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“What am I supposed to do now?” he whined quietly to Draco a few minutes later as they watched two fifth year girls have what Harry considered to be the most boring duel in the world.

“Be happy you aren’t being attacked?” Draco suggested with his blonde brows raised high. “You could have a peaceful night, for once.”

Harry didn’t want peace. He wanted the sharp rush that proper dueling gave him. He wanted to feel alive again and he wanted to stop feeling so god damned weak.

“Or you could challenge someone,” Ron suggested. “You don’t have to wait around for someone to challenge you.”

Oh. Duh.

“Cheers Ron, just for that you can be my second,” Harry smiled at the suddenly pale Ron.

“Let’s give Ron a break, I don’t think he’s recovered from last year,” Theo said hastily. “How about I’ll be your second?”

Harry shrugged, already eyeing the older students scattered around the back of the common room.

“Doesn’t matter to me, it’s just for show anyway, yeah? Who should I pick?” he said.

“Challenge a seventh year if you even want to pretend to have a challenge,” Blaise said.

“But none of them have done anything to me,” Harry murmured. “Well, maybe Flint... he was a prat before I made the team...”

“Not Flint,” Draco said quickly. “If you attack the Quidditch Captain do you really expect to stay on the team?”

“Challenge Pucey,” Ron said, pointing where one of their beaters was standing next to one of the chasers on the team, Warrington. “He’s in NEWT defense classes so he shouldn’t be too easily beaten and he’s a good sport.”

“Good thinking Weasley,” Draco said. “I’ll go tell him Harry wants a challenge so he doesn’t hold it against him during practice.”

“Draco,” Harry hissed as Draco walked towards Pucey, having suddenly had an ingenious idea.

“Yeah?” Draco glanced at Harry just as the other duel winner was being announced.

“Tell Warrington too,” he grinned. “No rules against challenging two people, right?”

“You want to duel two seventh years?” Theo yelped quietly as Draco laughed and moved quickly to the older students’ side.

“Why not?” Harry shrugged. “I dueled Fred and George last year, didn’t I?”

“They were fourth years,” Ron pointed out.

“And they were easy. This’ll actually be fun.”

“Quit arguing and move Weasley,” Blaise grinned. “We have gold to make.”

“Next challenger!” Cassandra Owens, the female seventh year prefect, called from the front of the room.

Harry stepped forward quickly, excited now to prove his strength to himself.

“I challenge Adrian Pucey...” he paused for a dramatic moment before adding, “And Cassius Warrington.”

Draco was probably rubbing off on him, but the gasps of surprise made Harry preen slightly.

“Can- can he do that?” Owens whispered to Flint, the male seventh year prefect.

“You gonna tell him no?” he muttered back.

“Awe c’mon Potter, we don’t wanna hurt our seeker,” Pucey said with a small grin as he stepped forward.

“Why does everyone always think they’re going to win?” Draco snickered. “It’s like they’ve never seen Harry duel before.”

“I dunno Dray, they might. I’ve never dueled two seventh years at once before.” Harry blinked up innocently at the older boys. “But I mean if you guys are scared...?”

“We accept,” Warrington grunted, stepping up beside Pucey.

“Okaaay,” Owens said, frowning at the deviation from the norm. “Volunteer for seconds?”

“I’ll be Harry’s second,” Theo offered immediately.

Pucey and Warrington looked hopefully at Flint who scowled and shook his head.

“He’s playing you,” he said flatly. “And Slytherin can’t afford to be down three players.”

“I’ll do it,” Blaise offered. “It’s just for show, right?” he winked at Harry.

Harry shrugged, enjoying the way Blaise seemed slightly panicked at his non-response.

“Everyone back up!” Owens called to the room. “Potter, Pucey, Warrington- positions.”

Harry stepped to the opposite side of the two boys who were strategizing quietly.

“Ready?”

Pucey and Warrington stepped apart and took up the standard dueling position. Harry just flexed his hands and grinned.

The dome was already up, they couldn’t back down now.

“Go!”

Harry laughed as he had to immediately duck from a silently shot spell.

“Thought you didn’t want to hurt me?” he grinned at Pucey as he began lobbying his own spells towards the quickly moving pair.

“Just don’t want you to mess up my pretty face,” he said, sending something red towards Harry’s knees.

Harry smiled as he had to duck, dodge, and return spells quickly to the competent pair. He decided he’d only challenge seventh years from now on, it was much more exciting to see spells flying towards him and having no idea what they would do.

This is the rush he hasn’t been able to find lately.

He quickly figured out what the duo’s strategy was- Pucey was sending out the offensive spells with Warrington was maintaining shields and dispelling Harry’s curses when he could.

Which meant Warrington needed to be taken out first.

Attack Pucey quickly so that Warrington drops his own shield to protect him- then take out Warrington, he mentally planned.

Harry danced slightly closer to Pucey, offering himself as an easier target.

Pain. Cuts. Bruises. Harry ordered his magic.

He wasn’t expecting Warrington’s defense.

His vision was suddenly clouded by smoke and he felt himself stumble as the stone floor seemed to shake. Pucey took his opportunity to send something at Harry that caused him to yelp in surprise as he felt his forehead slice open.

Heal. Quick. Fuckin heal.

Harry had to step back quick in order to dodge more effectively while his magic healed his forehead.

He snarled towards the pair- still unable to see them.

“Hide and go seek is for first years,” he said.

Clear the smoke. Quickly. Wind. Lots of wind.

The other boys were suddenly visible as Harry’s frantically instructed magic went slightly haywire and caused a windstorm in the dome strong enough that Warrington fell backwards.

His wand. Now. Levitate him in place.

He caught Warrington’s wand and tossed it behind him to focus on Pucey, who was now moving twice as fast as he had before.

“You’re pretty clever,” Pucey said, sending multiple spells at once. “Don’t suppose you want to give up and be allies, do you?”

“You made me bleed,” Harry said deadpan, dispelling the incoming curses quickly. “No chance.”

He thought Warrington’s trick of shaking the ground was an excellent one and decided to try something like it himself.

Blow up the ground behind him.

Pucey glanced behind him as the mild explosion caused stone debris to his his legs.

Harry quickly considered how pissed Flint would be if he took the fingers off their beater and frowned when he realized the answer would probably be ‘very’.

He didn’t really care to piss off Flint, but he liked flying and wanted to stay on the team with Draco.

Cut his leg, I guess, deep though.

Harry grinned with satisfaction as Pucey howled and dropped his wand as his left leg began bleeding freely.

“Winner- Potter!” Flint said quickly, popping the dome. “Stop, stop, you win Potter,” he said as Harry made to move closer to Pucey. “I’m not replacing my team so you can prove you’re the toughest guy in the room.”

“Fair enough,” Harry shrugged. “If Pucey and Warrington admit it.”

He smiled innocently at the two boys as they both quickly agreed.

“Do you want to challenge their second?” Owens offered.

Harry looked curiously at Blaise for a moment.

“Don’t you dare Potter, we are allies,” Blaise hissed, sounding appropriately nervous in Harry’s opinion.

“Nah, maybe next time,” Harry laughed.

Dementors be damned, if Harry can feel this strong after a duel he’d find a way to take care of them as well.

***

Harry was still feeling pleased with himself when he sat down next to Susan at breakfast the next morning.

“You look happy,” she said.

“You sound suspicious,” Harry responded with a roll of his eyes.

“Guess he won his duel then?” Hermione asked Theo.

“The day Harry loses a duel I’ll eat one of Goyle’s socks,” Theo said, rolling his eyes at Mione.

Harry hummed as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He had no intention of telling Theo, or anyone, that for a few panicky seconds last night he was afraid he was going to lose.

“New schedules,” Luna said brightly, handing the parchments down the table.

“Why do you have our schedules?” Draco asked. “You’re not a Slytherin... You’re not even a third year!”

“Professor Snape just handed them to me,” Luna shrugged easily. “I think he likes me the best.”

Harry nearly choked on his toast at the look on Draco’s face.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ron said with a smirk. “We all know Harry’s his favorite.”

“I’m his godson,” Draco pouted.

“Maybe I’ll ask to be his god daughter,” Luna said innocently as she scooped up a bite of eggs. “I’m sure he’ll say yes.”

There were a lot of things to like about Luna Lovegood- and her wicked ability to take the mickey out of someone, without seeming to do more than make innocent remarks, was probably one of Harry’s favorite things about her.

“You’re the best Lue,” he said as everyone laughed at Draco’s gobsmacked expression.

“I know,” she grinned.

“Ooh, Theo! We have more classes in common now!” Hermione squealed excitedly, comparing her and Theo’s schedules. “Look- now we have Charms, Arithmancy, Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures together!”

“I thought you were going to take Muggle Studies with me?” Neville asked Theo.

“No point,” Theo shrugged. “Hermione can tutor me for the NEWT.”

21%

Trelawney sank into a vacant armchair, her glittering hand at her heart and her eyes closed.

“My dear boy... my poor, dear boy... no... it is kinder not to say... no... don’t ask me...”

“What is it, Professor?” said Neville at once. Everyone had got to their feet, and slowly they crowded around Harry’s table, pressing close to Trelawney’s chair to get a good look at Harry’s cup.

“Back up,” Harry hissed, effectively causing everyone aside from his friends to take two steps backwards.

“My dear,” Trelawney’s huge eyes opened dramatically, “you have the Grim.”

“The what?” said Harry.

He felt his face heat up in embarrassment as he seemed to be one of the only people who didn’t understand. The rest of the class, aside from Dean Thomas, a Gryffindor, all had their mouths open in shock.

“The Grim, my dear, the Grim!” cried the Professor, who looked insulted that Harry hadn’t understood. “The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen — the worst omen — of death!”

Harry blinked slowly at her while his classmates started whispering amongst themselves.

“Me dying or me causing someone else to die?” he asked.

Trelawney looked startled at his question and the whispering students went silent.

“You, my dear.”

“Do you know when?”

The Professor glanced at the other students, who now looked as confused as she did.

“Soon. The Grim’s presence means you will die soon,” she said.

“Like before Christmas or after?” Harry asked. “Because I’ve got a lot to do in that case so it’d be brill if you had a timeline...?”

Ron started laughing, which set off Blaise and Neville.

“I think we’ll finish up here for today...” Trelawney said, giving Harry a look of dislike. “Yes... pack away your things.”

“Mate- you’re mad,” Ron chuckled as they left the classroom. “‘I’ve got a lot to do’.”

“‘I need a timeline,’” Blaise incorrectly quoted him. “She was not happy.”

“Aren’t you worried at all?” Neville asked.

“Nope,” Harry shrugged. “I’ll ask Luna during lunch what the nargles say about it. They haven’t been wrong yet. And Luna would have warned me if I was getting ready to die.”



When the rest of their morning classes ended Harry stopped Susan from sitting in her regular spot beside him at lunch.

“I need Luna,” he explained with an apologetic grimace. “It’s important.”

“Fine,” Susan said easily, taking Luna’s spot instead.

Luna glided up to their table and sat down beside Harry, as if she already knew that she was supposed to.

“Hello,” she said.

“Lue can you ask the nargles if I’m going to die soon?” Harry said immediately, causing the rest of the group, aside from Blaise, Neville, and Ron, to look up quickly. “Trelawney says I am but she wouldn’t tell me when.”

Luna scrunched up her nose and turned her head slightly, probably to better hear the nargles.

“Not today,” Luna said seriously.

Harry grinned at that.

“What about tomorrow?” he asked.

“I’ll let you know tomorrow night,” she said.

Which Harry figured was a ‘Luna-ism’ (as Cissa would call it) for “I don’t know”.

“Why did Professor Trelawney say you’re going to die?” Theo asked.

“He had a dog in his tea dregs,” said Blaise.

“It was not a dog- it was a Grim!” Ron said hotly. “Harry- you said you found a dog this summer, right? It wasn’t a great black dog, was it?”

Harry looked across Luna to Susan who grimaced at him.

“Yeah it was,” he said. “Starving too.”

“My — my uncle Bilius saw one and — and he died twenty-four hours later!” Ron said, paling rapidly beneath his freckles. “It’s a sign Harry!”

“It’s nonsense,” Hermione said. “Divination is a load of guesswork and even then you don’t always find the actual answers.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” said Ron, starting to get angry. “Grims scare the living daylights out of most wizards!”

“Don’t yell at her,” Theo said, his normally soft eyes getting hard. “She’s allowed her opinion just as you are yours.”

“But- but Harry could die!” Ron cried.

“I’m not going to die,” Harry said. “Trewlawney just wanted to be dramatic for the first class.”

The looks that Neville, Ron, and surprisingly enough, Draco, were giving him told him they thought Trelawney was being more than just overtly dramatic.



Harry was pleased to get out of the castle after lunch. Yesterday’s rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale gray, and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as they set off for their first-ever Care of Magical Creatures class.

Harry, Draco, and Ron were discussing the upcoming Quidditch training while Hermione and Theo were walking hand in hand and talking rapidly about Arithmancy.

The Professor, Hagrid, was waiting in front of his hut on the edge of the grounds with a large brown dog situated at his feet. As Harry and his friends gathered around with the rest of the class the dog picked its head up and growled lightly at him.

“Quit it Fang,” Hagrid frowned. “Sorry ‘bout that Harry, Fang here’s usually a good judge ‘o character.”

‘Fang’ still looked suspiciously at Harry who hissed quietly at him. He took Creatures for a chance to be outside and away from writing constant essays- he didn’t really like animals much altogether. They never seemed to like him and the feeling was mostly mutual. He made an exception for Sevvie, who was perfect and useful, and had a bit of a soft spot for anything that looked like it was suffering, animal or not.

“Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin’ up!” Hagrid yelled. “Everyone here? Right, follow me!”

For one moment, Harry thought that Hagrid was going to lead them into the forest; Harry hadn’t been in there before but he thought it might be fun to discover why it’s forbidden. However, Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later, they found themselves outside a kind of paddock. There was nothing in there.

“Everyone gather ’round the fence here!” he called. “That’s it — make sure yeh can see-“

Hagrid beamed at them all.

“Now yeh need creatures! Be just a mo’.”

“He’s an idiot,” Draco groaned beside him.

“I bet he doesn’t assign much homework though,” Harry grinned.

Trotting toward them were a dozen of the most bizarre creatures Harry had ever seen. They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of what seemed to be giant eagles, with cruel, steel-colored beaks and large, brilliantly orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all of these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind the creatures.

“Gee up, there!” he roared, shaking the chains and urging the creatures toward the fence where the class stood. Everyone drew back slightly as Hagrid reached them and tethered the creatures to the fence.

“Hippogriffs!” Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. “Beau’iful, aren’ they?”

Harry glanced at Draco, who was gazing at the Hippogriffs in a similar way to how Theo looked at Hermione, and snorted. If Harry had taken the class solely just to avoid writing out lengthy homework, Draco would have taken it even if it required daily essays.

“So,” said Hagrid, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, “if yeh wan’ ter come a bit nearer —”

No one except Draco seemed to want to. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Theo reluctantly stepped forward after Draco quickly had.

“Now, firs’ thing yeh gotta know abou’ hippogriffs is, they’re proud,” said Hagrid. “Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don’t never insult one, ’cause it might be the last thing yeh do.”

“Sounds like Harry,” Ron muttered to Draco.

“What?” Draco shook his head and looked at Ron.

“He said don’t ever insult them or they might kill you; I said it sounds like Harry,” Ron repeated. “You’re such a swot for animals mate.”

Draco punched Ron on the arm before quickly turning his attention back to the Hippogriffs.

“Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs’ move,” Hagrid continued. “It’s polite, see? Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an’ yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh’re allowed ter touch him. If he doesn’ bow, then get away from him sharpish, ’cause those talons hurt.

“Right — who wants ter go first?”

Most of the class backed farther away in answer. Even Draco looked like he suddenly had misgivings about the animals. The hippogriffs were tossing their fierce heads and flexing their powerful wings; they didn’t seem to like being tethered like this.

“No one?” said Hagrid, with a pleading look. When nobody answered, the large man looked around the students before (of fucking course) landing on Harry.

“We’ll just let Harry show us!” he boomed with a broad smile.

Harry honestly had no idea what he’s ever done to make Hagrid think they’re friends. Maybe Hagrid thought Harry unwittingly clearing his name as the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets meant they were friends or something? As if Harry would be friends with someone who kisses Dumbledore’s arse as much as he clearly does.

At any rate, as much as he didn’t want to, Harry couldn’t step back now. He’d rather be mauled by a Hippogriff than look weak in front of all these students.

“Alright then,” he said simply, clenching his fists to hide his discomfort.

There was an intake of breath from behind him, and both Lavender and Parvati whispered, “Oooh, no, Harry, remember your tea leaves!”

Harry hissed at them, irritated by their reminder. He climbed over the paddock fence and stepped closer to Hagrid- though far enough away in case he needed to get out quick.

“Good man, Harry!” roared Hagrid. “Right then — let’s see how yeh get on with Buckbeak.”

He untied one of the chains, pulled the gray hippogriff away from its fellows, and slipped off its leather collar. The class on the other side of the paddock seemed to be holding its breath. Draco’s eyes were narrowed with what Harry assumed was jealousy.

Should have volunteered then.

21%

Finnigan scrambled backwards and fell on the ground, causing Harry’s friends to roar with laughter at his red face.

“That’s enough,” Hagrid said gruffly. “Malfoy shouldn’t’a said it and no fighting in me class.”

Harry looked incredulously at the giant man.

“You’re blaming Draco because you couldn’t control your pet?”

“Class is over,” Hagrid said loudly, blatantly ignoring Harry. “Dismissed. Go on now.”

Harry turned on his heel and stormed off towards the castle, fuming over the ‘Professor’s’ incompetency.

Draco is his and Hagrid let him get hurt because he’s an idiot.

And Dumbledore hired him.

“Draco didn’t even really insult the stupid bird!” he ranted to his friends. “Hagrid’s an idiot!”

“I thought the Hippogriffs were really interesting,” Hermione said hesitantly. “And Draco’s okay, right? So it’s not a big deal, is it?”

“Of course it’s a big deal!” Harry spat. “Dumbledore shouldn’t just hire people he likes if they aren’t qualified for the position!”

“Charlie, my brother, says he’s a dab at Creatures,” Ron said. “Suppose that’s why Dumbledore hired him.”

“A dab at creatures? He was going to let Draco bleed right there on the damn ground because he can’t control a Hippogriff!”

“But Draco’s fine,” Ron said, ignoring Harry’s heated tone. “So all’s well that ends well, right?”

Harry was about to tell Ron that no not ‘all’s well that ends well’ when Draco jabbed him with his elbow.

“Now who’s being embarrassing?” he whispered, his cheeks pink. “I don’t need you to defend me.”

“Then heal your fuckin’ self next time,” Harry said.

“I will!”

Harry and Draco stopped in front of the entrance to Hogwarts and were glaring angrily at each other.

“Let me get this right,” Theo said. “Harry’s mad at Draco because Draco got hurt and Draco is now mad that Harry healed him?”

“Yes!” Draco yelled just as Harry said “No!”

“Shut up,” they both said to Theo, unintentionally and simultaneously.

Harry blinked at Draco a few times before Draco let out a small chuckle.

“Okay I probably won’t heal myself next time, I was dying you know. Thank you.”

“You weren’t dying,” Harry rolled his eyes. “I’ve bled harder than that when I was seven,” he bragged. “And I’m still alive.”

“Thats- that’s not good Harry,” Hermione said.

Harry flushed when he saw his friends were all staring at him now.

“I was fine,” he said. “Healed it up didn’t I?”

Nobody looked very convinced by that argument so Harry decided that he’d just keep his accomplishments to himself from now on.

“Whatever,” he scowled. “Hagrid’s still incompetent, Dumbledore’s an idiot, and I’m telling Draco’s Dad he got attacked by a fuckin giant horse-bird during class.”



Draco spent the rest of the day trying to convince Harry not to tell his father about it.

“He’ll just freak out,” Draco said for about the fiftieth time during dinner that night.

“You can’t use logic on Harry,” Susan said with a mischievous grin. “You have to barter with him.”

Harry perked up at that, now interested in what Draco would have to trade.

“I’ll give you ten galleons,” Draco said.

“Nope.”

“I’ll buy you all the chocolate you can eat when we go to Hogsmeade.”

“No thanks, I’ve got money, don’t I?”

Draco hesitated before finally offering, “I’ll owe you a favor.”

“Deal,” Harry said quickly. “No murder, nothing that’ll get you expelled, but other than that it’s no questions asked. And I’m still telling Snape. Hagrid can’t bring dangerous animals to class if he can’t control them.”

Draco didn’t look very happy but Harry happily added his cousin to the ever growing list of people who owed him a favor.