The Headmaster's Only Mistake

The Return to Hogwarts

"You think you're so perfect and lovable. Well guess what?! I see right through you, you snake. And when people start to realize who you really are, I'll be there, laughing."

"First of all, I'm not perfect and I do not assume so, though I am flattered you think I am. Second, just because people like me more than they like you doesn't give you an excuse to be a brat. Third, snakes are actually quite wonderful creatures," Medusa, who had been resting around his shoulders nodded her head and hissed, "and are considered sacred in some regions, so thank you for that too. And lastly," Harry had slowly been making his way towards Ron as he spoke, ignoring the gathering crowd. "If anything, I'll be the one to have the last laugh." Harry hissed at Ron, now face to face, their noses almost touching.

Harry pressed his wand into Ron's stomach but concealed it with his jumper sleeve and well positioned hand.

"So do you want to say that again, Ron?"

Harry pressed the tip of the wand harder and twisted it. Ron gave a sharp squeak and he paled before quickly running off.

Harry grinned smugly before turning to the crowd.

"What are you lot looking at? There's nothing to see."

The crowd quickly dispersed, leaving Harry a clear way towards the bathroom.

···

Harry didn't remember the rush that came after winter break, and to be honest, he wished it would've stayed that way.

Once term had started, they were back to skimming through books and cramming as many notes as they could in their ten minutes between one class and the next. All of his friends valued their education, and even though Harry had perfect recollection of everything they had learned so far, Hermione and Tracy still shoved book after book into his arms. Harry had even less time than the other two, because Quidditch practice had started again. 

Flint was working the team harder than ever. Even the endless rain that had replaced the snow couldn't dampen his spirits. If they won their next match, against Ravenclaw, they would secure their place in the House Championship for eighth year in a row, meaning that no matter the outcome of the Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff match, Slytherin would win. 

Harry wasn't surprised when Marcus had come to practice with an ear-to-ear smile, practically radiating.

"What's up with you? You're acting like Gem." Raffael Rosier asked with a wrinkled nose.

"Oh shut up." Marcus sneered at the beater. Then he turned to the rest of the team. "Professor Snape is refereeing our match against Ravenclaw to make sure nothing happens to Harry's broom!"

Their moods immediately brightened and Harry smirked. Snape might not favour the Slytherins as much as he used to in Harry's first life, but Harry knew the man would do everything in his power to rub how great his house was in Aunt Minerva's face.

When Harry told his friends, the Weasley twins, Luna, Theo, Hermione, Terry, and Mandy had not been amused.

"He's going to favour you!" Luna complained. "There's no way we're going to win!"

Blaise smirked at her. "That's why we're happy about it." 

Luna kicked him in the groin.

"Ooh." all of the boys winced. Blaise glared at her with a pained expression.

"I get why you're mad, but he's doing it for Harry's safety." Neville pointed out.

"Well yeah, but if Slytherin wins-" Fred started.

"They ensure first place-" George sighed.

"And Wood is going to kick our arses." both boys groaned at the same time. The group laughed at their pained faces.

Apart from Quidditch, the teachers began to teach more advanced spells. Transfiguration had advanced so much, they had started practicing on small animals early, turning them into match boxes, which didn't appease Ron Weasley who had just managed to transform his satin in to lace.

That class had been especially amusing as Harry got to spend forty-five minutes watching as Ron repeatedly made the same mistakes and furiously waving his wand at the poor gerbil he had been tasked with.

Not just that, but during break, Harry had managed to convince Kreature to give him Slytherin's locket.

Kreater had nearly bawled, saying, "Little Tiny Master is too kind to Kreature, completing Master Regulus' wishes."

Harry didn't have the heart to tell him he was actually doing the complete opposite of Master Regulus' last wishes, but he didn't think that Kreature needed to know that.

Now, the locket had joined the diadem on the mannequin. Harry thought they looked quite nice together.

All in all, Harry hadn't had much free time to do as he wished. The Stone still remained deep under the school and he had not physically seen his soulmate since Samhain, which was clearly affecting him. He was quieter and the bags under his eyes were as prominent as ever.

It wasn't that they didn't talk to each other, just the fact that they were both incredibly busy, with Mortem supervising the construction of the knew level for The Land of the Dead for the nineties while Harry was busy with Hogwarts business.

···

"Are you sure you'll be alright, Potter?" Flint asked as the team changed in the locker room. The Ravenclaw vs Slytherin game was about to begin and Harry knew he looked like utter shit. "The entirety of Slytherin-and probably the rest of the school considering how likable you are- will probably kill me if anything happens to you because I let you play in this state."

Harry gave him a tired smile, fighting off the sleepiness that was edging itself into his eyelids. "I'll be fine. I'll catch the snitch as soon as I see it and then I'll go rest."

"You'd better. You've been under the weather for days, Potter, you've got the whole house worried." Viperia told him, thumping him on the back. Harry grimaced at the reminder of his housemates' worried looks as he trailed behind the Quidditch team that morning or the way someone would always make sure he had enough food on his plate.

"Don't worry, Viperia, I'll be fine." He tried for a reassuring smile but it didn't seem to work. Viperia's eyebrows knitted together and her lips pursed into a thin line, discarding the smirk that usually played on her lips.

"Fine. Come on." She gripped his hand tightly and pulled him over to the entrance.

As he exited, the deafening sound of thunderous clapping filled his ears. The hammering in his head seemed to multiply and Harry felt like he was going to buckle over and faint.

Rafael came up to him.

"As member of the court and prefect, it's my job to make sure you're alright at all times, so are you sure you're alright to fly?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "For the last time, I'm perfectly fine." He was in fact, perfectly horrible, but Slytherin didn't have a replacement seeker and he was not going to forfeit the game.

"Well you can't really blame us for asking. You look like shit, mate."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes well, Alexandra has mothered me enough, thank you very much." he informed the older boy with a tight voice.

Rafael seemed to realize this and raised an eyebrow. "The Queen didn't wish for you to play?"

"She and your girlfriend hid my broom and locked me in my room with a promise to get Madame Pomfrey. Thank the gods for Blaise's forgetful nature." Harry huffed annoyedly.

Rafael smirked. Whatever he was going to say was cut off by Professor Snape's shrill whistle and everybody kicked off the ground.

···

A/N: I might not be able to upload next week as I'm going to be out of town and I don't know if I will be able to take my laptop or have good wifi, so in case I don't update next saturday, you'll know why. Sorry!