Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

...

"It's so good to have you back Susan," said Hermione, giving her friend a warm hug which was given back to her.

"You too Hermione," said Susan as she gave the bushy haired witch a reassuring pat on the back. "So tell me, what did I miss?"

"I'm assuming you mean outside of class," said Hermione, wanting clarification.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Snape is just dying to see if I learnt anything while over in Beauxbatons," said Susan with a smile. "Their Professor is so nice! I've never had fun brewing potions."

"Alright now, no need to make me jealous," said Hermione as the two of them started to walk the corridors, passing by multiple other students going about their business. "Well, I should let you know that you missed out on seeing Harry in a dress, in front of a crowd no less."

Susan grabbed Hermione by the shoulder. "Surely you've got to be kidding."

"Not at all," assured Hermione. "A couple of the older students set up a fashion show and Harry of all people decided to crash it and, quite frankly, show up the competition."

"That's...oddly disheartening," said Susan, unsure how to react.

"Oh, you would have missed the start of Triple M."

"Triple M? What's that?" asked Susan.

"Triple M is the Muggle Music Members," explained Hermione. "While really popular at first they kind of only meet twice a week after class to have a session together. If you're interested I'm sure Hannah would be able to tell you when they're next meeting."

"That would be nice," said Susan, not having really had much experience with Muggle Music outside of what she herself had been a part of and the movie she had gone to with Harry back in the Christmas Break of their first year. It would actually be pretty interesting to listen to something that wasn't played over the Wizarding Wireless Network.

"Let's see," said Hermione as she directed Susan down a walkway that wouldn't reach either of their common rooms. Susan pondered as to why Hermione was leading them away from where they should be going but merely watched and waited. "Potter Club's been pretty quiet as of late."

"Really, that's a surprise," said Susan before reaching at her throat. Her voice wasn't normally that squeaky, was it. "I wonder..." Susan stopped herself and suddenly wondered whether she had come down with some sort of virus or if somebody had cursed her while she was unaware.

"I wouldn't think too much on it," said Hermione, her voice reaching an incredibly high pitch. "After all, you never know what they might be capable of."

Susan looked around at all of the students gathered in the corridor conversing with one another and couldn't help but notice that not only had her and Hermione's voice shifted in pitch, but everybodies had. Not only that but they seemed to be doing their best impersonations of anybody they could recollect off the top of her head. When one of the nearby males did their best Professor Snape, docking points off of their friend for failing their potion she couldn't help but join in the laughter.

"Yes indeed," said Susan, embracing the change. "Nobody knows what they're capable of."

...

It had happened so fast that Harry had difficulty making heads or tails of it. One moment he had been strolling the halls before a mob of teenage witches swarmed him from the side. With gusto they had shoved him into one of the currently unused classrooms where one of them locked the door behind them and stood in front of it protectively.

Of course, Harry felt the utmost need to play this up as much as he could. "If I knew that ambushes were going to be this pretty I'd leave myself vulnerable more open," he said, earning more than a handful of blushes for his kind remark.

"Girls, focus," said who he could only assume was the ringleader. It was also someone he was relatively familiar with.

"Miss Lionheat, what a pleasant surprise," said Harry, giving her a light bow. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this...kidnapping? Are you kidnapping me?" He really wasn't quite sure what this was but it seemed like an appropriate term if any.

"We're not kidnapping you Harry," reassured one of the other women.

"Well, that's a relief," said Harry as he wiped away at some imaginary sweat from his brow. "Heavens forbid that I ever got kidnapped in Hogwarts of all places."

"I can have it arranged if you like."

"Not now Jane," hissed Isabelle.

"I don't know Izzy, Jane's got a point."

"Girls, girls please," said Harry raising his arms. "I'm sure it's more than possible for me to be kidnapped more than once."

"Oh I can think of lots of things to do with you at my mercy."

"Jane, remember to bring this up at the next PFC meeting."

Harry tilted his head at the odd combination of letters before one of his prior meetings with Luna sprang forth. So the group in front of him were members of the Potter Fan Club. If this was merely a portion of the club as a whole, he slowly came to the realization that he may have painted a very, very big target on his back.

"So, I take it there was a reason for this ambush," said Harry, doing his best to help Isabelle get the women back on track.

"Yes, there was," said Miss Lionheat, glaring at those around her to quiet up. "You see Harry, we've bought you to this classroom for a very specific reason."

"If this is about my time in the Prefects bathroom last year I will have you know that those who were in attendance have sworn to secrecy," stated Harry.

"That's right, we have."

"Oh, hey Charlotte, didn't see you there."

"Harry!" shouted Isabelle, stamping her foot for extra emphasis. Instead of using words to describe what it was she wanted from him, she instead pointed to the furthest corner of the room. Harry turned his head and felt an uneasy lump form in his throat.

"Oh come on, didn't you girls get enough of a view when I paraded by my own free will," said Harry, looking at the selection of dresses floating in the air.

"Half of us weren't there."

"C'mon Harry, please."

"Won't you wear them for us Harry."

"Ladies, unfortunately I will have to decline such a...generous ultimatum?"

"Well Harry, we didn't want to resort to magic but we will if we have to," said Isabelle as she, as well of all the other witches pulled out their respective wands.

"You wouldn't curse a kid with glasses, would you?" said Harry, looking between them all to see that they were resolute in their resolve. Harry let out a sigh before he withdrew his own wand. "Are you going to come at me one on one or are the lot of you going to gang up on me?"

"I can handle you by myself," declared Jane as she stepped forward.

"Now, there will be no hard feelings amongst everyone here because of what goes down right here, right now, are we clear," stated Harry.

"Aww, thanks for thinking about us when you're about to be ground to dust," stated Jane before she cast her first spell.

Only to find her legs unable to respond to her command while she coughed up dozens of soap bubbles that floated harmlessly in the air. Before she could comprehend what happened, the older girl found herself gliding across the floor before being safely deposited in the corner.

"Yes," said Harry. "I was thinking about you all. Now remember, naughty girls stay in the corner until they're told, don't make me punish you."

Jane didn't look displeased in the slightest regarding the threat of punishment.

"Now, I'd love to play around with you girls longer but I have somewhere to be," said Harry as he beckoned his next opponent forward. "So, who's next?"

...

"Where have you been Potter? If my father arrived here before you..."

"Yeah, yeah, sorry Malfoy I kinda got caught up in something," apologized Harry as he brushed off his robes.

"Well count yourself lucky," said Draco as he opened the nearby door. "You know, lesser men would have pulled out by now. The fact that you're here and willing to meet my father shows me that you've got courage, and not just that Gryffindor pride you're all so fond of."

"Trust me Draco, if push comes to shove I can be as cunning as the best and in this meeting, I'm going to need every little bit I can muster," stated Harry as he stepped through the doorway. "Make sure..."

"Please, I've seen enough of my father's meetings to know that you do not disturb those inside under any circumstances," stated Draco.

"Cheers Malfoy," said Harry as he closed the door behind him and looked around the room designated for their meeting. It was small in stature and currently only held a single table and two chairs. Harry, knowing the position he was about to play, sat at the head of the table.

Taking in a deep breath, he braced himself for the conversation he was about to find himself in. For days on end he had gone through his predetermined script and tweaked it where he thought it was necessary. Lucius Malfoy, for all intents and purposes, was not the most difficult person to figure out.

At the end of the day, it didn't matter who he served but it was always done out of self preservation. He served the Ministry to bolster his own status. He served Voldemort to save his own skin. A man who only served themselves was a man easy to control through the proper tactics.

The tactic that Harry had opted to go for, was fear.

"Harry Potter," drolled Lucius as he stepped into the room closing the door behind him. "I must say that I was quite surprised by the sudden expression of interest. Tell me, what does the world's most famous young wizard want with me."

"Your tongue is as lacking as ever Lucius," said Harry, unfazed by the comments sent his way. "Be grateful that I am feeling merciful today and will not choose to remind you as to why you serve me."

Lucius seemed perplexed, Harry having completely taken him off guard. "I don't know what you refer to boy..." started Lucius before Harry cut him off, tossing the diary onto the desk.

"Perhaps this will jog your memory Lucius," stated Harry as he laced his fingers together.

Lucius stilled, looking between the diary and Harry several times before speaking. "My Lord?"

"Is that how you address me now, as a question?"

"No My Lord, forgive me," declared Lucius before he rushed to over to Harry, kneeling at his side. "It's just...I don't understand."

"Clearly," stated Harry before indicating for Lucius to take the seat next to him. "We must speak swiftly, my time possessing the boy is limited."

"Of course My Lord," stated Lucius, not bothering to question Harry. Harry knew that this was the best thing for Lucius to do. Any time wasted on meaningless questioned would likely be dealt with in a harsh and cruel manner. Lucius had stepped forth into Hogwarts as an upstanding member of society. Were he to leave after suffering the effects of the Cruciatus it would be more than obvious that something unpleasant had gone down. "What needs discussing?"

"Your ploy did not work as planned, however that does not mean that I will not use what time I have pointlessly," stated Harry. "I expect that this may very well be the only time that I will be able to speak with you in this form and fear not, I shall make sure that the boy remembers none of what we discuss."

"Thank you My Lord."

"Currently, Wormtail is..."

"Wormtail, that rat is alive?"

"Do you question me?"

"No, of course not My Lord," stated Lucius, remembering his place.

"Wormtail is searching for whispers and signs that will help me return to glory and strike fear into the world once more," stated Harry. "There is something however I must check with my own eyes to confirm it's safety."

"Of course My Lord, anything you need I am here to serve."

"I will be in need of your House Elf."

"My...my House Elf?" repeated Lucius curiously.

"Indeed, the creature is able to move freely in and out of the wards surrounding this castle, ensuring that my absence will go unnoticed. There is a locket, protected by poison yet I fear that something has happened to it. I must see it."

"Of...of course My Lord," stammered Lucius, understanding fully that his Lord had no intention of returning Dobby to him after his excursion. "Do you mean to kill the boy with the time you have left?"

"My grip on him is weak yet while I could do so, it would bring me little satisfaction. I wish to face him, wand in hand and watch the life fade from his eyes as he falls to me. Now, begone Lucius. Have your elf arrive to my side at the stroke of midnight tonight with the intent to swear it's loyalty to me and no other."

"Yes My Lord, it will be done," stated Lucius as he rose from his chair. "I hope to see you in all your glory in the near future My Lord."

"I will await to see you standing by my side Lucius," declared Harry before Draco's father exited the room. Several seconds passed before Harry released a breath that he had found himself holding. While it had gone as well as he had hoped, that by no means meant that it hadn't been a stressful situation. One small slip up and Lucius very well could have figured out that it was all a ruse.

Still though, his objective had been completed. Now all he had to do was wait until midnight and he would be able to set Dobby free.

...

"You seem deep in thought mate," said Ron as he plopped himself down on his bed while keeping an eye on Harry. "What's on your mind? If it's that homework Flitwick assigned us don't fret about it."

"Have you seen his notes Ron?" asked Neville, intervening himself into the conversation.

"No, he won't share them with me," grumbled Ron. "Isn't that what mates do, share notes with one another to help one another out."

"That'd mean something more if you actually had any notes of your own worth sharing," said Harry, garnering a chuckle of laughter amongst those present. "If it helps clear your mind, no, I'm not worried about the foot of parchment Flitwick assigned us."

"So what are you thinkin' bout then?" asked Seamus.

"Oh, does the Harry Potter have a crush perhaps?" teased Dean. "I bet the ladies are throwing themselves at you."

To be fair, they had been but not in the way that the boys probably imagined. Puberty was slowly but surely settling into the Hogwarts halls and as it had the first time round, casual discussions soon found themselves centred around the opposite gender.

If only they knew what it was that the members of the female populace had tried to do to him earlier. "Well speaking of the ladies throwing themselves at people, how are you and Lavender going Ron?"

Harry didn't know it was possible for Ron to blush that deep.

...

Dobby flickered into the Gryffindor common room undetected. His Master had assured him that this would be his last retched day on this planet and that he should feel worthy to die for such a noble cause. Frankly, Dobby didn't fear death at this point. He had already suffered so much that it would be as sweet a release as being freed.

Not like he'd ever be free.

"Dobby."

The startled House Elf jumped at the sound of his name and nearly knocked over the coffee table he was standing on. The person before him was cloaked and their voice was unfamiliar. Surely this was the one he was to serve until his dying day.

"You requested Dobby sir," said Dobby, lowering his head.

"Indeed, I trust Lucius has told me that you no longer belong to him and that you belong to me, is that correct."

"Yes Master, you are now the Master that Dobby serves," said the House Elf.

"Good, catch," said the man as they tossed something to Dobby. The House Elf panicked before successfully clutching at...the sock?

"Master has...given Dobby a sock?" said the House Elf in confusion, looking up at the person for them to reveal themselves.

"I did say that I would free Dobby this year, didn't I," said Harry with a smile.

"Harry Potter," said Dobby slowly before crossing the small gap between them and crashed , Harry's leg and hugged it with all his might. Harry, knelt down and returned the hug, not doing so with all his might lest he crush Dobby's bones.

Dobby had feared that this night he would become a free Elf through death.

Now he was just free.

...

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