AUTHOR NOTE: We learn the aftermath of the combat and also that Neville has a temper.
===xxx===xx(Chapter begins)
Landing in the Quidditch locker rooms the group fanned out and made sure the place was secured. Confirming that they began to relax as Harry gave Hermione a nod. Hermione pulled out a mirror and a moment later Remus' face appeared.
"They're here Hermione. A bit anxious but otherwise alright." He said as soon as he saw her face.
"Good. I don't know how many of them we took out. Hopefully they won't continue to follow them."
"Well I'll have the trace off of them in a half hour. I'll meet you r uncle an hour after that and they'll be in the car to Portsmouth after that."
"Good remember Uncle Bill's boat is moored at Pier 47 Slip B. He named it is Fairwind."
"I remember. We'll get them out." Remus assured her. "The Delacours are waiting for them?"
"I'll make sure."
"Alright. Remus out." He said with a smile and closed his connection.
Hermione stroked the mirror once more and the face of the blonde haired quarter Veela Fleur Delacour appeared. "Yes Hermione?"
"You're going to have guests for breakfast is everything ready?"
"Yes Bill and I are ready."
"The goblins cleared Bill for duty?"
"Yes they said his mind had not been tampered with. He must have left their home before the dirty rat began his actions." The blonde said.
"Well that's good. But they'll be there by morning. The Fairwind."
"Understood."
They ended the communication. Turning she saw that everyone else had stripped out of their suits and many headed for the showers. Harry was giving Luna a shoulder rub as she sat on the floor in front of him.
"Well that went good. How many do you think we took out?"
"Neville turned one into a planter so that's a probable. Lavender inflated one that was last seen flying off to the east. You took the one's pelvis and turned it into paste. The other two had severe injuries. So at least one was a probable for being permanently the other four will require some healing before they can get back into action." Luna rattled off with her eyes closed, leaning back against Harry.
Hermione began to strip off her combat suit too, "Good. Now it sounds like everyone else is getting over their Adrenalin rush so wanna help me out of this?"
"Absolutely." Luna and Harry said simultaneously.
===xxx===xx
As Susan snuck into her dorm she saw Margaret sleeping in her bed. She sighed and moved the girl over so she could lay down.
Margaret woke up, "I had a bad dream."
Susan stroked the girls hair, "Well its all good now. You want to talk about it?"
"You were in an avalanche but the bad rocks all ran away from you because you had your magic pants on."
"My magic pants?"
Margaret nodded gently as she was already drifting back to sleep. "They were so pretty that the bad rocks just couldn't be near them." She murmured.
Susan wondered what she exactly meant but curled up holding the girl wondering about her power.
The next morning Susan stopped Hannah before she left the dorm, "Hannah. I have to tell you something."
"What? Is there a problem with Maggie?"
Susan shook her head at the name but continued, "Uh no. Don't ask me any questions, I just need you to trust me ok?"
Hannah looked at her friend and nodded, "Okay I do."
Susan took a deep breath, "Okay first off your parents are safe and sound. They were attacked last night but they managed to get help and get away."
Hannah gasped in worry, "Oh no. Are you sure they're ok?"
Susan took Hannah's hands and held them tightly, "Yes I promise. They are safe. I'll see if I can talk to someone and get a message to them but they're alright."
"Oh god. Why?" Hannah cried out as she began to weep. "Why them? They're harmless."
Susan shook her head "I don't know Hannah." as she let her friend cry on her shoulder. "But they're safe now. Trust me."
===xxx===xx
After breakfast Harry and the group met in the Room. Avatar had made for them a copy of the Galaxy Class observation lounge after Hermione thought clearly about it. The pure-bloods in the group were a bit disturbed by the view of space outside the windows and put their backs to it. Harry and Hermione had both started to sit down in the captain's chair at the head of the table to the amusement of everyone. They settled it by flipping a coin that Hermione won, so Harry swung his leg over the chair on her right and took a seat.
"Okay last night went well. We took and destroyed their wands so they'll have to get new ones at the very least if they didn't get caught. Three of them had serious injuries, and one had potentially fatal injuries. Everyone moved well and none of us got hurt. But I doubt we were up against their best." Hermione stated.
Neville nodded, "Yeah. The guy that was watching the outside wasn't even paying attention to his surroundings. Susan got his attention and I had the vines take him. Took like five seconds."
Lavender nodded, "Yeah mine went down, or rather up, from an inflating charm on the first spell."
"The one's inside didn't seem to be really focused on doing harm, more like they were just on a lark." Harry frowned.
"A lark that would have ended Mrs Abbott's life." Luna reminded Harry.
Taking a deep breath Harry nodded, "Yeah I know. These people are just plain wrong."
"Alright well this morning we'll go over the way we did last night and figure things out. What went right, what went wrong. What we could do better okay?" Hermione asked.
The next few hours they went over last night. What each person did and how it worked out. Coming to their conclusions just before lunch.
After lunch Harry and Hermione was heading outside with Luna when Dumbledore interrupted them. "Ahh. I was wondering if we might go to my office and discus a few things."
"Yes I suppose we can." Harry said.
"Ahh good."
===xxx===xx
Once they were seated in the Headmaster's office he offered a bowl out, "Peppermint?"
"Uh I thought you liked lemon drops?" Hermione asked.
"Ahh yes. Lemon drops are so outdated, peppermint is the new thing." He said with a wink.
Harry chuckled, "So what did you want to discus sir?" As he took a mint.
"Ahh yes. Well I was called this morning to an emergency meeting of the Wizengamut. Apparently last night three rather prominent members of our society managed to get themselves killed in rather extraordinary means."
Harry nodded as he sucked on the peppermint. "Who was it?"
"Well Miss Corina Craven was floating over Ipswich when she was sucked into the engine of a passing Airbus. The plane managed to make a safe landing in Glasgow with no injuries, however Miss Craven had been reduced to a bit of curry paste." Dumbledore said with a slight shrug. "That reminds me I need to speak with the elves about dinner next week. We might have some Indian cuisine as an option. How do you think that will go over?"
Luna calmly said in a hollow voice, "Mr Granger makes an excellent chicken Tandoori. I will enjoy it."
"Oh good. I hope more people will have an open mind about it."
A brief moment passed before Hermione said in a shaky voice, "And the other two?"
"Well Kiernan Goyle suffered two crushed femoral arteries. His pelvis had been shattered and then he tried to crawl away causing the bones to sever the arteries. Rather unfortunate. But then he was never very good at healing charms. Never very good at charms over all." Dumbledore observed distractedly.
Hermione gulped but nodded, "And the last one sir." She prompted the headmaster.
"Wilbur Gibbon. A rather sad man. I recall he definitely did not do well in Herbology. Such a shame as if he had done better he might have been able to counter the plant growth spell that choked the life out of him."
Harry sighed, "Well that's a rather unfortunate circumstance."
"Yes. Even more unfortunate was that they all three were marked Death Eater. Well at least two of them were. There wasn't enough of Miss Craven to confirm or deny that it was her aside from the magical signature of the, remains." He said after a pause. "Also the Abbott's pub was severely damaged last night and the Abbott's themselves disappeared. No doubt fleeing in fear from a Death Eater attack. Young Miss Abbott is convinced for some reason that her family is safe and sound so I must only conclude that forces spirited them away last night before they were harmed."
Harry nodded "Seems like it."
"Well good job then. Two lives were saved last night and the forces of darkness suffered loses, unfortunate and sad as they were." Dumbledore sighed.
"They chose that life though. They knew the risks." Hermione said, "I mean I feel bad that I wound up taking a life, but you didn't hear him. He was talking about raping her like it was, like someone talking about having treacle tart for desert. The others laughed with him about it.
Dumbledore inhaled thoughtfully as he looked at Hermione. "Yes I know. Taking the life of another, even one who has lost their semblance to human like many of the Death Eaters is a painful thing to do. Time will heal you and it is a good thing that you do not enjoy taking lives."
"I don't enjoy it but I will do what we need to do." Hermione said.
"So will I." Harry agreed, "Uncle Bill talks about the duty of a warrior. That you sometimes have to do bad things to protect the good. I fully believe that sir."
Dumbledore nodded, "I am sure that you do. And that you will do what you must."
"Yes sir. We are committed to this. Even if I do feel bad it has to be done." Hermione said. Harry simply nodded while Luna looked off into the wall.
"Now about Horace Slughorn. He has asked, rather through channels asked, if he could start up his little slug club again. I have no doubt that he plans to try to recruit you Harry at the very least, if not all of you." Dumbledore stated.
"To what point sir we have already calculated that there are six Horcruxes?" Hermione asked.
"We have most probably calculated that, we have not confirmed it. Nor have we come closer to learning what all of them are. The Ring and the Diary and Harry's head we have confirmed, but not the other three." Dumbledore pointed out.
"So what? You want us to try and convince him to tell us what the other three are?" Harry asked.
"In so many words yes. By any means you feel appropriate as it is vital that we discover them. All we do would be for naught if we cannot find these items."
"I still don't understand why he wouldn't just chuck the blasted things in the ocean." Harry grumbled.
"Ego. Ego pure and simple." Luna said, "Think about it. He calls himself Lord Voldemort. Lord Flight of Death or flees death to be vulgar. He feels he has conquered death and there is nothing anyone else can do about it. So he keeps his Horcrux handy and rubs everyone's nose in it."
"There is more to it that just that. These anchors can also be used to restore him. If the ritual he used from your blood Harry had failed he could have retrieved an anchor and used it. That is their other purpose." Dumbledore explained, "Now can you see why they are so important. They hold him to this plane of existence, preventing him from traveling beyond the veil and allow him to be restored by reabsorbing that part. Which once restored he can then replace the Horcrux once more."
Hermione and Luna seemed to realize something as they both glanced at each other then back at the scar on Harry's forehead. "Sir do you think he knows or realizes he put a Horcrux or a part of His soul inside Harry?"
Dumbledore seem to think for a moment, "No I doubt it. Otherwise he would not be working so hard to kill Harry."
"But the prophecy says clearly one must slay the other for neither may live lest the other die." Luna frowned.
"Yes I know. I have pondered the meaning of that greatly." Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"I wonder if that part was meant to be taken literally or figuratively." Luna considered.
"It was a prophecy, the rest of it was literally accurate." Hermione pointed out.
Luna shook her head, "Neville's birthday is July 30th just the day before Harry's. It was the act of attempting to kill him that marked Harry. What powers do you have Harry that Voldemort does not?"
Harry thought, "Uh. I'm good at Quidditch?"
The other three people in the room looked at him in amused annoyance mostly.
"Okay. I'm not really sure." Harry admitted.
"Harry you have friends. You have people who love you. He does not." Luna said pointedly.
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes. He has followers, he has allies and sycophants but he never in the years I knew him had friends. A few reached out to be his friend but they were rebuffed. So he has grown sad, angry and bitter in his loneliness."
Harry frowned, "So what? We just need to buy him a kitten or get him a girlfriend?"
"I doubt he would be able to perform." Hermione sidebar whispered.
"I fear that time has long since passed." Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "His is a soul that has been fractured and broken so much that it has lost any semblance of humanity. It is lost in a darkness so deep no light may reach it."
"And that's why he's going to keep trying to kill you Harry. He heard the part of the prophecy that said you have the power to vanquish him so he will stop at nothing to destroy you. To remove you as a threat. So that is why neither may life lest the other dies. He will not stop trying to kill you until he is dead, permanently." Luna said with her eyes large in horror.
"So I will have to kill him, or he'll kill me. And anyone near me." Harry said with hooded eyes.
"We're still going to stay with you mister. No matter what." Hermione declared firmly.
"And that is the reason why we will win Harry." Luna declared.
Dumbledore grinned proudly, "I am certain with an attitude and love like that you will."
Hermione looked at Harry deeply who smiled and nodded as he squeezed her hand.
"Now I have one more thing I'd like us to discus if you do not mind." Dumbledore asked.
===xxx===xx
"Longbottom, I would speak with you." Millicent Bulstrode asked quietly as Susan, Neville and Lavender sat at a table in the courtyard.
"Yeah sure what do you need Bulstrode?" Neville said turning and standing.
Margaret was standing beside Millicent holding her hand and smiling happily. "When you said those things to me did you mean them or were you just trying to rub it into Pansy?"
"You mean when I complimented you a few days ago?" he smiled.
"Yeah that." She said suspiciously.
"Yeah I did." Neville said sensitively.
Millicent looked at Lavender and Susan in turn. Taking the time to study Susan's figure. "You get turned on by fat girls?"
"I prefer the term pleasingly plump,but uh yeah." Neville said with a casual shrug and grin.
Susan blushed slightly but smiled at Millicent, "Yeah he's not shy about it."
"Oh." Millicent looked like she was thinking hard.
Susan asked, "So where is your friends?"
"Goyle got taken home to deal with his dad dying. Heart failure he said. Malfoy's off doing some stupid thing with Nott and Parkinson is having a beauty rest."
"Oh. So you won't get in trouble by talking to us?"
Millicent looked very grumpy, "I'm beginning not to care what they think."
Lavender got a thoughtful look then stood up, "Hey you know next weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend why don't you and Nev go on a date there. You could go to lunch with him and then he'd come back and Suse and I could go to tea with him."
Millicent looked shocked, "You'd share him with me?"
"Well I mean we're all free agents right now, none of us have got a ring on our fingers. So if you'd want to go to lunch with him we're not going to stop you." Lavender said cheerfully.
Neville looked form Susan to lavender quickly and both girls looked like they were not upset. Susan looked resigned while Lavender looked excited by the idea. Neville was certainly having thoughts.
Margaret laughed, "He's happy about that Millie."
Millicent looked at her sister then at Neville. The other two girls glanced at each other quickly while Neville schooled his face. Calling on the Occlumancy Lupin had been teaching them to calm himself down.
Susan stood up, "Hey Margaret you want to see if the jays are still building that nest in the oak out front?"
Margaret bit her lip, "It would let Millicent and Neville sit and talk." Lavender pointed out.
"Oh. Oky." She said letting go of Millicent's hand. "I can go with Susan can't I sis?"
"Uh yeah. Sure." Millicent said nodding to Susan.
When the three girls went off Millicent looked around and sat down.
They sat awkwardly beside each other before Millicent said softly, "Thank you for not being mean to Margaret."
Neville snorted, "Why would we be mean to her. She's a nice girl."
"Because she's not right in the head. Father calls her his precious little defective."
Neville snorted angrily as he clenched a fist behind his back. "That's not right. She's not defective."
Millicent gave him a look but stared forward again. "Her mind doesn't work like everyone else's. Father took her to healers. They said they couldn't do anything because it was just the way her brain works. She can still do magic so he accepts her."
"Do I even want to know what would have happened if she couldn't do magic?"
Millicent stared forward looking slightly sad.
"I know your dad's a Death Eater." Neville said quickly, "So this must be hard."
Millicent didn't react. She stared ahead firmly.
"Your home life. I mean. It must be."
"I don't want to talk about it." Millicent suddenly and firmly said. Her voice had taken a tone that Neville realized if he pushed down that path would send her packing, or attacking. He wasn't sure which but didn't want that.
Neville nodded, as he pursed his lips. "So Hogsmeade. You want to go?"
Millicent looked at her beefy hands in her lap. "I. You want to be seen in public with me?"
Neville smiled as he scooted a bit closer, "Yeah. I'm not ashamed."
"Even if I'm a fat cow? A troll."
"You're not a troll. And you're big. So what." Neville said.
"I. I wear a corset and girdle that minimizes my stomach and body. Plus the corset makes my boobs look smaller. It constrains things but its worth it." She said.
Neville looked at the large mounds swelling out from her chest under the sweater she was wearing. If the melons she was sporting now were being held in by a corset his mind staggered for a moment with the thoughts. Looking further down the wide thick waist was being held in and constrained? The thick thighs coming under the skirt must have been compressed by the lower part of the girdle. A random thought ran through his head as he wondered what she would look like in one of Hermione's bodysuits. She was larger than Susan that was for sure.
Millicent was frowning at him he realized. Thick lips in a round, full, face turned down, but with a bit of curious amusement in her eyes. "You okay Longbottom?"
"Yeah just thinking that if this is constrained. I'd like to see set free." He said breathlessly.
"Seriously?" Millicent asked flatly.
Neville nodded, "Yeah. I would."
Millicent blushed but before she could say anything else Pansy came strutting up, "Oh Longbottom were is the rest of the herd?"
Neville turned and bowed to Pansy, "Miss Parkinson. And how are you on this glorious day?"
Pansy was taken aback at the level of politeness. "Longbottom? What's your game?"
"No game Miss Parkinson. I was just sitting and speaking with a lovely lady." Neville calmly said.
"Where behind the hippo?" Pansy said with a sneer.
Neville looked around in mock shock, "Why no. You really should go to hospital wing Pansy. You've got something wrong with your eyes."
"Says the one who fucks farm animals." Pansy sneered. Other students in the courtyard had begun to pack their books up and begin to relocate as they feared another duel was coming.
Neville looked coldly at Pansy before he grasped her left forearm. Pulling her close to him so he was breathing in her face. "Look Parkinson. If you do not leave voluntarily I have the power to force you to leave or kill you where you stand. Makes no difference to me. I know you took the mark and I have utterly no sympathy for anyone who has taken the mark. You are not even a human being to me right now. SO I would watch yourself." He hissed.
"You have no idea who you're talking to Longbottom. You'll regret treating me like this." Parkinson hissed back.
"I know I'm talking to a skinny little bitch that I would use to clean the pipes in the toilets if she crosses me for the slightest thing." He growled in her face.
"Here now what's all this?" Professor Slughorn exclaimed as he hurried over. A few students behind him.
Neville shoved Pansy backwards so she landed on her butt. "Just a slight disagreement over which is better Butterscotch or Lemon Drops."
Slughorn looked between the two students as Pansy picked herself up with a sneer, "You just signed your death warrant Longbottom. You and your entire family."
"Bring it Parkinson. You have no idea who you're dealing with. My parents stood up to Voldemort. I can stand up to a poser like you." Neville squared his shoulders as his hand drifted to the holstered wand on his hip.
Pansy looked around and smiling, "You win this one Longbottom but there's always tomorrow."
"Any day you're ready Parkinson. Better bring your friends, you'll need em."
Pansy snorted then stomped off.
"Right well. Let's not have any more disagreements like that shall we? I can think of a great many things better to do with young ladies than rough them up." Slughorn chortled.
"Yeah so can I." Neville said holding his hand out to Millicent who took it in surprise.
Turning her led her out of the courtyard. Once they were in the corridor Neville pulled her aside.
"Look Millie. I just stood up for you because I want to believe you're not involved. I want to believe there is some reason you're like this but that you're better than that. That you haven't taken the mark. If you have taken it I will drop you like a hot rock. So have you?"
Millicent looked at him then pulled her left sleeve up, revealing a clean unblemished forearm. Pale white skin. Neville ran his fingers across it and nodded.
"Okay. Let's go meet up with the girls." Neville said taking her hand once more.
Millicent was blinking in confusion. "Why?"
"Why what?" He said.
"Why do you think I'm better than that? I've never shown anyone any niceness at all." She said quietly. "I mean last year I was part of the inquisitorial squad."
"I dunno. Susan tells me Margaret seems to think you're a good person. That you're a great big sister. So maybe you have hidden depths, or reasons, for what you do."
"Or maybe I just like being a bully?" Millicent retorted.
Neville shrugged, "I doubt it. But if you do then things won't work out."
Millicent looked at him oddly, "What things."
Neville grinned, ""Stay with us and find out."
===xxx===xx
Hermione, Luna and Harry were walking down the corridor after leaving Dumbledore's office. They had continued talking about Riddle's life growing up and looked at several memories. Dumbledore had wanted Hermione and Luna's opinion as well as Harry's about Riddle. Their insight into why he became what he was.
"Okay. I am really even more displeased with the Weasleys selling love potions." Harry grumbled.
"I know. In the muggle world they'd be called date rape drugs. A serious criminal offense."
Their conversation was cut short by Dumbledore coming out of his office at a fast walk. Seeing the headmaster in a hurry the trio hurried to catch up. He was heading for the central courtyard and for an old man he could move quite quickly.
Before they reached the courtyard they heard shouting and a babble of raised voices. Entering the courtyard they saw what looked like most of the school was there. The Headmaster elbowed his way through the throng briefly before firing a large explosion over his head to get attention. "Everybody will please be silent!" He shouted in a voice loud enough that several hats were knocked off nearby students.
Following the headmaster they saw Neville standing at one end of the courtyard with the ADA and the two Bulstrode girls. Draco and his minions were standing at the other end with Snape and Slughorn. They appeared to be having an argument of some kind.
"Nev what did we miss?" Harry calmly asked.
"I had a little disagreement with Pansy earlier and Draco claims I assaulted and affronted his betrothed. So to uphold her honor he challenged me to a duel."
"A duel?" Harry asked with a sigh. He remembered when Ron got him into that mess in first year. Apparently Draco was still willing to call for a duel, which was worse now that the stakes were much higher.
"Yeah. An honor duel. I was hoping you'd show up and be my second." Neville asked polishing his wand calmly. "Otherwise I was going to ask Seamus."
Hermione looked to the center of the courtyard where the professors were holding court. McGonnegal was waving her finger in Snape's face while he looked calmly pleased with himself. Slughorn looked concerned and was wringing his hands. Flitwick looked very grim as the headmaster stood with his eyes closed like he was contemplating something.
"Neville just what are the terms Draco asked for?" Hermione asked in a concerned tone.
Neville grinned cockily, "To the death. He said for touching his betrothed that way it was the only satisfaction he would accept."
Harry looked across the courtyard to Neville who was standing beside his friend Theodore Nott.
"You do realize that he's been getting training too."
"He took the mark Harry. They all have. Millicent confirmed it." Lavender quietly said.
Dumbledore's voice rang out, "Will both parties and their seconds come forth."
Neville looked at Harry who nodded. The two of them approached Dumbledore as did Malfoy and Nott.
"I have been told you have asked for the terms of this duel to be to the death Mr Malfoy?" Dumbledore requested for clarification.
"I did ask Longbottom to apologize to my betrothed for his vicious assault upon her person but he refused." Draco calmly sniffed as he stared at Neville.
"She has the dark mark. I don't apologize to Death Eaters."
"As you see Headmaster he continues his slanders upon us all." Malfoy sneered.
"Really roll up your sleeve then Malfoy. Get Pansy or your minions to do the same. If you can prove you don't have the mark I'll leave the school." Neville declared.
Draco suddenly looked concerned for a brief moment but covered it with his usual sneer "Why would I feed your delusional little distraction."
"Because if you don't after you die I'll rip your sleeve off and show the whole school you took the mark."
"Your confidence is overwhelming, too bad you can't cast as strongly as you talk. Can we please get on with this. Dinner is going to be late otherwise." Draco yawned as if in boredom.
"Gentlemen. Gentlemen. Please. Let us stop for a moment and consider the ramifications of this. Mr Malfoy if you die your blood line ends. There are no more Malfoys are there? Mr Longbottom though has several cousins across the nation. The Longbottom name will continue. As for whether you took the mark or not as long as it wasn't done on school grounds there is not much that can be done about that." Dumbledore politely said.
"I still demand satisfaction." Draco declared firmly with a growl. "I will not rescind or modify my claim."
"Well speaking with Filius and Poppy the two of them say that Miss Parkinson was not injured to the degree you have claimed Mr Malfoy. Are you certain you do not wish to reconsider your claims?" Dumbledore placidly inquired.
Draco spun on the headmaster in angry surprise, "What do you mean she was not injured as badly?" Draco hissed.
"Just what I said. And as Chief Warlock it is my prerogative as to what duels are and are not considered legal. If you persist with the claim that this will be to the death I shall of course be forced to declare this duel illegal. Which means that whomever wins will be taken into custody for murder." Dumbledore said with a sad sigh. "Two students lost in one fell swoop. Now that would be a shame."
"So I am to be denied satisfaction?" Draco growled.
Dumbledore seemed to grow taller and his form shrouded in a glowing nimbus of light as he thundered, "I so declare it! All duels are forbidden. THIS IS MY WORD AS CHIEF WARLOCK AND HEADMASTER OF THIS SCHOOL AND AS SUCH IS BEYOND CONTESTATION! THERE WILL BE NO DUELS ON THESE GROUNDS!"
The nimbus faded and he seemed to shrink back to himself, "So yes Mr Malfoy you shall be denied your satisfaction. You shall be forced to accept that this desire to inflict harm on each other shall not be allowed, and should I hear anything further about this I shall be fierce in my wroth." Dumbledore was glaring at both of them. Students and professors both wondered what happened as he was normally so much more quiet. Draco briefly seemed to slump before he resumed his normal sneer and spun on his heels leaving so quickly Nott was caught flat footed and had to struggle to catch up.
"Severus. I would suggest you speak to Mr Malfoy and attempt to clam him before he does something too foolish to be prevented. Minerva do the same for your hot headed cub please." Dumbledore barked out to the two professors before he turned and stormed off.
Professor McGonnegal came to Neville and putting her hand on his shoulder said, "Mr Longbottom I believe we need to discus things in my office."
===xxx===xx
The ADA had taken Millicent and her sister to the Room of requirement. Hermione had the room set itself to be a large gazebo by a stream to calm people.
"What the hell was Neville thinking?" Hermione asked in exasperation.
"I don't know. I don't think he was really thinking." Lavender quickly said, "He was defending Millicent from another one of Pansy's shrill attacks. You know the ones and things got out of hand."
"He was defending me." Millicent agreed. "She was saying all kinds of personal things, then she turned on him."
"And she took the mark?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah they all did. They've been pressuring me but I. I'm bad but I'm not that bad. I can't just kill in cold blood." Millicent said.
"Kill in cold blood? What do they have to do to take the mark?" Susan gasped.
"Pansy was bragging about it. I don't know what the others did but she killed some muggle girl they picked up." Millicent choked out.
"Yeah surprised ye aren't one." Seamus sneered.
"Look Finnegan I'm a lot of things but I'm not a killer. I don't believe in the blood stuff." Millicent glared at Seamus.
Margaret was sitting on the floor beside her sister rocking back and forth with her arms around her legs curled tightly. Millicent sat down to hold her and sing soothing words to her.
"What's wrong? Susan knelt beside her on the other side.
"Too many bees. Too many bees. Buzz buzz." She repeated over and over.
Susan stood up. "Look unless we need everyone here lets clear the room some. She's getting overwhelmed by everyone thinking so much."
Hermione looked at the girl in Millicent's arms, "Okay. Second team, go check on the snakes. Make sure they're not pulling something. Be careful and watch yourself."
Once the second team had left the room Margaret started slowing down her rocking. Luna sat in front of her and held her hands out. After a few moments Margaret raised her head and looked into Luna's silvery blue eyes.
The two stared into each other's eyes for long seconds before both smiled. Margaret relaxed and hugged Luna before sitting back, "I'm sorry. There was just so many sharp thoughts. He was going to kill him and it scared me. I didn't know what to say or do and then we came here. Too many people make the bees buzz." She explained in a quiet soft voice.
"We know Draco was going to kill Neville. The headmaster stopped it."
Margaret shook her head, "No he was going to kill the headmaster. I saw it as he thought it too loudly."
"You can read minds?" Hermione asked.
Margaret shook her head, "No. No I can't."
Luna reached out and took her hands gently. "Margaret. Its okay. We can help you make the bees stay quiet. But you have to talk to us. We want to be your friends."
Margaret sighed with a scared look on her face but she nodded.
"You don't have to let go of my hands Margaret. You can be strong and I'll help you." Luna said softly.
Margaret nodded again trying to relax.
"So you can hear other people's thoughts when they think them loudly?" Harry asked as he sat down beside Luna.
Margaret nodded, "Sometimes when I touch them too. Daddy never touches me because of that. I used to love to hug mum. She never had bees." She said sadly.
"I can imagine. But we need you to talk about Draco's thoughts. He wanted to kill the Headmaster?"
"The snakeman in his dreams told him to. He has to do it to show he's a real member of the club." Margaret said.
Harry sighed, "Does Draco want to do this?"
Margaret looked into Luna's eyes again and whispered, "He is angry inside. There are bees all inside him."
"Okay Margaret. Why don't you Luna and Susan go look at the fish in the stream. I bet there are some really pretty ones." Harry said gently, "We need to talk to Millicent about a few things. Okay?"
Luna smiled, "I doubt there are any gulping plimpies in the water so it should even be safe to wade in if you want to."
"What're gulping plimpies?" Margaret said as she stood up with Luna.
"I'll explain on the way." Luna said as her and Susan walked with the young girl.
"Does Draco and the others know she can read minds?" Hermione asked after they were out of earshot.
"No. They all think she's just a broken defective." Millicent said with a aggravated tone to her voice. "They could never get her to do it on demand."
"Okay. So do the Death Eaters know about your sister?" Harry asked.
"No when the Dark Lord got defeated they all kinda stopped their associations. Maggie was born after all that and she's never been around them." Millicent said in a relieved tone.
"And is she why Draco was so upset when he was delayed getting in here?" Hermione wondered.
"No, he had something else going on. He didn't tell me everything because I wouldn't take the mark. Even Greg and Victor didn't know just Draco and his boyfriend Theo." Millicent said with a disgusted look. "He used me to smuggle that stuff in here but wouldn't tell me what it was for either."
"Smuggle stuff? What kind of stuff?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"Crystal rods, special magical tools, metal stuff. Some of it hurt." Millicent said rubbing her left breast.
"And you have no idea what any of that was for?" Hermione asked.
"No. Draco hasn't even told Pansy which is making her crazy mad. All I know is that he comes up here every chance he gets." Millicent said with a shrug.
"Up here. As in the room?" Hermione asked in surprise. Harry looked around like he could see what Draco was doing.
"Yeah. Him and Theo. Pansy thinks they're snogging or something. They've had some fights about it before he hushed her up." Millicent was looking at them curiously, "Why? What's the big deal?"
"That's what we're curious about." Hermione wondered out loud, "What could be in the room that he would spend so much time up here?"
"We've only been back two weeks Hermione. He couldn't have made too much success with it, whatever it is." Harry said.
"Well I mean how full is the warehouse?" Hermione thought. "That'll determine how easy it is to figure out what he's doing."
"We could see if the room would shift aspects?" Harry suggested.
"We should get the other's back here before we do so. Who knows what would happen." Harry pointed out.
"Right." Hermione put her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly. The others came back at a quick jog.
"Whats wrong?"
"We're going to try and change the aspect of the room." Harry explained.
Hermione stood up and called out "Avatar?"
"Ahh hello Miss Granger. What do you require?" The avatar asked as he shimmered into view.
"We'd like to change aspects. Can you show us the warehouse room?" Hermione asked politely.
"I can." The Avatar said as the room shimmered and shifted until they were standing in the largest attic Harry had ever seen. They were standing beside the doors into the room but it seemed to go on for several hundred yards in any direction. Things were stacked from the floor to the rafters far over head.
Just standing where he was Harry saw torn robes, broken furniture, fanged Frisbees, rusty cauldrons, and piles of books.
"Wow. Is there any kind of organization to this place?" Hermione asked Avatar.
"Yes. Somewhat. The deeper into the room you go the older the materials are, aside from that no."
"Great it could be anything." Harry huffed with a sigh.
"And you can't help us, or tell us what Draco's up to?"
"I'm sorry but I'm not permitted to interfere in the actions of the students unless they will harm themselves or another directly. So no I cannot tell you." Avatar said.
"Well that's a bother." Lavender said.
"Okay well thank you. I guess we'll start looking around." Hermione said.
"Happy hunting." Avatar said before it faded out.
They wandered some of the aisles looking around. Harry found a cloak that when swirled scintillated and danced with hundreds of sparkling colorful gems. "Looks like something Lockhart would have worn." he joked.
There was broken pieces of furniture, cabinets of all sizes. Tables and a bathtub at one point that was sitting off on its own. Margaret laughed as pixies flew about buzzing although she frowned at one large rack of clothing which had doxys in it they discovered when they disturbed it. Fortunately a few spells later and the doxys decided to move deeper into the room, those that survived that is.
The group stopped by a large table that had several chairs around it. Stacked on the table were boxes of old class books, reference works, all of them referring to muggle technologies and sciences.
"This must have been before the rise of the blood supremacy movement." Hermione said pulling a book about muggle technology.
"Yeah. Wonderful history references but its getting close to dinner time and I want to clean up. This place is dustier than my old cupboard." Harry said with a sigh, "That and I want to see what happened to Neville."
Lavender nodded, "I'd like to know too. We'll let you know too Millicent."
"Thank you."
They left the room, making plans to explore the warehouse when they could as well as keeping up with the training. Hermione also needed to test the firearms in the room now that she was getting a grip on it.
===xxx===xx
Neville was sitting in the common room reading a book when they came in.
"Hey Neville what happened? You're not in too much trouble are you?" Lavender asked sliding into his lap.
"No not really. I'm just confined to the common room unless I'm in classes. Meals will be brought up here and a prefect will escort me to class, as they'll be carrying my wand. Plus I lost my Hogsmeade visit for this month."
"Bummer." Harry sympathized, "So wonder what Draco got."
"Probably the same. Dumbledore was not happy about the duel." Neville said with a shrug.
"No he wouldn't be." Hermione agreed. "Still you should wear your suit anytime you're outside the common room."
"Good idea. I was already planning on it." Neville agreed.
"Draco might be on a short leash but his friends won't be." Harry pointed out.
"Funny thing about all this though. Draco usually doesn't have that kinda balls. Openly challenging me to a duel to the death in the middle of the courtyard. That was just asking for the headmaster to come down and get involved."
"We think it was part of his plan to kill the headmaster. We think that's what Draco was told to do." Hermione quietly explained perched on the chair arm beside Neville, her arm draped over the back of the chair with Harry standing behind her. "Margaret said she heard his thoughts because he was thinking them too loudly."
"Now that makes it make more sense but still. Duels to the death fell out of favor when Victoria was Queen. He knows Dumbledore is the Chief Warlock so could declare any duel illegal."
"Who knows what Draco is thinking. Maybe he was hoping Dumbledore would allow the duel for some reason." Harry said casually.
"Maybe he doesn't know about Dumbledore's sister." Lavender suggested. "When he told us about her Draco was still stuck down at the gates."
"Right. Everyone is aware of the headmaster's duel against Grindelwald, and then the one at the Ministry last year. So Draco may have expected Dumbledore to be all in favor of dueling." Hermione observed.
"Draco did seem surprised by the headmaster." Harry and Neville both agreed.
"Well if we don't get cleaned up and back down there we'll be surprised by no dinner. So take it easy buddy." Harry said clapping him on the shoulder.
===xxx===xx(Review Responses)
W0lfgang: Thank you I'm glad you're enjoying it. About those particular words though (McGonnegal, Grimmould, Wizengamut) Those are not mistakes those are conscious choices I made to help differentiate my writing from others and to help show that they are not part of the canon universe. Thanks for pointing it out though but yeah while I do make a lot of mistakes and do not always catch them those are not "mistakes".
OfficerDonNZ: And the heat in the crucible just hit the edge of the melting point. The loss of ones first love like that would be rather tragic and painful. Yeah I figured the founders would want to have something like that during sieges, training without pulling full fledged dragons into the school etc..TOS episode Shore Leave was another inspiration.
Brother Grimace: Thank you. I'm liking the way this Hermione is too. She is strong, with hints of teenage vulnerability. I credit raising a daughter like that for the inspiration. Now as for why I use the term "Esper" to describe Margaret. I'm using the interpretation of a telepath as having one mind at a time in contact as a two way communication. Think more Mr Spock and Less Bester the Psi Cop. Legilimancy or the art of mind reading is a one way, read only spell that lets the caster read the mind of the target if they overcome defenses. Occlumancy can block it, deflect it or create false front. An esper though has more than just mind reading, or mind communications they can read a room's emotions, feel the intent of a person or creature. They can if powerful enough even sense things beyond the normal range of senses. The only problem is that much sensory information coming in all at once can cause serious overload issues and interpretation. Filtering out the wheat from the chaff and noise. Hence why in highly emotionally charged environments she will curl up in a ball and or go catatonic. Ahh Pansy and Draco they are the wonder twins of evil. Although they may be taking a few ranks in darkness soon. As for Ron I shudder to think what would have happened.
Jadesabrexiv: They usually ship that over to Bella as she enjoys the crucio. Although she does consider it foreplay...As for Pansy well she is going to have a karma check coming really soon. Although I don't think there will be any jelly, fish or tubed...
Dennisud: Indeed. They learned a few things, the bad guys are wondering whats going on and will be on the lookout. So both sides will change and adapt.
