A/N: Made some changes regarding the letter from Gringotts. Originally the four acted as if they didn't know about Harry being the potential Heir to House Black, even though they discussed it a few chapters ago.
Chapter 28: Unfortunate Confirmations
Harry woke up late in the night after feeling a shifting weight next to him. After their shared laugh which hurt, Madam Pomfrey gave both him and Draco a sleeping potion. Sadly, what Harry felt wasn't Hermione shifting positions to use him as a pillow. It was instead a familiar small creature sitting next to him on the bed.
"Dobby?!" Harry started in a whisper as he made some distance between them. It wasn't much given the size of the beds in the Hospital Wing. "What are you doing here?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
"Why does Master Harry Potter sirs insists on ignoring Dobby's warning?" Dobby asked with a frown.
"We discussed this. I can't just abandon my friends like that," Harry said with a matching frown.
"Master Harry Potter sirs… Keeps stayings at Hogwarts despite what Dobby does," the elf said with a shake of his head.
"What all did you do?" Harry asked accusingly.
Dobby winced a little as he answered, "Dobby's barrier didn't work. Dobby getting Harry Potter sirs expelled didn't work…"
"I figured you were behind the barrier. I wasn't the only one you inconvenienced with that," Harry said.
"Dobby knows. Best if no ones returned to Hogwarts this year, especially your Grangey" Dobby replied.
"Luckily, I didn't even get a notice from the Ministry after your stunt over the summer," Harry said. Both were keeping their voices down during their heated discussion, so they wouldn't disturb anyone else.
"Odds that beings… Dobby's plan should have at least gotten yous that," Dobby said in a thoughtful manner.
"Yeah… It didn't work. That was odd, even if I'm grateful it failed," Harry said equally in thought.
For a moment, it was almost friendly between them as they thought on the topic of Dobby's failed attempt at getting Harry expelled from Hogwarts.
Harry then narrowed his eyes again. "What else did you do?" he asked.
Dobby swallowed and shifted uncomfortably. He looked around in almost a panic. "Dobby had to punishes himself after his Bludgers didn't work," he said a little fearfully.
Harry would have maybe felt a little sympathy for him with that, but he was too livid. The only reason he wasn't yelling at Dobby was because they were in the Hospital Wing and there were other patients apart from Draco. "You did that?! You not only endangered me… You also hurt Draco," Harry said dangerously.
"Dobby did no such thing… technically… It was the bludgers that did it," he said in a poor attempt to defend himself, but it still seemed to satisfy him and his house elf magic.
"What were you thinking? You could have gotten one of us killed," Harry said in an angry whisper. It was taking a lot of control on his part not go off on Dobby and rip him a new one as they say.
"Dobby only wanted to grievously harm… He didn't want to kill or anything… Just hurts you bad enough to sends you back homes. Hogwarts is much too dangerous… Surely Harry Potter sirs knows this," Dobby said.
"What do you know about the chamber? Dobby?" Harry asked. He actually sounded less angry and more extra curious.
Dobby looked around and then said, "Dobby can't stays any longers… Dobby has to gos. Harry Potter sirs should as well!" The small house elf then popped away.
Harry wondered why the quick exit, but then he heard Draco groan and sit up. "Talking to someone Potter?" he asked in a sleepy drawl. Harry found it very fitting Draco could accomplish such a voice in his sleepiness.
"Nope. Just suddenly woke up and groaned in pain as well. I only feel slightly better than earlier," Harry said.
Draco only nodded, but he wasn't about to fall back asleep.
After the silence seemed to drag too much, Harry turned to him and asked, "What other competitions are there apart from the Beater Beatdown?"
Draco gave a stretch and groaned only a little this time. This one at least felt more out of stiffness than pain. "There's the Keeper Keep Away and the Chaser Compendium," he started.
"Seekers don't have something?" Harry asked.
Draco shook his head and took a sip of water from a glass on the nearby nightstand. "Everyone agreed Seekers were too important to chance giving anything extra away about them, as could happen in a challenge. Or to risk injury, which could also happen depending on the challenges," he said.
"What's the Beater Beatdown like?" Harry asked seeing the logic to this decision. Seekers were the ones to end a game and they were usually one of the biggest targets.
"It is actually rather interesting. It has three parts. The first is a point contest. They have a number of targets and a few Bludgers they can use to hit them. The second section consists of going after a target designated the other team's Seeker and keeping them off the snitch stand in. The longer they do that the more points they get. The last one is keeping a target designated their team's Seeker safe for a period of time. They get more points for lasting longer in this last event."
"The scores from both teammates are added up together, since it is a solo competition but they are partners. The winners are declared the best Beaters in the league for that year. It is just bragging rights and prize money, but it is fun to watch and gives the professional Beaters a chance to work out the off-season rust before starting practice again," Draco explained.
"I'm surprised there isn't a team competition for Beaters," Harry said.
"That could be used to get a sneak peek at their tactics they use in games. They try to keep these challenges as separate from actual games as they can," Draco said.
"Keeper Keep Away is rather self-explanatory, but what are the details?" Harry asked. He was finding this all very interesting.
"It is a timed event where the Keeper defends one goal from as many Quaffles as possible. They have to worry about multiple balls to make up for just having to defend one ring. They get points for every goal that is successful. Meaning the lower their score the better," Draco said. He thought it was actually kind fun explaining the magical world to Harry.
"Most of the names make sense… But Chaser Compendium?" Harry asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah… They wanted to keep the whole alliteration thing and felt contest or competition was too simple. It kind of works because the Chasers also have a few different contests they participate in, like the Beaters do," Draco said.
"I would think it would be hard to keep that too separated from actual games without making it kind of boring," Harry said.
"According to Quidditch History, it did take them a while to make it entertaining. The first contest is pretty much a dash and score event. They start a good distance away from rotating goals and end with a quick score in one of them. They get four chances at it. More points are earned for how quick they do it. They use a regulation broom of medium tier to make it a fairer event," Draco said.
"That is a pretty good idea. What else?" Harry asked.
"They also have a penalty shoot-out against a magical stand in for a Keeper to be consistent. Obviously, the more points here the better. The last event is a team effort. The chasers from the same team work together passing back and forth before shooting a goal at one of three goalposts."
"The event is timed, so they can't just slowly pass to each other and take forever as a way to earn more points. The three goalposts are set for different difficulties and there are three lines they choose to shoot from. They get points for each pass and set values for the line they choose and the goal they pick, if they score," Draco said.
"That sounds really cool as well. It tests their teamwork, their tactics and their scoring abilities," Harry said.
"All of the events are entertaining, even if games are more exciting. And the last stage of Chaser Compendium is setup so very differently from an actual field it isn't too similar," Draco said.
"Does Hogwarts just have the Beater Beatdown?" Harry asked.
"It does. It also only uses the first phase of the contest. That by itself is deemed good enough for students," Draco said.
"They don't really advertise it," Harry said.
Draco hummed in thought for a moment. It was a little curious they didn't make a big deal out of it. "I guess they figure it isn't exciting enough for most students to bother watching. They won't tell you not to go, if you decided you want to watch it. There is also a certain matter of safety as well. I would say."
"Even the best beaters at Hogwarts, are still just students. They aren't really seen as good enough to make sure students watching won't get hurt. I imagine after today, that might change. They could decide it is too dangerous period and do away with it. At the same time, this was the only instance of something like that happening," Draco said.
"Meaning it could be deemed a strange and rare exception," Harry finished as Draco nodded in agreement.
[-] [-] [-]
The two boys heard what sounded like voices as the doors to the Hospital Wing burst open. Draco and Harry both immediately pretended to be asleep, but were paying attention to the commotion.
Professor Dumbledore came into view carrying what looked like the front of a statue. It was hard to make out details in the dark. Professor McGonagall soon appeared carrying the feet. They both placed it on a bed. "Get Madam Pomfrey," Dumbledore whispered as McGonagall nodded in understanding.
"I heard you both come in... What Happened?!" Madam Pomfrey asked as quietly as she could despite her shock at what she saw.
"Another attack… Petrified. McGonagall found him," Professor Dumbledore said.
"I think he was sneaking around trying to get night shots of the castle. He's taken almost every other possible picture. There's no telling how long he had been like this before I found him on my rounds. He wasn't in a commonly traveled part of the castle," Professor McGonagall said with a sigh.
Harry and Draco quickly gave each other a glance in the darkness. Everyone knew the one student most obsessed with taking pictures. Harry didn't need to see who it was. It could only be Colin Creevey.
"This is not your fault, Minerva. You did all you could," Dumbledore said to her.
"It still wasn't enough," Professor McGonagall said in sadness.
"As I said. He is just petrified. We need to count our blessings at a time like this and try to improve going forward. Perhaps it is lucky he had his camera with him," Professor Dumbledore said.
"You don't think he managed to get a picture of his attacker? Do you?" Professor McGonagall asked with a small amount of hope.
Professor Dumbledore simply picked up the camera and opened it. Black noxious smoke hissed from it. Harry could make out the smell of burnt plastic even from his bed. Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey gave choked coughs as they both fanned away the smoke.
"Melted…" Professor McGonagall said in disappointment.
"What does it mean?" Madam Pomfrey asked looking to Dumbledore.
"It means… The Chamber really is open again," Dumbledore said with a sigh.
"But surely… Who could it be?" Professor McGonagall asked as Madam Pomfrey hid a gasp.
"The question isn't who… But how…" Professor Dumbledore said.
Neither woman seemed to understand what he meant by his question. But Harry narrowed his eyes and his lips thinned as he understood the true implication of Professor Dumbledore's words.
With that, the professors and Madam Pomfrey left for the night.
"Hermione will need to watch out," Draco said in warning as he turned to Harry solemnly. He may have his own thoughts regarding muggleborns, but he knew Hermione was important to Harry. He was a little unnerved when he saw Harry's expression through the darkness though.
"It seems things are even worse than Friar Puck said," Harry whispered just loud enough for Draco to hear.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked.
"The ghost Friar told us Halloween night, Dumbledore was a professor here last time the chamber was opened," Harry replied.
"Really?!" Draco gasped. Sure, he heard about it before from his dad in a letter, but even then, his dad implied it was most likely more legend than truth. He said all pure bloods should be safe, even if the legend came true. He too believed it was most likely a prank or a warning to muggleborns. He still warned Draco to be careful regardless.
Harry nodded to him. "It's worse than that though," he said as he looked to Draco seriously with a deep frown.
"How?" Draco asked.
"Think about what he said and how he said it," Harry said in a leading manner.
Draco narrowed his eyes in thought. He then opened them wide.
"Exactly… Professor Dumbledore knows who did it last time and most likely again this time," Harry said.
"And he isn't doing anything about it?" Draco asked in disbelief. Surely, Dumbledore, the muggleborn loving Headmaster, would do something if he knew about this. There was no way he would leave it alone. He wasn't possibly that daft.
"Friar Puck told us he figured Dumbledore was more concerned with keeping it quiet than actually solving the problem," Harry said.
Draco shook his head and scoffed. "Father always said Dumbledore was the worst Headmaster ever at Hogwarts. I always thought it was because of differences in politics and beliefs. It probably is for my father. But it seems he was right, even if for the wrong reasons," Draco said.
"You're right about that," Harry answered coldly. The two then tried to go back to sleep once more after taking a sip of the potion vial Madam Pomfrey left each of them earlier.
[-] [-] [-]
Once Harry and Draco were finally freed from the Hospital Wing, Harry told his friends what was overheard during the night. He noticed word of Colin already made the rounds, but he didn't have the details people were saying about it yet. The reaction to the attack on Colin was much different from Mrs. Norris. Now, it was obvious humans could be targeted and not just disagreeable cats owned by disgruntled school caretakers.
"I know it's really unsettling Professor Dumbledore seems to already know all about what is happening and isn't doing anything about it. But I still can't get over the fact Draco actually told you I needed to be careful. It's almost like he does consider me a friend, or at least not just another muggle-born," Hermione said from next to Harry in their bed.
Harry gave a chuckle. "Do I need to worry about my girlfriend going after the supposed Slytherin Bad Boy?" Harry asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes. Because I find it soooo hot how he usually treats me indifferent, when he isn't usually ignoring me. I soooo totally want to be treated like that all the time," she said dryly.
"I don't think he's about to ditch Pansy," Harry replied jokingly.
"I'm totally fine with just being his Muggleborn Witch sex toy," Hermione replied jokingly in return.
The two laughed to that for a few seconds.
"You Know…" Hermione hummed in thought after a moment.
Harry felt a little worried suddenly.
"Dramoine doesn't really have as nice of a ring to it as Harmony does," Hermione said with a giggle.
Harry rolled his eyes, but secretly felt very relieved. "Hannah would have a field day with it anyways," he said getting Hermione to giggle again. As unfair as girls giggling was, Harry really liked it when Hermione did just that in response to something he said.
Hannah recently started giving out nicknames to various couples, potential or otherwise. Dansy was what she called Pansy and Draco. She jokingly called Harry and Hermione, Harmony. She also threw out Luvstin every now and then, given the way Lavender and Justin seemed to be doing a little dance around each other lately. She really found it romantic how Justin came to Lavender's defense when Seamus made that terrible joke earlier in the month.
"I didn't ask earlier, but how did everyone react to Colin?" Harry asked seriously.
"It was much the same you briefly saw after getting out of the Hospital Wing. I really wish you could have made dinner," Hermione started.
She let out a sigh. She wasn't keen on admitting it, but after Colin was attacked, she was scared. Having Harry with her made her feel a lot better about it all. She did find Draco's warning touching, but she also knew he wasn't just saying it out of concern for her. Hermione had little doubt she would eventually be a prime target. She hoped this business would be stopped before then though.
Harry seemed to sense her discomfort. He shifted position and pulled her in tighter to his chest and held her in his arms. Hermione liked using him as a body pillow, but after they decided to take things to the next level, she found herself enjoying this position better. She liked feeling Harry wrapped around her like this. She was on her side and her back was pressed right up against him.
"Most are worried," she continued. "Nott and a few others are acting like they own the place," she said.
"Nott's an idiot and few actually agree with his thoughts. Most of the Slytherins don't really have too much of a problem with muggleborns. They may not be friends with them, but they mostly adopt a live and let live mentality, if they don't just usually ignore muggleborns. From what Draco told me, the group Nott's with lately have always thought the worst of muggleborns," Harry said to her.
"I'm glad he isn't the majority, but they're probably all safe from whatever this is anyways. I doubt they care too much about it in all reality," Hermione said a little bitterly.
Harry gave her neck a kiss and shifted her so she lay flat on her back looking up at him. She blushed with Harry positioned above her like this. She really liked this position too.
Harry looked to her and said, "Many of them are worried as well, even if they don't show it. They may not be targets, but they could still get caught in the crossfire of whatever this is. There's also the fact it could cause the school to close. That would affect them just as much as everyone else. Remember, Friar Puck told us the school almost closed last time," Harry said.
"I'm really worried," Hermione admitted.
"I'd be concerned if you weren't," Harry said. He kissed her again and she returned it.
Harry caressed her cheek and ran a hand around her ear and through her messy hair. Hermione gasped a little and blushed. She still wasn't used to such intimate contact, but she loved every minute of it. She would usually return his gesture by running one of her hands through his messy hair. She would even place a hand on his chest as well sometimes.
The two eventually returned to laying on their sides. They actually found this position surprisingly comfortable. It felt pretty nice to them and Hermione didn't have to worry about hiding her delighted blushes when Harry sometimes ran a hand across her and touched her intimately. He seemed to have a habit of caressing her butt in particular. Hermione was really happy she told him to stop 'containing' himself.
Hermione rarely was successful in hiding her reactions at this kind of contact, despite her efforts. She wasn't sure why, but she especially liked him touching her butt. She felt… sexy when he did. It was a new feeling to her. If you knew any of the girls she went to school with before Hogwarts, none of them would say Hermione Jean Granger could be seen as sexy. There was also another unexpected benefit to sleeping like this she never thought she would really like, but already loved.
Harry's morning condition, as he called it, usually resulted in a little discomfort in her mornings before she adjusted. She would shift so his erection slipped right into the crevice of her ass. She found his hardness very pleasant positioned between her butt cheeks. He was definitely a very good size in length and thickness already. She also liked to think she was partly responsible for his erection, even if she knew the famed "Morning Wood" had little to do with actual physical stimulation.
This did make the original plans of not going all the way too soon a bit more difficult for her. She would have dreams of what it would be like to feel him like this inside her. Her heart would always beat faster and she would feel herself getting deeply aroused. She realized she would be more than happy if he wanted to go further with her. She also really liked that idea.
Hermione wondered if maybe she should stop controlling herself as well. She had to an extent, but she still tried to hold back a bit. She wondered what would happen if Harry woke up to the sounds of her pleasuring herself in the morning with his dick between her ass cheeks. It was something she had done before and part of the reason she occasionally took a while for her morning shower. She also took advantage of his absence when he went off to shower or got in a morning workout.
"Maybe I should happen upon him during such a workout and let nature take its course…" Hermione thought to herself squirming a little in delight. Then the gates would truly be open and she wouldn't have to be careful anymore. Though Harry told her to not contain herself as well. She wanted it to seem natural when she completely gave up on holding back, or to at least have a reason beyond her own horniness to do certain things.
She knew her parents would really be aghast to learn this about their little girl. There was a rebellious part of her that wanted to make it subtly clear she wasn't their perfect little bookworm anymore. She was coming to realize, that while she did care some about what her parents thought of her in some aspects. It wasn't to the level she used to be. She still didn't want to give away too much though.
The only way her parents would figure any of this out is if she or Harry told them. Harry wasn't about to let it slip and there was no way she would in reality. She didn't want anything getting in the way of what they were doing. Her parents might try something if they learned the truth. If she and Harry went further, it was their decision to make.
"I should probably be more wary of my own urges…" Hermione thought in a mix of feelings while she blushed at her naughty thoughts.
She wanted to go all the way with Harry. She wanted to figure out everything he enjoyed with her body and what she enjoyed with his. She even had naughty thoughts on how it tasted. How it smelled. She wanted to give in to Harry fully. She trusted him to not do anything she wouldn't enjoy. She really wanted to experience all of those wonder but naughty things.
She also felt maybe she was getting a little too carried away and was letting those trashy romance novels, she and her mother both enjoyed, bleed into her desires. Hermione felt she was wanting to run, jump, swim with their relationship when they had just pretty much started to walk. Despite Hannah calling them Harmony, she and Harry were both carefulish around the others. They would be closer to each other in public, but they kept most of their change in relationship and personal activities to their bedroom.
Hermione thought on all of this as she lay there in Harry's arms and slowly drifted off to sleep. She had momentarily forgotten her worries regarding the Chamber of Secrets and Colin's attack. She just focused on how warm and comfortable she felt in Harry's arms.
[-] [-] [-]
"So… Have you all heard what everyone's been talking about lately?" Kimberly Haywood asked Harry and the others at breakfast. She was another Hufflepuff in their year. She had black hair, brown eyes and tanned skin. She enjoyed gossip from around the school, but not to the extent Lavender and Parvati seemed to enjoy it.
"About the Dueling Club?" Hannah clarified.
"Yeah! What do you all think?" Kimberly asked.
"I think it's a good idea. I'd like to learn how to actually defend myself. I know Dueling isn't the same as a real fight, but it's bound to be better than anything we usually learn in DADA," Hermione said.
Lately, she was even more about learning how to actually fight in the magical world. It was probably because she was pretty sure she would be a likely target. She was the worst sort of muggleborn. One who was actually very good at magic. Someone like this Heir to Slytherin would hate her very existence.
"Yeah. Lockhart's dreamy and all, but even I'll admit he's not exactly teacher material. I'd love to spend a night with him at an event where he acted out scenes from his books with actual actors though," Kimberly said a little dreamily. She was a fan of Lockhart, but tolerable because she didn't think he was absolutely perfect at everything. She still happily sighed longingly at him in class with the other girls.
"Then there was last year," Susan said with frown.
"Don't remind me…" Kimberly said with her own frown.
"The sad part is everyone's heard it's been like that for a while now," Harry said.
"Yeah… I really hope we have someone good running the Dueling Club," Kimberly said.
"I'd like it if it was Professor Flitwick. He's a good teacher and I've heard he's a three-time International Dueling Champion. He's very well respected among the dueling community. I really hope its him!" Hannah said excitedly.
"Sadly, he doesn't have anything to do with the Dueling Club," said a slightly dreamlike voice suddenly.
"Eeep!" Hannah said as the voice came right from next to her. "Luna…" she said breathlessly.
"Hello, Luna. You really shouldn't sneak up on people like that," Harry said.
"Ohhh…" Luna said. She then turned to Hannah and said, "Sorry… I was just answering your question."
"Just… like Harry said… Be careful next time," Hannah said.
"Does Professor Flitwick know who is running it?" Kimberly said. She wasn't sure about the girl sometimes called Loony. Though if she was on good terms with Harry, she couldn't be that bad.
"If he does, he isn't saying. Naturally, everyone in Ravenclaw has been asking him about the Dueling Club, because he's so well known as a champion," Luna said.
"That's a shame. I really hope it isn't… You know what... I'm not going to say it. I'd be tempting fate like that," Hermione said shaking her head at herself.
"Hermione… It's too late now. We all know who you were hoping it wasn't," Susan said with a sigh. The others joined her.
It was going to be Lockhart. They just knew it now. They were still going to go. Maybe there was a very slight chance it wouldn't be him, or at least he wouldn't be the only one running it.
Before they said anything else, the owls flew in to deliver the morning post. Harry watched even though he hadn't expected anything this time. It was always wonderful to watch the Owl Post arrive. Hedwig also liked to come say hello sometimes as well.
In fact, Hedwig landed right in front of him, but it wasn't just for a visit this time it seemed. She had a letter tied to her leg. "Hello girl," Harry said as he stroked her head feathers briefly and offered her some bacon, which she gladly took as he untied the letter. The envelope was blank apart from his name, but the script was extra professional looking.
Luna was staring at the letter with wide silver eyes, or maybe it was something just above the letter she saw. Harry wasn't fully sure.
"You should open that in a safe place. It's very important," she said in a kind of distant voice before she blinked and nodded to him.
"Thanks…" Harry said a little distracted by what just happened.
"How do you know that?" Hermione asked.
"I have my ways…" Luna said with a carefully neutral expression. It was obvious she was hiding something, but the others decided not to press her this time.
Harry made a mental note to ask her later when he had a chance. He quickly finished his breakfast and took the letter. "See you all back in the room," Harry said to the others who nodded in return.
[-] [-] [-]
Once Harry was back in their room, he opened the letter carefully.
Dear Heir Potter,
I have an update regarding one of the requests you made of Gringotts over the summer. We are still hard at work on getting a full audit of your accounts. This is regarding a different matter.
At your request, we inquired into the situation of your Godfather. As we discussed, what Gringotts could do in this matter was limited. We have done what we can. It is potentially a big mess. From what we can find, your Godfather was never even given a trial. He was sent directly to prison.
You will have to work on this from here on your own end. It would be good if you had connections to someone in Law Enforcement who could inquire further. Gringotts' will still do business with your Godfather regardless of how, or if, he were to escape such a situation. We are not necessarily beholden to Wizarding laws in every manner.
If you, or certain acquaintances, were able determine those responsible for falsely imprisoning such a client of Gringotts. We would be more than willing to levy fees and other certain practices against them. Our investigator on this matter is willing to fully cooperate if there is enough here to make a case and sort it all out. They however wish to remain anonymous until such a case is possible through appropriate law enforcement channels. I regret to inform you that is all we can do at our level as things stand, Heir Potter.
Sincerely,
Goldbite, Potter Family Account
Harry was angry. He then gave a scoff just as Hermione and the others entered.
"What is it?" Hermione asked in concern.
"It's a rich load of BS is what it is," Harry said. He shook his head in disgust. He then looked to them and said, "Gringotts finished looking into things on their end. There isn't anything more they can do for now."
"What did they find?" Susan asked. This was probably a sign it time they start trying to bring it to her aunt's attention.
Harry sighed to this. Hermione gave him a hug. He appreciated it, especially right now. "It seems he didn't even get a trial," he said with a deep frown.
"Wow..." Hannah started. "It was one thing thinking something went funny with the trail and that got him in Azkaban. Not having a trial at all?!" she said while shaking her head in disbelief.
"It is very wrong! Is what it is," Hermione said sounding a bit livid.
"So, the Ministry is covering up the fact they have an innocent man who was never given a trail in Azkaban," Hannah said.
"They don't know he's innocent because there wasn't a trial and Dumbledore illegally sealed my Parents' Will. They don't know about the Godparent's Ritual," Harry said.
"And with Fudge in power… He's much more likely to keep with the cover up and go to extremes preserving it, instead of admitting the ministry made a mistake… Even if it was before his time," Susan said. She then sighed, "This is why Auntie really hates politics."
"It isn't the best situation, but it is time to get your aunt involved. Goldbite informed me if the DMLE got something going, their investigator would fully cooperate. Until then though, they wish to remain anonymous," Harry said.
"I don't blame them… This could get very nasty… I'll try to figure out what it would take for my Aunt to get involved. She would know how to approach this without getting in trouble before it blows up," Susan said.
"I really appreciate this," Harry said. He actually came over and clasped her hands to show his sincerity. Susan was blushing and nodded to him. "The Street Knights will always be my family and I will never replace them, but I wouldn't mind growing my family. Not only should my Godfather be free, but I would love to have family in the wizarding world too," he said.
"I'm really glad I can help then, Harry," Susan said quietly in a sweet and breathy voice.
"And he was saying she wouldn't be a potential girl… He doesn't seem to realize he could be a good chance for her as well. She has to carry her family's name, even if it has power, I doubt there are many guys who would want to take their wife's last name," Hermione thought to herself. Susan was blushing so much and Harry was doing all he could to accidentally en-trance her like that. Hermione was pretty sure he had her heart as well now, and he didn't even know it.
"I really wish I could help," Hannah said with a frown.
Harry stood up again. Susan gave a sigh of disappointment. "Your support alone is more than enough, Hannah," Harry said to her with a friendly smile.
"Still… If there ever comes to be something I can help with. Please feel free to ask me," Hannah said.
"I will," Harry said.
Hannah then straightened up and said, "That goes for you two as well."
"Thanks, Hannah," Susan and Hermione said together.
"Still… Three wives, huh?" Hannah started in a teasing voice, since this matter reminded her of that tidbit.
Harry blushed. He had a feeling Hannah would be having a lot fun with his situation.
"At the least…" Hermione said giggling.
Hermione really wasn't helping on this matter either. Harry decided it was plenty time to get ready for class and commenced with doing so. Hermione and Hannah found far too much joy with his insistence on getting ready. Susan was in a bit of a dreamy state thinking of only what she truly knew. Though, Hannah and Hermione could probably make good guesses.
[-] [-] [-]
Luna walked into her room and was surprised when she opened the door and her roommates seemed to be looking friendly at her. She wasn't sure what was going on here and the Wrackspurts weren't helping. It seemed they were a little miffed as well.
Luna felt they were more miffed about what they were sensing than what would happen, if that made any sense. It was almost like they were surprised what would happen was something she would ponder and kind of like, even if in a possibly shameful way.
"Luna! So glad you made it back already," Sally said. She was the leader of the group of girls.
"Really?" Luna asked in disbelief.
"I guess we shouldn't be surprised you wouldn't believe us," said Connie. She was a girl with blue eyes and dark brown hair.
"Which is exactly why we are about to propose this idea we have," Teresa said. She was a muggleborn girl who had a lot of older cousins who acted like older brothers to her.
"What are you talking about?" Luna asked with a tilt of her head.
"We were thinking it wasn't right for us to act how we did. We wanted to come up with a way to start anew, on the right foot this time," Sally said as the others nodded.
"We also realized it wouldn't be simple. Which is why we are going to do something that is kind of like an initiation," Gertrude said. She had dark blonde hair and hazel eyes and was a little taller than the other girls.
Luna looked to them with narrowed eyes. The Wrackspurts gave a feeling as if they were still miffed and were shrugging at her.
"It sounds bad. I know. But we all did something like an initiation with each other earlier in the year," Sally said.
"A few times actually…" Connie said with a half frown.
"Oh please. None of us complained and we all kind of liked it," Ellie said. She had black hair and yellow eyes. Luna always wondered if she was somehow related to Madam Hooch, even if her eyes weren't hawk like yet. She was also the one to first scoff at mention of The Quibbler.
The other girls blushed to Ellie's words.
"This is a little different though," Sally said getting them back on topic.
"Yep! It was my idea really. My cousins told me about it. It was something they did for newcomers to their sports club," Teresa said with a smile.
"What is it?" Luna asked.
"Ever hear of an Atomic Sit-up?" Teresa asked.
"No. I haven't. Atomic… Isn't that what muggles called their powerful weapons?" Luna asked.
"It is, but this is different. It is very different," Teresa said as she gave a rather mischievous smile. Luna didn't think it looked wholly pleasant.
"If this is what it takes... Daddy always said you should try to make friends when you can," Luna said.
"Huh… I'm actually surprised he would say something like that," Ellie admitted.
"How about we just get started?" Teresa asked.
She turned to the dirty blonde haired girl and said, "Luna. You need to wear a special blindfold for this. You aren't allowed to see while you do the sit-ups. We also decided just a regular one wouldn't work. We each have something for you to smell at the end of each sit-up."
Luna took in a deep breath and let it out. "Might as well get this over with," she said.
"You'll only be doing one for each of us. It isn't that much work on your end. Nothing compared to what we had to do more than once for our own initiations," Teresa said with a roll of her eyes.
"Exactly. We felt we should go easier on you after everything that happened this year, but it shouldn't just be automatic. That would seem disingenuous," Sally said.
Luna gave one last look at the Wrackspurts. They were a deep pink almost red color. She almost blushed at that coloring. She knew what it meant and that really was surprising for her. Now she got why they seemed so miffed about it all. Why would she end up finding out something delightful, but probably embarrassing about herself here?
The situation was even more curious now. Luna's Ravenclaw curiosity was coming into full effect. She only hoped it wouldn't get her in trouble. Ravenclaw curiosity could do that with ease at times. It happened to everyone in their house at one time or another.
"Now, lay down…" Teresa said to Luna. This was going to be good.
Loony really could be such a gullible fool at times. They would be nice to her after this. How could they not? They wanted to know what she did about Harry Potter. He was The-Boy-Who-Lived! Why and how was she on friendly terms with him? What did she now know about him, no one else did? Maybe they would all learn his type after they 'befriended' Luna and naturally asked about her other friends.
That was the plan anyways. They were all still going to have at least a little fun with Loony here and now. They still couldn't believe she was going along with them so easily after everything that has happened. Then again, she did usually blame it on made up creatures.