The Tenth Weasley - CH - 54

The next morning, Harry set out with a specific goal in mind—he needed a second Invisibility Cloak for an upcoming endeavor. His own cloak, a family heirloom from the Potters, was reliable, but having a backup would make his plan far safer. And Charlie Potter was the perfect target.

He found Charlie near the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, chatting with Neville and Ron.

"Potter," Harry called.

Charlie turned, blinking at him, surprised that Harry had sought him out. Neville and Ron stopped talking, their eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"What do you want, Weasley?" Charlie asked, arms crossed.

Harry stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I need to borrow your Invisibility Cloak."

Charlie’s expression instantly shifted from curiosity to alarm. "What? No! I don’t even have an Invisibility Cloak!"

Harry raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Come on, Charlie. I know you have one. Do you think I’d ask if I wasn’t sure?"

Charlie glanced at Ron, who looked equally startled.

"Harry, even if I had one, why would I lend it to you?" Charlie asked, his tone defensive.

Harry sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look, I’m not asking you to trust me blindly. I’ll even tell you this—I already have an Invisibility Cloak of my own. I just need a second one for something… important."

Charlie’s eyes widened slightly, but he still shook his head. "I don’t know what you're planning, but I’m not getting involved."

"I’m not planning anything dangerous," Harry assured him. "I just need it for one night, and I’ll return it in perfect condition."

Charlie looked uncertain, exchanging glances with Ron.

"You really have an Invisibility Cloak?" Charlie asked, suspiciously.

Harry nodded. "Yes, and if you don’t believe me, I’ll even show it to you later. But this is important."

Charlie hesitated for several long moments, before groaning in frustration. "Fine. But if anything happens to it, I swear—"

"Nothing will happen to it," Harry interrupted smoothly. "I’ll meet you outside Gryffindor Tower in the evening."

Charlie still looked uneasy, but nodded. "Alright. Just don’t get me in trouble."

Harry smirked. "You have my word."

Harry turned to leave, satisfied with the outcome, but before he could take a few steps, a drawling voice interrupted him.

"Well, well, well… look at this."

Harry sighed inwardly before turning to see Draco Malfoy approaching, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"What exactly were you doing talking to Potter, Weasley?" Malfoy sneered, his cold grey eyes narrowing. "Are you conspiring with Gryffindors now? Maybe handing over our Quidditch strategies?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Malfoy, I’m not even on the Slytherin team. How would I know your strategies?"

Malfoy scowled, clearly thrown off by the logic, but quickly recovered.

"You might not be on the team, but you always think you're better than everyone, don't you, Weasley?" he snapped. "Sneaking off to talk to the Boy-Who-Lived? Maybe hoping to switch sides?"

Harry laughed dryly. "I don’t need to switch sides, Malfoy. Unlike you, I don’t spend my days worrying about which team I should be loyal to. I make my own decisions."

Malfoy’s face turned red, and Ron and Neville were both holding back laughter behind Charlie.

"Watch yourself, Weasley," Malfoy hissed. "You're making enemies."

Harry smirked, stepping closer. "Malfoy, you’ve been my enemy since day one. And frankly? You’re not very good at it."

Malfoy’s expression twisted into an ugly scowl, but before he could retort, Harry turned on his heel and walked away, leaving him fuming.


The evening air in the castle was cool and quiet, the usual chaos of the day now subdued as students retreated into their common rooms. Harry arrived at the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, waiting for Charlie. His plan was simple—give Rose, Ginny, and Astoria a proper introduction to Hogwarts by showing them the Slytherin common room, a privilege that few non-Slytherins ever had.

After a short wait, the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open, and Charlie stepped out, followed closely by Ron, Neville, and Hermione. In his hands, he held his Invisibility Cloak.

"You're actually here," Charlie muttered, eyeing Harry suspiciously.

"Of course I am," Harry replied smoothly, reaching for the cloak.

Charlie hesitated for a moment before reluctantly handing it over. "I still don’t know why you need it, but you better bring it back in one piece."

Harry grinned, but before he could say anything, the common room door opened again, and out came Rose, Ginny, and Astoria, all looking excited and slightly nervous.

"Here," Harry said, turning to Rose and handing her the cloak.

Charlie blinked in confusion, watching as his sister took the cloak. "Wait—what are you doing?"

"Taking them on a tour of the Slytherin common room," Harry said casually.

Charlie's eyes widened in surprise, while Ron nearly choked.

"You’re what?!"

"You heard me," Harry smirked, as Rose, Ginny, and Astoria eagerly unfolded the cloak.

"That’s not allowed!" Ron protested, his face turning red.

"It’s not forbidden either," Harry countered. "There’s no rule that says I can’t invite guests into my common room."

Charlie looked like he wanted to argue more, but before he could, Rose spread the Invisibility Cloak over herself, Ginny, and Astoria, and in an instant, they vanished from sight.

Harry then reached into his pocket and pulled out his own Invisibility Cloak, the Potter heirloom, and draped it over himself, disappearing as well.

Charlie sighed, rubbing his temples. "I hope you know what you’re doing, Harry."

"Of course I do," came Harry’s faint reply, before the invisible figures slipped away into the shadows of the castle.

After Harry met Rose and Ginny in front of the Gryffindor common room, he whispered, "We need to make one more stop before heading to the dungeons."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Where?"

"Ravenclaw Tower," Harry replied.

Rose’s eyes widened in realization. "Oh! Luna!"

Harry nodded. "I promised the four of you a tour, and I intend to keep my word."

So, keeping their invisibility cloaks wrapped tightly around them, Harry led Rose and Ginny through the quiet corridors, avoiding wandering prefects and the occasional ghost.

After a careful walk, they finally arrived at the Ravenclaw Tower entrance, where the large, enchanted eagle-shaped knocker waited.

Harry knocked twice, and the eagle head turned to life, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim corridor.

"I fly without wings. I cry without eyes. Wherever I go, darkness follows me. What am I?" the knocker riddled in a smooth, musical voice.

Ginny frowned. "Ugh, I hate riddles."

Harry smirked. "That one’s easy. The answer is 'a cloud.'"

The eagle knocker inclined its head, and the door swung open.

Luna stood right there, looking completely unsurprised.

"Oh, good. You’re here," she said dreamily, stepping out as if she had been expecting them.

Rose blinked. "Luna? Were you waiting for us?"

Luna smiled. "Yes. I figured Harry wouldn’t break a promise."

Harry let out a small chuckle. "You’re not wrong."

Ginny folded her arms. "You always act like you know everything before it happens."

Luna tilted her head. "Not everything. Just the important things."

Ginny rolled her eyes but grinned anyway.

With their group now complete, Harry led them back toward the dungeons, keeping a careful watch for wandering professors and prefects.

As they neared the entrance, Rose playfully stuck her head out from under the invisibility cloak and grinned mischievously at Harry.

"Boo!" she whispered, trying to startle him.

Harry didn’t even blink. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and said flatly, "Really? That’s your best attempt?"

Ginny and Astoria giggled under the cloak, while Rose pouted. "Ugh! You’re no fun!"

But before they could continue, a high-pitched shriek suddenly echoed behind them, making all three girls yelp and clutch onto each other.

Harry, however, didn’t react.

"W-what was that?!" Astoria whispered nervously.

Ginny gripped Rose’s arm tightly, her eyes wide.

With a small sigh, Harry turned slightly, as if he had been expecting this.

Luna casually stepped out from under Harry’s invisibility cloak, her expression calm and unfazed.

"That was me," she said cheerfully, dusting off her Ravenclaw robes.

The three first-years stared at her in shock, while Harry just shook his head.

"Luna?!" Rose gasped. "What—? How—?!"

Luna smiled. "I was under Harry’s cloak the whole time. I figured it would be fun."

Ginny crossed her arms, still recovering from the scare. "You didn’t think to tell us?!"

Luna tilted her head. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Harry smirked. "You’ll get used to it."

With that, he gestured for them to follow.

"Come on, let’s go before someone catches us."

Harry arrived in front of the Slytherin common room entrance, standing in the dimly lit corridor of the dungeons. The air was cool, and the faint dripping of water could be heard in the distance, adding to the eerie ambiance.

Taking a deep breath, he leaned in and spoke the password clearly:

"Salazar."

A moment later, the wall before them shifted, the stone bricks sliding apart smoothly as if a hidden mechanism had been activated. The entrance revealed a passageway leading into Slytherin’s domain.

Harry stepped in first, his movements confident and unhesitant, knowing that his sisters and friends were closely following him under the invisibility cloak.

As they entered, the Slytherin common room unfolded before them.

The room was vast, far larger than the other House common rooms. The high, arched ceiling was adorned with intricate carvings of snakes slithering among ancient ruins, and the dark green and silver banners fluttered slightly as if moved by an unseen breeze.

Greenish lanterns flickered against the walls, casting long, shifting shadows that gave the entire space an eerie, underwater glow. The deep emerald couches and high-backed chairs were arranged in elegant clusters, inviting yet regal. The black marble fireplace, large enough to fit five people standing side by side, had enchanted green flames burning, giving off warmth but making the shadows dance across the room in a ghostly fashion.

The entire atmosphere was one of power, mystery, and quiet grandeur.

Harry glanced back at the invisibility cloak-covered group.

"Stay close. If anyone sees the door open with no one entering, they'll get suspicious," he whispered.

As they moved further inside, the Slytherin students were either reading by the dim torchlight, engaged in quiet conversations, or working on assignments. A group of older students glanced toward the entrance, but seeing Harry enter alone, they didn't pay much attention.

It was good to be respected here, Harry thought.

With a casual stride, Harry led them past the common room, ignoring the few curious glances thrown his way, and headed toward the private dormitory corridors.

As they reached his personal quarters, he stopped in front of the solid black door that bore his name magically etched in silver runes.

Ginny, still hidden under the cloak, whispered in awe, "You actually have your own door with your name on it?"

Harry smirked. "Of course."

Standing in front of the door, he waved his wand, muttering a series of enchantments under his breath—each word resonating with power as the protective wards unraveled before their eyes.

Soft green sparks flickered around the frame, and the door unlocked with a deep, resonant click.

"Come on in," Harry beckoned, stepping aside as his sisters and friends, still under the cloak, carefully made their way into his private sanctuary.

The moment they were all inside, Rose flung the invisibility cloak off, revealing her and the other three girls.

As soon as their eyes landed on the room, a collective gasp escaped them.

The space didn’t resemble a simple dormitory—it was a fully furnished private apartment, larger than even some professor’s offices.

The walls were lined with enchanted bookshelves, filled with books of various magical subjects, including Potions, Charms, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and, of course, Defense Against the Dark Arts. A small alchemy station sat neatly in the far corner, with potions brewing in various colored vials.

The furniture was rich and comfortable—a large couch sat in the center, draped in dark green and silver sheets. A luxurious emerald matching armchairs surrounded a low blackwood coffee table, where a few spellbooks and enchanted quills were scattered.

A separate study area held a spacious wooden desk, neatly arranged parchment, and a glowing enchanted orb that provided additional light for reading.

But the most breathtaking feature—and what truly captivated the young first-years—was the massive, transparent glass wall at the far end of the room.

Through it, they could see the depths of the Great Lake, dark and mysterious, illuminated by magical lanterns. Schools of silvery fish swam gracefully, their scales catching the eerie glow of the enchanted lights. Occasionally, a Grindylow would dart past, and even a large merperson with glowing eyes swam by, peering curiously into the room before disappearing into the shadows.

Ginny’s jaw dropped.

"No way… This is insane!"

Rose spun in circles, taking everything in. "This is amazing! Why does Slytherin get rooms like this?!"

Astoria, standing close to Daphne, whispered in pure admiration, "I think this is better than the Gryffindor common room…"

Luna, ever composed, simply walked toward the glass wall, tilting her head as she observed the creatures outside. "I always wondered what the lake looked like from beneath. It’s quite beautiful, don’t you think?"

Daphne chuckled at their reactions. "Well, it’s not like every Slytherin has something like this. This is just Harry’s… special arrangement."

Rose spun around to face Harry, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Special arrangement? You mean you built all of this yourself?"

Harry simply smirked, walking over to his favorite armchair and sitting down comfortably.

"I had… a little help. But yes, I warded and expanded this place myself. It took a lot of work."

Ginny flopped onto the plush emerald couch, bouncing slightly, her face filled with jealousy. "Ugh! I can’t believe you live in a place like this while we have to share dorm rooms! Not fair!"

Harry chuckled. "Well, that’s Slytherin for you. We like our personal space."

Luna, still gazing at the underwater view, added dreamily, "I bet the merpeople know you're here. They must think you’re part of their world."

Harry hummed, watching the flickering shadows of fish and magical creatures dance across the walls. "Maybe."

Rose plopped down on an armchair, turning to Daphne. "I can’t believe you guys get to live here with him."

Daphne shrugged, smirking. "Perks of having a talented best friend."

Ginny huffed. "I want a private dorm too! I’m going to demand one from Professor McGonagall!"

Harry laughed, shaking his head. "Good luck with that. Now, do you guys want something to drink, or are you just going to gawk at my room all night?"

The girls grinned and quickly made themselves comfortable, eager to explore and enjoy their exclusive visit to the Slytherin quarters.