After finally breaking out of my writers block which feels like the size of Fort Nox, WhiteDevil presents chapter 13 of Book 2. Enjoy.
Beta'd by: Scottken
Book II :: Chapter 13 :: Declaration of Hostilities
Harry sat poised in his seat as his quill sped across the parchment beside him. Across from him, the Twins held up their hands as they waited for Harry to bare his fangs.
"You two know there's no shame in admitting defeat." Harry stated, giving them no hint to his emotional state, his face a blank slate even as his eyes danced with a hint of mockery.
"Enough Potter." Fred declared, confidence ringing like a gong.
"Do your worst." George agreed with equal glee.
Harry just nodded. "All right then. But I gave you an out."
Moving to the edge of their seats, Fred and George couldn't hide their tension. Those in the crowd of students with skin in their little game inched forward.
"Three of a kind." Harry declared, placing down his hand of which three were six's.
The twins laughed in jubilation at his hand, certain of their victory. "The hell kind of hand is that?" George asked through fits of laughter.
"I know," Fred agreed before a sinister smile graced his lips. "Not this is a hand."
"Four of a kind", "Full house" The Twins declared, each putting down their cards.
Harry smirked when they called. As they placed their hands down, Harry focused on the magic surrounding their cards and with a silent dispelling charm, removed the illusion on the Twin's hands. The three queens and two jacks in Fred's hand, and the four fives in George's shimmered and revealed a very different result.
Their winning hands vanished like so much sand in a desert.
Amidst the confusion and the sound of the twin's jaws hitting the table Harry jokingly retorted, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but both those hands look very different from a full house and four of a kind."
True to his words, the 2,4,8, King of hearts, and King of spades didn't resemble a full house. Neither did George's Ace, 3, 7, 9, Jack.
"The bloody hell is this?" Fred asked his eyes bugging out, swapping between looking at his worse hand and Harry's satisfied look.
Similarly, George was stuttering in disbelief. "That-that's cheating."
Looking up George pointed a very accusatory finger at Harry. "That's cheating."
"What is?" Harry said with false ignorance.
"You changed the cards." Fred argued, breaking out of his own stutter.
"No, I didn't." Harry denied while a yelling match broke out between those who bet on the twins and those who bet on Harry took place. Much like the twins, most of the students were shouting he cheated. In a similar manner, those who just won big off Harry found themselves defending his win with equal vigor.
"Yes, you did." Fred argued.
George picked up his wand and tried to cast finite, but nothing came of it. No surprise, Harry thought smirking to himself. All he did was lift the illusion that made them think their cards were good.
"Prove it. The cards are here." Harry argued stoically. "Really, I didn't think the two of you would be such poor losers."
"The cards changed, we all saw it." George said defiantly. "Everyone saw that."
"Well, how is that my fault." Harry argued. "They're your cards to begin with, we're not even using my deck we both checked them before each game. I didn't cast any spell, how could I have changed them."
"Yeah that's right." Several shouted from the crowd.
"You clearly did something." Fred argued.
"I didn't do anything. I'll admit that change was a boon in my favor, but everyone here saw me, and not one can prove I cheated." Harry said smugly.
The twins looked at each other then turned to Harry, who's grin only grew.
"Sooo? What's it going to be? Lose gracefully and fork over the winnings or are you able to prove I cheated?"
The Twins bickered but eventually gained a smirk on their faces.
"Alright Harry, but how about this. We'll give you a choice." They said together. Fred pulled out a sheet of paper and George brought out a bag of coins.
"Really, you're trying to trick me out of a game. Don't forget we signed an agreement before playing." Harry stated as he crossed his arms.
"Trick you?" George asked in dismay, as if the mere thought offended him. "We would never be so low."
"Indeed." Fred interjected, "We agreed to a valuable sum to the winner."
"and while we can't prove that cheating wasn't involved." George continued.
"We can at least make the results a bit fairer." Fred ended with a plotting grin.
Laying out an object beside the large pile of galleons that was to be the winning pot. The twins smirked. "Here's our winnings. One is valuable," George stated waving a hand over the shimmering gold, "The other trash." Fred concluded playing on the scheme that the brothers concocted.
"As the winner, you receive the winnings" They said together.
"However," Fred started with George adding, "You can only pick one."
"So what will it be," The sang aloud.
"The folded parchment." George said.
"Or the pot of gold?" Fred added.
Harry looked at them in amusement. Even as the mob around them booed, Harry was intrigued by the results. The whole game was just for fun and a basic test run of an 'old' contract magic he learned in the past after his dark lord days. Even with the vague wording of, 'three rounds of poker the winner of two of three will give the other a valuable object on their person.' Harry never expected the Twins to gamble their most prized possession.
The pile of gold, silver, and copper aside Harry had a good as to the nature of the parchment before him. Interestingly enough the parchment was just that, a blank sheet of paper. Or so the Twins were playing it out to be. While Harry couldn't be sure, he was willing to gamble on the prospect of it being 'that'. Truth be told, thanks to the contract agreement they signed, there was little doubt it could be anything but that, after all how many valuable blank pieces of parchment could the Twins own.
"Alright." Harry said. "Then, I'll be taking this as my winnings." He said snatching the folded parchment that was almost half an inch thick.
The Twin's eyes grew wide with fake shock. "Are you sure?" Fred asked, internally celebrating Harry taking the bait.
Smirking Harry nodded, "I am now. You two have horrible poker faces." Harry said with a slight laugh. Ah, the perks of 'reading' people's intentions.
As Harry walked away the Twins frowned and sighed in defeat, playing out their little scheme until Harry had departed. "Don't forget Harry, practice is at noon."
Waving his hand Harry made for the library to pass the remaining hours of his Saturday morning studying.
Watching Harry's back, the twins watched morbidly until he had left. Smirking to each other upon his departure the twins broke into laughter.
"Sorry Harry, but you're not quite on our level." George jokingly proclaimed between chuckles.
"I know. And he has the gull to say we don't have a 'poking face'." Fred retorted. "he couldn't even tell we were faking our tears."
"Yup, and now we get to keep all the gold." George said, picking up all of the coins on the table.
Fred, however, went silent as a thought hit him. "Hey George, that parchment, it wasn't… you know… that?"
George looked at his brother in shock. "Dearest Brother, do you honestly believe I would submit our greatest treasure to a game of chance like that?" He said, pulling out another batch of parchment from his robes to show to his brother.
Fred looked at his brother, the parchment, then his brother again. "Honestly… no. But that looks an awful lot like your homework for Charms."
George froze and looked down at the paper he was waving about in his cheer. True enough, the title said in great bold ink "Summoning your Friends Homework for Laughs".
The two stared at each other for a long minute until Fred finally said it.
"You're an idiot George."
A second later the two were scurrying from the table, their legs a tangled mess with the benches as they rushed after Harry arguing all the while.
"Why did you pull out the ma-thing!" Fred shouted.
"I don't KNOW!" George yelled back, while the few students who were not pissed off at losing watching in amusement.
Elsewhere a very amused Ginny Weasley had bumped into Harry after taking a very long and pleasant shower. Harry felt a bit light as the scent of lavender strawberries floated off her hair. Her laughter rang loudly in the hall as Harry told her about his game against the twins.
"So- so let me get this straight," she said in between fits of laughter. "You managed to bribe my brothers into a game of muggle poker where you can use magic to cheat but lose if proven you used magic to cheat. And somehow, despite everything they know about you, agreed to sign a contract of mutual fairness where both parties would wager objects of value and beat them by blatantly cheating on the last round!?"
"Yup." Harry stated clearly.
"And when it came to putting out the winnings, they tried to trick you into picking a useless reward instead of the agreed gold in the betting pot?"
"Yup." Harry repeated.
Ginny just looked at him and began laughing until her sides hurt. "Oh man. My brothers are not going to live this down." She said, struggling to grip her sides and steady herself. Gathering her senses again Ginny wiped a tear that threatened to fall from her eye. "Still, I honestly didn't think they'd try to trick you with the map of all things."
"I honestly don't think they planned on it either." Harry answered honestly as they turned the hallway towards the Grand Staircase. "More likely they planned to give me some useless homework or something."
Ginny snorted into her shoulder. "And instead gave you the Marauders Map of all things." She said, stifling another fit of laughter.
"Well to be fair, I didn't think I would be able to recreate the magic contracts from East-Asia so easily here. Judging from the fact the twins gave up the map so easily without realizing it, I'm guessing it works."
"What works?" Ginny asked. Harry pulled out a sheet of parchment that had a very flowery boardered design and professional layout with several lines that mark the places one would write out their pact. At the top, a simple phrase was written in grand cursive lettering.
Geass Scroll, written in Arabic letters.
Beneath the bold font, thirty blank lines for the terms of the contract and at the bottom were two lone lines on the left and right ridges for the names of said participants.
"It's a replication of a Geass Scroll, I tried fiddling with it last night after my lessons with Tracey and Daphne, seeing as I had the free time to do so." Harry said, handing her a contract sheet.
"A Geass Scroll?" Ginny asked with uncertainty as she examined the blank sheet.
"In Latin it can also be called, Consensum de Proditione. In some parts of Asia it's sometimes called Pànguó Xiéyì. I might have butchered that."
Ginny just looked blankly at the sheet. "Wait, I don't know anything about Asia, but doesn't that mean something like, Consent of Betrayal in Latin?"
"Agreement to Treason, Consent of Betrayal, Consent to Betray. Yeah pretty much." Harry listed off.
Ginny froze as she stopped walking, an angry glow in her eyes. "Harry." She said firmly with a slight coldness in her voice. "This… contract…" she began slowly.
The frostiness of her tone caused Harry to stop and turn towards her. "Is this like an unbreakable vow?" she asked hesitantly.
"In purpose, yes. In function no." Harry answered. His answer sparked a fire within her. Drawing her wand she was about to lash out at him but stopped when she thought about it for a second realizing the meaning behind his answer.
"How so?" she asked for clarification.
Harry shrugged, "Well for one," Harry said, pulling out the contract he had the twins sign with him and throwing it into one of the stone braziers. Ginny watched with white eyes as a flash of gold and blue sparked momentarily as the contract was burned away in seconds, the sparking fire returning quickly to its normal reddish-yellow hue.
"It's easy enough to break. Unlike an unbreakable vow which can not be broken once made, this contract is unbreakable in its contents, not its formation." Harry explained.
Putting her wand down, Ginny relaxed but still looked at Harry with an inquisitive glare and raised eyebrow. "Mind saying that again for those less informed?" she asked with dripping sarcasm.
"A Geass Scroll contracts the pact makers via their souls rather than their magic. It's not a direct pact either, rather it binds the users to the parchment. When the parchment is destroyed the agreement is also null and void. It's not permanent like an unbreakable vow nor is it lethal like one. Instead of compelling someone with death, it compels them through their will. Signing a contract makes you compelled to follow it through, even the signers wouldn't realize they were compelled to agree with the contents once they sign it." Harry explained.
"They're really useful since they can overwrite any other contract, regardless of nature. Magically binding or spiritually binding, a Geass Scroll's affects the soul, the essence of a person. Even death can't break it."
"That sounds amazingly useful and dangerous." Ginny said as she contemplated the uses of such a scroll. "Do those signing it need to know the nature of the scroll to have it take effect?" Ginny asked.
"Yes and no. They don't need to know it's a soul binding pact, but they do need to know that the agreement is consensual and enforced. Basically, you tell them this is a binding agreement and you will follow it, pretty much confirms the ritual is complete and the pack can be made."
"So, they need to know it will be enforced, just not how." Ginny muttered to herself.
"What are you planning?" Harry asked knowingly.
Ginny smirked and whistled as she walked off.
"Ginny? Gin, come on!" Harry called out after her but stopped as both he and Ginny were distracted by the sound of arguing farther ahead of them down the hallway.
Sparing a glance towards each other, the two of them nodded and rushed ahead to see what the trouble was and more importantly if the chamber had been opened prematurely.
Thankfully their worries were not warranted, the chamber was still an uncertainty in their future, but in some ways, the current dilemma was far worse.
"Who do you think you are calling me stupid! My grades are higher than yours!"
"And you think that means anything? Even your grades can't hide your stupidity Granger."
"It's none of your business what I do Greengrass so leave me alone."
Rounding the corner, Harry and Ginny had arrived just in time to see Daphne Greengrass and Hermione Granger out for each other's blood.
This was a new sight for both of them. Tracey Davis standing between Daphne Greengrass and Hermione Granger as the two looked on the verge of pulling the others' hair out. Several things were wrong here. First, Greengrass publicly showing emotion was unimaginable. Then there was Hermione who was practically screaming at the blonde in a blind rage, and the wild and tomboyish Tracey Davis acting as proctor and peacekeeper. Harry had to wonder if at some point he had performed the Grand Order a second time.
"This is why you muggleborn are better off not learning magic. Because of stupid stunts like this."
Hermione likewise was reaching her own boiling point. "It's that arrogance that results in your own ignorance. Being muggleborn doesn't matter. We're here to learn! Not shy away from the facts."
"Oh, that's rich coming from you bit-"
"Okay let's stop right there." Tracey intervened picking up on the fact that at this rate, Daphne was about to make more of a scene.
"Back off Trace. Someone has to teach this arrogant brat that she's not in London anymore."
Seeing a prime opportunity to interject Harry stepped forward to add his own say into the yelling match before them.
"I'm pretty sure the phrase is 'I don't think we're in Kansas anymore' Daphne, though I do find it interesting that you know of the saying." Harry said with a mock joyous tone.
The joyful tone did seem to work, as both Hermione and Tracey seemed to lose their own momentum at Harry's cheerful arrival.
"That would be me actually." Tracey admitted, her face relaxing into a smile at the sight of someone who could help calm the two girls.
"Piss off Potter. You're not involved in this." Daphne snapped out, regaining her focus.
"Stay out of this Harry." Hermione firmly said, agreeing with Daphne's rebuke.
Harry sighed, having been in a similar situation with two comrades back when he attempted to form a joint natural and magical combat force. Fights between the use of magic and against it always ended up like this. It was both nostalgic and annoying to deal with, but Harry knew exactly how to take control of such a situation.
"Shut up both of you!" Harry said coldly. His harshness and malevolent tone leaving all the girls stupefied, Ginny included. They all stared at him without uttering a word, frozen in fear. Harry's stature while small for his age radiated the air of a wizened and pissed off veteran. One who commanded obedience and order from those around him.
While not his desired intent, it did produce his desired result.
"The two of you are causing a scene. Now, both of you are going to follow me, and we're going to talk whatever this-" he waved his hand at the scene before him, "- out peacefully.
Regaining herself, Daphne wasn't going to sit back and accept his demands. "I don't have to do anything for you Potter." She spit out.
"You're right." Harry said calmly. "I also don't have any reason to continue helping you in potions, nor allow the use of my runes to protect your sister if you won't fulfill your end of the bargain; or did you forget? The term was that you would answer any questions I asked regarding wizarding society in lieu of aid, and based on your words a few minutes earlier, I'd say now is a good time. Or would you like to talk about it out here?"
Daphne bit her lip as she glared at him.
"Fine! There's no way we're talking about that out here." She gritted out. Glaring at Hermione for a fraction of a second, she turned and stormed past Harry; Tracey following after her.
Harry nodded in agreement. "My dorm room then." Harry said aloud not waiting for an answer. He nodded at Tracey who in turn smiled a thank you towards him. Turning back to Hermione Harry offered his hand. "You're coming too right?" Harry asked as he looked at Hermione. Although his hand was welcoming Hermione knew it wasn't really a request, just a polite order.
Hermione still frowning nodded an affirmative gesture before taking Harry's hand that was waiting outstretched. Having had the time to cool off she was at least aware that this time around she was in the wrong. She wasn't the only one, but the sudden self-awareness that came with outsiders observing their yelling match made her realize neither she nor Daphne was in the right. Then there was the fact that again, Harry came to her rescue in a pinch, calming the situation down and taking control of the chaos.
Little did she realize that during their journey to his dorm room, she didn't let go of his hand.
Ginny, silent as a lamb, smiled behind them as she followed the duo. While Hermione's mind was calming down, Daphne's own thoughts were racing a mile a minute.
As she walked, every few steps she would occasionally peer over her shoulder at Harry who was quietly and contently walking behind her. With each glance, she quickly averted her eyes before he could notice her actions.
All the while she repeatedly asked herself one thing, 'What was that?' For her Potter was always an enigma, but a relatively safe and naïve enigma. What she had seen last year led her to believe that Potter was just that, a Potter. A powerfully influential name that she could use for her own advantage and safety. An option to protect herself from the likes of the Malfoys and other Purebloods who would sooner see her as a disposable doll. Harry was a safe option, protected and backed by the likes of Dumbledore but having displayed a clear divide between himself and the man of light. Likewise, he was observant, rational, a genius potioneer, and capable enough to drive the entirety of Slytherin House against himself and still come out unscathed.
A safe if not unknown alternative to her other options to survive Hogwarts.
That safety was slaughtered in three seconds. She glanced back over her shoulder and her eyes met, Green Emerald eyes. Soft, gentle and accepting with a hint of amusement. The eyes she constantly recalled as being the 'safer option'.
None of that could be found in the eyes before her that threatened to pierce her very soul.
She felt herself sweating as those cold eyes. Her family, even in its decline, was well connected and influential to a degree. She had met many people. Just from their eyes, she could usually tell what a person was like. Harry however had just shown her a new face she hadn't expected or predicted. A façade, very different from the first one, that had left her confused and curious.
All people have a façade, a mask they wore. And Harry's façade had just lost all its warmth.
It was creepy really, how different they were. His eyes… they reminded her of Malfoy Senior. She had spied on one of their meetings, if one could call it that. Really it was a yelling match between her father and him. Back then those eyes promised a world of pain, eyes that declared that all that existed in the world would be his. Eyes that proclaimed all his wants and desires would be achieved no matter who was harmed in the process.
Only far worse.
Malfoy's eyes were wild and untamed, and told her everything. Harry's eyes only screamed out that her death would not be a painless one, leaving her left with empty and pointless contemplation.
Once the five of them had reached Harry's dorm Daphne quickly found a seat on his empty desk next to the door. She flinched a bit when Harry passed her but was grateful that he took a position between her and Hermione, who had chosen to sit on his usually unused green bed.
They sat in silence, Hermione gathering her thoughts and Daphne too afraid to trigger a response. Ginny meanwhile took a position out of their line of sight in the corner, to minimize her presence from interfering. Likewise she was in a prime position to jinx either of the two girls should they start to get out of hand. Sure Harry didn't need her help in containing either of them, but she wasn't about to play second fiddle if spells started to fly.
Seeing that no one was up to starting the previous argument from earlier, he decided to begin the talks himself.
"Hermione, why are you so outraged?"
Hermione rose from her seated position in defiant outrage but then calmed for a moment to not sound indignant. "Madam Pomfrey… informed me along with some other students about the…'' her face contorting in disgust, "twisted culture that wizards partake in."
Daphne bit her tongue but kept quiet still uncertain about how Harry would respond if she spoke out of line. In hindsight, she should never have entered his room, his domain. She was now essentially trapped in a lion's den with no way out safely.
"Daphne."
A simple call of her name caused her to freeze up. She looked up avoiding direct contact with his eyes, just like her father taught her to do when facing a potentially powerful enemy.
"What inspired you to verbally attack Hermione?"
Daphne held her cold-hearted mask tightly on her face as she replied. The best she could do is remain poised and neutral like she normally was.
"Your Ignorant friend was practically shouting out loud about her 'indignation'."
Hermione was about to retort before Harry raised up and placed a hand on her own. Hermione sat confused for a moment at the action. For a second, she thought her mother was in the room, as she did the same action when asking her to stay quiet and let someone else speak their piece before she started up. Nodding to Harry she understood that was what he wanted too but was left wondering how he could have known or if he knew at all and just happened to do the same thing she did.
Harry didn't comment on the tone Daphne spoke in but was more intrigued by how much spite was placed in her words. Harry gestured for her to continue speaking and she told him, rather ranted in a heated and unbecoming mess, how she had caught Hermione complaining in the Library and then in public asked the Library's overseer Madam Irma Pince if there were any documents of texts regarding MUK and the influence magic had on the human body. Her ranting really began here with a detailed yelling match between a very flustered Pince, and a furious Hermione, whom was being rejected without so much as an explanation. The more Hermione pushed the more Pince became uncomfortable and the more of a scene she was causing. Hermione stormed off and Daphne, her wits at their end at the blatant disregard and dangerous actions followed after her. Which led to Harry finding them in the middle of the conflict that followed upon her catching up to Hermione.
"So, if I understand correctly," Harry said turning to Hermione, "Madam Pomfrey informed you about MUK, and knowing you, upon learning about it, decided to research more into it but could find nothing on it, nor receive help looking into the subject?"
Hermione nodded her head with a frown on her face.
"Can you believe it," she complained, "It's a proven condition and yet there's hardly anything on the topic. That I can deal with, but I can't believe Madam Pince would disregard her duties and tell me that I can't go looking into the topic. She didn't even say that the books were in the Forbidden Section, just that I couldn't look into it." Hermione huffing in deliberate displease.
"That's because you can't look into that stuff you ignorant bitch." Daphne said her temper flaring. Harry caught a glance of Trace looking in shock at how Daphne was acting, and Harry knew something was up that none of them knew.
Before Hermione could yell back at her - a good thing too since her eyes told Harry she was about to rip the girl's hair out if allowed at her – Harry interjected with a calm fact.
"That isn't true Greengrass." He said simply.
He had successfully attracted her aggression onto himself. Her heated gaze burned holes into him as something ate at her when he said this. His Mental locks loosening slightly gave him insight into this, something about how could he - a Potter heir - say such a thing. A fact that made Harry wonder if the statement or rather the research into MUK was forbidden in some manner, a fact that Madam Pomfrey didn't speak of if such a thing was the case.
"It. Is. Not." She gritted out. "It is forbidden."
Harry simply turned around and pulled a book from under within his robes that were now on the desk. Both Daphne and Hermione suddenly had to double-take as the question of 'when did he remove his robes' occurred to them.
"Here you go Hermione," Harry said, giving her the book, but not before showing it off. The book had only a single phrase on it; 'Public Medical Report'.
Hermione took the book and opened it. Within were several notes highlighted by Harry, and while few in number each one displayed documented cases, not medically written documents mind you, of MUK cases and the patient's reactions as a result.
It wasn't anything grand, just simply observations of a medical tent that stated obvious things like, 'This person had a Magical backlog, was very angry today.'
This wasn't a scientific journal but it was evidence and documentation. "This isn't forbidden text, nor was it in the Forbidden section." Harry said, both true, he stumbled on it in the room of lost things.
Harry was starting to realize that things Albus didn't want people seeing, things that slipped past his notice tended to end up there more often than not.
"But it's still Forbidden." Daphne insisted fiercely. Her persistence was very confusing.
"How so?" Harry asked.
"It is socially unacceptable to even talk about it." Daphne said, hesitating to say 'talk about it' as if realizing she too was talking about it.
That ruled out a Taboo Harry thought to himself.
"Okay then." Harry said causing both Hermione and Daphne to look at him in shock. Daphne at the ease at which Harry agreed, and Hermione at which the ease he gave in to her irrational demands.
Harry turned to Hermione and stated calmly, "Apparently it's forbidden to speak openly about it. If you're going to investigate MUK, keep it private and solo. I'll share anything I find myself, but apparently asking for help is not culturally acceptable."
Daphne jaw dropped and the embers of her anger rekindled right then and there, her frustrations fanning the bellows and flames alike.
"It's not alright!" she said loudly. Harry was sure she was unaware that he had several privacy styled spells up in his room, a fact that showed how much Daphne was losing it. Tracey was smiling in the corner alongside Ginny, both seemingly enjoying the interactions between the three. Mostly Daphne's.
"Listen Potter! MUK is a forbidden topic, you can't go around telling others it's okay to look into it."
"Why?" Harry asked calmly. "You say it's forbidden, but you haven't explained what is forbidden. Obviously it's not a Taboo and no laws exist stating it's illegal, so how is it forbidden?
Daphne was about to speak when she was hit with a surprising amount of calmness. Her agitation sinking into a mute mellow roar.
"It's socially unacceptable. "she said.
"So, it's fine in private." Harry countered.
"Yes- I mean No it's not." Daphne retorted although she declared it with far less. "It's just against the Stature of Secrecy." She finally mumbled out after a few seconds of incoherent attempts at finding the right words.
"Is that so?" Harry said. His tone was level, but his face gave the impression he didn't believe her.
"Yes, it is. Potter, as an Heir to the Potter line, you of all people should already know this." Daphne said firmly to which Harry had no response. He wasn't ready to reveal info on Albus's mismanagement of his lineage just yet so said nothing in response. Collecting herself, Daphne finally calmed down again to realign her cold mask.
In the meantime, Harry spoke up when the Ice Queen had regained her ground. She was uncomfortable before, just enough to leak information without intending to, but he needed her thinking rational and unemotional for his next question.
"Daphne, pardon my ignorance but wherein the SoS does it say that the "topic", he said with air quotes, "is forbidden? My recollection of the SoS is poor, to say the least, and I can't recall, there is no law or passage pertaining to its discussion, research, or debate."
"There's n- isn't illegal documented, just understood. Discussion of… it, is restricted to families and healers." She informed, mumbling under her breath, "When it's necessary."
Daphne hesitated for a moment, her lips stopping mid-sentence before saying the word no, but not in time for Harry to catch on the meaning.
It wasn't a written law as there was no direct harm, but it was understood that it would do harm.
It meant the 'forbidden' she spoke wasn't law, it was either common sense or tradition.
"I see." Harry said, standing up as he did so. Walking to the door Harry opened his room up and smiled. "I understand and I'll handle the rest," he said, "If you want to feel free to leave."
Seeing an out, Daphne got up and left, not wanting to deal with Grander anymore. Harry on the other hand was a nest of dragon eggs she didn't want to deal with either at the moment so took haste to exit the room.
Tracey, no longer able to hold back her chuckles snickered aloud just out of Daphne's earshot. Moving next to Harry she smirked and whispered, "You're really interesting, Potter. Daphne's never been that relaxed and opened to anyone before, at least enough for her to lose her temper. I think she likes you."
Tracey winked and rushed out finding the whole situation amusing.
Closing the door behind them Hermione was conscious enough to wait until the door latched before letting out her indignation at what she just heard. Her indignation, however, was a dull roar compared to before, and much more composed. A good sign that she was thinking and not reaction on impulse alone.
"This is absurd. It's not illegal or forbidden but it's treated as if it were a taboo." Hermione groaned in distaste. "I mean, letting kids engage in- in- debauchery, it's unethical. What's next? Rape is legal, and siblings can go at it like rabbits. It's completely insane." She ranted.
Ginny couldn't help but laugh. "No, but give it twenty years and same-sex marriages will be legal." She mockingly teased. This drew Hermione's ire onto Ginny as she ranted at her for making fun of what she believed to be a serious topic. Harry meanwhile held back his own smile which was a mix of both amusement and discomfort. He really didn't want to inform her of his own findings.
Being over eleven centuries-old by this point and having lost interest in human society for the majority of it, things like sex and social taboos had little meaning to him. In two decades, he had watched five taboos and social stigmas rise and die after two decades each. One lasted two centuries before it fell to ruin. Put simply, they were constructs made by those in power at the time.
The ones that lasted, Harry noticed, were those that ensured or helped survival. Stealing and killing, for example, prevented unnecessary deaths from grudges.
At this point, Hermione was getting frustrated at Ginny for laughing in amusement, going on and on about how same-sex marriages have negative impacts on child-raising, and how the if such a thing was allowed society would begin to crumble.
Judging from Ginny's reactions, he was willing to wager a bet that her little joke was a historical fact and that society did crumble in some manner. Even behind her fit of laughter, a hint of seriousness did show momentarily through it.
"Hermione." Harry said, cutting off her lecture on unethical marriages, which was supported by outdated facts, and false reports based on what little Harry knew, or cared about. After all, when you seek death, you didn't really care what others thought or did. It didn't matter. It also didn't mean he didn't pick some things up in the twenty-eighth century.
"Marriage ethics aside, we have to respect that it's not acceptable to look into MUK like this."
"You're kidding me," Hermione shouted. "Mr. Break-the-Rules, is telling me to give up and concede to their irrational whims! What good does that do us? Madam Pomfrey didn't have all the answers and it looks like no one does. This is a serious medical condition that's only solution is for kids to have… have…" Hermione started to blush, realizing the boy she was talking to about this.
Harry smirked and said teasingly, "I think the word you're looking for is sex."
The poor girl almost imploded with a shining red glow of embarrassment. Normally she was fine with such discussion, her parents were very willing to answer her questions and she would be fine. Talking with Harry about that was a totally different beast.
"Harry didn't say that," Ginny added in. "He said we can't look into it like you did."
Hermione broke free from her moment and caught up to what Ginny meant. "You mean research in secret?"
"Not exactly," Harry said sitting down backwards on his chair, pulling the chair out from the unused desk. "Think about it. She said it was forbidden, but not illegal. That means it's either a tradition or common sense for them."
"Letting kids have sex is common sense?" Hermione said with both disgust and a mellowed outrage. "Harry, this kind of thing is unforgivable."
"Maybe in the muggle world Hermione." Ginny said coldly, drawing both their eyes to her. "But you're not in the muggle world. You're in the Wizarding world Hermione."
"It's. Not. Right." Hermione spit out.
"No." Harry said, drawing Hermione's shocked gaze to him.
"It's inconsistent." He said a-matter-a-factly.
Even Ginny was confused. "What do you mean Harry."
Harry leaned back into the air, still situated in the chair in front of his desk. "A lot of the wizarding customs don't make a lot of sense." Harry explained, raising a hand he begins to list off a few, "Wizard kids don't learn basic reading, writing, or math skills. How is it that most of them know the basics come their school year?" Harry asked.
"Veritaserum isn't permissible in court, despite being viable in discerning truth. Of which, the legal defense is speaking the truth as best you can, in front of an essentially doctoral government body." Harry paused for a moment, but not long enough for Hermione to speak up in agreement.
"Exactly." Hermione agreed excitedly. "Even if veritaserum can be avoided by dodging being self-aware that you're drinking it, it could still be useful in cornering the truth out of criminals. If muggles had access to it, it would make cross-examinations increasingly easier and simpler."
"Except they don't do that." Ginny said with crossed arms. "And honestly I'd love to know why."
She was internally asking herself if the Wizarmort did so, if Sirius Black wouldn't have been falsely charged.
"Well, they should." Hermione stated.
"Harry? Do you have any ideas?" Ginny asked with curiosity.
"Huh?" Harry asked.
"Do you know why they don't do it? You know, not use veritaserum?" She asked again.
"No, but there is a reason." Harry confirmed.
"What? Ministry corruption?" Ginny said with exasperation while rolling her eyes. She did after all remember how they treated Harry before, and she did hold a grudge against them for it.
"No." Harry denied firmly, making the girls look at him in curiosity.
"Political Corruption is why the rule isn't changed. Why it is a rule is something else. Laws don't come into existence from personal gain but because of a threat or danger. Take the three unforgivable. Right to living, the killing curse is forbidden, the right to self-will, the Imperius is forbidden, and the right of human dignity, thus the Cruciatus is forbidden. Each one does wrong to anyone and all. Laws come to exist to protect the people of a society. Even if those laws are created from selfish reasons, at their core they are proposed to protect or serve some aspect of the collective society."
"Like with copyright laws," Hermione said, adding her own two cents, seeing where Harry was going with his tangent. "They exist to protect the ownership and earnings of a creator's works, but corporations have pushed for longer copyrights so as to keep making money."
"A decent example, yeah." Harry said. "If I had to guess, then maybe it's there to protect the rights of the innocent but what I can't figure out is why willing permission isn't allowed."
"That's just the corruption." Ginny said dismissively.
"No," Harry argued. "There's a deeper reason. Being outsiders, me and Hermione aren't bound by magical common sense. Some things we see don't make sense and are irrational because we don't have the foreknowledge to understand the reasons. Likewise, Ginny, you and Daphne are more informed but at the same time are blinded by that common sense."
Hermione looked at Harry with a spark of understanding. "You're talking about their traditions."
"Actually, I was talking about Daphne's reaction to you, but yes, traditions too." Harry confirmed.
"I can't say much about anything else, and certainly nothing for sure, but I do have a theory as to Daphne's odd behavior and everyone else's for that matter regarding MUK."
Hermione was now on the edge of her seat, err bed, eager to hear what he found out since she couldn't find anything.
"This is only speculation, but doesn't it strike you as odd? Culturally wizarding society acts like it's stuck in the Victorian Era, as if they were incapable of moving past it?"
Hermione nodded in agreement. "It does strike me as odd, especially with how many muggle-borns are brought into the wizarding world."
"That's because wizards, in general, don't adapt quickly to changes in the world very well." Ginny stated a-matter-a-factly.
"No, they don't change well the same reasons muggles don't change habits quickly." Harry countered. "They stay stagnant because it's dangerous to change."
Hermione looked at Harry with a raised eye. "How so?"
"Magic is dangerous. It responds differently to different environments. Like nature, magic seeks balance. If the world abruptly changed, say a culture where magic perforates, went from steam power, to nuclear power, how do you think magic will react to that new power source?"
Hermione froze as she didn't know the answer.
"Magic responds to both the physical and social. The more magic in one place the easier it is to gather and the harder it is to change. That makes it resistant to change." Harry continued. "I'm not saying society can't change, just that a societal change could heavily affect how magic affects us."
Harry's eyes darkened as he fell back into his past experiences. "A world at war, results in dangerous magical lands, a world at peace leaves you wondering if it even exists at times." He mumbled out.
Silence reigned for a time before Hemione spoke up. "What does that have to do with MUK?"
"Hmm? Oh right. Hermione, do you know when the Status of Secrecy came about?" Harry asked.
"1962."
"And between 1962 and 1852, how many interactions did wizards have with muggle societies?"
Hermione, while confused, answered all the same. "Several, quite a few actually."
"Then what about between 1450 and 1840?"
Hermione grimaced but answered, "quite a few."
"How many of them were witch hunts or executions?" Harry said coldly.
Hermione's eyes widened. "all of them."
Ginny too raised her eyes to this shocking fact.
"Lastly, from 1840 to 1962, how many times did witches and wizards interact with muggle society in a productive or peaceful nature?"
Both of them, Hermione and Ginny suddenly realized what Harry was getting at.
Harry nodded. "That's right. Until 1852, wizards withdrew from all muggle contact. For all purposes, they went into hiding. They weren't safe, however, so they created the SoS and ministries in 1962to protect wizarding society and her people. They adopted Victorian culture and taught it heavily to each other to hide… who they were." Harry explained.
"While reluctant, they were afraid. Five hundred years of mass murder, witches and wizards alike feared muggles and their cruelty. Unlike now, they didn't have large miniature cities like Diagon Alley or the Ministry where a large collection of wizards worked to keep us safe back then. At best you have fifty wizards, tops in collectives or traveling bands in Europe."
Harry took a breath before he continued. "As far as I can tell, Magical Backup hasn't been a problem until the ministry came into existence, rather, it became a noticeable issue as a result of decisions made back then."
"Wait," Ginny interjected. "Are you saying MUK is a result of the creation of the Ministry."
"No," Hermione said. "You're saying the adoption of Victorian culture resulted in MUK."
Harry nodded. "Before Victorian culture arose, it wasn't too uncommon to see Brothels here and there. Public whore houses were pretty common and accepted."
"You're saying women whoring themselves out help prevent MUK?" Hermione said aghast.
"It is a possibility. If you think about it, while the term now holds a negative meaning, it would explain where the term Scarlet Witch came from." Harry said.
"Wouldn't that negative connotation stem from Victorian culture too?" Ginny asked.
Hermione was against it but she nodded quietly. Honestly, if Harry was right, it would explain it. "Okay, assuming your right, why did it take so many years for anyone to notice MUK becoming a problem?" she asked with skepticism.
Harry shrugged. "You wouldn't find many of them out in the fields of France and Germany back during both World Wars." He said simply.
Hermione was about to say something then a look of realization came over her.
"MUK is a condition discovered during the war." She muttered to herself. "A period of time where they couldn't find relief and were constantly stressed, pressured and threatened…" she spoke aloud in thought.
"Wouldn't be surprising that it became something to consider." Harry said. "Yet, despite knowing, it conflicts with the adapted culture."
"Madam Pomfrey said sex was a means of relief, but Victorian culture shamed most forms of sexual conduct." Hermione said.
"Which would explain the contradiction." Ginny said. Hermione nodded.
Harry smiled. "If sex was an important part of wizarding culture before the need for the Stature of Secrecy, and Victorian culture was adapted in order to preserve and protect the secrecy of wizards by mimicking the muggles at the time, then naturally a contradiction would remain."
"A culture that's acceptant and needs sexual interactions to manage their magic but has to hide it in order to hide themselves in plain sight." Harry finished with a sigh.
Hermione stood up and paced, deep in thought. "If that's true, and your right Harry…" she bit her lip in hesitation, lingering on a thought she didn't like or agree with, "Then… it would explain Greengrass's actions."
Ginny agreed. "If Victorian culture is a byproduct of preserving the Stature of Secrecy back then, and wizarding culture hasn't adapted to a new way, then naturally it would subconsciously be taught that openly discussing sex would risk the Stature of Secrecy."
"But it doesn't!" Hermione argued.
"Which is why Harry said we can't go about looking into it out in the open." Ginny added with a smirk.
Hermine looked at her. "Listen Hermione, we're just kids, we can't change the world. But we can learn. The more we figure out, the more we understand, the closer we can get to the truth."
Hermione smiled and nodded excitedly. Something about secretly looking for forbidden knowledge that was okay to learn triggered and excitement within her. Harry knew this feeling quite well. The discovery of something new that no book would ever tell you about. New knowledge.
Harry smiled as he watched this.
"By the way Harry." Hermione said, drawing his attention. "You said you have several books on MUK?"
Harry nodded.
"Can I see them?" Hermione asked. "I'd like to look over your theory myself."
Harry stood up from his chair and smirked. "Sure."
Getting up he went over to his trunk and descended. Inside he was about to look for the books in question when Navi floated over to him in a fuss.
Harry was surprised to find the blue sprite in his trunk. "Hey there. What's wrong?"
The poor thing was flying aggressively up and down, expressing the urgency and importance of whatever she wanted him to know. Flying around she hovered over his enlarged snitch and pointing at it and his broom that sat leaning on the wall, pointed frantically at both.
Harry noticed there wasn't any panic of fear in her movements and then made a guess as to what happened.
"Oh." He said simply, looking at the clock. It was close to noon already. Smiling Harry turned to the little fairy. "Thanks Navi."
Smiling the little blue ball of joy flew around and dove into his quidditch jersey's pocket.
Grabbing the two books he could find, he grabbed the books, and moved his broom and jersey into the corner where a two by two-meter large black box, glowing with runes, lay filled with several items he used daily. These included a recently used deck of playing cards, quills, his school books, and an assortment of potions as well as other items that would be useful in an emergency. Dropping the Jersey and Broom into the open box he carried the two books out with him.
Climbing out he handed the two books to Hermione. "Sorry, I just realized I'm late. This is all I have on hand, I'll need to look for the others, but I need to hurry to the pitch to meet up with Wood and the others for practice. I told Wood I'd help out with the Gryffindor Practice. Want to come and watch Hermione?" Harry said.
Hermione nodded seeing that if she stayed with him, then she could follow him and get the remaining books. Plus, it was both fun and scary watching Harry fly. There was something enthralling in how he handled a broom. The confidence and certainty in which he performed his aerial feats bordered on suicidal and yet he never once failed to complete them.
"Ginny you want to come with?" Harry asked.
"In a bit." Ginny said turning to his trunk, "There's something I want to work on before I join you. Can I borrow your trunk?" she asked.
"Sure. Just don't touch the corner." Harry said.
"I know." Ginny said with a grin, "You and the box, I'm not an idiot Potter."
Harry smirked. "I beg to differ Weasley."
Harry ducked out of his room as Ginny wrestled her wand into her hand towards him. Laughing Harry left with Hermione behind him, chastising him for his rude statement.
Ginny just smirked and sighed as she went into his trunk. Having more knowledge in charms and people then Harry did about this time, Ginny wanted to apply one of Harry's traces to Daphne. Her behavior was odd for the normally stoic and cold girl.
"Wait…" she said after a minute or two passed. "Practice with… SHITE!" Ginny swore scrambling out of Harry's trunk and flying down the hall as fast as her feet could manage.
"Damnit Malfoy, don't you dare say it this time." She groaned.
Ginny didn't want to know what Harry would do to him if the prat said that to Hermione.
"I hope I make it in time." She complained, not fully sure what she would do when she caught up.
Daphne could wait.
Harry and Hermione made it to the pitch. The team was just coming out of the locker room with faces that told Harry that Wood had just dropped a hell of a lecture on them.
"Kind of you to show up Potter." Wood said strictly with no shortage of disapproval in his voice.
"Got caught up in a bit of trouble Wood." Harry explained. "nothing to be concerned about thought."
"Where's your broom?" he inquired to which Harry smirked and patted his pocket. "In here."
Harry put his hand into his robe and like bloody Mary Poppins pulled out the full-body sized implement out of the shadow of his robe. Having no interest in his magic show, Wood nodded and smirked as he turned to the rest of the team. "Alright everyone, Warm-up exercises let's go. Potter, get your gear on and we'll talk about practice."
Harry nodded and turned to Hermione. "Head up to the bleachers, I'll be out shortly."
Hermione nodded and left, while Harry went to change.
The team practice began without a hitch. The team sprinted across the field and then took to their brooms performing several aerial maneuvers to warm up. By the time their hearts were pumping Harry was already done talking with Wood, fully decked out in his padded gear.
While Wood took to caring for the rest of the team, Harry was tasked with Building up their new Seeker, whom he was given the right to pick. Harry was strongly considering getting back at Kattie Angelina who apparently suggested to Wood to let Harry pick who would join the team.
Apparently, she made a strong case to trust Harry's high standards. He was strongly considering joining the Slytherin team to get back at her but relented as he got to work. Of the thirty or so candidates Harry ended up picking a young Gryffindor named Anna Docken.
She had little skill for flying and almost no talent, but what caught Harry's eye was her willingness to put in the effort to keep up with him. While the drill Sergeant approach and spartan gauntlet of aerial flips, dodges and aileron rolls Harry took worked perfectly, it did wear out the applicants like a cheese grater to cheese. However, flip for flip, dive for dive, the aspiring girl kept up and didn't complain once. Even when she fell behind or fell, she held her complaints and gritted her teeth and took to the air.
She didn't waste time complaining or screaming in frustration, and even when terrified she pushed through and followed his commands, even while shivering in fear at the notion of what he wanted from her.
In the end, he told Wood his reasoning and he agreed it was worth a shot. Out of all the candidates, her personality was quiet which led him to believe she'd mesh well with the team and if Harry said he could drill her into something impressive, Wood was all for it. The fact Harry mentioned that none of the others could handle his curriculum only helped convince the captain that it was worth a shot. After all a miniature Harry, even a tenth of his skill, was worth it training.
And so, the decision was made and Harry got to work, drilling stamina into the poor thing.
Ironically this made Wood more aggressive in his practice as Harry drove Anna Docken hard. While it looked simple Harry was having her fly over the field, only three feet off the ground, but any deviation in her high result in him calling for a sharp dodge as a shiny stinging charm would come flying at her from any direction.
This was to train her to feel the stability of her broom. After all, spotting a flying snitch while in turbulence was hard. If she deviated from the demanded meter, the incoming spell would train her to dodge incoming bludgers since repetitive circling made for easier targets. He also added a random spell here and there so she would have the bad habit of dodging air when she broke the three feet elevation restriction.
Forcing the broom to stay at three feet required constant balance and movement to adjust which forced her to fine-tune her flying. Wood, after Harry explained why he had her start with this, liked the idea and considered having the main team do that next practice.
All was well until a group of unwelcome individuals came to the field.
Wood turned around at the sudden distraction as the rest of the team flew to the ground upon seeing the new arrivals.
"What are they doing here?" Wood bit out under his breath.
Harry turned to see the Slytherins but ignored them. He honestly didn't care but all the same, held onto his wand just under his robe.
Anna completed her circuit and slowed down to fly in front of Harry, still remember to maintain a meter off the ground. "Should we go see what's happening?" she asked, curious as to what was happening.
"No, if we're needed, they'll call us." Harry said. "Ignore them and do another lap, this time cut it in half across the center of the field. Make a forty-five-degree turn, fail and I'll stun you three times in a row."
Anna looked like she was about to grumble but re-gripping her broom and did as she was told even as sweat-drenched her forehead. The stress of maintaining the broom's height was beginning to take its toll.
The noise behind him grew louder and louder, but Harry ignored that. What he wasn't ignoring was the sense of hostility that he started to feel. Loosening his control over his Legilimency Harry kept an ear on the situation. If the hostility grew to malice, he would react.
At least that was his plan.
"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in, they got in on pure talent." Hermione's voice said across the field.
Turning, Harry noticed that at some point Hermione had joined the team along with Ginny who was trying to pull her back for some reason.
The hostility grew, but it wasn't malice, that hostility became a flood of hatred. A feeling of hate, shame and disgust flooded over Harry. Wand at the ready Harry turned to see what was happening just in time for chaos to be unleashed.
"Nobody asked for your opinion," Malfoy said, his smug look vanishing upon hearing Hermione's sharp comment, "you filthy little mudblood."
All hell broke loose. Flint was jumped as he intercepted Fred and George both of whom were aiming to lunge at Malfoy. Alicia screeched in outrage while Angelina was trying to get at Malfoy through Miles Bletchley, grabbing some of his hair in the process. Wood looked like he was about to club someone with his broom but was restraining himself while yelling at Flint. Malfoy was both sneering in pleasure at their responses while cowering behind his team. And everyone else was flailing at each other with loud voices as their sticks.
Words were exchanged and Ginny turned to Harry in shock to see he was once again ignoring them. Pulling Hermione with her, Ginny dragged her away from the chaos with a bit of effort. She said something that Harry couldn't hear nor cared to hear as he once again focused on his task of teaching the teams new Seeker.
Anna once again finished his task and looked up with concern about the chaos behind him.
"Are you sure we shouldn't-" she started to say but Harry cut her off.
"Five-minute break. Your gripping your broom too hard. Relax your fingers then do another fifteen laps." Harry commanded.
Anna nodded, getting off her broom and looked at the rest of the team, too shy to get caught up in the chaos.
Harry could understand her reasons and concerns. While he showed little interest Harry was monitoring the situation precisely in case things got out of hand. However, Wood was the captain and thus his problem to manage. Harry had one task, prepping their new seeker. A task he was surprised to find he was enjoying immensely.
First, he trained Nymphadora Tonks, then Daphne and Tracey, and now he found himself training Anna Docken. Harry began to wonder if teaching others was something he should consider doing full time. On top of promoting his desire to improve magic in the world, but to his surprise, he did actually enjoy teaching.
"I'm guessing you didn't hear any of that." Ginny said as she and Hermione approached.
"Heard every word actually," Harry said with a smirk.
"Then why-" Ginny started to say, expressing her confusion as to why Harry didn't seem to care that his house just insulted someone he cared about.
"Because there ain't a spell created that Hermione can't do." Harry said as if it was a simple fact. Sure, he knew of three she couldn't but gender spells didn't count. Hermione blushed at Harry's recognition. Ginny just stood there with a smile of pride and understanding, while Harry felt an unusual sense of déjà vu.
Shaking the feeling off he added, turning to Hermione, "Besides, If he wants to insult you, let him. After all, you can't really call him a Malfoy unless he's a useless, whining, coward who can only achieve anything with daddy's money, right? This is perfect for him."
"You want to say that to my face Potter."
Harry turned again to see an outraged Malfoy and a surprised Gryffindor team. The Slytherin team seemed hesitant to interact with Harry, half looking like they wanted him dead, the other half in hesitant fear of what he might do.
"Not really," Harry admitted without a hint of care or hostility. "It's a mouthful and you're not really worth the time. ANNA! Broom up, fifteen laps."
Anna did as she was told and flew off while Harry watched, ignoring Malfoy completely. Malfoy drew his wand, but Ginny had hers out and ready. Hermione, while slower and a bit hesitant, also drew hers to her side not sure if she should raise it.
"What's that matter Potter, can't fight your own battles. You need these whores to do it for you."
Harry sighed but didn't turn around. "Ginny put that away. We don't need Malfoy's stains covering the field."
"Say that to my face Potter!" Malfoy yelled flashing a spell which to everyone's shock Harry dodged without even looking back at. A jinx of some kind, Harry thought if the tingling on his neck was any indication.
"Face me Potter." Malfoy shouted, approaching closer to Harry, now only a few feet away. Ginny was itching to raise her wand, but Harry told her not to, so she didn't. Hermione on the other hand fearing that Harry might get hurt was pointing hers at Malfoy shakily.
"Put that down Hermione. Ignore him. He's not worth the time." Harry said with his arms crossed, his back turned, blind to nothing that was happening behind him. Feeling everyone's thoughts and aggressions with his magic and seeing their forms by using successive Homenum Revelio spells to act as a kind of low powered magical radar, despite not facing them, nothing escaped his perception.
This was Harry, on the cusp of combat. Ready to engage any hostile force or ambush that appeared within his sight.
Malfoy was so close the spell practically "swooped" over him, giving Harry a clear image of the skinny body's form against his back.
Malfoy was beyond furious, more so than he had ever been. He felt humiliated, insulted, and worse inconsequential. Yet he was afraid of attacking Harry. Every cell in his body, rational and instinctual screamed to not attack the passive force in front of him.
And so, Malfoy made the worst choice possible; his ego acting on his behalf.
He turned his wand on Hermione. Everyone panicked as they saw Hermione caught off guard, Ginner responding first, her wand level, a spell on her lips. Fred and George were next, wands rising. The chasers of the team stumbled in a futile charge to rescue her. The Grins from the crowd of green.
All turned to shock as in that moment. Harry had spun around and they saw death staring back. Harry grabbed Malfoy's arm, pulled and turned the boy falling forward away from Hermione. His left shoved into his back, a foot hooked his ankle. The squelch of mud in his face and the soft turf against his body, an arm holding his own against his back, threatening to rip his shoulder out. His wand clattering amidst the tall grass practically stormed with a mighty thud as it hit the ground.
Not even a second, all were shocked, and Malfoy was eating dirt, held in place by Harry a cold expression of disinterest glaring down.
In that instant, Harry was ready for Malfoy's transgression. Yet he was not ready for himself. In that moment, for a second, a single thought threatened to overtake his actions. In that instant instead of disarming Malfoy, Harry was ready to kill.
A mix of fear and desire stopped Harry, yet in the recesses of his mind, a darkness that Harry fully supported was demanding Malfoy's end. Even with his restraint, this malice seeped through the cracks of Harry's façade.
"Coward." Harry said calmly, with a frigidness that bordered on boiling. "You call for battle and attack an outsider. You knew you couldn't touch me so you went after her? You thought you couldn't hurt me, so you'd hurt something of mine." Harry said heartlessly with a simplicity that cut deeply.
"You can't treat me like this!" Malfoy shouted out through the grass and mud, his humiliation overwhelming his rationality of the situation. "My father will-" Harry shoved his face into the mud. Malfoy spits out the dirt in disgust as it had entered his open mouth.
His defiance and blatant disregard of his situation… his utter stupidity, grinded away at Harry's restraint, infuriating him along with the thought that he chose to attack Hermione.
"You think you can't be touched? That he can't be touched?" Harry whispered out in a deathly voice that was easily heard by all. They were all silent. Even the autumn wind grew still in Harry's presence, submitting as if to make his voice known. "You want to come after me, fine Malfoy. Bring it. You can't so much as scratch me. But you want to hurt those around me…" Harry paused and went utterly silent. A realization of what he was planning to do hitting him hard.
"No," Harry thought. He wouldn't become a heartless soul again. He couldn't, if he did… He paused again in thought. Would Ginny or Hermione even be able to bring him back from that nightmare? Would their voices reach him in that heartless state of mind he once wandered the world in?
"Fine." Harry said from above him, his cold hollowed tone eating into Malfoy.
Surprising everyone, Harry let Malfoy go. In that instant, a part of Harry pulled himself back, his temper being pulled back under his control. Standing up he was able to collect himself and calm his inner rage. He needed space.
Stepping up, he went off the pitch, heading for the exit. "Wood!" Harry called back.
Wood looked at Harry in silence. "Sorry, but I'm heading out for a second." He needed air, he needed silence. Harry could feel his anger on the cusp of breaking free, bursting through the dam that was his rational mind.
Malfoy was annoying, a gnat compared to all Harry had experienced, but raising his wand at her, at Hermione, had set his soul a boil. It's fumes threatening to drive him to action. But that couldn't happen, mustn't happen. If it did, how far could he go, no, would he go. Taking the life of another, meant nothing to him. Death was a kindness. What he needed now was space, a quiet moment to calm his inner rage, less he deprives Malfoy of death and leaves him to rot in his own hell.
Wood nodded dumbly his rage and fury long gone, the fact that the Slytherins had stormed and demanded the field, forgotten.
"Have Anna continue the task I gave her thirty more times, five-minute breaks between each lap of fifteen. Then have her do five laps around the pitch, while keeping an eye on the snitch. For every minute she doesn't see it, have her do ten pushups before starting her jog again. I'll be right back." Harry said, not wanting to abandon his commitment to the team. Flying aside, training Anna reminded him of the joy's from training with his old team. It was the only memory Harry had where his work didn't leave someone dead, or worse.
Harry had only made it halfway towards the exit, and as if to tempt death itself, Malfoy stood up foolishly behind him.
"Potter, Get back here!" Malfoy demanded. "I challenge you to a duel."
Harry continued to walk trying ignoring him, yet his words proved contrary to what his actions showed. Those fighting words hit deep as they triggered an old memory.
"They won't stop till we're all dead. They won't learn. They will kill…" Harry's mind froze, breaking with all cylinders halting to the simple truth he had witnessed. The bridge of past and present drove Harry to make the connection. Malfoy won't stop, nor change. "He threatened to hurt her..."
Those words slipped out and action was demanded.
Suddenly Harry stopped walking, as if to contemplate what had just entered his mind, but really that was but the shift in gears, from caution to action. Harry knew he couldn't avoid this battle anymore.
A cold wave encompassed the field, hopeless and dark, everyone felt a sudden dread wash over them all.
"Malfoy." A cold voice from Harry sounded to them all. "I think it's time we find out the answer to my question from before."
"Wha?" Malfoy asked with his jaw left hanging as if he couldn't understand Harry's words. In truth, he didn't know where Harry was going with that statement.
"Strip away your wealth and power and what is left?" Harry said aloud. Standing still he turned around slowly and looked into Malfoy's eyes and a chill ran down everyone's backs. Wide green eyes, cold and dark stared back at them, a madness and thrill screaming out from the depths of his soul. A twisted smile and tilted gaze lazily glancing into their souls all conveying a dark madness that was sharpened to a razor's edge.
"Let's find out." And Harry walked off, Ginny following after him.