Chapter 9: Team Athena
Malfoy scion attacks defenseless five year old girl unprovoked
By Rita Skeeter
Yesterday I visited Hogwarts to attend the weighting of the wands, a customary ceremony of the Tri-wizard tournament (for more information on the weighting of the wands and interviews with the champions see page 2 ).When I arrived there I heard some shocking rumors. According to the rumors Draco Malfoy, son of lord Malfoy attempted to curse the heiress of the Potter family, Lucy Potter (age 5)
Of course I immediately investigated these rumors and the rumors turned out to be. After I had spoken with several eyewitnesses I managed to find out exactly what happened. During breakfast Mr. Malfoy with several other people walked from the Slytherin over to the Gryffindor table and asked lord Potter and his friends of he was interested in a badge that showed their support for the Hogwarts champions. Lord Potter agreed to have one and complimented Mr. Malfoy on his show of house unity by supporting the Hufflepuff champion.
Only it turned out that house-unity wasn't what Mr. Malfoy was after when he started to wear the badge. It turned out that a second message appeared on the badge the moment you tapped your wand on it. Mr. Malfoy used this function to make a rather bold statement. After lord Potter had told Mr. Malfoy he wouldn't mind wearing one, he tapped his badge and the message 'I LOVE SNAPE'. After the new message appeared lord Potter said he didn't want the badge anymore, but he congratulated Mr. Malfoy for showing his hidden Gryffindor traits.
Ms. Potter however seemed to like the original badges and asked Mr. Malfoy politely if she may have one. For some reason Mr. Malfoy didn't take the request well even though he was the one who offered it when he first arrived in the first plan and fired a unknown curse at young Ms. Potter. Luckily for the young heiress someone nearby, probably one of her parents managed to erect a shield on time. The curse rebounded and hit Mr. Malfoy instead, resulting in facial disfigurement. Before Mr. Malfoy could fire another curse he was taken down by lord Potter trough a stunner.
When researching further I managed to find out that Mr. Malfoy won't suffer any disciplinary action from the school. One has to wonder if his 'relationship' with professor Snape had anything to do with him going unpunished for attacking the young girl.
Harry folded the paper after reading the article on the front page. He had to admit it was pretty good. It damaged the Malfoy name, Snape and it showed the unfairness of him not getting punished.
Suddenly there was a knock on the portrait that guarded the entrance. Harry stood up and walked up to the portrait to open it up.
Standing in the doorway was Emma Granger looking very nervous. Harry looked down on her for a moment. ''Hey Hermione,'' He plastered a look of surprise on his face,'' I know I am now taller then you, but did you got even shorter?''
The girl looked bewildered for a moment. Knowing her she probably had already thought up the entire conversation she wanted to have in her head and hadn't considered him to greet her like that.
Harry chuckled at her reaction and said. ''Just kidding Emma, you were looking so nervous I couldn't help it. Do you want something?''
Regaining her bearings she politely stated. ''I want to talk you about my sister, Mr. Potter.''
''Sure come in,'' Harry said, while standing back to let her in. ''And it is Harry, you don't have to call me Mr. Potter.''
Offering her a seat and sitting down himself he said. ''Now what was that about Hermione?''
Emma told him her concerns about how her sister spend more and more time in the library and that she is worried about her.
''And you want me to talk to her about it?'' Harry asked, feeling slightly guilty that he hadn't noticed her behavior. In his defense the Hermione he knew before she died also spent large amounts of time researching, far more than she did in school.
''Please, Mr. Pott- eh Harry.'' Emma pleaded.
''Sure, why don't we go right now?''
While they were walking towards the library, Harry broke the silence between the two by asking, ''So, do you like Hogwarts thus far?''
''It's great! I have read all of Hermione's books already, but the actual lessons are even better.'' She began excitedly. Her exited face then turned in a frown. '' However, some of the ghosts are a bit creepy and there is that one that I really don't like.''
Harry was about to ask which one when he noticed that she stopped moving and was starring at a point in front of them. ''What's wrong?'' He asked.
Emma looked a bit white and answered with pointing her finger to where she had been staring. ''There he is.'' She said in a scarred tone.
Harry looked towards where she is pointing and saw what had scarred the first year. Floating in the middle of the corridor, doing some weird dance in midair was Peeves.
Harry sighted, ''What did he do to you?''
Emma turned her gaze away from the Poltergeist and looked up to Harry. ''He dropped a bag filled with tarantulas where I was studying with some of my classmates.''
Harry groaned, this was exactly something Peeves would do. If he remember correctly he had seen him do something similar in his fifth year. He patted Emma on the shoulder and said in the most reassuring tone he could. ''Don't worry about him he won't bother you anymore after this, just watch.''
Having said that Harry gently put a hand on her back to have her start moving again. Emma looked uncertain for a moment, but then started walking again.
Peeves who by now was hanging upside down for some reason had noticed them and happily exclaimed. ''Ooh a ickle firstie! What fun!'' He then noticed who was walking next to the first year and nearly fell down in shock. Turning back around he hurriedly said. ''Peeves is sorry Mr. Potter. Peeves didn't know that Mr. Potter was here. Is there anything Peeves can do for Mr. Potter?''
Emma looked on in bewilderment, from what she heard the Poltergeist had no respect for anyone expect for that scary looking ghost and yet she was witnessing this. Then again from all the things that her sister told her about the man standing next to her, something like this was wasn't completely unexpected.
''Remember our last talk, Peeves?'' Harry asked, knowing full well he remembered.
After Peeves had zealously nodded his head, Harry gestured to the youngest Granger and said. ''This is Emma Granger.''
Emma had to admit she had no idea what was going on, but it was funny to see the thing she had been afraid of getting a complete shocked look on his face.
''Peeves is sorry Ms. Granger. Please forgive poor Peeves. Peeves didn't know that ickle firstie was Ms. Granger, Peeves will never bother you anymore.'' Peeves said in a pleading tone.
Emma looked from the pleading Peeves to the satisfied looking Harry and turned back to the Poltergeist. ''It's okay?'' She said hesitantly. She may be dislike him, but she was unsure what else to say when he was looking like that.
''Thank you! Thank you!'' Peeves happily exclaimed before flying off.
''See? Nothing to worry about.'' Harry said nonchalantly while starting to walk toward the library again.
Emma stared at his retreating back in shock for a moment before coming out of it and she ran after him. When she caught up to him she gave Harry a look that he had often seen on her older sister. A look that basically demanded information. ''What was that all about.'' She exclaimed.
''Do you named a ghost named Myrtle?'' Harry asked.
Emma wasn't sure what the question had to do with anything, but she answered regardless. ''I have never seen her, but Hermione warned me about her. She told me she haunts the second floor girls bathroom and that she is a bit emotional.''
'That is a bit of a understatement.' Harry thought.
''So what has that have to do with anything?'' Emma questioned.
Harry smiled and said. ''Let's just say that if Peeves bothers certain people then he will be permanently bound to that bathroom.''
Emma looked shocked at him after his explanation. ''Are you saying that he won't be able to leave that bathroom? Is that possible?''
''It's is possible to bind a sprit to a certain place all right.'' Harry assured. ''No idea if I can do it, but the threat to spend a eternity with Myrtle was enough for even Peeves to comply.''
''And I am one of those people?'' Emma asked. ''Is that why he reacted like that when he heard my name?''
Harry nodded and Emma looked happy that someone else was watching out for her even if it was most likely only because she was a friends sister.
''Can I ask something else?''
Harry nodded for her to go ahead.
''Hermione told me allot of stories about her time in Hogwarts and in a lot of her stories were her two friends, you and a other guy.''
Harry patiently waiting for her to go on.
''So what happened to the other guy?'' Emma asked. ''The one with the horrible table manners? Hermione had introduced me to you two during the train ride.
Harry grinned at her despite the question. ''Do I look like how she described me then?'' Seeing her annoyed look he answered. ''I am not sure why Hermione doesn't spend time with Weasley, you have to ask her if you want to know, trough I can guess why. And I don't spend time with him because he has some personally traits that I can't really stand right now.''
Harry was silent for a moment waiting if she had another question. When she didn't Harry asked her. ''Did they make the announcement during breakfast?''
''Uh, yes.'' She said.
''Do you already have a team?'' He questioned.
Emma looked down at hearing the question. ''I don't think anyone wants me in their team. I probably will be sorted in a team when the deadline is up with the others who don't have a team.'' She mumbled.
''You can join my team if you want. I am afraid that the team pretty much exist out only me for now, but if you join then I am sure we can win.''
''Really?'' Emma asked hopefully. ''But why me? What about your friends?''
''As you know, to keep it fair, only one adult per team is allowed.'' Harry said. ''Therefore Daphne decided to team up with her sister and Tracey for old time sake and I am not that close to many people, so I hoped that you could join my team, maybe Hermione too.''
Emma didn't have time to respond because they had reached the library and she already learned the hard lesson to be silent there.
It took a moment, but Harry eventually spotted Hermione sitting behind a table hidden from view behind several stacks of books. He and Emma walked over to the table and took a seat at the table.
''Hey Hermione.'' Harry greeted the witch who had been obvious that two people had seated next to her.
Hermione looked up startled by the sudden greeting and noticed that Harry and her little sister had joined her at the table. ''Hey Harry, Emma, Were are Daphne and Lucy?''
''Lucy is with her aunt and Daphne has some things to discuss with professor Moody.'' Harry answered. ''But that is not why I am here.''
She looked confused for a moment, then her confusion turned to worry and she asked. ''Did something bad happen?''
Deciding to be blunt Harry said. ''Hermione, people are worried about you. You spend more and more time in the library. Is there something wrong?''
Hermione shrugged. ''I am fine.''
''Right,'' Harry drawled.'' I wonder why I don't believe you. I am your friend right? If so you can tell me what is going on. Or do you want to worry Emma even more?''
Hermione looked conflicted, she glanced to were Emma was sitting and saw her pleading look. Eventual she caved in. ''I just need some more time to study this year. I want to know what happened in the future and you said my mind needed to be protected for that so I have been studying Occlumency, but I am just not making process so I need to spend more time on it. Then there are my grades! I am no longer first in most of the classes. In several classes I am lowered to third place. And you and Daphne have been entered in the tournament and I am trying to find spells that can help you and then there is the S.P.E.W. and…''
Harry noticed she started ranting so he said. ''Hermione calm down.'' Seeing that he had her attention he countered. '' Firstly Occlumency is a skill that takes years to learn, Hermione, you have been at it for a week, maybe two. If you really want to know then there might be a solution. As for your grades, no offence, but isn't it obvious that me and Daphne would score a bit higher than the average fourth year, it is like asking you to go back to elementary school and find a student with more knowledge then you. As for the tournament, I survived it as a fourteen year old, how do you think I will do with nearly a decade extra experience? Not to mention that I highly doubt that they will change the task to much at this points, preparation like that takes way too much time. And again no offence, but you should really reconsider SPEW.''
For once Hermione was silent, even though it was only for a moment and she said. ''Okay maybe you are right about my classes and the tournament. But what did you mean with a solution for Occlumency and why should I reconsider SPEW? Those poor elves deserves there rights! And it is S.P.E.W. not SPEW.''
''What do you know about house elves besides what you have observed?'' Harry asked. ''Do you even know why the house elves serve wizards and witches? Believe me they are powerful in their own right, this is not a matter of a simple oppression.''
''I know that they can be freed if they are given cloths. That is why I have been making them to leave in the common room.''
''You do realize that with freeing them you are killing them?'' Harry asked bluntly.
''What!'' She exclaimed.
''Don't worry,'' Harry assured her. ''Only the owner frees an elf by given him cloths you haven't freed a single elf.''
''But-but how can they die if they are free.''
''The elves are a cursed race. The exact reason has been lost, but at some point there was a war between humans and elves. Not much can be found on this war except that at the end the elves lost and a group of mages used a special ritual to enslave the elves, taking away their true power, but most importantly making them dependent on another magical being. House elves live of magic, but unlike their elf ancestors their body doesn't generate any of its own. Instead they have symbiotic relationship with wizards and witches. They work for them and in exchange a small part of their bonded magic is relegated tot them. That is why all elves truly fear to be set free.''
''But, what about Dobby? He wants to be free.'' Hermione countered.
''There are worse things than dead. That is why he wanted to be free, to hopefully find a master that would treat him better.'' Harry commented. ''To say he wasn't treated right would be an vast understatement. Most elves are treated similar as how a butler would be treated in a Muggle household. You just happened to have seen some of the worst examples out there. I can ask one of my elves to come here if you want to talk with them. Just don't insult their ways.''
Harry paused for a moment and said. ''I mean it when I say that you have to respect their ways, Hermione. Magical creatures have their own norms and values and most find it rather insulting if you try to instill our human norms on them. For example Goblins also never take a day of. If you had started a campaign to get them to have more free days then they would probably seen it as a insult towards their honor and believe me you don't want to meet a goblin you have insulted.''
Hermione was in deep thought for a moment having trouble comprehending everything she heard. Finally she said. ''I will think about what you have said and maybe I talk to one of them if I know what I want to ask them. Now what was that you talked about a solution for my Occlumency problem.''
''It is not really a solution, since there is no easy way to instantly learn the art. If there was such a way then everyone would be a Occlumens. What I am talking about is a Guardian. A Guardian is placed in someone else mind by a Legilimens there task is to guard a specific set of memories at any cost.''
''What do you mean with 'at any cost'?'' Hermione asked.
''The guardian will try to kick the intruder out and will often be successful if you process in your Occlumency training you will understand why that is. But on the other side if it loses then it will do the next best thing. He will erase all the memories he is protecting permanently.''
''That is not bad right? Even if you lose the memory can't you just be told again?''
''As if it is ever that easy.'' Harry muttered. ''Memories are connected to each other until you have sorted them out during Occlumency training. The guardian will also erase all memories that are connected to the one he protects. For example if I place one in you that protects everything related to professor McGonagall and someone forces him to erase that memory then the chance is high that you forget almost everything that happened the last couple of years. Since she is the one that introduced you to magic and almost all your memories are related to that.''
''And if I allow you to place this guardian in my mind then you will answer my questions?''
''Yes, if you understand the risk and still want to go ahead with it then I will.''
''Now as you are thinking about that lets move on to lighter things.'' Harry said. ''I take it you have heard the announcement this morning.''
''Yes, I can't believe it that they made it mandatory for everyone to participate, even the teachers will join.'' Hermione complained. ''Luckily the head of schools wont since they are the judges, but still. Have you already assembled a team?''
''Of course,'' Harry assured her. ''After all I am sitting with my two teammates right now aren't I?''
Hermione gaze went from Harry to the silent Emma and back to Harry again before she realized what he meant. ''What!''
Harry grinned at her shocked face and asked. ''Something wrong?'' Turning he grin into a pout.'' Or don't you want to be on our team?''
''Yeah sis don't you want to be on our team?'' Emma parroted.
''When exactly have you recruited my little sister when the announcement was only this morning and you weren't there as far as I could see.''
''Somewhere between getting you to slow down with your studies and threatening Peeves to bind him to Myrtle's bathroom, why?''
Hermione gave him a look that basically stated 'do I even want to know'. Deciding it was worth the additional headache. ''Fine then. I will join the team.''
''Great,'' Harry exclaimed before realizing where he was and suddenly he felt someone standing behind him. Turning his head around he saw something that would make even Voldemort take a step back in fear. ''Hello madam Prince, how nice too..''
That was as far as he got before a very irritated looking librarian shouted. ''OUT!''
The two Grangers and one Potter didn't want to test her patience and quickly made their way out of the library.
''Well she hasn't changed from what I remembered.'' Harry mumbled. ''Besides she throws us out for making noise will she herself was way louder.''
''Harry!'' Hermione chastised. ''You got us thrown out of the library, now Madam Prince will be difficult the next time I want to enter.''
Harry shrugged, ''She will always be difficult. But she will let you in anyway.''
''And if she won't.'' Hermione asked worriedly. She may have said that she will spend less time there, but that doesn't mean none at all.
''If she won't let you in then I can have one of my elves get the book that you want from the library in Potter manor. The elves have standing orders to use the money from the family vault to keep it as up to date as possible, so I highly doubt that it won't have the books you want.''
Harry didn't notice the glint Hermione got when she heard Harry mention the library. Emma however did and easily recognized the look on her sister face.
"Really?'' Hermione questioned excitedly.
''Sure.'' Harry assured her. ''If you want you can even visit the manor during one of the holidays and spend a day in the library.''
''That is great.'' She said. ''Guess I can forgive you for dragging me and my sister in your team without questioning. Guess we should go to professor McGonagall to register, I don't believe she isn't teaching any class right now.''
''Sure lets go.''
With that they left for McGonagall's office. While they were walking Emma asked. ''What is going to be our teams name?''
''What do you mean?'' Harry questioned.
''When they announced it this morning they said that when you registered you had to have a team name. Didn't you know this?''
''Eh no.'' Harry replied. ''Why don't you come up with a team name?''
Emma looked pensive for a moment and then exclaimed. ''Team Athena .''
''Team who?'' Harry questioned truly not knowing what the name meant.
Hermione tried to hid her grin, Harry might have more magical knowledge, but at least there were still some subject he didn't have any knowledge off.
Emma huffed, ''Athena, she is among other things the old Greek goddess of wisdom and courage. I thought it fits Gryffindor who like to study.''
Harry shrugged, not sure how he got grouped in the 'like to study group', but he didn't mind the name so he said, ''I don't mind the name, do you Hermione?''
Hermione said she didn't mind either and shortly after that they reach the office of McGonagall's. They knocked on the door and entered after given permission.
McGonagall looked up from the papers she had been grading and greeted the trio. ''Good morning Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, Ms. Granger, can I help you with something?''
''Good morning professor,'' Hermione greeted. ''Me, my sister and Harry are here to register as a team for the tournament.''
The professor frowned when she heard that and said. ''Ms. Granger, you and Mr. Potter are already registered.'' She picked up one of the parchment lying on her desk. ''Here you are,'' She said while pointing to a group of names on the list.
Hermione looked at where the professor was pointing and read; team name: lions pride, members: Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, team captain: Ron Weasley.
Harry who had been reading over Hermione's shoulder had to suppress a snort in amusement. He didn't know what was more unlikely being teammates with Weasley or following him as captain.
''I can assure you, professor, I have no intention to be part of a team with Weasley in it.'' Harry commented.
The professor sighted, she had a suspicion that when Mr. Weasley had entered her office this morning he hadn't been truthful when he said that he, Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger would form a team, but she had hoped she had been wrong. She like almost everyone in the castle had noticed that what some in the castle called 'the golden trio' hadn't been seen much together since Mr. Potter had arrived from the future. She had hoped that when Mr. Weasley came by this morning that it meant that the trio had resolved their problems, but it looks like that didn't happen.
''I see,'' She said neutrally.
She wanted to know what happened to the three of them, but decided it really wasn't her place to ask, so she said. ''Very well I will inform Mr. Weasley that he must have misunderstood and that you two are already in a team with the youngest Ms. Granger.
The conversation after that had to be kept short since it was almost time for McGonagall to teach a class. It was decided that Hermione would be the captain since Harry was already busy with being champions and they were told that details would be given when the tournament officially started.
After leaving the room Harry said goodbye to the two Grangers for now and left for his own room.
Harry upon entered his common room and saw that his wife was already there. She was sitting in one of the chairs looking troubled.
''Were there problems?'' Harry questioned.
Daphne looked up when she heard Harry and replied in a slightly annoyed tone. ''Snape broke the security charms on the door, entered the room and saw me Obliviate Crouch just after I was done with him.''
Harry sighted, for once couldn't things go without any problems. ''What did you do?''
''I made the best of the situation and moved our plans for Malfoy and Umbridge up considerable.''
''I see.'' Harry said thoughtfully. ''When?''
''Tomorrow.''