Title: Unusual Inheritance
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: None
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Susan, or Su Li, or Tracey, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: While staying at the Leaky Cauldron after his 'incident' with Marge, Harry finds out that he has an unusual inheritance. One that could change the course of his life forever.
A/N: There has been a lot of comments on the Basilisk. Many of you have said it is too cold for the Basilisk to rot. The Basilisk is a snake and snakes are cold blooded, relying on their environment to maintain their body temperature, so if it too cold in the Chamber of Secrets for the Basilisk to rot, then it is too cold for it to live. And before someone reviews 'but Magic can make the Basilisk warmer', then it can make the Chamber warmer too. As for the Basilisk being resistant to decay, there has to be either traditional or Magical bacteria that break down Magical Creatures otherwise there will be dead Dragons, Unicorns and other Magical Creatures all over the place and the Statute of Secrecy is blown automatically.
Tracey Davis sat in the study group, making sure to make it appear she was keeping her eyes on her work and not looking around as she actually was. Hannah was sitting with Susan Bones and the two other Hufflepuffs, Hannah directly across from Tracey. Two Ravenclaws were sitting to her left with the third at the end of the table while next to Tracey, to keep with her housemate, sat Pansy. Pansy was only in the study group because Professor Snape had forced her to, as Pansy had been failing her classes. Even with the study group, and the patient tutoring of both the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, Pansy was barely passing and had been barely passing every year.
At one point, after an incredibly stupid question asked by Pansy, Hannah came around the table to show Pansy where to find the answer. In the few moments that Hannah was standing between Tracey and Pansy, Tracey slipped her first written report into Hannah's pocket without anyone else seeing.
There was a light mist still clinging to the Quidditch Pitch during the early morning training session. It had started with a twenty minute run, with Su keeping her pace down to what Harry could keep up with. Harry was running through the simple series of moves with his Spear that were now starting to string together, as opposed to the discrete moves Su had been showing him before. Su was a few feet away, keeping half an eye on Harry as she was practicing one of her more complex Katas with her sword.
After an hour, in which Su occasionally stopped to correct Harry's form, she called a stop to the training. Harry grounded the butt of his spear and held on while he tried to catch his breath. Su put her hand on his back down at the bottom of his ribs.
"Take deep, slow breaths." Su said. "It is as important to expel carbon dioxide as to get oxygen into your system."
Harry nodded as they slowly began to walk back towards the Castle, not bothering to speed up as the rain began to fall. Harry felt his dark clothes sticking to his body. Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement and turned slightly to see Su wipe some of her fringe hair out of her eyes. Her white shirt had turned transparent but her modesty, well Harry was not sure Su actually had any modesty but still, was protected by the tight leather vest she was wearing.
As Harry and Su walked into the Entrance Hall, they were met by Hannah and Hermione, who were the only people in the entrance hall. Before anyone could say anything, Hermione immediately drew her wand, drew the water off Harry and Su's clothes, which formed into a floating ball and was moved out of the door before the spell ended and dropped to the ground.
Hermione reached into the small bag slung over her shoulder and passed Su and Harry an Electrolyte Sports Drink each, which they both opened and took a drink of before the quartet began to walk back towards their Quarters. Hermione had introduced Su to the idea of the Sports Drinks, something she had heard her parents debating the virtues of post exercise versus the potential risks to dental care. Su had embraced Sports Drinks but agreed with Hermione that they should only be used after intensive exercise.
"We have received several letters in the last day." Hannah explained as they walked. "There are a few routine style letters from Neutral and Light Families. Requests for meetings for favours, investment opportunities and other trivial matters. I have taken the liberty of doing up a standard rejection form, where all we will need to do is fill in the personalised information. If you choose to accept we can write up a specific response to that inquiry. These letters are in your low priority inbox for you to review when you have time. None of these are extremely time sensitive, except for one investment opportunity, but that is in a business that is in extreme financial distress and will most like fail in the next six to twelve months without a massive cash infusion and a total overhaul of their procedures."
"What's the business do?" Harry asked.
"It is a small potions ingredient supply company. Less than half a dozen employees. They currently have about zero point zero two five percent of the market and the investment needed would be some seven to fifteen times their annual income. Not profit, just income." Hermione replied. "I would not recommend the investment."
"Agreed." Hannah said.
"Fine. Fill in the rejection form for them with the specific details. I will look over the others when I get a chance. What else?" Harry decided.
"Lavender is looking at the social invites and interview requests." Hannah continued. "There are a few events you should probably go to, but Lavender will give you the full breakdown. I think she is doing more research on some of the reporters for the interviews before advising you, as there are some who are… gossip merchants at best."
"Sir, if the reporters cross a line, you can challenge them to an Honour Duel with me as your champion." Su said. "If they decline, they are deemed to have been in the wrong and need to publish a formal retraction and make recompense."
"We have also… received an update in relation to the Australian Matter." Hannah said, just as they approached the door to their Quarters.
Harry simply nodded at that as they all entered, finding Lavender reading several parchments on one of the couches. Once the door was closed and secured, Harry looked over at Hannah and Hermione.
"Is Tracey ok?" Harry almost demanded.
The combination of 'update' and 'Australian Matter' were the codeword for Tracey sending a report.
"She seemed a little stressed, not enough for anyone else to notice but, overall, she seemed fine. She managed to pass her report without raising any suspicion." Hannah replied.
Harry nodded and gave a relieved sigh at that. Even Su relaxed slightly at that. Most people who had spent a small amount of time around Su would think it was because there was no security breach, which admittedly a tiny part was, but most of Su's relief was, like Harry's, that Tracey was ok. Su's allegiance and life's mission was to House Potter and its protection. Tracey, along with the other Retainers, were also members of House Potter so were owed her protection, but Su and Tracey had bonded slightly more than the stoic warrior had with the others, as both took on a dangerous role to protect the House. Su may be injured in battle or in an attempt on Harry's life, but if Tracey was discovered as a Spy for House Potter, well the things that many of the Dark Houses and her fellow Slytherins would do to Tracey were… unpleasant would be sugar coating it. Hermione would call them utterly barbaric, and then probably throw up.
"Most of the information is the internal politics of Slytherin, and who the real power players are in the House." Hermione said. "It's quite a bit of background information to go through."
"Don't push her." Harry ordered. "Let her pass the information to her schedule, though have a note prepared to slip back to her when she next submits a report, or if you find another opportunity with no risk, about arranging some non-contact way of us giving her orders or her providing emergency information."
"They are called Dead Drops." Hermione said, writing in a notebook that was perched on her knees. "I will research the best methods and try to find places around the Castle we can use for a Dead Drop."
"I'll try to keep a subtle eye on her during the study sessions." Hannah said. "I won't approach her, just observe if she is in distress or anything."
"Play the caring Hufflepuff with the whole group." Su said. "The whole innocent 'I want to help' routine that you Badgers do so well. Stack it more to the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Only give Tracey the same level of attention you give to the other Slytherins. Not no attention, just less, so if you are caught observing her it won't look suspicious."
"Any other matters?" Harry asked, getting negative responses from the girls. "Then I am going for a shower."
"As will I." Su added.
Harry stood and headed for the Lord's Chambers, while Su headed for the corridor and the bathroom the four girls shared.
TBC….