Chapter 8: Basilisks, Boomslangs, Books, Broomsticks, Bits and Bridles
"You were saying?" Harry asked smugly as the Basilisk venom quickly ended the man's life. Luckily Accio didn't require much in the way of wand movements, so Harry was able to utilize the spell with the barest of twitches from his wrist. His bicep screamed in protest but he ignored it all the same.
It was over.
Timed Quest Completed! Save the Basilisk! Reward: 20 Skill Points, 6 Stat Points, 2,000 Galleons, and 4,000 Experience.
Ding! Level Up! You are now level 9! 18 Skill Points awarded. 46 Skill points unspent. 4 Stat Points unused. 1 Feat Point unused.
What a crazy life he lived Harry thought as he turned and emptied his stomach's contents onto the floor, the realization of taking the lives of 3 men hitting him as the adrenaline quickly left him. Even the prospect of another level so soon after the previous couldn't appease his heaving stomach.
Killing was not something that he had a lot of experience with, even in his alternate life the only one to truly be killed by him was Voldemort who had most assuredly deserved it. Guilt of causing Cedric and Sirius' deaths aside. Finally his stomach gave up trying to earn forgiveness and Harry was able to straighten up and assess his surroundings.
And immediately screamed in fright as the Basilisk was sitting coiled in front of him with the head pointed straight at him.
"Quiet." The large beast hissed and Harry promptly stopped screaming, but hissed as his ribs launched a protest as his outburst and recent vomiting. His arms weren't quiet bystanders either.
"Hello Great One" Kijani slithered onto his master's shoulder and addressed the immense beast while Harry collected himself.
"Hello youngling. Are you this one's familiar then?" The Basilisk asked in what seemed to be a conversational tone. Kijani hissed an affirmation in return.
"Are you going to kill me?" Harry abruptly asked, with scenarios on how to avoid such an occurrence playing through his head. His odds were terrible.
"I debated on it while you were screaming like a tasty sheep" was the candid response
"But… you're not going to, right? I know I said I would be in the air but you see my broomstick was broken an-" Harry started rambling as his survival instincts started kicking in again in the presence of Salazar's Basilisk
"Quiet." Again the Basilisk cut him off, only this time the beast extended its head towards Harry until he could feel the hot breath from the large nostrils.
Slowly the mouth opened before him, and Harry was sure he would die. It kept opening until it could easily swallow 2 Harry's standing on top of each other.
There was a rancid smell of death, hot breath washing over Harry. The venom sacks were easily as large as a Quaffle and the fangs were as long as his forearm. Suddenly the mouth snapped shut and Harry slowly came to the realization that it was a yawn. The Basilisk had just yawned at him!
"I tire. The other wizards are dead and you do not seem to pose a threat to me at present, Speaker. Please open the way to my nest so that I can rest." The Basilisk slithered closer to the statue of Salazar.
"Will there be more wizards? Are you going to be safe?" Harry asked as his mind caught up with the strangeness.
"My eyes will return to me in a fortnight. You killed their Speaker, and Speakers are rare these days so it is doubtful that another will appear in that time. Rarer still that they will know the words to summon me. Do you know the password?" There was a moment of silence as Harry processed the thought of the eyes returning.
"Ssspeak to me Ssslytherin, Greatessst of the Hogwartsss Four" Harry said, remembering the last time that those words were spoken almost cost the school so many lives.
"Very good. Shame on Salazar for making this password only accessible by Speakers and not all snakes. I will return to my slumber, if you have need of me in defense of the school use the entrance at the end of the dungeon hallway guarded by the Ashwinder" The Basilisk slithered up the statue and soon disappeared from sight.
Secret Passage discovered! Basilisk Defender acquired at Hogwarts!
"She is beautiful" Kijani chimed in from his spot on Harry's shoulder. Harry chuckled in response and after a moment's hesitation gathered up every bit of loot he could find in the room, his trouble at killing people out of mind at the moment.
***Break***
Ahhh. Sweet fresh air. Sweet sunshine. Sweet apple pie. Harry smiled contentedly and pushed the remains of the pie that he had just finished away from him. He patted his belly and belched. Hagrid was away on an errand so Harry was eating alone but that was honestly fine with him. After a successful foray into the Chamber and 2 levels Harry was feeling quite happy. This was cemented once he successfully made it to his rented place at Hogsmeade without being seen and rested away the broken bones, which was made a bit easier with help from Dobby who had been happy to transport him.
Upon waking Harry had finished up his summer homework to not have to worry about it, and sent a letter off to McGonagall to inquire about the progress with his plans to retake the end of year exams. He also sent off a letter to Ron just to let him know that they'd probably get a chance to hang out before term began, leaving just enough left out to be sure to perk the ginger's interest.
It had been about a day and a half since the beginning of the descent into the Chamber so this left another day and a half before he would be meeting with the warding team and the Davis's. Heading to his rented property and after leaving Dobby with instructions on what to pack to get ready for his departure Harry rested again. Being able to sleep on command was honestly one of his favorite things, memories of sleepless nightmare-ridden nights being on his mind along with loveless summers spent working in the heat and misery.
***Break***
Diagon Alley looked much like it usually did when Harry visited, though just a tad more active than his previous visits this summer as more of the day to day resumed after the novelty of families being reunited had passed. Harry ignored many of the looks thrown his way and stepped confidently into Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Sure he could probably wait until Sirius bought it, but where was the fun in that? Besides with the earlier ruining of his Nimbus there wasn't a chance for Sirius to see him fly beforehand, therefore probably no chance to prove the need for it.
Stepping up to the counter Harry caught the attention of the surprisingly cute girl behind it. She did a double take at his scar but thankfully kept it together.
"Hello Lord Potter, here to browse?" She inquired politely. Harry placed her as a 6th year Hufflepuff so chances are she was used to seeing him around school. Thank goodness novelty tended to wear off quickly.
"Actually I was interested in buying your Firebolt, along with a few other supplies" Harry stated calmly, ignoring her look of shock
"Errrr… Okay, let me get a manager. Give me just a moment" And she stepped into a door behind the counter. Soon after she came back out followed by a middle-aged man that looked like a relative of Ludo Bagman.
"Good afternoon Mr. Potter. I hear you're interested in our Firebolt. Now I know that it says price on demand but it may be a bit out…" The man's condescending tone didn't sit well with Harry who straightened up in annoyance almost as soon as the man started talking.
"Let me cut you off right there. I came into your store today with the intent to buy the Firebolt. Maybe 2 or 3 of them. Along with quite a few supplies for my personal Quidditch pitch" Harry made sure to stress the word personal "Now, you can keep talking to me like I'm a bloody child or you can take your commission like a smart businessman and talk to me like a customer or I can take my business elsewhere"
The man had the decency to blush and look sheepish "Apologies Lord Potter its just that Mr. Malfoy came through here earlier and requested that the display model be held for him. Its registration number is 0007 so he was very interested…" The man started to state this to Harry who simply got more and more of a bored expression on his face, Lord persona coming fully to bear.
"That sounds great. 7 is my lucky number. I'll take it." Harry stated this simply and the girl behind her manager stifled a chuckle.
"I can have one scheduled to be…" Harry cut the man off for a third time by pulling out his expanding pouch that he had linked with his money in his Inventory. He started calmly counting out coins, the pouch magically supplying the amount he provided.
"I don't see Mr. Malfoy here and I was really looking forward to having a Firebolt, I simply cannot leave without it I'm sure you understand. I'm more than happy to pay the full amount now along with some other purchases" Harry cinched the top of the bag and cut off the supply of coins, of which currently counted out in the thousands.
"I will also take 14 Nimbus 2001's, 14 sets of Quidditch robes, self-sizing of course and 3 sets of Quidditch balls. Throw in 14 sets of gloves to include 6 sets of Chaser, 4 beater, 2 Seeker and 2 Keeper for wasting my time trying to tell me that anything about Mr. Malfoy means a damn thing to me" Harry levelled his gaze at the man and merely cocked an eyebrow when the man seemed ready to argue. Finally the man gave up and set off to get the stuff, forgetting that he had a worker behind him who was hired for that task.
"That was bloody brilliant Harry, you almost looked like a Malfoy yourself with that attitude" The girl smiled at him and giggled.
"You wound me. Malfoys look like flobberworms in expensive clothes. I just hate being treated like a child" Harry shared a chuckle with the girl at the flobberworm jibe.
"I'm Linda by the way. Just let me know if there's anything else we can get you. I should probably go help my manager before he realizes I'm over here chatting" She smiled at Harry and set off to help the grumbling man in the window, taking the Firebolt off of the display.
***Break***
Dobby left with the Quidditch supplies, to place them in the on-site storage until the Pitch was readied. Harry sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He hadn't planned on buying all of that stuff but the opportunity to shove that guy's attitude back into his own face had been too tempting. Sure it hadn't put that much of a dent in his fortunes but living a life scrupulously and frugally like he had before was a hard habit to break.
He had kept one of the Nimbuses and the Firebolt in his inventory for use in his adventures so he at least accomplished what he wanted. Giving it up as something he wasn't going to undo, Harry set off to Flourish and Blott's to order a full stock for his library. It wouldn't have the rare books that he wanted, or at least not all of them, but all libraries started somewhere.
***Break***
"Are you sure you want such extensive wards, Lord Potter?" The warder asked again, reviewing the list of wards again.
"Yes. I am sure. I want to be safe in my home, and if that means buying damn near every ward you offer then that is a small price to pay" Harry replied again. The warding team was moving to and fro along the edges of his property in the distance, working hard to meet the request.
"Well, I guess I can't argue with a good payday" The older man pocketed the list and headed off to join his team.
"Well, you've certainly tried" Harry grumbled under his breath. Turning around on the hilltop that he was on Harry surveyed his new home. Positioned to overlook the lake, the large mansion was beautiful with slate stone exterior and warm colors with large marble pillars ringing the courtyard at the front of the house. Mid-level expansion charms made the interior a bit larger than one would expect, as Harry didn't want his property to be dwarfed by his home and was fully furnished. He would be officially moving in tonight once the wards were completed. Also in the front of the house was a garden decorated with hedge sculptures of various magical creatures. Leading up to the home was a gravel pathway that encircled the fountain on display with a statue of a Gryphon roaring the water into the air. Just about 40 meters from the home was a large Quidditch pitch with a small shed to house the supplies. To ring that there were more pillars to mark the boundaries. At the rear of the house was a stone deck patio, complete with fireplace and cooking area for entertaining guests. There was a small dock leading into the water with a self-rowing row boat for excursions out into the water.
Overall he was very happy with the design, and felt that it was a good marriage of expensive and rustic. It was a Lord's home, but it definitely lived up to the title of home. And Harry could not wait to show his friends!
***Break***
The Davis family home was … not quite lavish but definitely well off. For a family that has seen its fair share of scorn in the wake of the Blood Purity war, Mr. Davis had done a fine job of securing his family's safety and security as Harry passed another layer in the wards. There were hedges lining the drive up to the home, just about shoulder height on the growing boy. Just over them he could make out a herd of about 10 horses in a paddock to the right of the building ahead. It looked like the Davis's were equestrians. He could also just make out the shape of what he assumed to be one of the 2 house elves brushing a particularly fine looking stallion.
The house elf, Litty, that was leading him had been going over a brief history of the home that Harry had at least picked up a few conversation pieces from. Won in a bet over horse racing, the mansion had been in the family for 6 generations and with it came the very horse that had lost that bet for the previous owner. Since then the Davis family had taken to horse breeding as a hobby and side income, and had produced many winners over the years. While the current Lord of the house did not have as much a taste for it as his ancestors, the Lady of the house had been a muggleborn jockey for the family that had caught the eye of a young heir. It wasn't until the previous Lord and Lady passed away after catching the wrong crossfire during the war that Mr. Davis had been able to marry the young woman but since then the family had done well and enjoyed their life along with their daughter Tracy. Fallen from grace slightly the name Davis did not carry the weight that it once did but it was still included in many prominent circles due to its history and not terrible wealth.
The wards that the elf had been admitting him through were many, having already passed 3 checkpoints, and had been installed in the wake of the death of Mr. Davis's parents and his subsequent wedding with a Muggleborn, a fact that had earned him a black mark and a large target in the eyes of Voldemort's supporters. With the war in the past however the Davis stallions had again earned a place in the local races under the watchful eye of Lady Davis, and with it a position amongst the Lords and Ladies of wizarding Britain who either participated or watched those races.
"Good afternoon Lord Potter" A voice called out ahead and Harry saw the short petite woman who had won the heart of a Pureblood heir. She had lovely brunette hair, pulled back in a stylish but still practical ponytail with decorative braiding throughout. Her figure was slight, and her fitness was obvious. Years of riding horses had earned her many freckles but they didn't clutter her face and really only served to highlight her striking blue eyes.
"Good afternoon, Lady Davis I presume?" Harry bowed politely briefly before continuing the walk to the door "I did not expect to be greeted so graciously. You look lovely today, I can see why the grounds and home are kept to such a high standard if it is to have hope of standing up to your presence"
The woman cocked an eyebrow and snorted in a manner that had Harry chuckling immediately, "You do me a service with the compliments. Most Lords simply treat me as another servant in their oh-so-grand visits"
"Well, shame on them" Harry bent and kissed her hand as was the custom once he made it to the doorway. She nodded in approval both of his manners and his obvious disdain for Lords that treat Muggleborns in any way differently than Purebloods and made room for him and the House Elf to come inside.
"And how has your new home treated you?" She asked once the door closed behind Harry.
"Quite well, the construction was swift and to my specifications. The location was perfect and the warding team Lord Davis recommended met every expectation. A worthwhile investment" Harry took the moment responding to also look around the entryway. It was well decorated and had a lovely rug over the polished wood floors. Fresh flowers occupied the vases along the wall leading to a staircase going up to the second level. On either side of the stairs were a door leading off to the unknown.
"What bright flowers. They come from your fields?" Harry asked, making small talk as they went to the left of the staircase.
"Indeed. Pitty brought them in just this morning. Usually I leave them as snacks for the horses but Pitty insisted they be put on display." She replied as they set off down a hallway. There were only 3 doors, but they chose the one at the end of the hall which opened up into a large sitting room. The rear wall was primarily a window that overlooked the fields that must have been where the flowers came from. Hills rolled off into the distance and Harry could just make out a fence that ringed the edges of the property. Not quite as much land as he now owned but sizeable for the horses and quite well maintained.
Sitting in an armchair next to an empty fireplace sat Lord Davis, the same man that Harry had met just a few days ago. The man quickly stood up and shook Harry's hand.
"Harry, so good to see you! I hope there was no trouble getting here?" The man inquired in a friendly tone. A gesture to the House Elf sent her off, most likely for the tea that the meeting was for.
Lady Davis sat on the sofa near her husband while Harry took the offered armchair opposite Lord Davis.
"Of course. You so graciously provided a Portkey, that it hardly took a moment to visit your lovely home" Litty soon returned with tea and biscuits both of which Harry found to be quite delicious.
"It was no trouble. Now, tell me about your home. Did everything go well?" Small talk resumed, and Harry repeated what he had already said to Lady Davis.
"The lake is especially beautiful, I appreciate you finding such a great piece of land with little to no notice" Harry sipped on his tea while the topics turned to some new proposed laws in the Wizengamot, Lady Davis having a bit more to offer the conversation as her experience outweighed his own in those matters.
Soon a thudding could be heard upstairs, which quickly moved in the direction that Harry presumed were the stairs.
"Daddy! I can't find my riding gear! I think Pitty moved them again! I wanted t- Oh! Errr… Hello" Tracey Davis was every bit as cute as Harry remembered. A figure a little fuller than her mother's while still keeping the same height. A childhood of riding had also earned her the same freckles but her eyes were a mixture of both her mother's blue and her father's brown creating an attractive almost hazel.
Through gritted teeth Mr. Davis turned his head to his daughter with a smile plastered on his face, "Tracey dear, I'm sure you've met Lord Potter. He is here to visit for afternoon tea. You know. The tea that we told you about a few times over the past week?"
Tracey was blushing profusely as she had committed what was actually a fairly large faux-pas in high society. She obviously hadn't recognized him immediately and Harry merely glanced back and forth between her and her father who was doing his utmost not to show embarrassment, with an eyebrow cocked and hiding his amusement. With grace that Tracey did not expect Harry set his tea down and stood up, crossing the room in 3 strides and bowing before the young girl. Taking her hand and delivering a kiss to the knuckles he addressed her.
"Good afternoon, Heir Davis. I hope my visit hasn't come at a bad time" Harry smiled at her, as she got over her shock and recovered well enough to curtsy in what were obviously mostly riding clothes. Tight pants, and a sleeveless blouse covered by a leather vest. Certainly not the clothes you'd greet a visiting Lord with.
"Of course not, your Lordship. I let the days get away from me, and forgot the time of your visit. If you'll please excuse me, I'll change into some-" She started to try to say, before Harry cut her off.
"No" Harry stated with a smile, almost laughing at her shocked face.
"No?" She asked.
"No. You are not excused. In fact, I would be remiss if you did not join us" He almost cracked when she shot a furtive glance at her father who was watching the proceedings with a fair bit of interest.
"Surely I could not, Lord Potter. I would love to change into something more appropriate for afternoon tea" the young girl stated worriedly glancing again at her father.
"That's just it. I think that you are perfectly dressed. I'm not Malfoy you know, even if I do dress nicer now. And please, I insist you call me Harry. I've only been a Lord for about a week now and would love the opportunity not to be so uptight as to make you go through the trouble of changing when you already look quite striking as you are. If you are not opposed, Lord Davis. This is your home" Harry turned to address the man, who was looking equal parts amused, relieved, and shocked. Harry sent him a wink that helped secure the man's trust that no harm had been done with the interruption.
"Of course not. Please join us Tracey" Lord Davis indicated the spot next to Harry, and the small talk resumed even if the blush didn't quite leave Tracey's face as she observed someone so very different from the Boy-Who-Lived that had so often been a topic in the Slytherin Common Room.
***Break***
Henry Davis laughed uproariously at the joke that Harry had just finished telling. The mood of the room had become more and more relaxed as the talks went on, with Harry earning first name basis with all of the Davis family. They had just gotten done telling the story of the first flying lesson. There had been a fair bit of embellishment on Tracey's point of view as a bystander, but both parents were plenty impressed with Harry earning the title of youngest seeker in a century.
"Quidditch is about the only thing that my daughter loves as much as horses. If she's not taking her mare out for a run she is flipping through every magazine she can find to track her team" Henry offered. It wasn't his first factoid that the man had dropped in the conversation either, Harry had noticed. He took this as a good sign and turned to the aforementioned girl who had definitely calmed down since her untimely visit a couple hours ago.
"Oh really? I've never had the pleasure of riding a horse. Does it have many similarities to a broom?" Harry asked her. Henry nodded approvingly and shared a glance with his wife. It had not been the first time that Harry had spoken with her directly. This wasn't the most typical behaviour for a visiting Lord but very fews Lords were ever Harry's age.
"A few. Obviously a horse has more personality, unless we're talking about the school brooms, and there's a level of trust there that can't be found on a broom. But the feeling is completely different. You can feel the horse running and share a bond with it that a broom can't match" She said. She had steadily opened up during the conversation once she realized that Harry was not as full of himself as Malfoy had made him seem. She had even gotten comfy on the couch the way she liked to which Mr. Malfoy would have been sure to make a comment about. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she was leaning heavily on the armrest.
It was also a position that proper clothing would not have allowed her to manage, and she was actually grateful that Harry had not had her change clothes as lengthy periods acting like a lady were very annoying to her.
"Interesting. I'd love to learn sometime. A broom will always be my first choice, but I'd be interested in the experience" Harry replied with another smile, the same smile that he had hit her with earlier when he asked her to join them. The same smile that was a combination of genuine happiness, teasing, and confidence. A smile that she was definitely not used to seeing on his face the few times that her and Daphne Greengrass had observed him in the Great Hall or in classes.
"Well the day is still young, and I do have a bit of business I should probably get to before supper. Why not today? Perhaps you could join us for supper afterwards Harry?" Henry offered. His Slytherin instincts were operating on full blast as he saw an opportunity for the two to interact a bit more before Harry left.
"Dad…" Tracey shot a warning glance at her father to match her warning tone.
"That actually sounds amazing, Henry, but it would be up to your daughter. I would not want to impose" Harry simply looked at the girl in question who was still glaring at her father for his unexpected offer. She realized that Harry was looking at her after a moment and blushed.
"Alright. But you should be prepared, I don't take this lightly" She warned him, eyeing his expensive clothes.
"I hope I don't make a fool of myself, how will I ever live it down" Harry asked rhetorically and chuckled.
"Perfect. Pitty, fetch Lord Potter some spare riding gear" Henry smiled as the two made their way to the side hallway that led to the entrance to the paddock.
***Break***
Horseback riding, it turned out, wasn't that different from riding Buckbeak. Which meant that Harry was passable at first. But after a few laps around the paddock Harry got what he was looking for.
Ding! Skill Unlocked! Equestrianism has increased by 1! It is now 1!
Pause!
Harry sank 14 points into the skill to bring it to 15, figuring that was high enough to impress Tracey but not so much that he would feel buyer's remorse from spending the points. Especially as the skill seemed to involve riding any horse-sized animal.
Unpause!
Almost immediately Harry noticed a difference, as the timid foal that Tracey had put him on responded more readily to his directions and he moved with the creature instead of trying to stay rigid in his seat.
"You didn't answer my question, Harry. What's the deal?" Tracey said from her place ahead of him, on the ground leading the horse to get Harry used to the feel.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked with a chuckle. He hoped she wasn't going to ask again.
"This. All of this. What's the deal? Term ended a week ago and you were still recovering from being thought to be the Heir of Slytherin. And! You very clearly had black hair. Since then you've been seen multiple times in Diagon, at the ministry, at Gringotts, with a Lord's ring and a completely new look and attitude buying houses from my dad. What's the deal?" She huffed at him.
"I had no idea you paid so much attention to me, Davis, should I be flattered or worried?" Harry asked dryly as her question hit a point that he wasn't sure he was ready for.
The horse stopped when Tracey did and she turned to Harry who was looking at her with a cocked eyebrow and a guarded expression. She sighed and resumed leading the horse around the paddock.
"I am a Slytherin. We keep tabs on future players, whether we like to or not, as who and what you know can change the opportunities that come up. I mean nothing by it, but of course we'd pay attention to someone proclaimed to be the Heir of Slytherin" She said, knowing she was probably pushing for information that she wasn't likely to get and risking ruining a fair bit of good progress with a potential groom. Merlin damn her upbringing she thought to herself as the thought of potential groom crossed her mind. That was definitely not on the table.
"I was woefully ignorant of my position in life, and had reasons to keep a lot of myself hidden behind facades and masks. So when an opportunity presented itself to step into the light and seize a lot of things I had wanted for quite a while, I took it. You know, the Hat almost put me into Ssslytherin" Harry hissed the last part in flawless Parseltongue, making the girl ahead of him jump in fright.
"Merlin, that is as creepy as the first time you did it" She glared at the boy after stopping the horse once again.
"Really? It sounds just like English to me" Harry mentioned off-handedly. He matched her glare with another blank look and cocked eyebrow.
"Stop looking like that. Even you would have to admit that it would be shocking. The change, not the Parseltongue. Less than a week ago you were perceived as a completely different person. It's almost enough to make one believe the Heir of Slytherin stuff." Tracey said this with crossed arms, not even pretending to lead the horse now.
"And what do you believe, Ms. Davis?" Harry asked.
"That's just it! I don't know what to believe. I barely knew you before, and definitely don't know you now." She argued back.
"Exactly. You don't know me. No one really does. They know, or think they know, the Boy-Who-Lived. Ron and Hermione know a bit, as they ignored the title long enough to get to know me. But the rest of the school? They know rumors, conspiracy theories, rhetoric passed through the gospel of Malfoy. The re-" Harry sighed and took a moment to see it a bit from her side, "Look. This is all new to me too. A week ago I was the unlucky orphan who was kept in a locked room for most of the summer. I had an opportunity to seize my Lordship, I took it. I had an opportunity to have a place of my own, I took it. I have an opportunity to reforge my image as I see fit and not let worry, or hyped up brats like Malfoy decide what that image should be. I'm taking it. That's all there really is to it" Harry gracefully hopped off of the horse and landed in front of Tracey with barely a splatter in the slightly muddy ground.
"Now, you can sit there and grill me on who you thought I was, or take me as you see I am now" Harry challenged her.
She stared at him for a moment with a thoughtful look, "Fine. I get it. I'm a Half-Blood in Slytherin, I know my fair share of perceived images being unfair. Let's start over shall we?" She extended a hand to Harry.
Harry looked at her for a moment as well, before smirking "We already started over when you showed up to afternoon tea in that outfit" and shook her hand before her shock could make her withdraw it.
***Break***
They had just finished a lesson on the canter, and she had shown some of her prowess on her mare with a few tricks on their obstacle course. This had prompted the confident girl to challenge him to a race, using any mounts in the stable. Harry, knowing he was without a doubt going to lose, merely asked which horse wouldn't mind some time in the field.
She had seemed almost puzzled by that question but stated that the gelding in stall 3 hadn't been taken out in a while. Harry quickly had the horse in question sorted out and actually seemed to hit it off with the lovely beast. It wasn't part of their breeding or racing stock, but it was still a great steed in its own right.
Setting the starting line at the exit of the paddock, they agreed to the finish line being a small line of trees in the distance, probably a quarter mile.
"You're going down, Potter" Tracey said with a challenging grin.
She wasn't able to crack him though and he merely smiled in response.
She huffed and had Pitty start the countdown.
"Go!" The high pitched voice of the House Elf started them both off at a sudden gallop, and it was pretty clear that Tracey had the advantage as she easily started to gain a lead.
"Hey Davis!" Harry shouted after about 30 seconds into the race.
"What Potter? Giving up already?" Tracey shouted back, excitement from the rush of the breakneck speeds bleeding into her voice.
"When I win, you have to come with me to the first Hogsmeade weekend!" Harry laughed uproariously as she slowed and looked at him in astonishment at the unexpected response.
"It's a deal then!" He shouted as he passed her, leading his steed to the right, away from her and away from their proposed course. She almost shouted at him, until she saw him hop onto his feet in the saddle! The horse maintained its impressive pace and she was astonished to see him barely blink an eye at the jostling that the gallop surely gave him. He turned to her and she could just make out his wink before he jumped off of the fucking galloping horse!
She shrieked, thinking he was surely going to hurt himself when he used his hotbar to bring his Firebolt into his hand and mounted it in a smooth motion.
"THAT'S A FIREBOLT" She shouted in astonishment.
"NO! THIS IS MY TRUSTY STEED!" Harry laughed aloud at her expression before using the broom's impressive ability to go from zero to one-hundred and fifty kilometers per hour in 10 seconds and shot off into the distance.
"That's a firebolt…" Tracey whispered to herself as she brought her horse to a trot.
***Break***
"You cheated," Tracey said simply.
"You said any mount in the stable. I had my Firebolt with me, and you said earlier that there were similarities between brooms and horses and brooms. Look, it even has stirrups!" Harry chuckled at her from his position on the large boulder he was seated on. The broom in question was laid across his knees. He had obviously gotten very comfy during the 5 minutes it had taken her to get to the line of trees.
"Obviously when I said mount I meant a horse. Not a bloody professional racing broom!" She said, the audacity of the move! She was still recovering from seeing Harry jump off of a moving horse, for Merlin's sake!
"Plus, I had no idea you had your broom with you. No idea you could wandlessly summon the bloody thing. And no idea you were going to ask me out during a race!" She said, trying to make sense of the position she now found herself.
"That is fair. But the fact remains, I beat you" Harry said with a chuckle.
Tracey bit her lip. She had to admit the whole move had a lot of balls, and she had been asked out in much worse ways by much worse people. Plus Harry did look striking with his windswept auburn hair, green eyes locked onto her hazel ones, that cocky smirk that she wanted to wipe of his smug face!
"Fine Potter. But before I give away my first Hogsmeade weekend you owe me a first date to actually see if you're useful outside of idiotic stunts!" She said with a firm tone.
Her stern face cracked into a blushing smile when Harry grinned at her "Ms. Davis, are you asking me out?"
Chapter 9: Decorating, Doing, Dining, and Dancing.
Harry Potter sat comfortably at the edge of the dock, feet in the water, watching the sun creep below the horizon in the distance. The sky seemed almost painted in hues of red, yellow, orange and hints of purple. His belly felt full from the supper at the Davis's. This summer has been going extremely well.
Harry had returned from what had been intended as merely a visit for afternoon tea that had turned into a lesson on horseback riding, a date with Tracey Davis of all people, and a wonderful supper that had Harry in the good graces of both Davis parents. Life was good.
And to top it off Hedwig had returned with word from McGonagall, his tests were set to be taken at the end of the week. Once he passed those Harry would be able to qualify for taking multiple classes and hopefully getting the experience and skills he needed for a new stock in life. He had omitted Muggle Studies in his request unlike he remembered Hermione doing in his alternate life, but it would still be a solid work load. It was the thought of this work load that made Harry sigh and stand up.
Relaxing and watching the sun set at his new home was nice, but it didn't get anything done. And there was so much that needed to be done.
***Break***
A checklist is what he needed, Harry thought to himself as he made his way through the sitting room and into his study. He had already visited his Potions Lab in the basement and found it to be spectacular, the Ritual Room as he called it was bare mostly and Harry looked forward to preparing some of the enchants that he wanted once he figured out how to use the damn thing. The indoor pool that was tucked away was surprisingly large and he intended on using it quite a bit in the future, especially during the winter as the room had temperature controls. His Loom was set in a side room, near the rear of the home and looked intimidating with how many tools and bolts of cloth were in the room. That would be a fun side project once he got the hang of refining his Raw Acromantula Silk. He almost had too much to do and Harry was worrying that he put too much on his plate.
The Tannery was set away from the home, down towards the water but on a level ground so anything that got on the ground didn't run the risk of contaminating his water and had extensive Runes set up in the framing of the almost lean-to style of the building that helped prevent the smells from going much further than the edge of the work area, his Blacksmith area that was attached to the side of the Tannery was supposedly well appointed but Harry had no idea what to do in there yet. He looked forward to finding out though.
His Dueling Platform had gotten a few spells thrown in it almost immediately, and Harry was very happy with the ward schemes built into the walls that absorbed most of the extra magic from the spells that hit it and fueled the wards of the home as well. Probably wouldn't take high end magic, but for practicing aim and combinations it was a fantastic set-up that he could see getting a fair bit of use.
The Mechanic's Shed that he had requested was a bit of a conundrum, he had been dragged along with Vernon to get the oil changed in the car a few times and thought he knew what to expect in that area but the sheer amount of tools and equipment were… daunting. Harry hoped that with a little practice and exploiting his Gamer advantages though that he would be tinkering in no time. Mr. Weasley would probably have a stroke just walking in there as Dobby had outdone himself with the equipment.
The study though, Harry thought as he flopped into his seat, was amazing. Dobby had thrown it in after inquiring where the Study would be in the architectural plans, Harry still remembered the squeak of disbelief when Harry said he didn't have one in the plans. "That will not do, Master Harry!" Dobby had exclaimed, and with very little input had put together a proper Master's Study for him. The room had an ornate desk, a leather armchair that Harry occupied behind it, 3 chairs in front of the desk arranged to allow any visitors to give their full attention to Harry. Along the wall was a bookshelf that had books on accounting, estate management, journals of successful leaders. There was a globe that doubled as a liquor compartment with a few rare bottles. Tucked into the drawers of the impressive desk were everything needed for entertaining high end visitors, along with the family ledgers and various logistical needs for the Potter name.
Overall the room was designed to intimidate and impress, while providing a functionality to Harry that he didn't realize he even needed. Namely there was a large painting that could be flipped into a blackboard for jotting down notes or in this case checklists along the wall, and it was where the Ward Book was kept for admitting people past the wards. He had already added the Weasleys all, the Grangers, McGonagall, Remus (though Remus didn't know this yet), Sirius, and Dumbledore. Harry had hesitated a bit at Dumbledore, memories of the schemes and machinations of the old man rearing their head, but knew that it would be ill advised not to have the man's questionable help readily available in case of emergency.
Ding! Skill Unlocked! Logistics has increased by 1! It is now 3!
Logistics had been a fun unlock that Harry had received almost immediately upon reviewing his ledgers that had a magical link to his records at the Ministry as well as Gringotts. It was a skill that assisted in planning and managing, and worked so extremely well with his Intelligence score that Harry had been very tempted to dump points straight into it. Luckily the very skill in question saved him from that mistake as he realized that it would level up on its own quite easily when he was doing tasks just as he was now.
Harry had a long list of things to do at the moment, and the list seemed to grow more often than it shrinked, but it needed to be kept straight and orderly if he was to have any hope of completing it. On this list were things like learn Blacksmithing, get an outfit for the date, pick the swatches for Dobby to decorate the bedrooms with, and in adorable block letters at the bottom right of the board Dobby had been sure to write REMEMBER TO EAT just in case Harry had forgotten. It still made Harry chuckle a bit when he read it.
***Break***
Completing tasks on this list proved almost as fun as putting them up on the board, as Dobby would happily cross it off of the list for him once the task was completed. He could hear the excitable Elf upstairs, moving furniture and magicking the fabrics into the styles that Harry had selected from the offered swatches. Maybe he should get a companion Elf for Dobby, and this too made it onto the board that was swiftly becoming filled.
Dancing lessons. That was an interesting list item but one that Harry knew couldn't be avoided as it had heavy connotations on his date with Tracey that was just around the corner. Grabbing his shoulder bag Harry glanced over the room once more before tapping the Rune scheme that dimmed the lights and exiting the room. He had a muggle dance studio already arranged for lessons.
Heading right out of the room Harry headed to the sitting room that was off of the entry, where the Floo connection was set up. A pinch of powder had him off to the Leaky and quickly into the muggle world where he was able to make it to the dance studio with little issue. His outfit was loose but stylish, suited for dancing without looking ridiculous on him.
The dance studio was small but had a fair amount of attendees ranging from a few years below Harry to almost triple his age. Perfect, he would not look too out of place here. He just hoped that he did not make a fool of himself. The instructor was a slight blonde, who had the beginnings of laugh lines showing on her face, who seemed to have earned the respect of many of the people in the room as they quieted almost immediately when she took her position on the raised platform at the front of the studio. The mirror provided Harry with a nice view of her shapely behind, that served to distract him for just a moment before she started talking.
"Welcome old and new, a few rules. No half-assing. No fighting. No bullying. And no bullshit. For one reason or another you're here to learn. My name is Instructor Madeline, you can call me that or simply Instructor. Now, I see some new faces so we will start off simple. If at any point you seem lost just do your best, there's no shame in not knowing the steps but they will come to you eventually" With a nod she used a remote in her hand to start the music.
Almost immediately Harry started sweating from exertion, but he had a big grin on his face. Dancing was fun!
Skill Unlocked! Dancing has increased by 1! It is now 1!
***Break***
In between taking in deep breaths, Harry took a swig from the chilled water in his bag, courtesy of a stasis charm from Dobby. Around the room the other students milled about chatting with friends new and old. The music had been dulled but was still running in the background.
Harry felt someone come up behind him and turned to see Instructor Madeline. Dropping the bottle onto his bag Harry turned to meet her approach.
"You move pretty well. New to this or just my studio?" She asked after returning his greeting
"New to this. I'm glad I was able to keep up at least for a little bit. I've tried dancing in the past but never in a class, I have to say you run a good one" Harry smiled
"Fencing, or Martial Arts?" She asked bluntly
"Excuse me?" Harry asked in return
"Your movements. You either have experience with swordsmanship or experience in Martial Arts. Or both perhaps?" Harry eyed her shrewdly, not liking when anyone assumed anything about him.
"Swordsmanship. What does that have to do with this class?" Harry adopted a guarded tone
She laughed and raised a hand in placation, "Sorry sorry, dancing can make me a bit intense. I don't mean anything by it. I just have a friend nearby that runs a class on things like that. I attend myself so I was able to recognize some of the movements. If you're ever looking for a place to practice those skills just let me know. I think I have some cards in my office"
Madeline started to walk away but Harry stopped her, "Actually that sounds pretty good. Could I get one of those before I head out?"
***Break***
Tracey Davis eyed her wardrobe intensely, willing it to unveil its secret machinations to her. Daphne raised her eyebrow in such a way, visible in the mirror at the back of the wardrobe, that Tracey spun to face her.
"What?" Tracey asked indignantly.
"Nothing." Daphne responded cooly, seeming more interested in her well manicured nails than her friend.
"You keep shooting that damnable eyebrow at me so I know it's not nothing. What?" She asked again.
"Just unexpected is all" Daphne responded, lifting her gaze just enough to shoot another eyebrow at her best friend.
"Well of course it's unexpected Daph. I certainly didn't plan for Harry bloody Potter to show up at my house this summer, or to ask me out on a bloody date! Who leaps off of a horse in full bloody gallop to ask a girl out on a date?" Tracey huffed in annoyance and returned her attention to her wardrobe, where she grabbed a summer dress to eye it critically before tossing it over her shoulder to land on the growing pile of clothes behind her on the floor.
"Hmmm" Daphne responded helpfully.
Tracey sighed heavily. Sometimes being best friends with the Ice Queen of Slytherin had upsides. Other times, like now for instance, it was annoying.
"Look. I couldn't just say no Daph. He jumped off a bloody horse to ask me out on a date. You didn't see it. It was… stupid and so bloody Gryffindor of a move that I damn near died of a heart attack. But he's… different this summer. I have an opportunity to get ahead of the heads that he is going to be turning this year. He's a Lord too now, you know?" She selected a knee-length skirt and tossed it onto the bed, she could do something with that if she could find the right matches.
"Never took you for one to fall for Gryffindor tricks. But since you did I suppose I should help you figure out how not to make a complete fool of yourself" Daphne said as she walked up to the bed. She caught Tracey's eye and picked up the skirt. The same judging eyebrow came up, before she very slowly tossed the skirt into the pile on the floor. She didn't say anything else just resumed her position on the chair against the wall.
"Gaaaaahhhh!" Tracey groaned in annoyance and restarted flipping her way through the clothes still hung up in the wardrobe.
***Break***
Harry straightened his Acromantula silk robes. They were slate gray in color, and highlighted the green tie that he was wearing. He had on a gray button-up shirt and slacks underneath that were fashionable but would hold up in a dance no matter how intense. The ensemble worked to highlight his green eyes and red hair as well. Overall he thought he looked quite dashing, and Dobby agreed. He grabbed the corsage from his end table and pocketed it. One great thing about robes was the size of the pockets. Very practical.
Giving himself another once over and fixing an errant lock of hair, Harry nodded confidently to himself and made his way to the Floo. Date night had arrived and he had made quite a few preparations for tonight.
"Davis Manor" sent Harry spinning through the Floo and he gracefully exitted into the sitting room from his previous visit. Quick spellwork had the dust removed from his outfit in time to greet Mr. Davis as he came into the room. The two men made small talk for a minute before they heard the echo of steps from the stairwell.
Tracey entered the room in a splendor, her hair was pulled up in stylish braids that left enough framing her face to paint a picture of her blossoming beauty. She had on a matching gray dress that was practical but suited her very well. Harry grinned as he waited as custom dictated for her to walk up and curtsy. Taking that as his queue he bowed and kissed her hand.
"You look amazing, Heir Davis" He offered politely, keeping the greeting formal in light of the presence of her father nearby.
"Thank you, Lord Potter. You look quite well dressed, I almost fear I'm under-dressed" She said with a hint of nerves bleeding through. His robe alone cost more than her entire outfit and she had diamonds in her ears!
"Nonsense. I look plain in comparison" Harry shook Mr. Davis's hand once more, and grinned at the man's smug expression. "Thank you again for allowing me the chance to take your daughter out tonight, Lord Davis"
"Of course. You'll take care tonight? I'd hate to have to hunt you down" The man matched Harry's grin with a warning grin of his own and gripped Harry's hand significantly tighter. The younger man was unshaken though.
"She will be home safe and sound and at a reasonable hour, I assure you" Harry said warmly, not acknowledging the hearty grip his hand was entrapped by. Mr. Davis nodded in response and let his hand go.
Harry turned and bowed once again to Tracey, bringing out the corsage and placing it onto her wrist with her permission. It was a lovely arrangement that brought a bit of green to her attire to match his tie. She nodded approval and took his offered arm.
Mr. Davis shot her a look that said "No shenanigans" and made way for them to get to the Floo.
He almost squawked in surprise when Harry shot him a cheeky grin and said "Potter Manor" before whisking away with his daughter.
His manor!? What was that boy thinking?
Tracey had the same thought when she smacked his arm away from him and stormed out of the fireplace only to turn and face him.
"What nonsense is this Potter? Your manor? What kind of girl do you think I am?" She crossed her arms in defense. She was in an unfamiliar environment with an admittedly unfamiliar boy, at a place that she had no intentions of being at any time soon.
Harry nodded in acceptance of the distrust. He made a show of placing his wand on the end table nearby, noticing the flinch she had when he brought it out.
"I admit, it was poor form. But for us to have a proper date, idiotic stunts included, I wanted to bring up a proposal. We both know that the restaurant that your dad had picked was full of other noble lords that would love nothing more than to brood in jealousy of the Heir Davis, and it would honestly lead to a pretty boring night" Harry began, his hands held up so that Tracey could see them at all times.
"Boring, am I? If I had known that you simply thought I was some floozy that you could bring your bloody manor for Merlin knows what, I never would have accepted this date in the first place. Move, so I can go home" Tracey looked offended and hurt by the thought that Harry would think she was just some fling that would do whatever he wanted just because he was a Lord.
"No. On the contrary it's because I don't think you're boring that I cracked this hair brained scheme in the first place. Let me make my offer, and if you still say no then you can leave. Deal?" Harry said, not moving but also not dropping his hands. Knowing that if he moved wrong he would give the wrong impression.
Tracey kept her guarded expression and posture, but indicated him to get on with it.
"The restaurant that your father picked has Lords and Ladies from all over wizarding Britain at almost all times. It is an uptight place where decorum and etiquette are hyper analyzed and judged. I don't want that, and I'd hazard that you don't either. It's like bringing out a prize stallion to entice potential customers" Tracey nodded at the analogy, having had the same misgivings about the date night as well, "It's not fair to you, and not fair to me. So, my counter offer is that I have a Portkey in my front right pocket. Its activating phrase is the name of the capital of Spain, where I have made a reservation at a fantastic restaurant. Next to this restaurant is a dance club, where we can enjoy one another's company in a relaxed environment. If you accept this offer, I will give my House Elf instructions to head to your manor and inform your father of the change of venue so that he does not worry too much. He'll probably still have my head, but it's still better than being dangled in front of other Lords of Britain like a piece of meat. If you'd like to use the Floo to call him yourself or even head home, you may do so now"
Harry kept his hands up and walked to the side, away from his wand, and gestured to the pot of powder on the mantle above the fireplace. Tracey eyed him for a moment before walking up to the mantle. She glanced at him again and grabbed the lid of the Floo powder before biting her lip and instead placing the lid back and grabbing his wand to tuck it into her bag.
"I accept your offer Potter, but I keep the wand tonight. That is my requirement." She looked him in the eyes and dared him to challenge her.
"That's more than I was expecting. Thank you. Dobby!" Harry called his House Elf, who arrived adorned in a uniform showing his loyalty to House Potter. He looked like a tiny butler. They had talked about this occurrence and Dobby merely looked expectantly at his Master.
"Please inform Lord Davis that we will be going to Spain for dinner and dancing. Return to us with his acknowledgement. Thank you. Also request a portkey, for the lady, should she find my company unsatisfactory" Dobby bowed deeply and disapparated.
Tracey's shoulders lost some of the tension at the mention of the Portkey. This was all so unexpected and she had been on guard since Harry had brought her to his Manor. Understandably so, there were always rumors of Lords taking advantage of situations when courting other Heirs and many of them were quite true. She still was mad at being taken by surprise, but she also appreciated that Harry had taken multiple steps to put her at ease. He even gave up his wand, if it was his actual wand, which many wizards and witches would never do. It was the Portkey that sealed the deal for her. Having basically an escape as soon as she needed it would be the sense of security that she needed to be able to go through with such a stupid idea as basically kidnapping her and running off to Spain of all places. Spain!
Dobby reappeared soon after, "The Lord Davis has sent me with immense dissatisfaction with your, and I quote this, stupid half-baked Gryffindor nonsense. He was appeased slightly that you told him where you were going and sent along a Portkey for the lady. The activating phrase is the name of the first calf that you delivered with your Mother, Heir Davis"
Tracey nodded, knowing that such a phrase would surely have come from her father himself and it was not a ploy on Potter's part. This served to make her lose the last bit of tension in her shoulders and allow her to enjoy what was sure to be at least an interesting night. Spain! Stupid Gryffindors.
Harry grinned when he noticed her change in demeanor. It was a stupid idea, but also a bold one. Could he have done it differently? Probably. But he doubted any other way would have allowed him to take her to Spain. He offered her his arm, and after a moment she took it. Vivid green eyes met hazel ones and Harry said the phrase to whisk them away.
"Madrid"
***Break***
International Portkeys were known for their lengthy travel times. So when the dizzying spinning finally ended, Harry was happy that he was able to keep his feet and with it, able to support Tracey when she almost lost her balance. The city was gorgeous. Tall grand buildings of superb architecture surrounded them. They had arrived in a private corner of a park, one designed for use with international Portkey travel. People bustled in the street nearby and Tracey took a moment to take it all in. Her mother was Muggleborn sure, but it was rare that she was able to truly immerse herself in the Muggle world in any fashion. London had its merits, and its interesting places, but did not hold a candle to the amazing scenery that played around her. Street musicians music permeated the air and the people had an energy to them that only came from being in a warmer client in a city well known for having an active nightlife.
Harry waited for her to collect herself, before setting off across the park. He took a confident left once they made it to the sidewalk and headed off down the street. It took Tracey a moment to see that he had lost the robe at some point and chose to point it out.
"I can't reveal all of my secrets, Tracey" Harry replied, irking her with a cheeky wink. She had not noticed him place the robe into his Inventory in order to blend in better with the Muggle scenery. He had replaced it with a stylish embroidered vest that suited the Spanish themes surrounding them.
He laughed at her grumble and guided her across the street. A few buildings down they found the restaurant, La Terraza. A hostess greeted them inside and to Tracey's immense surprise Harry responded in flawless Spanish, courtesy of a long night skimming Spanish primers and dictionaries and using a few skill points to bring it to a respectable level. She didn't need to know that though. They made their way up the elevator, Tracey's anticipation rising, and she audibly gasped when the doors opened. The view was spectacular, with the lights and sounds of the city only serving to enhance the experience as opposed to take away from it.
They were guided to a table set away from the others while still offering an amazing view of the city. Harry pulled her chair for her and helped her get seated before taking his seat and speaking to the waiter in crisp clear Spanish.
"What the bloody hell, Harry! This place is amazing!" She took a sip of the water that was already on the table and took it all in.
"Thank you. I had some help from your mother in selecting the place, apparently her and your father had been here once and found the whole experience very nice" Harry grinned from across the table.
"Wait, my mother knew about this?" She asked in disbelief. She couldn't think of a time that Harry would have been able to ask her about any of this.
"Of course. I asked her about it when I beat you on the race back to the house. She had seen my little stunt and was waiting for us in the paddock. I had just enough time to ask her about a destination date and where she would recommend it. She helped set the whole thing up" Harry laughed at her expression.
"You're a prat. You let me believe that you had abducted me without my parents having any knowledge!" She glared at him, accusatory.
Harry made a placating gesture with his hands, "I would never do something so untowards. I had an opportunity to prank your dad, and you, just a little bit. My apologies if it came off as too much. Your mother was in the side room and alerted him immediately to your whereabouts and helped secure his trust that I didn't have any ulterior motives. She also had the Portkey already prepared for Dobby's arrival in case you said yes, with my funding. I'm sure the message he brought back with him was purely from your father though. I'll have something to hear about this, I'm sure"
Tracey rolled her eyes and smiled warmly. It fully soothed her that her mother had been in on this from the beginning, and she resolved herself to enjoy the night. The waiter arrived with some bread and mulled wine, the restaurant making an exception to any drinking rules as they were quite familiar with the eccentricities of wizards, and with Harry's help they were both able to order the food they wanted.
***Break***
Tracey took another bite of her delicious dessert, and watched the scenery of the city below for a moment before turning to watch Harry polish off the last bite of his own dessert. The dinner had been fantastic. The portions were reasonable and she was actually looking forward to the dancing. She figured her mother must have mentioned that Tracey enjoyed dancing, another activity that augmented the young equestrian's already impressive fitness.
Harry smiled when he caught her eye, and also turned to watch the scenery with her. They had talked about a lot of things, from school to Quidditch, what subjects they were looking forward to, all the way to various anecdotes from their young lives. She had been shocked to hear that Harry was going for an all electives year. It wasn't unheard of by any means but showed a level of ambition that many students did not display, but her Slytherin side certainly appreciated. After asking about it, she had been surprised to hear that he had been holding back in classes for reasons he didn't comment on and she had had some fun quizzing him about various topics from their last 2 years. He was refreshingly knowledgeable and the conversation had been fun.
She side-eyed the check when it arrived and almost choked on her water when she saw the amount. Harry didn't bat an eye however and did not comment either. He looked at her expectantly once the meal was paid for and she nodded at the unasked question. They both rose from their seats and were able to make it to the elevator with little trouble. Harry grinned confidently. The night had netted him a few points in etiquette and flirting, to go with the points he had earned from his visit with the Davis family just the other day. It had been a good week so far and the night wasn't even over.
***Break***
The dance club was like fire, if the restaurant had been ice. The music was loud and active, the crowd young and energetic, and Tracey immediately broke out into a big smile. Harry smiled at her and took her hand before confidently leading her onto the dance floor. This was it, the big moment. Hopefully the crash course in dancing and the heavy investment of the skill points he had left, along with some embarrassing practice sessions whenever he had a moment, would be enough to impress Tracey with his skill or at least lack of ineptitude on the dance floor.
It was. Tracey laughed wholeheartedly and danced her heart out, leading and being led in various dances as the music changed. There was no cliche moment of the dance floor clearing for the two to strut their stuff but they enjoyed the tempo and one another's skills. Finally the music settled down and they took a moment to claim a table that was clear. Harry ordered a couple waters for the two of them while they caught their breath.
"Oh! That was so much fun! I had no idea you were so good at dancing Harry!" Tracey's smile was bright and genuine and perfectly matched the smile Harry had.
"I could say the same to you! I'd been taking lessons but it's pretty clear I should have taken them from you! You're great out there" Harry nonchalantly took her hand in his on the table, and they both simply smiled at one another while their chests heaved from the exertion and they waited for the water. Luckily they did not have to wait long and both gratefully drank their fill of the refreshing liquid.
Tracey blushed when she saw that Harry still had not taken his hand from hers. Some of the dances, in typical Spanish fashion, had been a bit sexual in their undertones but Harry had been nothing less than a gentleman and had been able to sense what she was and was not comfortable with in all of the dances so far and had not pushed her boundaries in any way that made her uncomfortable. It was truly a night to remember.
But like all nights it had to come to a close and after another few dances, including 2 slow songs that had Tracey closer than she imagined herself to Harry that night, Harry brought her attention to the time and they made their exit, hand in hand. The walk back to the park was quiet, but peaceful. The warm breeze that rolled through the streets refreshed and exhausted Tracey at the same time. In less time than she would have liked they made it back to the Portkey location.
"Thank you for the wonderful night, Tracey. I'm glad you took a chance with me" Harry said, holding both of her hands in his as he stood opposite her. She smiled up at him warmly, feeling completely relaxed with her hands in his.
"I'm glad I did too. This was such a great night. Thank you, Harry" Tracey fiddled with her lip for a moment before looking up into Harry's striking green eyes.
His eyes met hers. Both of their hands were equal parts warm and cold, and Harry could swear he felt his heart beating through his chest. But like any Gryffindor he rose to the challenge and leaned his head down ever so slowly. Tracey stiffened for just a moment but relaxed immediately and leaned her head up and their lips met.
Just wait until Daphne heard about this.
*Fin*
A/N: Awwwww :) I had so much fun writing this chapter.
Just to make a few things clear, always always always get consent. Never pressure another person into anything, no matter how big or small. Also I have never been to Spain, so I have no idea what to write about certain scenes. But it felt like a fun twist to a date night. I think Harry performed admirably!
'Til next time.
Harry James Potter
Age: 13
Class and Level: Apprentice Wizard 9
Health: 240
Magicka: 565
Stamina: 235
Stats
Strength- 11
Dexterity- 20
Constitution- 10
Perception- 1 (+10 with Glasses)
Intelligence- 20
Willpower- 10 (+5)
Magic- 20 (+15)
Charisma- 20
Luck- 31 (Locked)
Perks:
Fated Luck: +10 to Luck always, -40 to Luck in certain situations.
Magical Powerhouse: +10 to Magic, +5 to Willpower, +10 to Magicka Regeneration, +5 to Learning when it involves Spells. Magicka now grows at a 1.5 rate vs the standard .8 of most Wizards.
Flyer: +20 Broom Handling, +10 Creature Handling if creature has wings.
Parselmouth: +35 to Parseltongue.
Family Heritage: +5 to Broom Handling, +5 Transfiguration, +5 Charms, +5 Potions.
Puberty = Truck: Puberty is going to kick your ass and put hair in so many places. I won't go into details. Affects 3rd year Summer.
Linguist: +2 to Learning when it involves Languages.
Represent: +5% Reputation Gains, -5% Reputation Losses.
Disadvantages:
Poor Eyesight: -8 to Perception without glasses or similar device. +10 with them on.
Chosen One: -20 to Luck in certain situations. +5 to Magic. Certain events are unavoidable. +25% Reputation Gains, +25% Reputation Losses.
Feats
The Wand Chooses the Wizard but the Wizard Chooses the Spell: +3 to Learning when it involves spells.
Magical Aura: +5 Damage Reduction to Spells. +10 to Social Skills against sensitive targets.
Motion of the Potion: Potions no longer require a 3 second Drinking Action.
Crafty: +5 Learning if it involves Crafting or Harvesting Skills.
Magic Skills
Transfiguration – 29
Boon: Size conversion ratio of Transfigured materials increased by 10%
Animagus Transformation – 1
Herbology – 25
Boon: Flora and Fauna that are Magical will glow in the Player's eyes.
Charms – 50
Boon: Charms Spells cost 10% less Magicka to Cast
Boon: Charm Spells are 10% more potent
Potions – 27
Boon: Splash Radius of thrown Potions increased by 25%
Astrology – 16
Defensive Spells – 26
Boon: Maxima Variant now able to be applied to Defensive Spells.
Care of Magical Creatures – 14
Divination – 8
Ancient Runes – 8
Arithmancy – 10
Dark Arts – 19
Alchemy – 2
Enchanting – 1
Physical Skills
Quidditch – 7 Keeper, 7 Beater, 12 Chaser, 47 Seeker
Boon Seeker: You are able to track the Snitch more readily! Snitch will give an indicator when it is about to change direction.
Running – 16
Jumping – 1
Weightlifting – 4
Swimming – 7
Acrobatics – 19
Climbing – 15
Sword – 26
Cloth Armor – 37
Boon: Regular Clothes Shmegular Clothes. Any cloth is armor! +1 to armor per slot if equipped item is Cloth. Robes provide +2 per slot.
Equestrianism - 15
Dancing - 50
Boon: Quick learner. You are able to learn the steps of most dances after watching the dancing of those around you.
Boon: Light Feet. No need to be a clunky double left footed troll. If, and thats a big if, you are unfortunate enough to step on your partner's feet there is a good chance that they will not even notice. Not perfect, but a good feat for the Gamer that doesn't want to pay for foot surgery.
Social Skills
Diplomacy – 25 (+5)
Boon: Heir to an Empire. As the youngest Lord in recent years people are eager for your attention. +5% Relationship Gains.
Intimidation – 25
Boon: Flux. You may now consciously flare your magic to those around you. Doubles effectiveness of Magic Aura Feat. Cost 2 Magicka per second. Stops Magicka Regeneration.
Performance – 4
Etiquette – 31
Boon: Now you're forked. Your skill in formal settings is improved! Delivers notification prompts in formal dining.
Flirting – 31
Boon: Lost in your eyes. Making direct eye contact will improve your chances of success when engaged in Flirting. -5 to DR rating of target.
Sense Intention – 10
Negotiation - 71
Boon: Wheelin' and Dealin'. You're able to negotiate down all but the scroogiest of people. Receive a 5% better deal when negotiating costs!
Boon: What's the absolute best you can do on that? More people are open to negotiations!
Chess – 13
Pranking – 20
Stealth Skills
Disguise – 3
Sleight of Hand – 5
Lying – 6
Escaping – 21
Stealth – 31
Boon. Toe-to-Heel. Your steps are now 50% quieter!
Hybrid Skills
Dueling – 25
Boon: Magical Shields are now 10% stronger
Broom Handling – 51
Boon: You have a need for speed and your broom realizes it. +10 MPH to max speed regardless of model!
Boon: While on a Broomstick, gain +10 to Dodge!
Logistics - 13
Mental Skills
Parseltongue – 100
Boon: Snakes have a predisposition of +2000 Reputation when you reveal yourself as a Speaker
Boon: Spells with a 'Sss' sound may be cast in Parseltongue for +5 Difficulty Rating to overcome
Boon: The nuances of Parseltongue make other languages seem easy. +1 to Learning if it involves Languages.
Boon Mastery: May have a magical snake as a Familiar that does not count against your familiar slot.
English – 70
French – 4
Gobbledygook – 2
German – 8
Spanish - 61
History – 15
Science – 9
Mathematics – 10
Harvesting and Crafting Skills
Clipping – 7
Skinning – 2
Tanning – 1
Cooking – 52
Boon: Live and Learn. You may recreate most meals that you have tasted or modify it as you see fit. +2 to level of meal benefits
Boon: Eye for Quality. You have a discerning eye when it comes to the freshness of ingredients. Less likely to find or use expired or stale ingredients.
Unspent 0
Class Specialization Apprentice chosen: +5% Exp Gain. +2 Learning. Unlocks Specializations Sorcerer, Mage, and Archmage at further levels.