"You know what, Headmaster, I think I am going to go back to the Medical wing, I have some business to handle there. I think an Elf or two can bring me a sweet spread while I wait for Poppy to get to me." Harry nodded at the old man, "What we have to talk about can wait until tomorrow. We will have Tea. Headmistress, After you get your House settled for the Night, Join me at Poppy's please." a twist of his wand caused the pink dressed witch to hover to his side. "Bones, You might want to join me. Lovegood…" Harry turned towards the Door, "The Choice is yours. Grim, Chess, see to the House. The rest… I will see you after Morning Tea."
He Left the Great Hall, the Pink Witch, Umbridge floating at his hip, as Susan Bones trotted after, clutching a bone short staff.
Ron Stood, pounded the fist of his staff on the flagstones. "Alright Shorties. I am Ron. You can call me Chessmaster if you want. Now Normally the Prefects would guide you to the Tower… and I will need their help getting in…" He grinned, "But Potter said I was to get you upstairs."
Dean clapped Ron on the shoulder. "I Got this Ron." Looking at the Firsties, "You heard the Man, let's move. All gryffs find their dorm on the fifth floor. Only the ravenclaw nest above us…" He grinned as he guided the twenty some kids up the Stairs. "You will have to forgive Ron, Hermione, and Harry. They are what many of us aspire to become… until we see just exactly what they have to face." He mounted the stairs backwards so he could watch the first years following along. "We Gryffs are Proud, Fierce, and Rarely back down. As Such, it is We who are celebrated, where the other three houses toil in our shadows. Some would say we are The Best House, and in many ways we are. But The Snakes are cunning, the Badgers are Loyal and Hardworking, and the Ravens are Intelligent. To be a Strong Wizard or Witch, You need traits from all four houses."
"And Potter?" a First year witch asked.
"Like all good Gryffs, he charges in, not watching his step. He has learned to fly, and so He is hard to trip, but a Cunning Snake or an Intelligent Raven can run circles around him… as long as he is playing Nice." Faye, the Female Prefect spoke up. "Potter is also a Rule Pusher. He has ignored the rules a time or two, but only when He believed it was necessary to save the Life of another. He Rushes in where Fools and Angels Dare not." She Smiled at the group. "As Long as He is in these Walls, No Dark Lord, nor Dark Creature will harm a student. Any Death Eaters in these walls know to fear him."
"Are there Death Eaters here?" A spotted with freckles, wizard asked.
"Yes." Ron Rumbled. "At Least one. But because of Harry, they are either toothless, or Bound by Law." His Face twisted with disgust. "That is the Danger with D.E.s. They can be anyone. Just because they can not directly Harm you, does not make them any less of a threat. Over the next seven years, you will have friends, rivals, and enemies in these Halls. Mine right now is Malfoy, but he prefers to Target Potter. He is a spoiled little ass-wipe, and just because his Father is friendly with the Minister, he thinks he can get away with shit." Here Ron stopped moving to breathe deep. "Do Not Try to Out Fight him. Or any other Snake. Instead go to Potter. Even I am going to Have to accept that if a Slythrien tries to start something with me, I need to go to Potter. Do Not Make Potter come for you."
"Why Would Potter…"
Dean Sighed, "Potter has Declared that he is the Hand of Justice. He will not Back you if you are being the Bully. And Bullying takes many Forms. Do not pick a Fight, then claim that those you pushed are bullying you. Watch… by the end of the Month, some Snake is going to try this tactic."
"Malfoy's favorite tactic is to pick a fight with Potter, and when Potter stomps him, Snape stomps Potter for bullying a fellow student. If Malfoy wins the fight, Snape Keeps to the shadows." Longbottom rumbled. "Many A Time I have Fallen to Malfoy, and Snape just steps over me on his way past. Slytherins are Cunning. But due to bad habits in honing their skills, most just practice 'Backstabbing'. Back before Albus earned his Laurels by taking down Gelert, A Cunning Snake was as good a friend as an Honest Badger, and a better ally than a wise Raven." Neville thumbed his woven vine staff on the stairs, "These next seven years, you will be reforged. You will Find your true self. And your True Friends. Can you be Brave enough to Find them among the Other Houses too?"
HPSW
Ameila Bones Had just finished the Last Sheet of Paperwork, and slid it into her 'out' tray. She was pouring herself a double of Scotch, Single-Malt, when a junior Auror Poked his head in the office door.
"Director Ma'am. A Castellan Potter is requesting you on the Floo. Something about a Trespasser that tried to draw on him."
"Castellan Potter?" Bones frowned, as she set the bottle in the center of the desk.
"Yeah…" The young wizard huffed, "I thought it was Harry Potter, the Boy who…"
Bones was moving for the Hearth, "Lord Potter!" She stepped into the reception of the Floo, "Is it Susan?"
"No Director." The Green-flame head turned to look at her. "She is right here, eager to see you. No. I am calling because an Umbitch muscled her way in and then tried to kill me nine months early. Either come get her or I feed her to the carrion eaters in the forest."
The Director frowned, knowing who he was talking about, if not why. "You say she is trespassing?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Harry grinned, "She Interrupted the Headmaster, I'm told, to give a speech, only to stop in the middle of said speech to try to give me detention. It seems that the Minister tried to railroad the Headmaster and sent his Hatchet Toad. Only She claimed her position of Undersecretary as her primary role here and not the DADA Professor. She admitted that she was claiming the salary from Both positions, and did not have the training to Teach the Subject.
Doing So breaches the By-laws of the Hogwarts Charter."
"Thinking that I was looking the Other way… she went for her wand…"
"Careful Lord Potter." the Director smirked. "You are on an Open Public Floo." She leaned into the words to convey her meaning.
"Thinking someone might tell Idiot Fudge I am throwing out his pet toad, and asking you to catch it? Or that He might just be stupid enough to feed half your men to the Forest?" Potter cocked his head to the side.
"Half my men?" Bones crossed her arms.
"The Elected Idiot will order the Castle Taken. Half of your Force, thinking that he has the Power to so Order, either because they are his, too young, or too stupid to know better. The other half will know that it is You who Commands the Red Robes, and He Just 'Requests' you to do things. Those That come here With Malice will not Leave. Those who survive the assault… I might leave to you." His face Brightened, "Are you coming for the Toad?"
"Yeah. Give me Five minutes." Bones mourned her scotch.
"Floo straight to Poppy's. I will leave the Gate open." He then Glared, "And I will be watching."
The Floo flashed out.
"Director?" The Junior Auror asked.
"Gather three more of your fellows. We are going to Hogwarts to retrieve a displaced Toad." Bones sighed, as she polished her Monocle. "And hurry… we do not want someone doing something stupid."
HPWS
Harry turned to look around the Wing.
On what is normally 'his' bed, the Charms Master, Flitwick was sleeping fitfully. On the bed next over, Poppy slept soundlessly.
On a bed across the hall, snoring like only she could, sept the Toad faced witch.
The floo bloomed green, as a witch that could give Mcgonagall a run for 'stiffest broom' postur exited with a frumpy wizard that looked like Friar Tuck.
"Ah. Andy, Ted." Harry approached, his hand leading. "I was hoping that you would have been here sooner…"
"And you are?" The Witch in healer robes sneered.
"Ah yes." Harry smiled, "The Old Dog has been rubbing off on me." With a straight face, he bowed at the shoulders, "I am Harold James Potter, Lord of Potter, Heir to Black. Wandslinger, and Castellan of Hogwarts. Our Medic is under suspicion of being subverted, and our Charms Master was bespelled to attack me this evening. I used my Authority as Castellian to summon Healer Tonks-Black to Service until such time that we can get to the root of Poppy's affection… if she is afflicted."
"You refer to me as 'Black'?" the Healer took a threatening pose.
"Yes. Lord Black has explained the issues to me, and we decided that Andromeda Tonks nee Black needs to be returned to the ranks of the 'Daughters of Black' and to include House Tonks as a Vassal House in-service to House Black. Lord Black is working with the Goblins to handle the legal paperwork."
The Floo bloomed once again, as the Director exited with four junior aurors… including a female with a spunky nose and pink hair.
"Evening Amelia." Andy nodded to the Director. "Nymphadora, you should call home more often."
"Mom! It's Tonks!" the Pink haired auror whined.
Harry coughed, "Tonks-Black."
Tonks snapped about so fast, she ended up on the floor. "What?! Ahh!"
Susan and two of the Aurors snickered at the Metamorph's antics.
Harry and the Adults were straight-faced, but there was laughter in their eyes.
"I just Remembered Director… were you not on a date?"
"We had a quick dinner… and made plans for later. Someone sent a winged snake that upset him. I missed what was said… and being upset because my dinner was interrupted, I just went back to the Office."
"I Had sent my Patronus to you because I was met at the Gates of the School with Malice. Only my Attacker was not attacking me of his free will. I was able to subdue him, but my scans showed that his will was not his own. I brought him here." Harry waved his hand at the half-goblin, "and when Poppy arrived, I put her to sleep beside him, and called the two of you. Healer Tonks-Black will serve as the School's Mediwitch until I burn this infection out. When I reported to the Great Hall, the Toad over there put on airs and when I declared that her contract was null and void, she went for her wand. It exploded and she was stunned."
"You do know that some will declare this as unlawful." Healer Tonks smirked.
"The Only Law, I bow to is the Queen's Law." Harry crossed his arms. "Any Laws passed by the Wizemgot after this date will be ignored until such time as The Queen and the House Lords declare the laws just. This is sovereign soil. You Red Robes are welcome here at my digression."
"You?" One Auror snorted.
"Did you see the Triwizard Tournament?" Susan asked from where she stood by the door, leaning on her skull motif staff. "Potter was playing nice. I saw him Face down Flitwick, and win. The 'Little Tailor' had finally met his match. Seven in one Blow? Ha! Milord here Faced him and out lasted the little dervish."
"And I am even better against the Hordes of Hell. My Title is Wandslinger. Think dueling Cowboy from American movies, and then give me unlimited ammo. If Your fellow Red Robes are Storming my Gates, my Castle, I will leave the dead and dying for the carrion feeders in the Forest."
Harry bowed his head to the Director, "Until then… I welcome you and your people within my walls."
"Sue?" TheDirector finally got to see her niece clearly. "What is that?"
When Sue offered her staff to her aunt, Healer Black recoiled. "Necromancy."
As the Director turned the staff over in her hand. "And a House Bones Legacy Relic. We lent it to House Black some three hundred years ago. It is how House Bones got their Contract to House Black and Raised to the Wizard's Council. It was to be returned within the Century, but was lost…"
"The Black Trials." Harry hitched his wand belt. "It was waiting for us in the Town of Black Valley. We are going back this Christmas slash winter break. Necromancer will be needed as we Plan to Cull the Undying Lands and crush the Lich-Lord." Harry Smiled. "But that is Months away. I Plan on seeing this School run properly by then, or Closed for the Holidays."
"You are Rubbing against the grain of Tradition." Auror Tonks-Black smirked. "Boss, Permission to Take up the Post of DMLE Liaison Office to Hogwarts. Lord Potter could easily find a Place to put me while I keep an eye on things from this side. Weekly Reports?"
"Nightly." Bones spun the short staff about in a 'kata' of Staff Combat, before passing it the Relic off to Susan. "I will be by in the Morning, about Ten-ish, to talk with the Headmaster and McGonagall. Tonks-Black, return Home, pack a bag for the week." Tonks-Black bolted for the floo. "Johnson, Tabbot, Drag the Undersecutary to her office. She can sleep it off there. The Three of you will spend the night shift telling everyone about what happened here, and warning our Fellow Brothers of the Badge what will happen if they obey Fudge in storming this place. If they Do as He Commands, They will be doing it off the Clock and not Protected from Lord Potter's wrath. Post a sign in the Bull-pen. Dismissed."
As the three Red Robes drug the Toad faced Witch into the green flames, Bones turned to Harry. "No Doubt you can handle this?"
"I have already assigned Ted and Andy Quarters nearby." Harry grinned at the two witches, "It would be no trouble to make the Quarters for three if they want Dora to stay with them, or just next Door."
"You Did?" Ted asked.
"Yes and no." Harry smirked. "There is an Elf that likes to keep watch on me when I am here. If I were to ask for an Elf to see to it that your Apartment just down the Hall be readied… It will be done before We arrive at the Door. Consider the Request Made, and the Elf to have the Job Done."
"Okay." Andy smirked. "Two bedroom apartment, Dora in the second room."
"See to it, Dobby." Harry turned to the Bones women. "Director. No Doubt that our S.O.B. is enroute. He most likely broke off early to prepare to Storm the Castle. After I get Andy and Ted settled, we will go face him at the Gate."
"When I am done here, I will join you." Andy turned to look over her patients.
Just then McGonagall entered the Wing. "Potter. I see you are going to be Trouble this year."
"Not Trying to, Professor." Harry sighed. "But the old man did what was easy, not what was right. I also believe that he did something to Flitwick, and when the Duel Master challenged me out front, His only mission was to take me down a peg or two. Not the Safety of the School or the Students. Both underestimated my Skill, my Power, and my Allies. As of this moment, I seek to depose the Regent of Hogwarts."
"Those are Fighting Words, Mr Potter." the Scottish Professor stiffened.
"Students were endangered when I was Attacked." Potter snarled. "Flitwick was a Puppet. Poppy is being subverted, to the point, I fear that her Oaths are at Risk. It is why I have called in Healer Tonks-Black. To Keep things nice and smooth, I am Letting an Auror Liaison take up residence. If Dumbledor tries something… I have DMLE backing. If Fudge tries something… I have DMLE backing. If the Toad tries something… I feed Aragog everything that does not escape."
"Who is Aragog?" four Witches asked in a chorus. Both of the Bones Witches, McGonagall, and Tonks-Black.
"Ah, that." Harry smirked, "I will need you to ask Hagrid."
HPWS
Albus was pissed.
First Potter was slipping his leash. Then there was the matter of the Death Stick, and how the boy beat him.
He was impressed that the Boy had not only beat Filius, but beat him into the ground. Something that Albus needed to be at full rest and wielding the Deathstick to match.
Then the Brat had the Gaul to parade into the Great Hall, and thrash Fudge's Hatchet Toad. Where the Headmaster was working to overthrow the Minster and his cabinet, He was doing it within Tradition.
Now the Boy was Flaunting the Fact that He was the Power of Hogwarts.
That was what really pissed Albus off. That Potter was able to throw the Toad faced Bitch out, and in a way that Fudge and his Reign can not Challenge.
Now Albus Had to find a New DADA Professor, and arrange for 'Flourish and Blotts' to restock the new books and 'owl-post' them to the Students. Which meant that Hogwarts might end up paying for them. He would have to pay for them…
Potter was not doing as he was supposed to, which was; Die as and when the Headmaster wanted, leaving Voldemort too weak to fight Albus when He showed up to kill the Dark Lord, cementing his place as the Leader of the Light for another fifty years.
Something twigged the Wards… A Wizard was at the Front Gate demanding entry.
HPWS
Albus swept out on to the Stoop of the Castle… only to see Potter hugging Black not thirty Feet away. A group of four witches stood nearby.
Briefly his brows twitched in anger, before he gripped his inner calm.
He drifted closer to the group…
"And then when I returned to the Great Hall, the new DADA Professor turned her Vileness towards me. It was that nasty witch in pink from my trial." Harry turned to face the Headmaster. "Headmaster, Lord Black heard about Professor Flitwick, and rushed here to offer his help. Now with the DADA post open…"
"Two Birds, one stone." Albus smiled. "Thank you, Sirius, my boy. I will take you up on that." He shook hands with the newly Seated Lord. 'And when the curse on the DADA post triggers… the Boy will be mine…again.'
Padfoot froze when he noticed the Old man's eyes twinkling, then he smiled. 'The curse already triggered oncc this year. It should run dormant until May… time I get to spend with the Pup.' Lord Black nodded back. "Albus, you had but to ask." looking at McGonagall, "Minnie. I will take Lupin's old office if you don't mind. I will have to converse with Remus and have a planned year for you by Monday."
"Castellan Potter." McGonagall sighed, "See to our new DADA Professor." She covered her eyes with one hand. "I still need to Converse with Regent Bones on her Niece's new Class. Healer Tonks, please see to your Duties in the Medical Wing."
"Why is Healer Tonks running the Medical Wing?" Albus frowned.
Castellan 'Harry' Potter smiled at the old wizard. "Dear Poppy came down with something when I delivered the Charms Master to her Care. Whatever is causing your Master Class Professor's to attack me must be spreading. It is no longer just the DADA Professors…" Harry pressed his right hand to his heart. "I just Hope that Potion Master Snape is not Affected… The effort to bring him to heel could very well kill him."
Albus looked into Potter's eyes and saw something 'Dark' looking back. He all but ran back to his Office.
HPSW
TBC
