His three uncles were livid when he explained why he was home early. They had expressed worry over Raymond before they began growling about the idiot and his equally idiotic father. Sirius ended up inviting Coach Brad over to talk about it.
"This was Bartlett's seventh school in three years." He shook his head, "We knew he was going to be trouble before he even stepped foot on campus. I expected it on the field that's why I was watching him to the exclusion of everyone else. I almost crashed the snitch into the ground. If Harry wouldn't have caught it I would have. By the way I'm sorry I made you do such an insane dive."
"I still had a few inches." Harry shrugged.
"Raymond said he was saying you were going to crash." Brad offered, "Gloated about it really."
"He was all bark and no bite." Harry grimaced, "While he was jostling me I decided my Jr. High rival hit harder in seventh grade than Bartlett could do now.
Severus choked back a laugh knowing he was referring to Malfoy. He was far enough removed from the school now that he could admit that Malfoy was little true competition for Harry. Although none of them would hear him say it aloud.
"I heard back from Raymond's parents." Brad mentioned as he stood to leave, "He can't practice for a few days and running will have to wait longer."
"He's gonna hurt so bad when he gets let loose." Harry winced.
"I'll take it easy on him for a week or so." Brad grinned, "But don't tell him that."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Harry grinned.
By the time the team was picked Harry was flabbergasted to find out he was captain of the team. It wasn't until the team sat him down and pointed out how he took care of Raymond when Bartlett was messing around that had him giving in and taking it. He still mumbled about it on the way home until Sam smacked the back of his head.
"That's what a captain does." Sam said, "They take care of their teammates. You've always done it, so I wasn't the least bit surprised to see you get captain."
"But you and Mark have been playing here longer." He pointed out.
"Nope." Mark grinned, "We were reserve one year. We got starters same time you got here. You already had three years of starting under your belt. You trump both of us even if you add our years together."
Harry was still in shock when he got home. It took Sirius three times to get his attention.
"Harry?" Sirius finally touched his shoulder, "What's wrong?"
"Hey Sirius I didn't see you there." He blinked at him, "Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."
"What happened at practice today?" Remus asked.
"Coach Brad picked the team." He said, "Always does last practice before school starts."
"Didn't you make the team?" Tonks looked at him worriedly.
"Yes I did." He turned to her, "He made me captain."
"That's great." Sirius sort of stated and asked at the same time.
"I just thought he'd pick Sam." Harry offered, "Either her or Mark. They've both been at Northern longer than I have. I just don't know why he picked me?"
"Are they mad?" Severus wondered what had him flustered.
"No." Harry responded, "They said they'd expected it. I mean… I just don't get it."
"Harry." Severus tried to hide his laughter, "You'll get your head around it sooner or later. It's natural to be shocked when you didn't expect it. But it's not that surprising. The way they love their seeker I think Coach Brad would be lynched if he didn't make you captain."
"Don't forget." Sirius grinned, "You'll need to have a speech ready for the first pep rally, and everyone after that."
"Oh Merlin." Harry dropped his head on the table with a clunk, "I hate being the center of attention."
"Unless you're in the air." Sirius finished and patted his head, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
"Ug." Was his only reply.
"Who's ready to see some quidditch?" Coach Brad yelled to start of the pep rally.
Harry didn't really want to do this but he thought back to all the other speeches he'd heard in the two years he had been here and he took a deep breath as the coach introduced him.
"I give you our Captain and Hunter… Arcane." The crowd screamed.
"Don't worry they just want an excuse to scream." Sam told him as she patted his arm.
"Right." Harry turned from her and looked at the crowd and said only four words before they went crazy, "Hunting season is open."
"Way to go." Sam laughed.
"I had planned on saying more." He shrugged nonchalantly.
"They love you." Mark added.
When the rally was over Harry headed towards the locker room. But he was stopped by someone yelling his name. He turned to find his three uncles and the two security guards approaching.
"Hi." He let the others go ahead.
"Great speech." Severus offered with a smirk.
"I actually had more to say." Harry shrugged, "But hey they liked it."
"Not as nerve wracking as you thought was it." Sirius clapped him on the back.
"No, it was fine." He sighed.
"We'll see you after the game." Remus gave him a one armed hug and sent him off.
Harry felt it was one of the best games he'd ever played in! It had been a home game and the snitch had stayed in sight the entire night and he had zoomed all over the pitch. It had been amazing! They had won 350 to 50. When they landed after the game they were shaking the other team's hands when someone grabbed Harry and turned him around.
"It's you. I knew I recognized you. You may try to hide but I know you." Cornelius Fudge was staring at him with a wide grin, "This is great you can come back and straighten it all out and I can have what should be mine."
"I think you've confused me with someone else." Harry tried to pull away, he wanted to look for his uncle's but he didn't dare take his eyes off Fudge, "I'm not who you think."
Sam grabbed Harry's other arm, "Hey Arcane come on we have to go."
"You heard her." He tried to pull away again.
"No you can't." he pulled his wand, "You are coming with me to straighten this out now."
"Let go of him." Maggy and Shane approached with their beater bats.
"This doesn't concern you." Fudge growled, "Now stand back we're leaving."
"I'm not going with you." Harry repeated like he was talking to a small child, "Let go or I'm pressing charges!"
"It is your responsibility to come back and do your duty." Fudge looked stern, "You owe us that."
"I don't owe you anything." Harry wished they allowed wands on the pitch. He'd like nothing more than to hex the man before he gave up his cover.
"I have a port key right here now just take hold." He ordered then pointed his wand at Sam, "Or else."
Harry was just about to touch it when he saw a red light out of the corner of his eye, "Duck!"
His team mates followed his order and left a surprised Fudge standing alone to get hit by the stunner. Harry dropped from his crouch onto his back and breathed a sigh of relief. Tonks was the first to arrive and held her wand on Fudge. She was followed by Kingsley, Selwain, Sirius and Remus. Coach Brad reached them from the other side. Mercedes was the last to arrive and fell on Harry giving him a hug.
"Are you alright?" Kingsley asked.
"Yes." Harry closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Mercedes.
"That was scary." Mercedes whispered.
"Didn't feel that bad luck day coming did you." Mark sat beside him.
"Nope." He grinned.
"It was hidden behind all good luck." Sam took his other side and Mercedes sat up beside her.
Harry sat up as several pops were heard nearby. Richard Montgomery was among the aurors as they arrived, of few of whom Harry recognized.
"We meet again Mr. Arcane." One of them greeted him, "What is it with these people always after you?"
"Just lucky I guess." He sighed.
"Did he say what he wanted you for?" Richard asked.
"He said I had to straighten things out so he could have what should be his." Harry told them what he had said.
"He's tried to steal from Mr. Arcane before." Kingsley stated, "We talked about this last year."
"I recall." Richard grinned as several goblins appeared.
"Good he didn't get you." Ragnok was one of the goblins.
"Not through lack of trying." Sam offered, "He has a portkey and told Harry to touch it or else and then pointed his wand at me. Harry was reaching for it then stopped and told us to duck. A red spell come from the right and hit him."
"My stunner." Tonks offered.
"We'll need pensieve memories." The auror Harry knew told them, "Well done. Are you sure you don't want to be an auror. You've got good instincts."
"No thank you." Harry sighed, "How are you Ragnok?"
"I'm fine Harry." He crouched down, "Did he hurt you?"
"No, did you know he was here?" Harry asked.
"We did but he was supposed to be in Washington DC and not leave the area." Ragnok offered, "We know he was meeting a relative. We kept an eye on him but the two switched places."
"What was his relative's name?" Harry asked.
"John Bartlett." he could tell Harry recognized the name, "Do you know him?"
"Coach Brad, did you know what Bartlett's father's name was?" Harry called over.
"John, why?" several people looked up at the conversation.
"He's the one who told Fudge about me." Harry answered all the questioning looks.
"How did you know him?" Richard asked.
"His son tried out for the seeker spot on our team." Brad offered, "He kept trying to hurt the other seekers so I kicked him out. He and his son came back later and threw a fit and we had to call the aurors after he punched our Principal Dan."
"Are there any other idiotic Fudge relatives we should watch out for?" Harry flopped back onto the grass.
"No." Ragnok grimaced, "His father had one brother and both of them had only one child. Bartlett took his mother's name when let England trying to escape charges of bribery."
"Giving or taking?" Harry asked, "Because it runs in the family."
"He was doing the bribing." Ragnok explained with a chuckle.
"I wonder how he recognized me?" Harry sighed.
"We'll be finding that out." Ragnok frowned, "Mr. Montgomery would you please take us to the man Bartlett?"
"Our President asks that you allow him to know a bit more about Mr. Arcane." Montgomery stated as they turned away, "The attention he's getting is… troubling him."
"I will discuss it with him." Ragnok agreed, "Lead the way."
It took a while for the furor of that episode to blow over. Almost everyone already knew the story about his parents being killed and Harry being raised by his uncles, they did not know that he was in hiding. However over the weeks it spread around that he was very wealthy and that ex-ministers from England were trying to steal his inheritance. When Home Coming rolled around he had girls asking him to go left and right.
"Mercedes, do you remember when we talked about a time when I would need a favor." Harry huffed after sitting beside her, "Well, I need that favor."
"Of course Harry." She answered quietly but no one was near to hear, "I will pretend to be your girlfriend to keep the evil gold digging witches away. Remember I really only have time at school for it."
"And Home Coming?" he asked.
"Yes of course." She grinned looking over the book she had been reading when he arrived, "Can't miss our standing date."
"You are a life saver." He grinned, "And a good friend."
"Of course I am." She sniggered as another girl walked up and began to bug him, "I have to go for now."
"See you later?" He asked trying to ignore the other girl.
"Of course." Mercedes leaned in and kissed him on the mouth, "Hmm, that was nice."
"You should already know all my kisses are nice." Harry pulled her back and kissed her again before letting her go.
"So you've got a date." The girl huffed.
"I'm sorry did you say something?" Harry didn't turn to look at her.
"Nothing." The girl left.
Sam approached him at the end of the day just as he was headed to practice, "Everyone is saying you and Mercedes are together and that you've been seen kissing her."
He pulled her into the locker room and whispered, "We've agreed to pretend we're together. She only has time for it at school."
"What if one or the other of you decides you really like it?" she hissed.
"I'd date her if she were interested." Harry offered, "And she knows it. She is just being a friend. I like her enough to date her but neither of us is ready for a real relationship."
"What will you do when the ruse is over?" she asked, "How will you end it?"
"If we need to end it before school is out we'll say we decided to just be friends." Harry explained, "Otherwise it won't matter because we're going different directions after graduation."
"Did you plan this in advance?" Sam looked exasperated.
"Sort of." Harry shrugged, "Last year after the Fudge scare in DC we talked about a time when the news of my wealth would hit the school. She even suggested the idea."
"Can I tell Mark?" she asked.
"Only after you go home." He sighed, "It won't work if any of us is overheard."
When Harry reached home he tried to prepare himself for the teasing he was about to receive. He took a deep breath as he opened the front door and entered, "I'm home."
"In the kitchen." Sirius' voice called.
Harry entered the room and sat at the table just as dinner was being served. Everyone was in the room, "How was your day?"
"Fine." Sirius grinned as they all dug into the food, "We have another potion for Moony to try next week."
"Good." Harry looked to Severus, "Anything I can do to help?"
"No we're fine." He replied, "How was your day?"
"Well..." he paused then rushed it out, "MercandIarepretenddatingtokeeptheothergirlsaway."
"That was too fast for even my ears." Remus grinned.
"Merc is helping me out." Harry explained, "Since everyone found out I have money for Fudge to steal I've been bombarded. Mercedes and I had talked about it last year. If news of my wealth broke she'd pretend to date me to keep the leaches away."
"So you and Mercedes are dating now." Sirius half grinned.
"Only pretending to." He sighed, "But it's nice to have someone to hold and kiss now and then."
"If it gets too painful…" Remus put a hand on his shoulder.
"I just wish it were real." He said, "I like Merc and dating would be nice but I know she's not the one to spend the rest of my life with. I do hope I find that person someday."
"We are keeping the names." Sirius reminded him, "You could date her."
"But we really are just friends." He said, "It would never get past the kissing stage."
"Enjoy it while you can." Severus offered, "You both know it won't last just don't hurt each other."
Harry got another surprise Home Coming week. He was nominated for Home Coming King along with Mark and another boy named Carl. Harry was dreading the night of the dance because all he could remember was his first year at Northern and how Barns had looked like he wanted to lengthen his arms to keep the girl away.
He had moped until the girls nominations came out. Susan, a nice girl in his potions class, Amanda, a fan girl/gold digger and Mercedes were the nominations for queen. He wouldn't mind being King if Mercedes or Susan were Queen. The week had been full of odd clothes, the game had been won and now he was standing beside Mercedes as the votes were being announced.
"Sorry I smell so bad." He apologized with a grin, she was dressed beautifully.
"You've been worse." Mercedes giggled, "The game two weeks ago was worse."
"No doubt." He chuckled, "Five hour games will do that."
"Two hours isn't bad at all." Her breath hitched as the announcer began.
"Three couples have been selected to have a chance to be our King and Queen for the night. The first couple is Mercedes Raine and our Seeker Hunter, also known as Harry Arcane."
Harry slowly led her out to the middle of the pitch, she had heels on, and they turned around to face the home stands. The announcer went on to introduce the other two couples.
"I hate being…" Harry began.
"The center of attention unless you're in the air." Mercedes finished, "You really say that far too much."
"Because I keep getting thrust in the spot light." He huffed.
"Must be a natural gift." She giggled at him.
"And now I have here the tally of the votes." The announcer interrupted them, "Congratulations to Mercedes and Harry."
Mercedes parents and Harry's uncles were brought from the side lines to stand behind them as the previous winners crowned the two of them. Once all the pictures were taken Harry was allowed to go shower and get ready for the dance. More pictures were taken by Mercedes' mother and Sirius before they were allowed to go. The King and Queen dance was slow and in the spotlight. Harry ignored everything and just concentrated on not stepping on her feet in front of everyone. Luckily it was only the first dace and the rest of them he was in the shadows with the rest. He was exhausted when he got home later that evening.