Control
By Fatpunk
Chapter 5
Flight
Harry rose early the next morning greeting the day in his usual manner, walking the halls and grounds investigating what the school had to offer. As he approached the lake he remembered some of the hand-to-hand combat techniques he and learn with the goblin mercenaries and decided that he should keep practicing the forms, to relax his mind if nothing else.
After going through his exercises he returned to his dorm and had a shower before meeting Hermione in the common room and making their way to the great hall for breakfast. Harry served himself some bacon and eggs and began talking to Hermione about the days classes.
"So, excited to learn to fly?" asked Harry.
"Nervous more than anything. I've been reading some books and there's nothing in them saying how to fly. I mean they talk about how to fly better but not flying itself" she ranted becoming more and more irate as her speech continued.
"Hermione calm down! It's nothing to panic about! The teachers would never let you do anything to get seriously hurt!"
This statement seemed to calm Hermione slightly "but there's no books on it! If the teachers can explain it why can't they write a book?"
"Maybe no one has thought about it. Maybe it's more of a feeling than a science." Harry reasoned "besides," he continued "not everything important is written in books. Have you found a book yet that explains how and why people think the way they do?"
"That's not the point you can't explain the human mind it's too complex. You can explain how the enchantments in a broom work."
"Look, if you're still worried after the class I'll help you out and teach you everything I can."
This seemed to calm her slightly. The pair, after talking briefly with Daphne and promising to talk at lunch, made their way to the Quidditch pitch for the flying lesson. They arrived first followed soon after by the rest of Gryffindor house.
"So think you can fly?" questioned Ron
"Don't know I've never tried" replied Harry, Hermione just stayed quiet.
"I've bin doing it since I was a kid, playing Quidditch with my brothers flying round home stuff like that" Ron boasted.
"Good for you Mr Weasley, if you'll excuse me."
Harry left, attempting to avoid any further conflict only to walk straight into another only it was Hermione at the centre.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Mudblood and the Potty" drawled Draco Malfoy while is two side kicks, Crabbe and Goyle laughed stupidly.
"Just ignore him Harry. Let's go" mumbled Hermione.
"Afraid to face me mudblood? Scared your magic just can't hold up to a real wizard?" Malfoy goaded the pair.
Hermione stopped and turned slowly, the glare on her face was enough to cause Malfoy's smirk to falter. "Not at all Malfoy. I'd just prefer not to have to wipe the oil off my robes when you end up kissing my arse!" She then turned and left. Harry, seeing Malfoy wanting to retaliate set up a sorcerer's shield around Hermione.
"Tarantella"
The curse rebounded on Malfoy causing his legs to fly around.
Hermione turned again "you really should work on that curse Malfoy this always seems to happen" she then, along with Harry, left the group gaping at what had just happened.
"Very nice Hermione, never knew you had it in you" Harry declared
"Well if I didn't do something now he'll probably keep annoying me for the rest of school."
"Logical, but he's probably keep annoying you anyway just because you got one over on him."
"Mmmm..."
"Now that is a truly intellectual comment" Harry stated with a smile causing Hermione to blush and slap him across the arm before quietening down as Madam Hooch arrived.
In front of the students was a set of brooms laid out in two rows with a space between each.
"Alright class, my name is Madam Hooch and I am the flying instructor. I want everyone to next to a broom with the broom on your wand hand side."
There was a flurry of movement as the class complied with the teacher's instructions. Harry and Hermione both went to a set of brooms at the far end of the field.
"Now reach your wand hand out over the broom and say 'up'"
There was a collection of calls as the students cried 'Up!' trying to get their broom to comply. Few students made any difference; most brooms just stayed still or rolled over. Some got their broom to comply, Malfoy and Ron included. Harry reached his hand out and said quietly but forcefully 'up' causing the broom to leap into his hand instantly. The feeling of power that rushed through him when the broom impacted his hand was amazing and the anticipation of the freedom he would receive when he finally got into the air was palatable.
Next to him Hermione was struggling with the broom. As Madam Hooch was moving around the group helping the students who were having trouble Hermione was nervously repeating 'up, up, up' slowly becoming more exasperated. It was at this point that Harry decided to for fill his promise and help Hermione.
"Don't fear it Hermione," he said "the broom draws its power from you confidence and skill. It will only work while you want it to. If you harbour any fear of the impending flight the broom will not work. It won't go any further than your skills allow."
Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Releasing it she commanded "up!" causing the broom to leap into her hand and drawing a smile from the girl.
"Excellent class! Now step over your broom and place your wand hand about 6 inches from the front of the broom gripping it like you would shake someone's hand. Place your other hand about half way between yourself and your lead hand like so." Hooch described the grip and showed the class before going around and correcting students grip.
Both Harry and Hermione got the grip correct first time but others, like Malfoy, had to be corrected often earning the comment 'that grip is terrible its like this'
Harry smiled and Hermione giggled when Hooch told Ron his was one of the worst grips she had every seen and she would have expected better with so many great flyers in the family.
"Alright class on the count of three I want you to push off the ground hover at three feet then return to the ground by leaning forward. Ready? One, Two…"
Before she had the change to get to three Neville Longbottom leapt off the ground, afraid he would be left behind and soared into the sky. Ten feet, twenty feet, fifty feet he rose before topping off at a hundred feet in the air. He lent forward slightly intending to return to the ground but instead shot forward towards the castle. With a sickening crash Neville ploughed into one of the many towers around Hogwarts and was dislodged from the broom and fell fifty feet to the ground with a crack. Madam Hooch hurried over to where the broom was sprawled on the ground and went to examine him.
"It's okay son, just a broken wrist, it'll be fixed in no time." She said trying to calm the panicking boy, then to the rest of the class "everyone keeps their feet on the ground if I find anyone in the air before I get back they'll be out of this school before they can say Quidditch!" turning and taking Neville to the hospital wing.
A contemptuous laugh could be heard ringing around the field as soon as the teacher rounded the corner. Harry turned to see Malfoy laughing with his two cronies while tossing a remembrall "did you see the fat lump? And he dropped this! Maybe if he squeezed it he would've remembered to fall on his fat arse!" he exclaimed causing much laughter from the Slytherin's.
"I suggest you give it here Malfoy." Harry said quietly and coldly but everyone heard and knew the underlying threat.
Malfoy's smile faltered for a second before, "No. I think ill leave it somewhere for him to find." He said taking off. "A tree perhaps? Going to follow Potter or is it out of your reach?"
Harry leapt onto his broom and took off before anyone could stop him. He raced into the sky, the act of flight coming to him naturally. He found it slightly more restrictive than in his phoenix form but the feeling was no less exciting. He climbed to where Malfoy was noticing the lack of any smirk and seeing the other boy was somewhat nervous.
"Hand it over Malfoy." Harry said only just raising his voice above a whisper.
Malfoy just stared at Harry for a moment before throwing the remembrall as hard as he could at the castle.
Harry glared at Malfoy for a moment before turning and casing after the remembrall, flatting himself against the broom urging it beyond the normal speeds it could reach. He sent the broom into a steep dive chasing the ball as it plummeted to the earth. The ground rising at Harry fast he finally caught up and snatched the ball out of the air saving it from being shattered against the ground. Inches from the ground Harry pulled out of the flight and spun round in the direction of Malfoy who had landed during the chase. He flew fast and hard directly at Malfoy, never slowing as the other boy paled and all but wet himself. About a metre from Malfoy Harry stopped the broom and flipped off landing face to face with Malfoy centimetres separating them so Harry could feel his putrid breath on his face.
"Mr Potter!" came a call across the field
"You will pay for this, do not forget it" Harry whispered before turning and walking to Professor McGonagall who was striding across the grounds.
"Follow me Mr Potter" she said before turning and leading into the castle.
Harry followed the professor through the winding hall until they got to a class. She opened the door and called something inside which Harry could not hear. A tall and burly boy exited the class and followed McGonagall and Harry as they were lead to the Transfiguration class room.
"First Harry, your punishment for disobeying a teacher you and Mr Malfoy both lose ten points and threatening a student you lose ten points. Now Harry I want you to meet Oliver Wood, Wood this is Harry Potter our new seeker."
Wood's look of confusion vanished in a moment replaced by one of rapture "really Professor? We haven't had a descent one since Charley Weasley! He's the right build for it! Can he really fly?" he said in a rush.
"Oh very much so! He caught this after a fifty foot dive pulling up a foot from the ground before turning and flying back to the group and the dismount poetry." She replied obviously enjoying the memory she turned to Harry "that was your first time on a broom?" she asked.
Harry nodded getting the feeling he had just survived his first test of authority when he didn't have a case.
"Now Mr Potter," she started her strict persona returning "you will have detention with me tonight at 8 o'clock and I don't want to hear you bragging about this to anyone."
"Actually professor I don't think he should tell anyone, maybe just his close friends if they'll keep this secret, we might be able to keep him as a secret weapon" proposed Wood.
"That's a good idea. I'll see you this evening at 8 until then Mr Potter"
Harry took the dismissal and left. He made his way to the library where he found both Daphne and Hermione talking in hushed tones. He walked over to the table and quietly sat in the seat next to Hermione and across from Daphne. As soon as he was seated the inquisition began.
"What happened, Harry?
"Why did you do it?"
"Did you get expelled?"
"What happened to Malfoy?"
They asked the questions in hushed but hurried tones trying to find if their friend had been expelled from school before the end of the first semester.
Harry finally stopped the flow of questions and finally tried to explain that he hadn't been expelled. After a short time he managed to convince them to follow him to a more private location. The girls gathered their books together and followed Harry into a deserted classroom. He set a few sorcerer's privacy spells and securely locked the door so they wouldn't be disturbed. He then took a seat, motioning the girls to do the same.
"Right" he began "I haven't been expelled but I am in detention with Professor McGonagall"
"Yeah but you could have told us this in the library, what else happened?" Daphne pushed trying to get the details of the meeting.
"Well, I've been given a position in the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a seeker. This information has to be kept secret though Professor McGonagall and Oliver Wood want to keep the details quiet but for different reasons" Harry explained.
"So we can't tell anyone? I can help out our team with this information?" Daphne questioned, a small smile creeping onto the corners of her mouth.
"Well I couldn't really stop you but doing that probably won't help the Ravenclaw team. We play Slytherin first and the other Ravenclaw's will be able to see how I play at that game. The only one's it would really help would be the Slytherins', and no one here wants to see them with any advantage, would we?" Harry reasoned with his own smile.
After trying to keep a straight face for a moment all three burst out laughing at the secrecy that this was causing. It was common knowledge around the school that Wood was fanatical to the point of obsession.
"Well I suppose that McGonagall doesn't want anyone thinking they can break the school rules and profit from it. I wonder why McGonagall didn't punish you further?" Hermione reasoned.
"My guess would be that she's only human. I mean I am in her house and I was acting against 'our mortal enemies' Slytherin. Besides that maybe she thinks it's only fair that I get off as easy as the other party 'cause we know that Malfoy won't be punished." The logic seemed to satisfy Hermione, though she did screw her face up at the fact Malfoy would get off, and Daphne had no problem, especially since Harry was the main reason she wasn't in Slytherin to begin with.
"In any case" Harry said shifting the focus of the conversation "I think some retribution is in order. How 'bout a prank? From what I hear the Weasley Twins need some competition. Malfoy and Ron Weasley need to learn a lesson. You guys in?"
Daphne was definitely in deciding to vent some of her Slytherin traits with some harmless fun. Hermione, however, was torn between sticking with her friends and keeping with her ideals of obeying rules and authority.
"I don't know if we should. I mean how many rules would we be breaking? Have you any idea what sort of punishments they would hand out to us? I remember Filch saying he had a set of manacles ready and oiled for just the right student!"
"My dear Hermione," Harry said in his most placating tone "while it is true that Filch has a set of manacles in his office their probably for his own use. The school outlawed their use about twenty years ago! The worst that could happen would be detention for a week."
"On the other hand" started Daphne deciding to help Harry in his argument "it would be a great learning experience for us. We could learn about detection methods, pranking charms and potions, stealth just for a few things. Come on Hermione it'll be fun"
"But…" started Hermione only to be interrupted by Harry saying
"We'll have to spend a lot of time in the library and we would get way to far ahead in our studies and we wouldn't want that!" trying a bit of reverse psychology.
Hermione caved at their pair's expressions "Alright, but if we get in trouble you two are so in for it!"
Daphne and Harry laughed at that. "Well I don't think we have to fear detention if we get caught" Harry said to Daphne "Hermione is going to make the punishment so much worse!"
That comment drew a slap on the shoulder from Hermione and a scolding look causing the others to laugh even more.
Over the next few days the group spent much of their time researching in the library trying to find a fitting way to punish Ron and Malfoy. Within a week they found a number of charms that would get the right effect and went about the process of learning the spells. They decided that they would all learn the spells and potions so the time spent researching wouldn't be wasted and then went about planning the attack. It was decided that trying to convince the House elves to help them would have significant benefits but they weren't sure if they could be trusted not to tell the headmaster. In the end they decided a reconnaissance mission was in order.
They prepared themselves for the excursion to take place on the weekend before their plans activation. The Weasley twins were up to their old games of pranking anyone who got complacent often huddling together afterward discussing the effects. Harry would often wonder if they were doing more than just having some innocent fun. The pranks on other students provided the trio a perfect cover to have a chat with the elves in the kitchen.
They arrived at the painting of a bowl of fruit that Harry had found. Harry instructed Daphne to tickle the pear causing a sideways look from both of the girls. The pear giggled and laughed finally turning into a door handle. Harry grasped the handle pulling the painting open. The group entered the kitchen to see hundreds of elves running around preparing the days meals. They entered the enormous kitchen and saw five tables laid out around the space mimicking the layout of the great hall. Harry guessed the hall area of the kitchen was set out directly below the great hall above with the food preparation area set out off to the side of the space.
The group stood at the entrance of the kitchen just observing the space around them.
"Excuse me good sir and ladies" came a voice from below them.
The group looked down to see a dressed in a clean pale blue pillow case. Harry smiled at the house elf.
"Would you care for something to eat or perhaps a drink?" the elf queried.
"That would be lovely thank you. I'll take a pumpkin juice thanks" said Harry.
"Same for me thanks" added Hermione.
"I'll take a tea if that's okay" said Daphne completing the order.
The elf nodded turned around and shouted some orders to some of the elves surrounding the group. Within seconds five elves were standing in front of the trio carrying a couple of trays, one with a tea setting and a jug of pumpkin juice and cups, the other had a selection of scones, muffins and biscuits. They were then shown to a table to eat their afternoon tea.
As one of the elves passed Harry called out "excuse me, would we be able to ask you a few questions?"
The elf was slightly shocked partly because of the friendly tone Harry used and partly because a wizard was asking an elf a question. The elf complied and stood patiently awaited the questions.
"Were wondering what you have to report to the Headmaster?" questioned Harry. It was earlier decided that Harry would lead the questioning as he had more experience dealing directly with elves, Hermione, being muggle born had no experience with elves and Daphne's experience was only as a pure-blooded superiority point of view.
"Well, good sir, we have to report anything that may affect the school's security" the elf explained "otherwise we only have to report what we are asked about, if we are asked about something we have to answer."
Harry nodded then questioned "do all the elves have to comply with those rules or are there some exceptions?"
The elf shifted nervously "well, I suppose the free elves are exempt from that rule but I don't know the free elves and the bonded elves tend to stay separate most of the time."
"Why is that?" Hermione queried.
"That would be because many of the free elves are always trying to convince the others that they should ask for freedom too. It causes a fare bit of tension between the two groups."
"What do think about the situations?" Harry questioned trying to find out why the two groups would have so many problems when his own elves never have any problem.
"I don't understand, sir, I've told you all I know" replied the elf, not knowing that Harry wanted an opinion rather than facts.
"I'm asking for your opinion. If you're a bonded elf that means you've lived here all your life, you must have an opinion about what's happening between the groups" Harry reasoned.
"Oh," the elf said his eyes growing large "I've never had a wizard ask my opinion, most don't think an elf could have any ideas worth asking."
"That's okay, the prejudice of wizarding society is terrible" Harry said.
"I guess that's because the free elves were never taken care of where they came from. No matter how long they live at Hogwarts they don't want to accept that wizards can be kind and well and evil. The bonded elves don't want to lose the portion of the power that comes from the bond with their master, they don't want to lose the security that comes from always knowing if their master needs something."
The logic of the argument was obvious to Harry but he couldn't understand why their was so much conflict. "Have the castle elders had a talk with the groups?"
"One of the previous headmasters ordered the elders to leave the situation alone he didn't want to lose any of the bonded elves."
"Has Dumbledore done nothing? Surely the castle would work better without these conflicts?" asked Hermione, shocked that nothing had been done to help the situation.
"Master Dumbledore does not know the previous master also ordered the elves to keep quiet about the situation, even the free elves couldn't disobey the direct order."
"Then how could you be telling us?" asked Daphne.
"Because your not the headmaster" the elf replied as if the answer was obvious, which Daphne realised it was when she though about it.
After the group left they decided to modify their plans slightly, hopefully they could get one of the free elves to help out and they could get Dumbledore to have a look at the conflict and talk to the elves elders. In the end it would mean they have a few allies behind the scenes of Hogwarts and the service around the school may improve from its already high standard. They would have to be careful though if they do it too obviously then the finger would be pointed at them. The first step would be to find a free elf, they couldn't ask anyone, that would be too obvious, but they had to find one soon or find another way of pulling off their prank.
In the end it was Hermione who came up with a solution, the Room of Requirement; if the room doesn't provide a free house elf it would certainly provide a way to get hold of one.
After dinner that evening the trio went up to the seventh floor, walked past the tapestry showing Barnabas the Balmy three times, thinking 'we need a way to meet with a free house elf', on the third pass a door flickered into life and the group entered. Inside was a collection of four comfortable chairs, one of which was significantly smaller than the others, set around a coffee table with a selection of drinks set out. Hanging from a wall near the entrance to the room was a two golden bells, one marked "free" the other "bonded". The girls sat down while Harry went to the bell calling for an elf. Moments later one popped into existence next to Harry.
"You rang young sir" the elf said bowing low.
The elf was dress in a tidy pant and shirt outfit, while not glamorous it was definitely functional. "Good evening we want to get your help with a project we were going to do. Do you wish to assist us?"
"Dinky would like to assist you but the elders have me cleaning the meal dishes after the students eat."
"That's fine we can work around that as long as it won't get you into trouble. Please have a seat and we'll explain what we have planned" explained Harry.
At this point tear tracks started to form down the elf's cheeks. "Never has any wizard treated a house elf as an equal. Never at Hogwarts! Never with old masters! Never!"
The elf sobbed in surprise of the treatment from Harry. The girls were sitting nervously having never seen an elf display such emotion. Harry just patiently waited for the elf to compose himself. Once the tears started to slow Harry lead Dinky to his seat and continued waiting till the elf was ready to continue.
Harry thought for a moment before a handkerchief appeared on the end table next to him he offered the handkerchief to the elf saying "Do you want a handkerchief?"
Unfortunately Harry underestimated the cruelty of the elf's previous owners, his act of compassion just caused the elf to start bawling. Harry shook his head slightly amazed at the cruelty of humans to other beings and resigned himself to one day trying to change the attitudes.
Slowly the elf regained its composure and apologised profusely "I'm so sorry, an elf should have more control when in the company of its masters, I shall punish myself by your leave"
"Quite alright, it is to be expected that a living being will show emotions, there is no reason for you to punish yourself. Besides which I'm not really your master that would be the Headmaster." Harry joked which unfortunately went straight over the elf's head.
When the elf finally calmed down the group began to explain their plan, over the next thirty minutes they went through what they wanted the elf to do and when the needed it done once the plans were finalised the elf left with a pop.
The trio were left in the room quietly thinking about their plan. Hermione was second guessing the decision to be involved, Daphne was wondering if the elf will end up exposing them to a teacher. Harry didn't suffer from any of those concerns but was still re-examining there plan trying to find any faults, looking for where the plan could be improved. He felt the plan was the best possible but still thought, in future it could be better, when they knew what different students and teachers habits were they could plan for them. If their prank worked it would signal a whole new worry for the teachers as the next generation of marauders took to Hogwarts, if it failed Harry would probably lose the support of Hermione and maybe Daphne, their own fears being reinforced as a result. The one thing Harry knew was that no matter what happened he would be better prepared for next time.
"Harry how did you know how to deal with the elf?" asked Daphne "Are we sure he wont dob us in?"
"Well to answer your first question I was brought up primarily by house elves with some help from goblins. To answer your second question we don't but I don't believe he will" Harry replied causing Hermione and Daphne to go into fits, but for different reasons.
"Oh no, oh no we are so going to get caught! He's bound to turn us in!" blurted Hermione starting to hyperventilate.
"You were brought up by elves" screeched Daphne "who would be so unconscionable!"
"Hermione calm down!" Harry admonished "and don't judge without information Daphne!"
Both girls stopped at been talked to so strongly and started to think (a strength of both) slowly their faces changed, Hermione's to one of shock at what Harry had said and the implications of it, Daphne's to one of shame after falling into her pureblood prejudice.
"Excellent, now lets deal with the issues. I don't think Dinky will dob us in because he is a free elf and it won't endanger the castle or the students. Also, the elves aren't stupid, they can tell when something is wrong, they often have a better sense of a person's character than we do, they get to see people acting like themselves rather than the mask for the public something that Slytherin's a notorious for. And finally he wouldn't have agreed if he thought it was wrong some lessons need to be taught, often more than once.
"Second problem, Elves are a lot smart than they are made out to be, if more wizards allowed them to make decisions things would work so much better for everyone."
"But to be brought up without contact with other people? How could you learn to understand people?" persisted Daphne.
"I never said I had no human contact, I just said they raised me. People don't see what they aren't looking for."
"But if you had contact with other wizards why would they think you were dead?" inquired Hermione.
"Again your assuming" Harry said beginning to get frustrated (really without reason) "I mainly dealt with muggles for language classes and maths skills, you no stuff like that. The elves took care of most things in the wizarding world."
The girls didn't know what to say and the conversation lapsed into silence until "right if that's the end of the conversation I'm pretty hungry lets go down for dinner!" chirped Harry happily.
Later that night Harry realised that he had let more be known about him than any other witch or wizard alive knew and he was glad. He didn't really like keeping secrets he just realised they were a necessity of life if you want any measure of privacy. He also knew they wouldn't betray his trust, he didn't know how, he knew he just had a gut feeling. He feel asleep knowing tomorrow would see the advent of his first prank, he just hoped he would do his father proud.