Chapter 6: Chapter 6
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR, and I thank her for being allowed to play in her sandbox. I reject books 6 and 7, the ending to 5, and most definitely the Epilogue. As well as the name Fleamont. This story is AU.
Warning: Non-graphic mention of torture coming up, please comment if you feel the rating needs to be amended.
**OO**
They waved cheery goodnights, and made their way back up to the tower.
A ghostly Grim showed up, and Hermione spouted tears. "Paddy! Why is he here?"
"I don't know Hermione, but he watched over me last night. He seems upset that I haven't done any pranks yet. Which reminds me, I need to talk to the twins. I don't know what happened to Paddy. I haven't been told yet. No one may know. My talk with the Gringotts' rep was interrupted and all."
Harry pointed to the nosy portraits, and Hermione realized that they were being watched.
"I was told that all dogs go to heaven." Hermione stated.
"I think that is true. Maybe this one has unfinished business." Neville chimed.
Before they left, Neville apologized awkwardly to Hermione, and she accepted it. They needed a time and a place to talk.
While Neville did that, Harry begged off with the twins pleading tiredness, but promised to plan mayhem with them soon.
The dog sat patiently on the stairs, until he got Neville and Harry to follow him into the room.
The dorm was empty of other people, so Neville and Harry climbed onto Harry's huge bed and set the privacy charm. The ghost dog started to come in, but saw that they needed to talk, so left.
"Alright. Nev, before I forget, we need to add deadly plants to the school wards, and around the Grangers, and stuff.
"Sure Harry, but what's to stop them from eating house-elves and muggles? I mean, they can have all of the door-to-door people they want, sure, but what about the innocents?"
Harry showed his appreciation of the joke and stuck out his tongue.
A pureblood Neville might be, but he was a welcomed guest of the Grangers for the last three years, and knew more about the muggle world than any Hogwarts professor.
"So, are we good in regards to Hermione? I want to be your friend! I still want to recruit you to fight with me!"
"Yeah, sorry for almost blowing our cover. She was using code for signing the contract to be a knight, and I lost it."
"She wants to stay on? After only a couple days here? Wow!"
"Yeah, so I've lost before I've started. You know that now I'm magical, Gran will fight to get me back under her thumb. I really don't want to live with her ever again. Not while she lives. But I wanted to visit the gardens and check on the greenhouses. And will want to do so again. No one told me before tonight that I had to be a wizard to grow magical plants well. Figures Hermione would know. And Gran will do everything to stop me from doing anything that I want with my life! She has to get me back! She'll have me contracted with a nice pureblood princess and never let me even be friends with Hermione anymore!"
"That won't be instant. The law only forces us to be here when school is in session. It doesn't change our legal guardians when we aren't here."
"Wait. That stupid law is about Wizengamot seats. Why did you let the Black seat go, you still have to be here at Hogwarts for the Potter seat?"
"I can tell you later but not today. Dumbledore is not admitting having the House Potter ring. If I don't get that back from him soon, then he's in breach of contract, and I can legally leave. Just putting us in a school with a death trap should break it, you know? I admire him, I do, but I surely don't understand him."
The Grim had shown up just then, putting his head through the curtain. He let them over to Ron's bed, and gave a ghostly growl at a sleeping rat.
"It can't be!" Harry gasped. Monseigneur Brown had confided that the Potter betrayer was not dead and was an animagus. He quickly pulled out the Marauder's Map, and confirmed the names in the room before casting a sleep spell on the rat and the boy across from him.
Harry caught the beast, and stuffed it into his pocket. He ran out of the room, and straight for an upper year.
"Please! I need your help. Can you conjure a small animal cage? Unbreakable?"
Harry put down the rat and stunned it. And hit it a second time.
The girl took a nearby succulent plant, and transformed it into a very decorative but secure cage, flowing it right around the rat.
Nearby. Percy started to clap. "Well done, Wiggins, take ten points. Potter, why do you have Scabbers?"
"You know this animal?"
"I do."
"Can you please come with me?"
**OO**
Professor Dumbledore didn't exactly have an open-door policy, but when his secret rune announced that Harry Potter, Percy Weasley, and Peter Pettigrew were coming up the stairs, he was indeed intrigued.
Lucius Malfoy was just leaving the room and stared at Harry.
"I won't have you make any more unfounded public accusations that my son stole from you." The man sneered.
"Well, I never said he stole. He didn't return lost property when he knew who the rightful owner was." Harry stated, not backing down a bit. "In the muggle world, that is a crime. Not that I accused him of such."
The 'I didn't have to' hung in the air like a bad smell.
A small wizened elf dodged his master's cane. Harry had forgotten about the house-elves! Harry waved to the little creature when Lucius turned back to talk to Dumbledore.
"If Potter ever causes such a scene of public humiliation for my son, I will have him expelled!"
"Oh, please sir! I didn't do it to get expelled, but would that work? I'll get started on a pranking project right away! Something guaranteed to embarrass Draco. Thank you, Mr. Malfoy! Thank you!"
Lucius stepped away from the Potter boy completely, ignoring the prefect as he was clearly a Weasley, and Harry whispered to the elf, knowing with his good hearing he could hear.
"Meet me at the bottom of the stairs, my little elf friend." Harry softly said.
"I'll be right back, Headmaster." Harry stated, leaving Percy and the caged rat there.
Now, something unusual happened when two or more Death Eaters got together in the same place. The dark mark would start to send out signals, based on muggle radar, and let other Death Eaters know that they were near. It could be turned off by the Dark Lord, but it was also enhanced when he was near.
This was meant to prevent 'friendly fire' during attacks, and to be able to help others in difficult situations without revealing to those not in the know.
Severus Snape, brewing wolfsbane, felt the faint pulse, and got the potion to the next stage where it had to simmer several hours anyways. He made his way to the Headmaster's office.
Professor Quirrell, who was playing host to the Dark Lord's spirit, just wanted to get the stone so he could be free from his current situation. Quirinus felt the pulse twice. Once from his own homicidally earned mark, and one from the source of the dark magic to begin with residing in his head.
They made their way to the Headmaster's office.
**OO**
"What's your name?" Harry asked gently.
"The Great Harry Potter, sir, asks for his Dobby. Good, kind master. Not like Dobby's family. Oh! Dobby spoke ill of his family."
The elf rushed at a wall, but Harry put up a quick cushioning spell.
It was one of the first spells he learned, as Neville had been a little clumsy when they first met. Neville's eyes needed adjusting, and he was suffering from allergies to some of the potions that his healers had him on, so he was constantly a little dizzy.
The Healer's at St. Michael's got all of that under control, and put in papers saying how the healers at St. Mungo's had misdiagnosed Neville completely. The potions regime he was on could have, over time, really hurt his magic.
Much like his parents, everyone who was in the know thought it was deliberate.
Harry shook his way out of his brain fog. He was so tired, and still had much to do.
"If you ever want to be my elf, you can be. After all, with Draco being Lord Black, and I am still technically Heir Black, Draco didn't take the heir ring away, or denounce me after all…"
Harry let the elf do the arithmancy. And Lord Black and Heir Black outranked Mr. Malfoy, courtesy title notwithstanding. And the elf could figure that out.
"Dobby could serve the Great Master Harry Potter Sir! Oh yes! Dobby will! Dobby will!"
"Dobby, go to the Black home at 12 Grimmauld Place and help Kreature get more dangerous plants and toxic stuff inside. Walburga Black has passed away, and it's really nasty in there, but it could be worse if we try. Oh, this is the house that Draco just inherited when he stole my ring."
"Oh course! Ha, ha! Happy days! Happy day!"
"Do you consider me your master?"
"Oh yes Master Harry Potter sir!"
"Good, it's just a matter of time before Draco wakes up to this, and the loophole disappears. Here."
Harry pulled out one of a pair of gardening gloves. It was getting a hole anyway, and needed to be replaced.
"Dobby is FREE!"
"I hire you as a free elf to do what I just said."
Dobby burst into noisy tears; hugged Harry hard. The elf popped away, just as Professor Snape rounded the corner.
"Potter, what are you doing here?" The man sneered. "Shouldn't you be resting since you have Astronomy tonight?"
"What? I thought it was at 10 this morning. I thought I missed it. Why would they have it so late?"
"You see Potter, and I will use small words so you can understand. When the sun goes down, it gets dark outside."
Harry waited for the laughter, but this man was serious. He was also seriously scary, and Harry realized he was alone with a Death Eater. One Dumbledore trusted, but did that prove the man's good faith? Best do what Harry did best when scared. Jabber.
Harry started speaking very rapidly. "Okay. Right. No planetarium. Does this place have electricity? The reason I'm here is because I thought I found an animagus in the dorm that my prefect and I brought to Dumbledore. I stepped out as Lucius Malfoy was threatening to expel me and my joyous proclamations to those tidings were not received well."
Snape arched an eyebrow, but had not gone for his wand yet, so Harry kept talking at a fast clip.
"Mr. Malfoy did promise me that he would see me expelled if I caused his son public humiliation again. So, as Mr. Malfoy's Head of House, just how do I get him to not steal my stuff and get caught at it?"
Snape cleared his throat.
"Sir." Snape finally said.
"Sir." Harry said. He wasn't going to sass off to a known Death Eater who was such a good fighter. Well, Lucius Malfoy was a known Death Eater, but he had not been in the normal fights. His threat was financial. If he killed, he did so from the shadows, and was not known for being a good duelist. So yeah, he was a threat to Harry too.
But Harry felt no sense of personal menace from Professor Snape. Which was odd. The Monseigneur had thought that Severus Snape was the most dangerous man to him personally here at Hogwarts.
Sister Gisele had been closed lipped about Snape. Other than to say be on his best behavior around the man.
The door finally opened again, and seeing it was Lucius, Severus drawled.
"Detention with me Potter. Friday after class. You can scrub caldrons. Without magic."
"How would I do it with magic sir? I haven't learned any spells here. Yet."
Just then Quirrell came around the corner, and Snape realized that Harry was in the middle of the three of them.
"You've just earned another detention, keeping the Headmaster waiting. Get up there, Potter! Now!"
With the three Death Eaters in close proximity, they felt their Master's presence. Snape had only suspected before.
Lucius and Severus waited until the door was closed, and both went to one knee. The robes trailing majestically behind them.
"Stand up you fools! Not here! Who is the other servant with Dumbledore?"
Snape bowed and said "I do not know, my lord, but the boy is an open book. I will find out. Master, are you here for the stone?"
"So, you know of it? What are the traps?" The Dark Lord Quirrell demanded.
"I only know of my own, sir, which is a logic puzzle I have written down in my room. The blue potion is the flame-freezing draught."
"Very well. And you Lucius? That was not well thought out. Your child can be forgiven somewhat due to his age, but he made several enemies here of old families. Has he no Slytherin cunning?"
"I came here tonight to see if I could reduce some of the damage. I intercepted the witch that brought Potter the House ring. The boy and she seemed friendly, like he knew her from somewhere else. I had no luck finding the muggle aunt. I plan to hold the witch for ransom."
"You just gained the Black vaults!" Quirrell hissed angrily. "Why risk getting caught for gold?"
"Because the vaults had 666 galleons, and the same in sickles and knuts."
"I see," Quirrell said, thinking fast.
"I'm afraid I don't see, my Lord, other than Potter has stolen from me."
"Not Potter! Dumbledore! The boy's been in the muggle world, away from everything. No, Dumbledore has had his vault key and access to all that. He sent the oaf Hagrid to shepherd him in the Alley." The man's eyes narrowed.
"Unless you are trying to hide this wealth from me, and avoid sharing?" Quirrell accused.
Severus kept silent, but the door opening at the top of the stairs had the turbaned man running back towards his office. The door unexpectedly slammed again, and the stairs disappeared. Locked up tight.
Quirrell didn't come back. A burning in their arms let them both know that the Dark Lord was very, very angry.
"Severus, I swear!" Lucius said vehemently. "I'm not lying!"
"Did Narcissa gain access before you? She was a Black after all. Did she act to secure funds before Dumbledore could do something in the Wizengamot to get the seat back?"
"I don't know. I didn't talk to her. I have been a little busy."
"Where is the prisoner? I assume you need some veritaserum?" Severus demanded.
"She's in the dungeon at home. Yes, if you could bring some by tonight. Perhaps enough for two witches?"
'You are going to dose a Black with a truth potion?' Was clearly indicated in the delicate arch of one eyebrow.
"Perhaps you are right." Lucius had other ways of dealing with thieving witches. "Where did that delinquent elf go? I wanted him to go to Draco, and see about getting him private quarters. They used to be de rigueur for heirs, and there hasn't been someone young enough to have a Head of House ring here until…"
Potter and Longbottom. Alright, neither said it, but they both thought it.
"Let Dobby handle that. I'll brew. You best get home before your wife finds your visitor and thinks that you've been cheating on her."
Lucius scoffed at that, and left, head held high.
**OO**
Harry had felt the dark energy surrounding him before, but when Professor Snape pushed him up the stairs, he realized then and there what side the man was on.
Harry Potter had just been rescued from two very, very dangerous Dark Wizards. Seeing Dumbledore inside the room, Harry ran around the desk, and stared at the door.
Fawkes flew over to Harry who put out his arm. Harry chirped at him, and Dumbledore got up, and opened the door.
Seeing the three there, he set the war wards on his office, hoping that Severus would take measures to protect himself.
Such a brave man to stay in a dangerous position! And nothing to be done until they made a move.
Dumbledore turned sad blue eyes to the Potter lad. So small! So frail! And yet, his magic thrummed under the surface, waiting to be called into service. Once he knew how.
"Potter, I think that the cage is failing." Percy warned, forgotten about in the chair in the corner.
"I'm sorry, dear boy. Now, if you have had this rat for the better part of a decade, then it is indeed most unusual." Dumbledore said.
As the transfiguration gave way, Dumbledore waved his wand, and standing there was a rat faced man.
"Goodness me. Mr. Pettigrew." Albus Dumbledore looked very surprised and concerned. He woke the man with another wave.
"It was Sirius Black! Sirius Black poking his nose where it doesn't belong!"
"Don't say that name! Bad Scabbers!" Percy declared. "You're a bad rat! Black has been dead for years!"
"Well, his ghost is here! Ratted me out! Please, Percy, have mercy! Wasn't I a good pet?" The rat-man begged. "Mercy, Headmaster! Please! I am so sorry! I should not have betrayed them! They were my friends!"
Harry was still behind Dumbledore's desk, staring at the door, and did not listen to Pettigrew's whinging at all. If he had, he would have discovered an unexpected connection to the Grim ghost.
Shackles appeared on Peter's hands and feet.
"Boys, I need to make a floo-call. Percy, fifty points to Gryffindor for bravery and cunning in the face of a death eater. I'm sure that there will be a monetary reward as well for this man's capture. Well, once his trial is over." Dumbledore intoned.
Percy went over and shook Harry from his starry-eyed reverie. The boy was dead on his feet, and clearly out of it.
The prisoner started walling, but Harry, Percy and Dumbledore all put on fluffy pink ear-muffs that Dumbledore conjured, and Dumbledore called for Soda.
"Please pop the boys directly to Gryffindor. And then get them some hot chocolate and biscuits."
"Thank you for your time, Headmaster." Percy said, with a short bow.
Harry bowed too, only slightly disappointed that he didn't get to see Dumbledore take Quirrell and Malfoy Sr. apart. The door was still shut tight.
There was always tomorrow.
The timing was excellent as Harry's mirror went off. He dashed to the loo, put up a privacy ward, and answered.
What now? Harry was tired and wanted to go to bed!
"Harry, don't talk, just listen, I can't silence this end and I just awoke. I've been captured. Malfoy, I think. Blond hair but was wearing a glamour. But I think it's him. He took everything but my brush and this mirror before stuffing me in this cell and stunning me. Don't give in to a terrorist, my little raven. I'm old, and I've fought worse than him. I'm an unknown. He won't hurt a Gringotts employee."
Harry tapped slightly twice, just enough for her to know that he was listening. She had the image off.
"Don't try to rescue me or anything. I hear them. I love you, my boy. I hold you as my own. Be brave, Harry."
The mirror cut off.
"Brother Paddy!" Harry cried out, forgetting in his panic that his beloved mentor was gone.
"Rock!"
"Jerome!"
"Charles!"
"Yeah, Potter, what do you want?" The knight had clearly been asleep.
"Sister Gisele has been kidnapped by a known terrorist. Lucius Malfoy, she thinks."
"Good to report it. Where does he live?"
Silence.
"Wait! I just freed an elf that worked there. He could probably get a team in." Harry shouted.
"Not without betraying family secrets. Even once an elf has been freed, they can't." Charles reminded him, sounding less grumpy but looking very angry. "And Sir Jerome had to leave unexpectedly to back up Dame Rebecca. I'm on my own here now."
Harry remembered Professor Snape.
"I know someone who knows him. Probably knows where he lives." Harry informed him.
"Harry! No! You are too young to make command decisions. Give me the information like a young squire should. You are doing a good job of that. Please."
"I'll talk to the elf and see if he can take you to the village nearby or something. Potter out."
Harry had never, ever lied to a Knight before, much less HIS knight. He felt horrible! But Sir Hector was supposed to have down time. He HAD to report this to someone higher up. He finished in the loo, and went to his room to find hot chocolate there for him and all of his friends, and a plate of treats that had already taken a beating.
The Potter boy ignored all of that, and climbed up into his bed. The ghost dog appeared just as Harry set the wards.
"Paddy, Sister Gisele is in trouble. The adults are telling me to let them handle it. If I try and mess things up, they will blame me, and everyone loves her. But I can't let anything happen to her! I just can't!"
The Grim perked up its ears and listened as Harry poured out his heart.
The dog spelled out 'e-l-f'.
"I know, I've thought about asking Dobby, but he won't betray his old family…"
The dog was shaking his head.
"Kreature?" Harry asked, trying to think of what elf the animagus could mean.
"I know he's the Black elf, but he really hates me. Alright. I'll try."
The Grim wagged his tail and gave a ghostly woof.
It was too far to call Monseigneur Brown directly from Hogwarts, so getting Kreature to relay a message was doing the right thing. Reporting on what he knew, and being a good apprentice knight by not getting involved in all of the rigmarole.
As if he was a child!
"Kreature!"
**OO**
As soon as Kreature had left, Harry called for Dobby and asked him if he could go to his friend Charles in Hogsmeade.
Dobby needed to be called, and so made that connection via mirror.
Harry also confessed to Charles about sending Kreature to Monseigneur Brown, but Charles seemed to understand that better than Harry did, so left it alone.
Harry decided to leave Snape's name out for now. He didn't want to put the man in danger. He had rescued him tonight so Harry owed him.
The young man was trying very hard not to be worried about the kidnapped sweet sister. Alright, the horrible, crotchety sister.
Hey, maybe he should worry about Malfoy instead? Nah.
Too many things had gone right in their plans. This balancing act was too far the other way in Harry's opinion.
It was time to go collect up the smart strong girls and get to Astronomy and try hard not to worry.
It was up on the high tower with his telescope that he saw the tall, dark haired potions-master heading for the gate, a very familiar potion sack in his hand.
'Where are you going, Chief Snake? I could kill you from here, you know.' Harry muttered to himself.
For an instant, the man stopped and crouched, as though aware of the potential danger, and then hurried out the gate.
Harry quickly swung the instrument back to the sky as the astronomy teacher came his way.
It was cloudy. Sure, the telescopes were charmed so that didn't matter, but he still needed to introduce a magical planetarium idea to their teacher.
Just as soon as Harry could come up with an excuse for knowing about one!
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