Control

By Fatpunk

Chapter 7

Halloween

The following days followed quietly for Harry and his group, Malfoy had avoided Harry like the plague, investigations found that Ron had dobbed them in and, after deciding the teachers wouldn't improve, Harry established a study group for Defence against the Dark Arts and History of Magic. The study group slowly grew from Harry, Hermione and Daphne to include Padma Patil, and Terry Boot from Ravenclaw, and Blaise Zambini and Tracey Davis from Slytherin. Harry had the feeling that there were some Hufflepuffs who wanted to join but they hadn't built the courage to join.

Between classes, training for the impending Quidditch match, his study group and his own extracurricular training Harry's days were filled and he hardly found time to plot. And so, the week before the Halloween Harry decided to prepare for some muggle style Halloween embarrassment. They Halloween celebrations for the magical community was always on a grand scale, the festival was a day to celebrate a family's ancestors and the link between the mortal and immortal plans was at its strongest,

Harry had also heard that the Weasley twins were impressed they had gained some pranking competition and couldn't wait to start a prank war. Harry figured that if they wanted a prank war they were on, only he wasn't going to tell them who they were fighting, that would spoil the fun.

Late on Saturday evening the study group had just left the library and Harry was walking back to the common rooms with Hermione and Daphne, the sight of Daphne was common in Gryffindor tower and only a few took exception to it, especially Ron. Harry had decided that they needed to start planning for the prank and now was the perfect time.

"Hey guys," he began "you know that the Weasley twins want a prank war, right?" the girls nodded "well I think its time we started the war."

The girls were supportive but were thinking very different things.

"Well when are we going to tell them?" asked Hermione

"Tell them! Why in Merlin's name would we tell them!" hissed Daphne trying to keep her voice down so no-one heard.

"Well it wouldn't be fair not to tell them would it?" questioned Hermione.

"She's right you know" agreed Harry. Daphne glared at Harry incredulously "however," Harry continued "it would give us away to the teachers. I think we need an alter ego, a name we can hide behind."

This time it was Hermione doing the glaring. "You mean to tell me that you want to attack someone, in a prank war, and not let them we doing it?"

"Have you heard of guerrilla warfare?" Harry asked, the girls nodded "well by using guerrilla tactics, which we will have to use in this environment, intelligence is the key to victory, if they don't know who we are we're winning the intelligence war" Harry explained, making it seem like the most obvious thing in the world.

Hermione looked sceptical "You make it sound like a real war"

Harry smiled, a sly and slightly scary smile "it is Hermione, and if we win this prank war the twins are less likely to attack us later for fear of the consequences, on top of that think of the stuff we could learn, potions, advanced transfiguration, charms arithmancy, just imagine" Harry said playing on Hermione's thirst for knowledge to get past her fear of getting caught.

"Besides if the twins don't know who we are neither do the teachers" Daphne reasoned allowing her Slytherin tendencies come to the fore.

In the face of a continuous assault Hermione caved "fine, but if we get caught I will hold you both responsible. Now I propose we attack them with a more feminine approach, they have four other brothers who were all able to protect themselves and would have being pranking them for a lot longer, they'd be used to attacks from a boys perspective."

The change in tactic caught both Harry and Daphne by surprise, neither had expected Hermione to join the team so willingly.

"It sounds like a good plan," agreed Daphne.

"Indeed" said Harry "however I think we need to find somewhere more private to discuss tactics than the hallway anyone could hear us out here and besides I don't think everyone is happy with non Gryffindors in the common room we need somewhere else to chill."

"Okay we've finished our homework for the day what's the plan for the rest of the day?" asked Daphne sitting in a comfortable sofa in front of the fire.

"Well after hearing about specialised talents I really would love to find out what mine are" stated Hermione looking sharply at Harry, taking the sofa next to Daphne while Harry sat in an armchair next to them.

"That would require the brewing of an illegal potion, you know? And besides I'm sure that one of the teachers will go through the skills soon, we can't go our whole lives without knowing now can we?"

"I don't know Harry" said Daphne "I don't think my parents ever learnt about their abilities because they never went into an apprenticeship"

"Really?" Harry asked genuinely shocked "well how would anyone get into an apprenticeship if they don't know what talents they have? They wouldn't know who to ask if they don't know their talents"

"Well these days apprenticeships are more like political appointments, you have to be approved by the Hogwarts school board, the Ministry of Magic and the Wizengamot" explained Daphne.

"Then how does anyone get accepted into an apprenticeship? How does the wizarding world learn anything after school there aren't any universities like muggles."

"I think you just teach yourself or you learn on the job" postulated Daphne.

Harry sighed "that's just stupid. Alright on Monday after transfiguration well go ask McGonagall, if they don't do the potion at all well have to brew it ourselves, when we find our own room, and learn to control our abilities on our own."

On Monday morning Harry woke early and quickly did his morning martial arts practice. Because it was still early Harry decided to have a tour around the castle in his animagus form. Just before he arrived at the entrance to the castle he transformed into his King Cobra form. Harry's snake form was just over 4 metres long with lines black traced throughout his scale structure, his eyes held the indicative green eyes of Harry, a strong gene passed on from his mother's magic.

He quickly slid into the entrance hall and made his way into the castle. Flicking his tongue out Harry tasted the air, looking for and area not commonly used. The faintest of musty tastes reached Harry and seamed to be coming from one of the towers, 'an old classroom perhaps?' Harry wondered.

Sliding across the floor Harry found a tiny opening in the wall, the perfect place to travel up into some of the higher floors of Hogwarts Castle. Remembering his explorations of Potter castle Harry was aware that time can quickly slip away when in his snake form; the first time he transformed and explored Camelot he did so for two days solid, the house elves started to get very worried by the time he was found.

Harry soon finished his climb to the eighth floor of the tower, situated half way between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw common rooms it would be an ideal place for the clubhouse. Flicking his tongue once again the stale taste of disused rooms was stronger, carried along on the slightest of breezes.

Slowly Harry slid down the crevasses of the hallway searching for the source of the stale air he passed numerous statues, portraits, and suits of amour until reaching a tall marble Dragon where the scent was strongest. Quickly transforming back to his human form Harry focused his magical sight to confirm his suspicions. Looking at the sleeping dragon he admired both the artistry and the magic of the guardian. The statue was around 6 feet from end to end but the head and tail were both coiled around the body seeming to retain warmth. The dragon's head was resting on top of the tail with its eyes closed and obviously sleeping. A series of lighter coloured horns protruded from its snout, while the rest of the lizard like body and wings were midnight black.

The magic ran through the entire being and seemed to pulse like a heart beating.

Unlike the gargoyle that guards Dumbledore's office Harry could get any indication of the pass word and was stumped. He started to run his hands over the dragon searching for a trigger or rune or something which would open to the room behind the dragon.

Harry's hands traced over the body and wings looking for the slightest indentation before finally getting to the head. He rapped his knuckles on the top of the dragon's head listening for a hollow sound, only to receive a terrible fright and slightly charred

Training clothes as the dragon snorted a small plume of fire and smoke.

The dragon snorted once again, clearing its throat, and slowly opened its eyes, looking around lazily. Finally spotting Harry the statue's eyes narrowed and seemed to evaluate Harry the black marble eyes piercing into Harry's, searching his soul and checking he was worthy.

"What do you want, youngling?" came the aristocratic, and slightly annoyed voice of the dragon.

Sweating slightly in the presence of such a powerful creature (even if it is only a statue) "I was looking for a private room which myself and my friends could use to talk and study" Harry explained.

Tilting its head slightly the dragon seemed to test Harry's will and worthiness once again. "Well," the dragon began "I only open if there is more than one house represented and only if the group is worthy, I have a certain reputation to uphold" a small smirk developing on the draconic features.

"That should be alright one of my friends are from Ravenclaw and I've got others from Slytherin but I don't know if they'll be joining us" Harry explained hoping the worthiness issue would take care of itself.

"Very well, youngling, return with the rest of your friends and we'll see then if your worthy. But be warned I will know if your laughing!" the dragon said dismissing Harry before returning to its slumber.

Harry turned on heel and left the guardian hoping he could find the room again and also hoping he could find his way back to the common room quickly (it wasn't long before breakfast started and he still needed a shower).

Harry quickly found a staircase which came out from behind a portrait on a familiar corridor between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor common rooms, it was extraordinarily convenient. He quickly made his way back to his dorm had a quick shower and went down to breakfast finding Hermione at a seat about halfway down the table. Sitting opposite her, Hermione immediately began quizzing Harry.

"Where were you this morning? Normally you're in the common room waiting for me. I waited for nearly half an hour and you still only just arrived. You can't have slept in, I asked Neville if you were still in bed and he said that you had already left!"

"Hermione" Harry said trying to interrupt the girl's rant.

"If you had something better to do than have breakfast with me I would have understood but you should have told me! Would that have been so hard? Well I guess it was other wise you would have told me and I would have known!"

"HERMIONE!" Harry hissed finally getting the girl's attention. "I'm sorry I'm late I was exploring and it took longer than I thought it would."

"Oh, oh" Hermione said deflating a little "well in that case, I guess I should forgive you for not telling me, but why didn't you invite me or Daphne? One of us would have gone if only to keep you on time" she finished with a slight smile.

"I'll tell you later, in the mean time I'm starving and breakfast is almost finished."

Harry quickly ate his breakfast of bacon eggs and sausages, collected his bags and departed for the first class of the day with Hermione. They met up with Daphne and proceeded to the transfiguration classroom.

The group took their seats in the middle of the class and waited for the last of the students to file in.

Finally the entire class was assembled McGonagall began her lecture. "Good morning class. Today we will be learning about switching spells, who can tell me their main uses?"

The lecture began, Harry listen with half an ear while the rest of his mind started examining the possibilities, switching one drink for another, changing a prank target's underwear before public disrobing, the uses were endless and it was such a simple spell everyone becomes a suspect.

The class proceeded onto the practical aspects (switching a button with a box on the teacher's desk) before finally winding down. After the class Harry and Hermione joined Daphne at the Ravenclaw table for lunch where she tried to see what Harry was up to that morning. Harry managed to avoid the questions before Daphne left for Charms while the Gryffindor's had Herbology. Finally at the end of the day the group settled down for an early dinner where Harry explained the morning's findings.

"Right," Harry began "I found a room we might be able to use for a, clubhouse I suppose. I don't know what was inside 'cause the guardian wouldn't let me in without at least two houses represented. It's up on the eighth floor between our common rooms. I think we should go up there now before curfew."

The girls nodded showing their approval, even though they didn't know what was happening, it sounded like a good idea. Harry led them through the halls and up staircases finally reaching the eighth floor hallway he found that morning.

Harry walked up to the dragon statue, and before he could do anything more Daphne asked "what's with the Norwegian Ridgeback?"

"It's the guardian; now wait while I wake it up" Harry replied before saying "excuse me."

Nothing, the dragon didn't respond.

"Excuse Me!" Harry repeated, nearly shouting.

Still nothing. Harry then tried tapping the dragon on the head, 'it worked this morning' he thought.

Harry drew his hands back in surprise as the dragon swiped it claw across its nose, mumbling "go away I'm sleeping"

"Excuse me," Harry tried again this time with more success.

The dragon slowly opened one eye examining the person who dared to wake him. Recognising Harry as the student who woke him earlier that day, he opened the other eye and rose on his haunches.

"I see you're back and you brought your friends. Now what did you want?"

"We were looking for a room where the three of us could study and work" Daphne replied.

"Indeed, that's what most people are doing when they find me, but I have a certain reputation to up hold" replied the dragon before mumbling "not that anyone's found me for a while."

"I'm sure we could up hold your reputation if we knew what it was" offered Hermione believing this would be the best place for private studying.

The dragon looked at each student suspiciously evaluating their worthiness "well first you have to prove your students, what does the school mascot mean?"

"Oh," started Hermione launching into an explanation "it's a proverb detailing the virtues of not antagonising something stronger than you, it means that the power you hold is easily eclipsed and the consequences may not be pleasant" she explained looking quite pleased with herself.

"That's one explanation, anyone else?"

While Harry looked thoughtful Daphne replied "maybe if you intend to provoke someone stronger than you with a prank make sure you don't get caught" trying to think through some of the possible outcomes.

"Interesting, no other ideas?"

"Never tickle a sleeping dragon" Harry said acting on his theory.

"Very good. Now…"

"Wait a minute," interrupted Hermione "that's just what the motto is translated to, how is that what it means?"

"Hermione it's a riddle, the school motto is 'Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus' what it means in English is never tickle a sleeping dragon, one just has to look at the simple answer sometimes."

"Very well explained youngling, simplicity is sometimes the best answer to a problem other times it is not" the dragon complemented before continuing "now I have a certain reputation, before I was made into a statue I was a one of the last dragons to have common relations with magical humans, the people I had the most fun with were pranksters, when I became the guardian of this room I promised to protect the students inside as long as they were causing some kind of mayhem in the school, it made life so much more interesting. How do I know you won't use my room for something as mundane as study?"

Harry smiled "that was one of the reasons we were looking for a clubroom, we are planning to declare a prank war against the Weasley Twins, the current Hogwarts pranking masters, my own family has something of a reputation to uphold and pranking is a great way to further our skills."

"Your first years correct?" the guardian asked. Receiving nods from the trio he continued "I'm impressed first years getting into a prank war with the current title holders before Christmas, most students wait till at least second year before starting real problems.

"Well your answers have proven your worthiness, you will have to chose two passwords one to wake me, in a far more pleasant manner than violence, and the other to let me know I can sleep again."

The trio conferred for a moment before Harry turned to the guardian and saying "the password for you to wake will be 'marauders on the charge'."

"Would that be the same marauders that were here a few years ago?" the Guardian enquired.

"Yes my father, and godfather were marauders, the other two were very close at school but I have never met them" Harry replied.

The dragon looked gleeful "oh they were good, sometimes took the pranks a touch to far, but what child wouldn't? It would be good to see you keep up with their reputation."

"I hope so too," Harry replied smiling slightly "now the password for you to sleep would be 'back to the grind' is that okay?"

"That should be fine, youngling."

Hermione, after being quiet for so long, became restless and asked "excuse me, but what is your name?"

"That is a good question, at this time you may call me The Guardian, in time, if you earn my respect with your pranks, then I shall share my true name with you. Now I suppose you wish to see inside now?"

The trio nodded and watched as The Guardian stepped aside and the wall behind him shimmered to what looked like a liquid rock Harry took a breath and reached forward, his hand passing through the barrier first. The shimmering liquid door felt like nothing on touching it Harry got the impression he was reaching through a waterfall but he was unable to feel what used to be a solid wall.

Screwing up his Gryffindor courage Harry stepped through the door, closely followed by Hermione and Daphne, on looking round his jaw dropped in surprise. What Harry thought would be a small classroom sized area was more like the size of the great hall divided into lots of different areas, the room held potions lab areas, a common room, a small fully stocked kitchen and bar, games area, library, it even held a dozen private bedrooms with king sized beds and attached bathrooms. The room exceeded Harry's expectations and he doubted anyone in the school would ever believe such a place existed.

"Wow," mumbled Daphne, for once not her eloquent self.

The statement snapped Harry out of his surprise and turned to the others, their faces matching what his just was.

"Right I think we should put this room to good use" he said moving to the purple and black trimmed common area, taking a seat on a supremely comfortable, reclining chair, motioning for the others to take a seat. "Now first thing we should do is plan a prank for Halloween, something in the great hall, and possibly reflecting the magic around on that day would be good, any ideas?"

­

The following week the trio continued researching their prank for Halloween and prepared the potion to add to their victims' drinks on Halloween morning and the charm to add the finishing touch to the prank. The group was aware of the risks they were taking, using the same delivery as their last prank, but didn't think it would cause a problem yet.

As Friday morning dawned bright Harry undertook his usual martial and fitness practice before returning to his dorm room to prepare for the day. He went to breakfast early with Hermione and met Daphne on the way. Together the group cast the final charm to activate the potion while no-one was around, the charm merely removed the stasis on the potion and let the required ageing take place, they didn't need to be in the same room to remove the stasis spell only be present when casting it.

The Great Hall slowly filled with students having breakfast and preparing for the day. Hermione and Daphne both read up on note for the day's classes while Harry spent his time reading a combination of Quidditch results in the Daily Prophet, the Art of War by Sun Tzu out of his trunk, and a transfiguration text from the guardian's room. When they finally realised it the girls were slightly miffed, dividing his attention between so many activities couldn't be good for remembering anything.

"Harry don't you think you should pick one thing or the other if you want to remember anything?" Hermione ventured to ask.

Harry thought for a moment decided the best way to phrase the reply, "I guess I can remember everything because they're all linked."
"Linked?" Daphne queried, incredulously "how could they be linked? They have nothing in common."

"Maybe to the uninformed they have nothing in common but if you know what my thought patterns are then you would understand their connection" was Harry's noncommittal reply.

"Explain!" demanded Hermione.

"Later, our endeavours are about to come to fruition" was Harry's cryptic and diversionary reply.

Each of the trio watched a different member of the Weasley family, none were to be spared, watching as their efforts were rewarded.

It was Percy, the ever observant one, who noticed something wrong first. Reaching to take another sip from his goblet while continuing his conversation, he knocked over the cup while grasping for thin air. Students to his left jumped to their feet trying to avoid the spilled pumpkin juice and the obligatory clothing change as a result. Percy looked at his hands for a moment trying to decipher the cause of his clumsiness before reaching out to clean the mess. It was only then that it struck him, his hands were backwards.

"Fred! George!" he cried leaping to his feet and pointing accusingly at his brothers "If this is your work you will suffer a fate you could not imagine!"

The three other Weasley's only then looked up from shovelling food into and at their faces to discover their brother's dilemma. Ron, ever the sympathetic member of the family, burst into laughter, reaching out to revile in his brother's misfortune, only his right arm was reached out and his left hand completed the action causing him to spill and over turn most of the dishes in front of him.

The twins suffered a worse fate it seemed. When Fred jumped up to claim their innocence it was George's hands that followed his arms, slapping the unfortunate twin across the face. It seemed the closeness of the twin brothers, magically physically and spiritually, caused the potion to become confused.

Both Ron and Percy leap to their feet attempting to flee to the hospital wing for a cure only to find themselves stumbling along as their left leg and right foot would work in tandem and vice versa. The twins, however, just sat there trying to move different parts of their anatomy and watching the other brother do what they wanted to. They marvelled at the switching spell and wondered how to replicate the effect themselves. The rest of the day was spent causing as many problems as possible for the other twin rather than looking for a cure.

The other two went to Madam Pomfrey and were cure in an unfortunately quick time proving the matron's breadth skills delved deeply into switching spells and potions, probably a common ailment at the school.

The rest of the day Ron could be heard swearing vengeance on whoever played the prank on him and his brother's often calling the perpetrators dark wizards and disgracing their honour.

Shortly before dinner Hermione split from the trio saying she needed to go to the bathroom. Harry shrugged it off assuming it to be 'girl stuff' and not of his concern, he became worried, however, when she didn't return after the soup course of the feast, but was reassured by Daphne whom he was dining with at the Ravenclaw table. He was getting very nervous half way through the main course when she still hadn't arrived and was going to check on where she was before a thunderous crashing and the panted screams of "Troll! Troll! In the Dungeon!" echoed throughout the Great Hall in the silence that followed all could make out the whispered "thought you ought to know" before Professor Quirrell collapsed exhausted and terrified from delivering his words of apocalypse to the school.

The screaming throughout the hall contrasted sharply with Harry's silence. The sharp ringing of frighten children's calls for direction echoing off the stone walls of the great hall.

"Silence!" called Dumbledore, attempting to bring order to chaos "Prefects lead the younger students to their dorm rooms and take a count of those present. Teachers follow me." Directing the students to where they needed to go.

Harry was surprised the prefects were being held responsible for so many students with no help but he had other problems to take care of, Hermione was unaccounted for and most likely didn't know what was happening.

Catching Daphne on the way out of the hall the pair split off Daphne directing the way to the closest girls' bathroom. They crept along the corridors, a low rumbling building as they went. Concern mounted and their fears were confirmed with a putrid scent reaching their nostrils.

"The teachers are going the wrong way," Harry commented, stating the obvious "stay close, keep your wand out if it comes in your direction shine lumos in its eyes and run the other way."

Daphne nodded gripping Harry's arm tightly, her voice lost in the situation. They moved slowly along the halls working their way towards the bathroom holding Hermione.

A heart piercing scream cut through the halls from the direction of the girls' bathroom.

"Hermione" Harry whispered to himself before breaking into a sprint, Daphne close behind.

Harry burst through the bathroom door standing in the entrance seeing the devastation before him. Hermione was crouched under the sinks in the corner of the room whimpering in fear, her skills lost and well out of her comfort zone. Harry quickly noted this before tuning his attention completely to the troll. The twelve foot tall mountain troll cut an imposing figure, its long arms dragging along the ground with a club trailing along.

Harry called his staff to him needing a stronger source of magic. The link between the maker and the staff allowing it to materialise in Harry's hand.

"Oi! Troll!" Harry called diverting its attention from destroying the toilet stalls.

The troll slowly turned to the source of the noise. Harry raised his staff, pointing the focusing crystals towards the "Sleep" Harry called causing the troll to look idiotically towards Harry

"Sleep!" Harry called louder, the troll's eyes beginning to droop

"SLEEP!" Harry yelled the final time. The troll's eyes fell shut before snapping open in a blind fury. The beast raised its club charging on Harry.

A brief moment of fear coursed through Harry's veins before he focused his will and driving his staff forward causing the troll to fly backward twenty feet into the stone wall, crashing to the floor unconscious.

Harry walked slowly towards the troll, staff raised, and checked the troll, confirming its unconscious state before dismissing his staff to his trunk.

Aware of the noise they made he moved over to Hermione. "Are you alright" he asked reaching his hand out to help her up.

"Yeah, thanks what did you do?" Hermione asked

"I'll explain later the teachers can't be to far away." Harry said "What ever you do don't look into the teachers' eyes, you to Daphne" he added. The girls nodded agreeing to his request.

The teachers finally arrived in the bathroom the devastation catastrophic. Rubble was littered around the toilet stalls and broken stone spread around the body of the troll with water pipes spewing their contents around the room.

McGonagall, Snape, Dumbledore and Quirrell all packed into the small bathroom.

"What happened here?" McGonagall queried, her breath short.

"We came looking for Hermione Professor" Harry explained "she hadn't returned from the bathroom and didn't hear the troll was loose."

"My lord," she began before Harry felt a tickle in his mind, a sure sign that someone was invading his mind. He quickly implemented some meditative techniques that resulted from some of his martial arts training.

"Excuse me, but would you stay out of my head please, much of what's in there is private"

"Then tell the truth, child," snapped Snape "your lies will not save you."

Harry looked sideways at the Professor, while McGonagall was slightly shocked.

"Have you any proof I'm lying, Professor? If not stay out of my head! What reason do you have to be in there in the first place?"

"I have every reason not to believe you Potter, your just like your father" Snape sneered, finally finding reason to attack the Harry.

"Headmaster, do you have reason not to believe me?" Harry queried Dumbledore.

Dumbledore thought for a moment before "no Harry, I have no reason not to believe you. You may take 15 points for your house and 10 for Ravenclaw and return to your room. Goodnight children."

The trio left the room quickly and quietly heading towards their tower dorm rooms when they reached the parting of ways Harry arranged to meet in the clubhouse before breakfast in the morning.

Hermione and Harry finally reached the common room and before parting for their beds Hermione said "Thanks Harry, I owe you"

The simple thanks were enough for Harry and he slept well, forgetting his worries till tomorrow.

AN:

Hello to all those out there reading my work, it very encouraging to see that someone, other than me, likes it. Almost 150 reviews! That is spectacular!

I know I've got some things to address in the story and hopefully I will either soon or I'll deliberately leave to build tension or something 

Cheers again.