I do not own Harry Potter, only the OC
Hello guys, Badger here. I have a new chapter for you all. Now, I wasn't going to write the third chapter just yet. I was going to do a couple of chapters for my other stories, but people seemed glad to see that I was continuing this story, so I decided to write the third one, before moving onto my other works. This chapter was originally going to be longer, but I chose to cut it off a little early, as I was tired and when I'm tired, my mind goes in a weird place and sometimes it shows in the writing.
Anyway, I'll leave it there and let you read the chapter. I hope you enjoy and I'll see you at the end.
Chapter 3
Questions, Questions And More Questions
Harry pushed passed the group of students, as they laughed in Harry's face, showing off some badges they were wearing on their robes. At first, they looked like normal badges, with Cedric's face on the front, with bold letters spelling 'Support Diggory', only for it to then change to 'Potter Stinks', with a not so friendly face of himself on the front. It made his blood boil looking at it. He chose not to do anything. Yet. When they realise the truth, they'll be sorry. As Harry walked across the courtyard, he heard a voice that he really didn't want to be hearing right now.
"Do you like the badges Potter?"
Harry looked to see Malfoy sitting up a tree that overlooked the courtyard. There was a cruel smile on his face, as he ate an apple, his left leg swinging over the edge of the branch. A bunch of other Slytherin students, including his pet apes, Crabbe and Goyle, were standing at the bottom of the tree, outnumbering Harry 6 to 1.
"I made them myself you know" He said, proudly
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry asked
"Just a friendly chat Potter, you see, me and father have a bet, I don't think you'll last ten minutes in this Tournament, he disagrees…" Malfoy said, throwing his apple away and jumping off of the tree and onto the ground below "He thinks you won't last even five minutes"
"I don't give a damn about what your father thinks Malfoy!" Harry snapped, approaching Malfoy, who backed up against the tree, because of the fire in Harry's eyes "He is vile and cruel….and you're just pathetic!"
"Pathetic….PATHETIC!" Malfoy snapped, removing his wand as Harry was walking away "I'll show you pathetic…Petrificus Totalus!"
Harry ducked as soon as he heard the spell, just in time to see a blue jet of light whizz past where he was standing a mere moment ago. Harry removed his wand and was about to retaliate when he heard a grizzly voice.
"Oh no you don't, Sonny Jim!" Mad Eye Moody said, removing his own wand "I'll show you to fire a spell, at an unarmed man's back, you coward!"
Harry watched as Mad Eye twirled his wand, which caused Malfoy to twist and turn into an albino ferret. Harry couldn't help but smile as Mad Eye began making the ferret jump up and down in the air, using the levitation charm. Mad Eye was enjoying himself, as he laughed maniacally, whilst the ferret hissed, not liking what it was going through.
"Alastor!" McGonagall called out, approaching "What are you doing!"
"Teaching!" Mad Eye growled
"Is…is that a student?" McGonagall asked, as she looked at the ferret
"Technically it's a ferret" Mad Eye replied "And an idiot!"
McGonagall's face turned stern, as she took out her wand and undid the spell Mad Eye had used, turning Malfoy back into a normal person. Unfortunately for him, he was still up in the air, so he ended up falling onto his stomach. He stood up groaning and was about to the speak, but the look Mad Eye was giving him made him run off, his brood following after him. McGonagall sighed, as she turned to Mad Eye.
"Alastor, did Dumbledore tell you how we're not supposed to turn students into animals for punishment?" She asked
"He might have mentioned it" Mad Eye replied, pretending to look thoughtful
"Well make sure it doesn't happen again" McGonagall said "A simple detention is punishment enough, good day"
Mad Eye went crossed eye, as he stuck his tongue out at McGonagall, as she walked away, before turning back to Harry.
"Don't listen to her Potter, kids will never learn from a simple detention, they need a more severe punishment for that to happen" Mad Eye said, patting Harry on the shoulder "Good luck with the Tournament Potter"
Harry nodded, as Mad Eye walked off. Shaking his head slightly, he began making his own way out of the courtyard, when a voice interrupted him.
"Professor Moody puts on a lovely show doesn't he?"
Harry looked to see James sitting on a bench, reading some kind of magical book, or tome. James then closed the book with a small slam and placed it on his lap, a small smile on his face, as he looked straight ahead, where Malfoy was moments earlier.
"Though, if you ask me, he's right" He continued "Detentions aren't enough for some people to learn…hopefully becoming a ferret for a moment or two will be enough for him to think a bit more…then again it's Malfoy, so probably not"
"I guess so" Harry replied absently, before narrowing his eyes "Were you waiting for me or something?"
"Hmm…oh yes, I forgot" He said, standing up "Follow me"
"Where are we going?" Harry asked, as he followed James towards out of the courtyard
"Somewhere more private" James replied "You see, the fact that you extremely little about the Magical World, as well as the Sacred 28, just doesn't sit right with me…as you are the Potter heir, there is so much you need to know and learn and, seeing as we have some time to kill, I thought we should start now"
James led Harry into an unused classroom, where Harry saw there was another person inside. It was the same blonde girl he saw James sitting next to in Transfiguration. Her piercing blue eyes slightly intimidated him. Something which made James chuckle softly.
"Harry, this is Daphne Greengrass" He said "I wouldn't be intimidated it I were you…the cold, ice queen persona she has going on, is merely a defence mechanism against idiots like Malfoy"
"Do you want me to use the ice freezing charm on YOU, James?" She asked, tilting her head slightly
"Shutting up now" James replied, holding up his hands
"Why…why is she here?" Harry replied, shaking his head slightly
"Well, while there is a lot of things you need to learn about, I can't teach you everything" James replied "Daphne is here, to help teach you more about the political side of the Wizarding World"
"Politics?" Harry asked
"Yes, you won't believe how much goes on in the political part of the Wizarding World" James said
"And James here doesn't care much for politics" Daphne replied "He still has much to learn himself
"Thank you, for that" James said, giving her a small glare
"Your welcome" Daphne gave him an innocent smile, before looking to Harry, most notably, his hands "Potter, where is your family ring?"
"Huh, didn't notice that before" James said "That's a point as well, where is your family ring, you should be wearing it"
"What…what's a family ring?" Harry asked
James and Daphne shared a look, before Daphne sighed, mumbling something under her breath.
"A family ring is often worn by the Head of the Family" James replied, holding up his hand to show a ring on his middle finger, which was a black gem sitting on a platinum band with runes engraved along the metal "It shows that whoever wears it controls everything that goes on within their family"
"Why do you have one if Daphne doesn't?" Harry asked
"You weren't the only one to lose your entire family all those years ago" James said "As I am the only living member of the Badger Family, I was given the ring and title of Lord Badger when I turned eleven years old…as the only living Potter, the same thing should've happened to you…didn't you receive a letter or anything like that?"
"No, I didn't know I was a wizard until I got my Hogwarts letter" Harry replied
James and Daphne went silent at that. Harry stood there awkwardly, as the two Slytherins looked to one another, looking unsure on what to do.
"That's not good" Daphne said after a moment "You should've received letters about your family ring as well as your family fortune"
"I suspect some kind of foul play here" James commented "Someone must be stopping the letters from getting to you…who is your magical guardian?"
"My…magical guardian?" Harry repeated "I….I don't know"
"Oh dear Merlin" James muttered, as he pinched the bridge of his nose and took a few deep breaths "Okay…okay…let's worry about that another time, for now, let's focus on your family ring…seeing as there is a Tournament going on, I don't think they'll allow you to leave the castle for anything, so when the school year has ended, I recommend that you go to Gringotts and get your family ring, no doubt they've been waiting for you to do so for some time…if you want, I can go with you if you need any help"
"It also seems we have much more to teach him then you first thought" Daphne commented, as she leant against a desk
"Indeed" James sighed, running a hand through his hair "Okay, seeing as you brought up the family ring, I say we start by teaching him more about what the family ring grants him, as well as the duties he will need to take as Lord Potter"
"Fair enough" Daphne nodded "Seeing as you have your family ring, you can start"
"Hmm" James repeated, turning to Harry as he removed his family ring "As I told you, those who wear the family ring controls everything that goes on in your family…as the Lord, or Lady of your house, you have all the power…any other member of your family answers to you, you control your family fortune, your family businesses, and you control your seats on the Wizengamot"
"Wizengamot?" Harry asked
"It's Wizarding Britain's High Court of Law and Parliament" Daphne explained "All trials, legal proceedings and law debates take place within the Wizengamot…most Ancient and Noble Houses have a seat within the Wizengamot and it's the Lord, or Ladies, duty to sit on those seats and give their votes and opinions in those meetings…my father has a seat, James has a seat the Potters have a seat too"
"You have to sit on the Wizengamot?" Harry asked, turning to James
"No" James replied "I may be Lord Badger, but I'm too young to sit at the Wizengamot, all seat members have to be the legal age to sit, which in Magical Britain is 17…until I am of age, all votes and opinions are given by an Proxy, officially assigned by the Lord, or Lady…it is the Proxy's job to sit in the Wizengamot, should the Lord, or Lady, be unavailable to do so…when you claim your family ring, you may need to assign a Proxy at the next Wizengamot meeting and I recommend you assign someone you trust"
"Do you have a Proxy?" Harry asked
"Indeed" James nodded "My Proxy is Amelia Bones, the Head of the DMLE, she is a family friend, and part of the Sacred 28, she's a tough and stern woman, who's not easily swayed…she has full control of the Badger Votes, until I turn 17 and can legally claim my place"
"This all sounds very complicated" Harry sighed, rubbing his temple
"Oh, believe me, its gets worse when it comes to politics" Daphne commented "Thankfully we have time to teach you"
…
Harry felt a headache starting to form, as he entered the Gryffindor Common Room. He didn't realise just how complicated the Wizarding World was. James and Daphne had just finished explaining the basics about the Wizengamot and he dreaded to think how it could get worse like Daphne said. Before leaving, Daphne had given him a book that went more in depth about the duties he'll need to preform as Lord Potter, as well as going into more details about the Sacred 28. He wasn't going to read it now though, his brain needed to relax first. He had just sat down on one the of Common Room sofa's when Neville entered, immediately approaching him.
"There you are" He said, it was clear he was out of breath "Hagrid wants to see you"
"He does?" Harry asked "Why?"
"I don't know, he just said to tell you to meet him at his hut" Neville explained "And he even asked to bring 'your cloak', whatever that means"
"Okay, thank you Neville" Harry replied, quickly making his way to his dorm room
He wasn't sure why Hagrid would want to see him, but it must be interesting if he needed to bring his Invisibility Cloak. He only hoped it wouldn't get either of them into trouble. Putting the book away and grabbing his cloak from his trunk, Harry quickly made his way out of the Common Room and made his way to Hagrid's Hut. It was going to get dark soon, so hopefully, this wouldn't take long.
…
There was a chill in the air, as Harry approached Hagrid's Hut. The jolly Half-Giant was already standing outside waiting for him. Upon noticing Harry, he smiled brightly.
"Ah, Harry" He said "You arrived…have you brought your cloak?"
"Yes" Harry nodded, removing it from his pocket
"Okay, good" Hagrid said "I need you to put it on and follow me…I can't have anyone seeing you"
Harry raised an eyebrow, but seeing the look in Hagrid's eyes, he complied and pulled the cloak over his shoulders, disappearing from view, before following after Hagrid. Hagrid led him into the Forbidden Forest, the small mist of fog chilling him to the bone. Harry wasn't sure why Hagrid was leading him into the forest, or why he needed to remain hidden, but he hoped it was worth it.
"Hagrid, you're here" A voice said
Harry looked to see the Headmistress from Beauxbatons approaching. He moved away slightly, so she wouldn't bump into him. His curiosity was only getting stronger.
"Of course, I wasn't going to leave you waiting my lady" Hagrid smiled
"So, what was it you wanted to show me?" Maxime asked
"Follow me" Hagrid replied
Harry kept a small distance between himself and the two giants, as he followed them through a small clearing. As they continued, Harry began hearing the sound of creatures roaring, and the air began to feel warm.
"Oh, my!" Maxime gasped
Harry stood near where they were standing and peaked over some bushes and his eyes widened at what he saw. They were four large cages. Each one containing a large dragon. However, Harry had his eyes on the largest. Its yellow eyes full of anger and hatred, it tried to tear apart its cage and attack the dragon handlers.
"They have one for each champion" Hagrid explained "Thankfully they don't need to fight them…they're nesting mothers, the champions simply need to steal a golden egg from their nest"
Harry was suddenly starting to feel sick in the stomach.
…
And done.
There was a lot of dialogue in this chapter, but hopefully it will flesh out more of the world in this story. More specifically, the Wizengamot, and the role of the Head of House. Fans of my first story, 'A Different Hogwarts Experience', will remember that Harry claimed his Potter titleship, but nothing really came from it. I hope to change that in this story, delving more into that kind of thing, as Harry becomes more independent with people like James and Daphne by this side. As you can imagine, with Harry becoming more independent, this will make him doubt Dumbledore along the way.
Anyway, that is all for now. If you'd like to ask me for a story to write, feel free to let me know. Also, if any of you are looking for someone to finish a story you no longer wish to continue, tell me about it and if it interests me, I will do it.
I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time.
Badger Out