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The weeks flew by and before they knew it, it was time for finals. The end of year exams went by quickly and easily for the New Marauders. They worked hard to come up with just the perfect end-of-year prank. They came up with the perfect idea that would also give a little gift to each of their fellow students and the staff. They worked hard on it all weekend long, to make sure everything would be ready for the leaving feast. Remus and Sirius checked their work with great admiration.
On the last night of finals, three days before the leaving feast, the Headmaster seemed to lose his absolute last marble.
The Headmaster had supposedly been out of the castle for the last 24 hours, when he suddenly burst into the Great Hall, looking ragged.
"Harry! What did you do with it? We found Mr. Weasley and Mr. Finnegan. They'll survive, thank gods. They said you weren't with them and that Quirrell had just gone mad but I don't believe it. Where is it?" Dumbledore shouted. He thought he was asking calmly but he was absolutely wrong.
He finally reached Harry and grabbed the boy up out of his seat. "Where is it?" the Headmaster practically bellowed.
Dumbledore suddenly yelped and dropped Harry. Flitwick moved between Harry and the crazed man.
"What do you mean by this, Headmaster? Your behavior has truly crossed the line this time!" Flitwick shouted.
"The boy's a thief. He stole my stone! He also killed one of his professors! This calls for a full summer of in-school suspension!" Dumbledore shouted, brandishing his wand. Harry didn't waste any time. He disarmed the headmaster just as Flitwick blasted the man away. Splinters of wood fell all around them. Harry turned and handed the wand quickly to Dudley. Dudley hid it away in his sock, quick as a dickens.
"What is going on here?" screamed a viciously angry voice. Harry looked up to see Lucius Malfoy leading a group of people, including Harry's Regent, into the room.
Harry ran to Andromeda. "He tried to kill me!" Harry cried.
Andromeda literally growled. She sounded more vicious than Padfoot ever had. Flitwick didn't take his eyes off the unconscious Headmaster. Poppy Pomfrey rushed forward to check on the man. She cast a few spells.
"He'll be physically okay but I wonder about his mental health," said Poppy. "His behavior has been a bit erratic lately," she said, grossly underestimating the situation.
"Would someone care to explain?" asked the cultured voice of Lucius Malfoy.
Flitwick answered. "The Headmaster has been harassing and disparaging Mr. Potter all year long. He has finally snapped and physically attacked the boy, as well. I won't have it!"
Lucius looked at Harry. "Mr. Potter has already contacted me about the Headmaster's behavior. That's why the board arrived today, to further investigate. I think no further investigation is warranted," said Lucius, mildly. The rest of the board looked nervous.
"Perhaps we should hear Albus' side of things?" asked Augusta Longbottom. It certainly looked like a dire situation to her.
"Let's take this to the Headmaster's office. Heir Potter? Would you join us?" asked Lucius. Harry clung to Andromeda but agreed. Dudley didn't even ask, he just got up and followed. The girl's wanted to do the same but Professor Flitwick stopped them.
"Please, ladies. I ask that you go wait in Mr. Potter's rooms. I'll have him back to you as soon as possible," said Professor Flitwick, gently. Hermione and Daphne clung to one another but agreed. They knew Harry and Dudley would tell them everything.
Draco wasn't about to be left behind. He hurried to catch up with his father. No one dared say a word.
They made it to Headmaster Dumbledore's office before he was revived. He sat up with a jolt.
"My wand!" he cried. All he remembered was his special wand flying out of his hand and splintering wood hitting him in the face. He hoped that didn't mean what he thought it meant.
"It's gone, Professor," said Madame Pomfrey, as she pulled splinters from his hands. Professor Flitwick knew she was wrong but he had no intention of telling the Headmaster. He had suspected for some time that the Headmaster might be the wielder of the fabled elder wand. If Mr. Potter was now that wand's master, all the better. Flitwick planned to speak to Harry about it as soon as he left this debacle behind.
"No!" Dumbledore said, but he knew it was true. He could always feel the elder wand before. It pulsed and sung power into his blood. He felt weaker just from the loss of it.
"Would you care to explain what happened in the Great Hall today, Headmaster?" asked Lucius, commandingly. Dumbledore looked up and noticed the entire board of governors sitting in his office. Lucius Malfoy sitting with Harry Potter on one side and his own son on the other gave Dumbledore quite the start.
"You've gone dark, Harry. Look at the company you keep! I'm so disappointed in you," said Dumbledore.
"How dare you, sir!" yelled Andromeda. "You will apologize for making such wild accusations against a child right now!"
"I will not! My word is law," said Dumbledore, puffing up. The school board members exchanged looks.
"You're the law? I thought the Wizengamot was the law? Even they require a trial to declare someone a dark wizard," said Lucius, mildly.
"You would know, wouldn't you?" said Dumbledore, nastily. Everyone gasped.
"Albus! I can't believe you!" said Elphias Doge, one of Albus' oldest friends.
Albus realized he might have overstepped. He wouldn't back down though. He decided to turn the tide of attention.
"Where is the stone, Harry? I know you have it," asked Dumbledore, accusingly. "You're the only student who could defeat Professor Quirrell. He was dead on the floor when I found him. The spirit possessing him had abandoned him. You caused his death," accused Dumbledore. Everyone gasped and started muttering.
"Professor Quirrell is dead? Where is he?" asked Poppy, alarmed. She dropped Albus' arm and stood up. He winced as the splinters dug further into his flesh.
"He can't be helped now, Poppy. No, I vanished his body. It's best for the school if we never speak of this again," said Dumbledore.
"You vanished a dead professor's body?" asked Augusta Longbottom, alarmed.
"Yes, it was too late to save him and I knew what caused his death. Harry," said Dumbledore, turning his attention back to Harry.
"Mr. Potter has been in classes all day. I saw Quirinius after dinner last night. Mr. Potter went to his rooms straight after dinner and spent the entire night there. He was there at bed check and I saw him again before he left for breakfast this morning. He has been accounted for the entire time. You, however, have not," said Flitwick, accusingly.
"I can assure you, I had nothing to do with this. It's Harry that has the stone. Search his dorm and his pockets. You'll find it and I will be vindicated," Dumbledore said, puffing out his chest.
"What stone?" asked Griselda Marchbanks.
"The philosopher's stone. It's been … on loan to Hogwarts this year. I've been guarding it on the third floor. It's now gone. I found a fake in its place," said the Headmaster.
"You've had a dangerous magical artifact in a school full of children? With my child? A dangerous magical artifact that thieves and murders would love to acquire?" asked Lucius Malfoy, dangerously.
Albus realized he might have made an error in allowing so much information out. He reached for the elder wand, preparing to do a memory charm on the whole lot of them when he remembered it was gone. Drat!
"Erm. It was perfectly safe; I can assure you. There were many protections on the stone and no one knew it was here. Everything was perfectly safe," assured Dumbledore.
"He told us during the opening feast that anyone who wanted to avoid a painful death should avoid the third-floor corridor," said Draco.
"There's a Cerberus behind the door on the third floor," said Dudley. Dumbledore pointed at him and shouted.
"See! They have the stone!"
"Everyone knows about the Cerberus on the third floor," said Flitwick, scathingly. "It's a school full of children. You told them not to go there. It's the first thing most of them did, including Mr. Weasley and Mr. Finnegan. Why aren't they being accused of thievery and murder? They were actually found at the scene of the supposed crime," said Flitwick, angrily.
"That is a valid question, Headmaster," said Lucius, smirking at the thought of one of the Headmaster's pet families in potentially serious trouble.
Dumbledore seemed to realize it, too. "They are but boys. They just went along with their friend on an adventure. Harry is the one that led them into danger. I just know it."
"Where did you find the boys?" asked Griselda.
"I found them with the Poisonous Poppies," said Dumbledore, like that meant anything to the rest of the group. Harry and Dudley exchanged glances. Those two bully boys didn't make it far at all.
"You have Poisonous Poppies inside the school?" shouted Flitwick at the same time Madame Pomfrey shouted, "Where are they? They'll die without treatment. It's called POISONOUS for a reason!"
Dumbledore flinched. He didn't mean to let so much out. He had actually left the boys there. He didn't want to say so with so many people here.
"Never mind," said Poppy, viciously. "Tweak!" A small house elf in a Hogwarts pillowcase popped into the room.
"Please, find Mr. Ron Weasley and Mr. Seamus Finnegan and pop them straight to the infirmary. They're probably on the forbidden third floor corridor still," she said, giving the Headmaster the evil eye. Tweak looked at the floor for a minute.
"They is being in a chamber under the third floor, Missy Poppy. Should Tweak be getting them?" the elf asked.
"Please. Hurry!" she said, then she hurried to the Headmaster's floo and took off for the infirmary.
The board members were all murmuring now. Flitwick ignored them. He went over to the fireplace and threw in some floo powder. He called the DMLE and requested an Auror response at Hogwarts. Just a few moments later, the floo opened up again and three red robed Aurors stepped out.
Dumbledore grimaced when Amelia Bones was with Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor Moody.
"What's the emergency?" Amelia asked, wand out and ready.
"We have a dead Professor on the third floor. Use caution. There are several traps laid. If you find Minerva, she can lead you through them," said Professor Flitwick. Amelia looked unflapped.
"Right. Why are there traps on the third floor of a school?" Amelia asked.
"Because the Headmaster deemed the school a fortress fit to house the philosopher's stone," said Lucius, drolly. Amelia turned angry eyes on Headmaster Dumbledore.
"Why?" she barked out. The Headmaster didn't answer.
"Did I mention the stone has vanished and the Headmaster has already vanished the professor's body?" asked Lucius. The meeting broke up at that point as it turned into a Ministry investigation. Everyone was kicked out of the office so Madame Bones could question Headmaster Dumbledore. It was very official.
Flitwick walked with Harry, Dudley, Draco, and the board members back to the Great Hall.
"I think you have more than proven your case against the Headmaster, Mr. Potter," said Lucius, silkily. "You certainly did not exaggerate your claims." He looked directly at several school board members as he said this. Harry got the hint that these people had made such a suggestion. Harry made sure to memorize their faces and names.
"Too right. I hope you will put this harassment of my client to an end. If not, Heir Potter might be required to take judicial action," hissed Andromeda. The board looked much more uncomfortable now.
"We'll discuss what to do, will that work lad? We'll keep you apprised of what we decide," said Elphias Doge. Harry looked unhappy.
"I promise you, Heir Potter, this matter will not be dropped without consequence. Your esteemed Regent wouldn't let me, even if I wanted to," Lucius said, graciously. Harry looked a little more content with the situation.
"I'm glad you recognize that, Lord Malfoy," Andromeda said, inclining her head to the man. It was the most cordial she'd been to him since they were teenagers.
The board and Andromeda left out the front doors. Draco went down to the dungeons while Flitwick continued on with Harry and Dudley.
"May I cast a Silencing Charm to ensure our privacy?" Professor Flitwick asked. Harry and Dudley agreed.
Flitwick cast a Silencing Charm around them as they walked.
"I saw that you disarmed the Headmaster, Harry. Do you still have his wand?" Flitwick asked.
"Yes, sir," Harry said. Dudley started to reach down and retrieve the wand. Flitwick stopped him.
"No, don't get it out. You are now the master of that wand, Mr. Potter. I believe it to be quite special. Don't let anyone other than your brother see you with that wand, Mr. Potter. People have killed to acquire it in the past," Flitwick said wisely.
"Why is this wand so special, professor?" asked Dudley, confused.
"I believe this wand to be the elder wand from the Tale of the Three Brothers," said Flitwick. Harry and Dudley let their eyes meet. There was that story again. They'd need to read it and remind themselves of the details. "Practice with the wand but don't let anyone see it on your person. They might recognize it. Do you have a wand holster?"
"I do," answered Harry. "I have a spare, as well."
"Good. If I were you, I'd wear it under a concealment charm on my non-dominant arm. It's always good to have a spare. You never know when it will come in handy," advised Flitwick. The boys agreed to do as the professor suggested. They promised to never speak a word of the wand to another person.
The last few days of school passed by in a flurry of gossip. Harry's rooms were searched for the philosopher's stone by the DMLE. No trace of it was found. Harry and Dudley had already sent it home with Betsy, for safe keeping until they could meet with the Flamels.
Harry received a letter from Lord Malfoy the morning of the leaving feast.
"Dear Heir Potter,
It is my pleasure to inform you that the Headmaster has been put on Probation. A High Inquisitor will be present in the school next year to assess the state of the Headmaster, the professors, and the way the school is run. If the Headmaster is found to be unfit, he will be moved into the position of Professor Emeritus for his final year in Hogwarts. Let us both hope the appropriate outcome prevails.
I look forward to seeing you and your brother later this summer for the Wimbledon Wasps game. Draco will owl you with the details.
Regards,
Lord Lucius Malfoy
Chief of the Hogwarts Board of Governors."
Harry read the letter aloud to his friends. Several other students heard the contents and the firestorm of gossip heated up even more. The Headmaster sat at the Head table on his throne, watching the New Marauders with a sour look on his face. All of the students in the Great Hall noticed. Harry didn't care. He just wanted to go home.
The last lazy day of school passed with many students coming to speak with the New Marauders. Many of the students wanted to chat before the summer. Many more students wanted the truth of the gossip spreading around the school. Harry was glad to oblige them both. He had no reason to hide the truth, since hiding the truth would only protect the Mad Headmaster and the students had witnessed many of the episodes first hand anyway.
Finally, it was time for the leaving feast. The train would leave right after breakfast the next morning. The New Marauders couldn't help but grin in anticipation. It was the first prank they had all participated in.
This prank was a combination of Runes and Transfiguration. Remus and Sirius were glad to provide ideas, support, and a final review of the items the group intended to utilize for the prank.
Everyone was enjoying a delicious meal when the main course was whisked away. Before dessert could appear on the table. A great boom boom, boom boom sound started echoing around the room. It sounded like the beat of great drums.
Suddenly a bright light flashed in the room. At the front of the room, the Headmaster turned into a great dryad tree. He started swaying on a non-existent breeze. Everyone else in the hall had their clothes and hair transform into what a troll doll would wear. Giant hairdos that stuck straight up in every color of the rainbow adorned the students and faculty of the hall. Only professors McGonagall and Snape were dressed in gray and black clothes with gray and black hair. The rest of the room was a riot of color.
Music started to play. A rousing, upbeat rendition of "The Sound of Silence" was sung by all the students and the staff, while the Headmaster's branches swayed and shivered to the rhythm of the song. It was kind of beautiful. More than one person had tears in their eyes by the end of the song. It was a great in-your-face to Dumbledore who had called Harry dark, too.
The Headmaster would be stuck in dryad form for the rest of the night, unable to speak, move, or cast magic. Everyone else would have their costumes until bedtime.
After the song ended, each person realized they had a small jewel in their belly button. It was a quartz crystal attached to a bronze pin. An image of the Hogwarts castle was held within each crystal. They were beautiful and inexpensive, as Filantius was able to use cheap quartz crystals and bronze knuts to create the beautiful items. It only cost Harry and Dudley a galleon each to pay for the materials and four more galleons each as payment to Filantius for his excellent work. Everyone was more than pleased.
The colored glass in the windows behind the Head table was transformed temporarily to say, "Best wishes for a mischievous summer from the New Marauders!"
Most of the Professors were quite happy to wish the New Marauders a happy summer of their own. Only Snape, McGonagall, and the truly stuck Headmaster were discontent with the situation. Unfortunately for them, no one cared about their opinions on the matter.
The next morning, Harry and the rest of the New Marauders boarded the train headed for home, a large basket of treats for breakfast and lunch in their hands. Oddment didn't want his favorite students going hungry during their trip.
Harry was happy to see Hagrid on his way to the carriages.
"'Arry! Dudley! I hope ye have a great summer, and ye friends, too," the big man said, looking happy despite his partially melted beard and burned off eyebrows. It reminded Harry to give the big man his final gift for the year before the students left.
"You, as well, Hagrid. We have a final gift for you," said Harry, chivalrously. He handed the man a box and a letter. Hagrid opened the letter first. He let out a shout of joy.
"Ye did it! I don't know how ye did, but bless ye, ye managed it. These're the permits for our dragon reservation!" Hagrid said, shouting joyfully. He just couldn't contain himself.
"And the dragon reserve travel trunk is shrunken in the box. We had it particularly designed for Norwegian Ridgebacks. It will look like a rather large coffee table. We thought you might want to keep it on display. We've also got a lead on another egg, which will hopefully be his mate!" said Dudley, proudly. Hagrid's face looked like it would crack in two from the size of his smile.
"I found out he's actually a she. It's Norberta now," said Hagrid, ever the proud dragon parent.
"Even better. Female eggs are rare, while male eggs are more plentiful. We'll definitely be able to find her a mate. The reserve trunk is large enough for a full flight of dragons!" Harry exclaimed.
Hagrid whooped. He was beside himself with joy. A little lizard head poked its head out of Hagrid's front shirt pocket. Hagrid fed it a dead ferret from another pocket.
"This is Micky. He's me other Dragon," said Hagrid with a grin. It was the baby Komodo Dragon in Hagrid's pocket. Harry laughed to see the happy looking reptile.
"He's right cracker," said Dudley, grinning at the big man. "Maybe we'll need a habitat and a mate for that one, too." Hagrid beamed at Dudley.
"Mayhap we do, at that," said the big man. The New Marauders cooed over the venomous baby lizard for a few moments, then Hagrid helped them into the carriages. They leaned out the windows of the carriage and waved to their giant friend, until he was out of sight.
Harry couldn't help but wonder what the next year of school would bring. He was glad he didn't have to worry about it too much until the end of summer. For now, he was content to spend time with his best friends and rehash their adventures until he could finally get home.
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