The Prince-Who-Lived

Chapter Forty-two

The next day was tense. Umbridge called Harry down to her office and forced tea on him, but Harry faked drinking it, answering her inquiries tiredly, cautiously, and unhelpfully. Most of them he couldn't answer anyways, but when she finished and coldly informed him she'd find out everything, he widened his eyes and then hurried out to fetch his mirror to his parents. Neither picked up. The rest of the week was no better, even with Easter holidays starting. Nobody was releasing any information, even inside the school.

Finally, three days after Umbridge was raised Headmistress Harry put down his cutlery and turned his gaze firmly onto Ginny.

"Where were you last night?"

"Detention." Ginny answered lightly. She didn't look at him. She reminded him of Lucille in all her contrary glory, and his mouth tightened.

"Oh? And what was the cause of this detention?"

"Insubordination."

"And what was the punishment?"

"Nothing much." Ginny shrugged delicately. "Just helping out Filch."

"Nothing much." Harry repeated. He sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "You know, that would work better if Blaise, Alan, and Salvador weren't saying the exact same thing in the exact same way. What the Hell is going on?" Harry growled, and slammed his fist onto the table. "Nobody is saying anything, much less my parents and I'm tired of all the secrets!"

Ginny turned a frosty glare on him and quickly gathered her things up, hands shaking. "Fine. I'll just leave then, so you don't have to look at me while I keep secrets!"

Harry watched her go with a feeling of helplessness. He wasn't the only one; Neville and Hermione looked almost identical as they turned as she went, and Ron had forgotten his food. Harry looked them over, and Neville just shrugged. Hermione sighed. "We don't know anything either, Harry. I hadn't even noticed the Slytherins were being silent about something."

"It takes practice to know what they look like when they're tense." Harry brushed her off. "I can't get anything out of them either. What the Hell could be going on?"

"Threats." Neville offered quietly. "Filch has been rather pleased with himself lately."

"Of course he is." Harry shrugged. "Umbridge has been playing to him for so long … He said something about her getting an order of expulsion for Peeves – good luck with that working – and then about some sort of authorization. Umbridge likes us as quiet as he does, of course he's happy."

Neville started to play with his dinner plate with a thoughtful expression, but Harry was too incensed to care. He looked back at Hermione and then sighed once more, gathered his books and standing. "I'm going to the library to study. Are you guys done?"

Ron pushed away his plate and grabbed his bag. Hermione and Neville quickly followed suit, and they tramped up to a common table to put their stuff together and begin revising.

IIII

Things heated up rather quickly once more. With Alan and his becoming relatively quiet, the Inquisitorial Squad got more brazen. The first week of Easter holidays, Neville sent four of them to the hospital wing for mocking him and calling him a whore. He got detention, three days in a row. Interestingly enough, it didn't change him much – he'd been quiet for months now, and this wasn't any different, but Harry had had it with secrets. The evening after his detentions finished, Harry pinned him in the dorm and Neville simply looked at him, and then crawled beyond his hangings. Harry followed: Neville's secrecy spells were better than his. Neville put a finger against his lips, and then raised his sleeves. His wrists were red and raw – not bleeding, but clearly painful, and then he turned and doffed his robe, raising his shirt. Red stripes crossed his back.

Harry felt like he couldn't breathe. This was ten times worse than the blood quill, and it was only detention with Filch. He was whipping students? It was unbelievable, but Harry couldn't think … there was little else it could be from what Neville had just shown him, and it would most definitely explain why Alan had become cautious but why weren't they talking … threats. Oh, so Slytherin …

"Threats?" Harry offered quietly. Neville shrugged and then nodded firmly. "Merlin, Mary, and Mordred." Harry moaned.

"It's another three days for letting someone else know." Neville offered quietly. "Personally, I think it'd be less painful than leaving you in the dark again to hound everyone."

Harry laughed bitterly, but a look at Neville's face told him that Neville was telling only a sliver of the truth. They were brothers. Neville couldn't bring himself to keep a secret from him, and Harry promised to not lie to Neville again. He wouldn't keep a secret either.

Harry smiled thinly. "Well, you didn't tell me anything. I remembered Filch was ever so excited about getting permission to whip students and figured it out myself from your stiff backs."

Neville smiled sickly. "Ah, but she wouldn't care. It's all just another reason to punish a student, particularly one of those who are defying her such as me, or you, or Alan. The names Weasley, Longbottom, and Potter are rather forfeit in her eyes."

Harry ground his teeth, and then stuck his head out of the curtains, flashing his wand to open his trunk and summon out his communications mirror. It slipped into the hangings, and Harry eyed it before turning to Neville.

"She didn't let you take it to Pomfrey, did she?"

"Same thing as telling."

"But she didn't say anything about healing it yourself?"

Neville tilted his head carefully. "She'd probably disapprove of it, but she never said anything, no. I don't know any healing spells quite good enough to do for this, and I – well, really. I don't want it to happen again."

Harry frowned, but it made sense. "Fair enough. However, it still makes me think we should learn some healing spells. Maybe we could talk Madam Pomfrey into coming down to the Chamber with the rest of our group sometime this week. Even if Geoffrey can't teach us, enough students know the spells we could teach ourselves. You almost had your Patronus back."

Neville blinked, and then nodded. He'd learned the spell years ago, but after being attacked by Bellatrix, he just couldn't make the spell work. He'd gotten the white mist, but it was incorporeal, but before they'd had to leave, a shape had slowly begun to coalesce.

"How are you going to communicate the idea to Alan and Blaise?" Neville asked quietly. "Interhouse relations are being discouraged by Slytherin."

Harry grinned. "But they aren't discouraging Ravenclaws from going over there other than Luna."

Neville shook his head. "Harry," He whined, but couldn't hide his amusement, "That's because they're all scared shitless of Jonas."

"Good enough for my purposes."

"You're willing to owe him a favour?" Neville gaped. "You sure you wanna know what sort of nonsense he'll ask for?"

"It's worth it." Harry insisted. "And we just need to get another set of mirrors over here, maybe two. If mum can get me two, you and Blaise can be connected, and me and Alan."

"How are you going to get your mother to send you those? Everything coming in is being checked."

"They're just mirrors."

"And getting four of them isn't suspicious?"

"So we disguise them as one mirror, then"

"You have to set the names first. The mirrors turn cloudy when talked at with no activation."

Harry tapped his chin, and sighed, falling onto his back. "Disguising them as one mirror is effective, but we can't have one of them on the front. Someone who can get a mirror would have to be a girl … a possibly odd mirror should go to Luna, because she can get Blaise and Alan their mirrors, and then you and me ours. Mother knows I'm friends with Alan, and Luna is his girlfriend … they also know the Lovegoods, so she can easily send Luna a gift … even an odd one … but how …"

"And how are you going to talk your mother into smuggling you those?" Neville asked. "What reason?"

Harry sat up and looked at him oddly. "The truth, of course. I know about this … punishment when I shouldn't anyways, and I'm not going to sit down and let her do this sort of thing to the school. If they expel me, mum can just send me to Salem."

Neville's lips tightened, but he didn't argue. Harry pulled up the mirror and quickly spoke, "Lily, mum." The glass clouded, and then cleared, revealing a tired Lily who smiled brightly upon seeing Harry's face.

"Harry! What are you doing calling me? Miss me already?" She looked mildly haggard, but still as elegant as always.

"Hey mum." Harry offered. "Of course I miss you, especially with how ridiculous the school's gotten. Did you know she set up students as her own police force, and they're running rampant?"

Lily frowned. "I'm not surprised."

"Yeah, and they're keeping Slytherin isolated, so I have no chance to talk to Alan or Blaise. In the interest of that, can you send two sets of communication mirrors to me for that? But you can't send it directly to me." Harry quickly amended. "I was thinking, if you could disguise them with a real mirror, you could send them to Luna and get her to give them to Alan and Blaise and then me and Neville, because Ravenclaw isn't so restricted as the polar opposites of Gryffindor and Slytherin."

Lily tapped her chin and nodded slowly. "I could certainly manage something like that. Would you be able to pass the plan to Luna?"

"Easily. Ginny's good friends with her, and so's Nanna and Melanie. They can relay the idea quickly enough."

"And to get into Slytherin?"

"Luna knows a Ravenclaw who's still welcome there."

Lily watched his face and then smiled thinly. "You twitched. What aren't you telling me?"

Harry did not want his parents quizzing him about Jonas. However, there were other things he didn't want to mention he could give up … He carefully looked at her, and then looked away, biting his lip.

"As your mother, Harry, please tell me."

"I … kinda found out by accident when I shouldn't have … you remember Filch, right?" Lily nodded sternly, her expression still iron-hard. "Well, Umbridge won him over to her side with a few promises, including the expulsion of Peeves. But … you know what else he kept complaining about?"

Lily's expression darkened so quickly, Harry wondered why he wasn't hearing thunder. "She didn't. Harry, tell me she didn't."

Harry squirmed. "I haven't gotten detention yet and neither has Nanna, but I'm not holding out on myself … but … Alan, Blaise and his aren't talking about it, and neither's Ginny. I … I actually only know because Neville told me."

"Alice hasn't been informed he got detention again."

"Well, you see … she's telling them to keep silent or they get another detention for telling."

Lily looked surprisingly scary. Harry was glad she wasn't angry with him, even if it still made him twitch. "Have any of them seen Madam Pomfrey?"

"Umbridge told them not to tell her either. But I want the communications mirror so that I can arrange with Alan and Blaise to bring a group of us to the Chamber and learn some healing spells, even if we can't use them on each other yet without getting caught. I thought they'd be really useful to know." Harry grinned weakly. "I think Pomfrey will greatly support the idea."

Lily sighed heavily. "I'll do it. I have an idea of how to hide the mirrors so they won't be found. Tell Luna the idea, and I'll have it there in two days at the most, but on the condition you contact Pomfrey about teaching you all healing spells. And Harry?"

Harry quickly looked up at the tone, and blinked at the firm expression she wore.

"Harry, you will contact me if she ever draws your blood again. I don't care why; I don't care how. If you bleed, you will tell me. If Neville, or your sister, or Ginny or anyone … I want to know immediately. She will not harm my son like that."

"Mum, what can you do?" Harry sighed. "She's the ministry."

"Maybe I can't do anything now," Lily growled, "but the moment I can that woman will pay for it." She sighed, and returned to smiling weakly. "I love you, Harry, alright? You'll get the mirrors. I don't think I can tell your dad about this right now. He'd overreact." Harry laughed with her. 'James would overreact' was an understatement. More like the Marauders would storm the Ministry.

Harry let the mirror dull and smiled at Neville. Neville only smiled weakly back, and Harry frowned sternly at him. "She will not find out you told me, Neville. I promise."

Neville simply shook his head and shooed him out. Harry could tell he didn't believe him. When did Neville become so pessimistic? He looked like he was preparing himself for pain. Harry didn't like that look, and he put away his mirror with a frown before darting downstairs. Ginny, Nanna, and Melanie were not in sight, but Hermione was working on her homework, and a few of the other girls were sitting around, laughing and talking quietly. Approaching Hermione brought a hiss from a furious Crookshanks, so Harry left a message with Romilda to tell Melanie he wanted to speak with her in the morning. Romilda squeaked and blushed before nodding too quickly. Harry sighed, and went back upstairs.

Great. The school was falling apart, and he still had to deal with schoolgirl crushes.

IIII

It worked remarkably well to get the mirrors between them all. Luna outright walked over to the Gryffindor table and kissed Harry and Neville on the cheeks, thanking him for his mother's gift of a glorious mirror. She slipped their mirrors into their laps as she did so, and then wandered back to the Ravenclaw table without a care. Nobody called her on it. Later that evening, Neville poked his head through Harry's hangings and sat on his bed, bespelling his curtains once more to reinforce the secrecy spells. His mirror was showing a tired Blaise. Harry's shivered and glowed, and Harry heard Alan calling his name. Harry smiled.

"Hey Alan, how are you?"

"Fine. How'd you get Jonas to play messenger boy?"

"I told him I'd owe him a small favour, and yes, I know how dangerous that is but I don't really care."

Alan's face twisted and he laughed quietly, but he clearly didn't like it. "Well, so long as you acknowledge it. What did you get us the mirrors for, anyways? It wouldn't just be to chat, especially if you went to the effort to get Blaise one as well."

"I was thinking, and I figured out what I presume your silence is about," Harry ignored it as Alan's face closed, "but if we asked, Madam Pomfrey would likely teach us healing spells."

"We can't heal the marks. I've been checked twice. The woman is a serious sadist; she was present for both of them, and I don't know if it was just because it was me, or if she's there for each of them. I know Salvador got extra marks for healing himself the first time."

Harry swallowed at the news, and nodded carefully. "Even if we can't heal these, we can at least learn the spells for a later time, at a later date. They're not bad spells to know." Harry smirked, "It'll make Madam Pomfrey feel better, too."

Alan sighed, but it was more just a sad noise. "It makes sense. It does, so I guess I'll get them all together. It is Easter Break; it should be fairly easy to get in if you and yours go through first. Bring the badgers, if you like, and you get to be the one to summon Pomfrey."

Harry nodded. "Of course. And I doubt I'll bring the badgers; Hannah is going spare. Pulling her from her hardcore studying would kill her."

Alan smiled fondly. "She's been getting tutored by Geoffrey for the past three weeks. Alright, Blaise go scoot elsewhere to talk with Neville."

Neville heard the admonition and said goodbye to Alan and Harry before returning to his own bed. Once they were gone, Alan looked at Harry and frowned. "Neville could get in big trouble for telling you."

"He didn't tell me." Harry answered blithely; answering with his tone the unasked question that Neville had indeed told him. "Filch himself told me. He outright said Umbridge was giving him permission to torture students, and when everyone went silent I drew the natural conclusion."

Alan sighed. "If he even confirmed your suspicions he's in trouble."

"He's started to avoid me, in fact, same as Ginny." Harry answered blandly, but he frowned and sighed, rolling over and laying down his head. "Actually, he's still preparing himself for the pain. When did he lose himself so badly, Alan?"

"Harry, you know how badly he was hurt at the end of break." Alan quietly offered. "I … I half think he was hurt worse than I was, in the graveyard. It was cut and dry; his wasn't. The confusion is probably half of what's killing him."

"What's to be confused about; it was rape." Harry whined. It was surprisingly easy to talk without watching his words or tone when he couldn't see Alan's face. When he knew he was far away.

"Harry, rape's never that simple. I guess you're just in a bad position, because you can't understand but you care so much."

"Bad position is the short of it." Harry groused. "And the Umbitch isn't helping."

"I know." Alan sighed. "Jonas is planning something, I'm sure of it, but he seems to be working through the twins right now."

"The twins aren't minding." Harry answered softly. "They're having a grand time planning the end of the break. They're being quiet right now in deference of the studying for the OWLs."

"How thoughtful." Alan softly offered. "I'll have to make them cookies."

Harry blinked. "You can cook?"

"Of course I can cook!" Alan shot. He was clearly offended, but when Harry looked, his lips were curled into a small smile. "It's the same thing as making Potions, you idiot, except much easier. And don't ever quote that in front of my father, or he'll find some way to give you a zero for the day."

Harry snickered quietly. "I'd like to try some of your cookies. You can bring them when we meet. Saturday sound good?"

"Two days before we go back to class." Alan observed. "Sounds like it works. You get to talk to Pomfrey tomorrow, then?"

"Tomorrow or Friday." Harry nodded. "Probably tomorrow. Early on Saturday?"

"Don't you have Quidditch practice?"

"That's evening."

Alan laughed quietly. "Works great, then. Jonas doesn't have practice either."

"He plays Quidditch?"

"He moved to reserve this year to give his replacement practice; he's not as idiotic about it as some. I think he plans on playing the last game, though. He's a Chaser."

"Weird." Harry offered. He mustn't have noticed in previous years; he supposed Jonas hadn't been anyone of note outside Ravenclaw. "Have you seen the pamphlets, for jobs?"

"Yeah. Not much interests me. I plan on moving back to America after all this is over, when I finally get a job. I'll probably be a teacher, researcher … maybe Auror reserve. Uncle Freyr would appreciate that. Green would love to have a helper who can put up with his insanity. What do you plan?"

"I don't know." Harry sighed. "I've sometimes thought of being an auror, but …"

"You'd be compared with your father."

Harry tilted the mirror and nodded where Alan could see him.

"You could try a career with Potions. You're decent. You could even be a mediwizard, or curse breaker."

"My arithmancy sucks."

"Hit up Hermione or Neville for help. You could do fine."

Harry laughed bitterly. "Whatever."

Alan grinned. "You could go for Law. Your name would serve you there; you could be a British/American liaison, or a vampire liaison."

"You keep telling me my head will explode if I try and learn about vampires."

"Given time, it'd stop swelling." Alan replied straight-faced.

Harry huffed. "Well, how about I just take every class I qualify for then?"

"That could be a lot of work." Alan commented, but he didn't sound derisive.

"It'd leave my options open, that way."

Alan smiled thinly. "Most definitely. You going to be able to handle several NEWT classes?"

Harry shrugged and yawned. "How many do you think you'll take?"

"Depends on my scores. Mostly what I happen to do well in, same as you. I'll take quite a few, though; else I'll get harangued for being lazy going back to Salem. Everyone's expecting me to be top notch for having gone to Hogwarts, which has its lovely reputation whether they agree, or not. I think they're going to make me take the tests back home too just to be contrary and compare the systems."

Harry snickered even as he sighed, "Poor thing."

Alan stuck out his tongue. "I've half a mind to drag you to take the test too, you know."

"Make Neville take it. He likes tests."

Alan shook his head. "Neville's just unnatural. Go to bed, Harry. You're dead tired. You've shown me your tonsils at least twice."

Harry yawned again; Alan whined, and Harry shook his head. "If you're so offended, leave. I do need to sleep."

"See you Saturday, then?"

"Yeah, Saturday. If I survive Madam Pomfrey."

"Good luck. I would like to learn healing spells."

"Yessir. Goodnight." And Harry abruptly cut the line. Alan would linger if he didn't, the twit, just to see how long Harry would tough it out. The problem with mirrors was that he couldn't cuff him for it.

IIII

Talking to Pomfrey proved more difficult than Harry expected. She agreed immediately. She simply insisted on knowing why he suddenly asked. She was better at fishing for information than Harry was, and she made the connection a lot faster than he had. She puffed up in outrage, and then forced herself to relax before dismissing Harry curtly, telling him to drop by Saturday morning as he'd planned. Harry repeated that she had to keep quiet until Pomfrey threatened to carry him out. He left with a knot of worry, but made himself swallow it before returning to studying. With a plan of action, he actually succeeded this time. Everyone who had gone the time before easily agreed to meet there once again. Fred and George offered to bring down a breakfast from the kitchens along with Jonas, which was an immediate hit.

Because of the need to stagger their disappearances, Harry brought Neville, Hermione, Ron, and Madam Pomfrey through first, and then waited in the bathroom under his invisibility cloak. Most of the Gryffindors showed up early, as did Lucille and Salvador, but when Luna showed up with Susan, Harry's heart jumped into his throat. He'd forgotten how he reacted to Susan. Even with short hair, she was still the prettiest girl he knew. After several minutes to get himself back together, during which Susan and Luna started talking – Susan nervous, Luna in her usual distracted manner – Harry pulled off the cloak. Susan's squeak and blush were gratifying, except for the fact that –

"Why Harry, I didn't know you and Alan were both susceptible to princhetts."

Susan took the excuse to look away and frowned at Luna. "Luna, Harry does not have a problem with princhetts."

Luna tilted her head and smiled dreamily. "But the red colour in both your cheeks says you've got them and haven't gotten rid of them."

"What do I have to do with anything?" Susan immediately defended, the traitorous colour only rising further.

"Only a pair can attract princhetts. You have to flirt to satisfy them, you know. You got them the first time around but they're getting a little flustered. Just kiss him."

Harry was sure his face was beet red; Susan turned to face him and she looked as red as he felt.

"I didn't know she'd do this, but she said you and your friends were doing some studying and I asked if I could come. Hannah is frantic, and I just wanted to take a break from bookwork. Usually you're a lot more hands on." Her colour abruptly deepened.

"No problem." Harry shook his head to rid himself of a strong mental image he did not need. "The more the merrier. If you'll give me a second,"

The door opened again, and without missing a beat, "Gee Harry, you're red in the face."

Harry felt like swearing, but didn't want to offend Susan. The twins had just come in.

"Harry's looking red? Oh, he is. Ahhh, the fair damsel."

Both walked in with something unseen resting in their arms. Behind them, Jonas also held an invisible bundle. They were looking between Harry and Susan with wicked smiles. To avoid more scrutiny, Harry turned to try and focus on the tap, but it was rather pointless when they kept talking.

"Small wonder he's red, with something so beautiful in the room. Why haven't we brought along our sweet armfuls?"

"Because neither of them wanted to waste studying time with irreverent wastrels who don't care about grades?" Jonas added. Both twins immediately protested, and Harry finally hissed the password. Susan gasped as the sink disappeared into the floor, revealing the tunnel beyond. Luna immediately stepped up and slid down, screaming for joy. Harry blushed, and stepped back, giving Susan a small half bow. She stepped up to look down it dubiously.

"Is it safe?"

"Of course it is." Harry reassured her. "I've been down there loads of times. We had a gathering just like this last week and nobody got hurt." Harry swatted at one of the twins who was miming pushing her down. "Now hurry up and go before the twins get it in their heads to push you, would you? I'll see you down there."

Susan looked behind herself worriedly and then sat down and slid after waving a short goodbye. Harry made the twins wait, and then stepped aside to let them time themselves going down. Jonas gave Harry a shrewd look before going down.

"You owe me, do you?"

"A small favour." Harry clarified, nodding. "Thank you for getting the mirrors to Blaise and Alan."

Jonas smiled thinly. "I'll keep it in mind."

Harry watched him go feeling a little out of sorts. He had needed the help. Jonas couldn't ask for anything too dangerous, not for something so small. He was just an unnerving sort of person – Harry was fairly confident Jonas had few or no friends at all in the school. He'd probably scared them all off. Still, Harry was just as confident he did not want to meet his family. He was going to have to ask what his parents knew of the Hodges one of these days.

It wasn't more than another half-hour before the rest of the group came in. Harry made himself wait until the last person was through as he had the invisibility cloak, and then he slipped down and closed it. He walked quickly through to the far room, and found them all just setting out the food. Ron immediately shouted at him,

"You forgot the second door!"

Harry stopped his flinch and made up an excuse, "I didn't want you eating all the food before I got down here!"

Everyone laughed, and Alan shook his head sadly. He'd taken the seat at the front again – everyone had sat pretty much the same as they had the last time, although Fred and George had not bothered to take a seat, and Madam Pomfrey was sitting in one of their places. She was watching the gathering as closely as some of the students were watching her, but there was a small smile across her mouth and she took the same initiative to begin the breakfast the twins had brought, not speaking up but just watching the students interact.

The food was finished off with the twins enchanting the last strawberries to fly, and Nanna, Melanie, and Dillan had grand fun chasing them. It looked too coincidental for Dillan to have run into Nanna towards the end and caught the strawberry she was after. And then when he offered to share it … well, Harry just rolled his eyes and ignored it. He would not embarrass his sister. He would not. Because she'd kill him if he went overprotective, and he didn't think Jonas would appreciate him interfering with Dillan either.

Either way, Alan stood and made use of the glass and cutlery he'd spared from being vanished. Harry was mildly jealous of his conjuring ability, although not of his companion's requested details. The purple and yellow on Luna's plate was a little sickening, even with the green accents. The ringing sound brought everyone's attention back to the table, and Alan smiled.

"Right, we are gathered here together to learn once more. This week's teacher is going to be Madam Pomfrey. We'll be learning healing techniques."

The number of people who looked away, squirmed, or froze was very telling of how well the group gathered got along with Madam Umbridge. Susan was one of few who were confused. Nanna, Melanie, Tracey, and all but one of Stephanie's friends were also out of the loop. Madam Pomfrey stood, but Jonas spoke first.

"If we're going to be talking about this, we need something to keep those who can't keep a secret silent. Maybe some of you are suckers for pain, but if I get detention again, I want to have earned it."

"I would like to know how many of you have gotten these 'detentions' first." Madam Pomfrey asked. Her voice was steel. "I gather you have been forbidden to come to me, or to speak of it, but I would still like to know. How many?"

Soft looks were exchanged, and Blaise asked, "Do you know a spell you could use for this, Jonas?"

"Depends on what all happened that this was brought up."

Pomfrey nodded. "Harry came to ask about learning healing. He mentioned none of the reasons, but I pressed. When he said it had occurred to him during a detention with Filch, I gathered that Filch, who has been inordinately pleased with himself, had gotten permission from Umbridge to break out a whip once more."

"That's good." Jonas nodded. "But I know Harry hasn't gotten detention. Who told him?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I figured it out the same way?" Harry said blithely. He didn't think for a moment any of them would believe him, but he'd be damned if he's say it.

"I showed him." Neville quietly admitted.

Harry turned to glare at him. Was Neville trying to get himself hurt?

Jonas looked them both over, and Harry angrily continued.

"Filch took me to see Madam Umbridge the day after she became Headmistress and told me Umbridge was going to give him the freedom to use his whips and chains again. Maybe I was stupid and didn't catch on until Neville showed me, but I had everything I needed to know beforehand. And I will stand by that I figured it out myself."

Jonas was looking at him with interest now, and he quirked a small smile. "I suppose that works, then." He didn't say anything else, pulling out his wand and casting a quick spell. Several people cried out; two jumped out of their seats, and Alan and Neville both reflexively raised shields that were completely unaffected. Jonas sat back down, ignoring the rest of the now infuriated group.

"Jonas, what the Hell was that?" Alan growled. "We hadn't agreed to anything; you were out of line!"

"It's a basic secrecy spell. All of us can only speak the truth on the matter involved: Those who were uninformed can only say that as of that point they were not informed, unless they suffer the conditions to bring them to the other side of the spell, where they will be able to always say they haven't told. It's complicated. Only people who might have difficulties are Harry and Neville, but Neville never said a word, and Harry knew about it beforehand. Easily solved matter, especially since he'll probably get a detention soon enough anyways. I was mostly worried about the little Gryffs and the badger. It's taken care of. Go on."

Alan glared at him for a long moment before he jerked his hand in what had to be a rude gesture, and then turned back to addressing everyone else.

"All those who have had a detention with Filch, please raise your hands."

Roughly half did so. Most of them were Alan's direct friends; only four were not Slytherin. The only one that surprised Harry was Luna. Madam Pomfrey's lips were tight.

"So." She breathed. "Whipping, was it?"

Jonas snorted. "Well, I got to enjoy four hours hanging by my ankles too, but that's nothing new."

Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know the story behind that one.

"I was just hung like that for mine." Luna breezily answered. "Then again, the detentions weren't major. I was just odd."

Alan's tight face didn't agree with her statement, but he swallowed and just sighed. "I suppose most of the detentions were because we disagreed with the Inquisitorial Squad or wouldn't listen. I'd guess Jonas' were for something else, perhaps being an ass, but either way we disagreed with the powers-that-be. Anyways, it doesn't matter. We just want to practice the spells we went over with Geoffrey, and learn a few healing spells for a later date when we aren't being frisked as often as the owls." His gaze returned to Madam Pomfrey and she reluctantly nodded.

"Could you give me a few minutes? I brought some things I might like to set up."

"Certainly." Alan agreed easily. "We can practice some of the spells Geoffrey took us through in the meantime. Just call us over when you're ready." Alan stood, and shooed everyone from the table, following as everyone moved into the bare space near the statue. There were a few black marks on the statue from the last practice, but Alan told everyone to work on Patroni. Harry moved over to him immediately and quietly asked,

"Have you gotten any word on Regulus?"

Alan's mouth tightened. "They haven't said word one. Severus won't let me into his chambers anymore, and Geoffrey is never in; he's always at the Ministry when he has a spare moment. Ginger told me he was working on it, and that he didn't want me informed for fear of me overreacting."

Harry winced. Alan laughed bitterly.

"Yeah, it's stupid. But it's probably because of how goddamn stressed out he is. Something's wrong; I think that's why he didn't bother having her lie. Because I'd know immediately. At least I know he isn't lying to me. I need to focus. Go goose Susan to make her succeed."

Harry flinched. "Alan …"

Alan just grinned unrepentantly. "What? Everyone knows you like her."

"But what about Daphne?"

"You can goose her too. Get."

Alan gave him a shove and Harry stumbled away. Susan was struggling. It probably didn't help that she blushed hard enough to make herself sway slightly when she noticed Harry looking her way. However, she tried again to create a patronus and managed a half-solid form, partway through the air. When she found it forming, she yelped and lost it. Harry managed to clear his throat enough to say, "Good job," and then moved past her and stopped. He was staring at a very familiar looking lizard whose head reached his collarbone. Looking past the silver patronus, Harry found himself looking at a conflicted Neville. He blinked quietly, and Neville shrugged before letting the creature dissipate. Harry smiled truly as he said, "Good job."

Neville shrugged awkwardly again, and walked past Harry with a quiet, "I'll go check on Susan, then. You two would die of embarrassment."

Harry tried to maintain his composure, but was saved when Ron screamed and someone laughed out loud. Harry turned, and his lips quirked. Julianna had managed her patronus again, then. Ron was less than pleased with the silver acromantula that had purposefully scurried over to his area.

Alan called out and everyone let their patroni subside. In the momentary silence, Jonas called out, "We should get a boggart in here. Someone's gotta have a dementor fear we can practice against. Wouldn't hurt to practice against boggarts either. Some people haven't owned up to their fears."

Harry's eyes found Neville without thinking and Neville was pale and sweating even thinking about it. Harry wasn't sure what to think of his. Would it remain his fear of James? Would it have changed? He didn't know. Several others looked nervous as well, and Alan's considering eyes seemed to be weighing the pros and cons. Harry offered his thoughts.

"Would we have a promise to not use each others fears against them?"

Jonas sneered. "Scared for yourself?"

Harry eyed him flatly.

"Jonas, you still don't like facing your own, you pussy." Dillan called. "And Nicholas said you used to be terrified of him. At least now you're one of those who's scared of a dementor."

Jonas opened his mouth and shut it quickly with a glare at Dillan. Harry hadn't thought anyone had the gall to jibe Jonas. Harry suspected it was because Nanna looked mildly sick. What was she scared of? Harry didn't know. He felt mildly ashamed of the fact, but shook it off when he reminded himself she didn't know his either. Of course, his was currently in limbo … or he hoped so, at least.

Either way, Jonas hadn't moved to injure Dillan, something Harry suspected was both a good thing and very uncommon. Alan walked back over – Harry hadn't seen him leave, but apparently he'd gone to check in with Madam Pomfrey – and he quickly commanded everyone's attention again.

"Madam Pomfrey will be ready in a few minutes, so just idle about. Snog against the pillars, feel each other up out of sight, but don't get too distracted." Alan nodded, and then cut through the groups to meet Harry. Harry stuck out his tongue, but smiled and Alan smiled back before commenting, "Do you think Jonas is aware his spell failed on at least seven people?"

Harry tilted his head and thought about it. He hadn't felt anything when Jonas had cast the spell. "Did he miss on purpose?"

Alan shook his head. "It was like a net, but it just suddenly developed holes where some people sat. The only difference was when it hit Blaise and Julianna. Both of them just had the net … flow around them without sticking. But for you, myself, Raina, Neville and Salvador it was like it suddenly developed convenient holes."

"Aren't we all the highest in strength?"

Alan frowned. "Jonas is stronger than Blaise and Julianna. Raina is about equal; Salvador is a little weaker. Neville is easily the strongest after us, although Hermione isn't far behind him. However, she is under the spell."

"Perhaps knowledge plays a part?" Harry offered.

"Luna is under it …" Alan commented, but he was clearly thinking. "I suppose it would. Blaise is just strong enough to resist, I suppose."

"And stubborn enough."

Alan looked over at Harry's smile and nodded shortly. "That too. C'mon, the cookies aren't coming out until we're done."

Harry grinned at the reminder that Alan could cook, and Madam Pomfrey called to the students, bringing everyone back to the table. Harry smiled far more vindictively as he moved up next to Jonas. Jonas flinched a moment as he looked at him, but after a second he just nodded shortly.

Harry felt inordinately pleased at the acknowledgement. Jackass or not, foiling Jonas was no small thing. Even if it was accidental. But he still owed him that favour …

A/N: Yeah, sorry, late. *ducks head* Much apologied! But here's a bit more conflict, a bit more scary, and moving on towards the inevitable. Gotta love it. Thank you for reading, and much thanks for those who review!

Fire & Napalm