Resistance

Chapter 3 - You

The next morning Harry woke up to find Ron Weasley shaking him.

"Wha - what do you want?" snapped Harry sleepily and rolled to his other side, facing away from the boy.

"We're the last ones here. Breakfast will start in a bit. I don't want to be late," answered the boy excitedly.

Harry groaned again but after some more persuading on Ron and his stomach's side he got up, got dressed and went down for breakfast.

"Oh, so you're friends now?" Iris beamed at the two of them as they took two seats in front of her.

"You have got to be kidding me," snorted Harry and tried to eat quietly.

"Well you are going to spend most of your time together and all," Iris looked at him pointedly.

"You said that last night. And besides, are you saying I'm not friendly enough?"

Iris shrugged.

"I'll prove it to you," said Harry. He turned to the girl sitting across from him, left from Iris. "Hi. Parvati, is it?" he smiled.

The girl's eyes went very wide in astonishment.

"Would you like to sit with me during History of Magic today?" Harry continued.

"Oh..." the girl looked completely stunned but she reclaimed her senses quickly enough. "Sure, yes, I'd love to - I mean." She then presided to tell anyone who would listen that Harry Potter asked her to sit with him.

"I'm impressed," said Iris in a thoughtful look. "I didn't think you knew her name."

Before Harry could answer the mail arrived and most of Gryffindor table watched in astonishment as a beautiful eagle owl landed gracefully in front of Harry and put a package neatly near his plate.

Harry stroke the owl's feathers, let it nibble on some toast, and tied a note to its leg.

"I didn't know you had an owl," said Ron.

"Selena hates cages," answered Harry watching her fly away. "She probably flew after us in the train or stayed at my house until we arrived here."

"Oh."

"It's a very beautiful owl," said Iris.

"Thanks," said Harry. "Mum and Dad bought her for my 10^th birthday."

"Cool, commented Ron looking dreamily at all the birds.

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The same day
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Parvati turned out to be a very annoying person, or so Harry thought. She kept asking him about his father, how much money they had and lots of other things Harry didn't even remember.

So he had no choice but to sit with Ron in all his other classes. He was surprised to find that he even liked it.

True, it wasn't as fun as sitting with Draco would have been, but it wasn't boring or irritating.

The two of them even found a mutual field of interest - Quidditch. The fact that Ron was a die-hard Chudley fan and Harry preferred the Wingtown Wanderers much more didn't really matter to them. After all, arguing is a form of conversation, isn't it?

Harry's most interesting lessons that day were Transfiguration and Charms. Prof. Agudista turned out to be a very nice lady, putting first impression aside. And since this was his mother's favorite magic, Harry understood it quite easily.

Prof. Pavel looked rather uneasy with the class and kept sending strange looks at Harry, the latter ignored them like he always did.

Harry also quickly found that he could do practically anything in front of the professor's nose and the only thing Pavel would do was look at Harry farsightedly. Harry found this very amusing and took great advantage of it.

At lunch, Iris was nowhere in sight and Harry had no choice but continue talking with Ron.

"So, how come I've never heard of your family?" Harry asked.

"Oh," Ron turned scarlet. "We aren't exactly - we aren't - you see, the thing is -"

"Your parents aren't Death Eaters?" Harry said, annoyed by the stutter.

Ron nodded, not looking in Harry's eyes.

"It's not that bad," said Harry thoughtfully.

"You don't mind?" Ron looked up hopefully.

"Of course I mind," Harry looked sternly at him. "I'll let it pass, though, if you never mention it again."

"What would happen if I do?" Ron's voice shook.

Harry looked him from head to toe. "Unforgivable."

Ron shut his mouth immediately and looked at his plate.

Harry smiled in satisfaction and turned to his plate as well.

"So, Potter," a voice drawled from behind him. Harry groaned. "Are your parents dead yet?"

Everyone in hearing range looked up at Draco who was smirking behind Harry's seat.

"What?" Harry looked as surprised as the lot of them.

"Oh, come on. I thought we agreed that you'll be sorted to Gryffindor over your parents' dead bodies."

"Oh," Harry rolled his eyes. "I thought you were better than that, Draco."

"And I thought you are better than this," Draco's hand gestured to the Gryffindor table. "I guess we're both wrong."

Draco turned to leave, but Harry called him back. "What about what your father said?" Most of the table was listening to their conversation now.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "I'll take care of that."

With that he was gone and the whole Gryffindor house jumped at Harry with questions.

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Evening, after classes, Gryffindor tower
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"Have you heard?" whispered someone to another. "Sweden surrendered. They're part of the British Empire now."

"Really?" his companion's eyes grew wide. "Do you know what happened?"

"All I know," said the first one. "Is that the previous Minister of Magic is dead and a new one was appointed. They say that most of the resistance there was sent to Azkaban, so that the Dementors could take care of them."

The second one's eyes grew even wider. "You mean -"

The first one nodded.

"Oh," the second one appeared to be in shock. "I have an aunt in Sweden."

"You should owl her. I hope she's still there."

"You and me both."

Just then Harry and Ron climbed through the portrait hole and entered the common room. They appeared to be arguing.

"You really shouldn't have done that," said Harry.

"He was being obnoxious. I couldn't help myself," Ron tried to defend himself.

"I act exactly like him, I don't see you trying to hex me."

"You know the Unforgivable," mumbled Ron.

"What makes you think he doesn't?" Ron paled considerably.

"I - he - oh."

"Exactly. Now don't you dare doing that again."

"I won't."

"Harry, Harry!" called one of the boys he shared his room with. "Have you heard about Sweden?"

Harry gave him a cold look. "Of course I did. Dad owled me this morning."

"What do you think about it?" asked the boy again. Harry recalled his name to be Nathan.

"They should have used more Cruciatus," Harry said flatly. Nathan looked surprised.

"Why?"

"Less people would resist, seeing their loved ones in such pain."

"You would really do that?" the boy asked in awe.

"Of course he would," Ron stepped in. "It's the right thing to do."

He looked like he was defending Harry, but the latter knew it was only a way to win 'points' with him, in hope to survive the next seven years.

Harry smirked nevertheless to show his classmates off.

"I guess you know best," said Nathan.

"I do," said Harry and considering the conversation to be over he turned to Ron. "Come on, I want to change before we go this evening."

"Where are you going?" asked Nathan, but he was ignored.

After Ron and Harry entered the first years' dormitory, Harry plopped down on his bed and Ron sat on the edge of his own.

"Why did you tell him we're going somewhere today?"

"Just to make him mad," said Harry. "He really annoys me."

"Everyone annoys you," commented Ron.

"Well, you're all Gryffindors."

"So are you."

"I'm tremendously annoyed with myself as well, if that makes you feel better."

Ron shrugged. "Anyway, what are we going to do today?"

"You meant 'tonight'."

"Yes."

"I dunno, I'm tired."

"We could do homework."

Harry sat up, transfigurated his dresser into a table, put a vase full of lilies on top of it and made it all disappear. "Done." And he plopped back down on his back.

Ron looked at the dresser in stunned silence for a few moments and then turned to Harry. "That's very advanced! How did you do that?"

"My mum and dad have been teaching me magic since I was six," snorted Harry.

"But that's illegal!"

"Laws are for other people, especially if your father is the Minister of Magic," said Harry off handedly.

Ron gapped at him for a few moments. "Could you - would you teach me?" he asked finally.

Harry propped himself on his elbows and looked at Ron. "Do you really want to learn?" he asked. "'Cause I know spells Malfoy never dreamed of."

"Really?" Ron's eyes sparkled. "How?"

"Let's just say, I'm brave enough to stick my nose in places it shouldn't be," Harry smirked.

"Cool," was the only thing Ron managed to say.