SECOND YEAR
Summer vacation came to an end far too quickly for Harrys liking. Not that he wasn’t looking forward to coming back to Hogwarts, but hours of free time, no school work and hours of quidditch practice made Harry appreciate the fillable time. But returning to Hogwarts was what Harry really wanted to do, to live with his best friends and truly be himself around people that understand him better than his own family.
“Come on, come on , come on!” Lily Potter shouted from the living room.
Harry was stuffing everything he owned into his trunk as quickly as possible. He was technically meant to have done all his packing last night but he got sidetracked writing a reply to Kurts letter; he had started school last week and it sounded far more exciting than what Harry was going to be experiencing this year. Kurt got to begin Care for Magical Creatures and muggle studies, his first year to choosing his own subjects which Harry is dying to do. Instead the only change Harry has at school is the allowance for bringing his own broom, which was still exciting.
Plus, Harrys first quidditch practice was the third day of the school year and the first game was only two weeks in. The marauder’s all promised Harry they’d cheer him on and they promised not to wear Gryffindor colours, the team the Slytherins were playing against first.
“Where is it?” He muttered in a hurried daze. Him and Sirius had gone shopping at Diagon Alley later than recommended so they didn’t go during the crazy school rush. This also meant Sirius didn’t have to see one of his old peers and one of Remus’s many admirers from the Marauders Hogwarts era. With a grin, Harry grabbed the massive pile of Defence Against the Dark Art books their new teacher required them to have, all written and published by the same guy, Gilderoy Lockhart. Harry just knew Pansy and Tracey would have gone to Flourish and Blotts early just so they could get the handsome blonds autograph.
He finished stuffing his books on top of a bunch of clothes and squeezed the lid shut, Hedwig was already in her carry on and looking at Harry with impatience.
“Good girl, Hedwig.” Harry whispered kindly, smoothing her feathers on the top her head. She knuzzled into his hand and he shut her cage door.
“Coming, mum!” He yelled, dragging his luggage down the staircase and to the foyer where his whole family was waiting.
“Took you long enough,” Lily grimaced. “We won’t have time to take Sirius’s motor bike so we’re gonna have to floo.”
The disappointment must have shown on his face because Sirius pat his back. “Me too, Bambi.”
Remus had left a day early so he had time to get his room and classroom all set up for the new year. He had promised to not give him detention if Padfoot decided to fly him all the way to Hogwarts on his motor bike instead of taking the train. Guess Harry definitely wouldn’t get detention.
James grinned widely and took the luggage and Hedwig out of Harry’s hands. “I’ll go first with all your stuff and make sure no evil trolls are out there.”
“Not this again.” Harry groaned but with a laugh. Ever since first year ended, his dad vowed that he would check every place they go to for ‘killer trolls’. For a joke, he took it very seriously.
“If it means my baby boy is never in danger again, then I shall do this for eternity.” He said cheerily, then floo’d the fireplace and shouted “Platform 9 3/4” before disappearing. Marlene laughed from behind and wrapped an arm around Harrys shoulders.
“We’ll see you at the game.” She said, kissing the crown of his head. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Harry replied, Dorcas and Mary awed and pulled him into a group hug, each covering his face in kisses.
“Gross, stop!” Harry laughed.
“The girls won’t get enough of you once you win the game.” Dorcas wiggled her eyebrows.
“Yep! And that’s from experience.” Marlene added, taking Dorcas’s hand and kissing it.
“Mum, get me out of here.” Harry groaned. Lily only laughed and got the fireplace ready.
“Bye Wormy.” He said. Peter had his ministry clothes on since he wad currently very late for work but ‘saying goodbye to the Prongslet was more important’.
“Bye, kid.” said Peter, getting kind of emotional. He pulled Harry into a quick hug and promised he’d be cheering for him at the match.
With one last overall wave, Harry took Lily’s hand and they disappeared.
As usual, Harry felt nauseated and he fell uncoordinatedly in the toilet stall the floo network was connected too. His mum grabbed him by the elbows before he landed in the open toilet.
“There you go, silly.” She muttered fondly.
His father was standing outside the bathrooms with all of Harrys luggage and a wide nostalgic grin as he looked at the crowded station. People were looking strangely at the family, Hedwig had the look on her face like she was saying ’mind your damn business’.
“Ready to go?” James asked Harry when he saw them.
Harry only nodded and quickly jogged to the plain brick wall between platforms 9 and 10. A young family with two little boys and a newborn baby were currently running through and Harry smiled at the scared face on the smallest boy, he must be a first year. His parents gave him his luggage and gestured for him to run through when the family was all gone. Harry checked to make sure Hedwigs cage was secure, then shook out his arms and straighten out the black button down he was wearing before running headfirst at the wall. This was it. He was coming home, he thought. Expecting to run right through, his carriage collided with the barrier and he slammed to the ground with a loud crash.
His head knocked against the concrete floor and his eyes rolled to the back of his head in pain. This caused quite a scene as a herd of people came running towards Harry to see if he was hurt. “What d’you think you’re doin’?” A guard nearby yelled.
“Oh goodness Harry,” Lily gasped, “what in the world happened?” She picked up Hedwig’s cage that bounced onto the floor and was causing an altercation.
His dad took his hands and lifted him upwards, leaning down to feel his forehead and check for injuries. “Does anything hurt?”
“No.” Harry grumbled. He swatted away the tampering hands.
“What happened? Did the barrier break or something?” asked James.
He then felt the brick wall, instead of his hand falling through, it was a plain, hard and sturdy wall.
“In all my years.” His dad muttered. “Have you ever seen anything like this, Lils?”
His mum shook her head and placed both hands on her hips. “This is stranger than you receiving all those letters a month after holidays started, Harry.”
Harry only hummed, also thinking if this was the work of Dobby trying to get him to stay home again.
“Why can’t we get through?” Harry demanded, feeling the wall again.
“I don’t know” James grunted at his watch, “but it’s 2 to 11 and you’re gonna miss the train if the gate doesn’t open soon.”
“But…but I can’t miss the train! I just can’t!” Harry cried, feeling the panic settle in. “Why did that family get through and we can’t?”
Lily sensed her sons stress and grabbed his shoulders to calm him down. “It’s okay, love, there’s a solution for everything and we can solve it.” Then she walked to the public phone box and dialled a number.
“That’s it.” Harry sighed sadly, glancing at the massive clock across the platform as it hit the 12, “I’ve missed the train.”
“You’re going to get to school, Harry, think of the positives.” His dad grinned and wrapped an arm around Harrys shoulders.
“I can’t think of any positives when I might be stuck here forever.”
James chuckled. “Pads would be proud, you got his dramatic flare.”
“I know.” Harry grumbled which made his dad laugh louder.
“Bet she’s calling the school to allow us access to floo you there.” James said after a moments silence.
Harry looked up to see his mother still on the phone and making large hand gestures she does when she’s trying to win an argument even though the person on the other side can’t see her. Harry sighed and silently imagined what his friends could be doing right now, they were probably all in their carriage wondering where in the name of Merlin Harry was. Draco might be thinking it was because of their fight again and start to hate Harry again because he thought Harry hated him. Or maybe the thought Ron had something to do with it and barged into the Gryffindors carriage to defend Harrys honour or something. Really, the possibilities were endless when it came to those Slytherins Harry had grown close too.
A voice and shake of his shoulder got Harry out of his daydream, he looked up to see his mother grinning down at him.
“Come with me, darling, we’re gonna get you to Hogwarts.” She smiled.
Since the train still had four hours to arrive at Hogwarts, the Potters decided to take a breather and go out for lunch. Harry’s mother had arranged for the floo network in Professor McGonagall’s office to be open to allow Harry to arrive through there in time for the welcoming speech and feast. But it was only 12:30 and Harry was so terribly hungry.
While Lily was on the phone, Harry was imagining the worse, like having to call Sirius so he could fly Harry on his motor bike all the way to Scotland. It sounds preposterous now, but Harry had thought it was a solid plan. Even more, he even imagined getting out his broom and flying himself all the way to Hogwarts.
Good think his mum could solve any problem and had to answers to all his questions because now instead of worrying, Harry was at a muggle pub eating fish and chips with mushy peas and an apple juice.
“See, lad,” James grinned, “no need to worry about a thing, I’m sure the school has had to deal with problems like these all the time. Sure, never in our school experience but there’s a first for everything.”
“Padfoot would be excited about all this.” Harry added, smiling when his dad barked out a laugh.
“I was proper tempted to call him just to hear him volunteer flying you on his bike.”
Harry giggled. “I was actually thinking that as an option.”
“Scotland is way too far on a bike.” His mum stated, “Sirius would have ran out of petrol and the bike would crash to the ground.”
“You’ve never had any faith in it, mum.” Harry defended.
“And I’ll stick to it.” She humphed.
As loyal as ever, James patted her back and kissed her cheek. “Of course, dear.”
Harry smiled fondly at his parents interactions. He had always admired how in love they are, whenever they showed PDA, Harry would pretend to gag or tell them to get a room, but secretly he loved it. He always wanted to have that kind of love with someone, someone he can dance alone without music with, bake treacle tart with, kiss or hug without shame. Most of his friends had parents with marriages that sounded awfully dreadful to Harry, they were either arranged or placed together for negotiation and money. Harry knew not everyone was as happy as his parents or Sirius and Remus or Dorcas and Marlene or Mary and whoever she was with at the moment. Peter never seemed to have someone but he said he was happy and why would Uncle Wormtail lie?
“Harry, darling, you’re frowning.” Lily flittered, pressing her thumb between his brows. “Are you stressing about the train again?”
“No, just school stuff.” Harry smiled.
“If you say so.” She grinned, “time is running short though and we can’t have you miss the welcome feast because of tardiness, all the fingerling potatoes will be gone when you get there!”
“Moony will save me some.” Harry joked.
“Have you learnt nothing, Hazz?” James chuckled. “Moony, and I quote, ‘fucking loves fingerling potatoes’.”
“Language.” Lily scolded, but she didn’t mean it due to the massive smile on her face.
Hagrid was on the other side of the fireplace when Harry and his parents came through. His dad pulled the half giant into a friendly hug and kissed Lily on the cheek then Hagrid ruffled Harrys hair.
“Good ter see ya again, James, Lily.” Hagrid greeted warmly.
“Always a pleasure.” James replied, thumping him on the back.
“Have a wonderful year, Harry, send us a letter every second day.” His mum muffled tearily in Harrys hair.
“Only every second day, don’t want to look too clingy.” His dad joked.
Harry only nodded and pulled a tight smile.
“Hey,” James concerned, pulling Harry into a hug. “we’ll see you in the two weeks for your game, yeah? You’ll see us waving embarrassingly large banners with your name on them.”
“Please don’t do that.” Harry muttered in his fathers shoulder.
His parents only chuckled and his dad pulled back. They waved goodbye and stepped into the fireplace and back home. Harry looked at the empty fireplace for a moment before securing his luggage and following Hagrid out the door.
“Excellent to see ya.” Hagrid started as he and Harry left Professor McGonagall office. “We’z all thought you’z would miss the firs’ day, ‘arry.”
“I thought so too.” Harry breathed.
“You had your friends in quite a hustle when you’z wasn’t on the train.” Hagrid continued. “Malfoy almost ripped poor Ronald Weasley’s head off when he’z made a commen’ abou’ You-Know-Who.”
“What? Ron did?” Harry baffled.
“Did Ron do wha’?” Hagrid asked.
“Did Ron say something about Volder- I mean You-Know-Who?”
“Ter Malfoy when he wen’ searchin’ for yez.” Hagrid sighed solemnly. “Joked abou’ You-Know-Who taken yer so he could finish what he starte’.”
Harry frowned and felt his chest tighten over. It was common for people to make rude jokes like that, but Ron would never. He knew better than literally everyone the pain and nightmares Harry had had since he was toddler about Voldemort. Ron definitely knew Harry would never allow the Dark Lord to take and kill him without a good fight.
“Oh.” Was all Harry could say without making the crack in his voice too obvious.
Luckily Hagrid was oblivious and whistled jollily as he led Harry to the dungeons so he could put away his luggage and open Hedwigs cage so she could fly around and get comfortable in the Owlery. Looking down, Harry realised he was still in his black button down and jeans.
“Shit.” He whispered. Hagrid was waiting outside and Harry promised to only take 10 seconds. So as any boy would do in his situation, Harry ripped everyone off and buttoned his white shirt, tugged up his grey school pants, kept on his doc Martins and flung his robes around his body all under a minutes. His tie, he decided, would hang loosely around his collar and he didn’t need to worry about his now messier hair because Dumbledore wanted them all to wear those ugly pointy hats.
“Took yer a bit longer than 10 seconds.” Hagrid laughed, nudging Harry when he came back out.
“Yeah. Sorry, had to get changed.” said Harry breathlessly.
As Hagrid led Harry to the Great Hall, the loud clutter of footsteps and voices filled the Entrance Hall and Harry barely contained his excitement when he saw Draco, Crabbe and Goyle standing at the edge closest to the stairs with serious facial expressions.
“Thanks again for all this, Hagrid.” Harry said.
Hagrid did a waving gesture. “Don’ worry ‘bout it. Go to yer friends and I’ll see you later with the wee firs’ years.”
If there was one word Harry would use to describe his friends expressions when they saw him running down the stairs to the Entrance Hall, it would either be shocked, or amazed, or exuberant, or anything close to that. Draco saw him first, his grey eyes widened and the biggest smile replaced his open mouth, he then elbowed Goyle and their body guard looking friends grinned at Harry. Not to anyones surprise, Pansy pushed the boys out of the way and pulled Harry into a massive hug. She had grown and was now an inch taller than Harry, which she used to her advantage by picking him up and twirling him around, much to his displeasure.
“Oh darling,” she cried dramatically, “we thought you weren’t going to show up.”
“Had us all in a right fright.” Tracey added from behind Harry, joining the hug,
“Good to see you join us, mate.” Blaise said from Harrys other side. He felt the four other bodies of his best friends join the hug: Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Millicent.
“You’re definitely telling us everything when we get back to the dorm.” Blaise muttered as he linked elbows.
“Us too! You can’t leave us out just because we don’t share a dorm!” Pansy gasped, linking hers and Harrys other elbow.
“And thank Merlin and Morgana for that.” Tracey grunted. “I’ve seen how my brother keeps his bedroom, I can’t imagine sharing one with five of them. And the smell.” To emphasise, Tracey made a vomiting motion.
“Give him space, will you!” Draco came in being Harrys personal knight in shining armour. “We certainly have things to share with you too, Harry.”
“Something you didn’t tell me in the holidays?” Harry asked with a grin, the two boys had been in contact almost every day since the apology.
Draco snorted. “Our lives are too interesting to not have a story to tell.”
Pansy sighed dreamily and tightened their elbow link as she rested her head on top of Harrys. “I do adore being rich.”
Before anyone could answer, the doors to the Great Hall opened to show Professor McGonagall standing in the entrance with her usual pinched face. The students closest to the door made a cheering noise and went rushing in to take a seat at one of the large four tables. The large group of second years Slytherins strutted in and made themselves comfortable higher up the table so there was enough room for how many new first years were going to be sorted.
“Oi, Potter.” Marcus Flint called out from further down the table. He was a sixth year now and still quidditch captain and a prefect, the badges shining on his lapel.
“Yeah, Flint?” Harry replied.
“You got your broom with you this year? I sent a letter about our practice timetable-“
“Yeah, I got it all, thanks.”
“All good, just making sure.”
Draco kicked Harrys foot from under the table to get his attention. “So, where were you, Potter?”
“Not on the train, obviously.” Harry deadpanned.
“Talkative much?” Pansy grumbled, she despised being left out of anything.
Headmaster Dumbledores voice of demand quieted the hall and Professor McGonagall came marching in with around one hundred scared little first years who were soon to be sorted. Harry dazed out of the welcoming speech and clapped unenthusiastically when the Sorting Hat finished song, then the names started being called out and Harry forced himself to watch.
A young girl with strawberry blonde hair was gazing open-mouthed at Harry. Harry offered her a tight smile but he still found it painfully awkward when someone showed just unshamful admiration. Pansy seemed to know who she was and waved excitedly at her, the girl tore her eyes away from Harry and gave her a small smile back.
“Whose she?” Harry asked his friend.
“Daphne Greengrass.” Pansy replied with a smirk. “She’s actually our age but her parents wanted her to have another year of private tutoring, she’s really nice and has the biggest crush on you.”
“I swear everyone has a crush on you, Potter.” Blaise teased.
Harry leaned across the table and patted the boys hand with overextended sympathy. “Someone will have a crush on you one day, darling.”
This made everyone giggle but Pansy put a stop to it when McGonagall called “Greengrass, Daphne.”
Daphne walked shyly to the stool and sat down with her eyes closed, her fingers crossed on her lap as the Sorting Hat covered so much of her head, her eyes disappeared. It was silent for one second when the hat shouted “SLYTHERIN!” Harry clapped as loud as everyone since she was the first Slytherin first year to be called out.
Pansy was much more enthused and shot up from her seat to give Daphne a big hug. “Congratulations! I knew you would make it here.”
“Of course I made it.” Daphne scoffed. Oh dear, Harry thought, she was one of those people.
Pansy only quirked an eyebrow and shared an exasperated look with Draco. “Well then, this is Blaise, Draco, Crabbe and Goyle -as you already know- and here is Tracey Davis, Millicent Bulstrode, and Harry Potter.”
“Pleasure.” Daphne smiled to everyone but held her hand out for only Harry to shake.
Harry blushed profusely when the first year took his hand in a tight hold and shook it for longer than necessary. He sent an SOS look to Blaise who laughed behind his hands.
Surprisingly, Harry almost forgot Ginny Weasley was being sorted this year and he paid attention when McGonagall called “Weasley, Ginny.” His friends laughed when she tripped on the steps leading to the stool and Tracey made a comment about her stained robes. Harry ignored them and clapped supportingly when the sorting hat shouted “GRYFFINDOR” the minute it touched her head. He saw Rons tense shoulders drop and the twins gave her a big hug. Harry kind of wished she was sorted into a different house just so the Weasleys were forced to accept one of their own children in a different house, but Ginny was as Gryffindor as they could get and she deserved to be on that table.
By the end of the long sorting, there were 10 new Slytherins, 6 were girls and four were boys. Although everyone clapped loudly for each of them, Harry seemed to only remember Daphnes name by the end of it, maybe because Pansy had a look of distaste for the rest of them.
Dinner was as amazing as expected with a dozen different types of roasts, potatoes of all shapes, gravy, peas and carrots, bread rolls, pumpkin soup, and much more. Hermione visited the table and pulled Harry into a tearily long hug and made him promise they would continue their weekly library study sessions. Draco stared daggers into the back of Weasleys head practically the whole dinner and explained, with great detail, what the red head said to them on the train. Harry could barely believe it, but his ex best friend didn’t look at him the whole night which only proved that Draco was right.
At the staff table, Remus was talking to the new blonde teacher who made them buy all those self published books. Gilderoy Lockhart, Harry remembered. He was as handsome as his pictures and Harry saw him smile that award winning smile at some giggling first years when the sorting was going. Professor Snape had his usual snarl but it softened when the desserts were brought out, Harry tried not to laugh but it was too ironic that Snape was a sweet tooth.
When it was finally time to head to the dorms, Daphne tried to talk to Harry all the way back by asking him question after question. He did his best to answer most of them but Draco pulled her away when she started asking if he had a thing for younger women.
The boys dorm had SECOND YEAR printed on the door and they stepped inside in a hurry. The familiar circular green and silver room, the five four-poster beds draped in green cloth and murky water creating a beautiful shadow through the sunroof and narrow windows brought a wave of comfort to Harry. All their trunks were at the edge of their beds.
“It’s good to be back.” Goyle grumbled as he face planted on his bed.
“Unbelievably.” Harry replied with a grin.