After another long day at work, Foria slowly dragged herself into her kitchen, dreading her next stretch of training classes she would need to teach. It seemed that day after day she was stuck working weird hours that never allowed for her to even turn on her home computer, yet alone write. Sighing she turned on her kitchen light, only to be startled by the sight in front of her.
Sitting at her kitchen table was none other than her own original character, Lexi Potter.
"Hello, Foria," the small brunette began while drumming her finger on the kitchen table. "It is good to see you alive. Many of us thought you dropped off the face of the earth."
Behind the small witch was none other than Sirius Black. The man was wearing sun glasses and had a very nice suit on. He was gripping on to the back of Lexi's chair. To Foria, the message he was trying to send was clear. Lexi was the brains while he was the muscle of this operation.
"Umm, yeah," Foria replied looking a bit sheepish. "Sorry about that but work has been utterly insane. Unfortunately, it looks like things are only going to get worse till after the beginning of November."
"That is understandable," Lexi stated while staring the author down, "however, you should still let the readers know you haven't just up and died. It's been over two months they should have gotten something from you by now."
A nervous grin crossed Foria's face as she started to explain her actions. "I'm so sorry. Honestly, it just seemed that time has flown by. I really haven't noticed that it's been that long. Like I said real life has taken up my free time."
Lexi merely gave Foria a pointed look while Sirius cracked his knuckles. Foria could hear a thumping noise coming from her hall closet and she wasn't sure she wanted to know what was in there especially if it was somehow connected to the two characters in front of her.
"Well, I've also suffered from a case of writer's block and a vicious attack of the plot bunnies." Foria continued a bit afraid of the character her mind created. "Turns out writing out the end of the school year conflict before I actually got there was a bad idea. But the next few chapters should come quicker now since I know how to go forward from this point on."
"That's really good to know," Lexi said as creepy smile crossed her face. "Now we won't have to use the closet."
"What's the deal with the closet?" Foria asked against her better judgment.
"Oh, that's where we transported all the characters that have yet to make an appearance in this fic but are slated to be in it," Lexi replied nonchalantly. "Ginny is especially anxious to get into the story. If I were you I'd fear them more than you fear the readers who are dying for an update."
Foria stared in the direction of her hall closet with wide eyes. She of all people knew exactly how feisty and evil Ginny and Luna could be when mixed together without proper guidance. Sometimes it was scary to plan out the future of her fic. Those two, while fun characters, could be evil if they wanted to be. Foria was just glad that they were on Harry's side.
"Now here is your laptop all set for you to write the next chapter," Lexi said in a no nonsense tone of voice. "I don't like fighting with my brother and I feel like you are leaving me hanging. Wrap up this fight, and the school year. Then we can plot Ginny's entrance into the fic and my coming to Hogwarts. I wonder what house I'll be in…"
Foria tuned out Lexi as she sat down at the table in front of her laptop. Sometimes it was just better to do what the characters wanted you to do; especially if Sirius Black, notorious prankster, was at your back.
Foria is not dead, and for the record, she does not own Harry Potter even if some of the characters were magically transported to her hall closet. JK Rowling is the only one who can make money off of Harry Potter. Long Live JKR!
Chapter 16: Trouble Brewing at Hogwarts
The rest of the holidays dragged by at an excruciatingly slow pace for Harry and he was almost looking forward to being back at Hogwarts. Lexi hadn't spoken to him since Christmas night. She continued to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs, while he was alone in their room. The room was incredibly small; however, it seemed huge and lonely without Lexi in it.
Sirius wasn't much better than Lexi was. While he was his kind and cheerful self for the most part, it was quite obvious that the distance between the Potter children was affecting their godfather as well. Sirius did not take sides, but it was evident that he did not like that they were fighting. Sirius was closer to Lexi; nothing at this point could change that. So, when Lexi wanted to spend time alone with Sirius he did; thus cutting off most of Harry's access to his godfather.
The Dursleys for their part, kept their distance from Harry and Lexi at most times. Harry did magic and now they were fearful of both Harry and Lexi. That made Harry feel a bit smug and proud of himself. He might not be getting along with Lexi right now but at least things will be easier for her once he returned to school. The Dursleys couldn't be sure that Harry didn't share some of his magic "tricks" with Lexi before he left.
Each day Harry could barely contain himself with the excitement that he would be back at Hogwarts soon. It was almost funny that merely weeks earlier he couldn't wait to go back to Private Drive to be with Lexi. Harry knew he would feel bad once he went to school if Lexi was still mad at him. However, he didn't think he did anything wrong. She was the one that started this and he would be damned if he apologized to her for something that was her fault.
The Sunday Harry was to return to school was cold and dreary. It seemed that Mother Nature was in the same mood as Harry. On the return trip to Hogwarts, Harry and Remus didn't pretend to know each other. According to the older man, he wanted to make it seem like he and Harry never made contact. Harry guessed that Remus wanted to have plausible deniability about Sirius if he were to get caught.
Harry could understand why his father's friend would want to do that, but it would have been nice to have someone to talk to on the long ride to Kings Cross Station. Once at the train station Harry quickly made it on to Platform Nine and three quarters before Remus apparated away to do whatever he usually did.
Harry immediately began scanning the crowd for his good friend, Hermione. Harry hadn't spoken to Hermione since the Christmas dinner at the home since Hermione went out of town during the rest of their holiday to visit family. However, they set up their plan for meeting each other on the return train from home. Now all Harry had to do was follow Hermione's plan.
Unfortunately, there were just too many people around the platform for Harry to spot his bushy haired friend. Actually, the only people Harry recognized where several students from Slytherin including the always annoying Draco Malfoy. Harry steered clear of the area where Draco and his lackeys were crowded around adult versions of themselves.
Deciding that he had a better chance of Hermione finding him, Harry went on the train to find a compartment for them to share. One thing that Harry had noticed was that the train had seemed a bit smaller than usual. Harry idly wondered if he was just loosing it or if there really were just less compartments on the train.
Finding an empty compartment near the end of the train, Harry stowed his carry-on baggage before taking a seat waiting for Hermione. Boy did he have a lot of things to share with her.
After waiting for only a few minutes his bushy haired friend walked through the compartment door.
"Oh Harry!" Hermione cried upon seeing her friend. "I'm so glad to find you. I've just got loads to tell you."
Harry gave Hermione a wary smile since he knew her news had to be good while his wasn't so good.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked as her smile slipped off her face. "Did something happen? Are Lexi and Padfoot alright?"
Harry didn't even have to say anything and Hermione already knew something bad had happened. Was he that easy to read? Or did the bushy-haired witch just know him that well? In any case Harry knew that he had to tell his friend all about the things that had happened since Christmas.
~*~
Hermione stared at Harry in complete shock. This was all her fault! Harry and Lexi were so close and she knew that Harry loved his little sister more than anything else in the world. Now they were no longer speaking to each other and it was all because of her.
"I am so sorry, Harry," Hermione said with a strained voice while blinking her eyes trying to keep her tears from spilling.
"Why in the world would you say that?" Harry asked the sullen Hermione. His confusion was evident on his face.
"Well, it's entirely my fault!" Hermione wailed. "Lexi and you are fighting because of me. If I wasn't in the picture then everything would be just fine between the two of you."
Harry was nervously running his hand through his already messy hair. Hermione idly wondered where he picked up that behavior considering she had never seen him do anything like that in the past.
"This had nothing to do with you," Harry eventually said before putting up a hand to stop Hermione's protests. "I don't think anything could have prevented this. Lexi and I have never been apart before. We just need to work out the changes that are occurring in our lives."
"But without me-" Hermione began before Harry quickly cut her off.
"I would be miserable and friendless," Harry supplied. "I'm glad I've got you Hermione."
Any further conversation the two first years were about to have was interrupted by someone knocking on their compartment door. Before either of the students could respond the door slid up to reveal another boy and a girl. Both of these students seemed a bit older than Harry and Hermione and if Hermione had to guess she would say they were in their third or fourth year. The girl had long dark hair that was slightly wavy and the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen. The boy on the other hand had blond hair and hazel eyes. The patches on their chests revealed that these students were from Slytherin house.
"I'm sorry to bother you," the girl said in a very polite tone, "but we seem to have been kicked out of our compartment by some really rude upper classmen. Do you mind if we sit with you?"
"No, not at all," Harry said before Hermione had a chance to reply. It was obvious he wanted to change the subject of their conversation and the arrival of these two other students gave him the perfect opportunity. Hermione, however, had a feeling that something bad was going to happen due to the arrival of the other students.
The two Sytherins enter the compartment and stowed away their traveling bags in the racks above the seats. They then sat down on the bench opposite from Harry and Hermione. The two groups of students just began to stare at one another. Neither group breaking the silence that had settled over the compartment. Finally, Hermione couldn't take it anymore. If she was unable to talk to Harry about what was bothering her she would at least be able to make friendly conversation.
"So, I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione began breaking the uncomfortable silence, "and this is my friend Harry," she continued while gesturing towards Harry. "Who are you?"
"Oh, sorry," the boy said a bit sheepishly. "I'm usually not this rude. My name is Karl and this is my friend Amanda."
"Please call me Mandy," Amanda replied with a very pretty smile on her face. "The only one who calls me Amanda is the prat over there," she said gesturing towards Karl while rolling her eyes.
"I'm not a prat!" Karl indignantly yelled and Hermione broke out into laugh with Harry and Mandy.
Perhaps this train ride wasn't going to be as bad as she feared.
~*~
Harry had to admit, this ride to Hogwarts was a lot better than his first. He had Hermione there to talk to and keep him company. Allowing him to forget about his problems with Lexi, and now there was his new friends Mandy and Karl.
They were both third-year Slytherins but they didn't act like any of the Slytherins he had the privilege of meeting so far since he went to Hogwarts. Were all the first year Slytherins just a bunch of spoiled brats who were used to always getting things their way?
Both Karl and Mandy were like the anti-Slytherin as far as Harry could tell. For crying out loud, Mandy was a muggleborn and Karl was a half-blood. If you actually paid attention when Draco Malfoy was running his mouth you would have assumed that all Slytherins were purebloods. These two third years were definitely breaking all of Harry's preconceived notions about the house of snakes.
It was actually refreshing to meet some other students who didn't seem to care about who he was and who took his mind off his 'Lexi problem' as Harry was beginning to think of it.
"Then my little brother asked mum to let him levitate the angel on to the top of the Christmas tree," Karl said as he was in the middle of telling another funny story about his younger brother Chris. However, the ending of this story would have to wait as their compartment door was rudely thrown open.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Potty, the Mudblood and the Slytherin Terrible Duo," the snide voice of Draco Malfoy swept through the compartment. Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes. Did Draco really get his kicks by tormenting Harry and his friends?
"Malfoy," Karl replied a bit wearily.
"What do you want twerp?" Mandy asked while concentrating on her nails as if they were more interesting than Draco. The effect on the Malfoy heir was to have him turn several shades of red.
Apparently this kind of confrontation was normal for Harry's new friends.
"Listen here, you filthy mudblood whore," Draco said while pulling out his wand. His hands were shaking in anger. "You really need to learn your place in this world."
"Stop this right now, Draco," Hermione said while jumping to her feet. "Just leave us alone."
"I'm a Malfoy," Draco replied turning his attention away from Mandy and towards Hermione. "I can do whatever I want. I think it's time for you to learn your proper place in the wizarding world."
Before Harry could respond to the threat to Hermione a loud crack was heard as a blue light shot from the end of Mandy's wand. Harry hadn't even seen the witch pull it out of her robes. The spell had impacted Malfoy on his upper left shoulder and to Harry's amusement the blonde boy was starting to break out in boils all over his body.
"I think that maybe it's you who needs to learn their proper place," Mandy said while twirling her wand trying to sound unconcerned to Draco's cries of surprise. "Blood and money mean nothing when you don't have to power to back it up."
Without responding to Mandy's words Draco ran out of the compartment. Harry hoped they wouldn't be running into him again until they were safely in the confines of the castle.
"You're going to get in so much trouble," Hermione immediately said as the door closed. She kept wringing her hands with her anxiety. "Were his words really worth hexing him over?"
Harry noticed that both Mandy and Karl had incredulous looks on their faces and Harry almost wondered where his new friends learned that hex since it certainly wasn't on the Hogwarts curriculum.
"Listen," Mandy said leaning close to Harry and Hermione. "In Slytherin, it's eat or be eaten. Things like that happen all the time. I'm not going to get in trouble since Malfoy will never want to admit that I hexed him that badly, since I'm just a mudblood."
"I hope he has a compartment alone," Karl said with a bit of a snigger on his face.
"Why is that?" Harry asked.
"Well it about ten minutes those boils are going to pop and boy will that be a mess!" Mandy replied with laughter clear in her eyes. "If he is with other people, he won't be very popular since they will all be quite a mess."
"Where in the world did you learn something like that?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
A large grin covered Mandy's face as she gave her simple reply, "You'd be surprised at what you can find in the Hogwarts library when you are properly motivated."
~*~
Audrey Turner was a very intelligent girl. She was considered one of the top students in her year at Hogwarts, even though she was sorted in to Gryffindor rather than the studious Ravenclaw. Audrey was very open to the students of all the different houses and in fact had several close friends who resided outside Gryffindor tower. She liked to think that a combination of her intelligence and her ability to cross house lines made her the fifth year female Gryffindor prefect of her year.
Prefects had a very important role within the school system. They were the enforcers of the rules and regulations that held the foundations of the school together, not to mention they were supposed to assist the first year students become adjusted to life at Hogwarts. The teaching staff could not be at all places at all times, therefore, students acting on their behalf were readily needed.
When Audrey received her prefect badge with her Hogwarts letter over the summer, she had dreams and ambitions of befriending all the first years and helping them with whatever they needed. Audrey wanted to be the person they came to for help with school work, or if they were having issues with other students in other houses. More than being a prefect for power, Audrey wanted to be a prefect who was a mentor.
Yet, her dreams and ambitions came crashing around her. That pompous git Percy Weasley was assigned the male fifth year position for Gryffindor, and Audrey knew she would be fighting an uphill battle. That redheaded moron had an ego that was larger than Gryffindor tower. During their first introduction to the first years Audrey didn't even get a word in to introduce herself to the first years at large.
While most students at Hogwarts were preoccupied with the Boy-Who-Lived, Audrey was not. She could clearly see during his first meal at the castle, that he was lonely and a bit shy in his new surroundings. Audrey felt the best thing she could do for him, was to leave him alone to give him a bit of a reprieve from the stares.
The only first year Audrey was able to make an impression on was a boy who was too distracted to follow the group. When she first approached him, she had no idea who he was. Yet once he said his name was Harry, she immediately sought out his scar to confirm her suspicion. The one student she was able to reach out to was the Boy-Who-Lived.
Audrey kept a firm smile on her face and led the boy to Gryffindor tower, never acting like he was someone special or different. Hoping a kind face would make his day.
It seemed to have as it quickly became routine for Harry and another first year student, Hermione Granger to sit with her at meals and come to Audrey whenever they had a general question about a class, Hogwarts itself, or the wizarding world in general. Audrey had realized that while Percy Weasley was a prat with a rod crammed up his backside, who rarely let Audrey handle any issues in the tower, she had achieved her goal. To those two students, Audrey was a mentor and perhaps a confidant.
However, just a few days into the second term of school Audrey began doubting her success with being a good prefect. Apparently some students, most likely those hooligans the Weasley twins had been pranking Harry on and off during the first term of school. Professor McGonagall only became aware of the situation after Professor Burbage mentioned it to her over Christmas recess. Apparently Professor Burbage was aware Harry was being bullied but she didn't know who the bullies were. Professor McGonagall had noticed Audrey's friendship with Harry and asked the fifth year prefect to keep an eye on the celebrity.
Audrey was embarrassed and outraged that Harry didn't bring this situation to her attention. She had told the boy repetitively that if he ever needed anything or had any problems that all he had to do was come to her. Yet, that never happened in this situation.
There was only one thing that Audrey could do in this situation, approach Harry about it. And that was what Audrey would do.
"Hey, Harry," Audrey said as she approached Harry who was sitting alone at a study table in the Gryffindor Common Room. "How was your holiday?"
"Alright, I guess," the bashful Gryffindor replied as he refused to meet eye contact with the old witch. "How about yours?"
"Great!" Audrey said in a peppy tone. She wanted Harry to be comfortable during their talk, however, the poor boy looked miserable.
"So, Harry, something has come to Professor McGonagall's attention," Audrey began going for the straight forward approach. She felt he would appreciate that more than having her beat around the bush for Merlin knew how long. "It seems that you were a victim of several pranks over the course of last term. Why didn't you tell me about it?"
"I'm sorry, Audrey," Harry replied after a few moments. When he finally looked up at Audrey and she saw his cheeks turn bright red with embarrassment. "I just didn't think it was very serious. Someone was just messing around with me I guess."
"Harry, even if someone wasn't doing it to be mean, per say you have the right to not be pranked if you don't like it." Audrey stated looking Harry directly in the eyes. "According to what I heard some of those pranks involved some very advanced spells. I doubt they were pulled by another first year. Do you know who did this?"
Harry simply shook his head no, and Audrey was a bit disappointed. She would have loved to fry whoever it was that was giving the young wizard a hard time.
"If you don't know who did it," Audrey continued, "how do you know it wasn't serious? I mean it might start out seeming like an innocent prank, but it could have the possibility to escalade to something more serious."
"I'm sorry," Harry replied not meeting Audrey's eyes again.
"It's alright, Harry," Audrey said placing a hand on his forearm in an attempt to comfort him. "I know Hogwarts and magic are a bit new to you still. It's an adjustment to get used to living here, but even if this prankster didn't mean to hurt you they could have by screwing up their prank. Will you tell me if it continues?"
"Sure," Harry said as if his heart wasn't in it. Something was definitely wrong.
"Well, I'll see you later," Audrey said as she bade Harry farewell. One thing was certain. Audrey was going to have to keep a better eye on Harry Potter. Something very wrong was going on with him.
~*~
Harry was pissed. Ever since they returned from term, Hermione seemed a bit distant. At first Harry thought it was because she still blamed herself for the rift that was growing between Harry and Lexi. However, after constantly telling his bushy haired friend that she was not the reason for their disagreement, Hermione stopped claiming that it was her fault.
But she was still distant with him. It was like there was an imaginary wall that suddenly shot up in between them. Harry tried to figure out what was preoccupying his friend, but for the life of him he couldn't figure it out. Perhaps she was just busy with getting back to term? But that didn't mesh because she was always concerned about her school work.
He was really at wits end, even though it had been less than a week since they got back to Hogwarts, he was still rather concerned. Lexi was ignoring him so the only one he had left was Hermione.
When Audrey told Harry about someone tell McGonagall about those pranks, a chill had run down Harry's spine. Did Hermione tell McGonagall even though she knew Harry didn't want her to know? It could explain her distance but Harry was reluctant to think his friend would betray his trust.
Entering the library, Harry knew exactly where to find his bushy haired friend. She was sitting at her usual table with a mountain of books surrounding her. Even for Hermione the number of books that she had around her seemed excessive.
Well, there was no time like the present.
"Hermione," Harry said from behind the witch, startling her.
"Oh Merlin, Harry! You gave me such a fright," Hermione replied while picking up the paper that flew out of her hand when Harry had spoken. "What brings you here?"
"Audrey spoke to me in the common room this afternoon," Harry began while watching Hermione carefully to see how she reacted to his words. "Someone told McGonagall about the pranks."
The only expression that crossed Hermione's face was confusion, which was the look Harry had been hoping for. He really didn't want to not trust Hermione.
"Who do you think told her?" Hermione asked while absently nibbling on the end of her quill.
"I don't know," Harry truthfully replied. "The only person I could think of that might tell her was you."
"Me?" Hermione asked with an incredulous look on her face.
"Well, I knew you didn't like the way those Slytherin students had acted and I thought perhaps you would want McGonagall to know in case the prankster continued to target me," Harry explained. He didn't feel it was necessary to keep things from Hermione. She needed to know why he thought she might have been the one who told the professor.
"Oh," was Hermione's simple reply as she turned her attention back on the books and scrolls in front of her.
"So, what are you working on?" Harry asked, really wanting to know what his friend had been so intently working on.
"Oh, not much really," Hermione distractedly replied. "I was just looking into something that Mandy had said on the train."
"What's that?"
"Well, she said basically said you could find just about anything so long as you were properly motivated," the bushy-haired witch continued. "So, I'm trying to use the library to find a defense for Legilimency. It has bothered you on several different occasions then so there must be a defense or a cure for it."
"So this is what you have been doing in the library since the beginning of term?" Harry asked betting there was something more to what Hermione was doing.
"Oh, of course not!" the bushy haired witch exclaimed. "I've also been looking into more advance charms and transfiguration spells. I find those to areas of study very fascinating."
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said while grabbing the book closest to him and started to comb the pages. While he could spend the time trying to figure out who told about the pranks, it was better to do something more productive. Hermione was right; it was a good idea to learn more. It didn't hurt to increase his spell arsenal.
"Umm, Hermione?" Harry began trying to gain his friend's attention once again.
"Yes, Harry," Hermione absently replied while skimming the pages of the book in front of her.
"Perhaps you are taking too much on at once," Harry stated while waiting for his bushy-haired friend to give him her full attention. "What I mean is maybe you should focus on one project at a time," Harry further explained at Hermione's questioning look.
"I'm not sure I'm following," Hermione said with a bit of a frown.
"I've barely been able to see you this week because you have been so busy," Harry carefully began. "It's just I miss my friend. I would love to help you with your different research projects. Maybe instead of holing yourself in the library you can ask me for help and we can do it together?"
A smile slowly crossed Hermione's face. "That sounds like a good idea, Harry."
~*~
Friday potion classes with the Slytherins were the bane of every Gryffindor's existence, even for star Gryffindor pupil, Hermione Granger.
This Friday's lesson, the first of the term, was far worse than any other class that Hermione had been subjected to date. For some reason Professor Snape had gotten it in his head that it would be a good idea of the students to cross partner across house boundaries. In short the Gryffindors and Slytherins were being forced to work together while mixing potentially dangerous ingredients. To Hermione, this idea just screamed hazardous work environment.
Most of the time the Gryffindors would work on one side of the room while the Slytherins would work on the other side, this rarely resulted in major fights, injuries or explosions. Occasionally, two or more Slytherins would feel like instigating something so they would purposely sit on the Gryffindor side of the room. Thus they were surrounded by potential targets to cause mayhem and danger with. Every time the Slytherins did this one or more Gryffindor would be sent to visit the hospital wing due to injuries, Neville often being the favorite target.
But for this class Hermione actually was in fear for most of her classmates, Gryffindor and Slytherin alike. Snape was not just torturing them, he was trying to kill them.
Luckily for Hermione she was able to quickly pair up with Tracey Davis at the beginning stages of the class. The half-blood witch was a lot more moderate than many of her fellow Slytherins and in terms of trying to cause injuries to the Gryffindors she was downright conservative, never once sabotaging or injuring a Gryffindor.
Unfortunately for Harry and Neville, they were not as fortunate as Hermione was. Neville was working with Blaise Zabini, who had 'accidently' caused Neville to need the services of Madam Pomfrey. Harry, on the other hand got the king of the little snakes himself, Draco Malfoy. Snape actually paired them together himself, like he couldn't see how volatile that situation could potentially become.
But for the most part Hermione had a relatively easy class. Tracey barely said two words to her, and not a one of them had been an insult. Also, their potion was currently at the correct color and consistency as it should be for their current stage in the brewing process. Yes, things were going rather well.
"You're not what I suspected," Tracey said suddenly breaking the near silence that the pair had been working in.
"Oh?" Hermione inquired while stirring the pickled newt eyes.
"You don't seem nearly menacing enough to successfully trade hexes seven Slytherin upper-classmen in a running battle across the castle grounds," Tracey said as if she was commenting on the weather.
Hermione dropped the silver spoon she was using to stir the cauldron. "Excuse me?"
"You should really hear the rumors about you and your boyfriend, Harry," Tracey said with a slight smile on her face. "I might be afraid of your left hook if I believed any of them."
Hermione's brain promptly crashed at that moment. After approximately fifteen seconds it rebooted it's self.
"Wait, there is a rumor that I have a mean left hook?" Hermione asked while trying to process everything the Slytherin witch had surprised her with.
"Yes," Tracey said with a smile on her face, "and I'm not joking."
"Drat," Hermione replied. "I was hoping. Why in the world would someone make something like that up about me?"
"Oh, there are lots of reasons," Tracey replied while cutting their dandelion roots. "I mostly believe it's because you are just as much an unknown as Potter is." At Hermione's blank look, Tracey put down her knife and turned to face the bushy-haired witch.
"Listen Hermione," Tracey continued as kindly as she could, "I don't mean any disrespect but as a muggleborn witch you are an unknown to most of the school. About seventy-five percent of the school either knows each other or of one another due to the small close-knit nature of the wizarding world. If you don't know someone, someone you do probably does."
"Harry Potter is a character in a fairy tale to most of the world," Tracey further explained. "To Death Eaters he is the villain but to families of the light he is seen as a hero. When Harry showed up he did not live up to the expectations of anyone." Hermione blush with embarrassment as she remembered how Harry did not meet her expectations initially either.
"To this day most of us still don't know anything about him. So the rumors were created, probably based on real events, to give us some insight into him," the normally quiet Slytherin stated. "And due to your proximity to Harry stories were started about you as well."
Hermione knew she must have appeared rather hilarious with her mouth open and her gaping like a fish, but she couldn't stop. She had wondered in the past if Harry needed someone to be in control of his image to the majority of Hogwarts, like a publicist. But she never thought it would be a necessity as it was eventually becoming clear to Hermione it was.
"Why are you telling me this?" Hermione asked suddenly wondering if the other girl was merely messing with her.
"You sat with my cousin Karl on the Hogwarts Express on the way back to term from the holidays," Tracey said. "He told me a bit about how cool and normal you and Harry are. That the two of you are nothing like the rumors suggest. It's too bad we're in different houses. Otherwise I think we would make great friends.
~*~
Albus Dumbledore serenely sucked on the lemon confection candy in his mouth. To the people gathered in his office he looked completely calm and in control. But on the inside the elderly school Headmaster was seething.
How in the world could all his careful planning go to hell in a hand basket?
"So why is the third floor corridor off limits?" Fudge pressed for what had to be the tenth time this evening. While Lucius Malfoy simply looked smug from the seat beside Minister Fudge.
"As I said before," Dumbledore began, his patience was really beginning to wan, "Matters at Hogwarts are not the Ministry's concern."
"But see reason Headmaster," Lucius said in his oily slick voice. "As a member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, I was deeply shocked and appalled by what my young and innocent son Draco had to report when he came home from his first term at Hogwarts. I mean telling children if they enter a particular corridor of the school, they are risking their lives is just criminal."
Dumbledore sighed to himself. He really hated all Malfoys. Thinking that they could out politically maneuver him, Albus Dumbledore was simply laughable. He had been play political games with the Ministry of Magic before Lucius was just a twinkle in his parents' eyes. Now he was trying to figure out what was being kept guarded in the third floor corridor by using the Ministry to interfere in his plans.
"No children will be physically harmed if they entered the third floor corridor," Dumbledore tried to explain his view point as carefully as he could. "I merely said that as a means to deter students from poking their noses where they don't belong."
"But why don't you want children in that particular corridor?" Fudge nosily asked.
Out of the corner of his eye Dumbledore was aware that Lucius had leaned in considerably to hear his response. Well the good thing was that former Death Eaters such as Lucius Malfoy had no idea as to what was being guarded in the third floor corridor. The bad news was it had to be the shade of Voldemort who attempted to steal the stone from vault seven-thirteen at Gringotts.
"There is a special project being conducted in that particular area of the castle," Dumbledore said purposely misleading the other wizards but not exactly lying to them either. Unfortunately he was going to have to make one of the protections of the sorcerer's stone known to hide the true nature of the closed off corridor. "One of the more dangerous things being stored in that area of the castle is a three-headed dog by the name of Fluffy."
"Dear Merlin!" Fudge exclaimed. "Why in the world would a three-headed dog be allowed in a school full of children?"
"Oh, I assure you Fluffy is quite harmless," Dumbledore fibbed. "But I think the sight of a giant three-headed dog would be rather alarming for most of the student population. If they knew where Fluffy was currently living they may be encouraged to wait to see the dog instead of doing the cautious thing and stay clear of the dog's general location."
"Yes, yes," Fudge mumbled, "that makes a lot of sense."
Dumbledore was very relieved that the minister seemed to be taking his word for what it was. That was why his next statement caught him completely off guard.
"Good thing we have the Dementors guarding the school. We can set up a ward to alert the Dementors if anyone tries to enter the room with the three-headed dog," Fudge stated with a grin that showed he was quite proud of himself for thinking of this 'security' measure.
"Oh, I don't think that is really necessary," Dumbledore said in a dismissive tone.
"On the contrary," Lucius began with a glint in his eyes that meant he was up to no good, "I agree with Minister Fudge. It is a real possibility that the likes of Sirius Black would break into this school. If he happened to come across a giant three-headed dog in the process who knows how much damage and death the convict would cause."
Dumbledore couldn't help the frown on his face. Even with the Dementors guarding the school, Lucius thought Black could break in. That was surprisingly comforting. Even though Albus had protested against the use of Dementors to guard school children he did think if Black came to Hogwarts the Dementors would catch them. Perhaps Lucius knew something Albus did not about Black. Maybe he knew what dark means Black used to sneak by the Dementors on his way out of Azkaban and perhaps Lucius knew whether or not Black could do something like that again.
"Alright," Dumbledore regretfully agreed. "A ward can be put up around the third-floor corridor to alert the Dementors if anyone attempts to break-in to where the three-headed dog lives. However, I would need several individuals to be exempted from the ward. Those that are involved with the project," Dumbledore said in response to Fudge's confused look.
"Right, right," Fudge stated as soon as he understood.
"I would like to be there when the warding takes place," Lucius slickly jumped in. "It would do well to have a member of the Board of Govenors present at an occasion such as this. That way you won't inadvertently keep us out of the loop again."
Threat understood, Lucius, Albus thought to himself. You're going to keep meddling in my affairs as long as you have the power to do so.
"Well then," Fudge said while clapping his hands. "I'm glad we could all come to some sort of an agreement on this matter. Come on, Lucius, we should return to the Ministry. Madam Umbridge needs to debrief us as to the situation with the goblins."
"There is a situation with the goblins?" Dumbledore ask truly confused as to why this was the first he was hearing of this. Usually he knew most things before the Minister did. His personal spy network in the Ministry was very impressive.
"Oh, nothing too important," Lucius said in a really bored tone. "It seems Madam Undersecretary Umbride is convinced a goblin stole her wand the last time she was at Gringotts for official business."
"So far the investigation has turned up nothing," Fudge added. "It's like her wand grew legs and walked away. But dear Delores is so upset about her missing wand that she has worked herself into a state of panic. I do hope she comes up with something. I'm not sure what would happen if she did learn her wand walked itself away."
"Cornelius," Lucius said in a very brisk tone, "we have been through this before. Wands can't evolve and grow legs!"
"But they are so magical!" Fudge whined. "You never know what they could possibly do. Boy will you be red if it truly did grow legs!"
Dumbledore bade both men goodbye as they left by floo. As soon as they were out of sight Dumbledore started to massage his temples. He couldn't believe he had to deal with that bonehead as Minister for another two and a half years.
A/N: Well here's chapter 16! As I told several reviewers I would not allow myself to see the Half-Blood Prince movie until this chapter was done. So see ya next week, I've got a movie to catch. ;) Addition: Just saw the movie so I had to add more. Seriously, I liked Half-Blood Prince the least book wise but I was highly surprised by the movie. What do you all think? To see my full thoughts on movie check out my blog whose web address you will find in my profile. My review will be up on Monday.
Much thanks to zephy for being the world's best beta and cheerleader. See? You didn't have to come find me and kick the crap out of me until I finished the chapter. Much thanks to Picky, nyladnam04, and mysteryman10000 for their words of encouragement to get going on this chapter. I am truly sorry about the delay in how long this chapter took to come out. For future reference, my personal website (address in profile) has a progress bar on it to let you know how far I have gotten on the next chapter. Hopefully this won't happen again.
Next Chapter: A Team is Like a Family