Chapter 12

Hermione and Luna escorted each other to the hospital wing.

Luna's assailants stood uncomfortably on one side of a classroom table, facing Harold Evans, Neville Longbottom and Pansy Parkinson on the other. They were, in turn completely surrounded by two dozen angry ghosts.

Lady Helena began, "Seamus and Fiona Hogan, Fifth and Seventh Years, respectively, both Ravenclaws." She shook her head, obviously embarrassed to be connected to them in any way.

Seamus tried to bluster, "You can't do anything to us, you're just students, and ghosts…" his efforts, fell short of the mark.

Pansy smiled, "You know those rumours, those Royal rumours, concerning certain members of the House of Merlin?"

Both Ravenclaws nodded.

"Do you know the penalty for attacking the High Chamberlain of a Royal Family?"

Fiona balked, "A what?"

"You could be drawn and quartered. Tied to four hippogriffs and torn limb from limb, and Their Royal Majesties would receive an apology from Her Majesty the Queen for having been put to any trouble by two British Subjects."

Both students were ashen faced now. Fiona whimpered.

"Now, what was this about?"

Trembling, Seamus said, "I can't say."

"You can't say or you won't say?"

"I can't say, if I do, my life, and the life of my sister are forfeit."

Neville, channelling all he'd learned about becoming the Head of a Noble House drawled, "Your life is already forfeit, the only choice you have in this, is who will collect." He looked around at the angry sprits in the room, "I don't think two more ghosts will be noticed, do you?"

A warm, yellow stream ran down Fiona's leg and she burst into tears, "We din't want ta do it, but our home, our lands, our legacy, my dowry… it'll all be gone if we fail. And we've already failed, haven't we? And, and now we're as good as dead!"

Pansy and Neville understood. Turning away, they cast a privacy shield and explained it to Harry.

"The Hogan Family is indebted to someone, it could be a life debt or a simple bank note called due. We can use them to find out who is behind the attack."

Harry smiled, "The Hogan siblings have already proven that they're tools. We'll just make them our tools."

The three Merlins turned to face Seamus and Fiona. They were smiling, but somehow, the Irish siblings weren't comforted.

Still smiling, Pansy and Neville raised their wands and whispered "Somnus."

)O(

Poppy Pomfrey sat with Hermione and Luna, explaining the miracle that marked the coming of age for any witch.

"Healer Pomfrey," Hermione said, "I've read all about puberty and menstruation. I know about the changes going on with my body, I can even recite the stages of a normal, monthly cycle."

The matron smiled, empathetically, "But knowing about menses and experiencing it are two different things, aren't they?"

Hermione sighed in pain and exasperation. "Tell me about it…"

Poppy dispensed a mild muscle-relaxing potion and a box of witch's pads, the magical counterpart to mundane feminine hygiene products, then prescribed bed rest for the rest of the evening.

On the way back to their quarters, Luna observed, "Your Nargelites used to be like mine, just hovering around your head, a glowing nimbus, and up and down your spine. I'm pretty sure that's where our magical core is."

Hermione grimaced as another cramp hit her, "And now?"

"Now you have a glow 'down there,' you know, around your tummy."

"Yeah, where all the 'action' is, right now." She groaned and said, "I'm so sorry I snapped at you before, I really wasn't myself. As bad as I feel, this is nothing to how I felt when I hurt your feelings."

Luna pulled her 'sister from another mother' into a one-armed hug, "It's okay, Hermione, I know you didn't mean it."

"I just want to take my potion, crawl into bed and die in peace."

Luna took Hermione to her room and helped her get ready for bed, "You want some company tonight?"

"No, I think I need to be by myself for now."

"Okay, call me if you need anything, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Luna."

As Hermione entered Dreamscape she saw two strangers, the same two that had attacked Luna earlier that evening.

She was about to hex them into the next time-zone when Harry placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

"These vassals are petitioning the Royal House of Evans for sanctuary, Your Grace."

It was then that Hermione noticed that both she and Harry were dressed in their Royal Purple robes, trimmed in ermine. She quickly caught on, "What is your command, Your Highness?"

"We will accept their oaths of fealty, and, in return, shall provide for their future needs."

The Hogan siblings were down on one knee, ready to give their oaths.

Harry explained, "We are awaiting our High Chamberlain."

Luna entered, wearing her badge of office. Without preamble, she began, "On pain of death, and loss of magic to your third generation, do you swear fealty to the House and Family Evans?"

Fiona and Seamus recited, "Until His Highness releases us or death takes us, so say we, so mote it be."

"Rise, Fiona and Seamus Hogan, esquires to the House of Evans."

Luna studied the brother and sister for a moment, "Your Highness, Your Grace, I see a geas has been placed on your vassals, may I?"

If the Hogan siblings could see Nargelites or not, they didn't comment. The fact that Luna could interpret the intent of the magic binding them didn't surprise anyone there.

Luna knelt before Seamus. "The geas is binding you, but not your sister. Have you taken an oath."

"No, ma'am. Not until today."

"Good, then this can be removed without harming your magic."

Luna nudged the seemingly random motes to swirl in a pattern like a cyclone, then used her hands to divide off long, pale stream.

"You see how these are a different colour? That means they're not contiguous with his magic, and, as such, can be siphoned off."

Harry and Hermione, both fascinated, watched closely.

Harry asked, "Where will they go?"

"They'll go where all magic goes, eventually. Back to the Earth, the source of all magic."

As if on cue, the rivulet of lighter coloured motes streamed toward the castle floor where they disappeared with a gurgling sound, like that of water down a drain.

"Now, Seamus, you are free to tell us who compelled you to act against us, and what you were going to do."

Head lowered in shame, Seamus said, "We were to accost the Lady Lovegood, or Dame Parkinson, administer veritaserum, and ask the whereabouts of any and all Royal properties in the UK..

Pansy set up a privacy bubble and said, "That makes no sense, I've already told the Purebloods that the Evans family has extensive holdings in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Dublin. There's something he's not saying."

"Or," Hermione guessed, "There's something he hasn't been told."

Luna continued, "We'll give you a list of properties to copy down later, who told you to do these things?"

"Malfoy."

The 'Royals' looked at each other incredulously, "You're taking orders from an eleven-year-old firstie?"

"No, Highness, from his father, Lucius Malfoy."

Hermione grimaced, then leaned into Harry's side.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"I'm not, um, well, My Lord."

"Lady Luna, Dame Pansy, see to our vassals, we will return anon."

)O(

Harry woke, then bolted out of bed, and ran to Hermione's suite. She lay curled into a tight ball, whimpering.

"Hermione, don't worry, I'll go get the school healer!"

"No!" she gasped, "No, it's okay, Madame Pomfrey knows…"

Hermione gave a brief, concise description of her 'Monthly Visitor,' and, while she appreciated Harry's concern, there wasn't really anything he could do about it.

For his part, Harry felt so helpless. He curled up next to his best friend, and felt some pangs of his own.

Magic is manifested in potions, runes and / or incantations accompanied by wands and / or crystals, along with other familiar focusing paraphernalia. The true power, however, of any spell, malevolent or benign, is in its intent.

At that precise moment, Harry wanted to take away Hermione's pain, even if it meant taking it on himself. As they settled into the duvet, spooning, Harry murmured, "You'll be all right, alright, let me help, please, let me help."

As they lay, spooned together in her bed, Hermione's pain ebbed. She groaned in relief and, content, was soon asleep, followed by Harry, and, together, they made their way back to Dreamscape.

)O(

They found themselves standing in an antechamber.

"Feeling better?" Harry asked.

"Much, oh, much, much better."

Harry didn't feel the need to mention that he was feeling rather, uncomfortable, at the moment. Such was the nature of his empathetic magic. He could lessen her aches and cramps, but the pain had to go somewhere.

Re-emerging in Dreamscape's Audience Chamber, Prince Harold, following the advice of his most trusted retainers, prepared his newest vassals for their mission.

"You'll tell Malfoy that you were successful, which, after a fashion, you were. If you are in a position to see his face, take note of his expression when you tell him you administered the veritaserum to the Lady Lovegood. If they are wizards of their word, your debts will be absolved, if not, then get word to us by way of post owl."

Pansy raised her wand, causing the Hogan siblings to cringe, "You are under our protection now, don't be afraid. I'm going to cast a sleeping spell, when you wake, you'll be in the same classroom you were in before. Sir Neville will direct you from there."

Neville, getting the hint, left the room so that he could awaken and head for the classroom. Fortunately, it was on the same floor as their chambers.

"Somnus!"

Seamus and Fiona awoke in the classroom, and, as Dame Pansy had said, Sir Neville was there with them. He gave them several sheaves of parchment, saying "This is a list of our holdings in and out of the UK. Take this back to Malfoy. Remember your instructions."

Fiona, blinking, looked around and gasped, "How?"

"The how and where and why are on a need to know basis. Remember, no one is to know of our 'status.' I know all about the rumours, but you will not confirm any of them, is that clear?

Both siblings, cowed, answered, "Yes, My Lord."

"And for Hecate's sake, don't address us as Lord or Highness or even Sir or Dame, it's just Neville, Harry, Hermione, Pansy and Luna. Got that?"

"Yes, My, um, Neville."

"Good. Now, I need a few drops of your veritaserum. We need to know what's in it, and it would look suspicious if you were to return with a full bottle."

Seamus handed Neville the bottle. Neville emptied several drops into a smaller vial.

"Remember, don't trust anyone outside of the House and Family of Evans, anyone."

"Yes, Neville."

"Good, go on now."

The Hogan sibs scuttled out of the room.

"Yep, they're tools alright, but by Merlin's beard, they're our tools now."

)O(

The next day, in Potions Class, the Merlins added Quantitative Analysis to their list of skills.

"Professor Snape, sir, could you confirm our analysis, please?"

Severus checked the vial, then the component breakdown.

"Veritaserum, yes, and something else…"

The professor paled, then whispered, "Moonshadow?"

He spun on his Potions protégés, demanding, "Where did you get this?"

Neville said, "From an unused classroom, what exactly is moonshadow, professor?"

Snape sat down at the student's table, something he'd never done before, and set a silencing spell around himself and the Merlins.

"It's a nasty piece of work. Very popular when the Dark Lord of my generation was rising."

All five Merlins waited patiently for the professor to explain.

"It's the first half of a binary potion, similar to liquid imperious. When combined with the proper co-agent, in this case, veritaserum, it strips the recipient of their will, making them very, um, suggestible."

Pansy nodded, "I've heard of this, the victim can be made to say or do anything, and, If I remember right, there's no cure?"

Severus nodded his head, "That is correct."

As the professor moved on to work with other students, Harry re-cast the privacy charm. Four of the five Merlins looked at Luna.

"What?"

"Malfoy's going to think you've taken the veritaserum with moonshadow."

Luna smiled, "You mean this veritaserum?" she asked, pulling a bottle from her robe, "Or this one?" she said, pulling another. "Or this, or this, this, this?"

"When Neville gave the Hogans back their 'tainted' serum, he actually gave them one of our batches."

Hermione smiled, "Oh, that's brilliant! When Malfoy checks the bottle, he'll find untainted potion, and who do you think he'll blame?"

"His number one son."

Harry looked thoughtful, "Malfoy is not going to be happy with his son. Perhaps we should offer Draco asylum?"

Pansy objected, "His whole family has been, like mine, dark for years. Anytime there's a Dark Lord on the rise, you'll see Malfoy money and influence behind him."

Neville nodded, "It's true, they are a dark aligned family."

Hermione said, "But he's only eleven, can someone be evil, truly evil at eleven years of age?"

Luna put her hand on Harry's shoulder, "I say it depends."

Harry, glad for any help in this decision, asked, "On what?"

"On whether or not Draco knew there would be moonshadow in that potion. If he did, he's already beyond our help. If not…"

All were in favour, except Pansy, "I still don't like it."

"I know, Pansy," Neville said, "But isn't it worth a try? We could be saving a life here."

"Hey, no fair, big, sad, puppy-dog eyes! Argh! Alright. Morgana's brass knickers, we'll give him a chance."

)O(

On their way to lunch they happened upon Parvati Patil, and Ronald Weasley, who was carrying her books.

Pansy looked gob-smacked, "Parvati? Ron?"

Parvati Patil smiled, "Isn't he sweet? There's nothing my little Ronnie won't do for me. I swear, he follows me around like a puppy. We sit together in classes and in the Great Hall at mealtimes. I haven't carried a book farther than the common room since last November."

"Come on, 'Vati, I smell chips!" With that pronouncement, they practically ran to lunch.

The Merlins shared a look, and Neville said, "Well, that explains why we haven't seen much of Ron this year."

"Yeah," Pansy smirked, "He's whipped."

Hermione an Luna leaned toward Harry, batted their long eyelashes and cooed, "Wouldn't you like to carry our books?"

He shrugged, then levitated the books out of their arms, and charmed them to float along behind the girls, like well heeled little puppies.

"How's that?"

Hermione smirked, "Not the same, but…"

Luna was having fun zigzagging, hither and yon, down the hall, watching her attendant tomes try to keep up.

"…but this is more clever, and fun!" Luna giggled.

Neville leaned into Pansy, "Have you spoken with Parvati yet, about her father's proposal?"

"Haven't had the time. I hope Papa Patil can wait before deciding to satisfy her 'life debt'."

"I don't think he'll be ringing up the vicar anytime soon. Um, Pansy?"

"Yes, Neville?"

"Can I carry your books for you?"

The warm smile he got in response was well worth the extra weight he would carry from then on.

)O(

The Wizengamot came to order. The Legislative session began with a petition to register and magically bind all non-magicals who, by accident of birth, were related to witches or wizards.

Sirius Black, still thin and wan from a decade in Azkaban, spoke, "This important bill before you, my fellow Members of the Wizengamot, will make certain that no magical child is ever again harmed either by action, or by malevolent inaction, by a muggle guardian. No magical child need ever be abused or neglected again."

Rounds of "Hear, hear!" and "Too right!" followed.

"I only wish this law had been in effect when those animals had my godson, my poor, poor…"

At this point, Sirius sat down, overcome with emotion.

One wizard stood and began to applaud, followed by another, then another, then the whole chamber erupted in spontaneous applause.

After the session there was a queue of the powerful and influential, all to congratulate Sirius Black on a brilliant bit of legislation and oratory.

More than one implied that he would be an excellent choice for Chief Warlock.

The members of the Cabal had a congratulatory brandy after hours.

)O(

"Oi, leave her alone!" Ron's voice echoed down the empty corridor.

It was after dinner, early May, and Ron and Parvati had just come in from a pleasant stroll along the shore when they were accosted by four, fourth year boys.

Ron had dropped his and Parvati's books and gone for his wand, but a quick "expelliarmus" left him empty-handed.

"What's a supposed pure-blood like you, Weasley, doin' with a bloody wog?"

Parvati bristled, but Ron was enraged, "You don't ever call her that!"

By luck and sheer audacity, his first punch landed square in the middle of one boy's face with a satisfying crunch, but it was the only hit he landed.

Meanwhile, Neville and Pansy, who had been a few minutes behind Ron and Parvati, heard the boy's scream, then the sounds of a beating and sent Sir Nicholas after Harry and Hermione and their Head of House.

Neville rounded the corner with a proper Anglo Saxon war cry and crashed into the two boys who were menacing Parvati. Pansy sent three quick stunners, two of which connected, unfortunately one connected with Neville.

That left three wands pointed back at her.

"Oh, bollocks!"

Hermione's voice reprimanded, "Language!"

"Sorry, Your Grace."

Harry, Hermione, Luna and a dozen ghosts stood in the hallway.

"Wands down." Harry said, then, looking at Pansy, added, "Everyone."

Four wands lowered.

"Now, what happened."

Everyone began shouting at the same time.

Luna placed two fingers at the corners of her mouth and blew hard, "Fweeeeet!" Everybody froze, looking at her, gobsmacked.

"Damn!" Harry said, "I wish I could do that."

"Language."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Now, Parvati, what happened?"

Parvati, transfixed by the glares of the three boys who remained standing, glares that promised painful retribution, quailed.

"We were, um, walking, you know walking back from the lake and, and this was a short path to Gryffindor Tower, and…"

"Folsom, Tanner, O'Donnell!" Hermione snapped.

"What?"

"Don't think we're stupid. You are intimidating a girl, a firstie because you know you can."

Another voice broke in, "Right, you three, with me. Harold, you talk to Ron, you can have a nice chat while you're on your way to see Madame Pomfrey.

"Hermione and Luna will interview Parvati."

"Pansy, are Neville and," she leaned over to get a better look, "Lahr, stunned or concussed?"

"Stunned, Miss."

"All right then, enervate them, you look after Neville, and I'll take Lahr with me."

Soon the corridor was empty.

The next day saw Folsom, Tanner, O'Donnell and Lahr before the Deputy Head. Each boy was accompanied by their respective head of house.

Severus Snape stood with Folsom and Lahr, Filius Flitwick with O'Donnell and Tanner stood alone, as he was in Gryffindor.

"I saw this kind of thuggery during the last war. Usually blood purists picking on those smaller and weaker to prop up their own self image."

"Lahr, are you from a pureblood family?"

The rotund bully stood straighter and said, "Yes, ma'am!"

"For how many generations?"

"Ma'am?"

"It's a simple question, Lahr, for how many generations?"

"Well, um, both sets of my grandparents were witches and wizards, so I'm a pureblood…"

"Your maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather were classmates of mine, Mister Lahr, would it interest you to know they were both first generation magic users?"

Lahr paled, "No!"

"Oh, yes, Mister Lahr."

She regarded the rest of the miscreants, "As it happens, none of you are 'Purebloods' in the purest sense. O'Donnell, both your parents are magical, but none of your grandparents were, that makes you, what, a quarter-blood?"

"Now, the Weasley boy is twenty generations, that's five hundred years of magic users. And Miss Patil, whom you called, what was that word again? Oh yes, a 'wog,' that word keeps coming up, and it never means anything good to the one who says it. Miss Patil can trace her magical ancestry over two hundred generations - they were witches and wizards before the rise, let alone the fall, of the Roman Empire."

Minerva McGonagall smirked, "If blood purity equals power, you gentlemen are lucky to be alive."

She let that point sink in.

"In times past you would have been docked house points, given detentions and sent on your merry way."

She leaned forward on her desk, "That was then, this is now. Oh, rest assured, you've lost your respective houses many, many points, and you will be in detention everyday for the remainder of this term, but, in addition, this will become part of your permanent scholastic record. Anyone reading it, say a master spell-crafter looking for an apprentice, will see it, and may find someone else more suitable."

"Oh," she smiled, "And you are all on disciplinary probation."

Tanner balked, "For how long, Headmistress?"

"For the remainder of your time at Hogwarts. Any infraction of the rules, no matter how slight, no matter how trivial, will result in your immediate and irrevocable expulsion. In short, gentlemen, if you want to continue to matriculate at Hogwarts, you will become model citizens, as well as model students."

Minerva had their undivided attention.

"Are we in any way, unclear about the position you've placed yourselves in?"

Ashen-faced, the boys shook their heads, "No."

As the boys were being escorted out by their heads of house, she added, "Be sure to tell all your friends, things have changed at Hogwarts."

Lastly, she captured Tanner's eyes with a look that reminded him of her animagus nature. She was all feline and he felt rather mouse-like at the moment, a fat, three legged mouse to be precise. "You may go, Mister Tanner, we wullnae be meeting like this again noo, wull we?"

"Yes, Headmistress, I mean, no, Headmistress." He stumbled out the door.

"Wasn't that a bit harsh, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked from her anteroom where he'd been watching the dressing-down.

"If there are no real consequences, there will be no change in behavior." She spun on the old Headmaster, "Four boys, fourteen and fifteen years old, well into puberty, attack and corner a helpless eleven year old girl. Have you no idea what could have happened?"

"But nothing did happen."

"Only because the House of Merlin stepped in to prevent it."

)O(

Dreamscape.

Harry and Neville were sparring, sending stinging hexes and blocking with basic shields. At the end of it both were exhausted, even though they were actually asleep.

"I've noticed that, whatever we do in Dreamscape carries over into the waking world." Neville said, downing a mug of butterbeer.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, "When we exercise, I wake up a little sore."

Myrtle, who was fetching a book for Luna, said, "I wasn't able to change anything about my appearance while haunting the Second-floor girl's loo. But now I don't look or feel so, well, weepy."

"You know," Pansy said, "Ron was pretty useless without his wand."

"That's true of most of us, innit?" Neville asked.

Hermione gave Harry a damp towel for his brow and said, "There are many forms of self-defense that don't use wands or weapons at all. You know, martial arts."

Luna said, "Oh, I remember going to the cinema and seeing a film about a boy who learns Karate, it was very good."

"Is there anyone here at Hogwarts who can teach us?"

The Bloody Baron harrumphed, "I was once considered a champion Greco-Roman wrestler."

Neville and Harry beamed, "That's a start."

Hermione added, "And I'll bet we can find a martial arts school over the summer break, somewhere we can all learn."

Luna clapped gleefully, "And if Miss Myrtle comes with us, we can all train in Dreamscape as well."

Harry stood and drew both his best friends into a tight hug, "Excellent."

Sitting back down, he said, "Just one more thing, we can't be everywhere, we can't do everything. Remember what we said, about, "Changing the Water?" Well, part of that will be getting wizards and witches to do more for themselves."

"Wouldn't it have been better if Ron and Parvati could have stood up for themselves? With a little training, and the right attitude, they can, and will."

Luna asked, "So you want to train students to fight?"

"Yes. And no. I want to train students to be able to be responsible for their own safety and security."

Pansy nodded, "Wouldn't it be perfect if we had someone, I don't know, an ideal, like, the perfect example of someone strong and brave, yet kind and considerate."

Luna smiled, "Someone like Harry Potter?"

'Harold' looked at Luna so fast his neck made a popping noise.

Of all the Merlins, only Luna knew who he really was. He surreptitiously reached over to touch the Chameleon Cuff, keeping his identity secret, even in Dreamscape.

"Why not?" Hermione asked, "Why not let Harry Potter be our paradigm, our perfect example."

"Think about it," she was on a roll now, "Harry Potter would stand up for himself, and those he cares about, which, face it, is everyone. He saved the wizarding world."

Neville added, "And he would be generous and kind, always sticking up for the downtrodden."

Luna used her wand to impress letters on a leather band, "Our mantra would be…"

She held up the leather strap, bearing the letters, WWHPD?

"What's that mean?" Pansy asked.

Luna smiled, "What Would Harry Potter Do?"

'Harold Evans' grimaced and groaned inwardly.

)O(

Thanks again to Tommy King, Brit-picker par excellence, British by birth, Scottish by the Grace of God.

Speaking of Great Scots, when Minnie McGonagall is angry or excited, she tends to fall back into her Gaelic speech, it's part of her charm.

" We wullnae be meeting like this again noo, wull we?" is "We will not be meeting like this again, now will we?"

Who, other than Dame Maggie Smith, could play the indomitable McGonagall? I can see her channelling Miss Jean Brodie, "I am in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders, and all my pupils are the creme de la creme. Give me a witch at an impressionable age and she is mine for life."