Harry was walking around the Black lake. It was just after his trip from the chamber and training with Helga and Salazar. Today he had finally started making his mind shields meaning he was on the stage three for Occlumency. The other topic had been Politics. Salazar and Helga had started telling him about every person around him, their affiliation, political and house standings etc. He now had lot of information specially about his year mates and students a year above and below him. He also had information about every single person in a high position at the ministry and the Sacred 28. Salazar said that it was good to know about people who rule you and who are around you. This was their second session. In the first one, they had taught him about basics of Wizengamot, British Ministry, ICW and basic etiquette for a lord. He would be learning much more over the summer. Salazar had said that if he put himself in it, he would easily be able to handle himself atleast with Politicians. Grasp the double speak and all, even manipulate them a bit. of course not Dumbledore's level but a lot better than several other novices. He would be taught by Salazar Slytherin, the king of cunning after all (Salazar's words, not his).
He had learnt that in the Political arena of Britain currently, Dumbledore was the most powerful political figure followed by Amelia Bones, Head of DMLE, Reagent of Most Noble and Most ancient House of Bones, Former hit-witch, one of the most successful at that followed by Augusta Longbottom, Neville's Grandmother who was the Reagent of Most Noble and Most ancient House of Longbottom and a consummate politician closely followed by Cyrus Greengrass, Lord of Most Noble and Most ancient House of Greengrass and the leader of Neutrals. The Dark faction's leadership was always unstable and the Selwyn seat was empty as the lord, Lady and heir were in Azkaban. Same with Black. He thought with a snarl. Voldemort's boot lickers, each of them. Lucius Malfoy had power because he bribed Fudge. Corruption.
Among the students, most politically powerful were himself, being at the top due to being the only head of Most Noble and Most ancient House in the school, a namesake position really showcasing they are the oldest living person in the family and was the future lord of the family. And of course his position as the boy who lived made him even more politically powerful. He was followed by Susan Bones, future Lady Bones and surprisingly Neville Longbottom, future Lord Longbottom. Then came Daphne Greengrass, Heiress of Most Noble and Most ancient House of Greengrass. He ideally noted that all were his year mates, all 12 years old more politically powerful than the seventh years. He also came to know that Slytherin was led by Heir Rosier and Angela Zabini daughter of the Black Widow of Britain, not Malfoy. Malfoy just had his boyfriends and Parkinson and threw his father's money and name around.
Currently he was throwing rocks at the water watching them bounce on its surface. He heard someone approach. He turned around. Daphne Greengrass was approaching him. "Potter, I have been looking for you." She said in greeting. "Ms. Greengrass, its a pleasure." He said kissing her knuckles. He didn't really have to, but Helga said it was polite to do so for ladies who were of equal standing or higher to him atleast, if not all. It was sort of a compliment that should atleast be paid in a formal setting or Meeting a Lady of a house for the first time.
Greengrass raised an eyebrow, "Didn't know you were one for political etiquette Potter." She said.
"Oh, I was merely complimenting a beautiful Lady. There was no politics I assure you my Lady. What can I do for you." He said with a lopsided charming smile, another thing taught, surprisingly by Helga, along with intimidation techniques to woo, comfort or confront. But it was Salazar who had taught him his favorite- Making his eyes glow and swirl with power with a brief flaring of his magic. It looked deadly beautiful.
" I just wished to ask you if you could teach me the spells you did in the DADA practical. They were very good and looked useful."
Harry looked at her with a calculating stare. Daphne felt that she was being judged by those beautiful soul piercing emerald green orbs. After a few seconds Harry finally spoke, "Forgive me Miss Greengrass, but what is in it for me?"
"I didn't take you for a Slytherin Mr. Potter." She replied. "Miss Greengrass, we all have a bit of Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw inside of us, just the most dominant wins and we get sorted. But you didn't answer my question, what is in it for me?" Harry shot back.
Greengrass stared at him again before sightings and saying, "You teach me two spells, I will teach you two. Teach me your smokescreen and arrow spell, I will teach you knee reversal hex and stunner. And if you are interested in dueling I can become your dueling partner, if you want."
Daphne was initially hesitant to reach out to Potter. He was the Gryffindor Golden boy. And hated Malfoy and anything to do with Slytherin, atleast that was what Malfoy proclaimed. She had never entertained the blonde ponce. He gave a bad name to Slytherin by making enemies left right and center. When Filch's cat was found petrified with the message written about the chamber, the fool had loudly proclaimed that the muggleborns would be next, and used the slur. Her father, an ex-auror had always taught her that one should be judged by magical ability than blood.
She had taken more of an interest in Potter after he had become the top student after the heir of Slytherin had been caught. Before he was just average at best. He was the future Lord Potter, and the boy who lived. He would make an excellent Ally in the Wizengamot in the future. And if house Potter joined the neutral alliance, it would be a huge asset. She had to think of all this as she was the future Lady Greengrass.
Harry on the other hand was thinking along the same lines was thinking similarly. Heiress Greengrass would make an excellent Ally. Both against Voldemort and in the future. Harry and the founders had discussed at length about Voldemort and the war that may come. All had agreed that Harry would be at the center of it. They had discussed Voldemort's action in the last war. His strategies, tactics, allies, chief benefactors to his cause, and most importantly his inner circle-the most cruel and ruthless followers of Voldemort and his most loyal.
They had also discussed the ministry and an organization known as the order of the phoenix, a group led by Dumbledore against Voldemort in the last war. His parents were a part of it Salazar had told Harry that alliances must be formed, and Helga had added that it be converted into friendship if possible, as friendship bond would be stronger than a mere ally. Of course both may betray you, but nonetheless. At the top of the list were three people, Susan Bones, Neville and Daphne Greengrass. None from the dark faction or supporting Voldemort. Also Susan Bones and Neville had lost their parents to Voldemort's reign of terror, like himself. To start making alliances, Greengrass was giving him an opportunity on a silver platter.
"What makes you think that I can't find the spell and practice it? Also why didn't you?" Harry questioned her.
She shrugged and then said, "I could, but I didn't want to. Also I wanted a dueling partner. I saw your performance in class. It was good. We both could benefit from having a partner in each other."
"Oh! And here I was thinking along the lines of you hoping to take me on a date, after seeing my handsome face. But a bloke can't get everything can he?" Harry said in faux disappointment. Greengrass sputtered and choked on her spit and blushed.
"What... No-no I -" she started but was interrupted by Harry. Potter had broke the ice queen persona of her with a single comment.
"And I am afraid miss Greengrass you have to find a better spell than the stunner if you want to learn the arrow spell, I already know that one. Come here back tomorrow, same time. If you are here with a good spell, consider both your offers accepted. Till then goodbye!" Having the last word Harry spun and strolled away leaving a blushing and sputtering Daphne Greengrass in the wake. Throwing a person off their guard and having the last word. Salazar would be proud of this move.
The next day, Daphne Greengrass had indeed came back. Harry smiled. "So you came indeed came milady. I expect that you have a good spell for exchange of the arrow spell."
"Indeed I do Potter." She had no delusion of the fact that potter's spell knowledge and magic ability was superior to her owns. A perfect Protego at age of 12 was very impressive. It was a spell which gave the most trouble to OWL level students, and one which withstood seven spells from Albus Dumbledore himself. Apparently once you mastered the Protego charm, other shield charms were a lot more easier to learn, so Potter had a three years head start in learning shields. His other spells were not a part of the Hogwarts curriculum. So she wanted to learn that first. Protego could be learnt from a older student too.
"My spell has a similar function to your arrow spell. The ice spike." She pointed her wand at the water and said Spikus Glaceii. A 6-inch spike of ice formed from the water and shot forward. Harry nodded. "Where did you get this spell from?"
"Salacia Goldhorn's 100 easy yet impressive spells book. Where did you get yours?"
"Confronting the faceless: A guide to defense against the dark arts. It is a reference book for OWL level students." The book mostly had elaborated instructions to cast spells from the OWL curriculum for students, but there were a few extra useful spells in it. He had not read the full book yet, only the parts which had the spells he was taught. Helga had insisted that even though he was learning the spell, he should know the theory behind it completely. They were yet to teach him some super-rare spell long lost to time. They were only teaching him known, school level spells much to his disappointment since he had envisioned learning spells that no one knew about, extremely flashy magic etc.
"Oh!" Daphne said lamely. She had not expected the spells she wanted to learn from potter to be in a simple reference book, one widely known. She had expected it from a book rarely known or from the restricted section. "So when will you teach me?" She asked.
"Now, if you want. We will take alternate turns to teach each other the spells. First, you teach me your knee reversal hex, then I will teach you the arrow spell, and so on."
An hour later, Daphne found herself in the middle of a light fog. She had finally successfully cast the fumos spell. Potter was a decent teacher and a very fast learner. He was certainly much better than the stuttering fool Quirrell and Lockhart. He had only taken a few tries to get the spells right. They had struck a light conversation, and Daphne felt that she was pleasantly enjoying his company. She had also dropped her ice queen barriers a bit. He was already better than any other boy in Slytherin she had ever talked to. Both shared an interest in dueling and had agreed to practice together for a few hours every week, secretly of course. She had even told him that most people in her house found Draco as an annoying blonde ponce who had nothing of note except his father's money. He had just laughed. The rivalry between the two was well known and it was clear that potter always had an upper hand as he regularly put Malfoy in his place. It was always entertaining. She suddenly found a light breeze blowing it away. A simple ventis charm. A third year charm. Potter was indeed ahead of her and others in their year. She did not know if somehow he had suddenly came to posses all the spell knowledge and ability or was merely hiding his true potential until now but didn't ask. "Thank you Potter. I certainly enjoyed it. I look forward to see you next year and practice with you." She said.
"I aim to please My lady. I certainly look forward to seeing a beautiful girl as yourself more frequently, Ms. Greengrass." He answered. Daphne blushed a bit at the compliment. Potter had gave her several compliments and she found herself flattered. She found herself not needing to be an ice-queen but could be merely like a normal 12, nearly 13 year old girl in his company. She said, "You should call me Daphne."
"Only if you call me Harry." He gave his standard lopsided grin. She found herself giving him a wide smile in return. "Harry it is then."
"So how did it go with the Greengrass girl?" Helga questioned him once he returned to the chamber. They had told him to come and tell them what had transpired.
"I have an ally now. She is a good one, atleast that is what I think. She does not buy into the pureblood ideology as we had guessed. Also I guess we were right about her approaching me for the political support in future. She asked me about my political standings indirectly but I sidestepped it." He said.
"That is good. But what is actually your political agenda? Like what do you wish to do and achieve? Now you should atleast have an idea about it."
"I want an equal country where people are not judged by their blood but instead merit. You told about incompetent fools running the ministry just because they are purebloods. I also wish for equal rights for part creature witches and wizards, as they are discriminated terribly for something they have no control over. Finally I have thought of one bill I want to pass. A bill which will make it compulsory for a muggleborns home conditions to be checked at regular intervals by school or ministry authorities after their first bout of accidental magic is recorded. If found lacking or abusive, they will be removed from there and be put in with a magical family or in a magical orphanage. I also want to start a pre-school for them and others who wish to attend, which will teach them all basics that the purebloods learn. It may start a year before Hogwarts enabling them to fit better into this new world."
Salazar and Helga looked at him with impressed looks. "It is certainly an ambitious goal. The bill and school idea is excellent I must admit. A proper presentation and it will most likely change the lives of several muggleborns who may have grew up in less than savory conditions."
"Yes, I agree. We have taught you well and will continue doing so. Now we need to discuss some things for the summer." Helga said.
"What about it? We have already went through how I will come and..." Harry started but was interrupted. "No... I am not talking about that. Salazar and I have decided which two rituals you should do next. They are date and day oriented, so can't be performed anytime one wishes." Harry nodded and gave them a go on motion.
"The first ritual you will do on 24 June, the summer solstice which is 12 days from now. It is a healing and immunity ritual. This one will heal you or any ailments or defects you have till date and fasten your healing speed a bit, a tiny bit mind you and immunity from several diseases, both magical and muggle. Read the list of ingredients you will need and buy them timely. Also you need venom from a snake or magical beast you have killed for the ritual. The venom you put in the ritual will give you complete immunity to poisons of that potency and lower, and considering you have slayed a Basilisk, a creature with the most potent venom in the world, I daresay no poison will be able to harm you the slightest, except perhaps the Nundu breath, which will make you violently sick. Also while we are at that what do you plan to do with Bessie's Corpse." Bessie was the name Salazar had given to his Basilisk.
"Truthfully speaking, I am not sure. I don't know to harvest a magical creature let alone a Basilisk. And I am not bringing any other person in here. Even the outer chamber. Now I wanted to ask that will this ritual heal my eyes? The glasses are annoying."
"Yes it will. And you don't need to bring another person in here. Just call the house elves. They will do it. Or instead I will. Hogwarts has hundreds of elves after all. You should sell the meat. Keep the skin, venom and heart. The skin could be used to make excellent vest armors, more magic resistant than dragon hide and much more flexible. As for its venom and heart, they can be used in rituals."
'Yay! No more glasses!' Harry thought. "And what about the other ritual?"
"The second one will be done on your thirteenth Birthday. It is known as the puberty ritual. One can only do that on their thirteenth Birthday. It will improve your features, like make you more handsome and taller than you would have been as puberty will progress. It is a long term gradual Ritual which will continue working till you reach sixteen but most effects will be visible within a year. It will also reduce the less desirable effects of puberty like mood swings and acne problems. It will also benefit you more when you work out. It will also endow you with better male antonymy making you more desirable in bed." Helga finished. Harry blushed furiously at her last sentence. It was indeed a good ritual. He was not vain by any means but he preferred to look good. And he was a teenage boy. Of course he would prefer that girls looked at him!
"Ok, nice. I will be prepared. Anything else or should I head back?"
"No, No that is all. You can go back. All the Best for your results tomorrow." Helga said. Harry thanked her and left
The next morning before breakfast, a crowd was witnessed near notice boards in the Common Rooms. The reason? Their Overall ranking had been displayed. They would be receiving detailed scores at breakfast. McGonagall had come in at seven in the morning and put it up. Immediately after she left a crowd had formed. Obviously no one was foolish to do it in her presence, while she was working. Harry and Hermione jostled their way through to see it. The results were:
SECOND YEAR STUDENTS FINAL EXAM RANKING
YEAR 1992-93
1. Harry James Potter, Gryffindor
2. Hermione Jean Granger, Gryffindor and Daphne Greengrass, Slytherin
3. Padma Patil, Ravenclaw
4. Lisa Turnip, Ravenclaw and Terry Boot, Ravenclaw
5. Susan Bones, Hufflepuff
6. Blaise Zabini, Slytherin
7. Lily Moon, Slytherin and Nicholas Clayden, Ravenclaw
Harry did not bother reading further. He was first. Whooping in joy, he turned to hug Hermione who was looking at the board. "I topped Hermione! We are the first two! Isn't that awesome? The best in our year!" He half yelled.
"Yes, Yes. We are the first...two in our year. Congrats Harry. You topped." She said in happiness. She looked genuinely happy but was a bit sadness in it too, probably from coming second. She probably expected first position, but was second. Harry had surpassed her. Harry sensing that pulled her aside into a corner.
"What's the matter 'mione?" He asked. He had guessed it but wanted to hear it from her. "Nothing Harry, I am so Happy! We are the first two!"
"Hermione... I know you enough. tell me what troubles you." Harry said firmly. At this her eyes teared up. "Now you are first, I am afraid you won't need me anymore Harry. It was nice being your friend." She turned away. Harry blinked. That was not what he had expected. Hermione thought that their friendship would end because he was now better than her academically.
He slapped her on the back of her head. "OW!" she exclaimed. He spoke, "Hermione, you silly girl, we are friends not because of grades. We are best friends because of our personalities, not because I wanted your help. I won't leave you like that just because I have more marks than you."
"Promise?"
"Best friends forever Hermione, I promise." She caught him into a rib crushing hug. "Thank you Harry. Best friends forever." She said with tears flowing down her cheeks. "Don't cry Hermione. Its time to celebrate! Now I only want to see a smile on your face. No tears." He said wiping her tears with his sleeve. She nodded. And they walked together for breakfast but stopped before They reached the portrait hole, as They remembered Ron. He had woken up but was yet to come down. Harry told Hermione that he will check his rank, as he should know. Ron was the 5th overall, from the last that is. He had come 52nd from the top in the class of 57. Most likely he had barely passed. The boy seriously needed to improve and take studies seriously.
When they informed him about it he had congratulated them, after expressing a bit disbelief at the fact that Harry had beaten Hermione. For his own rank he said that he wanted to become a coach for Chudely Cannons and play Quidditch. Grades were not needed for it. He cited the example of Apollius Troy, a world famous chaser who had failed his NEWTs. They just shook their heads and decided not to push it. They headed for Breakfast.
In the great hall, there were several people but some were still not present, most likely sleeping in. A few minutes later Harry was eating scrambled eggs and bacon. McGonagall chose that time to arrive to hand their detailed results. Wiping his hands and mouth with a napkin he accepted it from her. She spoke, "Mr. Potter, I must say that this year your grades are exemplary. Yours too miss Granger. It makes me proud that the top two students in the year are my lions. I hope you would keep this performance up in the coming years."
"I will Professor." Harry and Hermione said. The Transfiguration Professor nodded and continued to hand out results.
He looked at his results.
SECOND YEAR(1992-93) FINAL EXAM RESULTS
STUDENT: Harry James Potter
HOUSE: Gryffindor
OVERALL RANK: 1st
SUBJECT RESULTS: Subject-Theory-Practical- Subject Rank
Transfiguration- O - O+ - 1st
Charms-O-O-1st
Potions- O - E -6th
History of Magic- E - N/A - 5th
Defence Against the Dark Arts- O+ - O+ - 1st
Astronomy- O - N/A - 4th
Herbology- O - E- 4th
He was happy with his results. Snape had cut his marks for a perfect potion. But that man was a lost cause. Apparently he could not cut his marks in theory. 'Probably as we can give it for rechecking and he did not want to risk being caught.' He thought. His mother would be proud of it. She was known as the brightest witch of her generation, that's what Hagrid had told him.
On 14th June, Harry, Ron and Hermione found themselves in a compartment aboard the Hogwarts express. They had just handed of their Elective forms to McGonagall who stood at the door collecting it as student left the common room. Harry had chosen Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Care of Magical creatures. Hermione had chosen all of the subjects. The girl was an academically obsessed freak. Ron had chosen Divination and Muggle studies for an easy grade. He was upset that Harry was not going to be with him but when Harry suggested that he took the subjects as he did he had backed off saying he wanted an easy grade.
Currently they were discussing plans for Summer. Harry just told that his was going to be boring. Hermione was going to France while Ron was going to visit his elder brother Bill in Egypt. Together they headed towards London, back to the muggle world. Harry was still going to visit Hogwarts, The chamber of secrets to be specific everyday. His arrangements were made. He would come by portkey to the chamber and leave with Dobby's help. He would use the time turner only if he wanted.
He had planned to tell this to his relatives and stay out of their way for a busy summer.