Chapter Text
They visited Diagon Alley another five or six times before the following September, buying their books, then more books. Then books about books. Hermione likes books, they bought more books. Harry bought himself an owl, and Hermione picked up a straggly looking ginger half kneezle kitten called Crookshanks. They also got their wands, and Ollivander was seriously creepy in Harry’s opinion, his wand however, did not match anyone’s from history, and he left the shop with a cherry and unicorn hair wand, 12 inches long. In late August the whole family visited Charlotte in Paris and they visited the Quartier Magique, where Harry bought himself and Hermione another wand each, his was elder and thestral tail hair, Hermione’s was maple and unicorn hair, the wands were custom made for them after they were offered different cores and having selected the core that reacted to them best, they searched for a wood whilst holding the chosen core. These wands would be registered in France, but if the registration was even passed on to the UK, they doubted anything would ever be done with them. Both Harry and Hermione spoke fluent French with Emma’s Central region accent, so the shopkeeper didn’t even suspect they weren’t heading for Beauxbatons.
Harry had discovered some space expanded trunks in the family vault on visit with his Aunty Minnie as he cheekily called her, Hermione called them pocket dimensions and tried to explain the physics, but Harry’s brain started to melt. Minerva visited the Grangers on the last day of August, to ensure they were all ready to catch the train, she had become very attached to the two children, and even quietly enjoyed the Aunt Minnie name they used, having promised to stick to Professor McGonagall, or Deputy Headmistress when they were in school. She advised them to keep the knowledge of their bond to themselves, and instructed them in the formalities of greeting other children of old Houses for the first time, once done, informality was then normal. She explained the Houses, refused to reveal how the sorting was done, saying it was a surprise, but nothing to fear. She left them late in the afternoon, convinced she had the Head boy and Head girl posts covered for that NEWT year in the future. She would run interference on the Headmaster. They were both told to immediately send for her if he wanted to see them, for anything.
------oooOOOooo------
The morning of July Thirty-first arrived, Harry’s eleventh birthday, it was Wednesday and both parents were due into work later, a neighbour’s daughter was going to look after the pair today as she had been doing most of the holidays. Hermione was first down to breakfast and was eating some cereal with fruit and yoghurt when Harry entered the room, freshly showered, he sat opposite Hermione and their eyes met. He jumped as if electrocuted, and for a few moments felt dizzy, memories of past lives and skills flooded his brain, hastily packed away and ordered as his new skill set settled in. Panting a little he looked up to see Hermione almost glowing her eyes ablaze with energy.
“Harry, are you back, are you my Harry?” She looked at him imploringly.
“Yes, I think fate helped us out, I think this was supposed to happen when we met for the first time on the train, but it’s me. We are back.”
“Sorry mum,” Hermione said then stood and pulled Harry across the table into a fierce kiss, magic curling around them as their parents watched open mouthed.” They released each other and sheepishly looked at their common parents.
“Emma, Dan. Sorry Mum, Dad. We have to tell you something very important, and very weird. We have lived our lives before, that’s why we are bonded, we died, multiple times fighting an evil wizard trying to take over. He hates me, he hates Hermione, because she is smart and powerful, and good. We have been sent back to defeat him, this time we have all the toys and the tricks, and Dog, your mate Cat trained us in close quarter combat, he said I had to tell you both that he was stupid to walk away from Charlotte, she was the best thing that ever happened to him, and he hopes she is happy.”
Dan looked at Harry, “Where did you hear Dog and Cat?”
Harry looked at him, “Christopher Andrew Thompson, your best friend from the SBS, died in Oman on a mission that will never exist, you were on the way home from his memorial service and he influenced you to find me dad. He loves you like a brother. He is sorry he isn’t here for you. We were dead, Hermione and I, we got killed. I can explain it all, and I will. But we don’t have time this morning, we can tell you all the stuff when you get home, but Cat was one of our trainers in the afterlife, before we dropped back into our bodies. He is awesome, and you trained us both as well, the unarmed combat you taught us is going to be so good, our bodies are so fit.
Thank you for rescuing me, I cannot begin to thank you both enough for the life you have given me, I can remember my childhood before, thankfully it no longer hurts me, abused, starved, beaten,” tears were rolling down Harry’s face. “Thank you, Dad,” he grabbed Dan around the waist and sobbed into his shirt. “Thank you.” Dan rubbed the boys back, his eyes wet with tears.
Hermione was crying in her mother’s arms, “I saw his memories mum, they were pigs, they treated him like a slave, they beat him, they didn’t let him eat enough, they never bought him his own clothes, they kept him in the cupboard under their stairs. Thank you Daddy, you saved my Harry, from a living Hell. Thank you.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes. She sat back at the table, “sorry, rather emotional, we just got a few lifetimes memories dumped in our heads, and I just got my love for Harry turned up to eleven, I am glad this didn’t happen on the train, we would have been wrecked.”
“Oh God. Ron Weasley. We are not making friends with him this time around.” Harry added as he munched on a bit of toast. We really should go into Gryffindor though, do you think we could get the hat to put Ron somewhere else?”
“It would be funny to put him in the snake pit,” Hermione giggled, “Daphne and Tracey would kill me though, how about the puffs, payback for all the rubbish you went through in the Fourth year?”
“Yeah, Susan Bones was pretty two faced really, she was always nice to my face, but she was pretty quick to wear one of those badges.”
Their parents let the neighbour’s girl in and after a brief conversation shouted their goodbyes and headed off to their practice. The two kids were sat looking at Harry’s birthday presents, mostly stuff for their forthcoming trip to Hogwarts, Dan had bought him a really nice pen set and some drawing equipment, “Why do we have to use quills again?” Hermione laughed, we should use notebooks unless we have to hand it in, parchment and quill is just ridiculous.”
“Hey you two, I asked your dad if it was OK for my friend to come around as well today, she will be here in a minute or two, she is a bit strange, so please don’t freak out.”
“Stranger than Harry?” Hermione laughed.
“No one is stranger than Harry.” They both laughed. Harry humpfed and grinned. The front door bell rang and Nikki their sitter went to let her friend in, they heard a muffled conversation, and after a few moments a face they both knew walked into the room.
“Hi kids, I am Tonks. I hope you don’t mind me………. Harry? Is that you? Harry Potter?”
“Hi cousin Nym. Long time eh?”
Nikki looked baffled, “You know Harry?”
“I babysat for him when he was still in nappies, remember my Aunt Lily and Uncle James that got killed all those years ago. Harry here is the little boy that disappeared. Harry, How? What is. I can’t. Where, no. How. I am sorry. Where were you, where you here? Have you been safe?”
“My father rescued him from where Dumbledore dumped him on a doorstep like a bottle of milk. That was the day after his parents. You know.” Hermione looked at Nikki. “Are you a witch Nikki? I can feel a little magic.”
“I am, pretty weak though, Tonks here is a lot stronger.”
“Mmmm, metamorphmagus will be, Tonks. Nice to meet you, again.”
“Have we met before?”
“We are the godparents to your son,” She smiled a wicked smile and looked at her face.
“Whoa. You can’t unload that and then stop. Who. No rewind. When.”
“Future, can’t say sweetie, spoilers. Harry and I have been sent back to sort out Moldypants once and for all. We are from the future, we used to be adults. If we were I would be giving Harry a completely different present for his birthday, but since this is his eleventh and not his eighteenth birthday, he will have to put up with cake.” She smiled. “I will need an oath of secrecy from you both, or I can obliviate the last five minutes, your call.”
The two girls produced wands and swore oaths. Tonks you are still at school?
“Yes, final year. I want to go to Auror training next so I need good grades.”
“I am sure you will be fine. We will need your help from time to time in school. You must not trust Albus Dumbledore. He meddles. He kidnapped Harry, was going to leave him with his magic hating relatives and basically leave him to be abused for ten years. Then use him like a sacrificial lamb to the slaughter, feed him to Voldemort to die and then swan in and save the world again. Do not join his barbecue chicken club. Do not swear an oath of loyalty to him. He is not on the side of the good guys.”
Tonks looked a bit sceptical, “can you prove any of this?”
“I can’t show you the future, or tell you about it, it will already have changed. I can demonstrate my magical level.” She produced her patronus, not her otter, but a snow leopard, solid and corporeal. Silent and wandless. She then transformed into the same creature and the two stood together. Harry shifted into his Panther form, the scar visible in white over his right eye. The three cats rubbed cheeks and Harry pounced on Tonks knocking her over and licking her face with the rough tongue of his animagus form. They shifted back to children, and Tonks gave Harry a long look.
“That was straight out of Sirius Black’s playbook, Harry.”
“Seriously?” Hermione groaned, “Sirius is innocent, we need to get your father on board to act on our behalf, and his, He had no trial. It was Pettigrew that betrayed my parents not Sirius.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Future me killed Pettigrew, he confessed it all as he died. We know who the betrayers are, we know what we need to do. We need help keeping Dumbledore off our cases, Minnie is on our side, we shall have to ask her to talk to your dad, I don’t have control of my House yet, so she is effectively Regent for the Potter estate.”
“Bloody buggery bollocks. That is insane. So, no birthday BJ for you then shrimp.”
Hermione snorted, “I forgot how much you like being completely inappropriate. This year, he gets cake.”
“Next year,”
“More cake.”
“Sorry shrimp, I tried,”
“S’OK Tonks, I helped deliver your son, think on that.”
Hermione gave him a quizzical look, he winked in return.
“What is he called?”
“Teddy, after your dad.”
“Just Teddy?”
“Spoilers sweetie.”
“I need something, this is too big, just to take on trust. You must be able to tell me something.”
“OK, when we start back at school, start for us, Dumbles will say ‘Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! as his opening speech. He will later tell you the third floor corridor is off limits to anyone not wishing a painful death. Hagrid has a Cerberus called Fluffy up there. The new DADA teacher will be Quirrell. When all that happens, come and find us, we will need your help.”
The Granger parents re-appeared at a little after six, bundled the kids into the car and they headed off for pizza, getting home around eight. The pair of them were sleepy so it was PJ’s teeth brushed and beds for them both. It wasn’t until the Saturday evening that they sat and the subject of Harry and Hermione’s odd actions on his birthday were brought up.
The pair of them sat and described their previous lives. Harry told them about his treatment at the Dursleys, reducing everyone except Dan to tears, his face was set to stone. Hermione described being bullied and ostracised at her school, her sixth birthday party, when no-one came. Meeting Harry on the train to Hogwarts, and Ron. They told them about the Traps they expected to find this year, the Basilisk. Rescuing Sirius in their third year, realising they loved each other. The tri-wizard cup and only Hermione having Harry’s back. Winning, the graveyard and the resurrection. It all going pear-shaped in the fifth year, and Sirius being killed. Dumbledore being killed, and discovering about the Horcruxes, the hunt. The tent. Australia. Ron’s betrayal. The battle at Hogwarts, and their deaths. As they described holding onto each other standing in a strange garden in the stars, a figure materialised into the room.
Susan looked at the parents. “I have a friend with me, he want’s to say a few words to you both.”
Dan’s friend Chris, Cat, appeared, “Hi guys, say hi to Charlie for me. I should have done the same as you Dog, I had the years in, but what is done is done.” Dan wrapped his old friend in his arms. A lot of manly back slapping ensued. A little later when they had settled.
“I trained these two, in older bodies, in close quarter combat. We were planning on sending them back to that stupid tournament, when they were a bit older and more able to handle themselves. Then I made a faint connection with you at my memorial, and guided you to Harry, now they lived in the same house, we needed to give them the memories before school. Can you imagine that snog between two kids everyone thought of as brother and sister? We will need to be sneaky rather than aggressive with them, but we can do what’s needed.”
------oooOOOooo------
On the first of September, they planned an early breakfast and then a steady drive to the Station. The four of them chatted away and eventually it was time to head out. Harry stood and carried his plate to the dish washer, helping Hermione load it up with her bowl and the rest of the breakfast things. “All good,” She nodded and pulled him into a big hug, “one last kiss before we go”, and snogged him hard. Harry stood looking a little spaced out, “I am going to miss those.”
“Me too. Me too. It will pass quickly enough, I want to enjoy a normal school life, as far as we can.”
They arrived at Kings Cross at a little after nine, the lack of parking meant they had to say their goodbyes at the car and then the two new starters walked into the station building hand in hand wearing their back packs with their trunks shrunk down inside them. Hedwig had set off to fly up on her own at some point in the night, Harry knew better than to tell his clever familiar how to do her job. Crookshanks was sat across Hermione’s shoulders. They walked in through the entrance hall and turned to the second Hall and platforms 9 and 10, they slipped through the barrier and onto Platform 9¾ the familiar red Steam Engine sat at the platform, hissing and jetting the occasional cloud of steam at random intervals. They wandered along the platform and climbed into the second carriage, walking down the train until they found a compartment near the back, they went in and sat down, sitting silently for a few minutes.
“if we get Ron into another house, will it change things too much?” Harry mused out loud.
“Stuff is going to change, we already agreed trying to rely on future knowledge would be a disaster, just from our previous lives, we know things play out differently without us knowing anything. We just live our lives, but this time we know who our allies are, and who to take off the board at the first opportunity. Shame we are both in young bodies, in our last years I used to fantasize about you shagging me on the train on the way to school,”
“Really? I still get surprised that you had a crush on me all that time and I had absolutely no idea, I was convinced you liked Ron.”
“Harry, I thought you were cute, I mended your glasses so I could see your dreamy green eyes more clearly, and the only hesitation I was having about leaving Hogwarts leading up to Halloween was that I would have to give up magic, and I would never see you again, then you crashed into the toilet jumped on a troll and saved my life. I thought you were cute before that point, but after that moment I swore to myself that I would be with you until the end of time, even if you never noticed me, I knew that at least one person in the castle would have my back. I wrote to my mum about you and what I could figure out about your home life, she told me you would be emotionally repressed, you would need to learn love, to recognise it in yourself. I made a vow to hug you at least once every day. A couple of times in our third year, I felt you getting hard, when I was holding you, I so nearly snogged your face off, I remember Sirius telling me to go for it, and the feeling in my heart when you relaxed and kissed me back. Dumbledore obliviated us ten minutes later. He stole so much from our lives. I am not sure who the prophecy refers to when it says Dark Lord, because Riddle killed you, Dumbledore destroyed our lives. I hate that bearded bloviator.”
Harry pulled her into a hug, “I love you,” he whispered into her hair. “I have been loved in this life, always. I can’t remember my birth parents, or Sirius in this life, but mum and dad have always been there, they are really awesome people and I can never repay what their love means to me. To have a loving family is so precious, it is almost worth the shitty lives I lived, just to appreciate how fantastic a loving family is, and never take it for granted. Your mum and dad, my mum and dad are really amazing people. Once this is sorted we, all four of us, need to go on an epic holiday, take a year and travel the whole world. Take Luna with us and find a Snorkack.” He laughed, we need to look out for Luna next year, I love that girl, she is precious. We should befriend Neville this time around.”
“You know we had this conversation with your mum and dad at Susan’s place on nowhen land about twenty times don’t you?”
“Yeah, sorry, it’s a bit confusing I am not entirely sure which bits happened in which timeline, I need to sit and sort my memories, once the train gets moving I will pretend to sleep and tidy up my memories, otherwise I will send you crazy.”
The door opened and a slightly chubby looking Daphne Greengrass looked into the compartment, Harry looked up, “Daphne Greengrass isn’t it?”
“She looked at Harry quizzically, “Yes, and who do I have the pleasure of meeting?”
Harry stood and gave a slight bow, kissing the back of her hand as dead Sirius had taught him, “Harry Potter, at your disposal, may I introduce Hermione Granger, of the New House Granger.” Hermione stood and gave a slight bob of a curtsey to Daphne.
“Daphne returned the curtsey, “I am Daphne Greengrass, please call me Daphne, this is my Cousin Tracey Davis of House Davis. May we join you?”
“Please, come in, call me Harry, and under no circumstances mention anything ending in lived.”
“Call me Hermione, sorry my mum likes Shakespeare, she is French so why is beyond me, but parents.”
“Hi please call me Tracey, nice to meet you both, Hermione, Harry.” She nodded at each in turn.
Harry helped them with their trunks and stashed them on the rack over their heads.
Daphne sat down and looked at the two, “I am sorry if this is intrusive, but where have you been Harry? You disappeared from our world as a baby and no-one knew where you were living. Have you been safe?”
“I have Daphne, it’s a very private story, if we become really good friends I might tell you one day, but I was adopted by Hermione’s parents, and they are fantastic people. I have had a really happy life, especially since I spend every day with Hermione, we are super close, and one day I am going to ask her to marry me, if she doesn’t kill me in the meantime for being stupid. We live in the mundane world away from all the nonsense that surrounds my name, it’s allowed me to have a happy time, and I would not change a moment of it. I lost my birth parents one night I have no memory of, one of my earliest memories is my third birthday and being on a trampoline with a giggling Hermione who laughed so much she got hiccups. I am not some superhero, I am an eleven year old kid going to a boarding school, and I am worried about missing my mum, just like everyone else on the train.”
Tracey smiled at him, “You are really cute Harry, if Hermione gets fed up with you come and see me.” She giggled, “only messing, but I read all the story books about you, and I sort of expected an entitled jerk, not a sweet kid who loves his mum and his, stepsister? You two aren’t related are you?”
“No.” Hermione replied, fiddling with her jumper, “We are not blood relatives, I did the test at Gringotts, back fifteen generations, Harry is Evans, Peverill and Potter, I am Deurre from France and Granger.” She smiled at the girls surprised faces She laughed.
Daphne asked, “What Houses do you think you will be in?”
“Gryffindor we think, Headmistress McGonagall is my magical guardian, she was close to my mother, and since I live with Hermione and her folks, she is Hermione’s as well, her folks aren’t magical, muggles I guess, but I hate that word, it sounds so offensive. Hermione’s dad, my dad, he has no magic, but he would kick anyone’s ass, he is super cool. He was in the sneaky beaky bit of the armed forces, we only know a little bit, but he rescued Hermione’s mum Emma from the middle of the African jungle after she was taken hostage by a load of guerilla’s and they fell in love, she is awesome as well. But to answer, I would feel really guilty if we weren’t in Aunty Minnie’s house, and don’t ever admit I called her that.” He blushed, “I am dead, I didn’t even get to the school and I slipped up.”
Hermione giggled, “she doesn’t mind, if you call her it in class you will be cleaning the castle with a toothbrush,”
“I will go wherever Hermione is, we don’t like being separated. We have been together as long as we can remember.” Harry added. “What about you?”
Daphne and Tracey exchanged glances, “probably Slytherin, our families have all been in the snake pit.” Daphne said, “Draco Malfoy will be there this year, so I really don’t want to be in the same house, he makes my flesh crawl.”
“I know it’s supposed to be a secret, but I do know if you ask, the sorting, thingy, takes account. They do it alphabetically, so Tracey will be first of all of us, if you ask to go to one of the other houses it will take note, if you are clever, try for Ravenclaw, if you want good friends try for Hufflepuff, one of my distant cousins is a seventh year in the puffs, and she is awesome.”
Hermione looked across at Harry, “Tonks?”
“Yeah she is in her NEWT year, I am going to walk up and jump in her lap, she used to baby sit me when I was with my birth parents, before Riddle screwed that up. How hard do you think she will hex me?” He started to laugh. Once she realises who I am I might survive, but she is one of the few bits I remember, she used to make me laugh so much.
“What do you think Daph, try for the puffs, you could do Ravenclaw, but I would struggle in Nerdvana, I quite like the sound of a friendly House, because we know that the snake pit is all about control.
“The House system should be scrapped, it just creates division, we four are getting on, but how often do the Snakes and the Lions hang out in the school.
The train whistle announced that it was preparing to leave and they heard the announcement telling anyone not travelling to the school to leave the train. They were off, the train was leaving the station.
Neville Longbottom appeared in the doorway, “Has anyone seen my toad?”
Daphne laughed out loud, “Is that what you say to all the girls Neville Longbottom?”
Tracey and Hermione burst into fits of giggles and Neville turned scarlet.
“No, erm, I. erm, my. Erm, no, he is.” Daphne stood and wrapped Neville in a hug. “Calm down Nev, come in and sit down. We will go find that damned toad in a minute. You need to meet these guys.”
Harry stood as Daphne let Neville go. He had never seen this side of Daphne, she had been the ‘ice queen’ in his past lives. “Neville Longbottom, may I introduce myself, I am Harry Potter. Please call me Harry, I believe we are godbrothers, and if our parents were still with us, we would have been raised as such. It has been too long, and I would like to become your friend Neville. May I call you Neville or Nev?” Harry took Neville’s had and shook it as he stood mouth agape and his brain caught up.
“Harry. Harry Potter. My mum and your mum were close friends, but I never thought we would meet after, well you know what, I. Yes please call me Nev. I would like to be your friend Harry. Very much. I am not much of a wizard, but I will be a true friend. Thank you.”
Harry pushed Neville towards a seat, “May I introduce my very close friend Hermione Granger, of new house Granger, she is very clever, her and Daphne will be top of the class I bet.”
Neville gathered himself and stood giving Hermione a well practiced bow, he kissed her hand. ”Miss Granger, Neville Longbottom, please call me Nev.”
Hermione stood and bobbed a quick curtsey, “Nev, please call me Hermione, and I too would be honoured to call you a friend. She smiled into his face, and pulled him into a hug, “I guess if Daphne gives you hugs, I should as well.” She let him go and sat. He was glowing a little. Tracey stood and spun him around before giving him a squeeze, “What am I Nev? Chopped fish? Where’s my hug?”
He finally cracked and laughed, sorry Tracey, I am just so scared of everything on this train. Thank you everyone for making me welcome. It means a lot, I won’t hold it against you if you don’t bother with me around the cool kids, I am a bit of a wet lettuce.”
Harry put his hand on Neville’s shoulder, “Nev, I want good friends, I saw Malfoy in what’s-her-faces Robe shop, and he is a poisonous self-centred little pustule, I know who is worth befriending. You need a bit of confidence, there is nothing wrong with you. What wand have you got, they can impact your magic.”
“It’s my Dad’s, my Gran want’s me to use it.”
“Sorry Nev, it doesn’t work that way, Ollivander is adamant that the wand chooses the wizard. I don’t really think they do, but I do believe that every wizard or witch is different, and need their own particular wand to get the best results. Once we are sorted, we can talk to the head of house and see if Garrick will pop over to the school and sort you a new wand.”
“Err, thanks Harry, I don’t know what house I will be in, but I will ask.”
“Good man.”
Ron Weasley appeared, “Have you seen Harry Potter anywhere? I heard he is on the train,”
“Non merci, nous avons plein d'idiots roux," Hermione replied.
Daphne caught her eye and added, “ D'accord, je ne suis pas intéressé par un bouffon roux,”
Ron looked at them and left the compartment muttering about foreign students.
Harry walked to the open door, and cast a silent wandless summons for Trevor the frog, a few seconds later he glided into Harry’s hand, “Here you go Neville, your Toad.”
Daphne looked at Harry thoughtfully, she had seen the summoning charm, Wandless, silent. He was powerful and noble. She was going to be writing to her father. The Heir Potter was back, he was nice and rather cute, if she was honest with herself. Their house had been partners and allies of the Potters in the past, their deaths had thrown it into disarray, Harry was too young now, but in a few short years, he would be a powerful ally, and if Hermione decided she didn’t want the cute little lad, then she might just have to make him an offer. Whatever happened down the road, her world would be better in the Potter camp than trying to manage the Malfoy ego, without letting him take advantage.
A few hours into the journey, Malfoy and the bookends arrived, “Potter”
Harry sat and looked at him, he remained silent. Waiting for Draco to say something that required an answer.”
Draco pulled himself upright, he held out his hand, then lowered it, turned and left the compartment.
Daphne laughed, “Brilliant Harry, Ickle Draco had no idea what to do. He expects everyone to bow to the Malfoy name, because daddy is loaded, or in Draco’s head he is anyway.”
Harry laughed, “can Draco speak French?”
“Not that I have ever heard, his mother Narcissa can’t and Lucius his father is a moron. They epitomise everything wrong with the whole blood purity hippogriff dung that his sort hide behind. Harry’s mother was muggleborn, and she was the smartest pupil to pass through Hogwarts for years. Harry’s family is known for marrying outside of the great houses, and judging by the power I can sense in Harry, it hasn’t done them any harm. Do you know Harry, your unruly hair comes from your great great grandmother, she was a Chinese magical that your great great grandfather met on a trade trip, you have a tiny bit of Chinese blood in your heritage, and I think your family is stronger because of it. When we are older, we need to get rid of the pureblood rhetoric, it is dragging our nation into the past.”
Harry looked across to Hermione, she returned his look in agreement. Daphne was a revelation, she had revealed more in this train trip than in three lifetimes before. “Next time Malfoy turns up, Hermione and I will talk in French, you can translate for us Daphne, although it can be any old nonsense, I think I am going to mock Draco Malfoy at every opportunity, it’s difficult to have minions if you are a laughing stock.
Malfoy returned about a half hour later, “I am Heir Malfoy, please call me Draco. He held out his hand.
Harry took his hand and shook it, he was tempted to kiss it, but thought better of it at the last minute, “Salutations Héritier Malfoy, je suis l'Héritier Potter, vous pouvez m'appeler Maître. Je n’ai jamais vu autant de gel capillaire sur un garçon auparavant. Avez-vous essayé d'insérer votre tête dans le cul de votre serviteur ?"
(“Greetings Heir Malfoy, I am Heir Potter, you may call me Master. I have never seen so much hair gel on a boy before. Have you been trying to insert your head in your minion’s arse?)
Daphne stood and bobbed a very slight curtsy, “My Lord Potter thanks you for your greeting, he has grown up in France with the family of his close friend Hermione, and extends his greetings in return, he speaks English infrequently, and sometimes confuses his words, so prefers to speak in his own language. He mistakenly assumed that you could speak French given your French family name”
“Eh bien, oui, je n'avais pas réalisé que tu étais un bigot d'esprit et le fils d'un meurtrier, peut-être devrions-nous faire en sorte qu'un mouton soit attaché à ton lit pour ton plaisir à notre arrivée à l'école.”
(Why, Yes, I did not realise that you were a small minded bigot and the son of a murderer, perhaps we should arrange for a sheep to be tied to your bed for your pleasure when we arrive at the school)
Daphne’s eyes flicked across to Harry and narrowed for a moment, “My Lord Potter extends the hand of friendship to you and hopes that your relationship can continue in a similar vein after we arrive at the school. On his behalf, I must apologise for his lack of English, I will tutor him at length to correct this omission.” She bobbed and Malfoy realised he had been dismissed. He smiled weakly and left the compartment.
Eventually the train announcer declared that they would be arriving in thirty minutes, and Hermione and Harry unshipped and enlarged their trunks, “Nev, if you have your uniform you can change in here with me, the ladies can go with Hermione.”
Daphne was impressed, “magically expanded trunks, these are brilliant. You can’t buy them anymore. Where did you get this one Hermione?”
“It’s one of Harry’s family trunks, this one was used by Sirius Black when he was at school with Harry’s father. Sirius lived with Harry’s parents like Harry does with mine, Sirius and James were closer than brothers.
Tracey asked, “Didn’t he betray them to you-know-Who.”
Hermione. “Call him Tommy Boy or something, don’t use a title or a name that makes him sound cool, he is just a murdering psychopath. Sirius is innocent, we know this now, it was their other friend that betrayed them and he framed Sirius. My folks are going to talk to the DMLE about getting Sirius a trial, or rather, they will hire a lawyer to do that.” The girls were changed, and paying a quick visit to the bathroom in the trunk, they rejoined the others in the train compartment.
They locked and warded their trunks against others but left them unshrunk as the train was slowing as it approached Hogsmead Station. Once on the platform they hear the familiar voice of Hagrid calling the first years to him, they followed him down the path to the boats, and once more admired the view of the castle across the lake. Harry and Hermione climbed into a boat and were joined by Daphne and Tracey, Neville climbed into the boat behind, joining Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot, and Sally-Anne Perks.
The boats bobbed across the lake, and into the cave where the jetty sat, ducking under the foliage at the entrance. Once everyone was safely out of their boats, Hagrid walked them up to the castle doors before theatrically banging on them, and announcing their arrival. Professor McGonagall opened the door and ushered them inside. The group of four stood lost in thought, which houses would they be selected for, the school ghosts went by almost unnoticed, Draco Malfoy and Ronald Weasley almost got into a fight, Harry and Hermione stood quietly and observed. The were called into the main hall and filed down to the front where a three-legged stool sat with a battered old hat. The Hat sang its song, Harry wasn’t really listening, he was looking around at the room, he saw Snape glaring at everyone, and Quirellmort with his ridiculous turban. Harry didn’t wear glasses in this timeline, and his scar was no longer vivid, nor was it the lightning bolt shape everyone expected, his surgeon had opened it up to remove the infection, and whilst it had healed as well as could be expected, the resulting scar was not the one everyone thought of, accordingly he wasn’t attracting attention as he had in previous attempts.
“Abbot, Hannah. – Hufflepuff”
“Bones, Susan, - Hufflepuff”
“Brown, Lavender – Hufflepuff” That was different Hermione thought
The sorting went on, “Davis, Tracey – Gryffindor” Tracey stood looking shocked and headed over to the Lion’s table.
“Granger, Hermione,” She sat on the stool and the hat was dropped onto her head. “Hello again, another time traveller. It’s been a while since I have seen one of you. Fierce intelligence, you would do well in Ravenclaw.” No, please put me in Gryffindor, I am here with my husband and soul mate, we shall be together and I have friends in Gryffindor. “Well, if you insist, - Gryffindor.”
“Greengrass Daphne, - Gryffindor.”
Malfoy went to Slytherin to join his bookends, as did Pansy Parkinson.
“Potter, Harry,” the hall fell silent, “Did she say Harry Potter?” He sat on the stool, The Hat was lowered over his head, “Are here you are, your wife insisted upon Gryffindor, I can see why, Lord Potter.” Hello again Gryff, before you announce me, can you place Weasley in a different house, he is a betrayer and we want nothing to do with him this time. “I think I can help you out My Lord, - Gryffindor.” As McGonagall lifted the hat clear of Harry’s head he felt something hard and cold on his head, he reached up and as the hat was pulled clear found himself holding the Sword of Gryffindor in his hand. He stood looking at the beautiful sword, it spoke softly to him, “Greetings Champion, I will come to your hand whenever you call, use me as a blade or a wand, as you see fit,” It slowly faded from view. There were some cheers at the Gryffindor table, “We got Potter!” it died away as he stood holding the sword for a few moments.
“Weasley, Ronald,” - the hat was silent for a few minutes, - “Hufflepuff.” Ron jumped from the chair, “No, I refuse. No. No. I want Gryffindor. All my family go to Gryffindor. I am not going to the puffs.”
Pomona Sprout spoke over the hub-bub, “Weasley, if you don’t want detention tomorrow night, sit at your HOUSE table, before you make any more enemies of your new housemates.” Red faced and head slumped he walked over to the table and sat at the end, no one offered to talk to him.
Harry was sat alongside Hermione, with Neville on his other side, Daphne, Tracey and Parva were sat opposite them, “I wasn’t expecting to see you two in the Lion’s Den, Daphne, Tracey. How did that work out?”
Tracey smiled, “I asked the hat to put me into a house where Daphne and I would be safe, and He shouted Gryffindor, and then whispered that Daphne would follow.” Daphne gave her friend some significant side eye, “I didn’t get a choice, I shall make the best of it, hopefully my father is not too upset. Being away from Malfoy, is an unexpected bonus.”
Harry listened to Dumbledore’s ridiculous comments before the meal, and surreptitiously checking the food for potions put some food on his plate, choosing some lean chicken, and green vegetables, with a few carrots and some mashed potatoes. He avoided looking in the direction of Snape or Quirellmort, and decided to keep it simple until he could slip into the room of requirements with Hermione.
After the meal, Dumbledore once again made the speech about death on the third floor corridor, he had a plan for the philosopher’s stone, but they had plenty of time, he hoped.
They were led to their dorm room, chatting with Tracey, Daphne and Hermione, made for a change of pace, they went their separate ways and he dropped into his bed, Neville in the next bed rather than Ron, he was asleep in minutes.
------oooOOOooo------
The friends met in the common room early and went to breakfast. They were handed their schedules by Professor McGonagall, “welcome to Gryffindor, I am sure you will make me proud.”
They had Potions Friday morning, with Snape. Harry sat with Hermione, Daphne with Neville, and Tracey with Parva. Harry sat whilst the dungeon bat billowed in and gave his speech about brewing fame. Shame he couldn’t brew some shampoo, Harry mused. Inevitably, Snape started,
“Potter, our new celebrity. What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?”
“A sleeping draught, possible the draught of living death, Sir.”
“Let’s try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?”
“Bezoars are created in a goats stomach Sir, if I wanted to find one I would look in either the potions store, or the hospital wing, they are a universal antidote to many common poisons, Sir.”
“What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?”
“It’s a trick question Sir, they are the same, also known as Aconite.”
Snape stared at him, and he felt the familiar tickle of a mental probe, he showed Snape a memory of Severus calling his mother Lily a mudblood, from her perspective, so he felt the last scraps of friendship die. ‘find anything interesting yet Professor?’ To his credit Snape did not visibly react. Harry turned to Hermione, “I am not sure I can do this. The rules allow us to hire a private tutor, shall we walk out and do potions independently?”
“Lets try this lesson and see how it goes, we should stay back after and perhaps ask Susan for a bit of help?” Harry nodded. The lesson went to the usual disaster that was potions. Harry and Hermione created a perfect potion, and Daphne kept Neville’s nerves under control, to produce another acceptable batch. Crabbe melted his cauldron.
Snape awarded Hermione and Harry a Troll and vanished their effort, Hermione had already kept back two phials with samples in them. The class was over and the students left, Harry sat on the stool, with Hermione at his side. “What are you two waiting for, the lesson is over.”
“Oh no, Severus, it is just about to begin”, Susan Sto-Helit walked in, hair in a bob, accompanied by Lily Potter. “Just what games do you think you are playing with my son, Sev. I know you sold your soul to that piece of Dragon fertilizer you worship, but if you try to punish my son, for your short comings with regard to his father, you will never get a minute’s rest for the remainder of your very short life.” She walked right up to his face.
“Lily? How, you were killed.”
“Ding! Give the man a prize. Let me introduce my good friend and Harry’s adopted Aunt, Susan. Granddaughter of DEATH. You are correct I was killed; I am in fact dead. If you don’t stop behaving like a petulant toddler, you will be as well, only your accommodation will not be as nice as ours, it might be a little warmer. Do you understand Sev?”
Snape’s mouth opened and closed, he said nothing.
“Lost for words.” Lily turned to Harry and Hermione, “You two get off and get your dinner, Susan and I are going to educate Severus on the importance of treating children in education fairly, Susan used to be a Headmistress, she has strong views about these things.”
Harry and Hermione filed out of the room. “Is it wrong that I wanted to watch them do something evil to Snape.”
“No Harry, I was thinking about a bone dissolving hex, myself, I had forgotten, just how truly awful he was, both as a teacher, and as a person. If he isn’t reformed in the next lesson, we’ll walk out and organise our own tutor.” Harry nodded and they entered the great Hall ready for some lunch.
As they sat down, Percy Weasley passed them a note, “The Headmaster wants to see you after lunch, Potter.”
“Do you know what it is about, Weasley?” He asked.
“That is not my concern, you have your instructions. Do not be late.”
“No. Unless it is directly related to a matter of my schooling, I am not obliged to attend. If I attend it will be with my guardian in attendance. These are stipulated in the school charter, and not negotiable at the whim of a fifth form prefect. Good day Weasley.” Harry turned back to his food.
Hermione looked up at Percy, “Is there something else?” He strutted off muttering to himself.
Harry looked over to the top table, Dumbledore was not in attendance, but McGonagall was, he walked along to the table and passed her the note, “Should we attend, or can we ignore this?” He asked.
“Leave it with me, I will speak to him first, and if there is a legitimate reason, we shall attend together.” She smiled and nodded at Harry.
“You might remind him that he still has my father’s cloak, it is a family heirloom, and should have been returned years ago.”
McGonagall gave him a look and left without speaking.
They took the opportunity of their free afternoon to slip up to the seventh floor, and after a few minutes stepped into the room of lost things. “Shame Dobby isn’t our elf in this timeline.” Harry muttered. “See if we can find a couple of brooms we can cover more ground. It is sat on top of a bust.”
They found a few brooms, but only one was serviceable, so Harry got on and Hermione climbed up behind him. Flying slowly above the stacks of old furniture they looked left and right until after what felt like an age, Hermione pointed to a white marble bust. “That’s it, have you got a magic proof bag?”
Harry landed them a few yards away and levitated the diadem with his wand. Hermione stood alongside him with the bag held open. Harry dropped the jewelled headpiece into the bag, and Hermione closed it with the draw string.
They flew back to the door and slipped out to the corridor. “Astronomy Tower, or walk in the grounds?”
“Lets go down to the tree at the lake, we can sit and relax for an hour, and see if Susan is free to collect the Horcrux?”
“Good plan,” the pair set off through the castle, “can we get hold of the map do you think? I really don’t need to bump into Dumbles whilst carrying a you-know-what.” They didn’t encounter anyone and slipped out of the doors and across to the lake unbothered. Once at the tree they sat in one of their favourite spots, and Hermione called for Susan.
“Hello little ones, you are so sweet at this age, you are adorably cute Hermione, sorry, I should be more professional with you two munchkins. What have you got for me?” Her hair tied itself up out of the way as she spoke.
“Diadem of Ravenclaw, one of the Horcruxes,” Harry said as Hermione fished the bag out of her Robes pocket.
A fireplace poker appeared in Susan’s hand, “tip it onto the grass, I can reap the shard from the Diadem.” Hermione did as she was asked and as soon as the headpiece landed on the earth, Susan stuck the tip of the poker onto the jewel at the centre, with an almost inaudible shriek the soul shard of Tom Riddle was dispatched to a waiting room, especially for him, in DEATH’s offices.
“Well done my munchkins, take the afternoon off.” Susan smiled and faded from view.
“She was very happy this afternoon,” Harry mused.
Hermione picked up the Diadem and placed it in her bag. “Which one is next?”