Opening Feast
Tuesday, 1 September 1998
As they made their way to the carriages, after waving hello to Hagrid (who did a double take at Harry before shrugging and deciding this was just another thing on the list of Insane Shit That Happens Around Harry Potter), Harry realized that many of the older students had stopped in their tracks, staring at the thestrals in no small amount of fear and confusion.
Grabbing Luna’s hand, Harry stepped toward the nearest thestral and silently started stroking its neck. Luna did the same. They were eventually joined by Theo and Neville, both of whom had been able to see the animals their entire Hogwarts career.
Seemingly deciding that if their peers weren’t afraid of whatever these creatures were, they probably shouldn’t be either, the rest of the students made their way into the carriages.
After some shuffling around, Harry – seemingly randomly – ended up in a carriage with only Neville, Luna, and Susan. Once he realized who, exactly, was in this carriage, Harry turned to Luna to ask if this was her doing, one look at the Ravenclaw’s smug face told him everything he needed to know.
The Lords and Ladies of Hogwarts sat in quietly as the carriage made its way toward the school.
Five minutes into the ride, the world outside seemed to fall into complete silence. Looking up, Harry noticed that Susan and Neville looked as confused as he felt but Luna, in true Luna fashion, appeared entirely at peace.
A moment later, it felt as though the very air had been electrified. Their hair stood on end and a thrill ran down each of their spines.
“The ward line,” Neville breathed out.
Seconds later, they each began to glow.
The electricity in the air didn’t go away no, in fact, it seemed to grow.
None of them had truly felt the wards before but, if they had, they’d be able to sense how far they’d fallen into disrepair. Now, though, the wards were nearly as strong as the day they were first created.
With the group allowing the Goblin Nation in to strengthen the wards over the summer, holes that had existed for decades were patched up and the damage that was caused during the final battle was repaired.
The only thing that could possibly make the protection stronger was the Castle’s Lords and Ladies claiming the wards.
At that moment, Harry looked out the window and realized that their carriage had split off. The rest of the students were still on their way toward the castle’s front doors but the four of them seemed to be headed toward the Clock Tower.
Ah, Harry realized, not the Clock Tower anymore.
The carriage came to a stop directly outside the exterior entrance to Founders Tower.
“I hope the carriage stays here,” Susan said, “I don’t quite fancy walking all the way from here to the Great Hall when we’re done with … whatever it is we’re doing.”
“Agreed,” Harry said with a decisive nod, “also” he continued, “pissing McGonagall off by being late not even an hour after arriving seems like a shit plan.”
Neville grunted in agreement at that.
“Don’t worry,” Luna said, “the castle will help.”
The three 8th years looked at each other before each nodding and stepping back, deciding that Luna was officially in charge.
Luna led the group through the courtyard and then, instead of opening the door, she turned to examine the bricks to the right of the entrance. After a moment’s observation, she pulled out her wand and placed it against a seemingly random stone before gesturing to the other three to copy her movement.
Harry summoned his holly wand from his holster and started to follow the direction until Luna placed a hand on his arm and shook her head, “your real wand, Hadrian.”
Sighing, Harry slotted his first wand back into his wrist holster and instead reached for the wand secured in a thigh holster; the Elder Wand.
“You really should swap which wand is where, Hadrian,” Luna said, “if only because your wrist holster is better concealed.”
Not able to poke a hole in that logic, Harry pulled his holly wand from the wrist holster and placed it in the one strapped to his right leg before reaching out to place the tip of the Elder Wand against the brick.
As soon as Harry’s wand made contact, the bricks began moving, very much like the entrance to Diagon Alley.
Once the bricks stopped moving, they followed Luna into a dark room. As they walked, sconces started lighting a path. After a minute, they reached a flight of stairs. As one, they descended into the bowels of the Castle.
After just one flight, they reached another dark room.
Based on how thick the air was and how cold the stones were, Harry guessed that the Castle’s magic had taken them much further underground than just one flight of stairs possibly could.
At the center of the room was a stone.
A stone that was so heavy with power the group almost stumbled backward.
Silently, Luna directed them toward the Stone.
When Harry looked at the floor, he noticed that the Stone sat at the center of a compass. If he had to wager a guess, he’d say that this room sat at the very center of the Castle. Meaning, if there were a second exit point, they’d likely come out right at the Grand Staircase. So, if whatever was happening here didn’t take too long, they’d make it to the Great Hall before the firsties got off the boats.
At Luna’s direction, they each stood at one of the cardinal directions. Harry to the North, Luna to the East, Neville to the South, and Susan to the West. Then, Luna pointed toward Harry’s right ankle.
Wondering to himself if Luna had X-ray vision, Harry reached down and pulled the dagger that the Slytherin Grimoire made very clear that its Lord was meant to have on their person at all times out of its holster and handed it to Luna. Whenever a Lord Slytherin died, the dagger would magically find its way back into the vault to wait for the next Lord to claim it.
Taking the dagger, Luna sliced her right palm, after spelling it clean, she passed it to Neville who did the same and passed it to Susan, who followed suit before passing it back to Harry.
As one, they pressed their hands against the stone.
As the blood of its Founders soaked into the very heart of Hogwarts, the wards glowed for a moment, pulsing with an ancient power. Unknown to the four students in the wardroom, the castle was coming to life. The tapestries that had been worn and dull for generations mended, looking as though they were woven that very morning. The plants around the grounds perked up with new life. The lasting damage from the battle repaired itself in an instant. Rooms that had been unused and covered in dust for decades righted themselves and unlocked the doors.
Down at the Ward Stone, the Founders’ Heirs felt a presence settle in their minds. Hogwarts.
If they focused, they could feel everyone within the Castle’s walls. They’d be able to tell the moment someone crossed the ward line uninvited. They’d be able to lock down those wards and seal the castle, protecting its inhabitants from any and every threat. They each held an intimate knowledge of this place, their home.
As they pulled their hands off the Stone, their cuts magically sealed, leaving behind only a faint line. Harry found himself wondering why it scarred, and his question was answered by a soft voice. A voice he immediately knew was Hogwarts herself. “It’s a magical injury, my Lord Slytherin,” Hogwarts said, “and” she continued, “it’s a reminder of the Power you hold and the Responsibility you bear.”
It seemed as though his three friends had received similar answers.
After a moment’s thought, Harry decided to ask Hogwarts if she’d guide them to the Great Hall, remembering Luna’s comment about the Castle helping.
At his question, a door appeared behind Susan.
With Susan in the lead, the group made their way through the door and found themselves directly outside the Great Hall. The last students were just making their way through the doors. They moved to follow their peers into the Hall, but Harry’s curiosity pushed him to look over his shoulder and see if the door they’d just exited was still there, finding only a brick wall, Harry shrugged and turned back around realizing he’d fallen behind his friends.
Just as Harry stepped through the doors to the Great Hall, he felt the Castle’s magic wash over him again. Wondering if his friends had felt the same thing, Harry called out for Neville.
When Neville turned around, Harry was expecting him to ask what Harry needed or, maybe just to confirm Harry’s question without him needing to ask it out loud. What Harry was not expecting was for Neville to burst out laughing.
Wondering what the fuck was going on, Harry took a cursory glance over his shoulder, thinking maybe someone had walked in behind him that was causing Neville’s reaction.
Seeing nothing that could explain his friend’s behavior, Harry started to look back toward Neville before catching a flash of green in the corner of his eye.
Weird, Harry thought, I’m pretty sure the lining of my robes was red when I put them on.
After a second, that observation caught up with him.
Looking down, Harry realized his previously red and gold tie was now green and silver.
Harry decided that wasn’t enough proof and looked toward the crest on his left breast.
Well, he said to himself, that’s absolutely a snake.
Looking back up at Neville, forgetting that there were hundreds of children and a few dozen members of staff also in the room, Harry said “what the actual fuck.”
It was at that moment that he remembered they had company.
The hall was absolutely silent.
For a total of three seconds before Draco turned toward the door to see what he was missing and, upon seeing Harry in green, immediately pulled the Quidditch Captain pin from his lapel, yelling “thank Merlin, take the bloody badge, I call chaser.” Before throwing the pin toward Harry who, of course, caught it.
A second later, a whirlwind of red hair materialized in front of Harry.
Ginny reached out and unpinned the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain pin from Harry’s robes, immediately pinned it to her own, then grinned up at him saying “mine now.” Then skipping back toward the Gryffindor table.
Susan looked shocked, Luna looked like absolutely nothing strange had happened, and Neville was still laughing.
From the stool at the front of the room, where it had been placed by Professor Flitwick awaiting the first years, the Sorting Hat simply said, “finally.”
“Well,” McGonagall said after she found her voice, “this might be a good time for me to ask what name you’d like to use?”
Shaking himself out of shocked stupor he’d fallen into, Harry looked up at his old Head of House and tilted his head, thinking for a moment, “I think Hadrian Potter-Black, Headmistress, though I’m also happy to be called Harry.”
“Well, Potter-Black, five points from Slytherin for language,” she said with a straight face, thought the sparkle in her eyes screamed of mischief, “I think you just beat the record for quickest loss of points.”
“Who, may I ask, held the previous record.” Harry responded.
“I’ll give you two guesses,” she said back, the corner of her mouth ticking up slightly, “though if you get it right on the first one, I’ll give you your points back.”
The rest of the Hall was sitting in complete silence. Either trying to figure out what the bloody hell the pair were talking about, wondering what exactly the Sorting Hat meant by “finally,” or just shamelessly checking Harry out.
“I’m gonna have to go with Sirius Black.” Harry said.
“Well done, Mr. Potter-Black,” McGonagall said before turning slightly to address the entire hall, “take your seats everyone, the Sorting is about to begin.”
Harry just about walked toward the Gryffindor table before Luna grabbed his hand and led him toward the left side of the hall and shoving him toward the Slytherin table before taking a seat at the Ravenclaw table on the other side of the aisle.
Just as the Founders’ Heirs took their seats, the door to the side chamber swung open and Professor Flitwick, the new Deputy Headmaster, led the first years into the Hall.
As the firsties marveled at the Great Hall, Harry did his best to ignore the curious looks being shot his way, deciding he’d explain himself to his new housemates later. Unlike the rather bleak warnings the Hat had given at the beginning of Harry’s 6th year, the hat returned to its roots. Singing a song welcoming them all to Hogwarts and explaining the traits of the four houses. Though, there was a slight change, at the end of its song, instead of simply waiting to be placed on the first student’s head, the Hat spoke up saying, “welcome back to these hallowed grounds, Heirs of my Founders. Magic has blessed you and Hogwarts welcomes you home.”
With that, the hat fell silent, and Professor Flitwick started calling names from his sheet of parchment.
Harry cheered for each new student, regardless of House.
But, each time the Hat called out Slytherin, he felt a stronger presence settle at the back of his mind. He realized pretty quickly that the Castle was giving him a greater responsibility to those of his own House. A quick glance over his shoulder showed him that the others were feeling something similar. He watched as Fawley, Thomas was sorted into Hufflepuff and Susan’s eyes went slightly unfocused before she nodded and began cheering. When Gould, Abigail was sorted Gryffindor, Neville did much the same thing.
So, Harry thought, the Castle didn’t just put me here because it’s where the Hat always wanted me to go or because I’m Lord Slytherin, but because we each have a responsibility to our own students.
Harry found himself thinking back to a conversation he had with Neville a couple weeks ago. It had been rather early in the morning and Neville had found himself thinking too much to stay asleep and had wandered into Harry’s room, knowing he’d likely be awake with Teddy. The pair had started talking about anything and everything, but ended up focusing on talk of their futures.
Neville had admitted that he often dreamed of becoming the Herbology professor at Hogwarts and Harry had said he quite fancied the idea of teaching DADA. He’d then muttered something to himself about seeing to a curse before looking back up at Neville and joking that they’d have to duel for Head of Gryffindor.
Neville had given him a strange look before shaking his head and saying with (now that he thinks back on it, an only mostly) joking tone, “you know you’re Lord Slytherin, right?”
Now, as Harry sits at the Slytherin table, feeling the responsibility for each new Slytherin student settle in his conscience, feeling strangely comfortable in green robes, he finds himself dreaming of a distant future where he’s happily back living at Hogwarts, teaching DADA and serving as Head of Slytherin, a future where he has a certain blue-eyed boy standing at his side.
For now, though, Harry is perfectly content to be a member of Slytherin House, to Captain its Quidditch Team (which he still hadn’t quite processed because, what the fuck Draco?), living in Founders Tower with his son, and spending as much time as possible with that wonderful blue-eyed boy.
After Yaxley, Benjamin was sorted into Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick carried the stool and Hat into the side chamber and Headmistress McGonagall stood to address the Hall.
“Congratulations to each and every one of you on your Sorting, after dinner, your prefects will lead you to your common rooms where you’ll get a chance to meet your Heads of House and fellow students but, for now, lets enjoy a wonderful feast, dig in!”
At her word, food appeared on each of the tables and conversation broke out around the Hall.
Harry started going about dinner as if nothing were amiss and only once he had filled his plate and poured himself a goblet of pumpkin juice did he look up and realize that the rest of the 8th years and most of the 6th and 7th years were staring at him like he’d grown a second head.
“Good evening,” he said with a nod.
“Good evening, he says,” Pansy said with a huff.
Before anyone could start asking what the actual fuck he was doing at the Slytherin table, he just held up his right hand so they could all see the Slytherin Lordship ring resting on his middle finger.
Recognizing it for what it was, and remembering the news that had come out of the Wizengamot over the summer, the upper class students simply nodded in respect and returned to their meals.
Harry quickly fell into pleasant conversation with his friends, more than grateful he’d had the chance to get to know them over the summer instead of being thrown to the literal snakes without any sort of understanding between them.
Once dinner had disappeared and desserts had popped up, Theo turned to Harry to ask, “so, will you come to the common room after dinner or head straight for your quarters with the others?”
Harry hummed in thought for a moment before answering, “I think I’ll come down and meet everyone, I’m excited to actually get a chance to look around, last time I was there I had a pretty single-minded focus.”
That was met with absolute silence.
Wondering what he’d said wrong, Harry asked “what?”
“What do you mean ‘last time I was there’?” Draco asked.
“We haven’t told you about this yet?” Harry responded.
“Obviously.” Draco responded, in a rather frighteningly good impersonation of Severus Snape.
“Oh,” Harry said, laughing to himself for a moment before responding, “in second year, we – meaning Hermione – brewed Polyjuice potion in the second-floor girl’s bathroom and then snuck into the common room as Crabbe and Goyle to find out if Draco was the Heir of Slytherin.”
“I really, really don’t know why I’m surprised.” Blaise said.
With a grin, Harry simply responded, “glad to know I can still surprise you, dearest Blaise. Anyway,” he continued, “back to the point, I’ll come down and meet everyone and then go up to my quarters. It’s getting pretty late already, and I still have to get Teddy settled so I won’t be able to stay too long.”
A few minutes later, McGonagall stood again and delivered a relatively standard speech about the Forbidden Forest being, you know, Forbidden and that magic wasn’t allowed in the hallways and that everything every produced to be fun was banned by Filch before concluding with something new, “you may have noticed the switch of Mr. Potter-Black’s House, this is because, for the first time in living memory, we have Heirs to each of the Four Founders residing in the Castle. Would the four of you please stand?” she asked.
Neville, Susan, Luna, and Harry each rose to their feet.
“I’d like to introduce Lord Neville Longbottom-Fortesque-Gryffindor, Lady Susan Bones-Hufflepuff, Lady Luna Lovegood-Rosier-Ravenclaw, and Lord Hadrian Peverell-Potter-Black-Slytherin,” McGonagall said, nodding to them each in turn, “they will be residing in Founders Tower and have certain powers over and knowledge of the wards. They, like the staff, will be able to feel if there is a student injured or in trouble and will be able to find them to help out, please feel free to turn to any of them, whether they are the Lord or Lady of your House or not, if you have any questions or concerns.
“For our 8th year students, you will be residing in the former faculty tower, the staff that had been residing there have been relocated to other suites throughout the castle, your room assignments are posted on the notice board in the common room and each of the four House common rooms now have a door that will open directly into the corridor between the 8th Years’ Tower and Founders Tower. Your 8th Year prefects know the passwords for these doors and your tower.
“With that,” she concluded, “I welcome you once again to Hogwarts, ask that the 5th year prefects please lead the 1st years to your common rooms, and wish you each goodnight.”