As the students were getting off the train, Harry was still with Daphne and her friends. The three girls had introduced him to some of the confectionaries of the wizarding world as he explained what he knew about the LeFay magical focus.
It is apparently the staff used by Morganna LeFay herself, back when she was an adviser to Arthur Pendragon. Her name was turned into the title given to one of the royal advisers, and as with the Merlin title, both held honorary seats on the Wizengamot for as long as there sat a king to advise.
A lot of this information came from a book that Harry gave Daphne that he couldn't open. Apparently the foci staves of Merlin and LeFay held enchants to empower whoever was deemed worthy by the Albion Magicks, which allowed her to open and read the journals of Morganna LeFay.
And what a treasure trove of knowledge this one was.
As Daphne was half distracted by the wand and book, Harry had managed to get a bit more shut eye after Tracey practically shoved him over so his head rested on Daphne's lap. As he was falling asleep however, he managed to answer another question or two.
Apparently, as a prince waiting to be king, he had to find two people and test them to be his advisers LeFay and Merlin. Both are just titles and nothing really comes from it other than the journals specifically given to it. Merlin and Morganna both wrote several journals detailing some of their lives and most of their personal advice. Morganna left more due to her line marrying into Merlin's and therefore leaving even her bloodline to be inherited by her replacement.
Yup, Morganna and Merlin were married. And she could have gone the rest of her life without reading those couple of pages where the woman was giddy during their wedding night. Apparently Morgana was the same age as Merlin, and the king had valued both of their wisdom.
To an extent, as she learned.
But the requirements for gaining either title was different from the other. The LeFay title required a pureblooded female, someone that would stand her ground when she believed she was in the right, but be willing to admit it when she is proven wrong. Her standing up to who she knew to be her fiance, knowing he could make her life a living hell if she was too antagonistic, proved she met the first requirement. But when he let out some of his pent up frustrations on them, and instead of getting angry, she comforted him before giving him an open invitation to talk with her more, even if just to rant like that, showed she was capable of the second.
The only time he had anything close to that, was when that mundane raised girl from before pulled him from his original compartment and talked with him before Goyle popped up with his briefcase and he talked with him. Not that any of the Tonks hadn't tried to comfort him before, they just had the rotten luck of being adults while Harry had a distrust and somewhat fear of them. Nymphadora, or Dora as she allowed Harry to call her, had unfortunately tried to cheer him up with a small joke that would have been laughed off by even the smallest of children, but hit a sore spot for himself.
Making her head grow fur over her face and smiling with fangs would have been laughed off by him as well, but she made the mistake of saying 'Harry Hunting', and that brought up too many nightmares for him to laugh about, even causing him to avoid her on her day off. She was already around so little as it was, seeing as she was going into being an Auror and her teacher, a Mad-Eye Moody, was always going on about how training never ended and constant vigilance.
She had been trying to cheer him up after he had a nightmare, not long after he had gone through a familiar summoning ritual outlined in the Peverell family grimoire, that gave him Aria. He might have already had Hedwig from Hagrid wanting to surprise him with a birthday present when he got back to Gringotts, but Harry had wanted to do something unique with one of his family grimoires, and the familiar summon was one of the safest options to do. And he made a bunch of friends from the whole situation, seeing as the nearest and easiest accessed fairy spring with an island was owned by a family known as the Lovegoods.
But having a nightmare that consists of all this good stuff having never happened, to wake up back in that cramped little cupboard. To relive, even if for a moment, all the terrible things from his past. Petunia, snarling about this whore of a mother whenever he left the room, Vernon shouting about him being a freak and swinging his belt at him.
And the relevant part that ruined Dora's joke, Dudley and his gang chasing him down and shouting about their game they called Harry hunting.
As far as he was aware, Aria had yet to forgive her for making him shut down and hide in his room. Nearly punishing himself in a forced learned manner as he was used to, locking himself away and not eating. If it weren't for the Tonkses coaching him into calming down and rejoining them, after Dora wound up bringing dinner to his room for them to join him.
Apparently someone, they weren't told who, was using compulsions on Harry for some time, which the goblins' cleansing ritual removed. He was forced to ignore all his issues that his relatives caused him instead of dealing with them. And after they found out about the prophecy through Andi's digging for any and all information, a quick trip to find and hear it along with seeing who received it originally, they were able to put together a theory.
The prophecy never mentions Harry winning, only that neither could live while the other survived. So if Harry dies, that completes the prophecy. And if someone takes that meaning, it means that anyone strong enough could sweep in and kill Voldemort while he was weakened or distracted. Which they suspect was Dumbledore's plan.
Unless the prophecy meant that only Harry could kill the dark lord, which would mean that Voldemort would simply be impossible to kill afterwards. Harry was just done thinking about all that though, the prophecy was barely light enough to count as still active, which means that Voldemort was barely clinging to life as it is because of what he and Ragnok did that day. So one of two things were going to happen, Voldemort would try to recreate an anchor and shatter his soul or would simply fade away.
Unless someone was stupid enough to turn what was left of his soul into an anchor, but knowing someone stupid or desperate enough to do that was anyone's guess.
As Harry and the girls stepped from the train, they were directed towards Hagrid's shouting. "First years! First years over here! Well hello Harry, glad to see you've found some friends."
Harry nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, I am apparently betrothed to Daphne here. It appears I am heir to the house of Black, and her family had a betrothal contract set up with them from a couple generations back. So since we meet the requirements to fulfill it, it is active."
Hagrid narrowed his eyes on Daphne, before nodding a bit. "I remember your father when he came through here, a rather well mannered gentleman if I ever met one, always a proper hello whenever we crossed paths. Well, back to business, got to round you lot up and get you to the castle I do."
Harry barely nodded before Hagrid was back to shouting out for the students to gather. The three girls and himself shared a boat, gasped in awe at the castle, and in the end were led with the rest to a side room to await their sorting.
Tracey nudged Harry with her elbow. "So, any guess on where you'll be sorted?"
Harry shrugged as Daphne simply stated Slytherin. Noticing his raised brow, she decided to explain. "Each house has different traits that are emphasized when it comes to the sorting. As young as we are, we are easily differentiated through singular traits, before they get all mixed and matched later on. My current dreams allude to great ambition, therefore, Slytherin."
Harry looked towards Tracey and Milicent, seeing both shrug as they gestured towards Daphne, with Tracey explaining. "While I am only a halfblood among these pureblood ladies, my pureblood father is kind of important in some corners. We were pretty much raised with the expectations of being sorted into Slytherin from the get go, so we have been plotting to rule the school. Ambitious and cunning, I would say."
As Harry snickered over his new friend's words, Ron Weasily decided to comment loudly. "So you reject one betrothal to accept one with a slimy snake? Maybe it was dark magic you used to defeat the dark lord, maybe you're looking to replace him."
Harry rolled his eyes as he attempted to ignore Weasley, assuming he either overheard or just assumed their connection. Daphne on the other hand gave the redhead a look of disgust. "Maybe because while your family is attempting line theft against the Potter family with your contract, the Black and Greengrass contract was crafted three generations ago and upheld by honor. If either of us tries to back out, it would cause our houses to enter a blood feud, while only disownment would prevent our families from facing the consequences. We could lose our magic and be cast out on our own, though Harry would just lose the Black Heirdom, I would lose everything and everyone I have ever known. Our circumstances are not the same, Weasley."
Ron sneered at her, whether because she was right or because she revealed that information in front of everyone, no one knew. Apparently the boy was still upset over what went on during the train ride and just wanted to take a dig at Harry in front of the other first years, probably to damage his reputation with them. But now, everyone was giving him looks of distrust and some fear.
Luckily for Ron, McGonagall popped back in soon after and invited them into the great hall for their sorting. Everyone tried to get into something resembling a line, but no one would call it that with how many groups had formed. Harry swears he heard the brunette from the train mention the enchanted ceiling being explained in Hogwarts: A History.
A hat sat on a stool in front of the head table, where Harry saw Dumbledore for the first time, sitting in a high back chair made of regular oak. The man clearly wasn't happy with his chair, seeing as he tried to keep his head held high as he pretended to not be partly glaring at the young Potter.
As names were called, his fiance and her friends were proven right as they each were sorted into Slytherin. He finally learned that the brunette from the train was named Hermione Granger when she was sorted into Ravenclaw. Draco wound up in Slytherin with Daphne and the girls, along with Greg and Vincent.
And as Harry himself was called up to be sorted, he ignored the looks and whispers as he sat down so McGonagall could drop the hat on his head. "Greetings young prince, looks like I am finally able to sort royalty within these walls, I had wondered when this would come to pass. Now, where to put you."
Harry sighed as he brought up some relevant information the hat needed to know. "Ah, yes, that would add a rather large limitation. I can right off the bat say that they eliminate the two houses that I would have argued for you. Your cunning is on display almost every day with your relatives, and if it ever fails you, you stand bravely against the darkness, never succumbing to the easy route of death. Loyalty has been greatly stunted, those that asked for trust have betrayed you too often for you to be able to dredge up much yourself. And while your wit is strong, it's not strong enough to be a defining feature, though I am sure Rowena would proudly step forward to protect you from your enemies in… Ravenclaw!"
While the Gryffindors felt cheated, and weren't shy in expressing their surprise at not getting Potter, Albus himself was shocked, and a bit angry that his plans for Harry to be in the lion den fell through. He needed ways to keep an eye on Harry, and could have even settled for the boy being placed in Slytherin. Mcgonagall and Snape would have both been willing to report to him about anything he would like to know, but Flitwick wouldn't cow before his wisdom or might. Ravenclaw was probably the worst place to put the boy, seeing as at least Pomona was easier to deal with when it came to getting information from. The ladies on staff tended to get together and have tea on several occasions outside the usual staff meetings.
Apparently men cause them all to have headaches more often than not, he even learned from Minerva that Sinistra still refuses to forgive him for passing her up as head of Slytherin house and giving the position to Snape because of those meetings. The woman obviously doesn't appreciate what he does for the world.
As the sorting came to an end, Minerva was so disappointed in Harry's sorting, it almost showed. She had honestly hoped to guide the son of some of her best students, and even had hopes that next year they would at least have a new star quidditch player. The sport ran deep within the boy's blood after all, his father would go on constantly about his innate skill when he had any free time before that dreadful night.
So, with Albus' final words, the feast began. Harry was still recovering from the damage done from years of starvation, so he took his dinner potion and started to eat. This however, raised a couple questions from several nearby students. Hermione was the one to ask. "What was that Harry?"
Harry sighed as he shrugged. "Like I mentioned on the train, when Dumbledore kidnapped me and left me with those muggles they starved me. That potion was a nutritional supplement to help me fix the damage of the past ten years."
Any of the students that surrounded them that had questions no longer wanted to ask any. Accusing Albus Dumbledore of kidnapping and aiding in child abuse was a heavy accusation. But Harry didn't appear to be lying, and as they took a closer look at him, he looked exhausted and miserable. He looked like he could use the bags under his eyes as pillows.
Harry turned to Hermione as he decided to ask her a question. "So, how excited are you to be in Ravenclaw? From your reaction on the train, I feel like you had your sorting all figured out, so how does your placement fit into your expectations?"
Hermione shifted slightly as she sighed heavily. "I had actually hoped to be in Gryffindor, because that was Dumbledore's old house. But after what you said, and with Weasley acting like it was okay, I couldn't stand the thought of following such a man's footsteps. To erase history, whether good or bad, is horrendous. A crime I will never forgive no matter what reason you give me."
Padma, figuring to move the subject of the conversation away from crimes that were supposedly committed by the most powerful man in magical Britain, decided to ask Hermione. "What about history that is better off forgotten?"
Hermione blinked at the girl. "Would you rather the events that you want to forget happen again?" As everyone around fidgeted at that, Hermione decided to add some details. "If we just ignore the bad things that happen throughout history, we will forget the consequences of those actions. Someone that doesn't know the full ramifications of their actions is doomed to repeat them. Therefore, it's better to keep all history written down where people can learn about the consequences, and therefore work to avoid them."
Harry nodded. "If one person jumps off a cliff and is hurt but doesn't tell people that it hurts, in order to find out it hurts, they will have to jump to find out it hurts."
Padma blinked as she looked between the nodding kids. "That kind of oversimplifies things, but explains so much."
Albus acted as if he wasn't using his magic to eavesdrop on Harry's conversation, but he decided he had no choice but to do so. And was thankful he did, considering the boy was slandering his name. The boy would have to be brought to his office soon to talk about these lies he has been spreading about himself.
As the feast came to an end, Dumbledore gave one last speech before making the students sing some horrible 'school anthem', before finally letting the prefects take the first years to their common rooms. The fifth year prefects take the firsties through the scenic route so they would have an easier time finding their way through the halls during classes.
After Flitwick showed up to explain the house rules, one of the older students stopped him from leaving. "Professor, what's that door lead to? It wasn't there last year, and none of us can open it."
Filius looked where the seventh year prefect indicated, and indeed found a rather fancy door. "I don't know."
Harry groaned as he decided to speak up. "It possibly leads to the royal chambers."
Noticing everyone looking at him, Harry shrugged. "I read in my ancestor's journal, that Hogwarts, before it was Hogwarts, was owned by the Pendragon family and called Camelot. Godric and Salazar were the descendents of Arthur Pendragon, through the Peverell line, which was also Merlin's line. Merlin's daughter Guinevere married Arthur Pendragon, and when the founders repurposed the castle to be Hogwarts they never removed anything that made it Camelot, just added to it. So, the castle is still charmed to provide an entry to the royal chambers for anyone that can claim the throne."
One of the other students, Cho Chang, but Harry didn't know her name, decided to ask. "So there's a prince or a princess here?"
Harry shrugged as he revealed the Pendragon heir ring. "Because of the whole Voldemort situation, through Right of Conquest, I claimed all of Voldemort's sworn followers due to the mark actually being a modified cattle brand. Which ironically was already altered by Salazar for Helga's use with her own animals. This was counted by Lady Magic towards the requirement for followers towards earning recognition as the heir to the throne. My accountant and Andi believe that Lady Magic also decided that the followers of those stupid books also counted, because they are worded as being my followers, not the books' followers."
Harry took a moment to look around at everyone's shocked faces. "Yeah, my accountant said it best. Lady Magic has obviously decided to fuck with everyone."
-=-=-=-=Chapter End=-=-=-=-=
Don't know if anyone who enjoys this has found my new story Werewolgan, but I am starting to post new stories on Friday and update two different stories throughout the weekend. Tomorrow will be Different Time Travel.
Something else I want to mention, I have been having a serious sit down with these stories and wound up with finishing up to chapter 4 for Different Time Travel and am almost halfway through this story's next chapter. And if you all feel like reading them early, I have a pat reon where you can do so if you feel like helping to support me.
