Chapter 19: The Slytherin's Respect
Megan and Harry continued to grow closer and while they were honest with each other about their developing feelings, they also knew that their situation had not changed.
She knew Harry was honorable but it became even more apparent when he told her that while he would like nothing more to ask her to be his girlfriend, he felt that it would be unfair to her to go around hiding their relationship.
She was disappointed but also elated that he felt that strongly about her. In the end, he made her a promise that when the tournament was over, he would ask her officially.
She understood even more when Harry and Cedric informed her that they had already figured out the second task and there was no way either one of them would put her at risk.
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The weeks leading up to the second task were primarily drama free for Harry as most of the school was finally leaving him alone. He would get the occasional glare from some of the students but they never said anything hateful to him. Of course, it was difficult to find him since he still stuck to the shadows to remain hidden and still preferred to take his meals down in the kitchen.
Minerva has lost all contact with Harry as he never again deemed it necessary to grace her classroom with his presence. She heard, through her sources, about the confrontation in the common room and was at a loss about what to do.
Normally, she would talk to the student and enforce discipline but in this case, she knew that to do that would just drive him further away. She was also worried ever since the elves reported that he no longer slept in his bed. The only comfort she had regarding Harry was the elves also reported that he ate daily in the kitchens which proved he was still in the castle. Her biggest concern and confusion was that the elves couldn't find him any other time.
The drama eased off as the Gryffindors began treating him better after realizing that their house was a power in the school largely because Harry had been sorted there. The moment they turned their backs on him and he in return did the same, they noticed their star had begun to fall and they were no longer considered the strongest house.
This was something they didn't want to continue so they remained reserved around him and because they felt one wrong move would push him even further away. They were hoping things would eventually work out on the basis that they thought he still slept in his bed in the tower and therefore had not given up on them completely.
The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs treated him indifferently and with the exception of a few, never gave him a second glance whenever they actually saw him in the halls. The real surprise for Harry was the Slytherins. They had completely backed off and were giving him a wide berth and even Malfoy had the good sense to leave him alone. Harry would never know but Professor Snape had called a house meeting over the holidays and explained the facts of life to them.
FLASHBACK
The entire Slytherin House was sitting in their common room waiting to start a meeting called by their head of house, Severus Snape. They all knew Severus despised meetings so when he called one, he was going to share some vital information with them that could very well be crucial to their survival.
He said "Thank you all for being here and on time. What I'm about to say, you won't like hearing but you need to hear it anyway. From now on, Harry Potter is off limits."
Malfoy said "But Professor, scarhead…"
Snape snarled "SHUT UP DRACO! I know Slytherin house has set him up as the enemy but you all need to back off."
Daphne Greengrass asked "Did Dumbledore order you to tell us this?"
"No, this is coming from me."
Another asked "Why?"
"Because things have changed. Something you should know is that if Mr. Malfoy had not antagonized Mr. Potter on the train, he could have very well ended up in this house."
Draco said "But…"
He was cut off by Severus who continued. "His actions this past term have shown me that Harry Potter is more than a brash and reckless Gryffindor, but he plays his role and uses those traits to accomplish his goals. He rarely fails at what he sets his mind too and that in turn tells me that he has kept his Slytherin talents hidden from us all."
Malfoy sarcastically said "You sound as if you almost respect him."
Snape replied "In a way I do. He is finally showing the traits possessed by his mother and even though she was a Lion, she would have been a formidable Snake. Only her blood status kept her from our house."
They all looked at him with wide eyes so he continued. "Mr. Potter has started slowly removing the chains placed on him by the headmaster. On equal note is his distancing of himself from the traitorous Weasleys as well as Miss Granger. He is finally becoming his own man and is living up to the Potter name that has been a long respected family. I dare say that he is becoming a lord in his own right."
Pansy said "I thought that Granger and Potter were fated to be together. It sure seemed like it."
Snape smiled "Yes, as much as it looked like he would follow in his father's footsteps, that is not the case now and through some bad decisions on the part of Miss Granger, I no longer see that option available to her."
Several people nodded. "The Potter blood is strong in him and as such, he is coming into his powers but don't let his being a half-blood allow you to underestimate him. Lily could wipe the floor with even the best the purebloods had to offer. I don't need to remind you of his display against the dragon. I dare say any of us could have done what he did or stood up against that kind of power. I also believe that his time in seclusion has been good for him and allowed him to become even more powerful."
Daphne asked "In recent history, the Potters have been considered a light family. How will his becoming a lord help those of us from neutral or dark families?"
He looked around to see even more nods.
"I don't think all this will benefit the dark families at all. Since the lighter students have been treating him just as badly as the darker ones, I think he holds the light in as much contempt as he does the dark. Some of you members of the neutral families may want to remember that as I feel he will either start his own faction or be attracted to the more grey families. My final warning is this, if you draw your wand on Mr. Potter, be prepared for the consequences as he is not the same young man he was at the start of the year. There will be nothing I can do to save you and Mr. Potter already has expressed his desire to be expelled."
Greg Goyle asked "Uh…why would he want that?"
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