A/N: Hey everyone! So last time we finally got rid of Dumbledore and now we are on the aftermath, this chapter is focussed entirely on Harry and his group so I hope that you like it.
Just a little note to let all those of you waiting for the Greengrass ball… I can now give you a definite chapter to look for; chapter 45! There are a few things that need to happen beforehand to set up future plots, I know it seems long but I have plans for this fic and I am determined to see them through. And, in an apology for making you guys wait, I promise you that chapter 45 will be a MASSIVE chapter, it will detail the entire day of the ball, including pre-preparation, pre-ball, switch in perspective and the entire ball and it's post-ball wind down.
Disclaimer: I am not J.K but you can bet this plot is mine.
Warnings: Language and mentions of light slash.
Parsel
Chapter 42:
"So what are we doing tonight, Harry?" Ginny asked him and Harry sighed.
"I have tutoring tonight, Professor Drield asked if I wanted to do extra and seeing as what happened with Professor Dumbledore I'm worried so I agreed." Harry explained and she looked frustrated but nodded.
"I understand," She said reluctantly and Harry threw a grateful smile. They finished eating dinner and split at the entrance hall, Harry went directly up to his rooms and bounced in, Paws, Raven and Venom were already there and Harry threw them all a bright smile.
"Ah familia!" He greeted cheerfully, in a terrible Spanish accent.
"So you are obviously in the most terrible mood possible." Paws noted sarcastically, a smirk on her face.
"Oh yes, this day has been absolutely tragic." Harry agreed, dramatically dropping down on to his chair and letting his glamour fall.
"Loving the new hair, Snake." Fred called, walking in to the rooms followed by his twin and Bleach.
"Luna's magical hands." Harry said with a grin.
"Of course it was." George threw in with a grin of his own, "You'd end up shaving yourself bald."
"Hey!" Harry exclaimed indignantly, "I would have had some hair left." The twins laughed at him and the others shared amused looks. Swift fell out of the shadows panting, his skin, even as his glamour dropped, was flushed and he looked ruffled.
"What happened?" Paws demanded as Swift sat up and tried to catch his breath.
"My psychotic sister." He said and that explained everything.
"What did she want?" Luna questioned and Swift rolled his eyes.
"Complaining about Dumbledore being removed and forcing Harry's attention of off her just when they were becoming so close." Swift shook his head, "She was certain that she will be coming back from Yule with an engagement ring, or at least a promise ring."
"Good Merlin," Bleach sighed, "She's a head case."
"I'll say!" Swift pulled himself to his feet and rolled his shoulders. "I left when she started on what Manor she would decide she would live in. It's actually quite-,"
"Why in Merlin's name would you leave the common room without me?" Badger demanded, striding in to the room and directing a fierce glare at Swift.
"I had to save myself." Swift defended. "I have to go home with her."
"We're supposed to be friends!" Badger yelled at him, "She was latched all over me the instant you made a break for it. I swear she's lining me up for her next target, in case Harry dies before they marry!" the entire room froze as they contemplated that.
"You know, that isn't actually too hard to accept." Harry pointed out slowly. "Has she been around you at all this year, Nev?"
"In the beginning, before you got hold of me it was every day and then when you started paying more attention to her then not so much." He answered and Harry looked around.
"We have discovered her back up plan." He said.
"It isn't too much of a surprise. Neville was the other Prophecy child and from a wealthy and Noble background." Paws agreed.
"Oh sweet Circe." Neville whispered, "That's so disgusting."
"Welcome to the club, Nev." Harry said brightly, "Where love potions, compulsion charms and webs are a frequent thing and people plan to kill you for your inheritance."
"I need a drink." Badger complained, throwing himself down on the sofa.
"Not yet, we have to go to Tom." Harry said with a laugh.
"Get me the bottle." Badger decided and Harry rolled his eyes.
"I fail to see the need for caution."
"Oh, I don't know… perhaps because he's the most powerful man on the planet, he's curse happy and terrifying." Bleach ventured and Harry looked at him blankly before laughing.
"Terrifying, Tom? HA!" He waved him off, "Please, the man is no more terrifying than I am." This time it was Harry who received the blank looks.
"You do know that you are scary as fuck, don't you?" Venom asked him slowly and Harry blinked.
"What?"
"Never mind, we just reserve the right for caution," Paws told him, "Though, I am not too worried, I have seen him argue with Moony multiple times now."
"See, Paws gets it."
"Paws is weird." Swift stated and she hit him. "Ow!"
"Come on you lot, let's go to Tom's." Harry said getting up, "Everyone got their things?"
"Everyone but you." Luna said with a laugh, handing him his folders.
"Oh yeah, thanks. I forgot about these." Harry said with a sheepish smile. "Paws, Swift, grab people." Harry took Luna and Badger while Swift grabbed Venom and Bleach and Paws got the twins. Harry landed in the living room with his friends and Tom's attention snapped to him.
"You had your hair cut." He said straight away and Harry smiled.
"Yes, what do you think?"
Tom eyed him for a second and Harry noted the touch of darkening in his eyes and his smile brightened. "I knew you would like it." He missed the looks of confusions his friends shared as he walked over towards Tom.
"Did you hear him say anything?" Swift whispered to Paws, too low for any but her to hear. Paws shook her head, he eyes watching every move her best friend and the Dark Lord made and her mind couldn't seem to grasp what was so obviously in front of her.
"Guys, set up yeah?" Harry said, waving his hand to expand the coffee table and then he flicked his wrist to conjure up a few more chairs before turning back to Tom, who had banished his sheet of parchment. "You spoke to Lucius yet?"
"Not yet, he should be here any moment."
"Perfect, we have loads to go through." Harry said, dropping himself down in front of Tom's chair and putting down his own folders. "Moony?"
"He was here…"
"Hey Cub." Moony literally popped up from nowhere and Harry craned his neck to turn and blink at the man.
"Oh… Hi!" Harry smiled at the man as he ruffled his hair and took a seat next to the Dark Lord.
"You ok?"
"Better than ok with what happened this morning." Harry said and Remus grinned.
"Yes, I imagine so."
Harry was cut off as the floo flared to life and Lucius Malfoy stepped out, the man blinked when he saw the collection of people and Harry saw the man start at the differences of appearance in most of them.
"Ah Lucius, you are just in time. Harry, his friends and his uncle were just about to meet, perhaps you would like to sit in?" He lightly tugged at Harry's hair to make him look back at him and Harry nodded to say that was fine.
"Thank you, my Lord." Lucius took the seat on the Dark Lord's left and flashed a smirk at the Harry.
"May I say that today was one of my proudest moments." He told him and Harry grinned viciously.
"I am equally as happy to say that I got to watch you formally remove Dumbledore from his position."
"How goes the ministry?" Tom asked him and Lucius's smirk stretched.
"Our current undersecretary has performed some of his own investigations and uncovered some very interesting happenings at the ministry." Lucius began, "Not only many administrative errors and there have been underhand dealings and pay offs."
"What else did he find?" Bleach asked his father and Lucius looked positively evil.
"A signed and sealed authorisation permit from Fudge for the use of the Quills."
Luna and Hermione gasped in horror as Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Neville immediately grabbed their hands, each holding a permanent reminder of the offending item.
"This… changes things." Paws said slowly.
"What has Greengrass said?" Swift questioned, "If he has found this he would have a plan."
"He is calling for a vote of no confidence and he has asked from my support. He intends to use the Yule circuit to gain the backing."
"He'll have it for sure." Harry stated and his friends murmured their agreement.
"Yes, many of the DA were from houses with Lords or Ladies in the Chambers." Neville added, "That and your plans."
"We couldn't have planned this better." Harry said with a pleased smirk, "I thought we would have to raise it, and I was hoping that it wouldn't come down to that as we need to keep face."
"Yes, there could be a potential backlash." Neville agreed, "Though it can be controlled much easier with this,"
"That and a neutral like Greengrass calling for the vote will impact the severity even more so." Venom put it.
"Today has given us leeway," Harry said, "We gotta use it to our advantage. Dumbledore's immediate eyes are gone and we have it on good authority that he will be suitably distracted while on the outside of these walls."
"He took the bait?" Tom inquired and Harry nodded.
"Yes, I forgot to mention it. I had other things on my mind." Harry apologised.
"At least we will know where Dumbledore will be during the Yule holidays."
"Yes, it's going to be when you get in to the Wizengamot that it going to be the problem." Fred pointed out.
"He is going to know that you are out of his control and its going to throw everything he knew in the air." George picked up.
"Making him unpredictable." Moony finished, "And an unpredictable Dumbledore is not a good thing."
"But we have no other choice." Paws threw in as if it was obvious. "We need our own eyes within the Wizengamot."
"Without our own eyes we can't analyse behaviour, we won't be able to see what alliances are strong and which ones we can shatter for our own benefit for definite." Swift picked up, sitting forward to pull out a sheet of paper. "We know of every house within the Chamber, and we have a relatively up-to-date list of the alliances between what houses. There are some that have the potential to be broken and should if the chance should arise. But if we get in there ourselves we will be able to scout others."
"Which ones?" Lucius questioned and Swift thought for a second.
"If we can get Smith away from Shacklebolt and Diggory, it will form an almost instant alliance with Davis and by extension Greengrass which will strengthen the neutral/dark power. Then there is Meadowes, while a lower house, they are set to gain seats due to their age and their expanding estate through their experimental charms business, and at the moment they are with the lighter side of things.
"If we break them from Weasley, Roswell and Johnson, that would lessen that growing influence. Johnson has recently reached Noble and Most Ancient status which means we cannot afford for Meadowes to gain another seat while allied with them. But, and this depends heavily on the revelation of the McKinnon House, but Meadowes would work well on building up the Lovegood alliances and then later the McKinnon house."
"I'm guessing you have also been playing with pairings also." Harry said with a grin and Swift nodded.
"Of course."
"How do you intend to end the alliances?" Moony questioned and Swift smirked.
"Smith should be easy enough. Shacklebolt is allied with Dumbledore and when it comes to it, Shacklebolt with choose Dumbledore believing him to be the high power and Smith won't be willing to be associated with Dumbledore after the quill incident. Smith's kid was in the DA with us." Swift explained, "And Diggory has been completely in Dumbledore's corner since the incident with his son, which with end things with Smith in an instant."
"Nicely planned out." Paws complimented and Swift murmured his thanks.
"The other houses?" Bleach pointed out.
"Their ties with Johnson are the strongest, however, the Lord Meadowes is unaware that it was the Lord Johnson who handed Meadowes son and heir in to the DMLE and let him take the fall for a smuggling business they had set up." Swift told them, "If he were to find that evidence it would create a blood feud between the two houses and Meadowes would seek an alliance with a house as far away from Johnson as possible; in steps Lovegood. The Lovegood House swore not to be allied with a Johnson since the collapse of the Astral Museum they had partnered in, Johnson got in to gambling debt and was using Museum funds to cover it. Because of this, they are the perfect candidate for an alliance, and by extension, Potter and Longbottom. Once we're at that step, we shall have to see if the new McKinnon intends to pick up old alliances, in which Meadowes are."
"Where do you find this information?" Lucius demanded and Swift offered him an innocent look.
"I do not know what you mean." He said. "It is common knowledge."
"Of course it is." Tom drawled amused.
"Even then, with our own eyes within those Chambers, we are still going to be pitted against past actions." Neville pointed out, "My delightful grandmother wrote to me yesterday, she was bragging about the new connections she has managed to make recently, with a side of how I could never measure up to my fathers image and how, because of my irrefutable failures, she is being forced to conduct their house within the Wizengamot, else I sink them in to the ground."
"I see she is just as warm and comforting as she was back in school." Tom muttered in disgust and Harry laughed.
"You went to school with her?" Neville said in shock. "Dear Merlin, I expect that would have been an experience."
"I mentioned to Harry that I never understood the marriage between her and Herbert Longbottom." Tom said to him, "She has always been a vicious woman."
"She has not changed." Neville grumbled.
"She didn't happen to brag about which connections she has made?" Paws wanted to know and Neville offered her a dry look.
"Of course she did." Neville said, "MacMillan, Fawley and Abbott are now full allies with the House of Longbottom."
"It will be oh such a shame when she never gets to use them." Bleach sighed mock despondently.
"Such a burning shame." Neville agreed.
"What do you mean? Do you intend to break the alliance?"
"No, I intend to kick her out of her seat on the grounds of breach of trust due to her withholding the heirship and then Lordship from the heir apparent. In punishment, she will be stripped of her title and banished to Longbottom Lodge, in the Welsh highlands."
"It's as if f I wasn't looking forward to the Wizengamot after Yule already." Lucius murmured in utter relish to himself and Harry chuckled.
"If you take those alliances for your own, you still have the power." Moony said to Neville, "If Greengrass is calling for a vote you can back him with an extra bit of power."
"That is true, we don't know what the outcome will be for certain."
"We needn't worry about the vote." Luna spoke for the first time in a while, "There are at least seven different Houses that intend to call for the Vote, so even without the circuit, Greengrass will have backing."
"How could you possibly know that?" Lucius questioned surprised.
"Father, you must understand, when Raven says something she is always right and you should just go with it to save your sanity." Draco told him in resignation, "Otherwise you will walk around with a permanent headache."
"Lovely." Lucius grumbled and Luna offered him a serene smile.
"So down to business." Harry said, focusing all of their attentions. "We have had a major success but we still have many things that need to be worked on, so lets put this free time to work, yeah?"
"I'll start." Paws said, pulling forth her folders, "Blood banks."
"Yes, so I looked over your workings and they are great." Harry said, "I averaged out the number of vampires and decided that the building we could set this up in wouldn't need to be that large at all."
"Which is good, because if we needed something like the Peverell Manor then we would marginally screwed." Paws said with a grin and Harry laughed.
"Yeah, we got lucky there." He agreed, "We need more information from the Vampires directly before we can work on anything concrete. I have a few temp contracts that could be of use, but Tom said he would send he would send an envoy with the vampire contact to try and set up a meeting between me and the head vampire of the Noapte Sange Clan, that would enable me to find out this would work from the vampire perspective, and, if it is plausible, then how we should continue."
"That will give us so much insight." Paws said in excitement. "We can put the shell plans down until the meeting then?"
"Yeah, we've both been through everything we have and we do have more things to be focused on." Harry told her, tucking the sheets to the bottom of his folder.
"I've hit a dead end with Rabastan on the wards." Swift spoke up, he tossed Harry a scroll and the teen looked it over. There was a list of wards, some he had never heard of and others that were to be expected. There was also a key as to how powerful they were and if they were active or dormant, it seemed that Dumbledore had truly screwed with the wards because some of the wards that should be full power were not even a quarter of what they should be. One of them would be the ward that was built to stop dangerous artefacts from entering the castle walls, it should have stopped the Mirror of Erised, it should have sensed the diary at alerted the headmaster so an inspection can be carried out to see if the item was dangerous to the students. Another, which was completely down, was the creature ward, it should have stopped the troll, the basilisk from leaving the chamber, the acromantula within the forest, but Swift had noted that it was almost dead rather than just unpowered.
"Well, this is shit." Harry stated flatly, handing the sheet up to Tom and Swift grimaced.
"That's only the ones we've been able to unravel without Dumbledore noticing. Even with him gone its going to be difficult because he's taking power from the wards somehow and has a permanent connection with them. We are missing something, I know it, but I cannot guess what it is." He pulled at his hair in frustration.
"These wards are concerning, but your time scale has opened up considerably." Tom said to Swift.
"Thankfully,"
"I have a side project for you and Rabastan." Tom said and Swift looked at him in shock for a few seconds before his expression cleared and he nodded.
"What is it?"
"I have been researching the ministry, from the very beginning. I have found that it was a Potter and an Avery who case the first wards and Runes on the entire building. You and Rabastan will discover the entirety of the wards and confirm if blood connection has any power towards the ward and Rune structure, or if they have to be over written entirely." The Dark Lord explained and Swift took a quick note.
"We can use the turners to get this done while still working on the school wards." Swift decided, "I'll run some of my ideas past Rabastan before we set out for an actual analysis. Though, would it be possible to see the passage where it mentions the creation of the wards and Rune structure."
"Here." Tom summoned the book and passed it over to Swift, "Page 284,"
"Thanks," Swift flicked it over and ran his hand down the page, he pressed a sheet of parchment to the book before taking it off and reading it over. "There,"
"Did you just copy the page?" Lucius questioned, surprised and Swift nodded.
"Yes, Snake was kind enough to create a page copying spell for those of us who can't hiss at things." Swift said absently, "He still hasn't made one to bypass the copying charms for entire books though, has he? No. It's very inconsiderate."
"My sincerest apologies, oh man who clearly does not have magic so is obviously unable to make his own damn spell for his own damn books." Harry snapped and Swift raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Why would I bother making a spell? We have you."
"Don't bitch at me then." Harry told him with a sniff. "Besides, I have my own spells to be working on! And, I'll have you know, I do not hiss at things. It's a language."
"Sure, that's what you want us to think so we don't have you committed." Swift muttered and Harry crossed his arms with a pout.
"And to think I was going to buy you the Cannons for Yule." Harry muttered, turning his head away. Swift's head snapped up and he looked at Harry with huge eyes.
"You were?"
"Yes, I already had the contract draw out and everything." Harry said lightly, "But if you were thinking about having me committed then it must have been a mad idea."
"NO! I mean, I was only joking. You are as sane and brilliant as ever." Ron declared, his voice cajoling.
"Hm, I don't know… you were pretty mean. Not even Tom is that mean to me." Harry pondered, "I will have to see how I feel once I'm over this great betrayal."
"Dear Merlin," Venom muttered, "They are like a pair of children arguing over quills."
"Hey, Baby Widow, don't make me hurt you." Harry warned and Venom held up his hands.
"I'm friendly." He said and then blinked, "What did you just call me?"
"Baby Widow." Harry replied and Venom gave him a look of utter disbelief.
"What?"
"What?"
"You just…"
"I didn't do anything."
"You just said I-."
"No, I didn't." Harry denied and Venom shook his head.
"What are you-,"
"You sure?"
"What?"
"I don't know."
Venom sat back looking as if he was questioning his own being and his friends laughed at him, Paws shot Harry a reproving look, which lost its effect due to her amused eyes.
"You are terrible." She told him and Harry's expression was innocent.
"Don't know what you mean."
"Before you break him anymore." Swift broke in with a grin, "I'll have to get Paws and Bleach's input on Runes just as a backup."
"That's fine, it can be put in place of my heir search." Paws said, "I'm at a bit of a block at the moment, so I have a bit of time."
"Ray, how goes your search?" Harry asked and she frowned, something he never liked to see.
"I pulled another line and it's strange, I am missing something, like I have forgotten something." She answered and the entire group looked at her in concerned horror, Harry was on his feet and casting diagnostic spells on her before anyone could blink. He summoned one of his parchment sheets and read it over quickly, it was a very old medical spell that he had stumbled across in one of the English Flamel journal that scanned the aura to see any inconsistencies or foreign magics on the person, revealing any spells on them that should and shouldn't be there. Luna was clean, there was a darker blue thread running all through her aura but it melded in with hers perfectly so he put it down to Luna's uniqueness. Harry gently took her hands in his and looked her in the eye, he did a brief surface scan to make sure he couldn't detect anything before squeezing her hands.
"Have you eaten anything other than things provided by my elves?" He asked gently, his worry evident and it was only growing as he saw a touch of fear in his sister's eyes.
"No, she gets me everything."
"Do you have any blank spots, or remember doing something which you wouldn't normally do?"
"No, and when I'm not at school I am with Moonrise and Cissa."
Harry steeled himself so he didn't lash out, if anyone had did anything to his sister he would gut them and mail the rest to their family.
"We will find out what's going on." He assured her, "Do not let yourself panic and I will get an elf to track you."
"Thank you."
"Why such concern?" Lucius inquired, and Harry looked at him seriously.
"My sister never misses anything." He stated, walking back to his seat, but Tom pulled him down on his lap and he didn't protest. "She knows everyone's darkest secrets, and most hidden desires. When she says something is going to happen, it is going to happen and if she's missing something then it means it was taken from her."
"I see," Lucius said but it was obvious he was still sceptical. Luna turned her piercing blue eyes on the senior Malfoy and seemed to freeze him in place.
"You doubt me." She stated and Lucius didn't reply so she continued. "Foolish, of course."
"It is not possible for you to know so much about everyone. You are only one person, you will miss things, it is inevitable." He said reasonably and Luna continued to gaze at him steadily.
"Your older brother died when he was four months old. You have two other siblings, a sister and a brother. Your mother was attacked and killed when you was 9 years old because your father snubbed a man. It caused him to send both siblings to live with your French cousins when they were both young and they do not know that you are their brother, only a cousin with a strong relationship. You're father never got over her Death and later died of Dragon Pox, because he simply stopped fighting. The blood supremacy that you often illustrate is only half of what you truly feel. You do not believe those of lesser birth should be killed, but you have a fierce disgust of muggles. You love your wife more than life itself. Your greatest and most proud achievement do date is your son. Your ingrained ideas of family is what drives you. If anything were to threaten your family, even someone you knew was a greater power, even your very own Lord, you would do everything in your quite considerable power to end the threat." Luna's voice never changed from the airy tone she usually spoke in, but it sounded all the more haunting. Lucius was looking at her in something akin to fear and Harry smirked.
"Do not doubt my word, Lucius. You should know by now that I don't make a habit of lying." He murmured. Luna blinked, finally breaking the connection and allowing Lucius to shake himself off.
"How-," His voice was rather unsteady as he tried to calm himself down.
"She's Luna," the entire group answered.
"I see," This time, he sounded like he understood completely. Luna tilted her head and placed her feet on the ground as she sat forward.
"Dumbledore has left some very unhappy staff members in his wake." She told the group, as if nothing untoward had happened.
"Oh?" Bleach looked at her with a raised eyebrow and Luna smirked, "It seems that Dumbledore performed a huge cover up of the use of the quills. He told McGonagall that he was overseeing Umbridge's actions, which is why she told all of her Lions to keep their heads down and get on with it."
"I bet she is absolutely delighted." Moony said with a snicker. "He should have covered all of his bases."
"She is highly displeased, and questioning everything she ever believed in Dumbledore. She doesn't seem to be able to get over the fact that he allowed students, innocents, to be harmed in such a way." Luna mused, "It could be a turning point, if she loses her faith in him then it removed his main influence at the school."
"This is good." Paws said, "Swift, can you work with this?"
"Already have an idea." He said, "Depends on how fast Snake and create a reversed version of the notice-me-not charm, directed at staff only."
"I can have it to you by tomorrow evening." Harry told him and Swift grinned.
"Simple guilt tactic. No matter what, McGonagall does try to do right by her students, but she has always had too much to do." He explained, "So, we use a reversed notice-me-not on the blood quill scars, and we cast it on every student we know who has them and make her, and the rest of the staff see them."
"Perhaps, on the later stages, add in a mild illusion, have the scars flash back to look as if they are fresh before turning back to scars." Harry suggested and Swift nodded.
"Even better. That should push her over, to have a daily reminder, especially on the little second years, of what she, by proxy, allowed to happen should steel her resolve."
"I like it, I can get to work using turner time and you can plan who, what and where the spells are going to be cast on each of the scarred students." Harry decided.
"Got it, I'll just need a copy of the detention records."
"Done."
"Now, before we go on, I have a quick question." Swift said and Harry raised an eyebrow. "What's for dinner?" He asked and Harry blinked.
"Excuse me?" He said and then he got other strange looks.
"You are not cooking?" The twins said in alarm and Harry looked at them as if they had lost their minds.
"I was supposed to be cooking?" Harry said and his friends looked scandalised.
"We're celebrating." Bleach pointed out.
"And this is the first time we've met all together in a while." Venom added.
"Why wouldn't you be cooking?" Badger questioned as if it was obvious.
"So none of you have eaten?" Harry confirmed and they all shook their head, even Tom, Moony and Lucius. "For the love of..." He jumped to the kitchen, literally jumping through the shadows, and called for Winky to bring him a list of ingredients, his mind mentally going through something that would enable him to feed everyone and keep himself involved in the conversation. Harry tossed off his robe and pulled up his shirt sleeves, he tapped all of the counters to make sure they were clean and summoned some equipment.
"Can we have something nice for desert too?" Luna asked sweetly and Harry mentally cursed, knowing he couldn't say no.
"Sure, give me ten minutes to prepare everything and I'll be back over. I know what I can do." He told them, "Warn a guy next time." He started prepping a cheesecake, using vanilla extracts for the cream and ginger snap biscuits for the base. He set it to cool before prepping a lasagne, chopping and mixing quickly and using magic to fo multiple things at once. He made the white sauce using butter, flower and milk before stacking it in two ceramic dishes and putting it in the oven. He then prepped the garlic bread for sides and then mixed brown sugar, half-and-half, butter and salt in a saucepan over a medium heat, whisking it to make it thicker before adding a touch of vanilla and letting it thicken. He poured it in to a serving boat and put a light cooling charm on it before finally going back to the group.
"Not bad, Snake, only took twenty minutes." Bleach said and Harry stuck out his tongue from his place back on Tom's lap, where he had kicked his legs over the arm.
"Shut it or I'll lace your food with muggle drugs." Harry warned and Bleach shuddered as Venom, Paws and Moony laughed and Tom smirked.
"Back on topic as we wait to be fed." Badger joked and Harry pouted, "The sanctuary is now fully self-sufficient with ingredients, and it will only be extremely rare potions that will need to be sourced from outside the walls."
"Well done, Badger." Harry complimented, "How goes your botanical garden?"
"It's beautiful, its everything I could ever want."
"Well we all know Badger is going to die in a Herbology related accident." George quipped and Badger threw a stinging hex at him.
"How goes the rest of the sanctuary, Moony?" Harry questioned.
"It is moving perfectly." He answered, "The arrival of new wolves has calmed right down, we have a few stay foreign wolves arrive and the odd British wolf, but no big numbers like the sudden crisis."
"Brilliant, is there anything that you need?"
"No, Greyback has moved their full time, he has circulated all the coins we have at our disposal and believes his time is better spent looking after the wolves we have saved. Territories have been made between the biggest packs outside so there have been no arguments, all the Alphas have come to an understanding and the entire front courtyard has been labelled a free zone, where anyone can go at any time." Moony explained, "Moonrise, Raven and Cissa have performed an amazing feat within the medical wing and all patients have now been released to go back to their families or packs. Moonrise has returned to creating wolf potions, Luna keeps track of the medical wing and introduces wolves who have been without amenities for so long back in to domestics, and Cissa has seemingly adopted a following of star-struck cubs who follow her around and she sits and reads stories to. She is also teaching them basic customs, etiquette and Latin."
"I knew she would like the job." Harry said delightedly.
"Oh yes, that is a given. Her group has grown from what it originally was, and it's quite adorable to watch little three year old cubs going on and on about 'Miss Lady Cissa'." Moony laughed and Lucius sighed in a self-suffering sort of way.
"Dear Merlin, I would stake she adores that." He muttered and Tom threw him a smirk.
"You did chose to marry a Black, Lucius." He pointed out smugly, "They have never known the word humble."
"That is an unfortunate truth, My Lord."
"Excuse me, Mr I-Breed-And-Keep-Rare-Albino-Peacocks-And-Have-Them-Prance-Around-My-Gardens-To-Illustrate-How-Rich-And-Important-I-Am and self-styled Lord I-Have-An-Ego-So-Large-It-Often-Appears-As-A-Physical-Representation-Around-My-Head-And-Has-Now-Expanded-So-Much-It-Actually-Has-It's-Own-Name – its called Jeffery in case you are wondering!" Harry interrupted in one large breath, "I hardly see you as the definition as humble either, so hush up." The pair of them looked at Harry in indignation, the teen raised an eyebrow as if to say I dare you to dispute and wisely, neither of them did so Harry turned back to Moony.
"How goes your other mission?"
"Difficult. My pet Death Eaters have been collecting information but its snippets here and there. Dumbledore's control is a lot tighter in France then what we had believed and the Spanish and Italian countries are split." Moony told them.
"I'm not surprised." Harry said, "Try getting information in Germany, they may not have Dumbledore's influence personally, but you can put money on the fact that there would be many willing to sell the man out. Take inventory, there will be those within the German Government who will have direct lines in to the other countries and it will only take a number or an item before they will spill their guts."
"That's a really good idea." Moony said impressed, "We can re-evaluate our plans and use this as an opener."
"Once you have information you can plan multiple things." Harry said and Moony nodded.
"Yes, I'll meet with them and we'll get on that." Moony said, "I am hoping to have good news to pass on to Alpha in regards to the wolf situation. Everything else in the sanctuary is going so well, it's just this lingering threat."
"Yes, it is understandable." Harry agreed, "Bleach?"
"We have finally, with the help of Severus and working sometimes three times with myself and the twins, got an excess amounts of potions." Bleach told him and Harry smiled pleased. "We actually have an active stock built up and we're finally able to be comfortable with the amount we have now in ratio to the wolves."
"Wonderful, this is great work guys." He complimented them.
"Thanks. It gave me time to work on the laws more." Bleach said to him, he pulled out a few sheets of parchment and banished them to Harry to read. "We now have a rough draft for two of the werewolf laws that we could pass, using your new classifications of course."
"Really?" Harry exclaimed in surprised, looking over the sheets of parchment.
"Yes. The first is a baseline law, making it illegal to discriminate from hiring a werewolf over another just because of race. Its going to be the build up on many work related wolf laws that Badger and I are working on together." Bleach explained, "We split up the laws so Badger and I were working on the wolves, and Paws and Venom were working on the vampires."
"I see," Harry read the first law, shifting the sheet so Tom could read it too, "This is really good."
"It's not finalised obviously, but it has the basics."
"It will be the foundations of what we want to create." Badger added, "We have an idea for a tax deduction to those who hire other races, particularly wolves as they are out for the moon. Though, there should be a massive drop in problem if Greyback manages to get all of the wolves to accept their wolf."
"It's sort of a work in progress at the moment. But at the same time, it's a bit of a catch, I mean, the wolves are shunted so they try and push away their wolf making them volatile, and so they can't get jobs because they haven't accepted their wolf, and they haven't accepted their wolf because they were called monsters and shunted." Harry said, "Stupid, close-minded idiots." He handed the first law to Moony to look over as he turned to the second one, "What's this?"
"That is the second law is a mix of two, and it is making it legal for werewolves to declare their marriages and register their children like everyone else." Bleach explained and Harry nodded.
"Yes, that would automatically put them on the Hogwarts list if they then later show magic." Harry mused, "I like it."
"That one, especially, needs cleaning." Badger told him, "But I want that one put through as soon as possible."
"Yes, it shouldn't be necessary that we need a law," Harry mused, "It might even be possible just to abolish the restriction and have it open, just have your written outline published to alert everyone that it is now completely legal."
"That is an option." Bleach agreed, finally collecting the laws once everyone had read them.
"These are really good," Moony told them, "I know they'll be well received."
"As for the other laws." Venom cut in, pulling of some parchment of his own. "Paws and I have been working on the vampires and we are nearly in the final stages of making it legal for vampires to roam all the magical districts. We have isolated the stipulations in which the vampires would have to stick to, but it's simple things like no snacking on people in the alley."
"Brilliant, this should be easy enough to work with." Harry said, reading it over. He passed it around and got up to check on the food, making sure everything was cooking. He grated some cheese and sprinkled it on top of the lasagne before returning to his friends.
"Other than the laws," Venom was saying, "The final members on the list were removed and Raven already took the memories. Now, its just observation."
"Ah blood and chaos, sounds delightful." Harry said. "Food will be done in around ten minutes"
"Oo, what are we having?" Swift asked interested.
"You'll have to wait and see."
"You're evil." Swift decided and Harry nodded.
"I know, I've been taking lessons on Tom so I can become super evil." Harry responded seriously and Tom jabbed him in the side as he draped himself over the man and kicked up his feet.
"Leave me out of your arguments."
"So you are not evil?" Harry ventured and Tom looked at him as if he was insane.
"Of course I am."
"Exactly," Harry's said primly and Tom rolled his eyes. "Gentlemen, you have been rather quiet."
"We have finalised our cubes." George told him, throwing one of the offending items in the air and catching it with the other hand.
"They are in the second stages of testing," Fred picked up, "They are coming along brilliantly."
"Great! They will be very handy if we have to go in to battle." Harry told them pleased, "How intense are they?"
"The same potency as the Mirror," they answered, "Though, we are hoping to be able to enhance the compulsion just a little bit more."
"Is that possible without it expanding on to those we don't want it to touch?" Paws questioned and the twins shrugged.
"That's the problem, we don't know."
"Can you not do the experiments on yourself this time?" Harry asked and they grinned.
"Of course."
"You are still going to self-experiment, aren't you?" Badger said with a sigh and the twins nodded.
"Yes."
"Why bother with the lie?" Swift wondered and they shrugged.
"Make Snake feel better."
"Ah, yeah, ok." He nodded and Harry rolled his eyes.
"What else have you been doing?" He asked and they gave him smug smirks.
"We, that is to say my twin and I, have been very successful recently." Fred told them all.
"We have managed to successfully bug the DMLE." George continued and Harry sat up.
"What?"
"Yeah, we have it all the offices and the corridors bugged." Fred said, "And we have it wired up to collect every single word said within the considerable range of our bugs."
"It's simple." George unfolding something and led it out on top of everything. "This shows the location of the bugs, and it transcripts everything that has been said."
"Congratulations." Harry said brightly, "This is truly amazing."
"I have to agree, gentlemen. It is an incredible feat." Tom told them and they bowed.
"Thank you."
"How did you manage it?" Lucius asked impressed and the twins shared a look.
"Ask us no questions and we shall tell you no lies." They chimed and Lucius gave them an unimpressed look but didn't ask again.
"We have also replaced the old bugs with our updated ones, we can now, roughly, tell you who said what. There have been a few mistakes on overlapping conversations but in general we have everything." Fred explained.
"We now have full intel for the Burrow, HQ and the DMLE which we monitor." George said with a smirk, "And we saw a very interesting conversation between Dumbledore and Kreacher."
"Do share." Harry said with a smirk of his own and George chuckled.
"He got extremely excited, he started sprouting ideas out loud, talking about retracing childhood steps and getting another foot in front of 'Riddle'." George read out. "He then started muttering that he should have seen it before because if Malfoy had one, so he is now toying with the idea that perhaps more followers have items."
"If this would have been a year ago he would not be incorrect." Tom mused, "Bella had one."
"Lestrange, really?" Harry asked in disappointment and Tom raised an eyebrow.
"Bella is possibly the most powerful, the most dangerous and the most loyal follower I have. If there was anyone I knew that would protect something I needed, it would be her." Tom told him firmly and Harry shrugged.
"I suppose she is different now she hasn't got a curse on her." Harry relented. "Did he say anything else of note?"
"Not really, only that he would go back to watching your properties just in case, but then we knew that was coming." George said with a raised shoulder.
"Yeah, we knew he would be doing that." Harry agreed.
"So we're now at the shop, bouncing ideas around for our creations and working at the Sanctuary." Fred finished and Harry nodded.
"Cool, I don't think there is anything pressing for you guys at the moment." He said, "Though, we are on a break now so we can pick up whatever. Remember though, while we are free to relax, nothing comes out until after Yule so try to keep personalities and glamours up."
"Of course, it won't be difficult for the last week." Paws said airily.
"Yeah, we've had four months of shit, we're good." Swift agreed and Harry laughed.
"Yeah, it seems a bit ridiculous to remind you."
"We know what you mean though." Paws assured.
"However, we are going to be executing the Wizengamot plan in to action. With the Vote secure, it will speed everything up and we will need to strike." Harry told them and all of his friends looked excited.
"What plan?" Tom asked and Harry merely smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Who's up for food before we go over Yule plans?" He questioned and his friends were at the table provided by the castle before he had even finished his sentence. "I assume they are all hungry." He got up and went to the kitchen, shooing Tom and Lucius over to the table also and giving Tom a look that made sure he didn't argue. Harry summoned the plates and threw in the prepped garlic bread, he took out both his lasagnes and rested on the counter to plate up. He called Winky to get two bowls of salad and directed her to put them in the centre of the table, he plated up the food and then pulled out the garlic bread, presented it on plated to be put in the centre of the table also. Harry waved his hands and levitated all the plates to move with him, he set them down at the respective person's placemat and grinned at the muted squeal he got from Paws and the cheer he had from Swift and Fred.
"I present Lasagne, with a side of green salad and garlic bread." Harry told them.
"You made my favourite!" Paws burst out, smiling brightly, "Thank you."
"You're most welcome." Harry said, sliding in to his seat next to Tom.
"You can actually cook." Lucius said amazed.
"Wait until you actually try it." Draco told his father, "I didn't believe these lot when they said Snake was a good cook, they made a bit of an understatement." Harry rolled his eyes and waved him off.
"I'm alright." He said. They quietened down as they began the meal, there were multiple sighs of pleasure as they started to eat and Harry smiled, his smile brightened considerably when Tom shot him an impressed look. It took a surprisingly short amount of time for everyone to clear everything Harry had served and he grinned at them.
"I have your approval then,"
"Oh yes," they all agreed.
"More cheese next time though." Swift threw in jokingly and then had to hold up a shield in defence as Paws, Raven and Bleach hexed him.
"You have an incredible talent," Lucius told him honestly, "Though, I do hope you are prepared for my wife to find out how far it extends."
"I don't think anyone can prepare for that." Draco muttered and Harry laughed.
"I am sure it will be fine."
"Hm, we shall see." Lucius said and then he offered a rather nasty smirk, "You see my wife has ordered me to inform you that you are expected to reside at Malfoy Manor for the Yule, she insists. She has also promised the most just retribution should you refuse." Harry blinked and then swallowed.
"I will definitely be listening to her and I would only be too happy to stay at the manor for Yule. It saves me having to work around Dumbledore, though, I will come through with Tom and not on the train because of the people on the platform."
"Wonderful, I shall tell my wife." Lucius said.
"So…" Luna broke in, looking at Harry expectantly.
"Oh, alright, I'll get the desert." He said, getting up and going back to the kitchen as Winky cleared the table. Harry got more plates and set a neat slice of cheesecake in the centre of each, he ten poured the caramel sauce in to individual serving boats and levitated it over.
"Ooo, I love cheesecake." Venom said pleased. "What flavour?"
"We have vanilla and ginger cheesecake, with a caramel sauce." He told them all.
"I have never had such a combination." Lucius noted and Harry shrugged.
"It was an experiment that turned out right."
"This is delicious." Badger decided and Harry smiled. Once everyone was finished, Winky took all the dishes down to be cleaned by the elves and they made their way back to the sitting area.
"We know where Snake and I are residing for Yule," Bleach began, "We will be completely free to do as we please. How are you going to get around the constraints?"
"Paws and I are expected back at the Burrow for 'Christmas'." Swift said with a grimace, "However we have planned it out."
"Yes, we'll be living at least twice and we will be bouncing around the sanctuary and the manor." Paws explained, "It should work out ok, though we will have to be careful."
"You should be fine." Fred said, "We're expected too so we can cover if you are missing without explanation, if not then we can cause a distraction."
"That's a relief." Swift muttered, "Thanks guys."
"I am going to be bouncing around all areas." Luna informed them and Harry didn't bother to ask anything else. If Luna said she was going to be at all areas then she was going to be at all areas.
"Will your father question?" Badger asked and Luna shook her head.
"Daddy understands that some things are necessary." She replied simply.
"Well, as you can all imagine, my grandmother has summoned me home for the holidays." Neville said in disgust, "She will be even more insistent now that Dumbledore is gone so I won't have leeway. Though, I'll be living a second day at the sanctuary so I don't kill her."
"Why would you want to commit such a deplorable act?" Harry gasped in mock horror and Badger rolled his eyes.
"I wonder, truly I do."
"I shall be pulling back over the holidays," Moony said, "This is going to be the first time in a while, for some the first time ever, that the wolves are able to celebrate Yule. I want to make it a grand affair."
"Get the elves to put on a huge spread, and you can throw a party if you want." Harry suggested and Moony nodded.
"I want to do something memorable."
"We should all be able to come on borrowed time, too." Paws said, warming up to the idea, "It'll be a good experience."
"Yeah, I like it." Swift agreed, "The twins can help create some play areas for the children." Harry sat up and tilted his head, he looked at Paws and a gleeful light came to his eyes.
"I'm scared." She stated and Harry grinned.
"Ball pits and soft play." He said and her eyes light up.
"Yes, so many times yes." She agreed, "I can take them to one in the muggle world and them we can work on constructing one, one of the lounges perhaps?"
"I don't care where, just make sure there is a death slide and a massive ball pit because I want to play in it too." Harry told her and she nodded.
"It is going to be fantastic."
"Do we want to know?" Bleach asked warily and Harry shook his head.
"No,"
"Right then. Venom, what are you doing for Yule?"
"I have obligations as Erede della Casa antica e Imperiale di Marcellus (Heir to the Ancient and Imperial House of Marcellus), I have to attend all functions and complete my mother's training." He explained, "But I have my turner if needed and I am back in England for my father's ball and the obligations for the Zabini name too."
"You are going to primped and prepped this Yule," Swift laughed.
"I don't know why you are laughing, you are expected in Italy to meet my mother." Venom threw back and Swift shut up.
"You suck."
"You know it." Venom returned and Swift blushed and hit him much to the rest of the group's amusement.
"Children, please." Harry called before the pair could start play fighting, and then he turned to Tom. "What are your plans for the Yule?"
"I will be collecting all of the information from my Death Eaters, we will need to discuss the current happenings and the Elite will have things ready. I have a skeleton plan for the ministry takeover, though they are split in two due to the indecision over the wards."
"I see,"
"I also have multiple Death Eaters slowly moving in to place for the takeover, I now have at least one in each department, except the ministerial office."
"If needs must, I may be able to speak with Hadrian." Harry said, "That should help us."
"If he agrees to help."
"He will." Harry assured, "But then, things might change and he might not be needed."
"There is a lot that needs to be thought about. I have also finished translating a few of Flamels Journals with Remus and we have access to more magic and information for later on in our movement." Tom told him, "The heir search is difficult, I've opened some of Salazar's journals to see if there are any leads but it is slow work."
"Yes, it seems to be the same for everyone." Harry mused.
"I have almost finished the plan for the school. There are a list of laws that will need to be put through officially, and the entire school curriculum is going to be receiving a complete overhaul." Tom explained and Paws looked up in excitement, much to Harry's amusement.
"If you want a second opinion, give it to Paws. She has memorised the Hogwarts Charter, and she has inside knowledge of the current muggle world which can held the Next Gen transition." Harry suggested and Tom nodded, he flicked his hand and Paws caught the two scrolls that appeared before her.
"I can have them back to you by the weekend."
"It is not necessary, the holidays shall be fine." Tom decided and she nodded, she was looking at the scrolls as if they were pure gold and Harry rolled her eyes.
"Is there anything else we need to go over?" He asked them and there was negative answered all round. "Well, I think we are done."
"Brilliant, I have cub training that I missed." Swift said getting to his feet, "It's accuracy today, so it should be fun."
"Don't die." The twins chimed, "We'll be watching all three areas and see where Dumbledore pops up."
"Good, let me know if anything happens,"
"You know it."
"I have an experimental potion I should be getting back to, and I want to speak with Severus to make sure he hasn't killed anyone now this quill incident has dropped." Bleach said, "No doubt he will be less than pleased."
"I don't envy you." Badger said, "I get to relax for the evening before starting again tomorrow. I think we have earned it."
"Most definitely." Luna agreed, "Though, I am going to be doing some listening of my own. Tonight is going to be a good night to eavesdrop."
"Do be careful sister, the last thing I would want is for you to get caught." Harry warned and she smiled in a less than promising way.
"Do not worry, if I am caught, they will soon forget."
"Good,"
"I'm going to-,"
"The library," everyone finished for Paws and she glowered at them.
"I hate you all." She decided and stepped through the shadows, taking all of her things with her.
"I have stealth with our other class." Venom said, laughing at Paws' antics, "Let's go, Swift."
"Want a lift, Moony?" Swift offered and the werewolf nodded, he hugged Harry tightly before grabbing Swift's arm and the three of them vanished in to the shadows together without fuss, Harry blinked to see Luna already gone and he looked at the twins, Bleach and Badger.
"Where'd Luna go?"
"How are we supposed to know?" Bleach exclaimed, "You are the one that keeps up with her."
"Oh yeah," Harry shrugged, "She'll pop in when she wants something."
"See ya, Snake." The twins called, following Draco from the room and Badger handed Harry over a scroll before he left.
"This is inventory of all the plants I have managed to hybridise, some of them you might find interesting." He told him, "When you are done, give it to Snape. He might want some to experiment with."
"Thanks, Nev." Harry said and the other teen nodded before making his own exit.
"I must return to my wife, My Lord." Lucius said, as he straightened his robes, "And I shall tell her of your acceptance." He directed the last comment at Harry, who nodded.
"Very well, Lucius. Continue on your work with Izar, but make note of any happenings in the ministry that are linked to Dumbledore's departure from the school." Tom commanded, the blond bowed and left via the floo. Once he was gone, Harry turned to Tom with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
"So, what did you think?"
Tom snagged him by the waste and pulled him closer, pressing a light kiss to his lips.
"I think that you are rather amazing." Tom told him honestly, "The way your entire group works is quite astounding." Harry mentally cursed when he felt his cheeks heat up, but he was smiling and he wrapped his arms around Tom's neck.
"Thanks. We have so much going on that it is nice to have a catch up like that." Harry said, "I am very happy with the laws."
"Yes, they are very well constructed." Tom agreed, "It is truly a day for celebration."
"Well, now that we are alone…" Harry began, his voice dropping, "How about we start a celebration of our own?"
"I think that is a truly excellent idea."
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand, we're done! That's the end of the chapter folks, and I think the group is going well, things are moving in the direction they want and its hotting up. But it's not all plane sailing, there's something up with Luna and Dumbledore is still not out of the picture. I hope you enjoyed it and I would love to know what you think!
Jess*