7 A Tiara to end it all.
I made my way to the seventh floor, you might think I am rushing it, but to be honest? If you read Goddess Rowling's sixth book, then you must have noticed her talent to smear a story over a whole school year. The memories Dumbledore showed could have been taken care of in an afternoon, Draco… meh, just off the creep.
Now, take one who knows the story, and what is going to happen, will he just follow canon? Afraid to change the outcome to something worse? Follow classes, and prevent Hermione to cry in the loo? Don't get caught smuggling Norberta?
I had to endure the Dursleys because I had no way into the magic world as long Dumbledore had me in his grip, and me too weak to defend myself. I did prevent the abuse from them and had time to prepare.
Once I am in the open, any changes have to be done in a minimum of time, before the bad guys can adapt to the new situation. Which means dispose of Voldemort and Dumbledore as fast as possible.
So for all those fan-fic stories about self-inserts and time travelers in fourth-year, doing the tasks and allowing Barty Jr to teach for a year, just for a chance at the resurrection? I admit it will get a bigger word count.
My goal is to end it fast, kill the bad guys, learn some magic… Dammed, I am too young to even enjoy the presence of girls, let alone being able to do something with Tonks. Bloody puberty hasn't even started yet. My fucking brother got smothered with girls in his fan-fic. Like Hannah said: I have to wait until fourth year! Those are four bloody years! On top of that, I probably have to share with Neville. Hannah and Susan are all over his case, I guess Megan too.
True, Daphne and Tracey want to wait… four bloody long years. I have to watch out for fucking Diggory, he is a pretty boy. Well… I just push Chang in his direction.
Hmm? Where was I going? Ah, yes, Tiara.
Xxxxx
After checking my map, I paced before the wall concentrating on the room of hidden things. The door appeared, and I entered a big hall filled with junk, on my mental demand the door faded. This is something else, again the movie did not do it justice at all. It was bigger than a pro football stadium, fit for a hundred thousand fans.
This could take some time. I closed my eyes and focused my senses to detect dark magic. My range is about a hundred feet, thirty feet range is fairly accurate. The place lit up like a Christmas fair. Tuning it onto the feeling I had in my scars for years, I started to wander through the alleys. This place is better than Aladdin's treasure cave! I am so going to loot this place clean.
The vanishing cabinet was not yet in here, if memory serves me right, a Slytherin is shoved in it by the Weasel twins in a few years, so a bust with a wig on top is the thing to look for. There were a lot of funny things to find though, Paintings of the weirdest things possible, Centaurs that are getting busy… Different paintings of naked witches, some trying to hide behind their bed, others provoking me. Wizards can be kinky too. I saw proof of the Puff underwear, a whole trunk filled with black and yellow underwear, from grandma-style to tong. Was that from the marauders' time? The big Hufflepuff panty raid?
What was I searching for? Ah! Tiara, right. I'll come back for the trunk some other day. After an hour my senses picked a signal up. The bust with the wig stood on top of a pile of junk. I spotted the Tiara, carefully I levitated the thing in a dragonhide bag, and closed it.
At the exit, the map showed Dumbledore in his office, the poor sod has yet to recover from the dressing down he received from aunty Amelia, especially, when they discovered the troll. I'll bet he is preparing for the board meeting tomorrow. The corridor was empty, the door appeared, carefully I navigated myself to the whomping willow, avoiding Flinch and some seniors, with no one near, I levitated a stone to the nob, freezing the branches.
Xxxxx
The tunnel was dusty and grim, the shack… meh, I know what it was for, now it is convenient for me. I called Tapsy, who appeared with a pop. Tapsy: "Master Harry called?" I smiled at Tapsy: "Hey Tapsy, I need a lift to Gringotts, can you bring me?" Tapsy cleaned the grime and filth from the tunnel of my clothes and popped me at the steps of Gringotts.
I approached the guards: "Warriors, I, Harry Potter, have with me a dark artifact that needs your specialists to destroy it. My account manager Blooddagger knows I was going to bring it in. can I go in?"
One guard led me into a side corridor to Blooddagger, avoiding the main hall. At Blooddagger, I just showed him the dragonhide bag. His face lit up: "The last one?" smiling: "Yep the last one, but can you wait to destroy it? My guess is that if you destroy it, the dark mark will disappear. Those death eaters that got imperioused need to get a lesson. How about we set a trap for them at Samhain? It would be fitting to send him off on the day he killed my parents and expose those death eaters to the public. Malfoy is still convinced I am possessed by voldy."
Blooddagger: "I have to consult with Ragnar for this, it will be a blow for those death eaters though." I nodded: "I have Madam Bones in my camp, the head of the department of mysteries too. With the Goblin nation's help, we can lure them in. You can have my memory of how I tricked Malfoy into giving me the diary."
Blooddagger grinned, took a ring out of his drawer, and presented it to me: "Save that memory for me. We went to Little Hangleton, at the Gaunt shack, and retrieved the ring. We recognized the ring and tested that function. It did not work at all. Our best curse breakers studied it, they said it needed two other components and a specific bloodline to work. So the tale is mostly true. I'm guessing it is needing your bloodline to work?"
I studied the ring up close with my magic senses, there is a connection between us, I could clearly feel it. Getting my cloak and his wand from Dumbledore became a bigger priority. I guess I have to play the possessed kid once more.
"Blooddagger, you are right. It won't work for someone else. The Gaunts are from the oldest brother's bloodline, I am from the youngest brother. Although in my opinion, the dead should be left in peace. We will meet them soon enough." Yeah… If you choose the right light to pass through. Through the wrong one gets you hit with a fucking frying pan.
Xxxxx
Tapsy popped me back to the shack, after thanking her and giving the ring to store in my office at home, I told her to send my best wishes to the other elves. I went back to the common room.
My chaperon was waiting for me: "Harry James Potter! We have been searching hours for you!" I acted surprised: "That was you? I thought there was someone out to get me, so I went into hiding. I felt blood lust coming after me. Were you planning to hex me?" She blushed! She was planning to hex me! "Naughty Nymm! You know I am spoken for! And to be honest? I am not into rough play, maybe you can ask Lance Davis." That got me on the receiving end of several hexes. Tracey yelled: "Harry don't you start rumors about my brother!" Tonks's hair was bright red, I had to dodge several stinging hexes. I surrendered: "I give up! Sorry! I was exploring the castle and grounds. And I needed some alone time. I apologize, Tonks, you are like a big sister to me and I should not have teased you. How can I make it up to you?"
Daphne interrupted: "Hold it, Tonks, he is granting you a favor. You have to carefully think about it, so you get the maximum from it." I was shocked: "Huh? Dear? I thought you were on my side?" Tracey shot back: "That was before you dragged Lance in the conversation." Auch… I am in the dog house. I went to Tracey and gave her a hug: "Sorry dear, you know I am muggle raised, so I am bound to do mistakes. Will you forgive me? Or do you girls need a favor too?" Tracey looked at Daphne, Daphne nodded. Tracey: "No matter the outcome of that bet, the dancing lessons will happen. Then you are forgiven." I sighed: "Deal. I am truly sorry, sometimes my mouth moves faster than my brain. Now, why were you all searching for me?"
Tonks: "Sirius let a message, he is coming tomorrow with my parents in Hogsmeade for a meeting with you and me, at ten o'clock in the three broomsticks. So, do you know what it is about?" I nodded: "I do, but it is not for me to reveal it to you. I can tell you it is nothing bad. On another note, do we have new teachers? At the pace they are disappearing we have to self-study to get things done." That was a good diversion, everyone started guessing what new teachers we will get.
I said: "My bet is on Horace Slughorn for potions, and an Auror, like Mad eye Moody for Dada, you know, the one with the magic eye that even can look through invisibility cloaks." That is a rumor that I fully support. Now he will definitively not get hired.
Xxxxx
Do you know why there are so many broom closets? Social life at Hogwarts sucks big time! There is not a bloody thing to do around here. Chess, exploding snap, and gobstones get boring quickly. Mix it with hormonal pubering teens… yeah, that is the reason. The weather in North Scotland doesn't invite you for a lot of outdoor activity at all. From second year, couples are starting to form. In the muggle world, there is plenty to do, here, it was driving me up the walls. Sometimes you need to unwind you know, I can't even concentrate on magic because I was already too far ahead.
I approached Tonks, she sat on a couch, I dropped next to her and laid my head on her lap. I sighed: "Tonks, I am bored, entertain me. What do you do around here that isn't chess, gobstones, or snap?" She shrugged: "We practice magic." Alright, if there is nothing else, we can work with that. An idea popped in my head, it must be because it was on Tonks lap.
"Tonks, do you know what paintball is? Can we somehow change it into spell ball? Instead of using guns that fire little balls of paint, we fire a spell that leaves a colored spot on the body with a little sting. We make two teams and spell-tag each other until one team is out. What do you think Sis? There are enough empty rooms, big enough to do this in." Several seniors were listening and liked the idea, finding the right spell for it was harder.
Well, the idea got a life of his own, after dinner seniors from all houses gathered to discuss the idea. The transfiguration and runes students studied the changes the room would need, Charms, and arithmancy students worked on the spell. Divination students predicted the outcome of their efforts. The only History student took notes for our progeny. Meh, we give it a week, and then I'll show them a real paintball gun.
Xxxxx
The next morning, Dumbledore was very nervous. When your job is on the line, it is understandable. The owls flew in with the newspapers. One landed in front of me with the Quibbler. The heading said it all.
A Letter to my daughter!
Dear readers, my daughter and I had the pleasure to meet Heir Harry Potter on the trial of his Godfather Lord Sirius Black. He made friends with my daughter and promised her an interview for this very newspaper. We thought he forgot his promise with all the changes that went on in his life, but last Wednesday My Luna received a letter from Heir Potter.
Dear readers, in this letter Heir Potter explained some of the things that happened in his life and gave us permission to publish parts we should find interesting enough to print in our newspaper.
Fellow wizards and witches. We printed the letter without changing a single word.
What followed was my letter, printed in a bold big font. Underlining the important parts. At the end Xenophilius commented:
Dear wizards and witches, do you feel as I did, reading this letter for the first time, that we let Heir Potter down? While we were celebrating the end of the blood war, the ones that made it possible were betrayed by the person they put their trust in. Dumbledore. What reason can that man have to drop a child at night on a doorstep?
A doorstep of people that fear and hate magic. Before I printed this letter, I showed it to Madam Bones, the head of our Auror department. Her comment: "Mister Xenophilius, this is not the worst part. Dumbledore abused his positions of Chief Warlock and Supreme mugwump to block the Will of Lord Potter. He was the witness of the Will, a Will made five days before the event."
Dear readers, with permission of his new magical guardian Lord Abbot, we now present you parts of the Will, that will make you question the sanity of Mr. Dumbledore. I know, coming from me tells you it is grave.
What followed was parts of the Will, Godfather by ritual, Peter the secret keeper, Dumbledore casting the Fidelius and recommending Peter, the list of guardians, the ban of putting me with the Dursleys, and the witnesses of the Will.
Dear readers, I am ashamed to say this is not all that happened with Heir Potter. Lord Abbot, his magical guardian stated: "When Heir potter arrived at Gringotts on his birthday, he was completely unaware of his heritage. A Family that traces back for thousands of years brought back to a single survivor. One that thought the Hogwarts letter was a joke from his fellow students of the muggle world.
At Gringotts, it was discovered that several illegal spells were on him. A Bloodtracker! A drain to Bloodwards! at his relative's house! A mail redirection and a spell to keep his house-elves from detecting his presence."
All of that dear readers, and on top of that, Dumbledore bound Heir Potters magic for at least 50%! Can you imagine a baby with a drain on his magic, bound to 50% in a hostile environment?
What was Dumbledore planning with Heir Potter? Children became a Obscuros for less!
Lord Abbot told me: "When Heir Potter was four years old, at Sanheim, he, after some abuse of his aunt, yelled at her his mum would be waiting for her in heaven! After that day he was treated better. That does not excuse Dumbledore from his crimes! It makes me ashamed that a little boy had to defend himself, while Dumbledore is wallowing in wealth and glory. It makes me wonder… is his past glory real or another hidden crime?
The Lords and Ladies stated in the Will did a background check on Dumbledore. We found out Grindelwald was a close friend of Dumbledore, after some disputes around the time Dumbledore's sister died they broke up. Grindelwald was declared a dark Lord in the early thirties, the war started in thirty-eight. Many of our families died in that war, guided by… you guessed it: Dumbledore. Only when Grindelwald was weak, wounded and on the run, did Dumbledore swoop in and heroically dueled Grindelwald. Although nobody witnessed the duel."
Dear readers, I admit, I put Dumbledore on a pedestal for getting rid of Grindelwald. I felt he deserved to be Chief Warlock and Supreme mugwump. Now? After all these revelations? I dare say he is a hidden Dark Lord. A puppet master of the worst kind. I am afraid what crimes will come to the surface, once we start digging into his past.
It is time for us to clean the mess our world is in right now. This century brought us one Dark Lord after another. We were following them like mindless sheep, dividing us into a light side and a dark, and putting relatives against each other, murdering our own.
Please, do not blindly believe everything that is written or said! Even this article! Check the facts out, and come to your own conclusion.
Yours truly: Xenophilius Lovegood.
Xxxxx
Wow! That was more than I anticipated. I handed the magazine to Daphne and Tracey, after reading it twice, Daphne asked me: "Dear? What are you going to stir up next? Telling the Centaurs divination is not real? Or to the Goblins Galleons are not important? I estimate two or three days and the whole world will know this story." Tracey added: "We need a new headmaster."
She passed the paper to Neville, Susan and Hannah were reading alongside. Neville commented: "Gran has a subscription to the Quibbler, and the board is meeting today. Harry? This is our first week at school… do I need to be worried for our future?"
I shrugged: "Nev, I am ruthless to my enemies, and try to be good to my friends. Everyone else? If they let me be in peace, I won't bother them. Hey! It looks like Dumbledore reads the Quibbler too!"
Dumbledore came to the table, I prepared for my defense, spreading my magic around me. Dumbledore: "Harry, are you responsible for this slander on my character?" I smiled at him: "Yes Albus, I wrote that letter. Tell me, if it is the truth, can you call it slander? By the way, my cloak that you stole from dad. I want it back immediately. Along with the rest you stole from my family." The whole school was following the discussion.
Dumbledore noticed his slip up: "Let us take this conversation to my office, Harry. And address me as Headmaster." I answered: "Then address me as Heir Potter, Albus, I will follow you to your office if you call Madam Bones to witness the talk. My head of House will be present also, maybe professor Flitwick as a neutral witness?"
Neville showed his Griffindor side: "Maybe after the board meeting Headmaster? If we are lucky we don't have to call you that again. Even if half of what is in this article is true, it makes you a monster." Way to go Nev! Dumbledore is getting bitch slapped by firsties! His plans are flowing away down the drain.
Mama Sprout stood behind Dumbledore: "I hope you are not planing something more stupid than you already have Albus. Leave my Badgers alone, and focus on your own problems, which you have plenty it seems." Dumbledore looked around, every Puff from fifth-year till seventh had wands in their hand. Loyalty paid off after all. He turned and stomped off.
I smiled at professor Sprout: "Hannah was right, Huffelypuff is the best." Hannah: "You do this on purpose you barbarian! It is Hufflepuff! You better wear the colors with pride Potter! Daphne, Tracey, see to it that he does." Both traitors smiled evilly and nodded.
Tonks said: "Never a dull moment with Harry, it is a good thing your hair is already gray Professor, or else Harry would be the cause of it."
Xxxxx
In my dorm, after breakfast, I dressed for the meeting in the three broomsticks. An idea popped in my head: "Can I speak with the Hogwarts head elf, please? It is important!" An old elf appeared: "Why does student Potter need to speak with Hoggy?"
I responded: "Well Hoggy, the current Headmaster has several items and heirlooms of my family in his possession at his office, items he even refuses to return. He probably is going to be fired today, if that happens, can you return all items of my family that are in this castle to Tapsy my head elf?"
Hoggy thought about it: "If Old whiskers is fired today, we be no more have to follow his commands. We be returning all to Tapsy." I took a risk and asked: "Can you return the wand also? It is a long-lost heirloom of my family." Hoggy looked at me for a long time: "Tapsy is telling us how you be treating them. We will return the wand." He popped away.
Yes! One step closer to freedom, fame, girls… dammed still too young for the fun stuff.
Xxxxx
Tonks guided me to the gates, where Sirius waited for us. The dog cleaned up nice, he looked almost human. He hugged me: "The menace of the wizarding world! My personal hero! Come, people are waiting. Hello Nymphadora, how was your first week?" She growled: "Fine up until you called me by my first name." I gave Tonks a one-arm hug and said: "Let it slide for today Dora, you can always get back at him with a rolled-up newspaper." Sirius barked at that: "Hey! Don't sass the dog!"
At the Three Broomsticks, Sirius led us into a meeting room, where Tonks parents were waiting. We settled down with some butterbeer, another wizarding horror, those things tasted as actual butter! Two major flaws of the wizarding world. No sense of taste and fashion… at all.
Sirius started: "On Harry's request, and to be honest, I should have thought about it myself, I welcomed Andromeda back into the Black family, and accepted House Tonks as a cadet line, Theodore Tonks agreed to that on the condition that you are ok with it Nymphadora. If not, we just accept Andy back into the family."
Tonks asked: "To form a cadet line, does that mean I have to marry a man who has to take my maiden name?" Theodore: "It is that or be a Consort with a line continue contract. It is an old magic tradition to spread the bloodlines, a tradition those purebloods neglected for too long."
Andromeda: "We used to do this centuries ago, to integrate muggle born's into our society. As our only child, you are our Heir supreme. It puts you in the same situation as Heir Greengrass and Heir Bones, who have already found their primary wife."
Tonks looked at me: "You knew all this?" I answered: "I asked Sirius to get your mother back into the Black family and to accept Tonks and you. I did not have a clue about cadet lines. The way I understand it is to look for a bloke that won't mind taking your name or partner up with a girl you won't mind sharing a husband and future with. The third option is to reject the cadet line. The cadet line has some benefits I guess?"
Sirius: "Children from a cadet line are automatically regarded as purebloods, the main family will fund the start-up for that line and support it for at least four generations. In return, the cadet line defers to the Main House, also for four generations."
Andromeda sighed: "There is a fourth option. Sirius is sterile due to his stay in Askaban or someone slipped him a potion. You can become Lady Black by marrying Heir Potter, and merge the cadet line back to the mainline."
Bloody fuck! My mind froze over. I have to defuse this trap! "Hold on! There is a fifth option! Mrs. Tonks can get pregnant with a boy, who will get the cadet line." Tonks glared at me: "I am not good enough for you Potter?" I shot back at her: "I haven't even reached puberty, Tonks! How can I even know how good you are." Hmm, rewind that sentence? Crap, that will go down the wrong way.
Tonks fumed: "You need to test me first? I am not that kind of girl Potter!" I looked at Sirius for help, that tosser was almost choking with laughter, Theodore too had a smile on his face, while Andromeda was looking sad.
She said: "Aunt Walburga was a vindictive bitch. When I was in St Mungos with you, they black-mailed a nurse to slip me a potion to sterilize me. It is a Black family recipe, so I knew who did it. The same potion can be used on men with a few modifications. So we are pretty certain Sirius got it in Askaban and who provided it."
I looked at Tonks: "Tonks… I have not a clue what to do or say. Daphne and Tracey made it clear to be willing to wait for me. Last school year, I witnessed enough teenage drama in school to be wary of it. Defining the future before you reach eighteen years is, at least in the muggle world, foolish. I don't know the customs and laws about it here to form an opinion."
Tonks: "About the time you make up your mind I'll be a twenty-four-year-old spinster."
I shrugged: "Most muggles find true love only after they are in their twenties, witches live decades longer than muggles, so what's the hurry? And you could find a good man, marry the bloke and have a couple of kids. Look can we agree to think about it? To say, at the end of this year?"
At that moment Tapsy popped in with my cloak: "Master Harry, Hoggy been giving Potter Heirlooms back to us. The cloak has a lot of nasty spells and tracking charms on it."
I smiled: "Tapsy, bring the cloak to Blooddagger and tell him to remove everything and take the fee in tenfold from Dumbledore's account. Here is the memory of me warning Dumbledore if he does not return it without removing them. Well, Sirius, Dumbledore is fired by the board. What are the odds of him keeping the mugwump gig?"
Sirius looked seriously at me: "Remind me to not get you angry at me pup, I might not survive it." Theodore: "That is a major shift in power. I am curious how the dark faction is going to react." I said: "Maybe they all shift to gray, not light or dark." We had lunch, said our goodbyes, and returned to the castle.
Xxxxx
Tonks dragged the girls into her room, Neville asked: "What happened? Are you in trouble?" I sighed and explained the situation. Neville grinned at my misery: "You have two Lordships, so you need two wives. One for Black and one for Potter, knowing Daphne, she needs to continue her line, so you have Tracey for Lady Potter and Daphne as Consort. So… Tonks for Lady Black? It would strengthen the bloodline and your claim on it."
I shot back: "Haha, laugh it up, buddy. Remember Hannah and Susan? That is Lady Longbottom and Consort written all over it. And you know Megan is interested in you too."
Neville's smile disappeared: "Merlin's saggy underpants! I did not see that coming. Harry, Gran is bloody hardcore traditional! I'll get a contract before Yule!" I nodded: "Welcome to the club mate. It is bloody complicated to be an Heir in this world. I hope there will be no other surprises."
Xxxxx
After an hour the girls returned, they all got a predatory look in their eyes. Daphne: "Harry, Neville, follow us please, now." We followed the girls to the seventh floor. Susan did the set-up for the room, we entered a cozy room with plenty of couches and a fireplace. She made the door disappear, we were trapped said Neville's looks and mine. Tonks got the short explanation of Rowena's room.
Susan started the talk: "Neville, Harry, do you have any idea what pressure there is on us? Each month there are several offers for a marriage contract for us. Now that we are showing that we are good at magic, our value goes up and the pressure on our parents increases a lot. It is only a week in school, but aunty said the offers doubled. We did our first spells silent and without wand movements! That is sixth-year level. There are enough that witnessed it and wrote to their parents."
Hannah: "What we are saying is that we need to be fast to choose our own future before our parents are being forced to marry us to some old pure-blood family."
Daphne summed it up: "We want marriage contracts between us. Hannah and Susan to Neville, Tracey, and I for Harry Potter, Tonks, and Megan for Harry Black. We can make the contracts so that we can cancel it mutually at sixteen years old. Once we have the contracts, the pure-bloods will back of."
Tonks: "It is a safety net Harry, it prevents the girls to be hunted by the pure-bloods, the pureblood pool is shrinking. Desperate families can do crazy things to get a pure-blood bride. Crabbe and Goyle for example, or nasty shits like Malfoy or Nott."
Megan: "It can be dangerous too, My sister Hestia's fiance got in a suspicious accident. She is an Auror trainee now, Aurors look after their own, so she is safe for now. I don't mind being connected to you Harry, or Neville if there was a free spot."
Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the dark side of the wizarding world, feel free to look around, but please don't touch a thing.
Neville: "I'll owl Gran to set it up." He looked at me: "It is best I take the initiative before Gran does it for me. I happen to like Hannah and Susan, this way we will get to know each other better, and they are protected."
Daphne: "Now that Tonks is a cadet line, she will be viewed as a pureblood, and it is open season to get her. There is also the matter with Ginny Weasley. What are your plans with her?" Crap, I forgot all about her.
"Alright, I'll contact Uncle Percival and Sirius. But, the contracts need the option to get canceled, once the person canceling is checked on potions, spells or blackmail." Yeah right, I read Fan-fictions to you now. Those fucking contracts pop up all over the place in there. I am glad I don't follow my brothers' example and claim Slytherin and Gaunt by right of conquest. That is something to avoid.
I continued: "I have no clue to handle Ginny. I visited the Weasleys to see if they are good people or in league with Dumbledore. In my opinion, Arthur Weasley signed the contract in good faith. Ginny is been told from the moment she could walk that she is going to marry me, those Harry Potter books did not help either. I kind of like the girl and don't want her to get hurt, but honestly? I don't want to marry her." I felt kind of guilty because I used Ginny's contract as an excuse to get to the rat.
Daphne: "You have to settle that issue first before you get in another contract Harry. It can cause a feud otherwise."
Susan interrupted: "Enough! I want to have a swim today. Stand aside, everyone." She closed her eyes and a big pool appeared, with two rooms to change in. in the changing room were two swimming trunks with bloody Puff coloring. I grumbled at Neville: "Next time you set the room. If it is Hannah then I am going to run away."
The girls modernized, Tonks in a black and yellow bikini, the rest in a modest one-piece. All in bumblebee colors. Tonks: "This room is fantastic! We are so going to abuse it!"
8 Weasel trouble.
We had fun, Tonks was teasing me with shrinking her bikini, getting gasps from the other girls. I manipulated the water into two hands and started tickling her, soon everyone was trying to manipulate the water.
Tonks asked: "How do you get so good at it? This is bloody wandless magic! Above Newts!" I smiled at her: " Well, my future Lady Black, start meditating and search for your magic. The feeling is somewhat the same when you got your wand bonded to you. When you have that feeling, circulate it through your blood veins and nervous system.
Keep it up for about five years without missing a day. Every morning and evening minimum of one hour. If you do that, you will be at the level I am right now."
Megan asked: "Will it work for me too?" I nodded: "If you can find your magic, it will. It is harder for you to find it because your wand is not a perfect match. It is very hard to find your magic if you don't have the exact feeling of it, or else there would be a lot of wandless wizards walking around."
Daphne: "Astoria already found it, and is meditating more than six hours a day." Susan said: "I'll change the room into the previous setting so we can have a meditation session. The room got back with couches and the fireplace, the water disappeared from our bodies along with the pool.
I got in front of Tonks and said: "Tonks, I am going to simulate the connection again, so you can feel your magic. It will be very faint and weak, so pay attention." I took her wand in one hand, her hand in the other, and simulated connecting her again to the wand. We were surrounded by a bright light, after a few minutes Tonks could definitively feel something. She nodded to me and started meditating… in a small bikini.
Cursing my lack of hormones, I turned to Megan: "It will be harder for you Megan, you have to feel for something that is almost the same as what I am going to let you feel." Doing the same for Megan took longer, I held the connection for more than twenty minutes before she nodded.
The others already found theirs and were meditating. Daphne was the furthest along, she felt the pressure of her sister, and put extra hours in her practice. I asked the room for a small marble and a piece of parchment placed it before her and whispered in her ear: "In front of you is a marble and a piece of parchment. Try to sense it, when you do, try to move it."
We ended the session after an hour and returned to the common room. Tonks and Megan were happy, they found their magic, and felt they were on the path to wandless. Five years is nothing, witnessing what I can do with my wandless magic, five years is a small price to pay. Especially with the prestige it comes by.
Xxxxx
The next morning at breakfast, owls came flying in… A lot of owls. A bloody lot of them. I asked: "Tonks, can you scan these letters for curses and stuff? I rather not get portkey'd away, or get a compulsion charm to sign a magic contract." While I was saying that, the girls retracted their hands from the letters.
Hannah asked: "You think they do that?" I shrugged: "Death eaters kill, torture, and rape, so cursing a letter is just a minor issue." The seventh-year Puffs were all scanning my letters, most were innocent, letters of encouragement and support, and a few love letters.
Neville opened one with pictures in it, the poor boy got a speed course about the female anatomy, with close-ups and live-action. He closed his eyes, said this letter was a bust and pocketed the photographs. Meh, it's a little boy's curiosity, maybe he learns something.
I spotted an ancient owl flying to me and crash-landed on my plate. This must be the famous Errol, the Weasley owl. The letter was from Arthur Weasley.
Heir Potter,
Regarding the article that was posted in the Quibbler, we found out to our shame that we blindly trusted Dumbledore, and aided him in committing a crime against your House.
I am referring to the marriage contract Dumbledore set up between my daughter Ginny and you. We realize this can be seen as an attempt to line theft. We want to reassure you that this was not the intention of our House. Nevertheless, it happened. Can we meet with you and your Guardians to discuss it before legal action is taken? The Marriage contract is void without discussion of course. We already informed our daughter, she will return the presents she got from you.
We hope this issue will not escalate and hope to meet you soon.
Yours truly
Lord Arthur Weasley, Head of House Weasley.
I read it twice and handed it to Daphne and Tracey. Daphne remarked: "Arrange a meeting with uncle Percival, Solicitor Tonks, and Lord Black this weekend, to talk with Lord Weasley. You better let the Weasleys read this letter too, so they will not be taken by surprise."
I confirmed it: "I'll send letters after class. I plan to let Ginny keep the gifts, is that appropriate? She is a victim too. I don't want her punished for the actions of Dumbledore. She has to adjust to a whole new situation."
Neville just finished reading the letter with Susan and Hannah said: "This is going to be tough on miss Ginny, at the ball it was clear she was completely smitten by you."
Percy came closer and plucked Errol off the table: "Heir Potter? Is there an issue with our family?" I thought for a bit: "Mister Weasley, can you and your brothers join us here for lunch? We have things to discuss. It is best if all your brothers hear it at the same time." He nodded and left to his table.
Xxxxx
Monday was Kitty time, she is still mad at me though. We changed matches into needles for a bit, then we helped our classmates. Millicent and Pansy proved to be true Ravens by getting it in a few more tries. Their wands, new ones from Olivander, barely got 60% compatibility. So the lazy ass sold them the first wand that gave more than 50% comparability. On the other hand, not really my business. I have more than enough girl trouble. Tracey elbowed me: "You are thinking something inappropriate! I can tell." Girls are scary.
Goldstein and Smith were the last ones to get it, Hermione was already decorating the needle with motives and colors. House points were flying left and right… I did not get some… at all. Vindictive bitch. How can she stay angry for so long? I only looked at her… ok I get it.
Xxxxx
At lunch we sat together with the Weasleys, Tonks cast a privacy charm. First, I passed the letter to the brothers. Percy immediately understood the implications, the twins too, Ron, a bit slow, had his brothers explained to him.
Percy said: "Ron, this can be viewed as an attack from House Weasley against House Potter. If this goes before the Wizengamot, we could lose everything. Especially Heir Potter, being the last of his house, and highly regarded by the wizarding world, forcing him in a marriage, committing line theft, our parents would end up in Askaban, and us chased out of the country."
Daphne: "It won't get that far Mr. Weasley, Heir Potter acknowledge the fact that your parents were not aware of Dumbledore's plans. He, and us also, like Miss Weasley, and wish her no harm. We regard her as much of a victim as Heir Potter is. He decided that Miss Weasley can keep the presents she received as a consolation because her future is greatly affected also."
Tonks added: "Write to your parents about this. It will settle some nerves, we are planning to take Dumbledore to court. Lord Abbot shall contact your parents for the meeting, probably next Saturday, maybe sooner."
I smiled: "Now the official stuff is done, relax guys, I had a good time at the burrow and I like your parents." The tension of Percy and the twins faded away.
T one: "Merlin! This is bad"
T two: "For the nerves. Thank you"
T one: "Heir Potter, for letting"
T two: "us off the hook."
I joked: "As a Junior marauder I have to be flexible."
T one: "You know the"
T two: "marauders?"
I grinned: "Well you knew one too, he lived in your house for ten years, as his namesake." Percy gasped: "Scabbers? Peter Pettigrew?" I nodded: "The one and only Wormtail."
T one: "Junior marauder? Does this "
T two: "Mean James Potter is"
Tone: "One too?"
I confirmed it: "Mooney, Padfood, Wormtail and my father Prongs. Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter. They were always up to no good, and only stopped when the mischief was done."
T one: "You know about the map?" Huh? No twin speech? "Ah, yes Twin one, I believe you have Sirius's copy? Mooney's and Wormtail's copy got lost, Filch confiscated the one from Sirius."
Percy interrupted: "Excuse me, I have a letter to write. Heir Potter, I am grateful for your leniency for our family and hope I can someday repay it. I am in your debt."
Tracey responded: "Heir Potter acknowledge your debt, Mr. Weasley, when in need, and you are able to, he will call on you." Not knowing the customs sucks, I just nodded and smiled. We ended the meeting when lunch was done.
Daphne said: "I'll send memory from this meeting to father, he will show it to everyone. Uncle Percival will arrange the rest. It is strange that Dumbledore's dismissal was not in the Prophet. What could have prevented them from publishing?" Meh, who cares, we have a lot of free time now, no potions and Dada gives us plenty of opportunities to explore the castle.
The other Puff-boys of our year wanted a Pufferette of their own and claimed Expendable side character B. We still got the better deal, we have five girls for two boys, they have one girl for three boys. The poor thing will have to listen about quidditch and play chess, while Neville and I have dancing lessons and talk about clothes… I wonder, who has the better deal?
Xxxxx
The week dragged on, the meeting with the Weasleys was set on Saturday. Lord Abbot got permission from Kitty to let me attend. McGonagall was temporarily appointed as headmistress, the poor Pussy was swamped with work.
Sirius waited at the gate: "Pup, you keep surprising us. I saw the memory of your meeting with the brothers, they have found my map he? What can you tell me about them?"
While we were walking to the Three Broomsticks I explained: "Smart, very smart, they like to break rules and pull jokes, mostly funny, sometimes crossing the line to bullying. I guess they want to open a joke shop, I will sponsor them if they want. Percy has a stick up his ass and follows the rules as a zealot. Ron is an average boy, he has good results in Charms and Transfiguration though."
We entered the room, Lord Abbot, the now Lord Tonks, Greengrass, and Davis were present with the Weasley parents. Madam Bones stayed out of it to avoid a conflict with her function in the DMLE.
Lord Abbot started: "We all know each other, so let's drop the honorifics. We all know what this is about, Arthur, we know you as an honorable man. You have been fooled by a man we, to be honest, all trusted. We viewed the meeting Harry had with your sons, and we agree with him. Your family is the victim too. Especially young Ginny. We hope that you stand beside us when we take Dumbledore to court. His crimes are too big and too many to ignore."
Arthur: "I which it was so simple Percival, Dumbledore is sponsoring the education of my children. You can do the math, getting seven children through Hogwarts on my salary alone is impossible. Dumbledore funded it with money from his private account."
Percival sighed: "If you look at these account records of Harry's thrust vault, you will notice who is paying for your children's education Arthur." Arthur paled, he grabbed the records and started shaking: "Merlin! I have been stealing from the boy who lived? Can this get any worse? We are ruined, shamed, dishonored!" Molly sat next to Arthur, speechless, tears rolling down her cheeks."
Theodore remarked: "No, Arthur, Dumbledore has been stealing. In this, you have no blame." I said: "Can I make a suggestion? I will continue to fund your children's education in the form of a student loan. I pay the tuition and the school materials, like books and potion ingredients. After graduation, they can start to pay it back with a small interest of, let's say 4%. The money Dumbledore took from my vault will be recovered from Dumbledore. Can everyone agree with this arrangement?"
Everyone looked at each other, Cyrus said: "Harry, instead of the 4% ask to join the alliance, The Weasleys are an old House, and would make a good ally." Sirius: "That is a good idea, in fact, your twins caught my interest, and I like to sponsor them privately."
Theodore: "Lord Abbot will file the lawsuit against Dumbledore in his function of a magical guardian. Lord Weasley do you want to join us or file a complaint of your own?"
Arthur: "We will join you. Thank you all, this is more than I ever could expect. We are gladly joining the alliance." I remembered something from my brother's fan-fic's I asked: "Mr. Weasley, why isn't one of your sons reviving the Prewitt line? They are first in line for the Lordship. This could revive the seat in the Wizengamot."
Arthur: "I offered Charlie, but he was not interested, he preferred to work with dragons, sitting in the Wizengamot will be a punishment for him." I shrugged: "Percy would be perfect then. He is smart and ambitious. He can grow in his role in our alliance, maybe an internship on the holidays with the other allies?"
Lord Davis nodded: "The Prewitt line back alive would be great. I liked Fabian and Gideon, they were good friends. Percy can have his internship with me, I am preparing Lance, one more won't matter."
Lord Greengrass: "I will take Harry, he will learn together with Daphne and Tracey, but these are talks for another date."
Lord Abbot: "Let us end it here, Arthur, about the Prewitt House, we are not forcing you to do anything about it that you yourself not want. Talk to Percy if you want to. We are merely suggesting it as an idea."
Xxxxx
Hah! Enough with the serious talk! I want to kill something… Spiders! Let's see how big acromantulas really are. I passed Hagrid's hut and strolled into the woods, I spread my senses to the maximum and walked further in the forest.
A few miles inside I noticed the first big ones trying to ambush me. The first one tried to jump on me from above, was levitated, turned upside down, and smashed on the ground. The second one hesitated a bit too long, and I pinched his head… hard, the third made a run for it. Meh, I have my evidence. I levitated both corpses and walked back to the castle.
When I entered the main hall, lunch was almost finished, the two spider corpses drew a lot of attention. At the Head table, McGonagall watched me approaching with two car-sized acromantulas in tow. I asked her: "Headmistress, can you explain why Acromantulas as big as horses are running around in the forest not even two miles inside? Who is the idiot that let those spiders grow so big?" In the corner of my eyes, I saw Susan break another Crystal. Goody, another visit from aunty Amelia.
Hagrid, after being speechless seeing his pets dead recovered: "Harry! Why did you kill my pets? They are safe in the forest!" I glared at him: "Because you dumb ass, they call you Hagrid, however, they call us FOOD! Three of them ambushed me, and it was not for playing. What the hell are you doing in school anyway? Go work in a dragon preserve or an acromantula farm, herd some trolls for all I care."
I turned to McGonagall: "Did you know big and stupid has a nest of acromantulas so close to school? What will happen when the food in the forest is gone?" Kitty was still looking at the corpses, she came to her senses: "How did you kill these acromantulas Mr. ¨Potter?" I answered: "With magic Headmistress."
I turned around and said: "Half of the bodies are for the ones that help render the corpses." Several seniors raised their hands. I smiled: "Plenty of helpers, should I get a few more? They are easy to kill." that comment got a lot of approval.
McGonagall froze up, I guess the wards alerted her of the Aurors passing through the gate. A few minutes later aunty Amelia barged in with eight Aurors. She looked first at Susan, who pointed at me. Two very big dead spiders are hard to miss.
Madam Bones: "Can anyone explain why two class four animals are in the great hall?" I looked questioningly at Kitty, Kitty did not know what to say, so I helped her out: "I took a stroll through the woods, and three of those ambushed me. I killed two, the third ran back to the nest. I did not wait for the reinforcements to arrive and brought those with me. You know, right of conquest. I was just planning to get a few others."
The two spiders were still floating, I could keep this up all day. No comments please, I have the right to show off sometimes.
Aunty Amelia glared at McGonagall: "There is an Acromantula colony in the forest? How big is this nest?" Hagrid protested: "Them spiders won't hurt anyone! I trained them myself!" I yelled: "Three of them wanted me for lunch, you moron! Or did you train them to attack students? Because that is what they did!"
Aunty Amelia: "Hagrid? How many of those spiders are as big as these ones?" He shrugged: "About a hundred, twenty are bigger, those are the first kids of Aragog. I got permission of Dumbledore to keep them." I wonder who is more insane, the old goat or the big lump.
I whispered to aunty Amelia: "Offer the Goblins to hunt them, they are a bloodthirsty race, maybe they can train their kids." I went back to the girls, to give Aunty Amelia to yell at the morons.
Daphne remarked: "Dear, I noticed when we let you wander alone, you attract trouble, what did you look for in the forest?" I shrugged: "I wanted to take a look at the local wildlife, when I saw those spiders, these are not local no? They wanted to eat me, so I killed them." I better not tell them I went to look for them, or I am in the doghouse again.
Well, another problem will soon be solved.
Xxxxx
On Sunday we took a walk outside, when we reached the whomping willow, I said: "Did you ever hear of the shrieking shack?" Hannah: "It is an attraction in Hogsmeade. Why do you ask?" I grinned at her: "Because my dear Huffelypuff, I am going to show you something amazing." I turned and levitated a stone to the nod on the tree trunk, the branches froze and I showed them the secret tunnel. "Come in, Nev, can you keep the tree still? I will clean the tunnel." The girls lighted the tunnel while I did the cleaning. After a while, the tunnel ended in the basement.
I opened my arms and said: "Ladies and Gentlemen, behold the shrieking shack." Tracey gasped: "It is haunted here harry!" hugging her I said: "Nah, this was never haunted. I read about it in my dad's journal. One of his friends is a werewolf, and this was where he went on the night of the full moon."
Although if you think about it, Goddess Rowling did not think this through. A werewolf makes werewolf sounds, there is no way you can confuse it with the moaning from some ghosts. But I am nitpicking here.
Susan asked: "Dumbledore allowed werewolves to go to Hogwarts?" I answered: "Only one, he needed a spy at the werewolves, and a grateful one would be happy to repay him for letting him graduate at Hogwarts."
We explored the rooms, looking for treasure, of course, there was none. Daphne said: "Let's go back, this is nothing more than a shack. There are more ghosts in the castle." We all agreed, we will come back in a few years and make it the Shrieking Shag, the Howling Snog, or the Gagging Head.
We explored the greenhouses with Neville as a guide, you know, walking in the jungle? These blasted plants are bloody dangerous, I had more confidence with those spiders. Nev was in his element, he was fucking Tarzan guiding his Jane's through the jungle. It lasted until mama Sprout chased us away.
Xxxxx
Slughorn was the new potion teacher, Aunty Amelia lent a veteran Auror to teach Dada for a year. In a letter to Croaker, the boss of the unspeakables, no the department of mystery, unspeakables are underwear, yes? I am always confused with those.
Where was I? Ah, letter, in that letter I suggested inspecting the wardstone of the school because no doubt Dumbledore has messed with it. It is like with a new car, you had to have tried each button at least once. Dumbledore is a man with a God complex, so no doubt he has messed with the wards.
We got in a routine, meditating, classes, homework, dancing and swimming in the RoR, studying new spells too.
The Puff firsties stood out, we did all spells on a sixth-year level, silent, with a minimum of movements. Hermione and Padma were the best in Ravenclaw, Ron shined in Griffindor, Slytherin… Hey! Nott slipped away! When did he disappear? I need to know because of the bet I had with the girls. Well, let's assume I lost, I have to do those dancing lessons anyway.
Xxxxx
The goblins raided the acromantula nest, Hagrid cried for two days. The goblins send me a thank you note for suggesting they do the culling. They did mention the inspection of the wardstone with the unmentionables and discovered the curse on the Dada course. They even suspected Dumbledore to have done the curse.
I asked for a meeting on the last Sunday of September at the goblins, with my allies, Madam Bones as Head of the DMLE, and the Mysterious ones to discuss Voldy and his merry men.