The Dreams of Kings
Disclaimer: Any Harry Potter or related characters belong to JK Rowling, Warner Bros etc. Anything else is mine
Chapter 9
A week later Malfoy crept down a corridor, he had stopped searching for several days after Blaise and that Ravenclaw had caught him, because he didn't want Potter to go to Dumbledore or worse Snape about him.
His father was angry enough with him after Potter beat him yet again in that Quidditch match. If his cover at Hogwarts was blown his usefulness to his father and Voldemort, meagre as it was, would end completely followed in quick succession by his life, if he were lucky.
He stopped suddenly.
He thought he had heard footsteps.
He drew his wand, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, he spun around, saw a black leather and spiked fist coming towards him.
Then blackness.
Malfoy regained consciousness painfully.
He saw a ceiling painted with griffins, he tried to get up, but his body wasn't connected to his brain.
His head moved so he was looking directly in front of him, he saw Potter.
"Potter, what's this?"
"This is you being caught spying, bought to me and put in a chair in my office."
"Why?"
"Good question, you see I don't like you, I haven't since the moment I first met you, before you even spoke I disliked you and everything you stood for then and stand for now. I could kill you."
Harry to let this sink in. "Myself or have the Jolen Ra, the DA, Remus, Mad Eye or any number of people who hate you or follow me kill you in any of hundreds ways and no one not even Fudge could or would stop me."
"But I have decided to offer you a chance to join us, here and now as one of us."
"Why would I do that?"
"One because then you wouldn't be killed as a spy, now by me or after the war by the new Government. And two because no true Malfoy or true Slytherin would follow a mad half blood who offers you only pain, servitude and Death."
"You sure you're not a Slytherin?"
"Oh but I am. In fact you were nearly right." Harry said showing Malfoy a white-gold ring with an emerald serpent on it.
"But He is the heir of Slytherin."
"No, Tom Marvolo Riddle was the heir of Slytherin, when he died in 1981 the title of Slytherin pasted to the keeping of the Blacks, which I as the heir of the oldest male Black inherited."
"You mean you have the Slytherin titles, you must have half the remaining noble titles in the world."
"Yep, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw. And of cause the other three noble heirs are all on my side."
"Who is the third?"
"Heir of Hufflepuff."
"Who is?"
"Arthur Weasley."
"Weasley is a noble."
"Not really the actual line has been extinct for five centuries, they are the heirs only because it was needed to preserve as many noble votes as possible because as long as they had seven Houses votes they could take control anytime they wanted."
"You can command me with the ring you do know that?"
"Naturally, why do you think that your body doesn't move?"
"Right, and you could kill me, or torture me or hell just turn me inside out and no one could do anything because it's your right to do those things."
Harry gestured at Malfoy, who fell forward on to the floor as Harry's control left him.
"If you join and you betray us. I will break every bone in your body into tiny pieces, scorch everything to dust and scatter the dust the length and breadth of the world, and you will feel every second of it, clear." Harry said eyes glowing.
"Yup." Malfoy looked him in the eye. "I'm in."
Winter approached, the DA continued with every practice time it could find, it was often taken by a random couple of the Hextet rather than Harry or Remus, the strangest and most telling occasion was in early December when Neville took the DA alone.
That lesson was one of the best anyone could remember, mainly because Neville didn't have Hermione's amazing intellect or Harry's unearthly power. He was an average and at one time far below average student who had become one of the DA's deadliest duellers.
"You did good, Neville. I think you know it to, which is the best part." Harry said from the corner.
"You were here, weren't you?" Neville asked.
Harry grinned. "Of course, you might have needed me but I wanted to see if you could lead the DA without me."
"Makes sense, because of the coming battle?"
"Yes, when Tom's Army comes, my purpose will be to get to Him and finish it, so I will bypass the main body of his army if I can, you will need to help the others destroy his forces."
"We'll be ready."
"I know."
"You really trust Malfoy not to betray us?" Ron said when Harry told him.
"Yes for several reasons not least for which he knows next to nothing about me or my plans, also he knows that if he does he dies, either when Tom, Lucius or some other dark wizard kills him or we do. Several of the usual suspects including Pansy have made minor attempts, Blaise is handling it."
"Okay, now I can trust Malfoy."
"Why keep him out of the DA."
"To prevent accidents, because he doesn't need the training and encase I'm wrong."
"Cool."
On the Twenty second of December, Remus, Ron and Hermione were on their way back to the castle when they noticed a commotion at the Jolen Ra camp, moments later they were joined by Professor McGonagall and a group of Gryffindors.
"What is going on, Remus?" McGonagall asked.
"I don't know but I suggest we find out."
They reached the camp several moments later, it was a scene of chaos, Jolen Ra fighting everywhere, punching, throwing and generally beating each other up.
"Mr Potter, what is happening?" McGonagall asked.
"A fight, professor." Harry said as he head butted a Jolen Ra, and then kneaded him in the face, knocking him out.
"Why?"
Harry grabbed a Jolen Ra and threw him into a tree, kicked another in the chest and flipped one that grabbed him from behind.
"Fighting is what they do, I happened to be here when this one started, they don't mind, its perfectly normal for them to have fights especially on the Solstices."
"Right." McGonagall said it was clear she didn't like it.
Seamus charged at one of the Jolen Ra, smashed into him and was knocked out.
Remus changed as he charged in after him.
Remus snarled and knocked several Jolen Ra away, he picked up Seamus and turned round. He punched or kicked his way back through the crowd.
"Sure you don't want to stay here at the party? Its great." Harry asked as he was fighting another group of Jolen Ra, joined by several other Jolen Ra including a woman.
"Never was one for recreational violence, so I'll pass." Remus said and loped off.
"Its nearly over anyway." Harry said and came to stand by McGonagall and the others.
"That wasn't the first cracked skull we've had tonight but it's the first that won't heal itself."
"How often do these types of fights happen?"
"I was in two in my moon in Takadune, this is the first here at Hogwarts."
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"No, no weapons are used so the worst that happens is bruises, some cuts and a few broken bones, all of which will be gone by morning."
"Okay."
McGonagall led the group back to the castle.
Christmas came soon after, Ginny got a gold griffin pendant from Harry, who also gave Hermione and Ron dress robes that they then wore at the New Year ball.
I wish I had a picture of Malfoys face when he sees the new dress robes.
Don't worry the Creeveys have been in place for an hour
Harry felt Ginny grin.
They danced for several hours straight, their fluid grace and balance making them appear to be part of the show, but with such raw emotion showing in their eyes, those around them thought that anything to get between them would be instantly burnt to ash.
They spoke little; they didn't need to because each knew every thought before the other finished thinking it.
I have something to give you. Harry said.
More? The pendant is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, what more could you give me? Ginny wondered.
Your Parents are here, that's good. Harry thought, Ginny could feel the depth of his feelings for her; she wished sometimes that other wizards could be like this.
Modern Wizards is too weak, magically and spiritually to survive the kind of bond we share. Harry pointed out, Ginny wasn't surprised that he 'seen' that thought.
We should pull back, I can't focused on what people are saying like this.
Agreed. Harry said, the link fading to its normal bubbling spring not raging cataract.
"Ginny, I have something for you." Harry said, a dark wooden box with the Gryffindor symbol on it appears in his right hand.
Ginny opens it and gasps.
"Dal mathar, el knajul van shen vas." Harry spoke.
"Col mathar, shen turyu." Ginny returns and takes a golden griffin ring with rubies for eyes, places it on her finger, it blazes with red-gold light and settles, a perfect fit on her finger.
Clapping was heard.
Ron approached Harry later on.
"What was that?"
"Which?"
"the lightshow and the weird speech."
"Promise vows."
"like Marriage?" Ron asked, confused.
"No, a traditional union would be pointless for us, we are bonded mind, body and soul for months now, the promise vows show the world what we share."
"Doesn't that endanger Ginny?"
"No, there are three wizards in the world with the power to kill her."
"You, Dumbledore and Riddle."
"Yes."
Harry was about to walk away but he turned and spoke "By the way, you now outrank Malfoy."
Harry quickly left before Ron could think of a response.
Harry felt Ginny in his mind.
My brother really looks comical when he is speechless.
Yes.
Any chance you could invite me up for a more private party of our own.
For you, anytime.
If anyone noticed their early departure, they forgot by the morning.
"Welcome to the second match of the Quidditch Cup, courageous and stronger than ever Gryffindor have a massive lead on their opponents Ravenclaw, can the raven claw's largely untested seeker beat Gryffindors Harry Potter to the snitch, I have my doubts, folks."
The whistle was blown, immediately Ginny took possession for Gryffindor, beat the keeper and scored, the next few minutes featured playing at dizzying speed, Art Deacon put his microphone down, without even trying to commentate, several amazing saves by both keepers prevented anymore goals, one of the Bradley twins quickly put a stop to this by firing a bludger at the lead chaser, taking her out of the game, Ravenclaws formation disintegrated at this point and they failed to prevent several fantastic goals by Ginny.
Harry circled the pitch.
I think its about time to win the match, with this thought he accelerated in a curve past the Ravenclaw seeker straight at the snitch, the other seeker pushed her broom to its top speed, but it wasn't enough Harry turned round so he was upside down and snapped out his hand and caught the snitch.
"Now, I know that was cool and I am proud of my team, I hope most of you are too, but I would like to thank the Ravenclaws for an excellent game and unlike some who will remain nameless ("Malfoy." Ron said) for being sporting enough to be good losers, because no-one could or should win all the time."
"Here, Here."
"What do you lose at?" Asked a Ravenclaw.
"I win two out of five chess games, I have never made a house of cards that didn't explode, and my one and only poker game the players are sworn on pain of death to never speak of unless I die first."
Several people laughed.
"I promised Professor McGonagall that the party would be over at midnight, so enjoy yourselves."
Ginny approached with a pair of glasses.
That was an amazing catch out there, you know.
I did, but its great to here you say it.
What will we do after?
Everything we want.
Together.
For Ever and Ever.
So Mote it be.
Laughter.
You think my brother and the others can handle the party without us.
Definitely.
Laughter.
Neither of them was seen that night.