Of snakes within

Friday came and went too fast for Harrys’ liking. He was nervous for their meeting, afraid of what the heirs might think of him, or his lack in proper education. Neville seemed to learn some legilimency, because just from reading his face, he knew exactly what was going on in Harrys’ head.

-” You’ll be fine, relax” - He reassured him as they were finishing dinner in the kitchen.

- “Thanks man. Wait you said i can get an elf who was recently let go right?”

-” Yes that is what I said.”

- “Awesome” - Harry exclaimed.

-”Dobby!” - Harry called and with a pop, the elf appaered before them.

-” Master Harry Potter called?” - Dobby asked.

-” Yes Dobby, quick question. Do you wanna be my elf?” - Harry asked getting right to the point, which caused Neville to choke on his juce.

-” Master Harry Potter is sure?”

-” Of course I’m Dobby. You are the best elf I could ever ask for”

-” Dobby would be honored sir!”- The elf squeaked, excitement bursting out of him. Then he stood straight and with a tiny hand on his chest he said

-” I, Dobby the free elf, declare my life, flesh and mind, to Lord Hadrian James Potter-Black, the first of his name. I vow to never break his trust, and to assist him to the best of my abilities.” - The tiny elf recited, and Harry felt a wave of magic go through him. It felt warm, like a hug.

Harry stumbled a little, overwhelmed by the feeling and he felt his eyes getting moist for a moment before blinking the tears away.

-” Thank you, Dobby. Now I don’t think you can stay at hogwarts full time since you no longer work here, so if you want you can join Kreacher at home.”

-” That is no issue sir, there are a lot of personal elves stationed in Hogwars kitchen. We help schools’ elves but when we are called by our masters we go where we are needed.”

-” Oh if that’s the case, if you prefer. you can stay here.”

-” Thank you Harry Potter sir. Dobby will get back to work now if he is not needed.” - Harry nodded at the elf not able to pull back the smile he had on his face the whole time, especially not while seeing i little pep in Dobbys’ step when he moved now.

-” He looks better already.”- Neville chimmed in standing next to Harry getting ready to leave for the meeting.

-” So.... Potter-Black is it?”- Neville teased.

-” I’ve never told him that.”

-” That’s house elf magic, you don’t have to, when you asked him to be your elf he got a glimpse into your core and called you by your name. The full one it seems, so what’s up with that?”

-” I don’t know yet, still need to put some pieces together, but i might or might not be blood adopted into the Black family. Please don’t tell anyone.”

-” Don’t worry man. It wouldn’t be a good start of our new political alliance if I was to spill your secrets, now would it?”

-” Political alliance?”- Harry asked confused.

-” You’ll see soon enough”

With that they climbed the stairs further and further. Harry had no clue where they were heading, but he trusted Neville. They ended their journey before an hideous Gobelin in 7th floor.

-” Nev, don’t want to burst your bubble but there is nothing here’

-”Yet” - was all the answer he got. Neville crossed the Gobelin three times and grabbed Harry by the shoulders to turn him aroung. To his surprise. When before was a bare wall, now were beautifully carved double doors with house mascots on them.

-” Wow.”- Was all could Harry say.

When they entered the room looked like a cozy office with four couches gathered in semicircle in front of a fireplace. Further into the room was an empty area. Looking a little bit like a training ring. In between the little office and training arena stood a round table with plush chairs.

-” Welcome to your first Heir meeting Lord Potter-Black" - Neville said from behind him, seeing a childlike awe in Harrys eyes. He was lucky enough that they were alone when Neville addressed him. People started to enter the room just after that, he was stunned to see Susan Bones chatting with Daphne Greengrass like it was the most common thing in the world.

-” Well hello there, gentlemen.” - Susan greeted them with a bright smile on her face.

-” Heiress Bones. It’s a pleasure as always.”- Neville bowed his head taking her hand. -” And what are we to call you? Mister Potter? An heir perhaps”- Daphnie chimed in.

-” That would be Lord Potter, heiress Greengrass. I thought Theo would inform you of that” - Harry answered greeting the girls, just like Neville did.

-” And ruin the surprise? Come on Lord Potter, who do you take me for?” - Came a response from Theo who just came through the door.

-” I’m not taking you for anyone heir Nott, as I do not know you.” - Stated harry flatly but he saw that Theo was on to the banter.

-” That is about to change” - Theo answered nodding his head in Harrys’ direction.

They all sat on the couches waiting for the others to join. Engaging in polite small talk, Harry felt his unease loosen a little when they were sitting with him as he belonged there in the first place.

Soon enough they were joined by the Patil twins, Zacharias Smitch, Hannah Abbot, Malfoy and Parkinson. A the last pair Harry couldn’t help but comment.

-” No Blaise today?”

-” He is not noble is he now Potter?”

-” Emm... I didn’t know that” - Harry murmured more to himself. To his surprise Hannah and Susan giggled.

-” Don’t worry, Dray here is a little git, you’ll get used to it. Maybe let’s start with how much you DO know, and we will go from there.” - And so, they did, no one seemed to hold his lacks in education against him.

After he was finished with listing his knowledge their various expressions showed from slight amusement to impression through shock.

-” Nev, we owe you a badge of honor of some sorts. To teach him all that in just 3 days?! You are a miracle worker” - Draco said to Neville. -” Not half bad scar-head"- he addressed Harry, earning himself a couple laughs.

-” Now to the things that you don’t know. First of all, this is a safe space” - He said gesturing around them.

-” We don’t judge our families' stances in the Wizengamot at the moment. We discuss pros and cons of everything that they are deciding. We have no legal rights anyway yet, so it’s a good practice to really know what our stances are when it is our time. Lets move to the table shall we?”

They took places at the table, Harry sandwiched in between Nev and Susan felt cozy and safe. His nervousness was being replaced by curiosity by the minute.

-” This is your first meeting among us so maybe we should hold to the tradition and introduce ourselves properly. I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, heir to the hous of Malfoy welcome you to the heir group.” - One by one everyone stood up and introduced themselves in the same fashion.

-Okey, It is now or never. They said it is a safe space. - Harry took a deep breath and stood up from his chair.

- I, Hadrian James Potter-Black, Lord to the house of Potter, heir to the House of Black, thank you for welcoming me among you. Some rose their eyebrows at him, some didn’t react at all. Malfoy just smirked

-” I knew it. Blood adoption, isn’t it?”- Harry nodded - “Makes sense”

-” How so? Due tell” - Harry asked curious.

-” First of all, both Black brothers are/were gay, so none of them would produce an heir. Seeing that uncle Regulus is dead and how close uncle Sirius was with your parents it only makes sense for him to ask your parents to blood adopt you.” - Draco said and the others nodded their heads in agreement.

-” Oh, I feel like I’m bound to repeat myself a lot today, but I didn’t think about that”

-” What did you think it looked like? Since you know you were blood adopted” - Draco was slightly laughing

-” I don’t know, like he had to marry one of them? Or something... It’s just weird and new”

-” We know, and we are here for you.” - Hannah stated from across the table taking his hand and giving him a smile. He couldn’t help but notice that Draco was intensely observing their hands on the table even if it was just a moment.

-” Yes, Potter we are here for you, and since we are all here for the first time really, we have to talk about some not so pleasant things now.” - Draco continued. It was clear that he was usually the one to lead those meetings, but no one seemed to mind.

-” Do you think you can tell us what happened last year?” - Harry knew this would be the first topic of their conversation. Neville warned him, and advised to tell all he knew, since they were bound not to share anything from heir meetings to outsiders, only other members of the group or their families, and only in person. So no message could be intercepted.

-” that’s the thing. I don’t really know what happened. The cup was a porthey, that is the truth. And it took us to a graveyard, but that’s where the resemblance to Dumbledores’ story ends. I didn’t see who killed Cedric. I only saw a green light of a Avada and a tall figure with their hood on. I was then hit in the head with something heavy, I acted out of instinct, with my vision getting blurry i grabbed onto Ced and summoned the cup. The rest you know. I never said that V0ldemort was back, nor did I say that Pettigrew killed Cedric. Between all the people sitting in this room we can all agree that we would know if he was really back. Wouldn’t we?” - Harry ended, surprised that he wasn’t interrupted once. They answered him with nods.

-” Great that aside, what do we do about the Toad. Father informed me that she is instructed by the minister to never let us learn spells, that could, and I quote “help us overthrow the ministry”. Father suggested that we should get tutors or learn among us. Since we are meeting monthly, I say why not the latter.”

-” And we have a very powerful Lord among us now, I second Dracos’ proposition.” - Said Neville nudging Harry a little. He in return smiled shyly

-” I can try, but don’t mistake me for some sort of teacher”

-” Nonsense Potter I will beat your ass number of times, don’t you worry”

-” You wish”

-” That’s all fine boys, but I just had an epiphany.” - Said Pansy looking at the rest of the girls and at Harry.

-” You mister are in desperate need of a makeover.”

-” What’s wrong with my robe? It’s brand new!” - Harry protested, which earned him a giggle from Susan.

-” You are hopeless Harry”- She laughed ruffling his hair.