Hermione regretted to think that the werewolf was having her on as she gained a thousand mile stare at the loud proclamations the Daily Prophet made. It presented the content of the two letters as they were fact. The unknown but clearly acknowledged Black Heiress was pregnant with the next Potter Heiress, a girl who would be named Lily in honour of her grandmother.
The paper speculated that her middle name could potentially contain a constellation name as Campione Potter clearly was still in discussion about potential baby names with his fiancee. It then shifted gears towards Hermione wondering if the girl was just playing along to cover for the Black Heiress. It rejected the speculation that she might actually be the heiress as they had dived into her family tree.
Hermione dearly hoped that her parents were not accosted. If they were, Harry would be in the market for a new girlfriend who could put up with that nonsense. "Harry. I am borrowing Hedwig. If there is but a single reporter who bothered my parents it's over between us." she informed the boy who flinched in surprise and gave her a wide-eyed look. He thought better of objecting after opening his mouth once.
As Hermione stomped off Harry picked up the newsletter to assess the damage. The amusement that kept his spirits high yesterday was all gone with the wind. He could barely muster a twitch of a smile as the paper continued to list other possible candidates. Harry recognized some names like Nymphadora Tonks while others left his head scratching as he'd at least expected the girl to attend Hogwarts.
For the ones that were attending Hogwarts like Daphne Greengrass, as the story sidestepped to describe a possible lurid tale between a known playboy and prim and proper pureblood wife during the dark times as Daphne's father was suspected to hold ties with the Death Eaters. How it happened ranged between a romantic encounter to a spionage effort by both sides.
Harry hoped the Slytherin young woman would not try to curse his precious off. Momentarily forgetting that the spell selection still effective to him was rather limited. It took the entire front page to present the Daily Prophet's expert opinions about him before it cheerfully went on to the second page about who the mysterious woman could be that would 'tie down' Sirius, the former Azkaban prisoner.
Although that part of the article took only half the page, leaving the rest for more real news Harry was surprised at the names thrown around and how the woman supposedly tied down Sirius. 'I hope no-one gets inspired by this to try.' Harry thought with a shiver going up his spine. He glanced to the head table to see a couple of speculative glances being returned. 'Oh Merlin… surely they do not believe it?' he begged inwardly. Harry wished he could slay his regrets like he could slay heretic gods.
'Okay. I'd best get a school owl and tell Sirius this has gotten waaaay out of hand with just two howlers. Maybe I should send Remus a letter as well?' "Is it true Harry?" Ginny of all people asked as she stumbled towards him. The hall instantly seemed to fall silent. "It's the Daily Prophet Ginny. A prank from Sirius and my retaliation have gotten way out of hand." Harry explained as clearly as he could. He knew now well enough that a flat 'no' would be taken as a 'yes'.
He was a bit worried at how relieved Ginny was at his explanation. A pair of twins predictably erupted in howls of laughter. "You pranked the world Harry!" One of them shouted. "I pranked Sirius, the world picked it up and ran with it." Harry corrected dryly. He had the feeling the twins would selectively ignore that fact. Or that it started from an utter misunderstanding to start with.
Harry finished up quickly and headed towards the Owlery before anyone else could ask him questions if it was true, who the Black Heiress was. Or the worst, an innocent firstie asking if the wedding would be in public. It was that the girl from Hufflepuff or otherwise Harry would have shouted at the twins for setting it up and using a little girl like her like that.
He wasn't sure what to think that an eleven year old decided he'd be equal to the muggle royalty she was more used to. He really hoped that no-one expected his future wedding to be on the same scale or a royal one. 'Maybe that is why all the other 'kings' turned tyrannical? No expectation for fanfare if everyone is afraid you'd stab them to death because you can.'
He shook off the thoughts tempting him to the dark side. Once he arrived at the Owlery he realised he hadn't brought anything to write on or write with. "Oh damn it." he said to himself. "Did you forget this?" Cressida asked seemingly out of the blue, offering him a quill and parchment. Harry was surprised he didn't jump, he had subconsciously expected the woman to be there.
"I did. You are a lifesaver Cressida." he said with a smile that hid the sudden introspection he had gotten used to having non-stop pair shadows in the form of Mia and Cressida. "I don't think Hermione will kill you Harry. In fact I am sure once she calms down she'll turn around and forgive you." Mia assured him. "Really?" Harry asked hopefully as he took the things he needed to send Sirius a normal letter.
"Really." Mia said with a small smile at how ridiculously hopeful Harry had sounded. "Now finish that letter before Sirius gets up to something that changes her mind." Harry was immediately and properly focused on making it absolutely clear that this had gone out of hand. He also, keeping the reaction of a pair of twins in mind, made it transparent that a repeat would mean a certain mutt would go to the vet to get fixed.
Or he'd do it himself after fighting and killing whatever deity had an eunuch making Authority. Harry was not fussy about making such threats despite the considerable risk it came with actually executing it. The school owl barked once and got on its way. Harry stared outside for a moment in the hopes he could spot his white companion Hermione had commandeered for her next letter.
He didn't see her. She had either already sent Hedwig on her way or was still writing a small essay to her parents to describe in deep detail how he had screwed up. He was not sure what he preferred so instead he tried to set his mind to his next lesson. As he stepped out of the owlery he saw a blond girl with rather big eyes in Ravenclaw colours look at him like he was some kind of monster.
Just as he took note of her odd choice of jewelry Mia spoke up. "So you are the girl who has been following us from time to time. What brought you out?" As she said this both girls took a protective position in front of Harry. "I… I need to warn him." the girl whispered just loud enough to hear. "Warn me about what?" Harry asked with a hint of impatience. He took a step back as the girl flinched like an invisible hand had struck her.
Since he couldn't see anything he focused on seeing magic. To his confusion it was his own magic seemingly reaching out to hers. With some mental effort he managed to rein in his own. Unaware of his struggle the Ravenclaw girl replied. "The thrice lived wickedness returns to Arthur's shores once more to seek his dilapidated heritage."
"If you need to warn him. Why did you put it into a riddle?" Mia asked with a frown. "Those are not her own words. I did not see a sign of divine possession however… the fay?" Cressida guessed. Harry came out of his zone just in time to hear the next words and their reaction. "Then you must Luna Lovegood, your father's grandmother was a fayseer as well." Cressida noted factually. Wide eyes and a trembling body gave away that the girl just wanted to run at the information Cressida had just casually revealed.
Harry had no idea what a fayseer was. But it was clear it frightened this 'Luna' greatly to be found out. "Calm down, we are not going to tell anybody you don't want to." he tried to assure her. "Harry, a fay-seer is a very rare branch of seers. Their ability to gain knowledge from the fairy realm is priceless." Cressida objected. "And knowing that she came to us anyway to warn us about something."
"Something? Didn't you hear her?" Mia chided with a frown. "I was too busy to stop my magic from reaching out to her. I have no idea why my magic did that." "Your magic is reacting to mine and is very possessive… it reaches out to Hermione across the entire great hall." Luna answered for him. Harry blinked at the seemingly sentience his magic seemed to hold of him independently. 'Or is it some kind of instinct?'
"Okay… so what did you… fay-see?" he decided to ask while putting the entire 'possessive magic' part out of his mind. Luna dutifully repeated her words before. "Damn… we need to go to the Headmaster. Maybe he knows where it is and we can beat Voldemort to it." He took notice that the girl flinched at the mention of the headmaster. "Don't worry. As far he knows it came from the Witenagemot."
This time his words had some effect. "If you see anything else about him. Could you tell me?" Harry asked, trying not to scare her despite the urgency he felt. "Do I have to?" Luna asked in turn with a bitter tone. Harry's mind stalled however. First he wanted to be upset at her for indirectly helping Voldemort to have a free hand. Yet at the same time her abilities clearly made her fear for herself. 'And she did come forward on her own in the end.'
"I… I can only ask that you do." Harry answered weakly as desires and morales warred inside him. Despite being a slip of a girl Harry felt he was being weighed down by her gaze. "You mean it." she finally decided in a disbelieving tone. "I will… Please do not let anyone know I can see." Luna pleaded with him. "I swear that I will not let anyone know. I'll have another source if anyone asks when there is something I need others to act on. And Cressida and Mia will not let anyone know either." Harry swore, meaning every word.
He finished that statement with a pointed look at Cressida who gave a nod that she understood. He trusted Mia implicitly to follow his command. Luna gave him a searching look. 'Is she communicating with the fay right now?' he wondered as the girl seemed to look far past him through his head.
The young fay-seer gave a sigh with a hint of defeat. "I entrust my freedom to you then, Campione." "You can just call me Harry. And thank you." He answered as solemnly as he could. Whatever she had seen was not great. But if it was for herself or him he could not tell. "If you excuse me. I need to act on what you told me." "May the fates… humbedinges be kind to your endeavours." the girl whispered to his wake.
Harry made a straight line for Dumbledore's office. The few groups of students who saw him immediately made way as it was clear that Harry had a purpose. Behind him they started to whisper just what put him into a fighting mood. It was rather simple as the young man hoped to get to grips with his nemesis and put an end to him. And he'd been just given the opportunity to do so.
He arrived at the entrance at the same time Dumbledore did. "Mister Potter?" the headmaster inquired curiously. "A seer from the Witenagemot has just predicted that he might be coming back." Harry stated bluntly. The old wizard seemed to gain a few years in age as he looked grim. "Please come up." he asked as the Gargoyle leapt out of the way.
"What did this seer foretell?" Dumbledore asked bluntly once they were up the staircase. "The thrice lived wickedness returns to Arthur's shores once more to seek his dilapidated heritage." Cressida answered calmly. Harry mentally thanked the young woman for taking over as it would hopefully reinforce it had come from the Witenagemot.
"The trice lived wickedness…. His original life before he was defeated by you. His first restoration and death followed by the heretic goddess. Then his second revival. And I agree that Tom could be called wicked. His possessions must not be counted by the seer." Headmaster theorized out loud. "As for his dilapidated heritage I have an idea."
"Where?" Harry asked impatiently. His hand grasped for the sword of Gryffindor but instead found air. Mia had removed it from his reach as she thought there was no purpose for him to swing live steel around in his ill temper. It was enough for Harry to reign himself in mentally and focus on the conversation.
"I know where it is. But it appears there is some form of magic that managed to fool my senses." Dumbledore admitted. "I shall deal with it immediately. I do believe you should be in class by now." Harry's expression told Dumbledore all he needed to know what the young Campione thought of that suggestion. He let out a disappointed sigh and conjured his phoenix Patronus.
"Minerva. An issue has cropped up that requires both my attention and that of Campione Potter. Please instruct Miss Granger to take notes on his behalf and that she has his classwork." He calmly told the apparition. With a nod it flew off through the wall. "Since wizarding transports do not work on Campione. Could Miss Layla use the floo and fetch some transportation?"
Cressida nodded once and headed towards the floo. "Hogsmeade is outside the muggle repelling wards and should not be disruptive to technology, correct?" "Quite correct." Dumbledore answered calmly. "Then I shall have a helicopter sent. If you could head to the clearing and wait for it."
She disappeared in a green flash once she got the affirmation. Harry led the way to Hogsmeade using the secret passageways he knew to get there the quickest. As they got close to the village Dumbledore threw around a few illusions and suggested a nearby field. They didn't have to wait long in the windy field as the sun refused to peek through the gray clouds overhead.
As the machine made its noisy approach Dumbledore gained a misty look in his eyes. "The muggles have come far have they not? I was half expecting one of the old biplanes to land." Harry blinked at the headmaster as he was reminded that the man was over a hundred years old. "Have you seen the first planes used in the first world war?" Harry couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
"Yes. Unlike others I always kept an eye out on how the muggle world developed. Many refused in those times to believe that the skies no longer belonged to a witch or wizard on a broom and the other creatures who flew as nature demanded it. In the end however the ICW did act. Forcing legislation for subtle muggle repelling charms on brooms and that airports were no-flying zones with the same penalty as breaking the statute with a wand."
"It will be the first time I actually ride on… is it safe?" he asked as he took a hold of his hat as the downforce of the helicopter sent robes flapping in the wind and threatened to steal the headmaster's headgear. Dumbledore's long beard flew freely in the hurricane of wind. "I think so!" Harry shouted over the noise. He led the way when the craft had set down and Cressida waved them in with a bulky headset covering her ears.
They piled on the craft to find that aside from the pilot and co-pilot. They also had a Royal Air Force lieutenant and Witenagemot to greet them with extra headsets. Once the headset was on that allowed it to communicate slightly as the craft took the air again with the corresponding amount of noise. "Campione... Potter? Where do you need to go?" "Little Hangleton, Yorkshire." Dumbledore replied unsurely as he fiddled with the bulky headset that did not agree with his pointy hat.
Harry was secretly glad that Cressida had apparently succeeded in letting the Witenagemot believe someone else had provided the knowledge they were acting on and that no awkward questions were asked. The RAF officer whipped out a map and soon started to pass on direction to the pair of pilots who then in turn refined their course.
"So… can I ask why a ch… young man and an old wizard needs to be brought somewhere ASAP?" The officer asked cautiously once the helicopter was pointed in the right direction and was on its way. Dumbledore who was still fighting to get the headset properly on his head as it did not agree with his hat. "There is an artifact of a dark lord that needs to be destroyed. However we cannot bring it to Mount Doom, so we bring Mount Doom to it."
"Mount Doom?.. Tolkien?" The man was surprised at the reference. "Quite a nice man. I encountered him by chance in the trenches as I was inspecting the poppy blooming around the shell-hole ridden fields in Flanders." Dumbledore noted distractedly as he struggled with the headset. "... is Gandalf based on you?" Mia asked disbelievingly. "He strongly denies it. We kept loose contact after I impressed the importance of the statute of secrecy as I suspected he was a squib, and thus saw through my illusions."
Harry being the literary barbarian he was had no idea who Tolkien was. He could tell from the less barbaric folk that this apparently a surprising bit of detail from the life of a man who lived over a hundred years. "You were inspecting the poppy popping up in no-man's land?" The officer decided to ask, confused.
Dumbledore looked saddened as memories seemed to come to him. "Yes. The ICW was confused and deemed it unnatural, thus it was something that should be hidden. Folly if you ask me yet I was selected to inspect the British fronts." he shook his head. "Most claim that my preference for pacifism was formed during the Grindelwald conflict. They are wrong. It was the cruelty of trench warfare that made me believe that war is not the way."
A solemn silence fell over the noise the machine made. "Well sir. We'll get you there and I'll be there every step along the way." The officer said solemnly. "I see our kingdom still makes our military men as brave as then." Dumbledore noted with a conflicted expression. Moving away from the memories the conversation had invoked, the old wizard turned his attention on what he knew of the Shack.
Harry listened in on the scarce knowledge Dumbledore shared but the only thing it really did was get his blood pumping for action. For the young Campione it was almost a test of endurance not to throw caution into the wind, jump out of the aircraft and summon Victoria to charge ahead. He knew from his night flight experiences it would not drain his reserves overly much.
Yet he endured as he believed that Dumbledore had a reason for asking support from the Witenagemot. "But what is this figurative ring?" the Witenagemot member's question snapped Harry out of his brooding. "A very dark item that can give the Dark Lord a boost in power. As he fought and lost against an heretic entity it makes sense he now moves to recover."
"Good thing the bad guy did not bother to pick it up before." the officer noted. "I suspect he had his reasons to believe he could keep it in reserve." Dumbledore explained easily. Harry had to admit the man knew how to dance around the elephant in the room only they knew about.