AN: Sorry folks. Had to rewrite/correct the last chapter. I put the DADA class on a Sunday… Opps!
Corrected the timeline…
"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."
HANE
Albus was unhappy.
He had spent the weekend Game-theorising how to bring the Boy to heel.
Three days he spent moving pieces on his gameboard. And every 'game' he either lost control of Potter, or Potter was too 'drugged' to be effective.
He leaned back, looking out his big window.
He had a raging Bull here, and now he just needed a red cloak to wave in front of his enemies.
The Wards triggered, with the arrival of four people through the DADA Floo. Moody had listed it as one of his prerequisites to take employment. He 'Touched' the Ward and received the Identities of who entered his Domain. He frowned. "What in …"
Albus summoned his wand to his hand as he swept from the office. Using his knowledge of the back hallaways, and his abilities to shift the trick stairs and hidden passages into alignment so he had the shortest route to the Medical Ward.
The Wards redirected him enroute to the DADA classroom.
Albus hit the doors into the Office like the coming storm only to see Bones and Kingsley standing over Moody who was laying on the floor. "Students. I believe you have Class… elsewhere." The Students in the classroom behind him obeyed.
Granger squared her shoulders, and looked away, refusing to meet his eyes. She stepped closer to Bones… and McGonagall. "Not until Potter returns, Sir. We are still waiting on Nurse Pomfrey to examine Moody."
"And why do we Need Pomfrey to look over Alister?" Albus played the gentle grandfather frog card.
"Because I just spent the last three days in my trunk, you arse." The old auror grumped. "Crouch attacked from behind, and when I turned to face him, the Rat Bastard got me."
"What Rat?" Albus frowned, "Why would Barty attack you?"
"Not Barty." Bones sneered as she came about to glare at the Headmaster. "Junior." Her hand closed on Albus's wand, drawing it from his sleeve. "I have Questions for you… Warlock. As Director of the MLE, I am remanding you for questions about 'Dereliction of Duty'."
"Ah…, I do not think so…" Albus lost his jovial facisode. "Shack…"
The Blackman's eyes flickered between the two authority figures that he answered to… and promptly stunned Dumbledor.
"And why did the Headmaster think you were going to obey him over me?" The Director turned on the black wizard.
"Because I am his inside man, Ma'am." He slid his wand home. "By pausing as long as I did, My cover is still intact as his insider. When I visit him tonight in the cells, to bring him some lemon-drops and to explain my ignoring his allusion to disarming you so that he could obliviate you…" he shrugged. "After all, I am facing you, the Professor here, Rufus out there, and I have no idea what the girl can do."
"Besides call off the Hellhound?" Harry stepped into the room, wand in his off hand.
Tonks stomped into the office wearing her Gyphindore uniform with combat boots. "Damn you Potter! I go to the Loo and you throw the school into full Chaos!" She Nodded to the Director. "Ma'am. I step away to use the Loo, and as I am washing up, three Slytherins and two Griphondors crash in, to touch up their makeup as they are sharing gossip about Potter here killing another DADA professor!"
"I only killed the one!" Harry snapped, "He was trying to choke me, so I pushed on his face until his whole head was ash! Lockhart wiped his own mind when the spell he was trying to cast backfired from the broken wand he snagged, and Lupin Quit before he could be fired!" He huffed twice, "Besides faux-Moody is alive out there… My 'Bombarda' missed."
Granger did a faceslap. "Potter! Heel! Silence!"
Harry twitched.
"Mister Potter." Bones sighed, "We will revisit this at a later time. What of Black?"
"Hedwig will find him. We should hear back from him by morning."
"In that case, Headmistress, I will be back for Breakfast. Please inform my Niece. Tonks, Keep a closer eye on your target. King, Bring the old fool, and be gentle." She swept from the Office into the Classroom. "Rufus, bring Junior. King, once they are in the cells, you will sit on them until I call. I will do so in person. Anyone who tries to budge you is to be stunned, stripped, and caged. Rufus, once they are locked away, you will bring Senior to my office, then join Kingsley guarding the cells."
The three hit the floo like they were going to war.
"Mister Potter, Miss Granger, do you not have class?" McGonagall closed the Office door, and the DADA classroom door, sealing both.
HANE
By Dinner time, the word had spread to everyone. Potter had killed another DADA Professor. The how and why were across the board, but everybody was keeping a step away from Potter.
"Okay Potter." Malfoy tried to re-engage in the Hall. "They got you this time." His ferret faced sneer just begging to be punched.
"Draco, Draco, Draco." Harry purred. "You know that Barrel your Father has Fudge over?" Harry was done playing like a Gryphon. Time to play like a snake. "Well, I have Bones over a similar barrel. Now while Fudge, as I understand it, has more pies to finger, Bones carries the bigger stick. Now I doubt your Father wants to spend his Power to fight what is essentially a schoolyard fight. Be very careful, little viper not to swallow the rat… only to find it is a graphorn."
Harry shouldered past the stunned blonde as he moved to his seat on the Table. No sooner than he sat, Bones and Abbot joined him from the Hufflepuff's table. His magic sniffed the two witches and while they both carried the scent of 'Interest', only Bones was interested in him. "Hey Neville." Harry called the larger lad, "Do me a favour, why don't you, and distract Miss Abbot for me." Noticing the blush on the blond's face Harry turned to her companion. "Is this a yes to the piggy question?"
"It is more to clarify a few things, Potter. The Five that were asking about you, three are willing to share in the training of the right wizard, but expect him to serve only one by the time we finish NEWTs." Sue shifted on the bench. "The other two have Contract issues, and single wizard, single witch does not work completely. House Bones needs a continuance, if We are to survive another generation, unless my husband takes my Name. Same with Greengrass, but she is offering a Half-Blood proxy to sweeten the deal."
Harry nodded. "I see a way for you to see her Half-blood and raise a Muggleborn with a post in the Ministry." Harry shifted to face the busty girl. "But are Bones and Greengrass opposed to sharing the wizard, if he so chooses to keep all four?"
"No. But the Wizard will need to pay the full price for any non-contracted witch, and fulfil the Contrats." Susan tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, "In fact Greengrass has expressed an interest in being 'ringed' as soon as possible to ward off unwanted advances by the more undesirables of her House."
"Does Greengrass have a Contract with Potter?" Harry frowned.
"She says she does, but certain People, who say they speak for you, have tried to declare that contract and others void so they can push their own Contract through." Bones saw something in Potter's eyes. "What?"
"Have Greengrass invite those who speak for her to join us for Breakfast… your Aunt should enjoy the company." Harry placed his hand on her leg, near the knee. "Now about that piggy position?"
"Harry!" Hermione cuffed the lad across the back of the head, "Stop humping her leg!" This was loud enough for the whole hall to hear… and so they laughed.
And everything was mostly back to normal.
HANE
After Dinner, the twins made a big showing of setting Lee up as the Announcer for the first Monthly Gobstone Great Hall Gathering. Every Month the three or four greatest Gobstone Strikers would face each other over the Circle.
Flitwick first stacked the tables, then benches so that there was a tiered stadium seating. Lee had a set of Omnioculars on a stand pointed right at where a circle was cut into the flagstones.
Harry pulled out an old 'Muggle Studies' textbook and transfigured it into a camp stool.
"Good evening Hogwarts." Lee spoke into the Quiditch mic, He and the twins had relocated the broadcaster and four speakers into the Great Hall. "Good Evening, and welcome to what is hopefully our first Monthly Gobstone Great Hall Gathering. Tonight we Have Greengrass vs Potter vs Malfoy. Will the Players please step forward. Now as this is a Monied Game, Please place your coin on the table before me."
After the three players counted out their three stacks of seven coins before the black lad, they returned to the circle.
They counted their seven stones, and Fred leaned in to mix them. "Beware, Malfoy is playing with weighted stones." he whispered in Harry's ear.
Harry shook hands with both 'his' opponents, and as they threw for 'Rock, Paper, Scissors', he threw as Verdeim hissed. She called for 'Rock', as did Malfoy… but Greengrass threw Paper!
Potter set Verdiem on the floor, passed her her alabaster shooter, and sat on his stool… three feet from the circle.
"What is this?" Draco yelled, "I thought Potter was playing."
"Potter is Playing." Tracy jeered from her seat in the stands. "It's just not Harry Potter! Though it is his coin on the Line!"
"And the contestants take their places! First Striker and Breaker is Daphne Greengrass! Next is Verdiem Potter. Cleaning up is Draco Malfoy." Lee refocused all attention, as the Hall darkened, leaving the circle spotlighted. "Greengrass handed me a note during dinner, stating House Rules; Standard Tournament Rules with the following addendums, One Limb must remain on the floor at all times, If your Striker does not exit the circle, it is Lost, and you must find another before your next turn. Leaving the Circle forfeits your position at the circle and all stones you have won." Lee crumpled up the note, before peering through his Omnioculars. "Greengrass lines up a shot with a 'Jade Agate Thumper', and … it crashes into the Pack, shaking, rattling, and … nothing broke the circle. By Greengrass' rules, the Jade is now part of the Pack, and Greengrass needs a new shooter(+1)(22)!"
"Up next is Potter's Pet Pocket Pyro! She crouches and racks an 'Alabaster Annihilator'... She shoots! It drives deep, Hard and fast!" McGonagall whacked Lee with a ruler on the arm. "Oww! Professor! And three stones have rolled into the gutter(+1,-3). Little Verdiem grabs the closest and racks it. She adjusts her aim and… Fires another deep into the Pack… knocking three more into the gutter, including the Jade Thumper(+1,-3). She takes a minute to polish the 'Thumper', before setting it aside and racking a tiger's eye agate and… fires it into a clump in front of Malfoy…(18)"
$Those stones are rolling funny$ the drake puffed.
"Off centre weighted stones." Harry sighed. $the core of those stones are not centred like yours are. Not illegal, but it raises the skill of the game.$
"Not only does our little lady clear five stones, but includes her Primary Striker… which she just sets aside and now she is racking one of Malfoys split marbles. She fires … and it creins into a trio of agates, clipping one and banking two into the gutter(+1,-2). But she loses her current shooter. Now she racks a Moss-green agate and aims … and runs afoul Malfoys weighted stones. They are spinning and wobbling… and only one ends up in the gutter(+1,-1)! Okay Folks, Little Verdiem Dances as she looks over the Circle… and Sees her next target…"
Verdiem indeed, found her next target… she spent the next ten minutes shooting, banking, and popping(where your shooter jumps over one stone to hit the next) , all of the stones not put into play by Malfoy. Once she had All her stones and Daphne's, she passed.
There were five stones left.
"And the Little Lady passes to Malfoy. With only five stones in the circle, which means She has sixteen. Technically, She has won this round. Do Greengrass and Malfoy call the game where our little Prince of Slytherin saves Face and a few coins? Or does He try and prove that he is the better player?"
Greengrass was sitting on her heels, as she watched. "Call." She rose from her knees to her feet without using her hands. "Malfoy can keep his 'weighters'. I prefer a clean stone."
Malfoy was on his feet. "Are you saying I cheated?"
The Witch smirked, the only sign of emotion on her dead face. "Who said anything about Cheating?"
$I Did!$ Verdiem Buggled. As she looked up from bagging her loot. She made sure to keep the seven most ratty stones out for the next round, including the two off weighted stones she got from Malfoy. $'Stanky Hair' so crooked, He can not walk a straight line without help!$
Harry fought to keep a straight face, but Ginny lost it and fell off the bleachers laughing.
Vector Raised an eyebrow. "Last man standing, Malfoy! Collect your stones. Five Minute Break, use your Time wisely!" She fired off a noise maker.
Malfoy picked up the Five Stones.
Six Students converged on the Twins…
Daphne stepped close to Potter, "Is there any way to get my 'Jade Thumper' back?"
$She wants Her Green Stone back.$ Hissed at the little dragon that was 'polishing' her white stone Striker.
#What she got?$
"She is open to Trade…"
Daphne knelt and extended a finger towards the drake, but stopped just short of the horned head. Verdiem peered up at the Blond, before rubbing her head under the finger. $Five Strikers of my Pick, Later!$
"Five of your other Strikers, her Pick, Tomorrow at lunch." Harry offered.
"Done." Daphne smiled, "I will bring twenty for her to choose from."
"She likes shiny, heavy, and sparkly." Harry smiled. "We will join you at your Table. If only to piss off Malfoy."
Verdiem rolled the Jade Striker, from her rat-sack, to the Witch's knee. $I only return it, so I can Win it back!$
Harry coughed.
"She thinks she is getting it back, doesn't she?" Daphne ran her finger from horns to haunches, stoking the dragon.
"That would be telling."
"Okay Folks, Round two. The Winnings, from the First Round, have been set aside. As 'Last Man', Malfoy gets to Break. Ante up your Stones, and George will mix them."
Daphne returned to position, and counted out her seven. Verdiem herded her seven int0 the circle. As Malfoy returned his Five, plus two more. George 'Racked 'em'.
"Malfoy Breaks!" Lee Cried into his mic. "Malfoy is using an 'Ivory Tusker' from the Sub-antarctic beast known as a 'Shore Whale'. He Fires… and loses his Striker, but knocks a stone from the Pack into the gutter(+1,-1). Malfoy sets the loose stone aside and draws an Iron Slugger from his Pocket! Again He Fires… and Fails to keep his Striker or knock a stone into the Gutter… and just barely dodges a volley stink-sap(+1). An Elf is right there to clean up the spill, and the Control shifts to Greengrass. Greengrass draws out … Her 'Jade Agate Thumper'! That's right folks, She has reclaimed her First Striker. She lines up and… Fires! Six stones in the gutter!(+1,-6) Her Thumper stalled two inches from the edge. She uses one of her gutter agates to drive the thumper over the edge and banks two pearlies into the gutter. But at the cost of the agate.(+1,-3) Using the Thumper, Greengrass lines up another shot… She Shoots … and with a triple bank, she knocks five into the gutter!(-5) And the Tumper joins them. Greengrass is running this circle! She sets up another Shot… banks of the 'Tusker'... and out the other side. Nice try Greengrass, But that costs you Control. With nine stones plus the 'Ivory Tusker' and 'Iron Slugger', still in play, it is now Verdiem's turn to shoot.(9(11))"
Verdiem danced at the edge of the circle. Turning her head to look over her shoulder to look at Harry, $I want those Biggies. How best to get them?$
$They are heavier than the smaller stones. Them being 'Stanky Hair's makes them really valuable. I will take you shopping for any two Strikers in the Village for them.$ Harry leaned back to ask Fred who was sitting on the bench behind Potter. "How best to claim the two Strikers?"
"Hit them hard, with something heavy." Fred leaned forward. "Did she bring her 'Ironwood Invader'? The golden black wooden one."
Harry reached down to the Ratskin sack and pawed through it, before fishing out a wooden sphere, an inch and a half in diameter. Setting the 'stone' before drake, $This should do. Extra power, and compensate for the weight. Your targets are twice the weight of the other stones.$
Verdiem snorted a puff of smoke, as she rolled the wooden ball to the edge of the gutter, stood tall to peer about looking for all the angles… before dropping, racking the shooter and…
"Our little Lady has chosen an 'Ironwood Invader!' A really rare Striker, a Hard wood instead of rock or metal. Used almost exclusively when hunting Strikers. Does this mean that She has sighted Malfoy's babies? She Racks, She settles, and coiling her tail to shoot… And She throws heavily and the Invader slams into the Tusker, before banking into the slugger! All three stones are spinning towards the Gutter! Now the Rules state No Action can be taken until all motion in the circle has come to a stop. This means along as they spin… all action is halted! I call on the beloved Elves to provide a goblet of sweet sweet cocoa! I need a little something to sooth my drying throat. And if I get a sweet mum, I do believe my audience would also enjoy a nip."
A silvered goblet appeared in everyone's left hand, filled with creamy cocoa.
"Now a reminder of the Scores, Draco, at the cost of two Strikers, has one stone. Greengrass has knocked twelve stones from the circle, but kept her Striker this time. Verdiem,on her first shot, has set Malfoy's Strikers to spinning, and now we wait for them to either stop or fall into the gutter… And the Invader Falls… and there goes the Tusker! Verdiem gets to Hunt again, but still we must wait for the Slugger to stop… and it finds the edge! It teeters… and it Falls. The Little Beast has Taken both Strikers out of the Circle! Malfoy is Displeased! And He has left the Circle!"
In his Rage, Malfoy had surged to his feet and turned away from the Circle.
Daphne, Smiling, declares, "Verdiem sweeps!"
Fred leaned forward, "She is declaring that Verdiem claimed the last of the stones. It seems she is ready to move to Set Three. Have Verdiem clear the Circle."
Harry leaned forward. $Clear the Circle. Malfoy left the Circle, and Daphne forfeited the last nine. She wins the Set, but Malfoy loses.$
The Black mini-dragon herded the last nine stones from the Circle. She counted out Seven that she did not want and herded them back to the Gutter. She then turned and flapped to Harry's knee to sip from his Goblet. $What this?$
$Closest word I can find is 'Dark Cream'.$
$'Dark Cream'. Me like.$ She bounded from his knee back to her spot at the circle.
"Okay Folks, Last Call." Lee cried into his mic. "As She was Last Standing, Verdiem is First Striker. She already has her seven stones in the gutter for them to be racked. Daphne and Malfoy are quick to include their's. Nott, rack them please." As the Lad stepped out and racked the twenty-one stones, Lee stood and shook his butt, to allow blood-flow to return to his butt.
"Alright, everyone ready? Take us away!" Verdiem Squated, as she racked her Alabaster Annihilator. "She is Sights… She Shoots… and wings a corner stone off into the gutter! The Annihilator quickly follows. It seems that our little beauty has decided to play the long game tonight. Racking the Annihilator again, she clips the same corner, driving two stones into the gutter, as her shooter wobbles out of the circle on the far side. Greengrass rolls it to her left, in the gutter, pushing the stones along toward Verdiem. Verdiem quickly herds the loose stones into her rat skin sac. That is correct Ladies, I said Rat-skin. Each of these little beauties are crafted right here by the Weasley twins, who catch, skin, and tan the hides themselves. Talk to Fred or George tomorrow after breakfast if you are interested in getting one of your very own. Verdiem dances as she again looks over the field of stones… and there she settles and racks… She shoots… Dead centre of the Pack! Wow! Had she fired that Shot the First time, the Pack would have absorbed the hit! But her two clip shots spread the Pack just enough so that her 'Dead Centre' shot exploded the pack… and six… seven… eight stones fell into the Gutter, but at the cost of her shooter."
Verdiem collected stones from the Gutter. She sighed as she looked longingly at her Annihilator, before racking a common agate stone and squating, her haunches swaying as she lined up her shot. She snorted. And fired!
"She Shoots!" Lee cried, trying to whip the crowd into a frenzy, "A Popper! It lands just right to knock the Annihilator rolling her way, but it bounced and… hits Malfoy in the eye." The blond wizard fell to the side, holding his left eye. "Nurse Pomfrey, Please check on the Lad, while our wee lassie racks her shooter… and rolls off her back?"
$Pass! I hold more than half!$ the black beast buggled.
Harry laughed, "She passed, as her goal was to win the match, and with eleven stones, the game is hers… now she is hunting a bigger game."
"Bigger Game?" Daphne asked.
"I think she is after your shooters. The little Bit has won three tonight and traded them off for a profit."
Daphne cocked her head to the side, before looking at Malfoy who was being looked over by the Medi-witch. "If we stand now, Malfoy is 'Last Standing' and everything in the circle is his. Now while he has won more than I Have this round, I was here to beat Potter… and take Malfoy's coin. Since she is the better shooter tonight, I am willing to walk if she is."
$Are you done? You have stolen two of Malfoy's prized shinies, inflicted minor bodily harm, and shown him up in general. If we Walk now, we can say that we let him off easy, inflicting harm on his on his pride.$
Verdiem puffed a plume, and started packing away her stones. Once She was packed up, she went around to Greengrass, her rat-sack clutch in her tail, and climbed into the girl's lap. $Like This One.$ She buggled, $Mate?$
Harry choked. "No Idea. I would need to ask her." Looking up at Professor Vector, "I think you can rule Malfoy Last Standing of this Set." He stood, and stepped around to offer Daphne a hand to her feet. "Milady, Shall we collect our winnings?" with her right hand in his left, they approached Lee.
"There you have it Folks! Potter and Greengrass leave Malfoy rolling on the floor, as they claim their winnings. As I have stacked the Winnings as each set was completed, they just have to collect their coins. Fred and George will settle up at the Doors. Thank you, one and all, for this night of adventure and suspense. We hope to make it a Monthly Activity, in addition to our standard Gobstone clubs. Good night Ladies, and remember… I am dreaming about you!"
McGonagall whacked Lee with her ruler.
Once Harry had pocketed his silver, he turned to Greengrass. "I was approached by Bones earlier. I have been told that Houses are asking … questions. Is Greengrass one of those Houses?"
"We are." the Ice Queen replied, all warmth she expressed during the Game was gone. "What of it?"
"House Potter is interested. The Heir is being advised to … inquire." Harry scooped the black dragon into his arms, as the majority of the student body moved towards the Doors. "It turns out Bones was offered a position the other morning, and while she has not taken advantage of it, she also has not said 'No'."
"Position?" Greengrass gasped.
"I believe the Term Potter used was 'Snog-Hog'." Tonks draped an arm over the boy's shoulders.
"Snog-Hog?" The look of disgust on the blond's face caused the bubble-gum pink hair witch to laugh.
"She alluded to being naked… I just went with the first thought in my head."
"Bones… naked?" the blond frowned in confusion.
"Again, I Quote, 'Bare Bones'." Tonk said with a straight face. "I do believe she was talking about the Contract, though."
Greengrass glared at the two in red trimmed robes. "We will see." And she vanished into the sea of black robes leaving the Hall.
"Come Potter." Tonks turned the arm along his shoulders into a headlock. "Time to get you to the Tower."
HANE
TBC
