"What? Harry actually said that if he were Slytherin's heir, he'd kill Justin?"
"That's terrifying!"
"He wouldn't really... would he?"
"But it's too much of a coincidence! Right after Potter said something like that, Justin gets attacked. Potter must've been furious that Justin was talking behind his back!"
"How could that be possible? Who would be stupid enough to expose himself like that?"
"Not necessarily. Maybe he thought being open about it would make people less suspicious of him. Don't you think so?"
"Well… but still..."
Rumors like these were everywhere.
Everyone looked at Harry differently now — suspicion, fear, unease...
Well, everyone except the Slytherins.
Their attitude toward him hadn't changed.
Many of their families had once supported Voldemort; naturally, they weren't going to be friendly with Harry Potter.
…
Hermione ran after Harry, furious.
"Don't you care what they're saying about you?"
At first, Hermione had tried desperately to prove Harry's innocence. Every time she overheard someone gossiping, she would stand up for him, arguing fiercely in his defense.
She thought it might help — but soon realized it didn't matter. People kept saying what they wanted.
She even overheard Oliver Wood, Harry's former Quidditch captain, saying behind his back that Harry must have been happy when Gryffindor lost to Slytherin — that he was probably a spy for them!
Once, in the Gryffindor common room, she'd tried to rally everyone.
Harry had warned her not to, but she hadn't listened. She believed Gryffindors would always stand by one of their own — that they'd protect Harry.
But when she actually said it, her so-called friends just looked awkward, or turned away coldly.
"Sorry, Hermione... I just think... this isn't simple... Nobody really knows what Potter is."
"Yeah, think about it — if we were really wrong about him, why hasn't Dumbledore come out to clear his name? That means even Dumbledore isn't sure!"
"That's right. You'd better keep your distance too, Hermione. You're Muggle-born, remember? What if... you know..."
Hermione could hardly believe what she was hearing.
Wasn't Gryffindor supposed to be the House of bravery and loyalty? Why would they rather believe baseless rumors than trust their own?
Then Harry walked in.
The moment he appeared, the once-crowded common room emptied almost instantly. People slipped past him nervously, their faces tight with fear.
After all, he might be a dangerous dark wizard.
Hermione trembled, her shoulders shaking as she cried. "Why are they like this?"
It hurt her more than being accused herself.
Harry, on the other hand, spoke calmly:
"There are two kinds of people in the world — the smart and the stupid. When the stupid drag the smart down from their pedestals and grind their faces into the dirt, it must feel so satisfying for them."
"You don't feel bad when they look at you like that?" Hermione wiped her tears, aware of how awful she must look.
Harry looked genuinely surprised.
"Why would I feel bad? I don't even know them. What they think has nothing to do with me. Only people you care about can hurt you. And I've never considered them my friends."
Hermione sniffed. "You're really something, you know that?"
Harry smiled slightly. "Not really. I'm actually quite petty."
…
One morning, as Harry sat eating breakfast at the Gryffindor table — with a noticeable empty radius around him — someone unexpected approached.
Malfoy.
He looked like it had taken all his courage to come over. He slammed his hand on the table, looking both jealous and curious.
"Are you or are you not the Heir of Slytherin?"
Straight to the point. Typical Malfoy.
Harry looked troubled. "When you ask like that, it's hard for me to answer."
Malfoy's stomach dropped. "You're not saying... you actually are?"
Harry smirked. "Why do I feel like you're worried about me?"
Malfoy's eyes went wide — then he quickly masked it with outrage.
"Don't talk rubbish! I'd be thrilled if you were dead!"
Harry burst out laughing and couldn't resist patting Malfoy on the head.
Then, with a teasingly serious tone, he said, "Malfoy, you're a good kid. You should… study hard and make progress every day."
He couldn't help laughing at his own words.
Malfoy's face turned scarlet. The sheer insult of being patted on the head!
And worse, the look in Harry's eyes — it was the same condescending look his father gave him sometimes. No wonder he involuntarily flinched around Potter.
"Alright, alright, I'm done teasing you," Harry chuckled. "Of course I'm not the Heir."
Malfoy lifted his chin haughtily and muttered, "Hmph! I knew it. Only someone like me could be Slytherin's true heir."
Harry grinned. "Sure, sure. Now off you go — who knows, maybe the Chamber's waiting just for you."
Malfoy had walked halfway across the hall before realizing — why had he listened to Harry again?
Hermione stirred her porridge with her spoon, pretending to be casual.
"I get the feeling you treat Malfoy differently from everyone else."
Harry shrugged. "Aside from you three, he's probably the only one in this school who's even mildly interesting. The rest aren't worth my time."
Hermione said nothing.
Harry noticed the odd look on her face — and then it hit him.
This was Britain, after all — the land of "progressive" thinking. Parents started to worry if their teenage kids weren't showing interest in anyone by a certain age...
Hermione thought he was gay.
Harry was speechless. He gritted his teeth.
"I like women."
Hermione's eyes brightened slightly, though she still said, "Then why treat Malfoy so differently? I mean, I don't like him, but he is kind of… well, a pretty boy."
As a man, being accused of liking men — that was an insult of the highest order.
Without another word, Harry leaned in. Under Hermione's stunned gaze, he lightly kissed her on both cheeks, and then, finally, on her lips.
"Happy now?" he muttered irritably.
He was, after all, an adult inside — and he couldn't possibly cross any real lines with a young girl like Hermione. The guilt alone would kill him.
But he couldn't just let people accuse him of being gay either.
Harry could ignore being labeled a murderer by the whole school — but this? This was personal.
Hermione ducked her head, stabbing at a piece of meat with her fork.
"Stupid Harry! Taking advantage of me like that! Just wait, I'll kill you for it—kill you!"
…
After breakfast, word spread through the entire school that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had been "talking pleasantly" together that morning.
"See? Isn't that proof enough? No Slytherin would ever willingly chat with a Gryffindor."
As Harry walked through the corridors, feeling the wary eyes of everyone around him, he found himself oddly amused.
Ah, he thought, so this is what it feels like to be the Dark Lord.
It wasn't bad at all. No wonder Voldemort enjoyed it so much — having everyone tremble under your gaze must've been delightful.
At that moment, Harry noticed a crowd gathering around the notice board.
Curious, he walked over.
Someone whispered, "Potter's here," and the students immediately scattered, parting to clear a path for him.
Harry glanced at the newly posted announcement — and smiled.
It read:
"Hogwarts Duelling Club — Now Open!"
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THE REBIRTH OF HARRY POTTER
⚡🦉 THE REBIRTH OF HARRY POTTER 🦉⚡
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📢 MAGIC REBORN! 📢
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The wizarding world is changing.
Old destinies twist, familiar names return under new shadows, and magic itself may follow a different path this time.
🪄 A second chance.🌙 A different fate.⚡ A wizarding world reborn.
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