Chapter 11
"Welcome!" Dumbledore said. Harry glowered at the neon robes -- was he trying to blind them? "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast....
"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban-"
Harry's dad stiffened at the staff table, looking as if he were going to murder someone.
"-who are here on Ministry of Magic business."
Reg yanked out a piece of paper and a quill and began scribbling furiously.
Dumbledore paused and gave him a confused look. "Professor Black, what are you doing?"
"Writing a Howler to the Minister for Magic for putting children in danger," Reg said in a falsely calm voice. Remus let out a choked laugh. "Dementors? What the fuck is he thinking? They're more dangerous to children than Pettigrew! Send fucking Aurors, the cheapskate!"
Several of the Slytherins and Ravenclaws stifled laughter. Harry noticed that a few Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors looked amused, too. Apparently, his dad had babysat a lot of Death Eater's children.
"Language!" McGonagall hissed at him. "Headmaster, you were speaking of the Dementors?"
"Yes, yes," Dumbledore agreed. "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds. While they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises -- or even Invisibility Cloaks." He cast Harry a look, and Harry quickly stared at his beard. Dumbledore frowned a tad, then continued.
"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors."
"And I'll be teaching the Patronus Charm," Reg interjected sharply. "Contrary to popular belief, the Patronus Charm is not that difficult to learn or cast. I will explain during the first lesson."
"Thank you, Professor Black," Dumbledore said calmly. "Professor Hunter Black and Professor Remus Lupin are our new Defense Professors." The students Harry assumed knew his dad's secret identity looked excited. "As for our last announcement, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Harry was alarmed. He adored Hagrid, but the man had wanted a pet dragon! He didn't realize that, while he was able to protect himself from dangerous creatures, children didn't know how to. He glanced at his dad, who gave him a tiny, grim nod.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance," Dumbledore said brightly. "Let the feast begin!"
Food appeared on the tables. While a lot of the Gryffindors immediately grabbed whatever food they could reach, the Slytherins politely and calmly reached for the dish in front of them, added food to their plate, offered the dish to their left, and passed it to the right.
"This is so much better than the Gryffindors," Harry muttered, taking a plate of salmon and adding it to his plate. "Hey -- this food is a lot healthier than what's on the Gryffindor table."
The third year beside him rolled his eyes. "Of course -- the Gryffindors are allowed to eat whatever they want, because Dumbledore spoils them. Well met, sir wizard. I'm Marchese Zabini."
Harry blinked. Italian? "Well met, Marchese Zabini. I'm Heir Peverell-Slytherin-Gryffindor-Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw-Gaunt-Black. You can call me Harry," he added wryly, seeing Zabini's eyes widen.
"Blaise," he said slowly. "Che cazzo?" he muttered.
Harry glanced around the Slytherin table. He noticed that it was organized by year, with the first years closest to the teachers and the seventh years right next to the door. The only exception to this was a group of sixth and seventh years right in the middle of the table. He recognized Marcus Flint and the four Prefects, as well as another unfamiliar seventh year, who was looking bored.
"Who are they?" Harry asked quietly, nodding at the group of sixth and seventh years.
"You'll see in the common room," Blaise responded.
Malfoy cleared his throat. "Potter-Black, if we're going to be friends, you can call me Draco."
He kept his voice level, so only the third years heard it.
"Harry, then," Harry said mildly.
Parkinson sneered at him, but said reluctantly, "Well met, Mr. Potter. Heiress Parkinson."
"Well met, Heiress Parkinson," Harry said sweetly. "Heir Peverell-Slytherin-Gryffindor-Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw-Gaunt-Black. It's nice to meet you."
Blaise snickered.
"Heir Nott," said the boy on the other side of Blaise. "Theo or Teo is fine."
Goyle and Crabbe had already been introduced, so they just grunted.
"Miss Davis," said the girl across from Harry. "You can call me Tracey." She ignored the sneers and scoffs from Parkinson and the other girls.
"Miss Millicent Bullstrode," said the next girl stiffly.
"Heiress Daphne Greengrass. You can call me Daphne."
"Miss Helena Rookwood." The last girl's voice was sour and cold, but not directed at Harry.
"Mudblood lover," Parkinson muttered quietly, curling her lip at Harry.
Harry let his magic sweep over the other third years. Blaise, Theo, and Draco looked shocked, and the girls blanched. "If you use that word in front of me again," Harry said quietly, "you'll find yourself on the other end of Fred's and George's wands. They're a lot sneakier and darker than they pretend to be, and they won't get caught.
"Now," he said calmly, "let me tell you why I don't like that word. It's not just because my mother and one of my best friends are one."
For the rest of dinner, he explained everything he'd learned about Firstbloods over the summer. Parkinson remained cold and disdainful, but the other third years actually listened and looked thoughtful, and then a little guilty.
When they'd finished eating, the Slytherins stood up as one and left the Hall together. Harry was a little surprised; the Gryffindors didn't do that.
The Prefects, Marcus Flint, and the unfamiliar seventh year lead them down to the dungeons and they entered one at a time, starting with the seventh years, then the first years, second years, third years, and ending with the sixth years. They didn't all immediately head up to the dorm rooms but sat down and looked expectantly at a door Harry hadn't noticed the first time he'd been here. The first years were led to the center of the room, where they sat on beanbags.
"Harry, you're resorted, go sit with the first years," Blaise told him quietly. Harry walked over to the first years and sat down on a green beanbag.
The door the Slytherins were looking at was in the back of the room, painted silver. There was a painting beside it of Salazar Slytherin. He was giving Harry a curious look.
"~Heir,~" the House's ancestor called.
"~Lord Slytherin,~" Harry responded with a sigh. The Slytherins stirred, and the first years gave him shocked looks.
Salazar Slytherin laughed. "~I am not the Lord of my House, Heir. Voldemort is.~"
"~Why didn't I see you or that door the last time I was here, sir wizard?~" Harry asked.
"My hatchlings call me Professor Slytherin," Salazar said in English. "Although, if you'd like, you can call me Grandfather."
"I would like to know what you actually think of Firstbloods before I do that, Professor Slytherin," Harry said tactfully. Some of the Slytherins looked confused, but most of them seemed to recognize the term.
Salazar grinned. "Clever response, Mr. Potter-Black. Well, history changes over the years. I did not want to remove Firstbloods from Hogwarts, but from the Muggle world." His grin fell, and his tone became dark. "At the time, magicals were being hanged and burned, even ones so young as infants." Harry blanched. "If a Firstblood survived to Hogwarts age, they either hated magicals, or were terrified of being killed. I wanted them discovered and removed as infants, so they could be integrated into our world and protected from their so-called families. I know not all Muggle families hate their children/sibling," he added, seeing the horror on some of the Slytherin's faces, "and they try to understand and accept them, but most Muggle families, especially the religious ones, would hurt their child or sibling due to hate."
A grim, horrified silence fell. After a moment, Harry said, "Then I'd better learn politics and laws so Firstbloods won't suffer anymore, Grandfather."
Salazar smirked at him proudly.
The door opened, and Snape and Reg entered. Snape looked exhausted, furious, and horrified, while Reg just looked furious.
"Uncle Raven!" several of the students called out in delight. Reg laughed and removed his glamour, earning wide-eyed looks from those who didn't know him.
"I'll catch up with you all later," Reg said, smile fading, "there's a lot we need to talk about."
Snape spoke up at that moment. "I was put under compulsions to mistreat Gryffindors and bully, distrust and hate Mr. Potter-Black." He sounded infuriated. Immediately, angry whispers and growls spread through the room. Harry noticed a lot of amber, silver, yellow, fiery-red, and gold eyes.
"I think a few of the rules need to change," Reg said quietly. "If we want people to stop believing all Slytherins are evil, we need to show that."
"Who are you to make the rules?" Marcus Flint asked sharply. Several of the younger Slytherins glared at him.
"Do you not know who Raven is?" Snape asked, his voice quiet, icy, and soft. Many of the children blanched. "Surely you would, given your father was-"
"Severus Fucking Snape, do not fucking threaten children!" Reg snapped at him furiously. Snape flinched a little, looking alarmed, although he relaxed when several of the first and second years gasped and giggled at the swearing.
"Oh," Flint said, eyes clearing. "I apologize, Professor Black." He bowed a little.
"Dad, what-?" Harry began.
"I'll explain later, Fawn," Reg said fondly. Several Slytherin stared at them. "I was chosen by Lady Mage to be Harry's parent," Reg said, causing awed gasps.
"What new rules would you suggest, Professor Black?" the seventh-year girl asked.
"Let's start with the ones you keep," Reg suggested, plopping down on the floor between Blaise and Theo. The first and second years giggled again. Snape rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall beside Salazar's portrait.
"First, each Slytherin should be accompanied by at least two other Slytherins," Reg said. "There will still be bullies who want to harm you, simply for being a Slytherin. Bullies are cowards, though, so if you're with a group, they won't attack.
"Second, any argument should be kept in-House," Reg continued. "I would like to add an amendment that if the disagreement turns into fighting, it should be brought to Severus or me. Slytherins need to be seen as a united front, to protect each other. And perhaps instead of arguing," he added wryly, "simply agree to disagree."
Snorts and eyerolls.
"Third, absolutely no bullying. This includes anything from insults to physical harm, either with your body or your wand," Reg said sharply. "It doesn't matter if you don't like someone, keep it to yourself. If someone is bullying you or someone else, tell me, Professor Lupin, or Severus.
"Now for rule I want to add. You will treat everyone with respect, regardless of whether you don't like them or not," Reg said. "If you don't think you can treat someone you don't like with respect, just avoid them.
"I'd also like you to try to make friends or allies in other Houses, but this isn't a rule, just a suggestion," Reg added. "I know a lot of your parents would disapprove of you befriending Gryffindors."
Draco made a face.
"Now, I want to talk about Firstbloods...."