Awkward Dinner in Great Hall

September 1994

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

After the three elves calmed down, Harry questioned, "Would the three of you would be able to extract the various parts of this basilisk?"

Timsy, the senior most Potter elf answered, "I is knowing how to do this young Lord. I is teaching them how to do this."

The basilisk was an extremely rare creature. Its every body part was as valuable as gold. Though it had been slightly more than a year, from when the basilisk had been killed and its carcass was not it a pristine condition, it was still very valuable.

Harry looked towards the other three elves for their response and they nodded in agreement to Timsy.

Harry said, "Very well then. Extract everything useful. Be careful with its blood and the venom. Handle them carefully."

"Keep the parts which are not useful with respect. We will bury it," added Harry.

Harry then walked forward and the statue of Slytherin automatically slid open for its Lord Slytherin.

He walked inside and in his view came a room. It had a large bed at one end. A table and chair were placed next to it.

Two sides of wall were lined with shelves and few books and journals were present on the shelves.

As far as Harry knew from Voldemort's memories, the dark lord had never been inside this part of the chamber. So, all the books and the journals belonged to Salazar Slytherin.

Harry muttered, "Winky."

With a pop, the unfortunate or rather the fortunate elf appeared next to him.

Winky was now a completely changed elf. Gone was her shivering and frightened expression. Like Dobby she was also well dressed with 5 emblems stitched on her suit.

Winky greeted, "Harry sir."

Her face was filled with admiration and respect for Harry Potter. Her life had completely transformed, thanks to Harry Potter. She was an abandoned house elf with no other option than to wait for death. Even before she was abandoned, she had a tragic life. Beaten, bruised and scolded even without any reason was the way of life she was living.

But now she worked for the 'Great Harry Potter Sir.' He was the most famous wizard and was someone for whom every elf would dream to work.

Harry nodded and began, "Winky, all the others are busy in other task I gave them."

He continued, "I ask you to clean this room and the chamber connected to this one and bring it in a liveable condition. I wonder if you are willing?"

Winky nodded almost frantically, " I is willing Harry sir. I is clean this room."

Although she had been in Harry's household for few days, this has been the first time when Harry had asked her something directly. Though she was happy and was not sort of work to do, she never had the chance to be of personal help to Harry and neither she had courage to approach him, specially when 4 other elves were in competition to serve him.

Harry nodded and then with a pop disappeared from the room and arrived back at the same secluded place from where he had apparated to the chamber.

Although Harry could not live in the chamber permanently, it could be a place where Harry could visit for calmness and quietness.

Harry said under his breath, "one task done."

For now, Harry started to take mental note of things he had to do.

He revised the list under his breath, "Discussion with Daphne Greengrass and Susan Bones, talk with Penelope Clearwater, devise a method to unravel all of Dumbledore's plot, find out about the depth of Weasley's involvement in Dumbledore's plot, to make a decision on what to do with the Weasley's, complete his discussion with Hermione and find out about her true loyalties and motivations."

He sighed, "And most importantly collect all the horcruxes."

This was the task which he had been postponing for many days. Though Harry was not in hurry to collect the horcruxes as he knew that Voldemort would not be touching them from their initial position.

The previous Harry would have been in hurry to collect the horcruxes, but now, Harry was neither afraid not anxious.

He knew that next time he faced Voldemort, he would not be helpless, either relying on his mother's protection to survive or on luck. He was not the pathetic wizard he was few months back.

His destiny lied in his hands now.

September 1994

The Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

By the time, Harry mulled over his thoughts it was already dinner time.

He arrived in the great hall for his dinner and as usual walked towards the Gryffindor table to take his seat.

He walking in between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor table and was halfway through his seat, when he felt something strange.

He then carefully observed his house table and found, most of the students almost glaring him with disgust.

 A frown appeared on his face and he then looked for familiar faces in the crowd.

He quickly found Hermione sitting next to her roommates, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil and Fay Dunbar. Hermione had an anxious expression on her face, mixed with worry.

He also found his own roommates, all three of them including Ron, glaring him with disgust.

Other few familiar faces, mostly from the Quidditch team had neutral expression but most of the house was staring at him.

Harry wondered inwardly whether this was all about because he had decided to group with two Slytherin girls.

He turned around towards the Slytherin table to look for the duo he had partnered up with.

At first glance, things appeared to be usual and normal at the Slytherin table. But careful observation revealed Harry the stiffness and awkwardness at the Slytherin table.

Harry understood this was how Slytherin dealt with things. If they had any problems it had to be solved inside the house and outside every Slytherin must present a united front.

What had happened after the potions class, when Draco and others had openly confronted Daphne and Tracey was a momentarily mistake and not the usual norm.

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