[A/N: It's been longer than I normally post and I apologize. I had just finished binge watching Westworld and let me tell you that I now understand why serials are only shown once a week; it's to give your mind a chance to recover. I was so frazzled after trying to extract myself from that fully immersive, multiple plot/timeline/character development show. Go watch it but fair warning, the amount of swearing (F bombs) and full frontal male and female nudity is extensive.]

[Disclaimer: I own none of the songs written in this chapter.]

Chapter 24: The Best Laid Plans

Wednesday 5 January 1994 Train Ride North

As was usual, the Hogwarts Express was a testament to what happens when you keep hundreds of hyperactive kids cooped up for an extended period of time. The first years were the worst offenders, yelling out to their friends from across the carriage aisles, running up and down the train, chattering in a rapid manner of everything they'd experienced over the holidays and usually in an octave or three above normal. Hermione often wondered where the prefects were during these incidents.

By comparison, the compartment that she was in was practically sedate and civilized. Hermione wasn't alone but the girls were quietly chatting to each other about various things. Padma turned towards her and asked the inevitable question of 'How was your holiday?'

"I visited my grandparents and extended family again. I got the usual haul of clothes, books and some crafting supplies along with annoying inappropriate stuff from an uncle who has absolutely no clue as to what to get for a teenage girl." Hermione huffed at the end, rolling her eyes at the memory.

"Oh, no. What was the gift?" Padma commiserated.

"It was…I don't know… glittery and pink. I shoved it into my crafting supplies thinking that maybe someone else could use it. I think he thinks that I'm still five years old."

Padma snickered, "Oh, you have one of those relatives. Yeah, Parvati and I have a pair of grandmothers back in India who keep sending us stuff they think is appropriate for newly married women. It's their not-so-subtle attempt of influencing our father's decision to get us married off soon."

Hermione scrunched her face up in perplexed incredulity, "Do people still do that? Get married so young, I mean?"

Padma waggled her hand, "Depends on which region of the country but neither Parv nor I have to worry about that. Father has stated categorically that he will never arrange a marriage for either of us. He's said that we left that country to get away from such practices."

In Harry's compartment, things were as what one could be expected to find with five teenage boys loaded up on sweets and nothing to do. They were holding insane competitions to determine social ranking amongst male juveniles.

"Come on, Harry you can do it!" Harry scrunched his face up as he took a long slug of a fizzy drink without pause then began belching the alphabet. He managed to get up to the letter R before the gas ran out. He gasped for air, blinking rapidly to clear the tears out of his eyes and coughed a couple of times before passing the bottle onto Justin who took his own slug of drink for his attempt to unseat the champion.

After that came the test to find out who could identify which Bertie Bott they were eating while blindfolded.

"I've got scrambled eggs, liverwurst, ugg…head cheese and I think cough syrup. Gah, that was disgusting," He pulled off the blindfold and handed it over to Dean who reluctantly put it on and was given his own handful of beans.

Daphne stopped by to see if Neville wanted to spend some time with a more intelligent crowd. She shook her head in bemusement as the boy in question was currently in the process of trying to eat his way through a plate of progressively hotter peppers. Harry spotted her and waved her in, "Hey, Daph. Come to watch the show?"

"I came to see if Neville wanted to spend some quality time with those capable of intelligent conversation but it seems I was too late." She waved negligently in Neville's direction as the boy scarfed down a jalapeno pepper without hesitation.

"You want in?"

Daphne turned her wide-open gorgeous blue eyes and laughed at him, "You're kidding, right? No, thank you."

She finally left the boys to their madness, figuring she'd be able to wrangle Neville away when they got to the castle.

A little while later, the door to the boy's compartment opened again as Luna drifted in seemingly without a care. She observed the remnants of the pepper eating competition and delicately picked up the hottest of the peppers and popped it into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully before swallowing, her trademarked enigmatic smile on her face. The boys stared agog at the feat; Harry shook his head in amazement.

"How did you manage to do that, Lu?"

Luna still had the smirk on her face as she turned her eyes without turning her head, "Magic." The boys snorted their amusement, Neville complimented her resilience. Surprisingly, this got the young girl to blush madly and duck her head.

"So how was your Yule, Lu?" She peeked up at Neville's question.

"Um, it…it was good, um. Lots of presents and um, stuff…" she managed to stammer out while still pink in the face. Normally pretty clueless even for a boy, Harry picked up on her unusual timidity and put two and two together. The smirk on his face grew wide.

"Luna? Would you come with me, please?" He held out his hand and led the girl from the compartment and closed the door behind them. Harry then turned and knelt down to her eye-level, "Something you want to share?"

Luna was uncharacteristically shy and rolled her eyes in pained exasperation as she whined, "Harry! Come on, no! I can't!"

"Fine then, not me. Come along, you look like you need help though sorting out your feelings." Luna groaned but she let herself be led by the hand to another compartment. Harry knocked and stuck his head in, speaking with whomever it was inside. Pushing the door open wider, Luna saw that the occupants included Hermione, Padma and others. One in particular was Daphne; the moment Luna saw her, she began pulling back, "No! I can't do this! Not with her here." She managed to extricate her hand and bolted down the aisle.

Daphne just blinked in confusion, "What did I do?"

"Luna seemed to be suffering from a crush on a boy in my compartment and I figured she might like some female company to commiserate with and get some proper advice," Harry explained.

"Who's she crushing on?" Susan wanted to know.

Harry shrugged, "I think it was Neville."

Daphne's eyes went wide and her cheeks puffed out in an attempt not to laugh. Hermione caught it and pointed her finger admonishingly at the girl, "This is not funny, Daphne."

Now it was Daphne's turn to blush furiously, "Um, no. It's not that…"

"Got something you want to share with the class, Daphne?" Daphne shook her head and continued to blush.

Susan, Hannah and the other girls grinned wickedly at each other before ganging up on the blonde-haired Slytherin. Harry got out just in time as the squealing began.

Later in the Puff Common room after the Welcoming Feast…

"Oh, I think I ate my weight tonight," Harry groaned as he sank onto the cushions of the sofa and leant his head back. Hermione slid in next to him and leant up against his side, lacing her fingers into his.

"So we found out something interesting about Neville and Daphne after you left," Hermione commented, idly inspecting her holiday inspired fingernail polished left hand.

Harry picked his head up from the back of the sofa, "Oh?"

"It seems that Miss Greengrass and our lovely little Groot have been secretly dating for nearly a year now."

Harry's mouth dropped open in surprise, "He, she… Wow, he never mentioned that once! Here I thought we were friends." He feigned exaggerated dismay as Hermione giggled at his antics. He sobered up at another thought, "That would explain Luna then. She's got a crush on him. It would probably kill her to know that she's never had a chance."

"I think she already knows. That's why she didn't want to enter our compartment with Daphne there. She probably didn't want to be embarrassed more than she already was with the competing girl in there too."

Harry winced, "Ouch. Yeah, that would be a problem." He yawned deeply, "I think it's time to put me to bed."

Incredibly late that night…

Blaise slowly roused himself from a deep slumber as his ears picked up the sound of someone singing. A sound that everyone in the castle had started hearing always late at night and always the same sort of soulful outpouring of unrequited love for another since the beginning of the school year back in September. No one knew who was singing nor did they always know which song it was but the depth and heartwrenching…anguish behind it made everyone, living or not, weep in commiseration.

"Say something, I'm giving up on you… I'll be the one, if you want me to... Anywhere, I would've followed you…"

Even the most hard-hearted member of the Snake Pit started tearing up as they listened. The voice belonged to a young girl, that much they knew but which girl no one had a clue.

"And I am feeling so small…It was over my head, I know nothing at all"

The singing would only last maybe five minutes before fading away.

"Say something, I'm giving up on you…"

The next morning…

Luna plopped down next to Harry and began building her breakfast plate while listening to the conversation around her.

"I'm telling you it has to be a new ghost taking up residence in the castle," Harry was telling Neville, "I'd bet you it was the Grey Lady of Ravenclaw."

Neville disagreed, "No, I've heard her speak. Her voice is flat and all wrong compared to what we've been hearing."

Harry noticed Luna sitting next to him stuffing a large piece of pancake into her mouth, "Hey, Lu. Good morning, you wouldn't have any idea as to who's been singing really late at night and always with those sad songs of heartache?"

With her mouth still full, she merely shook her head negatively so both boys shrugged their shoulders and went back to their speculating.

Another pair of eyes were watching the young second year as the girl's shoulders slumped slightly when Neville laughed at a joke.

The Weasley Twins popped by to see what was new with the castle's resident heir to their heroes.

"Well, for Christmas I did receive a book on all their notes. (He dug into his bag) Here, it's called 'The Marauder's Compendium to All Things Brewed, Stewed and Distilled.'" Fred took the book reverently as he and George's eyes widened comically.

"Wow! This is incredible, so many possibilities…" George breathed.

Justin leant over to peer at the pages, "So what sort of things?"

Fred gestured with his hand, "Things like a potion to make a person's teeth chatter, here's one to make someone speak in soprano."

Harry grinned, "There's one in there that causes a person to belch bubbles. Sickeningly pink, sticky bubbles."

"Oooh…"

Harry had just entered the infirmary at the end of classes when Poppy came bustling out, "Mr. Potter? Is there something wrong?"

He motioned to the cart he'd been pushing, "Nope, just here to check on the contents of the ABM and top off anything that might be getting low." She waved him on.

As he was examining one of the hoppers Harry heard the sound of a baby making cooing noises. He peered around the room in confusion but shrugged it off. He spotted Poppy entering another room next to her office; inside it that looked like something that could be found in his pediatrician's office. Curious now, he finished up what he was working on and stepped over to the door. It opened just as he was about to knock and Madam Pomfrey stepped back in surprise.

"Ah, you startled me!"

"Sorry, Madam Pomfrey. Is that the pediatrics room?" She nodded as she pulled the door closed behind her.

"Yes. The school is currently hosting a few mothers. Not a word about this, young man." Harry held his hands up in supplication.

"I've never seen anyone around here that was pregnant or carrying around a baby."

"Well, that's what glamour charms are for and they usually leave the children with the castle elves assigned to them unless they bring their own."

Harry nodded his head in understanding, "Will you need anything special for the babies or their mothers?" Poppy sighed in thought.

"Not that I can think of right now but I'll send an email if something comes up."

Saturday rolled around and brought with it an unusual request from a pair of seventh year Slytherins, Aisley Patterson and Halpern Montague as they approached the Puff table, "Mr. Potter?"

Harry looked up from his reading, "Hmm?"

"We were wondering if you had any potions that could be used to make things glow in the dark."

Harry pursed his lips briefly, "I've got a couple. Why?"

"Aisley and I had an idea for a dance party and wanted to make it something special. Our idea is based on a party that we'd heard about from a couple of muggleborns before break."

Harry frowned in thought, "Glow in the dark, though?"

Aisley explained further, "Yeah, they called it a 'rave' or something. Glow in the dark body paints and clothing, loud music, dancing."

Harry ran a quick search on his PA and grinned wickedly after seeing the images and video, "You think that you'd be able to pull this off? I wouldn't think that Professor Snape or even McGonagall would allow such 'wild abandon.'"

Aisley waved his hand dismissively, "We Slytherins have our own dance hall…well actually it's just a room where we usually hold our house parties."

"Well, to answer your question; yes, I have some potion recipes on hand. How soon do you need them?"

Aisley shrugged, "It depends on how fast you can make them."

Harry scratched his cheek idly, "How many people do you expect to attend?"

Aisley and Halpern glanced at each other then turned back, "Figure about forty."

"All seventh year Slytherins?"

"Um, yeah…who else would we invite?"

"The younger years? People from other Houses?"

Halpern chuckled, "Mr. Potter, we're not Puffs; we're exclusive."

Harry nodded, "Okay, I can have it to you by tomorrow."

"How much will the potions cost?"

"All told? How about ten Galleons?" Aisley and Halpern shook his hands completing the deal.

A week later, Harry was in the Potions laboratory brewing side by side with Professor Snape. The conversation between the two flowed and burbled like their cauldrons.

"I'm guessing that you were the one who supplied the glow in the dark potions to my seventh years?" Severus wanted to know.

"Did I do something wrong in providing it? How'd you even find out?"

Severus smirked, "No, you didn't do anything wrong and I found out about the party because nothing happens in my House without my permission."

"Oh. How did it turn out?"

"The potions or the party?"

"Both?"

"The glow in the dark potions worked great, I'd say. They must've taken a page from Miss Granger and modified their clothes to have various patches sewn on after being dipped in the dyes. A fair number of them even painted it onto their fingers and bodies. I have to believe that they went to Miss Lovegood for the music since I doubt any of them would know where to look for stuff called 'techno' or 'acid house,' whatever those are."

Harry snickered at his mentor's discomfort as the two lapsed into silence broken only by the sound of their ingredients being prepped, "Was it as loud as the videos suggested they were?"

"I think the room's silencing charms were tested to their limit that night."

Harry laughed, "I wonder if we could hold something similar in the Great Hall sometime?"

Severus glared at him, "Just not as loud, okay? I'd be surprised if Madam Pomfrey wasn't inundated with requests for hearing relief potions and whatnot."

Harry shrugged, "It wouldn't be me that would organize something like that. I would just be the one to help with the lighting effects."

They lapsed into silence again.

"The teachers usually patrol really late at night, right?" Harry asked quietly.

Severus paused in descaling the carcass of an armored tunnel rat, "Yes…why?"

Harry shrugged, "I was wondering if you knew anything about the Hogwarts Heartache Ghost?"

Severus blinked a couple of times as he set down his knife, "No, I don't think we do. I hope someone finds out soon. She's got a hauntingly beautiful voice but she's so depressed. If she's a student, she needs help and soon.

There were no sad songs that night but Harry did think back onto when it all started.

Flashback, Saturday 11 September 1993, late at night…

"Each morning I get up I die a little…Can barely stand on my feet"

Harry (and everyone else in the castle) awoke as if being dragged from a peaceful dream by the sound of an ethereal voice drifting down from the heavens. He glanced around the room but didn't notice anything amiss. He spotted Neville rubbing his eyes and yawning before subsiding and just…listening.

"What the heck was that?"

Harry shook his head, "Dunno but it was… I don't know."

"Take a look in the mirror and cry…Lord, what you're doing to me…yeah yeah, I have spent all my years in believing you; but I just can't get no relief, Lord!"

Up in Ravenclaw Tower, Filius Flitwick roused himself from his bed and looked out the window in hopes of seeing where the voice seemed to be coming from but then his brain caught up to him and that it wasn't coming from the outside but rather, it was coming from…everywhere. The walls seemed to echo the singing in a way that made him believe that the castle had woken up crying.

"Somebody…somebody… ooh somebody … Can anybody find me somebody to love?"

Wednesday 2 February 1994, Hufflepuff Common Room

Harry was waiting for Hermione to show up so they could head up to the Great Hall for breakfast together when Neville stumbled up and laid his head on Harry's shoulder, "Harry," he mumble-whined, "You're famous and influential. Couldn't you issue an edict or something banning mornings?" Hermione giggled at her friend's morning impairment as she approached the two. Harry playfully shoved his friend and dorm mate off him, "I know what or rather who can wake you up." Neville blearily stared at him, impatiently waiting for an answer, "Go hang around Daphne. She always seems to brighten your day."

Neville suddenly looked nervous which clued Harry and Hermione in that something salacious was in the making. "Umm…"

"Nev?" Harry drawled with a growing grin, "Got something you want to share with the class?"

Neville sucked on his lips but somehow gathered a bit of strength and shook his head, "Nope. Not saying anything until we get up to the Great Hall." He then dashed out as fast as he could, leaving a bewildered pair of teens behind.

Great Hall, a few moments later…

Hermione was the first to spot Daphne giving Neville a quick kiss on his cheek before both sat down at the table. She glanced over at Harry to see if he'd caught the action too but his attention was on one of the Twins juggling something that was flashing wildly and making a fizzing noise. She shook her head at the Twins' antics and pulled Harry by the hand over to where Neville and Daphne were sitting.

"Good morning, Daphne. You look nervous for some reason. Care to share?" Daphne's usually cool demeanor was showing signs of coming apart at the seams.

Grinning broadly, Daphne replied, "Neville and I have some big news." Luna silently sat down nearby with a morose expression.

Harry stared pointedly at his best friend, "Well? Come on, Nev; I've been dying to know since fifteen minutes ago!" Neville snorted lightly.

"The Houses of Longbottom and Greengrass have entered into a Betrothal Agreement between Daphne and me," Neville announced importantly.

"Say that again?" Harry slowly asked, clearly poleaxed, "We poor mundane born and raised are confused."

"It means that when Neville and I graduate, we'll be getting married."

Silence pervaded the whole Hall, even the Twins' fizzing juggling props were silent as they fell to the floor with a squishy sounding splat but just as nature abhors a vacuum, so too did the population within the Great Hall. With a sound like an engine roaring to life, everyone began applauding and cheering the school's newest (and madly blushing) couple. Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil and the other 'Gossip Girls' squealed loudly and pounced on Daphne for more information and to see the engagement ring cleverly hidden on the girl's finger.

Only one didn't join in on the celebrating. Luna Lovegood bolted from the hall with tears flowing from her eyes.

Ministry for Magic, Dolores Umbridge's Office, same time

Dolores stared at the lines of data that was being displayed on her computer then narrowed her eyes at the miscreant that had created the virus for her, "So what is it that I'm seeing here?"

"What you're seeing is the computer virus spreading throughout the infected systems as you wanted."

"What I see are these infernal devices still working."

"You never said anything about making them stop. All you wanted was to regulate what could be viewed. Nothing more was agreed upon."

Dolores felt her blood pressure rise, "You are being deliberately unhelpful. I refuse to pay the rest of your fee if you continue this behavior. Fix it so that these devices no longer work within Magical Britain."

The hacker also narrowed her eyes and her voice grew dark, "You either pay me what is owed to me or I'll unleash my failsafe program."

Dolores immediately arced up and slammed her fat fist on the desk then leveled a pudgy finger at the clearly unimpressed hacker, "How dare you! This job is not complete until I say it's complete. I want these things dead or you'll be finding yourself in a similar situation."

The hacker merely smiled evilly. Her voice was an oily whisper, "Threaten all you want, Senior Undersecretary but you don't scare me. Send the money to the agreed upon account or every illegal thing you've ever done will become public knowledge."

The hacker, Heron in disguise, reported back to Director Croaker's office soon after she left the Senior Undersecretary sweating in her office. She flopped down in the open seat and sighed heavily, her face was stormy.

"Problems?"

"Dealing with the Toad gives me indigestion and a thumping headache."

Croaker laughed lightly, "Well, how did that computer 'virus' work? Did she fall for it?"

Heron shook her head, "The Toad changed her mind mid-stream and now wants the virus to kill off all other PA's in Magical Britain instead of just regulating what information was approved or not."

Croaker joined his colleague in sigh of frustration, "I wonder what it would take to convince Amelia to not use her computer until we can distract the Toad with something else?"

Heron rolled her eyes, "It's not that difficult; just announce an introduction for a new bill to allow less restrictions on magical creatures and she'll be all over that like…well, something."

"The ironic thing is, no one except Amelia even has a PA within the Ministry and I know no one has it in Diagon Alley. So unless she goes to Saint Mungo's or has a reason to stop by Hogwarts, she'd never know that the virus was faked," Croaker observed quietly.

Heron shook her head, "No, the owners of Slug and Jigger's has one as does the owner of Flourish and Blott's but beyond them, you're correct."

Croaker gestured with one hand, "So we would need to ask them to hide their PA's whenever or if, the Toad ever visits their establishments."

Heron crossed her arms and supported her chin with one hand, "It's feasible at least until we can distract her. You sure we can't just accidentally bump her through the Veil?"

Croaker laughed loudly, "Amelia asked the same thing."

Saturday 5 February 1994 Main hallway just outside Minerva's office

Minerva watched silently as the student population moved through the hallways off to points unknown. She observed a couple of first years in a conversation with a portrait and smiled to herself, 'It's nice to see someone getting it that the portraits are a wealth of information too.' She then spotted Mr. Longbottom and Miss Greengrass walking together and holding hands. Neville said something Minerva couldn't hear but she witnessed Daphne widen her eyes and joyously kiss her betrothed on the cheek.

"Minerva?" She turned and spotted Albus making his way up to her, "Is something the matter, my dear?"

"Not at all, headmaster; merely keeping an eye on everyone today. Where are you headed?"

Waving his hand dismissively around him, "Oh, nowhere in particular. I thought I'd wander the fourth floor and see what the children have discovered in their journeys."

Minerva's finely tuned 'baloney' senses started making noise, "Uh-huh. Albus? You wouldn't happen to know where the-boy-who-lived is currently? Could he perhaps be on the fourth floor?" Her suspicions were proven correct when Albus paled slightly and took a step back, his eyes darting about him. "I thought so. Just remember the conditions of your restraining order, Albus or you're going to regret it."

She spotted Hermione a few moments later after Albus had scampered at a faster than his usual dignified pace. The popular third year was currently poking around some of the larger frames and making notes on her computer.

"Miss Granger?" Hermione looked up and waved at Minerva, "What are you doing?"

"I've been chatting with Godric's portrait and he confirmed my theory that Hogwarts does indeed have a lift hidden away behind one of the portraits. It's so obvious now that it makes me wonder why I never noticed before," the bushy-haired girl explained.

Minerva however, was confused, "A lift?"

"Mm-hmm."

"I dinna ken. Where tis it?"

Hermione pointed at the portrait of Daedelus and Icarus and tapped her wand on the portrait while saying, 'Let Angels wings lift these mortal bodies." There was the sound of a latch being unlocked and the frame rotated open. Inside was a gilded wrought iron cage within a narrow vertical shaft. Upon further inspection there was a panel labeled with G for the ground floor and numbers 1-7 plus a button each for 'stop' and 'call for help.'

Minerva's were comically wide and her mouth hanging open in stunned surprise. Hermione laughed lightly and tugged on her professor's arm, "Coming along?"

Once they were inside and the lift cage door securely closed, Hermione pressed the button for 6. The lift rose through the shaft in near silence, the cage illuminated by some unknown source so it wasn't pitchdark. They were able to see each of the following floors as they ascended the shaft through the backs of the canvasses of the identical portraits as if they were like windows.

They exited the lift and turned to look at the closing portrait frame. Hermione stood there proudly with her hands on her hips, "Well, I think that was a successful test."

Minerva agreed with her, "Aye, that tis was, Miss Granger. Ten points to you for your discovery. Now the question is why and when it was installed?"

Hermione shook her head with a nonplussed look on her face, "Not a clue."

That evening…

"Sooner or later the lights up above… Will come down in circles and guide me to love…"

Hermione lay in her bed; immediately started tearing up when the singing started and she wasn't the only one. She could hear Susan and Hannah sniffling from where they lay as well. Up in Minerva's quarters, the elder witch rested in her favorite chair staring off unblinkingly into the glass of amber whiskey as memories rushed past unbidden in her mind's eye.

"I don't know what's right for me…I cannot see straight…I've been here too long and I don't wanna wait for it…"

Even Albus was sitting in his office chair staring off into space as the song filled his ears and chipped away at his hardened heart, tears streaming down his face.

"Fly like a cannonball straight to my soul…Tear me to pieces and make me feel whole…I'm willing to fight for it, to feel something new…To know what it's like to be sharing a space with you…"

Tuesday 8 February 1994 Great Hall

Harry had just sat down to eat lunch when Dobby popped into the hall, possessively clutching a metal drink can, his tennis ball sized eyes wild, "Dobby is a machine! Dobby never needs sleep! Dobby has wiiings!" He yelled manically. The elf took one step and fell over onto his face and started snoring loudly.

The entire hall burst out into laughter. Harry slowly shook his head in bemusement and tugged the can out of Dobby's hand and burst out laughing himself. Hermione peered at him questioningly, "What was he holding?"

"It seems that Butterbeer isn't the only human drink that elves can't handle too well. Dobby here must've discovered Red Bull." Hermione joined in with the others and began laughing until it hurt.

"Goofy!" Said elf popped into the room, took one look at Dobby and sighed in aggrieved resignation.

"Goofy is sorry about Dobby, Master Harry. Dobby be getting the shiny can from Master Harry's cousin. Goofy will get Dobby somewhere safe to burn off manic energy." The elf grabbed his half-brother and popped out of the hall.

Harry groaned but still chuckled as he pulled out his PA, "Dudley…"

To: Dudley Dursley

CC: Petunia Dursley, Vernon Dursley

Subject: Red Bull and Dobby

Dud, what were you thinking when you gave Dobby an energy drink? The little guy's already a fizzing bundle of manic excitement!

Harry

Ten minutes later, his PA email pinged.

To: Harry Potter

Subject: RE: Red Bull and Dobby

Oops, sorry Harry; I didn't know! The last time I saw him, he looked like he was feeling a bit under the weather so I recommended the Bull whenever he started feeling draggy. I never thought it would cause any problems. What happened?

Dudley

Harry related what happened in his response and begged Dudley to not do anything like that again then signed off. He turned to Neville who was still laughing his head off, "Oh, shut up."

Draco sauntered over and started taunting him, "When that elf was ours, it knew its place. My father made sure of it. You can't even control such a stupid creature, Potter. I didn't think it was possible but you're an even worse excuse of a wizard than Longbottom." Neville raised an eyebrow at the implied insult and wandlessly (and silently) caused the offensive boy's underwear to slowly shrink.

Harry sat there with an annoyed and darkening expression on his face. He finally had enough of this treatment so he turned and angrily got in Draco's face, "naDevvo' yIghoS! mu'tlheghmeylIj bIleghchu'!" Draco backed up with fear in his eyes. Harry's own eyes were practically glowing Killing Curse green. He was so angry that he transitioned into Parseltongue.

/"Leave me alone you despicable pile of walking flobberworm shit! I'm sick of your idiotic attitude towards others. If you don't apologize right this second, I will make your remaining existence on this planet so miserable as to give Dementors nightmares."/

Every eye was locked onto the scene before them; even Ron Weasley had stopped eating to watch as the Legend that was Harry James Potter, The Vanquisher of Lord Voldemort roared to life. The raw primal magic Harry was exuding was so palpable that even Albus was able to catch a glimpse of the boy and instantly realized that he was in the presence of an apex predator and that interference now would be the last thing he ever did.

Somewhere in Draco's amygdala; the primitive part of the human brain responsible for identifying a fight or flight response started screaming its warning that Draco had woken a sleeping predator that would tear him to shreds at the slightest provocation and for him to do the proper thing and run like the Hounds of Hell were after him.

Never to ignore warnings from his own mind, Draco ran.

Professor Kingborn carefully approached the still clearly angry Harry Potter, "Mr. Potter?"

Harry growled a low rumbling noise that would've made any Goblin proud, "Yes, professor?"

"Are you in control?"

With one last deep, cleansing release of breath, "I am now." He glanced around the hall, "I'm sorry if I scared everyone. I just couldn't take any more of Draco's taunts."

Professor Kingborn understood, "It's not a problem, Mr. Potter. I think Daggerclaw would've pledged himself to you had he seen that."

Harry snorted and scuffed his toe on the floor, "Well, if you want to tell him, feel free. Hermione?" She was instantly at his side, taking his hand in hers, "If you need me, I'll be in my room."

After that demonstration in the Great Hall, Harry headed back to his dorm room. He crashed out on his bed and covered his face with his pillow. He distantly heard his door open and felt the gentle presence of Hermione as she sat down next to him and lifted the pillow off him. Her eyes were full of worry and a hint of pride, "Harry?"

Harry reached out and let his girlfriend cuddle herself in his arms. No words were spoken, none were needed.

Down in the Slytherin third year boys' dorms…

Draco sat on his bed hiding from whatever had just happened in the Great Hall, his conscious mind finally catching up to him and was now playing back the details of the encounter in his usual pompous, self-righteous manner, 'Stupid Potter, it was just a little bit of teasing. I guess I shouldn't have expected more from someone who'd lower themselves to speak the language of those dirty beasts at Gringott's. I should write to Father and get Potter censored for his treatment of me!'

There was a knock on his door, "Come in."

The door opened as three seventh years strode in, their faces impassive, "Malfoy, you are probably the worst excuse of a Slytherin that has ever lived. We don't know what it was that caused you to behave like a Gryffindor all the time but it stops now if you wish to continue to live within these walls."

Draco rose to his feet and angrily replied, "When my Father hears about this…"

Lucius Malfoy now stepped into the room, his features stony and his voice cold as ice, "I have already heard about the incident. It's time you and I had a little chat, boy." He turned to the older students, "Thank you, gentlemen. That will be all." Draco's features paled drastically.

The three seventh years bowed their heads respectfully and exited the room, the door slamming behind them.

Staff meeting, two days later

Minerva stared impassively at the contingent from the Ministry. The department head for Sports and Games, Ludo Bagman squirmed under the scrutiny, "Pro, professor? Did I do something wrong?"

She held the silence for a heartbeat longer, "That remains to be seen, Mr. Bagman." She turned her gaze onto the other members and was inwardly pleased to see each one going through their own self-recrimating squirms of worry. "You are all here to properly explain the details of this…travesty of a tournament. We of the Hogwarts staff are not impressed with you and your lack of planning." Albus looked like he was going to say something but subsided after receiving a glare of his own from Minerva.

No one spoke for a moment before Bagman started, "Well, uh… You see, we had thought…"

Minerva growled, "Speak up, Mr. Bagman. What the bloody Hell were you thinking to spread this farce out over the course of the entire school year, import dangerous class five X creatures and use hostages for the second task?"

"Well, it's got to be exciting, doesn't it?"

Severus glared at the twit, "There's exciting then there's just plain stupid. Importing nesting mother dragons that normally require teams of qualified handlers just so three people can try to steal an egg from them?"

"Then there's the second task involving entering the Black Lake in the middle of February. If you are inviting Beauxbatons, you are aware that some of their students are Veela? The Merfolk have a tentative peace treaty with them. Sending a Veela underwater to retrieve another is tantamount to declaring war!" Filius interjected. "Not to mention that it puts the Veela at a distinct disadvantage because of their heritage which is clearly stated as against the rules you've written up."

"Finally, your idea to create a hedge maze for the champions to navigate through clearly wasn't thought out enough. The basic idea is fine but the height of the walls? No one would be able to see over them to observe the action," Pomona shook her head in disgust.

Bagman continued to squirm uncomfortably, "Well, what would you recommend?"

After the meeting broke up and their 'guests' and Albus left, Minerva unpinned her hair and scrubbed her fingers across her scalp, "Och, those idiots. If they were still in school here, I'd put each one in detention for a month."

Filius produced a bottle of Scotch whiskey and began to pour a couple of shots for them, "Right? I'm surprised that Barty went along with this in the first place. He's never been the type for such frivolities."

Severus was idly flipping through their notes and ideas of what they wanted to see happen in the tournament, "I really like your idea for an international community center, Filius." He held up the colored sketch of the proposal to the light.

"Thanks, I got the idea from the muggles actually. They use them for their own sports teams during the Olympic Games. They have classrooms, shops, residences and plenty of open spaces for relaxing between events."

"So any idea as to which poor creature they're going to use for the first task?" Septima asked.

"Right now it's a toss-up between the Centaurs or Fire Crabs."

"The Centaurs agreed to take part in this?" Aurora asked incredulously.

Minerva sat forward as she reached for her shot of whiskey, "We haven't approached them yet. I hope they do though."

"Will you be taking Miss Granger with you to translate?"

Minerva looked askance at the other woman, "For the Centaurs? They already speak English."

Aurora waved her hand, "No, I mean if you encounter anything else in the Forest."

Minerva shrugged indifferently, "We could always meet at the boundary."

Severus placed his empty shot glass on the table and burped quietly, "I'm shocked that Albus didn't put up too much of a fight."

Filius chuckled, "He knows better these days."

Ministry for Magic

Dolores waddled down the hallways of the Administration level in the Ministry ostensibly looking for the minister but in reality, she was making sure that the computer virus had done its job and those blasted muggle devices were dead and gone. Not once did she spot anyone using the things which made her happy. 'It's so nice to see things operating as they always have. There's never been any need for such devices. The ministry has been running quite well under my direction.'

She spotted Amelia duck into an office carrying her PA and frowned at the disappearing form of her Director of Magical Law Enforcement. 'I really should try to convince Amelia to give up that toy. It's not doing her any good to keep lugging it around when it no longer works. It's a shame she's so hard-headed and unhelpful.'

Later, Dolores decided to step out and tour through Diagon Alley for a spot of lunch as well as a bit of shopping. She grimaced at the multitude of mudbloods still traipsing around as if they belonged there. She stopped in at Terrance's Teakettle, a simple café that catered to the on-the-go ministry worker or shopkeeper and took one of the tables. A waitress stopped by to hand her a menu and inform her of the specials. Dolores ordered a pot of tea and a plate of roasted chicken, the waitress jotted that down and hurried off.

"Madam Umbridge, what a surprise." Dolores looked up to see Lady Malfoy appear in front of her.

"Lady Malfoy, would you care to join me?" Narcissa Malfoy bowed her head once and took a seat opposite of Dolores.

"So, I'm surprised to see you in such an establishment as this. I would've figured you to be somewhere classier."

Narcissa had an expression of understanding, "You would thinks so but every now and then I like to stop in. Terrance and I were housemates back when we were in Hogwarts together."

Dolores and Narcissa went through the usual dance of pleasantries before Dolores brought up the main target of questioning, "Have you heard about the cleansing of our esteemed ministry of those disgusting muggle toys?"

Narcissa's sculpted eyebrow rose in question.

"Those com-poo-ters or some such thing? That half-blood brat Harry Potter had brought one in to persuade the minister that his administration could use the devices to make running the country easier and more effective but I managed to dissuade Cornelius of such foolhardy action."

Narcissa now nodded her understanding, "Ah, yes. Now I remember, Draco had some concerns as well so my husband investigated them. They seem to be all the rage up at the school and quite handy I must say." She pulled hers out of her bag and showed it to Dolores who turned a distinct shade of puce, "They're ever so useful for keeping track of important dates and events plus they allow one to look up information about the latest trends without having to travel the world."

Dolores cleared her throat, "Have you been experiencing any problems so far? I heard that someone was trying to introduce a method to kill them off."

Narcissa leaned in a mite closer, "You would be a very foolish person to attempt it, Madam Umbridge." She rose from her seat, "Anyone thinking of attempting the endeavor would find themselves losing the favor of those in power." She turned and swept out of the shop.

Dolores sat there in a state of near panic, she had to find that hacker and get the virus stopped!

Sunday 13 February 1994, Great Hall

Luna drifted into the Great Hall and was nearly bowled over by the concussive force of so many people yelling, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" She felt her hands being grabbed and was practically dragged inside and sat at the head of the Hufflepuff table; a shiny tiara was placed upon her head. Harry stepped up, "In honor of this special day, we here at Hogwarts would like to sing you the traditional song of Happy Birthday in the key of 'off.'" Hermione slapped her boyfriend on the arm and growled at him. He along with everyone else, including Luna, laughed at the byplay. "Really though, one…two…three…"

Once the song was sung, the cake was brought out followed by presents. Luna nearly forgot to breathe when Neville approached with a small water filled glass aquarium in his hands, "Luna, this is my gift to you. We all know how much you love animals, the more mysterious the better so I reached out to a few family contacts and they sent this to me. It's a water creature similar to that of a will-o-whisp known as a 'Mugi.' According to the local legends of Far North Queensland, Australia they are shy creatures which can change appearances based on the mood of those around them." The tiny creature looked like a ghostly semi-transparent jellyfish but with curious eyes roving around its surroundings. The colors of its tendrils were continuously shifting through the range of the visible light spectrum and a pair of single lobed feathery antennae adorned its head.

Luna broke down in tears at the extravagant gift from the boy she had a crush on, "Thank you, Neville."

Neville gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek, "You're worth it."

After the party…

When Harry got back to Hufflepuff House, he spotted Hermione busily packing up a brightly colored box and smoothly slid up from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist and said in his best silky smooth voice, "Well, hello there, miss. You look like you could use some big strong hands to help lift that."

Hermione fought hard to not laugh at Harry's incredibly cheesy routine but she managed to swallow it down and turned to face him. Bad move, one look at her boyfriend's face and she burst out laughing. Harry had a much put-upon look of sadness on his face but eventually broke down and joined her in the giggling.

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist," he replied once he managed to get his laughing under control.

"Goofball." She noticed Luna sitting quietly on one of the sofas, the tiara resting in her hands; the younger girl's eyes were glistening slightly, "I wonder what that's about?" He turned to see what Hermione was talking about and saw Luna as well. He waved slightly to get the younger girl's attention and smiled a bit and cocked his head in silent question but she waved him off then bolted from the room.

"Harry?"

"I don't have a clue."

"Maybe I should go see what's wrong?"

Hermione knocked on the door to Luna's dorm and poked her head in, "Luna?" There was no response but Luna's dorm mate pointed out the blonde's bed. Hermione crossed the room and peeked in throught the curtains, "Luna? Are you alright?"

Luna sat there with red-rimmed eyes, "Yes, Hermione. I'm alright; I was just Seeing a sad scene."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione asked her but Luna shook her head.

"I'll be okay, I just need some sleep." She crawled under her blankets and turned her back to her older friend.

Hermione met up with Harry briefly to update him on what she'd learned, or really didn't. "Luna says she Saw something sad but that all she needed was sleep but I'm not so sure."

"Is this something that might need an intervention?" Harry asked, worry clear in his voice.

Hermione kind of shuffled on her toes, "I'm not sure. I'll mention it to Professor Sprout in the morning. Good night Harry." She kissed him lightly on his cheek then disappeared down the girls' side of the hallway.

The next morning…

Hermione did indeed inform Professor Sprout of what had transpired last night along with her worries about Luna's behavior afterwards. Pomona nodded her understanding and promised to keep a closer eye on her as well. Hermione then went and met up with Harry in the Common room before heading up to breakfast. She spotted Luna bounce and dance lightly in the morning light, looking as if nothing had happened last night.

Harry was watching too, "Looks like she's back to normal." Hermione just shook her head, "I'm still not sure; I think this is an act."

Astronomy Tower, that night after the last class…

Peeves normally didn't come out to the Tower simply because there was never anything here worthy of being destroyed for the simple joy of causing chaos and destruction. Tonight however, something drew him up into the starry, cloud-free night.

"If I should stay, I would only be in your way… So I'll go but I know, I'll think of you every step of the way…"

Peeves froze, he knew that voice. It was a voice that haunted every single person and even some of the creatures that scurried around the castle. He crept a bit closer and illuminated in the pale moon light, a young girl baring her soul in a way that made even him want to cry and do something he'd never thought possible. Peeves wanted to help…

"And I… will always love you, I will always love you…You my darling, you…"

Peeves settled down on the ground as he watched and listened to Luna Lovegood baring her heart and soul to the world at large. There were no music accompanying her singing but in his opinion, it wasn't needed. The girl's sweet, angelic voice rang powerfully as she reached the climax of the song. When Luna finished, she bowed her head and wept.

"I hope you won't tell anyone about this, Peeves?"

Peeves was startled out of his reverie, "Um, no miss. I promise but I have to ask."

"Why?" Peeves nodded wordlessly. "Since the beginning of this year, I discovered that I fell in love with Neville Longbottom. He was my first crush but I Saw that it could never work out between the two of us. If I had been in his year, I might have stood a chance but Daphne got there first."

Peeves slowly approached her. Luna sniffed once more and looked the poltergeist in the eyes, "You know what the hardest part of being a Seer is? It's knowing in advance that your heart is going to be broken."