Author's Note: Hello I'm back! Sorta, been a busy month so sadly there's only like two chapters in this bundle. Add to that, the fact that my "muse" (I hate this term) has metaphorically decided to run off and copulate with satyrs it's slow going for this story right now. Hopefully said creative juices will reroute to Harry Potter soon. Otherwise, thank you to my Betas for this month Bearmauls and Philosophize. What else? Uhhhhhh. Nothing I can think of right this minute.
Chapter 15: Crazy Train.
For the second time in as many days Harry woke up to a Hermione hug, and it was just as good as the first time by his reckoning. Again he lay there until Hermione herself gradually awakened. When her eyes fluttered open and she looked up into his face she pinked before sitting up looking flustered. "Uh, so—I guess we fell asleep again huh?" She ventured a touch embarrassed.
Harry chuckled as he sat up a bit and rubbed the back of his head which had gone a bit numb. He could understand why she was so flustered considering. Once was an accident, twice and it started to look like it was on purpose. "I guess we did, I was just enjoying talking too much I suppose, then I was too tired to head back to my room." He admitted, a thought struck him. "Why is it that we've never just sat up and talked like this in the past?" He wondered aloud. Normally he might just attribute it to Ron's presence, but even during the times when Ron had abandoned them they'd never chatted as comfortably as they were now.
Hermione shrugged but looked uncomfortable. "Honestly, I don't know Harry—I guess I just thought you never wanted to, and didn't push for it. I know I can be a tad boring sometimes—I don't mean to ramble but…" She babbled nervously.
Harry hurried to reassure her. "I like the way you talk, besides, why wouldn't I want to know what you're thinking?" He noted this seemed to please her and continued. "You're my best friend, and incredibly smart to boot." He noted smiling as he pushed to his feet.
Hermione blushed at the compliment as she always seemed to when someone praised her. She really doesn't think highly of herself does she? He mused. He'd just have to see about fixing that.
When they made it downstairs, for the first time since Harry's arrival he wasn't the first one up. Mrs. Granger was busying herself feeding the others when they wandered in and plunked themselves down at the table. Just in time for the papers to arrive, Huginn, the faster bird, swooping through the window just ahead of Hedwig. Harry snagged the paper and looked it over quickly before handing it off to Hermione. More bad news and he glanced to Kara who after reading the front page of her own copy nodded soberly.
The Wizarding Hamlet of Two Oaks had been raided by Death Eaters, but something else, something more familiar had happened as well. Sturgis Podmoore had been arrested again at the Department of Mysteries. A detail which had slipped through the cracks, he simply couldn't remember to account for everything.
Tonks could see he was obviously uneasy after his brief peek at the headlines. "Don't worry Harry, it's not as bad as it seems." She assured him and he looked at her skeptically. She offered a crooked smile to him. "Ya' didn't read the whole article did you, just the headlines?" She asked confirming, holding up the copy she'd borrowed off Kara. He nodded agreement. "There was a raid on Two Oaks yes, and yes some people were hurt, and killed. But we caught all except one of the Death Eaters who did it. Looks like You-Know-Who is testing out the newbies from Azkaban, and most of them couldn't find their arse with both hands. Only reason they managed to kill anyone was because they had a handler who scarpered without them when we showed up." She said derisively. Internally Harry was relieved, it could have been much much worse.
"And Sturgis?" he asked, looking at her pointedly.
"Ah, heard about him did ya'? She asked, assuming he must have considering he'd likely never met the man in person. Harry just nodded brusque agreement.
"He was guarding somethin' for the Order and someone snuck up on him, it was the U— the people who work in that department who found him, luckily they're a fairly sharp lot in there and someone realized he'd been imperiused before calling in the Aurors. He's been released, they're trying to find the person who tagged him." She said nodding thoughtfully. "Got an owl last night from Dumbledore about it." She snorted disdainfully. "Wanted me to take over Podmoore's duties while he recovers. Think he was trying to keep me from running amok with you lot. But I told him no can do, I've been assigned to protect Harry Potter by the minister herself." She said in satisfaction.
Harry chuckled, "And how did he take that?"
She snorted "How else could he take it? It's not like he could tell me to ignore the ministers orders, not when he didn't have a good reason to try and convince me with."
Harry considered that while he poked at the food which got placed in front of him, he should have suspected something was up when Emma winked at him. But he was caught just as much by surprise when the plate delivered to Hermione was accompanied by a comment. "So you two slept together again eh?" She said eye twinkling deviously.
Harry heard Tonks just about choke on a forkful of her breakfast and Kara snicker. "Mum!" Groaned Hermione, "You didn't need to say it like that." She protested. "You make it sound like—like…" She seemed at a loss for words.
Her father snickered, "We know, that's half the fun." Then chided her a bit. "Don't you think, that if we thought you were doing anything untoward we would have intervened?"
Emma nodded her eyes still flashing mirthfully. "We checked in on you and turned off the light around midnight. You obviously weren't up to anything inappropriate like that, so we just left you."
Hermione sighed in the put upon manner that only teenagers can manage convincingly. "Mother…Thank you for not making a big deal out of it, but did you really have to torture me like that?" She asked.
"Of course I did, now try and eat that up quickly so we can get on the road, traffic to King's Cross will be abominable this time of day." Harry and Hermione just stared at the woman in disbelief for a minute before remembering their food and tucking in as instructed. It was a good half an hour before the blushes receded.
—-
They were met at the station by the Order's advanced guard, but only Sirius and Tonks ventured onto the platform with them. Harry had to help Kara get her heavy trunk aboard the carriage he usually favoured. Then started giving her the first timers warnings. "Kay first of all keep your luggage with you, the others sometimes like to mess with your stuff if it's not secured. Also, I know you've seen him before but that guy at the other end of the platform, got a permanent sneer on his face and wears green robes, slicked back blonde hair? That's Draco Malfoy, if he remembers you and I are acquainted he'll likely give you a hard time. Just take it, you are not a match for him in the magic department yet, despite the lessons." He cautioned. "If he ignores you be grateful and just roll with it." He advised. "It won't last if you stay friends with me. Final thing you need to know? Me and Hermione are going to be in the Prefects cabin at first, but we'll come and find you after okay?" He recited.
"I'm good Harry, just you go do your thing, I'll be here." She said smiling, this was not the first time he'd recited the plans.
Harry got back onto the platform and approached Sirius next, giving his Godfather a hug. "Hey Sirius, be sure to call you hear?" He asked.
"Sure pup, and you keep your head down and stay out of trouble." He instructed.
"Yeah you too, just because you've been exonerated doesn't mean you don't have enemies." Harry advised.
Sirius nodded thoughtfully, then reached for something in his coat which he handed to his godson. "Thought you and Hermione might get some use from this." He noted, while Harry examined the small leather-bound volume. Supposition and Hallucinations on the Nature of Souls. By Anonymous.
Harry nodded in thanks, Sirius understood just how high the stakes were getting. "Thanks, nice to have someone watch my back. Make sure you get Remus to watch yours." He instructed.
His god father nodded gaining a crooked smile. "I will, but first I'm gonna have a little bit of fun, like this. I see the Malfoy whelp over there eyeing you." He nodded towards the boy in question and sent him a two finger salute smiling happily. "And now because Cousin Cissy saw that, I have to run. See you kid." He pelted towards the barrier which he disappeared through. Harry carefully backed into the crowd out of Narcissa's way as she bolted past. That was not a fight he was in the mood for.
He made his way over to the place where Hermione and Tonks were waiting and chatting in hushed tones. Hermione jerked her head in the direction Sirius had disappeared in. "Hey Harry, what was that about?" She asked curious.
He just shrugged. "Sirius decided he'd ring out by flipping Malfoy the bird, Narcissa saw."
Hermione rolled her eyes while Tonks barked a laugh. She shook her head disapprovingly. "Well it's on his head. He's an adult, he can live how I wants I suppose, apparently he wishes to live dangerously." She muttered.
Harry thought of his previous run through. "True enough, I did caution him to keep his head down." He pointed out.
"Such a shame when the teenage boy, with raging hormones, is so much more…mature than the godparent." She said smiling thinly.
"So what are you two up to?" He asked changing the subject.
"I've got to patrol the train for the first hour or so." Tonks ventured. "I'll meet up with you guys when I can." She promised.
"And you and I have to head to the Prefects Carriage to receive our instructions." Hermione said firmly.
Harry blinked at that only vaguely recalling the carriage in question. "Uh, I'll let you lead the way shall I?" He offered a chagrined grin at that.
He followed her a couple carriages down and helped her aboard offering her a hand before lifting her trunk up after her. He hauled his own up moments later.
"Thanks, here the secure cargo compartment." She said leading the way into a small room full of other peoples trunks, and animal cages. He helped her maneuver her own in then placed his next to it drawn a basic ward around them. He passed Hedwig an owl treat, then followed her out and down the corridor again. The main cabin of the carriage, was in essence an on board lounge, a small "bar" sat along one wall in the corner. Tall circular tables stood around the lounge. Across the lounge the Head boy and girl stood in one corner and nodded to them as they entered. Harry Looked around taking a count of all the other Prefects who had arrived. So far the only Ravenclaw to show was Padma Patil, Anthony Goldstein who Harry remembered from last time wasn't in the room yet. Hannah Abbot and Ernie Macmillan were in the room heads together around one of the tables. The Slytherins were not yet present, not that Harry was eager to be in the same room as Malfoy.
"Potter, Granger," The head boy, Thomas Stroud, called. "Your patrols are cars 3 and 6 respectively. You'll start half an hour after we get going," He said before returning to his talks with the head girl.
"Well that was…Helpful?" Harry said mildly off put by the lack of greeting, usually with anything first event at Hogwarts there was some sort of official welcome speech or greeting.
"I guess he just prefers to keep things simple?" Hermione said, also a little surprised. The door opened at the other end of the lounge and Anthony hurried in followed by two green clad prefects. Not the green clad prefects he was expecting. Instead of Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, instead two girls recognized walked in. "Well that's strange, i've never heard of two people of the same gender being prefects together…" Hermione noted surprised.
"Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass?" He noted surprised.
Daphne spotted them and wandered over while Tracey chatted with the elf tending the minibar, stopping in front of them and offering a stiff nod. "Hello Lord Potter," She greeted neutrally.
"Hello Daphne, wasn't expecting to see you here." Harry noted offering a more congenial nod in return.
She offered a small smirk before stifling it. "Ah, I'm sure you were expecting to see Malfoy and Parkinson no doubt?"
He nodded agreement. "They do seem to be the Slytherin poster children." He pointed out ruefully.
She nodded looking mildly disgusted by the thought of that. "Yes, sadly that usually seems to be the case doesn't it…You would have been correct had it not been for the effect Lucius' arrest and escape had on the Malfoy reputation. He was denied an invitation and Parkinson refused her own in protest." Daphne noted.
Harry blinked surprise. "I have to admit I didn't expect that, it's unlike Dumbledore…"
Daphne snorted. "Yes, the old man does have odd tastes when selecting people to fill positions doesn't he? Perhaps it is a reflection on the battering his own reputation has taken recently?" She speculated. "Regardless, his odd behaviour hasn't entirely abated, take you for instance." She noted gesturing to him airily, pausing briefly as the train began moving. "You can barely go five minutes without the world exploding around you, and yet you were chosen for Prefect?"
Hermione huffed and looked ready to argue on his behalf, but Harry just chuckled and nodded sober agreement. "In fairness I rarely go hunting for trouble…"
Daphne laughed briefly at that assertion. "I seem to recall a story about you chasing down a troll?"
Harry rolled his eyes good natured. "Why does everyone bring that up? I was trying to protect Hermione at the time!" He said exasperated.
Daphne quirked a brow at him. "And why not simply ask a teacher to handle it?"
"Because the Troll should have been in the Dungeon, and they had all run off to deal with it. Hermione was as far as I knew in an entirely different section of the castle." He pointed out.
She appeared to consider that, then nodded not finding too much wrong with his reasoning. "Fair enough Lord Potter, you didn't believe you were specifically heading into danger but were concerned for your friend who was unaware of the situation."
"Well I certainly appreciated the rescue Harry, all things considered." Hermione cut in giving Daphne a reproachful look.
Daphne for her part was un-offended. "As would I have been in your position. As I understand it the troll almost had you when your friends came barreling to the rescue?" She got a confirming nod from Hermione. "Sadly not all of us could have counted on our housemates to do the same." She noted ruefully.
Hermione nodded looking pleased, "Harry's a good friend…Surely Tracey would help you when you needed her?" She jerked her head to the auburn headed girl who appeared to be in a drinking game with the elf.
Daphne smiled fondly shaking her head. "Tracey is a good sort, but we weren't close yet back then. I also sincerely doubt she would have known how to handle a troll back then."
Harry snorted. "My technique wasn't exactly going to win me any awards."
Hermione smiled in sympathy. "Well I'm glad I could count on you even back then."
"Tracey is the only person in Slytherin I'd trust on that level. You were lucky to find someone so quickly." Daphne noted, in the privacy of her head feeling a touch envious.
"Well you can add myself and Hermione to your list of people you can trust I think," Harry said decisively.
This appeared to catch Daphne by surprise as she blinked in confusion for a few moments. "You are offering to be my friend?" She asked surprised. "You know it is not required by our alliance, we will still honour our part of the deal regardless."
Harry could understand her suspicion given the house she lived in. He shrugged. "True enough, but you seem a decent sort. And no matter what everyone believes Slytherins to be like I've made mistakes based on house rivalries in the past…I won't turn away a potential friend based on the colours on their robes."
She considered that for a moment then smiled, perhaps the first true smile he'd seen from her. Then offered in a softer tone than she usually preferred. "Thank you Harry, I think I would like that."
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes after that before the Head Boy got up again. "Alright everyone time for your first patrols. Be advised there are Aurors aboard today, please do not interfere with their duties." Stroud instructed firmly.
Harry pushed to his feet before offering a hand each to the girls seated at the table with him, helping them up. "Well I'll see you girls later, I've got to run my patrol near the front."
"See you Harry," Hermione agreed and wandered off.
—-
Harry started his first ever patrol as prefect in the carriage that he had deposited Kara in just before departure from the station. From what he'd seen of prefects behaviours and what he'd overheard from Hermione when she was exhorting Ron the last time through, he knew he should start with the cargo compartments which were situated at either end of the carriage. He checked to make sure there was no un secured luggage and that there weren't any malicious spells lingering around peoples goods. A couple of the more proficient sixth and seventh years put minor alarm spells or wards on their stuff but pranks and such were not allowed. He cast some detection spells and such before moving on once satisfied the trunks were clean. He stepped out into the corridor and spotted a toad as it leapt its way along the corridor.
Trevor, Neville's ever escaping toad was once again making a break for it. Harry gathered up the little amphibian and started along the car, pausing to glance into the compartments he passed making sure everyone was getting along and seeing if he could spot Neville, it was in the third room along that Harry found him…in a manner of speaking. The third compartments windows were completely coated in viscous green goo.
He heard feet quietly moving behind him but didn't turn around. "Hey Harry, how are you…whoa." Cho said sounding more than a little stunned as she spotted what he was staring at.
"If I were to guess Neville was experimenting with his magic cactus and it, er…protected itself. Apparently the thing sprays stink sap when threatened." Nobody was doing anything about the mess from the inside so, he now resigned himself to needing to go in there. He sighed, and glanced at Cho. "Uh, you may wanna get out of here, I'm gonna need to go in there. and fix this," She nodded hurriedly and dashed down the hall.
Harry considered his options for a moment before sliding the door open with a squelch, wow this is even worse than last time 'round. He noted to himself as he jabbed his wand outward casting a scourgify on full power. Normally this would be enough to just about peel the paint off the walls, but all he got this time was a gurgling sucking noise like a wet-vac after your basement has flooded, and a portion of the mess disappeared into the flare of light at the tip of his wand. He had to repeat the spell four times total to get it all off, leaving a squeaky clean compartment in its wake. Harry couldn't tell if Neville and Ginny's red faces were because of embarrassment or the cleaning spell pealing off the top layer of skin. "Er—Thanks Harry, sorry 'bout that. I wasn't expecting it to react that strongly."
"And why didn't either of you try to scourgify the room?" Harry asked handing the toad to Neville, who grasped the little beast carefully after depositing the significantly deflated cactus on the seat next to himself.
"I er—I did, it just kind of fizzled, you know me, I'm rubbish at magic and Ginny was busy trying to clean the stuff out of her ears." Neville admits shame faced.
Harry nodded thoughtfully eyeing Neville's wand. "That's an older wand isn't it, family heirloom?" He asked, knowing the answer perfectly well. Neville nodded agreement.
"Was my dad's, but I got it after…never mind." He trailed off sadly.
Harry nodded sympathetically, he sometimes wondered which was worse, losing your parents outright or seeing the descend into madness like Neville's. "Well I'd say your problem is likely that wand. Ollivander made a point of mentioning that the wand chooses the wizard not the other way around. You need a wand tailored to you I'm afraid."
Neville looked doubtful. "You think that'll make a difference?"
Harry nodded, "I'd bet on it, maybe you can convince the headmaster to let you floo to Diagon for a couple hours one of these days? Maybe with an escort of course…" Harry suggested optimistically, then sighed as he remembered his job. "I've got to go, patrol and all that, but think on what I've said and uh—no more squeezing the cactus or whatever you were doing to the thing." He suggested, he nodded to Ginny and paused noting her downcast expression. "One thing, Ginny will you come with me for a moment?" He asked.
She looked startled and more than a little nervous but got up and followed him into the corridor. He started talking as he paced along the corridor checking the remaining compartments. "Look Ginny, I don't want things to get awkward between us so I'll just say this. I just reckoned you ought to know that I don't blame you for what your family members did okay? Not for a moment." He assured her and her shoulders lifted somewhat in relief.
She smiled sadly at him. "Thanks Harry, and thank you for not bringing it up in front of Neville." She said turning to head back to her cabin. Harry nodded goodbye to her and continued along, waving to a slightly stunned looking Kara who was sharing a cabin with Luna Lovegood. That could be problematic, he joked to himself in his head.
He made it to the far cargo compartment, where he secured a poorly strapped down trunk before turning around, just in time to see Draco Malfoy backing out of Kara's compartment so fast he cracked the glass on the opposite wall. Draco was still staring dumbly at something when Harry hurried up. Kara had stopped to lean on the door frame, an amused expression on her face. "Is there a problem here?" Harry asked, struggling to keep his voice from becoming a growl.
Draco turned to look at him, only grudgingly pulling his eyes of Kara, his face contorting as he clearly fought down a sneer. "Not at all Lord Potter,"
Harry just arched an eyebrow at him, deciding to put aside his unusually courteous words for the moment. "Miss Smith?" He asked, glancing at Kara.
Thankfully Kara didn't seem to have a problem with Harry handling the situation formally. "Just a minor misunderstanding." She agreed smiling thinly.
Harry nodded, glancing at the cracked glass, before turning his eyes back to Malfoy. "You had better not be targeting my friends in this little feud you've started ." He stated frostily. "You will not like the consequences should you do so."
Draco eyed him blankly for a few moments, the gears clearly turning in his head before he spoke, for once in his life. "I understand Lord Potter, I have no issue agreeing to such gentleman's agreement…so long as you agree to abide by the same rules. No going after those I care about either." He said a steely tone in his voice.
Harry was honestly surprised at the consideration Draco was putting into this conversation, though he hadn't failed to notice Draco lacked his usual bodyguard. Perhaps his allies absence made him more cautious? "I can't promise that when it comes to your father, he's thrown in his lot with someone who's made it their life goal to kill me."
Draco just waved that off irritably. "Fine, but you are to leave my Mother, Pansy and her family out of this mess." He compromised.
"In regards to those people I will only fight if attacked first, fair enough?" Harry asked, surprised to find himself in the semblance of a negotiation with Draco. Who nodded sharply in agreement.
"The same goes for your allies, I won't attack them if they don't attack me or mine." Draco countered.
"Deal." Harry agreed, he waited for a reply but none was forthcoming. "Good, then if we are agreed. I think this little exchange should end while we're both ahead hmm? Please return to your carriage or compartment . Have a nice day." Harry instructed firmly. He wasn't used to having the authoritative upper hand when it came to Malfoy, it was nice to have the field evened a little.
Harry waited until Malfoy's retreating back had exited the car, before he flicked his wand at the broken window repairing it. He turned his attention to Kara and waved towards the compartment she was in. "Just a misunderstanding?"
She shrugged as she plunked down in her seat. "I figure he came in here looking to throw his weight around a bit. You know, show the school he's still the big kid on the block despite daddy going to prison. Came in here and started insulting Luna. I told him to get lost, he was reluctant but something must have convinced him it wasn't worth the effort." She said blithely.
"Uh Huh" Harry agreed skeptically, but didn't pursue it. He could guess just what Draco had seen in Kara's face that might have scared him that badly. His eyes looked askance at Kara and she nodded imperceptibly, guessing correctly what his assumption was.
"Right," He said doubtfully and looked to Luna who was smiling dreamily about…something. "Uh, Hey would you ladies mind if I sat here?" He asked indicating one of the seats. He watched Kara's Raven Huginn bob its head spastically at him, and then tilt its head speculatively. Considering it was a carrion bird watching him like that, that was vaguely disconcerting.
Luna considered him for a moment, "You are Harry Potter, we have met before but people seem to forget me, my name is Luna Lovegood," She greeted.
Harry smiled sincerely at the girl. "Hey Luna, don't worry I remember you." He greeted, she smiled blandly, and turned her attention to Kara who resumed squirming under her uncomfortable stare.
"Would you please stop staring at me, it's making me worried." Kara asked wringing her hands nervously now.
Luna gave a start and smiled. "I am sorry, you are interesting to look at. I did not mean to startle you. I like your— hair?" She said happily, then looking down for a moment.
"Yes, I uh, I like it too." Kara said still nervous, the slight hesitance in Luna's response was somewhat disconcerting.
"Your robes are strange to. They're more like a suit than a robe in fact, do all Americans witches wear such strange clothing?" Luna asked.
"Uh depends really, I'm from an independent coven originally, we wore mostly whatever we wanted to there, but uh, this is more like what they wear in the American Senate schools and stuff, yeah…" Kara explained.
"It certainly looks nice, though I do enjoy my robes" Luna said thoughtfully. "Did you know the Nargles seem to avoid you?" She asked.
"Uh, no I didn't, what are Nargles…" Kara asked looking desperately at Harry, in response to the weird turn the conversation had taken.
"They are small creatures which like to infest the auras of those feeling or causing negative emotions. You aura is very clean, and undamaged." Luna informed her.
"Ok-ay…" Kara said agreeing, but looking to Harry for help.
Harry shot her an "It's okay, just roll with it" hand gesture, she relaxed slightly and nodded at the bemused looking blonde girl.
There was a knock at the door, and Hermione stepped in. "Uh hello, mind if I join you?" She asked. It was kind of an unnecessary question to ask but she did anyway. All three of those already in the room nodded acquiescence, in one case a tad dreamily, and she sat in the seat across from Harry. He found himself suddenly wishing she were sitting next to him as opposed to across from him. "So how did your patrol go Harry?" She asked her eyes flicking occasionally to the blonde Ravenclaw in the corner.
"Okay I guess, Neville blew up his Mimbulus Mimbletonia, spraying stink sap everywhere, I got that cleaned up. He also lost Trevor again, and I got it handed off to him. Otherwise a small altercation with Malfoy, no blood drawn or anything like that. Appears even he isn't eager to draw on a Prefect in broad daylight." He explained.
"Trevor…That little toad is always wandering off, he's like a little Houdini that creature." Hermione said smiling fondly, thinking of all the times she'd help find the little beast.
"Houdini? As in the Upper Himalayan Bouncing Houdini?" Luna asked curiously.
Everyone goggled at her a little, even Harry, and he had more experience with such things. It was Kara who actually spoke up. "Uh…No, the muggle escape artist from the early nineteen hundreds. Man did some tricks that were just about magical, he died after a punch to the gut though. Poor guy." She explained, now everyone was staring at her and she looked vaguely offended. "What, I can know stuff, I'm not stupid you know, and I have a little bit of a weakness for old vaudeville illusionists. Probably for the same reason I like physics, I like to know how stuff works…" She pouted.
Hermione was the first to apologize, "Sorry, it just seemed out of character until you explained that." She said.
"How did your patrol go?" Harry asked her saving her from the awkward elephant in the room. It was pink, and wore a tutu.
She shrugged. "Pretty well actually, I ran into Draco too on my way down here. He looked a tad surly, but he otherwise ignored me." She said musingly.
Harry smirked slightly. "You notice he didn't have the bookends with him this time around?" Luna snickered in the corner.
Hermione nodded. "Yes I did, I also noticed they were busily guarding Nott instead, in the last car. That's somewhat worrisome, Nott's a thug."
Harry nodded agreement. "If I had to guess Malfoy's change in fortunes have the Head Hypocrite a tad upset with him." He noted dryly.
"Head Hypocrite?" Luna asked, yup still spacey.
Harry nodded fondly at the girl, he knew she'd get a bit better as time went along. "Yup, Head Hypocrite, Lord Snake Face, The Dark Tosser, Voldishort, or my personal favourite The Dork Lord Volde-thingy." He listed off a couple of his favourite euphemisms for Voldemort.
Luna let out a startled laugh at his casual disrespect for one of the most dangerous individuals on the planet. "Why Head Hypocrite?" She asked after a moment.
"His name wasn't always Voldemort, he was born to the name Tom Marvolo Riddle, he was the son of Merope Gaunt, a pureblood, and Tom Riddle Senior, a muggle." He explained steadily.
Luna became more focus and blinked surprise at that revelation. "How do you know that?" She asked skeptically. Voldemort's past was legendarily mysterious.
He smirked a little. "He told me, he was oh so confident that he was about to kill me at the time, so I reckon he thought it wouldn't be a big deal to spill the beans."
She seemed to be carefully parsing through the ramifications of that. "So…why does he talk about Pure Blood Ideals all the time?" She asked slowly her eyes flicking to his.
"Because Purebloods have what he wants. Power, wealth, and vast treasure troves of forgotten magics. I firmly believe that if the those things were held by the muggleborns or Half-Bloods he would more than happily court their favour instead. Just look at what he's cost the Purebloods, how many old families were utterly wiped out when they wouldn't join him? All he cares about is being in control, being the man on top with everyone else below him." he continued. "Oh, he hates muggles, though that's probably because his father left his mother when he found out she'd been potioning him. Point of interest did you know infants born under amourtentia can't feel love?" He rambled distractedly, considering his long time opponent.
Luna stared at him in astonishment for a bit, before calmly closing her magazine and withdrawing a note pad from her book bag. She flipped it open and started scratching out notes. She glanced up at him smiling wanly. "I think you've just given the Quibbler it's next article…." She paused as a thought occurred to her. "That is—if you don't mind."
Harry just smiled blandly. "Not at all, how'd the last one do? I read it, it was pretty good." He asked.
She nodded returning to taking notes, but replied anyway. "Very well, thank you. It's payed for a new office and an expedition to Sweden this summer. We're going looking for Crumple Horned Snorkacks." She explained happily.
Harry glanced at Hermione who was watching this all with a look that was equal parts fascination and skepticism. She was currently biting her tongue so hard he was surprised she wasn't drawing blood. "Good, maybe this one will pay for future expeditions if you need them?" He asked pleasantly.
Luna glanced up, and seeing he was sincere smiled briefly. "That sounds lovely."
While Luna continued taking notes, and roughing out article drafts, Harry pulled a book out of the pocket he'd secreted it in his cloak. "Sirius gave this to me on the platform, he figured it might be useful." He explained handing it over to Hermione. Kara shifted along the seat to get a look at it.
Hermione opened it excitedly. "Oh yes! This should do nicely, I was hoping the Black Library would have something."
Harry nodded agreement. "I'd be surprised if finding our answer would be as simple as looking in one book, but maybe it'll point us in the right direction?" He asked.
Hermione nodded vaguely as she flipped through a couple pages. "Hmm, I see. Some of this stuff is clearly pretty dark." She grimaced at something on the page in front of her.
Harry nodded. "All things considered that's what I expected."
Luna looked up from her work, "Are you sure they're dark? Despite what the Ministry says most spells are not inherently light or dark. Some of the classically "Dark" spells were made with benign intentions." She observed, Hermione was nodding with certainty though and showed the girl the books title.
Kara looked at Luna carefully. "Oh, can you give me an example?"
Luna nodded, grimacing at the book in question. "A cutting curse, typically is thought of as a way to maim or kill someone else. In actuality most of them were designed for mundane or medicinal purposes. A way to cut up difficult materials, a way to remove a critically damaged limb so it can be cleanly replaced. Admittedly they're more widely used for trying to severe a persons head from their shoulders, but it's a persons intent and methods that make a spell light or dark. A further example perhaps?" She mused, putting aside her quill for a moment. "A cutting curse could be used for the decidedly dark purpose of executing an unarmed prisoner, or it could be used in the heat of battle to kill an enemy combatant. The intent and context of the usage has meaning."
"Intent colours our actions then?" Kara clarified, "What about things like the unforgivables?" she asked.
Luna was solemn. "Some magic is indeed dark by design. Made solely for the purpose of evil." She said simply. "The Imperius Curse was designed to enslave minds. Some would argue it could be used to restrain a wounded or distraught person for treatment. But the curse was made when there were already compulsion charms strong enough to safely complete such tasks. The Cruciatus?" She continued. "Is actually a perversion of a nerve numbing spell intended to aid in healing. Where the original spell turned off nerves in a controlled area. The Cruciatus turns all pain receptors everywhere on all at once. Which leaves Avada Kedavara. Some would claim that it could and should be used to painlessly butcher animals. However this theory is wrong and infeasible for one very specific reason. In order to wield Avada Kedavara, you must fuel it with negative emotions. Hate, rage, jealousy. These things contain immense power in their own way. It was said that a weapon wielded in jealousy would slay the gods themselves." She said smiling sadly at that whimsical notion.
"What about other branches of magic?" Hermione asked, as ever carefully cataloguing the incoming rafts of information.
"There are other magics which are by nature dark. Being inherently abusive. Necromancy often requires negative emotions as fuel, grief being the most common as it is often the driving force behind an attempt to raise the dead. But often sacrifice as well, animal or blood for preference. Animal sacrifice is in fact a spell fuelled by death, only sentient sacrifice outmatching it in potency. Blood Magic is also a potent fuel, but sits more in the grey area of the moral spectrum." She said thoughtfully, thinking back on some long forgotten lesson. "Any spell that harms the soul of being in a permanent fashion such as the kind of spell likely used to create the Soul Fragment Harry fights, would have to be very dark indeed. As souls are by nature almost immutable to magic. Even Avada kedavara does not harm the soul, merely the body." She shuddered at the thought. "That leaves Demonic Magics. Very little is known about them, and with good reason. They all of the, every last one require some form of blood magic, the commotion of atrocity, or sacrifice, the only exception being Fiend Fire, which is in fact a back wards engineering of a true demonic spell of similar function from the early iron age. True Fiend fire, can not be controlled by any save a demon." She smiled, "But I digress, my point was that with a small field of notable exceptions the vast majority of magic is neither good nor evil."
A voice from the doorway made Harry jump "However you can't trust the average joe to always show good judgement with some of the more dangerous spells." Argued Tonks who leaned on the doorframe. "Oh a Bone Breaker spell might be useful for a number of reasons. Shattering a bone to allow a potion brewer to extract the marrow easily, or for breaking and reseting a bone for healing. But can you trust Joe Public to not use it to explode his neighbours head when he doesn't return the lawn mower promptly? Not necessarily, which is why it has been classified as Dark and is thoroughly frowned upon." She noted giving Harry a pointed look. He nodded understanding and concession of the point. She smiled at the room. "Sorry about interrupting like that, and a good point you were making to Miss Lovegood, but I figured it needed saying." She noted plunking down in a seat.
"How'd your patrol go?" Harry asked.
"Good, had a little chat with dear cousin Draco. Seems you two had a little chat and came to an agreement about limiting the scope of your little war?" She asked.
"As long as he limits his vendetta to action against myself, I will limit my own to him. Self defence against third parties being the only exception.
Tonks snorted "Oh? I'm surprised he'd agree to something like that, you'd think striking at your friends would be right up Draco's alley, slimy little git."
Harry shrugged, not necessarily disagreeing. "Apparently he's concerned for the welfare of his mother and the Parkinsons in all this."
She nodded sagely. "That explains it, quid pro quo. He wanted something from you and was willing to give a little to get it. Little idiot should just withdraw the feud and be done with it." She argued waving dismissively.
"Maybe he feels he can't back town without losing face?" Hermione offered her opinion.
Tonks nodded, "That is a definite possibility. Draco's a slippery one, but even the Malfoys have some concept of the word honour."
Harry and the others sat in silence for a time as they considered that. He only stirred from his revery when he noticed Luna had withdrawn into herself again. He couldn't help but recall his concerns about her, and the way she had been last time round. "Luna would you mind if I asked you about something?" He asked tentatively.
She considered him over the top of her magazine. "That would depend on what you would like to ask wouldn't it?" She pointed out.
He chuckled a bit. "It might be the kind of question that would have you wanting to talk about things like Wrackspurts, and Nargles." He admitted.
She blinked in surprise, before giving him a sad smile. "I see you have figured something out Harry. I'm impressed," She admitted, then shrugged. "Nobody else has managed that much. As to your questions? I would rather not at this time, though thank you for your concern." She said a touch sadly.
He nodded tiredly, in someways this helped confirm his suspicions. "Fair enough, but I reckon I'd like to tell you something then, and it's not just about what worries I have." He noted, and she nodded acquiescence. "I'd like to extend you an invitation I guess. To spend time with us whenever you want. If you need me, any time, day or night, come find me and I'll help you out."
She nodded smiling slightly at his offer. "What if you're in your common room, you spend a great deal of time there do you not?"
He nodded agreement, it was after all the usual haunt. "Then ask the Portrait of the Fat Lady to send for me. I will come as quick as I can."
Hermione didn't quite understand what was going on but understood Harry was basically offering to protect Luna from something. "I'd be happy to help too Luna, and I'm sure Kara or Tonks would be up for it too." She noted and the other two, confused as she was, nodded agreement.
Luna was surprised by all the attention. "Thank you, I think I might like spending some time with you Harry, it'll be just like having friends."
Harry chuckled a touch sadly. "That's because that's exactly what I'm offering you Luna, to be your friend." He explained soberly.
Luna's eyes teared up, "Thank you Harry, I'd Like that very much." She replied croakily. She'd never really had friends before, to suddenly have her fortunes turn around was something she had not expected. Perhaps this year would be better than the last few?
—
Hermione had to admit, she was uncertain what to think of Harry's behaviour. His interactions had been different with most people, but those reactions with the fairer gender seemed the most affected. He was kinder and more deferential in general, and it had had her wondering if he was starting to see her differently, allowing her to, despite herself, raise her hopes once again. However his interactions with other women were also more friendly than they had been, and this was once again starting to make her doubt her place in his life. He had been uncharacteristically warm with Daphne Greengrass, someone he barely knew, and now again with Luna. In the case of the latter she could understand how it may be his fondness for the underdog coming out. But with the former she couldn't quite silence the little voice of doubt pointing out just how attractive Daphne was.
She certainly hadn't expected his invitations of friendship to either of those two. She couldn't help but worry about what it might mean. It was this musing that finally led her to the revelation that she was actually feeling more than a touch jealous, and she dutifully chided herself for it. He doesn't belong to me, we're not even dating. He could date whomever he pleases and it still wouldn't be my business. She pointed out sadly.
Apparently her reflections had seeped into her demeanour because a voice penetrated her pondering. "What's up Hermione, you seem worried about something." Harry asked from his seat across from her.
She blinked rapidly at him as her brain scrambled for a believable excuse to cover her worries. "Nothing Harry, just thinking." She hedged.
He nodded, a small amused smirk touching his lips. "Obviously—what about?" He asked, once again sending her scrambling for a believable answer.
about our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor?" Hermione asked thoughtfully. "Whoever they are didn't even list a set of books for us to buy before term," She pointed out, just the barest touch of disapproval in her voice.
"I heard he's a Master Vampire, but that was probably just rumour" Luna said from her corner. The others gave her a look. "What? The Quibbler may believe in an alternative world view but some of the sources who attempt to provide leads are insane, even by our standards" She said appearing a little hurt, she was a touch more focused and lucid than she usually was concerning the Quibbler.
"Sorry Luna, I'm just not used to hear about you saying something isn't possible." Harry apologized smiling gently at her.
She brightened slightly "Oh…Well technically it is possible, but it is hardly likely. Also the man who gave us that tip was wearing a stuffed cat on his head. He tried to tell us the space llama was coming." Luna said sadly.
"Space llama?" Hermione asked smiling a little.
"Some people are just broken." Luna said sadly.
Kara chose to redirect the conversation at this point to let Luna off the hook a little. "So Harry, I was wondering about something, that club you were considering raising?" She asked.
Harry almost missed the reference but finally figured it out. "Oh, you mean the defence club?" He asked. "I'm still planning out how it might work." He offered.
"What defence club?" Hermione asked baffled.
Harry explained a little. "As you know I'm going to be tutoring you in DA DA. I was considering expanding it a bit to include some others as the year progresses. Not precisely a militia, but a way of training people so they can defend themselves while on holidays if it comes to that. With us officially at war now…" He trailed off allowing her to fill in the blanks.
"I—Will you need to give others additional tutoring though? If we have a good defence teacher this year that is?" Hermione asked.
"I still think it might be a good idea. The teacher has to focus on a curriculum, I can focus on things I myself have found useful, specifically in the realm of self defence, and anything else I can think of." He explained, and she was nodding thoughtfully. "It also doesn't necessarily preclude getting additional advice, and stuff from the teachers. Guest lecturing sort of things." He explained.
"I think that might be a great idea Harry," Luna interjected sounding intrigued. "Would I be allowed to join?" She asked.
Harry nodded immediately. "Absolutely," He said without hesitation. Luna had been a critical part of Dumbledore's Army. He remembered the kind of distinction she'd served within it fondly. She was one of the ministry six who had accompanied in the battle for the Department of Mysteries last time.
Luna nodded happily, then focused on him again. "May I ask why you dropped Divination?" She asked curiously. Hermione found herself having to bite her tongue to cut off a diatribe.
Harry nodded easily, "I'm not terribly confident in professor Trelawney's abilities, or at least in her reliability as a seer. Also the field requires somebody to have a bit of the touch or the eye or whatever, which is something I simply lack altogether." He explained.
"Ah, you are not a seer of any variety," Luna said nodding in understanding. "And as such you see nothing when attempting to read the future. That makes sense. I mostly just enjoy the atmosphere." She noted. "The professor is indeed a little…sporadic in any ability she actually possesses."
"I don't doubt she has at least some ability, it just isn't available on demand." He agreed, thinking of the prophecy.
"I'm not even convinced of that," Hermione grumbled. "I thinks she's probably as much a fraud as Lockhart." She griped.
Harry offered a small snippet of information he hadn't had last time. "You know the Ministries Department of Mysteries has a whole section housing all recorded Prophesies right? That's where that prophesy I talked about is stored" He noted, and she gave a start.
"What?" She asked sharply.
"The Ministry keeps the collected memories pertaining to every known legitimate prophecy they can get their hands on." He explained. "It is not so widely known but they house this collection within their research division, which is within the Department of Mysteries." He explained.
"Oh…" Hermione said quizzically.
"What else do we know about that Department?" Kara asked casually. Tonks, Harry noted, looked suddenly a great deal more alert and quite possibly more than a little worried.
"Very little, it's said they study the things we don't firmly understand there. Things like, thought, time, death, space, prophecy…and love, though I don't know if that last one is true. I assume there are additional areas." He said. "It's run by a group called the Unspeakables or some such."
"How do you know about all that?" Tonks asked, a look of intense concentration on her face.
He smiled slightly, understanding where her concern was coming from. "It may be considered top secret Tonks, but only in the general sense. It's known in the books about the ministry what kind of things they like to research, but what they actually learn in there is the real secret."
Hermione had been considering the list of fields they studied, "You know Astronomy is one of those areas where the magical world would benefit from paying more attention to the Muggle world, every once in a while." She pointed out. She took astronomy along with everyone else at Hogwarts, but she had to admit the course was a touch laughable.
Luna and Tonks were looking at her with interest now. "What do you mean Hermione?" Luna asked ever curious.
"The Muggles take a great deal of interest in what is out there on other worlds. They wonder who else might be out there, and are constantly theorizing about colonizing other planets. They study them to see what kind of effort might be required to make them habitable." She explained. The idea seemed to surprise the witches. "They've advanced quite a bit thanks to that. They've made improvements in the fields of propulsion, optics and robotics thanks to the space programs."
Tonks smiled dryly. "I understood about a quarter of what you just said."
"Really? I thought your dad was a muggleborn, don't you ever talk about this stuff with him or his family?" Harry asked.
Tonks rolled her eyes. "I can't keep up on everything in the muggle world, my life is after all in the magical one."
Hermione took it upon herself to clarify. "Optics have advanced because the juggles have an obsessions with taking pictures of everything. They needed to make better cameras to get photos of the things out there. Robotics is the field of remote or autonomously controlled machines. As for Propulsion…well things have come a ways since the Apollo missions. I hear they're experimenting with the idea of ion engines."
Tonks was clearly wrestling with that pile of information. "Okay I get the appeal of having machines handle tasks for you, and taking better pictures, but you lost me at Apollo. What are you talking about?" She asked.
Hermione and Harry looked to each other as if trying to decide whether or not she was serious, surely they'd heard about this even in the Magical world? They decided that Tonks was sincere, and Luna looked just as baffled. "The Apollo missions were the missions set by the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration to land astronauts, that is to say explorers, on the moon."
Luna looked intrigued. "The muggles have been trying to put people on the moon?" She asked sounding fascinated by the idea.
Hermione nodded. "They've actually already done it, back in 1969 and a couple of times since then too." She pointed out.
Tonks had decided she must be putting them on. "Pull the other one, it has bells on it."
Harry supported Hermione. "She's telling the truth Tonks, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first men on the moon. They took samples, planted a flag and left footprints. There are pictures of earth which were taken from the moon. In fact…" She started rifling through her book bag and pulled out a photograph, the kind libraries and bookstore hand out as free advertisements for services. She used it as a bookmark of all things, and handed it to Tonks. There plain as day was the Earth rising over the horizon of the lunar landscape.
Tonks shook her head in disbelief. "Bloody Hell,"
Hermione continued, "The muggles have been sending probes to Mars for a while now and deep space satellites and such further out." She noted.
Tonks and Luna were unable to respond to that as they were interrupted by an announcement over the intercom indicating the start of lunch services. This unfortunately also meant it was time for Harry and Hermione's noon patrols.
Harry nodded and stood, "Well, time for the next patrol" He offered. "Want to help me with mine, then I'll help with yours?" He suggested hopefully.
She looked pleased by the prospect. "I'd like that" she agreed smiling. Her heart did a small dance in her chest when he smiled at her.
Author's Note:
Right so you're probably wondering what it is that highjacked my creativity seeing as I only got two chapters done this month. The Answer Star Wars. So in a related matter I'd like to request those of you who are familiar with star wars and would be willing to beta some chapters I've got in the works, please give me a call. Otherwise? Rate, Review, comment, pray to the creativity gods to restore me to the path of Potter, send me a message and invite your friends. Make predictions, and ask questions.