Chapter Two – Parties and Reporters

"Right," Harry said taking charge, "DOBBY!"

CRACK! The house elf appeared into being in the middle of the very yellow common room. "Harry Potter needs Dobby again? This is Dobby's most great day!"

"Dobby we are having a party. Two tables full of snacks in that corner. I'm going to get the Butterbeer. Can you do it?" Harry said quietly.

"Of course Harry Potter sir! Dobby will be pleased to." The excited elf was almost bouncing off the walls by now.

"Excellent. Thanks Dobby. Now get moving." And with another loud CRACK he was gone.

"Your own elf Potter?" one of the sixth years sneered.

"Yeah well I am only the wealthiest wizard in the country. What between the Potter and Black fortunes I inherited I make Malfoy look like a peasant." Harry replied in kind. "Anyway. Shall we my dear?" He offered his arm to Hannah who giggled and was lead out into the hallway.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

Harry pulled out the map and his cloak. "These are the secret to my success. I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" he said with his wand on the blank parchment. Suddenly it sprang to life. Lines formed and dots appeared. Names sprang from nowhere under each dot. "Look there we are" Harry said pointing to their names.

Hannah gasped. "Wow." She said.

Harry suddenly pulled her into his arms and kissed her, throwing the cloak over the two of them as he did. Several minutes later, or maybe it was hours Harry wasn't quite sure after that, they were sneaking out of the school and into Hogsmead. They made their way to the Three Broomsticks and went in, the map and cloak tucked away.

"Harry. Good to see you again. Having another one of your famous parties?" Madam Rosemerta said.

Harry chuckled "Good to see you too Rosie. This is my girlfriend Hannah. And yes. I need three crates I think."

"Right away. Nice to meet you Hannah." The barmaid replied and went out the back. Coming out seconds later levitating three large crates of Butterbeer in front of her.

"Will this do?" she asked the pair.

"Perfect as usual Rosie. Thanks. Here's the usual." Harry said handing over several Galleons.

"Pleasure doing business as always Harry. Have a good night." Rosemerta replied with a wink.

Several minutes later found the two of them heading back into the Common Room with the drinks hovering in front of them as everyone cheered.

"Drinks for everyone!" Harry said loudly and waved his wand. The bottles flew out of the crates and lined up perfectly on the table.

The party lasted well into the night and no less than eight Professors threatened detentions to people before it finally wound down. Harry spent most of the time chatting to his new housemates and getting to know them better. Hannah was glued to his side the whole night and almost refused to let him go when it was time for bed.

The next day saw everyone getting on the train home. Harry, Hannah and Susan stuck together along with several other Hufflepuff fifth years. They were in the middle of an interesting discussion of whether muggle technology could be replicated with magic as in some areas they were obviously more advanced than the wizarding world, when Malfoy barged his way in.

"Well Potter I thought you were a complete loss but it seems that you realised the mistake of hanging around with the weasel and the mudblood. Though your current company leaves something to be desired." He sneered.

Harry stood up. Anger written all over his face in a way that would have had most people pissing their pants. "I'm through with your shit Malfoy. Now FUCK OFF!" he roared.

Malfoy gulped and ran.

Harry slammed the door shut and threw himself back into his seat. Everyone was silently staring at him again.

"Hey, don't let him get to you like that cutie. You could own that stupid little ferret whether it was in a duel or if you actually decided to buy him remember?" Hannah said in his ear. Somehow the way she said it brought a smile back to his face.

"Thanks love." Harry said softly.

The tension in the air deflated instantly for a grand total of five seconds before Ron and Hermione stepped in.

"So Potty. Bullying the students? I should give you a detention for that." Ron drawled.

Susan shot out of her seat. "So you would give him a detention for defending you when Malfoy was calling you names? You really have gone round the twist weasel." She yelled.

The two Gryffindor prefects looked stunned. For a second Harry could swear he saw Hermione shake visibly and then, she collapsed. Harry whipped out his wand and cast a spell at her to see what was wrong.

"What the hell?" he said confused.

"What?" Hannah asked.

"She's under the Imperious Curse!" Harry said franticly.

Everyone looked at Ron who was looking extremely guilty. Harry pointed his now glowing wand at Ron.

"What have you done?" He commanded with the very same look he had given Malfoy earlier.

Ron gulped. "It wasn't my idea. She didn't agree with me and the others so Dumbledore told me to use it."

Harry just looked at the cowering boy for a second then suddenly put his wand down. "Ronald I am going to take the mature way out of this. Get out and just you wait until I tell your mother what you did." The red head ran from the compartment.

Harry looked back down at Hermione on the floor, pointed his wand at her and shouted "IMPERIO!"

Everyone else gasped. Harry looked up and around. "Don't you guys remember what the fake Moody told us last year? The only way to break the curse on someone else is for someone stronger to cast it on that person."

He pointed his wand down at the girl on the floor again. "Ennervate."

Hermione's eyes flew open. "Oh my gosh. Harry I'm so sorry!" The bushy haired girl started sobbing in Harry's arms.

"It's ok. At least we know what is going on now." Harry said to her quietly. "Come on. Up you get, sit down, here you go. He guided her to the seat next to him with Hannah on his other side.

"Now why don't you tell me what's been going on?" Harry said gently.

Hermione looked up at him for a second and burst into tears all over again. "Oh Harry. It was horrible. While you we were all still in St Mungo's, Dumbledore collected all of us into Ron's room and told us terrible things. He said it was your fault Sirius got killed. He said you were trying to eliminate us so that no one could stop you when you tried to rise up as the next dark lord after you kill You-Know-Who. He said we had to beat you down emotionally so that you would never believe in yourself and then you would be no danger to the rest of the world. I didn't believe him so he used that curse on me. After that Ron used it on me to keep me 'on the right track' he said."

She broke down again sobbing uncontrollably. Harry just held her and let her get it all out. Suddenly she sat bolt up. "That wasn't the worst of it." She said very quietly.

Harry suddenly found himself getting angry at Ron again. "What did he do?" It was more a command than a request.

She gulped and then almost inaudibly "He made me sleep with him."

Harry stood up and pointed his wand at the door, which promptly exploded outwards. He strode out into the hall and off down the train to find the red headed boy.

"RONALD WEASLEY YOU DISGUSTING PRICK! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU WHEN I FIND YOU!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

He found the compartment with the boy in it. He was trying to hide in the corner. Neville, Ginny, and Luna all had their wands out and pointed at the door. Harry stepped in.

"Move." He growled dangerously. The three traitors held their ground.

"Leave Potter. Before we have to hurt you." Ginny said fiercely.

Harry just looked at the girl. He didn't say anything, he didn't even point his wand at her. She just flew backwards into the wall of the compartment.

"Do either of you two want to end up unconscious or will you get out of my way?" Harry said calmly. It was this over everything else that really scared the two left standing. Harry was never this calm. They knew he was beyond anger now. They stepped aside. Harry pointed his wand at the cowering Weasley boy.

"I'm just trying to decide whether I should exact revenge myself or turn you over to you and Hermione's parents. What do you think Ronald?" Harry said quietly.

Ron just looked up at the Boy-Who-Lived and whispered "Please."

Harry smiled. "Maybe you have learned a lesson here weasel. Never mess with my friends. Now stand up."

Ron stood.

"Make no mistake weasel. I will be telling your mother what you have done. And Hermione's parents. Maybe I should let Susan tell her Aunt as well. What do you think Ron? Should we tell the Ministry what happened?"

Ron started shaking from the barely concealed anger in the voice and shook his head vigorously.

"We will see. I will give you one chance to tell both sets of parents and apologise to Hermione when we reach the platform. Should you fail then you will face the consequences. Understood?" The red head nodded.

Harry turned and left. Everyone else on the train had wanted to know what was happening but were too afraid of the tone of voice Harry had used to venture out of their compartments.

He arrived back to his friends and sat down. He didn't even have time to breathe before "Please tell me you didn't kill him!" Came from an angry Hannah.

Harry sighed. "No but Ginny is unconscious. I don't even know what happened. My wand was pointing at the floor and I hadn't said anything. She just flew through the air suddenly. Ron is fine. At least until we get to the platform. I told him either he tells his and Hermione's parents and apologises to her or I will inform not only them but the Ministry and the Board of Governors as well."

Hannah immediately calmed down and planted a kiss on his cheek. "You really are a true Puff Harry. That's real loyalty to your friends right there."

Hermione however was still quiet. Harry spoke up.

"Hermione?" She just kept staring at the floor. Harry put his hand on her shoulder. "Sis?" She looked up at this, startled.

"What did you call me?" she said.

"Er. Sis? As in sister. Which I have always thought of you as. Must be the bossiness." Harry mused. Hermione whacked him on the arm.

"Ohh you!" She said.

Harry laughed. "You are just like McGonagall. She said that to me yesterday." The others laughed too, even Hermione.

"That's more like it 'Mione. Chin up. I'm not letting Ron away with this. And I am definitely not letting Dumbledore away with it either." Harry said fiercely.

Susan suddenly pointed out the window. "Look we're here!" she squealed.

Everyone scrambled to get their things.

"Um Harry. Can you come with me to get my trunk?" Hermione said quietly.

"Sure. We'll all come right guys?" Harry said exuberantly. There was a chorus of agreement from all around.

Hermione actually smiled at this. "Thanks guys."

The group retrieved their things and left the train together. Harry, Hannah and Hermione walked right over to where the Weasley's and Grainger's were standing.

"Mr and Mrs Grainger, Mr and Mrs Weasley." Harry began. At this stage Hermione's mother saw the look on her daughter's face and squealed, throwing herself onto the still crying girl.

Mr Granger turned to Harry. "What happened to my daughter!" He demanded.

Harry looked around for Ron and saw him coming over as slowly as possible. "I think I should let Ronald take this one." He said coldly. The Weasley's noticed this and also the sneer on Harry's face when he looked at Ron and Ginny.

"Harry Potter you will tell me what happened this instant." Mrs Weasley began loudly.

"No. I told Ron that he has to come clean or else there would be trouble." Harry replied calmly. "Oh and no offence or anything Mrs Weasley but I won't be coming over anytime soon. Ask Ron about that too."

Mrs Weasley turned from red to purple to blue and then began to pale. "RONALD WEASLEY GET YOUR SORRY BACKSIDE OVER HERE THIS INSTANT!" She yelled for all to hear.

Ron came scurrying over. "Um hi mum."

"Don't you 'hi mum' me young man. What happened to this poor girl!"

"Well uh…" He was beginning to look desperate, "It was him!" He cried pointing at Harry.

"What!" Harry exploded. "How dare you blame me for your use of the Imperious Curse on her! How dare you say that our no longer being friends was my fault. How dare you try and claim that it was me who, using the afore mentioned curse, made her have sex with you!" Harry yelled out for all to hear. Ron shrank a small bit with each word.

The four parents just looked at each other in a shocked silence. There was no noise over the entire platform.

"Mr and Mrs Weasley I express my condolences that your son has so obviously betrayed not only myself but also your family. I want you to know that it was Dumbledore who convinced him to use that curse. I wish you good luck with repairing the damage he has done to your family. Ron is not the only member he has corrupted." Harry looked pointedly at Ginny. He then turned to Hermione's parents. "Mr and Mrs Granger Hermione is like a sister to me I swear to you that this crime will not go unpunished. I will use every available avenue to ensure that nothing of this kind can ever happen again. If you need anything don't hesitate to write to me. I will write to Hermione at least once a week and my owl will know where to find me."

The silence was incredible. As strange as it may be in a crowded and busy train station, you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone heard every word and Harry knew this was going to be on tomorrow's front page.

He turned and left with Hannah and Susan who had stayed behind.

"You're sure it's ok that I stay with you this summer?" he asked his girlfriend.

"Of course. I was already spending the summer with Susan and her Aunt anyway and they both said you are more than welcome to stay as long as you need." She replied.

"Wicked. Now I think we need to do some damage control. Ah excellent, the media are here." With that Harry strode up to the gaggle of reporters.

"Good afternoon." He said to them and they all looked up. "I realise that I have been less than co-operative with the press before now however I am prepared to make a statement and answer a few questions today." He said to the stunned reporters.

"Mr. Potter…" a tall blond began.

Harry raised his hand. "First off please just call me Harry. I prefer it." He said.

"Ok. Harry. Gina Sparket, Witch Weekly. Who is this lovely young lady next to you?" she said.

"Hannah Abbot, in my year group and my new house at Hogwarts. We started dating recently." He replied.

"Harry. John Turpin, Daily Prophet. Why have you never spoken to the press before now?"

"Because I never really trusted the press. They lie and twist things to make sure they have the most scandalous news. It's unfortunate but lately I have detected a changing of the winds you might say. So as long as this trend to truthfulness keeps going I will continue to communicate with the media."

"Harry. You said you are in a new house at Hogwarts? Which one and why?"

Due to the actions and lies of a small number of people in Gryffindor house I became the target of abuse. Normally I wouldn't have cared or fought back but when you have just lost someone very dear to you life is never as easy or as simple as normal. I invoked my right to be re-sorted and was placed in Hufflepuff house."

"Harry, how are you finding your new house?"

"It's excellent. Everyone is incredibly supportive of my move and have been very welcoming. Most especially the Quidditch team." This drew a laugh.

"Harry. James Grant, Ministry News. What is the truth behind this sudden rift between you and Ron Weasley?"

"Ronald turned his back on me. He believed Dumbledore's lies and used the Imperious Curse on my best friend to turn her against me as well. It also appears that he used this influence to make her do other things as well. I will be taking this to the Ministry and also to the Hogwarts Board of Governors. However the rest of the Weasley family are honourable people and it is rather unfortunate that Ronald has disgraced such good people in this manner."

"Harry. What are your plans against the threat of You-Know-Who?"

"Training. Lots and lots of training. Not just myself but anyone at Hogwarts who wants to learn to defend themselves and those they care about."

"What are you plans for the Summer Harry?"

"Well I'm going to begin researching the history of my family, sadly Dumbledore has tried to keep me in the dark about as much as possible and it is time to fix that. Apart from that I guess I need to do my homework and I'll be spending as much time as I can with my friends. And on that note, it is time for me to leave. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to seeing tomorrows news."

And before they could so much as blink he and Hannah ran off to join Susan and her Aunt.

"Madam Bones. A pleasure to see you again. Thank you for having me to stay this summer." Harry said smoothly. Hannah sighed at the way he said it. Sometimes he was so over the top. Susan just giggled.

Amelia Bones just smiled at the girls reactions and replied as they walked, "A pleasure to see you too Harry. It's no trouble. I'm happy to help you out anytime. By the way, good work with those reporters. You are going to be a big force in politics one day."

"I hope not. I rather enjoy teaching." Harry replied sullenly.

"Aw cheer up sweetie. There will be a way out of it somewhere I bet." Hannah cooed in his ear.

Harry grinned and kissed her. "All's well that end's well." He said with a wink. The four of them shared a laugh.

"Well while we're here is there anywhere you kids want to go?" Madam Bones asked.

Harry and Hannah looked at each other. "Yeah." They said at the same time.


A/N: Well that was a bit longer. I was going to have more to this chapter but it felt like it was getting too long. More next chapter.