Under the Sign of the Green Eyed Lion

"Harry Potter," said Harry's necklace.

"What?" said Harry. And looked around.

"Who was that, mate?" said Ron sitting up.

"Spider queen?" said Harry.

"A little dragon told me you had a brood of nifflers you are guarding."

"That might be true," said Harry.

"He told me he'd come across the answer to an annoying riddle, and you'd want to gather your nifflers back to their nest, or for that matter herd them together and flee for better cover. Do you know what he meant?"

"I think I do, but I don't know what we're supposed to be fleeing from."

"Neither do I, but it will be tonight."

"Alright, thank you for the message."

"Like I said, I don't know what that was about, but have you considered marking some territory."

"Ah," said Harry, "if nothing else will do."

"Good bye, good luck, try to stay safe."

"Thank you, you too."

"What was that? Who was that?" said Ron.

"Spider queen is a mutual relative," said Harry, "Who gave me my necklace. So I can call for help, or so she can give me warnings."

"Oh," said Ron with a shudder.

"Although, this time it seems like she's just passing on a message from elsewhere in her network. I'm guessing from Draco, though … Oh, god, I have to warn Luna."

"Warn her of what?"

"That's the problem," said Harry, "I don't know what."

"Do we have enough of an idea to tell Hermione and get her thinking about it?"

"That's a good idea," said Harry, "Get dressed for … for running into the woods. Pack the rest of your things, in case we need to leave in a hurry."

"Right," said Ron.

.

Harry got up and went to knock on the girl's room, "Hermione?"

"Mugh? What Harry?"

"Draco just sent me a coded message that something dangerous would be happening tonight, somewhere nearby and it would be better if we're alert and ready to defend ourselves, or run, or both."

"What does Nim think?"

"That it's a good night for hunting, she and Crooks have eaten a lot, and are on their way back, bringing mice."

"Of course," said Hermione with a shudder, so … put on my bug-out-bag and … then what?"

"I'd just say dress and pack," said Harry, "Either way, I won't be able to sleep until I have some idea what to do next."

"Reasonable," said Hermione, "Ginny, get dressed and get packed, and then lay down again until we know why."

"Who's the seer this time?" said Ginny.

"Draco Malfoy," said Hermione, "Which come to think of it, has happened before."

"It has?"

"Yes," said Hermione, "he tried to convince Harry to go to Beauxbatons to keep from getting mixed up with the diary."

"Luckily that didn't happen."

"Agreed," said Hermione, "But you might want to be prepared and alert."

"Definitely.'

.

"What's all the yelling about?" said Mr. Weasley.

"That's what we're all wondering," said Harry, "But … somehow none of us wanted to poke our heads outside without getting dressed first.

"Certainly not!" he said, and poked his head outside, then he pulled back inside, "Looks like death eaters, but might just be hooligans with a rotten sense of humour. Getting dressed is a good idea. Bill and Charlie, let's go check this out. The rest of you … go to the woods and hide until things settle down.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley," said Hermione and Harry. While everyone else said "Alright," or "yes, sir."

Just as the adults went out, Nim and Crookshanks came in.

"Are we all ready."

"Let me get my shoes and wand," said Percy, "You two, get dressed and shod."

"Yes, Prefect Percy," said George.

The rest trooped outside and looked around, far away between distant tents there was a crowd of people, towards the centre of the mass was smoke and the glow of fire reflecting off of that smoke. There was laughter and chanting and screams.

There were people being levitated up into the smoke. There were fire spells being thrown at random.

"I need to go warn Luna and her father," said Harry, "Hermione, You're welcome to come with me if you want, but… it's not exactly the direction of safety."

"I'll go with you," said Ginny.

"So will I," said Hermione, "but … let me try something first."

"There's no way I'm going anywhere without you tw—three," said Ron, "Hermione what are you doing?"

Hermione had drawn her wand and looked around for something, finally she picked up a fist sized rock and tapped it with her wand, turning it into a flag on a flagpole about as long as her arm. The tip extra sharp. She put her wand away.

"By planting this flag," intoned Hermione, "I claim this tent site in the name of Harry Potter and his invisibility cloak."

She stabbed the flag pole into the ground.

Harry felt his skin crawl.

"What just happened?" said three voices from inside the tent.

"Did it work?" said Hermione.

"It did something," said Harry.

The bigger three came pelting outside, "What was that, it was close by."

"Hermione tried to put up an invisibility ward around the tent," said Harry, "We won't know for sure if it worked until we step far enough away. If it did work, you might need Hermione or I or Nim or Luna to lead you back inside to take it down."

"Nice," said George.

They backed up as far as the path, when the tent disappeared even Percy seemed impressed.

"Now, I'm ready," said Hermione, To the older three she said, "Harry and I need to warn the Lovegoods before we run for the woods, How intent are you to get to the woods fast vs. stay together?"

"That mob is quite a ways off," said Percy, "I don't mind trying to stick together, for as long as we can, but … just like us, other people are starting to flee, we'd rather get to safety before we get trampled by other refugees."

"Alright," said Harry, "then let's hurry."

.

Along the way Hermione grabbed a long stem of brush from the ground and transfigured another flag and pole.

When they got to the Lovegood's campsite things were still quiet. Harry called out twice, then rattled the cow bell that seemed to be standing in for a knocker. Which brought a more immediate response.

Mr. Lovegood came out, "What is it?"

"There seems to be a mob forming," said Harry, "there was talk about imitation death eaters. Mr. Weasley told us to hide in the woods while he investigated. I thought, we could take Luna with us, unless you have something safer planned for this sort of situation."

Mr. Lovegood stared in the direction of the mob sounds, then took off his spectacles and held them out, at arm's length, one lens over the other eye. "Not good," he said, "our tent isn't fireproof, it could explode, who knows how many of our neighbours' are the same. Hiding in the woods is a good idea."

He put on his spectacles and turned to re-assess the younger five Weasleys and hangers on.

"Your plan is acceptable," he said, "let me wake Luna."

A moment later he reappeared, wand in one hand, and notebook and quill in the other. He saluted Harry and Percy, then hurried off as if to intercept the mob.

It was only a short wait. "Luna may I hide your tent?" said Hermione.

"Yes," said Luna.

Hermione repeated her previous method with similar results.

"Alright, Let's go," said Harry.

"Where did Luna go," said Ron.

"She's still holding my hand," said Ginny.

"What?" said Ron.

"She's wearing my invisibility cloak," said Harry, "Let's go, and try not to brush so close to Ginny as to step on her."

"Oh, right," said Ron.

"Actually," said Harry, "Why don't you lead the way Percy, and I'll bring up the rear."

"Fine," said Percy and began to lead the way.

.

When they were safely into the woods they slowed down. But Percy and the twins had been discussing cascades of exploding tents, and decided that deeper into the woods was better than not so deep.

"Hush," said someone from up ahead.

"It's just Potter and the Weasleys, they wouldn't be mixed up in that sort of thing."

"Oh," said someone.

"Hmm," said Percy, "I think this clearing is big enough for all of us."

There was a grumbling acceptance.

"Are you waiting for anyone else?" said Percy.

"No," said most of the others.

"Hermione, if you were to hide the clearing, would it work with us inside it?"

"I think so, but … some might be uncomfortable."

"What if you only hid this end?" said Percy, "Then we could be outside of the invisible part, unless someone came looking for us who we didn't want to be seen by?"

"It's worth an experiment," said Hermione and found another suitable sized stick, and transfigured it into a flag and pole.

There were several grunts of interest or disbelief when they heard her chant, but when the flag went in and the clearing shrank in size vanishing a few people with it, there were mutters of consternation.

"Oh, hi Luna," said Ron.

"You can see me?" said Luna.

"Right now I can," said Ron, "so people inside the flag invisibility can see people inside the cloak invisibility?""

Luna shrugged, "Harry simplified because he was in a hurry, we're both Under the Sign of the Green Eyed Lion, Harry gave me permission to put it on my things to keep people from taking them."

"Oh," said Ron, he went to the flag and held it out so he could look at the pattern, "Where did the runes come from?"

"I saw them when I took the animagus vision potion," said Harry.

"You're an animagus?" said Ron.

"Not yet," said Harry, "I just know what I'll be if I ever succeed."

"A green eyed lion?"

"Yes.'

Ron turned back to the flag and held it up a little differently, "with the same scar?"

"Yes," said Harry.

"And … because of the hypothetical case that if you learn to transform, and you might wear your invisibility cloak when you transform, you can turn things invisible now, just with that mark?"

"I think it's weirder and less weird than that," said Hermione, "He was born under a Fidelius, his father's legacy was an invisibility cloak, his mother's legacy was that he lived to have that scar instead of dying. I think it's perfectly reasonable that a parasitic ward from his magic would have invisibility as an aspect of it."

"A parasitic ward?" said Ron, and looked at Harry. "You're mental letting anyone have permission to use that."

"Not anyone," said Harry, "Just Luna and Hermione, and you notice that Hermione's flags are all transfigured so that they will fade after a day or two."

Ron shrugged, "Still," he looked around and shivered and walked to the other end of the clearing.

.

Before very much longer Hermione started transfiguring camp chairs for anyone who wanted one. Before long everyone was either settled, or mingling like it was a school dance but someone forgot the music and the refreshments. And instead of a light show there was an invisibility barrier to play with, not that it was much fun to observe by moonlight. But then, if there had been more light, Hermione would have been reading, instead of soothing Crookshanks and letting the littler, shyer kids try to pet him.

For a while Ginny was begging Luna to braid her hair, and Luna was begging Ginny to transfigure multiple colours of flowers to stick in her hair. But neither of them had a hairbrush or their wands.

The twins tried to pidgin-hole Harry about how to make his ward work, as if it were merely a runes project, Harry didn't explain mostly because of Hermione's earlier suggestion that the reason he felt it when she used it was that it was in fact running off of his magic instead of hers. He still wondered why she could manage. She didn't wear his mark, nor have his permission to use it. Except that, if she'd asked first, he'd have agreed to the three uses to which she put it.

Percy mingled with the older children, as was to be expected. Ron also mingled, though before long he'd settled down in a chair that someone else had transfigured at a much more relaxed angle and was seen pointing at stars through the tree branches with his neighbour.

After a long wait a patronus popped up and spoke to Percy, then vanished, "Alright everyone," Percy called, "My dad says that the aurors are just finished rounding up the hooligans and we may head back."

"Good," said Hermione and taped the flag with her wand, un-transfiguring it.

"I don't think that did the proper thing, or anything," said Harry, "Though it feels rather unbalanced now."

"I cede this ground back to the custody and control of the British Empire and all its associated property registration apparatus."

"That did it, but felt … forced," said Harry, "Like using Nox as a counter-curse to lumos when finite would have done."

Hermione stared at him, "I used the finishing spell on the flag transfiguration."

Harry shrugged, "maybe try, 'that's long enough, thanks for the lend,' and yank up the flag, before un-transfiguring it?"

"Oh," said Hermione, "maybe."

.

As they reached the edge of the woods, Ron said he'd be walking someone else back, and would be home right after.

By the time they reached the Lovegood tent, Mr. Lovegood was there and looking confused.

"Hello, Mr. Lovegood," said Hermione, "Sorry, Harry and I hid your tent, give me a second to undo that."

"Oh, that's alright," he said.

"I unclaim this land in the name of Harry Potter," muttered Hermione, "I'm sure it has a rightful owner around somewhere," she yanked up the flag.

"Better," said Harry.

"Finite," said Hermione, and dropped the reed, or whatever it was.

Well wishes were exchanged, then Harry, Hermione, Ginny and two felines returned to the Weasley tent site.

Where an argument was in progress about how not only their tent, but the ground it was standing on could have disappeared. Bill agreed it was an impressive ward, but wouldn't believe Percy that it was Hermione who had set it up. When Hermione walked through it and took it down again, he was mildly flabbergasted. Hermione said "No, it wasn't a Fidelius, but it has a few similarities. Also, I didn't invent it, but I'm helping Harry probe it's capabilities," then she and Ginny went to bed.

.

By the time Harry woke up in the morning Ron had returned.

"How did it go?" said Harry.

"How did what go?" said Ron.

"Never mind, it's none of my business."

"You mean with the girl I walked home?"

"Yeah."

"She was fine," said Ron, "and we might or might not go to Hogsmeade together, depending on … school politics mostly."

"Meaning what?"

"She's not the most … high status individual, I think she's cute, and I don't know, mature for her age, which I think comes from dealing with no-one helping you, so you've got to do it yourself."

She reminds him of me, in other words. "Sure that makes sense," said Harry.

"But it means she's going to play it by ear, whether she can take the hit socially, to be dating me. Well it won't count as dating dating at first, but there might not even be an 'at first.'"

"Oh, yeah, Status management can be a real bitch," said Harry, "I'm going to get a shower, Nim are you coming?"

"What would you know about it?" said Ron.

"Ah yes, our latest celebrity," said Harry in a disgusted monotone, he shrugged, "Then the heir of slytherin, or not, etc." Here he switched to a squeaky faux-child's voice, " 'Please, I'm not really a muggleborn, I was just saying that first year because I didn't know my dad until last summer hols.' Etc." And then he resumed his normal tone, "As if our little trio isn't a pureblood a half blood and a muggleborn, I think it's fairly obvious what our stance would be on blood status, but that isn't the only kind of status, and just because we might not believe in it doesn't mean other people believing things about it doesn't affect us."

"And you want to let Draco in?"

"I want to get Susan Bones to give Hermione and I a bit of tutoring, that was all. If you don't care to listen when she's around, that's fine, it's not like we all want to keep up with Percy, we just … I just feel weird getting into a class that Hermione doesn't take."

"Which class is that?"

"Survey of Magical Law."

"That's a sixth year class," said Ron, "Oh … because of … Scabbers." He shuddered.

"Yeah," said Harry, "I contemplated if there was a way of turning him permanently back into a rat, and giving him back to you, but I realised that I couldn't pay you enough for the amount of nightmares that would give any of us. I'd rather buy you a real pet."

Ron blinked, "Thanks, um… I'm not sure I want another pet right now."

"Fair enough," said Harry.

"I wouldn't mind learning more about the animagus transformation though, assuming my animal is anything interesting."

"I've got more potion left," said Harry, "remind me when we're somewhere … sane."

"Oh, Yeah." Ron flopped back on his cot.

Shower! Nim thought, and mewed.

"Right, Nim," said Harry, "Let's go."

.

Parasitic wards?

Back at The Burrow, Harry offered Ron a dose of animagus vision potion. Which he accepted once he knew what it was. By which time the twins were badgering Harry out of his last two doses. So they all ended up in Ron's room, watching the three of them trance and twitch.

Ron got a dog of some kind, maybe one for fox hunting. He didn't know the name of the breed, but felt certain that if he met one in real life he'd recognise and be sure to ask.

The twins got "some kind of monkey," and "something tree dwelling with a striped tail, not a monkey, not a raccoon." but would not tell which was which.

Harry lent them his copy of Recognising Your Animagus Form. Which they immediately made so much over, that everyone else decided to leave.

When he and Hermione came down from Ron's room Ginny gave Harry a betrayed look

Luna was there with her.

"Sorry, I didn't have enough to go around," said Harry, "If you want, I can buy you some animagus vision potion later."

"You didn't make it yourself?" said Ginny.

"No, I didn't," said Harry.

Hermione wandered off towards the kitchen.

Ginny shrugged, "I'm not really sure I want to turn into an animal."

Harry shrugged, "I'm happy knowing what I'll be, I'm not sure I need to actually change to finish proving it."

Ginny nodded, "I just ... didn't want to be left out."

Luna said something esoteric and disturbing, which out of protection for his sanity, Harry chose to simplify and half agree to with by saying, "Following all your brothers into all the kinds of trouble, just to 'not feel left out' is probably not a wise way to live; however, Animagus Vision Potion is supposed to be perfectly safe."

"It isn't perfectly safe, is it?" said Luna, "Knowing things never is."

Harry shrugged, "I cut my hand on the potions vial the first time. And Hermione hit her shoulder very hard and her head also. It's better to lay down somewhere soft first and let someone take the vial from you as you fall asleep. And watch you to make sure you don't roll over too far or whatever."

"Alright," Ginny said and shrugged.

"You're a lion," said Luna, "What is Hermione? Something that goes impossible places to find slimy things to know about?"

"Hermione says she is an otter."

"Oh," beamed Luna, "eats fish, deep fish means hidden wisdom. Of course she should be an otter."

"What about you?" said Harry, "would you like to try the potion?"

"Don't need to, I already know," said Luna, "I'm a demiguise."

Harry stared at her, that explains so much, and yet so little.

"Not a niffler?" he smiled.

"Wearing the niffler king's crest isn't the same kind of 'being a niffler' as being a demiguise animagus, which I'm not yet."

"Alright, Luna," said Harry, "I understand."

"Did you want to stay for supper?" said Ginny.

Luna looked towards the kitchen wistfully, "Your mum hasn't invited me today."

"Only because she hasn't noticed you yet," said Ginny, "Tell Harry to tell her to notice you, and she'll invite you right away."

"If she set me a place without explaining to everyone," Luna said, "Everyone would ask things. I could just sit in your lap and share your plate."

Ginny shrugged, "if it is picnic food, it might be that easy. If it's regular food, we'd need twice as much silverware."

"I'll go see what's cooking," said Luna and scampered off.

A moment later she squealed and came back the other way, Bill lumbering after her.

She ducked this way and that way out of his searching gaze.

Finally she sat in Harry's lap and scrunched low.

Bill's gaze travelled the whole room before stopping on his sister, and then on Harry.

"Is there a problem," said Harry.

"Oh," said Bill, "You've got one of your wards active in here?"

"Yes," said Harry.

"What's it on?" said Bill.

"Luna Lovegood," said Harry.

"The girl from next door?" he clarified.

They all nodded.

Bill shivered, "Why?"

"There's been an exceptional amount of bullying going on in Ravenclaw the last two years," said Harry, "and unconscionable amount of it aimed only at Luna. I intend to put a stop to it. Ginny and Hermione are helping me already, I'm going to try getting help from the kitchen elves as well."

Bill nodded, "having a bigger army than the opponent is a valid sub-goal, but what actual tactics do you have planned?"

"She can vanish, and she can vanish as many of her things as she desires. If that is not sufficient as a show of force, I was thinking she might just move into gryffindor dorms, either Ginny's room or Hermione's room, if I can persuade the elves to not just return all her things to her assigned dorm."

"If elves can still see my things after I make them invisible, They might just move them to your room," said Luna, "Maybe I should belong in your room too."

"I hadn't thought of that," said Harry. To Bill he continued, "Another step is seeing if they're willing to help her keep track of her things despite the other girls stealing or hiding them."

"Good," said Bill, "What else?"

Harry shrugged, "What else should I consider?"

"How well do you know the enemy?"

Harry shrugged, "Not that well, Luna knows more than I do, and so far she hasn't seen fit to tattle much."

Luna hugged him tighter, "Tattling isn't friendly behaviour."

"True," said Harry, "But until they display sufficient friendly behaviour to deserve some in response, I wouldn't worry about that much."

Luna shrugged, "Also giving spy intelligence to one's king is considered a rewardable good, but you specifically told me not to be an eavesdropper. So I figured no gossip either."

Harry sighed, "I am not looking for gossip or blackmail material, though if you wished to exploit any of that through me, tell me so and we can negotiate. Mostly I'm just wondering if making you invisible will help you, or just confuse them. And if being confused is what they're annoyed at you about to start with."

"Probably," said Luna, "I'll think about what I want."

"Good," said Harry.

He looked at Bill again.

"Have you already decided what you plan to tell her teachers?"

"Not yet," said Harry, "or especially when to tell them."

"Ah," said Bill, "I would visit a week and a half early, there's some planning meetings and most of the professors keep their regular office hours, except specifically for meetings with parents and each other. You aren't her parent but it is that sort of topic."

"Right," said Harry, "That makes sense, what's the best way to get there?"

"Floo to the three broomsticks," said Bill.

Harry blinked, "Why doesn't everyone do that instead of riding the express?"

"Because the three broomsticks isn't big enough for everyone, and the school doesn't want everyone showing up randomly all day. And anyway it's tradition."

"But … I could easily show up at the three broomsticks that morning instead of at Kings Cross, and then have a Hogsmeade visit all by my self, and follow the crowd up from Hogsmeade station when the express arrives?"

"You can, and some do, though usually in their normal cliques, not alone," said Bill, "in particular, that's what everyone would have recommended instead of stealing Dad's enchanted car. If you'd been above third year and already known your way around Hogsmeade."

Harry nodded, "Makes sense."

.

"Can you give me a small copy of your ward to tinker with?" said Bill.

"What?" said Harry.

"I heard it's a parasitic rune ward," said Bill, "I'd … rather know a lot more before I neglect to teach you all I can about how careful you need to be about it. Particularly, does having more and more of them them active drain more and more of your magic, keeping you from learning or casting more advanced spells?"

"Um," said Harry, "if it does, I haven't noticed yet."

.

Farsighted

The next day, Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie left for work. Hermione and Harry tried to continue their normal summer homework routine. Ron sat with them for several minutes before asking each of them in turn for a game of chess. They each declined, he got out his set anyway, and played both sides until Harry and Hermione traded books and started quizzing each other. Then he perked up and listened, and even offered corrections or asked for clarifications.

They put up with it until he offered one correction that was glaringly obvious, as well as specifically contradicted in the text.

"Have you read this yet?" said Hermione.

Ron shrugged, then shook his head.

"Are you planning on reading your summer homework at all?"

Ron huffed, "I've heard all my older brothers study the same stuff, I remember most of it," he said and looked away, "I just don't like reading."

Hermione sniffed like he'd just uttered a blasphemy.

He's much too embarrassed for merely admitting he doesn't care for an activity, assessed Nim.

Meaning what? Thought Harry.

Don't know, but it's obviously affecting his studies.

It's fairly obvious, thought Hedwig, Do you ever pay attention to how far away he sits from his chess board? Or his plate?

What? Thought Harry.

Farsighted? Thought Nim, How did I miss that?

Farsighted and an astigmatism, I suspect, thought Hedwig.

And after the 'trying to survive with a legacy wand,' and 'second hand everything else,' it's no surprise if he's never been to an eye-doctor.

"Ron?" said Harry, "Have you ever played muggle chess?"

Hermione glared at him like he was crazy.

"Yeah," said Ron, "it's the same game."

"Right," said Harry, "But you've got to sit close, unless you can find one of those big tournament sets."

Ron shrugged.

"But then, if you're going for sets big enough for the audience to see from the stands, they've got sets available almost a quarter of the size of what Professor McGonagall transfigured."

"Really?" said Ron.

"Would you be interested in something like that?"

Ron shrugged, "I guess, if I ever went visiting muggles. But, I kind of like the voice moves, though, and the arguing between pieces too actually."

Harry shrugged and nodded, and tried to visualise Ron leaning forward to move pieces, and suddenly not being able to see which piece he was moving. Right, didn't think of it like that.

"Why are we talking about chess?" said Hermione.

What else? He's always keeper when they play quidditch. Less need to find the quaffle in three dimensions, if he really only needs to judge which hoop it's aimed for, until it gets close. And throwing it back to chasers doesn't require the kind of precision target leading as passing among chasers while moving in for the score.

"And you like astronomy better than most of our other subjects?" said Harry.

"Astronomy is alright," agreed Ron, "I liked defence last year well enough," said Ron, "and charms is alright too."

"That's not what I meant," said Harry, "I meant which subjects are hard for you the same way that reading is hard for you."

"Shut up," said Ron.

"What?" said Hermione.

Ron glared at Harry.

"Seriously, What?" said Hermione.

"Hermione figured out last year," said Harry, "and ordered me to save up for new glasses."

Ron leaped out of his chair and landed on top of Harry so hard that Harry's chair tipped over, Nim ran away screeching. Ron didn't even pause he just punched Harry's chest and shoulder about five times, then reigned himself in, with a considerably weaker, "I said, shut up." One last time and clambered to his feet and ran from the room.

Hermione glared down at the carnage and offered Harry a hand, but he picked himself up, and returned his glasses to his face before he noticed the offer.

"What just happened?" she said.

"How much does a new wand cost?" said Harry.

"Seven galleons," said Hermione, "well … as little as five, depending on the maker and retailer."

"Right," said Harry, "and how much do custom spectacles cost?"

She blinked, "a hundred pounds or so I think … so about twenty galleons?"

Harry nodded, "In the muggle world, yes. Upwards of fifty in the magical world. Less automation, or at least only automation via shaping spells not by field customised robot lens grinders."

"Why would you know all that?"

"There's standard prescriptions," said Harry, "and then there are astigmatisms. I know because my muggle relatives only bought me drug-store reading glasses, not real prescription glasses." Though perhaps the Malfoy's took me to one of the more expensive shops, just because where they are seen to frequent is a status game.

"Oh," she said, "yeah, that's about what I figured."

"And what did you figure about the Weasleys?"

"Huh?" she said.

"They sent him to school with a legacy wand," said Harry, then he leaned close and whispered in her ear, "and no glasses at all."

"Words!" she said, "That's … that's horrible."

"Words?" said Harry.

"Bad words," she said, "lots of them," she frowned and looked away.

"Right," muttered Harry, "and I'm not clear, whether they know he needs them, or if he's hiding the fact because he knows that there isn't money and refuses to make anyone feel bad when it can't fix anything."

"But they won all that money … the year before last."

Harry shook his head.

"What?"

"They didn't win any money," said Harry, "Mrs. Malfoy paid them off not to sue Mr. Malfoy for losing his mind to the diary and passing it on to Ginny. On the understanding that no one would talk about it and that Ginny, like Mr. Malfoy, would get access to a mind healer from far enough outside the country to not try for blackmail."

"Words!" said Hermione.

Harry nodded.

"So now what?"

"Now we figure out if there's a way to buy Ron glasses in a way that doesn't offend him or his family."

She shivered, "No ideas," she said.

.

But, what about?

Since he and Hermione had already accomplished their shopping, Harry hadn't planned on accompanying the Weasleys with their back to school shopping. But when Harry realised that Luna planned on going with Ginny, and she still didn't want him to weaken her invisibility for anyone else just yet, he decided to offer to accompany her.

She agreed.

Hermione immediately changed her mind as well. Harry wasn't sure if that was an intention to help, or this was a Hedwig vs Nimrodina bout of jealousy all over again, but this time Hermione and Luna. He wondered if the only way to resolve it would be how the one between Hermione and Nim had been resolved.

But there was no way he was going to encourage Luna to begin that earlier than she already might be destined to… besides which the idea of Hermione and Luna massaging each other in his bed did not excite him the same way as Hermione and Nim. That had to be an important indicator of something, he just wasn't sure what. Until he knew more, he'd just assume it had something to do with some instinct not encouraging him to want girls that were too young, whatever 'too young' meant biologically, (and whatever it meant legally probably only had as much to do with each other as the law was ever able to reflect reality.)

.

"Hello, Harry, fancy you walking in here on your own two feet."

"Hello, Harry, fancy you walking in here on your own two feet," said Madam Pomfrey, "what are you here for? More forms?"

"Advice this time," said Harry.

"What about?"

"I've noticed that magical eye-glasses cost more than muggle eye-glasses," said Harry, "is that only due to manufacturing materials and techniques, or is it also because of the economics of less demand?"

"Both, why?"

"Is the 'less demand' because there are potions or something to correct vision problems?"

Madam Pomfrey sighed, "Not in the way you're thinking of, I can bring your prescription up or down about half a point per six months, I cannot repair your astigmatism at this late date, maybe if someone had brought you to me within a week of the original injury, whatever it might have been. I'm afraid you'll need glasses the rest of your life."

"Fair enough," said Harry, "if I didn't have the astigmatism would the potion cost more or less than the eye-glasses?"

"Well, given that you'd need the potion twice or three times, and you'd need new eye-glasses at least once a year until you finished the regimen …"

"It would be horrendously expensive for several years, and then would be over, instead of buying eye-glasses whenever I lose mine or break them beyond mending."

"Correct, another common tactic is buying the potion whenever you lose your glasses and waiting two weeks before getting tested for your new pair, that way you're not paying for either extra times…."

"Alright," Harry scratched his cheek.

"What brought this on?"

"I was trying to figure out if there was a way to get a friend's vision fixed without him noticing that I've seen through his tough act."

"Do you know his prescription?"

"Farsighted," said Harry, "I don't know beyond that."

She nodded, "if you're certain it's above 1.5 I don't mind administering the first dose in secret, but I'd want to know how you figured that out."

Harry shook his head. "I don't even know what 1.5 really means, I just know that … never mind, I …"

She nodded, "Medical privacy," she said, "don't say what you don't have permission to say."

Harry relaxed, "Right, the other thing I need to tell you is that Luna Lovegood is under my protection."

"What do you mean by that?" said Madam Pomfrey, looking grim.

"Several of her dorm mates have been bullying her, If you decide that she needs help but won't tell you anything that you or Flitwick can act on, feel free to send her to me for help, or notify me to come and debrief her myself."

"And what do you anticipate being able to do?"

Harry shrugged, "My parents had reputations for a variety of things that ranged from sticking up for the underdog, to pranks that bordered on bullying. Perhaps I can show some of them the errors of their ways, perhaps I can merely put in a word to send the elves searching for her 'lost' things to find them, clean them, and bring them back."

"Yes, I see," said Madam Pomfrey.

"Thank you," said Harry, "Now I need to go tell Professor Snape the same thing."

"Saving your favourites for last is it?"

"Don't push it," said Harry, and walked out.

Madam Pomfrey waited until he was gone, then pulled the file for Lovegood, Luna, and added a note: "check her vision, Harry Potter might wish to pay for treatment or eye-glasses."

.

At the knock, Potions Master Severus Snape looked up from stirring the hopefully last batch of blister cure potion to refresh the infirmary's supplies, and instantly returned his focus to what he was doing.

"Enter, but I'm busy."

The door opened and closed. An unexpected face stalked into view, bespectacled eyes darting everywhere, assessing the state of the room.

"I guess it figures that you do this for fun as well as profit," said Harry.

"What are you talking about, Potter?"

"That you actually like brewing," said Harry, "you just … don't like teaching?"

"I don't like teaching the basics," said Severus, "Nor the minds that cannot grasp the intricacies."

Harry nodded, "So instead of teaching the basics so that they can use whatever minds they have to focus on the intricacies, you terrorise them into 'checking out' as soon as possible, ensuring that only the most OCD push through and grasp either the basics or the intricacies."

"Was it Minerva or Pomona who put you up to this?"

"Neither," said Harry, "was the first line of reasoning I thought to present, It's old news then?"

"Very," said Severus, "what are you hoping to accomplish?"

"I want advice actually," said Harry.

"Then quit with the criticism for things you know nothing about and ask."

"Ron Weasley needs glasses worse than I do, and won't admit to it because he's 'not the baby anymore,' and has been reprimanded for 'begging' much too often in his short life."

Severus blinked, "Doesn't that just figure."

"What?"

"If he spent less time and effort begging for things he doesn't need, he might have political capitol left to beg for the things that he does need."

"I don't think it works that way," said Harry, "noticing the response to asking for a second helping or the absolute cheapest toy on the drug store shelf are seemingly valid methods for gauging one's worth and the state of the family's finances. To the child's mind at least."

Was that an admission, or advertisement of just how slytherin Harry was, or was that a probe aimed particularly at me? Severus held in his reaction, he didn't even blink, just kept stirring and adding ingredients, but in his mind he was inventorying and verifying his occlumency shields. But everything was intact.

"Fair," he said at last, "But are we talking about you, or about Ron?"

Harry shrugged, "I'd been about to verify that you hadn't switched to talking about Draco."

Severus sniffed, "What's your goal?"

"How many other students in my year … or even in the average year, need eye glasses?"

Severus blinked, "I wouldn't know, but if in gryffindor, in your year, you've identified a second, you could quadruple that to assume eight in your year, and multiply by seven years." "Hmm," said Harry, "Or we could do some kind of weighted assessment of, I'm only aware of the most desperate need among my friend group, and divide by the fraction of the student body that my friend group represents?"

"Certainly.'

"So probably more like 98 in the whole school."

"I didn't think your friend group was that small," said Severus.

"No, but my friend group that I've observed well enough to begin assessing their eye strength from memory."

"Hmm," said Severus, "Perhaps."

"Anyway," said Harry, "If I wanted to start a fund to take care of this for everyone, how would I go about doing that? Are there already similar medical funds in place that I could copy machinery or paperwork from and not need to invent it all on my own? Or for that matter, is there an existing fund I could donate to and / or point Ron at?"

"How do you propose to pay—"

"Basilisk," said Harry.

"Right," said Severus.

"I'd almost be willing to offer to only pay for muggle made eye glasses, to save 60% and get a better product, but my goal is to help the students in question, not send annoying political messages to pureblood idiots."

"The pureblood idiots ought to be able to afford their own," said Severus.

"Except the Weasleys," said Harry.

Severus shrugged, "Yes, well."

"I think," said Severus, "You write a sponsorship proposal, with a request for your verbiage, and get it past the Board of Governors, and they notify the Headmaster of the change, he tells Minerva, and she alters the enchantment that creates the first year form letters, to notify all first years that they're allowed to purchase a pair of eye-wear and send their receipt to your fund. And then your fund mails them a check or Gringotts draft."

Harry nodded.

"That saves Poppy from needing to become an eye specialist, and assessing all the first years, and who knows what else. Which I'm sure she doesn't have time for."

"Right," said Harry, "And I suppose I ought to design in some sort of check, like, have you or Professor McGonagall, keep a list of who is wearing their eye glasses to their first two classes, to keep everyone from just turning in the latest receipt for eyeglasses of anyone in the family, instead of just, the student in question?"

"That depends," said Severus, "on if you want to help everyone or just the students."

Harry shrugged, "I'd like to help everyone, but I was particularly concentrating on getting to students early enough to help their chances of learning, while they are in school."

Severus nodded.

"And I don't want for eyeglass makers to realise they can print money, just by charging more, until the fund is completely gone in a couple years, instead of in … a couple centuries."

"Good thinking," said Severus, "but your goal is for the students to be taken care of, especially those of Hogwarts age and younger: Why don't you tell the eye doctors, the magical ones at least, if they think that a child needs glasses, but that their family might not spring for them. To advertise your fund. They'll be able to assess the family in front of them and have a good idea from just looking at them and watching their response to seeing the doctor's bill. Whether they'd be insulted or encouraged by the idea of not needing to pay full price for eye glasses."

"Yeah, I suppose," said Harry.

"And you'll likely get as much business from the English and Irish day schools as you do from Hogwarts students, if not more. Hogwarts caters to the purebloods, even if our charter has the muggleborn scholarship clause for a very good reason."

Harry blinked, "I can't imagine Hermione needing a scholarship."

"No," agreed Severus, "and Mr. Finch-Fletchly doesn't, but how about the Creeveys?"

Harry shrugged.

"And do you think that Hermione's parents or your grandparents would have taken 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' seriously without the scholarship?"

"Um," said Harry, "I don't know."

"While you're pondering that, ponder this: why do the Weasleys send their children to school here? Instead of the English day school? Which is significantly closer to their economic class."

Harry blinked, "No idea."

Severus nodded, "Neither does anyone else. Both their parents came here, and you see how far it got them, Bill has made it pay, and Percy is likely to do the same, but for the other five, I'm fairly sure it was a waste of money. They could have done better with a lesser school and better preparations, like eyeglasses for Ronald."

"And a non-legacy wand," said Harry.

Severus snorted, "So he's under-performing in all his classes, not just mine?"

Harry shrugged, "Was under-performing, until Lockhart exploded his already cracked wand, attempting an overpowered memory charm. Now he can cast all the spells fine, and he already knows 75% of the theory going into most classes, but without the ability to read, I don't think he gets much above 85% coming out the other side."

"That's quite a jump for someone who doesn't study or take notes."

"I think the only technique he is proficient at is something he and Hermione call the Socratic method, but so far as I can tell, it's just arguing."

Severus turned an assessing gaze to Harry

"And you're used to arguing being only a prelude to blows, not a means of forcing ideas to compete?"

Harry blinked, "I suppose."

Severus nodded, "Did you want help poisoning Petunia?"

Harry shuddered, "I think it's about seven years late for something like that to do me any good. She's mostly alright now."

"Hmm," grunted Severus.

"Also Hermione checks up on them, and isn't above confiscating their house elf if she thinks they've been too rough lately."

"House elf?"

"Me," said Harry.

"Oh, you m—" Severus drew a wand and placed his cauldron and flame under stasis, before conjuring two arm chairs, and waving Harry towards one, "Tell me."

Harry frowned, "What haven't I already told you?"

"House elf?" said Severus, "you didn't tell me anything about … age inappropriate chores."

Harry shrugged, "I mentioned cooking regularly."

They stared at each other.

Harry finally realised that silence wouldn't progress the conversation anywhere, and shrugged, "Breakfast since before I was strong enough to lift a skillet, setting the table and washing up even before that. Lots of fixing up and gardening too."

Severus shrugged, "but as an all the time thing, not in rotation with other family members, or with their help?"

"Yes, all the setting and washing up, I guess you could consider the breakfast cooking to be in rotation with my aunt, as I rarely cooked Tea until later. Similarly I did all the weeding from as soon as I could be trusted not to pull bulbs, and the mowing as soon as I was capable of manhandling the mower around corners. I cannot guess what my life might have been if the mower hadn't been self propelled, either I'd have been allowed a few more years before I had to try, or I'd have been that much stronger, that much sooner." A cloud passed over his features, and he shrugged, "or that much closer to starvation for that much longer."

Severus nodded, "you did mention not enough food before, how much did you generally receive?"

"Breakfast," said Harry, "which was one or two strips of bacon, or toast, less if I was being punished for something."

"For what sorts of things?"

Harry shrugged, "fainting in the sun, saying anything other than 'yes, sir', having the bad taste to exist when anyone was in a bad mood." Harry shrugged, "no, that last was usually punished with blows instead of starvation, accidental magic always called for both blows and confinement and skipping my next meal."

Severus narrowed his eyes, "It's little wonder you took over a year to adjust to the desirability of working to your full potential with regards to magic."

Harry nodded emphatically, "I don't think Hermione understands that much."

Letting that insight stand might provide Harry with too clear a picture of several things.

"Don't sell her short," said Severus, "She hasn't yet been Head of House for a decade."

Harry shrugged and seemed to let it slide away.

"What else do we need to talk about?" said Harry.

Severus waved toward his work station, "my potions are under stasis and will keep, you tell me what else we need to talk about."

Harry stared at the work station for several seconds, then back toward Severus' chest. He sighed, then shrugged, then scratched his wrist and sat up straight, and recited in a monotone, "you should be made aware that Luna Lovegood is now under my protection."

A shiver ran up Severus spine. That was a sliver of a ritual. What ritual Severus had no idea. Though the scratch of the wrist immediately preceding it had awful connotations.

"What does that mean in practice?" said Severus, angling his wand absently to cast a severely under-powered compulsion for the boy to rub his face and play with his hair.

"It means," said the boy while complying with the request, "that if you detect that she's being bullied, or in any other form of danger, and find it … inconvenient or untenable to work through official channels, you may prefer to report the problem to me."

The boy's wrists were both free of marks and Severus dropped the compulsion, and considered what the boy had said.

"That seems rather … old fashioned," said Severus.

Harry shrugged, "It seemed necessary at the time, I'm … sort of hoping that in a year or two she'll feel confident enough to reject further help from me." He shrugged again.

"Hmm," said Severus.

Harry bit his lip, "a side effect will almost certainly be that she will be shunned or ignored by most of her classmates. I am not happy with that part."

"What can you do about it?"

"I'm not sure yet," said Harry, "I think mostly I'll just intervene as needed to make sure she has an adequate study group. Anything beyond that is potentially against the spirit of her original request."

Severus grunted, then nodded, "I meant, what can you do about the bullying?"

Harry shrugged, "bear witness to her needs, shine a light on what's happening when I happen to get there in time," Harry shrugged again, "send an elf after her belongings whenever they go missing again, offer talk therapy."

Severus nodded, "You have a better grasp on reality than I expected of you."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "What did you expect me to say?"

"Something gryffindor about arriving with wand blazing, hexing first and asking questions later, being a bigger bully than the bullies basically."

Harry nodded, "The law must be powerful enough to wield the capability of being the biggest bully, and never use it. I am neither the law nor appointed to be such, except in the sense that her majesty's subjects may appeal to me for a hearing. Temperamentally Luna won't appeal, and even if she did, the only legal recourse I would have would be owling her tormentor's parents to call them to account."

Severus nodded, "Now I understand your behaviour."

"What?"

"You sacrificed your childhood to force that confession out of Peter Pettigrew."

Harry nodded.

"I'm not sure why you did, but given that you did, you are making the correct decision, staying out of schoolyard fights that could have you tried as an adult."

"Exactly," said Harry.

"I'm aware that it isn't an easy decision to make."

Harry shrugged, "It just makes official what I'd already begun to sense, I'm living in a different world than my classmates, playing a different game for different stakes."

Severus nodded, "You'll find that there are some students here already watching and playing for adult level stakes, and some of them are already aware of you."

"Draco?"

"He's playing both games, because he can, and expects to keep his contacts even as they transition into adulthood."

Harry nodded, "I wish I had the patience for that."

Severus had to signal non-judgement, "Many others, aren't studying for grades, they are studying for proficiency."

Harry nodded, "Hermione isn't completely capable of distinguishing the difference."

"Let her be, she'll continue to study for both and probably without realising it."

Harry relaxed.

"On the one hand studying for proficiency shows that they are looking ahead to their career, on the other, it implies a distrust that the curriculum creators have their best interests in mind."

"Given the wide variety of opinions I've seen in manuals other than those we're studying from, some of which seem more helpful than what we've been recommended to believe and practice, I also have trouble trusting the curriculum creators entirely."

Severus shrugged, "the fundamental theory of magic is not a settled field. But that was not what I was getting at, what do you intend to do with your life?"

"I told McGonagall I wanted to be an Auror, I still … I think that would be a comfortable fit, but perhaps elsewhere within the DMLE might also be appropriate."

"How and why?"

Harry shrugged, "Nim and Hermione and Madam Bones dropping hints here and there."

Severus stared at him, "Hints about what?"

Harry took a deep breath, "Aurors need to be quick on their feet, need to get to the right answer as fast as possible and control and contain the situation ASAP. It is an important job."

"Agreed."

"I … bringing everyone to justice, making sure what they're given is actually justice, is also important."

Severus nodded, "Well said."

Harry sat up a bit straighter, and muttered, "Making sure they actually get the trial to which they are entitled."

Severus nodded, "That too."

Severus noted but did not comment that Harry made no mention of viewing his life as a disposable commodity available for sacrifice for the good of whoever. Severus wasn't even sure who Harry saw as his tribe, it certainly wasn't family, and no longer seemed to be 'all mages but slytherins,' so that was progress.

He still waited with anticipation for proof that Harry considered his own life to be worth saving.

He had no doubt that Nim had been working on that for most of the last year.

.

.

Express

Susan Bones ducked into their compartment and looked around. Then she narrowed her eyes at Ron, then looked away.

"Please affirm to me that the topic, if I remain will not be unusual sporting events in the near future?"

"Well it might be, now that you've brought the possibility up," said Ron, "what sorts of events?"

"Things that might bring Mr. Bagman, or Mr. Crouch senior to Hogwarts as a ministry Representative perhaps?" said Hermione.

"Oh that," said Harry and Ron.

Susan slumped into the far chair, "So you three already know, and don't need to bother pumping me for information?"

Hermione leaned forward, "If there's some bit of information that you're just dying to get off your chest, go ahead, otherwise no, its fine if the topic is something completely different."

Susan took a deep fortifying breath, and sat up straighter, "No, I doubt I know much more than anyone else is supposed to. But just the fact that I know anything I'm not allowed to tell is driving me crazy. And Hanna and Ernie notice things like that. And of course I cannot explain why there might be something I'm not allowed to talk about."

"Oh," said Hermione, "I didn't realise we weren't allowed to talk about it, who exactly are we not allowed to talk about it to, and for how long?"

"Until the welcoming feast," said Susan, "and only not tell … most anyone until the evening paper goes out tonight."

"Oh, that's alright then," said Hermione.

"So … what was the topic before I showed up," said Susan.

"How mental Harry is for adding Arithmancy and Survey of Law, he's already taking Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures."

Susan blinked and glanced around, until her eyes met Hermione's, "What are you taking?"

"Arithmancy, Runes, and Care," said Hermione, "I dropped Divination."

"All the third year electives minus Divination," said Susan, "and I suppose you tried to get early placement for the fifth year Ethics of Enchanting and Disenchanting OWL course?"

"I tried," said Hermione, "But I got turned down, just like everyone always does."

Susan nodded and smirked, "that class does not exist, the early admittance application section for it is actually so the ministry can gather information on you about something else."

Hermione narrowed her eyes and stared for a long time, then she nodded and looked away.

Mens Rea, guessed Harry and Nim almost in unison, But what about?

"How about you?" said Hermione.

"Of course not," said Susan, "my friends are too nosy. I'd never keep them from reading over my homework and grilling me about it all."

"Ah, fair enough," said Hermione.

"Um," said Harry, "Susan, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Ron Weasley. Together we're a right nosy group of individuals."

Susan's eyes popped open, "Do you two already know what we're talking about?"

"No," said Harry.

"But we will soon," said Ron, "now that we know to pay attention."

"I hope you're joking," said Susan.

"Actually, they are joking," said Hermione, "Ron has had too many older siblings prying into his privacy, and Harry has had a different group of problems with his relatives and school officials. They both have a fairly good intuitive grasp of when things start getting too private, and know not to go prying farther. At least when the secret is about something that poses no danger to them or their friends."

"Oh. Fair enough," Susan gave Harry a searching look, then sat back and sighed.

The topic soon turned to scheduling homework around meals and sleep and clubs, and then on to the variety of clubs that existed or had existed in the past. Apparently last year the hufflepuffs had wanted to restart a magical creatures club, but the dearth of reasonable support from Hagrid had put a dent in the plans.

.

Draco and his cohort popped in later and attempted to goad Ron into revealing that his father had let anything slip about the tournament, but with Susan's warning, the four of them managed to not admit anything, nor to accuse Draco of being a worse player at the 'keeping things a secret' game than they were, which would have been a different kind of loss.

.

The Feast went well enough, Harry was forcefully introduced to Denis Creevey. The Headmaster announced the closing of the Quidditch clubs and the hosting of the Triwizard Tournament, for 'eternal fame and 1000 galleons.' After a brief mention of danger it was glossed over with words about ministry representatives who would be overseeing it and making sure that new safety rules were implemented, including rules about the minimum age of the participants.

After he finished Professor Flitwick got up and gave a few vague announcements about changing rules and prefect selection requirements in Ravenclaw.

Finally a new Professor got up to speak, about safety in general and alertness in particular. But mostly about contingency planning.

.

It turned out that beyond teaching them all the spells they ought to need, and what creatures and potions and wards that they ought to be wary of. He spent a lot of class time discussing contingency planning.

Also monitoring your friends for signs of imperious and polyjuice.

.

{End Chapter 6}

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