22 Chapter 22 - Dueling Club
The next day the school was in a rather depressed and chaotic state. Everyone wondered who the heir was and who wanted to kill all the muggleborns. Which put some of the known or 'innocent' death eater children under pressure.
"Hey scarface, you better keep your mudblood on a leash. It would be a shame if she died." a blonde slick back hair preteen called out. His tone clearly held a sarcastic tone.
"You sound pretty confident about this Malfoy. Are you perhaps the heir?" Harry smiled innocently.
Since this trade took place in the Great Hall, the rumor mill instantly got a jump on it. Whispers were heard and many began shying away from Draco. It didn't help his case that he alway promoting the death eater motto since last year. Which was that muggleborns don't belong in the magical world.
Seeing that his reputation took a large dive and most of the school turned their backs on him. Draco stomped away wondering how he could save his reputation now it was in shambles.
--
Sitting in an abandoned classroom, Harry was listening to Daphne snort from laughing too hard. Besides finding great enjoyment in Draco's misery, she even fueled the rumors. While it was true that Draco matured after Hogwarts and married her sister. Daphne didn't care much about the man during or after Hogwarts. Seven years of prancing around does this.
"So was the blasted cat petrified?" Daphne asked as she calmed down from laughing so hard.
"Yes, but it seems that either the basilisk or the 'heir' stepped on the cat's tail. Now they don't know if the tail can be saved or not. So there might be a tailless cat running about."
Thrown into another fit of laughter, Daphne continued laughing as she pictured the scene.
--
A few days later the rumors soon died down for the most part. However, most half bloods and muggleborns gave a large curve around Draco. Mainly to irritate the blonde and get some revenge for all name calling he does.
Besides his small talks with Dumbledore during his lessons, when they are both available. Harry just carried on his days per normal. Practice some quidditch, go to classes, host a study group and do homework.
While most treat his study group in the great hall as the actual defense class compared to Lockhart's. A few still went to his classes, which were mainly his fangirls who still believed he was better.
Now in a last ditch effort to one up Harry, Lockhart decided to sponsor his dueling club. While it was a bit earlier by a few weeks than last time around. Harry decided to give a word of warning to most to not waste their time. While there were some protests most nodded in agreement but still wanted to check it out. For a laugh if nothing else.
While a small bit of him was a bit disappointed the man decided to host it during one of his lessons with Dumbledore. So Harry couldn't watch as Snape launched the fraud across the stage like a ragdoll.
Later Daphne who went to watch in order to tell him how it went. He was surprised that the man actually tried to slander a twelve year old. While Lockhart tried to degrade Harry's lessons, in the end he actually lost quite a bit of supporters. Sadly he couldn't watch as Professor Flitwick launched the man and played with the man with first year spells. It would appear that Snape was busy this time around.
--
"Sir, shall we do anything about the basilisk yet. The next attack if I remember correctly is in the very near future." Harry asked as he was chatting with Dumbledore.
"Was there anyone killed last time around?"
"No, but do you honestly want to take the chance? These are students' lives and I rather they not miss months of their lives as the mandrakes grow."
While he wondered why they just didn't import them last time around, Harry later learned. It was a very difficult task to transport mandrakes. They are very sensitive and have about a three day lifespan once they begin moving from where they were grown.
"Do you have a plan? If you kill the basilisk you risk tipping off Riddle."
"We can always just take the diary and store it away for the time being. Then he wouldn't know."
Dumbledore thought about the suggestion and Harry watched as his shoulders visibly slump. Clearly he thought about Ginevra being possessed and the effects it might have taking it away now. Since the girl has been clearly writing in it before school, the diary should have had a decent hold.
"I don't think that possible at the current time?"
Harry just sighed at his mentor. "Sir, we can just destroy the diary. If we kill the snake and make it look like it died to age. We can just ambush her while down in the chambers and destroy the horcruxes releasing her from the influence."
"I have thought of this, but how sure are you that she will be released?" Dumbledore stated which made Harry nod. Just because it happened last time it might not this time.
"Research?"
"Research."
--
In the following weeks besides researching and grudgingly sending a letter to the goblins. Harry and Dumbledore awaited word back from the Gringotts curse breakers. Besides doing that, Harry has been busy slowly wooing Susan with Daphne help. Even if he managed to snag both Daphne and Fleur in the future. He was clueless on girls and not to mention the ones this young.
"Hey Love, how is broom?" Harry asked as he sat next to Katie in the common room. It was currently late at night and only a few stray couples were up.
"It's pretty good. Why do you ask My Alpha?"
"Today during practice, it took a pretty good beating. Expressailly between your lovely thighs and legs." Harry lousy flirted and only got a small blush for his efforts.
The actual purpose for asking was he wanted to figure out a gift as he wanted to do something nice for her. Being a second year and really only having the castle to move about in, it didn't leave Harry with many options for a date. So he figured why not mail order a couple gifts for his girls and friends.
Of course he decided to send Fleur some charmed underwear as well as Daphne. Since they loved it last time around it would be a shame not to have another set. Even if he had to make some changes to the bra charm. There aren't any mountains to climb yet.
Now instead of climbing mountains, it had Harry eating an ice cream sundae with cherries on top. While it may take a moment to get it, he sure the two will understand. After all they did hang out in the mundane world from time to time.
"My broom is well cared for so don't worry about it. Now your broom I might be testing out again." Katie answered with lust entering her voice.
"Yes, they say testing is never complete." Harry nodded sagely. "I hope you will continue to test it forever."
"I and others may have to do so." Katie whispered seductively into his ear.
"Yes, my nympho."
It would be nearly two hours later before either returned to their room much to their roommate questioning looks. From the looks it would be a few years for Harry's roommates to realize while Katie's would just giggle and blush hard.
--
In the following days that came, Harry camped out in the library researching water phoenixes. While he can change into his wolf form now like an animagus with some work to shorten the shift. Both Dumbledore and Daphne said that he could probably register by the end of the year and add a layer of protection to himself.
Hermione was also in the library researching her animal across from him. From what he knows she is a crow found somewhere in America. In his mind it fit her perfectly as he held a list of animals and their symbolism.
From what he knows of a crow they are: Guidance While Working in Shadow, Moves Freely in the Void, Understands all Things Related to Ethics, Secret Magic of Creation, Thief, Trickery, Boldness, Skill, Cunning, Single-Mindedness, A Bringer of Knowledge, Swiftness, Eloquence.
Harry thought it fit Hermione pretty well as she used her statues as a war hero and his fame to push her forward. Now that he thought about it, most of her achievements were mostly from his friendship with her. So that was pretty cunning and she was pretty single-minded once she made up her mind.
Too bad for her it might be the same way this time around. While he might still hold a distant friendship with her. It by no means will it be close or her being able to use it to boost her career.
As for Ron, once he found out it was a snake he decided to end his thoughts of becoming an animagus. Since his views were still hardcore and bias agasint the Slytherin and his hatred for snakes. He just gave up the entire study not caring if he can choose his second form or not.
--
While Harry was reading in the library the attack he was waiting for happened.
