Chapter 16
The age of twelve is a strange one in Harry’s opinion.
In a way, he was almost at one-hundred years old; he was half way to being twenty-four, plus one more year to be twenty-five, and twenty-five is half of fifty and fifty is half of one hundred so he was almost at a century... his life is basically coming to an end.
For now, he would focus on not starving to death and his new desire to become one of the most powerful wizards in history; from all he had been told and had read, it was very likely to come true.
“Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Harry! Happy Birthday to you!” Everyone sung.
“Hip hip!” James shouted.
“Hurray!”
“Hip hip!”
Hurray!”
Harry turned red and hid his face, they did this every year.
“Make a wish, Harry.” Blaise urged.
“You’re just hungry, wanker.” Harry teased, elbowing him softly in the ribs.
“Language.” Lily scolded, “now please blow out the candles so I can cut the cake.”
Harry rolled his eyes but blew the candles out in one blow. The cake was lovely. It was large and chocolatey and was covered with twelve colourful candles with light blue flames, just like he wanted. The wish he made was stupid, it was the first thing that came to his mind, so it was unlikely to happen.
“What’d you wish for?” Pansy winked.
Harry blinked. “Uh-“
“If he tells you then it won’t come true!” Tracey said, smiling at Harry like she did him a favour.
“Move out the way, love.” Lily nudged him, holding a long cake knife.
“Why can’t I cut my cake?”
“Sweetheart, you can hardly chop your sausages neatly, let alone a cake that took Peter and Marlene a whole day to bake.”
“Yeah, lil snake, you can cut your own cake when you turn 16.” Marlene said.
“16?” Harry groaned.
“Just cut it, I’m hungry.” Millicent snapped, crossing her thick arms.
Sirius winked at the girl. “You heard her and make them big.”
Pansy and Tracey giggled bashfully at Harry’s godfather. In their defence, they didn’t know he was as gay as the first rainbow but instead Harry frowned because Sirius was 33 years old and wouldn’t date Harry’s friends even if he was straight. Luckily, Millicent seemed only interested in the cake and needily grabbed the plate with the first large slice and took a large bite.
“This is so good, Harry, you should turn 12 more often.” She moaned.
Harry laughed. “I’ll try and make this a yearly thing.”
“Fucking love annual birthday cakes.” Remus muttered, smiling gratefully at Lily when she passed him a slice.
“Language!” She scolded again. “Goodness, I can see where Harry get’s it from.”
“Does he swear a lot at school?” Mary asked, wiggling her eyebrows at Harry’s glare.
Draco shrugged. “Not really, he’s too scared we’re going to tell on him to Professor Snape.”
“I am not.” Harry defended.
“I almost forgot Snivellous hasn’t left the dungeons.” James grinned at his best friends. “Remember all the fun times we had with him, mates?”
“Like it was yesterday.” Sirius sighed dreamily, wrapping an arm around Harry.
His mother huffed and crossed her arms with the look on her face she makes whenever her husband says the wrong thing. She had always been sensitive about Professor Snape, Harry knew the two had been close when they were children but something bad happened and they didn’t recover. Now that Harry was a Slytherin, the two would very likely cross paths more often and Harry was certain he could restore their friendship. Then maybe the marauder’s, as much as Harry looks up to them all, would stop being so rude.
“I want to open presents now.” Harry said, looping arms with Draco and Pansy.
Lily smiled thankfully at him. “That sounds like a good idea, Wormtail put them in your room.”
“I love your room.” said Crabbe.
Harry clicked his tongue. He had changed it quite a bit over the holidays. Gone were the Gryffindor red walls and golden snitch bed covers; gone was the red and gold propaganda James saved from his old bedroom and hung them around Harry’s room. Instead Harry repainted the walls the lovely dark green from the Slytherin common room and hung pictures of him and his friends they had taken throughout the year, his favourite picture was where the 8 of them were all laughing and wrapped in each others arms after Harry made the team, they had been so proud of him. Harry’s bed covers were plain silver but he still had the golden snitch pillow he had had since he was little.
“You’ve been here before.” Harry chuckled as Blaise made himself comfortable on his bed.
On the floor, was a large pile of presents from his friends. They all had the themed wrapping paper you’d expect rich people to wrap their presents in, dark with big ribbons that glittered under the light. He had opened the gifts from his family that morning with his favourite food for breakfast, treacle tart.
“Oi, wasn’t Hermione meant to come today? You’re still friends, yeah?” Blaise asked, looking at a selfie of Harry and Hermione she took the first day she got a wizard camera. They were laughing at the camera and Hermione was in the midst of pulling Harry by the neck closer to her side.
Harry frowned and gulped louder than he wanted. She hadn’t been responding to his letters or sending any of her own, which was very strange since she pinky promised to beg her parents to let her come to his party, but ever since the holidays started, he hadn’t received one letter. Maybe she was busy? Or on a holiday in a different continent like Harry was in America? She could be mad at him for something he said or did, not that Harry is usually rude, unless he means it. In his desk bin however, was an apology letter he was going to send her. But when he was rereading it this morning, it sounded so pathetic and clingy, Harry was embarrassed of himself. Not that it mattered, Hogwarts was starting in a few days and Hermione couldn’t hide from Harry forever.
“Yeah, ‘Mione and I are still friends. She couldn’t come today though.” He coughed out.
Blaise nodded in understanding.
“Didn’t get a new broom, I see.” Draco smirked, pointing towards the well used Nimbus 2000 Harry had gotten for Christmas.
Harry shrugged. “The Nimbus 2001 is a waste of money if it’s practically the same as the broom I have now.”
“I heard they have better features than your one, the broom dimensions are superior in almost everyday.”
Harry scoffed. “Sure.”
“Well, father’s going to buy one for the whole Slytherin quidditch team so I can get on the team, that means you’ll get a new one as well.” said Draco, his tone loftier.
“You’re going to buy your way onto the quidditch team?” Harry gasped.
“No,” Draco quirked an eyebrow, “it’s just a lovely gesture that may or may not ensure me a place on the team.”
“You can’t just do that!” Harry frowned. “What position are you hoping for that you can’t get from tryouts?”
“Draco-“ Pansy started, sounding uncomfortable.
Draco smirked and walked closer to Harry with swagger. “Since you haven’t even played a game yet, I was hoping for seeker. I’ve been practicing while you were in America.”
Harry didn’t know what happened next. All he felt was horrid rage and betrayal that overtook his body and made him swing a fast fist towards Draco’s pale face. With the frustrating misunderstanding with Hermione, the happiness he feels for being on the quidditch team, the deep feeling his family was still disappointed in him, the way he misses his new American friend, and the distraughting loss of his childhood best friend; the sickening crack echoed the room and Draco screeched, grabbing onto his nose and falling to the floor. Harry held onto his fist, who knew Draco’s head would be so hard.
With Draco on the floor, he made a good target. He advanced on the fallen boy with both fists raised and feet ready to kick.
“Harry! Stop!” Tracey shouted.
Crabbe and Goyle, being the strongest, held onto Harry as he struggled to finish what he started. Draco was on the floor with a bloodied nose and tears streaming down his face. Blaise and Tracey were crouched beside him while Pansy left to tell the parents. Millicent was standing in the corner grinning like a kid at Disneyland.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Blaise snapped.
“Didn’t you hear the wanker? He’s going to buy me off the team!” Harry shouted, struggling harder.
“I know it’s shit but-“
“No buts! I’m going to kill him.”
Blaise was about to counteract when James, Remus, Sirius and Peter walked in with Pansy worriedly behind them.
“What happened?” James said sternly.
“Potter punched me-“ Draco started at the same time as Harry saying:
“That bastard wants to buy-“
“Enough.” James snapped, giving Harry a pointed look. “Draco, you first, and go slowly.”
Draco was sobbing quietly on the floor with his bloodied nose covered, it was dripping onto Harry’s carpet which made Harry want to punch him again. Usually seeing any of his friends, but especially Draco, so upset would make Harry feel upset as well but not in this case.
“He- he punched me.” Before sobbing louder.
Sirius sighed loudly and ran a hand down his face like he’d rather be anywhere else. Whereas James knelt at Draco’s side and patted his shoulder reassuringly.
“You’re going to have to give us context, can you do that mate?”
Draco made a hiccuping sob and moved his hand away. His nose was twisted wonkily to the left and a purple colour was starting to form on the bridge. Remus tutted and knelt beside the boy to fix it better.
“Episkey.” He muttered. Dracos nose clicked back in place and the blood disappeared.
Remus grinned. “See, all better.”
Draco sniffled and rubbed his nose to see no blood on his hand. “Thanks, Professor.”
Harry rolled his eyes. His father, seeming to have a sixth sense, glared at Harry and gestured for Crabbe and Goyle to let go of his arms.
“Harry, outside now.” He said before stalking out and slamming the door behind him.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid son of a bitch-“ Harry said under his breath, with one last glare at Draco he stormed out of the room and slammed the door just as hard as his father did.
——
Dinner was very awkward.
All Harry’s friends left early due to his insistence and he never got to open his presents with them. James gave him this huge speech about controlling his anger when Harry had walked out of his room. However, after Harry told him what happened, James seemed to be more on his side.
“That bleached little git, I knew you shouldn’t have been friends with that sort. Bigger Malfoy was always a bit of a dick when it came to jealousy.” He had said, taking Harrys bloodied hand and spelling it better. “And that punch was spot on, son, I’m proper proud of the damage you did to his nose, it was almost as wonky as his godfathers.”
This made Harry laugh. “It felt pretty good too.”
“As it should! Once school starts, you’re going to prove that sucker wrong, yeah?” James got serious and knelt to Harrys short level. “You’re a better quidditch player than he ever will be or we wouldn’t have called you Harry James Potter.”
“I just want to be on the team like you and Sirus were.” Harry muttered shyly.
James chuckled. “And you will be. You’re there best seeker of the century and if Marcus bloody Flint chooses that twig over you then I’m going to flu over and-“
“Okay dad.” Harry giggled, James started tickling his stomach so much that Harry fell to the floor.
“Enough, please enough.” Harry breathed out, still on the floor in the guest bedroom.
James stood up and picked Harry up bridal style. Harry screeched and tried to roll out but his dad held strong.
“Let me carry you back into the room and have Sirs, Moony, Wormtail and Padfoot defend you from the vicious dragon.” His tone was heroic .
“Please don’t.” Harry groaned.
“Unfortunately for you,” James said, kicking the door open and walking out with Harry in his arms, “I am unable to leave a damsel in distress.”
Harry only groaned in embarrassment when James kicked open his bedroom door and flung Harry onto the bed where Crabbe, Goyle and Millicent were sitting. Sirius was leaning against Harrys dresser and picking behind his polished black nails, Remus was talking animatedly to Blaise and Tracey, and Peter was holding a plate of handmade sausage rolls and urging Draco to eat one. Draco was still sitting on the floor and had a glare that could kill.
James then crossed his arms intimately and stood in front of Draco. Harry had a fearful suspicion his father was about to pull out a sword and force Draco to a duel. Instead he asked the scared boy to follow him out of the room.
They didn’t come back inside and half an hour later, everyones parents came to pick them up.
Now the usual family of nine were eating a quiet birthday dinner with Lily casting glares at her husband and son. At least she wasn’t mad enough to make Peter throw away the delicious meatloaf with tomato sauce and squishy peas Harry had asked him to make as punishment.
“So,” She started, “I hope this day has gone exactly to plan, Harry.”
Harry knew she was being sarcastic but he felt like being an annoyance. “Obviously. I just love it when this happens.”
Dorcas tried to stifled a laugh but Lily heard her and slammed her cutlery on the table.
“This is not a laughing matter, Harry just punched someone.”
Harry stood up. “Malfoy’s trying to get me off the quidditch team!”
“He’s just messing with you, love, that’s what 12 year old boys do.” Lily sighed.
“Don’t try to act like you know my friends because you obviously don’t. Malfoy’s gonna buy everyone the newest most expensive brooms and Flint will favour him and I’ll be on the bench before I get a chance to play an actual game!”
“Want me to deal with it?” Sirius asked, starting to stand from his chair.
“Sirius, sit back down.” snapped Lily.
“This is ridiculous, you’re going back to school in a month.” Remus said calmly. “Mr Malfoy will have time to ponder if his decision will be worth ruining your friendship. And you never know, maybe he was just being petty and jealous.”
Harry sighed sadly and sat back down, putting a fork full of meatloaf in his mouth. Moony was normally right about everything, he was a teacher after all, for the most difficult subject at Hogwarts. Arithmancy. Harry could hardly imagine why anyone would purposely want to learn about numbers when they aren’t very necessary in day to day life. Maybe Hermione would take on the subject, but she’s a nerdy geek who likes getting folders as presents.
“Alright.” Harry agreed. “But I won’t talk to him until he apologises first.”
Sirius barked out a laugh and patted Harry hard on the shoulder. “That’s what I like to hear.”
Everyone else looked unamused expect for James and Peter who seemed to agree with Sirius. Harry knew he was being just as petty as Draco, but what can he do? When Hogwarts starts again, Harry was going to show Malfoy just how powerful he was.
——
After brushing his teeth and washing his face, Harry slugged to bed. His presents were still unopened on his floor but he had no desire to open them today. With a loud sigh, Harry turned to collapse onto his bed when he noticed there was someone already sitting on it.
Harry managed not to shout or shit himself. The little creature on his bed looked exactly like Flitter, the Potters house elf, but this one was grimier and had much bigger ears and eyes. It was wearing a white pillow case as a dress like Flitter did, but hers looked much cleaner.
They just stared at each other and Harry hoped to Salazar and Morgana both that none of his parents walked in.
“Er- Hello.” Harry said nervously. “Are you lost?”
“Harry Potter!” The house elf said in such a high pitch voice, Harry was sure everyone in the house heard it. “So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir, such an honour it is.”
“Oh, thank you.” said Harry, slowly walking backwards to the door so he could call for help. “What’s your name?”
“Dobby, just Dobby sir. Dobby the house elf.”
“Well… it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Harry gulped, his hand reaching for the door handle. “But we already have a house elf, maybe we can help you find someone else-“
Dobby’s eyes started tearing up and he hung his head.
“Not that I’m not pleased to meet you.” Harry said quickly. “Just, why are you here in my room? Is there any reason?”
“Oh yes, sir.” Dobby nodded earnestly. “Dobby has come to tell you, sir, though he wonders where to start… this is difficult, sir, so very difficult for Dobby.”
After living his whole life with a house elf like Flitter, Harry has grown to be patient with these creatures. They think their only purpose in life is to serve a wizard family, and once they have a wizarding family to serve, they are nothing but loyal till their death. That doesn’t mean they can’t like their masters. Dobby had a family to serve, but he was currently here in Harrys room about to tell him something he shouldn’t.
“Take your time, Dobby.” said Harry, smiling supportingly.
This seemed to make Dobby cry. He threw his face in his hands and wailed like a baby, then removed his hands and banged his face on the wall so hard that picture frames were falling onto the floor.
“Goodness, Dobby.” Harry groaned, pulling the elf away from the wall. “Why did you do that?”
Harry knew why house elves punished themselves, he had never seen Flutter do it though, she was always happy to obey the Potters whenever they asked for something. Even when she isn’t asked to do a chore, she starts cleaning for fun! Which is just weird in Harrys opinion.
“Harry Potter wants to treat Dobby like a- an equal!” Dobby wailed and began sobbing again.
“I… what?” Harry choked a laugh. “I just told you to take your time with what you wanted to say.”
“Dobby has never seen such kindness, you truly will save us all.” Dobby sniffled.
Harry smiled and removed Dobby’s hands from his arm. “Why don’t you return home? I’m sure your family is wondering where you’ve gone.”
Dobby shuddered.
“Dobby’s masters are not as kind as Harry Potter.”
“Why don’t you just escape then? The ministry will help you. I can help you.”
Once again, Dobby dissolved into wails of gratitude. “Harry Potter has told Dobby he can help him… Dobby has heard praises for you, but your goodness, Dobby never knew…”
Harrys face turned a hot red and turned his head away. “Whatever you’ve heard, it’s all rubbish. I punched my best friend in the face just today and I’m not even the top of my class, that’s Hermione-“ A flash of pain at the mention of his unresponsive friend.
“Harry Potter is both humble and modest,” Dobby said, his eyes glowing, “he doesn’t speak of his triumph over You-Know-Who just a few weeks ago, he’s so brave and noble. He escaped him yet again, so valiant and bold.” Dobby fisted at his pillow case and scrunched his eyes shut like he was in pain. “But Dobby has come to protect Harry Potter, to warn him, even if he must face terrible punishment later… Harry Potter must not return to Hogwarts.”
The familiar bark of laughter and jolly sound of his family echoed from the kitchens but Harry could do nothing but stare in horror at the house elf.
“W-what?” Harry splattered. “I’ve got to go back! It starts on September first in just another month. I need to go back, all my friends are there and I have so much to do. I love Hogwarts more than anything.”
“No, no, no.” Dobby said, shaking his head side to side, his flappy ears hitting his face. “Harry Potter must stay safe. He is too great, too good to lose. If Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts, he will be in mortal danger.”
This sparked Harrys interest. “What do you mean?”
“There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot that will make horrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year.” Whispered Dobby, he glanced around as if someone else was listening, he was trembling. “Dobby has known for months, if Harry Potter is to return, he will place himself in mortal peril. Harry Potter is too important, sir!”
“What horrible things?” Harry asked. “Whose plotting them?”
Dobby choked and got his fist ready.
“Sorry, sorry.” Harry cried, pulling Dobby’s arms away from his head. “Wait… is it Voldemort? Has he returned? You can just shake or nod your head.” He breathed out a shaky breath, hoping to anyone listening that it wasn’t the case.
Dobby shivered again and shook his head. A no then.
As if he gave Harry a clue, Dobby tried to tear out of Harrys grip. Harry, however, didn’t know what the hell was going on.
“You-Know-Who doesn’t have a brother, does he?” asked Harry suspiciously.
Dobby shook his head again, his eyes wider than ever.
“Well then, I can’t think of anyone else who could be out to get me.”
“Harry Potter, Dobby cannot tell you more, you have to trust Dobby, he has to keep you safe.”
Harry sighed. “But my friends-“
“Friends who don’t write Harry Potter back?” Dobby said, putting his hands on his hips.
“I mean, it’s only one friend- wait,” Harry stopped, glaring at Dobby. “How do you know Hermione hasn’t been writing to me?”
Dobby shuffled his feet. “Harry Potter mustn’t be mad at Dobby. Dobby did it for his safe-“
“You’ve been stopping my letters!” Harry shouted.
“Dobby has them here.” Dobby said unsurely, making a large pile of letters appear in his hand. Harry could make out Hermiones neat handwriting and… Kurts! Kurt had managed to figure out how to write to him and Harry had missed it.
“Harry Potter mustn’t be angry at Dobby…if Harry Potter had thought his friends had forgotten about him…Harry Potter would not go back to Hogwarts-“
“How dare you, Dobby.” Harry shouted, advancing on the elf and making a grab for the letters but Dobby moved out of the way.
“Harry Potter mustn’t be angry at Dobby. Harry Potter can have them if he gives Dobby his word that he will not return to Hogwarts. Sir can’t return, it is too dangerous even for a wizard as great as Harry Potter.”
“No.” said Harry angrily. “And you didn’t stop all my letters, I have been in contact with Malfoy and Zabini and Pansy and Tracey and Millicent and Crabbe and Goyle since I returned from America.”
“Dobby could not stop every letter, some have much risk. But Harry Potter gives Dobby no choice.” Dobby said sadly, intercepting Harry again. He then opened Harry’s bedroom door and ran down the stairs.
Harry groaned and ran after the house elf, trying to be quiet so he didn’t disturb anyone.
He ran down the stairs and up the hall, suddenly feeling sick.
His mum and dad were side by side and making treacle tart, it was Harrys favourite dessert. Lily let out a wave of laughter at something James just said and his dad had that lovesick face he made whenever he looked at his wife. Harry always pretends to gag at them but he secretly admires how in love they are, he's always aspired to find someone he loves as much as his parents do.
Sadly, his happy moment ended when Dobby appeared hiding behind the kitchenette with his fingers in a position to snap. He looked at Harry and gave him a tragic look as if he didn’t want to do this. Harry didn’t know what he was going to do but he didn’t want to know.
“Dobby please, don’t do anything.” He pleaded.
“Harry Potter must promise not to return to Hogwarts.”
“I can’t.” Harry croaked.
“Then for Harry Potters own good, Dobby must do it.”
The elf then clicked his fingers and everything exploded. The stuff his parents had had set out splattered everywhere, making them both scream loudly. James grabbed Lily’s waist and pulled her behind him as if to protect her, which would have been very sweet if Harry wasn’t shaking at what just happened. He looked back at the kitchenette where Dobby had been hiding to find the elf was nowhere to be seen.
Flutter appeared in a worried hustle and asked Harrys parents if they were alright. Harry backed out slowly and ran back up the staircase and into his room as quietly as he could. He ran onto his bed and face planted into his pillow, groaning loudly.
He turned his head and frowned.
On his bedside table, was the stack of letters.