Soul Scars

by Rtnwriter

What's a girl to do when somewhere out there, there's a boy and every scar he gets appears on her body? When he's being abused? Hermione Granger, for one, is determined to find him and save him. Fourth Year. There's a big event at Hogwarts this year. The DOM is interested in the bonded. Darkness looms, old enemies return to haunt them and new foes make life more difficult.

25. Christmas Surprises

Author's Notes: All right gang, here we are once again, The Rotten Writer returning with a new, actual chapter of Soul Scars. First and foremost I would really like to take this time to thank everyone that commented and even sent a PM over the note I published previously. My Uncle passed away, and it hit rather harder than expected. I think mostly due to the fact that I didn't even know he'd been sick for nearly a year until my Dad called to tell me he was gone.

That hurt the most, I think. Uncle Danny never even met my kids and I'd honestly have made a greater effort to match up schedules and meet them for lunch or something, even. Well, hindsight being what it is and all that, it's been a rough few weeks but you guys have all been wonderful and amazingly supportive and I appreciate that more than I can honestly express. Thank you, all.

This chapter is way more of a set up chapter for some future things that are going to be happening than anything else, though I do have one pretty fun little moment toward the end. Fun for me, at least. I got a kick out of writing it.

I understand that people were a little thrown with some events in the previous chapter, particularly in how Blaise behaved. Honestly I considered rewriting portions of that chapter but I felt to do so I'd have had to adjust too much and I would probably have missed some minor things that wouldn't have made sense. I've briefly addressed that issue in this one and while it's not a perfect solution, it sets the groundwork, I feel, for correcting some mistakes. Hopefully this will be satisfactory and I'll try harder to avoid such silly behaviors in the future.

I do believe the next chapter will kick us into some more events with the Heir of Slytherin and all that business and the chapter after SHOULD see us heading down into the chamber itself. So I'm thinking three, maybe four more chapters to wrap up second year.

This is NOT going to be one of those 'Harry is stupidly overpowered' kind of stories. I do however have plans for Harry to be powerful, I'm also working on giving real and solid reasons for WHY he's powerful. One of those reasons happens this year and it's going to have lasting effects on the rest of the story. I do not intend for him to be an animagus, as much as the idea tickles me.

Any thoughts or suggestions on helping the girls to keep pace with Harry though would be appreciated. As it is I have plans that involve their bond and all that, but I want the girls to stand out on their own as well, ya know? So lemme know if anyone has any ideas. Things I like and can work in I will and all credit will be given to the reviewer who suggests anything I may use.

Disclaimer: All I own is the story idea. The characters and world belong to good old J.K and anyone else that actually has any ownership of the rights. I'm just playing with her characters.

Moving on, now, to Chapter 24 of Soul Scars.

Soul Scars Part Two

Darkness Within

By,

Rtnwriter

Steam rose in soft curls from the surface of the dark liquid. Almost hypnotic in how the swirled gently in the air. He lifted the cup, bringing the nearly scalding liquid to his lips and took a slow, careful sip.

"Mmmm…." He hummed in appreciation for both the warmth and the slightly bitter taste as he lowered the cup and held it, cradled in both hands. Long, dexterous fingers clutched the smooth ceramic. Fingers calloused by hard work and deceptively strong.

The sun was barely beginning to rise, cool gray light filtering through the overcast sky. With the approaching dawn, the December chill in the air had become even more biting, but he didn't care. In fact, he reveled in it. The cold caressed the exposed skin of his hands and face, cheeks tight, nose numb.

He took a deep breath through his nose as the frigid air seared its way into his lungs and exhaled a thick cloud of steam through his mouth. A light breeze kicked up for a moment, carrying a familiar pair of scents to his nose and he couldn't help but smile. He'd felt it when she woke some ten minutes earlier.

"I love this time of the day," he said, speaking in the kind of quiet tones usually reserved for Libraries and Churches. A hushed voice, as if to speak too loudly would shatter the delicate atmosphere.

"Why is that?" she asked as she walked up and sat beside him, so close that their shoulders were almost touching.

"Just listen," he told her, and she did, her head cocked to one side as she strained her ears.

"I don't hear anything," she admitted after several minutes spent waiting in silence.

"Exactly," he whispered. "The world is alive. Always, everywhere there is the struggle for life, for survival. But right now, in this moment, everything is still asleep. It's peaceful and quiet and I can think without all the noise and activity. But there's a sense of anticipation still. This feeling of tension, like a bowstring drawn too tight and all it needs is just the slightest bit of pressure for it to snap."

He fell silent, his eyes as bright as the smile on his face as she considered that, looking out over the blanket of snow that bathed the world around them in white.

"Is that how you've felt about your life, before?" she asked, almost hesitantly. "That the day to day is nothing but a struggle to survive?"

He said nothing, but she felt that she was right.

"I know things are hard, right now," she told him in the same hushed tones that he'd been using. "But we'll get through it. And… I want you to promise me something. Surviving isn't living. Don't forget what your mother wrote to you. Don't forget to live."

Blue eyes shone with an earnest plea and he shifted his mug to his left hand before he wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and drew her closer against his side.

"I'll try," he promised, finally. "I think that's the best that I can do right now."

Susan nodded and let her head rest on Harry's shoulder, her own arm wrapping around his waist as, around them, the world began to rise from its slumber and continued a battle for survival that had begun when the very first living thing appeared, and would continue for as long as any creature still drew breath.

#####

Harry drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he waited in the lobby of Gringotts. Susan, Hermione, Daphne, Neville, and Amelia sat, relatively calmly in the same seats the ladies had occupied the year before when he first met with Sharpshard. Harry, however, felt too restless and found himself unable to sit, standing a few feet away while the others chatted quietly behind him.

Neville had been behaving somewhat strangely, something that Harry couldn't really put his finger on but wasn't too obvious. He seemed to be anticipating something but Harry was reluctant to press his friend on the matter. If Neville wanted him to know, he reasoned, then he would say something. So Harry did his best to push it from his mind and let his own rambling thoughts consume him.

Why had he done that? He couldn't understand how he had so easily opened up like he had that morning, even if it was to one of his girls. He'd even stopped feeling any surprise when he realized that he'd thought of them as his girls. More and more, he was finding, his usual defenses were being stripped away, a layer at a time as he became more comfortable with them. A part of him hated it, that small kernel of deeply held fear that lurked in the deepest parts of his soul. But a larger part didn't seem to have any problem with letting the girls in deeper and deeper.

Harry frowned and shook his head, frustrated by the circular thoughts. He knew enough to understand they were going to become closer and closer as time went on, that was a given, so why was he driving himself crazy trying to figure everything out? You've got more pressing things to worry about right at the moment, he thought a moment later as a sudden commotion caught his attention and his eyes widened in shock when he turned to see what was causing it.

Wizards and witches scattered, some of them pressing themselves tightly against the walls and tried to pretend they weren't there in the hopes that no one would notice them, while others bolted for the doors and out into the Alley.

The sound of a dozen heavy footsteps marching in perfect synch echoed through the cavernous lobby as Griphook, dressed smartly in a neatly pressed suit and tie, came into view from the tunnels leading back into the bank with six heavily armored goblin warriors marching behind him in two rows of three as he strode purposefully across the smooth marble floor directly toward where Harry was standing. Though each warrior was only as tall as Harry's elbows, they were no less intimidating for it. Dressed in heavy looking armor that gleamed in the light, each with a sword strapped to one hip and a halberd in hand, they practically radiated danger.

"Lord Potter," Griphook greeted him., "I pray your vaults swell with the gold of those who would dare attempt to stand against you."

"And may their blood run as rivers in the streets, shed by your own sure hand and sharp blades, Teller Griphook," Harry returned almost without thought. "It's very nice to see you again, but, what is all this?" He gestured to the armored warriors with one hand where they stood, stone faced and still behind the bank teller. "I haven't done anything to offend the Goblin Nation, have I?"

Griphook smiled. "No, Lord Potter, not that I am aware of. However, someone heard that you would be going to see your Accounts Manager today and requested to meet you. These warriors are simply your escort, should you agree to the meeting. And I have it on good authority that I may be in line for a rather big promotion, soon," he added. "So I may not be a Teller for much longer."

Harry smiled as broadly as he could while not showing any of his teeth to the goblins surrounding him. "That's wonderful news, Griphook," he said, happily. "Congratulations. You deserve it."

"Thank you, Lord Potter. You have no idea how much your words mean to me," Griphook said, his gravely voice clearly managing to convey the emotion he felt even if his face and posture gave away nothing as he bowed low from the waist.

Harry returned the bow, bending equally as far as the little goblin and he frowned when he heard muttered voices as a rippling wave of conversation made its way through those wizards and witches that still stood inside the banks lobby, each and every one of them watching the conversation with keen interest. Many of the adults he saw had disgusted expressions on their faces, whether because of the familiar way in which he spoke to the goblin, or the respect he showed by bowing so far as a Lord of a Most Ancient and Noble House, he wasn't sure. But either way he didn't like it and scowled at them until they looked away.

"About this meeting?" he asked as he turned back to Griphook. "Will it take very long? My friends and I do have other business to attend to in the Alley today. And also, would they be able to join us? I don't like constantly leaving them all out here cooling their heels while I conduct business but they insist on not just going about their shopping while I get things done."

"Of course, Lord Potter," Griphook told him. "Any friend of yours is always welcome to accompany you. So long as you trust them with anything they may hear we would never bar someone from accompanying you while you conduct your business with the Nation. In fact, in this particular instance the other children with you are requested to attend as well."

"Well then," Harry said and turned to wave Amelia and the rest of them forward from where they'd been carefully observing. "The Muggles have a saying that I believe I can paraphrase here. Time is Galleons. So, let's not waste anymore of either and we can let these warriors return to their other duties that I'm sure they are neglecting because of the necessity of escorting us this morning."

Griphook barked out something in the deep, guttural language of the goblins and the six armored warriors fell into formation, surrounding Harry and the rest as Griphook led the way behind the counter and into the tunnels that led deeper into the bank.

In previous visits, the walk to Account Manager Sharpshard's office took about five minutes to complete. By the time they reached the fifteen minute mark, Harry was beginning to get concerned again, despite Griphook's assurances that there was no trouble. His worry wasn't helped by a nearly overwhelming sense of apprehension that was coming from Daphne. He kept glancing back over his shoulder at her as they walked but none of what she was feeling showed on her face, her emotionless mask firmly in place as she strode along with all the poise and grace of a queen amongst peasants.

The entire group was silent, save for the heavy footsteps of their armored escort until they finally reached a set of tall double doors made of a gleaming silvery metal. Every inch of them was etched in runes that seemed to glow with an inner power of some kind as a pulsing amber light filled them. Griphook stepped forward and placed the palm of one hand on the doors for a moment before he barked out a single word.

A sizzling sound rent the air around them and Harry could swear that, for a moment, his hair stood on end.

Then the doors slowly, and silently, swung open entirely on their own. Griphook led the way into a massive room cut into an octagonal shape. The floor beneath their feet was a dark green marble with smoky gray streaks running through it that was shined to such a smooth finish that he could see their reflections as they walked across the empty space to a single massive mahogany table behind which sat a very imposing looking goblin.

He was bigger than any goblin Harry had yet seen, probably as tall as Daphne was, meaning he would have come up to Harry's nose, at least, and he was dressed in what looked like solid gold plate armor. A massive double bladed battle axe stood leaning against the table next to the goblin where he sat in a large, almost throne-like chair. The goblins exposed arms and hands were littered in the scars of many battles and there was another scar across his face that ran from the top of his bald head, diagonally across his left eye and down to the edge of his jaw. He still had both eyes and he stared at them with a fierce intensity that Harry could actually feel like a palpable presence in the air around them.

It was easy to see this Goblin was placed very highly in the banks management ranks, and Harry decided he would use every bit of what his friends had been teaching him during this meeting.

"Lord Potter and friends," Griphook stated in measured tones as they came to a stop across the table from the goblin. The six warriors took up positions nearby and all became as still as any statue, their eyes never straying from the humans in their midst.

Harry took a single step forward and bowed low as be growled out a single carefully memorized sentence in the goblin language, his eyes never leaving those of the goblin on the other side of the table. As such he noticed a slight twitch around the creatures right eye, but he gave no other sign that he was surprised and quickly responded in kind, bowing his head slowly for a moment before gesturing for Harry to straighten.

"I have been told that you are a different sort of wizard, young Lord Potter," the goblin said in a deep, gravely voice. "I was not aware that you spoke our tongue, however."

Harry stood straight and shrugged one shoulder. "To be perfectly honest, Sir, I don't. As I told Teller Griphook here on my second visit to your bank last year, I did my best to research your people so I could address the goblins as properly and politely as I could. It makes little sense to me not to be polite, unless of course I'm given reason to. In my research I read that that was a traditional greeting for a Blooded Warrior amongst the Nation. I hope my pronunciation was acceptable and honestly, I've no idea what it means in English, so if I have misspoken then I would beg forgiveness for any offense and request that you not hold my friends accountable for my actions."

The goblin cracked a smile, one where just a hint of teeth was shown. "I would say that your pronunciation was passable, Lord Potter. I was able to understand you at least. However, you did make one mistake. Blooded Warrior, I may be, however I am far more highly ranked, and your greeting was one for a lower ranked goblin."

Harry hid a wince at that and did his best to ignore the ratcheting apprehension he felt rolling across the bond from all three girls as the goblin continued speaking. "However, the fact that you tried, even though you were mistaken, I take as a sign of respect that we are so rarely shown from wizards. I take no offense." He glanced over to one of the armored warriors and barked out a few words which sent the goblin scurrying out of the room. "I will have a few books brought for you to take when you leave. It is refreshing to find one such as yourself going to such trouble to learn about and understand our people. I would see that continue."

Harry blinked in shock but quickly bowed again. "Thank you, Sir," he said. "I would be thrilled to learn more about your people and the Nation as a whole."

"Please, introduce your companions."

"Of course, Sir." Harry turned and indicated each individual as he spoke. "This is my guardian, Madam Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement with the Ministry of Magic. My friend, Heir Presumptive Neville Longbottom of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom. Heiress Presumptive Daphne Greengrass of the Most Ancient and Noble house of Greengrass. Heiress Presumptive Susan Bones of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Bones. And finally, Hermione Granger. The young ladies and I share a Soul Bond."

The goblin stood and bowed to them. "I am Ragnok VII, Manager of the London Branch of Gringotts, and it is my pleasure to meet you all. Please, be seated." He sat and gestured to a set of chairs that appeared on their side of the table.

"I find it surprising that you would bring up the Bond that you share with the ladies, Lord Potter. It is my understanding that you have all gone out of your way to keep it a secret."

Harry nodded, feeling the same questioning curiosity from the girls. "Normally, I would not have brought it up so blatantly. However when I was here a year ago, my Accounts Manager indicated that Gringotts was already aware of the bond. He even mentioned all three of them by name without my ever bringing them up. I seriously doubted that you weren't already aware and I had no reason to hide from you something that Gringotts already knew about."

"A wise decision, Lord Potter." He eyed them for a moment before leaning back in his chair and placing his palms on his chest, long fingers laced together. "I would imagine you are wondering why I requested this meeting," he said.

"The thought did cross my mind, Sir."

Ragnok nodded and a stern expression settled over his already frightening visage. "I wished to confirm a rumor that we have heard from Hogwarts."

Harry cocked his head to the side. "A rumor, Sir?"

"Yes. We goblins try to keep informed of what is happening in the world and you, young Lord, are well known to the Nation for your defeat of the Dark Wizard Voldemort over a decade ago. I have heard, however, that you faced him again last year at your school."

Harry sighed and nodded. "I did, Sir. Voldemort did not die the night he attacked my family."

Over the next quarter of an hour Harry told the story of their first year at Hogwarts, with the help of his friends as they chimed in where necessary, ending with Harry once again recounting how he faced Quirrell. They expressly did not mention how Harry apparently died during that encounter and by the end of it the warrior Ragnok had sent off had returned with Sharpshard in tow with a stack of books tucked under one arm.

As they'd talked Ragnok never once interrupted. He simply listened carefully, his sharp eyes never leaving Harry, even when Susan, Hermione, Daphne, or Neville interjected with some part of the story.

"You regret ending this professor's suffering," he said after they'd finished and several minutes of silence had stretched out between them.

Harry frowned. "Not entirely," he admitted. "At first I was… horrified, by my actions. Whatever anyone else said, he was still alive when I faced him, even if he wouldn't have survived Voldemort's possession of his body. When he and I fought, I fought a living, breathing, individual and I killed him with my own hands. That's not something I think I will ever be able to forget."

"And forget you shouldn't. It is these kinds of experiences that help shape you into the person that you are and future events will shape the person you become. But you are no longer horrified?" Ragnok asked, noting Harry's choice of words.

Harry glanced to his right where Hermione sat in the chair beside him with Neville on her other side. Then he glanced to his left at Susan, Daphne, and Amelia respectively. When he looked back at Ragnok his eyes had hardened into emerald chips and he spoke with a finality that left no one doubting him. "I do not want to kill anyone, if I could help it," he said. "But I have people that care about me, and that I care about, and anyone that threatens them will learn that I will use every means at my disposal to defend them, even if it meant my own life."

Ragnok nodded. That was a sentiment the warrior could clearly understand and appreciate. He stood from his throne and as one, every goblin in the room saluted with their right hand clenched into a fist as they pounded it over the left side of their chests. Not knowing what else to do, Harry stood and returned the salute, sitting as Ragnok did.

"Lord Potter, I would like to express to you the grateful thanks of the Goblin Nation. We are not fools. If Voldemort won during the last war we have no illusions how we goblins would have been treated. When he attacked your family, no one can say what happened that night. No one can say how you defeated him, or even if you actually did something yourself or if perhaps it was the actions of your mother, from all accounts a brilliant witch in her own right.

"The House of Potter has long held a status as Friend to the Goblin Nation and many would have extended that right to you for that night. Unfortunately, I could not allow that, since so little was truly understood of what happened that night. However," he added and gestured to the side where Sharpshard approached with a small box held in one clawed hand, "your actions at Hogwarts are entirely of your own. For that action, I would like to honor you and your friends today. I would have it known that Lord Harry James Potter of the House of Potter, along with his friend Neville Francis Longbottom, and his bond mates, are now, and will forever be known, as Friends to the Goblin Nation."

He opened the box and pulled out a gleaming gold medal on a red ribbon stamped with the Gringotts Crest which he handed to Sharpshard. The old goblin came around the table and Harry stood, crouching down so it could be pinned to his robes on the left side of his chest. After he straightened and returned to his seat Ragnok called the rest of them forward, one at a time, and Sharpshard pinned identical medals to their own robes.

"Never before in the history of our two people have so many wizards and witches been granted status as Friend to the Nation at the same time," Ragnok said after they were all sitting again. "What this means for you is that we here at Gringotts will do our best to help you in anything you need and we will charge you considerably less than we would any other witch or wizard," he added the last with a feral looking grin that had Harry chuckling. "Family is of the utmost importance to goblins, and we consider our Friends as part of our family. You need only wear your medals and any goblin not personally familiar with you will recognize your status and treat you with all due honor and courtesy.

"Miss Granger," Ragnok said and she sat up even straighter in her seat, her attention fully focused on the scarred goblin.

"Yes, Sir?" she asked, politely.

"You do not have a vault with Gringotts, do you?"

"No, Sir. My parents are non-magical so they just exchange Pounds for Galleons when we need them."

"That changes today. I will be authorizing a vault to be opened in your name and I will supply it with one thousand Galleons myself. Also, in the future your parents need only introduce themselves and they will have the usual exchange fees waved if they wish to procure any wizarding currency."

Hermione's eyes were so wide Harry ridiculously wondered, for a moment, if they might be in danger of rolling out of her head into her lap and he forced himself not to snort out a laugh at the ludicrous thought.

"Th-that is very generous of you, Sir," she said. "But isn't that a bit much?"

Ragnok glowered at her and she actually let out a frightened 'eeep' before his glower smoothed out and he smiled at her. "Miss Granger," he said, calmly. "From the story you all told, your assistance was just as vital as Lord Potter's own actions. He may have faced the Dark One alone, in the end, but it is clear he would not have made it as far as he did without all of your help and assistance. It is for that help that you have been recognized as Friends. And as such, I feel it is my duty to ensure that Friends to the Nation are financially solvent.

"Mister Longbottom, Miss Bones, and Miss Greengrass all have vaults and funds they can access, and more coming to them when they reach their majority. You are a witch, are you not?"

She nodded, still wide eyed but calming.

"Then as a witch, you are a part of this world. You are also a part of the muggle world but you should remember, young lady, that just because you are a part of two worlds, does not mean that you have to choose between one or the other. You belong to both, and you should search out the balance to living in both of them. To assist you with this I will be opening this vault for you and you will accept it, graciously. At some time in the near future you may bring your parents and key them into the vault, as your guardians. You may even give them access to your vault, should you desire. The choice is yours."

Hermione stood and carefully curtsied. It wasn't as smooth as those executed by Daphne and Susan, but it was easily recognizable and Ragnok appreciated the gesture. "Thank you, Sir. I am grateful for the vault and the funds and swear to work to improve relations in the future between our two people."

Ragnok chuckled as he bowed slightly to her and she returned once again to her seat. "I believe that if more wizards and witches thought as you and Lord Potter, there might be few and only minor issues between our people. I believe I shall be keeping a close eye on the five of you in the future and I look forward to seeing what you will all accomplish."

They recognized the dismissal for what it was and the six of them quickly stood, bowing or curtsying to him before they were led from the room by Griphook and Sharpshard.

"Merlin's beard," Daphne breathed out, almost in relief after the doors closed behind them and they were once again making their way through the tunnels towards Sharpshard's office. "When you get someone's attention you really don't do it by halves, do you Harry?" she muttered and Harry shot her a confused look across Susan who was walking between them.

"Huh?" he asked.

"Don't you know who that was?" she blurted out, louder than she meant to.

Harry shrugged. "Ragnok VII," he said. "Manager of the London Branch of Gringotts?"

Daphne gaped at him, her mouth hanging open while Sharpshard started laughing, accompanied by the other goblins with them.

"Lord Potter," Griphook offered, taking pity on the wizard. "Manager Ragnok is the son of Ragnok VI, also known as King Ragnok VI, leader of the entire Goblin Nation."

Harry blinked several times. "So… I used a low ranked greeting for a Blooded Goblin Warrior to the future King of all the goblins?" he squeaked, his voice cracking embarrassingly at the end.

"Indeed you did, young Lord," Sharpshard confirmed. "However I wouldn't worry if I were you. As we've told you before, it is refreshing, to us, to have a wizard speak to us like equals and Manager Ragnok already said that he took no offense. Just the fact that you tried continues to show us the type of person you are, and the type of man you will become." He tapped the books he was holding under one arm with a claw. "I would, however, recommend that you continue to learn and not simply rest on your laurels. If you are ever honored enough to meet Manager Ragnok again, an incorrect greeting would not be as graciously waved away."

"U-un-understood," Harry stammered weakly and they fell silent for the rest of their walk. The children all looked shocked while the goblins and Amelia smiled knowingly at them.

She moved up so she was walking close behind Harry and leaned down to whisper to him, "I'm very proud of you, Harry," she murmured in his ear. "You did an excellent job with the information you had and I'm fairly certain you've done more to bridge the gap between wizards and goblins singlehandedly than almost anyone else ever has." She squeezed his shoulder and let him pull ahead a but before she dropped her hand and they quietly completed their journey.

#####

Neville Longbottom had a lot to think about on the night of Christmas Eve. The next day he would be going to Bones Manor to spend Christmas Day with his friends, something he didn't think would ever happen before he started at Hogwarts. But at present, he was sitting before the fire in the parlor staring absently into the fire as so many different thoughts rolled through his mind. His family. His friends. His place in the work. In particular, Neville thought about himself and the changes he had gone through since he met one Harry James Potter.

Before Hogwarts he was shy, timid, and practically lived in fear of his own shadow. He'd shown almost no magical ability and even after starting school he'd still had trouble with his magic. Then Harry pointed out to him that he needed his own wand. Accompanying Harry and his girls on their fight for the Stone last year had been another turning point in his life and he finally understood that it was okay to be afraid, as long as he found the courage to act when it counted.

This past term had been the best yet for Neville Longbottom. With his new wand, he had found spells coming easier and easier and with each success his confidence grew. Even the more vocal Slytherins, except for Malfoy, had stopped referring to him as a Squib after they witnessed the strength behind some of his spells and he couldn't help but feel a little boost of pride at that fact.

Now, he found himself mulling over a new problem. His fiend faced trouble and hardships and Neville knew that there was one thing that he might be able to do to help. It wouldn't solve the issues by itself, but it just might make some people think twice about continuing to give Harry any grief over things.

Augusta Longbottom quietly observed her grandson. In the two days that Neville had been home he'd been unusually quiet, even for him. He hadn't even spent much time in his greenhouse, something completely out of character for him.

The changes the last year and a half had brought out in him were both worrisome and encouraging to her at the same time. It was encouraging to see the glimpses of the powerful and confident wizard that he was sure to become and more and more he reminded her of his father.

But at the same time, it worried her how serious he was becoming. He was still a child, not even a teenager yet, and already he sometimes acted like someone twice his age.

"Neville?" she asked, drawing his attention away from the fireplace that he'd been staring into for nearly an hour. "Is everything okay?"

He was silent for a moment before he shook his head. "No, Gran," he said, finally. "Nothing is okay right now. Harry is facing some trouble, and I've been doing my best to help and support him, but I think that there's more I can do. I don't feel as if I've been living up to the spirit of our agreement with House Potter."

"Tell me of these troubles, and maybe together we can come up with what you can do."

"I already know what I want to do," he admitted. "I just need you to confirm that it is something I actually can do. I think I can, I'm just not certain if the Longbottom Family Bylaws will allow it."

She quirked a brow at that, startled to hear how serious he was being if he was concerned about the family bylaws preventing him, but remained silent as her grandson spoke. As he did both eyebrows slowly climbed toward her hairline even as her jaw fell lower and lower.

"Well," she said, shaking herself out of her surprised stupor once he'd finished. "Well, that is certainly a mess." She fell silent and thought over the situation, studying him carefully while she turned it over in her mind.

He sat straight and confident in his seat, showing no sign of nerves or apprehension as he waited for her answer and something occurred to her as she observed him.

"You aren't asking me for permission to do this, are you?" she finally asked after several long minutes had passed and Neville, almost regretfully, shook his head.

"No, Gran. I'm not asking, I'm telling you that this is what I want to do and this is what I intend to do. But you know the bylaws better than I do. I've already looked into it and as far as wizarding law is concerned I can do this, the only thing stooping me would be something in the family bylaws that wouldn't allow me to take this step. So I am asking for your advice on how to proceed, but I need you to understand that I will no longer take orders from you. You're my grandmother, and you've raised me my entire life, and I love you, but it is past time that I started coming into my own. If I can do this it will mean great things for House Longbottom and will allow me to help Harry and House Potter in ways that I can't right now."

It was his calm delivery and reasoned tone of voice that decided her more than anything. "You've changed a lot," she observed, aware that she'd made a similar observation just a year previously. "If you were still that same scared little boy from two years ago I would never even consider answering you on this issue."

"If I was that same boy I would never have considered asking," he pointed out and she nodded in agreement.

"True enough," she said before she sighed and leaned back in her seat. "Yes, you can do what you're suggesting, it is within your rights to do so. But… are you absolutely positive that this is the course you want to take?"

Neville nodded firmly, his face set and a firm gaze steadily meeting his grandmother's. "Yes, Gran. It's the best option that I have that will allow me to do more than I already am, and it will help to further cement relations between our families."

"Then you'd better send that girl a letter, she'll need time to decide and to research, according to what you've said about her."

Neville nodded and stood, giving her a quick hug before he left and headed to his study, leaving his Grandmother behind to take up his task of staring into the flames in the fireplace.

"Look's like Longbottom is set to make waves in wizarding society once again," she muttered before turning her gaze to the wand sitting on a stand in the center of the mantle above the fireplace. "Oh, you and Alice would be so proud of your boy, Frank," she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.

#####

On Christmas Eve Harry spent much of the day in a daze, his eyes frequently drawn, as if by a magnetic pull, to the medal that Sharpshard had pinned to his robes where it rested on the low table in his bedroom whenever he happened to enter the room for one thing or another. They spent the day wrapping presents, playing games, working on homework, and generally spending time together as a strange family.

Harry, Hermione, Daphne, Susan, and Amelia managed to fill the house with excited chatter, singing, laughter, and the entire large manor felt filled to overflowing with warm feelings and good cheer.

By the time evening fell and Daphne and Hermione had returned to their respective homes, Harry was in his room once again, sitting in one of the chairs by the fire, and he still couldn't wrap his mind around everything that'd happened the day before.

After reaching Sharpshard's office, Harry was given the books on goblin culture that Ragnok had promised and they were finally able to take care of the reason they'd come to the bank in the first place, the material gathered by the Goblin Nation regarding Soul Bonds. With it, however, came yet another mystery to add to the growing pile that Harry felt he was minutes away from collapsing under their combined weight.

First, whatever, or whoever was attacking students at school.

Second was his worries over the bond with the girls and what was happening to them all.

Third would be Dobby and whatever he knew that he couldn't tell them. He was insistent that Harry and the girls were in danger but wouldn't give them any information, plus they had no idea which family he worked for.

The fourth concern rattling through his mind was the upcoming meeting with the Lady Zabini. He couldn't begin to guess why she wanted to meet with him but he listened to Daphne and Susan and did as much research as he could before the meeting in three days.

And finally, the goblins were incensed, furious by apparent theft on their land. The information on Soul Bonds that they provided was incomplete, according to Sharpshard. They received three books, all incredibly old, but the old goblin had insisted that he remembered there being considerably more information that had apparently disappeared, with no one being able to tell when, how, why, not even who. Was someone intentionally trying to remove information on Soul Bonds?

Harry growled and shook his head, trying to shake the thoughts physically from his mind with little success. After the events at Gringotts they'd gone about completing their Christmas shopping, the group splitting up into teams to shop and then meeting for lunch to swap partners so they could then shop for those that had been with them before. By the time they all went home all shopping had been completed and most of them appeared to have put the strange happenings of the morning from their minds.

But Harry couldn't. He growled again and stood, suddenly feeling restless as he moved across his room and opened the door, heading down to the kitchen where he poured himself a cup of coffee from the every present pot waiting for him and sank into one of the chairs at the table, hoping the peace and quiet would help quell the whirling thoughts in his head.

"We keep finding ourselves in here, don't we?"

Harry looked up from his mug, unsurprised to find Amelia standing at the counter, pouring herself a cup of tea. When she finished she joined him at the table and gave him a long, concerned look.

"I guess so," he muttered, shrugging his shoulders.

"Well, gonna tell me what's bothering you tonight?" She sat back and took a sip of her tea, eyeing him over the rim of the cup and he shrugged again.

"Nothing," he tried. "Everything. I don't know…" he trailed off and let out a huge sigh. "Do you ever feel like there's something else going on other than what you can see on the surface?" he tried and she tilted her head to the side slightly, regarding him carefully.

"As an investigator, I felt that a lot. But I don't think that's quite what you're meaning in this case, is it?"

"Maybe?" He groaned and raked his fingers back through his hair, noting idly that it was starting to get a bit long. "I don't know. There's just… there's so much going on right now. This whole Heir business and Dobby and the Lady Zabini and…" he trailed off again and shrugged his shoulders morosely.

"It does all seem to be a bit much. What're you worried about?"

"Everything?"

She glared at him slightly and he sighed again.

"I mean… everything is just a mess. I don't even think I want to go back to Hogwarts with all this Heir crap going on and everyone blaming me for it. Nobody will listen except for my friends and you. This meeting with Lady Zabini is worrying me, I can't imagine what she'd want to talk to me about, I'm nobody. I'm still worried about what's happening with the girls and our bond and… it just all feels off, somehow." He frowned. "No, that's not right. Not everything. This business with the Heir, maybe Lady Zabini, and the missing information about Soul Bonds. That all seems off."

"How do you mean?"

"I've asked around," he told her. "The older students tell me that school was never this exciting, their words, before last year. Voldemort's been running around as a wraith for how long now and he suddenly shows up at the school the same year that I start? And then this Heir business, again, it feels like it's only happening because I'm there. The missing information on Soul Bonds too. We're the first quartet of bonded souls in history and when we start looking, every place we try to find any information about what we're going through it's missing or never existed? I mean… am I just being paranoid?"

Amelia considered that carefully before she answered, turning over every point he mentioned in her mind as she considered them from every angle she could. "I don't know," she admitted, finally. "I don't know if there's something bigger going on, some conspiracy, it sounds like. I'll admit to seeing some strange coincidences, and I don't like coincidences. I've always felt too many coincidences indicates a pattern. But at this point I don't think we have enough information to be able to accurately say one way or the other.

"I'm not discounting your thoughts, but I think we need more information." She leaned forward and held his gaze with her own, staring intently into his eyes. "And I need you, Harry, to be extremely careful. If anything happens, I don't want you running off into danger if it can possibly be avoided. We really would rather you were healthy and stuck around with us, understand?"

He gave her a small smile and nodded.

"So, what'd you get Susan for Christmas?" she asked, her dark blue eyes twinkling merrily and he grinned before he leaned forward and the two spent an hour talking quietly, all thoughts of dangers and conspiracies shoved aside.

#####

"This way, please to follow Jared."

Silently, Harry and Amelia did as requested, following the well dressed house elf as he escorted them from the Zabini Floo access room into a comfortably appointed sitting room where the Lady Zabini was waiting, along with Blaise.

"Lady Zabini," Harry said, accepting and bowing over her extended hand where he placed a kiss upon the air just above her knuckles. It had been drilled into him that as they were not familiar with each other, or friends, he should not actually touch his lips to her hand. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Please, Lord Potter, the pleasure is entirely mine, I assure you," she said. Her voice had a husky, throaty quality to it that, if Harry had been a bit older, or perhaps, more knowledgeable, he might have though each word from her lips just dripped in sexual promise. As it was, he found her voice appealing, but couldn't really place a finger on why, so he shrugged it off as he released her hand and she turned to greet Amelia.

"It is wonderful to see you again, Lady Zabini. You're looking well."

'Well' was an understatement that even Harry could clearly identify. Valerie Zabini looked fantastic, and she knew it. Her long dark hair was styled into a complicated looking braid and she wore a form hugging, crimson colored off-the-shoulder gown that accentuated her curves and drew attention to her expansive cleavage. With just a touch of makeup and no jewelry, aside from her House Ring, she was absolutely beautiful.

"Thank you," she said, graciously accepting the compliment. "You as well, Amelia, though we aren't here to admire each other, are we?" she asked as she gestured for them to sit.

"You bring us to a point of some interest," Harry said after they'd made themselves comfortable and the same elf that showed them to the room had placed a beautiful tea setting on a low coffee table. "Why are we here?" he asked, trying to inject polite curiosity into his tone.

"Before I answer that, would you indulge me a moment of curiosity?" she asked before taking a slow sip of her tea.

He kept his expression as impassive as he could but gesture for her to continue.

"Were you expecting trouble here today?" she asked and Harry quirked a brow in her direction, not really under sting the question.

She gestured to Amelia where she sat next to Harry on the small sofa, a cup of tea in hand and an almost amused smirk tugging at her lips.

"I did say you could bring any guest of your choosing. However, I didn't expect to see the Head of the DMLE in my home this morning. So I'm wondering if you were expecting some kind of trouble coming here, despite assurances of House Hospitality."

Harry couldn't help but smile at that. "Well, it's good to know that's working out as planned," he told Amelia who's smirk had only extended into a full grin. He turned back to their hostess and waved away her concern. "I apologize for the confusion," he told her. "No, I did not have any expectations of problems or issues here today. Madam Bones is here simply because she is my legal guardian. We haven't been expressly hiding the fact that I accepted the Bones Family's offer of guardianship this summer, but we haven't been advertising it either." He shrugged. "I'm sure people will figure it out, eventually, but I didn't want to have people harassing them simply because they were good enough to offer me a home."

"And because you're bonded to the Bones Heiress," she said, a smug smirk twisting her darkly painted lips and Harry felt as if ice water had suddenly poured into his veins and he stared intently at her, Blaise sitting quietly to one side as he observed everything.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he almost growled and she let out a laugh.

"Please, Lord Potter. Your reaction would have given you away if nothing else. But I don't want to worry you so I'll come right out and say that I have no intention of causing you or yours any trouble over this issue."

"Then why bring it up?" he asked, his heart rate slowly dropping down to something approaching normal.

She leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs at the knee, her cup balanced carefully on her raised knee as she eyed him. "I'm willing to bet that not many people have realized what it is that's happened between you and those three girls you spend all your time with. But some of us do know what a Soul Bonding is supposed to look like. At least what the stories tell us it should look like. I wanted to warn you."

"Warn me about what?"

"You're well aware that not everyone in the world is nice and willing to play well with others," she said, her dark eyes pinning him to his seat. "There are terrible people in the world, and some of them are willing to do terrible things. I wouldn't dream of trying to tell you how to live your life or how you go about managing your own affairs. But I would recommend deciding when and how you want to publicly acknowledge this bond. It's going to come out eventually, and it would be good for you to be ahead of it."

"Why is it anyone's business but ours?" he asked.

"Because people are stupid, Lord Potter," Blaise cut in and Harry shifted his focus to his school mate. "One of the girls bonded to you is muggleborn, and another is from a family that many consider to be borderline dark. With the kind of crap that Rita Skeeter writes, do you honestly think that if it's discovered, and broken in the press before you say something about it, that she won't try to twist it to look like one or both of them are taking advantage of the precious Boy-Who-Lived?

"And, as you've already seen this year, people will believe what they want to believe, rather than what's actually true," he added and Harry couldn't help but nod at that.

"I'll take the suggestion under advisement," he muttered. "Is that all you wanted to talk about? An owl would have worked just as well, or even having Blaise just tell us at school."

"No, Lord Potter, that isn't the only reason I asked you here. Not even a real part of the reason, to be honest, it was just a little side note that I felt I could let you know about."

"Then why are we here, Lady Zabini? I informed your Heir back at school that if I didn't like what I heard I was leaving and so far you haven't given me a lot of reason to stick around at the moment."

"I apologize, Lord Potter. I simply wanted to make sure you were aware of the possibility. The primary reason for my requesting this meeting is that I'd like to offer my help, and I would like to offer a chance to increase ties between several families. From what I understand you are already looking to the future and the power that you and your friends may one day wield, true?"

Harry nodded, thoughtfully, and pushed aside thoughts of the bond and who else might know about it. "True," he agreed. "Between myself and my friends we represent a powerful number of Houses, or Houses with contacts that might prove useful in the future."

Amelia was staring at Harry, this wasn't something she'd heard about and found that she was pleased to see that Harry was thinking ahead.

"Potter, Longbottom, Bones, Greengrass, Davis, Abbot, and Zabini. Most Ancient and Noble Houses, Ancient Houses, and a couple of Minor Houses with contacts and influence. Yes, between you all you have the potential to enact great change in our world, change that is needed to prevent further devastation."

"Devastation?" Harry asked, his head cocked to the side as he observed her.

"Yes, Lord Potter. The previous war with You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters was only possible because of the rampant bigotry and the societal belief that blood has anything to do with magical ability or the worthiness of the individual. It is that mindset, that thought process in our society that let the Dark Lord and his followers amass as much power as they did."

"There's nothing we can do about that, though," Harry pointed out. "Not until we're old enough to take our seats on the Wizengamont and we can start pushing for new laws and reforms."

"You may not personally be able to do anything, but the adults in your life can, if you'll let them."

Harry considered that and then sighed. "All right, you've lost me again, Lady Zabini."

"You can appoint a proxy for your seat, an adult that you would trust to vote in a manner that would be in line with your views and plans for the future. The Potter seat holds five votes due to its age and past influence in society. Bones and Longbottom hold five seats each as well while Zabini holds two seats. Abbot and Davis do not hold seats but they do know people and they can influence others."

"And you want me to appoint you as the proxy for my seat?"

"Oh, Merlin no," she said. "Absolutely not, that would be entirely too much to ask. You don't know me and I'm not so optimistic as to think you'd trust me with something so important after such a short meeting."

"Then what are you suggesting?"

"I suggest that you ask your guardian to sit proxy for you. She already sits in the Bones seat until Susan comes of age, it wouldn't be much of a stretch for her to vote for both seats and that's ten votes sewn up right there. I would also ask that we, at the very least, open a dialogue. There are things happening, maneuverings behind closed doors that I feel I may be able to help with."

"You were in Slytherin, weren't you, Lady Zabini?"

She nodded.

"The members of Slytherin have garnered themselves quite a reputation. Much of it is deserved but the one thing that people seem to always get wrong is that just because a person was sorted into that house, doesn't automatically make them evil. Ambitious and cunning, yes, but not evil by default. Ambition and cunning, however, rarely allows for one to give away something for free, so you obviously want something."

She smiled broadly at him, showing plenty of perfectly straight and brilliantly white teeth. "Very good, Lord Potter. You've been taught well by your friends and your bond mates. Yes, I do want something, but rest assured this isn't a request of payment for simple advice, I feel we could be of benefit to each other in regards to our futures and our future fortunes."

"How so?"

"What do you know about House Zabini's business ventures?" she asked, looking to see how well informed he was.

"Zabini Apothecaries exist on nearly every continent and in approximately sixty percent of active magical communities worldwide," he said, thinking back over what he'd learned in the past several days in preparation for this meeting. "Last year, when we first met Blaise, Tracey pointed out that House Greengrass and House Zabini had come at odds over some business ventures so Lord Greengrass had a personal issue with the Zabini family as a result. Considering his business in import/export, I can only imagine that you beat him out on a contract for transporting valuable, rare, or sensitive potions ingredients."

"All of the above, in fact," she admitted with a pleased smirk twisting her lips. "Cyril was most put out when I secured that contract right under his nose. Do you see how you and I might then help each other?"

Harry hummed and thought that over for a moment before he shrugged. "Honestly? I have no idea."

"What?" she blurted out, her surprise breaking her calm poise for a moment. "You don't know about your business holdings? But you're Lord Potter, how could you not know?"

Harry sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand, a habit from his years wearing glasses. "Lady Zabini, would you be terribly offended if we dispensed with the formalities and spoke plainly?"

She shook her head and gestured for him to continue.

"Did Blaise tell you where I grew up at all?"

"He mentioned you grew up in the muggle world with an Aunt and Uncle, I believe?"

Harry nodded, his face twisting with distaste. "Yes, that's true enough. And I never learned anything about being a wizard until my eleventh birthday. I wasn't happy there, and last Christmas break when I came into Gringotts to get some money and find out what state my finances were in I was told I could take some control of my own life by becoming Lord Potter. I've used that control to choose my own guardian instead of being forced to live somewhere where I was unloved and unwanted.

"Because I fell bass ackwards into this I honestly don't know much about my families wealth and status other than the contents of my vaults. I know there are properties, investments, and business ventures that I do not presently have the financial understanding to mess with, so I leave that to my accounts manager at Gringotts. I'm slowly attempting to learn more about it but I know better than to attempt to fool around with something that I do not understand and I am relying on them and their business acumen to ensure my wealth continues to grow, or at least doesn't vanish out from under me."

"Well, that explains a few things then, Lord Potter-"

"Harry, please, we agreed to dispense with the formalities, right?" he asked and gave her a lopsided smile.

"Harry it is," she agreed, returning the smile with a genuine one of her own. "And please, my name is Valerie. Anyway, Harry, the Potter family has always done well in business. One of your ancestors long ago invested in potion ingredients procurement. Your family owns the lions share of multiple companies whose only purpose is to acquire potions ingredients and then contract with companies, like my own, in order to transport and then sell them to various apothecaries around the world. I would like to suggest a partnership between our businesses where we help each other."

Harry glanced at Amelia who only shrugged and motioned toward him. The message was clear. If he had a specific question, she would be happy to answer it, but this was his family legacy and his show. He would make his own mistakes and his own successes on his own.

"I can't agree to any partnerships at this time, Valerie," he said, reluctantly, after several minutes thought. "I simply do not understand the ins and outs of business well enough, first of all to be sure I'm not being cheated, but also to ensure that we're both putting in our fair share of the work. However," he added, just as she looked to interrupt, "I would be happy to send my accounts manager, Sharpshard, a message stating that he has my permission to negotiate with you directly. I have already given him much greater autonomy in regards to my families investments and he understands how this all works much better than I do. I know he will make sure that we both get the best possible deal out of any partnership.

"Blaise has told me that your family doesn't proscribe to the pureblood nonsense that so many do, and much of what you've said here today holds to that ideal. If you want to work with me, you'll have to be willing to work with the goblins, and you'll treat them with the same respect and courtesy that you've treated me today. That is non-negotiable. If Sharpshard informs me that you were less than polite in dealing with him then I will instruct him to sever all ties and have no further business dealings with House Zabini."

"I have absolutely no problems with that, Harry," she said. "I've never been one to antagonize people I have to do business with if I can help it. I may not have been overly friendly, but polite and professional when dealing with goblins has always been my preferred method."

"That will do nicely, then," he said and she flashed him another bright grin.

"Well, then I will call upon your accounts manager in a few days?"

"Perhaps wait until after the New Year?" he countered and she gave him a nod. "I'll make sure to let Sharpshard know to expect you and he'll send any contracts to me for approval."

Valerie stood and extended her hand as Harry and Amelia both stood as well and he took her hand, again kissing the air above her knuckles. "I do believe it will be a pleasure doing business with you, Lord Potter."

"I very much hope so, Lady Zabini." Before they headed for the Floo Harry hesitated and turned toward Blaise. "Heir Zabini?" he asked and Blaise straightened up and turned to Harry.

"Yes, Lord Potter?"

"Blaise… I want to apologize for my reaction a few days ago. I'll admit that I'm still knew at this whole Lordship business, but I shouldn't have been so put out with you. It was pointed out to me that I shouldn't write you off out of hand and I hope we can put that behind us, though I'll admit I'm still not thrilled with how you handled things, and I would not be willing to give you another chance if you pulled something like that again."

Blaise winced but nodded. "Yeah, Mum kinda tore into me for that too. I'll admit I'm good at ambitious and cunning but subtlety is where I sometimes lose the plot. I shouldn't have held basically useless information over your head like that. I just… honestly we haven't made much headway at really being friends since last year, have we?" he asked and Harry reluctantly shook his head.

"No, we haven't. And to be fair a good part of that was because we didn't want to spread the number of people that knew about our bond, that was really the only thing we were specifically keeping from you. As long as you stop trying to pull crap like that, I think we might be able to see our way to actually building a real friendship in the future." Harry held out his hand and gave a mental sigh of relief when the usually stoic Slytherin smiled and accepted it in a firm handshake.

"I'll see you and the rest on the train then?"

Harry nodded and flashed the other boy a grin. "See you then, Blaise."

#####

On January 4th they headed to Kings Cross for the return trip to Hogwarts. Harry stared out the window as the Express rumbled it's way toward the school, his mind still spinning as his friends and bond mates chatted around him. Neville, Tracey, Susan, and Hannah were involved in a boisterous game of Exploding Snap while Daphne and Hermione both had their noses buried in a couple of very old books and Blaise sat in the corner closest to the door, his arms crossed over his chest as he dozed, despite the noise.

Harry looked away from the window and frowned at the worn leather covers. Two of the three volumes on Soul Bonds that they'd been given by the goblins. Hermione had quickly read through the first and handed it off to Daphne, which would then go to Susan before coming to him as they shifted their way down the line. As the girls were faster readers than he was he was content to wait his turn since after reading the first Hermione had declared it only moderately more useful than the tidbits of information they'd been able to discover before. At least these books had the benefit of being verified as authentic by the goblins.

Christmas day had been an even greater experience then the year before. First, Hermione's parents had joined them at the Boneyard in the morning to exchange gifts and they spent the entire day there with them. By the time Dinner came around the Lady Greengrass had attended without her husband and with her youngest daughter, Astoria. Astoria was a delight, more cheerful and emotive then Daphne tended to be and possessed of a seemingly insatiable curiosity. She was nearly a miniature copy of Daphne, physically, but otherwise the two sisters were vastly different.

It had saddened Harry when he realized why they were so different from each other. Astoria, as the younger sister, had not been subjected to the same training as Daphne. He couldn't be certain, but he was willing to bet that Daphne had most likely done everything she could to keep that focus on herself in order to spare her little sister whatever punishments she had suffered over the years.

Aside from the meeting at Gringotts, and with the Lady Zabini, the entire break was relatively relaxed, yet somehow, Harry still had new concerns to worry about. Daphne had seemed distracted at times over the break though no amount of questioning would get her to talk about it. On Christmas morning he had felt a sensation of intense surprise coming from Hermione before she and her parents had arrived at the Boneyard and even though he and Susan had both asked her about it she had brushed it off as nothing important and changed the subject. Even Neville seemed like he had something on his mind whenever he talked to the Longbottom Heir.

In fact, the only person that didn't seem to have some concern was Susan, and she was just as confused by the other's behavior as he was. He gave himself a mental shake and decided to take a hint from Blaise and leaned back in his seat intent on catching a few winks. He still wasn't entirely sure what to think about Blaise's mother. She'd seemed to want to help, but for all he knew she had ulterior motives, and her advice over exposing their bond both made sense and filled him with trepidation at the same time. He'd decided to go out on a limb, however, and trust Amelia when she informed him that she would handle things and give them some options to choose from.

With that last thought he fell into a restless sleep that last until the train pulled into Hogsmead Station. He was groggy and less than ideal company as they made their way up to the castle for the returning feast, which went about as one might expect. They ate their meal, talking quietly amongst themselves and with those friends sitting near to them while the students at the nearby tables stared and whispered to each other.

Harry resisted the urge to sigh in exasperation, or to glare at them and simply did his best to ignore all of them.

Just before they went to bed Neville stopped him at the foot of the stairs.

"Harry, I'm going to do something tomorrow morning. I don't want to tell you what it is because I want your reaction to be genuine and don't want to influence you either. Just remember what we've been teaching you about House politics and react as you feel you need to. And whatever choice you make, I will always remain your friend, understand?"

Harry was confused, to say the least, but he nodded in silent agreement and then followed Neville up the stairs to their dorm. They changed for bed and Harry went through his Occlumency exercises as Amelia and Healer Gant kept encouraging him to do, before he slowly drifted off to sleep.

His dreams were unsettling and disjointed, but thankfully, he suffered none of his usual nightmares and actually got a decent number of hours rest out of it. He woke early, as usual, to find Neville already stirring in his own bed and the two of them quickly dressed in the dark before heading down stairs to meet the girls.

Two hours later saw them returning to a buzzing hive of activity that they largely ignored in favor of showers and dressing for the day.

"What is going on?" Harry finally asked as the five of them took their seats at the Gryffindor table. A low murmur of conversation rumbled through the large room as students scurried back and forth from table to table while groups of students from every year spoke in hushed whispers. The staring was even worse than it had been the night before.

"Not even back a day, eh, Potter? Just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

Harry groaned and turned to glare at Ernie Macmillan. "What're you on about now?" he asked.

"As if you don't already know," Ernie sneered, glaring hatefully at Harry.

"I don't, that's why I asked," Harry pointed out, which caused a few nervous laughs from those near enough to hear.

"Hey," Hermione cut in as she grabbed Harry's arm. "Looks like Dumbledore has an announcement to make."

At the Head Table, Dumbledore was standing to address the school and, slowly, silence fell as people noticed and brought it to others attention.

"Thank you," he said, once it was quiet. "Sometime last night, our fifth year Ravenclaw Prefects discovered a new message painted onto a wall near the entrance to the Ravenclaw Dormitories." He was forced to pause as a wave of frightened conversation swept through the student body, only continuing once it died down.

"Normally, I would not wish to worry you with this, but as rumor travels faster than anything yet observed in the natural world, I felt it best to wuell them before they started."

Too late, Harry thought in disgust.

"The exact wording of the message read, 'Salazar's noble work will be completed. The school will be cleansed of its taint,'" he said and Harry jerked in surprise. "We are investigating this incident but would ask that all students exercise caution in these uncertain times. Do not walk the halls alone and, please, if you see or hear anything out of the ordinary, bring it to one of the schools Prefects or to a professor as quickly as possible."

He went on to list some new rules to follow but Harry had already tuned him out. He was more focused on a memory. A dark room with a large mirror and a serpentine face hissing at him.

A hand landed on his shoulder and he jerked, turning to find Neville standing expectantly behind him.

"Remember what I told you, okay?"

Harry nodded and watched, confused, as his friend walked up the center aisle to briefly speak to the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall. When he turned away to face the crowded hall full of students both professors wore pleased smiles.

"If I could have your attention again," the Headmaster called out. "Mister Longbottom wishes to say something."

Neville stood in the center of the table, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared at the assembled sea of faces. He'd expected to have to let off a cannon blast in order to get everyones attention, but as he'd turned, the Headmasters words were sufficient to have every eye fixed on him without his having to do anything. A case of nerves hit him, but he shoved them aside and glared out across the room.

"This has been a rough year, so far, hasn't it?" he asked, his voice carrying to every corner of the Hall. "Attacks in the night. Students being petrified in the halls by an unknown assailant."

"We know who's doing it, Longbottom!" a voice shouted from the Hufflepuff table, cutting Neville off. "What I want to know, is why is Potter still here? Are you all going to wait until he kills someone before you get rid of him?" Ernie shouted at the staff behind Neville.

"That's more than enough out of you," Neville snarled just as he hit Macmillan with a silencing charm. The crowd blinked in surprise as Neville's wand shot back up his sleeve. No one had even seen him draw it.

"You people disgust me," he sneered in a manner sufficient to make Snape proud. "With no evidence, no proof, you lay blame and insults at the feet of the one person in this castle that is the least deserving of it."

Neville's eyes flashed dangerously, contempt dripping from every word as he glared at each student in the room save for Harry and their friends.

"I'm here to tell you that it stops, right now."

"'Who do you think you are to tell us what to do, Longbottom?" Malfoy sneered. Harry noted, with some amusement, that his expression wasn't nearly as impressive as Neville's had been. "You're practically a squib yourself and shouldn't even be here with real witches and wizards."

Neville's smile could only be described as predatory, a baring of teeth that would have fit more on the snout of some feral animal than it did on the face of a twelve-year-old wizard.

"I'm so glad you asked that question, Heir Malfoy," he said as he lifted his right hand to shoulder height, the back facing toward his audience as a ring shimmered into view on his middle finger. From where Harry sat he could only tell that it was a heavy looking ring of gold with a dark blue stone in the center.

"I am Longbottom of Longbottom, Lord Neville Francis Longbottom and Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom," he roared, causing many in the room to jump in fright at the sudden booming voice. "I am descended from Vikings, and if you want to speak against a Lord of a Most Ancient and Noble House we can address your concerns with an honor duel, right here, right now, what say you, Heir Malfoy?" The emphasis Neville placed on the word 'heir' brought attention to the fact that, socially, Neville now stood far above Dracoy Malfoy as a Head of House and an emancipated Lord in his own right.

Malfoy's complexion grew paler and paler as Neville spoke. When he'd finished Malfoy stood and spoke quietly, "no, Lord Longbottom, that won't be necessary." Each word looked as if they actually caused Malfoy physical pain as he bit them out, one after another. When he finished he sat back down and Neville smirked.

"Then kindly be silent, Heir Malfoy," he said and turned his attention back to the rest of the Hall. "House Longbottom has always stood for the Light. My parents, both Aurors, were tortured into insanity by members of Voldemort's inner circle," he said, ignoring the shrieks and screams of fear that accompanied the hated name. "Does anyone here believe that I or my family would ever support the Dark?"

Heads shook violently around the room. They were seeing a new Neville Longbottom for the first time, most of the school finally looking past the shy, quiet boy, and seeing the Lord he was becoming and already the views of many people were shifting.

"Lord Potter," Neville called, "might I have a word with you?"

Harry started, surprised to find himself getting dragged into Neville's show, but, at a prod from Susan, he stood and walked to the front of the room, making sure that his own House Ring was visible on his finger.

"Lord Longbottom?" he asked when he stopped a few feet away from his friend.

"Lord Potter, last year on the train during our first trip to school I informed you that our two Houses had a long history together, did I not?"

"You did, Lord Longbottom," Harry acknowledged.

"The Alliance between House Longbottom and House Potter has lain dormant for more than ten years. I would see us renew that great tradition, what say you?"

Harry fought back a grin and nodded, gravely. "I, Lord Harry James Potter, say, 'Aye', Lord Longbottom, and high time as well."

Neville pulled up his right sleeve, exposing the black wand holster strapped to his forearm which he removed and held his hand out to Harry who hid a wince and mimicked his actions. Luckily, only the professors sitting at the Head Table were in a position to see the half a dozen scars around the outside of Harry's forearm.

They clasped hands in a warriors grip, each grasping the others forearm midway between the wrist and elbow.

"I, Lord Neville Francis Longbottom, do hereby swear on my life and my magic to always remain true to my friend and my ally, Lord Harry James Potter. I swear to stand by his side and that our two families shall work for the betterment of our world, so I say, so mote it be."

Harry froze as some of the professors quickly rose to their feet in shock and murmurs swept through the crowd. That was not the oath to ally two families to each other.

"Lord Potter-"

"Silence!"

Every eye but Neville's and Harry's turned toward Daphne as she cut Dumbledore off and stared at her in utter shock.

"My apologies, Headmaster, but an oath has been given, and until Lord Potter responds no one can interfere, unless you wish to risk the life of Lord Longbottom?"

Silence fell at that as everyone returned their attention to the two Lords standing at the front of the room.

For their part, Harry and Neville stared into each others eyes and had yet to look away. Harry's heart was racing. Did Neville know what he'd just done? He had to. There was no way he didn't. All the possible responses and ways he could screw this up ripped through Harry's mind. As panic began to grip him a calming tidal wave of soothing emotions swept over him and he turned his head.

At the Gryffindor table, his girls were standing, their hands linked together as all three of them gave him a small smile and simultaneous nods. He nodded back and returned his attention to his friend.

"I, Lord Harry James Potter, do accept the offer of friendship and alliance, as spoken by Lord Neville Francis Longbottom. I swear by my life and my magic to return that loyalty with everything I have. Neville Longbottom is my friend, my brother-in-arms. Where a Longbottom goes, a Potter will always stand beside him should it be within my power, so I say, so mote it be."

As the last word left his mouth there was a brilliant flash of light at their clasped hands and the castle itself shook as a tone rang through the air as if an enormous bell had just been struck a monumental blow.

"Got any more surprises, Nev?" Harry muttered as they replaced their wand holsters. "Because I might need a calming draught first if you do."

Neville grinned and winked at Harry. "Just one more, but it won't be so public. We'll deal with it later," he muttered as students started to leave the Hall for their first classes of the day amidst a hum of fervent conversation.

"Lord Potter, Lord Longbottom, I wonder if I might have a word with you both in my office?"

"Does this word have anything to do with the oath we just publicly swore?" Neville asked as they turned to face the Headmaster who had quietly approached them.

"It does, Lord Longbottom."

"Then we must respectfully decline. We have a free period and would like to spend some time discussing the particulars of our newly re-formed alliance before transfiguration later this morning."

Dumbledore blinked. "I'm afraid I must insist," he said, his usual grandfatherly tone being replaced by something far more stern.

"You are our Headmaster inside these walls, Professor," Neville said. "As our oath to each other and between our families has no bearing on our education, then the Minor House of Dumbledore has no business with two Lords of Most Ancient and Noble Houses."

With that said, he turned and walked away, Harry falling into step beside him as they left a dumbfounded Headmaster in their wake. The girls fell in around them when they stopped at the Gryffindor table to grab their bags and the group left the Hall, following Neville who entered a nearby classroom where he dropped his bag on the floor and sank into one of the student desks, his hands shaking violently while Susan closed the door behind them.

"Sweet merciful Merlin," Neville groaned. "Holy crap that was nerve wracking."

Harry blinked in surprise, feeling a similar degree of shock coming from his girls.

"Nev?" he asked, hesitantly. "Are you okay, Mate?"

"Just… just give me a minute." He took in several deep, gasping breaths, his fingers clutching the edge of the desk in a white knuckled grip. "Holy crap, I really just snubbed Albus Doumbledore," he breathed out after taking several minutes to pull himself together. "Gods, Harry. Thank you, so much for understanding what I was doing."

"Nev, I barely figured it out. A little warning next time would be nice, eh?" Harry told him with a grin to take any possible sting out of his words.

"I didn't want to influence your choice."

"What was that all about?" Hermione asked. "Daphne and Susan haven't covered oaths like that with me yet."

"It was a gamble, and a performance," Daphne told her. "The oath Neville offered goes far beyond the usual oath of alliance. If he'd wanted, Harry could have accepted Neville's oath without offering one of his own in return and House Longbottom would basically have become a servant House to House Potter."

"I trusted Harry not to do that, though. And by doing it in the Great Hall, in front of the whole school, we sent them a message."

"What kind of message?" Harry asked, a little unsure on that part.

"A powerful one," Neville told him. "Look, Harry, you're still not comfortable with being a Lord. You don't have the arrogance and command down quite yet except for in certain formal circumstances. People like Macmillan had forgotten they've been insulting Lord Potter. The message is that all future insults will be perceived as a direct attack against two Lords of Most Ancient and Noble Houses." Neville grinned at them. "Most people will think twice in the future before blaming Harry for any of this Heir of Slytherin crap from now on."

"Neville," Harry said as a slow grin spread across his face, "that was positively Slytherin of you."

Neville bowed from his seat at the desk, a smug smirk twisting his own lips as the girls all rolled their eyes.

"Careful patting yourselves on the back, boys," Hermione muttered. "You might pull something."

"Hermione, have you thought about what I asked?" Neville said suddenly and the rest of them looked back and forth between the two, confusion welling up once again.

Hermione, for her part, was worrying at her lower lip with her teeth again and had a thoughtful expression on her face.

"I have been thinking about it, yes. I'm not really sure what the point is though."

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

"I offered to place Hermione under House Protection," Neville explained. "Basically, if she accepts, then she and her parents would be under the banner of House Longbottom. What the point to that is," he added to Hermione, "is the next time anyone tries to pull any crap or pick on you or even attack you, which we all know Malfoy and some of his ilk are eventually gearing up towards, I would be able to act on your behalf. Right now, if someone attacked you, Harry and I would leap to your defense, you know that. But if you're under House Protection I'd have more legal options on what I could do in order to help you and your parents out. Also, you wouldn't technically be considered muggleborn anymore, at least not legally. You'd be at least halfblood and considered a part of House Longbottom. Right now, Dumbledore is your magical guardian acting in loco parentis, but if you were under House Protection I'd be your magical guardian and could act in your stead if need be."

Harry nodded along as he listened. "Why did you offer, out of curiosity?"

"The rest of us have more legal rights and protections than she does in the wizarding world. It's not perfect, but I figured I could add a little extra layer of protection for her, just by people knowing that she's protected by my House."

"It's not a bad idea," Daphne said after Neville finished his explanation. "Harry could do the same but with our bond… well we don't want to complicate matters. It's not the same as being adopted into the Longbottom family or anything like that, but it could go that far in the future, if you guys wanted to."

Hermione thought for several minutes longer while the others just waited as patiently as they could. "I appreciate the offer, Neville, I really do. But, honestly, I need a little more time to think about it."

Neville offered her a smile. "That's understandable, Hermione. No worries. You just let me know as soon as you've made a decision, okay?"

#####

The rest of the day they were still watched and whispered about in low voices, but the previously angry and suspicious looks sent in Harry's direction had become more curious and considering, and that, Harry considered to be a decided improvement over how things had been going. He'd also penned off a letter during lunch that he sent to Amelia, letting her know of the newly re-formed alliance with House Longbottom. He figured she would need to know and might even have some advice for him on what they could do going forward.

Harry stayed a bit longer that night over dinner than usual, lingering over his meal and pleased with the abated sense of hostility toward him, and as such, he found himself making his way alone back to the tower. It was as he turned down a darker corridor when he stepped into a large puddle of water that spread across the width of the hallway that he realized he was standing outside the loo where Filch's cat was attacked.

Inside the room he could hear the sound of someone crying and he cautiously approached and pushed open the door. "Hello?" he called. "Is everything all right?"

A moment later he stepped fully into the room and the door swung shut behind him, leaving the hall empty and quiet with only the flickering torchlight reflecting off of the inch deep puddle of water.