Harry Gaunt - Chapter 24

Harry sat in silence as the rest of the students sang the Hogwarts song, which even the Slytherins seemed to join in on. Malfoy and the rest from before would have never sung it.

'…teach us something please…hog-'

Harry was starting to get hungry now, the food hadn't yet appeared along the empty table while the song still went on. And if he looked from where he was sitting, he could see quite a few faces he recognised among his fellow house mates. They were mostly the older Death Eaters, the one's he'd killed or had died quite early on during Voldemort's return. There was Lestrange and his brother, Avery but no Dolohov, a boy that like a bit like Rowle; even snatchers, politicians or people he'd come across were among the many faces he saw.

Harry just hoped they'd turn out differently this time as the singing came to an end.

"Let the feast begin!" Dumbledore took his seat again, and the hall let out a collective sigh when the food finally appeared. Harry remembered the many plates and bowls mounded with food, it was all Sunday dinner type things, bacon rolls and roast chicken.

There was some cabbage too.

"Can you pass the gravy please?" he asked to the girl that was nearest, a fourth-year who all but squeaked when Harry had spoken to her.

She carefully handed Harry the jug, saying it was hot and too be care. Harry smiled in thanks, she seemed nice at least.

"Can you pass the apple sauce?" she returned, pointing at the bowl just beside him

"Sure."

Harry handed it to her.

"Thanks."

The girl looked away as she spooned it on her plate.

Harry found himself quite satisfied at the interaction, pleased people here seemed receptive of him. It would have been very different if he was over there coloured red and gold, and if he looked just right he could see bits of food being flicked at unsuspecting people: it was Sirius. Harry looked away.

He was worried when the time came for them to meet that he'd make a fool of himself, fearing that he'd somehow slip and say something he shouldn't.

Harry stabbed a piece of chicken with his fork, then chewed. He'd do his best, he'd been feeling much better these past few days; his sleep had improved, he felt stronger and more able to deal with things and he'd been fine with Lily, even sat across from her without showing any sign he was watching her every move.

She really was just like he'd been told.

"Excuse me."

Harry looked up to the girl sitting across from him, different from the one before. "Yes?" he returned, spotting how she shuffled nervously. "You can ask. Go ahead."

She was a second-year.

"Um…" she glanced for a moment to the girl beside her, who in-turn glanced back. "Are you the only Gaunt?" Her eyes met Harry's for a moment, his eyes were an incredible green. "I mean, do you have any brothers and sisters."

She seemed to shuffle again, her friend finding it funny as she tried to hide her giggles.

Harry wondered why she wanted to know.

"Yes to the first," said Harry. "But no to the second. It's just me."

Harry cut a bit more of his chicken, chewing while the girl began to nod - and then stop. "R-right," she looked down and returned to her food. "Thanks."

Her friend had gone quiet too. How odd. "Why did you want to know?" pressed Harry, looking for the answer himself as he read her mind.

"Just curious," she hurried. "Sorry to bother you."

She returned to her food and begun chatting with her friend.

No reason, thought Harry as he saw the Daily Prophet flicker in her memories. He sighed under his breath, she'd wanted to know if it was him who'd done it, and in a very Slytherin way she'd found out - Harry would have been none the wiser, he was like a little duckling compared to her.

After that no-one tried to speak to him, leaving him to finish his meal in silence until it was time to leave.

"First-years follow me," said one of the prefects as Harry pretended not to know which way he was going.

"You too if you would, Lord Gaunt," said a voice from behind Harry, stepping up with a smile and prefect badge as Harry turned around.

It was the one that looked like Rowle.

"Thank you." Harry looked the boy over. "Harry Gaunt."

Harry nodded.

The boy seemed pleased.

"Himrick Rowle," returned the blonde-haired boy. "Pleasure."

Himrick stepped away, gesturing politely with head to the leaving first-years. There was no time to speak properly as Harry turned, leaving with to follow after them.

"Amazing isn't it," said a different voice that had been waiting near the door. He'd been waiting for Himrick to approach. "He introduced himself, that was nice of him."

Himrick nodded, stepping out with his friend. "I expect he's got it all figured out," he commented, the two walking back through the Hogwarts corridors. "He's probably well-aware of what's going on."

The friend hummed, speaking quietly in return. "Let's see how he does," he said reservedly. "If he's anything like the other Gaunts, he'll just be a liability."

It wouldn't be worth vouching for someone only to have that favour forgotten, left unpaid. The Dark Lord wouldn't appreciate a loose cannon being included in what they were doing.

"Keep an eye on him," said the friend again, parting ways without reply when they came to a junction in the corridors.

Himrick nodded, he had no choice.

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Bellatrix felt giddy as she walked with Cissy towards the Slytherin common room, utterly surprised that Harry had listened to her.

"Bellatrix."

"Sorry." Bellatrix smoothed her expression as they entered through the door. "I need to find Slughorn."

Bellatrix had a resignation to hand in.

"He'll be with Harry," said Cissy knowingly. "He's probably talking to him as we speak."

It was just Slughorn's way. He was very predictable as Cissy perched on one of the sofas. "Bellatrix?"

Bellatrix turned around. "What?"

Cissy raised a brow at her. "You're pacing," said Cissy. "Relax. Someone will notice."

They'd come to their usual spot within the common room, a good spot with a private space. But you could still be seen, especially with all the lights dotted around.

"I am not pacing," denied Bellatrix as she stopped. "Not anymore."

Cissy looked at her, then smiled as Bellatrix plopped beside her.

"You were supposed to come and fine me," said Bellatrix, turning to her while the room began to fill. "Who were you with?"

Bellatrix had known about Marlene, the two still friends since meeting on the train during their first-year.

"I was with Marlene of course," returned Cissy, not thinking it was a big deal. "A few people came to sit with us. But about you?" Cissy had heard all about Bellatrix's plan to track Harry down. "I take it you found him then?"

Cissy giggled. Bellatrix had looked away.

"Stop it Cissy," said Bellatrix with a growing smile, feeling the need to swat and stop Cissy's incessant giggling. "It didn't turn out how I expected though, he was sharing a compartment with a first-year when I first came in. Then Evans arrived, then McDonald and then Mulciber."

Bellatrix expressed that it all been very annoying.

"Mulciber?" said Cissy with a tense. "What did he want - was Lestrange there?"

Bellatrix quickly shook her head. "No," she assured. "But that's why I was worried about you."

It was anyone's guess what Lestrange's group had planned, but whatever the strange looks Lestrange and his friends had been sending their way before the holidays, it couldn't be good.

"Severus was with me," declared Cissy, as if to reassure Bellatrix that everything would have been fine. "He's not with them anymore, ever since he and Evans fell out."

Cissy didn't hold back what she thought of the girl, Evans hadn't a clue what Severus had had to deal with because of her.

"I don't know why people like her," agreed Bellatrix, remembering how she'd practically forced her way in just to apologise to Harry, which reminded her. "I couldn't get him to tell me."

Bellatrix had shared everything with Cissy, and as they sat tougher, wilted at her own failure.

"Not yet Bellatrix." Cissy emphasised the 'yet'. "Not yet."

Since Harry was in Slytherin now, they'd realistically be the only ones Harry would know.

"Don't worry."

Cissy patted Bellatrix's hand, she was worrying her fingers again. "Come on, let's find spot near where Slughorn usually stands. We can grab him about him the prefect stuff."

Cissy tugged Bellatrix with her as they headed for the open space where the first-years always gathered. It wouldn't be long now until they returned after their extended detour from the Great Hall.

"Ah, Narcissa. How were your holidays?"

Cissy turned with a plastered smile as she greeted a girl in her year, hardly a friend while Bellatrix shifted a little back from them. Bellatrix kept an eye on the common room door while Cissy chatted, just the same as the few others who were lingering around, probably hoping to speak to Slughorn too or had family among the first-years.

"Oh lovely, I am so glad you had a good time."

Cissy inched away back to Bellatrix, saying false-pleasantries to Resindra Parkinson. She was a dreadful girl.

"Bye!"

Bellatrix tried not to laugh as she felt Cissy settle beside her again, her smile from before fading into an annoyed scowl.

"I wish she'd just go away," she said under her breath. "I should have listened to you and Andi Bellatrix, now they keep saying hello."

Bellatrix had never thought much of having friendships with Slytherin girls, having learned from Andi what a pain they were. "I did tell you," she said, the two looking ahead now as the common room doors began to open. "Some of them aren't so bad."

A few of the Rosiers and the Bulstrodes weren't completely unpalatable. They were much like Bellatrix and Cissy in some ways, just looking out for themselves before they were inevitably married off.

It was sad really. It made Bellatrix sad. Perhaps that's why she'd become so close with Cissy and Andi because truly, she didn't have any friends who were anything more than acquaintances.

"Here they come."

Cissy stood with concealed excitement as the little first-years came tussling in, lead by who'd have guessed, Professor Slughorn. "Told you."

Harry was planted firmly at his side too, the two exchanging words until they came to a stop in the usual place. The first-years gathered behind Harry, while Slughorn stepped away so he could address them. "Welcome little snakes!"

Slughorn guffawed at his own joke.

"I gest I gest…" he trailed happily, smiling as he looked across at them. "You will soon be aware that as members of Slytherin House, you are afforded a certain reputation."

Slughorn walked along slightly, looking thoughtful and a little disappointed. "It's not without cause, I'll admit. It's a part of House Slytherin's ethos - we are cunning, ambitious and above all-" He raised a finger, coming to a stop while first-years stared at it. "-ruthless. Salazar Slytherin was a ruthless man."

He lowered his finger, letting it settle.

Slughorn would never deny that to succeed, one had to be ruthless or forever risk being cast aside by those who were. He himself for example had suffered the effects, and despite his position of Professor, much of his life has been lived through the achievements of others. Never his own.

He took his time walking back to his spot. "That is all." He gestured the first-years away and towards the waiting Prefects. He had his eyes on Harry now.

"Professor, could I speak with you for a moment?" said Bellatrix, slipping in before he could bother Harry again. "It won't take a long."

Bellatrix smiled at Professor Slughorn. She knew he didn't really want to talk to her.

"It's alright Professor," offered Harry as he came over. "I can find my way from here. Thank you for your time earlier."

Harry was clearly just going to follow the first-years, wrongly assuming Slytherin would have a single place like the tower where they'd all sleep.

Slughorn quickly corrected that. "I'll need to show you to the seventh-year dorms," he explained. "It's a little tricky to find if you don't know the way."

Bellatrix poked her in. "I can show you," she offered.

"No, that's fine." Harry answered.

"Good idea Bellatrix!" realised Slughorn, forgetting to use 'Ms' and 'Black'. "I was just saying to Harry here that I'd find a prefect to show him around, tell him what's what here at Hogwarts." Slughorn couldn't think of anyone better as he gestured she come around him.

"About that Professor," said Bellatrix. "I'd been meaning to tell you that I'd like to focus on my studies this year, so won't be able to perform my Prefect duties anymore." She retrieved her badge and presented it to him. "I just came to return it."

Bellatrix looked at him in apology.

"Oh Bellatrix, no, please." Slughorn lamented. "You're our best prefect."

"Sorry sir."

She handed it to him, forcing her eccentric Professor to take it. "I'd be happy to assist Lord Gaunt however," she offered. "Lord Gaunt and I met during the holidays."

Bellatrix looked at Harry again, hiding her the smile by how annoyed he seemed at what was happening.

"You've met already?" said Slughorn, looking between the two. "Splendid. All the better."

Slughorn naturally wanted to hear more, but since neither Harry nor Bellatrix were inclined to explain, he reluctantly sent them off. "If you should need anything Harry, please, my door is always open."

Slughorn looked for a response as Bellatrix encouraged Harry away.

"Of course sir," said Harry. "I'll look to you should I need anything."

Slughorn beamed.

Harry followed beside Bellatrix as she led them away, the two walking slightly apart as the other Slytherin's watched from the sofas.

"Don't look." Bellatrix could tell Harry was trying to look at them. "Harry."

Harry set his eyes forward, thinking how different Slytherin was compared to Gryffindor. "They look, but I cannot?"

It didn't seem fair to.

"Yes," said Bellatrix as they came to the door for the dorms. "At least for now."

"That makes no sense."

The door clacked closed behind them, the two now alone within the seventh-year dorms. Bellatrix didn't say anything more as she led Harry down to the boy's section, which was a long row of doors just like girls was.

"Are you allowed in here?" added Harry.

Bellatrix nodded. "It's the same for the girl's dorm," she explained with gesture at the many doors. They were numbered, with some closed and some left open. "If the doors open, you can claim it."

They headed down to the first empty one, of which there were many before the corridor eventually ended.

Harry looked around, it was different from he'd expected.

"What is it?" came Bellatrix's curious voice, watching him as he looked around. "You expected something else?"

Harry looked back at her. "No, not really." He walked inside the first empty room, leaving Bellatrix by the door as she watched him still.

She'd noticed little things like this, little moments where Harry would stop and really look at things. It was like he was checking them. "What are you doing?"

He was looking out the window, inspecting different things as they floated by. "Is that the lake?" he asked, glanced back at her. Bellatrix nodded. "Amazing."

Harry tapped the glass with his finger.

"We're in the dungeons now," said Bellatrix, walking up behind him before tapping it with her own. They stood side by side looking out and the gloomy lake. "I told you Slytherin was the best," she said. "It's the only house that gives you a room to yourself."

Bellatrix stepped away a little, she had something to say. "Thank you Harry."

Harry blinked, turning back from the window. "What?" he said. "Why are you thanking me?"

He'd not done it for her sake.

"Because I can," she returned. "And I am. There doesn't always have to be a reason."

Bellatrix just wanted to say it, and she was glad to. Harry's face as he tried to figure it out was very amusing.

"I am still not telling you," he deterred, stepping near as Bellatrix nodded with issue. "You're not a part of this, you don't need to be." Harry could keep her safe if she just kept away. "Why are you smiling?"

Bellatrix was smiling at him, her eyes upon his in the strangest way.

She stepped back.

"Would you like a tour?" she asked, then without an answer turned away and back to the door. "Come on."

She gave him a look, then at Harry's bemused expression, disappeared down the corridor.

Harry was left with a decision, standing as he was all alone in his aquatic room. "I did get a little lost last time," he admitted, finding it ironic how that was the very reason they'd met. "And she'll just come back if I don't go."

It was true, she would come back.

"Fine."

Harry headed out and into the corridor, telling her to wait as she slipped out through the door, her laughter echoing down.

Harry ran to catch up with her.

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