As promise, my proof reader has worked hard and managed to get another chapter out for you good people.
Thanks again for all the reviews, and once again I hope you will enjoy my little fic..
As ever I do not own of have any right to harry potter, because if I had, I wouldn't have to work in the morning…
Enjoy….. Nickp41 out
Chapter 14
Lordships, dates and woes
As Harry and Tracey entered the kitchen, they were met by a very smart looking Dobby, who was dressed just like a waiter.
"Good evening Master Harry and his pretty lady, please come this way" said the happy Elf.
Harry smiled.
"Thank you Dobby, you're looking very smart this evening" he said, and watched the Elf beam with pride before introducing the lady on his arm. "and this Tracey Davis, my date for this evening".
"Nice to meet you Dobby" said Tracey while giving him a small curtsey.
Tears started to fall down the cheek of the elf.
"Oh, Master Harry and Mistress Tracey, you're too kind. But please take your seats and I will serve your starter momentarily".
As they took their seats they were swarmed by the other house Elves, offering drinks and laying napkins on laps, and finally Dobby brought their food. They chatted and giggled and as they waited for the next course they held hands. Tracey was having the time of her life, she even started to play footsie with her date!
"So, Harry, tell me about yourself, and not the chosen one, or the boy who lived, the real you" she asked gripping his hand hard and looking directly into his eyes.
This made him feel awkward. How much should he say? He has his secrets and they are his Burdon and his alone.
"Well I'm quite boring really. I love Quidditch as you should know" he said giving a wink. "I like to read, and spend time with my friends; new and old".
Tracey could feel the gaps in his story so she decided to push Harry, just a little bit though.
"What are your family like Harry? Tell me about them? And as one of your girlfriends, when
will I meet them?" she probed with a smile
Harry's face blanched.
"My relatives hate magic, and to be honest they aren't too keen on me either" he said with a strange smile on his face. "But if you're lucky you will never have to meet them Tracey".
This made her scowl a bit. She thought it was weird how he said relatives and not family, what's going on here? she thought but decided to leave that for another day, or until she can talk to the girls about it.
"Are they your only family Harry?" she asked softly deciding that's as far as she was willing to push tonight.
"Yeah that's all. I've got a Godfather but that's about it, but please tell me about your family" he asked eagerly.
Taking a sip of wine, she took a deep breath.
"I'm an only child, so I get what I want" she said with a wink. "I live with my Mum, Amanda and Dad, Matthew. We live in a lovely home near Daphne, but not as big as their bloody place! But there's no one else. We're a tight knit family and love to do things with each other when I'm home".
"Sounds nice. What do they do? If you don't mind me asking?".
"Well Dad is a lawyer and Mum helps out with his practice and works in other shops just to meet people. Otherwise she says she'd just be another bored housewife" she explained chuckling away.
Harry smiled.
"They sound nice Trace. I can't wait to meet them" he said happily.
Tracey clapped her hands excitedly.
"well roll on Christmas Harry. Susan said she is just waiting on a reply from her Aunt. Once that arrives we all can write home and ask if you can come and visit us lovely ladies" she said with a giggle.
"Can't wait" he beamed.
After their desert Harry pulled Dobby aside and asked about the rest of the evening's entertainment, and with a smile he turned towards his date.
"Are you ready for the next part of our evening" Harry asked with a crooked grin on his face.
Tracey jumped up all excitedly.
"Oh yes yes, what is it?" she asked.
"Now now young lady, it's a surprise. Come with me" he said and he held out his arm which she took. "And thank you for a wonderful meal" He said, bowing to the now very happy house Elves.
They headed up to the 7th floor and stood outside a door which Tracey recognised.
"Is this the Room of Requirement Harry?" she asked.
"Yep. Now close your eyes and take my hand, trust me" he whispered, and as she did as he had asked he instructed "now walk this way".
She was nervous as Harry led her into a dark room filled with music.
"Ok beautiful, open your eyes" he whispered in her ear making her shiver with excitement.
As she opened her eyes she gasped at the sight. The room was dark but with a ceiling which looked like the night sky with hundreds of sparkling stars.
"Oh Harry, this is beautiful".
"Just like you Tracey".
She leapt into his arms giving him a long deep kiss. It seemed to last forever and they both felt their magic mingle and accept each other as one.
"oh Harry, this is the best night of my life"
.
"I'm glad you like it love" he said running his hand down to her hip.
She shook her head.
"Like it?! That doesn't even come close Harry. I love it" she replied before giving him a long sensual kiss.
As they parted, panting Harry whispered,
"Tracey Davis, will you take this dance with me?" and as she nodded the volume of the music increased and they started to dance the night away, only stopping to kiss and whisper sweet nothings to each other, until Dobby popped into the room.
"Sorry to disturb you Master Harry, but it's past curfew" Dobby said and bowed.
Tracey clung to Harry even harder.
"I don't want this night to end Harry" she wept.
"I know Trace, I don't either. But we have to go. I'll tell you what, if the weather is good let's have lunch together tomorrow" he said as she clamped her lips onto his.
As they embraced Dobby took hold of the two teenagers and with a pop they appeared in the Slytherin girl's dormitory and they instantly heard the wolf whistles from the other girls! Tracey slowly broke apart, with a red face, and beamed at all her friends.
Harry just stared around the place, seeing all the girls in their nightwear apart from Milly who just had a towel wrapped around her, and she looked right into his eyes and winked and gave a knowing smile.
"Penny for your thoughts Potter" chuckled Millicent.
"More like five years in Azkaban for my thoughts! Anyway, I'd better go. Tracey, it has been enchanting" he said, and with that he bowed and with a pop he disappeared with his friend the house Elf.
"How was it Trace?" Daphne asked.
Tracey just smiled.
"Perfection, in every way" She replied, and with a smile on her face she headed off to change.
All the girls looked at each other and all knew what the others were thinking. 'when's my turn'.
Luckily for harry most of the Gryffindor's were in bed fast asleep, or at least pretending to be. Only Neville seemed to be awake.
"How did it go mate?"
"Perfect mate, bloody perfect, put another one on that connection list mate" he sighed but turned toward Ron when he heard a noise come from his bed, but then just shrugged and turned back to his new best friend.
"You're a lucky man Harry Potter. Obviously not as lucky as me because I've got Hannah, but you're still lucky in your own way" Neville chuckled and settled down for the night
…
As Harry led down in his bed all he could think about was how lucky he was to have those lovely women wanting to be with him. Life is good...for once, he thought as he let sleep claim him.
Harry woke up the next day and met up with Daphne for their morning run/snogging session! Daphne was over the moon about how happy Tracey was, and how he's really got to pull something really special out the bag for her date. They ran all the way back to the castle to get ready for breakfast but when Harry got back from his shower there was a note on his bed.
MEET ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN, IN THE UNUSED CLASSROOM ON THE 6TH FLOOR, LOVE GIN XX
Harry smiled, got dressed and headed up the stairs to see Gin. The door was ajar so he edged his way in but instantly realised his mistake, he reached for his wand but froze when he felt a wand pressed to the back off his head.
"Don't move Potter, unless you want your brains fried" hissed the voice of Draco "now move" and he pushed Harry into the room.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry snapped angrily.
Draco laughed.
"Not just me Potter. Look around" and he grabbed Harry's wand and threw it into the corner of the room. "You've made a lot of people angry with your antics".
Harry was now worried as he saw the group in front of him. Dean, Ron and Seamus looking like they could kill. Crabbe and Goyle. Alongside them was Ernie MacMillan, Zacharias Smith, Theodore Nott, Terry Boot and Michael Corner.
"What do you lot want?" Harry shouted with a sneer, even though fear was spreading through his body, and he was regretting leaving his spare wand in his trunk.
"Payback Potter, for you taking all the good girls from us" said an angry Zacharias.
"Oh, fuck off you lot. Like I care what you all think. I didn't take them from anyone, I made friends with them and that was it. Things moved on quickly and it was their choice. They are smart beautiful, independent women and you've had six years to date them. But no, you wait until they are happily with someone else, and then you want them?! Well tough shit, they have shown more love for me than anyone else has in my crappy so called life and if you think I'm giving any of those girls up, you've got another think coming" Harry raged before being knocked to the floor.
"Look at you all. So, fucking brave. Ganging up together to scare me off. Good fucking luck! I'd rather die than live without them in my life" and Harry spat at their feet, hitting Ron's shoes.
"You're gonna pay for that Potter" said Ron as he walked up to the now kneeling Harry. "Stay away from my Sister and Hermione. Do you hear me?
"
"Listen mate, if she wants to be with me nothing you say will stop it. Have YOU got that? And Ron if you knew anything about Hermione and I you would realise that we love each other like Brother and Sister, so get your jealous head out of your arse and think for once." Harry replied with menace, even though he hid his true feelings for his bushy haired friend.
"Well i did warn you" Ron said, and punched Harry to the floor again as all the others moved in and joined in with the punishment. Luckily for Harry he only felt a few of the blows, but he saw the anger in his class mates face as they broke his body. Once the kicks started to land on his head and body, that's when his light went out.
Half hour later as breakfast was ending all of Harry's friends were starting to worry. Daphne told them he was fine this morning when they met up for their run. Neville checked with the boys from his dorm, who said they hadn't seen him this morning. Neville didn't notice them trying to hide their skinned knuckles.
"Maybe he's eating in the kitchen or something? Let's not worry about it. Let's get to class" said Hermione even though she was worried to death.
By lunchtime there was still no sign of Harry. Tracey was in tears as well as Millicent. Hermione walked up to Professor McGonagall and mentioned that Harry was missing, but all the Professor did was call all the prefects and ask if they had seen him, which they hadn't or were not willing to admit where he was.
Ginny started to cry.
"I'm worried. I think something bad has happened" she whispered to her new friends. "I have an idea how we can find him…. Dobby".
With a pop, he appeared at her side.
"Yes, Mistress Weasley, how can Dobby help Master Harry's friend?" he said bowing.
"Dobby, Harry is missing. Can you go up to his trunk and bring down Harrys map, it will look like an old piece of parchment, It will be tucked away in his history of magic book" she asked and with a nod.
"Why would it be in that book gin" Daphne asked.
Ginny laughed.
"He always said no one would ever open it, because he never has" She said as the rest of the girls laughed.
Pop!
"Here you go Mistress Weasley" Dobby said and with another pop he disappeared.
Ginny opened the map and said the magic words and all the girls gasped.
"Oh my god it's a map of the whole school! This is amazing, where did he get it from"
Pansy asked, searching the map for Harry.
"His father and Godfathers made it when they were young. Now where is he?" Ginny wondered, searching like the others.
Susan suddenly lept forward.
"There he is! In that classroom on the 6th floor, come on" she said and ran out of the hall closely followed by the rest of the girls whilst being guiltily watched by more than a few boys.
As they arrived it took four attempts to unlock the door but when it did creak open it was pitch dark.
"Harry...Harry are you there?" called Tracey.
They couldn't see anything, it was darker than dark.
"Lumos" said Susan, and then screamed "Harry!"
If it was Harry, what was lying there didn't look like Harry, there was blood everywhere, teeth broken, fingers were pointing in unnatural angels.
The girls and Neville broke down thinking he was dead. Daphne stood up and put her ice queen persona on.
"Neville and Hannah, run and get the Pomfrey now. Sue send an owl to your Aunt tell her what has happened. Tracey go and get Professor McGonagall…. NOW!" she shouted despite the tears flowing down her cheeks as she stood over the boy she loved. "No one touch him, move away and wait for the nurse. Sue why haven't you left?".
Staring down at the boy she loved Sue mumbled,
"Don't have to, my locket has an emergency button on it, and it alerts Auntie that I need help".
Suddenly Professor McGonagall turned up, with Tracey in tow.
"I believe you have found Mister Potter and he's been…. oh god" the Professor gasped "what happened to him?".
"We don't know Professor, we only just found him like this" whispered Ginny while holding a still crying Millicent.
The Professor knelt and checked Harry's pulse.
"He's alive, have you sent for Poppy?" she asked and saw the wide-eyed girls nodding "oh Harry what have they done to you" she whispered to the son of her favourite pupils.
"Ok ok ok I'm here. What's the problem? Minerva, I can't get anything out of these two apart from that Potter has hurt himself again" the Nurse said bustling into the dark room.
"He didn't do it this time Poppy" she answered.
The nurse faltered and fell to her knees next to the boy who she thought of as a son.
"What has happened to you now my dear boy" she said as she cast a monitoring spell "well he's alive but only just, Mitzy, Kitzy" she shouted and two-house Elves appeared.
"Yes, mistress Poppy" they said with a bow.
"Gently take Mr Potter to the infirmary, put him in his usual bed" she said as she got up and headed off to meet them there, as the Elves and Harry disappeared.
The girls headed towards the doorway until they were stopped by the Professor.
"Now girls and Mr Longbottom, Madame Pomfrey has to work. So you'd better go to your classes and I'll keep you appraised of Mr Potter's condition".
Daphne stepped forward as spokeswoman,
"I'm sorry but I don't believe we'll be leaving our boyfriends side. We will not interfere or get in the way at all, but we won't leave him alone...ever" she snapped and looked coldly into the teacher's eyes.
"Now Ms Greengrass".
"No Professor. This will happen because isn't it safer for us to be there than hunting our classes for the scum who did this to our boyfriend?" Daphne asked while trying to hold herself together.
Minerva sighed in defeat, she knew the girl was right.
"Ok you may go up and sit in the waiting room, while I go and fetch Madam Bones, who I understand you have called".
The girls and Neville nodded and ran all the way to the hospital wing, and all they could see was the shadow of the Nurse working over harry.
Madame Pomfrey looked down at the broken boy. She had a soft spot for the orphan. He had such a hard life and it just seem to keep on getting worse for the poor boy. She had hoped seeing him with a new group of friends that he might turn his luck around, but she'd guessed wrong.
He was stable at the moment so she took photos of the poor boy for the Auror's. She knew Albus would want to keep it in house, but someone had gone way too far this time, besides Albus was staying at St Mungo's for some treatment for his hand.
She cleaned all the blood from the boy and straighten him on the bed to make him comfy. His breathing was shallow and ragged, maybe a punctured lung, she could hear his friends talking in the waiting room, but she had to concentrate. She took a big breath and started to work. She began with a Diagnosis Charm and waited for the results. She tutted as they appeared on her note pad.
Internal bleeding, punctured lung, bruising to liver and kidneys, testicular damaged, 4 broken ribs , fractures to both forearms and legs, skull fracture, broken jaw, swelling on the brain, 5 broken teeth, optical nerve damaged (right eye), 7 broken fingers and fractures to right wrist,. The Matron wiped a tear from her eye and vanished his clothes so she could start her treatment, and that's when she saw the secret that Harry had hidden so well all these years. She looked down and saw what looked like whip and belt scars all over his body, and what looked like knife cuts on his legs.
With tears now flowing freely down her face she raised her wand and gently turned the boy over, only to see even more and worse damage to the little boy's body. Whip marks all down his body, and on his back what looked like a clothes iron branded onto his flesh.
"Oh Harry, why didn't you say something? You silly silly poor boy" she whispered and took photos for evidence once again before turning him back over to do the same, and then started his treatment.
As this was happening Amelia Bones was being shown the classroom where Harry had been found.
"Oh my god Minerva, is all that blood his? and is that a tooth over there?" Amelia inquired.
"Yes Amy, he was very badly beaten. He had been missing all morning, but we thought he was just skiving like boys do" the Teacher explained.
Amelia shook her head.
"You'd better show me the boy, and lock this door. This is a crime scene now" she said as they walked out. She then cast a Patronus "Shacklebolt, Tonks, please come to Hogwarts now. Floo into the Infirmary, I'll meet you there".
As they entered the Infirmary they were stopped by all Harry's friends demanding answers,
"Now please I've only just arrived. Please give us a chance and I promise we'll find out who
did this" Amelia said as she hugged her niece.
"Auntie he's hurt so badly, there was blood everywhere" sobbed Susan.
"Now stay strong, and let me do my job" and Amelia kissed Susan on her forehead and left her to join a waiting Minerva and Poppy.
"Ok poppy, just wait till my Aurors are here. Then you can tell us what wrong with Mr Potter, ah here they are" she said as she saw Shacklebolt and Tonks walk out of the fire, and she heard a noise as Tonks knocked over a dish of water.
"Sorry Poppy, I'm such a clumsy bitch at times" Tonks chuckled "Ok boss, what's the job?".
"Harry Potter was attacked by unknown assailants, please fill us in Poppy" Amelia asked.
As the nurse filled them in on the wounds from the attack they all paled, and were surprised how a boy of his age could take so much punishment.
"and I found this in his pocket" and she showed them the note from Ginny.
"So he was lured there, and attacked by more than a few people" said Tonks flushing with anger.
"Why do you think that many Auror Tonks?" asked Madam Bones.
Tonks longed to see her friend, even as broken as he was.
"I know harry, he's a fighter. It would take more than a few to take that bugger down" she said tearing up. "Can I see him now...please?".
Madame Pomfrey shook her head.
"I'm sorry there's more. He's been physically abused from a young age. I'm guessing from his relatives" she said to the stunned room and she handed round the next set of photos. "As you can see, he's been whipped, beaten, cut, and even burned from a young age".
"Those FUCKERS, I knew they were no good. Wait till I get my fucking hands on them" shouted Tonks.
"AUROR TONKS" Amelia shouted, "You will calm down or be replaced, do you understand me?".
"Yes Sir, sorry".
"Good now Shacklebolt, take these pictures, and quietly get some help and drag those animal in for questioning. Tonks start processing the crime scene, we'll show you the way. Minerva, we need to talk to all the students now in the dining hall" Amelia ordered "and Poppy can you let his friends in just for a minute, otherwise they'll start to rip the place apart, but don't tell them about the abuse" She instructed and headed out to the dining hall.
After dropping off the young Auror to start her work, Minerva pulled an alarm requiring all faculty and students into the dining hall immediately. As they entered Amelia and Minerva took position by the headmaster's chair so they could watch as the confused students piled in.
The students filed in muttering and confused, but upon seeing the Head of the Aurors and Deputy Headmistress they started to look worried, particularly the ones who carried guilt in with them.
"C'mon now settle down" Minerva said to the students and at the same moment waved away concerned teachers. "NOW QUIETEN DOWN AND SIT!".
Amelia leaned over.
"Is this all of them Minerva?" she asked calmly letting her eyes roam, looking for the facial tics of the guilty.
The Scottish woman cast a charm over the hall, and watched as the information appeared on a piece of parchment.
"Yes looks like it, just Dumbledore, Harry and his friends are the only ones missing, so let get to it Amelia" then cast a Sonorus Charm on her throat "NOW LISTEN UP, THIS IS AMELIA BONES HEAD OF THE AUROR DEPARTMENT, SO PLEASE LISTEN CAREFULLY".
The Head Auror stood forward and for one moment gazed upon the students, making them feel uneasy. She then cast her own Sonorus Charm.
"TODAY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:30 AM TO 12:30 PM, HARRY POTTER WAS BRUTALLY ATTACKED" she announced, and waited for all the gasps and chattering to calm down before continuing. "AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME HE IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION AT ALL, PLEASE SEE EITHER MYSELF OR A TEACHER. THAT'S ALL FOR NOW" and Amelia nodded to the Deputy Headmistress and walked out whilst scanning the students.
"Now listen up. Classes are cancelled and you are all to go back to your common room until dinner time. Anyone walking around the school will be severely punished, and to those cowardly people who attacked Mr Potter, you have a chance to come forward and admit it before the Aurors get to you. Now go away…. NOW!" Minerva barked and left to speak to the staff.
As Amelia entered the Infirmary she saw all of Harry's friends gathered around the unconscious boy.
"How's he doing Poppy" she inquired, as she looked the poor boy up and down. "Don't mind me asking, but is that a bronze nameplate on his bed?".
The Nurse sighed.
"I've done what I can at the moment, but he's weak, all that time locked in a classroom didn't help, but he should pull through" she said in her caring tone "and yes I thought as he has spent so much time in that bed over his six years here, I thought I'd better make it his official bed" she said with a chuckle.
Madam Bones leaned across and whispered into the nurse's ear.
"How did he manage to hide his scars from you Poppy?"
"I've been thinking about it and most of his injuries I could fix without removing his shirt. That is one thing I'm going to change around here. Everyone will get a full physical as soon as they start school, plus they'll get one if the get injured. I'm not going to let this happen again" she said sternly.
Susan looked towards her Aunt.
"Has anyone come forward yet Aunty?" she asked, while holding Harry's hand, and she saw her Aunt shake her head. "Bastards" she cursed, with nodded agreements from the rest.
"You can have another 10 minutes, then he'll need his rest" said the Nurse.
Millicent turned her watery eyes towards the Nurse.
"When can we visit again?".
"He's in a Coma at the moment, so there's no point in staying here. Come back at lunchtime tomorrow, but if things change prior to that I'll let you know" Madam Pomfrey said kindly.
Suddenly a Patronus came flying in and started to speak in Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep voice.
"The Dursleys are in custody, and evidence has now been collected" and disappeared.
That made all his friends turn with anger in their eyes.
"Auntie, why have you arrested the Dursleys? What have they got to do with this?" questioned Susan.
"Now listen to me. They have nothing to do with this. Theirs is a separate matter that I'm not willing to divulge at this moment in time. So, you'd best get going and I'll see you all tomorrow lunchtime" Amelia said sternly.
Susan stood up with her hands on her hips.
"This isn't over Auntie" then leaned over and kissed Harry's forehead. "Get better soon my love" and walked out past the adults giving them the stink eyes, and that was repeated but all the girls, apart from Hannah who just kissed him and Neville just looked stunned at his broken friend.
"Madame Bones, please find who did this to my friend" Neville said with tears in his eyes.
Amelia nodded.
"We will Neville, I promise" and with an acknowledging nod Neville left with his friends.
"Right Poppy, I'm off to deal with that so-called family of Harry's. Please notify me of any change, if not I'll be back tomorrow" Amelia gave her old friend a hug and disappeared into the floo in a burst of green fire.
Madam Pomfrey walked over to her patient and checked his progress, all but the brain swelling was being mended with her potions, but that will take time.
see ya next week peeps...