Control
By Fatpunk
Chapter 10
The Game
The following days were packed with work, preparations for the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match the following weekend were well underway (Wood was working the team extra hard due to their strong position in the cup), extensive lists of homework and, of course, setting Mione's 'coming out prank' in motion. Harry and Daphne would sit next to each other in class, the only sign of their new relationship. Their studies, aside from the ordinary class work, covered extensive topics, security charms and wards, mind control both (over your own and influencing other actions), Cerberus care and dangers, and finally the Philosophers Stone.
They kept on with their research under the agreement they would met Hagrid and enquire about the three headed dog after the Quidditch match. Their research also showed that the three headed dog was unlikely to be a true Cerberus more likely it was a domesticated cross-breed, which animals were used in the breeding were questionable; the sanity of the breeding was clearly lacking but rather successful.
These activities were secondary to the preparation of their next prank, Mione's plan was relatively simple but the spell required were extraordinarily complex for first year students. The complexity was one of the major selling points for the plan, the more complex it was the less likely the teachers were to blame them. It was the morning before Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch match. The trio had planned to release the prank over night to hit their targets first thing at breakfast. They stayed up late that night casting the necessary spells over common room doorways and managed to convince the a house elf to add a simple potion to the milk and pumpkin juice, the most important spell was cast over the entrance to the staff room. They then dropped in to their beds and slept soundly that night.
Harry met Hermione early the next morning, still after his morning exercises but before any other students. They went together and met Daphne in the hall outside the Ravenclaw common room and went to breakfast sitting together at the Gryffindor table Harry next to Daphne with Hermione opposite.
They waited for the moment when the prank would be started. It was a very simple mechanism the arrival of the morning post would set off the timer on the potion which would set the charm into action. The teachers sat at the head table sipping their morning teas, spreading marmalade on the toast. Quiet conversation discussing so-and-so's latest essay or the latest developments in current magical research. The students were, for the most part, discussing the up coming Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor Quidditch match and how different result would affect the race for both the Quidditch cup and the House cup. The predatory spark in the eyes of the trio was sparked by the sound of beating wings.
"Ah mail, eek" came the decidedly male voice from an excited eleven year old girl.
"Are you alright?" questioned the seductive tones of the Professor Sinistra, followed by the clapping teenage male hands over his own offending lips.
Scattered comments started breaking out across the school voices not matching speakers. Girlish giggles escaping seventeen year old males while deep throated laughter sprung from twelve year old girls.
"This is exactly why I dislike teaching." Commented Snape, surprise showing for a fraction of a moment when his silky tones were replaced by a teenage girls purr.
"My dear Professor," commented the prepubescent girl's voice, owned by Dumbledore "it would seem we've been had!"
"Surely you don't condone this headmaster?" came the breaking voice of McGonagall as the crowd of students quieted to listen to the exchange.
"It was Potter!" Snape attempted to snarl only coming out as a harsh purr.
McGonagall was incredulous "you assume it was Potter!" voice rising slightly, breaking under stress "this magic is far to complex for a first year student! Combining spells is only mentioned in this school! It's not taught until a student moves to their chosen profession! Sometimes not event then!"
"Perhaps," Dumbledore interrupted the steaming Snape "the easiest way to solve Potter's involvement is to ask him?"
A small smile spread across Snape's face replacing the twitch in his eye. His first chance to legitimately punish Potter, the extent of the prank would surely lead to a severe punishment.
"Indeed Albus" purred Snape "what better time than to ask him now?"
"Quite" replied McGonagall though she really didn't agree with the time, she had little choice.
The group stood to question their suspect while Flitwick was bouncing away hypothesising the possible charms used with Professor Victor.
The three professors stood over Harry and his friends, Snape trying stare the answer out of the student.
A small smile grew on harry's face "a mind is the domain of the owner, Professor" came the disappointed and condescending tones of Dumbledore "please leave mine to me!" he finished with a slight growl.
Snape was shocked, few adults would talk to him like that, let alone a student "are you treating me Potter?" he whispered more to himself than anyone else.
"It would seem we found my voice" Dumbledore squealed happily.
"How did you do it Potter?" Snape asked harshly.
"The prank, sir?" Harry asked continuing at McGonagall's nod "do you really believe I have the skill to do this sort of magic sir?"
Mione sitting next to Harry hid her smile behind a napkin. Harry's get out of jail free card. The Potion's Master would never agree Harry had any magical skill, and so he would have to deny Harry's involvement.
Snape sneered at Harry before turning and leaving, robes billowing behind him.
"Is that all Professors?" Harry asked in his Dumbledore voice.
"Not quiet Harry," replied McGonagall, while Dumbledore himself just smiled in the background "we now need to discuss your respect of teachers but that is a conversation for private."
"Will I miss the game Professor?" Harry asked, surprised but the change is discipline reasons.
"No Harry. Because of the mitigating factors you won't miss the game. You will most likely still have detention, but we will discuss this later for now prepare for the game and see me at 7 this evening." She replied with a small smile.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and avoided looking at either of the girls. The sideways glares burning into his temples were making enough of an impact without eye contact.
His almost relief only lasted a short time when Oliver Wood came and sat next to Harry, calling the rest of the team to join them.
"Bad news guys," Oliver began "Hooch has come down sick"
"What happened?" Katie asked.
"I d'no, some allergy to a new skin potion. Point is Snape offered to ref the game in her place."
Fred was outraged "But he's never cared about Quidditch before, outside Slytherin games!"
"Yeah," George continued "he'll probably twist the game and the rules so we can't win, if he has his way Slytherin are guaranteed the cup."
Each of the girls' were nodding their heads in agreement.
"I know guys but we have no choice, the game starts in an hour and there's no one else who can ref the game" Oliver agreed slightly downcast "they wont postpone the game either, its just not done…ever!"
"Well, Hufflepuff play a clean game don't they?" Harry asked. The rest of the team nodded in reply "if we keep the game as clean as possible Snape won't have a change to interfere with the result. In the mean time I'll just do my best to catch the snitch real quick to make every thing academic anyway" he reasoned.
"Okay Harry," Oliver agreed "you catch the snitch in record time and we'll keep the game too clean for Snape to make a call."
The rest of the team agreed with the plan and discussed the effect the change in game plan would have on their plays while finishing their breakfast.
"Team," Oliver finally called "lets get down to the pitch and get ready"
The seven Gryffindors rose and made their way to the Quidditch pitch, Harry farewelled his friends, getting a special good luck from his Girlfriend, and left to catch up with the rest of the team.
Arriving in the team changing rooms the team went through the process of changing into the scarlet robes and strapping on their pads, falling into their game mind set. The crowd started to fill the stands, the noise slowly gaining on the pitch.
"Alright team" Oliver began his pre-match speech "its simple the ref isn't in our favour so we have to take the ref out of the game. We keep our plays clean and execute our manoeuvres cleanly. Harry you know what we need, a quick catch, do what you can. I understand sometimes when you make the catch it isn't your choice, this time take the first chance you get no matter the score. Fred, George no hitting bludgers at Snape!" the twins sighed at the missed opportunity "I know this is the perfect chance to get some measure of revenge but we can't afford your petty grudges. Katie, Alicia, Angelina keep your passes crisp and take an early shot when you can.
I know we can win this game. I know we have the skill. No let's prove we can negate any injustices that biased man can throw our way!"
By the end of his speech the entire team was shouting their agreement, pumped and ready for the approaching battle that is Quidditch. Seven scarlet clad warriors net the opposing seven yellow battlers.
Snape stood in the middle of the pitch, dressed in what looked like the same black robes as he always wore, broom lying on the ground next to him along with the Quidditch balls.
"Mount your brooms" he sneered with no preamble. The two capitals ignored him and shook the other's hand, eliciting a glare from the professor. The teams rose into the air waiting for the game to begin. The bludgers and snitch were released followed by the quaffle accompanied by the shrill scream of the ref's whistle.
Harry dove, vaguely aware of Snape blowing a foul immediately, he had spotted a glint of gold on the ground by the Hufflepuff goal posts. He pushed his broom hard. Confirming as he went what it was he saw as he flew. He honed in on the Snitch aware that no-one was following the chase. He drove hard powering towards the tiny ball. It was stationary, as if it didn't expect anyone to chase so early. Harry rotated on his broom, flying inverted, allowing the best stretch to the ball, reaching towards the golden ball.
"Potters diving! He's stretching for the snitch!" Lee Jordan was yelling noting Harry's chase "He's got it! The game is over in record time! 150 points to nil! Gryffindor wins in a record five seconds!"
Sounds came rushing back to Harry's ears. Adrenaline heightening his senses. He looked into the stands searching the shocked faces of the crowd, searching for his friends.
He found them, screaming joyously with the rest of the spectators. Harry suspected they had been cheering since he began his dive; they were both slightly pink in the face. He heard the thumping of feet on the ground as the rest of the team hit the deck around him.
Backs were slapped and congratulations were received from the entire team. Harry looked over to see the Hufflepuff team trudging from the field heads high but shoulders slumped. They seemed to recognise they were beaten by bad luck and the opposition rising to the extreme pressure and there was nothing they could do.
Harry also saw the Weasley twins talking under their breaths to the side. It was still early in the day, lunch hadn't even passed. The celebrations wouldn't start till mid afternoon at the earliest, probably closer to after dinner. Either they were planning to a new prank or discussing when they would get the butterbeers and party snacks. Either way keeping an eye no them would be useful, not essential, but useful.
Thanks to the early game finish the group decided to see Hagrid after lunch. As so it was with full bellies and joyous dispositions the trio skipped down to Hagrid's hut. The small circular wooden hut was situated on the edge of the forbidden forest. Its close proximity made caring for the multitude of magical creatures that call the forbidden forest and Hogwarts their home.
The trio turned off the beaten path, forging their way through the early winter snow drifts, preparing themselves for the physically intimidating but extraordinarily gentle man. The only time Harry and friends had met the man up close was when they arrived from the Hogwarts Express. Easily dwarfing even the tallest of men, everyone around him seemed to grow. He never tried to intimidate anyone, unless they insulted the Headmaster, but he never lowered himself either. Anyone who enjoyed his company felt the need to lift themselves to be worthy of his company. The exception to those who wouldn't rise in his company were generally the same people who shunned his company, and subsequently he wasn't too concerned by their cold shoulder.
Harry reached up and knocked on the door eliciting excited barks from inside.
"Hold on I'm coming! Down Fang!"
Hagrid peaked his head out the door at his guests, though not opening it completely. "Can I help you?" he asked, a wall of heat following him out.
"Afternoon Mister Hagrid" Harry greeted the girls standing behind him smiling.
"Please just call me Hagrid" he replied with a smile "now what brings you to this neck of the woods?"
"Well…Hagrid" Mione said rather nervously "we were wondering what you knew about three headed dogs?"
Daph continued "we did some research ourselves and we found that it must be a cross breed of a Cerberus and some other normal or magical dog."
"We figure that it's a guard dog of some description and we think we know what its guarding, but that's not important, we just want to know some more about the dog and how got it would be at its job" Harry finished.
Hagrid had being following the conversation, his expression growing darker with each passing word. "Perhaps we should discuss this inside" he said nervously looking around the area.
The children followed Hagrid inside and Fang decided to attack Harry's face with his tongue. "Down Fang!" Hagrid called checking over a cauldron heating over a roaring fire. "So what do you want to know?"
Harry thought for a moment, "we met with a three headed dog in the halls of Hogwarts, obviously guarding something, and we wondered how well it could do it job and whether it would stay where it was put."
"So you've met Fluffy?" Hagrid half asked half stated.
"Yes" replied Mione cautiously.
Hagrid frowned "You shouldn't know about Fluffy or what it's guarding, that's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel…I probably shouldn't have said that" he continued with a nod.
"Huh that explains it," Harry mumbled to himself before continuing "but would he be able to do the job properly?"
"Sure, the only time he goes off his job is if you know how to calm him. Only me and the Professor know how to do that. See that's the key to dealing with any creature, magical or not. As long as you can calm the animal it is more likely to listen to you."
It was around then that the stifling heat generated by the fire was getting too much Daph was beginning to feel faint and Mione was flushed bright read. It was also then that Harry heard the tapping coming from the cauldron over the fire. The pieces fell together quickly.
"Hagrid," Harry asked "why are you trying to hatch a dragon?"
"Well I've always wanted a dragon" he replied not really thinking "such beautiful animals, and smart, very intelligent. I remember when I started at Hogwarts there was a young Dragon living in some caves 'bout twenty miles away" he was saying dreamily "some times it would fly over to a lake near by for a drink, no-one ever noticed it's presence. I asked Dumbledore about it once and he said that no-one was really sure what magic they had they only knew about the fire and magical resistance. We staked out the sight for a few weeks waiting to see if the dragon would turn up again…" Hagrid trailed off suddenly realising what brought up the conversation. "Your not gonna tell anyone are you? Strictly speaking I shouldn't be hatching an egg. Once the egg is hatched though all fair" he queried cautiously.
Mione's eyes were widening "but it wouldn't be safe, you can't keep a dragon on school grounds!" she said in a fierce whisper.
Hagrid was becoming slightly down cast before Harry interrupted. "Mione it would be a brilliant teaching aid, once it's trained up. Imagine what could be done" he finished dreamily getting caught in the moment.
"But you can't really keep an untrained dragon in a wooden house; it would burn the place down!" Daph added.
Both Harry and Hagrid frowned; Hagrid was also somewhat surprised that he had some support. "If my reading is right," Harry pondered "Dragons can't actually produce fire until their about six months old, they usually protect themselves by flying away, until then they can only produce low temperature sparks. Is that right Hagrid?"
"That follows with all my research as well, although this particular dragon is a Norwegin Ridgeback and has poisonous fangs as well, mainly used to keep larger preys tender after the kill. When the dragon is young they also use the poison as a deterrent to keep themselves safe, their mother catches food for both mother and child" Hagrid explained.
"The problem with that plan" Harry offered "what that it take longer then six months to train a Dragon. You would be able to get some recognition from the dragon but it wouldn't necessarily obey any of your orders."
"Either way Hagrid," Daph reason "if you kept the Dragon here you wouldn't be able to continue with you other duties, you would be too busy looking after the dragon. Surely you can see it's just not practical."
Hagrid was getting somewhat down hearted. All the arguments he faced were against him keeping the Dragon as a pet, his lifelong dream. The tapping in the cauldron continued unabated.
"There is another option," Harry offered, cautiously "there's a cave not far from my home where another old Dragon used to live before its death. The dragon could live there once it's about a week or two old and you could travel between here and there in the evenings to do your training and feed the young animal. During the day you can fill your work responsibilities here and the Dragon wouldn't be able to burn anything down 'cause the cave is stone" Harry offered.
"That could work," Hagrid said pondering his options. "It would be a far more natural environment than a Dragon preserve and I could still train it as a pet and guardian. That sounds like a great plan, the egg wont hatch for another couple of months so I have sometime to think about the options."
While Hagrid was clearly hedging his bets it was obvious that this was definitely the best option. Harry was fine offering the cave for Hagrid and the Dragon's use. It was far enough away from the home to be separate from the main wards but was close enough to provide some anonymity from the rest of the world. It also meant that he wouldn't have to divulge the secret of the Camelot.
The Group walked back to the castle proper where Harry excused himself to meet with McGonagall for his disciplinary meeting. The meeting went as expected; McGonagall expressed her disappointment in Harry's dissent and assigned detention to be served at a later time. McGonagall wasn't sure how strict to be. On the one hand Harry was disrespecting a teacher, a person give the authority from the years of training and experience. On the other hand she had seen Snape constantly abuse his authority, consistently belittling students and, in this cast particularly, invading the students' privacy and breaking school policies.
Harry was happy with the result, fair and reflected the seriousness of his misdemeanour. He also decided he would question McGonagall later of his own retribution against the Slytherin Head of House. He knew their had to be some way to curtail the vindictive mans influence, and asking for McGonagall's help would be a good way not only to get some result but also get on professor's good side. It would be a consideration for later though especially because the evidence is mainly hearsay and innuendo.
In all school was working well for Harry and his friend's classes were good, their meditation was progressing, morning exercises were invigorating and life was good. Harry was wondering if maybe he should find some more male companionship. If the movies had any semblance of truth the girls would likely spend increasing amounts of time together doing "girly things" meaning that Harry would be left out in the cold. Besides who would he have a boys' night out with?
Hagrid also agreed to move the dragon to the cave by Harry's home, the plan was for the transfer to be done late in the evening once it could produce a flame. With this decided all that had to happen was for Harry's detention to take place. McGonagall scheduled the detention to take place with Hagrid in the forbidden forest. They were to investigate the appearance of unicorn blood around the forest. Surprisingly the date of the detention coincided with when they were to send Norbert, that's what Hagrid named the dragon, away to the cave. It was lucky as the detention would serve a number of purposes. One His discipline would be up to date, two the Dragon would be sent away and three Harry would hopefully see a unicorn in the flesh. It was with these thoughts that Harry had an interrupted sleep the night before his detention. Dreams of dragons and unicorns and men in black cloaks floated through his mind. Harry started awake in the wee small hours of the night before taking a few deep breaths and falling back to sleep.
In the morning Harry remembered nothing of the dream.