Yellow Card Condition
Harry woke, bright and early the next morning at 6:45, finding his uniform folded neatly ready for him to take to the shower, as he put on his glasses and wand sheath. Once he was out of bed, his wand was to be worn always, and was impervious to water. As he passed through the living room on the way to make his ablutions, he cheerily greeted Pavel, John, and Oxsana sitting at the dining table enjoying their coffee, tea, and morning pastries, rolls, and fruit. He returned to join them in less than five minutes, as Pavel put down his newspaper to talk.
"Well, Harry, you get to spend the day with Oxsana yet once again!" he announced, as the chipper blonde nodded with a bright smile, and a half bitten croissant held at her lips.
Harry slumped a bit, knowing the implications here. "So... I'm..."
John laughed to carry on the conversation, "You're not grounded, Little Brother. But yes, you are under guard, and until the situation with Lockhart is resolved with any possible threat negated, you're on heightened alert status. Consider yourself under a yellow card."
"Aw... maaaan..." Harry whined.
When there was no specific threat to his safety, Harry was considered 'any other student' at Hogwarts regarding mischief, pranks, or other misbehavior. So if he got caught out of bounds, after curfew, or doing unauthorized magic, he was no more monitored and subject to no greater penalties than any other student. That was when his life was in "Green Card Condition". Since Papa had no House, and Harry carefully avoided misbehavior in History of Magic, he only had to deal with typical corrections from faculty, and that only if he messed up and got caught at something. In fact, in such cases, he could generally discuss the matter with Papa for education on better execution and advice on how not to get caught. And if not discussed with Papa, then certainly such discussions were welcome with John.
But in "Yellow Card Condition", anything that put him in an unexpected place or at an unexpected time was considered a "compromise of his safety", and knowingly or carelessly to compromise his safety, or incur unacceptable risk, bore serious - generally painful - consequences. "Red Card Condition", the circumstance where something deadly is clearly after him and risk is greatest, is nearly "house arrest" as Harry is not permitted to go anywhere without escort, and it's as if any rulebreaking carries with it a "presumption of guilt" rather than innocence.
One amazing thing that Harry had discovered in his periodic run in's with Pavel's discipline - as had a number of other students who unwisely decided to test the old man's resolve - was Papa's seemingly endless creativity in designing punishment. He could readily use "pain" in teaching a lesson, without the slightest use of "violence". The Twins learned that not long ago, as it happened to be Papa's turn to patrol the corridors after curfew. But they'd recovered nicely.
Striking a Deal with Lockhart
Oxsana was again comfortably curled around Harry's throat as a thin little snake, entwined unnoticeably with his necktie.
He had finished his Transfiguration exam, following the advice Pavel had given him... to picture a small white picket fence surrounding a "house" of his own, his own home, his "Happy Place" dwelling for his own mind... and remain inside that while he took the exam. In order to "cheat", he would have to "reach out" to Professor McGonagall in some way that he would be quite aware of. As long as Harry consciously refrained from doing so, especially as she was now aware of the possibility, and would be alert to potential boundary violation from him, there would be no accidental trespassing. Oxsana was available to help as well, if Harry's mind started to drift or he were struggling for an answer, she could and would bolster the barriers between his mind and the Professor's.
Harry was, however, well prepared for the examination, and he had no struggles in recalling the relevant information. The challenge of the exam for him was how to structure his essay responses and manage his time efficiently and effectively. The practical parts of the exam were no problem for him at all. He finished the full exam in comfortable time, perhaps leaving a bit to be desired in the area of his penmanship, but otherwise doing a very good job.
Just before the luncheon break, Harry sought out Professor Lockhart, entering his classroom as his morning class exited.
"Good morning, Professor," Harry greeted his nemesis cautiously, Oxsana alert and ready to spring if the man made the slightest twitch towards his wand. She also had massive guarding shields up around Harry's mind, lest the criminal be able to cast a memory attack wandlessly.
"Hello, Harry..." Lockhart responded, looking about nervously, trying to assure that no one was close enough to overhear them.
"Sir, I've come to apologize to you for what I wrote in my exam paper yesterday. I'm not sure how it happened, but I believe it worked out to cheating in some way, and I'm here to confess that, and take whatever is coming to me." He said quietly, making no reference to the revelations documented in the second part of the exam.
"I see," Lockhart responded, as his mind raced with this new information. Harry could nearly hear the wheels turning in Lockhart's skull, as he tried to work out a new tactic to deal with the situation. "Cheating... that's a very serious infraction here, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir, it is." Harry nodded.
"If I were to report you for cheating, the consequences could be quite... erm... severe, could they not?" and Lockhart's expression seemed to be shifting from anxiety and a touch of desperation, to some degree of hope.
"Yes, sir. I could be expelled, or... there are some harsh alternatives."
"I see. Well, we'd hate to see any of that happen now, would we?" as his voice took on an oleaginous tone of shared conspiracy.
"I would certainly prefer some alternative, yes, sir," as Harry nearly gagged on having to play this cooperative role.
"I can keep a secret, Harry. How about yourself?" as the Professor seemed to be sizing up his chances of striking a deal with the boy.
"I'm sure we could work something out, sir. I don't even know where that whole second part of the exam came from. That just came out of my head. I have no evidence, no proof of anything there."
"Ah... well, then... I propose we come to a simple agreement, then. I shall keep your secret, and keep your cheating to myself... and you keep your speculations on my adventures to yourself as well. Give me your word you will not tell anyone about your fictitious conjectures, and we'll just put this whole unfortunate business behind us. How does that sound?"
"That sounds fine, sir. I give you my word, I will tell no one what I wrote on that paper. How's that?"
"Would you make an Unbreakable Vow, or swear by your Magic to that effect?" Lockhart narrowed his eyes making this proposal.
"I'm not allowed, and I have some limiting charms on me against doing that, sir. But I can certainly enter into a covenant hex, swearing that if I disclose what I wrote there, I will be compelled to confess to my cheating on the exam. Will that do?"
"Perhaps." Lockhart thought for a bit. "I've heard it rumored that you are now the ward of Professor Konstantyn. Is that true?"
"Yes, I am," Harry admitted, looking down as if embarrassed.
"He is very strict, isn't he? He'd not be pleased to know you cheated on a major test, would he?" Lockhart smiled, with an expression of apparent triumph.
"Yes, he is, Professor. And I'm sure that would disappoint him deeply," Harry spoke in low tones.
"More to the point, young man, the consequences would be... substantial... would they not?"
"Yes, sir. No doubt they would."
"Then I will accept your offer. Swear it!"
Harry drew his wand and spoke, "I hereby swear in the presence of Magic that if I disclose the speculations I wrote on this Defense Against the Dark Arts examination to anyone, this curse will compel me to disclose cheating on this exam to my guardian, Professor Pavel Konstantyn -"
"Add your Head of House and the Headmaster to that -" Lockhart interrupted.
"as well as to Professor Minerva McGonagall, and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore."
A low rumble rolled through the room, the distinctive sound of an oath attested by Magic.
"Very well then, Harry. We shall consider this unfortunate incident to be just a misunderstanding left behind us, then. Shall we?" and Lockhard insisted on flashing his award-winning smile, along with that ridiculous single-huff laugh of his.
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate your understanding," Harry managed to say humbly, as he put his wand away and turned towards the door. He wanted nothing more than to escape without further conversation, and headed briskly for the Great Hall.
"Well done, Harry," Pavel mind-spoke, having monitored the entire conversation both through Harry and Oxsana's point of view. "It never even occurred to him that you may already have admitted what happened. That kind of integrity is just so far from our man's ethics, he never considered the possibility that his offer of cover up was already a day too late. You didn't lie, you didn't break any rules. Your self-curse is already mooted, so powerless. Good job all around. I'm going to keep you 'yellow carded' for just one week, while he settles down from this scare. If he tries nothing in that time, we'll bring you back to 'green card'. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Harry responded, as he made his way to the Great Hall. "I don't really LIKE it, but I know that will make no difference." Harry laughed as he arrived for noontime dinner.
"Right you are, my son. No difference at all. I want you safe and alert against any potential threat from him. Be grateful I'm not holding it until he's completely neutralized. That may yet take us a while." Pavel continued.
"Yes, sir. I'm not even arguing. I am perfectly grateful. By the way," he continued, "how ARE we planning to neutralize him?"
"I'm not sure yet. I'd like to salvage him if possible, but I'm just not sure it can be done." Pavel's tone had a sad edge to it.
"Ah well, I'm just glad that's over with for now."
"I, too, son. Enjoy your meal, your afternoon is free if you want to join Ivan outside on your broom. I know you're looking forward to Quidditch practice and speed riding."
"Thanks, Papa!" Harry cheered up considerably as he sat down to eat.
"I have an idea on how to help Professor Lockhart," John opened the conversation at the Head Table.
Pavel cast a privacy spell to cover their deliberations as John continued.
"What if I were to 'assist' Gilderoy with his DADA class, in much the same way I assist Madame Hooch? The Professor can continue to teach 'theory' in his lectures 'from his published works', while I take on 'practical exercises' for half his class time? We can cover discernment of enchanted items - cursed, blessed, or unaffected - along with such things as: curses, countercurses, hexes, dangerous magical creatures commonly encountered, and start to introduce simple mage senses. I can expand our work on dueling and combat magic, applying practical drill crossing over between DADA and Physical Education."
Pavel nodded as he thought this through. "This would allow you both to render students' DADA education more valuable, at the same time as keeping an eye - and some control - on Lockhart. I see the advantages there. What do you think?" Pavel turned towards Minerva, Severus, and Albus.
"I think anything that puts a competent instructor into that classroom with students is an advantage," Minerva huffed, making no bones about her opinion.
Snape slowly shook his head to contribute, "I'm sure you know, and need no words from me regarding my opinion of Gilderoy Lockhart. I shall spare Professor Konstantyn the strain of refraining from correcting me for expressing that opinion here."
This drew a chuckle of thanks from Pavel, along with a bark of laughter from John.
"I wonder, however," John continued, "whether the good Master Lockhart might need a bit of persuasion to our view?"
"Perhaps," Pavel mused. "Perhaps a quiet visit in the night, eh?" and he gave Ivan a pensive sidelong look as he pondered his plans... "Minerva? May Harry stay in our quarters this evening? I should like to take him on a bit of a journey deep in the night. Since tomorrow is Saturday, and his detentions being finished, we needn't worry about him being up for breakfast. Most likely he will be fine tomorrow, but for tonight I'd like him to spend the night in his room."
"Of course, Pavel. That will be fine. I shall let the proctors know. Let me know if you need anything else."
Albus looked over curiously. "Anything here I should know about, Professor?" he asked, noting with some concern the expression of calculation on his old friend's face.
"I think not, Headmaster. What I have in mind is most likely not covered within the regulations of the school, but 'better to beg forgiveness...' as they say," Pavel chuckled.
"I see. Well, forget I asked," Albus replied.
Everyone returned dutifully to their meals, inquiring no further.
By 9:00 Ron and Hermione had gone home while Harry's nose was still buried deep in the first chapter of Transfiguration and Animagick, entitled "The Nature of Biomorphism". It was pretty heavy going, and a lot of the concepts were over his head for the moment, but knowing that John was a Life Mage, Harry figured he could either get tutoring or at least direction to some references that would help.
The book was clearly not written in the last half of THIS century, being replete with words such as "wherefore", "albeit", and "prithee". For example: "He who wouldst practice such an audacious magick as to transform the humani corporis anatome into an alien bestial form, had best reflect intensely aforehand upon centering the personal idiom securely within the self."
Determined he was, however, to make it through the work without flagging or complaining. He wondered, within himself, if that was not Professor McGonagall's private hope, that he would become discouraged and give up this quest. He knew if it came down to it, he could count on Hermione's help. But he was determined to give this a strong shot on his own, and see if he could master it. Even a cursory reading, though, gave him some sense of how terribly wrong a botched transformation could go. He was glad that he'd get to check his understanding both with Professor McGonagall and the family, before trying any of this. At least, that's what he was thinking right now. He'd have to see how he felt when he'd read a bit more.
Pavel watched the boy poring over the text, smiling with satisfaction to see how intently he was determined to work through this task he had set for himself. It was almost a shame to disturb his concentration, but he needed to discuss tonight's foray with him.
"Harry? May I interrupt your studies there for a moment?" he began.
"Sure, Papa," Harry answered, putting a bookmark in place to mark his page. Dog-earing ANY tome in Hogwart's made for a short trip to Library detention, from any classroom... or, probably, from here as well. "What's up?" John and Oxsana, also quietly reading together in front of the fire, also put their books down to listen.
"If you're up for a bit of adventure, I invite you to accompany me on an unusual journey tonight. You know I am a Mind Mage, and in that arena I often make use of the Dreamscape for a variety of purposes. Tonight, I am planning to use Professor Lockhart's dreamscape to communicate with him and implant some instructions to him in such a way that they are unlikely to be ignored. I am going to invade his mind, trigger his fears, and intimidate him into agreeing to be monitored and assisted in his course for the rest of this academic year. I will do this in part for your protection, and in part for the benefit of Hogwarts students in their Dark Arts studies. Are you willing to accompany me?"
"Sure! I mean... Yeah, I'd love to. But... what do you mean 'accompany you'? How do I do that?" Harry's expression reflected both excitement and confusion at the same time.
"Harry, I'm going to ask you simply to trust me. I don't want to give you more information because I don't want to interfere with your ability to fall asleep. You won't need to do anything except go to bed at an appropriate time, and sleep in a natural way. I shall come to you in your dreams, and we will proceed from there. All you need do is obey me as we journey. Fair enough? Can you just trust me? It is said 'There are those who can extrapolate from incomplete information, and...' " and Pavel returned to his book of poetry without another word.
It took a moment before Harry started laughing... then opened his own book again, and returned to his studies.
Pavel made his typical pyrrhic protests to Harry's inevitable request for a story at bedtime, then happily sat down to begin his traditional, "Vonce upon a time..." THIS time, however, he'd crafted the story and pitched his voice in so sonorous a way that he lulled Harry into sleep with unnatural speed. Upon confirming that Harry's heavy regular breathing denoted true sleep, Pavel quietly quitted his room and rejoined John and Oxsana.
"No need for me?" John asked, softly. "I was ready with soporific acceleration if needed.
"Nay, my son. I have more than sufficient vocal control and decades of lecturing experience with which to put a child to sleep when I choose. I suspect I could simply have read random passages from the textbook he's studying, and found that more than sufficient."
"I KNOW!" John laughed. "Mercy, Papa! Have you SEEN that thing? Was it written by Professor Binns? It's just AWFUL!"
"Don't critique what you've not tried, my son. Writing instructions for dangerous magic isn't easy in ANY age, and it's not the fault of the text that it is 250 years old. Consensus opinion has been to err on the side of caution. If a witch or wizard hasn't the discipline or wisdom to either make their way through the text, or seek out a master to guide them, they're best advised not to attempt the magic. The last thing Hogwarts needs is a copy of "The Idiot's Guide to Animagus Transformation", nor does such work lend itself readily to Cliff Notes.
"Now, I, for one, am going to go lie down and get some rest. I plan to rise and get Harry at 3:00 a.m. when I am certain Lockhart will be deeply in his dream state. If the two of you are willing, I'd not be averse to some backup on this. Oxsana, if you would be kind enough to accompany me, and Ivan if you can remain by Harry's side should he experience any difficulties, that would be wonderful.
"Of course, Papa Pavel, it will be my pleasure to take part. And if you think we could budge Big Brother here from Harry's side this first time... you've not been paying attention. I swear, Ivan frets over Harry like a mother hen!" Oxsana teased.
"Hardly!" John pulled an offended face at his fiancee. "Papa's always on me about letting Harry take too many risks!"
"Pfft! It's not the risks I mind, but the mischief you approve! But enough of this for now. You two behave, and I shall see you in a little bit."
"Night, Papa!" John called cheerily, as he and Oxsana returned to reading on the couch alone by the fire.
A/N: Reviews make my day! If you enjoy the stories, please let me know if you have a moment! :) Thanks so much! Grace to you, Gentle Reader - Mort