ElevenYearsLater.
In the front room of Malfoy Manor a meeting was underway to discuss the children's schooling. Lucius and Narcissa were obviously there, as were Voldemort and Beth along with Severus. In just under four months' time, it would be time for the children to start school and plans needed to be made. The summer holidays were fast approaching and they needed their plans in place before then.
Draco was obviously the easiest one of the trio to sort. Everyone knew the Malfoys had a son and it would only be expected that he attended Hogwarts and follow in the family's tradition of being in Slytherin. Lucius had admitted that he liked the idea of sending Draco to Durmstrang as it actually taught dark arts, as opposed to Hogwarts defence against the dark arts, but he agreed with everyone else that the trio should all attend school together.
Harry was the next one up for discussion, and again a lot of things were already decided. Even though Harry had been raised by Severus, Voldemort and Beth, the Order were blissfully unaware of it. They still thought he was residing with his muggle relatives, and that was the way they were going to make sure it stayed. Plans were already in place to visit the Dursleys and ensure that they went along with the plan, and when necessary they would be there to play the part of guardians to Harry.
"But what about his house?" Narcissa queried. "He's as much a Slytherin as Draco and Hermione. But won't that arouse Dumbledore's suspicions given who he thinks his parents are."
"Plus we did decide its better that Harry and Draco aren't friends in school," Severus added. They all knew that Dumbledore would keep an exceptionally close eye on Harry if he was to befriend Draco.
"I do think we're going to have to ensure Harry is sorted in Gryffindor," Voldemort said with a hint of disappointment. He knew his grandson would have made a great Slytherin, but it just wasn't to be.
For the next few minutes a discussion took place as they decided on the best way to ensure Harry went into Gryffindor. Of course they fully intended to talk to Harry, and he could help sway the hat, but they needed a back-up in case things went wrong. However, they had plenty of time to find a way to influence the hat so there was no rush to find an answer right there and then.
With Draco and Harry sorted, attention turned to Hermione. They all knew that finding a way for Hermione to attend Hogwarts and stay off Dumbledore's radar was going to be the hardest to achieve. For the last few weeks Voldemort and Beth had discussed sending her as herself, only using Beth's maiden name of Granger. They'd contemplated pretending that Beth was a single mother and Hermione's father wasn't around, but they weren't sure how nosey Dumbledore would get.
"Would it arouse his suspicions?" Beth asked Severus.
"I don't know," Severus admitted. "He's been at Hogwarts for a long time now, and he knows the parents of nearly every pureblood and half-blood who comes into the school. There's not many students come into school with parents he hasn't taught."
"And he would be suspicious of me since he never taught me," Beth said. She was originally from Canada, and she'd attended an American magical school.
"Maybe not suspicious, but he might ask around about you," Severus said. "I guess it depends on Hermione, and what he thinks of her."
"I still think that's a risk we shouldn't take," Voldemort said. "Hermione needs to attend school and be insignificant to Dumbledore."
"How about sending her as a muggleborn?" Narcissa suggested. "I'm sure we can whip up a history for her and Severus can add her to the names of the muggleborns due to start Hogwarts in September."
"She could then be support for Harry in Gryffindor," Severus said, liking the idea of his son and sister having each other to lean on in school. "Dumbledore won't question a muggleborn."
Voldemort was silent for a few minutes before nodding his head once. "It could work. Although, I also think we need to find a way to keep Dumbledore thinking Harry is the wizard from the prophecy he heard. We need a way to make Harry and Hermione look like heroes."
It was only after the Potters death that word had leaked out about a prophecy Dumbledore had heard about the person who would be The Dark Lord's downfall. With his position at the Order, Severus heard enough to know that Dumbledore had suspected the prophecy was referring to either Harry or the Longbottoms son, Neville. Because of what had happened with James and Lily, Dumbledore was convinced that Harry was the boy in the prophecy, and they were all quite happy to have him believing that. As long as he believed Harry was the saviour of the wizarding world he would trust him implicitly, and it would give Voldemort time to find out more about the prophecy and discover who really could be his downfall.
"Why do Harry and Hermione need to look like heroes?" Beth asked with a frown. "Won't that make them stand out even more?"
"It'll ensure that Dumbledore trusts them implicitly," Voldemort told his wife. "Don't worry, I won't let any harm come to either Harry or Hermione. They'll be fully aware of the plan and what they're to do over the course of the year."
"Do you have a plan in place?" Lucius asked.
"I do. And it involves the Philosopher's Stone," Voldemort replied, before filling in the others on the plan he was thinking of putting together.
C.O.T.D.
"Are you ready?" Beth asked Harry.
The pair were outside of The Leaky Cauldron with Hermione, and it was time for them to go shopping for their school belongings. The first part of the plan had ran like a dream and Professor McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress, had visited both Harry and Hermione to inform them of their magical status. Even though Harry wasn't a muggleborn, he'd still received a personal visit as everyone thought he'd been raised by muggles. Among the things McGonagall had explained to them, was Diagon Alley. She'd given every muggleborn directions to The Leaky Cauldron and promised that if they visited on one of three set dates, she would be there to help them with anything they needed.
"I'm ready," Harry replied quietly.
"Don't forget your glasses," Hermione said, pointing to the glasses that stuck out of Harry's pockets.
"Thanks," Harry said, smiling at Hermione as he plonked the glasses on his face. The lenses were actually clear and he didn't need to wear them, but they were all part of his act as James Potter's son. James wore glasses, and they were hoping that the presence of glasses would distract from the fact he had a slight look of Severus about him.
"Good luck darling." Beth leant down and gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek before pushing him towards the doors of the pub. Once Harry had been in the pub for five minutes or so, she and Hermione would enter since Beth was posing as Hermione's muggle mother, Jean.
Harry pushed his way into the darkened pub, and almost immediately he spotted the imposing figure of Professor McGonagall talking to a couple with a boy that looked to be his age. Trying to avoid some of the less savoury looking patrons, Harry made his way over to McGonagall, who'd just finished with the family and sent them through the back of the pub.
"Harry." McGonagall smiled warmly at the young boy as he approached her. "Are you alone?" She asked with a frown, her eyes scanning for his aunt and uncle.
"Uncle Vernon dropped me off," Harry replied. "He had a meeting he couldn't miss."
"Couldn't your aunt accompany you?" McGonagall asked. The fact Harry was on his own just added to her opinion that the Dursleys weren't the right people to be raising the young wizard.
"Dudley's ill," Harry said. "She couldn't leave him."
"Very well," McGonagall replied and Harry could tell she wasn't at all impressed. "Luckily, you won't be going into Diagon Alley alone. With your rather unique situation, Professor Dumbledore thought you should have a guide. Hagrid?" She called over to a beast of man who was sitting at the bar nearby.
Harry's eyes nearly popped out of his head when the man stood up and his head almost brushed the ceiling. Hagrid came ambling over to the pair, and Professor McGonagall made the introductions. Harry nodded along politely, and warily followed Hagrid as he led him out into the back yard of the pub. Harry wasn't sure about being left alone with what he could only presume was a half-giant, but he knew it wasn't wise to argue if he wanted to get people to trust him.
"We'll go to Gringotts first," Hagrid announced, leading the way through a doorway and into Diagon Alley.
For a moment Harry stood in awe, soaking up the scene of Diagon Alley. He'd heard all about Diagon Alley from various people, but he'd never experienced it before, and he was thrilled that it was just as magical as he'd always heard. Of course he'd visited a few other magical places in foreign countries, but there was something special about Diagon Alley.
"What's Gringotts?" Harry remembered to ask, even though he knew the answer.
"The wizarding bank," Hagrid replied. "It's run by goblins. Nasty little blighters, so you don't want to go upsetting them."
Harry nodded as he followed Hagrid down the street. Looking left and right, Harry took in the sights as they approached the wizarding bank at the end of the street. When they entered Gringotts, Harry was awestruck by the goblins studiously working at their benches and counting large piles of galleons.
When they approached a goblin, Harry was rather taken aback when Hagrid produced a key to a vault that was in his name. When they reached the vault and found it stuffed with money, Harry felt slightly guilty taking a few bagful's as he knew technically it wasn't his. The money came from the Potter family, and even though James was responsible for his mother's death, he still felt bad about taking it. As he stuffed the bags of money into his pocket he made a mental note to keep track of everything he spent and when he was older he would return it to the Potters vault.
After finishing with Harry's vault, Hagrid paid a visit to another vault and removed a small bag. Harry had a sneaking suspicion what was in the bag, and he just hoped that he would be able to pull off what his grandfather wanted him to do over the course of the coming year.
"Let's start with robes," Hagrid said when they exited the bank. "You go and get yourself fitted for robes and I'll go and grab your cauldron and bits."
Thanking Hagrid, Harry handed him some money and a list before heading off in the direction the half-giant had pointed him. Entering Madam Malkins, Harry had to stop himself from smiling when he spotted a familiar blond boy getting measured for his robes.
"Hogwarts?" Madam Malkin asked, briefly looking up from where she was kneeling on the floor in front of Draco.
Harry nodded and Madam Malkin directed him to the stool next to Draco. While the witch went back to measuring Draco, he rolled his eyes at his friend, before sticking out his hand and starting his act.
"Hello."
"Hi," Harry returned, shaking Draco's hand.
"So you're off to Hogwarts," Draco said. "So am I. What house do you want to be sorted into?"
"I don't really know," Harry replied.
"Of course, I'm going to be in Slytherin," Draco continued, sounding slightly boastful. "Although really anything but Hufflepuff would be great."
Harry had to stifle his laugh when Draco insulted Hufflepuffs, especially as Madam Malkin glared at him disdainfully. Instead, he stood there as Draco started to ramble on about quidditch and how he hoped he made the house team. After only a few minutes, the door to the shop opened and Narcissa entered the shop.
"Are you finished?" She asked Madam Malkin.
"He's all measured," Madam Malkin replied. "The robes will be ready in an hour."
"We won't be here that long," Narcissa replied. "Send them to the manor."
"Of course Mrs Malfoy," Madam Malkin replied with a tight smile.
"Come on Draco, we need to get your wand," Narcissa said.
"See you later," Draco called as he hopped off his stool and sauntered out of the shop with Narcissa.
With Draco gone, Madam Malkin focused her attention on Harry as she got his measurements. Like with Narcissa, she told him the robes would be ready in an hour if he wished to return for them. Thanking the witch, Harry headed out of the shop and spotted Hagrid emerging from the apothecary.
"Hey Hagrid," Harry greeted with a cheery smile. "What's next?"
"Let's go and get your wand," Hagrid replied. "Ollivander's is the best place for that."
"Okay," Harry replied. "Hagrid, what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?"
"They're two of the four houses at Hogwarts," Hagrid replied. "Each student is sorted into a house when the start and for the next seven years that house is like their family."
"What's wrong with Hufflepuff?"
"Why would you think anything was wrong with Hufflepuff?" Hagrid demanded. "Hufflepuffs are lovely people."
"There was a boy in the robe shop, and he mentioned not wanting to be sorted into Hufflepuff," Harry explained. "He was confident he was going to be in Slytherin."
"Now there's someone you shouldn't trust, Harry," Hagrid warned. "Slytherins are nothing but bad news. Mark my words, no good will come of befriending Slytherins."
Even though Harry had heard about people's prejudice against Slytherins, it was still interesting to witness it first-hand. He knew Draco had just been joking about Hufflepuffs and actually had nothing against them, but he could tell it wasn't the same with Hagrid. He genuinely believed that all Slytherins were evil, and he'd happily judged someone he hadn't met just because he was likely to be sorted into Slytherin.
Wondering how much more bigotry against Slytherins he would run into over the course of his school years, Harry continued with his shopping. He was delighted to buy a wand that was twinned with his grandfathers, and even though Ollivander had claimed his grandfather's wand had given him his scar, he knew better. He knew the scar was a result of the fight between his grandfather and Dumbledore, and in actual fact it was impossible to tell which one of them had cast the spell that grazed him. However, Ollivander's claims didn't faze him one bit, he was just eager to find out if his wand and his grandfather's had any special connection or powers.
After buying his wand, Hagrid bought him an owl as a birthday gift. They then went to get his books, where they bumped into Hermione and the pair got talking, supposedly activating their friendship. To finish they picked up Harry's robes from Madam Malkins, before Hagrid escorted him back to The Leaky Cauldron.
"I'll see you when you get to school, Harry," Hagrid said, smiling at the young wizard.
"I'll look forward to it," Harry replied.
Saying his goodbyes to Hagrid, Harry headed outside. Shortly after he'd exited the pub, Hermione and Beth emerged and the trio headed home. So far everything was going great, but the real test would come in a few weeks when they actually started school.
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