Chapter 3
Monday, September 11, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
The big shock of the day had been Educational Decree Twenty-Three: the appointment of Umbridge as High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. Ron's brother Percy had been liberally quoted in the Daily Prophet article announcing the move, something Ron had been clued into by a letter from Percy the night before.
Unfortunately, when the letter arrived, Harry, Hermione, Katie, and Neville had all been in the library studying. Even more unfortunately, Ron had thought his brother a "daft git" for suggesting in the letter that he should no longer be friends with Harry, and had ripped the letter up and tossed it in the fire before the others had got back from the library, then promptly forgot about it.
Harry, Katie, Hermione, and Neville had learned of the letter after the arrival of the Daily Prophet that morning, which set off a chain reaction that included Hermione being put out about Ron's lack of foresight. Ron then, was put out about Hermione's attitude, and left breakfast in a huff, leaving the others behind.
This had the effect of delaying Ron learning of Harry and Katie's romantic entanglement even further, and Harry hadn't had a chance to bring it up until dinnertime. By then the talk of the table was Umbridge's inspections. She'd already sat in on Flitwick's class with the seventh year Gryffindors, and Trelawney's class with the fifth year Gryffindors. Harry had also managed to get another week's worth of detentions with Umbridge.
"I can't believe you got another week of detentions!" Angelina practically shouted at him before dinner.
"It'll be the last time, I promise," Harry said firmly from his seat between Katie and Ron. Hermione and Leanne watched from across the table.
"It'd better be," Angelina said, poking him in the chest. "I need you at practice, not being tortured by the pink toad."
"I'm not talking to her anymore," Harry promised. "I don't care what she says, I'm not responding, except for 'yes,' 'no,' and 'I don't know.' If she brings up Voldemort, I'll play the good boy, like I've learnt my lesson."
"See that you do," Angelina said before turning to stomp off.
"Wait!" Harry said, suddenly having an idea. Angelina turned back. "Look, we both know that Umbridge has it out for me, and I'm bound to get detention again, regardless of how much I try to stay out of it. Why don't you get some reserve players, just in case?"
"You mean to play when you can't," Angelina shot back.
"Well, yeah, but also, you lot'll be gone next year, and Katie or I will have to start from scratch unless we start training the next set of chasers and beaters now," Harry pointed out. Angelina nodded, and left without a word.
Harry turned to Ron and was about to tell him about his new relationship with Katie when Dumbledore entered with a girl Harry had never seen before. This wouldn't have been odd in and of itself, but this particular girl appeared to be about Harry's age and was wearing Gryffindor robes. She was blonde with big blue eyes. She was of average height and build.
"Who's that?" Ron asked, having seen where Harry was looking.
"Dunno," Harry replied, watching Dumbledore lead her to the front of the room.
"If I may have your attention for a brief moment," Dumbledore said, placing his arm around the girl. The noise in the hall dropped off quickly, as everyone's attention became fixed on the unusual announcement. "I'd like to present Dora Thompson. Miss Thompson recently returned to Britain from Australia with her parents and has been enrolled here to complete her education. She was sorted earlier today and will be joining the fifth year Gryffindors. Please make Miss Thompson feel at home. Thank you." When he stopped speaking, the food appeared.
"That's odd," Ron said as the new girl approached the Gryffindors. She walked down the table until she got to Harry's group. Ron started filling his plate.
"Is this seat taken?" she asked, indicating the spot next to Hermione, who was filling her own plate.
"No," Hermione replied, putting her silverware down. "You're welcome to it. I'm Hermione."
"Dora," the girl said, sitting. From across the table Ron was practically drooling. Dora ignored him and glanced around. Harry's group was sitting at the end of the table. Past Katie and Leanne were the Weasley twins and the other chasers. Dora looked at Harry. "Are they cool?" she asked, indicating Katie, Leanne, and the others, who were all busy either serving themselves or eating.
"Yeah," Harry shrugged. "This is Katie, that's Leanne, Hermione you've met, and this is Ron." He went around the table. "Over there are Fred and George and Alicia and Angelina. They're seventh years. Katie and Leanne are sixth years, and we're fifth years."
"No, you twit," Dora grated. "I mean, can they be trusted?"
"Yeah?" Harry replied, confused, fork halfway to his mouth.
"So, if I were to say… Wotcher, Harry," Dora said. Harry grinned, careful to keep his mouth closed so the green beans wouldn't fall out. Ron's jaw dropped, along with a piece of roasted potato he'd been chewing. Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Oh, yeah," Harry nodded. "They're cool. Katie's the one who suggested writing to your boss. I assume that's why you're here?"
"Wow, smart and sexy," the now revealed Tonks winked at him.
"Watch it," Katie growled. "He's mine."
"Woah, woah," Harry said, turning to Katie. "It's not like that." He leaned in and whispered. "This is Auror Nymphadora Tonks." Tonks shot Harry a dirty look at the mention of her full name. "She's a metamorphmagus. Hermione, Ron, and I met her over the summer. The twins know her too. She's like twenty-something. She doesn't really fancy me, that's just how she is."
"Oh," Katie said, relaxing. "Well, that's alright then." She turned to Tonks. "Hi, I'm Katie. Sorry about that. I just nabbed this one, and I don't want him getting away." Ron frowned, as though he was trying to piece what he'd just heard together.
"So, Harry's got a bird," Tonks crowed. "Wait until the Order hears!"
"Harry?" Ron asked. "Something you'd like to tell me?"
"Sorry Ron," Harry said. "I've been meaning to tell you since it happened. Katie's my girlfriend."
"When did that happen?" Ron asked, surprised.
"After practice on Saturday," Harry revealed.
"It took you two days to tell your best mate that you and Katie are dating?" Ron asked, perturbed.
"I said sorry," Harry pleaded. "After practice you ran off and were busy with Dean and Seamus. Then we were studying in the library. Yesterday I had an errand to run, and then more studying. Today… well, you know what happened today."
"Yeah, yeah," Ron said. "Still, you should've told me earlier. I could've gotten you a list of some prime broom cupboards from Seamus. He knows all the good ones."
"How would you know? Who have you been going into broom cupboards with?" Hermione asked, incredulous and disgusted at the same time.
"I haven't, but Seamus swears by 'em," Ron replied.
"Who's he been going into broom cupboards with?" Harry wondered.
"Lavender and Parvati," Hermione supplied. Of course she knew all about their exploits. Harry knew they never shut up about what they did.
"And Sally-Anne too, from Gryffindor," Ron agreed, then added, "plus Sophie Roper and Megan Jones from Hufflepuff, and Mandy Brocklehurst and Lisa Turpin from Ravenclaw."
"What? No Slytherins?" Tonks snorted. "Didn't realize piggish lotharios were also such house snobs."
"Not even Seamus would touch a snake!" Ron protested.
"I did," Tonks revealed as she served herself some lamb. "Ricky Shafiq. He was a pretty good bloke: strong jaw, piercing grey eyes, and dirty blonde hair with a classic wave to it. Merlin, he was the whole package."
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
"His mates found out, and they made him break up with me," Tonks explained. "We never got farther than a little over-the-clothes groping, but his hands..." She trailed off, remembering. "Mmmm..."
"So..." Harry redirected, filling a silence that had grown uncomfortably long. "You're here to investigate my claim that the pink toad's illegally torturing students with blood quills." It wasn't a question.
"Well, Bonesy had your memory evidence," Tonks allowed. "So, we know she's done it. What I'm here to do is collect more evidence, and if necessary, arrest her."
"How are you going to do that?" Harry asked.
"First, we need to get you into detention with her again," Tonks said, then finally took her first bite of food.
"Done," Harry said dejectedly. "I've got another week of the bloody things with Umbridge."
"That simplifies things," Tonks said around a mouthful of potatoes. "Sit it tonight. Let me know if she uses the blood quill. If she does, I'll morph into you tomorrow night and sit the detention for you. Then she'll have multiple counts of use to face. You'll have to tell me how big your willy is so I can get that bit right, though." She grinned at him. Harry sighed and shook his head.
"So, what, you sit the detention, then tell Madam Bones?" Hermione asked, shifting the subject.
"Eventually," Tonks nodded. "I can't leave until the weekend, so I'll pop off on Saturday and catch her at home. Less witnesses that way. Less chance of Fudge finding out about the investigation."
"Why can't you just owl her?" Katie wanted to know.
"Can't tell when the owl will arrive," Tonks listed off. "Plus, it's unsecure. Same problem with floo calls and patronus communication. Plus, every time she makes Harry use the quill, that's another count against her."
"That's quite shrewd," Hermione observed.
"A quality we encourage in our students," Dumbledore observed as he came up behind her. "Good evening, Miss Granger."
"Good evening, Professor," Hermione replied. Then Dumbledore turned to Harry.
"Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. "If you're through with dinner, I'd like you to meet with me in my office. I've received some rather interesting correspondence from Gringotts concerning you."
"My emancipation," Harry nodded. He'd been expecting this.
"Yes," Dumbledore confirmed. "I'd like to discuss the ramifications of what has happened. Are you done with dinner?"
"Yes, Professor," Harry said, standing. "I'll catch up with you guys in the common room later."
"Don't forget your detention," Tonks said lightly as he left. Without another word Harry followed Dumbledore up to his office. Once inside, Dumbledore had Harry sit. The office looked like it always had. The whirring devices on the shelves emitted puffs of smoke, and the dozing portraits snored lightly, providing an undercurrent of background noise. Through the window, the setting sun painted the grey stone walls orange.
"Did Billhook discuss the ramifications of your emancipation with you, Harry?" Dumbledore asked kindly.
"A bit," Harry replied. "He said that I'd be able to access all the vaults and do some investing."
"Did he mention the Wizengamot?"
"No, but Neville did," Harry informed him. "He said I had some seats."
"You do," Dumbledore confirmed. "I've held them in proxy for you since 1981. Now that you are emancipated you can take them up, and attend sessions, or you can appoint a different proxy." Harry opened his mouth, but Dumbledore wasn't done. "You do not have to decide right away. The next meeting of the Wizengamot is not until mid-October. If you choose to take up your seats, you will need to inform Wizengamot Administrative Services. They will provide you with information on upcoming legislation and dates you will be required to sit in judgement for judicial cases."
"That sounds time consuming," Harry observed.
"It is a true responsibility," Dumbledore agreed, then he changed tack. "The Wizengamot was not my primary reason for asking you here, though. I would like to discuss your living arrangements going forward."
"You want me to go back to my relatives in the summer," Harry guessed.
"I do," Dumbledore nodded sadly. "I realize that you do not get along with them, but it is imperative that you recharge the wards, for your safety and theirs."
"Billhook mentioned that. What sort of wards are they?" Harry asked.
"The wards I erected around your Aunt's home I constructed based on your mother's love… her sacrifice," Dumbledore explained. "Your blood was key, as in your veins flows the blood of your mother, who sacrificed herself because of her love for you. This is an ancient magic. Your Aunt shares that blood..."
"She doesn't love me," Harry interrupted. "She hates me."
"She may be bitter," Dumbledore replied, "but she took you in, sealing the charm. Once sealed, the wards have been established. The bond of blood made it nigh unbreakable. Her blood became your refuge. You need return there only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, whilst you are there, he cannot hurt you."
"So, the wards are based on blood?" Harry asked.
"At their most basic level," Dumbledore acknowledged. Harry's brow furrowed and he was silent for a moment.
"Does that mean that the wards won't work against Voldemort?" he asked finally. "He used my blood for the ritual. He has my blood in him." That realization gave Dumbledore pause, and he thought on the matter for quite some time. Harry began to fidget.
"Perhaps," Dumbledore allowed. "I do not know. It will continue to work against Death Eaters, though. If Voldemort can get through, only he may do so, so the wards are still important."
"I understand," Harry nodded, resigned. He'd be returning to the Dursleys for at least another two years.
"Now, there are some positives that have arisen from your emancipation," Dumbledore said, brightening. Harry waited patiently for Dumbledore to explain. "You are now free of the trace and can perform magic outside of school."
"Even though I haven't sat my OWLs yet?" Harry asked.
"Emancipation supersedes OWLs," Dumbledore answered. "As the last of an ancient and noble house, your place in magical society is also assured."
"What does that mean?"
"It means, you could be expelled from Hogwarts before completing your OWLs and your wand and magic would remain yours," Dumbledore told him. "I pray that it would not come to that, however with Professor Umbridge, nothing is certain. What is certain is that, should it come to it, you would be free to complete your education elsewhere, and she would have no say in it." Harry smiled at last.
"That does not mean you should engage her, Harry," Dumbledore continued. "It would be far harder to prepare you for your future should you no longer be a student here. Keep your head down and bite your tongue where Professor Umbridge is concerned."
"But she's breaking the law!" Harry protested. It was Dumbledore's turn to furrow his brow. Harry pressed on. "She forced me to use a blood quill to write lines in detention." Dumbledore looked grave, then sighed.
"Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do," Dumbledore said sadly. "If I were to make any move, the Minister would seek to have me removed, which must not happen."
"Then you can rest easy, sir," Harry informed him brightly. "Susan Bones wrote her aunt about it a few days ago for me. I've supplied a memory of one of the detentions. An investigation is already underway, and you had nothing to do with it." Dumbledore looked briefly shocked, then thoughtful. Finally, he nodded and smiled slightly.
"I believe that is a most effective solution," Dumbledore said at last. "Do you know when the investigator will arrive?"
"She's already here," Harry said, grin widening. "She was just sorted into Gryffindor, though she was a Hufflepuff when she was a student here. I'll have to let Sirius know."
"Ah," Dumbledore said, face blooming with understanding. "Miss Tonks is a highly adaptable individual. I believe this is the perfect assignment for her."
"She said she'd sit my detention tomorrow night to collect more evidence," Harry revealed. "Then she'll report back to Madam Bones this weekend."
"You've already got more detentions?" Dumbledore asked, disappointed, but not surprised.
"Yes, sir," Harry said remorsefully. "Angelina was quite cross with me, as it means I'll not be at quidditch training this week. I've resolved not to rise to her bait anymore. I'll just tune her out. It's not as if she teaches in class anyway. Is there a spell that makes you temporarily deaf?" Harry looked hopefully.
"There is," Dumbledore chuckled. "Simply perform an engorgement charm on your ear canal, and that will render you functionally deaf." Harry nodded gleefully. "A warning, though. It's best to have a friend perform it, as it needs to be targeted accurately, and with the appropriate force. It would be unfortunate if the engorgement were detectable either because your ear was too large, or the canal wall were bulging out of your ear." Harry nodded his acknowledgement.
"Is there anything else?" Dumbledore asked.
"No, sir," Harry said with a head shake.
"Best not keep Professor Umbridge waiting, then," Dumbledore finished gravely.
-oooo-
"That stupid bint!" Harry fumed as he, Ron, Neville, Tonks, and Hermione left Care of Magical Creatures the next afternoon. Umbridge had inspected the class and begun disparaging Hagrid. Fortunately, Harry had briefed Hermione the night before, and as soon as Umbridge had started talking, Hermione had successfully rendered him deaf enough that he didn't hear a word the woman said. Ron had just finished filling Harry in on what she'd said.
"At least you didn't earn more detentions," Neville pointed out. Harry had begun to include Neville more, actively seeking him out. The boy needed friends. With Katie, and now Tonks, joining them more often, it made sense to expand his friend group more. The six of them had talked to Sirius at midnight via mirror the night before. Harry had taken quite the ribbing from his godfather about his new girlfriend. Harry, more mature than Sirius, had stuck out his tongue and asked Sirius when he was going to start looking again.
"Was that true about the injuries in class?" Tonks asked.
"Hagrid had some… unusual ideas about which magical creatures are appropriate to present to the class in person," Hermione said carefully.
"But the injury was to Malfoy when he disrespected Buckbeak," Harry pointed out.
"The hippogriff?" Tonks asked. Harry nodded.
"Two years ago, after I rode Buckbeak in class, Malfoy went up to him, insulting him as he went," Harry described. "The bloody idiot got close enough without bowing that Buckbeak attacked him. Hagrid had told him what to do, and he ignored it. He was healed in less than an hour, but he complained for weeks about his injury and wore his arm in a sling. His father got Buckbeak sentenced to death, but Hermione and I rescued him, and now he lives with Sirius."
The five friends continued talking all the way to dinner, where they were joined by Katie and Leanne. Once they were done, Harry and his friends went back to Gryffindor tower. Harry, Neville, and Ron headed up to their room to drop off their bags but were met with a surprise. A new trunk was sat next to Harry's bed.
"What the heck?" Harry asked, approaching it warily, dropping his bag on his bed along the way. Suddenly there was a pop and Dobby appeared.
"It's being a manor trunk, Harry," Dobby announced. Dobby was wearing what appeared to be a butler's uniform from the Edwardian period. It looked almost like elf-sized morning dress. There was a coat of arms on the left breast that Harry didn't have time to observe. He was quite impressed.
"What's that?" Harry asked, opening the lid.
"It's being a place for you to live while you be's at your relatives' house," Dobby said. "They's not be bothering you in here." Harry looked into the trunk. A ladder led down into the trunk. It looked like it descended maybe twelve feet into a room below.
"Wait, you want me to live in the trunk?" Harry protested.
"It's being larger on the inside," Dobby informed him.
"I can see that," Harry said. He turned to Neville, who along with Ron had come over to see what it was. "Have you heard of a manor trunk before?"
"No," Neville allowed, "but it doesn't surprise me that it exists."
"Where did you get it?" Harry asked Dobby.
"Winky finded it at Hampton's Limited," Dobby said. "It was expensive, but its being worth it in the end, Dobby is sure."
"Where?" Harry asked, confused.
"It's a shop in Carkitt Market," Neville explained. "It's not very well known, because it's fairly new and it's owned by a muggleborn."
"And how much was it?" Harry asked with some trepidation.
"Fifty thousand galleons," Dobby said.
"Sweet Merlin!" Ron shouted. Even Neville looked shocked at the price. Harry merely inhaled deeply, eyes closed, and rubbed his temples.
"Don'ts worry, Harry," Dobby assured him. "We's can be making it all back and more."
"How?" Harry wanted to know.
"Farming!" Dobby said happily. Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he shifted gears.
"So, how does it work?" Harry asked Dobby, sighing. "What do I do?"
"You has to set up the trunk," Dobby instructed. "Inside is a room for that. Only you can goes in at first. Then others you let in can come too."
"How long does it take?" Harry asked.
"A few minutes to prepare, then an hour to wait," Dobby replied.
"That was cryptic," Harry observed. He looked at his watch. Tonks was sitting in his detention tonight, so he didn't really have anything on tap. He'd managed to finish his revision already during a free period. "I suppose I'll be back in a few minutes. If it's a long time, tell Katie what's going on, alright?" Neville nodded. Harry turned to climb into the trunk.
The room at the bottom was small, more of a short corridor. It was perhaps six feet wide, by twelve feet long. The walls were plain white, and the floor was grey, and appeared to be concrete. There was a non-descript door halfway down on the right.
Harry went to the door and tried the handle. It opened and Harry entered a room with a wall of monitors, a keyboard like one would find on a muggle computer, and several switches and dials. Several large books were sitting on a shelf. Harry closed the door and looked at the screens. Six of them provided him an all-around view of the outside of the trunk including the top and bottom. The others were blank. Harry went to the far end of the room and looked at the books on the shelf. One was the owner's manual. There were also books on home design, environmental biomes, geology, weather, hydrology, and other similar subjects. He pulled out the owner's manual.
'Welcome to your manor trunk,' Harry read. 'This trunk provides a blank ten-mile by ten-mile by ten-mile cubical matrix in which you can build your ideal home. You are currently in the control room. From this room you can set the parameters for the creation of the environment of your trunk and the buildings, up to one million square feet in floorspace, that will appear in the environment you create.' Harry continued reading, learning everything there was about the trunk. He glanced through the other books as well, getting some ideas as to what he wanted to do with the gift he'd been given.
When he'd fixed the idea of what he wanted firmly in his mind, he went to the control panel and, referencing two of the books, flipped several switches and adjusted some dials to set the environment he wanted, setting the temperature, rainfall, and elevation averages and extremes for the trunk. He then replaced the books and reached for two suction cups connect to the control panel with wires and stuck them on his temples as the book had directed. Flipping a switch, he activated the suction cups while holding the image of what he wanted in his mind. For a full minute, the control panel did its work, drawing ideas from Harry's mind. With a ding, the panel stopped. Harry removed the suction cups, replacing them in their holders, and flipped the final switch.
A loud ringing alarm went off, and a red light flashed on the panel. The blank monitors came to life, and the words 'Preparing Trunk' appeared on most screens. There was a timer counting down from one hour below that. The last screen to come to life came up with a white screen with lines on it. At the top of the screen read 'People Allowed to Enter'. Below that on the first line was 'Harry James Potter'. Harry quickly went to the keyboard for that monitor and started typing, adding 'Ronald Bilius Weasley' and 'Hermione Jane Granger' to the next lines immediately. He then paused. He didn't know anyone else's middle names.
"I guess that's it for now," Harry said to himself, realizing there wasn't anything left to do but wait. He reviewed the dials, gauges, and monitors one final time, before heading for the door. When he opened the door, he got a surprise. The hall, though it was the same size, was now richly panelled in dark hardwoods polished to a high shine. The floor was also dark hardwood, but had a rich red carpet running down the middle. At the end of the corridor opposite the ladder was a fancy wood door. Harry went to the door and tried it, but it was locked. Harry then remembered reading that the control room would provide the key when it was done working. He headed back the other way and climbed out.
"You were gone a long time!" Ron said as Harry exited the trunk, carefully closing the lid.
"It took longer than I thought to set it up," Harry replied.
"So?" Ron pressed. "How is it?"
"It has to get set up first," Harry explained. "It'll take an hour to finish, but I don't have to do anything to it really."
"I can't see it now?" Ron asked, dejectedly.
"Well, you can see the corridor and the control room," Harry offered. "It's not much… I'll need to get most people's names, though, before they can come in. I've already got you and Hermione down." He rummaged about in his bag and pulled out a quill and a scrap of blank parchment, then turned to Neville. "What's your middle name?"
"Franklin," Neville said. Harry wrote down 'Neville Franklin Longbottom'.
"Let's go get everyone else's names," Harry said, heading to the door. Downstairs he found Hermione, Katie, and Leanne sitting at a table working on revision.
"Where have you been?" Hermione asked as Harry sat next to Katie.
"Dobby brought me a solution to my living situation over the summer," Harry reported. "I now own a manor trunk."
"A what?" Hermione asked.
"It's a trunk I can live in," Harry clarified. "It's upstairs next to my bed."
"Can we see it?" Katie asked, excited.
"Sure," Harry agreed. "It's gonna take an hour to finish setting up though."
"You'll be living in a trunk?" Leanne asked. She seemed sceptical.
"It's not really a trunk," Katie said. "I've heard about these. They're properly cool."
"How do you know about them?" Harry asked, confused.
"Mr. Hampton, who sells them, has his shop right next to my dad's," Katie reported. "He told me about them, his wife makes them, but they've had no luck yet selling them."
"Why not?" Hermione asked.
"They're fifty thousand galleons apiece," Harry offered, shocking Hermione and Leanne.
"That's not the real problem," Katie corrected. "It's a problem, yes, but the real problem is that he and his wife are both muggleborns, so no 'proper pureblood' will shop there, and they're the only ones with the gold to buy them."
"Why are they so expensive?" Hermione asked.
"Inside the trunk has an area of ten miles cubed," Harry informed her. "The house in the trunk can have a maximum footprint of one million square feet. It can be set to any environmental biome you can conceive. If it's as advertised, it's pretty cool."
"That's… that's huge!" Hermione squeaked.
"Apparently, I can have a farm, or that's what Dobby said," Harry informed her.
"But that would take a lot of time," Hermione said, confused. "You can't… wait. You didn't bond with Dobby, did you?" Her accusation came out almost as a growl.
"I did," Harry said, holding firm. "Him and Winky."
"Harry..." Hermione growled out.
"Dobby!" Harry called, cutting her off before she could get going. Dobby popped in immediately. "Dobby, please explain the nature of the house elf bond to Hermione. She's a bit confused on the matter."
"Dobby would bes happy to, Harry," Dobby acknowledged before turning to Hermione, who was sitting with an angry look on her face. "Miss, the house elf bond is very importants to us. We's need it to survive." Hermione's face drained of colour and she gasped as the ramifications of her past actions struck her. "House elves needs magic the way yous be needing food or air. The bond with wizards and witches provides that magic. Without a bond we die." Hermione was struggling.
"But you were free?" Leanne asked, confused.
"Yes, miss," Dobby allowed. "But I's was working at Hoggywarts. Here there's being enough magic to sustain us, even ifs we not being bonded to a wizard or witch. Not so much as a bond, but enough not to die for a long time, at least."
Hermione started crying. Next to her, Neville patted her back consolingly.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ron asked.
"I… I killed… house elves!" Hermione wailed through sobs.
"Miss killed no elves," Dobby reassured her. "Dobby collected all the hats and other things knitted by miss. No elves was freed from service. Besides, you's not being handing the clothes to elveses yourself. You's also not able to free elveses bonded to Hoggywarts. Only Professor Whiskers cans be doing that."
"I… didn't?" Hermione asked, calming down. She looked intently at Dobby, imploring him to agree with her.
"You's didn't," Dobby affirmed.
"Thank God," Hermione said, relieved. "I just wanted to help."
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said. Dobby smiled and popped away.
"Hermione," Neville said from her side. "Unfortunately, right now, you're not in a position to help."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked sharply, turning to Neville.
"You're a smart person," Neville said to assuage her growing anger. "But you're a student. You're not an adult. You personally can do nothing, except write letters to the Daily Prophet that they won't print. No one here, except for Harry, is in any position to do anything for house elves. Of us, only Harry can sit on the Wizengamot and introduce laws that would do anything for them. Only he's a head of house. Only he can bond or dismiss an elf."
"I'm not on the Wizengamot yet," Harry protested.
"You will be next month," Neville shrugged.
"That's not all," Harry prefaced. "Now that I'm emancipated, even if I get expelled, they can't snap my wand or bind my magic. Jog on, Umbridge!" By the end, he was grinning, giving the door the two-fingered salute. "Hopefully, though, it'll never come to that."
"It had better not," Hermione huffed. "Someone's going to have to teach us defence."
"Wait, what?" Harry asked, confused.
"Harry, you're the best of all of us in defence," Hermione said. "And I've… we've," she clarified, pointing at her and Ron, "been thinking, that out of all of us, you're the best qualified."
"What? No!" Harry said.
"Who fought Quirrell?" Ron asked. "Who killed the basilisk? Who fought off a hundred dementors? Who won the Triwizard Tournament? You saved Ginny. You saved Delacour's sister. You saved your cousin. You're the best at defence. You can teach us the patronus charm!" Ron was becoming very excited.
"You did all that?" Leanne asked, astonished. Harry glanced at her, then the others. Katie was smiling thoughtfully. Neville was looking at Ron and nodding. Hermione was smirking.
"Erm… yeah," Harry acknowledged.
"Can you teach me?" Leanne asked.
"And me?" Neville added.
"You're not leaving me out," Katie ordered.
"Wait!" Harry said. "I can't teach. I don't know any..."
"Don't even bother finishing that sentence, Harry," Hermione cut in. "Ron's right. You did all the things he covered. You know defence. I've read Umbridge's book. It's bloody useless." Harry was surprised that she swore.
"You lot want me to teach you defence?" Harry reiterated.
"Yes," Hermione answered. Everyone else nodded too.
"But you're older than me," Harry pointed out to Leanne and Katie. "What can I teach you?"
"Well, the patronus charm is beyond NEWT level," Katie said, taking his hand to reassure him. "I'm sure some of the rest of it is advanced as well. If not, you can always do a bit of research since you don't have to stay in school on weekends anymore."
"Huh?" Harry asked, confused.
"You're emancipated," Neville said. "You can come and go as you please on weekends without permission from teachers, just like other students over seventeen."
"I didn't know that," Harry said with wonder.
"How else are you going to get to Wizengamot meetings?" Neville pointed out.
"Oh yeah," Harry realized.
"There might be others who want you to teach them as well," Hermione said, getting the discussion back on track.
"Who, exactly?" Harry asked warily.
"Probably just about everyone," Ron blurted out thoughtlessly.
"No!" Harry said, holding up his hands. "I'm not going to become everyone's defence professor just because the worthless toad isn't doing her job."
"Harry, that's not fair to the others," Hermione implored. "You'll teach us, because we're your friends, but not them? Think of all the NEWT and OWL students who're going to fail their exams!"
"People hate me!" Harry protested. "Seamus nearly had a fit when he saw me this year. Loads of other people think I'm an attention-seeking arsehole."
"They still need to be taught!" Hermione argued.
"Hermione," Katie cut in, looking first at Hermione. "Calm down. You're both right. Harry's right that he's been made a pariah in school more times than we can count and shouldn't just freely give away his knowledge to people who've done nothing for him. He's also right that more than a few people don't trust him because of what the toad and the Prophet have said." She turned to Harry. "Harry, Hermione's right too. You are quite good at defence, and Umbridge isn't doing her job. Right now, it's doubtful that the OWL and NEWT students will pass without some practice. Your experiences make you special, and your practical defence knowledge is above most students." She looked around the group. "If Harry will volunteer to teach some or all the students, we need to find out who'd be interested in training. And he won't be doing it for free either. This is a chance to get concessions of some sort. We'll also need a place to train. What d'you think, Harry?"
"I..." Harry paused, thoughtfully. "Can I think about it?" Harry figured he'd probably end up caving, but he wouldn't let them know that just yet.
"Sure," Katie said quickly before Hermione could say anything. "Hermione, can you poll the other students, and see who might be interested?"
"Why can't you do it?" Ron asked.
"Hermione has more contacts than any of us with the other houses because she's taking the most electives," Katie replied. "Though, Neville, could you ask Susan and Hannah if they're interested, and to sound out the other Hufflepuffs?"
"Alright," Neville agreed. Hermione also nodded.
"That's settled, then," Katie said firmly. "Harry'll think about whether he wants to teach and what he wants for it. Hermione and Neville will find out who wants to be taught. That just leaves where..."
"There'll probably be room in the trunk," Ron pointed out. "It sounds huge."
"Harry might not want a bunch of other students going to his home," Katie pointed out.
"No," Harry said. "He's right. That would be the perfect place. Umbridge can't get there unless I let her."
"Which you'd never do," Ron added. Harry nodded.
"That reminds me," Harry said, looking up at Katie and Leanne. "I need your names."
"Harry, you know my name," Katie said, looking a question at him.
"I think he means your full name," Leanne said with a smirk. "Why doesn't he know it yet?"
"We've only been dating for four days, Leanne," Katie said. "And we've been busy with school for much of it."
"Yeah, but you've..."
"Leanne!" Katie erupted. "Keep your bloody mouth shut about what I've told you about Harry and I! It's not for everyone, OK?" Ron looked like he was quite interested in what Leanne had to say but held his tongue. Neville and Hermione blushed.
"OK, OK!" Leanne backed down. Then she turned to Harry. "Leanne Victoria Smith."
"Any relation to Sally Smith in Hufflepuff?" Ron asked as Harry wrote.
"She's my sister," Leanne replied.
"Kathryn Anne Bell," Katie said when Harry was done. She spelled Kathryn for him. "And Anne with an 'E.'"
"I'll have to get To… Dora later," Harry said. "I hope she's OK."
"How much longer before it's ready?" Ron asked, ignoring Harry's musings on the detention. Harry glanced at his watch.
"Another half hour," he said. "Guess I'll go get some revision. Can't hurt to get ahead."
"That's the spirit!" Hermione said with a smile. Ron, on the other hand, looked like he'd swallowed a spider.