Harry and his friends were currently sat at the Slytherin table, the Drumstrang students weren't here at the moment, meaning it was once again just the Slytherin's sitting there. Harry was sat with his back facing the wall behind him which was a good thing because if he didn't then he would have ended up constantly having to turn his neck back, since he had sat down he had gotten a lot of girls trying to ask him to the ball. His friends were nearly done eating but he was noticeably behind since he had taken time out so he could refuse the four invitations he had revised from girls that were asking him to go to the ball with them.
"Um...hello," A Ravenclaw girl about two years younger than Harry said as she stood in front of Harry, she was number five. "I was...um...wondering if you would go to the ball with me."
"I appreciate the offer but I must apologise as I have already procured a date and will be attending with someone else, thank you." Harry said in an almost robotic voice, he was pretty much on auto-pilot at this point.
"Oh...um...sorry for wasting your time." The girl awkwardly apologised before she turned around and rushed away, red faced.
"Excuse me," Daphne said in a falsely sweet voice when a fifth year Hufflepuff girl walked up to them about a minute later. "if you're here to ask Harry - who is in fact my date - to the ball like the other five girls before you then I am afraid that I am going to hex you, like a lot." Daphne finished, somewhere between where she started to speak and when she finished she had somehow managed to pull her wand out without anyone noticing, and that wand was now resting in her hand.
"Um...never mind." The girl squeaked before she rushed away, it was true that she was an older girl but it was widely known throughout Hogwarts that Daphne Greengrass was a great witch, everyone still remembers her defeating the Weasley twins along with Harry Potter. Many believed that the reason was because she had been taught by Harry Potter himself.
"Someone's getting a bit possessive." Theo commented.
"Shut it." Daphne said with a hint of warning.
"I rather liked it." Harry admitted. "You looked really hot just now." Harry added as he winked at her. Daphne blinked and looked at Harry for a few moments before she responded.
"Thank you." Daphne said with a pleased smile.
"You found that hot?" Draco asked him.
"Oh I just find her hot in general, but yes she was particularly hot right then." Harry relied.
"Stop it, you'll give me a big head." Daphne said with a small laugh.
"Wait, is that possible?" Jet asked, he was currently resting on the table while Thor was perched on Harry's shoulder. Thor let out a small trill before he began pulling at Harry's messy hair with his beak.
"Does that hurt?" Tracey asked, gesturing to Thor.
"Hmm, not really." Harry replied. "I mean...it's noticeable but it's fine...he seems to like it. I think that he thinks that my hair is a toy." Harry said as Thor continued to play with his hair. "You like that, don't you?" Harry whispered to Thor who let out a small trill before he continued playing with Harry's hair.
"Oh look, entertainment." Blaise said suddenly. "Weasley is going up to Delacour." Everyone nearby quickly started watching as Ronald Weasley approached the French champion as she was starting to get up after eating her food, in fact now the whole hall was watching. Not that Ronald Weasley had noticed if the dopey look on his face was any indication.
"I...I...um...I was just…w...wondering...if you would come...come to the b...ball with me?!" Ron Weasley blurted out as he stopped in front of the champion, yelling the last part out. The very second that the words had come out of his mouth he seemed to have realised that he had just shouted at a girl - one who was miles out of his league - as he asked her out, funnily enough at that moment he also remembered that he had nothing that would make her want to come to the ball with him.
Fleur sniffed disdainfully as she looked Ron over, it really did not help that he had food crumbs hanging off his mouth and clothes, you could also add in the fact that he was currently drooling a little bit. His clothes weren't anything impressive, Fleur could forgive poor clothes, she wasn't stupid enough to think that everyone had the same amount of money, but still...he could at least try to keep himself presentable. Something that was even easier to do with magic.
"I think not," She said in her heavily French accent, "I have no interest in little boys." She said before she flicked her pony tail over her shoulder, she then walked away from Ron and surprisingly walked over to the Slytherin table and stopped in front of Harry and his friends. "Mr Potter," She said as she looked between Daphne and Harry. "do you have a date to the ball?" She asked.
"Madam Delacour, if you are indeed asking me out then I am flattered and honoured that you've thought of me." Harry said, pretending not to notice the narrowing of Daphne's eyes. "And while I must admit that it's a very, very tempting offer, I do indeed already have a date." Harry said as he gestured to Daphne.
"Hmm, this is a shame but not unexpected." Fleur said, remembering the two had kissed in the tent. Still, at least she wouldn't have any regrets about not asking.
"However, if you cannot find a date then I can help you." Harry said with a smile as he placed a hand on Blaise's shoulder. "My friend, Blaise, has not yet got a date." Harry calmly said while Blaise blinked at him, Harry either ignored or did not notice that - it was most definitely the first one - and continued speaking. "He'd be honoured to take you on a date." Harry said before he coughed and nudged Blaise.
"Oh um, Miss Delacour, will you please do me the honour of being my date to the Yule Ball?" Blaise asked in what he hoped was a charming voice.
"Hmm," Fleur gave him a critical look before she nodded her head. "I will accept, I must go now but I will talk to you tomorrow after breakfast, assuming you have no classes."
"I have a free period then." Blaise confirmed.
"Excellent." Fleur nodded before she turned and walked away. The whole hall had watched the interaction and began whispering to each other once Fleur was gone.
"You lucky dog!" Theo hissed to Blaise who had simply turned and pulled Harry into a hug.
"You're the best mate ever!" Blaise grinned widely once he let go of Harry.
"Don't you forget it," Harry chuckled. "just do me a favour and treat her good. I recommended you so what you do affects me, got it?"
"Got it." Blaise said, still grinning.
"Mr Potter." A voice said, everyone turned to see Professor McGonagall walking up towards them.
"Well, someone's popular with the ladies today." Draco commented in a quiet voice.
"Daph, I swear, Professor McGonagall and I are just friends!" Harry whispered to her in a mock-horrified voice, earning a small laugh from Daphne despite her attempts to resist. "Yes Professor?" Harry asked in a polite voice as Professor McGonagall stopped in front of them.
"The Headmaster would like to see you today to discuss your thunderbird." Professor McGonagall said, glancing at Thor who was still playing with Harry's hair. "Today you have a free period after my class, I will personally escort you to his office."
"Yes Professor." Harry nodded. Professor McGonagall nodded back before she turned and walked away. Harry absently reached up and petted Thor before he continued eating his breakfast. Eventually the Slytherin's started getting up and leaving the Great Hall, Harry had left first with Daphne and Tracey. Though on the way out he ended up bumping into someone who had been too busy reading to watch where she was going.
Hermione Granger had let out a small 'oof' as she crashed into Harry, her book fell to the floor and she nearly did so, and would have done so if not for being caught by Harry who had managed to grab her arms. Catching her was a little awkward since he had a thunderbird chick on his shoulder and a snake wrapped around his arm.
"Careful Granger." Harry said with a roll of his eyes. "If you want to read then at least wait until you've mastered multi-tasking." Harry said as he let her go.
"Oh...um...sorry." She meekly apologised, red-faced as she leaned down to pick up her book. "Um...thank you...and...you did good in your...in the first task." She said in a meek voice.
"Thank you." Harry nodded before he and the girls walked off. Hermione bit her lip before she shook her head and walked over to the Gryffindor table.
"Excellent job in class today, Mr Potter." Professor McGonagall praised Harry as the two of them of them walked towards Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Thank you, Professor." Harry smiled.
"You're welcome, and how is the young one?" She asked, gesturing to Thor who was on Jet who was on his shoulders.
"Oh, Thor's fine, Professor." Harry answered.
"Thor?" Professor McGonagall hummed, "An excellent name. How is your other familiar?" She asked.
"Oh, Jet is fine, he was a bit upset at first but he's now adopted young Thor as his nephew." Harry explained. "Yes," He added when Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "yeah...don't ask." Harry said as they arrived outside of Dumbledore's office.
Professor McGonagall stayed behind while Harry walked up the stairs and walked into Professor Dumbledore's office, once he was inside he saw Professor Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, inside the room was also a man who wore a badge on his chest that made it clear he was from the part of the Ministry that dealt with magical creatures.
"Ah, Mr Potter." Dumbledore said when Harry had entered. "And how are you?" He asked.
"Quite well, Professor." Harry responded. "I'm like ninety-nine percent healed, I've been doing good in class as far as I'm aware, I've managed to get a date for the Yule ball and I've got a second familiar." Harry finished with a smile. "I've named him 'Thor'."
"An excellent name." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"That is actually what we have come to discuss." The Ministry man said, "Mr Potter, my name is Brad Layfield, I am from the department of magical creatures. Now, a lot of concerns were raised about this young thunderbird. Now, thunderbirds are classified as 'XXXX' by the Ministry of Magic. These creatures are dangerous, require special knowledge, and only trained wizards should handle them. This can also classify creatures that are endangered or just too difficult to capture, rather than being dangerous. Are you with me so far?" He asked.
"Yes sir," Harry said with a small nod. "basically the Ministry is concerned about me looking after Thor."
"Indeed," Mr Layfield nodded. "you already have a snake for a familiar which would be fine as some muggles do have snakes for pets and you could act like a normal snake owner. But your thunderbird would easily stand out, and not just because of how many wings it has. Firstly we'd like to make sure that young 'Thor' is indeed your familiar." He said before he pulled out his wand. "I'm sure you're familiar with the spell to check the familiar bond."
"I've only had it used on me twice." Harry replied. "Third time's a charm hopefully." Harry said with a grin.
"Hopefully." My Layfield said with a small smile, he performed the spell on Harry and Thor. "Hmm, you do indeed have a familiar bond with Thor."
"Great," Harry smiled briefly before he looked at Layfield with a blank look on his face. "I truly do hope that you're not stupid enough to try and take him away from me."
"No, Mr Potter." Mr Layfield shook his head. "I am not here to try and singlehandedly take a thunderbird of all things away from the fourteen year old who managed to kill three powerful and dangerous magical creatures on his own. Besides, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix is in the same classification as your thunderbird and nobody's tried to take it away from him. I have come here to give you this." He said as he pulled out a booklet and handed it to Harry. "In this is a list of rules that you must follow in regards to your familiar, along with a few helpful spells to assist you in living an everyday life with your familiar, for example in there is a spell to disguise him as a regular bird. There will also be someone who will contact you in the future to discuss building a habitat for Thor. Now, do you have any questions?" He asked.
"Not at the moment." Harry responded.
"Well, my contact details are in there if you have any questions in the future."
"And you may of course come to me if you have any questions." Professor Dumbledore added.
"Thank you, both of you." Harry said, nodding to each man.
"You're more than welcome, Mr Potter." Mr Layfield smiled. "I will be off now, work must be done of course. I also know that when I get home my children will want to know all about how I met the great Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter." He chuckled before he said his goodbyes then left the room through the floo network.
"And is everything truly okay, Mr Potter?" Professor Dumbledore asked once they were alone.
"It is, sir." Harry nodded just as Fawkes flew into the room and landed on his perch. Thor looked up at the large red bird in front of him, he tilted his head as he looked at the large bird that was so different from himself yet wasn't like those other birds that he had seen so far. Thor jumped off of Harry's shoulders and flapped towards Fawkes and landed next to him on his perch. The bird looked up at Fawkes, looking almost disbelieving at how big Fawkes was, apparently Thor didn't know how big he would get.
The two birds trilled at each other, Dumbledore and Harry exchanged questioning glances, neither of them could fully understand what was happening but neither bird seemed to be aggressive so they allowed it to continue. Eventually Fawkes leaned down and gently rubbed his head against Thor's.
"Hmm, it appears to me that Fawkes has made a new friend." Dumbledore said with a smile and twinkling eyes.
"Apparently so." An amused Harry said. "Now, as much as I would love to stay, I do need to go, I have homework I need to complete."
"Of course," Dumbledore nodded. "are you hoping to maintain your position as top student of your year?"
"That's just a bonus for me sir." Harry shrugged. "I don't prioritize grades."
"Then what do you prioritize?" Dumbledore asked in a curious voice
"Greatness." Harry smiled before he turned to Thor. "Come on, Thor." Harry called, Thor let out a small trill before he shook his head. "You can play with Fawkes later. Come on or I'll give Jet all of your food."
"Don't think I won't eat it." Jet added.
A.N: Hi guys, hope you enjoyed the chapter. I just want to say a couple of things:
Number the 1: A few people have asked me if I have a schedule, well the truth is I spend roughly three hours a day writing fanfic and unless I promise that something will be released I usally just write a chapter for whatever story I'm in the mood for.
Number the 2: When it comes to reviews I do just normally pick out the most interesting or a few at random unless I know the person in which case I'll pick them and then a few at random. If any of you feel that I am ignoring you then I am very sorry, as that was not my intent. I'm quite busy between writing, the shit storm that is life and a billion other stuff, and if I do respond to every review then that'll take a lot of time and someone will of course complain about 'padding' the chapter length.
Number the 3: A few people have been sending story requests to me, I'm flattered and honoured by this, truly, it makes me feel nice to know that people want me - ME - to write up a version of their ideas. But with that being said I already have plenty of ideas waiting to be written, and from now on whenever I finish a story I will be holding a vote on my pat-reon account - search JB21Q on the website to find me - for what story I'm going to do next. Patrons will get early chapters along with a few other rewards in the future.
Thanks for reading, feel free to leave a review.