G'raha had, through agreement with Alisaie and Harry, taken over training the kids while they looked over the library for anything on Nicholas Flamel for Hermione. Though if he was honest, he wasn't sure how much research was actually being done on the topic. Not that G'raha blamed them, Harry and Alisaie had taken a big step on Christmas.
Both Fred and George had agreed, upon being brought into the loop about what they were doing, the name Nicholas Flamel sounded familiar, but couldn't place where they had heard it. Ron, meanwhile, seemed to have finally found books he enjoyed in strategy and tactics, though he still struggled with the application of a Scholar's magic a week later despite G'raha's best attempts to coach him through it. Not that he blamed the boy, healing magic was always difficult. Get it wrong and you might get a tumorous growth. That he hadn't figured out how to summon his fairy yet didn't help matters. He was slightly better at the combat aspects of the job, being able to cast Broil almost out of the gate.
Fred was a bit more difficult, Harry was by no means a bower, so they had to send Hedwig to ask Hermione to buy one. In the meantime, he was learning the three songs all Bards knew, the Mage's Ballad, the Army's Paeon and the Wanderer's Minuet.
George was by far the easiest, Harry had forged him a pair of yoroi-dōshi tanto, which he was already becoming adept with the use of, alongside the most basic ninjutsu. G'raha deflected a thrown fuma shuriken with a shield of Aether, before blocking multiple knife strikes on the shield, each one coming faster and faster than before. George threw down some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, covering them both in darkness. G'raha looked around wildly, before whipping around and catching the double stab on his shield.
"What are you doing?" Hermione's voice came from outside the darkness, and as it faded Ron, George and G'raha were able to see her carrying a long package, "Don't tell me? Soul Crystals chose them over break?"
"Yeah," Ron said, closing his Codex and walking towards Hermione, "I- uh, Harry said if I wanted to learn I needed to apologize to you for all the foul stuff I said to you. So, I'm sorry."
Hermione didn't dignify him with a response, looking around, "Where are Harry, Alisaie, Neville and… Uh…?"
"Fred," George offered, "he's learning to sing some songs in an abandoned classroom, while the lovebirds should be in the library or their room. Dunno about Neville let me check…"
"Lovebirds?" Hermione asked.
"Harry proposed on Christmas," G'raha said, to an exciting squeal from Hermione.
"Guys," George said, voice grave as he stored something in his robes, "We need to go to the fourth floor broom cupboard.
Hermione followed George through the castle, G'raha following right behind with Ron. G'raha placed a hand on his linkpearl and said, "Harry, fourth floor broom closet, now."
—
Alisaie leaned into Harry's chest as they each read books on modern magical inventions in hope of finding anything about Nicholas Flamel. They weren't in the library, but in their shared room. When Harry had proposed, they had returned to the guest wing to discover that Harry and her's rooms had merged, adding a large enough couch for themselves plus one other, a larger bed while the one Harry had been using had replaced the emergency cot. They had gone into Hogsmeade and added various things to allow the room to act more like a headquarters for the Scions. A four corner table, another for chess, ect.
The only inconvenience was having to return to the Library to swap out books. But compared to the roaring fire, the ability to be affectionate in a way that would make Madam Pince harp at them, it was fair more comfortable.
Harry's link pearl went off, and he lazily put down the book and raised the free hand to it, "What's up, G'raha? … Alright?"
"What'd he want?"
"He wants me at the fourth floor broom cupboard," Harry said, removing his arm from Alisaie's middle with obvious regret, "Didn't say why, just did."
"Well, then," Alisaie said, standing, "best if we go see what he wants, right?"
"Yeah," Harry stood up and took her hand. They walked through the halls of Hogwarts at a leisurely pace. Finally, they arrived at the broom cupboard in question and Harry tried the door, which was locked. At the same time, the group, minus Neville and Fred, came rushing over, jogging to keep up with G'raha's speed walking.
"Out of the way, and be ready to catch him!" George called as he cast alohomora on the door, unlocking it. When Alisaie tried the door this time, it swung open… And Neville came toppling out, arms and legs snapped to his sides, before Harry caught him.
"What's wrong with him?" Harry asked.
"Body Bind Curse," Hermione said, whipping out her wand and saying, "Finite Incantatem!"
Immediately, Neville's arms and legs snapped apart, as did his clenched shut jaw, "Thanks! I wasn't sure how long that was gonna last and how long it was going to take for someone to come along and free me!"
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Malfoy, hit me with a bodybind from behind and then had Crabbe and Goyle shove me in there. I'd been stuck for at least an hour. Seriously, thank you all. You were life savers."
"What is with that Malfoy boy's obsession with bothering us every couple of months?" Harry asked. Everyone went silent, and then Alisaie said.
"He does it more than every couple of months, he does it every day. You just haven't been noticing it. I really should break his nose for this one."
"It wouldn't look good to have a guest break a student's anything," Harry denied her the satisfaction, "come on, back to HQ, give Neville some time to rest."
"We'll get him with a prank," George promised Alisaie.
—
Harry wasn't going to say it aloud, but if this Malfoy kid did something like this to Neville again, he was going to stand aside and let Alisaie break the kid's nose. He could stand stupidity aim'd at himself, Thal knew he was used to it, but he wasn't going to stand for people moving Neville backwards mentally. He was making leaps and bounds in his confidence and now….
"I'm sorry," Neville moaned from his place on Harry's back, "You've been teaching me to stay alert, and I didn't even notice Malfoy was there until he cused me."
"You shouldn't have to stay alert in places that aren't dangerous, and you shouldn't think you're in danger walking down the hall," Harry said, sitting Neville down in a seat and standing up, "I'll be right back, gotta go talk to someone."
Harry strode out of the room as Alisaie handed Neville a handkerchief. As he went, he said "Feo Ul?"
"Yes, my Sapling?" Feo Ul said as they appeared.
"Please go get some link pearl earrings and deliver them to Alisaie and G'raha. Neville was attacked today and I want to find a way to check in on him going forwards."
"Poor boy," they said, "he isn't harmed, is he?"
"No, just shaken up."
Feo Ul vanished as Harry reached his destination, rapping his fist on the door sharply and forcefully. At the same time, a calloused hand forced his other hand open and slid into his own. Blinking, he looked down at Alisaie, who had apparently followed him while he was blinded with rage.
"We're in this together," she said softly, "I might not be comfortable mothering Neville, but you've chosen to father him, so I'm going to help you."
The door finally swung open, revealing Professor McGonagall, "Potter? Leveilleur? Is there something I can help you with? I'm busy preparing for the start of term."
"We need to talk," Harry said seriously, "Neville was cursed."
"Come in," McGonagall said, her voice serious. Once they were in and seated in front of her desk, she said, "Explain?"
"Draco Malfoy hit Neville with a Bodybind Curse, then had Crabbe and Goyle shove him in a broom closet and locked the door. It took us over an hour to find him."
"Term hasn't even started," McGonagall said, angrily, "He would have just got back into the castle, and the first thing he does is attack Longbottom? Disgraceful!"
McGonagall stood up, eyes blazing, "I'll handle this, Potter, Leveilleur. Thank you for bringing this misbehavior to my attention. I'd suggest going back to Neville, he needs all the support he can get.
—
Fred stepped into the Great Hall for lunch, throat sore from the practice at singing he had been doing. Walking over to the Gryffindor table, he sat down. Before he could do anything, McGonagall came barging into the hall, a thunderous expression on her face, followed by George. George immediately split off from McGonagall and walked towards Fred, "We're having lunch in HQ. Neville was cursed earlier, stupid prank from Malfoy. C'mon, let's go to the kitchens and ask them to send stuff there."
"Yeah," Fred said, "Who cursed him?"
George inclined his head towards Malfoy as McGonagall stopped in front of him. The entire room seemed to go quiet as she spoke, "Mr. Malfoy, I have been informed that you cursed another student and left him locked in a broom cupboard. Is this true?"
Malfoy's face, already pale, paled even further dramatically, before he swallowed and said, "Of- of course not, Professor!"
"Then why do you look so guilty?" McGonagall said, before saying, harshly, "Twenty points from Slytherin for each of you three, and detention! We don't attack other students, Mr. Malfoy, and we certainly don't leave them in a place where assistance might not come if we do!"
"Yes, Professor," Malfoy muttered bitterly. Good, the git deserved it.
Exiting the Great Hall and entering the kitchen, they gave their order to the House Elves, who cheerfully began to go about making it and teleporting it to the HQ. Leaving, they walked down two hallways before entering HQ.
Neville was chewing on a licorice wand and was talking to Ron, while Hermione spoke to G'raha, and Harry and Alisaie cuddled on the couch.
"Doing alright, Nev?" Fred asked.
"I've been better," Neville said, glumly, "still can't believe I got caught like that. I'm gonna have to be more cautious around Malfoy."
"Sounds like a good plan. Are we pranking him?" Fred asked George, who nodded.
Platters suddenly began to appear on the table, and Neville ladled himself a bowl of chicken soup. Ron grabbed a plate and began to pile it high with chicken. Hermione and G'raha stopped talking to pick up food of their own before Hermione gave a small "oh!" And grabbed a box from next to the fireplace, handing it to George, who passed it to Fred causing a small blush from Hermione. The words Bear Jennings were written on the box, and when Fred opened it, it was to a red and silver bow and a strange glove.
"The glove's so you don't cut yourself on the bow string," Hermione explained.
"Thanks, Hermione, how much do I owe you?" Fred asked, to Hermione shook her head.
"Harry paid."
"And I'm not taking money for it," Harry said, not raising his head from the top of Alisaie's.