Chapter 10 –Pretty please with sugar on it
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I entered the private meeting room to find an upset Amelia Bones. "Who are you working for? Who captured those Deatheaters and who owns the Phoenix? I will not…" She stopped her Hermione rant when I transformed.
I reverted back to human form and did my own rant. "I am not going to reveal all of my assets as they may one day save my life. I hope that this first installment is enough to convince you that what I told you before was true."
"Oh you convinced me. Not only have you become an illegal Animagus but one that's not possible. No one can become a magical animal, its not possible."
"Sorry but as usual no one tells me anything. They just orders me around and are upset when I accomplish something."
"Let me get you a couple of under-the-table licenses that we can blame on Ministerial paperwork loss should anyone ask. Also Dumbledore has been at the Ministry more than usual and your name is his subject. It appears he is trying to revoke you emancipation and force you back to Hogwarts."
"I thank you for your information and here is some for you. He has filed a backdated marriage contract with the littlest Weasley and me. This is going to cause problems but which way and how I have no idea but I will not fulfill that contract. Dumbledore I think wants this war over and Voldemort dead but is counting on me dying at the hands of Voldemort and wants control of my vaults. His next move, if he can't get the emancipation over thrown, will be to order me back into Hogwarts.
"So you say Dumbledore is evil?"
"Not necessarily. I just know he has his plans "For the Greater Good" and that 'good' is not boding well for me."
/Scene Break/
"Tinkle, Tinkle." The outer wards of my cottage were just crossed by something larger then a two foot snake out rodent hunting. This was normal for my wards as we were out in the country and that ward was about a hundred yards out. At fifty yards a "Ring, Ring" would occur and at ten yards a gong would go off. Ten yards were where most wizard's spell accuracy fell off dramatically and the power of curses faded to near nothing. The gong also indicated that more serious wards were being activated. A few minutes later "Tinkle, Tinkle". The stray dog or the deer looking to a free lunch in a neighbor's garden had left or someone else just entered. The cottage had the standard anti 'apperation' and portkey wards along with fire suppression. Since no serious alarms went off I returned to the mail that Hedwig had delivered about an hour earlier.
"Lockjaw had been busy and made us a respectable profit. The Magic Neep grocery bill had been paid and a letter from Hogwarts. Dumbledore's magical persona could not be sent in a letter so it was just words. He rescinded the expulsion and apologized. It all added up to please come back for your own good as you are not safe wherever you are. Also in the stack was a letter from Hermione and another from Ron. Ron's was mostly about the Cannons and Hermione about how selfish and fool hearty it is running off to where it was not safe.
/Scene Break/
November rolled around and Hogwart's first weekend. Students were pouring into Hogsmeade Village and the Three Broom Stick. I had to admit that I did miss a few people so I showed up at the Three Broomstick to see if any one was still talking with me. There also was the image of a silver blond girl with blue eyes that had some influence on my going, even if I would not admit it to myself.
Neville and Luna grabbed me first and we got a large table in the back corner. "Harry we missed you, the gang should be here soon, Luna and I got a very early start to get a good table. They were hoping you would show up to say hi."
"Thanks Neville I miss you guys also but…" My most sought after person in the world interrupted, "Hay Scarhead you still alive, where is the Mudblood and Blood Trader. You know the Dark Lord has been looking for you." Why Draco was still around and not in Azkaban was beyond me but I could almost smell Dumbledore's hand in it.
"Just like your normal boring self Draco. Don't you ever get new material to entertain us with?"
"Maybe we should take puny Saint Potter to the Dark Lord, what do you say guys?" Crab and Goyle were cracking their knuckles and two other older students with them were inching towards their wands.
"Last warning Mister Draco Malfoy, I am now Lord Potter Black and even you should know what that means should you challenge me."
From the corner of my eye I saw movement. Madam Rosmerta was racing around the bar and heading towards us and the barman took out the bar's pacifier club. They were not quick enough. That distraction almost cost me and my friends; Draco drew his wand and fired off some sickly yellow curse. His friends drew there wands to join the action but they were all out of luck.
I just reacted wordlessly and wandlessly and put up what I call the 'Phoenix shield' for any better name for it. As with my sight and hearing my spells had improved to an outrageous level. Most of this I accredited to my being a Phoenix in my spare time.
Draco's curse hit the shield and rebounded. Draco was quick enough to leap out-of-the-way and into the stunner of Madam Rosmerta. Unfortunately for his companions they were to slow and were hit with the curse, they collapsed. I took out my wand and tapped the Aurors badge inside my robe and a few seconds later a squad of Aurors 'apperated' into the bar. Of course some of the students were in hysterics and everyone was talking at the same time. Then the confusion started as to where was the Auror was that did the summoning?
I then showed the badge and I thought I was going to get arrested, stunned or both. Madam Bones 'floed' in about then and demanded silence, which she got, until I opened my mouth, "I Lord Harry James Potter Black do claim restitution for an attack on a Lord, myself by name, by a commoner Draco Malfoy."
"Shaking her head she asked, "What is it that you demand Lord Potter Black? The baring of their arms will suffice." It was stretching the law a bit as Draco was a minor but his head of house was in Azkaban. While Dumbledore would be his magical guardian while in school Draco was not on school grounds. The other four fell under the same law but they were not conscious so couldn't object. Draco and the two older students had the Dark Mark, Crab and Goyle were probably considered too stupid to be mark by Voldemort.
I sat back down with Neville and Luna while Madam Bones joined the table. "Harry stop by the Ministry tomorrow morning and make a statement. The Aurors have enough witnesses to show Malfoy was the aggressor and you just defended with a shield. I must also compliment you on using the old laws to get to Malfoy's Dark Mark." Madam Rosmerta brought butterbeers for us and a cup of tea for Madam Bones. I noticed that the tea was as clear as firewhiskey. "
The doors opened and a good part of Gryffindor came in about that time and headed to our table. Ron seeing me and grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her off. Hermione looked like she wanted to say something to me but went with Ron to a far table.
"Well I'm off; see you in the morning Lord Potter Black." Madam Bones departed.
"Those two are an item now and Ron is just pissed off at you for leaving school. Katie said, "It's more that you left the Quittage team and we lost our last match. So how is life LORD Potter Black"
I was listening but my eye was on Lora. She was just gorgeous.
"Are you coming back to Hogwarts Harry?" Dean asked.
"Err, not in my plans, Dumbledore did say the expulsion was canceled." Just then Lea hissed, "Your heart is running crazy, which girl are you going to take?" Lea peaked out just as Tiger crawled out of my pocket to see which girl would get the privilege of petting her. Hannah squeaked at seeing a snake while Susan reached for Tiger. Tiger jumped into Lora's lap and mewed.
"Oh look Michael Corner is strutting his stuff." Seamus was never very couth.
When I looked up I almost sprayed the entire table with Butterbeer. Ginny Weasley was arm and arm with Michael Corner and kissing in route to a table.
"Oh shit, I guess the Big Kahuna forgot to tell Ginny that there is a marriage contract in place or else she is flirting with some serious repercussions." I should not have said that with Lavender at the table.
"Harry would you know where there is a quieter place in town?" Lora asked me and I jumped at the opportunity.
As we walked out and into the street I asked, "You wish to drink some tea or do you wish something to eat?"
"Something to eat would be nice." So we headed to Brews and Stew Café. I noticed that Tiger was still in Lora's arms. I was a bit jealous.
We settled into the Café and after ordering the hard part started, I had to say something that didn't make me sound like a fool. With that thought in mind I opened my mouth, "You know by hanging around me you may invoke the wrath of the Slytherin's?"
"Are you expecting me to be hanging around you a lot or are you saying that to scare me away?"
"Well I would like to be around you a lot. If I was trying to get rid of you I would have said Voldemort instead of Slytherin." I knew the last part was a foot in mouth remark as fast as it left my mouth.
"I believe that what the 'Fates' have in store for us is inescapable. While I will not actively search out Voldemort if he comes I can only do what is ordained.
"I would like to see you tomorrow but I have to see the DMLE in the morning."
"Well since I have never been to the Ministry of Magic in England I wouldn't mind coming along. That way we could see a bit of London afterwards."
I did not need a sledgehammer to hit me over the head and I made it a date. Later I walked Lora to the front gates of Hogwarts as the carriages had ceased operation. I made my apologies to Lora for not walking her all the way in but Dumbledore's wards was bound to announce my presents.
/Scene Break/
How can I explain how wonderful Sunday was as I damn near floated around with Lora on my arm. The Ministry statement was boring but the rest of the day was astounding. We took walks in the park and were enjoying a pizza when I realized I knew nothing about Lora. Her English said she was not from England proper but that's all I really knew.
"So where in America did you go to school, is the school like Hogwarts?"
"I'm sorry Harry but I don't want to talk about my past, can you live with that?"
"Well I guess I will have to as I don't want you upset and not seeing me."
"Thanks Harry, later I promise."
I didn't want the day to end but of course it did. I was ecstatic as she gave me a kiss on the cheek just after she made a date with me for next Saturday at The Three Broomsticks. All I could do was watch her walk through the gates heading to Hogwarts.