Nasrin awoke in the infirmary, Ariel curled tight around her neck and Melody, now a Jigglypuff, patting at her hair with soft, whispering lullabies that made her bones feel like pliant jelly.

"Harry…" She whispered, and Meeko hopped up to chitter anxiously as a curtain was pulled back to reveal a relieved Nurse Poppy.

"There you are, Miss Universe." She greeted tiredly, smiling as Pongo, Snow, Robin and Mulan pressed closer to their trainer. "The others are already awake, and Mister Potter is…taking his Zygarde around to heal those that were petrified with Mister Longbottom and Miss Lovegood."

Releasing a deep breath, Nasrin nodded at this, knowing Harry was not seriously hurt and their friends were alright.

"Can I join them?"

"Of course, Miss Universe. Just a moment."

Harry was just recalling Zygarde when she was wheeled up, and the boy lit up, reaching out to grasp her hand as Robin fluttered over to his shoulder and Meeko hopped onto his lap, ears twitching as Narcissa Malfoy's voice rang through the infirmary.

"Draco!"

Said Slytherin pretended to be put out by the attention, though his mother continued to fuss, as Lucius turned to Professor Dumbledore.

"Ah, Lucius. As you can see, everything has been set right. Your son is in perfect health, as are the rest of the children."

"Tell me, headmaster, which one of these delinquents is to blame for all of this, and what punishments await them?" The Head of Malfoy asked, looking over the group of reunited Gryffindors.

"None, knowing you." Narcissa muttered indiscreetly.

"None of them." Professor Dumbledore answered evenly. "The culprit was Miss Cho Chang, though it wasn't her fault that this happened."

"Wanting to let the girl off the hook, Albus?" Lucius mocked. "I doubt-"

"She's dead." Neville cut in coldly. "And she died a victim."

"If she died because of the Beast, then she's only a victim of her own hubris!" Narcissa retorted, tidying Draco's hair.

"So quick to pin the blame." Luna stage-whispered, leaning towards Hermione. "Did she learn nothing from the Hurricane?"

"Hurricane?" The bushy-haired girl parroted. "What hurricane?"

"You don't know? Well, this is the story of the Hurricane. The man the authority tried to blame for a crime he never did-"

The half-Veela's singing cut off, blinking.

"Oh. I was hoping this was like a glee club and we'd all begin singing."

She pointed to Narcissa.

"You could be Sue Sylvester!"

Neville and Nasrin glared at the Gym Leader of Dagonet City, daring him to insult Luna, and Lucius wisely held his tongue.

"The girl is dead, then."

"Killed by Voldemort." Harry confirmed.

"His wraith took her over." Nasrin continued, Pongo smiling wolfishly at the Malfoy's half-hidden wince.

"Seems she found a diary."

"There'll be an inquiry on how that got into the school, right?"

"Indeed." Professor McGonagall agreed.

Lucius smiled, though there was nothing pleasant or warm about the expression.

"Well, then I suppose that leaves only one matter at hand. Tell me, headmaster, are the rumors true? Does Mister Potter control the Beast of Slytherin?"

"If you're referring to the Zygarde that Harry caught in the Chamber, then yes."

"And you think it wise to allow a mere twelve-year-old train such a creature?"

Nasrin's knuckles went white on the armrests, and Harry reached out to squeeze her fingers, a quick glance relaxing the half-Gem's anger into a sharp smile.

"I don't know about the wisdom of it, but it isn't for me to judge." Professor Dumbledore replied. "Harry caught his Zygarde properly, and didn't break any school rules doing so. I have no reason to demand him release it. I doubt very much parents would want to give me the right to tell their children which Pokemon they can or cannot have."

"I'm not asking you to force the boy to release it, headmaster. That would only cause problems." Lucius assured smoothly. "No. I believe that it would be wiser for this Zygarde to be held by another party until young Harry is mature enough to handle it."

"Someone like you?" Professor McGonagall challenged coldly.

"That will be for the Council of Gym Leaders to decide."

"Why not Remus?" Ron suggested from Ginny's side.

"Despite who owns him now, that Beast once belonged to Salazar Slytherin. It is of cultural significance, and must be protected. The Council of Gym Leaders will have to choose a proper, experienced trainer."

"And you have enough of them in your pocket…" The male Weasley muttered.

"Yes, yes, I do believe I will have a meeting with Minister Fudge so we can arrange a full debriefing of these events and decide how to best handle this Pokemon." Lucius decided, as if unaware of Ron's words. "Perhaps, Mister Potter, you should pass Zygarde to me for now, so you aren't burdened to bring him in later. I would hate to force you to miss even an hour of lessons."

"Mister Malfoy, I don't think I should do." Harry answered, continuing before the man could argue. "I don't want a tribunal, and you're right."

He pulled out a Ball, Robin flapping her wings sharply just once.

"I'm not the right trainer to have this Pokemon."

"Harry!" The Weasleys shouted, though Nasrin's quick glance quieted them.

"Mister Malfoy, I think I would rest easier if you had this Pokemon."

"That's very wise of you!" Lucius praised, already reaching for the Ball-

But Harry pulled it back.

"But I want to make sure we come to a proper arrangement. You're the Head of the House of Malfoy, and I will be the Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter. We need to treat such an exchange with dignity."

Nasrin's smile was all fang at Lucius' forcefully blank expression, Snow snorting daintily.

"I want your oath that, after this trade, no one can force a trade of Zygarde. Not Fudge, not the Gym Leaders, no one. I don't want someone else who doesn't deserve him showing up trying to get Zygarde."

"I swear as the Head of House Malfoy and representative of the Council of Gym Leaders that after this exchange, no more discussion will be made on trading Zygarde." Lucius swore with a raised hand.

"I also want a Pokemon in return." Harry continued. "I worked hard to get Zygarde. It almost cost me my life, and I don't want to give him away for nothing."

"A fair demand." He agreed. "I have a full supply of Pokemon. My family raises Snivy, as you know."

Draco balked at the thought of his enemy having a Malfoy Family Pokemon.

"I want the Kadabra you brought to question Hermione."

"May I ask why?" The man asked, eyebrow raised.

"I thought he looked cool."

After a moment of consideration, Lucius nodded.

"Deal."

"And your cane." Luna called out. "I always wanted a cane."

"And your cane for Luna." Harry agreed, Melody's smile every inch as fierce as her trainers'. "I'm giving you a Legendary. I think the cane is only fair."

Relenting, Lucius handed over the beautifully-crafted piece, and Luna grinned, muttering something about pimping not being easy that made Robin snicker.

"Anything else?"

"Nope." Harry answered, popping the p with a smile.

"Very well. Dobby!"

The Kadabra appeared in a flash, tugging nervously on his moustache as Lucius pulled out a Ball.

"Return."

Harry shrank his Ball, inserting it in the trading slot of his Pokedex, and a happy little ping finished their transaction.

"Thank you, Mister Potter. This concludes our deal. I assure you, Zygarde is in good hands."

"I know."

They watched as Narcissa's own Psychic-type teleported the Malfoys away before sharing a grin.

"Well, that went well!"

"Can we go get something to eat?"

"I want waffles!" Luna offered.

"Harry!" Ron nearly wailed. "WHAT THE HELL?"

"What?" Harry and Nasrin replied, blinking.

"How-You-Malfoy-" The Weasley waved his arms about like a Mankey. "You-Him-"

Instead of answering, Harry pulled out the new Poke Ball in his Pokedex.

"Dobby, I choose you!"

There was the familiar red beam, which faded to white light that twisted around before shattering to reveal an Alakazam instead of the Kadabra that had been traded.

Great Harry Potter? Dobby telepathically sent out, surprised.

"An Alakazam." Professor Dumbledore noted with a bemused smile. "Only able to evolve when they absorb a great amount of energy, like the kind that comes from a transfer trade. A very powerful Psychic-type, Harry. Of course, Dobby is still quite young, so he'll need time to develop, but within a few years, I would say he'll be quite strong. A brilliant trade, if I do say so myself."

"That might be, professor." Hermione voiced, speaking up for the first time since this whole debacle ended. "But Harry still gave up Zygarde to Lucius Malfoy! He's the one that did all this, and he gets rewarded."

"Who said I traded Zygarde?" Harry wondered innocently, Ariel giggling as Meeko leaned close to greet Dobby.

"You!" Ginny sputtered. "You did!"

"I don't remember him saying that." Nasrin mused, Pongo and Snow wearing matching smiles as Harry once more released Zygarde.

"I think Mister Malfoy was right, though." The Potter admitted, patting the Beast's snout. "I can't have Zygarde here with me at school. I won't learn anything if I'm focused on trying to get him to obey. For now, I'll leave him with Remus, and when I'm older, I'll reclaim him."

"But…" Ginny stammered, confused. "But…"

Robin ruffled up her feathers proudly.

"He said he'd trade Lucius a Pokemon." Nasrin reminded them.

"I never said which one." Harry finished. "Ron, Emolga's yours."

"What?" Ron squeaked. "Harry, no. I won't let you give him up…"

"I'm not. We made a trade before I went down into the Chamber, and I'm quite happy with it. I have no desire to trade back."

The half-Gem nodded, reaching out to pat Dobby's head.

"And even if he wanted to, I'm afraid he can't."