Harry could barely believe that the summer was nearly over. He had spent a glorious two months staying at the Malfoys, and was almost, but not quite, unhappy to have to return to Hogwarts. His break had been the next best thing to idyllic, being able to do whatever he and Draco decided they wanted to. It had been a fantastic holiday. Most of their friends had come over at some point or another. Blaise had gone to Italy with his mother, so he wasn't around, but everyone else visited. They had some fun times. Barbecues, Quidditch games, swimming-and Harry still had found time to read.
Lucius had hosted a dinner for some fundraising event for St. Mungo's Hospital. Harry had been introduced to many of the most important political figures, including the Minister for Magic. It had definitely been interesting, the Minister, a short, nervous-looking man, had almost dropped his hat when he shook Harry's hand. It didn't really inspire much confidence in the man, but Harry assumed there must be some reason he had been elected. Harry had spent much of that night avoiding his Headmaster. As head of the
Wizengamot, he couldn't just be not invited when all his peers were.
Even though Lucius had expressed his displeasure at being forced to welcome the man into his own home. Harry still wasn't quite sure how he felt about the old wizard. He often wanted to punch the man right in his spectacles, but other times he felt as if he would like to just forgive him. He didn't really enjoy carrying anger around within him. In the meantime, Harry decided to simply avoid the man as much as he could. It might not be so easy once he returned to school, but it would be mostly do-able.
At the moment though, he was preparing to go shopping with Lucius and Draco. He had given Narcissa (She had chided him early on in the break for referring to her as Mrs. Malfoy), a blood-quill signed letter for Gringotts the previous week, and when she had gone there to sort out something she had withdrawn money for him. His purse was full, his stomach was full, and he was ready to hit the town. A pity that Draco wasn't, really.
Eventually, Draco finished eating. Moments later, Lucius called them both into his study.
"Harry," the man said, "You've never traveled by Floo, correct?"
Harry looked nervously at the fireplace.
"Uh, no sir. I've read about it though"
Lucius gave Harry an indulgent smile, "Of course you have" He murmured. "Well, Draco will go first, and he will wait for us precisely where he comes out" He turned his head towards his son, voice becoming far harder, "Won't you, Draco?"
"Yes, sir," Draco said, looking down at his shoes.
The blonde boy took a pinch of the powder his father was professing and threw it into the fireplace, turning the flames bright green.
"Remember Draco, we are going to Knockturn first"
Draco nodded, before stepping into the fire.
Harry gasped slightly. Even though he had known how Floo powder worked, he still was not fully prepared to see his best friend step into a roaring fire.
"Knockturn Alley" Draco said slowly, emphasizing the words strongly. With that, he spun around very, very quickly, and was gone.
"You go, Harry".
Harry took some of the powder from the box in Lucius' hand. It felt oddly oily to touch it.
"Say it clearly Harry. Don't let the words get muddled, or you'll end up somewhere else"
Gulping, Harry practiced the name a few times. He threw the powder into the flames, which changed again and stepped in. The fireplace felt cool, the flames licking him no more than a dog's tongue.
"Knockturn Alley," He said, trying to say it as slowly and carefully as he could.
And then he was spinning, faster and faster until suddenly he was being pulled, and tossed around, and then-
He stumbled out of the sooty fireplace into a dingy pub. Draco was standing there, waiting for him.
Harry looked around absentmindedly while he rubbed the ash off his robes.
This was definitely not the Leaky Cauldron.
There was a far-scummier type of crowd around here. People with hooded faces, people drinking firewhiskey at-Harry glanced at his watch- 10 in the morning.
"What's this place called?" He asked Draco, just as Lucius swirled into existence behind him.
"It's the White Wyvvern!" Draco said excitedly.
"Come, boys. We need to take care of something before heading to Diagon"
They left the pub, the barkeep bowing low as they passed.
"Sir?" Harry asked, "Why didn't we just Apparate here?"
"Knocturn Alley is warded against Apparition, Harry. A safety precaution"
"Why isn't Diagon Alley warded also?"
Lucius sneered. Whenever he did so, Harry was shocked at how much Draco resembled him.
"They wish to give a sense of warmth and welcome. Fools, the lot of them"
' It is more convenient for them'
"Knocturn is actually the older alley" Lucius continued, his tone slightly lecturing. "Originally, this was considered to be an unsafe area by muggles, and they avoided it at night. We adapted, and used it as our shopping ground, but only at night. Hence the pun in the name. Eventually, Diagon Alley was added on, and it became the main center for those of us willing to abandon tradition"
Harry and Draco kept getting distracted by the strange and vibrant sights around them, and Lucius kept having to call them to keep them moving.
"Are those actual heads?"
"Whoah! Look at that Hag!"
"You may look around the store, boys, but touch nothing," Lucius said, as he entered a shop. Harry could just make the name out on the faded sign.
Borgin and Burke.
The stooped over shopkeeper greeted them.
"Master Malfoy. Young Master Malfoy. And, Master Potter, I believe?"
The man's greasy tone grated on Harry's nerves. He was saved from answering by Lucius, who strode up the counter and begin talking in a low voice. The boys were too distracted by the objects around the store, although Harry could have sworn he heard the name "Weasley" mentioned, which made him feel a fleeting jet of hot rage.
"Harry, look at this!"
Harry looked where Draco was pointing. It seemed to be a severed hand, which a hole in the palm and a candle sitting in it. The plaque served to shed some light on it.
The Hand of Glory: The candle inserted will give light only to the one holding it, and to those he wishes. No matter what magical or natural means are used to cause darkness, the Hand will give light
"That could definitely be useful," Harry said thoughtfully.
The boys wondered the store, pointing out the gruesome contents to one another, and trying to come up with the most interesting backstory to it.
"Hey Draco, check this thing out," Harry said, pointing at the large wardrobe sitting in the corner of the room. The plaque on it wasn't particularly informative.
Vanishing Cabinet: The other in this pair is broken, and its location is unknown.
"What's a vanishing cabinet?" Harry said, mostly to himself.
"Oh, that's what it is. We've got one at home, a lot of the old families do"
"Thanks, Draco, now I know exactly what it is and what it does"
"Don't give me that. You have a pair of these cabinets, and you can travel from one to the other. You just go in, close the door, and when you open it you're in the other one"
"What's the point? I mean, you could just Apparate, or take a portkey, or-"
"They're for emergencies. The one we have will take you to a safe house. Also, all the other ways can be Warded against or blocked. These can't"
Harry looked at the shabby cabinet with more appreciation, but quickly realized-
"Well, if you can't block it, what use is it? If you're running from someone, you don't want them just chasing after you"
"If one of them has an open door, you can't travel through it," Draco said exasperatedly.
Lucius sent them off to the apothecary, while he went to sort something out at the Quidditch supplies store. Draco was so overexcited, he giggled quite loudly, in a very high pitch, then immediately looked around him, cheeks reddening.
Harry made a show of turning his head around slowly and looking confused.
"I thought I just heard Pansy. Did you hear anything, Draco?"
"Shut up"
"But, I'm sure that-"
"Shut up already".
Snickering, Harry followed Draco into the apothecary.
' It's pretty cool of Lucius to buy brooms for the team'
' Its bribery is what it is, and you know it'
' Draco is a good player'
' So? It still isn't right! And you're being a part of it!'
' It's not wrong, it's just using every tool that I can to make sure I'm on the team'
' It's unfair!'
"Can I help you?"
Harry blinked up at the shopkeeper, standing before him.
"Uh, yeah. Second-year Hogwarts, and"
The man just walked off.
' That's kinda rude'
He returned a few moments later, with a box.
"Here you go. I decided to make life easier on myself this year. Got a hold of all the school lists, and made a bunch of boxes beforehand. Seven Galleons please"
"I'm telling you, Harry, you're being ridiculous!"
"No, I'm not. You're just not listening!"
They were sitting and sipping their ice cream sundae's at Fortescue's, while they waited for Lucius to return from the Broom store.
"But, who ever heard of a Parselmouth that doesn't have a pet snake? It's such a waste"
"I've told you, Draco. Half the school already think I'm some evil guy. My having a snake would only make things worse! Besides, I don't think we're even allowed pet snakes"
"You're just letting what Weasley said get to you. And I'm sure Snape would let you have a snake if you just would ask him"
Sighing, Harry took a long sip before replying.
"You might be right. Tell you what, I'll see how things go this year, and maybe end of the year I'll ask if I can bring one"
Draco gave a brilliant grin, sun gleaming off of his teeth. "You know I'm right. At least learn that spell Peter used. Imagine it! You're in a fight, and you just make some snakes and send them at your enemies"
Harry was forced to admit that would be really cool. And quite intimidating, for whoever was on the receiving end. Not too long later, a shadow fell over their table.
"Come, boys. Let's go get your books"
"Did you get them?" Draco half asked, half demanded. His father smiled at him.
"They will be delivered to Severus, at Hogwarts"
"Excellent" Draco whispered, eyes alight.
"Now, let's go. Just getting all those Lockhart books will prove to be a time-consuming nightmare"
Nightmare was definitely the operative word there. Harry and Draco followed Lucius as he strode towards the apparition point. The man was fuming to himself, muttering under his breath. Draco had been pretty embarrassed by his father's conduct, but Harry privately felt that he had gotten the short end of the stick in the bookstore.
' That man is my teacher! How am I gonna survive this year!'
Being called out in the middle of the store had been bad enough. Being forced to have his picture with that arrogant man had been worse. Lucius and Mr. Weasley's fight had been even worse. The crowning highlight of embarrassment had been the groundskeeper's intervention. After separating the two men, the oaf had the gall to smile at and greet Harry.
' He probably doesn't even remember our conversation last year'
And now, lugging their book bags, Draco and Harry followed the blonde man at a short, safe distance. He hadn't spoken since they left the shop, at least not to the two boys. Harry tried not to look at Draco, he didn't want the boy to be embarrassed further.
"Harry, are you prepared for your second year at Hogwarts?"
Harry settled comfortably in his chair. His discussions with Lucius in the man's study had become a regular thing.
' I'm glad his black eye is gone though, it would make this way more awkward'
"Yes, sir. I'm not particularly excited for our new teacher, though"
"Indeed. Please keep me informed on how his classes are. The truth is, this year he was the only applicant. Myself, and the rest of the school board are still looking for someone else to take over for him.
To be honest, his books read like a fiction. If they are true though, he would be a most accomplished wizard"
' I haven't read more than a few pages yet, but I'm pretty sure it's all lies'
"Now, Harry. Why have you not bought yourself a snake? Draco is rather concerned, and I promised him I would discuss it with you"
' Draco, sometimes I really want to punch you'
"It's just-I don't want my reputation to be affected anymore. People have already been talking about me, and I don't want to give them something else to talk about"
"And so you will live your life based on the whims of others'?"
"No, sir. But I'm only going into my second year, and there are already rumors that I'm evil. I don't want to be ostracised"
"That may be the wise course. See that you do not waste your gift. It is a rare, and wonderful talent you have. I shall not push, but I believe that you may need to discuss your worries with someone"
"My-worries?"
"Yes. You worry far more than any child your age should about how public opinion views you. This is not automatically a bad thing, but if it is controlling your life, then it may serve to be"
Harry shifted uncomfortably.
' I really don't like where this is going' . But Lucius continued.
"This is not a nice topic, Harry. But I must ask you if you have ever spoken about your life in the orphanage?"
"I-I spoke to you about it, sir. And to Draco. And one or two of my friends"
Lucius waved his hand. "I don't mean that. I mean, have you ever discussed, in detail, what your life was like there? You mentioned, in passing, the torment that you suffered. Have you ever focused on that part?"
"N-No".
' Change the subject. Don't think about it'
"I believe, you should. It may be affecting you more than you know" He said ominously.
' Nope. Not affecting me. I ended it, I killed them' and oh, how that still bit in his gut to think, ' It's over. It's done with'
"If you need, I will make myself available. Sometimes, just talking about such things can make you feel better"
' NO. IT'S DONE'
"Yes, sir," Harry said quietly.
"If you would rather you can always speak to Severus"
Harry just nodded.
' Please, let this conversation just end'
Lucius raised a glass of brandy.
"A toast," He said, cutting through the conversation around the table. Narcissa had been telling Draco how absolutely handsome he looked, while Harry sniggered away.
"A toast" He repeated, "To an exciting year at Hogwarts"
Harry and Draco dutifully lifted their glasses, even though there was nothing more than soda in them.
"I can't believe my baby is already in his second year," Narcissa said, hugging Draco close to her, setting Harry off on a new round of laughter.
' Admit it, you're jealous of him'.
Not long later, Harry and Draco were in their beds, fast asleep. They were all ready to go back to Hogwarts the next day.
Lucius sat in his study, sipping a brandy. He raised it once again, as if in toast.
"To an exciting year at Hogwarts indeed. And to the end of Arthur Weasley's pitiful career"
The Hogwarts express took off with a loud blast from the horn. Harry was with his friends in a compartment. It was different being on the train as a second year. There were all these kids running around, trying awkwardly to make friends and start conversation. Harry and Draco even had to tell one of them that their compartment was already taken. The kid tried to complain, saying that there were so many empty seats, but he was quickly put to rights and left.
"No longer gonna be the youngest in the school" Harry smiled. It had been a bit galling, towards the end of the year, to still be seen as the children.
Blaise was busy telling them all about his trip to Italy. Apparently, his mother was as well connected there as in Britain. He had just finished talking about how he met the Italian Minister for Magic when their compartment door opened, and a young brown haired girl walked in.
"Daph, I've been looking for you all over!"
Daphne seemed a bit embarrassed by this.
"Tori, I'm with my friends. Go sit with your own friends"
The girl, Tori presumably, pouted.
"You're just gonna ignore me all year because I'm younger than you? That's so lame"
"I just don't want to have to be looking after my little sister all the time!" Daphne retorted.
"Fine" Daph's sister said, flouncing her hair, "at least introduce me to your friends, I'd like to know whose house I'll be in"
"Unless you're a Hufflepuff," Daphne said snipingly, causing the younger girl to shudder.
"Girls, girls. Relax. Tori, I'm Draco-"
"I know that. We have met before you know"
"Just reminding you," Draco said charmingly, "And this is Harry and Theo, and Blaise"
"Harry? You're Harry Potter?" She said, accusingly.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Oh. I thought you'd be taller" She seemed to be appraising him.
' At least she's not fawning all over me'
"Ok Tori," Daphne said, standing up with her face reddening, "Time to go" "But-"
"Out!"
Daphne sat back down.
"That was a bit harsh on her," Theo said.
"Harsh? I'm just trying to make sure she doesn't follow me around all day and try to do everything I do! I have my own life, and my own friends and she should also"
"But it can't be so bad" Pansy started
"You don't have a younger sister, you don't know what it's like. She's cool enough, and I don't mind hanging out with her, but I don't want her to follow me around all day"
The compartment fell into silence for a bit.
Theo brought out a deck of cards and started trying to explain how to play Poker. Soon enough, a game was going. Harry stayed lost in thought.
' What would it be like, having a younger sibling? Someone to follow me around and annoy me, but also someone who I could talk to. Someone who lived life with me'
Harry thought about it for a bit and came to a conclusion.
' Probably wouldn't be too different to what I have with Draco, and Daphne and Theo. Probably a similar thing'
Not too long later, the train was pulling into the Hogsmeade station.
They followed the crowd of students in departing. Harry saw Daphne giving Tori a hug behind the crowd of first years. He walked past and caught a snatch of their conversation.
"You'll be fine. Before you know it, you'll be at our table"
He debated calling her and telling her to hurry up or all the good carriages would be taken, but he decided to give her some space.
It was a totally different experience being in the Great Hall before the sorting began. Harry and Draco took their usual seats in the middle of the table and passed the time looking at the terrified new kids and trying to guess who would end up in which of the houses.
"She looks like a brain. Bet you she'll be in Ravenclaw"
"That one looks like he's gonna fall over. Hufflepuff material if there ever was"
"That one's gonna join us"
"Which one? The boy on the left there?"
"Yeah. Look at the way he's looking at everyone. He's gonna be here"
Harry was about to say something to that when McGonagall walked back through the side door with the stool and hat. A few minutes later, Michael Aarons was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"Always got to get the useless ones away first" Draco whispered to Harry.
"I'm sure you said the same thing last year"
"And it was just as true then as it is now" Charles Braynsen became a Ravenclaw then.
"Why are you clapping?" Harry asked Draco.
"If they're not in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, I'm happy with where they went. Not as good as us, but Ravenclaws are ok"
Colin Creevey became a Gryffindor.
"Another one to fawn over Dumbledore"
Richard Emmerson joined their table not too long after that, the first Slytherin of the night.
"How much longer is this damn thing gonna go on for? I'm hungry" Theo stage-whispered, causing their whole side of the table to start laughing. Indeed, Theo's stomach could be heard even over the background noise of the Sorting.
"Sshhh!" Daphne hissed. "My sister's up now"
They watched as Tori walked up and sat under the Hat. Daphne seemed to be holding her breath. A few seconds later, the hat shouted out"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry heard Daphne letting out a relieved breath, as Astoria (he had to admit, Tori sounded far less pretentious) came towards their table.
Soon enough, Anton Harper joined Slytherin as well.
Harry's mind began to wonder. He tried to avoid looking at a fair amount of the main table. Lockhart seemed intent on catching Harry's eye, and he really didn't want that to happen.
' If that man keeps trying to draw me in this year, I think I'll lose my mind'
He was pleased to see that Snape seemed quite unhappy about being seated next to their new Defence teacher. Harry caught Snape sneering at the man as he looked the other way and immediately felt justified in how he had begun to think of the foppish wizard.
' If he actually did do half the stuff he claimed, he's probably the greatest wizard in the world. If that's the case, why is Snape looking at him that way?'
An explosion of clapping from his own table brought Harry back from his thoughts. He hurriedly joined in with everyone as they clapped the new Slytherin girl to their table. He leaned into Draco and whispered
"What's her name?"
"Morag Plunkett. I think she's Theo's cousin or something, he's mentioned her before"
And finally, the last student to be Sorted was sitting under the hat.
"I can't believe there's another Weasley here! That's five of them in school. Are their parents trying to make their own Quidditch team?"
Harry didn't have a reply to that. He imagined it must actually be quite nice, growing up with a large contingent of siblings around you. All the same, the Weasley's were ponces.
"Wouldn't it be hilarious?" Harry said, "If she came to us?"
Draco looked at him with growing horror. Harry rushed to explain.
"I mean, with all the shit her git of a brother talks about Slytherin, imagine if his sister was here!"
"Harry," Draco said weakly, "Some things are better not even thinking about"
Sure enough, after a few long minutes, the hat sent her to Gryffindor. Once the Hat was removed, Dumbledore stood at the podium. He smiled benevolently at the hall and spoke.
"Welcome. Just a word before the feast begins. Eat!"
Chuckling, the old wizard sat back down. And then Harry wasn't looking anywhere near him, because by then the food had arrived.
He went into his usual Hogwarts feast trance, eating a bit of everything and just avoiding the conversation flowing around him. Eventually, he surfaced to hear"I dare you. I'll give you ten Galleons"
"Maybe I would think about it for fifty"
"Fifty! You must be out your mind! Look, he's right there, just ask"
Harry pulled Draco away from the spectacle Theo and Blaise were making of themselves.
"What's Blaise trying to get him to do?" He asked
"To go ask the Bloody Baron about the blood and the chains. Why he wears them"
"Hah!" Harry called out to Theo, "Hey if you do it, I'll give you fifty galleons"
Theo looked like a deer caught in a pair of headlights.
"C'mon, he'll give you fifty, I'll give you twenty-five" Blaise wheedled, "Seventy-five Galleons for asking a simple question"
"What's the matter, Theo?" Draco asked now, "What can he do to you anyway?"
Theo looked positively stricken now. He glanced towards the other end of the table, where the Baron was sitting next to an uncomfortable Flint, looked back at the crowd staring expectantly at him. He gulped and muttered "Fine. I'll do it"
But as he was standing up, silence fell over the Great Hall. Harry looked up at the main table, only to see that Dumbledore had taken the podium again, and was about to speak. Theo settled back into his seat with a relieved expression.
"Perhaps, with full bellies, you shall all be more receptive to a few short, notices.
To all returning students, welcome back. To all new students, welcome.
Mr. Flich has informed me that there are new additions to the list of forbidden objects. These include Homing Slingshots, Pigeon Golems, and other such flying menaces. I assume everyone will rush to his office tomorrow to peruse the full three hundred or so items on the list"
"Quidditch try-outs will begin in approximately two weeks. If you wish to try to be on your House's team, please speak to your captain, head of house, or madam Hooch"
Draco winked at Harry at this.
' We're already on' Harry thought, smirking back.
"Finally, please ensure that you do not enter the forbidden forest unless you are accompanied by a teacher or the groundskeeper" Hagrid gave a little wave at that. Harry tried to ignore the jet of bile that rose in his throat at the sight of the stupid man.
"Off to bed with all of you," Dumbledore said, giving a little clap,
"Tomorrow, the year, and hopefully some education with it, begins!"
Harry got up quickly, ignoring the Prefect calling for the first years, he followed the rest of the Slytherin table towards their common-room, and beyond that, to sleep.
Harry lay in bed that night, listening to the lake lapping against his windows, and feeling intensely comfortable. Before he fell asleep, his last thoughts had been of how prepared he felt for the year.
Only time would show him how wrong he was.
Second Last chapter for the week.
If your enjoying this story feed me power stones :)
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