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Chapter Two – The Dawn Of The First New Day
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The magical field had finally extracted the soul fragment's wizarding space from Harry's forehead and then annihilated the soul fragment before destroying the wizarding space which contained it.
Had the sound of the soul fragment dying been heard by Poppy, she would have run screaming from the Infirmary, her sanity significantly compromised, as the unearthly, demonic pain of the scream would have shattered her mind. But she did not, in fact, hear it.
Instead, Harry's magical field contained and silenced the sounds and converted the energies contained within the Horcrux and the wizarding space into additional energy to repair Harry's remaining injuries, undo the damage from the years of neglect, and recharge his magical core.
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Harry awoke. It was dark; only the moonlight streaming through the windows provided any illumination. He looked around and paused for a moment. "I can see clearly!" he thought, realising his spectacles were still on the bedside table. He looked over at the next bed and the sight of the young girl there took his breath away. He stared at her petrified form for some time before remembering where and when he was.
As quietly as he could, he lowered the railing on the side of the bed and slowly sat up. He listened carefully but heard no other noises. He removed his wand from the bedside table and softly cast silencing spells on the door to Madam Pomfrey's quarters, located adjacent to the students' ward. While this was by no means thorough, it was adequate for what he had in mind.
He turned and lowered his feet to the floor and padded over to where Hermione lay and took her hand in his. "Hermione. I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I've read about patients in comas being able to hear but not interact with their environment. In the event you can hear me, I wanted you to know I am here for you. The way you've always been there for me since we met."
He took the folded page, from the library book she had nicked, from her hand and read it. "I found the results of your research, Hermione. I am going to do some additional research," he said, justifying this as not being a lie since he would be researching, from his own memories, "to see what I can do. I won't be able to take this to the professors. They would be of little assistance," he whispered.
He leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek. "You're smart and beautiful, Hermione. Whenever I am with you, I am too embarrassed of myself to tell you how much you mean to me and how I have grown to care for you deeply. When this is over, don't be surprised when I ask you to be my girlfriend," he said, gently cupping her cheek with his hand. He then looked over at Colin Creevey, Daphne Greengrass, Penelope Clearwater and Justin Finch-Fletchley on the other side of his bed, pondering how Daphne got caught up in the basilisk's gaze.
"I have to get back to bed, Hermione, but I will be talking to you very, very soon," Harry whispered and kissed her hand. He quietly walked back to his bed, climbed in, raised the railing and tucked the folded page into his waistband. He removed the silencing spells from Madam Pomfrey's door, transfigured the glass in his spectacles to be prescription free, and once more placed his wand on the bedside table.
He lay back down and closed his eyes, falling asleep with a slight smile on his face.
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Harry awoke again. He was on his back and he turned his head to face Hermione and could not help but smile. "It really did work! I can save her!" he thought to himself, still somewhat surprised the temporal displacement had worked as well as it had.
As he recognised the sound of a quill being scraped across parchment, he turned his head the other direction and noted the low illuminating glow of a candle coming from Madam Pomfrey's office. Although he had slept most of the day and all night, he still felt enormously fatigued and did not want to have to speak with the mediwitch just yet.
He began revising the mental list he had made of things he would change if he was successful in returning.
He turned his head once more to watch Hermione, his mind filled with happier memories of her. After some time, with his mind filled with images of Hermione, sleep embraced him once more.
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Harry was flying around the clouds on his Nimbus 2000. There was no wind and no sound. Just the silence of the sky at rest. Suddenly, as he was soaring, he faintly heard his name called in a familiar voice, "Harry." He flew in the direction he thought it had come from. He heard it again, slightly louder, but from a different direction, towards which he now flew. He heard it again. This time, the voice sounded a bit panicked, "Harry?!"
Up ahead, there was a break in the clouds. He headed towards it. Hovering in the air, a most hated figure had his arm in a choke hold around the throat of his beloved Hermione, who was crying out to him in panic and fear, "Harry! Help me!"
He locked eyes with her for a moment before his anger and his rage built almost to the breaking point. He looked at Lucius Malfoy, who smirked at him and released his choke hold on her, causing her to plummet.
Ignoring the man, he dove after Hermione. He could see she was falling faster than he was flying so he pushed all of his magic he could into the broom, accelerating rapidly towards her. Just as he had almost caught up to her, she began falling faster. She screamed his name in fear as her falling accelerated and she disappeared into the distance.
"Hermione!" he shouted.
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"Hermione!" Harry shouted, sitting up in bed. Madam Pomfrey put her hands on both his shoulders and gently pushed him back down in bed.
"Harry. Shush now. You were having a bad dream," she cooed at him, trying to comfort him.
"But she was falling. I couldn't save her..." Harry began, tears of frustration and loss in his eyes.
"Miss Granger is in the bed next to you, Harry," Madam Pomfrey said soothingly.
Harry looked into her eyes, searching for the truth in them. The vision of Hermione falling had been so vivid...so real.
Poppy looked meaningfully towards Hermione's bed and he turned his head to follow her gaze. His relief was clearly evident to Poppy. He relaxed and a smile illuminated his face.
Poppy waited a few moments for Harry to turn back to her. He seemed almost enraptured by the sight of the young girl. She had seen enough schoolboy crushes to know this went beyond a mere crush. She put her hand on Harry's forehead. The coolness of her hand on his head, and the gentleness with which she touched him, caused him to turn his head back towards Poppy.
"How are you feeling this morning, Mister Potter?" Poppy asked.
Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath and held it for almost half a minute before slowly releasing it. As he held his breath, he reached out with his magic to see if he was injured. He was somewhat startled to realise precisely how nearly perfect his body now was. He could no longer feel the density variations in his right arm, from when his uncle had broken it slamming it in a door when he was six. None of the burn scars on his forearms, from splattered bacon grease, were there any longer.
Harry looked up at Poppy with no small surprise. "What did you do? I feel better than I have ever felt," he said, a bit of awe in his voice and his eyes wide.
Poppy smiled down at him. "Do you remember what happened to you?" she asked him, watching for the small signs of emotion.
Harry wove together a tale of what he had pieced together from Snape's explanation to McGonagall and the story he had developed before coming back. He recounted the amalgam of the story back to Madam Pomfrey in a halting fashion.
Poppy listened to the story while carefully watching Harry. She was a natural reader of people and could spot a tall tale from across the Quidditch pitch. "How strange," she thought. All of Harry's physical cues were indicating he was telling the truth, but they were delayed a moment or two, as if the body was following along behind the mind in the telling.
He looked back over at Hermione, "And then I fell asleep looking at Hermione," he finished his explanation, with a small smile on his face.
Poppy produced her wand and cast her diagnostic spells, which Harry remembered all too well. He lay there quietly until she finished. He was only mildly concerned when she cast them a second and then a third time.
She looked down at him and decided to explain to him what happened. "Mr. Potter, the potion I gave you was not a normal healing potion or a normal sleeping potion. Professor Snape, who is a potions master, developed that potion as a means to allow a witch's or wizard's magic to be unleashed, as it were, to heal the body. While it has been thoroughly tested on many people and been proven to work with remarkable results, the recipient's magical core is usually somewhat depleted after performing the healing," she explained.
Harry nodded his understanding.
"I would not have given that potion to you, but for the fact that you had several hairline fractures to your skull from the accident. I was concerned there were unseen injuries and felt the risk of depleting your magical core was worth preventing the possibility of a life-long debilitation or worse," she said.
Harry swallowed and nodded, "I understand, Madam Pomfrey. I could have died from some hidden injury, correct?"
Poppy nodded, "Precisely, Mr. Potter. I would rather you not be able to cast spells for a week than allowing something preventable to happen to you."
"So I won't be able to use magic for a week?" Harry asked in feigned disappointment, not really feeling magically-depleted at the moment.
Poppy smiled at him. "Actually, Mr. Potter, there were some unexpected results of me giving you that potion. It would appear that it did not deplete your magical core. It did, however, prevent me from running diagnostics on you last evening after you fell asleep. I had to have the assistance of another professor to check on your condition," she explained, "but Professor Vector was able to determine you were healing."
Harry looked at her quizzically. "Why would she need the help of an Arithmancy professor to do diagnostic charms?" he thought. "Professor Vector?" he asked aloud.
"Yes, Mr. Potter. Professor Vector is well-versed in passive magic. When your magic was unleashed by the potion, it formed a shield around your body. The Headmaster attempted to cast a normal well-being spell on you and received an unexpected result, but Professor Vector was successful using a passive form of the spell," Poppy explained.
"When will I be able to use magic again, Madam Pomfrey?" Harry asked with some concern. "How long am I going to have to remain passive? I had not expected this," he thought.
"While your core seems to be fully recharged, or nearly so, I would like you to refrain from using magic for three days and then come back and see me. I will let the staff know of this so you will be excused from classes, as appropriate," she said.
Harry nodded, but was, to Poppy's trained eye, clearly distracted. He looked over at Hermione again.
As if reading his thoughts, Poppy provided him some comfort, "Yes, Mr. Potter. You may come visit Miss Granger when you are not in class. I do fully expect you to eat properly and get sufficient sleep or I shall ban you from the Infirmary," she scolded him gently.
He looked back at her and his smile almost melted the mediwitch's heart, "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey!" he exclaimed with genuine happiness and relief. He had not been certain how he was going to be allowed to remain at her side.
"You're most welcome, Mr. Potter. Now I will leave you to get dressed. I want you to head straight away down to the Great Hall, eat a full breakfast, get your book bag, and then you may come back and visit with Miss Granger. Take your time eating your breakfast. Eat a bit, rest a bit, then eat a bit more. It would not do for you to be ill when Miss Granger is revived, now would it?" Poppy asked with a motherly smile.
"No, Madam Pomfrey," Harry replied, "I promise I shall do as you say."
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Harry was walking down to the Great Hall from the Infirmary when he saw a sight which caused his blood to boil. He rushed forward, his thoughts focusing on how he would destroy them for committing this heinous act.
Luna Lovegood was stumbling down the corridor, barely able to see. Her left eye was swollen shut from the damage caused by the fist striking her face. She wore mismatched shoes and her blanket around her as her house mates had taken her clothing and left her with nothing but the two left high-heeled shoes – shoes they had taken from one of the seventh-year muggleborns.
She was fairly certain the index finger on her left hand was broken, having tried to block the fist from striking her face. She could not move the finger and it throbbed with pain at her every effort to close her hand.
She stopped and cringed as she heard the rapid footfalls coming up behind her and her name called, fearing her tormentors had followed her and weren't satisfied with the damage they'd done earlier.
"Luna! Wait!" Harry shouted, rapidly catching up to the diminutive Ravenclaw. He watched as she stopped and cowered to the floor, seemingly trying to protect herself from being hit.
"Please just go away," she whimpered, "What ever did I do to you?" she asked, as a fat tear rolled down the right side of her face.
Harry had thought he knew what Luna had been through previously. It was clear to him she had downplayed much of her abuse at the hands of her house mates.
He reached out to her to take her hand, but noticed her index finger was stuck straight out from her hand at an odd angle. He gently took her wrist, instead, and waved his other hand over her injured hand while furiously whispering, "Oh Luna! My Luna! My Little Pixel! Who did this to you shall know my wrath."
When her hand had begun feeling better, Luna feared it was one of the Ravenclaw prefects come to hide the damage and threaten her with retribution or worse if the professors learned of her treatment.
When she heard the whispered words, she tried to open her eyes but found that, in her fear, the crying had simply helped to seal her right eye shut as well. She heard him whisper other things.
Harry's fury knew no bounds.
He examined her and healed her broken and dislocated finger, the three cracked ribs, the hairline fracture of her zygomatic bone she received when she had been punched in the face, the blisters forming on her feet and the bruises on her shins, knees, elbows, thighs, back, face and chest.
As the pain rapidly left her, she realised, since beginning Hogwarts this year, she hadn't felt this free of pain since her first week. The prefects never would heal the hidden injuries, telling her they were her reminders to stop acting so freakish.
Harry finished healing her then pulled her into a hug, kissed her forehead then held her head against his chest, making a silent promise to himself that he would not give her tormentors the mercy of death.
Luna felt warm, gentle lips on her forehead and then gentle hands pulled her head against a warm, rather firm, pillow. She opened her eyes and saw the red and gold trim of Gryffindor robes.
She pulled away suddenly, not knowing what this boy's intentions were. She didn't know if he was truly helping her or not, but she suddenly realised she was sitting in this possibly-evil boy's lap wearing nothing but a blanket. She tried to stand but the blanket slipped to the floor.
What little shred of sanity Harry had been using to hold his anger in fled when he realised they had even stolen her clothes. "Trying to take from her any shred of dignity and humanity," was his last rational thought for several minutes.
Although the castle was cold and she had been shivering before being held in Harry's lap, a warmth filled her as she felt a wave of magic wash over her.
She felt the weight of heavy wool robes fall on her shoulders, hips, back and chest. Her feet, which had fallen out of the overly-large shoes were now covered in wool socks and had properly-fitted shoes covering them. She looked down at herself and discovered she was dressed as she should properly be, down to knickers she felt helping keep her warm as well. She was also now wearing a deliciously warm, great cloak made of brilliant-white fur, lined with some type of silk.
There were the unusual adornments on the robes that caused her to wonder at his motives. First was the Potter family crest embroidered on the robes over her heart. This was usually a sign of betrothal, indicating to others who saw it that she was now under the protection of an ancient and noble house. Her robes, instead of being trimmed in just the colours of Ravenclaw house, blue and bronze, beyond these colours, the robes were trimmed in a deep, almost-black brown and an incandescent, snow-white fur. Even the blue and bronze of Ravenclaw seemed to be a richer, more vibrant hue; the blue took on the colour and brilliance of a cloudless sky at dusk and the bronze seemed to be liquid metal.
She looked at the boy before her and watched as the whites of his eyes changed to glow the same colour green as his iris. His pupils were fully dilated and his hair was blowing unnaturally. She could feel the malignant waves of raw, unfiltered, uncontrolled rage-filled magic flow over her.
With wide eyes and a trembling throughout her body she could not control, she began backing away from this boy in front of her, hoping he would not direct his ire at her.
Watching her back away from him in abject terror was finally what it took to bring Harry away from his thoughts of retribution. "First I need to heal her mind and become her friend," he thought.
"Wait. Please. I didn't mean to frighten you," he said in a calm, soothing voice. She stopped edging away from him, though still looked as if she was about to bolt away in search of safety.
"Please. I just became angry when I saw how you had been hurt. I want to be your friend," he said.
The effort to keep from laughing in his face took every ounce of effort. "Friends? With Loony Lovegood?" she thought. "Is he just being nice to me to hurt me even worse or..." her thoughts were interrupted.
"I, too, was abused by the very people who should have befriended and loved me. Please? I really do want to be one of your best and truest friends," Harry pleaded, trying to put into the words the feelings of love and thankfulness he had for the beautiful, brilliant witch the young girl in front of him would become.
The sincerity of his words and tone caused her to pause and stand up straight. She watched as his eyes returned to a more-normal appearance.
Harry felt the weight of her gaze. He felt the slightest shadow of pressure against his occlumency shields and he pushed forth all the feelings he had for the girl who had made it possible for him to come back to save his Hermione.
Luna could feel palpable sensations of friendship, fondness and something she had only ever felt when in the presence of her parents – a deep, protective, encompassing love for her. "Do you really want to be my friend, Harry Potter?" the blond girl asked timidly.
Harry nodded and took out his wand. He saw Luna take another step back from him and looked as if she was, once more, on the verge of bolting down the corridor. Harry pointed his wand at himself, "I, Harry James Potter, do swear by my magic that I am, to the best of my knowledge, the last living Potter. By right of ancestry and conquest, I do claim Lordship of House Potter and dominion over all other houses so forsworn and so taken. So mote it be!" he exclaimed.
Harry felt the weight of House Potter's ring on his right ring finger.
"I, Lord Harry James Potter, swear upon my life and my magic that I will be a true friend to Luna Selene Lovegood to the end of my days and that I will never knowingly, through action or inaction, cause her harm. So mote it be." Harry felt the pressure of his magic judging him, his intent towards the girl in front of him. He watched in surprise as a green pulse of magic left him and washed over Luna.
Luna was surprised when Harry had said her full name. She had never told anyone her middle name. Not even her friend, Ginny Weasley. While this surprised her, nothing prepared her for what happened when Harry finished his oath.
Luna cried out in fear as the corridor-filling pulse closed the distance between the two of them, but a feeling of absolute peace filled her as the magical pulse washed over her and, although she did not know how she knew it, she knew Harry would never ever let her come to any harm. She closed her eyes, only to open them again wide in surprise. She could now feel his concern for her. His friendship for her. Her eyes opened even wider as she looked at him as she felt the overpowering love he felt for her.
Although surprised, Harry could see Luna's entire being transformed from a frightened little girl to a relaxed, happy young girl, to the expression he had seen on James' face when Harry had attuned James to the wards at Potter Manor. "How is it I can feel what she is feeling? Why is Luna feeling awe?" he thought, as he felt her feelings when he looked into her eyes.
To prove the oath had been given in good faith, as he had been taught, he focused his magic before casting. He raised his voice and cast, "Lumos!"
He was somewhat surprised when, instead of a bright, searing light being emitted from the tip of his wand, the tip of his wand glowed only slightly brighter than normal. The entire corridor, however, was illuminated with a rich, diffused golden light reminding Harry of walking through the mist on a Summer morning. And the source of the light seemed to be Luna and him.
He was about to end the spell when Luna closed the distance between them, wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. He whispered, "Nox," holstered his wand, wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.
Harry's eyes opened widely as he could suddenly feel her fear of rejection then a wave of comfort and an intense feeling he could only surmise was relief. He decided that when she was a bit more coherent, he would ask her about it.
After several minutes of Harry holding Luna, he heard running footsteps from the direction of the Great Hall.
He watched as Padma Patil from Ravenclaw came running down the corridor from the direction of the Great Hall. The relief she felt at seeing Luna safe was clearly evident in her voice. "Oh! Thank Merlin! Luna! After what Randle had been whispering about what her and her cronies had done to you..." she had begun, but was interrupted by a pulsing wand tip held a hair's breadth from her forehead. She hadn't even seen Potter move.
"Is this one of the people who harmed you, My Luna?" Harry asked Luna softly, his eyes never leaving Padma, even after the now-frightened girl closed her eyes tightly.
His question was answered by a soft, warm hand taking his wand hand and gently pulling it away from Padma's head. "No, Harry. I made Padma promise to not tell anyone for fear they would only get worse and start taking it out on Padma as well," Luna said quietly, looking up at Harry as he looked down into her eyes.
Padma closed her eyes as the pulsing wand tip became too frightening to look at. The "Heir of Slytherin", whether it could be believed or not, looked ready to kill. Every muscle in his body, every fluid motion he had made, played back in her mind at the speed of thought. Although she was almost fourteen, puberty had started early for both her and her sister and she could not deny this boy spoke to something primal within her.
When her logical mind had taken over, fear and death were all she saw in her future as the wand pulsed light through her now-closed eyelids before she heard Luna explain and felt the magic, that had been invading her own, gently withdraw.
Harry kissed Luna on the forehead, holstered his wand then looked back at Padma. "My apologies, Miss Patil. No offence was intended. Anyone who looks after My Luna or My Hermione for me is a friend of House Potter," Harry said with a slight bow of his head, more out of habit, as her eyes were closed and she could not see the gesture. "She was one of the ones who had simply disappeared afterwards. Her and her sister. What had become of them?" he thought. He looked at the frightened girl in front of her - a girl whom he had been seconds from cursing to madness - yet she was not one of Luna's tormentors. With her eyes clamped tightly shut and her arms locked to her sides, she looked to be on the verge of fearful collapse.
Padma opened her eyes cautiously, and saw that Potter had lowered his wand and was holding Luna with one arm. The emotions running through her had taken their toll. First the anger, fear and loathing when she had heard Randle and her clique were, in essence, bragging about having done to, "the loony little bitch," then the relief when Luna seemed to be uninjured, then seeing a wand whose purpose, held by this boy, was to kill her, or worse.
Harry watched as Padma's eyes filled with tears. She looked on the verge of fleeing in embarrassment, fear or some combination thereof. Had he been a normal twelve-year-old boy, he would have been clueless as to what to do.
Harry took a firm hold of Padma's hand and pulled her to him then pulled her head down to his shoulder. Luna once more melted against Harry's chest and began having a whispered conversation with Padma. While Harry couldn't make out every word, he knew whatever it was Luna was saying must have been working as he felt Padma relax against him, little by little, until she, too, had moulded herself against him.
He waited a minute until he felt Padma had become collected enough. "I promised Madam Pomfrey I would eat breakfast before I went back to the Infirmary to sit with Hermione and the others. Shall we go?" he asked.
Both Padma and Luna looked up at him and nodded. Both girls felt comforted by Harry's arm being around them and weren't keen on losing the physical comfort; Padma because all of the girls who had seen her rush out of the Great Hall to go check on Luna and Luna because of the physical and emotional abuse she had received at the hands of her fellow house mates.
Harry sensed Luna's hesitancy so took her hand, explaining, "It will be somewhat difficult to walk to the Great Hall for breakfast if I have an arm around each of your waists." He looked at Padma and offered his other hand to her, which she took hold of with both of hers.
Harry looked at Padma and smiled. "Won't it be difficult walking sideways to breakfast?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Padma looked at Harry and blushed. "I'm a Ravenclaw, for Rowena's sake! Why does being around this boy make me so stupid?" Padma thought to herself. She struggled with the decision for a moment before she decided to just wrap herself around his arm and thought she needed an explanation. "It's cold and I left my cloak in the tower." Padma suddenly felt the weight of her clothes change. She looked down and her robes matched Luna's in fit, cut and material, down to the embroidered coat of arms over her heart. Even the great cloak now draped over her shoulders in the same brilliant-white fur as Luna's. "How did he do that?!" she thought, not so much the changing her existing robes, but conjuring these things without the use of a wand or a word of spellcraft. Her surprise was evident on her face.
Luna, seeing this, decided it looked comfortable and mirrored Padma's grip. "There we go! Now no sideways walking, Harry," Luna said then giggled.
Harry smiled at both girls then led them to the Great Hall, walking with them wrapped around his arms.
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As the three entered the Great Hall, silence floated over the hall in a wave as all eyes turned to see the three children linked arm-in-arm. A small cheer went up from the Gryffindor table to see their seeker up and walking around. Several of them were getting up to escort him to a seat then stopped when he moved to sit at the Ravenclaw table.
Harry could feel Padma and Luna tighten their grip on his arms. He looked at the Gryffindor table and could see Ginny was upset. Her face was a mottled red. He knew when she was embarrassed, her face would turn a uniform shade of pink. Mottled red was a sign of deep, consuming anger she would hold on to for weeks.
Ron, too, seemed upset. His angry shout of, "Oy! Potter!" was quickly silenced by Seamus Finnigan kicking him rather firmly in the shin, causing Ron to fall sitting onto the bench once more.
Harry glanced over the Ravenclaw table and watched their faces. Several were openly curious. Six girls showed signs of anger, hatred, and of the six, two of them showed fear. "Good. Some of them are smart enough to be afraid," Harry thought as he steered the girls towards an opening on the bench.
As they passed four of the six girls, one of them harshly whispered, "Tattle tales suffer the same fate, you little wog bitch," to Padma. Padma gripped Harry's arm even harder. She almost stumbled at the venomous tone of the taunt, but her grip on Harry's arm saved her from falling.
Luna had heard Beatrice call Padma names before, but this time it had a tone of menace to it. She was walking to her seat as well when an unseen hand reached out and tripped her. She knew she should be falling, but her grip on Harry's arm had stopped her fall. She looked up at him and saw the smile on his face. She didn't know how she could feel what he was feeling, but the anger he had at her tormentors was dwarfed by the care, concern, and if she dared hope, love he had for her and Padma, it seemed. She also caught a glimpse of his feelings for his continuous companion, Hermione Granger. If Harry merely loved Luna, he worshipped the very air Hermione breathed. Still, Luna counted herself extremely lucky to have what she could have from Harry, even if, at present, it was just a true and dear friend; something she had never had before.
Harry had thought he would need to protect Padma and Luna from abuse by Ravenclaws. Calling the lovely young girl on his left arm a "wog bitch" caused him to become creative with his retribution. His anger, still at a heightened state from seeing the state Luna had been in, grew further. He continued walking until they were at the seats he had chosen. He released their hands and helped each of the girls to sit.
As he was about to seat himself, the Ravenclaw girl who'd called Padma a "wog bitch" regarded his ignoring her as a challenge and couldn't waste the opportunity so took advantage of it. "What's the matter, Gryffindork? Your little know-it-all mudblood slut can't be with you so you decided to upgrade to the loony freak and the stuck-up wog?" she said loudly enough for those around her to hear.
Harry smiled, kissed each girl on the cheek, and sat between them. "Remember, girls, I will protect you with all that I am," he said and began putting food on their plates.
Luna could feel Harry's anger reach a crescendo and then felt something else. Luna and Padma both looked at Harry as he served them.
Padma looked at the boy who, just last week, had been a short, shy introvert based on her own observations and what she knew of him from Parvati and Lavender. The boy sitting next to her, in whose company she never thought she would be in, was no longer shorter than she was, was exuding a confidence she had never seen him show before and promised to protect her no matter what. She absently fingered the embroidery over her heart. "Did something happen with his Quidditch accident that unleashed something in him?" she wondered. "Thank you, Harry," she said with a blush as he prepared a plate with no meat on it. "How does he know I'm a vegetarian? He even knows which fruits I don't like!" she thought in surprise as he prepared her plate. Padma was both smitten with and afraid of Harry as he seemed to know her far better than she knew him and they'd only just met in the hallway.
Luna was now certain Harry was not playing games with her or Padma. There were hints at it earlier – the trim of her robe she suspected was related to the Potter family crest embroidered over her heart. She knew he wasn't making demands of them or placing claims on them, but placing it there as a warning to others. It was as if he somehow knew of the old, though still active, laws pertaining to the ancient and noble families. Harry handed her plate to her and she, too, was surprised he seemed to know all of her favourite foods, down to the flavour of syrup she preferred.
Once Harry had prepared his own plate, he was silently waiting for the "insulting bitch" as he now thought of her. It would come; it was just a matter of time.
Conversation stopped across the hall once again as Beatrice Randle gagged and then screamed loudly in disgust, as she spat her mouthful of food out across the table, onto the plates and into the faces of the three girls sitting across from her, the taste of maggoty, rotting pork interlaced with sewage filled her mouth. Professor Flitwick was there almost instantly, having made his way from the head table to the place at the Ravenclaw table where Harry, Luna and Padma were sitting to inquire the change in seating for the second-year Gryffindor.
"Is there an issue, Miss Randle?" Professor Flitwick asked of his still-sputtering charge.
Beatrice turned to look at her head of house and opened her mouth to speak when the flavour of the food she had eaten caused her to empty her stomach all over the floor.
"Rupert!" Professor Flitwick called out.
Harry had been eating but could not help himself and looked over at the still-vomiting girl when the charms professor had called on a house elf.
Some house elves' appearances were hard on the eyes. The house elf that appeared was quite likely the most hideous elf Harry had ever seen. It had both boils and pock marks on its face and a great green bogie dripping from its nose.
"Professor Flitwick called Rupert?" the house elf asked in a high-pitched voice.
"Rupert, please clean this mess up from the floor," Filius said, somewhat in disgust at the way the elf pulled the dripping bogie from its nose and wiped it on the robes of the girl sitting next to the vomiting girl.
"Rupert will have it cleaned right away!" the elf shouted, snapping his fingers several times. Just as he finished, Beatrice heaved again. "Yous needs to stop that!" Rupert said and snapped his fingers at the witch, causing her mouth to clamp shut. He then snapped his fingers several more times, cleaning up the mess once again. He then popped out.
To Beatrice's horror, she still felt the need to empty her stomach but could not open her mouth. Her mouth filled until it could hold no more.
As the girl's cheeks filled, Harry turned back to his meal, a self-satisfied smile on his face. Padma and Luna looked at Beatrice and turned away as green and grey streams shot from her nose. They leaned forward and looked at one another in front of Harry.
Beatrice panicked as the pressure in her cheeks finally found an out through her nose. The house elf popped back in, snapped his fingers three times and left. The mess was cleaned, Beatrice's mouth was open and she now had a feed pail to void her stomach into. Professor Flitwick called for another house elf to fetch Madam Pomfrey as he tried his best to keep the girl's head over the bucket. This was clearly someone's idea of a prank as he knew the girl could not have eaten this much food. Only when she drew her hair away from her face did Professor Flitwick see the word "BULLY" spelled on her forehead in neon-green, throbbing pustules.
A few short minutes later, Madam Pomfrey appeared and led the girl off to the Infirmary. Once they left, Professor Flitwick snapped his fingers in recollection of why he'd come down here in the first place and walked over to Harry.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter. I am merely curious, but why did you choose to sit at the Ravenclaw table this morning?" the diminutive professor asked.
Harry put his sandwich down and, out of respect for this professor, turned his full attention to him. "Professor Flitwick, I chose to sit with my friends, Miss Luna Lovegood and Miss Padma Patil." His voice then dropped to a whisper only Filius could hear, "I would like to discuss with you their treatment at the hands of their house mates in the privacy of your office, Sir."
The only outward sign of surprise the professor showed was a slight tightening of the eyes. "Perhaps after lunch today, Mr. Potter, if that would be acceptable," Professor Flitwick said quietly.
Harry nodded, "If Madam Pomfrey allows. as I am still in her care," he replied then sharply bowed his head to the professor. "May your vaults be lined with the gold of your enemies," Harry said formally.
Flitwick was even more surprised at the formal Basajaunak parting, "And may your battles be fought bravely, with honour and courage," the professor replied before departing to finish his meal.
Harry turned back to his meal, finishing his second sandwich and noticed the girls were done. "Shall we retire to the Infirmary?" Harry asked quietly.
Both girls nodded. Harry stood and helped each of them stand, more out of courtesy than need.
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The three of them arrived in the Infirmary to find Beatrice had continued her efforts of turning inside out even in Madam Pomfrey's care.
Madam Pomfrey noticed their arrival and, since her ministrations were doing no good with the older Ravenclaw girl, left her with the house elf and went to greet Harry and the two girls. "Did you eat a full breakfast, Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey asked in a tone that indicated the things to come if he had not.
"We all did, Madam Pomfrey," Luna and Padma said in unison, then looked at one another and giggled.
Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow at this and fixed Harry with a gimlet stare.
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey, I ate two helpings including fruit, pancakes and two bacon sandwiches," he explained, seemingly paused in thought then continued, "Oh! I also had some sausage. It was quite properly cooked, for sausage."
Madam Pomfrey smiled at him, "Good lad, Mr. Potter." Her gaze then took in the two girls, "And I didn't know you were friends with Miss Lovegood or Miss Patil," she said with a questioning tone.
"I just made their acquaintance on my way to breakfast. They were gracious enough to come visit Hermione with me," Harry explained, squeezing the girls' hands, looking at each of them. He then looked at the Madam Pomfrey as the girls wondered what he was trying to say with the hand squeeze.
"Madam Pomfrey, would you be so kind as to explain to Padma and Luna how the potion Professor Snape will be brewing will revive the people who have been petrified? I have no head for potions, myself," Harry explained.
Both girls listened with rapt attention to Madam Pomfrey's explanation as Harry quietly excused himself for a moment and went to speak with the "insulting bitch".
Beatrice was once more regurgitating when the rotting taste in her mouth was replaced with the flavour of mint. The sudden change caught her by surprise, as the odour of the contents of the bucket was quite revolting in comparison. She set the bucket down and looked up into the greenest eyes she had ever seen. They appeared to be glowing with power. The boy behind the eyes then spoke.
"Miss Randle. It would be best if you knew that both Miss Luna Lovegood and Miss Padma Patil are under the protection of House Potter. Were something to happen to either one of them, or in fact anyone else in Ravenclaw, this morning's experience would not end so quickly or be nearly so..." Harry paused as if looking for the right word, "enjoyable...for either you or whomever else was involved in any aggression against them. I do hope I have made the position of House Potter eminently clear." Harry said in a calm, emotionless voice.
Beatrice was no fool. She was a Ravenclaw, when all was said and done. "No incantation. No obvious sign of a wand. He really must be the Heir of Slytherin!" She nodded silently and began to apologise. "I'm sorry..." but was cut off by Harry raising his hand.
"Miss Randle. I am not the person you wronged. Please save your apology for those against whom your actions were taken and don't speak it until you are truly repentant. I'm sure that if you failed to do so, your magic might once more act against your behaviour and demonstrate to all your true intentions," Harry explained, then stood and moved to turn, seeing the girl simply nod at him before he walked to Hermione's bed.
Beatrice was nervous. "He was clearly responsible for what happened to me, but he didn't use his wand so there is no proof," she thought, "and he did make it stop. Oh but how can I apologise sincerely to that little wog tramp and that loony little freak?" she thought, as an ill odour once again filled her nostrils. She whimpered and thought about what it would take to genuinely apologise to the two of them and the odour vanished to be replaced with the scent of mint for a few moments. Her eyes watched the boy as he sat down next to his incorrectly-sorted Ravenclaw girlfriend, as the older Ravenclaws referred to Hermione Granger.
Harry sat down and took Hermione's hand. "Hello, My Hermione. I've made some new friends today and will introduce them to you as soon as they have finished speaking with Madam Pomfrey." He then went on to describe his breakfast, raising his voice to ensure Colin, Justin, Penelope, and Daphne could hear him as well.
"The girl lays there petrified, but he's talking to her as if she were listening. Almost like Mum at Daddy's grave," Beatrice thought, and then realised in surprise that, from his words, Harry seemed to believe the petrified girl could hear him and he was trying to be courteous to the others who were petrified by speaking loudly enough for them all to hear.
She watched as Padma and Luna walked over to join Harry. As her thoughts turned darkly, she felt a stinging sensation on her forehead and the taste of bile filling her mouth. She closed her eyes and focused on the mental exercises her mother had taught her when tutoring her in the use of magic when she was five years old. She repeated the words, "They are intelligent girls. I am truly sorry for what I did. They are nice girls. I am sorry for what I did. They didn't do anything wrong. They are pretty girls. I am sorry for what I did. It was my doing which caused this problem." She repeated this over and over in her mind. Almost immediately after the first mental repetition, the flavour of mint lightly filled her mouth and the sensations of cool fingers swept over her forehead. She continued this mantra, repeating it for the next several minutes.
Beatrice was surprised when she heard Madam Pomfrey's calm, concerned voice, "Miss Randle, I must say you look as if you're feeling better." She combed Beatrice's hair away from her forehead and noticed even the pustules were gone.
"I am feeling better, Madam Pomfrey. If I may be excused, I wish to speak with Professor Flitwick," Beatrice replied, her eyes staring at Madam Pomfrey's shoes.
Madam Pomfrey cast several diagnostic spells on the girl but could find nothing untoward. "Very well. If you have any recurrence of the symptoms or feel anything else is out of sort, please do not hesitate to come to me directly or speak with a professor or your head of house," Madam Pomfrey said with concern.
Beatrice hopped to her feet, clearly in a rush to get out of the Infirmary. "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey! I hope to have no repeat of this again!" the young girl said hurriedly as she rushed from the Infirmary.
Poppy watched her go, shaking her head and smiling. "Always in such a rush, these young ones are!" She then looked over at Harry, holding Hermione's hand and talking in a normal tone of voice, and the two girls who seemed to be hovering around him, each having a hand on one of his shoulders. "Interesting – if Harry were a few years older, I think he would be courting all three of these girls," she thought, then looked once more over the beds holding the petrified students, especially focusing on the three petrified girls. "Or all five of the girls – they are all quite lovely," she thought, thinking of her late husband and wishing they had had enough time together to have sons and daughters. She watched Harry and his friends a few moments longer before retiring to her office to continue working on her research project, she was sharing with Madam Pince, to determine what could cause wizards and witches to be petrified.
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Harry had somewhat gotten lost in his one-sided conversation with Hermione when a warm hand touched his knee. He looked up, somewhat startled, into two honey-coloured orbs.
"Harry," Padma said, having finally worked up the courage to interrupt him. She waited for him to recognize her then continued. "You do know that people who are petrified cannot hear you," she said with some concern as Harry focused on her, an intense set to his face.
He suddenly relaxed into a smile and took her hand in his. "Padma, and you too, Luna," he said, looking over at Luna and taking her hand with his other, "could you go to your dorms and get your book bags then stop in at the Gryffindor dorms and ask Parvati to get one of the lads - Seamus or Dean possibly – to get my book bag and the three of us can study here today. As to people who are petrified being unable to hear us, how do we know that, and if we have no proof, what harm could it do to speak to them while they are petrified?"
"But Harry..." Padma began but was cut off by Harry lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it.
"Padma, how would you feel if, while petrified, you could still hear, still think, still feel and yet no one ever came to talk with you? To hold your hand? To let you know that you were not forgotten? To let you know someone loved you enough to take their time to ensure your mind was stimulated..." Harry paused suddenly and got a far-away look and snapped his fingers. "If you could go to the Library or ask Parvati if Hermione has any Jane Austen books in her bookcase or in the Library so I may read to her and our friends," Harry said, looking at Padma searchingly.
Padma had watched boys looking at her and her sisters before, but Harry was looking at her with an intensity she had never seen in anyone before. She nodded. Harry stood and gently pulled her to her feet and kissed her on her cheek. He then did the same to Luna. When both girls were standing, he pulled them into a hug then kissed them on their foreheads. "What just happened?" Padma asked herself, but relishing the warmth and feeling of the embrace.
Luna was surprised as well. She could feel, almost tangibly, Harry's affection for her and, it seemed, Padma as well. She also felt a sense of certainty from him, as if he knew exactly what to do. His words and gestures weren't calculated. It seemed he knew what needed to be done moments or longer beforehand. She had experiences in the past of seeing possible futures, but nothing so spontaneous or flowing as what she was experiencing with Harry.
Both girls' jaws dropped when he released them from the hug and said simply, "The password for Gryffindor Tower is 'Mandrake Screams'. I love you two. Thank you for doing this for me." They both left the Infirmary somewhat in a daze, heading towards the Gryffindor tower.
After the girls left, Harry looked over at Penelope Clearwater and Daphne Greengrass. "How is Greengrass involved in this, this time around? How was she anywhere near My Hermione?" he wondered. He walked over to Colin's bed and spoke softly to the younger boy, "Colin, Harry here. I won't let you lay here, forgotten about, Colin, but I want to speak with you frankly. I would like you to be my friend. At the moment, you seem to see me as something much more than I am."
"If, when you are revived, we could sit down and talk quietly, we can get to know one another better. I know, being a muggleborn, much as it is for me being muggle-raised, the wizarding world can be a bit overwhelming, when you feel yourself getting overly excited, just pause, take a few deep breaths and try to remember it's all a bit overwhelming to me as well."
"I would like to have a little brother, having never had any brothers or sisters when I was growing up, and I would like you to be one of my little brothers. If that would be okay with you, let me know."
"I don't mean to be mean or cruel or to hurt your feelings. I just get uncomfortable when I'm walking down the hall and you shout out my name and snap a picture. I'd rather you get to know the real me and for you to be someone I can count on and someone I can trust."
"I won't forget about you or dismiss you out of hand, but I think both of us would enjoy a calmer, brotherly relationship with one another."
Harry squeezed the boy's hand and walked back over to the space between Daphne's and Penelope's beds. He sat down and took one of their hands in one of his.
"Ms. Greengrass, Ms. Clearwater. I don't know how the two of you managed to get petrified with My Hermione, but I imagine you were helping her with her search for information. If, as I believe is the case, this is true, know I am indebted to you and appreciate your efforts. They have not been for naught."
"I also will not forget the two of you and will try to have your friends come to speak to you while you are in this condition. It is my belief you can hear me and can feel me holding your hands. I just wanted you to know I have not forgotten you," Harry explained, squeezed their hands and stood once again.
He went around to Justin's bed and put his hand on Justin's shoulder. "Justin, I will try to get your friends to visit you as well. I don't know you very well, but you are sharing this adventure with My Hermione and perhaps that is the spark that will allow us to be friends. I hope you now know that I was not responsible for what happened to you."
"Considering my mother was muggleborn as well, and that I find the entire concept of blood purity to be utter tripe, I would be utterly against anyone harming muggleborns," Harry explained.
"I will do what I can to keep you and the others from going starkers, in the event you can actually hear what I am saying. I know I would simply go mad if all I could do was stare open-eyed at the ceiling," he said. Harry squeezed Justin's shoulder and looked over at the object of his affection.
He walked back over to Hermione's bed and was about to sit down once again when the window above the Infirmary door hinged open and a tawny owl flew in. Harry recognized the breed of the owl immediately, as it was the breed of owl Gringott's Wizarding Bank used for sending discrete messages to their more-important clients.
He held his arm up as the owl landed. He removed the letter from its leg and apologised for having no owl treats available. The owl waited a few moments, staring at Harry, before taking flight once more and leaving through the window above the door.
Harry noted it was addressed to
Harry James Potter
In front of chair between Beds 13 and 14
The Infirmary
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry was taken aback at the precise location listed upon the envelope. He turned it over, broke the wax seal, removed the folded piece of parchment, and read it.
Lord Potter,
Our scryers have just discovered your whereabouts.
Some discrepancies and oversights with your accounts and your inheritances have been brought to our attention. We wish to meet with you at your earliest convenience and shall await your reply. Due to some recent changes with Ministry law, this should be considered a matter of utmost importance.
Respectfully,
Steelgrip
Senior Manager of Special Accounts
Harry knew who Steelgrip was. He had, however, not met him until sixth year previously, and legislation passed by the Wizangamot had stripped him of most of House Potter's and House Black's wealth and placed it firmly in the hands of "former" Death Eaters. He would not allow this to happen again, but he'd not received a letter from Gringott's in the first time through. "What else has changed?" he wondered absently.
A loud bark brought him to awareness again. Tears came unbidden to his eyes as a graceful and beautiful snowy owl flew through the window over the door and landed on Harry's waiting arm. "Hedwig!" Harry whispered reverently, looking longingly at his first and only familiar. When he had lost Hedwig, the tearing of his heart and the memories of her bravery and courage prevented him from ever wanting another familiar.
Hedwig landed on his arm, knowing her fledgling needed her, even though her bond to him had somehow become tenuous, his need was great enough to let her know where he was. She stared at him then closed her eyes and gathered together the feelings of need, belonging, and connection. She opened her eyes and pushed these feelings out to him, much as she had done only a short while ago when she had first been united with him.
Even through his tear-stained eyes, he could see the intense blue flash come from Hedwig. This unleashed yet another wave of memories and yet another bout of happy tears. He heard her bark at him several times and he thought he was losing his mind.
"What is this water from your eyes? Are your eyes that dirty? I feel your happiness and your sadness, but now is not the time. We have things to do. Fledglings to awaken. A parliament to restore. We do not have time for you to wash your eyes over and over again," he thought he heard when he listened to the barks.
Harry shook his head, reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out an ever-inking quill and a folded piece of parchment. Hedwig hopped from his arm and took a short flight to the brass headboard of Hermione's bed and watched intently as Harry quilled a letter.
Steelgrip,
Sir, I can make time today to meet with you if you can provide me with transportation to and from Gringott's. The owl who delivered this missive will wait for your reply.
Lord Harry James Potter
Harry folded the parchment and carefully tied it to Hedwig's leg. She flared her wings and hopped to his arm. She affectionately nipped his fingers before taking flight out through the window. Through the window, he saw a flash and heard a soft whoosh.
With an Ever-Inking quill and a second piece of parchment, he sat and wrote out his list for Gringott's. When he finished committing it to parchment and ink, he folded it and placed it in his pocket.
He moved and sat down next to Hermione's bed and once more took her hand in both of his and gently stroked her hand and wrist. "Hello, My Hermione. I didn't tell you before, but I have taken up the mantle of Head of House Potter and just received a missive from Gringott's. I anticipate I will be leaving here shortly, but I will return to your side to ensure you're taken care of and your mind kept active."
He spoke to Hermione and the others for several minutes before Hedwig flew back through the window and landed on the headboard. Harry released his hold on Hermione's hand and stood and took the envelope from Hedwig, who had dutifully put her leg out.
Lord Potter,
If you tap your wand against this parchment and say 'I trust Guilder Gringott', you will be taken to a private waiting area where you will be met shortly after your arrival. You must be outside of the wards of Hogwarts or the parchment will simply burn.
We await your arrival,
Steelgrip
Harry leaned down and kissed Hermione's forehead. "I have to go, My Hermione. I will be back as quickly as I can be, but two people, whom I hope you will come to trust as much as I do, will come to talk with you in my absence. If something untoward happens to me, which I do not expect to happen, I want you to know I love you with everything that I am, was and ever will be. So say I, Harry, Lord of House Potter. So mote it be," he said, causing a pulse of green light to wash over Hermione's bed. He wondered, for a moment, if this was what had happened to Luna, but felt he had no time to waste. He left the Infirmary, heading for a particular statue.
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Luna recovered first, and pulled Padma into an alcove. "Padma, I know I heard what he said and I know he spoke the truth," Luna said earnestly to the older Ravenclaw.
Padma, having been lost in thought since leaving the Infirmary, looked at Luna. "But how can he love us? He's only known us for two hours!" Padma exclaimed incredulously, tearing her hands away from the blonde girl.
The fear in Luna's eyes was evident. "I don't know how I know. Ever since he met me in the corridor, I have been able to feel what he is feeling. It scares me. I've read about things like this in some stories, but those were just stories. This is real and it frightens me as much as it makes me feel happy, loved and..." Luna said, wringing her hands.
Padma realized Luna was even more frightened and concerned than she was. She wrapped her hands around Luna's and pulled her into a hug. "Everything is going to be all right, Luna. I don't know why, but I trust Harry. When he hugged us earlier, I've never felt safer or more cared about in my whole life and it is scaring me, too!" Padma explained, trying to keep the panic out of her voice as these previously-unknown feelings flooded through her.
Luna more than simply watched, she fully experienced, a flood of images that washed over her. In one path, Padma went to Gryffindor by herself and was involved in a spell-firing fight before she had been allowed to say more than a dozen words. Luna's perspective suddenly switched to the Ravenclaw common room and saw Beatrice Randle huddled in a corner crying, as spellfire reflected from her horrified eyes and agonizing screams filled the air, then there was nothing but indeterminate grey fog.
In the other path, she watched Padma and her sister, Parvati, being held in a hug by Harry.
Padma was looking at the silent girl. "Fine. You go to our dorms and get our book bags. I will go to Gryffindor and talk with Parv," Padma said, releasing her hug and heading down the corridor.
Luna shook herself and ran after Padma. "No! Padma! Wait up!" she cried loudly.
Padma stopped at the base of the stairs. "What?" she asked harshly.
The tone didn't even phase Luna – she knew what had happened and Padma thought she was ignoring her or dismissing her. "I'm sorry. I wasn't ignoring you. The situation is just so far beyond what I am able to cope with. I'm coming with you. While it is only the two of us, we'll have safety in numbers," Luna explained.
Padma's frown transformed into a relieved smile. She took Luna's hand and the two of them walked to Gryffindor Tower.
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Parvati had been talking to Lavender about the latest Teen Witch Weekly when she caught a familiar face walk through the portrait. "How did Padma get in here?! Something must be wrong! But who gave her the password?!" "Excuse me, Lav. That's my sister," she said as she watched several house mates challenge the unescorted entry of the two Ravenclaws and her sister cutting them off at the knees with her tongue.
"...none of your concern Weasley," Padma said, "If you have need for an explanation, perhaps you should discuss it with our mutual heads of house," she finished, spotting Parvati coming over.
"My Sister," Parvati said with concern, also looking Luna over, noting that both Padma's and Luna's robes were trimmed in Ravenclaw colours and two other colours surrounding them. She then saw the Potter coat of arms on Padma's robes over her heart and Parvati's eyes grew wide.
"Sister, we need to speak with you regarding a family matter of some importance. Is there somewhere we can speak privately?" Padma asked softly, crossing her arms in front of her and sounding to the people now surrounding them as if it was a formal matter.
Parvati's eyes flared open further in surprise for a moment. While the tone of Padma's voice was only for show, crossing her arms in front of her, with her middle and index fingers on both hands crossed as well, meant this really was a closed discussion.
Parvati has more questions than before but didn't ant to hear those answers in the common room. "Let us retire to our dorm," she replied in the same tone, directing Padma and Luna towards the stairs and motioning to Lavender to follow them. The four girls felt the weight of dozens of eyes following them up the stairs to the girls' dormitory.
Once they entered the room Lavender and Parvati shared with Hermione and three other second year girls, Parvati made sure they were alone and closed the door. "Here," she said.
Padma and Parvati began casting spells at the walls, ceiling, floor and the door. Once the spells were all cast, the two girls faced the other and held one another's hands with their arms crossed. They chanted for half a minute. When they were done, the walls, ceiling and floor flashed white while the door flashed red.
"That should provide us an adequate level of privacy," Parvati said, looking at the surprised expression on Lavender's face and the respectful expression on Luna's face.
"What were those spells? Where did you learn that? Aren't those auror-level spells? What else do you know you haven't told me about?" Lavender asked of Parvati in a single breath, a betrayed expression on her face.
Parvati looked at Padma, who nodded.
Parvati looked at Lavender. "Lavender, you are here right now because you are my best friend. Because of this, you have a choice: We can have this discussion and we can use spells to make you forget everything said here," Parvati held her hand up as it appeared Lavender was about to interrupt, "This would not be my preferred solution, but this is a family matter. The second choice is that you take a witch's oath to hold all we speak of in confidence. The way this particular oath works is that you won't even be tempted to speak of our discussion to anyone. You won't want to, you cannot be coerced into talking about it and even mind magics cannot disclose the information, but you will still know it and remember it when you want to, in the most minute detail."
Lavender was looking at Parvati open-mouthed, without a sound coming from her.
Parvati reached out and took Lavender's hand, "Lav, you have to decide now. I'm sorry I couldn't give you another choice, but I have my reasons and they're good ones. I need you to trust me," she pleaded.
Parvati had been Lavender 's best friend since they met on the Express the first year. She was surprised and awed by the magic Parvati and her twin sister had cast, but this...this choice. "Well, there really was no choice," Lavender thought. "What is the wording of this witch's oath?" she asked, slowly removing her wand from her robes to say the oath.
Padma then looked at Luna and reached out and took her hand, "Luna, I know I can trust you, but all four of us should take this oath," she explained.
Luna recognized the power required for the magic, and realised Padma and Parvati could only perform the magic because somehow their magical cores were synchronized – something exceedingly rare, even in twins. To hide the information from mind magics was something she would want to learn to do. She nodded, looking back and forth between the three other witches. "I agree, what do we need to do?" Luna's face suddenly paled and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh Harry! I am so sorry!" she sobbed.
"What is it, Luna? What about Harry?" Padma asked, cradling Luna's head to her chest.
"He's only now realised what he's done," Luna said haltingly. Padma raised an eyebrow.
Luna looked up into Padma's eyes, two tears running down her cheeks, and pushed away from Padma, all too clearly projecting a false sense of cheer. "I'm sorry," she said, wiping her eyes, "what do we need to do?"
The other three girls looked at one another then looked at Luna, who just shrugged and explained, "It's one of those pieces of information we need to hide."
The four girls began their work.
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