Making connections
Harry slowly made his way down to Care of Magical Creatures, with Daphne beside him. Hagrid had not returned to the classroom since the first lesson and Harry hoped today might be the day they saw him again. Draco who had been toying with the idea of dropping the class dawdled behind with Pansy.
Harry was worried about Hagrid but with his Patronus lessons and his worry about Black, he had not had time to think about Hagrid. He had not been sure what his father had done about Nellie.
Dumbledore had brought in another teacher to help Hagrid with his lessons. Professor Grubbly-Plank had followed Hagrid’s lesson on Hippogriffs with a lesson on Unicorns. The girls in the class had lost their minds at the sight of the beautiful creatures. Daphne had been completely smitten with them and even Pansy had been impressed. Harry had enjoyed the class, it was a good class but he had worried about Hagrid who had not been seen since Professor Grubbly-Plank arrived.
This week they were learning about Porlocks. The little creatures were interesting and Harry couldn't help but be intrigued by them. However, he was distracted by Hagrid's arrival ten minutes after the start of the class; Hagrid had tried to be unobtrusive but no matter how hard he tried he was very noticeable.
The half-giant spent the class shuffling around the outside-side classroom following the direction of the new teacher. Hagrid looked terrible and Harry noticed that Draco was looking slightly guilty. He hoped that Lucius had kept his word about not reporting Nellie.
When the class ended Harry helped put the porlock back in its pen and he looked for Hagrid; he found him at the back of the room near the food shed where he had been cornered by Daphne and Hermione. Harry approached with some trepidation and as he got closer he saw Hagrid hold out a letter to Hermione, who scanned the parchment her brow furrowed.
“They can't do this! It sounds like they have already decided! What is the point of an investigation?” the bushy-haired girl exclaimed passing the letter to Daphne who took and read it through then turned to Harry who was standing next to her. Harry scanned the paper and turned around to find his brother.
Draco was standing by the door when he saw the parchment in Harry's hand and the distress on the half-giant's face he grimaced and walked towards the group.
“I thought you fixed this,” Harry demanded.
“Fixed what? There was nothing to fix. Father never made the report,” he said with a frown.
Harry waved the parchment at him and Draco took it, a frown forming on his face as he read
The Ministry was sending a delegation from the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures; they would arrive on January 20th to investigate the dangerous hippogriff. A hearing was then scheduled for the 29th of April. The fate of the Hippogriff would be decided and the execution would be on the same day. Draco shook his head, “I told father not to do this Harry, he wouldn’t have done it,” he whispered.
Harry looked grim, “We will have to write to him and ask him to be here, I’ll ask him to bring Miss Saari with him. Don't worry Hagrid we will fix this,” Harry assured the sobbing man.
Daphne gave a sharp nod, “I will write to my father too, he works in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures I will ask him to look into this,” she told Hagrid.
Hermione huffed. “Right, well good I will research and help build a defence,” she said. It was clear she was annoyed that the others had connections to call on for help.
“Good idea,” Daphne told her with an approving nod. “Let me know if you need any help.”
Hermione looked mollified and returned Daphne's nod. “Of course,” she said and she stalked off towards the castle, probably headed straight for the library.
🐀🐕🐺
The next Hogsmeade weekend was coming up and Harry wanted to go. He felt as if he would be safe enough in a group of his friends so he took the idea to Severus, who was not against the idea, and said he would go down to village as well, even though he was not on duty.
Harry felt something settle like a weight had been lifted. He had wanted nothing more than a nice quiet year where he was just another student. So much for that!
With Black still on the lose Harry decided to plan his day carefully, to that end he sat in the common room and drew a rough map of the village then he plotted out the shops he wanted to go to and in which order. Draco had scoffed that the military precision planning took the fun out of the trip.
Harry ignored him; he couldn't deny his brother was right but what choice did he have? Lucius had done well to keep him out of the papers. His Uncle's trial had been bad enough; he did not want to think about the headlines if he got kidnapped in Hogsmeade.
Christmas was just around the corner so Harry decided to get in some early shopping. He marked off the shops he though he might find presents for his family and friends. Honeydukes was a given but there was a possibility he would eat any presents he bought this early from the sweetshop.
Finally, he had made his list, He would go to Scrivenshaft’s Qull shop for Severus, Lucius and Miss Saari. Then he would go to Glad Rags and look for gloves and scarves for Narcissa and maybe Miss Daniels. He would go to Dervish and Bang’s just to see what they had, perhaps he would pick up something for his friends there. He was interested to see what Zonko’s had and he needed to go to the apothecary for some potion ingredients he was running low on then last of all he would go to Honeydukes.
He put the quill down and read through his list, he did not notice Daphne sitting on the back of the sofa reading over his shoulder until she spoke. “What about lunch?” she asked. We all usually go to The Three Broomsticks but I think Draco is taking Pansy out to lunch and Theo and Blaise are going to a restaurant. Maybe you and I could go to Madam Puddifoot’s, and start some rumours,” she said wiggling her eyebrows at him.
“Hey,” Harry objected, to her looking over his shoulder. “What if I was writing a private letter?” he demanded.
“You really shouldn’t do that in the common room,” she said with a smirk, “...someone might see,” she said, her face a picture of innocence.
Harry snorted, and then he realised what she had said. “Did you just ask me on a date?” he asked slightly horrified.
Daphne laughed. “Bit slow there, Potter,” she teased. “...and what if I did?”
“You’re betrothed,” Harry reminded her.
The blonde girl moved to sit beside him on the sofa and slid close, stopping just short of touching him. “So are you Potter, don't deny it. I can tell. Stephen didn’t insist on a fidelity clause for the betrothal contract, he wants me to connect with my housemates the way Slytherins do. When the marriage contract is written it will be different but for now…what would it hurt? Unless you have a fidelity clause in your contract,” she whispered.
Harry thought about it, Severus had said much the same thing. He had not insisted on the fidelity clause either but Harry had not foreseen a time when it would matter; he had no intention of dating.
“What do you mean connect the way Slytherins do?” he asked cautiously.
Daphne shrugged. “People tend to pair up in Slytherin and to some extent in Ravenclaw too. We are for the most part old pureblood families and even those without a contract tend to take their parents' advice when it comes to marriage,” Daphne explained. “While we are at school it is accepted, even expected to a certain extent that we…mingle and get to know each other.”
Harry absorbed that information “It wouldn't mean anything?” he asked in a low voice, just to be sure.
“Obviously not, we’re both spoken for,” she told him.
“How did you know?” Harry asked, with a frown.
“Simple, do you remember when we talked about your inheritance test and what might come up? I mentioned betrothals but you didn’t seem interested. Then you left and when you came back after Christmas your response to me talking about Stephen was different. You always listen now when I talk about him or our arrangement; you listen in when anyone else talks about their contracts too. So I concluded you had discovered a family contract of your own,” the girl said.
“Did anyone else come to that conclusion?” He asked suspiciously.
“A few people, yes. Betrothals are quite common Harry; at least a third of the people in Slytherin have them. Ravenclaw too,” she told him.
“I see, so if I agree to this date. People will realise it’s just a Slytherin thing?” He asked, looking for confirmation.
“Of course, but if you're worried write to your betrothed, if she’s old enough, if not write to her father and ask permission,” Daphne told him.
Harry did a double-take at that. “Ahhh,” Harry said softly. “What if I said my betrothed…is a he?” he asked with slight trepidation.
Daphne smiled. “Then, I would say, write to him,” she said with a wink.
The blonde girl pushed herself up off the sofa. “Think about it and let me know,” she said and she walked away.
Harry was stunned his head was spinning he didn't know what to do. He should go to Severus of course but he could feel people looking at him; but then…it would not be strange, for him to seek advice from his Head of House given what had just happened. Then it dawned on him, that Severus would hear about it. Someone would talk too loud in potions or something and he would know whether Harry told him or not.
He got up and went straight to the Head of Slytherin's office.
🐀🐕🐺
“I think it is a wise idea,” Severus said when Harry explained what had just happened.
“You do?” Harry asked in surprise.
“Yes, indeed. Harry, we may be courting, but we do not have a formal contract beyond the family agreement. I did that specifically to allow for this very situation. You and Miss Greengrass are both betrothed according to old traditions; it is not unusual for two students in your situation to pair up. It reduces the focus on you not dating and given your status that can only be a good thing. Lucius has seen to it that nothing will be printed in the Prophet but students talk and they write home,” Severus told him.
Harry rolled his eyes, of course, people talked about him. Since his experience with Ginny, he had noticed some girls watching him on occasion and it made him somewhat uncomfortable. Perhaps allying with Daphne this way would be good for both of them.
“So you wouldn’t …you know…I mean,” Harry stopped and looked at Severus who was trying hard not to show his amusement; Harry saw it anyway.
“No Harry I would not be upset or heaven forbid jealous,” he replied, smothering his smile.
“Not even after I basically accused you of seeing someone else over the summer?” he asked.
Severus put his large calloused hand over Harry’s smaller softer hand and closed his fingers over it. “No, and I will tell you why; I know you Harry, you are a kind, loving and loyal soul. You would never betray someone you care about and I am one of the fortunate ones whom you care about,” he said softly. “...and if you want tangible proof remember your patronus.”
Harry turned his hand palm up and wrapped his fingers around Severus hand in response to that statement. “Thank you, Severus,” he whispered.
Severus leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “No, thank you, Harry. I am glad you came to me with this,” he said a warm smile on his face, it was a smile he had once reserved for Lily and one which had not graced his face in twenty years not until Harry had landed in his life.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny in spite of the crisp air which was suggestive of the coming winter. Students bundled up in winter cloaks and gloves and made their way out of the castle as soon as they were allowed. Harry walked with Daphne, Draco and Pansy. Theo had come down with a cold and Blaise had decided to stay with him.
The group followed Harry's plan, which was also given to Severus. The Potions Professor had made a show of shopping for potion ingredients at the apothecary and quills and parchment at Scrivenshaft’s before heading to The Three Broomsticks for lunch with Professors Vector and Flitwick.
Harry and his friends made it halfway though his list before they stopped and split up for lunch. Daphne had been right, Draco took Pansy’s hand and made a show of leading her to The Three Broomsticks, where he had reserved a private room. Harry looked at Daphne and offered her his hand and the two made their way to Madam Puddifoot's Teashop.
The inside of the shop reminded him of the Divination classroom; the pink silk and lace were definitely overdone and the whole effect was…frilly. The two found an empty table and sat down they ordered a pot of tea for two with a jug of milk for Daphne and sugar for Harry as well as some sandwiches and a plate of ginger biscuits. It was nice Harry decided, they talked about Hagrid’s troubles and what they had heard back from their respective fathers.
Lucius had been most insistent that he had not reported the hippogriff and Daphne's father had not been able to find any paperwork about the report. “I have asked Miss Saari to look into it,” Harry told her.
“I hope you’re getting her something nice for Christmas, the way you just call her at the drop of a hat,” Daphne commented. Harry looked indignant. “I pay her,” he objected.
Daphne rolled her eyes. “Of course you do, but it's just polite when you call her so often to let her know she is appreciated,” the girl said.
Harry thought about it and found he had to agree. “I was going to get her something, I thought maybe a leather journal or a nice quill. Do you think I should get something more for her and Miss Daniels?”
Daphne frowned. “Miss Daniels? Do you mean your tutor?” She asked.
“Hummm,” Harry mumbled, his mouth full of ginger biscuit. “Yes,” he replied, once he had swallowed his biscuit and followed it with a sip of tea. It was a very good biscuit just the right amount of spice and not too hard. “She tutored me before I came to Hogwarts, she helped me with my literacy and well other things,” he said.
“I thought you didn't know about the magical world before you came here,” the blonde girl said sipping her tea.
“I didn't, I thought she was just a normal teacher. I wasn't very good at reading and such at school. She came when I was in year two and helped me. It wasn’t until my Uncle was arrested that the pieces fit together and I realised she was a witch. She still helps me out with writing and reading; she suggests books for me to read and then I write to her about it.” he explained.
Daphne’s eyes went wide, “Oh, you don't write Miss Daniels in your letters. I thought she was your betrothed,” the girl confessed.
“When did you see me write to her?” he asked.
You were sitting at the table in the common room one night with a copy of that Muggle book um…Tom’s garden or something,” she said.
“Tom’s Midnight Garden,” Harry confirmed. “Yeah, she asked me to call her Essie in the letters because she’s not really my teacher.”
“Well I hope you're getting her something nice too,” the girl told him sternly
“Yes, Mother,” Harry replied with a smirk.
Daphne laughed her bright clear laugh, which, ensured everyone in the busy tea shop turned to look at them.
🐀🐕🐺
Hermione had been working hard on putting together a defence for Nellie. It had annoyed her when Harry and Daphne had jumped in and offered to call their fathers and their lawyers to help Hagrid. She was glad they were helping of course but it annoyed her that they had contacts in the magical world, especially Harry.
When she first came to Hogwarts she had been so excited for a new start; she had never really been popular at school. The other children found her a bit too much. Her teachers said she overwhelmed the other kids, Hermione had never understood how.
In the muggle world at least Hermione would have had the advantage of contacts. Her parents were well-known successful dentists and Hermione’s education had not been lacking. If she had not come to Hogwarts she would have gone to St.George’s like her mother; maybe she would have fit there, she thought bitterly.
She closed the book she had just been reading and blew out a sigh at least they had time. The investigation would not start until January but Hermione was still worried that the committee had already made up their mind; why else would they have scheduled an execution? It was very unorthodox she thought.
What she could not understand was why this had happened at all. Draco was adamant his father had not filed the report and Daphne’s father had not found any report on record. It made no sense, like so many other things in this world.
Still, she would not let this go without a fight. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures would have a fight on their hands if Hermione Granger had anything to do with it.
🐀🐕🐺
The rumours began before the students even made it back to the school and by dinner time everyone knew Harry Potter had been on a date with Daphne Greengrass.
Severus was impressed, it was the fastest a rumour had ever spread to his knowledge. Minerva seemed very happy with the development as were most of the teachers except for the Headmaster. He had looked grim when he heard the news and muttered about appropriate ages for dating.
Severus smirked as Minerva told the bearded old fool to stop being so ridiculous. Harry was just as entitled to date as the next student and why shouldn't the poor boy have a bit of fun?
Severus watched as Harry and Daphne entered the Great Hall to whispers and stares. He had never been so proud of Harry as he was in that moment. The young man had kept hold of Daphne’s hand until she was seated at the Slytherin table he had even put his hand on her back to guide her into her seat. Then he had made a show of sitting next to her and pouring her pumpkin juice.
Harry certainly did not do things by halves, he thought. Severus knew intellectually, that he and Harry were betrothed and that, they were courting, but it was not something he spent time thinking about. It was awkward in so many ways. He was a teacher for a start and Harry was a child, the same age as his godson.
Family contracts were common enough still, particularly among purebloods. He knew Lucius did not approve of such big age gaps but he and Harry were hardly unique. Off the top of his head, he could think of at least twelve of his students who were betrothed to much older people through family contracts.
Still, he did not think about Harry that way because he was a child and that would be wrong. However, in that moment, watching Harry with Miss Greengrass; instead of jealousy, Severus felt contentment and a slight anticipation. If this was Harry fake dating at thirteen, what would he be like during their engagement year when he was seventeen?
Severus ate his dinner keeping a close eye on Harry, Narcissa would be so proud when he showed her this memory.
🐀🐕🐺
Severus was not the only one watching Harry and feeling proud, Remus Lupin was also watching closely. He knew that there was something between Harry and Severus more than just Severus being his guardian. His wolf instincts had sensed that much in Harry’s defence of the man. Remus was not proficient in mind magic, but he had begun to suspect that he had been obliviated at some point. He had been trying to unlock his memories and he was beginning to recall some things.
He remembered now that Lily had asked Fleamont Potter to approach the Prince Family for a betrothal contract for Harry. Remus had not known who the Prince family were at the time; now he concluded they were somehow connected to Severus.
Remus wondered how Lily had known about such things, James would never have mentioned them to her. He also remembered that he had signed Lily's will as a witness and he knew she had never trusted Dumbledore.
James had trusted the Headmaster and Remus knew how much he owed the old man but that was not a reason to have blind faith in the man. Harry clearly despised him and if what the young man had disclosed was true Remus could not blame him.
Dumbledore had allowed Remus to attend Hogwarts and Remus had flouted the man’s strict conditions on his attendance by running with James, Sirius and Peter in their animagus forms at full moon. If the Headmaster had ever known he had never said anything.
Remus thought back to Harry’s insinuation that Albus would have covered up Severus’ death had James not had a change of heart that night. Remus knew he would never have been able to forgive Sirius if the worst had happened. It was bad enough that he never pulled them up for their bullying behaviour but that night, that had been far worse than the bullying.
Harry had been right about James and Sirius they had been terrible to Severus, no matter if the man gave it back it had still been four on-one and Remus knew Harry was unlikely to forgive him or Sirius for their actions or inactions as the case maybe.
Remus tried not to think about Sirus these days. He tried not to think about how much he had loved him but Sirius had done the unthinkable and in the end, there could be no forgiveness for the man. Not now. He would never know his godson. Perhaps, he didn't want to know him, if it was true that he wanted to find Harry to hand him over to the Dark Lord then it would not matter to him.
How had they come to this, how had things gone so wrong? That Lily and James were betrayed by Sirius and Peter had been…Merlin! It hurt so much to think about it; Peter had been killed and Remus had run away. He had told himself it was the best thing he could do, that Albus needed the wolves on his side and Remus was a wolf so naturally he was the best person to approach them.
It was an excuse, it had given him a reason not to stay and deal with the pain of his loss. He chose to believe that Harry was safe and happy even with nothing but Dumbledore's word for it. What if he had been wrong?
Lupin watched Harry behave like the perfect gentleman with Miss Greengrass and he smiled. Lily would be so proud, she would have raised him just that way. It hurt she had not lived to her son so grown up.
🐀🐕🐺
Late November brought the next quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. While the Slytherin team were not directly involved they were still training training twice a week. Marcus had the chasers running drills with bludgers flying at them on one-half of the pitch. Harry and the reserve seeker, Alex Harper, were engaged in seeker battles on the other end.
Harry was still using a school broom and while the Cleansweep 7 was a perfectly serviceable broom it was no match for Edwards Nimbus 2001. Harry was frustrated and so was Flint. “You gotta get a new broom, Potter. You are not going to beat Chang to the snitch on that,” the captain told him bluntly. “Sort it before our match in January or Harper will play.”
Harry knew he had to bite the bullet and buy a new broom, he looked at the Firebolt in Draco’s catalogue and considered it. He could afford it that wasn’t the problem; he didn't know what the problem was, but it wasn’t a lack of money.
Finally, he tore out the mail-order coupon and filled it in. he would buy the firebolt and then there would be no excuse not to win against Ravenclaw.
🐀🐕🐺
After Severus had reassured Harry about his patronus he had accepted the animals form, however, he decided to rename his stag. He wanted his patronus to be a reflection of him not of a father he had never known. He had tried out a few names in his mind but nothing fit.
Harry was waiting for Severus to return from his early rounds; he was mindlessly doodling and listing names for his Patronus on a piece of parchment when he realised, that he had heard the name Prongs before he learned to cast his patronus. In fact it had been quite a while before, specifically, it had been when Fred and George had given him their greatest treasure, the Marauders Map.
Harry checked the time there was still a least half an hour before Severus would get back. He pulled the map, which he always carried, out of his pocket.
“I solemnly swear I am up to no good,” he whispered and tapped the parchment with his wand.
Harry sat at the desk and watched as the ratty piece of parchment turned into a map. The writing appeared as if it was flowing out from an invisible pen onto the parchment.
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot…and Prongs. He whispered as the words appeared. “Prongs,” he repeated. This was his father's map. James Potter had created this incredible piece of magic with his three friends.
It seemed his father was more than just a playground bully, he must have been a very gifted wizard if he had made this while he was still at school. Suddenly, Harry wanted to know more about this James, the clever prankster, the man his mother must have fallen in love with.
Lily must have loved James. Why would she marry him otherwise? What had his mother seen in a man who had been so cruel to someone Lily had called a friend? It had occurred to him that maybe his mother was not that great a person either; that thought hurt much more than he would have expected.
This map though, this map represented something else. He had seen pictures of his parents. Hagrid had given him a few photos in his first year. He saw the way James looked at Lily. he found himself hoping there was more to James than just what he knew so far.
There was a temptation to go to Lupin and ask but it was late, office hours were over and Harry was not sure if it was a good idea.
Harry scanned the map as he contemplated. Severus was patrolling on the ground floor. He was moving students off to their common rooms. It was almost curfew and Harry was waiting for him to return so they could have their Friday night, hot chocolate.
His eyes were drawn to the Slytherin Common room Draco was sitting beside Pansy, again. Theo was sitting opposite Daphne at the table they were probably playing Chess and Blaise was sitting near Theo. The Slytherins had taken Harry and Daphne’s sudden relationship in their stride; most saw it as a confirmation that Harry was indeed betrothed. Harry knew how lucky he was to have his friends, to have the Malfoys and Severus but what would be different if his parents had not been killed?
Harry ran his finger over the map to Gryffindor Tower. Ron and Hermione were sitting together. Fred and George were in their dorms, which was suspicious. Harry let his eyes drift over the map he noticed a dot moving around in one of the boy's dormitories. Neville had just come out of the bathroom but he was not alone in the dorm. There was another dot, Harry’s heart almost stopped beating as he read the name. It was impossible there was no actual way that what he was seeing could be right.
All his previous thoughts flew out of his head.
Peter Pettigrew was in the Gryffindor boy's dorm with Neville Longbottom. Frantically Harry searched for Professor Binns, he located the ghost in his study, and he searched for another ghost any other ghost. The Bloody Barron was in the lower dungeons and Nearly Headless Nick was in the seventh-floor corridor floating through walls. Harry breathed a sigh of relief maybe Pettigrew was just a ghost.
The uneasy feeling did not leave his chest, as his mind drifted to the rat which kept appearing in his divination work. A rat who might be called Wormtail, that fit right? A rat's tail looked like a worm, maybe. Scabbers had been sick Ron had said, ever since they were in Egypt.
Since Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban.
Harry’s stomach knotted, he opened Severus' drawer and took out some parchment and a quill. He had forgotten that he had planned to write to Tom. So much had happened he had not thought about it since he had discussed doing so with Severus.
Suddenly, it became imperative, Harry needed to know who had betrayed his parents. Who had told Voldemort where to find James, Lily and baby Harry? The only person who would know for sure - apart from the traitor - was the Dark Lord.