23 Harry Gaunt - Chapter 23

It was time to go as Harry stepped outside the compartment door, looking left and looking right for anyone coming down: there was no one, so Harry walked out and headed for the nearest exit. He was desperate to see outside.

He knew Bellatrix would be annoyed as he heard a distant huff, then an annoyed sigh as she and Martha followed after him. Bellatrix had been busy explaining what House Elves were, and why Martha should leave her trunk on the train.

"First-years this way!" shouted a familiar voice as Harry stepped out onto the platform, the lights and lamps unchanged from Harry's memories - and there was Hagrid, waving and calling for the first-years to come up the platform.

Harry was all on his own down here at this end, it was strangely peaceful.

"Harry!"

That is, until Bellatrix came clambering down the carriage's steps, all but fleeing from Martha who was laughing behind. Harry ignored Bellatrix for the moment. "Martha, head towards that large man over there," he instructed, before adding quickly when Bellatrix set her gaze on him. "He was calling for first-years."

Harry shifted when Bellatrix settled beside him, the two standing together while Martha eagerly ran off towards the other first-years.

She turned hastily back. "Bye Harry!"

Harry waved. "I thought you'd grown on her," he said to Bellatrix who hadn't received a goodbye. "Was she laughing at you?"

Bellatrix looked away dismissively. "Of course not, we just don't get on." She flicked her eyes back to him. "And try not to run off like that," she said. "You don't know where you're going, you might have ended up on the boats with the first-years."

She was worried he'd run off and never be seen again.

"They take boats?" asked Harry. "Sounds fun."

Harry liked the idea of riding the boats again. "What is it this time?" he sighed, seeing Bellatrix was looking at him, her arms crossed in an unimpressed way. It didn't feel like she was trying to help him.

"We'll get the carriages," she declared, walking off towards a dimly lit path as she prompted him to follow. "Maybe we'll be lucky and you'll miss the sorting."

That way he'd at least be spared the humiliation when he was made a duffer, which Bellatrix didn't rule out given how Harry's temperament.

"That is a good point," conceded Harry as he followed beside Bellatrix, it would seem strange if he wasn't sorted into Slytherin. "Maybe I should just choose."

He followed behind her, there was a path just off to the side that led to the carriages.

Bellatrix turned back to him. "So now you listen to my advice?" she said, exasperated by Harry's thought process. "I explained before why you should just choose Slytherin. It's your house Harry." Before she added. "It'll draw attention if you go anywhere else."

Bellatrix didn't understand why he was so resistant to the idea. He was Slytherin's heir for pity's sake.

"We'll see what Dumbledore days," decided Harry after a moment of thought. "He is the Headmaster."

And Harry would rather not annoy the man, lest more attention be placed upon him because of it.

"The Headmaster isn't always right Harry," warned Bellatrix as they came to the road where the carriages came.

Harry looked around, stopping himself from agreeing. It would just encourage her.

"Harry-"

"Enough, Bellatrix," he replied over her, looking back from the trees that surrounded them. "I don't need anyone telling me what to do, least of all Dumbledore and especially-" He took a step towards her. "-especially you."

She was already too familiar with him, she even had the nerve to try and instruct on who to listen to. "Hmph."

Harry settled beside her, condemned to wait while Bellatrix said nothing, her gaze kept down until the carriage arrived with a rattily clack. Harry stepped up and opened the door for her, then waited with his hand on the handle while she delayed.

She was trying to apologise.

"Apology accepted," said Harry, wanting her to please just to get inside so they could go. "Thank you."

Bellatrix hopped inside and scooted over towards the corner, hardly expecting Harry to sit next her, but the offer was clearly there even if he didn't take it. Bellatrix had overstepped, she wasn't normally like this as the carriage tugged them along. "You're different than I expected," she admitted quietly to him. Harry wasn't like the other Purebloods. "And I meant what I said to you, I just want to help."

Bellatrix felt Harry's gaze on her.

"Why?" Harry moved so he was opposite her. "Why are you trying to get involved in all this?" he said, for the moment at least trying to understand. "It's not some game Bellatrix. You've no idea."

Harry looked away, settling his eyes at his feet. She didn't know what would happen should she follow him.

"Then tell me," she asked him with a growing desperation. "I know too much already, I heard everything you said to Arcturus."

Harry snapped his gaze up.

Bellatrix nodded, it was the truth. "I didn't just overhear it at home," she explained, feeling exposed as Harry watched her. "Walburga won't stop going on about him, while Arcturus seems to have completely withdrawn. It seemed to happen all at once after we returned from the Ministry, after what Walburga told him."

Bellatrix hadn't heard what they'd said, only wait upstairs and try not to think what this would all mean for her. Bellatrix didn't know what to do, but she knew that if Harry was involved, she'd be on his side.

"I was afraid of that happening," admitted Harry, sitting back with a severe expression. "He's too old."

Arcturus must have realised what was going to happen, how powerless he was to prevent his family turning against him.

Bellatrix came to the edge of her seat. "Please just tell me Harry," she asked with concealed fear. "You know what's going on, I know you do. You know who this man is, what he's doing, what will happen should he succeed." Bellatrix couldn't help it, she moved across to sit beside him. "Please, I need to know. Cissy and I are on our own now, our parents are on Walburga's side."

Bellatrix had to make a decision, she'd done her best to avoid it before term started, but she wouldn't be able to when they returned. If she and Cissy ended up on the wrong side of this, they'd be doomed, and it was already starting.

"I don't have all the answers Bellatrix," said Harry quietly, feeling her fingers begin to touch his arm. "I am sorry."

He shifted away. He wouldn't tell her, because as the carriage came to a stop and the door clicked open, he knew already which side she'd choose.

Harry wasn't planning on coming back.

"Harry!"

Harry left through the carriage door, then disappeared with a crack before Bellatrix could reach him. She all but toppled out the carriage door in pursuit, looking around for where Harry had gone. "He apparated." Bellatrix looked back up at the castle, then scowled as she realised where he'd run off too. "I can't give up."

Bellatrix held within in her mind what would happen if House Black became no more, if Walburga took over and let this man Harry hated determine their fates.

Bellatrix wasn't prepared to let that happen as she took a shortcut towards Hogwarts, she'd rather eat flobberworms for the rest of her life than become Harry's enemy.

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Harry cursed as he tugged the door to the courtyard open, once again left feeling annoyed and unsettled by his interactions with Bellatrix. She always disrupted him, like at the dinner and on the train, and in the carriage pulled by a creature she couldn't see. "She's not going to stop," he concluded as he headed quickly for the great hall, fully expecting Dumbledore would want him sorted. "Not Slytherin eh… you could be great you know, it's all here in your head…"

Harry chuckled after he'd said it, wondering if he really wanted to hear that again as he took two steps at a time towards McGonagall, not caring if she'd heard while she waited by the doors to the Great Hall.

She was watching him disapprovingly.

"Professor?" Harry came to a stop where the first-years normally would. "I am Harry Gaunt. We met briefly before."

McGonagall looked at him, perhaps acknowledging that they had.

Harry waited for her to say something.

"Should I go in?" offered Harry, feeling the need to comment on something when she still didn't answer. "This is a wonderful castle, it looks different in the dark."

This was very odd of her, maybe she just wasn't sure what to make of Harry as he cast his eye around. It felt good to finally return.

"Mr Gaunt, please step aside for the moment," she finally said with a gesture at the coming first-years. "You will be sorted afterwards."

Harry did as he was told and stepped aside, settling near the wall while the first-years approached up the stairs. They were in awe of the castle. "About the sorting," said Harry. "Am I allowed to choose which house I am sorted into?"

It hadn't mattered to him before, but now thanks to Bellatrix he was seriously considering the merits of her proposal. It would indeed be very strange if he didn't join Slytherin, and if the hat did decide against his will to place him elsewhere, he'd then be hated by everyone - including Slytherin.

Harry didn't want to deal with their attempts at putting him in his place. "Professor?"

McGonagall ignored him.

"Welcome students," she said, greeting the first-years as they arrived. "I will trust that you are all well and not in need of any attention, so I'll just say a few words before we head in for your sorting." McGonagall held a roll of paper in her hand like a baton. "At Hogwarts, house points will be given as a reward to those students who work hard, follow the rules and excel in the school curriculum."

McGonagall cast an eye across them, scanning for any rule breakers as she rehearsed much the same as what Harry had heard before.

He had remained by his spot near the wall, waiting for her to finish while a few curious first-years glanced at him. Martha wasn't among them, she must be towards the back making friends as McGonagall finished, then turned with a sweep to the opening doors.

The first-years followed behind her, leaving Harry to walk slowly in behind them. He didn't make it far though, and ended up stopping just shy of the tables. It really was like coming home, the smells in the air and the people chatting around, and the ghosts floating here and over there in their bothersome way.

People were looking at him, one by one they turned their heads and stared at him. Harry was lost in memory, even the sky was the same…

"Hello?"

Harry blinked, looking back to the curious boy at the end of the table. Harry acknowledged him, but said nothing else as he walked down the middle aisle towards the gathered first-years. McGonagall was giving him a look, probably wanting him to stop drawing attention to himself as he settled at the back.

"Amy Leighton!" she called, reading from the roll of parchment.

Harry had a great view as the little girl hopped onto the stool, and was then promptly sorted with a- "HUFFLEPUFF!"

She hopped away again. Then the next came up and the crowd shuffled forwards.

"Feel free to perch if you want," said a Ravenclaw boy to Harry's side with some space behind him. "It can take a while sometimes." He flicked his eyes to the stool at the front, wondering if it'd be quick sorting this time - he was hungry.

"Thanks." Harry took him up on his offer.

"By the way," said the third or fourth-year as Harry perched on the bench. "Who are you again?"

He looked at Harry with great interest.

"You'll find out soon enough," returned Harry with a touch of humour. "McGonagall said I was going last."

Harry tried not to show what he was really thinking as looking back to the boy and his friends.

"That's Professor McGonagall," said a snippy girl from across the table. "You can't just her McGonagall."

She huffed at Harry, and then again when the boy laughed. "He's already of age," in a tone that said they argued a lot. "And he's not a student yet."

"Yes he is," returned the girl as more took note of their conversation. "He's here and about to be sorted, he's even got the uniform on." She pointed at Harry's uncoloured robes.

Harry was glad he'd remembered to remove the red and gold before putting them on.

"You two!" snapped a voice from further down. "Quiet down."

The two offenders looked at him, as did Harry as he saw the boy's face. He was probably a fifth-year, and looked remarkably like Barty Crouch.

Junior.

Harry quickly looked away, he was doing that tongue thing he'd done when he'd cornered Harry in in his office.

"Guess we'll wait and see then," whispered the boy from beside Harry. "Looks like you're up."

The boy flicked his gaze to the remaining first-years, only two remaining of the lot that had come through. There hadn't been all that many to sort as Harry stood back up, then walked to the front as the final first-year was called to the stall, then promptly sent on his way.

Harry came to a stop as Dumbledore rose from his chair. "Thank you, Professor McGonagall," he said with a nod as McGonagall returned to her seat. "And dear students-" he cheered, looking out across the hall. "-welcome back!"

Dumbledore sounded greatly enthused as he walked out from behind his table and came up to his podium. "I myself am all too glad to be back," he admitted happily, glancing for a moment at Harry as he waited near the front. "For I have exciting news I must share with you, a new student will be joining Hogwarts in his seventh-year."

Dumbledore gestured grandly with his hand.

"Harry Gaunt, Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Gaunt."

A loud clapping sound quickly sounded from behind, Horace spared no expense in welcoming their new Lord. The students however, along with faculty all clapped far more subdued. They were mostly from Slytherin House, who were both shocked and amazed at who Lord Gaunt really.

The Daily Prophet hadn't said exactly, only the name and a ruined alley.

Bellatrix clapped for Harry too, she was sitting with Cissy not far from the front. "You were right Bellatrix," whispered Cissy as the clapping died down. "Let's hope."

Bellatrix nodded softly, she really hoped Harry would come here as they watched him step up at Dumbledore's behest, intent it seemed on sorting him in the usual way. Dumbledore held the hat like a careful weapon. "If you'd take a seat Harry," he said.

The Slytherin's who it bristled. That was Lord Gaunt to him.

"Harry?"

But to the Slytherin's surprise, Harry hadn't responded, he'd stopped after taking a single step forward. He lingered now at the bottom of the shallow steps leading up to Dumbledore, caught within his thoughts as Bellatrix tensed.

She'd seen that look before, right before he'd smashed through the wards of her home.

Dumbledore saw it too, he took a cautious step down as his unease began to grow. He'd tried to contact Harry after the events at the alley, but heard nothing. "Harry, what's wrong?"

They watched as Harry flicked his gaze to him, then completely ignore the man as he continued round to see the Slytherin table… he was searching for Bellatrix, and he found her beside Cissy, watching him with a hopeful gaze.

"Harry!"

Dumbledore's voice prompted him on. Harry walked away towards the Slytherin table and to the shock of the Great Hall.

Harry wanted to sit with her, but knew he shouldn't as he slipped in beside a nameless first-year. His robes became sliver and green a moment later, accepting his choice to do as Bellatrix asked.

She was right, things would be better in Slytherin.

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