Chapter 1
Eyes.
Harry had been out on a jog behind the mansion when he saw them. Just hidden in one of the bushes. Large, bright leaf green eyes staring out at him.
“I know your there, I suggest you just show yourself.” Harry pointed at the creature, who let out a yelp of shock. As it jumped out of the bush, Harry realized what it was. The large, pointed ears, the big eyes, the size. Even the unfortunate way they were dressed in what seemed to be an old pillowcase with holes for its head and arms.
A House-Elf, and clearly one kept in slavery.
“Harry Potter! So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir. What an honor it is!” The elf’s voice was fairly high pitched, and Harry couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
He was used to some people insisting on calling him Potter; especially when they didn’t know that wasn’t actually his name, but it was rather annoying to have to explain it every time. Dobby however shrank almost pitifully at the sound, before quickly hitting his head on the ground.
“Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!”
“What? Woah, what are you doing?” Harry gasped, quickly picking him up by the collar. “I’m sorry for getting annoyed-“
“Never… Never.”
“Look. I get you probably don’t get apologized to very often, but please let me explain myself. And no going and hitting anything.” Harry said, keeping his voice fairly stern. “Understood?”
“Yes Sir, of course Harry Potter sir.”
“It’s Queen.”
“But you are Harry potter Sir?”
“Technically, but my name is Harry Queen, and I would much prefer to be known for my own successes that I was, you know, fully conscious for. That wasn’t actually just my mother’s doing.”
“Oh, Dobby is very sorry sir. Dobby will have to punish-“
“I said no punishments, Dobby.” Harry let out a slightly exasperated sigh. “If I put you down, are you going to hurt yourself again?”
“No Harry Queen sir. Mister Harry Queen has ordered Dobby not to, and while he isn’t Dobby’s master-“
“Dobby?” Turning Harry smiled as Draco headed up to them, smiling softly at the very confused boy. “What are you doing here?”
“Master Draco Sir. Dobby is so happy to see you again.” Dobby beamed, popping out of Harry’s grip to deeply bow in front of Draco. To his credit, Harry could see him really realizing how fucked up things were, gears turning in the albino boy’s head.
“Why are you here Dobby?”
“Dobby is here to warn Harry Potter Sir. Even if he had to shut his ears in the oven doors sir. Harry Potter must not return to Hogwarts.”
It didn’t take long for Draco to put two and two together, a wolfish growl leaving his lips as he stormed of. Just the year prior, the boy had contracted Lycanthropy from Fenrir Greyback, and while his work with Alyssa had been extremely helpful it had also allowed the wolfish side of him to be more connected to his personality. Before Dobby could start smashing his head into the ground, Harry grabbed him by the collar again.
“Enough of that Dobby. Now I’m going back to Hogwarts, and you can not stop me, but clearly Draco figured something out. I suggest you tell me why he got so upset before he dose.”
“Harry Queen must not be mad at Dobby sir… Dobby was just trying to keep Harry Queen safe. Dobby did it for the best.”
“Did it?”
A message pinged on Harry’s sending stone and he quickly checked it out.
Dobby’s been stopping our letters to prevent you from going back to school. Get them back.
“Dobby, have you been stopping our letters?”
“Dobby has them here sir. “ Dobby pulled out a massive bundle from under the case, snapping out of Harry’s hand to stand in front of him, and Harry took a few calming breaths.
“Give them here Dobby.” Harry demanded, holding out a hand.
“Dobby cant sir, not-“
“Give them here!” Harry snapped, the sound of footsteps quickly hitting his ears, Harry feeling the pull of Alyssa’s magic as they approached. “I suggest you do as your told, Alyssa’s not as… Nice as I am.”
“No, I tend not to be when people are fucking with mail.” Alyssa’s voice was cold, sending a visible chill down Dobby’s spine. “I understand you are in a predicament, but I suggest you give him the stollen mail and leave.”
“Harry Queen will have them Sir, if Harry Queen says that he will not return to Hogwarts this year.”
Alyssa’s eyes hardened, inky-black tendril’s quickly snaring Dobby in place as they headed forward. Without another word Alyssa shagged the letters from the elf’s hands, eyes going black as they glared down at Dobby.
“Now I suggest you stop this nonsense and leave.” For a moment Dobby went to argue but he nodded, teleporting away in a puff of smoke. As he did Alyssa relaxed slightly, eyes returning to normal and shadows fading as they turned to me. “And there you go. You can divvy them between you and Draco inside. Sorry for going all shadowy on you, but I don’t really have patience for those things.”
“I get it, no need to apologize.”
Alyssa was Harry’s oldest friend. They had been his pen pal even back when he was living with the Dursleys; despite how much they hated it, and they had practically become his sibling since he had been rescued from his kidnapping at the hands of Slade Wilson.
“Someone should probably let Hermione know that we got the letters. I’ve been working on the technicalities of the sending stones, trying to make it so that it’s not just a one, one situation. Though it is interesting to know magic works on the same rules, for the most part, as Silent Hill and Wonderland. Technology works, but no cell service or wifi.” Alyssa chuckled softly, tucking a stray strand of warm brown hair behind an ear. “Anyways, I was just coming to let you know that lunch is ready.”
“I’ll be in soon.” Harry called, smiling as Alyssa headed off. Once they were gone he took a moment to flick through the letters. Just as many were for Draco as were for him, Harry recognizing Hermione’s looping handwriting, Nevil’s slightly messy scrawl. There were even letters from the twins.
Giving a nod Harry responded to Draco’s sending.
Got the letters back, mostly thanks to Al. See you inside soon.
Putting his stone away Harry headed for the mansion once again.
“So a House-elf was stopping the letters? Behind the Malfoy’s back?” Hermione tilted her head as she leaned against the table. “Interesting, but at least it’s been dealt with for the time being. You three have been keeping up with your homework, right?”
“Yeah.” Harry nodded and Alyssa rolled their eyes.
“Al?”
“Yeah, yeah. But really who gives summer homework?” Alyssa huffed. “Were going to go shopping for school supplies next week, get it done a bit early. Your more than welcome to come with us if you would like.”
“Thanks, but my parents are going to take me again this year, the week before school starts probably, to hopefully miss most of the crowd.” Hermione gave a small nod, twirling a strand of her extremely curled hair with a finger. “Though I suppose that’s probably what you three are planning.”
“That was the idea.” Oliver gave a nod. “Professor McGonigal said that she would escort us again.”
“We were escorted by her as well, though we went another week.” Hermione beamed.
“You know I hardly believed it when they told me about you. A Meta Human born well after the explosion, in another continent entirely.” Oliver gave a small nod. “But it has been a great honor meeting you, helping you learn.”
“Thank you for that Sir. I just wish that Nevil could visit more often. But apparently his Nan’s been fussing about him quite a bit.”
Nevil’s nan was a sweet woman, but she was a bit overly cautious. She had more or less refused to let Nevil visit at all, and the few times she had, they had to swear up and down that Alyssa wouldn’t be there. She hadn’t been that happy that Alyssa had ‘convinced’ Nevil to swap houses between years, ignoring even her grand son when he told her that it had been his choice.
Both of them had been very… Unwanted in Gryffindor by the end of the year. Unwelcome in their own ways. Alyssa had been ostracized and tormented by the roomer’s Ron had spread about them being nothing but a monster or a demon, and Nevil had been made the laughing stock of the house. They had both been granted permission to change houses between the year to give Gryffindor a chance to win that year, and Harry personally thought it was the bravest choice they could possibly make.
“Oh Harry!” Before Harry could even start to react, Alyssa lunged across the counter, snagging Harry’s sending stone before sitting. “I’ve been working on another interface. I mean… Psi made us something.”
Quickly Alyssa plugged something into the stone, a deep green glow slowly starting to fill it.
“What is it for?”
“Levels, I guess. She came to talk a while back and when I mentioned the D&D thing she just kind of leaped on it.”
“Sounds about right.” Harry gave a nod, smiling at his friend. “So what do we have planned for today?”
“Not too much, didn’t figure you would want anything too fancy. The Titans will be coming over later for dinner, cake, and gifts, as well as like board games and stuff.” Oliver nodded. “Why don’t you get Draco his letters, go through misses mail and I’ll call you when things are getting under way?”
“Right, thanks.” Harry smiled, heading off to find his friend.
“Happy birthday Quin.” Draco smirked, handing over his gift. While he had mostly lost all of his money, they had his own vault opened with the bits of money his mother had sent, and more than a fair share of Harry’s family’s.
“Thanks Quin.” Harry quipped back, earning an eye roll from his friend. Friend and new sibling. “Were siblings now, legally.”
“Aren’t you and Alyssa…” Hermione paused, clearly ding a bit of mental math.
“It’s a different kind of sibling.” Alyssa smiled. “We can worry about technicalities another time. Go on, open it.”
Chuckling softly Harry did as he was told, peeling off the wrapper and pulling it open. Inside was a large black table holster. Filling the holes were beautiful Flechette, black toned metal, with deep green feathers and tips.
“These are beautiful Draco. Thank you.” Harry smiled, putting them to the side before pulling his sibling into a hug. As they pulled away Harry leaned back against his hands, putting the presents with the others. “You are all far too kind, you didn’t have to get me all of this.”
“Of course, we did.” Nevil smiled warmly, handing over one last gift. There was a small ferret on his shoulder, snuggling against him. “Now come one open it.”
Smiling softly Harry did as he was told, unwrapping the smallest of the gifts. Quickly he pulled out the necklace and smiled. It was a black choker; like his others, but it had lace on the top and bottoms. It wasn’t anything to fancy but it was nice.
“Thank you.”
“Of course, you’re one of my best friends.” Nevil smiled, helping Harry put the presents. “You’re really humble. Come on, just enjoy yourself.”
“I know. I’m not upset about it, but really. Why did you all go so far out.”
“I don’t think we did any more than you did for us.” Hermione shrugged with a smile. “And we did our best to stay at least somewhat practical. Sure, we got some other things, but really not that many things.”
“Thank you really.” Harry chuckled softly. “Alright, some on let’s get towards some games.”