Chapter 1
Harry was, at this point, completely and utterly done with the Wizarding World. He’d already lost his respect for all of the authority figures in the Muggle World, but Harry had reached the point of not caring anymore what the authority figure thought of him at all. Sure, Dumbledore had sent Hagrid to get him from the Durseleys, saving him from that definitely 100% sincerely loving home, but Harry reasoned that Dumbledore must have known he was there to save him, which meant that he probably knew exactly what Harry’s life was like outside of school and had sent him back there last year anyway.
Looking back on his first year, Harry could see the “coincidences'' around everything from Hagrid’s and the Weasely’s presence - because, really, what were the chances of a wizarding family just happening to pass by him at the exact time that he needed them to on the muggle side of Platform 93/4 - to Dumbledore’s suspicious absence at the end of last year when he had to leave the castle despite the fact that he was guarding something for the Flamels. And had they really given it up willingly? Immortals who had lived for 600 years should at this point be able to protect their most valuable possession, which they had literally created to evade death, and they just gave it up at an opportune time for Dumbledore?
The trio, Harry trailing behind the other two who didn’t seem to notice his absence, too busy bickering, entered the Great Hall for the very first Dueling Club meeting. He would have been more excited if it hadn’t been taught by Gilderoy Lockhart. Even just reading the backs of the books, Harry had questions about how they had all logistically worked in such a short time frame. He may have hidden it to save his own hide at the Dursleys’ and then at Hogwarts to save his friendship with Hermione, but Harry was certainly not an idiot. The fact that he could remember almost everything he read and where to look in the book to find that information again helped immensely. Harry did so love libraries. Precious Dudders being allergic to them certainly helped.
Snapping back into the present, Harry watched as Lockhart introduced Snape as his assistant and nearly chuckled with glee out of the look on the man’s face at being referred to in such a manner. Honestly, Harry thought he could really come to appreciate Snape’s quips if the man didn’t hate him for no reason and torture him at every possible turn while also saving his life. Snape had issues, Harry concluded. Harry did chuckle when Lockhart went flying back. He was significantly less amused when he was volunteered to show off the spell that hadn’t been explained or even mentioned beyond Snape’s use of it the one time. He really would have appreciated knowing a spell to block the spells coming at him, but apparently that didn’t matter to the two teachers supposed to be teaching this class. And why was the demonstration duo himself and Malfoy instead of a pair of seventh years? Harry would sue if he got injured. Now, how to go about achieving that since he knew nothing about the Wizarding World and how its legal processes worked?
Brash mask firmly in place, Harry got up on the platform, exchanged words with Malfoy, and turned to walk the required ten steps for the duel even though turning his back on an enemy went against every self-preservation instinct he possessed. He honestly didn’t really hate Malfoy either, though he thought the whiny child could stand to go up a bit and learn to be his own person. The brief weightless moment right between Malfoy’s spell hitting him and his landing was almost pleasant, like a moment of flying without the broom. Harry concluded in that instant that if Malfoy was going to cheat, so would he. He felt immense satisfaction at sending Malfoy flying through the air, especially when he saw the look on Snape’s face at his little protoge’s failure.
The snake that Malfoy cast at him next was enthralling. It sounded exactly like the voice in the walls he’d been hearing, though much less confused and forced in its speech. Its eyes drew him in, and Harry watched as it slithered straight at him with no small amount of anticipation. Lockhart, of course, had to go and ruin everything by flinging the snake high in the air and making it angry. Its hissing sounded more angry and confused now, almost like it had bashed its head against the platform when it landed. Harry beckoned it towards him vigorously, attracting its attention away from the boy who looked almost like him but wasn’t that the snake had focused on when it landed.
The snake slithered towards him quickly, a shimmer in the air alerting him to something about the scales changing even though they hadn’t visibly shifted. Harry could somehow sense the strength in those scales and the movements of the snake, the utter confidence apparent even when surrounded by many creatures larger than it. Snape’s spell, some sort of fire attack, bounced off the snake and promptly set the platform ablaze. Instant pandemonium took over the hall. Lockhart tried uselessly to quench the flames and then quiet the hall while the snake arrived at Harry’s feet and began climbing up his leg, shrinking somehow until it was a small living obsidian collar around his neck. It settled down as Snape glared furiously at the crowd, taking over from Lockhart’s attempts to quell the mob and instantly silencing them with a look. Harry joined his classmates as they followed the prefects back to their houses according to Snape’s directions.