Author's rant - Disclaimer? First chapter.
Thank you for reviewing fellows, your reviews made my day(s) and also a big congrats for achieving the '15 review target' Thank you so Much.
I also received a few questions regarding Harry's behaviour, his living arrangements, how he knows so much magic and also who his love interest(s) will be and all I have to say for all these questions is- firstly, Thank you for pointing out those and secondly, just chill and keep reading, I will throw hints here and there before opening up the grand surprise. Infact, this chapter contains the first hint!
And now since all that have been said, I request you to please forgive me for spelling and grammatical mistakes, cause sadly, I still don't have a BETA reader. If anyone is interested, please do PM me, I am hopeless here and will be most thankful.
Now off with my rant, here you go!
"I am Talking."
'I am Thinking'
Spells
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
You were made to follow the trend but I was born to make a new one trending.
~R-Kade
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Previously in SotW-
But Fawkes didn't tell any of that, no, instead the phoenix was contended to see his bonded plan over and over and throw the previous plans before making a new one. It was almost... euphoric...almost.
Silence of the Winters
- by Dev Sagittarius Black
~~Chapter 4: Grievous Accidents~~
Days after that went fine, Harry attended Astronomy and Herbology, both were good subjects and a bit challenging. Challenging because he had never bothered to study those two except for the parts where he had really them.
Herbology was good and calming in it's own way, with all the greenery and blooming flowers but the heavy clothing and the hot temperature inside the greenhouses always irked him.
Astronomy on the other hand was a bit neck and eye straining but the cool and dark atmosphere soothed him, he didn't know why but night time always soothed him and made him more forthcoming with his life.
Still he liked watching the night sky and twinkling stars but names and positions were something he didn't want his memory space to wasted on. That was his line of thought untill the professor told them about how much the position of planets, constellations and satellites matter in more than a few tough and old potions, rituals and arithmancy induced spell creation.
He also increased his friend circle with the addition of his roommate, Terry Boot whom Harry knew would join him sooner or later.
All things weren't good though, both Alan and Weasley had taken it upon themselves to call him a dark wizard and spread wierd rumours about him, Alan had even described his meeting with Dumbledore in a more...brash manner, apparently Harry had gone and challenged the headmaster over saying Sorry and then the two had fought over words before pulling out wands then Harry had used Dark magic to take Alan as Hostage making Dumbledore yield before Alan used his light magic and kicked Harry out of the office and prohibited him from never entering again...rotund load of bullshit really.
The thing was, he was bidding his time because none of the duo had ever said his name in front of him, so he too couldn't claim anything over his to-be harsh actions. But, the moment they become blatant he would readily put both the cheap monkey-farts in their places.
Still, today was a good day since after six days, today will be the class of one of his most favourite subject- Potions. Other classes were good yes, but Potions was something he was a prodigy at.
They said that the hook nosed professor was a real bastard, but he never cared what 'they' said, he was a firm believer of getting and making his own first impressions. So he would wait and go through the class to see if what 'they' said was true or were 'they' false again.
Harry had just finished up when the owls came, like always in flocks of hundreds and he never once cared about it...up and until a large Red tailed hawk came and sat right in front of him obviously garnering everyone's attention. The pure gold envelope tied to its talon was good enough to seek more attention.
The hawk was completely silent, just sitting there and eyed Harry with it's, well, Hawk eyes. And Harry's cold gaze didn't waver a bit either.
No-one knew what to do, Terry even tried to get the letter only for the hawk to spread its wings and show it's talons while giving an ear piercing warning screech that immediately made the curly haired Ravenclaw to recoil in fear.
"For me?" Harry finally asked and saw the bird nod 'Hmm... intelligent bird'
He took the envelope and pushed it down his leather satchel. They might be his friends but they weren't trusted enough to pry in his personal lives. Closing his satchel he looked up to see the hawk still sitting and glaring him. Harry too just quirked his left eyebrow.
The hawk screeched indignantly and pecked his satchel before flying to his shoulder. "You want me to read it now?"
'Screech'
"Harry wasn't comfortable with it but he did open the envelope only to find two letters, one long and one small, and a cylindrical wood shaped like some whistle. He took the smalller one and read -
If you are reading this one first then do write it in your reply. I am betting my five galleons on it.
Now coming to the topic in hand, this is about Horus. Yes the hawk, I named her Horus, and don't you laugh! It is a good name! Although I don't think she is happy with it. Yes the hawk is a female and so, you are free to name her. I tried to name her after the Egyptian deity but he was a male.
Anyways, so yes she is a hawk, she is for you and yes you read that right, she is yours. Why? To send letters ofcourse! You will be sending letters with her. She has been enhanced like you, her speed is 200 miles per hour and her eye sight allows her to see five kilometres, her hearing sense has been modified too but I wasn't having enough time to check that.
So, yes she is yours, name her and all that, things to know about her is, firstly, she is very-very possessive, secondly she loves roasted meat and lastly...well there's a speciality which you will have to unlock with time.
Waiting for your letter, read the first one too.
Oh and till you discover that speciality, there's a whistle inside to call her whenever you want to.
There wasn't any signature but Harry didn't need one to know who could have gone through all this for him, okay alright that was crap, he just knew that handwriting and guessed who she was. But the fact of this whole thing was, he now owned a Hawk and had to send letters.
Harry sighed and looked at his shoulder to see the bird peering down at his letter, as of it can read everything and understand it better than him. "So you are mine?" He asked her and saw her give him a look like 'really? That's what you are asking?'
But he didn't mind her. "How about...Lily?" He asked her and saw her look at him closely which was quite a scary thing, "your name, I don't know if you like it or not, how is it? Lily?" There were personal reasons to name her that, but no-one needed to know those.
The hawk eyed him up as if measuring his worth before screeching her acceptance and nudging her head in his ears making him give a soft smile.
Susan Bones was having a hard time, like hard- hard time and it wasn't because she was the niece of the director of DMLE, nor was it because she had large shoes to fill and make her name while she was at Hogwarts. It wasn't her studies either, it was something else...infact just two words could have summed up all her problems - Harry and Potter.
Susan had known Harry since that day she met him in the Hogwarts express and her first impression was, how much of a nerd he was, like really, who rides a boring Arithmancy book for straight eight hours? Actually she knew who, a certain guy with the softest hairs combed back in a quiff, having a chiseled face with thick jawline and the most ensnaring emerald pools that had captured her dreams from that day onwards.
But it was weird, she had promised herself to 'not' to fall for any guy or anything like that. It wasn't like she was hopelessly in love with him either, there was just this attraction that had pulled her towards him and was coaxing her to make him open up about him which was forcing her to think on the ways to do so which was ultimately forcing her to think about him everyday and that consciousness was responsible for making him appear in her dreams too, yes that was the only reason she was becoming something weird.
Sadly, she wasn't able to continue it as her musings were broken by the Hogwart's bell signifying their first lecture- Potions.
Harry was idly sitting beside Terry who was saying something about how Severus Snape, the Potions master was not someone who one would mess with, and how much thankful he was that he was sharing this class with puffs and not the Gryffs who always annoyed Snape or the Snakes whom he favoured.
It was nothing new to him as he too was there when they were given the introductory speech on different teachers and subjects by their house prefects. They had told how Snape hated everyone who wasn't in his house and deducted points for minor mistakes. But like always, Harry believed in making and perceiving his own first impressions. And so he would wait to see what to make of Severus Snape.
The doors closed with a 'BANG' and Severus Snape glided in the dank potions room, his black robes billowing behind him. He reached his table and eyed each and every student, his eyes stayed a while longer on Harry but then moved on as if speaking to the boy was just wasting time.
The attendance was done and Snape gave them a brief intro to the subtle art of Potion making and how he will teach them to bottle death, brew glory and ensnaring someone before calling all his earlier batches to be full of dunderheads.
"Potter! Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" He sneered as Harry stood up frowning, he didn't like the way his new Potions master had picked him out. He knew the answer, it was child's play but then what about his goal of keeping a low profile? No, this was Potions, everything else could be compromised not this. But then his cover would blow off spectacularly...stil, this was Potions, he couldn't risk damaging it.
"Say something Potter, we don't have whole day to see you state me like the fool you are." Snape spat out like Harry was his worst enemy. Confusing the boy even more.
"Draught of the living death, sir." Harry said in his cold monotone voice, he saw Snape's eye twitch a bit but it was momentary.
"It was very easy." Snape sneered again "Where Potter, will I get a bezoar?" He again prodded the teenage mage.
"Stomach of a goat, sir." Harry was getting confused now, what had he done to recieve this?
"Child's play. Let's try again, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Snape was smirking now as if he had just showed Harry his place.
"They are the same plant sir, no difference." Harry knew something was off, was it because Snape's punishment had been renounced the first day? Was that the reason he was recieving this? Maybe, but Harry saw Snape clench his fists behind his table and that smirk was nowhere to be seen.
"How many drops of Veritaserum is to be given to get the recipient under control?" Snape was for sure not going to back down now.
"Three drops in the middle of their tongue."
"What will I get if I added lacewing flies and powdered bicorn horn?"
"The polyjuice potion, sir."
"Squill bulb, murtlap tentacle and tincture of thyme are mixed, what's the result?"
"Felix felicis also known as Liquid luck."
Snape couldn't believe it, this was plainly impossible! The boy was blatantly cheating and showing him off. This was preposterous!
"How many more turns are needed to turn a boil cure into a healing salve?"
"Five clockwise and thirteen anticlockwise, but this has to be done before adding the porcupine quills or one will create an itching potion instead."
"Shut up Potter! This is what you are, a blatant cheating liar, knowing a little and showing it off to everyone, just like you father you too are a bragging dumb, you Potters are all same, not good for any honourable society." An ugly sneer crawled on Snape's face as he spewed all that.
Harry's gaze was cold, very cold, but he didn't say anything. This was a classroom full of twenty students. Also, even though not behaving like one, Snape was his teacher and someone Harry wasn't knowing about which was why he just kept on keeping a straight eye-to-eye contact with the bat professor.
"Glaring Potter? What are you going to do? Cry to the headmaster? May I clear it that I am the teacher here and you Potter CAN'T do a thing against me. Always remember that." Snape was the one glaring Harry and was so tempted to shoot a legilimency trail, just to see what Harry was thinking since neither was his face giving out anything nor was he refuting.
"What do you think we are going to do? Clap hands for you? You are a dumb cheating liar Potter. Sit down before I start taking points." Snape again looked for anything, any sign, any twitch to see what the boy was feeling buy it never came, instead Harry just sat back like a pre-programmed machine, one that was making plans on how to kill his enemy in different ways.
The lessons began and they were given a boil cure potion to make, thankfully everyone was good enough to not blast anything and so by the end of it, the group of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuff first years went outside as happily as they could after suffering double potions under Snape.
"That was awesome Harry! Really cool man, I mean no offence but till date I always thought you to be a mediocre, an above average at most but in Potions you are a Prodigy dude!" Terry exclaimed happily as he walked beside Harry with Susan and Hannah behind them. "You are so helping me with my Potions homeworks now."
Harry looked towards Terry who flinched a bit and recoiled "I-I mean if you want to ofcourse." The mughleborn stuttered out.
Harry shrugged, it's not like he couldn't point out the wrong points also Terry was his roommate, better safe than sorry "I can point out a few things." Apparently that was all Terry needed because he happily nodded.
"You did very good Harry, and I know you didn't cheat either. Although I don't know why would professor Snape pick you out like that." Susan said and caught up to walk beside him.
"It's not what I did, it's something related to my father and maybe Alan." Harry said and kept walking. "Why? Did he tell you so?" Terry asked his voice full of sarcasm but Harry just shook his head in denial "It was all good till I gave point answers but just as I described something further, he claims me to be a braggart, pyar and cheater who is 'Just like my father', I took it from their."
The conversation died down as his friends knew that their friendship was just budding which clearly meant that it wasn't as strong as to discuss relatives, no matter living or dead.
It was only after dinner that Harry got time enough to open the second letter within the safety of his bed curtains.
If you read this one first then don't you dare tell me. I am betting my five galleons and if I lose it then I will take it from you. Now since that is done let me come to the main part,
HADRIAN JAMES POTTER! WHERE THE HELL IS MY LETTER?! Seriously Harry? No letter? Not even a simple 'I am good' even? Were we that bad or were you that desperate to leave your old lady that you forgot us as soon as you got new friends?
And here I was waiting that soon you'll send me a letter telling how good Hogwarts looks from the lake or how many girls fell for you or how manipulative Dumbles is even, and what I get? Nothing! And since you didn't do that, your punishment is to write a letter a week till your first year ends! And if I don't get my weekly letter then beware Potter I am coming there to kill you! Mwahahaha!
Now since that is done, let me tell you everything is fine here, I am doing good and so is your old man, we both miss you very much. He has his violin and I am busy with my piano, like who the hell cares for a dratted violin pfft.
Draxy and Droxy love you and miss you very much, they are even cleaning your room everyday even though you aren't here and then your blasted pet Selene. I am telling you Potter, you will take her the moment she goes through her second maturity I will not tolerate that depressing thing anymore than I have to. Always asking about you, stupid wreck that thing! She even ate Misters Jumpy and Clumpy! I have grounded her, she will only get rats for a week now.
And now your old man has to say his old simple things.
Hello Harry, how are you? I know you are doing great but please Harry, don't forget us. You know we only have you and not hearing from you is, well, not good. So I know you are busy with new friends and I hope so girlfriend but just a letter a fortnight is good.
Your grandlady was very worried, she was waiting for your letters and I guess she did tell you what she thought, well this is why she enhanced your bird ASAP. Now, here all of us are fine, Draxy, Droxy and all are missing you. Also don't tell this to her but I am planning a vacation since we know you aren't coming. So, well hope it goes well.
Well, summing up, do everything as good as you do. We are there for you always. Also, if you opened this letter first then do tell, it's my only chance to win some galleons, although I think I do know that you are going to open that one first.
Wishing well,
N and P (Don't blame me, this is how she wants us to address)
Harry winced as he read what his grandlady has been through and felt bad for doing this to her. He didn't knew that not writing letters would affect her this bad. He missed Draxy and Droxy too, they were his personal elves that would always be there for him. And Selene? She was his pet, his personal little basilisk. He smiled as he read about being grounded. Oy the grandlady could ground a bloody basilisk of all things.
His old man's letter was no different, and he made a not to write once a week and send it via Lily. Doing so would also give him breathing room from his guardians. Also, going on a vacation was good as the two had left their desires after adopting him, so well, it was for sure a welcomed surprise for the grandlady.
Harry then gave a systematic reply and briefed them on how his week was spent till date. He knocked off the messing with professors part but included the Dumbledore office debacle. Writing up all his things he went to the window sill and blew the wooden whistle.
At first there was no response but then very soon there was a dark spot that kept on comping towards him before doing a mid-flight loop and landing on his windowsill. Harry just smiled as Lily nudged his hand. He then tied his letter and sent her off to his guardians before hitting the bed and going into his mindscape to assort the day out.
Days after that went as usual, simple changes were Alan and Weasely Junior's attempts to make Harry feel inferior. One such incident happened on Tuesday when they both tried to boast their achievements in the great hall, actually it was just one achievement going by 'defeated You-Know-Who at age one' and that ended spectacular like when Harry calmly pointed out that Alan can't say the name of someone whom he defeated at age one. After that, Alan pulled his wand out and McGonagall pulled both of them out of the great hall, as simple as that.
Harry's 'I know you' circle increased with the addition of Cedric Diggory, Anthony Goldstein and Su Li, the later because she was happy that he knew, in her words, their arts. Which meant his martial arts. Classes too were scheduled to having three classes with each house -
Gryffindor- Herbology, Astronomy and Monday's DADA class.
Hufflepuff- Transfiguration, Potions and Wednesday's DADA class.
Slytherin- Charms, History of Magic and Friday's DADA class.
The only thing different were the flying lessons. Thursday for Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff whereas Friday for Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. And since it was their first flying lesson, it was most certainly not that surprising that both, Puffs and Claws were divided, the newbies like muggleborns or half-bloods who had never flown were nervous while the purebloods and magical world connected Half-bloods were both excited and boastful of their abilities. Su Li told him that she was even planning to learn acrobatics on brooms, afterall that would be so cool, right? Right.
'PEEEEEEEEEP!'
"Line up everyone, what are you waiting for." The sharp voice of Hogwart's Quidditch refree and flying instructor Madam Rolanda Marie Hooch banged their ears and students immediately followed her instructions.
"Now raise your hand above your broom and say 'UP!'" she barked as she strolled through the rows of students.
Harry frowned at that, UP means commanding it. And even though it's good to be confident, commanding something as living as a broom was like barking orders at that enchanted Gargoyle guarding Headmaster's office. So instead he placed his hand and called out softly "Here." Not surprisingly, the broom zipped up and was within his clutches in the first attempt... although this wasn't his first attempt per se.
Harry looked beside himself to see Susan's broom lying dead like a log, Hannah's was rolling, Terry got smacked in his face because he used some choice words while Su was standing proudly, admiring her broken bristled broom. In the end everyone held their brooms.
"Now mount your broom, grip it hard so that you don't fall off it's edge. You will fly four metres above the ground and hover their for two minutes before slowly coming down and landing. Now UP IN THE AIR EVERYONE!" 'PEEEEEEEEEP!' She blew her whistle and everyone slowly flew up to the height they were either asked to or were comfortable with.
Harry closed his eyes and a small smile crossed his lips. It would have been better if he were allowed to fly as much as he wanted, but this was better than nothing. There were several reasons he could have blamed but in the end it was a cut clear fact, flying always gave him relief from anything. He felt safest up in the air and all the pent up tension he had accumulated from week's worth of work was slowly eased out as cool wind blew on his face.
"He-hello Harry, enjo-ying the lessons?"
Harry turned to see a beet red Susan flying on his level, she had clutched the broom's neck tightly with both her hands and had locked her ankles. She was sweating too which told him she wasn't comfortable in air and that explained her wobbly flying. But why was she as red as her hairs? Nervousness? Maybe. What he didn't know was how almost all the girls were eying him as his hairs frizzled in the wind and his smile accentuated his aristocratic handsome features.
"It's good." He said and shrugged.
"Alright everyone, come down." 'PEEEEEEEEEP'. Hooch signalled their landing and students slowly started their descent.
"AAAAAAHAAH!"
Harry was just two metres from ground when he heard the girlish scream. He turned only to see his first Hogwart's friend going up at about 40 miles an hour jerking horribly. Susan's red hairs were flying all over herself, she was clutching the broom for dear life as it zoomed straight up giving breakneck jerks every now and then. And in her bout of intelligence, she had closed her eyes.
"Someone save her!." Hannah cried and it worked like cold water on Harry's mental systems because he immediately left everything behind and zoomed towards the jerking girl at breakneck speed, following her broom's every little twitch. He heard Hooch cry his name and saw someone else too mount their broom and fly towards Susan, but he ignored all of that, afterall this was more important.
The jerks were too much for the redhead Hufflepuff and she was finally tossed away by the broom making her plummet straight to her death bed.
Harry caught the flailing girl mid-flight by the arm and heard something 'SNAP' but he pulled her up and made her sit behind him. The scared puff immediately wrapped her arms and legs around him in a deathgrip as he calmed his speeding broom. By the time the school broom was under control Susan was crying her heart out, her head buried in the crook of his neck.
Harry heaved a sigh of relief, but maybe that was too soon because just as he did that, he felt something magical pass near him. His eyes widened and his body involuntarily flipped left as some magical thing zipped past where he stood moments ago.
It was too thin to be a charmed ball of magic and swooped past him swiftly like an arrow, also it wasn't friendly, which only meant someone casted it with the intent to harm him. He turned to the direction where the jinxed arrow came from but found nothing except for students standing looking at him in confusion as to why wasn't he coming dow-
"AAAAAAHAAH!"
Harry groaned a bit, apparently, the stupid arrow did hit some another girl. He turned and was shocked again as Su Li was flying towards the forbidden forest at breakneck speed, and her broom? Ofcourse jerking wildly...more so than the previous one.
! CLIFFHANGER !
Ending Note- Sorry! A big sorry for the delay, I know I did promise to update this on 14th, but what can I say? I was busy packing, shifting and then unpacking. Right now I am visiting my grans after about 3 yrs...so yeah, not that perfect for typing chapters.
Still I am doing my level best to write as much as I can and give it to you as soon as plausible.
As always, please ignore both, my spelling and grammar mistakes. I still don't have any BETA reader, please, help me out!
Waiting for the juiciest fruits of hard-work- your reviews. It just takes ten seconds to put a review, a simple 'good job Dev' will do wonders to my writing abilities, so can I get 20 for this one? Also, constructive criticism is welcomed and I do appreciate that.
Love you guys! Please do review.
Regards
Dev Black
P.S- I am so killing you Yashpal, this bloody idiot reviewed my story from my account, writing 'I can't wait for the next update'. Bloody prat, I will kill you very soon. -_-
