Chapter 3 - A Harmless Prank?
Severus Snape was in a foul mood. Not that he was ever in a good mood, but his temperament today was of a particularly vile variety.
The thought of being able to watch as Black was kissed by a dementor left Severus relieved he was wearing a robe, his physical reaction brought on by the anticipation of witnessing this wondrous event would certainly have been noticeable in anything less 'roomy'. To somehow have that delectable pleasure snatched away from him at the last minute was a right kick to the plums.
For Potter to then speak to him in that derogatory manner, before point blank denying any involvement in Black's escape, was the straw that broke the camel's back - and Severus' resolve to at least maintain a pretence of being a law-abiding wizard. His wand was coming out and the brat was going to feel pain - excruciating pain.
Now that he had calmed down slightly, Severus realised that Poppy had actually done him a massive favour. Casting the torture curse on their precious 'Boy who Lived' - in front of the Minister of Magic and the Chief Warlock - was probably not a good idea. Severus couldn't see even Albus being able to save him after casting that curse on Potter.
His anger had lasted all night though, and was still looking for a very specific outlet to erupt all over. Watching as the youngest Weasley boy sat eating his breakfast alone didn't help his temperament any either. Although he was now somewhat grateful to Poppy, Severus certainly wasn't going anywhere near the infirmary to look for Potter. Having the business end of her wand mere inches from his face once was more than enough for the potions professor, he had no wish to offer Pomfrey the opportunity for a repeat performance.
That Albus appeared to be simply ignoring all that had unfolded last night was also strange behaviour for the old wizard, behaviour that Severus was struggling to understand. The brat had stood there facing a professor down, staring straight into Severus' eyes in challenge, yet the only read he could get from Potter's spawn was anger - no thoughts whatsoever. The brat was normal like an open book, waiting to be read with the merest glance. Surely if the boy had learned to shield his thoughts then Albus would be concerned…
Severus' own thoughts were interrupted by the epicentre of his ire entering the great hall for lunch. With a cry of 'Potter' so powerful that it could almost be measured on the Richter Scale, Severus headed straight for his prey - determined that the Potter boy would be quaking in his shoes by the time he was finished with the brat.
Seeing the bat swoop towards them, Harry tried to release Hermione's hand in case he had to fight. Hermione wasn't having any of that, and she told him so over their bond. 'We can't fight him - yet. Let him make an arse of himself in front of everyone. If he tries anything, we'll just say no - let them expel us.'
Harry finding humour in the situation confirmed to Hermione her betrothed was still in control. 'What happened to the girl who thought death was preferable to being expelled?'
Hermione joked right back. 'I got me this kick-arse boyfriend who showed me different…'
Snape was on them before they could continue their mental conversation, both also noticed Dumbledore and McGonagall heading in their direction too.
"Potter, detention with me until the end of term - starting right now." Grabbing Harry's sleeve, Severus started dragging the boy out of there.
Harry was well used to getting dragged about by his uncle but this time he could do something about it. Snape had forcefully dragged him about six feet, pulling Harry's left hand from Hermione's. Placing that now free hand on his right shoulder, Harry used his ring to cast a very low powered cutting curse. There was no flash of magic though the entire hall heard the ripping sound that resulted in a bemused Snape standing there with the now detached sleeve of Harry's robe in his hands.
Knowing this could quickly get out of hand, and the entire school was watching, Albus had to intervene. "Severus, what seems to be the problem here?"
Harry got his complaint in first. "The problem, Headmaster, is that a Hogwarts professor just manhandled me - using enough force to rip right through my robes."
"Nonsense Harry, I'm sure we can soon have this misunderstanding sorted out. We'll have your robe fixed in a jiffy..."
Since his complaint was being ignored, Harry simply returned the favour by ignoring the Headmaster. He turned and very deliberately addressed his Head of House. "Professor McGonagall, I would like to lodge an official complaint about an unprovoked physically assaulted on a student by a professor. Everyone saw we just walked in here and Snape attacked me, without warning or reason..."
Severus couldn't believe the cheek of this whelp. Since every pair of eyes in the hall were now focused on this confrontation, the potions professor knew he couldn't lose his temper here. "I did not physically assault you, I was merely escorting you to the detention I assigned."
"Escorting and being dragged so hard my robes ripped are two entirely different things. Since you're standing there with part of my robe in your hand, it's not difficult to work out which version is correct. You also didn't mention which rules I broke that allowed you to try and punish me for the rest of this term, something Professors are obliged to do."
Hermione's hand once more slipped into Harry's. Provoking Snape, even with Dumbledore and McGonagall standing there, was a dangerous game.
Snape's anger was bubbling just under the surface as he tried to answer the public charges the Potter brat was making here. "You know exactly what these detentions are for, the disrespect you showed me in the infirmary after Black escaped..."
Just to wind him up even more, Harry deliberately interrupted in the middle of his rant. "I'm sorry sir, we didn't speak to anyone after Madam Pomfrey ordered us to bed. I might be able to face down a swarm of dementors but there's no way I would cross Madam Pomfrey in her own infirmary. She's brilliant, but scary too!"
This was winding Snape up even more, as he was sure Potter was deliberately mocking him about having that scary healer's wand in his face. Minerva cut in before the potions professor had a chance to reply.
"Mister Potter, are you claiming to have driven off the dementors last night?"
Harry could see no one inside the great hall believed him either so, withdrawing his wand, he asked his Head of House for permission to cast. There was no point in giving Snape the slightest excuse to try and assign even more detentions to him. Holding Hermione's hand, memories of the best night of Harry's life easily powered his patronus. You could have heard a pin drop as Prongs pranced around the great hall. The stag eventually approached and bowed to the couple before disappearing. It was left to Harry to break the silence Prongs appearance had caused.
"Professor Lupin taught me that. Easily the best defence professor we've had..."
Ron's sorrowful voice cut across Harry's praise for their favourite professor. "Harry mate, Professor Lupin resigned this morning. Someone let slip all over Hogwarts about his condition. He's packing right now." Ron's glare at Snape's back left them in no doubt where that slip had come from.
Seeing the shock on Potter's face, Severus grasped the opportunity to rub some salt into this open emotional wound. Pleasure first, then he would sort out the detentions issue. "Quite right too. A werewolf teaching students in Hogwarts, the parents would never stand for it. The complaints will soon be flooding in."
Even with Hermione almost painfully squeezing his hand, and talking to him via their rings, there was no way for Harry to control his temper here. Like last night though, she was so proud of him for using that anger constructively.
"They don't seem to complain about a Death Eater teaching their children, or does Professor Dumbledore treat their complaints the same way he's treating mine here? 'Professor Snape has my full trust' - hundreds of witnesses, including himself - doesn't matter - case closed and forgotten about. That neatly sums up my three years at Hogwarts."
Instead of silence, this time there were whispered conversations happening all around the hall. The words 'Snape' and 'Death Eater' were clearly discernible however, probably because everyone was using them.
Snape's anger gauge was in danger of exploding. He held his head high though and looked to Albus to pass judgement in this matter. Once he had Potter down in his dungeon though, all bets were off. "Headmaster, you were there last night and witnessed Potter's extreme insolence and continued disrespect toward me. Do you think my punishment here is justified?"
Even knowing of the animosity between these two, Albus was shocked at the amount of venom in Harry's retort. He was then stunned at Severus' question, a baffled Albus couldn't help his potions professor. "Severus, I have no idea what you are talking about. I can ask Poppy if she knows anything, but that's the best I can do."
Still trying to help Harry keep a lid on his temper, Hermione then introduced their solution into the mix. "Professor McGonagall, last night Professor Snape claimed that Harry, Ron and I had all been confounded by Sirius Black. Since Professor Snape was unconscious for most of last night's events, and the enmity between these two wizards is hardly a secret, wouldn't it have been possible for Black to use the same curse on an unconscious professor? I also believe Black was a renowned prankster. Having Professor Snape think Harry was extremely rude to him seems to be, however irresponsible, like something Black would do."
Both Harry and Hermione were certain Sirius would forgive them for blaming him. If they pulled this off, Sirius would probably be rolling on the floor with laughter after hearing about it.
Nodding her head as she easily pictured such an event happening, Minerva had to agree. "That certainly sounds like something Sirius Black would pull. Do you have any notion of what Professor Snape is talking about, Miss Granger?"
They could both feel Snape and/or Dumbledore trying to read Hermione's thoughts. Without either of them removing their wands and actually casting the spell, their rings easily dealt with the problem. Hermione would also like to think she lied a lot more convincingly that after the troll incident in her first year. "Professor, Harry never left my side all night. If what Professor Snape claims happened then I would have had to have witnessed it, I didn't."
Albus wanted this wrapped up quickly, before any more revelations came out. "Severus, looking at the evidence I can't support your detentions of Mister Potter..."
"And my complaint against Professor Snape?" Harry's anger at hearing Remus Lupin had been forced into resigning was still mighty.
Wearing his best grandfatherly smile, Albus thought he had a rather elegant solution to this tricky problem. "Harry, my boy, Miss Granger just built a very convincing case for Professor Snape being confounded into believing something awful happened between you both."
Albus' wand had Harry's sleeve slipping from Severus' grasp and sliding up Harry's arm before flawlessly reattaching itself. "I can't punish someone who wasn't in complete control of their actions. The other matter mentioned was settled by trial many years ago." He may have thought this would end the matter but Albus was wrong, way wrong.
"Was my godfather the only person who was denied a trial after I defeated Voldemort? That smells something awful." Turning to his head of house, Harry had made a decision. "Professor McGonagall, I know part of the Hogwarts charter allows students to bring in their own tutor if they believe it would be beneficial. Myself, my girlfriend, Hermione, Luna here, Neville and Ron will no longer be taught potions by Professor Snape."
Hermione was in his head, asking how he knew that. Harry just showed her the pages of some book Tom must have read. 'The knowledge just feeds into my thoughts, pity our exams are over.' This revelation shocked Hermione into silence, it seemed too much like cheating before her sensible side kicked in and asserted itself. They needed every advantage they could get.
Trying to prevent Severus exploding, Albus attempted to be the voice of reason. "Harry, that would cost rather a lot of gold. Whatever money your parents left you, I'm sure they wouldn't want you to waste it like this. Won't you reconsider?"
Thinking for a few seconds, Harry again spoke with his head of house. "Professor McGonagall, I've reconsidered. It wouldn't be fair to the rest of my Gryffindor yearmates to have Professor Snape take his anger out on them. They are welcome to join me too."
The cheering from the Gryffindor table was almost enough to set the powder keg that was Severus Snape off. A quick glance confirmed neither teen was were wearing the rings Severus was sure were on their fingers last night, he also had no problem believing Black would curse him while he was unconscious. While lending credence to him being confounded, not being able to get a read on either of these two concerned Severus a lot more. He needed to get to the bottom of this so Severus made one last desperate attempt to get Potter into detention.
"Headmaster, it's undeniable that Potter and his two friends were out after curfew last night. Aren't they going to receive any punishment, or is Potter exempt from the same rules that govern everyone else?"
This was just too good of an opportunity to tweak Snape's hooked nose for Harry to resist. Sirius would be pissing himself with laughter at this one. "But Professor Snape, you yourself said - in front of the Minister of Magic - that all three of us had been confounded by Black. Professor Dumbledore just ruled that people who aren't in complete control cannot be punished for their actions. I really think you should get Madam Pomfrey to check you out, there's no telling what else Sirius Black might have cast when you were unconscious…"
Seeing the writing was already on the wall, Severus swung around and marched out of the great hall - his customary cool cape action being somewhat unusually accompanied by the sound of sniggering Gryffindors.
"Was that really necessary Harry?"
Harry's jaw almost hit the floor at hearing the headmaster's rebuke. "I just walked in here to have my lunch, what did I do wrong? I'm not prepared to put up with Snape's bullying anymore, and you won't do anything about it, so what other choice do I have?"
"Forgiveness is a wonderful thing to learn and practice…"
Harry cut right across the headmaster. "My mother and father put me down for Hogwarts so I could study for my O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s, I didn't know Forgiveness was a course here - it certainly wasn't during my parents' time."
No one missed that a certain potions professor attended Hogwarts then too. "I'm having to find a tutor because one of your professors has never heard of the word you seem so fond of. James Potter being my father is all the reason he's ever needed to pick on me since my very first potions class, no more. We also have another professor who's been dead for centuries, spending his afterlife boring us all to sleep. How can I possibly forget the professor who publicly predicts my death on a weekly basis and, considering two out of your last three defence professors have tried to kill me, we'll probably need to look at a defence tutor in September too. If I end up needing tutors for half of my subjects, what does that say about Hogwarts? The Prophet would have a field day with that information."
As they walked to the Gryffindor table, Luna was heard to mumble "Might as well open your own school".
Hermione couldn't resist a dig at a stunned Dumbledore and McGonagall. "That's a great idea, Luna. Harry, we need to look into that."
Sitting in his usual place, next to Ron, with Hermione on his other side. Luna was invited to slot in right beside Hermione. Harry's hand patted a slack-jawed Ron's shoulder. Their friend must have been really rocked by what just happened, Ron had stopped eating.
"Hey mate, great to see you back on your feet. Sorry you found out about Hermione and me like that. It wasn't our fault though, we intended that you'd be the first to know."
Having been initially angry at his two best friends getting together, Ron's Weasley temper was tempered somewhat by the chance of getting out of Snape's potions' class. There was a question he just had to ask though. "Harry, what about us?"
Harry's hand returned to Ron's shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze as he laced his reply with obvious false sincerity. "Ron, I know we're close - but I just don't think of you that way. I asked Hermione to be my girlfriend, she said yes."
With his eyes as wide as saucers, a horrified Ron knocked Harry's hand away as he slid along the bench to open a gap between them. Hermione's loud laughter was soon joined by Luna's, and then everyone else at the table. Ron eventually play punched a grinning Harry's shoulder as he got the joke.
"You can go off some people you know…"
"Never gonna happen, Ron. This is Luna, Luna Lovegood. I just found out she's my godsister and hope Gryffindor will make her welcome - Ravenclaw certainly don't."
As Harry and Hermione quickly put some lunch together, they wanted to get to Lupin before he could leave the castle, they were interrupted by a grateful Neville.
"Harry, thank you so much for including me in the people who wouldn't have to get taught potions by Snape."
Reaching over the table, Harry held his hand out to shake Neville's. "I just found out we're godbrothers, of course I was going to include you. Did you know?"
Shaking Harry's offered hand, Neville reluctantly nodded. "My mother is your godmother. She's… She and my dad have been in St Mungo's for years."
"Why didn't you ever say anything?"
Hearing nothing but genuine interest in Harry's question, Neville told the truth. "I thought you knew, and didn't want anything to do with me."
Harry didn't know how to answer that, and thankfully Luna saved him from having to. "Three best friends, all godmothers to the three of us. Alice is your godmother, Harry. Lily is mine, and my mother was Neville's. That makes you my godbrother too, Neville, if you want?"
The two boys still had their hands clasped from shaking, Harry applied a slight pressure - encouraging Neville to say yes. With a smile at Luna, the shy boy said he would love to have a godsister too. Luna's smile in return practically lit up the entire Gryffindor table.
"Luna, Hermione and I really need to get to Professor Lupin before he leaves. He was, is, a family friend. It might take us some time to sort out the things we need to talk about but Ron and Neville will take care of you. You could trust either of them with your life."
Both boys sat up that little bit straighter as Harry addressed the rest of the people sitting around them. "As I said, her housemates are giving Luna a hard time in Ravenclaw - she will be welcome here. That means Dean, no hitting on my sister. Lavender and Parvatti, no pumping her for gossip. Gred and Feorge - no pranks."
"Hey Harrykins"
"Our mum can't stop us pranking"
"What makes you think…"
Both suddenly drew in a deep breath before looking at each other and communicating with just a glance.
"Yes, you were just pranked. It was harmless though, I just swapped your underwear with each other. A cruel prank would have been to swap yours with McGonagall's. Knowing your mum hand stitches your names onto your unmentionables, McGonagall would soon find out who to blame."
Ignoring the laughter all around them, a white-faced Fred managed to get a sentence out. "Harrykins - that would be unbelievably cruel."
"No, unbelievably cruel would be swapping your underwear with Snape's."
Both twins immediately pushed their lunch away, their previously pale parlour had now taken on a rather green hue. Professional curiosity finally won out though, George just had to know. "How did you do that? I never even seen your wand used. Where did you learn to do that?"
"It's in my blood, guys. My patronus is named Prongs, after my father."
It was now the twins turn to have eyes the size of saucers. "Oh son of Prongs…"
"Eh, did I mention a certain Padfoot is my godfather?"
"Pranking royalty here, Fred. I knew we liked him for a reason."
"Your godsister will not be pranked by us, Harrykins."
"Or my godbrother?"
Laughing at Harry's cheek, both nodded. "Or your godbrother."
Wearing a wide smile, Harry stood with the sandwich he'd yet to take a bite of wrapped in a napkin. "Thanks everyone, but we gotta go." Hermione was instantly at his side, her own napkin wrapped sandwich in her hand.
Neville couldn't believe how much his life had just been changed - no potions classes with Snape and no pranks by Fred or George. All Harry wanted in return was for him to keep an eye on Luna, who was his godsister too. That was something Neville had every intention of doing. Yes Neville was well aware he was excruciatingly shy but for Harry, he'd make the extra effort to get to know this girl.
"Luna, what can you tell me about my godmother?"
Asking Luna to talk about her mum was exactly the right thing to do. She chatted away until long after lunch had finished.
-oOoOo-
They found Lupin in his office, packing his personal possessions away. There was an awkward silence for a minute until Lupin handed Harry back the Marauders' Map. "Now that I am no longer a professor, I have no reason to confiscate this from you. There are rather conflicting reports going around about exactly what happened last night. Care to share what you've been up to?"
A loud sigh of relief came from Harry. "Professor, you have no idea how much we need to tell you everything that happened last night."
Seeing the sandwiches both were carrying, Remus offered to make a pot of tea while they told their tale.
Harry started their story as Hermione ate her lunch. When she was finished eating, she seamlessly took over the narrative as Harry tucked into his first bite since Pomfrey forced chocolate into them last night. It appeared this was their day for inducing wide-eyed shock, that was Remus' reaction to hearing Dumbledore obliviated the Minister of Magic - before trying to illegally force his way into Harry's mind.
Seeing the Potter ring on Harry's finger was enough proof for Remus but watching as he then wandlessly, and silently, floated the now empty teapot off the table sealed it. Hermione then levitated the cups and saucers too.
"Using our rings to perform magic is getting easier all the time, and you don't need to say the spell - or use any wand movements. Anything one of us learns, the other can do too - and low level magic seems to be invisible..." Hermione stopped as she clearly had an idea. "Harry, do you think I could cast a patronus?"
Harry was in her head, showing Hermione exactly what she needed to do. His mere presence and support was enough for Hermione to generate the positive thoughts necessary to power the spell. Taking out her wand for this, a silver doe was soon prancing around a shocked Remus' office. As Harry hugged and kissed Hermione in congratulations, Remus used the familiar actions of making another pot of tea to try and get his thoughts in some sort of order.
He couldn't help but think that Harry being prophesied to face Voldemort was as bad as things could get, that was until you factored in Dumbledore obviously had a whole secret agenda that included using Harry to get what he wanted too. Remus liked the idea of Harry and Hermione becoming betrothed, and could already see these two were good for one another. He figured it would be up to him and Padfoot to sit Harry down and give him the talk about witches, though that was for the future - they had more pressing matters to deal with here.
He sat back down and faced the teens. "That is, without doubt, the most unbelievable story I've ever heard. That every word is true scares me more than you can know. Having taught you both for a year, I can honestly say I would want to help you anyway. Then there's Sirius, James and Lily to consider, this is not a difficult decision for me. Since I now find myself with time on my hands, what do you need from me?"
Remus watched on in surprise as the veneer these two had been showing the outside world shattered into pieces, revealing two terrified teens. Hermione was in tears, burrowing into her betrothed who wasn't much better.
"Professor, I understand my mum was short of time last night but I feel as if we had a mountain of shit dumped on us, and neither of us have a clue what to do next. I have Voldemort's memories in my head..." Harry struggled to go on, until a tearful Hermione gave him a kiss of encouragement.
"There's a part of me that wishes Dumbledore had obliviated me last night, and taken away these horrors. Death Eaters are monsters, sick monsters who believe their breeding and wealth allows them to do whatever they want. They need to be put down, none of Dumbledore's forgiveness shite - these fucking monsters don't deserve to live for the things they've done. Torture, rape, arson, murder - these evil bastards took great delight in all of those. Why though should it be left to a couple of teenagers to deal with this? I don't want Hermione even seeing these terrible things, far less having to deal with the people who carried them out..."
Getting her emotions back under control, Hermione stated the obvious. "Harry, you need me."
"Yes, I need you - but this is too much to ask of anyone."
"I'm not anyone, though. I'm your Hermione, your betrothed who's not going to leave your side. With Professor Lupin helping, we can start making lists of what needs done right now."
Handing them another calming cup of tea each, Remus was more determined than ever to help. "First of, I am no longer your professor, Remus or Moony works for me. Secondly, let's get started on that list - in order of priority." He soon discovered they had different priorities.
"We need to let Hermione's parents know we're betrothed, and what that means."
"We need to get Harry away from the Dursleys, and without Dumbledore knowing."
Getting out some parchment, ink and a quill, Remus tried to combine both of their objectives. "If push comes to shove, Harry - as Head of House Potter - will be emancipated in the magical community. He needs a legal guardian in the muggle world however. Asking Hermione's parents could easily solve that problem..." Both teens immediately began shaking their heads.
"What about you, Remus? You could be my guardian."
"Harry, I'm a werewolf..."
"Not to the muggles you're not."
"I don't have a job..."
"You're Steward of House Potter - as of about two minutes ago - advisor and mentor to the new young Lord. Steward of House Black works too, it would allow you to do things for Sirius that he can't while a fugitive. The pay for House Potter side of things is double what you've been getting at Hogwarts, more if Dumbledore got you in here on a reduced salary. I'm sure Sirius will match that."
As Remus tried to protest, he was being ignored by the two teens. Watching though as they regained some control over themselves, and hopefully the situation they fond themselves in, meant Remus didn't protest too hard.
"The Dursleys will sign my guardianship over to you in a second..."
Hermione burst in with an idea. "Tell them Dumbledore sent you, and that he's discovered how they treated Harry. Give them some money and advise them to move, move somewhere the magical authorities can't find them."
"Why should we give them any money?"
Hermione's smile at Harry's question was predatory in nature. "We don't want Dumbledore finding them, and they'll spend years looking over their shoulders - waiting on the magical authorities showing up."
Now happy with that solution, Harry faced their next problem. "We need a bolt hole. One outside Britain, so Sirius will be safer. It needs to be big enough for all of us, possibly the Grangers, Lovegoods, Longbottoms and perhaps even the Weasleys too."
While writing this down, Remus was looking for an explanation. His hand stopped writing as he heard it.
"We need you to arrange an appointment at Gringotts. We have a method of stripping the wealthiest death eaters of their gold, all their gold. Depending on how they react to being robbed blind, we might then need to offer a safe haven to our friends and family. Hermione, you'll be their number one target. Will your mum and dad take our warning seriously?"
Her head was down though both Harry and Remus recognised the hurt in Hermione's voice. "I think they'll let me go with you, gets me out from under their feet. Call it summer school and there won't be a problem. Asking them to break their routines though, never gonna happen. Mum and dad are very set in their ways, with everything else having to fit around them."
"Oh, now I'm really looking forward to telling them you're betrothed to me."
Hermione attempted to change the subject, bringing up her own specifications for this bolt hole too. "This place will really have to be a fair size. We could all end up living and being home tutored there too. It's not that we don't want to leave Hogwarts for good, it's just that we could see ourselves fighting against the Death Eaters, Dumbledore and the Ministry all at the same time. As bad as the last two are, finishing off Voldemort and his Death Eaters has to be the top priority."
Remus then dropped his quill at hearing what Harry said next.
"We know how to kill him, Remus, kill him for good. One of his soul anchors - and the means to destroy it - are actually inside Hogwarts. We'll deal with it before we leave for the summer, preferably before McGonagall asks for Hermione's time turner back. With the map, my dad's cloak and a time turner - we should easily manage to pull this off and have an alibi if questions are ever asked."
Trying to get his thoughts organised, Remus needed a few answers. "Today is Saturday, the express leaves next Saturday, giving us seven days to get what you need done. Sneaking you out of school could cause problems, Dumbledore might be monitoring both of you - almost certainly Harry. We could have you both portkey to London on the last day, instead of taking the express. That shouldn't raise any alarms, and give us time to meet with the goblins - and Hermione's parents. I should be able to manage most of what you're looking for before then."
Harry called for Dobby, introducing the elf to Remus. "Call for Dobby to pass any messages between us. Dobby is also in contact with Sirius, you might want to let him know what's happening too. As soon as we have a bolt hole organised, get Sirius there. We'll all feel better knowing he's safe."
Remus then tried to thank Harry for giving him a job, but found himself being thanked instead.
"When we came in here, both of us were hanging on to our sanity by a thread. Just knowing we now have help is a massive relief. Getting Sirius involved too means the four of us can hopefully sit down next weekend and try to figure out what we do next. We could easily end up with enraged Death Eaters, Dumbledore and possibly the Ministry too all trying to track us down. Wherever we end up has to be secure, and preferably a country not too friendly with the people who will be looking for us. It also gives us a week to figure out how we'd get our friends there, without them knowing where 'there' actually is."
Remus promised to put all this onto parchment, and send it via Dobby to Sirius tonight. The new Steward of House Potter wondering out loud whether Sirius would believe him - or think his fellow Marauder was pulling a prank - had the young couple laughing out loud. Explaining to Remus the 'prank' they had just pulled on Snape saw Moony struggling to control his own laughter. He would certainly include that little episode in his letter to Sirius. The old dog could probably use a good laugh, and nothing made Sirius laugh harder than a successful prank on Snivilus.
Chapter 4 - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Sirius' stomach may have been loudly growling at him with hunger pangs but it was news about his godson he was really starved of. That was why the letter on top of the basket Dobby brought him got opened first, rather than the delicious smelling wrapped food it sat upon. As Sirius read the letter from Moony, he began to wonder if his hunger was worse than he'd thought - and starvation was actually affecting his mind. Surely this couldn't be true?
Reading how his godson, and his betrothed, had pranked Snivilus though immediately had a warm feeling welling up inside of Sirius. He didn't think he could have been prouder of those two. Turning back time to rescue him was pretty bloody special, but publicly taking down Snape - in front of the entire school and staff - wasn't too shabby either. While laughing his arse off at the prank, Sirius was also a little angry at himself for not considering casting something in Snape's direction when he had the chance.
Sitting down and eventually eating some of the wonderful food Dobby brought him, Sirius was still chewing over the letter's contents. Moony had mentioned that the only memory Harry had of his mother before that night was dementor induced, and had Lily begging Voldemort to kill her instead. That just seemed to emphasise how badly Sirius had failed his godson, and he couldn't even manage to kill the dirty rat that caused all of this.
Reading of the unbelievable task thrust upon his godson's young shoulders left Sirius ready to weep for the amount of shit fate seemed determined to bury Harry under. Lost both parents as a toddler, both godparents 'indisposed' so forced to live with magic-hating relatives and now prophesied to take on a Dark Lord the entire country thinks is already dead - yet are still terrified to even mention him by name. Remus though wrote at great length about how Harry and Hermione were desperate for them to help with the task that seemed to have been predetermined by prophecy to be Harry's, which is exactly what Sirius intended to do.
It would also seem his godson had a monster of a prank planned on Voldemort's richest supporters, something Sirius wholeheartedly agreed with. Hitting them where it really hurt, grasping them tightly by their vaults and tugging, would certainly start their payback. Hearing what happened in the infirmary also reinforced Lily's dire warning to Harry that Dumbledore was not their friend, though it seems things might be even worse than she thought they were.
Sirius had asked Dobby for some parchment, ink and quills - only to be told there was a supply at the bottom of the basket, along with some clean clothes. He would be making a list of what he thought they needed to do, getting his thoughts jotted down before writing back to Remus. He loved Harry's idea of making Remus Steward to his family, and intended to do the same for his own. His mother would be turning in her grave at the thought of a werewolf as Steward to the House of Black.
-oOoOo-
Even with Hermione deliberately closing their bond down as much as she could manage, Harry still sensed there was something really bothering her. Moving a rather large rock from the tunnel's caved-in ceiling, Harry sat down on one edge of it for a minute.
"Take a break, Hermione. Sit here and tell me what's bothering you?"
Trying to move her dirty hair from her eyes, Hermione sat beside her betrothed. "You mean apart from being filthy, cold and knackered?"
Putting his arm around her, Harry pulled Hermione close and gently kissed her lips. "Now, could we have the real reason please?"
With a slump of her shoulders and a sigh, she let out part of what was bothering her. "Harry, are we moving too fast here?"
"Not two minutes ago you were complaining that this was taking ages." Seeing her smile, Harry promised that things between them would proceed at whatever pace they were both happy with. He then pushed for the real reason she was worried and Hermione duly obliged.
"It's my mum and dad, I feel as if I'm going to be abandoning them. The minute Dumbledore discovers you're not at Privet Drive, he'll come looking for me and Ron. Me not being there opens my parents up to being told any sort of lies - and that's assuming he doesn't take his wand out. If he does then things could get really ugly - and Dumbledore's the good guy. I really want to be with you but feel I need to protect them too. I don't know what to do…"
Tightening his hold on Hermione, Harry began basically thinking out loud on any ideas to try and fix this problem. "The Dursley house has protective wards on it, we could get some of those placed on your house. We could also see about emergency portkeys for your mum and dad too. I'm sure Dobby wouldn't mind keeping an eye on the house, getting us to them if we're needed…"
Harry never got to say anymore as Hermione was using his lips for a whole different purpose. It took a minute or so before Hermione could actually say what she wanted but Harry wasn't complaining. "Thank you, Harry. I know you're angry at my parents for the way they treat me, I guess I was worried you were just going to leave them to fend for themselves. I think I needed to hear you say the words."
"I know it's been a hectic few days but, after this job tonight, we've got nothing else planned until it's time to leave for home. We'll have plenty of time to sit and sort things like this out. Now, these rocks aren't going to move themselves…"
At that, Dobby appeared and snapped his fingers. Both teens had to shoot to their feet as the large rock they'd been sitting on flew over to join its neighbours as the little elf magically repaired the tunnel.
"Dobby, that's wonderful…" Two steaming mugs of cocoa were gratefully accepted by the young couple who were only now beginning to grasp just how powerful their little friend was.
"Dobby has folder from Steward Remus. Do you want Dobby to clear this up while you read it?"
Hermione couldn't prevent the shiver that travelled down her spine at Dobby's question. A swift shake of her head and she soon let both of them know how she felt. "Dobby, I don't want to spend one minute longer down here than I absolutely have to. We do what we came to and then get out of here - and take a long hot shower. Does Remus need an answer on any of this stuff?"
"There are properties here that Steward Lupin wanted you to have a look at, Dobby does not know how quickly he needs an answer, Dobby should have asked…"
Before Dobby could go blaming himself, Harry cut in. "If you could find us somewhere in the castle that we could look at these, Hermione and I could go there as soon as we get this done - and after we have a shower."
The little elf certainly perked up at being given another opportunity to help these two. "Dobby thinks the 'come and go' room would be perfect. It can be whatever you ask it for, even if you want a shower - or a big bath."
Harry certainly liked that idea, and a blushing Hermione seemed to as well. He had a question for his little friend first. "Is this room on the seventh floor, across from a tapestry of dancing trolls?"
"Yes, does Master Harry know about this room?"
"I have some information on it - though obviously not as much as you. I heard it was just a massive storeroom."
"Oh room can do much more than that, castle elves use it all the time…"
Swallowing a large mouthful of her cocoa, Hermione then grabbed Harry's sleeve and pulled - though this time he wasn't resisting. "Finish this job, have a hot soak and see where we want to spend summer - now that sounds like a plan to me. Let's get a move on, slowcoach."
Drinking his own cocoa as they walked toward the door that awaited them, Harry felt a wonderful warmth seep into his very bones. Sitting their mugs down, Harry once more used parseltounge to command the door to open. The smell of decay that greeted them had both reconsidering whether it was such a good idea to drink that chocolatey goodness. One thing was for sure, it wouldn't taste nearly as good on the way back up - and the vile stench in this dark and dank chamber was making the chances of that happening a distinct possibility.
The torches around the wall lit, giving Hermione her first real look at the beast. She was glad witnessing Harry's memories had at least prepared her for this, otherwise Hermione was sure she would be a blubbering wreck.
Both immediately got down to work, the less time spent in this place the better. They transfigured their potions knives into small hand axes before donning dragon hide gloves and hacking away at the base of the beast's many fangs. After freeing four each, they were carefully wrapped before being placed in Hermione's bag. They practically ran from the chamber as soon as their task was done, not relaxing until the great door once more swung shut and locked. Hermione didn't even mind climbing onto the back of Harry's Firebolt, she was so keen to leave this place behind.
-oOoOo-
Sitting in a hot bath, with Harry's arm comfortingly around her, Hermione was still shivering. Using Tom's knowledge stored inside Harry's head, they had easily discovered the diadem he'd turned into a horcrux. Harry didn't have any problem stabbing it with one of the basilisk fangs either. It was the gut-wrenching scream that signalled the end of this particular soul anchor that affected Hermione so badly.
Yes this was Voldemort, and they had just destroyed a piece of his soul - and that's where Hermione was having the problem. It felt like cold blooded murder, and had shaken her to the core. Harry had her wrapped protectively in his arms and was also in her head to try and offer support.
"Hermione, that's what makes us different from them. You have a good heart and a conscience that will guide us both. I could never turn to the darkness with you in my life, you simply wouldn't let me."
"Harry, you could never be dark either. I've seen your heart and it's every bit as good as you claim mine is. It was just the shock of hearing that thing scream, and seeing the consequences of deliberately setting out to kill something. Intellectually I more than understand we need to destroy these things, it was the practicality of witnessing it that chilled me to the bone. Ten minutes in a roasting shower and now sitting here with you and I still can't shake it off."
"Maybe you need something to take your mind off it, like looking at where we want to spend at least the summer. Might take my mind of you in that swimsuit, at least before I get slapped for some of the thoughts running through my head."
"Harry, you're more likely to get snogged than slapped. Still, looking at where we want to hide from the world sounds like a great idea..."
Dobby appeared with the folder before they could even call for him, and had already charmed the documents waterproof. The room had provided them with a sunken tub that was about eight feet square, and four feet deep in the centre. The young couple were sitting snuggled into one corner, both wearing the swimwear that had been provided too.
Remus had four choices for them but Hermione could feel Harry's excitement the moment he opened the second one. It was easily the largest of the four, but having its own private beach on Italy's Amalfi Coast mean this one instantly got Harry's vote. Going over the other three, he was delighted when she confirmed that one was her choice too.
"Imagine getting up in the morning and being able to look out the window at the ocean, that would be fantastic."
"Harry, this is going to be your home. I'm sure we can find a bedroom that has a sea view for you." Hermione loved how the simplest of things could thrill Harry. With their choice made though, neither was in any hurry to leave this wonderful bath. Harry soon had his arms wrapped around Hermione again. She could feel the contentment practically radiating off him so Hermione just had to say something.
"As well as its own beach, that house - Ok, we can't call something with over forty bedrooms a house. It's a bloody mansion, with its own swimming pool too. What I was trying to say is that we could do this a lot more often."
"Hermione, anytime - you will never have to ask me twice. It's moments like this, just sitting here holding you, that make me feel I can cope with anything."
"It's exactly the same for me, Harry. This is so new for both of us but the bond our rings give us will keep it honest. I know you find me attractive, that's not something I expected..."
"Hermione, I think you're beautiful. I'm amazed and so thankful you're prepared to take a chance on us being a couple. I just keep thinking back to my mum saying we could be so much more, I already know that's what I want. I'll try my very best to make that something you want too."
"Boys can be so silly sometimes, why do you think I kissed you? I want that too, Harry."
The trials and troubles they'd faced tonight, and even those they knew had still to come, were being forgotten about as the young couple lived in the moment for now. Without having to discuss it, both understood they weren't ready for anything more serious than some snogging. Carrying out that action while both of them wore very little, and were soaking wet, would easily provide memories powerful enough to generate their patronuses. Since this room couldn't be found, and Hermione had a device that would allow them to go back in time to where no one would miss them, neither was in a hurry to stop this very pleasurable activity.
-oOoOo-
Luna was so happy, she was actually skipping along the corridor while heading down to have breakfast with her friends. Just the thought of having friends waiting on her was enough to have the little blonde second year smiling. Waking up and having all her clothes to chose from was a brilliant start to the day too. She didn't know what Dobby had done but not one single item of her belongings had gone missing since he returned them. Her bed had also been untampered with, providing the rare opportunity to have a good night's sleep into the bargain. Things were certainly looking up for Luna Lovegood, until she looked up and spotted the trio of girls who were clearly waiting on her.
"Look, the retard can't even walk along the corridor like a normal person."
"Of course she can't, because she's not normal."
"You shouldn't be in Hogwarts, Loony, far less Ravenclaw."
As they were hurling their insults, the trio of witches had moved to physically prevent Luna getting past them. Marietta Edgecombe seemed to be particularly incensed with the blonde Ravenclaw standing in front of them.
"I don't know what you did to keep us out your trunk but there are other ways to show you're not wanted here, and stop you spreading your lies about Ravenclaw."
All three witches were shocked to hear a voice coming from behind them.
"From where I'm standing, Luna's claims that her housemates are bullying her look like the truth to me."
Turning around to find themselves faced by four third year Gryffindors was a bit of a shock, especially since all four already had their wands in their hands.
They weren't too bothered though. After all, they were fourth year Ravenclaws. Cho Chang tried to dismiss them out of hand. "This is a Ravenclaw matter, nothing at all to do with you ruffians…" She soon had a face-full of a growling Harry Potter, his angry green eyes were boring right into her like lasers.
"Luna is family to me and Neville, family means everything to us. Raise your wand against her and I guarantee you will find yourselves in more trouble than you know how to deal with."
This was too much for Marietta. "Oh, big bad Potter - we're so scared. This isn't gullible Gryffindors' you're talking to, we don't buy your tough guy act."
The other fourth year witch started screaming, while pointing at Marietta's face. Cho's shocked expression saw Marietta reaching for her makeup mirror, and letting a scream out herself.
"Potter, what did you do? I demand you fix this - at once."
Harry just smiled at the girl who now had 'BULLY' spelled out by pulsating red spots on her forehead. "Hey, this is a Gryffindor you're talking to, I don't give a shit what any Ravenclaw with a rash wants."
She tried to draw her wand but Hermione's disarming spell saw Marietta shooting fifteen feet along the corridor while landing on her bum, with her wand flying into Hermione's hand.
"As I just said, more trouble than you know how to deal with. Anyone else care to try? No? Well anything happening to Luna and we'll know just where to start - with you three. If there's anyone else involved in this, call them off…"
"What's going on here?" The three Ravenclaws perked up at the appearance of their Head of House. Cho couldn't wait to get their version of events in first, probably because Hermione was too busy using her ring again to cancel her spell on Marietta's forehead.
"Professor, these Gryffindors attacked us in the corridor."
An unrepentant Harry simply told the truth, as he saw it. "We're doing your job for you, Professor. You've had two years to stop the bullying of Luna by her own house, we've put an end to it in two minutes."
Filius was shocked more by the attitude Harry was displaying here, rather than what he was saying. "I can't fix something if I don't know what's happening. You should have approached a member of staff."
"Professor, with respect, the worst bully in the castle is a Head of House. We have a headmaster who thinks Snape can do no wrong, and a Deputy who goes along with whatever Dumbledore says. We have no trust in the staff at Hogwarts."
"Albus Dumbledore is a very wise wizard…"
Harry cut right across the professor, displaying a knowledge of events that surprised the Head of Ravenclaw. "Do you think it was wise of him to set a trap for Voldemort, using the Philosopher's Stone, inside a castle full of children? Where was this wisdom when we had a basilisk the size of a bus roaming the corridors and petrifying students? Hermione figured out what it was, and how it was getting around the school, yet the wise headmaster couldn't. What about the school being surrounded by dementors…"
Cho had clearly heard enough, even Flitwick's presence couldn't dampen her tone. "Potter, you're full of shit. Do you honestly expect us to believe a basilisk was roaming the school? I suppose you personally dealt with it?"
The smile Harry wore was predatory. "Professor, I would like to offer you, and these three students of yours, a once in a lifetime opportunity to go down to the Chamber of Secrets and see the evidence for yourself. We can go right now, trust me that you don't want to eat breakfast before going down there. I'm fed up with people who don't know what they're talking about calling me a liar, perhaps this will shut them up."
Hermione was in Harry's head, trying to help him control his temper. She was only partially successful.
"Dementors make you relive your worst memories. For me, I hear my mother begging Voldemort to kill her, and spare me. Voldemort is such a piece of shit he killed her anyway, before turning his wand onto me. My parents died so I would have a chance to live, I intend to live my life in a way that I hope they would be proud of me. That means I won't stand back and watch my godsister being bullied, or stand for those same bullies calling me a liar. We'll all go down there and then see who's full of shit."
As Professor Flitwick asked his three fourth year students if they wanted to go - they were Ravenclaws and never going to refuse a chance to learn something new - Hermione took on the task of organising their impromptu expedition.
"Ron and Neville, we need brooms to get back out of there. I'll see if Colin is at breakfast, he can bring his camera with him. Luna, do you want to come too?"
Harry's arm was now around Luna's shoulder. "I promise you it's safe, Luna, though can't do much about the smell."
Seeing how far these people were prepared to go to protect her, Luna thought it was time she helped them. "Harry, my father publishes a newspaper - The Quibbler. If you take pictures, we can send them with an article I could write."
"That would be great, Luna, but only if you want to."
This struck a worrying chord with Flitwick. As the three Gryffindors left to carry out their assigned tasks, and they were walking toward a meeting place the other Gryffindors clearly knew, he made a suggestion to Harry. "Perhaps we should inform the Headmaster about what we're doing?"
Harry was walking alongside Luna and shook his head. "The Headmaster would come up with some excuse to stop us going - and the truth getting out. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Dumbledore's really big on forgiveness, so we shouldn't be in any trouble at all."
This actually had Luna giggling and, since the other four Ravenclaws kept walking along with them, Harry just assumed they accepted his reasoning. They had barely made the bathroom before Hermione arrived. "Colin's fetching extra film for his camera, he'll be along in a moment."
A hyper excited Colin then arrived along with Ron and Neville, who were carrying four brooms each. Harry using parseltongue to open the sink in the bathroom halted all other talking, allowing Harry to explain how he and Ron had figured out where the entrance was.
"Dumbledore taught at Hogwarts the last time the chamber was opened, by a student named Tom Marvolo Riddle. For the Ravenclaws here, that's an anagram of 'I am Lord Voldemort'. Again, if we could figure this out, why couldn't our 'wise' headmaster?"
Before anyone could answer that, Harry jumped into the massive opening in the floor. Hermione meanwhile was raising the hood of Luna's robes, and tucking her blond hair in as much as possible.
"It's dark and messy, but Harry will be waiting on you at the bottom - and I'll be right behind you."
As Luna followed Harry down the hole, Hermione was raising her own hood and fighting with her hair. Ron had a question though.
"Hermione, how do you know that? You were lying petrified in the infirmary when Harry and me went down here."
"Oh, Harry took me down. We wanted to see if the basilisk was worth selling, help raise money for tutors. It's decayed too much to be worth anything now. We fixed the cave-in where that idiot Lockhart tried to obviate the both of you - and leave you down there. Just another reason why we have no faith in the staff of Hogwarts." With that, Hermione jumped too.
Following Hermione's advice, given before he raced off to fetch extra film, Colin had his camera equipment wrapped in an old robe. He held onto it tightly as he too jumped into the dark abyss.
Turning to Neville, Ron shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't seen it - the cave-in broke my leg - and I owe that snake a kick for all the trouble it caused."
Cradling the brooms he was carrying close to him, Ron jumped right in without any hesitation. Copying Ron's actions with the brooms he was tasked with carrying too, Neville couldn't resist taunting the three Ravenclaw witches who were standing there with their chins hitting the floor. "Still think Harry's full of shit? Follow us down and find out."
As Neville followed his friends down, Filius turned to his students and wondered how he had been manipulated into this situation. Cho was the first to shake herself into action. "Just think how jealous the Slytherins will be if we get to set foot in the Chamber of Secrets. I'll settle for that, whether there's a dead basilisk down there or not."
Raising her own hood, Cho jumped right in. She gave a little squeal as the darkness almost instantly swallowed her. Neither of her friends wanted to be left behind so jumped in too. Filius was still wondering what to do when his mind was made up for him. The sinks started to close and the Head of Ravenclaw quickly jumped into the diminishing gap. With eight students down there, four of them Ravenclaws, he really had no other choice.
He arrived in a wide tunnel where all of the students had their wands lit. Considering the ground underneath their feet was littered with animal bones, Filius thought that was a perfectly understandable reaction. As they made their way along the tunnel, it was easy to see where the repairs had been made. Always the teacher, Filius awarded both students twenty points each for their outstanding work.
As they stood at a massive round metal door, Harry issued a warning. "Before I open this, be prepared to experience the worst thing you've ever smelled…" He stopped speaking as Professor Flitwick started casting bubble-head charms on all of them. Hermione was quick to praise his actions.
"Thank you so much, Professor. I really wasn't looking forward to experiencing that smell again."
Colin had his camera out and the flash as the snakes on the door became animated saw squeals come from the three older Ravenclaws. Harry couldn't hide his grin. "Save it for when we're inside. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets."
Harry and Hermione, with Luna protectively tucked between them, led the group into the chamber. A hiss from Harry saw the torches lit and everyone, apart from those three, stop in their tracks.
Filius Flitwick had travelled extensively in his younger days, seen many wonders their world held, but had never seen anything comparable to this. In his prime, Filius had been one of the top duellers in all of Europe and Asia. Standing looking at this extraordinary creature, he doubted whether he could have defeated this beast - even at the top of his game.
The only noise in the chamber was Harry explaining to Luna what had happened down here, everyone else was too shocked to speak. Filius was delighted to hear there was no boasting coming from this extraordinary young wizard, just a calm retelling of the facts. Luna's squeal as he mentioned being bitten by the basilisk seemed to wake everyone up. As Harry rolled his sleeve up to display the distinctive puncture wound in his arm, Colin took his first photograph from inside the chamber.
After marvelling at the creature, Filius began to look around the chamber and found himself being approached by Miss Granger.
"Professor, the bubble-head charms are affecting Colin's photographs. He says it's practically impossible to tell who's actually under the charm. We didn't come all the way down here to leave any room for doubts. Could you remove them for a minute, just so we can take a couple of pictures?"
Instantly agreeing, he followed the witch back to where she rejoined her friends posing in front of the basilisk for a picture. A nod from Mr Cheevy saw the charms cancelled and a picture quickly taken. The group of five must have been holding their breath as the young photographer was able to take another few pictures before the smell made posing impossible. The bubble-head charm was quickly applied to each of them before his three Ravenclaw asked for the same accommodation.
With Colin agreeing, they soon got their picture taken - but not one they would be showing anyone. As the charm was lifted, Marietta immediately reacted to the stench by barffing over the other two girls. Filius instantly recast two bubble-head charms, and vanished the vomit, but had to wait until Miss Edgecome was finished before reapplying hers. Vomiting while wearing a bubble-head charm was not a good combination.
They only left the chamber after Colin had used all his film. Filius was pleased to see the Gryffindors, and Miss Lovegood, all resisted the opportunity to taunt the older Ravenclaws over their earlier behaviour. It was only as they were about to mount the brooms and fly up the chute that Cho broached the elephant in the room head-on.
"Mr Potter, I would like to unreservedly apologise for doubting your word earlier. I would also like to say it was a stroke of genius to take a photographer into the chamber, I saw that creature in person and still struggle to believe it. What you did was above incredible, and should have been recognised beyond Hogwarts - and some stupid house points."
Now that Cho had started apologising, it was clear she wanted to get it all off her chest. "Miss Lovegood, I would again offer my unreserved apology over my shameful behaviour toward you. It would seem I again suffered from judging a book by its cover, forming opinions and taking actions before getting to know those involved. I promise to do my best at improving my behaviour, and will strive stop bullying wherever I see it."
Both the other girls offered apologies, but they weren't as heartfelt as Miss Chang's. Filius was sure he'd just found next year's female prefect. Miss Edgecome may be disappointed but then so was Filius, in the behaviour of these girls and himself. The discovery of bullying in Ravenclaw was bad enough, but at least he could deal with that. The clear lack of trust by the students in the staff of Hogwarts was a far greater problem, and one Filius had no idea how to approach - let alone solve.
Approaching Albus wold see the old wizard talk for twenty minutes, nothing of consequence would be said - and certainly nothing done to solve the problem. Approaching Minerva would see him dragged along to Albus for that same twenty minute talk, with the same zero results.
Hearing a fellow Head of House called the biggest bully in Hogwarts was shameful, there was no way Filius would approach Snape about this anyway. It appeared a chat with Pomona would be his only option. Perhaps between them they could figure out some way to reverse this trend of untrusting students. He also suspected it would take the sacking of Snape for those bonds of trust to begin reforming. Knowing Albus, Filius didn't hold out much hope of that happening.
-oOoOo-
Rumours had swept around the school about students supposedly visiting the Chamber of Secrets, it was dinner time though before these rumours were substantiated. Photographs were circulating around the hall, a raging Severus slapping one of those pictures in front of Albus left no room for any doubt.
"Look at the size of that thing. You're looking at a lost fortune in potions ingredients, all because the beast has been left to rot. I told you we should have gotten the brat to take us back down there."
"There wasn't an opportunity..."
"He managed to find an opportunity to take Flitwick down there, why not us?"
This had Albus looking toward his charms professor for an explanation. When that explanation came, neither Albus nor Severus were happy with it.
"I was sure the law dictated that the person who killed the beast was allowed to claim it. I'm pleased to see you both so concerned about that young man's finances."
Snap's anger spilled over. "It was killed on Hogwarts ground, it should belong to Hogwarts. I'm Head of Slytherin, I should have been taken down there too..."
Filius also let his anger out to play. "I think it's perfectly understandable that Mr Potter wouldn't want to be down there with a Death Eater, no matter how much the headmaster trusts you."
Severus was desperate to go for his wand but could clearly see Flitwick was waiting on that very thing, he also knew just how good a dueller the little charms professor was.
Albus had never had professors fighting at the dinner table before so tried to put a stop to this. "Filius, why didn't you inform me what was happening. As the headmaster, I think this should have been run past me first."
His anger hadn't abated one iota so Filius now directed it at Dumbledore. "You sat safely in your office while that young man was left to fight that enormous beast alone. Now your only concern seems to be hushing up that three second years solved a riddle you couldn't, and appeasing the biggest bully in Hogwarts. We all heard you preach how forgiveness should be given, or is it only former Death Eaters that rule applies to?"
"Professor Flitwick, if you are unhappy with the way I run Hogwarts then you are welcome to leave." It was only in the silence this caused that they realised all the students were listening to every word.
Filius was about to storm away and head out the hall when the staff table was approached by Harry. Hermione was asking over their bond what he was up to. 'Gaining allies' was his cryptic answer.
Snape couldn't resist shouting at him. "Potter, this matter has nothing to do with you. Return to your table at once or you will face a detention."
Ignoring the man, Harry spoke directly to his charms professor. "Professor Flitwick, I am currently looking for tutors and would be delighted to offer you a position - if you should suddenly find yourself available."
"Potter, detention with me for the rest of the week. You deliberately ignored a direct order from a professor." Snape had spittle flying from his lips as he screamed at Harry.
The boy in question cooly turned his attention to his Head of House. "Professor McGonagall, Snape is no longer a professor of mine. If he can still issue me with detentions, for simply speaking with another professor, then I don't see the point in hiring tutors at Hogwarts. I will simply leave and seek my education elsewhere. I would appreciate hearing your ruling on this..."
Dumbledore answered before Minerva could say anything. "Mr Potter, you can't leave Hogwarts without the permission of your magical guardian. Since that is me, we will have no more talk of this. Professor Snape is still a professor here, and you will abide by school rules - the same as all other students."
"A Headmaster forcing the 'Boy-who-Lived' to take detentions with a Death Eater, I'm sure the School Board will have something to say about that. Professor McGonagall, I am appealing the Headmaster's decision, and know Hogwarts bylaws allow me to take my case to the School Board. As my Head of House, it's your duty to arrange this for me."
"Mr Potter, I don't need you to tell me my duty..."
Harry cut her off. "Yet you sat there and let these two try and railroad me into an unfair detention? Just in case anyone else needs reminded of the bylaws, appealing my detention to the board suspends that detention until the hearing. Professor Flitwick, my offer still stands. Professor Sprout, if there was a way to transfer Hogwarts house, quite a few students would be knocking on your door. I know Hermione and me certainly would."
With that last barb, Harry returned to his seat beside Hermione - leaving the staff table in total disarray - with Dumbledore having to physically place himself between Snape and Flitwick. It wasn't quite total disarray though, someone had at least the presence of mind to raise a silencing charm so the students couldn't hear what was being said.
Luna leaned around Hermione and asked Harry if she should add this into the article she was writing. His emphatic "Hell yes." had all the Gryffindors worried. Not only was Harry the 'Boy who Lived', he was - in their opinion - the best seeker in Hogwarts too. Most would rather see Harry leave Hogwarts, rather than line up to play quidditch against Gryffindor for another house.