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Chapter 12
S-Class Hijacking
The Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was in its usual splendour as Albus Dumbledore finally arrived on his throne like seat wearing regale red robes and an expensive looking crown upon his head.
He stood in front of his seat as all the teachers rose to their feet, including Sirius. The Gryffindor's stood too. The other three houses looked on in confusion as the Gryffindor's were all looking to the Headmaster in reverence and as one stood to attention with their right arm crossing their chests as one making a collective stamp.
"All hail, our Lord, King Albus Dumbledore the First!" McGonagall called out as she and the teachers copied the Gryffindor's leaving the other students either concerned, baffled, or scared.
"Hail our Lord and King!" the Gryffindor's all chanted in unison before Dumbledore sat with a gesture for the Gryffindor's and teachers to sit.
However, Terry knew something was wrong the moment the world exploded into colours as if they were all moving fast, and their seemed to be some kind of bar sliding across his vision before it stopped and then the Great Hall flickered into view, and it had vastly changed in but those few moments.
The four house tables were gone with the teachers table. There was now a huge red carpet leading from the closed hall doors up its centre to where Dumbledore sat in his throne with McGonagall now wearing elegant purple robes with a similar crown sitting to his left.
The teachers were standing in two neat rows opposite the red carpet facing each other in various styles of armour with swords at their sides. However, in between their cold gazes were the Slytherins dressed in green rags and in chains whimpering and looking as if some might mess themselves soon.
Terry was quivering a little himself as all of Gryffindor were wearing beautiful modern red and black wizarding dress wear looking neat and tidy with golden battle armour and swords. He looked around to see the house tables lining each side of the hall with beautifully prepared food with Hufflepuffs dressed in yellow and black maid and butler costumes with trays with glasses upon them with drinks.
The Ravenclaws were wearing mostly blue and were standing beside them, all of them wearing snooty I'm better than you expressions, but they looked aware of what was going on just as the frightened Slytherins, but like the Hufflepuffs seemed unable to break free or break out of character like this was some kind of story world.
"My Lord…"
The voice sent a shiver up Terry's spine as he looked over. He saw his dad and Sirius were also free as they at least looked over at 'him'… Joker. That bastard was hijacking his prank! And to make matters worse doing a better job of it.
"Joker!" James hissed and went for his wand as he stepped forward. However, he stopped as Joker had moved too fast and the tip of a long rapier sword was at his throat.
"I see… we have a traitor My King!" Joker spoke crisply and Terry grit his teeth as he finally got a good look. The bastard was wearing an armour version of his usual outfit. "What shall I do with him My Lord?" he asked almost sounding bored.
"Sir Joker… I believe that he shall suffer the same fate as these…" Dumbledore spoke crisply and with unveiled loathing as he let his gaze linger on the Slytherin's. "Snakes… Sir Sirius… removed your brother's wand and sword and fell him to his knees!"
"Y-yes My Lord," Sirius said stepping forward and unclipped his 'brother' sword and wand in their holsters giving him an apologetic look he shoved him to his knees with the Slytherins.
Joker laughed as he rounded Sirius. "Being awake in my power is so much more fun, except for the poor Slytherins, but this is what Dumbledore has always dreamed of… shackling those who think differently while preaching tolerance," he said with a wink.
He chuckled as Sirius just eyed him for a moment. "Yes… I guess that could be true… but what about Voldemort?"
"He is but a man, and like all men can fall," he replied shrugging. "One moment you're on top of the world… then you're not. If you don't think outside of the world… you'll never reach great heights, and if you don't care, and you choose to fearfully hold your people back. It won't last long before the people start whispering… revolution!" he hissed the last word loudly as his grin widened.
"My Lord," Joker said turning to Dumbledore, no one but three of the four houses and those fully awake heard his conversation. "I wish a prize if I may?" he asked reasonably as he grabbed a blonde Slytherin girl and pulled her to her bare feet, her chain detaching from the rest but the shackles kept her wrists together.
"Yes very well Sir Joker she is yours to do with as you wish," he agreed nodding his head. "The rest shall perish," he said causing them all to quiver more.
"N-NO!" she yelled out suddenly pushing back away from him. "L-leave them alone, please!" she said standing protectively over her blonde-haired younger sister. She didn't even think about begging Dumbledore. She knew who had the power. "Y-you've had your fun. You've proven your point! Please… just stop it!"
Joker moved forward until he was up close in her face, only she could see his expression soften or the red hue in his eyes that made hers widen but looking further. It couldn't be. He just smirked at her before capturing her lips with his. She kissed back. Her first kiss; and it was with a nut bar that she just couldn't resist even if she wanted too, she wanted this rebel; to be his.
He pulled back after a few moments, grinning. "As you wish My Lady," he said laughing as she looked down to see she was wearing a beautiful emerald dress and free of her bonds before he pulled her into his arms, holding her small body, towering over her, she realised he was quite a bit taller than her, and his body felt solid against hers. She felt her normal iciness tell her she shouldn't act this way as their lips touched again as he leaned down into her, her eyes drifted closed, she couldn't help it… secretly… she wanted it.
However, moments later she startled as her eyes flashed open. Her head was resting on her house table and she sat up rubbing her tired eyes. She touched her lips with her fingertips, confused, but she already knew that wasn't real.
Looking around she could tell she wasn't the only one looking around in confusion. She wasn't the only one to fall asleep then, but no… looking up, that stupid but clever news report screen was floating above them all. That meant… did Joker make them all share a dream that he controlled? It wasn't an illusion – it was something more.
"This ends the test of the emergency pranking system!" the reporter voice said. "Thank you for volunteering to participate in the SIM VR test. Have a good evening and pleasant dreams!" Then it just popped away leaving her freaked.
He had freaking kissed her. Dream or not it felt so real. However, more importantly she kissed him back. This was not her day. She let her eyes scan her table and give them warning glares to not mention a thing even though she could see not all of them would comply.
"How was it?" Tracey made her jump whispering that in her ear and she glared at her friend, but she just smirked. It all being nothing, but a dream made it easy to forget how scared they were. It was just like a nightmare, only they could remember it without it fading away.
Daphne sighed and turned to her best friend. "I-I'll tell you later," she hissed quietly as she knew Tracey wouldn't drop it until she gave her something.
Meanwhile, Terry was sitting back at his table when Hermione looking pale leaned over. "That was S-class," she said with a shiver of dread, but those last few words – what did they mean – was that world just a game?
"Y-yeah… I kind of figured that," he replied shivering. "Joker must have been spying on us to hijack our prank," he hissed angrily through his teeth.
Though, before Hermione could reply Dumbledore stood up with his power booming over them all, now scaring them in the real world. He was still wearing his king outfit, but he made no move to even remove the crown.
"Which one of you is he?" he roared out fiercely. "I will start throwing hexes and forcing truth potion down each of your throats if you don't tell me!"
"Albus calm down," McGonagall was quick to come to the children's aid. "You'll find yourself in Azkaban if you do either of those things."
"Nonsense!" he roared. "Greengrass knows…! They kissed!" he bellowed as he stormed off towards where Daphne sat rooted to her seat, now petrified.
The Old Man seemed seconds away from hitting her with a spell when a solid plate came flying across the hall crashing into his wand hand and felling his weapon to clatter on the floor.
"Hm…" Harry mumbled from where he now sat on the Hufflepuff table holding several more plates as Dumbledore rubbed his hand trying not to cuss at how much that hurt. "Seems a little pathetic picking on a teenage girl just because some dipshit loser like Joker made you look like the joke you are! Twat can't even come up with an original name."
Dumbledore ground his teeth, his wand just jumping back into his hand, he pointed it at Harry. "Just stay out of this boy or you'll be next!" he hissed through his teeth. "This girl has information on a very dangerous individual."
"Everybody knows you Old Man, so I doubt you'll get much more than you already know," he retorted shrugging nonchalant. "Just put your wand away… after all she is the heir to an ancient family, and by the Lore's of the Arcanum and all that ridiculous bullshit, I suggest you put your wand away or I'll be forced to arrest you in the honour and name of the Greengrass family – by proxy arcanum, I can claim that right as she has no brother or father here to do so in my place, and because you're so backwards she can't do so for herself – she can however, agree to my proxy for her stead!"
Dumbledore sneered as he seemed to think of his options. "You couldn't arrest me, and even if you could, while she is unwed, and her family stays neutral with no formal alliances or any betrothal do you think that the wizengamot would prosecute me?"
"Probably not," he agreed shrugging but smiled despite Dumbledore's smug demeanour. "I'll still be within my right to arrest you, and you know as well as I that the ICW would have my back, and even if nothing comes of it… it would be a lot of fun anyway."
Dumbledore paused at that as he looked around at many people showing signs of doubt about him, and he grit his teeth as he didn't know that someone with a 'mouth' knew about the position of the International Confederation of Wizards on him and the UK. However, these were mostly just children; they wouldn't understand what Harry told them. However, Harry did somehow beat him and take him before the council, even keeping the ICW out, it would push ascent in his loyal supporters. He could lose man power and contributions, and he couldn't let his pride fall to this brat.
"I'll let you off this time Harry, but mark my words, someday soon I will have you thrown out of this world in shackles!"
Dumbledore then just stormed out. "So I would presume Mr. Dumbledore," Harry muttered with narrowed eyes before he caught Daphne's eye, he gave her a smirk and a wink as he hopped down from his table leaving the plates and leaving through the hall doors.
Daphne watched Harry go with wide eyes. She couldn't believe that he would use such an old system to protect her, but was that true? Had Dumbledore done something to lose place within the ICW? With everything Dumbledore had been doing lately, she wouldn't have been surprised. That would mean that Dumbledore was lying, and nobody knew he was out.
She couldn't help the small smile as she turned back to her table. She had to give Harry credit. He was beyond her comprehension. Why did he provoke his own banishment so much? She couldn't know without asking him upfront, but she knew he wouldn't tell her, she knew he had reason, and she hoped to see what he did some day.
Lily Potter had watched this weird interaction between Headmaster and student with a sad expression. She knew deep down it was too late to try fixing things, but at least Terry and Harry seemed to be… well co-existing better. She had a funny feeling she had screwed up and Harry would pay the price, but she had a weird itching behind her eyes wondering why tears fell – why should she care when Harry was evil and vile, and -. She placed her fingertips to her nose in shock as she pulled back to find blood as she realised her nose was bleeding.
There was a time before the attack on Terry that she would have stood up for Harry – wouldn't she? A time before they were born that she would have protected – would have stood up for Slytherins. She would have even stood up for the Greengrass girl and damn the consequences because that was who she was; she had Slytherin friends didn't she? She had fallen prey to Dumbledore's words, hadn't she? She didn't understand, and the more she thought about it the more her eyes itched, and she started feeling queasy and dizzy as she grabbed some tissues for her nose and hurried away.
To Be Continued…
