As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.
Chapter 29 Confrontations
Saturday morning Harry and Hermione were walking the path to Hogsmeade when Draco Malfoy slid in front of them. "Headed somewhere scar head?"
"Actually Mr. Malfoy where ever my wife and headed is none of your business."
"As a perfect, students leaving the grounds are my business." Malfoy countered with a sneer.
Harry glared at the blond haired bully and his silent bodyguard replying, "When you make your report please insure you inform the head girl or boy that the student in question was accompanied by a professor. Now if you would move to the side allowing us to pass."
Draco turned three shades of red when Harry mentioned his professor status but failed to move to the side. "I believe it is my decision who I will report to. Besides I think it would be better if I prevented the student from breaking school rules." He said stepping towards Hermione as he finished his statement.
"Don't even think about it." Harry said his voice low, cold, and hard stepping between Draco and Hermione as waves of power rolled of his body while he added, "Touch her and you die, right here, right now."
Hermione noted her husband's wand was still in the holster he'd acquired in Paris, but Draco was backing away from him as if punched. "He won't stop running until he finds Snape." She said.
"Let him. I talked today over with the Headmaster before we made arrangements to meet the twins at the Three Broomsticks. Neither one of us is taking potions so if Snape is his normal self and doesn't check with Dumbledore before confronting me I just might have the house elves serve him crow for dinner." Harry replied a nervous chuckle in his voice as the tension left him.
At the Three Broomsticks Fred and George Weasley looked up from their corner table every time the door opened nervously waiting. Finally a few minutes after the agreed time Harry and Hermione appeared. Waiving them over Fred said, "Thought you two might not make it."
"We ran into a little Malfoy problem." Harry explained.
"Ah how is the ferret?"
"Still thinks he's Merlin's gift." Hermione answered for the two of them.
Harry waved his hand casting a privacy shield then turned to find the Weasley twins looking at him wide eyed. "What?"
"Did you just do that wandlessly?"
"It's amazing what little tricks you can pick up from people when they know you're willing to learn," Harry replied.
"Right…" One of the twins replied skeptically before his attention was drawn to Hermione's fingers drumming on the table.
"Ahem, George and I were wondering just how you wanted to handle this inquire from Oliver?" Fred said clearing his throat revealing that it was George who was glancing at Harry like he was going to be attacked.
By prior arrangement Harry did the talking while Hermione watched the twins. "What do you suggest?"
Fred nodded to George who said, "We did a little research and there are several ways you can handle this. First you could deal with the team directly. This would involve more time on your part but save you money, or you could hire someone to represent you and pay them a portion of your salary, normally ten to twenty percent."
"The second option sounds better but I don't know who would be willing to do that?"
"It should be someone you trust."
"Someone good with money."
"Someone who knows Quidditch."
"Cut it out you two just tell Harry you want to do it." Hermione said her frustration at their antics obvious.
"But where's the fun in that?" the remaining twin asked.
Harry was just watching the three of them go at each other enjoying the feeling of normalcy that brought. However he knew it was time to end the joking or Hermione would be difficult to get along with. "Let me guess you two want to be my agent." He said looking at the twins.
"Agent?" The twins asked together turning to look at each other then back at Harry.
"He means you two want to represent him." Hermione said annoyed that they did not recognize the muggle term.
"Actually yes." Fred said brightening up.
"Good that's what I want too. Now here's the deal. I have Wednesdays and the weekends free and with the following exceptions those are the only day's I'm willing to commit right now. I don't work on our anniversary or Hermione's birthday. If she turns up pregnant I get the necessary time off." Harry said looking at the twins.
One twin nudged the other saying, "Our Harry's a randy bloke isn't he. Just married and all ready making plans for babies."
"Should we tell him you actually have to do something for her to have a kid."
"No need he's got that part down quite well." Hermione said bringing a blush to the three men sitting with her.
The twins exchanged incredulous looks then Fred said, "Did dear Hermione say something off color?"
"I believe she did Fred."
"Congratulations Harry you've managed to do something no one else ever could."
"What's that?" Hermione asked in a dangerously low voice.
"Why he's managed to get the stuck up queen witch of Gryffindor to become human."
"George it might be a good idea to not insult her next time, especially when we are sitting this close." Fred said looking at his twin who was sitting with a wand poking him in the very soft flesh directly under the chin where it met his neck. Neither twin had seen her draw a wand and both had been watching her closely as they spoke aware she might take offense.
All George managed was a very slow and very slight nod of his head in agreement.
"Do we understand each other?" Hermione asked her wand not moving a millimeter.
"I believe I speak for my twin when I say both of us understand perfectly. No joking about your former reputation." Fred replied watching Hermione carefully.
Hermione dropped her hand and only Harry caught the quick flick that re-holstered her wand. "Good, now about you representing Harry I think ten percent for a start. You won't be managing his money or anything that would warrant a higher share." Hermione said as if nothing had happened.
"Ten percent sounds fine." George said his voice shaky while Fred rapidly nodded his agreement.
"Good, let me see the contract you two have." Seeing them glancing at each other she added, "Come on you wouldn't have come here today without at least a draft of what you were proposing."
Fred sheepishly pulled a rolled up parchment out of his pocket before passing it to Hermione who pulled a quill and inkpot out of her purse. Sitting down to revise the agreement while Fred, George, and Harry talked Quidditch. Ten minutes, several signatures, and a quick duplication spell later both parties had copies of the agreement and the Weasley twins were on their way to Puddlemere United to discuss Quidditch and in particular Seekers.
Harry had his arm around Hermione as they were walking back. "You know love after that little display they would have agreed to pay for the privilege of representing me."
"Don't believe I didn't think about it, but in the long run it was better for them to have a financial stake in the outcome." Hermione said still ticked at the twins comment.
They were met back at Hogwarts by Professor Snape on the front steps. "Potter you've gone too far this time. Threatening a student's life. I'll have you expelled for this." Snape said reaching to grab Harry.
"Touch me or my wife and Dumbledore will need a new professor." Harry said coldly.
"You think you can take me?" Snape sneered.
Catching a movement from the open door behind Snape Harry though, 'Hermione cover whoever is hiding behind the door,' before saying, "Professor even if you defeat me Dumbledore will still need a professor."
"I'm sure Mr. Malfoy could more than fill your shoes." Snape replied imperiously.
Hermione broke up laughing. "Malfoy fill Harry's shoes? You've got to be joking professor that thing can't even fill his own shoes." Hermione said just as a spell flew out from Snape's hidden back up.
Hermione's wand flashed into her hand as she fired off a spell that she quickly bracketed with additional spells targeting whoever was hiding in the doorway. Before Snape could move Harry stood with his wand pointed at Snape while Hermione was still covering the doorway awaiting further action from Snape's back up but all that came from that direction was the thump of a falling body.
"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall asked from the open door.
"Potter threatened the life of one of my students and I was awaiting his return so we could discuss this with the Headmaster. However he threatened my life also and drew his wand on me." Snape said calmly a big sneer on his face.
"Is this true Potter?"
"Since when has Professor Snape ever told the entire truth?" Hermione answered for her husband.
"And what is Mr. Malfoy doing bound up and out cold on the floor?" McGonagall added when she noticed him laying just being the door beside her.
"That was your backup Professor? Not a good choice at all. Just recall your Kipling Professor, 'The female of her species is more deadly than the male,'" Harry replied nodding towards Hermione.
"The one who tried to silence rather than kill a Death eater on a killing spree?" Snape replied with a laugh.
"Smart people learn from their mistakes. Care to be the second Death Eater to try and hex me?" Hermione replied with a gleam in her eye.
"Mrs. Potter!" Professor McGonagall's voice rang out in chastisement. "Why don't we all go visit the head master," she added moments later then followed noting that Professor Snape was unable to revive Malfoy and had to levitate him all the way to the headmaster's office with Harry's wand covering both of them.
"Headmaster I must protest!" Snape was saying moments after they entered.
"I can not question the Potter's if you insist on interrupting every two seconds. Now that I've revived Mr. Malfoy take him to his common room then return."
It was an amused Harry and Hermione along with a curious Professor McGonagall and an annoyed headmaster that watched the Slytherin duo leave the office. Once the door shut Dumbledore rounded on Harry asking, "Did you threaten Mr. Malfoy?"
"No, I told him that if he touched Hermione he was going to die. It was more of a promise than a threat."
"I'm sure he meant her no harm." Dumbledore replied his eyes full of twinkling highlights.
"She is my wife. No one touches her without her approval and agreement. He had neither," Harry stated firmly.
Hermione was half watching the confrontation; her main focus was on Professor McGonagall and how she was reacting to it. When Harry pointed out Hermione was his wife she could see a flash of pride in Harry's actions before the professor quickly schooled her features back to a neutral countenance.
"Who taught you the spells you used to subdue Mr. Malfoy? If professor Snape was unable to counter them they were obviously not part of the standard syllabus," Dumbledore asked.
Hermione sent a warning, 'Harry be careful,' to him just before Harry replied; "I have friends that have taught me many things since I left school last spring. If the esteemed potions professor keeps it up he may find I know more that he expects."
McGonagall raised an eyebrow at Harry's statement while Hermione wondered what she would say if she knew that Professor Flitwick was training Harry and her as well. That combined with the memory transfer and training from Mr. Limbu had them further advanced than anyone suspected.
"I insist that you tell me the name of the people who have been training you."
"Not a chance."
"Harry this is for your own good. I must insure that you are being taught in a safe and responsible manner."
Harry looked at the headmaster for several moments before replying, "Our lives, our choices — not yours."
"You are still students here."
"At this moment." Harry replied his eyes hard.
"Tell me professor have you asked all the other students if they took classes during their off time and who they took them from?" Hermione asked and seeing Dumbledore's blank look she continued, "I didn't think so. After you ask every other sixth and seventh year student those questions I will consider answering them for you. But only after you ask them individually."
After several moments had passed without comment from Dumbledore Harry held out his hand to Hermione saying, "Good Day Professor. My wife and I are going to our rooms for the evening. Please tell your pet Death Eater to stay out of our business and for him to keep a tight reign on his death nibblers."
Once they'd left Minerva McGonagall looked at the Albus Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry saying, "Albus they were in the right, that man was only defending his wife. Now are you going to do something about Severus or are we going to continue having meetings like this?"
Two days later an owl appeared at breakfast and dropped off a letter from the twins. "Next Wednesday one of them will meet me in Hogsmeade. I'll be gone all day." Harry said without looking up.
"I'll spend the day studying." Hermione replied knowing Harry would be nervous from now until he was in the air. Whereas she'd be nervous from when he left until he was back with her.
"Should we tell Ron?" Harry asked.
"Harry how many conversations have you had with Ron since we were in Gryffindor tower?"
"The occasionally hello as we are making our way between classes. You've been there."
"But only then? He's never asked you to get together after class never wanted to discuss Quidditch tactics?" Hermione inquired knowing she had to make her points carefully.
"No, what do you think is going on?"
With that question Hermione had the opening she'd been waiting for. "I've been talking with Parvati and Luna between classes and they're both saying similar things."
"Such as?"
"Ron's changed. It's like he's decided you've become a Malfoy."
"What?"
"Harry ever since he found out we were married he's always going on about how you get everything and his life is rubbish. He's blaming all his problems on you. All his girlfriends have split except for Luna. She's just sticking around trying to help him realize his problems are of his own making. I think she really loves him." Hermione said laying out the problem.
"What about everyone else?"
"He's the only one. What I'm hearing from my study group is everyone else is saying congratulations, well except for the Slytherins their still… well… Slytherins. They're trying to figure out how to play this for their own gains. You aren't sorry about us are you?" Hermione asked a little of her own insecurity showing.
"What sorry I married you? Bloody hell Hermione you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you the rest of Hogwarts and the wizarding world can go… well you know what. It's you, the twins, and me. The rest can."
"Language Harry." Hermione said interrupting him with a smile on her face.
"Right. We don't tell Ron." Harry said taking Hermione in his arms and escorting her to her first class.