No more lies (To Victory)

CHAPTER 4

••°°••

Ludo Bagman was getting on his nerves.

The man continued following him around offering help and soon, very soon, he’s going to be the one who needs help if he doesn’t leave Harry the fuck alone.

“What’s gotten you so wounded up, Harry? Nervous?” Draco asked, coming to stand beside him.

“Bagman. I’m ready to feed him to the dragon if he doesn’t fuck off. He's playing at something, I just don't know what yet."

Draco hummed.

"Are- do you- I mean, are you-"

"Just spit it out already, Dray " Harry grinned at the boy. It seemed Draco was more nervous than he was.

"Do you have a plan? Are you going to be okay? I mean, bloody hell, it's a dragon! What were they thinking-"

"Draco. Draco ! Breathe. Relax. Of course I've got a plan, I'm not an idiot. And besides, I already have experience handling dragons."

The boy's eyes widened. "You do?"

"Of course, Draco. " The slytherin just stared at him blankly. "Seriously? Nothing? Your full name is Draconis, isn't it? Meaning dragon ?"

Malfoy's cheeks turned red once he realized the implication.

Harry grinned triumphantly.

Someone laughed behind them. Harry turned to see Pansy with Theo coming up to them, both snickering. They finally exploded into laughter once they saw Draco's expression.

"Oh, come off it, Dray, it was hilarious," Theo said, grinning when Draco started pouting.

"You should've seen it coming, dear," Pansy chided. "Clearly, Harry's out for blood today."

They all looked at the raven haired wizard, who simply grinned at them.

"What are you three doing here?" 

Harry turned to see Snape walking towards their group.

"Moral support," Pansy supplied quickly.

"Clearly," Snape drawled, eyeing them with the ever present suspicion. "You better be getting back to the stadium. You can visit after if you so wish."

"Of course, professor. We're going." Theo said quickly, dragging away the other two. "Good luck, Harry!"

Harry gave him a slight nod and turned back to the professor, eyebrow raised in question.

"So," Snape said, as he watched his slytherins walking away. "Do you feel ready for the task, Potter?"

Why is everyone asking him this?! He wasn’t a complete moron, thankyouverymuch.

"Sure. Are you here for moral support as well, professor?"

Snape scoffed. "Don't be absurd, Potter."

Harry grinned. Of course not. Not Snape with his reputation, Merlin forbid.

"Are you worried then?" He continued to press, wondering if he could actually piss Snape off. It seemed that wanting answers made the man strangely cordial and he genuinely tried to be civil with Harry, not even reprimanding him for snide remarks.

"With your track record and foolish tendencies to dive head first into danger, I might be."

Harry was shocked. That was as good admission as any.

"I'll be just fine, professor. I feel like I'll get more fire from Madam Pomfrey than the dragon. She seems incredibly stressed."

Snape's lips twitched.

"You might be right, Potter. Do you have a strategy?"

This was becoming annoying.

"Have you asked Diggory that too or am I just a special case?"

"Special case of dunderhead. Diggory entered himself willingly and knowingly and is bright enough to figure it out himself."

"And I'm not?" Harry asked snidely, beginning to feel angry. "Everyone keeps asking me that as if I suddenly became brain dead. I'm slightly insulted."

Snape looked genuinely shocked at Harry's little outburst.

"I… apologize. I didn't mean to imply you can't do it, rather than safety of your… upcoming heroics."

"There is a dragon out there, professor. I don't think safety is what they were aiming for." No, they were aiming for a show. Harry's eyes narrowed when he saw the Weasley twins running around as if looking for someone. It didn't seem like they were looking for him, then who? All of the students were in the stands.

Snape followed his line of sight.

"Weasleys! What are you doing here!"

They froze.

"Ah, you see, professor-"

"We were looking for Bagman-"

"We wanted to-"

"Speak with him."

Snape looked to be developing a headache. Harry could relate. The twins almost always finished each other's sentences, to a point Harry wondered if they shared some sort of a mind link. That would be incredibly useful.

He should look into it later.

"And why would you need to speak to the Head of Magical Games and Sports?"

The twins shared a look and Harry's eyes narrowed.

They were stalling.

Hiding something .

Oh, the intrigue.

"Oh, nothing serious, professor, we'll just ah-"

"We'll just be going, yeah?"

"Yeah. Good luck, Harry!"

"Yeah, try to win, eh? We placed a bet on you."

“Ciao!”

They sprinted away before Snape could say anything or take points.

"I will be going as well, professor. I believe they're already waiting in the tent."

Snape looked dissatisfied, but nodded nontheless. "Be safe, Mr Potter. I'd rather not waste any more of my potions on you."

Harry grinned cheekily. "You might be in for a surprise, professor."

Harry held tightly onto his composure as he walked into the arena, where a fire-breathing, incredibly dangerous dragon was waiting for him.

He cast every single fire and heat repelling charm on himself that he knew of, including the ones in parseltongue. 

Bloody hell.

He had more chances fighting a basilisk than a dragon. The Hungarian Horntail had so many spikes in its tail alone it could impale Harry like a piece of meat in mere seconds.

He wished he had a sword for a moment. Worst case scenario he could stab the dragon. His spells wouldn’t penetrate it’s skin unless he used dark and powerful ones. Illegal ones, and even then it was debatable.

Fuck this shit.

And then- then he heard it.

Something that will be his saving grace.

"My hatchlings! I kill if you touch! Mine! Stole my-"

Harry could have laughed.

Hysterically, in relief, because if the dragon listened to him… it meant victory.

" Hello, gracious dragon. My name is Harry Potter and I come meaning no harm to you or your… hatchlings. Do you have a name?"

The dragon froze and turned to peer intently at him and Harry had a brief flash of panic that the dragon would just decide to burn him instead of answering.

" A speaker! Great honor it is to meet a speaker. My name is Gaelie, youngling. I've heard about you."

What?

"What do you mean, heard about me?"

"One of your own kind, another speaker came to meet me days ago. Asked us not to touch one with a scar on his face named Harry, another speaker. That is you."

Harry was frozen in shock. 

Another speaker? No , it couldn't be- Tom ? Tom saw the dragons? Spoke to them?

It surely wasn't Loki. And no one else could speak parseltongue.

Holy fuck.

This is not something he has time to unpack right now.

Harry shoved the new information behind his strongest mental shields. Tom can wait. He can’t deal with this right now.

" Thank you, great Gaelie. I mean you no harm. But people who captured you put a fake egg, a fake hatchling between your real ones and ordered me to retrieve it. Will you allow it?"

“Who did such a thing?!”

Harry smiled and pointed at the judges table, feeling incredibly gleeful as the dragon let out a horrible screech and sent a fireball towards the judges stand. It was stopped by a ward - how unfortunate - but they looked spooked. 

Harry noted the terrified expressions pointed at him and smirked.

They wanted a show, Harry is giving them one.

" I will allow you to take it as long as you do not touch my eggs, speaker."

"Thank you, Gaelie." Harry honestly felt relieved. He was ready to fight if he had to, but thank Merlin and- no, thank Salazar for the parseltongue. It was handy as fuck.

Harry cautiously stepped forward, very slowly reaching into the nest and taking out the golden egg under the watchful eye of a dragon.

He held it out for the dragon to look at and smell, waiting with slightly trembling hands as Gaelie inspected the egg.

She roared once more, spitting out fire at the judges again, this time for much longer.

Harry saw the wards crack.

Their alarmed faces.

What a treat.

" It was an honor to speak with you, Gaelie. Thank you."

"It was an honor to meet a speaker, hatchling. It's been eons since we spoke to your kind. I wish you well. May the magic bless you, child."

Harry bowed to the dragon and backed out of the arena, only now coming to realization that everyone was dead silent and staring at him. Fuck. He honestly forgot about the spectators.

He smirked and lifted the egg in triumph and then- then a thunderous applause started, especially from the Slytherin side.

Someone let out fireworks - ah, the twins. Of course. They won a bet.

Oh, Merlin.

It's going to be second year all over again.

Maybe. 

"And, ladies and gentlemen, our youngest champion, Harry Potter, retrieved the egg in the shortest time with no injuries by an incredible display of parseltongue ability! He spoke to a dragon! Have you heard of such thing? Incredible!"

Harry rolled his eyes, heading directly back to the tent, not in the mood to listen to useless platitudes.

"First dementors, now dragons! What's next?!" He heard Madam Pomfrey raving inside. "Mr Potter-"

"I'm fine. The dragon didn't touch me," Harry said coldly, not wanting to be fussed over. He was fine .

She looked him over critically. "Knowing you, Mr Potter, that's highly unlikely. I'll do a diagnostic charm."

Harry sighed and nodded, internally smirking when she looked back from the parchment at him skeptically, as if she couldn't believe her eyes. "Well. I guess there's always a first time, Mr Potter. You are free to go."

"Thank you," Harry nodded and turned to leave, when the tent burst open and his newly acquired slytherin squad arrived, eyes glittering with excitement. They looked like they were the ones who won.

"Merlin, Potter, that was-" Blaise shook his head, seemingly speechless.

"Marvelous. Terrifying ? Hypnotizing?!" Theo supplied, but had the same expression on his face, while they all nodded, looking like complete loons.

"You spoke to a dragon, " Draco said, sounding breathless. "A bloody dragon! Just walked in and out!"

"Yes, that vas very impressive," Krum walked up to the group, sporting a bandage on his shoulder. "I didn't know you could speak to dragons."

"Neither did I. Thought it was only snakes," Harry smiled sheepishly. 

There was a moment of silence.

"Are you telling me you went in there without knowing it would work?!" Draco screeched, suddenly looking like he wanted nothing more than to strangle him. 

Harry felt slightly cowed.

"I had more than one plan, Dray, relax. Besides, it worked ."

"When you started speaking parseltongue I thought Dumbledore was going to faint. His face went white," Theo snickered, trying to relieve sudden tension and distract his friend.

"Did he, now?"

That was an interesting bit of information. Dumbledore really didn't want people knowing that Harry was a parselmouth, did he? Strangely nobody seemed to remember after the second year fiasco, or reacted terribly after finding out.

Dark gift his arse. If not for this dark gift , he'd be nothing more than an overcooked human nugget.

But now everyone will know.

There was no more hiding.

"You should go outside, they'll be showing your points," Blaise nudged them, and Harry walked out with Draco in tow, the other three trailing behind him.

A flash went off the moment he stepped out and Harry scowled.

"Harry, dear, what a wonderful performance!" Rita Skeeter cooed at him in an overly sweet voice. "And who's your charming friend here?"

"Draco Malfoy, heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy," Draco introduced himself, instantly standing more poised and gracious than before.

"Oh, how wonderful and, ah- I see your friends came to support you, Mr Potter?"

Harry's eyes narrowed.

What was her angle?

"Yes. Now, if you don't mind, Rita, we'll be going to hear the judges. And oh-" he leaned closer to her, so nobody could hear. "I hope you remember the last time and I won't be seeing anything… negative about myself in the press. Understood?"

She seemed shocked at Harry's open threat, but wasn’t stupid enough to underestimate him when all of a sudden her fingers started to cramp slightly.

"Understood?" Harry hissed, then went for the kill. " Pain"

Skeeter immediately blanched back from him, her face deathly pale and contorted in pain. She was nodding frantically. 

Harry smiled, releasing the spell.

"Good. Have a… productive day, shall I say?"

He turned around, ignoring the very curious and slightly terrified looks of slytherins and walked closer to the arena to find out his score.

"I've never seen Skeeter so terrified. What did you do to her?" Malfoy asked quietly, eyes darting around to see if anyone's listening.

Harry gave him a smile.

"I encouraged her to tell the truth to the wizarding world. Nothing nefarious, you see."

All of them snorted.

"Yeah, right. She looked about ready to faint, not counting in pain . You have hidden depths, Pot- Harry." Theo proceeded with a smirk and received one in turn. One thing he learned about Harry Potter during this time is that he liked to toy with them and give them vague answers. Or have them figure things out themselves if they can.

Threats weren't above him either.

It was turning out to be the most interesting year so far.

Ludo Bagman shot out a 10 from his wand. So did Madame Maxime and Crouch Sr. Dumbledore looked at him disappointedly before shooting a 7.

"Seven? Seven?! Is that senile bastard completely mad?!" Draco shrieked, looking just as enraged as most students. The slytherin side- wait, others too- booed loudly.

Most did, to Harry's surprise.

Oh, did they suddenly forget how they shunned him for stealing Diggory's fame?

Bloody hypocrites, all of them. Especially gryffindors. They had zero house loyalty and would turn their backs on you the moment they don't like something you've done.

Neville was a slight exception, but he was more of a hufflepuff than a gryffindor anyway.

Or he simply didn't dare to be nasty to Harry.

"We all know that Dumbledore is prejudiced against anything even remotely dark," Harry said loudly, knowing that Skeeter will most likely hear this, the annoying pest that she was. "I bet five galleons that after this he'll try to reprimand me or guilt me for daring to use parseltongue."

He'll certainly be outraged that Harry so publicly showed his 'dark ability' and tarnished his light savior name or something.

Only Karkaroff was left.

To Harry's surprise, the man too looked pale and was staring at Harry in poorly disguised fear.

Harry smirked.

Karkaroff must be having flashbacks of the last Master he betrayed. 

This was brilliant.

Maybe he should act as much like Voldemort as possible whenever around Karkaroff to drive the man insane with paranoia. It would certainly be funny.

He will definitely be showing this memory to Tom, he will be so smug ab- wait, no. No Tom.

The traitor raised his wand, hesitating slightly, as he looked at Harry, who in turn glared nastily at the headmaster.

"9? Karkaroff gave you nine?!" Draco squealed. 

"What the fuck, he gave Diggory five . His favoritism towards Krum is unparalleled," Theo nodded along, equally shocked.

"Do you have him imperio'ed, Harry? He looked terrified for a moment there," Blaise's eyes kept going from Karkaroff to Harry.

"I think I remind him of someone," Harry snickered as he wondered if he could influence the Mark with parseltongue for the maximum terror.

"You came to 46 points, that's more than anyone. Harry, you're in the first place!" Draco shouted excitedly and Harry was once again taken aback by how at ease his classmates were with him. His Slytherin classmates. 

In Slytherin you'll make true friends once again came back to haunt him. You could've had this this whole time. It was for a good reason though, Harry reminded himself. Safer this way.

He knew that slytherins had ulterior motives by getting close to him, and they were intrigued by his true personality along with his clear support for the Dark magic, but even then it made him feel something warm inside his chest. 

Perhaps allowing this to go on wasn't such a bad idea.

And if they make a move to betray him, Harry will repay them with the same.

Tom was always harping at him about making allies. Well, there they are. 

"Potter!" A gruff voice called out to him and Harry saw Moody staring at his group. "Go back to the tent, the judges will be speaking with champions about the second task."

Harry nodded curtly.

"I'll come with," Draco said quickly, eyeing Moody wearily.

"Fine! Just hurry up!" He grumbled and walked up to the tent as well, waiting.

Harry shrugged. He can figure out Moody later. The paranoid ex-Auror had his own agendas, Harry was sure, and for some reason he was fixated on Harry.

Typical.

They didn't have to wait long until judges burst in.

"Congratulations on finishing the first task, champions!" Ludo Bagman shouted, looking chirpy. "Next task will be held in February and the egg you retrieved from the dragon holds a clue, you only need figure it out. That is all! I wish you best until then!"

That's it? Harry thought. What a waste of time.

Then headmasters went to speak with their champions. Karkaroff was staring at him through Krum’s shoulder.

Harry winked.

It was funny watching the traitor's eye twitch as he tried to control himself.

"I'd like to speak with you, my boy," Dumbledore uttered those damned words, while Harry steamed inside. He turned, waiting, and raised his brow when Dumbledore kept quiet.

"Here is fine, headmaster. Speak."

The fake friendly twinkle in his eyes was gone in a flash.

"I am very disappointed in you, my boy. To reveal such a dark gift in front of everyone…" Albus shook his head disappointedly. "Your parents would be ashamed of you."

The room went dead silent. Harry felt frozen. Everyone else was looking at Albus in shock and disgust.

"Albus! How dare you say something like that to the young boy!" Fudge, who just came into the tent, followed by Skeeter, shouted. "Are you out of your goddamned mind?!"

Harry could've clapped. Perfect timing. 

However, it didn't defuse the fire in his chest- raging anger that was about to erupt and consume everyone.

How dare he? Use his parents against him in such a way, for his own gain?

"How dare you!?" Draco hissed at the wizard while Harry reigned himself in. Dumbledore’s beard looked exceptionally flammable right then.

"I think my parents would be proud that I performed the task without a scratch on me, against a bloody dragon . Need I remind you that I'm here against my will, headmaster?" Harry stepped closer, his eyes glinting dangerously; the air around them started heating up in tune with Harry's rage. "You should be careful, Albus . Your prejudice is showing. And to think you'd rather have me hurt or dead than use a gift I was blessed with, is sickening. Perhaps it's time to step down from being a headmaster if you're so eager to put your students in life threatening danger because of their bloodline and it's abilities. Or try to use their dead parents against them."

Dumbledore was left speechless, as did everyone else.

Rita's quill was scratching incredibly fast.

"Harry did really vell. You shouldn't be attacking him," Krum spoke up, glaring at Dumbledore, and Harry flashed a small smile to the wizard. He seemed like a decent bloke, if a bit bold. 

"Yes, what iz dis Dumblydoore? Ze boy has a gift! Shame on you, Dumblydoore. Beauxbatons would be honored to have youz, 'Arry Potter, if you'd wish to transfer," Madame Maxime said, and Harry bowed his head in thanks, a genuine smile appearing on his face. To see utter shock on the coots face was a plus too.

"You'd do vell in Dursmtrang too, Harry," Krum added, not noticing Karkaroff's widening eyes. The man clearly didn't want to be anywhere near Harry if he could help it. Serves him right. 

Harry felt almost giddy.

He never even considered transferring to any other schools. He loved Hogwarts too much. But he was sure it would terrify Dumbledore if he believed Harry to be considering these options.

"Thank you for your offers. But for now I'm fine here." He said instead, hearing Draco snickering beside him. It was time to leave. "If you'll excuse me," he pushed through to get out of the tent.

"That was brilliant, Harry. Absolutely amazing." Draco gushed. They both heard shouts coming from inside the tent.

"Seems like Dumbledore’s getting a sixth degree."

"A what?"

"Ah, muggle term. A dressing down. He said it in front of everyone, didn't he?"

Draco suddenly looked serious. "You know that's not true though, right?" 

Harry nodded, but actually, he didn’t know. How could he? He had no idea what his parents were like and what they would’ve thought.

From what he heard about his father he was awfully prejudiced towards slytherins. For all Harry knew, he’d despise Harry for being one as well, even if not officially. For speaking the serpent's tongue. And his mother? He had no clue, but he had an inkling she delved into the Dark Arts as well. How else he supposedly had bloodwards protecting him? How else, but not with something powerful, was she able to protect him from Voldemort?

So many question and no one to give him answers. In the end, he only knew scraps about his parents, and it sort of sucked.

Draco still looked unsure on what to say and Harry couldn’t blame him. They weren’t that close.

“So, uh, Harry-” Draco smiled at him, and Harry was immediately suspicious. “There will be a party in the Slytherin common room, pretty soon, I suppose. Would you like to come?”

What?

A party ?

“Me? You do realize I’m Harry Potter, the gryffindor-”

Draco scoffed. “Oh, please. Even a blind could see that you’re no such thing. Even if you’re wearing those hideous red robes - and red really isn’t your colour, trust me - you belong in green. You’re as slytherin as they come, Potter. There’s no use denying it now.”

Harry scowled. 

“And yet you forget that the whole Slytherin won’t bend to your will to have me there just because you think I belong there.”

Draco smiled triumphantly. “Oh, please. They will bend to yours,” he leaned in closer, as if to whisper. “You just controlled a dragon using parseltongue, Potter. A gift that is an epitome of power in Slytherin. Anyone who possesses the gift is believed to be Slytherin’s descendant and let me tell you a secret: no slytherin in this castle will dare lift a finger against you. Not unless they’re suicidal. You might as well have claimed the throne with your extremely public show of power.”

“Throne? Draco, are you off your meds?”

The boy looked slightly insulted. “Potter. Harry . You don’t seem to grasp the concept of what you’ve done today. You publicly claimed your- your birthright. Slytherins are taught from a young age that if there is a slytherin’s heir, we must follow him or her, for it will lead us to greatness.”

Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness.

Once slytherins sense power, they will follow it. And you, my dear Harry, are practically dripping with it. Don’t be surprised when they start to flock you, because they will. That’s what happened to me.

That damned sorting had and Tom were onto something. Harry dismissed both, but now his own ignorance was staring at his face.

Mocking him. 

“Slytherins are throwing the party in your honour, Harry. It would be a shame for you to miss it.”

And wasn’t that yet another stab in the back, in a way?

Gryffindor shunned him for being a champion. It didn’t matter that he was entered against his will; they still believed he stole the spotlight from Diggory.

And here he was, being offered a place among those who were antagonizing him for most of his life in Hogwarts. It only took for Harry to drop his masks and be himself to be accepted. And once parseltongue was outed to the whole school in a way not even Dumbledore would be able to obliviate - they offered him a place of honor amongst them.

Of power. 

He would be a fool not to take it.

There will never be any trust between him and Gryffindor again. Not after they so thoroughly turned their backs on him in his time of need.

“Alright,” Harry granted. “When does it start?”

“Now!” Pansy shouted from behind him, and Harry absolutely saw them coming and didn't jump.

“Not now. After the feast. The older years are simply preparing it now,” Theo corrected.

“By preparing he means booze,” Blaise wiggled his eyebrows. “I’m not sure if they’ll manage to get food though.”

“Why not ask the elves?” Harry inquired.

Four pairs of confused eyes stared at him. He sighed.

“Seriously. Just go to the kitchen and ask for some. Not that hard.”

“You know where the kitchens are?” Theo asked, seemingly shocked. 

“Yeah? Are you- please don’t tell me you still have no idea where it is?”

They all shook their heads.

Harry snorted. Figures.

“I’m invited to a party and have to provide food. What a disgrace,” Harry turned his nose up, copying Draco when he was doing ‘Malfoys are way above this’ move.

“Uh, sorry, Harry, we didn’t mean to-” Draco started to babble, eyes wide as if he was afraid he somehow displeased Harry and he wouldn’t come - the horror - so Harry cracked a smirk and told them to relax.

“I’m just teasing. Merlin, relax. It’s not a big deal. We can go now. People are starting to leave the arena and I’d rather not be flocked, thankyouverymuch.”

“Don’t you want to meet your adoring fans?” Theo grinned, by now well aware of Harry’s derision of crowds.

“I’ll use polyjuice on you and let you deal with them, hm?” Harry snapped back and Theo paled. “Thoughts so. Come on.”

Harry navigated them through the castle expertly, and slytherins were impressed by the boy’s knowledge of many, many secret passageways they had no idea even existed.

No wonder Potter could slip away from everyone the way they did.

“You must be joking. Tickle a pear? A pear?! The kitchen was right under our noses the whole time!” Draco continued to rave about the unfairness of it all.

“It’s not like we went looking for it,” Blaise muttered.

The door opened and they were met with hundreds of squeaky house elves who were clearly preparing a feast.

“Master Harry Potter, sir! And his friends! You’re back! What does the Master wishes?”

“Of course they know you by name,” Draco grumbled. “Elf, bring us-” Draco’s voice was suddenly gone.

Harry glared at him. “Be quiet. It wouldn’t kill you to be nice to them.” Then he turned back to the elves, giving them a soft smile. “Forgive my friend here, he is an impulsive idiot. We came here to ask, could you bring some refreshments to the slytherin common room? Some snacks and drinks?”

“Slytherin common room? We shouldn’t…”

“Please? It’s a… gathering of friends. You see, I just finished the first task and went against a dragon. My friends and I would like to celebrate my victory.”

“A dragon, Master Potter?”

This erupted into most of the elves differentiating between congratulating him and weeping, while Harry continued to smile at them.

“So, could you bring something for my friends and I? I would be most appreciative.”

“Of course, Master Potter! We will be bringing yous everything! Just call for Mipsy if yous need anything!”

“Thank you. We will be leaving now.”

Merlin, they were exhausting little creatures.

“Manipulating elves now, eh, Harry?” Theo commented, smirk never leaving his lips.

Harry shrugged. It’s not like he felt guilty or anything. 

“You should’ve just ordered them. Seriously, it’s their job.” Pansy sneered, not at all pleased at what she saw.

Harry’s eyes snapped to her.

“You forget, Pansy, that while they are employed by Hogwarts itself, they still have to somewhat answer to the headmaster. I’m sure you don’t want the old coot getting a wind of this. And if you’re nice enough to them, they’ll give you whatever you want, including their loyalty.”

“Bloody slytherin to the boot,” Theo muttered. “Not only are you getting what you want from them, you’re earning their loyalty as well. How in Merlin’s name we didn’t notice you hiding yourself before?”

“Because I’m better at it than you are at noticing things,” Harry grinned proudly. 

“Are we going to dinner? It will be starting soon.”

Harry grimaced. He wanted to be nowhere near it. But he probably had to.

But first, he needed to get out of these clothes, but it would mean going to the Gryffindor tower, and that was a big no. He'd be flocked.

Room of requirement? 

He could take a shower as well.

Merlin, he needed to get his invisibility cloak and map back. This was ridiculous.

“-Harry? I think he zoned out.”

“Sorry, what?”

“We were wondering what you’d like to do.”

“Get into new robes.”

Slytherins started snickering.

“I don’t suppose you want to go back to the Gryffindor tower?” Theo asked, being more perceptive than others in the group. By now he was well aware of Harry’s opinion of his housemates.

Harry wrinkled his nose.

“Nope. But I know just a place.”

Harry entered the Great Hall and sat down with slytherins.

That caused a ruckus amongst Gryffindor. Most of them looked betrayed and mutinous.

Harry scowled.

Oh, so now that he’s proven himself, they suddenly want to acknowledge him? Bloody double faced cowards.

“Wonderful performance, Potter,” Warrington planted himself in front of Harry. “I had no idea you could speak with dragons as well.”

Neither did I, Harry wanted to say, but that would make him look less in control of the situation. It would be better if they think he knew all along. “Oh, come off it, Warrington. You’ve been doing that for years.”

Draco spluttered, going beet red. “Potter, I’ll kill you,” he muttered angrily.

Warrington, frowned, looking from Harry to Draco and back, his eyes widening with realization and he laughed.  

“You’re right on that one, Potter. Brilliant observation.”

Harry grinned at the boy.

Perhaps slytherins weren’t so bad.

“Oh, would you look at that. Dumbledore is glaring at you.”

Harry didn’t even grace the man with his attention.

“That’s because Harry gave him a total dressing down. It’ll probably be in tomorrow’s papers. Skeeter heard everything.” Draco said, looking at Harry with bright eyes.

Warrington started choking. “Excuse me, I think I heard you wrong. You said Potter here gave Dumbledore a dressing down?”

Draco nodded eagerly.

“Well, you don’t hear that every day,” Pucey joined in on their conversation. “Is there something you wish to tell us, Potter?”

Harry raised a brow at the boy.

“Not really. You’re the one who sat down with us.”

“Why are your darling gryffindors glaring at us?” Pucey asked, looking over Harry’s shoulder and bared his teeth.

Theo snickered, as Harry snorted.

“Oh, didn’t you hear? I stole Diggory’s fame, thus I’m a traitor.”

“I thought Weasley was a traitor?”

“He too, but for supposedly betraying me,” Harry grinned.

“They’re bloody insane. Have they no house unity?” Warrington looked disgusted. And rightfully so. At least in public slytherins stuck together. Always.

“Well, no. Surprised nobody marched up here to confront me by now. I think sitting here after the task counts as treason or something.”

Harry wasn’t sure how gryffindors would react. He was certain they wanted to celebrate him now for being in the first place, but his usage of parselmouth might’ve left a sour taste.

One thing for sure is that he didn’t want to go back in there any time soon.

For all he knew they’ll gang on up on him.

“Disgusting,” Pansy sneered. 

“Ah, you’re welcome here, Potter, I suppose. I don’t think anyone will dare to try to tell you to leave,” Warrington grinned at him, stabbing a piece of meat with his fork rather forcefully. 

“Except Dumbledore.”

“He can’t-”

“There’s no rule stating students can’t sit at other tables.”

“And he won’t be making another fiasco after what happened in the tent,” Draco said smugly.

Theo was curious. “What happened there?” 

“Be patient, Theo. I’m sure you’ll be enlightened tomorrow,” Harry grinned, but was slightly worried on what Skeeter will come up with. She was most certainly plotting something, but she couldn’t write anything negative. Either way, the story with Dumbledore will cause an outrage, he was sure of that.

“He’s smiling like his birthday came early. Oh, Merlin. It’s going to be bad, won’t it?”

Draco kept quiet, smirking to himself.

“ Massster, I’m hungry,” Loki peeked his head out from Harry’s shirt.

Warrington and Pucey froze in their seats and stared with wide eyes at-

“A snake?” Warrington uttered, his eyes glued to the animal. “ Merlin.”

“ I’ll give you a fat rat when we leave the hall, Loki, okay?”

“Yes, Master. It better be fat.”

“Fine.”

“I want to lay on my blond boy.”

Harry rolled his eyes and turned to glare at Draco.

“You spoiled my bloody snake. He wants to lay on you.”

Pucey choked and started coughing after hearing this, while Theo and Pansy snickered quietly.

Draco looked overly satisfied. 

At first he was terrified to go anywhere near the bloody thing, but Loki grew on him. And liked his attention more than Harry’s! He only wished he could understand it.

He extended his hand towards Harry so no one would notice the snake.

“ Well? Go. Be sure that no one sees you or the rat will be nothing but bones.”

“Yes, Master.”

Loki curled up under Draco’s sleeve and the boy rubbed the snake's head affectionately.

“I think- yeah, I think that’s all the proof we needed,” Warrington muttered, his eyes still glued to where Draco was gently petting the snake.

Harry’s eyes narrowed.

“Proof?” he hissed dangerously, and the boy blanched.

“I don’t mean to offend- I mean, I’m sorry, I just wanted to say that-”

“They had their doubts about you being here, Harry. I think your parseltongue and a snake familiar relieved them of their doubts.”

“Did it?” Harry looked at the boys intently, channeling his inner Tom and almost smirked when the boys squirmed under his gaze. “If even one word gets out about Loki to any teachers or anyone who would blabber, I will feed you to the basilisk myself,” Harry hissed at them, letting his magic touch both for a brief moment, before turning back to Blaise and asking to pass him some baguettes.

Hogwarts tables now had many foreign dishes and Harry was thankful for the diversity. It wasn’t a secret that most British foods were… bland. Perhaps he could persuade the elves to keep this up next year as well?

Harry started chatting with Draco about quidditch, purposely ignoring the terrified yet awed looks of Warrington and Pucey.

The message was sent.

Harry walked up to the entrance of the Slytherin common room without a pause. 

“ Open,” he hissed, and the door swung open.

People were already mingling about. Soft music was playing in the background, the tables were full of food and drinks.

It looked cozy. Much cozier than in his second year.

Nobody even noticed him come in yet, so Harry observed quietly for a few minutes, taking in the ins and outs of the place until he was spotted.

“Who let you in, Potter?” Warrington asked, just in time when the entrance burst open, confused Draco and Theo walking in, talking about how Harry was nowhere in sight.

“I let myself in, obviously,” Harry scoffed.

“Oh no. Merlin. You weren’t kidding when you said you knew where our entrance was?!” Theo shouted, gaining the attention of most of the house.

Harry grinned. “Of course I wasn’t. I’m not an idiot.”

“You knew where the common room entrance was?” a witch Harry didn’t know asked.

“Yep. Known for years too.”

Someone started laughing.

“Of course he does!” someone shouted from the crowd.

“Who let you in though?” Draco asked. “We’ve been waiting for you, but you didn’t show up.”

“I let myself in. What did you want me to do? Stand outside?”

Draco winced. “N-no, of course not-”

“You’re not supposed to be telling our password to anyone, Malfoy,” Pucey glowered at him.

“I didn’t!”

“Oh, so how did he pass through?”

Everyone’s eyes shot to Harry once more, who was practically oozing superior look with a smirk on his lips.

“I don’t need one. Parseltongue gives me a free pass to enter any and all places Salazar created. Interesting, isn’t it?”

There was a complete silence before everyone started talking among themselves, while most continued to stare at Harry, with something between shock, awe and fear in their eyes. A few laughed.

Harry liked it.

“So you can just enter whenever?” Theo asked.

“Yep.”

“Bloody hell.”

“And you made us stand outside like fools,” Draco scowled.

Harry snickered. “Don’t blame this on me, Draco dear. You said, and I quote, 'we will wait at the end of the hallway', and you walked away without me agreeing to anything. So, if anything, it’s your own fault.”

The common room erupted into snickers and outright laughs.

“He played you, Malfoy!”

“Gryffindor, my ass.”

“Potter is a bloody slytherin!”

“Heir Slytherin!”

"Hogwarts Champion!"

“The whole school will know not to mess with you after today!”

Harry listened to the shouts and downright cheers, feeling lighter than he had in years.

Maybe Tom was onto something when he said they would worship him.

This felt very much like a worship. Like acceptance .

If only Gryffindor was like that.

“Great. Potter can enter whenever. I’m not even surprised anymore.” Warrington was muttering under his nose. “Right. Oh, another thing, who got the food? I asked around and no one knows anything. For all we know it’s the Weasleys' prank and laced with potions.”

Draco and others grinned, pointing at Harry. “He manipulated the house elves.”

The boy shrugged, feeling heat creeping into his cheeks.

“Bloody hell,” Warrington pinched the bridge of his nose. “Honestly. How the bloody hell did you end up in Gryffindor?”

“He manipulated the hat,” Blaise offered quickly.

The whole common room was dead silent, apart from the soft music in the background.

Harry’s cheeks were on fire.

“He- he-” Warrington looked like he had a hard time coming up with words. He kept blinking at Harry as if he'd never seen him before. “He- of course . How stupid of me. It’s just- you know, Potter suddenly became the perfect slytherin and none of us even noticed him playing us all these years. Excuse me, I need a drink. Hell, a whole bottle.” he turned around, stumbling slightly. “Welcome to Slytherin, Potter,” he turned around, bowing slightly. “I’m sure you’ll feel right at home.”

Harry chuckled slightly.

He already did.

The party was wild, in Harry’s humble opinion.

When the whole house was inside, the music got louder, most of the students already had drinks in their hands - lower years had butterbeer and were grateful - ha! And everyone seemed to be having a great time.

“Won’t Snape come and be mad?” Harry asked after a good half an hour, because surely he wouldn’t condone this?

It was Snape.

The - be silent and don't cause any mess - Snape.

The man didn’t know the definition of fun. Probably.

“Eh, I doubt he’ll come unless there is some sort of emergency. I mean, he probably suspects something like this will happen, but he doesn’t know about the firewhiskey. And I really hope he doesn't  find out.”

Harry pointed at the older years.

“They’re already half drunk. And Flint is walking around with a bottle of firewhiskey in hand. I’m sure Snape will be oblivious enough not to notice it.”

“Oh, Potter, don’t you worry. Snapey won’t touch any of your hairs on your pretty little head,” Warrington came over, placing a hand over Harry’s shoulders. The wizard was drunk.

He scowled and the boy yelped when he was zapped.

“What the fuck?!”

“Control yourself, Warrington,” Malfoy snapped. “You’re acting like a gryffindor.”

“Should I take offense to that?” Harry asked slyly.

“No. You’re slytherin through and through. Don’t even dare to deny it.”

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes.

“He’s got a point though. Snape will be furious if he finds out,” Theo looked at the entrance warily. 

Harry looked at it too.

Maybe… maybe he can lock it up?

Harry walked to the door, brushing his finger against the two stone snakes that marked the door.

“ Could you seal the entrance so no one could come in from the outside?”

“Yesss, heir.”

“Do it then.”

He heard a click and a rush of magic, then turned around to the wide eyed slytherins.

“I sealed the door. No one will be able to come in.”

There was a silence before the room exploded into cheers.

“Potter sealed the door!”

“TOAST TO POTTER!”

“The Heir of Slytherin!”

A cup of firewhiskey was thrust into Harry’s hand and he was pushed into the middle of the room, students clapping and cheering, for him.

They were chanting his name.

Merlin, Harry felt beyond elated. Emotional. Happy . Euphoric.

They were chanting his name . Merlin and Morgana. 

Slytherin will lead you to greatness.

Yes, it will.

If this is the support he got now, there’s no saying what it will be in the future. Merlin, if he had this from the first year he’d have a bigger head than Malfoy.

No wonder Tom was so damn smug all the time.

Harry raised his cup, and silence fell.

He grinned, looking at exciting faces just waiting for him to speak. So eager. 

So ripe to follow.

“To victory!”