Harry Potter and the Founders Vault
Disclaimer: The same as ever.
Note: If you can't tell by now, we're using the movies as reference for a few things. Yes, the books are better, but for simplicity, the movies help.
Year 2: The Dueling Club
It was the beginning of December and Harry, Harper, Hermione, and Neville were in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom – over the Thanksgiving Holiday, Harry and Harper managed to buy all the potion ingredients they needed to complete this special concoction.
"Well, the potion should be done before Christmas," Hermione said as she went over the instructions for the potion for the hundredth time. "I hope you didn't have any trouble getting ingredients?" This was the first chance since Thanksgiving that the group had a chance to talk about the potion, being busy with schoolwork.
"None at all," Harper stated. "Newt was more than helpful."
"I'd love to meet Newt Scamader," Hermione mused.
"Visit us for Christmas one year and you will," Harper stated. "He lives in the US now so makes sense for you to go there."
"Although don't ask for stuff from his creatures," Harry pointed out, Hermione raising her eyebrow to this. "Oh, Ron asked us to bring back a phoenix feather for him," Harry chuckled.
"Yeah… that would definitely blow up on him if he tried to make it a wand," Harper mused.
"He has made better looking wands with Hippogriff feathers," Neville spoke up.
"Are you two ever going to tell him those are really weak wand cores?" Hermione asked now, looking at the pair.
"He wants to be the wand maker now. Let him figure it out," Harry shrugged, and as the words left his mouth, Rowan had floated right in front of him, making Harry jump.
"You guys have a friend making wands?" Rowan said looking at them. "Who?"
"Urm, Ron Weasley," Harry shook himself, getting over the sudden scare from Rowan, "But he's barely…." Harry couldn't finish his sentence as Rowan flew back down through the floor and out of the bathroom. "What was that about…?"
"Rowan grew up on a tree farm," Myrtle answered from her bathroom stall for the confused group. "She knows a lot about wood for wands."
"Thanks Myrtle," Harry said, getting up to see her and smile. The others got up at this too, nothing else to do with the potion but let it brew.
"It's been nice having you in here," Mrytle spoke up as Harry smiled at her.
"See you later," Harper added, leading the way out of the bathroom.
"Are you guys going to the Dueling Club today?" Neville asked as they started to walk down the corridor.
"Dueling Club?" Harper asked.
"It was announced this morning," Hermione supplied for Harper.
"It was?" Harper frowned.
"Do you not read the message board in your common room?" Neville asked at this.
"Urm… I usually get my Hogwarts information from the other students," Harper admitted.
"Well," Hermione sighed, sharing a look with Neville as Harry chuckled at his sister, "it's happening this evening in the Great Hall. After the last attack, we need to be prepared."
"Well, we do know a bit about dueling," Harper voiced, giving a smirk now and Harry gave her a playful push, which she laughed at.
"I'm undefeated in our summer classes in dueling," Harry voiced now. "Harper's not bad herself."
"You know, Professor Flitwick was a champion dueler before becoming a Professor," Hermione voiced.
"It would be nice to learn tricks from a champion," Harper nodded, and Harry had to agree.
"Then let's go," Harry grinned, putting an arm around Neville's shoulder. He personally also thought learning a bit of dueling might help calm his friend – since the attacks on Ms. Norris and Alicia, Neville had been all nerves.
-Harry Potter-
That evening, the four entered the Great Hall with other students – all four House tables had been placed to the sides of the room, with a dueling platform set up in the middle of the room instead. There was a buzz about the room from the gathered students, all excited or nervous to see what this club was about.
"Gather round!" A familiar voice called. "Gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent."
Harry and Harper groaned as Gildroy Lockhart appeared on the stage, his golden robes flowing behind him. Fearing the worst, Harry tapped Harper's shoulder and nodded his head and pointed towards the door; Harper nodded her agreement, the two backing away from the stage to the door so to get away, but they didn't get far when they heard the professor call to them, "Harry! Harper! Where do you two think you're going?" Both groaned at this.
"With respect, this is a club not a class," Harry spoke up. "We can come and go as we please. We only came because we thought Professor Flitwick would be teaching us, but I have no faith you know what you're doing, Fakehart." There was a small giggle from some of the students at the name.
"And since our summer courses included dueling instruction," Harper continued for her brother, "We find no need to stay here." They could see Hermione give them an eye roll at their excuse to leave.
"Well, well, well… Professor Snape was going to help me with a demonstration but if you're so confident in your skills you feel like you don't need to be here, why don't you come up here and face me?" Professor Lockhart said, the pair only now just noticing Professor Severus Snape who, like them, looked like he'd rather be far away from the other teacher.
"I don't think a student…" Snape began.
"Nonsense! The boy thinks he knows more than me. Let him show it," Lockhart smirked now as he looked at the two.
"Professor…" Hermione muttered; the room was silent now at this confrontation.
"You know what, you're on," Harry said, waving to Hermione to be quiet, and Harper gave him a pat on the back as the students around them seemed in awe Harry was willing to take on a teacher.
Harry moved onto the stage as Harper went back to her place near Neville and Hermione. "Standard dueling rules?" Harry asked.
"Wands only, Potter," Professor Snape commented.
"Snape is smart," Harper muttered at this.
"Oh?" Hermione asked.
"Standard dueling rules allow you to use whatever weapons you have access to and since Harry can always summon his sword, he always has access to it," Harper explained. "He used the sword many times to throw off opponents before people at Grand Canyon Academy realized to modify the rules."
Harry and Lockhart had bowed to each other while Harper had explained, and then turned around to take the necessary steps in the opposite direction. When they turned back around, Harry was fast at sending Bombarda at Gilderoy Lockhart – the spell hitting and throwing the professor back, the teacher retaliating with a spell which Harry used a rolling technique to dodge and then sent the tickling spell at the professor.
"Harry's playing with him," Harper mumbled as Professor Lockhart laughed. She knew her brother could have done Expelliarmus, the disarming charm, by now to win.
Professor Lockhart sent a Tarantallegra, a spell that turned the legs to jelly, at Harry and Harper frowned. While in midair, the charm seemed to get more powerful and change color. The spell also somehow turned to stop Harry from dodging and hit him in his right leg. For a second Harry stood there in shock, and then Harry's leg seemed to fold up and he fell over.
"Did you see that?" Hermione asked stunned as she watched.
"Yeah, someone messed with that spell," Harper mumbled.
Professor Lockhart didn't seem to realize that not only was the spell tampered with, but it didn't do what the spell should do.
"I did it!" Professor Lockhart cried, seeming surprised and Hermione raised an eyebrow – all the times in which Harper and Harry told her he was a fraud but the way he just reacted made Hermione finally see pass his looks and books and see it for herself. "Of course, I did it," the professor pulled himself together. "And that is why you don't challenge someone with more experience…"
Harry, as Lockhart was talking, used his right arm to lean himself up, taking his wand in his left hand – not his normal wand hand, but he didn't care, and pointed it at the professor. "Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled loudly and maybe fueled by his anger, it was the most powerful Expelliarmus he had ever sent out as the professor went flying off the stage and his wand went flying in the opposite direction, landing at Harry's foot.
"Mr. Potter!" Severus Snape snapped, glaring at Harry.
"The duel wasn't over until one of us was disarmed or unable to continue. I was clearly not either. Fakehart shouldn't have turned his back to me," Harry said quickly.
Snape frowned at Harry before saying, "20 points to Gryffindor."
The entire hall went silent at Professor Snape giving points to a Gryffindor. "You never turn your back to your opponent before knowing you officially won. Now let's see." Severus Snape leaned down and inspected Harry's legs. "Seems you messed up a simple charm, Gildory." Professor Lockhart was returning to the stage, trying to look as if he didn't just lose to a 12-year-old as he went to retrieve his wand. "Somehow you vanished all the bones in Mr. Potter's leg. He will have to go to the hospital wing to regrow them."
"I'll take him," Harper offered, shocked that this had happened.
"I don't think Harry Potter needs to be coddled by his sister. Longbottom, you assist Potter to the hospital wing," Severus Snape stated, pointing at Neville, who gave a quick nod and went over to the stage where Harry was; holding out his hand, Harry took it and Neville helped Harry pull himself up. Harry leaning on Neville like a cane and using his good foot to hop along as his boneless leg slid along the floor beneath him.
"Harry that was amazing," Neville mumbled. "You think you can teach me?"
"Sure Nev," Harry mumbled as they exited the room, Harry balance severely affected by the lack of bones in his leg.
Professor Severus Snape watched them leave before continuing with the lesson of dueling.
"Now, Ms. Evans, you have taken the same class as your brother, correct?" Professor Snape asked, and Harper nodded. "And Mr. Malfoy, I am sure your father has shown you some dueling spells?"
"Yes, sir," Draco said, surprised his Head of House had picked him.
"Both of you up here now," Professor Snape ordered. "I think it would be good to show the class what two opponents who might be more evenly matched will look like."
The pair didn't argue with their Head of House as they scrambled onto the stage.
"Excellent idea, Severus!" Lockhart cried, trying to gain back control of the club. "Now, bow."
Draco and Harper bowed to each other.
"You scared, Evans?" Draco said.
"You wish," Harper said back, and they turned and went to take the three steps away from each other – but at the count of two, Draco turned around and sent a "Rictusempra" at Harper, who got thrown down but got up fast. That was technically a foul and Draco would have been reprimanded in a real match, but Harper didn't complain.
She turned and pointed her wand at Draco and used a Reducto, the cutting spell hitting the boy.
"Is that all you have? Tarantallegra!" Draco called.
"Protego!" Harper called; it was the only shield charm she knew, but it was an effective charm that blocked Draco spell. "Bombarda!" Harper sent the spell at Draco throwing him back.
Draco jumped up, an evil glint in his eye now.
"Serpensortia!" Draco yelled, and out from his wand a snake appeared, speeding out of the end of his wand and straight at Harper. Draco laughed but didn't use the distraction to disarm Harper. A mistake as Harper had time to come up with a plan – she was going to use a charm to throw the snake right back at Draco.
Before Harper could get the words out of her mouth though, Professor Snape called. "Draco! That is not allowed. Don't move, Evans. I'll get rid of it."
But before Professor Snape could, Gilderoy Lockhart interrupted. "Allow me, Severus," Professor Lockhart moved forward, pointed his wand at the snake, causing it to fly up in the air and away from the stage, landing within a group of suddenly terrified Hufflepuffs, who tried to run from the disorientated and confused snake, which rose angry at the nearest Hufflepuff, the boy Harper knew as Justin Finch-Fletchy.
Harper paused as the seconds seemed to tick by like hours, but then something inside her told her to speak, telling her she could stop the snake if she talked to it. It didn't make sense, but Harper took a stepped forward.
"Stop," Harper said, but the snake didn't turn as it inched closer to Justin. "I said stop!" Harper ordered, more forcibly and the snake turned to look at her. "You will not hurt anyone..." The snake looked at Harper and then bowed its head, obeying her.
At that moment Severus Snape had finally gathered his thoughts and stepped forward, vanishing the snake. Harper noticed all eyes were on her and they seemed confused – and some, scared.
"What are you playing at?!" Justin asked, horrified and confusing Harper.
Before Harper could question this, Hermione had jumped onto the stage and grabbed her arm and tugged her forcefully; Harper following Hermione out of the room – no one stopping them this time. Hermione didn't stop pulling at Harper, or spoke, until they were in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"I found Ron Weasley. He's a bit like his brother…" Rowan started, seeing the two girls enter.
"Not now," Hermione snapped at the ghost, who seemed confused. "Harper why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" Harper asked. "Hermione, what is going on?"
"You're a Parselmouth!" Hermione stated.
"I'm a what?" Harper asked confused.
"Parselmouth, the language of the snakes," Hermione said.
"I know what it is," Harper said, realizing her question could be mistaken. "But I'm not one..."
"Harper, you just spoke to a snake," Hermione pointed out, making Harper pause. "You… you didn't know? How can you know a language and not know you know it?"
"Parselmouth is an ability," Harper said, reasoned, knowing this from Newt Scamander, after all.
"Yeah, it means she didn't have to learn it like you would have to learn, say, French, for example," Rowan spoke, obviously interested in the conversation, having not left at Hermione telling to be quiet. "She just naturally knows the language – inherited it from one of her parents."
"That's impossible," Harper turned to the ghost. "Both my parents are muggle-borns. Neither of them have any magical ability, let alone Parselmouth."
"I think you might need to write home about this," Hermione frowned, and Harper gave a nod at this, still completely confused.
"But I mean how bad could it be? I mean if I had not told the snake to not attack Justin…." Harper started, but Hermione cut her off.
"Oh. That's what you said? It sounded like you were egging the snake on. All we heard was hissing," Hermione stated.
"Hissing?" Harper didn't know whether to laugh or not. She hadn't felt herself hiss as she spoke to the snake; she'd been so sure she was speaking English.
"Harper," Hermione sighed, "You know there's a reason why a snake is your house symbol."
"Yes…" Harper realized what Hermione was now implying. "Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth."
"Oooh, and now everyone will think you're his great great-great-great granddaughter or something!" Myrtle spoke up, butting into the conversation with a laugh.
"But… I can't be. My parents are muggle-borns and I am an American," Harper pointed out the obvious.
"He lived a thousand years ago – for all we know, you somehow are," Hermione added, and Harper sighed. But then her head turned towards the sinks, her attention taken. She could almost hear something coming from it, something in her wanting to say something to the sinks.
Before she could, Hermione put a hand on her shoulder, misinterpreting her friend's distraction as a worried pause. "We should go see how Harry is and tell them what happened. He'll be in the hospital wing overnight regrowing those bones."
"Yeah, he…" Harper paused, but then frowned. "Lucy! I need to get into the Gryffindor common room."
"What?" Hermione asked as Harper ran off and out of the bathroom, Hermione catching up to follow. Harper didn't stop as she ran all the way to Professor McGonagall's office.
"Professor!" Harper said, a little out of breath, when she entered the office without even knocking. "You need to let me into Gryffindor Tower!"
"I beg your pardon?" Professor Minerva McGonagall looked up from her desk at the surprise visit.
"Harper!" Hermione stated, catching up with her, but Harper quietened her friend.
"I need in the Gryffindor Common Room, Professor," Harper repeated to the teacher, more urgent now.
"I will do no such thing, Ms. Evans," Professor McGonagall stated giving Harper a disapproving stare.
"But Harry's in the hospital wing. He'll be there overnight. I need to get Lucy," Harper implored.
"I am sure Gryffindor will care for her," Minerva McGonagall said, a little more sympathetically now she knew the reason Harper needed in the Gryffindor Common Room. "I believe your brother's friend Dean–"
"They can't!" Harper snapped not letting the professor finish. "Harry has a multiple compartment trunk. One of those that has a living area inside it you can hang out in. He puts Lucy in there during the day so she doesn't destroy anything," Harper explained.
"And let me guess, the trunk comes with protection on it so only certain people can open it?" Professor McGonagall sighed.
"Only me and Harry can open it," Harper explained.
"Very well, Ms. Evans, come along," Professor McGonagall stood "But not you Ms. Granger. I am sorry." Hermione gave an understanding nod at this.
With that, McGonagall led Harper to Gryffindor Tower and asked the Fat Lady to open up, the portrait frowning at a non-Gryffindor gaining entry to what she protected.
The Gryffindors within reflected the Fat Lady's attitude, as they were not happy when Harper stepped through, but with Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, with her, they didn't question it. Ron was fast in jumping up and following Harper and his Head of House up to the Boy's Dormitory.
Harper didn't take in how different the entire place was compared to the Slytherin Common Room and Dormitories as she focused on Lucy, getting to the trunk, and opening it.
"Lucy!" Harper called, and the dog's head popped out of the trunk, immediately licking Harper, who chuckled. "Come on girl, get out of there. You're coming to Slytherin common room with me tonight..." Harper pulled Lucy out of the trunk, deciding to carry her. "Urm, thanks Ron?" She noted Ron in the room, with Professor McGonagall watching from the doorway.
"No problem," Ron said with a smile.
"I didn't see you at Dueling Club," Harper added, realizing this.
"I was… busy," Ron stated, looking to McGonagall who looked down her glasses at the pair. Harper gave a nod. It became common knowledge to the students Ron was making wands, but they weren't sure if the professors had heard yet.
"Time to go, Ms. Evans," McGonagall stated as Harper nodded, saying no more as the pair now followed McGonagall out.
-Harry Potter-
That night, Harry was sleeping in the hospital wing, restless.
He'd never taken Skelegrow before, never having bones lost before, but the stuff tasted horrendous, and initial pain in his boneless leg after drinking had been excruciating. Now though, his leg just felt numb, making it hard to get a good night rest.
He turned over in the bed to get a more comfortable but almost fell out of bed when he saw the small individual looking at him.
"Dobby!" Harry cried, having almost forgotten about the house elf.
"Harry Potter lied to Dobby!" Dobby stated. "Harry Potter told Dobby you were staying safe in America."
"Technically we told you we were attending classes at Grand Canyon Academy which we were. During the summer," Harry pointed out.
"Harry Potter should have gone home when you missed the train," Dobby said.
"How did you know I missed the train…?" Harry asked and then realized. "Wait, did you close the barrier?"
"Dobby thought you would go home when you missed the train. Dobby did not think of witches coming to bring you to Hogwarts." Dobby stated.
"We were going to take the Knight Bus to Hogwarts before they turned up," Harry pointed out.
"Dobby thought interrupting your duel would get you to go home too," the House Elf now squeaked.
"Oh god. You're the one who changed Lockhart's spell?" Harry asked.
"Dobby thought if Harry Potter was injured then Harry Potter would be sent home!" Dobby stated.
"Dobby, you better get out of here before my bones regrow," Harry said, getting annoyed at the House Elf.
"Dobby is used to death threats, sir. Dobby gets them ten times a day at home," Dobby said sadly now. "But Harry Potter must be safe."
Before either could say another word though, there was a noise outside of the hospital wing. Dobby glanced to Harry and, with a loud pop, vanished from sight. Harry groaned at this, curious at the noise though as he lay back down on the bed and pretended to sleep, just as Madam Promfrey came in with Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, something floating between them.
"Put him on this bed, Albus," Madam Pompfrey indicated.
"Of course, Poppy," the headmaster stated as he put the floating… thing on the bed.
"What was he doing out?" Madam Promfrey now asked.
"We think Creevey was coming to see Potter," Professor McGonagall sighed, and Harry realized what the floating thing had been – Colin Creevey, petrified. He was still holding his camera, too. "Maybe he got a picture of his attacker…?"
Albus Dumbledore went to open the camera, only for a puff of smoke to emit from the device. Even Harry knew that the film was destroyed. "What does this mean, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked, worry in her voice.
"It means, Minerva, That the Chamber of Secrets has, indeed, been opened again," Professor Dumbledore said sadly, and, as he did, he caught Harry's eye.
"Mr. Potter, I see you're awake." Harry knew there was no point in pretending so leaned up on his arms to look at the Professor. "I warn you and your sister to be careful. Grave danger has come to Hogwarts."
"So, I have heard," Harry said. "Professor, can you find out who owns a House Elf named Dobby?"
"Why?" Professor Dumbledore asked shocked by this request and he wasn't someone easily surprised.
"He came to my room this summer in America and warned me of danger coming to Hogwarts. I ignored him, thinking he was nuts, but he has been doing a lot to keep me away from here. He just visited me and claimed credit for me missing the train and Lockhart's spell messing up. If you can find who owns that House Elf, you might find who causing this," Harry reasoned. He knew it was best to give this information to Dumbledore.
"Dobby… yes, that name is familiar," Professor Dumbledore frowned while Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall checked over Colin Creevy behind the headmaster. "Thank you, Harry," the headmaster smiled weakly at this. "Now, try to get some sleep."
Harry nodded as he laid back down, wondering why Dobby was going to so much trouble in keeping him away – and who was behind these attacks.
-Harry Potter-
The next day, Harry was slow in getting use to walking on his new leg bones. Madam Promfrey had been helping him but had since gone back to her office. Colin Creevey now had his bed blocked from view by room dividers.
"You look like a baby learning to walk," Harper laughed coming in with Lucy by her side, Hermione and Neville were with her. "Heard you're getting out of here today."
"As long as I can walk," Harry nodded as Lucy jumped up on the bed; he hugged his crup. "Was she a good girl? Were your roommates mad?"
"You're kidding, right? They loved her! Although Daisy and Lucy here took the majority of my bed," Harper joked.
"Oh, did you, you naughty little tyke," Harry affectionately stroke Lucy's head, to which she barked at.
"What is a dog doing here?!" Madam Promfrey practically screamed as she exited her office. Harry groaned.
"She's just my crup," Harry said quickly, defending the dog.
"Well, you can go and take the dog with you," Madam Promfrey said and Neville went to help Harry up as Harper indicated for Lucy to follow them. "You've only been without bones for half a day, you're quite able to walk on the new ones," the matron continued as Harry didn't argue; the four leaving the Hospital wing, with Harry quickly getting use to his new bones as he still leaned a little on Neville.
"What would happen if this happened to you?" Hermione asked looking at Harper, knowing of her allergies to some potions. "Can you drink that potion?"
"There are usually spell alternates that hurt even more," Harper reasoned as the four got to the library. Finding seats to sit Harry.
"Lucy, stay under the table and quiet," Harry whispered to his dog before the Librarian could notice. Lucy went under the table and laid down.
"Before Skelegrow, spells were the way to regrow bones," Harper now continued. "Although it's rare to lose bones…"
"Did you really speak Parselmouth?" Harry interrupted his sister.
"She did," Hermione now said with a nod.
"I sent Hedwig off with a letter for mom and dad telling them everything," Harper told Harry. "I'm hoping they have some answers."
"Yeah, let's hope," Harry frowned before he smirked, a realization coming to him. "Hey, you can speak to snakes, while I can speak to dragons. Let's agree that my power is cooler, though," Harper gave a smile and chuckled at her brother's joke.
"You can speak to dragons?" Neville voiced.
"Oh yeah," Harry said, realizing Neville didn't know this. "I… inherited it from my dad." He felt guilty lying about this, but one day he would tell them both Neville and Hermione the full truth. When he was a little more secure on what he can do now with Excalibur.
"Now I want to be able to speak to an animal," Hermione smiled.
"Guys this is serious. All of Hufflepuff has turned against Harper now. Only me and Susan are defending her," Neville stated. "What is it like in Ravenclaw, Hermione?"
"They seem unsure," Hermione said. "They are putting Parselmouth and Chamber of Secret together and getting two plus two equals Harper is Slytherin heir. Although her muggle heritage has left them all stumped. Although if Harper wrote the message on the wall, she would say heiress not heir."
"I'll have to see about Gryffindors, especially since Colin–"
"Colin?" Hermione asked.
"The boy with the camera?" Neville asked.
"Oh, I suppose you don't know. He was petrified too last night. Dumbledore and McGonagall bought him into the Hospital Wing," Harry explained.
"But we didn't see him!" Hermione pointed out, shocked.
"He was hidden from view… but anyway, with Ron now on our side and Fred and George we've at least got the Weasleys. Seamus and Dean can't think Harper is attacking people after saving them last year. So, it might go half and half. But if they know what's good for them they better not try anything," Harry explained. "How's Slytherin?"
"Draco laughed at the possibility I was the heir. Some people seemed unsure. Daphne and Tracey know I have not done anything," Harper stated.
"Still, you need to be careful Harp," Neville warned.
"Maybe you should keep Lucy. To protect you, just in case," Harry said, biting his lip at this, and Harper gave a nod and gave Lucy a pet. She would have to be careful.
Post Chapter Note: Well, Harper is a Parselmouth. How, will be explained later. I did need a Parselmouth for this year and… well you shall know the answer to everything by the end of this year. Well, mostly everything.
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Karry Master OUT!