Author's note:
Sorry about the wait for this one! I was stuck on a section, and I just could not get it working.
But here it is!
Next chapter shouldn't take quite so long this time.
Just so you know, this chapter is NOT beta-cleaned yet. I just wanted to get it up for people to enjoy
Please, Enjoy.
Chapter 8
A day in the life of…
Harry woke up Saturday morning, feeling very refreshed. He quickly attended to his morning ablutions, and slipped on some of the casual clothes he purchased what felt like ages ago.
Harry then started examining his trunk. At first he didn't see anything strange about it, and then he realized that around the lock plate there were a series of four pictures. A snake, a lion, a raven, and what looked like a badger. Of the four, the badger was currently pressed down.
Cautiously, Harry pushed down the raven picture. It depressed with a quiet click, after which Harry felt a sharp pain at the tip of his finger. Harry looked at his finger, noting a spot of blood, but none on the raven itself. Harry shrugged, and then lifted the lid. Or at least, he tried to. The lid was firmly closed, probably locked even. Grumbling, Harry went looking for the key. After about ten minutes, he slapped his forehead, whispering to himself, "The key's in the trunk, stupid. Now how do I get it?"
Frustrated, Harry pressed all the pictures on the front of the box, getting finger pricks each time, and the lid not opening at all until the badger was again pressed. Looking inside, he again saw his(huge!) stack of books, his clothes that weren't placed in the wardrobe beside his bed, and of course the key.
Harry grabbed the key, and then looked at the stack of books. Some, admittedly, he had purchased himself for school, but the majority of the others were birthday gifts. Harry decided to peek through the titles at least before exploring further.
Some of the titles he swore were jokes. 'The Lion, Witch, And The Wardrobe, the unabridged version', 'How to Train Your Dragon, A Viking's Tale', and even a book on the laws and customs of Chinese Amazons. Other titles he knew would be of assistance. Like six copies ( ! ) of 'From Apprenticeship to Mastery, Tricks of the Potioning Trade' by Emrys Myrddin, one of which claimed to be the unabridged version, and printed in the year 500!
"Well, I'm definitely going to be reading that one today," Harry muttered to himself. Most of the other titles included books he already had, some of them older versions though. "Maybe I should check those as well," Harry mused, remembering that older books might have more relevant information.
As Harry closed the trunk, an elf he never saw before popped in beside him. "Mipsy here to check for books," She announced quietly.
Harry nodded slowly, "Which books did you need to check for?" he inquired, again opening the trunk.
"Mipsy needs make sure every student has Apprentice and Master book by Myrrdin. You has copy?"
Harry nodded, "I believe I have six copies. I could probably give you a few to pass around if you like."
Mipsy shook her head, "No, Mipsy needs make sure every student owns book. You has, so Mipsy no need buy for you. Does Mister know if anyone else has book?"
Harry frowned, "I don't know, for certain. None of the others in my grade had them as far as I know. It wouldn't hurt to ask them later though. They're still asleep now."
Mipsy nodded, "Mipsy agrees. Thank you." she then popped away.
Harry blinked slowly, "Well, that was weird."
Another soft popping sound, and Dobby replied, "Dobby no agree. Mipsy performing quest."
Harry asked, "What is the purpose of a quest?"
Dobby smiled, "Is importance. A request is small, only worth a little. An order is middle, worth a middle amount. A quest is large, worth a large amount."
Harry blinked, trying to follow the thought, then ventured, "amount of debt?"
Dobby nodded, "Amount of debt repaid. Is considered bronze, silver, gold now. Elveses not used same money types before, so see it different. But quest still worth gold. Mipsy's quest is seventh quest given, from what Dobby remember."
Harry nodded in comprehension, "I think I understand then. And with people only giving orders all the time…?"
Dobby agreed, "Take long long time to finish. Dobby no think without worth even then."
Harry smiled, "So, you said you stored more things in the trunk?" Harry waved to the trunk in front of him.
Dobby nodded, "Trunk have four sides. Dobby saw you press buttons. That how to get in. Dobby lock all sides to make sure safe."
Harry grimaced wryly, "I noticed that. How do you unlock each side? All I got was pricks on my finger for each of the pictures."
Dobby grinned happily, "Mister Harry bound chest to him. Is makes only Harry can unlock now."
Harry blinked, "How did you get in before?" He shook his hands, "The trunk pricked me when I touched the pictures, wouldn't it poke you as well?"
Dobby blushed, "Dobby used magic to push buttons. Fingers never close enough to get poked."
Harry wiggled his fingers, "Fair enough. Can you please show me or at least tell me which area I should check?"
Dobby nodded, looked around to make sure everyone else was still asleep, and replied quietly, "Ravenses is where books is. Is where Mister Potter Family book hiding. Snakes holds stuff needs keep secret. Lion has bigthings that Dobby found. Not has many, sorry."
Harry nodded and patted Dobby gently, "You did the best you could, better than I even thought of, to be honest."
Dobby nodded, "Dobby understand. Does Mister Harry want to take gloves back? Dobby thinks Mister Harry has enough magic for Dobby be yours again."
Harry blinked, then looked around, "How about we talk about this somewhere else? Like, where we won't wake people up." Dobby nodded enthusiastically again as Harry grabbed one of the Myrrdin books, then closed and locked the trunk. Harry wrapped the cord of the key around his neck, and dropped the key itself down his shirt. "Lead the way," he whispered.
Dobby bounced and walked with Harry down the stairs, after which Dobby took the lead and escorted Harry to a more central area. Eventually, they stopped in front of a painting of a pear tree. Confidently the little elf tickled the pear on the tree, which giggled merrily. Then the painting flipped open silently. Dobby led Harry inside, stating, "This kitchens. If you hungry and Dobby busy can always come here for food."
Harry grinned, responding, "Brilliant! Wait, is there more than one kitchen?" At Dobby's nod Harry smiled, "Maybe I could come down Friday morning. Hagrid had delicious biscuits for me yesterday and I would love to return the favour."
Dobby smiled shyly, "Dobby think Sarna be pleased."
Harry blinked, then asked, "You mean Hagrid didn't make those?"
Dobby giggled, "No. Mister Hagrid can't cook but rocks. Cleans teeth good, bad for tummy. Sarna always make Mister Hagrid guest food. Sometimes buy if too too busy."
Harry then kneeled down to be level with Dobby, "Dobby, you asked to give your gloves to me, that you might be mine again. Are you sure this is what you want?"
Dobby nodded solemnly, first taking off the robe, revealing a fitted towel beneath, and then taking off the gloves. Dobby placed first his hand, and then the gloves in his other hand in Harry's open hands. "Dobby return gloves, and give Dobby's life. Dobby feel has not paid back debt yet, and wishes to be yours to pay that debt."
Harry hesitated, then accepted the gloves, "I accept your gift, and accept you into my family as well. As my brot.." Harry blinked as a hand gripped his, and another one gently touched his mouth. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked at someone only slightly shorter than himself, waist-length shock red hair, and yet looked in her late teens.
"Is very bad you say things like that. Family important in debt." Harry blinked, confused, and she continued, "If you accept him in your family, then you accept his debt as well. Would make you a house-elf as well." Harry's eyes went wide, and the girl nodded, "I see you understand. Slaves are fine. Servants are fine. Both can be a part of your family, and it means that he and his children will stay with your family forever. Brother, however, means that his debt is yours, and that is very bad."
Harry nodded in understanding. He waited until she removed her hand, and then Harry restarted, "I accept your gift, and accept you into my family as my servant." Dobby grinned ecstatically, and let go of the gloves.
"Dobby accepts." The little elf bounced. There was a quiet cheer from the elves around, who then quickly got back to work making breakfast.
Harry turned to the girl, "I've never seen you around before. What's your name?"
Dobby replied, "Sarna is Sarna, Master Harry. Sarna is the one Dobby mentioned." The girl bowed, and Harry saw the longer-than-normal ears on her.
Harry nodded, then asked, "So Sarna, I know why you stopped me, but how did you know to?"
Sarna blushed and replied, "I saw you do that four times before. It was only funny the first time, and annoying since."
Harry blinked slowly, then asked, "Four times? This happened four times before?"
Sarna nodded, "Last four times that world reset happened this early, this happen each time."
Harry shook his head, then asked, "Before we go too much deeper in this, how come you can talk mostly normal?"
Sarna smiled, "I am half elf. Not as tied to rhyme and song as full elf. Still some, so I still need to talk a bit off, but I can talk normally for most."
Harry looked around, "Then how come you look so much more...human than the others?"
Sarna sighed, "I am half elf. Other half human. And spell used to make my family...like me, also made me look more human. Look more human than elf, because that spell designed that way."
Harry blinked, "You just said the same thing twice." He looked around, "Is it safe to be talking about this here?"
Both Dobby and Sarna nodded, "The house-elves of hogwarts are bound to the school, not to any one person. All house-elves will keep their family safe, even from other family. The school is their family." Sarna replied. Then Sarna grinned, "Didn't say exact same thing twice. The spell is designed to make the person under it...fit more to the owner's desires. So if my owner wanted someone to cuddle, then I would be more appropriate for cuddling. Changes in looks are slow, thankfully. I'm also thankful that my recent master has never needed me for more than cooking and cuddling."
Harry nodded, "He sounds like a nice guy." to which Sarna only nodded, "So, given that Dobby and I are safe here, maybe he could ask me that question he wanted to ask earlier?"
Dobby grinned, "Dobby and Aunty Tuney talked before Dobby joined you at Hoggywarts. Aunty Tuney asked that if Dobby was gift from year ago, maybe there more gifts now. Dobby could go to Ministry and find out for you."
Harry blinked slowly, then asked, "Why would people send me gifts? I can see from before school, but why now?"
Sarna grimaced, "If you don't mind, I'll answer that." Dobby and Harry both nodded, after which she started, "Because you were instrumental in defeating Moldy Shorts, many magical people see you as national treasure. Everyone wants to be acknowledged by national treasure, so some send gifts. Some will try to meet you in person. Then there are some who are against you, because of same, and will send things to hurt you. Ministry has long tradition of taking all gifts to national treasures, and making sure they're safe. Then they supposed to send list of safe gifts to person who supposed to receive them, so can be picked up."
Harry covered his mouth, barely stopping a laugh into a small squeak. He then whispered, "Why do you call him Moldy Shorts?"
Sarna grinned, "Is affectation from master when I was gifted to him. He used it because people were still afraid of made up name, so to humour them, he said that. Not afraid to say name, but even more, willing to make fun of name."
Harry nodded and grinned, then whispered, "I should use that! It sounds like tweaking his nose."
Sarna grinned, "Absolutely."
Harry then shook his head, "So, do you know why I haven't received any of those letters then? I haven't received any letters of gifts to me ever."
Dobby waved his hand, "Dobby thinks knows that one. Found owl go away magics on house."
Harry started to fume, when Sarna piped up, "Yes, there are. Put there by Mister Dumbledore. He did it to keep you safe, because some letters would escape the gift redirect. Mister Dumbledore redirected all owls sent to you to Hogwarts here, and had elves going through them making sure they were safe. I think he just forgot to send the safe ones to you."
Harry blinked, and then nodded, "Well, I hear he's got like three jobs, that would drive anyone up the walls with being too busy."
Sarna nodded, "Exactly. So, with Dobby now being your elf again, he can request a new copy of the safe gifts, and bring them back too. He might need a bit of money though, to buy something to store the items in."
Harry grimaced, "Ugh. I don't have a huge amount of money. Is there enough room in my trunk for more stuff, Dobby?"
Dobby shook his head, "No, Master Harry. But Dobby thinks there be some gold in new gifts. If Dobby allowed to use that to buy new trunk?"
Harry smiled, "Maybe an old trunk. I don't need everything brand new. Personally, I'd rather any trunk you get to have good charms on them, regardless of the age. A well loved trunk would fit better, I think."
Dobby nodded, and smiled, "Dobby agree. Does Master Harry want to examine trunk while Dobby at Ministry?"
Harry looked around, noting several elves finishing up with making food, and then grinned, "Yeah, I would love that, actually. Can we find an unused room in a tower to do that?"
Sarna nodded, "I can bring you to tower. Spicey?" One of the flour covered elves waved, "When I call, can you bring Master Harry's trunk to us, please?" The elf waved again, and chirped a 'can do!', to which Sarna nodded, "Very well. Whenever you are ready."
Harry tilted his head to the side, "Why can't you bring the trunk, Sarna?"
Sarna grimaced, "Sarna has death of magic. Twelve thousand years of practice, and can still not even get wisp light."
Harry nodded, "Dobby mentioned that to me. We were thinking that a different way of...wait. Twelve thousand years? You barely look my age!"
Sarna grinned, "I am one hundred eighty three years old right now. But I have been bound to my master for a little under twelve thousand years. I did mention I knew about resets, right?"
Harry boggled, then sighed, "I almost wish I knew how that worked, and also how you were so calm about it."
Sarna grinned wider, "Sarna went mad fifteen times so far. I also forgot a lot of what happened, even elves can not live that long remembering everything. We forget things on purpose after a while, so that we don't go insane. But if we forget too much...we go insane anyways. A coping thing, I think."
Harry grimaced, "So if a human lived that long….?"
Sarna grimaced, "Mistress did that. I think she got bored, and just tuned out for a long time. Last time she came out of it was...three hundred years ago? Maybe? Yes, about that." Sarna nodded to herself, "That when Master took her out on date. Has been having fun again since then."
Harry's eyes went wide, "I...see. Should I be afraid?"
Sarna peered up at Harry, then shook her head, "Sarna no think so. Anyways, will you let Dobby go?"
Harry grimaced, "It's barely eight in the morning. Will anyone even be at the Ministry?"
Dobby nodded enthusiastically, "Yes Master! There be people there all night. Dobby thinks better to start early, might take time before done with red ribbon."
Harry looked confused as Sarna grinned, "Tape, Dobby. It is tape that you will be dealing with."
Dobby nodded some more, his ears flapping, "Yes yes, tape too."
Harry snorted, curbing another laugh, "Okay, yes Dobby, please go and do that for me. If you need more money for that trunk, let me know please." Dobby grinned, threw a floppy salute, and then disappeared with a near silent 'pop'.
Sarna then gently took Harry's hand, and led him out of the kitchens. Spicey grinned, and packed into a basket a series of breakfast foods, commenting that the young master will be hungry, because he spent too much time talking, not enough eating.
Dobby appeared in the front office of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. There was a clerk sitting in the desk that Dobby did not recognize. The clerk started as the short house elf appeared.
"Wha' t'yer 'ere fer ye barmy elf?" the clerk growled, startled into his birth accent.
Dobby bowed and replied, "Dobby here to see Missy Bones. Dobby was sent on mission and can report now."
"Oh really now? Ye expect me t' let ye inta th' boss' office on yer own say-so?"
Dobby grinned and shook his head, "No, Dobby expects you to ask Missy Bones if Dobby is telling truth."
The clerk blinked, then shook his head, visibly shaking off his surprise, "Oh. Well then. I'll go and ask her that. Please don't move while I'm gone." Dobby nodded, and then the clerk knocked and stepped into the director's office.
Dobby grinned as he heard yelling in the background, "Of course he can come in you idiot! I let you know about his mission a year ago! Go on, send him in now!"
The clerk bustled out, and quickly motioned Dobby into the office. Dobby snapped a floppy salute to the clerk, and stepped inside.
"So Dobby, did your master finally make a mistake and send you to the ministry for something?" Amelia Bones smirked as she looked at the extremely loyal elf.
Dobby grinned as he replied, "Mister Malfoy made lots mistakes. Biggest one letting Dobby know where all his dark things and stolen things hidden."
Amelia raised an eyebrow at Dobby's words, "Mister Malfoy? I thought he was a Lord. And why aren't you calling him master?"
Dobby grinned wider, "Master Harry Potter Sir summoned Dobby on last day of gift time. Master Harry is now Dobby's Master. And mister Malfoy not lord of land. Stole lord rings, but not lord himself."
Amelia's eyes went wide, then she grinned, "So, the law stating that whoever was holding the gifts being able to sell them isn't real? Or wait, no," She corrected herself, before Dobby could, "the law itself is real, but the changing of time held to six months is not. So even though the ministry of magic can make local laws, they can't change the laws of the land. GOOD to know that. Thank you, Dobby, for helping me figure that out. It's been so hard ferreting out the rules and laws and finding out what's real and fake. Every step in the right direction is good."
Dobby nodded, "Dobby also having problems with laws. Hard to tell if law changes laws of land or not. Is frustrating. Is even more frustrating not know why some people held under it and some not." Amelia nodded, and Dobby continued, "Aside from point. Dobby has description of wards in house. Also has hidden spots."
Amelia blinked, "I know why you found the hiding spots for Malfoy's dark objects, but why did you examine the wards?"
Dobby grinned mischievously, "Well, Dobby thought. If Dobby were to hide things that Dobby would go to prison for, then Dobby would want to make sure if those things close to being found, they be destroyed instead. And if Dobby could make it look like someone else's fault, then all better. So Dobby went looking, and found ward bits which if not triggered exactly right, would make room explode. If triggered little wrong, would just make things inside get broken."
Amelia grinned back, "I see I see. Excellent work. Is it all written down, or do you need to write it down for me?"
Dobby nodded, then shook his head, "Dobby needs write down. Also, Dobby thinks might have to move fast, and not say who is moving against. Mister Fudge visit mister Malfoy all time. Much money traded."
Amelia nodded, then pulled out a stack of parchment, and a writing quill and ink bottle. "Here you go. As you are writing and drawing, we need to discuss payment."
Dobby nodded seriously, as he started drawing a design on the paper. A quick glance showed the base house layout that Amelia saw on file, but with several differences. rooms that ostensibly matched the original drawings of Malfoy Manor, in addition to several rooms that weren't even visible from the outside. Hallways that went underground hidden in dead-end storage rooms. Several trap doors in floors, and even a few in the ceilings. As Dobby drew, a look of determination on his face, he quietly said, "Dobby owing much debt for giving these. Two layer permanent. three layer temporary. Is full life debt if found. Is for good of country, but is still owing."
Amelia stayed behind her desk, pulling several forms from the various drawers. "Okay, the law against insurrection is still in place, and Malfoy as you said isn't a lord. Did he mention that any of this was to make the land better?"
Dobby shook his head, "No, mister Malfoy just collects lots. Says might need some day. Also says purebloods are land, but Dobby wouldn't be able to take back Master Harry's gifts if mister Malfoy right."
Amelia nodded, then placed several of the forms aside, "Good, next is...does he have any slaves?"
Dobby slowed in his drawing, then whispered, "Malfoy has five elves. Has six mundanes. Has three witches. All bound to silence. Only two elves not stolen. All girls told they slaves, told have no way to escape. Dobby not know how many still alive. Dobby..had to hide two bodies so far. Dobby sorry."
Amelia's eyes hardened as she placed three forms down, "These forms are those for the government taking those debts from you. You gained them specifically in defense of the land, and so the land shall absorb those claims."
Dobby nodded, tears in his eyes, as he filled out the forms, then returned to drawing. After finishing drawing the house, he drew the wards, those of them that he could understand at least. "At this room, need knock three times, then tap handle with wand. if no knock, room explode. if no tap, things destroyed. Slaves in this room." He stared at Amelia, "No forget to knock. No forget to tap." Amelia nodded solemnly.
An hour later, Dobby finished his drawing and explaining. Both he and Amelia looked excessively drained. Amelia then asked, "So, why did Mister Potter send you here?"
Dobby smiled wanly, "Dobby sent to get list of safe gifts, so Master Harry could get and thank people for."
Amelia nodded, "And you would need someone to introduce you then. I think I have some time before a spot inspection. I think I will keep hold of these sheets, just in case." Dobby nodded, and then followed the stern witch out of the office.
While walking to the storage area, Dobby quietly asked, "Why Master Harry not get inheritance? Dobby found Master's family things at mister Malfoy's in hidey places."
Amelia looked around, making sure that no-one else was in the hallway before she replied, "About five years ago, the patriarch of the Potter family died. While he left everything to his heirs, at the time no-one could find Harry, and the goblins said that to their best information the Potter family was dead. The goblins did agree that Harry Potter was alive, but they did not acknowledge him as legitimate. And because of that little loophole, the government sold off the property several months ago."
Dobby frowned, and asked, "What Master need do to claim everything back?"
Amelia smiled, "Well, I'll answer that if you answer a question for me." Dobby nodded, and then Amelia continued, "Harry needs to have the ring of the Potter lands, as well as an active magical core."
Dobby sighed, "Master not have core for bit. Is paradox right now."
Amelia blinked, then nodded, "I see, that's why he's not considered legitimate then. Very well. So, Dobby, how did you manage to talk so clearly? A year and a half ago you were tripping over your tongue and couldn't speak without mangling either words or context."
Dobby grimaced, then smiled, "Well, mister Malfoy had Dobby punish self when couldn't speak. And then Master Harry was talking magic with Dobby. Dobby now trying to use more mentals with magic. Trying to be more ordered. Dobby's magic shift some, and can talk better. Dobby no know how long until talk like human though."
Amelia grinned, "Fair enough. Here we are, at the department for storage of magical gifts."
Doctor Liara T'soni was breathless as she rushed to pack her tools into the scout ship she was assigned. Her mother having the same idea as her, of scouting emerging societies, was supremely surprising. What was even more surprising, was when Liara confronted her about the lack of information, Matriarch Benezia responded by sending her for the study!
True, Liara's specialty was more for ancient, deceased species, rather than current and living. And she was also used to tromping through ruins, rather than bustling cities. And dead races had no chance of finding out about her.
Okay fine, everything was different. But still similar enough that she should get by. She hoped. With that sobering thought, Liara ran back to stores to pick up a few more personal cloaking fields. Never hurts to have a few spares, just in case, right?
Maybe she could borrow a friend from the Quarians, it never hurt to have a mechanical specialist in case of machinery breakdowns too. Wait, they're a living species. Who KNOWS what kind of xenophobia they'll have. Maybe Liara could borrow a commando from her mother.
A million thoughts running through her head, Liara ran from stores, to her ship, to the communications suite, back to stores, and back to her ship again. Completely oblivious to the grinning commando following her every move. Shiala wondered if she should say something, but watching the flustered youngling was truly fun. Maybe later she'll speak up, for now she was having fun enough just watching and listening to the obviously panicking girl.
scene break
Yoda walked up the loading plank for the last consular class starship. He strode to the salon pod, where five young Jedi waited. Well, young to Yoda at least.
"Master Halcyon, walk with me," Yoda called out. The tall Corellian stepped away from the three padawans, a fourth child, and a young woman.
Master Nejaa Halcyon nodded and replied, "Of course, Master Yoda. My time is yours."
Yoda smiled to himself as they stepped away from the room. "Brought your child, I see you did." A faint blush decorated the other's face, "Worry not. The reason you were selected, your child is. Strong he is. Bringing him up correct, you are."
Nejaa sighed, then nodded, "I see. And the other Master?"
Yoda nodded, "Feels the same as you, she does. But bring her husband, she did not. A pity, it is. Out of your way, it should not be." At the questioning look from the younger master, Yoda grinned, "To pick him up! Also. The original path, you should not take. A wrongness I feel, should you follow the footsteps exactly. Follow young Dia's voice, you should."
Nejaa blinked, "A fresh padawan? Are we not going to the outer reaches?"
Yoda shook his head, "Another world, you are going to. Beyond the outer reaches, it is. But the same direction, it is unlikely to be. Only to pick up young Brice's family will you detour."
Nejaa shook his head, "She has a family? I thought you just mentioned a husband?"
Yoda grinned, "Quiet she was. Like you were. A husband she has, and two wives. Had she brought just her husband, still I would have sent her back for the others."
Nejaa grinned wryly, "And to think, she's in the Educational Corps. How often did she visit?"
Yoda chuckled softly, "Not often enough, to hear her."
Nejaa nodded, "So, Master Yoda, why exactly did you pull me aside?"
Yoda looked around, then replied quietly, "Once Smanthi's family you pick up, never again contact the temple until you arrive. The trade routes, you should avoid."
Nejaa nodded solemnly. Master Smanthi Brice was very young for her rank, barely twenty five standard years. The fact that she attained that rank, and had a family besides, was testament to her iron will. Nejaa only heard of her in rough passing, due to the excellence in training all of her pupils attained, and also due to the path she took to become an educator.
"I heard that we are starting a new temple." Nejaa commented.
Yoda nodded, "A rumor you heard. True, it is."
"I feel I am needed here," Nejaa continued.
Yoda nodded again, "Yet others can take your place here. There, you are needed more."
Nejaa breathed in deeply, "Will more be sent, or will we be all that is going?"
Yoda smiled and replied, "Sent, more will be. To the same place, they will not be going. Four temples will I send out. The farthest, yours will be."
Nejaa nodded, "So the Sith are moving." Yoda nodded solemnly, "Very well. If other Jedi should sneak on board?"
Yoda grinned, "Hide, let them. Find them, you shall, when you arrive. Their choice, they made."
The Corellian Jedi nodded solemnly, and bowed to the Grand Master. "May the force be with you, Master Yoda."
Yoda bowed in return, "May the force be with you. When next we talk, your rank we shall visit."
Nejaa nodded, "By your leave then." Yoda nodded, and hobbled out of the ship. Nejaa breathed deeply, then sealed the ship behind the aging Master. He strode to the salon pod, and let himself in. "Master Brice," He called out, "I have found we need to make a detour on our trip, and you will know our destination."
The Miraluka turned her head and looked towards Nejaa, "Where do you speak of? Why would I know our first destination?"
Nejaa grinned, "Why, I was just informed that we need to pick up three friends of yours. Your family."
Smanthi stilled, then asked, "Who told you of them?"
Nejaa smiled, "Master Yoda. Who also apparently knew of my wife and child,"
Smanthi shook her head and sighed, "Never could get one past him. Did you confirm…?"
Nejaa nodded, "Yes, we are starting a temple."
Smanthi nodded in return, "Very well. Please ask the captain to head to Alderaan then. After that, what is our next stop?"
Nejaa grimaced, "After that, we stay off of the trade routes, and follow our guide." He motioned to Dia, who was bouncing in her chair, "Padawan that she is, she's going to be our beacon to where we are going."
Dia finally stopped bouncing, then said as solemnly as she could, "Master Yoda said that I'm to guide us to Harry, he's the one who needs training."
Smanthi sighed, then nodded, "Very well. We should head up to the bridge then. I take it we are to refrain from contact?"
Nejaa agreed, "Until Yoda contacts us, yes. I, for one, am glad that we have sanction."
Smanthi grinned, "It was common, actually. When sending out new temples to new areas, the jedi council released the restrictions on families. It wouldn't do to have a temple erected then die off in a single generation after all."
"While I am glad for the release, I fear for the reason we need a new temple." Scerra mentioned, softly, hugging her son close to her.
Smanthi agreed, "I as well. Let us go, then. The captain should know of our path."
Harry started as Dobby popped into the room with two trunks. Around Harry was an array of things, from a book labelled 'Potter Grimoire' to a jewelry case full of rings, earrings, necklaces, and even what looked like a simple tiara or two. Sarna, beside Harry, was holding a gold coloured tiara with a garnet or ruby in the center of it, and trying to fit it on him, "It go good with your hair today!" Dobby heard, as he re-oriented himself.
Harry's hair had shifted to a bright yellow, and seemed to have gained about half a foot in length. Dobby nodded in agreement, "Dobby agrees. Tiara go good with hair today."
Harry rolled his eyes, "But it's rather girly! I don't want to look like a girl!"
Dobby tilted his head, and asked, "Is really so bad? No-one see. We can put away before dinner. No-one but you and us know."
Harry huffed, "It's the principle of the thing. I'd rather not do girly things unless I have to."
Sarna sighed in defeat, and put the tiara back in the jewelry case. "Fine then. At least a ring."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Why are you trying to get me to wear those, anyways?"
Sarna huffed, "Because family jewels protects you!" to which Dobby nodded in agreement.
Harry blinked, "Um, how would they do that?"
Dobby bounced and replied, "Family jewels is has enchantments. Tiaras make no can be controlled. Rings make so when you sign homework, signing only for homework, not for contracts."
Sarna nodded, "And bracelets make it so you can not be taken places against your will; anyone who tries gets a shock. You don't have earring holes, so those wouldn't help. What earrings do is let you hear things that people say about you."
Harry looked at the jewelry arrayed in the case, and then asked, "Why were you trying to get a tiara on me?"
Sarna sighed, "Because when these tiaras go on boy, they make ring holders near ears. Can hang earrings on holders, and you can use earrings without holes in your ears."
Harry blinked, and then looked at the tiaras, "How much do they change?"
Dobby grinned, "Only family can see. You can see, Dobby can see. If you takes wife, wife will see. No-one else."
Sarna rolled her eyes, "Not just Dobby, but any house elf bonded to you, and any slaves that you own also would see. And only the earring holders show up for boys, nothing else changes."
Harry grimaced, "Well, I see now. Does it have to be the gold one though? It just looks...too girly."
Dobby nodded, "Not have to be gold. Blue one good too."
Sarna looked at the tiaras. "I only see gold, silver, and red. Where is the blue one?"
Dobby pointed to the one, to his eyes, looked like silver with a blue sheen. Harry piped up, "That one looks a bit green, to me."
Dobby and Sarna's eyes went wide. "Elf silver," Sarna whispered.
Dobby shivered, "Dobby only heard of elf silver. Thought way to make was lost."
Harry blinked slowly, then asked, "What is elf silver? What is it supposed to do?"
Sarna replied slowly, "Elf silver is supposed to be stronger than iron. It is also lighter than iron, and old elf smiths said that it was as if a rainbow was forged into it. Wizards call it Alchemical silver, or Mithril. Sarna heard from her old mistress that regular humans call it titanium."
Harry blinked, then cocked his head, "Titanium? That's...a boy's metal. I think. Normal people say titanium is a silvery colour though."
Sarna nodded, "Is because magic in it, for seeing different colours. If magic were like rainbow, then colour is strength. Red is lowest strength, purple is highest. Not surprised Dobby can see blue in it, Dobby is strong as old legends."
Harry grinned, "Your accent is slipping," he commented.
Sarna pouted, "Sarna sorry, okay? Sarna has lived so long thought nothing could shock anymore. This never happened before now!"
Harry blinked, and then nodded, "I'm sorry as well. I did not mean to make you feel bad."
Sarna sighed, "I accept your apology." Sarna then lifted the now labelled elf-silver tiara out of the box, and held it out to Harry, "Will you please wear this? For your safety and ours?"
Harry nodded, and then lifted the tiara out of Sarna's hands, and then tried to fit it on.
Sarna giggled, "Not on top of hair, silly. Here, let me place it on." She accepted the tiara back from the wryly smiling Harry, and then slipped it on under his hair. "They are like glasses. Under hair, over ears. Should fit snug, and not get in way of glasses."
Harry smirked, and posed teasingly, "So, how does it look?"
Sarna nodded, "Like proper adventurer. Earrings next?"
Harry looked through the earrings, and commented, "Some of these look rather small."
Dobby nodded, "Is supposed to fit with tiara. Boy earrings smaller, hide in tiara better. Dobby think blue ones again."
Sarna grinned, "You just like the colour blue."
Dobby nodded, "Is so."
He then pulled out a pair of sapphire tipped tiny earrings, and presented them to Harry. Harry shook his head and said, "Please, I can't see where to clip them." Dobby nodded, then slipped the rings into the loops just above Harry's ears. "One ring last?"
Sarna nodded, "I don't think you can wear the lord rings yet." She blinked when Dobby reached into the case and pulled out a heavy silvery ring. "Why that one?"
Dobby grinned, "Dobby thinks is elf steel. Dobby can taste no magic on it, but is in box with safe rings."
Harry grinned in return, "Steel is also a boy's metal. But what is the difference between elf silver and elf steel?"
Sarna nodded, "Elf steel can hold magic, but does not show magic. It is stronger than human steel. Mistress, when she was taking alchemy, said that normal humans call it tungsten. Is still very strong, no matter what name it has."
Harry blinked slowly, "Wow, your mistress must know a lot. How old is she?"
Sarna smirked, "Mistress turning eleven physically at end of next month."
Harry coughed, then asked, "Excuse me? Eleven? But I thought you said she was studying alchemy?"
Sarna nodded, "Mistress studied alchemy years ago. Remember, I did say she knew about the resets."
Harry blinked, then nodded, "I wish I knew how that worked. So far that's you and your mistress knowing about the resets. I can't even remember anything about them."
Sarna nodded, "I know. I have an idea about why Mistress and I know about the resets, but no proof."
Harry sighed, and asked, "Why don't you have proof?"
Sarna frowned, "Because there is at least one other person in the resets. I don't know who. But whoever it is is trying to kill you. The last seven resets you lived less than a year before the world reset again."
Harry blanched, "Am I safe here?"
Dobby nodded, "Dobby under orders keep you safe."
Harry blinked, then asked, "Who ordered you to do that? I thought you were my elf now?"
Dobby blushed, "Dobby is Master Harry's elf. Dobby also gave promise to missy Bones that Dobby keep you safe when she gave Dobby to you."
Harry nodded in understanding, "I see. Promises are important." Sarna nodded in agreement, after which Harry continued, "Well, shall we go through the new gifts, and start writing letters? I would think it is better if I write them by hand rather than have you write them for me."
Dobby nodded, "Dobby agree. Ring first." Harry wryly smiled, and slipped the heavy ring on. Dobby then produced a stack of parchment, and started bringing out the gifts. "This trunk from mister Ollyvander, said that good student needs good trunk. Dobby thinks was mister Ollyvander's from when he student."
Harry grinned, "Very well loved then. Let me start then." he inked his quill and slowly started wrtiting, "Dear Mister Ollivander,"
Cornelius Fudge stormed into the aurors preparation room. "What's this I hear Bones? You are conducting a raid? Who is it for?"
Amelia sighed, then turned to the minister, replying, "We are doing a spot inspection on a known dark artifact dealer. He has also been outed as being a thief and illegal slaver."
Cornelius scoffed, "Slavery isn't illegal, Bones. You should know that by now."
Amelia shook her head, "While slavery itself isn't illegal, holding people as slaves who are not IS."
Cornelius blanched, "Who would do such a thing? I insist you tell me at once!"
Amelia smirked, "Better for us all that you don't know. If you don't know before hand then you can testify about that, correct?"
Cornelius nodded shakily, "Of course of course. Are you sure it will go that far?"
Amelia nodded firmly, "I fully expect the person will be going to Azkaban for this at least. Trafficking in dark artifacts can carry a sentence of a trip through the veil, at the worst." At Cornelius' furtive nod, Amelia continued, "I do suggest you go straight home after work today. You wouldn't want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, right?"
Cornelius nodded, "Of course...of course. I'll...just go do that right now." The minister for magic almost ran from the room. Amelia did not know where he was going.
Amelia nodded firmly, and called out, "Okay ladies! Check your bags and wands. We leave in ten minutes whether you're ready or not. And anyone who isn't ready gets to play nursemaid to the dementors for a month!"
The pace of the Aurors getting into their battle-robes quickened dramatically at her comment. Making record time, the entire current Auror corps was ready in nine and a half minutes. Nodding, Amelia finally gave them their destination. "We are going to Wiltshire, England. I have set up our portkeys. Remember people, this is by the book. We are following the ward map for those specific areas that I mapped out, and you are not, under any circumstance, to go near that one room I told you about. Are we clear?" After some general grumbling, Amelia growled, "I saw that look, Scrimgeour. If you open any of the listed doors wrong, we lose valuable evidence. If you open THAT door wrong, you kill innocent people. And you will be the one to blame for it. So follow directions!"
The man growled, then nodded, "I understand, director Bones."
Amelia nodded, "Good then. Take hold of your portkeys, people, we leave now."
The group of twenty Aurors gripped their portkeys, and at the same time everyone disappeared from the preparation room.
Upon arrival at the estate, two of the Aurors looked around with wide eyes. "I thought we were going after a dark artifact trafficker?" One of the two asked.
Amelia nodded, and grimly replied, "We are. Keep your ideas to yourself, and follow the book." The auror nodded nervously.
Amelia strode to the edge of the property line, then declared, "I am Amelia Bones, head of the department of magical law enforcement. I am here today to apprehend someone breaking the laws of the land."
The gate glowed green, but did not move.
Amelia continued, "The person we are here to apprehend has broken the law against insurrection. Taking up arms against the government without the aegis of a lord of the land."
The gates glowed brighter green, the lock in the centre of the gate looking brighter than a torch.
Again Amelia continued, "The person we are here to apprehend has broken the law of thievery. Taking, or causing things to be taken from their rightful owners against their owners desires."
The locks glow brightened almost to lightning strike brightness, several of the Aurors behind Amelia averted their eyes.
Yet again Amelia continued, "The person we are here to apprehend has broken the laws of murder and slavery. Taking people as slaves without debt beforehand, and taking lives without sanction from either governent or a lord of the land."
With an ear piercing CRACK, the lock on the gate shattered, and the gate slid wide open.
Amelia strode onto the property, trailing the Aurors behind her like sheep. "I've never seen the laws of the land invoked before," commented the youngest Auror.
Amelia replied, "Maybe you will see it more in time." She arrived at the front door, knocked three times, and announced, "Open in the name of the laws of the land." Both her voice and the knocks could be heard echoing through the manor. A small click was heard, and then the large double doors swung open. Amelia motioned the Aurors in behind her. "Off we go gentlemen, we have a search to conduct."
Two minutes later, the troupe arrived in the dining hall, just in time to hear Lucius tell an elf, "Take this book to my son, Tippy. Tell him it needs to be hidden in the lion's den." The elf nodded and disappeared before anyone could stop it.
Amelia announced, "We are here to search your house for dark artifacts, mister Malfoy."
Lucius smiled benignly, "Goodness, is it that time of year already? I thought the visits were supposed to be in December."
Amelia smiled thinly, "Not this time."
Lucius nodded, and called out, "Dobby!" And waited. After a few seconds, he frowned, then called, "Tuni!" Another elf popped into the room, looking half starved, "These people are here to search for illegal items. Please assist them." The elf nodded and turned to the Aurors.
Amelia waved at the dining room table, "Please move the table and carpet, do not let either of them hit the floor." Amelia's smile grew thinner as Lucius' eyes went marginally wider. As the table and carpet were moved, a rather large trap door was exposed.
"It is supposed to be an escape route in case my house is besieged," Lucius explained.
Amelia didn't respond, and then knelt down at the trap door. She knocked on the panelling three times, then tapped the inset latch with her wand. She looked up, and caught the tail end of a scuffle between Rufus and Lucius, the latter male having his cane pulled from his hands, and his arm twisted behind his back. "Please sit still, mister Malfoy. You will surely get your chance to explain." To which Lucius snarled in reply.
Amelia lifted the trap door, and immediately a series of feminine screams filled the air. She stepped inside the inset room, and found eight females chained up against the walls. Two elf girls, six humans, all of them looking starved, and whip marks visible across almost every exposed piece of skin, which was almost all of it. Amelia stared impassively, then called up, "Proudfoot, Savage! Get down here!"
The only two female Aurors that Amelia had brought came down, and blanched. "Debt protocols ladies. Don't take too long, and get back here when you have them safe." The two Aurors nodded and started bundling up the girls.
Amelia climbed back up to the main floor, and declared, "As of now, you should all know that our information is solid. Dawlish, take Malfoy to the holding cells. Scrimgeour, you are my second here. Let's get our evidence quickly."
"Prepare to say goodbye to your job," Lucius snarled.
Amelia smiled sweetly, "We shall see about that. Take him away."
Chrono grimaced as Nanoha and Fate arrived back on the Claudia. "Give me the bad news."
Nanoha laughed embarrassedly and replied, "We got the device away from him, but we needed to replace it."
Chrono nodded, "I fully expected that part. Now, what is the BAD news?"
Fate softly replied, "Ranma requested that she get a training class device in return. No pre-loaded spells, but a full library on the strike arts."
Amy coughed, "Him or her? I thought you were sent down to get a device from a girl?"
Nanoha nodded, and replied, "Well, Ranma was born a boy, and he's dealing with...other issues right now. So he's a girl while he deals with the issues and...it's so weird."
Fate grinned, and tapped Nanoha on the head, "It is only something you have not experienced. Be glad we did not visit that training ground, or who knows what would have happened."
Chrono nodded, "Well, while the strike arts are powerful, at least we weren't giving them access to magic beyond their ability."
Fate blushed as she replied, "From Ranma's ability, I do not think the strike arts will even be in the top ten for powerful abilities. She absorbs abilities like a sponge. She even copied Nanoha's flier fin."
Nanoha nodded, "He did! Not completely though, he can't hover in the air, but it slows him enough that he can jump while still in the air. It's interesting to watch, actually."
Chrono blinked, "Did...this person copy it before or after he traded devices with you?"
Nanoha grinned, "Before!"
Amy grinned in reply, "Yes, that is exceptional."
Before anyone could continue the conversation, every terminal screen on the bridge flashed bright red. 'ALERT'
On the main view screen, a patch of dimensional sea rippled. Even as everyone watched in shock, a blunt-nosed ship of some kind slowly slipped through the ripples in the sea. Four points around the ship appeared around it,and the ship then appeared to slip deeper into the sea. It looked like four cruisers of some kind, welded onto a central sphere to provide propulsion.
Chrono commented, "Well, that's new."
Chapter end!
Omake file:
In the library:
Katie sighs quietly while stepping into the library. Once again procrastinating has paid off right up until the end, when she has to rush to finish her assignment. this one is due in two days, and there's not much more actual time to work on it. Unless she fancies long nights in the common room, puzzling things out. She's done THAT before.
Looking around for a seat, Katie spots a semi-familiar mass of bushy brown hair. Hermione. She looks frustrated on whatever she's working on, scribbling furiously at the paper. What could be the problem if she's got something to write?
Katie looks around and nibbles on her lower lip. Hermione is sitting alone. Normally she's kind of intimidating, talking to everyone about anything even remotely relevant to whatever's going on. But without the crowd of other children...
Huffing in silent resolve, Katie hid her assigned parchment inside her book, though it sticks out a bit at the time. Katie strode forward to the girl. Coming up from behind, she leans in while tapping Hermione's shoulder.
"Excuse me. Having problems?" she asks softly while smiling to avoid notice from the librarian.
Hermione grimaces, "I had some problems yesterday, and now the same problem is happening here. I'm looking up everything I can on wand making, which isn't much to be honest, apparently it's supposed to be an apprenticeship profession. But what I DO have here, either contradicts itself, or just outright babbles, and then what I tried to write down boiled down to two sentences. Two! I can't even add to it because it's so simple and makes sense and contradicts everything!"
Hermione picked up her parchment, true to her complaint, there were only two sentences on the paper. She read out, "Wand compatibility is entirely based on the attitude a witch or wizard has when using the wand, and the personality of the creature that donated parts for the wand. Everything else is the limits a caster places upon themselves based upon preconceptions beforehand."
Hermione dropped her head to the table. "I give up. Nothing makes sense anymore. I am complete rubbish at magic."
"Hmm.." Katie muses, looking down at the page. The content really DOES make sense, even to someone like her who knows next to nothing about wand lore. A quick glance at the book Hermione has open confirms that it's supposed to be much more complicated. But then...
"Have you ever heard of KISS?"
Hermione looks at Katie strangely, and she blushes.
"Not like kissing! It's an acronym. Means 'Keep It Simple -Silly'" A slight pause at the word Silly the only indication that wasn't the word she'd originally heard the term with. "It's a theory and a method. The more complicated something is, the more likely it is to fall apart. If something is complicated, but can be taken down to a few basic pieces that mean the same thing, then you should always use the smaller result".
Hermione gesticulated, "Even with keeping it simple, professor flitwick asked for 12 inches. How am I going to bandy two sentences into that?
"your work" Katie says, pointing to the parchment "Probably summarizes most of that." she says, shifting her accusing index finger to the book.
"Except maybe the arithmancy and wood lore. I'm fairly certain the tree and how you cut it has something to do with wand making. Compatibility with the magical core, I think? Try writing that bit out."
Hermione grimaced, then placed her quill to the page. Another sentence sketched out quickly, then her hand stopped. Hermione groaned. "It's been like this for months now. Even before hogwarts. Can't write what I see, nor what I think. Just quick things like this."
On the page, the new sentence read, 'Wand wood makes little difference in the reaction of the wand outside of preconceived notions and superstition.'
Hermione grimaced, "I'm useless."
Katie blinks. "Are you saying you cannot directly transcribe the words in your head onto paper?"
Hermione shook her head, "Here, watch. This is the largest library I have seen." On the scrap however the words 'this is the third largest library I have seen, behind the library of London and the Parisian library,' appeared instead.
"Hmm." Katie hummed. "Try writing something... random. Like, 'there are one hundred books in this library'"
Hermione shrugged and wrote. 'There are four thousand five hundred twenty two books inside this library that can be seen.'
"Alright..." Katie finally sat down on the chair next to Hermione. standing around behind her and whispering was getting awkward.
"Next try... hmm. Next try 'I can tell lies'. We know that's true, because you said you're rubbish at magic."
At Hermione's glance, Katie smiled. "I see you in class, you know. you nearly always get the spell right first try."
Hermione blushed then wrote, 'I can tell lies.'
Katie nodded. "Now, write 'I can write lies'"
Hermione writes 'I will not write lies.'
Finally, Katie grinned at Hermione. "Hermione, I think you might have something really special here. Okay, last try. Write 'I can write any true statement, even if I did not originally know the result'"
Hermione's hand writes out, 'I will only write true statements.'
"... ah. Well, that's not really helpful. Can you think of something to write out? try to make that a bit... more specific."
Hermione grins, and then writes out, 'Keep it simple stupid.'
Katie just barked out a laugh and was caught and scolded by the librarian. She then sheepishly returned to her seat beside Hermione, and quietly started asking for help with homework which she had due in two days.
Ending notes: Again, this chapter is not beta'd completely yet.
I've already made a start on the next chapter, so it's on its way!
