Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, obviously.

Slytherins secret

AN: Sorry for the delay, on the plus side having reordered events I've half written next week's update. I've tried not to dwell on things we've covered before, let me know what you think of the pacing?

Chapter 9

Harry woke late again the next day and dutifully practiced his meditation for a little while rather than showing that he was awake. He found the breathing exercises were relaxing although he was making little progress on clearing his mind, in fact the exercises were so relaxing that he fell back to sleep until just after eleven

When he woke again he decided it was time to be up and about, after showering, dressing and eating he ran through the normal morning checklist of his health with Madam Pomfrey. He confirmed his continuing good health with the Healer and when asked, she suggested a combination of fine manipulation such as music and a series of exercises including juggling, push-ups and weights to work his injured arm as much as possible. Theoretically when the internal scar tissue tore during exercise the tears in his blood ought to heal it creating normal tissue in its wake, the range of movements caused by those exercises should gradually return his arm's full functionality. Following through with the plan Harry allowed her one bed closer whilst casting before reacting, she was now at the bed next to him and was pleased with the progress of his 'magical allergy'. Following breakfast, he engrossed himself in the borrowed runes text until his friends stopped by.

"Hey guys, how's things? Still enjoying the free week?" Harry asked, looking up and putting his book down as Ron and Hermione entered the wing.

"Alright mate, 'be more fun if you were with us of course, mind you, watching the twins is quite entertaining" Ron snickered evilly.

"The Twins? What have they got to do with anything?" Harry asked bewildered.

Hermione sniffed disapprovingly "Those reprobates are loudly lamenting the fact that they can't prank you, honestly!"

"It's driving them mad mate, you might want to watch your back at the start of next year though, if they can't get you know they will spend half the summer plotting. If you're really lucky they might only charm you every colour of the rainbow and make you dance the waltz to class." Ron sniggered at the mental image and twin's anguish both.

"Thanks for the moral support" Harry countered dryly "did you know they sent me a toilet seat last year, when I touched it the stupid thing hung itself round my neck and started singing dirty rhymes and I couldn't remove it for ages, I can only imagine what they will do with two whole months of uninterrupted plotting!"

"Well mate I feel for you, but I'm not gonna take that bluddger."

"Hey I'm a tragic hero, aren't you supposed to staunchly defend me oh loyal side kick?" Harry grinned and pretended to buff his nails nonchalantly.

"Why you little, I oughta… sidekick my ass!" and Ron jumped on Harry noggying him relentlessly until he took back the sidekick comment and both boys dissolved into laughter at the look on Hermione's face. "In all seriousness though Harry I do owe you, you saved my sister and the Weasleys are indebted to you."

"Ron…I only" Harry began uncomfortably, knowing where this was going.

"Stop, we are INDEBTED to you Heir Potter, your saving of a Weasley when her family could not leaves us so." Ron looked very serious all of a sudden as he formally acknowledged the debt.

"I…" Harry swallowed and glanced at the obviously confused Hermione "I acknowledge the debt between us, can I speak to your Dad when he picks you up?"

"Harry, honestly don't be stupid Ron doesn't owe you anything…." As Hermione ranted on about friendship and stupid boys and their male egos Harry and Ron shared a significant look and Ron mouthed "my Head of House will meet with you on Friday to discuss the debt."

After that, Harry and his friends talked about nothing important for an hour or so before Harry noticed Ron's furtive glances at the sunny day outside and Hermione's obvious book withdrawal symptoms. "Alright, thanks for coming to see me guys, you can let the others know they are welcome to drop by, I'm not fragile, just not allowed magic at the moment."

"Oh it's no trouble Harry, it's just that…."

"You want to go to the library before you lose it for the summer, its ok Hermione. Oh guys, before I forget again, is Hagrid back yet?"

"No…" They both looked surprised to realise that their giant friend was still missing, "oh no Hagrid we need to.." they both began shouting at once.

"Relax, I'll write something formal sounding to the Ministry, get Madam Pomfrey to check it for me then send it, I expect that 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' has enough political clout to get a man free after he was imprisoned without a trial, then proven innocent. Bloody title ought to be useful for something; maybe I can make them give him his wand rights back." Harry smiled remembering Hagrid's dangerous pink umbrella.

"Oh ok Harry, good idea, do you need help?" Hermione asked, clearly torn between her beloved books and her, admittedly justified, belief that her friends did not put quill to parchment without her standing over them holding a beaters bat.

"I don't think so, but if I do I'll ask." As they turned to go Harry had a sudden thought "oh and guys? Can you drop by Myrtle's bathroom and let her know why I haven't been to see her? Tell her she can come and see me so long as she doesn't get to close, explain my magic thingy will you?"

"Not Myrtle" Ron groaned "you really want to be saddled with her?"

"No not really, but... well I promised I'd visit and I haven't, I wouldn't want to face her if I upset her by lying" Harry explained.

"Alright mate, your funeral, see you tomorrow?"

"Sure see ya."

After his friends had left, Harry started work on a letter to Minister Fudge, he gave Madam Pomfrey an outline of what he was up to and then sat with the basic law book he had been using the previous day and began to outline two letters. When he had a rough draft Madam Pomfrey came over to help and they ended up with a letter that was suitably formal but hopefully looked young and spontaneous enough to disguise how much help she had been. The first letter was a little sycophantic, making Harry feel vaguely ashamed, but Madam Pomfrey assured him that Fudge had no sense of subtlety and needed his ego stroked regularly.

Dear Minister Fudge,

My name is Harry Potter and I am currently finishing my second year at Hogwarts where I was recently involved in the solving of the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets. I am writing to you in hopes that you can spare time from your busy schedule to easy my concerns over the fate of a friend of mine. Rubeus Hagrid was incarcerated in the horrific wizarding prison Azkaban over a month ago as a precaution due to the nature of the attacks on the school despite the fact that the student in the past died and recent victims were petrified.

As I am sure you know, since Lucius Malfoy a close personal friend of yours is aware, the Board of Governors has reinstated Headmaster Dumbledore now that the crisis is resolved. The conclusion of the crisis as Lord Malfoy can attest, proved that the victims were attacked as a result of a cursed diary left by a past student Mr T.M. Riddle who was also the instigator of previous attacks. I heard this in his own words from the ghostlike projection of Mr Riddle whist attempting to kill pureblood Ginnevra Weasley, he only ceased his attacks when it became clear that Hogwarts might close and that he would have to return to a Muggle orphanage. He deliberately framed Hagrid, whose ancestry makes him an easy target and was in fact rewarded for the murder he committed.

In light of this, I would like to know where Hagrid is, it is my fervent hope that he has been removed from the Prison but is recuperating before returning to the boisterous school environment, in which case my faith in wizarding Britain is secure. If however, he is still incarcerated I must question the ethics of imprisoning a man on hearsay evidence even after he has been demonstrated to be innocent of all crimes. I'm sure a man of integrity such as yourself will have released Hagrid and returned to him his wand rights which were wrongly taken back in 1942, however if this is not yet the case I hope that my bringing this to your attention will allow you to investigate the plight of my friend.

Gratefully yours

Sincerely

Harry James Potter

(In the name of many concerned students and ex-students)

In addition to this letter he had composed the following, which he would send about an hour latter to the head of the DMLE.

Dear Madam Bones,

I am writing to you due to my concerns over the legal system in Wizarding Britain, in the Muggle world where I was raised, every man has a right to a trial and legal defence before he can be incarcerated in a high security (mentally scaring and often fatal) facility such as Azkaban. Whilst I had previously believed this to be the case in my new world, recent circumstances have led me to believe otherwise and this scares me. My friend Hagrid has been held without trial on no more than circumstantial evidence for over a month because, as Minister Fudge put it 'we have to be seen to be doing something'. Since he has been proven innocent of this and his previous suspected crimes, I would have expected him to return to Hogwarts, but this has not occurred. Please could you investigate this for me? I am very worried about what ,in the Muggle world, would be an illegal attack, since this year I was considered a primary suspect and am terrified that this could happen to me, especially since I have no one to stand for me.

Enclosed is the letter I have sent to Minister Fudge

Sincerely

Harry James Potter

After sending both letters of Harry reluctantly began his summer homework, reasoning that he might as well get it out of the way whilst the additional texts, especially for History of Magic, were available. Unfortunately he realised how little he had learnt whilst under the blocks and so spent most of the afternoon re-reading his History book and taking notes, the last two years had sufficed to teach him little more than good napping skills in that subject. When Madam Pomfrey saw what he was doing she wordlessly slipped a small, well-used book on good essay writing and proper research skills into his ever growing pile, the ISBN number on the back indicating that her familiarity with the Muggle world went well beyond nursing techniques.

That evening, as with the one previous, he made his way to the chamber courtesy of Fawkes only to find Dobby already there, almost vibrating in his eagerness to report back.

"Master Harry, Master Harry, Dobby is doing it, he is finding the reasons for poor master to be living with nasty Muggle relatives!"

"Really Dobby? That was really fast, well done." Harry replied surprised at the speed and successes of his mission.

"Dobby is finding special wards sir, strong wards, walls of love and blood. Wards are protecting master from those with intent to harm, but wards should be a bright and shining thing and they are grim and the foundations are weak." Dobby's ears dropped.

"Am I in danger there?" Harry asked as Salazar asked "He used blood wards elf?"

"No Harry sir, not yets anyway, Yes Mr Slytherin Sir, Dobby is sure, blood linked to love, but currently powered by hate and magic."

The statue sighed "Well then child, Dumbledore wasn't lying there are protections there that could not be raised anywhere else, they will even protect you outside of the obvious boundaries. Those wards are based on a sacrifice of blood, whether willing or unwilling, death being the most powerful, sadly the unwilling aspect makes them dubious wards to raise which, in all probability, is one reason why you were not informed.

Harry grimaced "So Dumbledore was telling the truth, I do have to return there?"

"Yes, but with this knowledge we can determine exactly when you may leave, the conditions you have lived there under are not necessary, in-fact they are making the wards weaker than they would be if there was love in that home, or even mutual understanding. Elf, it is the emotional component that is tainting the wards, correct?"

"Yes Mr Slytherin sir, blood is hating blood, willing sacrifice but unwilling emotion, the magic is confused and it feeds on Maser Harry to make things right."

"So because Aunt Petunia hates me but mum died willingly…."

"Not just your mother child, from Riddle's perspective I have seen that night, your father and their house elf also, had any potters or potter elves survived the wards could have been raised for them, though it must be close relation to the sacrifice, your aunt suffices, but as a non-magical cousins are much weaker, a magical cousin would be fine, but a second cousin would not have the same strength. What worries me is the comment about feeding…"

"Is it draining my magic?"

"An easy way to tell, did you do much accidental magic?"

"Ummmm colour changed a wig, shrank a jumper, grew back hair appeared on a roof and vanished glass, huh that's less than one a year."

"Then yes it was draining you, and probably is when you reside there; in a stressful environment like that you should have had nearly weekly occurrences, especially in your seventh, ninth and eleventh years due to the magical maturation. It might also be draining extra because of the need to deal with that magical fragment, but there is no way for me to know. Did you find any other wards elf?"

"There is being many spells linked to wards, some is reporting on happenings, others is broken, they was linked to something and be breaking recently, they be gone before you is back Master Harry."

"Hummm spells to say if I stay home and if the wards are strong and spells on me that were broken by the basilisk?" Harry mused.

"That seems likely; some of the bindings on you would have needed regular reinforcement."

"So other than the blood wards, nothing? Is that normal?" Harry looked to the statue, then Dobby as he remembered that the elf would have more current knowledge having recently worked at a manor.

Dobby looked pleased to be asked, and, glancing at the statue to be sure he wouldn't be interrupting answered "No not normal, blood is not normal in wards, but nasty masters had old blood at the manor, there is being many types of wards, wards from accidents, fire and pests, wards for magical travel, wards for hiding and wards that does things to peoples trying to get in magic or Muggle, nasty masters had lots of nasty wards"

"So do the blood wards do all of that?"

"No master Harry, wards is supposed to hide master, they is keepings out peoples who means him harm, but they is being damaged to let nasty Muggles into own house so that wards stay up. They couldn't stops accidental harm, or peoples who is controlled, or do anything about what happens inside of the wards."

"I am definitely looking into warding this summer." Harry declared.

"I am afraid it will be a long time before you are able to do much child, especially since most wards require wanded magic."

"That sucks, but I still want to learn it, I need to know about what's protecting me, if I can hire somebody to add more wards next year I need to understand warding beforehand to make sure I get what I pay for."

"A valid point, certainly knowledge is rarely wasted, but we must be careful whom we allow near to you."

"Like with my scar, anyone who knows wards might see something funny about it…."Harry trailed of thinking hard, until Salazar prompted him "Child?" Harry just shushed him with a wave of his hand "shush there's something…. I had a thought to track down, it has been running around my head all afternoon and it keeps getting away from me." He stayed silent for another minute before jumping up and shouting "I've got it!"

"Go on then, what has caused you to be so excited?"

"Something Ron said today, he formally acknowledged that there is a life debt between the Potters and Weasleys because I saved Ginny."

"Alright debts are always useful" Salazar replied slowly, confused by the level of excitement Harry was exhibiting.

"No that's not it, don't you see, it's a family debt, the of age adults must pay back the debt for Ginny since she is so young, it only becomes her debt if it hasn't cleared by the time she is sixteen, which would be considered terrible manners right?"

"Right?"

"Well her mum's a housewife, no help there, her dad works on Muggle stuff with the ministry, he's a little inept, not really much help, her brother Charlie works with dragons, super cool, but not much help. Bill however, Bill is a curse breaker." Harry beamed and sat back proudly.

"Oh and this is relevant how…..oh!" dawning comprehension appeared on the statue's face.

"Exactly" Harry beamed, "we need somebody who knows about evil magic, nasty rituals and curses yes? And we need them to be absolutely trustworthy in case the news is bad, or they use the knowledge on themselves and like Dumbledore with Mrs Figg, anyone subject to a life debt is trustworthy and loyal beyond reason."

"Where does he work, does he even specialise where we need him to?" the statue queried beginning to match Harry's excitement.

"Egypt, I don't know specialities, but he was Head Boy and from what I know, very popular, so he has to be pretty smart and have lots of connections he can get information from. If he needs to learn anything I bet he can do it, and I can help with the money from the Basilisk, I can pay him and buy what he needs, it should represent a small fortune after all."

"This should work child, very well done, an elegant solution! Now, let's discuss the best ways of phrasing your request."

Harry was still bouncing excitedly a half hour later when they had finished their conversation and he had to settle down for meditation. Slytherin was pleased with his progress; he was falling into the breathing rhythms easily after practicing that morning and before bed, so Slytherin suggested he try focusing on a white, featureless room in his mind as the next few days' meditation focus.

A very happy, very tired, Harry fell back into bed at around 2:30 that morning relieved beyond measure that they could start working on the problem of the soul taint sooner rather than later, now that he knew what his scar meant it made him feel physically ill to think about.