[A/N: I just wanted to remind my FFN readers that I have a new Ao3 account where all my stories now have a summer house.]
Chapter 11: Armed with a Cup of Hot Soup…
Immediately after the Troll Incursion, Great Hall
It took a bit of effort and call outs for reassurance from friends, older brothers and sisters but the children of Hogwarts managed to resume their seats and for the most part continue eating. For some, like Ron Weasley, he never stopped eating once he started. He was still clutching onto a half-eaten chicken leg when Dumbledore tried to get them to clear out and when told to just go back and sit; repositioned himself better to get at the steak and kidney pie and about a half dozen other platters that were left sitting unattended. Those around him stared with visible disgust at the boy's utter lack of public or self-decency as the red-haired stomach piled his plate as tall as it would go and begin scarfing it down with barely a breath in between bites.
Vincent Crabbe glanced over at his best friend, Gregory Goyle and shook his head, "And people think we're the dumb brutes. Compared to him, that Troll has better manners." Greg silently nodded and covered his mouth, trying not to puke at the display before him.
"Couldn't someone speak with our Head of House about this?" Greg implored pleadingly with the older Slytherins.
Their 5th year prefect sighed and rose to his feet and headed up to the High Table to where Professor Snape was sitting.
"Professor? A few of us were wondering and hoping there was something that could be done regarding Weasley's utter lack of table manners and general decency when around food? It's putting people off their appetites."
Severus sneered over at the spot where the red-haired twit was now attempting to shove an entire slice of pie into his mouth and get the others nearby to cheer him on. He sighed loudly, "I'll deal with this. With any luck, he'll choke to death if I startle him."
Severus swiftly rose to his feet and silently moved up behind Ron, "Weasley!" he barked, causing the boy in question to let out a muffled yelp and whirl around. A disgusting explosion of partially masticated bits of food tumbled down his robes, "P'feth'er?"
"You're done eating. Get up and follow me," Severus replied coldly before turning and starting to walk away. Ron scrambled to his feet and hurried after his Head of House but not before cramming a handful of candied nuts into his mouth.
Severus slammed open the door to a chamber just off from the main Hall and pointed inside imperiously with his finger. Ron scurried in and stared bewildered at the various displays of trophies and a cold fireplace. Severus strode over the fireplace and cast an incendio charm at the wood stacked within then took a pinch of floo powder and cast it into the flames.
"The Burrow!" he yelled then stuck his head into the green flames. There was a moment of disorientation as his head was flung through 'otherspace' until appearing in the living room hearth of the Weasley home. Arthur was just looking up from his newspaper to see who was calling.
"Oh! Hello. Professor Snape, is it? How might I help you?"
"Your son Ronald has gotten himself into trouble and I request that you come through."
Arthur jumped up and hurried over to the fireplace, "It's nothing dire is it? We didn't get any warning."
Severus made a face, "Ah, yes. That clock of yours… Well, the matter is more of an issue of him disgracing himself in public. Come through…please."
Arthur stepped out the fireplace into the antechamber where he found Ron sitting on a stool with a scowl on his face and his robes covered in food detritus. Severus was standing next to the fireplace with his arms crossed in front of him and he too was scowling in displeasure.
"Professor?"
"Your son… has decided that eating a meal like a normal civilized human is too much to consider. This evening there was an incursion with a Troll and the headmaster incorrectly decided to send the students back to their dormitories. When the countermanding order was given and the students were required to remain where they were; your son here decided to horde all food within arms' reach and began eating it with an abandon that not even pigs could attain."
Arthur was horrified at Ronald's behavior, "Is this true?"
Ron sat there hunched up with his arms crossed as well and petulantly whined, "I was hungry!"
Arthur sighed, took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Ronald, there has never been a time when Hogwarts has ever run out of food. You were raised better than this! What was going through your mind?!" His face was getting redder while his voice rose, "It's bad enough that I need to keep your mother on a short leash but now I have to deal with you about this?" He growled in frustration and turned to face the dour professor, "Professor Snape, you have my permission as Head of House Weasley to assign Ronald whatever punishment within reason you think he needs to cure him of his ill-mannered behavior. If he has to take his meals with the school's pigs, so be it." With one last glare at his idiotic son, he turned and flashed away through the floo.
At the Hufflepuff Table…
Harry watched Ron get led away from the Great Hall by an irate Severus Snape and wondered what that was all about but shrugged it off. 'Not my circus, not my monkeys,'he mused before turning his attention to where Neville was trying to balance a cherry tomato on the tips of three asparagus spears. He looked on bemusedly and glanced over to where Hermione was chatting with some of the other girls.
"Aren't we a barrel of laughs? We got Neville here literally playing with his food and Weasley the Youngest getting in trouble for eating food." Neville snorted yet still looked determined to get the tomato to stay put.
Harry slid down to where Hermione was deep in conversation with the other girls, "…I heard that she was caught trying to steal something valuable from the school."
"Whatcha talking about?" Hermione jumped in surprise.
"Harry! Don't sneak up on me like that!" she pouted.
Harry held up his hands in surrender, "Sorry. So whatcha talking about?"
Susan leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "You remember Sally-Anne Perks? From Gryffindor? She was expelled from the school today."
Harry's eyes widened; for someone to get expelled, it must've been a big deal! "Any idea what it was that she was trying to steal?"
Susan shrugged a shoulder and took a bite of her mince pie, "No one knows and those who do, aren't talking. I tried to ask Professor Sprout but she just gets this weird look on her face and tries to change the subject.
"Wow, are you sure that it was theft that was the cause of the expulsion?"
"Well, that's my theory. I just don't know."
Harry sat there with the same look he had whenever he was planning a new menu, "What about talking to the elves? They know everything about what goes on around here and aren't shy about telling you; unless they're ordered not to but even then, they'll tell you up front that they can't."
All the girls stared back at him with varying degrees of shock. Hermione face-palmed her hand and groaned, "Why didn't we think of that? Gah… Thanks, Harry."
He just grinned and got up to head over to where the Weasley Twins were sitting.
At the Gryffindor Table…
Harry approached the Twins and tapped the closer one of the two on the shoulder. The twin in question, George, turned around, "Yes, O Great Heir of our heroes?"
Harry responded with a raspberry, "Phbbt! O Great Heir… Listen, I was wondering if the two of you would like to meet your heroes, or at least the two that remain?" George's mouth dropped open and he squeaked while Fred was wheezing after nearly choking on his pumpkin juice.
"You, you can do…you would do that for us? That would be seriously unfunny if you were just playing around."
Harry shrugged and replied that all it would take is for him to write a letter to his uncle and godfather. Both twins pushed those next to them aside to give Harry room to sit before producing a sheet of paper and quill from somewhere and urging him to write to the remaining Marauders.
Harry examined the quill, "You two are still using quills?"
Fred made a noise, "Eh, old habits and all that." Harry just blinked and made a face before bending over the table to begin writing.
Dear Padfoot and Moony,
Greetings from Hogwarts! It's Halloween this evening and it seems that our dear Headmaster arranged for a right scare by importing a Troll from who knows where to come and terrorize the student population! I've not seen the Troll but our defense professor came running into the Great Hall bellowing about there was a Troll in the dungeons…and then passed out. Moony, it's a shame that you have that campground of yours; we could use a decent defense teacher around here. Padfoot, If I thought you'd be able to handle teaching a bunch of kids on how to defend themselves, I'd suggest that you might consider the position but I heard from my aunt that you actually like working with Moony and running delivery to and from town (or is Moony just having you play fetch?) That reminds me, congratulations on passing your driving exam!
Things are going pretty well here. I'm in the top ten of my yearmates in the subjects of Herbology, Transfiguration and Potions. I need a bit more work in Charms to add that to the list. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I have the wand work down perfectly but for some reason, I just can't seem to pay attention during the written tests. I have a meeting with Professor Flitwick to discuss my options.
Listen, I made a couple of friends here that I think the two of you should meet. They claim to be the Disciples of the Marauders and wanted me to tell you that they solemnly swear that they are up to no good. They've said that if you know what that means, they will pledge themselves to you for life.
With much love,
Harry
"Alright, you two; I promise to send this out tomorrow evening."
"Why not send it in the morning?" Fred asked as he carefully took another sip of his juice.
"Because owls are most active in the evening. It's not fair to make Hedwig work when she should be sleeping."
Now George was confused, "But Harry, that 's not how post owls work. There's some sort of magic involved that changes their sleep patterns so they can fly during the day."
Harry leveled a hard glare at the redhead, "My owl, my rules. I don't have to send this letter." George put his hands up, "Sorry! No need to get huffy, I was just saying."
Just then there was a hooting screech from up above which caused everyone to look up. Hedwig appeared diving through the rafters and glided down to where Harry was sitting. She took a steep dive and flared out at the last moment to land precisely on his shoulder. The look on her face could only be described as 'proud.'
Harry chuckled, "You silly bird. Why are you here?" Hedwig just stuck her leg out. In a fit of pique, Harry kissed her foot which caused Hedwig to squawk in surprise and yank her foot away. "I thought that is what milady wanted. To pay homage to the most beautiful raptor that ever lived."
If Hedwig could speak she would have probably said something rude, so she just cuffed his head with her wing instead. The others at the table were busting a gut laughing at the antics.
"Ah, Hedwig milady, Her Royal Owlness, Devourer of Bacon, Alpha Owl of the Roost would you deign to take a letter from me to Moony and Padfoot?" Harry solemnly requested as he held out the letter. She gave him an imperious stare and held out her leg one more time. Harry quickly and deftly tied the letter to her leg and gave it another gentle kiss.
"Be safe my Queen. May the winds be calm on your nightly journey," Hedwig nuzzled his ear then took off.
Where Poppy was administering to an unconscious Quirrel…
"How is he?"
Poppy looked up at the sound of Daggerclaw's inquiry, "He'll be fine. He should be coming around soon." She dusted off her hands and began repacking her ever present healer's bag.
Daggerclaw examined Quirrell face for a moment before he noticed something just peeking out from underneath the edge of the turban. He carefully lifted the edge before dropping it quickly, letting out a stream of Goblin swear words. He grabbed Poppy by the arm and began dragging her away from the prone man.
"High Inquisitor, I must protest! What is the meaning of this?" she yelped in shock at being so roughly handled.
"Hogwarts! Emergency alert! Ward the area around Professor Quirnius Quirrell and allow no one to approach without my permission. Contact the Ministry Unspeakables, priority one! Keep him unconscious!" he bellowed and turned to the children still sitting nearby, "Everyone here; move to another table! Quickly now! Move!" They moved in a tsunami of limbs and bodies, each trying to get away from the yelling Goblin.
Albus and Minerva hurried over to try to find out what was causing this new commotion, "Daggerclaw! What is going on now?"
Pointing at the back of Quirrell's head, "There's a face underneath that turban!"
Albus gave him a disdainful look over the rim of his glasses, "I sincerely doubt that. It's probably just a shadow caused by the man's hair."
Daggerclaw glared at the headmaster, "I know what I saw Headmaster, when the Ministry gets here they can determine the next course of action. I've already had Hogwarts call for additional support from the Unspeakables."
Albus started to rave internally; the impending arrival of the Unspeakables was the last thing he needed now. The Troll was a simple matter of greasing the pockets of whoever the Ministry sent to keep them quiet. The Unspeakables however, weren't impressed with attempts at bribery.
"This is my school, you miserable Goblin! I won't have you usurping my authority anymore! I am in charge and decide who to call!" Albus roared at a thoroughly unimpressed Daggerclaw, "I've had it up to here with you sticking your freakish nose in where it never belonged! I have half a mind to personally kick you in your money-grubbing arse off the grounds! You're a beast who should be groveling at the feet of proper wizards to serve them as we see fit. I'll see to it that you burn in Hell you dirty beast!" The noise in the hall dropped off rapidly as everyone witnessed the headmaster completely losing control.
There was an insistent knocking on the Hall doors a few moments later. Daggerclaw silently released the locks and admitted the Ministry Beast Control handlers as well as Director Amelia Bones and a handful of Aurors, the Unspeakables entered last.
"Dumbledore? What is going on here?" She called out to a clearly still raging headmaster.
Albus visibly reigned himself in, "Just a minor incident with a Troll. It's being handled, Amelia. There was no need to travel all the way here."
Amelia narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, "Uh-huh." Clearly not believing Albus, she turned to Daggerclaw, "High Inquisitor?" Albus nearly flared up again at the abrupt dismissal.
Daggerclaw calmly replied, "As the headmaster said, there was an incident where a Troll was reported to have been wandering around the dungeons. On top of that, I called for the Unspeakables to deal with what is hidden under Professor Quirrell's turban." Beast Control immediately set off for the dungeons while the Unspeakable stepped up to where the turbaned man lay.
"There seems to be a ward around the man?"
Daggerclaw had Hogwarts remove the ward. The lead Unspeakable cast a stunner just in case and bent down to examine Quirrell closer. They raised the edge of the turban and peered in before standing again and casting something that caused Quirrell to be encased in amber-like substance. "We shall take him with us for further study." They levitated the encapsulated professor out of the hall.
Casting a silencing charm around the adults, Amelia asked Daggerclaw what he saw under the turban.
"It looked like a face of a demon coming out of the back of the professor's head. I'm no expert but the face resembled Voldemort," Daggerclaw calmly reported.
After canceling the silencing charm and turning back to the incandescent headmaster, Amelia gestured between the two with a finger, "What's going on between you two?"
Albus drew himself up straight, "I demand that you remove this creature from my sight and dump it back in that hole it calls a home. I am retaking control of this school as its one and only leader."
Amelia stared uncomprehendingly at Albus, shook her head once to clear it and glanced at Minerva who stood there with her mouth opening staring at her boss like she'd never seen someone like him before. The rest of the school was nearly the same way.
"Uh-huh… High Inquisitor? Your thoughts?"
Daggerclaw let a slow predatory grin full of teeth slide over his face, "If Albus wishes to hold this conversation here amongst the students that's fine by me but you don't have to take my word for some of the other things he's said over the past couple of months." He pulled a crystalline cube out of his pocket and tapped one face of it. A spectral image of Albus sitting at his desk appeared, hovering just above the cube like a pensieve memory. Albus' face went deathly white and he started babbling.
"No, no, no, no! You can't share what I said in the privacy of my own office!"
"Fine then, how about when you were muttering to yourself in public while wandering the hallways during one of your usual excursions?" He tapped the face again and the image changed to him walking down a hallway.
Something in Albus snapped and he screamed in rage as he flung himself at the offending Goblin who deftly sidestepped the old man to let him fall heavily onto the floor.
"Stupify!" Albus fell into an unconscious heap on the floor. Minerva's hand was shaking and her face was purpling with white-hot anger at her former mentor for what he was attempting to do.
"Chrath thu seann ghobhar geal! A 'toirt ionnsaigh air cuideigin air beulaibh na cloinne! Bah fios agam gur e trioblaid a bh 'annad! Bha fios agam gu robh thu dulich nuair a dh 'fheuch thu ri cuir às dhomh nuair a dh innis mi dhut nach gabhadh earbsa a chur ann an Quirrel!" She screamed as she built up to a full Scottish rage. (1)
Filius appeared and slowly and carefully reached out and removed her wand from her hand, "It's okay now, Min. He's not going to hurt anyone ever again." He glanced worriedly over at Poppy and cocked his head at his shaking colleague. Poppy quickly handed over a vial of Calming Draught. "Drink this, Min then go with Poppy, okay?" he said reassuringly. Minerva blankly drank down the draught and let out a shuddering cry of anguish before letting her friend guide her out of the Great Hall. There were tears in the eyes of many of the students and staff, including even the Grey-leaning Slytherins.
Amelia turned to her Aurors who were silently watching the events unfolding, "Take him back to the DMLE and put him in one of the isolation cells. Make sure no one speaks to him or knows he's even there." The Senior Auror nodded and directed the others to cuff Albus' wrists and ankles then levitate him out of the Hall.
Once Minerva had been escorted from the Hall, Daggerclaw led Amelia to the same chamber Severus used to deal with Ron Weasley. Turning to face the Goblin, Amelia demanded some answers.
"Just what is going on around here?! You've got the headmaster losing the plot, Trolls wandering the hallways, something that requires the Unspeakables? What was on that cube that had Albus go crazy?"
Daggerclaw chuckled as he pulled out the cube once more and activated it. It cycled through a series of still images, "This is a cube we use at Gringott's to display our vacation or family photos similar to those book albums you humans favor. There was never anything on here that had his mutterings, plotting or plans. That's safely stored away in my office."
Amelia's eyes widened in surprise and she let out a bark of laughter, "So Albus merely assumed and let his anger get away from him! Ingenious. Whew… How bad was it? His mutterings, plots and plans as you put it?"
Daggerclaw actually shuddered, "Bad. He seems to fully believe in this noxious concept of the Greater Good and is determined to go to any lengths to achieve it regardless of who he hurts. Most of it was directed at young Harry Potter. Some of the recordings I have would be enough to have him tossed through the Veil of Death. It's not up to me but if it were, I would put him on a closed trial behind locked doors, fill him up with Veritaserum until it leaks out his ears then drop kick his wrinkled butt through the Veil. He's too dangerous to lock up in Azkaban."
Amelia sank into an empty chair, covered her eyes and groaned loudly, "Just what I didn't need." She stayed like that for a moment before slapping the armrests and sitting up, "Okay, for the time being, I'm using my authority to install you as temporary headmaster until either Minerva is calm again and can take over or someone else is hired to do the job."
"That won't make the Board of Directors happy; having a Goblin in charge as Headmaster."
Amelia waved that away, "I'll remind them it's just temporary and realistically there's not much difference between what you've been doing and what you will be doing." She got to her feet and said that she was going to visit with her niece before taking her leave.
Daggerclaw bowed his head in acceptance of her decision.
Hogwarts Infirmary
"Min? How are you feeling?" Poppy asked her long time friend later in the evening. She sat down in a chair besides the bed and laid her hand gently on Minerva's.
"Hurt and betrayed. My heart feels like it's been ripped to shreds. How could he…how could he hire someone being possessed by You-Know-Who?" The brokenhearted witch wailed.
Poppy sighed, "I'd hate to play the Devil's Advocate here but it's possible that he didn't know when he hired the man."
Minerva shook her head, "I was there that day. He wasn't wearing the turban then. That didn't appear until after the reported news of the Gringott's break-in." Her eyes grew wide, "Sweet Merlin! I had that…that thing visit me in my office! I've shared meals with it…excuse me!" She bolted out of bed and rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Poppy waited where she was until the door opened up again.
"Feel better?" Minerva just grunted in reply.
"A little. I can't believe that I attacked him in front of everyone in the Great Hall. I can't believe Albus attacked anyone in the Great Hall." She moaned once more as she returned to her bed, "What do the students think of me?"
"I think they'd see an adult standing up for them and defending them against a deranged man," a voice rumbled by the doors. Both women turned to see Amelia standing there, hands on her hips and surveying the room. "Minerva McGonagall, you are to be commended for your actions if not your words in light of the attempted attack by Albus Dumbledore on the High Inquisitor." Her features softened, "Relax Minerva, no one thinks badly of you."
"So what happened after we left?"
Amelia informed them both about the conversation she'd had with Daggerclaw and the photo cube as well as some of the mutterings and insanity Albus discussed with himself when he thought he was alone. She finished by telling them about Daggerclaw's new temporary position as headmaster if or when Minerva was on her feet again to take over as Deputy.
"In the meantime, get some rest. The school needs you to be strong, Minerva."
Next Saturday, Quidditch Pitch Hufflepuff vs Ravenclaw
"And that's another ten points to Ravenclaw!" The game announcer, Lee Jordan yelled into the microphone as the Puffs regrouped to take the charge, "The score is now 40 – 10, Ravenclaw!"
Hermione watched in fascination as the players zipped and swerved through the air at breakneck speeds; the Chaser line passed a red ball between them, trying to confuse the opposite side as to their intentions. The bat-wielding Beaters knocked flying iron balls at the Chaser line in hopes of breaking up their formation and to knock the red ball, the Quaffle, into the hands of their own teammates. She glanced up to where two players, the Seekers, hovered; seemingly out of play but still scanning the skies and field around them looking for a tiny gold, incredibly fast ball known as the Golden Snitch.
"Exciting, isn't it?!" Susan yelled into her ear over the roaring noise of the crowd. Hermione waggled her hand in indifference.
"It's alright. I'm just waiting…" What she was waiting for made itself known when both Seekers made their high-speed mad dash for the ground. She watched closely and spotted them both trying to grab the Snitch out of the air as it deftly maneuvered around them. At the last moment, both Seekers hauled back on their broom handles and prevented themselves from plowing into the ground. The Hufflepuff Seeker held up his hand victoriously, the Snitch clearly trying to escape. The crowd went wild at the sudden win.
After nearly everyone had left the pitch…
"So, Miss Granger? What did you think about your first Quidditch game? Think it's exciting enough to get you to try out?" The team captain inquired as he tugged his gloves off.
Hermione just stared blankly for a moment, lost in thought. She then shook herself out of it and shrugged, "It was alright. Rather lop-sided in how it's played."
"What do you mean?"
Gesturing back towards the pitch, "You have all the other players working their butts off to rack up points and it's a complete waste of effort when the Snitch is caught. Why is that tiny little ball worth a hundred and fifty points? Why does the game end when it's caught? Why not just play based on a timer and reduce the points spread to something a little more believable?" She grimaced, "I hope I'm not coming across as rude but the game of Quidditch just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm sorry but I don't think I could play such a confusing game." She patted the dejected captain on the arm and hurried back off to the castle.
The next day…
Harry was wandering along the grounds outside the castle near Hagrid's hut when he heard his name being called. He looked around and spotted Hagrid himself waving him over. Smiling, Harry made his way down a flight of stone steps.
"Hi, Hagrid, what's up?"
"Jus' wan'ed to know how yer doin' afta what happen'd in the Great Hall las' week? Albus, er…the 'eadmaster used ter be a great man. Don' know wha' got inter 'im." Hagrid rumbled.
Harry shrugged, "I'm doing fine. It really didn't affect me because I wasn't the target of the headmaster's rage yet I knew that if he'd actually grabbed Daggerclaw, the headmaster wouldn't be around to stand trial. Everyone should know that you don't mess around with a warrior society, even if they don't look like they're dressed like it anymore. So what's going on in your house? Why is the fire raging so much?" Hagrid spun around and quickly closed the door.
"Um, I'd ah… Ah'd appreciate it if'n you didn' tell anyone 'bout that," he lowered his voice and looked around shiftily, "Ah've gotten meself a dragon egg and Ah'm gonna try ter hatch it."
Harry just stared at the huge man and blinked, "A dragon egg… a real dragon egg?"
Hagrid beamed at Harry, "Tha's right! I got them books outta the liberry which tell me what to 'pect. I reckon I got me hands on a Norwegian Ridgeback."
Harry just mutely shook his head, "Hagrid, you know that you live in a wooden house right? What if that thing breathes fire?"
Hagrid waved it away dismissively, "Ah've got plenty of time before that happens."
Harry nodded once then bid his giant friend goodbye then hightailed it towards the castle.
High Inquisitor's Office…
Harry urgently knocked on Daggerclaw's office door and rushed in when it unlocked itself, "Daggerclaw, the school has a dragon prob…lem… oh, hi Director Bones." He finished lamely.
Daggerclaw couldn't contain himself and chortled at Harry's embarrassment, "Please continue, Mr. Potter. What dragon and where is it and who is responsible?" He waved the boy to an empty chair.
Sighing uncomfortably, "I was just visiting Hagrid when I noticed…" he relayed the events that had just finished not twenty minutes ago. Amelia removed her monocle and rubbed the bridge of her nose and grumbled, "I ought to think about installing a field office here at the castle."
"That's actually not a bad idea, Amelia though I'd suggest putting it in Hogsmeade." Daggerclaw commented before turning back to Harry, "What do you suggest we do about it?"
"Get him some mental help? He lives in a wooden house for Pete's sake! Find someone to properly teach him that raising a dragon that could breathe fire around kids is a bad idea?"
Both adults nodded understandingly, "Well, for starters I think that Hagrid needs to have a long conversation with you Daggerclaw to remind him about inappropriate and/or dangerous items being brought onto school grounds," Amelia commented drily, "Next, I think I need to speak with him to determine the extent of the illegal animal trade here in Hogsmeade."
"You're not going to arrest him, are you?" Harry asked worriedly.
Amelia patted him on the shoulder, "Probably not."
Outside Hagrid's home, an hour later…
Hagrid watched with sad eyes as the Ministry's dragon handler wrapped up the egg he'd won in a card game down at the Hog's Head pub and apparated away. His attention returned to where the Beast Control Department Head Robert Miller and Director Bones were discussing his own role in the acquisition.
"Robert, you know that Hagrid meant well and frankly, his contribution to protecting a species however misguided did get us an in with the local black market. It's my opinion that he ought to be commended not punished. Azkaban is too much for something like this." Hagrid paled at the mention of that demon-infested prison.
Robert scrubbed his face with his hand and growled lowly, "Fine, he can get a damned certificate for all the good it does but I am very much opposed to giving him access to the Preserve in the Hebrides."
"What about one of the other ones? Like Romania for example." Robert cocked his head in thought and slowly bobbled his head in reluctant agreement.
"That could be acceptable… he'd be out of our jurisdiction and therefore any problems wouldn't land on my desk," He let out a loud sigh, "You contact them and if they agree then he can be sent there as soon as possible." They shook hands, Robert gave Hagrid a searching look and apparated out.
"Hagrid." He turned to look at Amelia, "I hope you know now that what you should've done was contact us immediately. That contact of yours was small fish in comparison to whomever it was that they were in contact with. This could've been a bigger problem if it wasn't caught sooner."
"Buh dragons are jus' misunderstood creatures," he rumbled.
"From your perspective and strength; try to picture how the world looks from our level." She could see his face pale and his hands start to tremble. "So here's what's going to happen. You will be awarded a certificate of achievement for assisting in the capture and safe return of an endangered dragon species as well you will be taking part in a working vacation at one of the dragon preserves overseas. How long that 'vacation' will last will be up to you and the preserve manager."
"Aye, ah un'erstan'."
Pulling out a charmed notepad and Dicta-Quill, Amelia got down to questioning him again for the record on how he managed getting the egg in the first place.
"I was playin' cards with this feller down at the Hog's Head. He kept buyin' me drinks and we got to talkin' abou' various critters ah'd come across b'fore. I tol' 'im that after Fluffy, a dragon would be no problem."
Amelia looked puzzled and made a notation on the recordings to ask later, "Go on."
"Well, ah'd not seen 'is face as 'e kept 'is hood up the whole time. 'e asked me questions on what ah knew 'bout raisin' them and such. Then he started with askin' about Fluffy. Ah told 'im that Fluffy was easy to deal wit'. Play 'im a bit of music and 'e goes straight ter sleep."
"Okay, now who or what is 'Fluffy?'" Hagrid just paled again.
"Um, ah shouldn' 'ave tol' you 'bout tha…"
Hogwarts Kitchens
Harry was busy rummaging through his cookbook collection trying to find something simple yet inspirational to make that wouldn't take all day. The weather was getting cooler and had the distinct feeling that snow was on its way and to him that meant warm, comforting food and a thick blanket to snuggle underneath with.
Tiny wandered over to see if he needed any help, "What is Little Sir planning?"
"Just trying to find something simple but warming."
"Hows about a hearty soup or stew?"
Harry paused and tilted his head in thought, "That has its possibilities… maybe a bread bowl in a mug filled with a meaty stew… hmmm." He grabbed the cookbook that held all of his cold-weather soups and stews and began thumbing through it.
As was becoming commonplace, Harry had an audience while he was cooking. It was an irregular mix of elves to students and staff who'd wandered in to see if they could cadge any sweets off the elves.
"So today is a bit different from the usual demonstrations. Simply put, this demonstration wasn't planned so I have no idea if it's even going to work so thank you to all of you who've just volunteered to be my test subjects." Giggles were heard from the crowd, "So everyone here knows the initial routine so I won't repeat that. First prepare your base ingredients, sauté the veggies. Heat a tablespoon of butter or olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and sauté for five minutes until it is soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional one to two minutes, stirring occasionally until fragrant."
The sharpish tang of onion and garlic permeated the air causing a few to scrunch their noses up.
"Next, add the base ingredients. Add in the vegetable stock, wild rice, mushrooms, carrots, celery, sweet potato, bay leaf and a quarter cup of pre-made Old Bay seasoning. If you don't have access to pre-made seasoning from a store, it's easy enough to make. Just blend celery salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes and paprika together until you get the taste you like. Stir to combine."
"Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally for about 30-40 minutes until the rice is tender. Once your time is up, add in the remaining ingredients of coconut milk and kale to the soup and stir gently until combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Cover and put it aside while you work on the bread bowl."
He grabbed a couple of loaves of round bread from the pantry, "You can use pre-made loaves from the bakery if you have access or you can make your own. I won't be getting into bread making since we have these handy already. Slice open the top inch or so and scoop out the inside leaving just enough to contain the soup without collapsing." Once that was done, he scooped some of the soup into the bowl and passed it out to his audience.
Harry leant up against the counter and related some notes of his from his previous attempts at scaling down the size of the bread bowl, "I had the thought of trying to serve the bread bowl in a large mug but that ended up being a failure. The amount of bread left after scooping out the insides was nothing more than a pitifully thin shell that turned to mush the moment I added the soup. So what does everyone think?"
A round of applause was given and shouts of congratulations were heard from the audience.
Monday morning, Great Hall
There was a weird feeling going through the castle inhabitants. It wasn't anything overt but more of a pervading sense of impending doom in all those who would wish harm to innocents. Bullies suddenly found other things to occupy their attentions on. Minerva slowed to a stop as she peered around the hallway on her way to breakfast. 'Weird, I sense trouble brewing but Peeves is nowhere to be found so that couldn't be it.' Severus paused in eating his breakfast and shivered suddenly, his eyes widening dramatically. 'Oh, no. I know that feeling. They're here…'
Harry plopped down on the bench at the Gryffindor table and smiled wickedly at the Weasley Twins who were returning it with puzzled expressions.
"Something you wish to share, Harrykins?" George inquired.
The doors opened up at that moment and two men appeared in the doorway. One was sandy-haired and had numerous scars on his face plus that weather-beaten look of someone who spent a long time at the beach. The other man was raven-haired with silvery eyes that danced with mirth and a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. Both were well dressed and staring straight at where Harry and the Twins were sitting.
Fred and George stared at the new visitors then turned towards Harry who still smirked wolfishly.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Recipes:
Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup in a sourdough bread bowl (Pinterest)
Scottish Gaelic translation according to Google:
"Chrath thu seann ahobar geal! A'toirt ionnsaigh air cuideigin air beulaibh na cloinne!" (You miserable white whiskered old goat! Attacking someone in front of the children!)
"Bha fios agam gu robh thu dulich nuaira dh 'fheuch thu ri cuir às dhomh nuair a dh' innis mi dhut nach gabadh earbsa a chur ann an Quirrell! (I knew you were trouble when you tried to obliviate me when I told you that Quirrell couldn't be trusted!)
