Tonks had to admit that when she had contemplated the possibility of meeting the boy-who-lived, she hadn't expected him to be quite like this. She had, on first consideration at least, expected a handsome self assured casanova type, who broke hearts wherever he went and possessed maybe just a touch of arrogance. The other members of the Order had suggested he wasn't likely to be what she expected but she hadn't really been prepared for the truth of it. He was definitely no casanova, though he did turn plenty of female heads along the way, nor was he particularly arrogant. He was humble, preferring for the most part to talk about matters other than himself and avoided showing off. At least not intentionally, he was actually something to see whenever he did show what he was capable of.
She also hadn't expected the occasional somewhat awkward but sincere attempts at humour or flirting. It was clear even to someone who didn't know him that well that those personas weren't really him, more Harry trying on a new face to see how it suited.
Conversely and almost contradictorily, he was possessed, at times of utmost confidence in himself and his abilities both. When he fought, it was methodical and decisive in its execution, and on occasion he spoke of matters he had no business knowing anything about, as though he had every right to know all the details. For instance it was beyond strange what he knew about Hagrid's whereabouts or the plans the Order had going forward. He also clearly knew his was about the castle better than anyone she'd ever met save Dumbledore. He'd led her tonight through half a dozen side passages and corridors she hadn't even been aware existed until now.
The corridor they eventually stopped in was actually familiar to Tonks, though she sort of wished it wasn't. But it was different than she remembered. "Shouldn't there be a room here? I could have sworn…" She muttered to herself as they came to a stop in front of the painting of Barnabas the Barmy.
Harry actually appeared surprised at her assertion. "Oh yeah?"
She pinked a little in remembrance but covered it by shifting her skin tones. "Yeah, a broom closet or something right? Me and a boy snogged a bit in there, before he screwed it up…What an arse. Jerk figured he could talk me into some evening nookie, I dissuaded him with my knee to his bollocks." She remembered in grim satisfaction. Needless to say that relationship had died before it could even begin. Harry just snorted in amusement, before pacing slowly across from the painting. She gave him a rueful look. "What forget where you wanted to go?" She asked.
As he came to a stop however a door shimmered into existence along the wall opposite. He just shot her a smug look before stepping to the door and opening it with a flourish. "Fair maiden Tonks. May I present the room of requirements." He watched as she stood their staring shocked at the formerly blank section of wall. Doors and rooms didn't tend to blink into existence, even in the wizarding world. "It gives you whatever you can reasonably expect a school like environment to include. In this case a training room." He explained easily leaning on the door to prop it open.
The torch went on in her head. "So that snogging closet I was talking about?"
He nodded. "Yup, was the room giving you what you needed."
Tonks had no way of knowing as she stepped cautiously through the doorway that this iteration of the room was the same one Harry had used in a previous life to house and train the members of Dumbledore's army. She did however note the padded floor, benches, book shelves and open spaces with appreciation. "This should do nicely actually."
Harry nodded as he stepped over to the benches and pulled off his over cloak leaving him in his shirt and slacks. "Yeah, the room does most anything that you could expect a school to have in it, except food. It can't make anything which is or was once living. Gamp's law or some such…" he noted absently as he folded the cloak and set it down.
She nodded, then smirked as she pulled off her trench coat. "So Harry, you bring every girl here, or does this mean I'm special?" She asked cheekily.
To her surprise he just blushed. "Haven't really had a real girlfriend so I couldn't tell you." He muttered. This brought the young Auror up short, leaving her goggling at him in disbelief. As she had reflected before, he wasn't really a ladies man, but she was still surprised he'd never knocked knees considering all the girls literally falling over themselves to catch his eye. That he'd never really dated, was even more shocking. He noted her look with embarrassment, "What it's not like I could have a girlfriend back at number 4 and besides, the girls here aren't generally interested in me, just the Boy-Who-Lived. And he's not even real."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was he really that oblivious or was there another reason? She decided to let that pass for the moment, they were after all there for a reason. Before long her and Harry were standing across from each other in their socks on one of the duelling mats.
She decided to lead this session a bit harder than she usually did, after all she needed to poke him a little bit for those old woman comments he had made. And ran face first into the realization that he could handle more than he let on. She pushed him harder than she ever had before, but he handled it without difficulty merely upping the tempo of his actions and intensifying his attacks. It was frankly amazing, she was pushing him at a level designed to test senior trainees in the Auror program and he was handling it with ease. She held at that pace for close to half and hour only halting occasionally to correct small discrepancies in his form which gave away the fact that he'd never been formally trained in combat. He came out of the session barely sweating. It was clear that at this level of exertion and intensity neither she nor Harry were going to gain the advantage over the other.
Eventually she called a stop and stamped over to the bench and sat. She peered at him as he towelled his forehead and picked up his cloak. Though she'd largely been occupied with the duel she hadn't forgotten the prior revelation. On the whole she maybe shouldn't have been as shocked as she was, she'd witnessed his awkward and almost panicked reaction to the joking back in Diagon Alley. She'd nearly fried his brain with the image of Hermione at a nude beach. In someways he was still such a…boy! Afraid to even think of something vaguely sexual around his female friends, as if she or any other female could read his mind that easily. His shyness now just served to confirm his assertion that he wasn't a lady's man. Which therefore led to the conclusion that yes, he really was like so many other boys everywhere, and really was that clueless. "Harry, about what you said before," She noted his exasperated, and almost desperate sigh before pointedly ignoring it. "Harry, do you honestly think not a single girl in this school is interested in the real you?"
He grimaced. "I really don't, the majority of people don't bother to even try seeing the real me" He grumped as they headed for the door.
She really had to just shake her head at that, as they fell into step on his patrol route a few corridors away. It was astoundingly pessimistic if not downright cynical to think that kind of thing, not only of others but of himself. "Harry, sometimes to see how interested people truly are you need to make the first move. Sometime people just keep what they really think to themselves for fear of being judged." She noted.
He bobbed his head readily. "Sure I get that…" But stopped as they stepped into one of the castles many turrets and nearly bumped into a familiar face on the stairs.
Harry for his part was still getting used to the idea that he was required to run patrols with all the other prefects. His patrol route was the longest by far. It ran the entirety of the battlements and up Ravenclaw tower onto the seventh floor, before returning down the west tower. It was here, distracted by Tonks' comment what he nearly ran face first into his cousin, who was hauling a cage full of Bowtruckles down from warm storage to the Professor Grubblyplank. "Dudley," Harry greeted simply as he approached. Tonks tried to stifle her grimace at seeing the still fairly portly boy. She had been among the many within the Order to think Dumbledore was six different kinds of crazy to keep the boy at Hogwarts.
The lad gave a start and turned. "Oh, Harry, hi…" He said awkwardly, trying to ignore the holes Tonks was glaring in his head.
Harry looked over the little critters in the cage. "Feisty little guys aren't they," He offered equally awkwardly.
"They are, one of 'em, the big guy there in the back, used some blood he got cutting me the other day for war paint." Dudley glowered darkly at the creature in question. Tonks had to fight the urge to congratulate the little creature.
"You—Uh get it checked out by madam Pomfrey?" Harry asked.
Dudley glanced at her nervously. "Uh—No, no. I would'a but I—Uh, don't think she likes me very much, someone cottoned her to the fact I uh—yeah your back." He said looking surprisingly shame faced.
Harry proved what a decent sort he was by just sighing chagrined "Ah, I'll ask her to lay off a little, I didn't want her to go off like that on you." Harry apologized weakly.
"Don't know if it'll help, but thanks for offering. I didn't realize, you were such a legend around here…" Dudley said uncertainly. Tonks snorted.
Harry just laughed darkly. "Oh yeah, not exactly big on the whole fame and glory thing." He admitted. Understatement of the year apparently, Tonks noted to herself in the silence of her own mind.
"Yeah, I kinda got that, I uh—look Harry I just wanted to say a couple things, while its quiet, and nobody'll overhear us, Dumbledore warned me you know…" he said shrugging. Harry nodded understanding. "I uh, I just wanted to say first of all, sorry for ragging on you so hard…well beating the sod out of you honestly, it was wrong, really wrong, but I don't think I could have stood up to da'…but I'm sorry all the same." He said, staring a tad defiantly at Tonks. "And uh—Thanks, you know, for savin' me this summer, you have every right to hate my guts, but you still kept me from losing my soul to those things, it was right decent of you, and—yeah." Dudley murmured.
Harry considered that. "Yeah, um, your welcome." He said, "I—uh…look, just for your own protection and such. I have enemies here, some of 'em are down right blood thirsty. Just keep your head down, and don't let on you're related to me, I'm not concerned about any social impact it might have, I'm more worried about Draco Malfoy or someone like him cursing you dead just to try and hurt me…" He said honestly.
"Yeah, I heard. Which one's Malfoy, so I can avoid him in particular?" Dudley asked curious.
"You seen a boy about my age, with slicked back blonde hair? Wears's green robes and constantly sneers or smirks?" Harry asked.
Dudley rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, him…" He said. "Don't worry the burke treats me like crap anyway already, because I'm a squib. But yeah I'll definitely stay out of his way. General advice was stay away from them greens in general, they tend to turn on you, was what Arg's mentioned."
Harry shrugged. "Not entirely bad advice I suppose, I've met a couple who weren't that bad, but by and large yeah, Slytherins are known for cunning." Harry agreed. "Hufflepuffs are loyal, Ravenclaws are generally pretty smart, and Gryffindors are Brave or Daring." Harry pointed out.
"Well, it was plenty brave stepping between me and a soul sucker." Dudley agreed grimly. "So thanks—again. And uh…I better get going, but watch your back out there. You're sorta my only family 'sides marge," He shuddered. "It'd suck to lose you to those enemies you were mentioning, especially a prat like that Malfoy git" he said darkly, then resumed shambling down the stairs.
Harry was amazed that was perhaps the longest discussion he'd ever had with Dudley, and the boy had seemed sincere. Tonks for her part was dubious, but decided to file it away as a positive encounter for now. She waited until she was certain the boy would be out of ear shot. "You're a decent bloke Harry. A lot more forgivin' than I'd be in your place." She noted grimacing.
"I reckon I've got enough enemies Tonks. If making amends with Dud reduces the overall number of them that can't hurt." He sighed tiredly rubbing the back of his head.
She shook her head, and sighed. "Anyways, like I was saying, I bet there are more people than you know who are interested in you, you just haven't been paying attention."
He snorted derisively. "Sure there are plenty of people who are interested in the Boy-Who-Lived. But in truth all they see is the imagined fame, wealth and prestige. But it's not real, I hate my fame, what there is of it, I have wealth but some days I almost wish I didn't…I'm just a guy Tonks, and none of them see it. And of those who do know me, none of them look at Harry Potter that way. And who can blame them Harry Potter is just another schlub trying to do what's right."
She reflected on that statement as they walked. He really was that oblivious she decided, though apparently it wasn't without cause. He'd found out the hard way that the majority of the world was subscribing to the belief that nice guys finished last and that many were out for themselves. They weren't looking for kind, gentle, honest and sweet Harry. The majority of them imagined a dominant alpha male type with personality and charm to spare. It was a damn shame. And because of it he was missing what was right in front of his face. It was a dilemma, after all what business was it of hers whether or not he saw it? But if she didn't point it out to him he might continue in this blind dance until the opportunity had passed. No, it was better to have tried and failed, then to have missed the chance to try in the first place. She'd never had to do something like this before and was frankly a little flummoxed as to how she should proceed. "Harry, if you honestly believe that? That nobody looks at plain old Harry and see's something they like, and want, then you haven't been paying attention. Especially to your best friend." She chastised, firmly crossing her arms over her chest and stopping him in his tracks.
Harry rolled his eyes and sighed, "Hermione? Tonks, Hermione see's me like a brother. Which while I'll admit its an improvement over what the others see…"
She cut him off with a gesture. "Harry. Just…No, okay. I guarantee, that Hermione Granger doesn't see you like a brother. And if she does it's only because she's trying to protect herself, in all likelihood she thinks you see her as a sister. If she let herself see you that way and you didn't return her feelings it would break her heart." She explained when he looked doubtful. "She thinks you don't see her that way so she wraps her heart up tight to keep from getting hurt you lummox."
Harry just stared at her for a moment, "Well if she thinks I see her like a sister, I'm not the only one who's blind." He muttered irritably.
She blinked at him in surprised for a moment then barked a laugh. "Ha, so maybe your not completely hopeless. Since when?" She asked smiling.
He looked anywhere but at her "Since the love potions cleared earlier this summer."
"And why in the name of Merlin, Maeve and Morgana have you not told her that?" She asked amazed at how thick boys could be some times.
He grimaced. "because…"
"Because why?" She shot back.
"because lots of reasons okay?" He snapped, "Because what if you're wrong and she only see's a brother? Because what if she turns me down? Because what if you're right but I screw it up and she doesn't want to be around me any more?"
She rolled her eyes. Fear then eh? "Shouldn't you be willing to take that chance?"
He sighed, "Everyone has someone they're meant to be with Tonks, a soul mate, a true love? What if she's not it and the real one is still out there, and shows up one day eh? I couldn't hurt her like that, I'd rather die than hurt her like that…"
She stood and stared at the embarrassed young man, and sighed. "Harry, of all the people in the world, it figures you'd have to be a hopeless romantic." She noted tiredly. "Soul mates? True love, those things are so incredibly rare. And even if she is your soul mate you won't know it unless you try. After all, like they say…nothing ventured, nothing gained."
She began walking beside him again and they continued their patrol. It was ironic wasn't it that the main reason he kept from declaring himself was a fear of hurting Hermione, when ultimately his silence might hurt worst of all. It was stupid, but thoughtful. It was the kind of romantic thoughtfulness she had assumed only existed in story books. She wished she had met someone like that at his age. She noted ruefully that it was too bad he wasn't a couple years older or Hermione might have been out of luck, because she would'a taken a shot at him herself. In the end she just shrugged to herself. Ah well, plenty of fish in the sea. Plenty of dogs in the woods.
"Come on Harry, we've got a patrol to finish right?" She suggested. She didn't know if her conversation would amount to anything but at least she'd tried right?
—
Harry let Hermione lean on him, as she panted, dripping with sweat. It was a small consolation that it could be worse. They'd at least been smart enough to wear something more practical for running than robes. But the summer heat had still exacted a toll on the teenagers as they had completed their run for Defence Against the Dark Arts.
They were now making the long walk, the last leg of their journey, up to the school's gates. It said something about how warm it was despite the early hour that they were so burnt out by their run.
Admittedly Harry had spent more time talking than he probably should have considering, but he found it hard to resist talking with his friend. Sadly it, up to this point, hadn't been anything particularly meaningful or important. Still he decided he would rectify that when he called a quick break at the bottom of the hill leading up to the front gate.
He leaned back a bit looking to the sky for a moment as he tried to catch some of his breath again. "So, when I asked if you'd like to go for a run this morning…" he paused to take a few breaths. "I didn't know it would be so exhausting, sorry about that"
She chuckled weakly, glancing up at him briefly before looking away sheepishly. "I don't mind Harry, just didn't expect it to take quite this much out of me." She admitted.
He nods considering, "I don't know that I asked before, but would you like to stick with me today through my meetings?" He suggested.
She had to admit for a moment the concern over missing even a little bit of class dominated her mind, but she managed to quash it. "I'd like to," She agreed.
However apparently her hesitance hadn't gone entirely unnoticed. "What's up, you looked…"
She blushed and shrugged it off. "Nothing important, just thinking about how I need a shower." She noted plucking at her shirt a little, where it stuck to her chest around her collar.
He snickered a bit, "We both do, don't we? Sweat monster over here." He noted indicating himself he too was fairly drenched.
"Oh, you're not that bad Harry," She tried to reassure him.
He rolled his eyes, "Sure, bet you don't want a hug from me right now though." He noted, then smiling devilishly he reach out as though to hug her.
She danced out of the way squealing with laughter and swatted at him playfully. "Not a chance Harry, I'm gross enough as it is myself without adding yours to the mix." She noted grimacing. She didn't want to think about how she must smell right now. "A nice cold shower sound heavenly right about now." She noted.
Harry looked away, flinching a little. He had to bludgeon his adolescent mind away from images of Hermione showering back to safer ground. "Can't argue with that." He agreed.
"We've got those private showers now too, hallelujah for that." She noted, fiddling with her hair, lifting it off her shoulders a bit before scrubbing at it trying to make it behave.
Harry made a face. "Yeah, I won't miss having to shower in the same room as the others." he agreed and received a sympathetic nod. He waited a minute longer before he straightened up. "You ready to head on up?" He asked and got a nod.
They walked the rest of the way in relative silence, only discussing inanities until they reach Gryffindor tower. They only parted ways when they made their way into the prefects bathrooms. Harry enjoyed his cold shower for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was the calming effect it had on him.
Unfortunately, at least as far as any calming effect was concerned both her and Hermione exited the bathrooms at the same time. He looked up as he was shrugging on his robe just as Hermione wandered out towelling off her hair, and was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't that he could recall having seen Hermione just after a shower before, at least not like this. Hair a bit fly away, no make up, but fresh and clean faced. It was frankly destroying his efforts to reassert control over himself.
He apparently had been gaping, because she furrowed a brow upon seeing him. "What?" She asked concerned.
He stammered for a moment. "Uh— Sorry, just spaced out there for a moment…." He offered lamely.
She gave him and odd look but seemed to accept that, to his relief. "Do you want me to go see if Kara is ready to go?" She asked after a moment. Kara hadn't been able to go on the run with them, she'd been sleeping in after a study session with Mcgonagall the night before.
Harry shrugged, "Sure, meet you in the common room?" He suggested, and got a nod in return. He wandered off a minute later while Hermione went in search of their wayward Jersey Girl. She knocked on the girl's door and waited.
"Come in?"
She opened the door and stepped in before hurriedly closing the door behind herself. It seemed Kara hadn't been paying much attention before allowing her in. She was apparently deep in thought while stalled part way through the process of getting dressed. "You know, considering we have guys who share the floor with us you might want to be fully dressed before you let someone open the door." Hermione chastised.
Kara, seemed to shake from her stupor and took a moment to process what was being said. When it finally worked it's way through her mind what had been said she blushed and hurriedly finished dressing by pulling on her dress shirt. "Right, sorry about that…"
Hermione just sighed, thinking of the unintentional show Kara had given her. It wasn't obvious usually, because the girl seemed to favour baggy clothing for some reason, but she had a body to be jealous of in Hermione's estimation. She'd seen that before back at Grimmauld place, but seeing it again just pushed the point home. She sighed, shaking her head. "Merlin, I'm so jealous right now."
Kara shot her a confused look as she pulled on her long coat. "Of what?"
"Look at yourself, you'd have no trouble getting guys to see you as a woman." Hermione noted sadly, waving at her.
Kara blushed, but it was accompanied by a grimace. "Yeah well, I'd just as soon they didn't in all honesty, I've had enough trouble with men in the past." She admitted
Hermione blinked at her quizzically, but the other girl didn't venture anything further on the subject. "Besides Hermione, you need to give yourself more credit. You're not half bad looking yourself."
Hermione offered a very unladylike snort. "Yeah sure."
Kara shot her a look. "No really, you catch more looks than you might think." She argued, buttoning one of the buttons about mid way up.
Hermione looked at her disbelievingly. "Oh yeah, like who?" She challenged crossing her arms over her chest.
Kara gave her a disbelieving glance, before shaking her head. "You know for two fairly intelligent people the both of you are utterly blind." Hermione was confused and it showed on her face, Kara sighed in a put upon manner. It so hadn't been in the job description that she'd need to explain this stuff to a pair of teenagers. "Hermione, you spend ninety percent of your time with a guy who can't seem to get enough of spending time with you."
Hermione, knew only one male who she spent that much time with, "Harry?" She asked perplexed. Surely Kara wasn't referring to him. "He doesn't look at me like that…"
Kara rolled her eyes, skyward as though praying for patience. "He does, but if you don't want to believe it, nothing I say is going to convince you. Now as fascinating a discussion as this is, we need to go." She noted tiredly.
Hermione nodded, a bemused expression on her face as she considered the notion Kara had been championing. That was the second person who thought that her assessment of Harry was off. One could be a fluke, two? The probability of coincidence dropped with each new person who spotted it.
She followed Kara down the stairs in silence, as they entered the common room Harry spotted them, and smiled before hurrying over with Tonks. "Hey Hermione, Kara. You two ready to go?"
She was still doubtful about Kara's assertions, but she had to admit the idea certainly held it's appeal. Especially considering the funny things a smile like that did to her insides.
—-
The entrance hall was surprisingly busy, even considering the expected visitors. There were students generally milling about to gawk at those gathered, and the teachers for once were doing nothing to disperse them. Possibly because most of them were just as curious as the students. If there was one thing the wizarding world loved it was a spectacle. And considering just who were gathered in the entrance hall there was a reasonable chance they were going to get one.
Ragnok was standing amid a small cluster of Gringotts guards in the centre of the entrance hall. Also in attendance were Mcgonagall, Dumbledore, and thoroughly disgruntled Snape. However also present, and completely unexpected was Amelia Bones.
Harry decided, that he should probably begin with Ragnok, because all in all despite any headway he'd personally made with the Goblin, they were as a race known to be quick to take offence. Also he was the first person he had actually invited.
He stepped to a polite distance from the Goblin and bowed slightly at the waist. "Hello Ragnok, thank you for coming it is good to see you again." He greeted.
The Goblin returned the bow with one of his own. "It is good to see you as well Harry, perhaps you might introduce me to your companions?"
Harry nodded and stepped aside and gestured in turn. "Director Ragnok, may I present my friends and companions, Hermione Jane Granger, Kara Smith, and Auror Tonks,"
Ragnok nodded deferentially to them, his face impassive in a way that only Goblins seemed to manage. "A pleasure to meet you all, may I assume that you invited the others gathered as well?" It was difficult to tell whether or not he approved.
Harry decided complete honesty would be the best approach. "I invited Professor Mcgonagall, she is my head of house and deputy head mistress of the school. I thought she might be a good representative to have present." He looked at the others gathered, who were doing a relatively poor job of hiding that they were listening in. "As for the Headmaster and Professor Snape I assume that they are here as they represent the school as well and felt a need to be here. As to the Minister, well, I admit I am surprised that she is present."
The Goblin considered him for a moment before seeming to accept that, before he turned and approached the woman in question. "Minister Bones," He greeted offering a slight bow, "A pleasure to once again make your acquaintance."
The greying red head nodded sharply and offered a slight bow of her own. "The pleasure is mine I'm sure." She waved to her guards who stepped back a pace or two.
The goblin considered her, "Minister, if I may ask, this is a private business deal, I find myself surprised to find you present. What, may I ask, are you doing here?"
She smiled thinly, an unhappy expression. "It seems the Headmaster of this school has decided to express concerns about this meeting, as it would be taking place on school grounds. Particularly that a foreign nation would be meeting with a mere student." Her tone aptly conveyed that she knew exactly what Dumbledore had been doing, meddling. She shrugged. "Regardless given that the concerns were presented under his authority as Supreme Mugwump, the ministry would be remiss no to show an interest in proceedings."
Ragnok nodded thoughtfully, "Very well, assuming Lord Potter is not averse to the idea, the Goblin Nation has no objections to the Ministry's presence." His gaze narrowed on the Headmaster. "However…" He growled. "The Nation is less than sanguine about the Headmaster's interference of late. We would prefer he not be present."
Amelia nodded, the corner of her mouth quirking ever so briefly. "Acceptable, may I request that Auror Tonks and myself attend in the capacity of Ministry oversight?"
Harry had to, for his part, stifle a chuckle at the Headmaster's expression. Clearly Dumbledore was less than pleased at the direction the conversation was taking. "Amelia, I really must protest, this my school and I must…"
She cut him off. "In actual point of fact Dumbledore, it is not your school, you simply function as it's chief administrator, a fact you seem to have forgotten." She smiled dangerously at him. "Besides Headmaster, one of your staff is already invited to this meeting I believe?"
Dumbledore turned to appeal to Harry, but met an upraised hand. Harry had to bite off his first reply, reminding himself that he did not in fact hate Dumbledore, he was merely tired of the man's habit of meddling "I may have been convinced to allow it had you not interfered by summoning the ministry needlessly. However because of that and the fact that the Goblin Nation has requested you be absent, I feel it would be best to limit staff presence to that of Professor Mcgonagall."
Harry suspected that Dumbledore was now likely considering refusing to allow the meeting to go forward. But if his guess was right the man could not do so without appearing petty. His gamble paid off when Dumbledore sighed and shook his head looking disappointed, something which despite everything stung. "Very well Harry, It seems I have no choice but to leave you to it." He turned to face the Minister. "Amelia I should hope that if it is revealed that this school or it's students are in any way endangered that you might keep me informed. Good day to you all."
He turned and strode away, Snape silent, sweeping away at his heel. Harry decided to wait until he was out of sight. "Any chance one of you can check for listening charms and the like?" He asked wryly.
It had been intended as a joke but after a brief pause several of those present decided to check anyways. And to his only mild surprise, a few were found.
"Albus, I honestly don't know what has gotten into you lately." Grumbled Mcgonagall to herself as she dispelled one of those found. She turned her attention to Harry as soon as they were satisfied they had found all those present. "So Mr Potter, would you be so kind as to tell us why we are here today?"
Harry nodded, and recited the phrase he had researched with Sirius' help. "In accordance with the Ministry of Magic's laws and accords regarding hunters. I lay claim to the corpse of the Basilisk which I slew in second year."
There was a pregnant pause as many of those in attendance blinked in surprise. It was Minister Bones who put voice to the general confusion many were apparently feeling. "Basilisk?" Harry noted that Mcgonagall seemed more surprised that the Minister was unaware of that incident than of the fact Harry was claiming it massive and scaly mortal coil.
She cleared her throat, "As you may recall the school had a rash of incidents in Mr Potter's second year, many student were petrified?" She suggested, clearly hoping to jog a memory.
Minister Bones nodded stiffly, "Yes, I almost pulled Susan home. However before I could the source was found and eliminated. According to the official report the ministry received on the matter from Dumbledore, a rogue magical contaminant from the chamber was released…"
Kara snorted indelicately behind Harry, "That's one thing to call a giant sixty foot snake I suppose…"
The minister didn't take the teenager's outburst amiss and merely shook her head. "I think I'm going to need to have some words with Albus about accurately reporting incidents on school property." She noted. "And just where is this Basilisk corpse?"
Harry spoke up. "To reach the Basilisk we will need to go to the Chamber of Secrets, the entrance is, oddly enough, concealed in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. I can lead the way if you wish?" This met with general agreement and he started off down the hall.
Hermione jogged to catch up to him. "Er—Harry?" She began uncertainly. And emotion it seemed followed Harry a lot lately. "Are you sure you want to aggravate Dumbledore like you have been?"
He considered her and shrugged, "Actually, hard as it is to believe, I'm not actively trying to get on his bad side Hermione. But I'm not going to go out of my way to do what he wants either." He argued.
She shot him a worried look. "Harry, Dumbledore is…widely respected by the Wizarding community. I'm not blind to the mistakes he's made lately. But surely that respect isn't entirely without merit?" She suggested.
He nodded agreeably. "Not at all, I'm positive he did indeed earn that admiration plenty of times. But he's far from infallible, and as well intentioned as I'm sure he is…I'm not going to let him run my life anymore.
Hermione sighed and conceded the point. "Okay Harry, I trust you, you know that. I just hope you know what you're doing." She muttered as they arrived at the bathroom. Harry paced away from her as he began checking around the sinks. Presumably for the correct spot to unlock the entrance from. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a voice spoke from beside her.
"Oh…Hello Harry." Greeted Myrtle.
Hermione was mildly gratified that he was as startled as she was. Whirling and nearly falling over. "Oh, hey Myrtle." he greeted slightly breathlessly.
The ghost gestured at the small crowd in her bathroom. "What are you doing?"
"Uh—Just getting some help with hauling that big old snake's carcass out of the basement…"
Myrtle blinked then cocked her head to the side. "Oh, well…could I come with you maybe?"
Harry seemed thrown by this. "Uh, if you want? I didn't know if you'd want to considering…"
The ghost smiled wryly at him. "It's been nearly forty or fifty years Harry. I had time to come to terms with being dead. Whenever people don't throw it in my face that is. Besides, I want to see it." She shrugged.
He nodded slowly then looked to those standing around him. "Right, uh, everyone this is Myrtle, she's the ghost who hangs around this bathroom. She was killed the first time the chamber was opened." He waited until he'd received acceptance before turning back to the sink he'd been examining. He hissed at it. ~Open~
Hermione shuddered, parseltongue might technically just be a language like any other, but something about it alway struck her as…sinister.
The sinks shuddered and slid away revealing the gaping hole in the floor. "Alright," Tonks said feigning cheeriness, despite the tightness evident around her eyes. "Now, how are we supposed to get down there again?"
Harry seemed surprised by the question. "Well, we just slid down last time…"
Tonks nodded, "And how did you get back out?"
Harry paused thinking, "I think I see your point. Slytherin would have had a better way in and out for himself…" He turned to consider the hole. ~Stairs?~ he hissed, somehow contriving to make the sound uncertain. The hole remained as it had. ~Ladder?~ Again nothing.
He scratched his head, then tried again. ~Steps~, and jumped back as there was a grumble as first one then another step slid out of the side of the chute forming a staircase. More and more appeared spiralling away out of sight, as they stood and watched. He glanced at them. "I suppose I'd better lead the way?" He suggested, the expression he was met with was generally a scornful, well duh?
—-
It was really surprising, at least to Hermione, just how far down the shaft went. It took a good ten minutes to walk the whole way down, which made Hermione seriously doubt the sanity of Salazar Slytherin. That he'd wish to walk so far every time he wanted to visit his chamber…
She also had to admit, that her first impression of Salazar's lair was that it was disgusting. The floor was piled high with rodent bones and a discarded snake skin was heaped in a coil in the corner. Not that the skin wasn't impressive in it's own way. The amount of it suggested that Harry's estimations of it's owners size sound more plausible.
The Goblins requested a brief pause here to examine the abandoned skin. Ragnok paced about it for some time before returning and nodding to her friend. "It's old yes, but still it may be worth something in terms of potions ingredients. It also more than verifies you claims Harry, this is indeed the skin of a large basilisk."
After that Ragnok left one of his retinue to see to the skin's handling as they progressed deeper in. Not that they made it far before having to stop again. This time because of the rock fall. This was where her friend and Lockhart had their confrontation. There was a small area where the rocks had been cleared, but it wasn't really feasible for them to travel through.
She watched with interest as the Minister, Tonks and Mcgonagall saw about clearing the rubble and shoring up the ceiling. She'd never thought of using sticking charms in such a way.
It really wasn't much further after that. And when they next stopped it was before the great metal door of the Chamber. Hermione herself was uncertain what to say, but thankfully Kara seemed to sum it up nicely. "Well…that's not foreboding at all"
Harry once more was required to open the way for them. ~Open~ he hissed and they watched as the snakes retracted one by one as another ran around the rim before it opened with a clunk and a hiss of stagnant air.
And as the great door swung open on ancient hinges Hermione and all the others gathered save Harry got their first glimpse of the chamber and the monster it had once housed. If anything, Harry had underestimated its size, she thought to herself as they pressed forward into the chamber. The beast was easily sixty feet long at least.
This thought was interrupted by the gravely crackling noise of Ragnok murmuring something in Goblin. He approached the corpse, disturbingly unchanged by time, before turning and regarding Harry. "Well, Lord Potter, it seems you truly are as good as your word. This snake is just as fine a specimen as you promised. With your leave, as huntsman, I'll have my team begin making it's assessments?"
Harry nodded, "Of course director, feel free."
Hermione observed him carefully as the goblins moved off. Was this affecting him? Did he feel uneasy being here again? If he did, he did a good job of concealing it, even from her.
Mcgonagall was the next to approach him a few minutes later. "It seems Mr Potter, that the house points awarded for your efforts here, were not sufficient to impress upon me the true scope of what you faced. Albus has, for reasons that escape me, never seen fit to explain just how you managed such a feat." She admitted.
He tilted his head considering her, "Fawkes arrived not long after me. He had the sorting hat. The hat provided me with the Sword and Fawkes took the Basilisks eyes. He healed my bite after the fighting was over, and helped carry us back to the surface." He explained patiently.
Mcgonagall was still nodding, apparently impressed when Kara spoke up. "What I'm wondering. Is how the staff missed a sixty foot monster slithering through the school." She noted dryly.
The minister was listening with interest and Mcgonagall herself seemed uncomfortable. However Harry came to her aid. "The Basilisk was moving through the pipes, or perhaps passages is a better term? Behind the walls. I'd assume they were Slytherin's secret paths through the school?" He shrugged. "Either way, it only showed itself in order to attack"
The Minister wasn't entirely satisfied just yet. "Any idea where these passages are? Or how to gain entrance to them?"
Harry paused thinking about it. "I—Uh" he glanced off to the side and brightened. "Let me check a theory on that?" He suggested before jogging for what appeared to be a drainage pipe leading into the chamber.
Hermione decided to follow him, partially out of curiosity as to what his theory was, and partially out of desire to speak with him. She caught up with him in the entrance of one of the pipes.
"Harry, are you really okay with all this? Being back here again?" She asked grabbing his arm and looking into his face.
He shrugged. "I'm trying not to think too hard about it. So far I'm handling it." He decided as they came to a grate blocking further travel. He considered the grate for a moment before hissing at it. Sure enough the grate slid aside. He leaned forward and peered up the passage before stepping back and hissing again causing it to close. "I think this leads to somewhere else int he castle. There are several other's like it down here if I remember right…" he speculated, his eyes going vague as he tried to remember something.
She nodded, agreeing with his assessment. "I was wondering just how the Basilisk got from all the way down in Myrtles bathroom to the library without anyone noticing. I largely just put it down to that Quidditch match…"
Harry grimaced. "I'd bet it came through one of these tunnels. If it was traveling through the entrance in Myrtles bathroom she'd have been petrified or reported it." he noted, he led the way back into the main chamber and over to the Minister and Professor. He jabbed his finger at the tunnel. "There are side passages with tunnels opened by parseltongue through those. They should be safe, considering you need to speak the language to open them."
The minister was shaking her head. "All the same, Minerva could you perhaps see to warding the entrances to them while you're down here?"
The deputy headmistress nodded. "I'll see to it at once."
She and Harry watched the adults drift off again, before wandering to the side to observe. Kara was standing off to the side, watching with that intense gaze she sometimes got. Hermione had only seen it once or twice in the time she'd known her, but each time she saw it she got the impression Kara was significantly more than she appeared. There was a hawkishness to her gaze, and a sort of calculating cast to her face which made Hermione suspect she was planning.
Although, it might just be this place making me paranoid. She speculated as she watched Myrtle attempt to deal a kick to the basilisk's corpse. It seemed to have everyone on edge. The Minister was talking in a hushed voice with Tonks off to one side, and the Goblins wore wary expressions.
She only came back to the present when Harry sighed and massaged his forehead, and grimaced.
Then there was Harry. He was so different lately. There was much that had been explained in recent weeks, but even now she felt she was missing something, there was a hunted look in his eyes, and he spoke evasively. Not just like he wished not to worry her, but like he couldn't talk about something which was bothering him.
She reached out hesitantly and squeezed his shoulder. "Are you alright Harry?" She asked gently.
He smiled wanly. "Just some bad memories thanks to that thing. I'm just glad it's dead."
She considered him. Then took a guess at which memories he was referring to. "I should have been more careful."
He caught her meaning and shook his head. "It's not your fault Hermione, that thing was hunting you." He growled jerking his head at the beast.
She grimaced, "Still…It was a small mercy, I suppose, that I wasn't aware while I was petrified." She decided. It could have been worse. It very nearly was.
Harry shuddered. "That, has got to be one of my all time worst memories. Seeing you…" He gulped. "Cold and grey like that?" He glanced at his hands, which shook slightly.
She regretted bringing it up and gave him a hug. "Shhhh Harry, it's alright, I got better. Remember?"
He shook his head against her shoulder. "I almost lost you Hermione, and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it."
"But you didn't, I'm still here." She tried to reassure him.
He sighed. "But how long will you be, if you stay near me? It's not safe—being my friend. I couldn't bear it, to lose you?"
She just held him, silently buoyed by his admission that she meant that much to him. She wondered if there was something to Kara or her mother's assertions. But now wasn't the time to test that. This was not the place, not the time. Not in this filthy tomb. Possibly the least romantic location she'd ever seen.
She decided to try taking his mind off things. "So—I've been practicing my occlumency. I finished reading the book—And I think I've gotten what it had to teach down. Would you be willing to help me look over my defences some time?" She suggested, releasing him.
He glanced at her then away, clearly a bit embarrassed by his show of emotion. "You sure? Do you really want me to do that?"
She smiled. "I trust you Harry, even if you make it through my defences I can't see you being a burke about it."
He nodded agreement. "Okay, sure. Maybe tomorrow we can look it over?" He suggested. Then appeared to think of something. "I'll have to ask Kara and Tonks if they have mental defences. Something Kara said, suggested she might, and Tonks is an Auror…I'll have to check sometime…" He cut off as they spotted Ragnok waving them over.
As they approached the Goblins managed to somehow haul the beasts bulk out of the water it had half been lying in. "Hello again Harry, we should have an appraisal ready by the end of tomorrow." Ragnok greeted dusting himself off. "However there is one thing I wanted to talk to you about before we go over preferences as to it's disposition." Harry indicated he should continue. "As you know, you have requested an audience with a specialist from Gringotts on the subject of Dark Artifacts" This was news to Hermione, but something in Harry's demeanour must have told the Goblin it was safe to talk around her.
The Goblin nodded. "The specialist, was when I first checked, not available to meet until a later date, however earlier this morning I…received word that they would be able to meet with you this evening following your other meetings with the shipwrights and master builders."
"I would be happy to meet with them whenever they are willing." Harry agreed.
"Good, good. Then let us haul this monster back to Gringotts, and you can get on with your day."
It occurred to Hermione that Goblins really were not ones to waste words.