Harry spent the rest of the afternoon in the Alley doing some shopping and making sure George and the apocathary had everything they needed. He was due back at school for dinner in ten minutes as he left the final store. He hadn't taken more than three steps when first spell was fired at him.
His quick shield blocked it and three black robed people stepped out of the crowd that had begun to scream and run for cover. He jumped back into the store through the window that had broken with the impact of the spell. Flicking his wand he sent a patronus to Kingsley and McGonagall while he was shielding and trying to stun the three that had now turned into eight. Kingsley and a group of Aurors arrived within minutes. By the time the patronus got to Minerva the fight was over.
In the Great Hall Neville looked up when a silver flash gained his attention. A great silver stag stood in front of the Headmistress before opening its mouth and Harry's voice emerged, "Sorry Professor but I'm going to be PROTEGO, I'm going to be late getting back STUPIFY. Stupid death eaters! Kingsley should… be here in a moment… so don't worry. Stupid… stupid… sheep you have wands too. Anyway I'll be back as soon as… this is cleared up. STUPIFY."
"Professor, do you mind if I just go make sure he has some help?" Neville stood and asked.
Before she could reply a second patronus appeared, "We have him." The lynx bearing Kingsley's voice belted out before fading away.
"Never mind." Neville reclaimed his seat.
"Mr. Longbottom will you make sure he visits the infirmary when he returns?" he could detect a slight uplift at the corner of the professor's mouth, "I know he'll try to avoid my attempts."
"I'll make sure even if I have to drag him there myself." Neville stated, "Any volunteers to help me?"
Several people laughed. Meanwhile back in the Alley Kingsley addressed Harry, "Are you sure you don't want Auror training? It might help as people ambush you now and again."
"I don't want to do that on top of everything else I've got going." Harry waved him off.
"How close are you to getting your mastery?" Kingsley asked to quietly for anyone around them to hear.
"I'll be testing at the end of the school year." He replied softly.
"Then what?" the man asked.
"Well, I've started a business." Harry grinned as they continued to whisper together, "The Goblins helped me set it all up."
"Doing what?" Kingsley was intrigued now.
"Potion ingredients to start with, I'm specializing in hard to get and rare stuff."
"Please tell me you aren't the reason we now have an ample supply of Basilisk venom." Kingsley's wide eyes begged him.
"I didn't milk the snakes if that is what you're asking." Harry grinned, "But I did help the man find the reason why they quit producing venom. He was so thankful I have a contract to sell and distribute his venom, an exclusive contract."
"How many contracts do you have?" he asked with a smile, "How are you getting around to delivering it all? And how did you talk Minerva into letting you do it?"
"I have twenty two contracts." Harry's smile got larger, "I'm delivering on weekends and I'm getting a few rare ingredients for the school to use in advance potion making and for medical potions."
"You have her wrapped around your finger, you know that don't you?" Kingsley laughed heartily.
"Not really." Harry frowned, "I bet you ten galleons that I have to spend the evening with Poppy when I get back."
"That's a suckers bet." He shook his head, "I never take those."
Nearly the entire school was still in the Great Hall when he arrived. Minerva met him at the door of the room. Harry dropped his head to his chest when she glared at him but he finally asked, "Can I eat dinner first?"
"If you try to slip out before visiting the hospital I've authorized Mr. Longbottom to drag you back." She stated then set her lips in a thin line.
"I wish Kingsley had taken up my bet." Harry sighed as he sat at the table eating his dinner a few minutes later.
"Want to join in our bet?" Seamus asked, "So far the bets are one hour, five, ten and twenty four hours and the last one was a week."
"I'll take… what time is it?" he interrupted himself.
"Six thirty." Neville replied.
"Giving that I can get fifteen minutes for dinner." He said between bites, "I expect to be in there for two hours and fifteen minutes before she releases me. I promise not to sneak out if I'm wrong."
"There goes my one hour bet." Dean huffed.
"We'll let you place it again." Seamus put a hand on his shoulder.
"Fine I'll go three hours." Dean said, "I really expected you to run after an hour."
"No way, she'd just hunt me down." Harry shuddered, "That gets ugly."
"About time you learned that." Poppy arrived behind him, "You have eight minutes to finish before I drag you away."
"I have a few questions." Blaise spoke up when he was nearly finished, "Protego and stupefy?"
"I had eight firing at me I didn't want to just take one at a time." Harry explained, "When I verbalize a stunner I can take out three. A verbal shield is more powerful and can stand up against multiple hits."
"And the pauses?" Neville asked.
"Mostly minor jinxes, I did have the handicap of loads of people running around behind those attackers." Harry then mumbled as he stood and left, "Stupid sheep."
"Sheep?" Susan Bones asked.
"He means those people who stand there with wands in their hands and do nothing to help their fellow man." Neville explained, "He was eight against one with how many others standing around watching and not lifting a finger?"
"But why call them sheep?" she asked.
"Sheep follow the leader." Neville explained, "They do nothing on their own. What would have happened if one of the people in the crowd had helped? It could have been fifty stunners instead of his one."
"Sheep is a good name for us." Seamus frowned thoughtfully, "How many times has the prophet told us what to think, even when we knew the opposite was true. Fifth year was bad."
"It was hard to know what was right that year." Hannah agreed, "My parents were agreeing with the prophet and I didn't want to disagree with them. I knew Harry didn't lie and he wasn't an attention seeker. But I still stayed away because they wanted me to. I should have told them the prophet was full of lies."
"We all should have." Susan stated, "If we had how many people would be alive right now."
"We were all scared kids back then." Luna's voice came from beside Neville, "And we can't go back and change the past. We can however learn from the past and not repeat it's mistakes. Ron I'm glad to see the nargles aren't as bad as they were. You had quite the infestation over the summer."
"Thanks Luna, I'm glad too." He replied and looked down at the table.
"Neville are you ready to go keep Harry company?" she asked.
"Sure lets go." He stood and pulled her away from the shocked looks up and down the table.
"Nargles?" Susan Bones looked skeptical.
"Her way of telling me off for my actions over the summer and to say I'm getting better." Ron looked up, "She says nargles make your brain go fuzzy and you lose focus on what is important."
"That actually makes sense." Terry Boot blinked, "I never thought she ever made sense."
"Luna is odd." Hermione spoke for the first time, "But, she has a way of saying the truth that has a lot of insight."
"Has she told you any truths recently?" Parvati asked with a slight giggle.
"No, she isn't speaking to me." Hermione sighed, "She only sees the best in Harry. I've never heard her say a cross word about him."
"Maybe that's an insightful truth all in its own." Hannah huffed and turned away thinking the girl must be completely clueless despite her brain.
"I'm fine really." Harry's voice could be heard from the door way, "I do not need to stay overnight."
"I will be the judge of that Mr. Potter." Poppy's voice was stern, "Now sit. Stay. Good boy."
"I am not a dog." He huffed.
"Not all the time anyway." Luna offered as they entered.
"Have you come to rescue me?" Harry pretended to beg.
"No, we've come to help tie you to the bed. I've got to make you stay for five hours so I can win the bet." Neville grinned.
"You are a very mean young man." Harry pointed and narrowed his eyes at Neville, "I will repay you for this someday."
"If you're offering to pay off my gambling debt then I'll help you get out of here early." Neville grinned and then adopted a pleading face, "Please, Madam Pomfrey, please let him be and don't torture him."
"Hush you." Poppy swatted lightly at the young man, "He will stay until I say otherwise."
"I tried." He shrugged.
"I'll put just as much effort into paying off your gambling debt then." Harry waved him off.
Five hours later Harry and Neville walked Luna to her common room. After making sure she was safe inside they went back to their own common room and found it still full. Groans abounded from those in on the bet as they all paid Neville. Laughter filled the room from most of the others.
"I can believe you even beat Harry." Seamus sighed in defeat.
"Harry tends to look for the best outcome." Neville commented, "So sometimes he wins."
"Neville wins more often though." Harry added.
"Because I look for the more realistic outcome." He grinned, "And with Madam Pomfrey looking over you it will take five hours minimum. That's just experience talking. You were lucky tonight she really wanted to keep you overnight. Only the fact that you didn't really have any injuries to justify it got you away."
"She's vicious." Harry voice held no heat as he flopped into a chair, "She just won't stop poking and prodding at me. I think I have more bruises from her exam than I do from the fight."
"Whiner." Hannah chuckled, "You love her and appreciate her concern."
"Of course I do." Harry grinned, "But I am allowed to complain after all. Teenagers wouldn't be what they are without the whining and complaining."
Several times during the teasing Hermione huffed in her corner but didn't say anything. After the third time Ron's voice was heard, "Honestly Hermione they are just teasing. Don't get in a huff over it. You didn't used to when it was me he was teasing with."
Harry took that as his cue to leave, "Well I'm headed off to bed. I'm tired from playing with the boys in the Alley."
It was a lie and Neville knew it but let him go. Harry, he knew, needed time to himself after something like this. He knew he'd be able to find him on the roof overlooking the school for the next few hours. He was proven right as Harry climbed out the window of his room and right up to the roof. His cat form made it so easy to sneak out.
The next few weeks were relatively quiet. They trained for their next quidditch game and Harry did his deliveries. His plans were well in motion. He did all the delivering for now but as soon as he was set up he'd hire some people to do it and he could do more research. His company wouldn't just be about potion ingredients. One of his stops in the Alley had been at Ollivanders temporary shop. Harry found the owners of his old building weren't going to rebuild and had the lot for sale. He had approached the Goblins and bought the land and the new shop would soon be done and then Ollivander could move in. The next step for Ollivander was to find someone to train to take over. Harry was helping on that front too.
"Seamus I've got a question for you." Harry pulled him to the side and Dean followed a little behind, "What are your plans after school?"
"I'm planning on applying for a post in the ministry I guess." He shrugged, "I really can't think of anything else to do."
"I know someone looking for an apprentice." Harry said, "Have you ever thought of wand crafting?"
"You mean making wands like Ollivander?" he asked.
"I mean like making wands with Ollivander." Harry smirked.
"That guy is creepy." He shuddered.
"He is not." Dean had listened to the conversation, "If you don't want it I'd like to try."
"Go for it." Seamus stated, "I'd rather find a more exciting job."
"Like a magical demolition expert." Harry laughed.
"That would be great!" Seamus grinned excitedly, "And I have a bit of talent in that area."
"Not to mention experience." Neville added.
"Do you think that rebuilding what you've blown up would be of interest?" Harry asked.
"Yes I would enjoy that." Seamus grinned.
"Dean, are you free to meet with Ollivander this weekend?" Harry asked, "He has final approval for any applicants."
"Sure." He nodded.
"Seamus, are you free this weekend?" he turned back to his other friend.
"Yes."
"Great I'll write the Goblins." Harry pulled parchment, quill and ink from his bag and began to write, "They contracted a company to build Ollivanders new shop. We'll get a contact for who they used and see if they want an apprentice too. Once you know all you need I can help set you up in your own business. So many companies are gone that there is a huge opening for new ones right now."
"I can't believe you'd capitalize on people's deaths like that." Hermione hissed as she stomped forward.
"I'm not." He said flatly, "I'm helping to fill a need that exists. No one else has the desire or ability to do it. Should I just abandon the community or should I help to make it better."
With that said Harry stomped out of the room and within a few minutes he was on the roof. He sat there thinking for several hours before he noticed movement in the forest. The first indication was birds flitting from the trees they'd perched in for the night. Harry knew birds would do that when a predator was close to their resting spot. Further ahead of the birds his enhanced hearing could detect the sounds of smaller animals scurrying away from the path being taken by whatever it was. It wasn't long before a lone man stepped out of the forest.
"Not a man." Harry took a deep breath through his nose then hissed, "Vampire!"
Turning invisible he changed into his thestral and flew quickly to the ground. He changed back to his cat before becoming visible. The vampire stopped where it was no more than ten meters away. It hissed and then charged. It was not prepared for Harry to match its speed. As the two met in battle Harry heard the scurry of students feet as they left the astronomy tower. He sincerely hoped none of them were planning on coming to help.
The wrestling match that ensued was horrendous. Harry clawed, punched, kicked and bit the creature while it tried to do the same to him. When it finally landed a bite it stopped for a moment expecting Harry to start to transform. Instead Harry took the moment to get the upper hand. He rolled them over so that the vampire was on the ground and he was sitting on its stomach.
"Feel that?" he looked into its eyes, "I am a Night Stalker. I kill what is evil. You're bite does nothing to me but it's going to kill you."
"How?" the creature rasped out. It knew it was as good as dead, it could feel it somehow.
"I am a light creature. Light fuels my existence. You can't handle the light and you just sucked in a mouthful of it." He showed his teeth in a feral grin, "I stalk the night; I'm built to destroy the dark."
"I had no quarrel with you. I'm only after Potter." It said.
"Then you do have a quarrel with me. Why are you after Potter?" he asked.
"I was paid to." It said and gasped its final breath.
Once it had expired Harry sat back and noticed the teachers and Madam Pomfrey standing just off to the side. He looked at McGonagall and sent, "I've learned something new about myself."
"What's that?" She voiced.
"My blood is poison to a vampire and I'm not affected by its bite." He sent back, "Second my instincts told me that before I started fighting with it."
"So you didn't rush in blindly." She stated.
"No." he replied.
"What is he saying?" Poppy asked while the other teachers just looked confused.
"He was just letting me know he knew what he was doing and that he didn't just rush in." she stated and the turned to the teachers, "This is the Night Stalker. He is defending the school this year. He speaks directly to the mind of the person he is looking at. If you have any questions about him come to me later. Poppy you need to look him over for injuries."
"Stand back a moment." Harry instructed and when they complied he sent a jet of flame to consume the body. A few of the teachers let out small screams of surprise but that was all that was said.
"I want to observe you overnight." Poppy stated looking at the puncture wound, "I know you think you're fine but I want to make sure."
"I'm not going to turn into a vampire." He stated.
"Obviously, but I want to make sure nothing else happens." She frowned, "Hospital now!"
He sighed and rolled his eyes but followed her none the less. They passed through the front doors to find most of the school standing there waiting. Minerva took that moment to address the group.
"Evidentially someone is not happy with Mr. Potter. Someone paid a vampire to come after him. Luckily we have a protector here to keep the evil away." She indicated the way Harry had gone with Poppy still in his cat form, "Unfortunately he was injured so please stay away from the hospital unless you have a real reason to go."
"Where is Harry?" Ron asked concern evident in his voice.
"Mr. Potter is safe." She smiled, "He had to leave school earlier this evening but he should be back tomorrow sometime."