Clay Pinions

By Lochar

Disclaimer: HP and XG belong to their respective owners, neither of which is me. If it were me, I'd be stinking rich, and as my bank account agrees I'm not rich, so therefore, I don't own it.

Chapter 16

"Hermione!" Harry started grandly the next morning in the common room. "Friend of mine who knows the library better than anyone else I know!"

Hermione looked up at Harry, puzzled. "We don't have any homework right now, so that can't be it... What is it Harry?"

"Malfoy found me last night while I was in detention with Filch. He started trying to make fun of me, but I mostly ignored him. My question is though; he called me the, 'Head of the Potter Family'. Is that true?" Harry asked.

Hermione thought about it for a moment. "Probably. You are the last Potter, so you would technically be the Head. But since you're a minor, I don't know how much applies to you. Hold on a minute." Hermione rushed out of the room and up the stairs to the girls' dorm rooms.

While he was waiting, Harry turned to Ron whom was reading a Quidditch magazine nearby. "Hey Ron, you know anything about customs for the family lines?"

"Nah. Since I'm the sixth boy in my family, there's almost no chance of me becoming head of the Weasleys. Not like we care about it anyways, but either Charlie or Bill would be the one to ask." Ron put the magazine down and shrugged. "If they even know. I know Dad does, but how much my brothers were taught? Your guess is as good as mine. We don't follow most of the traditional customs anyways, except the big few."

"Oh. What are the big few then?"

Ron thought for a moment. "Major fights between family heads, magical maturity, marriage links, heirlooms. There might be one or two others, but I don't know them."

"Wow Ron, I'm surprised." Hermione's voice was heard saying from behind them.

Ron quickly spun around as Harry laughed. "Why's that?"

"I didn't think you'd actually bother with customs at all, if your family mostly didn't." Hermione smiled at him. "Besides, if you can remember that, it shouldn't be hard to remember to do your homework, should it?"

Ron groaned. "There's a difference Hermione. Those will or already mean something; most of the stuff we have to learn I won't use again after Hogwarts."

Hermione glared at him, and as she took a deep breath Harry quickly spoke up, proving his courage by interrupting Hermione before she could start yelling at Ron. "I can guess what the major fights are, but what are those other three?" Hermione reluctantly closed her mouth and both looked to Ron to explain.

"Umm… Magical maturity happens about the same time as you become an adult in our world. That's actually what it's based on. We usually have a big party and Bill and Charlie were showing off how much their magic had improved pretty much overnight. Marriage links..." Ron paused. "I'm not sure about all of those, but when you get married, the guy who marries you links you. Mum and Dad said that it lets you feel some of the other person's emotions. After about ten years if you stay together, it can be changed to a bond, which is a stronger link that can't be broken. Heirlooms are stuff that gets passed down through the family. Since our family is so big, I mainly get the stuff that my brothers don't want. The only thing I actually got first is my great-great-great grandfather's Chocolate Frog Card collection."

"Wow Ron, that's very good." Hermione praised, which caused Ron to grin. "I checked out this book from the library. It's supposed to have the major and most of the minor Wizarding customs, traditions, and rules in it."

"'Living in the Wizarding World for the Muggle-born'?" Harry read off the cover. "And why don't we get this book on our book list for first year? It'd probably help a lot."

Hermione shrugged. "Madam Pince said about forty years ago, before Professor Binns died while he was the History of Magic teacher, it was one of the first years books." Hermione opened the book to the index. "Hmm… Ah, here it is. Chapter 8: Public Interactions between Families and their Heads. There should be something here." Hermione flipped to that chapter, and the trio started reading through it.

"Interaction between male and female Heads... Interaction between two same gender Heads... There's a lot of subheadings Hermione." Harry noted.

"We'll find something." Hermione muttered, distracted.

"Hey, I wonder if Snape is the Head of his family? We could look for something to use against him here." Ron asked.

"No, it's his uncle or something. I think Professor Snape is third or fourth in line after him."

"How do you know that Hermione?"

"I accidentally looked up some Wizarding families once in the library. I don't remember exactly who the Head of the Snapes was, but it wasn't the Professor." She looked up at Ron as he and Harry exchanged an incredulous glace at their friend's knowledge. "Why would you want to go after a Professor, Ron?"

"Why? Let's see… Because he's after the Stone, remember? And he's constantly taking points from all of us, but Harry especially?" Ron went on in an obvious tone. "He hates all the Gryffindors, and he gives more points to the Slytherins than he takes away from the Gryffindors. I've got more, want to hear them?" Ron was starting to work himself up and his voice had gotten louder by each accusation.

"Alright, so he's not the nicest teacher in Hogwarts." Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, how about this? 'Interacting with the Head of another Family'? Would that be what Malfoy was doing?" Harry interrupted the two of them.

"It would be. Let me see it." Hermione pulled the book in front of her. She quickly read over the paragraphs. "Hmm, formally meeting a Head, informal meetings with a Head, oh, maybe this? It's about respect due to a Head, and how a Head should act."

"Sounds good. So what should Malfoy have actually acted like if he was going to bring up family stuff?" Harry asked as he leaned over the book to read along with Hermione.

"Encounters between families are usually straight forward, but when a member of another family greets a Family Head in customary style, they are to be respectful and ask leave to speak normally. This style is usually reserved for disputes between families or other business between the two. Blatant disregard or disrespect towards a Family Head during these times usually precludes a direct challenge to the Head. If no challenge is given, the Head may instead challenge their aggressor to either withdraw the disparaging remarks, or face a duel. Accidental disregard or disrespect is usually quickly resolved by an apology. If a minor is the person that gives purposeful disrespect, the challenge may not be directed to the child, but instead must either be given to their parent or family Head."

Hermione read the paragraph out loud as Harry and Ron grinned.

"Harry's got something on Malfoy then? He could challenge him, right?" Ron asked, eyes gleaming.

"No. Malfoy's a minor. It means he's underage. Harry would have to challenge his dad, as I think his father is the Head of his family as well." Hermione tapped the page. "It doesn't say anything about if the Head is a minor themselves. I don't think anyone ever considered it would be possible."

"Oh well." Harry gave a shrugged towards Hermione, and then looked at Ron. "Hey, do you think your brothers would mind helping me get back at the blond git then?"

"Oh, I think they could be talked into it very easily." Ron's grin was positively evil, as he considered getting to watch a prank instead of being on the receiving end of one. "But do you want to try to come up with something against Snape?"

"I'll come up with something, but I don't think he's done anything against my whole family, so I'm pretty sure I can't use any of this stuff against him."

Ron looked disheartened. "Dang it, I was hoping we could do something to him."

"Hey Hermione, do you think Madam Pince would have any more copies of this book in the library?"

"Probably Harry; you want to look up the traditions for the families?"

Harry grinned slightly. "Something like that."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

That evening found Harry in a hushed conversation with Ron's twin brothers Fred and George.

"So, what can the pranksters extraordinaire do for you Harry?" Fred asked.

"Malfoy insulted me last night during my detention, bringing my family into it. I'd like to return the favor. Could you guys make him look like something for me? Say, a lost Potter cousin for a day?" Harry explained.

The twins looked at each other, then bent their heads together, whispering. After a short moment, they looked back at Harry. "Sounds good with us. You'll let us handle it right? We'd love to have you in the prank, but I think you'll want to be innocent of actually doing anything."

Harry looked at them for a moment. "I really don't want to know what you're going to do to him, do I?" The twins shook their heads at him. "Alright, I'll just sit back and enjoy it. Is there anyway I can help though?"

George answered. "A couple strands of your hair would make it easier for us to do the prank."

Harry reached up to his head and pulled a pair of hairs from his head and handed them to George. "Anything else?"

"Nope. You'll see it tomorrow at breakfast. Don't know how long it will last, but at least an hour."

-

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table the next morning, surreptitiously watching the Slytherin table as everyone started to eat breakfast. Malfoy looked the same as normal unfortunately. His blond hair was still slicked back, and he sat at the table, ignoring the rest, only paying attention to his fellow Slytherins.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and looked up, seeing Fred standing there. "Mission accomplished. We'll see how long it takes to change him." Fred and George sat down near him, while on the other side of him Ron and Hermione sat. Ron grinned and looked up quite often at Malfoy, hoping to see what happened. Hermione looked at them all, silently berating them but not saying a word.

It was about fifteen minutes before the end of breakfast when Harry noticed it first started happening. Malfoy's hand kept brushing hair out of his face, as if it had fallen out of the gelled back look he normally wore it in. A minute later all of his hair had fallen down, covering his ears up and going over his eyes, looking quite a mess.

Malfoy stood up and glared at the room, mostly towards the Gryffindor table. Harry grinned openly at him now, as he watched Malfoy's normally bleach blond hair slowly start darkening, taking on first what looked to be black highlights, then a mix of black and blond hair, followed by looking more like blond highlights on black hair and finally ending up being fully black.

George nudged him. "Go ask him if he's part of your family."

Harry nodded and stood up, walking over to the Slytherin table where Malfoy was speechless, but quickly going into a rage. "Excuse me, but are you a member of the Potter family? You look quite a bit like I do."

Malfoy's eyes narrowed at him. "I am a pureblood member of…of…" He stuttered, trying to say his family name. His grey eyes flashed at him. "POTTER! You did this to me!"

Harry smiled at him. "You're a pureblood member of the Potters? How nice, I'm always glad to meet some of my family. But what did I do to you?"

Malfoy scowled. "I'll get you for this, Potter." He turned around and stalked off, heading for the dungeons where Harry presumed his dorm was.

Harry went and sat back down at the Gryffindor table, amidst howls of laughter coming from the Weasleys sitting there. Hermione even managed to smile at him slightly, though she shook her head at him as well.

"What'd you do to him so he couldn't say Malfoy?" Harry asked with a grin.

"Trade secret. Can't say a word about it." Fred smirked.

"You broke his interdiction by saying his name anyways." George added.

"But the change should last a little longer." Continued the first.

George looked at his twin in a conspicuous manner, and then stage whispered to him, "Hey, brother mine. You know what today is?"

"It would be the last day of the month, would it not?" Fred asked.

"Which would make tomorrow…" They both left hanging, and then turned to Ron.

Ron pushed a little further down the bench, pushing himself slightly into Hermione trying to keep away from his brothers.

"Ronnikens! It's your birthday tomorrow!"

Ron pushed himself away a bit more, forcing Hermione to stand up as Ron slid down the bench shaking his head. "No, no, no. Tomorrow's not my birthday, you two have got the family mixed up again." His eyes cast about, falling on Percy. "Tomorrow is Percy's birthday!" Ron almost shouted, bringing Percy's attention to them.

Percy looked over at them. "What is this about now?"

Ron looked at him, begging with his eyes. "It's not my birthday tomorrow, tell them, please."

Percy looked at the twins, and shuddered slightly. "Sorry Ronald, but where those two are involved, it's every Weasley for himself. It isn't my birthday though." Percy went back to talking with students from his year.

"Ah, so it is your birthday tomorrow Ronniekens! We know just the thing to get you." With that, the two got up and left the Great Hall, laughing and whispering to each other.

Ron sat back down next to Harry and seemed to attempt to sink into the bench. "I'm doomed."

Harry laughed. "Why Ron? What would they do to you?"

Ron winced. "How about managing to nick our Dad's wand and charm every last thing not stuck down in my room to turn into a spider and chase me?"

"Ouch, okay, maybe they are bad. But hey, they won't do anything permanent, right?"

"Maybe." Ron sounded unconvinced.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The next day, Ron walked around as paranoid as Harry had been after the Quidditch match.

"Mate, it's already been a half a day, and your brothers have done nothing to you." Harry laughed as they walked to Herbology. "Maybe they aren't going to do anything to you."

Ron shook his head. "No way. When they get like they were last night, there's no chance of them not doing something. They're just waiting for me to drop my guard."

Harry shrugged as they walked out of the school in the direction of the greenhouses. "Then nothing is going to happen. You're so jumpy you'd probably be afraid of Percy if he came by."

"Would not." Ron's eyes narrowed. "And it's only proper for me to be paranoid about those two. You saw, even Percy was afraid of what they'd do."

The two boys reached greenhouse 1 and Harry walked in. Ron pulled out his wand, cast another quick glance around and ducked in behind Harry. Once inside the greenhouse Ron glanced about in there, trying to keep his eye on everything at once. Harry sat down next to Hermione, whom was already there. Ron took looked hard at his stool before sitting down as well.

"There are two doors Ron. On opposite sides of the greenhouse. Not to mention, this IS a greenhouse, which means it's pretty much all windows. Are you going to watch everything?" Harry laughed as Ron paled.

"Not funny. I can't keep watching for them out here. Maybe I should have skipped the class." Ron's head was now whipping back and forth, attempting to do just as Harry had said; watch everything at once.

"Ron, don't you dare attempt to skip your classes. You showed that you can at least remember things, so you had better pay attention to Professor Sprout and learn something." Hermione admonished Ron.

"Tell me where I'll use this class outside of it, and I'll try." Ron replied absently, still looking for his brothers. He then winced as he realized what he said and turned around to find Hermione's glare piercing him.

Hermione huffed. "Ronald Weasley. Do you have any idea what job you'll have when you grow up?" Ron shook his head. "Then you need to know it all, in case your job requires it."

"I won't get a job that requires Herbology then." Ron shrugged. "Besides-" Ron's eyes bulged. "Oh no, they're outside the greenhouse!" Ron ducked down below the workbench they were at, pointing at a window. "Keep them away from me."

Harry and Hermione turned to face where Ron was pointing. "I don't see them Ron. Are you sure you're not seeing things?" Ron shook his head, and Harry pulled him back up.

"Even if they are out there, class is starting. They won't interrupt a class." Hermione huffed. "At least they better not, or I'll be very mad at them." She paused for a moment, thinking, and then grinned. "You know Ron, they'd probably go away if you ignored them and focused on class."

"Alright, alright. I'll pay attention." Ron sulked as Professor Sprout started the day's lesson on Puffapods. Although, his eyes still darted around the greenhouse, seeking out his brothers and whatever awful prank they were going to pull.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Come on Ron, food. Don't you want any? Aren't you hungry?" Harry beckoned Ron towards the exit of the common room.

Ron hunched down deeper into the overstuffed chair he had dragged into the corner of the common room. His eyes roved over the whole room, before landing on a table set up in front of the couch. "Finite Incantatem." Ron looked at Harry. "Starved, but I'm not giving those brothers of mine a chance to prank me. I'm staying right here, where I can keep an eye on the whole common room, and they can't sneak up on me." He pointed his wand at the chair he was sitting in and cast another "Finite Incantatem." at it, before going back to watching the room.

"Suit yourself, but I'm not bringing you anything back to eat. It's against the rules to have food in the common rooms." Hermione looked at Ron and smiled at him. "They wouldn't prank you in front of the whole school during dinner, would they?"

"I'm not taking any chances. And they did to Malfoy, if you remember Hermione." Ron pointed his wand at a part of the wall. "Finite Incantitum. I wouldn't put anything past them at this point. They've only got a few more hours before my birthday is over, and they haven't done anything yet."

Harry shook his head and laughed. "Alright, whatever. I'm hungry, so I'm going to get some food. Enjoy your paranoia Ron." Harry turned and walked out of the common room.

Ron looked at Hermione. "Come on Hermione, would you please bring me something back? I know you won't let my brothers do anything to it. I'm not sure Harry would; he'd probably laugh to see them prank me."

"I said I wasn't. If you want food, come down." Hermione turned and walked towards the portrait hole.

Ron called out to her. "Please Hermione! I really am hungry, but I don't want them to do anything to me. I know they will."

Hermione's shoulders slumped slightly, and she turned back to Ron. "Fine, I'll try to get you some of the bread or something. It won't be much though, ok?"

Ron nodded gratefully. "Thanks Hermione, I owe you one."

-

"No Ron?" Fred asked as Harry sat down in the Great Hall.

"What do you think? He's upstairs in the common room, paranoid as all get out, shooting 'Finite Incantatem' at anything and everything thinking the two of you are going to prank him." Harry replied.

George shook his head. "We decided not to do anything to him. We love to prank him, but frankly? He was absolutely terrified of us last night. We're letting him have today with no pranks, so he can actually enjoy his birthday. We didn't want to terrify our brother."

"Really?" Came a voice from behind Harry, as Hermione sat down. "Did you two happen to mention that to Ron?" Fred and George shook their heads. "It's even worse then, I hope you two realize. He almost threw Seamus across the room when he tapped him on the shoulder from behind." She stared at Harry as she said that. "It was something you showed him Harry, during one of your lessons with him. Anyways, he hasn't enjoyed the day at all, waiting on the two of you to prank him." Hermione removed several of the rolls from a basket, and wrapped them in a napkin.

Harry shrugged. "Not my fault that Seamus walked up behind him. Ron's been edgy all day because of you two jokers." Harry motioned to Fred and George before turning back to Hermione. "I thought you said you weren't going to get anything for Ron?" He asked, noticing what Hermione was doing.

"He begged me. He would have asked you too, but he wasn't sure if you'd protect it from his brothers." Said brothers winced as Hermione explained.

"Alright, alright. We get it. We'll tell Ron that we're not pranking him today." George said. "We didn't think he'd be this bad all day." Fred insisted.

"I doubt that he's going to believe anything you two say today." Harry stated. He looked at them. "He's going to think you're just trying to get him to lower his guard."

Both twins shrugged. "We'll just leave him alone then."

They all finished eating, Hermione and Harry chatting about the day's lessons. Mostly Hermione going over them with a fine-tooth comb as Harry listened.

Once they were finished, Hermione stood up. "I'm going to go up and give this to Ron." She held up the food she'd held for Ron. "You coming Harry?" Harry nodded and stood up. She looked at the twins. "You two had better not come up anytime soon after us, I want Ron to actually be able to eat and not think we're all out to get him." They nodded.

Once the two had reached the Fat Lady's portrait they gave the password and walked in. Harry had to laugh, as the area around Ron's chair had been given a wide berth. Even Hermione grinned when another 'Finite' flashed from Ron's chair and hit the mantle above the fireplace.

"Hey Ron, hungry?" Hermione sat down on one arm of the chair, pulling out the folded napkins and handed them over as Harry sat on the other one. Ron gratefully grabbed them.

"Thanks Hermione." Ron said as he dug into the food. "I really owe you one."

"Just pay attention in classes, would you? We'll call it even if you do that." Hermione sighed.

"You know Ron, I would have brought you food too, if you'd asked. And I wouldn't let your brothers jinx any of it." Harry poked Ron. "Why didn't you ask me?"

"Because you might have thought it was funny. I knew Hermione wouldn't let them do anything to it."

"Alright I guess. But just to let you know, I wouldn't have." Harry shrugged, not overly bothered by it.

The rest of the night passed quietly, with only a few more "Finite Incantatem" being cast by Ron.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Potions Class, 2 weeks later

Groaning slightly to himself, Harry slumped further down behind the workbench. Snape was definitely out for his blood today. Between the almost blatant attempts to make him and Ron mess up their potion to the scathing comments he had every time he walked by, Harry was ready to just leave the class behind permanently.

"Alright class. Your thickening potion should be done by now. I have samples of the potion it is supposed to go in on my desk. I'll call you up and you add it." Snape looked around at the classroom. "Mr. Malfoy, you're up first."

Malfoy stood up and walked to the front of the classroom with his potion. Throwing a smirk at Harry, he turned and added it to the potion on Snape's desk.

"Good color, and the potion is as thick as it's supposed to be. Full points Mr. Malfoy." Snape nodded as he wrote down the score. He went through the rest of his roster, before finally getting to Harry. "Potter, come up and try not to make a mess of things. Longbottom has already done that enough."

Standing up, Harry walked to the front of the room, making sure to dodge any of the Slytherins who might try to trip and make him drop the potion. Quickly making it to Snape's desk, Harry looked at him. "My potion, Instructor."

"Well? What are you waiting for Potter? Add it." Snape gestured to the flask half-filled with a light blue potion sitting on his desk.

Harry tipped the tube full of the almost clear potion into flask, watching as the two potions mixed together. The potion took on a green tint and instead of thickening, actually started to look even thinner then it was.

"Even Longbottom didn't do that bad Potter. You can't even make a simple alteration to a potion? What a foolish boy! It was supposed to become a deeper blue and get thicker, not thinner you complete idiot. I swear, you and your father are exactly alike. No good for anything useful yet everyone fawns over you… though I suppose that's not quite true; At least you did something right once. I bet your father couldn't even claim that. It's no wonder the Potter family has fallen down to a single member if it has idiots like you in it."

Harry started, and then glared back at the Potions teacher. "May I see you after class, sir?"

"If it's to beg for me to change your grade, don't bother." Snape waved him off.

"Oh, it's not about that. Please do stay, sir." Harry's voice was low as he said it, then turned around and calmly walked back to his table. Reaching it he sat down and dug into his pack, pulling out a piece of paper.

Ron looked at him. "What'd you say to the git up there Harry?"

"After he failed us for the potion, he made a few comments. I asked to stay after class to talk to him for a minute." Harry looked over the parchment, nodding to himself.

"Want me to stick around? And what's that?" Ron pointed to the paper, trying to get a good look at it.

Harry pulled it back, away from Ron, shaking his head. "No, you don't need to stay. And if it goes how it probably will, I'll show you this or a copy of it this evening, alright?"

Ron nodded, but before he could say anything else Snape spoke up.

"Class dismissed. Get out of here before any more potions end up ruined." Snape called out.

Everyone packed up and left, with Ron pulling Hermione out of the classroom. Once Harry was the only student left, he got up and approached Snape's desk.

"So Potter, what do you want? I told you begging for a grade change wouldn't work, although you could try it. I'd enjoy seeing it." Snape's malevolent glare was held back by nothing now, as there weren't any others to see him.

Harry shook his head and took a deep breath, thinking his next words over carefully. "Professor Snape." Snape raised an eyebrow. "I am Harry Potter, head of the Potter family. I have ignored the slights and insults you have cast on me, since they only were about me. Today, you brought my family into your insults. I would request of you an apology now, along with a promise to not bring my family into anything you have to say about me ever again."

Snape sat back in his chair, smirking to himself. "Well Potter, I refuse to apologize for any remarks I have made. I made them in earnest, considering them not insults, but true statements. If you cannot accept the truth, then that is a problem of yours, not mine."

Harry nodded slightly. "As you think. As the Head of the Potter family, I have several demands that I will now make, but I only want the first met right now. Any more slurs on my family name and I will make the next demand." He handed him the parchment Ron had wanted to see earlier.

"As you can see, my demands are not difficult. I wish for an apology from you, here in private. No one need know. If you continue to insult me, I will require a second apology, publicly, in front of as many people as you insulted me. If you insist on continuing, I will require a written apology for any and all insults, including those you have already made an apology for and given out to any who may ask you for it. A fourth offense and I would require you to surrender money for both insults, and anything the insults would happen to cause destruction to. Such as a potion cauldron. If you still do not desist on insulting me and my family, I will demand that your family Head officially remove you from your family." Harry stated, almost as if he had memorized the speech beforehand.

Snape glared at him, then crumbled up the parchment and threw it aside. "You listen here boy." He hissed at Harry, his eyes narrowed. "I will make no such apology, written or spoken, private or public. Get out of here, before I give you detention for the rest of the school year."

"If you insist. I will be writing your family Head explaining this then." Harry turned around with his pack, leaving Snape sitting at his desk.

-

That evening at dinner, Harry shared a copy of the letter he had given to Snape with Ron and Hermione.

"You're crazy Mate! A good crazy, but still. You didn't really expect him to actually listen to you, did you?" Ron was stunned.

Hermione's reaction was quite different. "Harry, Professor Snape hasn't done anything to you to warrant this kind of treatment. How could you?"

Harry looked first to Ron, then to Hermione. "No, I didn't expect him to listen to me Ron. I had to do it though. I told him I'd send this to his family Head if he didn't. And Hermione, he insulted my whole family, my dad and me especially. I have every right to demand an apology for that."

Hermione went quiet, and didn't comment farther. Instead she just turned to her food, eating silently.

Harry turned back to the paper on the table, signing it.

To Mr. Glastu Snape;

I am Harry James Potter, Head of the Potter family. While I am only a student at Hogwarts, I still expect to not be ridiculed and belittled by a member of your family. I have included a small list of demands for your nephew, Severus Snape. I would only require him to meet each demand once, and only one at a time. The demands are not at all hard for the first three and yet he refuses to even consider an apology. I would ask that you, as Head of the Snape family, to make him agree to my demands. They bring no shame to the Snape family except for my last demand, and if he has not learned his lesson by then, I myself would not want such a person in my own family.

Thank you for your patience,

Harry J. Potter

Harry folded the letter up and stuffed it into an envelope. He took one last look at the demand list, folded it and added it to the envelope as well. He closed the envelope, and then placed his finger over it, tapping the fingernail with his wand. It felt like a pinprick on the other side of his finger, and when he removed it, there was a red spot covering the seal on the envelope.

"What's that?" Hermione asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Family blood seal. Apparently, I have to do that on any letters I send as a family Head, so that it's official." Harry explained.

Ron slowed down his own eating to ask a question. "Where in the world did you learn all that stuff anyways?"

Harry grinned at Ron, then motioned to Hermione, whose eyes widened. "Hermione. She found the book when we were looking for stuff on Malfoy remember? I checked out another copy, and found out all that stuff. Really boring to read, but kinda fun to use on Snape."

"Harry, you shouldn't have!" Hermione was now staring wide-eyed at him. "You…you..." She was actually at a loss for words.

"I waited until he actually insulted my whole family Hermione. I could have tried to do something whenever he insulted me, but I didn't." Harry shrugged and continued, "Not my fault if he can't help but insult me."

He handed the letter to Hedwig, who was waiting patiently while picking at pieces of food from Harry's plate. "Hedwig, take this to Glastu Snape, alright? Can you find him?"

Hedwig hooted and preened herself.

"Guess she can." Ron laughed.

Harry let her grab hold of the letter, then tied it loosely to her foot. "Go for it then girl." Hedwig took off from the Gryffindor table and went right out the window heading for wherever Glastu Snape was.

And that would be the end of this chapter ladies and gents. Thank you for all the lovely reviews, even some of the more scathing ones. grin I do apologize for taking longer than normal for updates, but it's been a rough week. Family had to come first.

Verhasa, does this meet your expectations?

Nyeshet, 1? Haven't thought of that, but the Chi you're talking about has side effects. It messed with his broom, if you'll remember. And 2? The problem lies with the fact that Harry's magical core is different than anyone else's as well. He probably wouldn't be able to find their core.

Raphael. You accidentally anon reviewed twice. I killed the dupe. ;) Dudley is in his own story, Nine Months without my Cousin. If you mean will we ever see him at Hogwarts, that'd be telling, wouldn't it?

Read and review, as always folks.