A/N: OOOOOOOOOO. So many ideas! So many opportunities! Scenes are warring in my head for the upcoming chapter. Read on folks! I'm excited.
Review answers below.
Frankieu: Thank you for the review! I hope you enjoy this chapter, definitely some interesting twists and turns in here.
TheGreatBubbaJ: Love reading your reviews! I hope I paid justice to your concerns. This chapter is a wild ride.
Adrian King1: I'm hoping to avoid a burnout as well, but these cliffhangers are hitting me as hard if not harder than its hitting you guys and the chapters just keep rolling out. If the muse wants to play, I'm not going to tell it no. Also the Boon for Blacksmithing is Boon: Hammer! Your blows hit with an unexpected force. Results Vary. (+1 to Strength Base Score)
Beccasullivanwrites1: I had to look that one up but yes, It's Time. Thank you for the review!
Mermizle: Thank you so much! I know, these cliffhangers are killing me too! That's part of what has brought on such frequent updates though.
Firetemplar415: Oh it's gonna be more than a tussle mate. Thank you for the review!
Vallavarayan: The Knight Bus is for chumps and poor people. Kidding, but in all fairness Portkeys are much faster and less hectic. Plus Harry is pulling from past memories, multiple occasions where a Portkey would have saved him a lot of trouble. And his higher intelligence has made him exercise caution and always having a back up. Even a backup for a backup of a backup. Thank you for the review!
Fang723: Thank you for the review!
And away we go!
Chapter 12: Diagon Duels, Dogs and Daring Escapes.
Aurors pushed the crowd back, making space in the street. They had been called in shortly after the glove had been thrown and were doing their best to seize control of the pandemonium. The crowd clamored for a better view and the noise was intense. Tracey bit her lip worriedly in the doorway of the Apothecary, clutching Daphne's hand in mutual support. They both watched Harry and Lord Greengrass prepare for the duel. Lord Greengrass pulled his wand from his cane and eyed it critically before brandishing it twice and turning to face Harry.
Harry had stripped off his robe, showing off an impressive physique for anyone but especially someone his age. His recent increases to Strength and Constitution were doing wonders for his look. He had on a formal button-up and slacks that looked restricting until he casually waved his hand and to the shock of the observers his outfit changed entirely. A full set of Dueling Robes, and dragonhide boots appeared on him. He touched his glasses and they changed to their goggle orientation to give him better vision and eliminate chances for them to come off at any point during the duel.
Pause!
Harry took a moment to dump a staggering 109 points into Dueling, bringing it up to 75. He selected the Boons Dancer of Death which harmonized his Dancing Skill with his Dueling one, as well as Hit 'Em Where It Hurts which boosted his accuracy tremendously. He was going to do his utmost to destroy Lord Greengrass. For Daphne. The Game seemed to agree with him as a Notification popped up for him.
Quest Started! Free the Greengrass Girls from their Father! Reward: 2 Feat Points, +5 to Dueling, 2 Stat Points, 100,000 Galleons
Acknowledging the Quest, Harry scrolled through his available Feats to see if anything would help him here. Seeing nothing that stood out, he placed his 5 Stat Points into his Constitution to stay true to his plan to bring his stats to 20. 17 would have to be enough for now and he adjusted the slider next to Strength so that he did not change appearance due to the change. His Stamina and Health showed a welcome increase thanks to the spent points and Harry knew that he was as ready as he could be at the moment.
Unpause!
"The Law of Rightful Challenge has been issued. What are the reasons for this duel?" This question came from a man in purple Wizengamot robes that had been called in to mediate the duel. The man motioned to Harry.
While formal duels were uncommon they were still used in extreme circumstances when words would not suffice. There were rarely occasions for them but laws were in place to manage them wherever they occurred. When the glove was thrown, it was customary to call in the Aurors and inform them of an Official Challenge, whereupon a team of Aurors would come in and secure the area. Then a member of the Wizengamot would come in to mediate and ensure that any terms were met on behalf of the winner of the challenge. Both duelists would be able to list their reasons for the duel as well as any terms they had upon victory.
"For slights upon the honor of House Potter, and defamation of character despite verbal warning" Harry stretched on his side of the large circle and took in deep breaths.
The man nodded and indicated Lord Greengrass who said, "Interfering with House Greengrass business, and for soiling my daughter!"
"I did no such thing!" Harry yelled across the circle, fuming that the man would dare to think Daphne would stoop to such a level.
"Gentleman" The man warned them both with his tone. "Now, Lord Greengrass, as the Challenged you may name your terms first"
"Dissolution of House Potter, and payment of 100,000 Galleons" The crowd gasped at the declaration. To call for dissolution of a House was extreme, and only used in the rarest of duels. It was pretty clear to everyone that Lord Greengrass was pissed.
"Noted. And your terms Lord Potter?" The man motioned for Harry.
"Release of Daphne Greengrass and Astoria Greengrass to be wards of House Potter, where they will be allowed to keep their family name and inheritances due them at this moment" Harry spat on the ground, the challenge clear.
It was Daphne who gasped this time. Dissolution of a House was extreme, but to take the Heir of a family into Wardship would label House Potter the better House in the eyes of society, until such time that Daphne and Astoria were married and were released from Wardship. It would cripple House Greengrass immensely while allowing Daphne and Astoria freedom. And to secure their inheritances and names, in case that Jackson Greengrass took offense and changed his will or banished them from his family in retribution, was a calculated move.
"What does that mean?" Tracey asked her friend, she was an Heir as well but this was a bit out of her area of expertise having not needed to learn the rules of Dueling before.
"Did you tell him about Astoria?" Daphne asked, wondering how Harry had known that if Daphne was gone all of the hardships she endured would be transferred to her younger sister. A sister whose health was not the best given an old curse her family suffered from. She hadn't mentioned Astoria to Harry at any point that she knew of, nor her sister's affliction.
"No, I would never" Tracey looked at her friend with her eyes projecting as much sincerity as they could.
Daphne sighed, her mind was running wild, "It means that if Harry wins, he just declared House Potter superior to House Greengrass and freed Astoria and I from any control of my father"
Tracey gasped at the implications. She looked at Harry and bit her lip hard, worry apparent on her face. Dissolution of his House would mean that Harry would lose everything.
"Noted. Are the terms agreeable to both parties?" The mediator intoned heavily, his voice clear across the Alley.
Lord Greengrass raged. He wanted to cripple the boy, thinking him unworthy of the title of Lord and unaware of the implications of a Dueling Challenge and the terms therein. Then the boy went and literally spit on that challenge and called for terms that, while technically lesser, would cripple his House just as effectively as his own terms would House Potter. He would look weak if he rejected the terms, but hesitated for just a moment.
"They are!" Harry's voice rang out over the crowd and caused an uproar in the level of noise. The people gathered were getting caught up in the excitement and were calling for blood.
Lord Greengrass grimaced in anger, he would look weaker now if he hesitated longer.
"They are" he said with finality.
***Break***
The shield rose up around the two duelists, maintained by the team of Aurors. Harry finished stretching and readied his wand. His Hotbar was fully primed for the duel and his mind was startlingly clear from anything other than the man in front of him. They would have no Seconds in this duel, as neither wanted to look weak in front of the other. The rules were simple. No illegal spells. Everything else was fairplay. They would duel until death or yield, whichever came first.
"Lords to their starting positions" The man, revealed to be Lord Abbott, was on the balcony of a nearby store. Just outside the shield, but able to see the entire duel from the vantage point.
Harry and Lord Greengrass walked to their starting positions. 15 meters directly opposite, as was customary. Lord Abbott watched the proceedings with a critical eye, very interested in the outcome. He watched Harry closest of all. His daughter had come back a few weeks ago from a party at Lord Potter's home, an event he insisted his daughter attend, and she had come back with grand stories of a fantastic party celebrating the Lord's 13th birthday. 13 years of age, the boy should hardly be called intimidating but when observed walking to the starting position Harry struck an imposing confident figure. Impressive. Perhaps he would pay Lord Potter a visit at some point, if he somehow won this duel. Then Lord Abbott turned his eye to Lord Greengrass. The man was well known in higher social circles as cold and ruthless. A true Slytherin. While not proven to have anything to do with Voldemort during the Dark Lord's reign of terror, the man's insistence on maintaining a neutral position while still spouting anti-Muggleborn rhetoric had drawn a lot of suspicion.
"Wands up!" Lord Abbott yelled, having to raise his voice even with the Sonorous charm active as the crowd was becoming restless. Harry and Jackson brought their wands up in differing stances. Lord Greengrass's was more traditional. Right foot forward and wand at shoulder height pointed at an angle forward and up. A stance able to attack or defend depending on the preference. Harry's was more unorthodox. Feet shoulder width apart and askew slightly, with wand hand forward and down and off hand behind and above. It was a stance that favored swordsman, but Harry had no sword.
"DUEL!"
***Break***
Harry's offhand flashed for just a moment in movement and the Sword of Gryffindor sang through the air to slap away 2 spells in quick succession. His other hand was equally busy sending back a volley of his own, a disarm, stunner, cutter combo, and the duel officially began. The appearance of the sword had caused a wave of noise to wash over the crowd that could see the action but Harry ignored it. It did serve to shock Lord Greengrass into hesitating for just a moment, long enough for the Cutting charm to graze the man's thigh. It was superficial, but first blood to Potter.
The cutter brought forth the wrath of the Greengrass patron, and the two exchanged a fierce flurry of spells. Stunners were exchanged for bludgeoners and both parties looked ready to kill. Harry's shield and sword defense held against the wide repertoire of his opponent while his fast and furious style was blocked and deflected with ruthless efficiency. It was clear to Harry that if he had not dumped those points into Dueling he would be outmatched. Luckily he had had the foresight not to remain confident in his current skills and was able to match Lord Greengrass blow for blow.
Almost as if in agreement, both duelists stopped their flurry in exchange for circling their opponent. Lord Greengrass took the moment to summon his cane back to his hand from where he had put it before and revealed a fencing sword from the other end which now occupied the man's left hand. Harry was unsure if the man knew how to use it as well as his wand, but didn't fancy the idea of finding out the hard way given that his sword was a broadsword and likely much slower than his opponent's thin bladed weapon.
"Give up, Potter. You're decades too young to be challenging me. Save some face now and forfeit" Lord Greengrass taunted, catching his breath behind his words.
"Oh, the esteemed Lord Greengrass isn't above taunting? It's refreshing to see you stooping to a level more suited to you" Harry returned fire with a taunt of his own.
His words had the effect that Harry wanted and the man allowed himself a moment of anger. The Bonebreaker curse was a step up from their previous exchanges and it looked for a moment that Harry would let it hit him. At the last moment however he threw his sword into the path of the incoming spell and sidestepped, letting the force of the spell knock his sword behind him to allow him the free hand to bring forth a brick of iron from his Inventory, the material quickly and efficiently Transfigured into balls reminiscent of lead bullets but about the size of tennis balls that he carefully Banished at his opponent. The use of raw iron proved to be a good move as it had unique characteristics when interacting with magic, needing a higher level of power to be manipulated or blocked. It smashed through Greengrass's desperate shield and a loud crack was heard as the iron balls, all 3 that Harry had made, slammed into the man's left shoulder one after the other.
Using his now free hand Harry summoned the Sword of Gryffindor and charged the older Lord. A cacophony of metal against metal rang out as Harry hammered away at the man. The shoulder that he had managed to hit was likely causing the man great pain, if Lord Greengrass's face was any indication, and the thin blade was barely brought up in time to block each of Harry's heavy blows. The magically reinforced blade of Greengrass didn't bend under the pressure but the force of the swings clearly aggravated the wounded shoulder. The intensity of the blows prevented much to be done in return but Lord Greengrass wasn't a pushover. Finally he brought his wand to bear and screamed, "Bombarda!"
The spell exploded between them and sent Harry through the air, same as Lord Greengrass. Harry rolled once he made contact with the ground and immediately ran at the still downed man. Greengrass was much slower to get up, the fall having further aggravated his likely broken shoulder, but he was able to stand in time to meet Harry's second charge of the duel. Again, Harry hammered away at his opponent. Destroy Lord Greengrass, that had been his goal, and causing the man to have to use his injured shoulder again and again was part of the plan.
Again, Greengrass screamed "Bombarda!" only this time Harry spun away, as if dancing, before the Sword of Gryffindor again rained down in a hail of blows. Harry made no show about it, he was aiming for Greengrass's sword, and drawing the man to block with his injured shoulder. Every attempt the man made to hit Harry with a spell was shielded, or dodged in a dazzling display of dexterity.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Finally the man could take no more and he aimed at the floor this time with a "Bombarda Maxima!" which served to blast apart the flagstones and pepper Harry with sharp rocks, halting his attack. Greengrass took the moment to distance himself from Harry and start shooting a flurry of spells at him.
Harry's face was a mask of concentration as he dodged, parried, and countered the spells the man threw at him.
***Break***
Tracey was amazed. She had seen a professional duel once with her father, and this display was every bit as impressive. She had known that Lord Greengrass was a talented duelist, a fact her father had shared with her, and he showed it in his clean and precise spell combos and wide repertoire of spells. And while she had known that Harry displayed a level of magical skill well above his age, along with physical prowess, she had worried that he had bitten off much more than he could chew. But when Harry summoned the Sword of Gryffindor at the start of the duel she had been enthralled.
Harry's spells weren't as varied, but they were well aimed and powerful, and Harry made good use of Transfiguration to block the spells. His movements were unorthodox but fluid, and the way he used his sword and impressive Shield Charm along with his quick feet was a dazzling display. She almost cried out when the Bonebreaker headed towards Harry but he looked like he had planned for that moment, sending iron balls rocketing back to Lord Greengrass from out of nowhere. The loud crack had caused Daphne to clutch Tracey's hand much tighter, and both watched Harry dominate Lord Greengrass in a furious attack with the Sword.
***Break***
Both girls gasped when Harry was blasted away by the Bombarda, and Daphne worried that the duel had swung back into her father's favor. But surprisingly, as if nothing had happened, Harry rolled to his feet and continued the onslaught. Her discerning eye was able to tell that Harry was aiming to aggravate her father's injury with his blows. Again the Bombarda spell was cast and both girls held their breath, not releasing it even when Harry amazed everyone by dodging the spell at such a close range and continuing to hammer away at her father's defenses.
She was conflicted. She had seen the bristle of anger cross Harry's face when her father called her a whore and again when he insinuated that Daphne and Harry had slept together of all things. It wasn't the first time that her father had used such a tone with her, or even that particular insult though it was usually accompanied by a slap. But that anger Harry had shown had paled in comparison to when Lord Greengrass had called Harry Boy. But she still wasn't sure that she wanted Harry to win. Wardship would be a huge change of life for her and Astoria required regular special care, care that her father was intimately familiar with. On the other hand though, to have someone stand up to her father both scared and inspired her. Lord Greengrass was this imposing controlling figure in her life that she never expected to have a chance from getting out from under. Even marriage wasn't a great option for her as she knew that it would be with someone her father chose for her versus a marriage built out of love and would probably be a bargaining chip lessening her self-worth even further.
Both of their breaths were released in a scream as the shards of flagstone shot across the Alley and Harry was subject to a ferocious counter-offensive.
***Break***
Lord Jackson Greengrass was viewing the world in a hazy film. His shoulder burned in agony after the iron balls had cracked something and that agony had only gotten worse attempting to block Harry's heavy swings of that Sword. The boy was skilled, even his hatred did not prevent Lord Greengrass from acknowledging that. And the power, ferocity, and dexterity of the boy's attacks and defenses were incredible.
But giving up was not on his mind. Not now, not ever the man thought to himself. He knew, at some deep level, that his treatment of Daphne was less than ideal. But the girl looked exactly like his late wife. And the only thing the man saw when he looked at her was his wife in the arms of another man. A Muggleborn man. No amount of pain could compare to the pain of losing his wife to an affair with a man of Muggle heritage. It had happened shortly after Daphne had turned 1, and it nearly cost them their marriage. They had become cold to one another forced to maintain their marriage to avoid the scandal that would surely come if they had split up. Things seemed to be going better when his wife got pregnant with Astoria, and then the birth had killed his wife. At least that was what he told himself. He refused to acknowledge that Astoria had that man's eyes, and what that had made him do to his wife. The death broke the man, and forged him into the cold and dark man that he was today.
With a roar he put the pain of his shoulder out of his mind and focused on teaching this little whelp, this Boy pretending to be a Lord, a lesson of finality. Lord Jackson Greengrass was going to murder for the second time in his life today, and the victim was going to be Harry Potter.
***Break***
Lord Greengrass roared in defiance, and Harry was hard pressed to prevent the reinvigorated onslaught he now faced from causing fatal harm. His notifications had been going crazy throughout the duel but Harry ignored it. Every spell the man was throwing now was chosen and aimed with purpose to kill. It was clear then, to Harry, that he would have to match the ferocity with a rock hard defense or kill the man. He had stared Death in the face on many occasions, not even including his memories from his alternative life, and this time was the same as any other.
The Sword of Gryffindor was a blur through the air, parrying and deflecting spells that splashed against the shield and ground in a shower of light and debris. Harry was lucky that the grip was well-suited to his hand or he would surely have lost the blade at some point. Harry knew that he couldn't use certain spells, like Sectumsempra, to bring the duel to a close. The crowd wasn't looking anywhere else and winning the duel with a Dark spell would cause a field day day for the press. Harry needed a plan and he needed it soon.
Thinking hard, Harry spotted the shards of flagstone scattered around him and sighed inwardly. Only his gluttonous attitude for punishment would make him think of grinding a skill in the middle of a duel to the death, but he didn't have the spell knowledge to catch his opponent off guard. He had the imagination though, if not the skill quite yet. His wand waved left and right, turning the shards of flagstone into a matchstick, a needle, anything tiny and unseen to observers but not unfelt by his Transfiguration Skill.
Transfiguration has increased! It is now 34!
Transfiguration has increased! It is now 35!
Transfiguration has increased! It is now 36!
Transfiguration has increased! It is now 37!
Transfiguration has increased! It is now 38!
Transfiguration has increased! It is now 39!
Transfiguration has increased! It is now 40!
Like a countdown to his hail mary, his skill slowly creeped up. The spells the man was throwing at him were finally slowing in their frequency, but Harry was still on a full defensive with the man wise to not let Harry have a moment to close the gap between them and risk another assault from Harry. Finally, blessedly, his skill reached the point he needed.
Transfiguration has increased! It is now 45!
Pause!
Jumping has increased! It is now 18!
Not for the first time Harry thanked his lucky stars for the ability to Pause at any point. He had taken an unexpected jump to the side to allow him a moment to breathe and to make sure he wasn't setting himself up to die when he Unpaused. It was awkward as always to Pause in midair.
He viewed his last 11 Skill points with a longing eye. 120 points, gone in a moment, due to a heated decision. Knowing he couldn't undo it without Loading his game and losing weeks of progress, Harry spent 10 of the points to bring Transfiguration to 50. Not for the first time Harry cursed the fact that the only Save Point he knew of was at the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets and idly wondered for the moment if he could somehow make one at his home. Dashing that thought from his mind as this was neither the time nor the place Harry selected the only Boon available that made his Animate Transformations more lifelike and responsive to direction.
Time for the hail mary.
Unpause!
The world rocked into motion and Harry rolled as he hit the ground, his sword flashed through the air while he readied himself for his plan. His wand was pulled into his Hotbar and bricks of iron were deposited behind him, unseen by the man who was lost in anger. Harry focused his entire defensive efforts into his swordplay and watched out of the corner of his eye as his Magicka slowly recharged. He knew he would need all of it if he was going to pull this off. Harry just hoped that it would be enough.
Once the bar was full his wand was brought to bear and Harry jumped to the side again, revealing the store of materials he had been hiding. His wand waved and flashed in a dizzying array and the pile seemed to melt together for a moment before extending into the shape of a Basilisk. Indeed in every detail it looked like a miniature version of Salazar's beast.
"Bind" Harry hissed into the air, and the iron beast shot forward like a missile. Lord Greengrass saw what was coming and shot spells at the creature in an attempt to slow it. It was for naught though, as Harry had reinforced the beast as well as he could bringing forth his knowledge of iron to provide it with a stable composition. His Magicka was dangerously low though and would take too long to recharge if his plan failed.
His luck held though and the Basilisk smashed into Lord Greengrass's leg with a sickening crunch before riding up his body and constricting his arms and legs in an iron grip. The beast's head planted itself just in front of Jackson's face and bared the metal fangs modeled so carefully after the original's.
Harry took a deep breath and walked forward. He hissed the word "tighter" and Lord Greengrass let out a cry of pain as his leg and shoulder felt the full weight of the snake's movement and he fell back. Once he was above the man, Harry commanded the snake's head out of the way before punching the man as hard as he could. The sharp almost wet sound of the punch and the resultant grunt as Lord Greengrass's head bounced off the flagstones below echoed across the Alley as the crowd was silent in anticipation.
Fisticuffs Skill increased! It is now 2!
"Do you yield?" Harry asked the man. The young lord ignored the stab of pain from his knuckles in favor of the immense satisfaction he got from punching him one good time.
Lord Greengrass stared defiantly up at the boy, wishing there was something he could do but his wand was trapped beneath the iron monstrosity. Jackson looked around for anything, anything at all that could help him, but just like Harry wanted the man had nothing. He was beaten.
"I yield" The man said in a whisper. Lord Abbot was listening though.
***Break***
Amazing! Extraordinary! Astounding! These words were all Lord Abbott could think of as the duel came to a close. Despite every attempt to best the boy, no, the man that faced Lord Greengrass in a duel Harry Potter had emerged the victor! A 13 year old man had just defeated one of the most esteemed members of Wizarding Britain, and in a spectacular manner. The Transfiguration the young Lord had pulled off at the end had been so unexpected but so effective. The press were going to have a field day today!
"Lord Potter is the victor! Lord Greengrass had yielded!" Lord Abbot's voice rang out over the Alley and the crowd just lost it. Hats were thrown and whistles and cheers echoed off the buildings. The Aurors waited for Harry to call off his iron snake, which slithered to its creator and amazingly slipped into the boy's pocket, wowing the crowd once more. Once it was gone the shield was lowered.
***Break***
As soon as the shield dropped Tracey dashed forward and wrapped Harry in a tight hug and buried her face into his robes. There were tears in her eyes and her whole body shook from the roller coaster of emotions she had gone through during the duel but the scent that was becoming so familiar to her that she could smell in his robes let her know that it was over. Harry whispered calming words into her hair and he held her tightly.
Daphne was more subdued in her approach. Her entire world had been flipped and she was at a loss on what to do or how to act. She looked at her father, who was still on the ground after the sound defeat. The man looked lost for a moment longer before, like any proud man, he found the energy and will to stand up and waved away the offered help from the Aurors. Then she looked at Harry who was whispering something into Tracey's hair as he held his girlfriend close. The crowd threatened to spill over in their excitement and Daphne felt like she was viewing the whole scene from a thousand meters away.
"Come here, Daphne" Daphne's head whipped around at the sound of her father's voice. She stopped.
"Come here!" Lord Greengrass raised his voice at her, a crack of emotion bleeding through his usually measured tone. She took a half step towards him, before she felt a hand grab hers. Tracey's teary eyes pulled her attention away from her father, and Daphne felt herself being pulled into a hug from her friend. Harry watched silently, but his eyes met Daphne's. He smiled reassuringly and stepped closer before stopping at her panicked expression as again Lord Greengrass's voice called out.
"COME HERE, NOW!" The tone was broken and carried emotion that had been lacking in his voice as long as Daphne had known him. Harsh breaths were drawn in as fast as Daphne could get them and her mind was a cacophony of nothing.
"Lord Potter" John Abbott's voice carried over to Harry from where the man was approaching. They exchanged brief words that Daphne was unable to hear over the sound of blood rushing in her ears, before Harry nodded.
"Lord Greengrass, I will be heading to your house now with my Elf to collect Astoria and everything necessary for both her and Daphne to stay at my home as our terms dictate. Lord Abbott will be attending. The Law of Rightful Challenge has been met. Failure to comply will result in expulsion from the Wizengamot and forfeiture of your lands and holdings in accordance with the Law of Forfeiture" Harry's tone was harsh and lacked any sympathy for the broken man he was addressing. An Auror guard stepped forward at Lord Abbott's signal.
***Break***
Astoria Greengrass coughed gently into her hand and turned the page in her book. Her father and sister were away at Diagon getting supplies for the new year at Hogwarts. She was excited that she would finally be able to attend but as today was her treatment day she was bed bound for the duration of their visit to the Alley. That was especially a bummer as supposedly Tracey would be bringing along Harry Potter who Astoria would have loved a chance to meet.
Instead she was here, reading through a Potions book that she had snuck from her sister's room. The recipes and theory were interesting to her and helped Astoria ignore the boredom that she felt being stuck in bed. She would much rather be outside playing with Balto, her Husky, who had been named after a character in a book Astoria had borrowed from her sister's friend Tracey. Dolly, the Greengrass family Elf, popped into her room and checked the readings from the runic display. Astoria watched attentively and… yes! Dolly started to unhook the elaborate setup of the equipment used for her treatment.
Astoria coughed again in disgust as the tube was pulled from her nose. It was used to deposit a concoction of potions into her stomach that were designed to fortify her body to help combat the blood malediction she suffered from. The malediction was the result of a curse placed onto the females of her line. It had skipped Daphne but Astoria had shown the signs at an early age. Suddenly Dolly's head shot up with a look of confusion and she popped away without a word.
"Where are the Aurors?" A voice that Astoria vaguely recognized came from below.
"The wards must have bounced them!" Daphne said.
"No! You will not have them! No! Bombarda Maxima!" Astoria's father's voice called out.
"I'll deal with him, go get your sister! Dobby! Protego Maxima!" Another, this time unknown, voice rang through the house along with a boom.
Puzzled and frightened, Astoria slowly stood up, and headed for her door. She didn't make it however as the door slammed open and startled her. Looking like she had been through hell stood Daphne, whose eyes met her sister's and softened for just a moment.
"Daph? Wh-" Astoria started to ask.
"No time. Tori, grab your things" And Daphne dashed past her to Astoria's bookcase with an odd bag in her hand. Books were thrown into the bag with abandon. Thuds and booms echoed below them.
"What? What is going on? Daph? What is going on!" Astoria tried to get her sister's attention before Tracey almost fell into the room as well "Tracey?"
Tracey smiled at her for just a moment and she pushed a bag like the one that Daphne had into Astoria's hand. Then Tracey dashed over to Daphne and started helping her with the books.
"Lord Greengrass! Stop now and I will argue on your behalf!" Again the unknown voice echoed through the house. A boom, louder this time, shook the house.
"What in Merlin's name is going on?!" Astoria yelled at them both, finally getting their attention. Tracey nodded to Daphne and continued gathering the last of the books. Daphne stepped over to her sister.
"Tori, we're leaving. Don't ask why, but I need you to gather your things. Harry is going to get your equipment, but we need to get your things together. Please, Tori." Daphne's tone left no room for arguments and her words no room for questions. Astoria nodded and with her sister they headed to her closet. The clothes were tossed into the trunk inside the closet and any extras into the bags. Tracey joined them after a moment. It took less than a minute to have her stuff together.
Daphne led the trio into the hall where they crossed into Daphne's room. The thuds and booms were louder in the hall. Her trunk was already open and half packed so they made quick work of gathering Daphne's things. They headed back into the hall.
"Okay, we just need to make it to the entryway. There's a Portkey point there we can use" Daphne said to Tracey who nodded.
"Wait, what about Balto?" Astoria asked worriedly. Whatever was happening she did not want to leave her dog behind. Daphne cursed.
"I'll get Balto, you bring Tracey to the Portkey point, okay? Next to the vase under mom's portrait, remember?" Daphne waited for Astoria to nod and she planted a soft kiss on her sister's forehead "Nowhere else, okay? Tracey?"
Tracey nodded and took Astoria's hand. They headed down the stairs and split up. Astoria leading Tracey to the entryway. Daphne slowly creeped towards the rear of the house. She needed to get to the back door, but that meant passing whatever mayhem was happening in the house hall where they had arrived. The noise had not stopped ever since Harry had sent them from the room.
Her head poked around the corner to see what was happening.
***Break***
Harry dodged another spell and returned fire with a curse. It was like their duel all over again only this time more chaotic. Lord Abbott was on the ground near the ruined fireplace they had arrived through. The older man's head was bleeding from a large brick but Harry could tell that, thankfully, he was still breathing. Cursing the house wards for bouncing the Auror escort Harry sent an end table into the path of a spell. Damning the laws that prevented the Aurors from confiscating the distraught man's wand Harry summoned a throw pillow into the path of the Cutter that Lord Greengrass sent his way. It didn't fully take the spell and Harry hissed as a shallow cut appeared on his chest.
Harry knew that he needed to stall the man long enough to allow Daphne and Tracey time to gather up Astoria and use the Portkey he had thrown to Tracey to get them all to safety. Jumping over the battling Elves on the floor, Harry rolled near the fireplace and banished the poker at Jackson. The metal instrument stabbed into the man's side and brought a brief respite to their battle. Harry took a moment to check on Dobby's battle with Dolly. The two Elves were rolling on the ground punching, kicking, biting, whatever they could to hurt the other. It looked like Dobby had the edge though and Harry turned his attention back to Lord Greengrass where the man had successfully extracted the iron poker. Clearly. It whistled through the air and only finely tuned instincts regarding hard metal objects coming at him gave Harry the reflexes to move his head out of the way. He saw the poker stab into the wall behind him and vibrate ominously. That would have been a kill shot.
Bricks rose up and turned into birds that flew at Lord Greengrass and into the path of another Bombarda. A quick Protego stopped the shrapnel from the destroyed bird from harming him. The birds were shot down with a few spells and the duel continued in earnest. Harry didn't feel comfortable bringing Kijani into this mess so any plan to use his Boomslang for an edge was out of the question.
***Break***
Daphne's eyes were wide at the mayhem before her. The house hall, the nicest room in their house, was in shambles. The fireplace was a wreck and Lord Abbott laid on the floor below it. Harry was battling ferociously but was bleeding from a wound on his chest. Her father was also bleeding with a bloody wound on his side. Lord Greengrass was limping from his wound at the end of the duel but did not look like he would be giving up again any time soon.
Dobby was rolling on the floor with Dolly, her House Elf, and Daphne bit back a cry. Dolly had been a loyal companion to both Greengrass daughters over the years. It was this that prompted Daphne to act. She stepped into the room.
"Dolly! Stop!" She ordered and watched in amazement as Dolly froze. Dobby stopped as well, and both Elves stood up. Dolly looked at her Master's daughter.
"Dolly!" Jackson Greengrass's voice called out to his Elf who turned to her Master. "Kill Harry Potter!"
Dobby reared up at the thought of someone harming his Master and clicked his fingers before Jackson could finish his order. Dolly zipped through the air and smacked into the wall with a deafening boom. The female Elf fell to the floor but stood up shakily. She raised her hand, clearly ready to follow the order. Suddenly pops of Apparition and the clear crisp voice of Amelia Bones rang through the house and stopped everyone inside.
"For failure to comply with the Law of Rightful Challenge" Harry dashed over to Daphne, grabbing her hand and leading her and Dobby from the room. Dolly clicked her fingers and the iron poker missed Harry's head for the second time that night. Lord Greengrass's attention was fully on the words echoing outside "And failure to meet the terms of that duel, Lord Jackson Greengrass you are hereby subject to Expulsion from the Wizengamot and forfeit your lands and holdings. In accordance with the Law of Forfeiture your house will be destroyed and you will be apprehended. Step outside or risk forceful entry. This is your only warning"
"What are you doing down here? Where is Tracey?" Harry asked Daphne. Daphne's attention came back to him.
"She used your Portkey with Astoria. I need to get Balto" Daphne's mind was reeling. Her house would be destroyed?
"Who or what is Balto?" Harry asked urgently. When Daphne didn't respond he grabbed her shoulders which got her attention again.
"Astoria's dog, it's in the rear yard" Daphne stiffened when Dolly came around the corner and Harry let go of Daphne to face the Elf. They both watched the Elf carefully.
"Dolly is a Free Elf" the Elf said solemnly. House Elves were considered part of the holdings of a House and with Amelia's words the Elf was released from House Greengrass. Harry saw the opportunity though.
"Dolly, if you help me now I will swear you into service with House Potter. We are here to take Daphne and Astoria as Wards of House Potter in accordance with the Law of Rightful Challenge. Will you help us?" Harry silently urged the House Elf to accept.
The House Elf looked at him with tearfilled eyes. "You would take Dolly into your home? Even after I tried to kill you?"
"Yes, yes. It's almost a requirement of Elves to try and kill me before I bring them into my service" Harry nudged Dobby with his foot and Dobby looked sheepish for a moment.
"We are coming in!" Amelia's voice rang through the house.
"Yes or no, Dolly" Harry urged the Elf.
"Yes" The Elf didn't need to think about it any longer. The idea of being a Free Elf frightened her and the chance to continue servicing Astoria and Daphne, even if by proxy through House Potter was a better deal than she was going to get otherwise.
"Good. Perfect. Dobby, get Lord Abbott and take him to the house. Dolly, get Balto and follow Dobby. Daphne, do we need anything else?" Harry asked the still shell-shocked girl next to her who was looking around the home in tears as the idea of losing her family home settled in.
Harry turned to Daphne again, and shook her slightly "Daphne, please. Do we need anything else?"
"Ast... Astoria's equipment. It's upstairs in her room" Harry nodded to Dolly who nodded back and popped away. Dobby popped away as well, appearing in the house hall for a split second before popping away with Lord Abbott.
"Okay. We got that, now we need to go. Where is the Portkey point?" Harry asked softly. Lord Greengrass's cry of surprise rang out in the room just around the corner. Luckily the man was hobbled but it still was not enough time for Harry.
Daphne looked at him with a heartbroken face, her mask long forgotten, and didn't reply immediately. "Daphne. Astoria is safe with Tracey. Her equipment and dog will be with her in just a moment. But she will be all alone if we don't get out of here. Where is the Portkey point?"
This time Daphne was able to at least raise a hand and point behind Harry. He pulled her along with him by the hand and they headed to the entryway. Again Daphne pointed though this time unseeingly through teary eyes and shaking with sobs. Harry headed over to the indicated part of the entryway, a stylized section of flooring in front of a large portrait. In a moment of casual observation Harry noted the woman in the photo. It was a non-magical portrait of a beautiful woman that looked almost exactly like Daphne, just older. Daphne was full on bawling into Harry's shoulder as the reality of the changes her life had taken that day set in and she finally let the emotions sweep through her. She didn't see Harry wordlessly shrink the portrait and slip it into his pocket. She didn't hear the door smash open as Aurors poured into the home. She didn't hear her father's cry of anguish and defiance as he rounded the corner to see Harry and Daphne leaving. The only thing she felt besides sadness was the hook behind the navel pull of the Portkey.
***Break***
Tracey held Astoria carefully as the young girl shook against her shoulder. Tracey had explained a little of what happened and Astoria had understandably cried at the news. They waited in silence, wondering what was going on at the house they had left. The minutes ticked by on the suddenly very loud clock in the sitting room that Tracey had led Astoria to upon their arrival. Tears tickled Tracey's eyes at the thought of how the day had changed so suddenly. She held it together for Astoria's sake though and because she wanted to save her tears until she got news of Harry and Daphne.
Multiple pops rang out through the house and Tracey jumped slightly. Simultaneous pops of arrival sounded in the sitting room and Dobby led Dolly and Balto to Tracey. Balto nuzzled at Astoria's curled up form, able to sense the sadness from his human, but the girl didn't notice.
"Is Harry alright?" Tracey asked Dobby. Dolly headed over to Astoria and pulled herself up on the couch next to her where she leaned into the girl's back.
"Dobby does not know. Master Harry ordered Dobby to return home and has not called him back" Dobby looked lost for a brief second and then headed into the kitchen where the clang of pots and pans echoed for a moment.
The loud clock echoed beneath the soft cries of the girl in Tracey's arm until suddenly a new cry joined the house. One that Tracey recognized as Daphne's though Tracey had never heard her friend sound so sad. Astoria's firm grip prevented her from going to investigate and Tracey was stuck where she was.
***Break***
Quest Completed! Free the Greengrass Girls from their Father! Reward: 2 Feat Points, +5 to Dueling, 2 Stat Points, 100,000 Galleons
Harry arrived in a swirl but kept his footing. Daphne's cries had gotten a bit louder and she refused to move from his shoulder even under Harry's gentle prodding, only gripping his clothes tighter. Harry scooped an arm under Daphne's legs and lifted her up in a bridal carry. He headed to his sitting room where he could hear noises. There he saw Tracey in basically the same position with Astoria. Harry's eyes met Tracey's and he made a jerking motion with his head to indicate the stairs behind him. She nodded and with careful coaxing she was able to get Astoria to stand up and walk with her, but the girl did not remove her head from Tracey's shoulder. Harry turned around and headed upstairs with Tracey, Astoria, and Balto who didn't want to leave Astoria's side. Dobby appeared at the top of the stairs and led Harry to an unoccupied room and opened the door. The light through the window let them know that it was, somehow, still daylight. It felt like hours had passed in the tumultuous events of the day.
With careful motions Harry was able to get Daphne to release him and Tracey was doing the same to Astoria. Together they put the girls into the bed where they finally realized that they were reunited. Daphne brought Astoria close and the two girl's cries got a little softer. Balto waited at the foot of the bed until Harry patted the spread in quiet permission. The dog took the offer and hopped into the bed as well, crawling into position against Astoria's back and facing the door. No one would be touching his human without his say so. Dobby pulled the blinds closed and they all left the room and closed the door softly.
***Break***
Harry sat on the couch heavily. Tracey sat next to him quietly, both at a loss for how the day had gone so sour. Dobby brought in some tea that he had put together and they both nursed the cups, letting the warmth seep into surprisingly cold hands.
"What happened?" Tracey asked softly, still able to hear her friend's cries upstairs. Every sob tore into Tracey's heart and she felt exhausted.
Harry sighed deeply. There was still blood on his Dueling robes and bruises from undodged spells. "The Aurors came to invoke the Law of Forfeiture. Daphne had interrupted our duel and we escaped to the Portkey point"
Tracey nodded at the simple but accurate description and sipped her tea again, at a loss of what to say. The whole day had revealed another side to Harry and it was a lot to process. The accusations that Lord Greengrass had thrown around the Apothecary echoed in her mind.
"Is it true?" Tracey asked suddenly in a single breath.
"Is what true?" Harry asked, looking at Tracey who wouldn't meet his eyes.
"What Lord Greengrass said" She asked softly. She didn't believe it but Harry's reaction had been intense and started this whole train wreck of a day. She had to hear him say it.
But Harry didn't respond. Instead he took a knee in front of Tracey in order to look into her eyes that were focused on the swirling leaves at the bottom of her teacup.
"No. Absolutely not" Harry said sincerely, meeting her eyes when they finally looked up in order to convey the sincerity of his words.
Tracey released her breath and nodded. Tears danced in her eyes and she asked the next questions that weighed heavily on her mind "Then why did it start? Why did it have to go the way it did?"
Harry grimaced and took his seat again. His shoulders drooped under the weight of the thoughts that swirled in his own mind.
"Lord Greengrass said some things. Things that triggered something within me. That coupled with my intense dislike of the man from the moment I first met him and the accusations he threw at me, and Daphne as well, made him inexcusable in my eyes" Harry tried to keep it short and sweet but Tracey didn't get it.
"But a duel? To the death? She's my best friend Harry but calling someone a whore doesn't potentially forfeit a life. And now a man, no matter how vile of a man, has had his whole life ruined and family torn apart" Tracey's voice cracked a bit.
"Are you seriously trying to defend him?" pure disbelief rang in Harry's voice.
"I'm not trying to defend him! I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that my boyfriend tore apart a family, uprooted my best friend's life, a life that she was perfectly capable of navigating on her own before you came along, and now will be LIVING with that best friend! All while displaying skills no 2nd year should have and knowledge that you had no business knowing! Who told you about Astoria? Why were you so offended when Lord Greengrass called her a whore? Yes, it was vile, it's always vile being around that man which is a fact that I WARNED you about but it was hardly the first time that he had called her that! Why were you so able to challenge that man to a duel, TO THE DEATH, over that? You've known Daphne for what, 4 weeks?" Tracey finally let it all out and breathed heavily from her standing position that she had risen to.
Harry stood up as well, fuming. It had been a blunder to bring up Astoria. His alternative life's memories had made him aware of the younger sister's existence but it had not come up during any conversations with either Tracey or Daphne so far in this life. But he couldn't very well tell Tracey that. He also couldn't have left Astoria or Daphne to suffer under her father any longer or ask for anything less than their safety, which, while he probably could have asked for that as his terms he had no way of enforcing. The Quest notification had prompted his actions even further but again, Harry could not mention that either. His hands were tied, unless he wanted to lie. And he didn't need his alternative life's memories to tell him that any relationship held together by a lie was doomed for failure.
"You like her," Tracey's accusatory tone cut through the silence.
"What?" Harry asked in disbelief, the question having knocked him from his turmoil.
"Oh Merlin, you do, you like Daphne" Tracey stomped away for a moment in outrage before whirling back around to face him, "So, what, this was all some ploy? You saw a chance to save the damsel in distress and bring her under your care? Bring her into your home?"
"What are you talking about?" Harry was utterly confused by all of this, and couldn't wrap his head around a single thought. It was all blowing up in his face.
"You're ridiculous! You can't even admit it! You know what? I'm leaving" Tracey stormed past Harry, shaking off his arm that tried to catch her and ripped the pot of Floo powder off the mantle. She grabbed a handful and stepped into the fireplace. When she turned to face him her eyes were full of tears, but her voice was clear as she threw the powder down and green flames rose up.
"Davis Manor"
*Fin*
A/N: Well that went… great. Right, guys? Absolutely splendid. Nothing went wrong, at all!
Right?
'Til Next Time!