Late night talks
Late night talks
-” Took you long enough”- Was the first thing Sirius said to him; devilish smile playing on his lips.
-” Use them well?! You had to, didn’t you?”- Harry snapped back at him falling into Sirius's embrace. Crookshanks jumped off probably anticipating Harrys’ manhandling of the old man.
-” Yeah... No i really couldn’t resist. The old goat is too annoying not to really.” - He answered as he mockingly contemplated for a fraction of a second.
-” Okey so how much do you know already?”
-” I know about this...”- Harry answered pulling up his sleeve revealing the tattoo. He spotted similar on his godfathers’ forearm. -” And...”- Harry was rambling, because as much faith he put in his head, he couldn’t make himself say it out loud. If she really wasn’t dead; why did she leave him. Why let Dumbledore decide about his life, why the Dursleys. Did she know about all they did to him? Like ALL of it? What mother lets her child go through something like that. He was spiraling and he knew that. Worst, he was almost sure Sirius knew too, because the usual carefree look on his face was replaced with hurt and sorrow.
-...Mum?”- Harry was crying at this point. He was embarrassed, but at the same time he didn’t care. He was hurt, betrayed. Let down by people who were supposed to take care of him.
-” Oh pup, you remember only some bits by this reaction. I will tell you now, just like I did this summer. She didn’t abandon you. She truly didn’t know. Bambi, look at me. Your parents, and my brother had a failsafe in the plan. You will eventually remember everything. I can’t tell you now, it’s too dangerous. Not with that bat wandering the castle. All I can tell you now is that you are truly loved, you will never be alone again. You have a family who loves you now. We never stopped loving you. It pains me to say this but you can always go talk to Severus while you are here.” - Sirius gagged at the last bit, and Harry, still crying into his chest laughed a little.
-” He spoke to me you know... In my head at the feast” - Sirius nodded in acknowledgment.
-” He can do that?!”- Harry was shocked.
- “ Yeah the git is known for his legilimancy” - Sirius rolled his eyes.
They settled into the couch, Harry hugged one of the pillows to his chest, still not feeling the best emotionally, especially since Sirius refused to give him any valid information.
-” Sooo, my mother... and your brother? Really? How did that happen”- Harry started
-” Eww, no! Don’t say that. Gods that’s not pleasant mental picture, thank you for that you little shit” - Sirius exclaimed offended.
-” I guess i can tell you that bit, but remember to keep your walls up when around dumbles.”
-” I don’t know what you mean”- Harry shrugged.
-” Helpless. He is helpless! I blame your pea brain prongs!” - Sirius said looking to the ceiling.
-” I meant keep your mind closed. You trained that, I know you don’t remember training but this should stay with you as it is not a conscious thing. BUT, to be safe don’t look him in the eye, ever.”- Sirius explained and something clicked in Harrys’ head.
-” I heard a voice... Right after talking with Snape in my head I wanted to look at Dumbledore, and a different voice shouted at me to not look his way”
“ Yep must have been some protection you worked on with them”
-” Them?”
-” You know. Or you will know soon enough.” - Sirius smiled at him which earned him an angry pillow throw.
-” Back to your mother and my brother... Don’t worry there was never any cheating. My brother would never be interested in your mum, if you know what I mean. Their marriage was a safety thing after everything went down.” -Sirius explained, then he called for Kreacher who brought them some pastries and butter beer.
-” Okey that’s it, now tell me. How is it without the blocks. I’m as excited as you were when you came back from the bank.”
-” It’s different, I don’t struggle with homework as much, and I cast wandless and wordless most times now. I’m surprisingly excited for potions to be honest”
-” That’s your mother talking. Wordless and wandless? Damn kid! I couldn’t be prouder!”-
-” okey, okey DOGfather don’t get too excited it was only first day remember... It will only get worse.”
-” True. Did you at least drop the weasel?” - asked Sirius wiggling his brows.
- “I hated those people at my parents' place. Don’t get me wrong I HATED my mother and her house even more. But even grimmauld place didn’t deserve tantrums of Molly Weasley.” - Sirius shivered at the thought of that.
-” Yeah, I did. He got really annoying from the first word he said to me, and he insulted Hermione... I refuse to associate with people like that. I opted for Neville and Hermione.”- Harry stated between bites of his tart.
-” That is a change for the better, you can never go wrong with Hermione, and Neville is a good boy. I remember you two playing when you were babies. Your first ever birthday was a double celebration for the two of you.”- Sirius giving him a warm smile, probably seeing the memory before his eyes.
-” Really?! He never said that.”
-” His parents were attacked not long after you were, they are at the st Mungos to this day.”- Sirius saddened
-” Oh”
-” Yeah, probably don’t mention to him that you know, better if he tells you himself. Besides you will need Neville now, with all the “heir” stuff. Gods I hated the etiquette lessons; he will probably be better than me at that. Augusta was always a good teacher.”
-” What “Heir stuff”- Harry asked confused.
- “All the boring stuff. Etiquette, customs, history. All that jazz. You should probably start addressing the heirs properly. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had some group amongst them, after all you are the future of the wizengamot. And you my little one are a Lord already. Ask Neville, truly.”
-” Here, I got you Black family journals. Magics, customs and so on. I will get you the Potter and Pewerell ones when I’m in the bank”
-” And how do you suppose, you’ll do that? You are a fugitive.”
-” Not for long “my boy””- Said Sirius mocking Dumbledore with terrefying efficency.
-” What are you plotting old man?”
-” Oi! I beg your pardon you brat! I’m not old.”
-” You could literally be my father”
-” Ew, don’t remind me.”
-” Ouch”
-” Deal with it. Brat”
Smiles never left their faces, this banter was like a warm hug. Here sat a man who loved him, wasn’t afraid to upset him, gave as much as he got. He was acting more like the cool older brother than ‘responsible adult’ he was supposed to be. In a totally different scenario, Sirius would be his guardian. He would have to be more mature, and that vision is something Harry dreaded.
-” How’s your new DADA teacher?”
-” It’s Umbridge...
-” YOU’RE KIDDING”
- “Wish I was... 15 minutes into the lesson she said that Cedric died by “accident” ...”
- “Such a lovely lady... What did you do?”
- “I told her that I’ve never claimed that Voldy was back, and that Cedric was murdered before my eyes. Then I stood and left. But that’s not the craziest part.”
-” Oh, do tell?”
-” After class Malfoy found me and...”- Harry stopped himself, not exactly knowing why.
-” He found you and what?”- Sirius insisted, suddenly excited more than ever.
-” And he was weirdly kind? I don’t know what to make of it.”
-” Well, you were literally programmed by the old bastard to hate all Slytherins, so maybe he is a slightly less of a git? Just a thought.”- Sirius said thinking about it, but there was something mischievous in his eyes. Harry wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what was brewing in his twisted mind.
-” You better go. Tomorrow is a brand-new day. Remember you can always call for Kreacher or Dobby and they will get any message you want to send me; I don’t think that post will stay untouched with ministry official at the school.”
-” That’s a good idea, thanks. I’ll get going, you probably should too. You’ll catch fleas from this couch” - Harry said walking out after one last hug, at the last sentence he jolted out the room followed by: “YOUUU!!!” from behind him.
Walk back to the castle was uneventful, nevertheless he still was very careful not to make any noise on his way back the stairs.
Next morning he woke up late, due to his late-night escapades. So’ this time it was Neville waking him up. 5 minutes in the bathroom and they were on their way to the kitchen. Yesterday they informed the elves that they will be eating there or in their room. Little beings were ecstatic at the news of people spending time with them.
-” Hey Nev, so about that whole being lord thing, do you have any tips for me? You’ve been in the game for far longer than me.” - Harry asked his friend.
-” Yes absolutely, I can help you with basics, and if you have more advanced question, you can always ask at the heir meeting. We are to assemble at the end of the week, you have to go with me! Oh, the look on Hannas’ face will be priceless! We had bets you know, as to when you will figure it out that you are an important political figure. Most of them almost gave up hope, giving it is already 5th year and all.”
-” gee, thanks for vote of confidence man.”
-” Oh, I’ve never voted. I always told them, that perhaps you didn’t want all that on yourself. Considering... you know”
-” Yeah, I know. Thanks Nev.”
-” Don’t mention it”
-” Wait so how many heirs do we have at Hogwarts at the moment?”
-” I don’t know about in all of Hogwarts but in our year, there is 10 of us. Most are in Slytherin, but they are totally different when we are all together as to when we are with the rest of the school. We have to keep up the apparencies.”
-” But if you want to avoid teasing; we have to start with etiquette; and we need to start now”
And so, they did. Their free period they spent seating in the kitchen repeating all formalities, how to address noble members. All of them were almost programmed with this, Harrys’ head felt tight at the end, and the lessons were only beginning.
They parted ways when Harry headed for his first ever ancient runes lesson and Neville headed to the greenhouses.
-” Are you lost Potter?”- He heard behind him when he reached the classroom.
Theodore Nott was also approaching the classroom eyeing Harry suspiciously.
-” Nope, changed subjects. Wanted to give it a try. Why? Don’t tell me this is some elite club. If it is I want in even more” - Harry answered cheekily, and do his surprise corner of Notts mouth went up almost unnoticeably.
-” No, no be my guest ‘oh chosen one’ didn’t take you for an academic type that’s all”
- “People change. And I feel a lot of people will see just how much I did”
-” huh, so mysterious mister Potter”
-” It’s Lord Potter if you must”- Harry remembered Theo from Nevilles list and decided to give it a go, he wasn’t surprised when Theos’ eyes doubled in size. That was the only tell of the other boys' shock, rest of his demeanor stayed the same.
-” Heir Nott.”- Harry slightly bowed his head at him seeing Hermione in the distance, he wanted to greet his friend.
-” Lord Potter.”- came the reply with the same head nod, Theo went into the open classroom not waiting for anyone.
- “Harry! What are you doing here?”- Hermione asked half suspicious, half excited.
-” Surprise! I decided to give it a try, hope you don’t mind I got into your playground without telling you.”
-” You’re kidding? Oh, I love you! Finally, someone in my corner!”- She threw her hands around his neck twirling them in a circle, not caring who saw.
At that a voice from small crowd that was gathering in front of the classroom broke their bubble.
-” Crap, I owe Daphnee 2 galleons, I would have NEVER believed that they are together” - came from Pansy who was resting against the wall and Malfoys shoulder.
Harry sent her a pointed look while Hermione blushed deep red.
-” We are not, and it is truly unproper to assume.” - Said Harry walking past them.
-” Heir Parkinson, heir Malfoy.”- He said quiet enough that only they could hear him, and he left not waiting for their response.
His words had the intended outcome as they stayed rooted to the ground where they stood, mouths gaping like fish out the water.
-” What did you tell them? They look stunned” - Hermione laughed looking behind her shoulder.
- “You wouldn’t approve”- was all Harry said sending her a sideway grin.
He tried to focus on the class, which was really exciting if he was honest with himself. He would be even more focused on it if it wasn’t for the eyes drilling into his head the whole time.
As they were leaving the classroom, Harry remembered the thought he had on the train.
-” Hermione?”
-” Hmm?”
-” Please tell me if I'm overstepping in any way.”
-” Okey, go on.”
-” Would you let me play with your hair? I just had that thought on the train that i would like to braid it and well, I know it is something personal. Look at mine they are a birds’ nest; you probably wouldn’t want me to ruin yours. Forget it”
-” Harry, stop. You are rambling. You’re right it is kind of personal, but no one asked me that before, maybe aside from Angelina in the first year. I would love that. It probably won’t be perfect the first time, but I would love that.”- She smiled hopefully at him. Harry returned the smile and they went on their way to the dungeon for the first potion lesson of the year.