Disclaimer: The characters used within this are mostly the property of others. I have a few originals, but the vast majority are not original. Everything here is fiction. This is for entertainment only and not for profit.
-=oOo=-
To Green Angel Tower - Chapter 2
-=oOo=-
"You have brought an interesting case," said Ragnok.
"I half thought Fleur might kill whatever that was in her scar right then, but it seemed unwise not to get some actual experts involved. I have no idea what that is, but Albus had to know something. He had to."
"My senior curse breakers inform me it is an incomplete Horcrux, almost certainly from that mad man."
Filius paled. "Can you treat it?"
"Ordinarily no, but as you just apparently delivered not just the problem, but possibly the solution, perhaps."
"Veela?"
"So it would seem. There are two on a team in Belgium. I have sent for the entire team. They will be here soon. Albus is now waiting in the bank, and not calmly."
"You might as well send him down, though I recommend you just treat Harry, and maybe have Fleur help, if she is willing," said Filius.
"We intend to. Buy us some time will you," said Ragnok.
"I'll do what I can."
-=oOo=-
"Ah Filius. You sent a note that you were taking Harry to Gringotts to withdraw some money for a bit of shopping. That seemed a bit odd, so I thought I'd stop in and see if I could help."
Filius shrugged. "Everything is fine. I believe Harry and Hermione are in his vault, and Daphne is in hers."
"Harry doesn't have but a trust vault. His parents lost most of it between Voldemort and helping to fund the war."
"No idea."
"Why is he really here Filius? Grabbing some Galleons is not exactly a lengthy process."
"Harry is fine."
"He'd better be."
"Do you have a reason to think he would not be?" asked Filius.
"Someone is trying to kill him."
"Nothing else? He is quite an odd student. You know I think I saw a few flares of near Sorcerer level power from him."
"His potential is without question, given his history," said Albus.
"Really? Did he throw his diaper at Voldemort and reflect the killing curse?"
Albus scowled.
-=oOo=-
Harry was surrounded by his new friends. Fleur was singing to him and repeating what she did, even as two other Veela did the same, while a dozen curse breakers kept drawing runic sigils in the air. Two very large goblin guards held wicked axes ready at the door.
The process continued for minute after minute until Harry's life turned to one of nothing but pain.
He screamed.
-=oOo=-
Albus frowned. "Something is happening."
"Harry is fine. A medical condition is being treated. That's all."
"They will kill him!" screamed Albus.
"No, they will not. Have some faith Albus."
A dozen fierce Goblin guards ran in the door.
"Is there a problem?" asked the lead guard.
"No," said Filius.
He nodded.
-=oOo=-
Harry continued to scream for minute after minute until nearly an hour had elapsed, but only because his vocal cords were shredded. The pain continued, for two hours, and then three. The bare trickle of smoke came out the whole time, but no more, other than a little more blood.
Fleur and the other two Veela were hard pressed to continue. Fleur's mother came in, as did ten other Veela, who immediately all touched Harry at different points and released their power.
Harry began thrashing before his scar exploded in gore, fire, and smoke. The sigils that had been cast over and over immediately shot forth and created a clear sphere that contained and held the essence of what was released, while the Veela magic continued pouring in, quickly healing the damage.
The chief goblin cursebreaker asked, "What is his status?"
"Alive. We will probably be connected for a time, given how much of my energy he absorbed. I have to rest. We both do," said Fleur.
"Alive she says. That is the first time anyone has been able to say anything like that about anything remotely this bad."
"Harry said he would try to pay you," offered Hermione.
The goblin snorted. "You can't buy this level of expertise, but if he can afford a couple thousand, well tell Ragnok. I have a lot of people to pay here."
"The Veela that came with me to help my daughter will take no money for this," said Appoline.
"Fair enough. You know your lucky he really is immune. That much energy from Veela would drive a normal man insane."
"Yes, we are."
-=oOo=-
Albus looked over Harry's far too pale, but blemish free forehead.
Fleur woke up from beside him as he got close.
"Let us sleep."
"I will. I just need to check a few things. Nothing dangerous I promise."
He cast several spells, focusing on Harry or where his scar was. Not much happened.
"Well done. You have done what I was sure was not possible," said the Headmaster softly.
"Hurts."
"Yes, it does at that," said Albus in amusement, and then added, "We will see you back at Hogwarts when you are better."
-=oOo=-
"You wanted to see me, Lord Ragnok?" asked Harry.
"You have eight thousand four hundred and three galleons in your vault. My head cursebreaker asked for two thousand for all the work, which is honestly cheap, for what you got done. I have reduced that to one thousand, and paid a thousand from the Goblin Nation, since you inadvertently brought a way to attack such foul magics to our attention, that is easily worth that, if not the whole amount. Will you pay the other thousand?"
"Sure."
"That's all," said Ragnok.
"Thank you. When I learned I had that thing in me... I'd have rather died than risk it taking control one day or something. Thank you." Harry bowed in thanks before rising.
"He is our enemy too."
Harry nodded.
-=oOo=-
Ragnok returned to his office. His chief cursebreaker was waiting.
"The Lestrange Vault had one of those vile things in it. The orb helped us find it. We destroyed it."
"Confiscate the Vault. Use it to fund finding and destroying any others, but keep your work secret."
"I understand."
-=oOo=-
The next day he was finally released, but witht he order of no magic for at least a week.
Harry looked at Fleur in curiosity several times the next day. Fleur too had the same restriction. Hermione and Daphne had become sort of unofficial guards. Fleur and Harry continued to read and plan while the other two practiced fiercely.
The following day Daphne said to Fleur, "You have been looking at Harry continually, generally when he loses her train of thought and admires one of us. Why?" asked Daphne.
"Harry has a great deal of my magic. Until it dissipates he can likely read me to some extent. I have tried to keep my occlumency up as high as possible, so as not to distract, but it is not helping as much as I hoped it would. This is such an odd state."
Fleur sent him a fond look. He blushed furiously.
"Does that really work? You just give another magic like that and they can sense you?" asked Hermione curiously.
"I know the theory. I think I have a book on it in my bag somewhere," said Daphne.
"We practice it. It is how we learn to control our Veela allure. Generally we give part of our energy to other Veela, which makes things more bearable for us, and indirectly teaches us control."
"How does it work? Is there any other reason to do it?" asked Hermione curious.
"It is said to help development of strength, but most people are not that much stronger than others, so it has fallen out of favor. You also have to trust each other, since wards may let either of a pair in that are sharing, even if that is not intended," said Daphne.
"So Harry could actually give me additional magic and over time make me stronger?" asked Hermione.
"If you trusted each other that far, yes. It's not an eternal bond. You will eventually burn through that which is not yours."
"Perhaps after he is better then."
"Are you sure Hermione? I feel like a peeping tom as it is, not that what I sense from Fleur is at all bad, but it seems inappropriate for me to sense it."
"I may take you up on it as well. I'm near the end of the point it might work. I have shared other strong Veela's energy to get this far, but you are substantially stronger," said Fleur.
"But then you will..."
"Yes, Hermione and I will sense some of your lustful thoughts. I'm sure we will get over it," said an amused Fleur.
"I will as well. I'm not marrying you Potter, and if anyone finds out about this I will be very annoyed, but this is not a chance to pass up," said Daphne.
"I'm still not sure why I need to wait. I feel far better than normal now," complained Harry.
"Come here Potter," said Daphne.
He shrugged and did so. Daphne pulled her wand and went through a complicated series of detection spells. Fleur and Hermione also watched the results.
"This is surprising. You read fully recovered. That was quite quick," added Fleur.
"Yes, it was," said Daphne.
"You should see Madam Pomfrey," said Hermione.
Daphne shrugged. "The spell is the spell. It won't hurt, just don't mention our plan to anyone else. Flitwick might keep a secret. I doubt she can resist telling the headmaster."
-=oOo=-
"Mr. Potter, to what do I owe the honor of your presence?" asked the schools resident healer.
"Oh, I just figured I'd stop in a few times to check on how I was recovering after that thing."
"Albus told me about it. You are a very lucky young man. Still, step forward a bit and I'll check."
He did so. She went through the same sequence as Daphne and then a bunch of others.
"You are fully recovered. You shouldn't be, but you are."
"So I can start using magic again?"
"Yes."
"Thanks. Now I have to go. There is a lot to do."
"Be careful Mr. Potter. Maybe start slowly."
"Okay. Thanks again."
-=oOo=-
"So, what did she say?" asked Daphne.
"The same as you. She added a note of caution, but she tacked that on just before I left."
"Then we shall spend the day learning. I'll go first. I'm nearly at the age that makes further stretching like this ineffective, so I want to do it now," said Fleur.
"Your sure your okay with it?"
"Yes. If you still had that thing in your head I'd give a different answer, but you were given a very clean bill of health by true experts."
"Alright."
It took them most of the day and the next, with Fleur teaching and Daphne adding what she knew before they were somewhat satisfied that Harry knew the skill to the degree required. Hermione and Daphne learned it as well.
"I'm ready," said Fleur at the end of the day.
"Are you really sure?":
"Yes."
Harry leaned against a tree by the lake and said, "Well I guess now."
Fleur carefully laid down in his lap.
"Sorry," muttered Harry a bit later.
Daphne giggled and Hermione blushed furiously.
"Get on with it please," said Fleur dryly.
Harry very gently but firmly took her face in his hands as he opened himself and his magic to her and began to trickle it in.
"Slowly," said Fleur softly.
"I thought that was. I'll slow down."
"Better. Keep this rate and do not stop unless you must or I tell you."
Two hours later they were still there when Flitwick found them.
"They can't stop, not this first time. They have to try to increase as much as possible now," said Daphne softly.
"I know. I will return and explain that you have decided to camp outside, and that I am returning to chaperon."
Twenty minutes later he returned.
"How long?"
"Two and a half hours so far," said Daphne softly.
Filius activated his mage sight. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you sure you are okay Miss Delacour?"
"I am fine. Please do not interrupt."
"Alright."
Filius fell asleep an hour later after establishing some protective wards around them. Daphne and Hermione did a little after that, while Harry and Fleur continued.
Filius woke first the next morning, and saw the last remnants of the process fade away. He renewed his mage sight spell and then decided to very gently wake Fleur.
"Mr. Flitwick?" asked Fleur softly.
"Do not use magic."
"Of course not. I have to ... Wait, just when did we stop?" she asked.
Harry woke.
"Mr. Potter. Remain calm. Do not use magic," said Filius.
"I'm so tired."
"I'm not surprised. You gave her everything you had."
"When did we stop?" he asked tiredly.
"You didn't, at least not consciously."
"I don't regret it. I can feel it twining with my own magic. When this stabilizes I may possibly be near sorcerer level," said Fleur.
"Just like that?" asked Hermione who had woken. Daphne woke as well.
"No, normally there will have to be several repeats," said Daphne.
"Mr. Potter is well into Sorcerer level, and what you did was remarkable. Of course he isn't there skill wise, but the power is there," said Filius.
"I can't go back to the Castle like this. I need at least a day, or anyone with senses is going to know what we have done," said Fleur.
"True. I also can't take off classes without more notice. Can you get your parents to supervise you four for awhile? You will need signed permission slips."
"I should be able to," said Fleur.
"I can get mine as well, probably," said Daphne.
"I have to insist that if you four are together you be under the supervision of someone with considerable skill, which of course rules out Harry and Hermione's family."
"I would never inflict them on anyone," muttered Harry.
"You are also going to need permission. Albus must approve as well, so I'll have to tell him. I might as well go get him."
"He will stop us," said Daphne.
"No. He will do what benefits his plans, and that is ending whatever threat is developing. Tell me Mr. Potter, is Voldemort truly dead? Your scar would seem to indicate he is not."
"I don't think so. I mean I fought him first year. He was part of Quirrel, and then a wraith. And then there was the diary thing the second year that took over Ginny. It almost killed her, but I stabbed it with the Basilisk fang. Last year was Voldemort free..."
"Who has the Diary now?" asked Flitwick sharply.
"The headmaster does. Why?"
"Don't worry about it. There are some issues that must be addressed is all. Wherever you go should also have suitable wards."
"What about Hermione's family?" asked Harry.
"Even if you could afford the best, which I'm doubtful you can, the best requires choosing an area with local concentrations of magic. Warding won't save them. I suggest they move in somewhere with good wards, perhaps with the Delacours."
"Is that really necessary?" asked Hermione.
"Someone is trying to kill Harry. You are all associated with him. You tell me. I was honestly surprised when Daphne joined you, not that I doubt Daphne's integrity, but it is a large risk."
"That piece of shit wants to force my parents into giving me to him," said Daphne darkly.
"Draco?" asked Harry.
"And I didn't even have to give his name," said Daphne dryly.
"Can Draco do that? Really?" asked Hermione fearfully.
"Draco, no, but his father, if he gets up to his and his gangs old ways. Terrorism is an effective tool, whether you like it or not. Daphne's parents would feel immense pressure, say if their business partners suddenly wound up dead. Such things have happened before, and if the mad man isn't fully dead, and somehow comes back I could see them happening again, though not yet," added Filius.
"My parents will want to pull me from Hogwarts if they find out," said Hermione sadly.
"Go, move to France, abandon this tournament mess, and learn. Your kids. It is not your time yet. Harry and his friends, including you Hermione have been exposed to far more danger than you should have, partly because I think the Headmaster uses the tools he has, and partly I think because he assumed that Harry was likely a dead man walking."
"No!" said Hermione fearfully.
"Keep it together Hermione. That has been fixed," said Daphne.
"I have a question," asked Fleur tiredly.
"Yes, Miss Delacour."
"I can't see the Goblins and you finding out about two of those abominations and doing nothing. I may not know all the details, but this is very big," said Fleur softly.
"Ah, you made the connection then. No, they haven't. They have wrapped up most of the issue. I'm not going to give you specifics in case someone reads your minds."
"And the rest?" asked Daphne.
"I'm going to take Fleur to meet her parents who will take her away. Tonight I'm may lose my job as I try to let in the team to find the last one," said Filius softly.
"I can do that part. Fleur goes elsewhere. I can help them find whatever. You don't have to be seen," said Harry.
"We," said Daphne firmly.
"We. Your magic has to be on vapors. We are doing this," said Hermione.
"I doubt it to be honest. He should be strong enough by then. His magical recovery rate since the trip to Gringotts is remarkable," said Filius.
"Fine, do you think we can manage another day out here, or will the Headmaster insist on seeing us? I'll leave once they leave," said Fleur.
"No, this won't work. Wait till the end of the day and then quietly return to your carriage. The others need to return to their places in the castle. If this has any chance of being pulled off, you need to do this much. Yes it is a risk, but it is a smaller risk than you think and not that many could sense you."
"How will the Goblins get in? I thought maybe the Chamber of Secrets might have an entrance. The snake had to eat something," said Harry.
"Good point. Harry. I'll investigate that."
"I'm coming too," said Hermione.
"Fine, but I hope Daphne and Fleur will at least go back to their dorms."
"Agreed, I'll send a coded letter asking them to pull us out within a few days. I should be able to manage getting your parents to safety as well," said Daphne.
"I thought Fleur..."
"Fleur has no business doing magic right now, and her families actions in this country will stir ripples. Mine will not, at least not that badly. Harry, I have zero interest in marrying you, but politics is involved. To explain some of this to the right circles we might have to establish an agreement both sides can cancel. Hopefully, it doesn't go that far."
"Clever. Your saying that if Harry makes one of the requirements to buy your way into the Potter name keeping Hermione safe, then your family must of course do it," said Filius.
"How does my name have any power? I thought my family is broke."
"Your family has a seat on the Wizengamot. That is very valuable, and possibly another seat in the wings, if our study of your genealogy is correct," said Daphne.
"What?" asked Harry in surprise.
"Oh don't act so surprised. Of course all possible matches are studied. You may not like the game, but it is the one being played. You have a possible tie to the black family through your relatives. My dad also got a peak at Sirius's will, which was somehow updated. How he can be your enemy when he just left everything to you is beyond me."
"He isn't guilty. Peter Pettigrew is an animagus. He takes the form of a small rat. He is the real killer," said Harry softly.
"Ah, that makes more sense," said Daphne now.
"You accept it just like that?" asked Harry in surprise.
"I do not like puzzles that do not make sense. I trust you, and Fleur is absolutely brimming with your magic, yet is in no way disgusted with herself or desperately trying to get rid of it. That says something about a person. I'm inclined to trust such simple truths that make sense and are verifiable over what people say."
"That is also why the practice fell out of favor. Some less than nice people kept wanting to use it, but it drove them a bit nuts. Then politics happened and the practice was quietly shunned," added Filius.
"My godfather can't stay here, not if everyone else is leaving."
"Is he here?" asked Fleur in wonder.
Harry swallowed, glanced at Hermione who nodded. "He is in a cave some distance away. He came back after he found out I was entered."
"I'll just leave. Tell the headmaster about what we did. Tell them we are afraid we did too much and I fled to France. I'll stay with your Godfather till we can both get out. Daphne, you handle getting the Grangers to safety. Harry, Hermione, help the goblins finish this," said Fleur.
"Agreed," said all of them.
"Now, you must tell me how to find him," said Fleur.
"We will all go then for now," added Filius.
-=oOo=-
Harry and Hermione were sitting just outside the wards in cover behind a tree. This was near where Filius had helped them find how the Basilisk entered the castle. A man he thought he recognized walked into the open.
"Harry?" he called.
"Bill?" asked Harry tentatively.
"Yes. It is me."
Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and urged her still before he came out.
"So ready to end this little nightmare?" asked Bill.
"I didn't know you were involved in this," said Harry.
"They wanted someone familiar with the castle, and who you might be able to trust. Can I signal the others?"
"Sure."
Four other goblins, one incredibly old, and three very fierce came out. The eldest said, "Your friend can come out as well."
"Sorry, just being careful."
"It is a good trait, being careful. Now, how do we get in?"
Hermione came out from behind cover.
"Follow me," said Harry.
They moved several hundred feet to the lake.
"There is no opening here," said the elder goblin.
"Sorry, you have to go in the water. It's hidden a long way in. Filius dried us off before he left."
"I'll cast a bubble head on you two. You can lead the way," said Bill.
"Alright," said Harry.
Bill did so. He then covered the goblins before they sank into the water and after reaching the bottom went into another cavern and then swam for a good twenty minutes with the other goblins helping the elder, before they came up into a pool at the far end of the chamber of secrets. Everyone dismissed the charms.
"I require a couple minutes," said the Elder.
"Then we wait," said Bill.
"The Basilisk I killed a few years ago is a fair ways off. Filius thought you might be able to sell it and help my finances a bit," said Harry.
"We can look and see," said the Eldest.
"Thanks. Apparently my family was quite wealthy before the war."
"This is true. The Potter fortune is arguably much of why so much was saved in the last war. They did their best, but it cost them dearly."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"You want no credit for any of this right? The Basilisk or the help you gave to end this?"
"No, unless there is some real reason for it. Filius convinced me to take the money for the corpse, if there was any. That I did earn. The thing almost killed me, and then Ginny would have been dead."
"I heard about that. I also heard that you and Ron had a falling out. Thanks for saving Ginny and don't worry about Ron," said Bill.
"He needs to work for his own grades and all the rest. I just got tired and finally said it."
"I agree," said Bill.
"Let's move, though slowly," said the eldest.
They moved slowly and after carefully sweeping for traps came to the corpse about ten minutes later.
"I would like to hear your story on this," said the leader of the Goblin guards.
"Sure, but it is mostly a lot of desperate flailing. We have learned more about actual defense with Fleur and the others than all my years before. This should have killed me."
"You should not have had to face it. This is utter fucking bullshit. Don't get me wrong Harry. I'm eternally grateful, but this should have been a specialist hunter team, or the available aurors, cursebreakers, teachers, or someone fucking competent. My sister is alive because a second year was stronger and luckier than he should have been. This is absolutely insane."
"I've been saying this for years," muttered Hermione.
The eldest goblin laughed.
"We did bring Lockheart."
All the goblins laughed.
"Yah, we kinda figured that out. He apparently has one skill. He steals other peoples stories before obliviating them. He obliviated himself with Ron's broken wand by mistake," said Harry.
"We will tell the right people, if they don't already know. The corpse is certainly worth a tidy sum. In honor of you having slayed it at such a tender age, we will do the rest for our actual costs," said the eldest goblin.
"Thank you. Are you sure that is okay? It seems a lot of work."
"Just take it Harry. They would not make the offer if it was something they considered unreasonable," said Bill.
"Alright."
"Filius mentioned your current past time," said the eldest.
"I was unaware he would mention that," said Harry.
"He wanted to make sure you did not use magic if it could be avoided, and we are hardly likely to spill the secret. Four following the old ways, even if by seeming random chance, and one of the four being a sorcerer, at least by power, if not by skill. I do not believe you truly understand the path you have begun young one."
"I just want to have everyone live their lives and have a chance," said Harry.
"It won't be easy. Magical power helps, but it is not enough."
"Harry doesn't give up. He will not lose, and we will not fail him," stated Hermione proudly.
The eldest smiled. "I am Gar'nok. I am Rag'nok's uncle."
"It is good to meet you Gar'nok."
"We will talk in time, but for now let us get this unpleasantness over with. Your job, if I may be so bold, is to make sure you take what you have started to completion. Assemble your team, grow strong, and then take your turn against the problems of the world."
"We will," said Hermione with passion. Harry simply nodded.
"It's a few minutes ahead. We tried to find another way out, but didn't. Professor Flitwick was kind enough to add an enchantment to an old broom of his so it returned down to the bottom after each. He also disabled the alert ward that the Headmaster had placed," added Hermione.