Potter, Harry James, Blackstaff

Ch 05

Isdh

121

Two hours before the Express pulled into Hogsmead… the first signs of the Storm hit.

"Oi! Harry!" Ron had shown up. "Leave these sluts, we have Quidditch to talk about."

Harry broke the kiss Tracey was 'Forcing on' him. "Let me up, luv." he patted her bum, his hands had yet to slip under her skirt. Daphne was now inspecting the cane, as Hermione had found the Book. Astoria and Hedwig were bonding under the witchling scratching in all the right places.

As Harry stood, it showed that while he had grown some over the summer, Ron had left him behind, towering over the dark haired boy.

"Okay, Ron. A heads up. You have made at least three tactical errors here. First, you have driven deep into enemy territory without backup. You have insulted at least three of my new friends, Friends that I will need in a few days. You did so for Quidditch and Quidditch alone. And you did so, uninvited."

"Who needs Backup." Ron sneered, "They're just stupid snakes, and I got you." he hooked his thumbs into his waistband. "It's Quidditch, and without Wood, I am on the team. As for the invite...I am your Best Mate!"

"That right there is your biggest mistake." Harry drew on Heir Potter. "Scion Weasley. In the wisdom of Seamus Finnigan; 'Ho's before Bros, but I'll try to leave yea some bar coin, Laddy'." for the quote, Harry did try an Irishman's accent. "Now, did I not leave yea three gold?" Ron's face went white, before turning ruddy red. "I will take that as a yes. Now Quidditch is something to talk about in the common room, not in the Hallway of the Express. So I am going to step over it, and correct you on something bigger. This Summer, I took up my Rings. I am Heir Potter now. I am richer than Malfoy, and enjoy a few perks. But with these Perks, come certain Responsibilities. I need to woo a witch or two, to continue the Lines. When 'Dum-dum' forced the issue to become my Guardian, he failed to cross a few 'I's and dot a couple of 'T's." he crossed his arms, "Normally, any witch would do, but now I need witches that can offer me that something real. Greengrass and her Father are a link to Political Power."

"So, why are you 'playing' with the Half-Blood!" a witch called out from behind the redhead.

"Because she moved first." Harry grinned. "Besides, if Daves is my Keeper, then Greengrass and I can just talk Business, keeping our passions to ourselves." Looking back at Ron, "Go back Ron. I will see you at the Table and in the Dorms. You can air your disagreements there."

Red-faced, Ron turned and bullied his way to the back of the train.

"Did you really mean that?" Queensbury asked.

"What?" Harry looked at the Sixth year.

"You are now on the Board?"

"Was always on the board." Harry sneered. "But I have been promoted from Pawn to Knight. Now I just need to find my Coat."

"I see that you are now more than a Half-Blood with a new wardrobe." Queeny looked about. "This weekend, if your Witches allow you to, join me and a few others for Lunch." and just like that, the sea of Silver and Green was gone.

"Harry Potter!" Astoria was glaring over the snowy owl in her lap. "You declared that you were pursuing a Daughter of Greengrass for Father's connections. But you failed to declare which witch you were pursuing."

Harry blinked… twice. "Ah, Yes." he sat beside the elder daughter of Greengrass, as Daves cuddled in on his far side. "The Answer to that sticky wicket will cost you a Question, and me some very quick talking."

"Oh?" the eldest Daughter asked, "You just spent the last hour, eating my best friend's face off, and now you think you have the Option of Me or My Sister?"

"Actually… yes." Harry smiled at the witch glaring over his right shoulder. "Contract re; Black to Greengrass, nee 1993, the exact wording escapes me, but in exchange for the Bride-price of Fifteen Thousand Galleons, Eldest Daughter will marry Heir Black on her Sixteenth birthday. Contract negotiated by one , Proxy of Black. Blood-quilled Signed." he patted her knee, "Lord Black struck out three things, and added one. The Bride-price was Raised to Thirty Thousand, and House Greengrass has until her Birthday to pay it back to break the contract."

"When was Father Paid?" Daphne hissed.

"Lord Black inked the Bank Draft three days ago. You should be getting a copy of the contract by mail, tomorrow morning." Harry removed his hand.

"My Question, Does the Younger Daughter get a say in this?" Tori pouted.

"Black-Greengrass. No." Harry grinned at the girl. "Besides, I think you look better in Silver and Green, rather than Platinum and Jet." He held out his Left Hand. Held it out in a manor used by a Still Painting in the 'Snake Pit' common room.

Tori frowned. "Meaning what, exactly?"

"You have a year to pressure your Father into contracting you to the true Heir of Slytherin." Harry smiled.

The train whistle blew final approach warning

121

At the train station, Potter helped four witches into a thestral pulled carriage. The ride to the castle was damp and Silent, the only sound was the turning of the page by Granger.

As they stepped from the carriage, Harry knocked a water balloon back at the being who threw it. "Peeves! Son of Prongs calls on the treaty '74! How do you stand?"

"Potty-Prongs dead. How can you…" the Spanard floated upside down before him.

"My Father was Prongs. My Godfather is Padfoot. My tutor… Moony." Harry tipped his bowler at the poltergeist. "Do you stand by your word, or do I ban the Twins from your side business?"

"Ban?"

"No pranking items. No stink bombs." Harry grinned, "No cat-nip."

"Cat-nip?" the pi-bald conquistador rotated upright.

"For Mrs Norris only." Harry pulled a plastic pouch from his pocket. "I hear that any of this gets near the Headmistress…"

"Norris only?" a pale finger stroked the pouch, "Why?"

"Most cats turn into plushy piles of purring. If Mrs. Norris is baked, her squibe is defenceless. The next great effect is she will be overcharged, and he will be chasing her tail for hours. Either way…"

"Peeves gets to play." he glared at Harry. "Price?"

"Firsties are free from all but school wide targeting. Everybody gets the first two weeks to plot and plan." Harry flashed his rings on both hands, "and Peeves is welcome to target even Headmaster Whiskers."

"Done! Milord, will pass requests through the Twins!" the little guy zoomed off into the night.

"Mister Potter!" McGonagall bustled up, "What was that?"

"Securing two weeks free of Peeves, and a ban on him targeting the firsties." Harry guided his gals into the Great Hall. "I did give him a pouch of 'nip for Norris, but told him to keep it from you. Black and Lupin send their Love. I expect I will be talking to you after dinner."

"Accualy, the Headmaster wants to talk to you." her face grew pinched.

"About what?"

"Where you went this Summer."

"Then I have to pass, Headmistress. I will be talking to you about what happened on the train, but the Old-man has no right to talk about my apprenticeship." Harry's eyes flashed. "Your Office, thirty minutes after closing of the Feast?"

"Aye." She turned towards the entrance hall for the unsorted.

121

Harry dropped in between Hermione(who was still reading his book on LAW) and Ron(who was pissed about Potter abandoning him for some snake in a skirt). "So… Ron is a bloke's bloke then." Harry grinned at Neville who sat across from him.

"Oi!" Ron went ruddy about the ears.

"Then don't diss my choices in the Witch Market."

"What about Ginny?" Ron hissed.

"I am not saying she has no chance… but in truth… the idea of chasing her skirt feels too much like you chasing her skirt." Harry looked Ron in the eye. "She is as much my Sister as she is yours. I know your Family are Purebloods, but I did not know you were Malfoy level Pureblood."

"I would almost be insulted." Ginny sat beside Neville, "But as your Sister…"

"Not going to happen." Harry shook his head. "At most, I'm going to get you a try out for the Harpies." He fiddled with his cane, the Templar Cross glinting in the light. "Best I can offer Ron is a Cannon's trial. And because I fear Mum Weasley to such a degree, it won't happen until after your seventh year."

"The big bad Potter admitting he is afraid of something?" Seamus mocked from nearby.

"You heard her Howlers." Harry grinned at the Irishman. "Do you want that yelling directly in your face?"

"Point." Everyone around him choursed.

Just then, McGonagall led the unsorted to their 'doom'.

121

The Headmaster had sent everyone to bed thirty three minutes ago. Many of the upper year classmen had swarmed the stairs, both up and down. The fifth year prefects gathered their young charges, herded them like lost sheep into the Labyrinth that was Hogwarts.

Harry Potter had found himself waiting outside his Head of House's office, twirling his Templar cane in his fingers. It was a nervous tick that allowed him both constant motion and perfect stillness. The scuff of a slipper on carpet had the Cane locked, his Left hand just under the shining brass collar at the 'Head' of the cane. The 'Cross' capped the butt of his Holly wand, as the cane concealed his old friend. The wand tip pointed at the Scot woman's nose.

"Mr. Potter." McGonagall was not pleased.

"Sorry Headmistress." Harry slid the wand back into the cane, "You caught me wool gathering." he hefted the cane, "The one thing I can thank Malfoy for."

"Two things Mister Potter." the witch opened her door. As they entered her office, her floo roared to life. "Your Tartan." her eyes dropped to his kilt.

"It was chosen for me, by those who were deciding on my dress style." Harry plucked at his 'skirt'. "I can use another pattern if you prefer. I wear this as a sign of my loyalty to you."

"Let me think on it." Minerva slumped behind her desk. "I checked with the prefects… one of Snape's boys said you defended the compartment you had claimed, and that the charge against you was dropped." She flicked her wand at her Floo. "The Second thing; the Headmaster insisted on meeting you tonight." She stepped into the Floo, vanishing into the green bloom, a second later Albus replaced her.

Expelliarmus

Potter ducked under the wand flying at his head. His Holly wand flickering and swishing about, causing Albus to be bound in leather straps, stuck to the wall and silenced. "Good night Headmaster. Seeing as you will not let this drop, I will be calling Home, tonight. While Master Jason is working a case, my Apprenticeship was passed to Mystress Bloodwood. She will be here by Noon." Harry resheathed his wand, and headed up to the Gryff's Ayre.

"Good Evening." Harry tipped his bowler at the 'fat lady'. "I was detained with the Headmistress, and forgot to get the password. If you could ask either …"

"You are a Templar?" The heft beauty adjusted herself so she could move quickly.

"This?" Harry lifted his cane. "A relic from my vaults. Though I am a Blackstaff Apprentice." he pulled his Black Thorn 'cane' from where it hung under his left arm. Doing so, caused his Rings to flash.

The plump female wore a look of shock."Milord! I had no idea!" she swung open.

'I gotta keep these hidden, down!' Harry thought as he entered the noise that is the 'Lion's Den'.

121

Stage One; Infiltration of Hogwarts: complete.

The MASTER would be pleased.

Now 'he' just had to hide for two months. All Hallow's Eve! The Night MASTER fell, the Night began HIS Rise!