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."
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