The Prince-Who-Lived
Chapter Fifty-six
Harry was more than pleased that Alan was back to normal less than a week after that accident. Alan shrugged it off like it was nothing, and reminded him he'd had worse potions accidents before that were not engineered. Blaise wasn't quite so blasé about it, but then again, he had to suffer through bad pirate jokes due to his wearing an eye patch for the week after to allow his eye to heal properly. Only Ginny was allowed the liberty to play-act with him as a pirate, mostly because she was his lovely damsel.
Harry was just glad he had the freedom to laugh about it upstairs while Blaise was holding his 'damsel' 'hostage'.
The Christmas season was broached with Harry abruptly growing some again, making him markedly taller than Hermione, something he considered a thing to be grateful for. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one grateful for it. Several girls also noticed he was attending Slughorn's parties and he had the bad luck to be seen dressed up going to and from them – and when word got around he hadn't asked anyone to the Christmas party, he started having to duck and dodge through secret passageways just to avoid the mistletoe. At least he wasn't alone – Neville often followed him, not wanting to risk one of the girls considering him as good a piece of meat as Harry. After four days of it, Harry swore to ask the next tolerable girl he saw – and nearly swallowed his tongue when it was Susan. Naturally, she noticed his gulp and sat down next to him at the library table.
"That was a loud noise, Harry." She pointed out shyly.
Harry shrugged, wishing he wasn't blushing so hard. "Just thinking about – stuff." Note to self: do not mention that girls are annoying to a girl.
Susan raised her eyebrow. "Having a little trouble with flirts?"
"Just a wee bit." Harry hedged. "Nothing really can deter a Gryffindor."
"I'm sure if you had a date to the party, they'd leave you alone." Susan pointed out.
Harry snapped up the lead. "Are you offering to go?" Harry smiled easily. He knew that game, at least; he just hoped she wouldn't slap him for it. Instead, she gave him a shrewd look.
"Why haven't you asked Daphne?"
Harry opened and closed his mouth before snapping it shut. Why hadn't he? Because he wasn't sure which girl he wanted to take more. Oh, Merlin, Mary and Mordred, why hadn't he asked Hermione?
Because he wanted Neville to. Dammit. Trapped in his own choices.
"I'm not entirely sure how I feel about her." Harry finally managed.
"And you're taking me as second fiddle?" Susan asked archly. Harry scowled back at her.
"You did get asked to the Yule Ball, you know." He pointed out. "Daphne got a snog in a broom closet because she stalked and ambushed me."
"She almost hurt you!" Susan snapped. "You were still cursed."
Harry flushed slightly. "Well, I said she was stalking me. She apparently got it out of Pomfrey that the curse was almost dead and if there was one more incitement of it, it'd wear itself out and … well, you know how fine a line between pleasure and pain it is. The last bit wasn't pain." He finished. "And, well, I wasn't arguing after that."
Susan giggled lightly. "Oh my. That had to be … interesting."
"It was very embarrassing." Harry admitted. "So, are you too offended to take advantage of the fact that you're here, I need a date, and Daphne's not got a monopoly yet?"
"I don't know." Susan hedged. "Are you sure Pomfrey hasn't got that monopoly you speak of?"
"Pomfrey?" Harry gaped. "Madam Pomfrey?" That was just low!
Susan giggled, and patted his hand. "It's alright, Harry." She said solemnly. "I know how it sometimes is, older women …"
Harry exaggerated his horrified reaction and shook his head violently. "No, no no no! Just no, Susan, no! Please, cease and desist!"
"What do I get out of it?" Susan asked innocently.
"I don't know, what do you want?" Harry asked from where his head was buried in his arms, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "I already offered everything I had, you horrible woman!"
"Can I get the same treatment Daphne got?"
Oh, she was blushing now. Harry was glad his head was already on his arms because he was feeling dizzy he was so red. The only consolation was that Susan looked as red as he felt. Quickly, Harry answered, "Anything!" His voice squeaked slightly.
Susan nodded rapidly. "Why thank you. When's the party, and where?"
Harry refused to lift his head. He was embarrassed enough. "Slughorn's quarters, on the twentieth. I can pick you up from Hufflepuff at eight if you don't want to meet me in the Entrance Hall. Just dress up nicely, much like the Yule Ball though probably a little less fancy."
Susan nodded, patted him on the cheek, and then pulled out her homework. "Would you help me with this?" She asked. "I don't understand the Arithmancy in this instance."
Harry lifted his head, hoping against hope he wasn't still blushing, and bent down the give the work a look. This was much less stressful. And hopefully it would get around quickly that he was taking Susan to the party. Maybe then the girls would leave him alone.
IIII
Two hours since they came to their agreement, Neville stormed in, blazingly angry.
"If Sophie Roper asks me if I'm getting my 'needs' met one more time, she is going to lose her lips!"
Harry glanced quickly up from where he was working with Susan and winced as his friend slammed his books down and fell into the chair. Susan quickly studied her nails and asked,
"Do you want me to threaten Lisa, Megan and Morag to get them off your back? I can at least get Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."
Neville gave her a pleading look. "Please! If I get any more requests like that, I'm going to injure somebody!"
"Why haven't you asked someone to accompany you to the party yet?" Susan queried. Harry hadn't bothered asking; he already knew why. He did not have unfounded hopes about his brother, after all. Neville ducked his head and didn't answer. Susan's look turned shrewd. "Neville, just ask her as a friend. Tell her you're hitting your breaking point, and I'm sure she'll agree. She's probably got a few boys giving her doe eyes too, you know, and if she hasn't accepted she'd probably welcome the reprieve herself."
Neville failed miserably to keep the hope out of his expression as he nodded shortly. He glanced at his books, apparently confused about what he'd been doing, and Susan put her hand up to stop him from leaving.
"Now pay me back and help me with my Defence essay. I didn't understand what he'd said about countering a jinx with a hex-base …"
Neville gave Harry an immediately betrayed look, but he was more amused than anything. Harry just smiled. Susan might be a Hufflepuff, but she was only a Slytherin with fuzzy slippers on sometimes.
IIII
Back in Gryffindor tower, Neville sighed, kicked up his feet and glared around the common room. Hermione wasn't back yet, and Harry just snickered at his put upon expression. Neville shot him a glare.
"You do remember Melanie warned you Romilda was considering love potions."
Harry flinched. "I hate your sister."
"I dunno, Harry," Neville grinned wickedly, "her reasoning has merit."
"It does not!" Harry argued. Oh, he hated Melanie's reasoning. Naturally, Neville quoted it.
"'What? He's a big boy; he's fought Voldemort. He can handle a few girls.'" Neville's falsetto voice drew several stares and short laughs. Harry gave him a death glare.
"Not funny. Just because I survived Death Eaters doesn't mean I can handle a bunch of teenaged girls."
"Aw, why not?" Neville chortled. "They're nice."
"Are you kidding me? Torture's a hell of a lot more forgiving than teenaged girls!"
Ron stopped just shy of their chairs and blinked rapidly. "Okay, I missed part of that conversation."
"Just discussing the ravenous females vying for our flesh." Neville deadpanned. "Sit down, relax, share what it's like to have a normal and sweet little Hufflepuff for a girlfriend rather than that conniving girl Harry's got."
Ron glanced at the fire and put on a dreamy look. Harry wasn't sure if he was faking or not. He wasn't sure which would be scarier.
"Hannah's just nice." He shrugged. "Pretty, sweet, non-demanding, understanding …"
"Fairly good at Transfiguration." Neville continued.
"That too!" Ron grinned. "Makes things so much easier, working with her!"
"There is always that." Harry allowed. "I hope you enjoy your evening. We'll be stuck in a crowded office with a bunch of nutballs, while all you have to do is stare at your very own vision of loveliness."
Ron blushed the classic Weasley red. Harry heard giggling moments before several girls in the lower years came over, one of which was holding a gillywater and a box of candy. A second look told him it might be Romilda Vane, but she was quite heavily made up, and the angle was bad; her back was to the fireplace.
"Would you like a gillywater, Harry?" She asked carefully.
"Er, no thanks." Harry managed awkwardly… C'mon, he'd survived Antonin and Fenrir, what was a teenaged girl?
"Oh. Well, do you want some cauldron cakes? I think my aunt put firewhiskey in them and I'm not sure I want to try them. Here." She thrust the box into his hand and waited, apparently expecting something. Harry couldn't think of anything but to accept the box, but he would sooner give Voldemort a noogie than eat anything she'd given him. That would be far worse than poison; it'd probably be a love potion. And if this failed, he'd probably be subjected to another attempt…
"Er, Romilda, right?" Harry asked carefully. She beamed at him, and Harry smiled awkwardly back before handing her the cauldron cakes. "I don't really like cauldron cakes, but thank you for the thought."
"Oh," She managed, "but I…" She flushed quickly, apparently at a loss.
Harry smiled crookedly. "If those have a love potion, maybe you should remember they'd wear off anyways and I'd probably be in a worse mood afterwards, hm?"
Oh, that was the wrong thing to say. Romilda looked somewhere between wanting to slap him and burst into tears. Forget girls; he'd rather deal with Death Eaters. At least they made more sense! He turned away and tried to ignore her, but there was an abrupt increase in angry mutterings from the girls off in the corner. He suspected someone started laughing and barely stifled it, but he stubbornly pretended it wasn't happening and glared at Neville and Ron as they tried to stifle their own laughter. Neville finally managed,
"Mate, I think we should be glad the other girls weren't here or you'd be in deep shit."
"Shut up Neville. Girls are worse than torture; I could at least say I wouldn't die of embarrassment."
"There is that." Neville allowed, although his expression became slightly solemn.
Harry sighed and put his head in his hands. Okay. Deep breath. How many days until Christmas break? Twelve? He would survive.
Really.
Shortly after that Harry got to watch Hermione come in and Neville leap to his feet, his hand nervously smoothing down his shirt as he walked over to her and had a quiet conversation. Hermione stiffened immediately at the beginning, but after several minutes she relaxed, smiled faintly, touching Neville's arm and nodding slowly. Neville grinned and snagged her hand, kissing it gently.
"Thank you for accepting." He continued, loud enough to be heard around the common room without seeming ostentatious. "I'll see you ready at eight, then?"
"Yes." Hermione answered, her amusement plain in her voice. "Considering you'll be in class with me all that day, I think I just might remember."
"Good." Neville reluctantly relinquished her hand and joined Harry where he already had all his books together. Neville was slightly pink and didn't respond to Harry's highly amused grin, even as they slipped upstairs. Neville always was good at being stubborn.
IIII
With all the stress about girls and the challenges they presented, it was a surprisingly pleasant but plain evening. Alan had happily brought Luna with him and spent most of the evening talking with Sanguini, as they got along splendidly much to Worple's dismay. Harry and Susan had only stayed for a little while before leaving early to take care of giving Susan a similar evening to the one Daphne had stolen a month or so earlier. Hermione and Neville managed to keep in each other's good graces and were far more comfortable talking together thereafter, and Blaise and Ginny, well… Harry was just glad Ron hadn't been there to see them greet each other, nor bid each other farewell. He would have freaked.
All in all, it was a good start to the Christmas season, and Harry happily returned home and fell into his own bed, still in the large guest room with the pale colours. He was looking forward to relaxing – but Blaise's mother had sent out invitations to all of Blaise's friends, and, according to the invitation, the party was enforced neutrality.
Of course, this wasn't exactly the easiest concept for James to accept, and, after they received the invite, he ranted for nearly ten minutes before Nanna spoke up,
"Dad, what exactly does 'enforced neutrality' mean anyways?"
James slowed down his pacing and glared over at Lily. Lily, the one who had actually read the history books, answered,
"Enforced neutrality is a matter of honour, really." Lily offered. "The different purebloods hold a lot of store by personal honour, and their reputations. If you have a reputation as dishonourable, people won't trust your word and you'll have trouble doing business and getting marriages, both of which matter a lot in their circles, and if it gets down to the goblins that you won't keep your word, you'll find a lot of trouble with them."
Nanna frowned. "And what does it mean in regards to this party?"
"It means that everyone who attends implicitly agrees to not start anything while at the party." James bit out. "While it means I cannot arrest anyone regardless of what they say, it also means that people like Leopold Nott will also have to hold his tongue in regards to dealing with me."
Harry swallowed. He was mostly hoping it would keep the Kozumpliks in line and Lucille's family. Those were the people he expected to be the most likely to do something dangerous.
Nanna didn't miss his swallow. "Harry?"
"I think part of the biggest thing would be because some of those invited might have taken part in … what happened over the summer." Harry hedged.
Nanna stared at him for a long moment. "And you want to attend this why?"
Harry scowled at her. "Because I want to go see Blaise and Alan and everyone, and if you remember from what Sirius said, Desdemona Zabini has been looking to find the Order since summer."
"Only because she thinks Dumbledore's side is winning." James groused.
"Isn't that because of Blaise's influence?" Harry shot. "Because he's friends with Alan and Alan with me, bringing him to Ginny and Neville as well?"
James flinched, but Lily answered openly, "Yes, we recognize that Harry, but we don't want to take a foolish risk with our, nor your safety and peace of mind."
"What's to worry about? Neville wants to go as does Ginny. The entire family is invited; which includes godparents, so Sirius is also invited." Harry bit out. "We'll have all the Weasleys, the Longbottoms, Severus and Green for Alan, and the Bones."
"Susan's parents can't attend, but her aunt said she would do so." James pointed out.
"Isn't Hermione invited?" Nanna asked cautiously. "Remus could be her escort. You'd have all the Marauders present."
"And the Hodges will also be attending." Harry stubbornly added. "With them interested in the Weasley twins, they'd be inclined to keep it cool in there, and you can have a chance to talk with them."
James froze and frowned deeply. Lily and Nanna both gave Harry long looks; Lily looked pleasantly surprised and Nanna looked disbelieving. As James walked out muttering to himself about contacting Sirius and Remus, Nanna giggled out,
"Harry, that was so Slytherin it's scary."
Harry just shrugged. "I want to go hang out with my friends. I didn't do anything."
Things did end up moving to allow them all to attend. James talked to Frank and Alice and while he didn't really talk them into anything, the points Harry had made had stuck with him, and their repeat mostly tipped the scales for the Marauders in favour of attendance. Christmas dinner was tense – the children were excited, and the parents were worried. Harry only hoped they could relax once they got there. He strongly suspected Mrs. Zabini would actually have the entire set of neutral precautions in place: there was a ward that could be raised that would immediately sound upon hostile spells. It wouldn't make it much more convenient, but it would at least discourage any spellfights or maliciously cursed food. Everyone would just have to know poison detection spells, and trust the house elves that were customarily set to discretely watch for anyone adding anything to the food.
The twenty-seventh was tense, but Harry slipped into his dress robes again, pleased they still fit him despite his recent growth, and happily put on his serpent necklace. He brushed his hair back, for whatever good that would do him, and met up with his parents. Sirius was also in attendance, splendid in navy velvet, while his parents were wearing robes Lily must have picked out: crimson with pearlescent white trim for her, and pale grey for him. Oddly enough, James glanced at Harry and then purposefully smoothed down the lapel, a section with silver trim. Harry couldn't imagine what he was hinting at until he realized James was seeking his approval. Harry grinned.
"Nice robes. I'm starting to feel a little underdressed in these." He plucked lightly at the dark brown, but Lily just grinned.
"You look wonderful, Harry. Your robes are fine. Nanna should be down any moment now … Ah."
Harry looked and had to blink for several moments. Finally, getting his jaw back under control, he frowned.
"Nanna, I can't let you go dressed like that!"
Nanna put her hands immediately on her hips and glared up at him. "Oh, why not?"
"Dillan won't be able to be a gentlemen!" Harry exclaimed. "Merlin, girl, you'll be curling his toes! My sister is not allowed to look that good!"
Nanna grinned and spun around. She was in robes that were more of a gown than Lily's. The sleeves were short and draped loosely, with the collar turned over around the steep v-neck. The colours loosely matched his own dress robes: black satin with heavy green embroidery on the sleeves, bodice, and the hem. The bodice was a dark brown only a shade lighter than the loose skirt. Coming to a stop she grinned at Harry's wry smile and stuck out her tongue.
"I'm wearing them, and I'll just mention you won't be pleased if he doesn't behave himself. Honestly, Harry, I can take care of myself.
Sirius chuckled at that and double-checked the time. "Alright, enough. We need to go through now. You all have everything together?" There was a general agreement, and Sirius went through first, Harry following. He stumbled out in the receiving room, flushing as the severe looking man in a suit stared down his nose at his ungainly landing. Sirius stepped over, brushed him off, and whispered, "They practice that look. Just ignore him; he's a non-entity."
Harry nodded carefully, still feeling out of whack. He wasn't used to servants, although they were typically hired on for evenings like this. It was just expensive; Desdemona wasn't cutting any corners.
Nanna was followed through by their parents, both arriving in a far more stately manner than Harry had managed. Both of them straightened and politely greeted the waiting servant, nodding and exchanging pleasantries. Lily stepped aside to straighten Harry's robes and dust off Nanna's shoulder, before nodding to James. James, in turn, gave the servant an expectant look and he led the way out into the hall and up the staircase to the first floor. Nanna giggled as Harry stared upon leaving the receiving room. The Zabini mansion wasn't as large as the Potter one, but it was very well set up. A thoroughfare ran the length of the house from back patio to front door, several dozen metres long and two stories high. Two walkways crossed from the ballroom to the second story rooms on the left, above the receiving room they'd just exited, and the only seperation between ballroom and open air was a tall, cherry wood banister.
When they reached the top of the stairs, the servant ran the bell hanging from the wall and the conversations currently going halted as everyone turned to look.
"The House of Potter, Lord and Lady James Potter and issue."
Used to this, even if he didn't like the excessive formality, Harry gave Nanna his arm and walked her out into the ballroom behind his parents. Nanna whispered under her breath, "We're 'issue'?"
"Hush." Harry scolded, his laughter in his voice. "You've heard it enough at Ministry events."
She sighed lightly, removing her arm from his as Sirius was announced, "Sirius Black, Lord of House Black."
Harry smiled down at Nanna, and glanced around. He didn't get far before Hermione threw herself into his arms, smiling brilliantly. She was in robes Lily had made a point of buying her just for this, baby blue fading to navy in spirals down the aquamarine dress.
"Harry, you look so splendid! I didn't think your family was so important; very few others have been introduced as Lords. Most of them are just "Family" and Slughorn was a "Master", which just sounded odd. Oh, the Lovegoods are here!" She beamed. Harry made an interested noise, and she continued, "Yes, Mr. Lovegood wasn't give a Lord, just a family, and he looked really uncomfortable. Luna was just disappointed Alan wasn't here yet, but she locked onto Blaise pretty easily. Mr. Lovegood went off to hide in a corner or something – Remus, I think, is talking to him – Oh, someone else."
Harry looked shortly before the bell was rung, and couldn't help but smile. It was the Weasleys, looking relatively uncomfortable but at least Alice and Lily had talked Molly into some reasonable dress robes for her family. Molly did not have the most refined taste, focusing on economy before looks, but with Lily and Alice's aid their robes were plain but good looking, and didn't clash with their red hair.
"The House of Weasley, Lord and Lady Arthur Weasley, issue, and their guest, Fleur Delacour."
Harry raised his eyebrows. He hadn't known the Weasleys had any title, and judging by Arthur's startled expression, he hadn't either. He picked himself up admirably, however, and quickly gave Molly his arm, which she gripped tensely. Behind him, the children they'd brought copied them: Bill gave his arm to Fleur with a little bow, Ron to Ginny, and Fred and George snickered and one offered his arm to the other. Naturally, it was accepted. They walked in and joined the crowd, and James quickly walked over to talk with Arthur. Arthur mopped his brow as he did so and beginning to question him extensively. Alice and Lily did the same to calm down Molly. Ron, seeing Harry talking with Hermione, walked over after Ginny left him for Blaise.
"That was barmy!" He offered, and then the bell rang again. All three of them looked up, and Harry flinched. Oh, that wasn't a face he wanted to see.
"The House of Kozumplik, Lord and Lady Jenner Kozumplik and issue."
Harry tried to hide his reaction, really, and he focused most on Raina refusing to take her brother's arm as they entered. She walked a little behind him, much to his apparent amusement, and split from her family as soon as possible, ignoring her father's irritated look. He softened, however, when she gravitated immediately to Theodore, whispering something in his ear and getting a wry smile out of him. He immediately engaged her in conversation, and Kozumplik and his wife moved to speak with Leopold Nott. Their path took them past Harry and his friends, and Jenner glanced down at him – and grinned.
Harry's skin broke into a cold sweat. He hadn't known the man when it had happened, but he'd gotten a very good look at his face or one quite like it – two, really, which made it a high probability his son had been there as well. Bad light, incoherence … neither had seen fit to erase the image so he remembered and nearly collapsed, his legs weak. Hermione barely kept him on his feet, and Ron ran to bring Sirius, who was closer than James. Along with Sirius came a man Harry didn't know, but he had a handkerchief and a cup of water. The cool cloth on his forehead helped, and Sirius quickly asked,
"What happened?"
"Nothing." Harry tried. He couldn't really say it; it was a neutral party, and bringing it up would only incense Sirius.
"He met Jenner Kozumplik's eyes and the man grinned." Hermione answered.
Sirius' eyes turned cold and he lifted Harry's chin with a finger. "Harry, did he do anything to you?"
"No." Harry answered, stubbornly insisted he had done nothing – tonight.
Sirius didn't fall for it. "Was he present at your captivity?" He didn't say Voldemort – they didn't need to be name-calling, now.
Harry didn't want to answer, but he couldn't see how not to. "Yeah. I just wasn't certain. You already knew." Sirius looked ready to go, but Harry suddenly felt scared and added, "I think his oldest son was there too." The cold sweat was still on his back, and it almost seemed to sting, even with the wounds long gone. Sirius nodded slowly before removing his hand, and gave Harry a firm look.
"I don't care about propriety in regards to them, Harry. You will walk away any time they try to talk to you, do you hear? If they try to stop you, I want you to make them regret it in anyway you can fathom."
"I can't break neutrality." Harry answered.
"I don't want you to wait for them to break it first." Sirius insisted. "Even if they're just talking to you, I don't want that to happen, alright? Not if you were hurt."
Harry sighed, and then shrugged. "Fine. I'll just fake a screaming breakdown if it doesn't offer itself up. That should get everyone's attention."
The man who had followed Sirius, apparently uncomfortable with the topic and having slipped as far distant as he could, laughed at that. "Oh, that sounds delightfully funny. I can tell you now: you'll at least have all the women on your side. My wife wouldn't be able to leave that alone, and, well, she may not be the most frightening witch but her charms can leave a man squirming on the floor if he doesn't react fast enough. And she's fast."
Harry smiled weakly at him and nodded. Sirius glanced between them, and shrugged.
"Tyler Growman, Harry Potter. Harry, this is Tyler Growman."
Harry smiled and reached out to shake his hand. "Your daughter is Victoria? Faith, as well?"
"Yes." He grinned. "Sirius has told me that apparently his second godchild is good friends with Faith. She's had a lot of very positive things to say about her friendships. I'm glad she's doing so well. Victoria, well…" His face darkened. "She's said she's worried about some of her friends. Raina doesn't look well, and," He glanced around and lowered his voice, not to a whisper but a quieter tone none-the-less, "Victoria's girlfriend, serious girlfriend, hasn't admitted her relationship to her father."
Harry blinked, and quickly called up the glimpses he'd have of Victoria – hadn't she always been with Morgen? They'd seemed very friendly, "Morgen?"
Tyler nodded. "Yes. Her father is a former Minister of Magic –" He was cut off with another bell. Everyone looked up, and to the staircase.
"Master Severus Snape and son. Master Telesphore Quintelyuv."
Harry smirked. Green looked very ticked off; Severus was managing the introduction with his usual sneer. Alan just looked amused. Typical. However, the bell rang again while Alan slipped off in another direction, apparently missing Harry and finding someone else. Harry didn't worry. The ballroom was very crowded, and it was easy to miss someone, especially with how short he was. He tuned into the crier again.
"Family Harper, Mr. And Mrs. Nicholas Harper, issue, and guests."
Harry paid attention; Alan had mentioned that Lucille Alfaerus had married a Nicholas Harper and something in the woman's face did call to mind the Alfaerus clan. More interesting, however, was seeing Sybilla behind them, taking the escort of her younger brother – apparently much younger, as he looked no older than Nanna – with a certain dignity. Alongside them were Salvador, Dillan, and Tyler. Apparently, as effective minors, they weren't considered for introduction or something, even though Salvador was of majority. Maybe it was a Hodges thing – the Bakers were apparently generally unknown, although how he didn't know.
They had barely dispersed when the bell rang again. A mere glance made Harry feel both elated and worried: the family now present looked distinctly familiar with their curly, dark hair. The patriarch looked no more intimidating than Remus on a bad day, being Neville's height and wearing square silver glasses with his very short ringlets. He was stockier than Neville and had an easy grin. His wife, black-haired, ringlets, and coffee-coloured skin, seemed more outwardly intimidating than him, equal to his height and without glasses.
The crier had to cough before he awkwardly announced, "His Grace, the Magical Duke of Northumbria, Howard Hodges. His Lady, Maxene, and issue."
Howard himself looked up and shook his head, but settled into a wry smile in short order, an expression mirrored by the rest of his family. His son whispered quietly to his sister. A soft, "Ow," made the following motion clear. They walked out, and were followed by others who looked quite like more Hodges, although their hair was a bit less uniformly black. The bell rang once more, although the announcement also hesitated.
"Lord and Lady Erasmus Hodges, and daughter. Lord Jonas Hodges."
As they stepped forward, Sable was standing right behind them, quite too short to take Jonas' arm had he even offered. Harry found himself doubting that he had; Jonas wasn't that nice, not that he had seen.
The Hodges appeared to be the last of that group of introductions, and Sirius and Mr. Growman wandered off. Sirius had seemed quite interested in the Hodges arrival, and excused himself. Hermione asked the ever frustrating question of, "Are you okay?" and Ron took the pressure off Harry to brush it off. He did not need that question again.
Time seemed to agree with him. They didn't have long to wait before the bell rang again, and this time the tension was simply rolling off the family as they waited.
"The House of Pupp, Lord and Lady Jasper Pupp, and issue."
Harry watched them step out. Lucille, like Raina, had disdained the arm of her older brother who hadn't even bothered offering from what he could tell. Instead, she was walking beside her very subdued younger brother, Grant. Then again, the couple at the front hadn't looked pleased either. They glanced at each other, Jasper bowed, and his wife took herself off in the direction of Leopold Nott. Jasper glanced around the crowds and looked delighted at someone he found in a far corner, moving quickly in that direction. Just as swiftly did Lucille and Grant move to where Harry remembered the Hodges disappearing. The older brother glanced disdainfully around and followed his mother. As he passed, he didn't even look Harry's way. He didn't need to. Harry stomach did a flip-flop on it's own accord glimpsing his profile, and quickly Harry straightened and addressed Hermione.
"I'm going to look up Alan. Want to follow?"
Hermione eyed him suspiciously, tracking the older boy's progress before nodding shortly and following as Harry strode through the crowd, Ron tagging along with worry. They encountered the Hodges group before they found Alan, but nearby was a long buffet. Harry, despite his stomach's worried antics, was indeed starving and moved forward without fear and eyed the display with interest. He glanced at the man beside him and asked,
"So, did you check the food here already yourself, or is that just my habit?"
Surprisingly, the man laughed. It was sharp, but reminded him vaguely of the twins. "Nah, I did too, but how do you know I didn't poison it?"
Harry paused in snagging a drumstick and gave him a raised eyebrow. "You are eating it yourself." He couldn't be sure Desdemona had the house elves there, so caution was better…
"Naturally," He returned, grinning, eyes glittering in a caramel face. Harry presumed this would be Howard's son; he was only marginally taller than his father, and their hair was cut just as short, short enough he couldn't tell if he had ringlets. "I would have taken the food before applying the poison or hex. Makes it seem much safer."
Harry turned a wry grin his way before quickly checking the food, as discretely as he could manage. He continued speaking, "Are you one of those working with the Weasley twins? You seem a lot like them."
"No, he's not." A brisk female voice cut in, unhexing the plate Harry had found highlighted in his scan. "He's a menace to society and can't be trusted further than he can be thrown."
"Gwen," The boy whined. "It was a harmless hex."
"I wasn't referring to you hexing the table." The woman returned. She was probably closer to Bill or Charlie in age, Harry supposed, while her brother was a few years younger, making them both in their early twenties. They were arguing like any siblings he knew that were his age. The woman turned her gaze his way, eyes frank brown under a tumble of glossy black ringlets that would probably make Hermione fitfully jealous. Girl's and their hair.
"The food should be pretty much clear, kid."
Harry bristled slightly, and she just grinned. Harry made a show of turning up his nose and then quickly gathered some food together. Apparently Ron had been waiting for him to really start, and the plates around him grew instantly emptier as Ron piled his platter quite full. The man laughed.
"Slow down, Weasley! The plates will be here all night long, yeah?"
Ron glanced up at him, swallowed the bite he'd taken, and grinned. "I'm a growing boy."
He got a frank look-over at that, and a raised eyebrow. "How much further can you grow?" He asked incredulously. "Although you could really use some filling out, you beanpole."
Ron didn't take offence in the slightest. "Precisely."
The hazel eyes danced. "Devlin Hodges, at your service." He bowed low, giving a little flourish and straightening with a bounce. "And I should probably go pester my cousin and his wife. You kids hurry along, hm?" He danced off, acting like half the pranksters Harry knew when they were on the prowl. Harry made a note to keep a wary eye out. Neutrality didn't exclude pranks.
His sister, Gwen, rolled her eyes as he left. "Sometimes that boy is impossible."
"You sound like his mother." Harry commented dryly.
"He needs more than one. Takes a firm hand to keep him from going off and doing something stupid, like, say, clubbing an Auror in the head again."
Harry choked. Gwen gave him another, hard look, and then grimaced.
"Sorry about that, didn't take you for a Potter at first. He was provoked, and the Auror was an ass anyways – Death Eater, in fact. Course, he didn't know it at the time... You know Jonas, don't you?"
Harry nodded carefully, making note of what she was saying. It didn't hurt to keep track of information like this, and listening to James relate his adventures had given Harry a few tricks he remembered of Aurors and their information gathering. The more he learned, the less he trusted the Hodges - no matter how familiar they seemed in the play-by-play. That was just to be expected of most magical families he'd met that lacked the pureblood stick up the ass.
"Well, I'm not sure how much he might mention, but I'm fair sure you can see the similarities."
Harry nodded. "When Filch got the alls clear from Umbridge, Jonas mentioned in one of our meetings that hanging by his ankles wasn't anything new."
Gwen grinned brightly. "Precisely. Nicholas can make any one thing eloquent."
"Nicholas?" Harry asked curiously. "The one in attendance here?"
"Quite." Gwen answered.
Neville cut in, "The same Nicholas Harper who did an essay on Acromantula silk?"
Harry glanced up, and grinned to see his friend present in sheer black robes over a black button down shirt and trousers, with a dark red tie. Gwen raised a short eyebrow.
"Longbottom, right?" She guessed.
Neville raised his eyebrows. "Yes. Do I know you?"
"No. I just recognized your face shape; I've run into your father a few times. I don't know your name."
"Neville Longbottom." He answered giving her a short bow and, when she offered her hand, kissing the back of it gently.
"Great Neville, show us all up why don'tcha?" Harry drawled. "Do you only know me by my dad, too?"
"Not at all." Gwen smirked. "You've been in the paper often enough, it's pretty easy to know you, although not well." Harry grimaced and she nodded slowly. "You do look like you're doing quite well, you know."
Harry gave a wry smile back. "Well, since you know me, I don't suppose you know Ronald Weasley also?"
"He hasn't quite the notoriety you have." She answered giving him a gentle inclination of her head. Ron flushed, and she quickly answered. "No need to be quite so formal as Neville. He's compensating, I'm sure, for his family's recent peerage."
Neville snorted. "Peerage? Please. It's hardly anything more than fancy titles and a big lump sum in the bank."
Gwen nodded, flashing white teeth against her own caramel skin. "Indeed it is. I think the main reason we maintain a dukedom is because the monarchs have rather forgotten we exist, especially since they re-established the muggle dukedom of Northumberland. I think my father barely remembers it exists half the time, but apparently Desdemona dredged up all sorts of obscure titles."
"Probably." Harry agreed. "So, what was this about Acromantula silk?"
Gwen just laughed.
IIII
Eating and socializing lasted nearly an hour, and Harry gravitated around to talk to various friends and check on his parents many times. Ron, disappointed that Hannah couldn't make it, stuck with him most of the time, as did Hermione. Neville had been introduced directly to Nicholas Harper by Gwen, much to his surprise, and hadn't stopped talking since, engaging Sybilla, his daughter, as well.
The ballroom slowly devolved into several groups, from the adults in male and female groups, to Sable's first years and Melanie, Nanna, and Dillan, plus Russel Harper, who attended Durmstrang like his sister had. Notably, Raina spent most of the evening stuck to Theodore, who was being surprisingly patient in remaining aloof from the rest of the conversations. Harry hadn't made an attempt to speak to them. They'd stuck to an area he hadn't entered, simply out of self-preservation: all the present Death Eaters were over there, along with a group of young men who were boisterous and seemingly already drunk or at least well on their way. There was a buffer of the large group of adult men, which included his father, godfather and Howard Hodges, one he hadn't moved anywhere past, and further along on the same by-line was Bill and Fleur chatting with a man he tentatively identified as Daniel Davis and accompanied by Gwen, Devlin, and Janice Zabini, Blaise's oldest sister. However the drama exploded first on another front: Lucille.
Harry was listening to his father discuss the Ministry's recent blunders – something about the new Minister, which reminded Harry to ask about that as it must have happened while he was out of it over the summer – when Mr. Davis and Mrs. Pupp stalked out from their Death Eater circle and stepped up to where Salvador and Lucille were talking with the twins. They seemed oblivious to the immediate attention they received, not the least of which was every Hodges nearby. Harry could guess how big of a mistake they were about to make. In the far corner, Jasper Pupp glanced up, and then returned to talking with Xenophilius Lovegood, hunching to make himself smaller. It sounded like a good idea to Harry, really. His wife was a harpy, and why they were together escaped him entirely.
"Lucille, come back with me." Lady Pupp ordered. "I do not approve of your flouncing around; you never even came home for Christmas."
"I never said I would." Lucille answered. "I'm of age, mother, and I am not beholden to you anymore."
"I am your mother, and you are not free of me until you are married." She snapped. "Come."
"I am engaged." Lucille bit out. "You can't even complain; he's pureblood and his family was darker than yours."
Emmeline Pupp bristled angrily. "Salvador Hopkins doesn't exist. He was disowned; he is worse than a mudblood."
The temperature in the room must have dropped. The discussion was nowhere near private, and was garnering immediate and complete attention. A motion behind him made Harry jump; he flinched and glanced back, to find Howard waving James back and moving forward at an easy pace; Harry's father stopped and watched him go intently. Howard came up behind Emmeline without her notice and circled around even as she continued.
"Don't make me force you, Lucille; I will not have this disrespect from my daughter –"
"I notice you seem to be completely ignoring your Gryffindor son." Howard answered easily. Emmeline choked faintly, and turned a withering glare at him. "Perhaps because my little greatniece is standing over him. Have you forgotten the family Salvador Hopkins was adopted into upon his family's failure to get his cooperation?"
Emmeline made a cat-like hiss and turned to glare at Mr. Davis. He had shrunken like a sour lemon, and was clearly going to be no help. Both adults were, if not scared, nervous, which was probably the funniest thing Harry had ever seen because currently, in his blue and gold robes, Howard hardly looked terrifying past his delicate silver glasses, his hands in his pockets and a genial grin. Abruptly, the pleasant façade twisted, his eyes hardened, and his shoulders squared, and Harry abruptly saw why so many people feared a neutral family – and probably why they'd been granted a dukedom so many years ago. This was a man who could scare rebels into compliance.
Apparently it worked on Death Eaters too. Where on earth were they in the first war? He'd seen his father and Sirius do something very similar; heard of it over and over and yet there wasn't even a whisper of the Hodges name in any of the fighting. Wouldn't they have stepped up with the rest of the families on one side or another? Voldemort had never believed in neutrality.
Harry reconsidered that thought; they probably hadn't cared either. They were tucked away in Northumberland, after all. But if he could ask, it would be interesting to know – later. Howard was talking in a deliberately patient voice now.
"Perhaps I should have sent a letter. Salvador would like to marry your daughter. Your daughter agreed. She is of majority; I hadn't thought it had to be made more clear, but apparently so. Perhaps you haven't noticed, but the curses you wrought to keep your issue in line have been broken. On both children. I'd advise you to return to your sewing circle and forget you ever had a daughter, my dear, and to leave your second son to your husband's care."
Emmeline opened and closed her mouth twice, shut it with a snap and drew her cloak around herself before stalking back across the invisible line, returning to Leopold Nott with a proud, unhurried step. Howard nodded to Salvador and Lucille, pleasant and genial once more, and returned to his group, bringing them abruptly back to the topic of the new Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour, with a firm look and brisk statement. He ignored James' weighing look that took a moment to melt into pleasant interest once more. Harry listened with half an ear before slipping away to wander, wondering if Gwen would slip out of her group anytime soon. She was the most likely person he imagined would answer his question without eating his liver or selling it back to him for it.
There was a quick, loud note on a violin, and suddenly music drifted out across the dance floor. Harry glanced around, but there was no orchestra; it was likely just a spell or recording. Several people grinned, a few groaned, and Harry spotted Susan standing a little forlornly by her aunt, who laughed and walked to the Ministry group, snagging out Remus and spinning him onto the floor where he quickly grinned and took the lead. Sirius was snagged by Desdemona Zabini, the hostess, and Harry walked to Susan and bowed.
"May I have this dance?"
Susan blushed hotly and nodded. Harry led her out and was a little put off by the swing beat, of all things, but Susan just giggled and helped him remember the steps.
After that dance was over, Daphne came and, surprisingly politely, requested her own dance. Susan gave her a tight look, but acquiesced, and Harry made a note to ask Hermione to dance next; he didn't really want to pick between the two of them any more directly. It was a lot safer when they controlled that little issue. He was saved the necessity when the next song came on and he could just grin and laugh.
"I'm sorry; my sister always dances with me at this song. Please excuse me." Daphne and Susan, dancing with Russel Harper nearby, laughed appreciatively, and Harry caught Nanna as she ran over, gleefully entering the steps. Dillan smiled on from the distance, and Daphne walked over and joined with him while Susan wandered away in search of a new partner.
They'd been dancing for a good while before Harry begged off the floor from Sybilla – so many girls! He hadn't known that many were attending! – and slipped back to the platters. The food had been exchanged from supper heavy to light snacks, and he gladly took them on a much smaller plate that was laid out, drinking some of the juice and wandering to inspect the selection. He completely unintentionally came across Bill talking with Gwen – who was flirting back.
"-Amazed at how well you've managed; few curse-breakers I've seen hadn't managed two years without getting some really nasty curse permanently etched on them. Are the Weasleys as powerful as you on a regular basis?"
"It's really just good luck and my parents. Fred and George, and my little sister Ginny are all pretty remarkable, and the others aren't weak." Bill sounded mildly uncomfortable, and, at a glance, Harry found him searching the floor, probably for Fleur. Harry wondered if Gwen knew they were attached and then dismissed it. She had to have. Bill would have mentioned it; she'd have seen it, wouldn't she? But then again this was a Hodges - and, before even that, an available young woman. If she didn't care, it wouldn't surprise him on either front.
"You all got that lovely red hair, I see. Me, I get stuck with ringlets. They look pretty and all, but make brushing a tad Hellish. Especially if I get up to anything." She waggled her eyebrows. Bill glanced over the party again, and Harry considered searching out Fleur when the quarter-veela stalked out of the crowd and paused upon seeing Gwen a little closer to Bill than was probably necessary or polite. She bristled and stalked over, leaning onto Bill immediately with a fawning hand.
"Bill, darling. 'Ow 'ave you been 'ere? We must go find the music and request a proper song."
"The music is a record." Gwen pointed out archly. "Although if you ask Lady Zabini, she could probably put a different record on once this one is over."
"Are you offended because your music is less superior?" Fleur asked in the same venomous tone.
"Of course not." Gwen smiled. "I need not fear when I already know I am the best."
Harry snorted. Oh, he knew that tone. Gwen was playing with Fleur, which, while it might still be an honest competition, meant she was at least partly doing it just for the argument. He'd done the same to egg Alan on several times, and he'd seen Alan do it a lot.
Fleur took in her tone and laughed. Several men were distracted and glanced over, including Sirius, and were tugged back to their partners. Bill gazed adoringly at her, and Gwen gave a wry smile before snorting inelegantly.
Fleur glared. "Are you jealous?"
"Of what? Your bleached out natural colour and limp locks?" Gwen shot.
"Ah, of course." Fleur put her hand dramatically to her chest, breathing deeply. Harry noted it didn't quite bring her close to Gwen's own endowments; the veela was just too thin. "You must struggle with that rat's nest. Perhaps one should be more careful with the perm-charms."
"And you think I am jealous of you?" Gwen leaned back herself, emphasizing her own chest in turn, which showed nicely against her pale yellow gown that hugged her form under a long, matching mantle as both darkened to red on the bottom edge. "You don't have any shape, and neither does your hair while most people wouldn't notice your name for your appeal."
"At least I'm engaged." Fleur spat. "What, can't keep the boys attention long enough after you tumble them?"
"Insipid harpy!" Gwen spat back.
Harry blinked, and then wandered to the women's conversation nearby and tapped his mother on the shoulder. When they glanced over, Harry didn't really say anything and just pointed back over his shoulder. Maxene chuckled and Molly frowned.
"Oh, I didn't think she'd behave so badly." She fussed.
Maxene just laughed. "Oh, it's alright. I'm quite sure Gwen either started it or exacerbated it. Guinevere Claire, cease and desist!" Maxene called. Gwen's mouth snapped shut; she lifted her nose and dropped her head, curtseying deeply, and then flounced over to her mother. Maxene struggled not to smile as her daughter curtseyed again in her presence, and just shook her head. "Go find your brother, give him a dance, and then attach yourself to someone else. There is no need to be flirting so aggressively with someone engaged. It's unbecoming."
"Yes mother." Gwen answered, turning to leave.
"And nor is it acceptable to pick a fight just to enjoy yourself either, no matter your father's example!" Her mother added. Gwen turned and stuck out her tongue at that, laughing lightly and skipping off. Maxene shook her head as she turned back to the conversation. "Really, that girl. Thank you, little Potter."
Harry flushed at the endearment, but just nodded and tried to slip away. His mother stopped him and kissed his forehead. "Harry, thank you. Would you grace your mother with a short dance?"
Harry nodded awkwardly. "Sure," and led her out.
It reminded him several songs later why he'd left in the first place. He had the strangest popularity while out there, and had been stuck with everyone from Morgen and Victoria to Sable, Ginny, and Hermione. Daphne and Susan, naturally, would snag him on occasion, one after the other, and then he'd beg off with another girl, which didn't tend to be too difficult to accomplish.
Finally, he ended up with Gwen, of all people, who had asked him to dance after Hermione as they came to a slow song Harry knew well. Once he got over her being taller than him, he finally remembered his question and hesitantly asked,
"I don't mean any offence, but what role did the Hodges family have in the first part of the war against Voldemort? There doesn't seem to be any mention of it."
Gwen was silent for a long moment, and then sighed. "You would be curious, wouldn't you?" Harry flushed, extremely nervous, and Gwen just shook her head. "We simply weren't involved. Those who were related to our family – the Bakers, those in the Aurors – fought as they were called, but our family, as it stands, had little to do with it. We're a small family, and everyone had children – I was a child, then, and my father refused to get involved, along with his brother and sister. There was a presence, but my Aunts and Uncles, those who were still fighters at all, weren't enough. Northumberland is well out of the way, so there was rarely a threat to us. We kept the peace in our area, and that was it." She smiled weakly. "Often, in a war, two or three people, no matter how skilled, can only do so much, Harry. My father and his father held family before all other obligations."
Harry ducked his head. "Sorry. I was just curious."
Gwen grinned. "Yeah, I know. My father does look intimidating when he tries, but he's one man with a family to care for." She grimaced. "And nothing of a patriot."
"He looks like a bookworm." Harry offered.
He got a laugh for his trouble. "He was a Ravenclaw, Harry, really. What did you expect?"
Harry shrugged. "You don't have a lot of Slytherins, do you? You're mostly Ravenclaws."
"We have a fair number." Gwen offered. "My brother was a Slytherin, as was I, and Erasmus. But I suppose you could say that we're mostly Ravenclaw, yes. Our mansion has three floors where the entire back room is a large library."
Harry gaped. "That must be bigger than the Hogwarts library!"
Gwen laughed, winked at him, and then slipped away with the end of the song. Harry frowned, but shrugged, and accepted when Melanie begged him for another dance, and the whole parade continued. At one point, he even found himself hauled into a dance with the Weasley twins – naturally, they made him do the girl steps, and he was surrounded by laughter. He didn't mind it – until after some time, he laughed, begged off, and slipped to the table. He was on one of the far sides, near the front sunrooms, and while the invisible line had dissolved upon the dancing, he wasn't aware of the lack of attention his direction until someone spoke up behind him.
"You do dance the girls steps well. Hadn't thought you were so feminine before; I'd have taken a few more liberties while I had the chance."
Harry dropped his glass and jumped back, unfortunately putting his back to the wall. He didn't know the voice, but the tone had said enough. When he turned, he was facing the older sons, and, behind them, Ulyssa Zabini was having a spirited conversation with the Ellsmares, blocking the area off further. He was stuck, and didn't realize one of the two men talking past the young Death Eaters was an adult – not the other young man - until his arms were grabbed, his mouth covered. He nearly fainted he was so scared. They hauled him back, and once they were around the short dividing wall to the sunroom, they waved their accomplice off. Harry watched him go, remembering what he looked like. He didn't have any names, but anyone present was related to someone he did know; the boy reminded him… Wait, he thought it might be Daphne's brother…
One of the young men slammed his fist into the wall beside his head, and Harry flinched into the corner, unable to stop shivering. They both laughed.
"Stupid woman. Neutrality means we can't hurt you, but we had enough of that. You'll just curl into a ball like you did before, and we can enjoy watching you suffer without laying a single hand on you. Did you bring you handkerchief?"
"Someon …" Harry coughed; his voice was thin and tinny. He couldn't get enough air… "Someone will notice I'm gone."
"Like they noticed oh so quickly you were missing during the attack? Took them about five minutes, if I remember."
"You don't know that!" Harry growled out. He struggled to straighten; he wasn't scared of them. They were just boys. He was scared of the memories, scared of the past. They'd said it themselves; they couldn't hurt him, they could just –
One of them grabbed him and forced his head back. He opened his mouth to scream and had a handkerchief stuffed inside. Harry glared; this was Kozumplik, and a further handkerchief was tied across it to keep him from spitting out the wad of cloth. Kozumplik tapped his cheek and smiled indulgently.
"There. No harm done."
The memory slammed into him like a tidal wave. He was on the cold floor, already coughing blood from the Cruciatus, and the men were milling around him excitedly, anticipating. Voldemort beckoned and two men stepped forward. Harry distantly saw an age gap, a resemblance. More recently did he recognize the voices of his memory. The younger man –Kozumplik- grinned; he licked his lips maliciously and tore his hungry gaze from Harry's bloody form and bowed to Voldemort.
"When do we start?"
"What is going on here?"
Harry looked up from his curl on the floor, barely noticing the tears on his cheeks as the two men turned and blanched. Standing in the open space beyond the short wall was a tall, black-haired man Harry recognized instantly. He started shaking, and crying harder, relief breaking down his inhibitions. He curled tighter into his ball, still scared, and Severus snapped,
"I thought you boys knew the precepts of neutrality."
"We haven't harmed him." Kozumplik drawled lightly. "You've just gone soft since you found your son." He was openly disdainful, disgusted.
"You know nothing of neutrality," Severus snapped again, "and you should remember you have marred your honour by this." He sneered. "Although that's nothing new with the type of lowlife idiots your parents are."
"Shut your mouth!" Pupp growled, barely keeping his voice down. "You disgrace your Mark! You disgrace the Dark Lord!"
"He disgraces himself with his lies." Severus added. "Step away from the Potter boy. Now. Before I bring everyone in and see how far Desdemona will maintain her neutrality in the face of overwhelming stupidity. Leave, now, or leave in the shackles of Aurors. You broke neutrality first."
Both boys were shaken, and stalked out, Pupp pausing and sneering down at Harry before leaving. Reflexively, he curled up tighter, sobbing weakly against the gag. When they were gone, Severus walked to his side and knelt, reaching back to gently untie the cloth as Harry just hadn't thought to do. Once it was gone, Harry reached up and pulled the wadded cloth out, spitting onto the tie and moving to wipe his face with his hand. Severus thrust his own handkerchief in the way.
"At least use this. Don't you have your own?"
"Somewhere." Harry whispered. "I'm just not thinking."
Severus didn't make a remark about it, which probably was quite telling about what kind of state he was in. Harry gently wiped down his face and tried to relax. He felt miserable and betrayed, even as he knew there was only so much declared neutrality could do.
"What were their names?" Harry asked softly. Severus didn't react visibly before answering.
"Thaddeus Pupp and Terrence Kozumplik. They used Horatio Greengrass, Navin Ellsmare and Gregory Davis to provide a smokescreen."
Harry felt bile bitter in his throat. "Ulyssa helped them. So did the older Ellsmares."
"You saw them?"
"Yeah," Harry took a deep breath to try and relax; it didn't help much. "Before they hauled me in here. Has anyone noticed I'm gone yet?"
"It hasn't been even ten minutes." Severus answered tightly. "I grew concerned as Alan said he was looking for you and having trouble finding you. I had seen you over in that area, and when I found such a concentration of the dark families, I felt it worth checking out. Better than anyone else finding you, at least."
Harry laughed quietly. "Yes, there is that." Any of the Marauders would've exploded. "Did they … did they really break neutrality?"
"Essentially. It was a fine line, but they were being malicious. Would it be breaking neutrality of them to trap Ron in a room full of spiders? Would it be breaking neutrality to haul me back to the Dark Lord? That is the line. They put you in danger, even if it was a danger of your mind, and they did so knowingly and deliberately. Is that not a form of harm?"
"Yes." Harry whispered. "Um, can I sit up somewhere?"
Severus stood and offered Harry his hand. Harry took it, as he doubted his legs were really agreeable at the moment, and let him pull him to his feet and lead him to the soft couches arranged to look out the windows set in the front of the mansion. Harry had been unaware of the Zabini mansion's location, and was surprised to look down on the sea from the edge of the coastline. The soft white waves were very peaceful to look at in the half-light as the sunset, and he slowly stopped shaking, slowly calmed down. Apparently that was what Severus had been waiting for before he quietly asked,
"Why didn't you fight back? They didn't bind you."
Harry froze for a long moment, and then pulled his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. "I … I didn't think. I could only remember I couldn't fight, because it was neutrality, and I was, I was scared. I was scared of being hurt. I … I guess I was stupid." He whispered, ashamed. It was stupid. They couldn't have hurt him, but they'd just hauled him around, and he hadn't been able to separate the past and present, only remembering how badly their touch had hurt him before. His skin shivered; that had been when he'd still suffered from the hypersensitive curse. Any touch had been painful then.
"It wasn't stupid, Harry." Severus calmly answered. "You panicked, and with good reason. There's nothing 'stupid' about your reaction."
"It's been months." Harry whispered. "I should be –"
"Do not finish that sentence, Mr. Potter." Severus snapped, his tone brisk and official. Harry's back straightened irritably. This wasn't class! "Trauma such as you experienced has no set limit on the time required to get over it, and no parameters of what should and should not be reactions in the time thereafter. Do you understand me?"
Harry subsided quickly, flinching at the scold – and how true he knew it to be. Severus would know, even if he had never experienced quite the same thing. He'd been Voldemort's servant for years, punished and praised. Harry imagined that was almost worse, in a way. He'd signed up for it. He'd regretted it. Harry was more grateful than anything that he knew why he'd been tortured, and why it had happened the way it did: someone else had taken his choice from him. He didn't waste his breath blaming himself for anything … except for his lingering reactions. Softly, Harry started to laugh. Severus let him for several minutes until he spoke up dryly.
"Is something funny?"
"No," Harry answered, wiping the renewed tears away. "Or maybe yes. I'm just thinking, is all. Just a little grateful there isn't any doubt in my mind of what I could or should have done to prevent the damage. I know I was right to be there, to fight, and it was their interference. But I do blame myself for still reacting, for not getting over it. It's ridiculous."
"Oftentimes it is." Severus answered flatly. "You just live with it, and move on. Chances are this party wasn't the greatest idea ever."
"I think it was good." Harry insisted. "Lucille can come clean with her parents. Opinions can be exchanged freely when the families wouldn't otherwise meet. And Raina gets a break from her parents. I think she needs one."
"Sometimes there is nothing you can do for people, Harry." Severus cautiously ventured. Harry merely nodded.
"It won't be perfect for her, but we still can support her." Harry glanced at Severus. "I'd support her no matter what she did to protect herself."
"Even killing herself?"
Harry smiled without humour. "I can sympathize with that. I know Neville can too. I doubt you wouldn't."
Severus paused, then nodded solemnly before he smiled wryly. "On occasion I begin to think you might resemble your father in his less charitable moments, and then abruptly I am reminded that my son told me you should have been Slytherin, and the hat does not lie. And I know it didn't there."
Harry ducked his head and curled up. "Anyone who gets tortured would want to die eventually."
"But would they remember it without shame once they were free?"
Harry blinked at him. "Why would they be ashamed? They couldn't fight it. Sometimes that's the only way."
"You are still young, Harry." Severus shook his head slowly. He ignored the glower he was getting and stood. He glanced across the room and waved shortly. Not a minute later, Alan jogged in and stared. Neville, behind him, passed and walked by Severus to sit next to him. Harry smiled and leaned against his brother, waving tiredly as Severus left.
"Harry, what happened? Are you alright?" Alan asked briskly.
Harry just waved his hand tiredly at him. "I'm fine now. It's alright, it's not like we can do anything about it right now."
"Like Hell we can't." Alan and Neville said in synch. Neville shook his head. "Harry, have you forgotten who's in attendance? The twins? We can't tell the Marauders, but the twins can run those boys ragged without breaking neutrality any further than they did. No harm done."
Harry didn't even speak up; happy to just be with his friends and to let them defend him. He'd get pissed when he didn't feel so broken.
After a period of half-an-hour, Neville poked Harry awake. Harry blinked, noticing the waves were hidden in a mantle of black – not that they'd been easy to see before, anyways – and there was irate yelling and strained laughter coming from the ballroom. Harry stood up, his legs surprisingly not buckling under him in protest, and watched Neville exaggerate stretching himself and his shoulder out before walking with him back into the ballroom. They found the room was in a bit of disarray, as several people were currently swearing, storming around, and turning to glare at each other. Harry checked the time and felt grateful it was about time for the party to wind down anyways: this didn't look like it would too fun for much longer. They found a grouping with James and Lily, and his mother, who noticed he'd been upset with uncanny swiftness, immediately set upon Harry. After glancing up again, however, she didn't mention it and pushed James aside so Harry and Neville could see the source of the chaos without blockage. Harry felt immediately curious and vindicated: curious was for what on earth had happened, vindicated because it looked messy. After several more minutes of squabbling, Desdemona Zabini shot off effective gunshot sounds with her wand and garnered grudging silence.
"Ulyssa!" She demanded. "What happened?"
A black-haired man with uniformly scarlet skin and an ill-fitting set of women's dress robes stepped forward with a scowl. His voice was tinny and quiet. "I don't know mother, but I want this reversed! What's going on?"
Someone started scratching away with a quill nearby. Harry glanced over at the twins, and found them eyeing the group of discomforted wizards and speaking to each other in low voices. Harry turned back to the group and grinned. When wouldn't the twins gladly test a project on a set of predetermined subjects who nobody will really mind experiencing unfortunate side effects? Well, nobody who mattered, at any rate.
A younger lady suddenly squealed like a pig, and then started fussing nervously with her too-large men's robes. She panted out, "Oh no, oh no." Several people turned to her and she turned scarlet – a feat with her bright pink skin and hair, and then settled, twitching nervously, her legs tightly pressed together, and her arms over her belly. She looked mildly ill. The twins made more, quick notes, and Desdemona shook her head to her daughter's inquiry, eyeing the squealing girl with what looked like malice in her eyes.
"I suspect, my daughter, you are getting the results of you actions earlier."
"But why just us? What did we – You!" The anger was wasted on the tinny, quiet voice, but the look in her eyes – well, his – made the anger clear. "You set us up!"
"I?" Desdemona asked carefully, and then turned her gaze over the gathered, brightly coloured, wizards. Harry recognized Kozumplik and his father's now over-large robes, and Pupp and his mother as well alongside the Ellsmares, their son, and Gregory Davis. All by their robes, really, as they'd all had their gender reversed. And only them. "You did this to yourselves. After all, you were stupid enough not to check the drinks I'd given you. They were stupid enough not to check either. But I suppose since you've already worked with them to undermine others, you're one of theirs, aren't you?"
Ulyssa gulped, taken aback. Desdemona pitched her voice through the room. "I'm sorry, but for the sanctity of neutrality, I declare the party over once I am done explaining why. None of you are to make any motion against another this evening; upon the morrow, any slights technically should be declared forgotten, however," She turned blandly back to her daughter, "I forgot to factor in the overwhelming ignorance and arrogance of youth. My honour has been marred by my daughter; I hope she finds a new home soon, as she has no place in mine."
James reflexively reached forward and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry was grateful; he felt like he was going to faint. That was a little extreme, but, in a way, it made sense. Ms. Zabini had been making a lot of motions for the Order, and she wasn't known as a tolerant woman. She didn't do half-measures, not with seven dead husbands in her past. To some people, family was not sacred in the least.
"Thaddeus Pupp and Terrence Kozumplik took action against the Potter heir." Mrs. Zabini continued. James' hand suddenly tightened painfully. "In full knowledge of their past history, and the scars remaining, they terrorized him under neutrality and gagged him to prevent his own defence as he held to the declaration. It was reported to me by Severus Snape, for which I am grateful he stepped in. I declare the retaliation fully earned, and send them from my home." She stepped back, leaving the way to the stairwell open. "Leave." She growled.
Leopold Nott straightened his small, wiry female body and glared. "How dare you threw me out of your house! I have done nothing to warrant it –"
"I declare you aiding and abetting." She snapped. "And it is my choice, Leopold. You will leave within ten minutes, or I will have Aurors escort you from the premises and where they take you after that is none of my concern." She turned to find Theodore, who was completely unpranked for having spent the evening with Raina, dodging people and questions and essentially remaining the spirit of neutrality, taking neither side. "My apologies, Theodore. I see you had no association, but with your father you must go. You are welcome to return on your own at a later time. Raina, I have seen no harm in your presence here. You may return as well."
Theodore nodded, thanked her politely and left with more dignity than his father managed. Raina looked pale, but followed in her family's wake without acknowledging Desdemona's offer. With Leopold's departure, the rest of the Dark families trickled out as well, Desdemona singling out those who were 'Blaise's' friends and apologizing and renewing their invitation. With the Pupp's, she stopped Emmeline where she stood and pulled her back over with a cruel smile.
"Emmeline, for your part I give you this." She pulled Ulyssa over and placed her hand in Emmeline's. Both women, currently men, started stuttering. Desdemona spoke over them. "I know you are recently bereft of a daughter, so I give you mine." Her face hardened, and she turned to a growl again. "May you never, neither of you, darken my doorstep again. Get out of my house." She dropped their hands like a plague and pointed them down the stairs. Grant hesitantly followed behind, but Howard stopped him and handed him a necklace, whispering in his ear. He brightened slightly and jogged after them, catching up with his father who shot a grateful look at the Hodges patriarch.
After the families in disgrace left, Stephanie's parents glared at Desdemona and announced they were leaving as well, followed by the Thatass family. Desdemona expressed her regrets over the bad ending, and gave them a curtsey and an open invite to contact her again.
Once they were all gone, Desdemona turned and gave a deep curtsey to James and Lily. Harry squirmed in front of them, awkward.
"Please forgive me. The breach is a stain on my honour, and I should have been more vigilant. I hope no lasting harm has been done."
James glanced down at Harry and back up at her. "I do not hold you responsible. As you said, there is no way to counter the overwhelming ignorance and arrogance of youth. The young men who acted were the ones at fault."
Apparently neither of them was going to mention the slight folly of putting Aurors – Order members, even – on the same dance floor as Death Eaters. Harry shrugged and glanced aside. Mrs. Zabini gave another curtsey.
"I'm very sorry you were hurt, Harry."
"I'll be fine." Harry answered immediately, flushed slightly. "I … I thank you for your concern, though, and defence."
Desdemona Zabini nodded, smiled faintly, and sighed. "I do believe any festivity that remains will not hold up very well. Please, mingle at will, but the party should wind down in a half hour or so. Thank you all very much for coming."
There were murmurs of thanks and commiseration, and swiftly the Order gathered around Harry to ensure he was all right. He thanked them, and eventually ducked behind his mother to get the picture across that he was feeling overwhelmed. Sticking out his tongue at them from behind her back resulted in a cascade of laughter. The prank was discussed, it's short-lived nature, the effects, who to contact for more information on the effects, and so on, but they didn't stick around very long at all; when the Potters left, everyone followed them.
A/N: Quick morning update before work! Enjoy, please don't be too horrified at the fat in this.
Fire & Napalm