Chapter 21
-oOo-
September 5, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
They all walked into the new Muggle and Wizarding Studies class everyone was required to take this year. A man that wasn't at the opening feast was leaning against his desk. He was in a nice muggle business suit, with a large screen behind him. There was something about the way he held himself that had Harry suspecting he wasn't British. Having Daphne and the others with him, he sat at the table with Daphne. Malfoy and his lot gave them dissatisfied looks. The Gryffindor around him didn't seem to care. Harry doubted that would have been the same reaction start of last school year.
"What is that," Daphne asked, looking at a machine on a cart.
"A projector," he said, never having seen one in the magical world before. It looked old, with a candle behind the film, but Harry knew what it was.
"What does it do?" she asked, looking between it and the large white canvas behind the man. "Is this like the movies Hermione showed us?"
"Yeah. I can't wait to see what Malfoy and them do," he whispered to her.
Neville and Tracey had sat behind them and Hermione and Blaise to their right.
The bell in the clock tower echoed through the halls and the man picked up the wand he had on the desk and flicked it to close the door. "Welcome. I am Mr. Bouvier. This is Muggle and Wizarding Culture and over the next two years, I plan to guide you through both."
"Why do we need to know about Muggles? We are wizards!" Malfoy snarled.
The man didn't seem off put. "A very good question. I would start with a counter question before I answer. Why do we need to teach No-Maj about wizarding society?" The man was American, Harry decided. "As I call on you, please tell me your name. You, miss, you look like you have an answer," the professor said towards Hermione.
"Hermione Granger, Professor Bouvier. It is important because most Muggleborn know nothing about wizarding society when they come to Hogwarts, and are often disadvantaged for a while not knowing."
"Very good, Ms. Granger. And it's only Mr. Bouvier, please. Calling me Professor reminds me of my father, who was a Professor at Princeton," the man told her.
Many looked confused at that comment.
"As some of you have guessed, I grew up in the United States. I attended Ilvermorny in Massachusetts before getting my Mastery at Collingsworth in Colorado in Magical History and Cultural Studies. I have been in Australia the last few years at one of their schools, Ostelwald, in Queensland. Before all that though, I grew up in a No-Maj house in Cambridge, Massachusetts," the man told them.
"Figures they hired a mudblood to poison us," Malfoy muttered. A few around him laughed.
"He doesn't even dress right," Pansy pointed out.
"Is there a question about what I have just told you?" Mr. Bouvier asked in Malfoy's direction.
Malfoy looked at the man icily. "No, sir."
"Good. I will warn you all now. My parents and sister are No-Maj. As is much of my family. Myself, one of my cousins and an aunt are all first-gens, or first generation wizards. Something that is not frowned upon where I come from, nor in Australia. I have heard some comments already and I will not put up with them. This class is supposed to help you learn how to integrate and understand both the No-Maj and Wizarding world. We will be having field trips throughout the year that I expect you all to be on your best behavior for. This will be your only warning. If you intentionally make a scene when on a field trip, disparage another student for their heritage or do poorly in this class you will be talking to Headmistress McGonagall," Mr. Bouvier said, looking around the room. "I have been told anyone not getting an Acceptable for a grade shall repeat this each year until they do. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," most parroted around the room.
"Now, we have heard why a No-Maj should learn about Wizarding Society. Why should a wizard-raised know about the No-Maj world and society? You please," he indicated Malfoy.
"I don't need to know about Muggles. They are nothing compared to what a wizard can do," Malfoy retorted.
"What is your name, please?"
"Scion Draco Malfoy, of the Noble House of Malfoy."
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, do you know that your titles won't mean anything if you were to announce that, say, in almost any street in London if you were to walk out the Leaky Cauldron? That is what that pub is called, correct?"
"Yes, sir," Hermione confirmed.
Mr. Bouvier nodded.
Malfoy blew it off. "Why would I ever go into the Muggle world?"
"I don't know about you, but in the two weeks I spent in London before coming up here, I ate at many restaurants, saw a few movies and even a play. None of that was really available in Diagon Alley. It took me two days to eat at the three restaurants and the few other eateries there. I found much of the food old fashioned and bland," he responded. "What is your favorite restaurant, miss?"
"Daphne Greengrass, sir. The Wand's End is my favorite in Diagon Alley, but recently I have found I like what Muggles call Indian food," she told him.
Daphne had gone straight to the Delhi Express both times they had been to the mall after trying some from Hermione.
Parvati and Lavender looked a little surprised. Ron and the Slytherin that had not been through the training this summer, all looked confused.
"I am partial to Thai myself, but I see you have been into the No-Maj world. And you, miss? Do you know what a movie is?"
Pansy looked at the Professor. "No."
"Please announce your name the first time I call on you."
"Heiress Pansy Parkinson," she said, as though it was significant. He cast a questioning look to Daphne. Wasn't Pansy an heir-secondary? Daphne had her mask on.
"Okay, lets go the other way again. I'll explain movies, or motion pictures, in just a short bit. Who here knew about the International Statute of Secrecy before you were offered a spot at Hogwarts?"
Most rose their hands. Hermione, Dean and himself did not. "I assume the three of you are First-gens?"
"I am, Profess... Mr. Bouvier," Hermione spoke up.
"And you?"
"Dean Thomas. My mum only told me my da was a wizard the day I got my letter. She didn't know about any of our laws," Dean supplied.
"And you?"
"Harry Potter, sir. I was No-Maj raised," he said, liking that term so much better.
The professor nodded, giving him a nod. "So, I assume it was a large cultural shock when you came here. What did you find the most confusing? Ms. Granger?"
"I didn't understand why so many looked down on me or made fun of me not having magical parents," she said, her voice a little low.
"Typical mudblood," Malfoy grumbled.
"You want to say that louder?" Harry challenged, starting to get tired of the blond ponce.
"Boys, pay attention," Mr. Bouvier called to them, giving him and Draco a look. Daphne nudged him.
"Sorry, Mr. Bouvier," said Harry.
"Mr. Potter, I know both your parents were magicals, but you were raised in the No-Maj world. What did you find most confusing?"
Harry looked around for a moment. Daphne put her hand against his. "Everything, sir."
The man looked at him. "Why?"
He looked to Hermione and Daphne. "Well, everything was done by magic. I mean it's amazing, but there was no electricity, so all the lights at night are by gas lamps or candles. There are no telephones, or tellies or easy ways to listen to music. It's great to be around everywhere in a matter of seconds or moments, but it's also very uncomfortable. Sometimes it was nice just to have a Tube ride to talk or just read while you are traveling."
"Why would you travel in a tube?" Nott asked from besides them.
"A Tube in London is what us Americans call a subway." When many gave him blank looks, especially since they had not been able to take a ride like that this summer, Mr. Bouvier went on. "It's a train that goes under the ground. No-Maj's use them in many big cities to get around. So, I think you are getting an idea of the differences. Some of the larger differences between the worlds is the population and technology. Did you know that No-Maj's have weapons that could destroy an entire city in seconds?"
"That isn't possible," Pansy said, not sounding as sure.
"I assure you, Miss Parkinson, it is possible and has been done, twice. Over seventy-thousand people killed within seconds between two different bombs. Miles of cities just reduced to nothing. Then there was an incident just a few years back. There was a breach of the International Statute of Secrecy. The American government thought an embassy had been bombed and was under attack in the Middle East. It turned out to be a fight between a few wizards. While the fight was going on, American troops responded and killed five wizards and three witches by using modern firearms and something called grenades. Learning when to act No-Maj and when to act a wizard may have prevented that incident," the man said.
Many around the room looked unsure and upset.
"There isn't seventy-thousand wizards in Britain," Daphne whispered next to him. "Is this true?"
"I know the Americans bombed Japan during World War II with atomic bombs," Harry replied.
"Very good, Mr. Potter. Yes, the American government, during the Second World War, developed bombs called atomic bombs. They would be equivalent to a few million blasting curses set off all at once. The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed before the Japanese surrendered. It is well known those bombs tore through any wards they hit and nothing any Wizarding researcher has found yet can prevent that with those weapons," he told them. "Estimates are more than three-hundred magicals died those days too."
Daphne took his hand below the table.
"There are lots of good things though. I have a few movies from a series called 'Modern Marvels' I would like to show you as we kick off our first section. Throughout this year and next, we will have four-to-six-week sections, alternating between the No-Maj and Wizarding worlds. This first section will go over advances the No-Maj have made in the last hundred years. The next section will be on Wizarding technologies and how we use magic to achieve some of the same things No-Maj's do. By Christmas I plan to go over the local currency and culture here in Britain. Our first field trip will be to a No-Maj shopping center in Inverness over Christmas break, for those staying over. The next should be in February to the Ministry of Magic, and then in April after we go over No-Maj transportation," Mr. Bouvier told them.
"Now, I see many of you look really confused. You, miss, have you been into the No-Maj world?" Mr. Bouvier asked towards Tracey.
"Tracey Davis, sir. I have this past summer."
"Good. What did you find confusing?"
"All the automobiles and people. I have never seen so many at times," Tracey replied.
The man nodded. "Yes. That can be intimidating in a place like London. Last I checked, there are about thirty-eight hundred No-Maj's per wizard in Britain? That means for each of us, you would need to fill Hogwarts six or seven times over to match the same number of No-Maj students. When you consider there are about five-hundred and sixty students right now, there are over two million No-Maj's in equivalence. In the United states its about two-thousand per No-Maj. On average, it's usually about twenty-eight hundred per No-Maj around the world. The No-Maj out number us by quite a lot. Really staggering if you think about it. Now, Ms. Davis, what did you like?"
Tracey's face brightened after looking concerned, and took on a little colour. "The clothing."
Harry noticed many around the room looked a little bothered, even Malfoy.
Mr. Bouvier laughed. "By your expression, I assume it was a little surprising how No-Maj's can dress?"
"Yes, sir."
"So, this is why I have been hired and why this will be a two-year course. For those looking to take advanced classes, I will start offering them next year. Now, I want to show what the muggles call a motion picture. I have a modified projector and a few short clips to highlight some of the differences and important historical moments that have happened in the Muggle world."
"This is going to be interesting," Harry whispered to Daphne when Mr. Bouvier went to start the old-fashioned muggle... no, No-Maj He liked that better... projector.
-oOo-
September 8, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
Tracey was looking longingly over at the Gryffindor table. She hated that she couldn't just go over and sit with Neville. Even though they were in a Courtship Agreement, Slytherin just didn't associate with Gryffindors unless required to or in private. Some of those walls were coming down, and outside of the Great Hall or the Slytherin common areas, they were spending as much time with their allies as they could. It was just still too early and their parents could feel some consequences if they push too far, too fast.
"You are daydreaming again," Daphne said next to her.
"Why do we all have to sit at our tables like this?" Tracey muttered back, knowing full well why.
"Tradition," Millie said from her other side.
"Is there a school rule that makes us?" Tracey pushed.
"None that I know of, but do we want to upset them?" Blaise nodded towards the other end of the table. "They are all looking for an outlet with these new rules. Higgs was taken into questioning yesterday by the Aurors," Blaise added. The seventh-year Higgs had a scowl on his face. The same one he had had for the last day. There was a rumor he had a hearing in two weeks for whatever enchanted object they had found. A few around the school had not taken Headmistress McGonagall's warning seriously.
A crying third-year Ravenclaw had been taken away Tuesday morning for something that her parents had given her and was supposed to increase her intelligence, but had some illegal charms on it.
Neville looked over. He had been talking with Harry, Hermione and a few others. He gave a shy wave and she returned it as surreptitiously as she could.
Blaise gave Daphne a look from across the table. "What are you thinking, Daphne?"
She looked around. Astoria was giving her a look. "Let's talk about it later."
The owls came in and Tracey was pleased to see her parents' owl. She took her letter before it flew over to Roger. She put it in her pocket for later. Like Daphne, she didn't like people looking over her shoulder.
As she did, a tawny owl landed before Blaise. He took the Daily Prophet and slipped a sickle into the pouch on its leg. She started to eat her eggs and toast when Blaise mutter, "May Morgana take their souls."
"What is it," Millie enquired. Blaise turned the paper so everyone could see the headlines.
Barty Crouch, Sr. and Barty Crouch, Jr. Sentenced to Dementor Kiss
Tracey looked over towards the Gryffindors. Neville was already up and marching towards the doors. From here she could see the stormy look on his face. Harry and Hermione were following him. She watched Susan, Hannah and Ernie get up. Before she knew what she was doing, she was already up and rushing out of the hall.
She joined the Hufflepuffs. "Where is he?" she asked towards them, not seeing Neville or the others.
"I don't know. They were already gone. Is Neville going to be alright?" Susan asked. She was joined by her dormmates as she looked around.
"Tracey, calm down for just a moment. Where would Neville go if he was upset?" Daphne asked her.
She looked around again. "Gryffindor tower or the greenhouses," she answered.
"Then I will go with you to the Greenhouses. Does anyone know where the Gryffindor common room is?" Daphne put to them.
She didn't wait to hear anything else as she took off towards the greenhouses.
"Tracey, wait!" Daphne called out behind her.
She didn't.
It was almost ten minutes later for her to find him with Harry and Hermione in Greenhouse Eight. It was the greenhouse that Sprout was going to house the new student projects in this year. Nothing was planted yet, but tables, pots, soil, manure and everything it would take to keep plants alive were already laid out.
Neville was pacing up and down the aisle. "A kiss! That is all they will get! I guess it's better than leaving them in Azkaban," Neville was saying angrily.
"Neville, why are you so upset about this?" Hermione asked.
Tracey ran in and he just barely had time to see her before she wrapped him into a hug. He made an 'oomph' before she felt his arms around her shoulders. He stumbled back and they both nearly fell.
"Because Barty Crouch Jr. was one of the ones that attacked his family," Harry said, sounding upset himself. She didn't care. Neville needed her and she wasn't going to let him go down this path.
Hermione gasped. "I thought it was the Lestranges..."
"Bellatrix, Rudolphus and Rebastian Lestrange tortured my parents into insanity," Neville told them, his voice hard. "Crouch was the one to torture me."
"Oh, Neville," Hermione said. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"It was private," Harry said. "I only know because of Amelia and others when my parents will came out."
Tracey just held him tighter. "You are a better man," she told him.
"The Lestranges should join him," Neville responded in a thick voice.
"That is not for you to decide. You have more reason than most to want it, but you should not decide another's fates like that," Tracey told him.
"We have laws and penalties. Father told me the Lestranges were not kissed because they are purebloods and someone paid certain Wizengamot members. All the Death Eaters got off that way," Daphne said.
"Until now," Harry added.
She looked up when she felt Neville shake. Harry had just clapped his shoulder. "You know we are here."
Neville nodded.
Hermione came over, and then tried to hug him. Tracey was not letting go. "I'm sorry, Neville."
"Some justice was done," Neville replied.
"You want us to wait outside?" Daphne asked.
Neville shook his head. "I kind of want my family and friends," he said, reaching for Harry and they clasped each other's forearms.
"Family," Harry stated.
Tracey hugged Neville as tight as she could. Maybe, someday, she would be his family. It was a scary thought at fourteen, but it was what was expected of her as his intended. Plus, she was starting to like the idea...
-oOo-
Back in the Great Hall...
Blaise was finding himself not pleased with being left out. He understood the importance of protecting the younger years of their alliance. At the same time, he was actually feeling connected with the three other boys his age in the group. It was not something he was used too.
His mother always seemed to fear being alone. Her seven husbands showed that. All had met unexpected fates within two years of marrying her. She was convinced it was a malediction, but none of his other relatives suffered like this. Blaise wasn't sure it wasn't his grandfather. One of his aunts, one time, had said it was a curse his grandfather had placed on her after she fled Italy.
Blaise was a pureblood. That much was fact. His father had adopted their name to save his mother. Terrance Travers, the brother of Lord Horace Travers, then Terrance Zabini had been his birth father.
Upon his birth, his grandfather recognized Blaise as a son of the House of Zabini, seventh in line for that House. By his father taking his mother's name and his grandfather refusing for Blaise to take on the name of his birth father, he been denied his birth right to claim the House of Travers when his uncle went to Azkaban for serving the Dark Lord. His two cousins had died fighting for the Dark Lord around the time of his first birthday.
His mother had been upset Blaise could not claim his birthright because of her spiteful father, but had fixed some of that on her third husband. The older gentleman wanted a son, and at five he was partially blood adopted as a Thatcher, and his mother named Lady Thatcher, then Zabini when she reclaimed her name after he died. They had been married two years. She had been very cut up after that death and never quite the same happy woman he remembered when he was younger.
Around the time of his eighth birthday, she had married again. Mr. Turner lasted only six months before he was caught out on a moor by a hinkypunk.
Then there was the elderly Mr. Barnes. He lasted two months.
Both men had no other heirs or family and his mother inherited everything they had. Her sixth husband, when he was eleven, was found not to have been properly divorced and that marriage dissolve by the time he turned twelve.
Her last husband was an arse of man named Jack Sloper. At first he was suave and nice. Blaise saw through it, and was only happy his mother never really figured it out before the arse got killed in a bar fight before the start of last year.
All his life, men came and went from his life. The only one he really remembered was Lord Thatcher, and those memories were his best ones. The man had seemed to genuinely love him and treat Blaise like his son.
Mother was now so jaded at all the men that had come and gone from her life, she had sworn off any more husbands. If Blaise ever saw his grandfather again, he would confront the old Lord Zabini on this.
Seeing how much his mother suffered, Blaise never really felt like getting close to anyone. He was aloof. He never got into deep conversation or committed himself to anything more than was necessary to maintain his mother's alliances and 'befriend' the children of her alliances.
Thus, it bothered him that Neville had seemed so upset and he had been sent back here like some lap dog. He was sure Daphne wouldn't have ordered him unless she truly trusted him. She had asked him to look after her sister, someone he knew she cared for.
Millie moved to sit next to him. "Are they going to be alright?"
"I think Neville is just upset for some reason," Blaise said in is uncaring tone.
"What happened," Astoria questioned, not hearing what he had said.
Blaise shrugged. "Don't know. Tracey took one look at the paper and chased off after Longbottom," he said in a low voice, not wanting anyone else around them to hear.
Astoria picked up the paper. After a moment her lips pursed. "Mother and father told us Crouch was one of the ones that attacked the Longbottoms. It says it right here," she stated.
He leaned over to read the article. It didn't take long for Blaise to understand. He hadn't known what happened with Neville's parents. Mother had never made him learn that. He pursed his lips.
"Bloody hell," the twelve-year-old girl stated. He hadn't made it far down the first page and then he caught the next headline: Dumbledore implicated in four Line-Theft cases. Crouch Sr. admits to helping.
Blaise quirked an eyebrow. As head of the DMLE, Crouch admitted to helping Dumbledore, Bagnold and a few others to bury evidence of wills and confiscate vaults to bolster ministry coughers. He swore under his breath when he saw the names of Black, Potter, Prewitt and McKinnon. They had been successful with the Prewitts and McKinnons.
"Bloody hell," he muttered to himself.
-oOo-
September 12, 1994
The woods of Albania...
The woman at the bar counter was rather attractive. Her long eyelashes on her batting eyes would draw almost any man in. The ample bosom on display would have most drool. The narrow waist and broad hips would be the perfect hold to keep her squirming beneath you...
That was not what he was looking for though. Far from it.
Severus had never liked women being so forward, and she was hitting on him hard tonight. He snorted to think that was probably because he wasn't a local and the only one paying in hard coin tonight.
Since Lily, he had not found any other woman attractive.
"You want another?" the woman asked in accented English.
"I'm good. You are sure this man comes in every Wednesday?"
"Every Wednesday. Brings in his catch and herbs, sells them to the apothecary or butcher, gets a few drinks and then leaves," she told him.
Snape nodded and put another sickle on the bar. It disappeared almost before he took his hand off it. The door opened and she nodded.
A person in what could only be described as old hunter garb walked in. His hood was up, so Severus could not see his face. The man walked through, most looking away or ignoring him. Severus just watched.
The man moved like a stalking panther. An old bow was over is back with a large quiver at his hip, as well as a sword. The wildlands around here were very wild, and if he was a squib, like he had heard, then the man must be deadly to survive the wilds.
Stalking to the bar, the man took a seat next to him.
"Your usual, Devon?"
"Make it a double," the man said. It was a deep voice that spoke of power.
Severus put down two sickles. "My treat," he said, knowing he had to treat this man good. In two weeks, Severus had had no luck searching the woods. There were rumors of something bad, but he had not been able to find it. This man was supposed to be the best one around to find things in the woods.
"Who are you?"
"A man of the Dark," Severus replied, recognizing the man's nature right away. If he didn't have to give his name, he wouldn't.
Before anything could be said, a knife was out and landed between the fingers of his right hand. Instinctively he pulled it back and his wand came to his hand. "I wouldn't, if I was you," the man warned.
Most around the bar kept on their business, but a few looked around. It took Severus a moment to realize another knife was already in the man's hands and was close to his throat. "I don't deal with the Dark. You either tell me who you really are and what you want, or the Dark will have one less follower."
He fought to keep a sneer off his face. "Severus Snape. I have been sent here to find something and was told you are the best tracker around."
The man's hood had shifted and he finally got a look at a scarred face. Severus knew those type of scars and he did sneer this time. The man's visage twisted into a foul smile. "I see you recognize what I am. I do not serve the Dark and take on all those that would. Not even Greyback dares to enter my territory."
Severus pursed his lips. "I fight the Dark as well. If you can help me find it, I can pay handsomely." He slowly reached into his pocket, pulling out a bag full of coins.
"Galleons don't mean as much around here," the man told him, still not taking the knife away.
"These are gold and platinum florans. Fifty of each."
The man gave him a dubious look and reached for the bag. When he emptied it onto the bar, many around them quieted at the clink of the metal. They were all about an inch across. The gold florans were worth two galleons each. The platinum worth ten. It was a small fortune for someone used to living in the wild.
"I earn ten times this each time I bring in a dragon, fifteen if it is still alive. I want double," the man said. "You get until the full moon to find what you are after."
"That is only seven nights away," Severus stated.
"Double and until the full moon. If we don't find what you want by then, we can renegotiate."
Severus pursed his lips again before reaching into his pocket. These two bags were half of what he had on him and he wasn't going to be able to get more until he could go back to Gringotts, and goblins did not run any banks around here.
The man emptied the second pouch. After nodding, he handed four platinum florans to the barmaid. "Your finders fee and my tab, Alisa."
She gave the man a saucy grin. "You throw in another and you can have me all you want until dawn."
The knife was pulled back and was deftly slipped up the man's sleeve. The other remained on the table, probably as a reminder of who the man was and what he could do. Severus slipped his wand back into his holster. The man grinned at the barmaid. "When I get back. This gentleman has retained my services for the next week." He did slide another platinum floran over to her.
"You give me another when you get back and I'll have another to bed with us also," she suggested.
"You know I like them with a little more meat on their bones," the man told her.
"You know I like them thick and long. Maybe this time I can swallow it all," she told him with a wink. The man gave a lecherous grin.
Severus crinkled his nose. He wasn't sure if it was the fact this woman was willing to give herself to a creature like this or that the man was so blasé about his desires.
-oOo-
September 17, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
It was crowded at the pitch today. Well more than half the school was down here to watch the tryout for the Hogwarts team. Most of the other Houses were anxious to see who was picked, and tomorrow Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, the first two house teams to face off this year, would be having their tryout after the Hogwarts team was posted.
As they sat in the stands, Daphne was supremely confident that her intended would earn his spot without much issue. She was sitting with Tracey, Millie, Susan, Hannah and Hermione. The other boys were off doing something and were to join them later.
"Harry has gotten tall, hasn't he?" Tracey asked from next to her.
"He is still lean though," Hannah remarked.
"He is handsome," she agreed with her friends. Harry was getting tall. Only the fifth years and up were taller than him on the field, and even then he wasn't far away. Like Hannah said, he was lean, but she knew it was all muscle.
"Blaise is sort of the same," Hannah put in.
Hermione looked up from her homework. Madam Hooch was organizing things on the field as they watched on. "Blaise has toned up over the summer," Hermione said. Daphne saw the slight challenge in Hermione's eye. Was Hermione finding Blaise attractive? It wasn't the first time the girl had acted like this when Blaise came up.
"He is nice looking, but I like them a little more broad in the shoulders," Susan added in.
"You mean like Ernie," Hannah said significantly.
"Or Neville," Tracey said, a slight dreamy expression on her face.
Susan was blushing a little. "Or like Neville," Susan admitted.
"You do anything more than look and we will cross wands," Tracey warned Susan, who laughed.
"I don't like Neville, Trace. What do you think about Lee Jordan?" Susan put to them.
They all looked to Susan. She had been sending out serious vibes all summer she liked Ernie, and he had acted as though he felt the same... "Where is that coming from," Hannah enquired.
"You said you like them more broad of shoulder and he is cute. It would get you off of Neville," Susan said with a smirk.
"She better not be on Neville," Tracey said, her eyes narrowing.
"You bint! I never said I liked Neville like that. Trace, I swear..."
Susan started to laugh at the look Tracey was giving Hannah. "Then leave me alone about Ernie," said Susan to her friend.
"You set me up! Bint," the blonde repeated. This time they all laughed at them. As the first of the chasers took off, another group of girls moved over to them. Daphne narrowed her eyes to see Chang, Edgecombe, Turpin and Jones.
"Good morning," Chang said to them.
"Chang," Daphne replied. They all seemed to get this was a thing between the group leads, and Daphne was the recognized lead when Harry wasn't around.
"Mind if we sit here? We wanted to see the tryouts," she told them.
"Why aren't you out there? You are a good seeker?" Susan asked. The girl was eyeing Chang.
"With Potter out of the House League, we can't loose," Chang replied.
Daphne's face was an icy glare at the girl. Chang looked down at the field. All her friends looked between them. "Just so you know, Greengrass, my father is offering a formal alliance to the Potters."
Daphne's eyes narrowed. "House Potter and House Greengrass are already in a formal alliance. You will have to ask his regent and my father to join."
Chang didn't look happy. "I want nothing to do with this, but it is no secret that Potter has been declared heir to House Black as well. There is rumor Lord Black will officially name him Scion. I don't really like him, but he is handsome. I have a feeling we will need to find a way to get along soon."
Daphne moved her wrist and her wand came to her hand. Tracey grabbed her arm. "Chang, I would recommend you and your friends sit somewhere else. Heiress Greengrass and Scion Potter are in an exclusive Courtship Agreement," Tracey said from besides her.
Chang finally looked towards them. When she saw the cold look from Daphne, Chang looked a little concerned. "I really don't want this. I like someone else, but we both know if our parents decide something different, we can't go against them."
Daphne let out a long breath. Her parents had taught her years ago how to control her temper and emotions. Except when it came to Harry, she was usually pretty successful. At the moment, she was about ready to lose it. "You will keep your hands off my boyfriend or I swear you will not have any hands to touch anything else," Daphne warned the girl. "I am Harry's intended and will be the only one."
Chang frowned. "This isn't my first choice either."
"And what makes you think this isn't Daphne's?" Hannah challenged.
"I just figured... I mean the boy is handsome, and has good lineage, but your family, and his history..." Chang didn't get a chance to finish what she was going to say as Daphne ripped her arm out of Tracey's hold and she brought her wand up to Chang's throat.
"Don't you dare presume about me or my family. As for whether this was my choice or not, I can tell you that I do choose this. I can also confidently say that father and Madam Bones will be receiving letters telling them that the Changs are only looking for gold and power. Your father will not meet a kind reception when he offers the type of Alliance you are," Daphne said in a cold tone.
Tracey reached her hand over. Daphne hadn't realized that Susan, Hannah and Hermione had also drawn their wands. The other girls with Chang looked scared shiteless. Chang held her cool. "I will inform father, but he will probably not listen. He already knows my protests against such a union," the pretty Asian girl said, sliding along the bench to back away from them. "Ms. Davis, I think you are right. It is less windy on the other side of the stadium."
Chang got up as Tracey pushed her wand down. Turning to Daphne before they walked away, Chang said, "Potter is a lucky man to have someone so loyal. I wish you and him luck."
Daphne watched her as she walked away.
"Do you need to go somewhere else?" Tracey asked.
"I came to see Harry and Roger," Daphne said coolly.
Tracey frowned. "We need to take a walk."
"I am going to watch my boyfriend," Daphne told her. Tracey didn't give her an option as she lifted Daphne up.
"You can once we have a talk," Tracey ordered.
The other girls followed. Daphne crossed her hands over her chest and glared at the other five girls. "I want to go watch Harry."
"You need to calm down first," Tracey told her.
"She thinks my father is going to allow Harry to date her to?"
"Think, Daphne," Tracey said irritated. "She was talking about House Black. If Lord Black names Harry Scion, then he controls that side of Harry. You and your father, not even Harry, would have any say."
"Auntie said that was why Lord Black hadn't declared Harry a scion yet. Harry doesn't want it and he only wants my Auntie to be his regent," Susan said, taking a step towards Daphne. "Daphne, we can all see how Harry likes you. Auntie won't allow anything to get between the two of you like that."
"You know your father will not either," Tracey pressed. "He is not interested in Harry having multiple wives, neither are you."
Daphne glared at them, then huffed. "Harry is my intended," she said defensively.
"And he will remain that way," Hermione put in. "I know Harry. He would never want that."
After a second, Daphne let out a sigh. "You were going to stun me to keep me from hurting Chang, weren't you?"
"Pretty much," Susan and Hannah agreed.
"I was going to attack Chang or her friends if they went after you," Hermione stated.
Daphne snorted, then chuckled. "I would expect a Gryffindor to answer that way," Daphne commented. They all shared a laugh.
"Seriously, though, Susan and I would be right at your side if you needed our help," Hannah assured her.
Daphne nodded. "This won't be the first time someone does this, will it?"
"Probably not. Just promise that you will let me get in at least one hex before you stop me when they start going after Neville," Tracey requested.
Daphne did laugh this time. "I'm with Hermione on this one, I'll have your other flank."
Tracey smiled. Millie looked at them all. "I wish people would back me up like that," the girl whispered.
Daphne took Millie's arm. "You are part of us now, Millie. We all look out for each other and our families."
"Friends," Susan put in.
"Friends," Hermione and Hannah agreed.
"Sisters," Tracey upped the ante.
Daphne smiled at her. "Sisters."
When the others echoed the sentiment, they went back out. Harry was in the air, flying against McLaggen and a Hufflepuff girl she didn't recognize. She was going to have to let others know that her claim over her boy was absolute.
-oOo-
That same day...
Woods of Albania...
For three days now they had been tromping through the woods. Devon refused to let him apparate, saying it would draw too much attention. Instead, they made their way through streams, muddy quagmires and dense undergrowth.
If Severus didn't know better, the man was doing this on purpose. He wanted out of here, not to spend another night in this mess.
"Why haven't we found it yet," Severus asked.
"It doesn't want to be found," the werewolf responded.
Severus scowled. He could feel the dark taint in the forest. It made his skin crawl and each day they spent here, the mark on his arm grew darker and the old familiar sting was returning. There was something in these woods linked to the Dark Lord.
Devon stopped and readied the bow and arrow in his hands.
Severus knew he had to hold his tongue. There was a snap of a twig not too far away and a deer suddenly shot out of a thicket. It stopped to see them, its body showing how tense it was. Devon raised his bow and slowly pulled back on the arrow. There was something about the arrow tip that Severus found odd.
It was made from a dull metal, with runes and a few silvery lines in it. There was something about it that sent a shiver through him. He did not want to be touched by that arrow.
The deer started at a sound behind it and went to run before something long, thick as his leg and hissing suddenly shot out. He stumbled backwards, never having seen a snake that size before. It snagged the deer and wrapped its body around the animal. The deer fought, bleating out in a high pitch scream. The snake struck once. Twice. Blood splattered the ground.
Twang!
He watched the arrow fly. It was fast. The snake just had time to snap its head towards the sound before the arrow buried itself into its side. There was a hissing that filled the clearing. Devon was already moving, another arrow notched. Severus watched the spot the first arrow hat hit. It was turning black and blistering. The snake unwound itself and tried to charge them before the bow made another twang.
The snake dodge the arrow, it's vivid red eyes on the man.
Severus pointed his wand. "Avada Kedevra!"
The snake avoided the spell, dodged another arrow and made to strike before Devon threw his cloak off and pulled his sword. Severus cast a few more killing curses before the werewolf closed in and punched the snake as it struck before his sword was singing as it came down. They both moved with impossible speed.
The sword struck the snake, but instead of severing it in half, the sword only cut about a quarter of the way through the thickness. The snake hissed in pain and pulled back. It went to retreat. With a roar of anger, Devon leapt forward and stuck the sword through the snake, pinning it to the ground midway along its length.
It tried to lash out, but the werewolf was just as quick, deflecting the bite and pulling one of his knives.
"Out of the way!" Severus ordered.
The werewolf stepped back and when the snake went to strike again, Severus was able to hit it with a killing curse. It stopped, mid strike and fell heavily to the forest floor. Devon was ready to strike, his teeth bared and growling.
The man let out a string of what Severus assumed was swears when it was obvious the snake was not going to move again. What caught Severus eye was the black ooze and smoke coming out of the wound made by the sword.
He took a tentative step and cast a detection spell. The trace of the Dark Lord was all over this creature. It sickened him to feel it. As he cast, more black ooze came out and the smoke started to coalesce. He took a step back. Devon was still cursing in his native tongue.
"Step back," Severus let out a warning.
Devon stopped and looked at the snake. The smoke was now a cloud about a meter across. He thought he caught red eyes in it and then his arm started to burn, like a white-hot poker was searing him. He hissed in pain and grabbed at his arm.
So, the traitor shows his true colours, a voice said in his head.
Severus eyes went wide. He rushed to ensure his occlumency shields were in place. "My Lord," Severus said shocked.
Devon growled. "You are serving the Dark!"
The cloud moved about. "No," Severus snapped.
He took an ornate flask from his pocket and began to chant. The cloud seemed to understand what he was doing and screamed its fury. It charged Severus and as he said the last word, the wisps had just touched his forearm before the thing was suddenly being sucked into the flask. The pain that exploded in him was worse than anything he had felt before. He started to scream and was unsure how long he had.
The next thing he knew, Devon was standing over him, sword and knife in hand. He pushed Severus onto his back using his foot. Severus just lay there, panting and fighting off the pain. "What was that!" Devon demanded.
"A wraith," he managed to get out through clenched teeth.
The man snarled. "Then it should be sent back to where it belongs," Devon said.
"NO!" Severus called out, seeing too late what the man intended. The sword came down. It was a container that Albus had helped him make before he left. It was meant to hold the free spirit he was to release from the horcrux. This seemed different.
The sword pierced the flask and a sound of a soul in unbearable pain rent the forest. The sword glowed a violent blue. The pain in his arm exploded again and Severus screamed.
When the black in his vision cleared, he was on the forest floor. The day had grown late. He blinked a few times and saw the sword still through the flask and pinned to the ground. A feebly moving black mass was trying to escape the flask.
Devon was sitting a few meters away, a small fire going.
"What did you do?" Severus croaked out.
"The sword took almost all its magic," Devon said, chewing on something. "Damned thing won't die."
He blinked. "It what?"
"That sword was made by my ancestors. We have been guardians of these forests for a millennia. I have been hunting that thing for months. What is it?"
Severus forced his aching body to sit up. "A wraith."
A knife came to Devon's hand and pointed at Severus. "That ain't no wraith. That sword is meant to destroy the undead. What is it?"
The black glob flopped and tried to move in the other direction but didn't get far, the sword keeping it in place.
"Something foul and unnatural that I swear to destroy. We need to find its den and see what is there. There is something else I am looking for," Severus told him.
The werewolf eyed him. "In the morning. We are in a place that is too dangerous to walk about at night."
Severus snarled. He needed this done. That black blob needed to die.
He tried to sit up and just barely managed it. "In the morning," Severus agreed, realizing he might not be in the best condition to go on, especially if there was another giant snake like that.
"Once our contract is done, I want you out of my woods. If I see you again after the full moon, I will kill you," Devon said in no uncertain terms.
"Believe me, I have no intentions of ever returning. Now, I need to make a new container for that... thing." His wand was out and summoned a rock before repeating the process that had been used on the flask. If he was lucky, he would have it ready by morning.
-oOo-
September 19, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
Hermione woke as she normally would. It was a Monday, so she would meet the boys at six-fifteen to walk down to the practice fields.
Yawning, she slunk out of her bed, trying not to wake Lavender, Parvati or Fay. They were not early risers and often didn't wander down to the Great Hall until about eight to have a hurried breakfast. She didn't have that luxury though. Harry was insistent he was going to keep up the training from the summer and she would not slack off.
It was getting easier each morning to convince herself Harry was her brother. In most senses of the word, he was, but she had harbored a crush on him for years. It hurt sometimes to see how he liked Daphne and that they were now in a Courtship Agreement, but he was happy. Something he hadn't been much of the first two and a half years she had known him.
Convincing herself that Harry was her brother took a back seat this morning when she went to reach for her tracksuit and found a few presents on top of it. Blinking, she realized that her friends had remembered her birthday this year. The last two years were a little lonely, not having her parents to celebrate it with, but she hadn't really made a big deal with Ron or Harry either. She had just been happy to have two friends.
This year, she had more.
Since last Easter, when Hannah had invited her to her house for the sleepover, she had felt she had gotten close to the two Hufflepuffs and two Slytherins. Close enough that she knew Daphne was a good person and good for Harry. It was what made her jealousy subside and accept that Harry cared for her, but just not like that.
Looking at the pile of presents, there was more here than just the few she would expect from them. She looked at the pile quickly. Harry. Daphne. Tracey. Neville. Blaise. Millicent. Ron... that one surprised her. Hannah. Susan. Three from her parents. Even Roger's and Astoria's names were affixed to a present each. Thirteen wrapped packages. It was more than she had ever gotten or expected.
She couldn't keep a tear from forming and letting it fall.
Knowing she only had ten minutes before she had to be down in the common room, she opened the three from her parents and decided to keep the others for later. There was a new Gryffindor jumper, that she put on right away. Three books on the Wizengamot. Amelia or someone must have helped them with that. The last one brought a few more tears to her face. It was a Wizarding photo of her and her parents. Whomever helped them get this would be getting a big hug today.
She put it on her bedside table and the other presents on her bed. No one here would take them, but she didn't want them in full display either.
Down in the Common room, Harry was leaning against the wall between the stairs. Neville was in a chair while Ron looked passed out again in a plush chair by the fire. She went straight to Harry, feeling he had a hand in this. Her hug was tight and he wrapped an arm around her. "Happy Birthday," he told her.
"Thank you," she said into his chest. He was even taller than last year now. She was barely five-three and he must be close to five-seven now.
"Sorry we missed the last few years," Harry replied.
She smiled and sniffed. "It always seemed we had other worries."
When she pulled back, Neville wished her a happy birthday. She hugged him as Harry went over to Ron and hit his shoulder. Ron started and looked around. "Oh, Happy Birthday, Hhh...hhh...Hermione," he said through a big yawn. In the last few weeks, Ron had attended most of the study sessions and had been nicer to her.
"Thank you," she beamed at them.
"Come on, the others will be waiting," Harry told her.
They made it down to the field and she stopped as they walked through the door. Everyone they hung out was there, so was three small tables. "Daphne thought you might like a birthday breakfast and Babbling gave us permission."
A huge smile sprang over her face and she hugged him again, before rushing and hugging a surprised Daphne. "Thank you," she whispered to her friend.
"Harry mentioned you hadn't really celebrated your birthday," she said, hugging her briefly back. Hermione stepped away, knowing Daphne didn't like to show that much emotion here. The tables all had warming charms over them and Roger, Blaise and Hannah were taking a bunch of breakfast stuff out of some baskets and putting them on the tables.
Susan and Hannah hugged her. Ernie and Blaise tolerated her hug. She felt a little flush after hugging Blaise. The boy was quiet and usually didn't touch anyone outside of the practice rooms. She had not realized that his body had hardened over the summer. He didn't feel as hard as Harry, but he was getting there.
It was a marvelous breakfast, and the rest of the day she just felt like she was floating on air. It wasn't until after lunch that she was able to get to the rest of her pile of gifts. She jumped onto her bed, her bag unceremoniously forgotten at the base of her bed. Looking at the pile, she wasn't sure where to start first. After a few, she decided she would save Daphne's and Harry's for last. They had obviously been the ones to organize things, making them important.
Ron's was first. It was a sextant for astronomy. Looking at it, she was amazed. Ron and all the Weasley's were always sensitive about how much money they had. This was worth at least twenty-five galleons and far better than the standard one she had gotten with her original Hogwarts supplies, which had cost her parents a little over three. She wasn't sure if it was Ron trying to get back into her good graces or if he was really changed?
He had been quite different since coming back, and especially after he had earned that award with Harry and her. Most nights he was still telling the story of the troll, the chess match and what happened with Lockhart.
Soon she had an assortment of books, a self-inking quill set, various sweets and a pair of new witches' boots like the ones she had admired on Tracey over the summer. When she opened the present from Blaise, her eyebrows rose. It was two books. One she had admired in Flourish and Blotts when they had all gone to Diagon Alley. The red leather cover was in a language she knew to be Gobbledygook. It was a Curse Breaker training guide, the one the goblins published for those that wanted to be a rune weaver or Curse Breaker for the bank. Her parents had told her it was too expensive, but now it was in her hands.
The second book was a book on Gobbledygook.
She stared at them for a few. Again, the mostly quiet boy had surprised her. Her curiosity won out and she opened the book on Gobbledygook, not realizing she hadn't opened the last two packages. It wasn't until Fay came in a few hours later to drop off her bag that Hermione was shaken out of her reading.
"What's with all the packages and wrappings," Fay asked.
Hermione looked up, blinking. Her mind was trying to assimilate the goblin language and wasn't paying attention. "What?" she queried.
"All the packages and wrappings. Is it your birthday?"
Hermione smiled. "Fifteen today," she said, her brain still filing away everything she had read.
"Oh, I wish I had known. Happy Birthday. Lavender, Parvati and me would have gotten you something and a cake," the girl said.
"Don't worry. I never told any of you," Hermione replied.
"Get anything good?"
"Excellent, actually."
"Looks like you missed two," Fay nodded, sitting on her bed next to Hermione.
Hermione blinked again and looked down. She saw the packages from Harry and Daphne. Harry's was small. Daphne's was obviously another book. "Oh, I did."
Picking up Daphne's first, she opened it to find an old, leather bound book and a note.
-o-
Father has allowed you to borrow this for the year. Do not loan it to anyone except myself or Astoria.
Harry has mentioned how much his occlumency lessons have helped him. Given your love of knowledge, and the benefits occlumency can give for information retention, and other things, the Potters and Greengrasses have agreed to support your education in this subject.
Keep this book safe, hidden and in good condition.
Your friend,
Daphne
-o-
Hermione blinked at the note. She had read about occlumency, and knew Harry was being trained as part of his therapy, but she had not thought that she would be given the chance to learn herself. She felt speechless.
"Well, what is it?" Fay asked.
She opened her mouth a time or two before she said, "Something special."
Scanning the note again, she was curious about what Harry had gotten her. She ripped open the present and found a small day planner. Opening it, she found a note from Harry.
-o-
Hermione,
I hope you like a new planner. You are always bugging us about our study schedules.
This is a special one. I have convinced Healer Tonks to start teaching you Occlumency and have paid for lessons for the next year. All appointments will be found in here, and if they need to change, Healer Tonks has a copy that she can adjust the times.
Hope you don't mind my writing, but I added all your classes, training and study group times so she knows. You can change any of them following the instructions on the inside page.
I hope you like this,
Harry
-o-
"A planner? That is just a joke, right?" Fay laughed.
Hermione shut it and pulled it to her chest. Her heart was thudding in her chest. This had been the best birthday she had ever had and the knowledge on her bed was certainly almost priceless. "It is no joke."
Fay laughed at her goofy smile. "Well, I hope I get a new broom for my birthday. I'm heading down to meet Lav and Parv. It's almost dinner time. You coming?"
Hermione shook her head. "In a few," she replied.
Fay left the room and Hermione ran her hands over her new prizes. A planner with occlumency lessons. A Greengrass book on the subject. The red-leather rune study guide and the book on Gobbledygook. To her, these were all priceless.