Chapter 29
Harry sat in his seat at the center of the slytherin table and overlooked the chaos that he had caused, “Well that was entertaining.”
Draco snorted, “I am shocked it didn’t start the moment they announced your last name was Slytherin.”
“It was in the Prophet why would they be causing chaos over that?” He paused and glanced up and saw Dumbledore looking down at him with a look he couldn't quite place. He watched as the man stood after the sorting and raised his hands.
“My dear students, as you can see we have a few more professors up here at the table along with the resorting, Hogwarts will begin apprenticeships in several subjects. Introducing Marcus Flint, he will be apprenticing to Professor Babbling. While Alia Smith will be apprenticing to Professor Trelawney in Divination, and of course introducing our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Dolores Umbridge.”
The clapping was subdued as the three stood and the two younger bowed. Unbridge however just smiled, “Thank you again for that lovely introduction.” The woman gave a smile that made Harry’s cheeks hurt. Where had he heard her name before… He couldn’t place it. “It is lovely to meet all of you this evening. The Ministry of Magic has always prided itself on the education of young witches and wizards such as yourselves. This year we will be perfecting what can be perfected and nourish your young mind with the values we have cherished for centuries.” Then slowly she took her seat.
Harry twitched, “That sounded.. ominous.”
Draco nodded next to him, “Let’s not draw attention to ourselves this year”
The young wizard watched the rest of the announcements before glancing down the table at the twins. They seemed to be talking to another of the other upper years softly. He wasn’t sure which one though. They were not part of his circle of influence. Soon the Headmaster clapped his hands and the food appeared on the table. Harry took a deep breath and smiled softly before beginning to fill his plate oblivious to everyone watching him fill his plate. He set the last dish back down and paused, “You can serve yourselves. You do know it looks strange to wait for me to serve myself first. We are at Hogwarts, do try to appear normal.”
The rest of the Slytherin’s quickly began to serve themselves and Harry glanced at the twins who both nodded to him before serving themselves as well. He had an odd feeling he was going to be up late discussing things. To be resorted into Slytherin seemed… odd. The two also were not surprised to see him there and had followed the others in not serving themselves. “Draco, would you mind telling me more about our new professor in the common room?”
The blonde nodded, “Of course. It is best to talk there anyways.”
He hmmed and the rest of dinner went by with soft chatter before they were walking down to the dungeons. Harry stepped into the common room and sighed happily before going to the couch he had grown to love and sat down on it. Laughing when Cass and Graham sat on either side of him. Draco took the chair nearest to the fire and others filed in and began to take up seats or simply sat on the floor. They were there for only a few minutes before Snape came into the room and took up a place in front of the fireplace turning to address them.
“Welcome back everyone and to those who have just joined this esteemed house, welcome. Slytherin is known for being a house that most people tend to avoid and hate but we must remember that we are a house united. Outside of these walls we must continue to show a united front with our new brothers and sisters. Inside the walls we are to be civil and act appropriately. If you need help with homework we have weekly study nights on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you require additional help I am available for one on one tutoring. Welcome to Slytherin.”
There was clapping and Harry smiled as he caught the man looking at him intently. He watched Terence stand next and stand in front of them, “Alright, thank you Professor for your kind greeting and words. Hello everyone I am Terence Higgins and I am one of The Head Boys this year. Welcome our Prefects Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.” He paused as everyone clapped and he looked around, “Also welcome our young Prince, Harry Potter- Slytherin.”
Harry flushed and glared at the other, “Really Terence? Way to just shove me into the spotlight.”
The older teen laughed and gave a bow before addressing the others, “As you know anything said within these walls is not to be repeated outside of it. That goes for our newest Slytherins as well. The moment you enter this house you are placed under oath and may not speak of any secret within Slytherin House. It is done this way to protect the families and children of those families. Breaking this oath is not advised and will be met with consequences.”
Slowly one of the first years raised their hands, “Why is he called our Prince?”
Harry smirked, “Yeah Terence why are you calling me a Prince?”
The older teen smiled and the younger, “He is a Slytherin. His father is Lord Slytherin. As a descendent of our noble House Originator he owns this house in a way. We as members of the Slytherin House owe him our respect as a descendent of Salazar Slytherin.”
A few of the first years gasped in awe and looked over at Harry like he hung the stars while the older teen was trying to sink into the couch and disappear. “Terence is just hyping it up. You can call me Harry alright.” A few of them giggled and he groaned knowing this was not what he was wanting this year. He was screwed. “Alright I think it is bedtime. We have all had a nice meal and I am sure you all want to see where you will be sleeping?”
The prefects stood and Draco led the boys off while Pansy took the girls and Harry sat on the sofa and shivered as he glanced at Snape. The man was still watching him and it was unnerving. He looked around and saw the twins standing off to the side and nodded to them. That seemed to break the ice because they stepped over and took a seat across from him, “Hello Fred, George. I got to say I was surprised that you got sorted into Slytherin.”
Fred rubbed the back of his head, “We were too. We never really fit in at Gryffindor but we were Weasleys. It was expected. Mum won’t like it though.”
George nodded and folded his hands in his lap.
Harry smiled softly, “No she won't. So I guess here comes the big question. What do you think of everything going on?”
George shifted in his seat, “Not sure. We listened in on a few of the meetings and Harry… Dumbledore is up to something. He keeps telling everyone that you're being manipulated and controlled but then when it is just him and a few others…” The teen broke off.
“It’s okay George. You can tell me.”
“Harry, he was talking about you dying for the greater good.”
Green eyes widened, “So, that is how it is. Well. I am not being controlled or manipulated. I found a home, a loving family. You saw what my home life was like.”
They both nodded before Fred spoke, “You deserve to be happy. Even if it means that your courting Flint. He is good to you right?”
“He is. I love him.”
They smiled and seemed to accept that before speaking, “We are happy for you and congratulations on the courtship and your family.”
Harry nodded before looking at them, “Are you both okay? I know this will be an adjustment.”
They shrugged in unison before Fred spoke again, “Yeah. We already talked to some of the others in our year and they are really nice. We always made friends in other houses, we just never advertised it. We may have to give up Quidditch though.”
Harry laughed, “Our beaters are pretty good but maybe you can be reserves or rotate. You never know.”
George grinned, “Thanks Harry. Or should we call you Prince too?”
“Don’t you dare.” Harry grumbled and then stood up, “I am heading to bed, you both should as well and welcome to Slytherin.” He turned away and headed to the fifth year dorms and smiled when he saw the new bed, his new bed. He sat down and took stock on his trunks at the end of the bed as well as Hephy in his travel container. He picked it up and stepped to the fireplace nearest to him and settled the fire salamander in the fireplace and casted the necessary spells.
“Is your menagerie settling in?”
Harry snorted and looked at Draco, “Hephy seems to like the fireplace and Araphel is hunting. I will go out tomorrow morning and pick him up from the forest.”
“When did you send him to the forest?”
“He slipped off when we arrived while others were distracted.”
Draco nodded and stretched, “So Flint is an apprentice. That was nice to see.”
“Yeah, he told me he would be here but not how. I am surprised Hogwarts hasn’t done them before.”
“They did in the past but no one has been accepted in like 20 years.”
He nodded and grabbed his nightclothes and went to the bathroom to change and once he stepped out the others were there and changing as well. Settling in for the first night back at school. At least they were always given the weekend to adapt and relearn the place before classes. He nodded to them before climbing into bed.
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Darkness, it was all he could see. The encroaching cold bit at his skin as he stumbled through a thick gnarled substance. It tore at his clothes and skin making him tumble and crash. Pain lancing up along his body making the cold bite deeper. Out of the darkness something moved a cloaked figure. It reached at him with bony white fingers screaming into the darkness. The fingers clawed at him, tearing at his soul.
Harry sat up in a cold sweat, a scream on his lips, his body shaking and he curled into himself trying to shake the nightmare. He hadn’t had one in so long that it took him by surprise, tearing at his fragile mental barriers. He looked around and saw everyone still sleeping. His spells had kept him from waking them up. He stood and stumbled towards the door. He needed to get out of the room, clear his head.
He made his way up and into the common room to the warm fire and settled in the seat nearest to it. He wasn’t sure how long he sat staring into the flames when a hand settled on his shoulder he jumped and flinched away as he looked, “Cass?”
Grey eyes looked down at him, “Are you alright?”
Harry looked down and shook his head, “I’ll be fine. Just a nightmare.”
Cass knelt next to him, “Harry, it’s alright. I am your brother, remember? You can talk to me.”
“I just can't, not yet.”
Arms wrapped around him and he leaned into the warm embrace, “Then don’t but sitting out here alone isn’t the right thing either. How about you come down and join the rest of us?”
Green eyes closed as he shook his head, “I don’t want to bother you.”
“You won’t, come on little brother. We all have nightmares.” Cass stood and urged the other up and together they walked to the seventh year dorms and Cass lit one of the candles so they could see a little better. The fireplace already banked.
“Cass?” Adrian sat up and rubbed his eyes, “Harry?”
Harry flushed and nodded, “Sorry to wake you up.”
Cassius waved off the apology, “Go back to sleep Adrian. Our Prince had a rather rough sleep so I brought him here.”
Adrian nodded, “First night away from home is always the hardest. You can join us any time.”
Harry nodded and let himself be tucked into a bed pressed against the older teen. Finally he felt himself relax and the biting cold eased in his bones as he let himself sink into the safety the other offered.