10 Feb 24
-oOo-
This time on Duel of Fate: Lucius, Cornelius and Augusta get hints they may have gone too far this time… A fat spider prepares for his next juicy meal.
-oOo-
April 19, 1995London, England
A fuming Lucius Malfoy was not a man to be trifled with. His ward had escaped. Twice now he had looked the fool before two families he wanted as much as Potter. The top it all off, the bandage on his side was irritating him from where the poisoned thorny roses outside his dining room had ripped through his clothes and scratched him. The blasted things wouldn't kill anyone, but the wounds were damned hard to close, there was no known potion to counter the irritant and it would cause the scratches to weep for weeks. Narcissa loved them for their fragrance and the fact they bloomed from early spring to late fall. He hated the things, especially now that it felt like his entire left side was on fire and it took all his skill in controlling his temper to not scratch at it.
Most people got out of his way as he got off the elevator and marched straight for Fudge's office. He would teach the ungrateful whelp and that interfering toe rag of a director that no one messed with a Malfoy.
"Good morning, Mister Malfoy," the young secretary in the lobby of the Minister's office said. She was getting up and he was storming past the other few waiting to see the Minister.
"I will be going right in," Lucius informed the woman.
"Sir, the Minister is busy at the moment," the woman said before cowering at his glare. He went past her and went to throw the doors open when he was suddenly stopped by a barrier. He walked into at a full stride, with his nose up and back straight. His chest hit the barrier first, then, unable to stop himself, his face planted straight into the barrier.
"Merlin's saggy balls!" he cursed at the pain that radiated out from his nose.
"I tried to tell you that the Minister is in a closed meeting," the secretary said, not really sounding that contrite. He whirled on the chit to pull up short, his hand on his nose, as two Aurors were now facing him with wands drawn.
"You'll have to excuse us, sir, but the Minister has left specific instructions to not be disturbed. Should you try to breech the privacy wards again, we will have to stop you," an older Auror told him.
Lucius tried to take in a deep breath through his nose, but instead snuffled and felt blood drip down his throat. He was not about to take on Aurors in the middle of the Ministry, so he nodded and went to wait by the desk. "I will have the next appointment," he told the secretary. When he took his hand away, there was blood on it. He scowled as he healed his nose and then vanished the blood from his glove.
The Aurors didn't put their wands away, watching him very carefully. People were not usually allowed wands past the visitor desk, and no one was supposed to use them so casually in the Minister's offices. As a member of the Wizengamot, so could do both, as long as he didn't threaten the minister or the Aurors.
"Of course, Mister Malfoy. The Minister can fit you in at three-fifteen for fifteen minutes," the secretary told him.
Lucius looked down at her like she was a bug. "It is only past nine. I will have the next appointment," he demanded.
"Yes, sir. That is available at three-fifteen. The Minister has instructed me to not change his schedule today," she said before pulling in on herself as Lucius gave her a look as though she wasn't worth him scraping off his shoe.
"I shall wait for the next appointment," he said in an aggravated voice.
He was left alone to stand by the desk. At nine-twenty-eight, the doors opened. He moved to enter the Minister's office as four ministry workers came out. He didn't care who they were. He was going to have his conversation with the man that was helping him to get the Black and Potter fortunes.
The Aurors moved in as fast as he was moving. "Mister Malfoy, you will have to wait for your appointment," they told him.
A witch with a pile of papers snuck in behind the Aurors and the door closed again. Lucius snarled at the Aurors. "I will have your badges if you don't move."
They didn't. "Last I knew we reported to Madam Bones, and she detailed us to Minister Fudge's security."
Lucius snarled but backed off when the wands were raised to his face. He stepped back to the secretary. "Get me the next appointment or I will make your life miserable, girl."
"Miss Everguard, are you being threatened?" one of the Aurors asked.
"Keep out of this," Malfoy snapped at the Auror. "I am the minister's largest campaign donator. If he wants more donations, then get me into the room next."
"I think I just heard a bribe," the other Auror said.
"Something like that," the first one replied.
The secretary was looking scared as she looked up to Lucius.
"That wasn't a bribe, you idiots. It was a fact. Get me into that office now," Lucius snarled. He jammed his finger into the appointment book. The secretary leaned back. That was enough for the Aurors to take it as a threat. Those left in the office got to see Lucius being levitated out of the office after taking two stunners to his chest and flying half across the office.
-oOo-
Meanwhile inside the Minister's Office…Cornelius was already having a dreadful day. Three days ago he signed a decree allowing Lucius to take over the guardianship status of some orphan. He had no clue the orphan in question was the infamous Potter boy, who Augusta Longbottom still despised and was trying to get thrown out of their society anyway she could.
Nor did he know that the boy was the heir to the Black's.
It was that fact that was causing him headaches now.
Mallory Diggory, the head of Wizarding Child Services, had called him in early today. Where his morning usually started around nine, he was summoned to the ministry by three heads at quarter past seven this morning. An irate Mallory Diggory was almost as painful to deal with the Head of Goblin Laison office, Dirk Cresswell, and the Head of his Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones.
Diggory was telling him that he had made an illegal move against an heir of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. That had chilled him to know that the House of Black would be able to come after him financially, if not for his life, if his proclamation had been legal. This was while Creswell was telling him that the goblins were threatening a treaty break, not to mention shutting down the ministry vaults, should they receive another request from Lucius to take control of the Black's vaults. If his informants were correct, the Black's vaults were three or four times what the Malfoys had, then if you added the Potter vaults, that was four or five times the Malfoy vaults. They were a major customer, and like at the Ministry, the Sacred Twenty-eight had other treaties that superseded those between the ministry and goblins.
His largest headache was the fact that Potter had shown up at Director Bones' manor after having suffered a 'medical Emergency' at the Malfoys. It was bad enough that a healer, a woman of a Wizengamot member, had diagnosed Potter as having suffered the Cruciatus Curse. Cornelius didn't think that possible. Lucius was an upstanding citizen, but the weight the healer's words would have could be devastating.
Those revelations led to meetings all morning.
It was almost one in the afternoon when he finally got a chance to sit down and enjoy his lunch. The large tumbler of scotch was all he needed at the moment. He thought his day would quiet down now that he had reversed his edict and had let the WCS take the case again.
A knock came at his door. "What!" he called out testily. He should have an hour of free time now. When the door opened, his secretary poked her head in. "Minister, Madam Longbottom is here to talk with you."
He successfully stifled his groan, then downed the finger of scotch in his glass before reaching to get another one. "Is this about the Potter boy as well?"
"I don't know, sir, but she is rather adamant to see you," his secretary said.
"Very well. Show her in. How many other meetings do I have this afternoon?" he asked.
"Four, with Mister Malfoy added at three-fifteen," she told him. Cornelius pinched his nose while missing the smirk from the secretary. She would tell him later that Mr Malfoy was in the holding cells when he enquired as to what was holding up Mr Malfoy.
"Thank you, Isabell. If Lucius gets here earlier, let me know," Cornelius told her. He needed to talk to his benefactor. If Augusta wasn't another of his backers, he would tell her to go take a walk.
A moment later, the old battle-axe with a vulture on her hat walked in. She was in tweed robes with a large carpet bag in her hands. "Cornelius, what is this I am just hearing about Harry Potter up for adoption? I thought we buried the boy," she said angrily.
"Augusta, it's nice to see you today. Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?" he offered congenially, as much as he would like to go tell her to go ride off on a hippogriff.
"Gin and tonic," she told him. He moved to serve her as she sat and began her tirade. He hated being a servant, but he reminded himself again that she donated just about as much as Lucius. "The Potters deserve to be vilified for what they did to my Frank! What is this that he is still heir to a Wizengamot seat after the betrayal of his parents and the way he treats my Neville at school! The boy needs to be expelled and reparations paid for what happened. Now he is up for adoption. I demand that you turn him over to me. I will show the boy how to be respectful and what happens to the son of traitors."
Cornelius closed his eyes tightly for a moment before turning from his bar and bringing her drink to her. "Now, Augusta, I have already been dealing with the fallout of Lucius Malfoy trying that. I would recommend you staying far away from this right now. It is a political nightmare that is only made worse by his status as being an heir of one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
The woman scoffed. "The Potters were not part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight and they lost their Wizengamot seat. I don't know where you are getting your information from, but the whelp deserves to be drowned like a runt of a litter."
Cornelius dug out a folder from his desk and then slid it over to her. "I assure you, Augusta, Potter is more important that anyone knew. He was named primary heir to Sirius Black, and since the last Lord Black and Walburga died, Sirius is the primary heir, making Potter the secondary heir to the Blacks. Do you have any idea the resources the boy has at his disposal once a new guardian is appointed?"
The woman's eyes widened.
Cornelius knew the wealth and status of all the most important families in their world. The Potters were a relatively new political powerhouse, being part of the august body since just after the old Wizard's Council became the Wizengamot. The issue was, the house once held sway far greater than what it would seem due to their altruism, generations of service to the Ministry or the wizarding world and more Order of Merlin members for defence of their world than any other two families combined in the last eight hundred years. This all added to them having a seat higher than many of the oldest Houses. When a Potter spoke, it was a fool that didn't listen, and from what Cornelius could tell, the last Potter was showing the same battle prowess that many of his ancestors possessed.
He also knew the Potters still had a few key alliances and family ties. Add in the old line of the Blacks, even being half disgraced as they were after the last war, with their allies, vassal Houses and family ties, Potter had the political might to back up anything he would want once he got old enough.
The Longbottoms, on the other hand, were older than the Potters on the Wizengamot, with strong alliances and a few vassal Houses. The Malfoys were only on the Wizengamot through proxies but had an outmatched influence over the Conservative Houses that could not be overlooked.
In short, both families possessed about the same wealth and influence at the end of the last war. Augusta's grandson, being the Boy-Who-Lived, was a large part of her increased power right now. Cornelius had only gone along with her on the Potter estate when he thought the Potters were dead and he would get a sizable 'donation' from the estate once Augusta took it over.
Since the boy had shown a few years ago at Hogwarts, Cornelius had been walking a fine line to keep support of those that he already knew supported him and not drawing attention from the Potter boy. His ploy for Lucius to take control of the boy had already left him teetering and threatening to blow up in his face. He wasn't going to let Augusta convince him of another faux pas that could ruin him.
"Impossible," Augusta said as she opened the folder.
"I wish it were, but Potter is officially Potter-Black and is heir to both houses. He is officially one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. One of the last of only fifteen houses left alive. I would recommend you drop this obsession with the boy, Augusta. I have just spent my morning dealing with a dragon-dung bomb that is proving to be a disaster. Even Gringotts is breathing down my neck for Line Tampering. There is a hearing in a week and a half for the boy to decide who his guardian and regent will be. You can add your name, but I doubt he will choose you, and Bones is the main runner right now after Lucius screwed the pooch yesterday," Cornelius told her.
"Augusta, I am warning you, drop this feud with Potter. If you make a fuss, you know how Amelia can be," Cornelius finished. He wasn't going to mention that he would hang her and her grandson out to dry if he lost the potential to gain Black and Potter, Boy-Who-Lived or not.
Augusta scowled and threw the folder at him. "I will not be cowed by a whelp of a traitor spawn or Bones. The Potters killed my Frank. They will pay. Who is heading up this case?"
"Head Diggory. I would be careful, Augusta. There is an ants nest that has been kicked over and I am just trying to weather the storm," Cornelius said before taking a large swig of his scotch.
She scoffed at him. "A Longbottom is never afraid of a fight. I'll see the whelp bankrupted and thrown out of Hogwarts."
Cornelius sipped his scotch as she left the room. He toasted her, unsure if he was watching her go off to be victorious or to fall on her sword.
-oOo-
Later that morning…London, England
Harry woke to a tired looking Rose Abbott. The woman was in the chair next to him reading a book. "Good morning," he said in a faint voice.
The woman put a finger on the page of her book before looking up to him. She gave him a small smile. "Good morning, Harry. How are you feeling?" She closed the book and put it on the side of the chair as she got up.
"Like a hippogriff played rugby with me," he told her.
The woman gave him an odd look. "Rugby?"
"Muggle game that we used to play at the orphanage. The nuns didn't like it, but it kept us from beating on each other," Harry said. His body protested the movement to sit up.
A gentle hand kept him down. He tried to supress a wince as it hurt even with the light pressure. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt you, but you will be very sensitive while taking the nerve regeneration potion."
Harry groaned. "Tell me the bastard was arrested?"
Her frown said it all. "I just want you to relax for the moment. Amelia will be by with some Aurors and a Child Service Agent to take a statement later today and I want you rested for that."
Harry couldn't understand how Malfoy had gotten away with it. After getting a check-up, some pain relief potion and then told to rest, he was feeling bored out of his mind when Hannah came in carrying a tray. "Mum said you should eat," Hannah said to him. "How are you feeling today?"
"Better with the pain medicine," he said. His nose sniffed at the smell of porridge with a bunch of fixings for it. "Any clotted cream?" he asked to see a few biscotti next to the tea as well.
"I made sure there is some there," Hannah said.
She put the tray on his bed and sat at his feet. "You can sit closer. I don't bite. Unless you want me too," he cheekily said.
Her cheeks coloured a little. "Mum is just outside the door," she hissed at him. "You need to eat and then I'll come closer."
Harry nodded. He did feel hungry, heaping the brown sugar and dried apple slices into the porridge. He ate just about everything on the plate. After three days of no food, he was starving, and the potions just made it worse as they needed magic to help.
When he leaned back on the pillow on his headboard, he felt his eyes closing. Hannah took the tray off the bed and put it on the floor before sitting at his side. "I missed you," he said, holding his arms out. Hannah leaned into him.
"I missed you too. Are you alright? Did they really use the Cruciatus curse on you? I heard mum talking with Aunt Ami," Hannah asked into his chest.
Harry shuttered to think of the pain. Even when he had broken bones it hadn't hurt like that. "I was told I shouldn't talk about it until I talk to Madam Bones or the Aurors," he told her.
He yawned as she sat up to look at him. Her blue eyes were full of concern. "Just tell me," she softly demanded.
"I wouldn't do what Mister Malfoy was telling me. He cast the Cruciatus Curse. I dodged it a few times before I didn't move fast enough," he told her, not wanting to say it was probably because he was hungry. "I sent him through a window, though."
She gave a weak smile, then leaned forward to kiss his lips. "You can't do that to me again."
"It wasn't my decision to go," he said a little bitterly.
"I know. Auntie was so upset and went straight to the WCS when we got back. Just, you can't leave me like that again," she told him.
Harry pulled her in to peck her lips. "I'll try not to."
"That's all I ask," she told him. She moved to kiss his forehead. "You look tired. Get some rest."
"Are you going to leave?" he asked. He closed his eyes in pleasure when her hand moved up to run through his hair.
"Only if my mum drags me away," she told him.
"Fare enough," Harry replied. As her hand kept running through his hair, he slowly drifted off as the potions worked to heal his nerves.
-oOo-
April 21, 1995Hogwarts, Scotland
Amelia greeted the diminutive man as soon as she saw him walking towards the Three Broomsticks Pub and Inn. "Professor Flitwick, I was hoping you got my message this morning," she said holding out a hand for the man.
"Yes, the owl caught me just before I was going out for the day. How can I help you?" the man asked.
"If you would, I have a room reserved for lunch," she offered.
The man smiled and waved for her to go in. Rosmerta showed them to a side room and brought them some spiced mead before Professor Flitwick leaned forward in his chair. "Now, I had the sense that this meeting was of some great importance, Madam Bones, and that it involved my apprentice?"
"Please, call me Amelia. I have a feeling we'll get to know each other very well over the next few years if Harry chooses me to be his guardian," she said before taking a sip of her mead.
"Filius, then, Amelia. Now, what is going on?" the man asked.
She frowned for a moment before saying, "First, I should inform you that Harry was injured while in the Malfoy's care. He is recovered as of today, but it was rather serious," she told him.
Filius eyes narrowed. "What type of serious injury?"
"Nerve damage that is only known to occur in one way. That is all I can say at the moment as there is still an active investigation. I can tell you that the WCS has removed the Malfoys as potential guardians, even if they may not face any charges."
Filius was bright and understood right away what she was trying to tell him. The man's jovial demeanour became that of a goblin wronged. He said in a soft voice, "If you are saying what I think you are, why is the family not in Azkaban already?"
"Because you know, as well as I, that certain parties have worked to pass laws over the years that prevent memories or veritaserum to be used in certain situations. By the time I could obtain a warrant, the wand had been wiped of the evidence. The best I could do was detain him for a few hours until the minister stopped the investigation. We were able to obtain enough evidence to disqualify the Malfoys. I also discovered that Lucius had Fudge declare him Harry's guardian the day he was taken from the tournament but that has been reversed since the minister didn't have the authority," she informed him.
"I will duel and reduce the man to a bloody pulp," Filius declared. He was very protective of his apprentices, especially with what Harry's life had been already.
"I must ask you not to, unless he gives you just cause," she said. "I wanted you aware of what occurred since he is your apprentice. I can assure you I am doing what I can, but I'm afraid the minister still has too much control over the ministry. Now, I need some advice on this feud between the Potters and Longbottoms. I am trying to understand what happened, since they used to be vast allies. What can you tell me?"
Filius had to breathe a few times to get his temper under control. Lucius Malfoy was going to find out what it felt like to be at the other end of Master Flitwick's wand. Now, though, he had to focus on this other issue. "Surely you've seen what Madam Longbottom has attempted in the Wizengamot over the years?"
"Only peripherally. I was still a senior Auror when the war ended, and only became Director and part of the Wizengamot five years ago. I don't have much history than what I remember in papers and have been instructed by my Head Auror to remain out of this for the moment," she told him.
Filius understood now. "Ah, I see. Well, as you said, the Potters and Longbottoms were allies. Technically, they still are, as neither side did anything before magic to break the trust, though Harry could push for it with what Augusta and Neville have done to him over the years. I don't know all the details, but some of my brethren have said that there are severe penalty clauses should the alliance be broken. I think that is something you should investigate as soon as you become regent," Filius told her.
Amelia frowned. "What exactly has Augusta and Neville done?"
"Besides accusing the Potters of breaking a sacred oath of fidelity in being secret keepers? Augusta and Algernon tried to have the Potters declared oath breakers. If they had managed it, then the Potters would have lost everything, and Harry would have been at their mercy. Even so, she has backed legislation to defund Harry, as well as try to claim the Potter wealth and lands under the sedition laws. There is no evidence, but Augusta claims Lily and James were Death Eaters," Filius informed her.
Amelia frowned. "My brother worked with James. He always thought very highly of him. What about Black? The man is still listed as Harry's guardian and regent, but he is still in St Mungo's in a coma, which has disqualified him."
"They were brothers," Filius simply replied. "The Potters adopted Sirius after his mother threw him out of the family. I don't think he knew that his grandfather never supported the move, so Sirius remained the heir when his father passed. From what I have heard, Sirius went into the coma shielding Harry from his cousin, Bellatrix. He was under the Cruciatus until the Aurors arrived. Four of the six Death Eaters to attack them were killed or captured. Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rebastan Lestrange and Terrence Mulciber. Two escaped. I don't know their identities as Harry is the only one left to ask and he was only sixteen months old at the time. It is all a sad affair, especially when I found out that the boy had been found by the Muggle Aurors and then put into the Muggle childcare system."
"I understand all that, but why do the Longbottoms still think the Potters betrayed them if magic and the Wizengamot has proven they did not?" she pressed.
"If I had to say, it is Augusta. She can't accept that her son died. She had lost her husband only a month before, and after losing Frank she lost the plot, and sees his death as committed by those they trusted the most. I know that it was proven Peter Pettigrew stole the slip. After reading the questioning, I think he thought he was stealing one to the Potters, but Frank was the Potter's Secret Keeper. You don't trust your family to people that aren't in your deepest confidence," Filius told her.
She nodded in agreement. "So, this whole feud is because Augusta thinks she was wronged?"
"That is her perspective and has passed the feud along to her grandson and brother-in-law. Neville already has enough on his plate to worry about, but he seeks out confrontation with Harry every chance he gets. Since Neville and Miss Granger have started to date, those confrontations have become greater. I think the stress of being in the Triwizard Tournament and jealousy have pushed their childhood grudges further than that. Neville should not be in this tournament," Filius told her.
"My department has been investigating, but we can't risk doing deeper scans or tests on the Goblet of Fire until it is over, and the champions are released from the contract. Moody is there, but I would have thought he would have had a clue by now," she said.
Filius frowned. "I have known Alastor Moody here and there over the years. He has grown very paranoid and is not the same man I used to know."
She looked at him curiously. "What do you mean? He was my mentor when I was a Junior Auror."
"Have you spent any time with him this year? He has a few odd ticks that I never saw before, but Albus says are not uncommon to develop," Filius replied. It didn't sound like the Charms Master was convinced.
"What type of ticks?" she asked curiously. She had to admit she had maybe spent an hour of her time in his company in the last year and he didn't seem that far off.
"Like he licks his lips every once in a while. He also transfigured a student into a ferret this year. I would think he would know better. Then there is his hip flask. I am growing concerned that he is drinking too much. I see him sip from it far too often over the course of a day, but he doesn't drink anything from it while eating meals," Filius told her. "It is just unusual, and I can't figure out why it bothers me so."
She frowned. "That is unusual. Perhaps I should ask him to come visit me. See what he has uncovered and go over the few reports he's sent me about the tournament," she said.
"That may not be a bad idea," Filius nodded. "Now, you said you wanted to ask some advice?"
She sighed. "Well, you have helped me understand what is going on with the Longbottoms. Augusta has put in for guardianship, but I don't get the sense that would be good for Harry. Being allies, her claim would be stronger than mine, even with the will. I don't feel comfortable with Harry having that choice, or the prospect it could be forced on him," she said.
His eyes narrowed. "That would be disastrous. If she were named his guardian and regent, I doubt that some fatal accident wouldn't befall him within a week. The Longbottoms would be in control of the Potter wealth. That would then revert the Black's wealth to the Malfoys."
Amelia nodded. "That is my assessment at the moment as well. I need your help, maybe your testimony that Augusta Longbottom should not be allowed within a hundred yards of Harry?"
Filius frowned. "Amelia, you do know what my heritage is? I am his master, which should have reverted his guardianship to me, but I was not able to apply for guardianship because I am a quarter goblin. My testimony will not be accepted under current laws."
"Bugger, I had hoped your heritage went further back. You are highly respected, but right about the laws," she said upset. Filius felt a little warm that she would hold him in such high regard. "The Longbottoms have more influence and a higher standing than I do. I need to find a way to prevent her from getting Harry."
The man thought for a few before he let out a long, suffering sigh. "I may have a way, but do not like it. Harry won't like it either."
She looked at him curiously. "What way is that?"
Filius closed his eyes for a moment. "The Chief Warlock has the power to declare Augusta an unfit guardian for Harry based on her previous actions against him and the Potters."
Amelia looked about as pleased as he did. "I do not want to owe Dumbledore anything. The man is a slippery snake that has undermined half the legislation I have tried to pass the last few years."
"Unless you have another way, I don't see how to avoid it at the moment, and Harry's hearing is next Friday," Filius reminded her.
"Bloody hell," she gripped.
Filius nodded before taking a large swig of his spiced mead.
-oOo-
April 22, 1995Hogwarts, Scotland
Albus Dumbledore was a happy man as he stood before the window that looked over the grounds from his office. The door had just closed, and he had finally gotten two things that he wanted: a favour from Amelia Bones and Harry Potter.
The boy had flown under the radar for years as he had focused on the Longbottom boy. Per the prophecy, either boy could have been the one destined to beat Tom, but fate had assured that Neville was marked while Harry was forgotten.
Well, Harry was forgotten until recently.
Somehow the boy had become a rising star. His duelling skills, magical knowledge and prowess where years ahead of where they should be. Albus would need good fighters soon and most of his most skilled were getting old or had grown soft over the years. Bringing the Potter boy up as his dirty little weapon to use against those that didn't follow his way was tempting.
It also gave him a backup, since he had started to worry about Longbottom. So far, he was only slightly better than average and his power was not where Albus thought it should be by this time. This was all worrying as signs pointed to Tom returning soon. The new prophesy that Sybille had made over the summer confirmed that. It was why he was delighted when Neville's name came out of the cup, but worried as well.
Now, with Harry in the picture, if something happened to Neville, then he had an alternate, and an alternate that was already far above the current Boy-Who-Lived. Given a decade, he doubted that anyone alive, bar himself, would be able to challenge Potter. Neville was forty years away from that point, if he ever reached it.
With a self-satisfied smile, Albus was pleased that he would get a chance soon to really evaluate what Harry could do, then get his hooks into the boy as he trained him. He figured within a year he would be able to convince Filius to transfer his apprenticeship over to him, then he would own Potter and do with him as he wished.
Albus also thought getting his hands on Miss Li would be a good thing. She was also more skilled than Neville, and for Neville to be backed up by them would give him a far better fighting chance. Now, if he could only find a way to get that younger Delacour girl and that boy from Germany, he would have the perfect squad to fight for the light, especially since they were young enough to still be impressionable and learn to do as told.
All for the Greater Good and the protection of the light.
Yes, Albus Dumbledore was incredibly happy to see his new army shaping up for the war he knew wasn't far away.
-oOo-
April 26, 1995Hogwarts, Scotland
It was a beautiful day for April in the highlands of Scotland. A cool breeze was coming down from the mountains just south of the school. Even so, the mercury outside the greenhouses said it was close to twelve degrees Celsius. Knowing he didn't have any other classes for the day, Harry waved to Sue and the others as they headed towards the library, and he headed towards the lake. Harry would usually join them, but felt he needed some time to himself.
As he walked towards the lake, he felt a shiver run down his spine. The shakes and pain had all stopped now, but he was still getting these phantom spikes. Rose had told him that could happen for a week or more. The Cruciatus curse was a horrendous curse.
He was still fuming that Mister Malfoy was not going to be prosecuted. Amelia had promised him that if she became his guardian at the hearing on Saturday, then she would do everything in her power to see Mister Malfoy going to Azkaban. Until then, she didn't have the authority to press things further.
As he walked through the training yard and out of the gate, the third year Care of Magical Creatures class was coming up to the school. Since Harry had helped Luna, he had seen her with two Slytherin girls. She was walking with them today and talking about something. Her more focused expression told him she must be talking about her favourite thing: creatures.
When she noticed him, Luna gave him a half dreamy smile and waived. He moved towards her. "Hey, Luna. Miss Greengrass, Miss Heatherhoc," he said with a slight bow to them. Harry had no issues with Slytherin, just that most of the ones in his year were stuck up snobs or all over Malfoy.
Luna skipped over to him, hopping to stand just before him. Astoria Greengrass, who looked like she would be as beautiful a blonde as her sister was becoming, had some colour to her face as she nodded back to him. "Potter. Luna, are you coming to the library?"
"I'll just take her now. Make sure she doesn't get lost," Harry said to them with a smirk.
Luna giggled. "Oh, yes, after that fun day with the willow wisps, the wrackspurts will be very active."
Astoria shook her head while Amanda Heatherhoc, the brunette next to her, waved at them. He didn't miss how the two girls' heads came together as they started to whisper. Astoria cast a glance back at him before Luna turned towards the lake.
"Are you coming?" Luna asked before skipping away, her leather satchel bouncing behind her.
"How do you know where I'm going?" he asked, even though she was already far enough ahead she couldn't hear him. Harry followed her at the same steady pace he was before. He needed time to think but wouldn't deny Luna time with him either. It was a good thing that Hannah really believed him that they were just friends. Luna, Sue and Susan were the only ones she didn't eye cautiously.
Until Sue had pointed it out, he hadn't realized how jealous Hannah was of most others. He felt a little guilty about not realizing that before now.
By the time he had caught up with Luna, she was in the lake up to her knees. Harry shook his head as she was trying to talk with a selkie that had come to the surface. Since the task in February, she had started a friendship with them.
She had her wand to her throat and was making the same disturbing screeching sound that the selkie was. After a moment, she laughed before turning around to go for her bag. Harry came down and sat on a rock by the water's edge, watching her to make sure she didn't get into any trouble.
After routing around in the extended pocket satchel, she pulled out a glass jar of what Harry assumed was peanut butter. Who knew the merfolk of the lake loved the stuff? It started to screech excitedly. Harry took his wand out and surreptitiously cast a warming charm on her. There was no reason she needed to get sick, and he wanted to keep up his promise to Cedric.
She touched her wand to her throat again and screeched back as she went back into the water. This time she had to go in to her waist. Harry was ready to dry her off when she got out. After they talked a few minutes more, she handed the selkie the peanut butter and took a small mesh bag full of rocks and colourful stones.
Once the exchange was done, the selkie slipped under the water and Luna came up to his rock. Her skirt was dripping water. He wasn't sure if she noticed how she was shivering slightly, even through his warming charms.
"Why didn't you cast a water repelling charm?" he asked her, his wand twirling before a warm wind washed over her. Luna giggled. He was happy he had learned to make it go down her body, instead of up. Luna didn't always seem to have the same sensibilities as others, but he liked her all the more for it.
"The translation spell doesn't work well if I am not touching the water," she told him.
"So dip a finger into the water," he suggested.
She cocked her head as the wind stopped. At least her clothes were dry now. "That might work, but daddy always said that spell works best when there isn't any barrier between the medium and the being you are trying to talk with."
"You were talking in air, not water," Harry pointed out.
"Oh, that is true. Though, I still don't want to take the chance," she replied.
Harry nodded to the mesh bag made of some water plant. "What do you have?"
Luna gave him a dreamy smile. "There is a wealth of materials for runes and transfiguration in the lake. I give them peanut butter and they give me these."
Harry looked at the bag as she held it, looking incredibly pleased with herself. Harry's brow rose, seeing a fair share of blue stones. "Is that lapis lazuli? I didn't know there were any mines around here."
Luna hopped over the rock and climbed up onto it. "Professor Babbling says it is an excellent media for runes. I only use it for things I really want."
"And what have you used it for so far?" he asked.
She opened the bag and took out a piece about the size of a sickle. "This and that," she said coyly.
Harry chuckled. "Fine. Keep your secrets."
"I'm told a woman is supposed to do that. Though I don't know why," she said, looking a little spacey.
Harry laughed this time. "Don't ask me. I just barely get by with girls."
"I think you are better than you think, Harry Potter."
"Maybe," he said back.
She started to go through the rocks. Most were granite or marble chips, which were the most common materials for runes in this part of the world, but there were at least a half-dozen good sized pieces of lapis. She handed one to him. "Hannah would look good with a necklace."
Harry took it and held it up. "I can't just take this. What do you want for it?"
Luna was now making designs out of the bits from the back on the rock. "It is common to share among friends. Isn't it?" She looked up, looking so earnest and hopeful.
Harry took the stone and put it into his pocket. "Thank you."
She grinned and then went back to what she was doing.
The two friends quietly sat on the edge of the lake. The cool breeze carrying the smells of fresh flowers, grass and budding trees.
After a few, the nervousness he was feeling about the coming hearing started to dominate his mind as Luna hummed. "Why are you worried?" Luna enquired unexpectedly.
Harry pulled up his legs and put his head on his knees. "What if she decides she doesn't want me?"
Luna stopped her designing and put a hand on his leg. "Then there is a family out there that wants you. I could ask daddy if you want."
Harry gave her a thankful smile. "I think he would have already had to put in for it."
"I can still ask," she told him.
"Thanks, Luna." They fell silent for a long moment. "I just don't want to go back."
"You won't. The roshfingles have all left you. There is someone that wants you," she told him rather seriously for Luna.
Harry nodded. "I hope so."
The bell tolled noon. Harry nodded his head towards the school. "Let's go get lunch."
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A/N: The merfolk scene is my homage to Triwizard Tales by Clell65619.
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The next time on Duel of Fate: The hearing and Harry chooses his guardian.