Chapter 3: An Advisor and the First Article
The next morning, at breakfast, Harry and Hermione entered the Great Hall just as the majority of people were about to tuck into their food.
Their peers paused in their attempts to fill their plates and in their conversations as it dawned on them something was different today.
Maybe it was in the way that he and Hermione walked in together, maybe it was the sureness in which the formerly timid Harry walked these days or perhaps they were even hoping for more drama like the last time the elusive last of the Potters had given them before.
It was a fact of Harry's life that people often quieted when he passed. It was also something that he was still not used to though he accepted it as a necessity of his life by this point.
What he didn't accept was the wave of hatred he felt when he came in. The glares and mutters directed at him he had come to expect but, those directed at Hermione he did not, could not.
If he hadn't felt a brief touch of reassurance on his shoulder from her, he likely would have snapped at someone but instead, he bore it silently.
Two redheads were glaring at them for far different reasons though and were scrutinizing them more than anyone else save, perhaps, a certain Headmaster.
Neither Ron nor Ginny liked how close the infamous duo appeared to be. They also didn't like how happy they seemed around each other (at least before the full scrutiny of the Hall had hit them) though for different reasons and they each blamed a different person for it.
Ron had always suspected that Harry would try and exclude him, in a vague sort of way (not that he could even spell that word) as he tended not to think things through to their natural conclusion.
Because of that idea, in the back of his mind, he had by default started to look at Hermione. First, it was to use her for homework help but later that had changed when he realised how...interesting… girls could be.
As far as he was concerned he had staked a claim to Hermione as soon as he knew that she was a girl, in every sense of that word. It was a fact, he knew it and so did Harry so if he moved on her there would be hell to pay.
Ginny, on the other hand, was possibly even more upset with the indefinable change in the closeness between Harry and Hermione than he was. Rather than being suspicious like her brother though, she had jumped straight to almost incandescently furious.
She knew that Harry was hers as much as she knew the colour of her own eyes.
She didn't blame him for what was happening with Hermione as he wasn't simply as aware of the future as Ginny herself was. He didn't know her well enough yet, he didn't understand how good that she was going to be for him.
It wasn't his fault and it wasn't hers, not in her view, but she had grown up on the stories of him and knew every letter and every word of what he had been through. She had been, unlike Hermione (and with the enthusiastic support of her mother), been preparing to show him what she could do for him since she was five years old and the first book had entered her home.
'That bushy bint will not steal my Harry' she thought viciously as she stared at Harry with hunger in her eyes.
The staff and Headmaster's of the other schools were not stunned by them, rather it was the third person that had entered the Great Hall oh so casually with them that drew their attention.
Then again, the sight of a tired Amelia Bones tended to cause adults to be wary, especially as she was also quite clearly very irate.
Her bad mood was more than understandable when you took into account that, thanks to an understaffed and overworked Auror Department. She hadn't got home, let alone to sleep, until well past midnight last night only to be woken for an emergency (and secret) meeting with the Boy-Who-Lived of all people.
As an investigator, she didn't like puzzles that she couldn't solve and it hadn't helped her demeanour one bit that she had gone through a door that she had never seen before in Hogsmeade to meet him.
In fact, she was certain that the door hadn't existed until recently or she would have been aware of it, hence the puzzle.
The idea that someone could install one without anyone noticing (and then reporting it either directly to her or simply to her department) let alone the tunnel that it concealed and she used was both amazing and utterly annoying to her.
The studio flat she found at the other end was concerning both as an officer of the law and a guardian of a student, but hardly groundbreaking. It was, however, well beyond the skill of a fourth-year student to create, no matter how talented.
The fact that the tunnel had ceased to exist behind only added to the mystery and her frustration at its very existence in the first place.
She hated mysteries that she couldn't solve and to be handed one by a boy not yet even of age who was, apparently, living in a converted classroom really rankled her.
Then they had talked.
If she hadn't been shown memories (in what she knew was a court grade pensive… though where he got that she again had no idea) she would have sworn that, not only could those things never happen but that he was a delusional boy that needed the help that only hospitalisation could provide.
Those memories had horrified her to her very core and she was stunned at the man, never could she view him as a boy again after what she had seen, he had become.
She had left that meeting with a grin on her face as Harry had made her a very particular offer with a very condensed timetable.
She, of course, had accepted straight away and was here now to lay the groundwork of that plan even as she remembered that Harry had termed it 'Sticking idiots with their own shit for once...part one.'
As much as she wanted to tell him off for his language, she couldn't find the heart to do so as he was right.
As Dumbledore started to rise, no doubt a silly platitude ready to spill from his lips, she prepared herself.
In a perfect world, she knew that Dumbledore would face prison at the very least for what he had done or simply allowed to happen under his watch.
Sadly, she also knew that she didn't live in such a world as if she did her job wouldn't exist. She had also been raised inside a society that valued your family line, magic and then skill… in that order, and she knew it.
The Dumbledore's were an old family, not noble but old regardless, and Albus's magical power and skill were not (nor had they ever been, even amongst his enemies) in question.
Added to this, the man had spent almost all of his time since the Second World War (when not teaching students) amassing political power. He had also been promoting the idea that, as Leader of the Light, he was either right or did things for the best possible reasons, law be damned.
The chances of getting him in prison were realistically slim to none.
However, she had power of that kind too, as would Harry when he took his seat on the Wizengamot if Dumbledore didn't find a way to block it.
She knew she was playing a very dangerous game here as his far outstripped hers in that area, especially as he had appointed too many regents to too many seats including that of House Potter.
As head of the D.M.L.E., she was respected and had her own allies. Her main job was to catch criminals, charge them, and even acted as Prosecutor when it was required of her.
Ultimately though it wasn't her job to sentence but that of the Wizengamot and not only couldn't she use her vote as Regent of House Bones if she was prosecuting, she was also only one voice among many.
In short, Dumbledore had more allies there than she did.
Given that she wasn't here to try and put him in prison (there would be no point trying) but rather to try and weaken his power base and his grip on the life of the Boy-Who-Lived.
Failing that she could at least harry, delay, misdirect and slow Dumbledore down and hamper his plans, whatever they were. After seeing the memories she had, she truly believed that Harry deserved no less and in a fairer world far more.
'Now we shall see,' she thought 'whether I can truly match the great manipulator.'
"Don't bother," she barked at the man before he could speak. "at least some of this deserves to be public as it was begun in public."
"What has to be public Amelia?" Dumbledore asked in honest confusion.
"That's Madam Bones to you Headmaster," she replied and it was only with near superhuman control that she didn't scream at him. "As the Head of the D.M.L.E. I came for an update on the investigation that you have started on the matter of who has forced Mr Potter's name into the Goblet of Fire."
"We really should take this someplace private?"
"I've already told you no" Amelia snapped back, her patience already exhausted. There really was far too much about this man that got under her skin. "However, you didn't inform my office and allow us to investigate as is our mandate in any criminal investigation."
The shocked faces of the other teachers at her tone and the complete attention of the students on him clearly unsettled Dumbledore. That was the very reason she started with such an explosive topic.
"Now Madam Bones surely there is no need…" Dumbledore tried again in a soothing voice.
"For what?" She interrupted "Investigating fraud? The endangerment of a minor in a deadly Tournament? The attack on an Ancient and Noble House? In the negligence in allowing this farce to continue? Exactly what crime is so unworthy of investigation? You know… I don't care what you have to say about it. Send me your results, if you even have any, as an investigation is officially open."
Dumbledore had finally had enough of such public flagellation and placed a silencing globe around them, separating them from the students with a simple flick of his wand.
The students reacted with shock. Dumbledore had just unknowingly legitimised every accusation that she had made, at least to the few brighter students and enough every student would at least mention them to their parents, some of whom would think about it.
With such small steps like these reputations begin to fall.
"Please Amelia…" Dumbledore nearly begged, only to be interrupted again by the strong and judgemental voice of the Head of the D.M.L.E.
"Where are the rules for the Tournament that are supposed to have been given to the Champions?"
"Mister Potter knows some of them already. Now please, stop this and listen to me…"
"Irrelevant. All of the Champions are required to be given a copy as soon as possible. The fact that Harry didn't have a copy from you shows only that he is resourceful and that you are violating the rules of the very competition you are supposed to judge. I gave him a copy this morning, as you should have done."
'Technically true' she thought 'as I handed him back his copy this morning right after he gave me them to read.'
"Now there is no need for that" Professor Sprout, of all people, disagreed.
"No need to follow the rules? I should have realised that when four people were entered into the Triwizard Tournament… with one of them against his will no less. If the other Headmasters want a copy, as they should have been given, they can contact me."
"Potter chea-" Sprout argued angrily, if only for a moment before she was shouted down.
"Don't. Don't you dare speak to me again. Be very careful before you are charged with slandering the heir of an Ancient and Noble House. I have never been more ashamed to be a Hufflepuff than when I look at you...you bitch."
"Do you have anything to say about all of this Harry?" Dumbledore asked, with his serene grandfather mask working overtime and Sprout settling down under a pointed glance from him.
In the privacy of his own mind though, Dumbledore was very concerned.
With everything that had been going on, he hadn't had the freedom to study Harry up close and he was very alarmed at how strong and healthy Harry looked at that moment.
Although he couldn't quite see the scar that Harry was famous for (his hair had grown over it) he doubted that Harry had seen any medical professional. That would have meant either Madam Pomfrey or he would have had to leave school grounds.
Dumbledore believed that he would have known if he had done either and, besides which, he was still wearing his glasses and any specialised healer would have been able to fix his need for them.
James Potter's parents had left his eyes alone as a lesson in humility for their often prideful child, if he remembered correctly, and he himself had chosen to keep the glasses after his parents died to remember them.
Other than that, it was usually only those of advanced age or muggle borns that wore glasses.
He missed the fact that there were other, far older and more dangerous, ways of healing using magic and the fact that the lenses of Harry's glasses were now plain glass.
"Not really, no. I think she's doing a fine job." Harry's response was quick and sharp before deciding to twist the knife a little by adding "I know enough not to impede the D.M.L.E. in their rightful duties."
Dumbledore reacted as if he had been slapped.
"What about Harry's Advisor? That is Cedric's and the Heads of the other schools serve in the same capacity for their Champions and here is Harry without one or, are you going to ignore that as well?"
"I am afraid the rules of the Tournament," Dumbledore answered, even as he couldn't help but sound a little smug, "if you had read them correctly you would know that only one staff member from each school can be an advisor."
"You are telling me that Sprout," Bones was aghast "is Harry's Advisor?"
"Again you misunderstand, only one advisor only to one student," Dumbledore said, feeling in control of the conversation for once.
"And you couldn't find a way around that? Given who you are, I find that hard to believe. Surely it would have been a simple matter to simply fire a member of staff for a year and rehire them as a guest lecturer so they could help Mister Potter?"
"I'm afraid that, this time, it is the Headmaster who needs to reread the rules carefully this time. Harry's voice was bland, almost as if he was discussing the weather "It doesn't say anywhere that the advisor needs to be a member of the Hogwarts staff."
"And I assume," Dumbledore said, equally as blandly, "that you want Madam Bones as your Advisor?"
"Merlin no, she is clearly going to be far too busy. I choose Hermione Granger, not anyone else."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that, my boy. Under the rules, your Headmaster must sign off on your choice" Dumbledore replied.
"Only when able, Headmaster, only when able" Harry pointed out, much to Dumbledore's obvious confusion.
"As I understand it, Harry was illegally entered into this farce, either under the name of a fictitious school or the name was left blank. Under the rules of the Tournament, this means he either has no Headmaster or it can't be you...unless you have accepted a position at another school? If so, you'll have to resign from this one."
Amelia looked positively gleeful at the idea of him not being in charge in Hogwarts.
Clearly, Dumbledore had seen that too because, with a furrowed brow and thunderous look, he refused to speak and rise to the bait.
"Technicalities" Dumbledore snarled eventually, his grandfatherly mask completely shattered for a moment as his anger overcame his control. It was almost a physical thing in the air, seeking to tear Madam Bones in two.
"What you call technicalities...the rest of us refer to as rules Dumbledore," Bones responded. "I wonder how much time it will be before you break enough rules that the Goblet's grace period runs out and extracts a price from everyone involved due to your foolishness."
"Don't be infantile Amelia...such a thing is beneath you. The Goblet would never take my magic." Dumbledore spoke with a certainty that the others around him didn't feel if their facial expressions were any indication.
"Not just yours!" Bones damn near thundered at the man, her patience finally utterly gone. "Every Judge and every contestant is at risk and no one can tell when the Goblet will decide that enough is enough, nor can they stop it acting. Even if they destroy it, as a Tournament is going on, you all would still be at risk!"
Calming slightly, she then turned to the rest of the people on the staff table. "I would strongly suggest that, if you value your lives, the rest of you get a copy of the rules as soon as possible. Either come to me or try and get them from our dear Headmaster. If you do not I will not be responsible or sympathetic to anything that happens...you have been warned."
She stared at the now pale judges and teachers for more than a few seconds, then she spoke again. "Remember that magic is not forgiving when you violate its rules and ignorance is not an excuse."
"Are you threatening me?" Dumbledore was incredulous at the very idea, at her nerve.
"You would see it that way" Amelia bit back. "I'm actually just doing what you should be doing...educating. You seem to have forgotten that not every scrap of magic responds to your will, the Goblet certainly doesn't care who and what you are. If anyone is threatening people here, it is you. You put this noose around everyone's neck, not me. Charges, I'm sure will be placed against all of you."
"The Tournament's Judges are immune from prosecution, on any charge save murder or the unforgivable, for the duration of this event. This also applies to any acts that they do to help the Tournament." Dumbledore tried to dismiss her like an errant child.
"Here yes, and isn't that a nice and vague proposition that theoretically allows pretty much anything. Our Ministry may have offered that…"
"I think you will find..." Dumbledore tried to interrupt, only to be spoken over as if he hadn't even tried by Madam Bones.
"I don't need to think about anything, unlike you I know. I spoke to the Bulgarian and the Norwegian Minister's of Magic this morning… they agreed no such provision and they are not happy."
Both Madame Maxine and Headmaster Karkaroff were, unlike most of those sitting at the table, not struck dumb by the argument unfolding before them. Before this moment, they had been sitting back and enjoying the proverbial show in front of them.
That had ended with the last few sentences as they had, at first, been concerned by what could happen to them because of the Goblet. That was nothing, however, to how they reacted now.
"What?" Karkaroff growled, menace dripping from the word, even as Madame Maxine frowned so hard that someone could have been forgiven in thinking a deep ravine had formed on her forehead.
"The Bulgarian Minister was also contacted, thanks to his counterparts, and he was especially accommodating. He said something about charges to do with endangering the life of an International Quidditch star, a celebrity and favourite son of his country. The Norwegian Minister was also there, who knew they were friends and having breakfast together? Anyway… he merely added something about bring the school's reputation into disrepute."
"And me?" Madame Maxine's voice, though heavy with her accent, held a trace of fear.
"Similar things. I don't envy you when you go home. The Minister did fight for you to have your position, given your unique heritage, and he was hurt by the apparent lack of care you have for his family. Sebastian Delacour is infamous for showing no mercy to those that threaten his loved ones."
Both paled as the facts of their new situation began to sink in.
Karkaroff, due to his history, had plenty of people in many Ministries basically salivating to bring him down. He would have to talk fast when he got home, that or have a bag packed and wand ready.
Madame Maxine knew that the prevalent racism in Europe was lighter (thanks to the Veela Nation's influence) in France than it was in most other countries, but it was still there.
She owed the Delacour patriarch for many things, not least of which was an endorsement to help her get an interview as a Professor and then another to be considered as Headmistress.
And now that relationship, that powerful man and his allies, was likely firmly against her.
"I suggest you both," Amelia continued "devote yourself to what you should be doing...caring for your students, at least for as long as they are still yours."
With that parting shot, essentially stunning all resistance to what she was saying she and her group left and left nothing but devastated silence in their wake.
Then the arguments began between those that were left. The matter of whether Hermione Granger should be allowed to be Harry's Advisor and enjoy the privileges that came along with the position fell to the wayside.
By the time that they returned to the issue, they would find that their window to raise any objections would have lapsed.
They clearly had bigger problems, which of course, was the point.
-HPCOD-
Now that they officially didn't have to worry about a curfew, Dobby was swiftly sent to retrieve all of Hermione's things and bring them back to Harry's flat as soon as they entered it.
They couldn't have called Dobby any sooner as he had standing orders to keep the Room of Requirement active and the only way to do that was by staying inside it when they were not there.
Not wanting to push his luck, especially with that part of his willpower more than a little frayed given the potions, Harry willed a second and walled off bedroom into existence for Hermione.
He was both grateful and cursing the Room of Requirements ever helpful nature as it formed the bedroom. He did know that it was the right thing to do and they weren't ready to share a bed, even just to sleep, no matter how long they had known each other.
Nor anything else that they might do in it.
The idea that they could do more was more than a little distracting however as certain parts of him were stubbornly resisting both logic and his better judgement.
He knew that the thoughts inspired by that would keep him up for several nights at the most conservative of estimates. It would have been far worse for him if he knew that Hermione would be entertaining similar thoughts and be kept up in a very similar manner.
"Did Madam Bones say how long she would be?" Harry asked even as he guiltily tried not to let his feelings show on his face.
"Don't" She admonished him. "The fact that Amelia is tearing Susan a new one is not your fault. The fact that she is being taken to the woodshed has less to do with you and more to do with how she has been acting for the last few years. It will take as long as it takes and frankly she has every right to do it. Now...study?"
"Study? Are you sure you're not mad at me for not going to class and for automatically passing the end of year exams?"
"Well," Hermione replied slowly as she thought about it "under other circumstances...maybe? But that isn't what's happening and look at what we have here. All of the knowledge of a thousand-year-old castle available with a simple thought, no waiting for the slowest member of the class to catch up and we can set our own hours. If it's a choice between going to exams and helping my boyfriend survive then there is no choice even without the fringe benefits. You also get bonus points, if you were wondering, for telling me your idea this morning rather than keep it a surprise for longer and spring it on me. If you had done that then I really wouldn't have been happy."
He grasped her chin lightly, turned her face, and then impulsively kissed her with all of the passion and care he could put into it.
"Thank you, for being you," Harry said with feeling. He enjoyed her happy, slightly dreamy and flushed look even as he spoke again. "Study?"
"Study," Hermione agreed with a tone that was full of both resignation and agreement. "I can't wait for this week to be over."
"Why?"
"Because then I can be in full control of myself and how much I want to show you" she replied in a husky voice. She even, much to his shock, added a teasing wink as she spoke.
Now it was Harry's turn to flush and groan as, though they both moved to their work, they had very happy grins and unclean minds.
-HPCOD-
The next morning, anticipation spread like wildfire through the Hall as both of them entered for breakfast and most were waiting for the next instalment of, what was fast becoming, their favourite morning entertainment.
The only ones not doing so were the Gryffindor's nearest Harry and Hermione. They were instead confused by the fact that as they sat down, instead of piling their plates with food, they pulled packages of pre-made food out of their pockets rather than eat what was on the table.
The only other person who was not caught in the wave of emotion in the air was Susan Bones. She was still reeling and struggling to come to terms with her aunt's anger and her own shame since yesterday.
Like most teenagers, she had assumed that she could easily handle the adult world but was blissfully unaware of its true costs.
The Wizengamot was a prime example. She thought that it was a largely ineffectual body that argued over ridiculous things that no one really cared about.
She was wrong about that. It was true that they often argued pointlessly and into maddening absurdity, but between all of that bluster, the warp and weft of the Wizarding World was formed and maintained.
It was also far more dangerous than mere bickering. People twisted laws, added addendums, created loopholes and it all added up to whatever those in power wanted it to be. The number of double meanings, backstabbings, twisted consequences and sometimes outright assassinations boggled the mind.
She was now just realising that life was like that too.
She had naively thought that siding with the main population of the school twice against Harry was justified and would have no long term effects.
The first time she had done so, in her second year, was a mixture of fear, the weight of circumstantial evidence and peer pressure. Worse than that, once the situation was resolved, (and at the time she didn't know how although now she did) she hadn't mentioned her actions to her aunt and had apologised to her or Harry.
No one did and, as he had been forcefully been made to realise, that was shameful.
The second instance she had honestly thought, at the time at least, that she was merely supporting Hufflepuff House against a cheat and a liar. That was despite the fact that Harry had never been known to lie or grandstand.
In fact, the only person the was known for things like that was Draco Malfoy. He had a horrible track record and everyone in Hogwarts, even other Slytherins, hated him and were only cowed either by fear of his father or the families money and political power.
Tarring Harry with the same brush, participating in that bullying went against everything that Hufflepuff House represented and she had lost sight of that far too easily.
Needless to say, her aunt had been livid and had not only destroyed her, admittedly flimsy, counterarguments but also had memories from Harry showing what really had happened in their second year.
Seeing the danger that her classmate had put himself in for no tangible reward had broken her last defences completely.
She knew that she would have to make it right somehow especially when it was pointed out that this wasn't just a school but (for lack of a better term) an incubator for the future leaders of Wizarding Britan.
Her choices reflected on her own family more here than in most other places, not less.
House Bones was part of a loose affiliation of twelve powerful Houses (though two had died out), as well as the many lesser ones that followed them, that until three decades ago were a true power in their world and she had alienated two of it's most prominent future leaders.
Longbottom and Potter.
The first she had dismissed and the second she had defamed. She knew, she knew, that people didn't forget slights like that and her actions had damaged the standing of her family in ways that she could fully know the extent of for years.
She could now only sit, head bowed in shame, thinking of ways to try and fix it. She was only snapped out of her introspection when the papers arrived and the true show began.
As did the shouting.
-HPCOD-
Harry knew that he wouldn't have backup, aside from Hermione, for this.
Madam Bones, for example, was too busy with her job to come and be his shield and it wouldn't be helpful in the long run. Given what she had just done in the Great Hall it would not have been wise to reinforce the possible connection between Harry and her.
'Perception is currently king,' Harry thought cynically 'and if they think that Madam Bones is helping for the future of an alliance, that is one thing. If they poke too much or think that it is for any other reason...well that would be a problem. Besides, she is going to go visit Neville's Grandmother today and share some home truths with her. I'm sure the memories I gave her will help with that."
As he finished his food as quickly and efficiently as possible he looked around the Great Hall, testing the mood.
From past experience, not to mention a small facial tightening around the eyes, he knew that Dumbledore wanted to summon him to his office and he would no doubt get a message soon, if not today then certainly tomorrow.
The warming of his necklace when their eyes met and the added scrutiny of McGonagall's thousand-yard stare only reinforced that message.
'Too bad he will be disappointed.'
Before that, it seemed that he was going to have other entertainment, before the main show that he knew was coming. Malfoy was coming over after all, even as the human vacuum that was Ron Weasley waited in the wings to say his piece.
The rest of the school saw it coming and leaned in like a group of fascinated hyenas waiting for their chance to feed.
'Wastes of sperm… the both of them.'
"Oi Potter!" Malfoy spat out "How does it feel to be the most hated person in Hogwarts? I bet you miss the fame that you used to bask in don't you?"
Harry waited for three heartbeats for the teachers to intervene, knowing that it was pointless but giving it to them anyway while giving Malfoy no sign that he had heard.
When Harry didn't do anything except to eventually raise one eyebrow Malfoy couldn't help but push, to taunt his favourite target even more. "What? Do you have nothing to say scarhead or have you finally realised not to talk back to your betters?"
"Not at all," Harry said with a deep belly laugh that shocked those around him. "I'm just wondering how much shit you can talk before you get bored. No matter how much you love moving your own mouth Malfoy everyone here knows it's only comfortable with Goyle's cock in it...no matter how much we don't want that image in our heads."
With a cry of frustrated rage, Malfoy reached for his wand.
Analytically Harry knew that Malfoy's first mistake was coming over without his traditional entourage. He was clearly overconfident and sure in the protection that the teachers in this school gave him (history did bear that out). He was also buoyed by the fact that most of this school disliked Harry more than him, at least for the moment.
His second mistake was to assume that this was the same Harry Potter that he had been dealing with for the last four years. Harry's dropping of his mask-like meek nature and his relationship with Hermione had provided the dark-haired boy with justified confidence.
One which the orphaned and former downtrodden Harry had never shown against him before, at least not in public like this.
Learning as much as he could from the Aspect of Hogwarts and putting everything he had into it (with breaks only to eat and the occasional bit of frustrating snuggle time from Hermione) did increase his options, as did making sure that he slept the bare minimum to be considered well-rested when he did so.
Malfoy's final mistake was being within striking range of his enemy.
As quick as Malfoy believed himself to be, even before he began his learning, Harry was far quicker and his left hand flashed out. He grabbed Malfoy's hand even as it settled on the hilt of his wand and applied as much pressure as he could to the boy's fingers.
Even as the blonde whimpered in pain Harry felt the wood break and likely splinter against those fingers but, before Malfoy could say anything or make more noise, Harry's other had already held his lightly glowing wand.
"How do you think…" Harry hissed at him, even as both their bodies managed to partially block the teacher's view of what was happening "your vaunted pure-bloods would react, knowing that you are spitting on their traditions like this?"
"What do you know about tradition you filthy son of a mud-"
Strangely enough, Harry noted that it didn't matter whether you were a pure-blood or not, a swift sharp blow to the family jewels would shut anyone up.
Acting quickly, as he could already see Dumbledore beginning his approach toward the pair and the man's ever-present shadow in lockstep with him, Harry knew that he had to do this now before they could defuse what was to come.
"Heir Longbottom," called Harry, with a voice pitched to reach the entire hall, "you are needed."
"The squib?!" Malfoy's disdain for his classmate sprayed into the air like a fetid cloud.
But, even as he spoke those hateful words, it was as if Neville took strength from the words meant to harm or maybe it was the traditions that were ingrained in him practically since birth and the connection that gave him to both his parents and the rest of his ancestors.
It could also have been Harry's reply, as Neville heard it despite the fact that Harry growled it low and only for Malfoy to hear.
"One. More. Word. Go ahead, speak out of turn again and your line will end right here as you bleed out on the floor. My friend is worth fifteen generations of your entire line you shitstain."
"Yes Heir Potter, how may I be of service?" Neville questioned, the perfect picture of noble largesse.
"Draco Malfoy, Heir Presumptive of the Magical House of Malfoy, has offended his betters."
"I see" Neville replied gravely.
"Harry, don't do this" Dumbledore almost begged. He had finally turned up although Snape ever the survivor, remained silent although his hatred for anything Potter burned behind his eyes and everywhere he looked.
"Headmaster" Neville spoke with a strength that few, if any, had ever heard from him. "It is not your place to interfere. You know this."
"Neville Longbottom, Heir of the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom, do you stand witness before these people?" Harry asked.
"I do" Neville answered even as the solemnity in his voice clued even those who didn't understand what was going on that this was important.
Even if his voice hadn't done so then the panicked look on Draco's face, not to mention the sweat that broke out on his face, would have done the same thing.
"You are not Lord Potter" Dumbledore interjected quickly, with panic flashing over his features. "It is not legal or binding. Therefore, as Chief Warlock…"
"You will do nothing" Neville spat at the man, clearly highly offended at what he was trying to do. "He may not legally be Lord Potter but, as the last surviving possible Heir of his family, custom and tradition state that he is magically."
"I" Harry continued as if the two hadn't even spoken, "as the magically recognised Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter declare you and the entirety of the Magical House of Malfoy anathema."
Dumbledore's eyes closed, as if he felt a great pain settle on him. Snape's face blanched even more than his usual corpse-like pallor even as Neville's eyes widened and those that understood what was happening gasped and tried to explain (in hurried whispers) what was going on to those that didn't.
Malfoy, for his part, screeched like a wounded animal and stumbled back as whatever false bravado and courage empowered him fled quicker than it ever came.
"For the crimes of unrelenting and repeated abuse, for the disparagement of at least two of the Great Houses of Magical Britain, for the desecration of the memories of their former Lords and Ladies and for trying to hold yourself higher than you have any right too, your punishment has come."
He turned to face the rest of the Great Hall before he continued. "Every loan the Potters or their allies have ever made to you and yours is now called in, every agreement disavowed, every alliance of any type is hereby revoked, every hand will be turned from cooperation into a fist and every opinion challenged."
"Isn't that a bit harsh Mr Potter?" McGonagall called out from her seat and he turned to her, piercing her with a cold look.
"If only you had spoken out earlier Deputy Headmistress, it would have….done nothing" he replied to her shock. "Draco has had years to regret his decisions and make amends, knowing that I could do far worse than this in a few years. Instead he, with your tacit blessing, has merely given me more rope with which to hang himself."
Turning back to the rest of them, he proceeded once more. "Let it be known to all allies, partners, Lesser Houses and anyone considered in House Potters debt… there shall be no turning aside, no acceptable deal or negotiation with House Malfoy for as long as they suffer Draco Malfoy to live. This I swear with my life's blood."
With that (and a little wand work) he stepped back and cut his palm open.
His blood fell but, before it hit the ground, it turned into a dark smoke that faded into a nonexistent wind though the damage was already done.
And through it all Hermione watched, unsurprised and the picture of a perfect pure-blood princess. Perceptions were always going to off-balance people at this moment, though the irony of Hermione acting this way against a racist enemy wasn't lost on either of them.
Neither was the dark humour of that. A muggle-born portraying a pure-blood better than their best.
-HPCOD-
Far away (and unseen to those in Hogwarts, though not unknown to those that understood these things) the blood reformed as parchment at a particular goblin's desk and the creature grinned so widely that a shark would be envious.
Notices would be sent out within minutes to all of the Potter's allies, the allies of those allies and continuing on until any connection to the Ancient and Noble House would hear the news and act on the instruction...less they become included as well.
The Daily Prophet would also be informed and included in that would be a statement from the Goblin Nation verifying the action.
The Magical Lord of the Houses of Potter and Emrys was acting and Bonecrusher couldn't be happier with what was going on.
Though the Houses of Potter and Malfoy had few interactions in the last few centuries the same couldn't be said for their allies (especially House Black thanks, in large part, to Sirius taking control of it even if it was unofficial for the moment).
The House of Emrys, despite what some may think, had little actual power as it had been dormant since its founder disappeared and his family left Britain as, at the time, they weren't magical but rather squibs.
Its political prestige in Britain was immense however and therefore the succession of goblins that had ruthlessly administered it had caused the wealth of the family to grow.
They did this through the centuries largely by loans and it was those debts, some centuries old, that would do the most damage as they were being called in with full interest.
All in all, it was a very good day to be a goblin.
-HPCOD-
"Begone" Harry snarled and, for once in his life, Draco did the smart thing and dutifully fled like the hounds of hell were chasing him.
Which they might as well have been. It must have occurred to him (as it did to many pure-bloods) that his father would soon be weighing up what was more important, fighting against this tide or quietly removing his son and trying for a new Heir.
If he did the first then he risked either the French branch of their family seizing their assets, when Draco had an unfortunate accident or losing everything his family had worked for in at least the last few generations.
Harry knew it too.
"Where did you learn that particular custom?" Dumbledore demanded with a hard stare even as lamented that such things still existed, no matter how much he tried to stamp them out.
"Here and there" Harry replied blithely. "Oh look Headmaster… post."
Something about the way Harry spoke to him, perhaps it was the tilt of his head, the glint in his eye, the mocking half-smile or maybe it was just the way he sounded as he said the words but, he span back to look at the staff table.
And the paper sitting innocently there.
Both he and Snape half sprinting while (quite comically to most watching including Harry and Hermione) they tried not to look like that was exactly what they were doing.
Ron Weasley, living up to his limited intellect, seemed to decide that now was the right time to make his own play at power. Almost everyone, having seen what they just had wouldn't have because they wouldn't wish to poke the dragon that was suddenly in their midst.
In his mind though, the plan was perfect. The teachers waited, like everyone else, to read it though as they were busy watching the next act of this drama unfold.
"Well done," Ron said warmly, even as he moved into Harry's eye line and then his voice turned cold "cheater."
"Go away, Ron. I don't want to have a battle of wits with you" Harry smirked. "It wouldn't be fair given that you weren't given any at birth."
"Har Har" Ron replied flatly. "You like traditions? Well here's one that you're not going to like you liar. On behalf of Gryffindor House and by an overwhelming vote…"
"But not by me" interjected Neville. Fred and George nodded in the background even as Hermione said nothing for a second or two as this was as much news to her as it was to Harry.
"Say what you are going to say, Ronald. We have more important things to deal with than your delusions of grandeur" Hermione's entire being screamed how little she cared about whatever he had to say.
"We have decided" Ron nearly shouted while he flushed and his ears flamed red, "that you are a traitor to the House and the spirit of Godric Gryffindor. Until you are brave enough to admit you cheated and beg our forgiveness, you are a Gryffindor no more."
Harry's robes changed at that pronouncement with the Gryffindor trim becoming a muted grey, his tie turned a standard black and the Hogwarts emblem fading until it was barely visible.
Until he admitted his fault publically and begged their forgiveness or they withdrew their complaint and he accepted, he was not a Gryffindor.
Any house points that he lost would be contested and any he earned wouldn't be acknowledged. He was automatically banned from any House activity or sport including quidditch (not that it mattered much this year) and all Gryffindors were to act as if he didn't exist as much as possible.
Not that some would pay attention to that.
The fact that the two punishments were remarkably similar was not lost on anyone present.
One however was designed to exact justice and retribution and the other, in theory, was supposed to serve as a warning and to teach.
The consequences of what Harry had done were also more visceral and far-reaching, making Ron's power-play seem what it was, a childish attempt to gain attention. It was a spiteful attempt to isolate Harry that was barely within the rules of Hogwarts, but it was within the rules.
It was no wonder then that he did not seem concerned by it at all.
'Let's see how well this works out for them' Harry thought.
"And you all agreed to this?" Harry asked the Gryffindor table while keeping one eye on the staff table as he knew that it wouldn't take long for them to read the paper and given how absorbing today's edition was, time was limited.
He was met with accusing stares and cruel looks from his peers. "You idiots."
Most of his rather captive audience had grown bored by now with the Harry Potter show, or so they thought, and even the teachers had begun to turn away.
Dumbledore didn't and, even as some began to read the paper, his eyes were locked on Harry, trying to absorb everything he could about this new side to the Boy-Who-Lived and try to learn how to counter it if needed.
"I swear" Harry called out in a strong voice, briefly recapturing everyone's attention. "On my life and magic that I did not enter my name in the Goblet of Fire. I also didn't ask anyone to do it for me and I truly believe that it is a plot against my life. If it was my choice I would have nothing to do with this Tournament or any of you."
Ron Weasley, the Gryffindors that followed him wholeheartedly into his vendetta against Harry and the entirety of Hufflepuff House plus its Head were struck dumb.
They were also proven completely stupid.
"Don't bother trying to reverse it" Harry said to the now quiet Hall. "Every single one of you disgusts me."
"For what you have done to my boyfriend?" Hermione added, "The same goes for me too."
When they recovered from their understandable shock Ron and Ginny would be furious at that word coming from Hermione's mouth.
"For my friend" added Neville simply, even as he moved over to where Harry and Hermione were standing.
"Don't forget about us" came the voices of the twin terrors, also known as Fred and George and they moved as well.
Susan didn't say anything at all but her steps were sure. Her own sense of who she was had been damaged by her recent actions and her families honour had been brought into question.
Her support was the very least of what she owed.
The group, now six, left the Great Hall and once again all that was left of them was devastation in their wake. This was especially true when everyone heard Snape's scream of rage at the headline of the paper.
Harry Potter: A Future Lord Under Threat
Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, a national hero and an icon is under attack and not for the first time, this reporter can faithfully confirm.
Yes, dear readers, you read that right, our beloved Hero is in danger right under our noses.
Unjustly forced into the Triwizard Tournament with the wrongful impression that he cheated his way in…
The article was long but, even as the six had moved off, Harry knew what phrases would probably stick in people's minds as Rita had happily sent him an advanced copy in exchange for the memory of what had happened this morning.
She was expecting to see a reaction to the article but, Harry was sure she would get a kick out of it anyway.
Young Harry shows maturity beyond his years as he bears with the unjust taunts, abandonment, attacks and outright bullying of his peers…
...not disdainful of the Tournament or the Champions themselves nevertheless Harry has no faith in the Hogwarts staff, as this is just one in a series of betrayals...
Professor Sprout had brought the longstanding good name of Hufflepuff House to an all-time low, in this humble reporters opinion, with her unfair and atrocious actions. How has the once-proud Hufflepuff House fallen so far?
Why did the Ministry allow this travesty to continue as the rules state (see page 8 for more details) it could be cancelled and then restarted within twenty-four hours?
Where was Dumbledore? Where were Harry Potters guardians throughout all of this?
Why did the D.M.L.E. only find out about this horrendous plot and not from the start? Why did Dumbledore not tell them?
As I endeavour to find these answers one thing is clear. We are being lied to, have been lied to for some time and Harry Potter has unfairly been paying the price all along.
-HPCOD-
Harry moved them quickly enough that, if anyone had tried to follow they would not have caught up.
It did have the side effect of making his friends breathless as he led them to a classroom on the seventh floor.
"Thanks for that guys," Harry said, even as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
"No problem mate," said Fred and George at the same time even as they both grinned that same cocky grin. "Though" Fred added, "our brother is an arse."
"Percy or Ron?" Hermione asked, even as Harry sniggered and the rest gaped at her for a brief second before doing the same.
"Seriously though, thank you all." Harry was heartfelt in his words, partially because it couldn't have been easy for them to stand against the school like that and also because, with a few exceptions like Hermione and Sirius, no one had stood up for him simply because they cared before.
Even Amelia, who was firmly in his corner, originally helped him because of a desire to uphold the law as she saw it and out of a sense of obligation for the remnants of her families alliance with his.
She cared now, and he was thankful for that, but he was well aware that her motives were not black and white when she first came to their meeting. For these people, he believed it was and that moved him deeply.
"You're my boyfriend" Hermione shrugged "what else am I going to do?"
"Longbottom and Potter, from first till last."
"I owed you," Susan said. "I still do and...you were right and that's important… people forget that too much...it's really important."
"Still, none of you had to do that for me." Harry paused, with a thoughtful look, and then sighed before he continued. "Something is going on and I can't tell you what it is right now… but I will when I can, I promise you."
All of them understood, all of them accepted it and promised to wait for him to find the right time to explain (though Hermione knew already).
Then they made small talk for a while, beginning the slightest of cracks in the division that was created in separating children into opposing and competing Houses before they began to move off and get on with their day.
"Hey, Nev?" Harry called out to the other boy and Neville slowed for one final word, in private this time, with his friend.
"Yeah?"
"Speak to your Gran soon would you?"
By the expression on the other boys face Harry could see that Neville could tell that this was far from a simple request to talk to his family more.
"Will do." Neville spoke with a steel in his voice that, before today, had rarely been present in him.
Futures changed, more often than not, not with large leaps of insight but a series of small steps. For Neville, it was right then, in a seventh-floor corridor that his own began to change.
While many expected Harry to go straight to the Room of Requirements (not that they knew the name or location of the place he was training) he didn't exactly do that.
Instead, he stayed just long enough to grab Dobby while Hermione stayed behind to maintain the Room. Then, he and Dobby left down a freshly formed tunnel to the outskirts of Hogsmeade and then popped away.
-HPCOD-
"Rockeater should be here momentarily Heir Potter," said Bonecrusher. "He manages the Black Family Accounts."
"Good" Harry replied. "While we wait, do you have the items that we discussed over owl?"
"Yes. The large boulder was easy enough, even one of that size, for us to shape and cut to the appropriate forms." Bonecrusher then handed Harry a piece of what looked like glass, covered in runes that all glowed with barely restrained power. "This is an example...a proof of concept if you will of the other thing you wanted…"
"But?" Harry asked, sensing a problem.
"You are not yet legally Lord Potter or Lord Emrys. Its price far exceeds the amount that you can withdraw without full access. You cannot get that without becoming a Lord in every sense, the Family Vaults will not accept you, so your order must be paused until you are at least seventeen."
"Unless I have another source of income" Harry pointed out.
"It would have to be a rather large one. Why, do you?"
"First, answer a question of mine. If you slay a creature, is it then yours to do with as you please?" Harry avoided the question and then asked another "If so, could you give me a rough guide on pricing a rare and dangerous one?"
"Of course it is, that dates back to the early days of the Wizard's Council. If, for example, an adult dragon carcass was for sale it would conservatively fetch between 15,000 and 35,000 Galleons. A nandu, on the other hand, would be closer to 75,000 and an adolescent basilisk would be around 500,000. The largest of the latter that I'm aware of was 42 feet and it went for 375,000. Please don't try and go kill one of any of them...I rather like you… for a human that is."
"Too late, I already did it." Harry's voice was just a trace smug, especially given the shocked look on Bonecrusher's face. "How about a straight swap?"
"How many dragons and what are their breeds?" Bonecrusher's tone was sharp and abrupt while humouring the young wizard, only to see the teen shake his head.
"How does an adult basilisk sound?" Bonecrusher nearly fainted when Harry spoke those words.
"An Adult? Where is it? How large is it?"
"At least 78 meters I think, sorry I wasn't really measuring it when I was stabbing its mouth with a sword. It's in the Chamber of Secrets, Dobby will let you in if you can get to Hogsmeade and lead you to it."
"How? I thought you had to be a parselmouth to get to it?" Bonecrusher was confused even as he voiced his concern, only having second or third-hand accounts, before Harry, of the boy's second year and conflicting ones at that.
"One tunnel into Hogwarts, a room and then another tunnel. You'll have to wait until 9:30 am on the 24th of November. It would be a very bad idea to start taking anything away before then, too many eyes."
"The First Task?"
"Exactly."
At that moment Rockeater entered and, upon seeing not just the goblin that he expected to see but one of the wealthiest clients to the bank, he had only one thing to say.
"What is going on here?"
"I need," Harry said "to pass a message to your client. Owls will not find him in time and he needs to know…"
"I will not help you arrest my client. That would be very bad for business after all." Rockeater was nearly snarling when he spoke, highly offended at what he thought Harry was asking him to do.
"He is my Godfather. I want him free."
"How?"
"Tell him Amelia Bones, Saint James's Square at 9:30 am on the 24th of November. Tell him that if he wants to be free he should tell no one about this. Say to him that it is not a trap...so says the son of Prongs, pranksters honour. Once you have done that, what he does next is up to him."
Harry smiled and then turned back to Bonecrusher. "I have been gone too long already. I have to go, before I am missed."
With that, he nodded at the two and Dobby silently popped into the room and took him away.
The abrupt nature of his departure, far from offending the goblins actually went a small way to endear him to them. They hated flowery speeches and effusive goodbyes as they considered them a waste of breath, time and money.
"So, he is the buyer for so much of our enchanted glass?" Rockeater asked, after glancing at the sample that was now sitting on his colleague's desk.
"Not most of it, all that we can make" Bonecrusher corrected.
"That would bankrupt five Ancient and Noble Houses, no matter the wealth. Such a shame when the wizards are stupid with their money" Rockeater said, although he didn't sound sad more… satisfied.
"That is not the case, he has a plan. He also has two very good advisors."
"It's not just the glass then?" Rockeater was intrigued, despite his usual disdain for the majority of wizards.
"It's not, no" Bonecrusher replied though, from his tone at that moment, Rockeater couldn't tell whether that was a good thing or a bad one.
Only time would tell and she would do it at her own pace.