Chapter 15 – Dull, exciting, interesting
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"Fellow Wizard and Witches of this great land as Minister of Magic I wish to extend…"
I was standing next to the Minister with Amy on my shoulder. I figured Amy would show me to be a light wizard with the confidence of the Minister. I knew WWN was there along with the Dailey Profit so any favorable coverage couldn't hurt.
I have to hand it to Scrimgeour he didn't skip a beat. He was using the 'Sonorus' charm when the Auror stepped up behind him and whispered "attack in Diagon Alley". That information did not inturupt his speech the curses did.
How many of them were there I couldn't say as I wasn't expecting curses from the crowd in the Atrium. Simultaneously Deatheaters in robes entered by the 'floe'. As I yelled, "Amy take the Minister to his office." An 'Avada Kedavra' curse, with the Ministers name on it, speed at the frozen Minister. I stepped in front of the Minister and raised Riddle's super shield.
The killing curse went through the shield and hit me full in the chest. The shield received about a six other curses designed to kill a second later. Amy flashed away with the Minister amid all the pandemonium and curses. I was not going to kill nor was I going to fire spells into a crowd where you couldn't tell a good guy from a bad girl. The Deatheater were going for mass killing but as I raised my wand to enter and help stop the slaughter when Aurors came pouring in from all sides or the Atrium. No longer a massacre but now a police action I 'faded' to a roof across from Knockturn alley. I thought that it would be a good vantage point to see what was happening rather than appear into the middle of some unknown curse.
There was a couple of Deatheaters standing with Voldemort across from the now sealed Gringotts. Looking down both sides of the street I could see dozens of Deatheaters having fun destroying and killing. I was about to 'fade' behind Voldemort and see if I could scare him or put my boot up his…when everything stopped. Nothing was moving the alley was full of statues. Yet I was not frozen.
"Like my little trick Harry?" Thanatos asked as he sat in a plushy chair like Dumbledore always conjured.
"Dam you Thanatos you scared me, I assume this is only temporary?"
"Yes I needed a few words with you before you rushed off."
"Well I guess I have the time so I'm listening."
"Harry there is paths in life and for every action there is a reaction. You can not see the paths or the reactions, very few can, but they occur. Have you heard of the butterfly example? Where the butterfly makes a left instead of a right turn in its flight and in doing so attracts a fish saving it from the fisherman's net. That fish is later caught by a boy who was dying from starvation. The boy would have died if not for the fish and later the boy saves the world."
"I have heard a version of that tale." I was now looking at the Voldemort statue and wondered if I had a large hammer…
"So is that why you are waiting for me to kill someone so you can butterfly me some where?
"Harry don't get a head of yourself, you are an oddity in that you are the butterfly but also the boy. We are no longer trying to collect you but we are curiously watching the effect you are causing."
Suddenly everything started again and as I was about to…
All around Voldemort there was a fiery explosion as if he expected me to hitch a ride or sneak upon him again, which I was planning. I turned and found Thanatos gone and when I looked back for Voldemort, he and his Deatheaters had left the alley.
/Scene Break/
I had asked that Luna and Cheryl be allowed to 'floe' to Dun-Potter but no we must take the train. Smart that was, take the train to London then 'floe' all the way back to Scotland. Wanting to give the Headmaster the finger I had Amy take the girls to Dun-Potter and I 'faded' from the carriages on the way to the train station. Later I found that Bill's new wards did not register my leaving Hogwarts. I would have to try that later in my physical form.
Dobby set the girls up with their own rooms and of course had everything unpacked and put away before they could change to comfortable blouses and jeans. We spent the next couple of hours chatting and setting up what we were going to do for the next seventeen days. There was of course shopping in Hogsmeade and downtown London. Diagon alley was questionable because of the attack the day before. Then there was what to do for Christmas Eve, Christmas day and New Years. I had no idea where I got the idea that this was a vacation of total leisure and lying around.
/Scene Break/
I awoke the next morning having had a comfortable sleep on a comfortable bed. My memories from Riddle and my own at Privet drive had many poor sleeping memories but that was not the case last night. After a nice shower I got my muggle attire, as laid out by Dobby, I then put on my necklace with the philosopher's stone and grabbed my imitation wand. I now appeared like a typical boy on break. My memory or the discussion with Cheryl flashed to the surface of my brain, 'what would it be like to be normal?' I shook my head and went to find the girls, today was a shopping day.
Where women get the energy to do a full day of shopping is beyond my comprehension. I had mail ordered most of what I needed and Dobby had picked up the rest. So when they suggested we split up to buy gifts for each other I figured I had gotten a reprieve. It took me a minute to double back to the jewelry store where I saw some nice items. Minutes later I was done and had a hot drink in my hands. I swore it wasn't two minutes later and I was dragged forward by Cheryl and Luna to attack a shoe store.
/Scene Break/
The next day I swear my magic was sore over my entire constructed body. I knew that it was all mental but a nice day around the pool would sooth my aching magic. So that was how Cheryl in her skimpy bikini found me.
"Morning Harry, I see you had the same idea."
"This is a vacation so I figured breakfast pool side was a good way to spend the day." Cheryl definitely had my attention and it wasn't her blue eyes that I was looking over.
"Actually Dobby told me where you were and he popped off to get Luna."
Just then Luna came streaking in and leaped into the pool wearing nothing but her birthday suit. From that point it got extremely embarrassing for me.
"Is that what you meant when you said I would be seeing more of Luna when I got to Dun-Potter?"
Luna was now exiting the pool. She had her wand in her hand and did a drying charm on her hair. She then replaced her wand behind her ear. Witches and Wizards never went anywhere with out their wands, although most left their wands and towels pool side before entering the water.
I turned back to Cheryl only to find that she had shed her bikini.
"Veela and France Harry, we are fine with au naturel at the optional wear beaches."
I was trying to re-engage my brain when, "Hay Harry needs to fit in." Luna yelled as she took her wand and banished my bathing trunks.
I was in an awed condition or Luna would never get away with banishing my trunks but my eyes were to busy flashing between the two girls at the time. I had just realized that Luna was a very desirable girl and Cheryl was nude. That's when Mother Nature rouse to be noticed as Luna looked down she said, "It's nice to see you too." That's when I leaped into the pool.
/Scene Break/
It's amazing what you can get use to as a normal pool side day. The two girls were merciless with ribbing me. I was after all just a dumb male from England. Nudity was for when you were alone in the bathroom and in dark rooms under the covers. Wandering around in broad daylight just wasn't done. Then there was my emotions towards the two girls. Riddles memories did not help me dealing with my current emotions what so ever which raised several more questions in my mind. Christmas came and everyone was thrilled with their presents. New Years was celebrated at a local club but signaled that Hogwarts was again calling.
/Scene Break/
As per tradition we rode the Hogwarts Express. Amy flashed both girls to Kings Cross and I 'faded' in behind them. We obtained a compartment and I got to realize that I really am slow in some areas. I had not notice that Luna had lost the dotty spaced out look and I couldn't remember the last time she mentioned Nargals. Yet sitting there reading a book upside down was the return of Loony Lovegood. Before I could comment Gabby entered and fell into the seat next to Luna.
"Morgana, I am glad that this break is over."
"Problems?" Cheryl asked.
"You could say that! Living with the Weasley's is paramount to self induced insanity. Can you imagine that Molly tired to separate Fleur and Bill because they were a bad example to the kids? I mean separate rooms, really!"
"Should we ask if they made too much noise in their room or was it the humperbubers at night?" Luna asked.
"No it was the holding hands and pecks to the cheek in public. I will not even try to tell you how that little pervert Ron acted the whole time."
"Oh please do." Cheryl giggled.
"Can you imagine following some other man's wife while drooling the whole time and I can't tell you how I felt when he followed me to the Loo and was waiting when I came out. AND, he was the one that needed to put a silencing charm on his room."
"I could see that it would put a damper on your stay at the Burrow." I chuckled.
"I should be deaf from all the yelling. That family is either yelling or screaming at each other half the time. Speaking of silencing charms, the twins kept setting off explosions all day long which I though would bring the whole dump down on our heads."
While it looked like Gabby had more to say she was interrupter by the arrival of Draco with Pansy on his arm. The two brilliant gorillas were also in tow.
"Goodness Potter how low can you crawl. It's bad enough that you had the Mudblood hanging around but now you are consorting with creatures and blood traders."
"Go away Malfoy, pollute some other compartment." I didn't need to start the school year with his bigotry. I was wondering why Pansy was currently hanging on Draco's arm.
"I didn't see you at the Malfoy annual Christmas Ball… what no invitation to the Ball of the season Potter?" Pansy smugly added to the deteriorating atmosphere.
"Oh we just chucked the invitations in the bin as they were too below our status as to reply. By the way, what was the theme, Deatheaters robes and masks? " As Draco and crew drew their wands they received a little present from an infuriated Gabby. Gabby let loose her Veela allure, apparently at full power. Even I felt it explode through the compartment.
Whether Veela allure is something that can be directed by the sender or the allure reacts as the receiver is inclined to act I don't know; I should ask.
Draco attacked Pansy and attempted to have sex with her in the corridor. Crab and Goyle were hugging each other and whispering in each others ears. This of course came to the attention of the two Perfects on patrol. One went to get the Head Boy and the other tried to yell at them to stop with no results. It took the Head Boy and three stunners to stop the show to the now full corridor. Later we heard, via the rumor mill, that Millicent Bulstrode put Pansy in the hospital wing compliments of a right cross on the train platform and was now hunting Draco for a chat.
Rumors flew over Draco and Pansy being together while another one said Draco and Millicent were forced to marry over the break. You had to love the rumor mill.
/Scene Break/
The welcoming feast, minus a couple of Slytherin's, was interesting as we had a new instructor teaching a new subject. Bill Weasley and his apprentice were now providing a once a week morning class on curse breaking. They were now living at Hogwarts in the teachers wing. Somehow I figured their spare time might be directed towards confining me or putting up monitoring charms in my quarters. So far Cheryl had been what she appeared to be and had only tired to be my friend. Boy was I mistaken.
I skipped the new class as I figured the Potter books gave me a great edge. My father never had a chance to gain the fame as previous Potters who were renowned warders. Whether I had the talent was yet to be seen but I could follow the instructions in the Potter books. The wards on my quarters were still giving Cheryl and Bill a fit so I wasn't that bad at warding.
By lunch the next day Luna skipped over to the Slytherin table which generated sneers and some mumbled words. "Harry did you hear the rumors?"
"Ah, No, what does the rumor mill have to say?"
"In a loud voice Luna said, "Millicent caught up to Draco."
"That got my eye-popping down the table to find Draco missing and Millicent with a grin on her face while rubbing her knuckles with her other hand, she had indeed heard Luna.
"The Nargles say he should be out of the Hospital wing by tomorrow."
I downed the rest of my juice and dragged Luna out of the Great Hall before she said something to upset the Slytherin's at the table especially Millicent. Luna gave me a kiss to the cheek and skipped away humming a tune. I headed off for Charms with a very warm cheek and a smile on my face.
While I figured Draco deserved everything he got it was funny that it wasn't his fault to be hit with Veela Allure on the train. Thinking that Millicent's and Draco's marriage would be a living hell gave me a laugh. It was funny thinking that one wrong word and Draco could have his lights punched out. What I didn't think was that Draco had a death wish.
Wednesday was Transfiguration class and Minerva was taking her best students for additional training to hopefully become animagus. Even though I was chosen I didn't think I could do it in my condition. I went along with the weekly training class anyhow.
About a week later I was again fuming over Snape's treatment and Dumbledore's never-ending words of, "Mr. Potter please see me in my office" Shtick. Slapstick comedy it was not...Dumbledore's act was not funny. Scrimgeour had owl'ed as well as Ragnok that Dumbledore was still trying to do everything from overturning my emancipation to seizing my vaults. Some things he was trying was, to have me declared the "chosen one" who was do away with Voldemort and my being incompetent necessitated my needing special guidance and living conditions. Dumbledore was to be the special guidance and the Weasley's the confinement facilities. I went to bed early and slightly upset.
/Scene Break/
Normally I sleep until the accursed alarm spell goes off in the morning which forces me to start the day. This morning I was having one of those boy dreams, which are total fantasy, where this gorgeous girl forces her attentions on me with a bottle of tanning oil. The dream suddenly morphed into two girls on a beach snuggling on me from each side on a beach blanket arguing over my affections. I slowly becoming conscious and slowly realizing that something was right, no wrong, and no, not possible. One arm was unresponsive while my other arm, which is attached to my hand, was holding something that my sluggish mind said was part of a girls forbidden area. My eyes popped open and my brain froze, it wasn't a dream.