Harry Potter and the Unexpected Inheritance

Chapter 4

Back to Hogwarts

Sirius admitted that he didn't think it would be as that simple to kill Voldemort. That he had figured Voldemort would probably try something at the execution, which is why he hadn't wanted Harry to be there.

"If I hadn't gone," said Harry. "Do you think I still would have burned?"

"Yes, Harry," said Sirius. "I believe you would have which is why you aren't in trouble for not doing as your told."

"He told me it would happen, Sirius," said Harry. "I didn't know what else to do."

"I know, Harry," said Sirius. "But you have to learn to come to me when you have problems."

"I know," said Harry quietly. Great, more quilt. "I'm sorry."

"And stop apologizing all the time. Half the things that happen to you aren't because of what you do," said Sirius. "Most of it is because your name happens to be Harry Potter."

Harry smirked at his godfather. "So when are we moving to Bulgaria?"

Sirius laughed softly as he closed the front door. They were heading to Diagon Alley for Harry's school supplies.

They met up with Ron and Hermione. Mrs. Weasley hugged the stuffing out of Harry.

"All right, Harry?" said Mr. Weasley.

Sirius gave Harry some money and sent the three of them off to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor so he could talk to the Weasley's. "My treat," said Sirius.

Harry filled Ron and Hermione in on what happened after Voldemort stole him from the execution, editing out that Voldemort was trying to get Harry accept him as a father figure. They already knew some of Voldemort's plan from last year but Harry didn't feel like talking about it.

"So that bloody contract is still in effect," muttered Ron.

"Unfortunately," said Harry.

"Too bad that wretched man didn't go up in smoke," said Hermione.

"I almost went up in smoke," said Harry.

"We have to figure out a way around that now, too," said Hermione.

"Yeah," said Ron. He looked at Hermione. "Are you going to tell him or what?"

"Tell me what," said Harry.

"Well it seems so mundane after everything else," said Hermione.

"Tell me," said Harry.

"Hermione make prefect," said Ron.

"That's great." Harry hugged her. "I need to hear little stuff like that, Hermione," said Harry.

"I guess," said Hermione. "I'm surprised you didn't make it, Harry. Your grades soared last year."

"Me?" said Harry aghast. "Voldemort's favorite pet? - Prefect? Scary."

Ron laughed.

The Hogwarts Express rumbled toward school and Harry, Ron and Hermione sat alone in a compartment. Crookshanks was coiled, sleeping in a spare seat. Harry was almost dozing himself. Rowan sat on his lap with her head on his chest. Hedwig and Pig were also asleep in their cages.

Hermione was reading. Ron was building a house of Exploding Snap cards. Harry was half watching, waiting for it to blow up.

Harry's hand hit his forehead as pain exploded in it. Ron and Hermione jumped.

"What is it, Harry?" said Ron. "A signal?"

The pain lessened to a dull burn. "I'm not sure," said Harry.

When the large snake slithered into the compartment, Ron and Hermione jumped again. Hermione jumped onto her seat. Crookshanks started hissing and Hermione grabbed him.

"It's all right," said Harry. "That's Nagini, Voldemort's snake."

"What's it doing here?" cried Hermione.

Harry turned to the snake. "Where is he, Nagini? What does he want?"

"Harry, you are a parcelmouth," said Voldemort.

Harry looked up at him in the doorway of the compartment. Voldemort's expression was - well more surprised than Harry had ever seen him. He touched his scar. "This isn't the only thing you gave me the day we met," said Harry.

Voldemort blinked then laughed. "How wonderful. Why didn't you tell me?"

"It never came up," said Harry. "So why are you here?" He turned to Nagini. "Has he decided to let you eat me now?"

Voldemort laughed again.

"No, Harry Potter," said Nagini. "The master won't let me eat you."

"You should've eaten Wormtail when you had the chance," said Harry.

"How did you know about that?" said Voldemort.

Harry looked up and stared at him.

"Come now, Harry," said Voldemort. "I satisfy your curiosity, satisfy mine."

"I had a dream, all right."

"Tell me," urged Voldemort.

Harry glanced at Ron, who shrugged, then at Hermione who was still standing on her seat, clutching Crookshanks. He ran a hand through his hair.

"You were torturing Wormtail and you got an owl. You said that Wormtail's mistake had been corrected - that someone was dead (which I assume now was Crouch) then you told Nagini that she wasn't going to get to eat Wormtail but there was still me."

Voldemort chuckled.

Ron perked up. "Is that the dream you had in Divination that day?"

"Yeah," said Harry.

Ron laughed. "Good thing you didn't tell Trelawney," said Ron. "She would have went nuts with it."

"I know," said Harry. He turned to Voldemort. "So did you want something?"

Voldemort reached into his robe and pulled out Harry's wand. Harry took it from him and pocketed it.

"Why are you harassing Harry again?" they heard from out in the corridor.

Three male voices rose, "Shut up, Ginny." Ron, and Fred and George (who were obviously out in the hall with her) sounded exasperated.

Harry reached around Voldemort and pulled her inside the compartment so fast she almost tripped over the snake.

Ginny gasped at it when she realized what it was but Harry pulled her behind himself. "Ginny, it's all right. Just be quiet."

Voldemort surveyed the scene with interest. "Ron's sister, is she?" said Voldemort.

"And ours," said Fred from behind him.

"Interesting," said Voldemort.

Nagini made a circle around Voldemort and wrapped herself around him. "Master, since I can't eat Master Harry, can I eat the cat?" said Nagini.

Still with an arm blocking Ginny, Harry shouted at snake, "No!" To Hermione, "Hold onto Crookshanks."

"Pity," said Nagini and she eyed the birds littering the compartment.

"Don't even think about it," said Harry. He looked up at Voldemort. "Could you take your pet and leave now."

Voldemort looked at Nagini. "Interesting," said Voldemort to his snake. "Do you think he means you or himself?"

Ron couldn't have understood but must have seen Harry expression redden with the rage he was feeling because he reached out and grabbed Harry's arm. Ginny did too.

Voldemort chuckled. "Oh, I like that, Harry. Indeed I do. We have another way to communicate. The bond grows ever stronger." He glanced around at all the puzzled faces (he had been speaking in parseltongue) then turned to stare pointedly at Harry. "Don't forget our contract, Harry," said Voldemort.

Voldemort and Nagini disapparated and Harry fell into his seat running both hands over his face and through his hair.

"Great," said Harry. "Now he can harass me in another language."

"But you can too," said Hermione, climbing down from her seat with Crookshanks still in her arms.

Harry looked up at her. She didn't look very resolute herself. "Why doesn't that make me feel any better?" said Harry.

"I hate that man," said Ginny.

**********

The first week of school was relatively dull with the exception of their first Divination class. Professor Trelawney actually predicted Harry was going to get eaten by a snake.

Harry thought Ron was going to fall off his chair, he was laughing so hard. Harry laughed too but brought himself up as Trelawney drew next to his chair.

"Problem, my dear?" said Trelawney

"I'm sorry, Professor," said Harry, forcing seriousness to his face. "It's just that that is one of your more brilliant predictions."

Harry had sparked her interest.

"Is it, Mr. Potter," said Trelawney. "Why?"

Harry ran a hand through his hair and looked up at her. Those huge eyes of hers looked back through her glasses. "Well, because I do happen to know a snake that would very much like to eat me," said Harry.

Harry heard Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil gasp in awe.

"How do you know this?" said Professor Trelawney.

"She told me," said Harry.

"She told you?" echoed Trelawney, looking suspicious.

Harry nodded. "The whole school knows I'm a Parselmouth, Professor. Surely, you knew."

"Of course, of course," said Trelawney. "But I find it odd that a snake would actually tell you."

"Actually," said Harry. "It was sort of second hand."

"Was it?" said Trelawney.

"Oh, go on," said Ron. "Tell her."

Harry glanced around the classroom. Everyone was looking on with interest. Not with contempt or fear, merely interest.

"Remember two years ago when I fell asleep in class," said Harry.

The class murmured. Harry guessed they remembered it.

Trelawney nodded. "You woke up screaming, clutching your scar," she said.

Harry was afraid to look at the class now but Ron nodded at him.

"Yes well the dream was of Voldemort (Harry heard several gasps at the name) torturing his servant, which you predicted would go to him that night and promising Nagini - Voldemort's snake - that he could eat me instead of his servant."

Several students gasped. Trelawney looked aghast.

"So you see," said Harry. "You predicted the whole thing, Professor. Even though I managed to escape Voldemort in the graveyard after the Triwizard Tournament, I happen to know that Nagini still wants to eat me."

The class started muttering excitedly about Trelawney predictions (which Harry felt was probably for his sake) and Trelawney was almost blushing with pride.

She beamed at Harry. "Well, my dear," said Trelawney. "I hope you will take the Inner Eye more seriously now."

"Oh, indeed, I will," said Harry, forcing a straight and serious face. "I'll be paying very close attention to what happens in this class."

Trelawney nodded her approval and dismissed the class.

Outside the trapdoor, Harry had his back slapped a number of times. Most of the class thought Harry had double talked himself out of detention but Ron, who knew everything was true, was still laughing.

"Are you going to tell You-Know- - I mean, Voldemort?" said Ron.

Harry sent him a glance. "Probably not," said Harry. "It would amuse him as much as it did you."

"Then maybe, he'll break a blood vessel and bleed to death," said Ron, quite seriously.

Harry looked at him and couldn't help laughing. "Good point," said Harry. "Maybe I will tell him."

Harry did end up writing it in his required weekly letter to Voldemort. There was so little else to mention so soon in the school year.

Voldemort's reply was simple.

Harry, I'm not going to let Nagini eat you. Although, she is very interested in Hermione's cat.

********

Harry's classes started to get boring very quickly. He wondered if it had anything to do with that 'extra boost' of power that Voldemort had given him the end of last year but didn't want to come right out and ask anyone. Not that they would tell him anyway.

To occupy his time he started working on new strategies for the Quidditch team. Ron was all too happy to assist (which annoyed Hermione. "Harry, not all of us can breeze through classes. Ron has to study."). Ron, who Harry suspected just didn't want to piss off Hermione because he liked her, agree. He helped Harry in secret anyway.

Harry waved to the students, who were flying around the Quidditch pitch, indicating that they were finished. He stood on the ground with the rest of the existing team contemplating the try-outs they had just held.

His team thrust the parchments with their tallies on them at Harry then promptly deserted him.

"Good luck, Harry," said Colin Creevy, their Keeper since last year.

Harry watched him leave then sat down on the bench next to the pitch to go through everyone's notes. They needed two beaters (alas Fred and George were gone) and two chasers (Angelina had been replaced last year and now the other girls were gone as well). Harry sighed. He was the last player left from the team everyone considered "the Best Quidditch team Hogwarts has ever seen."

Harry would just have to make a new one. He had all four of the needed positions picked out in his head from watching them but the rest of the team had to agree. As Captain, Harry had final say but he wanted it to be unanimous and, of course, McGonagall could veto any choice they made if the student wasn't academically pulling his or her weight.

Shuffling through the votes, Harry had to smile. Two of his choices were unanimous. Two Weasleys out, two Weasleys in.

Ginny had tried out last year but hadn't been quite as good a Chaser as Morgan who had replaced Angelina, but this year, Ginny was exceptional. Harry could have almost called his feelings proud as he watched her fly earlier.

And Ron. Ron had finally admitted that the reason he had never tried out was because the only position he felt he was good enough at was Beater. Ron knew that no one would ever think of replacing Fred and George, who as twins moved as one unit, no matter how good.

Harry could've argued, having played countless games with the Weasleys, that Ron was a damn good Keeper but since Colin was almost as good as Oliver, he didn't see the point. Especially now since Ron had made the team anyway - in the position he wanted.

Harry looked at the other names. Colin had voted for his little brother Dennis for the other Chaser. Dennis had good enough aim, Harry considered, but he couldn't catch to save his life and he was still on the excitable side.

Morgan had selected a 4^th year named Maris Kelley for the Chaser, who Harry favored also. Morgan had suggested Dennis or little August Fry for the other Beater. Harry had originally thought August, a 2^nd year wizard, was too young but Morgan had a good eye for players (not to mention that Harry remembered at this point that he was only a 1^st year when he started himself) so he decided to have a call-back for the Beater position. Even if Harry was leaning toward Dennis for the position. It was Harry's opinion that if they channeled Dennis' good aim and excitability and put a club in his hand, he'd be fairly lethal with a Bludger.

"How many are you down?"

Harry almost cringed. He had hoped to go at least another week of school without hearing that irritating drawl. A glance up showed Malfoy before him in his green Quidditch uniform, his broom lightly grasped in his hand. He guessed the Slytherins were holding their try-outs next.

Malfoy's expression was bland and his tone had been neutral.

"Four," said Harry. "You?"

"Three," said Malfoy, taking a step closer. Harry suspected he was looking at Harry's notes.

Then Harry noticed the Captain's insignia on Malfoy's uniform. Harry almost asked Malfoy if he came to gloat until he realized the implications. No more Marcus Flint?

Harry fixed his eyes on the insignia. "Don't tell me Flint actually graduated?" said Harry trying to sound more incredulous than relieved.

Malfoy smirked at him. "Don't get your hopes up, Potter," said Malfoy. "He's being forced to repeat 7^th year. So naturally he's been removed as Captain."

"They're still letting him play?" Now Harry was incredulous. He should have been kicked off the team. But then there was no justice when it came to Slytherins.

Malfoy went on. "And of course I was the obvious choice to replace him."

"Obviously," muttered Harry, moving his attention back to his notes and hoping Malfoy would get the hint and go away.

No such luck.

"And apparently my selection for replacements is far better than yours."

Harry glanced up and noticed that Malfoy's interest was on his notes now.

"Honestly," said Malfoy with dramatic sympathy. "Wizarding trash and Mudbloods. What will you do?"

Harry looked down at his notes, defying his rising anger. "You know, Malfoy," said Harry forcing a bored tone, "Your bigotry and your snobbery is getting old, not to mention lame."

"Sue me."

"Did you want something?"

"Actually," said Malfoy. "I wanted to know what it was like being burned at the stake."

Harry kept his eyes on his papers although they had blurred. How he kept from exploding was a mystery.'

"It was only slightly less painful then having my back shredded," said Harry.

Harry congratulated himself on his detached tone. He had rendered Malfoy speechless. Too bad it was temporary.

"You know my father was punished for that," said Malfoy quietly.

"Do I?"

"Don't you?" challenged Malfoy.

Harry shrugged but wasn't about to admit to anything. "Sorry, Malfoy, but I'm not privy to all of Voldemort's dealings with his Death Eaters."

"Aren't you?" dared Malfoy again.

Harry looked up now, seriously fighting with his temper.

"All you have to do is ask," said Malfoy.

That was too much, especially coming from Draco Malfoy. Harry stood up.

"Look, Malfoy," said Harry, trying not to raise his voice. "I'm obligated to deal with him. I don't have to deal with you so stay the hell away from me."

"Draco, come on!"

Malfoy looked up over the pitch.

"I'll be right there," he called back.

"Oh, please - go," said Harry. "Don't let me keep you."

Malfoy turned back to Harry, his eyes narrowed. "You don't get it, do you, Potter?" said Malfoy with a combination of frustration and aggravation.

"If you've got something to say to me, Malfoy, then spit it out."

"Know your enemy," said Malfoy.

"What are you talking about?"

"You really are pathetic, aren't you, Potter," said Malfoy. "I should hex you on that principle alone."

Malfoy's tone was more wearied than anything else but Harry took it as a serious threat. He pulled out his wand, aiming it dangerously.

"Give me a reason, Malfoy," said Harry. "I'll curse you into next week and you know I can."

Malfoy nodded. "Oh, I know what you can do," said Malfoy. "In fact, a lot of people know just what you can do. Do you?"

"Malfoy-"

"And how well do you know what your enemy can do?"

Harry slowly lowered his wand. "Are you trying to give me advice, Malfoy?" said Harry, suddenly suspicious.

Malfoy's eyes darted around and the sneer came back to his expression. "Me? Advise you?" Malfoy scoffed. "Not even if you begged."

Harry was ready to rip out his hair or curse Malfoy anyway. Just what was-

"Problem, gentlemen?"

Great. Snape.

"No, Professor," said Malfoy. "Potter and I were just discussing the Quidditch try-outs."

"I see," said Snape, looking back and forth between them.

Malfoy mounted his broom and glanced back at Harry. "No need to wish you luck, Potter," said Malfoy, with that smug, conceited grin. He gestured at Harry's notes. "Looks like the cup is ours this years."

Harry let Malfoy have that parting shot. Summoning his Firebolt, he left the field. Snape said nothing.

He shoved the entire conversation out of his mind, chalking it up as just another one of those bizarre verbal skirmishes that he's always had with Malfoy. Malfoy didn't know what he was talking about anyway.

The days stretched into weeks. Gryffindor won its first Quidditch match against Hufflepuff thanks to a spectacular save by Ron, who had saved Harry from a Bludger just before Harry had caught the Snitch. Harry had never seen Ron get so much attention. The rest of the team just sat back and watched Ron eat up the praise.

"Oh, let him have his fun," Ginny said as she pulled Harry into a seat next to her.

Harry clanked his bottle of butterbeer to hers. "Better him than me," Harry muttered.

"Stop being such a cynic," said Ginny, brushing something off his shoulder.

Harry still hadn't figured out if it was his clothes or just him, but Ginny always found something wrong with his appearance. She was constantly picking lint or hair off his robes or straightening his tie or pushing back his hair. Not that Harry minded the fussing, it just seemed that since Percy's wedding, Ginny considered it her personal

responsibility to 'fix' Harry.

"Does it bother you?" Hermione had asked.

"Well, no," said Harry.

"Then stop complaining."

So Harry did. In fact, he had very little to complain about. Things were very quiet. Too quiet. There seemed to be very little activity outside the school as well.

Sirius wrote to him frequently. Still considered a target, Sirius' activities were more or less confined. He had confided to Harry that he had asked Dumbledore if he could come back to the school and teach again but had been denied. So instead he had resigned himself to work on his bike. Sirius had identified twelve 'unidentified' aspects of the controls and was working on discerning their functions. He promised Harry to keep him posted.

Voldemort's notes were brief and consisted mostly of his approval of Harry's grades.

It was almost as if the war had ceased. Or as if both sides were waiting for the other to make the next move.

Harry didn't even want to guess what the next move would be. He had an intuitive feeling that whatever it was, it was going to involve himself.

Soon after Halloween, Harry was afraid he was right.