Being a Slytherin

A nice long chapter for you to enjoy!

9. Hufflepuff

The next morning Harry felt horrible, having been plagued by nightmares he could not remember most of the night. He only remembered snippets but those were enough to scare the hell out of him. He had found blood on his pillow and dry one on his forehead. When he had brushed his teeth Malfoy and his friends had cast a stupid jinx on him to make his hair look like he had touched a socket.


All in all when he stepped into the great hall he was in a really crappy mood and as he slumped down in his seat he expected it not to get any better. As usual that sentiment turned out to be right because Malfoy sat down next to the boy, not on his usual seat further down the table.


“Potter, did you not sleep well?” Draco asked obviously enjoying the possibility that his house mate had not.


Setting his face in a straight line Harry shrugged.


“What do you want Malfoy?”


The blond leaned a bit closer, lowering his voice and his blue eyes bored themselves into Harry's.


“Every Monday a couple of slytherins have a little party in the room of requirements. Usually we manage to get our hand on some alcohol and we just sit together and gossip.”


Taking a sip from his tea cup Harry shrugged once again.


“Why are telling me this?”


The blonde leaned back and smirked.


“I know we have never been on good terms so far but you are a slytherin after all and maybe we should include you more.”


When Harry's expression indicated that he did not buy that Draco sighed.


“Did you know that Snape is a good friend of my father?”


Interested in that turn of their talk Harry shook his head.


“I have known him all my life and if you want to I could tell you a couple of stories about him. His past and what he likes and what not.”


Slowly Harry nodded the prospect of that too tempting to not agree and Draco slapped him on his back.


“We'll meet at seven in front of the room of requirements. Do not be late.”


With that he rose and moved away to his friends leaving Harry to his lonely breakfast. As hard as it was to admit the chance of being included into Draco's circle of friends was too tempting to pass if off. He had no friends, not in his house and not in the others and maybe that was the chance he had waited for.


That evening Harry found himself in the room of requirements on an armchair nursing a glass of firewhiskey and listening to the other slytherins as they gossiped. The loud music gave him a headache and the unaccustomed alcohol went to his head but he was enjoying himself.


Draco refilled Harry's glass with more of the spiked juice flopping down next to him.


“So what do you want to know about Professor Snape?”


Getting a little more comfortable Harry rested his head on the backrest.


“Was he ever married?”


Draco snickered softly.


“No, he is not into that.”


Harry frowned. “Into what?”


“Witches.”


The blonde motioned for Pansy to sit down in his lap and she began to nuzzle his neck.


Now his interest was sparked and Harry had to inquire further into his teacher's private life.


“So does he have a -”


“A boyfriend?” Draco asked and when Harry nodded he continued. “No, not in a long time. So if you like him you should make your move Potter.”


Sputtering on his juice Harry stared into Draco's amused eyes.


“I would never...”


“Oh come on Potter- we are slytherins. Everybody in this school is already gossiping about your unhealthy obsession with our esteemed head of house. Even Dumbledore has noticed and he is keeping a close eye on the both of you. But hey if you want him, get him.”


With big eyes Harry leaned back and it must have been due to the spiked juice that he considered it.


A clock was beginning to ring and everybody began to rise the party obviously having come to an end. Slowly Harry followed his house mates into the deserted school until they reached the dungeons. Suddenly Grabbe and Goyle grasped him at the shoulders and pressed him into the wall, immobilizing him.


Draco casually strode nearer and leaned back against the wall his face set in a smug expression.


“Potter, Potter, sometimes I believe you have been wrongly sorted into Slytherin. Did you really think anybody here thinks you are more than a freak? Snape is only pitying you, after all he is responsible for your parents death.”


“What do you want?” Harry asked chiding himself for trusting Malfoy in the first place.


Smirking Draco trailed his hand down Harry's chest.


“Humiliating you Potter- what else?” He casually flicked his wand and to Harry's horror his clothes disappeared leaving him freezing in the cool dungeon air. The blonde took his wand and put it into the sleeve of his robe his gaze trailing down Harry's body.


“Well, you are not really well endowed at all. But maybe it is still growing, I would not give up as of yet.”


His friends snickered, then Harry was punched into his stomach and then dropped to the ground where he curled up like a tight ball.


“You are dirt on our house Potter. They should have been sorted you into Hufflepuff for your stupidity.”


Draco gave one last kick into Harry's side and then they all disappeared down to the corridor leaving Harry spread out of the cold stone floor. His body was covered with goose bumps as he tried to scramble to his feet and after several attempt he found his footing. Leaning heavily against the wall Harry slowly made his way down the corridor not really aware of where he was heading until he found himself in front of a familiar painting that housed a snake.


“What happened with you,” the snake hissed clearly not impressed by Harry's appearance.


The boy sank to the ground drawing his legs closer to his body and placed his head on his knees by now shivering with coldness. Closing his eyes he wished himself a million miles away not daring to try to wake his head of house. Tonight he had been no slytherin at all but one stupid Hufflepuff and the Professor would not be impressed at all.


Severus awoke from a light sleep and wondered what had disturbed his sleep. Taking his wand from under his pillow he lightened a candle and slid out of bed, searching for his slippers. Once he found them he slid inside and rose to get his nightgown.


His wards were disturbed by somebody or something even so they had not been breeched. Drawing his wand he carefully made his way into the dark living room and over to the door. Very likely it was some first year who was homesick but he was better safe than sorry. Carefully he creaked the door open to look outside and sure enough he found a small body crumbled on the floor.


The boy was sniffling and so Severus tried to force his face into an expression of sympathy.


“What is wrong?” His voice was soft and as understanding as he could be this far into the night but the student sniffled further and curled up a little more. The torch on the other side of the wall cast only a little light and so he could not see who it was.


“If you do not talk to me, I cannot help you,” Severus said evenly but when the student turned his face away he sighed. Leaning down he noticed that the troubled student was not wearing much and he did not dare to touch his shoulder. “Will you tell me what happened?”


Still sniffling finally he raised his head and it took not long to recognize the messy brown hair and green eyes that used to haunt him during the night.


“Harry, what happened to you?” he asked carefully now placing his hand on the boy's bony shoulders. His skin was soft but cold to the touch and Severus quickly draped his night robe over the shivering body.


Tears that glittered in the dull light of the dungeon were by now running down his cheeks as he tried to still his breathing.


“Hufflepuff,” did he mutter softly.


Not really any wiser Severus flicked his wand to light the fireplace in his chambers and gently prodded Harry to stand up.


“Let's go inside or you'll freeze to death,” he suggested and eventually Harry crossed the threshold on shaky legs. Steering the boy into the direction of the sofa Severus accio'd a glass with a sip of firewhiskey. Pushing it into Harry's hands he sank down into his arm chair waiting for the boy to collect himself.


Harry was naked as far as Severus could see but some colour returned once he downed the whiskey and placed the empty glass on a side table. Snuggling a little tighter into the robe he faced his teacher something akin to shame in his eyes.


“Now tell me what happened,” Severus gently asked the boy.


“Malfoy and his friends,” Harry whispered. “They cornered me when we were leaving the party. And undressed me.”


Severus sighed once again aware that there was not much he could do for his student with Death Eaters' children making up half of his house. There was no need to ask Harry why he had went to that party- he was aware that the boy was lonely.


“I am sorry,” Harry whispered fringing his hands in his lap.


“What on earth are you sorry for?” Severus asked incredulously.


“For falling for their cheap tricks,” he answered sniffling again. “Maybe Draco is right and I should have never been sorted into slytherin.”


“Draco Malfoy is under the impression that people like him and his father make out what the house of slytherin is made off but Salazar Slytherin never intended it this way.” Severus held Harry's eyes, the pain in the boy's very obvious. “It is true that slytherins are cunning and they ponder their chances but that does not exclude morals and honesty.”


“I asked the sorting hat to place me in slytherin,” Harry softly said.


Severus smiled warmly. “And it did. So the hat must have seen something in you to benefit our house.”


Placing his head on the arm rest of the sofa Harry yawned audibly.


“Do you think I could stay here, just for tonight? I'd rather not return to the dorm like this.”


Slowly the potion master nodded and transfigured a foot stool into a comfortable bed.


“Now try to get some sleep,” Severus whispered when the boy crawled under the sheets snuggling into the robe he was still wearing. Once at the door to his own bedroom the elder wizard heard Harry's soft voice already half asleep.


“Thanks.”

AN: Aw, I know so far life is not kind to Harry BUT things will get better. Promise.

Dear readers, are you still with me? Just checking... *looks under her bed* Nobody there.