Chapter 6: Revelations
"Potter, what are we doing here?" Hannah asked irately.
"We're back to last names againAbbott? You know, by the see-sawing nature our relationship seems to be taking we might never become good friends." Harry said, taking his seat.
"I find myself curious why you're here as well, Harry." Neville Longbottom asked, curious but otherwise unbothered by Harry's presence at the Lion's Table.
Harry frowned at him. "Am I not allowed to eat with my friends who happen to be in other houses once every so often? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to get rid of me." Harry said, pretending to be hurt.
Ginny and Hannah rolled their eyes at his antics. "Hannah, do please take a seat." Harry said, patting the empty seat beside him.
"Why would I do something like that?"
"For one, it is unbecoming of a gentleman such as me," she snorted loudly, "to sit while in the presence of a lady who is standing. The only way to normalize the situation would be to have you sit down as well."
"Wouldn't your code of chivalry also dictate that you're supposed to sit after the lady is seated?" Hannah asked, smirking at his slip up.
Harry waved away her question. "Give a bloke a break. At the very least I'm trying here, unlike most of the school." He said, just before standing. "You are, of course, correct, my lady. Do forgive me for my transgression and take a seat?"
She raised a brow at him. "And if I should choose to return to our House Table instead?"
"Then I shall sorely miss you! But alas, if it came down between you or my friends in the Lion's den, I'm afraid they take precedence. Mostly because I sit with you everyday, as it is. Besides Neville is a far better conspirator in my schemes than you are. No offence intended." Harry said dramatically, making vivid hand gestures as he spoke.
Ginny snorted, making no attempt to conceal her mirth at the absurdity of the situation he was creating. "Do stay, Hannah, if only to spite him more. You shall make this meal far more entertaining." Ginny said, mockingly mimicking Harry's "regal voice".
"Oh very well, if you insist I stay, then I suppose I could humor you. It is becoming quite clear to me that I am indispensable to the containment of the bane that is Harry Potter." She said, sighing dramatically, taking the seat Harry had offered her. "The sacrifices I make for the greater good!" She exclaimed theatrically.
Harry sighed at them. "Mock me all you want, you shan't get a rise out of me, enlightened as I am to the codes of proper conduct." Harry said, seemingly unaffected by their teasing. If one looked closely and at the right angle though, a slight, upward tug on the corner of his lips could be seen. Becoming slightly more sober - and as this is Harry, that is to say, not that serious at all – he turned to Neville. "I heard you got into the team as reserve Beater. Congratulations!" He the hand shook of the boy.
"How did you find that out so quickly?" Neville asked, looking positively stumped.
"The Weasley Twins told me." Harry said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "They seemed quite pleased to have you as their protégé. Personally, I think they want to pass on their dastardly ways to you, such as learning how to strike someone dead using your bat."
Neville groaned. "Not this ridiculous assassination school issue again! That has no factual basis and you know it."
Harry scoffed at that…that heretic. "There's plenty of evidence that you are simply turning a blind eye too."
"Figured out how Astronomy works into this yet?"
"Yes, obviously if each subject had a purpose, the Ministry would begin to suspect something. Therefore to ward off suspicion, the crafty Headmasters of this fine, if somewhat shadyinstitute decided it would do a splendid job. And seeing as how no one suspects but me, I'd say it has filled that role marvelously."
"You're just making this up." Neville accused.
"I am hurt that you accuse me of such! Hannah, why have you made me eat here? You've been helping him haven't you?" Harry jabbed his finger offensively from Hannah to Neville with some highly accusatory undertones.
"Because our fellow housemates wish to have nothing to do with you, therefore, you've imposed self exile on yourself for the week." She answered dryly.
"Don't be daft woman! I'm their boss; they're dying to have even the slightest interaction with me. You could learn a thing or two from them you know. You should feel honored I have decided to continuously grace your presence." Harry said arrogantly, puffing his chest for effects.
"And yet you do not refute the self-exile part." Ginny remarked observantly. "Which means…"
"Which means he got tired of getting badgered every moment of his waking life. Knowing that the others would be too shy to follow him here, he sought refuge with you Lions."
"Harry, you devilishly cunning Hufflepuff! Who knew you could be so…so utterly devious. You would make old Salazar proud. I am slightly put out, though, that visiting us was of secondary importance to you." Neville said.
"Believe what you will." Harry said, piling his plate with food.
"Harry, how did you make your glove?" Ginny asked as her attention was drawn back to the item in question once again.
"As I've told you on the train, I had lots of help. And trying to explain it to you would be pointless unless you had some grounding in Runes. I barely understood it myself." Harry said, cutting up a piece of steak to bite size proportions.
"Then would you mind teaching me? I find myself rather intrigued by the subject as well."
Harry swallowed the piece of steak he was chewing before speaking. "Runes were originally invented by the Egyptians, Chinese, and Greek Civilizations during ancient times. The earliest wizards used this to channel their magic into these drawings, and Runes is the first instance of focused magic in this world. All runes are made to have only one purpose, depending on its meaning. An example would be the base rune of 'Fyr' meaning 'empower'. It can only be used to channel energy and distribute it to other runes, making it the first rune most rune masters learn.
"The use of multiple runes, also known as a rune chain, is required for runes to have any use at all. This inconvenience of having to learn multiple rune and the time it takes to create led to the invention of spells instead, which while being faster to create, are a lot less efficient in using magical energy. Are you with me so far?"
Ginny nodded tentatively. Hannah and Neville, after a moment's pause, nodded as well. "Good, now, the more complex the effect you want to create, the more runes you need." Harry said, taking off his left glove. "To create something like this," Harry raised the glove, "you would need to create a rune chain maybe twenty to thirty runes long, while most rune chains only need four or five. The advantage of runes however, is because it requires a lot less magic to use it, and results in a more powerful effect. For example," Harry flourished his wand, and began drawing in the air with it, "Fyr, for power, Fateor, for revelation, Iniuria, meaning wrong, and finally, Mentis or 'mind'." As he said the words, each rune was formed.
"The power to reveal what is wrong with the mind." Neville translated.
Harry nodded. "That's correct." Flicking his wand, the runes glowed into life before turning blood red.
"What does that color mean?" Ginny asked, eyeing the floating characters with suspicion.
"It means you're memories have been tampered with. From the looks of it, Neville also got affected." Harry said solemnly.
Neville, Ginny, and Hannah's eyes widened simultaneously. "Wha-what do you mean tampered with?" Ginny demanded, stuttering slightly from shock.
"Most likely, someone cast an 'Obliviate' on you." Harry replied calmly, taking another bite of his steak.
"Is there a way to find out who did this and a way to reverse it?" Neville demanded, pounding the table with his fist angrily.
Harry smiled wistfully, letting the runes fade in the air. "Of course there is. It might just require us to take a visit to the DMLE." He turned his head in the direction of the Hufflepuff table. "Susan!" He called out. The girl in question looked at him questioningly. "Do you have a way to get into contact with your Aunt?"
"Of course I do. She is my guardian after all." She called back.
"Could you pass along a message for me?" She gave him a thumb up. "Thanks!"
"Why would we need the DMLE?" Ginny asked.
"Because tampering with memories of a minor is illegal." Harry said with a feral grin. "And once we find out who did this, it's a one way trip to Azkaban for him. The DMLE can help track him down."
An owl suddenly swooped down and dropped a letter right in front of Harry. Coincidentally, it also landed on top of his food. Harry growled. "Bloody birds keep on ruining my meals!" He exclaimed, snatching the letter off the table, and ripping it open. He skimmed through the letter, and what he read seemed to make him even angrier, if the clenching of his hands and the narrowing of his eyes was any indication.
"What is it?" Hannah asked, a little concerned for the normally laid back boy.
"It's nothing." Harry growled, burning the letter in midair. He stood up, and stalked out of the Great Hall followed by three pairs of concerned eyes.
Dear Madam Bones,
It is with a heavy heart that I find myself in need of your assistance. A day where actions as foul as this I had hoped...nay, prayed would never come. While I was dining with my friends the other day, I was asked to conduct a crash course of Runes by a dear friend of mine, Ginny Weasley. As an apprentice to the arts, I felt it was my duty to provide a sample of my craft. As luck would have had it, I used a rune chain to determine if one's mind had been tampered with.
You can imagine my surprise when it glowed to denote that, indeed, her mind had been tampered with a memory charm. Not only that, another friend, Neville Longbottom, also seems to be affected. They have, thus, asked me to find a way to lift this burden off their shoulders in a manner most discreet, if you catch my drift. To broadcast it publicly would give the culprit time to escape, or worse, get rid of the evidence.
I trust that you are able to keep secrets, being the head of the DMLE. I beseech you to aid us against those who choose to willingly endanger the minds of others by using a memory charm on minors without their consent. They are fortunate that there seem to be no adverse effects...yet. In line with the nature of this matter, and the secrecy and expertise involved, I would humbly recommend turning this matter over to the Department of Mysteries. With no offense intended to the Auror Corps, the Unspeakables are more qualified and able to diffuse this situation.
I hope that you shall reply with all haste.
Harry J. Potter
Heir of the Most Ancient and Valiant House of Potter
"Mr. Potter? You wish to compete?" She asked, disbelief clear in her voice.
"Of course I'm competing. Why would I pass on such a great opportunity to earn some easy Galleons?" Harry asked, staring at Pomona Sprout as if she was an oddity for suggesting otherwise.
She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Overconfidence is unbecoming of a Hufflepuff, Mr. Potter."
"It isn't overconfidence if the odds are in my favor." Harry retorted.
"You are aware, Mr. Potter, that you may not use your gloves during the tournament?"
"Of course, what do you take me for? I did read the rules carefully. Ask Cedric, if you need reassurance."
Sprout turned to her prefect. "It's true Professor. I've never seen a 'Puff that could out read a Ravenclaw. For that matter, I've never seen a 'Puff able to smack down the Ravenclaws when it came to logic." Cedric stated, shaking his head.
"See, I read the rules. I am perfectly aware of what I am getting myself involved in, Professor."
"Very well, Mr. Potter. I do hope you will be careful though." She said, handing him a slip of paper. "The first round begins in a week. You are expected to be on time for your match up, Mr. Potter."
"I wouldn't dream of being late, Professor." Harry said, accepting the slip. "Now, I am wondering why it is there are so many Prefects present just to discuss the matter of my entry in this Dueling Tournament."
"Do not presume you are the only Third Year who has thought to join! I've had to speak to Ms. Abbott, Ms. Bones, and Mr. Smith as well!"
Harry waved off her indignation offhandedly. "Hannah is eager to prove herself, you'll have no luck with her. Susan Bones, I have heard, has been trained by her Aunt personally, and is also eager to test out her skills. I know you've seen her DADA marks. She got the highest marks two years running and broke the highest grade record for the subject during her first year. All that tutoring has more than paid off. What she needs now is a challenge. Smith I'm not sure about. But I'd suppose he wishes to strike out on his own.
"And while I am aware that you have spoken to others, your prefects weren't all present when you did. The very fact that you haven't even dismissed me, now that we both know I'm not backing out, means there is another issue you wish to discuss with me. I'd suggest you get on with it."
"You did not do justice to his snark in your reports, Cedric. It seems to be a lot worse than you let on." The seventh year female prefect spoke up.
Cedric shrugged. "Perhaps it seems less severe when it is directed towards someone else. It certainly was entertaining at the time."
"Right, if you lot are quite finished speaking about me as if I am not present, may I leave now?"
"We are not done. You will leave when we dismiss you." The seventh year male prefect growled. The other prefects around him nodded in agreement.
Harry raised a brow at him questioningly. "Was that supposed to be intimidating?"
"Michael, please do not give him an excuse to retort. And Harry, stop goading my prefects." Pomona ordered. Surprisingly, both men obeyed. "The reason for this assembly is to...evaluate your new found position."
Harry blinked at her stupidly. "My what?"
"Your position as head of your year." She said with total solemnity. "Surely you did not think that your getting elected would escape our notice for long did you?"
"Well, I suppose not." Harry admitted grudgingly. "But why does this concern them?" Harry asked, tilting his head towards the prefects.
"Can't you guess? You are, after all, an exceptionally bright lad."
Harry closed his eyes softly to think. "They're all leaders within their own years aren't they?" His eyes snapping wide open at the realization.
Sprout nodded. "They are. Each leader has always been the best that Hufflepuff has had to offer. It goes without saying that most are given the prefect mandate, if they choose to accept. Hence, what you are looking at right now are the student leaders of House Hufflepuff."
"And this is my formal welcome into your ranks."
"Correct. The Gryffindors have their bravery, the Slytherins their wits, and the Ravenclaws their minds. We must rely on diligence, persistence, and above all, loyalty. We must be loyal to each other, and therefore, we must act with solidarity."
"And to continue doing so would require my cooperation." Harry finished.
"Yes. One of our lesser known secrets of our house is that we have a student elected council in place. As the sole representative of your year, do you accept to our invitation?" Michael, the seventh year prefect, asked.
"I do." Harry said without hesitation. "But if I may, what is Professor Sprout's role if we are to decide on the course and actions of our House?"
"I am an arbiter in the rare case that a decision cannot be made. I act also as an adviser, but beyond that, your actions are your own. Whatever you choose to do, I will not be involved unless the lives of my charges are at risk."
"But why? The other houses-"
"What you fail to realize is that we are not the other houses. We believe that to prepare for the future is not only through education, but also by allowing us to experience. Good decisions come from experience, as they say." Cedric said.
Sprout continued. "That, and it allows me to observe how far you can go without my direct involvement. Welcome to the Synod."