A/N I'm not dead! I'm just in the final year of High School, which means three things: Paperwork, Stupid amount of pointless homework, and IA/EE. I will try to write, but my free time is equal to the square root of minus one. Not only negative but also imaginary.

Mischief to manage - Chapter 17

Into the New Year… with a bang

The Christmas break passed quickly. In a blink of an eye, Harry was back at the Hogwarts train, leaving the Marauders alone again to plot world domination. They would not put the plans in motion, of course, but they did plan it in their free time. After bidding Harry last goodbye on the train station, Loki transported them all out of the country to Paris, France.

He left the other two Marauders to sort through their plans while he went to meet his old friend. He originally planned to just send him a package, but ultimately he decided to pay him a visit. He did have a favor to ask and decided that catching up with a fellow prankster wouldn't be so bad. As he walked through the peaceful streets of Paris, he couldn't help that reminisce the past and pranks two of them pulled on certain other famous figures.

Finally, Loki arrived before an inconspicuous building. At first glance, it looked like a normal tenement house like many others in Paris, but it had some of the best wards in the world. If Loki was a normal wizard, he would probably never even get close to it.

"Huh. They upgraded the security since I last visited." He smiled. "They are in for a surprise then."

With practiced ease, he glided through the wards completely undetected, or at least so he thought. Just as he was about to knock on the doors, a water balloon fell from the window on the second floor and exploded on his head.

"Har har." He mock-laughed. "Good one Neeks. Now let the old friend in before I freeze."

"Oh silence you! I quite remember you pushing me into that well in Rome."

"It was summer!"

"And I was still two hundred and twenty-three!" The other prankster retorted.

"Really? I wouldn't give you a day over seventy then." Loki joked.

"Oh for the love of God let him in, Nicolas! Don't be a donkey." Another voice could be heard from the inside.

"Yes, Dear." The man waved his wand and doors opened, letting Loki into the medieval-looking building. Not many knew that this was in fact the oldest still-standing house in the whole of Paris. It survived several city-wide fires (and was the place of origin of at least two). The inside looked creepy even for wizarding standards. The age of the building was showing. The bare walls had traces of damage and repeated magical repair. All shelves were full of various bottles, jugs, and several artifacts that probably remembered the French Revolution or even the hundred-years war.

"Loki!" The Asgardian in question turned to see a woman looking around fifty entered the room.

"Hi, Penny. Is Nick in?" He asked with a cheeky grin.

The alchemist in question entered the room, carrying two more water balloons. "I'm here you old prankster."

"I'm only three centuries older." Loki huffed.

"Whatever. Long time no see, friend." Nicolas went to hug Loki.

"Would you be so kind and stop with the aging spell?" The Asgardian asked once they separated. "It's a nice prank, but Penny kinda ruins everything."

"I told you that we are both needed for that." he chuckled, looking at his wife. Sighing, he waved his wand over himself and dispelled the glamour. In place of a venerable old man with completely white hair and wrinkles all over his face stood a middle-aged man with slightly graying hair on the sides of his head. He was still clean-shaved and a bit on the short side, but no longer slouching.

"Oh grow up you two." Perenelle smiled at the antics of old friends.

Nicolas led Loki to the sitting room, where Tea appeared on the table between two armchairs.

"So…" He started when the two of them took their seats. Penny decided to leave them to it while she whipped some lunch. "I haven't seen you in some…"

"Over three centuries." Loki supplied. "Since Seidrs enacted the statute of secrecy."

"Ah." Nicolas connected the dots." Nobody informed you about it, did they?"

"I spent several dozen seasons mourning the loss." Loki grimly remembered.

"And what brought you here?"

That question led to many others as the two almost-immortal men played catch-up for several hours.

"I can't believe that old goat-bugger decided to use my stone as a bait!" Flamel raved. "I lend him it for research purpose, not as some half-baked political play!"

"Calm down, Nick. I did already trash him for that."

"And a good thing you did." Perenelle praised Loki.

"Yeah yeah. I know he is a right prat and I'm a hero. No need to thank me. I was just doing my good friend a solid." Loki puffed his chest proudly.

"Sure… Now, what do you want?" Nicolas asked.

"You wound me with such accusations, friend." The Asgardian looked almost offended by the assumption. "That I would want to do something as despicable as trying to use our good relations to extort some sort of material favor from you? The mere idea!"

"So?" The alchemist didn't give up.

"You know me so well." Loki grinned. "Yeah, I hoped you could do a bit of research on the side."

"Sure, old Nicolas is only good for one thin…"

"Voldemort is alive." Loki interrupted his friend. "He never died. While his body was destroyed in the explosion of purest magic seen in centuries, he did survive."

"Oh…"

"Yeah, Oh. I need to figure out how he did it. If it's one of those things I fear the most… If he got his hands on a living Alfar, or even worse… Had he turned to Sorcery, it would be a disaster."

"I hear you. Fine. I will check all known methods of immortality. Maybe it's something simpler, like banishment from the afterlife… He could also try looking for Deathly Hallows…" The ageless alchemist went into research mode. He was gone. Loki did finish his tea and gossiped some more with Perenelle.

"Well, as much as I enjoyed our meeting, I must be going now least Padfoot starts an international incident… again."

"Have fun with Albus. And maybe try writing some time?"

"In my defense, I didn't know you were still with us," Loki answered. "But I will." He added with a smile.

It's been two months since Harry returned to school. The school slowly settled into a steady rhythm of lessons, studying, and teenage drama. The last one for Harry and Neville was mostly what Pranks they can pull off next.

Draco became even more distant to the two of them. He no longer hung out with Neville and Harry and openly avoided them. Instead, he started once again spending time with his two gorillas and most of his days ran by on avoiding Pansy, who acted like a stalker and constantly tried to rope her betrothed into 'acting like a proper couple', which at their age meant more or less playing out random scenes she read in some novels. Harry always had a laugh when she actually caught him. He did pity him a bit… Sometimes.

Every morning, Harry went for a run around the Black Lake, followed by a martial arts practice near the edge of the forest. He did not want to get out of shape throughout the school year. Usually, it was either kata (empty-handed or with his knife) or some stationary condition training. That particular day, Harry chose to be empty-handed. His robe was morphed into a tracksuit.

He had his back turned to the castle, so he was unable to see when four Slytherins approached him. Fresh, fluffy snow masked their steps until they were close. When Harry became aware that there are others, he ignored it and continued the kata while staying vigilant. Finally, the sound of a cleared throat made him look to his guests.

"Parkinson." Harry instantly recognized her. "Crabbe, Bulstrode, Goyle?" He looked at the three muscles that surrounded the pug-faced girl. "Came to finally burn that baby fat?" He joked. "I heard physical training works miracles even with… you get the gist."

"Shut up, filth." Parkinson snapped at the boy. "I can't have you constantly belittle my Draco-poo. He should rule the Slytherin house, not some upstart half-blood trash with blood-traitor for a friend."

Harry closed his eyes and silently counted to ten. He got around seven when the girl started to speak again.

"You will publically bow to my betrothed and declare him your superior." She demanded. Harry smiled at the Parkinson Heiress.

"And why would I do that?" He asked with a lopsided grin and a raised eyebrow

"To avoid the pain of course. Show him that he is not welcome in the greatest of Hogwarts Houses." The last sentence was directed to the three muscles that came with her.

Harry's first instinct was to either go for a wand or a knife, but he discarded the idea. They were little threat and he did not want to get suspended for coming with a knife to a fistfight. Instead, he took a loose stance and prepared.

Goyle was the closest one. He charged at the Potter heir and intended to deliver a powerful sucker punch. Harry saw it a mile away and side-stepped to the left, grabbed the boy by his wrist, and pulled him forward. This made Greg stumble. The green-eyed wizard then delivered a powerful open-palmed strike right at the boy's elbow, causing an audible GRUNCH! of dislocated bone.

Crabbe and Bulstrode took the opportunity to circle the fighting duo and now stood each at one side of Harry and (now crying) Goyle.

"Really? And I thought you were at least smart. You're breaking all three Rules." He of course referred to the unwritten rules that all Slytherins were expected to follow. Crabbe ignored what to him was just babbling and charged. Seeing his reaction, Bulstrode followed. Potter had a chance to shake his head before he took a step back and allowed the two to clash with each other. Harry laughed at them.

"Idiots! Why must I do everything myself!?" Angry Pansy shouted and pulled her wand. Before she even thought about the spell she wanted to use, it shot out of her hand and into Harry's waiting palm.

"No. That just won't do." The boy mocked his four opponents. "I expected something more clever, like at least someone hiding behind the trees to curse me in the back. I didn't know I was dealing with Gryffindors… It's the green. It confused me."

Harry did notice that Crabbe already got up and now tried to attack him from the back. He didn't even look back as he kicked back, causing the boy to fall breathless when the attack pushed the air out of his lungs.

"What's going on here?!" A stern voice of a Scottish professor got everyone's attention. McGonagall was striding downhill toward where the four kids were 'playing'.

Before Harry got a chance to defend himself, Pansy started crying. "I was enjoying a morning walk with my friends when… when…" she sobbed, "when he attacked us. He stole my wand and then hurt my friends!"

"Liar!" Harry shouted. "I only defended myself!"

"He is trying to frame us, professor!" Millicent joined Pansy, massaging her head. She looked like a beaten puppy now. Well, a beaten calf.

"He broke my arm!" Goyle cried.

"It's sel…" Harry tried to shout, but McGonagall interrupted him.

"I don't want to hear it, Mr. Potter. That's detention tonight." She spoke in a tone that left no space for arguing.

"But…" he tried in vain.

"And twenty points for arguing with a professor." She finished before storming back to the castle for breakfast.

"You were saying?" Pansy asked with a dangerous glimmer in her eyes. With that, she too left for breakfast.

Harry spent the rest of the day skulking. It wasn't even that he got caught, but rather the fact that for once he was innocent. He just defended himself. The only bright side was that if the rumors were true, Draco would be serving the detention with him. Something about trying to smuggle a dragon out of Hogwarts. While the idea was ludicrous at best, the sudden drop in points for both Slytherin and Gryffindor suggested there was some truth. And given how much the house ignored Draco now. Harry would initially try to extend a helping hand, but after how Parkinson acted he reconsidered.

After dinner, Harry went to his room, where he shifted his robes into the original outfit. He wondered if he shouldn't pick the armored one, given how much Filch loved to scream about whipping everyone, but ultimately opted for mobility. It's not like they'll expel him and Grimbat would give Draco more than enough points to make up for any loss on his side.

Seeing it was half-past ten and technically after curfew, Harry slipped out of the room. Malfoy was nowhere to be seen, so he would probably meet him at detention. When he arrived by the entrance near the great hall, he was surprised to see (besides Draco) Granger and Neville.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, looking at his best mate.

"I was trying to save my house from losing too many points and maybe warn Malfoy about the prank," Neville answered with a bit of sadness

"A prank? And I never heard about it?" Harry jokingly acted offended

"By your definition it was bullying," the boy corrected himself.

Harry shook his head. "Why not report it?"

"I tried. Kinda. I still ended up getting detention for being out of bounds after curfew."

Potter facepalmed. "It was Weasley and his merry gang of dunderheads?" Receiving a nod, he sighed before turning to Hermione, who was looking like she was on the verge of panic. For a moment he wanted to speak with her, but finally changed his mind. She looked too agitated as it was.

When Filch arrived, he raved for a moment about punishments in his days (like usual), before leading them outside and toward Hagrids hut. They met with the friendly groundskeeper at the edge of the forbidden forest.

"Hermione!" Hagrid greeted the girl. He then looked at the other three.

"They are here for Detention, Hagrid." Filch chastized him. "Don't get friendly."

"Don' yer worry, Argus."

"Whatever," the caretaker shrugged. He walked away, leaving the kids with Hagrid.

"What exactly are we supposed to be doing?" Harry asked, unsure. Especially now, that he noticed Hagrid was carrying a giant crossbow and had his dog with him.

"'ere is summat killing the unicorns. We need to find it."

"Are you mental!?" Potter roared. "It's called Forbidden Forest for a bloody reason!"

"Now now. Yer be perf'ctly save wit' me. And drop teh language."

"I… I refuse!" Draco spoke up meekly, clearly intimidated by the giant.

"It's tha' or back to teh Castle with Filch."

For a moment, Harry looked over his options. He had a distinct feeling that Filch would make them clear the third-floor corridor out of sheer spite. He could try calling Sirius or even his dad, but that might have been overkill for now. There was always a safety code that would see help come no matter what, but it was the so-called nuclear option. Finally, he decided that he will just follow the crowd and maybe try and keep them safe. He quickly checked if the dagger was safely by his belt. He also suddenly regretted not taking the armored robe. "Bloody Hel. What is this school supposed to be? A freakin' death trap?" Harry muttered as all four children obediently followed Hagrid into the forest.

Once they were deep enough that castle lights were no longer visible through the thick leaves, Hagrid paused. "'t'll be faster if yer split."

"I want the mutt!" Draco babbled.

"He is more of a coward than yer are, but fine."

"I will go with him." Harry volunteered. He decided that if they had to somehow survive, each group needed someone competent. Well, that and Neville also knew that safety code.

"Why exactly are you so hostile to me, Cuz?" Harry asked once the three of them were completely alone.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Potter." Draco dismissed him nonchalantly.

"Right there! What with this Potter crap? I've already given you leave to use my first name. I'm willing to believe that Parkinson planned the ambush by herself, but you are… I thought we were supposed to be friends?" He more asked than stated.

Draco flinched and paused for a moment. Harry looked at him with a raised eyebrow, awaiting some answer.

"You are not the right crowd after all. My father was very… displeased with all the pranks and childish behavior. It's unbecoming of an heir to the house of my standing."

The accent on the word 'displeased' did not escape Harry, but he didn't delve. He knew better from his own experience. Still, he made a mental note to check with Sirius. "He does know that you're still a child though?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco huffed.

"Um… You are eleven? We are supposed to have fun and do pranks and act childish and make mistakes and so on. We aren't even teenagers yet."

"I'll have you know, I am perfectly capable of being a child without these things." Malfoy countered.

"Cuz, Draco, forgive my language, but your father is a bloody idiot." Harry took some pleasure in the scornful look that he received. "Are you happy?"

"What is that…"

"Are you happy? Do you feel happy? Do your parents show you affection?"

"Affection is for weak and blood traitors."

Harry's gaze hardened. "Don't use words you have no knowledge about. I already told you, Treason of Blood is one of the most serious of crimes. While no longer invoked, it's part of Justice by Magic. If found guilty, it's a death sentence."

"So? They deserve it."

"Do my mother deserved it then? Did Alphard Black deserve it? Or maybe your aunt Andromeda? What about Cygnus Black, your grandfather? Out of them only one committed Treason of Blood. Guess who!" Harry spat angrily.

"Um…" Draco actually hesitated. The only time he had seen Harry with such determination and anger was moments before he obliterated the troll.

"Cygnus Black, who poisoned his own father to the point when Healers were too late. He killed not only his head of the house, but the very person that helped him into the world."

"What does it…" Malfoy wanted to argue, but words froze in his throat. He couldn't bring himself to justify a person who murdered his own family just to get the title that wasn't his. Not with Sirius still out there. "Fine. I concede. It still doesn't mean I agree."

"Just don't use this term loosely. It's reserved for the worst kind of people, not just someone associating with an unsavory crowd." Harry sighed. He always hated being the more mature one in the group. But he promised and wasn't about to lose.

"I can get behind that."

"Back to where we left, am I really that bad of a company?"

"You are… strange one Pot… Harry." Draco tried the name and didn't really get revulsed. "But I will not be some good little sycophant. I am the top Slytherin here! A Malfoy can't let people think he is second to a Half-blood."

"Now with this attitude, you're hardly Slytherin at all. That being said, I don't really care about my position."

"You… don't? Why?"

"I don't need it. You can have it."

"It doesn't work…"

"Challenge me to a duel then."

"Do I look like Weasley? I don't take charity."

"I know maybe one more spell than you. The lightning one was designed by my father to zap his… Sirius." Harry caught himself just in time. Technically, James and Sirius were thicker than thieves and closer than many brothers, but better not give anyone more chances to find out.

"Yeah, you are also powerful, fast, agile, did I mention powerful?"

Harry didn't get a chance to answer when a girlish scream pierced the air. Harry quickly ran math in his head. 'Draco is here, Hagrid wouldn't make that noise, Nev's scared scream is different, that leaves either Granger or Weasley somehow got into the Forest… Nah, Granger.' He went for his wand but paused.

"Never run to the screams. The first rule of Horror. Just turn around and go the other way. I'm not some barking Gryffindor…" He muttered but noticed that he was already practically running toward. "Bloody hell I'm an idiot. Dad'll have my skin for it." He looked over his shoulder to see Draco trying (and failing to keep up with him) "Stay there and fire at whatever moves!" He shouted before breaking into a free run, leaving Malfoy heir to his own device.

Harry remembered his runs back at the Manor. He loved the freedom it gave him. He could bounce from tree to tree, swing on the branches, or just run as fast as he could. There was no holding back, nothing stiff about it, just sheer pleasure of letting go. Nothing would stop him.

Still, he was now rushing toward danger. He still couldn't believe that he was actually doing it. If anyone asked, he would blame Sirius and his tales of all the irresponsible stunts the Marauders pulled. Harry decided to still at least try to be Slytherin about it. Seeing as there were no major obstacles for a bit, he closed his eyes and visualized his clone, running next to him. He pushed his magic into the image. He felt a small tug and in a wave of yellowish energy, an illusion formed. It was one of his father's favorite tricks. He had it draw a wand while he pulled the knife in one hand while his wand was ready for action with a spell on his tongue and tip glowing slightly.

It took him maybe two minutes to arrive at the clearing where the scream came from. What he saw was Granger frozen in terror as a large black form in tattered robes covered in slightly glowing blood was approaching her slowly. It was as if that thing was savoring her fear. Harry and his illusion cast spell together.

"Fulmino!" They roared. Only Real Harry's lightning would do any damage, but he pushed enough magic that in the end, it should've been more than enough.

Except it wasn't.

The creature extended its hand and both bolts of lightning seemed to be absorbed. For a moment, Harry saw a glow of red eyes under the hood.

He quickly took a battle stance with his dagger while the clone was keeping its wand pointed and slightly glowing.

The wraith charged. Harry hoped it would be his clone at best, or at least him, but instead, the creature attacked Granger. With little choice, Real Harry dashed toward to push her out of the way while simultaneously throwing his dagger at the creature.

The charging wraith noticed the flash of the knife too late to dodge it. Harry managed to push Hermione out of the way just as the enchanted blade plunged itself into the creature.

An inhumane shriek filled the clearing before it fled. Harry held his hand and called the dagger to return. The blade passed clear through, making another tear in the already tattered robes before dutifully sailing to him. He was reluctant to grab it before he realized that there was absolutely no blood whatsoever on it. Or any other fluid.

He held the now-sobbing girl close before picking her bridal-style.

"Dad's going to skin me…" He muttered just quietly enough so she wouldn't hear it. Then, he remembered something else and actually shivered. "Snape…" Was all he said before walking back toward where the castle was supposed to be.

A/N Two things: One) If someone still didn't realize, it's a very much blatant AU. And not just 'lord/heir' stuff etc., but also things like amount of wizards in the world, the organization of their society, and so on. the reasons are twofold. Firstly, I need more wizards than what JKR gave us and secondly It will allow me more leeway with the plot later on.
Two) If someone wants to get angry that Harry is impulsive or that he should've never agreed to going into forbidden forest or chasing after Hermione... Don't. He is a kid. A kid who got awesome powers and is a bit overconfident. He has his survival instinct set to Asgardian. He will think social situations through but at the same time, he might play fetch with Fluffy. He also has a very much the attitude of 'Devil May Care'. He will act illogically on a whim. He will do things against 'the-boy-who-lived' stereotype. In other words. He is as close to magical Tony Stark as you can get.