Hey everyone,
Like I said, this story is going to have quite a bit of Hermione bashing as it will portray her as her usual bashing self; self-centered, arrogant and in the belief that, because she is the smartest, she is always right and the plans of others – especially Harry – always go wrong. There will also be AD and MM bashing aplenty.
Have fun, all,
Venquine1990
Preview #16
Titles And Acronyms
6th of October 1995
Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts
Harry's POV
"Harry, would you mind waiting? I – I need to talk with you." I hear the voice of one of my team mates say from behind me as I am gathering my Quidditch gear together, ready to pack them all in my Gryffindor scarf and hang them over my broom and I turn around, seeing Alicia standing there looking more nervous than I've ever seen her.
I tilt my head at this and say: "Sure, is something wrong?" And the girl shakes her head before sending a significant look at the team captain Angelina, who nods and says: "Come on, everyone, this requires some privacy." And I see Ron sending me a questioning look, but I shrug at him, silently telling him I don't know either.
My best friend nods and gets led out by his older brothers, Fred and George having looks on their faces that prove they take this issue Alicia might have very seriously and that alone is enough to make me know my team mate deserves my full attention, making me sit down on the bench opposite of where she's standing.
The girl herself smiles as she sees my concerned look and the way I am seated to prove her I am taking this problem of hers seriously and she sighs as she asks: "Can – can I join you?" At which I can't help but raise an eyebrow at the question, making the girl giggle as she moves over and sits down next to me, her body still tense.
"What's wrong, Alicia?" I ask her and she retorts: "Have you ever heard of the Harem Hoarder of Hogwarts?" Yet while I know exactly what a Harem is, do I feel shocked at the very thought that someone hoards such a thing and at Hogwarts no less and I hear Alicia mutter: "I'll take that as a no." Before she sighs.
I look at her and ask: "You know the Hoarder?" And the girl nods as she says: "It'll be one of the people who will come to the meeting tomorrow. And speaking of that meeting, it's – more or less the reason I wanted to talk to you. I – I want to ask a favor. Something I would like you to do while at the meeting tomorrow."
At this I nod, while part of me wonders who of my friends could have become the Hoarder behind my back and Alicia sighs as she says: "Let me just start at the beginning by explaining you what a Harem Hoarder is. A Harem Hoarder is someone who picks one girl or boy from each House from fourth to Seventh and – takes their virtue.
And for House Spinnet, that virtue is something we Ladies of the House aren't to lose that until our marriage bed. Unfortunately Zacharias Smith decided I should be the Gryffindor girl of my year and he started convincing me just a few weeks before Halloween last year and – his Harem doesn't like that I am still denying him.
They've been showing me their dislike of this in multiple ways, most of them ways the teachers can't notice unless they take a closer look and this made me really look forward to last summer in the hopes I can get my father to convince Smith's father to get his son to stop this. Only, Smith turned out to be one step ahead of me."
This both worries me and makes me wonder why Hermione went and invited people I don't even know, though I'm sure it's the fact that I agreed to teach whoever would be willing to listen, yet this makes me think: "Though I'd still rather know who I teach." Before I ask: "Did he attack you before you could tell your dad?"
But Alicia shakes her head and says: "When I arrived at the train station back from Hogwarts, dad told me he had a meeting with Lord Smith. I thought this was because either Katie or Angelina had told him about the harassment, but at the meeting itself, I discovered this wasn't the case. Rather, Smith tricked me – into a marriage contract."
This shocks me and Alicia sighs as she says: "Yeah, Smith used my title here at Hogwarts, as Mother of Gryffindor, to palm in my dad and make him think I could make the picture perfect mother for the next generation of House Smith-Spinnet, but while his father and mine were fantasizing about that, Smith was leering at me.
I was horrified by the looks he sent my way and father didn't notice this until four days later – and didn't comment on it until a fortnight after the meeting. But by that time I had been given so many letters from the Harem, congratulating me for becoming one of them, that I didn't feel like explaining to father why I was so horrified.
The problem is that, just two days before this year started, Smith made another meeting and tried convincing my dad that we should have shared dorms here at school. Thankfully dad disagreed to this because of our family virtue, but – Smith has been encouraging me to just give in and come with him to the Hufflepuff dorm rooms.
He cares nothing for the marriage contract, what my family stands for or what I want in life. And I know that if I tell dad the truth and convince him to just annul the contract, I will have both Smith and the Harem on my neck – and seeing as how some of them are my own House Mates, even my dorm might not be a safe place."
By now I have wrapped my arm around the girl, feeling horrible that I have been so focused on everything going wrong in my life that I don't even notice the horrible struggle my good friend – and someone who has been like a true mother for me while here – is going through and I ask: "So, how do you want me to help?"
And the girl answers: "At the meeting tomorrow, I want you to analyze all of the males that will be coming and I want you to see if any of them would make for someone suitable to transfer the contract to. If I have a husband who can and will protect me, I – I will just feel so much better about finally doing what I want this year."
"But Alicia, you shouldn't want to marry just for protection. Surely there's someone out there you want to spend the rest of your life with." I softly tell her, feeling horrible that she would throw away a potential chance at her dream life just to feel safe and the girl sighs, cuddling closer against me as she says: "There is – and there isn't."
This confuses me and she asks: "You know how many titles, especially famous titles, have acronyms, right?" I nod, wondering why she's bringing this up now and she says: "Well, there has been one title I always loved for its acronym and there is one title I always hated for its acronym; especially after I met the person having latter title."
This makes me nudge her slightly and she giggles as I must have nudged her at a ticklish spot and she says: "I – please don't take this the wrong way, Harry, but – I always loved the title Lady Potter, as its acronym is Mother of the Family. And I always hated the title Boy-Who-Lived, cause its acronym is the word orphan."
At this I smile at her, loving that she has always looked at my famous title the same way I've looked at it since finding out about it as well as amazed that my mum had such a brilliant title herself when she married my dad and part of me wonders if it was the acronym that inspired her to sacrifice her own life to save mine all those years ago.
"I've believed in this since I was seven and when I came to Hogwarts and heard McGonagall's speech, especially the line Your House is like your family I wanted to be in Gryffindor more than anything else as I felt I could learn from McGonagall how to be a good mother. Needless to say, it took me a month to realize how wrong I was."
This makes me roll my eyes as it's true without any chance for argument, especially seeing the fact that McGonagall hasn't visited the common room since Sirius attacked Ron and hasn't done anything to support Gryffindor now that Umbridge is targeting whoever she thinks is in cahoots with either Dumbledore or me.
"A month after this realization I took on the title I have had ever since and when I first laid eyes on you, Harry, I felt as if my beliefs on the acronym of your title were spot on and I took to my title with double the vigor; which I later got proven was necessary when that whole debacle with the point loss became a thing."
This makes me smile at her, while my mind happily thinks back on how wonderful Alicia was for me in that time, telling the twins to stop being hypocrites during Quidditch, even if this happened after I tried resigning, and cursing and ranting at any other Gryffindor that tried punishing me for failing to help Gryffindor win the Cup.
"So if you love the acronym my mum had to her title so much and if you love proving your worth to that acronym so much, why won't you just ask me to be the one your father will transfer the contract to? Is it because of that whole thing with Fudge, Dumbledore and Umbridge?" I gently ask the girl and she scoffs as she says:
"As if, I can get Fudge and Umbridge to take back their slandering and insults with just one series of questions and I think Dumbledore is horribly disloyal to your family for not having asked those questions yet. No, I – I don't want to ask that of you, because I don't want to burden you with having that whole Harem on your neck."
Yet at this I pull the lovely, quite attractive looking Indian girl closer and ask: "You really think protecting my future bride a burden? That I'd be bothered with doing what is right? That I'd rather have the whole school slander me instead of protecting someone who has already done so much for me and needs me?"
And the girl smiles at me, her brown eyes shimmering with unshed tears and I say: "You are the living embodiment of what my family was looking for when they added the acronym Mother of the Family to my family's lady title. I just wonder how we're going to let your father know, seeing as how Umbridge is screening letters."
Yet at this the girl giggles and says: "Please, even Umbridge wouldn't be stupid enough to try and intercept a letter that has Ancient Family Magic sealing it." And I smile at her, taking that as a sign that she has accepted my sort-of proposal and I stand up, helping her stand as well as I ask: "So, how do we use this sealing magic?"
The next day
Hogsmeade Village
Harry's POV
"Harry!" I hear a voice shouting my name and I look around after Hermione told me that we'd be meeting at the Hog's Head as that would decrease the chance that other students could overhear us and I feel myself smiling as I see Alicia, clothed against the cold October weather, yet looking nicely made up as she runs over.
"Would you mind putting this on my wrist when we're at the meeting place, Harry? To send a message to – well, you know?" The girl asks me, handing me a gorgeous bracelet that is made of soft gold-plated metal with stones of emerald and bronze linking the plates of the bracelet together and I happily take it as I say:
"Count on it, you know where to be, right?" And the girl nods before she says: "I better go meet with the other girls. I don't want to give Smith reason to suspect stuff until it's too late. Oh, and I received a letter from dad this morning. He'll arrive there in – 20 minutes. Can you do it then?" And I nod again before the girl leaves.
"What was that about? And why did she give you that bracelet if she wants you to give it back? And what was she thinking, telling her dad to come meet her when we could still be in the middle of the meeting? Harry, are you even listening? Why aren't you answering my questions?" Hermione rants and I calmly retort:
"Because you're asking questions too fast for me to get a chance to answer, maybe?" And the girl glares at me, apparently offended over the fact that I proved she did something wrong, which makes me want to roll my eyes as she asks: "How did she know of Smith anyway? I didn't see her when I convinced him to come."
And I answer: "Apparently, everyone knows who the people coming to the meeting are going to be – except the person you want to use to convince them of your idea. Thanks for that, Hermione." And Hermione puffs herself up as she says: "You said you'd teach whoever'd be willing to listen, so don't go blaming me for –."
Yet I retort: "I don't blame you for proving me that more people are willing to listen than I thought. I'd just have preferred it if I didn't find out some of them are people I've never even met from something other than the meeting itself. Are you trying to throw me off course so I will listen to whatever you have planned or what?"
Yet the girl just glares at me, as if she thinks I shouldn't find fault with such a method of acting and I mutter: "Wow, I can feel the trust, Hermione, really." And the girl huffs as if I shouldn't question her no matter if she's right or wrong and I turn to Ron, yet just the look on his face makes me know my best friend agrees with me.
We then enter the location we are supposed to meet and after I feel like rolling my eyes at the fact that Hermione thinks that a Prefect title should mean anything even at a Hogsmeade weekend, do I decide to stand on my rights in regards to this meeting as well as remind the girl that I am an introvert and supposed to teach as I ask:
"So, how many of the people coming are ones I have met more than once or at all?" Yet Hermione ignores me and so I turn to Ron, who calmly answers: "There are probably one or two you don't know the name of and most of the group consists of Puffs. Oh, and there are a few Ravens who we sometimes have classes with.
"Thank you, Ron, for being open and honest with me." I say, making sure to add why I am thanking the guy and he snickers as Hermione growls under her breath and I think: "I'm betting one of these people I shouldn't know is Smith himself. I just wonder how many of the girls are – wait, most of them are Badgers?"
And instantly I groan as I say: "Great thinking, Hermione. You really thought that whoever's willing to listen thing through.""What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione snarls and I snap back: "The Badgers don't want to listen to what I have to teach; they're coming because they want to hear how Cedric died. Really Hermione."
And while I can tell that the girl suddenly realizes the same, does she glare at me as if I was in the wrong to point out this flaw in her thinking and yet I ignore this and say: "Well, as a way to fix this issue, you can be the one telling them that that isn't what we're meeting here for. Then we'll see if they'll stay or not."
"We can't let them leave, they'll snitch to Umbridge." Hermione shrieks and I turn to Ron as I say: "Wow, such confidence in her fellow students, don't you think?" And Ron snickers, yet before Hermione can retort – or give me a lecture as she seems to want to do – does the door of the dingy pub open, the bell ringing.
I look at this, see a whole bunch of students come in that are actually of all ages, from Second year Dennis Creevey to the twins, Lee and Angelina who are in their Seventh Year and I quickly motion for Ron to make sure there are enough chairs at a table that is far away from all other residents that are currently in the bar.
The whole group heading for the bar itself and the waiter behind it – one that reminds me of someone I know, even if I can't remember who – and ordering their drinks gives my best friend the chance to do as I ask and I take a seat myself as I say: "Good luck." Yet the girl softly snaps: "You will help." At which I retort:
"Yeah, when we start the meetings of lessons with those who admit they want me as teacher. This is your plan, so your move." And with that do I seal my lips and cross my arms, not at all affected by the glare the girl sends at me, though this is mostly because I am still dangling the bracelet between my fingers and because Alicia sits next to Ron.
Cho Chang, who seems to have come here with one of her friends, had apparently wanted to go sit there, yet for reasons I can't understand does she not instead take the seat next to Hermione and does she instead take one of the seats far away from me and my friends, yet I also notice the leer an unknown Badger sends Alicia.
"Zacharias Smith, spotted." I think and then notice something that makes my eyes widen; Cho Chang, Lavender Brown, Padma Patil are all looking at Smith with looks that make me wonder if they're not undressing him where he sits, yet at the same time are Hannah Abbot and Katie Bell looking at him with looks of pained fear.
"That bastard is raping Katie and Hannah and I didn't even notice it? I need to make sure Hannah's friend, Ernie, Justin and the twins know of this. And why is Cho – wait, is she one of his Harem too? Then why does she seem so interested in me? Is Smith ordering her to? And what about Cedric? Was she even faithful to him?"
I think to myself, but then hear something that makes my blood boil as Hermione says: "Like Harry said, he can conjure a Patronus, battle a Basilisk and so he told Ron and me that he is the best candidate to oppose –." But then I snarl: "Do you really want to start this first meeting with lies, Hermione? For shame."
And the girl glares at me, but then Fred says: "As if anyone who knows you even believed her." And George goes on: "Come on, Hermione, give us some credit, will you?" And the girl huffs as she says: "Fine, so Ron and I – oh, whatever – I came up with the idea that, if we're not taught proper Defense, we should teach ourselves."
"To pass our O.W.L.s." Terry Boot says and Hermione goes on: "Yes, that too, but also to – to make sure we can – defend ourselves against – Voldemort." And while Hermione holds silent to allow the group to gasp and flinch, does she then continue her spiel, yet I can easily notice that she is trying to hurry through it.
And the annoyance I can hear her trying to conceal in her voice makes me know she is done with me pointing out her flaws in all this, that she hates that I am not helping her just because she won't be open and honest with me and that she wants to be done before Alicia's father shows up, which makes me focus on the girl herself.
Alicia has her attention divided between Smith and his apparent Harem girls – at least those that are looking at Smith like lovesick puppies while pretending to listen to Hermione, Hermione herself and the door through which we all came and I really want to reach past Ron and grasp her hand, but notice Smith watching her too.
And the looks Smith is sending her is making my blood boil, yet then I notice that Hermione is reaching the end of her speech and that she has pulled a roll of parchment out of her bag, a vague title seeming to have been doodled and then erased from the top of the roll and the girl seems ready to have the others sign it.
Yet at this I remember Cho and the potential that she was betraying Cedric for a long time last year and I decide to intervene as I grab the quill Hermione is holding out to the rest as I say: "Before you sign, let me make it very clear that, as the potential teacher of this group, I have two rules that will be followed, no exceptions."
And I look at both Hermione and Ron to emphasize this point, yet Hermione turns from shocked to offended, obviously missing the actual message behind me looking at her and I say: "Rule #1, the things I will teach you will only be used against each other during meetings and only for the sake of practice. Again no exceptions."
The whole group nods and I say: "Rule #2. No betrayal. If any of you have or make a friend you think you can trust with the secret of this group, you discuss this with me, Ron and Hermione. If you have anything that makes you feel you can be pressured to speak of this with anyone not in this group, you will leave and not speak of this at all.
This group is a way through which we are, more or less, breaking the law and revolting against the Minister himself. Being part of this group, if discovered, can see you in Azkaban for treason – and we all know Fudge is currently paranoid enough to do so and Umbridge arrogant enough to let it happen or do it herself.
If you have any reason, personal distrust or lack of confidence, a family member potentially pressured by Fudge to remain loyal to him, the belief you might break my first rule or anything else that makes you fear or wonder that you will, in due time, value that above our secret group, then just leave now and never speak of this again.
I will admit, there are those among you I don't know close enough to know if I can trust you to keep it secret, but I am willing to give you that chance, whether you decide to stay here or leave. And know this. Like Dumbledore has the teachers, ghosts and portraits, I have my ways of knowing whether or not you break either rule.
If you break the first rule because you use a learned spell to fight against a non-aggressive bully, you're out. If you break the second rule because you thought you could keep us a secret and fail, you're out. If you use what I teach you to intimidate, hurt or otherwise threaten anyone in or outside this group, you're out.
The choice is yours. Decide before you sign." I tell them all, having heard a door open, but not caring and also ignoring how Hermione is looking at me as if I am betraying what she's tried to accomplish here, but I think: "We're risking enough as it is, if I can ensure our safety through a rule or two and severe consequences, I will."
And with that do I lie the roll of parchment and the quill on the table in front of me and look at the group at large, all of them looking at me with all kinds of different looks, even if the majority looks at me with either respect – the three Ravens – or pride – my fellow team mates and Lee – yet others are looking distrustful and doubtful.
Yet then it happens as the friend of Cho huffs and grabs her friend's arm before moving over to the door, Cho voicing her protest, yet the other girl snaps: "Give me a break, we both know I'm doing you both a favor. Now shut up and come with me." And with that does she practically drag the still protesting girl out the door.
"Excuse me." Smith then says, yet I ask: "Is your leave temporary or –?" And the boy with the upturned nose snaps: "Don't expect me there when you find a place." And I nod, yet feel silently euphoric over this, yet this euphoria instantly vanishes as Lavender and Padma actually scurry out of their seats and follow the guy.
This makes me look at Alicia and the girl sends me a pained look and almost invisible nod before I sigh and say: "Angelina, Parvati, Fred, George, Lee and Terry, can I count on you to make sure those two girls don't gossip their mouths away. No offense, Parvati." But the Asian girl shakes her head and mutters softly:
"I've been waiting for Lavender to make a dumb move like this for the last several months. I – I just fear how father will react when he hears of – why." And I nod, thanks to Alicia more than aware what the girl means and then a male voice speaks from besides the door and says: "Please tell me I didn't engage my daughter to a Hoarder."
And I turn my face to where Mr. Spinnet is standing, the man looking a bit like a male version of his own daughter, yet then with dark purple eyes instead of brown and with much shorter hair as it's combed to the back of his head, yet doesn't even reach the nape of his neck and I say: "Mr. Spinnet, please take a seat.
Everyone else, please decide if you want to sign or not, if you can accept my rules or not and then either sign and leave or just leave. But please, remember what I said about knowing and trusting you." And the other students all nod, yet I feel very pleased to see them all coming over to sign the roll of parchment before they leave.
"Such a shame Smith is gone already. I would have loved him to have stayed for the 20 minute mark." I hear Alicia say when Angelina comes over to sign and the Captain looks at her team mate confused, yet I smile at her, loving her punctuality and then I turn to her father as I say: "No sir, your daughter's not engaged to a Hoarder.
She's engaged to me." And with that do I turn to Alicia, pull the bracelet from where I had hidden it in my sleeve when I took over from Hermione and happily take Alicia's hand in mine, exposing her wrist and clicking the bracelet closed around it, Angelina and Mr. Spinnet's eyes wide, yet Ron grinning at it all like a loon.
"Harry, what on earth are you talking about? You think giving a girl back her bracelet is like proposing her? I know you don't have much experience with dating Cho, but –." Hermione rants at me, but then Mr. Spinnet says: "Young lady, do you even know my family customs? No, then don't try and lecture those that do."
Hermione looks at the man shocked and Alicia says: "Spinnet ladies wear this bracelet as evidence that they are promised to someone, just like Patill women wear a tiara in front of their foreheads and like Longbottom Ladies wear a dress for a whole week at least once a month, one that is obviously knitted by the previous lady."
At this her father nods and then asks: "So, is this why you wanted to meet with me?" And Alicia nods before she repeats everything she told me last night, Ron's eyes widening as he must realize the link between the story and the students that left before they could sign the roll that Hermione puts back in her bag with a grimace.
At the end Mr. Spinnet sighs and says: "I am so sorry that I didn't spot the signs, sweetie, and I am so proud of how you solved this problem." Yet then Hermione snarls: "Oh yes, it's so wonderful that she trapped my best friend in a marriage against his choice just to escape some arrogant brat." At which we all gasp and look at her.
Yet my shock gets replaced with anger instantly and I hiss: "Hermione, you're a horrible witch and a terrible listener. Alicia specifically told us all that her original plan was for me to pick her a better spouse, but that, when I asked her if she wouldn't rather have a loving marriage, that that was when she confessed her desire to be mine.
She didn't ask me to save her, she asked me to protect her and find her a suitable husband who could protect her. And the fact that you missed her acceptance for a loveless marriage just so she can protect her ancient family virtue – you disappoint me, Hermione. You really do." And with that I turn to Alicia and ask:
"Care for some Butterbeer, I'm feeling a little emotionally hurt, are you?" And the girl, who actually started sniffing after she overcame her shock now has tears of gratitude in her eyes as she nods and I gently take her hand, sending an annoyed Hermione another look of disappointment and walk off as Ron says:
"And you say I lack social skills." Yet this seems to be the wrong thing to say as, to my further disappointment, Hermione turns on Ron and starts yelling at him, apparently venting all the annoyance she has felt over how I changed her plan and made sure it wouldn't blow up in our faces and I shake my head as I hear this and leave.
Oh, Hermione, honestly.
Okay, first things first; in this tale Alicia is a year above Harry and Katie is two years. In Cannon it's the other way around, but I felt this change of canon fits my story better. Also, the bashing of Dumbledore and McGonagall will be happening shortly after the weekend ends and will probably last throughout the whole tale.
Also Hermione will keep her Holier Than Thou attitude and her belief that she knows everything and is always right even when she's wrong, but Ron won't join her in this. He will use his mistake in Goblet of Fire to know that he needs to look at everything that happens from multiple angles and to support Harry when necessary.
Hope you enjoy,
Venquine1990
Further Story Parts:
Damian Spinnet, Alicia and Harry set up a marriage contract
Harry makes Alicia's safety and his own a priority in the entire contract and demands a shared dorm with three bedrooms due to the Harem potentially coming after Alicia
Harry uses the meetings to punish those that think they can force others – chosen by Smith – to be in a Harem when they don't want to such as Alicia, Katie and Hannah
Harry uses the Seventh Years to also teach those still in the group how there are multiple ways to escape certain dangerous situations such as the things he went through over the years
Damian Spinnet sets up a contract that turns the group of Defense learners into apprentices for a small company he owns shares in to make sure they have an alibi in case either Fudge or Umbridge catches them
Damian Spinnet offers an Extreme Emergency home for Harry to send Sirius to so he can be somewhere safe without being constantly reminded of his abusive past
Damian sets Percy straight and then takes him under his wing, teaching him the things that would make him a professional Ministerial Employee as well as a potentially acceptable Assistant to the Minister
Dumbledore tries to use Cedric's death, the prophesy and Harry's scar as ways to convince Damian and Alicia to annul the marriage between Harry and Alicia
McGonagall voices her belief that Harry should stay at Gryffindor Common room after he takes Alicia to the shared dorms and doesn't believe that other Gryffindors are giving Harry a hard time over the whole debacle between Dumbledore and Fudge
Hermione keeps her belief that she knows best and that only Dumbledore and McGonagall are the ones to do things right and that their faults are all because of others 'hampering' them instead of them just being in the wrong
Damian and Elaine Spinnet escort Harry to several classes the first few weeks after their engagement as they don't trust either Smith or other students/teachers to hurt them for doing the right thing
Damian, Sirius and Kingsley take over the Order and use it to properly take on the lies as well as prepare for the war against Voldemort
The line "Either must die at the hands of the other for neither can live as the other survives." Is actually the catalyst of the prophesy and is completely misunderstood by Dumbledore, but properly understood by Damian
If Harry orders/inspires someone to kill Voldemort, the prophesy will still consider this "At Harry's hand." The same counts for Voldemort and his Death Eaters, but he will ignore this due to his beaten pride
If Harry learns to live instead of constantly surviving and learns to just live alongside the war and value the days he lives his life more than the days in which he fights to survive, the prophesy will be nullified as Harry lives while Voldemort survives.
For every member of the Order that Harry, Kingsley, Sirius and Damian take from Dumbledore, he gets a new person joining his cause: Dawlish for Kingsley, Smith for Harry, etc., etc. etc.