The next few days were spent with countless visits to the restricted section, gathering as much data as they could. Harry found a decent amount of information; once the weekend rolled around he would be able to visit Gringotts and chat with Galldaxe about getting access. He was fairly certain there were at least twelve family-locked books in the restricted section he could cross-reference. From there, he'd have the founders at his fingertips. If he was going to make a third option, he'd need all the knowledge he could get.
First, though, there was something he wanted.
"What's the plan today? Will you be able to get into the restricted section soon?" Draco inquired, lazing luxuriously on one of the spare bunks. Recently, he'd effectively lived in Ari's room, between searching through the restricted books and reading the ones Harry had brought from his vaults.
Harry paused, smiled, and said, "Nope. Today we're out for fresh blood."
Draco perked up in curiosity, putting down one of the many books. "Go on."
"Have you ever heard of the Marauders?" Harry asked him, arm-deep in his suitcase as he reached in for one particular book. "They were students here, a legendary group of pranksters from Gryffindor house. Usually I'd laugh at the notion of a Gryffindor being useful-" Draco let out a chuckle, "- but these four were real geniuses. They should've been in Slytherin, honestly. Anyways, during their time here they created a wonderful item - the Marauder's Map. It's a self-updating map of the school which not only shows countless secret passages, but people and passwords as well. It's priceless for students such as ourselves."
Draco gaped. "Passageways? People? Passwords? You could sneak into anywhere with that!"
"It's a brilliant piece of work. There's only one in existence." Harry pulled out a small, worn book triumphantly. "Here it is! The full details are in here, though it never explains how they made it. Now, our goal today is to find out what happened to it, and see if we can get it. You in?"
"I'll get access to it?" Draco asked tentatively.
"I thought that was obvious," Harry smirked.
"I'm in," Draco agreed quickly. "So, got any leads?"
"Well." Harry paused. "In their senior year, the Marauder's Map was actually confiscated by Filch. It isn't there any more, however. The trail goes cold from there."
Draco sighed, but then got a strange expression. "Say," he commented, "What does this map look like?"
Harry looked up from his father's journal. "There's a picture in here of it, let me show you." He flipped through the pages and handed the sketch to Draco, who blinked at it a few times before swearing loudly.
"What?" Harry took the book back from Draco, eyebrow raised in elegant curiosity. "Draco, what's wrong?"
Draco sighed in frustration. "I KNEW that map sounded familiar," he hissed. "The Weasel twins have it. They must use it regularly to get their half-assed pranks through!"
"The Weasley twins? Fred and George?" Harry perked up. "Perfect! Now we have a location, I can start on the next step - potions!"
"Potions?! I'm more preoccupied with the fact that you're totally calm about snatching a priceless item from under the Weasley's noses!" Draco screeched.
"Oh, you'll be doing that," Harry replied casually. "It'll be easy. Our problem is working out how to work things so that we can get its functions without them knowing. A two-way mirror is out of the question, they'd notice immediately and I don't know how the magic would mix… then there's a spell duplication goop, but we can't really read a map made of goop, can we…"
"You have a significant lack of common sense," Draco told him unhappily.
"Why thank you," Harry replied with a smile. "Now come here and tell me what this potion does."
"Draco? Why are you acting like the world has ended?" Blaise asked, sliding in easily next to his housemate. "You didn't manage to sneak any alcohol out of Hogsmeade… did you?"
"No," Draco hissed, closing his book with an audible thump. "Heed my warning: do not make a deal with Durst without doing your research."
Blaise mock-gasped. "Draco, you can't possibly have locked yourself in a bad deal?"
Draco hung his head. "He's more Slytherin than I am," he muttered gloomily. "He's roped me into what will probably be the most terrifying experience of my life, if it doesn't end before I finish this. I can't even ask for his help; he's disappeared off to Gringotts for the weekend for his end of the deal."
"I'm listening," Blaise urged him on. "What have you promised that could possibly get you killed?"
"Ari Durst," Draco spat, "wants me to go steal something from the Gryffindor common room."
"Please tell me this isn't leading where I think it is," Blaise whispered fearfully.
"Not only is said something extremely valuable - one of a kind," Draco groaned longingly at the thought, "but it is in the possession of none other than the Weasel twins."
"Failure means death by pranks," Blaise translated unhelpfully.
"If I succeed, which is highly unlikely," Draco grumbled, "Ari is hoping to copy the spell on it and pass it on to some blank parchment. He's promised to give me access to some priceless family heirlooms, as well as this item, but…" Draco slumped on the table. "I'm not sure whether or not I'll be able to manage it. I've got some wicked tools to use, but still. It's going to be a nightmare no matter how I tackle it."
Blaise patted Draco's back soothingly. "Should I gather up some willing cohorts to help you out?"
"Maybe," Draco whispered. "I'll owe you, but maybe this is worth owing people."
"My ears must be failing me," Blaise commented dryly. "But regardless, do you know anyone who owes Ari a favour? Or anyone who wants revenge? We need people more than anything. Distractions, rope-pullers, a team."
"A team, huh," Draco grumbled. "It's weird. I didn't think about it, but Ari works with everyone, doesn't he. Even Gryffindors." The tentative friendship between Ari and Hermione was a strangely fitting one. She seemed to be leaning on him for support, as if he were stepping right into Harry's place at the school. He was already somewhat famous among Slytherins for his lack of discrimination and skill in getting what he wanted.
"Maybe you could ask Ari for help," Blaise suggested weakly. "He certainly owes you for leaving you hanging like this."
Draco sneered. "He'd just want more favours, or worse, call the whole thing off."
"Is he that ruthless?" Blaise inquired. He'd not had a chance to talk to the enigmatic transfer yet.
Draco sighed. "I suppose not. Alright, I'll floo him." Blaise gave him one last bump of support and watched as Draco dragged himself off to the floo.
"Good luck," Blaise murmured, turning away to head back to his room. He needed to plan in case Draco failed this one.
Harry bowed deeply to the goblin before him. "Gesdlk, Helden Fyrefohl." What an unfortunate name, he thought privately.
"Rise, and use English, Helden Harry. I thank you for your politeness, but Gobbledegook is a bit too clumsy for such things," Fyrefohl replied calmly. Despite his title, he was a humble goblin, and was honest about how wizards improved their lives, despite their inferior magical practices. "I've worked through those books of yours and made English copies. I have taken the liberty of making copies for the goblins as well; many lost spells were in those books."
"It was my pleasure," Harry replied, taking the books into his arms. Just as he was about to begin a tentative chat about the contents, the floo flared and he turned to see Draco framed in the flames.
"Draco? Excuse me, Helden Fyrefohl, I will rejoin you shortly. I must converse with my associate." He placed the books down again and rushed over to the floo. "Draco, what's wrong?"
"I… needyouradvice," Draco hissed hurriedly. Harry blinked, then laughed out loud.
"Hey, stop, it's embarrassing," Draco protested weakly, his only reply being Harry covering his mouth with his sleeve.
Taking a few calming breaths, Harry said, "No, no, it's hilarious." He sighed, chuckling. "Right. What exactly do you want me to tell you?"
"I… was thinking, for the… thing you wanted me to get," Draco phrased slowly, "Would it be alright to work with some others?"
"Hestia, Flora and Carla are safe to work with, I've allied myself with them," Harry reported. "Carla in particular. She'd be eager to return the favour. Other than that, Callum and I are on good terms, though you might have to offer him reasons to trust you. I suppose you're hoping for my take on how to get the MM?"
"Anything I can get," Draco replied wearily. This was going to bite him in the bum later, but he didn't particularly care at that moment.
"Disguise your intentions is the first call," Harry told him smartly. "You've got to mask the entire operation. I'm thinking; go big. Something that will catch the attention of the twins." He got an evil smile. "Say, didn't those two prank the Slytherin table last week? Has the house gotten revenge yet? Maybe you could give them some suggestions… or even lead a prank on House Gryffindor."
Draco's eyes went wide. "Me? Prank an entire house?"
"You forget who you're talking to," Harry told him dryly. "Head to my room and open my trunk. In the compartment near the back is a small library I carry with me. Check the untitled red leatherbound book and the blue hardcover titled 'Zonko's Greatest'. There are some notes in those books on some of the greatest pranks ever in Hogwarts history."
Draco stared expectantly.
He shook his head in amusement. "Talk to the people I mentioned and get them in on the mission. Then rile up the Slytherins and help the group plan out a prank - make sure there's a set day so you can plan ahead. Use the confusion to get up to the Gryffindor dorms undetected, sneak in and head for the fourth floor of the boys' dorm, take the left staircases by the fireplace. The map should be there; the twins wouldn't risk having it on them during the feast."
"How do you know all this?" Draco asked. "And why didn't you tell me?"
"I have connections in every house," Harry replied mysteriously, "and I forgot. Now get out there and do your best. In the event of a mission abort, use the portkey. Call at Gringotts office 264 if you need more help, alright?" Draco nodded quickly and waved goodbye, the floo dying out.
"Is there something you ought to be telling me, Helden Harry?" Fyrefohl asked, amusement twinkling in his beady black eyes. Harry shrugged, getting to his feet from standing in front of the short fireplace intended for goblins.
"I might be trying to secretly borrow a priceless artefact from some Gryffindor Hogwarts students," Harry commented casually. "I wanted a particular spell matrix copied to another piece of parchment for… personal use."
Helden Fyrefohl's eyes were twinkling even more strongly than Dumbledore's. "Perhaps I can help with that."
"I'm in!"
"Us too."
"Eh, if Ari trusts you, who am I to doubt? What's the plan?"
Draco inwardly slumped in pure relief. "We're going to create a diversion. A big one. From there, we're going to sneak out to the Gryffindor common room, get into the dorms, and grab the map. From there I'll use this to portkey us directly to Ari's room." He showed them the stone, which he'd kept on him 24/7 since he'd gotten it.
"So, know the password?" Callum inquired. "Or is there another way into the common room?"
"That's one of the problems," Draco admitted freely. "I'm going to surf through Ari's trunk for some things that I need, mostly prank books and his cloak. He did say he had connections in all the houses; I was thinking he might have written them down somewhere."
"At least we've got a starting point," Hestia and Flora said in unison. "Let's go."
"Here they are," Draco said, relieved. Pulling out the two books, he handed them off to Callum, and closed the trunk again. "Now, time to search."
Carla was already at Ari's bedside. "His cloak is here," she called before ducking back into the sheets. Her muffled voice continued, "And if I could just reach, there's some papers back here-"
Hestia pushed Carla gently away and reached down with a thin arm, grabbing the papers and looking through them. "Letters," she murmured, "not what we're looking for." She put them back and glanced around the room.
"Draco, he talks to you most, where would he hide this sort of stuff?" Callum asked, glancing around. "His room looks pretty plain."
"Looks," Draco agreed. "He's got some intricate systems going on in here. Check the lion in the corner, it's suspicious."
Sitting to one side was a lion figurine, which indeed was odd in a Slytherin dormitory, so the small group gathered around it.
"Maybe it needs a spell?" Carla suggested. "Or maybe a hidden pressure plate or something…"
"Don't be silly, he's a pureblood, of course it'll be magic," Callum scolded. "The question is - what kind?"
"Let me try," Draco commanded, waving them aside. Clearing his throat, he said, "Priori Incantato."
A flash of coiling green magic, and then a pleased hiss. The Lion statue shuddered, and a stone snake coiled up its body and lay silent on its head.
"That did something," Carla commented weakly. "Is the snake a lock? Did we mess up?"
"No, it's obviously intentional." Draco stepped forward and tapped his wand on the snake's head. "Carmina Ignotae ostende."
Above the snake's head hovered a few words in a language Draco recognized. He cursed.
"What's that?" Callum asked. "I've never seen a dialect like that before."
"Parseltongue. He's more devious than I thought." Sighing in frustration, Draco grumbled, "Geez. Next, I bet he'll have us solving riddles."
The snake suddenly hissed happily and slid back, dragging the Lion with it. Underneath was a pile of notes - random words that appeared to be passwords.
"Was… was that the password?" Draco asked incredulously. "Was there even a password?"
"I don't particularly care, we've got the passwords now," Carla said, watching as Hestia and Flora tag-teamed to quickly copy down all the passwords. You could never be too prepared. "Let's go. We've got a prank to plan."
"Hald Galldaxe?"
"Yes, Helden Fyrefohl?"
"Your little project seems to be up to something."
"What's he done this time?"
"He's been researching some very specific potions… I can't be sure, but I suspect he's planning to take the war into his own hands. I just wanted to say that if he builds a place for himself, the Heldens of the Court will vote to join his cause. He has our interests at heart."
"Thank you, Helden Fyrefohl. It means much to me that Helden Harry is worth that much to you."
"He always has been, Hald Galldaxe. Before being a member of the court or even Harry Potter, he is Phoenix Galldaxe. That means more than any title the wizards could give him."
Galldaxe had no answer. He merely smiled at Fyrefohl, his mind's eye replaying the moment he spoke to a curious child, living in the cupboard under the stairs.
When Harry returned on Monday, he returned to chaos.
The Slytherin common room was in shambles as preparations were underway for one of the greatest pranks in Hogwarts history. Draco had a megaphone, oddly enough, and was barking out orders to people as students rushed back and forth to inform him of parts of the project that were finished.
Lowering the megaphone, Draco said, "Ari! Thank Merlin you're back! It's been chaos getting this prank in motion."
"I seem to recall you flooing me in a panic two days ago," Harry commented idly, letting out a low whistle as he stepped past some students transfiguring cauldron cake wrappers into streamers. "I suppose you've achieved a lot in two days."
"We have," Draco agreed. "Project Basilisk is coming along nicely. I should be able to manage what you asked me to do easily."
"Project Basilisk," Harry repeated. "Well, one way or another, this will at least be a spectacular thing to witness. Think I have time to join in on this?"
"Go ahead," Draco smirked. "I'll enjoy ordering you around." Harry laughed and mock-saluted, walking off to inspect the different pockets of Slytherins laying on the ground.
Off in the corner, Severus Snape, head of Slytherin house, smiled wistfully. Pranks had always been good for the one thing he could never manage to achieve within his own house; unity.
With a swish of his cape, he was off to tell the house-elves to bring sustenance enough for an entire house to Slytherin common room. They wouldn't be leaving soon.
A/N: Guess who's been buried in homework? *cries* I missed this so much!
At first, I was a little worried that this was too short for my return to authorhood, but then I realized that it just had to stop here for the sole purpose of CLIFFHANGER. I'm so sorry, you can start throwing the tomatoes now.
Anyways. During the hiatus, some awesome things happened. One of those things was a thunderstorm! The other was that I finished the sketch for the ENTIRE STORY. Yeah, that's right, I've got this beastie under control now! Yay!
Finally, I'd like to address something. This story is unedited. It's the first draft. When I'm ready to, I'll be taking this story and finding an editor to help me create a masterpiece, which will be under a different title but linked to at the Epilogue on this story.
Well, thanks again for sticking with me and for all your support! Until next time…
-MDH
Update - changed some things. Whoops mind my prior mistakes.
