A little more for Omerta

"Well look what we have here," a Slytherin fifth year drawled, "Three little Puffs all alone."

Three more Slytherins materialized from the shadows with predatory grins. The Hufflepuff second years bunched up in fear until another voice came from the behind them.

"Look what we have here, a bunch of Slytherins all alone... Accio wands." The Slytherins' wands flew from their hands and disappeared into thin air. An invisibility cloak dropped and Harry Potter smirked as he put his own wand away. "Palus!"

A wooden stake formed and flew towards the leader, piercing his leg with a squish. Switching wands Harry cast a variety of other curses at the others and then tossed the wands to one of the Hufflepuffs after removing his fingerprints. "So careless, you really shouldn't be practicing your dueling without someone there to help you if anything goes wrong." He stunned them and looked to the shocked Hufflepuffs. "Do you all remember the levitation charm? We better get these poor boys to the hospital wing quickly. I just hope you have enough control to keep them from falling or running into doors and the like."

Harry had to suppress a smirk at the evil looks that suddenly blossomed on the younger students' faces, the predators had turned to prey. Undoubtedly there would be numerous mistakes and accidents before they delivered their tormentors to Madam Pomphrey.

"Harry?" Rose, one of the Hufflepuffs, started. "Thank you for protecting us, but why?"

"Do you know what your father does for a living?" Harry asked innocently and was rewarded when her expression immediately froze and looked slightly guilty. "I see you at least know some of it. He and I work for the same person and that person is very excited about your future and potential. I am Manus Sinister."

"The Black Hand... So the Families are moving into the Wizarding World?" Rose twitched slightly and the Slytherin with the stake through his leg was slammed bodily into the wall. "Whoops!"

"Not exactly, the Families know they can't operate here but they also know that we can. Oglivy wants to set up a new branch, independent but allied with the original. You and I are in prime position to move up in the world."

00000

The next morning at breakfast, Harry was mildly surprised to see the beaters from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team heading over to him, escorting their seventh year prefect who he vaguely remembered was called Summers.

Summers motioned the other two to settle down while he spoke, "Potter, we need to talk."

"That so?" Harry looked to the beaters, "Will this be a friendly talk or should I try to find a few friends of my own?"

"That's entirely up to you. I'd like a friendly chat but recent rumors have me a bit nervous."

"That just makes me wonder who's been talking," Harry stood up and waved for them to walk with him as he headed outdoors and away from listening ears. "I'll give you my word that you don't need the muscle. So tell me what has you worked up tonight."

"Suddenly it seems that most of the youngest Hufflepuff students are either scared of you or ready to start a new religion with you as their god. Strangest thing though, none of them are very forthcoming with why. Given that four upper year Slytherins are currently enjoying Pomphrey's hospitality, I don't think I have to look too hard for the reason why." Summers steered them away from the lake and out towards the forest.

Harry grunted to himself and considered how to phrase things. "The Slytherins bit off more than they could chew. There exists in some circles a brotherhood of sorts. We protect each other, work with each other, and share our strengths to become together more than we were separately. Rose Tyler's father is a member as am I. When those boys decided to attack her, they attacked all of us and we had to make an example. Action demands reaction."

"How oddly Hufflepuff of you," his eyes narrowed, "why do I get the feeling you're not just involved for altruistic reasons."

"I don't think any of us are involved just to help others. We're all in it because we have something to gain. Some like Mr. Tyler want protection for themselves and their family, others want power." Harry laughed, "There might come a time I need some help from somebody who won't be noticed. Who could be lower profile than a milkman, or a bartender, or a waiter in some pleasant little restaurant? It is based on Hufflepuff ideals but there's also a power game right beneath the surface that any Slytherin would drool over."

"If that's true I can see why some of young students would want to help you however they can, but why are the rest of them scared of you?"

"Because the injuries I inflicted on those boys would only have kept them for a few hours at most." Harry smirked, "The rest; broken bones, concussions, and massive bruising, happened while they were defenseless and I did nothing to stop it. People with power inevitably become either Authority or else they become bullies. Your Puffs are worried because they don't know which I am. I despise bullies but I also preach vengeance and retribution."