Harry Potter and the Founders Vault
Disclaimer: I am obviously not JK Rowling.
Note: I have to address the elephant in the room and that is the amount of updates I do for this story. I only do this story for fun, and right now there's only a few chapters left unedited to go up, and I say unedited because I have a beta who is a diehard Harry Potter fan, and also British to catch any Americanizms I leave in my story. He was ill recently so last week's update never came around which is why I'm updating today. That said, I CANNOT update weekly, let alone continuously, so continuous demands of updates will be met on deaf ears. The next update should be in two weeks, with the update after that being two weeks after and so on, unless something happens where either me or my beta are unable to get to this story. So please don't keep asking me to update as I have a schedule and I will not change it for any demands. Now, on with the chapter…
Year 2: Professor Fakehart
Harper was walking out of the Slytherin Common Room with Tracy and Daphne when she heard Snape's voice. "Ms. Evans can I have a word."
"Tell Harry, Mione, and Nev I'll be there soon," Harper said to her two friends as she went to follow her Head of House to his office, pausing at the door to notice all the dead things in jars throughout the room, the mooted fireplace and just general dingy lighting of the place.
"How can I help, Professor?" Harper asked, now moving into the room, and taking a seat on one side of Snape's desk.
"Gilderoy Lockhart has been to see me. Apparently, you and your brother have been skipping his class for about a month," Professor Snape pointed out. It was the first week of October now.
"He actually noticed. I thought he was too self-absorbed to notice anything that didn't actually have his face on it," Harper mused. "I guess the fact Harry is even more famous than him is probably a reason..."
"Ms. Evans," Snape snapped, not seeming amused. "Why are you skipping Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Because it's pointless," Harper sighed. "We learn nothing. The man is a complete fool." Harry and Harper had attended one Defense class each – in Harry's Gryffindor and Ravenclaw class, Lockhart had released pixies and then been unable to bring them in, leaving Harry, Hermione, and Ron to clean them up; Ron ending up being dragged to the ceiling before Harry and Hermione had managed to get them all back into their cages. Harper and Neville's class had been after that and now Lockhart was only doing dramatic re-tellings from his books and having students' play parts. Harper wand had actually sent a curse at Lockhart like it did Quirrell last year. Lockhart had acted like it was a part of the play. Harper was sure the wand was only picking up on Harper's own frustration with the man and not any evil Dark Lord on him. "He doesn't teach," Harper continued, "he only goes through events in his books, and even those aren't correct. He doesn't know the subject, so there's no point learning from him."
"Well, that being all said, you can't just skip classes," Snape stated, and Harper noticed Snape didn't try to defend Lockhart.
"I'm not just skipping," Harper said and went into her backpack and took out some work. "I am doing Defense work a lot harder than anything Lockhart is teaching." Harper showed the assigned work to Snape.
"Grand Canyon Academy of Magic?" Snape asked, reading the name of the school from the papers.
"My summer school. They've been providing me and Harry with work for Defense since we told them how useless Lockhart is," Harper explained. "I doubt Lockhart knows any of this work. I bet you do though, I mean you should have been Defense teacher over that idiot."
"10 points to Slytherin for common sense," Snape said, making Harper blink, "and another 10 points for seeking out education when you found what you were being taught lacking." Harper hadn't been expected that as Snape handed back her work. "But attendance issues go to the Deputy Headmistress. I am sure she will want a word with you and Mr. Potter after your Transfiguration class today."
"Yes, Professor," Harper said as she put her thing away and got up to head for breakfast.
-Harry Potter-
Harry, Hermione, and Neville were sitting at the Slytherin table with Tracy and Daphne when Harper finally came up. Neville always seemed uncomfortable when they sat at the Slytherin table, and that wasn't different today.
"So, what was that about?" Daphne asked as Harper started taking breakfast pancakes.
"Oh, Lockhart actually realized we Harry and I haven't been in his class," Harper said, looking towards Harry who had to laugh.
"I was wondering how long before he realized. I had at the end of the year though," Harry said with a smile
"This isn't funny, you two," Hermione spoke up; she had already lectured both of them numerous times about skipping Defense, but this time Harry and Harper were not listening to her. "You can be in a lot of trouble for not attending classes."
"Oh chill," Harper said to her friend. "I actually walked out of that meeting with 20 points," Hermione mouthed opened, not knowing what to say to that. "But Professor McGonagall is probably going to have a word with us after class." Harry gave a shrug at that. Transfiguration was their first class of the day.
After some talk and food, it was time for the group to head to classes. Daphne and Tracy walked with Harry and Harper as they left the Great Hall.
"Harry, Harper!" The two had to suppress a groan as Lockhart came running up to them. "You two have been very naughty! I've come to escort you to my class."
"We'd look pretty stupid going to your class now, since we have Transfiguration," Harry pointed back to the man.
"Well, I am sure Professor McGonagall will understand. You two have a lot of make up to do," Lockhart said, and grabbed hold of Harry's arm and tried to pull him towards the Grand Staircase
Harry had enough and shared a look with Harper, who had her wand in her hand and sent a burning jinx at Lockhart that forced him to let go of Harry. Harry had his wand in his hand in moment and pointed at Lockhart. He could feel Excalibur wanting to be used but ignored the sword and didn't summon it.
"Listen here Fakehart," Harry snapped. "I am tired of you constantly trying to grab me, so you try to touch me again and you'll know the true meaning of defensive magic!" Harry noticed the student looking at them. The confrontation gathering a crowd. It was true though; Lockhart had done a lot to grab Harry and get pictures taken with him – even trying to get Colin to take photos of them. It was another reason Harry avoided the man like his life depended on it. "Now, we're going to Transfiguration. Feel free to tell Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall about this if you want, I am sure they will hear in a moment anyway. Gossip about me in this school travels at warp speed."
The two gave Daphne and Tracy a nod before the four students walked away towards the Grand Staircase themselves, heading toward Transfiguration and leaving Lockhart completely flabbergasted on the confrontation.
As they entered Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall was already present, with the students behind Harry and Harper taking about the confrontation excitedly.
"Ms. Evans," Professor McGonagall spoke up on their appearance. "A moment?"
Harper paused and gave Harry a shrug before going over to Professor McGonagall. "I need you to tutor Mr. Weasley today," McGonagall stated quietly.
"What?" Harper asked in shock.
"He's behind the rest of the class. You're my best transfiguration student, so I know you can help," Professor McGonagall explained. "Now, I know the relationship between the two of you aren't the best, but I need you to do this."
Harper sighed but knew Professor McGonagall could get her into a lot of trouble soon due to not attending Defense Against the Dark Arts, plus she had just attacked a teacher. "Fine, okay," Harper sighed, heading over to where Ron was sitting.
"What are you doing here?" Ron asked.
"I'm your tutor," Harper said, and Ron blinked as Professor McGonagall started the class. "Come on, let's see what you've got," Harper sighed at Ron.
This Transfiguration class must have been one of Harper's worst for her favorite subject as Ron didn't get a single transformation right, no matter how many times Harper correct his wand movements, wording, or showed him how to do it.
It was towards the end of the class when Ron transformed his rat Scabbers into a furry cup with a tail that his wand sparked, and Harper noticed something. "Can I see your wand?" Harper asked, holding out her hand.
Ron frowned but handed his wand to Harper – the wand was bend and held together with tape. "Why is there tape around your wand?" Harper asked. She wasn't great at sensing magic like Native Americans were, but Mato had shown her a bit – even she could feel the magic in the wand was chaotic.
"It broke when I crashed into the whomping willow," Ron said.
"Well, this wand is done," Harper said, wanting to put it down. "Write home and tell your parents you need to go shopping for a new one – before this one blows you up or your rat up," Harper took her own wand out and turned Scabbers back for Ron.
"And get another Howler?!" Ron snapped. "Anyway, we have no money for a new wand. This one was my brother's Charlie before mine and our great grandfathers before that. Mom will got mad if she learns I broke one of the family wands. I am supposed to return this to the family when I graduate and get enough money for my own."
"Well then, I guess your only solution is to get some hippogriff feathers from Hagrid and make your own," Harper said very sarcastically and laughed at her own joke. "But seriously, that wand is shot. You really need a new one." At that moment class was over and Harper didn't hear Ron mumbling about making his own as she grabbed her backpack to get away from the boy.
"Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans please stay after class," Professor McGonagall called out now; the two had been expecting this, so waited for everyone to leave as they sat down next to each other. "I am sure you know what this is about."
"Skipping classes," Harper said.
"And sending a burning jinx at Lockhart," Harry added making Professor McGonagall frown and Harper turned her head to Harry. "Figured we might as well tell. She'd find out about it in a second anyway."
"Explain," Professor McGonagall said.
"I explained to Snape. She's your Head of House," Harper said
Harry nodded. "Well Lockhart is a fraud; his books are lies, and his lessons are even worse. The class I attended he released pixies and didn't even know how to put them back! There's books out in the States at how much the man is a fraud, so I refuse to be taught by him," Harry even took out one of these fraudulent books from his bag and gave it to Professor McGonagall, having carried it around just in case he needed the evidence, like now.
"Well… that being all said and done," Professor McGonagall said, flipping through the book Harry had handed her. "You need Defense class."
"We agree. Which is why we're supplementing work in from a real Defense class at Grand Canyon Academy," Harry continued, taking out some of his own Defense work and the textbook he had to buy for that Defense class. "This is harder than anything Fakehart will teach and will allow us to continue into the next Defense summer class. We'll be behind if we don't take this. Fakehart's fake class will take the time away we need for real classes."
Professor McGonagall didn't know what to say to that. Looking over the Defense work Harry showed her, it did seem like a good class. And the Defense book was one she had never seen before, but a quick flip through this, showed it was good. Better than Lockhart's books she had read before.
"And sending a burning jinx at him?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking up from the book
"That was me," Harper said, raising her hand.
"But she was defending me," Harry defended. "Lockhart has continuously tried to grab me for various reasons. Today he was trying to drag me to his class insisting I skip yours." Professor McGonagall eyes narrowed at that. "I am tired of him grabbing me. I warned him if he does it again I will show him some real defensive magic."
"I will have to have a conversation with him about grabbing hold of students," Professor McGonagall mused. "Okay, I'm going to have to give you two a detention with Hagrid." The two looked at each other, remembering the detention with Hagrid that their classmates had the year before, where Neville had come across Voldemort drinking unicorn blood. Were they heading into the Forbidden Forest themselves? "Hagrid needs some help feeding and caring for his creatures. After dinner he'll come collect you two." The two smirked at this; they did that anyway. Professor McGonagall was giving them detention, but not really giving them detention at the same time. "As for your Defense class, can you please leave all this with me for a while? I have some people to talk to."
"Sure," the two said, getting up to leave.
Professor McGonagall had papers to grade in her free period, but what Harry and Harper told her wasn't leaving her head. She had started reading their Defense book and then read a bit of the book proving Lockhart was a fake. She decided to leave and head to the Defense classroom just as a 6th year class was leaving.
"I got an O on the test!" It was Percy Weasley, excited.
"Mr. Weasley, may I see that?" Professor McGonagall asked and Percy handed over the test. A quick scan had Professor McGonagall quite irate; questions like 'what is Gildroy Lockhart's favorite color' was on the test, along with 'what is Gildroy Lockhart's best book, explain your answer' – nothing about defending against anything. "Mr. Weasley, I suggest you start a study group and find a better Defense book for you and your classmates to study from," Professor McGonagall knew there was nothing she could do – Lockhart had the position for a year, and even if she convinced Professor Dumbledore to fire him, getting a replacement would be near impossible. He'd only given Lockhart the role because no one else would take it.
She had a call to make.
-Harry Potter-
Hermione and Neville were walking and talking, figuring Harry and Harper had got held up after class, considering it was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall.
"Hey Mione," Neville spoke stopping Hermione – they were right near the teachers' lounge and Neville was looking at the gargoyle statues that stood on either side of the door. "That riddle… guardians who protect those who…"
"Impart wisdom," Hermione finished. The four had not found where the first recipe for the Hufflepuff potion was. "Why?"
"Teachers impart wisdom, and gargoyles have been known to be guardians," Neville mused, nodding at the gargoyle statues.
Hermione turned to frown at the statue. She took out the Vault book. "The gargoyles outside the teacher lounge," Hermione said to it and the pair waited.
"The gargoyles that protect the teachers is true, now find the ingredients to start your brew," the page read. Hermione giggled at the wording.
"Okay, Neville, go up to them," Hermione now encouraged.
Neville went up to the gargoyles and, a moment later, returned with a small card. The card read: touch me to the book. Hermione took the card and placed it on the book. The card then disappeared and the recipe appeared in the Vault book.
"Wow!" Neville said.
"We've got to show Harper and Harry later," Hermione said with a smile. "But let's not be late for class."
-Harry Potter-
Once classes were over for that day, Ron found himself where he rarely went: the library. "Madam Pince, do you have any books on wand making?" Ron asked the Librarian, a hooked nosed, pale woman who always wore a feather in her witch's hat.
"Wand making? That can't be for school," the librarian frowned back.
"No, it's not. It's… I am just curious," Ron said.
"Over this way," Ron followed Madam Pince over to a bookshelf in the back. "This section contains many books on wand making. Do not be loud."
Ron was left alone as he started through the books; they were dusty, as if no one had come to look at them in a while. "Beginners Guide to Wand Making," Ron said, taking the book and flipping open. "Making your first wand…" Ron mumbled as he started to read.
-Harry Potter-
"Neville, you were brilliant!" Harry said as Hermione showed the two the book. "Most of these ingredients we either have or can easily collect around the school. That one will be tricky though…."
"Might need to grab it from Snape," Harper added, and Hermione tilted her head. "Do you have a better idea?"
"I think we can…" Hermione didn't finish her sentence as Harper interrupted her
"I think we should go to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and talk," Harper said. Something in her was calling her to the bathroom.
"Why?" Harry asked his sister. They didn't need to be that secretive right now.
"I want to get dinner," Neville complained, but Harper was already heading towards the bathroom. The three looked at each other but then followed her.
"Ginny!" Harper paused, seeing the red head about the open the door to the bathroom. "That's Moaning Myrtle bathroom. You don't want to go in there. Trust me..." Harper put an arm around Ginny as she said it, something wanted her to keep Ginny out of this bathroom. "How about you come with us to dinner?"
"Yeah," Harry said, completely confused on his sister's behavior, but decided to back his sister. "Come on Ginny." Ginny definitely had a crush on the boy-who-lived, but Harry didn't really know about this. There was something in her eyes though as she looked between the four second years before deflating in front of them.
"Um… um... sure," Ginny said, as the five now walked towards the Great Hall and, once there, all sat at the Gryffindor table.
They had just started some chicken pie when Lockhart appeared before them, however. "Don't make me come through with my threat…" Harry spoke to the man, his wand in his hand in seconds. Harper took her wand out and Neville decided to back up his friends and held his wand out. Hermione glared at them, not believing in attacking a teacher – especially Gildroy Lockhart.
"Now, now, I was just coming to say we can do extra lessons tonight," Lockhart stated.
"We have detention with Hagrid," Harper added quickly.
"Ah Gildroy," Professor McGonagall called, coming up. "I am sorry there seems to have been a mix up. Harry and Harper take summer courses in Defense and your class would not let them continue with their classes, since they are very different. Their parents requested their summer school give them their Defense work, which will be monitored and graded by me." Harry and Harper had to stop themselves from laughing at this, shocked at this quick response. "Since they will not be your students, there is no reason for you to continue harassing them about coming to class. I apologize for the mix up, but we must have a private conversation about boundaries with students later," Professor McGonagall took a clearly confused Lockhart away from the table at this.
"Wow. Go McGonagall," Harper said.
"Remind me to get her a nice Christmas present," Harry said, happily.
"You two just got away with breaking the rules," Hermione groaned, clearly confused herself.
"With a good argument and a little fame," Harper added, playfully pushing her brother.
"With McGonagall it was probably the argument," Harry added. The group continued chatting with each other as they ate, glancing up to the staff table occasionally where Professor McGonagall had been having a long chat with Lockhart.
"You two ready?" They were surprised by the voice Hagrid coming up behind them. For a half-giant, they hadn't seen him coming. "Got a lot of creatures that need their food."
"Yeah, we're good," Harper said, drinking the can of coke she had taken out of her bag before. She got into the habit of bringing soda and juice boxes with her to meals.
"Yep," Harry said, shoving one last piece of bread roll into his mouth before the two stood and went to follow Hagrid, giving their friends goodbye.
-Harry Potter-
That night, as Harry slept, he found himself face-to-face with King Arthur once more. He didn't have the sword with him, which was confusing since he always had the sword in these dreams.
"We're not doing sword work today," Arthur explained. "I saw your confrontation with that fool. You and your sister handled it well, but a good swordsman should be able to defeat a foe like that without magic."
"He was a teacher – a bad one at that – and I'm still a student. Attacking a teacher with a sword might be frowned upon," Harry pointed out to Arthur, who nodded.
"No, no, I agree, which is why I am going to train you in physical defense tactics," Arthur stated, "specifically on how to take on bigger and stronger foes."
"Oh, nice," Harry said with a smile. He was ready for some defense fighting, so Arthur started him on a technique, and Harry listened and copied to learn.
-Harry Potter-
Harper was sleeping in her dorm in Slytherin house, but she was woken up by a voice.
She half thought she was still asleep as she heard something hiss: 'kill, must kill… he demands… death'. Harper blinked as she sat up and looked around.
"Hello?" Harper called but the voice was gone. Tracy turned in her bed, letting out a loud snore and Daphne didn't move at all. Harper shrugged as Daisy gave an annoyed meowed that Harper woke her.
"Sorry girl. Go back to sleep." Harper laid back down and forgot about the voice as she drifted back to sleep.
Post Chapter Note: I bet you didn't see that ending coming. Harper is hearing the voice not Harry. Plot twist! Again, the next chapter will be in TWO WEEKS, my beta depending.
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