An/ I do not own hp
Months passed for the residents of Hogwarts. However, nothing happened within the castle to note. Harry had calmed down after the incident with James. After that, he returned to the library to spend time with his two friends. For the most part, no one treated him any differently for Larry. Most students just overlooked it.
It was nearing Christmas time, and he had been invited to join the Bones family for the holiday. At first, he was hesitant to do so, but after a lot of badgering from Edgar and Amelia, he agreed. He had also been invited to spend Boxing Day at the Evans house. Again, he decided after Lily badgered him.
They were currently on the train, and Harry was looking out the window as the two girls chatted. Snape was sitting next to Lily again and passing suspicious glares at Harry now and then. The boy hadn't been having a great year so far.
Slytherin wasn't as great as his mother's stories said it would. They didn't treat half-bloods any better than they did muggleborn, and he cursed his mother for not telling him. If it weren't for his hatred toward muggles and an older student named Lucius Malfoy, his life would be hell. Malfoy had taken him under his wing within the house so that others wouldn't harass him. He said that he may be half-blood, but at least that one half was from the prince's family. It wasn't an ancient house, but it was noble, and Snape was the last of the line.
He had also been harassed by the blood traitor Potter and his gang of thugs. Well, that's how he saw them anyway. They had been pulling pranks on the school almost since they arrived. Their favorite targets were Slytherins, with him being one of the worst to get hit, along with Harry.
However, it seemed that any prank they tried on the other boy backfired. They had once wanted to hit him with color-changing charms, but they had quickly been sent back at them. It had caused their hair and clothes to turn Slytherin green for a week. The worst part of it all, though, was the fact that their pranks were only getting more advanced as the year went on. Harry had to give them props for utilizing the lessons within their pranks.
Snape was getting more and more fed up with the group of marauders. He even retaliated against them when he was sure no one was around. However, his attacks were not as mundane as theirs. His had quickly become more violent. He had even attacked them with a fire hex if rumors were to be believed.
Harry, for his part, did believe it. He had made a friend within the house of snakes recently. A boy a year older by the name of Cyrus Greengrass. The Greengrass family was grey, much like his own. While following the old ways, they didn't have anything against muggleborns. They felt they should try and track the old ways more but were willing to advance into the newer centuries.
They had started talking one day in the library, and things kicked off from there. They then started meeting up in an abandoned classroom once a week to catch up and play some chess. A game that both loved and respected. They would then discuss the goings within the castle, becoming better friends. Currently, Harry was thinking back to his last conversation with the other boy.
(Flashback)
They were sat in the unused classroom that they always met up in. The chessboard was seated on top of the teacher's desk that had been left in the room. They had wheeled another chair from another room. Currently, neither was winning or losing the game.
"So, how are things in the pit?" Harry asked before moving his pawn.
Cyrus moved a pawn of his own before sitting back. "Not great. Those four Gryfs are stirring the pot within the house. Their pranks, while they can be funny at times, are starting to become too much. Last week, they managed to turn the black sisters' Hair Gryffindor red. Belitrix was ready to kill them all. I'm honestly not sure how Robistan managed to keep her from it either."
Harry raised an eyebrow as he moved another piece. "Lestrange? What does he have to do with her?"
Cyrus moved a piece. "He's been courting her now for a year. I'm sure a contract will come about in another ear or two. I'm not sure what she sees in the big brute, but hey, to each their own."
Harry nodded, pondering his next move before he made it. "What else is going on?"
"Not much, though Malfoy had taken Snape under his wing. Nothing good can come from that in the long run. Honestly, Harry, I suggest you watch your Muggleborn friend around him. He has an odd obsession with the girl. I've seen him staring at her across the hall at meal times. He also glares at you when she isn't looking. I'm not sure what's happening with him, but he does not like you and is obsessed with her." He told him.
Harry sighed as he made another move. "Yeah, I've seen that too. However, I can't tell her who to be friends with and who not to be. I don't own her, and I don't control her actions. All I can do is be there if things happen."
Cyrus nodded. "Yeah, I suppose your right. So, speaking of the Gryfs, their pranks will get someone hurt one of these days. I'm afraid it will end up being Snape, which may cause a war between the two houses."
Harry moved another piece. "What do you mean?"
"Like I said, they are giving it to the snakes. It's like a non-stop prank, just one right after another. Their favorite target besides you is Snape, and they are going after him. However, unlike you, who redirects the prank back, Snape, with the help of Malfoy, retaliates. They aren't using pranks, though, and things will quickly get more violent. Right now, it is small fire charms aimed at clothes or books. Before long, it will end up being something worse." Cyrus told him, leaning back, the game forgotten.
Harry sighed. "Yeah, you're probably right. I imagine that it won't take long before curses are sent."
Cyrus nodded. "The real question though is whether or not we can prevent it from getting to that point. If it does innocent people would get dragged into it."
Harry shook his head. "I don't know Cyrus I really don't."
(End Flashback)
The train came to a stop in London and they all said their goodbyes before each went their own ways. Harry promised Caroline that he would be there on time for Christmas. However he had other things he needed to do. It had been a while since he had read his grimore and he needed to catch back up. He would spend the next few days studying it.
(Christmas morning)
Harry woke up on Christmas morning not feeling up to celebrate. He hadnt celebrated the holiday since his parents death and he really didn't want to. However he was bound by a promise to celebrate with the Bones family. He got up and put his clothes on before making his way to the floo. He was to be over no later than nine in the morning.
He flooed into the manor at exactly eight fifty. He found Caroline smiling at him as he stepped out. "Ah good I was worried you wouldn't come."
Harry just gave a small smile. "Nonsense I wouldn't miss this."
The bones family was in full swing this morning. Each one in a great mood. He even received a hug from Amelia when she seen him. So far it wasn't to bad actually.
At dinner the conversations changed to more about school. "So how are you handling school Harry?" Caroline asked.
Harry swallowed his food. "It's not been to bad really."
"Not to bad? You are getting pranked almost every day by those four buffoons." Amelia fumed. She had been on a few of the Marauders pranks that miss Harry.
"Pranks?" Edward asked.
"Yes, four boys in Gryfindor who do nothing more than prank people all day. They seem to have a particular love of pranking Harry and the slytherins." Amelia fumed on his behalf.
"Really I wonder why that is?" Caroline asked.
"I think it is due to me being a Parseltongue along with Larry." Harry told them.
"Ah yes your familiar. I suppose that makes sense. Not many would see that as being a light familiar." Edward said and Harry just shrugged.
"Yeah but Potter seems to have it out for him pretty bad." Edgar added.
"Potter you say? Hmm yes that makes even more sense. The Potter family are die hard light followers. The only ones not were Charlus Potter and his wife Dorea a few decades ago. But from them on the family follows the light only. Before that they were grey. Now they think Dumbledore has a light shining out of his a…" Edward was cut off.
"Finish that sentince dear and I will curse you to the couch for the remainder of the holiday." Edward wisely shut up.
The kids chuckled at his plight as the dinner subject changed. It went from school to other less boaring things. They talked about their plans for the summer and again Harry was dragged into coming over. By the end of the night Harry was tired and ready to go home. He had received a gift of a new chess set from the Bones that was made of ivory and obsidian. He had gotten Amelia a very nice silver bracelet. He had also sent a gold one to Lilly. He had gotten a chuckle out of the fact that one girl liked gold and the other liked silver. He didn't know why it just seemed funny. The two were so much alike in their desire to do good in school but at the same time they were so different.
He went to bed feeling that it hadn't been nearly as bad as he had thought it would be. Though he felt a small pang in his heart the entire day. He went to bed early that night so that he could make it to the Evans family the next day and not be to tired.
The next day he had Trixie take him over to the muggle home. They arrived in the back yard so that no one else would see them. The house itself was a moderately sized home with a nice garden in the back yard. He made his way to the back door and gave a light tap on it. A moment latter he was takled over by a blur of red.
"Happy Christmas Harry!" Lily squealed.
Harry chuckled as he gave her a hug back. "Happy Christmas Lily."
He was quickly ushered inside and greeted the three remaining Evens. It didn't take long before they had taken out various board games and the five of them were playing. They played and talked for a few hours just enjoying the company. Harry was surprised at seeing Patunia laughing along with her family. Again this was a shock to him.
From what Sirius had said she hated Lily even while they were in school. This led him to wonder again what had happened to make her hate the magical world so much. He had even heard that she had written letters asking to go to Hogwarts but here she didn't seem as though she really desired to go. She even seemed to get along with Lily rather well too. It wasn't until dinner after dinner that he got some answers.
It was just him and Patunia in the living room as Lilly helped their mother and Richard was taking a nap. "Harry can I ask you something?" She asked softly.
Harry looked over at the blond girl. "Sure Petunia what's on your mind?"
She looked down at her hands that were folded in her lap. "Will I lose Lily to the magical world?"
Harry frowned a bit at her question. "I'm not sure what you mean. Why would you lose Lily to the magical world?"
She turned her head to look out the window. "Its just that that Snape boy said that when they were older he would take her from here and I wouldn't ever see her again. He said that people like me without magic were nothing but useless waste of space and that I would never amount to anything. That I would just weigh her down and that she deserves better. I love my sister Harry and I don't want to weigh her down but I also don't know if I can just leave her alone either. I don't want to lose her."
Harry listened to her carefully. Could it really be that Snape was the biggest reason his aunt was like she had been. "No, I don't think you will lose her Petunia. I think you mean just as much to her as she does to you. She talks about you even at school you know. But if you really want to. Be able to understand even a little of what its like in our world for her you could always learn how to use potions."
She looked down again. "But the headmaster said that I cant learn magic because I don't have any."
Harry was now internally frowning. So she had already messaged the headmaster. She must have been putting a mask on infront of her family. He wasn't sure why she was trusting him but he had to help her a little. "You know you don't need have magic to learn to brew potions. There isn't any magic done in it. All you need is to cut things and such. If you would like I can get you a Potions book and you could look it over. I can even get you a beginners potions book. Many people called squibs who have magical parents but no magic still make potions so I can't see why you couldn't. Then durning the summer you could ask Lilly to help you learn and I can help you as well if you like."
When she looked back up at him her eyes were shinning with unshed tears. "You would really do that for me?"
Harry smiled a bit at her. "You're my friend now Petunia and I won't leave you behind simply because you can't use magic."
She reached over and took him into a hug. "Thank you Harry. Thank you for giving me hope that I wont loss her. Please take care of her over there where I can."
Harry hugged her back a little. "I will, you don't have to worry about her Petunia."
And just like that the life of one more person was changed by Harrys presence with in this time. The rest of the day was spent playing more games before Harry finally went home. He sent Trixie out immediately to retrieve a potions book for the oldest Evans child and take it to her. The rest of his holiday was spent once again in his office studying. Over the following summer he would start to practice the magic within this book. Magic that hasn't been seen in centuries.
(Hogwarts express)
Two weeks later found Harry once again on the Hogwarts express speeding off to Scotland. Snape once again sat next to Lily. Harry was again reminded of his conversation with Cyrus about his obsession with the girl. Just how far would he go to get what he wants. What was it exactly that he wanted from the girl as it was. All in all harry was growing concerned about it.
Their travels were interrupted by four visitors entereing their compartment. "Hey Events we've been looking for you." James said excitedly.
"Go away Potter." She said distractedly as she continued to read.
"Ah come on don't be like that. Why don't you come join us in our compartment. It would be better than hanging around a Puff, a snake and a dark lord." He said sneering at both Harry and Snape. He was disappointed though that Harry paid him no mind as he continued to look out of the window. "What Pendragon aren't you going to say something to that?"
Harry glanced at the other boy. "Not really sure why I would. You are free to form your own opinion just like anyone. As to Lily going with you, that is completely up to her. I won't stop her if that's what she wants. She is a grown girl and can make her own decisions. However if she doesn't want to go with you then again she can handle herself and I trust her to come to me if she needs help."
Lily looked up at him with a beaming smile. That was something she, and Amelia, liked about Harry. He let them make their own decisions and supported them in whatever that decision is. However he was always willing to help them if need be.
She then turned to Potter to speak. "I do not wish to go with you so please leave us be. We are just trying to enjoy the ride."
"Oh come on Evans i'm so much better than these guys." James whined then he gained a look like a light went off in his head. "I know why don't you go out with me huh? Yeah that would be perfect."
Lillies face turned a bit pink from his words but the look in her eyes told harry it wasn't from embarrassment or being caught wanting to date the boy. No she was angry. "Potter I will not be going out with you! Now leave before I make you!" She growled pulling her wand.
Luckily it seemed that Sirius was the reasonable one of the two and quickly pulled the other boy out. Peter was following shortly after. The fat boy scurrying after the two. Lupin lingered at the door for a second. "Sorry about him. I'm not really sure why he was acting like that." And with that he was gone.
Harry though quickly stood up. "Excuse me im going to the restroom."
Harry quickly followed out the door. He quickly ran after lupin and snagged the boy as he was passing an empty compartment. "Huh!" He yelped as he was dragged into a compartment. He spun around to come face to face with Harry. He went pale at seeing the other boy staring at him. Harry was the best in their year right up there with Lily and himself in class. The only thing he did better though then them was his spell work. He always got it first out of them and his was always perfect the first time. He had heard that he was said to be as powerful as at least a fifth year student.
"We need to talk Lupin." He said plainly.
"A-a-about what?" He asked.
Harry just looked at him for a moment before he spoke. "We have a problem and you know it. You and your friends are getting out of hand with the pranks. They are getting to be more than pranks especially with the Slytherins and you know it. Do you four want a house war on your hands?"
Remus paled. "NO! No that's not what we want at all. Were just having a little fun."
Harrys face softened at his words. He could tell the boy didn't really belive his own words. "Remus small pranks on various people is one thing. Especially if they are okay with it like pranking a friend. What you lot are doing so far isn't a prank. Its more like targeted attacks on people you either don't like or see as being dark witches and wizards. For some reason you have also decided to target myself and Snape the most. I don't know why you are doing this and I rally don't care if you try to prank myself. However you have also hit Amelia with these pranks more often than not. You hit the girls with anything worse than a hair change and I will retaliate after that. You understand me?" He nodded. "Just get a handle on the others. I can tell that you don't agree with what they do and Petegrew is like a tagalong on most of their ideas."
"Ill try." Lupin said looking down. "But you don't understand. They are the first real friends I have made. I don't want to loose them."
Harry looked at the other boy sadly. He remembered how that felt in his last life with Ron and Hermione. He reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "You know if you want I can be your friend to Lupin. Do you like to play chess?"
Remus looked up at the other boy a bit stunned. "I-I do but I don't want pity you know."
Harry chuckled. "I don't give pity lupin. Pity is usless. If I didn't think we could be friends because we are similar or something then I wouldn't offer it. And you should know I don't mind that you're a wearwolf."
Now the boy lost all color. "B-B-But how!"
"It doesn't take a genious to figure out you know. Not if you know what to look for. But don't worry I for one feel everyone deserves a chance to be happy and to learn. So your secret is safe with me. If you decide you want to have a game of chess I will be in the abandoned classroom on the third floor. Last room on the left down the right side." And with that Harry walked out leaving a stunned Lupin. Remus walked out five minutes later deep in thought.