Chapter 40: Uneasy Alliance against Peeves
Next day: Library
Harry got up a bit easy so he can start some certain research in peace, he's not trying to figure out how to get the Philosopher's Stone, no he's on another mission to deal with a certain poltergeist that haunts Hogwarts for as long as any remember. Peeves is quite the enigma, no one knows when he came to Hogwarts or know much about him, poltergeists aren't like any other ghosts, they can still contact with the material world due to their ability to possess inanimate objects, according to the book Harry is reading.
Madame Pince was helpful when Harry asked to find any books that contains any information on poltergeists and how to deal with them. Clearly she's very helpful for she knows what Harry is intending to do with that information, especially when the pesky Peeves would constantly jumble up books in their shelves, pile them up to ridiculous lengths or mess with the encased artefacts in their display cases, so clearly Madame Pince had quite enough and gave Harry what he needed without asking any questions.
It didn't take long with Malfoy to come to the library, especially when Harry discreetly arrange them to meet via a not he blinked to the blond during breakfast. Malfoy is uneasy about this team-up with Harry, especially when the months of bad blood, especially when it was passed on from their grandfathers, makes it hard for him to even consider this plan to dispose of Peeves so that Hogwarts can rest from his torment.
But seeing as this will be doing Hogwarts a favour, and to themselves, some assurance to Malfoy eased him for Harry, despite his hatred for him, is a boy of his word. Harry saw Malfoy and silently gestures him to approach, not calling him so that no one would notice and suspect their temporary team up, given how most of Hogwarts knows about their rivalry.
Malfoy approaches, only for them to go to a dark hidden corner so that no one would find them.
"Glad for you to come," Harry whispered as he then gives Malfoy one of the books that contains info on poltergeists. "Here, you can help with the research."
"Research? Are you saying you don't have a plan to get rid of Peeves?" said Malfoy in shock.
"Of course I don't, at least not yet." Said Harry with a deadpan. "It's not every day I come across a poltergeist and know how to deal with them. Anyway, I've been wracking my brain all morning reading through these books and only learned useless facts about them."
"and how would I being here make any difference?" said Malfoy with a scoff.
"With an extra person, we'll do our research twice as fast."
"Then why don't you bring someone who is more helpful in this academic waste of time?" said Malfoy.
"You mean Hermione?" said Harry, "well I could, but knowing you, you wouldn't accept her help."
"Of course not," Malfoy scoffed in disgust at the thought of working for Hermione. "As if I would take any help from a mud-blood."
Malfoy suddenly flinched when Harry pulls out his wand quickly and aims it point blank to his face. Malfoy then froze when not only does he see Harry's angry expression but he feels an overwhelming sensation waft all over his body, making the pale body to feel afraid of Harry for the first time.
"I get you're not happy with this alliance to deal with Peeves, but if you want to work with me, cut this racist bullshit and keep that mouth shut unless you have anything useful to say," Harry warned Malfoy with an angry leer.
"Understood," Malfoy said nervously as he forgot how protective Harry is with his friends, and knows now that Harry will do ANYTHING to ensure their safety and wellbeing. "Anyway, Granger would arouse suspicion if we get her involved, even with Weasley who would not be pleased seeing us working together."
"For once, I have to agree," said Harry as he removes his wand and dispels his settles his Haki so that Malfoy can relax and focus. "He wasn't happy with me when he saw our selfie in our inverted colours."
Malfoy grumbled and opens up a book so to avoid that certain subject about the bet he and Harry made months ago.
They continued on with their research on ways to dispose of Peeves, after reading through the facts on Poltergeists, they then go through spells that can help them, along with other forms of magic.
"Here, check this out," said Harry to Malfoy as he showed Malfoy a page. Skurge, it's a spell that eradicates ectoplasm, a by-product that ghosts made when phasing through solid walls."
"So?" said Malfoy with a raised Malfoy. "It's just a cleaning spell that gets rid of ectoplasm. How's that useful?"
"Well maybe it be used against Peeves, being him technically a ghost." Said Harry as he jolts down the spell and how to cast it. "We need to be sure if it does affect ghosts."
"And how do we do that?" said Malfoy.
"We test it, we ask one of the ghosts to see if Skurge can be used on ghosts, ergo on Peeves." Said Harry
"...seeing that the Bloody Baron despises Peeves, it can't hurt if I ask him to use that spell on him if it'll work on Peeves."
"And I'll ask Nearly-Headless Nick if he'll help." Said Harry as he stands up. "We'll test this theory, then we'll come back here tomorrow."
"Very well," said Malfoy. "at least we're getting somewhere."
Later
Harry and Malfoy went their separate ways so they can learn and master the spell Skurge, they even asked their House Ghosts if they can assist them, which they humbly agreed since they also despise Peeves for his chaotic and mischievous nature. Nicolas and the Bloody Baron would phase through walls so to cause ectoplasmic stains behind, to be used as target practice for Harry and Malfoy to cast Skurge on them. The spell does as it's descripted, it clears out the ectoplasm staining the walls, but will it be affective on ghosts?
Well the two tried it on their house ghosts to see if Skurge does work on ghosts, and it does. The effect of Skurge works just similar to that of basic casting, causing stinging and minor damage on the ghosts. Seeing as they are ghosts, the pain wanes quickly, but it's enough so Harry's theory is sound. Harry and Malfoy thanked the two ghosts for their assist and regroups to the library the next day.
Back in the library, Harry and Malfoy then starts to formulate a plan to dispose of Peeves, even though Skurge does work on spirits, it's not enough to deal with the poltergeist effectively, only to be used as a means to defend themselves from him. But protection isn't enough for they want justice, so they need to think of a way to make Peeves pay for his trick.
"Here, I found something," said Harry, causing Malfoy to approach him and starts to read the page Harry was on. "In order to trap a poltergeist, we set a trap in a room that's completely empty so they wouldn't posses any items. Then you take a glass jar and light a candle in it, that's when you catch it with... uh oh."
"What, what's wrong?" said Malfoy becoming nervous when he heard Harry's uh oh.
"We need to learn another spell, Accio Spiritus" said Harry
"Accio?!" Malfoy explained quietly, so not to disturb everyone in the library and get kicked out by Madame Pince. "But that's a very advanced spell, even for first years."
"I know," Harry groaned as he palms his face in exasperation. "That's quite a drawback."
"...screw it, we're learning it."
"Huh?" said Harry by surprise.
"We went this far to exacting our revenge on that Peeves," said Malfoy as he's more determined to make this plan come to fruition. "We'll learn this spell, even if it exhausts us."
Harry was taken by surprised by this side of Malfoy and couldn't help but smile and nod. "Alright, but we need to ask the house ghosts to help us again."
Dungeon
"Accio Spiritus, eh?" Nick said as he and the Bloody Baron were once again called by Harry and Malfoy to assist them again. Even though their assist on practicing Skurge did cause their incorporeal bodies to ache, it didn't dissuade them to help the two even more, especially when they have a plan to get their back on Peeves. "It won't be easy, but we'll be more than happy to assist you, isn't that right, Baron?"
"Indeed!" said the bloody baron as he draws out his bloody rapier and swirls it upwards and frantically to show he is more than happy to help. "Peeves has been nothing but a nuisance to us for centuries, it'll be a change of pace when he's contained for a while."
"Yes, a while," said Nick as he turns to Harry. "Please know that the containment will not last, Hogwart's magic has Peeves contained ever since he decided to cause trouble here. In fact, Hogwarts is the only true containment for that troublemaker, which is inconvenient to all."
"At least we'll get some quiet without him bothering and tricking us." Said Harry
"Indeed, he'll pay for tricking me," said Malfoy as he pulls out his wand. "And as soon as we master this spell and used it to contain Peeves, the better."
"Then let us commence with the training," said Nick as he and the Bloody Baron levitates in the air so they can assist the two boys in learning and mastering Accio Spiritus.
Harry and Malfoy immediately started their training to cast and master the spell Accio Spiritus, which is a variant of the summoning spell Accio except it summons spirits by reeling it with a long strand of magic, like a fish hooked to a fishing rod.
"Accio Spiritus!" said Harry as he casts the spell at Nick, a long magic strand emerges from the tip of his wand and coils around the nearly headless ghost. He tugs his wand to real Nick towards him, but just when he's halfway the spell strand snapped and Nick was free.
"Almost there, and not bad for your first attempt," said Nick with an impressed smile.
For Malfoy's attempt, he cast Accio Spiritus on the Bloody Baron, who is floating about so to help simulate the poltergeist. When the spell binds the baron, the bloody Slytherin ghost starts to fight back, making Malfoy's hold hard, and for good reason.
"Peeves will resist, he will try to escape while you attempt to contain him in his temporary cell." The Bloody Baron explains his fighting to Malfoy. "You need to maintain the spell's hold on him, and fight back so to tire him out."
"The Bloody Baron is right, Harry," said Nick to Harry. "Peeves will resist, so try again and keep the spell's hold on me while I fight back."
"Ok," said Harry as Nick flies off. Harry tries again, "Accio Spiritus!"
Harry and Malfoy continues to practice their casting of Accio Spiritus on the house ghosts so they can master the spell for their encounter on Peeves. They are lucky that the poltergeist isn't aware for he was bust tormenting the other students up above highter floors of the castle to even notice Harry and Malfoy plotting against him.
Nick and the Bloody Baron continues to assist the two boys, especially between breaks and after classes where they discreetly regroup to prepare for their plot against the poltergeist.
Days later: disused classroom
The preparations for trapping Peeves took longer than Harry and Malfoy expected, with them practicing Skurge and Accio Spiritus with the house ghosts, they also search for a good area to trap Peeves in. Fortunately they encounter a disused classroom, which Harry emptied of the stocked-up desks and chairs with his Blink-Blink Fruit powers while Malfoy lines the walls with salt so to prevent Peeves from phasing through. Not only that, but they also placed a glass jar with a candle inside to be used as a container to trap Peeves in. A ring of salt is drawn around the jar and candle so Peeves won't go after the container to prevent his entrapment. After the passing days, everything is now in fruition.
"There, everything is ready," said Harry
"And you're sure Peeves will come here?" said Malfoy.
"Aye, I asked the ghosts to spin a yarn on how Dumbledore ordered a very valuable vase worth 1000 galleons stored safely in this room," said Harry with a smirk. "And knowing Peeves, he won't resist coming here to shatter it."
"Hmm clever," said Malfoy until he heard a certain cackle. "He's coming."
"Let's hide," said Harry as he heads for one of the corners and cast a disillusionment charm on himself, Malfoy does the same and hides in the corner and waits for Peeves come.
It didn't take long for Peeves to phase through the doorway, assuming that the valuable vase is stored inside the room.
"Huh, where is that pricey vase Dummy Dumbledore bought?" said Peeves as he looks around and saw nothing.
While Peeves looks around, Malfoy seals the doorway with salt to completely trap Peeves into the room. Malfoy gives Harry a nod and the two boys dispel their disillusionment charm to reveal themselves.
"It's over for you, Peeves," said Harry as he points his wand at the poltergeist. "Your mischief stops now."
"Oh, if it isn't Potty-wee-Potter and Bratty Jr." Said Peeves, grinning wickedly at the two boys.
"I bloody hate you for calling me that, Potter," Malfoy mutters with annoyance and anger at Harry.
"Complain later, we got a poltergeist to trap."
"Ha! Trap me?" said Peeves, with amusement and mockery. "oh silly Potter, I'm already trapped. Poor Peeves snuck in Hoggy Hogwarts to have some fun, but the castle's magic had poor Peeves bound forever and can never leave. But I can leave here and come back for you later, ta-ta!"
Peeves make his way to the doorway to phase through, but he was suddenly bounced off for the lined salt has prevented him from crossing.
"What?" said Peeve in shock and surprise, he is confused on why he couldn't phase through the door, only to look down to see salt lacing the perimeter. "Salt?"
"that's right, you have no idea how much we brought just to keep you here," said Harry as he pulls out his wand. Malfoy does the same and doubles with Harry so they can begin their trapping of Peeves.
"Of you think you have me beat?" said Peeves snarling at Harry and Malfoy, he pulls out a wizard cracker and starts throwing it at the two.
Harry and Malfoy rolls away before the cracker explodes, this cause Peeves to cackle.
"I'm not trapped here with you," said Peeve in a singalong tease before he switches to a more demonic tone in the hopes to terrify the boys. "You're trapped here with ME!"
"Malfoy, let's do it!" said Harry as he waves his wand.
"Right," said Malfoy for he also wave his want so he and Harry can cast the spell
"Skurge!"
Harry and Malfoy both cast Skurge at Peeves, the spell hit and stunned Peeves to the point that he stammers for a moment.
"Accio Spiritus!"
Harry and Malfoy then cast their next spell at Peeves so they entangle the poltergeist in their magical strands and reels him towards the glass jar. Peeves resits as he struggles to break free out of the spell's binding as Harry and Malfoy drag him towards the glass jar in the centre.
"Malfoy, light the candle, quick!" said Harry as he maintains his hold on the frantic poltergeist.
"On it!" said Malfoy as he temporarily dispels his spell so he can activate the ghost trap.
But just as Malfoy cancels his spell, Peeves begins to get even more violent and begins to wail loudly, causing a sonic boom which causes the salt to blow away, giving Peeves a change to escape.
"Later losers!" said Peeves as he flies away, despite him still on bound by Harry's Accio Spiritus.
As Peeves flies off and through the door, Harry was then being dragged off and heads for the door, but Harry jumps and stands horizontally on the door so he can anchor himself and keep Peeves from leaving.
"Oh no, you don't!" said Harry as he starts reeling in Peeves as if he's a gigantic fish that he would fish out of the Grand Line. He struggles and heaves to he can keep on reeling in Peeves. "get... back... here!"
Suddenly, a click was heard and suddenly the door opens and causes Harry to fall in and get dragged along by Peeves.
"Whoa!" exclaimed Harry as he is dragged away and flies horizontally across the corridor. What Harry didn't now, was that the person who opened that door was Professor McGonagall, she heard a commotion in the disused classroom and came to investigate, and when she was about to open the door, she saw Peeves wisping out of it and struggling to leave for a strand of magic was binding him. Curious about this, she opened the door, and suddenly Harry came flying and was dragged along by Peeves for the spell binding him is still active.
"What the devil?" said McGonagall in shock and surprise until she turns to look inside to see Malfoy crouching by a lit candle in a glass jar. Seeing this, she immediately got the gist of what is going on, but she couldn't help but ask- no demand an explanation. "What is going on here?"
Malfoy, feeling awkward when he saw Mcgonagall and got found out, struggles to say a thing. Luckily McGonagall held out her hands to stop him from saying anything.
"Never mind, just come with me and bring the candle and jar along." Said McGonagall.
"Huh?" said Malfoy with shock and confusion, does she know what he and Potter were doing?"
"I'll explain later, now hurry!" said McGonagall as she turns and hastily brisk across the corridor ahead.
Great Hall
Harry is still holding on, Peeves is trying to phase through walls so he could make Harry let go of him but Harry doesn't crash, but lands on the walls and windows with his feet so to stand horizontally and anchor himself so he can keep the poltergeist from ever escaping. Thanks to quick reflexes, Harry never once crashed into any walls, doors and/or windows while the Poltergeist made his way towards the Great Hall. It was break time at the Great Hall and only a handful of students at each house are sitting at their tables to either do their homework, eat snacks or chat with friends.
But that all will come to a end when Peeves and Harry arrived at the Great Hall. Peeves attempts to slam Harry into one of the tables, but Harry twists himself so he can land with his feet again and run across so he wouldn't get dragged along. The students were baffled by this when they saw Harry keeping hold on Peeves.
"Let me go, Potter, you rotter!" shouted Peeves as he is getting rather annoyed at Harry's persistence in keeping him held by the Accio Spiritus spell.
"Not... on... your... life...whoa!" said Harry before Peeves then flies high and forces to lift Harry up into the bewitched rafters.
Peeves attempts to use the multiple rafters and brackets on the high ceiling to knock Harry off and break the spell that's holding him. But Harry dodges the rafters, he twists and turns his body so he can go through the gaps, he even ducks and vaults over them so that he can keep his hold on the poltergeist.
Peeves scowls at Harry and dives down so he can try and make Harry plummet to the ground, not caring if it kills him. Harry panics for he is falling at a great height, he'll have no choice but to let go of Peeves in order to save his life. But before he could do that, a pair of voice starts to yell out certain spells.
Arresto Momentum!"
"Skurge!"
McGonagall and Malfoy barges into the Great Hall and started to cast their spells, McGonagall cast Arresto Momentum to halt Harry from plummeting to the floor, and Malfoy stuns Peeves with Skurge, to stop him from flying off.
"Mr. Malfoy, light the candle now," said McGonagall as she then casts Accio Spiritus on Peeves, helping Harry on holding the Poltergeist.
Malfoy wasted no time lighting up the candle in the glass jar, and when he did, a faint swirling vortex starts to form. The ghosts currently haunting the halls made themselves scarce for they know that is going on. The students were curious about this and begins to watch what is about to happen.
"Malfoy, help us," said Mcgonagall.
Malfoy nods and casts Accio Spiritus on Peeves.
Harry, Malfoy and McGonagall drags the stunned Peeves towards the vortex swirling above the lit candle in the glass jar. And when Peeves came too, he didn't have time to escape for he is now caught in the vortex and swirls around and around until he is sucked into the jar, which instantly sealed itself when the lid covers it tight. Harry, Malfoy and Mcgonagall eased themselves and halted their spell now that Peeves is successfully contained.
The students were shocked at what they saw, and among them were Ron and Hermione.
Before anyone could react to this, McGonagall spoke out.
"Break time in the Great Hall is over, please head for your next appointed class," said McGonagall.
The students immediately made themselves scarce, Malfoy and Harry were about to leave also, but McGonagall stopped them by grabbing on their shoulders.
"You two, at my office." Said McGonagall. "And take the jar with you"
Harry nodded as he used his Blink-Blink Fruit powers to collect Peeves in a jar and then teleports himself, Malfoy and McGonagall out of the Great Hall.
McGonagall's office
Harry brought Malfoy and McGonagall to the professor's office, knowing that he and Malfoy was found out when she witnessed them trying to trap Peeves. McGonagall took a moment to compose herself for this was the first time she was teleported in this way, unlike the usual apparition she and the other professors are used to, it was strange, but not completely uncomforting. She heads for the desk and sits down before gesturing the two boys to do the same.
"The Jar, Mr. Potter," said McGonagall.
Harry placed the jar on the desk so McGonagall can collect it.
"Professor, I can explain," said Harry but McGonagall stops him.
"I wouldn't bother, all we can do is forget that ever happened," Said McGonagall before turning to the trapped Peeves.
"Let me out, Moggy!" exclaimed Peeve, banging hard on the glass wall of the jar. But due to the candle's smoke also stored, phasing through the glass is impossible.
"You've been given us trouble for too long, Peeves," said McGonagall to the poltergeist as she waves her wand at the jar, making it disappear.
"What did you do to him?" asked Harry, surprised to see McGonagall making the trapped Peeves disappear.
"I sent him far away of the castle as possible." Said McGonagall as she leans back on her chair with a relieved sigh. "We won't be seeing him for quite some time."
Meanwhile at the Hebrides
McGonagall has banished Peeves to the Scottish archipelago known as the Hebrides, more specifically at the Hebridean Black nesting grounds where the aforementioned black dragons will be keeping a watchful eye on the jarred Poltergeist. One of the Dragons approaches the jar and starts sniffing and snort out smoke at it. Peeves pales and whimpers from this direct distance with the beasts, dragon fire is capable of burning spirits, so there is a reason why Peeves is very afraid of these dragons.
"Help!" Peeves cried when he is being surrounded by a flock of Hebridean Blacks the moment he appeared on their nest.
Back at McGonagall's office
"So what now?" said Harry
"Now, we part ways, go about our business," said McGonagall
Harry and Malfoy were taken back by this and looks at each other in confusion.
"Forgive me, Professor," said Harry. "but I still don't understand. You're not gonna punish us?"
"...no, for you haven't technically broken any rules, except for unauthorised access to disused classrooms, but that hardly matters at the moment since you did Hogwarts a service. So 5 points will be given to each of you for dealing with Peeves, but I'll take them away for the unauthorised access to the disused classroom."
"Meaning we get nothing," said Malfoy with a deadpan.
"You should be considered lucky that you weren't truly punished at all, Mr. Malfoy," said McGonagall. "It's one thing to repel Peeves, but to trap him entirely is another matter. You were lucky that neither of you got hurt attempting that. Honestly, you're as bad as your grandfathers."
"Pardon?" said Harry and Malfoy
"Believe it or not, but you weren't the only Potter and Malfoy to form a minor alliance so to deal with Peeves," Said McGonagall recalling that moment in exasperation. "Fleamont and Abraxas wanted payback for what Peeves did to them and they plotted this similar plan to trap him. It was lucky that I assisted them, for it required 3 people to trap Peeves efficiently."
"Looks like we would've needed Hermione's help after all," Harry said to Malfoy, "despite being a muggle, she is a bright witch to work with."
"Oh, shut up," said Malfoy with a scoff, not wanting to admit Harry is maybe right about Hermione. But seeing that he's a proud pure-blood, the concept of working with a Mudblood still repulses him. "It no longer matters now, we trapped Peeves, he'll be out of our hair for a while. Thus ends our alliance."
"Agreed," said Harry, "but if we want to part way in fair terms, you gotta do something for me in return."
"And what's what?" said Malfoy frowning at Harry.
"Quit plotting in getting me expelled," said Harry crossing his arms. "I like this school and I'm planning to stay there to learn more spells and magic, so you best get used to it."
"Grr...fine," said Malfoy, seeing that Potter did him a favour, he'll... accept the term. "On the honour as the heir to the Malfoy family, I'll accept this, although I won't like it."
"I'm not asking you to like it, just keep your word," said Harry as he stands up from his seat and turns to McGonagall. "If there isn't anything else, may I be excused?"
McGonagall nods at Harry and watches him vanish via his Blink-Blink Fruit powers.
"And if you don't have anything else to say..." said Malfoy as gets out of his seat.
"as a matter of fact, I do," said McGonagall holding her hand out to stop Malfoy from standing up. "What was that I hear about you trying to get Mr. Potter expelled?"
Malfoy went paler and winced from this.
"Damn it." Malfoy muttered.
End of Chapter