Title: Pianissimo of a Butterfly

Chapter 8: Smothered Flames

Harry first saw Viktor again in years at the great hall of Hogwarts. It occurred as he first entered the great hall through the staff's entrance. His steps faltered seeing his once best friend and his once lover in conversation. He took a small intake of breath and stepped onto the head of the table where his seat was located. Once seated, he moved towards his right and nodded in the direction of Professor McGonagall. Startled looks from the other staff greeted their faces aside from Professor Lovegood who just looked at the window outside mumbling about some odd creature that seemed to be dancing lewdly in front of the window that somehow only she could see.

"Ahem, now that everyone is mostly here this morning, I have an announcement to make. As of yesterday evening, Hogwarts has been reclaimed by the direct descendent of the house of Slytherin, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw and Lord Potter, who is sitting on my left is the representative of three of four houses of Hogwarts. He is also the one who will implement any changes as required by the current head of houses Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin to Hogwarts. He will now pass on a few words to you all."

Professor McGonagall announced before taking her seat once more. Harry looked at all the students for a few seconds knowing what is about to occur is going to spark an outrage… that might not stay within just the students. He stood up and began to speak,

"Good Morning, as Professor McGonagall has stated, I am here to implement changes required by the current head of houses of three of the four founders as the credibility as well as the standards set by Hogwarts have fallen so low that we are slipping out of the international rankings fast. This is in part due to the Ministry's lackadaisical approach in categorizing and banning certain types of magic and in part due to arrogance shown by many wizards and witches today who seem to be entrenched in the idea of dark being evil and light being good.

Hogwarts was not only made to teach magic to the masses. Hogwarts was made to teach, the traditions of magic but also the reasons behind it. Hogwarts was also made to teach about balance and its importance so the tragedy that had befallen Atlantis does not occur once more. However, Hogwarts have not taught any of you anything about traditions or balance, only magic and that is unacceptable.

The houses were initially made, not to segregate all of you into groups as what it had become but to ensure that you are within the group that would allow your best traits to show. However, as of late, many have forgotten the traits that the houses embody. Slytherin house has lost its cunning and pretty much all of its ability to be resourceful, Ravenclaw house seem to have lost most of its creativity, originality and with that its wisdom, Hufflepuff house lack the kindness, the tolerance, the fair-play and most importantly the loyalty that the founder itself was proud of, and finally the Gryffindor house has lost its chivalry and courage. With this said, there will be changes for some of you in regards to houses which I will be making effective immediately."

Harry paused before looking at the ceiling and calling out, "Fawkes, Haun."

The two phoenixes entered the great hall in a spectacular burst of black and orange flames. Haun was carrying the sorting hat in its talons. They flew towards the head table where Harry was and settled in front of him facing the students. The sorting hat seemed floppy for a moment before it seemed to suck in some air and stand as rigid as it could be facing the current students of Hogwarts.

"Now, before I begin the changes to some of your houses, I would like to state this, not every student will be in a house, there is a slim chance there is not a single student who would be in any houses even. And you wouldn't be able to be a part of a house until you requalify for said house thus, only those who truly embody the traits that the founders look for will have a house. This is not a new precedent; this was the traditional way that the students were sorted until six centuries ago. And I will state this as well, just because you do not have a house, does not mean you do not have a home under Hogwarts for Hogwarts accept all those who wish to study magic. And those without a house can still become great. Sorting hat, Fawkes, and Haun, you can start."

Just as Harry ended his speech, Fawkes, and Haun trilled to the skies and glowed. The Sorting Hat said outloud, "oh…hohoho, it has been a while since I have connected with Hogwarts this deeply. I had forgotten myself how refreshing it feels. I must have more cobwebs than I had expected on my brim."

Slowly, majority of the Hogwarts students' robes lost their house colour and was simply black with their Hogwarts crest shown. A lot of them let out indignant shouts, shrieks, complaints, and all sorts of noises to show their disbelief. Harry was glad he saw his son managed to stay in Gryffindor even if he knew that his son was losing his nerve and his bravery over the bullying done towards him. He had nothing against the houseless and hence wouldn't mind if his son also lost his house but at the same time, he wanted to show Hogwarts population how strong his son was to face the hurdles, the obstacle that was the students itself. Luna looked at him with a knowing look and gave him a wink before looking away again. Harry shouldn't be surprised with Luna, but he was. Luna could be very unpredictable and annoyingly knowledgeable about things that sometimes he doesn't want anyone to know. It made him reminisce about his budding years and some of his memories when not filled with war made him wince. Figuring out the whole sex thing, raging hormones in the middle of war was not great for a teenager, at all especially when you have someone with a knowing look constantly around.

Professor McGonagall stood up again, "There will be no lessons today so everyone will calm down from this shock today however lessons will resume as normal tomorrow, for now the houseless will follow their current schedules according to their houses before this and this will continue throughout this academic year. And also, the announcements for today are over, if you wish to leave after finishing your breakfast, you're welcomed to do so and if you haven't finished your breakfast then by all means continue on. This announcement also came without a warning thus I know all the students aren't present hence I would like for those present to inform those whom are absent as they might be wondering about their current lack of house."

"Papa!" Andrey shouted as he ran towards the head table dragging his friends with him, which caused a lot of students who had bullied him looked horrified as they saw he was actually telling the truth the whole time.

"Andrey," Harry smiled as he greeted his son, "Why don't you introduce me to your friends?"

Andrey excitedly introduced his friends who greeted him shyly. Rigel B. Surtr had black hair, pale skin and grey eyes which strongly reminded him of his deceased godfather Sirius and reminded himself to ask the goblin to check if he was a descendent of the Blacks. Henry Siah on the other hand had a messy dull brown hair with a slightly tan skin and fairly sharp features which showed his distinctly mixed heritage. Once they have said their greetings and Harry had sufficiently fussed over his son, they left him to go explore or play or do whatever they do in their spare time in Hogwarts.

Once his son left, he saw Viktor, and Hermione looking at him.

"Harry…" Hermione started, "You have a son?"

"Yeah." Harry softly replied.

"Is he?" Viktor started.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Viktor asked as his eyes seemed to burn with anger whilst Hermione just looked... a mixture of horrified, sadness, and acceptance.

"I could ask you the same thing Viktor."

"I tried to… "Viktor started but he didn't actually know what he wanted to end that sentence with. "To make it work? To fix the trust? To regain the relationship?" he thought but then again, it was his mistake for being the unfaithful one. He is still attracted to Harry, he can still feel that pull with Harry in front of him, but Harry doesn't seem to have that warmth for Viktor anymore in his eyes.

Harry didn't know what to actually feel when confronted with Viktor and Hermione. He felt numb… but hyper aware of Viktor. There wasn't hate, nor was there any anger. There wasn't any desire for Viktor either, there was no lust, nor was there any attraction. There wasn't any sense of the, "I love this man" feeling either. He felt both horrified and relieved at what he felt… even if what he felt was some weird emptiness but at the same time something but dulled to the point where it doesn't process.

The tension was high; the moment was awkward between the three. None of them knew what to say to each other. For Hermione, there were matters of her cowardice during the war, her abandonment of her first friend and best friend, her involvement with the man her best friend loved and which she does as well. There were so many things that needed to be said just couldn't be said, things to apologize for but nothing to apologize for either.

Thankfully, that moment was broken by one blonde.

"Oi Scarhead, all these years and you still haven't greeted the youngest and greatest mind you, potions master that has graced this institution even after I have been patiently waiting in my seat."

Harry startled at that.

"Uhh, yeah hey Malfoy."

"Hey Malfoy?" Draco raised his eyebrows. "All these years you have gone recluse and disappeared doing god knows what without a sliver of communication, all you can say is Hey Malfoy? Not even a how have you been, my friend who has the best fashion sense in the world or congratulations on becoming one of the youngest potions master and also the most attractive potions master in history?"

Harry looked at Draco like he was an alien. Draco sighed and stood up to drag Harry off somewhere. They needed to catch up and of course, it was time that Draco made Harry shower him with compliments and acknowledge that of the two of them, Draco was more amazing by far, he in fact will read a list to Harry of how much better he is than Harry Potter that he had made. This wasn't for his own narcissistic behaviour, oh no, this was definitely punishment for Harry Potter for the brats that sang him praises but didn't even know who Draco was in the war. He is a decorated hero who should be celebrated and if he can't get the students to do so, he will get the damned hero himself to do so even if said hero was currently wondering if he was all right in the head.