"Until the end of fall term at the very least, Mr. Flint."
"Yes, sir." He was completely disappointed in his professor. Surely the man understood how dangerous for Harry that would be, was he trying to endanger him? Mentally he started to make a list of potential contacts he could encourage that wouldn't endanger Harry. He didn't know why he felt so strongly about protecting Harry, but something told him it was the most important thing he would ever do, un-Slytherin and blood traitorous though those thoughts and and feelings might be. Marcus reached out and grasped Harry's shoulder. "I'll see to it he learns his place sir."
Marcus steered Harry through the dungeon corridors to the Slytherin common room then into Harry's own room. The boy promptly pulled off his robes, and changed to pajamas. "What happened Harry?"
"I was sodding stupid, alright. I'm about to fall on my bloody nose cause I'm wiped out. I'll talk to you in the morning." Harry gave Marcus a halfhearted glare.
"Fine I'll be waiting for you in the common room at dawn." Marcus knew that unlike most the Slytherin firsties Harry was always up early.
....
Harry woke slightly before sunup not that that was hard at this latitude at this time of year. He shivered slightly and pulled on his sweats. He grabbed both his bo and his bokken, before going to the common room. Marcus was waiting for him.
The older boy yawned widely and gave Harry a semi-disgusted look. "How can you look so awake at this hour? It's obscene."
"Habit." Harry managed to bite back his grin for the benefit of the older boy. "Why did you want to meet this early if you don't like mornings?"
"Fewer ears."
"Ah. Snape said I was grounded to the dorm unless you were with me. Are you willing to come to the classroom I use for exercise?"
"I suppose, if you make it worth my while and explain what happened last night."
Harry nodded. They went up the stairs to an unused classroom on the first floor where they were joined by Neville. Neville and Harry warmed up with tai chi then Harry did a series of katas while Neville repeated the tai chi. Harry told Marcus everything that happened from the time he met Neville in the library before dinner until Snape had passed him back off to Marcus as he moved through his exercises.
"Man that sucks. I mean if you were any house but Slytherin they'd have been falling all over themselves to give you points I mean a first year casting a fourth year charm. And helping another house to boot. This is so unfair."
Neville, who'd been quiet, chimed in, "Tell us about it. McGonagall has already asked me to drop Harry as a friend. Thanks Harry, I'm done. See ya later."
After nodding to Neville as he left. Harry said, "Welcome to the story of my life. I didn't fall into their predestined mold of boy hero, golden boy of Gryffindor so now they look at everything I do from this microscope of "is he dark? Why is he doing this? Do we dare reward this behavior or will that make him evil or is he already evil and just trying to lull us into a false sense of security?" It's just so much bullshit. I want to be my own person, you know make my own decisions. I went with Neville after Hermione because she's sort of a friend not a great one, I'll grant. The girl doesn't have the street sense God gave a goose, but her heart is in the right place. Once I pointed out how much nonsense the Boy-Who-Lived hype is, she's treated me like a person which is more than ninety percent of the school population can say. And Nev, well he's the closest thing I've got to family in the magical world. It may be Gryffindorkish or Puffish of me but I would stand beside Neville against anyone."
"Did the hat want to put you in Gryffindor?"
"That was one of my options."
"Why Slytherin then?"
"Dumbledore. If I went to Gryffindor or one of the other houses, he wins. And if there's one thing I don't want, it's for our esteemed Headmaster to get what he wants." Harry's emphasis made it crystal clear he meant the opposite of his words.
Marcus sensing Harry wouldn't say more without assurances threw up some hasty privacy wards. "Why the dislike?"
Harry shook his head no.
Marcus debated briefly the wisdom of doing what he was about to do. His father would throw a fit, and if he did this he could never follow the path his father wanted him to, not that he wanted to follow his father's path. "My oath as a wizard what you say will remain just between us."
Harry's green eyes acquired an intensity Marcus found hard to meet. "Can you guarantee it Marcus? Against everyone, even someone who can read your mind?"
....
Up in Gryffindor tower, Neville was ready to spit nails. Harry had saved Hermione from the troll, and here he was listening as Fred and George plotted their latest prank against Harry. And McGonagall didn't give Harry any points last night. Instead she sent him away with Snape, who anyone could see hated Harry. Harry was in fact being punished for helping Hermione. It was just wrong. Harry just accepted it as if he didn't expect anything different and maybe he didn't, but Neville wasn't raised that way. His Gran had taught him right from wrong. And the way Harry was treated was just flat wrong. Neville decided he would write Gran. She needed to know what was going on all of it the good and the bad, she would know what to do.
He started by writing about the train ride the things Harry had said and done on the train and all the times they had spent together since. Emphasizing what had happened in flying class, and how Neville felt that the prejudice Harry faced because he had been sorted into Slytherin was just wrong and what was her advice on how he was to help his friend and godbrother.
....
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