The Wall of Stone

This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy.

++***++ Introduction:

The Goblet of Fire isn't a simple artefact – it possesses vast amounts of magic, a rudimentary sentience, and multiple sets of rules for past Triwizard Tournaments. The goblet gets aggravated by interfering wizards, throws out the rules, and takes steps to protect the underage contestant who is drafted into the contest.

CHANGE SCENE %%%%

Chapter 3 A Quiet Week Except for Humdingers

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table beside Neville Longbottom on his left with Hermione Granger across the table. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan sat on his right side with Parvati and Lavender across from them. Since that night (Halloween), the other Gryffindor students had spilt evenly between supporters for Harry and detractors who remained silent and hoped Potter didn't look in their direction. The Weasley siblings were silent while leading the detractors.

Harry had quickly grown to appreciate the wall of stone and the protection it provided to him from the hexes and jinxes that the other students from Hogwarts had thrown at him that night after the selection of champions.

'Without the wall protecting me, it would have been like my second year again,' he decided. He noticed that Professor McGonagall was very careful with her instructions in Transfiguration class, Professor Sprout avoided looking at him in the herbology classes though she still blamed the boy-who-lived for stealing the limelight from Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory. And the confrontation with Severus Snape in the potions class left the professor and three Slytherin students unconscious against the far wall in the classroom.

Headmaster Dumbledore avoided Harry completely and tried not to think about the Boy-Who-Lived. Students from Slytherin and Ravenclaw fled when Potter appeared in the halls. In the library, Hermione frowned when the other students fled from the tables, leaving the books they'd taken from the shelves on the tables.

"Hey, here's the book you wanted for the last three days," Neville told Hermione. "Most Powerful Charms for Protection. The Claws were hiding it from everyone else and the assignment is due in two days."

"That's terrible," Hermione complained. "Books are to be passed around and knowledge shared."

Parvati spoke up, "Hermione, you are too naïve – the students in Ravenclaw jealously protect knowledge from others – even the other Claws."

Glancing at the others, Hermione saw that the Gryffindors agreed with the young witch. While the Gryffindor students used the books to complete their homework, everyone noticed the young third year witch who entered the library and glanced around. She visibly relaxed when she noticed that every Ravenclaw was missing. She approached Harry Potter and introduced herself.

"Hello, Mr Harry Potter," she said. "My name is Luna Lovegood and I want to thank you for your wall of stone making everyone else nervous. Since Halloween night, the other Claws have mostly ignored me."

Calmly Harry asked, "Miss Lovegood, what do the Claws do to you?"

As the blonde headed witch explained about the Humdingers taking her shoes, stealing homework, and swiping precious family photographs, Hermione Granger became confused. Lavender whispered, "When she says 'Humdingers', Luna means other students in Ravenclaw."

"What? How do you know?"

Lavender explained, "I have younger brothers and sisters. They make up names of magical creatures to explain biscuits that vanish or missing socks all the time."

Finally, Hermione grew infuriated and interrupted Luna to ask why the prefects in Ravenclaw didn't handle the problem.

Luna explained sadly, "All six prefects are some of the Humdingers who take my shoes and homework."

Harry stated, "The head girl is from Ravenclaw."

Luna sighed and asked, "Mr Potter, the Humdingers are everywhere in Ravenclaw."

"The headmaster will make them stop!" Granger insisted but the other students quickly argued that the headmaster did nothing to help Harry with any of his problems in the last four years.

"But Professor Flitwick…why hasn't he done something about these thefts and bullying?"

Luna said, "Professor Flitwick isn't as great a head of house as he appears. The prefects run the house and Professor Flitwick spends his free time working on his duelling skills while making bets with his relatives in Gringotts. They are all watching for what happens with Mr Potter in the Triwizard Tournament."

Sitting back, disappointed in leaders left and right this evening, Hermione fell silent. It was Seamus who looked up from the essay he was working on (he had to complete his homework to be a part of this study group), and said, "Harry, why don't you speak to these Humdingers? Tell them that Miss Lovegood is under your protection, and we'll see how fast all the Humdingers return the missing shoes, homework, and photographs."

"Do you think that would work?" asked Harry.

After looking the third year Ravenclaw over, Dean spoke up and said, "Finnigan is right. And to make it interesting, tell the prefects and head girl that all the Humdingers must wear only one shoe for a week – inside or outside the castle. Only one shoe."

Everyone glanced at Luna and noticed that the girl wore only one shoe, and the other foot was bare, without even a sock. Parvati quickly provided the girl with a sock to warm her foot until she got her clothing returned.

Hermione frowned but said, "Harry, Seamus and Dean have good ideas. But also explain to the Humdingers that they can't complain to anyone – not Professor Flitwick, not Headmaster Dumbledore. If they complain, let them know that you'll frown in their direction at every meal from now until Yule."

"Me frowning won't cause the wall of stone to show up," Harry reminded them.

Lavender grinned, "We won't tell them that."

SLIGHT SCENE CHANGE %%%

Harry Does What is Right

The crowd of Gryffindors entered the Great Hall for supper with Luna Lovegood in their midst. While the girls peeled off to wait at the end of the Gryffindor table, Harry with Neville, Seamus, and Dean escorted the limping witch to her usual seat at the very end of the Ravenclaw table. Neville helped Luna over the bench while Dean remained with them. Seamus followed Harry Potter as he walked along the Ravenclaw table on the side nearest the Hufflepuff table. The students at both tables cringed and fell silent when Potter drew close. The only adult at the head table – Madam Pomphrey – watched silently as Harry Potter arrived behind the Head Girl – Angela Makepeace.

"Miss Makepeace," Harry said quietly, making the young witch leap from her seat to her feet.

Nervously, the Head Girl looked around and asked, "What do you want...Mr Potter?"

Standing beside Harry, Seamus smiled and replied, "Mr Potter just wanted a quiet word."

Not able to calm herself, the Head Girl swallowed and managed to say, "Yes…of course."

"Miss Makepeace, my friend, Miss Luna Lovegood…"

"Looney? You're friends with Looney?" asked Makepeace, the surprise evident in her voice.

This confirmed that the Head Girl was aware of the bullying in Ravenclaw and Harry frowned, his eyes gleamed brightly for a moment. Seeing the flare of magic, Miss Makepeace felt faint and dropped into her seat. Harry leaned in and continued, "My 'friend' is missing her shoes, homework, photographs, and several other items. The Humdingers have caught my attention by stealing these items."

"Humdingers? Those imaginary creatures Loon…Miss Lovegood keeps talking about?"

"Miss Lovegood is politely trying to protect the members of Ravenclaw," Seamus explained. He looked closely at the Head Girl and turned to Harry to say, "Mr Potter, I believe the Head Girl fits the description of a Humdinger."

"What do you want?" the Head Girl asked with a squeaking voice, trying to keep her composure while expecting the wall of stone to crush her.

Sighing like the headmaster when he was particularly disappointed with a student, Harry replied, "Originally, I wanted to let you know that Miss Lovegood is under my protection. And I hoped the Humdingers would return all her missing shoes, homework, and photographs."

Now, Harry's frown returned, and his green eyes flashed once again before he said, "But then you – the Head Girl for Hogwarts – insulted my friend by calling her a cruel name. To cool my anger, I think that everyone involved – every Humdinger in Ravenclaw – should practice what they preach for the next week."

"What do you mean…?" Miss Makepeace asked nervously.

"For the next week, every Humdinger will only wear one shoe but no socks on either foot whether they are inside Hogwarts or outside.

"But we have a Hogsmeade weekend," the girl protested. "I must go to Hogsmeade for the whole day Saturday and Sunday! And it is going to be cold!"

"So?" asked Harry, blinking and smiling. "My friend walked around with only one shoe today. The Humdingers also took her socks. The castle floors are cold – why didn't the Head Girl do something about that?"

Head Girl Makepeace fell silent under Harry's stare. Seamus spoke up, "Now, Miss Makepeace, you should spread the word of Mr Potter's protection for Miss Lovegood to all the prefects and other Humdingers – uh Ravenclaws. Her belongings must be returned tonight. And every Humdinger wears only one shoe but no socks for the next seven days."

Frowning one last time, Harry turned to walk away. Then he turned back around, and Miss Makepeace squeaked again and leaned away from Potter. Harry followed her and added, "And no one – not you, not the prefects, and none of the other Humdingers will complain! Not to the headmaster, Professor Flitwick, the other professors, or the other prefects. Do you understand me?"

When Makepeace didn't reply, Seamus said, "Mr Potter needs to hear your agreement, Head Girl Makepeace."

"Yes," Makepeace managed to reply. "I understand, Mr Potter."

Without another word, Harry turned away once again and walked down the aisle between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. At the end of the table, the four Gryffindor boys said 'Goodbye' to Luna and returned to the Gryffindor table. There the girls inquired about the conversation and their quiet conversation filled the air throughout the meal.

The headmaster finally arrived with the senior staff (minus Snape who remained in the infirmary), and the meal began. While the students and adults ate their dinner, Harry praised Seamus for his excellent ideas and the Irish boy explained about Harry making his green eyes flash. The boy added, "I bet a galleon that Makepeace peed her knickers the second time Harry flashed his eyes."

The three girls shared glances and while they didn't endorse the idea, they didn't fuss at Seamus. Harry kept his eye on Ravenclaw table – the head girl rose to speak to the six prefects, each of them glanced nervously toward the Gryffindor table where Harry kept his face calm when he met each glance with a steady gaze.

The seven leaders spent the meal talking to the other student and more than a dozen girls and a few boys rose from their seats to leave the Great Hall before pudding was served. As they ran from the Great Hall, they glanced nervously toward the Gryffindor table but didn't say anything.

Hermione Granger was the one who kept watch on the staff table. The headmaster did gaze across the hall, his eyes might have landed on Harry for a moment longer than others, but his eyes moved away just a second later. And Professor Flitwick didn't pay any attention to the kerfuffle at his House's table while terse conversations occurred among the older Ravenclaw students.

Disappointed, Hermione concluded, "They only see what they want to see."

SCENE CHANGE ###

The morning after Harry's visit with Miss Makepeace, the students and staff noticed that many Ravenclaw students – many girls and a few boys from the upper four years and a few of the girls in third year –all walked around with only one shoe. They didn't wear any socks and their bare feet were already dirty from the trip from their tower to the Great Hall. The reaction at Hufflepuff was to be concerned until the head boy, who was from their house told them to stay out of it. He insisted, "Ravenclaw is reaping what they sowed, and the Puffs will not interfere."

"But won't the professors want to know what's going on?"

"They don't care," the head boy declared.

And the fourth year Gryffindors noticed that Luna Lovegood had appropriate clothes and both shoes with socks that morning. Harry mused, "For once, being the Boy-Who-Lived was used to help someone."

SCENE CHANGE ####

Narcissa Malfoy's Visit

During lunch the next day, the doors of the Great Hall fell open as three individuals entered. Harry watched as two men in the red robes of Aurors escorted a lovely woman into the hall; the trio stopped at the foot of the Slytherin table and waited for the headmaster to make his way to their side.

"Mrs Malfoy, how can Hogwarts help you this morning?"

"I need a private audience with my son."

Smiling broadly, Albus said, "My office is certainly available."

One of the Aurors, Jeremy Proudfoot, spoke up, "The lady said 'private' and everyone in Magical Britain knows you hear every word uttered in your office. The portraits and charms report everything to you…Headmaster Dumbledore."

"There's no reason to be rude Auror…." Dumbledore said to chide the young man, but he couldn't remember the Auror's name.

"Proudfoot, Jeremy Proudfoot, Hufflepuff 75," the wizard replied to identify himself.

From the staff table, Professor Sprout shouted, "He's a good man, Dumbledore. Put your claws away!"

The Auror smiled at his head of house and continued, "It was Madam Bones, Director of the DMLE, who told me to interfere if you attempted to participate in Mrs Malfoy's private conversation. This is a family matter, and YOU could be charged with line theft if you interfere…Headmaster Dumbledore."

Narcissa Malfoy frowned and asked, "Where is Professor Snape? He is the only faculty member I wanted…"

"He is indisposed today."

Draco whispered to his mother and the witch grimaced, "The infirmary for a week?"

She turned toward Dumbledore and almost replied but then considered her goal today and fell silent. Narcissa said, "I shall take my son beyond the wards of Hogwarts for this conversation and then return him to the safety of the castle."

His lips tight with disapproval, Dumbledore merely nodded his head slightly as Mrs Malfoy, her son, and the Auror escort walked out of the Great Hall. Harry Potter watched closely as the Auror who had argued with Dumbledore walked backwards, keeping his wand drawn but pointed downward, and never took his eyes off the headmaster.

'Does the man think the headmaster would cast at his back?' Harry wondered. Then he remembered, 'Ron cast a bombard at my back. Yeah, wizards will cast at anyone's back.'

Once they stepped beyond the gates of the castle, Mrs Malfoy drew her wand and cast a spell from the Black family that examined any and all spells, potions, and charms cast upon her son. Auror Proudfoot made a record of the recent healing potions while Narcissa heard the story of Draco's injuries for the first time.

"Why did the matron not contact my husband and I?" she asked the Aurors. "Why is this the first I have heard of a crushed stomach and broken ribs?"

The second Auror, Kingsley Shacklebolt, was a known Dumbledore supporter and he mumbled about the injuries being minor. The witch hissed, "Then we should duel when we return to the Ministry, Auror Shacklebolt. When I leave you on the floor with broken arms and legs, and a ruptured spleen, we shall wait a few hours to treat your 'minor' injuries!"

"Step outside the privacy circle Shack," Proudfoot ordered. "You're likely to lose your magic if you hear this questioning and Dumbledore wants to know what was said."

"The headmaster would never do that!"

"He would! He did!" Proudfoot insisted. "Remember Auror Nancy Cartwright? She lost her magic and became a squib because Dumbledore forced information out of her two years ago about what was known in the DMLE when students were being petrified at Hogwarts."

Shacklebolt fell silent – he remembered Cartwright's screams as her magic was stripped from her. Once the witch became a squib, she was sent to the muggles, and her father swore revenge on Dumbledore, moved his seat to the grey side of the Wizengamot and cost Madam Bones funding for more Aurors.

Kingsley stepped away and turned his back on the others – no one could use his memory to try and read lips if he didn't see anything. His thoughts were not kind, 'Why did I forget about Nancy so easily? Dumbledore isn't the paragon of virtue he attempts to portray. Madam Bones is correct – I need to distance myself from him. And I will convince Tonks to walk away from Dumbledore's machinations.'

SLIGHT SCENE CHANGE ###

Behind a powerful Auror-grade privacy spell with Auror Proudfoot listening and watching the boy, Narcissa informed her son that his father had disappeared. She explained that Lucius Malfoy had apparated away from the manor without any explanation to his wife and never returned. When she contacted the ministry for help the next day, DMLE procedures and rules forced Narcissa to wait 48 hours before they would file a missing person's report.

"That is unlike Father," Draco stated. "He always lets us know if he travels for business. Has he sent any letters or messages? Has he called for any of the elves to help him?"

"Excellent questions, young Mr Malfoy," Proudfoot replied. "We asked your mother the same questions earlier today. She insisted that we come with her to Hogwarts to inform you and talk about anything your father might have told you about his concerns or business this autumn. We are investigating his known associates but none of them are forthcoming with information."

Concentrating Draco reviewed the conversations with his father and then shook his head. "My father mentioned the Triwizard Tournament to me before school began – he warned me to keep my head down. I never sent him a letter about scar… Heir Potter forcing his way into the tournament."

"So, your father didn't mention any problems or concerns with business or other associates?"

"No sir," Draco replied, watching his mother closely. Unlike her usual stance, the boy decided his mother was greatly concerned about the sudden disappearance of his father.

He took a deep breath and asked, "What do the goblins say? Is my father alive?"

Auror Proudfoot acknowledged the question and replied, "Your mother did inquire with the goblins, and they state that Lucius Malfoy is alive. They didn't offer any additional information. And your family's house elves cannot find him anywhere."

"The elves can't find Father?" asked Draco, honest surprise in his voice.

"That means he is outside of Britain," Narcissa explained, wanting to stop that line of questioning. While preparing to come to Hogwarts with the Aurors to interview Draco, the witch had remembered that Lucius gripped his left arm, his hand clamped on the tattoo of the Dark Lord when he suddenly left.

'And I'll make certain Lucius doesn't pay that moron Fudge another galleon,' she swore. 'The man's been worthless, refusing to push Bones to investigate my husband's disappearance because a wife can't be involved with a great man's concerns.'

Mrs Malfoy and the Aurors escorted Draco back into the Great Hall before they departed through the front door and once, they were beyond the wards, apparated away. No one at the Slytherin table questioned Draco about the conversation with his mother but everyone in the castle noticed the boy was disturbed for some reason.

SCENE CHANGE ###