Title: Strings of Fate
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: Being raised only by his Aunt, Harry comes to Hogwarts not only knowing about the Wizarding World, but with a kind of training no one at the school is expecting.
Petunia was having a quiet evening, listening to some soothing music on the radio while reading a trashy, bodice ripper romance novel, though the novel was not getting her as worked up as they used to a few years ago. The knock at the door was so unexpected that she, for a moment, did not believe that she had actually hear it. Regardless she stood and went to the door, opening it to reveal a tired and stressed looking Amelia Bones, dressed in a nice but casual Muggle style dress.
"Ami?" Petunia asked in shock. "Are you alright?
"Not in the least, Nia." Amelia replied. "Not in the least."
"What happened?" Petunia asked as she led Amelia into the living room.
Amelia just shook her head as she sat on the couch next to Petunia. After a few moments Amelia began to slowly sob and Petunia put her arm around Amelia's shoulders. An hour later, Petunia helped a still sobbing Amelia up to Petunia's own bed and they both went to sleep with Amelia clinging to Petunia's side.
"Harry!" Gwen exclaimed as he entered with a few of his friends. "Oh, your friends!"
The teenage looking girl ran up and began giving them Hugs, starting with Hermione. Hannah, Susan, Padma and Luna looked at the girl in the all black Hogwarts uniform.
"Harry, who is this?" Hermione asked, as Gwen moved from her to Hannah.
"Girls, this is Gwen." Harry said, as Gwen moved from Hannah to Susan. "She is Hogwarts."
Luna was bouncing as Gwen hugged Padma, so when the personification of the Castle released the Indian girl Luna jumped forward and gave Gwen a hug instead of waiting for Gwen to hug her.
"She is Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Yep." Harry said, "Apparently our connection was sufficient to allow her to appear like this. For now, she is restricted to this room but later she will be able to roam the Castle… herself… out there."
While the other girls stood trying to process the fact that they were looking at a girl that was the Castle, Luna was running around and laughing with Gwen, with bright looks on both girls faces.
"I though you said she mostly told you dirty jokes?" Susan whispered in a low voice.
"Yeah!" Gwen said brightly. "I got one. There once was a girl from…."
"NO!" Harry cut her off.
"Can I have a kiss instead?" Gwen asked with an innocent look that fooled no one.
"Oh, are we doing kisses?" Luna asked, before leaning in and kissing Gwen on the cheek.
With a giggle, the blonde ran around and kissed everyone else on the cheek too. Gwen followed her lead, kissing the cheek of the other girls but when she got to Harry, she tried to kiss him on the lips, but he deliberately turned his head and tapped his cheek, so Gwen pouted and kissed him there. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Susan, Hermione, Padma and a blushing red Hannah also kissed Harry on the cheek.
"Now each other." Luna said, again bouncing with excitement.
"Luna, I think that's enough." Harry said, seeing how nervous it was making the other girls.
"Oh poo." Luna pouted.
Professor Dumbledore stood at the podium in front of the Staff Table, which was usually only there for the start of year and end of year feasts. As it was only early December, the presence of the podium caused the students to sit quietly once they entered the Hall, as it indicated something strange was going on, even for Hogwarts.
"As you are all aware, we have recently been playing Host to a number of Aurors and other DMLE personnel in order to resolve the issue of the attacks that had left three individuals petrified." Dumbledore began. "The situation has been resolved, but a significant issue has been discovered. A significant number of you have had items confiscated from their rooms by the DMLE. Quite a number of these items were illegal enough to warrant a several months stay in Azkaban, others were quite a bit more serious."
A shocked and, in some cases, angry hush fell over the hall, with a few of the students looking around nervously.
"As the primary focus of the investigation was stopping the petrifications, Director Bones had decided that no charge will be laid this time, though all confiscated item have been destroyed. In order to prevent this ever happening again, from now on there will be a permanent DMLE presence here at Hogwarts. Some of you may remember Senior Auror Proudfoot, who will be temporarily leading the DMLE presence until its first Commander is appointed. From this point forward, all contraband searches and any serious matters, such as violence against other students, will now be dealt with by the DMLE. Don't even try to get a Teacher to interfere, as none of us will."
As Dumbledore went to sit back in his regular chair, he idly wondered how long it would take for one of the students to get into serious trouble with the DMLE. Ten minutes later, he realised that he had more immediate issues than the students when the doors to the Great Hall burst open and seven of the nine members of the Board of Governors walked in, led by Lucius Malfoy.
"Dumbledore, you've gone too far." Lucius called out. "The Board did not approve a DMLE presence at Hogwarts. Remove them immediately."
"Of course." Dumbledore replied. "Senior Auror Proudfoot. Seeing as the Board has overturned the agreement with Director Bones, please proceed with arresting the relevant students."
"Fine." Proudfoot replied. "Draco Malfoy. You are under arrest for forty-seven counts of possession of Class 12 forbidden items. Each count has a penalty of nine months in Azkaban. Marcus Flint. You are under arrest on twenty-thr…."
"What is the meaning of this, Dumbledore?" Lucius asked.
"As I just finished explaining to the students, there was a lot of highly illegal contraband confiscated in the recent DMLE investigation into the petrification issue, when they were alerted by Director Bones' Niece." Dumbledore replied. "Director Bones decided that, so long as there was a DMLE presence to prevent such illegal and dangerous items getting into Hogwarts, she would not press charges. Thanks to your order to remove the DMLE presence, I'm afraid that deal is no longer valid and seventy-six students will now have to spend time in Azkaban. It is regrettable. Auror Proudfoot, please continue."
"Wait!" Lucius called out.
Dumbledore struggled to hide his smile. He knew that there was no way Lucius was going to let his Heir go to Azkaban for 35 plus years, and the rest of the Board there would not let themselves go down in history as the men who turned Hogwarts from one of the most respected Magical Schools in the world into a laughingstock and breeding ground for stupid criminals.
After a brief whispered conversation amongst the Board Members, Lucius finally turned to address Dumbledore.
"Fine. They can stay." He announced.
The Board Members turned and walked out. Dumbledore simply nodded to Proudfoot, who nodded back and left the hall. Draco Malfoy and Marcus Flint breathed a sigh of relief.
TBC…