TSS: Chapter 10: Bargains and Battles

> *"And just like that, Charlus knew he had lost the argument. As much as he wished otherwise, he could see exactly why such an offer would be so tempting to Harry. And now, he came to a rather jarring revelation.*
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> *He had spent the last three months being an undeniable git — again."*
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— Charlus realising why he's such an insufferable moron.

## Summary:

Lucius plots with his associates. Harry is deemed ready to proceed onto the second level of Occlumency. First year drama happens. Harry gets his arm twisted into Quidditch and Charlus realises what an ass he's been.

## Plot:

**September 5th, 1992:** Lucius Malfoy meets with Lord Crabbe in his study to discuss the person they hired to complete a job for them — which is most likely Mundungus Fletcher. They require some extra resources to complete the given to them, resources that cannot afford. Lucius agrees to acquire them whilst specifying to Crabbe that there will be some alterations to the proposed plan — alterations that the hired person will be made privy later next week.

**September 6th, 1992:** Harry meets with Grace to determine if he is ready to proceed onto the second level of Occlumency. Later at night, Harry relays to Emily via the diary that Grace deems him ready to proceed further with his Occlumency studies. Afterwards he reveals to her Grace's choice of only focusing on Harry's ability to consistently detect blunt probes as a requirement for advancing to the second level. Emily approves of such teaching techniques and ends up explaining to Harry the reasoning behind them whilst noting that they represent a far better approach then the conventional method of first ensuring that one is able to also detect more subtle mind probes.

Around the same time in the Slytherin girls' dorms, Charlotte intervenes in a duel between Ginny Weasley and Evelyn Travers. She ends the fight and chastises Travers for picking fights in the dormitories. Charlotte then offers to buy Ginny a new trunk — as Travers desire to look into the Ginny's trunk is what started the whole fight — and in the process realizes that Ginny is completely clueless in regards to the social aspects of Slytherin House and informs her that a short discussion is in order when the trunk arrives. Laine Slater is surprised at Charlotte's involvement and the latter reveals that she is good at reading people and if Ginny were to get out of her shelf then she would have some potential.

**September 7th, 1992:** Harry and his friends go to breakfast and sit with Calypso and her group. At some point they are joined by Charlotte and Laine who arrive uninvited hence violating the internal rules of Slytherin House. On their way to class Calypso slips Harry a note that asks him to join her and Cassius in their classroom used for practice at eight that evening. In the same note he is also informed that their informal dueling club is due to resume next Saturday night.

Before heading to his meeting with Calypso, Harry decides to make a quick detour to have a conversation with Charlotte about her attics of stomping over the house hierarchy rules. Charlotte reveals that she is completely aware of the norms that she is breaking and that all her actions are part of a plan, but that she promises that in the future she will be more careful.

Afterwards Harry meets with Calypso and Cassius. The pair attempt to convince Harry to try for the position of Seeker in the Slytherin Quidditch team. Harry is initially skeptical of the idea but Calypso ends up laying out a convincing case by pointing out Harry's increase in House standing and his partial protection from the older students shenanigans due to the Slytherin general desire to win. In the end, Harry agrees to participate in the tryout in return for a favour from Calypso and her help with any spell work that he might require. Cassius then arranges for his father to send a lightly used broom for Harry to use during tryouts.

**September 11th, 1992:** Harry has his first lesson is second level Occlumency with Grace. She explains how the second level revolves around clearing ones mind in order to prevent an invader from having anything to latch onto. Then she proceeds in pointing out some of the things that a competent Legilimens would be able to accomplish.

In the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore has a conversation with Charlus surrounding Harry. Dumbledore explains to Charlus why joining Voldemort was so tempting for Harry and shows Charlus how he has managed to make the list of worst brothers ever. He also explains to Charlus the abuse Harry went through at the Dursleys and he points out how Charlus' need to always be in the spotlight cast Harry into shadows giving as an example how the stole Harry's spotlight at the Gala. All of this culminates with Charlus realising what a git he had been.