Title: Holding Court
Rating: PG-13
Summary: *WARNING: this story is an unabashed celebration of Harry Potter's uniqueness and powers. Anyone who would prefer to see another character glorified, turn away please!*
Hogwarts is divided amongst the four Houses. As physical violence increases, a Hufflepuff fourth year watches as her hero fulfills his destiny. Set in Harry's seventh year, doom approaches. But where is the real war; between the Houses or against the Dark Lord?
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Care of Magical Creatures in January always entails a certain amount of dread. For one thing, they were outside, in the snow and it was COLD! For another, the snow seemed to scream "throw me" to a great number of people, so one had to be on guard the entire time one was walking to Hagrid's hut or back. Finally, and this applied to the class year round, Hagrid had a definite weak spot for Gryffindors.
And as Minnie and her friends approached the groundskeeper's hut, she could see at least two Gryffindors talking animatedly to Hagrid, miming spell casting and heroic looking stances. No doubt they were relating breakfast's events to him, amplifying a certain character's actions.
The rest of the class arrived and Hagrid introduced today's subject. They were continuing with the Blast-Ended Skrewts who needed exercise. Minnie paired up with another Hufflepuff, Kevin Whitby. Together, they managed to tie a rope around the middle of the Skrewt and off they went. She could see Hagrid tying up Dennis Creevey's Skrewt while Natalie McDonald looked on.
That sight brought her back on the thought of how Hogwarts professors were drifting farther apart from each other. Of course, they maintained a façade of impartiality, but there were several obvious slip-ups, like that morning. Professors obviously looked after their own Houses. Hufflepuffs always had it easy in Herbology, as Sprout would pre-select the plants everyone had to handle, giving them the easier plants. Ravenclaws always achieved high marks in Flitwick's class. Sure, part of it was that Ravenclaws were usually naturally smart, but Minnie knew that in Charm Casting sessions, Flitwick went a bit easier on his students. And of course, going to Potions class without wearing a Slytherin badge was sheer stupidity, even though three fourths of the school had no choice in this matter. Surprisingly, McGonagall didn't heavily favor Gryffindors, she was always strict, with seemingly no fault. It was rare when she would allow the Gryffindor Quidditch team a week without homework (usually right before a match with Slytherins) or, as with that morning, she failed to take off points for dueling outside of class. But then again, the Gryffindors deserved no pity, Hagrid and Professor Trelawney often turned a blind eye on their misdeeds and supported them in front of the other teachers.
"Hey! Watch it!" a sudden shout brought Minnie back down to earth as her Skrewt, which had been dragging her along behind it, nearly collided with that of Graham Pritchard and Malcolm Baddock, both Slytherins. Minnie gratefully handed the leash back to Kevin so that he could take a turn while she jogged along behind him. He was stronger than she was, so the Skrewt didn't simply run off with him. It was trying to burn him instead. But Kevin was quick, he kept dodging the bursts of fire, though one gust only missed him by a few hairsbreadths.
By the time class was over. Kevin had a great, gaping hole in his cloak and Minnie was having trouble walking straight. Running for so long had caused her legs to turn to jello. To make matters worse, the seventh years had class after they did. As they desperately tried to manhandle the Skrewts back into their box, the seventh years hung around the paddock, looking bored yet mildly amused. Occasional jeers and 'get 'im Dennis!' could be heard.
"Eh, Harry! Would yeh get over here an' 'elp me get th' Skrewts back in their boxes?" Hagrid called out to a group of three students who were leaning against the fence in the manner of all cool last-year students.
The tall boy broke away from his two inseparable friends and vaulted over the paddock wall, striding towards the boxes. Granger, still leaning on Weasley's arm, ambled over to watch, still talking about something while pointing to several of the burn marks on the fourth years. Potter, however, merely started pointing his wand at Skrewts and sent them flying into their boxes. Soon, only Minnie and Kevin's Skrewt remained. Their Skrewt appeared to have a modicum of intelligence because it seemed to realize that Harry would shortly be sending it back into its box and it obviously didn't relish the idea. It charged him, pincers clicking and end blasting. Minnie started running after it, yelling and waving her arms, trying to spook it away. But Harry simply turned to face it, lifted his wand and it went flying back into the box where Kevin slammed the lid down over it.
Minnie stopped running, looking from where the Skrewt had been moments before to where it was now, causing its box to shake and quiver. She looked up at Harry, who was looking at her with a very amused look on his face. She turned, face burning, grabbed her bag and ran off in pursuit of Laura and Eleanor, who were waiting for her at the entrance of the gardens.
Oh the shame! How stupid she must have looked in front of all those seventh years! Running with her arms waving and flapping while yelling bloody murder! The only positive thing she could think of was that Harry would now know her by sight. But, judging from the giggles and guffaws coming from the other students, it probably wouldn't be such a good memory. Somehow, in all of her fantasies, the moment Harry would notice her never included her acting like a lunatic. Fine, she was a romantic, but she'd always pictured it with him maybe rescuing her from another of those giant snakes like he'd killed before; she really envied Virginia Weasley for having had that honor.
"That was such an awful class! Why they allow such a teacher to keep teaching or even continue to show us such awful and dangerous animals is really beyond comprehension!" Eleanor was off on another rant. She obviously wasn't going to discuss what had happened to Minnie. As it didn't affect her, it wasn't worthy of discussion.
The three girls wound their way through the garden, listening to Eleanor talk of this and that and how she was sure Owen was trying to flirt with her and how that made her all confused. She was posing rhetorical questions when a voice called out.
"Hey Minnie, wait up!" Minnie turned abruptly and realized only too late that her bag was still open. Her books, parchment, quills and everything else in her bag flew out, scattering everywhere.
"Oh no!" Minnie immediately went down on her knees to pick everything up.
"Well, see you in Charms, then Minnie," said Eleanor, before turning and heading off with Laura, still talking about her so-called 'problem' with Owen.
Somebody came and knelt beside her, helping her to put all of her stuff back in her bag.
"Did your bag break or was it simply open?" asked Kevin as he handed her another bit of parchment.
"Oh, it was open. Just look at this mess, I've got purple ink all over my Transfigurations notebook! McGonagalls going to throw a fit!"
"Nah, she won't even notice. The only person's notebooks she even checks is Malcolm's. I think she's looking for proof, just like the rest of us, that he can't really read or write."
"He can't?" asked Minnie. Ooooo, more gossip, she just loved that stuff!
"Nah, my guess is he just copies the symbols and shapes off of Emma's paper. The only snag to my theory is I can't understand how he manages on his exams and tests. We're always split up for that. What ever he's doing to cheat, I hope he keeps at it until the OWL's. There's supposed to be so many enchantments during that test that there's no way to cheat. And if he gets caught cheating for that, he'll definitely get kicked out. Wouldn't that be great?"
Minnie giggled. No one in Hufflepuff liked Malcolm Baddock, he was too much of a blundering idiot. And, he'd insulted the badger. That was an unforgivable. Hufflepuffs might not be brilliant, but they were proud too.
The steps into the Great Hall rose up in front of them and the two walked in and up the Great staircase, on their way to Charms, still discussing the various Slytherins they would wish to see expelled. They passed several groups of Ravenclaws, they must not be too far from the Ravenclaw dorms and a harried group of fifth year Slytherins, maybe the pressure of OWL's was catching up to them?
"Nope," said Kevin, "Can't be that. Slytherins never panic about anything. Maybe another prank's been pulled. Granger looked entirely too smug outside there. If she had any sense, she'd feel properly ashamed of letting down her guard and allowing herself to be caught in the back like that."
Kevin kept going about Granger's shortcomings but Minnie wasn't listening. So, people were actually criticizing the Gryffindor actions? She couldn't find any flaws with it, they hadn't had any warning, and it was right royal of Harry to protect all his charges in the way he did. Well, okay, maybe the bouncing aspect of the Shield could have been rethought, but then again, that's what Shield Charms did. But she had to agree that Granger looked entirely too upbeat after having received those bolts in the back only a few hours ago.
They'd arrived at the Charms classroom, where Eleanor and Laura were waiting, with the other Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Professor Flitwick opened the doors and allowed them to sit.
They would be practicing Banishing Charms today. Minnie found herself paired up with Owen as Laura and Eleanor were inseparable and Kevin had been paired up with Stewart Ackerley, a Ravenclaw.
"He couldn't have taught us this sooner, could he?" hissed Owen, as someone sent a cushion against his burnt arm. "This is the stuff we could use against those damned Skrewts with Hagrid. I'll bet it's what Potter used. So like him really, showing off his magic like that."
"He didn't use this! The Skrewts went directly into their boxes! These cushions are going everywhere except where we're aiming."
"Sheesh, Minnie! He's a seventh year! He's been doing this like forever now! He can aim when he does it, the bastard." He was looking at Minnie out of the corner of his eye now, in a way she didn't like. It was cold and calculating. It was a look most often worn by Draco Malfoy, and it was making her extremely uncomfortable.
"Whyreyoulookinarme?" she mumbled.
"What?" he laughed.
"Well, you were looking at me oddly, that's all," she mumbled again defensively.
"You've been having trouble with the Court, haven't you?" he said suddenly. Minnie tensed, the sudden seeming change of subject surprising her.
"What do you mean?"
"Potter. The Court's noticed you're always staring at Potter," he replied matter-of-factly.
"Well… No! I mean, I was only looking! He just happened to be sitting there! I was daydreaming!" Oh, that sounded really bad.
Owen laughed. "Yeah right! And that's supposed to sound convincing?" He was grinning madly now.
"Okay, okay. What do you want from me?" Minnie could smell blackmail when it came around. Owen looked at her shrewdly.
"You're brighter that you look-"
"Oh, thanks loads. Forgive me if I don't melt at your feet."
"Oh darn, that's mostly what I wanted," he said, deadpan.
"What!?!?" Where the heck was he going with this?
"Well, I think we can help each other out."
"How so?"
"Well, you know the trouble I have with the Court, right?"
"Uhmmm, that stuff with Orla?"
"Well, yeah," he was staring at the Ravenclaw at the other side of the room who was determinedly keeping her back to him. "You know already?" He shook his head, "Sheesh, I didn't know that Eleanor would get the story out that fast!"
"You knew that she…?!" Minnie gaped at him.
"Well, yeah. I had to get the news of the break up out fast. Telling her ensures that everyone and their brother will know of it by the time lunch ends.
'But even after breaking up with Orla, I don't think Zacharias will keep me on the team. I think the Court knows that I only dumped her for fear of reprisals. So, I need to prove to them that my heart won't betray me again." He said the last part with a melodramatic air.
"So… what do you need me for? I don't hold any great influence on the Court, remember?"
"No, but we can still help each other." Minnie raised an eyebrow, about to interrupt, but he continued, "What we both need, is a way to show that we've got our hearts firmly in Hufflepuff. I need to show that I don't like Orla, you need to prove you don't care about Potter." He raised a hand to forestall her, "Yeah, I know, I know, you don't really like him. Fine. But you've got to prove it."
"So what are you saying?" Minnie spat out, she was furious now, and she thought she knew what was coming.
"Go out with me." He said it without even looking at her, continuing to aim a cushion towards a box, which was their target.
Minnie just gaped at him, even though she'd know this was coming.
"Me? Go out with you?"
"Yup." He was now looking at her, serious expression on his face.
"Wait a minute… what does that entail… do you mean holding hands or more?"
"Oh, so you accept?"
"Did I say that…"
"Well, not exactly… but-"
"Okay, fine. Look I'm willing, after all, I need to prove something too… but I want to know what exactly you want."
"You mean, you want to know where we draw the line." He pulled a hand through his hair, Minnie was sure it was an act. "Well, I guess in the beginning it would be holding hands, but that won't be enough. The Court will be really suspicious of us you know…" He seemed reluctant to go on.
Minnie put both her hands on the table in front of her and leaned on it hard. "You mean kissing, right?"
She got a nod, "Yeah, I guess."
"Well, you sound sure of that," she said sarcastically. "Give me until the end of class to think about it?" she asked.
Owen nodded.
Minnie thought about it as she practiced her banishing. It definitely would help her if they managed to pull it off. The Court would be incredibly watchful, their getting together would seem a little bit too providential. But it did mean that she had support in her case and frankly, it would be a good excuse to not have to hang too close to Eleanor and Laura. Uh oh, Eleanor… she'd already made up her mind that Owen was obviously going to come after her… this had possibilities. No, she wouldn't string Eleanor out, that would make a much too powerful enemy in the house. But it also meant that she wasn't going to be finding help in Eleanor, she'd most definitely stick to her (correct) theory that Owen had something to prove.
By the time class ended, Minnie was sending her cushions into the box. She was lucky Charms came easily to her. Had it been taught by a Hufflepuff, it might even have been her favorite class. As it was, her favorite class was not taught by a badger, but as McGonagall didn't favor anyone, she found Transfigurations quite acceptable. She still didn't agree with Owen's saying that Potter had used Banishing charms to put the Skrewts away, though it might have been a combination, there just was something missing in the trajectory… Anyway, she knew that most of the fourth years would at least try to use Banishment to control the Skrewts next Care of Magical Creatures class.
As they were filing out, Owen stopped her with a hand on her arm, bit his lip, then said, while staring at the floor, "So? Have you decided?"
"Yeah. I guess we'll give it a try."
"Thanks," he smiled. "You won't regret it." He dashed off.
Wait, why would I have cause to regret? thought Minnie.
"Minnie! What's wrong with you?" Eleanor and Laura had marched up to her and forcibly grabbed her arms and directed her towards the Great Hall. "We saw talking to Owen and he smiled at you at the end of class! I told you about that whole Orla business, right?"
"Oh, yeah, yeah, you did…" said Minnie, her mind still elsewhere. "Oh! Oh right! Well, shall we go eat lunch? I heard there were going to be chips today!"
***
They sat down to lunch in the same seats they'd been in that morning.
"Yummmmy, quiche! I love it when my mom makes this stuff!" squealed Eleanor. "It's French you know. When we went to France over the summer, my mom learned how to make these. You know," she looked falsely pensive, "I really miss the baguettes, that's the kind of bread that they eat, and vin, oh, sorry," she tittered, "That's wine in French, it really brought out the flavor in everything –"
"Reliving the French moments of your life, are you?" cut in a voice. Owen and Kevin had arrived. Kevin on Minnie's side of the table, Owen on the other. Kevin sat on one side, giving her a quick grin. Had Owen told him everything? That surely was one thing to regret. Owen sat across from her, grinning madly.
"You know," said Kevin to Eleanor, "You have this really maddening tendency to make others relive your life, even when they don't want to."
"I don't mind," said Laura, weakly.
"You don't have a life to live, hers is the only one you know," said Owen shortly before turning back to Eleanor, "Kevin's right. I don't know how Minnie stomachs it. How do you manage to listen to her endless windings and tall tales, Minnie? Do tell us, we're dying to know." He and Kevin both pretended to look incredibly curious and interested, going as far as putting their elbows on the table and putting their chins in their hands, gazing fixedly at her.
She blushed and giggled but before she could say anything, Eleanor cut in angrily, "Well, at least I can use my tongue to bring things to others, instead of merely insulting them!"
"Oh that hurt, really it did," said Kevin, pretending to shake with sobs.
"Now look, you've hurt his feelings," said Owen remonstratively, while patting Kevin's comfortingly.
"Oh, so it's okay for his to insult me, but it's not okay for me to point out the obvious to him?" Eleanor cried.
"Quiet down there!" ordered Morag from several seats down.
"You two think you're so incredibly funny," Eleanor hissed, "But we'll see who comes out on top. We'll see who becomes Quidditch Captain seventh year, won't we, Owen? Or will you even be on the team at that time? And you Kevin, you think your sarcastic comments really please the Court? Hoping to be a somebody later on? You – "
"Are you threatening us?" Owen asked very quietly.
"I thought at least that was clear," tossed back Eleanor, flipping her hair back.
"And you think that you're so close to the Court, don't you?" Owen smirked.
"Been thinking you've been short listed to becoming the next Queen, haven't you?" continued Kevin.
"I don't know Kevin, maybe out of House loyalty we ought to tell Hannah that we've found an upstart here."
"Right you are Owen, and I don't think Hannah will be as lenient as Terry."
"Indeed. And who knows, maybe bringing her in would cancel away any fault we've ever committed in our Queen's eyes, now wouldn't it?"
"You wouldn't dare," said Eleanor through clenched teeth.
"Would we?" the two boys answered together, identical grins on each face.
"Come Laura, we'll go sit farther down the table, I don't want to be contaminated by their bad favor," said Eleanor imperiously, flouncing off.
"Now truly Minnie, how do you stomach her?" asked Kevin as he watched the two other girls sit down next to a group of fifth years.
"She's not that bad…" she began weakly. The two boys shook their heads at her before picking up their forks and picking at the food in front of them.
"And on top of all that, she actually eats this stuff."
"She's insane man."
"Oh stop it," Minnie said with a roll of her eyes. "It's called a quiche. It's French, I think you heard that part already, but it's basically a warm pie that has meat and vegetables in it. It's not all that different from shepherd's pie, I think. And it's not that bad, you get used to it."
"You mean you like this?" asked Kevin, holding up a bit on his fork and examining it.
"Grow up."
He grinned at her again and began to eat.
Minnie's afternoon classes passed without any problems. She sat again with Eleanor and Laura at supper. Both girls were acting a bit curt, they wouldn't forget that she hadn't exactly defended them in front of the guys. But as long as she kept listening and nodding to whatever Eleanor said, she found that she was coming back in favor.
It was as Minnie was checking her bag for her books that she realized her diary was missing. She didn't fear anyone finding it and reading, it was enchanted so only she could read and write in it, but she did want it back. Drat, where could she have lost it? Oh, after Care of Magical Creatures, when she'd spun around. Her diary was probably outside, on the path.
She waited for Hannah to rise then whispered to Eleanor, "I think I lost a book outside. I'm going to go look for it. See you in the Common Room!"
She picked up her bag and headed back out the front doors.
***
Drat that book! Where was it? She was sure she'd only dropped it around here, it was supposed to be in the middle of the path! And besides, that, it was getting dark, and damn was it cold for the season! She was wrapped up in scarf, hat, mittens, and heavy woolen cloak, but the biting cold still cut through all that. She supposed she ought to be thankful that there was no snow on the path or rain to ruin her book, but she was sure it would start pretty soon, and after that… well, she'd been writing in it since she'd arrived at Hogwarts. She didn't want to lose all of what she'd written.
The hedges lining the path gave way into a small clearing. There was a statue of a centaur on the left and the hedges formed a type of circle, coming back to line the path farther ahead. There were benches placed at the wide points of the circle, though one of them was almost invisible, due to the shadows and the darkness. There! Her book was lying on the left hand-bench. How had it gotten there? She definitely hadn't put it there. Had Kevin or someone else seen it and put it there so it wouldn't be stepped on? But if it was Kevin, wouldn't he simply have pointed it out to her, or then taken it to give it to her later? Well, weirder things than that had occurred to Minnie at Hogwarts.
Anyhow, she'd found it. She headed towards it, picking it up and checked the edges and sides of the pages to make sure nothing had been bent or ripped. It was none the worse for its stay outdoors.
"So, it was your book, was it?" A soft voice spoke from the other side of the clearing. For a moment, Minnie didn't realize someone had spoken, it was so soft. She felt lost in it, it sounded like the wind, yet like water at the same time, loose, flowing, entrancing… Minnie's back tensed, it couldn't be, could it? Oh she was in trouble now!
"You ran off so suddenly after Hagrid's class, you probably didn't close your bag properly. You're lucky I found it. It was lying in the path. Anyone could have taken it." Harry Potter was reclining on the opposite bench, shrouded by shadows. His voice was quiet, though there was a trace of something else. Resentment, maybe? Irony?
Oh dear, thought Minnie. If Hannah, or anyone else for that matter, sees this, I'm in deep trouble. Will they buy it if I tell them I came out for my book and happened to run into the guy I was warned off of last night… wait, what am I saying, there's no need to warn me off…
"Thank you." Deep breath, have to say something else, "It's startling to know that something coming through your hands can come back out unscathed." There, that sounded hostile and wouldn't alert him to anything.
Harry smirked and rose, only slightly coming out of the shadows he'd been in. Oh dear, he was ever so much taller than she was… He was tall even by male standards, and she was so incredibly short. Well, maybe if she simply stood up straight, the distance would be less…
He let out a small breath, "Ah yes, a Hufflepuff. Cedric's cousin if I'm not mistaken." Wait a moment, he knew who she was? "So, another who believes me a murderer. Well, it's not so far off now is it?" She flinched and he laughed, a strange, hollow laugh. "I've not yet committed a murder, but I shall. There is no choice, it is a destiny. That future which I shall have to fulfill is my present, I live in its ever looming shadow. So if it is my present, maybe even my past, I can say that I did indeed commit a murder… but I don't regret it."
He started walking towards her, with even, measured steps. It was almost… predatory. He came up in front of her, she dared not look at him directly, she had to admit, he sounded dangerous… not really threatening, but definitely dangerous.
"Have you ever heard the phrase, it was either him or me?" If it were even possible, he was speaking even more softly, "Well for me, it is almost that." He looked grim. "It is 'either must die at the hands of the other, for neither can live while the other survives.' It isn't even a choice, really. It's a prophecy, there's no escaping one of those now is there?" He looked slightly lost to the world for a slight moment before his beautiful eyes refocused on Minnie and the corners of his mouths twitched into a most becoming smirk.
"Have you ever been marked? Have you even ever been presented with a choice that affected more than you?" He began to walk a slow circle around her, "No, you've always had a home, parents who love you and protect you. You've been sheltered, you've known what path to follow. And you won't question that path. And I, I have a path that I am doomed to take. Should I waver from it, the consequences would affect others, not only myself. And what sort of decision is that?" He reached out, placing a finger under her chin, lifting it up until she met his eyes, his brilliant green eyes. So it was true then, that it seemed as though the Killing Curse resided in his eyes, for only a curse of great power could be this vivid. He spoke again, this time in a whisper, "You've never made a real decision in your life… will you ever have to?" And with that, he dropped her chin, turned, a walked off. At least, he must have walked off, because Minnie couldn't muster enough cohesive thought to turn her head and check.
Oh this was bad. She'd sworn she wouldn't think of him, but the only thought running thought her mind right now was; He touched me! He touched me! He knows who I am! He does! He did! He does!
Okay, need to calm down… breathe in, breath out… really deep breath. Okay now, that feels better. Maybe I'd better sit down. No, not on the bench he was sitting on. Not on that bench either, you'd only be staring at where he was standing. No, better go back up to the common, room, find a nice corner and think.
***
A/N: Okay, I think that this chapter's formatting will be slightly better than last time. This is the first time I post anything on the internet so I'm still learning the ropes. As such, I'm going to need advice and help- in the form of reviews people. I was immensely flattered by those who gave me reviews on my first chapter and I do hope that you guys will do so again. As for the rest (I hope you guys exist) , help inflate my ego just a little and leave me a word. Thanks!
Akalei- I haven't had the time to read your story quite yet, but I swear I'll get around to it before Wednesday. And you like the length of the chapter? I've written most of the story and generally, the chapters are slightly shorter than this one. Keep in mind however, that any suggestions you can come up with and that I would add would then make the chapters that much longer!
Yellowpages- The House rivalry is incredibly important for the story. Actually, the beginning of Ootp gave me the idea… unfortunately, I couldn't keep the ending as everyone re-aligns themselves along with Harry at the end. That most definitely did not happen in my universe. And I'm really happy that you though my story was "literate," I'm terrified of making it sound like it was written by someone with no experience writing. Thanks!
Angel114889- Thank you, you're my first reviewer ever! And trying to make the story different by looking through the Hufflepuffs POV was intentional, the fic would be entirely too boring without it. However, I will warn you that there is absolutely no romantic involvement between Harry and Minnie- she can look but she can't touch. He's already taken!