Whose Test is This Anyway?
An answer to the writing challenge on Potions & Snitches: Hogwarts Enrollment Test by Jan_AQ
Summary: Before students are accepted to Hogwarts they must be assessed by a teacher or Ministry Official for academic proficiency. Professor Snape is assigned Harry Potter.
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A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.
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Chapter 5 - Battle of Gringotts
**OO**
Severus awoke in a cell, completely different from the ones in the Ministry. Shunting aside that unpleasant memory, he was glad that he was alive.
He had everything taken from him, including his portkey watch and boots. He was nattily arrayed in bright pink; the color of a thief working in their mines.
Going anywhere in this robe in the main caverns would earn him a beating, and being returned to the mines without a trial. Nasty business.
There was no window, or he would transform and fly away.
He meditated, and brought his heart rate down. He was kept alive for a reason. He was alive. He knew wandless magic. He was alive.
He didn't know why he'd been captured like this, but he doubted it was to make him Customer of the Month. This had to be a plot against his son. No, he was alive. His son's enemies would regret this because even without his wand, he could fight.
Calm.
**OO**
Harry stayed with Quartermain while Tonks ambled into the bank. She had perfectly blonde hair, and slightly pointed ears. But her posture made her look ancient, and the wooden pike she had grabbed at Hogwarts was now transfigured into a cane.
It gave her a wandless weapon, something the professor had agreed to completely.
Once she was in line, Harry ran in, trying to look scared. Not hard to do since he felt scared. He hadn't bothered to change either.
Running up to the first teller, Harry spoke loudly, "Please! Help me! My guardian's been kidnapped!"
The teller pressed a button, but Harry saw from the corner of his eye BloodRage come in and back away. Smart goblin!
A goblin Harry didn't know showed up to collect him. "Come with me, Mr Potter,"
"How do I know you haven't killed him?" Harry demanded, causing the people around him to gasp.
"Gringotts did not kidnap your guardian, Mr Potter. Now, the negotiation room is nearby. If you will follow me."
Harry's hair was standing up on the back of his neck.
"How do I know this isn't a trap for you to kill me and…"
Tonks, in disguise, was right there. "I don't know who you are, goblin, but the boy is clearly in trouble. Let me go with him. Althea Gladrags, yes of those Gladrags."
The goblin was annoyed, but clearly saw no danger in allowing her to come.
"Fine! We are late, and keeping important people waiting." The goblin led the way. Harry was impressed as Quartermain swept alongside, unseen by others. When they got to the conference room, the door opened, but Harry hesitated. Inside were three goblins, none of which he knew, and none he would trust.
There was no swish of cloak to betray the man entering.
The goblin seated facing the door introduced himself. "I am the Prince Account Manager, Skeelez."
"Skeelez! I might have known you were behind this. You get annoyed at me, at us, and you kidnap my guardian? Where is he? Where is Severus Snape?!"
Harry felt a warm hand on his back. He remembered the hat said that he was Godric's descendent as well, and could have worn the red and gold if he'd requested it.
"The boy is worried. Worried about his parent." Tonks explained.
"Mr Snape is fine. He was found guilty of stealing something that didn't belong to him from a vault. He can pay it off working in the mines, or you can pay the fine. You know the price." Skeelez spat.
"I pay it, and he walks out of here, safe and sound?" Harry asked.
The goblin next to him appeared to be nervous. "Skeelez? Don't you want to say the oath? Let the child get back to school. He's doubtlessly been noticed missing by now."
Skeelez pulled his axe, and Harry and Tonks lost their escort as he beat a quick retreat. The goblin on his right turned to face Skeelez with a calm demeanor. "You know the laws of the Nation. Stop playing the idiot!"
Harry gave the goblins a look, "You want ten thousand galleons for my guardian? Fine. I want a vow he's whole and safe. Half now, half on his safe delivery and I want a receipt."
"But surely, you need to make a trip to your vault, Mr Potter?" The still unnamed goblin standing on Skeelez' left practically begged.
"No. I don't." Harry plunked down five bags. They had 1,000 galleons in each, and were sealed with Ragnok's seal.
It meant that a counter goblin had counted them before magically sealing them.
"Really? Are you sure you don't need to visit your vault?" Skeelez let his off hand stroke his axe as though getting ready to play a guitar. Tonks rolled her eyes at the gesture.
"You have someone I want. Bring him now! Bring him now, or I won't summon my servant with the rest of the gold. I may be a child, but I am not foolish enough to fall into a trap." Harry was most firm, and his stance radiated confidence.
"You need to come with us to collect him!" The other goblin stated.
Harry folded his arms. "No. I have the gold, and I know the procedure. Bring the hostage here, or I go to Ragnok for Arbitration."
"You can't! You have to be a…"
"Heir? Did you forget the House of Potter? What about the House of Prince? And I am a member in good standing of House Black and could be the Heir of that one too. I have thirty people who saw me come in at a minimum. Now:
"Where's. My. Father?!" Harry demanded, magical power streaming around him like a cloak.
Skeelez gave a signal, and gas filled the room quickly. It didn't affect the goblins, but knocked out the humans.
Allan Quartermain fell quietly, his runes keeping himself hidden, along with Harry's cloak. But Tonks and Harry were quickly taken captive.
The troops that BloodRage rallied arrived to an empty room, the paralyzing mists dissipating.
An awakening Quartermain took a chance, "Are you for or against Harry Potter?" Came the disembodied voice.
Looking around, "I would kill to keep that lad safe." BloodRage promised.
Whipping off the cloak, and showing himself unarmed, Quartermain stated, "He and Miss Tonks have been kidnapped out of a goblin negotiation. Whatever is going on is big. Very big. And they made a mistake in terms of your people. They accepted the downpayment of the ransom. Five thousand galleons had been delivered just before they were attacked." Quartermain informed them.
The goblins spread out, but the old curse-breaker had a suspicion based on what Bill Weasley had shared with him.
"Your Dark Arts Chamber. Don't lie and say you don't have one! We need to get there now!"
BloodRage wasn't happy that a human knew goblin secrets. But this wizard was old and would probably die in this battle. He likely wouldn't have that secret long.
**OO**
Severus Snape was positioned in front of a large cauldron. Lucius Malfoy might wear the mask that hid his identity from others, but Severus had memorized the different patterns.
Not that his hair wasn't a dead giveaway.
He knew everyone attending here. It was a dangerous crowd.
"How…touching. My son told me of the closeness you had with the Boy-Who-Lived." Lucius drawled. "How bonded the two of you were. I couldn't believe it. And now, he risks part of what has to be a limited fortune to free you. He clearly has feelings for you as well.
"Tell me, Severus. Just who was the boy's father? You? Or James? Well, at least the creature who bore him is safely dead. Our master tasked me with killing her the minute she was in public. Oh yes, he planned to keep his promise to you, and not kill her that night. Let you have your triumph for a time. But then I was to dispose of the rubbish. We couldn't let her ruin our Master's goals."
Severus had been unable to escape his cell. At least for the ceremony, they allowed him to don his old Death Eater robes. Were they blind? He had no dark mark.
"We are going to return our Master to life. Quirrell followed that oaf Hagrid to Gringotts. The giant was sent to collect a Philosopher's Stone. It never left Gringotts. Now, it will be used to restore our Master to life. It just needs a host for a time, a blood sacrifice.
"We were going to use you, Severus, but then we had a better idea. Harry Potter. Who knows? Perhaps with luck, he will still look like himself, and you can help raise the Dark Lord. Give him a warm and loving home. Hah! Even make him your Heir. I think the irony delicious. Our King made Heir Prince."
All of the Death Eaters around the bier chuckled darkly.
Harry was then floated in, unconscious but alive. The Death Eaters stepped back to make room. Skeelez saw him to the head of the stone table, and laid the stolen stone on his forehead.
"You promised me, Wizard! I delivered, and I expect to be well paid."
"Watch your tone with me, goblin! You'll get your gold. Take the boy's key, and you can have everything from his vault." Malfoy spat. "Goblin law supports me.
"That wasn't the plan! You know as well as I, only a Potter can get into that ancient vault. Sirius Black is the only other living member of House Potter." Skeelez countered.
"WHAT? No! Well, we'll deal with that problem later. We're on a schedule, and…"
One of the Death Eaters suddenly collapsed, clutching at his throat, blood seeping through his fingers. Another went down, clutching his groin.
**OO**
A few minutes earlier…
Tonks had been abandoned outside the room, left to be another dark sacrifice. That allowed Jam to act and give her aid.
"We have to get Harry out of there!" Tonks whispered.
"Jam can give Master Harry potion inside him. Be awake, but pretend to sleep. Him not tied down."
Jam didn't want Harry to be a sacrifice on that table anymore than Tonks did.
They made a plan, and the future auror, no longer clumsy, burst into action. So what if she used her wand later, for now, she was sticking to playing the pike.
While Tonks' motions distracted people, Allan Quartermain freed Severus.
"Nice party, shall we find a partner to dance with?" The elderly wizard's voice whispered in his ear.
Snape's nod was barely perceptible, but one of Allan's spare wands was in his right hand, a spare dagger in his left. Then there was a blur of motion.
Snape held a dagger to Malfoy's throat, a wand to his ear.
"Lucius, I told the new crop of Snakes the world was changing. To be clever meant to find a way for victory that allowed their Houses to thrive in the coming world. Your actions are contrary to what is best for House Malfoy."
Goyle tried to cast at Snape, a blasting hex that was shielded by Lucius' own body. The horrified wizard had no chance to shield against the spell coming at him, cast not by Snape but Thaddeus Nott.
"Traitors! There are traitors amongst us!" Lord Nott shouted in the confusion.
Harry had no education in battle, and Tonks grabbed his hand. He grabbed the red stone before it slid down his face.
"Get out of here! Find Goldrub or someone you trust! Don't use your wand - now go!" Tonks commanded in an urgent whisper in his ear.
Harry thrust his extra dagger into Tonks' hand and sprinted out the door. He changed his facial appearance without his wand, and finally got the ears to change.
Nothing like the circumstances to aid him.
**OO**
BloodRage had seen he needed extra troops, but had led Quartermain to this secret chamber. Now, he was heading back as quickly as possible, but there were other goblins gathered.
Suddenly a goblin child was there, crying for Father.
"Da! Humans! Casting at one another in that ugly chamber I'm not allowed to go to! We need to call out the guards!"
The goblins around them should have recognized BloodRage and known that he and his mate had not blessed Spurnik with a grandchild yet. Worse, due to the day robe the child was wearing, though male, the child appeared to be female.
Wizards had endangered a female goblin in their own caverns? This sacrilege would not stand!
No one questioned that the child had spoken English.
Goblins put aside any petty differences and together headed to the site of the ancient rite of darkest magic. Harry just hoped that Severus and Tonks were going to be alright.
**OO**
Skeelez had knocked Tonks unconscious, and kicked her under the table. Knowing House Black as he did, he was not killing a witch of that House, no matter what. And she had not used her wand.
Severus was dodging around, and Quartermain, seeing Tonks' situation, had covered her with the Potter family cloak, and called for Clotted Cream. No Lemon Curd. Drat. He needed to pay more attention to the House-elf names around him.
Neither wizard knew that Jam had come, and collected Tonks, but couldn't collect Harry due to him being surrounded by goblins.
Severus and Quartermain were fighting back to back, and losing.
Then the goblin troops came in. Seeing that they were attacking Death Eaters, had Severus cast a strong 'notice-me-not' on his companion and himself. And together, they walked around the edge of the room towards the only visible exit.
Then the goblin king was at the door and called "HOLD! LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS OR DIE!"
Very reluctantly, everyone dropped wand or axe in hand. No one was more surprised than Ragnok to see what appeared to be a goblin child run the short distance to the wizard standing near the door.
"Severus! You're alive! You're alive!" the lad shouted.
Quartermain saw the spell being cast before anyone else, and tried to cast a wandless shield to protect him. But he was tired, and his efforts had merely pushed the boy away. He went down getting hit by the curse himself.
BloodRage's axe took Lucius' head in a swing of beauty that Sir Nicholas would have preferred to have for his execution.
It was the very last blow struck for the Death Eaters of Lord Voldemort.
The Hour for the resurrection ritual passed; the potion curdled. The half-dead body of Quirrinius Quirrell melted into the mess in the bottom of the cauldron. The journey towards death was final for both of them. The last small bit of the Dark Lord was released. It tried to possess Harry Potter, and save itself. But Severus was there holding the crying boy.
"NO! You are nothing, Tom Riddle! Nothing to me, you can't hurt me. My mother loves me. My father loves me!" Harry shouted bravely, loud enough to shake the stalactites above them.
Love! That word! It was poison to the Spirit, and he could find no refuge from the storm of his own making.
Quartermain, though weakened from the battle, held forth a goblin crystal from the ground, and captured the spirit with an ancient African spell.
It was over. Severus asked permission to use his wand to check on his associate, but Healer Brightblade was already pushing her way in, and had brought friends.
"Ugh. You again. Allan Quartermain? How long are you going to haunt Hogwarts?"
"Only the next five years or so. My wives and I had a little spat. By the time I get back, they should be ready to make up. That, and I will have taught Harry all I can."
"More than one mate? You wizards are strange people." BrightBlade announced.
Harry waited until the healer was done with the old wizard. "I thought. I was so worried…I was afraid you were dead, sir."
Severus chucked. "Legend says that he can only die in Africa after he finishes his work. He may just have found at least a part of the beginning of it."
Allan nodded. Tonks came in, injured but alive.
"I saw you fight, young lady. And without a wand. You are a credit to your House. A formidable witch." Quartermain complemented.
Tonks blushed, "Us 'Puffs aren't known for our fighting abilities, generally. I didn't do much. I was worried about Harry, he was worried about Severus. Severus was worried about the Dark Lord returning, and everything else. Altogether? I think we did pretty well."
Harry bumped her lightly with his elbow, "He meant House Black, Sis."
"But where did your daughter go, BloodRage? Please tell me wizards didn't kill her?" Ragnok demanded worriedly.
"That was not my daughter, sire. No, a child from a different clan who adores me and wishes I were the father."
"In your dreams." Harry stated under his breath. "Are we in trouble? I wanted to go to you, Sire, for Arbitration."
The goblin king was using his hands to command while he answered the child, "Your group is not in any trouble in the least. It appears that someone was promised the kingship in exchange for certain help. We'll clean house. The penalties for using a wand in Gringotts will keep these dark mark bearing wizards here a long time. The fine is ten thousand galleons. A normal fee. However, the Ministry will find out the fine is per spell cast."
Guards were taking custody of living rebels of both the goblin and wizard variety. Unsurprisingly, they were all blaming each other for the failure of the plan.
Harry tossed the red stone from one hand to another in relief. Ragnok nearly fell down when he saw it.
"Child! Do you know what you are doing?" the goblin king asked.
"Umm, tossing a ruby around? I guess that might not be wise. I'm sorry, sire. Here. You can have it, I guess. Unless it was stolen. Then I should find out who to return it to." Harry stated all in a rush.
Quartermain, merely winged by a dying Malfoy was back with them, "Nicholas Flamel, my friend. We'll ask Fawkes to take it to him. King Ragnok, the boy didn't bring it here; one of your people put it on his forehead. It wouldn't have worked though. Oh, maybe to make a bit of gold or gems, but the elixir will only work for the creator."
Ragnok promised to summon them to follow up, but for right now, he wanted all of his 'unexpected' guests out of these caverns.
Escorted by guards front and back, the now healed and reinvigorated group headed towards the bank's front doors.
Harry proved the Hat put him in the right House when he looked to Severus. "The gauntlet on the third floor. The clues about the break-in. The Headmaster wanted me to protect the stone?"
Severus circled his arm around the boy's shoulder and pulled him close, "Indeed. And you did. And stopped him from getting a body. And captured him."
"Not me! Us! We needed all of us to win."
Quartermain chuckled quietly to Severus, "The Power He Knew Not? Love and Friendship?"
"Dumbledore always insisted it was love, just not in this way. You do know Albus won't believe it's true." Severus insisted.
"Won't believe what is true? Tonks asked. They were almost at the entrance. She wanted to go to the cottage, shower and change before returning to school. Or maybe her parents' house, in case news had gotten out.
"That Voldemort is vanquished." Severus stated, saying the name for the first time. "He is really gone."
Harry looked around. "This feels weird. For some reason, I thought he'd be coming after me at the end of the school year for the next several years. Nice of him to let me get this out of the way. You know? So I can just go to school?"
The group laughed while heading to the private floos. Harry's money was found quickly and was sent to him while he was still at home cleaning up and getting ready to return to Hogwarts.
Fawkes came looking for him, and instead of taking just the stone back to the Flamels, took them all to visit the famous couple and explain about what happened.
With the return of the stone let to Albus, they fetched the leftover piece of a previous one to give to Harry as a reward with the understanding it would be shared with all his team.
Then, the phoenix took them back to the headmaster's office. The Hat greeted them all warmly, but gently chided Harry.
"The next time you go on an adventure, lad, you need to take me along! You never know what I keep under my bonnet."
Harry nodded, apologized, and avoided the Headmaster's angry gaze.
"I should be calling your guardians and talking to you very sternly, Harry, my boy! Perhaps I should."
Harry wrote the names down, and floo addresses. He winked at Severus and Tonks. Two of them were here already. "Please do. I did nothing wrong. I am very hungry though. House-elves of Hogwarts? What does a student need to do to get something to eat?"
Thirty elves popped in. Some with tea, some with scones. Some had sandwiches and others fruit. No two elves had the same things. Harry made a plate, taking one of everything, on a plate that started normal size and kept getting bigger as he added things. He finally took his huge platter over to a comfy sofa that hadn't been there a minute before and sat down. The elves then served Tonks and the other adults. Tonks sat down on one side of him with her own food, while Severus took the other.
While Harry politely nibbled, Dumbledore looked at the formidable list of people that did not include Petunia Dursley, but did include both Severus, Sirius, and worse, Andromeda of House Black!
Then, the door of his private office flew open. "Albus Dumbledore! Where are my godson and cousin? I just received a summons that they are in deadly danger. What are you doing about it? You have some explaining to do!"
Tonks and Harry waved, dribbling crumbs, but quickly stood, setting aside the food to greet Padfoot.
Harry greeted his godfather, "Hi Sirius! The lemon scones are particularly nice, but turn to something an ugly brown when placed on Dumbledore's desk for some reason. Would you like to hear an interesting adventure story?"
Sirius nearly melted in relief to see that Harry and Tonks were safe, and the animagus couldn't help himself.
He hugged the witch first, then the boy, which Harry returned with interest. It was nice to be worried about. The wizard had traveled all this way just to check on them. How great was that?
"As touching as it is to see this family reunion, I do believe that we need to give information to Dumbledore. Information regarding the final solution of the Riddle problem. Or rather the dissolution of Tom Marvolo Riddle." Severus intoned.
The door yet again slammed open. No matter how many times Albus tapped the locking rune for his office door, it wouldn't engage!
Quartermain, now clothed in clean, untorn robes shouted, "Dumbledore! You must come! There's an evil wizard at the gate! He's claiming that he's here to challenge you and calls himself the Master of Death!"
Dumbledore got up, swearing under his breath about the loss of some stick. He headed for the front gate, neither wanting nor inviting the group that followed him. There, for a moment, was a tall, bald wizard in a tall-collared robe that eerily floated around him in the dead still air.
He bore a mark on his forehead that contained a circle around a triangle that was bisected vertically by a crossbar. Albus knew that mark, but before anyone could say anything, the wizard disappeared.
"No!" Dumbledore shouted. He whirled on Tonks.
"My wand! The wand you took from me! Where did it go?" Dumbledore demanded.
"I lost it in the battle against the Death Eaters. They were trying to bring back You-Know-Who. We stopped them and then…"
Rudely interrupting, he turned on the youngest there, "Harry! You must answer me! Where is the cloak?"
Quartermain interjected, "That's my fault, Albus. Harry let me borrow it to hide. I'm afraid when I was nearly killed, it too went missing. I'm so very sorry Harry."
"It's alright, Professor Quartermain. From what I've read, invisibility cloaks don't last that long. If it was my father's, it would be useless soon anyway." Harry patted his arm.
Albus grabbed Severus. "The ring! What happened to the ring?"
Severus shook the man off, but gladly shared the truth. "The ring was tainted with a soul-shard from the Dark Lord. The taint was removed. We cleansed it. The goblins took it in payment for the cleansing. I don't know what happened to it after that. They might have sold it, I guess. Or melted it down."
"NO!" Dumbledore was absolutely panicked now.
Quartermain crowed, "You would have been so proud of Harry, Dumbledore. The Dark Lord's last fragment of soul tried to possess him, but Harry told him that his mother, and new father loved him, and he melted away! If I ever have need of gold, I could sell that memory for thousands! Every household in Britain would want to know how Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort for the last time, don't you think?"
Harry shook his head, "Everyone already thinks he's gone, Professor Quartermain. Don't panic anyone, and please. No more fame. Trying to get people to accept me just as me is hard enough. I just want to read, and study and go to school."
Albus had a choice to make. He could accuse Harry Potter right here and now of harboring the Dark Lord, something that he knew wasn't true, or let Harry have his victory. The child didn't want the fame, and if word did sneak out, well. Here was Dumbledore teaching the child everything he knew.
There were other dark lords to defeat. The Master of Death? Oh dear. This would be harder to defeat than Gellert, but for totally different reasons.
They had wanted to become masters of the Hallows themselves. If Albus won, he would become the Master of Death.
Still lost in his own plots, they all returned to the castle, only to find Professor Umbridge in a snit. She had been told repeatedly that Harry Potter would not be attending any of her detentions, and that the Headmaster would see he was properly punished.
Now, the child was seen in the company of said Headmaster and several other professors, clearly being pampered rather than punished.
"Well? Have you dealt with him yet?" The potions teacher demanded.
Severus groaned. All he wanted was supper, a long soak, and an early bed. What was that potion that needed muggle toads as an ingredient?
**OO**
Dumbledore's attitude towards Harry was very much improved in a twinkling. "Dolores, my dear girl, I have no idea what you are talking about. Harry has been with me. Why would you think he did something?"
Tonks took a step up, "Why would Harry have detention?" just as Severus demanded, "Oh? What do you think the boy did wrong?"
The pair of them, their strong magic, nasty half-blood magic, nearly bowled her over.
"She said I was disrespectful. I don't know what she has in mind for detention. I was hoping that I could clean cauldrons or something for you, Professor Snape." Harry stated.
He'd read a story about helpful brownies putting valuables in wooden shoes, helping poor families. Harry wanted to do something similar with the bit of Sorcerer's Stone that M Flamel gave him in France.
Dumbledore projected concern, "Dolores, why don't you and I retire to my office. I have a pensieve, and you can show me the entire incident. Until then, these people are dismissed."
Severus put his hand on Harry's shoulder, "Come, Heir Prince. You are tired, and need a proper meal. Miss Tonks, Professor Quartermain, you are welcome to join us."
The group trooped down to Severus' quarters to enjoy a late dinner. None of them said much about the Master of Death just in case Dumbledore had managed to listen in.
After a quiet dinner, Harry hugged Quartermain when he was on his way out. "Thank you. You saved my guardian, my life, and were just brilliant. Thank you."
The man, his grey goatee twitching, nodded.
He'd never had a child of his own body. He and his wives had raised a half-dozen or so orphans, but they went their own way after a time.
Allan wanted to warn Severus of the pain involved in the process of being a parent, but couldn't.
Life wasn't about reducing pain, but accepting it was a part of the birthing process to the next level.
The adventurer, champion, curse-breaker and protector returned to his rooms, ready for a long soak and an early night.
**OO**
Sunday morning saw Harry meeting Hermione at the new potions lab. The one he had asked Severus for. The one secretly built and staffed with Minerva's approval so students had a place to practice potion-making.
Under a watchful eye that was not Severus Snape!
They'd kept this place a secret so far, but Harry just had to tell his closest friends, as everyone was very concerned about passing their exams.
Tonks showed up near lunch time in a panic. She grabbed Harry's outer robes that he'd discarded, and lost a foot of height, and changed her hair blonde. She rather looked like Daphne Greengrass' older sister with a cute button nose and vivid blue eyes.
The door banged open so hard it hit the stone wall. The tall thin man monitoring their progress gave the woman a glare. "What are you doing there? There are potions in progress! What if you had startled someone?"
Tonks had grabbed one of the white aprons and goggles, Hermione making room at her station for the metamorphmagus.
"What is going on here? This is insane! You are all in trouble! Stop what you are doing and come with me! You, Potter! I'd wager you're responsible for this." Umbridge shouted.
"Yes ma'am. I am. And I'm willing to take the punishment for it too." Harry stood.
The muggleborn man had finished his mastery in Australia with Snape's help, and was happy to return home for this job. One he was enjoying. He directed some of the students there to continue their brews. Some of them were dangerous to just abandon, and he knew it and was vocal about it.
"Unless you want to be responsible for the destruction of this part of Hogwarts, you'll let these people be! They aren't doing anything wrong!" The wizard shouted.
"I'll leave the rest of these students to finish up their illicit activities. With me, Potter!" Umbridge demanded.
The real Daphne spoke up, cutting Hermione off from what she was about to say, "Professor Snape won't like you taking Heir Prince away like that."
"Heir Prince? Heir Potter? There are laws being enacted as we speak that would prevent such insanity. No half-bloods will be allowed to sit in a Wizengamot seat."
Harry really didn't make friends with the toad when he asked as sweetly as he could, "But Madam Umbridge? I thought you wanted a Wizengamot seat one day. It shouldn't matter if your parents were squibs or muggles or whatever. What matters is you are magical."
The woman grabbed Harry by the arm, and started to drag him towards her office. When the potion master monitoring the room objected, she cast something that had him clutching his face.
Tonks dithered for only a moment.
"Hermione, call for Jam, and tell him what's going on. Send him to Snape. Now!"
Tonks went running on swift, sure feet after Harry.
Hermione looked at Daphne. "What? I'm wanting to help, but why I am ordering jam? Is it at tea?"
Daphne didn't laugh but called for the elf in question, and relayed Tonks' orders, adding some of her own. "Get help for the potions monitor after that please!
The older students there were administering aid, but Neville's cauldron would have blown up if Millie hadn't noticed and helped out.
Students were finishing up brews, and leaving everything right there in order to run for help. Hermione herself had gone for Professor McGonagall.
What a mess!
**OO**
Harry had a potion of invisibility, a potion that simulated the confundus charm, and many other little draughts available to him for tossing, dropping or quaffing.
All he did was allow himself to be dragged into their enemy's lair.
"Now! No more! You are going to sit at this table, and tell me the truth about what happened yesterday in Gringotts. They are suppressing the paper this morning, but several people went to Saint Mungos last night feeling ill. What did you do? I know you had something to do with it!"
Harry was ecstatic to hear that more than just the Death Eaters at Gringotts had been killed when the last bit of Dark Lord was taken out.
"The wizard, some called Voldemort, who was really Tom Riddle, was completely killed off. Certifiably dead. Apparently, that Dark Mark drained his followers. Well, you can't blame me for it. There's been a ritual for years available to those who admitted they made a mistake. Most didn't, and now, their vicious master drained them.
"Sadly, as a consequence of those peoples' life force being drained to the point of death, there's more children like me. People who the Dark Lord left orphaned. It's awful, terrible. But the difference between Draco Malfoy and myself is that my parents fought him. They did not choose to serve him or be enslaved to him. And it was a free-will choice."
"Where's the gold? The gold he had? If you won, you defeated him, then it's all yours. And all of those family rings will be yours too! I want the Rosier rings!"
"You think I stayed around to loot bodies? Gah! That's gross! I don't know where all the gold is. But I do know who the Rosier heiress is. And it isn't you!"
"Crucio! You will tell me!" Umbridge looked completely demented.
Harry fell to the ground, shrieking in pain when suddenly the spell stopped. Harry had neither seen nor heard anyone come in, but one minute, the toad woman was casting.
The next, her wand was on the ground, along with her hand.
BloodRage took the antidote and appeared. Tonks was right next to him, trying to control nausea.
"I was sent to find you by Ragnok when you didn't answer your letter from last night. I think someone has been messing with you again, my young friend. A new mail ward. Then, I was invited to this nice party by your cousin. Or is she your sister? Wizarding family trees confuse me, as sometimes one's father is also his brother. At least of the sort that died last night."
Very much in shock, Umbridge turned to the goblin, "I'll have you killed, slowly and painfully in front of me for…"
No one saw or heard who finished her off. One moment, she was spewing garbage, the next, her entrails. For a second, they thought they might have seen what appeared to be an ice dagger, but it was quickly gone as well. No trace was left.
Tonks then lost her lunch while Harry was utterly fascinated. "Hey! D…d...do you th…th..think that any of this would work in a potion? Not that she's that powerful."
Harry was stuttering from the after effects of the spell. Severus showed up at the door just then, Dumbledore on his heels. Severus looked ready to raise the dead just to kill her again, but settled for sending Jam for an anti-cruciatus potion. He'd made a batch recently, just in case there was backlash from Lucius and previous associates.
"What is a goblin doing in the castle?" The headmaster demanded, horrified at the blood on the floor.
Tonks answered, wiping her mouth "Teaching Charms? Oh, you meant this goblin. He rescued Harry from being tortured by the potions teacher. She's very mean. Gosh, Headmaster. I wonder what the press will think."
Tonks then picked up Umbridge's wand, and cast the priori incantatem spell on it. That's when she hit the emergency summons for Moody again.
BloodRage wasn't apologizing, and the blood on his axe and armor appeared fresh. He was in a staring contest with Dumbledore, and would have stood there all day if Tonks hadn't said the magic word. 'Press'.
"No, no! Madam Umbridge has decided that teaching is not for her. She's merely injured, not dead. The elves will take care of the mess, while Madam Pomfrey takes care of the injured witch. Using that spell! I'll see you all in my office to discuss this after dinner. In the meantime, I have a potions teacher to hire."
He turned to the dead woman on the floor, "I'm sorry Dolores, but I can't allow such spells to be used on any student, even if they deserved it. You are dismissed. Please do not ask for a reference."
The man cast a spell that returned her outsides back to insides, then cast a strong notice-me-not on Umbridge, and levitated her to the infirmary.
BloodRage looked at Harry. "He does know that if an injured enemy ceases to bleed, then he's dead. Or in this case, it's dead?"
Harry shrugged, "I don't know what to say. But is the mail ward really back? I thought the Gringotts post boxes negated most of that."
"Oh? Perhaps I was mistaken. Or mis-spoke." BloodRage winked at the lad.
"But you certainly didn't miss your stroke! That was wicked!" Harry's eyes gleamed in appreciation.
Tonks glared at them both.
"Ignore her, she's always annoyed with me lately. I think it has something to do with a boyfriend. Something I am not thinking about!" Harry averred.
The goblin laughed. As soon as he had administered the anti-cruciatus to Harry, Severus had been helping the elves return the woman's office to normal.
Tonks had been sipping nausea potion while watching over Harry. Something that BloodRage noted but said nothing about.
**OO**
BloodRage later stopped by Flitwick's office to share a small toast, before he returned to the bank.
It was only after dinner that Moody showed up. Something had interfered with the emergency summons Tonks sent to him. The group decided together to stay at Severus' quarters. They didn't go to Dumbledore's office to drink the forgetfulness draught. Instead, the headmaster slept very well that night, thinking that none of them remembered anything.
In point of fact, the Headmaster remembered everything, and a few things that didn't happen: like dosing them all with forgetfulness and seeing the Master of Death from a distance again.
The students were soothed. Professor Andromeda Tonks was welcomed after a professor was 'dismissed for cause', and Hogwarts started the second week of class with no more hiccups.
Harry noticed that nothing yet had been said about Lucius Malfoy or any of the other Death Eaters who died trying to revive Voldy. He thought it very odd. Oh sure, there were rumors going around, but nothing was in the paper, no announcements from Dumbledore or anything else. In fact, if the third floor corridor hadn't been cleaned out, Harry would wonder if it had been a very bad complex dream. Or nightmare.
But it was; cleaned out that is. Hagrid got his doggie back, the giant chess set was put into the student's courtyard, though Professor McGonagall had to reengage the safety system upon its move. Somehow it had been turned off. It might have hurt a student! Severus sent Jam for some gold and had his advanced students pickling some weird plant. Deviled snare? Something.
No, it wasn't until Tuesday morning that chaos broke loose. The Daily Prophet still hadn't said anything, but black letters had arrived with the parliament of Gringotts liveried owls.
The Ministry had no control of the goblins. The time, seventy two hours, they gave Fudge was up, and there was nothing else to do. Heirs had to be informed. Forty eight people had died in just a few hours. Dolores Umbridge would be counted among them when she didn't show up at the Ministry.
All of the prisoners of Azkaban that had a Dark Mark were dead. A stowaway on a freighter on its way to China with a finger missing was dead. All of the injured Death Eaters in the cells or the ones working in the mines were all expired.
Tom Riddle had tried to extend his life with their lifeforce. There were three wizards and two witches who had undergone the ritual and lived when the rest of their former companions had not.
Every single one of the rescued former slaves made a donation to Healer BrightBlade's team. Of course, they didn't call it charity. They called it 'paying a debt of honor' or 'gratuity'.
That night in Slytherin, Severus cleared out the common room and had a special meeting with Draco Malfoy, Theo Nott, Marcus Flint, and several other students. All Houses were hit with at least one loss; Cormac McLaggen of Gryffindor lost his father, but not his mother. That surprised him, as he knew she had been marked.
Her letter telling him to watch over Harry Potter and keep him safe at first angered him. Wasn't it his fault his father had perished? But instead, he just kept his distance, and protected Potter from one person he knew wanted to kill him.
Himself.
Draco Malfoy, who had tried to have neutral interactions with Potter, and just keep a low profile, saw Potter heading to his room.
Harry wasn't entitled here - all Slytherins had their own room. Back in the day, it cut down on the death rate in school.
As Potter passed, Draco struck out unexpectedly and punched him. Well, that had been his intention. What he actually struck was wall, and Harry was further down the corridor than Malfoy saw.
The castle did not appreciate being punched and broke Draco's hand in retaliation. What could anyone do? Give it detention? Dock a few points?
While Draco was sent off to the matron, wailing about stupid Potters and stupid castles and everyone being against him, Harry just smiled.
The potion that created a double had worked perfectly, and imitated Harry's motions exactly. He'd report back to Tonks about it.
**OO**
Narcissa Malfoy looked at the newspaper, and her recently cleansed arm. If she had delayed any longer, she too would have been dead.
Draco had asked her in the past if she served the Dark Lord. She didn't know how to answer that. She had been in the pursuit of power and saw aligning herself with the Dark Lord the fastest way to that goal. To gain ultimate power over muggles. She never approved of the killing of purebloods or even muggleborns, but certainly wanted to be one of the rulers of society.
Not a branded cow, a part of the herd of 'breeders' of the next generation. That is how she had been treated. A no-brained hostess whose duties were to feed and water the stormtroopers, produce the next generation of soldiers and be seen and not heard.
She had loathed every minute of the Dark Lord's actual presence. His stench was still lingering in the manor as it had lingered upon her husband. At least they had not shared a bed in some years. He hadn't noticed the lack of the ugly tattoo. She didn't know how he would have reacted.
He'd been in no rush to have his own removed. Clearly, he was still devoted to his belief in the Dark Lord and had died for it.
If she had not done this ritual, certain that she was feeling sick and drained the last few months, then she too would be dead.
She had no desire to plan or host a fancy memorial for Lucius. She didn't want to waste a single knut. But she had to come up with a plan for Draco's regency that allowed her more than her widow's pittance. She had a half-dozen years.
Lady Malfoy, no. Dowager Malfoy must be seen as the grieving widow, helping at Saint Mungos, sending little treats to Draco. That reminded her.
"Dobby? Dobby! Are you done with Grimmauld Place yet? I am going to try and sell it for Draco, and it must be in pristine shape."
"No, mistress. But place much better." Dobby himself was feeling better with Master Lucius dead. All of the Malfoy elves had celebrated that event. He'd be sure to mention to Lord Black about his 'wonderful mistresses' plans with the house that were sure to make hims happy!' Not. It was still owned by House Black, even if Draco had a good copy of the deed.
"Make Draco's favorite treats, then come here when you are done. I'm going to write him a letter. My poor little dragon."
Putting quill to parchment, she wrote the expected letter.
She didn't really have that strong of a maternal feeling for the boy, but society would judge her if she didn't act in a certain way. She added a note to ask if he wanted to come home for a time
She hoped not. The boy might attend the Will Reading and find out that Narcissa had little gold of her own. That was not to be tolerated. Better to act as Regent, keeping him in the dark as much as possible. That would give her enough gold for the next step.
She would need a new husband, a wealthy one, but who could she tolerate? No one came to mind. Perhaps she could move abroad. Yes. She was still young, still beautiful. With even a modest dowry, she should be able to lure a wizard to her.
Narcissa went back to her letter, using the last of her reserves to write it. She then took herself off to bed.
The goblins who had helped her with her ritual wondered how the Dark Mark had stayed with her so long as she was never really pledged to Riddle.
The only person the lady was dedicated to was one Narcissa Malfoy.
**OO**
Never had Dumbledore chafed at his confinement to the castle more. And no matter the plea for help sent to Cornelius, Augusta or anyone else, the answer was of course he had a choice. He could come to the Ministry.
For a minute.
Then he would receive a ticket –free mind you– to the sub-arctic paradise that was Azkaban.
Sometimes, Albus didn't like Alastor Moody. But considering what Alastor found out on his last trip up to the Hog's Head, he didn't much care.
A dark lord was seen around Hogwarts, and Albus hadn't called in the Black Watch, or the aurors, or even Hagrid's niffler? What was wrong with the man?
The Black Watch was a volunteer group of Scottish wizards, and a few witches, who trained as hit-wizards. An armed militia ready to respond to emergencies who trained together once a month in group tactics, and generally stayed in fighting trim.
The auror was baffled at his former friend's attitude. Did he forget the castle wasn't just his home, but there were students there most of the year? The mind boggled.
Then Aberforth let him in on the prank on the condition he would help them. Moody laughed so hard he nearly fell off his seat.
"And just how long do ye plan to do this little charade?" Alastor asked.
"Only until June of 1998 or until Albie dies. Whichever comes first."
Moody caught the reference immediately. Once Harry Potter was gone on to higher education, or left for his world tour, or whatever the young people were doing nowadays; then Aberforth would give up this day job.
Laughing, he promised to bring by a good bottle of muggle whiskey as a gift for the 'entertainment'.
"I'm going to want select memories to share, my friend. Be safe."
"Oh, I'm not really there. Potter's guardian knows about muggle wizardry, and set me up with some mirrors. I'm not in any danger at all."
Moody falling off a stool had a nearby customer shout, "Aberforth! Yer daft man, don't let him have any more ta drink!"
The old auror was helped to his feet. He needed to go visit the Black Watch Commander and warn him what was going on.
Let him know that some kids were playin' pranks, and to let Dumbledore natter, and promise him to investigate any complaints. Dumbledore would be happy, the commander would be happy, and no one was getting hurt.
**OO**
"Ya know who the pranksters are, and yer not taking them over yer knee?" Commander Montgomery demanded.
"Friends of Harry Potter are takin' a bit of revenge regarding how Dumbledore turned a blind eye to the muggles raisin' him. Tried to control his accidental magic by withholding food. Nasty buggers. I interviewed Figg meself, a neighbor he installed nearby to watch out fer trouble. Asked her why she didn't say nothin'. Thing is, she had, and had copies of letters she sent. Smart, in case he tried to say that she never said nothin'."
"But Figg's a squib! Is the man completely daft?" Malcolm asked.
"That is the question. So, I turn a blind eye to a bit of comeuppance, and why I warned ye. Didn't want ye to think that anyone in Hogsmeade was in real danger."
Commander Montgomery shook his head, "There's sommat you're not tellin' me."
"When this is over, I promise to share memories. I do. But fer right now, I just can't."
Malcolm nodded, and shook Moody's hand. "Well, if this dark lord does start anythin', a crup gets kicked, and I'm calling out the Watch."
"As ye should. And I swear, I'll help too."
"What ye gonna to tell the local boys?" The Black Watch commander asked.
"Same thing." Moody was proud of the local aurors who put up well with some of the shenanigans of the Ministry. They'd love this little prank on Dumbles, and keep it to themselves.
"And the British aurors that come up here in their bright red coats?"
"If they should stumble upon it, let them investigate. It will do them good to try and use both brain cells. Though I wonder if that is one of the things in the department of Mysteries. 'Twould explain so much."
"What's that?" Montgomery had lost his train of thought.
"Brains. I wonder if the Department of Mysteries keeps auror brains somewhere. They certainly don't seem to send the English out with any!"
The commander groaned at the bad joke that was too close to the truth to be comfortable.
"Ye wait until next year. I've got me a new apprentice comin' up. Metamorphmagus, Hufflepuff, and she's held her own in battle. She was there at Gringotts. I'll tell ye more when I get the whole story."
Malcolm looked surprised and pleased. It had to be the Black witch. Rumors were that she'd killed a hundred Death Eaters with a single glare.
He wasn't sure he wanted to hear the real report. The rumors running around were pretty funny.
**OO**
Tonks came stomping into Severus' quarters, forgetting to knock on the door.
"Please, come in Miss Tonks. We were just about to have tea." Severus intoned.
He was marking papers, Harry was reading a reference book, clearly working on the essay assigned in Potions, and Hermione was biting her lip.
Since the two friends had become inseparable, this was the only way to get to spend time with Harry. The girl was scarily bright, and reminded Severus of a young Lily Potter in terms of brilliance. She lacked Lily's compassion though, and didn't notice Tonks' upset.
Harry did. "Come on, Sis. What's wrong?"
"Well, you know that I made some investments recently. And this quidditch team came available. Well, I'm in school! I asked my people to hire a manager, and do all that. They sent out invitations for tryouts. And well, I had gotten Charlie that post box at Gringotts since he seemed to have the same mail ward you had." Tonks had said all of this all at once, very fast.
"AndnowhescomingtoBritaintotryoutandwantstogetbacktogetherwithme." Tonks said in a rush.
"Wait. This boy who hurt your feelings is going to try out for a spot on the team? And if he gets it, he wants to get back together with you?" Hermione parsed.
Clearly, the witch, though young, spoke teenage girl fluently.
"Yes! And now I don't know what to do! If I tell Charlie that I own the team before he comes, then he'll think it's a cheat if he gets the job. But if he gets it, and finds out later, then he will think it's a cheat. And if he doesn't get it and finds out, he'll think I sabotaged him! I don't know what to do!"
Hermione huffed, "You could sell the team before he finds out. Or just tell the manager to be fair in the tryouts. You made an investment, you didn't buy him. In fact, you sort-of offered earlier, and he said no."
Harry and Severus shared a look. Neither of them would have thought of that solution at all. Of course, they didn't see the problem. Especially if Tonks told him upfront that she owned the team, but didn't have anything personally to do with it.
"That could work. But regardless, he's coming to visit, and I get to see him, and I'm so excited!" Tonks shared, her voice going up an octave as she spoke.
Severus said something in her ear, and she stood quickly, repeating what he said softly before practically shouting.
"You're right! I need to go see Madam Pomfrey right now!"
The joke backfired on him, as it was now Severus red and embarrassed. Hermione was blushing, but Harry didn't get it.
"Sir? I don't understand. We use potions, make potions. 'Get on the potion?' Why was that different?"
"You're not a girl, Harry. She wants to make sure she doesn't get pregnant with her boyfriend." Hermione shared bluntly.
Harry stood, knocking his chair backwards.
"That! That Weasley is going to try and get with my sister like that? I don't think so!" Harry's magic was flaring, and two elves popped in. One had calming potion, the other had a biscuit. A ginger biscuit.
It was thrust into Harry's open gob, and Hermione burst into laughter.
"Oh, Harry! Tonks is a powerful witch. Charlie isn't going to…you know. They've been together a long time. Not everyone has religious values. Especially magical people."
Severus pinched his nose. "Miss Granger? May I have a private word with my ward. We haven't been together long, and I think I've missed something in his education."
"But sir, you can't! I mean, I've seen pictures around this flat. You and Harry's mother were together until you were seventeen or so! You should ask Professor Quartermain to talk to him or something." Hermione changed her voice to a whisper, "He has two wives you know."
Harry got the reference immediately, and fled the room. His guardian had been in love with his mother, and apparently had been romantic with his mother.
He wasn't sure how to feel about it, but needed space to think and breathe and get away from everyone for a minute.
Being kept under the stairs hadn't stunted his education in the department of men and women and their various…interactions. He had just developed his own moral code when it came to choosing the one to be with. He planned to marry first. It was something he and Hermione had actually had a very blunt discussion about.
It was just hard to think about one's mum in connection with it all.
**OO**
Harry sat on the railing of the Astronomy Tower. He had no fear of heights, and had his broom in his hand. Jam had insisted when finding him like this. He didn't know that help was on the way.
"Easy Potter, it's just Quartermain. Please tell me you aren't going to do anything rash? I was monitoring detentions when Fred Weasley started going crazy in concern for you. I didn't know the Weasleys had Seer blood."
Quartermain likely knew about the map, but if he didn't, he wasn't going to learn about it from Harry.
"No sir. I just…I just found out something that disturbed me. I came to clear my head."
"Well, as long as you don't lose it, you should be fine. I'll go. I have Mr Percy Weasley called in to supervise the rogues now, but who knows what that future Stormtrooper will have the students doing for punishment."
Harry laughed. Fred and George, even Tonks had an interesting view of Percy.
The Potter lad trusted this man, and like Hermione stated, he did have two wives. He wound up sharing some of what he'd learned, even if he couldn't put it all together coherently.
"Let me ask you a question. Families are complicated. If your mother had left your father when you were little, would you expect her to be alone for the rest of her life?"
"No! In fact, I think that she and Severus would have gotten together. Raised me. At least some of the time. I'd have to spend time with James and whatever partner he had."
"So that isn't the issue, then, really, is it?"
Harry shook his head.
"I just wonder. If Severus is my real father."
Quartermain looked him in the eyes. Here was the real reason he was sent to Britain. He could feel it. This defining moment. Someone, likely someone powerful, had interfered with his mother's relationship with his guardian. The boy was in absolute turmoil. How had James Potter even come into the picture?
A powerful mage, leaving behind childhood and innocence. What anger would he have released? Especially if Severus had not gotten the wards on him removed? The situation was already dire. The possibilities were rather frightening if this child had also been physically abused. He was sure that Severus had been.
What a terrifying, powerful dark lord this child could have been! Might still become without mentors and guidance. And love.
What if it were Dumbledore here, trying to counsel him? Quartermain shuddered with his responsibility but would not shirk it.
"Harry. Severus is your real father. He loves you. Before you blame him for your less than pleasant childhood, remember, he rescued you the first moment he could. And now, both of you are free. Don't look back. Look to the future. Your father loves your mother. True love never dies. Forgive what the public calls your parents. You are finding out that instead of perfect angels, they were heroes with feet of clay. You know the expectations that others had of you.
"For your own sake, and sanity, have a little compassion. Love them, honor them, warts and hairy toes and all. Love is complicated, so is forgiveness, lad."
Harry nodded. It was hard, thinking of his mother as a normal teenager, just wanting to kiss her boyfriend. He wouldn't think of more than that. He'd seen some of their school books. They had a different last name in them. One of his mother's great-grandmother's maiden name, who must have been a witch.
'Mr and Mrs Severus Loxias.' They apparently planned on getting married; he'd even found her jewelry box containing a sincere if inexpensive promise ring. They had been committed to one another. No rash fling after an event or something.
Harry let go of the rage and turmoil within him. He had been angry, thinking he'd been betrayed, abandoned. But he hadn't been. He'd been kidnapped!
If there was anyone to be angry at, it was Dumbledore.
The truth of whether or not Severus was his biological father should be something he could test for. But not right now. Maybe never.
Quartermain was right. The truth wouldn't change the past, and might damage his future. Severus was choosing to be his father now regardless of blood or obligation.
Harry let out a breath, and the castle seemed to react to the sudden release of a great deal of pent up magic. The glow was visible.
Harry gave Allan a sad smile, saying "I understand" and then launched himself off the parapet.
Bringing the broom around, he saw the man breathing hard, but his wand was in his hand.
"Problem?" Harry's grin was manic.
"Oh yes. I'm not allowed to give you the walloping you deserve, young man. But I promise you, I will have my revenge!"
Quartermain's smile might have been a bit forced, but he could take his feelings out on the young people in detention.
He would make sure to invite young Harry to tea at least once a week and check on him. The boy's godfather wasn't fully in his life yet, and he needed someone he could talk to about these things.
**OO**
Padfoot sent an urgent message to Harry. While not the same message as being in deadly danger, he did express concern for his well being.
Lord Black, who had been irresponsible in Harry's young life, was trying to do better, and sent him some very pretty seashells that he had collected himself, with a jar of white sand.
"This is a beach in a bottle. If you have need, just daydream that you're sunning on the beach, the lapping of the water taking away your cares."
Harry smiled at the gesture.
Tonks found out about it, and gave him a little woven mat, a side table, and a plastic fancy beverage glass with a miniature umbrella to complete the set. He set it up in the corner of his room in Severus' quarters, the sand over the floor not bothering the elves one bit.
They even found a lamp that had 'sun' on one side and 'moon' on the other for lighting.
Harry had a little corner of peace in his life.
**OO**
The next few weeks were some of the best in Harry's life. No dork lard looming on the horizon to worry about. He was slowly but surely making actual friends at Hogwarts.
Some of the children of Death Eaters continued to snipe at Harry, but he and Severus had worked out a fairly neat solution on that front.
A magical oath from both child and any remaining family that they would never attack Harry Potter and he in turn would provide tuition, books, allowance for the student, and maintenance for the widow/family member carer involved.
Harry was admitting to no one at school about any treasure obtained from being a 'conqueror' of Tom Riddle. He was using his portion of the Lestrange vault to help others.
Draco Malfoy and his mother were some of the few who hadn't taken up the offer. It was of course handled through several layers of other people, but Draco knew who was behind it all.
He had a plan to take his revenge. Potter had gotten permission to have his own broom for flying class. The only stipulation for it was that it be kept locked up when not in class or during an activity supervised by an adult.
That just meant it was in the same locker with the quidditch brooms. Draco was tired of being ignored, taking second place all of the time. And Potter didn't even do him the courtesy of hating him!
That was going to change!
**OO**
A/N: Thank you for reading. Wrapping up - just a bit more to go.
**OO**
Story Recommendation by Millie072 Recommended "Hunter" and sequel "Mercedes Raine" by gredandforgerock
s/10569323/1/Hunter
s/13179103/1/Mercedes-Raine
VashonBeader recommends Decidedly Different Dursleys by CycoMW.
**OO**
ƺ parseltongue
₲ galleons
₰ sickles
ķ knuts