A/N: Some of the inspiration/ideas for this story are taken from stories I have read on this site. I have taken these inspiration/ideas and moulded them into a story that probably has been done before but I wanted to do my own take on it.
This story is set in Fifth Year, the night Sirius died and afterwards. My timeline might also be a bit off I apologise in advance.
This story is unbeta'd. Constructive criticism is welcome but rude, nasty or vulgar reviews will not be tolerated.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise, J.K. Rowling does. I'm just playing in her sandbox for a while.
It was the week before the end of the school year and Harry Potter was nowhere to be found. After he left the Headmasters office he disappeared and that had been a day ago. Albus assured the staff, students and friends of Harry that he was alright that he just needed time to grieve. Through his connection with the wards, the castle told him that Harry was safe and well. Had Albus really known what was happening he would have run for the hills. He would find out soon enough, so would everyone else.
If one was smart enough one could figure out where Harry disappeared to and Hermione Granger was smart enough. And knowing Harry as she did she realized that whatever was bothering him - apart from losing Sirius – was monumental. She would normally march up to Harry and demand that he tell her what was wrong then help him fix it. But unfortunately she was still stuck in the hospital ward until Madam Pomfrey decided that she could go. Just because she couldn't leave didn't mean she stopped being worried.
Hermione had every right to be worried. If she saw Harry at this very moment in time she would have been scared for his physical, emotional and mental well-being.
After leaving the headmasters office Harry unconsciously made his way to the 7th floor hallway which housed the Room of Requirement. His mind was going a mile a minute and Harry was having trouble keeping up. Without Harry being aware he unconsciously paced back and forth until a door appeared.
As soon as he entered the room the door sealed shut and disappeared back into the wall. Effectively Harry was trapped in the room. Given his emotional and mental state at that time it might be a good thing.
Before Harry could figure out what was happening to him and the room, Dobby appeared in the room.
"Harry Potter Sir, Dobby is so happy to see you. Dobby is sad that Doggyman died he was good for you."
"Thank you Dobby," replied Harry with remorse. "Why are you here, I didn't call you."
"Dobby knows that, Dobby was sent here to help you. The Castle knows what happened to you and wants to help. I am that help."
"The Castle knows?! What do you mean the Castle knows? The Castle is a building." Harry voiced his opinion.
"The Castle is sentient; you think having magic cast in her for over a thousand years wouldn't change her?" Dobby asked questionably. "She doesn't have the power to speak to you but she can speak to the house elves though the bond we have with her."
Harry didn't know if he believed this or not but he realized he needed all the help he could get. He was very close to losing his mind with what was happening to him.
"Ok Dobby, what the hell is going on with me?" voiced Harry. "It feels like my mind is being infiltrated by someone else. I have images and conversations in my head that I don't remember having and there are quite a lot of them."
"Dobby will explain. Dobby may be here a while. Harry Potter should take a seat."
Harry sat down on a comfortable sofa the room provided. He looked at Dobby with a curious expression on his face. He was able to push back the images for now but they were still there in the back of his mind.
Dobby began talking. Once he did he barely stopped to catch his breath. "Harry Potter has been under the influence of potions and spells. When Harry Potter was angry in the Headmasters office, Harry Potter burned though the layers of potions and spells on him. The Castle knows who placed most of the potions and spells on you. Harry Potter must get his Grangey away from the Weasley stomach and Headmaster Whiskers. The Castle believes same potions and spells may be on Miss Grangey. The Castle believes that Harry Potter and his Grangey should leave that castle and their homeland and never return. The Castle also believes that Harry Potter should take Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood with them. Harry Potter must also visit the Goblins before Harry Potter becomes broke…" Dobby was about to continue until Harry stopped him with a roar.
"They've used spells on Hermione." Harry thundered furiously as he stood. "Who Dobby, Who has done this."
Dobby looked at him with a look that stated he knew why Harry acted like that but now was not the time. "Perhaps Dobby should start at the beginning and work though what Dobby said earlier. Dobby thinks Harry Potter is smart enough to figure it out himself."
With a furious glare still on his face Harry sat back down and gestured at Dobby to continue.
"Like Dobby said earlier, when Harry Potter was angry in the Headmaster's office, his anger burned though the spells and potions. The Castle thinks Harry Potter is a very strong and powerful wizard to do that. The Castle believes the Headmaster placed spells on you and that he had help from The Greasy Git with the potions."
"How dare they!" roared Harry. "But why would they do that Dobby?"
Dobby looked up towards the ceiling of the room. "He needs a way of controlling you. The Castle believes that the Headmaster is afraid you will go dark if you so not have the guidance of a light family that has respect for him and that he can control. And that family is the Weasleys."
Harry was very upset at that news but he pressed on. "What about the spells on Hermione?"
"Headmaster Whiskers did not like that you were getting so close to Miss Grangey. Miss Grangey is a great witch. Headmaster would not be able to control her without potions and spells. Headmaster knew Miss Grangey would never conspire against Harry Potter if not under potions and spells."
"So what can be done about it?" asked Harry. "Knowing the Headmaster he would never let me and Hermione leave and his influence is too great for me to go to the DMLE."
"Dobby knows that. The Castle has a plan and asks Dobby's help with that plan. Plan must also help Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood."
"Well then Dobby, let's get to it. The sooner the four of us are out of here the better."
With that Dobby and Harry began planning how they were going to take 'Headmaster Whiskers' down.
The day after Harry disappeared he walked into the Great Hall at breakfast. He ignored everyone else and made a bee line for Hermione who had been released from the hospital wing that morning. She was sitting across from Neville; this made it easier for Harry's and Dobby's plans. Luckily for Harry, Ron was still in the hospital wing and wouldn't be released for a few more days.
Hermione, who has seen him approaching, jumped up and gave him one of her patented 'Hermione Hugs.' As soon as they sat down Hermione pelted Harry with questions.
"Where were you? Are you ok? What happened? The Dumbledore said that you needed time alone to grieve…" She took a breath to begin again but Harry stopped her.
"Hermione, I am ok as I can be given the circumstances. The Headmaster was right, I needed time alone to grieve and sort my head out."
Hermione was about to ask more questions until she looked more closely at Harry. She could see the glint of mischief from the Marauders in Harry's eyes. If that wasn't enough every so often a small smirk would form on Harry's lips but it would be quickly suppressed. If she wasn't looking at him so closely she would have missed it like everyone else had. Hermione wasn't sure she was going to like what was going to happen next. And Hermione was right. When all this was over she would be tearing stripes of him for the spectacle in The Great Hall that would be interlaced with the anger she would feel about the Headmaster and the Weasleys.