13 Prelude to Hogwarts

"Harry" Speech

'Harry' Thoughts

Harry sighed wearily. 

Apparently, he had another sister., she was 3 and had been left behind with a caretaker. 

And she had apparently decided that Harry was the only human being in her world as she sat on his lap. 

She stuck with him 24/7, when she wanted food she came to Harry, when she wanted to pee she came to Harry, when she wanted to play she came you, you guessed it Harry. 

But strangely Harry found that he didn't mind too much. 

She was cute and Harry often found himself getting lost in the moments when he was with her, he could turn his mind off and just relax for what felt like the first time in a long time. 

Dumbledore and his family had asked him where he was going to stay before going back to Hogwarts. 

Ilya had taken the decision out of his hands and told them he was going to stay with the Potters. 

Everyone was gathered in Dumbledore's office again as Harry and Ilya entered. 

"Harry, my boy while we have temporarily dealt with the ICW, they won't back down so easily so we wondered where you would stay till it's time to come back to Hogwarts?" 

"Harry, if you'd like... you're always welcome to stay with us." Lily asked, a note of hope creeping into her voice. 

"We'd love to have you Harry," grinned James, plus you'd get to meet your younger sister. 

"Oh, I have another sibling?" asked Harry tilting his head in confusion, "I've never heard of her though?" 

Danny snorted derisively, "How could you in the muggle world." 

"I feel like it would be prudent to give your family the bare-bones of it Harry wouldn't you Harry? asked Dumbledore prudently. 

Receiving a Lazy nod, he turned to the curious Greengrass-Black sisters and a still derisive Danny, "Harry has been exposed to magic for the past couple of years, he has spent the past few years with Ms.Einzbern.

"What?!, he has!" exclaimed a confused Daniel, his brother had apparently been exposed to magic, Danny didn't really know how to feel on that, his interactions with his brother hadn't been the best, but still his brother should have found them!

"Why didn't he meet his family sooner?" asked an equally curious Astoria, unknowingly echoing Danny's next question.

"I didn't know I was a Potter." Fibbed Harry, I found out when Dumbledore came to find me.

"So why the lie initially?" suspiciously asked Daphne.

Ilya stepped in, "That would be because of me, I found out Harry was a Potter and I wanted to stay on the safe side and asked him to not reveal our relationship."

"Einzbern." Muttered Daphne, trying to recall where she'd heard that name, "Wait Einzbern as in the founding British family..."

There was a sharp intake of breath from Daphne as she looked at Ilya in a new light. 

Astoria was curious at the reaction she gave, "What's up Daph?" 

Daphne didn't respond, instead she looked at Ilya as if she was seeing her for the fist time, "you're the Einzbern heiress aren't you." 

"Who?" asked Astoria? 

Sirius answered for Daphne, "They're the closest thing we have to British Royalty I would suppose." 

Danny saw an opportunity to get in crush's good graces, "That's awesome Ilya!" 

Ilya nose contorted as she sneered, and subsequently ignored his existence. 

Danny was taken aback, he had already disregarded their previous encounter, but Danny wasn't stupid, an overly large ego but even he could see past it to come to the conclusion, she didn't like him. 

Daphne still wasn't done, "Why would you hide that from the headmaster and why are you here now?"

Dumbledore cut in, "It is because of the slight differences I had with the previous Einzburn's, so Ms.Einzbern played it safe, but I found something suspicious about Harry and Ms.Einzbern, here cleared it up.

Daphne still wasn't done but before she could speak Ilya interrupted her, "can we get back to the matter at hand, where Harry is going to live till Hogwarts." 

Harry wasn't really worried, about to reply something along the lines he would deal with it, but he was unable to as Ilya continued on. 

"Since you've already offered him a place, he would love to stay with you, Mr and Ms Potter." 

"And what about where I want to live." 

"You have no other option, I want you to stay with them and so does she." 

No one got the oppurtunity to question who she was as they continued arguing

"Not that I really mind, but why can't I just book a hotel in Paris or something?" 

Ilya seemed surprised, "You're not averse to it?" 

"Not really." 

"Well, that's a relief we already froze your credit cards in case we needed some leverage to make you agree and we fel-." 

Ilya froze, realizing she gave away something she needn't have had. 

"You froze my cards." 

Ilya chuckled nervously, "We were going to use them as encouragement, you know if it was needed." 

Harry raised a finger. 

"1 day." 

Harry kept his finger up. 

Ilya let out a sigh of despair, "fine, I'll get them back up in an hour." 

That day had concluded and now Harry was looking at the reason of his distress, his sister had come for him again and she had a bucket and a shovel. 

"Big bwother wanna gwarden with me?" 

Harry sighed stuck between a rock and a hard place, he hated gardening, but he also didn't want to make his new little sister cry. 

"Woe is you huh Harry." a small smirk of amusement Daphne coming into the doorway. 

He liked her company in the couple of days he'd been here she'd come around often to visit the library or to take potion lessons from Lily and they'd stuck up a camaraderie, he enjoyed her dry humor and surprisingly funny jokes. 

Harry shot her a dry look getting a laugh from her as she sat down next to them. 

"Come on bwig bwother, please," cutely asked little Ella. 

Harry really did not want to garden but was wavering, unable to say no he gazed pleadingly at a silently laughing Daphne. 

"Ella, your mother's calling she says it's nap time." 

"Awww, big bwother we'll have to garden later." Ella said sadly.

Harry sighed in relief and some guilt as Ella went to take her nap, but mostly relief, he really didn't want to garden. 

"Aw come on bwig bwother, you can't be so mean to Ella!" teased a still laughing Daphne. 

"You couldn't have mentioned that when you came in, instead of laughing?!" 

Daphne smirked, "I could have." 

Harry smirked back, "you know I'll get you back for that." 

Daphne laughed, Sirius Black, while not her father by blood had taught her enough, she was quite talented at pranks, and no one ever expected her to be the perpetrator, "Will you?" 

Harry just raised an eyebrow, sowing a seed of doubt, maybe he wasn't to be taken as lightly as everyone else thought Daphne. 

Daphne decided to change the subject, "so you're best friends with the Einzbern heiress, how'd that happen?" she asked curiously. 

"Her family sponsored the orphanage we were in; her family had some troubles and she needed somewhere lowkey to stay." Explained Harry. 

'Sponsored it for a fresh supply of children who were conveniently 'adopted' and were never heard from again.' Harry's eyes had started flashing, but Daphne didn't notice as she continued her questioning. 

"Huh, wonder how that must have been for her, going from the rich Einzbern house to an orphanage must have been harrowing." Daphne wondered, snapping Harry out of his thoughts. 

'Were his eyes flashing?' wondered Daphne, before dismissing it as a trick of light as Harry responded.

"Ilya's life was never all flowers and roses but you'll have to ask her how it was, though I doubt you would expect her response to be anything along those lines." 

An awkward silence threatened to envelope them, but Harry asked a question before it could really set in, " I noticed you move quite gracefully, almost like a dancer." 

Daphne stared at him in surprise, "Wow, no one's ever picked that up, that's probably because I do ballet, keen eye their Potter." 

"It's a bit of a gift, could you show me?" 

Daphne's face showed her hesitation, not expecting the request, "I've never done it in front of someone not from my family." 

Harry grinned in anticipation, "There's a first time for everything, come on I know a little myself." 

Harry stood up and bowed while offering her his hand, Daphne took his hand tentatively as she got up, and with a gesture from his wand music started playing from the old decrepit piano in the library. 

The music, a cheerful tune, is followed by Harry and Daphne through easy leaps and twirls. The limited space doesn't hinder their movements as they start to get into and they both start enjoying themselves.

They experiment with spins, occasionally bumping into furniture but brushing it off with shared laughter. Harry playfully attempts a lift, and Daphne responds with a mock gasp, feet barely leaving the ground even as she starts laughing, something Harry joins in after a moment.

The tempo slows down, and Daphne and Harry transition into a more melodic section. Their movements become gentler, and more deliberate, as they explore different poses.

Daphne was astounded, "Beginner huh, you're just as good as me!" 

Harry let out a grin, "I may be cheating a little bit, I'm quite physically... gifted you could say." 

"A little full of yourself huh Potter, I don't think I can deal with another Danny, I quite like you as you are." 

"Hmm, quite like me as I am?" teased Harry. 

"Shut up, you know what I mean," said a flushed Daphne. 

The music abruptly came to an end and Harry righted himself and let go of Daphne. 

In the moment, Daphne missed how the music ended with nary a thought from Harry, but she would wonder about that later. 

"Company," he replied to her questioning look. 

Daphne's face reflected her confusion, "What do you mean?" 

Her question was answered as Danny Potter walked in with a gangly red-head, Ron Weasley. 

Danny looked at them suspiciously, "What are you guys doing here?" 

"Studying" replied Harry nonchalantly. 

Danny grunted in acknowledgement, before looking at Daphne, "Daphne, do you want to play a match of two aside with me, Ron and Ginny, she'll be here in a moment." 

Daphne looked disgusted at the notion, "No." 

Harry snorted at her reaction. 

Ron finally seemed to notice Harry, "Hey Danny's brother want to play quidditch with us?" 

'Danny's brother, a good first impression doesn't seem to be in this kid's skillset.' 

"You are?" 

Ron puffed his chest out, "Ron Weasley." 

"Well Ran Weasel, I would be delighted to." 

Ron's face turned red at the way he said his name, "Hey, it's Ron Weasley!" 

Harry dismissed it casually, "my bad." 

Ron fumed but held his tongue in favor of Danny speaking up. 

"So, Harry, you coming or not," challenged Danny looking at Harry smugly. 

Harry gave him a serene smile in response, "Sure." 

Danny tested the waters, "Let's spice this up then." 

"Oh, I'm listening." 

"The losing team gets pelted by quaffles." 

"Alright." 

'I'll wipe that cocky look off your face soon enough,' a smug Danny grinned inwardly. 

"No takebacks." 

"I'll be there in 5," confirmed Harry.

Both Danny and Ron left, their demeanour not hiding their smugness and anticipation of what they assumed would be an easy game. 

"Harry, have you played quidditch before?" 

"No." 

Daphne's mouth hung for a second, before she looked at him like he was an idiot, "Why'd you agree to a forfeit then?!" 

Harry gasped "hurt", "Your lack of faith stings." 

Daphne looked at him flatly, "They've been playing quidditch since they were 4, and while I am loathe to praise him, Potter is quite talented in the air." 

"Why thank you!" 

"Not you, you big-headed prick." 

"Alright then let's make a deal of our own." 

Daphne paused at that, but she was interested, "Alright, If I win, I get to ask you 3 questions about your past that you have to answer." 

"Oofh, taking advantadge of the situation huh, hmm, let me think about what I want." Harry sat in thought tapping his chin dramatically, "Ah what about for the next 3 months, whenever I say a code word, no matter where we are and what we're doing you have to quack like a duck." 

Daphne looked at him incredulously, but there was no way he would win right? 

"Fine, she agreed." 

"By the way, I never did ballet either." 

Daphne blinked, but before she could respond he was out of the door, whistling a jaunty tune. 

"That's... not possible, is it? The way he moved there is no way he hasn't done ballet before." Daphne wondered out loud a feeling of dread creeping in even as she rose to go and observe the match. 

AN: Powerstones are a great motivator and it's free to vote :)

So I sprained my wrist and it still hurts like a b*tch, hence why this chapter took so long, hopefully I'll have one out tomorrow if not the day after :)