Hello everybody, here is Tc bringing you all another chapter of Harry Potter and the New Black Sisters.
I hope you all enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 02
The two men entered the bookstore to buy the items that Harry would need for his first year at Hogwarts.
The purchase was quite fast because the seller had all the first-year books separated from the others to make them easier to find.
He was ready to head out but Hagrid wanted to look for the new edition of 'Fantastic Beasts' by Newt Scamander, so he decided to explore the bookstore while he waited.
He likes bookstores and libraries. When his cousin Dudley and his friends play 'hunt Harry' to laugh at his spences, he used to hide in the school library. While he hid in there, he had nothing better to do than read. And read is what he did. The librarian was one of the few adults in his life that didn't treat him with disdain. In fact, she measures all the kids with the same rule, don't cause trouble in the library and you are welcome in it. Cause any disturbance, and you are banned for the foreseeable future. She didn't listen to any rumours, just what she witnessed with her own eyes. She was a good person.
While he roamed about in the bookstore, he saw that several of the books were manuals of how to do different types of magic. Potions, curses, Arithmancy and more. He was walking while reading the titles of the book when he bumped into someone, making Harry fall on the floor.
"Oh, I am sorry, I didn't see where I was walking," he said, looking up to see the person he had run into.
She was a girl about his age, maybe a year older and taller than him, with thick, shining dark hair, a strong jaw, a thin mouth and violet eyes. Her face had an emotionless expression with a bit of annoyance on it.
She was wearing a black robe, black pants, black boots and a green blouse. She has a pair of half-finger gloves in her hands and a ring similar to the one Aries was wearing on one of her fingers. It was of a different colour, hers was green instead of Aries's black, but it had the same coat of arms.
"Are you okay?" she started to say with an emotionless tone.
Getting up he said, "Yes I'm okay, thanks," he said.
She was about to say something when her eyes went to his forehead. When she saw his scar her eyebrows rose a little, in what he assumed was surprise.
Then she gave him a curtsey in the same way Aries did and said, "Greetings Heir Potter, I am Delphini Lyra Black, Daughter of the most ancient and noble house of Black, pleased to make your acquaintance," she said to him and then he presented her hand with the ring on to him.
'Bloody hell' Harry thought. He has totally forgotten to ask Hagrid about this.
Trying to control his panic and with all the eloquence he could master, he responded.
"Uh, hello," he said, weaving his hand.
It was obviously the wrong response.
Delphini frowned his forehead a little and said, "'Hello'?" She repeated, "Are you trying to insult me, Heir Potter?" she asked him, just like her sister.
Letting the panic take over, he frantically replied, "No, no, no!" Harry said, waving his hand in front of him, "I am not trying to insult you, I honestly have no idea what I am supposed to do!" he tried to explain. "I grew up with my aunt and uncle who are muggles, and I didn't even know that I was a wizard until a couple of days ago," Harry said to her.
She looked him in the eyes for a moment before saying, "Truly?" Delphini asked.
"Yes, I promised that I am not lying," he said.
"Oh," she said, lowering her hand, "my apologies," Delphini said to him.
Having said that, she picked a book off the shelf and continued reading.
A little more at ease, he too looked at the shelf for a book to read. He chose one that looked like a book about charm and opened it. But no matter how much he tries, he can't stop his eyes from wandering to the girl beside him.
'So this is the younger sister of Aries, the one with the bad reputation at Hogwarts, eh,' he thought. She looked a bit like Aries, then again, if Aries wanted it, she could look however she wanted. He wonders if she is a metamorphmagus, like her sister. Aries said that it runs in the family.
He must not have been very discreet with his eyes, because he suddenly heard a voice, "Do you need something from me, Heir Potter?" Delphini said, with the same tone as before.
A little startled he said, "N-no, I don't," he responded.
"Then why are you looking at me?" she asked.
"I'm not looking at you," he denied, "I am reading this book, see?" Harry said to Delphini, showing her the book.
"Really?" she asked, closing her book and looking at him, "Then are you interested in books about prenatal care, I take it," she said to him with a half smile on her face.
Looking at the cover of the book, he realised that she was right. It was titled 'One Hundred Spells for the pregnant woman.' Feeling embarrassed, he put the book back on the shelf and said.
"Eh no, I, sorry, for looking," he said to her, "I was just wondering, are you Aries' sister?" he said.
Delphini narrowed her eyes before asking, "How do you know that name if, according to you, you didn't know you were a wizard until a few days ago? As far as I know, Nymphadora doesn't spend much time around muggles," she said.
"I met her today in Madam Malkin while she was buying her robes," Harry said. He was beginning to see that Delphini was not as friendly as her sister. "We started to chat and she explained to me a little about Hogwarts," he explained to her.
Still looking at Harry, she said, "I see," Delphini kept looking him in the eyes for a few moments before saying, "Yes, I am her sister," she confirmed.
"Oh," he said, and before he could stop himself, he said, "Are you a metamorphmagus too? Aries said that it was a family gift" Harry asked.
Raising an eyebrow, she said. "What exactly did my sister tell you about our family, Heir Potter?" She asked in return.
"She just said that she has two younger sisters and a mother and that being a metamorphmagus runs in her family," he said to her, "And please, just call me Harry. I am not an Heir or anything like that," asked him.
She raised her eyebrow at his words. Could it be that this kid really knows nothing?
"I see," she said, "No, I am not a metamorphmagus," she denied. "While is true that we have had metamorphmagus in our family, it is usually one for generations and not in all of them. In the generation of my mother, her cousin Regulus was one and in the generation of my great grandfather was my great aunt Cassiopeia while in the generation of my grandfather, we didn't have any," she responded.
"Oh okay," Harry said, "thanks for telling me," he said.
They stayed in silence for a few seconds before Delphini said, "Tell me something, Heir Pott…"
"Harry," he interrupted her, "really, just Harry."
"Fine, Harry," she said, a little irritated at being interrupted, "Did you really not know that you were a wizard?" she asked again as if she couldn't believe it.
Harry looked down at the floor, embarrassed, "No, I didn't. My relatives don't like magic, so they never tell me anything about it, and they say very little about my parents. The only thing they told me about them was that they died in a car crash," and that my father was a drunk and my mother a whore but she didn't need to know that.
Delphini remained still for a few moments. On the outside, she looked as compost as ever. On the inside, on the other hand, she was indignant. This boy and his parents -because she didn't believe that I baby alone was responsible- were the ones who killed one of the greatest dark wizards of all time. And while she might have mixed feelings about that, she recognizes that it was an achievement that desert recognition, not hiding it like it was something to be ashamed of.
Looking at him, Delphini can see why her sister decided to assist him. Tattered clothes too big for him, too scrawny and that kick-puppy aura that he seems to radiate, it is no wonder that Nym couldn't resist helping him. She always had a soft spot for younger children in a bad situation.
But apart from that, there's something else, something about him, something familiar that she could not point out. It was really strange, it was like something was attracting her to him and was not his look. He may have a 'pretty boy' face, as some of her housemates like to say sometimes when they are reading those silly muggle magazines about fashion, but he is too skinny right now for her taste. No, is something else…
"Um, Delphini, are you alright?" She heard him say, waking her from her daydream, "You have been quiet for a couple of minutes," said Harry.
And on top of his clothes and that weird attraction she feels, he doesn't have any kind of manners. She has just met him and he is already calling her by her first name? Really? No, this won't do. She may not felt much empathy for anyone, but that does not mean that she was heartless. Also, House Black owes a debt to House Potter for the betrayal of Sirius Black, so what better way to start paying it off than by helping the Heir of the said house?
Seeing that Potter was still waiting for her to answer him, she said "I am fine." Delphini said, "Tell me Hei… Harry" she corrected herself. If he wants to be called by his first name, she will do it, for now at least, "You said that my sister Nymphadora helped you a little by telling you things about Hogwarts, correct?" Seeing him nod in agreement, she continued. "Would you like me to help you too?" she asked.
Harry's eyes got wide open, "Why?" he asked her, "Why would any of you wish to help me? We have never met before," he said.
Looking him in the eyes, she said, "I can't speak for my sister, but I want to help you because I don't like seeing a wizard of your station with almost no knowledge of our world," Delphini told him.
"My station?" He repeated, "What station are you talking about?" Harry asked, "Is this about the Heir thing you and Aries keep calling me? Or is it related to why everyone I come across seems to want to thank me?" Harry said, confused.
"So you don't know about that either," she said. Seeing his face was all the confirmation that she needed. "Is for both of those reasons. You may not know it but you are an extremely important person in our world Harry, for the family in which you were born and because of what you did as a baby" she said. "If you let me, I am willing to tell you a little about our world," Delphini said with a little smile.
Upon hearing her words, Harry thinks about it for a minute. He didn't want to bother her. Aries has already helped him without asking for anything and he wouldn't want to be a nuisance for Delphini. But at the same time, he really, really wants to know more about Hogwarts and this new world that he is entering.
So Harry decided that he would accept her help, but he promised that he would return the favour at some point.
"Ok," he said, "and thank you, for helping me," he told her.
"You are welcome," Delphini said. "First of all, I would like you to tell me what my sister has told you about Hogwarts," she said.
Harry nodded his head and began telling her everything that Aries told him. By the time he finished, Delphini's eyebrow was twitching.
"So…" Delphini asked for confirmation. "She told you about almost everything, except the most important thing, the actual classes?" she said, her voice laced with irritation.
Harry opens his mouth to protest but closes it almost immediately. He thinks about it for a second and then blushes in embarrassment. He was so excited to talk to someone nice for a change and that he was going to a place where he would finally be accepted for who he was that he missed a very important concept. One goes to school mainly to study. One can make friends, socialise and all that but one must not forget that a student must try to learn the lessons that the teachers impart. And he forgot to ask Aries about that.
It looks like he didn't have the best start.
Seeing his reaction was all the confirmation that she needed. Falepalming, she starts to mutter to herself. Of course, the Hufflepuff would put more emphasis on the friends he could make and the fun that he may have than on the classes that he will take.
He was lucky that she was here to help him. Otherwise, he could have gone to classes completely unprepared.
"Okay, then I will start by telling you a little about the curriculum," she said. "I may be a second year myself but, lucky for you, I am a Ravenclaw, which means that I am academically better equipped to inform you about classes than most people my age," she told him.
Harry was a little surprised. He thought that she would be like a Hufflepuff, just like her sister, but it seems that was not the case. Oh well, if what Aries said about Ravenclaw is true, then Delphini indeed had more knowledge about studies than other students.
"In Hogwarts, there are seven core classes: Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Astronomy, Potions, Herbology and History of Magic that you have to take for the first five years. Once you enter the Third year one has to take at least two optional subjects from a list of five other classes: Arithmancy, Study of Ancient Runes, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies," she said. "Do you have any questions?" She said to him.
Harry shook his head in denial.
"Good," she said. "Now I will explain a little about the core classes starting with Charms, so pay attention," she said.
He nodded his head, feeling like he was in front of a teacher.
"Charms, also known as enchantments, are one of the most common and most versatile kinds of spells that exist," she said. "They are spells that add or change certain properties to an object or individual," she explains. "The class is taught by Professor Filius Flitwick, a great wizard and a kind and emotional person, who is also my head of house, "she said. "Any question?"
"No," said Harry.
"Good, then let's pass to Potions," she said. "A potion is a magical mixture, commonly brewed in a cauldron which is used to create several magical effects on the drinker. Brewing is similar to cooking, in the sense that it requires great precision and attention to detail, but it differs in its danger. If you do something as simple as putting one wrong ingredient it could turn from a completely useless potion to an explosion that could cost you your life," she said to Harry, making him anxious. "Potions is taught by Professor Severus Snape, an excellent brewer, Potions Master and head of the house of Slytherin. He is a very harsh and withdrawn person who tends to favour the students of his own house over the others, especially those of Gryffindor," Delphini said. Looking him in the eyes, she said. "I suspect that he will be especially harsh with you," she told him.
"What? Why?" he asks, alarmed.
"These are just comments that I have heard my mother and Professor Snape say to each other when he came to our house, but from what I have heard he has a very bad relationship with your father, as in, he hated James Potter," she said.
"Why?" he asked.
"I don't know, but from what I have gathered, he and your father were in the same year at Hogwarts and they hated each other for as long as they were in school together," Delphini said.
Harry felt depressed when he heard her words. Of course that one of the teachers has to hate him. It will be too easy to be any other way. And if it is too easy, then it's not his life.
Seeing his mood, she said. "I recommend that you study the book about potions really well these days before school begins, and read every day you have Potions before the class starts," she recommended. "And he will probably be rude to you as well as most of the kids, except for those on Slytherin, but don't react to his words and keep your head down," he warned him.
He nodded his head, grateful for the tips. At least he won't be without a plan to overcome this class. And he is pretty good at cooking, so with a bit of luck, he will be fine.
Suddenly, he remembered her words from before.
"Wait, he usually visits your house?" he asked.
"Yes," she confirmed. "He is the godfather of my little sister, so he comes to my home often," said Delphini.
When he heard her words, he began to wonder if he had a godfather and if he had one, then where had he been all his life? Harry could have used an adult who doesn't hate him during life.
While he had these thoughts, Delphini talked. "Then we have Astronomy," she continued. "Astronomy is the branch of magic and science that studies stars and the movement of planets and involves almost nothing of practical magic. It is very useful for potions, Herbology and rituals that can just happen in a determined place and time but we won't learn that in Hogwarts," she said.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because, according to the ministry, some of those rituals are dark magic, and the use of dark magic is considered a crime, and punishable by law," Delphini said, with irritation in her voice.
"Oh," he said. "You disagree?" Harry asked, noticing her tone of voice from before.
"It doesn't matter if I do or not do," she said to him. "It is illegal and I would very much like not to go to prison," what Delphini didn't say was that thanks to her mother's actions, if she tried it and the ministry found out, they would throw her in Azkaban and lost the key to her cell.
"Thank Mother," she thought bitterly.
"Anyway," she said, trying to change the subject, "the class is taught by Professor Aurora Sinistra, a very serious and strict woman," she said. "Any questions?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "You said that some of those rituals were considered dark. Then, are there rituals that are not?" he asks, curious.
Happy with the subject, she said, "Yes, there are rituals that are made during festivities days that are allowed, for example during the winter solstice," Delphini said.
"What happens during the solstice," he asked.
"Who knows?" she said, mysterious. "If you want to know, you will have to attend the celebration."
When he heard her words, Harry could finally see similarities between her and Aries and not just physically. Sure, one was friendly, the other, not so much, but both of them were mischievous, in their own way.
"Is anyone allowed to attend these ceremonies?" He asked.
"Any wizard and witch who are thirteen years or more," he said. "You just have to ask your head of house permission a couple of days early," she said.
"Ok," he said, a little excited. He has never attended any festivities before. In Privet Drive, he always spends Christmas and the like locked in his cupboard. He hasn't even celebrated his birthday. It was pretty depressing.
But now, there were festivities that he would attend and there was nothing that the Durleys could do about it. This day was getting better and better.
"If you don't have any more questions, then I will continue," Delphini said. Seeing him shake his head, she proceeded. "Nex is Defence Against the Dark Arts," she said. "In this class, the students, supposedly, study and learn how to defend themselves against all aspects of the Dark Arts, including dark creatures, curses, hexes and jinxes and duelling," she said, with a little distaste in her words.
"You don't like that class?" Harry asks, hearing her tone of voice.
"It is not that I don't like the class," she said to him. "The problem is that the class has a different teacher each year, so the quality of the class can vary from year to year. Last year, we had a good, if a little introverted, teacher, which made the class interesting and informative for students in their first to third year. But some of my higher housemates complained that the class was useless to them. And Nymphadora told me that during her first year, the problem was exactly the reverse. The professor was competent in teaching the most complex of topics but he had problems explaining the most simple ones," she explained. "Is like playing that muggle game called roulette. One never knows what type of teacher is gonna get the job."
"Oh," he said. He didn't know what to say to that. He has yet to enter his first year so he hasn't been taught by different professors. The only thing that he could do was wish that the professor this year was competent. But something was itching inside his head. He knows that he has heard something about that class before meeting Delphini. But what was it?
Then, suddenly remembering, he said. "When I entered the Leaky Cauldron I met the new teacher of that class, his name was Quirrill or something like that," he said, trying and failing to remember his name.
"Quirrell," said Delphini, correcting him. "He used to be the professor of Muggle Studies, an elective class that you can choose to take in the third year. I heard that he was pretty good at teaching that class but still," she said with doubt." The two classes are very different, so I don't know how good he will be," she concluded.
"Well," said Harry, trying to lift the mood. "Let us hope that he is as good at teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts as he was at Muggle Studies," he said.
"Yes, let us," she said, " but let it continue, shall we," she said. "Next is…"
And so they continued talking about the classes and the professors for a while. Delphini was very knowledgeable about most of the classes and she didn't have a problem with Harry asking questions when was curious about something or when he didn't understand a particularly difficult subject.
Harry was very curious about magic in general. He asked more questions about the classes that have greater practical studies, like Transfiguration, than theoretical, like History of Magic. It was an expected outcome for a muggleborn, who didn't even know that magic existed. But does it happen to the heir of one of the twenty-eight? It was inconceivable.
She also recommended that he buy a couple of books about general knowledge about their world and formal etiquette. He shouldn't have to enter Hogwarts knowing so little about… well, everything.
She just hoped that he would have time to read them before school began.
Just as they were about to end their conversation, someone appeared. "Harry, I'm done buying the book," someone told them, jovially. They turn around to see Hagird, walking calmly to them. Seeing that Harry was talking with someone, he said. "Oh, Delphini, I didn't see you here, though I shouldn't be surprised," he said with a smile. "You just love books, ain't you?" Harry said.
When he heard his words, Delphini, to the surprise of Harry, gave the giant a warm smile. "Hello, Hagrid. How are you?" she said.
"Oh you know, same old, same old," he responded. "And you?" Hagrid asked in return.
"I am fine, thank you," she responded. "How is Fang?" Delphine asked him.
"Fang?" Harry asks himself in his head.
"He is fine, probably sleeping in my garden, waiting for me to return so I can feed him," he said, laughing a little.
"And Fluffy?" she said. "Is she still big and adorable?" she asked.
"Of course she is," Hagrid responded. "But I am afraid that you won't be able to see her much this year," he said, apologetic.
"What? Why? Did something happen to her?" she said, alarm.
"No, no," he said, moving his hands in front of her. "She is perfectly healthy, but she has an important job this year," Hagrid said, proudly.
"What job?" she asked with narrowed eyes.
"Well, you see, this year in the third-floor corridor…" he began to say when Hagrid suddenly looked horrified. "I shouldn't have told you that. Look, forget I said anything," he said to her. "Just know that she will be busy during this year, but she will be back the next one," he said.
"Oh, ok," she said, eyeing him doubtfully.
Hagrid looks at her for a moment when his face suddenly lights up. Moving her gaze to Harry, he tells him.
"Hey Harry, I have to talk to Delphini for a bit. Would you mind waiting for me outside for a moment" Hagrid asked him.
Harry nodded his head. He will do well with a little fresh air. Looking at Delphini, he said.
"Thank you, for the chat and all the help you gave to me," he said, smiling.
"You are welcome Harry," she said to him. "I hope that you listen to my advice and study these days before Hogwarts," she advised.
"Don't worry, I will," Harry said before turning around and exiting the store.
Will he wait for Hagrid to talk to her, he asked himself why the students at Hogwarts don't like Delphini, she was very nice and kind to him, very serious, but nice. Her mother must have done something horrible. It was a shame, really. He promised himself that he would try to be her friend if she let him.
But first, he has to repay her somehow for all the kindness that she showed him. But how?
While he was having these thoughts, his eyes wandered for the streets until they came across a particular shop.
Getting an idea, he smiles as he crosses the street to that store.
Five minutes later, Hagrid and Delphine come out of the bookstore, arguing with each other.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "There is a beautiful white one on sale that I am sure he will love," Hagrid said.
"I am telling you Hagrid, there are literally hundreds of them in the school and he wouldn't be able to keep one in his dormitories. Trust me, it is better if you buy him a..." she was saying when someone interrupted her.
"Hey guys!" said Harry, walking to them. He was coming from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour with an ice cream in his hand.
"Hey Harry," said Hagrid. "We just finished talking and I was going to go find you," he said. Seeing his ice cream, he said. "Got a little hungry, didn't you?" he asked with a smile.
"Ah no, this isn't for me," Harry said. Looking at Delphini, he said. "Here, I want to give you these," he said, offering her the ice cream, startling her.
Delphini was so surprised that she took it without thinking. Looking at it and then at Harry she said. "Why are you giving me this?" She asked.
Scratching his cheek, a little embarrassed, he said. "It is just, you help me so much that I want to do something nice for you," he said. "And then I saw that ice cream shop and I thought that it was a good way to start," Harry told her.
She kept looking at him for a moment before saying. "Thank you, it is a nice gesture," she said.
He smiled a little at her words. He was happy that she accepted the ice cream, he just hoped that she liked Chocolate and Vanilla. He had never eaten ice cream, so he chose two of the most common flavours that were there.
Having given her his gift, he looked at Hagrid and said, "Are you ready to go?" He asked.
A little startled at the sudden question, Hagrid responded. "Yes, I am ready," he turned to Delphini and said, "Well, it was nice seeing you, Delphini but me and Harry should be going," Hagrid said to her.
"It was nice seeing you too, Hagrid. Tell Fang that I will see him soon," he said. She then turned to Harry and said, "I'm glad I met you, Harry. I will see you later, "she said to him.
"I am glad to. See you later," Harry said as he and Hagrid began walking down the street.
Delphini stays put for a few seconds, seeing them leave and then look at the Ice cream. She hesitates for a moment before she too starts walking while she eats her food.
"What a curious boy," she said to herself as she ate.
While Harry was deciding what telescope he would buy, he asked Hagrid, "So Hagrid," he said, sounding curious. "How did you know Delphini, did you meet her while she was serving detention too?" she asked.
"No, no," said Hagrid. "Delphini is a good and obedient girl, unlike her more mischievous sister, "he said. He took a moment to think how to phrase it and then said. "Remember when I told you that she wasn't very popular in Hogwarts," he asked. Seeing Harry nod, he continued, "Well, the truth is that after the incident with Aries and one of the Weasley, the persons that targeted her stopped bothering her. But that doesn't mean that she manages to get friends in return," he said, shaking his head. "She was still as lonely as ever, in more peace, yes, but lonely. She used to spend a lot of time in the library or close to the lake near Hogwarts, all by herself" he told him.
While Hagrid was talking, Harry was sadly listening to his story. He feels really bitter for her. From what Aries told him, Hogwarts was supposed to be a good place to have friends. But it looks like it wasn't like that to everybody
While he was having this thought, Hagrid kept talking
"Then one day, me and my dog, Fang, were leaving the Forbidden Forest when he suddenly ran off to the lake," he said, smiling when remembering the moment. "When I finally caught up with him, he was on top of a student, licking her face while she was laughing happily," he said. "I just stopped there, stunned. I knew who she was, of course, but what surprised me was that, in all her time at Hogwarts, I never have seen her so relaxed, so happy. I approached them and took Fang off of her and we began talking. It turns out that she really likes animals. I showed her some of the animals that I keep close to my home and we quickly became friends," he finished saying.
"Wow," Harry said, surprised. "She didn't look like the type of person that likes that sort of thing," he said.
"Ha, one could think that," said Hagrid. "But animals have a way to relax and comfort people, especially lonely people," he said sadly.
That was not exactly true, according to Harry. The dog that the sister of Vernon, Marjorie, insisted on bringing to their house, wasn't exactly relaxing for him.
But oh well, at least a dog made it possible for Delphini to have a friend in her life, he thought.
Finally choosing what telescope to buy, Harry paid for it and then he and his companion exited the shop to continue with his purchases.
Hope you liked it.
