Chapter 6
Through their first day, none of the siblings missed the looks Harry got.
The boy kept his gaze on the floor and Blaise gave him a sad, knowing smile.
Chara had taken to glaring at everyone who gave the boy a look like he was an animal at a zoo.
Come time for Potions, Harry was already tired of everyone and wanted to sink into the floor for a while to hide.
Chara and Blaise kept him grounded, though, offering him something to talk about.
And so, when Professor Snape had started in on Harry as soon as roll call was over, Chara snapped back.
"Leave him alone, how about it? He didn't ask for any sort of fame, he's still a person that deserves a chance,"
Harry sunk in his seat, grabbing Chara's sleeve when they went to stand. "Stop, Chara." he said quietly when Chara went to pull their arm away.
Professor Snape was quiet, watching the scene with barely concealed curiosity. And so, he said nothing, just let the scene play out while Chara glared holes through him.
If looks could kill, I'd be dead where I stand, he thought when he saw the murderous look in red eyes.
Harry seemed to agree, because when he spoke next, his tone was much more firm. "Chara, stop it." he warned.
It seemed to have the affect he wanted it to, Professor Snape noticed, because the other suddenly stopped and looked at Harry to see emerald eyes focused on them.
"Mercy, alright?" Harry prompted with a knowing smile. "No harm done,"
Chara's eyes narrowed before they nodded in agreement.
Harry gave a smile to Professor Snape, who raised an eyebrow at the scene before continuing on with class.
"How was Potions?" Frisk asked come dinner that evening where they were turned towards the Slytherin table.
Blaise was the one who spoke up to answer. "It was quite interesting," he offered with a shake of the head, dark waves moving to fall across his forehead. "Professor Snape focused his attentions on Harry, and Chara snapped."
"You didn't attack him did you?!" Frisk said immediately, brown eyes wide and landing on the brunette.
Blaise spoke once again once Chara had shaken their head and was grumbling to themself. "Harry said something about Mercy?"
"Pacifist," Chara mumbled, glowering at Harry. "Would've been such a good fight..."
Frisk shared a look with Asriel before they spoke. "I'm glad that Harry intervened, it would've sucked to have informed Sans that you hadn't learned your lesson, Chara."
This got a flinch out of Chara.
"Okay, but...why Mercy?" Blaise prompted curiously.
Frisk grinned. "Because in the Underground, there were options. You could either fight, kill the Monsters you encountered, or you could talk with them, and show them Mercy." they offered. "When Harry and me where there when the Barrier broke, we were on a Pacifist route, which meant that we didn't fight or kill, even if self defense. Thought I struggled quite a bit with it sometimes,"
"When they focused on Harry?" Asriel questioned - this was the first time he'd heard anything about Harry's time in the Underground.
Frisk nodded in agreement, noting that there were others paying attention to this conversation now. "But despite it all, Harry had no problems not fighting. It was the first time someone had come to the Ruins, to the Underground, and had no problems showing Mercy."
Blaise seemed confused before his eyes lit up in understanding and he looked to Chara, who met his gaze with an emotionless face. "Then you...?"
Chara smiled faintly. "It's what that argument was about you saw in Diagon Alley," they offered with a shrug. "Sans, for being lazy as he is, is a hard fight,"
"He did try to save you from yourself," Frisk pointed out. "It's your own fault for not listening. Didn't Papyrus do the same?"
Chara gave Frisk a long look before a grin came across their face - one that sent shivers through a few of the nearby Slytherins. "He did." they remarked.
"It's no wonder Sans was so rough on you," Frisk grumbled, frowning.
Harry was ignoring this at this point, focusing on dinner.
He heard them continue to talk, but stayed out of it until he was addressed.
"What I don't understand is how you got involved in all this, Harry."
Harry glanced up at Blaise before shrugging. "I didn't know Chara or Asriel until after the Barrier was broken and we were all living together." he offered. "Chara's actually really nice,"
Blaise threw a look to Chara before nodding. "I'll believe you,"
The following morning at Breakfast, a letter came, dropping in Chara's lap.
Chara blinked before picking up and glancing at the writing on the envelope. "Frisk, Asriel!" they said excitedly, looking up to see the two turn around in surprise.
Chara held up the letter with a wide grin. "It's Sans's writing!"
Frisk smiled in response and Asriel shook his head affectionately as Chara opened the letter.
"What's it say?" Asriel prompted patiently.
Chara read it off without hesitation. "'as good as it is to hear you made it safe and are somewhat still together, try not to get into trouble like I know you will. your placements seem..accurate, it doesn't surprise me that Harry ended up with you in slytherin, Chara. pacifist or not, he's just as cunning as you are. your mom sends her best and a promise to send pie soon. there. i wrote you back. hope you're happy, i'm off to nap.' At least there's no puns," they offered, glancing up.
Harry pouted. "I like his puns," he pointed out, looking up at Chara. "They're funny."
Chara gave him a strange look before shaking their head. "Of course you do," they said with a smile.
"There's more for you, Frisk," Chara said after examining the letter to see more of Sans's writing. They passed it over and continued about their breakfast.
Frisk read it quietly before they spoke. "Seems like everyone's finally settled. He says if we come home for Christmas that we have damage control to do with you, Chara. He wants Harry and me to go with you since a lot of the Monsters are scared of you still. His words, not mine, say 'while I may have forgiven them, I haven't forgotten. even though they might not remember why they're scared of them, it needs to be laid to rest for bygones to stay bygones like I want them to.'"
"Why should I apologize to them?" Chara countered with a frown. "It isn't like they actually remember! It was all Reset!"
Harry leveled a look at Chara. "Reset or not, you should apologize." he pointed out. "Sans does remember, or he wouldn't bring it up. He wants things to stay in the past, but that can't happen if a memory pops up unexpectedly in someone else."
It took a minute for that to sink in, then Chara's eyes widened. "Oh. You think...?"
"That they'd attack you and whoever is with you should it happen?" Asriel finished before nodding. "They probably would out of fear."
Chara was quiet for a moment before they nodded. "I'll do it, then."
Frisk smiled faintly and went back to reading. "Harry, you need to write Sans. I don't know why, he just said to have you write him."
Harry nodded in understanding.
After things calmed down, Harry smiled to himself. For all the expectations he had on himself in this world, things were nice at that point.