8
The news of his success preceded him to Hogwarts. As soon as he set foot in the Great Hall he found his arms full of a blond haired Slytherin, who then proceeded to almost hug him to death.
"I can't believe you did it!" Draco said, his pureblood façade completely forgotten. Really, he looked like a small kid on Christmas morning rather than a fifteen years old posh heir.
Harry awkwardly patted his back a couple of times, looking at the Slytherins table for help. His friends were all smiling, none of them moved to help him. Some friends they were. Snakes!
Well, he supposed Draco's act would help convince everyone of their friendship now.
"Malfoy, you're going to ruin your carefully constructed image of a snob prince if you don't let go of me now."
"Shut up, Potter." the boy replied in his neck before squeezing the air out of Harry's lungs once again.
Eventually, he let go of Harry.
"We Malfoys owe you a lot, Harry" Draco said then, suddenly serious.
"The Parkinsons, too." came Pansy's voice from behind Draco.
"As do the Notts." Theo added.
Harry nodded to them all. "You do not owe me anything. We’re friends, and friends help each other.” he said. He could not remind them of their pact in public, but he really hoped the Slytherins would keep their part of the promise now that Harry has fulfilled his.
That night they all went to the dungeons to party, but to Harry's surprise the Slytherins didn’t lead him to their usual hidden room.
"I think it's about time we introduce you to our lot.” Blaise commented when Harry voiced his question about their whereabouts.
"You gained our trust, Harry." Pansy added, patting him on the shoulder.
She then looped her arm with Harry's and leaned in to whisper into his ear so that nobody would overhear them.
“Draco was rather.. adamant that we allow into our Common Room, Harry. He's the one who managed to convince the Seventh years and the prefects that you were worth it." Her eyes were sparkling with mischief when she let go of him.
“Just so that you know!" she added -way too loudly, if you asked Harry- before running to the head of their group to lead the way to their destination: Slytherins common room.
Harry didn't know how to feel about that: it was clear that his friends considered it a great honor to be granted access to their common room, but Harry had already been there in his second year.
Should he mention it? On top of that, Harry didn't really want to meddle with Slytherins more than it was strictly necessary. With the exception of his friends, of course.
Then again, being introduced to the purebloods could be very beneficial for him, Harry reasoned. Know your enemy and all that.
When the slytherins stopped in front of a gray, plain stone wall Harry tried to set his face into a surprised expression.
"So this is where the infamous Slytherin common room is, isn’t it? Who would have guessed?" Harry thought he would have fooled Dumbledore himself with his acting skills, but the Slytherins all turned to him with amused eyes and knowing smirks.
"Drop the act, Potter, we know you're been here at least once in the past.”
Harry blanched. Did Malfoy know that Harry and Ron had used polyjuice to take on the appearance of Crabbe and Goyle and question him?
"How did you..." He trailed off when the Slytherins all burst out with laughs.
"You just told us Harry. Honestly, Gryffindors are so easy to fool..."
"Hey!" Harry protested, but he knew Blaise was joking. Well, at least he hoped so.
"Really, Potter." Malfoy said with his head slightly upturned so that he could look down his nose at Harry. “You have been to the Forbidden Forest, the Room of Requirements and the Chamber of Secrets. It didn’t take a genius to figure out you must have been to our common room at least once."
Harry huffed.
"You got me. It was during Second year.. before the Chamber of Secrets." he replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Second year!" Theo almost screamed, clapping his hands together. "I knew it!"
Harry stood there, silently studying the Slytherins that were now producing golden galleons from their pockets and begrudgingly tossing them to a widely grinning Theodore Nott.
"You could have waited a couple of years longer, Potter!" Draco complained, looking longingly at his money that had disappeared into Theo’s pockets.
"Yes, well, I was following you, Malfoy. You were acting rather suspiciously with the whole Slytherin Heir thing so, really, you don't get to blame me since it was mostly your fault for being a prick already at twelve years old!"
Harry had expected a friendly banter retort from the blond boy, but Draco flushed red and turned around to face the wall. "Whatever, Saint Potter.”
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Who was it then?”
Blaise was leaning against a wall, hands loosely tucked in his robes pockets. "Slytherin's heir, I mean."
Harry smirked. "I am not going to tell you." he hissed in parseltongue.
As the three Slytherins facing him stared at him in awe, Harry noticed a shiver run along the back of one Draco Malfoy.
Harry's smirk deepened: that was a thing that definitely needed further investigation.
***
As soon as they entered the common room and were all sitting on comfortable sofas and armchairs in front of a fireplace, silence fell in the room.
Nobody moved, nobody talked. It seemed they were all waiting, listening to what Harry would be saying. His friends, too, were looking at him expectantly.
"Er... thank you for inviting me here?” he said awkwardly.
Smooth, Harry.
He hadn't intended for it to sound like a question.
Blaise burst out into a full laugh.
"Come on, Harry, tell us how the hearing went! Were there dementors? Aurors at every corner?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "You read too much fiction, Blaise. Their fathers-" he nodded towards the other three Slytherins "-weren't even shackled to the chairs. The scariest thing that happened was hearing Lucius Malfoy being nice to me." he shivered, recalling their exchange of words. "Definitely terrifying."
"Hey!" Draco objected, straightening his back "My Father is not scary. Only... intimidating, sometimes. But he is the nicest person I know!"
This time, it was Pansy who broke out in a laugh. "He's only nice when he talks to his little Dragon, isn't he, Theo?”
"Ah, yes, Pansy has a point. He would burn the world for his little dragon."
In response Draco only crossed his arms and sulked in his armchair, but not before Harry could catch a glimpse of a lovely red spreading from his cheeks to the tip of his ears.
"Come on, Harry, tell us some juicy details! We've been waiting for hours!" Blaise complained.
Harry looked around and took in the multitude of Slytherins listening in. Not that they were obvious about it, but the ones who were fake-reading never turned the page of their books and Harry doubted it would take more than ten minutes to read a few sentences.
It didn't take a genius to understand they were clearly more taken by Harry’s words rather than the '101 ways to use Pixies wings' explained in their books.
Blaise followed his gaze around the common room, immediately understanding Harry's uneasiness.
“They won't tell, Harry." His tone was serious, more serious than Harry had ever heard him be. “We Slytherins don't snitch on each other. And-“ he added, when he saw Harry opening his mouth to protest. "-it doesn't matter that you were sorted into Gryffindor. You are clearly a Slytherin at heart. You helped us and gained our trust. You are one of us now, and nobody here would betray you."
Murmurs of assent were heard from all around the room. The eyes of all of the presents -minus Draco's, who was still sulking in his armchair- were on him: the Slytherins weren't even pretending to be ignoring him now. The games were up.
Harry sighed, running a hand on his face.
"Okay." he finally said, slouching a little on the sofa. "But first, can I have some coffee? I thought we were going to party?”
Before anyone could move Draco snapped his fingers and coffee magically appeared in front of them.
“Oh, are you done sulking?" Harry teased, amused.
Draco glared at him. "Not yet, Potter. But I couldn’t have you call for Hogwarts’ house elves to deliver coffee. They would bring us a terrible, cheap blend for sure!”
Everyone around them chucked at the blond's antics, causing Draco to glare daggers at them.
"What? It's true!"
Harry flashed the boy a warm smile, which soon turned into a mischievous smirk. "Thank you, Dragon !”
He couldn't jump out of the stinging hex in time. Draco was such a sore loser!
"Harry, let Draco sulk in peace and spill the beans! What happened at the Ministry?" Pansy was practically jumping in her seat as she spoke, voice an octave higher than usual.
"It was nothing special, really, but I had to use… the charm." He almost whispered the last word, afraid that the Slytherins would ask for explanations... explanations that he wasn't ready to give, yet.
"Do you mean they really used veritaserum on you?" Theo's question caught everyone’s attention and interest.
After all, if Harry had been dosed with the truth serum he wouldn't have been able to free three Death Eaters. Not to talk about the fact that dosing someone underage was illegal to start with.
"Yes."
With that simple word the tension in the room grew ten folds. Harry was almost sure he could cut it with a knife if he tried.
"I think Dumbledore and Fudge were behind it. It wasn't nice. If it weren't for Vo-" Harry cut himself off abruptly. In his anger he had been about to disclose Voldemort’s involvement in the matter.
"But... how?"
Harry turned around towards the source of that voice. It hadn't been one of his friends to speak, but a six or seventh year boy with brown hair and blue eyes. Harry had never seen him around, but he had to admit he rarely paid attention to any Slytherins other than his year mates.
He shrugged, snagging a biscuit from the small plate on the table in front of him.
"I can't reveal all of my secrets on the first night, now, can I?” he answered with a wink.
But it turned out he had been wrong assuming he could keep a secret from the Slytherins for long. A few minutes later, when they were done eating and drinking, all the food disappeared from the table only to be replaced by a black letter with golden writing on it.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as the Slytherins who had seen the letter appear widened their eyes in shock, all color draining from their faces.
A few first years let out small sobs, hiding behind high backed chairs and looking around as if they expected Voldemort himself to make an appearance.
Just how many of them were familiar with Voldemort's trademark letters?
Harry sighed, picking up the letter and carelessly opening it without checking for spells or curses first. He really doubted Voldemort would curse him, at this point.
Dear Harry,
congratulations on your remarkable achievement. I acquired a memory of the trial from Lucius. I believe I am right in assuming you were dosed with veritaserum?
Dumbledore’s habits are hard to die.
I have to admit you were quite clever with your answers. I particularly appreciated your last statement to Dumbledore, it’s a pity he could not understand you.
I might be repeating myself, but I do believe I could make a great Death Eater out of you, yet.
Harry snorted, unable to contain his laughter any longer. Why was Voldemort so keen on recruiting him after trying -and failing- to kill him on multiple occasions?
Harry was relieved that Voldemort's obsession with him had turned into something less life threatening, but Harry a Death Eater? It was simply ridiculous.
"Something funny?" Pansy asked, eyeing the letter with something akin to fear and distrust in her eyes.
"Not particularly." Harry shrugged, returning his eyes to the parchment. "He seems inclined to believe I would make a good Death Eater. I, on the other hand, am inclined to believe he is a step away from insanity, so..." he drifted off, unaware of the freezing silence that had once again descended in the room.
You might not believe me, Harry, and perhaps you are secretly thinking I am insane. However, I know very well how you felt that day at the Ministry, the sensations that ran through your body for hours after your first taste of the forbidden Magic you casted.
I myself have been standing where you stand now, Harry, so you can believe me when I say it is only a matter of time before you succumb to the sweet call of the Dark Arts.
And I will be there, waiting for you to fall right into my arms.
Harry huffed and rolled his eyes.
The only thing he was sure about was that he would never join the man who murdered his parents. If Tom wanted to believe otherwise he was of course free to delude himself, but Harry was painfully aware of what was waiting for him in the next few years: he would have to fight Voldemort. There was no way out of that.
But if in the meantime he could convince Voldemort to underestimate him it would all be in his advantage, in the end.
Regarding your request about the incantation to make the letter unreadable, I am afraid the spell is too complicated to be learned and mastered in a few days.
However, I am positive that if you concentrate long enough on the snake charm I gifted you with, you will be able to write directly in parselscript, as this letter is.
If you wish to get more accustomed with the Dark Arts do not hesitate to visit Malfoy Manor during summer. I am sure Lucius will not mind having you around, and neither will I.
Best regards.
Lord Voldemort.
"Nice try, Tom, but you can't fool me so easily." he muttered, carefully folding the letter and putting it in the inner pocket of his Hogwarts robes.
He raised his eyes to his group of friends, only to notice that each and every Slytherin in the room was frozen stock still and looking at him.
"What? he asked, glancing around. "Do you people never receive mail from your sworn enemy?"
Only Blaise was kind enough to laugh at his joke.
"What's this all about, Potter?" A girl who looked remarkably older than Harry asked.
"How are you still alive?" a younger girl echoed.
Harry groaned in distress. Great, now he would have to explain more than what he was comfortable with.
"Listen. I am not going to tell you the specifics, but the Dark Lord and I are on… speaking terms. I helped three Death Eaters get out of prison and he is just happy about it. I am not going to turn dark or join him, if that's what you are asking. And I am not going to say anything else on the matter because, more than anything, I do not trust you."
He took a book out of his school bag and began to read it in order to escape the stares he could still feel on himself.
He suppressed another groan when he realized he had just fished out his potions textbook.
Might as well read ahead on the next class.
He stubbornly refused to let his eyes stray off of his book.
After a few minutes he felt some foreign magic wash over him and suddenly the crackling of the fire, the only noise in the room, became so muffled Harry had to strain his ears to hear it.
Only then he dared to raise his eyes.
"They won't bother us now." Draco explained, pocketing his wand. "Now, Potter, what did the Dark Lord have to tell you? Is Father okay?”
Now that he know that his words wouldn't be overheard Harry relaxed a little on his sofa. "He didn't say, but I believe your fathers are fine. You should get letters from them in the morning, I guess.”
The three Slytherins nodded.
"What else?" prompted Blaise, eyes glinting. “It looks like the letter was way longer than this.”
"Well, as I told you, he wanted to recruit me -again. Told me he would be waiting for me with open arms when I finally succumbed to the Dark Arts and invited me to spend some time at Malfoy Manor during summer."
"He what?!” Draco screeched. "Merlin, Harry, if I didn't know any better I would think you are fooling with us."
"Yeah, it looks like that game where you tell us two truths and a lie and we have to guess which statement is which."
Harry glared at the Slytherins in turn.
"No need to work yourself up, Harry! "Draco raised his hands in defeat. "You accomplished the impossible a few times already, we don't doubt that you are telling the truth."
Harry crossed his arms over his chest and huffed.
“It's not my fault that Voldemort suddenly wants to be my friend!" he half heartedly complained. "If you want it so bad to be one of his buddies we can switch, I do not mind!"
“And get stuck with messy hair and poor eyesight? No, thanks." Draco stated, smoothing his already slick and smooth hair further on his head.
"I'm happy to be a Lady, thank you.” Pansy added, jokingly turning her nose upwards.
"I am good, too.” Theo continued. "Besides, my brains would be wasted on you."
Harry dramatically sighed. "Wow. I guess you're the only one left, Blaise."
The tanned boy gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry Harry, I think I'll pass. I'd rather my friends had a nose, you know.”
Harry's treacherous brain supplied him with an image of Voldemort with long hair, a nose and pink plump lips.
His friends had to cast aguamenti on him to save him from the seemingly endless fit of laughter he fell into.
After that they all relaxed around the fire, telling stories of their hogwarts days and gossiping about their classmates.
Harry had a smile on his lips when he made his way back to the Gryffindor common room, hours later.