Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Harry opened his eyes as he hears thumping. “Wha-“ groaning he sits up. “Up! Get up! Now!” A shrilling voice rings from the other side of the door, “Up!” Before the sound of foot steps echoed. “What the… a cupboard..?” Harry looked around the tiny, familiar, space trying to remember what happened. ‘I was at the ministry of magic, I was having a conversation when.. what happened exactly?’ He thinks.

The thumping come’s back. “Are you up yet?” Demanded someone.

“..Aunt Petunia?” He ask’s unbelieving.

“Of course boy.” petunia grouches in annoyance, “now get a move on, I want you to look after the bacon. And don’t let it burn, I want everything perfect on Duddy’s birthday.”

“What?” Harry stares at his much too small hands.

“I said watch the bacon. Now hurry up!” Hearing her footsteps leave. Harry climbs out the cupboard, gaping at his tiny form. “What the hell happened..”

Dudley then runs down the stairs, shoving Him out the way as he runs to the dining table. Harry follows behind him slowly, looking around. ‘This is insane’

“Comb your hair!” Vernon barks from the table.

“Thirty six” Dudley speak’s up, “that’s two less than last year.”

Harry stopped listening to what they were saying, ‘How am I here, in this body. With these people.. what did I get into now.’ Groaning, he walks over to the stove, watching the bacon burn as he thinks, ‘I was in a hall talking to Jerry, and some guys were walking by with a cart, I opened a door for them…OH!! they dropped something and I picked it up before feeling dizzy, that has to be it!’ Harry smiled has he came to his conclusion, ‘Ok so I was sent back in time over nine hundred years by a mysterious object also putting me back in my younger body… that’s not so bad, it could be worse.’

“What did I say!!” Harry’s snapped from his thoughts by Petunia’s screech, looking down he sees what was starting to look like charcoal on the stove.

“Oh, my bad..” Harry says not really caring.

“Boy, stop trying to ruin Dudley’s day, before I make you regret it.” Vernon yells from the table, “Now go get the mail!”

Rolling his eyes, Harry walks to the door grabbing the mail, his eyes catch sight of a familiar parchment. He freezes shoving said letter down his pants before walking the rest to Vernon.

he excuses himself to his cupboard. Once inside he quickly opens the letter, giggling as he reads, ‘I was sent back to the day I got my letter, so I’m eleven right now, weird..’

Looking at the name signed on the page, Harry comes to a realization, ‘I’m back in time with memories of the future, I can see everyone alive and well,’ he smirks. “I’m gonna fuck with them all so hard.”

He gets pulled from his cupboard a little later, Petunia saying they were forced to bring him to the zoo, and don’t mess anything up for Dudley, something, something.

Harry didn’t care, he was too busy trying to remember what all happened in his first year. ‘The philosophers stone and a troll… it’s slowly coming back.’ He grins as the Dursley’s drag him around the zoo, Petunia giving him scared glances every once a while.

He still let the snake out, on purpose this time. What? Dudley deserved it then and he deserves it now.

Once back at the house, Harry had formed a sort of plan. Grabbing some paper and a pen he writes a response letter to Hogwarts confirming his attendance.

Realizing he doesn’t have an owl he takes a chance, going outside he raises his arm, shouting, “TO HOGWARTS PLEASE.”

Standing like an idiot with his arm raised, he starts losing hope before an owl swoops from the tree line taking the letter and disappearing into the skyline. “Huh, nice” Harry goes back inside, deciding to rest. He has a big day tomorrow after all.

Chapter Text

Harry got up early the next morning, sneaking out without the Dursley’s notice. He walks down the street, flexing his fingers he feels his magic. Letting it flux and shift.

‘My magic feels off… like I can’t fully grab it.’ Looking around, he casts a wand-less lumos being flash banged by a summoned sun. ‘Overpowered.. My body must not be compatible with my magic anymore. guess that’s what happens when you’re thrown back in a younger body, I’ll have to be careful when I cast spells from now on.’ Stopping at a bench he sits to think,

‘I have eleven days before I head to Hogwarts. I should get to diagon alley, access my bank account and buy my school supplies plus anything else that may seem useful in the future, but how do I get to London? Maybe I can ask for a ride…’

Just as he’s thinking it, someone apparate’s in the middle of the street. Ducking behind a bush, Harry watches the person look around before heading to the bench he was just at, sitting down to pull out a bottle of most likely beer, taking a swig they grunt to themselves.

He was just gonna sneak away, leave the man to his public drinking, but then he saw the coin pouch on his belt, dangling temptingly at his side, just in Harry’s reach.

Thinking through the pros and cons, Harry deems it worth it he can always pay him back later when they cross paths again. Reaching for the bag as the man takes another drink, Harry stealthily grabs it, sneaking away. He walks utill he can’t see the bench anymore, raising a hand with his thumb pointed up. ‘ hope this works. ’

Releasing some magic he waits.

A screech fills the air as the blue double decker bus pulls in front of him, the door opens and the man at the wheel looks him up and down, “bit young to be riding on your own, don’t ya think?”

Harry doesn’t answer tossing him a galleon before sitting down, “diagon alley, London, no questions please.”

“Well alrighty then.” The man shrugs, closing the door.

The bus flies through the streets Harry laughs as he’s thrown about, spinning on a handle bar.

Grinning still as they reach his destination he stumbles off the bus, bidding goodbye to the driver before making his way to the leaky cauldron. Freezing just outside the door, he backs up to look at himself in a window.

‘Can’t go through looking like this just yet, I need a disguise.’ He looks around not being able to find anything, trying to cover his scar with his bangs, he gets it as best he could before walking into the building.

It was reasonably empty for this time of morning, it being six am only the bartender was there, walking up Harry asks for him to open the wall, following as the man leads him out and thanking him when he lets him through.

‘Alright first stop gringotts, ’ Harry walks through empty streets, taking in the old architecture he hasn’t seen in decades,

‘It feels strange being here, like I’m looking through a pensive.’ Shaking the thoughts from his head he notices a few early risers walking the street, deciding to pick up his speed.

Arriving at gringotts, Harry walks up to the first goblin. “I’d like to access my vault.”

The goblin looks up holding out its hand, “vault key.” 

“I dont have it, I need a new one.” Harry hums, ‘doesn’t dumbledore have it right now?’

“Hmph, name?”

“Harry potter.”

The goblin stares at him for a second, “prick your finger and bleed here.” Taking out a piece of paper and pin he hands it over.

Pricking his finger and letting it drip on the page, Harry sucks his thumb as he watches his name appear.

“Hm, follow me.” The goblin grunts jumping from his desk and walking farther in the bank.

Harry follows them down multiple hallways and into an office where he was told to wait.

He kicks his feet sitting at the desk. he smirks as he remembers riding a dragon through the place, boy were the goblins mad then.

The door opens and a different goblin enters, sitting at the desk they look at Harry seriously. 

“Mr potter how nice to meet you, I’m your vault manager, Griphook. I hear you need a new key?” The goblin says as they shuffle some papers.

“Yes, mine seems to have been lost when my parents died.” Harry smiles at the goblins glance.

“That tends to happen, do you have any idea where your key could be now?”

“Someone else has it probably, I don’t know who for sure.” Griphook grunts at that.

“We’ll see that it’s destroyed, now to make you a new key I need you to bleed on these two papers here, then the new key will be made.” Sliding two papers in front of Harry, Griphook hands him another needle.

Pricking his finger he lets a drop fall on each, watching the words appear.

“Very good your key will be here shortly.” Griphook takes the pages back, putting them in a drawer, “is there anything else you need?”

“I’m actually in need of a coin purse that allows me to access my vault through it, you wouldn’t be able to sell me one would you?” He wasn’t sure if they were made yet, but he wanted to make sure.

“I’m sorry Mr potter that’s not possible to get you.” Griphook states, emphasizing the you.

“Oh? And what would I need to do to be able to get it?”

“Only are high standing customers have access to them.”

“What the potters not high enough class for you?” Harry leans forward.

“Your investments were nice when your parents were alive but since then, it’s just money sitting in a room.” Griphook sneers.

“Well then, why don’t we fix that.” Harry cracked his neck as he glars at the goblin.

It took two hours for Harry to leave the bank. Equipped with a new coin pouch and heir rings he’s never worn himself, ‘heir to potter and black, of course.’

Smiling as he admired his new accessories. Harry quickly does his shopping, buying his school supplies first it feels good to have a wand again, even if it isn’t the elder wand. His original wand broke over two hundred years ago, it felt right to just use the elder wand instead of getting a new one. He even still carried the shards of his first one in his pouch not wanting to leave it behind.

being master of death means he has a pretty good memory. things are fuzzy from before he picked up the hollows but that didn’t really matter, until now, and it still didn’t really in his book. He can recite most rituals while brain dead and can do wandless magic without breaking a sweat, or he could before he was eleven again. He still needs to practice with his magic more.

He bought other things not on the school list, including a new outfit, already tired of Dudley’s hand me downs he changes into some cheap robes. He planned to buy a new wardrobe in the muggle shops, there clothes being more comfortable and his style.

Walking into a store that sold trunks, Harry buys a weightless red and silver trunk with an expansion charm. He puts his school supplies in the new trunk before heading towards his last destination, nocturn alley.

Putting on a hood to hide his face properly he searches for the right place. Walking in a store called fangs and claws, Harry looks around at the animals. They had mostly dangerous creatures, Harry himself planned on getting something very dangerous.

Walking to the desk Harry looks at the worker, an old man leaning half asleep on the counter, “Excuse me, I’d like a snake. can I see what you have?”

The man jumps looking around before spotting him, holding back a yawn the guy snorts, “you sure kid? Not exactly the cuddly pet you wanna have.”

At Harry’s nod the man leads him to the back pulling a sheet to the side to show a row of tanks, snakes in every one. “This all we got, take your pick.”

Harry carefully looks over the snakes, nothing really catching his interest till the last, a dark blue snake in the corner stared at him from its rock.

“What’s that one’s story?” He asks crouching by it.

“That’s a rare mamba. can’t tell you the specifics but that ain’t no normal snake there, she’s highly venomous, crazy smart too.”

“She’s gorgeous..” Harry whispers as he admires the color her scales.

“Yeah, well she’s sixteen galleons.”

“I’ll take her.”

Harry walks out the store a friend richer, carefully raising the glass cage she’s temporarily in.

“Hello pretty one.” Harry coo’s in parseltongue as he walks down the street enjoying the strange looks he got.

“You speak our tongue, who are you young human.” The snake raises its head to meet Harry’s eyes.

“My name is Harry, and I’m not young just look it, what is your name?” Harry opens the cage letting the snake climb around his shoulders

“I have none, you shall give me one.” She curls around Harry’s neck, sitting like a collar on his throat.

Harry tilts his head thinking, “ok, your name is lilac now.”

“Lilac. is that not a flower.”

“Yes and now it’s your name, no take backs.”

If a snake could sigh lilac probably would have, instead she just shook her head, “lilac shall suffice.”

“Good, now let’s head home i’m starving,” Harry’s smiles as he leaves nocturn alley, stopping when a familiar shine in the crowd catches his eyes. He recognizes that hair. “is that..”

Draco Malfoy in all his eleven year old glory, aka none, was walking down the street, an annoyed Lucius next to him.

Harry smirks to himself as he watches them walk into flourish and blotts, is it too early to introduce himself?

Following behind, he watches Draco say something to his father before walking farther into the shop, Lucius staying by the front. Harry makes his way inside avoiding the man he makes his way to the back looking for the young Malfoy.

“Bugger.” Harry hears a quiet huff, turning a corner he sees Draco trying to get a book from a high shelf, reaching just short of grabbing it.

“I can get it for you.” Harry grins walking up he casts wingardium leviosa on the book, with his wand of course, lowering it to Draco’s hands.

“Oh… thanks.” Draco looked nervous, Harry didn’t remember Draco being the nervous type, strange. 

“No problem.” Looking at the book Draco had, Harry grinned, “that’s a good one you’ll really enjoy it.”

“You’ve read it?” The blond looked excited for a second, then like he remembered something he tries to look stand offish, failing as he just looks adorable, “My name is Draco, Malfoy, what’s your name?” He holds out his hand.

“Nice to meet you Draco, I’m Harry, Potter. I’ve read that book once before, it was very fascinating.” Harry smiles as he shakes his hand, watching Draco’s eyes widen.

“What? Are you joking right now?” Draco eyes stayed on his forehead trying to see it under the hood.

Pushing the hood down a bit Harry sighs, “I wouldn’t if I could.” He tilts his head. “What you wanna ask for my autograph or something?”

“Wha- No, No. I just-“ Draco stutter’s turning red.

Harry was unable to hold in his laughter, leaning against a shelf as he giggled, watching Draco turn redder.

“That’s mean!” Draco huffed turning away, face still slightly pink.

“Hah ha, I’m sorry it’s just so easy,” Composing himself Harry stands straight again, still shaking a little, “Being famous gets annoying if you don’t find ways to entertain yourself, you know?”

Harry still hated his fame yes, but decades of being known as an immortal legend, and a cryptic in some parts, makes you think of ways to use it for your own amusement.

“Heh, yeah I’m sure,” Draco fidgets for a second before snapping straight again, “So… Hogwarts?”

Harry lets out another giggle, “yep, same for you?”

“Yeah, do you know what house you want?” Draco asks, trying to hide his interest and failing miserably, “I’m going to be in Slytherin myself.”

“Oh yeah? I don’t care what house I get really.” Harry tilts his head, thinking on the subject more. “Though I’d prefer not to be in ravenclaw.” At Draco’s confused look he shrugged, “I don’t really think blues my color.” 

Draco laughs, “Right, I completely agree. What about quidditch, do you play?”

“Not really.” Not with a broom anyway.

“That’s too bad. I’m pretty good myself, I’ll be going for seeker at Hogwarts.” He looked proud, completely confident he’ll get it.

“Well I’ll wish you luck to that, it was nice meeting you Draco but I need to get going.” Harry walks past him looking over his shoulder as he goes, “See you at school.”

“Oh- Yeah, see you at Hogwarts Harry.” Draco waves as Harry walks out the shop and back to the street.

Making his way home Harry hums as he walks, thinking about the year to come, he could barely hold in his excitement to go back to Hogwarts and see his old friends again! Eating in the great hall, relaxing in the common rooms, chatting in class….

Oh right he was gonna have to sit through lessons he already knew, on subjects he’s taught himself. He was the dark arts teacher for a few years after he got tired of being a auroror.

Groaning he resigns himself to boredom, before remembering a certain teacher with a growth on his head.

“I FORGOT ABOUT VOLDEMORT!” Harry shouts, clapping a hand over his mouth he looks around, sighing in relief that he’s in the muggle world before continuing home.

‘What am I gonna do about the dark lord, I could get rid of him early. But what’s the fun in that.’ He smirks thinking of all the ways he could mess with Voldemort, this day was just getting better and better.

Chapter Text

Harry was trying not to show his excitement as he rode with his uncle to the station. Vernon was currently grumbling face pale and eyes looking everywhere as he drove.

It’s finally time, he’s going to Hogwarts.

Harry spent the past few days since he got his letter preparing for the year.

first thing he did was convince his relatives this was a good idea. With some grade A charisma, and some not so subtle threats, his uncle gladly agreed to let Harry go, even offering to drive him to the station.

Once he got back from his school trip to Diagon alley Harry had went out shopping in some muggle stores, buying a new wardrobe, some new glasses, more sqaure ones this time, and a back pack to carry his books around during class. He can’t remember much from his past school life but his arms are already aching in memory from buying school books, ‘I should really exercise more.’

Speaking of exercise, Harry has been messing with his magic trying to make it work correctly again. He cast the spell for Draco with his wand easily but when he tries wandless magic the spell takes too much, making it twitchy and dangerous, as the burnt hole in his new bedroom wall confirms.

‘It’s a good thing they still gave me Dudley’s second room, I could have collapsed the stairs. ’ Harry chuckles, gaining a sharp look from Vernon.

He hasn’t done much training, he doesn’t want to test his magic with a wand more until he gets to Hogwarts, didn’t want a charge for underage magic after all.

Pulling up to the station Vernon jumps out the car, grabbing Harry’s trunk he puts it on the curb before getting back in the car, not saying anything as Harry climbs out he drives off with a screech.

Waving to the cloud of smoke in the distance, Harry smils grabbing his trunk he makes his way to the platform. Lilac was nestled against his collar, wrapped lazily around his neck, she had insisted on not being in her cage, saying she was well enough behaved to have her freedom, Harry agreed.

Making sure Lilac was nice and cozy under his robes, and the beanie on his head covered his scar. Harry sprints through the brick wall, coming out on the other side he makes his way to the train finding an empty compartment and putting his trunk on the rack he relaxes in the seat, staring out the window.

Catching sight of some familiar faces Harry’s smile softens, he sees a group of red heads bumble through the crowd. He wondered if Ron would find him again, he missed his old friend.

A knock on the door makes him turn, a hunched form walking in, “Can -can I sit here?” The boy mumbles.

“Sure!” Harry grins bright as he sits across from him, fidgeting he looked everywhere but Harry. “I’m Harry what’s your name?”

“N-Neville, longbottom.” Neville quickly shoots out a hand, “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too, Neville.” Harry leans forward to shake his hand, disrupting lilac.

Sticking her head up she tastes the air, “Speaker please, stay still.”

“Oh sorry lilac.” Harry apologizes, leaning back he scratches the snakes head as she lays back down.

“Is- is that a snake?” Neville asks, sinking into his seat further.

“Yep her names lilac, shes my familiar.” Harry grins at him, “you wanna hold her? She’s peaceful.”

“No- no thanks. Are snakes allowed at Hogwarts?”

“Nope.” Harry says moving to sit criss cross on the seat, “you gonna tell?” 

“No.” Neville glances at the snake hidden in Harry’s collar once more, “I have a pet toad his names Trevor, do- would you want to see him?”

“Absolutely.” Harry watches Neville take the toad out of his pocket. holding it out for him to see. “Aren’t you scared he’s just gonna jump out your coat at some point?”

“He has, but I feel bad when I keep him locked up all the time.” Neville stroked Trevor’s back, “I- I don’t want him to feel trapped.”

“I feel the same with lilac, I don’t even own a cage for her, hopefully we don’t share are dorms with others,” Harry tilts his head as he thinks of the schools sleeping arrangements, “I wonder if all first years have to share the same dorm in every house.”

“I don’t know-” Neville is interrupted by the train whistle signaling it’s time to go.

As the whistle ends a knock sounds on the door again, this time opening to reveal four boys, a head of silver blond hair at the front. glaring as he looks around the compartment Draco stops on Harry, a smile appearing on his face.

“Potter good to see you again.” Glancing to Neville he raises an eyebrow, “Can we sit here? Everywhere else is full.”

“Hey Draco!” Harry waves them in, “Come on in, this is Neville Longbottom, Neville this is Draco Malloy and co.”

Draco gives Neville another once over before walking in, waving two of the other boys away as he sits next to Harry,

“Thanks, nice to meet you Longbottom.”

“You- you too Malfoy.” Neville scoots to the window as the other boy sits next to him.

“My name is Blaise, Zabini.” Blaise leans back in his seat, pulling out a book to set on his lap.

“Nice to meet you Blaise.” Harry fights a giggle as Blaise looks at him funny, “Me and Neville were just talking about the dorm situation, do you know if every house has a multi person per room rule or what?”

“Every house has a Dormitory system with at least 3 boys in each room,” Draco says like he’s reading a book, at everyone’s questioning look he shrugs, “My godfathers the potions professor.”

“That’s so not an excuse nerd.” Harry giggles at Draco’s offended look.

“Take that back!” He growls, going red. 

“What? The truth, you’re a nerd Draco just face it.” Harry continues to giggle, leaning back against the window.

“I said take it back!” Draco turns redder as he glares at Harry.

Harry continues to laugh his body starting to tremble.

“ Speaker, what’s wrong? ” Lilac starts to uncurl from Harry’s neck tasting the air again. “Danger? ” Harry gently strokes her head to calm her down.

“IS THAT A SNAKE?!” Draco jumps back going pale, Blaise looks up from his book. 

“Cool, where’d you get it?” He leans forward trying to get a good look.

“This is lilac, she’s a mamba. I got her in nocturn alley,” Harry grins proudly untangling lilac from his neck, “You wanna hold her? She’s peaceful.”

“That’s a horrible name, yes I want to hold her.” Taking the snake Blaise carefully held lilac admiring her scales, “She’s so pretty, a mamba you said?”

“Yep.” Harry giggles again as Draco scoots closer to him to get away from the snake.

“Why would you choose a snake! Are snakes even allowed at Hogwarts?” Draco was curled on the seat not taking his eyes off lilac. “It will be taken away as soon as it’s seen.”

“They’ll have to plie her from my cold dead hands.” Harry states seriously, staring at nothing in general as he glares.

“Okay….” Draco mutters, scooting back to the other side of the bench.

“If you wear a scarf all the time, you- you can hide her in it.” Neville says as he slowly reaches to scratch lilacs head.

“ Yesss, good. ” Lilac was really enjoying her scratches. 

“That’s a good idea!” Harry says happily. 

“Until a teacher looks down at you and sees scales on your neck.” Blaise says as he gently pets the now sleeping snake lying on his shoulders.

“Well maybe the teachers shouldn’t look down my shirt then.” Harry huffs as he watches his snake cuddle Blaise, “What a traitor..”

“Heated jacket.” Blaise smirks.

The trolley lady knocked then, opening the door, “Any sweets off the trolley for you dears?”

Harry quickly took out his pouch, “8 of everything please.”

“do you need that much?” Blaise judges from his corner.

“do you need to be that judgy?” Harry throws a coin at him, hitting him on the temple, Neville lets out a shocked gasp quickly covering his mouth.

“HARRY!” Draco screeches as his eyes widen, “why are you such a prat!!” 

“Life,” Harry sighs, dodging the coin being thrown back before taking out more coins handing them to the lady, “You twats want some?”

“Yes please.”

“I feel it’s deserved after you assaulted me like that.”

“I’m good, mother gave me some money.”

“All right then,” passing everyone there shares, Harry sits back to enjoy his sweets, “What’s everyone’s favorite candy?”

“Acid pops.” Blaise says taking one out.

“Chocolate fogs.” Neville hums as he opens a Bertie botts every flavor beans.

“Sugar quills,” Draco says, looking like he wants to say something else but he keeps his mouth shut, eating some licorice.

“I prefer Bertie botts myself.” Harry says opening said candy and grabbing a handful, shoving it in his mouth, everyone looks on in horror.

“Why are you like this?” Neville whispers.

“I already answered that.”

The rest of the train ride was full of similar talks, Harry quite liked this group. He can’t seem to remember what the original Blaise, Neville and Draco were like but he clearly missed out if they were always this fun to mess with.

When the train finally stopped, all of them were napping, except Harry who didn’t really need to sleep anymore. Waking up the others Harry herds them off the train and toward the half giant shouting in the distance.

“FIRST YEARS, FIRST YEARS OVER HERE.”

Draco leaned sleepily against Harry, rubbing his eyes, “It’s so cold..”

Harry takes off his over coat draping it over Draco’s shoulder. “There you go!” 

“Aren’t you cold?” Draco grumbles, cuddling into the warmth.

“Nope!” Harry didn’t feel cold normally anymore. he didn’t feel any temperature normally really. The cold wasn’t a problem when your colder then the dead- wait. 

Harry stops walking, Draco continues on not noticing.

Why was he not cold? When he accepted being master of death, Harry’s body temperature considerably dropped to the point of a corpse. So much so that people jumped when they touched him stating it felt like a burn, so Harry tried not to touch people. At first he kept to the side and out of crowds only going out at night or early morning. ‘That’s probably why I was considered a cryptic in Aberfeldy for a while. ’

‘If I’m back in my younger body I should be back to my normal body temp shouldn’t I?’ Harry jogs to catch up with Draco, reaching out a hand he brushes the blonds forehead.

“Wha- Merlin Harry you’re freezing, Take back your coat!” Draco quickly throws the jacket back at him.

Putting on the jacket Harry realizes he hasn’t really paid attention to what’s different of him now then when he was actually younger, he knows his mannerisms are different, he’s fine with that but what of his magical appearance?

Becoming the Master of Death made him powerful and his magic shows it, taking its own personality almost, it works different. Not really needing to say spells the magic just does it, his intention enough. He’s been told when it really comes out, his eyes glow killing curse green. Would that still happen now when he gets control back on his magic? He doesn’t know. 

Stopping at the boats Harry realized all the spots with his new friends were taken, he was the last one to get there. The other kids looking at him in annoyance, he sticks out his tongue, climbing in the last spot.

“What took you so long?” A familiar bushy girl says, “It took you a minute longer than everyone else.”

“I saw a bird. Hi, I’m Harry, what about you?”  He sticks out his hand to shake. 

“Hermione, are you a muggle born as well?”She shakes his hand with a strange look.

“No I’m a half blood.” He turns to the boy next to him, smirking, “Hello, what’s your name.”

“Ron, Weasley.” Ron looks at Harry weird, “What’s your last name?”

“Potter, my full name is Harry Potter.” As if he needed to say the last part, Ron was already leaning to get a look at his covered scar.

“Wow really, can I..” Ron waves at his forehead.

“No I’d prefer to keep my hat on actually.”

Harry leans over to look into the lake, dropping his arm in the water. 

“What are you doing, are you trying to get hyperthermia?” Hermione quips as she watches him.

“Nope, just seeing if the squids around.” Harry waves his arm in the water, “Here squidy, squidy.”

Hermione and Ron share a look. All the students gasp in awe as the castle comes into view, then they gasp in horror as Harry falls overboard.

“WOW, the squids feisty today.” Harry says clinging to the side of the boat.

“Are you okay!?” Hermione gasps as her and Ron try to help him get back in the boat.

“Wait don’t do that your gonna-” Harry’s warning comes to late as the boat tips, dumping the pair in the water beside him. “Capsize. Well, hope you all can swim.”

“POTTER YOU IDIOT!!” Hermione shouts.

“HELP IM NOT-“ Ron’s splashing is interrupted as a tentacle grabs his leg raising him in the air and dumping him back on the boat, the same being done to Harry and Hermione.

“THANK YOU SQUID!!” Harry screams as the arms submerged themselves once more.

Looking back at the glaring and shivering pair in the boat with him, Harry sighs. 

“You’re blaming me for this aren’t you?”

“OF COURSE WE ARE.”

Chapter Text

Professor Mcgonagall was scarier then Harry remembered. After the boat incident everyone was ushered inside immediately upon hitting land, Ron and Hermione who’s teeth were clattering by the time they got off the boat have been sending Harry glares from the opposite side of the first year group, guess they weren’t gonna be immediately friends this time around. ‘That’s… actually kinda disappointing.’

After a good scolding, Ron and Hermione were given blankets, Harry refusing one cause he wasn’t cold, before rejoining the others, they were about to enter the great hall. Blaise walks over to Harry, discreetly showing him lilac who was still sleeping under his robes.

“I’m freezing wet, keep her for now. I’ll get her back after the sorting ceremony.” Harry whispers, leaning to scratch lilacs head.

Blaise nods, staying by Harry as they’re  finally allowed to enter the great hall, a sense of nostalgia passes over him for a second as he steps inside once more, before vanishing as the first name is called.

“Hannah, Abbot.”

Harry doesn’t listen to the sorting, instead choosing to have a staring contest with Quirell. His scar was burning so the horocrux must be back, interesting.

Blaise nudges his shoulder to get him to pay attention.

“Harry, Potter.”

A hush falls over the room, Harry strolls up to the hat, murmurs break out in the crowd, He grins sitting to face the student body before his visions obscured.

“Well well well, quite the mind old man.”

“Who you calling old, rag?!

“The non-human under me, now how about you lower your shields?“

“No can do, just pick a house, no need for me to open my shields I’ve been here before.” Harry rolls his eyes, “Anything but ravenclaw will do.”

“Oh why not?” The hat sighs annoyed, “I like to do my job correctly so please open your mind for me to search.”

“You don’t need to, it doesn’t matter where I go, as long as it’s not ravenclaw, just choose something please.”

“…..Fine.” The hat shifts raising its voice to booming, “LET IT BE RAVENCLAW!”

“What did I just say!!”

“You snooze you lose kid, now get off my stool.” And just like that the hat was lifted from his head.

Harry takes in the stunned faces, and light applause as he pouts, walking to the Ravenclaw table he sits with a groan, watching the teachers table he looks at everyone’s shocked expression. ‘Yeah how do you think I feel.’

Harry waits patiently at the Ravenclaw table, then as soon as everyone’s eyes were off him, he army crawls over to the Slytherin table, getting under the table and to his friend with only a few people noticing.

Draco jumps as Harry hits his head on the tables underside, groaning he climbs on the bench.

“They put me in Ravenclaw Draco, I’m done for, I don’t know anyone in Ravenclaw.”

“That’s why you sit and talk to them Harry! Go back to your own table!” Draco whisper shouts. looking around to see if anyone noticed, Only a few Slytherins looked at them in confusion.

“Nah, I’d rather hang with you, and Blaise once he gets sorted.” Harry throws an arm over Draco’s shoulder as he sputters, careful of his skin.

“I- fine,” Draco groans, leaning into Harry’s side, making him giggle, Draco was like an attention obsessed cat.

“Blaise, Zabini.”

“SLYTHERIN!”

Harry wavs excitedly from his seat as Blaise walks over, rolling his eyes at Harry’s antics.

“Save me.” Draco groans, Harry’s arm still around his shoulders.

“Stop acting like you’re not enjoying this.” Harry says patting his arm.

“Get off!!” Growling he shoves Harry away, Draco scoots over so Blaise could sit between them.

“Stop it you two your drawing a scene,” Blaise sits on the bench with as much grace as an eleven year old can muster, “Harry, do you want lilac back now?”

“Yea I need to feed her.” Pulling a mouse from his pocket, Harry cast finite incantem with his wand. Holding the now struggling mouse in front of Blaise. “Do you want to do the honors?”

“Why would you just have a mouse on you?!” Draco puts his hand over his mouth as Blaise takes the rodent, gently poking lilac to show it to her.

“Because I need to feed lilac? What do you think.” Harry smiles as she launches from Blaise’s robes, swallowing the mouse before going back to lay down, “No lilac, you’re coming back with me.”

“But the boy iss ssoft and warm your alwayss cold sspeaker .” Lilac whines, uncurling from Blaise anyway.

 Gently scooping up the whining snake, Harry puts her around his neck wrapping his coat around her to the best of his abilities, he really should get something to warmer, “Poor baby.”

Food appears on the table as Dumbledore finishes his speech, Harry catching his eyes, Dumbledore makes an amused face before sitting down telling everyone to eat, Harry’s eye twitches.

“Seems there’s a Raven in the Snake den, Potter, why are you over here?” A girl glares from across the table.

“None of your business Parkinson.” Draco glares back.

“Yeah get lost Parkinson,” Harry smirks as he leans against Blaise, “I’m just sitting with my mates.”

“Harry.” Blaise glares, making Harry scoot back.

“Shut up Potter.” Parkinson points her nose up. “You can’t be over here, go back to your own table!”

“I go where I want bitch.”

“POTTER!!” Pansy gasps loudly, catching the attention of half the hall.

“Pansy be quiet! ” Draco’s whispered shout echoes in the silence.

“Potter.” Snape appears behind them, confusion in his eyes.

“AHH,” Harry jumps turning to face him, “Oh Professor. Thought you were Dumbledore for a second.” 

He hears Draco choke, Snape raising an eyebrow. “Why pray tell, are you not with the other Ravenclaw’s?”

“Well, you see Professor,” Harry smirks as he stares into the table, trying to make his voice weak, “I was going to my table.. but then I thought of Draco and Blaise sitting over here,” he sees Blaise roll his eyes as Draco hides a grin, “And all the other Ravenclaws who were gawking at me from my own table, I just wanted to sit by people I already know.” Raising his head Harry puts on the most pathetic look he can make, “People who won’t just talk to me for fame, my friends.” Wrapping an arm around Blaise’s shoulder, Harry stares at Snape tears threatening to spill.

“No excuses Potter, back to your table, now.” Harry deflated as Snape glares, unaffected. 

Draco laughs in the background as Harry sulks back to his table. ‘Ugh, what a prick.’

Sitting at the Ravenclaw table, Harry turns to the person next to him. “Hey, what’s your name.”

“Michael, corner. nice to meet you Harry.” The boy nods, reaching out.

Harry nods his head in greeting, ignoring Michael’s outstretched hand. Turning to the person on his other side.

“What about you?”

“Lisa, Turpin.” The girl stares at Harry with a questioning look, “Why did you go to the Slytherin table?”

“Just chatting with some friends,” Harry answers turning back to stare at the head table, watching Snape talk with Quirell.

‘Can Voldemort even breath under all that cloth,’ He tilts his head, ‘Wait does he even need to breath, he’s like a parasite right now so he should be using Quirells lungs.’ Shifting to get a better look at the turban, he bumps into Lisa.

“Watch it Potter.” Lisa turns to look at the head table. “What? Is there something happening?”

“Huh, oh, no nothings happening, I was just wondering something.” Sitting back and  eating a roll as he keeps thinking.

“Wondering what?” Michael buts in, leaning over.

“If two faces shared the same lungs would both of them need to breathe?” Harry questions.

“What? Why would you be thinking of that?” Lisa looks at him in interest.

“Dude I’m trying to eat,” Michael groans leaning away from Harry, “I don’t want to think about that.”

“I don’t know it just crossed my mind,” Harry sighs laying his head on the table. “Wake me when we go to our dorms.”

“You haven’t eaten anything yet?”

Harry just grumbled as he falls asleep.

Lisa was the one that woke him up.

Harry rubs his face thanking her as he looks around. Everyone was standing and lining up with their prefects, he goes to find his, following them out the doors and to the Ravenclaw tower.

Chapter Text

Harry walked sadly behind the other ravens as they made their way to the dorms, the prefect hasn’t stopped talking since they left the great hall. Harry couldn’t care less of what they were saying.

‘Ravenclaw, damn Hat just had to put me in Ravenclaw.’ He pouts making it to the staircase leading to the common rooms, Harry stops short of the steps, watching the others continue on, not noticing him. ‘The prefect already counted us didn’t they? So they shouldn’t notice if I say…. Disappeared. ’

With one last check up the steps, Harry smirked as he walked the opposite way.

Heading towards a different tower Harry took some secret passages less known by the Hogwarts population, even the marauders can’t find all the secrets here, especially when some require parseltongue to unlock.

It was in one of those secret passages that allowed him access into the Gryffindor common rooms.

Sneaking out from behind a lion painting, only a few older kids were up, not paying attention. Harry snickers sneaking towards the first year dormitories, making his way to see Neville.

Or he was, until he was interrupted.

“Well well, look what we have here.” Fred Weasley croons, popping up from behind a plant.

“Seems a little ravens flown into the lions den.” George speaks from behind Harry walking to stand by his brother.

“How ever did you manage to get in here, Potter?” They tease at the same time.

‘Did they always speak in sync? ’

Harry grins, gesturing to the boys. “Well if it isn’t the Weasley twins!! So nice to meet you guys, I just stopped by to see Neville, might sleep here if he lets me. What are you two up to.”

“That’s not we asked.” Fred walks to stand on Harry’s right.

“You didn’t come through the main entrance.” George states walking to Harry’s left.

“Theres no other way in.” Fred says as they both circle him.

“Unless You found another way in.” George grins.

“What, me? A First year Ravenclaw, how could I have possibly found a secret passage already?” Harry smirked, he clearly had their interest, might as well get them on his side sooner then later.

“Now now Potter, don’t play coy with us.”

“We just want to know, what you know.”

“You know?”

“Of course I know,” Harry nods looking at them seriously. “But do you know, knowledge comes with a cost?”

The twins look at each other, having a silent conversation, they nod turning back to Harry.

“What’s your price Potter?”

“Nothing right now, just a few unquestioned favors in the future, that’s all.” Giving his most innocent smile Harry watches the twins have another silent conversation.

“We accept your offer.”

“Now how did you get in here?”

“The painting of a lion with a snake around its stomach, the password is virtus amore , I’m sure you can figure it out from there.” Harry says walking towards the stairs with a wave over his shoulder. “It was great dealing with you two, now if you’ll excuse me I have a friend to visit.”

“Until next time Potter.” The twins wave as they speak in unison.

Harry makes it to Neville’s dorm with no further disturbances. crawling over to the beds Harry checks each one, stopping as he spots an old rat.

“ Yum.” Grabbing the rodent from its cage Harry cast’s immobilis, putting it in his pocket he waddles over to Neville’s bed.

“Neville, Neville!” Harry pokes at him, the boy doesn’t budge though continuing his snoring. Groaning Harry decides not to wake him.

Walking back to the Ravenclaw tower Harry inspects the rat. ‘ Why do I feel such hate for this, something about this rodent just makes my blood boil… ’

He passes a painting of a man with some wolves, a memory of wild hair and puppy eyes pass through his mind, “Sirius…” then an angrier memory. “Pettigrew ..”

Putting the rat back in his pocket Harry thinks of how he should play this, he could get his godfather back this year if he does it correctly. He could go home to someone that loves him by third year.

But who should he trust to make this go through quickly.

Turning a corner, Harry sees a cat walking down the hall. ‘Perfect. ’

With a plan forming he speeds through the halls stopping by Ravenclaw tower to grab his class schedule and the books he’ll need for tomorrow. He puts Peter in his trunk, making sure to feed lilac with a different rat. He didn’t want to sleep in his own dorm so makes his way to the dungeons, hopefully Draco doesn’t mind sharing his bed.

Chapter Text

Harry was having a good dream, lying wrapped in some blankets, when he was rudely thrown off the bed.

“HARRY!!” Draco screeches staring at the crumpled form on the floor. “Why are you in my bed?!” 

“I was sleeping, till you interrupted me.” Harry grumbles, standing to glare at the blond. “You know you’re pretty mean when you first wake up Draco.”

“How did you even get in here??” Draco glares back as Harry sits back on the bed.

“I have my ways.” Lying on his back Harry smirks.

“That’s not an answer!”

“Be quiet, it’s too early for this.” Blaise grumbles from under his covers.

“You heard him, go back to sleep Draco.” Harry says wrapping himself up in the blanket.

“It’s time for breakfast anyway.” Draco groans getting out of the bed. “Get out!”

Harry screams as he’s pushed out of bed again, hitting the floor with a thud.

“I hate both of you.” Blaise groans getting out of his own bed to grab some things before leaving, presumably to the bathroom.

Harry sits up watching as Draco grabs his own things also walking to the presumed bathroom.

He groans again getting up to leave, he takes a short cut to the Ravenclaw common room, he gets ready quickly before walking down to breakfast to meet his friends. ‘I should keep some things in the Slytherin dorms for times like this.’

Beelining for the Slytherin table, Harry sits by Blaise, grabbing some eggs and bacon.

“Good morning Harry.” Harry nods at him, eating his eggs slowly.

“what’s your first class?” Draco asks looking over his own, “I got charms.”

“Transfiguration.” Harry grumbles before snapping up straight, “Dammit, I forgot the rat!”

“The… no never mind, don’t care. What I do want to know is how you got into the common rooms last night.” Draco leans forward narrowing his eyes, “And why you thought it’d be okay to get in my bed.” 

Blaise raised an eyebrow, looking at Harry with narrowed eyes as well, “Don’t think of doing that with me Potter.”

“You guys are no fun,” Harry groans rolling his eyes, “I go where I want, how’s that for an answer?” 

“A horrible one. How did you know the password?” Blaise pushed Draco out of his space, grabbing a cinnamon roll.

“What password? I thought you got in with a blood sacrifice,” Harry spoke calmly spreading jelly on some toast, “Does that mean me stabbing that goat was an unrelated coincidence?”

Oh, wow. He’s never seen such flat stares before.

Just as Harry was about to say something probably worse, movement caught his eye. Neville was shuffling over to the Slytherin table, something clutched in his hands.

“Hi Neville!” Harry calls excitedly once the boy got closer. “You wanna sit with us?”

“I just came over to give you this, were- were you in our common room last night?”

Neville hands Harry a bag.

Opening it confused Harry winces at the angry noodle.

“You vile, vile, sspeaker how dare you forget me! ” Lilac hisses as she twists around in the bag.

“Oh… Lilac I’m so sorry. ” Harry picks up the angry snake cuddling her to his chest. 

“What did you just say?” At Draco’s tone Harry turns, all three of the other boys were staring at him in horror.

‘Wait , Shit not yet!’ “What? I was just making comforting noises at her! Not talking in a dead language.” ‘Nice save, Potter. ’

For some reason none of the other boys looked very convinced. Harry sighs, at least they won’t question him in a public area. 

Quickly wrapping lilac around his neck and putting on a scarf over her, “Well I got to get to class guys, thanks for bringing me Lilac Neville, see you at transfiguration bye!”

Rushing from the room Harry sprints to his first class of the day. Being the first one to get there, Harry had a few seconds alone with no one but professor McGonagall, who was currently sitting on her desk as a cat, to bother him.

Picking a spot near the back Harry stared out the window in thought.

Speaking parseltongue surrounded by others definitely isn’t the worse way to lose people but it’s up there. 

‘I just spoke a taboo language in front of a bunch of students in the middle of the great hall, I’m screwed. Everyone will know by dinner.’ Putting his head on the desk Harry sighs.

A swoosh echoes through the room before a presence appears by Harry, McGonagall sitting on a chair beside him.

“Are you alright Mr Potter?”

Harry steels himself, raising his head to smile at the Professor, “I’m perfectly fine! Why would you ask.” Okay, That came out little forced.

“So it seems,” the taller woman looks out the window, speaking softly, “The first few days in a new place will always be difficult, I know I didn’t immediately adjust to being away from home, no one expects you too.”

“It’s not that Professor. I just, have a lot on my mind.” Harry suppresses an eye roll, ‘Even when I try not too .’

“Of course, if you ever need to talk, mine and Professor Flitwick’s doors are always open.”  Giving a smile McGonagall stands to go back to her desk, turning into a cat again.

A minute later students started filling in, chatting as they find their seats, Neville choosing to sit by Harry. The class went smoothly, Ron showing up late getting him scolded by McGonagall being the most entertaining.

Harry, knowing everything already, aced the review assigned. ‘Why hold back. I’m a prophecy child people expect me to be a prodigy, plus im a Ravenclaw, first year is my year to shine.’

His next class was potions, waving bye to Neville he walks there alone taking some more short cuts. ‘The first to show up to this class too, to bad Snape doesn’t get here till after the students. ’

Sitting on the ground by the potions classroom door Harry hums to himself, Waving his wand around he shoots off little fireworks, petting Lilac absently. 

“What are you humming?” Blaise asks, walking over to lean on the wall next to Harry. Their the only ones in the hallway.

“A muggle song, you wouldn’t know it.” It was made twenty years from now, Harry tilts his head. “Where’s Draco, Finally lose him?”

Blaise lets out an exaggerated sigh, “I wish, alas, he is just grabbing a book he forgot. He should be here soon.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t make you go with him.” Harry laughs, lilac raises her head from his scarf, tasting the air.

“I’m sure he would’ve if his lackeys weren’t with him,” Blaise nods while looking through a potions book. “Luckily for me, Crabbe and Goyle barely leave his side.”

“Ooh sspeaker, let me be held by the flame. ” Lilac whines stretching towards Blaise.

‘The flame? ’ Harry doesn’t dwell on it, standing up. “Hey, wanna hold Lilac for a bit?” 

“We’re going into class soon, I don’t want to be caught with a snake by Professor Snape.” Blaise shakes his head, tucking the book to his side.

“Are you sure? Lilac misses you.” Pouting Harry holds the snake out to look Blaise in the eyes, giving his own puppy ones.

“Ugh… fine, just for a second.” Blaise sighs taking the snake.

Lilac basically purrs as she wraps around him. “You know, I think she likes you better than me.”

“Oh?” Blaise gently strokes the snake, “Maybe it’s because I don’t feel like a corpse.”

Harry sighs throwing his hand over his face dramatically, “The price of being dead… no one wants to touch you.”

“Yeah, is that why you’re wearing these gloves,” Blaise grabs Harry’s hand daintily, bringing it up to his face, “Hiding the fact your skins bluer than your house?”

“Blue? I’m a healthy shade of gray, thank you very much.” Harry huffs with fake offense, taking his hand back to press against his chest.

“Right.” Blaise gives a huff of amusement from beside him, “You know Draco’s gonna want to question you about what happened at breakfast.”

“What happened at breakfast?” Harry glancing away, making a confused expression he looks at the ceiling, “I don’t remember anything important enough to discuss.”

“Hide all you want, that wasn’t nothing. Draco won’t let it slide”

“Of course not the nosey prat.”

“Well when someone does something strange, and rare.” Blaise gives him a look Harry doesn’t acknowledge, “it’s normal to see what’s going on.”

“Heh, everything’s strange about me, maybe you guys should leave before it rubs off.” Blaise gives an actual laugh at that, bumping their shoulders.

“Yeah right, it’s the first day and you already made it a lot more interesting, nothings gonna stop us from seeing what you do next.” Blaise grins at him, and Harry grins back, more real than before.

Starting to hear voices down the hall, they both stand straight, Harry just getting lilac around his neck and under his scarf as the students surrounded them.

The potions door opens allowing them to enter, Harry finds a spot with Blaise, being joined seconds later by Draco.

“Cutting it close much?” Harry teases, trying to get in a less down mood.

“I couldn’t find my textbook anywhere!” Draco groans sitting by Harry. “Somehow it got under my pillow?”

“Huh, I thought you’d be more organized than that.”

Blaise chuckles, “Im not shocked, if he didn’t have house elves to do everything for him he’d never find anything at home.”

Harry giggles. “Makes sense.” 

“Oh shut it, you have no room to judge Blaise!” Draco growls getting out his potions supplies, “You’re constantly forgetting dates, and times to meet up.”

“At least I clean up my own messes, being time blind is better than a slob.” Blaise speaks calmly as he organizes his things, not looking up.

Harry ‘ooh,’s, as Draco gasps hand going to his chest in horror, “Take that back, I am not a slob!”

“Keep Telling yourself that, one day it might be true.” Blaise teases as Draco turns red.

“Take it back you prat!!” Draco reaches over Harry for Blaise, the calmer boy scooting his chair back.

“Guys, class is about to-“ Harry is interrupted as the door slams open, Snape strolling in ready to give his speech. Only to freeze as he spots the group, leveling a glare.

“Potter, Zabini, and Malfoy. Why are you wasting my time?”

Blaise and Draco freeze going back to proper sitting positions while Harry smirks at Snape, the other two look at him with faces drawn in worry. 

“It was nothing big Professor, just fighting over who’s got the prettiest eyes,” Fighting off a giggle as Draco lets out a strangled noise, Blaise groans, “I think Draco’s are nice, and Blaise’s are really pretty in the light, but honestly?” Harry looks at Snape, making his eyes extra wide, “I think mine take the cake, don’t you agree?”

“I will not accept this idiocy in my classroom, ten points from each of you, now I expect you to be silent for the rest of this class.” Snape growls, “Got it?”.

“Understood, Professor.” Draco and Blaise nod in unison.

He turns his glare solely to Harry. “Potter.”

Harry grins. “Of course, Professor.”

Snape looks at them each once more before walking back to the front of the classroom, starting the lesson.

Harry stays smiling, his mood much brighter. Draco glares at him, Blaise hasn’t opened his eyes since Snape walked away, head in his hands.

“I think he agrees with me.” 

“Harry!”

“Shut it Potter.”

Chapter Text

Half the month went by fast. Harry continued doing his school work with ease, drawing even more attention to him. Besides being the boy who lived he’s now also known as a prodigy student, a fact that was making it really hard to befriend his old mates. 

Hermione who he’s barely talked to since the boat incident, not for his lack of trying, Has decided they were rivals, refusing to have a decent conversation with him about anything but schoolwork or their egos.

And Ron was convinced Harry was evil or something, he constantly threw insults at him when in the same room even attempting some jinx’s. Harry was also pretty sure Ron was outcasting Neville for hanging out with him, or maybe they just don’t like each other he wasn’t sure.

Speaking of him, Neville’s been hanging with him more even coming to sit at the Slytherin table at meals. he’s working on getting the other Slytherins to accept him, so far nothing but he has hopes.

Currently it was Saturday, Harry was sitting on Draco’s bed playing with Lilac while the blond practiced spells. ‘He’s just casting self care charms on himself, what a priss.’

“Sspeaker, I am hungry,” Lilac whines flopping dramatically on the bed, “Give me fooodd. ”

“I don’t have any mice here, you’ll have to wait.” Harry says lying on his stomach, kicking his legs in the air.

“Blaise has some mice saved in a box under his bed.” Draco speaks up, making a disgusted face in the mirror, “I’m pretty sure they’re there for you.”

“Really?” Climbing off Draco’s bed Harry crawls under Blaise’s, searching for the mice, “What did the box look like?” 

“It was just a box I don’t know.”

Harry was still looking under the bed when Blaise walks in the room. Closing the door behind him he collapses on his bed with a sigh.

“Bad day?” Draco says glancing at him through his mirror

“Mother wrote, normal drama,” Blaise says getting comfortable. “Where’s Potter?” 

“Under your bed.”

“….Why?”

“I’m trying to find your box of mice, now where are they?” Harry says as he pokes his head out, “lilacs hungry.”

“Blue box, back corner.” Blaise sighs closing his eyes.

“Ah ha! Found it.” Harry crawls from under the bed, grabbing lilac before going over to sit by Blaise.

“Potter, off the bed.” Blaise groans not opening his eyes.

“Why can’t I sit on your bed?” Harry asks not moving.

“Down.” Blaise gives him a look, before rolling over, “Get off.”

“I’m not a dog, why can’t I be up here.” Harry pouts.

“Cause Blaise likes his personal space,”Draco says finally stepping away from the vanity. “Forget about that though, we need to talk Harry.”

“About?” Harry hums as he gets out a mouse for lilac.

“About the breakfast incident on our first day, you can’t hide any longer.” Draco gets a serious look, walking over to sit on Blaise’s bed as well, “Are you a parselmouth?”

“Why are you both on my bed now.” Draco ignores Blaise’s comment, staring at Harry.

Harry ready’s himself, he was able to avoid the conversation for a month almost, Draco waited longer than he thought before bringing it up. He needed them to know for his plans he just had to be careful. ‘Don’t reveal too much just yet.’

“Can I trust you guys?” Harry asks, gaze hard.

Draco looks at him confused, Blaise sitting up to join the conversation.

“If you want to know the truth, I need to know you won’t go blabbing,” Harry stays completely serious, “promise me you’ll keep my secrets.” He holds out a hand, pinky out.

“Really Potter?” Blaise says unimpressed.

“PROMISE.”

“Slytherins do not blab.” Draco huffs as he hooks his pinky with Harry’s, they both turn to Blaise who sighs loudly before hooking his own pinky with theirs.

“Your secrets are safe with me.” Blaise rolls his eyes as Harry smiles again.

“Good.” Unhooking there fingers Harry leans back on his hands, “Yes I am a parslemouth.”

“I knew it!” Draco says excitedly, “You’re the heir to Slytherin!!”

“What? No, I’m not the heir to Slytherin!” Harry groans. “I’m cursed by Voldemort.”

Blaise and Draco jump at the name, staring at him in shock.

“You- what?” Draco squeaks paleing considerably.

“You’re cursed?” Blaise ask, a strange look on his face.

“Well cursed is a strong word,” he shrugs. “it’s not harmful yet, though I’m sure it will be eventually. So far all it’s really done is let me talk to snakes, and have nightmares, but that doesn’t matter. I’m not sure on the specifics, but it’s something to do with soul magic?” Harry’s not really lying, he doesn’t know the specifics anymore, the horocrux is most likely different with the whole time travel and master of death thing, he just doesn’t know in what way.

Draco’s face gets paler the more Harry talked, his hands covering his mouth.

Blaise had a look in his eyes, listening to Harry intently.

“That’s horrible, you don’t know anything about it?” Draco says sitting back against the headboard.

“No, that’s all I was able to figure out.” Harry says sitting against the headboard as well.

“The doctors at St Mungos can’t help?”

“Soul magic is complicated, and dangerous,” Blaise speaks up, a serious air to him, “St Mungos wouldn’t be able to help even if they knew, which I’m guessing they don’t?”

“You’re right, Dumbledore didn’t think it was good for the public to know.” Harry says getting comfortable.

“Why is Dumbledore in charge of that?” Draco frowns.

“Cause he’s… my magical… guardian” Harry’s eyes widen as he remembers that fact. Getting up quickly from the bed he runs to the door.

“What- where are you going?” Draco shouts from the bed. 

“Forgot something.” And with that Harry had left the room.

“That seemed important.” Blaise says after a moment of silence. 

“He better tell us when he gets back.” Draco says crossing his arm as he leans back against the headboard.

“….Draco.”

“What?” 

“Get off my bed.”

Chapter Text

Harry forgot Dumbledore was his magical guardian. How is he this stupid!!

Digging through his trunk back in the Ravenclaw dorms. Harry pulls out the petrified rat, glaring as he shoves it in a pocket. He speeds towards the transfiguration classroom, turning a corner sharply he slams into someone.

“M-Mr p-Potter, y-you must excuse m-me.”

Harry eternally groans as the fake stutter fills his ears, he didn’t need to deal with Quirrell right now.

Harry has been spending his time in defense against the dark arts like a jock in math class, he wasn’t doing shit. He liked jinxing Quirrell when his back was turned, aiming for the turban. The man suspects it’s him but he has no proof and it’s driving him crazy.

“Excuse me, I have to talk to Professor McGonagall.” Pushing past him Harry hears a whisper as he walks away.

“Quirrell.. keep an eye on the boy .”

Harry rolled his eyes, Voldemort was so easy to annoy at this stage that it wasn’t even fun. He kept talking to Quirrell when he was out and Harry’s getting tired of pretending he can’t hear the gasps coming from under the purple turbin.

“W-wait Potter, a w-word please.” Harry withholds another groan turning to face the bumbling idiot.

“Yes Professor?”

“I-I just wanted to check on y-you, m-make sure y-you’re d-doing well.”

“Of course Professor why?”

“W-Well Halloween is u-upon us, we all know w-what happened t-then.” His tone was grim, but Quirrell’s eyes glowed.

“Yes, the day Voldemort met his superior, Don’t get too caught up In your riddling grief Professor.” At Qurrells widening eyes and hissing turban, Harry turns running away, Professor McGonagall would be leaving soon he needed to get to Transfiguration. He hears Quirrell scream his name behind him.

‘Maybe that will spice up are soon to be battle.’

He made it to the classroom just as McGonagall was leaving, “Professor! hold on a moment, please!”

“Yes Mr Potter?” McGonagall stops, turning to face him.

“I was wondering if you could demonstrate that rat cup spell again, preferably on this rat specifically.” Harry pulls out Pettigrew, now frozen with fear instead of magic.

Harry made sure he knew what was about to happen, and that he could do nothing to stop it.

“The rat to cup spell? Why, you perfected it first try if I’m not mistaken.”

“I know Professor, I just wanna make sure I got it, it’s an important spell after all.” Harry sets the rat on the ground, Pettigrew played dead. “Please Professor?”

“Very well, just once Potter.” With that she takes out her wand doing the spell perfectly, right before she changed him back Harry stopped her.

“Hold on I want to work on my finite incantem as well,” Taking out his wand Harry cast the spell with a wide grin.

“ Finite incantem! ”

thud

“AAAHH!!!” The rat like man screams, trying to scurry away.

“PETTIGREW YOU RAT BASTARD!!”

“Launguage Professor!” Harry giggles as McGonagall chases Peter through the halls, time for a major change to his fate. A good change.

Harry hums to himself as he walks towards the dungeons, he trusted McGonagall to see through Pettigrew’s imminent trial.

‘I wonder if Sirius will be more sane this time around.’ Harry’s stopped as he’s bumped into by a crying Hermione, “Watch it Potter!”

“Are you okay?” Harry asks, raising his hands to comfort her. 

“Yes, I’m absolutely brilliant. Now leave me alone!” Hermione shoves past him, continuing down the hall.

Guess he needed to check on the lions. Changing his path, Harry made his way to the gryffindor towers instead.

Sneaking in was as easy in the day as it was at night, with all the students in casual wear Harry blended right in with his jeans and Long sleeve shirt. ‘Luckily I wore a beanie today no one should immediately notice me. ’

Searching for Neville in the crowd, Harry gets grabbed by the shoulder’s being pulled into a corner.

“Yeesh Potter, you sure run cold.” Fred says flexing his hand, “That was like grabbing ice.”

“What are you doing back here? Come for some mischief?” George says sitting on a chair, there was a blank parchment on the desk behind him. 

“Same as last time, I’m looking for Neville know where he’s at?”

“No, we don’t keep track of every first year to come through you know.” George shrugs.

“Last I saw he was with some other first years going to his dorm,” Fred smiled, “looked like they were up to no good.”

“Right, thanks.” Harry turns to leave, getting stopped again by Fred.

“You wouldn’t happen to know what happened to Ron’s rat would you?” His tone was more amused than accusing, undertones laced with suspicion.

“I don’t know what you mean, but I doubt you’ll see it again anytime soon. Thanks for the info, see you later!” Harry waves heading to Neville’s dorm.

Harry opened the door without knocking, walking in to a bunch of boys surrounding a bed, “What’s going on guys?”

“What the- Potter? How did you get in here.” An unknown gryffindor questions, “Well, it’s perfect timing we’re in need of a scapegoat.” Stepping back the boy reveals Neville tied to his bed covered in feathers and what looked like honey?

“The hell do you think you’re doing?” Harry growls closing the door behind him, the room getting colder.

“Just teaching this traitor the rules of gryffindoor is all, not that you’d understand.” The first years moved, pointing there wand towards Harry, who hadn’t moved from his position by the door.

Some of the students noticed the change immediately, others did not. Shadows crept round Harry’s feet, he can’t go all out yet but he’s gained some of his old M.O.D magic back.

“Thinking of taking us all? there’s four of us and two of you Potter.” The kids spread his arms as he taunted, not noticing only one of his friends still had there wand raised. “Try it.”

“So it seems.” Harry hasn’t dueled since he went back in time, But the chance of him winning this is still higher than The chance of Snape taking points from gryffindor tomorrow. 

The gryffindoor casts the first spell, Harry shields it before firing two of his own, immobilizing two of the students immediately. ‘What idiots, why would you challenge a top of the class student? I have to make sure I don’t hurt them to bad.. ’

Harry made quick work of the last lackey, casting a quick immobilise. He’s left with the leader. Making the boy float, Harry walks over, kicking him in the stomach he falls to the ground.

“Take this as a sign,” leaning down to face him, Harry grinned as the boy whimpered, “Don’t fuck with my mates.”
With that Harry knocked him out, walking over to help Neville.

“You okay?”

“I-I’m fine, What just happened?” Neville looked at the unconscious boys, glancing to Harry.

“Nothing important, or undeserved. You should help me drag them to the hallway.” Neville nods standing to help Harry drag the body’s out the room.

“What ever did you do Potter?” The twins speak from a wall, Harry was setting his attackers in the hall.

“Just cleaning up some trash, nothing important.” Harry looked at them and winked miming zipping his lips.

“Oh? How kind of you.” Fred laughs. “Anyway, it’s after curfew, you planning on heading back to your dorm soon?”

Harry cast tempos, eyes widening at the time appearing before him.

“Ugh, already. I don’t want to sneak all the way back..” Harry whines.

“If you want you can crash in our dorm.” Fred smirks.

“Yeah, we promise not to prank you in your sleep that bad.” George says smirking as well.

“You say that jokingly but I bet if I slept over I could stay awake longer than both of you.” Harry dares confidently.

“Oh? Is that a challenge Potter, cause if so we accept.” The twins say in unison.

“It was indeed, give me a second and we can head over.” Harry grins as he finishes setting up the gryffindoors. He says goodnight to Neville making sure he’s okay before heading to Fred and George’s, he knew the perfect prank to pull once they fell asleep first.

After all Harry didn’t technically need to sleep.

Chapter Text

Harry set up a bed between Fred and George’s, the twins were planning something in the corner. Harry wasn’t allowed to know what, so he turned to look at their dorm mate.

“Hi, I didn’t catch your name!” Standing to see what the boy is doing, Harry spots a spider crawling on the sheets, “Is that yours?” 

“Yep, I’m Lee, Jordan.” Picking up the spide,r Lee held it out to Harry, “This is my tarantula, Henry.”

“Nice to meet you two!” Harry sat on Lee’s bed, admiring the Giant spider, “I have a mamba myself.”

“Like, a snake?” Lee asks.

“Yep, she’s in the dorms right now.” Harry forgot to grab her in his rush to leave, Blaise should be fine to care for her, so he wasn’t worried.

“Wait, you have a venomous snake here? In Hogwarts?” The twins peeked up at Lee’s questions.

“Yeah!”

“Can we borrow her!!” The twins appear behind Harry, eyes sparkling.

“Why?” He asks skeptically.

“Think of the mischief we could get into with a snake!” Fred pipes up.

“The entire great hall full of students, and one snake,” George says dramatically.

“Endless possibilities!” They finish. 

“Hmm,” Harry thinks about it, as long as Lilac was safe it shouldn’t be a problem… “Do you promise to make sure she doesn’t get injured? Or taken away?”

“We promise, your snake will be safe with us.” The twins nod in unison.

“Pinky swear?” Harry holds out his hand the same as he did with Draco and Blaise. “You can never break a pinky swear, or else,” Harry says seriously, Lee lets out a snort behind him.

The twins look at each other in confusion, before hooking their pinkies with his, “We promise.”

“Alright I’ll lend her to you whenever you come up with a good enough prank to include her,” Harry stands putting Henry on his head, “Now let’s do sleepover stuff!”

“I have some exploding snap in my trunk, you wanna play?” Lee grins, getting up.

“Yess, let’s put bets down!” Harry jumps off the bed to sit on the floor.

“Brilliant idea!” The twins grin as they sit by Harry.

They spent the night playing games and pulling small tricks on each other. Harry was the last one to fall asleep, jinxing the twins’ hair bright blue. He sat on Lee’s bed, he and the twins were lying on Harry’s makeshift bed, Lee had his head on Fred’s chest, Fred’s arm wrapped around him, and George was splayed out taking up most of the blanket.

Harry giggles as he takes a picture with a camera he found, ‘ blackmail at its finest.’

Looking out the window, Harry watches the fog roll over the grounds, catching sight of a figure walking into the forbidden forest. Harry raises an eyebrow, ‘Who could be out this late? ’

Not feeling tired at all, Harry snuck out of the room. Walking down and out to the courtyard, he makes his way to the forbidden forest with ease, it was quite a nice night out.

Harry walks through the trees quietly searching for any sign of the person he saw. Coming across a shiny substance on a root, he looks it over, “Unicorn blood..”

Something snaps behind him. turning, Harry sees a hooded figure, bent over a unicorn. Harry makes his way to the hunched form.

“Heya bloodsucker, you know that’s some pretty hardcore stuff,” Harry sits on a big tree root, watching the figure jump up, turning to look at him with glowing eyes, “Huh, you look familiar…”

The figure growls before lunging at him, missing by inches as Harry dodges. ‘ Okay, he’s a lot faster than I thought he’d be.’

Harry walks back a few steps before he’s lunged at again, a growling voice heard under the hood.

“Potter, you insulent brat!”

“Oh, if it isn’t Voldemort,” the man trips in his gate at that, Harry moves out of his reach, “was wondering when you were gonna come to play.”

“You know?” The man still stands in a  threatening manner, but he doesn’t move, “come to finish the battle already, child?”

“No, just to mock what you’ve become.” Harry dodges again as Voldemort lunges for his throat.

“Your death will be slow and painful, I swear Potter!”

“Don’t be so hasty, Voldy,” Harry taunts as he rolls out of reach, “we’re not supposed to battle till the philosopher stone gets involved.”

Voldemort stops to look at him, his voice shaking, “What do you know about the stone?”

“Probably as much as you, maybe more,” Harry smirked as the man grabbed his wand, reaching for his own.

They both whip them out, aiming at each other with a grin and scowl.

“ Avadak -“

“Sere -“

Their battle is interrupted as a centaur jumps over Harry, hitting Voldemort and knocking him down.

“GET OUT!!” The centaur roars as Voldemort scurries away, leaving a trail of glistening blood.

The centaur turns to Harry.

“The stars have told me a child of grave power would need help here, I’m assuming that is you?” Reaching a hand out to Harry, he shuffles his hooves, “You should not be here, even if you are who you are.”

Harry stares at him. “Thanks for the save and all.. but what? The stars snitched?”

“If by snitched you mean told me where you were and who you are, then yes.” The centaur nods his head.

“What?!” Harry backed up.

“It is unimportant now. You must come with me, our leader has requested to speak with you.”

“WHAT?!!” Harry backs up too far, tripping on a root, his head hits something as he falls, his vision goes black.

Chapter Text

The first thing he noticed when he woke up, was how itchy he was. Harry rolled over, getting a face full of hay as he burrowed his head in the ground.  ‘Wait, hay?’

Opening his eyes, he snaps straight, his vision swaying, he looks around. Tents trees, and centaurs surrounded him, taking in his position, he tilts his head at the circle of hay and herbs he was sitting in.

“You’re finally awake, you almost had us worried for a second, young one” A centaur walks up to him, handing him a bowl of something.

“What’s happening. Have I been kidnapped?” Harry says in slight panic, the centaur huffs in offense.

“You knocked yourself out on a branch and you were carried here for medical assistance. You were not kidnapped. Now drink, our chief wants to meet you.” The centaur grabs some herbs from around Harry, making a small bundle.

“Oh…. Sorry. Thanks for the save,” He awkwardly takes a drink of the bowl’s liquid, swishing it before spitting it back out. “Ugh, what is this?”

“A remedy for your concussion, drink it all.”

“Concussion?” Reaching a hand up, he feels his head, wincing as he grazes the bandages. Harry downs the bowl in one swig, making a face. ‘This stuff tastes like pure dirt.’

“I’m Harry, What’s your name?” Harry sets the bowl down beside him, awkwardly tapping his leg, he wipes his mouth.

“Bane.” The centaur grunts as he continues making herb bundles.

“Nice to meet you, Bane. Thanks for saving me.” Harry grins awkwardly.

“I was not the one who saved you. Freren left.” Bane says flatly.

“Oh, ok then.” Harry fidgeted, looking to the side. “Well, I should be off!” Standing he brushes hay off his pants, “Where’s the chief then?”

“You will find him over there.” Bane points to the side towards some trees.

“Okay, well, thanks again!” Harry starts to walk in the direction he pointed, avoiding the more populated parts of the centaur camp.

He was allowed here once before to discuss territory in his old time, it ended not well. Harry doesn’t know who fired the first spell but his arm never bent correctly after that arrow was lodged in it. He shivers as he walks through the trees.

Shaking the memory from his mind, Harry rubs his arm, looking around the clearing for any important looking centaurs. He hears a sighing sound, walking towards the noise. ‘Merlin, that is the most decorated deer I’ve ever seen.’

“Human, you have awoken,” The centaur turns from the stream he was looking over, “I am Vendon.”

“Heyo, I’m Harry,” Harry waves as he sits on a tree limb a foot off from Vendon, “Whatchu need, Vendo?”

“It’s Vendon. human, the stars have told me that you,” he pauses as Harry sneezes into his arm, “You, are a powerful mage. Our people have been warned, a devastating event will shake the forest grounds and you have been foretold to help stop it.” Vendon makes a face at the end of his speech.

“Oh?” Harry perks up with a hum, “Something Devastating. Like what?”

“Our lands are threatened by the spiders in the east, that tyrant Aragog, had his spawn steal our young for feasting. You will help us keep him from doing it again.” Vendon states seriously.

“…How are you going to do that exactly?” Harry says, slight wincing as the centaur opens his mouth.

“We are going to go into spider territory and kill his young as revenge.”

Yeah that’s about what he expected.

“You do realize I’m eleven, right?” Harry gestured to his small form, “I’m not meant for fighting, let alone slaughtering babies.”

“Yes, but the stars don’t lie.” Vendon looked hesitant at that, but still stood his ground, “You will help.”

“And what if I say no?” Harry tilts his head, already suspecting the answer.

A spear appears in Vendon’s hands aiming for Harry’s throat with precision, “You will not leave this forest alive.”

“Oh, well. then I’ll be happy to help!” Harry smiles, gently pushing the spear away. He didn’t want to fight a centaur herd today.

‘Getting the centaurs on my side is good! I’m just killing a few spiders baby’s, how bad could this go?’ He feels a sense of foreboding pass over him, shaking it off with enthusiasm.

Harry is escorted back to the camp where he’s given more bowls of strange liquids and offered mushrooms with other food assortments.

The centaurs readied for the journey, sharpening their spears and arrows as Harry sat in a corner eating a platter given to him.

When everyone was ready, he followed the centaurs as they snuck through the forest, entering spider territory with stealth.

They crept into Arogog’s nest, waiting for Vendon’s signal. Harry’s vision felt fuzzy as he sat behind a root.

Vendon gives the signal.

And Harry can’t remember the rest.

Next thing he knew he was back at the centaur camp, standing by a big bonfire as the centaurs cheered around him.

He reached a hand up, feeling flowers around his neck with a necklace of some sort, reaching higher he felt something dry on his face and in his hair, his clothes were torn and covered in blood.

He’s handed a bowl of something again, he drinks it, his vision goes blurry, fuzzy. Then black.

Harry comes back to reality, lying in a herbal circle and leaning on a centaur’s horse part as they all lay around him. They were passing something around to each other.

“What’s going on?” Harry’s scratches his chest noticing his lack of shirt and new paint markings, “What happened?”

“He is awake again!! Young mage, you must tell us the story of the dragon and goblins again, foren wasn’t here before.” A centaur giggles as he sways.

“The what?” Harry looks around confused, noting the blaring sun peeking through branches.

“You know, how you stole a dragon from a goblin bank? That was amusing, you’re fun for a human!” The centaurs laugh at that, Harry just looks around with furrowed brows.

“You really can’t hold your mushroom gin though I must say, two bowls and you were jumping through the trees!” The centaurs laughed again, Harry paused, coming to a realization.

“You gave me drugs!!” He yells sitting up, he glares at the centaurs, “You gave me drugs without telling me!”

“Did no one say so?” The centaur looks around to the others, at the confused and shocked eyes he receives back, he turns to Harry with a more guilty grin, “Our bad, you looked like you were having fun though!!”

“That’s not an excuse!! That’s so dangerous, what if I wandered off and got lost, I wouldn’t know what was happening!” Harry looked around for his shirt, “I could’ve had a bad high. You don’t want to see me on a bad high. Where is my shirt?!”

“Stop fretting, you were safe young one.” Bane says walking towards the circle, a shirt over his arm, “This was washed for you. Are you ill?”

“No I feel fine, but it’s still not cool.” Harry snatches his shirt back, putting it on, he glares at the centaurs in the circle.

“I have been instructed to lead you out of camp and near your school, are you ready to go?” Bane says turning to walk away before Harry answers.

“Yeah, I need a bath..” Harry’s sighs, going to follow him.

“Wait! We are really sorry, before you go let us give you something in apology.” The centaur from the circle runs up handing Harry a ball of something, “it’s food, for the trip back.”

“Oh, thanks.” Harry takes it, having a bite, he turns to follow Bane as he walks him to a clearing, pointing towards Hogwarts, he tells Harry not to come back to the camp ever, unless invited, before bidding him ado.

Harry takes two steps before his vision goes fuzzy again.

‘Fucking centaurs…’

Chapter Text

Harry was making his way back to Hogwarts, he thought. He had woken up in a tree, somewhere in the forest.

It took him a half hour to find his way back to Hogwarts, cursing the centaurs under his breath the whole time.

‘Everyone’s probably worried, it’s been at least a day since I went in the forest. Good thing it’s the weekend.’ Harry sighed in relief when he reached the courtyard, walking into the castle.

The halls were eerily silent, his footsteps echoing as he walked. ‘Where is everyone? ’

“Mr Potter?” Flitwick turns the corner, freezing for a second when he sees Harry, “Oh my, it is you!” 

“Hello Professor, quiet day huh?” Harry grinned as the small man rushed over. ‘What’s his deal? ’

“Mr Potter, where have you been?!” Flitwick ushered Harry down the hall, “and is that blood in your hair!!?” 

“Uh, maybe?” Harry ran his hand over his hair feeling it crunch, “I kinda got… lost.” 

“We are going straight to the hospital wing! Dumbledore wants a word with you, young man, we all do.” Flitwick marched him to Madam Pomfrey just like he said, refusing to let Harry say anything utill they got there.

Harry was immediately told to sit on a bed, Madam Pomfrey fretting over him for a minute before leaving, saying she needed to grab some things. ‘What is going on? ’ 

“You gave everyone quite the scare, my boy,” Dumbledore says, walking to Harry’s bed.

“I was only gone for a day! Why is everyone freaking out so bad?” H justarry groaned, he just wanted a bath and to sleep for a day straight, maybe two. 

“You were gone for more than a day, try three.” Dumbledore speaks, stroking his beard, “you don’t remember?”

“Three!?” Harry gasped, “How was I gone three days without.. centaurs!” Harry growled.

“Centaurs? You wouldn’t happen to have gone in the forbidden forest?” Dumbledore says, face full of disappointment, “It is forbidden for a reason, young man, you’re lucky to have made it back alive, however did you escape?” 

“Escape? They let me go.” Harry says absently, ‘three days?!’

“However did you pull that off?” Dumbledore seems impressed, sitting on a stool.

“I don’t know, they just let me go. How long am I supposed to stay here?” Harry asks with a grimace, adjusting in the hospital bed. 

“for at least a night, you’re very injured,” Madam Pomfrey says as she walks back into the room pushing a cart of potions, “In fact you’re lucky you’re not dead Mr Potter.”

“I feel fine though,” Harry whines, getting a glare from the med witch. 

“You are most certainly not!” She sets three potions by the bed, “You are not only severely dehydrated and your heart rate is up, there’s a gash on your head only half treated. Your magic is close to depleted!” 

“You’re missing the concussion,” Harry adds. His magic was exhausted?

“Yes! Also the concussion.” Madam Pomfrey looked seconds from screaming, she took a deep breath and handed Harry some potions to drink, before leaving the room again. 

Alone with Dumbledore once more, Harry sighed.

“Don’t ever help the centaurs, it only leads to pain.” He tilts his head, “And drugs, but that kinda goes hand in hand.” 

Dumbledore just hummed at that, a concerned look on his face. 

They sat in mostly silence, Harry piping up with something that made Dumbledores sparkly eyes shine a little less each time he opened his mouth. The sun set in the background, darkness creeping into the infirmary. Eventually, Madam Pomfrey comes back demanding Dumbledore leave so Harry can rest.

“I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow, rest well my boy.”

Harry groaned as Madam Pomfrey made him drink another potion, telling him to go to sleep, she leaves once again, turning off the lights as she goes.

Harry sat there, looking at the ceiling.

And sat there, shifting in the bed.

And sat there…. Hearing a whisper of his name as cold creeps down his spine.

‘I can’t do this.’

Getting up, he groans as his body protests. Maybe he did need a night here… Doesn’t matter, he can’t sleep in this room with cold sheets.

Dragging his body to the dungeons, Harry barely makes it to the common rooms without passing out.

He tries to be quiet as he walks into the dorm, tripping over his own feet twice, Harry climbs on a random bed, head hitting the pillow with a thud.

He’s aware enough to feel a small body slither up his back, the words speaker being hissed in his ears before he fully loses consciousness.

Chapter Text

Harry woke up slowly, his head was pounding and his body felt numb. Shoving his face in the pillow he lets out a sigh.

‘Comfy.’

“Potter. What are you doing,” A very tired and annoyed voice says from beside him, “Wait… Harry!” 

Harry groans as the voice shouts, he’s shoved to his side, an angry Draco staring at him. 

“Where have you been! You just run out without a word?! Disappearing for days!!”

Draco started to look more concerned as he spoke, “We thought you were dead, why are you covered in blood!!”

“It’s not mine.. I don’t think.” Harry mumbles. 

“Correction, you thought he was dead, I voted kidnapped,” Blaise says sleepily from his bed, glaring at Harry in expectation, “Well? What’s your excuse?”

“Yeah what’s your excuse!!” Draco crosses his arms, a glare still on his face.

“I was kidnapped,” Harry groans, “And attacked, I’m pretty sure I fought in a territory war a few days ago, partied with some centaurs, which I don’t recommend cause apparently that’s how you get drugged!!” Harry threw his hands in the air, letting them fall to the bed as he sighed, “And I don’t even remember the trip! Such a waste..”

Draco was looking at him in horror, Blaise blinked twice.

“Why do I feel like this is normal for you?”

“It used to be, but I was getting better!! Guess coming back caused more changes to me than I thought…”

“Coming back?” Draco says confused, Harry tenses. 

“I don’t know, I’m tired let me sleep!!” He rolls over putting his face on the pillow again.

‘That was close, I'm too tired to be talking right now. ’

“It’s seven am, we need to get to class, and you need to take a bath,” Blaise says, pointing at Harry with a disgusted face. 

“Nooo.” Harry groans again as the other boys get up.

“Yes go. You’re getting muck and blood all over my bed, off now!!” Draco says pulling Harry up, he hands him some bath stuff before pushing him out the door. 

“Fine.. but I don’t promise you’ll see me in classes today,” Harry says as he sulks to the baths.

“The teachers will find you eventually,” Draco states, looking down the hall. 

Harry laughs as he leaves, waving over his shoulder. 

“He will be caught one day, right?” Draco looks to Blaise, worry in his eyes.

Blaise shakes his head, patting Draco on the back, “It’s nice you can still dream.”

“Oh..” Draco mutters, seeping in horror as they get ready for classes.

Harry made it to the last class of the day, walking into charms like he didn’t disappear for three days straight. He was feeling very refreshed after his bath and a full day of sleep.

Sitting by Neville he smiles, “Hey Nev! How have you been?”

“Harry! Where have you been?” Neville asks wide eyed. 

“Long story, went on a walk that got way out of control,” Harry waves off the thought, getting serious, “What I wanna know is if those other students have given you any trouble.” 

“No-no they haven’t,” Neville says with a small smile, “They haven’t bothered me, but there are some new rumors about you..”

“Ugh, don’t care, student rumors about me are never good.” Harry stops him with a groan, turning to the front of the class.

Flitwick walks into the room, stopping and beelining to Harry, “Mr Potter, you’re supposed to be in the medical wing!!”

“I’m fine!!” Harry says pulling out his wand, “I’m well rested and healed, see.”

He levitates Neville’s books, grinning at the professor, “See? I’m fine.”

“Even so Potter..”

Harry was forced to go to the hospital wing, where he had more tests run on him by Madam Pomfrey, who concluded he was fine almost immediately.

“I don’t know how, but you’re completely healed.” She says, letting him leave reluctantly. 

“Told you!!” Harry says exasperated, as he jumps off the bed.

“Make sure to come back if you start to feel ill.” Madam Pomfrey says one last time before walking away.

Harry makes his way back to the dorms, entering the Slytherin common room, he’s stopped by the place being full of students partying like mad.

‘Huh, guess Slytherin won a quidditch game.’ Harry pushes through the crowd, keeping his head low as he navigates to the dorm rooms.

He spots shiny hair in a corner, Draco and some other first years sitting by themselves. Harry decides to stop and chat. 

“This is just sad.” He looks at them in pity, using his best bitch voice, “There’s a party happening right now and you guys are here sober in the corner, what are you nine?” 

“The fuck,” ugh Parkinson, “Why is Potter here?”

“Cause apparently Slytherin knows how to have fun?” Harry gestures to the party that was looking like a proper rave, “I didn’t even know half these spells existed, is there a special book with party spells!!” He looks at Draco in excitement. 

“Don’t look at me, I have no clue.” Draco rolled his eyes as he leaned back in a chair. 

“Well who started the party?” Harry asks.

“No clue, some fifth year.” A girl, sitting on a nearby couch says, ‘Is she holding a joint?’

“Where did you get that, and can I have some?” Harry walks over to sit by the girl, taking the offered joint.

“Some Hufflepuff friends of mine are growing in the greenhouse, Professor Sprout is accepting it as extra credit.” 

“Amazing,” Harry says blowing out some smoke, “What’s your name, I’m Harry.”

“Daphne, Greengrass,” Daphne takes back the joint, winking at Harry, “Nice to finally meet you Potter.”

“You too,” Harry nods at her, “Draco, Come over here!” He waves over the blond.

“What?” Draco sits by Harry at his request, wrinkling his nose. 

“Have you met Daphne?” 

“We’ve been to the same galas, nice to see you, Greengrass.” Draco nods at her.

“You to Malfoy.” Daphne smiles, holding out the joint, “You want some?”

“No, thank you.” Draco shakes his head.

“Oh come on, have some fun.” Daphne pushes the swaying joint in front of his face. “You know you want to..”

“It’s fine let him be sober, he can carry me back to the room when I get fucked up.” Harry giggles, taking it himself, he laughs as Draco elbows him.

“I will not! You can get yourself to bed.”

“Aww, come on Dray,” Harry whines as Draco stands. 

“I’m going to find Blaise.” Draco brushes off his coat as he walks away.

“Oh! Hold on, I’ll go with you,” Harry hands Daphne her joint back, getting up to follow Draco, “Where’s he at anyway?”

“He left as soon as the party started, he’s probably in the room.”

They go to the room, opening the door to find Blaise sitting on the floor, a letter in his hand.

“Hey Blaise!” Harry sits down by him smiling, “whatchu got there?”

“A letter from my mother, nothing to concern yourself with,” Blaise tucks the letter in his pocket, “Why aren’t you guys at the party?”

“It’s mostly just older students now,” Draco sighs sitting on his bed, “it’s not kid appropriate anymore.” 

“Guess it’s time for bed then?” Blaise suggests.

“Oh no! We can still party!” Harry grabs a pillow, throwing it at Blaise, “SLUMBER PARTY!!” 

“Yeah!!” Draco fist bumps the air, “let’s pull an all-nighter!!”

“We still have classes tomorrow..”

“SLUMBER PARTY! SLUMBER PARTY!”

“Fine…”

Chapter Text

Harry woke up alone in the dorm, getting ready quickly, he made his way to breakfast, talking to Lilac for company.

“Did you know there’s a basilisk under this school right now? ” Harry hisses as he walks through an empty hall.

“What? I want to meet the king snake! ” Lilac questions.

“I don’t know… they’re a lot bigger than you .” Harry tilts his head, ‘Did I ever talk to the basilisk? Maybe I should go see it. ’

“On second thought, I’ll bring you soon. ” Reaching the great hall, Harry makes sure lilac is hidden before walking in, freezing as he looks around.

Pumpkins floated in the air, the smell of cinnamon and pumpkin drifting around and hitting him with a numbing feeling.

Harry sighs as he walks to the Slytherin table, students already pointing at him.

“Morning Harry,” Draco greets as he sits down, “Good to see you coming to morning classes today.”

Harry grunted as he grabbed a muffin, taking an over exhagerated bite.

“Did you hear?” An older Slytherin whispered to his friend, “Apparently a Gryffindoor first-year went to the third-floor corridor.”

“Bet he’s in right trouble.”

“They even managed to get themselves injured, they ended up in the hospital wing.”

“Seriously? What an idiot.”

Harry was pulled from the gossip as Draco stood, grabbing his stuff.

“You coming, Harry?” Draco taps him on the shoulder.

“Yeah, I’ll catch up with you.”

Draco rolls his eyes but goes on ahead anyway. Harry watches him leave before heading over to the Gryffindor table. ‘I have a bad feeling. ’

“Oy! Lee!” Harry waves, “Where’s Fred and George?”

Looking up from his plate with bags under his eyes, Lee shrugs, “Don’t know, they left a while ago.”

“Oh, well do you know anything about the rumors?” Harry asks sitting by the Gryffindor, “Specifically the ones revolving around the third-floor corridor.”

“If you’re talking about the student that snuck up there then yes, I do know,” Lee yawned, absently poking his plate.

“So you know who it was?” Harry leans closer.

“Apparently little Ron and an unknown girl.” Lee says leaning in as well, “He got a nasty slash on his leg from something, don’t know what though.”

“What?!” Harry gasps in shock, “Who would go up there with him?”

“I don’t know who it was, but Ron’s been hanging around Granger quite a lot in class recently.” Lee winked.

“Really?” Harry couldn’t believe it, could they be together yet? that didn’t happen till his fifth year, He thinks.

“I didn’t think little Ron’s capable of getting a girlfriend either, but the evidence is there. Seems we’re falling behind Potter.” Lee raises his goblet in mock sorrow before tossing it back.

“I don’t know Lee, Fred seems interested.. You guys are pretty close,” Harry grins as Lee spits out his drink, “Though it’s none of my business.” He hums, standing to leave.

“W-wait, Potter!” Lee reaches out to grab him.

Harry dodges walking away he calls over his shoulder, “I got something to do, I’ll catch you next time, thanks for the info!!”

“Potter!”

Harry laughed as he ran out of the great hall, making his way to the hospital wing. He had a Weasley to interrogate.

Chapter Text

Harry walks into the hospital wing, heading straight to Ron’s bed. The Weasley looks up in excitement, deflating as he sees who it is.

“What do you want Potter?” He glares, his leg wrapped up in bandages and resting on a pillow.

“Just seeing if you’re alright,” Harry sits by the bed, “Rumors say you found something in the corridor, mind sharing?”

“Like I’d tell you anything, probably just take it back to Snape.” Ron tries his best to sneer.

“Oh? You think Snape’s involved?” Harry leans forward.

“Don’t play dumb, everyone knows you’re a snake in raven clothing. I bet you’re working with him!” Ron points at him accusingly.

“Don’t be ridiculous, how could I have anything to do with it?” Harry groans, lips twitching as he glances to his side. “Honestly I just wanna know what’s up with you and Hermione.”

“What?” Ron looks to the side, “Why would you want to know about that?”

“There’s a rumor saying you two are quite close.” Harry gives him a look.

“WHAT!?” Ron screeches, he winces lowering his voice.“Why!?”

“I don’t know, maybe cuz you were found with her in a restricted corridor at night?” Harry watches Ron go red, tilting his head at the boys attitude.

“We weren’t doing anything!! We were just lost and stumbled upon the dog!!” Ron screamed his defense.

“Huh, good to know,” Harry nods, half believing. “Since when did you and Hermione hang out, you guys friends?”

“None of your business,” Ron grunts crossing his arms.

“Oh come on, I won’t tell,” Harry winks, “It will be our secret, between mates.”

“We’re not mates, Potter.” Ron goes back to glaring at him.

“And why is that?” Harry asks with a sigh.

“Because!” Ron scrunched his face, “….Because you’re a snake.”

“That’s a stupid reason.” Harry sighs.

“Well… yeah.” Ron sighs too, sagging in his bed.

They sit there in silence for a second, Ron breaking first.

“Me and Hermione ran into each other in the library, she helped me with an essay,” Ron looks at him, “When we were walking back it was later than we thought, we ended up getting lost on the staircase, that’s how we got to the corridor. I don’t think we’re friends or anything.”

“Do you want to be friends?” Harry asks.

“I mean, I guess I wouldn’t mind it.” Ron looks away with a blush.

“If you want to be friends with her be friends with her,” Harry shrugged, grinning, “Do you want to be friends with me?”

“I guess I wouldn’t mind it.” Ron grinned back. “Even if you are a snake.”

“Heh. I wouldn’t either.”

Harry left a while after that, Madam Pomfrey having to kick him out, he was smiling as he walked back to the common rooms.

‘I’m getting my friend back. ’

Chapter Text

Ron’s run in with Fluffy made Harry realize the time for him to fight Voldemort was creeping up, he was excited to deal with the man face to face finally. Quirrell has labeled him a problem child in his class, going as far as telling the other teachers how terrible a student he was. None of the others believed what he told them, it was making him mad.

Harry was in the library, watching Hermione help Ron study. She was sitting rather far from Harry, on the account she doesnt trust him. Because Ron and him being on good terms apparently wasn’t enough for Hermione to think he’s a good guy, so she still questions him at every turn, like she was trying to make him snap.

“Harry?” Ron threw a wad of paper at him, “You okay?”

“He’s probably to drugged up to think.” Hermione rolled her eyes.

Harry stared at her wide eyed, “Where did that come from?”

“Everyone knows you were caught smoking in the Slytherin common room. A party, really Potter?” Hermione turned her nose up, “Keep going like that and you’ll rot your little brain.”

“What? What other rumors are going around about me!” Harry gasped, ‘ who the fuck snitched!! ’

“Don’t act stupid. Everyone knows you’re a lousy delinquent, disappearing, skipping classes, getting in fights!” Hermione stated with a look of disgust.

“I haven’t gotten in a fight yet!” Harry defended himself.

“So multiple Gryffindors saying they saw you in the common room when four students were found unconscious wasn’t you?” Hermione glared.

“You can’t prove anything!” Harry pointed at her as he stood up, “I don’t need to take this, im going to see what Fred and George are doing.”

Harry walked out the room to the sound of Hermione’s jeers and Ron calling for him. Stalking through the corridors he keeps an ear out for any sound of disruption, or screaming. He hums picking up his pace as he hears something aroound the corner.

A thud echoes as he rounds over, he looks around trying to find the source. Walking into a less used corridor he hears giggling from a room, sneaking up Harry peaks through the door.

“Screw off!” Lee laughed, he was sitting on a desk, squirming as Fred tickled him.

“Come on Lee!” Fred smirks, “Tell me!”

“No!” Lee screams trying to get away, Fred grabs him pulling him to his chest in an arm lock.

“You gotta tell me or im not letting go.” Lee continued to laugh as Fred pulled him off the desks, spinning them around.

Harry stepped back looked down the corridor then back at the door, no one was around. He leans back in to listen, crouching by the door. What? he’s bored.

“It’s embarrassing!! I can’t tell you!” Lee wheezed as he escaped Fred’s grip.

“Oh come on, now you gotta tell me.” Fred leans on a desk, smirking as Lee jumped up to sit on the desk.

“Why do you want to know so bad?” Lee groaned, leaning back on his arms.

“What, I can’t be interested in your life?” Fred tilts his head to look up at him.

“It’s my love life.” Lee deadpans.

“Well yeah, still your life.” Fred grins.

Harry sees Lee blush. ‘Damn he’s down bad.’

“It’s not important, I’d rather talk about how I’m the new Quidditch announcer!” Lee cheer’s.

“As great as that is, stop changing the subject,” Fred pouts, “You’ve been off lately. If you’re into someone maybe me and George can help you out, you know I hear girls are really into butterfly’s right now!”

Lee shakes his head, Harry suppressed a sigh, ‘ Fred you poor poor idiot .’

“Really, You don’t think I can help!?” Fred asks, voice vaying on offended.

“It’s not I don’t think you could help me date someone.. it’s just.” Lee waves his hands around with a shrug.

“What?” Fred copies him, “what does that mean?”

“It’s not a…” Lee mumbles the last word.

Fred leaned forward. “Huh?”

“It’s not a girl..” Lee says more audible, still a grumble. His fists clecnch in on his pants, looking to the side as Fred blinks.

“Oh..” Fred’s eyes widen as he tenses, his face gaining its own flush, “that’s cool. Really cool… You know, I’ve had my fair share of crushes on guys myself..”

“What?” Lee’s face reddens even more as he responds, “I didn’t know you liked guys.”

“I like both guys and girls, it’s not really known,” Fred looks around, bringing a hand up to rub his neck. “You may be the first person I’ve told, Besides George..”

Harry suddenly feels really bad about spying.

“Really!” Lee smiles looking away from Fred for a second, “You’re the first person I’ve told.”

‘ Oh Merlin, I’m crossing so many lines so hard right now .’ Harry shifts away from the door, still listening.

Fred smiles back his own face slightly red, “I’m honored to be your first.” He winks.

‘OH MY GOD.’ Harry withholds a squeal, pumping his fists.

Lee goes bright red, letting out a nervous laugh he punches Fred shoulder, “Knock it off.”

“Sorry,” Fred laughs, “I know you’re already smitten with someone.”

‘Fred you dumbass see the signs!! ’ Harry thinks, biting his fist as he sways.

“Yeah…” Lee sighs, averting his eyes to look at the door. He freezes, squinting in Harrys direction. “Is someone there?”

“What?” Fred looks at the door, pushing off the desk as he steps forward.

‘Oh shit! Oh shit!’

Harry was halfway down the hall by the time he hears the door creak, someone yelling after but he was already around the corner. Not stopping until he felt safe, Harry leans against a wall catching his breath.

“Harry? Are you alright?” Draco walks up to him, Crabbe and Goyle on each side.

“Yeah,” Harry heaves a breath, ‘I need to work on my cardio.’, “Just learned.. something new, need to come up with plan.”

“What, what did you learn that you need a plan for??” Draco asks, looking back down the hall.

“Nothing to concern yourself with,” Harry tilts his head, “unless I need your help with a plot, then I’ll let you in.”

“Okay..” Draco sighs, “You coming to the Halloween feast?”

“No, it’s next week right?” Harry says.

“No, it’s in two days,” Draco raised an eyebrow, “You know, like on hollows eve?”

“Fuck.” Harry facepalmed. He really needed a calendar.

Chapter Text

It was time. Harry was sitting by the door guarding Fluffy. Twirling his wand as he waits for Quirrell to get past the Cerberus before going himself, he didn’t need the man knowing he was already here.

The sound of music filled the corridor, snoring being heard seconds later. Harry waits a second before he peaks into the room, seeing it empty he walks in, jumping down the trap door.

Keeping close behind Quirrell while still staying out of sight, they made their way through the trials. Harry only had to do one trial technically as the Devils snare seemed to love his feel.

Reaching the mirror’s room, Quirrell walked up staring into the mirror. Harry could see his glare from across the room in the reflection, eventually he could hear his grumbling mixed with hissing from the turban.

Harry walked out of his hiding spot as Voldemort yelled at Quirrell for being an idiot, standing on the steps he looks at Quirrell with a bored expression. The man seeing him in the mirror turned to face him in shock.

“Potter!” Quirrell raised his arms like a greeting, “How perfect for you to join us, I was just needing an assistant.

“What, Voldemort not doing a good job?” Harry smiled as Quirrell sputtered, he walked closer to the mirror, “You know, I always thought a highly treasured thing such as the philosopher’s stone would be better protected than this. Guess I had to high of hopes.”

“Quirrell let me speak to the boy!” Voldemort demanded, Quirrell raised shaking hands to undo the turban. Kneeling on the floor Quirrell put Voldemort face to face with Harry.

“Potter,” Voldemort glares at him, a look in his eyes Harry can’t place, “you are not as innocent a child as you allow others to think.”

Harry blinks at the statement, “what ever could you mean, weird parasite thing?”

“I know you know who I am.” Voldemort growl’s his eye twitching, taking a stuttery breath, he looked at Harry softly, “You are a smart child, you know how to get the stone, don’t you?”

‘What the fuck! the hell is happening?’ Harry keeps a neutral face, but inside he was shaking. “I’m nothing but a first year sir, how could I know?”

“A first year at the top of your entire year,” Voldemort smirked, an ugly look for the lump, “I know it’s hard being the smartest, you’re better than your peers so they outcast you. The weak fear the strong, after all. children can be cruel.”

Withholding a startled laugh, Harry’s eyes widen, ‘Is he trying to sympathize with me, Does he just want me to get the stone? But then Why not just force me to do it?’

Voldemort took his shock for something else, leading Harry to look in the mirror, “If you are able to help me get the stone, I will be able to help you gain knowledge and power you’ve never seen before, more then this school will ever let you know.”

Harry’s unable to hold in his laugh this time, giggles, ‘he’s offering to train me? What an idiot, no child would go with him.’ He tilts his head then, ‘Actually that could work if they were a supporter of the man. Still it’s a risky move on his part.’

“What do you say? Help out a future ally, Potter?” Voldemort looks at Harry through the reflection.

Harry looks back at Voldemort with a too wide smile, “All I have to do is get the stone?”

Voldemort nods, “That’s all I ask.”

Harry lets out another giggle, stepping away from Voldemort he walks back to the entrance of the room.

“What are you doing?” Voldemort watches him in irritation, “I said get the stone.”

Harry laughs again, pulling something out of his pocket, holding it between his thumb and pointer finger in front of his face, he grins, “No need, I already have it.”

Voldemort smiles wide, clapping as he takes a few steps forward, “Well done Potter, now give the stone here.” He orders, holding out his hand.

Harry throws the stone in the air, catching it he repeats the action, “Yeah, no. That’s not happening.”

“What?” Voldemort growls, Reaching for Quirrells wand.

“You see, when someone as powerful as you wants something, it usually means that something’s pretty important,” Harry smirks throwing the stone in the air again, “I think it’s much more in my interest to keep this for myself.”

“Foolish child, I was going to let you live.” Voldemort takes out his wand, aiming at Harry with a smirk, “I’ll enjoy finishing what I started.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Harry tilts his head, “Dumbledore will be here any minute, starting a confrontation with me now would just see you caught quicker.”

Shrugging Harry takes out his wand, “After all I am just a first year. Risking your freedom for a petty battle like this isn’t very smart.” He puts the stone in his pocket, Voldemort snarls.

“Crucio!” Voldemort screams the curse.

Harry dodges by a hair, ‘fuck I didn’t expect him to come out with that.’

“Depulso!” Harry shoots back. Voldemort raises a shield. Harry sprints towards him, his magic making him go faster as he jumps punching Voldemort in the face.

“OW!” Voldemort staggers back, “This is a magic fight you barbarian!”

“Who said that? We didn’t state any rules.” Harry kicks Quirell’s body in the groin.

“FUCK!” Quirrell falls forward with a squeak.

“GET UP YOU FOOL!” Voldemort screams at him.

Harry winces as Quirrell let out a wheeze, ‘Okay that was uncalled for, my bad.’

Watching Quirrell curl up on the floor, Harry casts an immobulus on him. walking over to the mirror, looking in for a second. He feels a weight on his coat, feeling the real stone in his pocket he holds up the fake one.

“I didn’t think this through, how do you store stuff in this?” Harry stares at the mirror in confusion, tapping the stone against glass.

“If I may my boy, I’ll take it off your hands.” Dumbledore says walking into the room, Snape and McGonagall right behind him.

“Oh! Hi professor’s!!” Harry waved forcing a smile, ‘Shit I didn’t want to be here when they showed up. This copy better be good enough to fool even Dumbledore, I spent too much gold on this. ’ It’s doesn’t matter he’s rich, he needs that gold for future world devastation.

“Is that who I think it is?” McGonagall gasps walking up to Quirrells body.

“Voldemort, I suspected as much.” Dumbledore shook his head with a sigh, “What have you gotten yourself into Tom?”

Voldemort glared at Dumbledore with a snarl. Harry realized if he wanted to continue messing with the man, Dumbledore can’t catch him now.

“Oh, I can explain everything Professor!” Harry’s says running from the mirror towards the adults. He fakes a trip, hands reaching out to fall on Voldemorts face.

The Adults watch in horror as the man melts before their eyes, screams of agony filled the room. Harry sits up as Voldemorts wraith flys from Quirrells ashes, screeching as it lunges for him.

“Fuck!” Snape does a spell Harry never thought he’d hear at Hogwarts, Voldemorts wraith changing course and leaving through the roof.

“What just...” McGonagall gaped in shock before snapping back to reality, “Mr Potter, are you alright?”

“Yes professor, he didn’t hurt me.” Harry smiled at the woman’s soft look.

“Good,” the soft look disappeared replaced by a stern expression, “Why are you here. And what were you thinking!”

Harry sighs as he sits through an hour of lectures. Being taken to the hospital wing to make sure he wasn’t actually injured. And many unwanted looks.

Dumbledore and McGonagall questioned him about every detail of the event, Snape had disappeared after they got Harry in the hospital bed.

“I’m sorry. I just saw Quirrell muttering about something and I was curious so I followed him, he saw me and dragged me down there, then he showed me Voldemort and they made me grab the stone.” Harry buried his head in his knees, sounding as tiny as he could while still being heard, “When I refused to give it to them Voldemort started attacking me, I was close to him and panicked. I kicked him in the balls, then froze him, and that’s when you guys got there!” Harry explained making himself teary eyed. He thought his acting was very good, the Professors bought it at least.

Hours after the incident. Hes finally given permission to go back to the common rooms, Harry all but ran from the room once Madam Pomfrey finished talking.

Walking through the corridors Harry rubs the stone in his pocket deciding to go to the Slytherin common room, the feast was still going on so he should be alone.

Sitting on Draco’s bed Harry takes out the stone, ‘ I wonder what all you really do. ’

The door opens to the room, Harry quickly shoved the stone back in his pocket as Draco and Blaise walked in.

Blaise went to his bed lying down while Draco beelined for Harry.

“There you are!” Draco huffs sitting on the bed by Harry, “I need to ask you something.”

“What’s up?” Harry scoots back on the bed, taking off his coat to hold in his lap.

Draco groans lying back on the bed. “My mother is insisting she meet you,” He says staring at the ceiling, his hands fidgeting with his shirt. “I was wondering if you wanted to come over during the holiday. Blaise is coming over for our annual gala, he’ll be staying for two days. You could come over then and we can all hang out. You don’t have to go to the gala itself.”

Harry nods smiling, “that sounds fun, I’d love to go!”

“Great, I’ll inform mother of your attendance.” Draco nods.

“Cool. Luckily your galas near the end of break, Ron asked me to come over to his house right after we leave Hogwarts.” Harry says nonchalantly.

“…What?” Draco narrows his eyes, theres a groan from Blaises bed.

“Why would you mention that name..” Blaise glares at Harry.

“What, Ron?” Harry asks, looking at them in amusement.

“Why would you hang out with that, that Weaslel!” Draco glared, “He’s the worst of all of them! A complete idiot!”

Harry internally sighed, resigning himself to sit here for the next two hours as Draco complains about Ron. They gained a rivalry after Ron made a joke about Draco’s hair in his ear shot. Harry fully supported them as it was funny sometimes, but not times like this.

‘At least they talk, that’s closer to friends than I expected them to be..’ Harry watched Draco do his dramatics as he got comfortable on the bed. It was gonna be a long night.

Chapter Text

Harry was sitting in an abandoned bathroom, watching Lilac hunt a mouse.

“Why would you watch such a horrible show.” Moaning Myrtle sobbed, sitting next to him.

“It’s survival of the fittest, Myrtle, you should know that.” Harry grinned, Myrtle gasped before sticking out her tongue at him.

“You’re so rude Harry, you’re lucky you’re cute or I’d never let you stay in here.” Myrtle pouts as she floats up to sit on a rafter.

“And I appreciate you not making a fuss, it’s much easier to visit the basilisk without you screaming at me.” Harry picked up Lilac, looking up at Myrtle in amusement, “I’m going to head down and see her, catch you when I come back!”

“Bye, Harry.” Myrtle gave a slow wave, Harry waved back as he jumped down the slide.

Harry whooped as he slid, landing not so gracefully on the bone pile at the bottom. He makes his way to the chamber. Setting Lilac on a rock he turns to the Salazar statue.

“Raja, I have come to vissit.” Harry calls to the stone, the statue’s jaw unhinging as the sound of scales against stone reaches his ears.

“Young sspeaker, it is nice to ssee you.” Raja slithers through the water, coming up to circle Harry. “I have missed you.”

“My queen!! I have come ass well!” Lilac raises her head from her perch, the Basilisk turns its face to her.

“Hello little ssnake, it iss nice to ssee you too.” Lilac does a snake’s version of a squeal as she slithers to perch on the Basilisk with Harry’s help.

“You two can talk, I want to explore the chamber more today. ” Harry leaves the snakes alone, walking to a collapsed passageway he found last time he visited.

“Salazar couldn’t have made this place just for Raja. He’d need somewhere for him to stay as well.” Harry raised his wand, pushing with his magic, he moves the stone to the side.

‘At least my magic isn’t acting up anymore, this would be easier with my full strength, though.’ Once a big enough hole for him to squeeze through opened, Harry crawled into the collapsed tunnel, wiggling through to the other side.

He falls to the ground with a thud, looking around the room, ‘Is this… a bathroom?! ’

The cobbled stone making the room was cracked and collapsed in at points. In the center of the room was a giant square with steps going down in a spiral.

“Holy shit..” Harry walked farther in, “Statues of mermaids in each corner. Like in the prefects bathroom,” He walks over to a mermaid twisting the knob on her tail.

Water shoots out of her outstretched hands, and steam starts rising in the room. Harry turns on every mermaid, watching the bath fill up, bubbles appearing once it reaches the last steps.

“I didn’t take Salazar for a Beauty queen, but fuck if I’m not going to enjoy this!!” Harry strips to his boxers, relaxing into the water, “This is the best thing in Hogwarts yet…”

He soaks for a few minutes, enjoying the warmth before he’s interrupted.

“Sspeaker, my queen iss hungry.” Lilac yells, slithering into the room, “What is thiss?”

“Can Raja enter this room?” Harry tilts his head as Lilac slithers over to him.

“Yess, I can.” Raja appears from a pipe previously blocked by hanging moss, Shaking said greenery from her head. “Thiss wass my masster’ss favorite room. ”

“Really?” Harry laughed, “That’ss hard to believe.”

“My master wass very prideful of hiss appearance,” Raja explains. She sets her head by the bath. Lilac curls around Harry’s neck, dangling her tail over the water, “The Sslytherin family are known as the prettiesst humanss in the casstle.”

Harry cackles, earning a glare from the Basilisk.

“I’m ssorry, I jusst can’t imagine that- “ Harry freezes as he remembers Voldemort’s younger form, thinking of the Slytherin family tree more, he nods. “Okay yeah, that might make ssensse.”

He sits up more as he remembers something, ‘Wait, doesn’t he possess Ginny next year?’

“Iss ssomething wrong sspeaker?” Lilac boops his cheek with her nose.

“Yeah.. it’ss nothing I can deal with now,” Harry relaxes back into the water, ‘Why are my school years so dangerous?’

“This iss very nice..” Lilac hisses, her tail brushing the water.

Harry stays in the bath for an hour before finally leaving, he makes it to the last class of the day a second before it starts.

Chapter Text

Harry stood on the train platform waving bye to Draco as he went to find his parents. With Blaise next to him they walk over to sit on a bench.

“You see your mom?” Harry questions, looking around.

“She won’t come utill the platform is less crowded, you see your relatives?” Blaise leans his head on the wall behind them.

Harry laughed, “Like they’d be able to find this place if they even wanted to.”

“Right, forgot they were muggles,” Blaise glances at him, “Don’t you need to leave and find them then?”

“They won’t be picking me up, so I thought I’d sit with you until you left before leaving myself.” Harry shrugged, relaxing on the bench.

“What? You don’t need- Why aren’t they coming to get you?”  Blaise raises his head to fully look at Harry.

“I was lucky to get them to drive me here in the first place,” Harry laughed. Blaise gets a concerned face, “Yeah, it’s not the best, but it will be better next year, I have a feeling.” He clenched a letter he got yesterday in his hands. ‘This trial couldn’t come faster.’

Sirius’s trial was posted in the papers, there was an outrage when people learned he was sent to Azkaban without one in the first place. The ministry was scrambling to fix their mistake, making the trial next week to appease the older family’s. Harry nearly jumped in joy when he got a letter saying Sirius requested to see him after the trial, if he’s found innocent, he immediately wrote a letter back saying he accepted the request.

Blaise hums next to him, pointing into the crowd. Harry looked over, spotting three sets of platinum hair making their way towards them.

“Hey Draco!” Harry smiled as the Malfoys approached.

“Harry,” Draco steps aside, gesturing to his parents, “These are my parents.” Lucius glares at Harry, “Father, mother, this is Harry.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Potter.” Narcissa smiles, “Draco has told us a lot about you.”

“He has?” Harry looks at Draco, who was sending his mother a betrayed look.

“He has,” Lucius sneered while holding a hand out to Harry, who accepts the handshake, “He writes about you at least once every letter.”

“Father!!” Draco groans, running a hand down his face.

“I had no idea you thought of me as that much of a friend, Draco.” Harry smiled as the young blond glared at him.

“Don’t get it twisted, Potter.” Draco turns to Blaise, changing the subject with haste. “Blaise, where are you going for your holiday this year?”

“France, I believe,” Blaise responds.

“France? That sounds so fun!” Harry groans, “I’m just going home to study, until I go to the Weasleys’”

Lucius lets out a grunt, and Narcissa gives him a sharp look, to which he responds by rolling his eyes.

“You’re still planning to come to the mansion after Yule, right?” Draco looks at Harry expectantly.

“Of course,” Harry rolled his eyes, “You promised to show me your magazine collection.”

Draco’s eyes widen as he points at Harry, “I don’t know where you’re taking that, but not with my parents right here.”

Harry laughs as he wraps an arm around Draco’s shoulder. Narcissa raises a hand to cover her mouth.

“Come on, you love my jokes!” Harry grins as Draco growls.

“Get off!” He screeches, trying to dislodge Harry’s arm.

Harry just laughed as he trapped a struggling Draco in a hug.

“How are you freezing!!” Draco complains, he head butts Harry.

Harry reels back, releasing his grip while still giggling.

“Draco!” Lucius looked like he was about to grab the boy, but Narcissa held his arm, keeping him back with a look.

“Draco, we need to get going,” She says to the boy instead, “Say bye to your friends.”

“Right, I’ll see you guys after Yule!” Draco grins. He fixes his robes. “I expect letters!”

With that the Malfoys bid their bye and left the platform. Harry sat back on the bench with Blaise. They sit in silence as the platform cleared untill they were the last ones there, and Blaise’s mother still hadn’t shown yet.

Blaise sighed, standing up, he grabbed his stuff, “I’m going to find a floo, she isn’t coming.”

Harry stands with him, “Okay… do you want me to walk with you?”

“It’s fine, you can leave, I’ll find my way home.” Blaise sighs as he starts walking away. Harry matches his pace.

“I know I gave you the option, but I don’t feel like leaving you here alone.” He smiles at him, “It’s not like I have anywhere else to be. I’m fine to walk with you.”

Blaise sighs, not looking at Harry as they keep walking, “Do what you want.”

He acts like he doesn’t care, but the way Blaise walks close to Harry tells him otherwise; he needed the company. Harry smiled, bumping shoulders with him.

“You know, you don’t talk much about your home. What’s your house like?” Harry tilts his head, “I kinda imagine it being a haunted mansion, you give off dark academia vibes, honestly, no offense.”

“Dark what?” Blaise looks at him confused. They walk out of the station, heading down the road.

“Nothing,” Harry shakes his head, looking around, “Are we heading to the leaky cauldron?”

“Yeah, that’s the closest place that has a floo.” Blaise nods.

“Nice, that’s where I was gonna head anyway once you left.” Harry grinned, ‘I’m not going back to the Dursleys for as long as I can without someone noticing. ’

“Your relatives have a floo?” Blaise scrunches his face in confusion.

“No, I was just going to stay for the night before going back.” Harry shrugged as they kept walking, the street lights turning on as the sun set.

“You were going to sleep at the leaky cauldron?” Blaise asks, making an ill expression.

“Were? I still am, just cause you never would doesn’t mean I won’t.” Harry smiles as Blaise composes himself, “It’s not like I have an option, my relatives live miles from here, it’d take hours to hitchhike.”

Blaise took a sharp inhale at that. Head snapping to look at Harry, “Do you want to stay the night at my place?”

“What, really?” Harry blinks.

“You don’t have a nice place to stay, you’re my friend, I can’t have you asking strangers for help when I’m perfectly able to.” Blaise shrugs with a determined look, “I can have someone take you to your relatives tomorrow.”

“I mean, yeah, that’d be nice.” Harry smiled,

‘I get to see the Zabini residence? Hell yeah! I haven’t been since… Fuck, I don’t know. I wonder if it’s the same.’

“Great, you can come through the floo with me,” Blaise says as they reach the leaky cauldron, “You have to say, Zabini manor amor auceps, I’ll go first.”

They walk into the leaky cauldron. Blaise asks to use the floor, and they’re led to the back.

They both go through fine, Harry tripping through but managing to stay upright. He looks around the lavish front room.

‘Huh, it’s just Malfoy Manor with more plants and darker color themes. I wonder who adds all the taxidermy animals.’

“Come on, let’s go to my room.” Blaise walks them out to the hallway.

“Sweet place,” Harry says absently as they walk through the mansion. Blaise just hums in response.

They stop at a door already half opened, walking in, a house elf jumps, turning to face them with a squeak.

“Master Blaise! Welcome home.” They bow before disappearing.

Blaise pulls his trunk into a corner, taking off his coat, he sets it on a chair before sitting on his bed.

“You have so many books! Have you read all of them?” Harry spun as he looked at all the shelves, stopping to fall backwards on Blaise’s bed.

“Almost, I’ll likely be finished by the fifth year.” Blaise yawns, lying on his bed he shifts to look at Harry, who was spread across the end of the bed. “You’re sleeping on the couch.”

“Why do you have a couch in your room?” Harry asks, getting up, he was over and jumps over the back of said furniture, landing with a creak, “Oh my Merlin, this is comfy..”

“Where else would I read my books?” Blaise grunted as he got ready for bed, taking off his shoes and throwing them to the side.

“Good point and good night.” Harry hums, shoving his face into the couch cushion.

Blaise didn’t respond, Harry fell asleep seconds after that.

Chapter Text

The sun hit Harry’s face making him groan rolling to put a pillow over his head. He shifts, his coat wrapping around his body uncomfortably.

Opening his eyes he glares at the light green wall, dark brown shelves full of books being illuminated by the light peeking through the window. Sitting up he looks over the back of the couch, Blaise was no where to be seen.

‘ Well then time for some old fashioned snooping .’ Harry grinned slowly getting off the couch, he walks to a desk going through the drawers. ‘ He’s got to have something embarrassing in here, are we to young for porno’s? ’

Sadly Harry didn’t find anything scandalous in Blaise’s desk, just normal ancient dark magic a kid would hide from his parents. Taking one of the advance spell books, he flips absently through the pages.

“Is this the book with the corporal flora spell?” Moving to Blaise’s bed, Harry throws the book on the covers as he crawls under said bed, “he’s always putting stuff under here at Hogwarts, wonder what’d he hide here.”

As Harry’s wiggling under the bed, the rooms door opened Blaise walking in with two trays of food, “Harry?”

Popping his head out from under the bed, Harry grins up at Blaise.

“Good morning!” Crawling out and standing, Harry takes one of the offered tray’s.

“I grabbed us some food, the house elves don’t like me eating up here so I have to carry it myself.” Blaise sets his tray on the desk, noticing the opened drawer, “did you go through my stuff?”

“Yeah, you have some pretty dark book’s for neutral wizard’s.” Harry sat on the couch, putting his tray on the coffee table. ‘ Waffles hell yeah. ’

Blaise looks at him, narrowing his eyes before turning back to his food with a sigh, “it’s just some side reading, not like I could cast any of them yet if I wanted too.”

“Yeah, some of those spells require a bit more then magic, if I remember right the Cronus mortis spell required a physical energy sacrifice,” Harry tilts his head, a grim look passing his face, he goes back to eating his waffles.

Blaise took a second to respond, “you’ve been around dark magic?”

Harry shakes his head not saying anything else on it, “do you know where Lilac is, she wasn’t by me when I woke up.”

“She’s wrapped around a heated rock at the moment,” Blaise moved his tray to the coffee table, sitting by Harry, “have you ever cast a dark spell?”

Harry sighs, “what’s it to you?”

“You have.” Blaise leans closer, “how do you, someone raised muggleborn know so much about dark magic?”

Harry avoided his eyes, ‘ for just being some side reading he’s really interested in this. ’

“What do you mean, I don’t know anything really!” Harry waved his hands around, “I’m just talking off the top of my head that’s all!”

“Liar,” Blaise glares at him, “you’re hiding something.”

‘ Since when does he give a shit?! ’

“Blaise, seriously I’m telling the truth.” Harry winced as the other boy still looks unconvinced.

“You said you’re cursed by Voldemort, were you lying when you said it barely affected you?” Blaise says skeptically.

“I-“ Harry’s interrupted.

“Honestly, Potter!” Blaise looks dead in his eyes with a glare.

“…Fine,” Harry rolled his eyes, “yeah, it affects me more than just talking to snakes and headaches.”

“I knew it, soul magic, especially curses are never that light.” Blaise leans back looking at Harry expectantly, “what all does it really do?”

“Well along with the stuff you know, I have vivid nightmares and memory flashes. I’m not sure what a lot of them mean, but I know it’s nothing good.” Harry explained slouching in his seat. ‘ Some lies and some half truths, no one needs to know the true truth. ’

“That’s all?” Blaise searches his face.

“That’s all.” Harry nods.

“Fine,” Blaise looks away with hesitance, “I’ll accept that answer for now.”

Harry shakes his head continuing his meal, it was gonna be a weird day.

“When do you have to be at your relatives?” Blaise says after a second.

“I don’t have to be anywhere, but I will be out of your hair by the afternoon.” Harry takes a drink of some juice.

“Do you need a ride?” Blaise questions, eating a strawberry, “I can have a house elf take you.”

Harry nodded, “that’d be great, thanks for helping me out.” He bumps their shoulders.

“Of course,” Blaise smiles, “do you want to explore the mansion until you leave?”

“Fuck yes,” Harry groans, “I’ve been trying not to ask you too early. Are we going to run into your mom?”

“No, she usually stays in her wing so we won’t see her if you stay by me.” Blaise explains as they stand walking to the door.

“Nice.” Harry grins as they leave.

They spend hours walking around Blaise’s house, even making their way to the grounds outside. Harry got to ride the family thestral, ‘ the Zabini house fucking rocks .’

Chapter Text

Harry left Blaise’s house later in the afternoon then he meant to, making it to his relatives at sun down.

Waving bye to a house elf, Harry makes his way inside listening for others but not hearing anything. ‘ That’s weird.. ’

He goes up to his room throwing his trunk in the corner before throwing himself on the bed, Lilith unraveling from his neck.

“ Sspeaker, why are we here? ” Lilac curled on his chest.

“ We’re just here for the night, then we can go somewhere more magical .” Harry says closing his eyes as he relaxes in the bed.

“ Are you tired? ” Lilac pokes at his cheek with her nose.

“ No, just thinking. ” Harry sighs, he raises his hand casting a silent accio without his wand.

A blur of red flies from a side pocket on his trunk, slamming into the wall above him before falling on his face.

“Damn it!” Harry grabs the stone as he sits up, holding it to catch the light. ‘ Huh, not a single crack .’ He sets the stone on his bedside table.

A door slams downstairs, voices being heard with thudding footsteps. Harry makes his way out the room and down the steps.

“Hello family!!” Harry smirked as silence filled the house, the Dursleys looking at him in horror, “I’m back from magic school, and I’ve learned so many new things!”

Harry spots an unfamiliar form in the room, someone was sitting behind them, a hat covering most the strangers face, the Dursleys had a guest over.

“Potter!” Vernon snaps, remembering his guest he turns pale facing the unknown man. “I’m so sorry, my nephew refuses to use his manners.”

Vernon turns to most likely yell at Harry to leave, but he was stopped as the stranger stood.

“It’s no problem Dursley, really.” Wait, Harry recognized that voice.

“May I ask who you are sir?” Harry smiled as he walked up to the man, Vernon turns red.

“Get away from him boy!!” Vernon yells but doesn’t move.

“Hello Harry,” the man kneels down to be face to face with him, taking off his hat to reveal a scared face and light brown hair, “my name is Remus Lupin, Im a investor at your uncles company.” He reaches a hand to shake.

Harry accepts the gesture with a grin, “it’s nice to meet you Remus, but how do you know my name?”

“Oh, Uh..” Remus stutters, “well.” He stands up turning to Harry relatives. “I would like to speak with, Harry alone. Can you leave?”

“What’s going on Lupin?” Vernon was still red, but he wasn’t struggling not to yell.

“Just give us a moment then we can continue are conversation.” Remus waves them off, the Dursley’s leave the house with confused expressions.

“Did you cast a Confundus on them?” Harry says amused as Remus faces him again.

“You saw that huh?” Remus smiles revealing his other hand holding his wand, “I didn’t want to use magic on them, but they are very difficult people, no offense.”

“Non taken, you underestimate their annoyingness,” Harry joked earning a snort from Remus, “why did you want to talk to me?”

“Right, first off I lied about being an investor for your uncles company,” Remus sits on chair with a sigh, “and, well you see Harry, I was actually a friend of your parents.”

“I know.”

“I know it’s shocking but- what?” Remus looks at him wide eyed. “You know?”

“Yeah, I saw a picture at Hogwarts, you and two other boys were with my dad in the Gryffindor common room.” Harry smiled sitting on the couch.

“Oh… do you know who those other men were?” Remus recovers fast scratching his hand.

“Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.” Harry nods, “Sirius requested to see me when he’s out of jail.”

Remus nodded, “yes, that’s actually why I’m here, he asked me to check on you.”

“He did?” Harry’s eyes widen, ‘ I didn’t think they’d get in touch so soon, and Sirius asked him to find me? ’ He had to hold back some tears.

“He did, Sirius is your godfather and the one who should have been raising you, not the Dursleys.” Remus gestures to the house, “once he’s free he’ll ask you if you want him to adopt you and live with him.”

Remus gives Harry a soft look, “I’m here first because I don’t want him to scare you, he’s a bit ruff after his years in Azkaban, and I’m sure it will actually be awhile before he’s mentally stable enough to fully take you in. but he will love and protect you, if you allow him to.”

“Will you be there to?” Harry blinks his eyes, ‘ oh my god he’s being so sweet!! I am the master of death I will not cry right now! ’

“I will be around,” Remus says with sad eyes, “I know we haven’t been here, and Sirius has a better excuse for that than me. But we love you, and are ready to make up for every time we weren’t there for you.”

Harry sniffs, standing he walks over to hug Remus, the man shakily raises his arms to hug him back.

“Do you promise?” Harry whispers into his coat.

“I promise.” Remus says back just as softly.

‘ I haven’t missed anyone in a while, coming back in time is really starting to mess with me .’ Pulling away Harry smiles at Remus.

“I’m trusting you, moony.” Harry giggles as Remus gasps.

“How?!”

“I have my ways.”

Chapter Text

The wind felt nice as he walked through the field, running his hands over some grass.  He breathed in the fresh air.

“Harry, are you coming back over here or what?” George calls from the blanket him and his brothers were sitting on.

“You guys done rolling that yet?” Harry calls back.

“Almost! damn paper…” Fred huffs as he hunches over a tray, “we should invent a spell to roll these faster.”

“There’s already a spell for that,” Harry says walking up to sit by Ron, “it was made in the 1920’s.”

“What? And you’re just sitting there watching me struggle?” Fred glares at him, Harry just shrugs with a smile.

“Are you guys sure mom won’t find out..” Ron kept looking nervously in the direction of the Weasley house.

“Stop being a worry spurt Ronnykins, and hit this.” Fred lights the blunt, blowing out a cloud as he passes it to Ron.

Ron hesitated, raising it to take the lightest hit anyone’s ever seen.

“Ron, no look you have to do it harder than that.” Harry shook his head.

“Right..” Ron blushed as he took a much bigger hit, almost dropping the blunt as he goes into a coughing fit. The twins burst into laughter.

“Why ,’cough’, OW.” Ron leans over with a red face, pressing his forehead to the ground as he coughed.

“That was a little too hard.” Harry laughed, patting Ron’s back.

George takes the blunt next inhaling deep and blowing a steady cloud before he passes to Harry.

“Is this shit blue?” Harry inspects the weed used, it was bright as fuck, “is this that smurf shit?” Harry giggled at the confusion of the other boys, “my bad, muggle thing.”

“Right,” Fred laughs, “this is some top wizard shit, this stuff will really have you seeing gods.”

“Or the dead.” George smirks.

“Wicked.” Harry’s takes a hit, blowing out some rings.

“Woah, how’d you do that?” Ron looked at Harry in amazement.

“been doing this shit for years,” Harry says in a southern American accent, “Childs play now.”

Ron looked confused, “You’re eleven?” He looked to Fred for guidance, the older Weasley ignoring him as he hits the blunt.

Fred laid on his back, sighing as he looked at the sky. George started teasing Ron about Hermione, the younger Weasley going red from embarrassment.

Harry looks at Fred remembering what he saw in the corridors at Hogwarts, he scoots so they can talk quietly.

“Hey Fred,” Harry speaks up lying to look at the sky as well, “I have something to confess.”

Fred hums, “what’s up?”

“I may have, spied on you and Lee at one point last year and heard some, private things,” Harry sees Fred tense, “and I’m really sorry! I thought you guys were just joking in the classroom I didn’t think-“

“What did you hear?” Fred faced Harry wide eyed.

“The conversation about your, sexuality.” Harry winced. “Again I’m really sorry, I shouldn’t have listened in on you guys!”

Fred didn’t say anything for a second just watching George lock Ron in a headlock, then he sighed turning to face the sky again.

“I knew someone was there, I saw you in door!” He grumbled as he covered his face with his hands.

“Yeah I know,” Harry nodded with a grimace. “you mad at me?”

“A little, but it’s not a surprise, it’s hard to keep secrets in Hogwarts.” Fred uncovered his face looking at Harry seriously. “Youre not to tell anyone! And you need to apologize to Lee as well.”

“I’ll never tell a soul, and I’m going to apologize to Lee next time I see him.” Harry looked away with a nod. then turning back to face Fred he grins. “But now that that’s out the way,” he leaned over to whisper shout,  “you have a crush on Lee!”

“What?!” Fred squeaked going bright red, catching the attention of George and Ron who were now eating some snacks they brought.

“What are you guys talking about?” Ron says confused, George narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you blushing?”

“I’m not!” Fred glared, puffing out a cheek as he stands up, “we should head back to the house, mom’s probably worried.”

“Since when do you care if she’s worried?” George says skeptically.

“Let’s just go!” Fred yells marching in the direction of the house.

Ron turns to Harry, “what did you say to him?”

Harry shrugged innocently, “just a fact, I don’t know why he freaked out like that.”

“Sure.” Ron shook his head in disbelief, packing up their picnic. “And we didn’t smoke the rest of the blunt while you two were talking.”

George hums, looking at Harry with suspicion, “just facts?”

Harry smiles, “nothing you don’t know,” he stands up, “we should follow him, suns about to set anyways.”

the other boys nod, they pack up the stuff making their way to the Weasley’s. Catching up to Fred on the path, Harry meets his eyes.

Harry smirks, Fred rolls his eyes. George bumps shoulders with Fred and they share a look.

They get to the burrow, Molly greeting them as they enter ushering them to the table for dinner, Harry sits in between Ron and Ginny.

“Where have you four been?” Molly smiles as she sits at the table. “You left over an hour ago, find something fun?” She looks at the twins suspiciously.

“Not really, we were just sitting in a field.” Ron says through a mouth of food.

“Oh? Now that’s hard to believe.” The woman mutters, “I’m not going to find the field on fire am I?”

“Of course not.” Fred says offended.

“We’re better than that.” George speaks up.

“Yeah if we would have done anything, it wouldn’t have been such a simple display of destruction.” They both finish with smirks.

Molly rolls her eyes, “Of course not.”

“Hey Mrs Weasley,” Harry looks at the woman in thought, “where’s Mr Weasley?”

“Harry dear I told you to call me Molly, And Arthur is working late tonight.” She smiles as she chastises the boy.

“Why’s dad working late?” Ginny talks for the first time since they entered the house.

“Just some extra work Ginny, nothing to worry about.” Molly reassures.

They ate dinner peacefully, retiring to their rooms for sleep. Harry laid in his sleeping bag on Ron’s floor.

“Hey Harry.” Ron broke the quiet of the room, sitting up in his bed.

“Yeah?” Harry responds.

“The shadows are moving..” Ron says in hushed voiced.

“You’re high, just close your eyes and go to sleep.” Harry sighed.

Ron laid back down, the room becoming quiet again.

“Harry?”

“What.”

“Who first decided to drink from a cows tit?”

Harry’s eyes snapped open, “Good fucking question.”

Chapter Text

Harry’s spent seven days at the Weasleys, his time there consisted of him hanging with the twins and Ron, he was talked into playing quidditch because Ginny said she bet he was trash and she could beat him, and Harry can’t take that disrespect.

He went to the Malfoy’s with some new bruises and a broken pride. ‘ I haven’t played in years and That little she demon kept cheating!! ’

Harry walked through the floo, stumbling onto plush carpets he stands to smile at Draco.

“Heya Draco, how’s your break so far been?” Harry asks.

“Good, we went to Italy for a few days.” Draco says as he leads them out the room and down a hallway, “did you get anything good for Christmas?”

Harry smirked, “I got something awesome, but you’ll have to wait to find out what.”

Harry got the basic candy’s, quills and sweater for Christmas, as he expected.

What he’d completely forgotten was it was that very Christmas he got his invisibility cloak! Harry was so happy when he saw the silk placed in that shiny box, he scared the shit out of Percy with it.

Draco rolled his eyes, “why do you have to be so mysterious.” He stops at a door, “well I got a new broom, just as I asked.”

They walk into a living room with books lining the walls, Blaise was sat on a couch by a fire place.

“Blaise! How was your stay in France?” Harry says walking over to sit by the stoic boy.

“It was good, how was your stay at the Weasley’s?” Blaise responds.

“Embarrassing and fun, did you find that book I recommended?” Harry asks.

“Yes actually, it should be delivered to me sometime next week.” Blaise grins.

“Did you guys hang out without me?” Draco looks between the other two, betrayal on his face.

“Harry stayed at my house for a night, that’s it.” Blaise shrugged, he glanced at Harry for a second before snapping his gaze back to Draco. “No need to get jealous.”

“I’m not jealous!” Draco crosses his arms with a sneer, “what, are you two becoming best friends or something?”

“That’s something a jealous person would ask Draco.” Harry teases, “you don’t need to worry, you’re still my favorite playmate Draco!”

“Piss off!!” Draco shouts, red in the face.

“Draco!!” Lucius scolds walking into the room, “have you lost your manners?”

Draco’s posture snaps straight, he glares at a snickering Harry, “sorry father.”

Lucius passes him to grab a book from the shelf.

“I don’t want to hear you talk like that again,” Lucius tucks the slim black book under his arm, Harry’s eyes widen. “Now take your friends to your room, I need this room for a meeting.”

“Alright father, come on guys.” Draco gestures for the others to follow him.

Harry pauses for a second before following the other two, getting a good look at Lucius’s paranoid eyes, hands clenched tightly on the journal.

Walking to the blondes room, Blaise and Draco doing small talk with Harry piping up with a comment every once in a while, his mind still mostly on the journal.

‘ It was dripping with soul magic and reeked of Voldemort  that must be the journal horocrux, is this when he decides to give it to Ginny? ’ They walk into draco’s bedroom, Harry sits on the bed with Blaise, and Draco sits at his vanity. ‘But Ginny doesn’t get possessed until next year, so how long has Lucius been talking to the journal? ’

“Do you know if Neville got any of my letters?” Draco asks looking in the mirror, “I haven’t gotten a response yet.”

“You write to Neville?” Harry question’s surprised as he leaves his thoughts, “I thought you didn’t like him.”

“I never said that!” Draco defended himself with a glare, “he’s cool by himself, I guess. His house is still annoying.”

“Neville told him about a plant serum that makes your skin smoother.” Blaise stage whispers to Harry.

Harry snickers, “that’s all it takes, really?”

Draco bulshes, “what do you mean that’s all it takes, you were the one saying I needed more friends!”

“Which I’m so glad you took my advice about,” Harry nodded. “But you can’t choose your friends based on usefulness.”

“I don’t do that!” Draco protested, “I’m friends with you guys, and all you do is bully me!”

“We don’t bully you Draco,” Blaise rolls his eyes, “we tell you what you need to hear, there’s a difference.”

Draco groans as Harry laughs, there’s a knock on the door.

“Boys?” Narcissa pokes her head in the room, “can I talk to Potter? I promise it will just take a second.”

“Sure?” Harry jumps off the bed, sharing a confused look with Draco he follows her out the door. Narcissa closed it behind them, crouching so she was more at his level.

“You know about Sirius by now I presume?” Narcissa continues after Harry nods, “well what you may not know is he’s my cousin, therefore I have been given an invitation to his trial.”

Harry tilted his head, confused, “why are you telling me this Mrs Malfoy?”

“I’m telling you because I have been asked by a certain dog if I’ll bring you, now I don’t know how he knows you’re here.” Narcissa shook her head with a smile, “but Lucius is going on someone else’s request and I need a someone to accompany me anyway, what do you say?”

Harry had a good idea of how Sirius knew he was here, he told Remus for just a reason like this, Harry smiled up at the woman.

“Of course, I’d love to go!”

“Wonderful the trial is in two days, do you have any nice clothes?” Narcissa questions standing straight again.

Harry nods, Narcissa tells him some more facts before letting him go back to his friends. Harry walked in the room with a smile.

“What was that about?” Draco asks from his crouched position by the door.

“Family stuff, nothing to concern yourselves with.” Harry jumped on the bed falling on his back, arms crossed behind his head.

“What could she have needed to tell you?” Draco looks at the door with a mixed expression.

“Draco, did you know we’re cousins?” Harry asks instead, looking at the blonde curiously.

“What? No we’re not.” Draco made a thoutfull face, “actually I could believe that, every old wizard family tree is crossed together somewhere.”

“That’s true,” Harry nods, “but that’s not how I got this.” He holds up his hand showing off the previously glamoured heir ring.

“When did you get that?!” Draco dashed over, grabbing Harry’s wrist to look at the ring better, “is this really the black heir ring?”

“Indeed it is, Sirius Black is my godfather.” Harry nods.

“The one who never got a trial?” Blaise looks up from the book he’s reading.

“The one and only, once he’s freed he’ll be fighting for custody of me.” Harry put his hand back down, Draco walked back to his vanity.

“That’s insane,” Blaise shook his head, “and completely believable. Are you sure you don’t already have the black family insanity?”

Harry glares at the boy, hitting him with a pillow. “No I don’t have the family insanity, I’m a normal amount of crazy!”

Blaise glares grabbing a pillow to hit him back, starting a pillow fight. Draco tries to break it up, getting thrown off the bed he retaliates by grabbing his own pillow.

Draco hits Harry in the stomach with a weighted pillow, Harry kneels to the ground with a choked gasp, Blaise raises his pillow above his head, bashing Harry in the back of the head.

Draco bends over laughing as Blaise falls off the bed, Harry kicking him in the chest. Feathers fill the air as Harry hits Draco with a pillow, ripping it at the seams.

The three boys freeze watching the feathers fall, breaking into laughter as a house elves pops in tripping on a fallen pillow.

“Young Master Draco,” Harry recognized the little guy, Dobby held his ears as he spoke. “Dinner will be ready shortly, young master and friends are requested in the drawing room.” He pops away seconds after he finishes his sentence.

“Ugh, let’s go” they all groan heading to the door, Blaise flicks Harry on the head. Draco laughed as Harry pouted.

The boys made their way to the drawing room, giggling as they walked the halls.

Entering the lavish room, Lucius and Narcissa sat on a love seat the boys sitting on a couch opposite them.

“Hello boys, how’s your sleep over going?” Narcissa smiled.

“It’s going well mother.” Draco smiled back, he was sitting in the middle of the couch.

“That’s good.” Narcissa turned to her husband as he jumped, clearing his throat.

“Potter.” Lucius looked at the boy with a hesitant expression, “I found this in my library, and I think you’ll like, it- it’s a very good read.”

Lucius shakily handed Harry a bound book, he could sense magic inside. Shifting it in his hands, he reads the titles. The words shifting on the cover ‘mythical snakes and how to befriend them by Salazar Slytherin.’

‘ What ?’

Harry smirked, “thank you mister Malfoy, I’ll make sure to read it as soon as I can!”

Lucius nodded eyes wide as he wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist, “of course, I hope you enjoy it.”

Narcissa smiled at her husband, turning back to the boys she clapped her hands.

“Dinner should be about done now, why don’t we head to the table?”

Everyone nods in agreement, they eat dinner with little interruption. It was a more normal dinner than Harry expected, but he didn’t relly know what he expected in the first place anyway.

After dinner the boys were sent to bed, the room no longer covered in feathers and with two new mattresses on the floor.

Harry stacked the floor mattresses, Blaise lying down on them as he climbs on Draco’s bed. Draco gives him a ‘really.’ Look, Harry just shrugged.

“This bed is bigger than the one at Hogwarts.”

“Thats not an excuse.” Draco muttered crawling under the covers.

Harry listened as the other two boys went to sleep, sitting up he looks at the book given to him, Opening it to the first page.

“Why did he give you an unreadable book?” Blaise says sitting up to lean on Draco’s bed.

“What do you mean?” Harry asks confused.

“It’s just a bunch of squiggly lines.” Blaise looks at him funny.

“What?” Harry looks at the book, the words still shifting on the inside as well. ‘ Is this… ’

“Don’t tell me you can read that.” Blaise groans, slumping on the side of the bed.

“I think it’s parseltongue.” Harry whispers.

“What?” Blaise moves to sit on the bed, looking over Harry’s shoulders, “what does it say?”

“It’s facts about magical snakes, but it’s written by Salazar Slytherin.” Harry closes the book looking at it in amazement. ‘ I’ve never seen a book like this before, are there more? ’

“You should read it out loud if you’re planning to do it anyway.” Draco mumbles sleepily from under the blankets.

So Harry read the book aloud as Blaise and Draco listened, Draco fell asleep by the third page. Blaise leaned against the headboard falling asleep by the second chapter.

Harry stopped reading aloud, continuing the book silently.

‘ I wonder if Salazar wrote this for his kids.. ’

Chapter Text

Harry was sitting upside down on a couch in the lounge, Blaise was reading a book and Draco was practicing a new spell on a coat.

“Do you think it looks better in blue, or green?” Draco asks as he inspected the currently blue coat.

“It looks fine like that.” Harry says, he was watching Lilac do a little snake dance on the carpet as she digested a mouse.

Draco hummed setting the coat on a chair, he cast the spell again turning it green.

“Are you sure?”

Harry groans, “I don’t care, Please just choose a color I can’t take this any longer.” He slid off the couch falling to the floor.

“Stop being dramatic, you need to look good for the trial, now seriously which do you prefer?” Draco looks at him expectantly.

“Just give me whatever color it is now, your mom should be done getting ready soon.” Harry holds out a hand for the coat, Draco throws it hitting Harry’s head. “Prat.”

Harry puts on the coat, checking himself in a mirror, his hair was almost long enough to put in a hair tie. ‘ Hm, maybe .’

He puts on a grey beanie, checking his hair hides his scar.

Narcissa walks in the room, smiling at the boys, “it’s time to go Harry.”

“Alright.” He spins in front of the mirror once, then walks to the door calling over his shoulder. “Feed Lilac for me tonight, please and thank you. See you guys!”

“Yeah yeah, see you later tonight.” Draco rolls his eyes, Blaise does a sharp wave not looking up from his book.

Harry follows Narcissa to the floo, handing him some floo powder, Narcissa goes first, then Harry. They step out in the ministry of magic heading to the law department.

Harry expects them to sit on some benches or something to wait for the trial, he’s been in court before, he knows how these things go.

Narcissa hold Harry’s hand as she walks through a crowd of people, heading to some doors in a corner she lets Harry step in first closing the door behind them.

They walk down a less populated hallway, only a few guards passing them. Stopping at a door with no handle, Narcissa knocks the door swinging open.

“Remus!” Harry smiled walking in to greet the man.

“Harry, it’s great to see you again.” Remus stand from his seat at a table, “lady Malfoy, it’s nice to meet you in person.”

“You as well,” Narcissa smiled at him, “when is he supposed to get here?”

“Any minute now.” Remus says looking at a clock on the wall.

“Wait, who?” Harry looks around the room, was this an interrogation room?

A door opposite the one they entered from opened, two guards walking in with a man in between them. Sirius grinned widely as he saw Remus, then turned to shock as he saw to Narcissa.

“Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually come,” Sirius teased, eyes widening as he spots Harry next to her. “Harry, Is that really you?”

“The one and only,” Harry grinned, “you must be Sirius, my godfather?”

‘ Fuck I want to run and hug him, I miss padfoot!! ’

Sirius laughed, “the one and only, look how big you’ve grown! How old are you now?” He smiled as the guards moved him to sit on the opposite side of the table then the others.

“Im eleven.” Harry says walking to put his arms on the table.

“Really?” Sirius’s eyes turned glassy, “that’s great, you enjoying Hogwarts?”

Harry nods, “it’s been fun, it’s only my first year so I don’t want to cause too much trouble you know? But next year, next year’s going to be big.” He grins at his godfather as he breaks into barked laughter.

“That’s my godson alright!” Sirius turns to Remus still grinning, “hear that Moony, he’s a real marauder ain’t he?”

“He sure is, I’ve heard a few stories of his days there already,” Remus rolls his eyes, a small smile on his face, “he’s about as ventures as you and James were.”

The two men share a laugh at that.

Harry looked between them, ‘ were they this friendly in my time? I think I remember Remus holding a wand to Sirius’s throat before. ’

He watched a little confused as the two men talked, Sirius was being Sirius but it was different, more soft. Remus was laughing with Sirius, but his voice would waver every once in a while, Harry thought he saw tears form in the man’s eyes but they disappeared before he could get a good look.

Then Sirius was told to stand up by the guards, pushed to the door he came in from. Narcissa and Remus lead Harry out of the room.

It was time for the trial.

Chapter Text

Harry sat on a bench outside the courtroom waiting for Narcissa to finish talking to Lucius, they’re whispering echoing from a hall down.

The trial has been cut in to two parts as some people still believe Sirius was guilty of something, even with no proof.

Swinging his legs, Harry watches Lucius look around with wide eyes as he whispers into Narcissa’s ear, the man looked crazy the journal clearly taking a toll on his mind.

‘ That’s what you get for harboring something with dark magic attached to it, couldn’t be me. ’

Remus walked into view sitting on the bench by Harry, he hands him a cup.

“Hot chocolate?”

“Where did you get this?” Harry asks taking the treat, he sniffs it with a sigh. “It’s not nearly cold enough for this.”

“That’s rubbish, any weathers good weather for chocolate in any form.” Remus huffs taking a drink. “Just cause it’s hot doesn’t mean it needs to be cold.”

Harry hums as he drinks the chocolate, “how’s Sirius feeling about the trial?”

“Nervous, though he won’t admit it.” Remus shakes his head, “I don’t blame him for being cautious, but I wish he’d act correctly for how serious a situation this is.”

“He is Sirius.” Harry says as he takes another drink.

Remus pauses for a second, a smile breaks out on his face, “if he heard you say that joke..” he laughs shaking his head.

“He’d love me even more?” Harry smiled as he kicked his feet sweetly.

“Yeah, he’d love you even more.” Remus smiled reaching a hand to pat Harry’s head, shifting his beanie around.

“Hey! Stop you’re messing up my hair!” Harry whined swatting the man’s hand away, Remus laughed some more.

“Isn’t this a sweet sight.” Lucius drawls walking up to them, “the beast and his pup.”

“Lucius.” Remus glared, casting a weary look from him to Harry, “Please, watch what you say around him.”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t told him yet?” Lucius raises a brow in faux disappointment.

Remus opens his mouth to say something, closing it seconds later.

“Remus?” Harry says concerned as he glares at Lucius, “are you okay?”

“I’m fine Harry, you don’t need to worry.” Remus gives a weak smile, worry etched on his face.

‘ Leave it to Lucius to ruin the moment .’ Harry mentally rolled his eyes.

“For now he doesn’t, but the moon is almost full.” Lucius smirks, “tell him now and he might not run.”

“That’s enough.” Narcissa walks up grabbing Lucius’s arm. “This is a stressful enough day already for Harry, he doesn’t need you making it worse.”

Lucius doesn’t say anything, giving Remus and Harry one last look before he walks away. Narcissa turns to face the two.

“He’s right though, if you want to be apart of Harry’s life from now on he needs to know.” Narcissa speaks softly, “the doors are gonna open again soon, we should get ready.”

Remus nods standing, “right, I’ll see you once this is over Harry, if this goes well would you two want to get ice cream?” He asks the two, the woman nods with a smile.

“That could be arranged, are you ready Harry?” Narcissa looks at the small boy.

“Yep, see you later Remus!” Harry waves as he follows Narcissa, Remus waves back as he walks out of the hall.

‘ Sirius better be freed or so help me Merlin I will rage. ’

Chapter Text

Sirius was free. Harry clapped as they announced it, getting looks from other wizards but he didn’t care.

He was released of his cuffs, wiggling his wrist and stretching his back as he walked out of the room. Harry and Narcissa move to follow.

“How’s it feel to be free?” Harry asks as they catch up to the rugged man.

“Brilliant.” Sirius smiles, then pouts, “but I’m not really free yet, I can’t believe they assigned me to a year in St Mungo’s mental ward.”

“You have been in Azkaban for eleven years, you’re lucky they didn’t make it longer.” Narcissa flatly states from behind them.

“Oh come on, Don’t be like that cissy.” Sirius turns, walking backwards as he reached out a hand, “you brought my godson to my trial, even staying yourself, you can’t act like you’re upset with me.”

“There’s no point, anything you’ve done to tarnish the Black family has already been done times before,” Narcissa sighs, then she smiles at the man, “it’s nice to have you back though, Sirius.”

Sirius laughs, “indeed it is! Now how about we head out to celebrate before the guards realize I’m not suppose to leave yet.”

“Remus promised to get me ice cream!” Harry exclaims as they rush to the floo’s.

“Well he’s going to have to meet us there, I’m sure he’ll figure it out.” Sirius laughs.

Narcissa sighed as she watched the two run from the room, she goes to find Remus and inform him of their plans.

Harry and Sirius were sitting at a table outside Florean Fortescue’s ice cream parlor, already enjoying their treats as Narcissa and Remus get there.

Harry waves them over. Narcissa sitting down across from Harry as Remus goes to order.

“Nice of you boys to wait.”

Sirius and Harry shrugged, Harry smiling as he responded. “What? Sirius spent eleven years in Azkaban! The man needs some ice cream.”

“Damn Right!” Sirius laughs along with the boy. Remus walks up to the table, taking a seat by Narcissa and across from Sirius.

“Language.” Remus remarks to Sirius as he takes a bite from his chocolate sundae.

“English.” Sirius states back, taking a bite of his own peanut butter ice cream.

“Not what I meant and you know it.” Remus glares at the grinning man, “if you plan to adopt Harry at any point you need to start being more-“ Remus pauses as both Harry and Sirius smirk, “never mind, you know what I’m trying to say.”

“I don’t believe we do actually,” Harry says innocently, “how could we if you don’t finish your sentences?”

Remus sighs, Narcissa speaking up instead.

“You plan to adopt Harry?” She questions the dog animagus.

“Yeah, oh.” Sirius turns to Harry with wide eyes, “Shit, I forgot to ask!”

“He already knows, I talked to him about it.” Remus sighs again, Sirius glances at him then back to Harry.

Harry nods eating some of his cookie dough ice cream, “He did.”

“Oh, cool...” Sirius look around the room, he turns to Harry with a serious gaze, “and your response?”

Turning to face the dog with a blank face Harry blinks, “I don’t know Padfoot, you know there is a good chance I came to your trial not to see you free.”

“Is that a yes, I’ve spent years in prison Harry I can’t tell your sarcasm apart from normalcy.” Sirius deadlines back.

Harry hums, “such a shame, and here I thought you loved me.” Sirius gasped.

Narcissa puts a hand over her mouth as her eyes crinkled, Remus snorted.

“You’re questioning my love?!” The man stands throwing a hand over his heart, Narcissa and Remus freeze. “My own godson! Questioning my actions!”

“Sit down!!” Remus whisper shouts, people were looking their way.

“I can’t sit down Moony, my love is being questioned!” Sirius walks to place a hand on the man’s shoulder. “I can feel my heart tearing!”

“Your causing a scene please sit down.” Remus begs with a wince.

Sirius responds by kneeling on the floor by Remus, placing his head on the man’s arm, “it hurts Moony, he’s broken it!”

“Sirius!” Remus glares his face turning red, Sirius smirks at him. “Stop acting like a child and sit in your chair.”

“A child!” Sirius says offended.

Harry laughs as the men start to bicker, casting a glance to Narcissa who had a look of amusement on her face, he felt a soft smile cross his own face.

‘ This is how it’s supposed to be. ’

Suddenly Harry thought of something. “Hey Aunty Narcissa?”

The woman raised an eyebrow as she turned to face him, “Yes Harry?”

“When are we supposed to head back?”

Narcissa looks at a clock in the wall eyes widening, she turns back to the men with an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry to cut this short but we must be leaving, Harry say goodbye.”

“What? Come on Cissy just a bit longer.” Sirius whines, his arm was wrapped around Remus’s shoulder as he sat half on the man’s chair.

“Harry has plans with Draco and Blaise, I’m sure he doesn’t want to keep them waiting.” She smiles sweetly.

“Sorry Sirius, I’ll come visit you in St Mungos when I have the chance,” Harry says walking over to hug the two men. “Bye Remus.”

“Bye Harry, it was nice seeing you.” Remus smiles patting the boys head.

“It was nice seeing you too.” Harry’s smiles as he steps back, Sirius still hugging him. “Padfoot?”

“Hold on.” Sirius picks Harry up, crushing him in the hug as he spins making the boy squeal.

“What’s that for?” Harry giggles, regaining his balance as Sirius sets him down.

“Don’t ever question how much I care about you, even jokingly.” Sirius ruffled Harry’s hair, “now go have fun with your friends, we can talk more about mischief when you come visit.”

Harry’s throat closes for a second, he takes a breath before speaking, “of course Padfoot, I’ll see you soon!!”

Harry said bye on last time before they left, Sirius continuing to wave as they walked off.

“Did you enjoy your day?” Narcissa asks as they reach the floo.

Harry smiles up at her, “it was the best in a while.”

“I’m glad.” Narcissa smiles back.

‘ It was a very good day indeed, I can’t wait to have my family again. ’

Chapter Text

Harry awoke to the sound of Draco complaining, Blaise’s calm tone heard under his annoyed one.

Harry sat up, looking around the room spotting the two bickering in a corner.

“No you can’t have my scarf end of discussion.” Blais says as he goes through his trunk.

“You have another one, just give it to me for the trip there,” Draco pouted as he stood behind Blaise, “please.”

“No.”

“Come on!” Draco walks over to grab the scarf, Blaise hits his hand, “ow! Prat!”

Draco hits Blaise on the head, Blaise retaliates by jabbing his side. Harry jumps off the bed walking over to them, he grabs their collars pulling them back to place his hands on their shoulder’s.

“What’s got you two in such a fuss?” He tightens his hold as Draco squirms. “Nervous to go back to Hogwarts?”

Blaise grabs Harry’s arm, pushing it off of him as he steps back.

“Of course not.” He walks back to his trunk kneeling to pick up a bottle that was knocked over, “Draco’s just being a brat as usual.”

“Watch it Zabini!” Draco growled, he pushes Harry back. “If you’d just give me the scarf.”

“What happened to your scarf?” Harry asks looking at Draco.

“He lost it.” Blaise mocked.

“Dont make me hex you!” Draco pointed at Blaise.

“I’d like to see you try.” Blaise glared over his shoulder.

“Enough.” Harry bellowed, the other two’s head snapping to face him. he walks to his own trunk, grabbing a scarf he throws it at Draco, “There, Happy?”

Draco clenches the scarf in his hands as he walks to his bed, sitting on it with a huff.

“What’s got you two all worked up, really.” Harry looks between the two, neither turning to face him. “Not talking? Fine.”

‘ Since they won’t bother me I’ll put some plans into motion, make them panic. ’

“ Lilac .” Harry calls into the room, “ where are you? ” Draco tenses as he speaks, Blaise glancing at Harry.

“ Yess sspeaker? ” She uncurls from a heated rock in the corner, “ why do you dissturb me? ”

“ Come here .” Harry reaches an arm to the ground, kneeling so the snake can climb up. “ Hello love, can you do me a favor? ” Lilac nods, “ I need you to go find Lucius and bite him. ”

“ You ssaid never bite anyone. ” Lilac hissed in delight.

“ Only the ones I tell you to is what I said, now can you do it? ” Harry grins as the snake curls and uncurls in excitement.

“ Yess, I will kill the human ass you wish. ” Lilac nods.

“ No no, bite, not kill .” Harry says shaking his head.

“ Yess bite and kill the bird .” The snake nods.

“No, Don’t kill him!” Harry says more concerned.

“What?” Blaise’s head snaps to Harry.

Draco jumped off the bed, “Kill who!”

“Huh? Oh nothing,” Harry looks at them and shakes his head, “nothing of concern to you… yet.”

“Yet!” Draco says wide eyed, “What are you planning!”

“Nothing!” Harry defends himself as he lowers Lilac to the ground. “Just don’t expect to see your father for a while.”

“The fucks that supposed to mean?!” Draco says in horror, eyes snapping to the snake going for the door, “Lilac do not leave this room!”

Blaise and Draco both dive for the snake, Lilac hissing as Blaise catches her throat.

“ Let go! ”

“Aw come on guys, it’s just a prank!” Harry backs towards a open window.

“A prank?!” Draco shouts walking after Harry, “you’re planning to kill my father!”

“Not kill, severely injure. There’s a difference.” Harry defends raising his hands.

Blaise puts Lilac in a trunk with a quiet sorry, he closes the lid before heading towards Harry.

“Guys come on, we’re all friends here.” Harry feels the window on his back, he hops up to sit on the ledge. “You don’t want anything bad to happen right?”

“What are you doing?” Blaise asks as he narrow’s his eyes.

“He’s bluffing.” Draco says rolling his eyes.

“Oh?” Harry moved his feet over the ledge.

“Harry.” Draco’s eye’s widen, “don’t do it.”

Harry looks at the view, the window was a story up and there were bushes at the bottom. ‘ Well if there’s a time like any to see if I still kept my air step, it’s now. ’

Harry holds his breath tipping forward, he hears the other boys screech behind him.

He summons his magic pulling it around him to slow his fall, then gathering his magic around his feet he places a foot forward like he’s walking on the ground.

Harry strides down an invisible staircase, making it partway down before his magic falter’s his feet losing their support he plummets the rest of the way down.

“Merlin, Harry are you okay!!” Draco shouts from his window.

He doesn’t answer for a second, just staring at the ground, he’s breath ragged. ‘ That was not good, that was so not good, what the fuck just happened. ’ He steadiness his breathing, closing his eyes as he exhales loudly.

“No.. think I broke my arm..” Harry groans sitting up.

“Hold on I’m getting mom!” Draco shouts before he leaves the window.

Harry lays down in the grass again.

“ At leadt it could be worse. ” He shifts, wincing as his arm spike with pain. “Hope my magic doesn’t do that shit again though.”

Narcissa fixed Harry’s arm easily, reprimanding him the whole time and a half hour after. She was very scary in mother mode Harry’s come to realize.

Draco and Blaise both glared at him while he was being treated, not talking to him as they waited in the room after Narcissa left.

“What?” Harry tilts his head.

“What? What!” Draco’s face went red, “you jumped out a window!”

“Idiot.” Blaise shook his head.

“What? I thought I could fly.” Harry shrugged relaxing into the couch.

“Idiot!” Blaise groaned hitting his head on The back of the couch.

“How could you ever think that!” Draco screamed.

“Voldemort can fly.” Harry tilts his head, “so technically anyone strong enough can also fly.”

Draco and Blaise both stared at him in a mix of fascination and horror. Draco opens his mouth just to close it again.

“He’s not wrong-“

“No. We’re not talking about this. We have to be at the platform in a hour.” Blaise shakes his head walking back to the room, Harry and Draco get up to follow him.

“You’re just mad you can’t fly.” Harry comments.

“You can’t either!” Draco shouts.

“So you say.” Harry grins.

“I swear if you ever jump out another

window-“ Draco is cut off as Harry runs past him.

“You’ll have to stop me first!”

“Merlin Harry!” Draco and Blaise race to catch up with him.

He didn’t actually jump out another window, just onto the bed to laugh as Blaise and Draco run in behind him all tired.

Both the others boy punch him on the arm, he just laughs as they collapse in the bed too.

This was much better than earlier.

Chapter Text

The charm was cast quickly, a subtle floating bag by the door. A dungbomb looming over the charms classroom, the ones who set it up hiding a hallway down as they waited.

Harry giggled, George put a finger to his lips  as he shushed him. Fred was crouched down looking around the corner.

“Class is almost over.” Fred whispers in excitement, he straightens his posture holding up his wand.

Harry looks around the corner as the classroom door opens, a Slythein walks out.

Fred waves his wand with a smirk, Harry grins as he plugs his nose.

Two Ravenclaw students walk out laughing about something, head thrown back as they inhaled. a bang sounds and the pair retch as their lungs are filled with a green gas and horrid stench.

Gagging and shrieks echo from the room as the gas spreads, Harry breaks out into laughter as he hears Proffesor McGonagall scream.

“We gotta get going.” Fred says through his own cackling.

All three of them make a break for it down the hallway, stumbling as they turn around bumping into someone.

“Oh shit.” Harry mutters as he runs into George’s back, looking at the hold up he hides behind the older boys.

“Language my boy.” Dumbledore shakes his head. “I believe it’s not too far for me to assume you’re the ones behind this commotion?"

Fred and George chuckle nervously.

“I mean, sure you could say that. but you know what assuming really does, don’t you Proffesor?” Harry questions peaking his head out from behind George.

“And what’s that?” Dumbledore looks down curiously.

“It makes an ass out of u and me sir.” Harry grins.

Dumbledore snorts, George looks at Harry confused while Fred giggles.

“I don’t get it?” He looks to Fred for an explanation.

“It’s a muggle joke, I’ll explain it later.” Fred grins at his brother with a gesture before looking back to Dumbledore with offense.

George seemingly reading his brothers mind, copies his face as he turns to the headmaster, “Come on Professor, you can’t just blame us cause we’re in the same area as the prank.”

Dumbledore looks down at Harry, some leftover rope and a bag on his side, his robe just opened enough to see them.

“Dammit.” Harry sighs looking down, adjusting his coat. “To your office then?” He smiles sheepishly. Dumbledore nods.

“At least your better then professor McGonagall, or Snape catching us.” George shivers.

“Actually, I just need to speak with Harry in my office, I’ll have to leave you two’s punishment to her.” Dumbledore says gesturing behind the students, they turn slowly seeing the witch in green come around the corner.

“You know we would really prefer coming with you guys.” Fred chuckles. The boys turns pale as the witch glares at them, her nose pinched as she approached.

“Weasley’s.” McGonagall growls, “my office now.”

“Yes Professor.” The twins sigh in unison, following slowly after the witch.

“Have fun guys!” Harry waves after them, earning a glare from the two with a rude gesture added by George. ‘ I’m going to be pranked so hard later. ’ He shook the dread from his brain, turning back to Dumbledore.

“This way, my boy.” Dumbledore says walking towards his office. “I’ll save the more important subject for when we’re in a more private area, but I feel it safe to ask this now.” He glances at Harry beside him, the boy waving his arms exaggeratedly as he walked. “How was meeting your parent’s friends?”

Harry looked at him suspiciously. “It was nice, how’d you know about that though?”

“I was at the trial.” Dumbledore chuckled. “It is one of my jobs after all.”

“I completely forgot you were Supreme Mugwump!” Harry says face palming.

“I talked for a section of the trial?”Dumbledore glances at him, Harry couldn’t tell if he looked more amused or concerned.

“Yeah I wasn’t really paying attention.” he leans his head back, staring at the ceiling.

“Remus kept pulling chocolate from his pockets throughout, it was insane. He had a whole pitcher of hot chocolate just sitting in there, waiting. It had me shook not gonna lie.” Harry made a face of amazement, “like how does he make sure it doesn’t spill? Is it charmed not to or does he have to set the cup in a certain way. It’s been haunting me.” he shakes the thoughts from his head with a sigh before looking at the headmaster again.

“Anyway, what were we talking about?”

“Nothing important, you know I’ve noticed the man’s chocolate summoning as well, do you think he could perhaps have a whole table in his coat full of his chocolate desserts?” Dumbledore says, eyes sparkling.

“That’d make so much sense!” Harry grins with a clap. “Like a buffet on the road!”

“Now that’s a good idea.” Dumbledore says thoughtfully, stroking his beard. “A very good coat idea.”

“I know right?.” Harry nods excitedly, “it would sell for so much! The world could change for the better because of it im sure!”

“You’ve got me invested my boy, we must question Remus about this when we meet with him.” Dumbledore states.

“Absolutely!” Harry cheers, “wait what?” He turns to look at Dumbledore. “Meet with him?”

“That is the reason I’ve come to get you my boy,” Dumbledore says as they approach the griffin statue. “Peppermint pasty’s.” The statue moves revealing a staircase.

Harry follows Dumbledore up the steps, entering the office he smiles, “hey Remus, what are you doing here?”

Remus looked over at them, placing a book back on the shelves as he smiles. “Hello Harry it’s nice to see you, I’m here to discuss something with you and Professor Dumbledore.”

“Oh? What about?” Harry asks sitting on a chair in front of the desk.

Dumbledore walks around to sit in his chair, waving his hand some papers fly off and into a back room.

“Very important matters I assure you my boy, now Remus how about you start us off.”

Remus nods looking at Harry nervously, “Harry there’s something I need to tell you,” he twist’s his hands as he speaks, “I know your excited to live with Sirius after he’s considered sane again. or as sane as he can get..” Remus mumbles the last part, Harry grins. “And Sirius is just as excited, in fact he’s so excited he’s asked me to start the adoption process early.”

Harry feels a surge of excitement, his plans were coming together faster than he could’ve hoped. Then he paused. “But how? Sirius can’t adopt me while deemed insane, can he?”

Remus shifts in his seat, “that’s the part I want to talk about to you about, there’s something me and Sirius have.. withheld from telling you.” Harry tilted his head, Remus scratched his chin. “You see.. me and Sirius were- are engaged.”

Harry’s brain goes to static for a second, staring at Remus. Then he smiles, “I never knew you two were together! how’d that happen?”

Remus laughs softly, “You don’t want to hear all that sappy stuff, Sirius tells it better than me anyway.”

“Trust me I really do.” Harry leans forward, eyes sparkling, “who proposed?”

“Sirius did, a few weeks before… everything.” He gets a sad look, it’s gone a second later, replaced with a soft smile. “He bought a beautiful moonstone ring for me, proposed while we were on a picnic with your parents.”

“That’s so romantic.” Harry sighs.

“Yes, it was really nice.” Remus nods, straightening his back. “When he first got out he sent a request to speak with me. Sirius asked me if after all this time I still wanted to marry him, and I said yes.”

“That’s so sweet!” Harry squealed bouncing in excitement, “so that means..”

“I would like to adopt you along with Sirius, you’d be both of our’s child, if you’d let me.” Remus holds a hand out.

Before Harry could respond, Dumbledore cleared his throat giving Remus a look. Harry looks between them, anxiety raising in his chest as he tenses. ‘ He’s gonna say I can’t. He’s gonna send me to the Dursley’s saying it’s safer, the old crazy bitch- ‘

“Oh! Right, yes.. there’s one other thing.” Remus takes back his hand, “if you are to accept, you need to know about my illness.”

Harry relaxes, “you mean your lycanthropy.”

Remus looks at him in surprise, “what- How do you know about that?”

Harry laughs, “I have my way’s Moony, I’ll have you know I’d never let you being a werewolf stop me from wanting you to adopt me.”

“So, you accept.” Remus’s voice breaks as Harry reaches a hand out, wrapping his own around the small boy’s.

“Of course, I can’t wait to have two dad’s to come home to.” Harry jokes, hugging Remus as the man makes a choking sound, he hugs Harry back tightly.

“I promise we’ll take the best care of you, you’ll never have to see the Dursleys again unless you want to.” Remus says into Harry’s hair.

“I know you will.” Harry whispers, his own voice scratchy as he buries his face in Remus’s shirt.

Dumbledore coughs again after a few minutes, Remus and Harry separate foggy eyed as they continue their meeting. Dumbledore signed some papers transferring Harry’s guardianship to the wolf.

“When it’s time for you to go home, I’ll pick you up from the platform, we can grab your stuff from your relatives and I’ll take you to our new house. Does that sound fine?” Remus asks as they leave Dumbledores office.

“Sounds brilliant, I can’t wait.” Harry’s says positively jumping in the corridor from his excitement.

“Great. until Sirius gets out we’ll be staying at my place.. it’s not the nicest, but it will do until we can move into the Black family house.” Remus explains, “I wanted to wait until we had a better place to live but…”

“It’s okay,” Harry laughs, “I’m sure your house is fine, I honestly can’t wait to see it.”

Remus chuckles, “it’s more a cabin, on the outskirts of a town, has to be with my whole Lycan thing.” He rubs his neck. “Because of that there won’t be many people around, plus the whole haunted woods thing..”

“You know the more you describe your house, the more I feel like I’m walking into a murder trap.” Harry grinned, “you have haunted places near your place?”

Remus made a face, “it does look a bit murdery but I can’t help it with my pay grade, it’s all I can afford.. yes there’s some woods behind the house that’s said to be haunted, I’ve never seen anything myself though.”

Harry tilts his head, “I wonder what’s hiding there.”

“And you’ll stay wondering, same rules as here the forest is forbidden.” Remus says looking at Harry sternly. “Can’t have you getting hurt on my watch.”

“The forest here is forbidden, I have tea with the centaurs every Saturday!” Harry says in mock shock.

“You’ve met centaurs?” Remus looks at Harry concerned. “Did they do anything to you?”

Harry rolled his eyes, “besides kidnap me for three days, nothing you really need to know about.”

“You were kidnapped?!” Remus looks at the headmasters door with wide eyes, “I was never told that!”

“It’s not a big deal I made it back.” Harry smiles.

“Of course it’s a big deal! You were missing for three days and no one knows?”

“The student and teacher body does.” Harry shrugged, “I think Dumbledore kept it under wraps for some reason.”

“That crazy bastard.” Remus mutters under his breath. “How did you get back?”

“I just walked back after the centaurs let me go, it was a crazy few days not gonna lie, I still don’t know what fully happened…”

“They just let you go?” Remus questions.

“Mhm.”

“Huh… and you’re not traumatized?”

“Hah, like that could have any effect on the dust that is my brain and the rot that is my mind.” Harry laughs. Remus looks at him in concern.

A buzzing sounds from Remus’s wrist, he moves his sleeve revealing a muggle watch, “I’m afraid I have to get going, we’ll finish this conversation later.” He looks at Harry with a smile. “I’ll see you when schools over, don’t get into too much trouble, alright?”

Harry smirks at him, “I promise nothing.”

“Right..” Remus shakes his head with a laugh. “I’ll see you soon.” The man ruffles Harry’s hair, and with one last and bye, he leaves the premises.

Harry sighs as he makes his way to the Gryffindor common room, he had some Weasley’s to see and a new life to wait for.

‘ I can’t wait to see my gay dads! I wonder if Draco and Blaise would want to meet them? ’

Chapter Text

“This the place?” Harry slumps against a wall as Remus opens the rickety door, adjusting a bag of groceries he was carrying as he steps in.

“For now, Sirius’s house is much.. nicer, you’ll like it better. It has a library.” Remus answers, walking farther into the house. presumably to the kitchen.

Harry walked around the main room. A couch with a coffee table and a bookshelf by a fireplace. the place was clean, too clean. ‘ Remus panic cleaned before picking me up. touching. ’

He walks past the couch and through the door Remus went in, the smell of chocolate and spices hit his senses as he enters the brighter room.

Remus was putting away the food as Harry sat at the table, a plate of chocolate muffins sat in the center.

“These up for grabs?”

“Hm?” Remus hums turning around, Harry gestures to the muffins. “If that’s you asking if you can have some, then yes.”

“Sweet, thanks.” Harry grins as he grabs the treat.

Remus rummages through his cabinets, taking out a pot and some bottles.

“Watchu making?”

“Spaghetti.” Remus responds, “are you okay with that?”

“Yess, do you have stuff for garlic bread? It’s the best side for spaghetti.” Harry talks happily as he eats his muffin.

Remus nods, “I believe I do, while I’m making this, you should go check out your room. It’s the third door on the left upstairs.”

Harry claps, grabbing another muffin he stands. “Okay, I’ll put my bag up then come back down.”

Remus nods and Harry’s out the door.

Walking through the old house Harry goes to his now bedroom, behind the white chipping door was a small pale blue room with a bed and dresser.

He threw his trunk on the end of the bed, sitting down, he looks around the walls.

No vents.

He gets up and carefully presses his weight on the floorboards, making his way to the dresser he drops to the ground and tests the boards.

A little wobble sounds and Harry grins, prying up the loose board he pulls a bag from his coat placing it gently under the floor before putting the board back in place.

Done with hiding stuff Harry makes his way back downstairs, pausing as he passes a bookshelf by the fireplace in the front room. ‘ Huh, that’s new... ’

Remus stirs the noodles, tapping his fingers on the counter absently as he waited for Harry to return. The steam from the pot filling the room was a relaxing feeling as he thought. Or well, worried.

‘ I cleaned the entire house before picking him up from kings cross, the loose nails were removed from the walls. I repainted the spare bedroom- his bedroom, fixed the screaming pipes. Did I miss anything? ’ He checked the noodles, throwing one against the wall as he stirred the rest. ‘ He’s been gone a while, does he like the house? It’s creepy during the day and even creepier at night, hopefully he doesn’t get nightmares from the old paintings. I still haven’t found a way to take them down. ’ He turns down the stove, grabbing a strainer he sets up the sink.

Mixing the noodles with the sauce he listens to the house, quiet. Is having a kid in the house supposed to be this quiet? Remus didn’t know.

Just as he was about to call out, Harry walks into the room holding a small photo book.

“Hey Remus, what’s this?” He sets the book on the table, sitting down as he flips through the pages.

Remus turns off the oven as he takes out the garlic bread, setting it to cool he walks to stand by Harry.

Looking at the pictures he smiles, reaching to grab one.

“Sirius made this for me, it has a photo from every date we’ve been on.” The picture he grabbed was one of them sitting on a bench at the three broomsticks.

Harry hummed picking up a photo himself, the image of a smiling Sirius sat next to a Remus covered in flowers as he laughed.

“That’s adorable. I didn’t think Sirius to be such  a romantic.”

Remus laughed, “Yeah, neither did I until our first date. He took me out to the lake, he’d set up this picnic with some lights.” Remus sighed as he found the right picture, holding it for Harry to see. “It was a beautiful night.”

Harry looked at the photo in thought, Remus was smiling at Sirius as he laughed. Looking completely love struck.

“You guys were really in love, huh?” They’re was a sad tint to Harry’s voice as he spoke, he flipped through more pages. “you must have been destroyed when he left.”

Remus let out a huff of air, leaning to pick up the book. “Yeah we were, and yeah I was.” He flipped absently through the pages, “losing Sirius, your parents, you, and Peter all on the same night ruined me. I wasn’t in the right mind for years, I can admit that.”

 He looked at Harry with guilt, “it’s why I never looked for you, I wanted too. Merlin I wanted too, but I couldn’t. Couldn’t get off the couch, couldn’t leave my house for anything. Couldn’t trust myself to even be able to care for you.” Remus put his head in his hands voice scratchy. “I failed your parents, You, and Sirius.”

“No you didn’t.” Harry poked Remus’s side, leaning to see the man’s face. “You found me, and you’re taking care of me now. You may be late but it’s better than never. Sirius is out of prison and soon he’ll be here too, we can be the happy family my parents would have wanted.”

Harry’s eyes widened as Remus started shaking, the man let out a small sob as he pulled the boy in for a hug. Harry hugging him back.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be dumping this on you. But you are right. Sirius is free. I found you and You’re now my kid.” Remus lets out a disbelieved huff at my kid. “We’ll be a good family I’ll make sure, I won’t let darkness creep into our lives again.”

Harry hugs the man tighter, eyes staring at the wall as his mind goes somewhere else.

He wanted a happy family, he was sure he’d like a life with Remus and Sirius. He was enjoying his simple days at Hogwarts and the emotional event of being adopted with the add on of Sirius being let out of prison. it’s great, really.

But Harry’s not really an eleven year old boy, He’s not even close to being twelve and never will be again.

He’s one thousand and something years old. Harry’s older then everyone in Hogwarts combined. He’s not wasting his second chance at youth in a world no one knows his true self in. purely icing in love, peace and happiness. He’s tried that already, it gets pretty boring.

And Harry’s the god of death for fucks sake, ‘no darkness in this life’?. Impossible.

He was darkness. He was sorrow. He was the evil creeping in the shadows eating away at the minds of feeble beings. Tempting them to use his power, dim their lives with greed, anger, lust, resentment. Kill themselves more, so they can entertain him with sweeter songs when they meet at the gates.

That’s his life. That was his life. The feeling of the all encasing shiver of death, the very essence of his magic. Darkness follows him like a cloak of a friend.

But now he’s here, younger and weaker, his Magic not responding right. The darkness quiet in his ears where it once screamed. It’s always so quiet now, he can barely stand it.

Harry barely notices his fists clenching tighter on Remus’s sweater, the man looks at him in confusion. Harry just shrugs stepping back.

“Sorry. Emotions.” Harry makes a face, brushing off the subject. “I’m hungry, is dinner ready?”

“Oh! Yes, I’ll get the plates.” Remus walks get up, going to serve dinner.

They eat with idle chatter and small jokes, Harry was mostly lost in thought, Remus notices but doesn’t comment.

He goes up to his room that night with a light heart and heavy mind. Closing his door quietly he sighs.

‘ I’m wasting my time, I need to move things along. ’ He goes to his new hiding spot, taking out the small bag, he empty’s it in his hand.

The philosopher’s stone glints prettily in his palm as he turns it round.

“It’s almost time for the real fun to begin..” he giggles falling back on his bed.

“Get ready wizards. Your world will be lacking in its mundanity soon. Voldemort will be but a sliver in the shadow of my mirthful glow.”

Remus hears a cackle from Harry’s room as he walks by. Sighing he continues to his room. ‘ At least he’s not upset. ’

Chapter Text

The sun shined in Harry’s face as he headed to gringotts, having some things to find.

He walked into the marble building and be-lines to an unoccupied Goblin.

“I need to take some items from my vault.”

“Name?” The Goblin grumbles looking up.

“Harry potter.” The Goblin stares at him. Harry rolls his currently black eyes. “Here’s my key. I’m in disguise.”

“Right…” the Goblin takes the key, doing something with some papers pushing one out. “Blood drop here.”

Harry obliges with the blood sample the Goblin hummed as he looked at the paper. “Follow me.”

Harry trails after the being, humming as they went through hallways that seemed to never stop, twisting and turning for eternity. Harry had hummed the entire bohemian rhapsody twice before they made it to the rollercoaster that led to his vault.

“Your glamour will be destroyed as we go. You should take it off now.” The Goblin comments, jumping up onto the cart.

“If it’s gonna be taken no matter what, why bother.” Harry replies sweetly as he sat on a seat. The Goblin huffed, and then they were off turning and spinning as they descend into the vault system.

Once they reached the magic dispelling waterfall, Harry smirked as it washed over him the Goblin doing a double take when he realized it didn’t work.

The Goblin says something in gobbledegōōk, Harry assumes a curse.

“How did you do that?”

Harry smiles, “magic of course, I hope that’s not a problem?”

“I’m not sure..” The Goblin taps his claws on the carts handle. “No ones done that before.” He narrows his eyes looking Harry up and down. “You’re pretty young to have such an aura about you. Have some powerful object backing you up?”

“Nope.” Harry relaxes in his seat as the cart rattles. “Not anymore. This is all me.”

The Goblin hums. They don’t talk for the rest of the ride.

The cart screams as they finally reach their destination, the Goblin hops off walking to the giant vault door.

“Vault 711, Black family.” He snaps and the door slowly unlocks, creaking open. “Since you’re only the heir you can’t take too much out at once, I’ll have to check everything you grab.”

Harry nods walking into the vault, gold filled the room floor to ceiling in random piles. But that’s not what he’s here for.

He looks at the Goblin by the door, the being kept a close eye on him as he walked around.

Harry narrows his eyes. ‘ I have to be checked? Since when did that rule exist, this is gonna be difficult if I can’t even take what I came here for .’ He makes his way to the back, moving a portrait that was covering a bookcase.

‘ I need something to make a deal if it comes to it. ’

“Hey! What’s your name?” Harry calls behind him as he digs through a pile of random riches, throwing stuff to the side as he goes.

The Goblin grunts. “Rufflunk.”

“Great to meet you Rufflunk.” Harry grins at him. “Can you come in here and help me look for something?”

Rufflunk grunts again before walking in, maneuvering through Harry’s mess. “What are you looking for?”

“A very rare book I need for a project and it should be somewhere,” Harry gestures vaguely at a corner. “Around there.”

Rufflunk glares, “what’s the book called?”

Harry smiles. “‘The secret treasure holds of old family’s’ or something along the lines of that, my godfather says it holds almost every lost treasure hold imaginable from old wizard families all over the world.”

Rufflunk’s eyes spark with interest, Harry fights off a smirk. ‘ He’s going to be disappointed when he doesn’t find it at first, but I need his eyes off me. ’

“I’ll look for your book but it’s gonna cost you to take it out the vault.”

“That’s fine with me, I just need to verify a fact anyway!” Harry smiles turning back to his pile. “I’m going to continue looking over here.”

Rufflunk grunts already walking away.

Harry sighs scooting a pile over, throwing a tarp to the side he grins at the bundle of books tightly locked in magic chains.

‘ Trust the Blacks to refuse to destroy their forbidden shit.’ Grabbing at the chains Harry slowly starts to wrap his magic around the locks, testing their strength and cursing levels. ‘ Never got around to opening this in my time seemed to unnecessary, I didn’t need rituals and spell words then. ’ Flicking his wrist back he twist at the magic in the locks.

Harry inhales sharply as he’s shocked, jumping back he looks at his middle finger. A spark of green magic buzzes through the burnt limb.

“Fuck.” Shaking his hand he glares at the chains. “So you’re gonna be a dick about this.”

“Oi, Potter!” Rufflunk walks up to him, holding a book cover facing out. “This it?”

Harry stares at the book confused, the title stating ‘ secrets and treasures of the eldest family’s tombs .’ “what- yeah that’s, it.”

“What are you doing?” Rufflunk stares at Harry’s blackened finger.

“Huh? Oh! Just touched something I probably shouldn’t, nothing to worry about.” Harry hides his hand behind his back, his finger ached as he clenched his fist. ‘ Ok new plan .’

Rufflunk huffed. “If you get cursed it ain’t my fault. You gonna take your book or what.”

“What if I checked out this instead.” Harry gestures to the bound books. “Would that be cool?”

“The necromantic cursed book stack?” The Goblin looked up in thought. “Never. But I might be able to turn my eye, for a price.”

Harry smiles. “I’ll let you keep that book and two other things of your choice.”

“Deal.” Rufflunk nodded looking around the room in glee.

Harry’s smile turned vicious. “Perfect.”

Harry walked out of Gringotts with a stack of books covered in a sheet, he hoped no one sensed the dark magic creeping from the pages. Once fully out of the bank he took out his wand, casting a shrinking charm on the books before tucking them in his pocket. On to his next stop.

Harry walked out of Diagon ally and into Nocturn, popping in a potions shop he rings the bell on the counter.

“Welcome to the dry and sewn. What can I help you with?” A woman deadlines appearing behind the counter.

“I have an order for Lupin.” Harry says smiling at the woman.

“Hold on a second.” She disappears into the back room, coming back a second later with a wooden box. “Here you go.”

“Thanks!” Harry chirps taking the box. “Have a nice day!” The lady just grunts as he leaves.

“Ok what else, I went to Gringotts. got the potion ingredients… Oh!” Harry snapped, turning down a narrower corner as he goes deeper into the alley, “I have to find a nice anchor, something like…”

His eyes snap to an antique shop, a glint in the window catches his eye. Walking up to the shop Harry takes in the beautiful silver and ruby necklace. ‘ Perfect .’

Harry bought the necklace, finding a nice gold and emerald ring he buys that too.

Leaving the shop Harry apparates back to Remus’s place, quietly sneaking in through the back door he heads to his room. Plopping face down on his bed, he takes the book he got from Lucius out from under his pillow, flipping to the back page where a certain someone had written a message.

‘ For the boy who lived.

Hello Harry, you don’t know me yet, but I’m excited to meet you. I’ve heard many stories about your first year at Hogwarts. Fighting Gryffindors and befriending centaurs, meeting He who must not be named and surviving once more. It’s all so fascinating! What ever did you two talk about before the teachers arrived?

You should tell me about it all when we meet next year, I hope your as excited as me.

Best regards T.M.R. ’

Harry traced the smooth cursive with his fingers, the handwriting was Lucius’s no doubt. But the words weren’t.
‘ Why does Voldemort keep trying to be social? I think I prefer when he’s just trying to kill me. ’ He rips the page out, tucking the book back under his pillow he rolls on to his back. ‘ I wonder what his reactions gonna be, I bet he’s gonna be pissed. ’ Harry giggles, staring up at the ceiling.

The sound of Remus’s snoring could be heard in the dark, Harry listened as he tried to fall asleep. He felt a sense of foreboding that couldn’t be placed, something itching the back of his mind that wouldn’t let his mind fall into unconsciousness.

Something irritating was gonna happen, he felt it in his gut.

Harry groaned, turning to bury his face in his pillow. This was gonna be annoying.

Chapter Text

A knock echoed through the old house, two sharp bangs in quick succession making Remus look up from his book, chair scraping the floor as he stands to answer the door.

Lucius’s glare greets him on the other side, Draco and Blaise stood beside him. “Lupin.”

“Malfoy.” Remus nods to the man before looking at the kids. “Harry’s in his room, it’s upstairs on the left.”

The two nod rushing off to see their friend, Lucius scowls yelling after them. “Draco! Don’t touch anything, I don’t want you tracking filth home with you.” Draco nods before following Blaise up the stairs.

Remus glares at the man, “are you done?”

“Hmph. Hardly, the only reason Draco is here is because Narcissa allowed him. If it was up to me he wouldn’t go within ten feet of you.”

“Well good thing your wife runs the house then. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Remus shuts the door in a bristling Lucius’s face, Sighing he makes his way back to the kitchen.

Minutes later the smell of brownie’s drifted through the small house, entering the second bedroom to greet the current residers.

“Look all I’m saying is,” Harry waves a paper around. “If people didn’t want their ancient shit found, they shouldn’t leave it till later in life to sort out.”

“Okay? What does that have to do with the fact you went grave robbing?” Draco was lounging on Harry’s bed, staring at the ravenett with a tired look.

“Why would they keep the dead’s treasures in such weak coffins? Get a safe, or even better don’t abandon it in the ground!” Harry exclaims sitting at his new desk, he threw his head over the back of his chair to look at the other two.

“Is Mr. Lupin making brownies?” Blaise speaks up from his spot on the floor, setting the book he was reading to the side.

“Yep.” Harry nods. “He’ll bring some up when they’re done, now back to the original subject-“

“Am I smelling brownies?” Ron walks into the room, looking around as he sits on the bed.

Harry glares at him. “Yes, Remus will bring some when they’re done. Now if you don’t mind, I was talking.”

“Sorry.” Ron leans against the wall as he gestures at Harry to continue.

“Ahem.” Clearing his throat, Harry turns his glare to Draco. “Are you good?”

The blonde was currently flipping through an album he dug from Harry’s bedside table, he snaps his head up. “Hm? Yeah, keep going.”

Looking around the room, Harry makes sure he has their attention before turning back to the board he had propped on his desk.

“Ok, so as you guys know, I am a god.”

“Sure.” Ron nods. Draco and Blaise roll their eyes but nod as well.

“And as a god, I have massive power capabilities.”

Three more nods.

“So in theory, I could lend out my power for favors making an army of muggles into my warlock minions.” Harry frowns as Draco snorts. “Problem?”

“Yeah.” Draco deadpans. “That’s idiotic, no one can ‘lend out’ power, it’s not possible.”

“Of course we can!” Harry points aggressively at his board. “If we make a contract with our own magic infused in it, I’m sure we could find a transfer combination of spells and runes to empower any being!”

“But why?” Ron tilts his head squinting at the board. “Why would we need to empower muggles?”

Draco scoffs muttering under his breath, “why would you want to.”

“Because!” Harry groans. “It will cause mass chaos in the muggle and magical world!”

“Yeah and we’d get in trouble for showing muggles magic.” Blaise says absently, his face was set in thought. Harry realizes the boy is actually considering it.

“Not if we don’t get caught.” He smirks as his friends look at him in mixed expressions of interest. “If we play this right and get everything tested before acting. We could rule the world from the shadows, people wielding our magic as the economy is shaken through its core forced to change its way.”

“Change how?” Blaise asks.

“For the better.” ‘ Maybe, Hopefully. ’ “witches and wizards interacting with muggles, learning from each other, making our worlds smarter on both sides! Think of the discovery’s!”

Ron taps his chin. “My dad always says muggle technology works weird with magic, makes it blow up.” He makes an explosion motion with his hands. “He found out it’s possible to mix them though, he made our car fly.”

“Muggle technology mixed with magic?” Draco looks unimpressed. “Why would we want that. They don’t have anything more impressive than we do.”

“You haven’t even been to the muggle world, how could you know?” Ron glares at Draco.

Right as Draco opens his mouth to respond, Harry jumps from his seat. “We should spend a day in the muggle world!”

“What?” Draco pales.

“Yeah!” He smirks. “I’ll show you guys the life of muggles! Then you’ll see how important it is we do these magical contracts.”

“I’m in!” Ron grins. “I’ve always wanted to try muggle food.”

“You’ve never been?” Draco looks at Ron confused, getting a shrug in response.

“Great! What about you two?” Harry grins at the Slytherins. “Wanna have your first muggle shopping spree?”

“Shopping spree?” Draco’s eyes spark, he stands up with a shrug. “Well, if you’re gonna keep asking, I can go.”

Harry looks at Blaise, the boy gazing at them in amusement.

“Well?”

Blaise sighs. “Sure.”

Harry claps. “Great! Let’s go ask Remus to take us!”

Blaise stands walking to the door, Ron and Draco follow him.

Harry picks the board up from his desk and hides it under his mattress, making sure it’s fully hidden before running after his friends.

It was easy convincing Remus to take them out, the man saying he needed to do some shopping himself. He led them out of the house and to the side, revealing a garage.

“You have a car?” Harry questions as he watched the man fiddle with a lock.

Remus nods. “I got it when I first moved in, I use it every once in a while to go shopping. Helps being so close to a muggle town.” He pulls up the metal door revealing a yellow station wagon.

“What is that?” Draco looks upon the machine with disgust, Blaise and him slowly followed Ron as he opens the back door.

“It’s a car, muggles made them for transportation.” Ron explains to the Slytherins as he climbs in the back seat. “It’s what we were talking about before.”

“Oh.” He kicks the side “Hard to believe, something like this could possibly take flight.” Draco rolled his eyes.

“Yeah my dad’s pretty great.” Ron gloats.

“I guess even weasels can have brains.” Draco smirks.

“Why you-“ Ron starts to turn red, aiming to climb back out of the car.

“No fighting.” Remus states as he gets in the front seat, Harry jumping in the passenger side. “I want a peaceful trip.”

Blaise snorts. “I doubt that’s possible.” Draco elbows him in the side.

“Let’s at least try, now everyone please get in the car.” Remus sighs as he turns on the ignition. Blaise and Draco get in with Draco sitting in the middle, Ron sticks his tongue out at the blonde making him scowl.

“Alright, everyone buckled in and ready?” Remus looks at the four nods he gets in return. “Okay off we go.”

“Let’s go to the mall first!” Harry exclaims as they pull out of the drive way. “I want some McDonald’s.”

“We’ll see if we can find some.” Remus nods. “But uh. Do you know where any of that is?”

Harry blinks, oh, right.

Chapter Text

“Blaise, Blaise are you up?” Harry poke’s the Latinos shoulder, earning a grunt. “Come on I’m bored.”

“Harry,” Remus looks at him through the rear view mirror, “we’re almost home, let them sleep a little longer.”

Harry huffs leaning back in his seat, he looks at his friends. Draco and Blaise sat on either side of him in the back seat, Ron was in the front all three of them were passed out, quiet snores accompanying the low music playing on the stereo.
The trunk was filled with bags, contents ranging from cloths to posters piling over the windows. It was quite the haul, Harry had to admit he hadn’t had that much fun shopping since he was hanging with those Mexicans back in twenty fifty.
He suppresses a shiver. Best not to think of them, their deaths still haunt his dream’s at times.

The car bounces, there’s a thud as Draco sits up, holding his four head, “ow.”
Harry snorts getting a glare from the tired blond. Draco looks out the window.
“Are we there yet?”

“Yeah.” Harry nods, he looks out at the dark sky. The sun had just set. “We should be there any minute.”

Draco grunts, staring out the window.
Harry pokes him.
“What?”

He smiles, bumping shoulders with Draco to whisper. “So, what’s your thoughts?”

Draco looks at him confused, then determined, whispering back. “Im in, I’ll participate in your experiment.”

“It’s not- okay, great.” Harry shakes his head with a sigh. “Glad you’re on board.”

“We’re here.” Remus speaks up as they pull into the driveway.

“Finally.” Draco groans, he opens the car door getting out as Harry shakes Blaise awake. “I want to sleep..”

He gets varied grunts of agreement, Ron stumbles out of the front seat, rubbing his eyes as they all trudge up the front steps.
Remus levitates the bags after them, unlocking the door he opens it to reveal a disaster.

“What the hell!?” Remus yells as he runs in to the place, looking around in horror.

“Wow.” Harry mutters as he walks in, the house looked like a hurricane went through it, furniture flipped and books thrown from their shelves. “Who could’ve done this?”

“You were robbed!” Ron gasps, he goes to stand by the upturned couch.

“Why would anyone rob here?” Draco asks confused, Harry glances at him. “Not that it isn’t nice! It’s just not, robbing material.”
The blond shrugs at the glared response, Harry rolls his eyes deciding to follow Remus throughout the rest of the house.

“My kitchen!” Remus groaned, the cabinets were thrown open. Utensils and dishes stacked on the counter. “Why would someone do this?”

Harry hums, glancing at a corner. He looks at Remus before his gaze snaps back to the corner, lowering to the ground Harry watches a cabinet in the corner tremble, slight shakes causing the doors to rattle.

Approaching the moving furniture, he reaches out a hand. Ready to grab whatever comes out as he opens the door.
A squeak is heard, and Harry snaps his hand out grabbing something by its collar he pulls it out and pins it to the wall.
Remus gasps behind him.

“Harry! what are you doing?!” He steps closer getting a better look at what the boy had. “Is that a house elf?”

Harry stares at the sniveling creature in his grasp, tear’s streaming down its face as apology’s fall from its mouth. He lets go, the house elf hits the ground with a ‘oof’ getting up to bow.
“I’m sorry, Harry Potter. Dobby is very sorry.” The creature pulls at its ears. “Dobby had to. he did!”

“What? What’s going on?” Remus stood, confused and still a little angry as he looked down at the creature. “You did this?”

“Dobby had to!” He cried out.

“What’s going on?” Ron asks as he walk’s into the room with Blaise and Draco at his side.

“Apparently this guy trashed the place.” Harry says.
Remus crossed his arms. “And he’s about to explain why.”

“I had to! You’re- eep!” Dobby froze as he spots Draco, the boys eyes widened.

“Dobby! What are you doing!?” Draco yells.

“Is this your house elf?” Remus asks, Draco nods and Remus growls. “Lucius! That bastard!”

“It wasn’t him.” Harry speaks up, everyone looks at him.

Remus raises an eyebrow. “And how do you know that?”

Harry just shrugs, walking to kneel by the shaking creature. “I just do. Now, tell us why you’re here Dobby.”

Dobby looks at Draco, then Back to Harry. “Harry Potter is in danger, he must not go to Hogwarts.”

“What?” Remus says startled. “What do you mean he’s in danger?”

“Dobby cannot say. But Harry Potter mustn’t go to Hogwarts this year.”

“No, I demand you tell us!” Draco growls walking farther into the room to loom over Dobby. “How is Harry in danger! And why do you know he’s in danger?”

Dobby just covers his mouth, shaking his head as he backs into the wall.
“Dobby!” Draco shouts, the elf just flinches shrinking in on itself.

“Leave him alone Draco.” Harry demands as he stands up. “He can’t tell us anything.”

“Why are you so calm right now? He just said you’re in danger!” Draco looks at him confused.

“You already knew?” Blaise states knowingly, Harry nods.

“What?” Remus looks at Harry, his eyes sad. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“It’s nothing to worry about.” Harry shrugs, the others don’t look convinced. “Really, It will be fine it’s nothing truly dangerous. trust me.”

The three students shared worried looks but they don’t say anything.
Remus looked concerned, glancing at the kids before sighing. “I’ll let this go for now. But we’re talking about it soon.”

“Fine.” Harry grins. “Can we go to bed now. I’m sure Dobby will help you clean up this mess.” He turns to the creature. “Right. Dobby?”

The house elf jumped, a shiver running through it as he nods. “Of-of course, Master Harry.” The elf bows.

“Master?” Draco looks at the him confused.

Harry looks at the house elf, deciding not to comment he just shrugs. “Whatever. I’m tired, you guys ready to head up?”

“Yes.” Ron yawns, he leans on Harry as they leave the room. Blaise and Draco slumping after.

“Night Remus!” Harry shouts.

“Good night!” Remus calls after them, groaning as he looks around the kitchen. He had a lot of cleaning to do. Turning to Dobby he glares. “Grab a broom.”

Harry sighs as he enters his room, ignoring the new mess he sits at his desk. Draco and Ron jump in his bed, each grabbing a pillow as they lay down.

“How are we all gonna sleep up here?” Blaise questions, Harry hums. The bed wasn’t big enough.

Taking out his wand he waves it, the bed enlarges making room for all four of them to lay comfortably. Blaise whistles at the show of power.

“You know I’ve never commented on your magic before, I knew it was gonna be strong considering your title. But even for a prophesised child, it’s strange.” Blaise sits at the end of the bed facing Harry with a curios look. “How?”

Harry smiles. “So many compliments, I’m flattered.”

“Seriously.” Blaise rolls his eyes, moving to sit more comfortably. “That’s not the power a normal eleven year old can hold.”

“I’m not normal.” Harry shrugs. “I’m Harry Potter. Normalcy doesn’t apply to me.”

“Clearly.” He sighs. “If you’re not gonna tell me. Then at least let me know your plans to test your warlock theory.”

“Oh? Catch your interest did I?” Harry teases with a grin.

“A little.” Blaise confesses. “I like the idea of magic transferring, do you really think it’s possible?”

“Absolutely.” Harry stands up excited, he walks to the board leaned against the wall, luckily undamaged. “I researched past experiments with magic enhancement and power transfer theory’s, and I believe I have a foundation strong enough to start my own experimenting soon.” He rambles while he hides the board behind his bed for know. “I have some plans written down, somewhere. It’s probably in my trunk, I can explain and show you more once I’ve finished the first prototype.”

“I’m excited for it.” Blaise smiles tiredly, suppressing a yawn as he speaks. “so you haven’t started making the contracts yet?”

“Not yet, but I’m almost there. I just need a few more things to figure out, then I’ll start.” Harry walks over to the bed as Blaise nods. “But enough of that. Scoot over, I wanna sleep.”

Blaise scoots over so Harry could climb in the bed, Ron and Draco were already fast asleep, Ron’s snoring fills the room as everything goes quiet.
Blaise joins them in slumber quickly, Harry gets left alone with his thoughts. Sleep unreachable tonight, he sneaks from the room, deciding to work the stars away.
Anything but dream.

Chapter Text

Low to the ground, a creature slithers. Determination in her eyes as she creeps through the house, under the couch to between the wall and bookshelf.

Her prey sat unaware, humming as he stood at the counter. She crept, body coiling her fangs flashing. She lunges.

“AH!!” Remus clutched his chest, leaning on the counter for support. “Lilac!! What did I say about scaring me?!”

The snake lets out the closest thing to a laugh she can get, slithering off the counter and rushing out of the room.

“Harry! Get in here please!” Remus calls into the house staring after the snake, muttering under his breath as he places some fallen items back on the counter “why did he have to get a snake? Was an owl not good enough?”

“Sorry Remus.” Harry walks into the room, snake wrapped around his arm, not looking sorry at all.

“Didn’t I tell you to keep her by you?” Remus groans, “I don’t need to be jump scared every time I’m not paying attention.”

“Oh come on, she can’t just sit in my room all day. Lilac needs to go on her own adventures, how else will I be able to teach her to spy for me?” Harry pouts, cuddling the snake to his chest. “She’s just going through a phase after she stayed at George and Fred’s for a few weeks. She’ll calm down soon.”

Remus sighs. “Right, and why do you need a snake spy?”

“Reasons.” Harry smiles, he places Lilac on the counter. “Anyway. do you know where I can get custom stamps made?”

“Custom stamps? What do you need those for?” Remus questions, he moves a tray off the counter taking it to the stove.

“A project me and the mates are working on. Do magic stamps exist?” Harry asks sitting on a chair at the counter.

“Hm. I believe so, they have ones that change color. Would that work?”

Harry tilts his head, muttering to himself. “maybe, I’d have to change the formula…” he smiles talking louder. “Yeah that’d work! Do you know a place we can get some?”

“Yes I do, they even have owl delivery so we don’t have to take a trip to get some.” Remus puts something in the oven, turning to smile at Harry. “if you need any help, i’d be happy to lend a hand.”

“Nah it’s fine, we’ve got this.” Harry smiles back.

“Right.” Remus nods, “do you know what you want to do for your birthday yet?”

“I was thinking we invite the Weasley kids, Draco, Blaise and Neville out. We can go to a drive in! Draco, Ron, and Blaise, seemed to enjoy the muggle world last time we took them, I’m sure they’d want to go again.” Harry smirks, “we can go see a horror movie.”

Remus chuckles. “That can be arranged.”

“Perfect.” Harry claps, he stands up grabbing Lilac on his way out. “Im going back to my room, call me when dinners done!”

“Okay!” Remus yells back.

Harry walks into his room with a skip in his step, placing Lilac on his bed before heading to his desk. A piece of parchment splayed out with terms and negotiations written down. He sighs as he pick up a pen.

“Okay. Work time.” Harry mutters staring at the page. “Think, deals.” He sways in his chair, face set in thought.

After a minute he crosses his arms. “Why is this so hard!”

dropping his head on the desk with a groan. He jumps as it starts to vibrate, Harry opens a drawer, pulling out a glowing mirror with a H carved into it.

Flicking it open he grins, “hello?”

“Potter!” Hermione’s face appears in the glass.

“Sorry Harry, she stole it!” Ron is heard shouting in the background.

“Shush Ron!” Hermione glares behind her before turning back to the mirror. “Is it true?”

“Is what?” Harry asks amused. “Are you two having a sleepover?”

“No!” Ron squeaks from behind her.

“Are you building your own magic system?” Hermione questions instead.

“Where did you hear that?” Harry asks, moving to lay on his bed.

“Answer the question!” The brunette demands.

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, Im creating my own type of magic transferring system. Why?”

“How do you expect to make something like that?” Hermione asks, for once not just rude, but curious. Harry hides a smile.

“How do I know you’re not going to steal my idea?” He glares at the girls image. “If I’m gonna tell you about my work, I need to know you won’t mess it up.”

“I would never!” Hermione shakes her head, “I don’t want to steal your project I want to help!”

“I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me?” Harry crosses his arms, “not worth your time, as you said.”

“That was before!” She rolls her eyes. “Now, I want to see what you’re working on!”

“Is this cause I made top of the year, seconded by you?” He teases. “I’m finally worthy of your friendship?”

“Of course not.” The girl huffs, “I said nothing about us being friends. More like business partners.”

“I’m not running a business. I’m becoming a semi-mortal god.” Harry explains. “If you want to help, I’m going to need to trust you.”

“But you told Ron?” Hermione drawls, Ron grunts in the background.

“Hey!”

“I trust Ron enough, you on the other hand..” He shrugs. “I’m going to need some, confirmation. That you won’t fuck me over.”

“Like what?” Hermione asks skeptically.

“How about,” he tilts his head thoughtfully. “A favor.”

“A favor?” Hermione snorts, “what are you, the devil?”

Harry laughs. “Not yet! What do you say?”

“If I say yes you’ll let me help?” Hermione picks at her finger, Harry nods. “Fine, one favor. Now tell me your plan.”

“Okay, I might even let you see it.” Harry grins resting his head to the side, “if you help me set up a base contract.”

“What? Why do you need a contract.”

“It’s what people will sign if they want to participate, it will help link the magic.”

“That’s. Interesting” Hermione says pensively, “but why a contract?”

“What else would I use?” Harry asks confused.

“I don’t know but a contract seems a little cliche.” She winces, “also that sounds like their about to sell they’re souls..”

“Hm. You have a point.” Harry placed a hand on his chin. “But the contract will state they want the magic, it won’t be giving them it.”

“Okay.” Hermione nods before questioning, “are you planning to ask for anything in exchange for this power?”

“‘This power’ it’s our own magic, we can ask what we want from whoever wishes for it.”

“‘Our magic’? Do you guys not have a relic or something.” The girl narrows her eyes.

“No, I mean OUR magic. Well mine at first, just until everyone else gets strong enough to spare some.” Harry shrugs. “You guys should be able to make your own league someday. I keep powerful allies after all.”

Hermione snorts, Harry raises an eyebrow at her. “What?”

“I thought you had found something powerful.” The girl snarks, “but you’re just mad!” She shakes her head. “What makes you think your magic is strong enough to just ‘lend out’ like that?”

“Many things, nothing you need to know about though.” Hermione opens her mouth to speak, Harry tuts. “We don’t need some old relic to do what I know I can. I may be mad, but I’m not crazy, my research shows that through magic soaked paper and ink, we can link people’s cores making a take and give type relationship. It’s really simple.”

“Potter.” Hermione starts, “You may think you’re strong enough for this, but be realistic. Your eleven, your magic is still growing and there’s no way you could-“

She’s cut off as a bang sound’s through the house, Harry jumps, mirror snapping closed as it falls off the bed.

“Shit.” He leans down to pick it back up, opening it while checking for damage, “I just got you do not be broken.”

He sighs as the glass doesn’t seem cracked, it starts to buzz again, two faces appearing.

“Are you alright mate?” “What was that bang?” Ron and Hermione ask at the same time, crowding to fit in the mirrors image.

“Im fine. I don’t know what that was.” Harry answers as he leaves his room.

“Did something blow up?” Hermione questions.

“I don’t know.. maybe.” Harry answers as he walks down the steps, smoke was coming out of the kitchen door. “I’m gonna go. I’ll call you guys back.”

He closes the mirror, entering the kitchen. No sign of Remus, weird.

He walks through the room, into an alcove and through the back door, that was wide open.

“Remus?” Harry calls out as he walks around the back yard, “you out here?”

“Hold on!” Remus shouts from farther out, some rustling could be heard in the treeline.

“Are you okay?” Harry shouts back as he starts walking towards the woods.

“Yes. Just dumping something.” Remus’s voice sounded strained, he could hear digging as he got closer.

“Did you mess up some food, the kitchen look like it’s, on. Fire.. what are you doing.” Harry stares at the man bewildered as he finds him, panicked with a torch in one hand, and something in the other. “What’s that?”

“Nothing for you to worry about, just some… junk mail. I’ll clean up the kitchen when I’m done here, dinners gonna be delayed.” Remus drops the torch in a hole, flames erupting like a portal to hell.

Harry squints at the man’s other hand, leather poking from the cloth wrap, is that a journal?

Wait.

“Where did you get this?” Harry skips to the man’s side, snatching the bundle out of his hands.

“Harry, no!” Remus shouts as he tries to grab the book back, to no avail as Harry jumps away. “Give that back please.”

“How did you get this.” Harry questions, unwrapping the leather he taps familiar initials. “Thought it was still in Malfoy manor.”

“It just came in the mail. You know what that is?” Remus questions, eyes wide. “something with Malfoy?”

“This old thing?” Harry holds up the book, Remus flinches as he opens the pages. “Woah, are you okay?”

“Harry there’s dark magic dripping from that book, give it here so I can burn it.” Remus gestures to his bonfire, Harry snorts.

“That’s not gonna work Remus, normal fire can’t destroy this thing.” Harry says, still tapping the books leather binding. “I think it would be best to leave this to the professionals.”

“Harry please give that-“ Harry snaps his fingers and Remus stops talking, eyes drooping as he sways where he stands. “… I want a nap.”

“Good idea, I’ll lead you to your room.” Harry smiles, tucking the book in his waistline he grabs Remus’s hand leading him back inside.

“Dont worry about the book Moony.” Harry smiles as he tucks the man into bed. “It won’t hurt you or anyone else I care for, I’ll make sure of it.” He leaves the room quietly as Remus nods off.

“That was fucked.” Harry sighs as he enters his own room. “Why’d he have to deliver it to the kitchen, damnit Draco.”

He sets the journal on his desk, sitting in his chair he stares at the cursed aura emitting through his room, sensing for magic to steal. Harry pushes out his own magic, wrapping the journal with a jolt. The darkness snaps back, coiling back into the pages.

Harry smirks.

Opening the journal, a scrap of paper falls onto Harry’s lap. He picks it up reading it quickly.

‘I’m not your butler, if you want more secret stuff you’ll have to ask father himself. Hope you’re happy because this is your birthday present. -Draco’

Harry snickers as he places the note aside, picking up a quill instead.

‘Hi my names Harry, it’s nice to meet you Tom.’

Chapter Text

‘Hi my names Harry, it’s nice to meet you Tom.’

The ink disappears slowly, new words forming a minute later.

‘Hello Harry, how have you come across my journal?’

‘You were a present for my birthday.’

“And what a present you are.” Harry smirks, Tom replies but he doesn’t read it, instead reaching into his desk.

He takes out a scroll, rolling it out across the wood. A rune filled circle sat on the page, three triangles pointing at the center. It pulsed with magic.

Tom erases the current words, new ones appearing looking more frantic. ‘What are you doing?’

Harry sets the journal in the middle of the circle, new writing in all caps appear on the pages. ‘WAIT, I CAN HELP YOU!’

Harry ignores the silent screams as he closes it, wrapping the journal in the paper, a muted glow emitting from the scrolls runes.

“It’s just for a week.” He smiles at the bound book, putting in his school trunk. “Then once I get to Hogwarts we can truly talk, face to face.”

He takes out his golden pocket mirror, opening it.

“See Draco Malfoy.” The glass glows as he waits, putting his feet on his desk.

“Hey Harry.” Draco’s grinning face Appears. “Did you get my owl?”

Harry looks at him unimpressed, not saying anything.

“What?” His grin fades.

“Didn’t I tell you to wait until Hogwarts? Remus got the package, not me.” Harry shakes his head. “He almost burned it, I had to take it from him.”

“Yeah well, I had to send it now.” Draco huffed. “I had to take it from father’s study, a thank you would be appreciated. Considering I almost got caught doing it.”

“Aw did you almost get grounded by daddy?” Harry smirks as Draco glares at him. “Thank you, I’m very happy you were able to get the journal. But sending it here wasn’t smart, I expect you to think more next time.”

“Oh fuck off.” Draco rolls his eyes, he moves something out of frame. “You know I could have sent a letter with it saying exactly what it was, but I didn’t.”

Harry hums, ‘ as if you knew the truth in the first place. ’ . “I would have thought you an idiot if you did~.”

“I’m hanging up if you just plan to insult me.” he growls.

“Alright alright, here’s why I actually called.” Harry smiles, spinning in his chair. “I’m planning a movie night at a muggle drive in for my birthday, are you interested?”

“A movie night?”

“Yeah! It’s a popular muggle thing, I think you’ll enjoy it.” Harry explains. “I’m planning on inviting Blaise, and the Weasley’s as well.”

“Sounds interesting.” Draco smiles, he nods at Harry. “I’ll go.”

“Great!” Harry grins. “I’ll tell you the times once I get everyone on board. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay. Bye.”

“Bye!!” Harry closes the mirror with a click. Tucking the trinket in his pocket he sighs, standing to leave his room he’s stopped as Remus appears in the doorway.

“Harry?” The man asks, his eyes were distant as he looked around.

“Hey Remus!” Harry smiles, pushing past him. “Have a good nap?”

“When did I-” Remus starts, faltering before starting again. “Uh, yeah. It was very, refreshing.”

“That’s good.” Harry goes down the steps two at a time. “Has Sirius wrote?”

“Hm,” Remus walks down the steps slowly, shaking his head as he reaches the bottom. “Sirius.” His eyes snap into focus. “Right yes, we got a letter from him earlier. I was just about to read it before..” He trails off, eyes foggy.

“Before your nap?” Harry asks, jumping on the couch.

“Yes, before my nap.” Remus shakes his head again, walking to the kitchen. Returning a second later with a letter. “Here, read it aloud please.” He hands the letter to Harry before sitting in a chair, resting back as he rubs his temple.

Harry clears his throat as he opens the seal, taking out the parchment. “Dear Moony and Harry.” He pauses, reading the rest quickly.

“Harry, I said out loud.” Remus sighs, looking at the boy his brows furrow. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s getting out? Already?” Harry says to himself, Remus stands walking to take the letter from his hands.

“What?” He reads the letter himself, breaking into a smile. “He’s finally free.” Turning to Harry he sits by the boy, frowning as he doesn’t look at him. “Harry, are you alright?”

Harry snaps his attention from the wall he was staring at, breaking into a grin. “Of course! Padfoot’s coming home!” He stands walking to the center of the room. “Our family’s almost complete!”

Remus pats Harry on the head, setting the letter on a side table. “Yes it is. How about I make something to celebrate.”

“Taco’s!” Harry shouts.

“Sure, I’ll get started.” Remus leaves the room humming.

Harry spins in the center of the room, grinning ear to ear. Humming his own tune, he swayed over to a bookshelf, running his fingers along the book spines.

“I wonder how Sirius is gonna be now that he’s deemed sane, hopefully he didn’t turn boring.” He place a finger on a small statue, a dog sitting up. “I wonder if he’ll burn the black library now that he has access… hm I’ll have to convince him to let it be.” He flicks the statue over, watching it fall off the shelf, hitting the ground with a bang.

The dog’s head wobbles as it breaks from the neck, rolling to face upward at Harry. Sad eyes begging for an explanation.

Harry gives it a glance before leaving the room, going to check on Remus.

The night passes with no other disturbances, Harry sat at his desk that night, tapping the wood as he read an old tome. It was nice.

He hated it.

Chapter Text

The sun glowed as it set on the horizon, the trees making a beautiful picture as they framed the flaming gas ball.

Harry sat on the front porch, breathing slowly as he waited. And waited, waiting, waiting.

‘Fuck I’m bored.’

He sags, rolling off the porch with a grunt. Shuffling on his knees he made his way around the house, creeping to the backwoods.

Darkness sprouted behind him as he walked further and further into the trees, humming not so quietly.

“Meet me in the woods, where the sun don’t shine.” Harry mutters random lyrics under his breath, jumping on and off stones and surface roots. “Meet me in woods, where there’s not much time. Oh meet me outside meet me outside-  Shit hey.”  ‘Ooh, a Suspicious man in the bushes.’

He stops, spotting someone crouched by a tree. The man stares back at him.

“You good?”

“What?” The stranger jumps, furrowing his brow as he turns, standing he looks around, then facing Harry. “Im alright. Why are you out here?”

“Got bored.” Harry responds. “What are you doing out here?”

“This is no place for a child, especially not at night and alone.” He sighs, scowling at the boy. “Where are your parents?”

“Dead, asleep.” Harry shrugs, walking around the man, he picks at his cloak. “What’s with the getup? You going to a party?”

“Ah. Not exactly.” He swats Harry’s hand away, pulling out a pocket watch the man flips it open. “Hmm I don’t have time to take you home… are you the child of a wizard family?”

“Yep. Now answer my question.” Harry looks up at him. “Where are you going?”

“Why do you want to know?” The man narrows his eyes. “Are you an arouror?”

“Not anymore.” Harry smiles up at him innocently. “I’m just curious, indulge me.”

The stranger man looks up for a second before crouching to Harry’s height. “Are you a vampire?”

“No. And I’m not answering anymore questions until you answer mine.” He crosses his arms.

Stranger sighs. “Fine. If you must know I’m on my way to a gala, it’s held somewhere in these woods, but I seem to have gotten lost, somewhere.” He gestures around vaguely, an annoyed expression painting his features.

“Maybe I can help? I’m pretty good at finding things.” Harry offers.

“Are you not lost yourself?” The stranger questions.

“No, I chose to be here. Do you want my help or not?”

Stranger nods. “Yes if you would, I need to be at a place called..” he shuffles through his pockets pulling out a paper slip. “Frankenstein castle? Do you know where that is?”

“Nope. But any place worthy of a gala would be that way.” Harry points into the distance. ‘Frankenstein mansion. that’s not weird at all.’ Harry thinks, ‘this could be fun.’

Stranger man sighs again. “At least it’s something. Thank you child.”

“It’s Harry.” The boy holds out a hand, Stranger shakes it quickly.

“Well it was nice meeting you, Harry.” He steps back looking at his watch again. “Now I really must be off. Would you mind walking with me?”

“Of course not. Right this way stranger man.” Harry turns marching deeper into the woods, the stranger following close behind.

“Oh. Apologies, my name is Anderson Dandery the third.” He adjusted his top hat.

“So what’s this party for Anderson?” Harry turns around, walking backwards as he speaks. “Is it someone’s birthday?”

“No.” Anderson shakes his head. “It’s one of my good friend Frank’s special events. She’s invited all our old pals up for a night of fun.”

“That’s nice, do you think I could come?” Harry asks sweetly up at the man.

The moon shone through the tree line, Anderson’s face glowing clear with light, blue eyeshadow framed his eyes, lips black as tar.

He laughs. “There’s no place for a child at this party I’m afraid, Frank’s never been very family friendly.”

Harry pouts, “oh come on, That’s no fun!” He puts his arms behind his head, turning back around to face forward. “Fine then.” It’s silent for a second. “So where are you from? I’m picking up an American accent?”

Anderson hums. “I thought I was hiding it well, but apparently not. I’m from Transylvania if you’ve ever heard of it?”

“Isn’t that the place with all the vampire rumors?” Harry glances behind him, Anderson snorts.

“Yes, and no, we don’t have many vampires actually. Most of those stories were just coincidences.”

“Huh, that’s interesting. You really came all this way for a party?” Harry looks around the woods, fog crept along the ground draping it in a light shimmer. “In the woods?”

“There’s nothing that would make me miss one of Franks party’s, she’s a wonderful host.” Anderson gushes.

Thunder shakes the ground as the sky flashes, Harry looks up, clouds starting to fill the sky.

“Even a storm?”

Anderson grins. “I’m sure there’s a spare room I can stay in until it passes.” He looks up raising a hand to point at the distance. “I believe I see our destination.”

A light shines from a tower poking through the trees, a sharp feeling fills the air. Harry takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. ‘Weird.’

They reach a huge gate, opened wide as people drove their cars and bikes into the castles courtyard. All dressed in mixes of shiny and silk fabric’s. He turns to look at Anderson, the man was adjusting his own outfit a tight fitting corset and skirt with knee high heeled boots.

“Your stocking is torn.” Harry points at his left leg.

“Shit!” Anderson Leans down trying to cover it with his skirt. “God dammit.”

“Here.” Harry waves his hand by his leg, the cloth stitching back together.

Anderson snaps his head up, looking at Harry suspiciously. “You’re not a child, are you?”

Harry just shrugs with a smile. Turning to look at the castle again, “are you sure I can’t come in?”

“That’s up to you Harry, if you think you can handle it I won’t stop you.” Anderson drawls as he starts walking towards the door, heels clicking pleasantly. “We will have to talk to Frank if you do.”

Harry trails after him, “That’s fine I’d like to meet this Frank.”

“Very well.”

They make their way up the car port and to the porch, being stopped at the door by a hunched man dressed like a zombified butler.

“No children allowed.” He drawls.

“That’s no problem, as I’m pretty sure he isn’t one.” Anderson speaks, glancing at Harry before walking in without him.

“Oh?” The butler looks down at him with a raised brow. “Then what are you?”

“Nothing you’ll know to care for, I just want to see the party’s vibe. I won’t be any trouble I swear.” He holds a hand over his heart, eyes flashing a killing green before fading back to jade.

The butler hums. “Name?”

“Harry.”

He steps aside. “Welcome, mister Harry.”

“Thank you.” Harry smiles as he walks inside, looking around he follows the sound of music and other guests. ‘Huh more science gothic than I expected.’

He enters the party area, people scattered about the black and silver ballroom dressed much more extravagantly than Harry’s jumper and jeans.  A banner displaying ‘Annual Transylvanian Convention.’

He walks to the food table, grabbing a glass of something red before going to find Anderson.

He finds the man talking to some people in the back, a woman in a flashy gold tux throws her head back in a laugh grabbing Andersons arm as she almost falls, the man smirks rubbing his hand up her side.

Harry decides to explore the residence instead.

Sipping from his glass he wanders back to the main foyer. Passing new comers and a frizzy haired maid, she smiles at him as he passes bowing her head as she heads up some stairs.

The butler closes the front door, turning he stops as he spots Harry, walking over he nods at the ravenett.

“Are you enjoying the party, mister Harry?” He questions, gesturing back to the main room. “Perhaps you will enjoy it more if you interacted with our other guests.” He gently pushes Harry back to the ballroom, Harry just shrugs going back in the room he approaches a man standing alone in the corner.

Harry coughs catching the brunettes attention, The man puts away the lipstick he was applying. Looking Harry up and down. “Are you lost?”

“No, I was invited after helping someone find the place. Names Harry, what’s yours?”

“Leo.” He holds out a limp hand, Harry grabs it leaning to kiss his knuckle. The man snorts. “It’s a pleasure.”

“In the nicest way possible, why’s everyone so dressed up?” Harry leans against the wall, gesturing at the party crowd. “I haven’t seen people this excited since, I don’t know, the fifty’s?” He tilts his head shrugging.

“You always have to dress up for one of Frank’s events, it’s the least you can do when she tries so hard.” The man looks at Harry with a focused expression. “You know you’re very underdressed, do you want some help fixing that?”

“Like what?” Harry asks suspiciously.

Leo kneels down to be at his height, he sets one pointer finger on each of Harry’s shoulders, staring in his eyes. “You know I have a beautiful eyes shadow shade that’d make your eyes glows, and some eyeliner wouldn’t be bad either..”

“I’m not really a make up guy.” Harry steps back holding up his hands. “I don’t have the face type for it you know.”

“Nonsense.” Leo rummages through his bag, pulling out some mascara and eyeshadow. “Now come here, I’ll show you how to apply it all.”

Harry sighs with a shrug. “Eh, what the hell why not.”

Leo claps, “great. Sit on this chair please.”

It’s about twenty minutes later and Harry was feeling pretty pretty. “Where did you learn to do this?”

Leo hums from where she’s styling his curls. “Some friends taught me years ago, it helps your skins so tan. It really makes that green pop!”

Harry made a kissy face in his hand mirror, his lips were painted black. The dark green eyeshadow really did make his eyes look brighter than normal.

“I have to admit, I love it.” Harry states. “I’m serving so hard right now.”

Leo laughs, “Damn right kid.” He flicks one of Harry’s curls, stepping back to admire his work. “Some of my best work I think.” He pulls out a cigarette lighting it he puffs out a cloud.

“Thanks Leo.” Harry smiles, turning his head  back and forth as his curls bounce on his shoulders. “I’ve never seen my hair this nice before.”

“Well don’t mess it up, I’m gonna go socialize. See you around Harry.” Leo waves walking off to a girl standing in the corner, she gives him a wink as he approaches.

“Yeesh this party’s horny.” Harry snorts, turning back to his mirror.

The doors to the room bang open making him jump, the butler sways in with an ordinary looking couple stood behind him. The room turns to them, starting to dance as the couple looked on in horror.

“Let’s do the time warp again!” Everyone sings. The ordinary couple walks forward in mixed shock, the doors close behind them. Harry sets his mirror down, ready for a show.

“Let’s do the time warp again!”

“It’s a jump to the left.” A serious voice sounds from the ceiling, Harry looks up confused.

All the guest jump to the left, singing out. “Then a jump to the right.”

“With your hands on you hips.” The voice speaks up again. Everyone follows, singing along.

“You bring your knees in tight. But it’s the pelvic thrust.” They thrust the air. “They really drive you insane.”

A man with a tray of sausages eats one, the ordinary woman faints into her man’s arms.

“Let’s do the time warp again!” The guests hold up their right hands, “let’s do the time warp again!” Harry starts to clap along to the music with a smirk.

The ordinary woman wakes up, her and her boyfriend getting pushed forward by the butler as the maid starts to dance like she’s in a trance.

“It’s so dreamy. Oh, fantasy free me, so you can’t see me, no not at all.” She sings, swaying as she moves. “In another dimension, with voyeuristic intentions, Well secluded I see all…” she stops as the butler starts to sing. “With a bit of a mind flip.”

The maid starts again. “You’re into a time slip…”

Then the butler. “And nothing could ever be the same.”

The maid. “You’re spaced out on sensation!” The woman faints again. Harry snorts.

“Like you’re under sedation!” The butler moans, he starts to dance with the maid. They sway past the ordinary couple to a woman sitting on a juke box dressed in a golden tux. She crosses her legs with a smirk. The guest’s sing. “Let’s do the time warp again, Let’s do the time warp again!” They stomp facing the golden wearer woman. Harry stands as she starts to sing sweetly. “Well, I was walking down the street, just having a think, when a snake of guy gave me an evil wink. Well it shook me up, it took me by surprise, he had a pickup truck and the devils eyes. He stared at me, and I felt a change,” She throws a hand on her face gracefully dramatic. “Time meant nothing. Never would again!”

“Let’s do the time warp again!” The guest’s sang out starting their dance again. “Let’s do the time warp again!”

The voice came from the ceiling again as Harry joined the dance floor.

“It’s a step to the left.” They go all at once. “Then a step to the right!” The guest sing in glee, following the move.

“With your hands on your hips.”

“You bring your knees in tight! But it’s the pelvic, thrust.” The guest’s sing as the butler and maid dance around the room in their own tango.

The woman in gold climbs off the jukebox, joining the dance she takes off her top hat with a flare. “Ah!” She squeals as she starts to tap dance. “Oh! Oh! Yeooow..” everyone watch’s as she stamps through the room, she whoops spinning around. “Ahhh.” She falls backwards, splaying herself on some stairs.

“Let’s do the time warp again!” The gust sang again, Harry included as he runs around with a grin. The gold woman rises from the stairs putting back on her top hat. Everyone turns to bow at her, “let’s do the time warp again!”

The woman leads the guest’s in a jump, landing with a clack. “And then a step to the right!” Harry laughs jumping on a table he swings his arms about, the dancers look at him with glee. The ordinary flinch back.

“With your hands on your hips.” Harry follows the moves with a few others.

“You bring your knees in tight.” They dance forward. “But it’s the pelvic thrust, they really drive you..” Harry twirls on the desk, with a holler. “..insane!”

“Let’s do the time warp again. Let’s do the time warp again!” All the guest fall to the floor, Harry following their lead.

The ordinary couple step back up the steps towards the door, the woman nudging the man. “Say something.” She whisper shouts.

“Say I,” the man starts, people sit up from the floor. “Do any of you guys know how to Madison?”

A mutter breaks out among the guests. The woman pulls her man towards the door. “Brad please, let’s get out of here.” She begs.

“For Gods sake keep a grip of yourself Janet.” Brad says still smiling at the group of people, Harry sits up going to grab another glass from the food table as the dancing seems to have stopped.

Janet opens the door, “But it seems so unhealthy here.” She whines.

“It’s just a party Janet.” Brad says following her out the room.

Harry grabs some hors d’oeuvres. Stuffing his mouth as he watches the guest stand and clear the center of the room, they stand in wait. He looks around confused but doesn’t say anything.

He hears a scream, looking at the door an elevator touched ground, someone in a cloak was tapping along to the music inside. Brad was hushing Janet as the person opens the metal gate, speaking sweetly through red lips. “How do you do? I see you’ve met my faithful…” he glances at the maid and butler. “…handyman.” She walks forward, stopping to stand by Brad. “He’s a little brought down, because when you knocked, he thought you were the candy man. Don’t..” she starts walking to a throne sat at the end of the ballroom. “…get strung out by the way I look. Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Brad helps Janet up, Harry leaves the food table, walking to stand by Anderson who’s smirking in the corner.

“I’m not much, of a man…” she turns to face the crowd. “..by the light of day. But by night, I’m one hell of a lover.” She throws her cloak away revealing stockings and a corset. Harry wolf whistles, Anderson snorts beside him as they share a look.

“I’m just a sweet..” she flips her hair. “Transvestite. From Transexual, Transylvania.” She steps back to the couple, guest‘s making a wall around her.

Harry stops paying attention, taking another glass of wine. He leans on the wall, whispering to Anderson.

“Whys everyone crowding that guy, is he important?”

Anderson huffs a laugh, “that’s Frank.”

“Ooh.” Harry nods. “That makes sens.” He takes a sip from his wine. “Is she famous?”

“Not in normal circles, she prefers to work in the shadows.” Anderson gestures at the room. “Her work in science has led many breakthroughs for our people, you really must meet her. I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”

Harry hums, staring intently as their source of discussion sips from a wine glass, making short conversation with other guests. “I think I just might.”

His eyes widen as Frank throws her wine glass, hitting the wall with a crash next to Harry’s spot leaning on the wall. She turns to the ordinary couple, the music in the room shifting tune as she walks by heading to a throne on the back wall.

“Well you got caught with a flat, Well how about that, well babies don’t panic.” She looks over her shoulder with a smirk. “By the night, it’ll all seem all right, I’ll get you a satanic mechanic.” She faces forward again stepping up the three steps leading to the throne, sitting down she throws her legs over the arm. “Why don’t you stay for the night?” “Night.” The butler echoes. “Or maybe a bite?” “Bite.” The maid snaps her jaw as she crawls up by the chair.

“I could show you my obsession, I’ve been malting a man,” She says, catching Harry’s attention. “With blond hair and a tan, and he’s good for relieving my tension.”she stands popping her hip. “I’m just a sweet transvestite From Transexual Transylvania.” She smirks and starts moving to the elevator, the maid and butler pushing the couple after her.

Harry watches them go, the other guests clapping as the elevator rises. He looks at Anderson.

“Building a man?” He tilts his head, “is he serious?”

“Shh.” Anderson holds a finger to his lips, looking down at Harry with a smirk. “Don’t talk about things you shouldn’t know.”

“Oh? I’m guessing the ministry isn’t aware of this party, or its activities?”

“Of course not, I told you Frank is a bit of a recluse.”

Harry hums, looking at the elevator in thought. “Is Frank known for writing down his work?”

Anderson snaps his eyes to him, questioning.

“I’m not gonna steal anything.” Harry holds up his hands in defense. “I just wanna check it out. Seems like some cool magic to me.”

“I don’t know you Harry, I’m not helping you break into his office.” Anderson looks away, swirling his glass.

“So it’s in his office? Thanks Anderson, I’ll see you later!” Harry waves at the man as he walks off towards the stairs, Anderson watched him leave in disinterest giving a small wave back before rejoining the other guests.

Humming Harry makes his way through candle lit halls, keeping an eye out for any office like rooms. He opens a door on his left, peeking his head in.

“Hello?” He knocks twice before looking. An empty bedroom. He closes it walking again.

A few more steps and he opens a door on his left. Another empty bedroom, “Anderson wasn’t lying she does have a lot of space.”

He opens the door right across from the last, poking his head in with a hum.

“Do you know where the story ends?” A skinny figure turns its head slowly, eyes wide with a gaping jaw bleeding black. “Or are you just playing until you lose the string?” The walls start closing in darkness eating away at the light.

“Sorry wrong room.” He smiles, “do you by any chance know where Franks office is?”

Its head snaps to the side, arm raising shakily. “All the way down the hall, take a right and keep going until you see a red vase, it will be the door on the left.”

“Cool, thanks mate.” Harry nods with a wave closing the door softly.

It only takes a few minutes to find the office, thanks to the creatures directions. Harry soon finds himself in a luxury office, searching through Franks notes and accomplishments in his field.

“What fascinating work, Anderson wasn’t lying Franks a genius. No wonder he lives in Frankensteins castle.” He spins in the office chair, holding up papers as he eats some candy he found in a drawer. “He even figured out a soul reset ritual.. I wonder what his thoughts on my magic transfer runes would be.” He leans forward, accidentally knocking a cup of pens to the ground. He leans down to pick them up, crawling under the desk.

He jumps hitting his head against the desks underside as an electric spark fills the air, he sniffs. “What power…” shaking his head, Harry stands sorting through the papers once more. “I just need to see what runes she used. Now where’s her private notes.”

He searched the entire room, any specifics to her recent research isn’t here. He sighs heading to the exit when his eyes catch a dip in the floor. He takes a few steps back, then walking forward he crouches in front of a bookshelf, tracing scratch marks on the ground. He inspects the books, pulling each one out slightly before he hears a click.

Smiling he slides the bookcase open, revealing a hidden room with another desk and even more papers. He sighs getting ready to search.

It takes longer then he’d like to find anything important, but it was worth it as he opens a red leather bound book filled with runes and tests previously done by the apparent mad scientist by the looks of it.

“So much potential and work already done for me. I’ll have to thank her if I ever see her again, and apologize.” he rips out the pages, stuffing them in his pockets he hides the leather under some papers before leaving the room making a stealthy escape.

He creeps down the suddenly very quiet halls, retracing his steps as he gets to the staircase. Crouching he butt scoots down the steps, keeping an ear out for any people.

Not a soul was in the main foyer, or the ballroom. Harry walked around confused.

“Hello?” He calls out, no response.

The air was tickling with on going magic, Harry pressed his hand to the wall. “Seems someone’s been dipping in magic storage.” He sighs disappointed. “I really wish I could have stayed and meet the host, but it’s getting late and Remus is definitely gonna be wondering where I am..” he looks up the steps, then back to the front door, he lets out a pained groan. “Stupid family…” Harry leaves the Frankenstein mansion, breathing in the sweet magic one last time before heading home, a calm figure heading out in the raging storm.

Chapter Text

“Harry!”

His name echoes through the air, a shout meant to call him forward.

He backs away. Turning to the side, he watches shadows run past the only creak of light reaching him, a mass floating in the blackness.

Reaching out a hand, he creeps forward grasping at air.

Something grasps him back. He’s being pulled. Touched. Torn. It hurts. It hurts it hurts- it’s nothing.

Tensing with a sigh he starts walking in full strides, picking up more speed as he stays reaching through nothing, something. He growls bursting into a sprint, arms held out as if about to tackle someone.

“Hello?” He calls into the nothing, everything. “Anyone here?”

A resonating silence screams fills him as he slows, reaching a hand back to grab his shirt. “Wait..” A flash of familiarity passes through him just as a burst of wind hits his face. A shiver going up his spine. Cold, so cold, cold, Biting me.

“Harry.” The cold calls in his ear making him turn. Nothing.

He takes a step in the direction the voice was, feet passing through the ground as he tumbles forward. Hands dragging him down.

down.

“Master!!”

Harry shoots up with a muted screech, eyes searching his room he sits frozen in place. ‘A dream?’

Flinching as something shifts beside him, he looks over, seeing Draco sit up in the bed, rubbing his eyes as he reaches for Harry’s arm, flinching back when he touches skin.

“Gods, why are you always so cold?” The silence stretches as the Slytherin waits for a response, reaching to turn on a light when he doesn’t get one. “Harry?”

Harry blinks as the boys voice shifts, shaking his head, a forceful motion as his neck cracks. “I’m fine. Weird dream, that’s all.” ‘This doesn’t feel right.’

“You sure?” Draco yawns, leaning back on the head board. “Do you need another blanket? We can call a house elve.”

“No that’s not necessary.” Harry sighs, raising a hand to hold his temple he tucks his knees to his chest. His other hand feeling the beds sheet. ‘Hmm.’ “I just need a second. You can go back to sleep.”

Draco hums, pulling the blanket up he wraps it around his shoulders, tilting his head to look up at Harry. “What was your dream about?” ‘Why do you care?’

“Just some vague horror shit.” Harry grunts, leaning back on the headboard. “Didn’t really make sense..”

Draco sinks lower into the blankets, eyes shifting in the light. He grunts his own reply. “You sure it wasn’t a nightmare?”

“No. It wasn’t a nightmare.” He looks at the blond slipping farther and farther back into sleep. Tilting his head with a hollow look in his eyes. “Hey. Do you believe in the afterlife?”

Draco grunts again, giving a shrugged response as his eyes drift shut.

Harry nods, shifting his gaze away. “Most people think they’re going to some form of land, a type of heaven or hell. Others think they’ll be reincarnated, that or they’re’s nothing at all.” Harry bemuses, picking at his hand he stares through the wall. Something drips from the ceiling. “But I know the truth.”

With a sigh he reaches a hand up to run through knotted hair. “A souls a soul. It can’t be changed or altered without causing immeasurable damage or just breaking all together, it’s an element of the gods made to grow and change shifting to match and form the body it’s thrown in in its own way. Once a souls grown out of its body. There’s nothing left for it but to return to its creators.  To get locked up in…” he trails off, eyes sliding to the side. “Well, it’s nothing a mortal should know. Especially not a child. Like you” He grins at Draco, not getting a response he turns back to the wall, bathing in the relative silence, looking at the clock on the wall. ‘Where am I?’

“What does that make you?” Draco asks maybe minutes later.

“Huh?” Harry turns to look at the much more awake boy, blinking at his scrunched face.

“You say mortal as if you’re not one. So what are you?” He asks again, rising from his makeshift nest.

“Honestly.” Raising a hand, Harry runs a finger down his scar. “I’m not sure anymore.”

Draco grins, leaning in to look Harry in the eyes. He whispers. “What’s wrong. Are you not feeling human, Potter?”

A chuckled response. “No. Not anymore.”

With a nod the blond laughs leaning back, and back. All the way until he falls off the bed.

Harry sighs, crawling forward to watch the boys body crumble into rot and dust. “Really?” Draco’s teeth hit the floor with clinks, followed by the plop of his eyes.

The walls start to shake, boards and concrete breaking apart to float upward, the flooring collapses in revealing an endless void, replacing the bedroom with an eternal darkness creeping in turning everything that lasts to ash as it enters. Harry’s skin crawl’s when it speaks, cold breaths and a deep rattle of whispers scratching his ears. “Harry.”

The ravenett winced, getting off the bed he spread’s his arm’s walking across the void as the cloud of smoke forms to make a humanoid like shape. “Death! It’s good to see you again, how’s the life?”

“They are doing well.” The smoke solidifies a mouth, speaking with a raspy drawl. “I on the other hand, have been very stressed.”

“Oh?” Harry tilts his head. “Is that why you tried to make a nightmare from my friend? Cause you know. I’m pretty sure I remember telling you to quit doing that.”

“No.” Death says, walking forward with silent steps. “To get you here, I had to put you in a death like state, taking you through your subconscious mind. A not so easy task due to our separation, but I managed.” It’s hard to tell but Harry thinks the entity is snarling. “Do you know why, I had to bring you here through a dream state?”

Lowering his arms, he lets out a gulp. “No?”

“BECAUSE YOU FUCKED WITH TIME!” Death bellowed, a sharp cut through the dark’s nothingness. “HOW DID YOU GO BACK THIS TIME?!” They then gesture to Harry’s form, voice turning low. “And why are you small?”

“Heh, so about that.” Harry scratches the back of his neck with a shrug. “I’m not actually sure how I jumped this time.”

Death doesn’t respond, doing a gesture Harry has learned to associate with being judged. He pouts, glaring at the deity. “Oh come on! You can’t be blaming me this time, it seriously wasn’t my fault!” Rolling his eyes, Harry throws his arms up. “All I did was try to help someone, how could I have know the item was cursed with something time related?!”

Death lets out a tired sigh, sounding more like a rattling chain. “If I knew letting you keep the hollows..” the smoke consisting of the deity’s body thins and shifts, mouth twisting into an eye and back. “Look, I don’t know how you went back, but I need you to listen and do as I say.” He speaks with urgency, a white glow flashing where eyes should be.

“Hold on, before we get into that.” Harry holds up a hand, “Do you know why my magic is being funky.”

“We don’t have time.. what do you mean Funky?”Death question’s, smoke expanding before retreating back to their wavy form.

“I mean it hasn’t been acting right.” Harry complains waving his hand round. “When I first came back, my magic wasn’t working at all. Every time I would cast a spell it would overload itself. I couldn’t even feel it, I still can’t.”

“What about your memory?” Death steps closer, reaching a hand up to Harry’s forehead.

“Nothing different. Just my magic that’s acting up, can you see the problem?” He withholds a wince as his face is cupped, claw like nails framing his jaw.

Death tilts its head side to side, hand’s still sat on Harry’s face. They hum, stepping back. “Your connection to the hallows is faltering.”

“What?” Harry looks at them wide eyed. “That’s possible? How?”

“The same way you’re back in your younger body and that disgrace’s soul is back in your scar. When you went back in time, you didn’t take your body. Just your soul.” Death half explains, stepping around Harry to sit on the floating bed. “With the time shift the hollows have, reverted their decision. You’ll have to reassure them your still fit to be their rightful owner. It is part of the reason I had to contact you through such crude actions.”

“And what’s the other part?” Harry asks cautiously, shifting from side to side.

“Your being back in time is causing some.. problems. In the timeline, and the afterlife.” Theyre head turns to Harry, face shifting into a spyral of teeth and eyes. “Souls are starting to remember new things. Things that they say never happened.” They tilt their head, patting the spot next to them with a tendril. “It’s been causing panic inTerra Mortua.”

“So me being here, is actually fucking up the original timeline?” He walks over to sit by death, looking out at the dark expanse. “I’m changing things?”

“Unfortunately yes.” Death nods.

“And you’ve come here, to tell me I need to go back?”

Death makes a rumbling noise, Harry glances at the bubbling steam leaking from them. “That was the plan yes. But things have changed.”

“Changed?” He shifts to stare at them fully, looking into where eyes should be. “Like, i’m not in trouble changed?”

Death makes another rattling noise. “Life and me have come to the decision that fixing the problems you’ve caused in the correct timeline would be more trouble than just, as humans say,  ‘rebooting the system’ for a new one.”

A smile stretches over Harry’s face. “And I’ll get to change the timeline? Without punishment?”

“Now that you have already destroyed most of your original? Yes, you may change the timeline.” Death raises a hand, putting up three bone like fingers. “On three condition’s.”

Harry puffs out his cheek with a glare. “Rules?”

A tentacle reaches from Death, patting  Harrys shoulder making goose bumps ride up his arms. “Not rules, conditions. Once you have completed these things you may do as you wish, neither I nor Life will stop you.”

Harry hums, looking into the dark expanse. “Okay.. What are they.”

“First. you must reunite with the hallows, once that happens your magic should return to normal. As well as your immortality restored.”

“Wait, my immortality was gone?”

“Second.” Death ignores him, putting down a finger.“you really must get Riddles soul out of your head, I cannot stress how much you do not want that there when your full power returns.”

“I don’t want his soul in my head in general. But since you’re so concerned about it, why don’t you remove it?” Harry looks at the deity with a raised brow, hope in his eyes.

Curling back death makes an offended sound. “I’d rather not. Touching that taboo will take eons to get out. But I am willing to tell you some ways to get rid of it yourself.” Waving a hand in front of them, death molds some of his smoke into a squared shape. Waving the cloud, over to Harry.

As soon as his hands grasped the smoke it lift’s away, leaving a bound black book with a purple skull stuck to the front. “A present? You shouldn’t have.” Opening the cover, Harry glances at Death with a weary expression.

“Just some instructions and old magic tricks, I’m sure you’ll find it very useful.” The deity rumble in a more pleasant noise. “Life put some notes in the back, I’m not sure it will help but they insisted you should know them.”

“Tell him I said thanks!” Harry smiles flipping through the pages, he pauses at a familiar name. “Wait, why is that Flamel guy in here?”

Death leans over peering at the page Harry was pointing at. “He is one of the few humans Life has graced with knowledge only known us, if you ever need something stronger then the normal spell. You should seek him.”

“Life’s talked to humans? I thought you said they refused to leave her realm?”

“She does as she pleases, I do not think much of their human affairs and she does not ask of mine.” Death explains, standing they gesture for Harry to follow . Floating into the void. “We’re running out of time for talking. Your mind is quite the fragile thing with that monstrosity infecting it.”

Harry jumps up, tucking the book to his side, he trail’s after the deity. “Is that why you haven’t talked to me since I went back?”

“Yes. Why, did you miss me?” Death turns its head 180, looking at Harry with a rolling eye. Body still gliding forward.

Harry’s laughs. “Ha! As if.” He smirks, picking up his speed to walk beside the deity. Conjured Eye rolling through the smoke to follow him. “The only thing I’d ever miss about you would be,” pausing, he looks up thoutfully. “Actually. No, I wouldn’t and didn’t miss a thing.” He smiles. The grin turning to a grimace as Deaths eye rolls with a popping squish out of the smoke, falling to the void and out of sight.

“What a shame, and here I was missing our evening bonding time. Luckily for me I won’t have to miss it for long.” Harry can feel the deity’s grin. “As soon as you reclaim the hollows. You’ll be back at my side, little jester.”

Harry scowls. “What did I say about that nickname?” He huffs, rolling his eyes. “It brings back bad memories.”

“For you maybe, I can’t help but smile when I remember your time in Scandinavia.”

“You and Life both.” Harry grumbles under his breath. Death stops walking holding out an arm for Harry. They reach for a hand shake. “What, you need to check something?”

“Sending you back will be a less painful experience this way, we don’t have to if you feel like vomiting blood.”

Harry groans reaching out a hand to grab Deaths, he shivers as the smoke wraps around him, his shoulder tingling. hissing as the feeling of jumping in the Arctic Ocean washes over him.

“Good, now before I send you back.” Death puts up a finger. “The third condition.” Harry glares at him, teeth clattering. “I have written four events in the book that must occur in the world. If not the consequences could be devastating, you must make sure that’s not the case.”

“Only four?” Harry relaxes, grinning with a shrug. “Easy peasy, what’s a few tethers to secure for world power.”

“I’m glad you see it that way.” Death nods, their grip tightens on Harry’s hand. “Now are you ready to go back?”

“Yep!”

“Alright,” Death reaches his other hand to cover Harry’s eyes. “I will contact you as soon as you reclaim the hollows. Farewell, Jester.”

Harry grunts. “Bye bitch-“ all at once the words are ripped from his throat, mind being split apart as his lungs filled with smoke.

Then in an instant it’s gone, leaving him breathing heavily. Lying on a couch with a book clutched to his chest, he snaps his head to the cover, the purple scull glaring back at him.

Sighing he leans back, wiping some sweat from his brow. He hears Footsteps start outside the room, door creaking open seconds later.

“Harry? You in here?” Sirius pokes his head in, looking around before spotting him. “There you are! It’s been an hour since you left the party.” He walks over sitting next to Harry on the couch. “You alright? You look like you’ve just seen a werewolf.”

Reaching out a hand, Harry pats Sirius on the chest. Feeling his heart beat. “Yeah. Guess I fell asleep, had a weird dream too.”

“Nightmare?” Sirius questions.

“No, just… weird.” Harry sighs, tucking the book closer to his chest. Catching the man’s eye.

Sirius looks at the object with a frown. “Is that from the library?”

“Huh?” Harry looks down confused, eyes widening as he realizes the situation. “No, of course not. You told me not to go in there. Why would I disobey you?”

“Nice try.” Sirius shakes his head. “But I can’t let you keep a potentially dangerous book. At least not until your fourth year.” He jokes, snatching it from Harry’s hands. “You know the Black family library is-”

“One of the most cursed places in Britain. Yes, you’ve told me that a million times.” Harry rolls his eyes, a pout forming on his lips. “but that’s not where it’s from!”

“Even still,” He shakes his head. “Nothing with a scull on the front is ever good.” Looking at the cover, Sirius whistles. “Especially a glowing eyed one.” He taps the skulls nose, its jaw unhinges with a creaking cackle. “Okay, that’s plain just creepy. I’m destroying this thing.”

“Wait, Sirius-“ Harry reaches for the stolen literature, getting held back by an arm.

“No, Harry.” Sirius tucks the book in his coat. “It’s not happening.” He shoots the boy a grin. “How about a game of quidditch to get your mind off books? The Weasleys are out there talking up their skills, but I think we can beat them. What do you say?”

Harry bites his tongue. ‘I say give me back the book.’ “Nah, I’m not really a broom guy. Too uncomfortable, you know?”

“Oh come on.” Sirius whines, “Not even for your dogfather? You’ll have fun!”

“Sorry.” Harry shrugs. “I’ll sit and watch with you?”

Sirius sighs. “Alright, I guess I’ll take what I can get.” He pouts, heading to the door. “I’ll go tell the others.”

“Okay, I’ll be out in a minute.” Harry calls after the deflated man. Sitting in the silent room with an absent eyed smile.

“Deaths gonna be so mad.. I can already feel the judgement.” He grumbles, leaving the room. “On top of all the things I already had to do. Now I have to get the book back. Great, amazing start Harry.”

Groaning he heads to the backyard. Already feeling stress build on his shoulders his eye twitches, coming to a decision.

“I need a minion.”

Chapter Text

Remus shuffled through the kitchen, busying himself with making tea as Sirius leaned against the counter. Arms crossed in thought.

“I just don’t get it. He barely even talks to me.” The man pouts. “Does he hate me?”

“Sirius.” Remus looks at him unimpressed. Shaking his head he turns back to the stove, hands stretched out to steal some warmth. “Of course he doesn’t hate you.”

“Then why haven’t we hung out?”

“Hung out?” Remus repeats, lips twitching.

“Yeah!” Sirius nods, pushing off the counter. “Every time I’ve tried to spend time with him. He says he’s either got homework, or is planning to talk with his friends on that little mirror thingy you got him!” He huffs, throwing his arms in the air. “He acts like I haven’t even moved in!!”

“That wasn’t me.” Remus mumbles, turning to face his ruffled partner. Speaking louder, he comforts the man. “Sirius, you’ve only been here a week, Harry isn’t gonna immediately get used to you. Beside’s,” He walks forward, wrapping his arms around Sirius’s waist. “You only ask to do things like quidditch, or play as Padfoot, and Harry’s never shown interest in quidditch for as long as I’ve had him.”

“He’s twelve! What kid doesn’t like a dog? All he does is study.” Sirius whines, placing his head on Remus’s shoulder. “I thought we could play like back then..”

“He’s not like back then, he’s a kid now. A Ravenclaw.” Remus hums into Sirius’s coat, hands fidgeting with the back of his shirt. “If you want to bond with him, try picking something he actually wants to do.”

“Like what?” Sirius tilts his head up, looking at the ceiling. “Read? Help him with homework I don’t even know?” A screech makes him jump, the kettle done.

“He does other stuff!” Remus Lectured, pushing him off and turning back to the stove. “Just go talk with him, find out something from him. I’m sure you’ll find something to do together.” He gets out two cups, pouring the tea he turns to face the other man. “What did I just say? Go.” He ushers to the door, Sirius grunts shivering as he moves close to the stove.

“I can’t.” He leans back on the counter.

“What do you mean you can’t?”

“I can’t.” Sirius rolls his eyes. “He said not to talk to him for fifteen hours four hours ago.”

“What?” Remus looks at him confused. “Why?”

“I don’t know.” Sirius sighs, sliding down the counter side. “Said he needed privacy.”

“Okay…” Remus glances at the kitchen door. “Where is he?”

“His room.” He grumbles, wrapping his arms around his chest he leans against Remus’s leg. “Probably doing homework.”

Remus sighs stirring his tea. ‘Hopefully something safe. I don’t have the heart to tell Sirius about Harry’s side acts yet he hasn’t been back long.’ He glances at the pouty man sitting on the floor. Sirius slowly sipped his tea, staring at the wall.Remus shakes his head, heading to the living room. ‘Harry goes back to Hogwarts tomorrow. As long as he doesn’t do anything crazy at the station we’ll be fine.’He pauses, sneezing into his sleeve, Remus sniffs. ‘Ugh, why is it so cold in here?’

Meanwhile in Harry’s room.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Blaise drawls, watching Harry roll a ton of clay to the center of the room. “Your parents are right down stairs.”

“Don’t worry.” Harry grunts out, removing loose papers and pens from the ball. “They won’t bother us.” Centering the clay in the circle, he holds a hand out. “Can you pass me that bag?” Blaise looks to his side at a bag half covered in wrappers, he tosses it over, Harry snatches it from the air, taking out some chalk sticks.

Making a humming noise, Blaise leans forward on the bed wrapping a blanket around his shoulders. “Are you gonna tell me what you’re doing?”

“Sure.” Stepping back, he starts to draw runes on the circles outside, moving things and marking lines through it when necessary. “I’m testing something.”

“Something dark?” Blaise guesses, looking at the rune’s with interest.

“No!” Harry grins. Finishing he throws the stick aside landing it in a crumbled paper pile, before going to his desk. “Well not really, but in the eyes of the ministry. Yes!

“Right. And you asked me to be here why?”  Blaise glances from the chalk circle to Harry who was making more of a mess as he rummaged through the drawers.

Harry shrugs, not looking up. “Don’t know.”

Blaise stares at his back, the silence stretching.

“You’re not planning to sacrifice me, Right?” He asks, eyes narrowed.

“What? No, of course not.” Harry glances up, shaking his head he goes back to searching.

“Not gonna harvest me for ritual materials?”

“No.” Harry answers, making an ‘aha!’ Sound, he pulls out a box. “Don’t worry, I’m not planning on you participating in this at all.” He stands heading back to the circle, sitting just outside its ring.

“Then why am I here? Blaise asks again.

“I need your help with something after this.” Harry explains, opening the box he takes out two glass balls the size of tennis ball. Dropping them onto the clay mold with a thunk. “But first, I need to finish this.”

“You still haven’t told me what this is.” He gestures to the clay. “Why do you need that much clay for what appears to be an overly complex power enhancing ritual?”

Harry pauses, picking up his discarded chalk piece he turns to look at the other curiously. “Do you know what this is?” He points to the rune circle.

“I did for the first few lines, then you started adding ones I don’t recognize.” Standing Blaise walks the edge of the circle, crossing his arms he crouches down. “What is this for exactly?”

“Well, you were right about me using a power build for the base.” Harry grins, moving to sit on the ground by the other boy. “I need something to make sure I dont overload it. This ritual requires a lot of magic to work, if I don’t have something to strengthen the runes they might explode.” He thickens a chalk line, rewriting a faulty rune. “And while it’s hard to explain chalk lines on my floor, it’s even harder to explain why my room and half the house is on fire.”

“Makes sense.” Blaise agrees, adjusting to sit more comfortably.

Harry gestures to the clay chunk. “On top of that, I got this stuff to make sure the magic doesn’t shoot out all over the place.”

“Clays a natural conductor for magic.” Blaise nods. “You’re trying to ensure something hits one spot?””

“Correct again!” Harry cheers, then he points at the glass balls sitting in the clay. “What do you suppose my plan is with those?”

“Im guessing thats what you’re trying to hit.” He fully faces the ravenett, tilting his head. “Am I correct?”

“You are indeed.” Harry nods. Blaise’s lip twitches, looking back at the circle. “I’m trying out an old golem making technique I found in the black vault. See, the runes fill the glass balls with magic while also imbeding them inside the golems center, basically making it its own magical core, giving it a stored supply to consume which allows it to take orders from a farther range with less words needed.” digging in his pocket, Harry takes out a ring. A black stone in its silver clasp, his thumb runs over the stone. Blaise glances at it curiously.

“No need for direct orders, no worry about them randomly collapsing without your knowing. Supposed to be stronger then a normal golem too, but we will see about that.” Standing, he tosses it up once before tapping Blaise on the head, gesturing him to follow. “It should be ready. You should sit on that chair over there.”

“Ready? You haven’t molded the clay yet.” Blaise says gesturing to the sagging blob, he looks up at Harry with furrowed eyes.

“I don’t need to. I already told you this was a test, all I need to know is whether or not I got the runes to work right.” Putting the ring back in his pocket, he waves Blaise up and to the chair. The boy following the instructions with interest.

“So you’re doing all this for a golem you won’t use?” He inquired, sitting on the chair with one leg raised. He leans forward, chin resting on his arm.

“Oh I will. Just not in the way you’re thinking, this guy is gonna have his own special purpose.” Cracking his knuckles, Harry kneels on the outside of the ritual. Placing his hands on two circles merging with the Outside line, he closes his eyes.

Blaise watches with interest as Harry starts muttering words to low to understand, air growing heavy as the runes start to glow with a static hum.

A gust of air makes his eyes water, ignoring it he forces himself to watch Harry. Eyes still shut, mouth moving quickly as he speaks the incantation. His hair starts to rise, the rooms air moving, creating a mini vortex around the circle. Blaise catches sight of the scar, usually hidden by a hat or the boys bangs.

It never surprised him that Harry preferred to keep it hidden, especially in public. The famous lightning bolt scar he’d hear as a tod from passing adults, a scar that probably runs as deep mentally as it does physically. Blaise had to admit, he wondered if the scar was the reason Harry was so, well, Harry.

Smart with a capability to be silent. Chaotic and brave, coolheaded and powerful, especially for their age. Those were the things he labeled his friend with.

Things he respected about him.

He could also label Harry as thoughtless, reckless, and loud.

Everyone had their flaws and quirks. Harry, despite his claim of godhood, was the same.

But so different, much more than anyone he’s met at a party or school. it was, refreshing. He enjoyed Harry’s antics, more than he probably should and could easily admit the boy was one of his closest friends. Other than Draco of course.

It way why he answered the call. Why he came here so late, snuck in through the shields via house elf and have been hiding in this room for probably four hours now, just sitting on Harry’s bed while he ran around the room preparing this ritual. Not telling Blaise exactly why he’s here.

Not that he minded, of course. He’s never seen Harry so focused on something, so distracted. Scattered. It let Blaise see him better.

Which was why Blaise could tell something was wrong.

He didn’t know how he could tell, but something in the way Harry was moving before. The way his room had clutter thrown about, books and pages torn as they laid on the ground, a pile of rocks and potion bottles on his desk.

In the back of his mind, Blaise thinks he shouldn’t be performing large amounts of magic at the moment.

The thought solidifies in his head as Harry’s eyes shoot open, words coming to a stop. Yet the runes continues to pulse, the atmosphere stilling. Blaise hears Harry curse, looking at the clay in dismay.

“What happened?” Blaise asks, looking at the ritual in distrust. Glass balls glowing an eerie green.

“I don’t know.” Harry grunts back, sitting straight before moving some papers at his side to grab a black book, flipping through it.

“The runes are still glowing.” Blaise points out, standing he walks towards Harry.

“Yes, I see that.” Harry’s eyes trail over a page in speeds that make Blaise think he isn’t actually reading it. “I think I messed up a rune..”

“Which one?” Blaise asks, kneeling by Harry to see the page. Catching a few words before it’s moved out of sight.

Harry makes a noise that sends a jolt down Blaise’s spine. “That’s not good..”

“What?” He looks at Harry in concern, glancing at the now bolt jumping runes. “What did you do.”

Harry doesn’t answer, standing quickly he grabs Blaise by the arm before running to the door, throwing the Latino into the hallway as he slams it shut behind them.

The room erupts with a bright but silent flash, Harry jumps on Blaise, shielding him as dust and wood collapse around them.

He hears nothing, focusing on the feeling of his back hitting the floorboard as Harry tackles him, eyes glowing brighter than the explosion behind them. He watches those eyes wince and flicker as they meet the ground.

his head hits the floor with a bone aching thud, and he sees nothing.

The bedroom door is nothing but splinters on hinges when Blaise glances over, smoke and dust filled the air making his eyes water. He looks at Harry, ignoring the straining pain from tilting his neck, who was still curled over him in a protective stance.

“Hey,” he pats Harry’s shoulder, feeling tense muscle. “Are you okay?”

A choked noise leaves the boy, limbs unlocking as he falls to the side. “Ow.. That hurt.”

Sitting up, Blaise looks around the room through foggy eyes. Raising a hand to his head, he feels liquid.

Concern spiking, he looks down at Harry to say something. Words never reaching his lips, mouth slacking in horror instead as he fully takes in the Ravenclaws condition.

Harry sat up like a puppet on strings, eyes cast in a drowsy shade. Blood drips from his forehead, droplets stuck on his eyelashes flinging with every blink.

He tilts his head, looking at Blaise with a disappointed sigh. “Damn, I really thought I had that.”

“Y-You’re bleeding.” Blaise points at the gash leaking like a faucet from the boys head, snapping to face down the hall he moves to stand. Fighting nausea.“We need to get help-“

Harry grabs his arm, pulling the boy back with a hushing noise. He puts a bloody finger to Blaise’s lips. “No, no, we should not do that.” He slurs, finger slipping to the side leaving a streak of blood on the Slytherins cheek. “That’s a horrible idea.”

“What?” Blaise looks at the boy with wide eyes. “Why? We’re injured, we need a healer!” Eyes going back to the wound, he swallows as his stomach turns. “I can see your brain.”

“They can’t know!” Harry shouts leaning forward. Blaise flinches back, watching him sway. “Remus said no troublemaking until Hogwarts, and Sirius doesn’t like dark magic. At all.” He shakes his head with a sigh. “So we need to keep this quiet, heal and fix the room before they realize. Got it?”

Blaise stares in complete disbelief, fingers twitching at his side he lets out a breathy laugh. “And how do you expect we do that?” He gestures around with glare. “Harry. You blew up the house!” Raising his voice, he inhales quickly as pain shoots through his side.

Looking down, he sees glints of green coated with dark red sticking in his ribs. Shakily moving a hand, he taps the largest shard, an electric jolt shooting into his skin with a spark makes him gasp, curling forward.

Harry makes another choked noise, reaching to hover the shard. “That’s not good.” Snapping his hands back as it sparks once more. he speaks with more clarity than before, Blaise glances into wide shaken emeralds. “That’s so not good. Shit.. Shit!”

Leaning forward gave Blaise a good shot of Harry’s legs, and the same crystals poking from his thigh. Before he could point this fact out, his vision turned fuzzy, brain not wanting to think.

“Hold on Blaise.” He hears Harry. opening his eyes, when did he close them?

His friend was supporting them in a now standing position, numbly stumbling back into his scorched room.

“Harry… Healer..” Blaise is able to mumble through the fog, fighting for his eyes to stay open.

“Don’t close your eyes. Just look at me.” Harry instructs, walking to the charred bed he gently lowers Blaise to the ground.

Harry leaves his sight, going somewhere in the room. Blaise can hear him moving something, a snapping of wood he doesn’t pay attention to. Not when he could see a figure standing in the corner.

Shifting eyes and leering mouth look into his soul, a wispy hand reaching out to point. They speak words that Blaise can’t understand, gestures he doesn’t get.

It’s to the rumbling of the figure his eyes close, shimmering emeralds flashing as he shifts into unconsciousness.

Harry fucked up.

He fucked up bad.

His room was nothing but ash and rubble, there was a crater in his head, Blaise was bleeding out on his floor. And on top of that, he could tell death was watching, the beings presence laughing at him from the ethereal plane.

At least he was able to cast a silencing charm in time. He couldn’t think of what would happen if Sirius and Remus heard that.

“Fucking asshole.” He growls, fingers digging into the floorboards he rips them up, wood snapping and splintering. Throwing the board’s to the side, he brushes off a dust covered chest picking it up.

He brings the case over to Blaise, opening it as he walked. “Okay, I have something that will help, but I need you to- oh come on!” He groans, Blaise was laid on his side, blood starting to pool around his chest. “I told you to keep your eyes open.”

Kneeling down, he props Blaise up against the bed frame. Reaching into the chest he takes out a small vial, popping the lid.

“I didn’t think I’d be using this on you, or anyone else for that matter.” Wrapping his arm around Blaise’s neck he tilts the boys head back, raising the vial to his lips. “You better appreciate this, it took forever to get it right.” He spills half the liquid into the boys mouth, making sure he swallows before downing the rest himself.

Licking some residue from his lips with a shaky sigh, he layes Blaise back on the ground standing again to look around the room with another sigh. “The worst part is I just moved all my stuff in.”

Going over to his desk, he takes his pocket mirror from a drawer, flipping it open.

The wound on his forehead was stitching itself back together, looking at his leg, glass pieces were removing themselves to clatter on the ground.

“Note to self, Potion does not negate any pain.” He winces, putting the mirror back he picks up one of the pieces. Turning it around in his hand.

Light reflects through the shard, pretty sparkles of green dancing on the wall. Looking back at Blaise he sees the ones that impaled him lying on the ground, more stuck in the wall and floor around the room.

Harry makes quick work of picking up all the loose shards, throwing them in a bag before working on the rest of the room.

To caught up in fixing his mistake he doesn’t notice Blaise curling in on himself, breathing heavily as something swims through his veins. A sharp heat ripping through him with a mission.

But is just a shard of death all that bad when compared to a window?

Chapter Text

Blaise couldn’t remember the last time he felt this relaxed.

Maybe as a kid when him and his mom would wrap themselves in their softest blankets and sit by the fireplace, warm food and drinks to enjoy as they read.

‘Mom used to be so fun.’

Letting out a sigh he snuggles deeper into the cool blankets, slowly drifting back into a dreamless sleep. ‘I miss then…’

His thoughts lose the subject as something shifts beside him, moving away and taking his comfort with it.

Blaise reaches out just to grasp silk, making a grunt he shivers. Cold creeping into his bones, he wraps his arms around his chest curling inward.

“You good?”

Harry’s voice cuts through his mind, light hitting his face makes him wince.

“Hmnh?” Blaise rolls over. “Turn off that…” He pauses, looking at the room, something itching his aching mind. ‘..I’m at Harry’s? I wasn’t supposed to spend the..’

He sits up with a bolt, blanket still wrapped around him, body swaying as he’s hit with a wave of nausea, he turns to stare at the Ravenclaw.

Green eyes blink back. “I’m guessing not-”

“What happened? " His voice comes out scratchy. He clears his throat, holding back a gag, as his fingers dig into the cloth, wrapping the blanket tighter. “And why is it so cold in here?”

“My room is cold. We’ve been over this.” Harry leans back in his desk chair, waving a hand with a muttered breath. Blaise feels heat seep into his blanket. “And I messed up.”

“Obviously. What happened after that.” Looking down, he adjusts the blanket to see his chest. “I was bleeding, I remember glass and- did you change my shirt?”

“Yes.” Harry nods. “I don’t want blood on my bed.” He tilts his head, watching Blaise raise the shirt, hand tracing where skin was pierced. “That scarred well.”

“How did I not die.” His voice quivers, swallowing the bile rising in his throat.

“Die? You weren’t gonna die.” Harry snorts.

“I had holes in my torso, how could I not have died.” Blaise snaps at him. Dropping his shirt he stands, dragging the blanket with him. “How did I not die?”

“Merlin, did you want to? You seem pretty fixated right now.” Turning in the chair, Harry picks up a pencil. “You’re alive, you’re healed. I wouldn’t think about it much.”

Grabbing the back of the chair Blaise turns it back around, trapping Harry with a foggy glare.“How. am. I. alive.”

Leaning back, he scrunches his face meeting the glare head-on. “Be. happy. you. are.”

“Harry.” A growl.

“Blaise.” A snarked response. “Drop it, you don’t need to know-“

“Of course, I need to know!” Blaise shouts, trembling hands gripping the chair's arms. “I have the right to know what you gave me!”

“I healed you!” Harry exclaims, poking him in the chest. “With a special potion I was working on. That satisfy you??”

“Potion?” Backing off he secures the slipping blanket back on his shoulders. “What potion?”

“A healing one.” Harry rolls his eyes. “Specially made.”

“What was in this special potion?” Blaise narrows his eyes. Stepping back to the bed, he falls backwards on the mattress, hand covering his mouth. ‘I feel I’m going to vomit. Where’s the pepper-up stash.’ He rolls over, scooting to the bedside table.

“Nothing much, normal healing ingredients.” Turning back to the desk with a shrug, Harry digs through a pile of notes. “With the added Flamel special.”

“Flamel?” Blaise pauses, hand rummaging through the bedside table. “As in Nicholas Flamel?”

“Mhm,” Harry confirms. “Found one of his thingy’s last year. I’ve been messing with it, but alchemy’s never been my strong suit.” Picking up a page, he crumbles it throwing it to the other boy. “You could call me Seamus with the amount of time something’s blown up in my face.”

Grabbing a potion from the drawer he sits up, popping the lid as he fixes the paper. “‘One of his thingy’s.’” He raises a brow, flipping the page over. “You stole the Philosopher’s stone?”

“Stole is the wrong word, I’m borrowing it.” Harry shrugs as he stands, walking over to sit by Blaise. “And don’t correct me, me having that is the only reason you’re not in St. Mungos right now.” Making a face, Harry whistles. “Not that you don’t look like you need to be.”

“And you would have been the one that put me there.” Blaise deadpans, downing the potion he ignores the after-comment, instead reading a small note on a corner.

‘Even his thoughts are chaotic, he’s like a mad alchemist.’

“This is impressive… did you really do all of this?” He sighs as his stomach stops bubbling.

“Of course, why else would I write it down.” Harry laughs, lying on his back he twirls his wand around. Blaise continues looking at the paper, thinking about the lines and runes. “You know alchemy?”

“Not much, I’ve read some of the basics, not enough to do anything grand.” Crinkling the paper, he brings it closer to his face, squinting at a paragraph of tiny scribbles. ‘Merlin why write this small you can barely read it. Something, something.. does that say Death?’ He glances at the boy beside him. Harry had turned to lay on his side, fidgeting with his wand while writing in a journal.

Looking back to the paper, his hand moves to his wand, a spell popping in his head like it was whispered. Tapping the paragraph he mutters under his breath. “Audiri.”

The words glow lightly, Harry’s muffled voice leaving the ink. Blaise blinks in confusion. ‘When did I learn that?’

“I tried using the stone to contact Life.” He shakes his head, focus back on the page. Harry glances at him, going back to writing with furrowed eyes. “I knew it wasn’t gonna work, but I thought I’d give it a shot, Death once said they and Life have tethers placed around the world that can be used to talk to them. Deaths being the Hallows.” ‘Hallows, the deathly Hallows?’ Blaise perks up, listening with more interest. “I haven’t found any of Life’s yet. I’m assuming Flamel has one, maybe the only one.”

Harry sits up, journal propped on a knee he watches Blaise with a bored look.

“I’d ask Death, but they wont let me talk to Life. I wonder if they would even let me get close enough in the first place-” The voice halts as paper ignites, the paragraph burns away, flame stopping just before it touches anything else.

Blaise looks at the hole in shock turning to Harry his stomach lurches. “Why?-”

“That’s enough of that.” The boy grins, waving the wand a trunk floats to him. “We need to get ready.”

“What- no, we’re still talking.” Blaise snaps, reaching to grab Harry’s arm. ‘That pepper up did not last long.’ He thinks as his vision sways, missing his target.

“You got your answer.” Standing, Harry throws a pillow in the trunk, waving a few other things in. “I gave you a potion and let you read my work. Now, before we leave for Hogwarts, we need to grab your stuff from your place. Do you think your mom will be home?”

“We are not leaving yet.” Blaise scowls, face feeling heated. “I-“

“Wait. Shush!!!” Harry puts a finger over Blaise’s lip, tilting his head to look at the door. “Do Remus and Sirius know you’re here?”

Removing the finger, Blaise glares at the boy. “No, and don’t shush me.”

“They can’t see you.” Turning to bend down, Harry shuffles through the trunk. “Remus set this rule about me not having people here without his or Sirius’s knowledge,” He takes out a cardboard box, setting it aside. “And I don’t feel like being grounded so you gotta go, soon.”

“You deserve to be grounded.” With a grunt, Blaise slides to sit on the ground watching the Raven throw things from trunk to the box. “What are you doing?”

“I need you to keep some things for me.” Harry glances at him. “You said your mom doesn’t go through your stuff right?”

“I’m not holding your contraband for you.” He crosses his arms, digging his fingers in his sleeves. ‘He can not be serious.’

“It’s just some scrolls and cursed rocks. All you have to do is keep it in your trunk until we get to Hogwarts.” Putting the journal from earlier in the box, Harry secures the lid.

“Do it yourself.” He glares. ‘He’s asking me this now?’

“Come on, please? ” Harry pleads, leaning back to look up at him. “It’s just a small favor.” ‘What’s he done for me?’

“Why should I help you smuggle forbidden things into school? especially when I just saw you blow up a room with the same type of stuff last night.”

“Because we are friends.” He pouts. “And you love me.”

“Last time I checked a friend would answer my questions, instead of sidetracking the conversation.” Blaise looks down at him, body trembling he raises his knees to his chest. “How about I take that stuff when you give me a straight answer.”

“You're still on that?” Harry groans, lying fully on his back.

“Yes, I’m still on that!” Blaise growls throwing his hands up, quickly dropping them as his body screams. His throat tightens. “You could have killed me, us! And you barely care enough to even talk about it!”

“We’re talking about it right now aren’t we?” Harry jokes, Blaise glares at him.

“No your avoiding it-” his voice cuts out, he fights the urge to curl into himself as a flash of pain shoots up his spine.

“I need to leave.” He croaks, blinking hard. ‘My stomach..’

“What, why?” Harry sits up, brow furrowing.

“I- I just need to go.” He gurgles, standing to stumble on numb legs his body erupts in a burning pain.

Harry jumps up, worry etching into his face. “I didn’t mean to make you mad.”

“I’m not mad.” Blaise strains, taking a shaky step forward he trips over something, the sound of stuff flying in the background of his mind.“I-” He has to stop, taking a deep breath his vision spins. “I don’t feel..” he puts a hand on his head, breath hitching as he feels ruff skin.

“What’s wrong?-” Harry’s cuts off as Blaise collapses, knees hitting the floor he leans forward releasing his stomach onto the ground. “Oh, Merlin!”

Harry’s gasp echoes in Blaise’s brain like thunder at night, bouncing around and making him hiss. He puts his fingers to his eyes, relaxing as cool skin digs into the irritated muscle.

“Blaise.?” Harry asks at a quieter volume, worry apparent in his voice.

He pauses, that didn’t sound right, Harry’s voice was off, shadowed by a echoey wisp. Removing his fingers, Blaise blinks his eyes open adjusting as rainbow static fades.

“Hey, are you okay?” Harry’s voice is closer, accompanied by a hand placed on his shoulder.

Turning his head, Blaise inhales sharply, met with the radiant green eyes of his friend peeking through black smoke forever shifting and morphing into horrors he doesn’t want to see.

With a muted scream he falls back, scrambling away his eyes trail up to the ceiling, the smoke filling the room with tendrils splaying the walls and expanding behind Harry’s restrained body.

He closes his eyes. ‘No. No. No. No-!’ His fingers dig into his skull as it starts to pulse.

“Blaise?” A quiet almost normal voice, but Blaise could still hear the wisp just below it’s surface. “What’s going on?”

Blinking his eyes back open, he’s faced with his normal friend, staring at him with normal concerned eyes, in his normal room.

Glancing around, it was all gone. Except for the pile of steaming black bubbling something on the ground by Harry’s knees. Blaise stares at the goo in horror, lowering his hands.

“Blaise. Can you answer me?” Harry looks to his trunk with concern, mumbling something under his breath.

“What. Is that.” Blaise breathes sitting up. “Did I just?”

“Vomit venom? Yeah.” Harry nods, picking up a pencil he uses it to poke the substance.

“The hell are you doing.” Blaise gags, covering his mouth.

“Don’t you want to know what it is?” Harry hums, grabbing a glass cup from his desk he scoops some of it up. “Do you know what you could have eaten in the last few days for this to happen?”

“Nothing to do that.” He watches Harry poke the stuff around, film sticking to the pencil makes his head spin. “Is this from your potion?”

Harry tilts his head, holding the pencil up. The goo drips down, plopping on the floor as the raven turns wood round. “Maybe? I’ve never seen it do anything like this, so I can’t be positive..” bringing it closer, he sniffs. “It doesn’t smell like anything.”

Blaise makes a face, standing. “That’s disgusting.”

Harry puts as much as he can in the cup before putting it back on his desk, taking out a paper.

Blaise watches him, body heavy. He sighs. “I still want to go home..”

“Oh!” Harry jumps, turning back to him. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. I’m going to mess with this stuff until we go to Hogwarts. I should have an answer by then for you.”

“Cool.” Blaise mumbles while standing, he grabs a bag from the bed. “Can you call Kreacher?”

A pop sounds beside him making him jump. The old elf appears, bowing low to Harry. “Yes, Master Harry?”

“Take Blaise home please.” Harry hums, turning to face them. “I’ll see you at Hogwarts. Can you at least take a few things.” He points to the tipped over box on the ground, its contents spilt all over.

Blaise sighs, “Fine.” He picks up three things, tucking them to his chest. “Goodbye.”

“Bye.” Harry waves Kreacher grabs his hand. “Remember, Don’t mess with any of that-”

Blaise gets dumped just outside the house ward, Kreacher disappearing seconds later.

With a sigh he heads up to his house, entering through the front door and not stopping until he got to his room.

Throwing his things on his bed he falls down beside them, mumbling into the sheets.

“Minny.”

A pop sounds beside him. “Yes Master Blaise?”

“Pack my Hogwarts stuff.”

“Right away, Master Blaise.” She pops away. Returning a second later. “Master Blaise seems ill. Would he want some tea?”

Sitting up, Blaise nods. Minny bows with a peep, popping away again.

Pulling a pillow to his chest, Blaise crosses his legs, burying his burning face in the cool silk. “Mmph.” He huffs, turning his head to the side.

The pile of Harry’s things attracts his attention. The black book more then anything.

Reaching over Blaise turns it round in his hands. ‘Wasn’t Harry writing in this earlier?’ Brushing the front his eyes catch sight of some embroidery.

‘T.M.R… Wonder what that means.’

Chapter Text

Harry stared out the compartment window, foot tapping as he picked at his coat. Goancing to his wrist, he frowns at the blaring ‘10:49’.

‘Come on..’ He watches the platform clear, students boarding as parents step back to leave with their final goodbyes.

“Blaise still isn’t here?” Draco muses beside him. “He’s sure cutting it close.”

Harry hums, eyes never leaving the platform.

“Maybe he lost something.” Ron shrugs, paying attention to a puzzle he brought. “Have you rang him?”

“Rang him?” Draco mocks. “It’s ‘Call him.’ Idiot.”

“I’ll call a bird up your arse, dick.”

“Try it blood-”

“There he is!” Harry shouts, interrupting the side bickering as he points out the window. “And with five minutes to spare.”

“Does he look injured?” Draco leans over Harry, looking for the boy through the glass. “He better have a good reason for being this late.”

“I don’t know, wait for him to get here and ask then,” Harry grunts shoving the blond away. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

He finishes speaking as the door slams open, a disheveled Blaise stumbling in. Coat thrown over his arm and tie half undone he collapses on the seat by Ron.

“What happened to you?”\“You look horrible.” Ron and Draco say at the same time.

Blaise puts a hand to his temple, glaring across the seats. “I’m sick.”

Ron scoots towards the window, putting his attention back to his puzzle. “No kidding.”

“You look close to death,” Draco says, grimacing at the other’s appearance. “You know a glamour charm goes a long way.”

“Shut up.”

“I thought you were feeling better after that whole..” Harry makes a vomiting gesture, gaining confused looks from the other two.

“No.” He huffs, crossing his arms. “I’ve thrown up two more times since then. The same way.”

“Huh, you should tell me if any more symptoms appear,” Harry suggests, hand fidgeting in his pocket.

Draco looks between them. “Why is he telling you about his symptoms?”

Blaise gains a pained expression. “Right. And have you had the chance to, examine, the recent ones?”

The train’s whistle blows, and its wheels start to move with a lurch.

“A little, not as much as I was gonna but I got sorta sidetracked.” Harry nods. “Speaking of, did you take a journal from my place?”

“Yeah, it’s in my trunk like you asked.” Blaise sighs, leaning over he rests his face against the wall. “You know you could have warned me about it.”

“What do you mean?” Harry tilts his head. “It doesn’t do much other than talk.” ‘I made sure of it.’

“Are you talking about the journal I sent you?” Draco asks.

“It pulled me into it, tried telling me all these things before screaming and kicking me out,” Blaise explains, a dark look crossing his face. “Like some type of angry spirit.”

‘Interesting and concerning. This is what I get for doing alchemy again.’ Harry snorts. “You could say that.”

“Hello!?” Draco shouts drawing the two’s attention to him. “Care to tell what you guys are talking about?”

“We’re talking about Harry’s latest screw-up,” Blaise answers him.

“Latest. When have I screwed up?” Harry asks, crossed between confused and amused.

Blaise hums. “Draco.”

“Didn’t you disappear for days on end last year cause you took centaur drugs?” Draco brings up, glancing at Blaise before glaring at Harry. “Not to mention the time you, the twins, and Jordan laced everyone’s food with.. what was it?”

Harry sinks in his seat, fighting a grin. “It was supposed to be a potion that changes everyone’s hair color.”

“That’s not what it did,” Ron speaks up, glaring at the Raven.

Harry huffs. “I’m not the one who grabbed the wrong bottle. That was George.”

“I sounded like a chipmunk for a week.” Ron snarls. “A week!”

“At least you didn’t hiss with every S noise.” Harry snickers, looking at a scowling Blaise.

“What did you do this time?” Draco asks. “Is it worse than when you set Snape on fire?”

“No, I meant to do that,” Harry states, sitting up with a sigh. “This is worse though yeah. I almost killed Blaise.”

“And so he admits it.” Blaise sighs in victory.

“Yeah yeah,” Harry rolls his eyes. “I’ll admit it went a lot worse than it was supposed to… Potter luck.”

“What were you trying to do?” Draco asks with hesitance.

“Make a golem.” Harry pouts, looking out the window as the train moves into more grassy plains.

“A golem? Don’t you own a house elf?” Draco asks, moving his legs up on the seat.

“Yeah, but that’s not the point. You can ask a golem to do things you’d feel bad asking a house elf to do.” Harry explains. “And Kreacher can’t follow me to Hogwarts, or hold cursed things without getting cursed himself.”

“Why do you have cursed things?” Ron questions, attention split on his puzzle.

“Why not? There’s enough in the world.” Harry brushes off the question, looking at Blaise instead. “Speaking of cursed things. I wouldn’t touch the journal again, it has a habit of stealing bodies and taking in your current condition, I’d say that isn’t the best thing for you right now.”

“That would have been nice to know before,” Blaise grumbles, eyes drooping as he sags in his seat.

“You brought a magic-stealing ghost book to school? Are you trying to be expelled?” Draco asks with a tinge of exasperation.

“Of course not,” He shrugs. “No one will know. And if anyone finds out, I can just blame it on someone else.”

“That’s not-”

“I got it!” Ron shouts in glee. His puzzle now emits a low glow as it releases a humming sound.

“Uhg.” Blaise groans rubbing his ear at the noise.

“I’m going to show this to Hermione, I’ll be right back.” The ginger grins rushing out the door.

“Okay?” Draco watches him leave in confusion, looking at the other two. “Who’s Hermione?”

“Granger.” Blaise grunts.

“You’ve met her?” Harry huffs bewildered.

“Oh- right.” He coughs, looking rather awkward.

“…. The bushy-haired Gryffindor. Top of our year..”

“The mudblood??” Draco gasps, eyes widening. “I didn’t think she had friends.”

Harry stares at him in disappointment.

“That’s not nice.” A soft voice says as the compartment door slides open. “Hermione is a kind person.”

Harry tilts his head at the blond as she steps in, getting a dreamy smile back.

“And who are you?” Draco glares. “We’re full-”

“Hey, Luna!” Harry waves, gesturing to the seat across from him he smiles. “Need a seat?”

“Thank you, Harry.” With a little courtesy she sits by Blaise, reaching into her pocket she offers him a small vial. “I brought this for you.”

Blaise makes a noise mixing a hum and groan while taking the bottle with hesitance. “Thanks… what is it?”

“It will help.” She smiles simply before turning to Harry.

Harry stares at the girl with a squinting look, sensing a feeling of oddness and prodding in his mind.

“It’s nice to meet you guys. I’ve been getting a lot of dreams about you lately.” She hums, tilting her head back at the Raven.

Shaking the feeling away, Harry leans forward with a grin. “It’s nice to meet you too Luna. What brings you to our humble compartment.”

She giggles, Looking beside her at the boy eating what appears to be some type of plant.

“I was told I’d be needed.”

“Do you eat just anything given to you,” Draco asks in disbelief.

Blaise shrugs, leaning his head on the wall with a relieved sigh. Harry reaches over to grab the vial held loosely in his hand.

“What is this stuff.” He asks tapping its contents into his palm, he looks curiously at the white plant.

“Petals from an old flower,” Luna says, relaxing into her seat she brings her legs to a crisscross position. “It’s hard to find nowadays, there’s quite a story on their making.” She looks up as if remembering a sweet tale. “It’s known as moly.”

“Molly?” Harry perks up, leaf halfway to his mouth. “Like, the muggle drug?”

Luna shakes her head. “No. The flower.”

“You gave him a flower?” Draco asks.

Luna nods. “Yes. It’s not usually meant to be eaten, but it’s what I was told to bring.”

“By who?” Harry asks, he watches Blaise sink in his seat, breaths evening as his eyes close.

Luna shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Draco’s eyes twitch.

Luna shakes her head, digging in her pocket she takes out a note. “I had a dream with a glowing sky, it told me many things, even gave me a message,” She passes the paper to Harry. “For you.”

“Me?” Harry’s face furrows as he takes the letter, tucking the vialed flowers into a pocket.

“Mhm.”

“I’m sorry,” Draco huffs squinting at the girl. “You had a dream, that told you to bring a plant and a note here to us specifically. And you just followed it?”

“Mhm.” Luna hums as she watches Harry read.

Draco stares at her. She glances at him, a wispy smile set in place.

“…Are you crazy?”

“Draco.” Harry throws him a look.

“What?” Draco raises his hands in defense. “You can’t tell me that isn’t crazy!”

Harry sighs. “We have to work on your sensitivity issues.”

Draco huffs crossing his arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t worry, we’ll deal with it later.” Harry half answers, his focus back on the note. “Do you guys believe in the afterlife?”

“What?” Draco looks confused. “Why would you ask that?”

“It’s alright Harry.” Luna reaches across the aisle to put a hand on Harry’s. “We’re here.”

“Right.” Harry clears his throat, sitting straighter. “Thanks for bringing this to me Luna.”

“You’re welcome, Harry.” She smiles, leaning back again.

Blaise mumbles something from his new curled-up position on the seat, not bothering to raise his head from his arm pillow.

“What exactly does that flower do when eaten?” Draco asks, looking at the boy with suspicion.

Luna hums, tilting her head. “I’m not sure, I think I remember it saying something about paralysis.”

“What!” Draco shouts shooting forward to hit Blaise on the leg. He gets a twitch in response, escorted by a sleepy glare.

“Or maybe hallucinations? I don’t remember. The wrack spurts seem to like it though.” The girl waves her hand over Blaise’s head. “They swarm the stuff...”

Draco looks at her in disbelief before turning to Harry, frowning as the boy stares at nothing while petting the snake hidden in his pocket.

“Are you just accepting this?”

Harry shrugs. “Yeah. Why not, weirder shit has happened to me.” He thumbs at the paper still in his non-petting hand. “You want to help break into Snape’s private potions stash?”

Draco blinks.

“I will,” Luna speaks up, looking away from Blaise.

“No, it’s your first year you don’t need the trouble.” Harry shakes his head. “It’s better if it's someone Snape trusts.”

“No!” Draco shouts, leaning into Harry’s space. “I’m not helping you steal from my godfather.”

“Come on Draco.” He sighs, rubbing his ear. “Why are we friends if you refuse to be fun?”

“I-huh?” Draco stutters, leaning back with a scrunched face. “I’m fun!”

“Eh.” Harry shrugs.

“I am!” The blond glares. “Just cause I don’t want to get in trouble doesn’t mean I’m not fun.”

“I mean yeah, but what else do you do? Beside riding brooms.”

“I-” Draco snaps his mouth close, looking to the side.

“Even Blaise has his criminal tendencies.” Harry gestures to the sleeping bundle, Ron and Luna suspiciously close to the body. “I’m just saying your family’s reputation isn’t all it was hyped to be. I mean I stayed at your place and didn’t see a single dark lord memorial piece or bloodied corpse, the only thing correct is your dad is a piece of shit but-”

His words are cut short by a punch to the stomach, his breath coming out in a cough. “What was that for-” He’s stopped again by a slap to his head.

“Hey!”

“Don’t talk about my family like that!” Draco glares with a growl, sending another hit to Harry’s head.

“The hell!” Harry yells backing off, he blocks his face. “I was joking!”

Draco ceases his slapping, letting out a huff as he sits back. “It’s not funny.”

“I see that..” Harry grumbles, rubbing his head with a pout. “Sorry.”

“Don’t do it again,” Draco says, looking at the ground.

Harry looks at him in confusion, reaching into his pocket to calm a disturbed noodle.

“My father isn’t evil,” Draco mumbles under his breath. “He just made some bad choices.”

Harry sighs, nodding as he looks back out the window. A shadowed figure stands behind him in the reflection, he blinks and it’s gone.

“Don’t we all.”

Chapter Text

A pounding noise, deep in his head resonating out into the dark around him. Pulsing, and breathing. Choked almost in its scream.

Harry opens his eyes, waving his arms as he spins in a weightless state. Looking around the void he appeared in.

“Hello?” He calls out to the being he knows should be there. Only to frown when he gets nothing but silence in return.

“Hellooo? Death?” He says louder, noting how the darkness eats his words. “I thought you were, ‘having trouble connecting’, or whatever you said last time. Pretty irresponsible to call me here on a shaky line. What did you forget, a new.. rule…”

His words trail off as he sees something, shifting and flashing in the dark with him. It slowly floats over, a ball of light almost like a beacon in its hue. He squints, tipping closer to look at its abnormality.

Were those bubbles?

“What..-” He reaches to grab it, fingers dipping into the apparent liquid. He feels heat, almost burning in its intensity as it covers his skin. Then cold as he’s yanked away, arms flinging out to stabilise his increasing speed.

He hold his breath, trying to stop the spinning. He twists and turns in the air, balancing with a long sweep of his leg and sharp snap of his chest, his speed turns manageable. No longer spiraling he looks around.

The orb was gone. Frowning he scratches his head.

“That’s weird, never seen anything like that in here before. Is there a point?”

He doesn’t get an answer. Not in words. He does however get the feeling of being spun, ripped from his mind and tossed around like a ball.

He hits a wall, goes through a slash of cold. His skin tears, heart rips, gets stitched. And he’s spinning again, spinning spinnning spinning..

Snapping up, head feeling heavy and full of fog with every movement. The lights around him blinding to the point he raises an arm to block it out. Squinting at the world around him.

“Ugghh..”

“You alright Harry?” Ron asks beside him.

“Mh. Mhm,” he nods, rubbing his eyes. “Just, fell asleep. What’s happening?”

“Still on the wuiz.” The redhead taps his quill to the page in front of him, glaring as he scratches out a crude face. “Bloody Lockhart made it all about himself. Look at these questions.”

“I’m good..” Harry groans, setting his head back on the desk. He tries to ignore its pounding.

“Your going back to sleep?” Someone huffs behind him. “Really. Are you trying to fail?”

“It’s the only way I could, Hermione.” He snorts, peeking back at her.

She scoffs, crossing her arms, and leaning forward to whisper. “I wouldn’t push my luck if I were you. You’ve already slept through most classes today.”

“Yeah, yeah..” yawning, he waves her off. “hey how many more of those are left anyway?”

“Three.” Ron says, focus not moving from his drawing. “Next is charms, for us at least. Don’t know what Ravenclaws have.”

“Huh,” Harry blinks, trying to remember himself. “Shit.”

“Potions.” A brunette Raven sitting in front of them butts in, turning in his chair to level a glare on them. “You’d know that, Potter, if you actually came by the common rooms for your schedule.”

“Oh,” raising his hand, Harry waves slightly at the familiar face. “Hey Michael.”

Micheal doesn’t wave back, rolling his eyes instead. “Don’t hey me. Where have you been sleeping?”

“Wait. You haven’t been to your common room yet?” Hermione was almost laying down on the desk with how close she was. her eyes narrowed at him as she asks. “Why?”

Harry shrugs, “It just hasn’t happend, I don’t know.”

“Now, how did you manage that?” Ron asks, looking up for the first time in this conversation. Genuine curiosity in his voice.

“Ive been crashing with the Slytherins. You guys didn’t know?” He hums, leaning back in his chair. “Thought most students would have by now.”

“The Slytherins?” Michael gapes.

“It’s Slytherin. We don’t even know where their common room is. How could we know you're sleeping there?” Hermione huffs, crossing her arms on the desk and resting her head on them.

“They let you in?” Michael continues, looking not really at them.

Ron makes a face, not unlike the one he was doodling earlier.

“They didn’t. I got in.” Harry turns away from them, looking out the window with a frown. A buzzing was forming in his head, or, more behind his eyes. Low and strained.

“How much longer is this class?”

“Its almost over. Lockhart should be collecting our quizzes soon.” Michael sighs, turning back around. “Not that you would listen anyway, because you never…”

The boy kept talking, but Harry stopped listening. The buzzing turning to an ache, with a tension poised between his eyes.

raising a hand he pinches his temple, pushing down the feeling. Looking forwrad to the front of the class, he watches Lockhart. The new teacher busy writing on a pile of letters covering his desk.

A feeling as if he’s being pulled towards the man, or more towards his desk, starts with a desperate plea.

“Hey,” He grunts, drawing his friends attention back to him. “I bet I can get him to end class early.”

“Don’t you dare.” Hermione growls at him. Turning the glare to Ron as he smirks

“Do it.”

“Ron!”

Michael, doesn’t say anything, just shaking his head as he leans back in his chair.

Standing without another word Harry makes his way to the front, drawing attention only from the blond man himself.

Lockhart glances up as Harry approaches, smiling brightly at the younger boy.

“Mr Potter! What are you doing out of your seat, looking for a chat? cause if so i’m sadly going to have to-”

“No no, not here to chat,” Harry interrupts, walking up to stand behind the desk on Lockharts right. “I just wanted to ask something.”

Lockhart straightens his back, smile still bright and in place. “Oh, and what is that? If your looking for hints on your quiz-”

“No, it’s not that either. I was actually wondering if I could talk to the uh,” tapping the desk, Harry gestures his head to one of the drawers. The buzzing in his head now screaming as he stands by it, “Whatever’s in here. Pixies, right? I’ve heard their cries before.”

Lockhart laughs, loud and tight. Throwing his head back and everything while putting a hand on Harry’s shoulder, just to rip it back a second later.

“Hah, You're quit the observer! Sadly these are for after the quiz, you’ll have to wait until then.” Patting the bottom drawer of his desk, he shakes his head before pausing slightly. “But besides that, you know pixies don’t talk.”

“To you maybe,” Harry smirks, “I, on the other hand, am quite the charmer when it comes to Pixerìe.”

“Pixerìe?” Lockhart repeats, leaning forward in interest.

“The language of pixies,” Harry nods.

“Why, i’ve never heard such a thing.” He glances to the drawer, brows furrowed in thought,

“It’s not really common too know, the only reason I do is, well..” Harry stutters a second, stopped by the thought of how he knew such a language , “Uhh, studying, lots and lots. Found lots of things in some old family library’s. Very interesting stuff there.”

Lockhart nods like he understood. Not noticing how Harry frowned, tilting his head to look up slightly. ‘Ugh, that damned ritual. Never thought that’d come back up, back to the repression cage with you.’

“You know, I am a little intrigued..” Lockhart breaks him from his thoughts with a mumble. Opening his desk drawer and pulling out a cage. “Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do. I’ll collect everyone’s quizzes, then i’ll introduce the pixies, show them off a little. Then queue you in for a little demonstration of beast taming!”

“Sounds good- Beast taming?” Blinking, he doesn’t say anything on the man’s eagerness. A wave passes over him, bringing a chill to his stance.

“It’s settled!” Lockhart beams, standing from his chair he gestures to the class. “Everyone! Attention to me. Our schedule has been slightly changed. Now-”

Harry rolls his eyes, focusing on the cage. It sat covered in a blanket doing little to ease the ones trapped inside. He bends down by it, lifting the blanket slightly to see inside.

“AAAHGHHH!” A pixie screams in his face, a high pitched squeal that makes him wince.

“Let us out! Let us out! Let us out!” They all chant. A mix of tiny, yet deep voices Demanding they're freedom.

Harry hums, feeling his tongue shift, “what do if I did?”

They’re chanting quiets little, only really by one. A pixie shaded darker then the others flys forward, grabbing at him through the cage with their little hands. Their eyes glinting with chaos.

“Free us, soul. And we make destruction. Together! For us free!”

“Free us! Free us! Claw eyes, jumble skin! Free us! Free us!”

“Hm. How get caught? Such a fool, out fool you?” Harry quirp’s, tilting his head when the pixie hisses.

“Fool! Bait, fell. Fools!” it shakes its head in anger, “don’t care, must free! Want out! Want fun, want screams!”

Leaning back, Harry peers over the desk, seeing Lockhart collect the last few papers and now heading back towards his desk.

Ducking back down, he smirks at the pixie.

“Wait, not long. Fool will let you out, you will have screams,” glancing over the desk again, he meets eyes with Ron, then Hermione. “Just not the ones with me, no, not them. Nor the one with… Oh hey professor. You ready?”

Lockhart stood frozen, staring at Harry with a startled expression. Placing the quizzes clumsily on the desk.

“What was that?” He asks after a second, walking around to pick up the cage. He looks at the pixies with a frown.

“Was what?” Harry blinks, standing straight. He pokes the pixie cage. Laughing slightly as they start to rattle the bars in glee.

“The noises you were making, how on earth did you do them?” Lockhart asks, setting the pixies on the desk. He glances out to the other kids. “Actually, wait to answer that.”

Turning back to the class, a hand on the cage, the other behind his back. Lockhart mutters to himself under his breath. “Okay, three, two… one.”

“Students! Children behold, for today you will be witness to a marvelous sight. A taming scene to wretch your heart and delight your eyes. Something extreme, bold, and never before seen with my recollection!”

There’s a spike of excitement in the students, a whisper breaking out with everyone’s attention on Lockhart.

Harry meets eyes with Hermione, the girls glared confusion well seen in the back. He winks at her, turning to act like he was paying any attention to Lockhart. Really he was looking at the other students, taking in their interest and excitement.

He wonder how long it would last.

“Now behold, a feral beast many known, but none combat. The winged devils that plague most the world,” With a swift motion, Lockhart rips the cover off the cage. Revealing the pixies wild swarm and loud chittering. No longer able to be masked. “The pixie!”

There’s a visible deflation in the crowd, whispers and snorts of laughter starting to spread. Lockharts face crumbles for a second, a frown flickering on, before being quickly masked by another proud smile.

“Mock you may! But these beast are nothing to laugh at, for you see these beasts right here are quite the hand full, they’re pretty- ow!” Lockhart shouts at the rocking cage. While trying to still it with his hands he manages to get a nasty bite delivered to his pinky finger. “Shit!”

“Easy, they’re a little riled up.” Harry hums.

“I noticed!” Lockhart snaps, putting his bloody finger in his mouth.

Harry blinks, watching him with bored eyes, “you wanna get back to the thing?”

“The- oh, yes yes.” Lockhart jumps, smiling shakily at the crowd. “Sorry about that everyone, forgot the safety rules of dealing with pixies for a second. Never give them a hand, they’re sure to take the whole arm!”

He laughs, trying to ease the crowd clearly. Not that it needed it sounding by the snickers and whispering, louder than before and more antogonizing.

“Ah, anyway.” stepping away from the cage, Lockhart gestures to Harry. “Today I will not be the one showing you how to deal with these little heathens. Even though i’d very much love too.” He makes a face clearly avoiding the cage while gesturing Harry forward. “Instead of me, Potter here has kindly offered to share some of his skills with us. How about we give him some applause?”

There’s some polite claps, mostly just from the girls, and Neville. Harry winks at them, opening his arms in a wide gesture.

“Thank you, thank you. Your all too kind,” he smiles, placing a hand on the cage. His fingers poking in and out, “It’s truly an honor to be here today, to show off another one of my many talents to the students of Hogwarts.”

Theyre’s a stir in the crowd, he locks eyes with a couple Ravenclaws, with Hermione, then Ron. All their looks varying from boredom, disinterest.

“Now. I know no one here is impressed by pixies. Obviously. They’re’s not much to them past the teeth, nails and screaming,” hopping up to sit on the desk, he crosses his legs, stapling his fingers together in his lap. “Or so most people think. In truth Pixies aren’t exotic creatures. Yet they’re also not simple, and they’re definetly not easy to control.”

Shooting a look to Lockhart, he draws attention to his fingers in the cage. Tilting his head as the pixies hold them, scratching lightly and pulling, trying to bring him down yet bringing no pain to the appendage.

“Capable of thinking and acting with intelligence. They communicate with each other using a variety of buzzes and squeaks. They build their own versions of ‘city’s’ in forests, have civilisations. And though they’re more ‘human’ tendencies tend to stop there.” Leaning in, Harry whispers to the cage, too low for anyone else to hear.

The students lean in, interest spreading. Harry leans back from the cage, giving the pixies a look, they part, the darker blue one separating himself from the others to stand by the door. Smile wide and toothy.

“Today we’re gonna learn how to get these guys off your backs if they make you a target. But before that, Does anyone have any questions?”

They’re’s a pause. Then a few hands raise, one more hesitantly than the others. Harry ignores all of them, flicking open the cages door instead.

“Well too bad. I prefer a more direct approach to my teaching, so good luck!”

The pixies shoot from the cage one at a time, swarming the students who were shrieking and jumping from their desks to rush to the doors. Chanting as they fly,

“Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!”

Harry smirks watching as Lockhart jumps to the front, wand aimed high. He screams to the shocked children.

“It’s alright everyone I know exactly what to do about this! Mini- Oaf!”

A cackle slips from him as Lockharts grabbed by the sleeve and dragged to the ground. His wand wrestled from his hand by a pixie who flys off once the stick snaps free.

“OW! Bugger off will you!” Ron’s scream draws Harry’s attention to the little group across the room, just in time to see Neville raised by his ears, and Ron grabbed by his robe.

“Oops,” he winces, jumping off the teachers desk. He shouts at the Pixies, “hold on guys!”

“Potter!” Hermione yells at him, half hidden under a desk with a wide eyed look on her face, “why would you do that?!”

“I told you i’d get us out of class early,” he grins at her, then turns his attention to the boys. He grabs Ron by the waist, trying to pull him down while hissing at the pixies to let go. They hiss back, relenting their grip just to go help the other pixies carry Neville. “Shit, hold on Neville!”

Ron still in his lap he reaches for his wand, about to knock the pixies off. Only to freeze as Hermione shoots up, wand at the ready and already mid spell.

“Immobulus!” She shouts, the spell spreading through the pixies with an impressive power.

Neville falls, the pixies holding him going down too. Harry doesn’t move, only watching the boys speed slow, lowering him safely to the ground.

Michael clears his throat, his arm dropping to his side, wand in hand. He was crouched under another desk, more towards the door than them. His lips pulled tight. “I was not prepared for this..”

“Good catch Michael!” Harry cheers him on. Getting a nod from the boy right before he lowers his head to the ground.

Harry looks around at the pixie bodies littering the floor. Then to the one who did it. Hermiones red faced form standing by him, her arms stitched to her side and face set in a glare, set on him. He smiles in turn.

“Good job to you as well Hermione. You got them all!”

“Potter…” she grumbles. Harry frowns at the return to his last name.

“Oh, come on. It was gonna happen no matter what, Lockhart had plan to open that cage from the beginning. Right Lockhart?” Looking around they see no sight of the blond man, but they do hear a groan. Emmiting from under a pile of ripped pages and torn pictures. “Lockhart?”

A limp hand raises from the pile, another more pained groan following, “someone, someone get Pomfrey. I- I can’t feel, my arm..”

“That’s not an answer,” Harry mumbles at the same time as Hermione gasps,

“Professor!”

The bushy haired girl runs to the man’s side. Grabbing Ron’s arm while passing, he throws a look at Harry just before he’s dragged away. One full of pain, regret, embarrassment, and exhaustion.

Or at least Harry thinks he did. Admittedly he wasn’t paying attention, focus drawn to the boy by the door brushing off his jeans. He runs over to him.

“Hey Michael! Wanna walk to potions together?” Harry beams, opening the door just as the other boy reaches for it. “I feel we haven’t talked in forever.”

“You haven’t said a word to me since the entrance feast in first year.” Micheal deadlines, brushing past Harry and out the door.

Harry follows him, nodding in agreement “Yeah, exactly. It’s been over a year, we should catch up.”

“Shouldn’t you stay with your friends?” Michael pauses, pointing back the defense room, “maybe help fix what you did?”

“Nah, i’m sure they’ve got this. They’re smart.” Tucking his hands in his pockets Harry keeps walking, “we still have some time before potions dont we? Why don’t we stop by the kitchens or something beforehand? Get some snacks or something, I missed breakfast so it’d be nice.”

“Uh, actually I was planning to stop by the common room,” walking after Harry. He pulls a broken quill from his pocket, raising it slightly for him to see, “I need a new quill cause mine was broken. By the pixies.”

There’s a hint of accusation in his voice that Harry chooses to ignore. Instead he nods, gesturing him to take the lead.

“Okay, that’s cool with me. I should finally visit the place anyway. Learn who my dormates are.”

“Right..” Michael sighs, not saying much else he walks ahead of Harry. Staring at the ground with a mumbled, “finally.”

It’s a silent walk for how long it lasts. Though it doesn't last long, interrupted by two professors running around a corner.

McGonagall and Snape speed past them, the man glancing at them slightly in his haste. His feet screeching to stop, only getting a look from McGonagall who keeps walking.

“Potter!” He snaps, advancing back towards them, “don’t think you can get away that easily. Your fellow Gryffindors have said everything!”

“Huh?” Harry jumps at the man’s tone, frowning slightly his walk starts to turn into a run, “you can’t prove nothing!”

Snape growls quickening his steps, “Get back here!”

“See ya in class!” Harry calls over his back, taking once glance at the man’s red face before he rounds a corner. Not stopping utill the coast was clear.

Once it was he collapsed against a wall, laughing to himself he looks to his side. “We showed him, huh Micheal.. Michael?”

Harry looks around, the brown haired boy no where in sight. His smile falters, slipping into a frown. He sighs, “guess he couldn’t keep up. Sad, I really wanted to see the Ravenclaw common rooms in working condition... oh well.”

Leaning his head back, he sniffs. A tingling forming in his nose, shortly followed by the scent of what Harry guessed was a combination of dust, daisys and something sweet.

“You seem down,” Luna appears in front of him, making him jump. Her hands were full of flowers, a couple were in her hair. Blues and reds mixing with blond.

“I like your hair,” he nods at her in acknowledgment, settling back with a slightly weaker smile than usual.

“Thanks.” Sitting down in front of him, she holds out the flowers in her arms, “you wanna match?”

“Absolutely.” He hums, leaning his head forward for easy access to his hair. “Red and purple please.”

Luna gets to work immediately upon given permission, placing the flowers in his hair with gentle yet swift fingers. Curling some strands on her fingers at points with little hums,

“Your hair is soft.”

“Thank you. I’ve been trying to bring out my natural curls better. No more tangled birds nest.”

“It’s working. You feel like a baby diricaw.”

“.. feathery?”

“A little.”

“Huh,” Harry blinks, fidgeting with his fingers. “That’s.. Wierd.”

“You ever think of letting it grow in its natural state?”

“Natural state? You mean fluffy and un-combed?”

Luna snorts, barely there in pressure. “Yeah, feathers and all. You should let them grow out.”

“Yeah… no, what?” Harry tries to raise his head, getting hit lightly by the girl.

“I’m not done yet,” she huffs, holding a flower in his view. “Do you like mums?”

“Yeah, use the pink ones please. And go back to the feathers.”

“Feathers. You have nice feathers, I think. It’s hard to tell,” Luna sighs shaking her head, still hard at work in flowering his hair. “Feathers, fur and claws. It’s sad you have to hide it all. You won’t even let yourself see.”

She frowns, hands falling to her lap. Harry raises his head to meet her eyes.

“Luna?” He questions, tilting his head. his vision blurring slightly. A sliver of light spreads behind the girl almost like a halo. “I don’t have feathers.”

Harry rubs his eyes, looking to the ground as the feeling of something snapping echoes in his head. “Or.. no, no I don’t.”

“Harry?” Luna says, reaching a hand out to grab his shoulder, “are you alright?”

“No, yeah. I’m fine, i’m fine. Just,” he laughs, a slightly croaked noise. “Just a little feeling, it’ll pass.”

“Did something snap?” She asks, patting his shoulder once before withdrawing.

“Nah, maybe. How do you know about snapping?” He squints at her, the glow fading. “What are you a, a… oh shit your a seer.”

He giggles, a flouting feeling taking over as it connects. His head falls back to the wall, looking at her with narrowed, slighty glowing eyes.

“What happened to you guys staying out of my business?”

“That was the old ways. Before you reset the planet and came back.”

“What? The rules change?”

“Many things have. You should know, being the cause and all.”

“Hmph. That sound like blame. I could de-sight you for that you know.”

Luna snorts, louder this time, followed by a high chuckle. “You wouldn’t dare, i’m too important.”

“Oh?” Harry laughs, shaking his head. He reaches over to grab a flower from her lap, larger than the ones she was putting in his hair. “And how’s that?”

“I see what you can’t, no longer and before it is. I can help you.” She smiles, pushing back a strand of hair from her face. “And trust me, you’ll want it.”

“for what?” He asks, tilting his head and tucking the flower behind an ear. “Don’t know if you’ve seen, but i’m kinda just playing this by hand. Doing what I want, when I want. Don’t need a seer for that.”

Luna tilts her head, eyes glinting like a cats. Emitting they’re own little glow. “I know, but you must see that it won’t last for long. I know what you haven’t seen.”

Harry hums, his eyes sparking slightly in return. He chooses to focus on the last thing.

“And what haven’t I seen?”

“You’ll see it, when you need too. Or not.” She shrugs, huffing slightly. “It’s still a little unclear to me.”

“How so?” Harry pushes, leaning to the side.

“Well..” Luna taps her chin, looking up as she recalls her visions, “I keep dreaming of Voldemort, Tom Riddle, and you.”

“Ohh,” Harry smirks, sitting straight again, just to start leaning the other way. “Am I in the middle?”

“No,” Luna hums, tilting her head. “Youre usually by Tom, when he’s there that is.”

Harry nods, smirk fading. “What’s happening?”

“Fighting. All three of you, or the two of you.”

“You see them as different people?”

Luna shrugs, “sometimes, they stand side by side glaring at each other, and you. Then other times they’re merged, a whole different man in appearance. They’re still glaring, all their attention fully on you then. Standing closer than before, fists clenched. A smirk on their face as they pounce..”

Her eyes fog over with a luminescent tint, her mind most likely fading into the vision. Harry taps her on the head, bringing her attention back to him.

Luna blinks, smile reappearing where it slipped. She sighs,

“And that’s only one. There’s so much happening. So much that could be happening, it’s very hard to keep track of it all.”

“Yeah, I get it,” he nods, “anything happening soon you can tell me about?”

“Hm,” eyes crossing, Luna brings a hand to her chin. Making a focused noise, “..Watch out for the snakes, a vipers gonna slip in with the ferret.”

“Ferret?.. Alright,” He nods, “okay, i’ll keep that in mind.”

“I’m glad,” Luna sighs, eyes trailing to the cieling once more.

A silence drifts in, passing over with Luna looking up. Harry choosing the moment to close his eyes, the buzzing in his head fading.

“Do you know how much time there is until the next class?” He eventually asks after a moment of controlled breathing, and thinking.

Luna looks back to him, “soon. You should leave now if you want to be on time.”

“Hm, i’ll leave once you finish my hair.” He sighs leaning his head forward again. Earning a happy sound from Luna, the girl quickly getting back to work.

At some point Harry’s eyes close, his shoulders and posture slumping slightly. The feeling of fingers in his hair and soft humming luring him into a trance like state.

Chapter Text

You ever get that feeling you forgot something important, almost deadly so?

The tension in your head, shifting in your stomach. Your anxiety bubbling up, squeezing your gut in a bruising grip as you try to think, to ease yourself of the worry?

Well that was what Harry was currently feeling. Sat at his dinner table, a paper in front of him. Its words written in a deep red, clear as day they read.

‘To Dad,

I’m sorry. I can’t do it anymore, take care of yourself.

-Lily’

There’s a wetness in his eyes, easily swallowed. He stands on shaky legs, his hand knocking over a bottle of brandy. He stumbles from the room, the droning of a radio getting louder.

“- In news of the growing war in the west. Eye witnesses are stating soldiers have been seen being deployed and stationed around-” it fizzes out with his passing, choking out a puff of smoke. He gives it a glance, teeth grinding together.

“You know you can’t help it.”

Snapping around, he meets a faceless figure. Dripping wet it lounges on his couch, covering it in black ooze. He gags internally, fighting to cover his nose.

“They’ll all run, eventually. Just like they will all die. There’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

“Get out.” The words slip out without a thought. Sounding cold and gravely, it makes his skin prickle. Setting off sirens in his head at the fact they were leaving his mouth.

“Now don’t be like that. We’re bonded. Me, you.” The figure stands, walking to stand in front of him. Harry shivers, trying to step back yet his legs won’t listen. “The souls you harbor, together. Until the end of time, and beyond.”

“I said. Get. Out.” He growls, hands clenched. A fire in his stomach.

“You signed the deal kid.” The creature whispers. “There’s no getting rid of me.”

“Out!”

“Fine.” It laughs, tilting its head back while turning. Walking to the door, “i’ll get out of your sight.”

He follows it, trailing behind without any say.

“But remember boy,” it said once they were outside. Smoke rising from its body in the sun, eating away at the light and casting a mighty shadow.

“I’m always watching. You won’t get out of your side of the deal.” With that it was gone, nothing left but a horrid smell left in the air. And a whisper,

“Never.”

Chapter Text

‘A void with a single star,

Darkness smothering light. Its tender grip tight as it whispers words of comfort.

Words the star knows is a lie.

Words the star knows, will be the end of its very light.

It does not fight, for it knows its powerless.

It does not scream, for it knows it will only be greeted by silence.

The light knows struggle will only bring more pain. So it stays.

Quiet. Calm. Chained.

Safe.’

“Potter. Detention after class.”

Harry steps into the potions room with a smile, his joy dropping as Snape zeroes in on him. Someone laughs, another one snorts. He freezes in the entrance, pushing up his glasses and adjusting the flowers tangled on them.

“Huh?”

“Do not make me repeat myself.” The man growls, tapping his foot with his arms crossed. He gestures for him to move, “take your seat, now.”

“Wha. What did I do?!”

“I’ve already removed thirty points from Ravenclaw today, you just made it sixty. Will you try for a hundred?”

Harry opens his mouth, retort on the tip of his tongue. He stops though, catching a look at his fellow ravens. His fellow, very angry looking ravens. He pauses before speaking,

“… did I lose any for being late yet?”

“Fifty points from Ravenclaw Potter if you do not sit down right now.”

Harry visibly feels the glares on him, smiling as he nods.

“Right right, okey dokey artichokie.” He saunters to the back, catching the horrified eyes of his classmates.

“Sixty points from Ravenclaw.” not waiting for the boy to sit. Snape turns to the chalk board waving his wand and having basic instructions appear.

“Now that that disruption is over. Today we will be reviewing the swelling solution, you will all be expected to have a page full of notes when we are done. Then we will see if anyone’s improved over the summer, though I doubt it.” Shaking his head Snape stands at the front, pointing with his wand to the board. “To begin we will be going over ingriedents. Does anyone remember the first ingriedient in brewing a swelling solution?”

Draco and Blaise both look at Harry as he sits, not saying anything before they look back to the lesson. Draco raises his hand.

Snape picks a Ravenclaw, “you.”

“Ground houndstounge.”

“Hm, how much?”

“Zero point five grams.”

“Correct.”

Harry closes his eyes, sinking into his chair with a sigh. His hands toy with a magenta flower, fiddling with its stem, twisting and turning it. Rolling it in his hands, and brushing its petals.

Something nudges his foot under the table, bringing his focus from the ceiling and feeling, to Draco. The boys frown clear to tell he was the one who did it.

The blond gestures to his hair, then gestures to his own, making a confused face he shakes his head. Showing some displeasure.

“What?” he hums, adjusting his glasses.

Draco rolls his eyes, leaning forward to whisper. “What happened?”

“I fell asleep,” He yawns, leaning his head back he catches Blaise’s eyes. The boy quickly glances away, making Harry frown when he huffs.

“Your hair, not why your late.” Draco sighs.

“Oh, I had a chat with Luna. What, do you like it?” Harry raises a hand to fidget with a curl. Luna did some work while he was passed out, managing to tame his curls into an almost doll like look.

“Luna?” Blaise perks up,

“Yeah, ran into her in the hallway. She had her hair braided with little flowers in it too, looked nice.” Tilting his head, Harry picks a flower free, twirling it in his fingers. He glances at Blaise, sighing. “How you doing mate? Everything been well?”

“I’m fine.. are you?” Blaise questions narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Yeah, just a little tired. Was up late last night, doing stuff.” He shrugs, looking to the front of the class.

“Stuff?” Blaise questions, setting his quil down.

“Did you sleep at all?” Draco asks at the same time, raising his voice louder.

Blaise looks at the blonde with narrowed eyes, blinking back to neutral a second later. He turns back to Harry.

“Yeah, I slept in the hallway a few minutes ago. Plus I fell asleep during transfiguration. So that counts.” Harry, not looking at his friends as he talks, ends up locking eyes with Snape, who glares, pausing mid sentence. “Oop.”

“Potter.” Snape looks him up and down with a sneer on his face. “What is so important you’d interrupt my class to discuss?”

Draco tenses, facing Snape with an ‘eep!’ Blaise following soot, quieter in his suprise. Both turn to Harry a second after catching their professors face. Eyes narrowing in on the raven haired boy.

“Ah,” Harry blinks, smiling a little. He sighs, “sorry professor. I forgot my quill and was asking my table mates if they had one to spare.”

Snapes glare deepens, “ten points from Ravenclaw for coming to class unprepared. Someone give him a quill. Make it quick.”

Pouting a little, Harry opens his mouth as Snape turns his back, his retort only stopped by a hand clamping down. Blaise shakes his head.

“Don’t.”

Harry pouts, removing the hand from over his mouth. “I was just gonna ask for some paper too.”

“You need ink as well?” Blaise sighs, pulling extra supplies out from his bag.

Harry nods, reaching out his hands for the items.

“What did you do all night?” Sliding them over, Blaise glances to Snape, lowering his voice when saying. “You didn’t come back to our room?”

“Was busy prepping,” Harry hums as he prepares to write. Struggling a little with the ink bottles cap, “damn, did you screw this on?”

“For what?” Blaise asks, starting to reach for the bottle to help.

“Goyle, open Harry’s ink bottle.” Draco speaks up, patting the Slytherin beside him. Goyle grumbles, reaching out a hand for the bottle.

Harry jumps at the movement, snapping to look to the previously unnoticed person at the table.

“Holy shit! How long have you been here?” His voice comes out a little too loud, earning glares from the students around him.

“Uh..” Goyle blinks, “the, whole time?”

“Damn really?”

“Potter.” Snape growls, appearing behind Harry.

“Shit! Stop!” Harry turns with his own glare this time, “i’m fully awake now!”

“Good for you. It gives me the chance to tell you about your detention, for the rest of the week.”

“Wha- Augh.” dropping his head on the table, Harry whines. “Gods dammit…”

He can almost feel Snape smirk, the older man walking off seconds after to once again continue the lesson.

“Do you still want me to open your ink bottle?” Goyle asks once he left, hand still out.

“No, i’ve got it.” Blaise gestures him away, yoinking the bottle from Harry and popping it open.

“Oh, thanks.”

Blaise leans back, nodding with a sighed, “of course. Now, back to what you were saying before?”

“Hm? Oh yeah,” Harry hums, dipping his quil in the ink. He continues quieter, discretely glancing around. “I have something to do tonight, out of castsle.”

“Out of castle?” Blaise repeats, “your leaving the grounds? For what? why?”

“That’s a lot of questions for me already having a weeks worth of detention,” starting to write, something, on his paper. Harry grins at Blaise. “You wanna come and just see for yourself?”

“Do I, wanna go with you?” He kinda blanks at the question. Thinking a little, he frowns looking around. “… I don’t, know.”

“Oh, okay. Think about it, and i’ll get back to you before I go?”

Blaise nods, turning back to his own paper. Not giving a verbal answer he just starts writing, looking to Snape at the front with absent eyes.

Harry shrugs to himself, putting his focus to his own work, or he was trying, and failing too. His attention drifting away, going back to the hallway with Luna. To the light he saw around her, her magic aura, he realized now. And the fact that he was seeing it in general, a little worrying.

‘Out of control powers still. Great, i’ll need to visit my mind castle.’ He mentally groans at the thought, knowing the seeming endless search he was about to endure. ‘At least that was the only thing that, heh, she said it snapped? About what I expected from her. Though the knowing of my mental state better than me is a little concerning. I should follow up with her on that at dinner.. Hm maybe I should bring Blaise and Draco, for friend time..’

“Hey, guys.” He whispers out loud, drawing the twos attention from the front, “You wanna hangout with me and Luna at dinner tonight?”

Blaise nods, “alright.”

“Uh, sure. I guess.” Draco sighs, looking to Blaise with a pout he ignores.

“Great.” sinking further in his chair Harry looks to the front himself. Picking back up the flower he sat on the table, he twirls it between his fingers. “Just perfect.”

Chapter Text

“Hey, Luna! Over here!”

Harry waves across the crowded hallway, Draco and Blaise at his side they approach the girl leaving her class.

“Harry?” Luna smiles, turning mid step to greet them tilting her head with a reflective shine in her eyes, “your inviting me to dinner?”

“Yep,” He beams back, reaching out his arms to cross with Draco and Blaise’s. “All of us are going to be dining in the conservatory tonight!”

“We’re what?” Blaise frowns, looking at Harry, then Draco. The blond catching his eyes with a shrug.

“Oh, that’s nice. But I have to decline, see I already have dinner plans.” She apologizes, raising a hand to brush back a loose strand of hair. It draws Harry’s eyes to the girls braid.

“What?” Harry pouts, reaching out to pluck a leaf from admist the flowers in her hair.

“Im going to visit the thestrals,” luna sighs, swatting Harry’s hand away as he tries to move a flower, “they’re going to be closer to the forests edge tonight, I don’t want to miss the chance to introduce myself.”

“Aw.” His pout deepend, Harry steps back, hugging the boys’ arms tighter. Unmoving of Blaise’s slight struggling.

“I’m sorry, i’ll make it up to you later.” She frowns, fixing the flower he touched.

“What about tomorrow, wanna eat breakfast with us?” He suggests instead, trying to play hope in his eyes.

“Oh, I would. But you won’t be interested then. Friday might work though, we’ll have to see.”

“Ah, damn.”

“Lovegood.” Blaise calls her attention snapping his arm loose of Harry’s hold with a final yank.

“Luna.” She corrects him, tilting her head and smiling, “it’s good to see you again Blaise, we don’t usually get to talk.”

“I, uh,” he pauses, frowning at her, “what do you mean?- Ah.”

Wincing Blaise presses his temple, shaking his head a little. Harry watches him, noticing a slight tint appear in the air. Soon drowned by the appearance of Lunas shining aura.

Suppressing a groan Harry forces the light away, blinking back his magic.

At the same time Blaise coughs, seeming regaining his posture. He mutters, “sorry.. I just lost my thought.”

“That’s alright. I want to get going anyway, I have many things to prepare before tonight.” Waving Luna wastes no time in turning away. “See you guys on Friday maybe. Oh, Harry before I forget,”

“Yes?”

“Go up.” And with that she skipped off.

“Oh, okay.. See ya,” Harry takes the info with a nod and a wave back, putting his hands on his hips after the girl disappears. “Well, that blows.”

“It’s a shame she can't eat with us,” Blaise agrees, avoiding Harry as he tries to lock their arms once more, “I wanted to ask her something.”

“Oh? Like what?” Another attempt to grab Blaises arm appears and fails, the Latino boy walking away and out of reach.

“Nothing,” brushing him off Blaise keeps on down the hall without a glance back.

“Nothing she’d probably answer.” Draco snorts, pulling Harry along to follow after Blaise. His arm that was not entwined with Harry’s swaying at his side. He frowns, “what do you think she meant by, go up?”

Harry shrugs “I don’t know. Let’s just go eat.”

Blaise doesn’t speak on their walk leaving it to Harry and Draco to fill the silence. THe two deciding to fill the halls silence with talks of upcoming classes and clubs, the subject of quidditch almost immediately being brought up by Draco about how he planned to join the team this year.

“I’m gonna be the new Slytherin seeker for sure,” he smirked, waving his off hand absently.

“Oh really?” Harry entertained him, letting the boy talk himself up.

“Of course, once I get in the air there’s now way I won’t get the position. No question.”

“That’s pretty cocky of you,” Harry laughs, side eyeing him with a grin. “Don’t get to big a head, you won’t balance on your broom as well.”

“Oh shut up. You know, you should be trying out too.” The blond bumped shoulders with Harry, changing the course to him easily, “I heard you gave the twins a run for their money on your birthday.”

“Where ever did you hear that?” Harry avoids his eyes, looking up ahead to Blaise. The other boy was holding a hand to his stomach, his steps having grown heavy since they first started walking.

“Blaise,” Harry calls ahead, “you doing okay.”

“Hm?” Looking back Blaise almost trips, shaking his head he looks back forward with a huff. “Yeah.. i’m good. I’m just gonna..”

Stopping in his tracks, Blaise turns in his spot. Going past Harry and Draco back the way they came.

Harry frowns, “where are you going?”

Shaking his head Blaise throws back a tired look, “sorry, I think i’m just gonna go to bed. Go on and eat without me.”

“What? Not you too, mate.” Harry groans, sniffing the air. “If you don’t wanna go to the tower we can eat in the dorm?”

“No. It’s fine, i’ll see you guys later.” He waves him off, his steps slowing yet not stopping.

“Are you feeling alright?” Draco steps forward to follow, only stopping when Blaise raises a hand.

“No, i’m just tired. Go on and get something to eat, i’ll be in the room.” After that he wastes no time in running off, a hand held to his head as he went.

Harry swears for a second he sees something in the boys eyes.

But with a blink it was gone, and he was shrugging with sigh.

“So no one wants dinner?”

“Hm?..” Draco doesn’t look at him, just staring after Blaise with narrowed eyes.

Harry snaps in front of his face, bringing attention back to him, and getting a glare in turn.

“What?” Draco snaps, swatting his hand as it falls, “don't bloody do that.”

“Well I was gonna ask if you thought something was off with Blaise.. but what’s wrong with you?” He asks it tentatively, holding up his hands in defense, but boy did the other not take it right.

“Oh, piss off.” Draco curses at him, crossing his arms over his chest, “don’t start with me.”

Harry senses something wasn't right here. Something in the way Draco was acting made him look closer. Granting a strange, rotting scent to hit him with a careful inhale of breath.

Brows furrowing he leans over to take a better sniff, landing at Draco’s collar, frowning at the smell lingering on his clothes.

“Have you been using any dark magic recently?” He questions, peering up into blue, twitching eyes. A smirk playing with his lips at the thought of the young Malfoy doing anything to taint himself in such a way,

'I mean, he is the son of a death eater. He has the pressure, and resources… no, didn’t the ministry raid the place and take everything?.. hm, no. Lucius most definitely weaseled his way out of that. I mean he had the journal, and other dark things in the manor i’m sure… damn I really should have looked- ah.’He’s taken from his thoughts by movement.

Flinching Draco shakes his head, taking two steps back with widened eyes and a pinkend appearance, “hey what’s with that look?! Of course I haven’t. Don’t be accusing me of things like that.”

“Hm, I don’t believe you. You smell like a necromancer after their first re-awakening.” Harry points at the boy, putting on his best face of disapproval, “and you’re better than that, Draco. Why would you taint your soul so young? What would your mother say? I mean I expect this of Blaise, but you?”

“Excuse me?” Draco scoffs, placing a hand on his chest he scowls, “The only thing that smells around here is you. You talk about my mother but what do you think cousin Sirius would think about you having such filthy things in your possesion? Or better yet the wolf? Do either of them know anything you do in your spare time??”

The boy spat his words like poison trying to irratate, yet it fell on too thick skin. Harry just waved him off, rolling his eyes while sighing.

“Oh, don’t get all pissy im just giving you shit. Relax a little there’s no reason to bring my misdeeds into this.”

“You're a proper prick you know?” Draco growls. Re-crossing his arms he looked close to screaming, “are we getting dinner or not?! I’m not just gonna stand here all bloody night.”

“Yeah yeah, let’s go. I’m fucking starving.” Harry nods, tucking his hands into his pockets.

“Finally.”

Draco starts walking first this time, leaving Harry trailing behind. Frowning to himself while sighing under his breath,

“Though I did plan for more people to come..”

He shook off the worry. After all he only told the elves there’d be four people eating on the tower and that he wanted it as nice as the great hall, with a little flare they could choose.. hopefully they won’t be upset about the wasted effort.

‘They shouldn’t be. I mean they probably didn’t even do much in the first place. It should all be fine.’

Except it wasn’t. How could it be? This day just seemed to want to end on a weird note, it had too because why else would the tower be decked in banners, and floating candles set over a blue and silver cloaked table covered in its own mini feast.

“What the..” He froze at the top of the stairs, eyeing everything with a bewildered look. “Why... How in the..”

Despite Harry’s state, Draco only paused a second before going to sit down at the table, immediately filling his plate without a glance to the Raven. It snaps Harry out of it enough to follow along, filling his own plate in silence.

‘Okay, not what I expected. Don’t see how they got this done in half an hour but alright. Wasn’t really necessary. But okay..’ he stares into a lump of mashed potatoes, dropping his spoon to slice it down the middle. ‘Okay…’

“Harry.”

“Hm?” Jumping he looks up from his food, meeting Draco’s drooping eyes.

“Do you think my family’s evil?”

“Your family? No, but your dads a nice piece of work. uh..” His words trail off at their effect, Draco’s shoulders slumped and his demeanor dims even more than it already was, “I mean.. he wasn’t the best back in the day.. or now. But your moms nice, she’s a kind soul I think.”

“Hm,” he sighs, poking at some ham.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing, just..”

Theyres a chirping sound coming from under the table, barely there but enough for it to catch Harry’s attention.

Draco’s fork scrapes porcelain, a frown on his lips as he looks down at the plate.

“I found something in my dads study, something dark. I think it was left over from-” looking around as if anyone could see, Draco lowers his voice while leaning in and whispering. “-Voldemort.”

“Oh?” Harry hums, “sounds fun, what was it?”

“I don’t know, some type of mask. It felt, wierd. Like it was calling for me to put it on, to follow something.. I don’t know.”

Harry watches the boys face flicker through emotions he doesn’t really catch, his eyes trailing to the side involuntarily. Only to be brought back by the tone shifts in Draco’s words.

“But that’s not the point,” he groans, dropping his fork to clatter on the table. “My father always talks about nobility, about how we’re at the top and others should respect us. Yet he was bound to a dark lord. I’ve read these letters he had hidden in his study before he moved everything. He was in the dark lords inner circle, he was at his side so much my mother complained about it!”

“Huh, that's wierd.” Picking a roll from his plate Harry tears off a piece, throwing it in his mouth while asking, “I thought she preferred to ignore the Voldemort stuff?”

“She did. But still not the point.”

“Then what is?”

“Harry,” Draco groaned, “your Harry Potter.”

He pauses as if that was explanation enough. Staring at Harry with a look begging him to understand.

Yet the raven just stared back empty eyed, tilting his head while taking another bite of bread, “mhm, sure am.”

Getting visibly more distressed Draco huffs. “The boy who lived. A Potter, a family known for their allegiance with the light.”

Harry nods, still just staring.

“Do I have to spell it out. Your Voldemorts worst enemy! And that means you’re also my dads, and by that right my family’s!” Draco spelled it out to him with dramatic gestures, rolling his eyes while shouting, “how do you think our friendships going to last when your trying to kill my dad in the future.. or hes trying to kill you! I'll tell you, there isn’t one!”

“Woah,” Harry watches the boys face redden the more he talked. “Take a breath, why are you worrying about that.”

Draco glares at him, “why wouldn’t I worry about it? You’ve had to of heard the rumors!”

“Rumours?”

“The rumours.” Disbelief now bracing his features Draco sinks in his seat, seeming deflated while sighing, “Why are you so oblivious..”

“I don't listen to school talk, rumours tend to find more problems than not. Something I don’t think I need help with,” Harry shrugs, finishing his roll he reaches for another one. Humming while doing so, “What do they say?”

“A lot. You should really pay more attention you know. I feel like your never truly listening to anything anyone says.”

“Only sometimes,” The chirping keeps up. Moving under them, it makes him look to the floor, frowning at nothing being there.

Draco doesn't seem to notice his attention drifting. Still talking in the background. “really I'm not one to agree with Granger but it is a surprise you haven't gotten in more trouble. Its like the teachers barely notice when anything's wrong with you,” the blond snorts, going to pick back up his fork. “Its almost like there's some unnotice me charm or something on you.”

“Yeah,” Hary nods along, moving his attention back to his plate. Trying to ignore the chirping. “Pretty much.”

“anyway, what was I talking about?” Draco goes back to his own food, covering his mouth when a yawn slips out.

“No clue.”

Harry feels, something, by them. A familiar yet distant presence. It was hard to read, only coming to him through an ache in his head.

“I’m getting tired, maybe I should go back and check on Blaise..” Draco interrupts a growing silence. He rubbed his eyes, looking out at the towers view.

“I guess it is getting late.” Harry tries to pay him mind, his own gaze looking out to the school grounds below. Passing his gaze over trees and distant lights, flowers and the main fountain. A shadow sitting on its edge, meeting his eyes with its own tilted fury.

“Wanna walk me back?”

“What?” The request, sounding more like a joke the more it played in his head jostles him from his stare down with the figure.

“Do you-, ugh. Nevermind.” Draco waves him off already walking to the steps without looking back. Harry momentarily wonders when he srood up in the first place.

“Sorry, I would but I feel like I should get going.” Standing himself Harry brushes off his pants, not moving to leave the tables side. He glances back to the ledge. “Got things to do, we should talk more later though. I feel we were getting somewhere.”

“Right.. goodnight Harry.” He still doesn’t look back, refusing to allow Harry to see his face. Something the raven doesn’t fight, still not fully focused on him anyway.

“Night!”

The tower echoed with the boys retreating steps. It’s darkness all the more suffocating when Harry runs a hand through his hair, mumbling under his breath,

“I’m getting the book, then the ring. Ill have them back tonight so can you stop following me? I’m not saying sorry!”

He gets no response, yet he growls like he did. Rolling his eyes,

“It's not my fault everything needs to be skulled themed with you, you could have just made it a simple leather bound cover, bot nooo.”

Spinning on his heel Harry goes from standing in the astronomy tower to standing outside Gringotts bank. Eyeing its marble, and guards with a bored look.

“Alright. Fast and silent, get the book and get out. Get the ring. Then i’m two steps closer to going back to doing whatever I want without someone looking over my shoulder. Easy peasy, I even saved up some magic for a stable night. I’m ready, and this isn’t going to go horribly.”

With that little pep talk for himself Harry wiggles his fingers, his invisibility cloak appearing in his hand he slides it on and slips into the bank without a sound.

‘It’s time to heist!’