Chapter 19: Chapter Nineteen - A Right Balls Up with Potions
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Chapter Nineteen - A Right Balls Up with Potions
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—==(oIo)==—
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After Sirius left, Hermione - a little disappointed in Harry actually killing the dragon - asked, "Was there a reason you specifically wanted to kill the dragon, Harry?"
"Yes," he replied. "And, I thought I made that clear the other night."
With a sigh, Hermione replied, "You did. But, I didn't want to believe you'd actually go through with it." She hesitated a few moments before she asked, "You do realise it means the merpeople are next, don't you?"
"Of course," replied Harry. "It was the primary reason I killed the dragon, after all. The dragon was the warning. I just hope Dumbledore tells the merpeople I'll kill them if they get in my way. Last time through, I had to kill about three of them, and grievously injure about a further five, just to get little Miss Delacour out of there. I'm hoping, this way, to save lives."
With a sigh of his own he said, "I don't know who Dumbles is going to pick as my hostage. It could be either of you, or it could even be someone else." With a snort, he said, "It could even be Weasley again."
With her face morphing into a returned smirk, Hermione asked, "And what are you going to do if it is?"
"Rescue Gabrielle and leave the red-headed wanker down there, of course!" he brightly returned. "Imagine Fumblebutt's face if I do that."
Both girls snickered.
Harry adopted a pretty impressive imitation of Dumbledore's mannerisms and said, "Ah, Harry, my boy; I'm afraid you've rescued the wrong hostage."
Switching back to himself, he continued, trying to look puzzled. "No, I don't think so, Headmaster. I put a lot of thought into this. Out of the hostages down there, I figured Miss Chang is Cedric's hostage, Weasley is Victor's hostage as Victor is so bloody arrogant he couldn't live without his little fanboys, and considering how much I want the little fuck dead or in Azkaban I knew Weasley couldn't be mine. I don't know that other person from a bar of soap; so, that left this gorgeous little munchkin as mine. I figured I cannot do without beauty in the world, and this little moppet represents that."
Switching back, he said, "But, Harry; Ronald is your friend. Surely, you can see your way to... forgive... him."
"Friend?" he switched back. "Forgive? Ha! Friends don't try and potion you with something we consider akin to the Imperius curse in a bottle. Friends don't try to find ways to help their sister rape you, or himself try to rape your other friend using potions. No, Headmaster; you're lucky I couldn't figure out a way to kill the little shit while we were down there. Right now I'm hoping, once the hour's up, the little shit drowns. Please tell me that's what happens. Please?"
If it wasn't the words Harry was using, or the pretty good imitation of the Headmaster, the puppydog expression when he said the last two sentences definitely sent both girls into howling laughter before Hermione sobered and said, "You should rescue her again, anyway. You know what'll happen. And you know what the merpeople will do to her if she's left there."
With a sigh after the cold shower of memory Hermione put on their hilarity, he replied, "Yeah, I won't allow them to harm her, this time."
During the Tournament of the first go around, and though Harry rescued her, young Gabrielle was seriously injured during the second task. She never fully recovered from her injuries. And the bright, bubbly, eleven year old was forever gone; replaced by, according to her sister, a skittish child who grew into a teen who suffered debilitating nightmares and a drug dependency on certain sleep and calming potions.
"At least, this time, you know where you need to go and can get there a lot faster," Daphne soothed him. "This time, at least, you can rescue your hostage and young Miss Delacour and should come out without much of a scratch."
"Can both of you swim?" asked Harry. "Fully clothed?"
Both nodded.
"In that case, if necessary and it's one of you two, I can get you to the surface before returning and rescuing young Miss Delacour," he explained. "That way, I'm only struggling with one dead weight getting back to the surface, rather than two."
"Dead weight?" asked Daphne with a cocked eyebrow.
With a little sigh, Harry tried to explain. "Until such time as the hostage is returned to the surface and the open air, they remain in the enchanted sleep, unable to assist with either the ascent or to fight off the merfolk. The hostages have just a smidgen of positive buoyancy, but that's all."
With a sudden look as if he'd just discovered an answer, he said, "Wait a min." And looked away with a frown, thinking hard.
"Harry's on to something," muttered Hermione to Daphne.
"That's it, I think," he muttered.
"What's 'it'?" asked Daphne.
"If necessary, I can attach... or use some other way... air bladders to whichever hostage Dumbledore sticks in the bottom of the lake for me," he slowly explained. "Heavens; even the application of a bubblehead charm on the hostage will lift them to the surface pretty quickly. It may even wake them up so they can help me with little Miss Delacour."
Both girls grinned back until Hermione's face fell again. "The problem is," she explained. "We don't have our wands with us. We get them handed back to us in the medical tent, later."
"Yes, but you can still aid yourself by swimming to the surface and getting out of it to safety," he replied. "That will then allow me to... wait. I'll take your wands down with me. We'll conjure up a couple of fake ones for the night before. If you're still with me in the morning, then I simply hand you your wands back."
"Oh, yes," said Hermione. "Last time, Professor McGonagall summoned me to her office, the night before. If neither of us has been summoned by the time we retire for the evening, I'm warding the shit out of our apartment, especially your room, Harry."
It was so rare for Hermione to swear, Harry gaped back to her in shock while Daphne just cocked an eyebrow and smirked at her.
"I don't want anyone to come sneaking in during the middle of the night," she sheepishly explained. "They can find themselves another hostage, if they leave it too late."
Nodding his head in agreement, Harry said, "I completely agree. As for the task, I'm going to practice some incantless charms and curses. I'll start with the bubblehead charm and severing curse. Then I'll work on a few I think will work really well underwater."
"Add the banishing charm to your repertoire, Harry," suggested Hermione.
"Why?" he asked.
"You can use it to propel yourself rapidly through the water by holding on to your wand, very tightly," she explained. "No. The Aquamenti charm. That'd be better. The banishing charm will give you a mighty jolt. The water charm, however..."
"Can issue a continuous stream that will work as a water jet underwater providing you continuous propulsion," finished Daphne. "Clever. You'd have to hold tightly onto your wand, though."
"Something I'm used to," mused Harry. "It'll stand me in good practice for the Priori Incantatem effect in the graveyard.
"Which reminds me; we still need to see about our second wands. I'm going to need it for the graveyard. I intend to use it to wound Riddle while holding the effect with my primary wand."
"Next time we can get to Diagon with Father, we'll organise them then," promised Daphne. "Father knows the place we need to visit."
"In the meantime," Harry said, rising from the couch. "Dinner."
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—==(oIo)==—
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During the early afternoon of the very next day, Harry received a summons to attend a meeting with Madam Bones in the Entrance Hall. It was delivered by a house elf.
Looking at the note, written in Professor McGonagall's hand, Harry then looked at his bondmates and said, "Well, it appears that little speech I gave as a response to Dumbledore about how I was most unhappy with the Heirs of allied Houses has started to bear fruit. Madam Bones and party await me for an urgent meeting in the Entrance Hall."
Both girls looked back from where they sat on the couch opposite with almost matching grins. "Well," began Daphne. "We'd best not keep them waiting."
The three made their way down to the Entrance Hall where they were met with a veritable who's who of the Wizengamot and leading members of the Ministry. Front and centre stood Madam Bones. A look at all their faces showed consternation, trepidation, confusion and not a little amount of fear. Dumbledore and McGonagall also stood with them.
As the three made their way down the final steps Dumbledore was about to say something when he was cut off by Matthias as he and Candice Greengrass stepped to the front, around Madam Bones, to welcome them.
"Hi kids," he said, by way of informal greeting.
Harry stepped forward and shook the man's hand as one man to another. "Matthias, good to see you," he said, before turning to Deece and lightly kissing the back of her hand. "Deece, always a pleasure."
Getting Harry's attention, Matthias called, "Harry?" When Harry looked over, he continued, "These people are here because they heard something that quite disturbs them regarding the status of the alliances of House Potter. They wonder if they may have a few words with you."
"Of course," replied Harry, straightening up. "Shall we go to the conference room on the second floor?"
He turned to Dumbledore and asked, "Headmaster? May we borrow the conference room on the second floor? I believe these people will want to speak with me in private."
"Of course, Harry," replied the Headmaster, twinkling. "I'll lead the way, shall I?"
"That's alright, Headmaster," Harry quickly replied. "As you well remember, I know the way."
Knowing he was just effectively told his presence was not wanted, Dumbledore tried, "Now, Harry; as your magical guardian..."
"Stop right there, Headmaster Dumbledore," Harry firmly cut in. "As you well know, I am both emancipated and you were never, rightfully, my magical guardian. You will cease and desist perpetuating that nonsense immediately; alright?"
Instead of arguing, an expression of great anger flitted across the old man's face before his expression switched back to his usual kindly grandfather mien. "Of course, Harry," he calmly said. "I'll escort you to the room and ensure it is ready for your party."
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—==(oIo)==—
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As soon as everyone filed in, Harry turned to Dumbledore and firmly asked, "This is a meeting between allied Houses, Headmaster. Is there an existing formal alliance between the Houses of Potter and Dumbledore?"
With a frown, Dumbledore replied, "Not as such, Mister Potter. However, the House of Dumbledore and House of Potter have both been strongly for the Light for many, many years..."
"With no existing alliance between House Potter and House Dumbledore, Headmaster," Harry interrupted, "I'll have to ask you to step outside. This is House business; I'm sure you understand."
With another micro-expression of great anger flitting across his face, Dumbledore puffed himself up and said, "Come now, Harry..."
Madam Bones then interrupted and almost barked at Dumbledore, "He's right, Dumbledore. Get out."
"Now, Amelia..." he tried, turning to the stern witch.
"Don't 'now, Amelia' me, Albus. Get out," she said.
With as much dignity as he could muster, and without a word, Dumbledore turned about and left the room.
Harry made sure the door was firmly closed. As Madam Bones was about to open her mouth to begin to speak, Harry held up his hand in a stop gesture. He drew his wand and began to cast about.
Recognising the detection spells Harry was using, the stern witch's unmonocled eye widened before she drew her own wand and began to cast about.
"What're you doing?" one of the others irritably asked.
"They're casting detection spells..." began Matthias before Madam Bones suddenly said, "Got one!" Her wand was pointing at the wall next to the door. "A listening charm." A moment later, she said, "Nice try, Dumbledore."
Outside, Dumbledore stood looking a little distracted for a few moments before his face took on an expression of consternation and frustration. He stalked away.
Inside, after a few moments Harry said, "I think that was the only one."
Madam Bones cast about for a little longer before she said, "Agreed."
Harry asked, "Wards?"
"Wards," she replied, and began casting again.
Harry turned to the door and cast a Colloportus door-sealing charm on it before then casting an Impervious charm on it and the surrounding walls.
Madam Bones, from what Harry saw, cast anti-eavesdropping and a few other security wards.
Once done, both turned back to the rest. Harry said to them all, "Now that that's done; please, take a seat."
Once everyone who wasn't already sitting down sat down, Dobby popped in and supplied 'nibblies', tea and coffee for everyone. Harry, his two bondmates and the Greengrasses sat on one side of the table in the middle. Everyone else sat either opposite or at the ends of the table.
It was only their rigid senses of decorum that had kept everyone more or less silent until now. Harry was grateful for it.
While stirring his tea, he looked across to Madam Bones who sat opposite and said, "As I implied downstairs, I take it everyone here has Houses involved in an existing alliance between the House of Potter and their own, and have heard alarming reports from their heirs, or other members of their family, concerning how I currently feel about those alliances?"
"We do, Mister Potter," she replied. "And we would like to know why."
Harry could hear in her tone she was trying her best to suppress her own anger.
He thought about how to do this; how to explain to them all. He remembered Hermione once saying to him, 'Always start at the beginning.' So, that's what he did.
Nodding, he said, "Well, we're going to be here for a while. I think the best thing to do is, start at the beginning. At least, that's what one of my loves keeps telling me." and glanced over at Hermione with a smile.
"Through that hearing at the Ministry, you know a lot about the first eleven years of my life," he began. "So, here's the first question for you. I do not expect an answer. If we're supposed to be allied Houses, where the bloody Hell were you to allow it to happen? If the only excuse you can think of includes the phrase 'Dumbledore said' you may as well leave right now. I'll declare the alliance nullified for cause. Because, what you would be admitting to is abnegating your responsibility to House Potter to someone who had, effectively, kidnapped me."
He let that sink in for a few moments before he said, "Now, here's what's been happening over the last three plus years..."
He went through and covered everything that happened in first year. He described what happened around the troll, the stone, their suspicions, Norbert the dragon, and Quirrell.
He then smoothly switched to second year and covered the public supposedly formal duelling lesson; parseltongue; Mrs Norris's attack; the accusations from almost the entire student body about him being the Heir of Slytherin; the lack of action by the staff; Nearly-headless Nick, Justin Finch-Fletchley and the other students being petrified; the paper they found in Hermione's petrified hand; the second message; and touched on his and Ron's descent into the Chamber of Secrets, what happened within and later. He described how he was treated by the heirs from the time of the duelling lesson until the end of the year, and how it made him feel.
He moved onto third year and only gave it a cursory overview. And thanked Madam Bones for his godfather finally being able to prove his innocence.
Finally, he moved on to the start of fourth year. He covered Hermione and Ginevra's chat with Mrs Weasley about potioning Mr Weasley; Hermione seeing Mrs Weasley attempting to potion her and Harry; a very general overview of the chat in private on the train; Hermione and he seeking out Daphne; the story they concocted about forming the soul bonds; Dumbledore's attempt at compulsion charms and obliviating them; catching the two youngest Weasleys attempting to dose them again; their later chat with Dumbledore and Harry being quite prepared to leave the Wizarding world over all that had happened; their chat with the senior staff about getting things fixed; finding out about the Tri-Wizard tournament and how the draw was going to take place; Harry giving an oath he would not enter his name, either by himself or using another to do it for him; Harry then finding out about the mail redirection and how they were now handling that; then on to the actual draw; and, finally, how the student body were acting, even after he gave another Wizard's Oath in the middle of the packed Great Hall he had nothing to do with his name coming out of the Goblet.
At the necessary points, Hermione gave her story about what had happened, confirming what Harry was saying. While he'd been speaking, Harry had watched as the gathered Heads and Regents of allied Houses gasped in shock or appeared appalled or angry in all the right and expected places. He now gave them time to absorb all he had told them before looking towards Madam Bones where she sat white with shock; her monocle dangling by its chain from the breast of her robes.
With his voice becoming more and more hoarse, Harry turned to each of those opposite and said, "We have the situation where each of your Heirs, or other members of your families, have actively denigrated me or otherwise publicly held me up for ridicule, scorn and derision, at the very least.
"And, quite frankly, I've had an absolute gutful. Right now, I've got your Houses... through the actions of those aforementioned Heirs and other family members... actively and publicly turning on me twice since I've been at this school. That is enough, right there," he said, jabbing his index finger onto the surface of the table twice in emphasis, "For me to terminate any and all alliances with your Houses for treachery and behaviour directly opposed to the purpose of those alliances.
"If you came here with the intent to berate me... or, otherwise treat me like a jumped up young kid... think again. The first person who opens their mouth towards me in anger I will immediately terminate the alliance for justifiable cause and call all debts due."
He let his gaze in anger sweep the table, ensuring he knew they'd all heard his words. Many of them had looks varying from absolutely horrified to shocked and appalled.
"Now," he said, sitting back. "Since you seem to be the spokesperson here, Madam Bones, perhaps you should go first with why I shouldn't terminate the alliance between our Houses."
She sat there for a few moments, breathing heavily and apparently trying to get her head around what she'd just been told. It was a long few moments before she finally began to speak.
"First," she said. "I want a copy of each and every memory of the highlights of what you spoke. However, that's me in my role as Head of the DMLE."
"I'll organise that for you, Amelia," said Matthias, quietly, from where he sat on the other side of Daphne. "In expectation, I've also brought a collection of memory phials for Mister Potter to use."
"Alright," she said with a sigh. "Now... onto the way Susan's been behaving. All I can say is that I'm truly, truly, sorry about her behaviour. Immediately following this meeting I'll be dragging her aside and demanding explanations and her own side of this.
"That does not, however, mean to imply I think you're lying about any of it. I just want her to explain herself to me. And, based on what she says, I'll then get back to you with what I can do to rectify this... situation. Will that do, for now?"
Harry looked back for a few moments, turned to each of his bondmates to gauge their own reactions, before turning back. "Well, I can tell you now that... reparations... for her actions are going to include a very public apology to me, directly. Plus, she needs to understand, and accept, that any further poor behaviour on her part will see me terminating the alliance right then and there.
"My patience is at an end," he firmly stated. "But, if she comes forward at her own behest to give that very public apology, the alliance need not be."
"Is that your view with all our heirs, Mister Potter?" asked Thadeus Corner, Head of House Corner.
"It is, with the exception of Neville Longbottom," he replied before turning to Augusta Longbottom, grandmother of Neville and his Regent in House Longbottom. "I don't know what he told you, Ma'am; but, Neville is one of the very few at Hogwarts that has not turned on me - ever. No matter what has happened, he has stood by me, even when his own dorm mates and others have berated him for it. The House of Potter is very happy with the Heir of Longbottom.
"Thank you, Mister Potter," the relieved older witch replied.
Turning to the other visitors, he said, "Each of you have received an almost panicky missive from your heirs and members of your Houses how wroth I am with them and, by association, with your Houses. As with young Miss Bones, I expect an individual public apology from each of them."
Leaning forward again, he firmly stated, "Until I receive those very public apologies I have no interest in renewing the alliances or discussing this matter any further. Now, is there any other business... besides the alliances... you wish to raise with me at this time?"
There were quite a number of scowls coming from those opposite; all of whom had remained silent unless specifically addressed. However, none of them raised any additional issue.
Giving them a few moments, he said, "Then, we are done." He rose, followed by his two bondmates, Matthias and Deece. That meant the others rose, as well. "When I have those apologies, seek me out again." He then raised his wand and removed the Colloportus and wards he erected before the meeting.
Following suit, Madam Bones removed her own.
While the small delegation made their way out, Harry gestured for his bondmates, the Greengrasses, Madam Bones and Madam Longbottom to stay.
When the door closed, again, Harry turned to Madam Longbottom. "While I'm happy with Neville, Ma'am; House Potter is not happy with House Longbottom's Regent. It's nigh time he was allowed his own wand," he said. "His father's wand is not suited to him and makes him struggle against it to achieve any wand-based magic. One of the first things Mister Ollivander said to me was, 'The wand chooses the wizard'. His father's wand did not choose him as it is not suitable for him. Therefore, he struggles."
"Gus!" exclaimed Madam Bones turning to the Longbottom matriarch. "He's right. How could you do that to the boy?"
Both angry at being spoken to that way by whom she considered only a boy, followed by the woman she considered her best friend, and embarrassed she'd completely forgotten the rule surrounding wand compatibility, the elder witch huffed and refused to reply. Instead, she looked away.
"Regent Longbottom," Harry firmly said to the side of the woman's face. "I would be doing a grave injustice to my peer if I did not speak on this. Frank's wand needs to be placed in a position of honour on the mantelpiece in Longbottom Hall, or somewhere similar. That is the way you honour Frank's unwilling sacrifice. Neville needs his own wand. If you won't buy it for him, I will."
Turning to stare back at Harry, she firmly replied, "No. It's my responsibility; I'll take Neville to Ollivander's immediately after this meeting."
Harry simply nodded back and quietly said, "Thank you." Turning back to Madam Bones, he said, "Now, you asked for those memories..."
Harry, working with Madam Bones and Matthias, withdrew copies of the memories of much of what had happened regarding the behaviour of the heirs over the past few years. Madam Bones then thanked them and both older witches left, together.
When the last two left, Harry turned to the Matthias and asked, "Well; what did you think?"
Retaking seat Matthias said, "You were firm, but fair. You stood your ground and showed you were in the right. Most of them came expecting to be able to browbeat you into submission. If it wasn't for Mesdames Bones and Longbottom, someone would have said something that you would have called them to task over; and they left knowing that.
"I expect they're all now chasing down their heirs and giving them 'what for'. You can expect those public apologies to begin starting tomorrow at the earliest."
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—==(oIo)==—
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And so it was. Starting immediately at breakfast the next morning, students who were heirs and family of allied Houses began coming over to see Harry while the bondmates sat at the Ravenclaw table. The first was Susan Bones.
"Mister Potter, a word, if I may?" she asked.
Harry could see the young redhead was highly embarrassed but also upset. He figured Madam Bones must have verbally torn strips off her because she, and a few others, had not been at dinner the previous night.
"What can I do for you, Miss Bones?" he asked.
As others began to notice something important was happening, the usual noise level around the Great Hall died back.
The fourth year Hufflepuff closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. After a moment she released it and opened her eyes again looking straight back at Harry for a moment, before dropping her eyes. In a clear and carrying voice she said, "Mister Potter; I have come to tender my heartfelt apology to you, specifically, and House Potter, generally, for my atrocious behaviour towards you in both second year and this year, since your name came out of the Goblet of Fire.
"It has been made clear to me this is not acceptable behaviour for the Heir of a House to behave towards the Head of an allied House. I was of the mistaken belief that what happens at Hogwarts would have no impact upon any alliances between the House of Bones and others. I was wrong."
She took another deep breath and looked a somewhat surprised Harry right in the eye. "The House of Bones offers the services of its Heir Apparent... myself... Susan Amelia Bones, to the House of Potter to provide whatever service or services the Head of House Potter deems necessary. The House of Bones only asks that the... virtue... of its Heir remains pure."
Daphne let out a quiet gasp of shock at Susan's words. Quietly, she whispered in Harry's ear. "Harry, she's offering herself to the House of Potter for anything except full sex."
Startled, Harry's breath hitched in his throat for a moment before he quickly cleared it and used a few moments to try and think of a way out of the situation.
With an outward appearance of calm, when he was feeling anything but calm on the inside, he said to his Hufflepuff year mate, "You have given me much to consider, Miss Bones... Susan. Perhaps, it may be wise if you were to pay us a visit in our apartment after classes today where we can discuss this further. This is not an acceptance of your offer, nor a decline; we just want to take time to consider the full... ramifications of your offer, before we decide anything further. Is that alright with you?"
With a relieved slight slump to her posture, Susan replied, "Yes, Mister Potter; and, thank you."
With a final nod from Harry, she turned and walked away.
That started the almost cavalcade of Heirs and other members of families allied with House Potter coming and giving their own formal, verbal and public apologies. Hannah Abbott was next and would join Susan Bones in their apartment immediately after class; Michael Corner, while not offering himself per se, offered his wand in the form of support, as did the other males; some of the witches gave the same as the males but a few were similar to the apology from Susan by offering themselves.
After each gave their apology, Harry told them he and his bondmates would meet them all in their apartment immediately after the last class of the day.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
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As expected, the bondmates all arrived at the door to their apartment just as the first of the small group of students also arrived. Daphne gave the password to the statue of Professor Whittaker and opened the door for everyone to follow her in. Harry held back outside the door to ensure the last of those who were told to come had arrived and entered.
Once inside, he saw that both Dobby and Winky had organised drinks for everyone.
"Alright," he muttered. As he was about to enter he said to the stone Professor, "If Albus Dumbledore comes along before our guests have left, inform the doddering old fool we're indisposed and will see him, if he needs to see us, after dinner."
"Right you are, Mister Potter," the statue replied, as Harry walked in and closed the door.
In the informal meeting Harry, with the support of his bondmates, effectively laid down the law to the other students who, one way or another, did great damage to their families' alliances with House Potter. His demands were quite simple, but direct. For the alliances to remain House Potter would, at times, call on their Houses to provide support to House Potter. It might be by being an extra wand in a fight, or it might be something to do with getting certain legislation passed, failed or overturned. But, the House would do it. They could do nothing else. After all, that was part and parcel of being part of an alliance. They appeared to have forgotten that.
Once the other students left to head down to the Great Hall for the evening meal, before then sending off owls to their various Heads of Houses about Harry's decisions, Harry turned to the girls and asked. "What did you think?"
"Handled just like an experienced Head of a House would have handled it," Daphne quickly replied. "You now have a solid clique of those who are beholden to you with which to use to fight or make changes at the Wizengamot or Ministry level."
"She's right, of course," added Hermione. "You could have demanded practically anything of them, and they'd have had to give it to you. Instead, you've reminded them of their obligations as part of the alliance and ensured their support."
He sighed. "Still, it seemed to almost be like I was pretty much blackmailing them."
"What some call blackmailing, others call politicking in backroom deals," smirked Daphne. Rising, she continued, "Come. It's time we headed down for dinner."
The three headed down to the Great Hall. This time, it was a much less hostile welcome.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
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Only a few days after the first task, Professor McGonagall approached Harry to 'remind' him that, as a champion, he was required to open the Yule Ball.
"Oh, that's alright, Professor," he replied. "I don't think we'll be going. Daphne's invited Hermione and I to Greengrass Farm for the holidays."
"But, Mister Potter," she exclaimed. "As a champion..."
"I'm not a champion, Professor," Harry interrupted. "We've been through this, remember? I'm just an unwilling contestant."
"You're still expected to attend, Mister Potter," she tried with a stern and commanding voice. "It's tradition!"
"I have no idea why, Professor," he shot back. "I've been rather upfront and clear about this. You have your three champions there to open the Ball as stated in the contract. I suggest you read the contract for yourself. I, and my bondmates, have other plans."
Of course, this led to Dumbledore hunting Harry down and pulling him aside during the evening meal.
"Mister Potter," he began, "As a competitor, you're expected to open the Yule Ball. Your attendance is, therefore, mandatory."
"No, Headmaster, it is not," retorted Harry. "I suggest you review your copy of the contract to rectify the errors in your knowledge. Nowhere in there does it state I have to attend the Ball. My legal representative has already gone through the contract with a fine tooth comb and agrees with me.
"The contract specifically states 'the three champions'. As I would make a fourth, and as I'm not actually a champion as defined by the contract anyway, my attendance is most certainly not mandatory. As I said, I and my bondmates have other plans. We'll be visiting both Greengrass Farm and the Granger parents on Christmas Day. They're all looking forward to our visiting."
"Christmas Day, you say?" asked the Headmaster.
"Yes, Sir," Harry shrugged.
The Headmaster seemed to frown in thought for a few moments before he looked back at Harry and said, "I may have an answer to your dilemma for you, shortly."
"If you wish, Headmaster," sighed Harry. "But, I assure you, there is no dilemma. Myself and my bondmates will be spending the day with the Greengrasses and Grangers."
Dumbledore toddled off and Harry returned to the Ravenclaw table. "He try and force you to attend the Yule Ball?" asked Daphne with a slight smirk.
"He did," he shrugged. "But, I think I was successful in planting the idea in his head we plan on visiting the Greengrass and Granger residences during the day, only. I plan on letting him come up with the idea of portkeys."
With a smirk, Daphne said, "You're more and more letting that Slytherin side out now."
The very next evening, the Headmaster approached Harry, directly. "Mister Potter, I have an answer for your dilemma in being able to visit with the families of your bondmates on Christmas Day, and also your attendance at the Yule Ball."
"Headmaster, it was never a dilemma for me, as you put it," sighed Harry, as if exasperated by the man. "I was never going to go to the Ball."
"Well, yes," said Dumbledore. "However, I have created these two portkeys for you." The old man held out two small objects - an old sock and a short piece of rope. "The sock is a portkey to take you to the Greengrass Farm on the morning of Christmas Day at 9:00am sharp. The rope will return you here, to the steps into the Entrance Hall, at 6:45pm sharp."
Harry held up his hand in a gesture to stop and sighed. "Sorry, Headmaster," he explained. "It appears I did not explain myself properly. My bondmates and I will be leaving on the Express for the Christmas break. We won't be returning until the Express returns with the students.
"However, I recognise the effort you've gone to seeing us attend the Ball without upsetting our plans. Therefore, we'll use the portkey made of the rope to return to the school for the night of the Ball. However, the portkey made of the sock will need to be reconfigured to return us to Greengrass Farm on or about midnight the same night, so we may return to our winter holiday. Sorry. Either that or we Floo."
With one of his grandfatherly sighs, Dumbledore said, "I'm sorry, my boy; but, I cannot allow you to leave the school for such an extended period of time. It is unsafe for you."
Harry snorted and said, "One: I am a fully emancipated minor. As such, I can come and go as I please; so long as I am here for classes and the two mandatory feasts. Two: As a competitor in the Tournament, I'm allowed to leave the grounds of the school, with my trainers, whenever I want; it's in the contract. And, that same competitor status also means I can skip classes, irrelevant of the aforementioned point one. Three: You seem to have forgotten my magical guardianship was stripped from you, irrelevant of point one.
"In other words, Headmaster, if you attempt to stop me or my bondmates... my trainers... from leaving, it's kidnapping. Plus, as per point two, you would be breaching the contract; thereby placing your magic at direct risk of being stripped by the Goblet.
"Now, I understand you are concerned for my well-being. I appreciate that. However, it's my choice, and you have no right or authority to go against it. You can advise; you cannot demand... or insist. If you cannot see yourself to providing a return portkey for the late evening of the Yule Ball, I understand. I'll then just use the Floo at the Three Broomsticks or not attend. Or, I'll ask Matthias Greengrass to create a portkey for us to use just outside the main gates."
"You only informed me you were planning on being away from the school on Christmas Day only, Mister Potter," the Headmaster stated a little angrily.
"No, Sir," disagreed Harry giving his head a shake. "I did no such thing. I informed you we had other plans for Christmas Day. I did not inform you we had no plans for the rest of the break. We were only discussing that particular day. I am not in the habit of telling all and sundry what my plans are for each and every day, especially when those days are part of my rightful time away from the school.
"I remind you, sir; you are only the Headmaster of the school I once attended as a student, the Chief Warlock and the Supreme Mugwump. None of those positions gives you any right to know my personal business, or what I intend to do over my Christmas break. I only informed you about my... sorry, our... plans for Christmas Day out of what little respect I still retain for the staff of this institution; and in understanding the staff need to be informed of my plans concerning the Ball, lest you refuse to accept it from the lips of another. By rights and by law, I didn't have to tell you squat."
"Harry, do you think so little of me to treat me like this?" asked Dumbledore, again laying on the disappointment mien.
"Yes," Harry firmly replied. Looking Dumbledore directly in the eye, he continued, "The more I learn about my place in the world... especially, what I've learned these past few months... the more I've come to understand just how much you've screwed me over, Headmaster."
Dumbledore almost visibly reeled back in shock. Never - at least, not in very many years - had he ever been spoken to the way Harry did with those few words.
"But, you're not the only one," sighed Harry, looking away again. "Molly Weasley has been hard at work manipulating things around me, too. Did you know she's been planning for over a decade to have me marry her daughter; so she can then get her hands on the Potter fortune? Do you know she's quite happy to admit it was with love potions she ensnared poor Arthur? She admitted exactly that to Hermione... to her face... only a few days before the first of September.
"She maliciously sent Ronald to befriend me to give her daughter a chance to get closer to me when she started, here, a year later. Of course, Ronald was also tasked with stopping me making friends with anyone else. She just didn't account for a young muggleborn witch by the name of Hermione Jean Granger seeing me as a potential friend, and to want to get closer to me. And Ron is too much of a stupid git to realise girls can be friends of a boy, too. Nor did she expect there to be latent soul bonds between Hermione and I, and Daphne and I.
"No, she was not going to let something like that slow down her determination to get her hands on the Potter fortune. So, starting this year, she then tasked both her youngest to begin a much stronger and effective regimen of potioning. As you now well know the first dose came from her own hands during breakfast of the morning we boarded the Express back on first of September. Hermione even saw her do it. It's funny, in a way, that it was that potioning... and finding out about it... that led to me taking the bull by the horns and approaching Daphne on the train; and the first soul bond occurring.
"Both youngest also carried on their persons repulsion potions that they were to use to dose me regarding anyone else who might try to get closer to me; such as Daphne. I'm sure a powerful alchemist, such as yourself, could easily see what would have happened to me if I was being constantly and repetitively dosed with love, loyalty and repulsion potions, Headmaster."
As Harry was speaking about the Weasley Plan, Dumbledore's face first took on a mien of shock, before it morphed into horror. "That'd..." he started, before he suddenly snapped his mouth shut again.
Nodding back, Harry continued, "That would weaken and confuse me more than enough to make me a sitting duck for the next time Voldemort... Riddle... decided to have a go at me," finished Harry. "It's also reflected in my school marks, already. Did it never occur to you to question why the son of the brightest witch of her age, and one of the most powerful wizards of his age, could come to school and be less than an average performer, academically?"
Harry snorted in disgust at Dumbledore. "Really, Headmaster. And you foolishly allowed both to return to the school. That's why I and my bondmates demanded the re-sort; to minimise the risk of further potioning by the Weasley terrible two.
"However, that they've been allowed to remain here does not negate that risk entirely. That they're still here means they can foolishly make further attempts. Of course, without their Potion Queen... their mother... supplying them with the potions, I daresay they may not attempt it for the foreseeable future; but, that's not a given. If they do they will, of course, fail. However, if they do they will also be caught; and you'll not be saving them from Azkaban, this time.
"But that's only one point. For all your vaunted knowledge and wisdom, you tend to make one Hell of a lot of mistakes; especially when it comes to me. I'm just sick and tired of often being the victim of those mistakes."
Without waiting for a response, Harry just turned and walked away. He didn't see the look of comingled horror and sadness on Dumbledore's face as he watched Harry walk away.
Dumbledore supplied Harry the required portkey to Greengrass Farm the very next day, with barely a word.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
The Room of Requirement started to be used by Harry more and more. He used it to practice silent casting; he used it to practice charms and curses to minimalise the wand gestures, so he could cast them underwater; then, together with both ladies, the three used it to practice dancing for the Yule Ball. For Harry - and occasionally Hermione - it was mainly Daphne teaching Harry.
However, they were all amazed when the Room was able to be configured into a dance studio with animated dancing mannequins similar in style to duelling dummies. The mannequins couldn't speak, but they didn't need to. Steps for Harry's feet appeared on the floor for him to remind himself where to place them, and when. This then solved the problem of both ladies, especially Daphne, ending up with sore toes after only a few minutes of practice and teaching.
Harry was also working hard on other curses and conjurations not taught until the NEWT years. He wanted to get them down so he could conjure up solid objects to block the Unforgivables. He practiced transfiguration of dirt, grass and twigs into objects to intercept the curses. And he taught himself and practiced the Aegis shield charm Dumbledore was able to use, where he could have objects circling about himself to stop the Unforgivables and other dark curses.
Though he didn't have a second wand, yet; he also practiced casting with his offhand. And switched to silent casting with the offhand once he was beginning to gain some level of proficiency.
His final hurdle was to maintain a fully working Lumos Maxima with his normal wand in his right hand, while practicing silent casting with his offhand. He realised he wouldn't know how successful he was at it until he gained his second wand. But, he felt, it didn't hurt to practice.
The occasional evening was also spent talking to Sirius via the two-way mirrors. Harry and Hermione, of course, were 'old hands' at using the mirrors to talk to the old dog. For Daphne, however, it was new. She questioned Sirius hard on how they worked as she could see they'd be very popular on the market if they could be replicated. However, Sirius replied that the mirrors were a joint project between himself, Moony and Harry's father. And it was Harry's father who came up with a lot of the rune-based charms work.
Not to be so easily put off, both she and Hermione were determined to figure out how it was done and replicate them. After all, both witches were at the top of the classes for both Ancient Runes and Arithmancy for their year group.
"Just remember to have fun occasionally," warned Sirius. "The Marauders worked hard at both class and prank work, but we still took the time to enjoy life. After all, James dedicated a lot of time to wooing your mother, Pup. I, on the other hand, spent a lot of time chasing all the pretty witches." And proceeded to bark with laughter.
"The latter is not something I need to worry about, Padfoot," Harry smiled back. "I have all the witches I ever need or want right here, with me."
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
November slipped into December when Harry was pulled aside by Professor McGonagall. "I doubt I really need to ask, Mister Potter," she said. "But, have you organised a date for the Yule Ball, yet?"
"Well, I don't see how it's any of your business, Professor; but, yes," he replied. "I intend to escort both my bondmates to the Ball."
With a worried little frown, the Professor said, "You'll only be allowed to escort one date into the Ball when you enter with the other competitors, Mister Potter."
Harry snorted in amusement and smirked, "I'll not be entering with the other competitors, Professor. The other competitors are the champions. It's their role to open the Ball, not mine," he explained. "I'll enter with everyone else and be sitting at table when the champions enter with their dates."
Not a little exasperated, the Professor asked, "Is it too much to ask you go along with this one thing?"
"Yes," he firmly replied. "Was it too much to ask you to at least listen to a bunch of eleven year olds, who came to you with wild claims of how someone was about to steal the Philosopher's Stone that very night? Was it too much to ask you to listen to a bunch of twelve year olds, who told you it was a basilisk that was petrifying the students, and that they had a fair idea where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets could be found? Apparently, the answer to both those questions was 'yes', Professor.
"All Houses, aside from Gryffindor, hold regular meetings with their Head of House. At those meetings the members of those Houses learn a great deal of what is going on. At those meetings, the members of those Houses come to know that their Head of House is there for them. They do not fear approaching their Head of House, and know that they will be heard. That, Professor, is not the case with Gryffindor. Even the Slytherins know they can approach Professor Snape at any time. He may be a snarky grouch, but all Slytherins know he will hear them out, if they approach him.
"Also, each House except Gryffindor has a student representative body. The Ravenclaws have 'The Directorate', the Slytherins have 'The Conclave', and the Hufflepuffs have 'The Synod'. What does Gryffindor have? Nothing. Just why exactly does Gryffindor have Prefects for, anyway? They're supposed to form a student council, just as the other three Houses have done, and yet one doesn't exist. It would have been nice to take our views about both the Stone and the Chamber to such a body. I'm sure they would have, at least, heard us out.
"So. Is it too much to ask that I go along with being paraded as a champion when, in fact, I'm not? Yes, Professor; yes."
Seeing that Harry wasn't going to 'go along', as she expected him to, Professor McGonagall sighed, shook her head, said, "I'm very sorry about those incidents, Mister Potter."
With a snort, Harry turned to walk away. He took a few steps before he turned back and said, "You know, Professor... if it wasn't for my belief you'd constantly have yourself checked out for compulsion charms, loyalty potions and the like, what with the number of students who would try such upon you to get better grades... with the amount of hero-worship you have for the meddling old fool, I'd suspect you of being under either or both." Then he turned back around and walked away.
On hearing his words, Minerva McGonagall felt as if the blood in her veins froze on the spot. 'Could it be?' she asked herself. Quickly, before she could doubt her decision, she hurried from the classroom and headed directly to the infirmary.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
"Definitely, Minerva," sighed Madam Pomfrey. "It's weak, but it's there. A loyalty potion... long-term."
With an almost defeated sad little sigh, the Professor asked, "Can it be flushed?"
"Possibly," the medi-witch replied. "But, not by me. It appears both of us need to report ourselves to Saint Mungo's."
Looking up, the Professor asked, "You too?"
"Me too," replied Pomfrey with a grim look.
Thinking about it for a few moments McGonagall asked, "Do you think the same will apply to the rest of the staff?"
I've been thinking about that," replied the medi-witch. "I'd suspect as much for all the human staff; but not Severus. He's too wise to allow himself to be slipped such a potion. However, I don't know about Filius, Hagrid... or Albus."
"Why not Albus?" the Professor sharply asked.
With a determined but angry look, the medi-witch replied, "I suspect it was Albus who dosed us."
With a gasp, McGonagall began to ask, "Surely not... Wait. It would have to be him or Severus, wouldn't it?" She slumped in extreme disappointment.
"It wasn't Severus," disagreed Pomfrey with a slow shake of her head. "The potion trace is far too old for it to be him when it comes to you. It could have been him for me; however, the potion trace is the same. Ergo, not him."
"Why would he do this?" the Professor plaintively asked.
"I suspect it's so we wouldn't question him on any of the things he's done," replied Madam Pomfrey. "The Philosopher's Stone, and the poor traps that even first years were able to get through; the petrified students and not closing the school, as should have been done; the basilisk, itself; the dementors around the school last year, and Sirius Black; and going along with that dangerous tournament, this year.
"But that doesn't account for just how long these potions have been in your system, let alone mine. I suspect we've been... what's the muggle term for it... programmed."
"Pro-what?" asked the confused pureblood Professor.
"Programmed," repeated the medi-witch. She thought for a bit and tried to explain. "There was a muggle experiment, centuries ago, where a muggle wanted to know if he could make his dog salivate on command. To that end, he used to ring this bell immediately before every time he fed it. Then he started varying the times he fed the dog, but would always ring the bell immediately beforehand. It was not long before the dog would begin to prodigiously salivate as soon as the bell was rung, but before the food was placed before it. He had programmed the dog to salivate whenever it heard the bell ring. Understand?"
"Yes," frowned McGonagall, thinking. "Yes; I do."
"We've all been programmed in one way or another," the medi-witch continued to explain. "For example, if you suddenly feel heat in a much localised area on your hand, you immediately snatch your hand away, without even thinking about it. Your subconscious recognises you're about to be burned and acts, irrespective of what your conscious mind is thinking at the time. We call that sort of thing a 'knee-jerk reaction'."
"And you think that's why we've been dosed for so long?" asked the Professor.
"I do," replied Pomfrey. "We've been programmed, just like that dog, not to question Albus about all the things he does. And the loyalty potion ensures it. At least, that's my thoughts."
With a sad and disappointed sigh, the Professor asked, "When do we do this? How do we... overcome this?"
Thinking for a few long moments, Pomfrey replied, "As for when, right now." Looking to the older witch, she asked, "Do you have any classes on for the remainder of the day?"
"No," McGonagall replied, shaking her head and thinking hard. Before Pomfrey could speak again, however, she looked back and asked, "If there're more than just us two, would it not be best for someone from Saint Mungo's to come here?"
Surprised by the question, Pomfrey thought about it for a moment before replying, "Yes, actually; you're right."
With a firm nod to herself, the medi-witch rose and went to the direct link Floo to St Mungo's at the end of the ward. The one used for emergencies she was unable to treat herself; or emergencies where there were too many victims for her handle on her own.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
"Yes, definitely long term exposure to loyalty potion," an older wizard in healer's robes explained with a frown. He'd just finished scanning Professor McGonagall after scanning Madam Pomfrey.
Madam Pomfrey's call to Saint Mungo's saw a fellow student of hers from when she was a student come stepping through the fireplace only ten minutes later. He was someone she considered completely trustworthy. After she explained what they knew and suspected, he got right to scanning the both of them.
With a sigh, the medi-witch said, "I'll get the flushing potions."
"No need," said the wizard healer. "I know exactly what potion it is still coursing through your veins and your minds. Therefore, I can just supply you with the specific counter. There's no need for a general flush that can negate almost every potion when the specific counter will be even more effective and less... intrusive on the body."
This time it was McGonagall who sighed, but in relief. She'd already been told how the flushing potion affected the body by causing both pain and an almost explosive evacuation of the bowels and urinary system. She truly did not wish to experience it for herself.
Still, she had to ask. "The flushing potion causes..." she stammered. "Well, does the counter have a similar effect as the flushing potion?"
"No," the healer replied with a smile. "Instead of doing as the name implies. The counter merely cancels the potion within your system, neutralising it that way."
"Thank Merlin!" the Professor said with clear relief.
Replying only with a smile, the healer then turned to Pomfrey. "Poppy? When can I examine the rest of the staff?"
"Treat us," she replied. "Then I'll send an elf to each, asking them to come see me in the infirmary. However, I'd really rather wait until Albus was out of the castle for one of his many 'other' responsibilities before calling them."
"She's right," added McGonagall. "We don't want to tip our hand to Albus before everyone is clear of the potion."
Arrangements were made for the healer to return on the weekend when Dumbledore was out of the castle in the very near future.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
Unknowing to what was occurring in the infirmary, Harry had rejoined Hermione and Daphne in their apartment.
"What did Professor McGonagall want, Harry?" asked Hermione, looking up from where she was already making a start on that day's homework.
"She told me I'd need a date for the Ball, as I was 'expected' as a champion to lead the first dance," Harry replied with a smirk.
"I take it you corrected her false assumption?" Daphne smirked back.
"Of course," he replied with a little bow. "I told her I'd asked the two prettiest witches in the school to be my dates. She wasn't happy with that, and tried to claim I could only ask one of you to attend; and that I had to escort that one into the Ball with the other competitors.
"Of course, I... disabused her of those errors. When she tried to guilt-trip me by asking, 'Is it too much to ask you go along with this,' I ripped into her about how we had approached her on at least two occasions during first and second year about risks to the school but she wasn't willing to 'go along' with what we were trying to inform her.
"And I gave her 'what-for' over how the other three houses all have their own student councils, and yet Gryffindor does not. And, how we probably would have taken our concerns to that body, if it had existed. I think I might have also implied she was operating under compulsion charms or loyalty potions.
"All up, she's not getting her way over this. So," he said dropping to a knee before the two girls. "Would both you ladies do me the great honour of being my dates to the Yule Ball?"
"Harry, you've already asked and we've both already said yes," giggled Hermione.
"Oh. Yeah," he replied, a little sheepish in embarrassment. "I forgot."
Both girls laughed at him while he rose from the floor.
"I'll... just get my stuff for homework; right?" he muttered. He quickly went into his room and doffed his school uniform robe. He returned to their living room and pulled out his own homework. By then, the girls had calmed down again.
Giving a little throat-clearing cough, he asked, "So, what're we working on?"
"Well," replied Hermione, showing her work. "We decided to first make a start on Potions..."
Before long, all three were working both together and independently on homework assignments.
_‗_
—==(oIo)==—
ˇ
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
H3llhound2dea1h
H3llhound2dea1h Once again this is not my work. Original work is written by Sinyk on fanfic.net
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