Author's Note: To everyone who pointed out my little "snack" problem: thank you. I have started a thread in my forum, easily found by clicking on my pen name, for such things. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read and review.
Harry stared after the Headmaster in astonishment. Had the Headmaster gone insane, or was he serious? Bugger this. Harry pushed aside his breakfast tray and left the bed. "Zen, come on. We're leaving." Harry said as he lowered his arm for the snake.
"Yes, we're busting out!" Zen said as he wrapped around Harry's arm. "Woo-hoo!" Harry smiled at the snake's comments and packed up his bag. "Adios, wizards!" Zen laughed to himself as Harry paused just inside the door of the private room and called up his magic to make himself invisible.
He crept down the hallway towards freedom. He froze when he heard voices and nearly smacked himself for his idiocy. They couldn't see him! He stepped to one side of the hallway and waited. He nearly had to pick himself up off the floor when he saw Ron appear in the hallway. His friend was taller than he remembered him (big surprise there) and he looked very important in his crisp black robes. Harry knew that they were new robes; they did not have the appearance of having been through another Weasley male. A gold badge was pinned to Ron's right shoulder with an ornate "P" on it. Harry recognized the Protector badge when he saw it.
Harry had to do a double take when he saw the person next to Ron. Neville Longbottom had grown up to turn into a self-assured young man. He walked with more confidence than he had had before, and he certainly had less arrogance than Ron was displaying at the moment. Neville, too, wore the gold badge, but Harry knew he could trust Neville. He couldn't trust Ron.
He waited until they had made it around the corner and then he broke out into a run, silencing his footsteps as he ran. He knew that he wouldn't have much time now, not since Ron was going towards the infirmary. Ron would raise a hue and cry once he discovered Harry not where he was supposed to be and then Harry would have a harder time leaving Hogwarts. He had a feeling that everyone would be running around in a panic looking for him.
He jumped the last few steps that lead to the Entrance Hall and waited for the hall to empty. He thanked each lucky star he had as one little first year ran past him and headed towards the Transfiguration classroom. Harry lifted a hand and opened the door. He could practically taste his freedom!
Harry rushed down the stairs and cursed as he noticed that he was leaving footprints behind in the snow. He banished the footprints and cast a feather light charm on himself to avoid leaving tracks. He wondered if Aunt Petunia had a frozen pizza in the house. That would hit the spot. Frozen pizza and…not frozen pizza! Harry's stomach did a flip inside him and he felt himself go green. Okay, so no food. That was okay. Hot chocolate would be good. No, he didn't want that either.
Harry noticed he was slowing down as his nausea increased. Another five steps brought him to his knees and he retched. The cold from the snow seeped into his bones. He waited for the feeling to pass. It didn't. He forced himself to his feet and started forward again. He could go to bed once he got home. Aunt Petunia would have some medicine that would help until he got back to St. Jude's. Harry dropped to his knees again and fought back the dizziness now assaulting his head.
Harry pondered the reaction his body was having. Had he actually caught something? Was this a spell? He did a quick scan of himself for spells and found nothing on him, either active or inactive. Did he have a bug of some kind? He stopped to let himself rest and wondered how he was going to get home at this rate, when he couldn't even stand for long periods of time. Harry nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the main doors open up behind him.
Dumbledore stood in the doorway. He was scanning the ground in front of him. His eyes passed over Harry several times but he didn't react, so Harry guessed that Dumbledore hadn't seen him. Harry was grateful that he had learned invisibility as part of his magic and had no need for the invisibility cloak. Dumbledore would have spotted him had he used the cloak. "Check just inside the Forbidden Forest." Dumbledore said to a bunch of teenagers. "Look in the Quidditch locker rooms, the Pitch itself, Hagrid's house. Check anywhere you think he might have gone. He isn't well, so he can't have got too far." Dumbledore motioned for the group to head outside. Harry noticed gold badges on their robes. The Protectors. "Search quickly, please." Dumbledore said as he went back into the castle.
Harry shuddered and held his breath so he wouldn't sneeze. Most of the Protectors had started towards the Forbidden Forest. There were only a few groups actually moving towards Harry. He pushed himself to his feet and decided that a short trip to the Hospital Wing would cure him of whatever he had, as well as protect him from Dumbledore a little while longer. Harry had a fair idea that not even the Headmaster could stand between Madame Pomfrey and a voluntary patient's well-being, especially one that felt as miserable as Harry.
Harry stole past the Protectors and back towards the castle. He had needed to do a quick side step to avoid one whirling around to yell about something she had found in the snow. A snitch? It didn't matter. He pushed his tired body up the stairs and into the castle. He leaned against the wall and caught his breath. He was more scared of having some self-important kid firing off spells at him than he was at the idea of Death Eaters teaching him. The Death Eaters knew what they were doing…for the most part. Most kids did not, especially when Harry knew that they had been trained by "shoot first, ask questions later" Moody.
He noticed that he felt better the longer he was in the castle. He felt completely normal by the time he reached the top of the stairs. No need for the Hospital Wing. Now what? Harry decided that he needed information. The whole 'magical guardian' thing was still on his mind. He needed to know what he was up against and how easy it would be to reverse the guardianship, as well as what having a 'magical guardian' meant. Time to pull a Granger. Harry turned his feet towards the library.
The library was amazingly empty. It was as though some higher power had arranged it, but he had a feeling that Dumbledore would not have made Harry's search any easier. It was difficult enough as it was. He couldn't find anything in the stacks about magical guardianship at all. It didn't lurk in books about traditions, law, or modern developments. It couldn't be found in books about ancient rituals, social standings, or wizarding family. It did not exist, according to Hogwarts library. Harry had a suspicion that Dumbledore might have removed all of the books that mentioned magical guardianship, but he had no way to prove it. It was frustrating.
"I could kill him, Granger. Four hours searching, out in the snow, mind you, for his Golden Boy, and nothing! How does he know that Potter isn't hiding out in the castle somewhere?" Harry heard the overeducated tones of Draco Malfoy reach his ears.
"I told you, Draco. Dumbledore isn't like that. He would not have sent out the Protectors if Harry was still in the castle. The question is now, 'where is he'?" Hermione said as she approached her favorite table and dumped her satchel on it. "You shouldn't be so upset, Draco. You did use a warming charm."
"Oh, shut it, Granger. Warming charm or not, I was outside for FOUR HOURS." Draco snapped back at her. "And my name is Drake." He grumbled as he sat down across from her.
"So what is Dumbledore doing now?" She asked as she dug out her Potions book.
"He's asked Moody to take a stroll around the castle, just in case they missed somewhere." Draco answered. "He should have done that to begin with and saved time." Draco grunted as he found his own Potions book. "What did we have to do?" Draco asked as he flipped open the book.
"Chapter fourteen, for the thousandth time!" Hermione growled out. "Now let me study." She lowered her eyes to the book and ignored Draco. Harry felt a devilish smile go across his face. He stepped forward and tugged on a bit of Hermione's hair. She brushed back her hair and resumed her studying. Harry tugged again and watched as she looked around before returning to her reading. Harry tugged again and Hermione snapped. She whipped out her wand and had it pointed two millimeters from Draco's face. "So help me, Malfoy, I will hex you if you keep it up!" She threatened the boy across from her.
"What in the world are you talking about?" Draco demanded as he inched away from her wand.
"Stop pulling my hair." She ordered as she put her wand away.
"You're mental. I'm not pulling your hair." Draco told her.
"Who is, then?" She questioned him.
"I don't know. Maybe it's a ghost or something." Draco offered lamely. Were all girls this mental?
"A ghost?" Hermione questioned dryly.
"Yes, a ghost. Or something. Look, it wasn't me." Draco said calmly. "Just ignore it. It'll stop."
"I can't ignore it." Hermione told him as she went back to reading. Draco wisely kept quiet. Harry reached out and pulled a strand again. "That's it!" Hermione shrieked, nearly knocking over the table as she stood up. "Show yourself or I'll have you exorcised in the most painful manner possible!" Her look promised certain afterlife death on anything remotely spectral.
"That depends," Harry's disembodied voice said. "on what you plan on doing with that wand, Mi." Harry allowed himself to go visible. Hermione's reaction was worth the possible threat to his life. Her jaw dropped and her wand fell from her boneless hand.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped out in shock.
"Did you miss me, Mi?" Harry asked. He fell over in the next instant when Hermione plowed into him and started sobbing into his chest.
"I was so worried about you, that attack on London, and then that mysterious coma, and now you're here, of all places and…" Hermione broke down into tears and Harry realized that his re-introduction into Hermione's school life could have been a bit gentler. He wrapped his arms around her and held her. He could let his sister have a good cry. She needed it.
"It's going to be okay, Mi." Harry said as he reached up a hand and smoothed her hair back. It worked for him, so he guessed that it would work for her. "I'm okay, Mi. I promise. No more surprises if I can help it." Harry promised.
Hermione pulled herself together and sat up, effectively squashing Harry's stomach. "Mi, can't breathe." He told her.
"Good." She said as she managed to gain her feet. "You deserve a thrashing for that little prank." She told him as Harry stood up.
"What's it to be, Mi? Hot oil or the rack?" Harry asked in a jesting tone.
"I don't want to know what you lot get up to in Gryffindor Tower." Draco said calmly from the table. Both Harry and Hermione blushed. Trust a Malfoy to make lewd comments. "Bloody hell, Potter." Malfoy said in the next instant. "When did you learn invisibility charms?" He asked. "That's NEWT level magic."
"Allow Hermione to make up your study schedule. You'll be years ahead." Harry told Draco as he seated himself next to Hermione's favorite spot. Hermione gave Harry a look that said 'we'll talk later' before sitting down.
"What are you doing here, Harry?" Hermione asked in a quiet voice.
"Looking up something." Harry admitted. "Or trying to, at the very least. There doesn't seem to be any information on it." Harry sighed and rubbed the spot between his eyes. "I've been here for nearly four hours." He put his head down.
"And before that?" Draco demanded.
"Outside." Harry said with a cheeky grin. "I walked past a whole bunch of kids several times before I decided I needed more information." He could practically feel the wheels in Draco's head turning.
"And you couldn't think to announce your presence?" Draco snarled.
"Why would I do that?" Harry asked with an innocent air.
Draco brandished a fist, which surprised Harry for more than one reason. Draco was a wizard and was unused to using anything other than magic. That, and Harry must have really ticked him off to have the blond boy threaten him so. The blond kept muttering "four hours, four bloody hours" under his breath as he made his way towards Harry.
"What were you looking up?" Hermione asked as she waved Draco back to his chair.
" 'Magical guardian'." Harry said as he rubbed his eyes. He missed his contact lenses. He really did.
"Magical guardian?" Draco hissed as he practically leapt across the table at Harry. "Did you say 'magical guardian'?"
"Yes?" Who was this, and why was he insane?
"Drake, what are you on about?" Hermione asked as she moved her books out of the way.
"Do either of you know what a magical guardian is?" Draco asked as he practically collapsed in his seat.
"No." Harry said sharply. "I wouldn't have spent the last four hours looking for it if I did. What do you know about it?" He asked.
"I can't believe it's not in the library." Hermione said.
"It wouldn't be." Draco confirmed Harry's earlier thoughts of it not existing in the stacks. "Magical guardianship is a very old, very pureblood, very secret tradition. It's never been written down, ever." He informed them.
"So what does it mean?" Harry asked in frustration.
"Magical guardianship is usually done to protect someone, mostly from themselves." Draco explained.
"From themselves?" Hermione asked.
"Look, if you two won't stop interrupting me…" Draco waited until Harry and Hermione sent him sheepish looks. "Right. As I said, it's meant to protect someone from their own magic. The most common case, and most accepted, is one of where a child is magically powerful and the magic has grown faster than the kid. The most powerful adult in the building would then step forward and allow the child to be bound to his own magic. This action would theoretically protect the child from out of control magic and keep everyone safe."
"So, if what you're saying is true, then Dumbledore and I are bound?" Harry asked.
"It's Dumbledore, then?" Draco asked. "Yes, that's what it means, Potter." Draco confirmed.
"Let me get this straight." Hermione said as she held out her hands. "Dumbledore used this very old, very undocumented ritual, to bind Harry to him, to keep Harry safe from his own magic, is that right?"
"Yes, Granger. That's right." Draco said.
"Why?" she asked. "It doesn't make sense. Harry's magic is fine. It certainly isn't out of control." She puzzled through it. "There's got to be something we're missing. Something important." She chewed her bottom lip and stared off into space.
"There is." Draco answered. "You would have found out sooner if you had allowed me to continue speaking." Draco told her. "Magical guardianship is one of control, a variation of the apprentice ritual." Draco started. "Later, Hermione." Hermione snapped her mouth closed. "The magical guardianship is used to keep the child, or in this case, Potter, close to Dumbledore. Potter here won't be able to go far without Dumbledore's presence or say so. If he does, well, the ritual will react and force the child back to safety." Draco explained.
"So that's what that was." Harry mumbled to himself.
"Pardon?" Draco asked.
"I just felt sick outside. That's why I came back to the castle." Harry explained. "I'd be at home with Aunt Petunia, otherwise." Harry admitted.
"Ah." Draco did not comment.
"So, Harry can't leave the castle?" Hermione asked.
"Harry won't be able to leave any boundaries Dumbledore sets for him." Draco explained. "If he goes too far, he'll pass out and the adults will have a chance to return him to safety. You have to remember, this ritual was made for children who didn't know any better. Wild magic is dangerous. This protected everyone, not just the child."
"In other words, I'm on a tight leash." Harry grumbled. He took a deep breath and sighed. Dumbledore: 1.
"Oh, Harry." Hermione reached out and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"I'm getting used to being the wizarding world's puppet." Harry smirked. He thought about his situation. "You said the most powerful wizard, right?"
"The most powerful wizard in the building, usually, but it's supposed to be the most powerful wizard the child knows." Draco elaborated. "It gives more chance for control."
Harry paled and wondered if it was possible to pass out from shock. "Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked.
"No." He answered as he fought the urge to empty his stomach. "No, I'm not." He took a deep breath and let it out as he fought the beginnings of a panic attack.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"This can never leave the room, guys. It can't." He demanded fiercely.
"Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked patiently.
"Drake, would the ritual take over? If I encounter a more powerful wizard?" He asked.
"It should, yes." Draco answered. "Magic will know and adjust accordingly. Why?" Draco's expression turned bewildered as Harry groaned and lowered his head to the table.
"Who's more powerful than Dumbledore?" Harry asked slowly. He heard Hermione gasp beside him.
"No one." Draco said in a puzzled voice.
"Drake, don't be stupid." Harry said. "Dumbledore is not the most powerful wizard alive."
"Harry, you can't mean that." Hermione said. "Please tell me that it's not true." Harry hated to reveal the truth to her.
"There's a reason old Snake face is still alive, Mi." Harry said calmly. "Dumbledore does not have enough power to defeat him. He's not strong enough." Harry explained. "Dumbledore's not the most powerful wizard I know." He stated.
"You can't mean the Dark Lord?" Draco asked.
"That's exactly who I mean." Harry snapped. "I'm not making up fairy tales over here, Drake. This is bad, very bad. Does Dumbledore have no brains? Did he think that I'll never meet Voldemort from one moment to the next? He's only thrown me at him at every opportunity!" Harry stood up and paced, his magic coming out the slightest bit. He didn't notice his robes flaring as he paced, or the fact that his eyes had brightened. "How dare he do something so stupid!" Harry snarled to himself. "I'm not some pawn and this isn't a chess game!" Harry slammed his hands down on the table and sighed. "It's my life he's toying with and I detest it."
"It's your destiny, Skywalker." Hermione said nonchalantly. Harry couldn't help himself. He broke out of his melancholy and started snickering.
"You are both mental." Draco said seriously.
"Maybe, but that's what makes it fun." Harry answered as he resumed his seat. "Mi, could I snag some parchment?" He asked. Hermione handed him a few sheets of parchment, but Harry waved away the quill. He had a ballpoint. He would use that. Harry penned a quick two notes before turning in his chair. "Kreacher!" Harry hated calling for the house elf, but he had a feeling that the little creature was bored out of his mind caring for Remus. The man was so low maintenance.
"Master Harry has called for his Kreacher!" The house elf said in happiness. "Kreacher can do whatever his master needs!" Harry felt Hermione stir next to him, but ignored her. He could explain later.
"Kreacher, I'm sorry, but I need you to deliver two messages. I'm afraid that my owls would be intercepted by someone who wants to harm me." It wasn't much of a lie.
"Kreacher is happy to deliver messages!" The elf announced. "Nasty person who wants to harm Master cannot if Kreacher pretends to be an owl." The elf mumbled more to himself than to anyone else.
"I knew I could count on you." Harry said proudly. "This one needs to go to my aunt. Please try to keep from scaring her. You know she's not accustomed to magical things."
"Kreacher will be as quiet as a little mousie." The elf said as he accepted one parchment square.
"I know you'll do your best." Harry praised. "This one is to go to Remus." He said as he handed the other note to him. "Tell him I'll be in touch, but that he is to follow the instructions in the note before anything else."
"Yes, Master Harry! Kreacher is doing that." Kreacher promised before he disappeared.
"Harry!" Hermione snapped.
"House elves' mental stability is attached directly to their masters, Hermione. If Kreacher had been freed directly after Sirius's death, he would have remained just as mad as Sirius." Harry explained.
"Sirius wasn't mad, Harry." Hermione said in a disapproving voice.
"The master is mad if the house elf is mad." Draco told her. "That would explain Dobby." He muttered. "I'd always wondered about that."
"Look, Hermione. Give Kreacher some time to stabilize and we'll see about freeing him. I don't think his little mind could do handle it right now." Harry admitted. He worried about the little creature.
"Harry." Harry looked up at the sound of the Headmaster's voice. "You didn't wait for Mr. Weasley in the Hospital Wing." Dumbledore said with disappointment in his voice.
"Oh, you meant Ron?" Harry asked in confusion. "Hermione showed up right after you left…I thought you meant her." Harry explained.
"No. I had sent Mr. Weasley to retrieve you." Dumbledore explained.
"Oh. My mistake. Sorry about that. Hermione's catching me up on all the work I missed." He said, pointing to the books out on the table. "I've got a lot of work to do." He said as he pulled Hermione's Potions book towards him.
"Just make sure you tell someone where you are in the future." Dumbledore said as he gave Harry a stern look.
"Of course, Headmaster." Harry answered politely.
"I'll see you at dinner, my boy." Dumbledore said as he studied Harry for a second before leaving. Harry nodded and turned his attention to the book.
Hermione waited until Dumbledore disappeared down the hall before rounding on Harry. "What was that all about?" She blustered. " 'Of course, Headmaster'?" She mimicked. "You should have told him where to go and what to do while he was there!"
Harry looked up at Hermione and smirked. "So when this loose behavior I throw off/And pay the debt I never promised/By how much better than my word I am/By so much shall I falsify men's hopes/And Like bright metal on a sullen ground/My reformation, glitt'ring o'er my fault/Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes/Than that which hath no foil to set it off./I'll so offend to make a offense a skill/Redeeming time when men think least I will."
"Harry, you're a genius." Hermione said happily as she turned back to her studying.
"I'm confused." Draco said.
"That's not hard to do to you." Harry couldn't understand why the Slytherin turned homicidal. It was so very easy to confuse a pureblood wizard with Muggle references!
Author's Note: Well, there you go. Next chapter will be...whenever I find the free time! Bye!