Harry Silver

Being in Slytherin turned out to be better than Harry ever expected. It didn’t quite have the warm family appeal of Gryffindor, but the flip side was that Slytherins were more perceptive and though Harry had less friends he had quickly become close to all of them. And unlike Ron and Hermione, who took years to really understand his ticks, Blaise, Daphne and Tracey had picked them all up by the end of the week.

It had been Tracey who had noticed the way Harry flinched whenever she went to touch him and quickly made sure to always get permission first. It was Daphne who realised Harry had a deep mistrust of all but a few adults so always made sure he was never left alone near one. And it was Blaise who put it all together to realise Harry probably had a less than stellar childhood yet never made a single comment about, nor did he even react when he walked into Harry topless in their shared bathroom and saw his assortment of scars (unlike Ron who had first gasped and fled the bathroom). Harry might not have felt as loved within Slytherin but he couldn’t deny he felt safe.

What really threw him for a loop however was the fact that the house did indeed honour the rule of not showing division outside of the common room. Despite his new (at least for one involved party) rivalry with Malfoy Harry nearly fell off his chair when the blonde politely asked for the jam at breakfast their first morning. Older students who sneered at the muggleborn student in the common room smiled at him when they passed in the hall, it was nearly enough to give him whiplash. And with Snape’s warning hanging over them all Harry didn’t receive much more than the odd snide remark.

Classes were pretty good too, sadly it seemed as he was eleven again Harry had lost all muscle memory so he was learning most wand waving techniques from scratch. However his incantations and theory work was all memory and he quickly found himself as one of the top students in Slytherin (just behind Daphne). 

Classes brought another change to this timeline, their schedule was completely different. Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws was more or less what Harry expected, McGonagall’s intensity was matched only by the Ravenclaws desire to learn and Slytherins need to prove themselves. Even with his leg up Harry found it difficult to keep up with the stern professor. He had at least been able to catch up with Hermione who seemed far happier at this stage in Ravenclaw compared to her old house. Apparently while not everyone was as bookish as she was, unlike in Gryffindor it was common enough in Ravenclaw that she wasn’t singled out.

Defence Against The Dark Arts with the Gryffindors had been even worse than Harry had been expecting. Before they’d even walked in the door Ron and Malfoy had zeroed on eachother and started a full blown verbal war. Harry made sure to slink to the back of the line for that class, he wanted to talk to Ron but knew at this stage he’d receive nothing but insults for wearing green. Instead he hoped Quirrell would end the argument. His hope proved futile as the nervous and stuttering teacher (his act really was impressive) failed to control the class as Malfoy and his goons and Ron and his friends continued to antagonise each other.

Their only class with Hufflepuff was ironically potions, it would end up being the first time Harry really noticed his influence on how he was changing the timeline.

“Tracey, how do you eat like that every day yet never put on any weight?” Daphne asked with jealous eyes as Tracey moved onto her third bacon sandwich for the morning.

Tracey just shrugged, “Mum says I have a lot of energy to burn it off.”

“That I can believe,” Blaise said as he ate the same thing he did every morning, two jam covered scones, “I swear you sleep for like two hours a night yet every time you wave your wand around it’s like an explosion waiting to happen.”

Blaise was right, Tracey was always the last to leave the common room at night and first to get down there in the morning, even with his messed up post war sleeping schedule Harry still managed more nap time than she did. Yet she was a constant ball of energy, always chatting and excited for their next class. And boy had Harry underestimated her magical power, for the smallest girl in their year everytime Tracey cast a spell it was worth three of pretty much anybody else. She struggled with incantations and wand movements and generally found it hard to focus but when she did the results were staggering.

“Shove off Blaise,” Tracey said as ketchup dripped down her chin, “At least I have good taste in food unlike Mr and Mrs bland over here.” She said and indicated to Harry and Daphne.

“Hey!” Daphne complained with a slight pout, “Excuse me for trying to be healthy,” She said and took another bite of her fruit salad.

Harry also frowned and looked down at his porridge, “What’s wrong with my breakfast?”

“You could at least put a little jam in it!” Tracey said with enough despair that Harry nearly did it purely to cheer her up.

“Leave the poor boy alone,” Blaise said with a chuckle, “The man likes his porridge, plus it’s not a bad breakfast for someone as scrawny as he is.”

Harry found it funny how despite no longer being in the same house as Hermione he still had a mother hen looking over him. Blaise was a little more subtle than Hermione and his concern was laced with friendly insults but he was always watching out for the three of them, making sure Tracey did her homework, keeping an eye on Harry's health and making sure nobody gawked at Daphne. 

“I like porridge,” Harry mumbled, honestly between his food at the Dursleys and the scraps he’d eaten during the war plain toast would be delicious to him.

“Yeah well I like bacon,” Tracey said with a smile as she leaked grease and sauce onto her fingers, much to the disgust of Daphne.

“You four better be prepared for potions,” Malfoy said from a little way down the table, “It’s our Head of House’s class afterall.”

“I’m sure we’ll be fine Draco.” Harry said and bit back the bile in his throat.

The first year of Slytherin had been cut cleanly in two, with Harry and his friends on one side and Malfoy and his cronies on the other. After their friction on their first day the two groups elected to largely ignore each other though as per the rules they remained civil outside of the common room.

“Ugh,” Tracey groaned, “I’m really not looking forward to potions.”

“Same here.” Harry said as he glared down at his empty bowl.

“Aw come on,” Blaise said with a snort, “The muggleborn who picks up every spell on their first try isn’t looking forward to potions?”

Harry shrugged, “Potions isn’t about casting spells though, it’s basically the equivalent of the most dangerous and precise science experiment you can think of.”

Daphne furrowed her eyebrows, “What’s a science experiment?”

“Very well put Mr Silver,” A voice said behind them and Harry turned to see Snape giving him an approving look, “Potions is indeed less about natural magical skill and more about the particulars of brewing. Oh and Miss Greengrass, while I appreciate your pureblood upbringing it wouldn’t do to be completely ignorant of the muggle world, I suggest you read up on it.”

“Yes sir,” Daphne replied though she didn’t look too pleased at the prospect.

“Very good. I shall see you all shortly in class.” Snape said and walked out of the great hall.

“At least we don’t have potions with the Griffindors,” Tracey said, “I heard it was a disaster between them and the Ravenclaws.”

Harry could believe that, even though he seemed to be slightly softer this time around Snape was still Snape.

“How do you know all that?” Blaise asked as they grabbed their bags and started to head towards the dungeons.

“I have friends outside of you guys!”

“Incorrect. We’re not friends, we simply tolerate your presence.” Blaise replied and quickly dodged a light punch from Tracey.

“Please don’t embarrass me.” Daphne drawled as Harry chuckled.

Soon they found themselves the first ones to be waiting outside of the classroom, not an unusual thing considering Daphne’s insistence on always being on time. They chatted amongst themselves as a few Hufflepuffs trickled in, looking at them warily. Of course Malfoy and his cronies turned up with a flare but the Hufflepuffs were at least smart enough not to take the bait.

Not long before the lesson began Harry spied Harrison approaching with his friends. They made eye contact and Harry offered a small smile. Then, for the first time that many could remember, a first year Hufflepuff with no necessity, walked over to the Slytherin cohort of students.

Harry had to bite his lip at the shocked looks as THE Harrison Potter walked across the hall towards the Slytherins with a wide smile. Only Daphne allowed herself a smirk at the show.

“Hi Harry.”

“Hey Harrison,” Harry responded as several eyes widened around the pair, “How's it going?”

“Great!” Harrison responded with a wide smile, “Hufflepuff is a great house, classes have been really exciting though I’m not convinced by History of Magic… How’s Slytherin?”

“Pretty good, which reminds me,” Harry said and turned to his friends, “Blaise, Tracey, this is Harrison. Harrison this is Blaise Zabini and Tracey Davis.”

“Nice to meet you both.”

Blaise paused before his usual smile appeared on his face and he took Harrison’s outstretched hand, “Likewise Heir Potter,” He said and took a slight bow.

“You’re Harrison Potter!” Tracey blurted out before Daphne elbowed her in the ribs.

“Ah… um… yeah,” Harrison said as Tracey blushed.

“Sorry,” She mumbled.

Harrison shrugged, “You’re only the fifth person today, you’re fine. Hello Daphne.”

“Harrison.” Daphne responded with a nod.

As they talked Harry saw the group Harrison had been with nervously make their way over, eyeing the Slytherins with caution.

“Hey Neville.” Harry said with a wave.

“Oh… um… Hi H-Harry.”

“Harry this is Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot, guys this is Harry Silver.” Harrison said as everyone looked between Harry and Harrison.

“Uh…” Hannah mumbled, “Are you guys related?”

“No.” Harry and Harrison replied.

“Spooky,” Blaise mumbled before clearing his throat, “Heiress Bones, Heiress Abbott, Heir Longbottom.” He said and gave Hannah a particularly deep bow.

“Heir Zabini, Heiress Greengrass.”

Harry and Tracey watched the whole thing before turning to each other wearing simultaneous smirks.

“Heiress Davis,” Harry said and took a low bow, his head practically touching the floor.

“Heir Silver!” Tracey cried and copied his movements, “Such an honour.”

“Alright, alright, let's not piss all over tradition.” Blaise said with an eyeroll.

“Stupid traditions,” Susan mumbled.

Unfortunately Daphne got wind of it and narrowed her eyes, “Traditions which have kept out society running for centuries.”

“Of course the pureblood princess would defend the barbaric ways.” Susan growled.

“Barbaric?” Daphne said in a mocking tone, “Is that why your Aunt keeps pushing back against Dumbledore's ridiculous notions?”

Seeing impending disaster Harry quickly clapped his hands together, “So who’s ready for potions!?”

“I’m not,” Neville said and his shoulders sagged, “I’ve been terrible at every class so far.”

“My Mum runs a potions business, if you like Neville just stick with me and I can help you through it.” Hannah said with a reassuring pat in Neville's arm.

“I’ve been reading up on potions,” Harrison said as they all started to walk into the classroom, “I just hope it’s enough to get by.”

“Just be pleased you’re not in Gryffindor,” Susan said, “I hear Snape hates that house.”

“Hey Harrison, want to sit at the same bench?” Harry asked before the Slytherins could speak up at Susan's comment at their head of house.

Harrison looked up at Harry with relief (he’d actually been terrified of being paired up with Neville but would never admit it) and nodded, “That’d be great.”

Blaise gave Harry an odd look as he took a bench with Daphne. Susan and Tracey briefly eyed each other with caution before they fell into amicable silence next to each other. Harry eyed Malfoy across the room and was pleased to see he appeared to be having an aneurysm over the fact Harry was friends with Harrison Potter.

A moment later the classroom door banged open and Snape marched through, his cloak billowing behind him as he gazed over the collected students who had been silenced quicker than anyone thought possible.

“Welcome to potions,” Snape said as he reached the front of the classroom, his voice reverberating throughout the room, “There will be no foolish wand-waving, unnecessary incantations or playful pranks in this class. You are here to learn the subtle art of potion making, I expect many of you will never understand the beauty of this but pay attention and excel at this class and I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory and even stop death. But before that, the register.”

Snape went down the list name by name, with everyone confirming their attendance, then he got to the critical moment.

“Potter, Harrison.”

“Here Sir.”

Harry crossed every bone in his body and prayed to every God he knew, hoping that Snape wouldn’t make the same comment. There was an agonising pause before-

“Silver, Harry.”

“Here Sir,” Harry said and let out a deep sigh of relief.

Snape finished the register and looked out at the students, there was a long pause which made Harry frown before Snape wore an unreadable expression.

“This will be a difficult class for most of you,” Snape warned, “Potion brewing is complex and requires a slight amount of talent to produce perfect results every time. It is also a dangerous class, perhaps more so than any other here at Hogwarts. A poorly brewed potion can have disastrous consequences. In this class we will rarely discuss theory, your lessons will be dedicated to the brewing process so I expect you to research the theory in preparation outside of classroom hours. Follow the instructions I set out each week and you will make an acceptable potion. But potion brewing is an art not a science, not every potion will turn out exactly the same every time. Those of you with a skill in this class will learn to ignore the instructions and follow your instinct, for instance to add more frog spawn to your potions to make them thicker or add clockwise mixing to make them a lighter shade of blue. But these are things you will learn, for now follow my instructions and you should be able to brew a simple cure for boils while working in pairs.”

With a wave of Snape's wand the instructions appeared on the board, Harry noted that overall Snape seemed to have mellowed out. He was less gloom and doom in this lesson than he had been the first time.

“So how do you want to work this?” Harrison asked as he got out the supplies.

“How about I watch the potion and you prep the ingredients?”

Harrison nodded and the pair got to work. Despite Snape's constant put downs over the years Harry wasn’t actually half bad at potions, years of cooking for the Dursleys had given him the skills needed for it. However his disdain for Snape combined with Rob’s abysmal potions performance generally meant his grades remained below average up until his 5th year. As a result without Snape glaring down at him Harry was able to work quite well.

He and Harrison also made a natural team, they worked in perfect sync despite not even saying a word to each other. It was like they could read each other's minds, whenever Harry felt the potion was going awry Harrison was prepping the correct ingredient. Meanwhile everytime Harrison was ready with the next ingredient Harry had already prepped the potion ready for it to be added.

Around the room everyone else was having mixed success. Daphne seemed to be a natural at potions and Blaise was happy to follow her guidance, as was Neville with Hannah though Hannah seemed to have taken over doing most of the work while Susan and Tracey seemed to have come to a fragile peace and at least were able to work together to make a somewhat acceptable potion.

Eventually Snape seemed to notice the lack of verbal communication between Harry and Harrison and walked over with a scowl, “Potter, Silver, are you both so arrogant to think that you can’t work together and create a… perfect potion?”

Snape's scowl vanished as he looked down at the potion, with a wave of his wand he put some into a vial and inspected it. There were a few quiet moments before he gave a firm nod to them both.

“Five points to Slytherin and Hufflepuff for a near perfect potion on your first attempt.”

Harrison beamed at Harry as Snape turned and began to criticise other potions, on the other side of the room Harry was pleased to see Malfoy on the verge of a complete breakdown at this turn of events.

The rest of lesson went quietly, Harry and Harrison being the first to finish their potion and while nobody else received any points Snape didn’t take any either. It was a marked improvement and the first sign that Harry really was starting to make a difference.

“You all did marginally better than expected,” Snape said at the end of the lesson, "Please write an essay review of your potion for next week, dismissed. Oh and Mr Potter, please stay behind.”

Harry just hoped the two wouldn’t kill each other without him.

Snape watched the students trickle out at the end of the lesson, it had gone far better than the disaster that was the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw class, a total of thirty points had been lost from both houses.

And that was with Snape trying his best.

He’d thought long and hard about what Dumbledore had said, he was ashamed to admit it but perhaps he had been rather… harsh in previous years. He owed it not only to his current colleagues (at least the ones he respected) but to the students who had at least some hope of becoming respectable adults to actually try to be a good teacher.

And loath as he was to admit it that seemed to include young Harrison Potter. All his teachers reported the boy was quiet, incredibly polite and nervous even by muggleborn standards. Snape had decided to judge for himself and discovered his colleagues were annoyingly correct. Not to mention the boy (and Silver) seemed to have a natural affinity for potions, only Greengrass and Zabini had beaten them on quality and they were purebloods who grew up on potions.

The final members of the class went out and Snape caught Mr Silver glancing at Harrison nervously. He then looked at Snape and for a brief moment Snape swore he felt a chill down his spine as he made contact with those bright green orbs. Then the door shut and he was left alone with The-Boy-Who-Lived.

“Did I do something wrong sir?” Harrison asked and Snape caught the slight quiver in his voice, the way his eyes snapped to the door and his hands clenched on the desk, all the signs of a deep mistrust of adults.

“No, you have done nothing wrong,” Snape replied and Harrison relaxed (though only slightly), “In fact I was very impressed with yours and Mr Silver's work. Especially from two people with muggleborn backgrounds with no previous potions experience.”

Harrison smiled slightly, “Oh well, Cedric Diggory mentioned it’s like a very advanced magical form of cooking so I just did the same thing I normally do when I cook meals.”

Snape’s eye twitched at the barbaric oversimplification of his art but let it slide just this once, “I see… Do you cook a lot for your family.”

“Everyday,” Harrison said with a shrug, “That’s what chores are right? I used to do the cooking, cleaning, gardening and well.. Everything I suppose. But my teachers just said it was my Aunt and Uncle teaching me discipline and responsibility.”

Snape was amazed that Lily Potter did not rise from the dead at that very moment, charge into his classroom (hex him just for the sake of it) and start demanding the name of every teacher her son had ever had and to hunt them down to the ends of the earth.

“That is… Not normal Mr Potter. A few chores yes but the responsibility should be shared among the family.”

“Oh…” Harrison said, his face drooping slightly as he shifted in his seat uncomfortably, “Um… Why did you keep me behind sir?”

“I like to have a quick chat with any muggleborns I show around Diagon Alley, I also had a chat with Mr Silver. So tell me, how are you settling in?”

“Oh. Fine.” Harrison said with a blank expression.

Snape just stared.

“Ok fine,” Harrison said and his mask fell away, “I don’t know, it’s just… weird I guess, I mean getting used to being a wizard is one thing but then well… apparently I’m famous.”

“And how does that make you feel?”

“I hate it,” Harrison said with a deep scowl, “Everyone keeps gawking at me like I’m something special but… I’m just Harrison.”

Snape sighed, “I’m afraid I’m forced to disagree. I’m sure you may think it’s just luck or coincidence, and perhaps it was, that caused you to survive The Dark Lord. But regardless of the circumstances it nonetheless turned you into a symbol of victory and hope. You may not realise it but you may as well be the wizarding version of a prophet. And no matter what you can’t change that. You may just be a child now but anyone with half a brain knows as you grow older you will wield significant influence and political power. The sooner you realise and embrace that, the easier it will be to deal with.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Harrison mumbled.

“No but it has its benefits, you may not like it but most of the student body thinks you’re untouchable. It’s a poorly kept secret that Hogwarts has had a rampant bullying problem for years, the darker side of a society where nearly anything is possible, including cruel pranks. But nobody would dare touch you, only the upper echelons of society could afford the political blowback.”

There was a long pause as Harrison seemed to take it all in before he took an unsteady breath, “Ok… I’ll um… try. Still, I wish people would stop telling me how great my parents were.”

Snape couldn’t stop the anger that babbled to the surface, how dare anyone insinuate Lily Potter was anything but perfect, “You would prefer to remain ignorant of the people that gave their lives for you!?”

Harrison flinched and quickly looked away from Snape, “I didn’t mean it like that, it's just everybody keeps talking to me like I know them but I’ve never met them, I’ve not even seen a picture.”

Snape's rage swept away from him like an icy river as he realised he’d just accused an orphan of not caring about his parents, “Your mother was also a fine potion maker, we were in the same class during Hogwarts and often competed for the top spot.”

Harrison looked up at him with sparkling eyes full of hope, “You knew my mother?”

Snape paused, an answer fresh on his lips as he considered his options.

“Not well, we were merely classmates.”

Harrison stared at him in the eyes, for far longer than Snape was comfortable with. Something in the back of his mind was telling him to break eye contact.

Eventually Harrison frowned before his mask creeped onto his face again, “I see, still that’s nice. Is there anything else, professor?”

Snape was tempted to keep him but he could tell the boy's minimal patience for adults had run out, “No, you may go. Again good work in today's lesson.”

Harrison nodded and all but fled out of the room, all Snape could do was sigh.

Harry whistled to himself as he walked through the slowly darkening corridors of the school. He had a book tucked under his arm and a completed transfiguration essay in his rucksack. Though the two were unrelated. Electing to complete his essay in the library where the number of glares dropped significantly, while there he figured he'd grab a history book on the last decade to figure out if anything dramatic had changed he wasn’t aware of. 

Maybe it was because he assumed as a war veteran he’d naturally be more aware of these things. Or maybe he’d grown arrogant, strutting around the world as Harry Potter, the wizard who terrified Death Eaters. Or maybe he had simply grown too used to the fact that Harry Silver didn’t attract the same attention Harry Potter did.

Whatever the reason Harry never saw the stunner coming. It hit him in the back and he was sent sprawling to the floor, his book clattering to the side and the contents of his rucksack spilling out.

His momentary shock was quickly overcome with instincts and he jumped to his feet, wand in hand as he twisted on his feet.

His attacker however decided to go down the muggle route and Harry’s head snapped to the side. He felt blood in his mouth as the large fist made contact with his cheek and he staggered back against the wall.

“Stay down Silver.”

Harry looked with a snarl, of course it was Malfoy and his goons. All three stood over him, Grabbe with his fists clenched as Malfoy and Goyle pointed their wands at Harry's face.

“Was there a spider on me?” Harry said as he leaned against the cold wall, trying to smile at them, “If so that was a little overboard if you ask me.”

“Keep talking and I’ll hex you into next week,” Malfoy spat.

“Time travel magic? Wow I didn’t know-”

Harry was cut off as Malfoy’s boot connected with his stomach and he doubled over coughing, “Well this isn’t very house friendly of you.”

Malfoy crouched down low, fury in his eyes, “You think you’re so funny don’t you?”

“I don’t know, mildly amusing perhaps?”

“This. This is why I hate mudbloods,” Malfoy said, “You have no idea what it’s like to be a wizard and strut around like you own the world. Well want to know the truth? You have nothing in our world. You might have made a few pathetic friends but one misstep and I could have you kicked out of here and obliviated back to your worthless muggle life.”

“Shove off Malfoy, your Daddy isn’t that powerful.”

“Isn’t he?” Malfoy said with a dangerous smirk, “How difficult do you think it would be to convince the Hogwarts Board of Governors to kick an orphan muggleborn out? Who would step forward to defend you?”

Harry opened his mouth to respond only to realise… Malfoy was right. Snape would be unlikely too, given his complex work as a spy. McGonagall barely knew him in this timeline and Dumbledore probably wouldn’t even give him a second glance. Harrison could step forward but Harry would never put that sort of pressure on him.

Seeing his silence Malfoy chuckled, “See I knew you’d get it.”

“What’s going on?”

Everybody turned to see one of the Slytherin prefects walking up to them with a frown on their face.

“We were just showing Silver his place.” Malfoy said.

The perfect looked at the scene and then looked at Harry, crumpled on the floor having obviously been attacked.

“This is public, disputes happen in the common rooms remember?” The prefect said before walking off.

Malfoy rolled his eyes before winking at Harry and following the prefect towards the dungeons.

Harry sat there for a few moments, waiting for his pain to eb away as he clenched his fists. He knew he could probably beat Malfoy in a fair fight. Hell he could easily make his life miserable if he wanted to. 

But Malfoy would have him expelled in an instant. His bullying of Harry had never been this intense but Harry no longer had a name that meant something. Nobody cared about the muggle Slytherin.

He was Harry Silver.

He was nothing.