Chapter 12
After a very enjoyable summer break the time approached for Hogwarts and the train and with questions of what would happen this year. There always seem to be something that caused troubles.
While I was sure that the staff and the general population were expecting each individual, as an individual student, there was going to be a very big surprise. However that surprise is going to play to us. As normal platform 9 ¾ was full of activity. There were the students, as well as their parents; the noise level of course exceeded even noise made by the train.
Daphne headed off to find some of her girlfriends. So, I grabbed an empty compartment near the rear of the train and soon Susan joined me with Hannah. A bit later Daphne charged into the compartment with Tracy following a few paces behind, Daphne was obviously upset.
"What's wrong Daphne?" I asked
"Can you believe it? Malfoy is returning to Hogwarts!"
I just shook my head. I was becoming a bit more selfish these days as I now had a family, money, and a future. I wasn't interested in giving all this up because of the megalomaniac deeds neither of an old man nor of a pompous prat.
Compartment door slid open and in popped Luna.
"I'm here for another interview Harry Potter and before I become one of your other concubines."
I was back to my witty self and uttered, "ERR"
I noticed that Susan was giggling and Daphne was glaring.
"You see my article is going to explain how we all got sent to the dorms or how the nasty people at Hogwarts refused a Lord of the seven, yet against the rules, not providing his rightful private quarters under Hogwarts laws."
While Susan was still giggling, and I was attempting to improve vocabulary in excess of "err", Daphne grabbed Luna's arm and dragged her out of the compartment. If that wasn't confusing enough, Susan plopped herself in my lap and said, "You're so cute when you are confused." I would have responded but she laid very serious kiss on my lips which left me further in a non-thinking mode, more so than normal. Unfortunately, as I was seriously considering grabbing some of her outstanding assets, when …Daphne charged back into the room with Luna.
"Susan! Get off his lap!" Daphne ordered she turn and started putting in silencing and blocking charms on the door.
Susan moved back to where she was sitting only to get Hannah in her lap. suddenly I received Luna in my lap and her lips on mine my as my mind went south. Again, I was a little bit fuzzy, but there was no way that I would say that I was not enjoying the kiss.
"Luna sit next to Susan, and both of you, stop it! Harry do I have your attention or do I need to slap you silly?" Daphne was taking no prisoners. Tracy was laughing like there was no tomorrow.
"Daphne what…"
"Harry… You are the powerful Lord of this family, but, you have no idea what is going on. I just received a small portion of what is going on with those in this compartment, and we need your protection and that now means following my directions. I am now the active matron of this family!"
"Daphne, could you give me a bit more information here?" There appeared to be something going on more so than me just being me. What's a matron?"
"It appears our little Miss Lovegood is more than she appears. She has given me some information which makes sense. Our illustrious headmaster has been keeping information from us all but apparently he's preparing to keep us separated. You are in Slytherin, as I and Tracy, Susan and Hannah are in Huffpuff and now our newest addition is in Ravenclaw. This would have been more than enough separation with out his planned interference. This will stop and you will demand Lords quarters with a minimum of seven bedrooms."
"Daphne what the hell is going on?" Did you just state that Luna is now part of our group?
"Harry,… Luna, Tracy, Susan, and Hannah and I are in your house Potter. You are the Lord but I run the house. So unless you wish to sleep on the couch for the rest of your life, you will do as I ask."
"Yes Mistress, might I ask why before I leave, permanently!" It was a great imagination or future with multiple girls, but, I was sure my feelings could be fixed by dating other females in other countries. I was not looking for this results but this crap needed to be explained and/or stopped, now!
But then the girls stood up and were glaring at Daphne.
"All right, let's all sit down and I'll try to explain." Daphne didn't look overly happy.
After a lot of words, and questions, I wasn't necessarily sure that I understood completely. In the end the girls apparently agreed to the information that everyone provided to the group. I myself was agreeing, but, I was still overwhelmed with the power they were trying to exert over me. Heck I knew I was a dumb male before this.
/Scene Break/
During the welcome feast I watched and marveled at Dumbledore trying to explain how all of the Aurors were there to protect the school and providing training in DADA and a new class in battle magic. However, I got the impression the Aurors were there for me and separating my group than anything else.
As the feast was breaking up I approached headmaster. I also noticed that most of the Aurors were not escorting students to their houses but were remaining in the great Hall. It appeared that I was there target.
"Headmaster it has come to my attention that I'm authorized Lord Quarters so if you would be so kind as to arrange quarters that have at least seven bedrooms I would be most appreciative."
"Harry I would not recommend that you not depart from your friends in your house and your dorm. Isolating yourself from the rest of the school would not find the school looking on you favorably..." Dumbledore suddenly looked to his right and as I followed his look only to find Madame Bones charging in our direction.
"Of course if you insist Harry I would recommend that you bring this to the attention of Professor McGonagall as the deputy headmistress has control of these areas." It was obvious that Dumbledore was making a hasty retreat he turned and sped out of the Great Hall's massive doors.
"Harry, girls, Professor McGonagall wishes me to escort you to your new quarters." Amelia just headed off after Professor McGonagall so I just shrugged and we all follow her.
It wasn't long before I had a number of emotions charging around my brain. Professor McGonagall led us to my old quarters. Confusion, anger and disbelief were all there until I finally charged forward at the last moment to say... "Beautiful lady what have they done, are you okay?"
That's when the rest of the entourage stopped in confusion..." I am fine my Lord and I think you'll find your new quarters quite acceptable." At that point the young ladies portrait swung open to my new quarters. While things were a bit larger there were before but they now had seven different bedrooms with bath included in each of the bedrooms. Further information concerning the quarters came from the young lady chattering away from the portrait above the fireplace. I was not about ready to ask any who, why, how, as I knew my ladies would be asking continuous questions of the portrait. Luckily Dobby arrived with other house elves directing Winky and other female house elves. Each grabbed one of the girls hands and took them there bedrooms to unpack which gave me a bit of breathing room.
Daphne grabbed my hand and dragged me to the left most door. She pushed the door open…"This is our room. Do you like it?" I gazed inside and saw a spacious room with a queen-sized bed in the middle of the room, a writing desk against a wall; and books shelved everywhere on the two large bookshelves on either side of the walls.
/Scene Break/
Finally all of the confusion started to settle down. All the questions and rumors from the students, which were not answered by the announcement by Professor McGonagall, slowly started disappearing. After all, it was different to watch the seven of us going to the same classes at the same time. Of course it was not missed that we all had the same quarters.
The other anomaly was Draco Malfoy. While he was seen in classes he was almost invisible anywhere else. Within a couple weeks the rumors were asking if he had learned his lesson or if he had a secret girlfriend that must of course not reside in the Slytherin common room. This morphed into individuals deciding to follow him and find out what really is going on. What they added to the rumor mill was that he could be followed but would disappear on the seventh floor.
"What do you girls think Malfoy is doing in the Room of Requirements?" I asked.
"Harry, he goes up there alone but there's no news that he's meeting someone before he disappears." Tracy added.
Daphne had been quiet and thinking while her bond mates speculated. "Should we post a lookout on seventh floor to find out where Draco is going? "Tracy asked. "We need to install runes down the corridor to see the point where he disappears." Luna suggested. "Naw, just have Kreacher started snacks and hot chocolate" I mused.
"Abilio", I hissed.
"It's about time you called! You haven't taken me to the forest in ages!"
"Sorry but I got problems. Be safe but see if you can sneak in with Malfoy when he enters that special room on the seventh floor."
"Okay, I'm on my way. The trip to the forest is best be included in this deal!" Abilio slithered through a crack and disappeared.
I was beginning to feel less and less in charge every day.
/Scene Break/
We entered the great Hall for lunch but I had no sooner sat down when Ron Weasley exploded from the far end of Gryffindor table..." No good slimy Slytherin Bastard!"
I immediately looked in his direction and started to stand, but…
It appeared that Draco Malfoy and his brain trusts had passed to close to Ron Weasley. On the surface it appeared Ron's normal thought process but it did seem extreme even for Ron Weasley. He had however used a singular case and I wondered why Draco was thinking it was he who Ron was referring to? Something was off with this display.
As time moved along it came time for the potion class with everyone's favorite professor. As Slytherin and Gryffindor assembled outside the potion classroom, Ron Weasley once again began to exploded in a anti-Slytherin rant. Again appeared there was no reason for the rant or who it was aimed at, and only the know-it-all was able to drag him back until Snape showed up.
In a way it was kind of funny how suddenly my life had changed. I had a group of females going with me from my quarters to class and then to the Great Hall for meals. It was almost like a gigantic jellyfish Nebula. Sometime it swirled around me and at other times it amassed as a giggling swarm leaving me to catch up .
On one such occasion were heading for the charms class and I was at the rear. The girls were giggling over some guy who was attempting to sway some girl… That's when I heard AVADA KEDAVRA!
The Curse came from my back and from down the corridor. As I turned I only saw the green light heading our way. While there was a chance I might be able to survive this killing curse again, for the third time, the girls would not be lucky if any part of it hit them. Once again Hogwarts decided to interfere.
On either side of the corridor, suits of armor jumped to intercept the curse.
I immediately ran down the corridor to see if I could find the perpetrator. However, as I turned the corner, I again viewed an empty corridor.
/Scene Break/
A few weeks later when the entire world of Hogwarts was turned upside down.
It was very early in the morning and the entire nebula of girls were attempting to function independently, and in mass confusion. "Harry could you call a number of your elves to stop by, we need a number of things from your vaults, while we use our personal elves."
I kind of chuckled to myself. Each girl had been assigned a house elf and vault for themselves and another trust vault for an heir. The goblins monitored the Galleon withdrawals should there be a sudden drastic withdrawal. However, there was jewelry and other dress robes etc. etc. that the girls continue to use and exchange constantly from the vaults and with each other.
While even the sun was just rising, the girls were already in a self inflicted mass confusion over a ball that was going to be held that evening. In an attempt to gain a few moments peace I decided to step into the corridor for a few minutes.
I had no sooner stuck my head out of the portrait entranceway and into the corridor when I saw a very familiar green light. No! It had to be something else and all in my imagination...I instantly decided not to continue.
"Kretcher, POP, yes Master Harry."
"If you'd be so kind as to go outside and monitor the outside of our quarters and make sure no one is lurking and sending off killing curses. Make sure you're safe while you're doing this task. I'm hoping this group will be able to coalesce within the next half hour so we can attend breakfast." If someone had fired off the killing curse and I wanted to make sure that the corridor outside our lodging was safe. Hitting house elf with a curse was nigh on impossible with their ability to pop away instantly.
"Yes Lord Black… POP…BOOM! Part of the entrance way crumbled.
POP,POP,POP,POP,POP,POP,POP,POP,POP,POP,POP,POP,POP…..
"Master Harry Sir we are here to protect you, give us your orders! Dobby was here with large number of Hogwarts house elves.
"Protect my family, protect Hogwarts, clear up the damage and find out who caused this." When I look back I could not have said what I had said any better. The Hogwarts elves went ballistic.
It was then that a nebula of my girls reformed and verbally attacked me… "Harry what's going on, what was that explosion?" Etc. etc.
In the midst of that…POP," Harry Potter sir, Kretcher appearance in the hallway had activated a bomb. While I was about to ask Kretcher why he was not dead another elf appeared… Master Harry! Draco Malfoy has just left the Come and Go room followed by twenty death eaters. We have neutralized the twenty death eater attackers. Draco and the bad men awaits your punishments sir."
I was not like Voldemort... I told the elves many times that we were friends and they were not my servant. However as much as I tried to become their friends the house elf bond was as strong as it had ever been. "Thank you Hogwarts elves and you will not punish yourselves for anything that happened today. Have Draco and his friends taken to the dungeons and detain them there in the cells."
For a moment I thought I should take all of Hogwarts elves, find Voldemort, and have the elves just make him into a snake pie. No, even as Lord Gryffindor and Lord Slytherin I would never direct anyone or any being to their death, no, I was not going to be another Dark Lord better yet a Dumbledore. Besides breakfast was being served in a few minutes.