The morning found Harry settling into the compartment behind the Head and Prefect's meeting compartment. Dobby had loaded the trunks of the four witches who were traveling with Harry as well as Harry's trunk into the racks.
As Harry settled on the bench across from Hermione and the Twins, Luna sat beside him, humming to herself. Pavarti was planning on waiting for the train to start moving for a bit before she ran off to find Lavender.
Luna Lovegood was having a good morning. All her things were returned to her trunk. As it was now stored overhead it was out of reach of Cho and her clique. Because the Leaving feast was last night, she spent breakfast with Harry Potter.
Padma and Hermione were reading books that had been dropped by OWLs Students who were no longer taking those subjects. Hermione was an Arithmancy 5th year book as Padma was reading the Muggle Studies text.
Ten minutes before the train was due to leave, Daphne Greengrass and Susan Bones entered, and wedged themselves into the space on either side of Harry. Luna slid closer to the window to give the two witches room.
When Harry opened his mouth to question what was going on, Daphne spoke one word.
"Malfoy."
Susan also had a word.
"Contract."
Hermione clicked her tongue at Harry.
Harry smiled. "I will tell you everything when you get back from France." Hermione frowned. "With the appropriate books." Harry sighed.
Hermione grunted and returned to her book.
"What?" Daphne frowned.
"Please ignore Granger. She is very modern muggle. Contract Marriage fell out of Vogue last century. She sees the Elf Bond as Slavery." The pureblood witches snorted.
"Yeah. She knows that Traditions have their place and reasons. She even observes many herself. But you pureblood prats don't instruct the muggles raised in so many of your ways. He thrust his thumb at Luna. "And those who are of the mind set to instruct us … are too busy investigating the Rotfang Conspiracy."
"We are this close to finding the root of the Conspiracy." Luna whispered.
Harry blinked and exchanged with Hermione. "Ah Luna. Having a birthday gathering at the Leaky Cauldron. If you have not found your answers, I will fill you in on some minor… things."
Luna chirped as she smiled and turned to look out the window to see Ron being herded by his brothers to the train.
Just then the Door slammed open and a nasally drawl drew every eye in the compartment. "Okay, you plebs. Out of my compartment."
Malfoy had spoken but it was Crabbe that had opened the door. Malfoy had not even looked inside.
"Hey Ferret." Harry wrapped his arms around the shoulders of the witches on either side of him. "Crabbe, Goyle. Take your little bitch for a long walk off a short pier." Daphne buried her face into his chest as she tried to smother her laughter. The twins and Susan grinned, while Hermione returned to her book.
Draco exploded into the compartment. "Potter." The putrid vile displayed in his voice, stilled Daphne's laughter. "What do you think you are doing here?"
"Well, considering who is here… one, hiding from Weasley, two getting to know some very attractive witches, and three… well, I thank you for your interest, but I just can't return your undying love."
Draco sneered at the first, leered at the second, and for the third…he went for his wand.
His wand was half drawn when he noticed four wands inches from his fine Noble tapered nose.
"Greengrass. What are you doing here?" Draco sneered, cool under the impression that he still had the high ground.
"Earning points with my Contracted." She smirked. "If He is the Heir, I will advance. If you are the Heir…"
Draco sneered and slammed his wand home,
Hermione hummed as she turned the page of her book. "Harry. Don't use any messy spells. Would hate to stain the carpet. It's such nice fabric."
Luna looked up from her inverted magazine. "Oh, Look. Harry Potter is facing down another dragon. We have already seen you out fly him, are you going to…"
"No." Harry shifted his weight. "Dragons are majestic creatures. This poncy puppy is not fit to lick their dung. I repeat, Crabbe, Goyle take your little bitch for a walk. Before I have it neutered." Holly dropped from nose to groyne. "Draco. See this wand?" He showed it to the blond bim-boi the Yew wand. "Be sure to tell your Daddy about it. He should know it well. And do tell Cissi that Lord Black will be in touch."
A silent knock back, and flick of Holly, slammed the door in Draco's face as he collapsed holding his jewels.
"Good thing your intelligence is not indicated by your stones." Luna turned another page. "Or Ronald and Draco would be drooling idiots."
Harry snorts. "Weasley is a drooling Mo-Ron."
Harry turned back to his seat and found two wands in his face. "Shit… I did it again. Three questions each. If I can't answer I will tell you and it won't count."
$No wonder you need me with you.$ Nagini crawled out of the enchanted pocket of his robes and cooled up to enjoy the morning sun. $You can't go an hour without betraying yourself.$
"Sorry, Milady. I was sorted into the House of Action. Not the House of Thought or Cunning." Harry reclaimed his seat. "I will tell everyone here that even Hermione doesn't know everything. Her mind is organized, but undefended. Snape could read her easier than one of her books. I plan to get books for the mind arts."
"That bad?" Pavarti asked.
"Worse." Harry looked at the braver of the twins. "He is not even the true threat. That falls to the Old man." Harry smiled. "Pavarti one."
$Cold. Need a warm body.$
Harry sighed, and climbed to his feet and settled on the floor where his head was on the back of Nagini's neck, and she coiled herself about him.
Hermione snorted. "You could have just warm charmed the floor."
Luna snickered before sliding to the floor and wiggling until she was nestled between the coils and Harry. "Nagini gives the best hugs."
The door slammed open as Ronald entered the compartment. "There you are, Harry." Then he saw who else was in the room. "Get out, you sluts."
"Ronald Weasley." Harry smiled up at him. "Do you remember the first thing I said to Malfoy back in our first year?"
"No. Who can remember that far back?" Weasley snorted.
"If it was Chess or Quidditch related you would remember." Harry snarked. "Let me remind you. I will even use the exact words. Malfoy offered to show me the 'right' kind of people. I responded and I quote: ' I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks.'. Now do you need another hint?"
"But their just a slimy snake and a duffer." The redhead huffed. "Don't get me started on the Brownies."
"No Messy Spells." Hermione turned the page of her book.
"Are you my Mate or Dumbledore's spy?" Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin. "Find your brothers and talk this out with them. For the three years you were my wingman, take this and ponder what is more important. Being my friend or …" Harry flipped the coin at the ginger and cuddled with Luna and Nagini. "Besides, snake's are not slimy. That is flobberworms."
Daphne closed the door in Ronald's face.
"Would it count as a question if I asked if we had to deal with him in the future?"
"No to your question." Harry grinned up at the lass. "If he remains a friend, he will be a pub mate, and outside of a weekly drink and the occasional quidditch game, you will not need to worry about it."
"So… the five of us will be sharing this Wizard." Pavarti grinned at the two across from her. "How does this work?"
"Both Susan and I have Line Continuation Contracts. Hers with House Potter, mine is House Black. If I remember correctly, you will need to provide an heir for your Father…" Daphne began.
"Yes." Pavarti nodded as her sister gave up the pretense of reading her book. "Depending on how he twists the contract with father, we will be providing an heir for House Patil."
"House Bones only has the two of us…"
"And is declared dead in three years." Harry murmured from where he was cooled about Luna. "Should have put that off, but will need to talk to the Director before my birthday to be sure."
Over the next hour, the girls made a game of drawing answers out of Harry as he lay cuddled to Luna wrapped up in a snake.
When the wand, used as a hair pin, vibrated Pavarti stood, bid all a good day, and exited the compartment.
"While I hate to see her leave… I do love to see her go." Harry slurred from his place.
Padma blushed as Susan kicked the wizard.
Susan and Daphne plotted the Lad's future as he just napped.
When the trolley witch arrived, Harry bought 'the lot' and had the girls pick their favorites.
POMP
When the train pulled into the station, Luna shook Harry awake and herded Nagini back into the 'Familiar' pocket in his robes.
Everyone retrieved their trunks that he shrunk for them, traded kisses to the cheek and stepped into the mass exitus, vanishing quickly in the swirling traffic of students happy to be home from a year away.
Finally it was just Harry carrying a pampered Crookshanks in his arms, as he followed Hermione to and through the portal to the Muggle side.
"Mom!" The witch squeed, as she bolted across the tiled grounds and collided with an older version of herself.
Harry followed at a more sedate pace. Scratching behind the ears of the engorged Tom as it lay across his arm, projecting the image of a Bond Villain.
"And just who are you to be handling my Daughter's Pussy in that manner?" A man loomed out of the thin air, with a taste of malice about him.
"Potter. Harry Potter." Harry looked the man in the eye. "Perhaps my Reputation for dealing with dangerous animals allows me certain privileges." A steely glint hardened his burning green eyes. "But know that anyone who threatens my Queen becomes a bloody smear." There was no humour in his voiced threat.
The man stiffened. "Who is threatening Whom?"
"He's saying I am protected, Father. He will smear any danger not of my making across the wall." Hermione stepped away from her mom to hug her Father. "And if it is of my making, he will stand by me as I try to fix it."
As she stepped back to collect her familiar, "Besides, he knows the way to my Heart."
"And not your knickers?" The man frowned at the lad.
"My knickers are safe, Father." the Witch smirked.
"Yes." Harry grinned at the Witch. "We are still haggling over the cost. Her Jumper on the hand…"
"Harry!" Hermione swatted him.
The Woman behind the witch snorted and shook her head at the antics of the youths. "Dan. They are playing with you."
Dan sighed with relief.
"She has already planned on ',dragging him to a broom closet and getting it done with on her next birthday."
The panicking look on the males' faces caused the females to laugh.
"Not funny, Wife." the man sneered.
"Hey Boy!" The Walrus in a suit made himself known.
"Vernon Dursley." Harry smiled as he approved. "Got some good news, bad news, and better news. Good news, I will no longer be under your roof. Bad news, there will be people looking for me, and if I am not there…" Harry stood straight. "July First, I will be at your door. You have until then to find a new house. I will need the information for a new place and by the eighth you will need to be moving. I am going to trade you houses. I expect you to get your money's worth but keep it reasonable. My Godfather will be with me on the First."
"Why are you doing this, boy?" Vernon frowned.
"Because the protection awarded by me living with my Aunt was damaged by your refusal to accept me as Family. Albus did not care, it weakened me, and made him look like he was helping rescue me when he was trying to kill me instead. I will have my adjuster appraise number four. I am willing to spend up to twice its base value. I will be calling number four home by September First. I will have someone watching the place, so you can call or write to me. Give Aunt Tuni my best wishes, and goodbye Uncle."
Harry turned his back to the big man.
TBC
