A/N: Hello Readers, I apologize for the very long extended break. Some personal life matters got in the way. Besides that I don't think I have anything to say, so I do hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 4: Meeting others for the first time, the second time.
Harry had briskly made his way through the pillar of nine and three quarters without skipping a beat. He contemplated on playing the, "ignorant child" charade. However, with the growing crowd of daily commuters and wizards, he decided against it due to the high probability he would be ignored altogether.
As Harry crossed through the wall marked 9¾, he took in his surroundings wondering if he would recognize anyone. 'If I'm right, my father, Sirius and Remus won't be here for two more years… but who else would be here by now?' Harry contemplated as he slowed his pace and carefully looked over everyone.
As he neared the train he looked at each family with a calculated gaze while nodding his head, "uh huh…" 'I don't fucking know anyone.' Harry thought with a groan as he finally entered the train and searched for an empty compartment.
"Alright, alright, you damn waste of Galleons, I'm opening the cage." Harry cursed as Archimedes loudly screeched from his cage.
As the cage opened the Owl hopped out and onto Harry's shoulder and nipped at his face, causing the wizard to swat at the owl. "I swear I will get another owl!" He said through gritted teeth, yet his voice betrayed no real anger.
"From here it looks like it'd be more than happy to get a whole new person." Said a voice from the compartment door.
Harry and Archimedes' head snapped towards the voice. As the pair looked, a grin formed on Harry's face, "Well isn't it the beautiful Bell" Harry said, making sure to add emphasis on the last word.
Bellatrix tried to reply but was quickly silenced by a voice from behind her. "Beautiful Bell? A compliment and a nickname? Not followed by instant cursing or hexes?" The voice came from someone Harry couldn't see. Immediately, the teased girl tried to shut the door, but was instead shoved inside by the person behind her. "Come on Bell, introduce me to your friend."
As the person finished speaking, they fully walked into the compartment where Harry could get a good look at them. As the identity of the voice was revealed, his eyebrows rose in surprise before he quickly neutralized his expression. 'Must be Andromeda… Tonk's mother.' Harry had seen pictures of Andromeda thanks to Sirius. However, he had to admit that the family pictures didn't do justice to the beauty of the eldest Black sister. She had looked nearly identical to Bellatrix, but it seemed as if she used a glamor spell to rid herself of any imperfections. Harry, of course, knew that wasn't the case and what he was looking at now was the prime example of the Black's family beauty.
Bellatrix spun around and spoke through clenched teeth, "He isn't my frie-"
Harry interrupted the future Death Eater and said, "Name is Harry Faux."
It was less than a second, but Harry noticed the surprised look from Andromeda before it dropped, 'She knows who I am already?'
"Name is Andromeda Black, I'm Bell's older sister." Andromeda replied, sticking out her arm towards Harry.
"Are all the Blacks beautiful or is it just you and your sisters?" Harry asked as he delicately shook the hand. He thought of going for the kiss on the knuckle but didn't think the introduction warranted it.
Bellatrix scoffed while Andromeda let out a laugh that sounded like music to Harry's ears. "For a first year, you're quite straightforward aren't you."
"Yea, a very Gryffindor-ish trait if I say so myself." Bellatrix let out with a sneer.
Before Harry could respond a third voice came up, "There you two are! You could have waited for me!"
"Bellatrix wanted to come into the train early, now I know why." Andromeda smirked at Harry.
As the third person entered, she took notice of Harry. "Oooh Bell's friend is here."
"We aren't frie-" Bellatrix tried to say again, but was cut off by Harry once again.
"Yes, I'm Bell's friend. Sorry, I never got your name." Harry asked Narcissa.
"My name is Narcissa," She replied with a bright smile.
"I have to ask again, Andromeda, is it just you three, or does the beauty of the Black family rival any Veela." Harry asked with a smile, while also holding back a chuckle at seeing Naricssa stammer at his comment and Bellatrix groan while her face went a slight pink.
'The Black sisters might be the easiest ones to sway over to my side.' Harry thought to himself. If he was being honest with himself he contemplated just killing Bellatrix. Since Lucius would, hopefully, be dead in the coming years, he knew Narcissa wasn't an issue. Fortunately, Harry thought better of it and decided having Bellatrix as his number two would be the better option.
An ally over a dead enemy.
He also knew that solely relying on compliments and other niceties wouldn't get him anywhere. He did decide, however, that putting up a façade to others in the Wizarding World would be helpful to his cause and gathering allies. Acting as he did in the past… well the future… would draw too much attention and cause issues with future Death Eaters, many issues that he could do without. So Harry decided to give himself a new persona. Someone with a silver tongue and the charisma to back it up.
Someone like Tom Riddle.
Harry knew if he wanted any chance of evening the odds and obtaining a fighting chance, he would have to take pages out of Tom's book and plagiarize them in his own style.
Andromeda noticed her sisters' reactions and laughed to herself. "You are quite courageous to flirt so openly with us. Seems like you will most definitely be a Gryffindor."
"We can only wait and see," Harry replied with a smile, as Archimedes let out a low chirp.
"You're right, I will be seeing you again Mr. Faux… Until then, I will go and let you two get back to it." Andromeda said, already turning to walk out.
"Andromeda… you better not be seeing him," Bellatrix shot out, her voice taking a hard edge.
"Who I see and spend my time with is for me to decide, little sister." Andromeda replied evenly.
"You know quite well that mom and dad will cast you out of the family for socializing with less than desirable characters…" Bellatrix said with a pointed glare at Harry, irritation evident in her speech.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there." Andromeda finished, walking out and closing the compartment door.
"What was that about?" Harry asked Narcissa.
"That's none of your business Faux, come on Cissy, let's go." Bellatrix huffed, already walking through the compartment door.
When Narcissa didn't move Bellatrix turned her head to look at her sister. "I said let's go," Bellatrix repeated.
"Are you going to go with them?" Narcissa asked, the word them being emphasized.
"You already know I am." The older sister replied, with a sigh.
"Then I think I'll stay here with Harry. We're both first years so it should be fine." Narcissa replied, sitting on one of the two benches.
Bellatrix looked at her sister and then to Harry before groaning once again, "Whatever…" she spat, before slamming the door and stalking off.
"I'm guessing whoever "them" is, they aren't the type you enjoy being around." Harry asked, his interest piqued. From what he remembered from Sirius and Remus' rants about their time at Hogwarts. Bellatrix had been a part of a gang of Slytherins, who ended up becoming Death Eaters.
"Bell's friends are not the kindest type, and one of them just rubs me the wrong way… makes it worse that he's recently been trying to get his father to arrange a marriage between us." Narcissa complained, rubbing her face.
Harry went to reply, but was silenced as Naricssa continued, "I mean come on, I'm eleven years old! Can he wait until I'm a bit older before he decides he's going to marry me?!"
Harry quietly waited for Narcissa to finish, once he noticed she did he spoke. "Who's the guy? I'm guessing he isn't the most promising of your potential suitors?"
"His name is Lucius Malfoy," Narcissa said, her face taking on the appearance as if someone bit into a lemon. "I mean don't get me wrong, he's handsome, but from the couple of times we talked… he just came off as-"
"A total ponce?" Harry finished.
"YES, EXACTLY!" Narcissa shouted out with a laugh, followed by Harry.
The two fell into a silence before Narcissa spoke again, "I apologize for that outburst… It wasn't very lady-like of me."
Harry let out a snort and shook his head, "You're fine, I'd rather the bluntness than the false mask most prominent families throw on."
Narcissa smiled, "Thanks… I'll keep that in mind."
The two then fell into another comfortable silence before Archimedes called out to Harry. "For being an owl you're an impatient prick." Harry grumbled as he pulled out a bag of owl treats.
"You know what he said?" Asked Narcissa curiously.
Harry tossed Archimedes a treat before replying to Narcissa. "Yes and no, I can grasp what he's trying to tell me, but I can't understand him like I would with you," Harry explained.
Harry had been a bit surprised when he found out he could understand his owl companion. From what he could remember from when he was originally a kid with Hedwig, he wasn't able to understand the snowy owl like he could with Archimedes. The only reasonable explanation he could think of was the rituals he had performed on himself. Even though they had been rather sparse in explanation, he was beginning to consider there was more to them than he originally thought.
"I have a question to ask." Harry said, a thought popping into his mind.
"Ask away," Narcissa replied.
"I don't know much about the 'prominent families', but is it wise to be acting friendly with a half-blood like me?" Harry asked.
Narcissa shook her head and shrugged, "It's probably not ideal to my parents, but there isn't any harm in it to me, unless we start talking about marriages and such, then it's a different story. However, there are some families and others that act like anything that isn't pureblood is worthless."
"What about muggleborns?"
Narcissa sighed, "Most of the families are indifferent about them for everyday things. The only issue is they don't want to see them on the Wizengamot, or have them marry their children."
Harry nodded his head, "So Purebloods aren't threatened by half bloods and muggleborns?" Harry asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Ha, no of course not. I mean sure, they outnumber us, one to ten. But that's where keeping them off the Wizengamot comes in. As long as purebloods can keep muggleborns off of it, then they won't be able to control the politics."
Again Harry nodded his head in understanding, 'So it seems Narcissa isn't much for Tom's pureblood movement'. Harry thought, before speaking, "So where do you stand on all of this?"
At that Narcissa sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, I never really met anyone that wasn't a pureblood. To be honest, you're the first half-blood I have talked to that was more than ordering something… I guess I'll have an opinion once we get to Hogwarts."
"What about your sisters?" Harry asked.
Narcissa bobbed her head left to right as if having a conversation with herself before speaking. "Well, Andy isn't one who cares about politics… Nor does she care who she's seen with." Narcissa replied, before dropping her voice and continuing. "And well Bellatrix is well…" Narcissa trailed off.
"She's one of the ones that think muggleborns are comparable to goblins." Harry picked up where Narcissa stopped.
Narcissa shook her head, "No, not exactly, she wasn't always like that. But, from the arguments I've heard between Andy and Bell, her group of friends have started to shape her thoughts towards that sentiment… I remember back during her first year, she came home during the holidays and told me about everything, especially how she became friends with a half-blood. Then, at the end of the first year when she came back home. It's like something flipped in her mind, I asked her about her friend and she spat, saying how she was above being friends with the girl," Narcissa explained.
As Harry was about to reply, Narcissa continued. "But then there are moments where it seems like she doesn't believe what she's saying. Like she is forcing herself to say these things because she's afraid that if she doesn't then her so-called friends are going to abandon her."
"Seems like she likes me for being a half-blood," Harry said with a grin.
Narcissa snorted, "From what she says, she actually hates you. That stupid boy thinks he can embarrass me like that. Blah blah blah," Narcissa said, mimicking her sister's voice. "If I'm being honest, I think she's just confused, because you're probably the only person who isn't in our family that views her as a girl, not a member of a powerful pureblood family. And she doesn't know how to go about it."
The two young wizards went on talking about things, both mundane and non-mundane. Harry had been cautious at first, but had quickly come to the conclusion that Narcissa wasn't a terrible person. He concluded that her hateful attitude towards the world was due to years of being at the hip of Lucius.
After some time had passed during the train ride, the compartment door opened once again. Harry looked up from his conversation to the disturbance and felt his blood run cold. He discreetly summoned his wand from his wrist holster.
"Ah, there you are Narcissa, I was wondering why you didn't arrive with your sister." Said the boy who looked like none other than Harry's rival at Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy.
Narcissa closed her eyes and silently sighed, before opening them and smiling, Harry noticing the obvious false mask she was putting up. "I apologize, Lucius, but you see my friend Harry Faux here is an orphan and was never really taught anything about Hogwarts, so I decided to take it upon myself to teach him."
Lucius' eyes slowly moved from Narcissa and scanned Harry over. His face took one of disgust before he quickly fixed it to its former false politeness. "Faux? I don't think I know of that name."
Harry nodded, "It was a smaller family a few centuries back that was married off into another family. I was told by the caretaker at the orphanage that my parents might have had a vault at gringotts. That is where I found out about my history. "
Lucius' eyes narrowed at Harry before nodding his head and turning back to Narcissa. "It has been a few hours since we've been on this train, I'm guessing he must know enough for a first year. Why not join me and your sister at our compartment Narcissa?"
Narcissa's face did not betray her and Harry couldn't help but be impressed with the girl, "Lucius, that would be rather rude of me to up and leave a fellow soon to be classmate of mine. What if he is a slytherin? It would be rather rude to leave a fellow Slytherin alone, would it not be?"
"I am a big fan of snakes," Harry said aloud, causing Narcissa to stifle a giggle and Lucius to glare at him, if only for a brief second.
Lucius slowly nodded as Harry could tell he was tightening his jaw. "You are correct Narcissa, It would be rather rude… I will leave you to it then and will save you a seat at the Slytherin table," Lucius replied slowly. At that he wished Narcissa farewell while ignoring Harry completely and closed the compartment door.
"What makes you so sure you'll be a Slytherin yourself, Cissy?" Harry said amused, adding a teasing tone to her nickname like he did with Bellatrix's
"Every Black since the beginning of Hogwarts has been a Slytherin. Even if we have to force the hat to put us in there." Narcissa replied, "And no, stop that, you aren't going to do to me what you do to Bell."
~~~SCENE~~~
It had been only an hour later, when the prefects had made their rounds to tell the students that they would be arriving soon. Along with telling them to dress into their school robes. Harry had quickly given the compartment to Narcissa and made his way to the boys toilet to change into his robes.
He had expected to run into Lucius on the way to the boys restroom, something Draco had done to him before. When the Malfoy hadn't appeared he quickly changed into his robes, and slowly made his way back with his wand at the ready just in case he was to be attacked. Even though he knew the most Lucius would do to him was embarrass him, he wouldn't leave anything to chance.
As Harry was halfway to his compartment, he was abruptly yanked by the sleeve into a random compartment. He was about to lash out when he saw a female dressed in Hufflepuff robes was the culprit. The older student looked at him with a lost expression. "It is you… I would recognize those eyes from anywhere." The girl said, her own eyes glossy, as if holding back tears.
Harry looked at the student confused before his eyes widened and he took a step back, his back hitting the compartment door. It had only taken him a couple of seconds but he remembered where he had seen that face. As it was the face of the girl he saved only weeks prior from the would-be rapist in an alley.
Harry quickly recovered and shook his head, "I'm sorry, I don't-" Harry began but was quickly interrupted by the girl.
"No, don't lie to me." She replied with a shake of her own head. "I know it was you. You saved me from Francis and what he would have done to me."
Harry looked behind himself checking to see if anyone was near the compartment, once he realized the hall was empty he sighed. "I didn't save you. It was someone else. When you were stunned, I ran for help and someone else came."
Again the girl shook her head, "Don't lie to me… Even though I was stunned. It was weak, I was only frozen, but I saw everything that happened. I saw what you did…"
Harry felt his heart drop. He knew that it was possible for someone to stay conscious during a stunning spell, but he didn't think the man he killed who he now knew as Francis would be so weak to cast something like that.
As Harry was about to reply the girl spoke once again, "I want to thank you. I won't ask where and how you learned that magic, but it prevented something that would have stayed with me forever… your secret is safe with me."
Harry stared at the girl and could only respond with a single word. "Why?"
"Because, if I were to tell anyone. Then you would be imprisoned for using those spells… so all I will do is say thank you," The girl finished, taking a step back, so Harry could move out of the way of the compartment door.
"What's your name?" Blurted out Harry. He wanted to pry more into her mind to find out why she would let him go free, but he realized he didn't even know the poor girl's name.
The girl looked back and smiled at him, her eyes still glossy, "Amelia Bones." She replied before opening the compartment door and stepping out.
Harry felt his stomach drop once again as his mind began to race, 'If I saved her, how much did that impact her life?' Harry thought.
His main thought process was, did saving Amelia from her would be rapist cause a change in her life? Of course it would have been for the better. It was possible that the traumatic experience was the cause for her joining the Aurors. At the same time it couldn't have. It could have been possible she was saved in his timeline too.
Harry felt a headache forming and groaned as he began walking back to his compartment where Narcissa was waiting for him. He had no one to ask about these things, and the only two people who might have a clue died a near millennia ago while the other was locked up in Azkaban.
~~~SCENE~~~
Harry quickly made his way back to his shared compartment with Narcissa. The last thing he wanted to do was to change another's fate. As he stepped through the compartment door and closed it. He caught Narcissa looking at him with a raised eyebrow, while Archimedes chirped at him and flapped his wings.
"Did something happen? It looks like you saw a ghost and then ran over here," She asked
"Just some fifth year that yanked me into a compartment and complimented my eyes." Harry let out with a sigh, "It's hard being this good looking sometimes." He finished as he dropped himself into the bench.
"Wow… if you keep that up, you might give Lucius a run for his Galleons," Narcissa snorted.
"Well those are just fighting words."
"I call it how I see it Faux," Narcissa replied with a shrug.
Before Harry could say anything else he felt the train come to a slow and stop. "Looks like we're finally here."
"I know," Narcissa said excitedly.
Harry had quickly pulled his luggage from where it had been resting, before looking at Archimedes, "You think you can find the Owlery? Or would you like to go in the cage?"
Archimedes quickly let out a screech which caused Harry to chuckle. "Alright alright, once we exit the train head for it."
"What did he… say?" Narcissa asked, pausing before reluctantly saying the final word. She still wasn't convinced that Harry could understand his owl and it was a whole ruse.
"He threatened to attack me if I even brought out the cage." Harry said as he let Archimedes hop onto his shoulder. "Do you need help with your luggage?"
Narcissa shook her head, "We put our luggage in the storage outside."
Harry only nodded as he opened the compartment door and let Narcissa out first, following quickly behind her as the crowd of students began to fill the hallway.
As they exited the train Archimedes quickly left Harry's shoulder and flew into the night. "Alright then, first years! This way please! Come on, first years! Don't be shy!" Boomed out a voice that Harry instantly recognized causing him to fill with both joy and sadness.
He hid it well, his face not betraying him as he followed the voice with Narcissa and was met with Hagrid. The man who he could probably call his first ever friend. Harry nearly ran up and slammed into the half giant, but stopped himself as Hagrid wouldn't know who he was.
He then remembered the last time he had seen the gentle giant, and felt his blood run cold. While his wand vibrated within his sleeve.
FLASHBACK
Harry had only been in Azkaban for two years. He had remembered the day vividly. He remembered every day like this one as vivid as the next. He was dragged out of his cell and forced into a crudely transfigured chair of rough stone. His arms and legs were strapped down as his eyes were forced open. He was faced towards the only door in and out of the room.
He expected it to be another physical torture. One of the many death eater guards to use him as target practice or the likes. He was sorely mistaken when the door opened and in came Hagrid, chained and shackled. The poor man already looked half dead as his mouth was covered with a cloth.
Harry didn't know what was going on. "Wha- what are you doing?!" He asked the two death eaters that escorted the giant into the room.
Harry was only met with evil grins as they kicked the back of the legs out from Hagrid, causing him to topple over and hit the ground hard.
"We found this disgusting abomination hiding out in the forest with some animals." Said one of the guards with a sneer, kicking Hagrid in the back. Barely even gaining a reaction from the large man.
"He put up a fight… killed three of our men before we subdued him. Honestly, we were just going to kill him. However, the Dark Lord knew you two were close so decided to do something else instead." Explained the second man.
At that, the first guard raised his wand and spat out a single worded spell.
"CRUCIO"
Instantly pained and muffled screams came from Hagrid as Harry could only watch. His own screams being drowned out by the large booms of Hagrid's.
For the next three hours, Harry was forced to watch as his friend was tortured while he watched. Sitting helplessly, his skin raw from grinding against the stone and his throat bleeding from his shouting and screams.
Finally Hagrid had stopped his screams while his body stopped twitching. "Looks like this abomination's giant heart couldn't take anymore." Laughed one of the guards as he kicked him.
Harry wanted to say something but couldn't as his eyes were locked on the unmoving body of his friend.
The boy who lived didn't know it yet, but he would experience that form of mental torture many times more before the day of his escape.
END FLASHBACK
"Harry? Are you there?" came a voice that snapped him out of his flashback.
Harry quickly looked around and realized where he was before looking towards the voice. Seeing a worried expression on Narcissa's face.
"Yea, sorry about that. I just remembered something." Harry quickly replied.
Narcissa looked at Harry a bit longer, contemplating on asking him what he remembered, but thought better of it. "Come on then, let's get on a boat with the other first years." She said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the couple dozen of small boats on the shore line.
Harry let himself be pulled as he looked around, 'there are a lot of first years. Nearly doubled from the five years when I was here… did the war really kill off that many families?' Harry thought to himself as he saw all the students follow behind Hagrid.
Narcissa hopped into a boat followed by Harry and one more student. As the three sat in the boat, The third student began to speak. "This is some view, just imagine the stories in those walls."
Narcissa and Harry both looked at the third student in confusion. Causing him to chuckle nervously and speak once again, "Oh sorry. The name is Gilderoy Lockhart."
'You got to be fucking kidding me' Harry thought, as he smiled and nodded his head. "Names Harry Faux, and this right here is my trusty sidekick Narcissa Black."
Harry held back a laugh as he saw Lockhart's eyes nearly bulge out from their sockets, and heard Narcissa choke. "If anything you're the… No, I'm not arguing with you, I have an image to uphold." Narcissa said, her voice taking on the formalness many of the higher pure blood families were known for.
Lockhart looked at the two and then around. Probably to see if he could make the swim to another boat. "Ignore her, behind all of that super formality, she is an eleven year old like the rest of us." Harry said to Lockhart, causing the boy to look at him like he had grown two heads.
"I have a name to-" Narcissa began but was interrupted, as Harry spun on her.
"Cissy, relax, we're eleven years old. Acting like you're trying to impress everyone is just going to make you look like a real Malfoy." Harry explained.
"Oh, that's just low." Narcissa seethed with squinted eyes.
Harry laughed, but quickly stopped as he looked over to Lockhart and saw him already throwing a leg over the boat.
"Nope, we're not having any of that." Harry called out, reaching and yanking the boy back into his seat. "She isn't going to bite you, so hop off it and calm down."
Lockhart looked at Harry and glanced at Narcissa before his eyes shot away from her. "For Merlin's sake… are people really this afraid of your family?"
"We aren't known for being ruthless for nothing." Narcissa replied with a smile as she crossed her arms.
"Just tell him you're not going to make his family disappear." Harry pleaded.
Narcissa glanced at Harry and then to Lockhart before groaning loudly, "Gilderoy Lockhart was it?"
The boy in question let out a squeak before nodding.
"You're fine, my family isn't going to do anything to your family… so long as you don't cause me or my sisters any issues." Narcissa said, with the second bit being spoken quickly and quietly.
"See, there, you're going to be fine Lockhart." Harry comforted the boy.
Finally it was then that they had entered the cave that led into the entrance of the school. "Oh come on, I missed the view of the castle… I blame this on you Cissy," Harry complained.
"That wasn't my fault, blame the shaking fairy for causing a scene. And I told you to stop using that nickname!" She bit back, pointing a finger at Harry.
Harry ignored Narcissa as their boat came to a stop against the steps of Hogwarts. "Come on, let's go you two," As she was already stepping out of the boat.
"I swear… I think he's mental or something." Narcissa whispered as she stepped from the boat.
"I think so too," Lockhart said quietly.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I know it's slow but I plan on making the first few chapters slow so as to flesh out the main cast and get the ball rolling.
On another note, please if you enjoyed the chapter please consider following and favoriting the story, and if you really did enjoy it then please leave a review on what you would like to see and the such.
