Chapter Two: Appearances
Harold looked around from the entrance from the Hall to the ballroom. Fixing his glasses that were mainly for show, he looked around the room. Everything was going as planned. They saw him as frivolous with his money and of medium intelligence. Planning on keeping his image as it was, he casually took a champagne glass and made his way into the crowd. Greeting people, he shook hands, smiling as best as he could, though from the looks of it he had to have been doing a good job.
"Minister Fudge, glad you could attend," Harold said, making his way over to the Minister. He shook the Minister's hand, and then looked at the woman next to him, who had just cleared her throat. "Undersecretary Umbridge correct?" she nodded holding out her hand as if he should kiss it. Instead, Harry held back a smirk and just shook it. "Glad you could both be pulled away from your busy jobs to join me tonight."
"Our pleasure Mister Potter," Fudge said, putting a bulge of an arm him. "I was wondering if I could talk to you about some deals I have going."
"You'd have to talk to my business manager," Harold said smirking as he took another sip. "I honestly don't know where most of my money is. Held up in a lot of companies I think, some property, I'm not sure. You're really going to have to ask him." Before Fudge could say anything, Harold spoke up again. "I couldn't tell you his name either at the moment. Alfred just put away all of my business folders cleaning up this place. Contact my office for the name they might have it. They practically run the company without me anyway," he shrugged his shoulders. He walked away, talking to more of the guests. He had the Minister's interest, for now.
"Mister Weasley, glad you could attend," Harold said, walking up to the eldest Weasley, head of the clan. "I'd like to welcome you, if there is anything you need, feel free to ask."
"Thank you Mister Potter, your hospitality has been more than kind," he said is response.
"Think nothing of it," Harold said with a smile. "And please call me Harold. Mister Potter is something only Alfred calls me."
"Call me Arthur then, Mister makes me sound too old," Mister Weasley said. "My sons, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George and Ronald. This is my daughter, Ginerva. And my lovely wife Molly." Harold shook hands with each of them, stopping slightly at Ginerva's hand and Molly's kissing the knuckles lightly on each of them. He turned and looked at Hermione for a moment.
"Miss Granger, I doubt we've been properly introduced," he said looking at her for a moment.
"Sorry, Hermione Granger," she said, holding out her hand, half-heartedly hoping him to do the same he did to the other ladies.
"It is a honor to meet you," he said, kissing her hand lightly. "I do not believe you get the recognition you deserved for the article you wrote." She blushed at the statement, however before she could say anything in response, Mrs. Weasley had cut in.
"Harold, how old are you?" she asked.
"Ma'am, young enough to be going to Hogwarts," he said with a smirk as he felt someone grab onto his arm.
"Can you do the honor of giving me a dance?" Ginny said. Harold was slightly put off by the way she clung to him, but nevertheless, edict dictates.
"I'd be delighted to," he said, taking her hand off his arm and leading her to the dance floor in the ballroom. A majority of the people had begun to move their as he had set up some gambling booths, which he had a license for, and already people had begun to dance. The crowd stopped for a moment as Harry led Ginny out onto the floor. Placing on hand on her waist, and picking up the other one, he began to slowly begin the ballroom dance that was playing, forcing Ginny to follow him.
"What do you know about Hogwarts?" she said, a smile growing on her face.
"Not much," Harold said. His eyes said otherwise, but Ginny seemed not to notice. "Care to tell me?" Ginny blushed and put her head down.
"I don't know much about it, I haven't read Hogwarts, A History, yet, but okay," Ginny said, trying to smile.
"That's alright," Harold said returning the smile. Ginny began to slowly explain everything he already knew, though, he did not let her know that. He had read the book, several times in fact. It had become one of his favorite non-fiction novels he had read. That and the theatre he enjoyed.
"There are four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin," Ginny said. "Gryffindor for the brave, Ravenclaw the smart, Slytherin the clever and sly, and Hufflepuff for the rest of them." Harold smiled back at her.
"I bet I'm going to end up in Hufflepuff," he said with slight embarrassment, or that's what it appeared to be. "I'm certainly not that brave or smart, though I must say, to be in business you have to be a bit shrewd and sly sometimes."
"You don't want to be in Slytherin," Ginny scoffed. "All the gits and Death Eaters' sons and daughters are in that house." Harold raised an eyebrow as the end of the song.
"Well, all I know about your Death Eaters is they are people who have chosen or forced into the wrong way of life," Harold said releasing his hands from her. "It is wrong to generalize like that Ms Weasley, for I believe it is the same thing your brother did with me, and do you believe what he said about me?" She shook her head, blushing slightly. "Thank you for the dance." He picked up her right hand and kissed her knuckles once more. "The pleasure was all mine." He let go of the hand and made a turn to walk out of the room, before being swept up by another woman. It was going to be a long night.
I0I
Hermione watched as the night went on all the women that danced with Harold. Dinner had come and gone, and Harold had yet to stop to eat. How she wanted to dance with him. So much for being a Gryffindor, huh? She could not bring herself to ask the man of the hour for a dance. Especially with all of the other woman swooning around him. Sighing to herself, she resigned to the fact that no one wanted to dance with, not even her date, Ron.
As soon as the chance came, he jumped up to dance with one of those highbrow women. Now she was left alone at the side of the ballroom, as Ginny once again danced with Harold, who to her, looked like he was starting to struggle to smile. Ginny did not seem to notice. Finally, as there was a lull in the music, Harold declined another dance with her. For whatever reason he looked around the room for a moment before his eyes directed themselves at her and he began to walk toward her.
"Anyone sitting here?" Harold asked, motioning toward the seat next to her. Hermione shook her head. "My feet are killing me."
"You throw a lot of these parties?" Hermione asked as she handed him a glass of water. Smiling as he accepted it, Harry shook his head.
"My parents did, though they had a great deal more friends then I did," he said sullenly. He shrugged his shoulder before taking a drink of water. "Thank you for the drink."
"Thank you for the company," Hermione said, returning his smile.
"Would you like to dance?" Harold said, his eyebrows raised.
"You're probably tired, and I wouldn't want to bother you," she said, looking down at her feet.
"Nonsense," Harold said standing up as another song ended. "Besides, I noticed that you've yet to dance. A row with your date perhaps?" he said extending his hand.
"I wish it was that complicated," Hermione said, shaking her head at Ronald's actions. "He just blew me off for those women over there." Hermione pointed to a group of women that had dance with Harold at least once apiece, but now were surrounding him.
"Them," Harold said smirking. "They are among the richest women in the country, and pride themselves with issues such as blood." He scoffed at his last word, as if it was something horrible.
"You don't agree with those ideas?" Hermione said, taking his hand. He had her attention.
"Not at all," Harold said. "A person should be measured by the strength of their heart, not the strength of their blood. My mother taught me that. Her parents were normal."
"By normal you mean Muggle," Hermione said, smiling at her personal victory. She was a Muggleborn too, like Harold's mother.
"I prefer normal, cause that's what it is to me," Harold drawing her out onto the dance floor. "Wizards and witches are the ones with something special going, so why make everyone else seems lesser with a different name." Hermione looked at him in shock as he placed one hand on her waist and lifted the other one up in his own. "Do you mind, it's tango, and difficult to get at first?" Hermione shook her head, getting out of the thoughts going through her mind.
"What?" Hermione asked as he smiled.
"Just let me lead," was all he said as the music started. Hermione found herself lost as Harold began to tango with him, surprised at the closeness of their bodies. She had danced with Victor, her only other date, only once when they had the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts in their 4th year. Ron ruined the night for her, and she never got to truly enjoy it. Now, however, it seemed different. Hermione could not explain, and just let her self be lost in the dance, twirled about and spun into Harold's arms.
"That I must say was the most fun I've had all night," Harold said laughing, causing her to giggle slightly.
"Me too," Hermione smiled back at him, causing his grin to grow.
"What house are you in?" Harold asked as the dance slowed down, coming to a halt.
"Gryffindor," Hermione said with a smile. "I don't think you'll have a problem getting in, you were brave enough to go out here with me, even if I did step on your toes once or twice." She looked embarrassed at this.
"Nonsense," Harold said, shaking his head. Leaning over, he picked up her right hand, and spoke softly, so only she could hear him. "What is a little pain to dance with such a beauty?" He kissed her knuckles lightly then pulled back. "Thank you for the dance. I hope to see you at Hogwarts." Smiling, Harold walked over to an old man, holding a tray beside the main doorway. "I must be off, though I hope you continue to publish. You do remarkable work." With that, he walked away, fending off any more dances from the hordes of woman.
"How did you manage that?" Ginny asked with a slight scowl on her face.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, sitting next to her again.
"You got him to tango," Ginny nearly screamed. "He refused to do it with me, and I know how to." Hermione blushed slightly.
"He just offered to dance with me," Hermione said, trying to hide her blush.
"Well," Ginny said, looking in the direction he left. "Just stay away from him, he'll probably break your heart or something." Ginny glared at Hermione for a moment startling the girl. Hermione understood that Ginny was after Harold, and from the look on Mrs. Weasley's face, she intended the same thing. Sighing, Hermione let it go, wishing for her childhood friend with emerald eyes to return and try to explain some things even she did not understand to her.
I0I
Harry fixed his tie as he looked on into the mirror. The night before was a success. Women loved him, men wanted to be him. His training was increasing; he understood magic at the seventh year level, though planned on only outputting at the sixth. He did not want them to think he was who he wanted to be. The world is but a stage, to paraphrase Shakespeare, and now I've stolen the spotlight, and intend to hide in it. He thought, smirking as Alfred came into the room.
"Master Harold, how will you manage as this school if I stay here?" Alfred asked.
"I'm getting better," Harold said, letting the old man take over.
"That is to be seen, sir," Alfred said. Stepping back after finishing the tie, he looked at Harold, then at the trunk at the end of the bed. "You have everything Master Harold?"
"If I don't, I'll contact you from the school," Harold said, holding back his smirk. "All the clothes ready?"
"I packed them for you last night sir," Alfred said with a sigh. "You really must go, sir?"
"I'm afraid so, Alfred," Harold said. He looked at the old tired butler. He had been the family to him, when no one else cared. He was the only family Harold ever knew, and now, for the first, he was leaving his family behind. "I need to do this Alfred. I need to go there and see if I cannot learn something about living that I know I've missed from the past ten years." Harold smiled for a moment, turning away from the older man, though they both knew there were tears in the other's eyes too. "I want you to take a holiday Alfred." He turned back, the tears now gone. "For as long as I've known you, you've never done so. Why is that?"
"Because, Master Harold," Alfred said walking forward to him, "there are more important things that vacations at times. Like the happiness of a small child."
"Now, there are more important things Alfred," Harold said, putting his hands upon the old man's shoulders. "Like the well being of a my closest friend. You need this vacation, Alfred, I want you to relax and not worry about me for once." Alfred had an appalled look upon his face.
"But sir, that is my job, to look after you and care for you," Alfred said. Harold smiled, giving Alfred a hug before lifting up his trunk. "Now, you want to drive a small child off to adulthood." Alfred smiled, and placed on his hat. "Ready, Master Harold?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Harold said, following the butler out of the room and down to the ground.
The ride to King's Cross was silent one, as Harold was mentally preparing him mind for the toll it would pay through the year. Harold Potter was not a person he admired and planned on being for the rest of his life. Though now, he was unsure who HE truly was, and what he was to do with his life. He had all these skills, all this power, and he still did not know what to do with it.
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