Why Harry Hates the Headmaster or Alt Sixth Year

by Lil Nezumi

Non-Canon, Char. OOC & AU year 6. This is a story about a letter that gets delivered after a certain amount of time has passed, it's about an unknown legacy, from a very, very unexpected quarter. See chapter 1 for; more details, pairings & warnings.

12. Chapter 12

CH 12

HPHPHP

Harry worked diligently in his studies and with his independent projects.

He was secretly amused by Draco and Ron's refusal to even acknowledge that they had compatible magic. It wasn't that they were soul-mates, but that when they cast their magic at the same time, the magical forces, auras, fields, or whatever you want to call it, multiplied their core power. This multiplication can occur by two, four and sometimes by ten times the normal output for a normal Witch or Wizard.

Of course he knew that pairs of that nature usually wound up getting married or became lovers and that's probably why they were hesitating on taking any action to test out Harry's theory. The Boy-Who-Lived was secretly amused by the whole deal because of the way they kept looking at each other when they believed that no one would notice.

Harry knew that knowledge of this by either side in the war, would have to change some of their views or future battle options, but it would have to be their choice completely to reveal their ability. He did tell them that he bound both their Heads of House to secrecy on the matter, so that they could be on the lookout for potential issues in the school.

"They needed to know that if you two cast spells in close proximity to each other and at near the same time, that the results could be far different than if you were to cast a simple spell singularly," he said to them. "What if a younger student gets caught in the cross-fire? You'd both be responsible for casting the counter spells, at the same time, to undo the result. That's why I told them and that's why they're keeping it a secret for now. Until you two mess it up, no one will know about this because no one needs to know. That was the best I could do for the safety of the other students in the school. My only other advice is not to partner up in any classes. Don't let the teachers push you into it either, that is if you want to keep this a secret and for Merlin's sake never cast a spell at the same time."

Draco was relieved that this information would not be let out that easily because of his family's associations. If his father found out about this, there'd be more problems with the Weasley family and he didn't want that. He was getting tired of the constant negativity being spewed by his father towards, Muggle-borns, Muggle-raised, etc..., especially after that damning revelation on the Pensieve Paper.

He knew that the time for his choice was now and he'd have to make a decision of some sort before the end of this school year. Still some of his father's plans had to be carried through even though he didn't want to do them. He hoped that there was going to be a way out for him before he had to take any action.

Ron wasn't so relieved because as an in-born strategist he could see the 'good' in being strong enough to be able to assist in the War. Then again being a strategist he could understand things from the blonde Slytherin's point of view too.

'He'd have to go against his father and his friends,' he thought. 'He'd even have the right to ask me to do the same...it's not fair that we'd have to choose.'

Both recalled the mock battle when the three boys played with the battle action figures. They both remembered how Harry had played the Witches and Wizards. They remembered the way that the action figures acted and how some tried to remain completely neutral in the field or how they would get together to battle one side and then the other side, choosing to side with the strongest ones, while some did the opposite and fought for the 'underdogs'.

The two sixth years both went up to the seventh floor a few days later without notifying anyone and without noting that there was someone else in the corridor with them at the same time. They both passed the door thinking, 'I wish I had a comfortable place to talk with him.'

The only difference in their wishes was that Draco added, 'But I don't know where that would be.'

Ron finished his with, 'Like our living room at home.'

They were both surprised that the door suddenly appeared. They had been aware that someone else was in the hall by the time their wishes were in their minds, but they never thought that the door would appear if two people had different thoughts in their minds.

"Malfoy," Ron said noting the Slytherin standing next to him. "Looks like we had the same idea, but..."

"Yeah," Draco said looking at the door. "I know our thoughts can't have matched that much."

Curious about what the room would look like, the Slytherin opened the door and stepped into a place that he could never have imagined. To his right was a room with an oversized couch on an angle facing a rocking chair with a set of knitting needles working away and, 'Hovering?' He thought. 'How...odd.'

There was a large window seat with several overstuffed cushions that looked like deflated over-sized Quidditch balls and a loveseat in the opposite corner.

To the right he noted a kitchen area in the distance with a table used for dining, since he was quite certain that whatever this place was didn't have a formal dining room. In the kitchen he could see that there were clean dishes drying on a rack to one side and a heap of dirty ones dancing in the sink getting washed and scrubbed by a floating brush.

It was like he had just walked into someone's home and he wasn't very comfortable with it because it was obviously not the home of someone with a lot of money. There was no formal entrance, no marble floors or grand staircases. The staircase that he did see looked dark, poky and narrow.

Draco felt a hand on his lower back guiding him to the living room area and towards the loveseat. He allowed the Gryffindor to do this because he was not sure how to react to this environment.

The door to the Room of Requirement closed and Ron set up the standard wards locking the Room and a charm to let him know when someone needed the Room. He cleared his throat and then asked, "Would you like some tea or something?"

"Ah," Draco sounded, but couldn't say anything so he just nodded.

He watched as the tall red-head walk towards the back of the kitchen. It was a matter of using his magic to set up a tea service and bring it back. A low table grew up out of the floor and the Slytherin watched as the Gryffindor dragged a deflated ball to the table and sit down on it with a foofing sound.

"What would you like in it?" Ron said flushed looking, but making eye contact with the Slytherin that was just staring at him.

"This is your house," Draco stated. He looked around and sure enough his eyes landed on the family clock with the multiple hands with the faces of who they considered family members.

"Yes it is," Ron said. "What do you want in your tea?"

"Cream and honey," Draco said. He was about to add, 'if you have it', but he decided that the red-head would tell him if he didn't. He watched. The tea was prepared and poured into a fair sized solid mug. This wasn't a house that would have delicate china and fancy tea sets for different occasions.

'With the number of boys in that family, these mugs were probably a better idea to use instead of delicate china,' he thought, sipping the surprisingly tasteful concoction.

"This is good," he told the other boy who sighed with relief that he had gotten everything right. Another sip was followed by, "This is really good. What kind of tea is this?"

"Just the regular stuff," Ron said take a sip from his own mug. "You know a bit o' this and that from the garden."

"From...the...garden," Draco said slowly. "What?"

"Not everyone can go out and buy different brands of tea," Ron said flushing from his embarrassment about the lack of variety that his family had. He then lifted his head in defiance and in a way daring the Slytherin to make something of that statement.

"Oh," Draco said. He noted the look, but explained himself. "I was curious about the blend because it is quite good."

"Mainly it's the honey," Ron confessed. "We get fresh honey from our neighbours. We exchange some of our tea and herbs for their honey. They have different flavours based on the flowers that the bees used. This one's from Rosewood. The bees on their land usually rove over the rose flowers with a bit of honeysuckle. The cream is from our goat."

"Goat," Draco gulped hiding his expression. It wasn't the height of fashion to eat or use anything made from goats, but he couldn't dispute the pleasant taste.

"Yeah," Ron said looking at the Slytherin. "You don't like it, we do have regular cow milk."

"No," Draco looked up quickly and said. "This is fine. It's different and I find that I actually like it." Ron looked sceptical, but the blonde said. "It's truth. I like it and was only curious about why it didn't taste like anything that I'd ever had before."

Ron shrugged and took a cookie from the plate that he had haphazardly loaded with some of his family's favourites. He wondered how he could have thought of his home as being a place he could talk to the blonde about the stuff in the book that Harry had given them. He did read and study most of it, but he was just wondering what the Slytherin wanted to do with this information. However, for now he was happy to be sitting in familiar surroundings and munching on his favourite snack.

The blonde took a cookie and it too had an unfamiliar flavour to it. He supposed that many of the foods that the Weasleys would have to be different from what he was used to. He was used to things that cost a lot to buy and a lot to make. Whereas he supposed that a family like the Weasleys had to grow some of their own stuff like vegetables and from the sound of it, their own tea leaves too. There was something about this room and this house in general that was cozy and more intimate than anything he was used to, but he wasn't that uncomfortable about it.

"Do you feel safe here," Draco said out loud wondering about how the redhead felt about his family.

Ron looked at him in confusion, but answered honestly, "Yes."

"You're very lucky," the blonde sighed and leaned back into the comfortable loveseat.

This was second time in his entire life that Ron had been told that. The first was when Harry first came to his home during the summer of their second year. This time is was a shock to hear that coming from a Slytherin whose family had been feuding with his own for nearly a century. He looked around and then thought about the pressures that Harry had and attributed similar types of pressures to the blonde. That's when he realized something for perhaps the first time in his life.

'I am lucky,' he thought. 'This is the same thing for Hermione and I don't even think that she's realized this, despite reading too many books. We're luckier than Harry or Draco because of our families and our homes.'

"I love my father," Draco said as though he was confessing something that he knew would get him ridiculed. "I love my Family, our name, our history and our pride. I love my father."

"I love my Dad too," Ron said. "You love them and you'd do near anything to feel that they love you back, right?"

"You probably don't have to do much," Draco pointed out.

"No," Ron agreed. "You're right. My Dad would love me no matter what I did."

"Even if you joined the Dark Lord," Draco asked in a whisper.

"Even if," Ron stated. "He'd be very disappointed, of course, but he'd still say he loved me. Whatever consequence that comes out of making such a decision, like a sentence to Azkaban. I know he'd still visit me there just to say that he loved me."

Draco thought about what he father would do. "Nope," he said with a sad tone. "My father would never do that. He'd say that it was my own fault for getting caught and then he'd go about producing another heir to inherit the Malfoy estates and legacy."

Ron moved from his bean-bag chair to sit next to the blond. He did what he normally would do when sitting with Harry, Hermione or any of his brothers and sister when they were saddened by something that overwhelmed them. He put his arm around them and just held them, slowly rubbing a large hand from shoulder to elbow.

His father had taught him that when he was younger and still did this to each of his children whenever they were feeling troubled about something. From the initial flinch in Draco, he was fully aware that the Slytherin was thinking of ulterior motives rather than comfort, but Ron didn't stop giving comfort until the feeling of sadness was passed. He also knew when to let go, so he removed his arm, turned with one knee on the seat and faced the other boy.

Draco mirrored the red-head's move and found that it was kind of comfortable to sit that way too. "Golden Boy is perceptive," he began the serious part of their conversation. "Damn prat figured something out before I did, man I hate that."

"He usually does," Ron said. "It's annoying sometimes between him and Hermione. Even when we were younger, he did that too. At least they're as different as night and day when it comes to explaining things."

"What do you mean," Draco asked with curiosity. He'd always been curious about the dynamic that the three of them had.

"Hermione is book learned," Ron said. "Anything she's read she can nearly repeat it back word for word. I don't know if it's a 'talent' that she was born with or if it's something that she's developed over time, but that's what she has and does. She can put together essays and projects in a detached professional way that is highly annoying, but there's no life to it."

"I can readily believe that," the blond said. "It's why she has top marks, I suppose."

"That and the fact that the Professors allow her to overextend her essays without teaching her to reduce them or re-interpret the data like rest of us do," Ron told him. "I think they know that as a Muggle-born she'd not have many options of work in the Wizarding World unless she gets tapped by the Ministry of Magic and even then she'd only be able to primarily do research. I won't be surprised if she moves back to the Muggle World to live out the rest of her life there or finds a town with a healthy mix of both."

"Harry's teaching is very different, I'm sure that you've noticed it," Ron said. "He's intuitive about some things. It's annoying because his magic is powerful enough to not need his wand to work. The thing is I'm not sure if he knows that or not. Sometimes I see his brilliance when he does some spell work and other times it's like he's a first year again too fascinated by it and taking simple joy in the results, even if it's just a stupid spell to change the colour of his socks."

"Hmph," Draco snorted. "He sounds simple."

"Yeah," Ron said. "Everyone thinks that and you know what?"

"What?"

"I think the little bastard does it on purpose," Ron said.

"Yeah, right," Draco said. "If he does then that'd made him a Slytherin because that's sneaky business."

"He can sneak," Ron said proud of his friend. "Very well too!"

"Do tell," Draco said leaning forward.

"Can't," Ron said. "Took a Wizard's Oath about it," watching the blonde's face fall in disappointment, but also in understanding. "Look about the 'Synchronus' thing. We don't have to do anything about it, if we don't want to. We can also begin by trying out a few things just to be sure. Harry was obviously right about the proximity thing."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm guessing that you wanted a 'Safe' place to discuss this with me, but couldn't think of single place for it," Ron said. "We were both walking in front of the Room of Requirements and for some reason your magic and mine or maybe our requirements 'synchronized' and let the Room change to someplace that I 'knew' was safe. Because, I'm quite sure that you had never been here before to even imagine this as being a safe place."

Draco had a rueful look on his face. "You're right," he replied. "I wanted someplace safe, but I couldn't picture a place. Merlin's balls I couldn't even think of a room or setting that I could consider safe. So what do you want to do now?"

"Well there are several options," Ron said. "We can do nothing, I mean nothing as in not tell anyone, but also we'd have to watch our spell casting when we're in the same area or else something dangerous could happen. We could practice in private and learn how to control our dual casting. We could tell someone to get help in practicing, the options depend will depend on you."

"Why me," Draco said.

"You have much more to lose," Ron stated matter-of-factly.

"You're right," Draco said. "I do have more to lose, but it would be just as or perhaps even more dangerous not to practice then get the control we need to learn. I'm just afraid of what my father will say when he finds out."

"So we keep it secret from our Families'," Ron said. "We tell our Heads of House and book the Room of Requirements for practice purposes."

"Harry," Draco said.

"What about Harry," Ron asked.

"He could help us," the blonde said.

"He did by giving us the books," Ron said and then he grinned. "You see what I mean by sneaky. He gave us the books, but I bet that this was after he studied that problem about why he couldn't change his appearance back by himself. I can also bet you that he has a few ideas on how to begin or train our 'Synchronus' magic."

"I'll have to think about this," Draco said standing up and heading towards the door. He cast a wistful look around the room and Ron was hit by the fact that the blonde might just miss this comfort.

"You have a home you should be proud of," the Slytherin said quickly. "I'll Owl you with my decision."

Ron could only stand there looking at the door to the Room as it shut behind the departing Slytherin. He shook his head and said softly, "Yeah, I'm beginning to see that." He looked back into the Room at the reproduction of his home and said, "I am."

HPHPHP

A couple of weeks later and an interesting event occurred at Hogwarts during one of the Hogsmeade mornings. It wasn't something that any of the students or Professors had ever seen in their lifetime. This is including the venerable Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who has been around for nearly a century.

The doors to the Great Hall opened to a small group of Goblins, lead by one Griphook Bonebreaker and an elderly Gringotts Magistrate. She was one very familiar to Harry by the name of Ignatia Bonebreaker. They were followed by an Icelandic goblin dressed in thick furs with braids at each ear and a balding head, who was followed by two others. They were similarly dressed and they were all armed with large blades attached to their backs.

The school and the house-elves had allowed them entry because it wasn't uncommon for visitors to come through the main doors to the school. But it was a very rare occasion that the Headmaster was not aware of it. The only reason he wasn't aware of it today, was because he'd been called to the Ministry of Magic that morning to render counsel and vote on a few cases that the Wizengamot had pending his appearance.

"Lord Harry Potter," Griphook called out, looking for him among the many students.

Harry stood up immediately. He'd had a feeling that they were there for him, but there was still a chance that the contingent of goblins could be there for someone else. However that was not the case, so he quickly made his way past the tables. "Griphook," he said with a closed mouth smile. "It is good to see you. How may I be of service?"

"We are here to be of service to you," the Head of Vault Security and the Managing Head of the Black-Grindelwald-Potter Accounts replied. "A place to talk," he said, as he looked around the school and frowned not liking the attention coming from the portraits, the stonework, the armour or humans staring at them.

"Hogsmeade," Harry said looking at the rest of the school with eyes that knew that he was being watched, for anything that would give away where a secret meeting would be occurring. "My place," he said, stepping back and allowing the Goblins to leave before walking up to the Professor's table in order to see if his Wizarding Counsellor would be available for a private meeting.

Griphook nodded to the others in his party and quickly led the entire group out of doors. He then guided them to the Shrieking Shack and was pleased to note the changes in the place. Wards and such were yet to be erected to protect the empty display cases and a quick spell cast by the Magistrate revealed that there was no spy charms or spells on the property.

All of the Goblins quickly raised their favourite wards and everything possible to protect their conversation while Harry was stirring the curiosity seekers and gossipers even further by his next action.

"Professor Snape," he said approaching the head table, to the murmurs of the students watching him. "I'm wondering if your schedule is overly burdensome this morning?"

Severus quirked an eyebrow up at the formal language, but he knew that the young man didn't want to ask for his Counsel in front of the other Professors. He also didn't want it known that he was actually, gasp, helping the Boy-Who-Lived in Wizarding matters and it wasn't anyone's business anyway. The other Professors looked on in wonder at the formal polite request and looked on to see what was happening.

"Not overly, Mr. Potter," he said. "Do you need something?"

"I was wondering if I could trouble you for a portion of that time," he said not giving away anything about what he needed the man for.

Professor McGonagall was a bit put out about that, but if the Goblins needed Harry for some reason or another, the Boy-Who-Lived would need supervision. It irked her that he had not asked her, as she was his Head of House by rights that's what he should have done, but then Harry said something that put her mind immediately at ease on the matter.

"I would normally ask my Head of House, but since the Headmaster is not here I'm fully cognisant of the fact that she must remain at the school until his return. The reasoning is based on her duties as his Deputy," Harry explained to the man. "Your presence would be appreciated in her stead, if quite convenient, sir?"

"Convenient or not, it wouldn't do for our resident celebrity to come to a foul end because he wasn't properly supervised," Professor Snape scowled sourly for show. "Get your things and meet me at the front doors. We leave in ten minutes, no excuses."

"Yes sir," Harry said turning and nearly running out of the Great Hall. It was the perfect image of a rushed and petrified student that everyone saw. The scowling Professor stood and stalked out of the teacher's entrance in order to accompany the Boy-Who-Lived somewhere that not many knew about as being safe.

Harry stepped into a small, rarely used meeting room near the front doors. He called for one of his house-elves to bring him his backpack with the lectern desk inside with all appropriate papers and seals, just in case. He instructed them to prepare the appropriate things for their meeting and told them just who he was meeting.

Then they brought him a change of clothes in order to look the part of a Young Lord, which included warm things to brace himself against the cold outdoor weather. His Potions Professor appeared, dressed pretty much in the same manner, but his wardrobe was still in dark tones and blacks.

Harry looked at the man and said, "Counsel me Professor Snape."

"My counsel and advice is yours, Lord Potter," Severus said with a pleased smile. He liked being called upon for advice, even if the young man were to never use it, it still feel good to be valued in this manner. The pay was good, but that's not why he was going to be willing to renew his contract when the time came. He was quite intrigued by the young man as a person too.

"Thank you," Harry said. "I do not know what this is about." He walked out of the door and headed toward the Whopping Willow Tree. After a quick 'Immobulus' charm, the tree stilled and the two walked through the existing underground tunnel that led to the Shrieking Shack.

Snape wasn't very happy regarding the direction they were heading neither was he thrilled about their seeming destination. However he was willing to put up with it, as long as the boy didn't mention the dead mutt or the wolf that had yet to put in an appearance this year. He was slightly surprised to feel Goblin magic and wards around their location.

"I'm glad I bought the Shack," Harry said. "It's going to be interesting to see what the students choose to display in the cases when they find out about it before the week-long break in March."

He looked at his Professor who was stunned by the changes in the place. He was staring at the empty pedestals, frames and glass cases. The walls were freshly painted and the place was clean and clear of all the old furnishings. They had bypassed a door that lead to a basement area that was currently being re-enforced for security reasons. The Goblins were found on the second floor looking at the strange set up of back-to-back flat displays and desks.

"What is going here," Snape asked looking at the cases and wondering if he had just stepped into an alternate dimension, like the Muggle-borns were fond of saying.

"Please follow me," Harry said to everyone. "There is a meeting room upstairs and my house-elves are prepared to serve us refreshments depending on how long we will be there." He led them to a wall that had a calculator type thing hidden by a portrait frame that contained no portrait yet. He pulled the section of the frame away to access it and then he keyed in a number, which allowed the wall to slide behind the large frame and reveal a set of hidden stairs leading up.

"Sirs and Lady," Harry said to everyone. "If you please, I'll close up the wall so that no one will suspect that there's another floor." They preceded him up the stairs and found a slightly narrow rectangular table with enough chairs around it to seat everyone. He locked up the wall and added his own wards to the room and building and then quickly joined them up there.

(…Griphook, may your gold increase daily and your enemies die gloriously at your feet from the thrust of your ever, sharpened blades…) Harry said in formal Gobbledegook. All the Goblins and the Potions Master stared at the Boy-Who-Lived, who just continued. (…I do not wish to offend your ears by butchering your language, but felt that I must greet you appropriately before doing further business with you and your colleagues, in a language that I know may be offensive to your ears…) He bowed with respect, keeping his eyes on his Manager, remaining that way and waiting for the acknowledgement from his greeting.

Griphook grinned showing many teeth and replied, (…By the grace of Gruggenhiem Alloskang First King of the Under Mountain, you do honour our language just fine. Blooded enemies in everlasting torment and mounds gold beneath the mountains, so mote it be!…)

The other Goblins grinned in much the same way, they thumped their fists on the table and echoed, (…So mote it be!…)

Severus Snape was at a loss of what to do, but after having seen these powerful beings grin like that, he pretty much knew that he would be keeping his mouth shut until his counsel was truly required by the Boy-Who-Lived. He watched the young man straighten and show too many teeth in reply to the response he had. He gestured that all others take a seat before he did so. His professor sat when he was gestured to do so.

"Mr. Potter, when did you have a chance to learn our language," Ignatia asked in English in order to include the boy's Counsellor for the rest of their meeting.

"I'm doing several projects of study independent of the school curriculum and have taken full advantage of my scheduled time of the 'Come and Go' room, as my house-elves call it, to learn many things," Harry replied candidly. "I've only been studying your language and customs for about two months and I must confess that the history that I have access to is quite different from what is being taught. I've long since decided to learn whatever I choose to learn while at Hogwarts, whenever the opportunity rises. Your culture is one of those that I have long since been curious about, but have not been able to trust the human resources for accurate information."

"Where did you get the information then," Griphook asked. "We are not offended by your wish to learn, but we are curious about where you are obtaining your information."

"The Room is attached to all the libraries in the school," Harry said sheepishly looking at his Professor who frowned in confusion. "That includes all of the past and present Professors' personal libraries. Sorry sir."

"What for," his Counsellor asked.

"I accessed your personal library quite a number times whenever I was looking for an obscure reference related to Potions or Defence Against the Dark Arts," the boy confessed. Snape's shocked expression gave way to fury at the thought of anyone accessing his personal things without his knowledge.

"No sir," Harry said loudly enough to bring the man out of his rage. "No one else knows about it and I've blocked the Room from doing that after I found out about it and realized what had been done. I just didn't do that with the other 'Hidden' libraries in the school."

"Hidden," Professor Snape said. "I don't know of any 'hidden' libraries."

"One contained a lot of old texts, manuals and a fully translated book about called 'Wizard's History & Relations to Other Sentient Magical Species'," Harry wrinkled his nose at the title, which the others noticed.

"The title is dumb," he explained. "The book contains a relatively true history of the relations that Witches and Wizards had with several species, like House-Elves, Goblins, Vampires, Were-Creatures (not just wolves) and a few others that don't seem to be around anymore like the High Elves, Mountain Dwarves and Tinker Gnomes. It's a huge book that thankfully had compacting and preservation spells on it or else that information would have been lost. Anyway that book contains a section on each species including several old spells that granted Witches and Wizards the ability to learn different spoken languages of non-human origin."

His tone clearly indicated what he thought of the term, but they couldn't dispute the result. He looked at the Goblins and said, "I wasn't sure if the language I was using would be the correct one because of the age of the book, but I'm glad that I got it right. If there's something wrong in my pronunciation, then it is my hope that I can correct it soon, so as to not offend any of you in future."

"You did just fine," Griphook said. "That language is utterly formal and crosses the barriers of our regional differences, as in the case of our guests. Perhaps we can discuss the language issue at a later date and proceed with the real reason that we and they are here."

"Of course," Harry sat up straight and snapped his fingers for Winky to pop in quickly and provide a service of good Goblin social drink, plus tea for the humans, and food for all.

"You may now begin," he stated like a Lordling of the Human world. He was using a near abandoned Goblin tradition for important meetings, as they haven't done so with Humans for several centuries. This was mainly due to the Humans not trusting Goblin honour despite the fact that they trust these creatures implicitly to deal with their money.

The Goblins grinned again and said, "So mote it be."

Professor Snape was confused about the types of drink and foods on the table. He looked to the Boy-Who-Lived for guidance this time because he was not familiar with some of the foods.

"Tea Professor," Harry said holding up a pot and pouring himself a cup. "There's coffee too," he pointed to another pot. "But beware it's the Turkish kind in deference to their palette and need of stronger tasting foods. All foods in the blue plates were made for us and those in the other colours are mainly for them. I don't think that there's anything wrong with their foods, but you might find them harsher on your digestive system, especially if you're not used to it. There are some that you shouldn't bother with unless you don't care about keeping your teeth. The ones on the green plates can be shared by all and the red plates contain very spiced offerings, both of which you may need to soak in your tea or find another way to break them down in order to appreciate the flavour. I personally find that some flavoured cooking oils and salad oils add a different kind of zest to some of these dishes and help to break them down in order to be properly digested by our pitiful Human systems. I wouldn't eat anything from the yellow plates or bowls, as those are very special and should only be eaten by Goblins."

The man next to him just acknowledged his recommendation by taking a little bit from everything that Harry stated was relatively safe for a human to eat. He looked into one of the yellow bowls with a small spout formed on the rim out of curiosity and nearly dropped it when he saw that it contained tadpoles. There were hundreds of thousands of tadpoles that were wriggling and swimming in a thick pale blue fluid. He looked sharply at Harry and put the bowl back on the table, "Tadpoles?"

"Where," the leader of the Icelandic Goblins said excitedly.

Rank among them was noted when he was the first to choose food from all the plates, followed by Ignatia, Griphook and the last two visibly much younger Goblins. Even though they had not been introduced the food offerings were always served and sampled first before negotiations, as that denoted trust in the host not to serve up tainted foods.

Introductions were for after the meal.

Goblins began many feuds and wars because of the tendency of deceit in some of the other magical creatures that wanted to kill the leaders of the Goblin clans in order to push the Goblins into a sub-class of species. That's when they decided not to hold any more meetings of this type with Humans or many of the other magical species around. However for the Boy-Who-Lived and as one who clearly thought he was doing the right thing, they were going to judge him on this service first. They'd never likely trust any other Human in this fashion and that is an important factor to note.

Harry passed him the yellow bowl and the Goblin just poured its interesting contents into a small pewter goblet next to his plate. The sample came out of the in a large water drop filled with the little swimmers. The other Goblins were eagerly waiting their turn to taste the treat. The dish was passed so that each could fill their mug and then they did a 'Salute!' gesture of raising the mug and swallowing the contents whole.

The Boy-Who-Lived looked at his Professor and noted that the man looked a little peaked. "Sir," Harry said drawing the man's attention to him. He pointed to a closet door that contained the word 'Private' on it. "You have time."

Severus excused himself politely and walked through the door to note that it was a pleasant looking loo without a talking mirror, which he was grateful for. In all his time with the Dark Lord he had never seen anything like that. Sure he used tadpoles of varying ages and sizes, as potions ingredients, but they were most assuredly dead. He drank some cool water from the tap, used the facilities quickly, took a small dose of anti-nausea potion in a mild ginger flavour and came back out looking slightly better for the small break.

The Goblins had taken that time to finish eating everything that Harry had to offer, well everything that would make the Professor uncomfortable. The Gryffindor had given them a 'go-ahead while he's away' gesture to glut themselves on the majority of the exotic treats offered. It was the only way that they ate and they took note that the young man wasn't offended by the crunches, grunts and burps that inevitably resulted from eating at the fast pace that they normally used. They did leave most of the benign stuff to munch on for when they discussed their reasons for being here, but they were pleased to be able to indulge in something that Wizards had long since stopped doing, custom wise.

Even Goblins didn't indulge those kinds of meetings unless it was the upper levels of Gringotts management or those of the Royal Clans. Most of the types of foods found on Harry's table were mainly for gatherings now, but knowing that it came from an older book of old traditions they felt justified in glutting their appetites for such treats.

"Mr. Potter," Professor said, noting that most of the plates were empty upon his return. "I'm curious to know whose library contained the book of old traditions regarding the different magical species."

"Braxton Hufflepuff's," Harry said snacking slowly on a lightly honeyed and buttered scone. "I believe he was one of Helga Hufflepuff's great, something great grandsons. He was a Professor here teaching History of Magic approximately between the years of 1309-1421. He died three years after retiring to the country. At least that's what the book plate told me."

"The bookplate talked," Severus asked.

"From what I could understand some of the older bookplates contained 'Cameo' like images of the owners and included the Family Coat of Arms," Harry said. "There were a few books like that when I asked the Room to provide a library that would help me with my studies and some of the questions I had. Many books only had a plain Coat of Arms, but even with those you could tell which family had a Professor working at Hogwarts and approximately during which years."

"How are these books now available to you if they are with their Families," Ignatia asked.

"They aren't with their originating Families," Harry said. "They were part of the assigned Professors' quarters that they used to live in before the rooms became hidden from lack of use and moving walls changed the directions of the hallways in order to protect the more dangerous, disused corridors. The books are still in the school. Many were left behind because they were either; too old, too used, too outdated and many were deemed to have been donated to the school when the Professors' terms were up and were left behind. If their rooms were never re-assigned then the librarians at the times could have used a summoning charm to call 'All' books in the School to the library, but there were a few times when that didn't happen so the rooms were eventually sealed by Hogwarts. Now the books are only available through the Room of Requirement or the Come and Go Room, well whatever you want to call that fascinating Room."

"Interesting," Griphook said. The food was finished and since no more was coming he called the meeting to order and introduced the Icelandic Goblins. "To Ignatia's right is High Chief Borak Grendel, you know Magistrate Ignatia Bonebreaker, and myself. To my left are Henrik Grendel and Sinius Grendel who are the son and grandson of the High Chief."

Harry stood up and bowed less formal bow of greeting and then sat down. Snape remained seated and waited to see how the young man would introduce himself and him to the Goblins. He looked at each of the Goblins in the eye and said, "I am Lord Harold James Potter, Head of the Wizarding House of Potter. I'm also the Head of House Black and Head of the Clan Grindelwald."

"That is not possible," the High Chief said. "Oh, we have received the updates from your interactions with the United Kingdom's Branch of Gringotts this past summer, but we did not believe the information. The human Wizard Grindelwald died in Nuremburg without issue. That is why we have come to investigate the matter."

"He had a daughter," Harry told them.

"The daughter died years ago," Borak said peering at the young man. "She died at a very young age and without issue."

"How long ago did she die in your records," Harry asked. This caused the Goblins to blink and then turn to consult one another in fast speaking Gobbledegook that the Gryffindor had a hard time following. He figured that was the purpose and at the moment didn't quite care that they were leaving him out of their conversation.

"She died when she was about thirteen or fourteen Human years," Borak stated. "All of her magical accounts were sealed. The question now is why they suddenly became unsealed this past summer and why you've been made the Head of that Clan."

Harry brought the Grindelwald Coat of Arms forward on his family ring. It was a magical ring that indicated family blood connections. He showed it to the Goblin, who was obviously here to conduct an investigation into the re-issuance of new keys for the three Icelandic vaults, which belonged to the Grindelwald Family. They were listed among the ones that Harry's staff had yet to visit.

"I received my inheritance," Harry stated. "The Right of Ownership Ritual was done this past summer by Magistrate Bonebreaker here and my Family Crest integrated all the Wizard Families, for which I am responsible for, into a new familial seal." He changed his ring to show the full family crest that he used most times for his formal correspondences, including the new family motto.

"But she died," Henrik said. "How could the vaults be sealed if she did not die?"

"Would your vaults be sealed and deny access if the person in question no longer had any measurable form of magic," Severus asked. This question brought alarms looks to every Goblin at the table. They couldn't think why or what would make a thirteen year old girl lose her magic.

"What are you saying," Griphook asked on their behalf, as he was the most familiar with the young man.

"Would any Gringotts vaults be sealed if a member of a magical Human family and one known as the last in their bloodline lose all their magic," Harry asked. "This is important."

"Yes it would," Borak said. "It is not possible for you to be related to young Miss Natalia, we researched the family records."

"It is possible, if she no longer had any active magic and no previous memory of her life in the Wizarding World," Harry said. "The family records would not have been able to track her without magic being available in some form."

"Offensive," Ignatia stated. "There's no way that would happen unless something truly offensive had taken place against the poor child."

She looked at the young Lord and at his Counsellor sitting stoically beside the boy, lending him strength by being present and allowing the affected young man to lean on him. She heartily approved of the contract that allowed the young Potions Master to view life from another angle and give advice in matters unrelated to the current political strife. However their unease and expressions made her say, "There was an offence, wasn't there?"

"Yes madam," Harry said. "It was a Magical Siphoning Ritual of the darkest sort."

Severus shuddered recalling their summer at Galileo's Spindle. He was sincerely hoping that after the cleansing that they had done that the Shades had not returned.

Harry had promised that they could visit the place during their March Break and the Potions Master was looking forward to doing some research in there. He thought that there might be a few books on rituals that would allow him to remove that blasted Dark Mark from his arm, in order to become free from the Dark Lord's influence. If not, the he was hoping that he'd be able to find something to transfer the Fealty that he had once strongly believed in and swore on.

"Who," Borak demanded. "Who would such a heinous thing?"

"That doesn't matter," Harry said waving away the question. "The Wizard in question is too powerful at the moment. You cannot demand retribution for her because that is my right as her grandson."

"The Goblin Clan of Grendel has always sided with the Wizard Clan of Grindelwald," Borak said. "Our family is yours to call upon, should you need us. We came here to vow…"

"No," Harry said interrupting the creature that was about to state an Oath of some magical importance. "Please tell me that you did not come all the way here to make a vow of service to my family or something of that nature. I cannot accept such from you. It is demeaning to your people to enter into such Oaths without first choosing to do so, especially if it's based on something other than your own personal choice. You do not know who I am or what kind of person I will become in the future."

"It is a tradition that has dated back centuries," Borak explained. "One of your ancestors aided us during a time of crisis. We made the vow in order to pay back your Family for that aid."

"Aid should be offered freely and without expectation of payment," Harry said strongly. "I cannot in good conscience accept it when I do not even know the circumstances of that occurrence. Surely, if repayment has been done over all these years that it should have been enough by now? You cannot think to tie your clan to me because frankly I do not have the knowledge to lead anyone."

"Our clan would not exist without the aid of the first Grindel," Borak said. "Our clan would have perished without that Wizard's assistance."

"But you named your clan Grendel after him didn't you," Harry asked.

"We did," Borak said.

"Then that is enough honour for me," Harry said. "It is grand that the name will live on. I'm glad that it will be honoured by such as you and yours. I certainly cannot carry that name and I will have no offspring or issue to give that name to. In point of fact I wouldn't want to, not until several centuries have passed and even then I'd leave them the recommendation that the name be altered or shortened back to its original form of Grindel. Gellert Grindelwald did much to cause strife in the Wizarding World and I have no wish for anyone to resurrect hostile feelings against those belonging to the Family of Grindelwald."

"Surely you'd be able to lead us," Henrik said cutting into the conversation, even though it the elders should have their say first. The talk was not truly going anywhere at the moment anyway and his father certainly looked he needed some time come up with a convincing argument to allow the Oath to take place.

"Why," Harry asked.

"You're the Boy-Who-Lived," Sinius stated. "Surely you'd know how to lead us."

"I don't," Harry said. He was completely serious in his tone and demeanour and he hoped to get it across to the Goblins that he was incapable of leading them. "Why would you believe such a thing?"

"Your place among the human Wizards is known to us," Borak said taking charge of the conversation. "Surely you've been trained from a young age regarding the expectations placed upon you."

"No I have not," Harry said truthfully.

"What," the three Icelandic Goblins said at the same time. Those of the Bonebreaker clan looked at him in slight wonder at his candidness. They were pretty much aware of how little the boy knew. His Professor looked at him blankly, not giving away his feelings or thoughts in the matter, but he was shocked too.

"I have not been trained from a young age," Harry stated. "I didn't even know that I was a Wizard until I received my letter on the day of my eleventh birthday. I knew nothing of this magical world and nothing about magic either."

"That is not possible," Borak said. "The papers…"

"Lie," Harry finished for the Goblin. "Most of the stories in there are lies. There is no regulatory agency, department or federation to reign in or create a standard set of media protocols that the Wizarding newspapers should follow, let alone force them to follow. They print whatever they feel like based on a portion of the truth and that is only on the bias of the writer. If the writer changes their minds or if they were in error they would either write a new story as truth and the old one would be forgotten or ignored. Most of their so-called facts about me, were truly lies. No one in this world has ever stopped to think and say, 'Why couldn't they just write or report the truth?' So, if the papers say that I was trained secretly or had a pampered spoiled upbringing or that I have unbeatable magic because I lived when my parents died, then they were writing lies."

"Mr. Potter," his Counsellor called his attention. "How could you possibly believe that you do not have the power?"

"Oh, I have power. I know that I have power," Harry said. "However I also know for a fact that it is not 'my'power."

"But…but you survived a Human 'Unforgiveable'," Sinius said. "You defended yourself from a very powerful spell."

"How would I do that," Harry asked. "I was only a year and a few Human months old. When would I have had the chance to learn such defence in that time frame? It is not possible, when I hadn't even learned to talk in coherent sentences back then."

The Goblins all looked around at each other and Professor Snape who was suddenly thoughtful about the matter. He looked at the Boy-Who-Lived and understood just how far things had gotten in the Wizarding World. Here was a boy without training or understanding of his place in the minds and hearts of the magical world and he did not know that he was special to them. This boy, it was assumed, had been taught and trained, learning the things that he needed to know.

His father, James Potter, and the ass wipe, Sirius Black had certainly known how to do the basic things in the Wizarding World. Severus had assumed like the rest of the Wizarding World that the boy had been trained, cared for and even pampered like those two. He didn't mind the were-wolf because Lupin hadn't really become a problem until he started hanging out with those other two. But the Boy-Who-Lived... there was something inherently wrong for the boy to not know anything about being a Wizard and having so much unchecked power.

'Though he did say that it was not his power,' Severus thought. He looked at the little Lordling and saw a shadow of the man that he might become one day. 'How would he know? I wonder if he knows whose power it is.'

"You said that it wasn't your power," Henrik began. "How do you know it wasn't something instinctual that your magic did?"

"Dementors," Harry said. "Those foul creatures can dredge even the most buried of memories. My mother gave me the power I needed when I was a child."

"How can you be sure?" The question came from the very thoughtful expression of his Potions Master. Harry looked at the man in the eye without fear and without any form of expression.

"She cast a very powerful sacrificial spell, charm, ritual or a combination of all three the night she died," Harry explained. "She begged the Dark Lord, not once, but three times to let me live, let me go free."

"How do you know that," Borak asked.

"Could you tell us," Ignatia asked.

Harry stood up and walked over to the window to look out and then he told them. "I hear my father," he began. "I mean it's the voice of who I believe is my father, saying 'Lily get to Harry, save Harry,' and then nothing else. There's a green flash of spell light coming from the door. I sense my mother running into my room and slamming the door shut. I stand up in my crib, using the bars to pull me up and see the door being blasted inwards. There's a shield of red in front of me, I believe it's her hair. 'Stand aside woman,' he says. 'No,' she yells. 'Not my son, not my Harry.' He walks towards her with his wand pointed at her. 'Stand aside mudblood,' he says. 'Take my life, but spare my son. Let my Harry live,' she says with tears in her voice. 'Stand aside you stupid witch,' he says coming closer to her. 'You can't have him,' she says. 'Not my Harry.' She's still standing in front of me, shielding me and in a flash of vile green spell light she collapses. I feel a burning pain here," he told them while pointing to his scar. "I think at that point I remember hearing her singing a song, but after that the pain was unbearable. I see dust fly out of the window and then I don't remember anything else. That is what happened that night. That is what the Dementors call forth when they approach me and that is why I learned to cast the 'Patronus' spell when I was just a third year student at Hogwarts."

The Goblins all looked at one another. They were shocked by what they had just heard, but based on every action that Harry Potter had done today it proved to them that he was sincere in the fact that he didn't want any clan to bind themselves to him for something that he didn't do. That particular Ritual was known to some of the oldest Goblin Magistrates and Ignatia knew it well because her own sister had cast it, ending her life for that of her adopted son's, Griphook.

"It is called the Mother's Blessing," she said looking fondly at the short Goblin sitting next to her. "Not many are prepared to sacrifice their lives for their child. I wish that many would, but that… I'm afraid not many have the stamina, the strength or the will to perform such a spell and that is the sad fact about life."

"I know," Harry said. "If I was a woman, I would not consider such an action unless I could trust those that remained alive. Trust that those that remained behind would be there to take care of my child. She truly believed that Sirius Black, as my Godfather would be the one taking care of me. That was his promise when he accepted that honour, but I'm sorry to say that he failed."

"Yet you were willing to meet up with him in your third year," Severus said. "You…"

"I'm sorry Professor," Harry said. "Ron's pet rat was the animagus form of the Wizard known as Peter Pettigrew. Remus did a spell that revealed the traitor and Sirius explained about a last minute switch of the 'Secret Keeper' in the 'Fidelius Charm'. It was the perfect cover, when you think about it. No one would expect him to be given the honour of keeping that secret."

"So you have had no training," Borak said. "You claim to be a child of Natalia Grindelwald's direct bloodline and yet she disappeared from the magical world without a trace."

"That's what happens when you deliberately get rid of your own memories in order to protect your own life," Harry said. "That Siphoning Ritual took her magic, but a powerful spell was cast at the same time. It was one that should she ever mention being a Witch, knowing any form of magic or acknowledged the fact that she knew about the Wizarding World, she'd die a most painful death. She stored her own memories in a magically created pensieve, which I was able to access this summer."

He looked at the High Chief and asked in perfect Gobbledegook. (…Tell me Borak, do you still have that musical crystal stomping out the battles sounds in a chorus of drums and trumpets?…)

Borak looked into the young human's eyes and realized one thing. "You have her eyes," he said. "You have Natalia's eyes."

"Thank you," Harry said with a smile. "Maybe when I go to Iceland this summer you'd show it to me?"

The High Chief looked at the Boy-Who-Lived and said, "You need to come sooner than that. The Magistrate and your Manager tell me that you have a full week in March where you are free from mandatory attendance at this school. Do you have plans for that time?"

Harry looked at his Professor and the man said, "Plans are fluid and can always be changed, my Lord."

"Thank you, sir," Harry said. "Would my Counsellor be permitted to accompany me?"

The High Chief looked at the man and then cast a simple spell. It lit up the Potions Master in a variation of lights and colours. The one dark spot negated the man's chance of being with them. "I'm very sorry sir," Borak said. "Due to that spot of darkness, we cannot allow you to accompany the boy. That Mark alone would compromise our security."

"What would the plans be for that week," Harry asked.

"As a member of the Grendel Goblin Clan, I believe it is my duty to have you instructed in different forms of defence and find the one perfect physical weapon that suits you best for non-magical combat," the Icelandic goblin said. "I would consider it an honour to train you and it would bring me some measure of comfort that you are being trained properly." He didn't mention that it would also give the goblins time to get to know the boy and give him a chance to find out about a Wizard's alter-gifts in magic.

Harry bit his bottom lip in thought. He didn't want to go alone and then he asked, "May I bring a couple of companions to train along side me?"

The Potions Master looked at Harry and remembered the conversation that they had about the two with Synchronized magics. He nodded his had and said, "Get your house-elves to bring them here."

"Thank you sir," Harry said calling for his house-elves and giving them instructions to fetch Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy. "I'm sincerely hoping that they've come to a decision regarding their abilities."

"I hope so too," Snape said.

Winky chose to go after Ron and Dobby popped away to fetch his old master's son.

HPHPHP

Draco was in a used book shop. He was trying to find some books on Synchronized magic without letting his Slytherin companions know what he was looking for. A pop by his left elbow indicated that a house-elf had just appeared by his side.

"Young Lord Malfoy be coming with Dobby," the little house-elf told him firmly.

"I'll come with you if you help me find what I need in here," Draco told the little creature. He knew that the house-elf would be able to help him find what he needed with a snap of its fingers.

The little elf was smarter than Malfoy had ever thought him capable. "I be meeting you at counter," Dobby said. "You be paying for what's there."

"Of course," Draco said agreeing to it and then turned to let his companions know that he might not be meeting them at the Three Broomsticks. "I'll see you guys back at school," he told them coming to a quick decision of not bothering to explain himself. "I doubt that I'll be able to get away in time to meet for drinks, so I'll see you later."

Pansy refused to be put off. She put her arm through his and said, "But Drackie-poo you promised to take me to Madam Puddifoot's for tea."

"I made no such promise," the Slytherin Prince sneered. "I'd never go there and even if I did, I wouldn't be going there with you. Now let go of me before I hex you."

She pouted, batted her eyes and then quickly released his arm when he took out his wand. "Fine," she said. "Be that way, just you wait until your Mother finds out."

"She has nothing to do with this situation," Draco said. "Contact her all you want, but you'll find that she's not available anymore to hear you whine about inconsequential things."

"Inconsequential," she said loudly with a near whine in her voice which included a raised tone of anger.

"Yes Pansy," Draco said walking away. "Inconsequential is exactly what you are." He turned to walk away and said, "We can discuss this later, you know a Malfoy is never late to an appointment and I will not ignore the summons from another Lord."

He quickly walked up to the counter and noted that there were several other items on it in front of the house-elf waiting for him. However he was quite prepared to pay for it all. Obviously there was some reason three extra books on strategic games complete with a how to manual for making the game boards and charming them. He shrugged and paid for everything figuring that Harry would explain once he met up with him.

Meanwhile Winky elf-popped to Ron's location at Honeydukes and tugged on his sleeve to get his attention, "Wheasy," she said. "Master be needing you."

"Sure Winky," Ron said. "I just need to pay for my stuff first."

She nodded and had a quick look around. Noticing a few things that were not selling very well because they were quite frankly not for humans, she snapped her fingers and said to him, "You be buying these too."

"Winky...," he looked at the items and blanched. They may have had a 'Sale Fifty Percent OFF', but they were still well above his price range. It was then that he felt his pocket get heavier with the fact that a money pouch had just been popped in there.

"You be buying everything in stock," Winky said.

The owner of Honeydukes, Ambrosius Flume, had heard this and was nearly crying on the inside. "I'll make you an excellent bargain if you'll take every bit of that product," he said. "We can't sell it."

"Then why do you have it, Mr. Flume," Ron said.

"It was an error in shipment," Mr. Flume said. "It cost too much to send back and even with the preservation charms they'd expire before they reached the supplier."

"That's not right," Ron observed.

"No, but that's how that particular supplier operates," the man explained. "They don't want to admit to shipping the wrong product because it looks bad in their books."

Ron pulled out the money pouch and said, "Give me all of the... Live Iced Grubs and Rainbow Flame Tongue Gum." He shook his head at the names because he was quite sure that no human would ever eat this stuff. "This isn't for humans is it?"

"Nope," the man said, happily ringing up Ron's purchases. "Only Goblins like this stuff, but Hogsmeade is too far for them to come and get these."

"What about adding the items to your Owl Order forms," Ron said.

"It has to do with the preservation spell again," the man said. "They have to be sold in store because that is the contract that we have with our supplier. If they were available by Owl Order, no one could buy them from me anyway because the spells preserving these sweets would vanish. But luckily this is the last of that botched order and we have another supplier lined up that's going to allow us to add a few items to our Owl Order forms."

The Gryffindor nodded and met Winky outside of the store. "What are these for," he asked as most of his purchase was taken from him. "Weasleys do not accept charity even if it means saving face."

She looked at him and then said, "Hospitality gifts for goblins three. They be from Iceland. Master..."

"Winky!" A voice called out. "Is that you?"

It was Hermione, who had finally noticed that no one had followed her to Scrivenshaft's. She had huffed and returned to the Honeydukes' area of town because that's obviously where Ron was. She arrived in time to notice that Ron was outside with the house-elf and that the house-elf was dressed in warm boots and a long warm cloak specifically made for her frame.

"You are looking much better Winky," Hermione observed. "Being free must agree with you now."

"Master takes good care of Winky," the little house-elf said proudly. She turned back to Ron who had asked if she had a pen and paper, which she produced from a pocket in her outfit.

"What Master," Hermione said slight outraged that the elf was in bond to another Wizard. "How could you tie yourself to another Wizard? I thought you'd enjoy being free once you learned how good it was."

"Why would Winky be wanting freedom," the house-elf huffed. "Magic was dying inside Winky without Wizard Family to bond with. Youse is not know nothing 'bout house-elves, youse is bad to force 'Freedom'," the little house-elf spat to side at that word, much like the curses or warding off evil, that some cultures have which are followed by spitting on the ground in threes really fast ('Freedom' patooie-patooie-patooie). "On honourable house-elves when deys not askin' nor wantin' it." She turned around to ignore the girl and kept right on ignoring every comment or protestation of how it was immoral it was to enslave other beings.

"Could you pop over to the Burrow and hand this to my mother," he asked, handing her a small rolled up note. "She'll give you something appropriate from the Family Weasley."

"Winky be doing that happily," the little house-elf said. She fully understood that he might object to the small deceit, but she hoped that whatever she was going to fetch would be appropriate.

"I see Dobby," she said pointing him out down the street and he was being followed by Malfoy. "Youse be followin' Dobby to Master."

"All right," he said and she elf-popped away. When Dobby came up to him and Hermione, who was still slowly ranting about the slavery of house-elves, he turned to the girl and said, "Hermione give it a rest. She's gone now and can't hear you. Hey, Malfoy."

It was then that Hermione noticed that they had company and it was also then that she noticed Dobby's outfit too. "Dobby," she said. When he looked at her, she asked, "Are you still free?"

"That be Dobby business," Dobby stated proudly. "Dobby be busy and cannot answer Grangey questions. Come," he said to the two six year boys. "Master is waiting."

"Weasley," Draco said. He looked at the house-elf and stated, "I've never known you to be a bossy elf."

"You twos goin' to be late," Dobby said walking off in the direction of the school. "Dobby be busy and cannot answer Young Lord Malfoy questions."

"Sorry Hermione," Ron said following the house-elf and the Slytherin. "I'll meet you back at the school."

"What," she said confused and following them. "Why, where are you going?"

"Don't know," he shouted back jogging to catch up to the other two.

"House-elf slavery is so wrong," she muttered, but since she didn't have to put up with company that didn't see the logic of going to Scrivenshaft's to pick up more quills and ink before sweets, she strode back to do her shopping in peace, for once. "But then I guess you don't need more ink or quills if you never do your work on time or as well as it should be," to the retreating backs of the other boys.

The two boys were far enough away from the others and that's when Dobby explained that Harry needed them to attend a meeting. When asked the house-elf would not tell them why they needed to be there.

Elsewhere, Mrs. Molly Weasley received the strangest request from her youngest son by way of a house-elf. "Do you have an idea why my son would request these?"

"My Master be havin' very important meeting," Winky said. "Gifts of hospitality needed to follow old tradition of primary greeting and..." She wavered, trying to find the proper term. "...gift needed to... makes wheels greasy, no. Not right... to... to... approve idea... no. Not right either... best guess to make brooms go in right direction."

Molly smiled and understood. "Hospitality gifts, I think I understand," she said. "I don't know why he wants these because no one our little Family has developed a taste for them. Give me about five minutes and they will be ready for you."

"Winky pop back," the house-elf said, popping out.

Five minutes later, Molly had three goat cheese wheels of about two feet in diameter. They were from an old family recipe where the cheese had to be aged for years and years and years. On her marriage, her mother had given her twenty-six wheels of this weird cheese that had been handed down through the female line.

The cheese was so hard that it couldn't even melt when cooking and the only way to eat it was to use very sharp grating spells. However it was also so strong in scent that they had to be wrapped in a type of cheesecloth that prevented the smell from escaping and even that had to be re-enforced with magical bubble charms that encapsulated them to prevent vapours from escaping the cloth.

The secret to making them was still handed down from family to family, but there had been a rumour in the Prewitt line that one of their ancestors had actually acquired the recipe from Goblins. The first few batches of this kind of cheese could be eaten by Humans and it was only through natural aging, not magical aging, that made this product the way it was. The longer they were preserved and worked on, the more hardened the cheese became and the smellier they became.

This was the reason that during the harder times in their married lives Mrs. Weasley would sell off a small wedge or two of the oldest of them. She just didn't know who would appreciate them, so she took them to a couple of gourmet restaurants in the Wizarding World that she knew could use the product in their foods.

What she didn't know and no one in her Family knew was that one wheel was valued at, at least four times its weight in Galleons to the entire race of Goblins and none of the contacts who buy it from her, had seen fit to notify her about it. They only thought she had one or two wheels that she kept chipping away at, not twenty something or else they'd have definitely taken advantage of her lack of knowledge about their true monetary value.

Since the gift was a Family gift, she added another secret tied to each of the wheels. Knowing that the gift was for Goblins she added a large flask, one foot in diameter wide and half an inch thick of something called 'Dragonfire Bourbon' that Charlie had invented for them. This was another source of the Family income, but the bourbon was much rarer because her son had just created it. His first few were either too strong or too weak, but they kept the strong ones for Bill to give as gifts to his Goblin bosses. So she knew that they'd be appreciated by whomever Ron was meeting.

Winky popped back and immediately noticed the smell in area. "Winky, help?"

"Do you know a strong encapsulating charm," Molly asked. "It might be better if you did it."

"Yes," and with a snap the smell from the cheese wheels were hidden behind a soft blue bubble. "Wheasy be happy."

"Well I hope he's happy with this," she said. "They are getting harder to cut every year. Tell him to send me an Owl on how well it went over."

Winky only nodded and popped away with the gifts levitating behind her.

HPHPHP

The gifts were ready. Winky had prepared them in such a way that the items purchased were packaged nicely as gifts from Draco. The boy was in Slytherin for a reason and didn't care who paid for what as long as he was saved from the embarrassment of making a 'faux pas' in custom, tradition or courtesy.

Ron was different and he was glad that he could help his mother out by getting rid of some of those awful cheese wheels. She didn't have the magical power to cut those anymore because they were that tough.

Harry was waiting for them down the stairs to explain a bit about what was going on. "Hey guys," he said. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Whatever Potter," Draco said.

Harry just looked at him and ignored the blonde knowing full well that the Slytherin was curious, but was refusing to admit it. He looked at Ron and then asked both. "I need to know if you two have decided to improve your spell-casting skills by studying your new ability together."

Ron looked at the blonde, who indicated that he could let his friend know of their decision. "Yeah," the red-head told him. "We plan on studying it, even if it's only so that we are aware of who casts what and when."

"Good," Harry said as he turned around and led them up to the second floor and through the hidden door panel that even Ron didn't know about. "Pick up your gifts and a follow me. I am the host for this meeting. I trust the two of you with this new adventure. I'd have had my Counsellor accompany me when they offered, but he had other duties that override his availability and since you two have been training with me since nearly the beginning of the year, even if in different subjects, well you've earned the right to be offered this once in a lifetime chance too."

"Potter would please make sense," Draco said, cutting off the obviously nervous ramble.

"You'll understand shortly," Harry told them.

The all entered the meeting room just as he finished his stilted explanation. "Everyone," he called for attention. "I present you, Young Lord Draconis Lucianis Malfoy, heir apparent to the Malfoy Family Legacy." He then turned to introduce the Icelandic goblins, which each received one of the gifts that Winky had prepared for the blond.

"From the Family of Malfoy," the blonde said as he handed them out.

Harry then introduced his oldest friend and said, "I present you Ronald Bilius Weasley, sixth son of the Family Weasley."

As the goblins were presented, Ron had seen the look of shock on the creatures' faces. He tried his hardest to reign in the shame of giving them goat cheese and strong liquor, but by the time the last one was handed to the goblins he was bright red with embarrassment. Their stares were about to undo him, however one goblin was whispering to Harry explaining the reactions and why they were so strong. Even the Slytherin didn't know what that was all about.

"Ah, no," Harry said softly, but his voice carried in the silence. "The Family does 'not' know that or else things would have been very different for them. How should we correct this miss-step in protocol?"

Ignatia whispered in his ear and he nodded.

"Ron," he said to his friend. "Please remove the flasks and present those as gifts to all three, but only give one cheese wheel to their leader, please. The value of three full wheels is too much for them to accept."

Ron may have had terminal foot-in-mouth for many things, but he was also a strategist. His fellow Gryffindor would never lie about something's value. If Harry said it was too much, then there had to be a reason why those stinking cheese wheels were considered a dowry for the daughters, generation after generation. Although the reason for why was lost in time, but he had a feeling that he was about to find out soon.

"Of course," he said. "Please forgive me, I did not mean to over step your hospitality, Lord Potter. Sirs, please allow me to correct my mistake. I had sent a note to my mother for three of the smaller wheels, which are not as aged as these. High Chief Grendel, please accept one full wheel for your clan from the Family Clan of Weasley of the Burrow."

"Accepted," the Icelandic goblin said with a grin full of teeth.

The other two younger goblins were staring covetously at the other two wheels until Winky popped them out of the room to prevent a scuffle. They were pleased with the alcohol though and with the rest of their gifts. Besides they were still living in the Grendel Clan so they knew that they'd have the opportunity to taste the rare wondrous gift of 'Wizard Rock Cheese'.

"We have invited Lord Harry Potter to train in Iceland during your school's March Break," Chief Borak said. "We are allowing him to bring friends to train alongside him. What say you?"

"I accept," Ron said immediately. That he did so without thought caused the two Slytherins to snort. "What," he faced them. "I don't need to think about it. If Harry asks me to do something, it's not without reason. It can't hurt to learn something new from another corner of the Wizarding World and from beings that have been living in it far longer then a Wizard picking up his first wand."

"You are wise," Griphook said with a closed mouth smile, indicating his amusement at the young man's expression.

"I'm a foolish youth, Griphook, and have much to learn," Ron stated with a grin and rubbing the back of his neck. "I can always learn not to make the same mistake twice, though." He was looking at Harry when he said this and they both knew that they were thinking of his ugly behaviour before the Triwizard Tournament's first task and recent events.

"You should have taken some time to think about it," Professor Snape said.

"Why," Ron asked. "This kind of training, whatever it is, is obviously something that hasn't been offered to a Human in a long while and I'm guessing that's in years, maybe even decades. Bill told me about some of the better moments in history when I was younger. He said that back in the days of true knights and kings, Goblins and other magical creatures would be willing to train those Humans that they deem worthy. The training was always intense and very different from anything the human would know. Kings and Lords would always seek out a Wizard that had been trained in that fashion because they knew that those Wizards were different and that people would listen to whatever they had to say."

"Mr. Weasley you astound me with the fact that you even know about this," Professor Snape said.

"We've been studying past wars," Ron said. "Besides I accepted for a very different and totally selfish reason."

"What would that be Weasley," Draco asked.

"It's training that my brothers have not been offered," Ron said honestly. "Bill was hoping that they'd ask him so that he could improve his curse breaking skills, but they never did. He eventually figured out that it was because he didn't need the training to improve those. Since they haven't asked any Humans that we know of, in recent years then it is the opportunity of a lifetime like Harry said. Although if they did train Humans then it's possible that the recent Humans didn't announce it like they did in the past, but if what I believe is correct, we'll be the first Humans to accept such training since 1768 or thereabouts."

"You are quite correct," Ignatia said. "You are the first Humans to our knowledge that have been asked, although..."

"If it weren't for Lord Potter," Malfoy said. "We wouldn't be asked. He needs Human company so he doesn't fall further into the insanity of being the Boy-Who-Lived."

"Shut it Malfoy," Harry said with a grin. "You're right though, but since you two have decided to improve you unique skill, I believe that the goblins can help you direct your new energy."

"What say you Malfoy," Ron asked. "Don't you want to do something that not even your father has done?"

"Now you're talking," Draco said. "Very well, I accept too, but only because you'd have no hope of improving anything without me."

"That's true," Ron said nodding. He looked to the confused goblins and said, "We're Synchronus."

The High Chief grinned and said, "We have items that each of you must gather before coming for training. We will Owl you with a list. Lord Potter, if you'd send either of your house-elves to come prepare a place for the three of you within our Clan, it would be most useful. You may bring them with you too when you come for training. You're going to need them. Our task here is complete. We accept you, Lord Potter-Black-Grindalwald and will make arrangements with your manager here for transportation."

Harry bowed low and remained that way. The other Wizards followed suit and waited until the contingent of Goblins was completely gone before he collapsed to floor and let out huffs of breath. "That was very unnerving," he said laughing and giving everyone a grin. "I can't wait until March Break, this is gonna be so great."

"I expect the three of you to pass all your exams with Os for this," Professor Snape told them.

"We'll do our best, sir," Harry said. "What do you think they'll task us with?"

"Does it matter," Draco said. "So what was wrong with Weasley's gift? Why did you make him take back two wheels of that cheese?"

"Griphook told me that the value of one of those was approximately four times its weight in Galleons," Harry said. "It's known to them as Wizard Rock Cheese and apparently only Witches or Wizards can make them. The recipe is rare and almost a fairy tale among the Goblins because they rarely ever see it. Griphook did tell me that when some came on the market it is always sold in two inch cubes by some reputable restaurants in Diagon Alley."

"My mother sold small wedges to several restaurants in the past," Ron said. "They claimed that they used it to strange and rare recipes."

"They might have used some of it," Harry said. "But think about it. Most humans are greedy and perhaps less forthright when dealing with each other, which is why the Goblins were trusted to be in charge of our banking. They really don't care about you, only your gold so long as you make more of it, they're very happy counting it."

"Bloody hell Weasley," Draco said. "You're family is rich."

"I know that," Ron said. "We just have different form of wealth."

"No you bloody idiot," Malfoy said. "One of those is worth four times its weight in gold. So how much does one of those bloody things weigh if you have to use a levitation charm to bring it anywhere?"

Ron blinked and then looked at his fellow Gryffindor, who only nodded. "I was giving them too much money-wise," he said. "Is that why you...?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "Professor, do you know a charm or spell that will measure the weight of something while levitating it."

"Yes, a medical charm for weighing babies." Snape said. "Winky bring one of those things back here."

Winky popped in with one of the two foot, in diameter, cheese wheel. Snape cast the weighing charm and they watched the counter climb up, and up, and up, until the full weight settled at about four hundred and seventy-two pounds. There was no way that a human could lift that ever.

"Times four," Harry said. "Its monetary value is approximately four times its weight, that's..."

"One thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eight," Ron said automatically. "Wow!"

"I think that you need to Owl your mum Weasley," Draco said his eyes were equally wide by the total, but also by the quickness of the Gryffindor's calculated response. "You'll need to figure out how to disperse it without getting locked into a single fee. The law of supply and demand being what it is."

"Mr. Malfoy is right," Professor Snape said. "Invite your parents to come to the school. We can explain this to them in the Room of Requirements. It would be best if you kept the full contents and events of this meeting to yourselves."

"Yes sir," Ron said.

"Of course Professor," Draco said.

Harry smiled and said, "Your counsel has been invaluable Professor Snape."

The other boys in the room watched a paper pop into existence. It replicated into three copies, one popping out, one coming to Harry and the last being given to their Professor.

"I'm sorry about our plans for March Break," Harry said to the man.

"This is more important," Snape said. "We can meet during summer and I'll do my research then, if you're agreed."

"Yes sir," Harry replied.

"Very well," the man said. "Don't be late in returning to the school gentlemen."

"No sir," they all replied at the same time. This caused the man to shake his head at the coordination and cooperation happening between the two Houses.

'Although,' he thought with a small glance back at the boys who were chatting excitedly about their up-coming training and with Harry's explanation about why he had the name of Grindelwald as part of his list of Families. 'I believe this is more about the war and that the Houses in a school are not what they seem anymore. I wonder if it was Dumbledore's who caused the greater rift in the beginning or on purpose?'

HPHPHP

TBC...