Winter Breakfast Conversations
"Happy first day of winter," said Harry.
"That was yesterday," said Hermione.
"Really?" said Harry, "I guess Christmas Eve being the night before throws me off about how Yule night connects to solstice."
Ron snorted, "there's at least six traditions, Hogwarts is pretty median, we couldn't get any more ecumenical, without switching to the 25th."
"Ecumenical?" said Hermione, "did someone leave a dictionary on the refreshments table and you swallowed it by mistake?"
Ron's eyes popped open, then he grinned, "You're just jealous that you're no longer the only girl teaching me big words."
"Hmm, fair," said Hermione, "Did …"
Harry watched the gleam in her eye and figured out that it was going to be even more barbed than the last.
"Actually, Hermione?" said Harry, "do you have any important intelligence to report?"
She turned to stare at him, "No, what?"
Harry shrugged.
"Like what?"
"Secret intelligence from … the competitor's alliance of international cooperation against ministry incompetence in general and death in particular?"
"CAICAMIGDIP?" She smirked, then her eyes flashed, "No, Not much, you?"
He shook his head, "No, but apparently there are not one but four part veela here. And the allure and specifically how far they're willing to turn it on apparently signals status amongst themselves."
"How is that relevant?" said Hermione.
"Mostly only in that, that was my bit of news," said Ron, "I'm not sure why he didn't bring his own. Also my perspective wasn't on them signalling status, but on which motivations the allure attacks, and therefore which love potions can pre-subvert those motivations and therefore block or mitigate the effect."
"What?"
"Millie and I have been experimenting," said Ron.
"For how long?"
"Since a about a week after they got here," said Ron.
"Experimenting with love potions?" said Hermione, "That's like …"
"Experimenting with cheering charms, or confundus charms, or imperious curse?" said Ron, "Or pepper up, or wit-sharpening solution?"
"I was going with imperious," said Hermione.
"That would be a mistake," said Ron, "there are many different recipes, aiming for many different effects."
"Humph," said Hermione, "Then … I suppose … for most of them I have to back off to: was it consensual?"
"It was my idea," said Ron, "and I was the test subject, and she agreed and we drew up the schedule together, and she proposed several ideas how we could test them all, (well all the ones we can afford to brew) with fewer doses over all."
"Has she let you keep your virginity?" said Hermione.
"We took care of that before the first dose," said Ron, "there are some interesting rituals around that … and anyway they cannot function if the choice is coerced in any way."
"Hmm," said Hermione, and turned to Harry, "Did you know all that?"
"I knew that virginity is a gift, and better to bestow it or sacrifice it, rather than lose it," said Harry, "I didn't know that there might be additional specific rituals to look for. Beyond all the normal magical arithmancy of, 'willingly given' vs. 'forcibly taken' vs. 'Subtly coerced,' vs. 'Burgled Unknowing,' most of which you don't hear used about virginity, but about ceremonial weapons and potions ingredients."
"Was yours willingly given?" said Hermione.
"Yes," said Ron.
"Willingly sacrificed," said Harry.
Ron turned to stare at him, "What did you trade it for?"
"Keeping my sanity," said Harry.
Ron recoiled, "do I even want to know?"
"Do you remember when—" said Hermione.
"Not in the great hall," said Harry.
"Fair," said Hermione.
"Well yeah," said Ron.
They all took a bite.
"Mine was willingly given also," murmured Hermione.
Ron blinked and glanced up, "good," said Ron, "that's most … that's good. You can still run the arithmancy on what happened, magic requires intent, but not all of it requires fully premeditated intent. Also the thing about ritual magic is that timing can be adjusted to any rhythm, as long as it is compatible with the intent and the … what's the word, story? Narrative? Ugh, never mind, you know what I'm talking about."
Hermione shrugged, "What does 'not fully premeditated intent' mean?" she said.
"Accidental magic often happens with strong emotions, and only a minimum of intent, and perhaps no visualisation of outcome at all. That's what's accidental about it," said Ron, "If you did all the mind work, maybe it would happen easier, without the strong emotions necessary, or maybe it wouldn't happen at all, because there's no path of least resistance low enough to get from Before to After."
"Where did you learn all that?" said Hermione.
"I already knew it," said Ron, "I just … I've gotten a little … inured to talking about ritual magic in public from hanging out around slytherins."
Hermione stared at him for several seconds.
"I know, I know, some kind of hypocrisy," said Ron, "But there's a difference between knowing something significant can be ritualised, and going out of one's way to make my whole life into a series of them as some kind of weird attempt to maximise the number of things I hope magic will help me do."
"The amount of consistency and planning required to implement that last sounds more like a hufflepuff thing than a slytherin thing," said Hermione.
Ron paused his chewing for a moment, then nodded, shrugged, and went back to eating.
.
"Sooo," said Hanna, "How was the dance?"
"Still processing," said Susan, "Mostly good. Had some fun, made some interesting observations."
"How was Neville?"
"Still processing," said Susan.
"Oh? Give me a hint?"
"We're so much alike in some ways, that sometimes it scared me."
"Hmm, do you want to give examples?"
"No, well a counter example is that he likes the traditional waltzes and things, and I liked Weird Sisters also."
"Ah, what else?"
Susan shrugged.
"Are you going to Hogsmeade with him tomorrow?"
"First of all, no. second of all, it's not a Hogsmeade weekend."
"Oh, right. But you could still spend time with him. Oh, that's what you meant by 'first of all, no.'?"
"Yes."
"Alright, may I?"
"May you what?"
"Invite him on a hike to the greenhouses or something."
"Be my guest, but why?"
"You just said, he's 'the male version of my best friend,' of course I require more intelligence, as soon as possible."
"Oh," said Susan and stared at her.
Hanna raised an eyebrow.
"First of all, thank you. Second of all, thank you for asking. third of all, you're welcome to him, and with my blessing. Lastly, as your best friend I'm supposed to tell you that you could do better, but, in reality, probably not a lot better."
"You're welcome, and thank you."
"You're welcome," said Susan, "How was Issac then, if you're over him already?"
"He was a, 'we're supposed to have an escort for the sole purpose of having someone to dance with for the first pair dances' date, not a date-date."
"Oh."
"We both agreed to that ahead of time, it was nice having someone being so straightforward about what they wanted, I shall attempt to be so self-honest in the future, as to be able to reply similarly if anyone asks those sorts of questions."
"Good."
.
"You're looking well," said Parvati.
"I'm feeling well," said Padma and resettled herself, "You've got that glow of finally getting enough exercise to rest well."
"Yes," said Parvati, "I know right, I wish it could be spring all year, but whatever. Did you have fun last night?"
"Yes, very educational."
"I saw you watching me, why didn't you dance?"
"I didn't want to dance, and did want to watch you, and everyone watching you."
"Oh," said Parvati, "How did I look?"
"Strong, confident, and proud, like a war horse."
"Yes, well," said Parvati, "When did you leave?"
Padma shrugged, "Went to bed. I managed to speak to a lion in its own language and he let me ride him home."
Parvati frowned, "That's a rather singular dream. A lion is aggression, home is security and basic needs and values, talking to animals … that's either impressively improved communication skills … or … it might just mean the lion is symbolic of a person."
"Plausible," said Padma.
"Wait to our house, or its house?"
"Its … library actually," said Padma.
Parvati blinked and sat down to pull out her divination book, "Either that's why it could talk to you or you to it, or Library, hmm, was it organised or disorganised?"
"Disorganised, maybe more of a study, actually, or a laboratory."
Parvati flipped several pages back, "laboratory is less about knowledge and more about exploration and self discovery."
"Well obviously," said Padma.
"A disorganised library implies too much new information or new experience too fast."
"Yes, well," said Padma.
Parvati looked up, "did your date last night invite you on a second?"
"No," said Padma.
"I don't believe you," said Parvati, "did he and you were too overwhelmed and turned him down?"
Padma snorted, "No, more like I met someone else."
"And he asked you on a date, and you just left."
Padma chuckled, "sort of."
"And once you decide, are you going to tell him yes, or no?"
"Nah," said Padma, "I already told him what kind of friendship I wanted."
"Are you going to tell Mom and Dad?"
"Depends on … how well I think they'll keep it from Dad's family."
"Yes, well," said Parvati, "So far I've managed not to admit to Grandma that any of my fellow students are boys."
"When I figured out who around here has traditions that they'd recognise, I said the boys here probably wouldn't talk to us until after next year, because traditionally that is when courting will start among the purebloods."
"That sounds like a rational approach," said Parvati, "I wonder how much they already guess from talking to Mom. Or for that matter connected from talking to both of us…"
"I have no idea," said Padma, "We've got extremely smart ancestors on both sides. "
.
"Happy Christmas everyone," said Ron.
"Thanks, Ron," said Hermione.
"Nice jumpers," said Ginny.
"Thanks," said Harry, "the green really makes my eyes pop this year."
"Eww," said Ginny, "If you don't like that colour you don't have to be rude."
"Hmm?" said Harry.
"Harry," said Hermione, "quit it with the muggle jargon, you're confusing the purebloods."
"What? Oh," said Harry, "Right sorry, Ginny. It means the colour matches between things so well that it makes both more noticeable. Therefore the new or optional thing is verified as a useful accessory in presenting the original thing to better effect."
Ginny stared at him, "well that was the point. And I can see why they use 'pop'. But still, that's not what I thought you meant when you used 'pop' to refer to your eyes."
"Oh!" said Harry, "Sorry," then it was his turn to shudder.
"Thank you for the potion," said Ginny, "Did you brew it yourself?"
"No, but I did help with ingredients prep," said Harry, "in exchange for the money to buy it."
"I'm not sure that basilisk counts," said Ginny.
"I sort of haven't touched the basilisk money yet," said Harry. "I meant Vector's dragon money actually."
Ron sat up, "how much was that?"
"About eighty galleons for everyone who helped as much as I did," said Harry.
"That's kind of a lot for an afternoon's worth of work," said Ron.
"Two afternoon's and one evening's worth of work," said Hermione, "and he missed out on the party your brothers threw for him."
"Missing that was mildly intentional," said Harry, "I wasn't the one who entered the ring."
"I'm not arguing," said Hermione, "I'm making sure Ron remembers all the specifics before he decides to change his career plan to something he claims not to enjoy."
Ron sat up and stared at her, "Hmm," he said, "good point, and no riddles during breakfast."
"Thank you for the books everyone," said Hermione.
"What potion did he give you, Ginny?" said Ron sounding mildly cross.
"The animagus trance potion," said Ginny, "Do you want to be my spotter when I take it?"
"Oh, nice," said Ron, "Sure, I don't mind." He glanced at Harry then after a moment, "Thanks for the candy everyone."
"You're welcome," said Hermione.
He glanced at Hermione and smirked. Though the effect was ruined by some food stuck between his teeth.
Hermione stared back with one eyebrow raised. It went on for much longer than was polite.
Ginny poked Harry and whispered, "what's that about?"
"She also gave him a book," said Harry, "and he can't bring himself to say 'thank you' out loud, but he appreciates it and does want her to know."
"Oh," said Ginny. And then, "So what else did you get besides the jumper?"
"I got a hand mirror from my godfather, I would have expected him to choose House of Black colours, but no, House of Potter," I didn't even recognise them at first, "It's kind of touching," but also kind of creepy, I didn't really take Professor Lupin's accusation of him stalking me seriously until … well until a present more personalised than, 'Oh he's on the Quidditch team, and does hobby flying in addition to that, give him a broom.'
I'll have to owl him and see if he feels like explaining himself.
.
"Hello nifflers and neighbours," said Ginny and sat down one seat away from Ron.
Ron glanced over, then at the empty spot between. Then he swallowed and queried, "Luna?"
"Nope, She hasn't visited the tower since she returned, I'm not sure what she's busy with. Though two entire days without visiting isn't that far out of the ordinary, I may have to look her up later."
Harry hooked a thumb toward the far end of Ravenclaw table, "She's sitting in Padma's lap."
The other three craned their necks. Hermione and Ginny soon looked back.
"I guess that's another way to ensure that no one sits on her by accident," said Ginny.
"I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble picturing Padma as the type to have befriended her," said Hermione, "And that doesn't look like any kind of friendship I'd have expected."
"Are you sure?" said Harry.
"Obviously my assessment was off somewhere," said Hermione, "But I've never claimed my ability to assess people is above average."
"Hmm," said Ron, "Which of you braided her hair?"
Ginny and Hermione turned again to stare.
"There's transfigured vegetables in it," said Ginny, "Luna did it."
At which point Harry did look again.
"Merlin," said Hermione, "she's got goals within goals for that to now be an acceptable way to be seen in public."
"Well," said Harry, "She seems to really know how to keep the attention of the boy she's trying to attract."
"Merlin," said Hermione, "how many Lunas are there in Ravenclaw, and how did I miss a boy version?"
Harry reached under the table and patted her knee, "Because I'm not in Ravenclaw."
Hermione tensed, "I'm sorry, Harry," she said, "I guess that might have sounded different than I meant it."
"How did you mean it?"
"Standing out from the standard distribution," said Hermione, "I stand out from the standard distribution, you know, so do you, I just … different people stand out more, and in different ways."
"I think you meant more than that."
"Under-socialised orphans, and it shows?" said Hermione, "given how little morality large swaths of wizarding and muggle school-age populations can manage, 'Under-socialised' enough to withstand peer pressure isn't necessarily an insult."
"And you did notice me," said Harry.
"Point," said Hermione.
"Are you two flirting, or doing therapy?" said Ginny.
"No," said Harry, "That was 'fighting and making up,'"
"Are you going to kiss too?" said Ginny.
Hermione stuck her tongue out. Which kept the attention off Harry shaking his head.
Ginny flinched, "Hermione!"
Hermione shrugged and returned to eating.
Ron and Ginny both seemed to be staring at her in a daze.
"By the way," said Hermione after enough time to chew and swallow, "is Padma a fan or a friend?"
"Friend and ally," said Harry, "though the alliance is focused specifically on taking care of Luna and helping Padma revise so she can attain the prefect badge next year, for the additional power to effect change in ravenclaw."
"OK, wow," said Hermione she looked again, "They're gone, where did they go?"
"Over there, talking to Malfoy," said Ginny.
"What?" said Hermione and Ron.
"That's an interesting development," said Harry, "I wonder if she's really going to take my advice to consult Professor Snape. Or if Draco is as far as she or Luna is comfortable."
"Consult him on what?" said Ron.
"On how to be a proper head of house," said Harry.
Ron's mouth hung open long enough his food tumbled out.
"What?"
"He's a significantly better head of house than any of the others," said Harry, "with the possible exception of Sprout. He's just a horrible professor."
"Deja vu," said Hermione, "what's next?"
Harry shrugged, "nothing in particular, unless you want in on study sessions."
"Of course I do," said Hermione.
"Well they'll probably be either in the library or in the office, and I'm betting on the office, simply because outside of law, I think her theory is ahead of her practical, at least in the areas she's asking for my help."
"Got it," said Hermione.
.
Draco looked up to find the most frightening of his ravenclaw cousins baring down on him, with another ravenclaw in tow. No matter what the little one said, it would either be something he didn't want to hear or something he didn't want everyone else to hear. He stood, gave them a sideways nod, and headed for the side exit.
They caught up to him before he got out the door, "This might not need to take very long," said Patil.
"It might still be private," said Draco without turning back from the door.
"True," she said, "But there might be advantages to having some of it be public."
"Some of it," said Draco, "'Some of it' sounds like something to decide carefully."
"Agreed," she said.
And they were out into the corridor and he led them toward the hospital wing, a higher percentage of the classrooms in that direction would be unused, and a greater portion of the foot traffic would more likely to be moving faster.
When they were out of the hall and he had enough privacy charms up that his only fear was what Luna would say in front of Patil…
"Mom," said Luna, "you know my cousin Draco, Draco, this is my new personal prefect, Patil Padma."
"Hmm," said Draco, "That sounds complicated."
"It is," said Patil, "The short term goal is to help Harry protect Luna from bullying, the overarching goal is to eliminate bullying at Hogwarts, the one path forward seems to be for me to become prefect, but more than that, alter the cultural landscape such that everyone is safe."
Draco stared at her, "What do you want from me?"
"My research says that Flitwick has to nominate me for prefect and all the heads of house have to agree. Normally they agree, but this is more important than just some award at a school club, this is about several students being too scared to go to class, or even worse, scared to return to their dorm."
Draco blinked, and his memory provided instances of behaviours that hadn't fit a pattern before and now did. Last year if he'd known what pattern they fit, he might have continued to ignore it. Losers wouldn't help him.
Just like 'bumbling Potter' would never amount to anything, not even smart enough to know how to capitalise on his one skill, seeker. Now Harry was starting to look like the most influential power nexus outside of slytherin. And his strategy was rescuing victims. Except he didn't even think it was a strategy, just a thing to do if he got there before the adults could.
It hinted towards Harry's value system, a system that Draco had gradually begun to be able to mentally simulate.
At the very least it subtly forced everyone to group him with adults in certain ways.
"Merlin," he said, "that does need to be changed."
Patil gave him an odd look.
Then there was Luna, she'd been bullied, not for being a loser, but for being too frightening. She had that way of talking. Saying the truth that people had been ignoring for so long that they'd forgotten it.
"Alright," said Draco, "So you want this bad enough to not leave next year's prefect selections to chance, you want to dictate them."
"Yes," she said, "Or at least ravenclaw."
"Do you have a selection for male prefect also, or is it just yourself at the moment?"
"I'd vote for Harry for gryffindor, but I don't think he cares one way or another."
"Exactly," said Draco, "He's going to do the best he can for everyone regardless of how much support the adults give him, you however would prefer to work from within the system."
"Yes," she said, "Luna said I should consult you. Harry said I should consult Head-of-house Snape."
'Head-of-house' not 'Professor' Snape, that was telling. She had real goals, and apparently had significant access to Harry's intelligence network. Also apparently more of Harry's support than he'd expected for an ambition like, 'I want to be prefect.'
Draco nodded, "What's in it for me?"
"When you're prefect next year, we'll have to work together, would you rather work with me or with someone else?"
That was an interesting play. It could easily backfire several ways, such as if Draco would rather work with someone else, or actively wished not to be prefect, or … There wasn't a better choice for prefect: Blaise would be a more sympathetic ear for the firsties, and Theo would be a fairer judge for disputes, but neither wielded as much influence as Draco, neither could read a situation so quickly and speak into it, redirecting its flow, rather than damming up the flow and starting fresh flow in the new direction.
"I wouldn't mind working with you," said Draco, "But that isn't quite what I was asking for."
He gave her only a beat to suggest something else, in case that was only an opening gambit and she had another offer to make. She didn't make another offer.
"Never mind, we'll come back to it later. Let me tell you a story. Imagine that you are Professor Flitwick and you had two students with equal power and influence, in fact they're in all the same cliques, Let's see, we won't use your name. Lets call them Harry and Ron."
"Oh god," said Padma.
"Further lets say that Harry would make the perfect prefect, quieter, more sympathetic to the young ones, better work ethic, good enough academic record that he can sacrifice some revising time to carry out prefect duties, etc. You get the idea."
"Sure," said Padma.
"Ron on the other hand is more of a party animal, but he's got a good heart. Remember you're Master Snape, I mean Professor Flitwick, which do you make prefect?"
"Harry is the one that deserves it?"
"Harry is the one that deserves it," agreed Draco, "But which do you choose?"
"You're presenting it as a trick question, so I know it's 'Ron,' but I have no idea why I shouldn't give it to 'Harry,'"
"Because," said Draco, "Harry will do the work of a prefect, regardless of whether you give him the badge, if you give the badge to Ron, you get two prefects for the price of one."
"Oh," said Padma, and closed her eyes, "What do you suggest?"
"Two choices," said Draco, "You can be a Harry, and do the work of a prefect now, without waiting for the badge."
"I sort of was planning on it," said Padma, "But … I'd only be able to get anything done while my social capital held out, if Professor Flitwick didn't endorse my actions by making me prefect, or something vaguely similar, it would all fall apart."
"Or you'd need to gain and maintain the endorsement of the masses instead of the powers that be," said Draco, "But I understand your predicament, you're not Harry Potter, you're merely Padma Patil."
Padma nodded.
"So in your story, we see either Padma starts doing prefect work now, and gets justly rewarded, or gets passed over in favour of someone who could do good prefect work, but only if they were enticed into it with a badge and/or the introductory training that comes with the badge. Or you don't start now, and get passed over because no one knows if you'd be good at it, or don't get passed over, and it's only random chance whether you're picked out from the crowd."
"Yes."
"Then, this is only a suggestion, not a full plan, or even a proposal of a plan: what if you go to Professor Flitwick, and say that you think you'd like to be prefect, is there literature on how to do that properly, read it and go back to him and say that yes, you still wish to be prefect, what do you need to do to convince him that you deserve it? For instance is there a portion of their duties that you could get permission to start helping with ahead of time, etc. To prove to him that you are the best fit for the position."
"That puts things mildly more above board," said Padma, "But how does that help me not lose in a Harry/Ron situation?"
"The point is work him into a deal where he agrees to make you prefect. And he knows that you'll back off if he doesn't. Make sure he knows that if he gives you the badge he's getting a pre-trained and highly motivated prefect, and if he gives it to anyone else, not only would he'd be choosing a less capable prefect, he'd be losing your cooperation. Plus he'd be losing whatever social capital you amass in his name as prospective prefect in training."
Padma smiled, "I like it."
Draco nodded, "again, as you said, the other heads of house also have to approve, I'd definitely ask Master Snape what else you should know or try or watch out for."
She nodded, "Harry already said he's the best head-of-house and I ought to ask for lessons, even if I don't want lessons in being a good head-of-house, I want lessons in how to be a good prefect in spite of a mediocre head-of-house."
"Hmm," said Draco, "Also good ideas, you should … plan carefully what you're going to ask for, and what you can offer him in return."
"I cannot imagine there's anything I can give him in return except my sister's hair potion recipe."
"You definitely shouldn't offer him that in your opening negotiations, at most, leave it behind by accident once when you have reason to be re-packing your things in his office."
"Hmm," she said, "alright."
Draco turned to Luna, "am I forgetting anything important?"
"The Heliopaths vs the Rotfang conspiracy," said Luna, "everyone is always forgetting them."
Draco blinked, "that is an important thing not to forget, I meant important things I ought to be telling Padma about becoming prefect."
"Yes," said Luna, "but they will be easier for her to learn from the slytherin and ravenclaw prefect introduction books than from you."
Well, there was a mild rebuke. That was fine, he hadn't imagined himself as an ideal teacher, so the idea that someone else was, and had recorded the lesson to parchment, didn't sting, much.
"So there are instruction books for how to be a prefect, and all the houses have separate books?"
"Apparently," said Draco, "and that might be a useful and clear thing to request from Master Snape."
"Ah! Yes," said Padma, "Thank you for your time, Draco."
Draco held out his hand, and she shook it with a smile.
Good vibing. Interesting.
Draco wondered who Harry's choices for prefect were for the other six positions.
"And you shouldn't threaten your brother with his own words," said Luna, "He prefers it the way things are."
Draco's eyes tracked sideways to Luna and he shivered.
"Wait until you're in charge, then start making things right."
Draco turned to Padma, "did you get that or do I need to translate 'brother' to 'authority, either government or school faculty, and 'his words' to 'rule of law,'"
"So when I talk to Professor Snape or McGonagall about my bid for prefect, or my hopes that they'll consider Harry after all, I never mention that Ravenclaw still memorises the rule book, and enforces them within the dorm."
"To the extent anyone can catch anyone," muttered Luna.
Ah, if that is how sophisticated an enemy Luna was facing, no wonder Harry's first strategy was to turn her invisible.
Then again, that might just have been a special thing for him.
...-...
In which a witch is interviewed
"The door's open," said Minerva.
"Good afternoon, deputy headmistress," said Parvati's sister.
"Good afternoon, Miss Patil."
"I have several things I'd like to talk to you about."
"I'd imagine so, from your greeting, where shall we start?"
"Harry and Hermione and I and a couple others are still interested in the animagus transformation, is there a recommended course of study we should be working through in preparation for that? Or is it just a weekend workshop we should fill out a petition for? Or is it something else?"
"Ah, there is a rather long course of study, then there's an 8 week intensive every year, which finishes just before the apparition course starts, it's already past for this year, but if you read all the prerequisite books, and can do the exercises to my satisfaction on the first week, you may attend."
"Alright, thank you."
"I'll warn you that it's mostly sixth and seventh years, but I have full confidence in all three of you, and you have 10 months to prepare."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, is that all?"
"Also, I want to be a prefect next year, and I've made arrangements with Flitwick for early training and helping out with some of the duties on a trial bases."
"Ah, that is very proactive of you."
"Thank you," said Padma, "It was based on some advice from Harry and Draco."
"… I hadn't known you were on speaking terms with either of them."
"Well, I met Harry at the Ball, I … I helped him take care of someone, and he apparently thought I am ally-in-rescuing-people material."
"Well then, may you follow Neville's path and not Ron and Hermione's."
"What?"
"Did he offer you ways to get into trouble right away, or is he holding off until later?"
Padma stared, "What?"
"Never mind, what's your point?"
"Something Harry said made me realise that he looks out for others the way I wish I did."
"You want to impress him?"
"Well yes, but … that wasn't my point, anyway, from something Draco said, I realised that maybe Harry is the ideal prefect. But you might choose Ron in his place, with the idea that if Harry will be prefect, even without the badge, you get two for the price of one if you give it to anyone else, and they take it at all seriously."
"First of all, I had picked out Dean Thomas. Both Ron and Harry get into an unconscionable amount of trouble."
Padma stared at her, clearly shocked.
"Look at this tournament for one thing."
"I was under the impression he didn't enter it."
"Maybe, but he killed a dragon."
"I thought that was what he was supposed to do, the others just couldn't manage it, or … I think Fleur decided that leaving it alive would be more impressive."
"Why would …?" urg those muggles! I told him, and told him.
"Why would, what?"
"Never mind."
"Alright, well, I don't know Dean very well, but I think that if you don't give it to Harry, you're making a mistake. And if you want him to work through channels instead of taking care of things himself, you're going to have to teach him what the channels are. I doubt anyone's ever told him where to look those things up, or how to order a copy of The Rules of Hogwarts, or anything else."
"They don't sell that anymore."
"I'm aware, but I was surprised when Draco told me why."
Minerva blinked, "Why did he tell you they don't sell that anymore?"
"Because getting used to navigating a corrupt power structure at school is good training for working in a corrupt ministry after school, and Hogwarts is a school for the elites that want government jobs, not the rank and file workforce, they all go to the more affordable day schools."
"That can't be the real reason."
"It's not the reason it fell out of use during Headmaster Dippit's time, but it's why it hasn't been brought back under Lady D'ormand and Lord Malfoy's time as chairs of the board of governors."
"What's your point?"
"Let me get it to Potter, maybe if he knows the rules, he can follow them, or at least understand what is and is not enforceable and why, instead of merely constantly assessing the difference between his own ethics, and the status quo, and trying to intuit what morals mage culture sanctions."
"I'll consider it," said McGonagall, "in the mean time, can you tell me … what Potter's candidacy means to you?"
Padma shrugged, "He deserves it. Most of anyone I know, including all of the current ravenclaw prefects."
"How so?"
"Do you have any idea what Luna's dorm mates were doing to her, and none of the prefects caught on? Or even wondered why she was sans clothes, or sans school supplies, or becoming more and more withdrawn?"
Padma's stare was unnerving. And her patient silence was proving to be approaching more unnerving.
"I didn't until Potter brought it to my attention."
Padma nodded, "and nothing has been done since then, except what Harry has done."
"I haven't noticed him doing anything, except throwing around some empty threats, and some legal jargon that he doesn't have much right to appropriate."
"He turned her invisible and let only the faculty and a few of her friends see her, he gave her the power to turn her own things invisible, which of course stopped the majority of the thefts. The first thing he asked after I told him how I identified with my supposed animagus animal, was, 'can you do anything to protect Luna Lovegood? and the others like her?'"
"And you told him 'yes'?"
"I told him I'd do my best to become prefect."
"And he said?"
"He gave me permission to see and speak with Luna, and suggested," she paused for several seconds too long, swallowed and continued, "several things about … how to become a great prefect, instead of the mediocre to poor prefects that Ravenclaw has had recently."
Was she swallowing unkind words, or a lump in her throat?
"Who would you say is closest to Harry?"
"Hermione?"
"And after her?"
"Ron or Draco or Neville or Luna or I."
"In that order?"
Padma closed her eyes, and vanished, "I'm not sure," she said, "I'd put each of them in a different category," she reappeared and opened her eyes. She met Minerva's eyes and shrugged, "I just don't know him that well yet, but I intend to."
"How do you mean that?"
Padma shrugged again, "He's not really the boy-who-lived, you know, he's just an orphan who rescues."
That sounded disturbingly familiar.
Neville's ball from Draco, and Hermione from a troll, Megan from Marilyn, the Stone from Quirrell, but that was a joint operation. The next year started with Harper from Crabbe and Goyle, she'd never determined who to pin that rescue on, at the time she'd assumed Harry, but from this late date it had the fingerprints of Susan's posse. Andre from a prank extended much too long and vectored through a lie to the house elves, again an unknown hero, but the detective work required pointed to Susan, but Neville was rumoured to have a better rapport with the elves so it might have been him, several cases of long range exposure to mandrake, which again might implicate either Neville or Susan as rescuer, That whole fiasco that Peregrine uncovered, though he might have waited until a blackmail attempt failed before he brought it to light. Then the business with the Heir of Slytherin. 93-94 had been a quiet year, apparently rescuing that swamp cat, and the swamp cat rescuing Draco had pulled Harry's attention off other things. And this year the tournament.
Harry's rescues had a tendency for more danger and drama. Susan's for a different kind of investigative work, and her solutions tended toward making the sorts of threats that were bureaucratically condoned. Neville's had foibles attached that hinted he'd been exposed to stories only appropriate to be passed on to an heir of the ancient Robards / Misslethorpe blackmail machine. But Padma was right, Harry wasn't the only one to be caught going out of bounds to rescue people from near death experiences.
"So you think Harry and not Neville?"
"Neville might be a gentler prefect, but I'm not sure that's what it would take to be a good prefect in gryffindor."
"Ah," A wise observation.
"Do you also support a candidacy for Susan Bones."
"Not as sure that wouldn't look like nepotism between Dumbledore and her aunt, but … I'm not clear how much say he'd have in the selection process anyway."
"Ah."
"Also, she's a good choice, but I'm not convinced I know the hufflepuffs well enough to guess who'd be best."
"Do you also have a recommendation for slytherin?"
"I assume Draco and Daphne if one kind of influence is considered necessary for them to operate, Tracy and Blaise, if you're looking only for empathy, Pansy and Theo could work, if you were selecting them … to be prefects of gryffindor, but if we're going that far into hypotheticals, Daphne and Theo if you were selecting them to be prefects of ravenclaw."
"But given that we're talking about prefects for slytherin, and they have to work with all the other prefects?"
"I'm sticking with Daphne and Draco."
"Hmm."
"Are you mocking me?" said Padma, "You're not actually interested in my nominations, so what are we even talking about?"
"Two things, there's a faculty betting pool, it involves, just about everything, Lately I've mostly stayed out of the prefect selection wagers, I make significantly more on the O.W.L. results wagers, but your information is providing an interesting counterpoint to my own thoughts, I might check the odds and invest in some of your guesses."
"Oh, good grief."
"Also, If I offered you a risk free way to cross Potter's path as a witch-in-woe, to see first-hand how well he handles himself while attempting to rescue you, would you jump at the chance or hand it off to that list you gave me earlier."
"Um, that makes no sen— Oh, the tournament?"
"Yes."
"Normally I'd say no, I came to his attention by being capable and showing empathy, I'm not sure I'd want to risk … you said he'd have to rescue me?"
"Yes."
"You said I'm not actually going to be in any danger?"
"Correct."
"Will he? Be in danger I mean?"
"Depends on how well he prepares."
"So … yes?"
"Yes."
"And if I just tell him I won't be in any danger, so he needn't bother?"
"If he doesn't 'compete' to the satisfaction of the game rules, he loses his magic, I recommend you not telling him."
"I cannot do that to him, anyway, does he already know about the loss of magic thing?"
"Yes."
"Then I should tell him, that he's there to keep himself safe and to show off, not to be panicking over whether or not he can rescue me."
"I still believe that would be unwise."
"Then I'd rather not participate."
Minerva blinked, then leaned forward, "I didn't mean that your idea isn't good and polite empathy for your friend, I mean, when he thinks he's rescuing he takes horrible risks, but only those he deems reasonable and helpful to the task at hand. But think about how he acts on the quidditch pitch, do you really think giving him a suggestion to 'show off' is a good idea?"
Padma shrugged, "can't say I made it to all that many games."
Right, ravenclaw, even for their own games they didn't have a full turnout.
Then Minerva realised she was being played, and compressed her lips.
Padma held up her hands with a grin, "Yeah, you're probably right, I won't tell him to show off."
"Thank you."
"Maybe, to not even let on that he knows what's up."
"Hmm."
"So, I guess I could participate," she said, "Was that all?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Thank you also, where should I look for that transfiguration reading list?"
"In the course catalogue by Madam Pince' desk."
Her eyes lit up, "Alright!" She barely had time to say, "Thank you!" before the door closed behind her.
There goes another ravenclaw turning into a monster.
...-...
In which Padma notices concern
"Potter, stay after class."
"Yes, Professor Vector."
.
In the corridor Hermione looked around, then stared at Padma, "You've got this?"
"Um?" said Padma, "Got what?"
"Buddy system, Harry has both fans and detractors, it's best if he always has a friendly wand at his back, and a friendly witness more to the point. I need to be early to my next class, are you willing to walk with Harry. Like you've already started halfheartedly doing, over the last two weeks."
Padma stood up straight, "Yes, I can."
"Good, bang on the door and remind them of the time if it looks like it's going to make you late."
"Got it."
"Good luck, bye," and Hermione turned and jogged away down the corridor and vanished around a corner that made less sense than usual. Padma wondered which class she was headed for next.
"Buddy system. fans and detractors," muttered Padma, "Friendly witnesses," damn, what else have I missed about Potter's life?
She looked around, she was alone.
And the danger was supposed to be mostly directed at Harry. So she had a moment to kill, flash cards? Arithmancy or runes?
How long would he be? Runes or Arithmancy?
Neither and both?
She held up her hand, and muttered, "My Harry," the itch in her lower back reasserted itself ever so slightly, "Harry's Padma," her hand faded from sight, she pushed it harder until it re-appeared.
"Padma is her own woman," she muttered, the itch stopped, her hand vanished then gradually reappeared.
"Repeatable," she sighed, "but not explainable."
She repeated the process twice more when a new thought struck her, I wonder if my own personal rune means anything interesting. And would it be worth the trouble to find it before that got covered in class anyway.
The door opened, Professor Vector was looking at her.
.
"Miss Patil, could you come in here?"
She gulped, "Yes, Professor."
Vector closed the door and went to her desk.
Padma kept her questioning look going.
"Harry has something he wants to tell you."
Padma turned to him. That sounded ominous.
"You know my name was entered into the tournament against my will?"
"Yes."
"Professor Vector was the one confounded into trying to trick the goblet. Being significantly more capable than the average student, and not technically a student of any of the schools, it selected her as a worthy champion from an extra group. Causing her imitation of my signature to be chosen."
"Oh," said Padma.
"With my consent, She's been hiding under polyjuice to compete."
"Oh!" said Padma, then some of the implications started sinking in, she turned to the professor, "Congratulations, Professor, that dragon take-down was impressively fast and effective."
"Thank you, Miss Patil."
"The second task," said Harry, "involves rescuing someone 'close to me' from potion induced stasis at the bottom of the black lake."
"Impressive," said Padma.
"Currently we think you're up, mostly because you're who I left the yule ball with. But we think we could lobby through channels for it to be Ron instead."
"Plausible," said Padma, "so what's the decision matrix?"
"The other thing," said Harry, "Is that as a peer of the realm, I have a right to represent anyone I wish, in a tourney, I could in fact substitute for Professor Vector, substituting for me, substituting for her. If you even care which of us rescues you."
Very capable Harry, or ultra capable professor. Harry was impossibly capable for a fourth year, Professor Vector, merely above average for an adult.
"No special preference there either," said Padma, "But, what are the dangers involved?"
"While you're under stasis, the merfolk will be guarding you the entire time," explained Professor Vector, "If no one wakes you before the time limit, a timed portkey will take you back to the infirmary, where the antidote will be administered."
"Understood."
"If one of us rescues you, you'll wake up soon after a majority of your face is in air, either a bubble-head charm, or breaking the surface of the lake should do it, there might be lingering effects for up to five minutes, after which point you'll be losing heat at the normal rate."
"So I should owl-order a new tulik for the occasion?"
"A what?"
"An Eskimo coat, for dealing with freezing waves," said Padma, "I brought one first year, but quickly figured out it was too hot for everything except for astronomy and the trek to and from the greenhouses, and watching sleet-Quidditch."
"Oh!" said Harry, "I remember that, it looked comfy."
"Hmm," said Professor Vector, "Far be it from me to tell you not to buy a new coat, but I think heavy heating and insulating charms on your normal winter robes and or cloak should be sufficient."
"Alright," said Padma.
"Once your rescuer arrives," said Harry, "I think there's all the regular dangers of the lake to deal with, getting back to the surface, and the shore."
"True," said Professor Vector, "But at that point we can go straight up, from what I can tell, most everything dangerous down there is a bottom dweller, except the giant squid, and the merfolk, and they're all smart enough and friendly enough to be explained about the contest, and will be mostly spectating, not assuming we want a rescue."
"Understood," said Padma.
"Hmm," Professor Vector frowned, "I should consult with the squid and find out if it has any strategy suggestions."
"You can speak squid?"
Professor Vector smiled mischievously, "squids don't talk."
"Um?" said Padma.
"What else needs to be discussed?" she said, back to arithmancy precision.
"That reminds me," said Harry, "Not that it will come up again, but in the newspaper interview, you mentioned I liked quidditch, which … isn't quite true, I happen to like flying and being part of the team, but the game itself, isn't …" Harry shrugged.
"I understand," said Professor Vector, "Team sports are an excellent way to train your reflexes, and make friends, but the rules are often quite arbitrary."
"Games have arbitrary rules," said Harry, "That's not the problem, the problem is the fans, or worse, the fans on the team, not keeping things in perspective. My orders my first game were, 'catch the snitch or die trying,' I did in fact almost die that game, but that was a somewhat unrelated attack."
"I understand," said Professor Vector, "I shall … try to appear more ambivalent if it comes up again."
"Thanks," said Harry, "That's all I've got." He turned his eyes to Padma, so she knew it was her turn to answer the Professor's question.
Was there anything else that needed to be discussed?
"I'm comfortable enough with the contest form, to have no special opinion about whether it's me or Ron," said Padma.
"Do you have an opinion about whether I step in, or leave Professor Vector to win her own contest?"
"No," said Padma.
"Thank you," said Harry, "I wanted to let Professor Vector have her own victory, in her own way, with as little interference from me as I can manage, but I also knew you'd resent it if you woke up in the middle of the lake, and kissed her, thinking it was me."
"Right," said Padma, "Definitely."
"Also," said Harry, "I'd totally take this into my own hands if I'd any inkling that Professor Vector was incapable of seeing it through."
"Well of course," said Padma, then it all fell into place. That look. The conversation about rescuing people. 'Would probably rescue anyone,' compared against, 'some people deserve more dangerous rescues, from me, than others.'
She meant enough to him that he'd mount a rescue. But this time, for once, he didn't need to.
Following to: yesterday, she was merely a possible ally, today, someone had threatened her, and he'd dealt with it, or at least satisfied himself that she wasn't in danger, and then reassured her that just because he wasn't swimming into danger to rescue her, didn't mean he didn't value her enough to do so. And then he'd offered to change that and risk his neck after all, just to make sure she wasn't made uncomfortable merely by being rescued by Professor Vector.
"I understand," she said in a much more subdued voice.
Harry was giving her a different sort of look now.
"Can we go now?" she said, then glanced at Professor Vector.
Harry looked too, then rubbed his head, "Can we go now?"
"How many friends do you have that can disillusion wordlessly? Not that that was disillusion, something more Fidelius related I think."
Harry nodded, "something like that."
"I'd like to see the arithmancy, on that."
"I haven't finished analysing it," said Harry, "Hermione says it looks sixth year at least."
"What are you talking about?" said Padma.
"Oh, there you are," said Professor Vector, "How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"I think you turned invisible," said Harry.
"Oh. That." said Padma, "probably," she shrugged, "can we go?"
Professor Vector nodded, "Practice your long term insulation and variable strength heating charms, and if you get a weird summons late on the twenty-third or early on the twenty-fourth of February, wear whichever robes you've prepared for the occasion."
"Sure," said Padma, "let me put that on my calender." And she did that, quick before she forgot. Then she changed that to "experiment, and possibly prepare all her robes with enough insulation, and both variable strength heating and cooling charms were necessary."
While she wrote, Harry asked, "How much confidence should I display that I have a workable strategy?"
Professor Vector shrugged, "We have several workable strategies, I'm still timing them to see which are fastest, and which are most foolproof."
"Oh," said Harry, "Nice! Thank you."
"You're welcome, and thank you."
"And thank you, Miss Patil for playing along."
Padma shrugged, then nodded.
Then they left.
.
As soon as they'd gotten around the second corner, and there were a third as many portraits for some reason, she grabbed Harry's arm, and said, "I don't want to make us late for class, but."
"But what?" he turned to face her.
"Thank you for thinking of my feelings, and being willing to rescue me."
"Well, yeah," he said.
Not 'you're welcome' like it was a choice he'd made for her. 'Well, yeah' like he hadn't been able to help it. Hadn't notice that there was any choice to be made.
Of course.
Slytherin in places, but not as introspective as … not that that mattered.
She kissed him.
He got it, then he kissed her back.
After a little too long and not nearly long enough they separated.
"There's more where that came from," she said, "But we really do need to get to class."
"Agreed," he said, they took two steps and stopped, and looked at each other, "What class?" said Harry.
"Right, Tea is next," said Padma, "Why was Hermione in such a rush to get to 'her next class' early?"
"I'm sure I have no idea," said Harry.
"Her slytherin side needs more training if that's the best lie she could come up with on short notice." said Padma.
"You never know with Hermione."
"Does that mean it might be a double bluff?"
"No," said Harry, "It means maybe she does have classes we're not even allowed to know about."
Padma huffed, "Now perhaps it's you that isn't slytherin enough."
Harry stuck his nose in the air and extended his elbow, "I suggest we go to the great hall, and see how soon she arrives."
"Yes, well," said Padma, but she didn't take his elbow, that was a formal ball only thing. Smart witches didn't reduce their response time to their wand, and they certainly didn't do so in a situation where they were tasked with guarding someone. Instead she led the way.
Harry noticed, put his elbow away and caught up, back to his normal posture.
Good. But it was nice that he was playful, even if his current new game was mocking (and practising) up all the various social graces of the different castes and situations that would be required by the average Hogwarts' graduate.
Maybe especially then.
.
She'd barely made it to a seat before Luna was in her lap, snagging a second plate, and serving herself. Parvati wandered over from the gryffindor table, "Now you have me dreaming about lions."
"Anything interesting?"
"Huge one with a dark mane, chased me down and rescued me from the monkey on my back."
"I know a green eyed lion," said Luna, "He saved me from nargles."
"Yes, well," said Padma, but she stared at her sister, "What kind of monkey did you say it was?"
"Gibbon," said Parvati, "Or something similar, why?"
"Oh hell," said Padma.
"Padma!" said Parvati, "Language?"
"Right, sorry," said Padma, "What did he do to the monkey?"
Parvati shrugged, "Just grabbed it, and disappeared."
"The gibbon disappeared, or the lion, or both?" said Padma.
"Um, not sure, I didn't really look, then I was just running around, instead of running away. War horses are not meant for running away."
"Yes, well," said Padma.
Parvati stared, "Padma, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I guess," said Padma, "for the record, I believe in divination, but I think it's a lot harder than you're giving it credit for."
"Well it's only my second year at it," said Parvati, "anyway, I meant, do you have like 'a monkey on your back' in real life?"
"What?"
"Two plates of food? and eating invisibly? While talking to me?"
"I've got a younger student on my lap," said Padma, "and she's hiding for a reason, please don't bring attention to her."
"Oh," said Parvati, "Oh, alright."
"Thank you."
"She wants to know what colour the lions eyes are."
"I didn't get a good look," said Parvati.
"I bet green," said Luna.
"Well yes," said Padma, "But only if she's dreaming of our lion."
"That's what I meant," said Luna, "I think she is."
"Luna," sighed Padma, "talking to you and anyone else at the same time is like a disorganised library."
"I waited for her not to talk?" said Luna.
"I know, good job."
"It's hard when they can't hear me start talking and don't stay stopped."
"I realise that," said Padma, "let me finish eating so we can go somewhere else."
"You haven't started eating," said Luna.
"Good point," said Padma. And as soon as she started serving herself, Parvati licked her lips, twice, glanced away, and wandered back to her own food.
She never did see Hermione eat.
.
...-...
{End Chapter 11}
Thanks all, for the support and reviews.
