Potential changes
Potential changes
The dungeon was dark and chill as always. When their group reached the classroom, they spotted a small gathering of Gryfindors already waiting. Seeing who was there Harry figured they must have had divination when he himself was in ancient runes.
Unintentionally they walked right with the most vicious part of Slytherins and if looks could kill, the look Ron and Seamus sent them would have them in the ground already.
-” I could feel Harry has changed, but YOU Hermione? Hanging out with slimy snakes? You couldn’t stoop any lower.” Harry saw red, instinctively he stepped in front of her, blocking Ron from her line of sight and stood there, clenching his wand and starring at the redhead with pure hatred in his eyes.
-” Say that again Weasley, I dare you”- To everyones’ surprise Zabinis’ voice cut through the silence.
This caused Harry to snap out of it and he instantly turned to look at Hermione.
She had tears in her eyes, but none has fallen yet. He grabbed her hand reassuringly and pulled her slightly to the side, to compose herself not in front of a crowd. He wouldn’t give this asshole the satisfaction.
Behind them Ron was arguing with Blaise, and no one dared to intevene.
-” You have trouble hearing Zabini?”
-” Not in the slightest weasel. I was just making sure if your brain already rotted to the point of no return. To say such a thing; not only to your supposed ‘best friends’ face. - at that Blaise made air quotes – but also in front of a quite a crowd of people you’re insulting. Who are; let’s be serious; better than you. And their head of the house” - Blaise finished pointing his chin up slightly signaling Ron to turn around. He wipped his head around to stand face to face with angry Snape.
- “Thank you mister Zabini, 5 points to Slytherin for defending a fellow student. Weasley, detention. I will not take any points as you were insulting your own house, and we do not condone punishing the victims in this school.” He moved slightly to let the children into the classroom and said nothing more.
Harry thought that he had a stroke
-Snape was NICE just now? Yep, probable brain damage. Maybe one bludger to the head to much? - He was so lost in his head that he almost missed announcements at the beggining of the lesson.
-”This is your OLWs’ year, and don’t be fooled, I will not have you embarrass my class in front of ministry officials. So... That being said I will be arranging seating this year. My decision is final, no arguing, no changes. Am I understood?” A choir of “yes sir” answered.
-” Good, lets begin. Longbottom. You will be assisting mister Tomas” - Snape said pointing to a desk the closest to his own. Nevile for his part only looked down and went to the station, Dean gave him a reassuring smile when they met.
Harry thought that it was actually the best seating for Neville. Dean was always patient with him. It was always Seamus who was making fun of poor Neville.
-” Next, Weasley. You and Finnegan go to the back of the classroom. I don’t want anything exploading near the ones who have an actual chance of improvement,” - Ron scoffed but went with Seamus to the far back corner.
-“ Parkinson, you will be working with Goyle. Miss Greengrass with Crabbe” - Slytherins nodded, but Daphne looked devastated as Crabbe settled next to her.
-” Malfoy, you will take on Potters’ education, and mister Zabini will work with miss Granger.” Harry shot startled look to Hermione, she also looked shocked.
-This will be a disaster- Harry thought grimmly.
-” Umm, Proffessor?” - Came quiet voice.
-” Yes Nott?”- Snape answered looking around the class with passive face.
-” I don’t have a pair” - Theo answered, unease playing at the edge of his voice.
-” Yes I’m aware. You will be joining the pair who has the least progress, for this lesson you will be helping miss Parkinson with mister Goyls’ progress.”- Theo nodded and approached slightly less stressed Pansy.
-” Off to work, the instructions are on the board”- Was the last thing Snape said to the class and sat down at his desk, watching everyone like a hawk.
Harry didn’t know where to look. He was not sure of Malfoy; he was getting mixed signals lately. The hatred he used to feel, gone with the wind. Thou he couldn’t let it show, he could feel that Draco was feeling around him too. His reserved demeanor cracking a little since yesterdays’ encounter. Harry realized he was testing him before. -But why? - His inner monologue could go on and on, but he had work to do. He promised himself that he will try, and had a feeling he promised the same to his mother the same.
-” Did your brain implode Potter?” - Came snark comment from the boy beside him.
Harry snorted a laugh, shocking not only himself and Malfoy, but also Theo and Pansy behind them, who shared a confused look behind their backs.
-” Kind of. Where do we start oh mighty potions master?”- Harry answered with the same level of cheek.
-” Not a potions master yet, but intend to be. We start with copying instructions.”
-” Why? They stay on the board the whole lesson”
-” You’ll see. Now quit complaining and do as I say.”
Harry did as he was told. They had their differences before but; aside from Hermione; there wasn’t a student better at potions than Draco. They worked mostly in silence while prepping ingredients for the potion. This was something he rarely did before, but; according to “Oh mighty future potions master” when everything is prepared beforehand, he could focus properly on stirring and flame control.
Soon, when fumes started to fill the classroom, Harry could understand copying down the instructions, as even without his nonexistent glasses getting foggy, he could barely see the board. He wouldn’t admit it.
-” Something you want to say?”
-” Like what?”
-” Like, I don’t know. You were right?”
-” Ha, forget it ferret, I will not be giving you the satisfaction” - Harry cut back, knowing that the “ferret” was a touchy subject.
To his surprise the blonde only rolled his eyes, and he could swear a smile was tugging on the corners of his mouth.
-” Whatever scar-head. By the way, what happened to the glasses? You’re finally tired of family resemblance?”
-” What are you implying?”
-” Nothing, nothing. Just without them you don’t look like your father anymore. Not as much anyway.” Harrys confused face must have informed him, that he still didn’t know what the blonde meant.
-” Mother has some pictures from when they were in school, there are a few of cousins Sirius and Regulus with what I can only guess your parents and professor Lupin. With the glasses, you looked just like the man in the picture. But now? I don’t see it anymore. More of a mix. If I didn’t know better, I would say that even maybe a little Black.” Harry paled slightly.
-Could blood adoption manifest in his features? But that couldn't be. He adopted me long ago. Maybe they put some glamour on me before?
-” You froze again Potter; it’s time for the powdered root now.” - Malfoy snapped his fingers before his face, causing Harry to comeback. For a fraction of a second he could see concern on the other boys’ face.
-” Oh sorry. Getting back to work. Didn’t take you for a nostalgic type.” - Harry tried to deflect the situation. After that their potions were ready to be bottled. Harry cautiosly charmed his vile to be umbreakable, which earned him a raised eyebrow from his lab partner.
-” Better safe than sorry.”- Was all Harry said to that.
-” So you’re not gonna answer? That’s rude, I hope you know that”- Malfoy pouted.
-” Maybe next time” - Harry answered and headed out of the classroom. As he waited for Hermione it dawned on him how pleasant was this class. For the first time since he could remember, he didn’t fail miserably at potions, what’s more he felt calm the whole time, aside from that small incident in the end of the class when Malfoy started asking questions. Harry still didn’t know to whom and what exactly can he tell.
-” Harry, I was thinking about your proposition. I’m all for it, and to be honest, I need a pick me up. I have some hair products in my dorm, and will ask Angelina for more. For the future; if you’ll still want to of course; I will owl order something to work with. What do you think?”
-” That’s brilliant.” - Harry exclaimed, already excited.
-” So, maybe let’s go tomorrow sit by the lake? We can make a picknick, it would be fun.” - Hermione already started planning. When they were passed by pissed off Ron Hermione momentarily deflated.
-” I don’t know what is happening to him, we were best friends”
-” Hermione, he stopped being our friends long ago. For me, when my name came out of goblet of fire. For you, when he made you choose between me and him. That is not a friendship.” - Harry answered flatly following Ron with his eyes.
-” As for tomorrow, that is; again; a brilliant idea. I will ask Dobby to make us to eat and drink for the day, and you can take some books. We could study while I do your hair, you know “It’s never too soon to start studying””- Harry said, pretending to sound like her, earning himself a halfhearted shove to the shoulder.
They parted ways when Hermione went to the Great Hall for dinner, Harry true to his word didn’t even glance in that direction and went straight up to the Gryffindor tower. He would eat in the room.
Due to it being dinner time, there were practically no one in the common room.
He spotted Neville in an armchair, shuffling through stack of parchment.
-” Hi Nev, what’re you looking for? Need a hand?”
-” Oh, Hi Harry, I guess I wouldn’t mind. Do you happen to have notes from Snapes’ lesson? I wanted to revise. Did you know that my potion wasn’t half bad?! Dean is a great lab partner.”
-” Actually, I have, one blonde git had me write it at the beginning. Proved to be useful, but I’ll deny if you ever tell him” - Neville snorted at that.
-” I think I will start doing that too. Why didn’t we think of that before?”- Nevile thought out loud, copying from Harrys notes.
Harry knew exactly why he never thought of that, he was made stupid on purpose. To be a perfect marionette, but Neville... He wasn’t under any blocks.
-Or is he? - Harry thought.
-” Nev?”
-” Hmm?”
-” Did you do something different this summer?”
-” Hmm, gran took me to Gringotts for my heir ring, since I’m 15 and all. But besides that, no, not really. Why?”
-” Nothing, nothing.”- Harry answered hiding behind transfiguration textbook.
-The heir rings. They bust be blocking any influence. But why would he be blocking Nevilles magic? - Harry was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice two set of eyes glued to the back of his head, he also failed to notice a beige cord resting behind his chair.
The next day the only lesson of the day was transfiguration. Due to his lecture the day before, he didn’t fail to answer any of McGonagalls’ questions, which earned him some impressed looks, 15 points and snorts coming from general direction of his ex-best friend.
After the class was over, Harry stalled a little to catch Hermione and head to the lake, as promised he talked to Dobby the day before, and the elf assured him that, everything will be ready. Hermione exited the class with Nev and Lavender who quickly fled when she noticed Harry.
-” Ready?”- Harry asked.
-” Yep, Hey Nev we are going to the lake, wanna tag along?”- Hermione asked the shy boy beside her.
-” Sure, if you don’t mind”- Neville answered looking not quite sure at Harry.
-” Of course mate, you can quiz Hermione in herbology, I’m not good enough for her standard”- Harry laughed as they walked through the castle.
The day was beautiful, it was warm and sunny. Not a common sight at the beginning of September, that’s why currently there were more students outside the castle as there were inside.
They found their blanket, cleverly hidden by Dobby with notice me not spell.
They laid their bags on the blanket and decided to lose outer robes, they agreed unanimously; that they would boil if they didn’t. Harry instinctively pulled up his sleeves, and understood his mistake the moment it was too late.
-”HARRY, JAMES. POTTER!”- Harry winced waiting for the blow. But istead of pain he felt a stern but dlicate hand pulling on his arm.
Hermione was pulling on him like he was a ragdoll, assesing the marks on his arm. She said nothing, lips creating a thin line on her face. Now this Hermione was scary. She let go of him, took two calming breaths and asked.
-” What did you do?”
-” Well you see... Funny story.”- Harry cast a silent muffliato, noticed only by Neville.
-” Okey but you have to swear not to tell anyone, do you understand? Especially not Dumbledore”
-” Harry you are scaring me. Fine, I will not tell anyone.”
-” These are manifestations of family magics, usually they are small or there are none. Depending on how strong is the connection. They can appear when someone accepts the role of a Lord of the line, can happen for the heirs, but that is rare.” He tried to explain thoroughly, looking at Neville he asked.
-” Should I add something more?”
-” No, I think you covered all the bases. And that reminds me, we have that meeting tomorrow”
-” You knew about this!?” - Hermione turned her accusatory look on the other boy.
-” Hermione, they teach us about this in heir classes. Harry, has never been, I’ve been teaching him basics. I knew that something like this could happen, I’ve never seen it this big before.” - Neville explained calmly.
-” But wait, you said it can happen to a Lord. You are not a lord Harry; you aren’t even an adult yet”
-” About that... I was emancipated due to Triwizard tournament. And I’m also an heir.... To the house of Black”
-” The heir to the House of Black.”- Hermione repeated. -” I need to sit down”
She sat down starring ahead. It was clear that she was thinking intensively, Harry also sat down finishing pulling up his sleeves, he fished out all the equipment he needed. He read some last night about hair care, after asking Dobby to fetch him some reading materials. He had a vision in his head, but was worried about the execution of said vision.
Suddenly Hermione took a deep breath.
-” Wait a second. All this crazy aside, I’ve to do some more reading. You said you were emancipatet, right?”
-”Right?”- Harry answered unsure.
-” Right! So there is no trace on your wand. You are considered an adult. Harry do you understand what I mean?”
-” I don’t, would you mind looping me in?”- Said Neville rising his hand like in class.
-” Hermione means that, if there is no trace on my wand, there are couple things seriously wrong. First, I was being followed by ministry officials. Secondly, if I was being fallowed, then that someone didn’t do anything about potentially defenseless child being attacked by a dementor. I mean no one really knows that I can cast a patronus. And lastly, taking all this in the account, that someone tried to murder me.”- Harry answered grimly realization dawning on him in the moment.
-And I probably already knew that. - Harry thought about his memory loss.
-” Well, they have to get in line, I guess. Let’s get to it.” -Harry clapped his hands, forcing his brain to focus on task at hand. Harry sat on a cushion to be a little higher and Hermione nested in front of him. She started reading out loud to the both of them, Neville laid down looking up at the tree giving them a little shade. Harry could tell he was listening intently from the look on his face. He, for his part; separated Hermiones’ hair into sections and had to start on the first braid a couple times, but finally got the hang of it. And just like he imagined, the motion of braiding his friends’ hair was therapeutic. He was half way done when they decided to take a break for lunch. Hermione was playing with the already existing braids with an unreadable expression. The ends were left loose and styled the way, there was one loose wave instead of tight curl.
-” Hello there Gryffindors”- They heard voices approaching. Harry looked up, there stood three all too familiar people. Malfoy, Zabini and Parkinson.
-” Hello there Slytherins”- Harry answered in the same fashion.
-” That’s a fine tree you found yourself. Would you mind some company?” - Blaise asked, keeping his focus mostly on Hermione. They looked between each other and shrugged.
-” Go for it.” Harry answered finishing his lunch. He sat back in his previous position and Hermione took hers, changing the textbook for her notes.
The Slytherin trio conjured themselves their own blanket and sat down, but couldn’t really take their eyes of what was going on beside them.
As Hermione started to quiz Neville, Harry continued with remaining braids.
-” That’s a good look on you Granger” - Pansy commented, like she was talking about the weater.
Hermione stuttered mid question, which earned her a chuckle from Blaise.
-” I think you broke her Pans”- he said.
-” Did you just complement me?”- Hermione asked flabbergasted.
-” Yeah, I believe I did. I’m calling dibs. Potter, will you do my hair next?”- She turned her focus to Harry batting her eyelashes, which to the Gryffindors surprise earned her an annoyed look from Draco.
-” Emm, I’m flattered, I guess? What would you want to get done?”
-” I don’t know yet. Will let you know once I find it. But thanks for being down. I’ve heard we will be seeing you tomorrow, that’s true?”
-” Can’t confirm nor deny” - Harry answered. She beamed at him in response.
-” Okey, I see you are studying, how about we quiz each other? What do you say Granger? Will you survive losing to me?”- Malfoy teased resting on his elbow, his eyes darted between Harry and Hermione. Every now and then, his eyes landed on Harrys tattooed arm, but neither of Slytherins said anything.
-” You’re on”- Hermione answered, accepting the challenge, flames in her eyes suggested that Malfoy in fact didn’t know what he was bargaining for.
And neither Harry or Neville was inclined to explain to him what, he had gotten himself into.