There was a puff of red smoke from the floo.
"Severus?" Sirius' voice issued urgently from the fireplace. The blasted man had not even waited for his reply, it was fortunate that he was alone. Idiot Gryffindor!
Severus cricked his neck to both sides, put his book away, and moved to the floo.
"What do you want, mutt?"
"I need to speak to you; can you step through, please?"
"As long as you are quick, Albus is at a meeting of the school board. No doubt he will be down to bother me when he returns."
"I'll open the wards for you to come through," the head disappeared into the flames. "You can tell him you were doing more research."
Sirius moved back from the hearth and stood to place his hand on the mantle. It only took a few seconds for Severus to appear through the floo.
"With Dumbledore occupied I was about to start an experiment," the Potions Master complained. He was not whinging, no, not at all!
"Oh?" Sirius asked immediately distracted.
"I remembered on old article about potions being used in preparation for rituals. It's possible that soaking the Horcruxes in a potion might enable us to link the pieces of his soul …" Severus drifted off into thought.
"And you think you've figured out a formula?"
"Nearly. Though perhaps it might be best if we use basilisk venom to destroy them, thus releasing the soul pieces one at a time, and capturing them in another object …"
"Neither option helps Harry, unless you are considering soaking him in the solution too."
"Huh …" Severus' thoughts stalled for a moment before he began processing. If all of the Horcruxes were joined through a potion, perhaps a single ritual could draw them out into the liquid and leave the objects, including Harry, intact.
Seeing his … friend getting lost in thoughts of potions, Sirius decided he needed to redirect the conversation, "I called you here about Draco!"
"Draco? How would he be relevant?" Severus asked distractedly. It would take a lot of potion, maybe a bath inside a runic circle? There were some caves in Iceland that might be suitable.
"He's not! We saw him in Diagon Alley wandering off from Narcissa. I stopped the kids from following him into Knockturn Alley."
"I assume you did it yourself?" Severus shook his head clear of thoughts of a Horcrux potion.
"Yes. He went to Borgin and Burkes. Where he threatened Borgin into helping him repair something, while keeping another in the shop."
"How did he threaten him? The man's not the sort to be intimidated by a sixteen-year-old," Severus asked finally paying attention.
"He showed him something, I can't be certain as his body was blocking my view, but I thought it was his arm."
At that Severus hissed.
"Could he have … would he have initiated Draco so young?"
"Age did not bother him last time," Severus said softly, Sirius nodded wondering if Severus was thinking of himself or Regulus.
"I have told the boys the bare minimum, just that Draco went into Borgin and Burkes. Hopefully it was enough to quash their curiosity." He took a breath, "I thought Narcissa had been to see you?"
"She had!" Severus nodded.
"So why would Draco risk the help that his mother had arranged by …"
"Perhaps he did not have a choice or perhaps because he has always followed his father. I doubt he even knows that she came to me."
"But you promised that …" Sirius was horrified.
"I promised that if she were to rescue the muggle child, I would do everything I could to save Draco as far as I am able. She has not appeared with the child."
Pale faced Sirius admitted, "Amelia, Mad-Eye and an Unspeakable went to investigate Riddle Manor and found the Mother's body. It was drained of all blood. The eyes…"
"A ritual killing then, so it's unlikely that the child is still alive, or at the very least they will be watching him more closely," he said cutting off Sirius before he could hear the full description. "And it is highly likely that Riddle has a body once more. Making Draco's initiation more probable."
"I believed the same. I was waiting for you to have a chance to visit so that we could discuss it," Sirius apologised for not keeping Severus up to date.
"We need to arrange more reliable communications."
"Yes," Sirius agreed, continuing fervently, "I can't stand that you are being kept locked up in that castle and I can't …" he stopped suddenly, face a furious red.
"Do go on," an arched eyebrow challenged.
"I…I…It's important," Sirius began slowly, "that we keep channels of communication open, so …"
"So what?" Severus purred. The look on Sirius' face as he tried to think of what to say was most strange, oddly intriguing and Severus was enjoying it immensely.
"So … we can know …"
"We?"
There was that blasted eyebrow again. Every time he was faced with it, Sirius completely lost his train of thought. It was ridiculous he was a grown man! This was Snivellus … the screech as his thoughts halted was practically audible. No, there never again would be a Snivellus. This was Severus. Dark, sarcastic, with a voice like liquid chocolate, deep, strong, and powerful. Sirius' tongue darted out to moisten dry lips, molten black eyes followed the movement. He swallowed roughly, "Ah, I … I want to know that you are safe." His voice sounded thin to his own ears, like it was about to crack and break in a way it had not done since he was a teen. He was not bashful; he was known for being brash damn-it.
"Safe?" Severus blinked twice, he seemed de-railed, as if someone else taking his safety into consideration was unexpected and unknown.
"Yes, from Dumbledore, he's up to something, you can't deny it. And then you are going to be practically surrounded by Death Eater children," Sirius added hurriedly, his voice making a decidedly un-manly slip up an octave. "And so, I can tell you things," he finished lamely, cursing internally that he sounded so much like an angst-ridden teenager.
"Tell me things?" the sound was velvet caressing his ears. Severus took a step forward while Sirius was studying the carpeting.
"Yes, like this, with the Horcruxes, where we are at, when we find out new information. And you can tell me how Harry is going … Oh! Harry's mirror. Just give him detention and then you can call me on it. Weekly would not be too often, would it? Or perhaps nightly? No, even with your past that would be too much, the other teachers would complain. Um …" Sirius finally looked up and was surprised to see how close Severus now was. They were standing nearly chest to chest.
"Yes," the word was smooth and deep, as the sliver eyes traced over the features above him "weekly would be agreeable."
"Sirius, what do you think about …" Remus pushed open the door with a sudden bang and entered the room, stopping suddenly in the doorway as he observed the scene in front of him.
With an involuntary shiver Sirius, blinked away from the captivating gaze and focussed on his friend "Remus?"
"Oh ah … sorry … I'll ask you later," Remus quickly ducked away, not making eye-contact. He pulled the door closed on his way out.
Silver eyes returned to Severus' face, "Ah."
"You are usually more eloquent than this,Sirius," Snape smirked, "Where are your snarky come backs now?"
The blush slowly spread from Sirius' cheeks, down his neck and disappeared under his collar.
"Um …" Sirius stuttered. "Is it … ah … warm in here?" He raised a hand as if testing the temperature of his own cheek. A long-fingered hand followed the movement, and a thumb gentle brushed his skin before his hand was captured and pulled to Severus' chest. Sirius was relieved that the lub-dub he could feel tattooing beneath his fingers matched the speed of his own heart. Sirius leaned closer …
"Oh, for crying out loud, Remus. You only want ask him what he wants for dinner!" A loud voice could be heard through the closed door. It continued as the door opened. "If Snape's with him, then he can just join us. Oh!"
Marlene stopped in the doorway, hand still on the doorknob. "Right, well that explains a few things! Kreacher will have dinner ready in ten. Seeing as you pair are busy, I have made the decision that it's going to be fish and chips. I hope that's alright with you gentlemen." She smirked as she backed out of the door, pulling it closed behind her.
It was a contemplative Sirius that joined them a few minutes later. Severus' wards had been triggered and he had needed to hurry back to his rooms at Hogwarts.
-o0o-
Ever since the day they had done their school shopping it had been harder for Harry to see Percival. Mrs Weasley refused to let him in the house, and so, Harry had taken to sneaking down to the kitchen after the Weasley's were in bed each night and making use of the floo. He doubted that Mr Weasley was unaware of the communication, however for some reason the Weasley patriarch had not seen fit to mention it to his wife, which Harry was grateful for.
Harry and Ron had spent many hours trying to figure out what Malfoy had been up to wandering Diagon Alley on his own. Sirius had told them that the boy had turned into Knockturn Alley and gone to Borgin and Burkes, which told them exactly nothing. At least, Harry thought, it was more than most adults told him and it sounded as if Sirius did not have many more details anyway. They had made the mistake of not putting up the wards one day and Hermione had come across them discussing what Draco could have been doing.
"He has to be up to something," Harry mused. "That shop is full of nothing but cursed items …"
"It's Malfoy, he's always up to something," Ron agreed. "But we don't have enough information to figure it out here and now so we should just …"
"Well, it's not like he's a Death Eater, is it?" Hermione said, entering the room, clearly, she had been listening at the door. The pair sitting on the bed rolled their eyes. It was something they had both thought of. "I mean Voldemort's gone," Hermione peered out of the room to check that no one else was listening, "For the moment at least. After what I did, he can hardly do the ritual required to induct another Death Eater. It'll be ages before he comes back."
"You know what's required to …?" Ron asked a little dumbfounded, perhaps the girl had fallen a lot further than they had thought.
"Hmmm," Harry said, not wanting to engage the girl in conversation. "What do you say about going for a fly, Ron?"
Hermione tutted as the two boys darted from the room. They slowed as they came into the kitchen where Fleur was sitting at the table, in full flow of plans for her wedding to Bill, while Mrs Weasley kept watch over a pile of self-peeling sprouts, looking bad-tempered.
"… Bill and I 'ave almost decided on only two bridesmaids, Ginny and Gabrielle will look very sweet togezzer. I am theenking of dressing zem in pale gold- pink would of course be 'orrible with Ginny's 'air-"
"Ah Harry!" said Mrs Weasley loudly, cutting across Fleur's monologue. "Good. I wanted to explain the security arrangements for the journey to Hogwarts tomorrow. We've …"
"Security arrangements? Sorry Mrs Weasley but Sirius will be coming here to pick me up and will apparate me directly to the platform."
"No! We've arranged Ministry cars, for you and Hermione!"
"Well, I'm sure that Hermione will appreciate that, she is after all the vanquisher of the Dark Lord. But I, am just Harry, and my father will be taking me to the platform. I expect she'll be down in a minute if you want tell her about it," Harry said.
"We're heading to the orchard for a fly, but we'll be back for dinner," Ron did not allow his mother any time to argue further.
The departure the next morning went a little smoother than normal. Harry and Ron had packed the night before and Hermione was organised early as usual. That left only Ginny to find her things at the last moment, which she managed in record time. Perhaps not having Fred and George adding to the chaos of the situation helped. Mr Weasley helpfully shrunk Harry and Ron's trunks for them before he left for work so that when Sirius' patronus arrived to advise him that Sirius and Percival were waiting at the ward line, because Mrs Weasley had even blocked them from walking up to the house, Harry merely stood from the table, thanked Mrs Weasley for her hospitality, said his goodbyes to everyone at the table and walked out the door.
"Sorry mate," he apologised to Ron who had walked with him, "but I'll see you there."
Ron watched him go, wishing that he were being apparated to the platform, instead of going in the crowded Ministry cars.
On arriving at Platform 9 and ¾, Harry and Percival had quickly secured a compartment and then re-joined Sirius on the platform. There was no obvious Auror presence however they did notice Amelia Bones stayed after dropping off her niece and both Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor Moody were standing in the shadows, near the wall for no apparent reason given neither had a child attending Hogwarts. Nymphadora Tonks arrived with the Weasley's, dressed as a Ministry driver pushing the trolley that carried Hermione's luggage, which now consisted of two large trunks and several boxes more than the standard school trunk.
"Tonks looks better," Harry whispered to Sirius, as he watched Ron 'accidentally' run into the back of Hermione's legs when the girl stopped suddenly. From the look on Hermione's face when she turned the verbal barrage, she let loose, was less than pleasant.
"Yes, and it was thanks to your incident," Sirius smiled. "She was refusing to get tested, then Alastor Moody and Amelia went on a rampage after I told them you had been dosed. They shortened up the time between the compulsory potions testing for the entire Auror corps. It came up that she had been being dosed with a moderate level love potion. That's why she's acting chauffeur and bodyguard, she's not allowed to be on Auror detail for another three months."
"Did they …?" Harry asked in concern.
"Did they find out who did it or did whoever dose her, do anything to her? No and she's not admitting who it was that she was attracted to either. She told her mum that it was because she doesn't think that they were the culprit as they've never showed any interest in her at all. In fact, they are rather obviously attracted to someone else."
"As long as she wasn't hurt."
"Mmmm. Physically she's okay, the rest will take some time, but her parents are helping her."
"Sirius?" Harry hesitated.
"Go on Harry, you can ask me anything."
"Do you think Malfoy is a Death Eater now?"
Sirius sighed, he supposed he should have expected the boys to jump to the same conclusion that he and Severus had reached, "It seems likely, but I don't know for certain. However, it doesn't make any real difference."
"No difference!" Harry started to protest.
"No pup listen to me. If he is or he isn't, it does not matter. We know Lucius is and they live in the same house. The same house that Riddle is residing in, which means you still need to be cautious around him," Sirius thought hard about whether he should let Harry know about Narcissa seeking help for Draco, ultimately, he decided against it. He would leave that bombshell for Severus. "He still could be acting on Lucius' orders."
"Do you think …" Harry dropped his voice to a worried whisper. "Do you think he has … come back yet?"
Sirius wrapped his arms around Harry, in an attempt to reassure him, "It is possible that he has achieved a form similar to the one he had at the Triwizard Tournament." His arms tightened as he felt Harry tense. "We believe that they are looking for a different ritual to replace the one they used at the end of your fourth year, and we don't think that they will try and kidnap you again."
"How do you know?" Harry asked in a small voice. A place deep in his core revelled in having an adult understand the fear without him needing to voice it.
"We don't, it's just our best guess. That's why I want you to be cautious around Draco and the other Death Eater's children. I won't keep you from Hogsmeade but keep your portkey on you at all times. If he starts conducting raids again, stay at Hogwarts, for my sanity if nothing else."
"Yes dad," Harry nodded against the chest.
"Severus will be giving you regular detentions so don't take offence, just take your mirror with you, so I can talk to you both. Mooney and I are working on making more, we've nearly cracked the charms but we aren't quite there yet."
"What a baby, Potter!" a harsh nasal tone disrupted their quiet conversation.
"Ignore him, he just wishes that he had a parent who would hug him," Sirius smiled as Harry pulled out of his arms. "However, you had better get on the train before it leaves without you, and I have to explain to McGonagall."
Harry surged back towards Sirius suddenly, throwing his arms around the Animagus once more, and stood on tiptoe to whisper, "Love you dad," before he rushed towards the train with Percival.
"He's a good lad," a gruff voice from his left made Sirius jump.
"Moody!" Sirius hissed. "Give a guy some warning."
"Nah, how else will you learn to be vigilant."
"He is a good lad," Sirius smiled.
"Too soft for what the world has planned for him."
"They used to say that about his mother. But you did not want to get her riled up I can tell you," Sirius rubbed his hip remembering an old hex. "Besides he has Percival."
"Aye he does. Think I need to give both the boys some training."
"Percival got me practicing duelling, he's good."
"Good good, or just good?"
"Better than I was at that age, by a long shot."
Moody grunted, "You're out of practice."
"Yeah I was. Two days ago he duelled Remus and I to a standstill." Sirius refused to mention it was literally to a standstill as Remus had been left frozen in a block of ice, while Sirius had been tied neck to knee in rope, Percival had their wands so the pair had to wait until Remus had defrosted and could undo Sirius' restraints.
"Two on one, and you two have worked together before," Alastor mused. "Good. I'll see if I can arrange anything before, but if not, I'll see you at Christmas. Best get yourself up to scratch by then." He shot a stinging hex at Sirius as he walked away and was amused when the younger man jumped nimbly out of the way. Clearly he had been training.
-o0o-
"Mum said you're coming home with us for Christmas," said Ron conversationally as he walked into the carriage that Percival and Harry were occupying. "It's all fixed with Dumbledore apparently." His nose wrinkled in disgust at mentioning the Headmaster.
"Ha," Harry laughed mirthlessly. "Fat chance. I'm heading to Grimmauld."
"What are you going to do if Dumbledore tries to make you?'
"I'll think of something," Harry said. "If it comes to it, I'll take some elderberry, and have Sirius come and get me from the hospital wing. How was the prefect's meeting?"
"Same as last year. I've got rounds in a minute. I'm surprised Hermione's not here with you. She got on the train before me."
"We warded the door," Percival admitted.
There was a knock at the door.
"Just for her?"
Harry nodded with a grin and slid the door open to reveal Neville. "How's your gran?"
"She's a stubborn old bat, but she's doing alright," Neville replied with a grin, closing the door behind Ron as he slipped out to do his rounds. She had actually been very pleased when she had seen how well he had done on his O. . It had been amazing what having a matched wand and a little confidence had done.
The three boys moved to lean out the window as the train lurched and began to move. They waved furiously to Sirius, Augusta Longbottom having long since left, as it gathered speed until he was nothing more than a small blur in the distance.
It was only half an hour later that Ron re-joined them.
"I think Hermione might have more of an understanding of what you go through now," he commented glancing at where Harry was leaning against Percival. "There's a group of second years that are following her everywhere. She wanted the prefects to act as bodyguards, you should have seen the turn she threw when the head girl said no."
"She's not a prefect this year?" Neville asked.
"Sorry we meant to tell you," Harry apologised.
"It's not like it wasn't warranted," Neville dismissed the apology. "So, who took her place then?"
"Parvati, though apparently Dumbledore has given her a probationary period of nine months."
Harry snorted, "He may as well have just said for the year. We'll just have to make sure that she stays. What are the terms?"
"Terms?" Ron asked blankly.
"Terms of the probation, you know, like she can only get seven detentions or something?"
"She didn't say. It doesn't matter though we all agreed that we'll ensure she keeps it. While I remember, the password for the tower is 'exemplary'."
"Was that your last patrol?" Ron did not get to answer as they were interrupted by another knock.
"Hello?" said a girl with long hair and large, misty eyes, who blinked owlishly at the opening door.
"Luna, how are you?" Harry smiled.
"Very well, thank you," said Luna. She was clutching a magazine to her chest: large letters on the front announced that there was a pair of free Spectrespecs inside.
"The Quibbler, still going strong then?" asked Harry.
"Oh yes, circulation's well up," said Luna happily.
"Are you joining us or meeting up with friends?" Percival asked from his place as Harry's leaning post.
Luna blinked at him and then stared mistily around the carriage.
"Perhaps you can help Neville wrangle his toad," Harry said, pulling Luna into the room, and sliding the door closed just in time to prevent Trevor's escape as he made a lurch for freedom.
"Thanks," said Neville diving under the seat to retrieve the wayward amphibian.
"He even gets out of his terrarium?' Percival asked.
Neville nodded pouring the toad back into his habitat and clipping the lid shut, "I don't know how he does it."
"Perhaps the tanglesnarfs are loosening the lid," Luna suggested.
"It's as good a theory as any," Neville nodded.
"Will the rec room and study be open again?" asked Luna, who was detaching a pair of psychedelic spectacles from the middle of The Quibbler.
"Is there a point when we don't need somewhere to hide from Umbridge? Will the others want to come?"
Neville looked disappointed, "I liked it, especially the tutoring. I learned loads from you and Percival."
Harry looked thoughtful as Luna serenely added, "I liked it too, it was almost like having friends."
Percival leaned over and touched Luna's forearm gently, "You certainly had friends in the study, and the rec room was a good place to make new friends."
"But …" Luna looked lost.
"Things might have changed over the holidays, but I don't see a problem with opening the rooms again and seeing who shows up." He smiled at Harry whom he knew was having similar doubts to Luna.
"Luna, where's your trunk?" Ron asked.
Luna tapped her pocket.
"Take it out. Percival can you ward it please? Luna had some problems with," Ron paused not sure if Luna would want the others to know.
"Nargles," Luna finished for him.
"Nargles?" Percival repeated.
"Yeah, they took most of her things last year."
"Right, well, I think we can help with that."
He quickly retrieved his engraving tools, and he and Harry knelt next to her trunk on the floor.
"Don't you worry by the time we're finished your trunk will be as well protected as mine," Harry said with a nasty grin.
"Oh, is yours made from Sapient Pearwood as well?"
"Indeed it is. Let me just add one final rune here," Harry bent and engraved a strange looking mark in the centre of the back wall of her trunk. "Now you just need to give it a little magic and she'll wake up."
"She'll wake up?" Neville asked in confusion.
"Oh, Merlin no, not another one!" Ron whinged.
"Oh she's beautiful," Luna gushed as she looked at her trunk which seemed rather pleased with itself. "I can see you'll keep all the Nargles away."
A large pink tongue ran around three sides of the lid and there was a vicious sounding snap.
Ron, lent sideways and hit his head against the window.
A giggle sounded on the other side of the door, and they were all pleased that the door remained shut as the noise grew joined by whispers.
"You ask him!"
"No, you!"
"I'll do it!"
The door slide to the side once more to reveal a gaggle of fourth-year girls. One of them a bold-looking girl, pushed her way through the door.
"Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane," she said loudly and confidently. "I'm a Gryffindor too. You've probably seen me in the common room. Why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with them," she added in a stage whisper indicating the others in the room but with a pointed glance at Luna who was now wearing her free Spectrespecs, which gave her the look of a demented, multicoloured owl.
"They are friends of mine," he gestured to Ron, Neville and Luna, "And Percival is my boyfriend."
"Oh," said the girl looking very surprised. "Oh. Okay."
And she withdrew, sliding the door closed behind her.
"People expect you to have cooler friends than us," said Luna, once again displaying her knack for embarrassing honesty.
"You are cool!" said Harry shortly, crossing his arms across his chest. "Besides I don't choose my friends because they are cool, I choose them because they are good people, who I can trust to have my back."
"That's a very nice thing to say," beamed Luna, she pushed her Spectrespecs further up her nose and settled down to read The Quibbler.
"We weren't with you at the Ministry though," said Neville. "We didn't face him. You should have heard gran talk about you. 'That Harry Potter's got more backbone than the whole Ministry of Magic put together'. She'd give anything to have you as a grandson …"
Harry frowned, "She should be bloody grateful she's got a grandson at all. Who knows what Bellatrix and the others could have done to you after they …" Harry stopped, bright red.
"Thanks," Neville said with small smile.
"Neville if you ever need a place to go …" Ron started hesitantly.
"Thanks Ron, I know. You too, Harry," he said as he saw Harry open his mouth. "She's been a bit better recently. My O. were better than she thought so she even said I can have my own Greenhouse."
While Neville recited his grades and wondered whether to take Transfiguration like his Gran wanted him to, Harry watched him without really listening.
Neville's childhood had been blighted by Voldemort just as much as Harry's had, but Neville had no idea of how close he had come to having Harry's destiny. Though he had conflicted emotions about that, Sirius and Percival seemed to want to deal with it all for him. Part of him wanted to scream that he was not useless and could jolly well look after himself, and the other part cried out in gratitude, while being scared for their safety. And that was the rub, if other people were overseeing the task of ridding the world of Riddle, then while he was safer, they were not, a fact which bothered him greatly. Losing either Sirius or Percival would be tantamount to the loss of a limb.
The prophecy could have referred Neville, yet for his own inscrutable reasons, Riddle had chosen to believe that Harry was the one it had meant. Harry wondered how the world would be different if Riddle had chosen Neville instead. Would Neville have had the lightning-shaped scar? Surely if his Mother had died for him, he would have still lived with his gran. Would Alice Longbottom have known the spells that Lily Evans used to protect her son? Would there have been no 'Chosen One' at all? An empty seat where Neville now sat. Tom Riddle as the Minister of Magic?
"You all right, Harry? You look funny," said Neville.
Harry started.
"Sorry – I- "
"Wrackspurt got you?" asked Luna sympathetically, peering at Harry through her enormous, coloured spectacles.
"I …"
"A wrackspurt … they're invisible you know. They float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy," she said. "I thought I felt one zooming around in here."
She flapped her hands at thin air, as though beating off large invisible moths.
"You could be right," Harry said, pushing himself closer to Percival's side. The older boy merely slipped his arm around Harry's shoulders and held him.
"Don't think about it," he whispered into Harry's ear.
"What?" green eyes gaze up into chocolate.
"The possibilities, the what ifs, the wrackspurts."
"Oh," said Harry and it was his turn to blink slowly. "Invisible, in your brain, make your thoughts go fuzzy. Huh."
Luna smiled at them over the top of her upside-down magazine as Ron and Neville began to discuss Quidditch.
The weather beyond the train windows was as patchy as it had been all summer. They passed through stretches of chilling mist, then out into weak, clear sunlight.
"Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up I'm starving," said Ron longingly. "I want to eat before my next rounds."
"I would have thought you would have gotten used to being a bit hungry," Harry commented, with a smirk, "after the mandrake leaf."
"Not appreciably," Ron grinned. "I think I just saved it up."
"Did you give the scarves to the prefects to hand out?" Percival asked.
"Seemed easiest," Ron nodded. "Said it was a gift from Lord Black. I only mentioned the protections to select others though."
"What about …"
"Malfoy?" Ron did not wait for Harry's nod before he continued. "He scurried out of the meeting as fast as he could. I talked to the others about it after he'd left."
"Wonder where he went in such a hurry then."
"Straight back to his compartment with the other Slytherins. I passed them on the way back here."
"Not like him to give up an opportunity to demonstrate his powers as prefect," Neville commented.
"What did he do when he saw you?"
"The usual," said Ron indifferently, demonstrating a rude hand gesture. "Not like him though, is it? Well – that is," he did the hand gesture again, "but why isn't he out bullying first years? Wandering the train like he normally does. He hasn't even come to annoy us yet."
"Maybe he has other things on his mind," Percival suggested.
"Like whatever he bought from Borgin," Harry agreed.
"Still, Sirius did say he would look into it."
"It's kind of nice to not have to worry about it," Harry admitted.
"You mean you're not going to go off on some adventure to try and find out what Malfoy is up to?" Neville asked with a fake gasp.
"I think I would quite like a quiet year for a change," Harry said.
There was a chorus of goods from around the room.
Moments later the door slid open again and a breathless third year girl stepped inside.
"I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom and Harry P-Potter," she faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, Harry and Neville took the scroll addressed to each of them.
"Thank you," Harry and Neville said at the same time, the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.
"What is it?" Ron asked, as Harry unrolled his.
"An invitation," said Harry, turned the parchment around for Ron to read.
Harry,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.
Sincerely
Professor H.E.F. Slughorn
"That's the new Potion's professor," Harry explained for Luna's benefit. "He likes to … collect people. I didn't think he would start so soon."
"That doesn't sound creepy at all," Neville commented. "I suppose we'll have to go, won't we? I can't see what he would want me for?"
"Didn't you just say that you scored an Outstanding in Herbology? I bet Professor Sprout's been bragging," Ron said. "In fact, I bet it was the highest Herbology score ever."
"Then why not Percival? I bet he got straight O's."
"I did, but none of the teachers are going to put a foreigner forward over one of their own."
"That wouldn't be very fair!" Harry commented. "Though I don't think that's it. I hate to say it, but I know he taught my parents. My mum was one of his favourites, maybe yours was too?" Privately Harry thought that they had been invited because their parent's while no longer influential were well known. Which made the exclusion of Percival even more curious. Perhaps Slughorn did not know about Percival as yet.
They made their way through the train dodging the hordes of students who seemed to be occupying the hall, most sticking heads out of doors to look at Harry as he walked by, except for Cho Chang who dashed back into her compartment the moment she saw Harry coming. When they reached compartment C, they saw at once that they were not Slughorn's only invitees, although judging by the enthusiasm of Slughorn's welcome, Harry was the most warmly appreciated.
"Harry m'boy!" said Slughorn, jumping up at the sight of him so that his great velvet-covered belly seemed to fill all the remaining space in the compartment. His shiny bald head and great silver moustache gleamed as brightly in the sunlight as the golden buttons on his waistcoat. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr Longbottom!"
Neville nodded warily. At a gesture from Slughorn, they sat opposite each other in the two empty seats, which were nearest the door. Harry glanced around at their fellow guests. He recognised Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin from their year whom he remembered spending time in the rec room; there were also two seventh-years boys Harry did not know. On the other side of Slughorn was Hermione Granger and squashed in the corner beside her looking as though she was not entirely sure how she had got there, was Ginny.
Now, do you know everyone?" Slughorn asked Harry and Neville. "Blaise Zabini is in your year of course-"
Harry nodded towards Zabini, who dipped his head in return causing Slughorn to startle slightly as Gryffindor and Slytherin students generally loathed each other on principle.
"This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other? No? He's another Gryffindor?"
McLaggen, a large, wire-haired youth, raised a hand and Harry and Neville, nodded back to him, now recognising that they had seen him in the Gryffindor common room.
"And this is Marcus Belby, I don't know whether-?"
Belby, who was thin and nervous looking, gave a strained smiled.
"- and these charming ladies tell me they know you!" Slughorn finished.
Ginny grimaced at Harry and Neville from behind Slughorn's back, while Hermione smiled smugly.
"Well now, this is most pleasant," said Slughorn cosily. "A chance to get to know you all a little better. Here, take, a napkin. I've packed my own lunch, the trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on the liquorice wands and a poor old man's digestive system isn't quite up to such things … pheasant Belby?"
Belby started and accepted what looked like half a cold pheasant sitting on a bed of lettuce.
"I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his uncle Damocles," Slughorn told Harry and Neville, now passing around a basket of rolls. "Outstanding wizard, outstanding and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?"
Unfortunately, Belby had just taken a large mouthful of pheasant, in his haste to answer Slughorn he swallowed too fast, turned purple and began to choke.
"Anapneo," said Slughorn calmly, pointing his wand at Belby, whose airway seemed to clear at once.
"Not … not much of him, no," gasped Belby, his eyes streaming.
"Well of course, I daresay he's busy," said Slughorn, looking questioningly at Belby. "I doubt he invented the Wolfsbane Potion without considerable hard work!"
"I suppose …" said Belby who seemed afraid to take another bite of pheasant until he was sure that Slughorn had finished with him. "Er … he and my dad don't get on that well, you see, so I don't really know much about …"
His voice trailed away as Slughorn gave him a cold smile and turned to McLaggen instead.
"Now, you, Cormac," said Slughorn. "I happen to know you see a lot of your Uncle Tiberius, because he has a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting Nogtails in, I think, Norfolk?"
"Oh, yeah, that was fun, that was," said McLaggen. "We went with Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour– that was before he became Minister obviously- "
"Ah, you know Bertie and Rufus, too?" beamed Slughorn, now offering around a small tray of pies, somehow, Belby missed out. "Now tell me …"
It was as Harry had suspected. Everyone here seemed to have been invited not because of what good students they were but because they were connected to somebody well-known or influential – everyone except Ginny. Zabini, who was interrogated after McLaggen, turned out to have a famously beautiful witch for a mother (from Slughorn's gossip it seemed she had been married seven times, each of her husbands dying mysteriously leaving her mounds of gold). It was Neville's turn next: Harry endured a very uncomfortable five minutes of Slughorn talking about how Neville's parents were well-know Aurors, who had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and a couple of Death Eater cronies before he cut in. Slughorn's face seemed to be telling the world he was reserving judgement and Harry could not tolerate it any longer.
"I beg your pardon Professor, but I find it more than a little offensive that you seem to think that each one of us is only worth speaking to because we are related to someone famous. I have no doubt you're about to interrogate me about the night my family died or something equally inappropriate. Did you know that Neville here is an absolute prodigy at Herbology? Zabini, is a whizz at Arithmancy. Belby, I don't know personally but I heard that he's the only person in the last three decades to pass History of Magic and undertake it at N.E.W.T level. Which given our current professor is an astounding achievement …"
"M'boy," Slughorn said only looking vaguely contrite. "I was actually going to thank you."
"Thank me?" Harry's rant was effectively aborted.
"Yes, the cen-tra-fug."
"Centrifuge."
"Yes," Slughorn nodded enthusiastically. "It was a miracle. Who knew that the muggles had developed such a useful thing? I spoke to Miss Sophie McElliot, she was in the class of ninety-three. Didn't make a splash in her Hogwarts years and as many Muggleborn do, returned to the Muggle world. She works in a path-ol-lo-gee lab now."
"A what?" Zabini asked.
"Pathology lab. It's one of the ways Muggles investigate illnesses. They can take samples of various bodily fluids, look at them under certain conditions and figure out what is wrong with them."
"Sounds barbaric!" McLaggen said loudly, effectively silencing Hermione who had opened her mouth in order to correct Harry's explanation.
"It is a bit gross at times," Harry shrugged, "but they can't just cast a diagnostic spell now, can they?"
"Well it worked. She managed to separate out all of the contaminating particles. I didn't have to throw it away. It saved me Galleons! And the equipment she had! The possibilities in potions making are endless."
Harry silently cursed the fact that he had not had that conversation with Severus instead.
"So you see, I am interested in the achievements you have made. As for young Miss Weasley," he turned a broad smile on the red-head, "Why she cast the most marvellous bat-bogey hex as I passed her carriage! And finally if the Prophet is to be believed, it seems," His large smiled was returned by Hermione, "that you, Miss Granger are the one we all have to thank for …"
"defeating Voldemort," Hermione finished with a self-satisfied smile. Across the table McLaggen gazed at Hermione's adoringly. Zabini glanced at Harry with a raised eyebrow, clearly questioning the validity of her claims. Harry tilted his head away from Slughorn and crossed his eyes, causing Zabini to hide a huff of laughter behind a hastily raised hand.
"And such rumours I've heard. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe, the Prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes, perhaps embellish the truth a little …"
"Well there was no mistake about it …"
Hermione launched into a very exciting yet imaginary tale of how she single-handedly defeated Voldemort. McLaggen hung off her every word. It lasted until Harry could no longer contain himself and snorted, spraying water over the table.
"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry, a bit of tickle in the nose," Harry said, not looking at Neville who was stifling a laugh. "It's funny Hermione as I only remember you using one spell that night," he added off-handedly, "an illegal one at that."
"Oh, were you there that night?" Slughorn asked surprised.
"Yes, but I'm not allowed to say too much about it at this time. I believe there is a question over the events leading up to the incident. A matter which will be bought up at the Wizengamot." Seraphina had been furious that her charge had been attacked and not only had she not been notified but that the girl had been allowed to get away without any punishment what-so-ever. Not to mention she had broken into the Ministry which had led to the damage of most of the rooms in the Department of Mysteries.
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Harry. You're making it out as if it were a bigger deal than it was," Hermione scoffed.
"Perhaps, we'll see after the Wizengamot meets today, won't we? You might just get called in to explain what you were doing at the Ministry so late at night." McLaggen's face was a picture, it looked like he was about to speak to Hermione's defence. "Before you open your mouth McLaggen, remember that I was there, you were not." Cormac turned his glare to the window.
"Yes, well," Slughorn looked a bit uncomfortable at seeing the tension between, what he had been sure would be, his two prized students, he was sure that Dumbledore had said they were the best of friends, so he did the only thing he could think of to do and changed the subject. "I remember dear Gwenog telling me – Gwenog Jones, I mean of course, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies-"
He meandered off into a long-winded reminiscence, but Harry got the distinct impression that the man had been disappointed and that he had not been convinced by Neville and Ginny.
The afternoon wore on with more anecdotes about illustrious wizards Slughorn had taught, all of whom had been delighted to join what he called the 'Slug Club' at Hogwarts. Harry could not wait to leave, Neville felt the same if his fidgeting was any indication, but neither boy could see how to manage it politely. Finally, the train emerged from yet another long misty stretch into a red sunset, and Slughorn looked around, blinking in the twilight.
"Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps! You'd better go and change into your robes, all of you. McLaggen you must drop by and borrow that book on Nogtails. Harry, Blaise, Hermione- any time you are passing. Same goes for you miss," he twinkled at Ginny as an afterthought. "Well, off you go, off you go!"
As he moved passed Harry into the darkening corridor, Blaise gave a gentle squeeze to Harry's elbow, before shooting him a cold glare. Further along the corridor Draco Malfoy had just stuck his head out of the door of a carriage. Harry grunted and returned the glare before he, Ginny and Neville followed Zabini back along the train.
"I'm glad that's over," muttered Neville. "Strange man, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is a bit," said Harry. "How come you ended up in there, Ginny?"
"He saw me hex Zacharias Smith," said Ginny. "He kept going on and on about …" fortunately the red head glanced behind them and noticed Hermione bringing up the rear and stopped before she said anymore.
"Harry," Hermione said imperiously. "I believe I need to talk to you."
Harry groaned, "see which compartment we go into and let Perce know would you?" he whispered to Neville, who dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement.
"What do you want?" Harry turned to confront Hermione.
"I don't think you want to be seen arguing with the heroine of the wizarding world now, do you?"
"Actually Granger, I don't particularly care."
Hermione, frowned and reached out to grip Harry by the shoulder, digging her thumbnail, hard into the front of the joint. She reefed the door to her compartment open and pulled Harry into it with her.
"Get out!" she ordered the group of four second years who had been waiting patiently for her to come back.
"Awww!" they stood dejectedly.
Hermione stopped, took a deep breath then gave them a sickly-sweet smile, "It won't be for long. I just want to have some words with my friend."
Harry threw off her hand and rubbed his shoulder, "some friend!"
"Harry," Hermione said after shutting the door behind the girls. "I understand that you're jealous, but you can't go around saying things like that. It just won't do."
Harry burst out laughing. Lines tightened around Hermione's eyes.
"What? I can't tell the truth?" he flashed the back of his left hand at her and said, "While Professor Snape's potions worked well, the Black Quill did its job. I can't really lie."
"Don't be ridiculous Harry. It's beside the point anyway. You can't just go taking these things to the Wizengamot because you didn't think to just cast the killing curse on Voldemort. I mean, I know that you don't know the widest range of spells, but surely it was obvious …"
"I didn't take anything to the Wizengamot Hermione," Harry said flatly.
"Oh so you can lie then," she smiled like she had just caught him out.
"No. I didn't, I'm just saying that the person who has been speaking to the Wizengamot isn't me and I thought that was obvious."
"Well you can just tell Sirius to stop it then," Hermione nodded as if it were decided.
"It wasn't Sirius either. You really are delusional, aren't you?" Harry said, arms folded over his chest. "Did you really think that you could assault Percival and that his guardian would just let it slide?"
"I didn't assault Percival?"
"How stupid do you think I am Granger? I mean come on really. Percival and I were walking to the kitchens, then the next thing I know, I am with you at the Ministry and Percival was nowhere to be seen. The only way you could have abducted me was to first take out Percival."
"It doesn't matter it was necessary for the …"
"I'm pretty sure his guardian doesn't see it that way," Harry said flatly.
"They don't matter," Hermione dismissed.
Harry laughed again, "Have you forgotten just who Percival's guardian is? Do you realise what sort of international incident you've created?"
"Me? I hardly think stupef…" Hermione stopped.
"Do go on Granger," Harry smirked, "was that an admission? I'll gladly get the memory to the Wizengamot. as soon as the train arrives."
"Stop exaggerating! There's no way that anything I did that night could possibly have caused an international incident."
"Did you forget that Seraphina is America's diplomatic envoy? You don't think assaulting the boy who is as good as her son will upset her in anyway?"
"It was necessary," Hermione hissed.
"No, it really wasn't. You see I already knew about the prophecy," Hermione's eyes widened, "Sirius and I had plans to go and get it in the holidays. It was all planned and organised and most importantly legal. Instead, you decided that you knew better, assaulted the Ambassador's charge, abducted me and caused untold damage to a very sensitive department in the Ministry and all for what?"
"I killed Voldemort."
"We both know that's untrue. Not to mention the fact that the only reason you even got the opportunity was that Percival had battled him to standstill. Then there is the use of an Unforgiveable."
"Yes, if Percival had just done that …"
"Percival has too much integrity for that."
"Oh Harry, you're so naïve," she gave a little high-pitched laugh. "Some of us have a higher calling. To meet our destined greatness, we need to take risks and push boundaries. We can't be held to the same rules as the rest of the world."
"Don't you think that people deserve to see Riddle answer for his crimes, to see justice done?! Percival had him tied up, we were in the Ministry, the Aurors were arriving. They could literally just have dragged him into the Wizengamot, dosed him with Veritaserum, and once he had confessed had a dementor administer the Kiss. Giving the Unspeakables time to figure out why he comes back to life. You have in fact allowed him to escape …"
"Argh, this is getting us nowhere. Obliviate!"
It happened so fast that Harry had no time to defend himself. He had not even drawn his wand on entering the carriage with her. Hermione removed the conversation from his memory.
"Confundus," she waited for the dazed look to subside a little.
"Percival is just using you. You know I am right. He is just going to leave you. Then the help he is giving you will disappear, and you'll be hurt. That is why you should bring your homework to me to check, Percival is unreliable. I wish you could see that I am just worried for you Harry."
"Worried?" he echoed vaguely.
"Yes. You saved the world all those years ago. The younger students all look up to you. You need to set them a good example. I don't want to see you fail, so bring your homework to me every night and we'll go through it together. I'm the only one that knows what's best for you."
Harry knew something was not right. He wanted Percival. But Hermione said that Percival would hurt him. No! That was wrong. Percival had always helped him. Perhaps Percival could sort it out. He just had to find Percival. It was the one thought that he could manage to hold onto as the others slipped away.
Next moment he was stumbling up the corridor. The corridor was nearly empty now. Nearly everyone had returned to their carriages to change into their school robes and pack their possessions. He leaned on the wall as his vision blurred. A door next to him slid causing him to start and stumble against the wall.
"Potter?" there was a blonde boy standing in the doorway, the compartment behind him empty.
"Do you mean me?" Harry pointed to himself.
"Oh this is too good," the boy grinned, he raised his wand and pointed it at Harry. "Stupefy!"
Harry opened his eyes and realised that he was bound and gagged and apparently lodged in the luggage compartment. At least his head seemed a bit clearer, even if his entire body was aching from being trussed up. He spent a few moments trying to figure out what had happened after he had followed Hermione into her carriage. He could only remember a conversation about homework … he really should get her to look over his, he had been a bit ridiculous pushing her aside, she only wanted what was best for him after all. His head still felt a bit foggy, perhaps he should talk to Percival about it once he got himself out of his current predicament. She might have meant well but she was just plain wrong about Percival. With that thought he turned to the conversation in the room.
"Mother wants me to complete my education, but personally, I don't see it as important these days. I mean think about it … when the Dark Lord takes over, is he going to care how many O. or N.E. anyone's got? Of course, he isn't … it'll be all the kind of service he received, the level of devotion he was shown."
"Isn't he dead?" Zabini asked scathingly. "Granger was bragging about it. It will be a bit hard for him to take over now don't you think?"
"Dead?! As if a Mudblood could kill the Dark Lord!" he leaned towards the others and whispered. "I know he is alive. He returned last time and I guarantee he has just about returned again. Our devotion now - through his apparent disappearance. Our loyalty through his apparent demise. That will be what he is looking for once he takes control."
"Even if he does return, you're sixteen years old and not even fully qualified yet? And you think you'll be able to do something for him?"
"I've just said, haven't I? Maybe he doesn't care if I'm qualified. Maybe the job he wants me to do isn't something that you need to be qualified for," said Malfoy quietly.
Crabbe and Goyle were both sitting with their mouths open like gargoyles. Pansy was gazing down at Malfoy as though she had never seen anything so awe-inspiring.
"I can see Hogwarts," said Malfoy, clearly relishing the effect he had created as he pointed out the blackened window. "We'd better get our robes on."
Harry was so busy staring at Malfoy that he did not notice Goyle reaching up for his trunk, as he swung it down it hit Harry hard on the side of the head. Through his briefly doubled vision Harry could now see the corridors filling up again and hoped that Percival and the others would be looking for him. He wondered where his wand was hopefully still in his holster, but the small amount of movement he had did not allow him to try and draw it. He hoped that the holster had allowed it to remain undiscovered by Malfoy. There was little doubt that the other boy would snap it without a thought.
Goyle threw the door open and muscled his way out into a crowd of second years, punching them aside; Crabbe and Zabini followed.
"You go on," Malfoy told Pansy, who was waiting for him with her hand held out as though hoping he would hold it. "I just want to check something."
Pansy left. Now Harry and Malfoy were alone in the compartment. People were filing past, descending on to the dark platform. Malfoy moved over to the compartment door and let down the blinds, so that people in the corridor beyond could not peer in.
"Finite Incantutum." Harry felt as if something was being scraped off his skin. Malfoy's eyes widened slightly as he noticed Harry was now alert. Harry struggled to move against the ropes he was bound in. The movement caused him to topple forward, as though in slow motion, and tip out of the luggage rack, falling with an agonising, floor-shaking crash, at Malfoys feet. "Oh, this is the stuff of dreams." Malfoy laughed. "I doubt you've heard anything that I care about, Potter. But while I've got you here …"
He stamped hard on Harry's face. Harry felt his nose break. Blood spurted everywhere.
"That's for my father. Now, let's see …" he stepped away from Harry giving himself more space before he swung his leg back and kicked. There was a snap as several of Harry's ribs broke.
Malfoy re-cast the disillusionment charm on the boy lying on the ground.
"I don't reckon they'll find you till the train's back in London," he said quietly. "And by then I can get a message out so that the appropriate people find you. See you around Potter … or not."
And taking care to tread on Harry's fingers, Malfoy left the compartment.
-o0o-
Where was Harry? Initially Percival had felt only a little concerned when Neville arrived back in the compartment without him. Harry could take care of himself, so he did not allow it to bother him. However the more time passed the more that little niggling worry grew. Finally, as the train was pulling into the station, he hastily searched each compartment.
"Where is he?" Percival stood in front of Hermione, having made his way through the press of students.
"Who?" she asked in apparent confusion.
"Harry. The last anyone saw, he was going into your compartment."
"I don't know what you want me to say," she shrugged innocently giving a coy smile. "I mean, is it my fault that he has obviously grown tired of you and moved on? I'm sure he'll be up at the school. Perhaps he's with Ginny."
The statement caused Percival to pause for a moment before he shook it off. No, if nothing else Death and Magic would not allow it. Hermione while being obnoxious did not seem to be lying. Something must have stopped Harry from returning to the compartment. He looked around the platform, most of the students had departed, but there standing in the lee of the wall, wearing dark clothing was Nymphadora Tonks. He moved over to her quickly.
"Harry's not with you?" she asked as he approached. "I wanted to thank him for trying to make sure I was okay."
"He's missing," Percival said. "He got invited to Slughorn's meeting, then on the way back he apparently went into a carriage with Hermione Granger. He hasn't been seen since. She said he left her, but he never returned to our carriage."
"Have you checked the carriages?"
"Quickly but there were students everywhere."
"I'll do it again now. You contact Sirius and then head up to the school, in case we both missed him. Merlin knows trouble finds that boy when he least expects it."
-o0o-
"I declare this session of the Wizengamot open," the voice of the Chief Warlock, Tiberius Ogden, reverberated round the room. "First item on our agenda, we have a deputation from America. Madame Picquery the floor is yours."
Seraphina stood from her seat in the gallery, walking to take her place at the podium with a grace born from her years of service to her country. She placed a single sheet of parchment in front of her with a steady hand. Looking around the room she took a small breath before she began to speak, "It is with great disappointment that I advise you that effective immediately and until further notice all trade between our countries will be ceased, all contracts ended and all debts are now due. There will be no travel approved between our countries with the exception of those being granted refugee status who will have to file the appropriate forms." She removed the parchment and made to return to her seat.
There was an uproar from the stands.
"Madame Picquery, can you tell us what has precipitated such an attack on our country?"
She paused on the edge of the platform "You were warned. Some months ago, my Godson was attacked at your school. Due process was not followed. I presented the matter here before this very body and was assured that the matter would be dealt with and would not occur again. To date, no investigation has occurred, no culprit found."
"But surely that was last year, the confusion with Umbridge …"
"It matters not, once could perhaps be forgiven. However, at the end of the last school year, my godson was attacked again, was I notified? Was an investigation conducted? The answer to both of these questions is no. As such our citizens can no longer be assured of their safety in your country so travel will no longer be permitted. Your lack of honesty and openness, the lack of investigation all indicate that the United Kingdom cannot be considered trustworthy, therefore we will do no trade with you until this situation changes."
While the Chief Warlock gulped, a man at the back of the visitor's gallery chuckled. Hopefully this would send the chit and her annoy charge home. It could remove one obstacle preventing him from realigning his pawn.
"Professor Dumbledore, as headmaster, you should answer these accusations," Tiberius Ogden called, returning to the podium.
"Oh," Albus stood. "I have nothing to add. I was not there that night, being rather preoccupied at the Ministry," he smiled at them genially. Yes, remind them that it was he and his protégé that had stopped Voldemort, well for a while, and they should all be grateful.
"Your inability to concentrate on your job Professor, does not negate your responsibility to your students," Seraphina stated. "Your primary responsibility after all is the school."
"Oh, but he is not one of my students," Albus chuckled.
"While he is at your school, you are responsible for his health, well-being, and education. Why did you fail to notify me?"
"I wasn't …"
"Why was there no investigation?"
"There was no need!"
"Why not Dumbledore?"
"Because the portraits had already told him what happened," Madame Marchbanks guessed. As much fun as it was watching Seraphina hound Dumbledore, they really did need to move the session along or they would not get anything done and anyone could see that a lack of trade with MACUSA would not be beneficial and there was still the matter of the break in at the Ministry to be discussed.
The room paused, "Oh come now," the wizened witch said. "You mean none of you have put together how he knows so much about what goes on in the castle? It's a massive place and he isn't actually omniscient."
Tiberius Ogden turned to the Auror guarding the door, "Please retrieve one of the portraits from the Aurors office. I believe Chief Auror Justin Pilliwickle has one there and one in Hogwarts."
It took several minutes to retrieve the painting. One of the Aurors levitated it to an appropriate height for Tiberius to give the occupant his instructions.
"While that is occurring, we will continue with the session. Madame Picquery if you would return to the gallery, I hope we will have answers for you shortly."
They were listening to an in-depth description of the damage to the cognivores tanks when the Chief Auror returned.
"Ahum," Justin Pilliwickle drew the attention of the room. He pulled out a notepad and flipped it open. "It appears on the night in question. Two dark haired boys were seen just prior to curfew on the main stairs near the entrance to the kitchen corridor, it is believed they were one their way to acquire some night-time sustenance. A curly-haired girl was seen to approach them. She drew her wand and stupefied the taller boy first, he fell face first onto the floor. The messy -haired boy turned around and she cast a stupefy into his face. This boy she caught before he could fall and lowered him to the ground. She then levitated the first boy into a nearby cupboard and was seen to kick him several times before casting several spells upon his person. After which she levitated the smaller boy out of the castle doors."
"What spells did she cast on the boy before she placed him in the cupboard?" Ogden asked.
"Silenceo, Incarcerus and Petrificus Totalus."
"And was anyone able to identify the students involved?"
"The portrait who guards the Gryffindor common room, identified the three as Harry Potter, Percival Graves and Hermione Granger."
"Thank you for your assistance," Tiberius nodded to the man. "Dumbledore?"
"Yes?" Dumbledore said, resigned to having to answer more questions.
"Given how easy it was to discover what had occurred, why did no investigation take place?"
"I was busy, dealing with the kerfuffle at the Ministry. I might remind you that Voldemort was killed that night, it has created a certain amount of paperwork, ensuring our young heroine is being supported through what is a momentous time in her young life."
"So busy you could not take five minutes to question the portraits?"
"And what of the girl's punishment?" an elderly wizard from the front row sang out.
"Yes, Albus Dumbledore, what of the girl's punishment?"
"Oh, I think it is just a case of …"
"If the next words out of your mouth are 'a school yard prank' or 'a misunderstanding' I will tell them all what you allowed as a school yard prank when I was at school?" Sirius warned.
"I agree, this is no prank," Tiberius said thoughtfully, "This … Hermione Granger … apparently attacked and restrained a visiting student, and attacked and abducted another boy," he stopped for a moment a tipped his head to the side. "Is this not the same girl that later broke into the Ministry?"
"Ah, yes though I think that should be forgiven in light of night's outcome don't you?"
The Chief Warlock frowned, "No. Seventeen hundred and eighty-two prophecies were destroyed, along with every time-turner the Ministry owns. The cognitive studies program was completely disrupted as we were just discussing, their entire lab had to be decontaminated and three tanks replaced. Not to mention the disruption to six other rooms that are delicately balanced to allow the studies required by the Unspeakables. If this girl was responsible for that then I think …"
"Ah that might have been a small error on my part," Dumbledore said, internally seething, why could they not see how small an issue this was in the grand scheme of things? While Voldemort was not actually dead, he had been defeated for the time being. "During discussions I made mention of a prophecy I witnessed to the girl. It seems she got it into her head to show Harry as they are such close friends, and she wanted him to be aware of what his future held. It is after all his destiny to protect the wizarding world."
"I protest!" Sirius stood. "Harry is a sixteen-year-old boy, he has only two responsibilities currently, the first is to complete his studies to the best of his abilities and the second is to have fun. Being forced to be responsible for the security of the wizarding world and fighting dark lords is not going to happen."
"The prophecy said …"
"Perhaps I might shed some light on the situation. May I?" an Unspeakable had appeared through the doors on the ground level of the amphitheatre.
"Please," the Chief Warlock waved him forwards.
"The prophecy in question has been studied extensively. When it did not dim in completion on the thirty-first of October 1981, it was hypothesised that it might not have meant Voldemort, or possibly not Harry Potter."
"Did they ever discover the truth of it?"
"No, and as it has now been destroyed it is now impossible to ascertain."
"Be that as it may, I feel we have deviated from the point," Seraphina's voice cut across the room. "Now that we are aware of who assaulted my godson. I believe we can move on to appropriate consequences."
"I feel that because it occurred at Hogwarts that I, as headmaster, should deal with the issue," Dumbledore stated, this could actually work out, if he could just get them to agree to allow him to deal with everything, then he would just call her lessons with him detention solving the issue entirely.
"And yet you were not willing to any steps previously," Seraphina argued.
"Well, I propose that Miss Granger be stripped of her roles a Prefect and I will personally oversee …" he appeared to think, "a weekly detention for a month."
"Mr Dumbledore," Sirius stood again. "Miss Granger has already had her prefect privileges revoked. And I do not believe four detentions is anywhere near sufficient."
"I suggest that she is expelled," Seraphina said flatly. "Newt Scamander was, for a lessor incident with no evidence at all."
"That was truly a crime," Dumbledore said sadly, "one I don't think we should repeat now."
"Well, you would know!" Seraphina snarked back.
"These actions do not seem to be those of a stable teenager. Therefore, I suggest," said Madame Marchbanks as she stood, "a House grounding. Miss Granger will be restricted to her common room and dormitory at all times that she is not in class, at meals, or in the infirmary. Combined with a twice weekly detention until the winter recess and a review by a Mediwizard looking at her mental health. Depending on this review, follow up appointments as necessary and we can re-assess the situation at Yule."
"That is …" Dumbledore huffed.
"Quite wise," Seraphina said.
"I believe," the elderly witch said, "that young girls with no previous history of violence, do not suddenly start assaulting other students for no reason. It may have been a response to the stress of her exams or perhaps something else. Not that there is any excuse for attacking another student, however we have a duty of care to both the girl and the other students to investigate."
"Madame Marchbanks," Sirius stood. "I support your suggestion, however, be aware that this is not the first time this particular witch has harmed another."
"You know that was an accident Sirius," Dumbledore interjected.
"That he had an allergic reaction to the potion was not intended Dumbledore, however she gave him the potion intentionally and without his knowledge."
"She meant no …"
"As Madame Marchbanks said it's worth investigating," Sirius drew his persona as Lord Black around him and his voice cracked like a whip.
"All in favour of Madame Marchbanks suggestion?' Tiberius Ogden asked the room. He glanced around at the hands raised in clear majority. "For the record those against?"
"Mr Dumbledore, the Wizengamot has decided. A direction will be sent to your office and another to Minerva McGonagall as your Deputy. Failure to impose these restrictions will be considered contempt of the Wizengamot. Does this satisfy you Madame Picquery?"
Seraphina looked around at the stands. To be honest it was more than she had been expecting. "The embargo on trade and travel will be postponed. Though we will be watching closely. Be warned, we will not continue to show such leniency if the safety of our citizens is in doubt. A full report will be sent to the I.C.W to ensure you adhere to the judgement handed down here."