A/N MagicInTheStars beta 8/29/17
First Saturday since term started.
"One thousand, to break you," Pucey whispered as he past the American Beast.
Joseph just nodded as he smiled at Daphne who he was studying in the Library with. He stood and headed out and down a unused hall. Daphne just gathered their stuff and left as quickly as her cold blooded persona allowed.
Moving down hall and corridor, one after another, after another, till she found the room she sought. Inside was Potter, Granger, the two youngest Weasleys, Longbottom, and Dunbar. For a moment, she wondered where the Ravenclaw was, then she heard the door close behind her, when she looked she found her.
"Ms. Greengrass, pleasure to see you." Harry spoke calmly, "I was under the impression that you wished to remain distant til all paperwork was finalized."
"Someone paid a thousand galleons to break Joseph. My guess, it was the Malfoys." Daphne spoke to the point.
Harry looked startled, but not surprised. The Malfoys would never be able to let the insults that Joseph gave slide.
"Any idea where, and do you think he needs help?" Neville asked as he stood up beside Harry.
"Whether he needs help or not," Ron started. "I kind of want to see him fight."
"What side does Professor Snape serve?" Daphne asked looking from the one set of eyes to the next.
"He serves my mother and has since before I was born." Harry replied.
"Joseph went down to the Dungeons. I think he plans to do this in the classroom where they used to teach the healing arts. It is large and empty."
"Dobby?" Harry spoke and the elf popped in. "Take Ms. Greengrass to the Headmaster's, office but only if it's just him or empty. Then get Minerva there a.s.a.p.
"Yes Master Harry, sir," he replied and reached for the Slytherin's hand.
"A lot is riding on him not losing, more than you know." She told them and for the first time they heard fear in her voice. Dobby took her without another word but the group were still worried about what she said.
"Let's go," Neville barked.
As a unit they all went out the door and headed for the dungeons. Everyone knew it but no one said it, they had forgotten to ask how to get there. Without a sound, their worries were answered. Kreature and the elf called Jax showed up and led them through a secret passage where they came into what looked to be a viewing room with a large window looking into a large classroom.
Inside stood Joseph and six men. Not students, these were full grown men. And behind them stood Crabbe.
Joseph led his followers to the old healer's classroom. It had desks and tables, a few raise areas, and a giant mirror that HE knew was one way glass. He expected Potter and his crew to be there because he knew Daphne feared the day he would be beaten and knew she would go to him. He told Jax to lead them to the viewing room.
He smiled and sat on the old teacher's desk as the people walked in. Six of them looked to be adults that had careers on the shady side, but his eyes were locked on the one boy in the back, Vincent Crabbe.
"You no-named bastard," Crabbe started. "I am tired of you! These men will end you and since I hired, them I will gain control of the house."
Joseph finally took his eyes off the boy and looked at who he was sure was the leader of the assassins.
"Really going to do all this...for what?" the American asked calmly as he removed his robes and his waist coat.
"No," the leader said and Crabbe was actually shocked but said nothing. "The money the boy is giving us is so he can claim victory in the house. Someone else put a ten thousand bounty on you. We plan to collect."
"Ten thousand, nice. I can see that," Joseph nodded. "Let us not waste any more time."
The six had made a semicircle in front and to the sides of Joseph, moving in two man teams. The two on the left lunged and pulled their wands,. Joseph jumped and put a foot in each of their stomachs, knocking the breath out of them. Drawing his wands, he quickly disarmed all six men then tossed his own wands to the far corner of the room where he had sent theirs.
The first two were still down but the other four growled and pulled short swords, axes, and knives and continued the attack. Joseph smiled. These guys had training. They were not deterred by the loss of wands and they could fight dirty. One guy with a sword lunged and Joseph grabbed his arm and used his momentum against him, forcing him to stick the sword in the chest of his partner.. Sword man froze as he saw his friend hit the floor, dead. By this time, the first two had regained their breath, drew weapons, and charged.
Joseph smiled an evil bloodthirsty smile as he charged and broke up the group attack. He grabbed one of them by the head, stuck finger into the corners of his mouth, and pulled, splitting the skin of his face apart at the center. The thought of a 'fish hook' would scare most men, but the blood that squirted onto Joseph's face and the smile that joined it had the fishhooked man pissing himself before fainting. But the teen did not stop there. He looked at his attackers that were left, licked his blood covered lips, and smiled as he snapped the assassin's neck.
"Two down who's next?" Joseph smiled as if this was the funnest thing in the world.
Three men attacked him and Joseph started to dance around the blades. An axe came from above and was wedged into the floor as he jumped. One foot lands on it and the other slams into the wielders face. The blood coming from his flat nose and the fact he fell like a rock told everyone he was dead. The last two men attacking were stopped in their tracks as Joseph reached out and took each by the neck. Pushing one to the side, he took the other and picked him up by the throat and slammed him down to the floor, successfully knocking the man out. Joseph just stood on the man's throat and twisted his foot. The crack sent shivers down the spins of the watchers.
The guy he had thrown to the side, got to his feet charged, and jumped into the air. Joseph caught him in mid-air and used momentum to spin around, slamming him on his back, breaking his spine.
Joseph just got to his feet and looked at the last one, the leader, "Me or you?" and pointed at the crippled assassin.
The leader gave a grim smile and nod, drew his long dagger again, and walked to his fallen man, kneeling and putting the blade into the heart before standing and facing Joseph.
"So the rumor that a Beast had returned was true. Tell me, are you his son?"
Joseph looked at the man and smiled, "Naturally. Shall we?"
The assassin took a fighting stance before attacking in lightening fast kicks and jabs. Nothing landed. Joseph just slapped away everything as if they were nothing before punching the man in the abdomen, burying it into his fleah. When he pulled his hand out it was covered in blood. "If you thought I was possibly a Beast, then you knew the price?"
The man shook as his life rapidly drained away.
Slowly, he looked up at the one that killed him, eyes unfocused, yet saw everything all at once.
"Finish...it,"
"Who hired you?" Joseph asked.
"L...Lord M...Mal...foy,"
Joseph grabbed the man by the hair and pulled, body going in one direction, head and spine in the other direction.
Dropping the body he carried the head and skull over and collected the wands from the corner.
"Avada Kedavra" Crabbe shouted sending the green curse at Josephs back. Joseph grabbed a broken chair and tossed it behind him, intercepting the curse. When the splinters hit the floor, he turned around and found Crabbe on his knees, exhausted (he could cast the curse but he did not have the magical power to do anything else).
Not saying a word, he grabbed a table and carried it over to where Crabbe was on the ground.
"Relax, I can't kill you. These, guys," Joseph started, motioning around the room, "No problem. No one will notice or miss them." Joseph steps closer, face inches from Crabbe's. "I doubt anyone will actually miss you...but they will notice. Plus, I'm sure you have a mommy somewhere that might care, so I'm just going to leave a message here with you."
He grabbed Crabbe, bent him forward at the waist, and wrapped his arms around the large boys midsection. Then he lifted him flipping him onto his shoulder and slammed him back and neck first onto the table. The table caved in all the way to the floor and Crabbe was knocked out.
"Clean up the mess," Jax popped in and looked around, smiling.
"Done boss," he snapped his fingers and the bodies and blood were vanished.
"Good, it is almost time for lunch. Take Crabbe up to the table."
Again the elf snapped his fingers.
In the Great Hall, Malfoy and Goyle were sitting with Nott asking about whether or not Crabbe actually succeeded when there was a crack and the body of Crabbe landed on the table in front of them. Pansy screamed in fear as the few that had arrived for lunch stood and looked at them. With the help of nine people, they carried the fat fifth year out to see Madam Pomfrey.
Pucey just watched, not surprised in the least. Ten-thousand galleons was a lot more then anyone in his family ever made on a single contract. But he also knew, you don't piss off a Beast for a measly ten K.
The group with Harry watched, Ron had looked green, and Hermione did throw up. Neville and Harry stood, fighting the urge to flinch. Fay was actually explaining to Ginny about some of the moves.
"Is it over?" Came a voice from behind a curtain.
Albus Dumbledore stuck his head out to see. Harry just nodded, "You ok Albus?"
"Sorry, it had been years since I had seen a Beast feed. I never wanted to see that again." The Headmaster spoke as he followed Harry and the group out of the viewing room and into the classroom.
Joseph was rubbing his neck, drinking what looked like a muggle soda.
"You look like you might have pushed yourself." Harry said as he came up to sit on the student desk next to the Beast.
"Nah, it is always like this. Bloody combat gives me a natural high, worse than any drug. I have to force my self to calm down or I might end up killing the wrong person."
"Did you seriously just powerbomb Crabbe through a table?" Fay asked, shocked but massively impressed.
"Recognized that did you?" Joseph smiled.
"Dropkick, yakuza kick, spinebuster. You're a pro-wrestling fan?" She asked.
"Yep," He smiled and laughed.
"Can you teach me how to do that?" Neville smiled.
"Neville pro wrestling is F..." Hermione started.
"And I bet six years ago you thought magic was fake?" Joseph asked interrupting her.
Now that she no longer was green/pale, Hermione blushed.
"Sure Neville, but it take a person to be in pesk physical condition and we won't be using the enhancement drugs many of them do. So train harder," Joseph replied to Neville with a smile.
"Sometime tonight," Harry started. "I will want to hear why Daphne Greengrass is so scared of you losing."
Joseph stared at him, "Easy: if I lose, she becomes someones sex slave. That is, until you finish up that paperwork."
Harry stared the teen in the eyes and when he saw that Joseph was one hundred percent serious,
"Kreature," the elf came up to him. "Go see ragnok, I want the paperwork finished before diner."
The elf left without a word.
"Now I really want to here this whole story."
Albus's head shot up, "Company, quick"
Albus cast a large disillusionment charm to hide everyone just as Professor Umbridge walked in the door to find Albus sitting at a table, playing muggle solitaire.
"Afternoon Dolores, what brings you to this part of the castle?" he smiled as he stood to greet her.
"I thought I heard noises from here," she looked around. Those in the room knew she had 'heard' about the D.A., but had yet to find them.
"I am sure there are some students wondering around. It has always been encouraged to explore the castle during free time and this being Saturday..." He smiled as he watched her.
"And what, may I ask, are you doing here Headmaster?" she asked in a obviously fake cheerful voice. Everyone knew the idea of children enjoying anything seemed to make her angrier then anything.
"Oh, I too enjoy searching the school for any secrets yet to be found. When I came down here, I rediscovered this classroom. It was here that Healing Arts was taught and I decided to sit down and play some Solitaire as I thought about how we could start those classes again. Many students have voiced a desire to become healers after school and it might help to offer those classes while students are still here instead of waiting 'til afterwards to start their training."
"Maybe, but I do not believe the Ministry has the funding to be starting any new, or restarting any old classes." She almost hissed.
Dumbledore smiled, "Maybe, but it is always enjoyable to try and think of new ways to improve the school and the students' experiences in it."
Umbridge gave a fake smile and just left the room.
"Man, she really hates the idea of students enjoying school or life for that matter, doesn't she?" Ron asked after they were sure she was gone and Albus removed the charm.
"She was the same way as a student," Albus replied with a sad nod of his head. "Perfection and order were always her goals in life, obeying all authority and never stepping out of line."
"Her parents were hippies weren't they?" Joseph asked with a cruel grin.
"I believe her mother was, yes," Albus replied with a smirk.
The group quickly left the room and Harry cornered Hermione.
"You ok?" He asked.
"Sometimes I forget how brutal and barbaric this world is," she started to cry and he pulled her into a hug.
"I hope one day it becomes better, but Hermione, this war with Tom won't be story book clean. It will be cold and dirty and bloody. Death Eaters kill and torture and rape. The only way to fight that is to be just as violent, if not more so."
Hermione sniffed.
"And it is not just wizards and witches. Go ask your grandfather about the horrors he witnessed at the hands of Nazi's. History is full, from the beginning of time until today, of blood and violence. Right now on this planet, violence is needed to fight that evil."
Hermione nodded.
"Go find your girls find some private time. when your hungry call Dobby he will be waiting.
Hermione smiled at the thought of her girls and just headed for them.
Neville and Fay were talking about Neville's new found interest.
"He is right, I am sure you could use magic to help you but it is mostly physical conditioning. Maybe during the summer, we can go see a show. My father is muggleborn and is a big fan. We often try to go to any show we can find. And with the Knight Bus, or house elves, we can go anywhere."
"Cool," was Neville's reply. "I was planning to have lunch at the greenhouses. Care to join me?"
"Oh, so Longbottoms do try and have romantic dates once in a while?" Fay teased and Neville just smiled, taking her arm and heading for their meal.
Ginny just smiled and wrapped her arms around Harry's, "Anything speacil planned for us, Master?"
"You are having way to much fun with that," he replied.
"Luna was right, it is not so bad and I don't have any problems with it. Course you're the only person I will take orders from. Anyone else tries and I will curse them from here to the moons of Jupiter."
"And that I can easily agree with," Harry smiled.
"Man I really need to find me a woman," Ron complained. It was the first time he actually complained since that meal at Longbottom Manor.
"I know I am not that bright. In fact the list of things I don't know could fill several Libraries full of books but...even I know I don't like being alone."
Harry and Ginny looked back at him.
"What, it's true," Ron tried to defend himself.
"We know it is true, Ronald," Luna spoke for the first time in a while. (Fact is, only Ginny remembered that she was following them) "Now come with me to the Great hall, and I will try and teach you what you need to learn to find this 'woman' you seek."
Luna smiled at the confused look on Ron's face as she took his arm and led him away.
"So anything you would enjoy?" Harry asked Ginny and the moment she smiled he knew it was the wrong thing to ask.
"You could take me to bed," she smiled and put her fingers to his lips.
"I am fourteen, true, but here is a secret: girls get horny just like boys, though we are taught not to tell anyone or talk about it." She started and pulled Harry down a corridor.
"It dates back to the time a girl was bought by her future husband, and virgins were always worth far more. But it doesn't change that fact that girls even younger then me feel those urges. Luna and I have 'played', though I could never give her what she wanted."
Harry did not know how to reply, so he asked. "And what was that?"
"Oh she prefers to be in control and wants a girl that is submissive. Like Hannah Abbot is for her Mistress Susan Bones, and until you I never wanted to give control to anyone"
"Luna is right, you learn something new everyday." Harry replied.
"They don't advertise it. Me and Susan just had some talks about it. Point is, I am ready so any time you are, just let me know." she smiled and rubbed his chest with her free hand.
"You realize I have very little idea of what or how, I did not even get the talk until your dad decided it was time and he, Remus, and Sirius gave it to me over Christmas break."
"That is nothing, you should have been there when my mother gave me the talk after she caught me and Luna playing. I don't know what freaked me out more, being caught or having to hear my mother say that while at school before she met dad, she too had a female friend."
Ginny laughed when Harry's mind, completely against his will, began to think about that.
"Never mention that again."
"Yes Master," Ginny smiled and laughed. "Don't worry about not knowing anything, it is my job to show you. But please if I say no don't force me ok?"
"I know I can, but I never want to force you to do anything, especially in regards to anything...intimate."
Harry finally looked around and he realized that they were outside now.
"Ginny, where are you taking me?"
"Far side of the lake. Angelina told me there is a small cabin there, perfect for private encounters. I just hope neither she and Fred, nor George, Katie, and Alicia are there."
"You're sure about this?"
"Harry I sleep in your bed with you every night, hidden from your dorm mates. I have tried to get you to take me since the first night after you woke up...yes I am sure."
"Kreature?" Harry called.
"Master" the elf appeared.
"There is a cabin far side of the lake...anyone there?" Harry asked as he continued to walk.
"No Master, but I believe Mister Fred was planning to head there with his lady friends after lunch."
"Give this note to Katie," Ginny asked and scribbled a note and handed it to Kreature. Who took it and popped away.
"You are not allowed to get pregnant 'til this war is over at the earliest." Harry told her and she just smiled and voiced her obedience.