...

After the students were dismissed they met in an unused classroom. It was the most effective way for them all to meet with and talk to Graves. There were bound to be questions. Harrison specifically had several questions. It was surprising when Riddle joined them.

XIII had given him a questioning glance when Riddle walked in. The question was clear. Kick him out?

Harrison shook his head. No. He would take care of this. So his best friend stayed by the door in order to keep others from crashing the meeting.

The two teenagers stood in front of the classroom watching the Nightingale kids. Young and old students were excitedly considering what was going to happen. If there might be news on certain favorite professors.

Harrison tried to ask, "Why are you here, Riddle?"

Riddle answered, "I'm curious about your professors. Anything I should know about this man?"

He sighed, "He is a former member of the MACUSA's Military Mages. Any Rank 4 or higher Battle Mage can test into Military Mage. It's not mandatory but usually seen as a honor. We don't usually advertise it to the public. It tends to bring up uncomfortable questions. He spent time at Nightingale teaching Battle Magic as an elective. He made things interesting to say the least."

There were more times than Harrison could count where he ended up in the Infirmary because of the man's teaching style. You either sank or swam. There was no in-between and Graves only kept the best in his classes.

"Are you?"

Harrison shrugged, "I'm certified but I have no oathes sworn to any country. If a country wants to use my abilities theyd have to pay handsomely. Back to Graves though. Outside of his Military Mage status

It took about twenty minutes from when they arrived Graves entered. He looked around the room clocking who was there and who wasn't. His eyes fell upon Riddle and raised an eyebrow at Harrison. Harrison simply shrugged.

Slowly he made his way through the throng of students. Several times students would call out friendly greetings. The greetings were returned with kind ones. Graves was a gruff man in the classroom but outside of it with his students he was kinder.

After a minute he reached the front of the room. The two clasped forearms in greeting their hands touching the other's Nightingale tattoo. While Graves had not gone to Nightingale he was still given a tattoo based on his patronus. It was a sure fire way for Nightingale students and staff to immediately recognize each other. Unlike other options it could not be faked or glamoured. The magic that came off even an unactivated one was unique.

Harrison immediately recognized the magic and knew this was the real Graves and not an imposter. Good. One could never be too careful right now. With Dumbledore dead set against Harrison he would not put it past the old man to send an imposter. He gave XIII the barest of nods letting him know this wasn't an imposter.

With that he said stepping back and bowing slightly in respect to the professor, "It's good to have you back, Battle Master Graves."

Graves retorted darkly, "I'm not back permanently, Heir Potter. Durant asked for me to watch over this group until either Keller or himself could come. Somehow the most chaotic and trouble making members of your lot ended up at this school."

A young female voice piped up, "How is the Headmaster? Is he healing?"

"Will we be able to return to Nightingale soon?" Came another voice.

This started other questions to be shot at them without ryme or reason. It didn't take long for the volume to get so loud it simply sounded all the same. They couldn't tell who was asking what. Grave's shoulders tightened the only outward sign of his displeasure. Oh how Harrison wished he had the man's self control.

Harrison drew his wand and shot a bolt into the air silently. There was the briefest burn of smoke scent on the back of his throat. It exploded causing everyone to quiet down and look at him. Silence fell immediately.

Graves gave him an appreciative nod and said, "Okay. First off Durant is doing well. He will be allowed to leave the hospital by Samhain. I do not know when you will be able to return to your school. The repairs are on track that's all I can say. Any other questions?"

One of the Lupus members piped up, "Sir, what about Master Keller?"

Graves shook his head and said, "I'm sorry. Master Keller is still in a coma. Nothing has changed about his condition."

Several of their shoulders slumped in disappointment including Harrison's. It hurt that his Master was still in a coma. All they could do was hope that he healed soon.

There were a few other questions about different teachers. A few were still in the hospital while others had been released. Riddle watched with interest as he listened. He was learning more about them and their school than he had in a year.

When the questions died down Graves said, "So far you've been able to keep your heads down. With a few exceptions," that was said with a look to Harrison who grinned, "This is good. We don't want attention from the Ministry of Magic. Britain is not as kind towards certain kinds of magic. However I will set up a spot in the forest for you to work your magics. Keeping it bottled up is not safe."

A cheer rose up. They were excited to have a safe place to practice their magic. Riddle for his part glanced around the room with a furrowed brow. He didn't know what exactly they were cheering about.

Harrison leaned over and whispered, "A lot of our students have specialized magics. The masteries allow us to work on our specialization. Hogwarts is extremely far behind the times. It's barely recognized as an accredited school at this point."

Riddle asked, "Why are you here then?"

Harrison shrugged, "The other schools didn't want to take us on. Nightingale is too unknown for their tastes. Dumbledore wanted to control us."

Riddle hummed. They listened as Graves went over the basics of when and where they would meet. When it was over Riddle left them to have necessary conversation with Graves.

...

Three days before Samhain was the first Hogsmeade day of the year. He was sitting at the Slytherin Table per usual. For Harrison it was just another day but other students were excited. They were talking about which of the shops they would visit.

Currently he had a streaming bowl of porridge sweetened with honey. He had only taken a few bites out of it. It was just sweet enough that it wasn't bland but not overly so. Nightingale kept their sugar intake to a minimum and most of the kids kept to that regimen.

Harrison for his part was ignoring the students around him. His plans for the day were to be working on his pet project. The project was Black Magic and technically illegal in Britain. If he had to guess it would give him a one way ticket to Azkaban. Only if it was cast however. For now he was ready to actually cast it so he would only need to be careful about who saw the notes. In his hands was a book on Spacial Magic.

Occasionally he felt hate fueled eyes on his back. Given that his "parents" went home it would have to be his siblings. If Harrison had to guess it was his brother. He had wanted to take the Heirship from him. Too bad the kid hadn't waited a few more years. Then he might have actually been able to challenge him.

Above their heads there were fluttering wings of owls. Mail time his mind supplied. Given that he rarely got mail Harrison didn't look up. Until there was a screech and an unfamiliar grey owl landed in Harrison's food.

Harrison snarled as he looked up from his book, "Really?! You had to land in my food?"

The owl simply looked up at him with its dark brown eyes. It held out his leg towards him where there was a letter tied to it. Intelligence laid behind the eyes and he sighed.

Sighing he put the book down after marking his place. With sure fingers he undid the binds holding the letter to the owls leg. Inside his chest his heart skipped a beat when he recognized the Military Mage Council of France seal.

Next to him XIII leaned over and asked, "Is that?"

"Yep."

XIII whistled, "What do you think they want?"

"Only one way to find out," he replied as he ripped open the letter.

To Battle Mage Potter:

We have been searching for someone to aid in creating a new spell for Mastery Level CADs and those who are authorized to use Military Magic. The spell needs to be a large area scale spell with output being adjustable.

Spacial Magic is preferred but other Magics will be considered. Keep it on the Grey to Dark Grey Magic.

If you accept our request we are open to offering you and any who help you, up to four others (5 total) 5,000 galleons. If you should choose to accept our request send a reply back with our owl.

Regards

Ministry of Magic France

Rank 7 Military Mage

Jacque Moreau

Oh that wasn't what he was expecting. He was half expecting for the law to be passed and the letter being orders. This was much better. The law must not have passed given the offer. It was good money too. Harrison had a decent amount of savings in his personal vault but this would greatly increase it.

Harrison leaned back in his seat and called down the table, "Hey Eon," the boy in question leaned back to look at him frowning at the grin, "You free for a creation project?"

Brown eyes widened with surprise as he realized what was asked. Eon asked, "What kind?"

"V.L.A."

That drew the attention of those who understood the acronym. Eon immediately pushed himself up from the table and made his way over to him. A few of the Slytherins muttered but shoved down so Eon could sit next to him.

Harrison handed over the letter and began explaining it to XIII in French. The more he explained the bigger the grin on his friend's became.

"Can I help?"

Immediately Harrison nodded. XIII had helped him with creating spells several times before. That makes two. Who else?

Harrison considered the students that were at Hogwarts. His first choice would always be his Black Hawks Battle Group. They had a strong set of skills that would work for this job. He could only use four out of the seven. Two of which had already claimed their spots.

Riddle's voice came from behind him curious, "What's going on here? Isn't it a little early for your brand of chaos, Harrison?"

The amused low tenor of Jacob declared, "Potter I'll take your third person!"

Harrison gave him a thumbs up. That made three. Now who to choose for his final. Mikage, Zach, or Kavar. Each one of them their ups and downs. He could

An elbow planted itself in his side. Eon tipped his chin behind them and Harrison remembered Tom. Tipping his head back he looked to see that Tom was frowning at them. There was curiosity in his eyes.

Harrison answered a moment later, "Morning, Riddle. I got a letter that was a request for work and am trying to build a team."

Eon reluctantly shuffled down some so that Riddle could sit. Riddle did so as Kavar and Zach were arguing over who would be the final one to join the group. With a fond smile Harrison watched the two his chin laying on his open palm. XIII held up five fingers and glanced pointedly at the too. Harrison considered for a moment before flashing ten. The grin on his partner's face grew feral as he nodded. It was a bet.

...

Albus stared daggers at the Slytherin Table. Specifically he was glaring at the Potter brat who had decided to destroy all of his plans. That boy should have died in the attack that Gellert made. Instead he came to Hogwarts.

Now the brat was over there laughing with the other Nightingale brats. They seemed to be excited over something. Two in particular were arguing about who got to participate. It looked as if they might come to dueling. Briefly Albus considered the fact that he might be able to manipulate the brat who lost. There had to be something he could use as leverage.

Then the Potter brat seemed to say something and the two stopped. They looked at each other then at the brat then back at each other. After a moment they shrugged and walked away. There went the plan of manipulating one of the brats.

Still Albus had to find a way to bring Potter to heel. Disowning him wouldn't work since the duel. The stipulations kept him from being disowned unless James wanted to be punished by Magic.