Uneasy Alliance

You were pleased to see Hermione was getting on well with her new friends. She seemed much happier. You suspected that she’d eased off about strictly following the rules which likely made her easier to deal with for Potter, Weasley, and Longbottom. You were genuinely happy for her. The brainy but sensitive girl would need all the support she could get to face the adversity that came with being a muggleborn witch in a world run by blood-purists.

Unlike you, Professor Snape didn’t seem happy for Granger and her newfound friends. Maybe it was his painful leg injury making him extra bitter but he was exceptionally nasty to the four Gryffindors during the next day’s Potions lesson. He lashed out at them like they’d stolen the only woman he’d ever loved and spent seven years mercilessly bullying him.

You initially thought that Professor Snape’s lack of mobility would make things easier for students like Longbottom who became a nervous wreck when Professor Snape stalked around the classroom and loomed over them while they were brewing and preparing their ingredients. But Professor Snape made sure his presence was still felt in the classroom as he sat perched on a stool by the board. He would never deprive himself of an opportunity to berate his least favorite students, especially because they were partnered together today. He yelled at Potter and Longbottom for discussing topics that weren’t related to the potion you were brewing and threatened them with a zero for the day and a loss of points if their potion wasn’t perfect. Good luck with that guys.

Granger kept her usual spot at the front of the classroom across the aisle from you and Goyle -- much to her new Potions partner Ron Weasley’s irritation. Professor Snape made sure to comment on that new seating arrangement as well.

“I know what Weasley is capable of, Granger. Unlike with Potter and Longbottom, if your potion is perfect I’ll know you did all the work and carried your hapless partner to a passing grade. You’ll lose points for not allowing your partner to pass or fail on his own merits.”

Hermione had finally learned not to rise to Professor Snape’s bait because she didn’t respond to the unpleasant professor’s threat. She cast a quick glance in your direction which clearly said ‘you and Malfoy are doing the same thing with Crabbe and Goyle’. But at this point, she knew that anything she said was just something for Professor Snape to use against her.

Apparently, Weasley hadn’t learned this lesson.

“Don’t worry, it’s just Snape being a git,” he quietly attempted to encourage Hermione.

“This ‘git’ has functioning ears, Weasley!” Professor Snape practically snarled back, “That will be ten points from Gryffindor for insulting a professor!”

Professor Snape took it upon himself to take twice as many points from the Gryffindor quartet as they had gained from toppling the troll the night before. Dealing with Potter and his three friends really brought out Professor Snape’s ugly side.

Everyone was in a hurry to leave the classroom once the lesson was over. And that wasn’t just the Gryffindors. Even you and the other Slytherins didn’t want to be around your Head of House when he was in this foul a mood.

But as you headed along the dungeon hallway towards lunch, you heard Potter call after you.

“Gaunt! Gaunt!”

You turned to see Potter behind you with Granger, Weasley, and Longbottom.

“What do you want, Potter?” Malfoy sneered from beside you.

“Nothing from you, Malfoy,” Potter calmly replied. “I want a word with Gaunt. Alone.”

The other Slytherins had stopped and were gathered around you while the other Gryffindors were around Potter. And not just his gang but Finnigan, Thomas, Patil, and Brown too. Apparently, this is what happened when two of the most prominent students from rival houses decide they wanted to have a private chat.

“I’ll admit my curiosity is peaked,” you remarked. “Just to be clear… it’s only you and me...” You paused to motion to the seven other Gryffindors, “Your… entourage isn’t coming?”

“Yes, that’s what ‘alone’ means,” Potter confirmed.

“No need to be cheeky,” you retorted. “I’ll come. But I’d better not be hexed in the back.”

“That’s something you snakes would do,” Weasley bit back.

“Look at that, Weasley’s still running his mouth,” Parkinson chimed in. “How many points has he lost your house today from doing just that? He’s clearly wasting his time here at Hogwarts because he never learns his lesson.”

“Everyone just calm down…” you said. You turned to regard Malfoy and Parkinson, “Look, I appreciate the support. But it’s fine. Go to lunch. I can handle Potter alone. And besides, if I do turn up somewhere horribly injured you all know who I was last seen with. I’m sure you’ll waste no time in telling Professor Snape and we’ll get to see how vindictive he can be when he has an actual reason.”

Longbottom actually let out a quiet whimper at that last thought.

You crossed the divide between your two houses and motioned to the empty dungeon hallway behind Potter and his group of Gryffindors. “Shall we?” Harry nodded and the Gryffindors parted so you could follow him down the hallway. Once you were both out of earshot you spoke again. “So what’s this about?”

“I actually wanted to thank you…”

“Oh,” you said as you recalled what had happened in the girl’s bathroom the night before. “Did Granger tell you what I said to her?”

“Er… no,” Harry admitted. His expression told you that wasn’t really what he wanted to thank you for. “But thank you for that too. Hermione told us that you were nice to her and that you and Bulstrode protected her when the troll came in. I guess you and even Millicent aren’t like those other Slytherins.”

“We’re not the only ones,” you informed him. “By ‘those other Slytherins’ I assume you’re referring to Malfoy and Parkinson. I’ll have you know that they’re in the minority. Millicent may look intimidating but she’s really very sweet. Blaise is rather morbid but he’s decent enough. I’ve been here two months and I have yet to hear Theodore utter a word against anyone. Actually, I have yet to hear him utter a word outside of class, period. Daphne is intensely curious and Tracey is a half-blood who is just trying to fit in with the rest of us. Vincent and Gregory may follow Malfoy around like bodyguards but they’re actually the reason I’m passing History of Magic. Draco and Pansy are the only truly rotten ones. And it’s like I told you that first morning at Hogwarts -- if you think they’re annoying it’s much worse for the rest of us who have to put up with them all day. I’ve come to realise that they’re the product of their upbringing and if you look deep enough, you’ll find that they actually have their redeeming qualities.”

“Yeah, well… I’ll believe that when I see it,” Harry said stubbornly. “You’ve at least put forth the effort into being a halfway decent person. And that brings us to the real reason I wanted to talk in private. I wanted to thank you for telling me about that Halloween tradition. I nearly forgot about it after all the excitement from the troll. But Neville remembered and even found a candle for us to light. I wasn’t exactly sure what to say… but he gave me some pointers and told me what he did with his parents.”

“Longbottom told you about his parents?” you asked. Kingsley Shacklebolt had told you the fate that had befallen his fellow Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom in an effort to sway you from following the same dark path as your Gaunt and Slytherin ancestors. Four pureblood zealots following a madman - your infamous relative - had used Dark Magic to **** two of their fellow purebloods to insanity.

“He told me his parents used to be friends with mine,” Harry answered. “And that all four of them had died during the war.”

You knew that wasn't entirely correct. “Did he actually use the word ‘died’?”

“Er… no… I think he might’ve said ‘lost’,” Harry recalled. “But how did you know that? Does that mean they’re not dead?”

“It’s not my story to tell,” you said. “But understand that it’s immensely personal for him. The war was devastating. You and I are far from the only war orphans in Hogwarts. In our year alone there’s you, me, Longbottom, and Susan Bones in Hufflepuff.” That one was extra awkward for you to discuss on account that her entire family had been nearly wiped out by same Dark Wizard who killed Potter’s parents. “There are even more who lost one of their parents. You should be grateful that you at least know your parents’ names and that people talk favorably about them. I have no idea who my father was. I only know that he and my mother Octavia Bulstrode died during the war. I don’t know anything about her either.”

“So you and Millicent…”

“Are distant cousins of some kind,” you finished for him. “I’ve asked her to find out what she could but my mother was merely her third cousin once removed and her family doesn’t have much knowledge of her -- let alone who she might have married.”

“Well… good luck with that,” Harry responded with surprising sincerity. “And again, thanks for telling me about the remembrance tradition. It did make me feel better.” He paused for a moment and then changed the subject, “But that being said, I’m not sure what to make of your theory that Snape had some kind of history with my mum. He clearly doesn’t treat me like it. I’d dare say he hates me. And I haven’t done anything to him.”

“Well, good luck with that,” you returned with a faint grin. “And good luck in the Quidditch match next weekend.”

“You know about that?” Harry asked in surprise.

You rolled your eyes, “Please! We’ve known since you got that Nimbus Two Thousand from Professor McGonagall all the way back in September. Flint’s been pitting our Seeker Higgs against a player around your size as practice. He’s gotten quite good with his elbows. Your biggest advantage is that no one’s seen you play yet.”

“Yeah… Wood’s plan is to keep me as a secret weapon,” Harry told you. “He’s been extra cautious about keeping practices closed. Hermione went to the library this morning and got me this book called Quidditch Through the Ages. She says it might be helpful.”

You nodded, “I’ve read it. It goes into the history of the game and lists a number of the fouls. You’d better familiarise yourself with those. Seekers usually decide the game so most fouls are committed against them and Slytherin’s known for playing rough and bending the rules when they can. If you were decent at Potions, I’d recommend brewing that Topical Bruise Remover we learned last month. But since you’re not, maybe you can get Granger to make you some?”

“I’ll be sure to ask her,” Harry agreed, “Thanks for the warning, Marvolo.”

And at that, your private meeting ended and you both went to lunch. Joining forces and battling the troll together had led to Harry extending an olive branch and you had formed an uneasy alliance. You weren't exactly friends but it was a start.

Draco and Pansy were on you from the moment you sat down and immediately asked what Harry had wanted. Daphne and Tracey were notably sitting near them and within earshot. You stayed tightlipped and merely said that he was thanking you for teaching him about wizard culture. They didn’t need to know about your relationship with Harry Potter.