chapter 10
Harry, Hermione, and several fifth year ravenclaws were sitting at one of the larger tables in the back of the library. Hermione had been kicked out by madame Prince, before she had made much progress the night before. sh did have a chance to narrow down some of her choices. Harry's familiar was probably not in the arachnid family or a a fairy or pixie as they didn't get along with fox like creatures. Though not knowing precisely what type of creatures Harry is put a problem on things. There was a big difference in the type of creatures high elves bonded with and royal elves. And Harry's scaled wing could be an indication of a drake, draconi, or komos and the even more rare dravir. While their other features would be more telling there simply went enough books that described the differences in related inheritances and she didn't have all that much to go on. A handful of traits from different creatures that may be altered by other aspects as well.
Color would normally be a good indicator of race but the people who wrote these books weren't very clear and there was the submissive/ dominant problem, that affected creature characteristics as well. Hermione sighed, this was going nowhere she reasoned. until she had more to go on then ignorant guesses she would have to focus on something else.
While Hermione dug up information on familiar laws, the ravenclaws had taken to teaching Harry how to turn percents, into fractions and reduce them, (basic skills needed before one started Arithmacy, and also very helpful in Potions). Hermione paced between a row in the forbidden section and the creatures and magical beings section. To the delight of the Ravens Harry started making his way through simple equations, having learned multiplication, and division from Draco that morning.
Harry blushed under their praise. It still felt like he was breaking the rules. Harry was breaking the rules. He had read nine books today and he was learning. Really trying and letting his freakishness just go about like it was normal. Magic, they called it. A lovely word for something so horrible. He had tried to hold it in at first. But everything was so different and new and loud. His freakishness was so big now! and he had wings and a tail and pointy ears. These people were still pretending to like him, he knew it couldn't last long, wouldn't. He didn't know the rules here and barely anyone told him to do anything. The only things he had been told to do was to go to one of the teachers or older students if he got lost or scared, and Draco had told him he needed to eat last night. It had to be a dream, Harry sighed. He knew he didn't deserve this and the fact that he was dreaming it and liked it meant he really was as ungrateful as the Dursleys were always telling him. A part of him kept whispering that this was real it had to be, because when he crawled under the bed Draco had given him it was cold. When he "woke" up from a "nightmare" and hit his head on the bed it hurt, there was a bruise, then just like normal it disappeared before Draco got up. Whatever it was, a dream or real, he Hadn't felt like this since before he was last thrown in his cupboard.
Learning and reading and calling the worst part of him magic like it was okay, good even, had the same feeling he got when he stole food. He knew it was wrong, and that he shouldn't do it. He knew they would probably catch him or notice what was missing and he'd get the locked up again, or worse. But at the same time the fear was tinted by excitement. The thrill that kept him going when he was working for long hours and made him think the yelling and screaming was worth it. This was wrong and he was being very bad if it was real and ungrateful if it was a dream, but he liked it. He liked having a name and getting to eat everyday and the books. The books made him want to cry Because they weren't just books. People gave them to him, and looked at him like he was worth more than he knew he was. They gave him the books and he was allowed to read them! And even after he read them he could keep them, Draco even gave him a bag to protect them. Mrs. Malfoy gave him two whole toys! for him! and even though he had no idea what they were or how he was supposed to play with them he didn't want them to go back.
It was so nice here. He wished he could stay. So he decided, he would keep the name. Even if the Dursleys didn't use it, he would be Harry p.. pot..potter. and didn't that send him a thrill through him right there. Freaks didn't have names they weren't good enough to have names but now he did. AAAANNNNDD while he was breaking rules he might as well enjoy it. Draco promised they wouldn't send him back. Draco promised that his uncle couldn't get him. Harry really liked Draco. He liked him even more than the others, but he didn't trust him yet. you only had to lie until you got what you wanted. Harry didn't know what Draco wanted. But he knew that no one ever told him the truth until they remembered how awful he was. He would wait until
Draco got mad at him, see what he did and why. then he would know if he could trust him.
Harry was startled out of his thoughts when Hermione spoke and realized he had finished all the problems.
Jessica?" she asked, " could you look through this for the laws pertaining to sorcerers familiars, familiar magics, and cross-reference for mixed creature blood rights? oh, and purblood family privacy rights and privileges on the same subject. Purblood privileges apply to Harry right? He is from a noble family." Jessica scoffed.
" He's the sole heir of an ancient and noble house and possibly the Heir to a most ancient and noble house. "
Harry opened and closed his mouth a few times before he finally got out, " What's the difference?" A slytherin 6th year who had given him an extra blanket when he went to the dorm with Draco answered.
" Most ancient and noble houses are older and usually richer, than an ancient and noble house. But I think there are several more houses you will inherit due to vengeance clauses in the older houses. Many prestigious and worthy houses were wiped out by... hmf well, you- know-who." He pulled on his tie to loosen it and straitened.
" you could sit down if you want. " Hermione said. He wrinkled his nose then tilted his head to see Harry. He sat down.
" so what is all this for?"
" we're trying to help Harry." Jessica said cheerfully. A ravenclaw named Annella pointed to the books in turn.
" familiar transport laws, cross-reference for the american and the British ministries and bylaws, treaties, and negotiations for Romania, Greenland, Canada, Nepal, India, Afghanistan and Morocco. and finally, familiar rights relating to endangered and protected magical species and possible bans on dragon species in a school setting even if they are a familiar, with examples."
after an hour or so, Mardan, the 6th year slytherin gave Hermione a loaded glance.
"No wonder Weasley and potter keep you around, you are almost a research queen yourself." Hermione stiffened, not distracted by the complement.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Why else would they keep you around? I'm sure potter could do it himself if he wanted to he's obviously capable. But you make it so easy for them. It started with that troll in first year right you told them how to defeat it and they've gone to you for information ever since even made friends with you."
" it's not like that " Hermione protested , "really."
" I heard, you lead them down right after the announcement because they wanted a challenge . and the troll would still be wandering the castle today if you hadn't ". A third year hufflepuff came up excitedly.
" Huh, I thought the rumor mile was more accurate. You probably don't know what really happened on the third floor then either."
"The way I heard it the three little firsties, stuck their noses where they didn't belong and almost got killed for it." Jessica laughed a little.
"It didn't really happen like that."
" come on then, tell us the story." Mardan said. all the students leaned in. Hermione closed the book she was looking through and sighed.
" It was all my fault really, though Ron could also hold some fault for it." They waited.
"It was the day of the Halloween feast, when we had the levitation charm lesson. Ron threw a rather nasty comment about me after class and I was upset and hid in the girls bathroom. they told me after, when quirrell ran in about the troll he dropped in a faint right after and everyone screamed until Dumbledore sent them to the dorms. they started to go to griffendor but remembered about me and snuck off to warn me about it and get back to the tower. The troll came in just as I started to leave. Thirty feet of muscled irritated mountain troll blocking the only exit. Harry and Ron ran in yelling to distract it so I could get away. The boys were throwing things and insulting it, but it was so huge and angry I couldn't get past. I was trapped in the corner. It went after Ron so i screamed to get it's attention and Harry jumped on it's back." at this point little Harry fell out of his chair with a thud. He stared at me with round wide eyes. Questions swirled in his expression but he didn't voice them.
" Alright?" she asked him quietly. He hummed a bit in response and got back in his chair assuring those next to him he was perfectly fine. " Harry jumped on it's back just as it was about to hit me with its club. Harry lost his wand and mine was on the other side of the room with my bag. The troll grabbed Harry around the middle and held him upside down over the smashed sinks, which sprayed water everywhere. Ron and I tried distracting it, but all we did was make it more angry. It was swinging its club at Harry and he only just managed to dodge each time.
Ron remembered his wand and pointed it at the troll, but couldn't think of anything that would be useful. Harry couldn't keep up with the troll much longer and we were desperate. I remembered and helped Ron cast the spell from charms class that day and the spell hit the club. The troll didn't realize it wasn't in his hand anymore and swung at Harry with nothing a few times before it noticed. Ron got the club over the Troll just as the spell broke and it hit the Troll in the head knocking it out. It dropped Harry and we all scrambled away when it started to fall. the ground shook. I remember grabbing my wand and us frantically looking for Harry's. when we finally found it under some rubble from the cubicles we just kinda collapsed in exhaustion. Ron seamed to be in shock and I wasn't much better. Harry, who was still catching his breathe seamed like the only one who could do anything if it woke up.
The teachers found us like that. All sitting there with our wands pointed at the thing covered in sweat and dust, mine and Harry's robes were wet from the spraying pipes. They asked us what happened and I figured that the boys had Broken some rule to come out after me so I um... I lied."
" hahahaha miss goodie too- shoes lied to a teacher." laughed the slytherin.
" I told them I went after the troll and Harry and Ron saved me. which was close enough to the truth I don't think Professor Snape caught it. But Professor macgonagll looked suspicions. She was furious with the three of us for disobeying the Headmaster and grilled Harry and Ron about going to a prefect or teacher if one of their 'friends' was getting into trouble again. she took point from me and gave Ron and Harry 5 each for " dumb luck". She was right about that anyway, and sent us to bed. "
" She didn't send you to the hospital wing first? you just fought a troll?", Evan a Ravenclaw who had come in halfway through asked.
" To be fair, she did ask if we were alright. And Ron and I were mostly, only a bit shook up."
" And Potter?" Jessica frowned.
" Ron and I thought he might have gotten hurt when it grabbed him and when the troll dropped him, but Harry said he was fine. It may not seam so, but he's a rather private person. most of the time when we got into trouble it was because Harry tends to do things by himself. He's also a bit reckless sometimes, though that may be the griffendor chivalry. you can claim he's like a ravenclaw or Hufflepuff or Slytherin all you want, but I have no doubt he's mostly Griffendor." Everyone turned to the boy in question and he averted his gaze.
"Well, that was wicked." the 3rd year grinned. she frowned.
"It was more terrifying really, for all three of us. We were eleven. we spent the rest of the night curled up wrapped in blankets on the big armchair in the common room. Harry was tiny first year so we just fit. The next morning we were friends. I don't think we even said anything, it was recognized between us, something like surviving a troll made us friends. The only other people that would apply to is maybe professor Lupin. "
"What about the Tri-wizard champions?" asked Alex, a slytherin.
"Harry was really close to them, especially .. especially Cedric." She finished quietly, and everyone's face became guarded. Maybe they believed the lies of the papers and the ministry.
" Did I really jump on a er. troll?" blurted Harry. his face was red but he met Hermione's eyes.
"Yes, well, you did but not you." his face twisted in confusion and crossed his arms in a way that was so purely Harry, Hermione felt like Hugging him. she missed her friend. she retrieved a colored piece of paper from her bag, " see this?" she folded it into a paper frog. " Its still the same paper, just different." she handed it to him.
"I know you as 15 year old Harry, but something happened he is 5 year old harry, you. You are still you. It was you who did those things and a lot more but you're different from him. You don't have to be like him, he's ten years older than you and I certainly don't expect you to be the same after this either. Besides, i like the Harry you are right now." Harry held the frog with the reverence he gives to all presents he is given. He looked at her with tears in his eyes.
"Does this mean you want to be friends," he whispered, " with me?" he put his arm around his side and his wings and tail curled against him. Hermione almost melted right there.
" I would love to be your friend." He gave her a dazzling, hope-filled smile. And Hermione felt Harry's magic wrap around her like a hug, warmth spread through her and she could see the slight shimmer of a shield around her. they all gathered their things to leave the library.
Harry sorted his papers then dropped them wincing. Hermione rushed over a feeling of dread pooling in her stomach.
" Harry?" she asked softly. He pressed the heal of his hand into his forehead. He started breathing faster.
" ow, ow, ow, ow, hurts, hurts" Harry clutched his forehead with both hands, tears dripping down his face. " mine-ay!" The other watched them concerned.
" Harry, Harry let me see it." Hermione said trying to pry his hands from his head. "Please, Harry"
" Draco where's? ahhh!" Harry let out a continuous stream of whimpers trying to quiet his cries. Hermione finally got his hands away and pushed back his hair. the lightning scar was an angry bright red.
" Okay, Okay. Its okay Harry" she picked him up and cradled him in her arms rushing to the hospital wing. " will one of you find Draco Malfoy? shh shh shh, its okay Harry, it'll go away soon. everything's gonna be fine."
" No, no ,no,no th- Ahha bad m-m-ah-n i- is gonna hmmm take me a- waaaay. " Harry started crying in earnest now. " ah- ha-and He'll t a-a-ake m-e ba-ack a- and i'll wake up I-ha- ah don't w-w-w-w-want the d-dream to end. I-I like I-aahhhh he-ere" they were almost to the hospital wing but nothing Hermione said could console him. " don wan go back pleea-" his cries evolved into hysterics. Several of the group from the library had run ahead. " I- be good I-I be good I- be good please, don-on don- Le-ave. D-Draco, Draco! DRACO!" Madame Pomfrey came with a calming drought but he fought both of them when he say her. " No, no, no,no, Ple-eeeeaase! Draco! DRACO!"
Malfoy sprinted into the infirmary grabbed the calming drought, and rushed to Harry.
"I'm here, shhh. it's okay darling. Drink this, I'll be right here. It's okay, come on, sweetheart. " Harry peered up at him while still hyperventilating and crying he was no longer screaming. Harry, let Draco approach with the potion and drank a small portion. The potion slowly kicked in and Hermione brought him to a hospital bed. Draco gently carted his fingers through Harry's hair, mindful of the tangles, and he slowly relaxed into the bed, folding himself with his knees to his chest and closing his eyes as he leaned towards Draco's hand. Hermione fell into a chair next to him and put her head into her hands.
" Want to tell me what happened?" Draco asked quietly clearly controlling his emotions so he wouldn't startle Harry, and he wiped the tears from Harry's face, before He started grooming Harry's feathered wing and the exhausted boy fell a sleep.
" Its rather hard to explain" she sighed.
"Try me" he replied gently.