Disclaimer: Meh. Nothing special.

Real Loyalty

The-boy-who-lived glared at his former friend across the Gryffindor Common Room.

"You wanna repeat that outside?" Harry's voice was low and dangerous.

"Yeah," Ron agreed hotly. "I do. Let's go."

"After you," Harry motioned towards the portrait. "Don't think I like the idea of having someone like you at my back."

"Not Gryffindor enough, huh?" Ron sneered. "Fine!"

Ron stormed out of the common room with Harry on his heels. They were followed two minutes later by a frantic Hermione who'd blasted out of her dorm at a dead run in hopes of preventing what they all knew was going to happen.

The room froze – several people get up to follow

"Just so you know," Fred's voice filled the room. "We consider that a private matter."

"Nothing we dislike more than people poking their noses into private matters," George's voice agreed. "Nothing we wouldn't be willing to do to people that rude."

"So by all means, follow them."

"And find out just how creative we can be."

No one took them up on their offer.

The three took a winding route through the less used portions of the castle, both to loose anyone that might try to follow them and to ensure they had a bit of privacy for what came next.

"You sure you want to do this, Ron?" Harry asked the second the trio had sequestered themselves in an empty classroom.

"Sure I can't stand by and do nothing which is our other option," Ron agreed. "They want a fight? Fuck, em. Bunch of bastards don't even know what a fight is."

"Language," Hermione said automatically. "And that's not strictly true, we do have other ways to express our displeasure that doesn't entail risk to you."

"Ways that mean we don't have to face the consequences?" Ron challenged.

"We only have to face consequences if we get caught," Hermione replied. "I am fairly confident we will not."

"Takes away some of the lesson." Ron grinned. "I don't want to hurt the bastards, I want them to know who did it, why, and that they can't do anything in return without making us do worse."

"Fine," Hermione sighed. "Harry."

"Nose or eye, mate?" Harry asked.

"What do you suggest?"

"Eye. Looks really pretty and it won't mess with your ability to talk too much."

"All right," Ron agreed. "Go for it, mate." He winced a bit when Harry's fist impacted.

"Get his cheeks too," Hermione ordered. "Sorry, Ron, but you need to look the part if this is going to work."

"It's okay," Ron sighed. "The cheeks too, please."

Harry responded with an apologetic look on his face followed by two right hooks and a left.

"Nose for me," Harry requested. "I've broken it enough times that another will matter too much."

"Right." Ron fired off a quick jab.

"No offense, mate, but you're going to have to hit me harder than that if you want to give me a proper break," Harry said calmly. Ron's second attempt was no better than his first.

"Sorry, mate, just don't like having to hit a friend."

"Grow some balls you bloody red headed hit like a sissy girl," Harry mocked his friend. This time his head rocked back with the blow. "Dank yu, H'bione."

"There is nothing wrong with not wanting to hit a friend," the girl said primly.

"Dorry, Bon."

"S'okay, mate. I know what you were trying to do." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Wish me luck."

"Goob lup."

"Good luck, Ron. Remember, you can pull the plug at any time and we will both be quite cross with you if we later find out that you were in danger and you did not."

"I'll be fine." Ron took a deep breath. "Time to go put on a show."

Hermione's attention turned back to Harry the moment the door swung shut.

"Des?"

"I think you could use a couple extra bruises," Hermione said thoughtfully. "Wouldn't want people to think Ron went down too easily."

"Bake us loop bad," Harry agreed. "Dait."

"What?"

"Doves dirst," Harry said. "Don't dwant do da dab bruised duckles."

"You're right of course," Hermione agreed. She pulled out and donned the pair she normally used for herbology. "Ready?" She gave him a few seconds to brace himself after his nod and went to work. One thing was for sure, no one that got a look at Harry Potter's mangled face at breakfast the next morning would have any doubt that he and Ron Weasley felt anything but antipathy for one another.

IIIIIIIIII

Ron plastered an angry look on his face as he rounded the corner. If he'd timed things right, he'd run right into Hufflepuff's sixth year Prefect. They were always happy when the prefects and professors got predictable, meant it was easier to dodge them when the situation warranted and easier to let themselves be caught when it didn't.

"Look what we have here," the girl began. "A little Gryff out where he's not supposed to be."

"Just give me the detention and let me get back to my common room," Ron spat.

"I think I'll . . . what happened to your eye?" the girl went responsible.

"Walked into a door."

"Does this door have a name?" she persisted.

"You'll see tomorrow morning." Ron grinned. "Door looks a lot worse than I do. He got a couple lucky shots in, I grew up with five older brothers."

"Which house was the door in?"

"Gryffindor. Think you'll approve, the door's a cheating prat of a glory hound."

The girl paused to think the matter over for a few moments. "I know a couple charms that'll help you with the bruising."

"What do you want in return?" Ron asked warily.

"I want you to see me after breakfast tomorrow. If the door that hit you is the one I think it is, then you and me and a few of my housemates have a few things to discuss. Assuming you're not satisfied by what you've already given that door."

"Won't be till the bloody bastard admits what he did and not even then," Ron spat.

"Good," the girl grinned down at him.

Ron grinned back at the girl, pleased they'd read her right. Ecstatic that everything was going as planned.

No one in Hufflepuff had any doubt that the break between Ron and his former best friend was real after getting a look at Harry the next morning. A sense of anticipation fell over the house, they had their pawn in Gryffindor, all that remained was to see if he'd go along with the plan they'd been working on since shortly after the glory seeking bastard's name had come out of the cup.

As planned, Ron met with the prefect shorty after breakfast. She took him to an empty classroom where nearly every member of Hufflepuff house was waiting.

"I don't see Cedric here," Ron said calmly.

"We need to keep him out of it," the prefect explained. "Don't want it to look like he's trying to cheat."

"Better to have at least one example of what Hogwarts should be," Ron agreed. "What do you need me to do."

"We want you to tell us how we could get Potter to agree to publicly admit that he cheated," the prefect explained. Seemed she'd been chosen as the spokesman for the group.

Ron snorted.

"We have a plan," she added. "We have him sign a letter that he didn't that's covered in curses that will activate if he's telling a lie. If he really wants people to believe that he's innocent than he'll have no problem with signing it. You go in front of everyone in the Gryffindor common room and challenge him to sign it. He does and the curses will ensure he has a very bad night. We'll let him know that in order to make them stop, he needs to stand up in front of the Great Hall and admit everything."

"Better," Ron allowed. "But still not going to happen. I think you underestimate how much of an arrogant fool he is."

"What do you suggest then?"

"Put something up yourselves," Ron replied with a grin. "State that the afore mentioned do not believe he got into the tournament honestly and have everyone in your house, hell, everyone in the school sign it. Set it up so that if he's innocent, everyone who signed gets cursed. If he's guilty-" Ron smirked. "Something all of you believe beyond a shadow of a doubt since you're here, he gets cursed. He's arrogant enough to think his magic will protect him."

"You're sure you can get him to sign it?" the prefect demanded.

"I'll give everyone in Gryffindor a chance to sign it first and then I'll tell him that it's a chance to clear his name. We'll write it so the wronged party has to publicly forgive the guilty party after the guilty party's public apology. One bad night is too easy a punishment for my taste."

"And he'll fall for it?"

"Make the changes I suggested and he'll fall over himself to sign it," Ron agreed with a frightening looking grin. "Like I said, he'll convince himself that nothing will happen because of his magic. Anyone who knows anything about contracts will know that the more people tied to it, the stronger it will get. Even if the bastard could overcome the first version, he'll never be able to after everyone in school signs it." Ron's smile deepened. "Care for a suggestion on the curses?"

"You think you can do better than we can?"

"I think I grew up with Fred and George."

It took a week for the contract to be completed and another for it to go around the school. Nearly every Hufflepuff signed it along with about half the Ravenclaws. Strangely, very few Slytherins did, less than even the signatures that came from Gryffindor house. But that was something that no one noted, at least not at the time.

Ron met with the prefect the night before everything was set to go into motion.

"It's all up to you now," she said, handing over the precious document.

"Get ready for a show tomorrow morning," Ron said with a grin.

"That wasn't the plan," she replied. "You were supposed to do it tonight!"

"Thought you'd want to see the show," Ron stated. "To see the look on his face when everything goes wrong."

"I'll have everyone in the house go down to the Great Hall early tomorrow," she promised. "Wouldn't want to miss a thing."

"This is something you'll remember for the rest of your life," Ron promised. "Something I will too."

"I look forward to it," she said as she stepped away to continue her rounds.

"Not as much as I do," Ron whispered. "That I guarantee."

Harry looked relaxed the next morning as he sat down to his breakfast, seemingly ignoring the way nearly every eye in the great hall was fixed on him.

"Got a way for you to prove your innocence, Mate," Ron announced loudly, throwing a wink at the Hufflepuff table. "Prove you're innocent and get a bit of your own back from everyone who doubted you."

"How's that?"

"A contract. Everyone who signed it thinks you're a cheating plonker. You sign it, and they're right, and you're going to want to be very close to a toilet. You sign it and they're wrong, well, they're going to want to be very close to a toilet. Least till the one or ones that were wrong publicly admit wrong doing, tell everyone how sorry they are for being such plonkers, and get publicly forgiven by everyone on the other side of things. All you need to do is sign your name, right there below where me and Hermione signed ours."

It was then that everyone in Hufflepuff realized that things were not going the way they thought they would, then that several of them felt the first hint of doubt, then that Professor Sprout's attempt at summoning the document in question was foiled by Hermione's shield and a further attempt was disrupted by Ron's disarming charm.

"Done!" Harry said loudly, putting down his quill. "I feel fine, Ron, how bout you?"

"Couldn't be better, mate. Hufflepuffs don't look so good though. Odd that."

"Guess they chose to start a fight with the wrong group of people," Hermione sniffed. "You wouldn't believe how hard it was to point them to the right books. Took almost two weeks to get them to find everything."

"What . . . what have you done?!" Professor Sprout demanded.

"Incontinence hex to start with. Nothing more than what you lot planned to do to me," Harry replied. "Not so fun when your actions have consequences now is it?"

"You Puffs think you know what loyalty is, you think that loyalty means attacking anyone who might have insulted a friend, who might have done something to take some of the-" his lip curled- "glory owed to the only one of you who deserved any, that loyalty means backing up

"Ron sneered. "Ha! Loyalty is sacrificing yourself so that your friends can take just one step forward. Loyalty is looking into the face of death to get a vital piece of information to your friends. Loyalty is facing a legendary monster with nothing but a wand and a will to succeed for even the barest chance of saving your friend's sister." He grinned at them. "Loyalty is branding yourself a traitor so that you can help your friends strike at a batch of sheep too cowardly to do more than bleat. Rage at me sheep, rage at me and know what I've done to you in the name of loyalty. Rage and know that there are others that will do worse to you for me. Rage at the realization that the so called house of loyalty had to be taught the meaning of the word by those they believed had none.

"Nice speech, mate," Harry complimented his friend.

"Hermione helped me with it," Ron replied. "My first version had a lot more swearing and laughing."

"I'll see each one of you punished for what you've done to my house!" Sprout thundered.

Hermione glared at the woman. "Don't think I didn't read every name on this bloody document before I bloody signed it. Don't ever think that any of us will forget a single one of them."

"How's it feel to be wrong about me, Professor?" Harry asked calmly. "A bit squishy, does it?"

AN: Just something I started a while ago and thought I'd finish up.

Typos by porphyrian_delight

Unrelated Omake: A Slytherin Harry Start

Draco listened in shocked horror as the other boy explained exactly why he held the so called servant in such high regard. Not only was a pureblood orphan forced to live among muggles, but to have had the same creatures attempt to deny him his birthright? It was no wonder he held a mere servant in such high regard. The man had, after all, rescued him and brought him to his rightful place in the world.

Ignoring propriety he took a deep breath and did something no Malfoy had done in living memory. He gave a sincere and heartfelt apology.

"I have wronged a great hero," Draco said sincerely, falling heavy on the etiquette lessons his mother had drilled into his head. The blond's eyes widened in shock when he noticed what was on the other boy's brow. "I can only thank you for pointing out my error and to again apologize for the necessity."

"It's okay," the other boy. No. He caught a glimpse of a very famous scar. Harry Potter mumbled.

"It is not," Draco replied firmly. "Nor will it be until after I have had a chance to offer further apologizes to the man I insulted." Draco sighed. "I thought I was ready to represent my family in the world. I thought I had no further need of my mother's guidance. I was wrong." The boy took a slow deep breath. "I do not believe I was polite enough to offer a proper introduction when we first met, please accept my apology for that as well. My name is Draco Malfoy. Please call me Draco."

"Harry Potter. I guess you can call me Harry."

"Thank you, Harry. Would you mind telling me which house you are hoping for."

The two boys chatted for several minutes until a man bearing a strong resemblance to Harry's new friend walked into the shop.

"Come along, Draco. You've spent enough time getting your new uniform, we have other things we must do today," the man stated.

"I cannot leave yet, father," Draco said stubbornly.

"Oh?" Lucius regarded his son.

"I will be able to tell you the whole story after we return home." He froze. "With your permission of course, Harry."

"I guess."

"Thank you." Draco gave the short bow his mother had spent two weeks forcing him to perfect.

Lucius' eyes widened in shock when he realized exactly who was standing next to his heir.

"Father, allow me the honor of introducing you to Harry Potter. Harry, my father, Lucius Malfoy."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Malfoy."

"It is an honor, Mr. Potter."

"Father, I am afraid that I shamed you and mother with my behavior when Harry and I first met. He was kind enough to point out the fact that I was acting in an unacceptable fashion and then magnified his kindness by accepting my apology. I have to wait here until the man I wronged arrives to offer my apology to him."

"If you feel that is your duty," Lucius said simply. It seemed the boy had been paying attention to his mother's lessons after all. He resisted the urge to smirk at the expression on the boy-who-lived's face and it's promise that they might see a Potter in Slytherin in the near future. Wouldn't that be something for the rags to gossip about. The man made a mental note to discuss the matter with his son's godfather and to stress to the other man how displeased he'd be if the man did anything to ruin things. Even if the boy didn't go into Hogwarts' noblest house, he could still be persuaded to look upon it with favor. Not as good as membership, but acceptable.

Hagrid arrived shortly thereafter and immediately fixed a suspicious gaze on the two blondes.

"Mister Hagrid," Draco stated. The boy fell into deep bow. "Please accept my sincerest apologizes. I besmirched your great name, something I deeply regret. Harry has been good enough to correct my behavior, but the fact remains that I fell below the standards of polite society."

"Please allow me to offer my own apologizes," Lucius said smoothly, bowing low beside his son. "I am responsible for my son't behavior so I am solely responsible for any lapses of behavior." The man straightened. "Allow me to offer my personal assurance that he will not make any similar lapses in the future."

"I . . . I guess it's alright," Hagrid said slowly. "Boys will be boys, after all."

"Thank you for your understanding," Lucius stated. "Now, Mr. Hagrid, Mr. Potter, if you will excuse us, it is long past time for us to be on our way. Come along, Draco."

"See you on the train, Harry," Draco called over his shoulder.

"See you on the train, Draco," Harry called back.

AN: Basic idea is that Harry tells Draco exactly why he's with Hagrid. Draco is horrified at the thought of a magical child being raised with muggles, something not even a half-blood should have to endure. As a consequence, he sees Hagrid as a great liberator. A bit dim, but with his heart in the right place. The details he gets from Harry about his time with the muggles reenforces his idea of what muggles are like and deepens his admiration of the stupid, but noble groundskeeper. Think I'd use this as a set up for 'good' Malfoys. Note the quotation marks. Lucius does his best to work behind the scenes to keep Voldemort from coming back because he knows he goes from controlling the Ministry to a boot licking torture victim if the bastard returns.