Chapter 42

Severus surreptitiously looked the younger man over as he poured two fingers of fire- whiskey for each of his guests before pouring one for himself as well.

Regulus looked similar to his brother but different enough that it wasn't immediately irritating. Unlike he'd worn it in their school days, Regulus' hair was long and thick with a slight wave, gathered in a low ponytail by a black ribbon. His lip was lightly dusted with a thin moustache but otherwise his face remained bare.

When he noticed Lorelle smirking at him, he began with her. "You approached Lucius...?"

"Yes." The smirk widened as if she knew why he'd targeted her first. "The only other option that would get me what I wanted - entry into Hogwarts - was Lord Black, but that might not have gotten me in direct contact with Mister V, so I decided to go with Lord Malfoy."

He lifted one eyebrow. "For future reference, you would've achieved the same result with Black."

"Well, I know that now!" She huffed and took a sip of her whiskey.

Regulus chuckled.

"You." Severus frowned.

"Me?" Regulus blinked.

"Yes. You." Severus eyed the man. "Draco has expressed concern over the contents of your letter to him."

"Oh?" Regulus was exuding an innocent aire but it seemed false.

"Well, I don't need to be here for this so I'll see you tomorrow." Lorelle finished her drink and stood up to leave.

Severus glared at her. "I'd better not! Nobody should see you unless you wish to cause trouble."

"I like trouble, remember?" Lorelle joked with a wink. "But I do know how to disillusion myself, Severus."

He nodded and watched as she disappeared.

"Now that we're alone..." Regulus focused a smirk on his fellow Death Eater as the door opened and closed behind her.

"What were you thinking? Asking Draco those kinds of questions so soon is incredibly audacious!" Severus asked with a glare. "You haven't even met him in person yet! I have to wonder what kind of questions you asked Potter."

The younger man sighed. "Lucius said as much when I gave him the letter but I managed to convince him that giving Draco the option of whether to answer them or not would be beneficial to him as Dragonlord."

Severus sighed.

"If we want to get things done, we must move faster..." Regulus paused. "You have no clue what's going on out there, Severus. The world is going crazy!"

"What do you mean?" Severus asked.

"It's been almost two months since Hogwarts was locked down." Regulus chuckled. "The parents are in an uproar over having no contact with their kids. There's protesting in the streets of wizarding towns! Diagon Alley shut down entirely yesterday, in protest as well and Hogsmeade is getting quite crowded. The minister isn't handling this situation to the public's satisfaction, so our Lord wishes us to escalate it."

Severus' eyes widened.

"At the helm of the protests are the family members of teachers who haven't had contact in just as long as the kids." Regulus went on. "There's one teacher who is pregnant and her husbands are worried sick!"

"Husbands?" Severus blinked. "Vector is pregnant?"

"Yes, that's the one. It seems they found out over the holiday and since she's due after the end of the school year and isn't showing yet nobody wanted to say anything." Regulus frowned. "Tom's sent me and Lorelle in to see if we can help the kids' rebellion push Umbrage's buttons enough to break the lockdown."

"What he truly wants is the constant access to Harry and Draco that he enjoyed before this lockdown..." Severus muttered. "And without Umbrage and the false Dumbledore he would even have access to the school."

"He did express regret that he couldn't speak with both boys but he also surprised me a little when he mentioned missing you." The younger man had a look of wonderment in his eyes. "He called you one of his most trusted friends."

"I..." Severus was astounded.

"I know." Regulus nodded earnestly. "I have so many theories about the horcruxes and I've been studying them over the years. He's even been sending me notes after each one is released or destroyed."

"Don't tell me." Severus' voice cracked. "The ring?"

"Rookwood reported to the Manor early this morning." Regulus' lips pursed. "It came to a fight in a graveyard and, since Tom had ordered it destroyed if it couldn't be retrieved, Rookwood tried his best to liberate it from the enemy first. In the end he had to take a calculated shot with fiendfyre. Which reminds me - you'll need to let the Nott heir know his father is no longer among the living. so he can grieve as properly as possible."

"Of course, but..." Severus shook his head in confusion. "That doesn't make sense. Tom was just here! He didn't look injured or even weak!"

"Glamours." Regulus sadly reported. "Luckily he only took a minor hit this time. His sanity has increased, as it did with the first one's destruction, but the physical damage was much less and I believe that is due to the health he gained with the release of the other horcruxes. His hair has thinned a good portion and he's got bags beneath his eyes again."

"That's disappointing." Severus frowned.

"I know." Regulus sighed, nodding. "He's told me where to find the Ravenclaw horcrux and one of my missions is to get it for him."

"And I presume that the locket has been released?" Severus frowned.

"Not yet." Regulus explained. "That is set for tomorrow at noon in Malfoy's ritual room and Sirius will bring it to Harry in the evening."

"Good." Severus nodded. "Tomorrow, you can begin with Umbrage. I'll introduce you to Potter and Draco after dinner. They'll help you find the horcrux this weekend."

Regulus nodded solemnly. "And where might I sleep?"

"I have a guest room you can use for tonight," Severus allowed. "But, if our Lord wishes you to stay long term, Potter's elves will find a suitable room for you later."

"That sounds reasonable, Severus. Thank you." Regulus nodded slightly and stood up.

"It's the last door on the right, at the end of the hall. Good night." Severus directed, trying not to watch the younger man walk away.

When Regulus finally disappeared, Severus sighed, knowing he would have to do some damage control with Lorelle in the morning since she'd seen too much and known him too long to miss the fact that Regulus was pretty much his 'type' to a tee. In fact, the only thing about the younger man that was remotely objectionable was his relation to Sirius Black. He grimaced just thinking about the foul mutt and bustled off to find his bed.

Harry reread the letter from Sirius' brother. It wasn't so odd, now that he thought about it, that the man had asked such thought provoking questions. Tom had told Harry that the Slytherin locket was with Regulus all these years. He must have studied it or felt the uneasiness that Harry had felt when handling it and just wanted to talk with someone who had similar knowledge or experience.

"Is Master Harry awake?" Dobby whisper- yelled, popping in at the doorway to Harry's room. "Oh! Dobby is so happy to see that he didn't wake you, Master Harry Potter, sir!"

Harry smirked. "Me too, Dobby, what is it?"

"Mister Snape called Dobby late last night and gave Dobby new letters from Mister Lord Black and Lady Malfoy for you, sir." The elf brought the letters over.

Harry dropped Regulus' letter and hurried to open the one from his godfather. "Ask the others to join us here, Dobby."

"What is it?" Draco asked from the sitting area as Dobby began to gather Harry's cousins.

"Tom has apparently sent someone to help us further the cause." Harry replied as he joined his betrothed on the sofa. "Sirius isn't specific but he 'strongly suggests' that we cause some chaos so Tom's people can 'make themselves useful'."

"If our 'helper' is worth their salt they'll stick close to the biggest troublemakers we've got and use the ensuing havoc as a jumping off point for their own ideas." Draco smirked.

"Are my ears ringing?" Fred asked as he came into the room. "Did someone say my middle name?"

Following him in, Ginny shook her head and sighed. "No matter how much you wish it, Frederick Gideon Weasley, your middle name is not Trouble!"

Harry chuckled at their antics. "What can we do to keep our dear Headmistress busy today?"

"Fred and I have placed fireworks in some of the suits of armour." George offered, coming in as Harry spoke. "Best part is..."

"The most recent versions are just noisemakers." Fred grinned mischievously as Ron rubbed his eyes sleepily and took a seat on a cushion near the fireplace. "So we can set them off whenever we want and..."

"Nobody will know where to look for more." George cackled.

"Brilliant." Harry chuckled. "Can you manage to make them go off as she sits down at breakfast?"

"And then at lunch and dinner!" Draco smirked.

Ron snuck a look at his brothers. "And in between meals, if we can set something up to happen at multiple locations throughout the castle, that would be great!"

"I think we still have a few Dazzling Displays left around the halls somewhere." George glanced slyly at his twin.

"They just need to be triggered." Fred grinned back.

"She won't get a moment's peace today..." George declared.

Fred finished his twin's thought. "If we have anything to say about it."

Harry smirked as they left. "Draco, can you see your godfather and ask how to get in touch with our assistant in this matter?"

"Done. I'll use the back door and see you in Transfiguration class." Draco told them seriously before moving to do as he'd promised.

"Ron, can you get this to Neville?" Harry asked, holding out a letter. "Draco's mum has passed it on from his grandmother. It's about SSSHEEP."

Ron took the folded parchment with a nod and went to get ready for class.

"Ginny, Luna?" Harry called their attention to him. "You were really helpful with Trelawney's situation. If you think of anything you want to do to help get our illustrious Headmistress sacked, please feel free."

Luna giggled and dragged Ginny away from the gathering.

"Zack, I know you didn't want to be actively involved with provoking Umbrage but if you change your mind...?" Harry offered.

"I'll let you know." Zack replied with a frown. "I have been busy reading the book Snape set us on occlumency."

"Oh?" Harry asked, interested. "I've only gotten through the first chapter. I keep getting distracted."

"Without Dumbledore here it isn't as urgent that you learn it." Zack told him. "There aren't many Legilimency experts in the world. The one we're working against isn't here and the one teaching us is being quite lax about his curriculum."

"True." Nodding, Harry chuckled. "And the other one we know about is an ally."

"Anyway, I'm almost done with the book." Zack answered. "I'll make plans for active practice as soon as this situation is resolved."

Harry nodded again as his cousin walked away. Left -once again- to his own thoughts, he considered his magical relatives. Some were most suited to action while others seemed more inclined to work in the background. Harry shrugged to himself and continued to get ready for the day.

Draco checked every direction of the tunnel before moving toward his godfather's quarters. His knock was answered by an unfamiliar face in a bathrobe so he froze, but only for a moment before drawing his wand.

"It's alright, Draco." The man said carefully, lifting his hands to show himself as unarmed. "Come in."

"How do you know who I am?" Draco asked, narrowing his eyes at him. "Who are you? Where's Severus?"

"Alright, let's start with your second question. Yes?" The man replied. "I am Regulus Black... Your mother's cousin? I was under the impression you'd been told that I was alive and on my way?"

Draco blinked and nodded, lowering his wand slightly but he brought it back up with caution when the man took a step toward him.

"If it'll make you feel better, I'll answer your other questions." Regulus smirked, calmly stopping in his tracks. "I knew you instantly from the portraits that litter Malfoy Manor but also from your appearance since you look like a perfect blend of your father and mother."

"And Severus?" Draco asked.

"I am here, Draco." Severus called as he entered the room. His hair was wet from a recent shower but he was otherwise dressed and ready for the day. "What do you need? Would you like breakfast?"

His godfather's nonchalance comforted Draco, so he lowered his wand but kept a watchful gaze on Regulus. "Harry asked me to find out how to contact Uncle Tom's agent."

"You have inadvertently done so." Regulus smirked as he moved toward the coffee table where an elf had just deposited a tray of food with tea and coffee.

Draco nodded once in acknowledgement. "When you introduced yourself, I had assumed as much."

"Well, now that you've made contact with one of us..." He paused and patted the seat next to him in invitation. "How can I help?"

"One? Are there more?" Draco asked, surprised. "Who are the others?"

"That's not important." Regulus deflected.

"Lorelle has joined the ranks." Severus divulged, knowing Draco would enjoy knowing that.

Draco grinned. "Lorelle is here?"

Regulus glared at him. "Can we return to the issue? He's here for a reason, Snape."

"Very well, Harry and I would like to suggest that you - and Lorelle - follow the Weasley twins around and do what you can to work off of their ideas since they have several inventions already placed around the castle." Draco explained. Catching Severus' wary frown, he smirked. "Not to worry, the inventions I spoke of are noisemakers - not destructive. We've decided to make Umbrage's day a bit hectic."

"Oh?" Severus asked, his left eyebrow rising.

"You'll see." Draco chuckled and walked toward the table to procure a scone and cup of tea.

"I prefer to be forewarned, Draco." Severus sighed.

"If you insist." Draco shook his head and quickly filled them in while enjoying his unofficial breakfast. Remembering that he might not be allowed into classes if he didn't at least enter the great hall, he rushed there and was able to grab an apple before the food disappeared.

As Draco hurried down the chaotic hallway to the transfiguration classroom, he saw Harry holding the door and dashed in. "It worked perfectly. I visited my uncle and then grabbed an apple to be counted at breakfast." Draco whispered.

"I saw that, but actually, Wabry told me the decree didn't sink into the stones as it was supposed to." Harry whispered back. "I need to find the ward stones and block her from them as soon as I can."

"I have news." Draco murmured as the began moving toward their seats.

"Gentlemen!" Professor Mcgonagall called for the front of the room. "I heartily thank you for joining us. Now, if you please, take your seats as I would like to begin teaching!"

"Yes, Professor." Draco mumbled as he sat down.

Harry sat beside him with a quiet apology and listened to the lesson on transforming ferrets to feather dusters.

After a ten minute lecture, they were given their ferrets and the chance to cast. As he raised his wand, for the first time, Draco felt the blood in his veins sing as he moved his wand. The spell worked perfectly.

"That looked completely effortless, Draco; how did you get it on your first try?" Harry asked quietly, amazed.

"I'm not quite sure." Draco murmured. "You try."

To Draco's mind Harry's attempt looked just like his own but with one small difference - the slight breeze that came with Harry's magic. It hit the object and gave it the appearance of a ripple as if wind was moving across the surface of a body of water.

"I have observations. We'll talk later." Draco whispered as Mcgonagall made her way around the room.

As she arrived at their desk, she tried to reverse their magic and blinked in surprise when it didn't work. Eying them, she summoned new ferrets so they could demonstrate the spell for her.

This time Harry went first and she looked at him as if trying to suppress emotion.

"Mr. Malfoy?" She prompted.

Draco nodded and performed the spell with the same effect and, when he looked up at her, she had a similar gleam in her eye.

Mcgonagall calmly waved her wand again in an attempt to reverse their magic and, when it didn't work, she pursed her lips. "Will you both please remain after class?" She then moved on to the next set of students and proceeded to give tips that would improve their result.

"What do you think she wants?" Harry whispered, looking at the four feather dusters on their desk.

"I don't know what she could want with me, but I saw something when you performed the spell and it's possible she noticed it too." Draco murmured, describing the rippling effect. "If that's what it is, I'll take the lead. You just play along, giving away the least amount of information you can."

The class ended soon after and they noted that the professor didn't speak until they were the only people in the room.

"Gentlemen, your performances today were flawless." She spoke softly but with a strange edge to her voice. "Now, I'm not set to teach the reversal spell until next week but, as I was unable to reverse your magic, I'd like to see if you can manage it."

Draco shared a look with his betrothed and they both nodded. "I'll give it a try, Professor."

When Harry agreed as well, she used her wand to write the incantation on the board and spoke the word before allowing them to try the spell. Very quickly, there were two ferrets sitting on the desk along with two feather dusters.

"Now, I want you to do it again on the first set, but I want you to watch each other cast this time." Mcgonagall told them, standing up to come closer.

Draco pressed his lips together. "You saw it too, didn't you, Professor?"

Harry bit his lip. "Saw what?"

"The strange water-like effect of your magic, Harry." Draco hinted.

"Water-like?" Harry asked in an innocent tone.

"Indeed, Potter. Visually..." She paused as if trying to find the right words. "When you cast these two spells, it looked like a ripple. As if a stone were dropped into a puddle."

Draco frowned, unsure as to how he could convey his thoughts that Harry should tell her about the first meeting they'd had all those months ago.

"Well..." Harry's eyes focussed on Draco and somehow he seemed to understand what Draco wanted him to say. "I didn't want to say anything... but something weird happened back in September..."

"Oh?" She asked, pouncing on the interesting tidbit.

"I was angry at something someone close to me had said... and as I walked out of the room, the glass of water I'd been drinking... well, it froze." Harry divulged, glancing at the door.

Her eyes widened. "Well, Potter, I can certainly understand not wishing to reveal such things to the Headmaster under the circumstances."

Harry nodded. "And with the current situation the way it is, I'm leery of letting anyone know now either. I mean... I know it's not..." He cringed. "Normal... even by wizarding standards."

"Potter..." She stared at him for a moment and he could feel the weight of it. "Potter, I assume you're referring to the incident in your second year - with Parseltongue - yes?"

"Yes." Harry nodded sheepishly. "And I know what you're going to say! It's a gift and I'm not just different, I'm special because of it."

"I am going to say those things, Potter. You see, you are indeed quite different. But this power..." She explained. "This ability is regarded as much more of a gift than the ability to speak to snakes."

"What do you mean, Professor?" Harry asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"Parseltongue is associated with Black Magic wielders and carries a deeply negative stigma, while what you have described is elemental magic..." She spoke with a reverent tone. "Few witches or wizards today can boast the bloodlines that are capable of such and those who can are all related to you."

"The goblins did mention that it was a possibility." Harry stated quietly. "But I hadn't expected it to manifest in me."

"My dear Lord Potter... Noone 'expects' elemental magic." She smirked at him. "It just crops up where it pleases and it hasn't done so for centuries so kindly do me the favour of letting me know if something like that happens again?"

Harry chuckled lightly. "Alright, Professor."

"Now, off you go - and here Mr. Malfoy - take this." Mcgonagall held out a note for Draco. "It will explain why Professor Babbling has a new student and why the two of you are late."

As Draco took the note, he could see Harry's eyes widen.

"Yes, Potter, I recalled your interest in runes and now that Sybil has left us, there is room in your schedule. With a bit of luck and some hard work, you'll be able to catch up with your classmates and maybe even pass your OWL." Mcgonagall hurried them out the door.

Draco's quiet laugh came out in huffs as they rushed down the corridor. "I thought she'd dig deeper than that!"

"I guess I managed to convince her that this was the first time it did that." Harry whispered with a grin. "This is brilliant! I get to study runes with you! How does it work? Are there partners or do you work alone? If it's a partner sort of thing do you have to switch it up or are they assigned for the whole year?"

"You're lucky; in Runes we switch partners every so often and you're joining us on a day when we're supposed to switch." Draco chuckled as they approached the correct classroom. "C'mon."

Harry nodded as he opened the door for his betrothed, drawing everyone's attention. "Erm... hi!"

Draco shook his head with a sigh and walked up to the professor's desk. "I'm sorry to be late Professor Babbling. Unfortunately..."

"That's enough, Mr. Malfoy." She cut him off. "Miss Granger has explained that Professor Mcgonagall kept you after. Do you have a note?"

Draco nodded and held it out.

"Mr. Malfoy, please find your seat." She scanned the letter and frowned in Harry's direction before reading it again. "Lord Potter?"

"Yes, Ma'am?" Harry stepped into the spot as soon as Draco vacated it.

Draco wondered what she was about to say.

"Minerva says you've an interest in Runes." She informed him. "Is that true?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Harry answered.

"Well, having an interest in a subject doesn't mean you've an aptitude for it." She stated seriously. "Do you see anyone in my class right now that you know? Other than your betrothed?"

"I've met most of them, Professor," Harry said as he glanced from face to face. "But I know Hermione and - obviously Draco - quite well."

"Lord Potter..." She looked intently into Harry's eyes for a moment before turning to face the class. "Students, I've no problem with friends helping friends with their coursework outside of class but I do not wish distractions such as relationships - be they friendships or romances - to dominate my classroom. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Professor." Harry nodded solemnly, joining Draco and the rest of the class as they answered.

"Good. Now, as you are behind the others and the odd man out, as they say, you'll be working alone for a while." She pointed him to a desk at the front and centre of the room. "I'll start you out with the basic exercises and test you on them next class. If you pass that, I'll move you forward in the curriculum. Is that understood?"

"Yes. Professor." Harry nodded again and moved to take his seat until her voice stopped him.

"I have several third year textbooks in my cabinet, if you'd like to borrow one." Professor Babbling pointed with her wand. "Extra guidebooks may be helpful and your friends can tell you which ones to buy."

"Thank you, Professor." Harry smiled tightly and walked over to look for the correct one.

Draco hid a smirk. He'd bet anything that his betrothed was rethinking his interest in this class.

Less than an hour later, Draco and a pouty Harry Potter made their way to the great hall for lunch.

"I'm sorry I didn't think to warn you she was strict." Draco sighed. "In my defence... I knew that you knew that Umbrage approved of her. So you should've expected something like that."

Hermione burst into the miniscule space between them, slipping something into Harry's hand as she passed by.

"Excuse you, Granger!" Draco called pretending to glare after her as Harry pulled him into a nearby alcove with a kiss to his jaw.

"Sorry to tease, but I want to have a look at her missive." Harry murmured as he opened the scrap of parchment. "She's offering to tutor me in runes. She says she revises better when teaching someone else. I think I'll take her up on it."

"You don't want me to tutor you?" Draco tried to sound hurt but Harry seemed to see right through that.

"You seem to have a lot on your plate. I don't want to be a burden." Harry explained softly. "I also think it would be good to let Umbrage think Hermione's succeeding at getting into my good graces so she can feed her false information."

Draco smirked. "Sounds like a plan."

"I'll put it into effect as soon as we get to the great hall." Harry grinned and pulled him into a quick embrace before messing up his hair and leading the way out of the alcove.

"Oi, Malfoy!"

The couple turned to see Neville Longbottom coming through the throng of students.

"I've got the Herbology notes you asked for." He said as he arrived.

Draco knew this to mean it was a letter to his mother about SSSHEEP and accepted the parchment with a perfunctory nod. "Thank you, Longbottom."

"Read them well and share with Harry if he needs it." Neville smirked at his friend. "See you, Harry!"

Harry chuckled as Neville took off and joined a few younger students who had been active with the SSSHEEP project.

Draco chose a seat with his back to the wall because he didn't want to miss whatever Harry was planning. Then he scooped random items from the dishes closest to him and waited.

Harry walked up to his seat and paused before glancing around the room. Not seeing the person he was looking for, he turned to Ron who'd just arrived.

Ron pointed and Draco glanced that way to see Granger speaking with a Ravenclaw.

Draco struggled to keep his composure as Harry's plan unfolded before his eyes.

"Miss Granger, may I speak with you?" Harry called as he approached her.

Draco noticed the whispers at the staff table. Everyone knew that Harry never spoke to Hermione that way and even the teachers were shocked that he would speak so formally. The Headmistress, especially, seemed a bit too happy by the situation.

Hermione made a show of completing her conversation with the Ravenclaw student before addressing Harry. "I only have time to talk if we do so while we eat, Lord Potter."

"Of course, but this will take little time." Harry replied. "I would like to enlist you as my tutor in Runes."

"Really?" She asked tentatively. "You trust me again? That much?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves..." Harry grimaced. "I trust you with my education. That doesn't mean you get to have a say in my decisions or other aspects of my life."

She frowned, looking sad. "I understand Har- Lord Potter. Shall we meet in the library?"

"I think so... at least, at first." Harry confirmed calmly.

"Very well." She replied sadly.

As she said this, loud noises broke out in the hallway.

Umbrage slumped unhappily as she attempted to eat a forkful of her meal before abandoning it for the second time that day in favour of doing her Headmistress' duties. Abruptly she dropped the fork as her food became worms where it had once been spaghetti.

Draco suppressed a chuckle but continued to enjoy his own meal. His friends asked him to join them in the common room and he agreed but insisted on bringing Harry this time so more of them might meet him.

Delores plopped into her desk chair with a whimper. She'd gotten two bites of each meal and nothing of her tea tray because of those nasty children! On top of being starved, she was also exhausted from running around the castle to fix things and investigate complaints of noise and mess. How could children be this chaotic? She called an elf and ordered a pitcher of water and, just as she took a sip, there was a knock at the door.

She sighed and called out for the person to enter. "Ah! Miss Granger!"

"You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" The girl asked.

"Indeed." Delores rubbed her temples. "I saw what happened at lunch, dear."

"Oh?' The girl mumbled.

"I received notice that Potter was being enrolled in Runes as a replacement for divination but I assumed that he had a rudimentary knowledge of the topic since it's so close to OWLs." She stated, taking a sip. "Is that not the case?"

"No, Ma'am." She replied before describing the scene that had occurred in their classroom when Potter had arrived.

"Interesting, my dear." Delores murmured.

"Headmistress?" The girl sounded hesitant.

"Come now, dear. Whatever it is, you may tell me." She smiled.

"Well, I've overheard things and it sounds as if Harry was directing some of the mayhem that's been occurring around the castle." Hermione said.

"What makes you say that?" Delores asked, amused that this girl thought a mere boy could possibly be behind so many different and seemingly random occurrences.

"Well, he appears to dislike you and the situation with the lockdown very much." Hermione proposed.

"I'm sure many students are unhappy, but it's for the good of every student here that I have put the lockdown protocol in place." Delores replied.

Hermione nodded as if to agree. "That makes so much sense, Ma'am."

"You may go now, dear." Delores smiled until Hermione tried to open the door and couldn't.

"Oh, no!" The girl cried.

"OH! Not another prank!" Delores shouted and sent a note through the window and down into the dungeons to Professor Snape.

"Draco?" Harry called.

Draco was ensconced in a chess match with Blaise, but he looked up to see why Harry was calling him.

"Draco, something is calling to me..." Harry frowned toward the hallway that led to the dormitories. "It's been calling me since I entered the house today..."

"Nobody touch the board!" Draco snapped. "Blaise, get my godfather."

It wasn't long before Snape arrived and asked what was going on.

"I don't know what it is but I feel a pull." Harry explained.

Draco bit his lip. "Could it be a 'founder thing'?"

"Only one way to find out." Harry looked at the professor.

"Very well." He nodded grimly. "Clear this room!"

"Professor, Davies is at the door!" Adrian Pucey reported. "The Headmistress needs you again!"

With a heavy sigh, Snape glared at Pucey. "She will have to wait."

"I don't think she's going to like that, sir." Pucey winced but turned to speak to Davies.

"It's this way, sir." Harry led the way down a corridor toward the boys' dorms where they found a boy trying to put out a tapestry that had caught fire. Harry looked around and saw a floral arrangement. Knowing water would be in the vase, he reached out to grab it but was unprepared for what happened next. The water came out of the vase and soaked the tapestry and the boy along with the wall and floor nearby.

Harry blinked in surprise.

Snape stared at the young lord...his friend's son... and looked around. "What in Merlin's name?!"

Harry looked around. Luckily nobody had followed them. "Hi, there! How are you?"

The boy was ringing his hair out and shocked but unharmed. "I'm ok. Where did all that water come from?"

"You didn't see me dump that vase over there on you and the tapestry?" Harry asked innocently.

"I guess I was too busy looking at the fire." The boy admitted. "I'm a second year. I was practising the incendio charm and I guess it got away from me. Thanks!"

"What is your name?" Snape asked after finding his voice.

"Nelson, sir. Manfred Nelson." The boy stood straighter under Snape's scrutiny.

"Twenty points from Slytherin for the destruction of a priceless antiquity, Nelson." Snape sneered. "Get to dinner."

The boy pouted but did as he'd been told.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Snape laid in on the three young men. "You're all insane to just walk around knowing that Potter is an elemental wizard without telling someone in a position to assist with situations like this one! How could you put us all in danger like this? I've half a mind to insist all three of you leave the school at once!"

"I told Professor Mcgonagall this morning." Harry said softly.

"Has that stone always glowed that way?" Blaise asked, drawing everyone's attention.

Harry touched the glowing stone and received a wave of information from the castle. "Well, that explains it. It's one of the five wardstones. It called to me because it was in danger and needed its element to boost its power."

Snape sighed. "The things I put up with for you, godson!"

Draco bit his lip and suppressed a chuckle.

"I suppose I must, now, go find out what Umbrage needs." Snape growled. "Get to the great hall for dinner! Preferably without any further incident!"

Harry bit his lip as the older man left and offered his arm to his betrothed who took it gracefully.

"Never a dull moment!" Blaise shook his head and walked behind them.

"Terribly sorry I couldn't get here earlier, Headmistress!" Snape called through the door. "My students needed me but I'm here now and I shall free you shortly!"

"This reeks of Harry!" Hermione grumbled.

"What?" Delores blinked in confusion.

"It's his juvenile sense of humour to lock a person he dislikes in their office!" Hermione insisted.

"Really?" Delores frowned.

"The swamps are similar. He probably finds them hilarious." Hermione ranted, glad that this crazy day was coming to an end. She feld hunger pangs in her stomach. "And don't get me started on the chocolates that gave you warts!"

Delores gasped. "It WAS Harry Potter that did all of this, wasn't it?"

Just then, the door opened and she didn't bother to thank the man as she stormed out into the hallway.

"I hope Harry knows what he's doing, having me get her riled like that." Hermione muttered, following at a brisk pace.

Hearing that, Snape whispered a phrase that only other Death Eaters would understand. In response, Lorelle and Regulus appeared next to him. "I don't know what is about to happen but you two need to be in the great hall."

They nodded and disappeared.

Most of the students were already seated when Delores slammed the doors wide open and advanced toward the faculty table. She took a step in the direction of her chair which suddenly turned into a large flamingo, startling everyone.

"Who did that?" She demanded. "It was you, wasn't it, Potter?!"

Harry stared at her in shock. "I had nothing to do with it, I promise, Headmistress."

"I know it was you! The swamps and fireworks and the chocolates!" She ranted.

"It wasn't him, it was us!" Fred stood up while George triggered the last set of noisemakers..

"Don't lie for him!" She shrieked, ducking for cover. "I know it was Harry Potter!"

"Then, I'm Harry Potter!" Cedric Diggory shouted.

"The student's that were sick in the hospital wing! That was him too!" She blurted out, walking toward the Gryffindor table. "Wasn't it?"

"No! It was me!" Cho yelled confidently. "I'm Harry Potter!"

George shared a look with his twin. "We're Harry Potter!"

Suddenly the oddest thing happened, everyone was standing up yelling that they were Harry Potter and as they did so, their faces changed to match the hateful boy's face.

Delores Umbrage just fainted.