Chapter 21

As the weekend drew ever closer, permission from parents started to arrive by owl. For some of them like Justin and Hermione, they wanted to know which bowling alley, and the details of the adult to contact if anything goes wrong.

Susan's aunt insisted on attending at least the first time, as well as meeting Morgana again beforehand. Hannah's permission came back with Susans. Daphne's permission came back, however she had been more circumspect in how she worded the request. Tracy's parents just said that Harry should bring both her and Daphne to their house so that they could get a description of the game. Wayne and Megan both get permission, while Neville and Ernest are both denied citing never heard of the game.

When Susan sees their dejected expressions she says, "Neville, Ernest, why don't you both write back and say that my Aunt is going to be there. See if that changes their minds. If you're quick, you should get a reply before we have to leave tomorrow."

The two of them scribble out a response and run to the Owlery.

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Friday saw a morning class of Potions followed by an afternoon class of History. Interspersed throughout that were Ravenclaw OWL and NEWT students casting spells towards Harry. They were so persistent that at one point Harry walks around a corner and skims into the Other and watches them on the edge of the mist. All his disappearance seems to have done is cause them to cast spells to see if there's a hidden door they didn't know about. He couldn't even get any peace in the common room, as it seems the Ravenclaws had asked his house mates about his identity.

Daphne and Tracy find him in sitting at the desk in his partition.

"Harry, are you ok?"

Harry looks up, "Why do they want me to be Harry Potter, who's parents died protecting him from a dark wizard. Why can't I be Harry Danann, swordsman, or Harry Danann, Celtic magic practitioner. Instead it's 'Can I see your scar?' 'How are you hiding your scar?'. I came in here not only to get away from them, but to also keep Evie away from them, as they were very close to being the next target of her ire."

Daphne thinks for a moment, "While it doesn't seem to be a big thing to you, for our parents the end of the war was a massive thing. When my father came to Hogwarts, he had 30 house mates, and each house had it's own class for the first two years of school. It only got mixed up once everyone chose their electives. I don't know of anyone that didn't lose friends or family. Because of that, just about everyone has been raised on the children's books that use your name. Honestly, I'm surprised that none of us bugged you about it when Tracy spotted your scar. But then we'd also just spent nearly 10 hours on the train with you."

Harry looks dejected, "I know, it's just… like when people judge you for your family rather than who you are. Or people like Draco treating you like being a Hufflepuff is a bad thing."

Tracy laughs while Daphne gives a small smile, "That's another thing that that we've been told growing up, Gryffindor is for the brave and stupid, Ravenclaw is for the scholars, Slytherin is for the movers and shakers, and Hufflepuff is for everyone else."

Tracy shakes her head, "Don't let my mum hear that version. My parents told me something similar growing up, and just about everyone will have their own stories about what each house is for."

Harry looks confused, "What about the other two schools?"

"Other schools?"

"Yeah, Professor McGonagall said there were two others, one in Wales, and one in England."

Daphne and Tracy share a glance, "We've never heard of other schools."

Harry just nods.

There's silence for a while, only broken as the other members of the Dorm make their way in to see how he's doing. Eventually a Prefect pokes their head in, "Harry, Daphne, Tracy, Professor Sprout has called a house meeting in the common room."

Curious, they make their way into the common room. There they see something they will come to dread in the coming years, a disappointed Professor Sprout.

"Good evening everyone, though I'm not so sure about the good part of the evening. Individually I have had almost every first year Hufflepuff approach me this afternoon because they are concerned about how their dorm mate is being treated. Not treated by people in other houses, but treated by you. This has been going on since lunchtime yesterday, and it shouldn't have needed to be brought to my attention. Prefects, your position is a position of responsibility, and you should have been the ones dealing with it while it was still a small problem, failing that you should have been the ones to tell me there was a problem rather than being part of the problem. Most of you were raised in the magical world, can you think of anyone else who you'd question about their birth after they told you they were family by blood? Anyone at all?"

Silence meets her question as many of the house are to busy studying the floor to answer.

"I didn't think so, at least the Ravenclaws that have been bothering them are more interested in the magic they're using than who they used to be. By hounding them like this, you have all almost managed to alienate the first years from the rest of the house and we're not even a week into the school year. The desks that are provided in your rooms aren't supposed to be there for every day study, they are ideally for private correspondence and when you need quiet away from the bustle of the common room. What do you think would happen in the future if you succeeded in alienating them? I'll tell you what would happen, next year's Hufflepuffs would see the current first years only staying in their dorm, and assume that there was a reason for it. It's happened before, and it takes a concerted effort to overcome it once it starts. The reason we are so strong as a house is that we work together. Ravenclaw have their library and excellent study materials, Slytherin trades in favours and political capital, and Gryffindor are full of headstrong individuals who are determined to prove they have what it takes. We, we forge bonds of friendship and unity. Loyalty and Hard Work, together we are stronger, can achieve more, and are more resilient than we would be alone. Now if I have to have this conversation again about the same thing, or the same person and the rest of you pressuring them, there will be a restructuring of the prefects until I find people that will take their responsibilities seriously, and who the rest of the house respects enough to listen to.

"I've had my say, and I believe that Mr Danann has some students he's taken on, so I will let you all get back to your schoolwork and entertainment."

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Marianne's father has just started eating dinner, signifying that herself and her mother can start. As he turns over the newspaper she spots the sports section and it reminds her of bowling tomorrow.

"Mum, I've just remembered, we have 10 pin bowling tomorrow."

Without looking up, her father say, "No you don't, you have too much to learn about being a good Christian wife for that."

"But we said we'd be there last session, and Mor… Mrs Danann has already booked the lanes. All my friends will be there too."

"Very well, you may go. Kate, this will be the last time until she's learnt her place."

Her mother nods, "Yes Shaun."

"Mum, we've been doing this for years. What about your friends?"

Shaun shakes his head, "That's enough Marianne, no backtalking either of us. Go to your room."

"But I've not eaten."

"Then you should have thought about that before talking back to us. Room Now!"

The scrape of the chair on the floor persuades her that Shaun is serious, so she flees the table to her room.

Marianne flops down on her bed, "Oh Sunny, what am I going to do?"

Sunny appears beside her, "I don't know, I could get you some nectar."

Marianne smiles at Sunny, "I don't think humans can live off of nectar."

Sunny tugs at the leather thong around her neck, "Why don't you talk to someone that can listen and give advice then?"

"You're right, I would never have thought of that."

Marianne holds her hand around the raven and concentrates on it like Morgana taught her, "Morgana, I don't know what to do. Dad sent me to my room before I'd managed to eat anything."

Before she finishes the word anything, Morgana is stepping out of the mist into her room, "Sunny, would you be able to arrange an illusion that shows Marianne asleep on the bed dressed as she is?"

Sunny puffs up, "Of course Great Queen."

"Marianne, grab your dagger, I have a leg of pork roasting over the fire. Maybe this would be a good time to teach you the custom of guest rights. Afterwards you can tell me what led to you being banished to your room."

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As Harry is about to leave with Daphne and Tracy, he muses, "I wonder how the Professor knew I have students?"

Tracy shakes her head, "I don't know, equally I don't know how my parents knew you could bring me over to chat."

Harry glances at Daphne, "You don't think?"

Daphne turns her nose up, "I do think, I make a habit of doing so as often as I can."

Harry groans, "Right, I asked for that. Well, take a hand and don't let go. Tracy, it is very important that you don't let go as you could be lost in the Other forever."

Daphne opens her mouth to say something along the lines of he could find her, then remembers the pendant around her neck and why she's wearing it.

Harry pulls the two of them into the Other for the short trip to the Davis living room. There Doris raises from her chair and pulls first her daughter, and then Daphne into a hug.

"Thank you for bringing both of them Mr Danann."

Harry shakes his head, "Call me Harry."

"Very well Harry. Now what's this 10 pin bowling thing?"

"Um, I'm probably the best one to answer that Ma'am."

"Call me Doris, or Auntie when you're ready."

"Erm, yes, anyway, 10 pin bowling. There are 10 pins standing in a triangular formation at the end of a polished wooden alley. The aim of the game is to knock down the pins by rolling a large ball, around the size of your head, down the alley and knock down as many pins as possible. The game is played over 10 frames, and on each frame you get two chances to knock down all the pins. Your score is then the number of pins you knocked down over all 10 frames. The scoring gets more complicated if you manage to knock all of the pins down on your first or second chance in a frame.

"The game can be played in teams, with the players on one alley competing with the players on the next alley. It can also be played individually with the individual scores counting. That's about it."

Henry frowns, "Where's the magic?"

"There isn't any, it's a game of personal skill. It doesn't even matter if you're strong or weak, only if your aim and technique are good. Children use a special ramp so that they can line up the shot and let the ball roll down the ramp rather than needing to be able to lift and throw it. The scoring, resetting of pins, and returning the balls all get done automatically, so the only thing that the players need to do is have fun or compete."

Doris nods, "Well, you can go. I really just wanted to see the two of you again. How are you doing Daphne?"

"The training is hard on me, and I've been… dreaming."

"That's good, you should dream it's healthy. Why do you think people aren't allowed to take dreamless sleep potions for too long? Actually, you're probably too young to have come across that yet."

Harry nods in interest, "Remember, I chose to teach you because you are a warrior that hasn't been allowed to put down their shield or unbuckle their sword for too long."

Daphne turns her head and sticks her tongue out at him, though the expression doesn't quite reach her eyes. Henry, on the other hand, nods from his chair, "It is probably an apt description, I know that during the war a few of my parents friends got twitchy if their wands weren't within arms reach at all times. We were at Hogwarts for much of the war, so in that respect we were lucky. However, that didn't stop the war from reaching us, with recruiters for both sides active in the school, or the few years after school for that matter."

"Henry, enough with the dark talk. How are your lessons going Tracy? Anything funny happened?"

Tracy shakes her head, "Not unless you count Malfoy some sort of socially suicidal reason to keep trying to needle Harry or Daph. Though there was one recent bit of Drama that made Professor Sprout step in. It happened after something caused Harry to clutch his forehead in pain during defense yesterday morning."

Doris searches Harry's head for whatever could be the problem, and then gasps, "You say that your name is Harry Danann?"

Harry nods, "By Blood."

Henry nods gravely, "Then we will say nothing more about that subject. I'm glad that you have a good family."

"Thank you sir."

"No need to thank me, now have you ever had someone look at that medically?"

Harry shakes his head, "No, but my mother's husband looked at it and declared it part of my doom when I was first adopted."

"Mother's husband and not father?"

Harry nods, "They're estranged after he was unfaithful."

Henry sits back and sips his drink while he thinks for a while, "Daphne, given Harry's heritage, have you considered teaching him to wield the sword and shield that you use while he's teaching you his family magic."

Harry shakes his head vehemently, "It's not family magic. We do have family magic, but what I'm teaching Daphne isn't that."

"Ah, well in that case, would you consent to teach Tracy."

Harry's eyes narrow at Henry, "At the moment that would be impossible, as I already have two students. Even if one hasn't started yet. Once they have progressed to the point where they can continue to learn without constant supervision and aid, then Tracy can petition my mother for permission to learn. This isn't like wanded magic, where you can quickly build up a large repertoire of spells once you have learnt the most common gestures and timings. There is a very real chance of dying if the student isn't properly supervised. I'm sure you've heard of will-o-wisps, and how they lead travellers to their deaths? The mist that surrounds them is the same mist that we travel through."

"Ah, well, you can't blame an old man for trying."

"Henry!" Doris exclaims, "No politicking in the house, you know that."

"Sorry dear."

Tracy looks at her father consideringly, "Father, did you talk to Professor Sprout at all?"

Doris looks smug, "No dear, I did. After all, it wouldn't do for your head of house to assume that you were breaking the rules now, would it."

"But why?"

"Tracy, remember your lessons. What does our society think about Master Apprentice relationships?"

Tracy sulks as she answers, "They are one of the most sacred methods of teaching. A Master must be allowed to teach their student in any way they see fit."

Daphne gasps, "I'd forgotten about that, as it happens so rarely."

Doris laughs, "Hardly rare, just about every crafts profession has apprenticeships. It just doesn't happen in our strata of society."

Harry frowns, "What are you talking about?"

"You are personally teaching Daphne Celtic magic, are you not?"

"I am, but why does that matter?"

"Would you say that you are an Expert in Celtic Magic?"

Harry shakes his head, "Not at all, I've got so much to learn. What my mum can do is absolutely amazing."

"Let me rephrase that, have you reached a level of expertise that means you are qualified to teach others?"

"I guess so, I taught Jimmy, and I'm teaching Daphne. Though there's not actually that much I can teach really, as it's mostly practice and I make suggestions on different ways they can approach what they're doing if they are having trouble."

"And how long did it take Jimmy?"

"He got the idea of what a child should be able to do within a month, though I'd say it will take him at least a year to become proficient with it if he keeps practicing."

"And how long is it going to take you to finish teaching Daphne?"

Harry grimaces as he thinks, "Probably 6 months or so before I think she'll have a good grasp on the foundational skills for Celtic Magic. After that, it's a matter of introducing new skills as she gets good enough to cope with them. That reminds me, Daphne you still need to do your practice tonight, and I still need to do mine."

Daphne lets her shoulders slump, as she had hoped that she would get a night where she didn't have to lower her barriers.

Harry moves in front of her and puts a hand on her shoulder, "Daphne, if you don't want to do it, just say. This isn't a race."

"No, I do. I… just don't like lowering my occlumency shields."

"I'm sorry I can't help with that. But you could practice the speed at which you raise and lower them, so that you feel vulnerable for less time." – Harry pulls his sword and one-handed shield from the mist – "By which I mean this sort of thing rather than placing the shield to the ground."

Harry slings the shield over a shoulder where it hangs by a strap, and his sword goes in a sheath over the other shoulder. "It's not ideal, as I've still got easy access to both my weapons, but it's a half way point between being on guard and being defenceless. Once you're happy that you can defend yourself quickly and easily, you can then work on finding a place where you can put them away and still feel safe. That could be in the mist, in one of the various domains, or even a house or location in the mortal world. Just somewhere that you can let down your guard completely and process things."

Henry looks at the sword and shield warily, "Was that one of the basic skills you'll be teaching Daphne?"

Harry shakes his head, "No, that's more an intermediate skill. The basic skills are being able to navigate the Other, more importantly, being able to return to the mortal world reliably. Being able to enter the Other. Being able to skim the other. Finally, being able to pull the Other around you to hide your magical presence. We teach our children those skills through games when they're at infant school age, young enough that their desires are still strong enough to take them home, but old enough to understand the lessons hidden in the games.

"Anyway, times a wasting. Daphne, will you be aiming for here?"

Daphne nods, "It's where I've managed to come out both days, so…"

"I'll just push you in here then, as it's not the distance that's important at the moment, it's just being able to do it. I'm going to head home so I can practice my own stuff, which reminds me. Mrs Davis, would you be able to provide your permission for Tracy to go bowling in writing, that way my mother has them and also the name of who to contact if an accident happens."

Doris nods as Harry pulls Daphne into the mist before letting go.