Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Again you guys have been fantastic with all the reviews. Sorry for the delay of this chapter, I've been a little under the weather. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 10:
Harry awoke from a blissful night's sleep to the scent of sandalwood and jasmine and unfamiliar warm weight upon his chest. Groggily blinking his eyes open, he discovered that his vision was blocked by a mass of black curly hair. It only took Harry a few moments to recall the night before and for a large grin to split his face. He had never snogged a girl before Bella, but he couldn't imagine anything being better.
His lips felt slightly bruised but he didn't care in the least, in fact he was reveling in the lingering taste of her lips as his tongue ran over his own lips to capture any essence of her he could find that remained. As his brain finally began to fully engage he realized that he was in Bella's bed! With Bella on top of him! He rushed through his memories of the night before fearing that he may have done something completely stupid. He hadn't…they hadn't…had they?!
Harry's hands went to his own chest…he no longer had his sweater on! 'Sweet Circe!' his mind raced. His other hand that was wrapped around Bella felt bare skin as well 'shite! shite! shite!' He couldn't believe he had been that stupid…what if they had…what about the curses?!
Harry's hand drifted further up Bella's back, he sighed as he felt the lacy fabric of a bra underneath his fingers. He allowed his hand to slid down her back, there was someplace else that he needed to check, he hoped he was right and that nothing…er umm…happened between them. His hand felt nothing but warm skin as his hand slowly made its way to the small of her back. Further down he traveled and…he little out a breath he had not realized he was holding. He felt the heavy cotton fabric of her skirt.
"A little further south milord and I would be expecting an engagement ring from you." Harry blushed, turning beat red as Bella's low sultry voice broke the silence with a slight chuckle.
'S-sorry I was worried we had…well you know…umm." Harry stuttered and Bella giggled musically.
"No Harry, we didn't have sex." She spoke amusedly as she turned into him and propped her chin on his chest, looking up into his emerald eyes. "Not yet anyway." She teased. "You know you're a pretty comfy pillow, I should keep you around." Bella told him thoughtfully.
"Oh really?!" Harry challenged as he tickle attacked her exposed sides. Bella shrieked as she struggled to get away from Harry's ten finger assault. The thrashing only caused the two to become entangled more in the sheets of Bella's bed and Bella accidentally pulling harry on top of her as she fell to the floor.
Harry suddenly found himself in the blood pumping position of being between Bella's toned legs that were at the moment wrapped around his waist. The two stared at each other as the giggling and laughter slowly died away only to be replaced with heaving chests and wanting eyes. They were silent for a few hormone fueled moments, just staring longingly at one another.
"Harry." Bella whispered softly. "I-I think we should um…maybe just get…uh…ready for the day."
Harry tried to quickly unravel himself from limbs and bed sheets. Bella giggled once again at his antics. His face was beet red from embarrassment as he tripped over himself several times in his attempts to get up. Finally freeing himself he brushed his hands through his hair nervously as he searched for the sweater he had been wearing when he entered her room last night.
Giving it up as a lost cause he stuttered out an apology and made his way to his room through their shared washroom. Bella couldn't help herself and laughed at the retreating youth. She laid her head on the floor and stared up at the ceiling. "That was so intense!" She whispered to nobody. "Sweet Maeve I hope I can hold out till he completes the ritual." Erotic images of her and Harry floated through her imagination as she lay there on the floor.
Two hours later the couple was dressed and ready to start their second day of class for the school year. They both stood at the open doorway again looking out to the empty corridor. Bella vocalized what they were both feeling at the moment.
"Its getting harder isn't it? Separating I mean." Bella whispered reaching for Harry's hand.
"Yeah." Harry agreed with his crooked smile.
"Have you thought anymore about what we talked about?" Bella asked.
"About choosing a time for both of us?" Harry asked already knowing the answer. Bella nodded.
"Yeah, there's just… so much to think through, for both of us." Harry replied with a heavy sigh.
"If it helps…I think you were right about using both timelines to help us in fighting Voldemort. There are already many supporters in the school right now, in my time. If we can determine from your history who really went on to become Death Eaters, we may be able to stop them before they ever get that far."
"It's definitely a thought." Harry replied, tugging at his collar and wincing a bit.
"You okay?" Bella asked raising an eyebrow at him.
Harry chuckled. "Yeah, it's just my neck is a little sore." Harry replied grinning at her.
"Oh?" Bella asked confused. "Did you hurt yourself with all the wrestling around we did?" She grinned.
"Nope, it was from last night I believe." Harry replied.
"Last night?" She asked.
"Uh huh, it seems my girlfriend decided to give me a nice chain of hickeys all around my neck." Harry chuckled, pulling down his collar to show her what her tender mercies had done to him.
Bella smirked at him. "Well, I was just marking my territory milord." She chuckled.
"Well I'm definitely marked." He grinned.
"So, see you after dinner?" Bella asked, admiring her handiwork with a satisfied grin.
"Unfortunately, no." He replied with an apologetic shrug.
"No?" She asked in confusion.
"Yeah, well it seems my DADA instructor and I had a bit of a disagreement yesterday and she gave me a detention tonight and infact…the rest of the week." Harry grimaced.
"Oh Harry." Bella sighed shaking her head. "First day of term and you got yourself a detention. That has to be a record of some kind."
"Well Umbitch had it coming! Called me an attention seeking liar for claiming Voldemort returned, in front of the whole class and hinted that I may have had a hand in Cedric's death! She just fanned the flames on that particular issue! There was no way I was letting that slide! And besides that, she is teaching us absolutely nothing! Says all we need is to learn the theory and nothing more! " Harry fumed. "It's like Aunt Walburga told me…we crush our enemies, we don't allow an insult to ourselves or our house stand." Harry recited Walburga's mantra.
"Harry I warned you about her! She's a conniving backstabbing bitch, and from the conversation I overheard between her, Fudge and Lucius, this is what they want, to make you out to be some sort of delusional psychopath who needs to be put in Azkaban!"
"What should I have done then?" Harry fumed not sure why she was getting angry with him. "Do I just do nothing as she drags my name through the mud and incites the students against even more than they are now?! I will not be a walking target this year Bella, I absolutely refuse!"
"Of course not!" She rebuked. "But there is the Gryffindor way, which seems to be your specialty…" she huffed folding her arms accusingly. "… and then there is the Slytherin way." Bella replied with a smirk.
"Then please enlighten me oh sage of Slytherin, how am I to respond to this?" Harry smirked getting a raised eyebrow in warning from Bella.
"With subtlety, Harry, with subtlety. I know it's a foreign concept to most Gryffs, but I have high hopes not to mention expectations for you." She bantered back. "Now, I'm guessing that her tactic is to discredit you, yes?"
"Yeah, her and the entire Ministry." Harry groaned.
"Well then we turn the tables on toad face. I doubt she has the prerequisite NEWTs not to mention OWLs to even teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'd start there. Just whisper it around about her lack of credentials and believe me by lunch time it will be all through the school. And then sit back and watch as letters from students flood home.
Personally I'd start with the Ravenclaws, there the most uptight about their marks especially those taking OWLs and NEWTs this year. I guarantee that by the end of the week the school board and Ministry will be dealing with a lot of angry parents calling for her removal." Bella assured him.
"But until then what? Do I just suffer the abuse?" Harry shook his head.
"I'm not telling you to not defend yourself. Just be smart about it. Be creative and ruthless to those who would persecute you, Harry. But do it in such a way in your position as a Lord and head of an Ancient and Noble House. Use your title and the weight it brings in doling out your revenge; use their own laws against them. You be surprised what the head of a noble and ancient house can get away with." Bella added with a menacing smirk.
"Right, guess I need to release my inner Slytherin then." Harry mused, earning a grin from his girlfriend.
"Now, give us a kiss or we're going to be late for class." Bella teased as she planted a toe curling kiss to lips. "See you after your detention then, and Harry, remember control, patience, and subtlety."
"Yeah, yeah." He replied as they both crossed the door's threshold.
oooOOOooo
Albus Dumbledore was pacing in his office in frustration. He performed every diagnostic spell in his very extensive repertoire and yet could not figure out why the silver tracking devices were not functioning. The enigmatic headmaster was positive that they were all in working order but for some unexplained reason did not report on the target to which they were enchanted. Harry Potter.
One instrument monitored his health another provided his location, and still another monitored his magical core strength, and still another yet, monitored the strength of the spells that had been placed on the boy. So it was with no small amount of anxiety that had the headmaster wearing a hole through his carpets having lost all magical means of tracking the boy.
Even the wards of the school no longer provided the ancient wizard with the knowledge of the boy's whereabouts. And the portraits and ghosts had out right refused to spy for him any longer. How was he supposed to manage a school full of teenagers without the cooperation of the portraits and the ghosts? And what had happened to the house elves? They had reported that the castle had instructed them not to spy on students as well but only to report when there was trouble afoot. The castle told them?
To make matters worse, Severus had reported that the castle had rebuffed any attempt to charm or place spells on any wall, door, or any other surface where the student population were prone to go. It was if Hogwarts herself was turning against him. But that wasn't possible, was it? He was the headmaster; he controlled the school…right?
Albus felt a tingle in the wards on the circular staircase that lead to his office. "At least that ward is still working." He mumbled to himself.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Come in Severus." Dumbledore called from behind his desk just taking his seat as the dark haired potions master glided in.
"What have you determined Severus?" Dumbledore asked his confederate.
"A complete reversal headmaster, which shouldn't be possible, even if the compulsion charms had failed, there should be a slow degradation of the charms effects. But in every student I have tested the compulsion has completely vanished." Severus Snape reported with his usual sneer.
"Interesting." Albus stated, drumming his steepled fingers together. "This is an unexpected turn, but not necessarily a detrimental one. And I admit that it was not one of my more brilliant conceived ideas, turning the student body against him. I need him malleable not broken and I may have let it get out of hand last year. We need him to experience what Voldemort experienced without actually turning the boy dark. He must understand Voldemort in order to beat him.
But I need him to turn to me Severus, but so far he has not sought my help or council, and I'm afraid he has become more headstrong than I could have anticipated. Damn Sirius and his blasted will! Who emancipates a fifteen year old and then makes him Lord of House Black! I would have thought that Lucius would be fighting tooth and nail to challenge the will." Albus in his frustration let his emotions get the best of him.
"Not to worry headmaster, the Malfoy attorneys are already making plans to challenge the mutt's sanity and overturn the will and the lordship. I'm confident that Draco will be the new Lord Black by the end of term if not sooner." Severus smirked.
"I'm not sure that would be a better option. I shiver to think what Lucius could do with the Black fortune. He would give Voldemort a huge financial advantage over anything the Order or the Ministry could come up with. It would be better that the Black fortune laid dormant and the House of Black to slip into oblivion." Albus remarked popping a lemon drop into his mouth.
"That is unlikely to happen, headmaster. Even if Draco is denied the Black lordship, Narcissa is a Black and the only Black remaining that could legally take possession of the fortune. And I need not remind you Albus that she is not a political novice, she is very astute and she will not be denied what in her mind is legitimately hers." Severus remarked, brushing off a stray piece of lint from his midnight black robes.
"I'm not a political slouch either Severus, and there are ways to tie things up in the legal system that it could take years to unravel all the red tape that would allow her access. And by that time our problems will have been resolved." 'I hope' Albus thought to himself.
Albus then brought the discussion back to his main concern. "An independent Harry Potter is not what this world needs Severus. To bring order and stability back to our world he must be a willing martyr, only then will Voldemort be beatable."
"If Potter's death is all that is required to defeat the Dark Lord, I could always arrange a mishap for the pampered prince." Snape grinned an evil smile, relishing the thought of ending the Potter line. He would finally have his revenge over James Potter by ending the line once and for all.
"No Severus, it must be Voldemort that delivers the killing blow. The prophecy must be fulfilled in order for him to be beat. And Harry must face him willingly. Afterward Voldemort will be vulnerable, unwittingly killing a piece of himself when he kills the boy, thus weakening him greatly."
"I still find it remarkable that his soul was split in two when he attempted to kill the boy." Severus shook his head in reluctant belief.
"A remarkable happenstance to be sure, and the only reason he was able to return. A portion that was ripped from him went to the only other living thing in the room and thus anchoring him to this existence, while the other half fled to parts unknown. But once he has been dealt with, I will be able to get things back to the way they should be." Albus smiled thinking of his perfect wizarding utopia.
Severus managed not to roll his eyes at Albus' naiveté at believing he could actually unite all magicals under one standard. There were too many egos and ambitious people for that to ever happen. Even with all his manipulations of their society and his elevated status, it was just not possible to sway everyone.
oooOOOooo
Harry approached the Potions classroom in the dungeons where many students were already lined up to enter. You had the normal split of students, Slytherins on one side and the Gryffindors on the other. Harry sighed at the division the House system instilled in its students. Nowhere was the animosity greatest than between the House of Lions and the House of Snakes.
According to Bella, even in her time the animosity between the two houses was deeply ingrained. Harry wondered briefly about when the hostilities began and what caused them, or was it always the case since the beginning?
"Hey scarhead!" Harry cringed as the familiar drawling voice broke into his thoughts. What was it with Malfoy, did he have some sick and twisted thing for him? 'Well I think it's time to take this rivalry in a new direction.' Harry mused.
"Malfoy, I'm becoming truly worried about your behavior." Harry spoke with a concern laden voice.
"About time that you admitted you fear me." Malfoy laughed, inspiring Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle to join in, the other Slytherins realizing that Potter had a small smirk and was setting the blonde ponce up for something.
"Oh, I said nothing about fearing you Malfoy, although I am concerned about this…abnormal obsession you have with me. I mean if I had a girlfriend as gorgeous as Miss Parkinson, I would be giving her all my attention and not…uh…chasing after other boys." Harry gave a concerned look at Draco and a quick flirtatious wink to Pansy.
"I just don't fly that way Malfoy, so if I were you, I would direct your…deviance toward another wizard, there's a good lad. " Harry gave him an apologetic look and fought hard not to burst out laughing at the completely gob smacked look on the ferret's face. It seemed Pansy on the other hand was fighting dueling emotions, she wanted to defend Draco but at the same time her cheeks flushed at the compliment the golden boy had just paid her.
Crabbe and Goyle just didn't grasp the word play and so did not know how to react one way or another, and surprisingly the rest of the assembled Slytherins gave muted chuckles at the expense of the Malfoy heir. Maybe they weren't all sheep. Harry mused.
The door to the classroom opened suddenly to reveal the ever so pleasant countenance of the potions master. He quickly took stock of the amused faces on his Slytherins and stifled laughs of the Gryffindors, his eyes then turned to his godson who was spluttering but not forming a coherent word and then swung his gaze to Harry who had a look of complete innocence on his face. That innocent façade alone was enough for the greasy haired professor to know where the source of the muted jocularity had come from.
"What are you waiting for?!" Snape growled. "Take your seats!" The Slytherins entered first, walking in single file. Harry was shocked to receive a couple of approving nods from the Slytherin group as they walked by him.
Harry entered in with the rest of his fellow housemates and took a seat at the table at the back of the class. He was soon joined by none other than Hermione Granger who gave him a timid half smile as she took her seat next to him. Harry gave her a curt nod but gave no other form of greeting.
"Today, some of you with at least half a brain cell will be brewing a sleeping draft; this will be one of the potions you will be tested on for your OWLs. It is a complicated and temperamental potion that requires a steady hand and precise measurements and constant monitoring of heat distribution to your cauldron. As such I don't expect many of you to complete this assignment…unscathed." Snape finished forebodingly.
With a wave of his wand the directions and ingredients needed for the potion appeared on the large chalk board at the front of his class. Students left their seats to gather the ingredients that they would need from the supply cabinet. Hermione had gotten up quick to retrieve her items while Harry decided to hold back until the crowd around the cabinet thinned.
"I got your ingredients for you Harry." The hesitant voice of Hermione came who was looking longingly at Harry for some sort of positive interaction.
"Thanks." Harry said dryly as he prepared his cauldron for use, Hermione doing likewise.
Each had begun to prepare the individual ingredients in an uncomfortable silence. It was too much to bear for Hermione and so decided that she would have to break the silence. Harry was stubborn enough to go the whole class without saying a word.
"I'm so sorry Harry." Hermione whispered her voice full of emotion.
There was a brief pause where Harry seemed to not hear her. "I know Hermione." He finally spoke.
"Did-did you read my letter" She asked softly.
"I did…I was meaning to write you back." Harry stated calmly; that statement nearly caused the girl to break down in tears of joy.
"You were?" She choked out and received an affirmative nod from Harry. A lone tear flowed from her left eye and made its way down her cheek. Harry saw the tear and felt a tug at his heart strings, the heart strings he thought he had cut for the bushy haired girl. Without thinking he gently brushed away the tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb.
Hermione's watery brown eyes turned toward him and though he had not said it to her, she could see the forgiveness in his eyes as he stared back at her. She was about to throw her arms around him but a stern look and a raised hand from Harry let her know that now was not the time for reconciliations. Hermione gave him a jerky nod and another watery smile and returned to her potion.
Harry had reached the third stage of five for the potion and had reached a perfect lime green color which was exactly how it should have looked. It now needed to simmer for twenty minutes while the Belladonna extract was completely infused into the crushed Valerian.
"Tsk tsk Potter, allowing Miss Granger to do your work for you is cheating and I will not allow cheaters in my class." Snape's sneer was almost approaching what some would be considered a smile. "Gather your things and leave my class, I will be informing your head of house about your expulsion."
"No." Harry said in a calm flat voice.
"What did you say?" Snape asked dangerously.
"I said no, your accusation is baseless and completely without proof. If you believe I have cheated then you must provide evidence." Harry replied with the same even tone.
"Why you…just looking at your potion I can tell it is not your own work!" Snape growled.
"Again I asked for proof and not assumptions. This is indeed my own work and as you can tell by looking at Miss Granger's potion she is still one step behind mine. So again, I ask what hard evidence you have that I cheated." Harry asked looking straight into his professors eyes.
"You arrogant little sprog, I am the ultimate authority in this class and my word is law." Severus spat his lips curled into a condescending snarl.
"Speaking of the law professor..." Harry replied over emphasizing the last word. "According to the Hogwarts bylaws all disputes between professor and student are to be brought before the headmaster and the disagreement is to be heard by a quorum consisting of the headmaster and all heads of house. Should the involved professor be a head of house, another member of staff will take his place during the dispute proceedings.
Severus was momentarily shocked, he expected Harry to lose his infamous temper and go off on him, allowing the professor to deduct points and perhaps give him a detention or two. He hadn't expected the boy to remain calm and have knowledge of the school rules regarding disputes.
"The headmaster hardly has time for your whining Potter." Severus retorted getting a snicker from Malfoy but the other Slytherins remaining oddly quiet. The Gryffindors whether in stunned disbelief or still feeling the shame from their treatment of their housemate stayed silent except for Hermione who was giving him a look of awe.
Harry smiled a little eerily at the Potions Professor. "Is it my understanding then professor that you are refusing to fulfill your obligation as a contracted professor of this institution in taking our disputation to the headmaster?
If that is the case professor, then I'm forced to remind you that by doing so you are violating my rights as a student and by subverting the only form of arbitration at this school, I will be forced to act in my role as head of the Ancient and Noble House of Black and bring formal charges against you in the only other place of arbitration left to me and that would be in front of the Wizengamot, where I will call in to question you fitness to teach and impartiality or lack thereof as a professor." Harry glared at the man.
And there it was! Harry had forced the professor into a corner where he either had to face Dumbledore and the other House heads and prove his case, where he had no delusions that the other professors would side with him, or be brought before the Wizengamot where the outcome was far less certain. The older houses and even many of the younger ones would side with Potter just to get into the good graces of a very politically powerful family even if Potter did not realize it yet.
Either way he would have to face humiliation at the hands of the person he hated just slightly less than James Potter. The thought sickened him, but he had done this to himself. 'When did Potter get a brain?' Snape seethed. He looked at the boy with a murderous stare and though wandless at the moment looked poised to strike at the green eyed boy.
Harry noticed the posturing of his potions professor and wondered should he push him just a little bit more to see the man completely unravel or to let it go for now. With a calculating smirk he continued.
"If you push me professor I will destroy you publically to such a degree that you would be lucky to get a job squeezing pus out of a bubertuber pod. You have pushed and intimidated me for the last time Snape. The line has been drawn…cross it at your own peril." Harry warned the hateful man.
The entire class gasped at the not so subtle threat, and was completely on the edge of their seats to see how this power struggle would end. Snape's lips twisted and curled as he attempted to speak, with some painful looking facial distortions he finally broke his silence.
"Headmaster's office, now!" He growled out slowly and then Harry watched the overgrown bat sweep from the classroom presumably to Dumbledore's office.
"Oh my god Harry, what have you done? " Hermione gasped fearing for her friend.
"What is within my rights, Hermione, I thought of all people you would have known that clause." Harry stated with a raised eyebrow. Hermione demurely shook her head.
"I'm sorry I was not aware of it, if I had known about it I would have suggested back in first year." She stated apologetically. "Is there anything I can do for you know?" She asked hesitantly.
Harry turned to her and gave her a small yet warm smile. "Yeah would you mind finding Professor McGonagall and let her know what happened and to meet me in the headmasters office."
"Of-of course Harry." Hermione replied the left heading for the Transfiguration classroom. Harry then made his way to Dumbledore's office.
oooOOOooo
"Bella, did you see the Prophet this morning?!" Andromeda Black asked her sister in a hushed whisper after finding her in the Library buried behind a mountain of books.
"Hmm, what?" Bella mumbled absently as she was writing something down that she had found of interest in the current book she was studying from.
"The Prophet…have you read it today?" Andromeda asked in frustration.
"No why?" Bellatrix responded tersely, annoyed at the interruption. Andromeda forced the periodical on top of the parchment Bella had been writing on and pointed to the first page.
"Read it Bella, something terrible has happened to the Hemingways." Andromeda sniffled. Muriel Hemmingway was a close friend of Andromeda's, a third year in Ravenclaw. The Hemingway's were an old Pureblood family, not as old as the Blacks but could trace their family magic back six hundred years.
Bella looked down at the paper which showed a modest size Victorian manor house with significant structural damage, but what grabbed her attention immediately was what was floating above it a large greenish skull with a large animated snake slithering from its gaping jaw.
"The Dark Mark!" Bella gasped quietly.
"The what?" Andromeda asked, hearing her sister mumble something.
"N-nothing Andi." Bella replied without looking up from the article she was reading.
"…Six members of the Hemingway family were all found dead this morning. The Prophet has learned through an anonymous source within the auror department who informed this reporter that all members of the family except for a Muriel Hemingway, who is currently attending Hogwarts, were all subjected to the Cruciatus curse before being killed in very grotesque ways.
Lady Regina Hemingway, according to medical sources, had been raped repeatedly before being disemboweled. Two older people believed to be the parents of Lady Regina both were both hit with the Killing curse, no other spell signature was found on them. Two younger children ages of 10 and 8 were also found in the family room, their bodies dismembered.
Lord Hemingway was severely tortured and was hung above the family fireplace with a spike through his head anchoring him to the wall, another large metal spike was driven through his chest with a note attached to it which read: 'DEATH TO ALL BLOOD TRAITORS! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.' "
Bella couldn't read anymore, her stomach threatened to revolt and spill its contents on to the table. Pushing the paper away from her she took several deep breaths and slowly pushed them out in an effort to get control of herself. She looked up to see a teary eyed Andromeda.
"Muriel's Aunt and Uncle withdrew her this morning; I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. What is happening Bella? Why are all these horrible things happening? I've been hearing all these whispers in the common room about mudbloods and blood traitors. I'm not sure what to make of it all." Andromeda looked to Bella for some kind of answer to the insanity.
Bella let out a heavy sigh before turning to her sister. "Terrible things are coming Andi, much worse than you can imagine. We are spiraling toward an all out blood war that will rip our world apart. Muggleborns are going to be…targeted." Bella mournfully spoke.
"Does-does this have to do with the new movement your friend Olivia was talking about?" Andi asked.
"It does. Andi…how serious is your relationship with that Tonks boy?" Bella asked quietly.
"What do you mean?" Andi asked narrowing her eyes.
"I mean no offense Andi, I'm just curious." Bella kindly told her sister.
"Well we're just barely fourteen, so as serious as two fourteen year olds can be. I mean we haven't pledged undying love to each other, but we do like each other a lot." Andromeda confessed.
"Then you need to be extra careful Andi, and keep this relationship as secret as possible, don't tell anyone that you don't trust with your life. Understood?" Bella told her sister in a very serious tone.
"You're talking like something will happen to us if people find out."
"If the wrong people find out about it, something could." Bella warned.
"What do you think mum and dad would do if they found out about me and him?" Andi asked a little fearfully.
"I'm sure that father would insist you get the chastity binding as soon as possible. Mum has been able to postpone it up until now and fortunately Uncle Orion hasn't forced the issue yet. But once they find out it will be over for you and Cissy as well." Bella told her.
"Not if I do something about it first!" The middle Black sister said with determination."
"What are you talking about?" Bella asked her sister slowly and with suspicion.
"You have found a way out of your situation or soon will, and I know away out of my situation as well." Andromeda stated, crossing her arms over her chest in defiance.
"You're not thinking of having…Andi your fourteen! Do you know what mum and dad would do to you when they found out?!" Bella shrieked getting a stern look from Madam Pince.
"I didn't say I was going to go out right now and have my wicked way with Ted, but it's an option if it comes right down to it. And don't get all self-righteous on me Bella, I figured you are planning something similar. I just don't know how you're getting around the ritual. Whatever it is will most likely be dangerous, so don't lecture me on what I should and shouldn't do. I'm supporting you and I'd like to think I have your support in return!" Andromeda replied shortly.
Bella grimaced and rubbed her face in exasperation. She stared at her younger sister long and hard for a few moments but could not argue her points. She herself was planning to do something that had the potential of causing great harm to herself, but her freedom was worth the danger involved and had to concede that her sister had every right to choose her path as well.
Sighing in defeat Bella nodded her surrender. "Just be very careful Andi." Bella finally said.
"It's not like they would disown me or something." Andromeda grinned. "Mum wouldn't allow it."
Bella smiled albeit weakly. "Alright Andi."
Bella gathered up her research and placed it in her bag, if Andromeda had been more observant she would have notice that she had several books from the restricted section, many dealing with curses and how to create a chain curse that would affect one linked object to its other parts.
The idea had come from Harry although he had no idea that it had. Harry had informed her that the Dark Mark from what he was able to gather was a form of not only identification with confederates but a way of communication as well. A Protean Charm.
Bella suspected that perhaps the rings that Rudolfus had distributed to the other assumed youth Death Eaters was in fact a Protean charm used to communicate to each other. If that were true she might be able to use the rings as a way of distributing a curse to all those who wore one. If it were possible she could take down every student who wore one in one swift blow. In as much as the rings were in constant contact with the skin it was plausible. But how to get the curse to piggyback on the signal was the problem.
She would have to figure out a way to weave it and the transmission together. She was okay with charms but this was well above her level of expertise. She would need to work up an arithmetic charm and obtain one of the rings to see if she could decipher the charm lattice used on the ring. Once she knew the lattice on the ring she could begin experimenting on her piggyback charm.
The plan was taking shape but she needed more advanced charms, arithmancy, and runes books to help her research. Perhaps the ROR could provide what she needed. The next problem was getting a ring. It would be obvious if she tried to take a ring from someone already wearing one, which meant she would need to find the satchel that Rudolfus had and steal one from there.
And there was little doubt that he would have it in a safe place or on his person at all times. But then again this is Rudolfus Lestrange and his one weakness was his arrogance and he may not of even thought of someone trying to take one, after all who would dare try something like that against the prince of Slytherin House.
She would have to keep her eyes and ears open, and perhaps get Harry to loan her his invisibility cloak for some late night reconnaissance into the boy's dorm rooms. She left the library feeling confident that her plan could work. It would certainly deprive Voldemort of his assets within the school, and if successful could be used on the Dark Mark itself.
oooOOOooo
Harry was waiting at the gargoyle statue that hid the staircase to Dumbledore's office. He was not foolish enough to walk into the headmaster's office without his head of house. If she truly was on his side now he could definitely use back-up before confronting both Snape and Dumbledore.
Harry heard footsteps and smiled as he saw Hermione leading not only Professor McGonagall, but Professors Flitwick, Sprout and Sinestra. Minerva had told Harry about the other professors desire to make amends as well and were firmly in his corner.
"Thank you professor for coming, all of you." Harry told the assembled group. "Did Hermione tell you what happened?"
"Aye she did Mr. Potter, and I must say that you conducted yourself brilliantly, a move worthy of your mother." Minerva McGonagall replied with a look of pride in her eyes.
"Well should we get this show on the road?" Pomona Sprout stated.
""Yes I think we should. That will be all Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall told the bushy haired bookworm who looked for a moment like she was about to protest being dismissed, but a stern look from her head of house quickly changed her mind and she headed to the Great Hall for lunch seeing that the afternoon classes had just ended.
Harry, Minerva and the others rode the spiral staircase up to the headmaster's office. Harry centered himself for the upcoming confrontation and mentally told himself to think before speaking and remember what Aunt Walburga and taught him about being a Lord and Head of House.
"Ah Harry, come in my boy, come…" Albus began before seeing the procession that followed the Potter boy.
"I was not aware of a staff meeting Minerva." Dumbledore spoke turning toward the Transfiguration professor.
"We do not headmaster; I am here at Mr. Potter's request, is this not a disputation resolution meeting?" Minerva asked tightly.
"I see, well I really don't believe all this is necessary. It seems to be just a misunderstanding and one I believe can be sorted out without convening a quorum." Albus said with his grandfatherly smile. On the inside he wanted to get harry alone so he could recalibrate his tracking devices, but he would need a sample of Harry's blood to do so, and taking someone's blood was an extremely serious matter not to mention illegal in the way that Albus wanted for.
"I don't think so professor. Snape accused me of…"
"Professor Snape, Harry." Dumbledore corrected.
"That's Lord Black, headmaster, and he accused me of cheating in front of a classroom of my peers without any proof of said act but his own assumption." Harry spoke in a hard and commanding voice.
'Why you arrogant…"
"Severus!" Dumbledore warned the potions master. Snape glared loathingly at Harry but kept his tongue still.
"I'm sure you just missed understood him Harry." Dumbledore smiled warmly.
Harry bristled. "Again sir, while this is a formal meeting you will address me by my official title." Harry glared at the ancient wizard.
"Is that absolutely necessary Harr…Lord Black." Dumbledore corrected himself after receiving an icy green stare from Harry.
Dumbledore sighed heavily
"It is sir, now I would like to formerly accuse Professor Snape of slander, and to demand a public apology for his baseless accusation of cheating. Furthermore I wish to petition the quorum that it begin an evaluation of Professor Snape's teaching ability and his professors pledge of non-favoritism and creating a conducive learning environment for all students." Harry added.
"What?!" Snape snapped out.
"According to the school bylaws every professor is required to take an oath, vowing that they will cause no harm to students under his tutelage, to be fair and unbiased and provide a learning environment that is conducive to learning. Amongst other stipulations and requirements, if these vows are not met the professor in question may face disciplinary action including dismissal from his position." Harry finished with a penetrating look at the greasy haired man.
Severus chortled. "Nice try Potter, there is no such oath. Once again you show your ignorance and utter stupidity."Dumbledore nearly palmed his face in exasperation. This was about to get painful for his spy and confidant.
"What!" McGonagall nearly shouted glancing at Severus. "There is most certainly an oath! Every professor is suppose to take it before they ever start teaching!" Minerva's Scottish brogue roared through, she looked at her fellow professors for confirmation and received nods from Flitwick, Sprout, and Sinestra.
"Would you care to explain to us Albus, why he has not taken the oath?!" Minerva directed her ire onto the headmaster.
Albus knew that any explanation would be met with opposition if not open hostility from his deputy headmistress. Of course he knew why he didn't have Severus take the oath, he needed his spy unrestrained to do the things he might be asked to do…all for the greater good of course.
"It seems that in my advancing years I may have let that slip my mind Minerva." Albus decided to mislead his deputy headmistress.
"Well I think that needs to be resolved here and now professor!" Minerva told the old man.
"I don't think now would be the best time Minerva, we have so much on our plates and I believe this is one thing that can be taken care of at a later date." Albus told her authoritatively, but it did not have the affect he was hoping as Minerva's famous Scottish temper flared.
"It's the perfect time Albus! As we are here discussing Severus' apparent lack of decorum in his own classroom. And let me assure you it is not only Mr. Potter who has claimed that Severus' classes are hostile toward anyone not in Slytherin! We will take care of this now or the quorum will move for a suspension of Professor Snape until it is taken." The other assembled professor voiced their support of Minerva.
"Very well, Minerva." Albus stated suddenly looking tired. "Severus lift your wand."
"You can't be serious headmaster, this is an…"
"Severus lift your wand and repeat after me. I Severus Snape do hereby promise on my magic that I will…" Albus continued and reluctantly Severus made his oath, which was sealed by magic. Albus had lost a tool at the school, one that had been free from the consequences of a professor's oath. Things would now be a bit more difficult in manipulating Harry through antagonism. But there were other ways.
"Well if we are finished with our business here…" Dumbledore began.
"Not yet headmaster." Harry interrupted. "I demand an apology and an inquisition into Professor Snape tenure here at Hogwarts.
"Harry…I mean Lord Black, with Severus' oath you should see a change in his teaching. I ask that you leave it alone and allow Severus a second chance. Everyone deserves a second chance Lord Black." Dumbledore replied.
Harry wasn't happy with this and would have continued to force the issue, if he had not remembered the saying; keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Perhaps it might be wise to know where the slippery 'former' Death Eater is at all times.
"I will agree to this on one condition Headmaster and that is a public apology from him." Harry decided to see what he could still get.
"I will not apologize to this…" Snape began to protest.
"It is an acceptable condition Severus!" Dumbledore cut him off. Potter may have neutered his pet but he still had uses and would rather keep him at the castle. "He will apologize in your next class, Lord Black."
"At dinner." Harry responded curtly.
"Excuse me?" Dumbledore asked. "Why at dinner?"
"Because everyone who was there are now at lunch telling all their friends about it and knowing the rumor mill the whole school will have heard about it by dinner. So that is where I demand the apology be made." Harry stated with all seriousness with a look that said this is not negotionable.
Dumbledore sighed heavily. 'Very well, it shall be as you asked."
Snape looked gob smacked and the turned an impressive shade of red. Snape glared at Harry and then swept angrily from the office. Dumbledore shook his head and gave Harry a disappointed look.
"If that is all, I would like to speak to harry alone." Albus said looking at the other professors and dismissing them with his eyes.
"Is this school related headmaster? If it is I request that my head of house remain." Harry asked.
"Nothing like that my boy, I just thought we could have a friendly chat." Albus tried to smile warmly to the boy.
"Perhaps another time headmaster, I really want to get to lunch before my next class." Harry informed the old wizard and quickly exited the office, followed by the other professors who excused themselves.
'Harry is becoming to defiant and to independent. I need to do something to reel him back in.' Dumbledore mused. 'And how did he know about the oath and the disputation quorum?'
Albus steepled his fingers in front of his face as he pondered over what he had just seen. 'He was too well prepared, there is only one person he knows with the intelligence to educate him in such matters. Granger! I will have to do something about this.' The ancient wizard thought to himself and then began to realize a plan where he could kill two birds with one stone.
oooOOOooo
Bella was curled up on the couch reading when Harry returned to the ROR just after curfew. He was staggering a bit and was rubbing the top of his right hand. Bella got up and wrapped an arm around his waist and helped him to the couch. Bella noticed that his eyes were slightly glassy.
"Harry, have you been drugged?" Bella asked worriedly, pushing open his eyelids and looking at his pupils which seemed to be dilated. She grabbed his hands and quickly released them after Harry winced. She gently took his right hand and looked at it. She saw that something had been carved into the top of his hands. The sentence read: I must not tell lies!
"What the hell is this Harry, who did this to you?!" Bella asked shaking Harry gently.
"Lines." He whispered. "I must write my lines, I must write I must not tell lies." Harry said mechanically as he reached for a nearby quill and parchment. Bella knocked the items away from his hands and forced him back on the couch.
"What is going on dear?" The voice of Walburga Black interrupted.
"I think Harry has been drugged Aunt Walburga. I think he was made to carve into his hand." Bella replied.
"What?!" Walburga screeched. "Who dares to assault the Lord of our House!"
"I don't know Auntie; I can't get Harry to focus." Bella's voice hitched.
"Kreacher!" The portrait bellowed. Within moments the ancient elf appeared with a soft pop.
"Mistress is calling Kreacher." The old elf asked the portrait hanging above the mantel.
"Yes Kreacher, I need you to go to back to Grimauld place and bring the restorative draught in the potions lab. It will be on the middle shelf on the back wall; it will be in a pear shaped green glass bottle. Hurry!" With a pop Kreacher was gone.
"The draught he is bringing will flush out any remaining potions or toxins in his system dear. Make him drink it all when Kreacher returns." She instructed Bella, who nodded absently while she continued to try and get harry to talk to her.
Kreacher popped back into the ROR and was instructed to give the bottle to Bella. Bella uncorked the bottle and gently pressed it to Harry's lips. Harry's instincts seem to kick in because he automatically opened his mouth and Bella began to slowly pour the elixir down his throat. It took several minutes but finally Harry had drunk the entire contents of the bottle.
"Lay him back dear. It may take several minutes for the draught to work and he'll need a bucket…this won't be pretty." Walburga told her niece.
A bucket materialized on the floor next to the couch just in time as Harry began to convulse. Bella managed to turn him on his side and a moment later Harry began to empty his stomach into the receptacle.
The evacuation of Harry's stomach lasted for about five minutes before he was finished. Bella vanished the contents of the bucket, and then cast an air freshening charm for the room and a mouth cleansing charm on Harry.
Harry began to moan and cradle his hand while he lay on the couch only semi-conscious. Bella conjured a cool wet flannel and used it to gently dab at and sooth the inflamed hand that had been carved on. She then cast a numbing charm on the hand as an after thought.
"Harry…can you hear me?" Bella asked gently.
"Ug…Bella?" Harry asked groggily.
"Yes Harry, it's me. Are you all right?
"I feel like my insides are all twisted up." Harry replied gingerly touching his stomach.
"That's normal dear, the draught is a little rough, but it does the job." Walburga added.
"What happened to you Harry?" Bella asked.
"Not sure exactly. My day was a little intense but everything went well considering. At the end of the day I went to serve my detention." Harry explained.
"Your detention with Umbridge?" Bella asked.
"Yeah, I sat down and she offered me some tea. I drank it and we talked for a few moments. I began to feel a little strange or maybe tired…I don't remember. She then told me I would be writing lines. I pulled out some parchment and a quill but she said she had a special quill that I had to use.
I asked for ink but she said it did not require ink. So I shrugged and began to write I must not tell lies! The toad face! Well I wrote a few lines and noticed that the ink appeared to be red, but I also felt the back of my hand itch. I soon realized that the ink was blood and it was coming from my own hand!
The lines I was writing were being carved into my skin. I protested but she told me to continue writing till it had sunk in. I don't know why, but I could not get myself to stop, it was like my brain wasn't listening to me and I had to do what she said. I know it wasn't the imperious curse because I can throw that off." Harry said.
"A Blood Quill!" Walburga shrieked. "That hag was torturing the Lord Black with a blood quill! Blood feud on that cow and her whole family!" The Black matriarch was wailing.
Bella was unusually quiet, but her body had stiffened noticeably. She rose from her seat and entered Harry's bedroom. A moment later she exited with his invisibility cloak in hand. Harry noticed the look on her face and it was one he would not want directed at him.
"Bella where are you going?" Harry asked wincing as his stomach was still tender.
"Kreacher! Stay with Lord Black, I have something to do."
"Bella, what are you going to do?" Harry asked in concern for his girlfriend.
Bella looked at him resolutely and spoke in a voice that promised pain. "Toad hunting." Bella then turned and quickly exited the Room of Requirement.
oooOOOooo
A/N: What did you think? Leave me a review or a comment on how you think the story is going. I hope all my friends state side had a great Thanksgiving!