Chapter 4 is here! I know it's been a while, but my fics will never be abandoned! Life has just been crazy busy, and I have quite a few WIP's that I'm working on. But I have promised myself not to start any new stories until I finish some of my WIP's so I should hopefully be updating a little more regularly than I have been. My brain is so fried from uni so the chapters will probably be a bit shorter then usual. Anyway. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4
Orion stared in shock at his friends.
"How does he know my grandfather?" he asked again, looking around the room.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Wake him up."
Orion nodded and reached down to give Harry a harder shake.
"Harry, wake up!" he said more firmly.
"Seriously Sirius, bugger off!" Harry grumbled slowly rolling over and rubbing his eyes tiredly.
Orion had to stop himself from smiling at the adorable image of a sleep ruffled Harry Potter.
Orion could see as awareness returned to Harry, green eyes gradually clearing.
"Orion?" Harry asked slowly, blinking up at the dark-haired teen. Harry tried to appear calm, but his heart was racing in his chest. He glanced around to find the rest of their dorm mates watching him closely. Dammit!
"How do you know my grandfather?" Orion asked and it was the most serious Harry had seen him since he arrived.
"Who's your grandfather?" Harry asked innocently, ignoring the derisive snort from somewhere in the room.
Orion's eyes narrowed. "You should know, you said his name."
Harry's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, he pushed himself into a seated position so that Orion wasn't looming over him quite so much. Harry knew that if he tried to lie outright the Slytherins would be on to him in a heartbeat, he'd never been a good liar. He decided on a version of the truth.
"I'm not sure who your grandfather is" technically true "but I was saying my Godfathers name, Sirius."
Orion stared at him intently. "Your Godfathers name is Sirius?"
"Was" Harry said quietly and he in no way was faking the pain that laced his words. "He died a few months ago."
Orion looked immediately contrite.
"Your Godfather died recently?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah" he said tearfully. Argh why was he getting so upset, he thought he had dealt with his grief already. It probably had something to do with how much Orion looked like Sirius or the fact that he was effectively telling Orion about his own son's death. And wow wasn't that a kick to the head when you thought about it.
Tears welled in his eyes and Orion looked around the room panicked, unfortunately no help was forthcoming, everyone looking completely flummoxed as what to do with a crying teen they barely knew. But oh, if those grief filled eyes didn't stir something deep within Orion.
Before he could decide what to do Nott had elbowed him unceremoniously out of the way and pulled Harry into his lap. Wrapping his arms around the slight teen. Harry threw his arms around Nott's shoulders and buried his face in the other teens neck. Quiet sobs echoing though the room.
"Hey, it's OK" Nott murmured running his hands soothingly up and down Harry's back, noting just how tiny the other teen was.
Orion glared heavily at Nott; he would've thought of doing that if he'd just been given more time! Nott should keep his bloody hands to himself! He thought darkly.
Harry pulled himself back after a few minutes and Nott reached up to grip the smaller teens face, wiping tears away with his thumbs.
"Thank you" Harry said quietly, now thoroughly embarrassed by his outburst.
He pushed himself off Nott completely, glancing around the room before looking at the floor in embarrassment.
"Ah, sorry about that. I thought I'd dealt with his death already… but obviously not."
A few like Orion and Nott looked sympathetic, but others still looked distrustful.
"I don't believe you" Corvus put in, his tone wasn't angry, nor was it kind.
"Huh?" Harry questioned, wiping the last of the tears from his face. "You don't believe my Godfather died or you don't believe that I haven't dealt with his death?"
"I don't believe you're telling us the whole truth" Corvus explained further, his tone taking on a more malicious quality.
Harry rolled his eyes, trying not to be intimidated by the cold tone.
"Really!?" he said snarkily. "Is the fact that I'm not telling you everything really a surprise? I have known you people for what, a day. Contrary to what you might think, you are not entitled to know everything about me."
Corvus scowled but wisely kept his mouth shut at a quelling look from Riddle.
"I hope in time you will come to trust us, Harry" Riddle put in smoothly, watching the green-eyed teen with such an intent look that he swallowed nervously.
I won't be here long enough for that to happen, Harry thought thankfully, but outwardly he just nodded. He would have to be more careful from now on he repeated for what felt like the 10th time. They were already clearly suspicious of him, and he'd only been here a day. He really wasn't cut out for this time travel nonsense he thought ruefully.
"How did your meeting with the Headmaster go?" Abraxas asked, sensing a change of topic was in order.
"Great" Harry said, trying to shed his melancholy. "I picked up my things" he said pointing to his still unpacked suitcase "and had a chat with my brothers." He felt a little thrill run down his spine at the words, a bright happy smile breaking out on his face.
"Your brothers?" Abraxas asked pointedly.
"Yeah, Charlus and Fleamont."
"Ah" said Riddle as he began to slowly circle, Harry tried not to feel too much like prey. "So that's how you're related to the Potters. Why then has no one ever heard of you" he paused for dramatic effect, "and how did you end up here at Hogwarts, late, with no belongings?"
Harry swallowed thickly, OK maybe they should have put a little more thought into his cover story, especially with how observant these Slytherins were.
"I've been sick for most of my life. I finally got the all clear from a healer that I was well enough to attend Hogwarts. Unfortunately, I was attacked on my way here and lost most of my belongings."
Riddle eyebrows rose at that, taking in Harry's diminutive and delicate structure which only added credence to his story.
"Attacked by who?" Riddle asked dangerously, pausing his pacing to meet Harry's eyes.
"I really think that's enough about me for one evening" Harry put in frantically, not wanting to say any more until he got a chance to give Charlus a heads up.
He thought for a second that Riddle was going to push it, but the Slytherin surprised him by nodding in compliance, the others following suit. He let out a little sigh of relief but knew that the Slytherins would start demanding answers sooner or later.
"Dinner?" Riddle suggested lightly, finally tearing his eyes off Harry and speaking to the room at large.
Harry's appetite had completely fled but he agreed to go anyway, mostly to avoid any further suspicion.
His year mates seemed to have come to an unspoken unanimous agreement to ignore what had happened in their dorms, while he was grateful for the reprieve, he wasn't foolish enough to think that it let him off the hook. They were at least more subtle about their scheming then his fellow Gryffindors.
Harry ate little, even after his nap earlier he felt drained. Meeting long lost relatives as well as the emotional upheaval that bringing up Sirius' death had wrought, had wearied him and he could admit that he was looking forward to getting to bed.
A heavy hand fell on his shoulder causing Harry to jump out of his skin, cursing himself for not paying attention to his surroundings he spun around quickly to find Alphard grinning down at him.
"Alphard!" Harry said brightly, his dark mood lifting at once. Alphard raised a brow at the enthusiastic greeting. He pushed his way into the spot beside Harry, causing everyone to shuffle down. Orion fixed his cousin with a fierce scowl as he was forced from his place beside Harry.
"Watch what you're doing, cousin" Orion sneered, pulling his robe down neatly again.
Alphard merely ignored the other Black. "And why aren't you eating?" Alphard asked. He was smiling but the question was a serious one.
"Just a bit tired" Harry said mildly. "I'm never very hungry when I'm tired."
"Here" Alphard said, reaching for a dish. "The honey carrots are amazing."
Harry gave him a sceptical look but didn't stop the older Black from putting a pile of carrots on his plate. With a very pointed look from Alphard, Harry began to eat.
"How was your day?" Harry asked the other, who was now dishing up his own pile of carrots.
"Oh, same old same old. Wowed everyone with my magical prowess, like usual" Alphard said with a smirk.
"Oh, I'm sure" Harry said with a laugh and an eye roll. But Alphard had achieved what he'd set out to do, bringing a smile to Harry Potter face.
They finished their meals quietly chatting about their days and ignoring everyone around them.
That night Harry finally unpacked his trunk, carefully putting his new belongings away. He wouldn't admit it to anyone in the room, but it felt good to have some things that were his again, even if they were just a few outfits and personal hygiene items. Growing up with nothing meant he treasured everything he did have.
He folded his robes and clothes neatly, pulling out a pair of black pyjamas in a very soft cotton material. He pulled the covers around his bed as he changed, earning a few raised eyebrows from the other boys who were changing openly in front of everyone.
When the curtains opened again Harry emerged swathed in dark fabric, that highlighted his fair skin even more.
Abraxas found himself staring at the almost ethereal sight.
Harry returned the worn robe to Orion.
"Thank you again for the lend of your robe, Orion, I really appreciated it" Harry said sincerely, looking up at Orion with a soft smile.
"Any time, Harry" Orion said, putting the robes in a pile for the house elves to launder.
With a big yawn Harry climbed into bed. "Well, good night" he called softly as he pulled the curtains shut around him, smiling at the "goodnight's" that echoed back.
The six remaining boys in the dorm glanced at each other before quietly continuing with their night-time routines. After some time had passed and they were quite sure that Harry was asleep, or at the very least not going to venture out of his bed again tonight, Riddle shot a silent silencing spell at Harry's curtains blocking out their conversation from the other teen.
Orion sat on his own bed with Corvus and Abraxas beside him, while Riddle Theo and Austin sat opposite them.
"What are you thinking, my Lord?" Corvus asked hesitantly.
"I'm thinking…" Riddle paused as he tapped his finger to his chin, "that there is much more to Harry Potter then meets the eye."