Note: In another chapter of The Trickster, Harry starts to settle down and build some social circle around him, Already started with the next chapter as well. Constructive criticism is appreciated. Please, guys, inform me how I could have done it better.
The old war room had been abandoned for years, gathering dust and forgotten by most. But for Harry, it presented an opportunity to make a space of his own. After a trip to the library, where he asked Madam Pince for a book on cleaning using magic which he can use.
He was handed Keep it Clean by Gerda Catchlove, he started going over the books, there were multiple charms mentioned which can help him get started. He found that even basic floating charms like Wingardium Laviosa can be pretty useful if used properly.
He started feeling for the dust that was present in the room and imagined them floating, and using his wand he cast a floating charm.
But it did nothing.
"I think you should not just cast the magic, but imagine that dust present on the floor is floating and gathering at the spot.'' This came from Amina who was patiently sleeping on his school bag which rested on the study table at the end of the room.
When Harry used the suggestion and started with the vivid imagination of all the dust from the room lifting and gathering near the door. This attempt was successful.
If you count a small dust cloud following his command and dumping near the door.
Even though progress was slow, Harry continues with the same strategy.
Every time amount of dust that was floating increased and little by little a small section of the room was looking slightly cleaner than the rest.
As he worked, he couldn't help but think about all the possibilities this room held. Maybe he could practice his spells here without prying eyes, or even create a secret hideout for himself and his friends if he ever was successful at getting one.
Lost in his thoughts, Harry accidentally knocked over a stack of dusty chairs, to his luck he avoided being crushed by it. and to his surprise, a being appeared with a loud pop, blinking and looking slightly startled.
"Are you ok, young master?"
"Hello there," Harry said turning to the source, quickly recovering from the shock. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I'm just cleaning up the room."
The house elf bowed deeply. "I, Tinky is here, young master!" he said in a high-pitched voice, his large ears flapping with excitement. "I can help with cleaning!"
"Oh, you don't have to," Harry protested, feeling a bit uncomfortable having someone else clean up for him but after a thought he said.
"What are you?"
"I is Tinky, I am one of the Hogwarts elves, we keep the school clean and prepare the food," Tinky replied with a small smile which seem sincere.
"Harry, these are cursed-descendent of the Great Elf. You can take his help to clean I don't sense any negative emotions from him." Said Amina in his mind, after a thought, "But ask what else he can do and can he not report this to Professors."
"Tinky, can you please not talk about this place to Professors," Harry asked, looking hopefully at the small creature.
"As the young master is not doing something harmful to him or others, Tinky is not going to report this," Tinky said, with a small smile.
"Thank you, Tinky," Harry said gratefully, "If you are willing to help, can you help me make this place useful where my friends and I can study and practice magic."
"Sure, Young master"
"Please call me Harry…" Harry smiled and gave a grateful nod to Tinky.
In a few minutes with a snap of his fingers, the room was sparkling clean. Harry couldn't help but be amazed by the elf's magic, far more proficient than his own.
"Thank you, Tinky," Harry said gratefully, "I don't know whether I would have been able to even do half of this."
"Tinky is happy to help the young master," the elf replied with a wide grin. "Hogwarts is a wondrous place, but it can be a bit overwhelming for a new student. Tinky can give you some tips if you like."
"That would be great," Harry said, his curiosity piqued.
"Tinky has been around Hogwarts for a long time," the elf began, "and Tinky knows all the secret passages and hidden shortcuts. If you need to get somewhere quickly or avoid certain places, Tinky can show you the way."
Harry's eyes widened in awe. Secret passages were the stuff of legend at Hogwarts, and he couldn't believe he had a chance to learn about them from an insider.
"Tinky is also here to listen," the elf continued. "If you ever need someone to talk to or need help with anything, Tinky is always here for you."
"Thank you, Tinky," Harry said, touched by the elf's offer. "I appreciate it."
With that, Tinky beamed, and Harry couldn't help but smile back. Having a friend like Tinky and learning about the hidden secrets of Hogwarts made the old war room feel more like a sanctuary than ever.
As the days passed, the room transformed into Harry's haven. He set up his work area with his textbooks, quills, and parchment, ready to practice spells and explore the depths of magic. With Tinky's help, he also got a clean table and some chairs for it. Also, some sofas with nice cushions as well were added.
When he asked Tinky where he was getting all of this, he said there are many abandoned rooms in the castle, some of which were from abandoned Professors' quarters.
The room had become his private sanctuary, away from the bustling hallways and watchful eyes of other students.
As Harry arranged his books on the desk, Amina, slithered over curiously. She had taken a liking to the room, finding the hidden corners perfect for her to explore.
"Hey, Amina," Harry said with a smile, gently petting her scales. "Want to learn some magic with me?"
"Maybe Harry, after our bonding my magic has also matured. But First I would explore this castle as I find it much more amazing."
Amina hissed contentedly, "Don't worry I will watch out for myself and see you soon."
After shrugging his should at her as Amina slithered out of the room, Harry opened his Transfiguration book, eager to try his hand at transforming objects.
Frustrated, Harry sighed and looked over at Amina, who was watching him intently. "I can't seem to get it right, Amina," he admitted. "Maybe I'm not cut out for Transfiguration."
Amina nudged the book with his hand as if encouraging him to try again. Harry smiled, taking her silent advice to heart. He focused once more, visualizing the transformation in his mind, and tried the spell again. To his amazement, the pebble glowed briefly before morphing into a small walnut.
After exhausting double Potions where Professor Snape made fun of him and gave him a T for the potion by the end of it. Harry took a seat at the Slytherin table for his lunch, he glanced around, trying to find someone he could talk to or perhaps even befriend. That's when he noticed two girls sitting nearby, engrossed in a book they were sharing.
He mustered up some courage. "Hi, I'm Harry," he said with a friendly smile. "Mind if I join you?"
The two girls looked up, the one with long, dark hair and sharp blue eyes was Daphne Greengrass, while the other, with short, sandy-brown hair and a mischievous grin, was Tracey Davis.
Daphne raised an eyebrow, but her expression softened as she took in Harry's friendly demeanor. "Sure, why not Harry, I am Daphne and happy-go-lucky beside me is Tracey," she said, patting Tracey's head which sat next to her.
As Harry settled in, he couldn't help but notice the book they had been reading Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger. It was one of his least favorites in class nowadays.
"I do love that book but Professor Snape makes it almost impossible for me to learn it."
"That's an understatement" Huffed Daphne "I have never seen Professor target anyone but you. I don't know what did you do to him."
"Yeah, right," Harry commented, a spark of annoyance in his eyes. "How about you guys, would you like to join me in the library after this."
Tracey smiled, her eyes lighting up with shared enthusiasm. "Oh, sure! And forget about potions, we have the first flight lesson tomorrow, aren't you excited?"
"Not particularly, I never fancied flying before". Harry tried to avoid the topic. "But sure…"
"Why Potter, I thought you would be excited, have you ever played Quidditch before coming to Hogwarts? "Asked the same Rude boy no 2 from the train. 'Draco Malfoy if I remember correctly from sorting.'
"No, but I think it's polite if we first introduce ourselves". Said Harry looking curious as well about this Quidditch. "Hi, I am Harry, Harry Potter."
"Well, I am Draco Malfoy," surprised by the sudden track change "Not sure about you, but I am quite adept at flying, Still I think first years should be allowed to own our personal brooms"
Blaise, who had been listening quietly, spoke up with a hint of amusement. "Just don't go crashing into anyone, Draco. We don't want any accidents on our first day."
Draco rolled his eyes playfully. "I'm a better flyer than that, Blaise. But thanks for the vote of confidence."
The conversation continued as they discussed the various broom models they had heard about and their aspirations for the upcoming lessons.
21 October 1991, Near Hogwarts quidditch pitch
The sun shone brightly over the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch as first-year Slytherin and Gryffindor students gathered for their first flying lesson with Madam Hooch. Nervous excitement rippled through the group, and Harry couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He had never experienced it before, but the prospect of flying felt charged and exhilarating.
Madam Hooch, a stern-looking witch with a sharp eye, stood before the students. "Welcome to your first flying lesson," she announced, her voice carrying authority. "I want each of you to step up to a broom, hold it in your hand, and say 'up.'"
As the other students took their turns, Harry observed closely. When it was his time, he approached a broom and hesitated for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he raised it slightly and whispered, "Up."
To his surprise, the broom responded immediately, rising a few inches from the ground. A rush of excitement surged through him as he realized that his magic and desire for flying had made the broom obey his command. Because it didn't feel like any spell.
Madam Hooch acknowledged and started correcting everyone's grip on the broom. "Now, try to hover for a moment before bringing it back down."
Harry focused on the sensation of the broom in his hand, his senses attuned to almost every movement and shift of the broom. With a gentle mental nudge, he guided the broom to hover, balancing effortlessly in mid-air.
His peers watched in amazement, some of them still struggling to get their brooms to cooperate. Harry felt a mixture of pride and excitement, a deep sense of connection with the broom and the skies above.
As the lesson progressed, Madam Hooch instructed the students to practice basic movements – forward, backward, and turning. Harry took to it naturally, the broom responding to his every thought.
He soared through the air, the wind rushing past his ears and the sun warming his face. Flying felt like freedom, like breaking free from the constraints of the ground and embracing the vastness of the sky.
Madam Hooch noticed his innate talent and approached him with a nod of approval. "You have a natural gift for flying, young man," she said. "Keep practicing, and you could be a great flier."
Harry beamed with pride, feeling a newfound sense of purpose and belonging. He had always been drawn to flying, but now, as he soared through the air with ease, he knew that it was more than just a passing interest – it was a passion.
As the first flying lesson came to an end, Harry reluctantly brought his broom down to the ground. His heart was still pounding with excitement, and he couldn't wait for the next opportunity to take flight.
After this Harry tuned out the commotion that followed, As Neville had lost control of his broom and crashed painfully into the ground. Madam Hooch took him to Infirmary after that Draco and Ron (The rude boys' pair) started their squabble which started escalating into a flight war.
By the time Madam Hooch returned, both had returned to the ground and were fighting it out. Ultimately both ended up with detention which they had to serve with their respective head of House.
Meanwhile, Harry got a better feel of the broom and spent some time looking at Forbidden Forest in the distance.
After settling down into a routine of school betwe,en classeibrary and his own sanctuary, Harry was growing leaps and bound. Now Daphne, Tracey and he were frequent library buddies, as He had better understand of Charms and DADA. Tracey was equally good at Astronomy and Herbology. And Daphne was good at Potions.
Another nice addition to their group was Hermione Granger. An odd know-it-all but good acquaintance once got to know.
###Flashback###
Harry was engrossed in a thick volume about Beginner Transfiguration spells when he heard a hesitant voice nearby. "Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here? The other tables are quite crowded."
Harry looked up to find a bushy-haired girl with a stack of books in her arms, standing uncertainly beside the table. "Sure, go ahead," he said, gesturing to the seat across from him.
The girl smiled gratefully as she settled into the seat. "I'm Hermione, by the way. Hermione Granger."
"I'm Harry," he replied with a frienthe dly smile. "We met on train if you remember, you were gone as fast you came."
As Hermione unpacked her books and parchment.
"Sorry, I thought about it, I think I was quite rude but Neville and I had already been to half of thless-than-friendlyless than friendly encounters. I hope we can skip that and start anew."
"Works for me, ..."
Harry couldn't help but notice her impressive collection of tomes on various subjects. He was about to ask what she was studying when Daphne and Tracey approached the table.
"Hey, Harry, mind if we join you?" Daphne asked, glancing curiously at Hermione.
"Of course, have a seat," Harry said, scooting over to make room for them.
Daphne and Tracey greeted Hermione with polite nods before ng into their own books. Harry seized the opportunity to introduce Hermione to the group. "Hermione, these are my friends Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis. We often study together in the library."
Hermione looked pleasantly surprised. "Oh, it's nice to meet you both. I've seen you around the great hall."
Daphne smirked playfully. "I'm sure you have. Slytherins are hard to miss."
Tracey nudged her with a grin. "Don't mind Daphne; she's just teasing. We're not all that intimidating."
Hermione chuckled, relaxing a bit in their company. "I must admit, I've heard a lot about Slytherin House, but it's nice to meet friendly faces. I think I would overlook those nasty rumours"
"Werumors as bad as the rumours say," Harry assured her.
Hermione seemed to consider this for a moment before a glint appeared in her eyes. "Well, maybe we're not so different after all."
Harry laughed, appreciating Hermione's open-mindedness. "You're right, Hermione. I think you'll fit in just fine with our group."
As they settled into their studies, Susan Bones, a Hufflepuff girl known for her hardworking nature, approached their table. "Mind if I join you guys?" she asked with a friendly smile.
"Of course, the more the merrier," Harry replied, happy to welcome another friend into the group.
As the afternoon progressed, the unlikely group of Slytherin Harry, Hermione the know-it-all, Daphne the ambitious, Tracey the witty, and Susan the hardworking Hufflepuff found themselves engaged in lively discussions. They debated various topics, exchanged knowledge, and discovered new perspectives.
Harry almost felt bonded with Hermione and Susan over their shared displeasure of Professor Snape.
Overall, this study group was kind of adding a flavor to his monotonous routine.
###Flashback ends###
Amina took a week to get back from her adventure in castle.
"Harry, I think I have found some secret areas which are marked by Snake guardians. I think you should also be able to do that." Amina said "I think we should also start communicating in snake tongue. I think it would be better if you practice speaking in our tongue, as this is a magical language it would also benefit you with your magic."
"Sure." Then Harry told her about his week and his study group.
"I think you should meet them," said Harry thinking of coming clean with his small group of buddies.
"Ok, I will try to be accommodating but if they ever think to manhandle me, I will bite them." Amina said giving an aggressive attitude.
"Hey guys, I want to talk to you guys privately," said Harry, Confident but slightly fidgeting around his feet.
"What's this about Harry?" asked Daphne, glancing curiously at Harry.
"Can we go somewhere private?" Harry said, getting up from his seat and urging others to follow.
Daphne shrugged and followed Harry, others also followed.
After finding an empty classroom near library, all of them entered and closed the door.
"Guys, though we are only study buddies, I think you guys have my trust enough to come clean with this part." Harry told them while looking at them unsure of their reaction for the coming topic.
"Guys, I have a bonded familiar, though it's not your usual one." Harry put forth his hand forward and from his sleeve, Amina slithered out. "Guys meet Amina, my bonded."
All of the girls were shocked to see a dangerous-looking snake coming out of his sleeve, a mesmerizing golden-brown snake coiled gracefully around his wrist. Her scales shimmered in the firelight, revealing a beauty that was both captivating and intimidating.
Only Daphne came out of shock and came forward slowly and asked "Can I touch her?"
After getting a nod from Harry, and a tilt from Amina, Daphne touched her scales.
"Harry, is Amina magical? As I am touching her, I am getting the same magical feel as of another magical pet."
"Yes, she is a special snake from Naga tribe, she is one of mysteriously magical one. Amina and I have an exceptional connection. We can understand each other, communicate as well."
"You mean... you can talk to her?" Tracey asked incredulously.
"Yes," Harry said, a smile playing on his lips. "I can speak to all snakes, I also found this on the same day when I met Amina at the zoo, Her magic was one which called me to her."
"Oh…" Daphne nodded urging Amina to come on her arm. "She is quite cool to touch. Well Harry, You're like the real-life Slytherin legend. A Parselmouth!"." Giving a small chuckle.
After that as if some ice broke and other girls were also handing her.
"That's amazing," Hermione said with genuine admiration. "So, if she's your familiar, does that mean she can assist you with magic?"
"For now, I am not sure. But she has helped me sync my magic. Also, she is quite intelligent one." Harry answered.
After that Daphne explained Harry and encouraged him to keep his ability secret as long as possible and also explained about history of the recent dark lord's relation with snakes.