Fairy of my Heart
Ch 07
Isdh
121
A little brought down by the lack of a morning show, the entire Hall perked up as three witches dressed in silk robes and fur cloaks bustled in. they had their hands in furry muff pouches. The richer students recognized the sales-witches from Twillfits.
McGonagall rose from the Head Table, and quickly strode up the aisle. "Missy Brown-Twillfit." the sound of warm affection for a former 'cub' coloured the Headmistress' voice. "I thought we agreed, once you finished your NEWTs, we were not going to see you in these Halls again."
"Minnie!" a marooned robed witch stepped forward. "That was the plan, but when the Goblins of 'Got's offer you the Exclusive Clothing Contract for the newest School in England, My Husband decided that me and my ladies would see to the Headmaster of …" she pulled a slip of parchment from her muff.
"Headmaster Black!" McGonagall called over her shoulder. Facing the trio before her, "We try to… avoid that acronym whenever possible."
Missy looked at her scrypt, before colouring, as the Rumpled Scarlet Headmaster sauntered up.
"I was not the one to name the School." Sirius kissed Missy's knuckles, "School colours are, and I quote; 'Silk and Dark'." He repeated his actions with the other two sales-witches. "Me and my second in command were talking last night after dinner. The Headmaster wears the colour Scarlet. Full Scarlet like this is for Dress Robes. Black or White with Scarlet highlights for everyday wear is perfect for this School's Headmaster." he flashed his trademark grin at the clothiers. "Everything else will be handled by you Ladies."
"As a joke," Lupin sighed as he joined the group of Witches, "I got dressed in Seagreen. Something about always being the bridesmaid." the adult witches within hearing, snickered. "I just want something in dark grey."
Missy clicked her tongue, "Okay. I can see Seagreen for the lowest ranking member of the Staff." she then smirked, "But how long will your … School be open? What Subjects are you teaching?"
"That will be something we will be talking about with the Governors." Black turned to McGonagall, "Permission to use the Cloaking room?"
"Cloaking Room?" the Headmistress frowned.
"Across the entry hall, two doors to the left." Lupin smiled sadly. "During our school days we learned the names of many of the old rooms."
"Of course." McGonagall's lips thinned. "Missy, you and your girls are welcome to join us for lunch. Afterwards, Anyone may visit you. You no doubt heard of our Yule Ball. Black and Lupin will need proper robes, as will Potter and Longbottom. If they are getting the option to take advantage of your shop's services, so too should the other three Schools."
Missy's eyes went wide, "You are allowing us to Fit anyone who comes to us?"
Lupin grinned, like a hunting wolf, "You will be polite. If they can not afford your shop…"
McGonagall's grin thickened. "Milken will be in next week."
Harry stood slowly, his arms still grasped by the 'twin' firsties. "Yes. Madam Malkin is The standard by which all clothing is judged. Her scores, according to Miss Brown," Harry pointed with his chin at the dirty blond next to Ron. "Is a max of an 8 in each of price, value, and style. But because she is THE STANDARD; it all is raised to 10. Robes from Twilfit I am getting a 12 in Style, and a 15 to a 17 in Value. But I am paying over 21 in Price." Turning to look at the Maroon Witch, "I will admit, should we remain open next year, your shop will be our clothier. Longbottom and I will see you this afternoon. Headmaster Lupin will need something in dark grey. Something in the Dowager shades." Harry Potter looked at Black. "I am looking to keep to a theme." a bell rang, "And that's class. If I am correct, these ladies have Flitwick next. I need to relearn my spell casting control. I think I will join them." arm in arm, he headed out to class.
121
"First he is black, weilding a sword like a common muggle!" one hushed wizard griped, "now he is holding axes covered in white fur!"
"Ask the Carrow twins." a witch hissed back. "They spent most of yesterday with him. Malfoy and his goons wised up and left him alone." She smirked, "There are bets if Malfoy would ever learn."
"Nott won't learn." a second wizard snickered, "And I can push him tomorrow morning far enough, to really do something stupid. With Malfoy it was politics; power and money. Greengrass is Power of Influence. But what is the key point for Potter or Black?"
"Mockery of the Status Quo?" the Witch hissed back.
121
Hermione jogged to the Charmed classroom, where she dropped off the Black Thorn cane, before running to Runes, one floor up. Once there, the whole class spoke of the difference between a wand and a cane/staff. She shared everything that she had...
Meanwhile Harry had POWER in that with a swish and flick of his cane… every desk smashed into the ceiling. Both the teacher and students set about helping him relearn the most basic of charms.
121
An hour before Lunch, Potter and Longbottom were summoned to the 'Cloaking Room', where the Ladies from Twillfit's Robery, drug them through the process. When the Lunch bell rang, both young wizards grabbed their over-robes, canes, and ran.
As they pounded into the Hall, heading this time to the Hufflepuff table where Bones and Abbot normally sat. As Neville redessed then made himself comfortable, Harry just redressed. "Now Nev, remember. I need you to do more than just kiss the pretty witches. Recruit third through sixth years."
"Right Boss." Longbottom grinned.
Harry Potter snorted, before he fluttered his cloak, as he turned away from his School mate. He only made it to the Ravenclaw table when the Blonde Champion glomped his off arm.
"Monsieur Potter." the maiden purred. "I find muy self questioning the rumours I keep 'earing about vou." A faint wave of flower-scented magic washed over him. "Do tell, just how strong are vou?"
Harry opened his mouth to answer her, before frowning at the slinky sexy silver-haired silph. "Did you just try to whammy me?" he hissed. "I do not mind the questions, when asked honestly, but I have found the Lords in charge of my Care to be more than wanting. Pushing me, either with magic or mind games, could get… explosive."
"Pardon, 'Abbit." Fluer pulled away, but did not release his arm. "Since my … Allure awoke, I have found the best way to squeeze info from males, was to just … flash 'em." As she said the word squeeze, she hugged his arm to her breasts.
"So, when you can't ..." Harry leered at her, "... Squeeze me as a Veela, you try to squeeze me as a Witch?"
"Non… as a Womon." her smile was perfect.
"That too." Harry waved to the Table of the Curious. "I will honestly answer twenty questions. If I feel that you are not ready for the Answer, I will tell you so, and you can ask something else."
As the two Champions sat, other Ravens clustered in and about.
"Une. Are you the 'Eir of Slytheren?"
"No. And Yes." Harry poured himself a goblet of water. He sipped. "Am I the Heir, as in the Asshat who attacked two years ago? No, I am not. That was a Shade of a skilled wizard who found himself Deep in the Darkest of Magics. A Wizard by the Name of Tom Marvelo Riddle." Harry glared at a sixth year Witch sitting across from him. "Anagram it."
Turning back to the Blond bird, "But when Longbottom and I went to get our new 'Wands', my Goblin Hoardmaster had some fun reading my Parents Wills and my Godfather's Statements. Since Headmaster Black never received a trial, his Rights as my Godfather were never revoked." Harry waggled the ring on his Right hand. "I am Potter, but in the last few days I've read that by beating the last Scion of a House three times, where they attacked ,unprovoked, allows me to claim the title of Lordship of said House… and odds are you are asking about them are high."
"So, as you sit Here, at our Table, eating our Food, drinking our!, well you get the idea. You flash: your rings, and think we are bribed?" a fifth year wizard rebuffed. "Of course not. But the fee to sit at the tables is to be sociable. Like Heir Longbottom is with Heir Bones." Harry turned to look, and saw the normally nervus Neville duck to whisper in Susan's ear. "Okay, maybe not that close. But just sitting here, sharing gossip, and all that. I will promise you all this, I will not Lie to you."
The Sixth year witch's eyes crossed as her off hand looked to be playing one handed cat's cradle.
"By the Dideam, she is trying…"
"I am Lord Voldemort!" she yelled. The whole Hall went silent.
"Miss Maplethorp! Please explain!" Dumbldor demanded, in his disappointed grandfather personia.
"Sorry, Professor," the young witch stood and bowed to the Headmaster, "Lord Potter offered a word puzzle, and in the shock of the answer, I spoke far too loudly." Albus's eyes flickered over the collected, "Lord Potter, please keep those stories for another time."
"Yes Headmaster." Harry bobbed his head.
"Why does the 'Eadmaster want this topic ended?" The silvery blonde frenchie whispered.
"Knowledge is Power. If he controls 'who' knows 'what', the Power is his. 'Knowing is half the Battle.' Something I overheard from my Cousin." Harry sighed. "Everyone is afraid of Lord 'V's name. But almost no one knows about Tom Riddle, a half blood orphan from Slytherin. By all accounts he was a silvered tongued snake. Smart, charming, and at times… cruel."
"Now to something more important." a third year witch fluttered at Harry. "Do you know what the First task is yet?"
"No, but something tells me I will know by dawn." Harry frowned at Hagrid who was smiling at the Headmistress from France, at the High Table. "I have been asked to help Hagrid with something tonight."
The Ravenclaws hummed.
121
That night at just after 9pm, Harry arrived at Hagrid's door with his Father's cloak. Unbeknownst to him, a black shadow was on his Heels. A motion from the mountain man, and the Lad vanished under the silver shimmer of the cloak. Hagrid knocked on the door to the massive carriage, and helped the giant woman step down.
The Headmistress was dressed in fluffy furs of the darkest night, including a muff that could pass as Padfoot. The two half giants entered the forbidden forest, following a game trail that went nowhere near the Spider Colony, nor the Centaur Herd's grounds.
Frowning, Harry jogged to keep up, believing that there was No Way in hell, Hagrid would invite the lad along on a date… unless the date was not just a date!
After five minutes of weaving through the trees and shrubs, the two mega-humans passed through a ripple in the air.
After a count of ten, for the two to move beyond sight of the barrier, Harry pushed through too. While he was making sure his ripple was not noticed, he failed to notice the ripple on his heels as the black dog belly crawled across the line.
Once across the 'sound ward' he was assaulted by the noise of roaring beasts. Noise he knew and recognized.
"Those Inbred Morons!" Harry whispered loudly. "They Just had to bring…"
A roar shook the clearing two scaly heads thrust straight up, and gave vent to their anger in sound and Flame.
"Dragons!" Harry and Hagrid sighed. One in delight, one in defeat.
121
Harry 'exploded' into the 'common room' of his new School. It was a combination of coming to a stop from running from the clearing and tearing his cloak off. Startling Lupin and Tonks into splashing their tea on themselves.
The three shared a word of exclamation. Harry in Anger, the other two because they just spilled hot tea on themselves. No sooner than they were cleaned up, with new cups of Hot tea in hand… Headmaster Black exploded into the common room.
The Four shared a word of exclamation. Black in Anger, Harry in shock, and the other two because they just spilled hot tea on themselves… again.
The noise was enough to summon Shacklebolt from his room. "What is with all the commotion?"
Black and Potter exchanged looks, before responding with one word.
"Dragons!"
"Shite!" returned two Aurors and a deputy Headmaster.
Tonks drew her wand and stunned Black and Potter, "Better to let them sleep tonight off, and we try again in the morning. I will just drop potter on his bed…" She levitated the lad to his room, and dropped him on the bed, closing the door behind her. Lupin did the same for Sirius.
No sooner was the door closed, did Dobby pop in, strip 'Master Harry' to his boxers, then into pyjamas, and tucked into bed with loving care.
121
Come the Morning as everyone gathered in the Great Hall, Lord Harold Potter Stormed in, in full Lordly regalia. Lord Black was on his Heels in Black and Scarlet.
"Headmistress Maxime, Headmaster Karkaroff, I saw you both out there last night. Did you let slip the secret in the clearing? I hope that you told your Champions." Harry looked at Krum and Fleur. Krum did not even blink. Fleur looked away in shame. "Good. At least you are not letting them face it blindly. Has Anyone told the Hogwarts Champion?" Harry roared this last line. No one moved. "Headmistress, Headmaster, Did you Know what we were Facing before Last Night?" They both were quiet. "Headmaster Dumbledor. This is Strike Two. Your First Strike was allowing me to be entered into this Bloodsport! Strike Three… and I remove you from your Throne… Permanently."
Harry closed his eyes, breathed deep to recenter himself. "Champions. With me. I believe that the overseers want the Task to be kept secret to build the suspense. Join me, so we can share our info. Cedric, I am afraid that I must insist that you at least join me, or I will be forced to divulge everything. Here and Now."
"And what Protects Him from you, SLUT?" a Seventh year sneered.
"Had I wanted to harm your Champion, Duffer, I would have kept mum. My Honour demanded that something of this size be shared between the four of us." Harry sneered back.
Cedric stood, "Is it really that big of an issue?"
"I am willing to bet my Firebolt on it."
Cedric slung his satchel and all but ran to the young lord's side, only to be caught by the seventh year.
"Just like that you go running off?"
"If I value the info to be a non-starter, I get his broom." Diggory hissed. "He is willing to risk his right to Fly on this… I am safe from him." the pretty boy bolted to Harry's side.
The Granite Faced Seeker and silvery hair bird joined them at the Doors.
"Headmaster Black, please explain to the Headmasters and Headmistresses why we are displeased. Yes I am including McGonagall in that." Harry snarled, and swept from the room.
"My Fellow Heads of Schools." Sirius was foaming at the mouth as he snarled, "Shall we adjourn to Dum-dum's office? I would personally enjoy an audience while ripping him a new one!"
"Sirius my Boy. calm yourself. Perhaps a potion?" Albus tried the benign Grandfather skit.
"Already had two." the red-trimmed robes flared in a wind that was not there. "Be Glad I am not cleared for wand use yet… or they would be hauling me back to my 'Island Paradise'." His nails on his hands formed claws. "Only this Time, I would have actually committed the crime I'm accused of!"
McGonagall grabbed Albus by the Ear, and hauled him to his feet, and drug him from the Hall. "Maxime, Karkaroff, Sprout." She called over her shoulder, "With me. Lupin, walk Black the Long way around. I want him to be human when we convene."
Flitwick stood on the table, and touching his wand to his voice-box, boomed out, "All Students are to Self Study here in the Great Hall. Upper years, please help the lower years. Weasleys… work the room. If everyone is focused on controlled chaos and homework, things should be quiet." The redheaded twins broke cover and dashed from the Hall.
Vector leaned towards the small professor, "Sir, what good will come of this?"
"Potter was pissed about the first task. That means he believes that the task is overkill. This is the kid that ran down a troll as a firsty, has mastered the Broom to Krum's level, and faced a Werewolf over his wrongly accused Godfather. If that Lad is afraid, they face real danger. If He is still keeping quiet, he believes that there is a light at the end of the tunnel." Just as the twins thunder into the hall, carrying their briefcase and notebook. "I have 2 sickles that say the First task involves… a manticore!" He flipped the two silver coins into the now open case, held by one twin, as the other wrote out a receipt.
The twins made their rounds as each student that had coin made their bets across the board
121
Harry led into the hall. Before his stomach growled
Cedric chuckled, "This way." deeper into the Keep he led the party, and down a flight of stairs. Where the stairs branch left and right, hung an oversized painting of a bowl of fruit. The Sixth year reached out his forefinger and scratched at a pear in the bowl.
The pear giggled, twitched, and morphed into a doorknob. "And that is how you 'tickle the Pear'." the Hufflepuff grasped the knob, twisted, and the painting swung open to allow access to a staircase leading gently down, into the Kitchens.
As the four came to a stop, fifty Heads swivelled to face them as every Elf looked to see who was there.
Cedric cleared his throat, "Four cocoas, and a platter of those french pastries, please." he led the way to a small breakfast nook in the corner.
"The Great Wizard Harry Potter comes to see Dobby?" the only warning Harry had before a faded red pillowcased form wrapped itself to his leg. It was at this time that the crowd of Elves had moved enough for the young Lord to see Winky.
"What is wrong with Winky?" Harry asked Dobby.
"Winky missing her Family." Dobby rubbed his face into the Lord's leg.
"She is not bonding to the castle?"
"No, she needs Family.
"Wink is Good Elf! Wink is!" the pretty dressed elf cried into her butterbeer bottle.
"Is This how a House Elf behaves?" Harry thundered across the Kitchen. "Winky, House Black has Found you, and found you wanting!"
Suddenly she was at his feet, "Winky do Better…Be better."