The Badger Found

In a room at the Pendragon Hotel, the best upscale hotel in Magical Britain, a woman named Serena Miller was sitting, looking quite nervous. This was the biggest make or break moment of her life.

Serena was a Muggle-born. When she had received her Hogwarts letter, her parents and siblings, being quite traditional, hadn't been happy at all. They had called her a freak of nature, an abomination, and had kicked her out of the house. She had been devastated, but went to Hogwarts anyway, despite her parents' warnings.

There, she had been sorted into Hufflepuff and made lots of friends. Her best friend had been a half-blood boy, Chris Miller. When she was dreading to go back home after school ended, he helped her. When Mrs Miller, Chris's mother, a Muggle-born herself, took her to Serena's home, her parents had yelled at them and told them to never come back. Her parents had later moved away, so as to cut off all communication with their estranged daughter. Serena had been devastated and had slowly slipped into depression. Chris's parents took her in and looked after her and thus, she came to regard them as her own parents.

She and Chris got married after leaving Hogwarts. But tragedy struck as the Death Eaters killed her husband and in-laws when she was away one night. She had been inconsolable. She was alone, as her family was killed. She couldn't return to the Muggle world as she didn't belong there, but the magical world was not safe either. She disappeared for a few months, hoping everything would settle down. Thankfully, it did. Harry Potter had saved them all.

She had been working in the Ministry in the Obliviation squad as they needed them in numbers at that point to ensure that the International Statute of Secrecy wasn't breached during Death Eater attacks. But she didn't want to work there forever. Her dream was to be an enchantress. She was highly gifted in the field and wanted to make her dream a reality. She had created mirrors that would be able to communicate with each other, but she didn't know if they were going to be a success because such technology was already present due to the Floo network. But she finally decided to try. So three years ago, she had quit her job at the Ministry and had opened her own business. The business wasn't very profitable, but luckily it didn't go into losses either.

More than a year ago, she had been contacted by the Director of Gringotts Bank, London. Rangok informed her that Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, wanted to invest a hundred thousand Galleons, perhaps more, if she could enhance the mirrors and create other useful gadgets with them.

Since she didn't have a family, she was quite free to do anything with her time. So she had spent every spare moment on those devices. She was here today to demonstrate her products and hopefully, they would be impressed. She swallowed when she saw them walk in.

"Lord Black, Mr Potter," she greeted them.

"Good morning, Mrs Miller," Sirius greeted her as took a seat. "I have gone through the contract after our last meeting. Harry is very interested in your products and he is willing to invest as much money as it takes if you are able to improve upon the mirrors you currently possess."

"Actually, I sent her a letter long time back giving her ideas about more devices," said Harry.

"I took those ideas to heart," Serena replied. She opened a bag, removing several mirrors and crystals. The crystal would be able to move from one place to another, transmitting the image to a mirror which it was connected to using a modified form of a Protean Charm. This would greatly enhance the entertainment industry. The mirrors which she called them as E-Mirrors were loosely based on the Muggle television. Then there were the improvements she had made to the communication mirrors as well. The crystals could also record anything and play it on the E-Mirrors later. This type of magical technology already existed in the form of Omnioculars, but this was different. A Quidditch match could be watched at home using the mirrors and Harry's brain was already processing the information on how to best use it to their advantage.

Several hours later, Harry now owned fifty per cent shares in Miller's Magic Mirrors and he had spent a million Galleons on production and international coverage, but it was worth it. If he and Sirius were right, this was probably the best investment Harry had made yet.

HP*SAVIOUR OF MAGIC*HP

"You can turn into an animal?" asked Dylan in surprise. In response, Sirius changed into Padfoot as he pounced on the boy, licking his face. Dylan laughed as he tried to push the black dog off of him, but failed.

"Get off, Uncle Sirius, you're too heavy!"

Harry was concentrating on the final stages of the Animagus transformation. He had spent nearly a whole year on this and was close to finishing it. Sirius transformed back and the two of them sat down, watching Harry, who had his eyes closed.

"Concentrate," Sirius instructed him. "The Transfiguration process is done and now you need to merge with your animal form. Feel it within you and let your instincts guide you."

Dylan watched curiously as Harry got up and stretched his arms towards the side. They were outside, on the beach, early in the morning. He watched as Harry's body began shrinking. Dark brown feathers began making their way on his body. His arms turned into large wings with lethal-looking talons for legs and after several seconds, Harry's head changed, creating a sharp beak.

Harry's Animagus form was a golden eagle.

"Wow," Dylan whispered as he looked at the eagle in awe. He could see that the raptor's eyes were a stunning emerald green instead of the yellow they were supposed to be. Just above the eagle's right eye, there was a distinctive lightning shaped scar as well. It wasn't too obvious, but if you knew where to look, it could be seen.

"Congratulations, Harry!" said Sirius, beaming with pride. "Go on. Let's see if you can fly."

Five minutes later, Sirius and Dylan were still rolling on the ground laughing as Harry tried to learn how to use his wings. The eagle screeched at them, not at all amused by their display of laughing at him but he didn't give up. Nearly an hour of trial and error later, he managed to fly a short distance.

"Now, be careful when you change back," warned Sirius. "You need to want to be human again. Think about your original self and concentrate."

Several seconds later, the eagle slowly began to shift and a pop later, a very naked Harry Potter was standing in front of them. They couldn't help it. Sirius and Dylan began laughing again.

"It's not funny!" snapped Harry, folding his arms over his chest. "You didn't say anything about clothes!"

"I thought it would be obvious," Sirius replied, wiping his tears away. "Didn't you imagine yourself with clothes on?"

When Harry flushed, he laughed again. "Knowing you, I should have expected it. Don't worry, kiddo. It happens. The important thing is that you're now an Animagus. I'm so proud of you!"

"That was awesome, Harry!" said Dylan excitedly. He was blushing slightly, embarrassed due to the fact that his new friend was standing before him without any clothes on. The older boy seemed to be unbothered by his nudity, having not even attempted to cover his exposed genitals. Clearing his throat, he asked shyly, "Do you think I can learn it too?"

"Finish the next two or three years at Hogwarts and I'll teach you," Harry smiled. Wrapping an arm around the younger boy, he ushered Dylan towards the castle. "Now that I've managed to transform, I deserve a break. Let's head to the pool. I promised to teach you how to swim."

Dylan beamed.

Sirius simply smiled as he observed the two boys before he returned to the confines of his family's ancestral home.

HP*SAVIOUR OF MAGIC*HP

The next morning, Harry, Dylan and Sirius were in Ragnok's office at Gringotts. This was the first time Dylan had stepped inside Gringotts and he was in awe of seeing something so different.

"Greetings, Ragnok," Harry greeted him with a small smile.

"Greetings to you as well, Mr Potter, Lord Black, Mr Lestrange," the goblin replied. "What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to talk to you about the new business we invested in a year back," Sirius took over. "I've been told that it's called Firebolt Broomsticks?"

"Indeed," said Ragnok, extracting the files. "The owner seemed to have changed the name from what he originally intended, but by my estimates, the company will do quite well in the future. It is a worthy investment."

"Any news about Miller's Mirrors?" asked Harry curiously.

"Your endorsement of the company has greatly helped increase their sales, Mr Potter," Ragnok gave a toothy grin. "Very cunning of you to do so and the gifts which are given free of cost to the customers when they buy products more than a hundred Galleons is quite a technique to attract customers. I have received a report that production is going well and that sales are increasing every day."

"Good," said Harry. "What about expansion plans?"

"We are currently looking at places of business in several magical districts of Europe, Americas, Africa, Australia and Asia," said Ragnok. "I can give you a clear picture in four to six months or so."

After Harry nodded, Sirius began. "We are here to see if Dylan here can claim his status as the heir of House Lestrange."

Ragnok nodded as he brought forward a small silver bowl. "As you know, being the illegitimate child makes this more complicated, but since he is the only heir of the Lestrange family, no one else can stop him from trying. Pour seven drops of blood into this bowl, Mr Lestrange and dip your hand in it."

Harry took Dylan's hand and waved his hand over it, creating a thin cut over his palm. Dylan winced but allowed seven drops of blood to fall. Once done, Harry healed it and he put his hand inside the bowl. A grey mist formed around him as the Lestrange family magic judged him.

After what seemed like a minute, the aura seeped into the boy's skin. Dylan removed his hand from the bowl and a thin gold band with a small onyx stone appeared on his right ring finger with the Lestrange crest on it.

"Congratulations, Mr Lestrange," said Ragnok. "Even though it is unnecessary, I must point out that if your father ever gets married and has a child, that child would automatically be made the heir. But considering the fact that he'll be in Azkaban for life, it is highly unlikely."

"Can't he claim headship as I did?" asked Harry.

"No, the law does not allow that because technically, his uncle is still Lord Lestrange even if he is in prison for life. He can claim headship on his seventeenth birthday only. He may claim it before only if all three of them die in Azkaban before he turns seventeen."

"Thank you for your time, Ragnok," said Sirius. "We'd like to visit the Lestrange family vault, please. I'll come back later next week to discuss the investment options."

"Good. Griphook will take you to the vault."

After a long cart ride, the three of them stepped out of it and in front of a massive round metal door with the Lestrange crest on it. Griphook began chanting for a few minutes as the goblin wards came down. Sirius and Harry were not surprised by it because it was something which was there on their family vaults as well, but it was new to Dylan.

"There are both wizard and goblin wards on the vault," said Sirius quietly to the boy. "This is one of the oldest vaults in the bank. The Black and Potter vaults are nearby, actually. They are heavily guarded and protected by the best wards money can buy. Having such a vault is very expensive, which is why I want to get the investments rolling again."

"Place your hand on this pedestal and pour three drops of blood," instructed Griphook firmly. Dylan did as instructed and after a series of clicks, the massive door opened. He gasped.

There were mountains of gold and other treasures inside it. Dylan had never seen so much gold in his life! When he was an orphan, he didn't even have money to get food if he was hungry but looking at this ...

"All yours," said Sirius with a smile. The three of them stepped inside it, looking carefully. "Be careful not to touch anything. Some of the items can be cursed."

Harry was looking through the vault when his eyes landed on a small golden cup. Suddenly he screamed out in pain as another memory assaulted him.

"Bella, my most loyal servant," he said in a silky voice. "I have an important task for you."

"Anything, my Lord," said Bellatrix, falling to her knees, her eyes glistening with pure devotion, as though she was talking to a supreme being.

"I have an object that is extremely valuable to me, Bella," he said clearly. "I want it to be stored in a very safe place, so I am entrusting it to you. Tell me, who has access to the Lestrange family vault at Gringotts?"

"No one other than me, Rodolphus and Rabastan, my Lord," breathed Bellatrix. "What can I do, my Lord? I live only to serve you!"

"I'm glad to hear that, Bella," he replied, amused. "Protecting this item is more important than your life itself. It is a chalice that was created by Helga Hufflepuff. I need you to place it in your family vault. Tell no one other than Rodolphus and Rabastan about it. The cup should never leave that vault. Take all the necessary precautions. If something were to happen to it, Lord Voldemort would not be pleased."

"I will not fail you, my Lord," said Bellatrix passionately. "I will destroy the world before I let that cup fall into the wrong hands."

He smirked slightly. "You have the gratitude of Lord Voldemort, Bella. Rise."

He passed her a familiar looking small golden cup.

Harry opened his eyes with a gasp. His eyes were unfocused and he could see the worried faces of Sirius and Dylan who were holding him.

"Harry, are you alright?" asked Sirius worriedly.

Harry grabbed Sirius' shirt, pulling him closer. "Sirius, it's here," he hissed. "That cup belongs to Voldemort! Helga Hufflepuff's Cup!"

"What?" Sirius exclaimed in disbelief. He turned around and saw the small golden cup which was sitting on a shelf, glinting innocently, looking nothing like a piece of Voldemort's soul.

"We need to destroy it!"

"What's going on?" asked Dylan hesitantly.

"That cup, Dylan is something which is very valuable to Voldemort," said Harry quietly. "We were searching for it but I never knew that it was here in the Lestrange vault! Voldemort gave the cup to Bellatrix for safe keeping. Sirius, we need to store it somewhere safe. If it falls into the wrong hands – if it is lost ..."

"I know," said Sirius grimly. "But I can't take it out. I don't have the authority."

"But I can, right?" said Dylan curiously.

Harry and Sirius turned to face him, looking confused. Their expressions cleared. "We can't let you get involved in this, Dylan," said Sirius, shaking his head. "If Voldemort were to find out you were involved in this you could be in grave danger! No, we'll have to figure out another way for me to claim access to it."

"Listen, I don't care about that!" said Dylan heatedly. "You two have done so much for me over the past month. No one has ever shown so much care for me before. You took care of me, got me clothes, gave me food, and gave me a home ... There is nothing I can do to repay you for that. But this is something I can do. Please, let me help you!"

Sirius looked conflicted. He did not want to paint a target on the boy, but this was way too important. But if they destroyed all the Horcruxes, there would be no target on him at all.

"Alright, Dylan," said Sirius finally.

An hour later, the cup of Helga Hufflepuff was kept in a highly secured vault at Potter Castle.

HP*SAVIOUR OF MAGIC*HP

The rest of the summer passed rapidly. Harry's O.W.L. results had come a few weeks back and he had gotten an Outstanding in all his twelve O.W.L.s, which made everyone very happy. It was now the last week of August and Harry and Dylan were in Diagon Alley, finishing their school shopping. Amelia was now staying at the manor full time because she was close to delivery and she was getting quite irritable at the smallest of things. Luckily, Sirius took the brunt of her anger. Harry and Dylan escaped to Greengrass Manor during the mornings. Dylan seemed to have become friends with Astoria so it worked out quite nicely for Harry who wanted to spend time with Daphne.

At Twilfit and Tattings, Harry ordered a full set of robes for Dylan made of silk. Dylan protested, but Harry was having none of it.

"Like it or not, you are the Scion of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Lestrange," said Harry quietly. "All attention, mostly negative, will be on you when we enter Hogwarts. I don't want you stepping inside the castle on a back foot. The first impression is important, Dylan."

He refused to get new books but instead, kept Harry's old books in which the older boy had written useful tips on the margins. It was certainly useful considering that Harry was a genius. Harry also bought a Crup for Dylan and the boy was ecstatic about getting the puppy for a pet. Once regular shopping was done, they entered Ollivander's shop.

"Ah, the new Mr Lestrange," said Ollivander suddenly, startling them both. "Harry Potter – Yew and Thunderbird tail feather, fourteen inches."

"Yes, Mr Ollivander," said Harry. "I need to speak to you, but it can be done after Dylan gets a wand."

"Yes, I remember the wands of both your parents, Mr Lestrange," said Ollivander as he took measurements. "Your father preferred Blackthorn and Dragon Heartstring, very well suited for a warrior, but your mother's was a Willow and Unicorn hair wand, better suited for healing magic. But let's see what suits you, shall we?"

"Here you go ... Beech and Dragon Heartstring, Nine inches ..."

Several tries later, Ollivander gave another handsome looking wand. "Try this, Mr Lestrange. Rowan and Phoenix feather, twelve and a quarter inches. Nice and supple."

When Dylan took the wand, he felt it heat up. Bright sparks shot out of the end of his wand as he swished it down making Ollivander cheer. "Bravo, Mr Lestrange! Good, very good. Now, what can I do for you, Mr Potter?"

Harry carefully removed a box from inside his robes. "This is the basilisk fang that nearly killed me a few months ago, Mr Ollivander," he explained. "It pierced my forearm from where I was poisoned. Since that night I have felt a connection to it and I was wondering if it had anything to do with a focus."

Ollivander gazed at Harry pointedly. "You've read my books on wand lore, haven't you?"

"Yes," said Harry honestly.

"Good boy," muttered Ollivander. "No one seems to care about wand lore these days other than those who want to pursue it as a career." He touched the fang with a pair of dragon hide gloves and closed his eyes to feel it. "You're right. You do have a connection with this fang. The very tip of it has your blood on it too, which is mixed with the basilisk venom. I think I can modify your wand if you are interested."

"Oh, I'm very much interested," said Harry as he flicked his wand out of his holster and presenting it to the old man. "I'd like Dylan to have a holster too."

"It'll take me a few days, Mr Potter. Come by my shop the day before you are to leave for Hogwarts and you'll have it ready."

"Thank you, Mr Ollivander," Harry bowed with respect and ushered Dylan out of the shop.

HP*SAVIOUR OF MAGIC*HP

On the thirty-first of August, Harry found himself in Ollivander's shop again. The wandmaker had gone to his workshop to retrieve the wand. When he came back, he brought the wand in a box.

"This is my finest work if I do say so myself," said Ollivander happily as he opened the box. Harry gaped at the beauty of the wand that was inside it. It had changed significantly.

"The wand is fifteen inches now," he continued. "I managed to infuse the tip of the fang with the focus of the wand. The entire length of the wand is covered with fang ivory and Yew wood which are intertwined with each other. This certainly is a unique wand, Mr Potter, because I have never created anything like it. I must confess, it was inspiring to work on something like this. I thought it would be thicker, but I managed to work the ivory in such a way that it now sticks to the Yew wood like a second skin. The thickness has only marginally increased, but I couldn't help but increase the length. It is still very rigid, unfortunately, but that certainly explains your personality."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry curiously.

Ollivander paused for a second. "A wand of this flexibility will only give their true loyalty to someone who has faced a great personal tragedy. It is the best when it comes to offensive magic and has a stigma on magic that is frivolous and silly. Owners of highly rigid wands also have a tough time trusting others and they prefer to be left alone. You can tell a lot about a person by studying their wand. Yew is a wood which is quite unusual because they tend to have more power than others and hence has a somewhat dark reputation. Those who don't study wand lore tend to fear the Yew wand based on the superstition that only dark wizards carry such a wand, which is not true at all. The owner of a Yew wand is never a mediocre wizard; quite the opposite in that they are exceptional and sometimes notorious. The Dark Lord is a perfect example of this and so are you."

"The Thunderbird is a powerful magical creature. It is like an eagle in its majesty and power. Not everyone can handle a wand which has a thunderbird feather as a core. It is highly adaptable to combative magic and it won't back away from a fight when provoked. The thunderbird has a powerful affinity with nature and is a symbol of creation and destruction. An eagle is said to be the king of the sky and magical creatures like thunderbirds, hippogriffs and griffins are the same. You bow down to no one. The basilisk is also the king of serpents and its venom is the deadliest poison ever known in the world. The fact that you survived after getting bitten by one is a wonder in itself. It is unheard of and that's why you have a connection with this fang."

Harry blushed because he felt quite exposed in front of the old wandmaker. He didn't like it when people knew so much about him and he was astounded that Ollivander managed to describe him so accurately just by studying his wand!

"What about Dylan's wand?"

"Ah, Mr Lestrange," mused Ollivander. "His wood comes from the branch of a Rowan tree. From what I know, Rowan wands tend to be more protective than any other and are very skilled in all kinds of defensive magic. It is quite common among wandmakers to say that no dark witch or wizard has ever owned a Rowan wand. A true owner of such a wand is clear-headed and pure-hearted, but don't be fooled. Rowan wands are very powerful in the hands of a skilled warrior and should never be underestimated. Mr Lestrange has great potential and I am quite looking forward to what he does with his life. His wand is also supple, which means he is usually gentle, warm, humble and kind-hearted. The phoenix feather core shows that while he is free-spirited, his loyalty once earned is not something anyone can shatter easily. It is still too early to say anything for certain, though. Each witch or wizard is different just as each wand is different."

"Can you tell me about the wand of Daphne Greengrass?" asked Harry, his mind spinning.

"Hmm, Miss Greengrass," muttered Ollivander, lost in thought. "Walnut and Dragon Heartstring, twelve and a half inches; walnut wands find the ideal mate in the hands of highly intelligent witches and wizards. Enchanters and magical innovators much prefer this wand wood and the Dragon Heartstring core coupled with the wood makes it a truly lethal wand in the hands of a warrior. Yes, we can expect great things from her as well."

Harry nodded and picked up his wand from the box. The moment his hand gripped the handle, power seemed to ooze out of him as the wand hummed in his hand.

"Oh this is amazing," Harry breathed out in awe. "I've never felt so connected with my wand before. You truly are a great wizard, Mr Ollivander."

"I'm just doing my job, Mr Potter," said Ollivander with a smile. Harry then exited the shop a hundred Galleons lighter, but extremely satisfied.

After he left, Ollivander smiled, his silvery eyes looming over the boy outside as another vision of the future became visible in front of his very eyes. "The Saviour of Magic," he whispered. "Yes, as I said, we can expect great things from you, Harry Potter. Some might view it as terrible, but it is necessary. Universal greatness usually comes at a cost of enormous personal suffering, Harry Potter. I just hope you don't crumble before you fulfil your destiny. As long as you take the right decisions, Magic can be saved. If not, the entire planet is doomed."

He walked to the back of his office and removed a sheet of parchment and a quill. He began writing and once done, he sealed it in an envelope and attached it to the leg of his owl.

The letter was addressed to Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel.

HP*SAVIOUR OF MAGIC*HP

On the first of September, after shrinking their trunks and saying goodbye to the elves and the ghost of Alfred Potter, Harry and Dylan Flooed from Potter Castle to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters to head to Hogwarts. Dylan was chatting away to him about the newest book he had read and Harry simply shook his head in amusement. Choosing a compartment, they sat down, both taking out a book to read.

"I think I already know which House you'll be sorted into," said a sarcastic voice.

Dylan's eyes lit up as he saw his first and only friend at the door. "Hey Astoria," he said excitedly.

"Hey to you too!" she replied happily, sitting down next to him.

"Ahem," Harry cleared his throat pointedly. "I exist too, you know."

Astoria rolled her eyes. "I haven't forgotten, but when my sister is here, you tend to forget everyone else in the room. I'm just waiting for you to finish greeting her."

"Someone's in a bad mood," said Daphne, rolling her eyes as she entered the compartment. "Hey Harry," she greeted him, wrapping her arms around his neck, giving him a soft kiss.

"Aww, I didn't need to see that!" grumbled Astoria as Dylan snickered.

"No one is asking you to watch, Tori," Daphne snapped at her sister, taking a seat next to her fiancé.

They began talking to each other when more people came by to greet them. At the end of the previous term, many people had come to apologise to Harry about the way they treated him so he had gotten over his anger at them mostly, but that didn't stop him from introducing the Weasley twins to Sirius so that the former would have help in pranking the rest of the school for what had happened the previous year. After about ten minutes, Theo, Blaise and Tracy entered.

"Bonjour! How was your summer?" Tracy grinned.

"What's with the 'bonjour'?"

"I spent the last few weeks in France with my family. So, what's new?"

"Everyone, this is Dylan Lestrange. Dylan, meet our friends Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini and Tracy Davis. They're third year Slytherins."

"Nice to meet you all," said Dylan shyly holding out his hand. The boys shook hands enthusiastically, but Tracy was a bit uncomfortable, which Harry noticed. He exhaled. This was only the beginning of what the Lestrange scion would soon face. After a few minutes, Susan Bones entered the compartment.

"Guys, we have a problem," she said grimly.

"What is it?" asked Daphne as she and Astoria petted Dylan's Crup.

"It's Neville," said Susan nervously. "Father and Aunt Amy told me about what went on in the Wizengamot this summer and, well, looks like Neville's grandmother has shown her displeasure at Uncle Sirius' decision earlier this summer."

Dylan stiffened suddenly, knowing where this was going. Harry frowned but Daphne and Astoria looked at each other worriedly.

"I don't know what she has told him but he seems quite angry," Susan told them. "Usually he's quite shy, right? But when I saw him yesterday he was ranting about how it was not fair. I tried to explain, but he got angry. I'm pretty sure his grandmother has told him something which has irked him a little too deep."

"I'm sorry," whispered Dylan. "Maybe I should leave ..."

"No," said Harry firmly. "Dylan, Augusta Longbottom is too set in her ways. I can't fault her for her anger, but to hold it against you is immoral and unethical. I won't let anyone treat you like that, understood? This is no way your fault!"

"I wonder why she doesn't hold the same hatred for Narcissa or Draco Malfoy," Daphne frowned. "After all, Lady Malfoy is Bellatrix's sister. Dylan, on the other hand, has never even met his father!"

They were all quiet for a while. Neville found them after a while and his eyes swept over them. He looked at the small boy sitting near the window and his eyes hardened as he walked away.

"Well, so much for that," said Theo quietly.

"I'll talk to him in a few days," said Harry. "Give him some time and I'm sure he'll be back to normal."

HP*SAVIOUR OF MAGIC*HP

Dylan was unusually quiet during the train ride but Astoria kept trying to cheer him up. After several hours, they finally reached Hogsmeade station. When they disembarked, Harry pulled Dylan into a hug.

"Remember, whichever House you end up, I'll be there for you," he said quietly. "I'm really proud of how you are coping with all this. I'm not saying that it is going to be easy, but I know you can do it. I have confidence in you, but you need to believe in yourself. Ignore what everyone else has to say, understood?"

"Thanks, Harry," whispered Dylan.

"Good luck, Dylan," said Harry as he watched the boy go and join the rest of the first years. He made his way to the thestral drawn carriages and several minutes later, they reached the castle proper. Making his way to the group of third-year Ravenclaws, he sat down and made small talk with his Housemates. He did his best to ignore the people staring at him, but it was starting to get annoying. He took a deep breath and his emotions were back under control, his face impassive. Professor McGonagall led the new first years into the Great Hall and Harry could see Dylan looking at the starry sky above in awe.

"When I call your name, you'll come forth and sit on this stool and place the hat on your head to get sorted," said Professor McGonagall. She began reading the names and Harry felt his heart beating faster.

"Astoria Greengrass!"

Like her sister before her, Astoria calmly walked up to the stool and sat down gracefully. The Sorting Hat was lowered onto her head and there was silence for several seconds. Harry frowned slightly. He had known Astoria for two years and knew exactly where she would end up. The fact that it was taking so long meant one thing – she was fighting the hat's decision.

After a minute, the hat's brim opened as it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"

Harry smirked. It looked like Astoria was unsuccessful in changing the decision of the Sorting Hat. He could see that she was glaring at the Hat and he couldn't suppress a smile. He wondered which House she wanted to go to. His guess was Ravenclaw, so that she wouldn't have to be in the same House as her sister.

Several names later, McGonagall swallowed slightly as she announced –

"Dylan Lestrange!"

There was absolute silence in the Great Hall as no one dared to breathe. Albus Dumbledore leaned forward slightly in anticipation and Harry mentally scowled. There was no way he would let Dylan be manipulated by the old fool. Harry didn't know why he was feeling so protective of the boy. True, when he first met Dylan he had felt bad for what had happened to him, but his mind had been working on how to use it to his advantage. Not the boy, but his predicament. Here was another wizard who had been abused by Muggles. After spending the last two months with Dylan, he had come to regard the boy as his little brother, mostly because of how both of them had grown up. He would be damned if someone messed with him!

Dylan slowly made his way to the stool, shaking slightly. Harry observed the expressions on the faces of many students. Most of them were terrified of the boy while some were openly scowling. His eyes narrowed when he saw a smirk on Draco Malfoy's face.

Once the Hat was placed over his head, Harry felt his heart beating faster again. After just three seconds, the brim opened as it shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"

Harry, Daphne, Astoria and a few others clapped but the rest of the Hall remained silent. Harry felt his anger beginning to rise as he pursed his lips in irritation. Dylan, having expected it, simply walked down and moved towards the Ravenclaw table, where the rest of the first years were seated. None of his Housemates even spared him a glance, as if they were purposely avoiding him. A few even scooted away, shooting fearful looks at the grey-eyed boy.

Harry clenched his fists, hoping that the feast would start soon. In his nervousness, he had not observed the new Defence teacher. His eyes widened marginally in shock as he recognised the man. What was Dumbledore up to?

After the sorting was over, Dumbledore stood up. "I have a few announcements to make," he said cheerfully. "But before that – tuck in!"

Food suddenly appeared in front of them as people began piling up their plates with food. Harry turned to the side and saw that Dylan was eating alone. Gritting his teeth in anger, he got up, in full view of everyone in the Great Hall, crossed over to the end of the Ravenclaw table and sat down next to Dylan, piling his plate with food.

"Told you I wouldn't leave you alone," muttered Harry.

Dylan swallowed his food and smiled slightly. "Thank you," he whispered.