9

Chapter Nine: Vacation Here We Come!

It didn't take long for the teachers to notice that something had happened within Slytherin. Everyone was acting very subdued and when a teacher asked them about it, they wouldn't answer. The only people who seemed completely at ease were Harish, Fred, and George. Harish was now sitting in the middle of the table with Fred and George on either side of him, half of the first years to his left, and half the first years to his right. Students who were in their second through seventh year were arranged in the same fashion.

Rumours had spread through the student body like wildfire that Harish would become the next Dark Lord and Fred and George would be his right hand men. Students would whisper as the trio passed them in the hallways. When the twins got a single whiff of gossip they would direct their now perfected glares in all directions.

Dumbledore got very concerned when he observed this drastic change within the Slytherin House. Because of this, the old professor resolved to keep an eye on Harish. Thus resulting in him practically stalking the first year. This did not go unnoticed by the twins who immediately informed Harish. The boy in question wrote his dad of this new adjustment.

On top of all this activity, end of the year exams were drawing nearer. As the days went by, students were buried under a huge mound of school work. The trio found less time to pull pranks and instead used it for endless hours of studying.

Several weeks after they got back from the holidays, Professor Blackthorn fell ill with a mystery disease. The professor who taught part-time Muggle Studies filled in for him. When she entered the class the first day, she told them that they would not be having exams for Defence Against the Dark Arts. The trio, twins especially, cheered in light of this new improvement. One less exam to study for.

After a week or so of the Professor being gone, it was announced that he would not be returning to teach the next year. This stirred up a lot of discussions as the man wasn't even that old and no one knew what he came down with. One instance of these discussions was a dinner one evening right before exams.

"It is sad though. Is it normal?" Harish asked. "For a professor to only last one year?"

Some of the first years shrugged but an older student replied, "Yeah, I don't actually think I've had one professor that lasted more than a year."

"I wonder why…" another students said thoughtfully.

Harish began to grow uncomfortable when a story of Nagini's popped up into his head. "Actually, it might have been my father."

This statement gained the attention of nearly everyone at the table. "What do you mean?" the same older student asked.

"Well, believe it or not, but my father actually wanted a teaching position here at first."

"Wait you mean that…"

"Was becoming a Dark Lord"

"—his back-up plan?" the twins asked incredulously.

Harish nodded. "Yup, he was turned down the position of Defence Professor, so he cursed it."

The other kids sat staring at him. It was just so ridiculous that the thing that caused the man to turn into an evil, power-hungry warlord was the fact that Dumbledore didn't let him teach at Hogwarts.

WAAAIT—IT'S-DUMBLEDORE'S-FAULT!

Harish and the twins were laying outside in the shade of a tree down by the lake after they took their last exam. It was so hot that they felt too sluggish to do any last pranks; it was the last day after all.

"So, Harish," Fred started.

"We managed to convince our mother to—"

"—let you spend the last few weeks of summer with us—"

"Can you come?"

"I am sure I will be able to. I'll ask my father when we get back home and owl you my reply."

"Sounds great!" they exclaimed in unison, grinning cheekily.

"So what're you—"

"Planning on doing—"

"This summer?"

"I dunno…probably read," Harish replied, scratching the back of his head.

The two shook their heads in mock disappointment.

"Shameful."

"So sad… And I thought—"

"We fixed him."

"Would you prefer me play Quidditch with Draco?" Harish asked sarcastically.

"The Malfoy boy?" Fred asked, the two of them wrinkling their noses.

"He is honestly not that bad," Harish said. "I mean he's a bit immature and his mother spoils him rotten, but other than that he's quite fun." Then he said quieter to himself. "I still don't get why people turn their kids against each other before the children have even met."

The twins both donned a thoughtful look before saying, "I guess we can give him a chance."

Harish grinned. At least the twins were very open. The boy had no idea what he would do if he had befriended their brother Ron instead. He seemed convinced that all Slytherins were evil. Then he shrugged. He could care less about the little brat. He looked out over the lake at the setting sun.

"Oh!" he exclaimed jumping up and running back towards the castle.

"What?"

"What is it?" the twins asked.

"We're going to be late for the feast!"

The three ran up the steps into Hogwarts and straight to the Great Hall. They entered the hall with the last few people and took their seats in the centre of the Slytherin table. All around them were green and silver banners. After a few minutes, Dumbledore stood up.

"Another year has come and gone," he said drawing everyone's attention. "And now we find ourselves on the very last day of school. Now before you all eat and pack up ready to leave, we must announce our winners for the House Cup."

He paused as everyone leaned forward in interest. "In fourth place is Hufflepuff with three hundred and four points. In third is Gryffindor with three hundred and twenty-three points. Ravenclaw has four hundred and sixteen points and Slytherin tops it all off with four hundred and thirty-two points!"

A storm of cheering broke out at Slytherin table. Some were banging their goblets on the table and others were so happy that they hugged each other in delight. The twins high-fived each other and then hugged Harish. He simply shrugged and began cheering with the rest of his house.

"Yes well done, Slytherin!" Dumbledore shouted. "And now we feast!" Food appeared on their plates and everyone dug into their food. After dinner the trio went down to the dungeons, packed up their trunks, and went to bed.

The next day Harish and the twins had their own compartment on the train. They played exploding snap and plotted new pranks for the next year. Occasionally a Slytherin or two would pop in and wish Harish a good summer.

When the train pulled into King's Cross Station, Harish bid his friends goodbye and dragged his trunk off the train. When he spotted his father, he grinned and ran forward eagerly. Harish hugged Voldemort and grinned up at the dark lord, who was smiling down at him.

"Father!" he exclaimed.

"Harish," Voldemort said with no emotion. "Have I told you about the Chamber of Secrets?" and the two of them grabbed Harish's trunk and apparated to Slytherin Manor.