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Chapter Text

1. Let There Be Magic

A six year old boy with black unruly hair and beautiful green eyes was lying in a playground. 

The sun was half sunken behind the horizon. Crimson light was fading into black. Today had been a really bad day for him. He had been beaten by his uncle and if that wasn't enough, his cousin and his friends had shown extra enthusiasm in Harry hunting. 

Now here he was, lying with sore muscles and broken bones. He wasn't sure if he could stand, if he even wanted to. 

The darkness in his vision was spreading. The darkness wasn't bad but the exact opposite. It was enticing. He wished he could plunge into that silent darkness and lose his consciousness permanently, he wished he knew how to. Just as the last glimmer of light was merging with the darkness, someone shook his shoulder. His eyes widened and the darkness faded. 

He looked at the face of the blonde little girl hovering over him. She was looking at him with a strange expression. He would later come to know that it was sympathy.

“Are you okay?” She asked, touching his broken bloodied nose. He winced and she pulled back her hand quickly and sent him an apologetic look.

“I..am..okay.” he said in a hoarse voice as he sat up and faced her. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her sapphire eyes were so soft and warm.

“You don't look so.” she mumbled in disbelief as she handed him a water bottle.

“Drink.” she said. 

Harry eyed the bottle suspiciously, never had someone ever offered him something. Still, the thirst won over paranoia and finally he took the bottle and gulped it down greedily.

“Thank you.” he said in a small voice as he handed back her an empty bottle. 

She beamed at him, happy that she helped someone. Harry smiled an uncertain smile, more like a grimace.

“Now, will you run away with me?” She asked excitedly and dramatically.

“Why do you want to run away?” He smiled, going with the flow. To be honest, he wouldn't really need a reason to run away from the Dursleys, their existence was enough for him to flee to the farthest seas. 

She bit her lower lip, contemplating something. To Harry, she looked far older with that look in her eyes.

“Do you believe in magic?” She asked cautiously. Harry's eyes widened comically. The truth was that he wanted to believe in magic but knew it was just a childish wish. He shook his head though hoping he was wrong. Life would have been wonderful if he had magic. 

She looked sad.

“I believe in magic. I think I have magical powers.” she said stubbornly, nodding to herself. 

Harry looked dumbstruck. He wanted to laugh at her but knew he shouldn't, afterall, she had helped him. 

And maybe...she was right.

“I believe if I stay at home then bad people will come for me and they will hurt my parents. I love them, I don't want them to get hurt.” she said in a pained voice which shouldn't have belonged to a girl of her age.

Harry looked confused.

“Why do you think bad people will come after you?” He asked. 

She looked at him as if she had already decided he wouldn't understand. 

“Haven't you read stories? There are always bad people coming after unique girls.” she replied, telling half the truth. 

Harry laughed bitterly, she was just another girl inspired by some stupid movie or book. He could still remember the pain when Dudley thought he knew kung fu after watching a Chinese movie and had decided Harry would be the perfect training subject of his kung fu. 

He wanted to tell her that life wasn't a story, life was a journey to become strong. Life was a mess, it was a heaven for the strong and hell for the weak. There were no heroes or villains, there was no happily ever after, but he decided to tell a lie to this privileged girl. He tried not to look down at her. He really tried. He shouldn't compare Dudley with her. She was kind while Dudley was...Dudley.

“Then you must become strong to protect them. You must become a hero.” he said with a false smile, scoffing at the word ‘Hero’.

Her lips twitched and she smiled brightly, hope kindling in her brilliant eyes.

“You are right. I will protect them. But what will happen to you? Do you want to come to my house? My parents are doctors. They will treat your wounds.” she offered. 

Harry shook his head.

“No. I am fine. I need to go.” he declined and with a last smile, turned his back on her and started walking towards his relative's house. There was no reason to run away, there were stronger and more ruthless people out there who would be way worse than the Dursleys. 

The girl looked at him sadly. She didn't even know why she was sad.

“Hey, what is your name?” She yelled at his back. He stopped and turned his head to look at her.

“Harry. My name is Harry.” he said nonchalantly and resumed walking. 

The girl pouted in annoyance. ‘How rude, he didn't ask my name.’

“My name is Jasmine.” she yelled again. He didn't acknowledge her and continued his slow pained walk. 

The girl sighed and started for her house. She smiled. ‘He was a nice boy.’

~xXxXx~

Harry stayed awake at night in his cupboard. The word 'magic' kept popping up in his head. 

‘Can magic be real? Was that girl telling the truth about her powers?’ His mind kept supplying him with wondrous possibilities.

He closed his eyes and half heartedly tried to conjure magic, not exactly believing he would succeed, but neither believing that he might fail. 

His hands tingled but nothing happened. 

He concentrated more, the pressure started building on the tips of his fingers. His face was red from trying, he was sweating but nothing was happening. 

With a last try he gave his all. 

He stifled a shriek when he saw what was above his fingertips. A golden mist was surrounding his fingers. It kept swirling around his fingers. It was warm to touch. It was soothing. 

Harry beamed at the mist, not giving it a deeper thought and accepting the existence of magic, like a dying man in God.

‘So magic is real. It means now I can be strong and will not have to bow down to anyone. I will have to thank Jasmine tomorrow.’ Although he would not find her anytime soon.

He guided the mist around the small cupboard. He willed the mist to glow. A golden light filled the dark cupboard. Harry chuckled, which wasn't exactly happy laughter but more of a deranged and relieved cackle. The mist suddenly slammed on his body, throwing him on his mattress. It seeped back inside his body like water through sand, making him shiver.

“It seems it will be hard to control but I will do it. I will not be weak again.” Harry mumbled to himself with a big grin. He always knew or at least a part of him always believed that he was special and not a freak. That he was magical and not some defective boy. He closed his eyes, relaxing on the thin mattress, happy and at peace for the first time in his entire life.

~xXxXx~

1 Year Later .

‘Today will be the day. Today is going to be special.’ Harry decided. He was cooking breakfast for his relatives. One by one his relatives sat for their breakfast at the table.

“Hurry up, boy, we are hungry!” Vernon called loudly. 

Harry smirked. He put the plates filled with food in front of them. He sat on a remaining chair and started eating, waiting for the explosion.

“Why are you sitting on the chair? Why are you even eating before us? Who gave you the permission?” Vernon scowled in anger. Petunia glared at him too while Dudley was confused by his strange behaviour.

“Listen up, you fat lumps of waste, from today you will leave me alone and I will leave you alone. If you even try to inconvenience me, I will kill you.” Harry said in a cold voice, not appropriate for a seven year old boy.

“What the hell did you just say?” Vernon yelled, his face turning purple. He was clutching the edge of the table as if he would throw the table at him. He didn't know what happened to the freak, but he wouldn't let him get away with this blatantly disrespectful behaviour.

“Silence!” Harry yelled back, banging his palms on the table, making the plates clatter noisily. 

A golden mist left his body and surrounded his relatives like vultures. 

The mist then suddenly turned red. 

All three of them fell off their chairs and screamed. They screamed like they had never done before. It was as if every nerve of their body was on fire. 

Harry absorbed back the mist just after a couple of seconds of punishment. He smiled at them viciously. 

They were whimpering and trembling before him. Their pitiful sounds were melodic to his ears. They were staring at him as if he was a devil. And maybe he was. 

Long time of daily abuse didn't leave someone unscarred and maybe they had taken away his empathy, his kindness. He didn't know and honestly wasn't even interested to know.

“I hope this was enough. It will really be inconvenient to kill you all. See ya later. I am taking the spare room as my bedroom.” He grinned and ran up the stairs, leaving behind a traumatised family.

~xXxXx~

Harry was eleven years old now. The last four years had been good to him. He was the King in the house. He did what he wanted to do and punished the Dursleys occasionally so they couldn't forget their place. 

He also had dedicated most of his time to exploring his magic. Harry could confidently say that he knew everything about this strange golden mist. At least he thought so. He considered himself the master of the mist. It was arrogant and vain. But so was Harry.

Currently, he was staring at the letter in his hands. 

‘So, there are others like me. There is even a school for us. Hmm, let's see what they can teach me. Knowledge is power. And power is all I want.’

The next day a middle aged woman came into the house. She was the epitome of an archetypical strict looking teacher. She saw him and her eyes softened for a second, but regained its professional stare quickly.

“I hope you had a good time growing up here. I am Professor McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” she said proudly. 

The Dursleys looked anywhere but at her.

“Yeah. My relatives are great. I had a wonderful time here.” Harry said, trying not to sound too sarcastic.

“It is good to hear that, though I wanted myself to raise you, but the headmaster denied me the chance.” she explained bitterly, looking at him wistfully, as if imagining an alternate future where he was her adopted son. 

Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

“Why would you want me? Are you some distant relative of mine?” He asked dubiously, trying not to sound hopeful.

“Not exactly. Your parents were my favourite students. Your dad was even my apprentice. I considered them my children.” Her smile was full of sorrow and nostalgia. 

Harry smiled coldly.

“Why did the headmaster decline your offer?”

“He thought it was good for you to grow up in a normal environment, away from the fame of boy-who-lived.”

Harry asked the meaning of that and was surprised to learn that he was a celebrity in the Wizarding World, he also learnt that his parents sacrificed their lives for him. At this, he sent a meaningful glance at the elder Dursleys who had said that they died in a car crash. 

They paled at his glance, knowing they were going to be punished later.

“We should go now to buy your things from Diagon Alley.” she offered. 

Harry nodded and they apparated to Diagon Alley. Harry immediately hunched over and tried not to empty his stomach after the horrible experience of apparition.

“You will get used to the feeling.” she said in an amused voice.

‘I don't think so.’ Harry thought. She conjured a cap and handed it to him.

“Hide your scar. We don't want to be mobbed.” she suggested and Harry nodded, though he was a little sceptical about it. 

Was he really that famous?

“We should go to Gringotts. It is the wizarding bank managed by the goblins.” she explained as she led the way.

“You do know that I don't have a bank account, right?” He questioned as he followed her.

“Of course you have. You are the heir to The Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. Your parents were very rich.” she replied, patting his back.

“I did not know that.” He glared at the ground, hating that he knew so little.

she advised. “You should buy books to educate yourself about the Wizarding World.”  

Harry nodded, accepting the token of her wisdom and entered the bank. The teller asked for a key and the professor presented it. ‘Why does she have the key to my vaults?’

He asked her that.

“Headmaster Dumbledore gave it to me. Now that I think about it, this belongs to you. Here, have it.” she smiled, handing him his key. 

Harry now was disliking Dumbledore. 

The ride down the tracks was exhilarating. Though the Professor might deny it, she too was excited by the adrenaline inducing ride. 

When he looked in his vaults, his jaw was wide open. The vault was a small room filled with heaps of gold, silver and bronze. Seeing his reaction, the goblin provided him with another shock.

“This is just your trust vault. Your family vault is many many times bigger than this.” Harry was in a daze. He was fucking rich. He was powerful, what else did he need? He filled the bottomless bag provided by the goblin with the coins. 

He was in a nice mood when he left the bank.

The next two hours were spent buying books and materials required for the school. 

The last shop was for buying wands.

“I will go buy you an owl while you get your wand. Consider this as an early birthday present. The owl would be very useful in sending and receiving mail.” She said and went off in another direction. Harry also grinned. This would be the first time anyone would give him a gift. Smiling widely, he went into the wand shop.

“Hello.” A voice whispered just before an elderly man walked into the room. 

“I was wondering when I will see you, Mr. Potter. It seems only yesterday that your mother was buying her first wand, ten and a quarter inches of willow with a unicorn hair for her core. Excellent for charms work. Your father on the other hand had an eleven inch mahogany wand with a dragon heartstring, his wand was better suited for transfiguration.” Ollivander said as he began looking around the shelves for a wand. He picked one up and gave it to Harry. 

“Just give that a wave.” He instructed. 

Harry frowned but did end up accidentally destroying a vase. 

“Probably not that one.” Ollivander said dryly as he took the wand out of Harry's grasp before waving his own wand to repair the vase. 

After an hour of trying different wands, Harry finally found a match. It was made of holly, eleven inches long, and contained a single feather from the tail of a phoenix. Mr Ollivander had been very surprised that Harry had been so compatible with this wand. 

“Curious.” he had said and not until Harry asked what was curious had Mr. Ollivander explained that the phoenix feather in Harry's wand had come from the same bird that had supplied the core of Lord Voldemort's.

He went out with a bewildered look.

‘What the hell was that?’ he thought. He saw Professor McGonagall standing outside with a beautiful snowy owl in a cage.

“Do you like it?” She asked.

“Yes.” he said excitedly as he opened the cage. The owl hooted and jumped on his shoulder.

“I will soon give you a name. Okay, girl?” He asked as he petted her. She hooted and rubbed her plumage on his cheek affectionately.

“I don't need the cage. She will be allowed to roam free.” he smiled. 

Professor McGonagall nodded and shrinked the cage and put it in her pocket.

“Now you need to go home.” she told him.

~xXxXx~

Harry was sitting alone in an empty compartment. He had told Hedwig to go to Hogwarts by herself so she didn't have to be cooped up in the train. He was wearing a green button-up shirt and jeans which while comfortable were still semi-formal. His black hair was swept to the side, covering his scar. He was reading a book about Wizarding culture. Thanks to that, he got to know what pure-blood, half-blood and muggle-born meant. Going by the book's logic, Harry was a halfblood. 

It actually felt all stupid to him, but he needed to understand the world in which he was going in.

“Can we sit here?” Someone asked. 

Harry looked up from the book to see two girls standing in the corridor. The girl who spoke had brown hair and hazel eyes while the girl standing beside her with a blank face had light blonde hair and dark eyes.

“Sure.” he replied and went back to his book.

“I am Tracey Davis.” the girl with the hazel eyes said. Harry sighed as he put the book aside. He was just reading up about the origins of the Statue or Secrecy as she interrupted. 

He saw the blonde girl hiding a smile. She was pretty, he thought.

“I am Harry Potter.” he introduced and as expected, they both looked at him surprised. “Nice to meet you.”

“I am Daphne Greengrass. Nice to meet you too. Sorry for my friend. I know how it feels to be disturbed when you are reading something interesting.” she said with a benign smile, remembering her little sister's tendency to nag her while she herself was reading some fiction. 

Harry smiled back. He knew at the first sight that they were going to be the best of friends or at least hoped so.

“I am sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you.” Tracey mumbled in a small embarrassed voice.

“Don't worry, Tracey. I was almost done with it. No harm done. So which house do you guys want to go to?” He tried to start a conversation. And it was hard with how unused he was to talking to anyone.

“I am fine with either Ravenclaw or Slytherin.” Tracey began excitedly. “Although since I know Daphne wants to go to Slytherin, I guess I will end up there.”

“Meaning, I am not going to get rid of you anytime soon?” Daphne asked with a smirk.

“Never.” Tracey smiled and threw her one arm around her. Harry smiled at them. It must feel great to have a best friend.

“So what about you? Which house do you want to go to?” Daphne asked curiously.

“Hmm. Every house seems good to me, but I think I will go to Slytherin.” he replied honestly. He knew himself enough to guess that. Daphne and Tracey again wore an expression of astonishment.

“Don't you want to go to Gryffindor, the place where your parents had been?” queried Daphne.

“I never knew them. I believe I am too different from them.” Harry smiled politely. Daphne grimaced after realising her mistake. 

Before she could say anything, the compartment door slammed open. A boy with blonde hair and haughty look strode inside. He scanned the room, his gaze stopping at Daphne.

“It is nice to meet you, Heir Greengrass. I am informed that our parents are discussing our betrothal.” he said with childish excitement. Daphne just nodded. Her eyes and face were blank, devoid of emotions.

“Betrothal? Is that allowed here?” Harry asked, amazed that it was still going on in the wizarding world.

“A mudblood? You shouldn't sit with this scum.” Draco sneered, unable to identify Harry because he didn't wear glasses and didn't have the thick lightning bolt scar. Daphne was trying to look neutral but her eyes were conveying her anger at the insult aimed at her new acquaintance.

“You don't know who he is. You would have been careful if you knew who he was.” Tracey hissed, glaring at Draco.

“Shut up, half-blood. Whoever he is, he can't be better than Malfoy.” Draco announced with arrogance. Daphne was just about to say something but was beaten to it by Harry.

“Hmm. A Malfoy?” Harry slowly stood up and sauntered towards Draco like a predator playing with its prey.

“Tell me, Malfoy, how will that name help you when I can just kill you with a single thought?” Harry asked in a cold voice. 

He waved his arm in front of him and a golden mist, in the form of a hand, appeared before him. The hand clasped around Draco's neck and lifted him up. 

Draco was now hanging off his neck, unable to breathe. Harry turned back and sat on his seat and opened his book. Draco's face was reddening and tears were rolling down his cheeks. His arms and legs were flailing and quivering. Harry ignored him and continued reading.

“HARRY!” Tracey and Daphne shrieked.

“Stop it, he will die.” Daphne pleaded. Harry shrugged without turning his gaze as if it was inconsequential.

“You will be arrested if anything happens to him.” Tracey cajoled when she realised that he didn't care if he killed someone.

‘She is right. I should first understand this wizarding world before turning it upside down. I shouldn't start a fight even before entering this country.’ Harry thought and released Draco who fell down on the floor, breathing heavily and rubbing his neck.

“Are you mad! You could have killed me! Wait until my father hears about it!” Draco yelled in mad rage. Harry raised his eyebrow and a red mist suddenly covered Draco who started screaming in pain. Harry released him immediately from his magic, torturing him just for a fraction of a second. 

Draco was once again on the floor, twitching and spasming. He was sobbing out loud. His cries of pain and despair echoing in the compartment. 

Harry kneeled in front of him. Draco looked at him with terrified eyes.

“There, there, little boy. Don't cry. I will not hurt you. For now.” Harry patted his back and smiled innocently. Draco flinched at his touch and scampered away from the cabin. Harry returned to his seat and observed the girls who were huddled together. 

They were looking scared.

“Don't worry, I don't hurt anyone without any reason and you haven't given me any yet.” Harry said in a soft voice, not sure how truthful his own statement was and went back to reading, giving them the time to process what happened just then. 

The 15 minutes of silence was broken by Tracey.

“What was all that?” she asked, gathering all her courage. Harry's eyes turned towards her. She flinched back, expecting him to harm her. 

Harry sighed.

“I said I am not going to hurt you. Didn't I? As for what happened, I just showed Malfoy a demo of what I will do when someone belittles me. I have had enough of that. I now have the power to do anything I want and no one is allowed to look down on me.” he said passionately.

Daphne and Tracey remained silent, not knowing what to say.

“What was that mist? First it was a golden hand and then it turned into a red mist.” Daphne asked curiously. She had been mesmerised by it. She hadn't seen or heard anything like that before.

“That is my power. I discovered it. I release my magic which comes out as a golden mist. It turns into different colours according to the purpose of magic. The golden hand was just my magic coalesced into a hand. The red mist's purpose is to inflict tremendous pain. It stimulates every nerve in the body as if they were on fire.” He finished with a proud smile. 

Daphne and Tracey looked horrified.

“What did I do now?” Harry asked, sighing, exasperated.

“Your red mist sounds too similar to the Cruciatus curse. It is one of three Unforgivables.” Daphne replied.

“Hmm. I have read about them. Using them is a one way ticket to Azkaban. No problem, I was going to keep my power a secret anyway. You mustn't tell anybody about my power.” Harry ordered in a hard voice. 

They both nodded hurriedly.

“I think we should change compartments. We are uncomfortable here. Can we go?” Tracey blurted out. 

Daphne looked conflicted. One part of her agreed with Tracey while the other part of her wanted to stay with Harry. He surely won't hurt them. He had said that himself. And he was an interesting boy and the company of interesting people was always beneficial.

“You don't need my permission, Tracey. You are not my slaves. I understand how you must feel. I am not going to hurt you, but if you want to go, you can go.” Harry said with a reassuring smile. 

Tracey nodded and dragged Daphne out with her.

‘I just scared my potential friends. I need to keep my anger in check.’ Harry contemplated in disappointment. He pulled out another book from his bag. 

It was about how to act like a proper pureblood heir. 

‘If betrothal agreements are still around then who knows what is allowed here, I need to learn all of these. Even if I don't believe in it, I am still the heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. I need to learn this boring etiquette.’

After an hour, his compartment door was opened again. 

Harry was staring at the girl. She seemed very familiar. She had blue dyed hair(who dyes their hair blue at an age of eleven? She was either stupid or stupid) and sapphire eyes. She was also staring at him, trying to recognise him. Another girl entered beside her. She had bushy brunette hair and warm brown eyes.

“Hey! Stop staring. Have you seen a toad here?” The blue haired girl asked rudely, breaking their staring contest.

“Don't be rude.” the other girl gently admonished her.

Harry smirked. He stood up and went closer to the blue haired girl. He had definitely seen her. 

Her sapphire eyes were unforgettable.

“Jasmine? What happened to your hair?” Harry asked the first question that popped into his mind. She was momentarily surprised before a small smile took over her face.

“Harry?” She asked tentatively. Harry nodded.

“Where did you go? I came the next day in the park to find you, but you were not there.” Harry queried with his own smile, remembering how he had tried to find her with no success.

“We moved to another house.” she said distractedly and went to sit on the seat in front of him.

“I am Jasmine Zinan. Though you already know my first name.”

“I am Harry Potter.”

“Come in, Hermione. We will take a break from searching.” she said as she patted the seat beside her. Hermione sat with her.

“Hermione, this is Harry Potter. Harry, this is my best friend, Hermione Granger.” she grinned at the blushing Hermione. 

‘Am I the only one who doesn't have a friend or knows someone beforehand?'’ Harry asked himself with a pout.

“Nice to meet you, Hermione.” Harry gave her a smile.

“Nice to meet you too, Harry. I have read all about you. You are quite famous.” she revealed, extending her hand. 

Harry shook her hand.

“Oh! Those books. They are fiction by the way. I saw them in the bookstore the other day and was shocked.”

“But the books were in the biography section. How can it be untrue?” She squeaked.

“Hermione?” Jasmine said, raising her blonde eyebrow. 

‘Hah! She forgot to dye her eyebrows.’ He noted.

Hermione's cheeks reddened and she kept quiet.

“So what happened to your hair? Last time and only time I saw you, you had blonde hair.” Harry said, pointing to her head.

“Just trying something different.” she replied with forced nonchalance. Harry found the reason not compelling enough but didn't question her.

“You still get beaten up by your friends?” She joked.

“Nah! Those days are over. Tables have been turned.” Harry said mysteriously. She arched her eyebrow in question.

“So you two know each other?” Harry asked them, trying to change the subject. He didn't need them to know about his cruel tendencies. One pair of girls already fled away. He didn't need a repeat.

“Yes. We live in the same neighbourhood.” Hermione answered quickly, wanting to join the conversation.

“Two witches in the same neighbourhood. That must have been interesting.” Harry wondered.

“Well, we didn't exactly know we were witches until the letter arrived.” Hermione answered, confused. Harry turned to Jasmine and gave her a questioning look.

“I was a kid when I said that I was magical. I didn't totally believe myself. I didn't tell anyone until the letter arrived.” She replied to his unasked question. Harry nodded in acceptance.

Hermione asked finally. “How do you two know each other?” 

“We actually don't know each other. We just met once and she helped me.” Harry responded. Jasmine rolled her eyes at that.

“I just gave you a bottle of water.” Jasmine groaned. Harry just shrugged.

“So you are not Jasmine's boyfriend. You just ruined my expectations.” Hermione grinned. Jasmine turned red and yelled.

“HERMIONE! I will make you pay for it.”

Harry just watched them with an amused smile and a tiny bit of jealousy. ‘I wish I also had a best friend.’

After yelling and getting her blush back in control, Jasmine stood up and started for the door. She cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to gain the previous rhythm.

“Goodbye, Harry. Will see you at Hogwarts. We need to find my friend's pet toad.” she waved her hand in farewell and left the compartment.

“Bye, Harry.” Hermione said as she followed Jasmine out. Harry waved back.

~xXxXx~

Harry was staring at the enchanted ceiling in wonder. It was a wonderful piece of magic. It was beautiful magic. Useless but beautiful. Professor McGonagall picked up the hat with one hand and held a scroll in her other hand.

“When I call your name, you will come up here and sit down on the stool, I will then place this hat on your head. You will be sorted into a house, and once that is done you will go and join your house. Let us begin. Hannah Abbot.” Professor McGonagall called, a nervous looking girl with blonde hair slowly walked forwards and sat on the stool. The Professor placed the hat on her head.

“HUFFLEPUFF!” The hat shouted a few seconds later. Professor McGonagall removed the hat and allowed the girl to happily walk to the Hufflepuff table.

Daphne and Tracey were sorted into Slytherin house along with Malfoy and the two boys that Harry was pretty sure were his bodyguards. Harry saw Hermione get sorted into Gryffindor. Eventually, Harry was called up. Harry walked up towards the stool and sat down. He barely was able to see the hall staring at him before the hat was placed on his head.

“Interesting, Mr. Potter. You have found a totally unprecedented way to use your magic.” Harry heard a voice inside his head.

“Hmm, so you are a talking hat. Amusing. Well, thanks for the compliment. I am trying to be the best in this world so it is natural that I have to find new ways to do things.” Harry said with pride.

The hat chuckled in response.

“You are totally a Slytherin. Cunning, ruthless, prideful. I wish you luck, Mr. Potter. Better be…”

“SLYTHERIN!” The hat yelled. Harry took off the hat from his head and put it on the stool. Then he went to the Slytherin table and sat in front of Daphne and Tracey. They gave him a nervous smile. Harry repressed his urge to roll his eyes at their fear. Then he scanned the entire hall and saw that he was being stared at and the silence was still unbroken.

“Tch, come on people, don't you have things to do?” Harry grumbled in a bored tone with a touch of annoyance. This broke the silence and the sorting continued. The last boy joining the Slytherin was Blaise Zabini. Jasmine Zinan was the last student to be sorted. Just as the Hat touched her head, it announced her to be Gryffindor. 

After that, Headmaster Dumbledore gave some stupid insignificant speech about dangers of forest and possible chance of dying horrible death in the room in third corridor. 

Harry observed the others in the meanwhile. Jasmine and Hermione were chatting happily and making friends. Daphne and Tracey were whispering to each other. Draco Malfoy was glaring at him. A teacher in full black regalia with a long nose and sleek black hair was also glaring at him. 

Harry ignored them and started eating as food suddenly appeared in front of him on the table. After eating, they were led to the Slytherin common room by a prefect. 

That night, Harry felt very lonely. No one tried to talk to him. People were looking at him with distrust and anger. Daphne and Tracey started to say something, but were ushered to the girls dormitory. 

Harry was happy that he wouldn't have to share a room and also a bit disappointed that it would make him more lonely.

He was lying on the bed as he glared at the ceiling.

“Stupid little Harry wants to make stupid little friends.” Harry hissed at himself.

“I don't need anyone. They all are inferior to me. I can kill them with a single thought. They are just so weak. Everyone is weak. I don't need any of them, ultimately they will need me and it will be upto me to accept their friendship.”

He raised his arm in front of his eyes and closed his fingers into a fist.

“I will be the greatest, I will be the immortal wizard.” he whispered and went to sleep, not knowing where the thought of becoming immortal came from.

Chapter Text

2. Even Psychopaths Like Hugs

The next day, Harry went for breakfast in a group led by a prefect. Nott and Draco were talking to each other as they walked. Crabbe and Goyle were on their sides. 

Harry was back in the group, alone. He had his hands in his trousers pockets. His unruly hair was messily arranged. His eyes were cold, staring ahead. As they reached the Slytherin table, Harry took a seat at the farthest end, nearest to the entrance. The others left the adjacent seats empty. As his anger was boiling inside him, Daphne and Tracey sat across from him and gave him a small smile. The anger disappeared, replaced by confusion.

“Good morning, Harry.” They said together in greetings and began talking with each other, again ignoring him.

‘Well, at least they are not avoiding me as if I was a plague. That's an improvement.’ He pondered and started eating his breakfast. 

Jasmine and Hermione entered the hall. When their eyes caught his, they waved at him in a friendly gesture. He waved back as they sat on the Gryffindor table.

‘What is worse? Total avoidance or partial avoidance? Most of them are isolating me while some are just smiling at me from a distance, not bothering to talk to me.’ He mused with a pout.

“Potter!” Someone sneered at his back. He turned his head and saw Professor Snape standing behind him.

“This is your timetable.” he said, handing him a parchment. Without waiting for any response, he left.

‘How fun will it be to turn his skin as dark as night with pink thorny horns sticking out from his long ugly nose.’ He imagined with a small smirk.

~xXxXx~

Harry walked to the transfiguration class. He sat at the last bench and waited for the professor to arrive. As a boy with ginger hair ran in the classroom, the cat which was sitting on the desk jumped and turned into Professor McGonagall. Harry peered at her in astonishment. That was brilliant magic. He might have recognised her earlier if he had paid attention towards the desk. 

Professor McGonagall scolded the boy whose name was Ronald Weasley for being late. She then explained how she was a cat animagus. Harry listened in with great interest. It was a neat trick.

‘I'll definitely love to be an animagus. I hope it will be a cool animal.’

“Now then,” Professor McGonagall spoke to the class, “shall we begin?” She asked but continued before anyone could respond. 

“Transfiguration is one of the more difficult branches of magic that is taught at Hogwarts. It is also one of the more dangerous branches, that means I will not tolerate any fooling around. I will not hesitate to kick out a student if I think you are misbehaving. Is that understood?” She said in a stern voice.

“Yes, Professor.” The class chorused. She stared at the students for several moments, as if checking to see that they were all being truthful. Eventually, she nodded and continued teaching. After a short while of simply talking about transfiguration along with what it could do and how dangerous it could be if people messed around, she had the students attempt to turn a matchstick into a needle. 

Harry picked up his wand and looked at it. He hadn't used it even once after buying it. He wasn't really interested in a wand. He didn't need a wand for his magic, but now the use of it was inevitable. 

There was a gentle thrumming coming from it. A warm pleasant sensation flowed in his hand through the wood, like a soft blanket warming his body on a cold winter night. He waved his wand as instructed by the professor. The matchstick turned into a shiny needle in an instant.

“Brilliant, Mr. Potter. 10 points to Slytherin.” Professor McGonagall said encouragingly. Others stared at the needle in astonishment. 

Ignoring the others, Harry continued holding his wand and looking at it in awe. He felt stupid for neglecting his wand. This piece of wood felt like home, which he never had, so warm and reliable. He vowed to take care of it even if he didn't need it.

As the class ended, several more students turned the matchstick into a needle, but it was a partial transformation. No one came close to Harry's excellence. 

He smiled at his success. He loved this warm feeling from the wand. It was almost addictive. He packed his bag and went out of the class, all the while his hand was in his pocket, gripping his wand.

The charms class also went well with him mastering the Levitation charm in first try. He was proud of himself even if it was barely any feat to write home about. If he wanted, he could have done anything with his method of magic by just wishing it to happen, but being able to do the ‘normal’ magic with wand movements and incantations made him believe that he could do anything without revealing his real powers. Not that he was very serious about hiding his capabilities. He didn't care enough about hiding to actively sabotage himself.

It was evening and he was exploring Hogwarts with a bounce in his step. His warm faithful wand was in his pocket. As he passed by an unused classroom, he heard distressed voices coming from inside. He slowed and stood in front of the entrance, curiously opening the door and leaning on the doorframe.

“Please don't do this. I am begging you.” Tracey pleaded. Her hands were stuck to each other by a strong sticking charm behind her back. She was wearing only her knickers, her clothes being strewn across the floor. 

Tears were running down her cheeks. Her hair was dishevelled and standing in front of her was a sixth year male student. 

He was leering at her naked chest. Not that there was anything to stare at, according to an oblivious Harry.

“It is tradition, Miss Davis. Every half-blood female first-year Slytherin has to pleasure a pureblood student, at least once. Don't worry, I will be gentle and sweet. I will even obliviate you of this experience so you won't be traumatised.” he smiled benevolently, hiding his malicious pleasure at finding an easy prey. His dark eyes savoured her innocent naked figure. So boyish and yet distinctly female. It would be fun to peel off her innocence and bask in her childish flesh. As he raised his hands to touch her naked flesh, Harry cleared his throat.

“How nice of you to consider her mental health.” Harry announced neutrally, neither angry nor happy. Really, there was no need to show emotions here in the quarrel between two strangers. He shouldn't care if the boy got his sick pleasure or if the girl escaped the villain. Yet, he was favouring Tracey's side since he was acquainted with her. Maybe she would become his friend after he saved her. Most probably.

The sixth-year student looked at him with barely hidden fear and exaggerated anger. Tracey glanced at him desperately, an ember of hope sparking in her moist eyes.

“What are you doing here, Potter? Go away, no one needs you.” he grumbled. 

Harry walked towards them and stopped a step away from them, a bit stung by his remark. He removed his robe and covered Tracey with it. Acting like a gentleman didn't take much effort. He rolled up the sleeves of his green shirt and cracked his knuckles. He always wanted to act like he had seen in the movies. Hehe, he was mimicking a hero.

He hated heroes.

“So, is this really tradition or some bullcrap?" He asked in an inquisitive voice, maybe it really was a tradition. An unnatural, and yet beneficial for some, tradition. Harry might become the beneficiary in some years, he needed to know that. 

The sixth year glared at him venomously and folded his hands on his chest.

“What if it isn't? She will be fucked, if not by me then some other student. Everyone loves taking the virginity of small innocent girls. The memory charm is helpful in that way. You know what? You look delicious too. Maybe I will have a feast today. I am not too picky when blood rushes south in my body.” he sneered. 

Harry raised his eyebrow at that.

“Hmm. I will have to decline.” he answered with almost a feral grin as he took out his wand. 

The older boy didn't even have a moment to retaliate.

“Wingardium Leviosa.” Harry said in an excited tone. 

The sixth year student was suddenly yanked up and slammed against the ceiling. Then he was violently pulled down and smashed on the floor. 

A loud crack echoed in the classroom. 

The boy's hands and legs were bent at an unnatural angle. His face was splattered with blood. And he was already unconscious. 

Harry pocketed his wand and looked at Tracey who was staring at him in awe. 

She started sobbing and threw herself at him and embraced him tightly. 

Harry caressed her hair with one hand while his other arm wrapped around her waist. He hoped he was doing it right. He wasn't used to consoling crying girls after all. 

It felt so good, Harry thought. It was his first hug if his memory served him right. This warm and soft body pressed into him, this closeness with another human body was amazing and surprising. If hugging felt this great, he might have used his relatives for that instead of torturing them for fun. Whatever, better late than never.

Harry could get used to having hugs.

“Everything is fine, Tracey. Don't cry.” he whispered gently, going full on gentleman mode. She just buried her face further in his neck and kept crying. Harry sighed but carried on with caressing her head. If he wasn't interested in making her his friend, he would have ignored her pleas for help. Saving someone and consoling them was definitely a chore. Although he got his long hug, maybe being a good boy had its perks.

After five more minutes, Tracey slowly pulled away and looked at him gratefully.

“Thank you so much, Harry, for saving me. I was so scared. He stunned me back in the hallway and brought me here.” She smiled a teary smile. 

Harry shrugged, not really interested in her backstory. “I was just passing by when I heard your scream and decided to see what was going on.” 

“If you ever want anything from me in future, then feel free to ask me. I'm in your debt.” she offered.

“Anything?” He raised his eyebrows. Giving anyone a blank cheque was dangerous, he thought. She shouldn't have worded it that way. Her uneasy looks confirmed that she was aware of the peril of her offer. Even frightened, she nodded in defeat. 

He rolled his eyes. Dramatic people.

“Come on! I am not going to ask that . I am only eleven, and thinking about that makes me want to hurl.” He assured her, meanwhile pinching his nose in disgust. 

She smiled, sighing, a weight lifting from her back.

“Although you can pay the debt by giving me hugs regularly. Three times, no, six times a day. Yes, that's reasonable. I never knew hugging feels so nice.” he mumbled wistfully. 

She giggled, giving him a look as if he was a moron.

“Of course, Harry. I'll hug you whenever you want, even more than six times. I'd have done that without the debt, but I'm glad that my debt won't cause any trouble for me in the future.” she agreed. 

Harry grinned at her and grabbed her for another hug. She laughed joyfully and hugged him back, winding her arms around him. 

He pulled back after a moment and looked at the downed figure.

“What to do with him? Do you want me to kill him? I've never killed humans before, but I think I can manage it. Indeed, I was always curious if it'd change me.” he thought out loud. 

She looked at him sharply. “Harry, you don't have to do that. Killing is bad. We'll inform the professors and they'll take care of that.”

‘Tell that to the cat that scratched me or the pup that tried to test its budding teeth against me. Killing is bad ; how funny.’ Harry pondered with amusement.

He shrugged at her disapproving look. “If that's what you want. He's your prey. Feel free to be merciful.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

“You really don't know how to talk to others. Do you?” She asked jokingly. 

He tilted his head to his side, giving her words some serious thought.

“Now that you mention it, it's true. I never had anybody to talk to properly.”

“What about your family?” 

“They aren't people. They're my prey. You don't talk to your chicken. That would be weird.” he said jovially.

‘I really need to teach him how to behave properly and not to say things like this in front of others. Otherwise people will brand him creepy.’ Tracey thought. She shook her head to clear her hazy head. Her current dire situation wasn't exactly helping her thought process. She needed to find some alone time and cry her eyes out.

“Guard him. I'll go and bring a professor.” she said, handing him back his robe after picking up her clothes from the ground.

“Turn around and don't peek.” she warned, her chest covered with her bunched clothes. 

Harry looked confused.

“Isn't that illogical? I've already seen you naked. Sorry, half naked. Why does it matter if I see or not see you half- naked again? And also, there is nothing to see, your body looks just like a boy's body. It's almost like looking in the mirror.” he questioned her sincerely. 

She really wanted to glare at him, but knew he wasn't insulting her and was just genuinely confused.

“It's improper to see anybody naked without their consent, and I haven't given you my consent to see me. As for me looking like a boy, I'm only eleven.” she half-yelled indignantly, controlling her blush at the stupidity of the situation, where she was explaining to a boy why he shouldn't peek at naked girls even if they didn't have their assets developed. 

Harry nodded as if it made sense and turned around. She sighed, quickly dressing herself.

“Be careful, Harry. I'll quickly bring a professor.” said Tracey. Then she left the class. 

Harry put on his robe and sat on a chair facing the limp body of the sixth-year Slytherin. 

Harry was tempted to torture the unconscious boy but didn't knew if the healer could detect the symptoms of being tortured. So, he decided against it. 

He still stood up and kicked him on his face though. He needed some fun while being idle. 

After a few minutes, Professor McGonagall came running, with Tracey closely following her. 

She gaped at the sight. 

Harry wanted to laugh at witnessing such a reaction from the always composed professor.

“What happened here, Mr. Potter?” She asked sternly, kneeling beside the sixth-year Slytherin.

“He tried to rape me and Harry helped me.” Tracey quickly explained, not wanting her new friend to be in trouble. 

“He did that!” She exclaimed, anger pouring out of her as she glared at the unconscious boy. 

She levitated the body and started leading him to the hospital wing.

“Go to your common room, Mr. Potter. I will dutifully inform the Headmaster of this travesty. Miss Davis, you should come with me to the hospital wing.” she ordered. 

Harry and Tracey nodded. 

~xXxXx~

Harry stepped into the Slytherin common room to find Daphne Greengrass pacing back and forth at the entrance. 

He went to her, feeling obliged to inform her.

“Daphne? Are you all right?” He asked. 

She stopped walking and looked at him. Her lips turned up into a small nervous smile. “I am fine, Harry. I'm just worried about Tracey. I don't know where she is. I've been waiting here for her for almost half an hour.”

“She is alright now, I think. She is currently in the hospital wing if you want to see her.” he revealed. 

Her eyes widened and filled up with fear.

“Hospital Wing? What happened to her?” She hissed.

“It's better if she tells you that. Now, hurry up and go to her.”

“Thanks, Harry.” she thanked him distractedly, leaving the common room. 

Harry sat in the corner, alone, observing everyone. Some students were studying, some were talking about quidditch, some were flirting with girls and girls flirted back. Draco Malfoy boasted to the first years how he was a brilliant flyer and would prove it in the upcoming flying class. 

Harry ignored them all and thought about what to do. 

Should he reveal his powers and make everybody bow to him? Should he establish his domination so early, or should he wait more? 

His reverie was interrupted by the opening of the common room door. In came Tracey and Daphne. They both headed straight towards him.

Daphne's eyes were brimming with gratitude. Tracey had a small smile on her face.

“Thank you, Harry, for saving Tracey. I can't put into words how grateful I'm to you for aiding my best friend in her time of need.” she said, sitting beside him. Tracey then plopped down on the other side of Daphne.

“Glad to help.” Harry replied. 

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Not knowing what to say. Harry wasn't really a good conversationalist and the girls still weren't over their fear of him.

“Did you really use her life debt for a regular supply of hugs?” She enquired incredulously, breaking the uncomfortable silence. 

Tracey snorted at that.

“Uhm, yes.” Harry answered, not knowing where it was going. Daphne shook her head in amusement.

“You could have asked for thousands of galleons, you could have asked her to become your mistress, but all you asked was hugs.”

“It seems that you are sad that I, a preteen, didn't ask for Tracey's virginity.” he joked.

“Hey!” Tracey protested at the blatant mention of her virginity while Daphne laughed.

“No, I'm happy actually, but your demand is just so… unique.” she smiled. 

Harry just shrugged.

“Don't worry, Daphne. When I'll save you from some danger, I will ask for kisses in exchange for your life debt. Okay?” He smirked, trying to make her blush. 

Daphne just stared at him, not taking his bait.

“Then, let's hope I'll not find myself in any danger.” she grinned smugly.

“Let's be friends, Harry. All of us.” Tracey piped up excitedly. 

Harry and Daphne looked at her as if she was a moron.

“What? Why are you both looking at me like that?”

“That's so lame way, and straightforward of you to ask us to be your friends, but I agree. Let's be friends.” Harry nodded, stifling the urge to do a victory jig. 

Grinning, Tracey stood up and pulled him in her arms. Harry grinned, returning the hug, coiling his hands around her waist. Daphne watched them with wry amusement. When they pulled back and looked at her, she raised her eyebrow from where she was sitting.

“I am not going to join you in a group hug. As for being friends, I was always ready, but it was Tracey who held me back.” she said, pointing her finger at Tracey.

Harry turned to Tracey who was looking sheepish.

“He was scary.” She murmured with a blush tinting her cheeks. Harry laughed at her, pulling her back against him.

“You know that I'll continue scaring everyone, don't you?” he asked, tapping her forehead.

“But at least now I know you won't harm us.” She mumbled, burying her face on his chest, not wanting to look at him. 

Daphne cleared her throat.

“I am still here so please stop acting like lovers.” Daphne teased, her eyes full of mirth. 

They broke the hug and looked at each other. Tracey whispered something in Harry's ears. He nodded.

“What're you both planning?” Daphne asked suspiciously. 

Tracey and Harry looked at her innocently.

“Nothing. We just realised we were excluding you.” Tracey announced in a faux sadness.

“What-” She didn't complete her sentence since she was suddenly pulled on her feet and was sandwiched between Harry and Tracey. 

Harry was hugging her from behind while Tracey from front, Tracey's arms looping around Harry's neck, trapping her between them.

“What're you both doing?” Daphne whined. 

Tracey and Harry chuckled, and continued hugging her. 

Daphne sighed dramatically.

“If this is what you want. I'll allow you little peasants to embrace me for a little while.” she said haughtily, laughter bubbling inside her.

“You bestow us with your generosity, my lady.” Tracey played along. 

Harry was silent, content in remaining in the arms of his first friends.

That night Harry slept with a smile on his face. 

‘Power: check, Wealth: check, Friends: check. Hmm, I have everything I need. Congratulations little Harry, you get your wish. You have friends now. It seems the world isn't that bad.’

~xXxXx~

Harry left his room and entered the common room to find Tracey and Daphne waiting for him.

“Harry!” Tracey smiled and hugged him eagerly. 

‘Wow, I don't even have to ask.’ he smiled.

“Good morning, Harry.” Tracey and Daphne greeted him after Tracey pulled back.

“Good morning to you too, ladies.” He smiled and stared at Daphne with his arms open. 

Daphne rolled her eyes but walked into his open arms. Tracey meanwhile, giggled at her friends' antics. She knew Daphne enjoyed Harry's company, it was a breath of fresh air since she generally steered clear of boys in the past. Saying Harry was unique was like saying the Sun was larger than Earth. It was true, but it didn't convey the enormity of the subjects.

The trio then started for the Great Hall while talking about their classes. Daphne and Tracey praised Harry for his performance in class.

“Of course, I am the best.” he agreed proudly.

“And modest too.” Daphne quipped sarcastically.

“Why should I be modest and lie that I'm not the best when I know I'm the best?” Harry questioned, shaking his head at her stupidity. Tracey just rolled her eyes, aware that Harry's mind didn't exactly work like normal.

“But if you boast about yourself then people will think you're arrogant and no one will take you seriously.” she replied. Harry remained silent, thinking about her words.

“That's true. I don't really care about other people's opinions, but I'll reign in my pride. There's no harm in that.” he said.

“Great! Let your actions speak for you instead of your words.” Daphne suggested. 

Harry nodded, taking in the advice. 

They sat together on the Slytherin table and talked among themselves. They were interrupted by the arrival of a magnificent snowy owl. The owl landed in front of him and picked up a piece of bacon and gobbled it down.

“Hedwig! How're you?” Harry asked with delight, caressing her plumage. 

Hedwig hooted and leaned into his touch.

“Oh! You were exploring the forest. How was it?”

Hedwig hooted again.

“Interesting, you say. I'll have to check it out myself then.” replied Harry, patting her head. Hedwig with a final hoot, took off and went away. 

Finally, Harry registered the flabbergasted looks he was receiving from his friends.

“What?” He asked. Tracey just giggled while Daphne tried to say something but couldn't.

“Forget it. I'm going to expect strange occurrences every minute so I won't be surprised ever again.” Daphne sighed. At that instant, Professor Snape came prowling towards them.

“Potter! The Headmaster has asked for you after breakfast. Miss Davis, you are also to come. Be ready, I will come after breakfast to take you.” he informed them and went to the Head table.

“Is he always this grumpy?” question Harry.

“More or less.” Daphne responded with a frown. 

Tracey had gone silent, remembering the incident of last night. A shiver of fear ran through her body. Harry and Daphne noticed that and put their hands on her shoulders.

“Everything is alright. Nothing will happen again to you.” Daphne reassured.

“Don't worry, I'll protect you and if I wasn't trying to be modest, I'd have said that nothing in this world can harm you with me at your side, which is true, but I won't say it because I'm trying to be modest, but you must know that it is true.” Harry said. 

Tracey and Daphne shared a laugh at his try at being modest. Harry had intentionally said that convolutedly to bring some levity in the scene. He smiled smugly at his success. 

'They look nice when they smile and laugh.'

“Thanks, Harry. You have my full confidence.” Tracey nodded. 

After breakfast, the two followed behind professor Snape. He led them through corridors to the third floor where he stopped in front of a gargoyle and said something gibberish. The gargoyle moved, revealing a circular stone staircase. They climbed up the stairs and stood in front of a door.

“Wait here. Come in when I ask you to.” Professor Snape instructed as he knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Headmaster Dumbledore's voice called out. Snape entered the room and closed the door behind him.

“Be nice to them. Don't talk much. I'll take care of this. Did I mention being nice to them?” Tracey babbled in a panic mode. 

Harry rolled his eyes and pulled her in a sideway hug.

“Okay, I'll be nice to them but don't freak out.” he said as he squeezed her shoulders. 

She sighed, taking a deep breath and nodded.

“Come in.” Professor Snape said as the door opened. Harry and Tracey went inside and found the headmaster sitting behind his desk while Snape was standing beside him, glaring at them. 

Headmaster smiled, his eyes twinkling.

“Take a seat Mr. Potter, Miss Davis.” he said, pointing to the chairs in front of the desk. 

Harry and Tracey sat in front of him.

“I want to hear what happened with you, Miss Davis, and how a sixth year student is still in the hospital wing? And also how is Mr. Potter involved in this?” He asked with a grandfatherly smile as if he was asking about her favourite candy.

“I was stunned and taken to an empty classroom. When I woke up, I found my hands bound behind me with my clothes…” Tracey continued narrating. Her voice was small and she seemed frightened. Harry had taken up one of her hands in his and was squeezing it whenever he thought she needed it. “And then I asked Harry to guard him and went to fetch Professor McGonagall.”

Dumbledore and Snape didn't show any surprise so they must have already known that.

“I am so sorry you had to go through that, Miss Davis. I am very thankful to Mr. Potter that he saved you.” Dumbledore told her with a sad voice and turned his attention to Harry. “But, I must ask, did you really use just the Levitation charm?”

“Yes.” Harry replied succinctly. 

Dumbledore tried using Legilimency on Harry, but to his surprise, he found nothing but an eternal golden light inside his head. This didn't go unnoticed by Harry. He wanted to use the red mist on the old man, but controlled himself for Tracey's sake.

“I see. You are free to go. 100 points to Slytherin for saving a fellow student.” Dumbledore praised and gifted ‘precious’ house points. 

Snape was furious. He didn't want the Potter brat to go unpunished for attacking one of his own, but if he went to say something against him, he would come out as a supporter of rape. With a great effort he controlled his anger and bias.

“How're you going to punish the boy for what he had done, sir? And what're you doing to prevent these types of things from ever happening again?” Tracey asked after screwing up her courage. 

Dumbledore seemed troubled.

“I can't punish the boy since nothing really happened between you two. And if I expel him, then all the pureblood families will start a riot. As for preventing such heinous acts, I have posted some of the house elves to regularly patrol the school.” He replied to her query. 

Tracey wanted to protest, but Harry signalled her not to. She nodded at the professors and then left the office along with Harry. The walk to the Slytherin dorms was filled with unpleasant silence. Suddenly, Tracey turned around and jabbed her finger at him.

“Why did you stop me?” she asked angrily.

“They wouldn't have done anything. Why waste your energy by protesting?” he retorted.

“But that isn't fair. He was going to rape me and I can't do anything since he failed. He'll roam these halls with no care while I'll have nightmares every night.” she said softly, tears rolling down her cheeks. Harry sighed as he caressed her face, wiping her tears.

“You just have to say one word. I'll kill him. You don't need teachers for that.” Harry whispered in her ear as he held her firmly in his arms.

“I don't want him to die. I don't want to be the reason for someone's death, I just want justice.” She murmured on his chest.

‘You are too good and naive for your own good, Tracey.’ Harry thought bitterly as he massaged her head. 

Tracey pulled away and smiled at him tiredly.

“Let's just go to Daphne.” she said, leading him towards their destination.

~xXxXx~

Daphne was seething with rage. She was pacing back and forth, in front of them.

“He should be punished.” She hissed and sat beside Tracey. She rested her head on her shoulder and sighed in defeat. “But I can understand the Headmaster's reasoning. The wizarding world is run by the purebloods and they can get away with almost anything.”

Harry patted Tracey's shoulder.

“ I can't depend on others to do my work or take my revenge. It is up to me to do my part. I am the one and only who has the power to change my life. That is the saying by which I lead my life. You should follow it too.”

Daphne and Tracey looked at him sadly, understanding that he must have been lonely and had had a bad childhood to be that cynical.

“But if you believe that then you also don't have the power to help Tracey. It's up to Tracey to do something for herself.” Daphne argued, raising her eyebrow. 

Harry shook his hand, already having an answer.

“It was true before Tracey asked me to be her friend, but now she has me and she has a deal with me, so I've the power to help her just so she can continue fulfilling her side of the deal.” Harry replied seriously.

“So basically what you are saying is that you'll help her just so you can continue having hugs?” Daphne asked incredulously.

Harry shrugged. “A deal is a deal.”

Daphne snorted while Tracey laughed softly. She gently pulled Harry into another hug. She was lowkey surprised how easy it felt showing affection to him.

“Never change, Harry. You must never change.” she giggled on his chest, tightening her grasp.

“Why would I? I am perfect. I don't need to change.”

Tracey laughed again.

“Harry? Did you forget about modesty?” Daphne smirked, trying to suppress her laughter.

“Oops.” Harry grinned. “As I'm being modest, I won't say that I am perfect, but you must know and believe that I am perfect.”

The three of them started laughing hysterically. They got a few odd looks from the other students in the common room, but they didn't care. They just held each other and laughed.

“You suck at being modest.” Tracey announced after finally controlling her laughter.

“I shall do my best at being modest for you, milady.” Harry bowed.

Chapter Text

3. Cruel Protective Devil

Harry was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the astronomy tower. The cold night wind ruffled his hair affectionately. A rare serene smile played upon his lips. 

It was 2:00 in the morning. The dark night was speckled with clear  twinkling stars. The moon was sparkling with silver light, overpowering the shine of the distant stars.

‘How insignificant we all are in the universe. We are nothing compared to the uncountable gigantic stars and innumerable galaxies. Our life means nothing in the grand scheme of things. We are not even a speck of dust in comparison with the colossal stars.’ he thought morosely.

Running his hand through his hair, he stood up. ‘Let's finish this.’

He closed his eyes, golden dust began seeping out from his skin like trickling water. It soaked his face and covered every part of his skin. It even enveloped his clothes. The golden colour started changing. It faded into grey and then into midnight black, just like the sky. It turned different again and now he was invisible. 

He ambled through the corridors silently, slipping inside the hospital wing and moving towards the only occupied bed in the room. 

The sixth-year was sleeping peacefully.

‘How insignificant he is, so unimportant that I don't even know his name.’ 

Harry sat on the stool beside the slumbering boy. He touched the sixth-year Slytherin's forehead with his forefinger. A black tendril of magic jumped out of his nail and entered into the boy's head.

‘Welcome to hell.’

The boy would be forced to see the worst things he could ever imagine in his life, which would probably make him insane. Sufficient punishment...for now. 

Harry left the hospital wing and went to his dorm room and had a nice peaceful sleep. Not feeling even a tiny bit of guilt for what would happen next to the sixth-year Slytherin boy.

~xXxXx~

Harry left his room and stepped into the common room. 

Tracey and Daphne were standing in a corner, talking to each other in hushed whispers. They noticed his presence and waved at him. 

Harry greeted them.

“Good morning, girls.” Harry smiled, embracing them.

“Good morning, Harry.” They chorused together. Again.

“Let's go.” he said and they left the Slytherin common room.

“Did you have any nightmares?” he asked Tracey as they walked, hoping it wasn't weird to ask that. 

Tracey shook her head.

“That is good, Tracey.” Daphne said kindly, taking her hand and squeezing it.

“Let's not talk about it. I just want to ignore that vile memory.” Their friend requested. 

Harry and Daphne nodded.

“So Harry, when are you going to teach us your secret methods for performing so well in class?” Daphne enquired with an eager look. 

Harry rolled his eyes at her.

“I did not use my method of magic if that's what you are asking. I just followed the Professor's instructions.” He answered.

“Say that again?” Daphne blurted in surprise. She had assumed that he used his strange magic to perform that well, but here he was denying that. 

Harry's lips twitched, a joke forming in his mind.

“Tracey, is Daphne deaf?” Harry questioned, suppressing his smile.

“... yes. I usually call her Daph, but how do you know that?” Tracey asked, quickly catching onto what he was up to.

“That's rude. Calling your friend deaf.” Harry finished and started laughing. Daphne just gave him a bland look while Tracey herself was hiding a smile.

“Come on, that was funny.” He whined when they didn't join in his laughter.

“That was witty, but not that funny. Besides, I'd already used that joke a few years earlier and got a lecture in return about how that joke didn't actually work since deaf and Daph sounded so different.” Tracey smiled sympathetically, patting his shoulder.

“Daphne, am I allowed to address you as Daph?" Harry asked in an amused voice, quickly springing up from his failed attempt.

“No.” Daphne replied succinctly, quickening her pace. 

Harry and Tracey also started walking faster to keep up with her.

“Please. I won't ever use that as a joke.” Harry requested in his most earnest voice, his wide emerald eyes brimming with innocence. 

Daphne paused in her step and looked at him mirthfully. She suppressed a laugh seeing Harry's good imitation of a cute puppy. She had to concede it was extremely cute. 

Tracey cooed as she pinched his cheeks. “How can you resist this, Daph? He's so adorable.”

Harry tried to remain in character, but Tracey's pinching was making it difficult to.

“Fine. But if you ever joke about it, I'll never ever hug you.” She sighed, caving in. 

Harry stumbled back in shock.

“No hugs? You're so cruel.” He glared at her exaggeratedly.

“That I am. But you'll get your hugs if you don't joke about my name. So, honestly, it's really fair.” she said smugly, patting his head. 

Tracey snickered as she and Daphne resumed walking. 

Harry's plan to annoy Daphne, now being abandoned, he joined the two as they entered the Great Hall.

~xXxXx~

Harry along with Tracey and Daphne, got into their first potions class. 

The room was dark and gloomy. The Gryffindors had already taken their seat on one side. The three went to the front on the other side of the room where the Slytherins were assigned to sit. This created an interesting situation.

“How are we going to sit together? We have to pair up.” Tracey noted.

“You both, sit together. I'll find a seat.” Harry waved at them to take their seats.

“Are you sure?” Daphne mumbled in concern. 

Harry smiled.

“Don't flatter yourself. I won't be lost without you.” he chuckled. 

They both nodded and sat. 

Harry searched the classroom and found an unoccupied seat beside a girl in Gryffindor robes.

“Is this seat occupied?” Harry asked the girl. 

The girl looked up and met Harry's eyes with her silver eyes. Her silky black hair was done in a side ponytail, which suited her oval face.

‘Is it even possible to have silver eyes?’ A part of him asked himself. 

The girl shook her head and smiled serenely.

“Is it okay if I sit here then?” Harry enquired. 

The girl nodded. 

Harry smiled back and sat with her.

“Harry Potter.” He extended his hand for a handshake. 

She clasped his hand in hers.

“Lily Moon.” she replied in a soft voice. Before their conversation could start properly, they were interrupted by the opening of the door.

When the bell rang, the class door was shoved open as Professor Snape entered the room and walked to the front.

“There will be no foolish wand waving in this class, nor will there be any silly incantations or other such nonsense that you brats appear to enjoy.” Professor Snape said as he stopped at the front and turned around to look at everyone. He sneered at the Gryffindors before continuing his monologue. “I don't expect many of you to truly grasp the beautiful and magical process of potions making, but for those willing to learn… I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death.”

Harry was amused by the speech. ‘Stopper on death? Bullcrap. If this man could do that, he wouldn't have been here.’

After his speech, he proceeded with a roll call. Harry was a little confused when the professor sneered at his name.

“Harry Potter. Our newest celebrity.” The professor mocked. 

Harry stood up and waved at everybody.

“That's me. Don't be shy and come to me if you want my autograph.” He grinned. If the Professor wanted to act like a bitch then Harry had no problem showing his attitude.

“Sit down, Potter.” Professor Snape snapped. Harry with a last wave sat, a satisfied grin on his face.

“Quiz time. Weasley.” Snape announced suddenly, his black eyes locking onto Ron. “What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” 

The other Gryffindors looked perplexed, apart from Hermione Granger who had raised her hand. 

Ron's ears turned red as he looked down and mumbled something. 

“Speak up, boy!” Snape ordered.

“I don't know, sir.” Ron said in a quiet voice.

“You don't know?” Professor Snape asked mockingly. “How disappointing, five points from Gryffindor. Let's try again, where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?” 

Hermione began waving her hand to try and catch Professor Snape's attention, it was clear she hadn't realised yet that he was ignoring her. 

Jasmine tugged her friend's hand in a clear gesture to stop her from raising her hand but Hermione ignored her. 

“You don't know?” Professor Snape repeated when Ron didn't respond, Draco and his friends sniggered. Snape either didn't notice or didn't care. “One last question, Weasley, try not to totally embarrass yourself, what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?”

“Hermione knows, why don't you ask her?” Ron growled mulishly, gesturing to Hermione who had actually stood up and was wildly waving her hand.

“Sit down, you foolish girl!” Snape snapped at Hermione. 

Hermione quickly dropped her hand and sat into her seat, her cheeks were now bright crimson. Jasmine gave her ‘I told you so’ look which she again ignored. 

“Mr Weasley.” Snape said as he turned his attention back to Ron, “that is twenty points you have lost for Gryffindor and a detention for your disrespect, along with a further five points for not being prepared enough to read a book. Potter!” Snape said suddenly as he turned to Harry. “Perhaps you can answer the questions.”

Harry lazily stood up and said. “If you add the powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood, you would get the Draught of Living Death. The bezoar can be found in the stomach of a goat. There is no difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane.”

Harry could have said more about the answers, but knew it wouldn't have been appreciated. Snape sneered and turned his back on him. He waved his wand at the board. Instructions started appearing on it to brew the potion to cure boils.

“Follow the instructions on board.” he said and sat on his desk, actively ignoring everybody.

“What a prick.” Harry mumbled under his breath. Lily beside him chuckled.

“Let's finish this.” he said and with the help of Lily they finished the potion among one of the firsts. 

He checked the colour of the potion. ‘It is perfect.’

Professor Snape walked towards their desk and peered at their potion.

“Acceptable.” he muttered and went ahead without another glance at them. 

Harry looked at Lily and then at the potion then again at Lily.

“I hope my eyes are working alright. It's been years since I wore glasses, but I think I may need them again.” He said sarcastically.

“Your eyes are perfect. He's just very prejudiced against you.” She shrugged.

“I am sorry. Because of me you also had to suffer his partiality.” He apologised. She waved it away.

“It's fine. Without you I may even haven't finished brewing the potion.” she smiled. “You were serious when you said you would give autographs, right?"

Harry chuckled as he signed on a parchment and gave it to her.

~xXxXx~

“I hate potions.” Harry grumbled when his two friends joined him in the hallway.

“It sucks to be in your shoes. Did you kill his wife or something?” Tracey joked, bumping her shoulder against his.

“As far as I am aware, I haven't killed anybody.” ‘ Yet’ Harry replied.

“Maybe he has a crush on you and this is his unique way of showing it to you.” Daphne grinned mischievously. 

Harry stopped short and made a gagging sound. The two girls laughed at his expense.

“Thanks, Daph, for making me imagine such gruesome images.” He glared at her.

“Usually it is ‘I will kiss it and make it better’ but I'll hug you and make it better.” Daphne smirked, capturing him in a tight hug, finding the way he said her nickname too adorable. 

Harry chuckled as he hugged her back. This slowly turned into a competition of ‘who can squeeze tighter’ which he won when Daphne pushed away and hunched over, trying to catch her breath.

“That was the one of a kind hug which I'll avoid from now on.” she muttered, standing up and rubbing her aching sides. 

Harry grinned at his victory and patted Daphne's cheek mock condescendingly.

“You have finally found your place. No one shall beat Harry Potter at hugging.”

“Was that supposed to sound cool or something?” The blonde arched her eyebrow, slapping away his hand.

“Spoilsport.” he muttered, turning to Tracey who was laughing at their antics.

“Do you wish to give it a try?” He asked her. 

She shook her head.

“No thanks. I'll take the normal one.” she smiled, hugging him and snuggling at his chest. 

Daphne cleared her throat dramatically.

“You are again doing the lovey dovey thing which is so sweet that it's sickening.” she said, scrunching her nose. 

Tracey and Harry exchanged exasperated looks and nodded at each other. In a swift move, they both sandwiched Daphne between them. Again. 

Daphne yelped as she felt Harry pressing his body from behind while Tracey squeezed her from front.

“Not again.” Daphne whined, making Harry and Tracey laugh.

“Harry! Why are you pressing your hips against my arse?” 

“If you don't know, it is called full-body hugging.” Harry said in her ears. 

A shiver ran through her body. Tracey caught that and watched them with amusement.

“Don't worry, Daph, next time I will be behind and Harry will be in front if you are so uncomfortable.” Tracey said.

“There will be a next time?” Daphne asked in mock horror.

“Of course. Do you really think we are going to stop this?” Harry grinned, nuzzling the nape of her neck. 

Daphne sighed in an exaggerated manner.

“Fine! But let me go now. I've assignments to finish.” she grumbled but contrarily was very happy inside. 

She just loved being with Harry and Tracey. The trio just seemed to click with each other as if they had known one another for decades. There was no need to be on guard around them. They would never harm her or try to use her. 

They disentangled and made their way back to the Slytherin common room.

~xXxXx~

Jake was having the worst day of his life. First, the plan to fuck that half-blood bitch failed. Second, Potter sent him to the hospital wing with the use of a Levitation charm. For the fuck sake, the LEVITATION charm. 

How was he going to show his face to the other sixth-year Slytherins after getting beaten by a first-year? 

Shame. Utter shame was the feeling which he was experiencing. 

These were the thoughts racing through his mind after waking up in the hospital wing. 

About half an hour later, Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape arrived to interrogate him. 

Dumbledore showed his deep disappointment and deducted 100 points from Slytherin. Professor Snape just glared at him, most probably because he lost points for the house. After they went away, Jake was advised to stay in the bed for the whole day by the matron. 

Madam Pomfrey had some work in Saint Mungo's so she put some essential potions on his bedside table and went out of Hogwarts. 

Jake agreed about the full day rest, he could still feel a little pain in his hands and legs.

‘I am going to fuck that Potter brat so hard, he wouldn't be able to stand.’ he thought maliciously. 

He was about to lay down when he saw a sight he never thought he would ever see. 

On his right, chained to the wall was his mother. Her hands were raised above her head and tied with a dirty cloth. The cloth was then suspended by a rope stuck to the ceiling. 

She was stark naked. Her pale bountiful breasts hung over her chest. Her eyes were closed. Her mouth was gagged by a ball gag. 

Suddenly, a figure appeared out of nowhere. Jake couldn't make out his face but could see his naked form approaching his mother. Jake's heart clenched from fear and apprehension. He tried to scream but couldn't. He couldn't even move. He couldn't open his mouth. With a deep sense of dread he saw the male figure stop in front of his mother.

The figure choked his mother with one hand while with his other he fondled her breast, his finger sinking into her flesh and his thumb pressing against her nipple. 

Jake screamed silently, seeing his mother's eyes brimming with helpless tears. The male figure released his hold on her neck to clasp her mousy hair. He pulled her hair violently and her muffled scream filled Jake's ears.

‘NO. Please not her. No, not her.’ Jake sobbed.

‘She is just a woman. Born to serve us.’ Jake heard a gruff voice in his head.

‘Yes. It is true but not her. I love her. Please spare her.’ Jake pleaded to the strange voice. 

The gruff man just laughed as he slapped her extra hard for his amusement. 

The brutal punishment continued for an hour. After this time period, his mother's face became unrecognisable, beaten and swollen. Red, black and purple. 

‘Don't worry. I will obliviate her. So she won't remember this.’ The strange voice replied with mirth.

When the sun finally went down, Jake was wrecked. He was mentally unstable. His eyes were red from crying, his throat was raw from screaming. He had seen his mother suffer the worst fate. She had been raped by the unknown male figure from the morning in every humiliating and painful way.  And this all happened right in front of his eyes. 

Her body was red and blue from bruises. There were empty patches on her head where her hair had fallen after too much abuse. Her face was bloodied. Her chest was deep red from all the violent groping and pinching. Her legs were motionless. There was disgusting semen pooling around her feet, between her legs.

‘She is of no use now. I had promised to obliviate her, but I don't really think I can do that. I want to see some more blood. It's been ages since I saw an ample amount of blood.’

Jake just stared. He didn't have energy to scream. He had been doing that since the morning. 

The figure placed a final kiss on her unresponsive lips and slit her throat with a dagger. 

Jake didn't know how he was able to scream, but scream he did, like he had never done before. 

There was so much pain in his chest, he just wanted it to end. He wanted to feel numb.

‘Worthless? Isn't it. Life. You have to work hard for the future, you invest your childhood and work for the future but there is a chance that it is all for nothing. A single stray spell can take your life. A single mistake is all that it takes to end your life. Was it worth it to live that long painful arduous life? You feel pain everyday, hoping that it will go away somehow but it doesn't. Pain is eternal, it never goes away. Only way to free yourself from the clutch of pain is to offer yourself to oblivion. A peaceful place without life, a place where there is no pain. A place of eternal happiness. Don't you want that? Don't you want to stop the pain?’ The gruff man asked, his tone hypnotic. 

Jake nodded dumbly. It was true, he wanted happiness, he wanted to stop the ache in his chest. He wanted oblivion. He wanted the unending darkness.

‘Good. You know now the truth of life. It isn't about living, it is about dying. Won't you share this discovery with the world? Go now, tell them the ultimate truth.’ the gruff voice cajoled darkly. 

Jake's wand was suddenly in his hand. He was finally able to move. He took a last look at his dead naked, his violated mother and left the hospital wing. ‘Don't worry, mother, I am coming to join you soon.’

He didn't see the illusion shattering as he left the room.

~xXxXx~

Everybody was eating dinner in the Great Hall when a figure stumbled inside. Jake looked at everybody condescendingly. 

He raised his wand and casted a sonorous spell at himself.

“Pathetic.” he said coldly. 

Everyone's attention snapped towards Jake. The Professors and students looked on dubiously, not understanding why he was there. 

Harry suppressed his feral grin. Even though he didn't know what was going to happen, he at least knew that something interesting was in store. He was absolutely going to enjoy this. 

His gaze settled on Tracey who looked uneasy and afraid at seeing her assailant again. He grabbed her hand and clasped it between the palms of his both hands. Daphne too put a hand on her shoulder.

“Life is worthless. Death is the goal. Follow me to eternal peace. Follow me to oblivion.” Jake laughed maniacally, gone totally mad from the psychological torture. 

He pressed his wand at his own neck. Every professor jumped on their feet and pointed their wands at him to cast the stunning spell, but they were too late. 

Harry grabbed Tracey's head and buried it on his shoulder. Daphne didn't need to be a seer to know what was going to happen next, so she also averted her gaze.

“Reducto.” Jake yelled with an unsettling grin. 

Children started screaming as they saw his head blasted from his neck with a crunch. His severed head landed a few feet behind him. His vacant stare directed at the entrance, his disturbing grin still on. His body stumbled a little and went down bonelessly. 

There was blood. There was a pool of immense blood colouring the floor of the Great Hall. The spasming headless body finally stilled. 

The teachers were staring in horror. The children had turned their backs on the grotesque scene. Some were emptying the food on the table from their stomach. 

Harry's eyes were gleaming in satisfaction. If there was a place to laugh like a stereotypical villain, it was here, but unfortunately he didn't want to be held in a negative light. Not yet. He held his laughter inside and buried his face in Tracey's warm neck, hiding his sadistic smile.

‘You are too good, Tracey. But I am not. If you are a pure angel then I am the most cruel devil.’

~xXxXx~

The three of them were standing at their usual corner, in the common room. 

Daphne was nervous and Tracey looked bewildered. 

Thankfully they didn't see the dead body. Dumbledore had instantly created a white cube of cloth around the scene to stop people from staring at the horrendous sight. Still, most of the children saw what happened. 

Many were given a calming draught.

“What happened there?” Tracey asked, still not knowing how to feel about Jake's death. 

Harry shrugged nonchalantly.

“It seems he got a heavy head injury while I blasted him to the ceiling which made him mad and so he took his life. How tragic.” Harry said in an indifferent tone. 

Tracey looked at him, followed by Daphne.

“Harry, did you do this?” Tracey asked fearfully. 

Harry shook his head.

“I didn't kill him. He killed himself.” Harry replied honestly. Tracey accepted his answer immediately while Daphne narrowed her eyes at him.

“Were you involved in it?” Daphne asked. 

‘Smart girl.’

“Don't ask questions you don't want answers to. Truth's a terrible thing.” Harry uttered, staring in her eyes. 

Tracey gasped and so did Daphne.

“Do you want to know?” Harry added with a manic grin. 

Both of them shook their heads. 

Harry smiled and said. “Do you want to play chess? We've some time to kill.” 

Both nodded in daze. They played for an hour. An hour which was filled with silence. 

Finally, the game was over and they decided to retire to their rooms. Harry was pretty sure he wasn't going to get any hugs today. He wanted to pout. 

Mean girls.

He started for his room when a hand reached down and grabbed his arm. He turned around and found Tracey looking at him with moist eyes. 

His eyes widened and he instantly grabbed her in a hug.

“Tracey, are you alright? Why're you crying?” he asked, not understanding what was the reason for her crying. 

The girl chuckled, burying her face on his chest.

“I am alright. I'm just happy to have you as my best friend. I didn't know you'd do something like that for me. I'm not exactly happy about it, but I'm not going to make you change your way. I'll just accept it. You're too precious to let go.” Tracey mumbled, hoping that her decision wasn't wrong and she wasn't befriending a back-stabbing snake. 

Harry felt a heart warming sensation filling his body. He knew he was precious, but it was for the first time that someone else had said that. This was a new feeling. 

Daphne cleared her throat. They both again exchanged exasperated looks and looked at her. She was glaring at them.

“Best friend? Am I being replaced?”

Tracey rolled her eyes at her.

“No, Harry's just joining you in that category.”

“Fine. I will-” she was cut off by the feeling of two warm and soft bodies pressing against her from front and back. She groaned when she came face to face with the grinning Harry while Tracey blew air on her neck. 

Daphne giggled unwantedly.

“Tracey, stop!” she hissed. Tracey ceased her antics. 

Harry was nose to nose with her, his arms at her sides, encompassing both her and Tracey.

“You were saying something?” Harry whispered, his warm breath tingling her lips. 

Tracey was trying her best not to laugh at the embarrassed red face of Daphne who was squirming, unintentionally rubbing her body with both Harry and her. 

Daphne was so tempted to just lean in and capture Harry's lips, but decency made her control herself. Draco was her potential intended. It was wrong to feel these urges for some other boy. But the temptation was so alluring, his lips just an inch away, his adorable green eyes staring at her with mischief. His warm body pressed against hers. What would it taste like? A part of her mind whispered as she looked at his soft lips.

“Please.” Daphne mumbled desperately. 

Harry looked confused at her pleading tone, but nodded and stepped back. Tracey did the same. 

Daphne smiled and gave them a hug individually.

“Goodnight. I'm going to sleep.” she said and quickly fled to her room. 

Harry looked at Tracey.

“Did I do something wrong?” He asked with a concerned voice. 

Tracey shook her head sadly. She too gave him a hug.

“Goodnight, Harry.” she wished gently. Harry smiled at her as she went to her room.

“Girls, even I can't understand everything and everyone.” Harry consoled himself as he entered his room and plopped down on his bed. 

He smiled as he smelled Daphne and Tracey's perfume on his body. It was so soothing and comforting. And so intimate.

“What I won't do to keep them always happy.” Harry mused to himself.

~xXxXx~

“No, not Harry, not him. Please. Take me instead.” A pretty red haired woman pleaded in front of a cradle from which a green-eyed boy was looking at the scene.

“Step away, foolish girl.” a cold voice said.

“No.” the woman yelled.

“Avada Kedavra.” The man hissed and the red haired woman dropped on the ground lifeless.

Harry woke up in a cold sweat. He was panting as if he had just run in the Olympics.

“Never again. Never.” Harry promised himself and tried to sleep again.

Chapter Text

4. The Tears and Blood

The next few days were filled with whisperings and various conspiracy theories about how Jake Yaxley died. Some said that he went mad. Some said that he was under Imperius curse. Aurors investigated his death, but no concrete evidence was found. 

Harry was the only suspect since he was the one who had harmed him previously, but he had a solid alibi. Daphne and Tracey had confirmed that he was with them during that morning. 

At last, it was concluded that Jake went mad and commited suicide. It was illogical and a lazy way to shut the case, but magicals were never lauded as logical beings. 

Even his family wasn't that concerned as he was their second child and not the heir of the family. He was not particularly special in any way to be considered a loss. The Yaxleys were embarrassed of him for losing against a first year and then taking his own life instead of plotting Harry Potter's demise. 

Because of all this death talk, the whole castle was despondent. 

Then a week passed and everything went back to normal. Jake Yaxley was forgotten, his death becoming mere a blurry memory. Students were busy studying and goofing around to care about a stranger's death for too long.

Harry was also now being spied upon by Headmaster Dumbledore. A single house elf had been tailing him everywhere. 

The old man had his suspicion that Harry had something to do with Jake Yaxley's murder. But without any evidence, he couldn't point finger at him. His mind wanted to believe that Harry wouldn't do something like that, but his conscience still nagged at him to investigate it. And so he did.

Harry was actually aware of his stalker. He could feel a constant source of magic following him everywhere. He was careful in what he said to his friends. Fortunately, his friends never talked about Jake with him again. It seemed that they wanted to forget about his darkness. They just wanted to enjoy the company of Harry who always gave them warm hugs and helped them in their studies kindly, wanting to remain oblivious about his certain tendencies. 

On a whole different matter, Harry was aware that something was wrong with the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. His magic was intermixed with another foul magic. It was obvious to see.

Harry decided not to investigate it. It wasn't his job, he wasn't going to jump in the role of saviour or detective. He wasn't either. 

The professor was incompetent and useless. He took five minutes just to read one paragraph. His stuttering was also annoying as hell, on some occasions, it made Harry want to kill the worthless professor, but he controlled himself. 

Harry's education though, was unaffected by it. He just needed a book to learn any spell. And yet, he was confused why the headmaster would appoint such a pathetic man for the job.

Nothing peculiar happened except in the flying lesson. In which Neville Longbottom lost the control of his broom, which led to his broken wrist. He also dropped his Remembrall which was then taken by Malfoy. Jasmine saw it and asked Malfoy to give it back. Malboy being Malfoy insulted her by calling her mudblood. Ronald Weasley was going to curse Malfoy, but further conflict was prevented by the intervention of Harry. 

He wouldn't have necessarily intervened if Jasmine hadn't been involved in the matter. And since she was his first friend, or at least that's what would like to think, he decided to help her.

“Draco, Draco, Draco. It doesn't suit an heir of a noble family to steal others' things. Does the Malfoy family have lost its wealth that you have to resort to such underhanded methods?” Harry mocked. 

Draco sneered at him. Harry grabbed the Remembrall from his hand and passed it to Jasmine who shot him a grateful smile.

“Don't…” Draco started but stopped at seeing his demonic grin.

“Don't what, Draco?” Harry said as he walked in a circle around him.

“Nothing.” he harrumphed and went away, hiding his fear. Harry chuckled as he joined Daphne and Tracey who were enjoying the entertainment.

~xXxXx~

In mid-October when Harry was walking alone through an isolated corridor, he finally decided to do something about his stalker. He swiftly turned around and stunned the spy. 

A small figure fell down on the floor.

‘A house elf.’

Harry walked to the downed figure and crouched down. He put his forefinger on the elf's forehead and searched his mind.

‘So, Dumbledore suspects me.’ Harry realised. He pumped the elf with his power, successfully freeing him from Hogwarts and enslaving him. Then he rennervated the elf. The elf's tennis sized eyes popped open. He felt his loyalty shifting from Hogwarts to his new master.

“What's your name?” His new master asked.

“I be Junky.” The elf was compelled to answer. Harry raised his eyebrows in amusement and couldn't help but snicker at the funny name.

“You're my elf now, Junky. You'll follow my orders.” Harry commanded. 

The elf nodded.

“You'll follow me around as Dumbledore instructed you, but you won't reveal any of my secrets. You'll say that I'm not doing anything bad, that I'm just studying and spending my time with my friends whenever he asks you. You'll also inform me if Dumbledore decides to do something about me. Understood?”

“Yes, master.”

“And you'll act like you're still Hogwarts' elf. You won't tell anybody about this conversation.”

“Yes, master.”

“Now go.”

The elf disappeared and reappeared at the end of the corridor, now invisible, following Harry again.

~xXxXx~

In an abandoned classroom, three first year Slytherin students were writing their homework. 

Harry finished his work and stood up. He raised his hands and stretched his back and grunted, popping his joints. They had been sitting there for more than an hour. 

Daphne and Tracey were still writing and spared him only a glance.

“I'm done.” he said.

“Oh, really? We never would have guessed.” Daphne retorted sarcastically. It was so irritating to write this much. 

Harry grinned. “Why so testy, Daph?”

“I don't know why we've to write this huge amount of assignments.” she spat in annoyance. 

Harry chuckled and sat beside her, looking at her work.

“You're nearly there.” He encouraged her. Daphne gave him a flat stare.

“What's with that look?” he asked, throwing his arm around her. She sighed and slumped against him.

“We could use our time to practise new spells but no! We've to waste our time on this.”

Harry snickered again as he ruffled her blonde hair, earning a glare from her. 

Tracey ignored them, hard at work, trying to finish her assignment. 

She was almost finished.

“I'm done.” she cheered as she put aside the books and parchments. Daphne groaned, burrowing her head further in Harry's neck.

“Come on Daph, finish this and I'll give you a reward.” he cajoled her, caressing her hair. 

She instantly perked up and looked at him expectantly.

“You're finally going to teach us your wandless magic?” She asked. Tracey was also intrigued as she scooted closer to Daphne. 

Harry rolled his eyes at her.

“No. If I knew how I unlocked that power, I'd definitely have taught you by now.” Harry said gently. Daphne slumped down again, resting her forehead on his shoulder and received a friendly pat from Tracey.

Daphne wanted to learn that method. It was so cool!

“Don't worry, there are other ways to grow powerful.” He consoled her.

“If you say so.” she murmured.

“I'll teach you two spells today. One deadly curse and another a useful charm.”

Daphne shot him a strange look, her eyes starting to shine.

“When did you learn new spells?” She asked curiously.

“In the library, of course. What do you think I was doing all this time when I left you both and went out of the Slytherin common room?” asked Harry in return.

“We thought you were going to meet your other friends.” Tracey replied for them both.

“My other friends?” Harry questioned, perplexed by the absurd claim. He was unaware that he had more friends.

“That blue-haired one and the beaver know-it-all.” Daphne grumbled.

“Beaver? Seriously, Daphne? Is little Daphne jealous that her best friend Harry is spending time with other girls?” Harry grinned playfully. 

Daphne narrowed her eyes at him.

“When did I say that you're my best friend?” Daphne enquired inquisitively but not denying it either.

“So I am not?” Harry looked at her with a sad-puppy look.

“Oh, no, no. You're my best friend.” Daphne hastily corrected, believing that he was really sad for a second. 

Tracey and Harry shared a laugh at her expense. Daphne sighed in relief, for a moment she really thought she hurt him.

“Yeah, very funny.” She glared at them mildly. “So are you secretly spending time with your other friends?”

Harry shook his head.

“Unfortunately, we're just acquaintances. They're polite and friendly towards me, but I can't say we're actually friends.” Harry said thoughtfully. “So do you want to learn new spells?”

Daphne nodded frantically.

“Then finish your work. Me and Tracey are waiting for you.”

Daphne reluctantly continued writing as Harry and Tracey remained silent and watched her.

“Done!” She exclaimed and hurriedly pulled Harry towards an empty space in the classroom, where they could practice their spells. 

Tracey followed them eagerly.

Daphne wondered. “What are you going to teach us?” 

“You know how everybody else calls you Ice Queen because you're cold towards them?” Harry prompted, his lips quirking up at the nickname.

“Yes?” She frowned, not having any particularly strong feelings regarding the infamous nickname.

“I'm going to finally make you the Ice Queen.” Harry announced grandly, as he pointed his wand towards a bench.

“Glacius.” He intoned and waved his wand. The bench was suddenly covered in a thin layer of ice. Harry continued the spell and the ice spread rapidly on the wooden surface. At last the bench was totally frozen. 

He stopped the spell and looked at Daphne.

“That's brilliant.” Tracey clapped enthusiastically. Daphne was also looking at the bench in awe.

“So, Daph, want to learn that?”

“Yes.” she uttered passionately. The next half an hour was spent in teaching the girls the spell. Daphne was natural at the spell and mastered it in the first five minutes, Tracey had some difficulty at first, but was able to learn it. By the end of it, the two girls were freezing everything in their sight with a childish glee, fortunately they spared Harry.

“What's the second spell?” Daphne queried. Harry's smile disappeared and a vicious grin took over his face.

“Glacius Maxima!” Harry stabbed his wand elegantly in the air. A foot long shard of ice slammed against the wall and shattered into many pieces, making the girls jump in surprise.

“This is a deadly spell. It'll penetrate the human body, so use it wisely when you're in danger or when you just want to blow up someone.” Harry chuckled at the image of someone blowing up. 

Daphne nodded in determination while Tracey was reluctant, but agreed to learn the spell just in case. After another hour the girls were completely spent. They were very tired, but were smiling since they learned two new spells.

“Let's go to the Great Hall. It's time for dinner.” Harry noted, picking up his bag.

“Harry, will you carry my bag? I'm so tired. I don't know if I'll be able to reach the Great Hall.” Daphne muttered. 

Harry whistled lively.

“Already taking advantage of me. Who knows what you'll do in future with poor little me.” Harry mused out loud.

Daphne didn't even have energy to glare at him as she pushed her bag into his awaiting hand. Tracey also gave him her bag sheepishly, a bit embarrassed for making him carry her stuff. 

Harry rolled his eyes, but took her bag. He hanged their bags around his elbows.

“Give me your hands.” Harry said, offering both his arms. They didn't even ask why and clasped his palms. 

He started walking out of the class, dragging them with him. After a few minutes, both girls felt their bodies being energised, their tiredness slowly ebbing away

“What was that?” Tracey asked in wonder.

“My magic.” he replied, smiling and advancing towards the Great Hall, hand in hand with his friends.

~xXxXx~

It was Halloween. The three first-year Slytherins were on their way to the Great Hall for the feast. Tracey hummed happily while Harry and Daphne shot her a fond look.

“So, Harry, when're you going to teach us more spells?” Daphne asked as they walked through the dungeon.

“Have you mastered the two spells I taught you earlier?” Harry questioned instead.

“Of course. It was a piece of a cake.” Daphne responded confidently.

“Talk for yourself. It took me some time to finally master the spells and I'm still unsure if I really mastered it or not.” Tracey muttered.

“Have some faith, Tracey. I saw your spells and yes, you indeed have mastered them.” Daphne encouraged.

Their happy party was interrupted by Draco. He stopped before them and looked at Daphne smugly.

“Here, it's a letter from your parents. They have instructed you to read it immediately and read it alone. It is a family business.” he advised, pushing the envelope in Daphne's hands and walking away without glancing at her companions.

“Coward. If he'd looked at me, I'm sure he would have pissed himself.” Harry said grumpily,  wanting to see the terror in Malfoy's eyes. They continued walking toward the Great Hall.

“Sure, sure, big bad Harry wanted to bully my future husband. Why am I not offended?” joked Daphne.

“Come on, Daph, you can't say you wouldn't have liked to see that.” Harry countered. 

Daphne smiled sadly.

“Of course, I'd love to see the ferret trembling at your feet, but he's my intended. I've to accept my fate.” 

There was an uncomfortable silence as they trudged through the halls.

Harry stopped Daphne by placing his hand on her shoulder, in front of the doors of the Great Hall. 

She looked at him curiously.

“You can ask me anything, Daphne, you know that, right? If you want me to annihilate the Malfoy family, I'll do it with a smile if it saves you from this marriage.” he offered passionately, squeezing her shoulder. 

Daphne shook her head, smiling fondly at him.

“It's a family matter. I can't tell you about it. My marriage with Malfoy will save my family from great pain. Drop it, Harry, it is inevitable.” Daphne pleaded, not wanting to hope for the impossible. 

Harry just stared at her blankly. He started walking again without another word and Tracey followed him after giving a sorrowful look to the blonde.

“Coming, Daph?” He asked when he saw that Daphne hadn't moved from her spot. 

She shook her head.

“I have to read this letter. You both go. I will join you in ten minutes.”

“You sure? Will you be fine?” Tracey asked worriedly. 

Daphne smiled as she pointed at her wand.

“I'm sure I can manage if something happens.”

Harry and Tracey left Daphne behind and entered the Great Hall. They both sat together. Tracey put her hand on Harry's, giving him a small smile. 

The hall was decorated with pumpkins. Over their heads, on the tables, they were everywhere.

“Don't worry. Daphne sometimes goes into this depressed mood. She'll come out of it eventually.” she assured him. 

He nodded glumly. He didn't like the idea that he couldn't help Daphne. He was sure that if Daphne revealed her problem, he would definitely be able to help her. 

There was nothing he couldn't do. 

As the feast started, Harry and Tracey started worrying over Daphne. She had said she would be with them in ten minutes, but it was already half an hour.

“Tracey, I think we should go to Daphne. Something is wrong, I can feel it.” Harry said hurriedly. 

Tracey agreed and just as they stood up, the double doors of the Great Hall opened up with a bang. Professor Quirrell sprinted inside.

“Trolls in the dungeon! TROLLS IN THE DUNGEON!!! Thought you needed to know.” he said in a shaky voice and stumbled in front of the head table and fainted. There was suddenly shouting and screaming in the great hall. Students were running here and there with no destination in mind.

“SILENCE!” The Headmaster's amplified voice stopped everyone at their place. “Professors with me. Prefects lead the students to their respective houses.”

Harry was frozen to his spot. His mind was blank. ‘Daphne is in the dungeon, Daphne is in the dungeon…’

“HARRY!” Tracey shouted in his ear. He looked at her panicked look. He nodded and took her hand in his and ran out of the hall, passing the Slytherin prefects on their way who called out their names. 

They didn't stop. Harry was feeling something he hadn't felt in ages. Fear, pure fear.

~xXxXx~

Daphne mournfully watched the backs of her best friends as they went through the hall. ‘How I wish I could tell Harry and Tracey about this. Damn the family magic for stopping me.’

She angrily opened the seal of the letter and started going back to the dungeons. Her appetite had apparently died. She read the letter as she furiously walked through the hall. When she finished the letter, she stumbled and fell on her knees. Fortunately everyone was in the Great Hall and couldn't see the emotionless Ice Queen sobbing her heart out.

Daphne,

I have been 'requested' by Lord Malfoy to stop you from associating with Harry Potter and Tracey Davis. It seems Heir Malfoy doesn't like your companions. He also mentioned that Harry Potter is dangerous, so you should stay away from him. They have said that if you don't comply with the requests then they won't provide the cure for your sister's blood curse. And I know that the welfare of your sister is your main priority so I, as the head of the family, order you to stop mingling with Harry Potter and Tracey Davis. Also the betrothal contract has been signed, so you and your sister will marry Heir Malfoy when he is of age. Congratulations.

Lord Cyrus Greengrass.

Daphne slowly rose to her feet with the letter crumpled in her hand. She could feel the family magic binding her, imprisoning her. 

She leaned against the wall. 

She was so engrossed in her sorrow that she didn't hear the sound of a troll coming towards her. Before she could shed some more tears, she finally heard heavy steps coming to her. Along with sound came a very revolting smell. 

Standing a few feet in front of her was a 12 feet tall troll. She gasped in surprise as he brought down his club on her, she barely dodged it. His club grazed her shoulder and she screamed, her wand arm breaking with a loud crunch. 

She moaned in pain, but was able to dodge the second strike. She managed to find her wand from her pocket and equipped it in her left hand. She sidestepped a strike and pointed her wand at the head of the troll.

“Glacius Maxima!” She screamed in fury and agony. Unfortunately, her aim wasn't correct and the large shard of ice passed the troll's ears and smashed against the ceiling uselessly, raining small particles of ice on them. 

The troll's aim on the contrary was correct and the club hit Daphne in her chest, she flew back and fell bonelessly on the ground. She coughed blood, muffling her pained screams, her mouth and neck was crimson. She felt immense pain in her chest, her numerous ribs were broken. 

She still glared at the troll defiantly.

‘Pathetic, what'd Harry say? Lost against a witless troll. Shame on you, Daphne.’ she berated herself as her shivering left hand rose and trained itself on the troll who was walking towards his plaything.

‘Die!’ Her mind screamed.

“Glacius Maxima!” She whispered softly and a spear of ice shot towards the troll. 

Daphne had already closed her eyes and was unconscious before she could see the fruits of her labour. 

The aim was better than before, but still not perfect. The spear pierced the troll's thigh and the troll yelled as he felt pain blossoming in his leg. 

He stumbled forward and smashed Daphne again with his club. 

Daphne didn't feel any pain, she was already in the dreamland.

~xXxXx~

Harry and Tracey were gaping at the horrendous sight. 

Daphne lay unmoving as a giant troll smashed his club on her. 

Harry's surprise was replaced with hatred. So much rage, that the air around him was covered in black mist. He sprinted and kneeled in front of Daphne. He looked the troll directly in the eye. 

Even the troll could feel the danger he was in. An impossible predator had stepped into his hunting ground. The hunter had become the hunted.

“Die.” Harry spat and the troll fell on his back, suddenly deprived of his life. 

Harry pierced his chest with an ice spear, just so he could explain the incident without revealing his true power. 

He looked down at Daphne and was horrified to see her chest caved in and blood pouring out from it, her arms and legs were bleeding and were bent at odd angles. She looked like a broken toy. 

Tracey was sitting beside her, crying softly. 

Harry stumbled forward and fell on his knees, he could feel her magic leaving her body, feel her soul dissolving from this world.

“No, you'll not die. Stay. I command you.” he said gently and touched her magic with his own and forced it back into her body. 

He scooped her up in his arms and raced to the Hospital Wing. On the way, he passed the professors and headmaster, but he wasn't in any mood to talk so he continued sprinting, followed by Tracey and others. 

Madam Pomfrey saw them coming and readily prepared a bed for her. Harry lowered Daphne on the cot. He held her hand, but found a parchment in it. He pocketed it discreetly and held her hand again in his and squeezed it. 

Tracey didn't see what he was doing and sat beside him.

“Mr. Potter and Ms. Davis, leave the room, otherwise I won't be able to treat her.” she ordered in a soft voice, able to see how emotionally hurt the children were. 

Harry didn't want to leave Daphne, but Tracey dragged him outside. He slid down against the wall and dropped down on his butt. He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands, hiding his face. 

Tracey sat beside him, outside the room and put her hand on his back. Harry was sobbing silently, tears wetting his hand. 

Under all the sorrow was an unquenchable rage.

‘Someone made me cry, someone is going to die.’

“Mr. Potter.” the headmaster's voice brought him back from his thoughts. He looked up and found the professors and the Headmaster looking at them.

“I am sorry to disturb you. Don't worry, Madam Pomfrey will save your friend. Can you explain who killed the troll?” he asked.

His sorrowful gaze bored into him.

“The troll was already injured from Daphne's spell. Daphne was lying in the pool of her own blood. I didn't think much, my mind was blank and I used the only offensive spell I know, I used the Glacius Maxima spell to kill it.” he lied without looking up, Tracey buried her face on his shoulder.

“How do you know such an advanced spell?” Professor Snape sneered. 

He received a cold scathing look from Professor McGonagall for it.

“We studied and practised.” Tracey mumbled from Harry's shoulder. The professors nodded and entered the Hospital Wing, leaving them for the moment. 

Harry suddenly leapt from his place, startling Tracey.

“I need to go, I need to be alone for a minute.” he said and ran away without waiting for Tracey's response. 

Tracey was conflicted. Should she go after him or wait for the news about Daphne from Madam Pomfrey? She decided to stay. She would pass the information to Harry after acquiring it from her.

~xXxXx~

After crossing a few hallways, he looked around and confirmed that he was alone.

“Junky.” he said. 

An elf popped in front of him.

“Yes, Master.”

“Take me to a place where no one can find me.” he ordered. The elf nodded and popped him back on the seventh floor.

“This is the Come and Go Room.” he informed him and disappeared quickly. Harry looked at the wall and felt a high concentration of magic in it. He pressed his palm at it and closed his eyes. 

‘Ah!’ he exclaimed.

He walked back and forth in front of the wall, three times. A huge wooden double door appeared on the wall. He pushed it open and closed it after entering it. 

The room was very large, there were hundreds of wooden dummies in front of him.

‘Brilliant.’

He pulled out the letter from his pocket and finally read it. After rereading it again, when he was sure he hadn't misread it, he let go of his emotions and dropped to his knees. 

The dummies were suddenly burning in violent golden flames.

“Ahhh!” He screamed and the flames were high enough to touch the ceiling. They burned brightly, making the room shine in golden light. 

After turning the wooden dummies into burnt dust particles, the flames vanished along with Harry's rage. He lied on his back and stared at the ceiling which changed to show stars and moon. 

A grim smile made its way on his face.

“Insignificant. She is insignificant, then why am I feeling such rage? Everyone is going to die sooner or later. I shouldn't let my emotions lead me astray.” he said to himself, trying not to feel hurt.

“But she isn't insignificant. Is she? She's your friend, you wouldn't let anything happen to her. You'll burn the whole world for her. She and Tracey are special. You shouldn't repress your emotions, you can finish your quest with them. You can even share the prize with them. Maybe. Only time will tell if they agree to share your prize.” he said to himself. If anyone had heard him talking to himself, they would have declared him a nutcase.

He closed his eyes and lay there for an hour. With a grunt, he abruptly stood up and left the room. He descended the stairs, walked through many hallways and finally reached the hospital wing. 

The door was open. He stepped inside and saw Tracey sitting on a stool, holding Daphne's hand. 

Daphne was still unconscious. He approached Tracey who hadn't noticed him. He gently hugged her from behind, his head on her shoulder and his arms around her stomach. A small smile appeared on her face as she felt Harry's head on her shoulders.

“Are you okay?” He asked, realising how devastated she must be. 

She nodded, albeit reluctantly.

He sat on the edge of Daphne's bed and caressed her soft cheek.

“What about you?” She enquired.

“I'm fine now. When'll Daph wake up?”

“Madam Pomfrey said that she'll probably wake up in a couple of days, but she'd have to be bedridden for at least a month. Many of her bones were fractured, her lungs were punctured, her hands and legs were also broken. Her heart was damaged. She thinks it is a miracle that she's still alive. But I know that you saved her.” Tracey smiled, the smile then grew into a soft laughter and then into hiccuping sobs. 

She leapt from the stool and hugged Harry tightly. Her face pressed hard against his shoulder, Harry had his arms around her waist and squeezed it.

“Everything is fine, Tracey. Don't worry. Everything is fine.” Harry assured her as he ran his fingers through her hair.

“Thank you so much, Harry, for saving her. I don't know what I'd do without her. I was so scared, I thought she died. Thank you, thank you so much, Harry!” She cried. 

Harry pulled out from the hug and looked at her with a kind smile.

“Of course, Tracey. You both are my best friends, I'm always going to save you both every time.”

Tracey smiled a watery smile and retook her place at the stool. They both remained silent afterwards and looked at the unmoving figure of Daphne, hoping to see her awake soon. 

Sometime later, Daphne's family came to the hospital wing. 

A huge man with cold black eyes, a woman resembling Daphne with her blonde hair and beautiful face, a small girl with black hair and blue eyes with a familiar face. 

The girl quickly ran to the bed and looked at her sister in concern. She quickly gave Tracey a hug. Tracey smiled down at her and patted her head. She then looked at Harry and asked.

“Are you Harry Potter? The one my sister mentions in every letter.” Harry smiled affectionately. So she was the reason that Daphne wanted to sacrifice herself.

“I think so. I don't know if there are other Harry Potters.”

She blushed, making Harry chuckle. She glared at him at the perceived insult. 

‘She has some of Daphne's characteristics.’ He thought seeing her glare.

The next half-hour was spent explaining to them how Daphne was injured. They omitted some details to keep Harry's power a secret. Cyrus Greengrass' expression turned sour when he learnt that Harry had saved Daphne's life.

‘I just hope the boy doesn't know about life-debts.’ He thought desperately. 

Harry of course knew about life-debts and knew that Daphne now owed him a life debt, but he wouldn't ask anything out of it yet. 

A vague plan which he might or might not use was forming inside his head, in which a life debt would surely help. 

Cyrus Greengrass asked them to leave them for some family time which Harry agreed to reluctantly. 

He and Tracey left the hospital wing and went to their dorms. When they entered the Slytherin common room, everyone was there. They were staring at him. Apparently, his adventure of how he defeated a mountain troll was already out in the school.

He ignored them all and went to his room, followed by Tracey. No one asked her to stop even when it was against the rule. They were mesmerised by the story to care why a girl would go into a boy's room at this hour. 

Harry sighed as he entered his room and was ready to close the door when he saw Tracey standing in front of him.

“What?” He asked her, his tone gentle. She said something inaudible.

“Say it a bit quietly, it is so loud that I can't make out what you are saying ” he said sarcastically. 

She scowled at him, but repeated herself.

“I don't want to sleep alone tonight.” she said.

“Sure. Join me in my bed.” he replied nonchalantly as he pulled her inside and closed the door. 

She looked surprised but happy.

“Are you sure?” She asked. 

Harry looked at her pointedly.

“Oh come on, we're just going to sleep. It's not like we're going to have sex. I mean I'm not against it, you're one of the cutest girls, but wait a couple of years before hormones start running through my veins and I feel something.” he smirked, seeing her face redden by each word. 

Harry started laughing at her crimson face.

“Prat!” She yelled as she jumped at him and started tickling him, feeling stupid for always blushing at his crass language. 

Harry's laughter increased as he tried to fend off her hands. He picked her up by her waist and threw her on the bed. She yelped, crashing on his bed. She glared at his smug face, picking up a pillow and trying to smash it against his smug face. 

He dodged it and conjured another pillow.

“You asked for it, my dear.” he grinned and a pillow fight started which would last for half an hour.

They both cuddled against each other after their fight, Harry spooning her from behind. Tracey's soft back pressed against Harry's chest. His one hand was around her waist and the other hand was running through her silky brown hair. 

They both had a content smile.

“Is it strange that it feels like I've known you for my whole life and always feel so comfortable with you?” She asked absent-mindedly.

“I don't know. But I feel the same.” he muttered with a smile. She turned around so she was facing him. 

She smiled at him lovingly. Harry returned the gesture.

“Goodnight, Harry.” she said and kissed his cheek. She hurriedly turned around and resumed her previous position. 

Her face was heating up.

‘Will he laugh at me for kissing him? Was it bad? Why is he so silent?’ she panicked. ‘Is he going to break our friendship? Did I cross a line?’

What she didn't know was that Harry was blushing himself and didn't know what to do. His hand was on his cheek where her soft lips had touched a moment ago. 

After a minute, he pulled her tight against him and buried his face in her hair, smelling the unique scent of hers.

‘Eep!’ she stifled a gasp at how closely he was holding her.

“Goodnight, Tracey.” he muttered with an odd pleasant tone. She sighed in relief and, with a beaming smile, closed her eyes, loving the sensation of his soft warm body behind hers.

Chapter Text

5. The Necklace

Harry woke up with his shoulder numb and sore. Tracey was using him as her pillow and had her arms wrapped around his hand. Her brunette hair was fanned out, covering her face and his neck. 

A smile spread on his face as he extracted himself from her hold. 

He slowly slid out of the bed and stood beside it to see her mumbling something and snuggling deeper into the pillow. He chuckled silently so as not to wake her up.

“She's so cute.” Harry murmured dreamily at seeing her adorable face. 

He decided to let her sleep some more. 

After showering, he wore his clothes and went to wake her up. He sat beside her and ran his fingers through her silky hair. He nudged her shoulder gently.

“Wake up, Tracey. It's 7:30 already.” he said. 

She groaned and buried her face in the pillow. He brushed her cheek with his fingers, her skin warm against his touch.

“Tracey, come on, wake up, we've to visit Daph.” he cajoled her as he shook her shoulder again. 

She slowly opened her eyes.

“Harry? What're you doing in my room?” She asked with bleary eyes. 

Harry simply raised his eyebrows.

“My dear, this is my room. Did you forget what happened yesterday?”

Her eyes widened as she recalled how Daphne had been injured and how she was scared of nightmares and had decided to sleep with Harry.

“Oh, yes, I remember now. Thanks, Harry, for not making it weird.” she smiled awkwardly as she sat up. 

Harry chuckled as he pulled her in his arms. She sighed in comfort, feeling his warm body pressed against hers. She was a little disappointed when he pulled back.

“Good morning, Tracey. Did you sleep well?” He asked her. 

She nodded.

“Go to your room and freshen up then, so we can go and see Daph.” he suggested. 

She suddenly looked distressed.

“How will we stop everybody from mentioning this to the professors? This is against the rule, a girl sleeping in a boy's room.”

Harry shook his head.

“Don't worry, I'll make everybody forget this. Go to your room.” he assured her. 

She nodded and started for the door but stopped midway. She returned and stood in front of him, shifting on her feet nervously. 

He was amused as he imagined what she wanted to do, but was afraid to commit.

“Will it be okay if I kiss your cheek? I mean not just once, but whenever I want?” she babbled on swiftly, her face turning red at each word, knowing how stupid she sounded. 

Harry snorted as he offered his cheek to her.

“Why would I stop a cute girl from kissing me?” His eyes twinkled with mirth.

Tracey rolled her eyes at him, but pressed her lips on his cheek. She backed up and smiled at him which evolved into a giddy laugh. She was surprised when Harry grabbed her face in his palms and kissed her on the cheek.

“It's only fair that I also get to do that.” he smirked as her laughter stopped and a blush bloomed immediately. 

She glared mildly at him.

“You just like making me flustered and tongue-tied.” She pouted, jabbing her finger on his chest.

“Neither confirming nor denying.” he said smugly, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

“I'll meet you in the common room in 30 minutes.” she said with great reluctance and then left the room.

‘Ah! First I've to erase the memory from the Slytherin students. Not particularly hard work, since everybody should still be in the dorms.’ He sat on his bed in a meditating pose and closed his eyes. 

He started releasing his magic mist. A white translucent fog filled his room, then it spilled into the common room, slowly the Slytherin dormitories were filled with the white mist. He could feel every Slytherin student's magic as his mist touched their bodies, some were panicking, but they were soon in peaceful trance as his magic touched theirs. 

He singled out Tracey's magic and made everybody else forget about last night when Tracey had entered his room. With its work done, the mist disappeared and returned to its rightful place, Harry's body. The students now continued acting as if nothing had happened. Harry opened his eyes and had a content smile on his face.

He stepped into the common room and found himself the subject of many stares. They still remember that he was the one who killed the troll last night. 

He ignored them and sat at his usual place in the corner. He opened the book on the practices of noble houses and started reading it. 

Tracey finally arrived and slumped beside him.

“What're you reading?” She asked. 

Harry closed the book and put it in his bag.

“Just getting information to save Daphne from the marriage contract.”

“What?” She was unpleasantly surprised. 

Harry pulled out the letter of Daphne from his pocket and handed it to her. She quickly read it and looked at Harry sadly and with frustration, knowing that the family magics were absolute powers in Wizarding Britain.

“When Daphne wakes up, she'll be compelled to distance herself from us. She won't have a choice.”

Harry shook his head.

“Not happening. She owes me life debt, I can ask her anything. I'll keep that as a last resort.” he said. “But there's also the problem of Astoria. I'm hundred percent sure that I can save her, but how to convince Mr. Greengrass to let me save her? I already have one life debt and after saving Astoria, she'll also owe me a life debt. 

“After meeting him, I'm sure he's an astute politician and wouldn't want to place himself in a disadvantageous position and we don't even know what're the agreements between the Malfoy family and Greengrass family regarding the betrothal contract. I bet there are some advantages for Mr. Greengrass, otherwise he wouldn't have signed the contract.”

They remained silent for a minute, both thinking for a solution.

“Can you tell me if Daphne loves her parents?” Harry asked with a thoughtful look.

“Oh, she loves them very much. Why? Let me guess, you want to kill them and solve the problem.” she rolled her eyes. 

Harry smiled abashedly.

“Let's go give Daph a visit even if she isn't conscious.”

~xXxXx~

Harry and Tracey sat on the edge of the bed on which Daphne was lying. She seemed as if she was just sleeping. Such was the peaceful look on her face.

Seeing her still and unmoving figure reignited Harry's rage.

“How I wish I hadn't killed the troll quickly and made him suffer for hurting Daph.” he hissed in anger, various horrendous torture methods passing through his mind. 

Tracey sighed as she squeezed his hand.

“At least, Daphne will be good as new in a month. And she won't have any permanent injuries.” She tried looking positively at the situation. 

Harry didn't say anything as he stroked Daphne's cheek. He felt her magic revolt at his touch.

“Stupid family magic.” he growled as he pressed his finger on her forehead. He made the Greengrass magic in her to submit to his will. He was absolute power in this Wizarding World, no one else was above him. No one was allowed to be above him. 

“Purebloods think they can remain on top with their family magic. Stupid morons, they never thought that there can be one who'd already mastered THE Magic.”

“What happened?” She asked, seeing his sudden anger.

“Her family magic was against me touching her. It's now under my control.” he grinned savagely. 

She stared at him in awe. She had heard him say that he was powerful and she did believe him. Of course, there had been a small part which always thought that he was exaggerating his strength, but considering this new feat, she wasn't sure anymore.

“You know, you're one scary boy. I'm glad that I'm not against you. You can literally conquer Magical Britain if you have power to defeat the generations-old family magic.”

“Don't worry, I've no interest in ruling any land. I like to remain free and to remain free, I've to be the best, that no one can defeat, that no one can control. Freedom to do anything, legal or illegal, good or evil.” he said while beaming.

“Can't you heal Daphne then?” She asked inquisitively. 

Harry shook his head sadly.

“This is her body. Her magic. I've accelerated the process by lending some of my magic temporarily. I don't have absolute control over my mist yet. I'm also not a healer, so I don't know when she'll wake, but I know it'll be sooner than a month.”

Tracey's smile widened as she threw herself at him after hearing that and started kissing him all over the face except his lips, the thought of doing that still disgusted her since she was still a preteen. 

Harry laughed as he hugged her back, his arms wrapping around her back to hold her.

“Ew, your saliva is all over my face.” he groaned. 

Tracey chuckled as she wiped his face with the sleeve of her robe.

“You're the best.” she cheered. 

Harry grinned.

“I know but I'm being—” he was cut off by Tracey.

“Not your modesty joke again. It has gotten old.”

Harry pouted which Tracey found so cute that she pinched his cheeks. He held her against him and put his head on her shoulder, not wanting to stop hugging her.

~xXxXx~

Harry and Tracey arrived in the great hall to find Jasmine and Hermione waiting for them. They waved at him. Harry and Tracey went to the Gryffindor table.

“Good morning, Jasmine. Good morning, Hermione.” He smiled at the two girls. 

Tracey also greeted.

“Good morning, Harry, Tracey.” The girls smiled.

“So why did you call us? Hopefully not to sit with you, which I won't mind, but I'm not really getting a welcoming vibe from your housemates.” Harry said, looking at the glaring Gryffindors.

“What're you doing here, snake? Who'd have thought that the Boy-Who-Lived would be an evil Slytherin.” Ronald Weasley said in disgust. 

The other Gryffindors nodded. 

Harry rolled his eyes at them.

“Neither confirming nor denying that I'm evil. Though beware, I'll come for you in the night and take you away for deadly rituals.” he said, spreading his hands in front of him with his fingers curled imitating claws. 

Ronald Weasley stumbled from his seat.

“You're evil but Dumbledore will save us.” he responded confidently. 

Harry groaned and looked at Tracey who was laughing.

“They didn't get the joke. Did they?” Harry shook his head. Tracey leaned against him, and whispered conspiratorially, which was heard by everyone.

“Well, now we know why they aren't in Ravenclaw.”

Harry snickered and led Tracey back to the Slytherin table, totally forgetting why he went there in the first place. Jasmine glared at Ron and her classmates for acting like stupids, while Hermione was annoyed at being called unintelligent.

~xXxXx~

It was evening, Tracey and Harry were sitting under a tree in front of the great lake. Tracey was finishing her work while Harry was lying beside her, watching the sunset. He was thinking how to get Mr. Greengrass to agree to his plan. It was rather frustrating. He was used to tackling problems head-on with his immense magical power, but this time he had to use that cunning brain of his. 

The biggest problem was that even if Mr. Greengrass agreed to his plan, he would know about his real power. He didn't want to broadcast his true power before finishing his quest. 

The quest to attain immortality. 

The quest to defeat death. His biggest enemy. He had searched the whole library in Hogwarts to get any clue how to accomplish his dream. The dream to live on forever. Not even the restricted section had helped him. He didn't even know when he had started dreaming of becoming immortal, but now it was his ultimate goal.

“What're you thinking, Harry?” Tracey asked, playing with his hair, apparently finished with her homework. 

Harry smiled softly at her.

“Just the problem with Mr. Greengrass. If he wasn't Daphne's father, I'd just use my magic to overpower him and make him follow my orders.”

“Let's wait until Daphne wakes up. Maybe she'll agree to let you mess with her father's mind.” she suggested. 

Harry arched his eyebrows.

“Do you really think Daphne will agree?” Harry enquired.

“If you save her sister and after that, you save her and Astoria from marrying Malfoy, I think she should agree. Mr. Greengrass is not particularly very close with her daughters.” Tracey said thoughtfully. 

Harry was reluctant to hope that it would be that easy.

‘But maybe it'll be that easy. Only time will tell.’

~xXxXx~

Two weeks passed, Daphne still hadn't woken up. There was an air of sorrow around Harry and Tracey. While Harry and Tracey still laughed and played around, they were sad that their third member was absent. They were a trio and the absence of their third friend was physically painful to them. 

They both visited Daphne thrice a day. Before breakfast, before lunch, before dinner. 

Harry and Tracey were currently sitting at their usual place in the Slytherin common room, working on a Transfiguration assignment. 

Suddenly, a huge smile adorned Harry's face.

“Tracey!” He cheered, engulfing her in a tight hug. 

Tracey was dubious, but let him hug her.

“What happened, Harry?” she asked, seeing his radiant smile.

“Daphne is waking up. Let's go.” he said as he hastily put his books and parchments in his bag. 

Tracey followed his example, hurrying up.

“How do you know?” She asked, flinging the bag over her shoulder. 

He didn't answer her, opting to tug her hand and lead her outside. He leaned towards her ear and whispered.

“My magic's still inside her, it gives me some awareness about her.”

She nodded, not really understanding, and they both ran to the hospital wing. When they entered the room they found Daphne propped against the headboard of the bed, she was drinking some not so tasty potion. She gulped it down and put it on the bedside table, her nose scrunched up in distaste.

“Daph!” Tracey and Harry yelled together as they ran to her. 

Daphne's eyes widened as she saw them charging towards her. She was a bit afraid that they weren't going to stop and were going to collide with her. 

Fortunately, they stopped a step away from her bed. Tracey had tears running down her cheeks while Harry was doing his best not to let a single tear spill out of his eyes. Daphne's heart warmed at seeing their happy relieved tears. 

She raised her hands in front of her invitingly.

“Do you need a hug?” She asked, her own eyes moist. 

Tracey and Harry chuckled as they joined her on the bed, both on either side of her. Harry pressed his face in her neck, Tracey did the same on the other side. Daphne smiled, pulling them tight against her. They stayed that way for 10 minutes, enjoying the feeling of closeness between them. Someone cleared their throat loudly. 

Harry and Tracey sat on the stools after seeing that Madam Pomfrey was standing beside them.

She informed them that Daphne was good to go. Miraculously, her body was perfectly healed. 

Tracey and Harry glanced at each other at that. After some more advice and warnings, Daphne left the hospital wing with her best friends. Usually, Harry would be in the centre, but today Daphne was in the middle, with her hands held by Tracey and Harry as they walked to the common room.

~xXxXx~

“So, you can save me and my sister with your power, but you've to do some illegal and unethical thing to my father?” Daphne sighed after hearing his plan.

“Yes. Well, there's another way. An extreme way. I can use the life debt to ask your hand in marriage, but I know it won't save your sister. Also, I've decided that I won't ever marry so it's not possible.” he replied, missing the glances exchanged between the two girls.

“Okay, first, I agree with your method. I'm fine if in the end my father remains in one piece and second, why've you decided that you don't want to marry anyone ever?” She asked incredulously. 

Tracey also nodded, wanting to know the answer. Harry titled his head as he thought how to explain his feelings about marriage.

“I just don't want any responsibility, I want to remain free forever. But if I marry someone, then I'll have loads of responsibilities and then I'll have children which will just add to all the previous responsibilities. And all this is just so much work and bother.” he said nonchalantly. 

The sad looks passed between the girls didn't go unnoticed by him. Harry sighed as he took their hands in his.

“Listen, let's confess. We all like each other very much and maybe we'll like each other in a romantic way in future or maybe we won't, but let me warn you, there is no upper rank than best friend in my relationship tier. So you guys are like in the top category of any relationship I'll ever make. For me, my best friends will be the most important people to me. You'll basically be my family. So if you've any dreams of a marriage involving me, it'll not become reality. I'm sorry if it's any consolation.” he mumbled. 

Tracey sniffled as she was most close to him and she'd started developing feelings for him. Daphne was mostly unaffected, as she had thought that she'd be Malfoy's wife.

“I need to go. I'd like to be alone for sometime.” Tracey murmured, leaving the room. 

Harry's shoulder sagged as he saw Tracey's damp eyes. After she went, Daphne glared at him.

“Seriously? You had to talk about that now? When there was no need to talk about marriages? We're just eleven for heaven's sake. You'd have let her stay in her fantasies for a little while.” she hissed at him in anger.

“Sorry!” he said meekly. “I thought if I cleared the misconception early then we won't have to go through so much drama and heartbreak in future.”

“Stupid boys.” Daphne said under her breath.

“Let's forget we ever had this conversation and hope that Tracey does the same. Now let's return to our main topic. How're you going to save Astoria and destroy the betrothal contracts?” She asked. 

He explained his plan in detail which made Daphne grin in anticipation.

“So, do you think Tracey is going to be angry at me forever?” He asked after their discussion was over, coming back to the sore topic. The thought of Tracey being sad made his heart ache.

“No, you're our best friend, she isn't angry, she is just disappointed. I mean it was partially your fault, you were always being lovey-dovey with her.” Daphne said while smiling at him sympathetically.

“Aren't best friends supposed to act like that? I mean I behave the same way with you and you aren't crying that I am going to be a bachelor for my life.” he asked dubiously. 

Daphne shook her head in amusement.

“Sometimes I forget that you're socially inept. Well, it wasn't your fault, but it was your fault. And I didn't cry because I knew that my fate was sealed, that I was going to marry Malfoy, so I didn't have any hope, but if I wasn't already betrothed to Malfoy, I'd be sad. I'd have dreamed of marrying my best friend and living with him forever.” she grinned.

“That doesn't make any sense, it's not like I'll leave Tracey behind, if she'd want, we'll live with each other forever. You're also included by the way, we're a trio after all. We three can live with each other forever, we don't have to marry each other for that.” he replied heatedly.

“It doesn't work like that. She'll have to marry. And when she marries someone then she won't be able to live with us.” Daphne replied mirthfully.

Harry's eyes widened as he gasped.

“Then I'll kill her husband so she'll live with us.” Harry answered quickly. Daphne couldn't hold it any more and started laughing. 

Harry glared at her, but it didn't have any effect on her.

“Then she'll hate you and still won't live with us” she told him when she was finished laughing.

‘He is still childish in so many ways.’ Daphne thought affectionately. 

Harry was biting his lip, trying to think of a way to keep his best friends with him forever, his head filled with jealousy that someone will marry Tracey in the future. The thought of that made his blood boil.

“Don't worry. We still have many, many years to think about that. Maybe you'll change your mind and Tracey will marry you.” she consoled him, patting his back.

“What about you? Would you think of marrying someone after I free you from Malfoy?” He asked her. 

She shook her head, making him sigh in relief. 

“My opinion on marriage is similar to yours. I don't need to marry if I've you by my side. You'll be the most powerful wizard and I'll be able to use your power to stop others from forcing me to marry anyone. I don't need to follow societal rules anymore since I have you.” she smiled. Harry smiled as he pulled her into a firm hug.

“Great. Remember, whenever you need me I'll be there. Use me as much as you want, but just stay with me. Now we only have to find a way to convince Tracey not to marry anyone in future.”

Daphne had a smile on her face as she hugged him goodnight. Harry was going to his room when Tracey came into the common room. 

She walked to him and embraced him, not forgetting her deal of giving him regular hugs.

“Goodnight, Harry.” she said gently.

“G... Goodnight, Tracey.” he stuttered, feeling her face pressing on his neck. He blushed as her warm breath blew on his neck, goosebumps rising on his skin.

“Are you angry with me?” He asked when she pulled back. 

She shook her head.

“No, I was disappointed, but not angry. I just, you know, imagined that we could be something more than friends when we grow up. I liked sleeping beside you, I thought we could do that forever if we marry each other in future. It was just a silly dream. I can't dictate your life just because I like waking up beside you.” she smiled sadly. 

Daphne raised her eyebrow when she heard that they had slept together, but didn't interrupt them.

“We'll of course do that. You, me and Daphne, sleeping in the same bed, cuddling with each other. We don't have to marry one another for that.” he said. 

Daphne rolled her eyes while Tracey blushed furiously.

“But you don't sleep with two people. You just sleep with your wife or husband.” she exclaimed, throwing up her hands in exasperation.

“You, my dear Tracey, have to keep an open mind. If only we sleep together then Daphne will feel left out. I won't do that to her. She is after all my other best friend. How'll you feel if I ignore you and just talk with Daphne?” He asked her beseechingly. 

Tracey opened her mouth to reply, but closed it not knowing what to say. 

Daphne chuckled and said. “That is logical in a strange way.”

Tracey gaped at them.

“You both are unbelievable.” she grumbled, but there was no anger under it, only amusement. 

Harry and Daphne grinned at each other and threw their arms around her from either side.

“By the way, Harry said that if you marry anyone, he'll kill your husband just so you could remain his. You're warned.” Daphne laughed. 

Tracey turned her head to look at Harry who was nodding shamelessly.

“Did you now? I better not marry anyone then.” she giggled mischievously. 

Harry beamed at them.

“Finally, I won't have to worry about you both leaving me.” Harry said in relief. 

The girls laughed at Harry.

~xXxXx~

The month of November was passed by helping Daphne catch up with her missed classes. The trio were again complete and happy. There were annoying moments when Draco tried to talk with Daphne as she was his betrothed. But everytime he ran away after looking at the disturbing look on Harry's face.

They spent their free time learning new spells and having fun together. The time for Christmas holidays had finally arrived. Daphne had decided to go home for Christmas as it was vital for her plan to destroy the betrothal contracts. Tracey on the other hand would keep Harry company. On the day when Daphne was going home, Harry decided to play his part in the plan. He approached Draco at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall.

“Draco, I need to talk with you. Would you mind coming with me?” He asked extra politely. Draco was scared, he didn't want to go anywhere alone with him, but he had no excuse to deny him– he knew Harry would find a way to corner him so he decided to get it over quickly. He nodded and followed Harry outside the great hall and into an empty classroom.

“Thank you for coming with me.” Harry smiled.

“What do you want with me?” Draco asked. 

Harry grinned as he suddenly touched his finger on Draco's forehead. 

Draco went stiff, his eyes becoming blank. He was stunned and paralyzed. A purple tendril of magic entered inside Draco's head.

“Find your betrothal contact with Daphne and bring it to me. Use such methods not to raise any suspicion in your house. Bring that to me when you return from the holidays.” he ordered. 

Draco nodded jerkily. Harry rennervated him after that. The blond looked confused but asked again.

“What do you want with me?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to say, Daphne doesn't like you. Stay away from her.” Harry told him.

“She is my future wife. It's within my rights to talk to her.” Draco sneered and scampered away, afraid that Harry would do something to him. 

Harry watched his retreating figure delightedly.

~xXxXx~

Before long, it was Christmas morning. Harry woke up and after showering, he went into the common room. There weren't many students there, hardly a dozen Slytherin students opted to remain at the school instead of going home. 

A soft body collided with him.

“Merry Christmas, Harry!” Tracey yelled in his ear. 

Harry grinned as he clasped his hands around her waist.

“Geez, can you be a bit louder? I didn't hear you.” Harry responded sardonically.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS, HARRY!” She shouted and smirked at him. 

The other students and Harry put their hands on their ears. 

They grumbled and left them alone, already used to the trio's antics.

“You know I was just being sarcastic and didn't really want you to yell louder?” He said, rubbing his ears.

“Oh! I didn't know.” she said with a completely innocent look, too innocent look. 

Harry shook his head in amusement and led her to the Christmas tree in the middle of the common room. They quickly found their presents and went to their place in the corner. 

Harry received some interesting magical books from Tracey and Daphne. They both knew how much Harry liked reading. Hermione and Jasmine had sent him boxes of chocolates. 

There was a gift from an unknown person too. Harry decided he would open this gift in his room. There was an ancient feel to that gift. He was suddenly jumped on by Tracey, making him stumble and fall on his back. She was on top of him and was kissing him all over his face.

“Ew, you have to stop doing that. You feel like an overexcited dog who always wants to lick their master's face.” he laughed, but hugged her back. 

She stopped kissing him and glared at him.

“Did you just compare me to a dog?”

“I mean you are super cute and huggable. It was a compliment.” Harry said, trying to charm her with his smile. 

She did step away from him, whether it was due to his ‘charming’ smile or not was a question. He stood up and found Tracey smiling at him.

“Thanks for the necklace. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

She was holding a black metal necklace. It was the darkest shade of black. There was a small circular emerald hanging from the chain. The emerald's border was a black snake biting its own tail. An ouroboros. The snake was very detailed. Its scales seemed real. It had two silver dots instead of eyes on its head. The metal had a certain lustre which was alluring. And the glowing emerald increased its beauty tenfold. 

Overall, it was a very beautiful jewellery.

“Do you like it?” He asked. 

She nodded and gave him another hug.

“Will you put it on me?” She requested. 

Harry smiled as he took the chain in his hand. He gently removed her hair aside and slid his hands around her neck. He locked the clasp and gave her a hug from behind. She smiled and marvelled at the jewellery hanging at her breast. 

She turned around and asked. “How do I look?”

She was wearing blue jeans and black t-shirt. She was also wearing a loose red sweater over her t-shirt. Her brunette hair was flowing freely behind her. The black ouroboros with an emerald gem in its centre was resting just above her chest. 

Harry smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

“Beautiful. Most beautiful.”

Tracey's lips quirked up at his praise, her cheeks turning red at seeing him with that loving look in his eyes. How the hell was she not supposed to fall for him?

“Are you going to just blush all day or are you coming to the Great Hall for breakfast?” Harry smirked. ‘She looks so cute with that shy thoughtful look.’

“Let's go.” she beamed, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the door. 

Harry stopped and turned her. He tapped her nose playfully.

“Did you forget we have to put our presents in our room or otherwise someone else may mess with it.”

“Oh!” She yelped and gathered her presents and ran to her room. Harry chuckled at her, but stopped when he eyed the unknown gift. 

He picked up his presents and walked to his room.

Chapter Text

6. Contracts and Curses

Harry and Tracey were sitting on his bed in his room after having finished with the breakfast. His room wasn't much. The walls were painted light green. The room had a single bed, a wooden desk and a chair. A small shelf contained some of his personal books along with his school books. That was it.

“So, what do you want to explain to me that needed me to come to your room?” asked Tracey. 

Harry sat opposite her with his legs crossed. His hands were folded in his lap.

“I wanted to explain the features of the necklace.” he replied and scooted closer towards her. Now their knees were touching. 

He leaned forward and gently grabbed the necklace from her chest and examined it. He smiled proudly at his accomplishment. 

Tracey was trying not to blush at the close proximity between his face and her chest. 

He dropped the necklace back and leaned back, grinning at her, totally ignoring her red face.

“The necklace is not just pretty jewellery. It's my way to safeguard you.” he revealed. 

Tracey looked at the necklace in wonder, her fingers probing the emerald gem and then the black metal snake that enveloped the gem's edge.

“What does it do?” She was curious.

“On its own? Can't tell you, it's a secret. But what you must know is that it can summon me. You just have to think about wanting me to be with you and I'll be there.” he replied and peered at her. 

He jumped off the bed and had a mischievous grin on his face.

“Wait for 10 minutes and then try to summon me. I'm going out of the Slytherin common room. Remember, wait for ten minutes so I can cover some distance.” he said and went out without looking back at Tracey who was just gaping at him.

‘Does he know that we can't use any means of instantaneous transport inside Hogwarts without the permission of the headmaster?’ She thought worriedly. When she was sure that ten minutes had passed, she thought of Harry and tried to summon him. 

Suddenly she was on her back and Harry was sitting on her stomach and grinning like a loon.

“See? It worked.”

“Why do you have to appear on top of me?” She said looking up at him. 

He chuckled and got off of her and took back his place.

“When you summon me, I'll always appear very close to you because the necklace is sort of a beacon. The necklace plucks me from wherever I am and drops me near the owner of the necklace. I think if you were standing then I'd have appeared in front of you and not on top of you. Whatever, it doesn't matter. It transports me directly to you and that's all that matters. Also, the necklace can't be taken off from your neck by anybody except me and you yourself.” he explained. 

She nodded and caressed the necklace, a small smile playing on her face.

“What about wards and anti-apparition charms or anti-portkey charms?” She asked.

“Don't worry. The necklace won't be affected by any type of magic.” he dismissed her concerns.

“The same necklace is sent to Daphne as her Christmas gift, so she has the same protection. This necklace will be vital for me to appear in Greengrass Manor without informing her parents of my arrival. Daphne is instructed to call me at night and from there we'll follow our plan to destroy the betrothal contract and I'll cure Astoria.” he said thoughtfully. 

Tracey smiled happily.

“I am glad Daphne has the same necklace so we won't have to see her broken body ever again. Thank you, Harry, for trying to protect us.” she sighed. 

~xXxXx~

Daphne was in her bed. Her blonde hair was left free to fall behind her back. 

She was waiting patiently for her sister to arrive in her room. She was restless. Tonight would be the night that all of her worries would be put to rest. Tonight would be the night Harry will cure her sister's incurable disease. 

After a few minutes, a soft knock was heard.

“Enter.” she said. 

Astoria scurried inside and closed the door behind her. She sat in front of Daphne and looked at her curiously. Her own silky black hair flowing over her shoulders.

“So? What is it?” She asked. 

Daphne smiled at her younger sister. 

Tonight would be the night her sister would see a miracle.

“Do you want to get out of the betrothal contract?” She asked frankly. 

Astoria was unpleasantly surprised at the topic. A hot anger surged through her. She glared venomously at Daphne.

“I had already told you to live your life properly and not waste it on me. But because of your meddling, now we both are in a betrothal contract with Malfoy. And you are asking me if I want it while you're the reason we're in this situation in the first place.” she said angrily. 

Daphne was taken aback by her rage.

“Hey! I just wanted you to live a long and healthy life. I did this just so you won't have to worry about dying anytime soon.” she replied morosely. 

Astoria sighed and reined in her anger. She placed her hand on her sister's shoulder.

“I'm sorry. I just never wanted to marry Draco. You've to understand, Daphne, that some things are worse than death, like being a plaything for a Death Eater's son. You know what a wife of a pureblood man means. To sit at home and just produce heirs while the man has all the control of your life and your children. Why'd I ever want that? Why'd I ever want my sister to join me in that hell? And because of your stupid decision, we're both fated to be the prisoners of the Malfoys. Now, you dare ask me if I want to escape it, of course I want to, but the contract is already signed. Don't give me false hope.”

Daphne was shrinking in herself at every word her sister was spitting. She was feeling stupid for not thinking about the future. Not considering the ripples her action would make in coming years.

Her only concern had been the health of Astoria, her younger sister, not what would happen in the far future. And that shortsighted view had blinded her from the consequences of her action.

“We won't have to marry him. You'll see what I mean. I've plans which will save us from marrying Draco.” Daphne said resolutely.

“Sure. I'll be eager to hear that plan.” Astoria said sarcastically. “Now that you are done, I am going back to my room.”

“No, wait.” Daphne said urgently. 

Astoria sighed as she stared at her sister.

“What do you want?” She asked impatiently.

“Just wait. Okay?” Daphne requested. 

Astoria nodded and crossed her arms. Daphne closed her eyes and grasped the necklace which had arrived in the morning from Harry as her Christmas present. 

‘I want Harry here.’

Astoria's attention was on the beautiful emerald necklace which her sister just pulled out from under her t-shirt. She did not get enough time to admire it since a body suddenly appeared out of thin air and dropped on top of her sister. 

Daphne fell on her back and Harry was on top of her, his face inches away from her.

“Hi.” he grinned.

“Hi. I'm not surprised. I always thought you were going to become a pervert.” she chuckled, shaking her head and trying to hide her blush. 

Playfully glaring at her, he sat up. Daphne too rose and settled back on her place. 

Astoria was gaping at them. She was immensely surprised that Harry Potter was able to enter Greengrass Manor's powerful ancient wards.

“If your plan is to lose your innocence to Harry to escape marriage then, sorry, I'm not participating.” Astoria mumbled in an amused tone, not asking how he entered the Greengrass Manor. 

Harry snorted and looked at Daphne.

“Was that on the table? I won't mind.” he said cheekily.

“No, it wasn't. Although we should wait a couple of years before doing that.” she laughed at their joke. 

“So? What is the meaning of all this?” Astoria asked, sweeping her hands around them.

“Harry is going to cure your blood curse and then he's going to save us from the betrothal contract.” Daphne said confidently. Harry nodded seriously. 

Astoria's eyes hardened as she glared at them.

“Don't joke about it. I don't even want to know how you were able to tell him about the blood curse.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but Harry can do it. I totally believe him. He's not a 'normal' wizard. He has secret powers.” Daphne tried to assure her. 

Harry sighed as his secret was now known by Astoria.

“Oh! So he's Merlin? Wow!” She exclaimed sardonically. 

Daphne groaned, getting tired of arguing with her sister. 

Harry was amused by their byplay. It seemed the sisters at least had another thing in common. Their sarcasm. 

He decided to end their argument. He let a bit of his magic pour out of him. 

The sisters gasped as they saw shiny golden mist surrounding them, swirling around them. 

Astoria touched the mist and she was astonished by its warm feel. It was pure magic without any intent and function. Daphne had seen it only one time when he had used it to choke Draco. Even then the mist had looked solid, now it appeared as a calm liquid.

“Let's get this job done so I can go to sleep. Okay?” Harry snickered at their mesmerised faces. 

Daphne was the first to get back to her senses. She nodded her head. 

Astoria looked at him with eyes filled with awe.

“Are you sure you can save me?” She asked tentatively. She didn't want to believe him. She didn't want to hope for a better life when there was no proof of that hope. Still, trying would only bring her more sadness, seeing another hope smothered out. But she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if he could help her and being afraid of another failure, she declined it, sentencing herself to a short miserable life. 

He smiled and inclined his head.

“Lie down on your back.” He ordered. 

She was still a little sceptical, but she laid on the bed with Harry sitting on her right and Daphne on her left. 

She closed her eyes and tried to contain her anxiety. She was happy that her sister was trying to save her, but there was a part of her which was sure that this effort would be in vain, that she was fated to die sooner than others. 

She felt a warm hand on her forehead. She gasped, sensing a warm sensation filling her body.

Harry was pumping her body with his magic and enveloping her magic to understand what the problem was. He had thought that as the curse was called ‘blood curse’, the problem would be in her blood, but he was wrong. There was a very strong curse around her magic, tainting her pure innocent magic with its darkness. 

He tried to remove it, but it was resisting, absorbing his magic and growing inside her. Astoria suddenly cried as she was assaulted with nerve wrecking pain. 

Harry quickly put her to sleep so she wouldn't be able to feel the pain.

“Harry!” Daphne said worriedly after she heard her sister's tortured shriek. 

He shook his head, telling her to remain silent. He continued pumping her body with his magic while the dark curse inside her continued consuming it. 

Astoria was trembling and was having spasms all over her body. 

Harry was covered in sweat, he was getting angrier and angrier. This wouldn't have been this difficult if he hadn't been tired from making the overpowered necklaces. That had taken a lot of his mist. And the procedure had been painful. But he didn't regret it if those necklaces protected his best friends.

‘Die.’ His magic screamed at the black curse. After what felt like hours, but was only ten minutes, the darkness started diminishing and disappeared altogether from her magic. 

Harry was panting. He released Astoria from the sleep spell and lied down beside her and closed his eyes.

‘Just a minute.’ He thought and dozed off. 

Astoria sat up abruptly. She looked at Daphne who had tears falling down her cheeks and was looking at Harry. 

She smiled a watery smile at Astoria.

“Did it work?” asked Daphne.

“I feel very good. It feels like I always had a weight on my chest from which I'm free now. It feels like I have had a severe cold all my life and now I'm free from it.” Astoria smiled blissfully, taking a deep breath. Her body felt oddly energised. The usual mild pain in her chest was completely gone. She looked down at Harry who was sleeping.

“Is he okay?” She asked. 

Daphne nodded. She scooted closer to him and caressed his hair with an affectionate smile. 

He did it, he saved her sister.

“He did it.” she chuckled proudly. 

Harry slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.

“Did I die? Am I in Heaven? Because I'm seeing two beautiful angels.” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes, but not able to suppress his mischievous smile. 

Daphne grinned and said. “No, you're in hell. We're two demons who'll torture you for eternity.”

“I didn't know demons were supposed to be beautiful.” he grinned, sitting up. 

Before Daphne could come back with a witty comment, Astoria had thrown her arms around Harry's neck and was sobbing on his shoulder.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” she said in between her sobs. 

Harry didn't say anything, opting to just caress her head as she wept. 

Daphne too was crying, finally happy that Astoria wouldn't die anytime soon. 

The younger Greengrass pulled back from the hug and then embraced her sister. 

Harry watched as they both held each other tightly and cried in relief.

~xXxXx~

Astoria went to her room for a much needed sleep. Daphne and Harry were sitting alone on the bed.

“Part 1 finished. Now about part 2.” Harry said. “Where is your father?”

Daphne checked the time. It was 10:20 in the night.

“He will be in his study, reading some books. He usually goes to bed at 11:30.” she informed him.

“Alright. Where is that room?”

“The third room on the left on the upper floor.”

“Okay. I am going then.” he said and left the room. 

Harry returned back to her room after 10 minutes with a square parchment in his hand. 

He sat in front of her.

“Your father will cancel the betrothal agreement in May. Before that we'll have the other document from Malfoy so his father won't have any power to stop that.” Harry said as he burned the parchment and turned it into ash. 

Daphne groaned and put her head in her arms.

“What?” He asked.

“I wanted to read what was in that betrothal contract.” she replied.

“Oops.” he grinned. 

She shook her head, she wasn't going to be angry at him. He had just cured her sister and saved her from an unpleasant marriage.

“So, how are you going back to the castle?” She asked.

“Tracey has the same necklace so she'll summon me in the morning.” he said as he lay down on the bed. “Come on, don't you want to sleep?”

She was just staring at him, not comprehending his words. 

Harry rolled his eyes.

“We are having a sleepover, dear. You know, where friends go to each other's house and spend their night together playing, eating, sleeping. I'd have liked having some fun with you and maybe some delicious food, but I am very tired and drowsy so let's skip to the last part, sleeping. Goodnight.” he drawled and closed his eyes.

“But...but…” she was sputtering. 

He grabbed her and pulled her beside him.

“Goodnight.” he said with finality. Daphne scooted away and maintained some distance between them.

“Fine! But don't come to my side of the bed.” she warned, all flustered and embarrassed.

“Sure, sure.” he said without opening his eyes. 

Daphne sighed in defeat and went to sleep beside her male best friend. She wasn't going to kick him out of the house in the middle of night. That would be being ungrateful.

~xXxXx~

Harry opened his eyes and found himself in an unknown room. He slowly recalled the events of last night. 

‘It was harder than I thought.’ he pondered about Astoria's curse.

He started to rise, but stopped when someone moaned. He looked beside him and found Daphne draped all over him. Her one arm was around his waist. Her head was on his shoulder with her face pressed on it and her hips were tangled with his. 

Her blonde hair, like every part of her body, too was covering his face and his neck.

“Hypocrite.” he said under his breath. 

He checked the time. It was 6:30 in the morning. He remained still, enjoying the feel of her soft and warm body on his. He combed her hair and tucked it behind her ear. He smiled at her and stroked her cheek.

“Wake up, Daph.” he said softly. 

She mumbled something in her sleep and buried her face in his neck. Harry shivered as he felt her warm breath on his skin. 

He shook her shoulder again to wake her up. 

She finally opened her eyes and peered at him with her bleary eyes.

“You're on my side of the bed.” That was the first thing he said to her smugly. 

She looked down at herself and found herself pressed against him. She yelped and leapt back to her side of the bed. 

Harry laughed at her crimson face. 

She glared at him. 

It was a rare thing to see her so embarrassed. 

She turned her head to the other side and buried her face in the pillow, trying to disappear from here to save herself from the mortification. After controlling his laughter, he finally greeted her.

“Good morning, Daph.”

“Good morning, Harry.” Her muffled voice came since she had buried her face in the pillow. 

He nudged her back, hoping she would stop smothering her face in the pillow, but it didn't work.

“I'll go back to the castle in approximately two minutes. See you there.” he said, sliding off the bed and standing up. 

She pulled out her face from the pillow and joined him beside the bed.

“I will join you two soon.” she smiled shyly. 

Harry nodded and pulled her in his arms.

“Goodbye.” he said, squeezing her fondly and suddenly disappeared. 

Daphne stumbled a little as she was heavily leaning on him. At least she didn't fall. She shook her head and went to shower with a big smile on her face. 

She was finally free. No need to worry about Astoria's curse. No need to worry about Malfoy.

~xXxXx~

Harry reappeared in his room and you guessed it correctly, on top of Tracey.

“Good morning, Tracey.” he smirked and pressed a kiss on her forehead. 

She smiled back and pushed him off of her.

“Is this going to happen every time I summon you?” She asked.

“Yes. You can prevent it by standing, you know. It is not my fault you were sitting on my bed.” he grinned.

“You're going to be a pervert in future.” she said, shaking her head. 

Harry stumbled back with his palm on his chest, being dramatic.

“You wound me, my dear. Daphne had said the same thing, but that is expected of her, not you, my darling Tracey. You are not supposed to hurt me. You are to be the sweetest and kindest of our trio. Daphne is a bad influence on you.” he said sadly. 

She rolled her eyes at him and hit him lightly on his head.

“Stop overreacting and go freshen up. I need a little help with my homework.”

Harry playfully glared at her and went away to the bathroom muttering about ‘girls taking advantage of him’. 

Tracey smiled and left his room, her job of bringing him back to the castle done.

~xXxXx~

It'd been a week since the students returned to the castle after Yule break. 

Everybody came to know that something had changed for Daphne Greengrass over the holidays. 

Before, she had her trademark cold glare which was directed at everybody, except her best friends Tracey Davis and Harry Potter. 

It was as if she was itching to hex everybody, but now, her eyes were filled with happiness instead of her cold glare, her blank face now had a brightness and a genuine smile. She still didn't talk much with others, but her cold demeanour had disappeared. The students were amazed by the sudden change and were curious what brought this change, but no one was brave enough to ask.

"Harry, when are you going to teach us new spells?” Daphne asked, for the umpteenth time. 

Tracey and her were sitting on Harry's bed and were doing their potions homework. 

Harry was settled on his chair, in front of his desk. 

They had decided that Harry's room would be the ideal place for their gathering. They recently came to know from the prefects that girls were allowed to enter their male friends room in the daylight, but boys weren't. 

Harry had made a big fuss about the inequality. The girls had just dragged him back to his room to stop his tirade. 

He turned his head from his desk and looked at her. Tracey was still writing while Daphne was propped against the headboard and was looking at him. She had an excited smile on her face. He couldn't help but smile back. Since Malfoy had given him the betrothal contract and Harry had destroyed it, she was in a good mood. 

Harry again was happy that he hadn't revealed the content of the betrothal contract to her, otherwise there would have been anger and betrayal instead of happiness on her face. 

He had been very angry when he read the betrothal contract. According to it, Daphne and Astoria were to be Malfoy's concubines. Not even his wives but concubines. 

Further, Malfoy was free to acquire any number of more concubines and wives. If that wasn't enough to enrage him, the sisters were to give Malfoy a magical oath to be loyal to him and obey his every command. And for selling her daughters, Mr. Greengrass would get funds from Mr. Malfoy to repair his old Apothecary. He was also promised the firstborn from Draco and Daphne as the Greengrass heir.

‘Just wait Mr. Greengrass, your punishment is coming. Malfoys have joined the shit list, just another one mistake and I'll torture them and make them my slaves.’

“Harry!” Daphne said loudly. She was standing in front of him, waving her hand before his face. 

Tracey had put her books aside and was watching him worriedly.

“Huh?” he replied as he pushed these thoughts in the back of his mind.

“Are you okay?” They asked in unison. 

He nodded.

“I've decided to teach you three spells after finishing our work. First the disarming charm. Second the shield charm and lastly the reductor curse.”

Daphne was eager to learn more spells so she quickly went back to her work to finish it as soon as possible. 

Tracey smiled at her friend's eagerness.

~xXxXx~

February and March quickly passed. The trio were busy studying and enjoying their school life. Then April went by without any incident. In all these months, Draco Malfoy tried his best to interact with his ‘betrothed’ but wasn't successful. 

She was always with Tracey and Harry. 

When a letter came during breakfast from home announcing that his betrothal with Daphne Greengrass was cancelled, he was angry. He knew he had missed his chance. She would have been a perfect lady to produce his heirs. She was a pureblood from an ancient line, she was beautiful, she was perfect. 

In his rage, his instinctual fear of Harry Potter was pushed back in his mind.

“Potter!” He yelled, attracting everyone's attention. 

Harry and the girls were sitting at the end of the Slytherin table. He stood up and saw Draco coming towards him with his wand in his hand. 

Daphne and Tracey were hiding their excited smiles. 

That morning would be interesting. The professors were looking at the conflict. Professor Snape had already left his chair and was walking urgently towards them.

“Malfoy.” Harry nodded, hiding his smug smile. 

Draco didn't reply.

“FLIPENDO!” He yelled, pointing his wand at him. 

Harry quickly casted the shield charm.

“Protego.”

The knockback jinx was absorbed by the shield.

“You're going to pay for stealing my betrothed.” Draco spat as he continued firing the jinx. 

Harry was amused at his display. He glanced behind him, at his friends, who were enjoying the show. His shield remained strong and protected him from the spells. 

Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick came running behind Professor Snape to stop the fight. They weren't needed. A spell rebounded from Harry's shield and connected with Draco, who went flying back and sprawled on the ground with a painful grunt.

“Potter! Detention for attacking Mr. Malfoy,” Snape said coldly as he picked up Draco and began to leave.

“Stop!” Professor McGonagall snapped.

“50 points, Mr. Malfoy, from Slytherin, for attacking a student and a week of detention with Filch. Mr. Potter, you are not to serve any detention with Professor Snape. We all saw what happened and it was not your fault.”

“Do you disagree, Professor Snape?” she asked dangerously, seeing his sour look. 

He didn't reply and took Malfoy to the infirmary. 

Harry smiled gratefully at Professor McGonagall and took his seat.

“What was that?” Tracey asked.

“It seems Malfoy was heartbroken after the cancellation of the betrothal agreement. Who knew he was so smitten with our beautiful Daphne Greengrass?” he chuckled.

“Of course. Who wouldn't be sad to not be able to remain with me?” Daphne said haughtily.

“Of course, you're correct. But is it correct that I stole you away?” He asked, trying to contain his laughter.

“Ha! That he got wrong. Me, with you peasant. Who would imagine that?” She continued her haughty persona.

“No problem. I always thought Tracey was more beautiful than you so I'm not that sad.” Harry joked.

“Yes. You both peasants make a decent couple.” she said, nodding her head, although a bit jealous of his announcement. She hoped it was a joke and not his admission that he really thought Tracey was better looking than her.

Harry flung his arm around Tracey and pulled her head towards him and pressed his cheek against hers.

“See? We both look so cute together. Don't you think so, our queen?” He said playfully, their childish play creating pleasant sensations in his chest. 

Daphne peered at them and nodded after a second. Tracey was blushing as she pushed his face away.

“Stop, you two. We're going to be late for the class if you don't stop your acting.” She complained. 

The two laughed at her and followed her out of the Great Hall for their morning class.

Chapter Text

7. Mist

The trio were in the Room of Requirement. 

Tracey and Daphne were duelling each other. 

The Room had been very beneficial for them. It had provided almost anything except food.

Though Harry had given them the necklace, they still wanted to be able to defend themselves. Harry had no problem with that. He was happy that his friends were trying to become powerful.

Daphne had a knack for duelling. She was quick and graceful. She had an immense latent magical power. Her power combined with her natural quick movements made her a deadly opponent. She was nowhere near Harry's level, but she could probably defeat any first year in the matter of seconds. 

Daphne stepped aside as a stunner passed by her head. She didn't show any emotion, sending back a disarming charm. 

Tracey on the other hand was only decently powerful. Her movements were jerky. She wasn't really made for fighting. 

She jumped to the side as the disarming charm missed her by a wide margin. 

Daphne smirked, casting three stunners at an inhumane speed. 

One was directed to Tracey's right side, the other on her left side and the last at her chest. 

Tracey panicked, not having anywhere to dodge. At the last second, she dived to the right but was directly in the spell's path. 

She fell with a thump. 

Harry walked over and kneeled beside her, rennervating her. 

Daphne too came to them. It'd been two weeks since they began practising duelling. The room was brilliant in providing them with any necessary texts for that.

“Nice, Daph.” Tracey smiled genially. 

Harry nodded his head in agreement and gave her a thumbs up. 

Daphne brimmed with pride, hearing praises from her best friends.

“You did well, Tracey.” The blonde complimented back in an encouraging tone. 

Tracey rolled her eyes.

“I sucked. You don't need to sugarcoat it.”

“Yes, you sucked.” Harry agreed, slipping his arm around her shoulder and helping her up on her feet.

“Harry!” Daphne glared at him while Tracey laughed at his honesty.

“What? It's true. That doesn't mean it is that bad. Not everyone is suited for fighting. And you've to agree, Tracey is the last person who'll ever start a fight. Although I think she's already a decent duellist. She'll be well able to defend herself. It's just that you're a greater dueller, so it looked like she sucked, but she didn't. She can defeat most students in our year. What I really meant was that she sucked in this particular fight against you, but overall, she is a decent duelist.” Harry said defensively.

“Is it true that I can beat any first year?” Tracey asked sceptically. 

Harry squeezed her shoulders with an encouraging smile.

“Yep. You're not the strongest, but you are not weak either. Now, let's go back to the common room. Curfew is in 30 minutes.” he smiled, presenting his other hand to Daphne. 

They left the room of requirement hand in hand and started their descent from the seventh floor.

“Have you heard that Jasmine, Hermione and Ron helped Hagrid in smuggling a baby dragon to Ron's brother who works in a dragon reserve?” Tracey asked as they reached the sixth floor. 

Harry and Daphne looked at Tracey to see if she was kidding. 

She wasn't.

“How was a dragon in Hogwarts in the first place?” Daphne was baffled.

“Don't know. I heard in the common room that Malfoy was aware of the Gryffindors' plan to bring the dragon to the astronomy tower in the night where Ron's brother would be waiting to take the dragon to the reserve. Draco wanted to cause trouble for the Gryffindors so he told Professor McGonagall about them wandering in the castle after curfew. The best part was that he too was punished for roaming the castle in the night. That was a stupid move.” she giggled.

Harry shook his head at Draco's foolishness.

The rest of the walk was filled with comfortable silence. Each of them were thinking about the dragon incident. 

Harry was relieved that Jasmine wasn't hurt. Hermione too. Though he knew he wouldn't care if Ron was injured. While Jasmine and Hermione weren't his friends, he knew there was a chance that it might change in the future. 

He would have made an effort in trying to befriend them if he wasn't so busy with Tracey and Daphne. The three of them were together all the time. He woke up to see their faces first and went to bed seeing them last. He wasn't complaining about that. He was happy how things were going, he was content with how things were. 

He didn't need any change. Daphne and Tracey were enough to fulfil his desire of having friends. 

They reached their common room's entrance. They stepped inside to find very few Slytherins still up. The trio ignored them all and turned to each other.

“Goodnight, girls.” he smiled, embracing them both in turn.

“Goodnight, Harry.” Daphne waved.

“Goodnight, Harry. Sleep tight.” Tracey smiled lovingly. 

With a last parting wave, he entered his room.

~xXxXx~

Tracey was first of the trio to wake up early that day. She was sitting at their usual place in the corner, waiting for Harry and Daphne. She examined the beauty of the common room to pass the time.

The Slytherin common room was a dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs. This dungeon extended part way under the lake, giving the light in the room a green tinge. 

The common room had lots of low backed black and dark green button-tufted, leather sofas and dark wood cupboards. One of the wooden tables had a Wizard's Chess set on it. It was decorated with tapestries featuring the adventures of famous mediaeval Slytherins. It had quite a grand atmosphere, but also quite a cold one.

Her inspection was cut short when a third year Slytherin came and stood before her. The girl was glaring at her and was muttering to herself. She was a pretty witch with long dark hair and a beautiful oval face with cold grey eyes. 

Tracey heard ‘halfblood’ and ‘whore’ in the girl's mutterings. 

She tried her best not to look intimidated and asked. “Yes?”

“Get lost from here. I want to sit here.” she sneered. 

Tracey looked around herself uneasily.

“Sorry, but this is my, Harry's and Daphne's place, and there are many unoccupied sofas in the common room. You can sit there.” she smiled nervously, pointing towards an empty couch.

“I'm Ella Rowle from the Noble House of Rowle, how can you, a mere half-blood whore, deny me my seat?” she yelled petulantly and took out her wand. She pointed it at Tracey.

“Calm down. If you want to sit then sit with me. I don't mind.” Tracey compromised, but had her wand in her hand nonetheless. She wasn't going to go down without a fight even if she was scared of this older girl.

“Stupefy!” Ella growled maliciously. 

Tracey quickly dived to her right. The spell faded once it hit the wall.

“Expelliarmus!” Ella yelled, her wand trained at the kneeling figure of Tracey.

“Protego!” she muttered, a blue transparent shield conjuring in front of her. Before Ella could fire another spell, Tracey shot a full body bind spell at her.

“Petrificus Totalus!”

Ella Rowle's stiff body landed on the floor with a thump. The few Slytherins who were watching the impromptu duel gave her appraising looks. 

Tracey sighed in relief, as she went to the downed Ella Rowle.

“Are you going to throw more spells at me? Blink twice if you won't.” Tracey asked. 

Ella just glared at her. 

Tracey raised her eyebrow.

“Well, then I'll leave you right here.” she stated. As she turned to go, Ella anxiously blinked twice. Tracey smiled and cancelled the spell. 

Ella stood up and glowered at her.

“You will pay for that.” she spat and turned her back on her.

Tracey shrugged and started for her seat. Just as she walked a few steps she heard a calm voice.

“Aqua Eructo.”

She quickly turned on her heels and readied herself to erect a shield, but it wasn't needed. 

Ella Rowle was again lying on the floor, but in the pool of water this time. She was drenched. Her clothes were wet, her hair was clinging to her face, and her wand was a foot away from her hand. 

She was coughing water.

“Hmm, a third year Slytherin trying to hex a first year behind her back. Not even having the courage to do it from the front. How low the house of Rowle has fallen.” Daphne droned in a mocking voice, stepping over the damp body of Ella and sitting beside Tracey. 

Ella looked murderously at them and picked up her wand.

“Don't even try it, bitch. You don't want to make me your enemy. Do you, Ella Rowle, want to duel me, Daphne Greengrass of the Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass?” she asked, not hiding the amusement and challenge in her voice. Daphne didn't believe in pureblood supremacy, but was proud of her rich heritage. If that title helped her in scaring the brats in Slytherin then she would be glad to flaunt the prestige of her house on their faces. 

Ella huffed and went away.

“You should always be on your guard when you are alone, Tracey. Especially when you're around fellow Slytherins.” Daphne advised. 

Tracey nodded, feeling a little embarrassed that she hadn't considered Ella hexing her from behind. 

Just at that moment, Harry entered the room and sat beside her, his arm slung around her shoulder.

“Good morning, Tracey. Good morning, Daph.” he greeted them in a cheerful voice. The girls greeted back with amused smiles as he tried to stretch his arm so it was around both Tracey and Daphne's shoulders. 

He wasn't successful. His arm was only able to cover Tracey's shoulder and then halfway around Daphne's back. 

He gave up, standing up. Then he changed his seat. He wiggled between the girls to make space and placed his arms around the girls' shoulders.

“So why is that spot on the floor wet?” He questioned them when all three were in a comfortable position with Daphne and Tracey both pressed to his sides.

“I just fired a water spell on a third year student who was going to curse Tracey who had her back turned.” Daphne informed him in a nonchalant voice. 

He looked at Daphne who was sporting a smug look and then he turned his head and looked at Tracey who was looking sheepish.

“So, do I need to plan another murder?” He asked them. 

Daphne and Tracey both gave him exasperated looks.

“If we do that then we'll set a bad precedent. We'll have to kill half of the students just because they are rude to us.” Tracey explained patiently. 

Daphne agreed to her sentiment. They needn't start killing everybody who had a school yard fight with them.

“Jeez, I was just kidding.” He smiled, trying to placate them.

“No, you weren't.” Both the girl's said, giving him deadpan looks. 

Harry grinned, squeezing their shoulders. “Maybe.”

They both rolled their eyes at him and tried to suppress the upward quirk of their lips.

~xXxXx~

Harry and the girls were wandering in the castle after their duelling sessions when they came face to face with Jasmine, Hermione and Ron. The six of them stared at each other. Though there wasn't a curfew yet, it was pretty late at night. Only a few minutes were left before curfew began.

“Going somewhere?” Harry asked them almost politely. 

He looked at them closely. The three of them seemed frantic and there was an air or urgency around them.

“None of your business, snake!” Ron hissed. Hermione groaned and hit him on his back while Jasmine heaved a long suffering sigh.

“Ron, what did we tell you about not all Slytherins being evil or all Slytherins being Malfoy?" Jasmine asked him with narrowed eyes.

“That they are not?” he said reluctantly. 

Harry was amused at their antics. He wasn't really offended by being called a snake. They were interesting creatures. They possessed beauty, intelligence and ruthlessness. Hell! He had even read about a snake which could kill their targets by just looking at them and was the most venomous snake on the planet. Harry too could kill most weak creatures with just his thought, there were definite similarities between him and a basilisk. 

He took that as a compliment. And the comment about him being evil wasn't that far-fetched. Harry knew he wasn't morally good, but still didn't consider himself evil. He knew that the others would or could consider him as an evil person. 

Whatever, he didn't care that much about Ron's or anyone's opinion. If they thought he was evil then he was evil.

“This is entertaining to watch, but curfew is only a few minutes away. So, excuse us.” Daphne said in an overly sweet tone and tugged at his arm to start walking. 

Daphne had changed her attitude. Before she had an emotionless mask and never showed her true emotions. Now, she didn't let any chance of being sassy go to waste. She mocked anyone when she saw a chance. 

Maybe she was finally confident in Harry's protection or maybe she was confident in her duelling, whatever the case, it made her so fun to be around. 

Harry grinned and followed her, taking hold of Tracey's arm and dragging her along with them. Tracey sent an apologetic smile to the Gryffindors, not going unnoticed by him.

He was glad that he was there for Tracey otherwise she would have been destroyed in Slytherin. Tracey was just too good for Slytherin. She was a real sweetheart. She lacked the viciousness and the ruthlessness. Harry was pretty sure that Daphne was the only reason she was in the house of the snakes.

“Wait! We need your help.” Jasmine yelled, stopping the trio in their tracks. The Slytherins turned around and stared at them. 

Hermione and Ron were giving Jasmine disbelieving looks.

“You can't reveal the secret to them.” Ron protested. Hermione for once was agreeing with him.

“We need them. They're some of the best students in the first year. We should get all the help we can.” Jasmine tried to rationalise. 

Harry shared glances with Tracey and Daphne.

“We'll help. We're pretty bored and have nothing else to do. But what are we helping you in?” Harry asked.

“We need to save the Philosopher's Stone and make sure it doesn't fall in Professor Snape's hand.” Jasmine said hastily. Hermione and Ron groaned as the secret was out.

“The one which grants immortality and turns anything into gold?” Harry asked sceptically, ignoring the mention of Snape. 

Harry knew Snape was one of the most unpleasant people to be around, but he had a gut feeling that the man wasn't after the stone. 

“Yes. That is the one. Are you going to help us?” She asked. Harry looked at Daphne and Tracey who clearly didn't believe a word.

“You both go back to Slytherin dorms. I'll come after seeing what this fuss is about.” He told them. 

They both shook their heads.

“We're not leaving you alone.” They both said at the same time.

“Do you doubt my capabilities? I'll be fine, but if you're both in danger then I won't be able to concentrate on the problem.” He tried to reason with them. 

They remained adamant and refused to leave him.

“Just take them. We don't have time to waste.” Ron interrupted impatiently. 

Harry glared at the ginger haired boy, but nodded to Daphne and Tracey, who both had victorious smiles on their faces.

“Lead us wherever this Stone is?” he said to the Gryffindors.

~xXxXx~

The six of them were standing in front of a wooden door on the third floor.

“Isn't this the place which'll grant painful death according to the Headmaster's warning?” Tracey asked.

“Yes.” Jasmine said and opened the door with a spell. 

There was a gigantic black three headed dog sleeping inside it. An enchanted harp was playing a melodic tune.

“Whoa!” The Slytherins were surprised. 

They didn't have enough time to marvel at the huge cerberus though as the Gryffindors moved its paw to reveal a trapdoor.

“What's down there?” Daphne asked, peering at the darkness. 

The Gryffindors shrugged.

“Don't know. We just have to jump down.” Jasmine said, preparing to jump. Harry instantly grabbed her hand and shot her a glare.

“Stop! Let me see what is down here?” He spoke, kneeling on the floor and casting a lumos charm in the trapdoor. There was a bed of tangled vines halfway from the floor. They started converging around the edges to avoid the light. 

He stopped his light charm and stood up.

“There's a devil snare halfway down from here. It's likely there to soften our landing. Now you can jump, but don't panic when the plant starts creeping around your body. If you remain still, the plant will let you go.” he revealed to them. 

Jasmine nodded and jumped down, followed by Hermione and Ron. Harry turned to look at his best friends. Daphne was looking eager while Tracey seemed nervous.

“It is the last chance. You can go back.” He tried to see if they were having second thoughts. The girls disagreed and quickly went down the trapdoor. Harry sighed and also jumped. 

He landed as expected on a soft plant. His legs and hands were quickly wrapped by tentacles. He remained stiff and didn't move. Slowly, the tentacles gave way and he landed on his feet in a dark chamber. His eyes roamed all over the room. 

It wasn't totally dark but wasn't lit either. There was a door on the opposite wall. The Gryffindors were already walking towards it. Tracey and Daphne were waiting for him. He quickly joined them.

“Are you both alright?” He asked, he looked at them in concern. 

They nodded and pointed at the door. The Gryffindors were already on the other side. He stepped in front of Tracey and Daphne and started walking, closely followed by the girls.

“Whatever happens, stay behind me.” He said without looking back at them. 

Tracey was fine with it while Daphne narrowed her eyes at his back. 

Sure, he was the most powerful wizard, but Daphne was confident enough that she could take care of herself. She didn't voice her thoughts though. There was no need to start a silly quarrel at the moment. 

They crossed the door.

A downwards sloping passage with stone walls, through which trickling water could be heard, led to a brilliantly lit chamber with a very high ceiling, full of glittering winged keys. On the opposite end of the chamber, from the stone passage was a large, old-fashioned wooden door with a silver lock. There was a broom hovering in one corner. The Gryffindors were already standing in front of the huge door. 

The Slytherins went to them.

“So what is this?” Daphne asked. 

Harry and Tracey were examining the huge room.

“We don't know. We're also here for the first time. I think we've to catch the right key to pass through that door. Maybe the alohomora charm would work instead?” Hermione said thoughtfully, applying the charm. 

It didn't work.

“We have to catch the key.” Jasmine said tiredly. 

The Slytherins were exchanging smiles as they knew many ways to open the door.

“Let me try something?” Daphne spoke up, pointing her wand at the ceiling.

“Accio the correct key!” She yelled, but nothing happened. Daphne scowled at the keys.

“What was that?” Ron asked dubiously.

“Summoning charm.” Tracey answered.

“Of course it wouldn't work. That charm is taught during fourth year.” Hermione said condescendingly. 

Daphne glared at her.

“Accio broom!” She said pointing at the broom. The broom shot towards them, she quickly grabbed it out of the air and smirked at the Gryffindors who were gaping at her.

“I know the charm, but the problem is that the keys are charmed against summoning.”

“But, but, how?” Hermione sputtered.

“Practice.” Daphne smirked again. 

Harry and Tracey just shook their heads at her.

“If you're done showing off, let's break this door.” Harry said.

“We will cast our strongest bludgeoning hex together.” he ordered and pointed his wand at the door. Tracey and Daphne followed his example and pointed their wands at the wooden door.

“Destruam!” they yelled together, three yellow spells hit the door with a loud boom. There was a creaking voice and the door split in many parts.

The Gryffindors were looking at the huge hole in the door with awe. They looked back at the Slytherins who were going through that hole.

“They're insane.” Ron mumbled.

“And scary.” Hermione added. 

Jasmine just nodded, doubting her decision to ask them for help. She hoped that she hadn't made a mistake in trusting Harry. 

They nodded at each other and passed through the hole. They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were white pieces — the towering white chessmen had no faces. The Slytherins were looking at the human sized chess pieces.

“Do we have to play to go to the other side?” Tracey asked.

“It seems so.” Harry replied.

“Who is good at chess?” he asked out loud.

“Ron's very good at chess. He hasn't been beaten yet by anyone in chess.” Jasmine praised Ron who looked embarrassed and proud at the same time. 

Hermione nodded. 

Harry didn't say anything, but just stared at the chess pieces. His gaze was locked on the king on the other side.

“Take a step back. I'm going to do something stupid.” He grinned, aiming at the white king.

“What're you doing?” Hermione yelled but stepped back. Ron and Jasmine wanted to stop him, but didn't want to be at his wand point.

“Destruam!” he mumbled. 

The yellow jet of light struck the white king, destroying it completely. Suddenly, all the white chess pieces kneeled and gave way to the door which was open.

“We didn't need to play after all.” Daphne laughed. 

Ron was a little angry, he could have easily won the game, but the Slytherins just wanted to destroy everything. He thought Slytherins were supposed to use their brain and be cunning instead of being all brawn. It seemed he was wrong. 

They passed through the chessboard and then through the door. The next chamber was filled with a foul odour.

“A dead troll. We need to be careful, now we at least know that our opponent is strong enough to kill a gigantic troll.” Harry suggested. 

Daphne was fuming. How she wished that the troll was alive so she could have her revenge. 

Harry exchanged worried glances with Tracey. She took Daphne's hand and led her through the door on the opposite wall. The Gryffindors followed behind them nervously.

After nearing the chamber, the entrance was quickly blocked by purple flames, whilst the exit was covered by black flames. 

A table holding seven unlabelled potion bottles of differing shapes and sizes sat in the centre of the room, with a logical riddle. Three were poison, two contained nettle wine, one contained a potion to safely traverse the black flame, and the last contained a potion that allowed passage back through the purple flames. The riddle, when properly worked out, revealed the contents of each bottle, and therefore which one was safe to drink to allow onward progress.

“A riddle? I can solve it in a minute.” Hermione said brightly, picking up the parchment. 

Harry rolled his eyes and cast a flame freezing charm and passed through the door. Daphne winked at Hermione and was fast on Harry's heels. Tracey shrugged apologetically and passed through the flames. 

The Gryffindors looked at each other.

“I don't know why we're even here? They obviously don't need us.” Hermione muttered angrily.

“Let's just go.” Jasmine said and went through the flames followed by Hermione and Ron.

~xXxXx~

The six of them were looking down at Professor Quirrell who was standing beside a big ornate mirror. This chamber was circular with the mirror at its centre.

“Harry Potter! I was expecting you alone, not with all of your friends. I wanted to meet you for a long time.” he said without his usual stutter.

“Why do I've a feeling that it's not about my autograph?” Harry said, descending down the stairs to meet the Professor. He glanced at his friends and then at the Gryffindors signalling them to be on their guard.

“No, my master just wanted to meet you.” Quirrell said slyly, ignoring his joke. Harry narrowed his eyes as he stopped in front of him.

“And who is your master?” He asked.

“Worry not, you will meet him soon, but before that I want to ask you to step in front of the mirror and describe what you see.” he said.

“What if I don't?” Harry smirked. 

Quirrell's eyes hardened as he pointed his wand at Tracey and summoned her. Tracey yelped as she flew through the air and landed on her butt in front of them.

“I will kill her if you don't.” he said back coldly.

“Right. I'll do as you say, but if a single scratch appears on her, I'll kill you and not quickly, it'll be a long arduous process.” Harry grinned maniacally and stepped in front of the mirror. 

The Gryffindors who were watching them with fear and confusion thought that he was bluffing, but Tracey and Daphne saw the rage in his eyes. They were witnessing his hungry vicious grin instead of his smile.

Harry could have killed Quirrell at any moment, but he was interested to see what all this was about. He stared at the mirror.

He instinctively took a step forward when he saw something amazing in the mirror. 

There was a handsome man with dark hair falling on his forehead, his emerald eyes were glowing with power. He was sitting on a gorgeous black throne. Harry gasped as he realised who the man was, an older version of Harry himself. 

Sitting on his thrones' armrests were two extremely beautiful women. One had beautiful brunette hair and warm hazel eyes, the other had long blonde curls and dark eyes filled with mischief. 

They were definitely the older versions of Tracey and Daphne. A small genuine smile crept over his lips. Kneeling beside the throne was a woman with darkest eyes and onyx hair. She had the palest skin Harry had ever seen or imagined. Harry grinned when he understood what she/it was. 

Death was kneeling beside him and his best friends. The mirror Harry grinned and took something out of his pocket, it was a fist sized red stone. Mirror Harry winked at the real Harry and pocketed back the red stone. 

Harry felt a weight settling in his real pocket.

“What do you see?” Quirrell asked when he thought Harry had used enough time staring at the mirror. 

Harry reluctantly moved away from the mirror and looked at Quirrell.

“I see my older version passionately making out with the Runes teacher, Professor Babbling.” He said with a straight face. 

There was a complete silence as the others digested his words. 

The Gryffindors looked scandalised. Daphne was trying to suppress her laughter. Even Tracey was chuckling in front of him and Quirrell.

“What? She is so sexy. Don't look at me like I'm a creep or something.” Harry smiled innocently.

“Enough! The boy is getting on my nerves. Let me deal with him.” a raspy voice said from somewhere.

“But master, you are not strong yet.” Quirrell said nervously.

“My strength is enough for these children” the voice roared with anger. 

Harry was standing beside Tracey. He slipped his arm around her waist and helped her to her feet.

“Go.” he whispered. 

She nodded and ran up to where the others were standing. Harry peered at Quirrell who was removing his turban. When the turban was removed, Quirrell turned 180°. 

Harry stepped back as he saw a disfigured face sticking out from Quirrell's head.

“Harry Potter.” it whispered.

“See what I have become?” The face said. “Mere shadow and vapour… I have form only when I can share another's body but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds… Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past few weeks faithful Quirrell drank it for me in the forest… And once I have the... Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own. Now… why don't you give me that Stone in your pocket?”

“Nope.” Harry said flippantly, trying to understand what this face was.

“Don't be a fool.” the face snarled. “Better save your own life and join me... Or you'll meet the same end as your parents… They died begging me for mercy…”

Harry's eyes widened as he joined the dots and understood who the face was.

“Voldemort?” He asked.

“Yes, I am Lord Voldemort. Give me the Stone and I will not kill you.” Voldemort said in a raspy voice.

Tracey and Daphne's loud gasp reached his ear. Ron was shrieking like a girl, Jasmine and Hermione were frozen with fear. Harry couldn't believe his luck. 

He just stared at the ugly face and then he started laughing. 

A full belly laugh.

“What is so funny?” Voldemort asked him in a cold tone. 

After finished with his laugh, Harry removed the stone from his pocket and threw it on the floor where it shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces. 

Voldemort screamed in fury as he saw the stone thrown at the floor.

“The Stone is fake. Did you really think that Dumbledore would bring the real Philosopher’s Stone to school? It was a trap. Though I hope you return with a full functional body soon so I can have my revenge. Unfortunately we are both disappointed,” Harry said in a faux sympathy. “until then goodbye.”

Harry left the dumbstruck Voldemort and climbed the stairs and joined his friends. He suddenly turned on his heels and looked back at Voldemort.

“Hey! I forgot to give you something.” Harry said in a cheerful voice and pointed his wand at Voldemort. “Reducto!”

Voldemort didn't have time to react and the spell hit his chest, leaving a gaping hole where his heart should have been. 

The Gryffindors screamed, seeing blood and gore erupting from Voldemort's chest. 

Quirrell's body spasmed for a few seconds and then stilled. There was a swirling of dark shadows above Quirrell's body which was screaming, it shot at Harry but he used the shield charm. The shadow bounced back from the shield and then disappeared. 

Daphne and Tracey pulled Harry into a tight hug when they were sure everything was over.

“I'm okay.” Harry smiled and squeezed their waists.

“You just killed a professor.” Hermione yelled, hyperventilating. 

Harry sighed and buried his face further in Daphne's neck, as he started releasing his purple mist.

“Start walking to the chamber from where we began.” he commanded. 

The Gryffindors backed away as they saw the purple mist suddenly filling the room. They couldn't do anything as the mist clung to their bodies. Their eyes became vacant. 

They started walking back towards the door.

Harry led them back to the starting chamber. Harry put his arms around Jasmine and Hermione's waists. He released his magic. The golden mist. The mist covered their bodies. Slowly they started hovering and then shot past the trapdoor and landed in the room. Harry repeated this process with everybody. They all were standing in the room with the cerberus. The gigantic dog was still sleeping. Harry led them outside and locked the door.

“You'll go back to your common room and won't remember anything about tonight. Tomorrow morning the spell will be over. Go.” he said. The Gryffindors followed his orders and walked away. He didn't notice Jasmine's eyes flickering to gold as she went away.

“Was that the right thing to do?” Tracey asked, staring solemnly at the retreating figure of Gryffindors.

“Nope, but I never said that I won't do bad things. Here, it was necessary for me to mess with their minds so I did. I didn't plan to do that, but hearing Hermione's angered voice made it necessary. She'd have directly gone to a professor and would have told them that I killed Quirrell.” Harry replied and started walking. 

Daphne shrugged at Tracey and followed him. She wasn't feeling bad for what happened. If Harry thought it was necessary then it was necessary. 

Tracey sighed and went after her friends.

‘It wasn't that bad. Harry could have killed them to save himself, but he didn't. I am just worrying too much.’ she thought to herself.

Chapter Text

8. Deepest Desire

Harry and his friends were sitting by themselves in the compartment of Hogwarts Express, heading back to London. 

Tracey and Daphne were busy talking with each other, planning to meet each other on holidays while Harry had a book open in his lap.

“Did you see Hermione's face when she saw the list of top first year students?” Daphne asked them, a smirk taking over her lips.

“Yes. She looked as if someone had kicked her puppy.” Harry replied, turning to the next page.

“You shouldn't make fun of her. She was absolutely sure that she was going to be ranked number one, imagine how disappointed she felt when she was ranked fourth after us.” Tracey admonished both of them. 

Daphne just shrugged.

“She shouldn't have been that presumptuous and overconfident.”

“True.” Harry agreed with her. “Being confident is one thing, but underestimating others is another. I can't imagine how she even thought that she could even rank number one while I was in the same year group as her.”

Daphne and Tracey coughed which oddly sounded ‘modest’ and ‘hypocrite’. 

He ignored them and went back to the book.

“Harry? Will you visit us during the holidays?” Tracey asked, looking at him expectantly, trying to change the conversation. 

Daphne had the same excited look as Tracey.

“Sure, when you both are at one place, send me an owl and I'll be ready. Then you can summon me with the necklace after my reply.” Harry smiled, flipping to the next page. 

He had just found a very interesting spell in the book.

“What is stopping me from summoning you whenever I want?” Daphne asked with a teasing tone.

“You can, but don't complain if I decide to stay at your house and sleep in your bed cuddling with you. If you're going to summon me for no reason and no prior warning then you must be ready to make my stay comfortable.” He droned without looking up from his book.

"Sure. I'm looking forward to sleeping with you.” Daphne replied, not backing down.

“If I remember correctly, then the last time we slept together it freaked you out. I'd rather sleep with Tracey who didn't yell at me to remain on my side of the bed.” Harry quipped, finally looking up and staring at Daphne.

“Are you never going to forget that?” Daphne asked, rolling her eyes. “You can't fault me for freaking out, it was the first time in a long time when I shared a bed with someone and on top of it, you being a boy, just escalated the situation.”

“Whatever. If you're going to summon me then be ready to become my cuddle buddy.” chucked Harry.

“Sure.” Daphne agreed, now seriously considering it. 

Tracey was ignoring them for the moment, making plans for the day when they will be together. An excited smile bloomed over her face.

~xXxXx~

Harry helped Tracey and Daphne with their trunks. They stepped out of the Hogwarts express and looked at the sea of people. 

Daphne and Tracey's mothers were standing together. Astoria was also present with them. 

She was apparently searching for the girls and Harry since she quickly found them  and waved at them to come over to her. 

Tracey and Daphne hugged their respective mothers while Harry stood there and observed others. 

Hermione and Jasmine were happily reuniting with their parents, babbling excitedly among them. There was a large number of ginger heads at one spot, a plump woman fussing over them. Draco was standing next to his father while his mother had her arm around his shoulder.

Family. What a privilege.

He was hugged out of nowhere, getting pulled out his reverie. His hands instinctively wrapped around someone's back. He wasn't going to deny anyone his hugs. Even if it was a stranger.

It wasn't a stranger.

“Harry! How're you?” Astoria's excited voice was full of liveliness. 

He smiled softly as she untangled herself from him.

“I'm fine, Astoria. How're you?” asked Harry.

“I'm fine too. I'm very excited to start Hogwarts after a couple of months.” she said and they started conversing with each other about that. 

After bidding goodbye to his friends, he went to the muggle side of the platform. Standing there was his uncle Vernon. He lowered his gaze when he saw Harry coming towards him.

“Vernon.” Harry nodded. His uncle nodded back, leading Harry outside where his car was parked. 

The ride to the Privet Drive was filled with pin-drop silence. When they reached their destination, they unceremoniously entered the house. 

The TV was on. Petunia was sitting on the sofa, watching a cooking show. When she saw Harry had arrived, she dropped to the floor on her knees, her head lowered.

“Master.” She greeted him in a low submissive voice. Vernon joined his wife on the floor. 

Their heads bowed in subservience.

“It feels good coming back home. I'm pleased to see that you haven't forgotten your place. I also feel a little disappointed that I won't have to teach you your place. Whatever. Same rules as before. Don't enter my room. I'll come down when I'm hungry.” he said and without another glance at them, he went to his room. 

The couple on the floor sighed in relief. They were afraid that he might like to hurt them after not seeing them for so long.

Harry closed the door and scanned the room. 

There was a window opposite the door. A big comfy bed on one side of the room. A desk and chair on the other side of the room. A cupboard stood against one wall. Overall, his room was just good and comfortable. Not too shabby, not too grand. 

He placed the enlarged trunk under his bed. Picking out some clothes, he left his room for a shower. 

After freshening up and eating in the dining room, he went back to his room and laid down on his bed. He stared at the ceiling. 

He was very bored and wasn't in any mood to read any book.

‘I can watch TV.’ he thought, running his fingers through his hair. ‘Nope, not in the mood.’

He pointed his index finger at the ceiling. 

A stream of golden lights flooded from his finger. The lights struck the ceiling. 

With a flick of his hand, the golden mist turned into golden paint. The whole ceiling was now painted gold. 

Harry peered at the ceiling. Slowly, the paint shifted and turned into different colours. 

After 5 minutes, the ceiling felt like a giant velvet screen on which a beautiful painting was drawn. 

There was a giant crystal throne on which a man with dark hair and luminous green eyes sat. He had a smirk filled with confidence and his face showed that he had no worries in the world. He was wearing a delicate and gorgeous black robe, there were white trimmings all over the robe. Under the robe was black shirt and black pants, accentuating his attractive physique. 

His arms were wrapped behind the waists of two beautiful women who were sitting on the armrests on either side of him.

The woman on the right armrest had an hourglass figure. Her body was covered in a pretty red dress emphasising her chest and hips. Her rosy lips were turned up into a mischievous grin. Her dark eyes were alight with humour. And her arms were folded in her lap. Her long blonde hair was done in a single long immaculate plait which snaked down her one shoulder.

The girl sitting on the left armrest was a little shorter than the blonde-haired woman. She had a warm and kind smile on her face. Her brunette hair was flowing over her shoulders. She was covered in a good looking white dress. Her one arm was around the green eyed man's neck while the other was on her side. 

The three of them looked content with their life. 

Sitting on her knees, on the floor beside the throne was a pretty lady with pale skin. 

She was wearing a black robe which covered all of her body. Her hair and eyes were the darkest shade of black Harry had ever seen. Her face didn't show any happiness or sadness. It was unreadable. Her hands were crossed in her lap elegantly. 

Grey stairs led to the pedestal on which the throne sat. The gold background suddenly changed into grey, showing the colour of the walls of the room. 

Harry checked the picture for any imperfections and when he found none, he smiled.

“My heart's deepest desire.” he said to himself.

~xXxXx~

The time passed quickly. Harry only left his room for bathroom breaks and food. 

Otherwise, he was always in his room, playing with magic and reading magical books. 

He really wanted to use his wand, but knew there was a trace on it which would alert the ministry, so he just read theory and practised wand movements with a wooden stick. 

He could remove the trace with his magic, but it might still alert the Ministry. So Harry decided against it. 

Many would think why did he even need to work hard for wand magic when he could do anything with just his thoughts. 

The answer was that being all powerful was sometimes boring. He knew everything about his magic, or at least he thought so, which he finally decided to name. 

He would call his magic Deus . It was pretentious calling his magic ‘God’ in Latin, but he was out of ideas and liked the sound of it. 

Deus basically made him a god, albeit without immortality. He could ask his Deus to do anything and it would do. There was no limit to Deus. But there were always people who had more will power and strong minds. 

Deus could instantly kill beings with weak minds with just a thought, like Harry did with the troll, but he couldn't kill strong minded people with just a thought. Their minds and their souls would fight his compulsion. 

He would have to pour out Deus in the physical world to affect them. So, even if the souls of the strong-minded people could shrug off his compulsion to leave their body, they don't have any protection against Deus when it left his body and took a form in the physical world. 

The magic of others couldn't stop his magic, but physical barriers could. 

Let's say that he fired his Deus at a wizard, while the wizard's shield charm wouldn't help him, a conjured wall would still stop his Deus. 

Even his Deus mists were stoppable if a strong wizard trapped himself under an airtight physical barrier. 

The key word here was 'strong'. There were only a few wizards who could maintain a physical barrier against Harry's hammering mists.

With Deus, Harry could do anything, he could create a portal to the moon, he could teleport anywhere, he could bewitch anyone's mind, he could make them do anything. 

But before going to Hogwarts, Harry had decided he would try to use his Deus as minimum as possible and try to learn everything about wizard magic. After all, it was better to have two different powerful weapons instead of only one.

~xXxXx~

July 31st finally arrived. 

His birthday. 

Harry was very angry that he didn't receive any letters from his friends. He could have sent letters to his best friends, but he was prideful. If they didn't deem him important enough to keep contact then he wasn't going to beg for it. 

There was also the important point that he had been busy reading different books. He had kept himself busy so he wouldn't have time to feel hurt. 

He also knew that both girls were safe due to ouroboros necklace, banishing the thought of them being in danger. 

But today was his birthday and they still hadn't contacted him. He was mollified at the thought that maybe they were planning a surprise birthday party. 

Following breakfast and going back to his room, he opened up another book on spells and started practising the incantations and wand movements with a stick. After fifteen minutes, he was suddenly yanked from Privet Drive and deposited inside Daphne's room. 

She was standing before him with her arms crossed and a glare directed at him.

“I'll give you one chance to explain why you aren't replying to my and Tracey's letters.” she said coldly. 

Harry tilted his head and thought of a witty comeback but decided against it. 

Hearing Daphne's cold voice confirmed that she wasn't lying or joking.

“I didn't receive any letters.” he said simply and sat on her bed.

“What? How?” She uttered dubiously.

“Wait a second.” he sighed. 

He concentrated and simply thought. ‘Give me back my stolen letters.’

Suddenly, a stack of letters appeared on the bed from nowhere. 

A moment later, a pop heralded a house elf's arrival. Without warning, the house elf froze and fell on the floor, courtesy of his Deus. 

Harry crouched over him and pressed his finger on his temple, scanning his mind.

‘Poor elf, he has suffered so much at the hands of Malfoys.’ Harry thought grimly. 

He freed the elf from the bond, making him an unbound elf. 

Harry could have made him his slave, but seeing that the elf's dream was to be free he decided against it. 

‘Let no one say that Harry Potter isn't kind.’ Harry thought. He also could relate with the elf's dream of being free. Though he still didn't want the elf trying to change Malfoy's plan, so he removed the elf's memory regarding the cursed diary and his arrival at Greengrass Manor, sending him back to Malfoy Manor where he would realise he was free and would hopefully leave the blond pricks.

Daphne watched this entire event in silence. But when the elf popped away, she couldn't contain her curiosity anymore.

“What the hell is happening?” She finally asked. 

Harry patted the place beside him, asking her to sit. 

Daphne dropped beside him.

“That was Malfoy's house elf. He was the one who stole my every letter. He thought that if I didn't receive any letters then I wouldn't want to go back to Hogwarts since I'd think that my friends have abandoned me.” Harry informed her, rubbing his forehead. 

Truth be told, the elf's plan was working a little. He felt abandoned when he didn't get any letter from his best friends, but he would still have gone to Hogwarts though. 

Daphne, sensing his mood, pulled him in a hug.

“And here I was thinking that you'd abandoned Tracey and me.” groaned Daphne.

“Never.” Harry responded passionately, gripping her tight. 

Daphne smiled, pulling back.

“Was this a prank from Draco? If he was behind this then I'm going to freeze his bits.” She mumbled angrily. 

Harry chuckled and shook his head.

“No, the elf was doing this on his own. It seems that Lucius Malfoy is planning a disaster for Hogwarts and the elf wanted to save me.” Harry revealed in a cryptic voice.

“What?” 

“Don't worry, I'll take care of it.” He reassured her. 

He wasn't sure what that cursed diary would do. He was going to let that event happen to understand what the purpose of the diary was. Entertainment was needed and this might be it. Although he was going to monitor the diary closely so no one would get hurt. 

He wasn't concerned about others but only about Daphne and Tracey. 

He wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. He had decided to ignore Quirrell and in the end both Tracey and Daphne were roped into the incident. This time would be different.

“If you're sure.” Daphne answered uncertainly. She wanted to press him for answers, but decided to trust his judgement.

“Oh! I totally forgot, Tracey is miserable. She thinks you're avoiding her because you don't like her anymore.” Daphne glared at him. 

Harry rolled his eyes at her. She knew it wasn't his fault, but was still blaming him because Tracey was sad. 

When the matter concerned Tracey, Daphne didn't use her logic.

“As if I've the power to dislike Tracey. I don't know if anyone can really dislike Tracey.” He smiled, shaking his head at his friend's stupidity.

“True, but Tracey doesn't believe that. She's coming here in an hour for your birthday party. We both had planned to bake a cake and celebrate your birthday between the three of us and Astoria. I summoned you early just to give you warning, if Tracey isn't back to her normal self then I'm going to hurt you.” Daphne said coldly, jabbing her finger on his chest at every word.

“We'll tell her the real reason why I didn't reply to her letters. And if nothing works then I'll just give her a big hug and a kiss. She'll be fine after that.” He chuckled, rubbing his chest where Daphne had jabbed her finger for who knew how many times.

“Whatever, I don't care what you do, I just need her to be her normal self. Now you've one hour of free time, you'd go back to your relatives or you can stay here. It's up to you.”

“Definitely staying. I'm at the home of my favourite person after all.” Harry laughed. 

Daphne grinned at hearing that she was Harry's favourite person. Her smile was replaced by a scowl with his next sentence.

“Astoria, oh dear Astoria, where are you?” Harry said loudly, leaving her room.

“Prat.” she mumbled fondly.

~xXxXx~

Harry and Daphne were playing chess on her bed while Astoria was cheering for Harry.

“Whose side are you on?” Daphne asked in an annoyed voice.

“Harry, of course.” Astoria grinned at her. 

Harry had a smirk on his face. Before they could start their usual yapping, the door opened. 

Tracey entered the room. Her gaze locked on the trio and she gave them an unsure smile. 

Harry jumped off the bed and charged at her. She didn't have any time to react as Harry hugged her. 

Then he tightened his grip on her waist and picked her off her feet, revolving on his heels. 

She squeaked as her feet left the floor.

“Harry! Put me down.” she giggled.

He gently put her down and held her by her shoulders, his lips curved in a delightful smile.

“Tracey! Long time no see.” he grinned, placing a loud kiss on her cheek. 

Tracey's face shifted into different emotions. There was joy, there was confusion, there was embarrassment. Her face finally settled into a glare.

“Why didn't you reply to my letters?” She asked. 

Harry shook his head and led her to the bed where the sisters were watching them with amusement. 

Harry and Daphne then told her about the elf who stole their letters.

“Oh! I'm so sorry, Harry, that you thought we abandoned you. I'll never do that.” Tracey said sadly.

“I know. I should have visited you to clarify the situation, but I was just being stupid in thinking that if you don't want me then I also don't want you.” Harry smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. 

After clearing their problem, the trio and Astoria enjoyed the day by playing with each other and celebrating Harry's birthday.

~xXxXx~

Today was 27th August. 

There was a little girl sitting on her small cot. 

Her bed wasn't the only one in the small room. There were two more which were currently unoccupied. The beds were the only furniture in the room. 

They were placed parallel to each other. Two beds against the walls while the third in the middle of the two beds. 

The girl was sitting on the bed which was placed against the right wall. She had dull emerald eyes and dark red hair. She was staring at the letter which was dropped in her room by a strange owl. 

Her gaze shifted from the letter. The owl was still on her bed, just a foot away.

She quickly slid off the bed and looked under her bed. 

She snatched her bag and rummaged through it, looking for a paper and a pen. She hastily wrote the note, agreeing to go to the school of witchcraft and wizardry. Then she tied her agreement on the owl's leg. 

The owl hooted a farewell and flew away out of the window.

A small smile crept over her lips for the first time in so many years. 

She finally knew her last name. She finally had her identity. 

She wasn't just Iris. 

She was Iris Potter. 

It may have not been a big deal for anyone else, but for Iris it was a hope. 

If Hogwarts knew her last name then they must know about her family. There must be someone who would want her, who would take her away from this wretched orphanage. 

The smile slowly dimmed just like her eyes. 

‘But what if they abandon me like others because I am a freak?’ she thought sadly. 

The small rays of hope which were finally able to pierce her clouds of sorrow were suddenly snuffed out.

~xXxXx~

The next day came with a stern looking woman. Her eyes widened in surprise when the woman saw the 11 year old girl.

“Merlin!” She exclaimed. 

Iris just stood in front of the lady and tried not to squirm. Did she already do something wrong?

“Hullo!” She said in a small voice. 

The woman tried to maintain her emotions, but wasn't totally successful.

“I had my doubts and thought it was just a coincidence, but seeing how you look just turned the world upside down.” said Professor McGonagall.

“What do you mean?” Iris asked, feeling dreadful.

“No one knew that there was another Potter alive. It will cause an uproar in the wizarding world.” Professor McGonagall mumbled to herself.

“Do you know about my family?” Iris asked in a hopeful voice. 

Professor smiled sadly.

“Yes, we will talk about them, but let's get out of here first.”

Professor then asked her to hold her hand. Iris did so. 

Suddenly, Iris felt that her body was squeezed through a thin pipe, the sensation lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough to make her puke. 

Professor smiled sympathetically and led her to a house.

“Where are we going?” asked Iris.

“There are two types of orphan students in Hogwarts. Firstly, we have orphans whose fees are taken care of by Hogwarts management. Secondly, there are those whose family had left behind a huge sum of money. Seeing your parents were of the latter group, we are here to ask for the vault key from your brother.”

“I have a brother?” Iris gasped in pleasant surprise, giddiness bubbling in her stomach.

“Yes. His name is Harry. Let's go meet him.” The professor knocked on the door. 

Iris was filled with trepidation. What if her brother didn't like her? What if he was a horrible person?

The door opened, revealing a tall woman with a long neck. She looked at them, her eyes widening at the sight of Iris. 

She stumbled back.

“Lily?” She asked. 

Iris shook her head.

“I'm Iris. Who's Lily?” questioned Iris.

“Your mother. You look exactly like her.” Professor replied instead, her voice laced with sorrow.

“Mrs. Dursley, we are here to see Harry. Is he home?” Professor McGonagall asked.

“Yes. I'll go get him.” She said hastily and went back without inviting them in.

“That was your aunt – Petunia Dursley.” Professor McGonagall answered her unasked question. 

Iris just nodded, not knowing what else to say.

Two minutes later, her aunt returned with a boy. The boy had bright emerald eyes and black messy hair which oddly made him look prettier. He was wearing a green t-shirt and black pants. 

He stiffened seeing her. He looked at her from head to toe.

She was a skinny red-haired girl with dull green eyes. Her clothes seemed as if they were second hand, maybe even third-hand.

“Who's she?” Harry asked the professor.

“She is your little sister.”

Harry looked back and forth between them.

“If this is a joke then it is a very poor one.” Harry said, though he knew that the professor was telling the truth. 

He looked back at the girl who was squirming in her place with her head bowed low.

“It is not a joke. I came to know about her after receiving her Hogwarts acceptance letter.”

Harry sighed and asked them to come inside. He led them to the living room. They both sat on a sofa. He sat in front of them. 

The trio remained silent for at least five minutes. 

The silence was suffocating. 

Harry's mind raced with different thoughts throughout this time.

“What's your name?” Harry asked the girl.

“My name is Iris Potter.” Iris tried to smile, more of a grimace. He gave her a warm smile, making her blush.

“Where do you live?”

“In an orphanage.”

That answer brought another long silence.

“Sorry to disturb your reunion, but I am on a schedule. I need to take Miss Potter to Diagon Alley. I needed the key to your vaults to pay for Miss Potter's school things.” Professor McGonagall interrupted.

“Of course. I'll be back in a minute.” Harry said and went to his room. 

He came back with a key.

“Would you mind if I join you? I'd like to spend some time with my long lost sister.” Harry said half jokingly.

“It won't be a problem, Mr Potter.” Professor agreed.

~xXxXx~

The three were walking in Diagon Alley, Professor McGonagall in front while the siblings a couple of steps behind her. 

Iris was tense, she didn't know what to do. She never had a brother, she never had any family, how was she to know how to interact with him. 

Harry had the same problem. Though his outer demeanour showed that he was relaxed, internally he was anything but that. He wanted to ask her hundreds of questions, but didn't know where to start.

“I will give you back your money when I become an adult and have a job.” Iris whispered anxiously. 

Harry tilted his head at her and couldn't stop a smile taking over his lips.

“What is mine is yours. You don't have to pay anything back.” He replied. 

Iris started to protest, but silenced herself seeing his mild glare. 

They continued walking in silence. Iris noticed that many people were staring at him and whispering to each other.

“Why are they staring at you?” She asked. 

Harry rubbed his forehead, preparing to tell her the whole history regarding Voldemort. 

He told her about Halloween night, when their parents died saving Harry and presumably her also. He told her about how he defeated the dark lord when he was one year old.

“But that doesn't make sense.” Iris interrupted him.

“Here is your first lesson about the Wizarding world, the people here aren't logical.” He said, rolling his eyes. 

Iris wanted to ask him why he was with their uncle and aunt while she had been dropped off in an orphanage, but knew that he wouldn't know the answer. 

Hearing from him made her realise that she wasn't supposed to even exist in the wizarding world. No one knew there was another child of James and Lily Potter. No one knew whether she had been present in the Potter Cottage on that fateful night. And if not, then where was she?

“Do you hate me?” She blurted out. Harry gave her a look which made her feel stupid.

“No. Should I?”

“I don't know.” Iris murmured helplessly, wringing her hands. 

Professor McGonagall was listening in to their conversation from the start and felt sympathetic. She didn't know what was happening. Did even Headmaster Dumbledore know that there was another Potter?

Harry stepped closer to her as they walked and put an arm around her shoulder.

“Everything will be alright. We'll have a very long conversation when we get back home.”

Iris mustered a small smile, leaning into him.. 

Then the time was spent shopping for her school materials after acquiring gold from Gringotts. 

Harry had already done his shopping with Tracey and the Greengrass sisters so he was quite bored following his sister. He was adamant that Iris should have more clothes when she protested about spending too much. 

In the end, they both left the shop with dozens of clothes for Iris. 

Harry sighed in relief when the shopping was finally done. 

Professor McGonagall dropped them in front of their house and went back to Hogwarts to discuss the matter with Dumbledore. She also said that she would inform the orphanage about her disappearance and would take care of it. She told Iris that her things from the orphanage would be at her new home.

Harry took Iris into his room and they stood in the doorway.

“What you are going to see will be kept as a secret and you won't tell anyone about it.” He said without looking at her. 

Iris tensed, but agreed. 

In an instant, the room changed dramatically. The size was still the same, but there were two single sized beds instead of one. One on the right and the other on the left. There were two bedside tables beside each bed. There were two cupboards in front of each bed against the wall. 

Iris rubbed her eyes to see if she was imagining things. 

She wasn't.

“How did you do that?” She asked in wonder.

“Magic.” Harry smirked and sat on his bed. 

Iris climbed on her own bed in daze and picked her bag which was somehow exported from the orphanage. She also put the newly bought books and clothes on the bed. 

She then spent her time arranging her clothes and books in her cupboard. 

Harry meanwhile was reading his book. How the hat didn't even consider Ravenclaw for him was a mystery.

Iris found it odd that when later she and Harry went for dinner downstairs, her aunt and uncle seemed afraid of him. 

She didn't comment on it. 

She also met her cousin Dudley who was quite fat and had terrible table manners. 

Her relatives didn't try to converse with her and dinner was an affair of silence. When it was over, Harry and Iris went back to their room. 

He divided the room in half with a black curtain so they would have their privacy when needed. 

The next few hours were spent talking with each other. Iris told Harry about her life at the orphanage which wasn't really good. Iris could see the anger seeping out of him after hearing the years of bullying she had to endure. 

Iris was pleasantly surprised that it felt very good to have someone angry for her. Eventually, Harry pulled the curtain and they both went to sleep.

~xXxXx~

Harry was troubled with the recent events. 

He suddenly had a little sister, he suddenly had a responsibility. Fates must be laughing at him now. He wanted freedom and was free until now with no familial relations and no adult supervision. He was free to do anything, but now he had a responsibility to take care of his sister.

But why wasn't her existence known? Why was she at an orphanage instead of Privet Drive? Harry didn't know if it was better that she was in an orphanage instead of at the Dursleys. 

He was pretty sure that Iris wasn't at the house when Voldemort attacked them. He didn't remember any cries of another child when Voldemort had killed their mother. 

Then, where was she on that night? With those questions in his mind he fell into a restless sleep. 

At 2:50 am, he was woken up by a stifled scream.

“Don't go. Please don't go. I'll be a good girl. Don't leave me, Harry.” A cry echoed in the room. Harry leapt from his bed and went through the curtain. 

Iris was writhing on her bed. Her eyelids were fluttering. Her cheeks were wet from tears.

“Please, Harry, don't leave me back at the orphanage.” Iris pleaded in her sleep. 

Harry sat on her bed and shook her shoulders.

“Iris, wake up. It's just a nightmare.” He said softly. 

Iris opened her eyes suddenly. She sat up and took deep breaths. After a minute, she guiltily looked at Harry.

“Sorry for waking you up.” she murmured in regret. 

Harry shook his head and smiled at her.

“No worries. Let's go back to sleep.” He said and laid beside her.

“Uhm, Harry? This is my bed. I mean it is technically your bed as you created it with magic–” Iris started before Harry pulled her beside him.

“I have a very bad habit of cuddling. You've been warned, little one.” He grinned at her. 

Iris blushed when Harry threw his one arm around her and wrapped her within his grasp, pulling her close to him.

“Little one?” she asked.

“Yep. It is your nickname.”

“I don't like it.” She scrunched her nose. Sure, she was a head shorter than him and was younger than him, but still she didn't want to be called that.

“Tough luck, I don't care.” Harry smiled, patting her cheek. 

Iris was annoyed, but couldn't help smiling and cuddling against him.

“Goodnight, Harry.” she mumbled on his chest.

“Goodnight, little one.” He said softly, caressed her head. 

She made an irritated noise at hearing that nickname, but Harry ignored that.

‘Maybe being responsible won't be that bad.’ Harry thought and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

9. Let There be Sister

Harry woke up early and slid out of Iris's grasp gently, so as not to wake her up. 

He caught the sight of his painting on the ceiling. He sighed, removing the image and replacing it with a plain white colour. 

He didn't know if Iris had noticed it or not, but he wasn't going to share his heart's deepest desire with his new roommate, even if she was his sister. 

When he returned after freshening up, Iris was already awake. 

The curtain was pulled aside. She was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed under her. She smiled nervously when he sat on his bed.

“Good morning… big brother.” she greeted him unsurely. Harry raised his eyebrow at hearing that, cringing inside. 

“You do know that ‘big brother’ sounds too lame?” Harry said, smirking at her. Her cheeks reddened. “I'm only a year older than you.”

“Good morning, Harry.” she corrected.

“You know what? I liked the sound of ‘big brother’ even if it made me cringe.” His eyes glinted with mischief.

Iris glared at him.

“Good morning, big brother.” she said again, gritting her teeth. 

Harry chuckled.

“Good morning, Iris. Sleep well?”

She nodded. 

She chewed her lower lip nervously, wanting to ask Harry many questions, but not knowing if it would annoy him. 

Harry rolled his eyes at her indecisiveness.

“What is it?” asked Harry.

“Why aren't our relatives talking with me?”

“Why do you want them to? They're stupid brainless pigs. Don't pay them any attention.” Harry said brashly. 

Iris stayed silent. 

The biggest question she wanted to ask was, ‘Are you a horrible person? Did you use your magic to hurt our aunt and uncle? Is that why they are scared of you?’ but she didn't. 

She nodded her head defeatedly. 

Harry knew that she was still itching to ask questions, but didn't have courage to do so. He wasn't going to open up by himself. She would have to put some effort if she wanted to know more.

“Let's go eat breakfast.”

With that said, he opened the door and descended downstairs. 

The breakfast was the repeat of dinner. 

The silence at the table was disturbing. 

She tried to converse with her aunt and cousin, but they replied with only a few words. When she said she would clean the plates, her relatives' eyes widened and they declined vehemently. 

In all this, Harry was amused with his sister's and relatives' antics. He could have informed his sister about the situation in the house, but refrained to see how much time would she need to confront him. 

After breakfast, the siblings stayed in their room. 

Harry and Iris busied themselves with reading their magical books. Iris was astonished after reading about the wizarding world. She looked at her brother who was reading a very thick leather bound book. 

She wanted to ask him some questions about the things she read in a book, but didn't have courage to disturb him. It wasn't as if she was scared of him, far from it. Harry had been friendly towards her since she first met him. 

She just didn't know if Harry was one of those people who got angry if bothered while reading. 

She sort of liked him. 

She wasn't sure if she could call him a family yet, after all, she met him just yesterday. But she was confident that given time, she could grow her bond with him. 

She could finally have a family. 

A brother. 

She smiled shyly when she remembered last night. 

She had been yelled at by others at the orphanage when she screamed due to her nightmares and woke up the other girls in her room. That was the reason why she slept with her face buried in her pillow. But Harry still woke up from her stifled scream. 

She was ashamed and a little apprehensive when he sat at her bed. She had prepared herself for his anger, but it never came. 

He had just smiled at her sympathetically and pulled her beside him. He had encompassed her in a warm embrace and lifted her mood with his humour. She didn't tell him that it was her first hug and she was overjoyed. 

Though she was still unsure if she liked her nickname or not. After that, she had a restful sleep.

She returned to her book and decided that she would ask him when he was free. 

The time passed swiftly. The dinner was the same. Seeing her relatives' behaviour put a black mark on her brother. 

If he was that amazing then why were they afraid of him. She buried that question in the back of her mind and decided she won't think about that anymore. 

She shouldn't care what Harry did with others. Right? 

He was friendly to her. That should be the only thing that should matter. She wouldn't mess it up. She finally had a brother and she wouldn't lose him, no matter what. 

That night when time came to go to sleep, she wanted to ask Harry to come to her bed again, to hug her again, but she instead wished him goodnight and laid on her bed. 

She shouldn't act clingy, what if he got irritated with her for that behaviour?

“Hello, little one.” Harry said as he laid beside her. 

She couldn't believe her luck. 

She didn't even have to ask.

“Did you really think that I would miss the chance to cuddle with my cute little sister?” He grinned, pulling her against him. 

She sighed in comfort and relief. 

There goes another night without a nightmare.

“I hope you're not a pervert.” she replied, suppressing a smile. 

Harry chuckled as he ran his finger through her hair. Iris mumbled in appreciation.

“I don't believe so, but my best friends have called me that earlier. So, kick me when you feel uneasy. Though be gentle.” He quipped, tapping her forehead. 

She rolled her eyes, proceeding to ask him about his best friends. 

Harry then spent an hour talking about Tracey and Daphne. Iris saw his fond smile while talking about them and knew that they meant a lot to him. 

She decided she would try her best to get along with them.

“It's getting late. We should sleep. Goodnight, little one.” He smiled at her and placed a light kiss on her forehead. 

She was absolutely surprised by this, but a brimming smile took over her face.

“Goodnight, big brother.” she replied in a chirpy voice, dipping her head so the top of her head was touching his chest and he couldn't see her blush. 

The next hour passed and Iris still couldn't sleep. She looked up and saw him sleeping peacefully. 

She kissed his forehead unsurely.

“Thank you.” she whispered, but he didn't reply. 

She curled against his chest, and it took another half an hour before sleep took her.

The next few days passed quickly and the day to board the Hogwarts train came. 

These last few days felt like heaven to Iris. She had remained in her room and read the first few pages of each subject. She had asked Harry whenever she couldn't understand something and Harry gladly explained it to her. 

She was confident that she would do good in her first classes.

Harry and Iris were sitting opposite to each other in an empty compartment. The door slid open and three girls stepped inside.

“Harry!” The three exclaimed and took turns hugging him. 

Iris was gaping as Harry embraced each of them and kissed the two girls' cheeks. He slid aside to leave the window seat where a girl with brown hair sat. 

The one with the blonde hair sat beside Harry on the other side. The third girl who had dark hair and blue eyes slumped beside Iris. She gave Iris a questioning look. 

Iris mustered a small smile.

“Harry? Who's she?” The girl beside her asked. 

The other two girls also looked shocked as if they hadn't noticed her earlier.

“Allow me. This is Tracey Davis, This is Daphne Greengrass and this one is her little sister, Astoria Greengrass.” Harry pointed to each of them. 

Iris nodded, memorising each of their faces.

“And this is my little sister, Iris Potter.” Harry announced. 

It was met with dead silence. The others were looking expectant, waiting for a punchline. 

When a minute passed in silence, Daphne finally groaned and lightly smacked her forehead.

“I always tell myself that I won't be surprised, that I'll always expect the unexpected from Harry, but this still blew my mind. How in the hell did you conjure a sister out of nowhere?” Daphne asked, her voice a mixture of wonder and annoyance. 

After that, Tracey and Astoria started asking questions at the same time which made it impossible to understand what they were asking. 

Harry meanwhile, just looked out of the window, his head resting on Daphne's shoulder who was the only other person beside Iris being silent.

“Harry? Answer my questions.” Tracey said, glaring at him. 

A sad smile adorned his face.

“This is the saddest story ever. Brace yourself.” Harry said softly. 

Iris arched her brows. She knew her life wasn't good, but she couldn't call it ‘The saddest’.

“It all started when I went for a walk in my neighbourhood.’ Harry began the tale. 

The girls in the compartment were silent, listening to his every word with full concentration.

“When I passed by a restaurant, a small little girl was standing outside the shop, leering at the delicious food.”

Iris made a choking noise. ‘But that didn't happen...oh!’ she realised that he was just going to make a bizarre story out of the real situation. 

The others gave her sympathetic smiles, except Daphne who appeared amused.

“‘Are you hungry little one?’ I asked the little girl. She seemed afraid of me at first, but seeing my benign smile, her fears were put to rest and she dropped into heart-wrenching sobs. Seeing her sorrow brought tears to my eyes. She said that she hadn't eaten for a week which made my heart stop for a moment. Filled with the need to make the girl happy, I ordered food and let her eat to her heart's content. 

“After finishing her meal, she smiled at me and called me her ‘big brother’ which just created an instant bond between us and I adopted her in the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. I was happy that she was a witch, otherwise there might have been problems. And that is how this little creature came to become my little sister.” Harry finished his story with a melancholic smile. 

Astoria was looking at him as if he was a God in human skin while Tracey had finally decided that he was just spouting bullshit. 

Daphne was trying so hard not to roll her eyes at his antics while Iris was covering her face with her hands, most probably feeling embarrassed that Harry was making her seem like a poor beggar.

“You are so kind, Harry.” Astoria said, wonder filled in her eyes.

“I know. You know you can show your gratitude by hugging me. I'm a big fan of hugs.” He smiled. 

Astoria stood from her seat and hugged Harry tightly. He grinned, clasping his hands around her waist. 

After a few seconds, Daphne hit his head.

“Enough. No flirting with my sister. And start telling the truth.” Daphne said exasperatedly. Tracey nodded. 

Astoria seemed surprised, returning to her seat.

“Was he lying?” she asked.

“Of course.” Iris stated, glaring at her brother who just winked at her.

“Yes, when he said ‘benign smile’, I knew he was lying. He doesn't show his genuine smile to strangers, at least not immediately. There are various ways in which Harry smiles. And let's just not talk about Harry's sympathy.” Tracey explained. 

Daphne nodded at her assessment. 

Astoria and Iris gave Tracey a suspicious look which she didn't see.

“You know I can be kind and a good person.” Harry mumbled which no one paid attention to.

“And I don't know how you two missed that Iris has the same eyes as him. Her chin is also identical with Harry's. There are many other similarities in their faces. They're obviously blood related, there's no need for adoption.” Daphne revealed, smirking at Astoria and Tracey who looked abashed for not noticing the obvious clues.

“My dear Daphne, observant as ever.” Harry grinned, squeezing her shoulder.

“Now start again, but this time we need the truth.” Daphne ordered, trying hard not to let a satisfied smile appear on her face. 

Harry nodded as his demeanour changed. He recited how he met her and the mystery of how she landed in an orphanage instead of with Harry. When he was finished, the three were frowning.

“How're you going to figure out how she ended in an orphanage?” Daphne asked him.

“Dumbledore. He must know something. His response will decide if his long life will continue or not.” Harry answered, rubbing his forehead.

“Are you saying that you'll fight the most powerful wizard of this era on your own?” Astoria asked sceptically.

“You are joking, right?” Iris followed up. She didn't want Harry to start a fight for her. She didn't want to see him get hurt.

“Of course, I'm joking.” Harry assured her. 

Tracey and Daphne exchanged glances surreptitiously.

When they stepped out of the Hogwarts express, the second year Slytherins went to the carriages while Astoria and Iris had to go by a boat.

“Take care of Iris.” Harry had said to Astoria when they were parting to go different ways and were both alone for a second. 

Astoria smiled and nodded, running after Iris who was already walking towards Hagrid where all the first years were gathering.

~xXxXx~

It felt like a dream to Iris. 

A beautiful dream. 

The journey through the lake on a boat with Astoria. 

The first glimpse of Hogwarts castle. 

The enchanted ceiling of the castle. 

She felt like she was in a trance. Her legs worked on their own, dragging her wherever she needed to go. 

Her senses were overwhelmed with the new experiences. She was taking it all in and at the same time she wasn't. 

She stood in a queue, waiting for her name to be called. Astoria had already joined her sister in the Slytherin house. 

Iris was nervous, she was just a step away from running away and hiding in a corner. There were other first years who were giving her strange looks as she wasn't participating in their hushed conversations. 

She glanced at everything. The tables on which the older students were sitting, her eyes caught Harry's and he gave her an encouraging smile and a nod. She couldn't help, but let a smile bloom on her face. 

Then she looked at the head table where various teachers were sitting. When her gaze locked with a slick black haired professor, his eyes widened at the sight of her. 

She gave him a questioning look which he ignored and never again looked at her.

“Potter, Iris.” Professor McGonagall said loudly. 

There was a pin drop silence, and in an instant it was replaced by hundreds of whisperings. 

She walked to the stool and put the hat over her head, a quietness enveloped her mind.

‘Another Potter, who knew a miracle could happen.’ Iris heard a voice inside her head.

She was surprised and a gasp escaped her lips.

‘Yes, yes, we can talk in your mind and yes, it is brilliant. Now let's place you in a house.’ the hat went on in her head.

‘You are a loyal and hard-working girl. There are other good qualities, you are intelligent and there is also courage but your loyalty and diligence overshadows your other attributes. You will make a very good Hufflepuff.’

‘I want to be in Slytherin.’ Iris thought passionately.

‘That is the worst house for you. You don't have an ounce of cunning and I can't see any ambition in you. You will be miserable there.’ The hat tried to reason.

‘No, my brother is there and I want to be with him. I want to be with him forever.’ Iris pleaded. 

There was silence for a second. Iris was pretty sure that the hat sighed heavily.

‘That is the loyalty I am talking about, but I can see that you have made up your mind.’

“Slytherin!” The hat announced. 

Iris’ robes changed into Slytherin ones and she walked to the Slytherin table with a spring in her steps and a smile on her lips.

She sat beside Astoria and in front of Harry. 

He grinned at her.

“Welcome, little one.”

~xXxXx~

The time during dinner was very uncomfortable for Iris. She had thought that after the initial reaction, people would return to their own business, but she had thought wrong. 

The whisperings and staring were making her uneasy. She was used to being unnoticed, merging in the crowd, hiding in a corner. 

The sudden attention felt alien to her. 

She looked at Harry who was laughing with Daphne while Tracey looked embarrassed. She turned to look at Astoria who was also watching the same scene. Her face was set in confusion. 

Iris nudged her.

“What is that look for?” she asked. 

In a short time, Iris had started considering Astoria a friend. They had gotten along well since they met in the train compartment. She had spent most of her time on the train talking with Astoria as Harry, Tracey and Daphne were busy among themselves, excluding them unintentionally.

“Nothing.” Astoria mumbled.

Iris gave her a sceptical look, but didn't press her. 

She again returned to her food which was delicious. When she was done, the first years were taken to their common room by prefects. 

Iris and Astoria marvelled at their first look of the Slytherin common room. The older students also entered the room after five minutes. 

Harry smiled at her, as he along with the two girls sat on a sofa in a corner. Iris listened carefully to what the prefects were saying. 

Harry and the girls approached them when the prefects went away.

“How're you feeling?” Harry asked, standing beside her.

“Just overwhelmed.” Iris answered. 

Harry smiled sympathetically. “You'll get used to it.”

Iris didn't know whether he was talking about the wondrous magic or the quizzical looks and whisperings of which she was the subject of. 

She just nodded. 

He looked at either side of him and when he was sure no one was looking, he took her in a corner and pressed a white handkerchief in her hand. 

Before she could ask what it was, he answered seriously. “This is a magical cloth.” 

She wanted to roll her eyes at this. Of course it was magical otherwise she already had her own handkerchief.

“If you have nightmares and can't sleep, just say my name while holding it. The cloth will bring you to my room.”

A warm smile crossed her face at his consideration. Truth be told, she was a little angry at him and felt that she was being ignored by him at the dinner, though she knew it was false. Harry was just enjoying his time with his friends. 

Was it wrong to want to be the centre of his attention all the time? Who could blame her after finally finding a family?

She hugged him.

“Thank you.” she muttered. 

Harry smiled and led her back to where the others were standing. 

Astoria and Daphne were trading barbs while Tracey was looking exasperatedly at them. There they wished each other goodnight and went to their own dorm rooms.

~xXxXx~

Headmaster Dumbledore was sitting in his chair and doing some paperwork when there was a knock on his office door.

“Enter.” He said as he put aside the quill. 

Professor Snape barged in with his dark robes billowing behind him. Snape had a sour expression on his face as he sat in the seat in front of him. He gave the headmaster an expectant look. 

The Headmaster sighed, removing his glasses and rubbing them with his thumbs.

“Severus, I assure you that I didn't know about Iris Potter's existence.” He said, putting his glasses back on.

“So, she is not really Lily's child?”

“Of course she is. Didn't you see her face?”

“How is it possible?” Snape asked, putting his elbows on the table.

“I investigated her and found some unfortunate facts. Lily birthed a stillborn child at Saint Mungo's which was known to very few. I decided to visit Saint Mungo a few days earlier to find some clues. With the help of some discrete spells, I found out about the exchange of children on 27 August, 1981.”

Dumbledore paused here as he pinched his nose. 

Snape was leaning forward in interest.

“There was another women who went in labour and had a miscarriage. Knowing that her wife won't be able to live after a fifth miscarriage, Manny Murphy bribed a nurse to swap the dead child with the alive one. Unfortunately, that child was Iris, who got swapped. In one room a woman rejoiced that she finally had a child while in another room, a woman was wrecked with sorrow seeing the body of stillborn child.”

Dumbledore smiled grimly as he wiped away a stray tear. 

Snape's usual sneer was replaced by a sombre expression.

“Why was she in an orphanage? I can't fathom why the couple would abandon her after getting her through illegal means?” questioned Snape.

“Unfortunately for the Murphy family, they were muggleborn and were met with a terrible end. Few months later, the couple were killed in a Death Eater raid, leaving Iris an orphan who was then sent to a nearby orphanage by the neighbours. And that is how Iris's existence wasn't even known to her own parents.”

They both remained silent, sympathetic to Iris who had to suffer through an orphanage just because a man decided his wife's happiness was more important than anyone else's.

“You should tell them.” Snape advised.

“Yes. I'll call them tomorrow.”

With that, Snape stood up and left the Headmaster's office.

~xXxXx~

Harry was lying on his bed, thinking how he was going to find the truth about his sister's misfortune when a body dropped on him. 

Two ‘ows’ echoed in his room. 

Harry pushed Iris aside, making her topple beside him, clutching her stomach. 

He rubbed his chest where her head had collided.

“You are too soon. I thought you were going to join me at midnight.” grumbled Harry.

“I thought, why wait for a nightmare when I can avoid it.” Iris said sheepishly. 

Harry stared at her and she realised that she had indirectly confessed to him that he could make her nightmares disappear. 

She buried her face on his shoulder, hiding her embarrassment. 

Harry chuckled, patting her head.

“Say no more. It's now decided that you'll sleep with me until you grow up.”

“I'm grown up.” she said defiantly on his shoulder.

“Then you can't sleep beside me. It'll feel wrong. Now go back to your room. Big girls don't need their brothers to fight off their nightmares.” Harry laughed, trying to push her off the bed.

“Hey! Okay, okay. I'm still a little girl. Fine?” she said, annoyance clear in her voice.

“Good.” He replied, pulling her against him. Her back to his chest, his chin resting on top of her head.

“So? How do you like Hogwarts?” he asked curiously. 

The next five minutes were filled with Iris's awed voice as she described her journey through the boat and her sighting of Hogwarts for the first time. 

Harry listened aptly, smiling as he found her voice adorable.

“The only problem is the other students. I don't like being stared at.” she mumbled.

“I know the feeling. It'll get better, but there'll still be some students who'll continue their gossip. You should just ignore them or if they really start to bother you then I'll take care of it.”

Iris nodded her head, having an inkling that Harry would scare them off. 

She had deduced that Harry wasn't shy to use his powers for hurting others.

“Tomorrow, you'll get your schedule. It will be fun. You'll definitely enjoy Charms. Professor Flitwick is a great teacher. Professor McGonagall is strict, but the Transfiguration class is an interesting one. Potions is also good if you have the power to ignore Snape's rude insults and his ever-present scowl.”

“Hmm.” she agreed.

“How did you like my best friends?” Harry asked.

“They're good. I like them, but I wanted to ask you, why don't you have any male friends?”

“That is a good question. Honestly, I didn't really try to make any new friends after I befriended Daphne and Tracey.” Harry replied truthfully. 

She nodded, accepting his answer. They continued their conversation, talking about nothing in particular. After what felt like minutes but was more than an hour, Harry decided it was time to sleep.

“Goodnight, little one.” he said, pressing his lip on her hair.

“Goodnight, big brother.” she smiled back, turning her head and pressing a kiss on his cheek. 

His smile grew as she curled against his chest, her back pressed to his front. 

Harry's one arm snaked around her while he tucked his other hand under his pillow, so his head was above the hand and pillow. 

Harry still didn't know how he felt about her calling him ‘big brother’. On one hand, it filled his body with warmth and made him smile, while on the other hand, it was a bit cringy. 

At least she didn't call him that in front of others. Harry was thankful for that. 

He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Chapter Text

10. Even Psychopaths Like Kisses

Harry shook Iris awake. 

She yawned, stretching her arms above her head. 

She sat up and smiled lazily.

“Good morning, big brother.”

“Good morning, little one.” Harry said, pecking on her forehead. “I woke you up early so you can go back to your room without being noticed. Being in the dorm room of a different gender is prohibited. You don't want to break the school rule on your first day, do you?”

She shook her head. 

She slid off his bed and checked her clothing. She was wearing a white t-shirt and loose black shorts. 

Harry handed her a silvery robe which was smooth to touch.

“What's this?” she asked curiously, running her palm on the strange cloth.

“It's an invisibility cloak. And it's our father's. Take care of it. I may ask you to return it someday, but until then, use it to come and go from my room. The handkerchief was a one off thing. Its magic is consumed and now it's just a normal cloth. Go before anyone wakes up.” He informed her. 

She nodded her head as she wrapped the cloak over her shoulders. She knew that it was supposed to make her invisible, but was still awed when her body disappeared, bar her head. 

She grinned at the magical artefact. Her grin dimmed as she looked at him.

“Are you sure you want me to take the cloak?” she asked unsurely. 

Harry rolled his eyes and ruffled her already disarrayed hair.

“It's not like I'm giving it to you permanently, I'm just letting you borrow it for a while. Enjoy it until you can. Now, shoo, I need a shower.” He chuckled. 

She grinned again and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you, big brother. I'll take care of it.” She thanked him. She finally covered her head with the cloak and walked out of his room, invisible.

‘What will she think when she realises that she's using the fabled Death's Invisibility Cloak?’ Harry pondered with amusement, entering the bathroom. 

Harry had read ‘The Deathly Hallows’ story in the book ‘The Tales of Beedle the Bard’. He had been astonished by his luck when he had felt the deathly aura coming from the newly received silvery cloak. 

Harry had then laughed in delight. Here he was trying to find ways to defeat death while one of three instruments of Death had fallen in his lap from nowhere. He was still unsure who gave him the gift, but was determined to find out. 

After an hour, he went into the common room to find very few students sprawled on the sofas. 

He went to his usual seat and opened a book on curses. He began reading about some very painful curses. 

He was so engrossed in his reading that he missed the arrival of his sister. She walked up to him and stood in front of him.

“Good morning, Harry.” She greeted him. 

Harry looked up from his book and greeted back. 

She was wearing her robes, her red hair was done in a ponytail at the back of her head. Her eyes were now more similar to his. The usual dimness was replaced by excitement. 

He noted that she said ‘Harry’ instead of ‘big brother’. It seemed she liked to say that only when they were alone. Here, he decided he would follow her example and use her name in public while using ‘little one’ only when they were alone. It had nothing to do with how cringe their nicknames were for each other.

“Good morning, Iris.”

He patted the seat beside him. She nodded, slumping next to him. 

She remained silent while he read. Harry was thankful for that. 

Few minutes later, they were joined by Tracey, Daphne and Astoria. 

Harry enthusiastically hugged Tracey and Daphne in that order with a kiss on one cheek. He seemed unsure if he should hug Astoria or not, but she didn't have any hesitation and hugged him after rolling her eyes. 

They all departed for the Great Hall, Harry with his hands clasped with Tracey and Daphne on either side, while Astoria and Iris followed them a step behind, talking with each other, sharing the enthusiasm and eagerness to start their first class. 

After breakfast, Astoria and Iris went away to their first class, chatting excitedly with each other.

Harry, Tracey and Daphne were on their way to their first Defence Against the Dark Arts class of the year. 

The trio were 90 percent sure that class was going to be a farce, having observed Professor Lockhart who was going to teach that subject.

“At least he is good looking.” Tracey said carelessly as they made fun of him. 

Daphne and Harry gave her amused looks which made her realise what she had just said. Her face turned scarlet. “I mean he is handsome… of course not as much as you, Harry.”

She hastily clarified. 

Harry chuckled, squeezing her hand.

“It seems our Tracey has a crush on Lockhart. How… uninteresting. And I won't say Harry is handsome. He's cute, not handsome. There's a difference.” Daphne grinned. 

Harry shrugged, accepting it.

“I am just a preteen now, I'm expected to be cute. Give me a couple of years and you'll swoon at the sight of me.” He quipped. 

Daphne rolled her eyes while Tracey imagined an older version of Harry with a pleased sigh. 

Daphne again gave her an amused glance. 

Tracey caught her gaze, but looked away quickly, embarrassed, knowing that Daphne must have guessed what she was thinking. 

Their stroll was interrupted when a first year Gryffindor stopped before them.

“All right, Harry? I'm — I'm Colin Creevey,” he said breathlessly, taking a tentative step forward. “I'm in Gryffindor. D'you think, would it be all right if — can I have a picture?” he said, raising the camera hopefully.

“A picture?” Harry repeated blankly.

“So I can prove I've met you,” said Colin Creevey eagerly, edging further forward. “I know all about you. Everyone's told me. About how you survived when You-Know-Who tried to kill you and how he disappeared and everything and how you've still got a lightning scar on your forehead,” (though he was confused as there was only a faint scar rather than a red inflamed one he had imagined,) “and a boy in my dormitory said if I develop the film in the right potion, the pictures'll move." Colin drew a great shuddering breath of excitement and said, “It's amazing here, isn't it? I never knew all the odd stuff I could do was magic till I got the letter from Hogwarts. My dad's a milkman, he couldn't believe it either. So I'm taking loads of pictures to send home to him. And it'd be really good if I had one of you, Harry,” Colin looked imploringly at him. “Maybe your friend could take it and I could stand next to you? And then, could you sign it?”

Harry's mood soured at the mention of surviving the killing curse. How he wished people knew the real hero. His mother, who had saved his life by sacrificing hers. Still, he let a smirk cross his lips. It wasn't the kid's fault. He was just excited. Harry could relate to that feeling. The similar feeling he had when he first saw the golden mist coming out of his fingers. The feeling of wonder, and curiosity to unravel it.

“Sure. But I want a couple of photos of these ladies for myself. Let's have a deal, I'll let you have my photo along with an autograph for the pictures of these girls. Agree?”

“Yes.” Colin answered excitedly. 

The next few minutes were filled with snapping noise as Colin took their photos. A few with Harry alone, then a few singles of both Tracey and Daphne who just went with the flow, used to Harry's antics. Some with Harry and girls pressed to each other and the last with Harry and Colin standing side by side, captured by Daphne.

“I'll give you your photos after I develop it. Thank you very much.” Colin said and went away with a happy smile on his face.

“What was that about?” Daphne asked.

“That, my dear, was one of my fans. I wonder who has the bigger fandom, me or that Lockhart.” Harry said proudly. 

Tracey shook her head.

“What Daphne meant was, what was that about our photos? Why do you need it?” Tracey asked.

“Oh! That was just for me. Can't I have photos of my beautiful best friends to stare at when I'm away from them during summer break?” Harry said dreamily.

“You can be so damn cheesy when you want to.” Daphne groaned, but pressed a kiss on his cheek. 

Tracey did the same, though her kiss was a little closer to his lips. 

She shot Daphne a pointed look which screamed ‘challenge’. 

The blonde's lips curved into a smirk as she accepted the challenge. 

Harry grinned at both of them and continued walking, unaware of the friendly challenge which just ignited between Daphne and Tracey.

“Let's see who'll be his first kiss. You or me.” Daphne whispered. 

Tracey nodded.

“But no hard feelings from the loser. Our relationship with each other will remain the same no matter what.” Tracey demanded.

“Of course. I wouldn't destroy our relationship with each other, it is one of my most precious things.” Daphne nodded with a smile. 

She took Tracey's hand in hers and hurried after Harry, who was a little further away from them. 

The trio then entered the class and sat in the last seat. 

Fortunately for them, these benches sat three on one. After Slytherins sat on one side, the stream of Gryffindors entered the class. Jasmine smiled at him when she looked at him, and sat on the first bench with Hermione and Ron.

When the whole class was settled, Lockhart cleared his throat loudly and silence fell. 

He reached forward, picking up Neville Longbottom's copy of “Travels with Trolls” and held it up to show his own, winking portrait on the front.

“Me,” he said, pointing at it and winking as well. “Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming-Smile Award, but I won't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!”

He waited for them to laugh; a few people smiled weakly.

“I see you've all bought a complete set of my books - well done. I thought we'd start today with a little quiz. Nothing to worry about just to check how well you've read them, how much you've taken in!”

When he had handed out the test papers he returned to the front of the class and said, “You have thirty minutes, start!”

Harry looked down at his paper and read:

1. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favourite colour?

2. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?

3. What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?

On and on it went, Harry wasn't sure if he should start laughing at this pompous brat or question Dumbledore's sanity for hiring yet another useless teacher. 

He looked beside him and saw Daphne glaring at the paper. 

He was happy he wasn't in front of her glare. She could be damn scary when she wanted to. 

Then he looked to his left and saw Tracey's disappointed gaze. That was the look of a person who was suspicious of the authenticity of her favourite idol and had finally seen the sad truth. 

Harry tugged at her hand. She looked at his smug grin and rolled her eyes. He then snatched Daphne's hand, getting her attention. 

She gave him a questioning look.

“Let's not waste our time, if you want I'll tell you the theory of some spells so it would be easier to learn afterwards in the Room of Requirement. It's better then answering this stupid questions.” he whispered. 

The girls nodded their consent. They were always eager to learn some new stuff. While the rest of the class continued staring at the parchment in bewilderment, Harry taught the girls some theory on advanced spells. He had erected a silencing ward around them so their conversation wouldn't attract others' attention, though the ward let them hear the voices from outside so they wouldn't be caught off-guard.

Half an hour later, Lockhart collected the papers and rifled through them in front of the class. 

Harry's, Tracey's and Daphne's paper were blank which earned them an overly exaggerated sigh from Lockhart.

“Tut, tut, hardly any of you remembered that my favourite colour is lilac. I say so in Year with the Yeti. And a few of you need to read Wanderings with Werewolves more carefully – I clearly state in chapter twelve that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between all magic and non-magic peoples though I wouldn't say no to a large bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey!”

He gave them another roguish wink. Ron was looking at Lockhart with disbelief while Jasmine seemed disappointed in her new teacher. Only Hermione among them looked excited.

“... but Miss Hermione Granger knows that my secret ambition is to rid the world of evil and market my own range of hair-care options. In fact,” he flipped her paper. “full marks! Where is Miss Hermione Granger?”

Hermione raised a trembling hand. The Slytherin trio gave her amused looks. 

Harry thought she was intelligent, but it seems her logic was blinded by Lockhart's flashy smile.

“Excellent!” beamed Lockhart. “Quite excellent! Take ten points for Gryffindor! And so to business.”

He bent down behind his desk and lifted a large, covered cage onto it.

“Now – be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm.”

In spite of himself, Harry leaned around his pile of books for a better look at the cage. Lockhart placed a hand on the cover. Dean and Seamus had stopped laughing now. Neville was cowering in his front row seat.

“I must ask you not to scream,” said Lockhart in a low voice. “It might provoke them.”

As the whole class held its breath, Lockhart whipped off the cover.

“Yes,” he said dramatically. “Freshly caught Cornish pixies.”

Seamus Finnigan couldn't control himself. He let out a snort of laughter that even Lockhart couldn't mistake for a scream of terror. 

Harry let out an air of disappointment. He wanted to hit his head on a wall for even thinking that Lockhart could do something properly.

“Yes?” He smiled at Seamus.

“Well, they're not very – they're not dangerous, are they?” Seamus choked.

“Don't be so sure!” said Lockhart, waggling a finger annoyingly at Seamus. “Devilish tricky little blighters they can be!”

The pixies were electric blue and about eight inches high, with pointed faces and voices so shrill it was like listening to a lot of budgies arguing. 

The moment the cover had been removed, they had started jabbering and rocketing around, rattling the bars and making bizarre faces at the people nearest them.

“Right, then,” Lockhart said loudly. “Let's see what you make of them!” And he opened the cage.

It was pandemonium. 

The pixies shot in every direction like rockets. 

Two of them seized Neville by the ears and lifted him into the air. Several shot straight through the window, showering the back row with broken glass. The rest proceeded to wreck the classroom more effectively than a rampaging rhino. 

They grabbed ink bottles and sprayed the class with them, shredded books and papers, tore pictures from the walls, upended the wastebasket, grabbed bags and books and threw them out of the smashed window; within minutes, half the class was sheltering under desks and Neville was swinging from the iron chandelier in the ceiling.

“Come on now — round them up, round them up, they're only pixies,” Lockhart shouted. He rolled his up sleeves, brandished his wand, and bellowed, “Peskipiksi Pesternomi!”

It had absolutely no effect; one of the pixies seized his wand and threw it out of the window, too. Lockhart gulped and dived under his own desk, narrowly avoiding being squashed by Neville, who fell a second later as the chandelier gave way.

The bell rang and there was a mad rush toward the exit. Harry led Daphne and Tracey out, their laughter hidden by shouts and screams. 

In the relative calm that followed, Lockhart straightened up, caught sight of Jasmine, Ron, and Hermione, who were almost on the way to the door, and said “Well, I'll ask you three to just nip the rest of them back into their cage.” He swept past them and shut the door quickly behind him.

~xXxXx~

The trio were in the hallways, laughing. The whole chaos in the classroom had been hilarious. Poor Neville was stuck on the ceiling while Lockhart's wand was thrown out of the window.

“This year is going to be useless for DADA class.” Tracey said, shaking her head.

“At least we have Harry to teach us.” Daphne grinned, flinging her arm around his neck.

“Yep. Why do you need that fraudhart when you've the brilliant Harry?” He said smugly and began walking.

“Fraudhart. That's a perfect name.” smirked Daphne.

“I feel bad for other students. We'd Professor Quirrell last year and now we've Professor Lockhart.”

“True. But we should just worry about ourselves. Iris and Astoria are included of course.” He replied. 

Tracey nodded. 

They went to the common room since this was their free period. They sat at their place in the corner. 

Harry took out a book on advanced spells and put it on his lap.

“Come on Harry, just enjoy a free period. You don't need to read everytime.” complained Daphne.

“Yes, you should take a break sometimes.” Tracey advised sagely.

“Don't worry girls, I'll take a break when I need one. Now, shush, don't disturb.” He told them without looking up from the book. 

Daphne sighed audibly and started talking with Tracey in a low voice so as not to disturb him. 

After an hour and half, Iris and Astoria walked into the common room.

“Harry!” Iris said cheerfully, plopping down on the seat beside him. 

Astoria settled beside Tracey.

Harry closed his book, looking at Iris.

“It seems you enjoyed your classes.” Harry smiled.

“Yes, it was great. Although I was only mediocre in Transfiguration class, I was the first to cast a spell properly in charms class. I also earned house points.” she informed him enthusiastically. 

Putting his arm around her, he offered her a proud grin.

“You did great. Don't worry about Transfiguration class. Daphne, Tracey and I will help you in any way possible. What about you, Astoria? How was your class?”

“Hey! She's my sister. Let me ask her. Don't you go stealing my lines.” Daphne said, hitting him playfully on his lower back.

“I loved it. It was so surreal to cast a spell.” she said dreamily, ignoring her sister's complaint. 

Daphne pouted, glared at him.

He smirked and pecked on her pouting lips, not able to control himself seeing her adorable pout. 

Blood rushed to her face, her eyes widening, a soft feel still lingering on her lips.

“Don't worry Daph, you can act like a big sister to Iris. I won't complain.” he said, but his voice faded, seeing the surprised looks on the faces of his friends and sister. 

A huge grin broke on Daphne's face and she looked on smugly at Tracey, who was still looking shocked.

“I win.” she grinned and started giggling childishly. 

Tracey huffed in annoyance. “It doesn't count. It was just a peck. It wasn't a kiss.”

“Nuh uh, it was a kiss and I won. No need to make excuses Tracey.”

Meanwhile, the attention which had been on Harry, now shifted to Tracey and Daphne.

“You two, what are you talking about?” asked Harry. 

Tracey and Daphne shared a quick look and decided there was no harm in disclosing their secret challenge.

“There was a challenge between me and Tracey to see who'll be your first kiss.” Daphne answered with a shrug. 

Rolling his eyes at them, he stood up from his place. 

He moved before Tracey. Stooping over, he took her face in his hands and pressed a quick peck on her lips 

And then sat again at his place, as if nothing out of ordinary happened.

“There now, you both are equal. If you wanted a kiss, you just had to ask, instead of challenging each other. I'm always up for kissing cute and beautiful girls.”

Tracey had her finger on her lips where Harry's lips had touched her. 

Daphne groaned.

“You are a spoilsport.” she grumbled. She looked at Tracey who was still staring at the space dreamily. “Though good job breaking her.”

Astoria and Iris meanwhile were having the worst headache of their life. They continued looking dubiously at the trio, trying to find who liked who. 

They were interrupted by the arrival of a prefect.

“Headmaster Dumbledore has called for you both, Harry Potter and Iris Potter. Professor Snape will escort you. He's waiting for you outside.” He announced and went away. 

The others looked on with confusion. 

Harry shrugged at them and left the common room with Iris.

~xXxXx~

Harry was fuming while Iris was full of joy after their meeting with Dumbledore.

‘Due to that corrupt nurse and Murphy Manny, Iris had been subjected to the horrors of orphanage. How I wish I'd strangle the life out of them.’

His sister hummed sweetly, walking with a spring in her steps. 

Her parents hadn't abandoned her like she feared. They were just duped by Manny Murphy, her false father. 

She was a little sad that her parents never knew that they had a daughter but that feeling was overshadowed by the happiness she felt at the reassurance that they hadn't abandoned her. 

That James and Lily Potter didn't dump her in front of an orphanage. 

She clasped her hands around Harry's upper arm and walked with him to the Slytherin Common room. 

She had a big smile on her face as she recited to her friends about their meeting with Dumbledore. 

Her friends were angry and relieved for her. 

Harry's anger slowly vanished, seeing Iris' merry mood. A small smile adorned his face upon seeing her adorable smile.

‘Should I kill the nurse for unintentionally subjecting Iris to the horrors of an orphanage? But Iris doesn't seem to mind. Will she hate me if I kill somebody for her? What should I do?’ Harry was in a dilemma. 

He shook his head. He will take care of it later.

~xXxXx~

On that night, when Iris was lying beside Harry at night, she turned her body and slid up so she was face to face with him.

“What is it, little one?” he asked, seeing her conflicted expression.

“I just wanted to know, who do you like more, Daphne or Tracey?”

Harry was surprised. 

He wasn't expecting that. He thought she might want to talk about the incident which took her real parents away from her.

“That is a complicated question, but has a simple answer. I like them both.”

“But what'll happen when you grow up and have to marry any one of them? Who'll you marry then?”

“Don't worry. We three have talked about it last year. I'm never going to marry. So, there is no question of choosing one over the other.”

Iris remained silent but didn't ask why. It was his decision if he wanted a marriage or not. And if he didn't marry, she would get to spend more time with him. She wasn't complaining if he wanted to remain bachelor for life.

“But still, you'll have a girlfriend in a few years. Who'll you choose then?”

Harry's brow furrowed as he thought about the question.

“Why do I've to choose? I'll have them both as my girlfriends if they want me to.”

“But what if one of them doesn't like that option?”

“That won't happen. One of the most important things to the three of us is our friendship. We're best friends and had promised each other to remain together forever. We won't choose one over another and leave the other alone.”

Iris again was silent, understanding him and at the same time not. 

It was so bizarre to think that two girls could love one boy without resenting each other, but she kept her silence.

“Can you promise me that we'll always be together like you had with Daphne and Tracey?” she asked suddenly and then thought she had asked too much. 

Why would he promise that? She had met him just a few days ago while Daphne and Tracey were his best friends for over a year. How could she dare to ask such a big thing. “I am sorry–”

Her sentence was abruptly cut short by her brother's reply. “Of course, little one.”

She looked into his emerald eyes and knew that he was serious. 

A smile blossomed on her face. 

She reluctantly caressed his cheek.

“Thank you.” she said gratefully. 

Harry just smiled tenderly in response. 

She felt so confident at that moment, and she would later blame that confidence for what she did next.

“Can I ask you for something?” asked Iris.

“Go ahead”

“You can't decline my request though, even if you want to.”

“Now that's ominous. Go on, we'll see if I'll decline it or not.”

“Let me kiss you.” she whispered, sliding her head forward on the pillow and stopping a few inches short from his face.

“I'm not experienced in being a brother, but I at least know that I shouldn't kiss you.” he said looking at her dubiously.

“Please.” she said softly, her green eyes wide with desperate want. 

He squirmed on the bed uncomfortably. 

He looked again at her innocent face and couldn't say no.

“Okay. Kiss away.” he said, his voice hoarse. 

He couldn't believe what he said. Was this really happening? Was he really letting his eleven-year-old sister kiss him? 

Maybe she was just curious and it was one off thing.

Her face drew really close now. 

Their noses were touching. 

Her warm breath tingled his lips. 

Her eyes were closed as she pressed her soft lips against his. 

A sigh escaped his nostrils as she moved her lips against his. After some more seconds, she withdrew her face, the sparkle in her eyes and a pleasant smile on her face confirmed that she liked it.

“Goodnight, big brother.” With that said, she turned her body and pressed it against his front, their usual position. 

Harry's arm snaked around her waist automatically, pulling her tight.

“Goodnight, little one.” he mumbled distractedly, still in daze. 

He wasn't sure what had happened just then. He didn't know how their conversation shifted from him liking Daphne and Tracey to her asking to kiss him. 

Did he like that? Hell yes! 

Was that the right thing to do? Hell no!

The month of September was spent quickly. 

Harry's and Iris's relationship was still the same. 

The only thing that had changed between them, was that before sleeping, they kissed each other. 

Harry had stopped thinking about its morality. She wanted it, he wanted it and that was it. 

He had killed two people last year, he wasn't going to start feeling uncomfortable just because he had started kissing his sister, which was against societal rules.

Suddenly, Harry found himself the subject of many kisses. 

Tracey and Daphne now thought that a kiss was a normal thing for the trio. They kissed him whenever they wanted to. 

It wasn't like Iris and his kiss, they weren't that long or sensual. 

It was just a quick touch of their lips to his. It was still a beautiful experience for Harry. 

He wasn't complaining.

The older trio also started helping Astoria and Iris. 

This boosted their performance in their classes which earned them more house points and praises from the professors.

~xXxXx~

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

It was written on the wall. There was a large puddle of water on the floor. The students were gathered around, gaping at the sight. 

Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's cat, was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring.

The chatter, the bustle, the noise died suddenly as the people in front spotted the hanging cat. As silence fell among the mass of students pressing forward to see the grisly sight.

Then someone shouted through the quiet. “Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!”

It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat.

“My cat! My cat! What happened to Mrs. Norris?” Argus Filch shrieked in despair as he spotted the grim sight. 

Meanwhile, Harry and the girls were staring at the wall in horror from the back.

“Oops. I forgot.” Harry said shamelessly. 

Daphne glared at him while he rubbed his forehead.

Chapter Text

11. The Diary

Harry sat on a comfy sofa in the Room of Requirement. Daphne and Tracey sitting on either side of him. 

Astoria and Iris were settled on another sofa, opposite the older trio. 

Both first year girls had been in awe of the amazing room when they first saw it, and were using it since then. 

Harry, Daphne and Tracey had helped them in their studies and were also planning to start their lessons in duelling after Christmas. 

But they weren't there to discuss that.

“Harry, you said you'd take care of it. What happened then?” Daphne scowled. 

She wasn't annoyed only because he forgot about it, but because he had refused to tell her about the problem and had then gone to forget. 

The others were giving each other confused looks, not knowing what was happening. 

Daphne, seeing that, explained about the Malfoy elf situation. 

Tracey knew about the letters, but she hadn't known about the evil trap waiting for them here in Hogwarts.

“Even I don't know what exactly Harry knows after seeing through the elf's memory. He refused to tell me and said that he'd take care of it.” she finished, sending a pointed look at him.

“Cut me some slack. Just after that, I'd found my long lost sister. Of course, I was going to forget about all of this. I was overwhelmed.” Harry said, glaring back at Daphne, who had the decency to look guilty.

“So, what exactly is going on?” Tracey questioned him. 

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

“According to the elf's memory, Lucius Malfoy had a strange diary which he planned to let loose in Hogwarts. Even though he didn't know what it'd do, he had an inkling that it'd cause a massive problem here.” Harry said honestly.

“Why would he do that?’ Iris asked. 

She couldn't believe a man was trying to hurt school children. Why would someone want to hurt innocent children?

“Who cares? Maybe he's a typical evil man or maybe he's trying to accomplish something, or maybe he's taking revenge on someone. I don't give a damn.” Harry droned on, not caring about Malfoy's intentions in the least. 

Iris wasn't satisfied by that explanation, but kept her silence. Daphne and Astoria didn't need any motivation to hate the Malfoy family, so they didn't object. And even the sweet Tracey didn't have any good things to say about Draco and Lucius.

“What are you going to do now?” asked Astoria, coming directly to the point. 

Harry tilted his head up, staring at the ceiling. 

An excited smile grew on his face.

“There are two ways to get the diary. First way is boring and the second way is fun. I suggest a fun way.” Harry said thoughtfully, trying to contain his glee. 

Daphne and Tracey shared an amused glance and answered together. They know it was trouble when Harry had that look in his eyes.

“What's the boring way?”

“Oh come on. Let's do it in a fun way. Please?” he complained

“Harry? What is the boring way?” Tracey asked, enunciating each word sweetly. 

Astoria and Iris just remained silent, watching the byplay. Even they both were used to the trio's antics now. 

There were two subgroups in the group. The first consisted of Harry, Daphne and Tracey and the second had Iris and Astoria. 

These two subgroups were together, most of the time, but there was a visible distinction between their group. Even the two first year girls were aware of it.

“Well, I'll just use my Deus and the book will appear in front of me.” Harry told them, shaking his head as if it was the most stupid thing. 

The others looked at each other to see if someone knew what Harry was talking about. 

No one knew.

“What's Deus?” asked Astoria. 

The other girls were curious to hear about it.

“Oh! I didn't tell you? Well, I was definitely busy. The Deus is the new name for my power. You'll have seen it. The gold mist inside me, the unknown power in me. Daphne and Tracey had already seen it when I tried to strangle Draco on our first day. Astoria had seen it when I came to Greengrass Manor to cure her. Iris hadn't seen the mist, but she'd seen me using it to create different stuff.”

“You named your power God. That's what Deus means in Latin. Talk about pretentiousness. We need to work on your modesty.” Daphne said, raising her eyebrow in amusement. 

Tracey gave him an exasperated look while Iris was curious to know about this power. She had seen him work wonders in their room back at Privet Drive, but she had mistaken it for ‘normal’ magic. 

She decided she would ask him later about the differences between the two. 

Astoria nodded as she got her answer. She didn't have any problem with that name. In her eyes, a power which can cure generations' old curse was surely godly. 

Harry mildly glared at Daphne.

“I can kill others with a single thought. I can wipe out the wizarding world within a day, maybe within a minute. 

“I can destroy the world. I can raise zombies, causing an apocalypse. I can evaporate the ocean. I can bring the ocean on the land, drowning the world. 

“I can freeze the whole world bringing another ice age. I can burn the whole world. I can bewitch everyone to follow my orders. I can control anyone. 

“I can wipe out humanity or save them. Is that godly enough?” Harry asked sarcastically, counting everything on his fingers in a nonchalant way. 

There was a complete silence at his declaration.

Iris and Astoria realised that they never knew the extent of his power. 

The information just cleared that they didn't know him very well. 

Even Daphne and Tracey, who presumed that he was the most powerful wizard, hadn't known the limit of his power. 

There was tension in the air. 

The girls didn't know what to say next. 

There was literally a god sitting among them.

“Now, someone please ask me about the fun way.” Harry said excitedly, totally changing the serious atmosphere, looking at the others hopefully, childishly. 

When no one volunteered, he continued taking their silence as agreement, “The fun way is making a new connection. I remember Lucius Malfoy wanted the book in the possession of Weasleys. And the diary is most probably with one of them. So, I'll become best friends with Jasmine and then convince her to spy on them and then steal it from them.”

“What is so fun about it?” Iris was the first one to break from their collective stupor. 

She ignored his remark about the best friend thing. She had observed in the past days that Harry sometimes said very silly things which always amused Daphne and Tracey as if it was some kind of inside joke. 

Even now they were wearing amused smiles.

“We'll play detective. We'll try to recruit Jasmine in our gang. I know it'll take time convincing Jasmine to steal the diary from the Weasleys as one of them is her friend, but it'll be fun. 

“Who knows what interesting things might happen during the meantime. We'll let the diary do its work. We may even have an exciting adventure.” Harry said, exuberant. 

The other stared at him as if he was mad. 

Daphne and Tracey's smiles disappeared.

“What if some student dies during the meantime because we are trying a ‘fun’ way instead of a best way?” Tracey asked somberly, staring at him.

“Who cares!” Harry exclaimed, annoyed. 

‘Why can't they appreciate fun? Why do Tracey always have to care for others? They are so annoying.’

“Harry?” Iris called him, unsurely. 

She wasn't totally getting the conversation. Although she was understanding the gist of it. 

Apparently, there was an evil diary in Hogwarts which had the potential to create a deathly disaster. A catastrophe.

Harry had the power to destroy it quickly, but he thought it was boring and wanted to create a game around it. And also he didn't care if some other student died to sate his adventurous spirit. 

She hoped that it was one of the silly things Harry said sometimes and didn't mean it. “Please just use your Deus. I don't want to see anyone die because of us.”

Harry looked at her, his gaze sharp and questioning. 

Her emerald eyes were unsure and pleading to be heard. 

After a few seconds, he deflated and nodded. 

Iris smiled happily. 

Tracey and Daphne shared a knowing grin. It seemed Iris had gained the power to wrap him around her little finger. They hadn't thought that she would be that quick. They both knew that they had enough influence on Harry to restrain his very eccentric and bad side, but it seemed Iris had also joined the team to keep him in control. 

They gave her appraising looks.

“I'm going to summon the diary.” he said, ignoring them. 

A second later, a diary with faded cover appeared in his hand. The girls seemed impressed, but when Harry dropped the diary, their amazement turned into confusion. 

Harry was looking at the diary on the floor. He was looking as if he had seen a ghost. His eyes wide and his hands shaking. He looked scared, which was so rare that Daphne and Tracey didn't know what to do. 

Iris meanwhile leaned down to pick it up, but stopped when Harry yelled.

“Don't touch it!”

She flinched, abruptly sitting back, staring at him, scared at his angry demand. 

Was he finally going to hurt her? Was he finally going to abandon her? 

Iris shrinked in herself. He picked the diary up and examined it, not noticing Iris's reaction. 

But Astoria did, who put her arm around her friend's shoulders and gave it a reassuring squeeze. 

Harry's expression changed from horror to joy then to amazement and then back to horror.

“What is it, Harry?” Astoria asked the obvious question, still with her arm around Iris' shoulders, who was now acting normally. 

The air was tense around them with mystery. 

He looked everybody in the eye.

“This book has a very evil aura to it. Very unique aura to it. But the most amazing and scary thing about it is that there's a soul residing in the book. 

“A real soul, a human soul. The magic of the soul is somewhat familiar. I'll find out in a moment.” Harry mused, opening the book and finding a name on the first page, “T.M.Riddle.”

Then he turned the pages and found all of them bereft of any writing. 

A frown marred his features.

“I'm going to learn everything about it. This may be the thing I was searching for all this time”" Harry thought out loud.

“Harry, are you sure you want to keep that book? You yourself said that it has an evil aura and that there's a soul inside, which sounds impossible and wrong. 

“Souls should be inside a human, not in an inanimate object. Can you believe it? A malicious soul residing in that diary. We should just destroy it to be on the safer side.” Daphne advised, putting her hand on his shoulder. 

Harry looked at the others and saw that everyone was behind Daphne's idea. 

His resolve faltered for a second, but then he shook his head.

“I'm not budging on this one. I've to do this. Don't worry, it won't be able to hurt me. And I won't let it hurt anybody else if that's what you fear.” Harry announced. His voice was firm with resolution. 

The girls exchanged wary glances among themselves, but nodded to him. They could see he was serious about it and they knew that they couldn't stop him even if they wanted to.

~xXxXx~

In the Gryffindor common room, Ginny Weasley was frantic. 

She had just lost her precious diary. She had lost Tom, her only friend in this massive castle. She had searched everywhere, her dorm room, the common room, but it was nowhere to be found. 

She was sitting in a chair, alone, depressed. 

What would she do without Tom? Who would she talk to? Who would she ask advice from? She looked around in the common room. 

Everyone was busy talking to someone else. 

Fred and George were whispering to each other, most probably planning a new trouble. 

Percy wasn't even in there. 

Ron was arguing with Hermione, who was trying to persuade him to do his homework. 

Ginny quickly turned her gaze away when she caught the eye of the blue haired girl. 

She was always with Ron and Hermione. 

Her name was Jasmine Zinan. 

She was sitting beside Hermione, a book opened in her lap. But her attention wasn't in the book, she was staring at her. 

Ginny continued looking at the wall, trying not to feel the girl's stare on her. 

Due to this, she was surprised when the said girl was suddenly sitting beside her.

“Hello, your name's Ginny, right? Ron’s sister?” Jasmine asked politely. 

Ginny nodded unsurely.

“Are you alright? You look troubled.” She asked with a frown.

“I'm fine.” Ginny said in a small voice. 

Jasmine rolled her eyes, but didn't press for answers.

“If you say so. Come on, sit with us.” she said, nodding towards the sofa where Ron and Hermione were staring at them. 

Ginny shook her head.

“I don't want to intrude.”

“Here's a little secret. Don't tell Ron and Hermione.” she whispered, leaning towards her. Her mouth an inch away from Ginny's ear. 

She gave her a conspiratory look and continued, “You see, Ron and Hermione are always arguing, yelling at each other, giving me a headache. Sometimes I want to strangle them or slap them, but they're my friends so I can't do that, but it'd be nice if I have another friend who'll keep them in line and stop me from strangling them. Who I can talk to when they both are busy arguing with each other. Are you up for it?”

Ginny was staring at Jasmine who had a mischievous smile on her lips, her short blue hair hanging around her shoulders. 

Ginny nodded with her own small smile.

Jasmine's smile grew into a grin and she took Ginny's hand, dragging her towards Ron and Hermione.

~xXxXx~

Harry was alone in the Room of Requirement with the diary in his hand. 

He had sent the girls away, saying that he needed to concentrate, and for that he needed to be alone. 

That was a lie. 

He sent them out because he didn't want them to see what was going to happen next. 

He didn't want them to hear the screams of the soul trapped in the diary. 

How strange was pain, you could feel it when you have a body and you could feel it even when you don't have a body. It was illogical. 

Why would the soul feel pain when there were no nerves or brains, no blood and skin? But still, the soul could feel pain. 

He had tested it just now. 

He had heard the tortured scream from the diary when he pumped his Deus in it, using his red mist and then using his gold mist, trying to know what was in the mysterious diary. 

Harry was somewhat annoyed with his friends and sister. They had good and pure hearts which Harry lacked. And sometimes due to that, they clashed. 

But before, only Tracey was the one whose morals clashed against Harry's. Daphne was in the grey category. She didn't particularly care about others, but didn't like unneeded fights or problems. 

So, the group worked well before. Daphne's vote was final earlier. If there was a clash between Harry's and Tracey's idea then Daphne decided the final outcome. 

Now there was Iris and Astoria, two innocent souls, joining their groups. Harry was outnumbered. 

Now there were three ‘absolutely good’ people, while Daphne and Harry were the only ruthless ones amongst them. 

Harry was definitely able to ignore their opinions, but he just couldn't bear to see the horrified or betrayed looks in his friends' eyes, and particularly in Iris' eyes. 

Looking at her eyes reminded him that he could have been her in another life, where he was a good boy, where he cared for everyone. 

He shook his head, not the right time for these thoughts and looked at the diary.

Harry was surprised and amused when he realised that the soul was not of any unknown person, but of Voldemort himself or, more precisely, of Tom Marvolo Riddle. 

Harry had found everything which could be found from the diary. He had seen the life of Tom from his childhood to his teenage years. Until when he had removed that part of the soul and hid it in the diary. 

Horcrux. 

The device to cheat death.  

Harry had to praise Tom for that. He had made a Horcrux when he was just sixteen. 

He had made a device to defeat death when he wasn't even an adult. 

Tom was something else. A genius. An exceptional wizard. He had earned a little respect from Harry. 

Still, Harry wasn't sure if this was the way Harry himself wanted to go. Sure, this method protected oneself from death, but the prize was too much. 

This cutting of the soul in different parts took a toll on the body and sanity. Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to pay that much for immortality. And even after all these, there was still a huge weakness. 

If someone destroyed all the Horcruxes and then killed Tom then he would die like any other mortal man. 

This whole scheme was stupid. After paying that high price, after offering his soul, his sanity, Tom was still mortal. He could still be killed and that is what Harry was going to do. 

He was going to kill Tom when he faced him again. He wasn't going to start searching for Horcruxes, that was just too much work. 

No, he was going to first destroy this diary and then he would destroy the other Horcruxes if it fell in his lap. He was too lazy to go seek them. And it might just be the entertainment he was looking for.

Harry was at least sure that there were seven Horcruxes. 

That's what Tom planned after talking to that fat and moronic professor, Horace Slughorn. 

Harry didn't know what they were but he was sure that the maximum number of Horcruxes were seven. 

Now the question was, whether Tom was able to create that number before dying due to his mother's ancient sacrificing ritual.

He put the diary on the table. 

There was also this Chamber of Secrets situation. 

He was sure that the basilisk wouldn't hurt anybody, as the diary was taken away from Ginny Weasley. 

Poor little Ginny Weasley, 

Harry was pleased that he had saved the first year Gryffindor by taking the possession of the diary from her. 

She was safe now. And she was his big fan, according to the diary's memory. He was happy to help his fans. 

‘Let no one say that I'm not good or kind.’

Getting back to the point, there were three ways to destroy a Horcrux. 

First was using a basilisk venom which was coincidentally available. 

Second was fiendfyre which unfortunately Harry hadn't learned yet. 

And the last was the killing curse which Harry was sure he could fire at the diary. 

But those options were for ordinary wizards and Harry definitely wasn't an ordinary wizard. 

He had a power which no one had before. His Deus. But still, Harry had promised himself that he would try to keep the use of his Deus at the minimum. So he decided he would try the killing curse rather than the Deus. 

Harry was excited to use it since he hadn't used it before. 

He stood up and took 4 steps back. He threw the diary on the floor and trained his wand at it. 

Harry knew he had to summon hate or indifference to cast the spell. He either had to hate the person on which the wand was pointed or he must have disregard for human lives, not caring who was before his wand. An innocent, a criminal, a child, a man, a woman, a girl, he mustn't care for the unknown people, he mustn't feel anything for the unknown. 

Harry chose indifference and intoned.

“Avada Kedavra.”

Nothing happened. 

Harry laughed mirthlessly. ‘So little Harry is still alive, wanting to be a good boy. I don't know whether I should be happy or angry.’

Harry shook his head and pictured the last moments of his mother's life.