"My lord, Draco has sent me another report." Voldemort waved for him to continue. "It appears that the Muggle is spending an inordinate amount of time with Dumbledore during the day, and is seen almost exclusively in the company of Gryffindors, especially Potter and his blood traitor and mudblood in the morning and evenings."
"Foolish Gryffindors. They're almost as bad as Hufflepuff, perhaps worse."
"There is also apparently a rumor at the school that this Muggle has some immunity to magic."
Voldemort laughed. If he were nearly anyone else, it could be called a belly laugh. However, being the evil creature that it was, it struck fear in Lucius' heart. "My dear Lucius, that is quite an interesting rumor. Students can be so very foolish."
"Quite, my lord."
"Do praise young Draco for is thoroughness, but advise him that most rumors are just that."
"As you wish, my lord."
-**HPDEB**-
At five am, Hermione crept from his room, and fled back to the girl's dormitory. No one, as far as she could tell, was any the wiser when she rested her head on her own pillow. She acted as though she'd slept when everyone woke up.
A quick charm masked the dark circles under her eyes and she ran off to the washroom with her dormmates. Nobody noticed that she laughed a little more readily, or that she spent longer than normal in front of the mirror.
She met Ron and Harry in the common room and, together, they went to breakfast as they did every other day.
-**HPDEB**-
The pushing and rushing outside of the hall were the same as always. Once they plowed through to their table, Neville was already seated, which was surprising.
"How'd you get in before us?" Ron asked.
"I, well, I," Neville stumbled over the words, "met Mr. Stewart on the way. He put his arm around my shoulder and we came here. Everyone gets out of his way. He has that blade with him."
"That's amazing!" Harry crowed. "Did you two talk at all?"
Neville nodded, "He wished me a very good morning, asked me how I slept, and asked after you and Ron. I told him you were still washing up."
"Where is he now?" Hermione asked, carefully controlling her excitement.
"Over there," Neville pointed towards the Slytherin tables. A bit of a crowd had gathered.
"Oh, no," Hermione gasped, "this can't be good."
The four of them rushed across the hall, and pushed people aside so they could see and hear what was happening. They heard Draco complaining about a Muggle invasion and how their ambassador lacked decent fashion sense.
"Malfoy," Hermione barked, "leave Mr. Stewart alone!"
"Shush." Frank turned to her and smiled. "I'm interested to hear what the boy says."
Draco Malfoy turned to his Gryffindor classmate and snarled, "Stay out of this you little Mudblood. This is between men."
Harry and Ron swore, later in the day, that they heard a snap when Frank turned his head from Hermione back to Draco. It was a fact that everyone took one step backward.
-**HPDEB**-
"Men?" I asked. "Draco, is it?"
The small blond boy puffed himself up and said, "Yes. Draco Malfoy, you black-armed Muggle. You'd do well to respect your betters."
"Son," I addressed Draco, "your testicles haven't even dropped yet, and I've had turds that I respect more than you."
-**HPDEB**-
Malfoy's mouth fell open, and titters erupted everywhere. The young man's gaping maw turned into a vicious pout and his brain churned, trying to find something to say, or a proper target.
"Potter, I hold you and your friends in greater contempt for associating with this common garbage." Draco put every ounce of sneer he could muster into it. Surely, he'd regained the upper hand.
-**HPDEB**-
I blinked, caught a glimpse of what Malfoy had on his breakfast plate.
"Squirrel," I whispered. Attention deficit kicked me in the spleen.
"Ooo!" I cooed. "Is that blood pudding, Draco?"
"Um, ah, yes...you savage."
I raised my right hand, pointed at a slice of the sausage, and stretched a finger out like a skewer, slowly. The digit speared the blood pudding like a stygian toothpick and retracted. Then I ate the luxurious little tidbit from the tip of my finger.
"Oh, God, how I've missed good blood pudding!"
-**HPDEB**-
The students who saw what he'd done made terrified noises and pushed back against the crowd as much as they could. Getting away seemed like the best idea they'd ever had.
Harry, Ron and Hermione stifled their laughter, having seen what Frank's arm could do.
Young Malfoy's face turned ghostly white and his bladder quivered with a need to leak. The only response he had was the one he was most famous for.
"Wait until my father hears of this." It came out as a thin whisper.
The man he'd tried to get a rise out of stared down at him and replied, "If Malfoy senior is anything like his son, I'm sure we'll get along famously. Now be good, or I'll give serious consideration to spanking you."
-**HPDEB**-
I knew that the group was parting to admit an adult who was pointing a wand at me. I didn't turn around, because the adult in question wasn't much of a threat.
"What are you doing to my students Mister Stewart?" Professor Snape asked, emphasising the "What."
I answered the question without turning around…no point in showing unnecessary respect. "Dealing with a discipline problem, Professor Snape."
"He is my charge, not yours. Discipline is mine to issue."
"Then do so. I gladly cede that responsibility to you, and trust you to execute your duty in that regard."
-**HPDEB**-
Harry, Ron, and Hermione shivered, as did every Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. They'd just heard something beyond their imaginations. Someone had just called Professor Snape on his lenience towards Slytherin.
Things could get ugly.
"Do you presume to judge me Mr. Stewart?" They heard Snape say.
-**HPDEB**-
"Why yes Professor, I do." I turned and noted the fear on the student's faces. This man truly was a terror for them. I prayed he'd get in my way over some small thing.
Snape sneered.
"And why do you feel it is necessary to carry a weapon to breakfast? Are you worried that the toast will rise against you?"
Oh, he was digging for it. Sneaky little bastard!
"You," I sneered in return, "carry a wand. A more devastating weapon by far. Oh, and you're pointing it at me. Worried that I'll rise up against you?"
"I am prepared to defend my students at all costs, from any threat...including you."
I had a thought. It took me a few seconds to unstrap the Man Scythe and scabbard. The entire hall went dead quiet, and Snape's eyes narrowed to slits. His mouth twitched.
Once I freed my weapon, I turned and addressed Hermione.
"Would you be a dear and hold my baby for me?"
Numbly, she took the Man Scythe from me, and stepped back. My brain tossed images at me, all revolving around how a lady holds a warrior's weapon. A bad time for it.
"And now I'm unarmed. Hardly a threat, am I?" I stared right into his beady eyes. "Or do you always keep guests at wand-point?"
"You are an unknown. Who is to say what depths you will descend to."
"Well, I have to say, your way of going about this is less than friendly."
"You," Snape shied away from the pejorative, "are not a wizard. Our methods and logic are above your Muggle ways."
-**HPDEB**-
At the high table, Professors McGonagall, Burbage, Trelawny and Flitwick were sitting open-mouthed. Hagrid was absentmindedly picking at his toast, as if enjoying the most dramatic movie ever filmed. Dumbledore, on the other hand, was debating when it would be appropriate to end the conflict.
"Maybe in a moment or two more," Dumbledore thought.
-**HPDEB**-
"I can't possibly agree. If anything, having lived without magic and having to figure out how to do things without it means my logic and methods are above yours. However, ignoring superiority in the face of politeness, I can quite easily see that how you treat some of your students is hardly even-handed professional behavior. I know preferential treatment and snobbery when I see them."
Snape's famous pallor succumbed to a furious red flush, and his thoughts turned towards silencing the pretentious upstart...even to the extent of using an Unforgivable.
Frank approached him, sidestepped the outstretched wand, and leaned in so that only Snape could hear him whisper.
"Don't even think about attacking me, you won't win."
Snape gritted his teeth and whispered, "I doubt that, ruffian."
"Be my guest, you pretentious motherfucker. Be my guest." Frank hissed and stepped back, smiling.
-**HPDEB**-
The majority of the crowd, but not the Slytherin students, saw Frank smile. Breakfast didn't seem appetizing after that.
Frank turned away, took his weapon out of Hermione's unresisting hands, and suggested that eggs and bacon were a fine idea. He walked away, and sat down with them in the Gryffindor section.
-**HPDEB**-
Snape turned away slowly and marched back to the front of the Great Hall. His mind was filled with violent thoughts. There had to be a way to break that insufferable Muggle, and he planned to find it.
First, he would wring Dumbledore's ears off with complaints.
-**HPDEB**-
Hagrid looked across the table, and caught Dumbledore's attention and said, "Lad has opinions, don' he?"
"Yes, Hagrid. I would say so."
"Flair for the dramatic as well."
"Rather." Dumbledore lifted his teacup, and hoped Hagrid would get the hint. Besides, more was likely to happen in the near future. Perhaps only minutes from that very moment.
-**HPDEB**-
Hermione sat beside her...lover...he might be...indeed...the thought, even in the face of what he'd done with Snape, made her feel lightheaded. More than that, she felt quite aroused by having him beside her.
A little voice inside asked her if she'd bitten off more than she'd planned on.
-**HPDEB**-
Harry sat opposite them and wondered what he'd seen minutes before. It also occurred to him that his old friend Hermione was acting strange. She was sitting as close to Frank as she could without being in his lap.
-**HPDEB**-
"Frank," Ron said, "that was brilliant! I've never, ever...I...no one has ever..." He fumbled into silence.
"Why, Frank?" Hermione asked. "Why did you do that?"
Frank reached out, seeming to ignore the question, and picked up a cup from the table. He sipped from it and smiled. It was a genuine smile.
"Curly, sometimes it is necessary to turn the tables on the status quo. Sometimes you have to do it twice." He sipped from the cup again. "This is good coffee!"
"Mister Stewart?"
Everyone but Frank turned. Luna was standing to his left, looking fey and serious.
"Hello Miss." Frank turned to her and smiled. "What can I do for you?"
"My name is Luna. Professor Snape won't look kindly on you for that." Luna nodded to emphasize her words. "I wonder what you're planning."
"Nothing, Luna. Nothing at all."
They noticed how he whispered it, and that a heaviness hung in the air afterward.
Luna nodded, and said, "Do you know? The toast is very good with marmalade."
-**HPDEB**-
"Thank you, Luna. I'll be sure to try it." I grinned at her because I knew she saw right through me. I liked her instantly.
Before Luna walked away, she looked around me and smiled at Hermione.
"Hermione, you look much more relaxed, having lost your virginity."
The little spacey girl turned on her heel and quietly pranced away.
Thankfully, Luna hadn't labeled me as the thief of virtue. I couldn't imagine the mess that would have spread out from there. Still, I made a note for the sake of practicality, to prepare for the revelation.
One thing was instantly apparent, I needed to keep my mouth firmly shut on that topic, especially in public.
-**HPDEB**-
"What?" Harry asked.
"Whub?" Ron asked, wiping the snot and eggs from his face. He'd heard Luna and immediately shot a mouthful of food from his nose.
Lavender scooted away from him. "Ew! Won-won, that's disgusting!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. While she wasn't as adverse to Lavender sitting with them as she had been just yesterday (she really must remember to analyze this change in sentiment later), she didn't care to hear ridiculous endearments.
Once Ron had cleaned himself up, he turned to his girlfriend, his ears and face bright red.
"Sorry, Lav, but you heard–"
"Silencio! Muffliato!" Hermione recognized the signs of a Ronald Weasley tantrum, and this one looked like it could reach epic proportions. "Ronald Bilius Weasley!" He flinched. "You listen to me, and you listen well. What I do, or don't do, in my spare time, as part of my personal life, is none of your concern. Do I make myself clear?"
Facing down an obviously angry Hermione, Ron did the only thing he could: gulp and nod.
Her hard gaze now trained on Harry. "Do you have any interest in what I do with my personal life?"
Harry wisely shook his head. "As long as you're safe and happy."
This was clearly the right thing to say. Hermione grinned. "Thank you, Harry." Her fiercest look was saved for Lavender, and included Parvati who was sitting right next to her.
"And I better not hear one peep of this bandied about the school. My personal life is my own. Remember, we share a dorm, and you both know how many hexes and curses I know. If ANYONE hears anything, I'll know who to look for."
The steely glint in Hermione's eyes put the fear of Merlin in both girls. "W...we won't say a...anything, Hermione. W...witch's honor!"
In a flash, Hermione had removed her spells, except for the silencing spell on Ron, as he was still rather red, put away her wand, and was back to her normal cheerful self.
-**HPDEB**-
Well, that was certainly unexpected. Hermione's damage control was, too. Good Lord, but Ginger Ron was angry. From the look of things, regardless of the nubile gal who'd been nuzzling against him not long ago, he carries a torch for Hermione. How did his sweetheart miss that? Maybe Hermione was just that much of a force to be reckoned with. Probably. She'd dropped the hammer on Ron almost instantly.
It was obvious that the two female classmates, including Ron's honey, were the gossip patrol, yet Hermione dominated them like a champ. I was moved. I was also turned on big time. For a moment, I wondered if Curly would end up in my bed again, or if the social pressure would keep her away. Then I slapped my brain around for thinking those lustfully inappropriate thoughts, other stuff needed to happen.
I had to interrupt my new friends because I needed a favor.
"I'm sorry to butt in like this, but I need your help. Ron, Harry, Hermione, gang, can I count on you?"
"Ah, sure." Harry answered.
Ron replied with a nod, he still couldn't be heard
Hermione, blushing furiously whispered, "Yes, Sir."
"Grand." Frank said. "Don't do anything at all for the next few minutes. I'm about to shake shit up again. It'll be a bit bigger."
He stood up, picked up the Man Scythe from the table, unsheathed it and set the case he walked straight up the main aisle of the Great Hall.
-**HPDEB**-
"Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes Mr. Stewart?" It was about to happen, and even at one hundred and fifty years old, Dumbledore couldn't help but feel a little excited. New things were so rare!
"I've a little something I'd like to say to everyone. Do you mind?"
"Be my guest."
Snape rose up and was about to object, but Dumbledore held up his hand. Snape took his seat.
Frank nodded and turned to face the student body. He began quietly.
"Good morning."
There were mumbled replies from the kids.
The weapon in his hand was gleaming in the morning light.
He raised his voice so he could be heard throughout the hall. "You have wondered why I'm here, I'm sure. I believe it is time to address the question. Very simply, I was brought here through very unusual means for a single purpose."
Children began whispering to one another, and Harry felt a chill run down his back.
The Man Scythe twirled in Frank's right hand for a moment, and suddenly stopped. The blade sprang out into the locked position with an echoing snap. Frank flicked it into the air and caught it by the spine of the blade, right over the point where the blade swings out.
When Frank slammed the handle to the stone floor, it seemed to shake the walls. Dumbledore could feel it in his bones, and he knew every student in the hall felt it as well. A proclamation was being made, and Hogwarts herself was validating it with her magic.
"Hear me!" Frank's voice rattled the chandeliers. "I, Francis Stewart, declare my purpose to each and every one of you: I am the protector of Harry James Potter. His life is as my own, and I will accept no threat to him. Slights to him are slights to me."
"Here it comes," Dumbledore whispered. "Here it comes."
"Harm to him is harm to me. Know this as well: I am no mere Muggle. I am the warrior whom magic cannot kill, no hex hinder, and no curse impede. The weapons and magic you have at your disposal are an annoyance, nothing more."
"Good, lad! Good!" Dumbledore nearly applauded. "Well done, my boy."
"In defense of my charge, I will meet injustice with justice, violence with violence, and surrender with mercy. Test me at your peril, for my aim is sure, and my judgment swift. This is my vow to Harry James Potter, and to whomever I grant my protection. Witness my promise. Remember it. Let it be known at Hogwarts and beyond."
-**HPDEB**-
Harry wanted to protest, but he was frozen to the bench, shaking. It was a too much to process. Soon, very soon, he would be furious.
"Hear me one last time," Frank called out over the nearly audible quivering of Hogwarts' students. His voice changed. He sounded quite happy. "Have a lovely breakfast. I have it on good authority that the marmalade is smashing."
Every eye watched him as he folded the blade of the Man Scythe into the handle, and strode back to the Gryffindor table, weapon over his shoulder. Not a single student or professor spoke or moved for several seconds.
Ron mouthed something before looking pleadingly at Hermione. She took pity on him and flicked her wand. "Blimey, that was impressive, Frank."
"Thank you, Ginger Ron. Hermione, would you scoot over?"
-**HPDEB**-
As Frank was making his proclamation, Hermione turned to Harry, her eyes flashing. That he would keep something like this from her!
But she saw she wasn't the only one upset. One look told her all she needed to know. Harry hadn't had any idea Frank was going to do this, and he wasn't happy about it at all.
Harry's magic was building, flaring out, as it always did when he was upset. The air was crackling with it, and she realized people were edging out of the way.
How could Frank possibly not notice it as he sat down? He was only inches away from Harry.
-**HPDEB**-
Harry was furious, there was a sparking magic whirlwind forming around him even as I sat down. I wouldn't have noticed without testing and experimenting with their headmaster. I'd learned a lot, to say the very least, and I'd begun to see and feel magic around me.
I started before Harry could. "I can't tell you not to feel blindsided and angry, Harry. All I can say is this comes down from Dumbledore himself. He requested, and I agreed. There are valid reasons, backed up by the Room of Requirement dropping you into my lap."
"Why didn't you tell me?" His question came out as a snarl.
"You might have said something, even in passing, and it would have made it around the school before we were ready–before we could control who heard it and how. There are eyes and ears everywhere, you know that. We wanted to have them in the same place, at the same time.
Harry locked eyes with me, and I saw a flash of panic. His anger started to die down.
Hermione was less than pleased, too. I hoped I'd have an opportunity to talk with her later and fill her in more. Then again, spending time with her would probably start the rumor mill grinding. Someone would put two and two together pretty quickly. I had a feeling it would be Ron or his girlfriend.
"Is what you said true," Curly asked me, "magic can't kill you?"
"Yes, it's true. Dumbledore and I have been testing this almost since you brought me here. The results have been interesting, but not fatal. That's a discussion for another time though."
Ron piped up. "You're saying he tried the...the (gulp) Unforgivables?"
I nodded. "Yes."
"What about transfiguration?" Curly asked, anger gone, replaced by wide-eyed intellectual hunger.
I sighed and answered her. "It isn't pretty to look at, but ultimately, it doesn't work. My body fights it off."
Ron's girlfriend Lavender squealed. "You're terrifying! Let's go Won-Won!"
"Ah, don't worry, Lav I'm pretty sure he's my friend. Aren't you Frank?
I gave him a friendly smile. "Yes. Absolutely. You're all my friends, and I'll look out for you, too...just not quite so formally."
I laughed. "Hell, I'll keep an eye on all of Gryffindor if I have time!"
Hermione asked another pointed question. "What's the point of guarding Harry anyway?"
"No one is better qualified than me...or quite as disturbing to wizards for that matter. Then there's the Room of Requirement, it gives you what you need. Besides, remember who touched me and brought me to Hogwarts."
"How will you know if I'm in trouble?" Harry wondered.
"We're going to talk about that with Dumbledore after your classes."
"You can't be everywhere?" Hermione asked. "Can you?"
"No, but I am very, very fast. You already know that, and my senses are set for long range when it comes to you guys."
"How far away can you hear?" Ron asked.
"Do you really want to know? Really?"
"Yeh!" Ron sat up straighter, eager as anything.
I imitated Ron's accent. "Blimey! What did they put in that puddin' last night? My whole arse..."
Ron interrupted me, "Right! That's enough! I believe you!"
-**HPDEB**-
Harry was quiet for the rest of breakfast, running Frank's scene back and forth through his head. He began to wonder if Professor Dumbledore felt that he couldn't take care of himself in battle. That thought settled in his head, and started to make him angry.
If he'd not had studying and classes, there might have been time for him to build up a serious head of steam over the whole thing. Instead, his upset settled in like a dull ache, the kind that can last for weeks.
-**HPDEB**-
Hermione, like everyone else at the table, ended her meal in silence. She wanted to kill Frank for surprising Harry that way, but more than that, she wanted to get to the bottom of all of the vow business. What could make Frank make a promise like that when he doesn't even really know Harry? Even if Dumbledore asked him to, it made precious little sense to her.
Who was this man she'd slept with anyway?
She shuddered to think, even for a moment, that she might have made a poor choice.