CHAPTER TWO: OATHS, ALLIES AND A QUALITY PENTHOUSE.

Harry Potter and all Recognised characters belong to JK Rowling and their respective owners...I wouldn't live in a studio flat if I did own them.

Harry was thankful they had spent the night in the room of requirement. And for once was thankful they had found it second year during the Heir of Slytherin debate. Harry was also thankful of the fact they were both early risers and could operate on very little sleep 'cause they had managed to secure a few more details for their plans and had written more letters for the appropriate people who were sealed and were ready to be sent.

"Do you wish to send the letters first or do the oaths first?" Elphaba asked shrugging on her house robes over her mundane clothes.

"The oath" Harry replied almost instantly "It will give our friends and allies time to eat breakfast, though we could get dobby to do the letters"

"Fair play, Dobby" Elphaba called as Harry shrugged on his house robes over his own mundane clothing "Take these to the owlery and post them out make sure they're not sent out too long before the morning post"

"Yes Missy Elphie I will" Dobby replied taking the letters and popping away

"Well that's done and dusted" Harry chuckled as they both double checked the two hidden wands they both had strapped to their opposite arms and several other things before they were both ready.

"Showtime" Harry muttered as he sent a thought to the room for a passageway down to the first floor where the great hall was.

They stood in the shadows watching the last few straggling students enter the great hall. Despite it being a Saturday Harry and Elphaba with the help of Dobby and Winky sent out notes to the teachers and students of Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons stating that something important was happening at breakfast that couldn't be missed. When the two of them were certain everyone was in the great hall Harry and Elphaba swept through the large oak doors, their robes charmed to billow behind them just like Professor Snapes would do. Gasps rippled backwards from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables as they walked up the centre isle. Harry caught the look on Draco Malfoy's face and felt a little smug as he did so which instantly dropped when he caught the look of anger on Rons face and felt a flash of pain when he was how serious and angry Hermione was. Harry straightened up and thought about the task at hand and almost chuckled at the look of the teachers...especially Dumbledore, McGonagoll and Snape. Elphaba was right none of the teachers thought harry would be willing to choose a Slytherin as his right hand.

"Professor Dumbledore" Harry said as they reached the teachers table "Could I address the three schools please?"

"If you would like Harry" Dumbledore replied "Though I don't know how it would help we're waiting for..."

"Sonorus" ArrHaHAHarry interrupted pointing his wand at his throat and turning to their fellow students.

"Students and teachers of Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. Last night my name came out of the Goblet of fire and due to our esteemed Headmaster Dumbledore and our dear Ministry of Magic's wonderful decision I now have to compete against my wishes and better judgement, To scotch any rumours and to nip everything in the bud" Harry raised his wand in front of him "I, Lord Harrison James Potter here do swear in front of all of you on my life and magic that I did not and did not ask an older student to enter my name willingly into the triwizard tournament so mote it be"

A flash of light and a rumble echoed around the room. The purebloods and half-bloods looked at Harry almost expecting him to drop dead but saw he was still standing

"EXPECTO PATRONUM" Harry yelled suddenly and Prongs his stag protonus leapt from his want and cantered round the great hall. Harry smiled as students from all three schools marvelled at Prongs who cantered back to harry before fading from view, the students began muttering to themselves.

"As you can see" Harry called out recapturing everyone's attention "I am still alive and I still have my magic so it is plainly obvious especially to Miss Granger and Mr Weasley I am not lying as you so eloquently put it last night," Gryffindor house looked at the two students with a mixture of disgust and confusion "And now since the ministry and Headmaster Dumbledore...who continently claims magical guardianship of me has deemed me adult enough to enter an adults tournament I am now emancipated and as such I choose to leave Hogwarts as a student as of the end of this year and enter into private education I offer to anyone who wishes to follow me, I thank you for your time and I wish you a pleasant breakfast"

Harry walked forwards and Elphaba got down on one knee pointing her wand at her throat

"Sonorus I Elphaba Cassiopeia Hardbroom Heiress to the Baronship and house of Hardbroom, do hereby swear allegiance to Lord Harrison Potter of House Potter until the end of my days so mote it be"

"I accept the allegiance of Heiress Elphaba Cassiopeia Hardbroom of the House of Hardbroom as equals so mote it be" Harry said taking her offered hand and sealing the oath with another flash of light.

"To those who are truly on my side I will meet you after breakfast you know where to go and to the rest of you I truly thank you for your time and I wish you a pleasant breakfast Quietus"

Harry and Elphaba cancelled the son ours charm at the same time, swept back up the centre aisle and left the hall as the morning post flew into the great hall as if it was all timed. The Gryffindor almost completely turned on the traitorous duo that had lost their prized seeker. The Hogwarts teachers were in uproar and hurried down from the high table. The moment Harry and Elphaba were out of sight and in the old classroom they once used the called Dobby

"Take us back to the Room of Requirement Dobby and make sure our friends within the great hall are not harmed until they get there" Harry ordered quickly "Bring Winky and the others with you five minutes after they arrive"

Dobby nodded and popped them away as out in the hallway Dumbledore, McGonagoll and Snape appeared looking flustered and angry.

"Where did they go?" Snape questioned lividly pulling out his wand

"They can't just vanish Severus, Potter does have an invisibility cloak" McGonagoll replied sounding more hurt then angry

"We must find them" Dumbledore said sounding angry "and quickly"

# # # # #

Elphaba and Harry were back in the room of requirement within ten minutes of leaving the great hall. Harry slumped into a chair looking tired and dejected as Elphaba sat down before him. Dobby told them he had sent out the letters, seven to within the castle itself and twelve outside the walls. Harry thanked him before he popped away.

"And now we wait" Harry said watching Elphaba pull out some paper and a pencil "What do you think the other champions will do"

"If their clever they'll at least choose a wait and see option or join us at their first chance" Elphaba replied doodling "hopefully they'll join us, who I'm worried about, is Dumbledore"

"Maybe we shouldn't have done your oath just yet" Harry said thoughtfully

"I was debating to do it but it had to be done" Elphaba admitted sheepishly "Even if it was to help our allies and to wipe the look off grangers face" Elphaba noted Harrys change in demeanour "What's wrong?, Is it about Granger?"

"I have to tell you something" Harry said softly after a few minutes "I wanted to be sure before I did it and I was going to do it last night"

"Do what?" Elphaba asked putting her pencil down and looking up concerned

"I was going to ask Hermione out" Harry admitted shakily

"Then she threw your trust back in your face" Elphaba continued sadly "Oh little brother" Elphaba gave Harry a hug and gave him a moment as there was a knock on the door. "Enter"

The door opened and four students entered the room. The door closed behind them and vanished as Harry stood up his pain failing to slide behind a mask.

"Thank you for coming" He said walking over to them "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't trust any of you"

"We've been talking about things over the past year if you hadn't have offered the alternate school we would have brought it up as an idea" Neville Longbottom said nervously

"We are ready if you are Harry" Susan Bones said with a smile placing a hand on Neville's shoulder

"Willing and able to follow you" Luna Lovegood continued with her usual airiness

"Until the end" Daphne Greengrass finished her Ice princess mask slipping enough to show the warmth and concern for Harry within her eyes. Apart from Elphaba, Harry had been the first person to treat Daphne like Daphne since before entering Hogwarts.

"You never need to ask" Elphaba said honestly as Harry looked at her.

"Dobby" Harry called out turning to the elf as he appeared "We're ready to go now"

"Certainly master Harry sir" Dobby said clapping his hands to summon Winky and four other elves.

"These lovely house elves are Dobby, Winky, Clive, Gus, Olive and Maeve" Harry said introducing the potter house elves "They are willing to help us maintain the illusion we're still at Hogwarts at night"

"We're still trying to find tutors" Elphaba admitted as the others greeted the house elves "But we're working on it...plus we're looking at American schools if you're willing to come with us"

"I'll do it" Daphne said almost instantly since she was the second child to her fathers favourite Josiah and the older sister to her mothers favourite Astoria. She wanted to be her own person away from her family and the family name.

"I'll follow irrigardless" Luna said less dreamily than usual Luna had been emancipated since she started Hogwarts due to her father's declining mental health. Luna had joined Harry and Elphaba for two weeks the summer before third year, Luna's father Xenolophillis Lovegood had given Harry and Elphaba magical guardianship in his will.

"As long as my aunt knows I could make it work" Susan said smiling at the elves

"Same with me and my grandmother" Neville said "but other than that I think I can do it"

"Shall we go then?" Harry asked receiving nods all around "Guys could you?"

The elves grabbed a hand each and the six of them popped away from Hogwarts not to be seen until Monday.

# # # # #

Cedric Diggory sat on a rock formation at the edge of the black lake looking over the water a small folded parchment envelope being twisted in his hands. His thoughts were mulling over two things...the upcoming tournament and over the enigmas that were Harry Potter and Elphaba Hardbroom. He knew he'd take the tournament one step at the time but that wasn't what concerned him. It was Harry and Elphaba that took up most of his thoughts. It was accepted with no questions asked within the student body that Harry was the epitomite of a brave Gryffindor, Elphaba was surprisingly accepted for Slytherin considering she was an outcast to her own house. Cedric had come across the two of them on occasion talking and joking like it was no-ones business. Cedric was witness to one such conversation about a theme park called Alton Towers which was interrupted by Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy who promptly turned it into a shouting match. When Professors Snape and McGonagall came over to spit it up Cedric had a mind to keep an eye in Elphaba and Harry who stood aside whilst the arguing between students and teachers happened until Snape blamed Harry for the disturbance. Cedric remembered the shared look of annoyance before Harry jumped in. Cedric re-read the note he had in his hands.

'Cedric,

I'm willing to work alongside you and the other two champions in working through all three tasks. That's if you're willing to do so I will not push you. Plus I'm willing to pay for any training you want to do next year in compensation,

Your friend,

Harry Potter. '

Cedric folded it up and put it a pocket mulling it over. The voices of Victor Krum and Fleur Delacour reached his ears. He looked up and saw them walking over to him. Cedric stood up and walked over to them knowing what he was going to do 'lets get this over with then' he thought .

"What do you two what to do then?" Cedric asked a grin forming on his lips.

# # # # #

Harry and Elphaba sat in the living room of the Penthouse Apartment as their friends searched the place and the house elves placed under glamour's to look like them walked through the lobby downstairs to come up to the apartment itself since this was in an apartment block in the mundane world. Thankfully Dobby had set a house elf charm to muffle all noise in the apartment until they came through the front room. It took ten minutes for Dobby and the other house elves to get to the apartment in into the front room.

"Master Sirius has gone out to Gringotts to speak with Master Burchoke Master Harry" Dobby said as Winky and the other Potter elves went back to Hogwarts "He Says he be back in two hours"

"Thanks Dobby" Elphaba said with a grin kicking off her shoes

"I'll call for you tomorrow morning Dobby" Harry said with a smile Dobby nodded happliy and popped away causing Harry and Elphaba to chuckle.

"Guys this is incredible" Daphne cried walking back into the front room followed by Susan

"We thought you'd like it" Elphaba said with a giggle as the house elves removed their glamour's.

"How did you get this?" Susan asked sitting down on the white leather sofa opposite Elphaba as Daphne sat next to Harry.

"Two years ago my cousin Josie died leaving both myself and Harry Emancipation in the mundane world she was murdered due to an abusive boyfriend that caused a lot of trouble" Elphaba said in a strange voice and an unusual look on her face "We have a care worker who checks up on us once a week during Christmas and the summer and my mother comes for a week during the summer and sees us at Christmas"

"Do you want to call Gaby or shall I? I'll leave contacting your mother up to you" Harry asked kindly knowing full well that Elphaba would need a moment as Luna and Neville entered the room.

"I'll do it" Elphaba said walking out into the hallway and picking up the house phone to dial a number.

"How come Elphies mother doesn't live here?" Susan asked Harry "Or look after the two of you?"

"Constance Hardbroom has had a hard life, she had Elphaba early" Harry replied thoughtfully trying to give an awncer they could accept "Baron Hardbroom offered her four choices, Leave the family and raise Elphaba herself, adoption, abortion or give Elphaba up to a relative, She chose the latter. Well at least that way she could see her during the summer away from prying eye I've only met her a few times"

"How come?" Daphne said cocking her head as Neville frowned and sat down as Luna skipped out to Elphaba in the hallway.

"Purely to give them mother daughter time" Harry awncered with a warm smile remembering old times "It was that time Josie and I used to bake cookies or go see a movie"

"I've met Baron Hardbroom once or twice before" Neville said from his seat on the poof "Not a nice guy I think he's a second or third cousin"

"My grandfather is a stubborn old man" Elphaba said coming back into the room with Luna "The only reason why I'm the heiress is because My Mother refuses to marry to have a son anyway Gaby's coming round in an hour with dinner"

"I have two questions" Daphne said noting the slight change in the atmosphere "How did you manage to own this place? And why us as your allies?"

"To awncer the first" Harry said to give Elphaba a moment "It was an investment we turned to our advantage and the second you four saw through the outcast and boy-who-lived masks and saw us for who we really are Harry and Elphie plus we like to think all of you as friends"

Three of them blushed in varying degrees of embarrassment but Luna beamed happily

"I hope there's pudding" she said out of the blue making everyone suddenly giggle loudly and begin talking about something else. By the time Gaby Cilantro turned up with McDonald's food and some paperwork the group had settled in with Daphne sharing with Elphaba, Susan sharing with Luna and Neville with Harry, the fourth bedroom remaining empty for Sirius to come back to.

NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR!:

Hey world I hope you enjoy chapter two of the Hogwarts Cabal.

Chapter three coming soon...

Constructive reviews are welcome...Flamers will be sent down to Frank in Hell since he has a restraining order against me.

Vi38: why thank you for liking this story so far, I hope you enjoy the future chapters.

misssocrates: Thank you for thinking this is an original story, I haven't managed to find that many stories of Harry having a friend before Hogwarts who actually managed to help him leave the Dursleys without reverting to complete magical means. aHJA