03/09/95
Just after noon.
Narcissa Malfoy nee Black surveyed the Dining Room table. Luci at the Head of the Tale. On his right was Lord Parkison, Perciviel, and his Lady Wife, Passiflora. Then there was her seat, as the Lady of House Malfoy. To her right was Lady Nott, Theadora. Then there was the Lord of Nott, Thadeis.
Narcissa had planned on seven courses. First a light soup, a tomato bisque. Next was a Fish dish, she had chosen swordfish. Third course was a salad. Fourth, a cheese(and wine) Fondue followed by a Beef Roast. A Palate cleanser, before a chicken dish, and a fruit and cheese course. Each course was paired with a wine matched to the course from the Malfoy cellars. And to cap the Evening, a Chocolate(and rum) fondue and Brandy.
The whole thing was planned to run three Hours, from Six to Nine with three hours of the men drinking in the Study afterwards.
Narcissa had used the guile of House Black to shift the sum of one hundred Galleons from the House Malfoy Account to her private Black account. She then took twenty Galleons to pay for what she needed to finish dinner. The rest she used the House Maintenance Accounts via the House Elves to buy… to fill the Larder, stock the wine cellar, and import potion supplies. Lucious was a Master of Accounting, but he knew shit about what it took to run a House. She planned the Dinners, the Balls, the Social Gatherings of 'Look How Rich I Am' that He insisted on throwing every few months.
The Lady Wives of the Death Eaters spent the nights plotting the Fall of their Lord Husbands. Nine of them had taken a Blood Oath on their Lives and Magic to see to the downfall of the Men of Voldermort.
Tonight, She had the Fish seasoned with a poisonous agent.
Next week, Theadora was planning on a Tea for the ladies while the men met for Cigars and Brandy at 'the Club'. But the Cigars were of Lucious' Private Reserve. They had already been dipped in a tonic that when burned, would react badly to the Agent in their blood from the Fish.
HANE
Sunday evening. 04/09/95
Potter snarled as he stormed into the Common room.
McLaggen had been mouthing off. He tried to grab Verdiem, but she was quick to flame and scratch him. Potter had left her with Ginny, but the sixth year had ignored her warning to leave the drake alone. Verdiem had fled for Harry, and now he was a raging Hellhound.
"McLaggen!" Harry roared, "You were Warned!" His wand dropped to his hand, A flick, and McLaggens wand jumped from his hand to Harry's. His ankles snapped together, his arms windmilling to keep him on his feet. As Potter closed on the bigger Lad, he allowed his hellhound to rush the Surface, causing his teeth to elongate, and smoke to escape his nares. "Purposely come within five feet of either drake, and I will feed what's left of you to Aragog." Harry growled.
McLaggen soiled himself.
Harry nodded.
As Harry turned away, he hissed, $Where Are Your Shinies? The Club meets in twenty minutes.$ Those who were close took a step back, before they noticed the small black dragon, fly to his shoulder and burrow into his robes, only to return with her white furred rat skin sack clutched in her tail. She buggled proudly as her Human turned and headed out of the room.
"What is that about?" asked the sixth year female prefect. "And who is Aragog?"
"McLaggen thought he could handle the mini-dragon, because he saw Harry pass her off to Ginny." Hermione answered as she settled at the table to do her homework. "Verdiem objected and went for Harry. Now she is off to hunt shinies from the Gobstone club."
Ginny snorted, "She is good. Might even give Greengrass a run for her stones." The redhead sat beside Granger as she laid out her books. "I would join them, but I need a hand with my Arthmancy."
"As To who Aragog is…" Hermione smiled, "Ask Ron, it will give him nightmares."
HANE
The Room was quite boisterous when Harry entered.
"Okay." Professor Vector called out to the students, "Player's to the centre." Eighteen students stepped forward, Harry not among them. "Okay. We have four games of Four and in the centre … we need one more."
"Here Professor!" Harry called from the Door. "I have a Challenger for Greengrass. The Weasley Twins told me to try to challenge her." The crowd split and Harry hurried to the centre of the room.
Greengrass peered at the newcomer, before turning to face a strawberry redhead. "Bones. We have unfinished Business."
"Your Loss, Greengrass." The Hufflepuff stepped forward. "WE already know how Potter is going to fare."
The Crowd jeered.
As the rest drew coloured stones from a bag to decide which circle they were playing at, Harry faced the two witches over the centre circle.
"Just to be clear. Standard rules?" Harry Smiled, "No Special House Rules? Like a Player can not leave the Circle to get a better view?"
Greengrass Frowned, "No, just Standard Tournament Rules."
"How many Stones?" Harry eased down on his knees.
"Let's Start with Seven." Susan dug out her stone pouch. "We can go again if there is time."
$Seven Stones.$ Harry hissed, as Verdiem sprung from his shoulder to the circle side. The witches drew back at the hiss, then frowned as the black beast worked the white fur sack open and dug out seven stones, plus an alabaster striker.
"Ah, Potter?" Greengrass watched the small dragon stretch. "What is…"
"She." Harry smiled at the witches, "And she is getting ready to steal your shinies."
"She?" Susan cocked her head to the side, "I thought you were …"
"I never said I was the 'player'." Harry's smile grew. "She can hold her own against the Weasley twins. I only do the things she needs a hand to do."
"In That case." Greengrass grinned, "She can break." She gathered the twenty-one stones into the centre of the circle, and mixed them up.
$Your Break.$ the black drake craned her neck about… settled the Shooter on her head, as she crouched… a snap of her tail sent the white polished stone criening across the circle to slam into the clutch on stones grouped there. The impact knocked fifteen spinning about, but only two rolled into the gutter border of the circle. The drake hissed, as she gathered her winnings. One stone was set on her bag, the other she racked into her horns as she aimed to fire again. Five turns later, her Shooter failed to knock a stone from the circle. But she had claimed twelve of the twenty one.
"She Is good." Greengrass lined up her shot, knocking one out, but losing her shooter. The Blond looked thoughtful, before reclaiming her shooter, passing her turn.
Bones only was able to claim two, at the cost of her shooter. She reclaimed her shooter, and passed.
Verdiem hissed in pleasure, as she racked a looted stone, and fired it into a cluster of five stones in front of Daphne, knocking three into the gutter. The black beast scrambled across the Slytherin girl's lap to rack one of her just-earned stones into her horns, and fired… knocking two more into the gutter. She scurried across Susan's knees to rack and fired, banking off one to knock a second one into the gutter. The shooter and the banked stone also ended up in the gutter. This left two stones on opposite sides of the circle. The drake danced on her hind legs as she peered across the Circle. $Pass.$ She buggled, before herding her shines along the gutter to Harry's position.
"She Passes." Harry moved the stones to the pile of her winnings.
Greengrass was quick to clean up the last two stones.
Bones smiled, "Okay. Lesson learned. Never let the Dragon Break."
"What was that about House Rules at the beginning?" Greengrass asked Potter.
"The Weasleys don't let her leave the floor. One foot must remain on the floor at all times. That is why she dances around the edge. She is trying to see all the angles." He set the alabaster shooter aside, "Another game? How Many?"
"Seven." Bones counted another seven from her pouch. "I claim Break."
$Seven.$ Harry hissed, $I think they are ready to take your shinies.$
$Never!$ the dragon flamed, as she counted out her seven, and coiled about her Shooter. $ Now I Take EVERYTHING!$ followed by a three second burst of flame.
"She is now claiming to take everything." Harry eased away from the circle, and sat on a stool.
Susan broke the clutch, but nothing made it to the gutter.
Then it was Verdiem's turn. And she 'ran' the circle. Every shot dropped at least one stone. Half an Hour later, she was lining up on the last stone… Flick… clack… and both stones rolled into the gutter. The whole room clapped as the little beast danced on her hind legs in joy.
$Pack Up.$ Harry stood. $what does not fit, gets left behind. You have three minutes. What is unpacked gets left behind$ the dragon bolted to her sac and started stuffing them in. "Ladies. Thank you for the game. Same time next week?" He offered his hand to Susan who shook it, before offering it to Daphne.
Greengrass peered at him. "You bring that beast in here to steal our gobstones, and expect us to just wait a week until our rematch?" She gripped his hand, pulled him close to hiss in his ear. "I don't think so. I want a rematch. Tomorrow night!"
"I will talk to the Twins." Harry hissed. "They will set the odds, and run the pool. Do you want to do it by the stone or the winner takes all?"
The blond staggered back. "You're putting 'coin' on this?"
"Yes." Harry smirked. "You can always get Malfoy to back you."
"I Do Not need Malfoy's help…" Daphne jerked her hand out of his.
"I never said you did." Harry offered a gentle grin, "I just want to fleece Malfoy of his gold."
Greengrass blinked before doing something she had never done in public… She laughed. "He prides himself a 'master of the circle and sphere', but finds the club 'too limiting'."
"The Twins to run the betting, and Lee to announce… just you, Verdiem… and Draco?" Harry asked.
Greengrass looked at Vector who was watching and listening. Vector had a frown on her face. "I do not like you putting 'coin' on this…" She sighed, "We will gather in the Great Hall after Dinner. Three Rounds, seven stones. By the stone, a sickle each. If Malfoy declines, Potter covers the stones and coins."
Harry looked down, just as the drake finished stuffing her sack. She looked smug. Scooping her and the sack up. "Until Tomorrow. Ladies." He looks about at the guys. "Ladies."
HANE
Back in the Tower, Harry crows in victory.
From across the room, he calls out to Ginny. "Oh you should have seen her. She was Glorious! In her First Circle across from Bones and Greengrass, she took fifteen of twenty-one stones. In her second she took them all!"
The twins, who were in a back corner whispering with Lee, pushed into the centre of the room. "Against Greengrass?"
"Yeah, but Greengrass never had a chance in the second circle." Harry grinned, "She was not pleased. She demanded a rematch tomorrow night. Three rounds, seven stones each." He stopped, adjusted his robes, "A sickle per stone. The Twins are to run the Betting, while Lee comments. VerDiem veres Greengrass…veres Malfoy. Great Hall after Dinner." Harry starts toward his room, then stops, "Ah, Forge? I think I need to break a couple of galleons, I don't have the silver."
"Harry!" Hermione hurriedly gathered her books to follow the boy upstairs.
Once in the fourth year dorm, Hermione tossed her bookbag on Harry's bed as he was dumping out the rat-skin sack.
$Now, Just your Favourite Shooter, and twenty-one stones. The rest we lock in the trunk over there. This way you have room for more, but can only lose twenty-one.$ Harry hissed at the drake.
The mini-dragon hissed as she threw a tantrum.
$No. One Striker. Twenty-one stones.$ Harry put his fists on his hips, $Now you can choose, then we put the others in the trunk… or I can give them to [stinky feet].$
$[Stinky Feet]?$ the dragon perked up, smoke falling from her nares. $I choose, you safeguard? Someone takes, you replace?$
$Agreed.$
The little dragon started to sort her shinies. Harry turned to his friend. "What can I do for you?" he waggled his eyebrows, "Or is it something you want me to do to you?"
"Harry!" she slugged his shoulder. "Now you are gambling in school?"
"Well, Greengrass pushed, and so I raised the bar. That she not only agreed, but was willing to throw Malfoy under the Express to bring me down, only made it more fun."
"Boys!" Hermione gathered her bookbag and stomped out of the Dorm.
HANE
"Hey Malfoy!" Davis hit the common room like the Express at full steam. "Do you have Twenty-one Stones and Sickles?" She landed beside the self-crowned Prince of Slytherin. "Potter just creamed Greengrass in gobstones. She Challenged him to a rematch. Somehow your name got thrown into the circle, and now a three way match tomorrow, three rounds of seven stones each, at a sickle per stone. Great Hall, after dinner. Of course, if you fail to show, Potter will have to cover, and Greengrass gets the Glory of taking Potter's money." She bounced off the couch, and down the girl's dorms.
"Hey Nott, I need to break a couple Galleons." Draco drawled.
HANE
Monday, 05/09/95
During Lunch, the Twins were walking up and down the Isles, between the Tables. Fred would shake the hand of the Witch or Wizard and share a few hushed words, while his Brother would scribble in a notebook. Then they would step to the next witch or wizard in line. They had started with the NEWT Hufflepuffs, and as whispers spread, everybody was digging through their pockets for loose change.
By the time they had Reached the end of the Ravenclaws, George had filled his notebook, and had to pull a second from his pocket. When they had finished, with the Slytherin students, they turned to the High Table.
Snape sneered, but pulled a handful of silver coins from his pocket, and placed it on the table in front of him. Fred and George stepped before the Potion Master. "Sir?"
"Five Sickles on Greengrass."
"There are three rounds." Fred picked up the five coins, and slowly counted them. "Are you betting that she will take all three, take two out of three, or …"
"All three."
"So noted." George nodded and noted.
Vector could not bet as she was reffing the Match.
Albus was not there today, and McGonagall just frowned.
Flitwick was eager to bet, and bet on Potter winning each round, and taking the whole thing. Four separate bets, a Gold on each.
Sprout frowned, but bet three silver, one each round, for Greengrass. She voiced her disappointment that her champion Puff was not in the running.
Hagrid bet on Potter, just like Flitwick, four gold, one each round, and him taking the whole thing.
Then the bell rang and everyone headed to class.
Potter and Granger headed to DADA…
HANE
Harry was listening as Hermione was explaining in Detail about things she had learned in her last few days in France, when they entered the DADA Classroom. As usual, Harry allowed his magic to bound ahead like the puppy it was. As they crossed the threshold of the classroom, Harry felt a cold wave of Hate wash over him.
Three years of 'Hogwarts on the Rocks', plus his summer, caused Harry to react… violently.
Knocking Hermione down, and rolling her behind the student desks, he continued to roll forward into a crouch, as he twisted and threw three spells from the palm of his left hand, [Expelliarmus] [Stupefy] [Bombarda].
A wand was ripped from the hand of the invisible wizard hiding behind the Door, just as the red bolt struck him in the chest. The Bombarda hit the wall where the wizard had been standing, but had fallen due to his movements and the stunner.
When the nearest Teacher, Professor McGonagall, had arrived, the class was yelling at one another, thinking Potter had killed the DADA professor… again.
Potter was sitting on the Teacher's desk, while Ron led the charge against Malfoy and the Slytherins accusing Potter of killing the teacher.
First She had to restore order. Then She had to find Moody, and strip the invisibility charm from him… only to find out that it was not Moody… but Barty Crouch jr… the polyjuice had worn off. Minerva hurried to the Floo, and called Director Bones directly.
The Director entered followed by a tall blackman and a man that looked like a human lion.
"Amila, Kingsley, Rufus. Thank you for coming so quickly. After that Black debacle last year, I wanted this taken care of by the Book."
"Yeah Right." Potter snapped, "Black is Innocent, and you Do NOTHING!" He stormed up to his Head of House. "You turned your tail on one of your cubs, are you going to do it again?" He snarled.
"Mister Potter!" the proper scottish witch drew back a step, "What are you talking about?"
"You said it yourself, Professor." Harry continued to snarl, "He is my Godfather. Blood sworn! He could no more betray me and my Father then Granger could. That Son of a Bitch is too Loyal, the Dog and Wolf would never turn on their Alpha!"
Hermione, seeing where this was going, spoke loudly, "Harry. Heel." and Potter was at her side.
Harry blinked. "Damn it Granger. Stop that."
Bones had been watching the byplay as Rufus was dealing with Crouch. "What did she just do?"
"She Commanded me." Harry sighed. "Slobberjowel recognizes her as 'Boss'. And until I have a Girlfriend, she can boss me about."
"Slobberjowel?" the greying redhead asked.
Harry shimmered, and the Dogo leaned on Hermione. The class drew back… and Malfoy wet himself.
"Hmm." Bones grunted. "I was expecting something nastier. A young french girl is looking to buy a dog by the name of Slobberjowel. It seems a Slobberjowel ripped up some DE wannabes the other night."
"Oh." Granger was scratching the dog behind his ear. "Potter. Go to Hell."
The Dogo became … more. His coat went from a bone yellow to a smudgy grey. His shoulders widened, as his green eyes turned red. His soft fur became scales, cracked and oozing heat and smoke. Brown gasped, Malfoy fainted.
"Yes, that looks like the 'puppy' she wanted." Bones smirked, "Potter. Human please." As the Hellhound melted away, Harry stood and nuzzled Hermione, before turning to face the Director. "I need a letter sent to Black or Lupin. I wish to take Black in so He can get his trial."
Harry let his magic sniff around the Bones woman. An Idea came to him. "Swear on your House, 300 years of service should any harm befall Sirius Black in your custody."
Bones raised her chin. "That is a big demand."
"Should you fail, either by your incompetence or Fudge's, House Bones serves House Potter as Vassels." Harry's lip curled in a snarl. "I need the Best outcome on this. Swear the Oath, and you should have Black in twenty-four hours."
Bones drew her wand and made the Oath. A Flash of white light… and Harry nodded. A fist bump to Granger, and the Dogo bolted from the Room.
"Miss Granger. Where is Mister Potter going?" Professor McGonagall was back in charge.
"The Owlery, Professor. He has a letter to send, if he is to keep the 24 hour window." the Muggle Witch smiled at her Head of House. "As that man was using Polyjuice to be Moody, that means Moody is…" The teen witch bolted for the DADA Professor's quarters. She looked about, before seeing the seven-locked trunk. "...There."
Kingsley brought a ring of seven keys, and after trying all the keys in the locks, they found the old, one-eyed, wizard in the last compartment.
"Well 'old man', what are you saying about 'Constant Vigilance'?" Bones jeered down at the wizard.
"I was watching my Back!" the Old man snapped back, "I missed the Rat, thinking it was just a Rat!"
"Wormtail!" Hermione blurted. "You would know him as Peter Pettigrew."
The Monocle snapped about to flare at the lass. "Pettigrew was a Rat? Black was a Dog? What was Potter?"
"Stag." Granger lifted her chin. "Or rather a Hart. Black was not just a Dog, but a Grim."
"Prongs." Bones snorted, "No wonder they were so tight. Lupin?"
"Moony." Hermione sighed, "A werewolf. They became animagi so they could spend the night with him. So he would not hurt himself. They ran in the Forest. Prongs was Moony's Alpha… until he was murdered. Now Slobberjowel is. I saw them a week ago, and Potter just looked at Lupin, and the old man just relaxed as if all tension was bled from his flesh."
"You can Command the Lad… how?" The Black Auror asked.
"I am the Voice of Reason in our Group." The Young Witch shrugged. "I speak, Harry listens. Obedience is still his choice. Any Witch that chooses to date him could override my authority." She snorts, "Boys."
