Chapter 7
"Welcome," Albus said to the crowd of students. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast....
"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to several Aurors, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."
Originally, Cornelius had wanted to send Dementors, but Alaric Belanger-Reid had demanded why the man didn't just send Aurors instead. Amelia had backed the man up, looking furious that the Minister wanted to put dangerous creatures around children; a dozen Aurors were currently patrolling the grounds, while half a dozen kept watch inside the school.
"Most of them are watching the grounds, while the rest will be keeping an eye on you inside," Albus continued. "While they are with us, I must ask you all not to distract them; they are there to protect you, and it will be difficult for them to do their job if you pester them with questions."
He paused, then continued. "As I announced last year, Professor Alaric Belanger-Reid will be taking the Potions position, while our own Potions Master, Professor Snape, will be taking the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
The students applauded eagerly. They adored Alaric, apparently, and Severus had gotten a slightly better reputation after being softened by Harrison and Harley Potter-Black.
When the applause died down, Albus smiled and said, "As to our second new appointment, Professor Grubbly-Plank has taken on an assistant, as she will be taking leave halfway through the year, when her child is due to be born." Excited squeals filled the room. "I am delighted to announce that her assistant is none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this position in addition to his gamekeeper duties."
The applause was just as excited and warm as it had been for Alaric and Severus, as a majority of the school adored the half-giant. Hagrid was blushing and grinning at the attention.
Once the noise died down again, Albus finished with, "Well, I think that's everything of importance. Let the feast begin!"
He sat down as the food and drinks appeared on the tables.
"Harrison, Draco, Blaise, a word please," Severus said once he'd finished explaining the rules to the new Slytherins.
The three boys came over as the rest of the Slytherins dispersed, most of them heading to their rooms. Only Ron, Harley, and Theodore Nott remained behind.
"What is it, Uncle Severus?" Draco asked.
"The three of you need to pick one additional class not to take," Severus replied. "If you take four classes, two of them will happen at the same time. Only seventh years are allowed access to time turners, and they need signed permission from their guardians and another signed form from their Head of House confirming they have the discipline and responsibility to handle a time turner."
Harrison tipped his head. "I can't get rid of Care, otherwise Harley will do something stupid. I suppose I can self-study Arithmancy."
"You'll be taking Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, and Divination?" Severus confirmed. Harrison nodded. "Very well."
"I'll get rid of Care," Draco decided after a pause. "My father is very interested in Professor Trelawney-White, and he doesn't particularly trust Mr. Hagrid."
"I'll get rid of Divination, then," Blaise decided grudgingly. He didn't need Divination for his future career, but Care of Magical Creatures might be helpful.
Severus nodded. "Harrison, the Headmaster wants to speak to you and Harley tomorrow after dinner."
The boy sighed. "What is it now?"
"I don't know," Severus admitted. "He didn't inform me. I'll retrieve you after Harley has finished his dessert."
Once the professor had gone, the six boys headed upstairs, Nott trailing a bit behind. Blaise had a hunch that the boy wanted to talk to Harrison, and his hunch was confirmed when Nott lingered beside their door. Draco glanced back at them before entering his own dorm room.
"Potter-Black?" Nott said carefully, after Ron and Harley had gone inside.
"Heir Nott," Harrison returned. "What do you need from me?"
"I don't need anything from you," Nott said automatically. "I just... my father..."
"How is he?" Harrison asked, making the Nott Heir look shocked. Harrison's lips twitched slightly, but otherwise his expression was blank.
"He's... a lot better," Nott said slowly. "He asked me to warn you that the Lestranges and Dolohov want to kill you and your brother."
"I know," Harrison replied after a pause. Blaise tilted his head slightly; was the future Dark Lord planning on bringing Nott into their group? "Lord Voldemort told me over the summer."
Nott's eyes bulged. "You -- he -- what?"
"I will explain this weekend, in a more secure location," Harrison said calmly. "Blaise will take you to our usual meeting place. And call me Harrison."
The boy looked flabbergasted. Blaise stifled a snicker. "Theo," the Nott Heir said after a short pause.
"Blaise," he interjected, making Nott jump. "Sorry," he offered, entirely unapologetically. Harrison's lips twitched again.
"Good night," Nott said quickly, darting over to his dorm room and entering quickly. Blaise let the snicker he'd been stifling loose, and Harrison rolled his eyes fondly.
"So... Nott's part of our friend group now?" Ron asked when the two boys were settled on their respective beds.
"Yes," Harrison agreed. "I've asked Hermione to befriend Bones and Abbott as well, since immediately adding Bones to our friend group would be a little sudden and suspicious."
Harley grinned. "What are we gonna do about the Strangers and Dolly Hov?"
Ron choked, and Blaise snorted.
"We'll let Tom deal with it, for now," Harrison said finally. "They're his followers, after all. But if push comes to shove, you can deal with them. You're not allowed to kill or permanently maim them," he added when Harley beamed. "I may dislike them, but they're useful to our ally."
Harley pouted, making Ron and Blaise laugh. "You're no fun."
"Mr.s Potter-Black," Albus said warmly as the boys entered, Severus behind them. "How was your first day?"
"Good," Harrison said shortly, casting his brother (who was bouncing around the office with a grin on his face) an annoyed look. "Harley, sit down."
Harley pouted. "Fiiiiine." He plopped into one of the chairs facing Albus, and Harrison took the other.
"I'm rather exhausted, Headmaster, given this is the first day back," Harrison said before Albus could continue with pleasantries. "And Harley decided to have far too much sugar with dinner, and won't be able to pay attention to our conversation for longer than two minutes. I suggest getting to the point, sir."
The boy's tone was calm and polite, with a slight note of irritation and tiredness in his voice.
"Very well," Albus agreed. "I'll try to make this short." He leaned back. "Two summers ago, Voldemort returned."
Severus twitched and glared at him. Harrison didn't react, but kept his gaze on Albus' beard.
"We know, Uncle Sevvy told us," Harley chirped, bouncing in his seat. His eyes were dazed and bright.
"He appears to be lying low for the moment," Albus said after a nod, "but soon, he will have returned to full strength, and begin hunting both of you again."
"Why?" Harrison asked after a pause. "Why would a Dark Lord try to kill a pair of fourteen-year-olds? Or one-year-olds, for that matter?"
Albus paused. He wanted to tell them that they were too young to know, but their minds -- at least, Harrison's mind -- were far more mature than most others their age, so he couldn't use that excuse.
"That is... a story far too long to explain tonight, and I believe you wanted this meeting to remain short," Albus said finally. Harrison dipped his head in acknowledgement, and Harley pouted again. "As it is, in order to protect you from Voldemort, Severus will be teaching you both Occlumency. And, if you wish it, I or one of the other staff members can teach you how to duel. Severus has too much work to teach you both Occlumency and dueling, so it needs to be someone else."
Because he obviously didn't want a Death Eater teaching the Boys-Who-Lived defensive magic.
Harrison's eyes glittered. "Headmaster, Harley and I already know Occlumency," he said after a pause.
Wait, what? "I was unaware," Albus lied. He'd known that Harley knew Occlumency, but had no idea that Harrison could also protect his mind. "May I check your defenses? I won't pry, just skim the surface."
Harrison tipped his head. Then, he met Albus' eyes and nodded.
Albus gently entered the boy's mind, and found himself in a dark, smoky room with only a door visible in front of him. He tried to open the door, but was met with a voice:
"Who is the Lord of the Skies?"
When Albus couldn't answer the question, he was flung out of the room and back into the office. "My turn!" Harley chirped in glee, boring his fractured AK green eyes into Albus' blue ones.
Severus made a stifled noise, one that he used when covering a snort. Albus didn't respond, because he was delving into the redhead's mind.
Again he was met with dark chaos and insane laughter.
"What is the square root of a writing desk?"
He was once again thrown out of the boy's mind.
"Your mindscapes are... interesting," Albus said, very exhausted now.
"Those weren't our mindscapes, Professor," Harrison said calmly. "Those were the entrances to our mindscapes. You will never see our mindscapes."
"And if someone answers the riddle correctly?" Albus asked tiredly.
"They will be met with more obstacles, which only Severus will see," Harrison said shortly. "I am fine with improving our Occlumency skills." He tilted his head. "I would like to choose Professor Belanger-Reid as our Dueling instructor."
Voldemort's son? Albus wasn't sure how to feel about that. Well, he supposed he was trying to recruit the man, anyway....
"Ooh, yeah, I can't wait for our first class with him!" Harley said in glee. "He helped Uncle Sevvy and Uncle Wolfy and Uncle Mutt make an escape room for Harrison, Nevvy, me, and our friends, it was awesome!"
Albus choked.
"How many times must I tell you not to call me 'Uncle Sevvy?'" Severus snapped in exasperation.
"I believe it's time for bed," Harrison said tactfully. "Headmaster?"
"Yes, you may retire," Albus agreed. "And I will ask Alaric if he doesn't mind tutoring you."
Once the boys had gone, Albus slumped. They were too good at Occlumency. He needed Harrison to have some form of connection with Voldemort, otherwise-
He paused and frowned. As far as he knew, Harrison's scar hadn't reacted to Voldemort anyway, and he'd confronted him at the end of his first year, and his largest Horcrux the next year. Hopefully, the scar had reacted to Voldemort, and Harrison just hadn't told Albus because there was little to no trust between them.
Albus sighed and struggled up the stairs. He was too tired to think. He'd adjust his plan in the morning....