Contracts and Circumstances.
Harry had the letters from Andromeda, Narcissa, and the infamous Black in his hands. He turned towards Lyra who seemed on the verge of tears. Harry gently put a hand on her shoulder.
"Malfoy, Potter," Isabella said from the edge of the table. "The two of you should come with me, please."
Harry and Lyra rose up from the table, along with Isabella and Gemma followed them. The other first-years stood up, but Gemma shook her head.
"It's best you stay here," Gemma said.
Crabbe and Goyle took a step forward, but Harry figured the more people involved would compliment the situation.
"It's fine," Harry said.
The Great Hall was in a buzz. Several of the girls in the Great Hall were shooting Lyra murderous looks, and several of the boys were looking at Harry, with a mixture of pity and contempt, and there were many who were just confused about the entire situation.
Isabella and Gemma lead Harry and Lyra past the muttering students, and into an unused classroom. Gemma just offered a labored sigh.
"Quite a way to start our Friday, right?" Gemma asked.
"I can't believe my father," Lyra said.
"Sorry you find the prospect of getting married to me so repulsive," Harry said.
Lyra just rolled her eyes at Harry's attempt to defuse the situation with humor.
"It's not that," Lyra said. "It's the fact he sprung this on me without warning. I understand that I would have been betrothed, eventually. And I figured it would be to you. I'm a daughter of a powerful and noble house. I get it. I understand it…it's just that…"
"It's not uncommon for betrothal agreements to happen," Isabella said. "Not this soon, and generally not in the middle of the Great Hall, during breakfast. Generally, they're done between third and fourth year, although principles are drawn up much earlier. And negotiations are intense."
"Harry, as much as you might not like it, you're not normal, not by any means, with your circumstances," Gemma said. "You're in high demand."
"My parents drew up a proposal for you some time ago," Isabella said.
"As did mine," Gemma said.
Harry figured he should not be surprised.
"What?" Harry asked. "They….I never knew about any of this."
"Well, that's not surprising," Lyra said. "I'm certain the agreement was all but on paper, although Black, being your magical guardian signed it on your behalf, and then my father signed it on mine."
"Can they do that?" Harry asked.
Isabella and Gemma exchanged dark looks with each other.
"Yes," Isabella said with a sigh. "You learn all about magically binding contracts in NEWT Charms class and you have to be very careful with them and be extra careful about what you sign. They can be broken, there's always an out clause, but sometimes it takes a skilled lawyer to find it. Still, any adult who has authority under you can agree to a magical contract on your behalf."
Harry frowned. That seemed like a situation rife for all kinds of abuse.
"May I see your agreement?" Gemma asked. Harry handed it to her. "Yes, I'm certain there's some motivation behind this. It's drawn up in such a way that no one can enter you into an agreement which can supersede it, although it does give you the opportunity to accept other marriage proposals."
"How many marriage proposals can I accept?" Harry asked.
"As many as magic will allow you," Isabella said.
Harry hated the non-answer.
"That doesn't tell me anything."
"That's because we don't know,' Gemma told him gently. "Powerful wizards like you are in high demand. And your circumstances, defeating You-Know-Who at the age of one increased your demand. The circumstances we talked about last week, two dark lords, and a rash of murders on Muggleborns by their own families, due to increased religious fever, has dwindled those numbers down completely."
Harry chewed on this.
"And I'm sure parents were rushing out to draw up proposals to help secure their daughters' future in the world," Isabella said. "And I'm sure many of them will be extremely beneficial to you. Due to them wanting their daughters to have an advantage and you to be more likely to accept the agreement."
"Where are they then?" Harry asked. "Because, the Hogwarts letter was the first piece of post I got from the Wizarding World."
"I really don't know how to answer that," Isabella said.
"I think Dumbledore, with the aid of then-Minister Bagnold, enacted an order to block and redirect all mail," Gemma said. "This is just my theory, I really don't know. There's likely stacks of mail just hidden in some room, just waiting to be answered. You would need an entire army of house elves to sort through it all."
"Dumbledore shouldn't have done that," Harry said. "What gives him the right?"
"He's Dumbledore and the sun shines out his arse if you ask the right people," Lyra grumbled bitterly.
"Dumbledore likely told them that you could be targetted by wizards willing to do you harm," Isabella said. "And he's not wrong, but after a cursebreaker checked over the parcels and the post, the safe ones should have been sent to you."
Harry amused himself with how the Dursleys would react to that one.
"But, that would contradict his plan to keep you malleable and ignorant," Lyra said.
The door opened and Professor Snape entered the room. All four occupants were on their guard.
"Professor Snape…we…."
"I received a letter from Narcissa Malfoy this morning, explaining the circumstances," Snape said curtly. "It must have been a shock for you two, Miss Malfoy and Mr. Potter."
"That's putting it mildly," Lyra said.
"You have my permission to not attend Potions class this morning to deal with any letters you wish to send regarding the situation, but you are to make up your work by next week," Snape said. "Is that clear?"
Harry and Lyra both nodded in response.
"I want to see Dumbledore."
That statement caused Snape to look at Harry like he sprouted multiple heads.
"The Headmaster is currently attending to urgent business at the Ministry of Magic and will be unavailable for a time," Snape said.
"What business?" Harry asked.
"Dumbledore does not share these details with me and it is none of your concern, Potter," Snape said.
Harry held his tongue, but there Snape was, with his very Petunia like philosophy of not liking questions.
"Dumbledore seems to be dividing his time between the Ministry and the school he's supposed to run a bit too much," Harry remarked. "Doesn't that seem like a conflict of interest to you, sir?"
"What I think and what you think is both irrelevant to the Headmaster, I'm afraid," Snape said. "Is there anything else?"
"No, Professor," Harry said. "Unless you can pass the message to Dumbledore that I would like to meet him."
Snape considered Harry for a moment. The worst he could do was say no.
"I will see what I can do, Potter," Snape said. "But, I cannot make any promises he will be willing to meet with you or address your concerns, which I can see you have many."
Harry wondered how Snape guessed that. Snape left as quickly as he appeared. Harry decided it was time to open the letter from Narcissa.
Dear Harry,
I hoped this letter would reach you, before my husband and cousin agreed to the betrothal. I'm not displeased with the situation, but just a bit upset with the necessity it had to be done. And how Lucius and Sirius handled it as well, without bothering to give you warning it was coming. They're avoiding me for the moment, likely the smartest thing they could have done.
A daughter of the House of Black has a long memory though.
I will discuss this agreement with you further over the winter holidays, and naturally, you will be staying at the Manor. If you have any questions in the meantime, do not hesitate to owl me or Andromeda. Do know that the one silver lining that comes with this cloud is that your chances of being forced back to return to the Dursleys, have been reduced to nil. Unless Dumbledore wishes to contest the agreement, which means he will be forced to make certain uncomfortable details public. And I doubt he will risk tarnishing the image that he's spent so long carefully cultivating at this stage.
Have a Nice Day,
Narcissa Malfoy.
Harry opened the letter from Andromeda next.
Dear Harry,
I am not certain congratulations is the word I would like to use, but the agreement between yourself and Lyra will allow you certain freedoms. Namely the freedom not to see your mother's spiteful sister and her oafish husband ever again. Not unless Dumbledore wishes to contest the matter in court and that would force the Potter will to be a public matter. And I doubt he wishes for that to happen. For what he would describe for security reasons, but what I am certain are reasons which contest what he told us your parents' wishes were in the first place.
It has come to my attention that Dumbledore and Bagnold enacted a special degree which would prevent you from receiving mail that was not approved by Dumbledore. The restrictions have been lessened after you agreed to attend Hogwarts. While the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and the Minister of Magic can restrict mail under certain circumstances, we can prove that it was done maliciously to keep you ignorant about our world and about your rights. Attached to this letter is a form, which you can sign. Once Narcissa mentioned to me that Hagrid had your key and he likely got it from Dumbledore, I wondered what other property of yours he might be holding. This form will force Dumbledore to release anything he's holding which belongs to you, as the last remaining Potter, of a period of no later than sixty days once signed and filed. The penalty for refusing is heavy fines and potential time in Azkaban. Another thing which Dumbledore would avoid.
Along with a potential goblin audit. They can be ruthless.
I hope your time at Hogwarts is an enjoyable and memorable one. I hope to see you again over the holidays. My daughter, Nymphadora, is looking forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Andromeda Black-Tonks.
Harry wasted no time in signing the form to send it back to Andromeda. Lyra's frown deepened.
"I really hope Dumbledore hasn't been stealing gold from you as well," Lyra said. "Because, as your future wife…and as your friend, I'm offended twice as much as I would have been yesterday."
"Well, the goblins will sort him out if you can prove that," Gemma said. "I'm certain your relatives must have received money for taking care of you as well."
If that was the case, Harry really wondered where the money went. The Dursleys did the bare minimum to take care of them. Perhaps they were rightfully bitter for Dumbledore forcing them for take him in, practically saying it was in their best interests to do so.
Dumbledore had to know about all of the unanswered letters. Then again, Hagrid did say that Dumbledore knew that Harry might have trouble getting his mail.
"Put in a petition for Gringotts to audit your vaults," Isabella suggested to him. "You'll have to pay a fee, but it will be worth it to make sure no one who has access to your vault is misusing your funds."
"You may require your godfather's permission," Gemma added.
"And speak of the devil," Harry said.
And it was time to meet the infamous Sirius Black.
Hey Harry,
Well, I'm sure you got the news about the fact you have a betrothal agreement to deal with, and with my dear second cousin, Lyra. Congratulations, kiddo. I think.
But, let me be serious for a minute, and say that the agreement was made to put the brakes on anything Dumbledore would have been tried against you. Narcissa sat me down and discussed with me what happened to after I ran off and went after Wormtail….long story there, and I'd like to tell you it, but how could I talk about it in a letter, but anyway, if Moony was here, he would be critcizing me for my excessive use of run-on sentences.
But, anyway, Narcissa told me about your children. Lily's sister was a real peach when I met her. That's sarcasm, by the way. And her husband, well she knows how to pick them. I'd rather spend ten years with my dear cousin, Trixie's, husband(she will straight up murder you if you call her that, by the way), that's to say, my cousin Bellatrix's husband, than I would spend ten minutes talking to that fat bastard.
My inner Moony is talking about the excessive run-on sentences. And getting to the point.
As you might have found out through the papers, I'm your godfather. Which I didn't do such a good job at, as I ran after the guy who set up your parents, instead of making sure everything was okay. See, I thought Hagrid would get you to a safe place, and maybe after they checked you out, they would send you off to a responsible adult, like my dear cousin Andromeda. Not Lily's shrew sister and her oaf of a husband. I kind of was running off of emotions. That's a real problem with your godfather, kid. I think before I leap. And sometimes I end up leaping straight off of a cliff.
Anyway, I've signed the marriage proposal that Lucius and I talked about regarding yourself and Lyra. Between you and me, guy can't hold his alcohol at all, so I got all kinds of concessions in the agreement that I doubt he would have given when sober. Although, I didn't come up with all of it on my own. Rakepick advised me. And made sure that the agreement favored you. She was really fond of your mum.
This letter is honestly all over the place? Try and get to the point, you old fleabag.
Well, we signed the agreement and Lucius and I may be avoiding Narcissa for the moment. On the bright side, Lucius secured his daughter's future and I think he wanted interest in the House Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, and you can imagine that in a whiny tone of voice if you like, and so, he was more agreeable than I thought he would be. Even though he can't hold his liquor.
Lucius has agreed to help me fix up the old family home. Mostly to keep himself out of the Manor and away from Narcissa's wrath. The house elf involved a rotten old toerag named Kreacher. Who spent the past few years taking orders from my mother's dead portrait. He is literally insane. He wants to have his head on the wall next to his ancestors.
I'm almost happy to grant his wish. He always was a miserable one when I was young, age has made him worse.
Look, it turns out that your old godfather is not that good at getting his thoughts down in a coherent manner.
So, you're in Slytherin…well, I would have lost money if I would have bet gold on it. But, not everyone in Slytherin is bad. Andi, Andromeda, she turned out alright. And Mad-Eye Moody, he's one of the best. And Slughorn, he was an alright bloke, even if he did play his favorites for politics. And Katerina Zabini…she's worth the risk, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean?
The point is, I think you'll do fine at Hogwarts. Although when I found out who your head of house is…well, I can't believe someone like him ever became a teacher. Watch out for grease puddles.
I really would like to meet you in person. Hopefully for you not to kick me in the bollocks, for springing this betrothal agreement on you.
Hopefully we can meet together soon. Or you can tell me to piss off. That's up to you. I hope you're not too mad at me.
Oh, and you should know this. Dumbledore wanted to meet with me to discuss you, but given he couldn't give me five minutes, ten years ago, and yet vouched for Snape, he can kindly piss off. One of the reasons why I jumped on the entire bethral agreement, so I can tweak his mishapen nose.
Your Favorite Godfather,
Sirius Orion Black(and if you knew my mother, those are some very fitting initials)
"Kind of erratic, isn't he?" Lyra asked.
Harry continued to read the letter, amused and exasperated.
"Ten years in Azkaban and he must have…well he's something," Harry said.
"So, are you going to meet with him?" Isabella asked.
"Mmm, maybe I should," Harry said.
"I'm sure Dumbledore will be thrilled to let you do that," Lyra said.
"And you don't seem too happy either," Harry told her.
"Well, he managed to convince my father to get us into this entire mess," Lyra said.
That much was true.
Harry wrote a letter to Sirius. It was short, but to the point.
Dear Sirius,
I need some time to think about what happened. But, if I do talk to you, I want it to be in person.
Could we do an audit on my vaults at Gringotts? I want to be sure that no one is messing with my gold. Andromeda and Narcissa will tell you more about why I want this done, if you really have to ask.
And aren't you my only godfather?
Sincerely,
Harry.
Harry prepared to seal up the letter. Lyra looked at him.
"So, I'm going to be hated by half of the girls in the school," Lyra said.
"It says I can accept other agreements, as many as magic will allow," Harry said. "You'll be my primary wife though, when it happens."
"Unless someone beats me in a duel," Lyra said. "Then they can stake a claim for primary."
Lyra spent a moment looking out the window.
"So, are you going to meet with Merula?" Gemma asked Harry.
"As soon as she can get here, I'll meet her," Harry said. "It's important I learn everything I can because Quirrell is useless."
"Good luck," Gemma said.
Sirius mentioned Moony and Wormtail in his letter. Apparently Wormtail turned bad, at least according to Sirius. His map-self seemed alright though. And Moony, well Harry did not know anything about him.
Harry figured that made Sirius, Padfoot. Maybe he was wrong. But, it seemed like the most obvious solution to that question.
"You do realize the Whomping Willow mauls everyone that gets close to it, right?"
Harry had been joined by Lyra, and also Isabella and Gemma, a few days later, for his meeting with Merula Snyde. Why she wanted to have it in the Shrieking Shack, Harry had no idea.
Crabbe and Goyle were going to join them, until they found out what the Shrieking Shack was and remarked they had urgent homework they needed to get caught on. Still, Harry had the Head Girl and a prefect backing him up.
"I'm quite aware, thanks," Harry said. "But…watch this."
Harry levitated a very large stick into his hand and touched a knot at the base of the tree which calmed it down.
"Wow, how did you know that?" Gemma asked.
"Trade secret," Harry said. "Let's go."
They went down the tunnel to the Whomping Willow. Lyra shivered.
"This place is haunted," Lyra said.
"We live in a school with literally hundreds of ghosts," Harry said.
"This is different, I don't know why, but it's different," Lyra said.
"I really wish an interior designer haunted this place," Isabella said. "And a couple of house elves, this place is dusty."
The door opened up and Harry, Lyra, Isabella, and Gemma stepped in, where two figures sat. One of them was an extremely beautiful brown-haired girl with striking violet eyes.
"Well, well, well, the famous Harry Potter," she said. "A pleasure."
"Merula Snyde," Harry said. "I presume."
"Ten points to…well Slytherin was a surprise to everyone, but me," Merula said. "I won the pool."
People betted on what house Harry would go in. He could not say he was surprised, given what he learned about the Wizarding World over these past number of weeks.
"Don't rub it in, Merula," her disguised companion stated.
"I can't believe Nymphadora believed that Harry Potter would be a Hufflepuff," Merula said in amusement.
"So, you're Merula, and you are…."
"CJ."
She said this simply and Harry looked at her.
"Cassandra Jacobs?" Harry asked. "The Cassandra Jacobs?"
"Oh, Cassie, darling, you have a famous fanboy," Merula said.
"That's not funny, Merula…so he's heard of me, so what," CJ, Cassie, Cassandra, whatever you wanted to call her.
"You might as well take off that ridiculous scarf, and hat, he knows who you are," Merula said.
Cassie sighed and took off her scarf and hat, to reveal a stunning pretty girl with crimson red hair, high cheek bones, and she wore sunglasses which she neglected to take off.
"Are you blind?" Harry asked.
"No, she thinks it's badass to wear sunglasses indoors," Merula said. "Personally, I think it's kind of stupid."
Cassie just grumbled and took them off. She had the most beautiful pair of blue eyes Harry ever saw in his life. He just shook his head.
"Problem?" Merula asked him.
"Surrounded by so many beautiful older witches," Harry said. "Can't do anything about it right now."
"Ah, age-gate angst," Merula said with a smirk. "You wouldn't be the first who went through it, nor would you be the last. And a sufficiently powerful wizard like yourself, you would get it really bad. Some need the age-gate, but others don't. Unfortunately, in the interest of fairness, it was applied universally."
Lyra shifted rather nervously, as she did when this subject had been brought up.
"Some young witches and wizards can't control their magic, which makes the age-gate a necessity," Cassie added. "Others have powerful magic which needs to go free so they can learn how to control it. The Ministry initially was supposed to test young wizards and witches for capabilities after the age-gate was implemented upon the age of seven where most signs of magic manifest and they did for a few years. But then problems started to happen."
"What sort of problems?" Harry asked.
"The wrong kind of witches and wizards were proven to be more capable than the right sort," Merula said. "I'm not just talking about Muggleborns either."
"Rivalries between pureblood families can be very fierce," Cassie said. "If one heir from one family got the age-gate removed but another could not, that would be a matter of great shame and ridicule. Universal restrictions were applied and many fought to have the age-gate raised to seventeen years old, but thankfully, it was not put into place."
"It wouldn't have been put place, if not for one wizard who had been previously judged to have the capability to have the age-gate dropped went on a rampage, raping and pillaging an entire magical village," Merula said. "He did not discriminate. His magic was out of control. Man, woman, child, beast…."
"Good god," Lyra murmured. "Mum told us this story but…"
"It was bad," Cassie said. "And likely a set up, if you believe Rakepick. From a rival family, whose son was judged to be inadequate. The Wizengamot, with the approval of then Hogwarts Headmaster, Phineas Nigellus Black, applied the universal age-gate. They wanted seventeen years old, but a compromise was made, to pass the laws. Black also was reported to arrange for hormone supressors to be slipped into all Hogwarts drinks."
"He was the least popular Headmaster Hogwarts ever seen for a reason," Gemma said. "Banned Quidditch."
"So, it was because of politics," Harry said.
"It's always because of politics, honey," Merula told him.
"Blaise says the same thing," Harry said. "Blaise Zabini."
"Well, he's got a point," Merula said. "Problem, Princess?"
"I don't like talking about this," Lyra said. "All these theories…does it really matter?"
"Oh, it matters a lot, if certain witches and wizards are restricted from reaching their full potential," Merula said. "If it was only a problem, sexually speaking, that would be one thing. But there's other consequences for holding one's full magical potential behind a gate."
"And people are too afraid to rock the status quo," Cassie said.
"And Princess, I would like to congratulate you on your betrothal agreement," Merula said. "And also highly recommend you brush up on your dueling and defensive spells. Because, you're going to need them if you become the primary for Harry Potter."
"I wished it wouldn't have happened," Lyra said. "At least not this soon."
"But, it did," Merula said. "However, we're here for a reason. And that is because your Defense Against Dark Teacher is useless. Completely and utterly useless. A stuttering wreck who cannot even stand the sight of his own shadow."
Harry thought she hit the nail on the head. Cassie just frowned.
"He didn't seem that bad, when he taught Muggle Studies," Cassie said. "But, that's different."
"It's very different," Merula added. "So, Potter, you and your friends want teaching and Gemma wrote to me and promised me the prestige of teaching Harry Potter. Well, that's nice but we want something out of this."
Harry figured as much.
"What do you want?" Harry asked.
Merula took two pieces of parchment out and placed them upon the table. Harry looked at them and Lyra did as well.
"Those are betrothal agreements," Harry said. "For both you and Cassandra."
Lyra's expression grew stormy and Gemma and Isabella both looked astonished.
"For the record, this was her idea,' Cassie said.
"And I'm trying to help you, you bint," Merula said. "The Ministry would like to bring her in for questioning. And I'm considered an accessory. While most of our friends have gotten off, on probation, we're still not cleared."
Merula put her hand on Harry's for a brief second.
"Ooh, Merula," Isabella groaned. "You always have to play the best angles."
"I was sorted into Slytherin, for a reason," Merula said. "I'm not giving you this agreement because I'm intending to sneak in and overshadow the Princess. I'm going to win the right to be your primary fair and square in a duel when she turns seventeen…."
"Wait just a minute…." Lyra started.
"But, if she applies herself, she may prove me to be a fool," Merula said. "But, I must warn you, I'm the best in the world at what I do. And what I do isn't very nice sometimes."
"You stole that from a comic book," Cassie said. "A Muggle comic book."
"I am the most powerful witch in the world and I deserve the very best, and you are the very best, or will be once you got training," Merula said.
"You're a confident one," Harry said.
Honestly, he did find her confidence to be extremely attractive. And the voice in his head, the one that sounded oh so maternal, said that putting Merula in her place in the future would be even more attractive.
"It's win-win," Merula said. "We get the Potter and Black protection from the Ministry, and now with your betrothal agreement to the Princess, you're connected to the Malfoys, and the Malfoys are connected to a lot of people. The Ministry can't touch us. And you get access to two of the hottest and most talented witches in the world, who can help teach you much more than dueling. And we will teach that and defense as well."
"We?" Cassie asked.
"Two for one, CJ," Merula said. "There's benefits."
Gemma and Isabella read over the betrothal agreements, as did Harry.
"These seem legit," Gemma said.
"I'm no lawyer, but the agreements will benefit you," Isabella told him.
"And a little birdie told us about our living situation," Merula chimed in. "How Dumbledore abandoned you. And you know something, if you do this, Fudge can't touch us, Dumbledore can't, and neither can Fudge's pet Pepto-Bismel colored toad."
Harry raised his eyebrow.
"The Ministry left you to rot just as much as Dumbledore did," Merula said.
"Merula, you shouldn't be influencing him like that," Gemma said. "Harry, I swear, I didn't…."
Harry read over the documents. It did have an escape clause, but he would have to defeat Merula and Cassie in duels to dissolve the bethothel agreement. Other than that, he saw no downside to an agreement.
"Lyra, what do you think?" Harry asked.
"It's up to you," Lyra said.
"You're my primary, or you will be," Harry said.
"For the time-being, she is," Merula agreed.
Harry considered everything. The Ministry, Dumbledore, none of them gave him the time of day for ten years, and did not bother with him. Perhaps he was motivated partially out of spite, perhaps because of how stunning Cassie and Merula were. And there was that voice which grew stronger the more Harry tapped into certain parts of his mind, that egged him on.
"Where do I sign?"
"Getting those two is quite the coup," Blaise said.
"Well, that was a noble sacrifice to try and get our study group," Daphne said. "But, I wouldn't worry about the betrothal agreements. About eighty-five percent of those end up nullified for one reason or another."
"So, Lyra freaked out over nothing," Pansy said.
"I would have preferred to keep it quiet," Lyra said while annoyed.
"Yes, the entire school knows," Harry said.
"Good one, Pansy," Parvati said as she joined the group of Slytherins.
"You and Brown were half of the reason why everyone knew about Quirrell and his mysterious boyfriend," Pansy said.
"Accomplice," Daphne said. "I think they're up to something."
"And I agree with Daphne, there's something wrong," Harry said. "They haven't been to the third floor lately, so there's that."
"You just can't let true love blossom," Pansy said.
"Pansy, we both know the only reason why you're pretending to be tolerant, as it upsets some of the Muggleborns, who don't tolerate…those things," Autumn said. "Although, what people do in the privacy of their own bedroom is their business. But, there's no need to shove it in my face."
The group made it out to a section of Hogwarts called "The Training Ground" and this conversation would have to wait. Merula was there, Cassie was there, and a whole lot of students were there. All of the Slytherin first-years, even Nott which surprised Harry because he generally kept to himself, all of the Ravenclaw first of years, most of the Hufflepuff first-years, even Smith and his cronies, to Harry's chagrin, and also a good number of Gryffindors, other than Parvati.
And then there were a few upper years as well. Including the Weasley Twins, and their fellow members of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. The three lovely Chasers, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell, along with the captain Oliver Wood. Who happened to be Flint's sworn enemy, judging by the way the two stared daggers at each other. All of the prefects, even Prefect Weasley, was there, and the Head Boy and Head Girl. Beatrice was there, and she smiled at Harry and walked over.
"You got Cassie to come out of hiding," Beatrice said. "What did you do?"
"That's between Cassie, Merula, and I," Harry said.
Lyra clapped her hand over Pansy's mouth.
"I wasn't going to say anything," Pansy said.
"Fair enough," Beatrice said. "Hope to see you."
"Well, I was only expecting firsties," Merula said. "There's a lot of you."
"Well, y-y-yes…but I think w-w-we're all looking forward to seeing how this group is taught by yourself and Ms. Jacobs, Ms. S-S-S-Snyde."
"Professor Quirrell?" Penelope asked in surprise.
"I thought you would frown upon this group, Professor," Prefect Weasley said.
"Not at a-a-all," Quirrell said. "I figured I-I-I would sit in, and observe this g-g-group, and see what Ms. J-J-Jacobs and M-M-Ms Snyde are up to and what they t-t-teach you. I must admit I only took that class as a f-f-avor."
Given that Quirrell looked like he would want to be anywhere in the world other than teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry believed his story.
"Well, thank you for the endorsement, Professor," Merula said. "If you could just sit over there, and I'm sure that if things get out of hand, myself and Cassandra can count on your invaluable assistance."
"Oh, y-yes," Quirrell stammered. "But, I'm s-s-sure that you have the matter under hand."
"Right," Merula said. "Let's begin with a simple spell. For the vast majority of witches and wizards, especially in Europe and the Colonies, the wand is the most vital tool in their arsenal. However, if you can catch an inexperienced, or perhaps unprepared, or arrogant opponent off guard with the disarming spell."
"Expelliarmus is the incantation," Cassie said.
"Really, the disarming spell?" Smith asked with a sneer. "Everyone is taught that spell. And a proper duelist can prepare for…"
"Expelliarmus!" Merula yelled, in a bored voice and Smith's wand and had been pulled out of his hand. Everyone cheered. "Well, Mr. Smith, I daresay that you're not a proper duelist if you were caught flatfooted by such an obvious spell."
People from all houses laughed at Smith, who looked at him.
"Smith, take five points to Hufflepuff for promoting house unity," Gemma said.
"And a big fat L," Macnair murmured underneath his breath with a grin.
"Perhaps you would like to volunteer for a demonstration,' Merula said. "A duel with anyone…let's see…Harry Potter."
"Ooh, a splendid i-i-idea Ms. Snyde," Quirrell said.
"I'd like my wand back," Smith said. "Give it back to me."
"I think I'll hang onto it," Merula said. "I'd like me to show you what a proper duelist does, while you duel Mr. Potter without your wand."
"That's unfair!" Smith yelled. "He's a dark wizard…."
"That's enough, Smith," Beatrice said. "One more word out of you, and you won't have to worry about Harry."
And Smith actually did have some sense, so he shut up.
"Bow before each other," Merula said.
Smith looked at Harry, who smiled.
"Well, ready to teach me a few lessons, duelist," Harry said.
"He's about as big of a troll as you are," Cassie murmured to Merula.
"Expelliarmus!" Smith yelled.
Nothing, not even a spark.
"I need my wand!" Smith yelled.
"I gave you a free shot," Harry told him. "Rictusempra!"
And to prove his point, Harry cast the spell, without using his wand. Smith had been struck hard and broke out into uncontrollable fits of laughter. It was really a simple spell. Smith started to laugh and laugh and laugh, and looked red in the face.
"The tickling charm is often overlooked," Merula said. "However, in the right circumstances, it can catch an enemy off guard. And can set them up while they're cackling mad for another attack."
Smith flushed in embarrassment.
"And as Mr. Smith demonstrated, it can also cause him to lose control of certain bodily functions," Merula said.
"Ha!" Goyle cheered. "He done pissed his pants!"
"Thank you for your grasp of the obvious, Goyle," Lyra drawled while wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"You're welcome!"
"You should cancel that spell," Cassie said.
Three attempts to cancel the spell had failed. And then Cassie and Merula tried together and Smith had dropped to the ground, laughing like like a million feathers had been tickling him.
"I'm the Heir of H-Helga Hufflepuff, you can't do this to me!" he giggled like mad.
"Nice to see you find it laughable as well, Smith," Beatrice said. "I can't lift it either."
"Harry," Daphne said, lips curling into a grin.
Harry stepped forward and casually lifted the spell on Smith. He collapsed to the ground, rather flushed. His two flunkies pulled him up.
"You better escort Mr. Smith to get a fresh change of robes," Merula said. "And apparently, a sufficiently powerful wizard is the only one who can lift the spells he performs."
Hopkins and…the other one, led Smith off, who looked embarrassed. Merula casually tossed Smith's wand after them and Hopkins picked it up.
"Or, a wizard who is more powerful, Ms. S-S-Snyde," Quirrell chimed in.
Harry wondered if he should be suspicious that Quirrell was eyeballing him, like Dudley eyeballed a large cake.
"Big deal. So he made a Hufflepuff first year wet himself with a tickling spell. Been there, done that."
And Travers, still with the scars on his face of his encounter with Harry, almost a month after the fact.
"How about I teach the firstie how a duel really works," Travers said.
"You know, after the last time Harry humiliated you, I don't think you want to go there," Isabella said.
"Really, a seventh year against a first year?" Merula asked. "Travers, you're as big of an idiot as I remembered."
"Well, at least I didn't let my aunt trick me into an Unbreakable vow," Travers said.
Merula just looked at him, unimpressed.
"Seven years at Hogwarts, in Slytherin, and that's the best you can do?" Merula asked.
"Potter's nothing special," Travers said. "I guess the Dark Lord isn't anything special either…if a half-blood like Potter could beat him."
"C-c-careful Mr. T-T-T-travers….you wouldn't…w-w-w-ant to s-s-s-s-ay things like t-t-that. It's very d-d-dangerous!"
Quirrell seemed rather fearful, even more so than usual.
"Weak like his Mudblood mother," Travers said. "Can only beat someone when he cheap shots them."
"Fine, you want a duel," Harry said.
"I do want a duel," Travers said.
"I accept."
Lyra just groaned.
"Harry, please, don't…let him bait you like this," Lyra said.
"Mr. P-P-P-Potter I think that's ill-advised." Quirrell added.
"I'd have to agree," Merula said.
"I'll be his second," Cassie said. "Which one of your sneering sycophants will be his second?"
Travers picked Warrington, a member of the Slytherin Quidditch team, to be his second. He resembled a sloth, Harry noted.
"Fine," Merula said. "Bow."
Harry and Travers bowed. And spells had been fired. Harry dodged the spells coming from Travers, as the entire group just watched in awe.
Eventually, Travers, with a malicious grin on his face, went in.
"So, you think you belong in Slytherin, Potter! Serpensortia!"
A large, venomous looking snake shot from the wand of Travers. All of the students freaked out.
The snake had dove at Harry, fangs bared. Quirrell shrieked in horror, when the snake moved over.
"Time to die!" the snake hissed.
"Oooh, is little baby Potter scared?" Travers jeered. "Of the little snake."
"I'm going to feast upon your flesh, human!" the snake hissed.
Harry understood it, just like the Brazilian boa constrictor.
"Stop!" Harry hissed.
The snake stopped.
"Bloody hell," Merula groaned.
"My w-w-w-word!" Quirrell stammered.
"Potter's….no he can't be!" Travers yelled.
"Parseltongue…."
"He can speak to snakes…."
"Maybe Smith was right."
"You can understand?" the snake asked. "It doesn't matter, because I've been created to…"
Merula banished the snake before it could act.
"How dare you pull such a trick on a first-year?" Merula demanded.
"The duel's not over…."
"STUPEFY!" Harry yelled and Travers dropped to the ground. "Now it's over."
Harry turned to Lyra, and was not going to bother rousing Travers.
"You can speak to snakes," Lyra said. "You're a Parselmouth."
"That's so cool!" Crabbe cheered.
"They don't think it's cool," Autumn said.
"No, it's fucking awesome," Beatrice said when she moved over. "Look, Harry, don't listen to those idiots. It's a gift you have."
"Just a whole bunch of dark wizards happen to have it," Gemma said.
"They say there hasn't been a decent wizard who is a Parselmouth," Penelope said. "But, because of that stigma, obviously, no one would admit it."
"I can't wake him up, again," Merula said. "I know he's a jackass and he deserves to be a coma…but could you…."
"Fine," Harry said.
Travers roused.
"This isn't over, Parselmouth!" Travers yelled. "A filthy-half blood has no right to a gift that amazing…"
"Mr. T-T-Tr-avers, twenty points from Slytherin," Quirrell said. "And you will be spending the next week in d-d-d-detention for the low-down dirty trick you pulled. Mr. Filch will be overseeing it."
Quirrell walked off, and Harry just frowned.
"I think we should call a wrap on this one, for this week," Cassie said.
After a moment, the entire group had been dismissed. A lot her buzzing for it.
"All hail the Parselking," Tracey said with a smile.
"This…is bad," Lyra said. "Really bad."
"Oh, who cares what a bunch of overly sensitive Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors think," Pansy said while rolling her eyes.
"It's not just them," Lyra said. "Did you know you were a Parselmouth? Did you talk to any other snakes?"
"I accidentally set a snake on my cousin Dudley at the zoo," Harry said. "It told me it never saw Brazil and I set it free."
"Oooh, so you knew," Lyra said.
"I didn't think it was a big deal," Harry said.
"I sometimes forget how new you are to all of this," Lyra said. "Not your fault, it's Dumbledore's."
"Harry?"
Parvati stood behind him.
"I'll make sure everyone knows you were just defending yourself," Parvati said. "Travers is the snake here, not you."
"Thanks, Parvati," Harry said. "I appreciate it."
"I shouldn't have let Travers get that far," Merula told him.
"It's not your fault," Harry told her.
"I only expected to deal with first-years, not an entire group," Merula said. "And there's nothing wrong with being a Parselmouth. It doesn't make you the next Voldemort."
Harry had been surprised how Merula said his name, clearly and without any fear. It did impress him.
"And it will make you very popular among the ladies," Blaise said. "Which is the real reason your average wizard on the street brands it as evil."
"Oh, Blaise," Daphne groaned.
Still, Daphne Greengrass would be a liar if she did not consider the potential.
"We have to get in front of this situation and control the narrative," Isabella said. "Before the idiots spread malicious rumors and twist this."
"She's right," Merula said. "If you can work the Hogwarts Rumor Mill to your advantage, you can come out in hand."
"Fortunately, Izzy can do that to a tee," Gemma added.
Isabella took a bow and looked quite pleased at Gemma's assessment of her gossip-handling capabilities.
Deep within the turban of Professor Quirinus Quirrell, Voldemort found himself engaged. Those ginger nuisances had just found a very comfortable spot underneath Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore on his "to-kill" list. They had dropped dung bombs in the middle of his class.
"No, Master, you cannot skin them alive, that would draw attention to what we're doing," Quirrell said. "And there's already enough attention drawn to us with these rumors."
Voldemort despised it when the minions made sense. His meat-bag unfortunately made a lot of sense. He decided to let Quirrell send them off to detention with Filch.
If Lord Voldemort had a nose, he would have wrinkled it in disgust.
Voldemort thought about Harry Potter, the boy who was responsible for his current sad state, and the fact he did not know how, disturbed him. When the boy arrived at Hogwarts, Voldemort was curious. When the boy had been sorted into Slytherin, he had been intrigued. When it came to Voldemort's attention that the boy had been sent to a home where he had been mistreated, Voldemort could only roll his eyes.
Typical Dumbledore. Really, Albus, who was the villain now?
Of course, the more signs Potter exhibited, where Voldemort had been reminded of a younger him, that cemented one fact in his mind.
Harry Potter would have to die. But, the fact that Voldemort had no clue how the boy survived, and that fact gave him enough pause not to act.
The Boy-Who-Lived they called him. Curse magic users and their inane fixation with hyphens.
He knew the name Tom Marvolo Riddle. When Quirrell inquired about it, Voldemort told him it meant nothing. And Quirrell wisely dropped the subject.
The man was a Ravenclaw, so he was not entirely useless after all. Voldemort considered most Ravenclaws to be arrogant intellectuals who looked down their nose at him.
Then again, most of Voldemort's own house, Slytherin, really would be better placed in the land of the useless that was Hufflepuff, with their blind loyalty to the cause. And Voldemort smiled how those useful idiots had been quite useful indeed.
This world was in desperate need of repair and if they all just stood aside, he would do a lot better job than the idiots running the world. Fudge was the Minister. That really said all, didn't it?
And yet, there was Potter. He somehow learned that name and connected it to Quirrell. The children and their silly rumors had been a laugh and they had fortunately moved on to the hot button topic, when they had lost interest to them. Over the past several decades, Hogwarts had not changed much in that respect.
Harry Potter was a Parselmouth. Another red flag. He spoke the noble language of Salazar Slytherin.
Although, he did have quite the network of students in awe of him and his power, even sooner than Voldemort managed during his time at Hogwarts.
Another reason why the boy must die.
Yes, he wanted to know how the boy knew his former name. And for that, Voldemort had to act. Unfortunately, he had been protected by many powerful individuals, so he had to be discreet.
Perhaps, it was time to think like a Slytherin and not be as irrational as a Gryffindor. Which was how Voldemort acted when he jumped on the impulse of that prophecy Severus shared with him all those years ago.
In hindsight, it had been an error.
"My Lord, we are moving forward to the plan, right?" Quirrell asked.
"Yes, Quirrell," Voldemort said. "Halloween night would be the most appropriate venue for it. Ten years after my unfortunate setback, I will begin the first steps towards my glorious return."
He hissed out those last words.
"Snape is suspicious," Quirrell reminded him.
"Do not worry about Severus," Voldemort said curtly.
Severus Snape, the man who shared the information which led to Voldemort's doom. And the sentimental fool had managed to convince Voldemort to attempt to spare Lily Potter. Voldemort had a soft spot for Snape, a rare gem as far as he was concerned. The closest thing he had to a son, not that Voldemort would have any children. He found the thought of physical intimacy to be detestable.
Voldemort knew Lily would not stand aside. But, he gave her the choice anyway. In some respects, she was a better woman than his own mother, the weak woman who gave up on him and left him to languish at his orphanage.
But, perhaps Voldemort should thank Merope Gaunt. Tom Marvolo Riddle may have languished in mediocrity, if she had lived, and instead Lord Voldemort rose and became superior to all wizards.
Yet, spare the rod, spoil the child. Voldemort found himself quite curious how Snape had been allowed to run free in Hogwarts and do what he pleased. The complaints were vocal, although never within Snape's earshot.
If Dumbledore had been suspicious of Snape's true allegiance, and Snape gave many reasons to arouse suspicion, then he would have been long gone. It stood to reason for Voldemort, that Dumbledore had leverage.
Trying to fathom how the old man thought gave Voldemort a splitting headache.
"Yes, we will begin our steps to secure the Philosopher's Stone. But, we will need a distraction to perform recon on the corridor."
Voldemort could have scoffed at how foolish Dumbledore was, drawing such attention to a valuable item being at Hogwarts.
Children were obnoxiously curious after all.
The "Parselmouth" incident had been quite the talk of Hogwarts, well for a little bit. Harry and his friends had promptly taken control of the narrative, and spun it away from the Parselmouth thing, to Harry bravely standing up to a bullying and spiteful seventh year student, who tried to make a name for himself and humiliate him, yet again.
After the incident, both Malfoy sent Harry letters, telling him not to worry about Travers. And a couple of days later.
"Travers is gone," Isabella informed them all one night. "Expelled. People from the Ministry came and escorted him out of Transfiguration this morning. The only reason that they did not snap his wand, is he's of age. Although, he'll be monitored due to the fact he tried to maim the last surviving member of a very important house."
Harry just smiled, happy that was settled.
"So, how long do you think it is before he ends up dead in Knockturn Alley?" Macnair murmured to Flint, who just shrugged in response.
Outside of some very vocal individuals, who had been talked over very quickly with tales of Harry boldly standing up to the bully Travers and remaining cool under the face of fire, and how he was everything people told him to be and then so much more.
Girls offered to carry his books to class. A couple of the bolder girls offered to carry Harry to class and levitate him onto a throne to carry him around Hogwarts like a king. Harry thought that might be a step too far.
"Well, you're Mr. Popular these days," Beatrice said. "Oh, by the way, there's a group of girls plotting to find a way to prematurely break your age-gate spell so they can explore what Parseltongue really does."
"Seriously," Harry said.
"Yes," Beatrice agreed. "Rumor has it that Professor Sinistra and Professor Vector both gave them notes of permission to explore the Restricted Section of the library. But, they won't find what they need, and their search will be in vain."
"It will," Gemma said. "There's no books regarding how to remove the age-gate prematurely, even in the Restricted sections."
"It just stops you from going too far," Harry said. "Can you overpower it?"
"I'm sure it will get quite vehement if you try," Beatrice said.
Harry just thought about it, and wondered about something. It was almost impossible to do research on something, when the books had been vague. Whether this was a Dumbledore call or a Ministry call.
Lessons with the study group had gone rather well after the initial chaos. Merula and Cassie had also been tutoring him on the basics of Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, and strongly encouraged Harry to take those electives, along with Care of Magical Creatures, when he could sign up for them during his third year.
Sirius and Harry had been exchanging letters. Sirius did not seem to be too bothered about the Parseltongue thing and he suggested Harry just let the rumors run their course. He admitted to being the victim of the Hogwarts Rumor Mill back in his day.
Also arrangements had been made to meet with Sirius, at Godric's Hollow on Halloween, to see the graves of his parents and to visit his old home. Merula and Cassie would be joining him on the trip.
"It's a big celebration every year on Halloween," Cassie informed him. "Cementing the downfall of Voldemort. And…I understand if you don't want to be reminded of what else happened that night."
"I don't, but it was a good day for a lot of people, that he was gone," Harry said.
"I hope he is gone, but there's been rumors that he's still out there, weakened," Merula said.
"Hagrid said the same thing," Harry said.
"Which means Dumbledore knows, because Dumbledore likely fed him that information to put that seed in your head," Merula told him.
And just by coincidence, Dumbledore finally agreed to meet with Harry, on the eve of Halloween. Harry had asked Snape for this meeting nearly two months ago.
"Dumbledore wants to talk to you, now?" Lyra asked.
"He suggested I come alone," Harry said.
"Are you?" Lyra asked.
"I'm not meeting with that man without witnesses," Harry said.
"I'll come, if you want me to," Lyra said.
"Princess, a pair of first-years cannot stand up to the great Albus Dumbledore," Merula said.
She popped out of nowhere with Cassie and gave Lyra a start.
"Do you live at Hogwarts now?" Lyra asked her.
"No, but we have a pretty good idea of how to get in and out of the school without detection," Cassie said while popping up behind a suit of armor and giving Lyra quite the fright. "And we have a nice little cottage in Hogsmeade."
"Quaint," Harry said.
"We should sneak you down to the village for a Butterbeer sometime," Merula said. "Technically, you're not allowed until third year but…rules are a guideline, aren't they?"
"And it really is awful for the people who live in Hogsmeade," Cassie said. "Not only do they have to go all the way up to King's Cross to catch a train, where they can get to Hogwarts in a ten minute walk, but they need a permission slip to visit their home."
"I suppose Dumbledore wouldn't want to be accused of playing favorites," Daphne said as she joined the group.
"Daphne, all Dumbledore does is play favorites," Blaise said. "So, you're meeting with him?"
"Yes," Harry agreed.
"Be careful," Blaise warned him.
"He will be, because CJ and I will be going with him, and I guess the Princess is going to tag along too," Merula said.
Lyra just rolled her eyes.
"What should I expect when meeting Dumbledore?" Harry asked.
"A migraine?" Blaise suggested.
"He's going to call you into his office, and offer you one of his sherbert lemons, which everyone declines," Cassie explained. "He is going to make some small talk with you, before getting to the crux of the matter. You are going to have questions, and he will be unable to answer them at this time, only telling you he will have more information when the time is right. Depending on the situation, he may caution you about not intervening in matters of the school, and leave it up to the teachers, despite it being unavoidable. If you say something he does not like, he will do that disappointed Grandfather act that he does so well. And he will tell you that it is in your best interests to do something, even if you have your heart set on another thing. And he will try and guilttrip you. And sometimes it works well. But, you will be leaving that office with more questions than answers."
Harry had been impressed that Cassie said all that without taking a breath.
"And he'll be upset if you're late, even if he has a habit of being late himself," Merula added.
"Right, I forgot about that," Cassie said.
Harry just smiled.
"Well, let's do this," Harry said.
Harry, Lyra, Cassie, and Merula had been joined by Isabella, Gemma, and Penelope on their way up to Dumbledore's office.
"You do realize this is the opposite of meeting him alone," Gemma said.
"I realize," Harry said. "And Dumbledore didn't bother to tell me the password."
"Great," Cassie said. "It's normally a candy name."
"Sherbert Lemon?" Penelope suggested. "He offered me one when I was up here one time. I declined it."
"No one ever takes the Sherbert Lemon," Isabella said. "And that's not the password."
"Chocolate Frog?"
They started guessing candy names.
"Twizzlers?" Harry asked. "Kit-Kat? Hershey Bars?"
Nothing, nothing, and nothing.
"Acid pops?" Merula asked.
"Cockroach cluster?" Cassie asked.
"Oh, listen to me you Goober, open up!" Merula snapped.
And suddenly, the Garygoyle opened up.
"Goober?" Cassie asked. "That was the password."
"I guess," Merula said. "Or maybe it was open up."
"That would be silly," Isabella said.
"It's Dumbledore," Merula said. "Do you see how the man dresses?"
The group moved inside, where Dumbledore had been sitting at his desk and he was currently looking over something or other.
"Mr. Potter, I will be with you in a minute," Dumbledore said. "Although, you were a trifle late."
"You didn't give me the password," Harry said.
"Oh, I didn't," Dumbledore remarked. "Well, old-age gets the best of us. I hope you will benefit from both its wisdom and its pratfalls someday."
Cassie rolled her eyes ever so slightly. Dumbledore looked up at the group and he frowned ever so slightly.
"I had thought that I requested we have this meeting alone, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said.
"Anything, you can say to Harry, you can say in front of me, given we are betrothed," Lyra said.
"Yes, and you are to Miss Jacobs and Miss Snyde as well," Dumbledore said with a disappointed sigh. "But, we'll get to that in a minute…but the rest of the group…."
"Two Prefects and the Head Girl," Harry said. "I trust them to be unbiased witnesses to this meeting. And you do too, considering you chose them."
"Of course," Dumbledore said. "Would you care for a Sherbert Lemon?"
"No thank, you sir," Harry said.
"I'd like one," Lyra said.
Everyone gasped and even Dumbledore looked surprised.
"What?" Lyra asked. "I like candy."
"Of course, Miss Malfoy,' Dumbledore said.
"The Headmaster wouldn't poison a heiress of an important family, after all," Lyra said as she took the Sherbert Lemon and pulled a face and spat it out into her hand. "How long have you had this thing?"
Dumbledore just blinked.
"I'm not sure," he admitted.
"Because, it's lost all of its flavor…other than…dust," Lyra said.
"I must replace these," Dumbledore said. "It's just that no one has taken them…ever, that I never felt the need."
Isabella cleared her throat as Lyra dropped the old and dusty Sherbert Lemon into the bin.
"And down to business," Dumbledore said. "I must congratulate you on your sorting into Slytherin."
Harry just had been surprised. That was not what he expected from Dumbledore. He was paranoid, just a slight bit.
"An extraordinary amount of talented witches and wizards have come from that house, even if it has fallen under a bad reputation due to certain circumstances," Dumbledore said. "Although, you should be careful not to fall under certain influences that might lead you astray."
"What are you referring to, sir?" Harry asked with faux innocence.
"Well, there are some people who do not have your best interests in mind."
The irony of that statement coming from that man.
"Sending me to people who had a strong dislike for magic did not seem to be in my best interests either, Professor," Harry said.
"Harry, there were circumstances why it was important you were sent to your family," Dumbledore said. "And there are reasons why you must return this summer…."
"Those people are not my family and that place is not my home, and it never will be," Harry said.
"Harry, I'm certain we can come to an understanding with the Dursleys and I will remind them of my previous correspondence to them," Dumbledore said. "Of the importance of taking you in and taking care of you."
"They might have taken me in, but they failed to take care of me," Harry said.
"You don't understand," Dumbledore said.
"Help me, then," Harry said. "If you give me your reasons, I might understand. You don't know unless you explain."
Harry had no intention of ever stepping one foot back into that hellhole, but he wanted to hear what Dumbledore had to say. And he also felt a gentle nudge on his mind. Harry performed the mental equivilent of slapping a kid's hand away from a plate of cookies.
That was Dumbledore's warning. Next time, Harry would not be so gentle.
"Alas, Harry, it's not the time for me to tell you why," Dumbledore said. "You are much too young, and I am older, and you must understand that I know best. When the time is right, I will explain everything to you."
Merula mouthed Dumbledore's statement verbitiam off to the side, as she said it. Dumbledore caught her towards the end and Merula just smirked, as he gave her a reproachful look. Cassie just sighed.
"The view never changes," Cassie murmured to Gemma.
"Why did Voldemort try and kill me?" Harry asked. "Why did he go after my parents?"
"Another thing I cannot share with you, at the moment, I'm afraid," Dumbledore said. "But, you need to return this summer. I must admit, I was upset with Hagrid, when he allowed the Malfoys to take you…"
Dumbledore looked as if he was choosing his words carefully. Likely because the heiress of said family was in the room and she would report everything back to her parents. Especially if he had said anything slanderous.
"I'm glad they did," Harry said.
"And I must warn you to exercise caution around Sirius Black," Dumbledore said. "He betrayed your parents to Lord Voldemort."
"How do you know?" Harry asked.
"He was their Secret Keeper," Dumbledore said. "He gave up your parents' location to Voldemort and then he murdered twelve Muggles and a wizard."
"Oh, you have evidence that he was the one who betrayed them?" Harry asked.
"You and Amelia would get along," Dumbledore remarked idly. "And no, I did not witness the Fidelius Charm. Which is to the spell that would have hidden your parents. Very much beyond NEWT level, but your mother was a genius, although she had not quite gotten around to ironing out the flaw where the Secret Keeper had to be outside of the location which is being protected. Others have improved upon that work."
"So, you did not witness the spell being performed," Harry said.
"No," Dumbledore said. "Your parents and Mr. Black gave me their word that he would be the Secret Keeper, and then I gave the Ministry evidence that he was…which was only minor compared the mass murders that he committed…"
"At his trial, right?" Harry asked.
"Mr. Black did not receive a trial," Dumbledore said. "A fact which Lucius Malfoy exploited, likely to…well I cannot discuss what I believe his reasoning would be here."
"So, they threw Sirius into Azkaban, based off on hearsay from you, based on a charm you did not personally witness," Harry said. "And technically, without a trial, legally he did not commit these murders. They are but allegations after all."
"Harry, you should become a criminal defense attorney when you are older, you do seem to have a knack for it," Dumbledore said with a grandfatherly smile.
"Answer the question, please, sir," Isabella said, with slight annoyance in her voice.
"I felt like it was necessary, given the severity of Sirius's crimes," Dumbledore said. "Admittedly, it might have been an error not to speak to the man, but I felt his betrayal personally. I had given him a second chance after a terrible mistake he made."
"What did he do?" Harry asked.
"It's a matter which is personal, I'm afraid," Dumbledore said. "But, at the very least, I do think you should avoid Sirius Black and this meeting. And I can assure you that I will be looking into the legality of this betrothal agreement that you and Miss Malfoy had entered, along with the ones you entered alongside Miss Jacobs and Miss Snyde…."
"Harry is the last surviving member of an ancient Wizarding House," Penelope informed Dumbledore.
"Yes, and he can enter marriage agreements when he is old enough to attend a magical school," Gemma added. "The Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot should know this."
"But, he is much too young, to make such life changing decisions," Dumbledore said. "And I must also warn you about the dangers of trying to prematurely break the age-gate spells. I personally believe there is a need for stronger application of the spell, and leaving it on until seventeen."
So, Dumbledore adopted that school regarding the age-gate. Well, Harry was not going to get along with the man on that.
"And there's where we disagree," Harry said.
"But, the day is getting long and I have something of yours that I have to return," Dumbledore said. "Although, was it really necessary for you to force an audit against me and your relatives?"
Harry said nothing. Dumbledore removed from a cabinet, a silvery looking item.
"Bloody hell," Merula murmured.
"This belonged to your father, and I…I intended to give it to you much later, but given what you evoked against me, I have no choice but to give it to you right now."
Harry took the cloak and smiled.
"That's an Invisibility Cloak," Lyra said.
"Thanks for stating the obvious, Princess," Merula said.
"But, it looks pristine for something your father had when he was at school," Cassie said, while looking thoughtful.
"Your relatives did receive compensation for taking care of you," Dumbledore informed Harry.
"And they didn't spend a knut on me," Harry said.
"I'm sure it's not that bad…"
"I give you full permission to look into my memories from my childhood, and you'll see what you left me to," Harry said. "Unless, you're scared of what you might find."
Dumbledore blinked for a second.
'Come on, sir, you were eager to peak earlier. I give you my full consent.'
Harry dragged all of the highlights of his ten years at the Dursleys. With trepidation, Dumbledore looked into Harry's eyes and had been blasted by those memories.
Dumbledore's expression grew graver and graver. He tried to pull back, but it was almost like invisible ropes locked him into place. It was like a train wreck that he could not pull away from. Harry dumped a first-person view of the highlights of his time at the Dursleys, straight into Dumbledore's mind at all at once.
"Stamp it out of him?" Dumbledore breathed. "Good grief, what have I done?"
"See it now, Professor?" Harry asked.
"So much hatred."
Dumbledore's hands were shaking, extremely badly.
"He could have ended up like…no…she couldn't have…no…." Dumbledore said.
Harry "heard" Dumbledore's thoughts for a brief minute, the shields on his mind failing. And he was aghast, he never thought the Dursleys could be "that bad."
So he knew of their hatred of magic. But he did not think they would be "that bad."
"Professor?" Penelope asked with concern.
Harry thought for a minute Dumbledore was going to have a heart attack or a stroke before them. He looked like a feeble old man when sitting before them.
"I need to head to the Hospital wing," Dumbledore said in a small voice. "I'm not feeling well."
Dumbledore could barely stand. Penelope, the lovely person she was, took pity on him and helped hold him up. Gemma joined him in escorting Dumbledore to the hospital wing.
"What did you show him?" Lyra asked.
"My childhood," Harry said gravely.
"Bloody hell, I've never seen Dumbledore like that," Cassie said.
Harry decided to examine the Invisibility Cloak. He was quite curious why his father left it with Dumbledore.
Likely should get it tested for any tracking spells before he put it to use as well.
More questions than answers. Just like Cassie warned him.
Harry vowed this one point with clarity. He would be out of the school during Halloween, meeting with Sirius in Godric's Hollow.
To Be Continued.
