Chapter Ten: We're Not Making This Up, So Just Write Another Letter

That Sunday found the original conspirators plus Pansy, Theo, Tracey, and Millicent sitting on a fallen tree by the lake. Crabbe and Goyle stood guard, watching out for anyone not in the know. Their eyes- blue and brown, respectively- were so much more attentive than anyone who wasn't a first-year Slytherin boy would have thought they ever could be.

They were downright serious.

"Well, congrats you three on making the team," Susan said, shaking hands with Tracey, Draco, and Harry. The three Quidditch players smiled back at her. "You must all be awfully talented at flying." The three accepted her congratulations, and Susan handed Harry a couple letters. Draco also passed Harry a letter as they all sat down.

The first one from Susan was another letter from Amelia, and he chewed his lip as he opened it.

I have done some digging, but have not found out for sure who your magical guardian is. Most of the signs are pointing at Albus Dumbledore, but I don't have anything concrete.

I have had some of my contacts look up the Dursleys. Apparently one Arabella Figg, squib, moved into number 8 Privet Drive only a couple months after you vanquished Voldemort- she is very much in Dumbledore's pocket, and if he turned out to be your guardian, that would point to him knowing of whatever happened at Privet Drive.

During my digging, I discovered that your godfather, Sirius Black, never received a trial. That is another matter for later, as I cannot do anything about rectifying that problem yet.

Madame Amelia Bones

Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement

The second letter Susan gave him was from Lisa Sullivan.

Dear Harry,

Amelia Bones has contacted me about you and said to send any letters to you through her, so I have taken her advice. She has suspicions that you suffered from child neglect at the hands of the muggles you were living with. We are working our hardest to get you away from them, but we are being stalled and turned around and blocked no matter what we do. If we had concrete evidence of the neglect you suffered, we could arrange a trial for them in which they would most likely be sentenced.

You mentioned that Madame Pomfrey was treating you for malnutrition. If we could get a copy of her diagnostics, it would go a long way towards getting a trial. Of course, it would be suggested that you find a barrister before a trial.

I look forward to working with you,

Lisa Sullivan

Head of the Department of Child Services

Harry set this letter aside, next to Amelia's, and opened the one Draco passed him.

Dear Harry,

Some of the details you revealed in the letter you sent us were horrifying. That someone would try to prevent a young wizard from reaching their full potential is a heinous act, and speaks of someone wanting to prevent progress and betterment. We have discussed your request, and have decided to bring the matter up at the next Board meeting. We hear you are friends with Theodore Nott and at least acquainted with Serena Woodley. Both have parents on the Board, so it would do you well to contact their parents as well.

We would also like to invite you to spend the Yuletide holidays with us a Malfoy Manor. We will be going to many various different events over the holidays, and you would of course be welcome to attend them with us. We have been made aware of how uneducated you are in the manner of wizarding traditions and we would be honored if we were to be your teachers in the traditions of Yule.

As for the matter of unlocking your parents' will, I will of course look into unlocking it as a cousin of your father's. It is a severe insult to the Noble houses that someone managed to seal their will.

We look forward to the next time you write us,

Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy

Harry set this letter aside as well, and began penning a reply to Amelia first.

It is very upsetting to hear that Dumbledore might have known what was going on in that house for years. I spent quite a bit of time it Ms. Figg's house, as the Dursleys didn't want me in their house while they were out.

Whatever you can do about getting my godfather a trial would be very much appreciated. Even if he turns out to be guilty, there is always the chance he is not.

Harry paused in his writing.

"What's the proper title for Lisa Sullivan? She didn't say she was a Madame…" Harry asked.

"Just use Madame," Daphne replied. "If you're unsure, always go with Madame and Mister."

Harry nodded and returned to his letter.

Madame Sullivan requested a copy of Madame Pomfrey's diagnostics. I will send them along when I get them.

Harry Potter

Harry sealed it in, and then started penning a reply to Lisa Sullivan.

Dear Madame Sullivan,

I will send along the copy of the diagnostics as soon as I get it. Would there be any other forms of evidence that would be accepted at the trial, if it were to happen?

Harry Potter

He sealed that letter and passed them to Susan, who nodded and smile at him. He started a reply to the Malfoys, taking the utmost care to make sure that his penmanship was the most beautiful it had ever been.

Dear Lord and Lady Malfoy,

Thank you for your advice. I will speak with Serena and Theo and see what I can do.

I am honored to accept your invitation. I am looking forward to learning more about my heritage and wizarding culture, and I am honored that you will be willing to teach me. I have never been to a party before, so I would not know how to act, but your son and the rest of Slytherin house are working to remedy that.

Thank you very much for looking into unsealing my parents' will, Lady Malfoy.

May good fortune, healthy profits, and a prosperous life come to both of you.

Harry Potter

Harry sealed the letter and handed it to Draco, and then turned to Theo.

"It's been suggested to me that I get in contact with your father, as he is on the Board of Governors," Harry began, but Theo held up a hand.

"I have already written my father about it, but I believe he would be more inclined to lobby in your favor if you were to contact him," Theo replied. "Remember, he's the Lord of a Noble House." Harry nodded, and started writing, trying to make his penmanship even better.

Salutations, Lord Nott,

My name is Harry Potter, and I am writing to you about an issue I believe you are already familiar with. Theodore says he has already written you about an attempt to get me permission to leave the castle to see a specialist about some blocks on my magic and mind. I would very much appreciate your help in pushing this through at the next board meeting.

I don't know if I can offer anything in return for your help, as I have been kept entirely in the dark about my situation by my magical guardian, but I will find some way to repay you.

Harry Potter

PS, there is a mail redirection charm tied to me so if you send a reply, please, send it through Theodore so I can receive it.

Harry sealed the letter and handed it over to Theo, who nodded and pocketed it.

"It's almost lunchtime," Susan noted, just as Hannah's stomach grumbled, and she stood up. The rest of the conspirators followed her lead to the Hall. Marcus motioned for Draco, Harry, and Tracey to join him at the middle of the table with the rest of the Quidditch team. Jonah Sullivan and Matthew Sprague were sitting together, with Miles and Marcus. Draco and Tracey sat down next to Miles while Harry sat next to Jonah.

"So, I was thinking we could take this afternoon and start working on teamwork and team bonding," Marcus said, clapping his hands together. "That's what's so amazing about the Gryffindor Chasers- they work almost as one."

"It is pretty awesome to watch those three play," Miles agreed, nodding appreciatively. "They have an okay Keeper, and a couple of pretty good Beaters. This year they have a very green fourth year as their Seeker, but let's not count him out."

"Diggory is Seeking for the Hufflepuffs again this year," Jonah added. "Macklemore and Tonks are still their Beaters. Maria Dvorak is a Chaser this year, along with fifth years Trixie Clark and Jo Inman. Isolde Christlemeier is their Keeper."

"Davies is playing for Ravenclaw, but Keeper this year. Chang made Seeker," Matt said. "Lucas Arovitch is their new Beater, and Uriel Red is still on the team. The Hawkins triplets are Chasers."

"Oh, Chasing against triplets…" Jonah shuddered. "It'll be like Beating against twins. I feel so, so sorry for you guys."

"That means we just have to work harder," Marcus said, his face taking on what Harry decided to call 'game face'. "So, I was thinking- yes, Professor Snape?" Marcus looked up at Professor Snape, frowning in annoyance.

"The Headmaster would like to see Mr. Potter in his office… now," Professor Snape said, and the rest of the Quidditch team looked at Harry.

"Why?" Harry asked, frowning, and the rest of the team turned their attention back to Snape. "I haven't done anything wrong, have I?"

"No. Not that I know of, and trust me, I would know," Snape replied, and Harry stood up and followed Snape to the Headmaster's office. The Quidditch team watched them go, and Blaise walked up to Draco as Harry and Snape left the Hall…

"Thank you for escorting Mr. Potter to my office, Severus. You may go," Dumbledore said, twinkling (very strongly).

"I think not, Headmaster," Snape replied. "As Head of Slytherin House, I am to be present at any meeting between the Headmaster and any of my charges…"

"Very well," Dumbledore replied, seeming to deflate. "How are you doing, my boy?" He asked, turning to Harry. His eyes twinkled.

"Quite well. What is the purpose of this meeting?" Harry replied, crossing his arms and shifting his weight to his left foot.

"Just to see how you are doing, and how you are getting along with your housemates," Dumbledore replied, twinkling.

"Funny- you don't hold these meetings with anyone else. Is it because I'm the Boy-Who-Lived and a Slytherin?" Harry replied, avoiding Dumbledore's eyes. The twinkling was giving him a headache. Instead he focused on the various portraits, some of who looked sickened, others mad, and others upset. They were all silenced. Harry filed that away for later reconsideration.

"It is because I am your magical guardian, Harry," Dumbledore replied, trying his utmost to get Harry to look in the twinkle.

"You are the magical guardian of every muggleborn and muggle raised child in this school, Albus," Severus replied, sneering. "Yet you give only Mr. Potter this courtesy meeting."

"I am merely worried about how he is getting along with his classmates. Perhaps he might do better in his parents' House," Dumbledore replied, schooling his features into an expression of worry. Harry took a page out of Draco's book…

And scoffed. Dumbledore stared at him, and Snape looked mildly interested.

"The vast majority of Gryffindor House is made up of bullies, bigots, and imbeciles. While there are a few worthwhile people in that house- for example, Neville- I would not willingly share a dorm with someone as rude, inconsiderate, and horrible as Ron Weasley," Harry replied, borrowing Draco's patented Malfoy Sneer.

"Now, Harry, my boy, surely you might feel a little more at home if you were among friendlier wizards?" Dumbledore asked, looking taken aback. His eyes still twinkled. Harry scoffed again.

"If I wanted friendly, I would've asked for Hufflepuff, and even if I'm not in their house, they are still being very friendly to me. The hat thought I was worthy enough to be a Slytherin, and I am honored. I will not insult the House by betraying them," Harry replied, thrusting his chin in the air and whirling on his heel, once again wishing he was wearing robes. He turned the door handle.

The door would not open.

Disclaimer: Joanne Rowling is a goddess in human skin. I am not a goddess in human skin. Therefore, I cannot be JK Rowling.

By the way, guys, if I ever go another two weeks without updating, just leave a review yelling at me to get up off my lazy ass. I have twenty-five more chapters past this completed, if unedited, but the editing process doesn't take long. (The most time consuming parts of this are the writing and the finding of appropriate lyrics)

Also, if anyone needs to just tell someone something, if they want advice, or if they just want to anonymously get something off their chest, I'm here for you guys. That's really what I need most right now, so if I can give that to someone else, it might help me.

PS guys this is also completely un-beta'd. I am going solo on this one, just as I have on almost every other story of mine ever.

Question: When writing/reading Harry Potter fanfiction, do you prefer having the actual incantations of the spells typed out? Or do you prefer just the names of the spells? And also, how do you like when fanfic authors create their own spells?

Next Time: The skill Twinkle, Twinkle is discovered, studied, and revealed to Slytherin House. Also, three new people join the Conspiracy.