Chapter 5
Harry was still blushing by the time he was led down to the 6th year area and shown what bed he could use. He shared the room with Adrian Pucey, Cassius Warrington, Graham Montague and a couple others he didn’t know the name of. But his bed had been placed in between Adrian and Graham with Cassius across from him. The circle made it easy to see everyone. They had helped him resize his trunk and put away the few things he needed to. The privacy wards and silence wards up he finally relaxed into the bed and the others told him goodnight before he fell asleep.
The next morning it was bright and sunny despite the heavy snow on the ground. It had fallen overnight and Harry did not even know until they were passing a window towards the Great Hall to eat breakfast. Harry smiled and paused to look out, he was already dressed in his normal leisure wear with one of Adrian’s larger sweaters hanging off one of his shoulders. He loved the snow, it always looked so perfect and clean.
Marcus and the others watched while standing about him in a sort of half ring. Not that he cared anymore. He felt safe with them and that was all that mattered to him in the end. Marcus just watched his face impassive until he settled a hand on the others shoulder and the youngest of the group broke away from the window and continued on their path towards the great hall.
Once there Harry ignored all the whispers and took up the same seat he did before. Surrounded by the older Slytherins until he was hardly seen tucked against the wall side. He began to put things on his plate watching as Marcus barked an order for something further down the table, grabbing the platter and serving Harry before he served himself. It was a nice atmosphere all things considered.
“Oh Harry, have you ever tried this? It is a pureblood dish so it is not normally served at the other tables.” Adrian held up a fork of a strange orange meat.
“No I haven’t” Then flinched a little as the fork was held out towards him. He glanced at Marcus and noticed that he was watching wordlessly but nudged his knee under the table. Harry leaned forward and took the bite of food. It was eggy and sweet with a bit of a citrus bite. He smiled and swallowed it down, “It’s good.”
Cassius laughed, “Here” then put a spoonful on Harry’s plate for him, “Eat up. There is plenty.”
By the time breakfast was over he felt stuffed and lazy. Wanting nothing more than to curl up and go back to sleep. They all got up too early for his tastes. He liked sleeping in on the weekends.
“So what should we do today? I would say swimming but it will be too cold now with the snow falling. We can work on your wordless magic.”
Harry scrunched his nose as he thought, “Sure. I don’t mind working on that. I don’t have any homework, except for a Charms essay.”
Cassius groaned, “No Charms, no more Charms.”
The others laughed at the teens distress before standing and filing out of the Great Hall and towards an empty classroom.
“So what level of wordless are you up to?” Adrian asked curiously.
Harry shrugged, “Third year I think.”
He nodded, “Not bad. You only just started learning to. You're a natural at that point. Oh, I noticed you put silence wards around your bed. Can I ask why?”
The Gryffindor shrugged, “Nightmares honestly. I used to wake up my whole dorm before I learned how to put them up.”
Silence fell through the group and Harry set his bag down on an empty desk before pulling himself up to sit on it.
Marcus stepped over and pulled himself up next to him on the desk, “Want to talk about it?”
“Not much to talk about. I dream about the Basilisk and Voldemort. Thanks to the Dementors, I dream about the night my parents died. The flash of green from the killing curse. Among other things.” Harry didn’t mind talking about them. Noone ever really believed him anyways.
“You remember that?”
Harry wasn’t sure which Slytherin spoke but he nodded, “Yeah. I hear this woman screaming, ‘Not Harry.’ Then he tells her to move aside. She refuses and then a flash of green, her screams. Then a second flash of green. I remember this tearing sensation, a bone chilling cold then nothing. It was like a rubber band being stretched too far and snapping back into place.” He leaned into the arm wrapping about his shoulders. “I don’t know why he offered to spare my mom. Everyone talks about him being ruthless and having no mercy. But wasn’t that a mercy? Asking her to move.”
Marcus shrugged, “Honestly, The way my grandfather talks about the Dark Lord is different than how my dad speaks of him. My grandfather says that he was a smart, calculating and charismatic man. One who was looking to end the suffering of wizards. A man who wanted to bring back the old ways. It wasn’t until later that he started murdering and torturing people.”
He frowned, “I wonder what happened to cause the switch.”
“I am not sure. It is not my place to say.”
Harry sighed and leaned back a little. He knew most of them were children of death eaters or dark supporters but they were kind to him. Stood up for him when others didn’t. So many things confuse him these days. “What old ways?”
Cassius grumbled darkly from where he had configured an old desk into a large couch. “This is why we get angry at all muggle borns and half bloods Always coming into a world and changing it to suit you. When one goes to another country do you not study their traditions and ways? But no, they do not do that for the Wizarding World. The old ways are nearly forgotten and dead.”
Adrian held up a hand, “Cas, it isn’t his fault.”
“I do not blame him. I blame this world where we can not practice without being called dark and evil. Most of the subjects of magic we used to study are dead and gone. Illegal.”
Harry thought for a moment, “Like blood magic?”
Marcus nodded, “Exactly. Blood magic used to have some of the most powerful healing spells. Necromancy, Alchemy, and so many others were deemed dangerous and dark. England is the only country to ban types of magic.”
“Seems pretty backward. Even charms can be used to hurt someone. That is what Professor Moody has been teaching us this year.” He kicked his feet out, “But what are the Old Ways?”
Adrian smiled, “Rituals and Holidays that aren’t practiced anymore. Samhain, Yule, Ostera. There used to be huge festivals where people gave back to magic and sank our magic into the soil of the earth or into the air. I think I was conceived on Ostera.”
The others laughed and Harry smiled along with them, “So, if I wanted to learn? Could I?”
Marcus smiled and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, “Of course. We will teach you but you must know, If you're caught practicing, they will call you dark.”
Harry smiled up at him, “Marcus, they call me dark and evil when it suits them or I don’t do what they expect of me. They hold me up as a savior one minute and the next dark lord the next.”
The older sighed and ruffled the dark hair, “Alright. Then I suppose we should get to training. Let's see what else you have”
Cassius grinned and jumped up, “Wordless right? Perfect. I am not the best either so let's have a bit of a competition.”
The younger one laughed, “Alright. But I am not very good either.”
Then the training began, starting with first level spells and slowly working their way higher and higher until they both hit a snag around the fourth year spells. Cassius’s spells were more elegant and carefully crafted while Harry’s had the raw power that the other’s spells lacked.
It was well past lunch before they finally called quits and Harry flopped back onto the conjured couch and groaned, “I’m done, I can’t do anymore spells. I need food and a bed.”
Marcus and the others laughed and someone did a tempus, “We missed lunch.”
Harry sighed and stood up stretching carefully, “I got it. Dobby!”
The small house elf popped into the room wringing his hands, “Mast Harry Potter Sir! You needs somethings from Dobbys?”
Green eyes sparkled as he smiled, “Hey Dobby, My friends and I missed lunch. Would you mind getting us some?”
“Oh yes! I be doings so for great Master Harry Potter Sir!” Then popped out without another word.
“You have a house elf on school property? I begged to bring a house elf.” Adrian groaned and crossed his arms.
“He isn’t mine. He is an elf I helped free. So he just helps me out from time to time. He works in the kitchen, gets a salary and days off.”
“A working house elf that gets paid? I never thought I would see the day.” Marcus murmured mostly to himself then began moving desks together to get a decent table ready for them to eat at. As he finished plates of food and pitchers of drink appeared on the table along with a single mug of hot chocolate.
Harry floated the mug over to himself and breathed in the sweet scent. “He added cinnamon,” then took a long drink and relaxed back. Waiting for the food to be divided out and took his share without complaint. It was calming to be able to just sit and eat without people yelling and asking constant questions. He also liked that he didn’t have to see the food they were eating as they chewed. Table manners were near nonexistent at the Gryffindor table. The Slytherins ate with their backs straight and elbows held a certain way with small manageable bites. He could really get used to this kind of peace.
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Later that night Harry was getting ready for bed when Adrian came over and handed him a small clear jar with two wriggling balls of green rat tails, “Oh that is gross.”
“Those are gillyweed. I got you two even though you should only need one. Never hurts in case you get into a tight spot.”
“Thanks for this, I really appreciate it. Hey, I had a question.”
“Sure, what did you want to ask?”
Harry crossed his legs and looked to the other as he set the jar down, “Well, I don’t know what to get Marcus for Christmas, or Yule I guess.”
The other sat next to him, “Well, it should be a proper courting gift. He started the courtship, but you can continue it. However, if you do decide to do this Harry you are fully accepting the courtship.”
“What does it mean to court someone?”
Adrian leaned back against the headboard, “Courting is one of the old ways. One will start a courtship by presenting a gift to the other. Normally a pocket watch or a necklace. Then if the other accepts, they will wear the gift publicly and return with a gift of their own. Every gift is symbolic of something. To show affection, the ability to care for others, those sorts of things.”
Harry groaned, “So what I get him could be considered an insult if I don’t do it right?”
“Well no not really you just have to find a way to say what you want to say.”
He nodded and smiled, “Thanks Adrian. I wish I knew more about this stuff. Does Courting always end in marriage?”
“Not always. Sometimes courtships can end mutually or because of a compromising issue. Don’t worry. I am sure Marcus will love anything you get him.”
“I hope so, now to find out how to get it.”
“Mail order. Here I have catalogs and stuff you can use. All you have to do is send them a mail order and they can remove the money from your vault. You just have to press your magic into the mail order.” He went over to his trunk and dragged out a stack of magazines and pamphlets, setting them on Harry’s bed, “Enjoy!”
This was going to take awhile. At least he had time.