DISCLAIMER THE FIRST: It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the grace of coffee that thoughts acquire speed, the back acquires strains, the strains become a warning. The warning is that I make no money from this. It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion.
PITHY STATEMENT RELATING TO THIS CHAPTER: "You may try but you can never imagine what it is to have a man's form of genius in you, and to suffer the slavery of being a girl." – Mary Ann Evans – English journalist & novelist best known under the pseudonym George Eliot (1819-1880)
LAST UPDATED: 07-06-2015
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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE – THE SMILE WHICH HIDES A DARK SOUL
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HEADMASTER'S OFFICE, HOGWARTS, SCOTLAND, NOVEMBER 3rd 1996 – EARLY EVENING
Dumbledore waited patiently as all of the staff made their way out of his officer save for Severus who lurked in the shadows under the portrait of Phineas Black. The Headmaster had often idly wondered if that corner of the office was dark because of the portrait's dour demeanor or had the portrait been hung there since it tended towards shadow?
Finally he was alone with the head of Slytherin to whom he gestured to the seat closest to the teas service, "Come Severus; we have important matters to discuss."
Snape's lips twitched as if sneering was his default facial option when spoken to but the greasy-haired wizard did as he was asked.
Dumbledore pour himself so more tea and then poured some for Snape who accepted it without comment. The two sat and sipped in silence for a moment.
Finally Snape broke the silence, "And what matters are we to discuss, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore sighed, "At the risk of sounding disappointed, I must say I am rather surprised you are still alive, Severus."
Snape's rose one eyebrow is mild surprise, "You think that Potter would kill me like Weasley?"
Dumbledore shook his head, "No and while I agree Ronald Weasley's death is suspicious, I cannot deny both Mr. Potter and Ms. Black's point that it could indeed be a frame. Considering that was exactly what we were planning with the late Mr. Weasley, it may be there are other players involved. I doubt the Dark Lord would just send Mr. Malfoy the younger into the fray."
Snape snorted at this, "If you think I know more than I've told you then your are mistaken."
Dumbledore shook his head again, "Oh I trust you Severus but Mr. Malfoy's death is why I'm surprised you are still alive. While an honor duel brings with it many loopholes, these do not apply to an Unbreakable Vow. Given you did nothing overt to stop the match…well it did have me worried when Mr. Malfoy fell at Mr. Potter's hands."
Snape sighed and looked away, "Ah yes. I must admit I had forgotten to tell you about that with all the fallout from that wretched duel. If Draco hadn't been killed I might have risked the Dark Lord's wrath and choke the life out of him myself; oath or no oath. Luckily for me that Potter either wants to kill me himself or Narcissa doesn't want me dead."
Dumbledore looked over the rim of his glasses with a questioning eye, "The former I can believe but why would Narcissa intervene?"
Snape shrugged while still avoiding looking at the Headmaster, "I am not sure. When she showed up at my office the day of the duel, all she said was she didn't believe that Draco's actions in challenging Potter in such a way should bring about my death." Snape turned back to Dumbledore with a slight look of irritation, "It seemed she had little faith you would be able to stop the duel."
Dumbledore sighed as he leaned back in his throne-like chair before taking another sip of his tea, "I knew it was a long-shot. I had hoped that the repercussions from Mr. Potter coming into even more political power with Mr. Malfoy's death would allow some rules to be broken. Sadly I believe that even many of House Malfoy's allies have reasons to see them brought low."
Snape laughed bitterly at this, "The danger of using money to control your enemies and allies I suppose. I can think of at least three major Houses which would love to renege on the money they owe to Lucius. Especially now given with Lucius scrambling to keep afloat, he is calling in many of those debts. Indeed I'm surprised the Dark Lord has made good on his threat against Lucius. If Potter kills Malfoy, he will take everything Lucius has left but if the Dark Lord does it, it then falls to the Ministry.
Dumbledore stroked his beard, "Quite true but you of all people should know of Voldemort's ego. Taking it from the Ministry should he take over is not the same as taking everything from Potter. With Mr. Potter surprise move to buy out House Bulstrode's debt to House Malfoy, I wonder if the Dark Lord isn't waiting to see who throws in with Harry. Riddle always did seem to enjoy destroying those who went behind his back."
Snape pursed his lips, "House Malfoy might as well be extinct. Between what I know of both of Lucius as well as the Dark Lord, I would be surprised if Lucius isn't dead before Yule. Lucius is probably thinking along these lines. Revenge is all that he has left to say nothing of wanting to put an end to House Potter before House Malfoy is brought low. The question is will the Dark Lord be watching him close enough to keep him from making the attempt?"
Dumbledore nodded at this. He himself knew both men well enough to realize the truth in Snape's assessment. The question was would Lucius get killed trying to take revenge on Potter before the Dark Lord finally got fed up with him given he brought nothing to the Death Eater table now that House Black had brought him to heel?
Once again both men sat in silence for a moment, content to just sip their tea and think their own thoughts. Finally Dumbledore broached the second topic he wished to discuss, "You may be surprised to know that my meeting with Mr. Potter on Wednesday actually went rather well. While he still has those damnably strong mental shields and is far too snippy for one his age, the history lesson regarding the young Tom Riddle went off without a hitch. When speaking of this, Mr. Potter was engaged and kept the level of animosity he has previously shown to a minimum."
Snape scowled at this, "Do you really think your plans can go forward at this stage. Everything has changed! Even your precious Order is fracturing over Potter! The Tonks brat has even gone so far to resign from the Aurors when they refuse to let her go on detached duty to tutor Potter now that he refuses to enter my DADA classes."
Dumbledore frowned slightly, "Yes losing Nymphadora is a bit of a blow but what is worse is Director Bones only refused her request because the way the current DMLE rules are written. Otherwise she had no problem with it. Given any contract between Mr. Potter and the DMLE is not something we want, Nymphadora being let go is a boon for us."
"Good riddance I say!" Snape said with a sneer. "Her powers of disguise are nothing to the power of the Dark Lord and her performance at the fight at the Ministry showed her obvious lack of control. What is the point of controlling your body if you can't keep from tripping on your own feet?"
Normally Dumbledore would chide Severus over a comment like this but reluctantly he had to admit the truth of it. Nymphadora had also been earnest and rambunctious in Order meetings and she often made others like Hestia Jones waver in agreeing in lockstep with everything he proposed. Besides they still had Kingsley in the DMLE as well as Mad-Eye's connections.
"In regards to your question, no I do not believe my original plan will work. However, for all the changes we've seen this year in Mr. Potter, his ability to defend others remains unchanged. It this "saving people thing" as Ms. Granger so inelegantly put it which makes me feel the original plan is useless but the original outcome is still possible."
"In Merlin's name how?" Snape asked clearly exasperated.
Dumbledore shrugged with a slight smile touching his lips, "For all his bravado of late, Harry Potter remains one who grew up being told he was worthless. The Dursleys taught lessons which are not so easily evaded. I'm sure Mr. Potter feels rather clever in thinking he can create a coven in Hogwarts under my very nose. Yet all he has done has created an entire pool of witches to put pressure on. The more witches, the more the pressure I can use to convince him that sacrificing himself to protect them is the best course of action."
Snape scowled at this, "While that certainly is true, you are setting yourself against a lot of families with one being the director of the DMLE! The Patils especially have reason to back Potter and now the Browns as well. With Draco's death and Parkinsons a concubine of Potter, this gives him some leverage on the Parkinsons as well."
Dumbledore chuckled, "Ah but Severus that is exactly the point. The more Mr. Potter grows in power, the easier it is me to cast him as a potential future villain. Or even simply a growing political force with little idea of his goals. You know very well, my friend, that the entrenched power of the families does not like to be challenged. Harry Potter is a major power and he has not even left Hogwarts. That is enough to get the wheels working against him. Director Bones has enemies and the Patils are seen as foreign. Plus I'm surprised you forget how many of the witches we suspect are in his coven are of no account half-bloods or muggleborn."
Snape shook his head, "I am just stating my objections now. I know you'll bloody well do what you want; you always have. Remember, however, if things do go pear shape that I warned you not to be complacent. You haven't stared in Potter's eyes at wand point like I have."
Dumbledore laughed, "Oh come now Severus! You have been in my company for years now as well as Voldemort. You cannot seriously be comparing Harry Potter to wizards such as Riddle and myself?"
Snape glowered through half-lidded eyes, "It is because of such associations that I believe I am the best to make such a comparison. Mark my words, Potter is trouble."
Dumbledore laughed again as he tapped his wand on his desk's secret compartment, "Now Severus, I think you've been away from what a true powerful wizard is really about for too long. My word, what better time to prove it then now?"
He pulled out one of his phials and wiggled it at Snape, "Shall we?"
Snape nostrils flared and his face was flush in what easily could be anger but after a few moments he curtly nodded.
"Excellent! Now let me show you why Harry Potter is naught but a shadow to me!" Dumbledore said as he stood and gesture for Snape to follow him.
OoOoO
Harry looked at the Marauder's Map again and frowned. Neither Dumbledore nor Snape had returned to the office. Harry had gotten a glimpse of the Headmaster's private chambers earlier in the week when the Headmaster had showed him pensieve memories of his contact with the young Tom Riddle. They weren't there so Harry felt they must have flooed somewhere.
It was a huge risk he was taking but right now it was one Harry felt he had to take.
And due to the risk, Harry was armed as best as he could be. He wore the Armor of Might which he felt could protect him enough for him to escape if things went badly. Harry was more confident of remaining undetected now that started to unravel some of the mysteries of the Hallows. Luna had told him some of the tales and with a little effort had found the Cloak of the Unseen Veil could be made to flow around him like water till it encompassed him. Amazingly he could still hear, see and breathe perfectly.
Of course it was the fact that using it as a regular cloak wouldn't have allowed Ignotus to gain the reputation of hiding from Death throughout his long life. Both Luna and Su LI surmised that now all the Hallows were in one location that more of their powers were becoming easier to access.
Luckily for Harry he also had the Marauder's Map. Quite by accident Harry had found that the Map would show the password to the Headmaster's office if Harry himself knew it. When he had been called to the Headmaster's office Monday to be drilled by the Headmaster and DMLE regarding Ron's death, the Map suddenly showed the password but it dropped off the next day. It appeared on Wednesday after he was given a new password. This password had stayed and was still on the map. It seemed Dumbledore had changed the password on Monday but hadn't changed it lately.
Now the question was how alert the portraits would since even though he'd be completely invisible, any action of his like going through shelves or drawers would be seen. On the plus side, Harry now knew how to feel a Hallow by proximity. Thus if the Serpent Ring was in the Headmaster's office, he'd know it and know mostly where. Harry was confident he could get the ring and use a Black family emergency portkey to escape.
Harry shook his head. Hogwarts wards were supposed to be so strong yet they had so many loopholes and family emergency portkeys were one of them. While one being used would be detected, whose family portkey had been used wasn't registered and even the amount of the portkeys made by each family wasn't known even if the Ministry suggested no more than one for each family member be made.
Once again Harry was amazed how much the Magical world sort of mimicked that classic film, The Wizard of Oz. Too often what seemed powerful was mostly an illusion created by the man behind the curtain. Harry assumed Hogwarts, the great Houses and the Ministry got away with it so often was because everyone was conditioned to believe what they were told.
Hogwarts was safe because the Headmaster said so. Since so many believe it, no one tried and since nothing ever happened, this simply reinforced the idea. Harry almost snorted at that. His own time at Hogwarts had proven how porous the actual defenses of Hogwarts really were. One would think after a loose troll and rampaging basilisk that Hogwarts' safety reputation would be tarnished. But then again, when had most of students been known for logic?
With the Map still showing the Headmaster's office empty, Harry twitched both wrists so that both his wands flew into his hands from his wrist holsters. Steeling himself, even as he once again marveled how the Cloak adjusted to flow over the wands, Harry gave the password, "Smarties!"
Neither gargoyle flinched as the door parted to show the revolving staircase. Harry took a deep breath and stepped onto the staircase. He found he only let it out when he was at the top. Taking another deep breath, Harry cautiously opened the door just enough to slide into the room.
Harry paused and waited. Nothing happened but he waited so more while silently thanking that Fawkes had recently gone through a Burning Day and so was nestled in a bed of hot coals in the Headmasters private chamber. Fawkes had barely chirped at him when Dumbledore had showed Harry when he had asked about the Phoenix's whereabouts. Now all he had to worry about was the portraits…
…or the Headmaster and Snape showing back up.
Still things seemed to be quiet. The portraits were all slumbering and the only noise in the room were a few of the silvery instruments Harry was certain were used to monitor him. Even better was the strong feeling of a Hallow in the room.
Harry moved quickly to the Headmaster's desk and was surprised to find a compartment already open. To Harry's eye it looked like it was some sort of secret one given how an entire side of the desk had swung out to reveal it. Yet there didn't seem to be that much in it even as Harry's face lit up with a smile at seeing the Serpent Ring. In addition to the Hallow, there was the destroyed Riddle diary and some phials of some glittery potion. Beyond that there were only a few rolled up parchments which Harry suspected contained the Headmaster's notes on Voldemort.
With the Dark Lord's memories, such musings weren't needed so Harry grabbed the ring and dropped the fake he had created under the direction of the ghost Damon Gaunt and had gone a few steps back toward the door when a sound stopped him. A sound he was now quite familiar with.
Harry gritted his teeth. Reason warred with the sick feeling in his stomach. Finally reason won and Harry followed the sound into Dumbledore's private rooms. While empty, the sound led him to an open hidden door in the Headmasters vast closet. Many of the clothes were eye-wateringly loud even on the rack!
As Harry got nearer, he was now sure of what he was hearing but he had to be sure. So with a heavy heart, Harry took the final steps and peeked into the room to find what he'd been dreading seeing but not in the way he had expected.
It wasn't that Dumbledore was having sex with Snape which surprised Harry (the sound had given it away) but it was that Dumbledore looked like a wizard in his prime. While seeing a Dumbledore with no wrinkles and a much shorter beard was odd, it was the reddish blond hair which startled Harry. For some reason Harry had thought Dumbledore had had brown hair.
As squicky as the sight was, Harry took it in. Luckily it seemed both men were oblivious in their throes of sexual energy being released. As Harry let his aura out cautiously, he found two curious things. The first was Snape was not under any compulsion or potion. The same couldn't be said of the Headmaster. Harry was sure what whatever was in those phials were responsible for Dumbledore's apparent youth.
Snape's guttural mutterings gave Harry a clue to what was going on. Voldemort's memories had hinted that Dumbledore was gay with a supposed summer romance with Gellert Grindelwald no less. This was readily apparent as Dumbledore continued to thrust into Snape; he kept up a running commentary as if the wizard on all fours was Grindelwald.
What confused him was that Snape had lusted after Harry's own mother. Yet listening to Snape mutter, 'Yes my Lord; give it to me!' caused another memory of Voldemort to surface. One he had not seen before and now wished he hadn't.
It was a memory which made Harry withdraw before he became violently sick. He stumbled out of Dumbledore's rooms and quickly ran to the door without a care if one of the portraits heard him. It wasn't till he had raced down the staircase and far away from the Headmaster's office before he slowed down and took deep breaths to try to calm himself down.
OoOoO
"You realize it's going to be hard to look Professor Snape in the eye ever again, right?" Pansy asked as she rubbed Harry's bare feet.
Harry could feel Padma nod from her position behind him as she rubbed the tension out of his temples, "It's a good thing both of us know occlumency. It'll be hard enough not to give anything away with facial expressions."
Harry totally agreed with that thought as he laid there with his eyes closed while he enjoyed the feeling of his witch's touch. It felt good to be back in his room and around people he didn't have to hide his thoughts from or worry an expression might give away something. Of course this meant that Parvati and Lavender were in the spare bedroom as none of the coven felt they needed to be in the loop for now. Surprisingly Parvati didn't hold a grudge against Lavender and they were still good friends. So much so that both times Harry had shared a bed with one of them, the other was there as well.
So even though Pansy was new to his circle, it was nice to have two people with him who could help block out the memory from Voldemort's past. Harry remembered how earlier in the term he had wondered why Tom Riddle hadn't used his looks, powerful aura and sex to get ahead. Now Harry realized that Tom was truly twisted because he had saved it to use on his followers. For his would be follower to rape and murder to gain the Mark hadn't been enough for the Dark Lord.
No. Voldemort physically took witches and wizards into the Death Eaters in a perversion of the same ritual which was used to create the coven around Harry. The Death Eaters were, in a sense, a coven which sent power to Voldemort through the Mark. A deeply perverted coven which Harry couldn't see as anything but an abomination. He felt deeply unclean now that the memories of so many Death Eaters being bound to Voldemort were surfacing.
After a moment of silence while the two witches worked on Harry, Pansy finally asked, "So Professor Snape is addicted to the aura?"
Harry nodded, "I think while Dumbledore's aura is light compares to Voldemort's dark, the intensity is close enough that Snape can't resist it. I'm sure the actual sex isn't anything compared to the high he gets from the aura. Given how Snape was interested in my mother, it's not for the sex like it is to Dumbledore."
Pansy smirked, "Well I can't fault him for that. Sex with you after Draco is like comparing a kneazle with a lion. Tyra asked me how awful it was to be your concubine and I told her that you'd already ruined me on other wizards."
Harry chuckled happily at this. It didn't help that Padma's rubbing of his temples felt really good. Even with all the precautions, breaking into the Headmaster's office had been stressful. That Dumbledore and Snape had been engaged in a carnal way gave Harry hope that his break-in would go unnoticed.
Of course some of the chuckle was how quickly Pansy had turned against the Dark side. It reaffirmed Harry's belief that ruling through fear just meant your so called followers would turn on you if they got a chance. Then again, Draco had never done right by Pansy so it probably made the transition easier. These thoughts reminded Harry of something.
"Padma, are we still on coven wise?" Harry asked. They needed to initiate Katie into the coven.
"Yes although I think we might want to delay allowing Pansy in even if you vouch for her. It's just too soon. No offense Pansy," Padma said to the witch who had moved up to rubbing Harry's calves.
"None taken. I'd advise against it as well. You all don't know me or probably still see me as an enemy. Plus me being a concubine doesn't mean squat. Look at how Brown or your sister aren't going to be allowed in. I can understand how witches like Bones or Bell might be very suspicious of me," Pansy replied easily.
Harry snorted, "Well it's not really about trust in the case of Lavender and Parvati. They simply don't bring anything to the table. You, on the other hand, do."
"Of course that she has the bond with you means you don't really need to bring her into the coven," Padma pointed out. "Luna seems to think that Pansy isn't one of the four who will make up the Slytherin contingent."
Harry nodded at this, "True. Besides it's not like she can't give us her opinions now. Though I have to say I'm surprised at you Pansy. I've gotten to know you quite…deeply but who would have thought you would switch sides so quickly? Just goes to show you should never take people for granted."
Pansy shrugged, "It really shouldn't surprise you. I think we all have forgotten that Light and Dark used to mean different things and are supposed to be more complementary than adversarial. I mean the night isn't evil or the day good; both are just one part of the whole. Then again there are a lot of people on the Dark side which have been muttering that perhaps Voldemort isn't the champion they want but for them it's too late. I know Tyra only pays lip service to the whole creed. She's rather terrified of her uncle Thorfinn. A lot of the girls in Slytherin are like that."
"Why is that?" Padma asked.
Harry wondered about this as well. This wasn't the first time Pansy had something like this since she had become his concubine after the death of Draco.
"It's really quite simple. You look at the children of those from marked Death Eaters and you see them either being stupid, vicious, or just wrong somehow. Draco, Vinnie and Greg, Miriam Jugson and even old Marcus Flint. You compare them to their parents when they were in Hogwarts and you see a big difference. And believe you me, our generation has noticed it. Do you think we want to have our children addled before they are even born?" Pansy asked.
"Ah," Harry said. It made sense. Magic always had a price and the Dark Mark was a nasty piece of work so it wasn't a surprise the price might be generational.
"Yes that does make sense. Lilith had talked about that very possibility and Narcissa has made a comment or two that marries up with that," Padma agreed.
Pansy laughed, "Well she saw it in her own son. I got to see first hand her trying to pound some sense into his thick skull but all he listened too was his father's stories of glory and Voldemort's power."
Harry made a disgusted noise, "Lucius was parroting the party line because he had no choice although I'm sure he was just as enraptured by Voldemort as Snape is. Ron used to make snide comments about Death Eaters doing a bit more when "bowing" before Voldemort. Now I have to wonder how much that might actually be true."
Padma sighed, "Well at least Dumbledore was actually doing it for the sex."
Harry made a face, "Yeah. Of course it's probably a good thing Snape was dreaming of Voldemort given how Dumbledore kept calling him Gellert. Makes me wonder about Draco. I thought he was just a pervert going after younger boys like his dad is rumored to do. Now I now I have to wonder if it's because of the Dark Mark's corruption."
"That doesn't explain the late, unlamented Weasel," Pansy pointed out.
Harry shook his head, "It was never about sex for Ron. It was about power and him trying to prop up his low self-esteem. Then again, when I think about it, Ron was always like Draco. Luna thinks Molly Weasley did something so as to have more kids. Perhaps it addled Ron similar to how Draco may have been corrupted because I doubt it was ever about the sex for Ron either."
"Who would have thought all those rumors about Dumbledore and Grindelwald would actually turn out to be true?" Pansy asked.
Padma chuckled, "The truth is often stranger than fiction. Besides, my father had often wondered why such a powerful wizard as Dumbledore never married. Even with his father dead, the pressure from society for him to continue the minor House of Dumbledore would be extreme."
Pansy laughed, "Especially since his brother seems more interested in farm animals than witches or wizards for that matter."
"He can have them. Leaves more witches for me," Harry joked.
"Oh poor Harry! Are you worried that all your witches aren't enough for your mighty penis?" Pansy asked mockingly.
Harry couldn't help but grin, "Well it is a pretty mighty penis."
He took the swat in the head from Padma stoically. Of course it helped that he felt Pansy's hands move from his calves upwards.
"I think perhaps we might need to test that. You did have a traumatic experience seeing what you did tonight," Pansy cooed.
Harry continued to grin as he felt Padma take off her blouse so she could 'massage' his temples with her breasts instead of her fingers. "True. We can't have Harry squick out on us. The other girls would be furious."
As Pansy undid his trousers and Padma continued to rub her soft breasts up and down on his face, Harry had to admit that this was definitely a better way to deal with shocking events than the brooding he used to do.
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5th FLOOR CORRIDOR, HOGWARTS, SCOTLAND, NOVEMBER 8th 1996 – EARLY EVENING
Harry closed the storeroom door with a smile. He cast a few spells to clean himself up while marveling at the "no magic in the halls" rule which he had so previously held to. Like the issue with wards and portkeys, Harry now knew that except for a portrait snitching on you, unless a prefect or teacher saw you, there actually wasn't any detection method set up to catch students. Which was odd given how with a castle so saturated with magic it seemed it would be easy. If the wards could be used to power something like the Marauder's Map, Harry felt it could easily be made to detect students doing magic in the hallways.
Harry reached down and rubbed his crotched while making a satisfied sigh of pleasure. He doubted that even without the events of last term he would have fallen for Astoria's trick. Constant vigilance from Moody might seem paranoid but in Harry's case, the paranoia was warranted. The Marauder's Map had alerted Harry to who was actually waiting for him after he had gotten 'Daphne's' message.
Curiosity had him walk into 'the trap' and enjoyment kept him there. Of course Harry felt that he had definitely exceeded the girl's expectations. Beyond the whole plot for him to try and impregnate as many witches as he could get away with, Harry felt he owed both girls given how they had been the one's to find Ron's mangled corpse.
Harry began to make his way towards the kitchens. While he could easily get food taken to his room, Harry liked to hit the kitchens everyone once and a while. Sometimes the elves let slip some info about goings on about the castle they didn't realize they were giving.
As he made his way, hurrying to get there curfew, Harry thought about the tryst he'd just enjoyed. For all the rumors that Romilda was a little tart who consorted with Slytherins, Harry had found her rather demure and it was obvious it was Astoria who wore the trousers in the relationship. Odd considering how her sister acted just the opposite.
"My Lord Black?"
Harry's wand was out, up and the tip glowing with an evil blood red light. Only the fact that his aura detected no menace had kept Harry from instinctively firing a lethal curse. He was shocked at how he hadn't realized he was walking right up to the blonde witch who as standing in front of an empty class room door. A blonde who was now looking at her feet.
Speak of the devil, Harry couldn't help but think.
"Ms. Greengrass; perhaps you shouldn't startle someone lost in thought. It might of ended…badly for you."
"I'm sorry, My Lord. It was not my intention to startle you," Daphne said in the quiet, defeated tone she always seemed to use. She also hadn't raised her head while she spoke.
"What was your intention? I doubt you just hang around empty corridors for the hell of it," Harry asked as he lowered his wand but projected his aura out. Interestingly he could feel another person in the room behind Daphne. It didn't take much thought to realize who it must be. "I take it Tracey wants to talk with me?"
Daphne's head came up with a jerk, her mouth opening as if to begin to ask how he knew before she quickly got her face under control. "Yes, that is correct. She has an offer for you."
Harry's raised an eyebrow in away others would recognize as being a mannerism many Hogwarts students unconsciously picked up from Snape. "Indeed? My Draco is not a fortnight dead and all sorts of snakes are coming out of their holes to speak with me. What's this offer about?"
Daphne colored slightly and once again lowered her head so she wasn't looking Harry in the eyes.
Harry frowned at this, "Come on Daphne, you have to give me more than that."
Daphne shook her head, "It is not my place to say, my Lord."
Harry harrumphed at this, "You mean Tracey told you not to say anything. Well I've had it up to here with Tracey and whatever leash she has on you. Open her up and let's get this over with."
Daphne nodded and turned and opened the door and slipped inside.
Harry quickly turned, "Dobby!"
In an instant, the elf popped next to him, "The great Harry Potter bez calling Dobby?"
"Dobby, I want you to keep watch on what's going on and don't be seen. But go tell Padma or Pansy I'm here first," Harry ordered quickly. "Go!"
Dobby nodded vigorously before disappearing.
Harry mentally readied the Cloak which he kept on him at all times now. Being able to control its shape, Harry kept it wrapped around him under his shirt. Since he could mentally call it to cover him, Harry felt it was one of his better tricks in case something went badly.
Although he doubted Tracey meant him any overt harm. She was the type who wanted to see your eyes after stabbing you in the stomach. So while he flicked his Peverell wand in and then back for a test, Harry walked into the room feeling curious but not too threatened.
This feeling quickly changed when he found Tracey sitting on the teacher's table while Daphne knelt to one side of her. From both witches' body language Tracey might as well be holding a chain attached to a collar on Daphne's neck.
Now that he focused on them, he noticed that the auras of both girls seemed to imply some sort of bond not unlike a concubine bond. But that wasn't possible was it?
It also didn't help that while Tracey didn't seem to be exuding any hostile intent, her aura felt wrong to Harry in a way which almost reminded him of Voldemort. Not twisted and evil but more of how Tom Riddle had felt before he destroyed the diary. That feeling of superiority and self-importance. Harry didn't like the coincidence. Had Tracey come into contact with one of the Horcruxes prior to him destroying them all? The only one Harry could think of was Riddle's school award. Yet except for someone cleaning it via a detention, Harry couldn't think of any way Tracey would come in contact with it. Plus if the Diary was anything to go by, possession took time and a certain amount of participation on the part of the victim.
Or maybe Tracey was just like Tom had been: cunning, ambitious and cut-throat about it.
Tracey's smile didn't help. To someone new to Hogwarts, it might seem inviting. It also didn't help how Tracey was very beautiful in her austere sort of way. She was like the flip-side of Tyra Rowle. One blonde, pale and cool while the other dark, volatile and hot.
"My Lord Potter-Peverell-Black; so good of you to come," Tracey all but cooed.
Harry couldn't help but cock his head a bit in surprise while asking the question with his eyes.
Tracey laughed. It was rich and fluid; like liquid chocolate which incidentally was often the color Harry associated with Tracey's skin.
"You're wondering about the lack of accent, yes? Well first rule of Slytherin is misdirection and it's so much easier to get what you want down when people think you're stupid colonial who can barely handle the Queen's English. So I play the part of country bumpkin and nobody looks twice. Plus force in Slytherin is usually applied subtly even if Draco's use of Vinnie and Greg was about as subtle as a kick in the kiwis. Me? I can be the angry witch who might even know some voodoo and get away with smacking people around."
"And have you? Smacked them around I mean?" Harry asked.
Tracey's smile was still as sweet as Honeyduke's chocolate but only if that chocolate was attached to a shark. "Not as much as you might think, my Lord. A few early examples and now my reputation does the rest. It can be ever so effective when a Firstie can take down some upper classmen. Most of the time before anyone can try anything, that story gets brought up and they decide discretion is more appropriate than just rushing in like a Gryffindor."
"I would take exception to that if I didn't resemble that remark so well," Harry said dryly. "So, Tracey Davis, what are you offering and why would I buy what you're selling?"
Tracey's smile deepened to show even more of her startlingly bright teeth. This time the smile made it into her eyes as they shown with anticipation. "One might think I've waited too late given how you are surrounded by witches. Yet I wanted you to drink the various vintages so you'd know a rarity worth paying the price for when you saw it."
Harry's eyes narrowed at this but before he could say anything, Tracey gave Daphne a nudge with her foot. The blonde immediately rose to her feet and dropped her school robes to the floor leaving her naked except for her black stockings and shoes.
Harry took a deep breath to steady himself. Tracey was right; he had been surrounded by some beautiful witches and some, like Narcissa and Tonks, were downright beauties. Yet for some reason none of them compared to Daphne. He couldn't pin it down to what was so enticing about her other than in simply drinking in her mostly nude form, Harry wondered if she wasn't designed by an Arithmancer given how her proportions seemed perfect.
Indeed Harry had to wonder if the Greengrasses didn't have some Veela in their heritage. While Daphne had not a hint of the sexual aura Fleur had, she seemed too perfect to be real. That she was real and right in front of him had his manhood stiffening rapidly even after the long bout of sex he just had with Daphne's own sister and Gryffindor friend.
Tracey looked down at the bulge growing in Harry's trousers, "I see that I was correct. You do know a prime filly when you see one."
Harry couldn't help but scowl at this, "She's a witch, not an animal, Tracey."
Tracey laughed, "Oh Harry, can I call you Harry? For all your power, you refuse to acknowledge the reality of our world. There are people like Dumbledore and the Dark Lord and then there is everyone else. People say they want democracy and good will among men and all that but the lives we live? The strong rule the weak and for the most part the weak are perfectly okay with that. In my book, if a person acts like a sheep then name them by their actions."
She cut him off before Harry could respond, "Now I know you probably are going to say I'm just spouting Pureblood racism but I'm not. I'm talking power. You have it and lots of it. And what has it gotten you? More power. I'm betting your thinking of creating a coven if you haven't done so already. And why not? You gain more power and the witches get a leg-up with you."
Harry was shocked at this but kept it off his face, "Coven's are illegal." And not well known in England but then again Tracey was born in Jamaica. For all he knew, covens where in the stories just as often as they were in India and China.
Tracey laughed, "So is being a Dark Lord bent on toppling the Ministry but that's not stopping him. The Headmaster breaks so many rules I don't know why we even pretend he's a paragon of the Light. He gets away with it because of his power. Now from where I sit in Slytherin, the problem is most people with power get drunk with it, misuse it or forget that the people united are a power of their own. Avoid that and you can use your power to do pretty much what you want. Sort of like what you've been doing. It helps that over the centuries, those in power have written the rules to promote their brand of power. You've done very well in such a short time learning to use those rules for your advantage."
Harry frowned at this but didn't say anything. He had to admit Tracey really wasn't doing anything but describing the underlying reality of Magical Britain. He didn't have to like it but he couldn't deny the truth of it.
Tracey nudged Daphne with her foot again, "Now this little filly got herself into some trouble. She thought she had power when she didn't. She got in over her head and would have been one of those unfortunately accidents you rarely hear about due to Dumbledore wanting to keep Hogwarts' reputation as 'the safest place in Britain' untarnished. Now back then no one knew I had my own power and I was able to use that to not only save her life but put me on the road to where I am today."
Realization suddenly dawned on Harry. That's why Daphne was so beholden to Tracey. She owed the Jamaican born witch a Life Debt! Yet a such debts didn't make one into a slave.
Tracey seem to read his thoughts, "I told you, she be fine filly who might fight the bit but I broke her and she likes it that way, don't you my pretty?"
Daphne blushed as Tracey stood up gave her a long caress starting from her check down to her buttocks. "Yes mistress."
Tracey chuckled, "Of course you do. I protect you, I give you direction and I keep those bad boys at bay. In return she can keep at trying to best that Granger girl in school. I think she's fooling herself but hey, it keeps her happy. And I like my little filly to be happy. She's very good at making a person happy."
Harry had to smile, "And I'm obviously one who she could make very happy. Yes she's a beauty and I've seen enough to know. But as you said, I've got plenty of witches already. I don't think I want to buy what your selling even as eye-popping as the prize is."
Tracey took a step towards him and made an inviting gesture while giving him an likewise inviting look. Harry realized what she wanted and quickly cast a few diagnostic spells. They came back negative for potions or compulsion type spells. Seeing him satisfied, Tracey molded herself to Harry and whispered in his ear, "Oh I think you'll change your mind if you give her a chance. In fact I can't think of a better time than now. You fucked her sister and that little Gryffindor friend of hers tonight, didn't you?"
Harry had to admit that Tracey smelled wonderful and her skin was as silky as Lavender's. "A gentleman never tells."
Tracey chuckled into Harry's ear which she began to nuzzle. "Well from what I can feel right now, I'm sure they are two puddles of goo. What I'm saying is Daphne is more than just a knockout; she's someone you can save. I mean we all know you can't help but rush in to save the damsel in distress. You can save her from my evil clutches and all that I ask in return is you honestly consider what I'm offering in return."
Harry felt two could play the seduction game as he began to ramp up his aura and slid a hand down the inside of Tracey's thigh. "And what might that be?"
Harry honestly had little idea what Tracey might ask for. The answer was definitely not what he was expecting.
Tracey turned so she could look him in the eyes, "I want to be Mrs. Potter."
Harry blinked at this but Tracey's eyes never waivered. Indeed her whole demeanor had shifted from seductive to coldly serious.
Harry chuckled, "No."
Tracey didn't bat an eye, "No? So quick to reject what I have to offer? For I'm not just offering you a fine piece of ass that has the sort of quick mind you seem to be attracted to. I am practically running Slytherin. Me, a half-blood Jamaican gal. You've done well so far but you need me to help you get over all the tripe you got spoon fed as a kid among the Muggles. To say nothing of all the Greater Good twaddle the Headmaster peddles."
Harry smirked, "Actually I said no because that position has already been filled."
Tracey's only reaction was a raised eyebrow. Daphne, on the other hand, gave an involuntary squeak of surprise. Tracey stared at Harry for a long moment before her eyes closed almost to slits before finally smirking, "Bell."
Harry's smirk turned into the lop-sided grin he was known so well for, "Very good. It seems Daphne isn't the only one with the intellect I am attracted too."
Tracey backed off and released the clasp on her own robe. When it fell to the floor, she was dressed similarly as Daphne; naked except for hose and her shoes. The only difference was her hose was white.
Harry hated to admit it but Tracey's choice of robes really hid how much of a great body she had.
"Well my Lord, I think that perhaps I should get onto the persuading. While it would have been nice to have the power of being the wife of Lord Potter, I think perhaps being Lady Peverell might be better. Old magicks waiting to be rediscovered would suit Daphne well and let's face it, Bell needs my help in learning the realities of our world more than you do."
Harry had to ask, "Not Lady Black?"
Tracey rolled her eyes, "It's far to trite and besides, I'd rather not have to have a team of curse-breakers go through any properties to make it safe for a half-blood like myself to walk into them. Now why don't you let me and my fine filly here show you why my offer is the best deal in town.
OoOoO
Harry was tired. He knew every orgasm he had began to leach more and more energy out of him and when he had followed Daphne into the room, he'd already done quite a lot of that already. At first he wondered if that might be part of the reason Tracey had decided to make her offer today. Perhaps being somewhat magically spent might make him more pliable.
If anything Harry felt more cautious. However the last two hours had been nothing but a deliciously delirious bout of sex between two beautiful witches. In a sense, it was like having sex with a Luna and Padma. One aggressive, one demure. The difference was the demure one wasn't dark and the aggressive one oozed an exciting feeling of danger. The sort of danger which tempted one to try it. Like putting one's tongue on a 9 volt battery. (Although Harry hadn't had much of a choice learning that bit of knowledge given how much Dudley outweighed him.)
Daphne had surprised him. Sex with her was like nothing he had experienced before. She gave herself utterly to him. He had to admit he was beginning to see the attraction. While he did have such power over all his concubines, none really acted towards him nor he to them like he was their master. With Daphne, Harry felt like he was in complete control of her and it was intoxicating.
Ever since his encounter with Voldemort at the Ministry, Harry had been feeling the temptation. Almost all his life he had been the submissive one, the one who rarely spoke against his friends. He had taken Divinations simply because he hadn't been able to say no to Ron. The only reason he hadn't done more in his schooling was that Hermione seemed to push only so far. If she had done just a bit more, he would have folded. Now Harry had gotten the taste of being on the other end of the equation.
And Merlin forbid he liked it!
Harry looked at Tracey who was on her back with her eye closed as Daphne cuddle up next to her. Even as Daphne was giving all she could to him, Harry knew she was doing mostly to please Tracey. Then again, there were moments where the look in Daphne's eyes made Harry feel like she was pleading desperately for Harry to rescue her.
Unfortunately Harry couldn't help but think this was exactly what he was supposed to feel. That Daphne might be truthfully hoping Harry would be her white knight, it was obvious Tracey was banking on it.
Harry let his eyes glide up and down Tracey's dark skin body. She had surprised him. That she was aggressive and forthright in her sexuality was of no surprise but what had surprised him was the running commentary she had kept up. She had given suggestion, made lewd comments, whispered dirty things into his ear and generally egged him on to even greater heights.
Was this a manifestation of her mastery of manipulation or was it actually an honest indicator of her personality. As they had coupled, rested and coupled again in various positions, Tracey had kept on the topic of power and how those with it needed to use it. She had made sense in one respect: Magical Britain had seen little in the way of improvement under Dumbledore's rule. If not Voldemort, why not Harry she had asked. She used her power over Daphne as if it was her right and Harry had to admit it was an enticing show. That he could fill that role over Daphne thrilled him even as the temptation was dangerous and he knew it.
Harry had to admit she had a point and it was something he had already thought long about given the amazing secret Ragnok had shown him in Gringotts. While Harry couldn't shake the feeling there would be a cost to be paid in defeating both Voldemort and Dumbledore, Katie had been right. Harry had to start looking at what Magical Britain might look like after both Dark and Light Lords had been put down. Who would fill the vacuum?
Tracey wanted it to be him and by extension her through him. She was obviously angling to be the Narcissa of his generation. Unfortunately for Tracey, Harry already had Narcissa! Did he need another one?
Harry bit his lip as his hungry gaze linger on the pair, like night and day cuddling on the bed. Could he resist the offer? Or should he take the risk knowing that the benefit could be impressive? The offer was enticing. Taking on Daphne's life-debt would mean that she would be pliant to him. She could be his secret mistress, the one he could rule over without shame.
Then again, he still had Ginny's life debt to think about and for that matter, Hermione owed him as well. Yet again, Daphne was already immersed into being totally submissive. Could he take someone with a life-debt and break them like Tracey obviously had? Could he not take Tracey up on her offer? He doubted it and that made Daphne that much more valuable.
Then again, why hadn't Tracey simply courted him earlier? It's not like quite a few witches had come crawling out of the stoneworks in hopes of being Lady Potter. She had the body and wit which couldn't help but tempt him. Sure she was calculating but when he thought about it, Narcissa could be as cold as the glaciers around Hogwarts. It didn't mean she was evil.
Something niggled at the back of Harry's mind but try as he might, he couldn't bring it forward. There was something going on here but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It felt like his instincts were warning of danger even as they were pushing him to go for it. Harry couldn't help but wonder if the different family magicks couldn't agree which was the best course of action for him.
OoOoO
Harry sat on the teacher's table and watched as Daphne finished lacing up his shoes for him. It amazed him how she could make this simple act rather sensuous.
He looked up to find Tracey sitting in the chair Hermione would likely take if they had a class in the room. She was staring at him with a knowing look, "Did I not promise you she was amazing? And, for that matter, I'm rather amazing as well am I not?"
Harry nodded, "Correct on both counts. Yet as amazing as the sex was…and yes I will admit a while ago I wouldn't have realize how good it was…I'm still curious as to how you think I'll just accept you as a wife?"
Tracey smiled in that predatory way she was notorious for. "Okay let me walk you through it. Now first, don't try to deny it. I know you've created a coven. I could feel the magic of it on you. My mudda has taught me a lot of magicks not found here in Britain so while everyone else might not feel it, I do."
"What has that got to do with anything?" Harry asked.
"It means you have a pool of witches who all are thinking they've got a shot at you. The problem is too many witches, not enough slots, yeah? Or should I say a bevy of slots and only one tab to fill them," Tracey said a devilish glint in her eye. "Now the way I see it, you've said you're going to marry Bell. I'm no idiot. You and here go way back so I'm thinking it's a love match. Great! Better for me because no matter how big your heart is, she's going to be number one. So that means that the who becomes Lady Black and Lady Peverell can be less about love and more about power and politics."
Harry nodded slowly. It made sense in that Slytherin sort of way, "Go on."
Tracey grinned, "Now even if you want to make a political statement, it still would be better if your Lady Black was a pureblood. You already have your half-blood wife so a bow towards the Purebloods is good, yeah? So this means a political match."
"But I probably have purebloods in my coven you seem so sure I have," Harry pointed out.
"I'm sure you do but the point is in picking one or two of them, you have to disappoint the rest of them. Far better for you to pick none of them. They already are getting a power boost from you, yes? Plus if you read between the lines of the legends, it's pretty obvious they will be getting a piece of you anyway," Tracey pointed out.
Harry nodded at that. It was the same point Susan had made to Sally a month ago. "So you're saying better to bring in an outsider and disappoint all of them equally."
Tracey nodded as she tapped her foot a few times. Daphne, who had simply been kneeling in front of Harry, quickly moved to sit next to her mistress. "Exactly. And who better than me? I bring a take on magic not seen in Britain and via Daphne, I've inroads on many of the neutral Houses. Plus you gain access to my reputation."
Again Harry had to nod at that. In a duel between Susan Bones and Tracey Davis, the betting would be heavy given how the speculation on who was the strongest behind a wand of the witches of their year was fierce. "So where does Daphne come into it?"
Tracey laughed, "She's my good faith gesture. I figure you have had your fill of magically oaths and magical compulsion of the likes of the Goblet of Fire. So instead I formally and magically turn Daphne's life-debt over to you on the promise we shall be wed. You save the girl, I get what I want and both of us still get access to our little blonde filly. Now Bell is feisty and I can work with her. It might take a few fights and a bit of blood but I think she and I will get along fine once we prove each other to each other."
Harry couldn't help but snort at that. Tracey was right; Katie would never back down to Tracey and as first wife wouldn't have to. Yet Tracey as Lady Peverell simply couldn't be ignored. It would be loud and maybe a bit bloody but he could see the two working the boundaries out.
Tracey smiled at Harry's reaction, "You see? I've put a lot of thought into this. I'm not springing this only you on a whim. Ever since I saved Daphne's life, I knew I had a way to get into higher society and get the power I want. You're surrounded by a lot of witches, Harry. I'm sure they've bitched about how it takes a lot of work to get ahead in our world."
Harry nodded. It wasn't impossible given how both the last Minister and current head of the DMLE were witches but again, they were the exception and not the rule. Marrying up still was the most proven way for witches to get ahead in Magical Britain.
"Plus if we move now, it can take the heat away from Bell. You know what a shit storm there will be when you wed. Sure your mother was a Muggleborn but Potters generally skip quite a few generations before marrying another one. That Bell's mother is a squib will be just more thing thrown at her. Marrying us both will focus a lot on me. I mean at least Bell looks the part. Me? They'll be gnashing their teeth that someone like MacDougal or Jones didn't get the spot and so Bell will mostly get lost in the hue and cry," Tracey said with a sly grin.
"That is a good point. I take it you'd like me make the decision sooner rather than later?" Harry asked dryly.
Tracey shrugged, "A lot of people are going to try to talk you out of it. Then again, as I've said, a lot of the witches who will want to be in my place so their advice is a bit suspect. Besides, who else can you really pick? So many of the potentials are excluded for reasons of them being the last of their lines. Lovegood, Bones and even Daphne here are out of the running."
"What about Cho? She's a pureblood and she's has a brother," Harry asked. He was interested in seeing how Tracey answer the question.
Tracey shrugged, "Actually not a bad choice. She brings a lot to the table like I do. However you marry her, you're marrying into the entire Chang family. Oh sure they are good about smacking their witches around to keep them in line but to them, married or not, Cho will still be a Chang in her heart. Ask Su Li about the Changs; she'll tell you. I wouldn't bet my balls on her pretty face."
Harry nodded slowly at this. It was true that Su Li had made some comments about the older Ravenclaw and it was obvious that while both were of Chinese descent, neither family liked the other. And Narcissa had also commented to him to be wary around the Changs. In Tracey's case, it was just her and her mother given her father had died of Dragonpox shortly after coming to England.
Tracey looked at Daphne with a calculating look on her face, "I tell you what, my Lord. I'm a Slytherin and we're not seen as being very trustworthy. Yet unlike the rest of the sheep, I know the clock is ticking and it's counting down. There is a confrontation coming and I'd rather act now than wait. The way I see it, you're the side to back. Sure the Dark Lord seems to have beaten death somehow but beyond that? You've been kicking him in the kiwis at every turn. Hell you've killed more Death Eaters in a few months than the Aurors did in same period during the war! Besides I know the unless I leave now, the chances of me and my mudda making it out alive if the Dark Lord takes over is about zero. About the only way I might make it would be as Lady Peverell."
"Playing both sides?" Harry asked with a bit of sarcasm lacing his tone.
"No, I'm gaming the system so I win. You can pretty things up anyway you want but no matter what, in the end, most choices are what is best for you. The rest is window dressing to make you feel better about it. Sure I don't want the Dark Lord to win but that doesn't mean he can't. Hope for the best, plan for the worst and all that. That's why the Ravenclaws think you Gryffindors are stupid. You never plan for defeat."
Harry sighed, "Yes and it's a point I've made before and something I myself do not want to be guilty of. "
Tracey beamed, "You see? You and I think more alike than you might have thought. But, again, I know you have little reason to trust me. Then again, you and Pansy seem to be doing well and you certainly had more shit between the two of your prior to her becoming yours."
"So what are you suggesting?" Harry asked. He became as alert as he could without looking like it. If Tracey was trying to trap him, the hook would be here somewhere.
"I know you've created a coven. Deny it all you like, that's very Slytherin of you. Covens are built on trust and right now you don't have any of that with me nor I you except for your reputation. So I'm going to make a show of good faith and turn Daphne's life-debt over to you. In return you will make an oath to consider my offer in honest, good-faith and will give me an answer in…oh three days? Five? Whichever is magically best I suppose. With Daphne yours, you and your witches can quiz her to your heart's content. Talk to Black; she'll tell you that I'm right to be Lady Peverell."
Harry looked at Daphne who was looking at her desk's tabletop. "Daphne, look at me."
The blonde raised her head and met his gaze. Harry didn't try any lectiomension given he knew enough from Voldemort's memories the types of psychic traps which could be laid in the mind. Instead he read her aura and her body language. Yet it came back with what he'd been feeling all night. She was desperate to be his but didn't seem to feel any terror or hatred against Tracey. Perhaps it might be as simple as her not liking being Tracey's sexual pet although he hadn't seen any hesitation between either of them while they enjoyed each other's body early.
So where was the hook? Why give Daphne to him early? While he knew first hand that a life debt wasn't a guarantee of safety (Pettigrew had proved that in resurrecting Voldemort) it wasn't something to be discounted.
Harry almost gritted his teeth in frustration. He needed more information! Yet right now it felt like he had to put his foot into the trap to figure out what type of trap it might be! Harry was tempted to just walk away but he had to admit Tracey was right on many levels; he couldn't just walk away from Daphne.
Harry sighed, "Alright I guess that makes sense. You can only be paranoid so much. Beside I think I have made myself quite clear on how I deal with people who cross me. And, if I do have the coven you accuse me of having, well then that means I have lots of witches who will have no problem removing your head, dreadlocks and all, if there is a problem."
Tracey laughed, "See? Power! You have it and I want some of it and I'm willing to pay for it. Just like magic, there is always a price. And when I become Lady Peverell, that same power you're threatening me with will help protect me. It's actually quite simple when you think about it. It's only morons like Malfoy who try to muck it up with dogma and ideology."
Harry got up, "Very well, I accept your offer. I think three days is fine. No need to give the Hogwarts' rumor mill any more time. I'm surprised my betrothal to Katie is still a secret."
Tracey stood up with a grin of triumph, "Excellent. Daphne! Kneel between us and keep quiet." She took out a paper from inside her robes and handed it to Harry, "Here is the oath. Pretty standard. I based it off your typical Goblin oath."
Harry gave the witch an evil smile and with a twitch of his wrist, had his wand out and cast some detection spells on the paper.
Tracey simply rolled her eyes, "Now that was just insulting. To me and to you. Do you think I think you're that stupid to think you'd fall for something that simple?"
Harry smirked, "Constant Vigilance!" The paper was clean and it was exactly what she said it was. If there was a hook embedded here it was so invisible it might as well be wearing his Cloak.
…his Cloak. Harry almost dropped the paper and fought to keep his aura under control lest Tracey feel something.
"Does it look alright with you?" Tracey asked.
Harry took a breath and schooled his features before looking up, "No it's exactly what you said it was. Good choice for it. If nothing else the goblins are good and making oaths binding others with no loopholes. Although I do have to ask, you are betting a lot that I'll go along with this. You're giving up your biggest bargaining chip."
"Well my mudda always be sayin' 'Yu cyaan ketch Quaku, yu ketch im shut." Tracey said as she lapse back into the accent she was so despised for. She laughed, "Funny how Quaku is the Jamaican name for Harry! Rather appropriate for me, no?"
Harry frowned slightly, "And it means?"
"It's the answer to your question. It means if you can catch Harry's shirt, you are that much closer to catching Harry," Tracey explained. "You're right. In three days you can turn around and say no. But you thought about it and we've shared our bodies and our thoughts tonight. You're not the type of wizard just to turn your back on that. So even if I don't get what I want, I at least have chosen a side and am that much closer to getting what I want. Besides, you might not agree now but tomorrow is another day, yeah?"
Harry nodded at this. Tracey was right. Tracey also was exuding the same sort of excited confidence that Draco had after he'd learned how Harry had already shaken Ron's poisoned hand. Her smile was similar as well. So the hook was in him and he was caught.
…or so she thought.
Harry smiled. Whatever Tracey had planned couldn't have taken into account of recent development. "Good point. Of course now that I think on it, I don't really need to apply constant vigilance to our situation."
Tracey smile faded a bit, "What do you mean? I don't understand."
Harry smiled as he took a half-step to his right, "Of course you don't because you don't know all the facts. Which is ironic given the fact you are wanting to become Lady Peverell. And it is through that house that I can divine the truth of the matter and that truth is hidden in your heart. Well hidden from everything but this."
And before Tracey could do more than look confused, Harry simultaneously pushed Daphne away with a soft wandless banishing spell as he reached towards Tracey's stomach. With a mental call, Harry's empty hand suddenly was grasping the Sword of Truth.
Which Harry proceeded to thrust deep into Tracey's stomach and through her back.
He wished that he'd been wrong and the sword would pass harmlessly through but from the moment he entered the room behind Daphne, his instincts had known something like this would go down.
Tracey gasped deeply as if she was trying to get enough air to give out a truly epic scream but nothing came out stuttering burst of noises not unlike Crookshanks beginning to hack up a hairball.
Amazingly there was little blood although Harry was sure if he pulled the sword out there would be blood a plenty. "This is the Sword of Truth. If you happened to have not slept through that class of Binn's you might have heard about how my ancestor Ignotus Peverell had a scepter which could determine the truth. Well the legends are wrong. It was this sword and right now it's telling me you are a liar and mean me harm."
Daphne began to whimper as she frantically began to crawl towards Harry. He Peverell wand shout out and he stunned her. While under the life-debt, he knew Daphne was compelled to try to help Tracey.
He had to hand it to the witch; beyond falling back against the desk behind her, she hadn't screamed. She simple was breathing heavily while giving him a death glare that rivaled Draco's.
"Now let's bargain. You tell me your plan and I might let you live. I'm sure this hurts like the devil but the Sword of Truth magically gives me time to find the truth. But you'll be dead in seconds if I pull this out and judge against you. So, convince me you are worth sparing."
"Yah bambaclaat batiman bastard! Fyah fi u!" Tracey snarled.
Harry jiggled his hand holding the sword a bit causing her to finally scream, "The Defense is counseled to keep things professional."
Tracey gritted her teeth and snarled before screaming again when Harry moved the sword harder in the wound, "Alright you bloodclot wanker! I was using Daphne to get married to you. Alright? I admit it!"
Harry sighed, "Yes that is rather obvious but why?"
Tracey screamed again as she struggled backwards to get away off the sword. She failed and lapsed into a long string of curses in Jamaican that even Harry's passive lectiomension couldn't help him understand.
Then it hit him. Hadn't she said her mother had taught her magicks rarely found in England. "Oh that's clever! I think I see what you did. When people think of voodoo, they think of raising the dead and the like. But it can also be about control of people in ways more subtle than the Imperious curse. You somehow fiddle with the life-debt didn't you?"
Tracey screamed again but this time more in anger.
Harry thought on it for a moment when a few things filtered up from Voldemort's memories, "I'm betting you made it such that if you broke our deal, it would be Daphne which would feel the effects. Oh that is clever. We could get married and I'd be your Head of House and in killing me, Daphne would be dead before she could hit the floor. Since you were alive, no one would suspect you. Or you could give me up to Voldemort safely. Yes, someone in the know like you would know he was a half-blood and only respected power. Oh yes, he'd like someone like you. A sane alternative to Bellatrix and a replacement for Narcissa."
Tracey spit in his face; her saliva already spattered with blood.
"Now now; no need to be nasty. Of course you plotting to kill me does mean that with your death I can claim Daphne's life-debt as my own without any ill effects. Don't worry; I'll take good care of her."
"What are you going to do with me?" Tracey snarled with pain-filled bravado.
Harry laughed, "Well we sort of got our 'date' out of order. I mean shouldn't we have had a dinner before the dancing and bed sport? I'll take our verbal fencing as the dancing so all we need now is the dining."
OoOoO
Daphne awoke to find a tension she had ever since that day in First Year had disappeared. She also awoke to find Harry looking down at her with a look of concern. He also for some inexplicable reason had some snow on his clothes.
"What happened? Where is Tracey?" Daphne asked.
Harry shushed her, "Don't worry about Tracey. She won't hurt you ever again. I took care of her."
"What did you do?" Daphne whimpered. He didn't know how dangerous Tracey could be!
Harry chuckled, "I took her to dinner. Again, don't worry since she'll never be in a position to harm you again. Your safe with me and I promise I'll take good care of you."
Daphne looked up and something flared in her heart she hadn't felt in years: hope. "Do you mean it? You promise?"
"You have my oath, my Lady Greengrass," Harry said with a smile.
"You'll rule over me? Make me yours? Be my master?" Daphne asked in a timid voice filled with one part shame and one part anticipation.
"If that's what you need, I think I can manage the part. It will be our secret, yes?" Harry said before leaning down and kissing her.
Daphne's eyes went wide before fluttering close as the kissed deepened. Suddenly she thrust him away and a moment Harry thought she was going to scream but instead she threw herself onto him and gave him a hug Hermione would have been proud of, "Oh thank you! Thank you! Oh my master! I'll be your slave and feed your grapes every morning! You'll see."
Harry enjoyed the hug before gently pushing her back so he could make eye-contact with her, "Save it for the bedroom. Right now I think for my part and a lot of other people like your family and Neville would rather see the old Daphne Greengrass again. Besides I have concubines a plenty if I want people to kowtow to me."
Daphne sighed, "As you wish…Harry."
Harry laughed, "That's the spirit. Of course I do feel bad for having to do this."
Daphne looked confused, "Do what?"
Harry sighed, "Obliviate!"
XxXxX
THE FORBIDDEN FOREST, HOGWARTS, SCOTLAND, NOVEMBER 13th 1996 – EARLY EVENING
"Fang! FANG! Come here you ruddy excuse for a dog!" Hagrid yelled.
While he could get through the snow easier than anyone in Hogwarts, it didn't mean Hagrid liked it. Especially given the reason he was out in the cold and away from his fire and his booze. Hagrid knew he wasn't in any way bright but he'd been at Hogwarts for five decades and he knew what people were saying even when they weren't saying it.
Hagrid sighed as he called for Fang again. He'd seen it before. Slytherins were ambitious and sometimes that ambition lead to bodies turning up. Snape might as well have come out and said it with the way he gave Hagrid the relevant facts about the disappearance of Tracey Davis. Hagrid knew the dark-skinned girl was a vicious fighter and had managed to hold her own for years. But Hagrid had seen it before; all it took was one dropping of one's guard and the penalty for going against the grain in Slytherin was quick as it was harsh. Besides with the Malfoy boy's death, there was a power vacuum in Slytherin and the Snakes, like Natured, abhorred a vacuum. Hagrid figured the Davis gal had fallen in her attempt to put herself on top.
Fang's howl caught his attention. He made his way to find Fang whining as he looked at a grove of trees Hagrid knew well. "Alright you dowsy dog. Stay here. I'll check with Aragog.
It took a half hour of hard going but finally Hagrid finally made it to his oldest friend's den. It didn't surprise him that he only saw two or three of Aragog's children acting as sentries in nests of webbing high in the trees which helped keep warm enough to sense danger even as they skirted the edge of hibernation. Even so, they didn't budge at his entrance.
Hagrid was surprised when a voice came from inside the den.
"Friend Hagrid, I so thank you for your gift. I'm feeling much better now. So thoughtful of you to send such a meal."
Hagrid sighed. Again it didn't take the smarts of a Ravenclaw to guess where Tracey Davis had ended up. Wizarding bodies energized acromantulas so it wasn't a stretch to guess what had happened. The question now was how? He hadn't seen any tracks and since there hadn't been any recent storms, there should have been a good chance of them still being there.
"I'm glad you liked it but I'm curious, how did it get here? I had another way planned and it wasn't going to be till today," Hagrid lied.
Aragog rumbled in his den as if he was rubbing his carapace against the walls, "I do not know, Friend Hagrid. My sentries saw nothing except it appears the body was lowered from high in the trees. Perhaps on one of those flying sticks you small friends play upon? I'm glad whoever helped you out came early. I was feeling very ill but now I am much refreshed. She was a tasty one, like none I had ever fed upon before."
Hagrid sighed again as he spied what was obviously what remained of Davis' clothing. He picked them up carefully (they were filthy with blood) and put them into a bag on his belt. "Well I am glad, my friend. I'll come see you again in the Spring. I've…I've some other important business to attend to."
"Be well, friend Hagrid!" Aragog called out from deep inside his den.
"Be well, friend Aragog," Hagrid responded.
He started his way back to Fang. What excuse to go with this time? It had been almost 23 years since the last time a student had wandered to close to Aragog's lair. Wolves? No too late in the season. Hmmm, perhaps he could break some ice in the lake and toss the clothes in. It wasn't unheard of for students to walk on the lake and have the ice give way. The cold would kill them fast and the grindylows would make short work of the bodies.
Right, winter stroll around the lake. Students had been stupid things like that since forever. Why Potter's dad's crew had done it all the time. That would work. Aragog would be off the hook, the Headmaster would be off the hook and none of the high and might parents of the Slytherins whose children were undoubtedly responsible would be off the hook as well.
Everything would be fine and that suited Hagrid just fine. Besides, no one care much when a Snake or two came up missing every few years. Just part of the Hogwarts experience.
XxXxX
A/N: A few more plot points generated and a few wrapped up. Please don't review and rant about it being a fluff chapter. It ended up being more wordy than I had anticipated. It does, however, set up for the confrontation with Hermione…after Harry takes care of his Weasley problem I think.
Also, I'm warning you again, the squick level will continue. You've been warned again! I'd also like to thank the reviewer (whose name I've forgotten) who reminded me of the Unbreakable Vow Snape made.
Tracey Speak
Yah bambaclaat batiman bastard = "You fucking gay bastard"
Fyah fi u = Burn in Hell
Bloodclot wanker = Damn wanker
