History Strongest Magister Harry: Year 2
9 Antics
The time has come and it was an hour before the ball starts. Harry had going to meet with his club members at the entrance to the Solstice Ball and here he was standing out near the street with cameras flashing and reporters shouting out questions hoping of the big name people would respond. Harry was wearing nice tux minus the bow tied and instead have a black with light emerald highlight when you get a good lighting on it. His ponytail was something that got people to pay attention to him. His tux wasn't expensive but it wasn't a cheap looking suit.
"Harry!" Padma said rushing over to Harry wearing her shawl and dress that was most fitting for her. Padma's saree were yellow that wrapped around her while on the edges were red patterns. She wore a short sleeve blouse underneath the saree that went over her left shoulder. Her hand were adorned with rings and bracelet that compliment her Indian heritage and on her head she had it tied back and bare her forehead which didn't carry the red dot which all Indians are famous for.
"You look wonderful Padma, have you seen the others?" Harry asks Padma who nodded her head and point towards a group that was off to the side. On the way to the group Harry notice that Fred and George were looking more elegant than can be with a suit and tie. Neville was wearing something different and Harry knew all to well as to why.
Neville was wearing his Family Suit that entail he will be of age for any marriage contract next year. It was tailored to fit the Longbuttom heir and make him stand out with his family crest on his left breast pocket. So every time he dances with a lady they would look down to not get caught staring in his eyes and when they do look down they will see that his crest's there for them to know who he is.
The girls on the other hand were wearing various forms of dresses. Both Katie and Angelina were wearing your traditional ball gown but instead of a cage skirt it was form fitting. Alicia on the other hand was wearing your average formal dress that showed a lot of shoulder skin and it was getting a lot of attentions from the male. Su on the other hand wore a very modern red and gold Chinese dress that fit her form from her shoulders all the way down to her knees where the skirts spread out giving her more moving room. Then there was Hermione who was wearing a purple floral dress.
Harry pause for a moment to look at everyone and notice that Cedric and Wood was missing, "Where's Oliver and Cedric?"
"Inside saving us a seat," Fred answered.
Harry then face the ladies and added, "All of you looked lovely tonight."
Just like last year Harry walk through a passageway consist of photographers, reporters and hacklers. This year Luna wasn't with the reporters shook his head and wonder the faults in Hogwarts Security system to let this happened. The group follows Harry and with their ticket in hand they enter a threshold that whisks them to the Greengrass Manor. There was an awaiting house elf would take a gentlemen's coat and that got everyone who had never been to the ball gasping in awe. The manor was magnificent, the glitter of gold and silver adorn the halls and ballroom. They saw many famous people that they would've never been able to see up close in their lifetime.
Slowly Harry turn towards his club members and said, "Now, we are here, remember what I told you to do."
"Learn from the ball!" The group recounts.
"I believe that's the Keeper for Austria over there," Harry said pointing to a tall black hair man that got Oliver to zoom right to him.
"Is that Angela O'hare, the famous designer?" Angelina asks and took a look at her friends as if the asks if she could go and talk to famous designer.
"Go, have fun!" Harry said ushering his Culture Club members to go. With that said everyone was of to find their celebrities to talk to except for Hermione, Neville and Cedric.
"I don't know a lot of people here," Hermione softly said and brush closer to Harry when someone walks passes her. "Can I just stick with you?"
Harry smile and reply, "It would be my pleasure but what about you boys?"
"We've been here to many times to count," Cedric said and Neville nodded his head in agreement and off to the side there were some ladies eyeing Neville and his coat of arms.
"Then let's take a look from Hermione-chan's perspective," Harry said and grasp the girl's hand and offer it to the two, "Take her around and introduce her to those you know."
"What will you be doing?" Neville asks taking Hermione's hand.
"Hopefully, staying out of trouble," Harry said smiling and the three giggle at his optimistic.
The ball this year seems to be a lot more crowded compared to last year. Harry had glanced here and there and couldn't find the reason why. It was as if the Greengrass's front door opened to let in anyone this year. Sure our magister caught sight of Grand Wizard level individuals who gained celebrity status through their hard work and magical research. Yet there were people who barely scraped by when it came to getting notice by the public.
At one point Harry glance over at Padma who was talking with a lady who researched in Processing Ancient Runes to Modern Usage. They were talking happily and discussing their knowledge. From what Harry could tell the lady was impress at Padma's familiarity in her own research. Looking over at Oliver Harry spot two Keepers trading their stats in keeper position and Wood even point out to Harry and knowing Oliver he was talking about Harry's strategic minds. A high squeal caught his attention and Harry look over at Alicia who was discussing dresses and fashion. The squeal had to be from the Fashion designer who saw Alicia's dress.
"I see you've finished," Su said stepping next to Harry and as if reading his mind Su continues, "There's no one here that catches my attention at the same time they avoid me like the plague. It must be my Family's influences when it comes to trading in Asia."
Harry nod his head and offer his arm for her to take.
"Looks like Fred and George are talking to Zonko's owner about their ideas," Su said pointing to the twins. "Hermione is attracting a lot of attention." True enough Hermione was getting quite the attention from the crowds getting escorted by the Longbuttom Heir and Head Department's son Cedric. "And yet everyone's avoiding you. What could be the story behind their behavior I wonder?"
"That my dear Li-san's a story for another time," Harry said gently patting her hand that was looped around his arm.
Harry tense when he felt a predator eyeing him. His green eyes glaze over the crowd that was around him.
Suddenly Professor Lockhart came through the crowd and grasps the teen's hand in excitement, "I didn't know you were coming! You should've told me!"
"Good evening Professor Lockhart," Harry greeted while courteously shaking the man's hand.
"Jolly good evening to you too!" Professor Lockhart said and then look over Harry's head and then back at Harry.
"I see they're letting anyone into these functions!" Someone sneer and that sneer was all to distinguish.
"Good, evening Mister Malfoy," Harry said forcing a smiling and turn towards Draco Malfoy who was wearing a nice posh dress robe and on his arm was a girl Harry didn't personally but he'd seen her with Draco around the castle. "And you Miss Parkinson looked lovely this evening."
"Shut it, Foreigner," Draco sneer.
"As lovely as ever Draco," Su said mockingly and that made Draco put up his nose as if he smelted something horrific.
"And they let a Chink in here, when will we be eating cats and dogs?" Draco insulted.
"This chink owns the entire import and export in Central Asian to Europe," Su said unfazed at Draco's insult, "I wonder how the European market would feel if the Asian market decided to up the price by thirty percent in product and their answer would lead to one Malfoy Heir."
Draco barked up laughing and then said, "You can't and all you can do to your parents is to talk to them."
"Unlike your parents Draco, mine listens to me, after all for the last three years it was I who increased our family's wealth ten folds. What have you done for your family?" Su mocked and feign boredom, "If this is the best you could do Draco I say the Malfoy line is in dire trouble."
"Witty Miss Li," Harry said and slowly guiding Su away from Draco and his date. At the same time Harry was being followed by Professor Lockhart who was talking about how many balls he went to during his time when he was vacationing from his adventures. Harry would kindly reply with a nod or say some line to act like he was listening.
Looking around Harry spot someone he wanted to see. Standing there was Madam Bones who was surrounded by those who were trying to suck up to her. Madam Bones, the current Head of Magical Law Enforcement, was a tall women with great imposing build that had everyone giving her more room than needed be. Harry made his way up towards the woman after seating Su at vacant round table.
"Madam Bones," Harry said catching the woman's attention, "Would you like to dance?"
"The Music hasn't started just yet," one of the moocher barked and tried to wave Harry away.
"Don't mind of I do," Madam Bone's said taking Harry's hand and with a quick move on the floor she'd lost them. "Thank you, young man, I don't know how long I was listening to their bickering."
"I didn't grab you from the sharks without a cause," Harry said leading the woman to he dance floor and with a wave of his hand the instruments float up and start to play by an invisible player.
"Pray tell," Madam Bones said taking Harry's left hand in her right and place her left hand on his right shoulder.
"What's the procedure for any staff working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to get involve in Hogwarts affair?" Harry gently asks and began to lead the waltz. Slowly the floor began to fill up with dancers.
"Why are you asking?" Madam Bones asks and her eyes narrowed in a dangerous way that would ward off any attacker.
"Curiosity on my part," Harry said smiling gently up at the woman, "I'm with the Culture Club where we observe and make or cases in how things just are to one day question them. Also one of my friend is in the Auror Academy, Nymphadora Tonks."
"Yes, Miss Tonks, I've heard of her progression in the academy and under my top Auror wing," Madam Bones muses but her eyes were still dangerously glaring down at the twelve year old. Sighing she relent and answer, "The Department does not get personally involve unless the Board of Education ask too unless there are a serious crime involving death but we don't get involve in school fights."
"I see, this Board of Education, how does it run?" Harry asks and leading her around the dance floor.
"The Board of Education only runs private schools such as Hogwarts and that's it. Any public school funded by the Ministry are the Ministry's problem and falls on us to investigate without going through red tape, so to speak," Madam Bones said and slowly her eyes softens, "Hogwarts is an independent private school teaching Most Ancient and Most Noble House and not to mentioned the richest in Britain."
"Interesting," Harry said smiling stowing away his confirmation of why Hogwarts isn't full to the brim when it comes to student bodies.
"Is this about Hogwarts?" Madam Bones asks and when Harry match her stare she added, "I may be behind the desk most of the day but I was ones a detective."
"A couple of students were petrified in Hogwarts Halls," Harry said and that got the woman's to grip Harry's leading hand. "I was alarmed that the school weren't closed down until the safety of Hogwarts students were assured."
"The Board of Education!" Madam Bones spit out more than say.
"Now the schools on a man hunt to find the Heir of Slytherin when we all knew that line has died in the 50's," Harry said and watched the woman display shock. "You didn't know that?" Madam Bones shook her head. "The Guants, madam, were the only Family who carried the ring of Slytherin."
"Yes, I remember now," Madam Bones said and then asks, "Most of those are over a three decades ago. How are you so familiar with it?"
"Newspaper articles mostly," Harry said smiling and added, "From whatever articles I read I take it with a grain of salt until I know for sure and I do know for a fact that the last living Guant was a woman. The black sheep of the family of if I know how Ancient Families with ties to the ancients would try to keep it quite."
"And yet you knew. Compare to me you are far more knowledgeable than I in these matters," Madam Bones said.
"I am a Historian by trade and I love to find any an all rumors so I could laid them to rest," Harry said and then added, "The Chamber of Secrets is too big of a rumor for me to ignore."
"I'm afraid I can't help you without the Board's authorizations," Madam Bone said.
"Interesting, how did your department hear about the attempted rape of Miss Tonks last year?" Harry asks a little shocked at the control the Board of Education has on Hogwarts.
"Miss Tonks mother was a Lawyer and you can't really keep her quite when she explodes," Madam Bones smirk at the memory, "Unfortunately her law firm wasn't powerful enough."
"Ergo, the investigation was delayed indefinitely," Harry filled in the missing pieces that the woman didn't want to say. "Until the ball last year."
"An event I was glad I didn't missed," Madam Bones said.
"If I were an alarmed student in Hogwarts, how will I get your department to be involved?" Harry asks and the woman smiles as if she was given a diamond ring the size of a bowling ball.
"I would-" Madam Bones starts off but was cut in by a tall blond hair man.
"May I cut in?" Lord Malfoy strictly said and Harry couldn't really say no since the song ended. Harry had little choice and hand Madam Bones over to Lord Malfoy. "Thank you, now run along."
Harry slowly got off the dance floor and yet his emerald green eyes were on Lord Malfoy. His mannerisms and show of force was something akin to his son's behavior. Lord Malfoy's actions spoke volumes and it unnerved the Magister a bit. From afar a regular mage wouldn't be able to pick out their words unless they have a spell to do so. If the Greengrass's were prominent they would already have an enchantment already placed on the dance floor so no one could hear the dancers spoke to one another. Hence the phrase 'Dance of Fate', the dance floor was where most deals and alliances are made that's why there are a lot of balls and having it during the solstice time was more of symbolic of renew or create anew alliances.
Unfortunately for any wizards and witches Harry learned how to read lips thanks to his mother. From what he could read, Lord Malfoy was telling Madam Bones that his Board of Education knew about the petrification and that he has it under control. At the same time Madam Bones was questioning Lord Malfoy why he by extension the Board didn't contact her department. His answer was your typical loophole. A loophole that enrages the Head Department because there was no deaths thus her department weren't contacted. By the end of the song Madam Bones gracefully got off the dance floor and Harry could tell that she wasn't too happy.
Hermione came up to Harry and asks, "Are you alright?"
"Do you find it strange that there were two attacks in Hogwarts and yet an investigation by an Auror hasn't commenced?" Harry asks Hermione who nodded her head in agreement. "We need to be more vigilant when we get back to Hogwarts."
"You don't mean the attacks are going to keep happening?" Hermione asks in shock.
"I don't know, there are numerous creatures in the world who could petrified a victim to stone but they are warm blooded creatures. Winter will kill them but Hogwarts's has many secrets and some the Headmaster doesn't know," Harry said softly and turn towards their table.
"Should we tell Madam Bones?" Hermione asks sitting down.
"I tried too but now Lord Malfoy's sticking close to Madam Bones ever since he cut me off on the dance floor," Harry said gently and observe everyone around him. Suddenly there was a face he didn't think would be at this ball. Harry pick up a glass of wine and point out to Hermione and said, "That's a surprised."
There standing next to Professor Lockhart was Ron Weasley. He was wearing an old shabby dress robe with discoloration and trying to look important even though he wasn't. Professor Lockhart on the other hand was introducing Ron like he was his prodigy and the next dark lord hunter. Ron was soaking it up like a starving man and yet he was oblivious to the reactions from the people he was being introduced to.
"Any guess why he's here?" Hermione asks and then wave at the rest of the Culture Club to join their table.
"I don't want to know how and why he's here," Su strictly said and the three chasers nodded their head in agreement.
"That's a little cold," Cedric said and got up to walk over to talk to Ron. It didn't take too long for Cedric to come back with a fury in his eyes. "That bloated arse!"
"What did he say?" Padma asks.
"That I should get in line to talk to him or get him a drink while I wait," Cedric snap.
"Don't worry about it," Oliver said patting Cedric on the back. "Let him have his fifteen minutes of fame."
"Make sure to stay clear though," Katie said seeing Ron trying to be something he's not.
Of to the side Harry spotted Lord Malfoy and Professor Lockhart in a heated discussion with Ron close by. What surprised him was when Professor Lockhart stares at Lord Malfoy that stops the lord in his tracks. Harry knew that Professor Lockhart has a reputation that could be used to destroy Lord Malfoy's clout. After all, Professor Lockhart fames are well known albeit a very disjoined exploits.
Ten minutes later the ball room quiet and Lord Greengrass came out to give his speech and let the party continue. Indeed there were a lot of powerful and famous individuals who could do a lot of good or ill to Great Britain.
"I hope my father's party isn't to boring," Daphne said joining the table wearing a wonderful gold ball gown.
"A little too similar like last year," Harry said getting up and pulling the chair out for Daphne to sit in. "How's your evening going?"
"Horrible, Ron tried to ask me to dance and when I gently decline he was very abrasive at my rejection," Daphne said coolly and she added, "My little sister has been looking for you Harry."
"Really now?" Angelina joked, "I didn't know you were into younger girls Harry."
"Yes, Harry, why wasn't I told about this?" Katie joined in and saw Harry cough a little to keep his blushes down. "Should we warn everyone?"
"Harry!" Someone yell and impact head first into Harry's arms.
"Astoria-chan," Harry said placing the girl on his lap and saw her wear a very cute silver sundress with a little mix of ball gown style. "You look lovely tonight."
"I picked out the dress!" Astoria said proudly and gave a sideway glance at her sister and knew that Daphne was seething on the inside.
"That's my dress," Daphne coolly said.
"But I wear it better," Astoria shot back and stick her tongue out at her older sister.
"Dance with me Harry," Daphne order and when Harry tried to get up Astoria hop off and grab his hand and pull him to the dance floor.
"Me first!" Astoria giggles and drags the teen to the dance floor. The little nine years old was one jittering, laughing ball of joy.
Unbeknownst to Harry, he was being observed by numbers of people in the room. They were well known political power houses and at the same time rich aristocrat who were grinding their teethes at this upstart gaining favors from the Greengrass. Lady Greengrass was sitting next to her husband and had her arms around his. This action was to show how close they are or how loving they show. It was to keep Lord Greengrass sitting in his chair without barging down to the dance floor and deck the green eye teen for making a move on his daughters. If this keeps up Lord Greengrass knew that the only way for him to gain alliance and favors were to actually go into deals and without his daughters he couldn't be in any position to garner more in trade deals.
"Honey, stop thinking about that," Lady Greengrass whisper in her husband's ears who had the control to not flinch at his wife's implication.
"This will make it harder for making deals in the future," Lord Greengrass whisper without taking his eyes off his little girl.
"Do not worry, enjoy the night," Lady Greengrass dangerously whisper.
Suddenly a commotion erupts catching everyone's attention. Ron Weasley was screaming and spouting accusation at Draco Malfoy who had the audacity to look innocent. Harry peer over and saw Ron's dress robe covered in whip cream and cake. If the magister had to guess Draco ran into Ron with a plate of slice cake and acted all innocent about it.
Sighing Harry lift up the young girl and hand her off to her Daphne. He made his way to the commotion and apparently it felt like a school yard fight with people surrounding the two. Professor Lockhart was with Ron trying to calm the boy down but at the same time whispering unsavory things to do when they get back to Hogwarts. Draco on the other hand was standing next to his date without his father around to rein him in. If this keeps up this will end in a duel or a brawl.
In a flash Ron whip out his wand and had a spell ready to fire. It launch out the tip of his wand and hit Draco right in the face turning his hair Afro hot pink. Harry step forward and grab Draco's wand hand from reaching into his pocket and had his left wrap around the teen.
"Enough!" Harry barked holding the struggling teen without any trouble. He reaches into Draco's pocket to pull out his wand and step in between the two. Ron was about to cast another spell when Harry roar, "I said enough!"
"He assaulted me! I demand retribution!" Draco screeched.
"I don't owe you anything Deatheater Spawn!" Ron scream at Draco. "You attacked me first!"
"Enough!" Harry roar again and that got everyone to stop what their doing. "Young Draco, are you suggesting that you're clumsy enough to accidentally do that?" Harry point to the mess that was all over Ron's chest. "I dear say you won't be able to gain any favors on the dance floor with your clumsiness." Draco flinched at Harry's insulation and felt a hand on his shoulder and knew that it was his father's. "And Ron, you casted a spell out of Hogwarts and in front of everyone who works for the ministry and most who work in the Board of Education. Cast another spell and you will be expelled from Hogwarts."
"We need to talk, son!" Lord Malfoy said gripping his son's shoulder and waves his wand to summon back the wand that was in Harry's hand. Our young magister notice that look on Lord Malfoy's face and it wasn't a friendly one.
Slowly the crowd gently move away from Harry and his eyes glaze over the crowd. Somehow he knew that he did something wrong and he will one day pay for it.