It took a moment but they left. Harry pulled out his wand, he had learned in his readings that a simple Finite canceled most spells . He canceled the spell holding the other boy.
"Thanks I owe you."
"Harry Potter."
"Aaron Yaxley."
"Why did they..?"
"In the last war, the main line Yaxley's followed the dark lord. The MacLaggens got attacked and hurt badly; one of the Death Eaters caught was an uncle of mine another was my grandfather. My father stayed neutral mostly cause he married a halfblood. To the rest of the family we're considered blood traitors but to people like those gits all they see is the last name and the house and that's enough for them. Bastards." He spat some red tinted spit to the floor. "Normally I stick with our house group like I'm supposed to, you know? But I had some questions on the charms assignment and I'm not exactly Mr. Popular back in the dorms. In fact the only one worse off there, is yourself." He paused. "No offense."
"None taken." It was true. Harry wasn't sure why that was, but it was and he knew it. Theoretically someone should have tried to cozy up to him he was the Potter heir, ancient and noble house and all that crap, not to mention the whole BWL crap. But since their Head of House basically ignored his very existence, unless it was to pick on him, the students in Slytherin seemed to mostly do the same.
....
Marcus Flint was furious with his Head of House. Six years ago the Professor had taken him and given him rules, reasonable consequences, expectations and when those expectations were met rewards. It had given Marcus stability, stability he didn't get from his half mad Death Eater father and his mother who was either a perfectionist (when sober) or a lush. Marcus had seen him do it for countless kids in Slytherin. He took each Slytherin aside in the first two weeks each year, helped them by setting reasonable expectations not the sometimes absurd ones their parents set, and gave them expectations they could meet and a plan to meet them. The Professor actually did what a head of House should do despite the demands it made on his limited time. Marcus knew from talking to students in other houses only Sprout did those meetings as well. Marcus had seen such potential in Harry Potter on the train, he figured his Head of House would be pushing the boy. Instead Professor Snape ignored him, completely ignored him. He didn't do the first of year meeting or even schedule the beginning of the year physical that the rest of the snakes endured.
Well if he wouldn't do it Marcus would. He was about to ask the firsties if anyone knew where Potter was when Potter entered with Aaron. Marcus was mildly concerned Aaron unlike Potter knew better than to wander the halls alone. He noticed Aaron's lip seemed a little swollen "You okay Aaron?"
"MacLaggens. Potter here came along and discouraged them." Aaron answered. He knew that unlike some of the snakes Marcus asked from genuine concern. They shared a first cousin, Sandra was his cousin on his father's side and she was Marcus' on his mother's. Sandra might be an almost squib but she was nice and both boys were fond of her.
"That was good of you, Potter." Marcus said. "But I was looking for you for another reason. Come with me." He led Harry to one of the alcoves on either side of the common room fireplace. Snape used these alcoves for his own meetings, putting up a privacy spell. Study groups used them at other times. "Have a seat." Marcus put up a privacy spell. "Okay I haven't done one of these before so please be patient with me. I don't know why the professor hasn't done this, but he hasn't and as I see it you've got to much potential to leave you floundering any longer." He pulled out some parchment so he'd have notes.
"Alright." Marcus remembered his first meeting. "How's your physical health? Do I need to take you to Madame Pomfrey for a physical?"
"I'm a little behind on my magical immunizations. I got them until I was fifteen months, then the ones after that I was missing. I got the first of the ones I'm missing a week before school started and I go to Madame Pomfrey in another month and again in five then I'll be current. As for the rest I'm wearing corrective lenses that I use eye drops for. Madame Pomfrey has records both from Medi-witch Chang, the eye specialist, and from Medi-wizard Shingleton. I exercise and eat right get eight hours or more of sleep most nights."
"Okay that was easy. Homelife?"
"I lived with my maternal aunt and uncle and cousin. They are muggles and afraid of magic."
"Did they… do anything bad when you did magic growing up?"
"Depended on what happened, most times I got into some sort of trouble. But like I said it depended on what happened."
"Did they beat you, or starve you, or lock you up, did they leave any scars?" he hesitantly asked. Marcus felt bad asking these questions and was a little afraid of the answers but he knew very little about muggles and his father had always punished him with spells and told him to be grateful he didn't punish him the way muggles punished their children.
"No scars, sometimes being confined was part of my punishment, or missing a meal, or extra chores, and yes my uncle spanked me a few times. But my Aunt and Uncle did not abuse me. As long as I minded their rules and did my chores, I had what I needed. They were… they saw to it I had what I needed."
With a little relief at that answer Flint asked his next question."What are their expectations of you here at Hogwarts?"
"That I learn magic."
....
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