CHAPTER SEVEN: Announcements, Information and Possibilities.
Harry sat at the breakfast bar in the apartment early Friday morning a week after the first task, a cup of coffee in his hand and several pieces of paperwork in front of him, patiently waiting for his allies to wake up. Their plans outside of Hogwarts were going smoother than ever thought they could. Gaby god bless her heart had found five alternate schools for all five of them within two weeks of being asked. She had also overseen the paperwork for the hotel and Mall as well as overseeing the building works with the contractor they had hired. Harry and Elphaba almost bowled her over last night when she arrived with all the paperwork and Chinese takeaway.
Despite all the information in front of him and the noise of the showers kicking in, Harrys mind drifted over the previous week at Hogwarts, the second task that was approaching and some information he had gained.
FLASHBACK:
Professor McGonagoll looked a little peeved during the transfiguration lesson that day, so much so that she called everyones attention a few minuites before the end of class.
"On Christmas eve night we will be hosting a Yule ball in conjunction with the tournement, attendance is mandatory" Harry frowned at this as well as his friends "Any student of Gryffindor I catch acting any less than exemplary will be severely punished"
The end of lesson bell rang as everyone stood up and made to leave packing up their books and notes as they did so.
"Mr Potter a word please" McGonagoll called out over the chaos before disappearing into her office.
"I'll wait" Neville told Harry sitting back down to wait out the tide of students heading towards the door.
"So will we" Daphne said as Elphaba slid into a chair next to Neville
"Thanks guys" Harry replied finishing packing his bag and giving Daphnes hand a squeeze before turning to Elphaba "I'll pass on the information"
Harry made for McGonagolls Office near the back of her classroom with a sigh and a brief mental meditation. Harry knocked on the door and entered the office
"You wished to see me Professor?" Harry asked standing before Professor McGonagolls desk.
"The Yule ball is different this time Harry" McGonagoll awncered standing at the window staring outside gloomily "Extremely different"
"How so Aunt Minnie?" Harry asked with a tilt of his head,
"The ball is now mandatory for all students fourth year and above" Minerva replied with a sigh turning to her honorary nephew "It never used to be"
"What do the headmasters gain from making the Ball Mandatory?" Harry asked his head still tilted
"It's what Dumbledore is trying to gain" Minerva admitted sitting down in her chair not noticing Elphaba enter the room "He is aware that you and your friends vanish from view every night and weekend although he does not know where"
"He knows we leave the grounds" Harry choked out in surprise straightening up Minerva still didn't notice Elphaba walking slowly forwards.
"You leave the grounds?" Minerva asked in surprise
"We do" Harry admitted sheepishly "Mainly to train and think clearly"
"Anything else you wish to tell me" Minerva asked before she jumped in surprise as Elphaba grabbed her hand and transferred over the information they wanted her to know including Harry and Elphabas emancipation in the mundane world. Minerva smiled brightly at that
"Anything I can do to help I will do" Minerva said instantly "Although there is one more thing I have to say about the Yule Ball...The champions and their Dates have to open it"
# # # # #
Harry took no time in asking Daphne to the ball and getting a yes in reply. He then spent the next few days with Susan, Daphne and Elphaba by his side teaching him how to dance. Luna flittered in for an hour or two with Fleur, Neville and Cedric before they left to study the eggs or spend time with their other friends. Victor came and helped once or twice before vanishing off to do whatever he did when he wasn't around the group. Thursday afternoon saw Susan, Harry and Elphaba sitting in the room of requirement waiting for Daphne, Luna and Neville to turn up. Daphne had left three hours previously citing Charms homework issues which Cedric had promised to give her a hand with.
"Are you sure you want to see Granger next Saturday?" Elphaba asked nervously fiddling with her plait
"Positive" Harry replied staring at his pseudo sister straight in the eye "Don't worry I'm not turning my back on Daphne, the love boat with Granger has definitely sailed"
"I know" Elphaba said with an all knowing look "It's the fact she's projecting more than normal and that is dangerous"
"She's a mutant" Susan said blushing slightly "She's a pyrokinetic"
"Granger can generate fire?" Harry asked in a state of surprise sitting up and paying attention
"I'm pretty sure she can" Susan continued thinking about it "She can at least manipulate it"
"Is that why I keep wanting to ask her about Greece then?" Harry asked tilting his head slightly
"Definitely" Susan awncered "You have a second mutation which is near enough you on a whole...your an empath"
"An Empath?" Harry asked frowning slightly
"Why didn't I see it before" Elphaba exclaimed loudly "I kept wondering about all these random times you would instinctively know what to do or what to say for a person your an Empath, An empathy can hear or feel when someone else is in pain or needs something, sort of like a psychic for feelings"
Harry nodded as he processed the information the urge to speak to Hermione about Greece subsiding enough that it wasn't a major concern anymore
"Do I have to follow through with my meeting with Granger?" Harry asked aloud "Or should I go through with it to bring Hermione in?"
Susan and Elphaba looked at each other sharing a private psychic link for a moment.
"Bring her in" Susan stated looking deadly serious
"Despite the fact I don't like her it's best we keep an eye on her" Elphaba stressed looking as serious as Susan. "It's either us or Dumbledore's noose"
"Might as well" Harry concluded as Daphne Neville and Luna walked through the door. "Hey guys right on time"
"Damm straight we are" Neville said with a grin as Daphne gave Harry a kiss on the cheek
"I have something to share with you all" Luna announced as Dobby Maeve and Olive popped into the room
"What is it?" Everyone asked all at once
"I'll tell you when we get home" Luna awncered cheekily and with that they all popped out of Hogwarts.
# # # # #
"Mermaids?" Harry choked out "We have to take what we miss back from Mermaids in the Black Lake"
"Yes" Luna replied pulling out her notebook and several books on Hogwarts as she did so "The song when played under water goes like this" Luna handed everyone a copy of the song she heard
'Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you have to look,
To recover what we took,
But past an hour - the prospects black
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.'
(Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire; Chapter 25: the Egg and the Eye, page 402)
Harry read it three times before he fully memorised it. Cedric Victor and Fleur looked as terrified as he felt.
"I won't let them harm any of you" Harry said without thinking looking at Daphne, Susan, Neville Luna and Elphaba "It would most likely be one of you as the 'thing' I'll sorely miss"
"Then they'll use my sister" Fleur gasped sadly "My little sister Gabrielle"
"They'll use Padma Patil for Me" Cedric admitted sheepishly crumbling his copy of the song nervously "We've been dating through this year after Chang shown who she really was"
Harry knew she had been against him from the moment his name had come out of the cup. The shouting match within the Great Hall was rather impressive and Padma was a nice girl after all.
"They'd most likely use my date for the ball whoever they are" Victor said after a moment "How would any of us last under water for an hour though?"
Everyone froze in thought, trying to think of anything and everything that could aid them underwater. It took a moment before Neville got to his feet quickly and rushed into the room he shared with Harry, before coming back out again. He was carrying a book about underwater plants used in Herbology and potions.
"Simple guys" He said aloud opening the book at a certain page and putting it on the coffee table for everyone to see "Gillyweed"
It took everyone a moment for it to process the information before a collective smile formed on their faces.
"Guys we have an idea" Harry said aloud as Sirius entered the Apartment with Gaby and pizza.
# # # ##
Harry was brought back to the present as Neville stomped into the room yawning tiredly. Luna sat almost sprawled over the sofa reading several books to help with the second task. Daphne and Susan Harry surmised were still getting ready and Sirius stood at the kettle mumbling incoherently to himself. Elphaba sat opposite him a coffee in hand looking over paperwork herself a satisfied smile on her lips.
"What did you do to Sirius?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow
"If I told you, you'd have to use the cleaning charm on your mind" Elphaba replied her smile widening as Sirius got a goofy look on his face.
"I don't really want to know" Harry mumbled before draining his cup and put it in the sink.
Neville shuddered at the thought in his head before finishing off his tea and put his mug in the sink next to Harrys. Daphne and Susan appeared in the living room ready for the day's lesson as Luna gathered up her books and put them in her enchanted book-bag to read later. Harry and Elphaba slid the paperwork into their respective folders and slid them into their bags as everyone gathered in the hallway.
"Ready to go guys?" Susan asked as Daphne and Harry shared a kiss, Neville slid on his shoes and Luna slid on a Guns 'n' roses Jumper.
"Give me a sec" Elphaba said sliding back into the kitchen and giving Sirius a kiss on the cheek and returning to them.
"You're going to have him around your little finger by Christmas aren't you?" Luna chirped happily as Dobby, Winkey, Olive and Maeve popped into view.
"Hopefully Luna" Elphaba replied taking Maeve's hand "Hopefully"
# # # # #
Lessons that day were frightenly epic. Sirius in his questionably infinite wisdom decided to buy Harry and friends Mundane Rock band jumpers. Luna had guns 'n' roses, Susan had Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Daphne wore a Nine Inch Nails Jumper, Harry had Nirvana Jumper, Neville cherished a Metallica jumper after listening to one of their songs and Elphaba wore a well worn and well loved Green day Jumper. Harry was pretty sure he heard Daphne and Elphaba alternately hum their band's songs in class just to annoy people. Harry had to admit it was a giggle to see Hermione get annoyed at the humming especially when Ron questioned Neville on Metallica during History of Magic which led to an hour long discussion on the best rock songs and bands ever. Part of Harry did feel sorry when Hermione stormed off in anger when the bell rang but he mainly didn't care.
Sitting down for Lunch attracted more attention especially when the other Champions sat down with them with three other people Padma Patil from Ravenclaw, Marie D'bardeau and William Fitz-warren.
"Where did you get the jumpers from?" Cedric asked as lunch appeared in front of them
"They look awesome" Padma added with a smile appreciating Elphabas Jumper
"A music shop called HMV" Luna informed them without looking up from her book
"A friend of mine picked up a load of them" Elphaba said quickly knowing Lunas habit of telling the exact truth "one of his few good traits is knowing good music"
"Could we get one?" Marie asked in French accented English
Elphaba and Harry shared a knowing look before a plan formed in their minds.
They turned back to the little group
"What are you guys doing Hogsmede visit next weekend?" They asked at once
# # # # #
Dumbledore sat at the high table watching Harry Potter sitting at the Gryffindor table with the other Champions, their friends and several Hogwarts students. He noted Ginny, Ron and Hermione sitting nearby and occasionally talked to by someone in the group before going back to their lunch. Albus frowned ever so slightly...He had been told last night by Severus Snape that the potions had been ready and handed to the house elves last night to put in their breakfasts. It was now lunch time and Harry was being a normal hungry fourteen year old boy talking with friends.
Albus saw the hungry look in Ginnys face as she stole look of Harry when she thought no one was looking and grinned to himself and he knew at least some of the potions had worked. Albus began planning what would happen after Harry and Ginny got together before he was pulled out of his revere by Harry walking up to Professor McGonagoll and asking for a private moment before the next lesson.
"Of Course Mr Potter" Minerva said kindly "Come to my office in ten..."
"I'm sure I could field your questions Mr Potter" Albus said butting in with a grandfatherly smile
"I'm sure you could Headmaster" Harry replied with a sudden coldness Albus felt he didn't deserve "But it's a private matter and I trust Professor McGonagoll to be discreet about it"
"Ten minuites in my office Mr Potter" Minerva replied a little too primly than was normal
"Thank you professor" Harry replied with a cool nod and left the high table to return to his ally and fan club.
"I had that under control Headmaster" Minerva said icily getting up from the table and leaving the Great Hall leaving Albus a little bit stunned. Albus shook it off after a moment and turned back to his planning of continuing the Potter line before Voldemort returned. Hmm maybe he should question his friends and ally.
~Ten minuites later~
Harry and his friends walked to Professor McGonagolls office with a skip in their steps and a hope in their hearts. It had been agreed that instead of going to Hogsmede the twelve of them...hopefully...would spend the day in Edinbrough getting Mundane prom dresses and suits for the Yule ball instead of robes, the moment Parvati heard this she begged to come along with her sister bumping the group up to thirteen. Harry had decided to give his robes to Ron and had already had them adjusted for his former Best Friend. It was the least he could do to maintain the semblance of friendship from his end. Harry knocked on McGonagolls door and waited. Harry hoped in his heart that Fleur and Victor could get permission from their head teachers.
"Enter" Came McGonagolls voice. Harry opened the door
"Professor It's me may my friends come in too?" Harry asked with a smile
"Certainly Harry come in" Minerva said kindly, calmer now than she was ten minuites ago at least.
"We've come to ask you something Aunt Minnie" Harry sad appealing to her as a nephew "We'd like to make a statement at the Yule Ball and dress in mundane prom dresses and Tuxedos"
"The only way we could get them is by going to Edinbrough next Weekend during the Hogsmede visit" Elphaba continued looking hopeful
"That way none of us would be in trouble" Cedric added ignoring the 'Aunt Minnie' quote
"Especially if you give us permission" Daphne added with a smile "The other champions are asking their headmasters to come"
"Plus we get extra adults in like my Grandmother" Neville put in at once looking dead set on it
"And my Aunt Amelia" Susan voiced happily
"Maybe even you could come with us" Luna added thoughtfully
"Please Professor" Padma and Parvati asked at once.
Minerva McGonagoll looked at the young man determined to make the most of a terrible situation and improve his life. Minerva couldn't quite decide to go with them, she couldn't have well said no to them since they were some of the best behaved students right now.
"You get to meet Gaby" Harry added with a smile making Minerva's mind up for her.
"I'll allow it" Minerva said at last making the whole group cry out in happiness "and I will definitely come with you"
# # # # #
~Twenty minuites time skip~
Ron and Hermione sat before the headmaster confused and unsure as to why they were there, the two had been pulled out of Charms by the headmaster without even an excuse.
"Have we done something wrong Headmaster?" Hermione asked nervously twitching her foot.
"No you haven't Miss Granger" Albus replied with a grandfatherly smile "Neither you or Mr Weasley are in trouble I just wish to talk to you...Lemon Drop"
Both Ron and Hermione visibly relaxed and took some lemon drops each and ate one. Unbeknown to them they were drugged with a calming potion and a potion akin to the Imperious curse. Albus smiled as both Hermione and Rons eyes glazed over and they slumped in their seats.
"Now tell me everything you know about Harry Potter and everything he's doing" he ordered taking out a charmed quill note takers used and set it on a stack of parchment. He could tell it was going to be a long day.
~ two hour time skip~
Albus sat fuming at his desk after he modified the memories and put a controlling spell over one of the dazed Gryffindors he sent to the hospital wing. They had not been proper friends with Harry for almost two months now. Since Harry preferred the company of his Ally by Oath Elphaba Hardbroom, Daphne Greengrass, Susan Bones Luna Lovegood and the other possible prophesised boy Neville Longbottom. They had also told him of several students in Gryffindor house acting stranger than normal Including the Creevey Brothers and Angelina Johnson which made Hermione twitch slightly. Albus fumed as he thought this over, it was highly probable they were magical mutants and thus a threat to the wizarding world, what also bugged him was Ron stating that Neville and Harry were often the last in and often the first out of the dorm He wasn't even a hundred percent sure how often they slept in their dorm.
Albus Dumbledore sat fuming furiously for a moment before going over the parchment transcript of everything they said. He had to know everything about Harry before he completely slipped out of his Grasp.
