LEGEND:
"Normal Talk"
'Thoughts or Emphasis'
(...Parseltongue...)
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Chapter Six
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Year 1 – Part two of…?
The whole of Harry becoming a Quidditch team member was kept secret. Although he did have a disturbing confrontation with Malfoy about the whole issue, seems that jealousy is rampant in the Slytherins.
"You should have been expelled, Potter," Malfoy spat out one evening when Harry and his friend had bumped into the Slytherins rounding a corner in the halls.
"Well, I guess it wouldn't do for the Boy-Who-Lived to be expelled from school," Harry said flippantly. "What would the Wizarding World have to say about that? We are here to be taught, although it looks like you could use a refresher course in how to fly."
"You're a disgrace to the name of Wizard," Malfoy said in a condescending tone. "You'll pay for insult. I challenge you to a duel, wands only, midnight tonight."
Harry snorted and just looked at the blond brat.
"Don't know anything about dueling do you Potter?" Malfoy said giving them a nasty smirky grin. Ron was angry on Harry's be-half and was about to say something about it, but Harry cut him off.
"It's obvious that you know nothing about dueling. First of all when someone issues the challenge, they are not the one to decide the terms or the choice of weapons. Therefore you cannot be the one to choose wands because I happen to know that we have not been taught enough spells to duel with them. However, I accept your challenge, but I choose… hand-to-hand combat until first knock out. It cannot take place at midnight, as you know all formal or informal duels need a neutral judge or arbiter. I suggest Professor Quirrell, come on I think he's free now, if you'd like to get this over with."
"Are you out of your bloody mind Potter?" Malfoy asked. "How would you know anything about dueling in the first place?"
"I read it in 'Master Mallalinski's Rules of Dueling for the Civilized Gentleman', where else?" Harry asked. "It contains all the rules to a duel right down to the timing, how to stand and about having a judge present in order for the results duel to be recorded. It also had a comprehensive section about challenging, accepting challenges and how terms are supposed to be set."
Ron was looking at him like he had never seen Harry before, while Malfoy was standing there gape-mouthed. His two goons were looking back and forth between the two. "Well?" Harry prodded. "What's it going to be?"
"I refuse to duel like a thug," Malfoy said petulantly because he didn't know how to fight with his hands only.
"Then there is no further point to this," Harry said. He turned around and said, "Come on Ron, let's go another way in order to get to supper."
"You're a coward Potter," Malfoy shouted.
"I'm not the one who issued a challenge and then retracted it Malfoy," Harry said walking away from the fuming blond. He whispered to his friend while grinning wickedly, "I bet he's royally pissed off now. This year's not turning out as bad as I thought it would be."
Ron looked at him and then he let out a laugh. "You're too much Harry. Come on we don't want to miss the meal." They walked quickly away from the Slytherins.
While they were in the Great Hall a certain nosy, busy body, know-it-all had heard the rumour that the boys almost had a duel in the halls. She tried to tell them that dueling was against the school rules, but they both told her that it wasn't any of her business.
"Look you," Harry said. "Why are you even sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong?" Ron nodded his agreement.
She just said, "I'm concerned about this House and the reputation that it would get if you went about dueling and losing points for it."
Harry shook his head. "Why are you even bothering us about this? You're not even a Prefect or a teacher and if you got your nose out of the books you'd realize that we didn't get in trouble and we didn't lose points."
"Well you could have and you…" she began.
"Would you listen to her?" Ron said to Harry and the others that were listening on their conversation. "Pay attention you nit. The two of us are not the only students in this House, so why are you just talking to us or showing us your disapproval, like we even need your approval for anything. If you had any true concerns, you'd have told one of the Prefects or our Head of House, as it is you're butting where your input is not wanted. Leave us alone."
Her face fell and she was truly upset by it, but many of the other first and second years did notice these very same characteristics about Hermione that they didn't like. She was too pushy and was trying too hard to prove herself. She needed the telling off because it was truly not her business, as she wasn't even a witness to that altercation.
She turned up her nose at them in order to pretend that she was unaffected. Then she returned to her book and pretended to read, but instead was thinking about what they had said to her. It was definitely not something that she had expected from them. It seemed like she was guilty of judging before thinking, just like the Sorting Hat had mentioned on their first day here.
A few days later the boys were in the Gryffindor common room while Ron was teaching Harry to play 'wizard's chess'. Hermione was watching the pieces move about the board and so were a few others of muggle descent. They thought it was cool, until they all jumped because they were startled when Ron's knight smashed one of Harry's pawns with the javelin that it carried.
"That's totally barbaric," she exclaimed.
"Not more so then the computer generated ones that my cousin has," Harry said. "His were more interesting because of the possible boards that you could select. You could even choose pieces that looked like elves, dwarves, orcs, hobgoblins, magicians or even 'Star Trek' theme with different ships and species, like the Klingons and Ferengi. It also had a graphic violence selector where you could select the damages to show up like coloured blood spurting everywhere and you could even have it stain the board if you wanted to."
"You're going to have to explain that one to us mate," Ron said.
"I can't," Harry said. "You have to have been exposed to those references in order to understand them, but I'll see if I can pick up some image books during the Yule Holidays. If I can, I'll bring them back for you to see the things that I'm talking about."
"You're not signing up to stay over the holidays," Ron asked.
"No," Harry confirmed. "Why would I need to?"
"I don't know," Ron said. "I just thought that you wouldn't want to go back to your muggle relatives."
"Why would you think that?" Harry asked.
Ron blinked and realized that he was about to reveal something that he didn't want known. "Sorry, my mistake, I just thought that you didn't like them."
"I don't," Harry confirmed. "That doesn't mean I want to stay here. I can't get out to go shopping or visit anyplace other then the school and its grounds. I'd rather go back so that I can at least go into the city. Maybe catch a couple of new movies that might have come out since I've been here."
That statement had many of the muggle-born and muggle-raised wishing the exact same thing. A discussion was raised among some of the other students about it and what they were looking forward to seeing what new releases were out.
The two boys were left to continue on with their game in peace.
-----
October thirty first they were all enjoying their lessons in Charms Class with Professor Flitwick. He was an amusing fellow because he had to stand on a stack of books in order to see his entire class.
The first years were practicing the levitation charm. Harry knew that enunciation was important, but when all of the other students began, he deliberately botched it up to match the others in the room. Harry was partnered with Seamus. He had to be careful because Seamus was so enthusiastic about using his magic, but most times his spell casting exploded with a bang, black dust and burnt hair.
Ron was partnered with Hermione that day and he wasn't too pleased about it either. She was constantly trying to correct his arms movements or his diction. He was so annoyed he mainly glared at her, especially when she was able to levitate her feather first. He just looked pissed for the remainder of the class and completely ignored her comments about putting an emphasis on the 'win gar dium' and the 'levi o sa'.
After class they were all walking away and he was complaining about her, not realizing that she was just behind them. "Honestly," Ron mimicked her. "Its 'levi o sa' not 'levio sa'. She's a nightmare. No wonder no one wants to be her friend."
Upset about that, she ran forward, bumping into someone. It was Harry and he noticed that she had tears in her eyes, "She heard you."
"Doesn't matter," Ron said, but he felt bad about it anyway. The rest of the day was quiet in the classes because she wasn't in them. No one had seen or heard from her since Ron's unthinking comments after Charms class.
There was a rumor going around that she was still in the girls' loo crying her eyes out, but the boys were more interested in the Halloween feast. So they didn't bother get someone to check on her. It seems that she had even alienated her own dorm-mates because they never looked in on her.
Everyone was enjoying the feast when Professor Quirrell came running into the middle of the Great Hall, yelling, "Troll." He shuddered and said once more, "There's a troll… In the dungeon… Thought you ought to know…"
He promptly fainted. Everyone from the first years to seventh, all began to panic. The Headmaster quickly set things to order and told all of the Prefects to direct the students back to their common rooms. All the students were walking, but Harry pulled at Ron and told him that Hermione didn't know.
Ron, feeling bad that she might have been put in danger, came right away and both boys had their little adventure of tangling with a huge mountain troll. It was one of the ugliest things that Harry had ever seen. He was truly grossed out that his primary went up the monster's nose during the time he was hanging from its back.
At least Ron was able to successfully cast the levitation spell and knock it out with its own weapon. "Cool," was all that came out of his mouth when it happened.
They were caught, of course, and Harry noticed then that Professor Snape's leg was bleeding. He wondered why that could be. However before he could voice his concern, Professor McGonagall took away five points for Hermione's stupidity and gave back ten for, 'Sheer dumb luck.'
The three of them walked back to the common room of Gryffindor Tower and from then on they were considered the tightest of friends. It was Hermione's wish to get to know the Boy-Who-Lived and the red-haired boy, even though they were kind of mean earlier that day. She could understand some things, but she was still a stickler for rules. However, with their friendship she learned to relax voicing it so often.
-----
There was another memorable incident when they were late returning back to their common room after spending some time with Hagrid in the evening. They were all three of them too busy to notice that the stairs were moving and moving in the direction of the third floor.
Once they got there they were surprised to find themselves on the floor that promised them a 'most painful death', but being Gryffindors they were curious about the corridor. Their exploration was interrupted by the caretaker's cat named Mrs. Norris.
Knowing that, if they were caught, they would be in trouble for just being there, they ran. So they ran towards the end of the long corridor. At the end of the corridor there was a locked door, but Hermione being the bright one among the three, shouted out 'Alohamora'.
The door's lock clicked and they were able to get into the room at the end. "Well that's a relief," Ron said. "I thought that the door was locked."
"It was locked," Hermione said disdainfully.
Harry was facing the reason, as to why that door was locked and he voiced his concern. "For good reason," he told them.
In front of him was the biggest three-headed dog that he had ever seen, but knowing what Hagrid had told him about the trick to getting close to any creature was knowing how to calm it. Harry was able to use what he had read about this particular breed of dog. He thought back quickly to the time that he had seen his magical guardian put Fang to sleep by playing a little tune.
Luckily Hermione and Ron were quiet at the moment, but Harry re-enforced by saying, "Don't say a word and don't panic or you'll blow this."
The dog was awake, but it smelled Hagrid on the children, mainly around the green-eyed boy that had taken a step forward. "You two better not say a word about this," he told his friends. He used a cutting motion at the throat in order to get them to be quiet.
"Ave Maria…" he began to sing in a soft gentle tone. Ron and Hermione were wide eyed at the fact that he was singing in tune and in another language.
Harry's voice rose and fell in time to an invisible beat, but the three-headed dog's six eyes were blinking, as though it was tired. He continued to sing until the dog was fast asleep and he was backing out of the door, after the other two were out of the room. They didn't slam the door, but Hermione re-cast a locking spell on it.
Looking down the corridor they noticed that Mrs. Norris was no longer there and quickly they left that area, returning to their common room. "What the bloody hell was that?" Ron asked.
"A three-headed dog," Harry said.
"I know that," said Ron. "I could see that. What I meant is the singing? Where did you learn to sing like that?"
Harry paused a moment and pretended to look embarrassed, but they fell for the act. This was the first conscious lie he was going to tell his friends. "Church," he told them. "My aunt wanted me and my cousin in the choir. She said that we had to be model citizens of the community or some such crap. We stopped going when Dudley was ten because he was bored and didn't want to go anymore. He put up such a fuss that in the end it was better to stop altogether."
"Do you still sing in the choir?" Hermione asked.
"Are you daft?" Harry said. "I'm not ever going back to a bloody church. It was awful."
"But you sing so well," Hermione tried to tell him.
"I don't care about that," Harry said. "I'm not going to make a fool of myself because of it. You better not tell anyone about that because if I get hounded I'll know just who to blame."
"We're not going to tell anyone," Ron said, looking at Hermione. She hasn't been their friend for long, but he at least thought that she'd been paying attention. "Harry doesn't like people talking about him or staring, what do you think knowing about this would do?"
"Oh," she said in a contrite tone. She had noticed something like that, but was going to think on it later. "I'm sorry. It's just that you sing so well. You do know that when boys hit puberty their voices will change. I'm only going to suggest one thing before dropping it," she said looking at them. "Record your singing voice now, so that later in life you'll remember how it felt to be singing with purity and beauty."
It was almost a prophetic thing for her to say. Harry frowned and did understand what she meant by it. "I'll think about it," he said. "You're never to bring this up again."
"You got it," Ron said.
"All right, Harry," she said. To change the subject she asked, "Did you two notice what that dog was standing on?"
"I wasn't looking at its feet," Ron said. "I was looking at its heads."
Harry didn't make any other comment other than to agree with Ron. Hermione continued, "It was standing on a trap door, which means that it was guarding something. It must be awfully important for that kind of dog to be in the school."
"You guys," Harry said. "I bet this has something to do with that break in at Gringotts." They looked at him like he was daft, but he needed to make them understand. "Remember at the beginning of the year there was some to-do about one of the vaults being broken into, but nothing had been stolen because the vault had been emptied earlier that same day."
"Yes, I remember," Ron said. "You were surprised by it. Why?"
"Hagrid brought me to Diagon Alley," Harry said. "That day he was there to bring me to get my stuff for school, but he also said that he had to pick up something for Hogwarts and that it was very secret. I'm guessing that whatever that he had to pick up for the school is exactly what that dog is guarding."
"Must be something big," Ron said.
"Don't be silly," Hermione said. "It's often the little things that can cause the most damage."
Harry nodded. They returned to their rooms for another night.
-----
A couple of weeks later it was time for Harry's first Quidditch game. Most of the Gryffindors had already suspected that he had become a member of the team, but none of them said a word about it. Hermione and Ron knew because he told them about it. They were questioning why he wasn't around on certain nights and that's when he told them.
"Special consideration," he said. "How do you think I was able to get those board games? I had to go and pick up my equipment."
"That's why you've been exempted from the flying lessons," Hermione said. "That's just not fair."
"No one ever said that life was fair," Harry said. "Well I've got to go get ready for the game. See you later."
It was much later when Harry was having difficulties with his broom in the middle of the game that he had cast a couple of elemental spells without pulling out his walking stick. He wasn't as unobservant as some may have credited with.
He knew just who was casting a curse and why. Before Hermione could figure it out he called fourth a rain cloud to drench the teachers' box. He even called fourth a small bolt of bright white lightning that was sure to temporarily blind the man casting the curse or hex and the lightning worked.
He got back on his broom and saved the day. Unfortunately, Hermione did see that Professor Snape muttering and maintaining eye contact with Harry's broom. She didn't see anyone else and now they had to play at suspecting the greasy haired man of wanting to cause harm to the Gryffindor Seeker. Harry was the only one that played along, but the other two truly believed that the professor was out to get the Boy-Who-Lived.
The only comment that the Headmaster said about the cloud and lightning was, "Strange weather always happens. Sometimes it usually occurs in areas were there is a high concentration of magic. You cannot deny that the young ones do put out a lot of magical energy."
The other teachers were skeptical about it, but kept their opinion to themselves. It has been known to happen, but that was usually in unpopulated areas, never at the school.
Harry was lucky that no one caught him doing that. Then he looked over at Hagrid and knew that he had been caught. Once the players had landed and changed, the large man met him.
"Come 'n 'ave a cuppa 'afore ye go 'n celebrate," he said. Harry nodded. It wasn't like they were going to miss him too much, but just in case he sent a 'will-o-whisper' charm up to the Gryffindor common room.
If any one asked about his whereabouts, it would whisper that it had heard he was in another location of the common room or someplace else in the school. Basically causing whoever was looking for him to look elsewhere, like the library, the Great Hall, a corridor here or a hallway there and then it would lead them back to the common room.
It wasn't a common charm, but he was glad that he knew about it. As soon as it was cast, he walked with Hagrid to his hut and they had a talk. "What were ye thinkin' usin' those spells on the teacher's box," Hagrid said.
"I had to get the Professor to stop cursing my broom," Harry said. "It was getting too dangerous and I was afraid that it was going to buck me off."
"Who was casting a curse at ye?" Hagrid asked.
"I'm not too sure, but I promise that what I did didn't cause any permanent harm," Harry said. "I just made sure that they couldn't keep a steady eye in order to continue casting the curse. I'm sorry if I disappointed you."
Hagrid looked at the boy and said, "I'm not disappointed. Not exactly, I'm jus' worried for ye is all." He took a large sip of tea from his tankard sized mug. "I don't want ye ta show yer skills if 'n ye aren't ready ta explain why ye 'ave 'em or need ta learn 'em."
"Thank you, Hagrid," Harry said. "Did you enjoy the game?"
"Did I?" The half-giant said. "O' course I did. I 'ad me a bet with Crasgrasp about it. I told 'im tha' I knew ye'd win 'n he wasn't too sure, knowin' as 'ow the Slytherins like ta play a bit rough. But I told 'im, 'Arry was born ta fly 'n that ye'd win it the game."
"How did you…"
"Saw ye," Hagrid said. "Saw ye on yer firs' day o' flyin' lessons. I even saw Professor McGonagall come for ye, but I wasn't worried about tha'. I knew she'd see ye fer the Seeker ye are."
Harry smiled at him and thanked him. They spent a few more minutes of chatting when Hagrid brought up the Yule Holidays. "I know tha' ye didna' sign on ta stay 'ere. So what are ye plannin' fer the 'olidays 'n do I need ta pick ye up at the station," Hagrid said.
"I'd like it if you could pick me up at the station, but I could also take a cab to the Leaky Cauldron and meet you there," Harry said. "It would allow me time to sell my Christmas jewelry pieces to the street vendors on the way. I promise not to get out of the cab. I have only two people that I drop them off to anyway. They take care of seeing that everyone under them gets an equal amount. Besides most of the vendors like to specialize, like one will sell only rings and another will only sell necklaces."
"All right, 'Arry," Hagrid said. "I'll meet ye at the Leaky. Do ye need ta go ta Gringotts?"
"I'll have to in order to deposit the money," Harry said. "I need to confirm a couple of things with Crasgrasp in person."
Pausing to take a sip of his own tea, Harry told his magical guardian about spontaneously inviting Professor Snape over during the Yule Holidays. "He expressed an interest in a book that I had found," he explained. "I took your advice about judging someone for myself and made a quick decision to trust him. So I need to set up a way for him to get my house. I hope that he does come over, I'd like to be able to get to his help to earn some red-fruit from the blue fig trees."
"Harry," the large man called his attention. "Ye know tha' can only be given in exchange fer something else."
"I know," Harry said. "Hermione told me that my singing voice at the moment was very nice and that I should record a few songs anyhow. I know that the winter fairies like songs, so I was hoping to offer up three songs to them in their grove in order to get the Winter Blessing for the property, lands and occupants."
Hagrid paused at that and thought about it. 'Harry's right,' he thought. 'It's important that he get the fairy 'Seasonal Blessings' for his first year of living on that land. It's even better if there are guests living there at the time of the Blessings, but it works best if he's sincerely thankful for their presence.'
Harry had a good idea of what Hagrid was thinking, but knew that the half-giant didn't have anything to worry about. He would be truly thankful if his professor decided to show up for the Yule Holidays. He even had the wording prepared, just in case.
"I was thinking of inviting him to come over the day after Christmas and maybe for a few extra days," he said. "I figure that he has plans for the days before Christmas and for the day itself. I told him that he has to take an Oath of Secrecy before coming. I'd also like you to visit too. Would you?"
"O' course, I'm comin'," Hagrid said. "Ye needn't worry on tha' score, I'll come whenever ye need me ta come."
"Thank you Hagrid you have an open invitation and you know that my house-elves would appreciate you and your appetite," he said with a little laugh, when the cuckoo clock sang the time. "Oh, I better be getting back to the tower."
"Off you go then," Hagrid said shooing the boy out of his Hut. He chuckled to himself and shook his head. He wondered what the Professor's reaction was to the invitation and he also wondered if Professor Snape was going to accept it.
-----
The Yule Holidays
The headmaster for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was surprised to see Harry pack up his things and set out with the rest of the students going home for the holidays. There was nothing that he could do to prevent it. 'Oh well,' he thought. 'I'll send him the invisibility cloak any way. He will be needing it soon.'
Elsewhere, Ron was thanking his lucky stars that he didn't have to stay at school. His parents had decided to go to Romania to visit Charlie and they were taking all of their children with them. Otherwise he would have had to stay at the school in order to be there for Harry, not that Harry knew about that.
Hermoine was just as surprised that Harry was returning to the Dursleys from what she had heard about his treatment there. However she was more excited by the fact that she was going home too.
Professor Snape was in a quandary. He knew that Harry was sincere in his invitation, but he couldn't help feeling that it now had to do with paying back the books from their outing when they went to get the boy's Quidditch equipment. He didn't mind, but he was slightly leery about true motives. Still he did want a chance to a look through the Treatise book that the boy claims to own.
The last potions class, before the students were to travel for the winter holidays, Snape called out, "Mr. Potter, you will remain behind to defend your essay."
Ron glared at the man on Harry's behalf and Hermione frowned. Harry just nodded showing everyone in the class his resignation at having to stay behind. Malfoy always had a gleeful smirk when that occurred. It wasn't the first time that he had to stay behind to defend his essay.
Well that's what everyone thought, but truthfully the Potions Master was asking the boy to stay and discuss various other things, specifically muggle things. It's not that Harry knew all the answers, but he knew where to look for them.
The professor's questions were many and diverse. Sometimes the questions were simple and he could answer. Other times the questions were complicated and required in depth knowledge in the subject, like the muggle version of astronomy and calculating the distances of stars.
"Follow me," he said.
He led Harry up into his personal office, which was where they were able to have their conversations in peace. The potions professor was paranoid about spying spells with good reason. He didn't need anyone else nosing into his business. His office was set up for privacy and it was just as secure as Crasgrasp's office was at Gringotts.
Professor Snape was prepared to give his answer to the invite that he had received that first week of school, but first he said. "Have a seat, Potter." He looked at the boy he had gotten to know over the 'defending essays' meetings. "I have a few questions about your essay on the kind of worms for the Glow potion," he started.
Harry smiled and then began to earnestly defend his choice of worms for the Glow potion. "Well, it depends entirely on how long you need this potion to last," he began. "I used several examples for uses of it in order to clarify why certain worms or larvae were better than others."
"Yes, but you barely mentioned the underwater cavern worms of the Adriatic Sea," the professor said. "Why didn't you?"
"Well you did tell me to limit my essays to the discussion at hand, plus you've also said that I was to only use the school's references for my potions essays," Harry told him. "If I put more into any of my essays, you did mention something about docking points for not being able to stay on point. Also, there's a limit to the resources in the school, so if any Ravenclaw or someone like Hermione were to sign them out, I'd be stuck."
The Potions Master raised an eyebrow at that. It was true that the school's resources were limited, but he didn't think that he had assigned the Glow potion research to any other class at the time.
Harry explained, "It was the fourth year Herbology students. Apparently Professor Sprout assigned them an argumentative essay choosing either the pro or con of using certain worms for fertilizers. Several of them were doing the extra credit question on naming twenty of the known worms that could affect plant life."
"Hmph," Severus grumped. "Very well then, you'd get full marks if I wasn't supposed to mark your work like I do."
Harry was familiar with this too. His professor had explained that how he was supposed to act because there were certain factions in the Wizarding World that were watching his every move. He couldn't afford to be nice to the Boy-Who-Lived.
Harry understood that and then he explained that he had thought that this would happen anyway. They agreed to keep up a front to the school and class for now. The professor was adamant that his private treatment, like right now would not be discovered. Should it become suspect, ever, the front will be all that there is and the meetings like this would diminish in frequency.
Smart as he was and learned as he was Harry understood the reasons. He didn't like them, but he fully understood the situation. All he told the man was, "I hope that it will only occur much later, like about four years later."
Severus just looked at him and replied, "I will happen when it happens."
There was still the lunch hour and the free afternoon for the first years. The other students still had classes to attend, but Harry was planning to go into the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid this afternoon, so he asked, "Will that be all Professor?"
"I would like to accept that invitation that you had extended to me at the beginning of the year," the greasy haired man said quickly, not wanting the boy to change his mind.
"Really," Harry said excitedly. "That's great." Then he sat up to speak seriously. "Your Oath sir will require that anything you see, hear or anyone you meet or learn about will be kept to yourself. No form of communication will ever divulge what you may witness when you come to visit me this time or any other time for the remainder of your life. It must be a permanent Oath sir. I can not be constantly asking you to renew you Oath, should you decide to visit me in the future."
Severus was surprised at that, but then he thought that that would be acceptable. 'It would certainly help in the future, should we ever have to stop meeting like this,' he thought. 'A permanent Oath, it's not like I had never taken one of those before, but…'
He looked at the boy's earnest face and for some reason he couldn't deny him. He nodded and watched as Harry pulled out his wand and a blade. His eyes widened, "A blood-letting permanent Oath?"
"Yes sir," Harry said.
"How could you even know about that?"
"You wouldn't be the first one that I needed such an Oath from," Harry said. "Besides, a secondary component like the blood-letting will protect you from outside forces trying to gain this information from you by any means and that includes the use of mind magics or potions."
"I'm not one to repeat myself, Mr. Potter," he said.
Harry nodded and said, "You'll find out after you've taken the Oath."
Severus Snape sighed and then waved the boy to get on with it. "I, Harold James Potter, known as the Boy-Who-Lived, extract this Oath from…"
"Severus Salazar Snape"
"…in order to protect my secrets, my family, my properties, my lands, enforced by blood and a sworn magical Oath."
"I, Severus Salazar Snape, Potions Master for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, do swear by my blood and magic that I will endeavor to never reveal by word, sound or action of any kind, the secrets of family, properties or lands belonging to one Harold James Potter, Boy-Who-Lived. So mote it be."
Harry took his knife and made one small cut in each finger tip of Severus' wand hand and for good measure he did his opposite hand too. He made a similar cut in his own finger tips, mixed their blood and used his wand to heal them, stating the same key words to close the deal.
"I accept the Oath sworn to me by Severus Salazar Snape. So mote it be."
The power of the Oath was strong and Severus could see the magical bindings between the two of form. They sank into the skins of their finngers and became invisible. He looked to the boy, who just smiled back at him.
"Now you're protected," he said. "So am I. When would you like to visit me?"
"I have commitments until the twenty-sixth," Severus said. "I can come on that day."
"All right," Harry said. "How long do you plan to stay?"
At that question, Potions Master was surprised. "I wasn't planning to stay longer then the day. Did you wish me to remain longer?"
"Well I was just thinking that this would be a good opportunity to visit the town library and a few other places," Harry said. "You had a lot of questions that I couldn't answer, but like I told you, I know where go to look for them."
Severus was excited at the prospect, but it never showed on his face. Harry continued on, "If you come on the twenty-sixth, why don't you plan to stay for five days until the thirty-first. That way if you have commitments for the New Year you'll have time to get to them."
"That is a very good idea, Mr. Potter," Severus told him. "I accept. Expect me early in the morning, as I would like the opportunity to browse through your library first."
"Come as early as you want Professor," Harry said. "I will send you a note to you via Gringotts in order to throw off any suspicions. I'll explain about knowing the Oath when you visit. Will that be acceptable?"
Harry was grinning impishly.
Severus nodded and allowed himself to give the boy a half-smile. It was wiped off just as quickly, but the boy had seen it. "Now get out of here," Severus barked at the youth.
Harry playing along, let out a tiny "Eep."
He scurried away quickly, running out of the Dungeons and headed towards Hagrids Hut laughing at the professor's actions. Once there, Hagrid made sure he was bundled up all nice and warm, before they went to take care of a few things in the Forest.
As a groundskeeper, Hagrid had a lot of knowledge that was very useful for Harry to know. He was planning to use some of that knowledge for his properties and it was good to know about these things in order to be able to direct his house-elves.
They looked at the different creatures that the half-giant cared for and monitored the growth. He explained to Harry how some animals had to be culled or else the Forest would be overrun with the creatures. He was a groundskeeper and he needed to keep the animals in balance with the existing Forest.
He turned the various compost piles and spread a bit of it over the winter plants. Harry trotted along beside him helping out and asking questions. When they were far enough away from the school Harry told him about his plans and how Professor had taken the Oath.
"He's coming on the twenty-sixth and staying for five days," he said excitedly. "I want to take him to a couple of muggle libraries and maybe to a planetarium for a day. He could ask his questions there."
"Ye seem ta be unnerstandin' the Professor," Hagrid commented.
"Yeah, well he's seems honestly curious about the muggle world," Harry said. "I want to set up a year subscriptions for the publications that he's interest in, but I don't know how."
"The goblins 'ill set that up fer ye," Hagrid said. "When we head back, ye jus' go on and pack yer stuff. Make sure tha' ye have them pieces fer yer street peoples. I'll be meetin' ye at the Leaky when yer done with tha'."
"Thank you Hagrid," Harry said. They finished later in the day, but this time he didn't meet up with Ron or Hermione. He was too excited about going home for Christmas for a real holiday this time.
He had plans to teach his house-elves how to read and write or to set up a head house-elf who has that kind of knowledge. He needed an intermediary from his home to the school. Plus he needed one that would look out for his other properties and the other house-elves.
He truly wanted to go shopping because he was planning to go buy a beginner science kit for Professor Snape, plus set up his subscriptions for the year. He needed to speak to Crasgrasp about his gift for Hagrid. He also wanted to go to the bank to ask about an easier way to get home. The Knightbus was a nightmare sometimes and he was sure that there had to be another way.
He wanted to speak to the shop owners about how to create voice recordings in the Wizarding World. He knew that there were recording studios in the muggle world that you could buy time and materials in order to record whatever you wanted, but that could be expensive.
He had a couple of gifts for all of his house-elves, none of which were the dreaded 'clothes', but he hoped that they would like them. Most were learning toys, not cheap things, but definitely fun things.
Also he wanted to go back into his Arca and finish a couple of the paintings that he was working on. They were fantasy type things that muggles sometime pay good money for, but he just enjoyed painting them. Most were landscapes of made up origin, but others were just impressions that he painted from feelings about certain things.
His drawings and paintings were beginning to gain colour, when he fully understood an emotion. He knew realistically that he would never truly understand all of the emotions that he would feel in his life, but the base ones like, happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, determination, etc… He could paint those.
He still wasn't permitted to use colour in his murals, but he was experimenting with making a few them related to the school. He needed to study the structure and be absolutely sure about the times and the dates before putting one up and entering it. Still going home would give him the time to paint a few in his shed near the house.
-----
The following day, Harry didn't have any troubles getting to the train or hailing a cab to take him a couple of extra places. He promised the man a good tip, if he did, and since the cab driver was looking for more funds because of the season he was happy to help the kid out.
He was impressed by the way the kid haggled for the prices, claiming materials and time went into the pieces. This was when Harry was hanging out of the rear window of the cab talking to the two main vendors of his jewelry.
The cabbie looked interested in two of the pieces. Matching necklaces of the 'friendship' variety, but they were made different from the normal types because it had a Christmas theme. There were a few of those, so Harry pulled out one set and gave it to the driver.
Together it was a two-tone silver Christmas tree with red and green gems forming round Christmas balls. He showed the man how it was put together and how looked when it came apart. Apart it still looked like a Christmas tree only smaller. Each had it's own look, but one was pale silver with red balls and the other was a darkish kind of silver with green balls.
The cabbie loved it and was happy to find such a unique piece for his twin daughters. He was slowly going out of his mind, trying to find the perfect gift for them. He was glad that he didn't turn down this fare. He could have because it was very near the end of his shift, but he hadn't and he was happy now because of it.
Harry exchanged the rest his pieces of semi-cheap jewelry with the main vendors and told them that there would be nothing else from him until the summer. They complained because his pieces still sold well and he just said, "It's better to deal with this in person. Besides I'll have a lot made by then. You guys are just lucky that I made these with Christmas themes. I might be able to get back for the Easter week, but I can not promise you guys anything solid in the matter."
The vendors told him that they'd take whatever he brought and they gave him a few ideas for pieces with pastel coloured eggs and tiny bunnies. "Charm bracelets are coming back, so maybe a few of those with eggs charms, bunnies and maybe tulip or daffodil flowers with them."
"Good idea," Harry told them. "I still can't promise anything, but I will try to let you know about it when the time comes. I have your post addresses and unless they change I'll let you know one way or the other."
They waved at him, as the cab pulled away. Soon they were haggling among each other about how to set the prices and which pieces were going to be given to which vendor for specific streets.
Meanwhile the cabbie dropped the boy off in a section of town that he was happy to note was well lit. He wasn't afraid that the generous boy would be harmed in this district, so wished the kid a "Happy Christmas" and drove away.
Harry waited until the cab was out of sight before walking into the Leaky Cauldron. There was a proximity charm around the door of the building, but he had to be sure that the ones who noticed him didn't notice him for long. Walking in he was greeted by the booming voice that belonged to his magical guardian.
"Over 'ere 'Arry," Hagrid said. "Come have a warm cuppa 'ot chocolate, 'afore we brave the street o' Diagon Alley."
Harry smiled and walked over. His luggage was in his Arca, which was in his pants pocket, so he wasn't burdened by any of it. Sitting down he enjoyed the drink and told Hagrid about the vendors and the cabbie. He mentioned that they were interested in something for the Easter weekend, but he didn't want to begin a project like that without guaranteeing that they would get the pieces they wanted.
"We can go ta Gringotts 'n 'ave a talk with 'em about tha'. But it'd be a good idea for ye ta come home in the spring if'n ye plan on gettin' that blessin'," Hagrid said. "Are ye about ready ta go?"
Harry nodded and stood up next to the big man. They walked through the magical street of Diagon Alley and Hagrid asked the boy if needed to get anything for his Arca. "I don't think so," Harry said. "I'm doing fine at the moment. I just have to look out for my schedule. If I do need something new, then I'll plan to get it during Easter break because my Aunt and Uncle will still have to be seen picking me up at the end of the school year. I will have to stay with them for about two weeks. I'm still looking into those wards that are around their house."
Hagrid didn't say anything to that because there was nothing that he could say. They walked into the Wizard's one and only bank. They headed quickly to the back offices and asked a passing goblin if Crasgrasp was available to see them.
Seated in the chairs spelled for them, Harry explained more about his plans to make his properties prosper. He wasn't about to let them fall idle. "Besides, I would hate to cause any house-elf to die of boredem," Harry said with a smile.
The goblin understood that aspect and soon the farming plans were started. Harry had four properties that were in essentially pure farming towns, so he wanted to make sure that they were in good working order. One was going to continue with the milk production from ordinary dairy cows, but another was going to specialize in llamas for their wool.
This would ensure that the house-elves would be busy processing and spinning the wool. They wouldn't dye it, but they could prepare it for dying by muggle or magical means. The third farm was for sheep and goats because Harry knew that the milk and cheese produced by goats was quickly becoming a growing business in the muggle world.
The last was going to be for birds, like ducks, chickens, turkey and ostriche. The kind specially grown for eating, as exotic bird meat was also a good idea. This was especially true if Harry was lucky enough to find restaurants that wanted that kind of meat fresh.
It was going to be a slow process, but it was a good start to have his plans ready. He had two other properties that were located in a temperate environment, which was perfect for growing a variety of plants. So those were going to be turned into bee farming fields that would produce homemade unprocessed beeswax and pure honey. The buildings on these lands were going to be torn down and rebuilt to fit the needs of the workers and the work that the farms were going to do.
There was a run down castle somewhere, that if renovated could generate some income from the muggle world by changing it into a hotel or bed & breakfast kind of thing. Which, judging from its location wouldn't be a bad idea because the terrain was ideal for hikers or naturalists.
The remaining four buildings in various parts of the world would have to be torn down, but Harry was planning to make the land into a safe sanctuaries for magical creatures. He was planning to employ groundskeepers like Hagrid to care for the land and monitor the creatures that chose to settle in the areas. Keepers huts of simple cottages would be built to replace the rundown buildings.
Hagrid had to leave the office for a bit of time, while Harry took care of the payments for Hagrid's gift. "Was there any trouble getting it?" The boy asked his estate manager.
"No," Crasgrasp replied. "You do know that because he's bigger than a human it did have to be custom made just for him. Luckily he's an adult and has finished reaching his maximum height or you might have a problem then. The regular panels will work for him."
"Perfect," Harry said. "I hope that he can catch up. Being expelled from one school does not mean that you're not entitled to finish your education else where. I think that these panels are the ones we need to set up for him. Could you please keep an eye out for them? Oh and I really like to know if there are any panels that have any reference to species magics, specifically to the kind of magics that Giants can use."
"We'll keep an eye for those, but we will not give you any guarantees about them," Crasgrasp said.
"That's all right," Harry told him, putting him at ease. The goblin wasn't going to be fired because he couldn't comply with the boy's request.
"I'd also like to know if there is a better way to get to my current home without taking the Knightbus," Harry said. "You see I've invited one of my professors over for a visit, but I just can't see him taking that thing in order to get to my town."
"I understand," Crasgrasp said. "Have you thought about connecting your Floo?"
"Floo... What?" Harry asked confused. "What do you mean?"
Crasgrasp smiled and then had Hagrid come back in to help explain about the floo network. "I'm sorry about not telling ye about the Floo," Hagrid said. "I'll show ye how it works and then we can mayhap set ye up."
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"It's travel by fire," Crasgrasp said.
"How?"
"The Wizarding World has a network of fireplaces that are interconnected with one another," the goblin explained. "Through the use of various powders, known as Floo Powder, wizards and witches can travel from fireplace to fireplace."
"Wow," Harry said. "I think that I'd have to see that." He thought about it some and then had to ask. "What's to stop anyone from Flooing into your private home, if the fireplaces are all connected?"
He didn't want anyone from the Wizarding World dropping by. That would grate on his nerves and it would be a severe invasion of his privacy. The goblin and Hagrid could understand the direction of Harry's thoughts.
"It can be set up 'owever ye want it ta be set up," Hagrid told him. "If 'n ye want only one or two people to have access ta yer home, then ye only have ta pay fer it. May cost ye more, but it'd be more secure."
"He's right Mr. Potter," Crasgrasp said. "I would suggest connecting all of your existing properties by Floo together, but have the main control of the Floo remain with you at your main house. There is a service that is set up for people like you. It will redirect unwanted guests into a holding cell, until they can be dealt with by the Ministry."
"How are they dealt with?" Harry asked. "What do you mean, people like me?"
"First they're given a warning, next is a fine that will increase exponentially if the offence is repeated until they reach the maximum fine of 1200 galleons. Finally they'd be confined to Azkaban, one day per attempted intrusion. A sentence that includes all of the times they attempted it," Crasgrasp said. "What I meant by people like you... I was talking about the ones that are considered famous or are considered important to the Wizarding World. Several members of the Ministry and famous Quidditch have that kind of option on their Floos."
"Well, that's good," the boy said. "At least I'm not the only one. Can I set it up so that it will only open when I'm expecting someone and can I have it so that I can program just who is allowed to come through?"
"Of course," the goblin agreed. "I'll get the form and assist you in filling it out. Then we can discuss the muggle publications you wish to send to your professor, when he should expect to receive them and where. I'm quite certain that he wouldn't want them sent where others are watching."
Harry agreed and soon everything was set up. Hagrid took Harry to the Floo Store and they watched the demonstrations of the different Floo Powders in use. He even paid to be taught how to travel this strange system. Once more enunciation was the key. He was even shown how to speak through the Floo, which was one system that he thought could definitely be improved upon.
'Crouching on all fours with you bum in air,' he thought. 'How utterly ridiculous! Oh, bad thoughts. Of all the professors, my guess is that only Flitwick would be comfortable because he's closest to the ground.'
He giggled a bit, but he also learned that he could have a specialized Floo Powder that would take him directly to St. Mungo's without having to say the destination. He asked if he could have that same kind of Floo Powder programmed for his home, that way he wasn't shouting his home address for the whole world to know it.
The shop owner looked at him and realized that, yes it could be done and that it wasn't a difficult process. "Right you are sir," the lady said. "I don't know why we never thought of it before, but there's only one or two words to alter in the making of the Floo Powder for it in order for that to work." She looked at the boy and said, "If you let me use your idea, I'll see that you get a percentage of every sale for that kind of powder."
"Hold on a moment," Harry said. "Hagrid, I need Crasgrasp for this and perhaps that lawyer Walker Montrose guy."
Hagrid agreed and asked to use the store's Floo to contact them. Meanwhile Harry was thinking on the name of his main home. He liked that house in Potter's Bar, but he needed to make sure that the name he was thinking of using was not in the Grand Floo Directory. He took his time because that was about the only thing left to do, other than getting the Floo properly connected.
The name wasn't in use and it didn't look like anyone had thought using it ever. By the time that the contract was signed, including the signature of his magical guardian, Harry was now the proud owner of the first batch of 'Auto-Domus Floo Powder'.
It was set up to take him home to 'Tertia's Way'. Plus he was going to be making five percent from every purchase of that new Floo Powder for the next five hundred years. The contract was non-extendable after that, but transferable to his heir, should he pass on.
He asked if it could be used by anyone and he was assured that single exploding pouches were the best, if you needed someone to come visit. The general Floo was best for any guest to use in order to return to their home. He purchase a one month supply of general Floo Powder, a one year supply of communication Floo Powder and a one year supply of the new 'Auto-Domus Floo Powder'. He was given his first purchase of all the Floo Powder for free. However, he did have to purchase the single carrying exploding pouches himself, but he didn't mind.
He and Hagrid left the store soon after the Lawyer and Crasgrasp left with their own copies of the contract. They walked around Diagon Alley for a bit and then took the Knightbus home. The goblin had put a rush on the Floo service, but the worker would not be there to hook up his properties until three days later.
Hagrid ate the hearty meal that Bing and Bong provided. He returned to the school with the promise that he'd be back in three days, so that Harry wouldn't be alone with a stranger in the house while his Floo system was being connected. Harry was grateful for that.
-----
The Floo network to his properties was set up and he asked if any house-elf could come through the Floo or if they would pop in. Bing told him, "Only elves, bonded to this house can pop in."
Bong agreed and said, "We can use the Floo, but you must visit all the elves in order for them to swear their Oath to you. All properties already belong to you, but the elves must be seeing the Master at least once."
"All right," Harry told them. "We'll make a day of it tomorrow. First I want you to tell me how the plans are coming along for this land and I will tell you about what's going to happen to all of the properties. If you go and warn them that I'm coming it would be easier, that way they'll know that they can come to Tertia's Way any time."
"Anytime?" the asked together.
"Of course," Harry said. "It will take time for my ideas to be worked out and I certainly don't expect them to stay somewhere that they are working just for the sake of keeping house. There are several properties that will need to be closed up for the time being, but we may open the main houses later, depending on the workers I can get."
They quickly popped away to begin spreading the news, while Harry was mentally preparing a letter of invitation for his professor. The next two days he Flooed more than he had ever thought possible, but at least now he was able to do so with ease. After seeing to all of his house-elves and the properties, he sent the letter off with Hedwig.
-----
Potions Master
Professor Snape,
Everything has been set up. I now have a Floo connection set up. It will be open for you to come through on the twenty-sixth between the hours of seven am and nine am. You did mention that you wished to come early.
The pouch is an exploding Floo pouch with a very special type of Floo Powder. It's new, but it has been thoroughly tested. You needn't say a word to activate it. All you need to do is step into the Floo and throw it at your feet. You will be brought immediately to my home.
I look forward to seeing you then.
Sincerely,
H. J. Potter
P.S. Bring your shopping list for the muggle things you're interest in purchasing.
-----
Professor Snape received the letter when he was in the privacy of his own personal rooms and believed that Harry had instructed his owl to deliver it there. She did it on her own because she was a very smart bird.
"Thank you," he said to it. It's never a bad thing to thank an owl, as you wouldn't want it to attack you while it made a delivery. He gave it an owl treat and said that no reply needed to be returned. Hedwig looked at him and then she flew into his rafters to take a nap before the next leg of her journey. He let her be.
He looked at the pouch filled with Floo Powder and wondered if this was the same stuff that Lucius Malfoy was talking about a few days ago.
"It's wondrous stuff," the man told him. "It's programmed in the same manner that the St. Mungo's batches are made. I wonder who thought of it. It'll be supremely ideal for quick withdrawals from any given situation."
Severus had to agree with that, but it did make him wonder how much more difficult it would be to catch criminals, if they had a quick escape to an unknown location. He didn't really have to worry because Harry had already thought of that and the Lawyer ensured that it was part of the Floo Business practice.
Magical Law was very interesting, especially considering something like the Auto-Domus Floo Powder. The Floo business had a standard set of rules that they must fallow and all must practice. Magical Law can call for any addition, within reason, to be added under the Law of running a Floo business.
In the case of the Auto-Domus Floo Powder the shop owner with input from Harry's Estate Manager, Hagrid, the Lawyer from Rose Associates & Bar, plus one Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived. They all agreed that in order to allow any family to purchase the new powder, they had to register each purchase with the business.
If the Ministry ever needed to know who purchased such, then the businesses would be covered only up to the point of who purchased it, when it was purchased and the name of the home or dwelling it was purchased for. Each home or dwelling would need to be listed in the Grand Floo Directory and the owner would need to purchase a new batch as the Floo Powder was linked to a specific name of their dwellings or homes.
Meanwhile Severus was getting ready to visit the Malfoys for Christmas day. Of course he had to go because even though the kid was a right brat, Draco Malfoy was his Godson. He would return to the school to repack for his stay with young Mr. Potter and take the school's Floo to visit the boy. The Headmaster allowed the connection only if he was advised about the need in advance.
Severus made sure to book the connection for Christmas Eve and for the twenty-sixth. 'I'm beginning to wonder if I'm actually going to wind up in a muggle house when I visit Potter,' he thought. 'I didn't think that the Ministry would allow a Floo connection to be activated in the Muggle World.'
----------------------
TBC…
