Blaise grinned, "he could be stuttering like a fool like earlier. Vast improvement. Though him blushing to match his robes may be endearing to help him."
"Look, Potter, this isn't going to be easy, pregnancy is hard enough on a witch, let alone a 14-year-old male. But if you want to get out of the tournament, then this might be the most foolproof idea." Theo interrupted Blaise.
"I think I'm still right," Blaise retorted. "Though, could word it that you need a favor. That will probably get their attention. You already have it going for you with your name."
Theo scowled, "Blaise isn't wrong about that last part. But you aren't a Slytherin, so probably going the Gryffindor route would suit you better. Trying to do it the Slytherin approach will only make them suspicious and not trust you. So, sticking with explaining about the tournament will probably help you out in this."
"I can't imagine anyone saying yes," Harry groaned, his head dropped onto his arms on the table. "No one wants a baby at our age let alone with me solely to help me get out of a tournament."
Theo looked at Harry in disbelief, "remind me of this conversation when you go ranting again and for me to tell you, 'I told you so.'"
"What?" Harry blinked, "look at me, Theo! I am scrawny with massive glasses, I struggle in a lot of my classes, the entire school has turned against me, and I am competing in a competition that could kill me!"
Blaise looked bored, "you done complaining?"
"Yes?" Harry nodded unsure.
"For one, you're not scrawny. You're fit, otherwise you would have fallen off your broom in Quidditch if that were the case. Your glasses, I can imagine that'll be fixed with the right potions and prescription. And I've seen you study, so don't pull that shit on me. I am assuming you noticed that you tend to do better than before now that old weasel is nobody to be around?" Blaise lectured.
"Well, I mean he isn't talking constantly, and Hermione isn't likely to correct my work after I have finished it now," Harry shrugged, "But it hasn't been that long since they stopped talking to me."
"And supposedly Snape giving you a half assed compliment was my imagination as well?" Blaise rose an eyebrow.
Harry shrugged, "Maybe he ate something bad?" He joked feebly.
"I think you just didn't want to show up a petty redhead because he was too lazy to do the work himself. Or the fact that you could actually be better than Granger?" Blaise smirked.
Harry just shrugged, "But you guys really think I should do this? And you think Montague or Higgs are ones I should talk to?"
"Shouldn't you be asking that yourself?" Theo crossed his arms.
"Both Graham and Terence don't have betrothal contracts," Blaise reminded. "No Pureblood worth his title would break their Betrothal Contract."
"I need out of this tournament," Harry nodded, "I could die! I don't know if I am ready for a baby, but it has to be better than dead."
"Well... death is always an option as well..." Blaise quipped.
"Blaise!" Theo narrowed his eyes at him.
"I'm joking!" Blaise threw his hands up as if to defend a blow that never came. Theo instead just rolled his eyes.
That was when the bell rang, signaling for the next class. Which happened to be Care of Magical Creatures at the Hogwarts Grounds. The class was shared with Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Harry groaned again, "I just want today to be over,"
"Well, at least you have us in this class!" Blaise grinned cheerfully, "Screw everyone else!"
Theo snorted, "that's one way to put it. Even if we have to put up with someone that isn't even qualified to be a professor."
"Hey," Harry frowned, "Hagrid is great."
Theo snorted, "your definition of great is quite different than mine. He has no concept of danger especially to students. Last year was proof of that. He does not even have the credibility to be a professor. The only reason he has the position is because he believes that sunshine shines out of Dumbledore's arse."
Harry sighed, "He told us not to insult Hippogriffs and Malfoy did exactly that, he loves his creatures and just wants the students too as well."
"And a competent professor would have recognized that and prevented it from happening in the first place. And Hippogriffs are considered a dangerous creature to begin with. Personal interaction is not supposed until fifth year," Theo snapped back.
"Yes, his classes haven't been the best, but it isn't easy when you didn't finish school and your students don't give respect." Harry shrugged as the three left the library together gaining weird looks from other students. "But apparently the professor before him had 62 warnings and probations before he retired, and we also had Voldemort teaching us in our first year so I feel like our standards for teachers should be slightly lower."
"Wait what!?" Blaise yelped.
"What?" Harry asked bemused, "Which part of that surprised you?"
"Uhh... the last..." Blaise grumbled. "All they said was that Professor Quirrell lost it and decided to retire."
"Oh no," Harry shook his head, "Quirrell had Voldemort's face under the turban, sharing the body. Dumbledore hid the Philosopher's stone in the school, and he wanted it. I faced him at the end of the year and when Quirrell touched me he burnt into dust forcing Voldemort's spirit entity fled. It's why we got the last-minute points to win the house cup."
Theo scowled at the mention of the points, "prejudice arse of a Headmaster."
"I don't know," Blaise muttered, "Potter faced down HIM again and lived a second time..."
"Three actually," Harry gave a helpless shrug.
"What?" Blaise squeaked.
Harry nodded, "yeah, back in second year, when the Chamber had been opened. That was him too, well young him. Tom Riddle at sixteen. He was my friend," He admitted, feeling like he could admit that to Slytherins, he could never tell Ron or Hermione how he had felt about Tom. His best friend, the only one who understood, who shared his childhood of abuse.
Theo nodded, not questioning it further. He could see the rest of the fourth year Slytherins standing in a circle with the Gryffindors standing to the far right.
"What's going on?" Blaise murmured as he moved closer to Harry, if anyone wanted to start shit, he would end it, with his wand if he had to.
"That's a Blast Ended Skrewt," Theo said in horror. "I hate this class..."
"Join the club!" Draco sneered from behind Theo, Harry and Blaise turned to look at the blonde. "I cannot believe cousin Marcel got turned down but Hagrid was hired." He muttered scornfully, "He doesn't know how to control any animal above a XX, and routinely brings in XXX or XXXX. If I die in Hogwarts, it will be this class."
"You could drop out," Harry snapped, unable to stop himself when it came to Malfoy.
"Oh please, I would love to. But to work with Magical Creatures you need this class regardless of how useless it is."
Harry looked surprised by that which made Blaise laugh.
"Told you, "He smirked.
"So, you are hanging around Slytherins now?" Draco drawled, "We are only good enough when the rest of the school turns their back on you, then?"
"Draco, chill," Blaise rolled his eyes, "you are wound up like a Cleansweep's tail again."
Harry's mouth dropped, he had never heard anyone besides himself or Ron speak to Malfoy like that, but it also appeared Malfoy hadn't taken offense and just simply stared at him blankly.
"Draco," Theo whispered, pulling him closer so no other students overheard, "He wasn't even given etiquette lessons before Hogwarts. The muggle rumours are true. And we also think there is a ward or spell keeping his letters from anyone unapproved getting through."
Harry watched as Draco's mouth dropped and a look of shock cross his face. It was the least put together he had ever seen the other boy, except for when Hermione punched him in the face, of course.
"What did you say to him?" Harry asked with suspicion. He really was hoping he didn't tell him about the tournament loophole. He didn't want to face the mocking for that one.
"Just the truth, that you haven't received our trainings and because of it, you didn't understand when you delivered insults," Theo shrugged.
Draco hadn't said anything else, but he was giving Harry random looks and looking thoughtful as he moved back over to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Oh..." Harry mumbled. "I wasn't expecting to see him lose that much composure."
"Harry, you are the Heir to Black and Potter Lordships, no-one expected you to not have the training of what that entails."
"I don't even know what that means... I just know that I was more expecting some kind of insulting remark from Malfoy as usual," Harry bemoaned.
"He isn't that bad," Blaise laughed, "A bit a prat, slightly stuck up, but he isn't bad at his core. He cares about his friends and family. Proud of his heritage and doesn't take insults well."
"He took yours okay," Harry pointed out.
"I've also known him since we were in diapers." Blaise deadpanned
"And typically, most don't last long when they make an enemy of a Zabini either."
Harry looked startled at that which had Blaise laughing.
"You'll learn," Theo snickered, though it was obvious that Harry didn't know who Blaise's mother was. He was a sheltered little Gryffindor.
"Alright class! I see you have met these little beauties!" Hagrid finally lumbered over talking loudly. "Today's lesson is going to be fun!"
Blaise's eye twitched at that.
"Any chance of cursing me so I don't die early?"
Theo's lips twitched, "not a chance. "
"We are going to raise these in pairs!" Hagrid grinned boldly. "We will learn everything we can as they grow up."
"Hagrid!" Ron asked, "What are they?" Hagrid beamed at the boy.
"Blast-Ended Skrewts!" He declared much to the dismay of Slytherins and confusion of Gryffindors.
"Marcus did this last year," Theo whispered to Harry. "Told us all about these fuckers."
"I bred them myself, they are the offspring of a Manticore and Firecrabs."
Draco made a noise of horror.
"Why?" He asked sneering. "What good could that possibly do? Those are XXX and XXXXX level Beasts and you bred them?!"
"For once, I agree with Malfoy," Harry mumbled, eyes wide.
"It's a death sentence..." Blaise stated
"Oh please," Hagrid waved off, "They are beautiful and yes they may be difficult to tame, but everything will be fine. If you follow my directions," he said with a this with a pointed glare at Malfoy, only to double take when he saw Harry with Theo and Blaise behind Malfoy and Harry looking just as unsure and worried as the rest of the students bar Ron and Hermione.
"Now, first lesson." He continued, "I have boxes and crates of different foods, and we shall be finding out what they like to eat." He grinned widely waving a large hand over the stacked wooden crates behind him.
"Probably whatever Fire crabs and Manticores like," Theo remarked dryly.
"Firecrabs are like Muggle crabs only bigger and more dangerous." Draco pipped up, "So fish, other crustations, magical stone fish, that sort of thing would be a good start,"
"That's more than I can go off of," Blaise muttered.
"Now pair up in two or threes!" Hagrid grinned at Harry before looking at Ron and Hermione, obviously only choosing three pairs for them. But Harry wanted nothing to do with his ex-friends. they were done.
"At least I can say one good thing about this class," Harry grinned at Blaise and Theo. Obviously already picking them for his two people for their group
He noticed Draco dodging Parkinson and leaping to Crabbe and Goyle very quickly, it was almost comical his look of disgust and desperation.
"Alright, well let's grab some fish and see if our Skrewt will take it," Blaise sighed.
"My hands are going to stink, aren't they?" Harry sighed, earning two looks of confusion.
"We have magic Harry," Theo grinned, "Use a Levitating spell."
Harry's face lightly blushed in embarrassment. He should have remembered that. That definitely was not his fault, he had a shit filled week.
"Let's get this over with," Blaise groaned, and together the three made their way to the crate with fish. Hopefully this class would fast, Harry was hungry and wanted to escape from the Gryffindors who were still taking time from running from their Skrewts to glare at him and whisper loudly about him.