Chapter 341
One upside to the news of the two foiled
attacks becoming public was an
immediate downturn in the attitude of the
Slytherins.
Nott's removal from the school once again
showed the entire blood supremacist
movement within the school that being a
student did not protect them from their
actions. Dumbledore was no longer there
with his 'second chance' philosophy, and
Snape was no longer protected; and,
therefore, protecting 'his' students.
The trial of Nott saw him sent to Azkaban
for a period of five years. Granted, it was
in the low security area. However, it would
have been worse for the young man if
he'd not successfully argued he'd been
operating under the orders of his Head of
House, his father. Apparently, Riddle was
becoming suspicious the trick of hiding
the dark mark when trying to act
incognito was now known by the side of
the light, and was therefore reluctant to
give those people the mark.
The three Lestranges and Antonin
Dolohov were all executed by Veil
immediately after their very quick trials.
Amycus and Alecto Carrow, Thorfinn
Rowle and Samuel Travers, as they weren't
escapees, were given life sentences in the
high security section of Azkaban.
From the Saint Mungo's attack, Avery and
Selwynn were escapees and were
executed, following their fellow escapees
from the attempted Hogwarts' hit. Fenrir
Greyback, though not an escapee, already
had a death sentence over his head, and
also went through the Veil. The others, all
marked, were sent to the high security
section of Azkaban.
However, the word was out; escape from
Azkaban and you would be executed for
your troubles. Further and immediately
following the trials, the new Minister,
Ogden, announced that the auror and hit
wizard forces were instructed that, if you
were dressed in Death Eater regalia, they
were permitted to use lethal force against
you; and were also authorised to be the
first to cast curses. No second chances.
There would, for the duration of the
terrorist threat, be no calls of, "Aurors!
Drop your wands!"
"Ogden's doing well," said Daphne, after
reading the article.
"Mmm," muttered Harry, nodding. "It's
about time we had a Minister with a bit of
backbone."
"He recognises the threat Riddle and his
terrorists represent," said Hermione.
"So, we got ourselves a Minister that
acts sensibly?" asked Harry, a little
shocked. "What's wrong with him, then?"
That had both his wives chuckling.
"I think we just got lucky," replied Daphne
once she'd calmed down a little.
It was almost four weeks after the
attempts by Riddle on Hogwarts and St
Mungo's before the next major attack
occurred. This time, it was a series of
smaller attacks on the homes of various
muggleborn. Seamus Finnegan's home in
County Cork, Ireland was one such.
However, his mother had been smart and
had on her person an emergency portkey
to St Mungo's; and she, Seamus's muggle
father and his little sister were able to
portkey away as soon as their alert wards
triggered.
"Smart and lucky," said Daphne upon
reading the article. "The Death Eaters
didn't bother to check for an alert ward,
as the home is in a residential muggle area.
And the three Finnegans were all together
in the lounge when the alert went off.
They were gone within seconds of the
alert ward sounding."
"Why Saint Mungo's?" asked Hermione.
"It makes sense," said Harry. "If you have
an emergency that requires the use of a
preset portkey, it would be best if it took
you to Saint Mungo's; as the emergency is
more likely to be of a medical nature than
anything else."
"She also states it's a portkey they
organised years ago; well before the latest
strife," added Daphne. "It seems they
were worried about the health of their
daughter, Erin. She's had health issues."
Hermione thought about that for a few
moments before she said, "Let's hope
others recognise the value of such
portkeys from the article and organise
their own."
"The article also mentions an attack on
another muggleborn home, said Daphne.
"But, the residents weren't home.
Neighbours say the family moved overseas
to join family on 'extended vacation' in...
July."
"They saw the writing on the wall and
left," said Harry. "I can't say I blame them
one bit."
"I don't remember the Death Eaters
getting it this wrong last time," said
Hermione.
"That's because they no longer have
access to the Ministry records," replied
Daphne. "Without workers in the Ministry,
supporting his efforts, Riddle no longer
has access to up-to-date information on
the whereabouts of the wizarding
population."
"Attacks on vacant homes make Riddle
look like an idiot," said Hermione. "He'll
not tolerate that one iota. Some poor
bigoted schmuck who used to work at the
Ministry has probably gotten him or
herself cruciatus cursed to death."
"They're flying blind," said Harry,
understanding. "They're operating off old
and outdated information. Information
they had access to before Amelia and
Croaker purged the Ministry of the
bigots."
"They were prepared," said Hermione.
"They knew they would soon need the
information; so they collected it either
immediately after Riddle's resurrection, or
had a fair idea Riddle was going to be
resurrected soon afterwards. I'd guess the
former, as the latter shows logical thinking
that just isn't usually found in even the
inner circle DEs."
"It also means we can expect to see
attacks on people and places where
they're confident they'll find their
targets," said Daphne. "That means the
established homes of so-called blood
traitors."
"And they'll want that updated
information to go after the muggleborns
again," said Harry. "And, the only place
they can get it is from the Ministry or
here."
"Riddle will make a play for the Ministry,"
said Hermione, already figuring it out. "It
will also give him the opportunity to get a
hold of the prophecy sphere."
"Two birds with one stone," nodded Harry.
"Riddle's usual 'M.O.' If he has to go to the
Ministry, he'll try to accomplish everything
he needs to accomplish there, at the same
time. He knows that if he attacks once,
Amelia will know he's just as likely to
attack again. And he knows she'll be
prepared for him.
"We need to send her a letter," said
Hermione, reaching for a fresh sheet of
parchment and a quill.
Two mornings later, the Potters received a
response back from Amelia of their
warning. As Hermione had written the
original letter to Amelia, the response was
addressed to her.
Reading it, she said, "It says, she's aware
of the probable threat to the Ministry but
doesn't want to block Riddle getting hold
of the prophecy sphere. Instead, they're
placing all the information concerning the
personal details of muggleborns under a
Knowledge Fidelius."
Chapter 342
Looking up, she asked Daphne, "How
would that affect information from
Hogwarts to muggleborn students; such as
owls being sent with the booklists and
such?"
"It won't," Daphne immediately replied.
"Knowledge Fideliuses do not affect mail
owls. And Hogwarts generated mail, such
as acceptance letters, booklists and OWL
and NEWT results are done through the
magic of the castle with no human
intervention."
"What about muggleborns getting a visit
from Professor McGonagall where she
explains the letter and acceptance?" asked
Hermione.
Daphne thought about that for a few
moments before she said, "We'll need to
ask Professor McGonagall if the Fidelius
has affected... whoever will be doing the
visits now's... ability to make those visits."
"Good idea," muttered Harry.
"I'd hate to have other muggleborns kept
unawares of that needed information,"
sighed Hermione. "They'd not even be
able to find Diagon Alley or Platform 9¾
without that first visit."
"Then we shall see if we can make an
appointment to visit Headmistress
McGonagall," soothed Harry. "Or, better
yet, ask her to contact Madam Bones
directly and ask if the Knowledge Fidelius
will cause Hogwarts problems."
"How about we ask Professor Flitwick,
instead?" asked Hermione. "After all, as a
Charms Master, he should know."
"Even better," smiled Daphne.
"We'll ask him during our next training
session, tonight," Harry firmly said.
Once their training session with both
Professor Snape and Flitwick was
concluded, Snape left with nary a word.
However, the four were quite used to the
dour man's behaviour.
"Professor Flitwick, we have a specialised
charms question," said Hermione.
"Oh?" asked the diminutive Professor,
while he was using his wand to set the
room back to rights.
"The Knowledge Fidelius, Professor," she
continued. "Madam Bones has informed
us that, at the Ministry, in order to protect
the information concerning the personal
particulars about muggleborns from
getting into the hands of Riddle and his
thugs, they're going to place all that
information under a Knowledge Fidelius."
"Ah!" said the Professor, understanding
and turning from where he'd just finished
his wand work. "You're concerned that,
with the information placed under a
Fidelius, new and current muggleborn
students won't get their Hogwarts' letters
and the like."
"That's it, exactly, Professor," sighed
Hermione in not a little relief.
"A logical deduction from the available
information, Missus Granger-Potter,"
smiled the Professor. "Ten points to
Ravenclaw.
"As for your deduced problem, the
solution is actually quite simple. Can you
figure out what it is?"
Harry snorted and replied, "Now I can. You
simply get the secret keeper to give the
secret to the Professor now responsible
for ensuring outward school mailings to
students; and to the Professor... or
Professors... who will carry out the visits
to the new muggleborns."
"Precisely," smiled the Professor. "Well
deduced. And another five points to
Ravenclaw. I shall inform Madam Bones I'll
need to be informed of the secret, just as
you seemed to have already understood
the problem.
"I must say," he continued. "It's actually
very clever of her to come up with that
idea. I dare say it will save many lives."
"From her letter to us about it," said
Hermione. "She's doing it to stop Riddle
and his thugs from getting hold of the
information, so he can no longer target
the homes of muggleborns."
"Yes, I've read of the attacks in the Daily
Prophet," the Professor near-growled. "He
used the same tactics in the previous war.
However, back then, they didn't employ
the Knowledge Fidelius to help protect
them."
"If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd wager
they didn't employ the idea as the
Ministry preferred Riddle to go after the
muggleborns than go after purebloods;
light-sided families. Something he's likely
to do if he can't get at the muggleborns."
With a frown that bordered on a glare, the
Professor said in a low voice, "That
comment was beneath you, Mister
Potter."
"While it may be distasteful, Professor,"
interjected Daphne. "There's a good
chance he's probably right."
Professor Flitwick seemed to think on that
for a few moments before he sighed and
sagged a little. "Indeed," he eventually
agreed.
At the Halloween Feast for that year, the
three informed Professor Flitwick they
would be spending it in their own
apartment.
"It's a time for the Potters to spend it in
solitude, Professor," explained Daphne.
"All Hallows Eve will henceforth be a day
for the Potters to spend in memoriam of
James and Lily.
"A new tradition, then," nodded the
Professor. "I heartily approve and grant
you permission to miss the Feast in the
Great Hall."
"Thank you, Professor," all three
responded.
So, on the night of the Feast, all three
enjoyed a quiet meal in the Potter
Apartment, superbly prepared and served
by Dobby.
Once dinner was concluded, Hermione
rose and brought back to the table some
of the photo albums that Harry and the
girls had collected over the past year and
a bit. They were additions to the album
Hagrid had given him for Christmas his
first year.
So, that evening was spent going through
the old wizarding photographs, and the
handmade cards wizarding children had
sent Harry over the years.
Here and there, Daphne made comments
about who the children were if she
thought Harry or Hermione didn't
recognise the name. And she also
provided background information on
people she knew of, that appeared in
wizarding photographs with either or both
of Harry's parents. Some Harry knew, but
Daphne still provided new information in
among the already known.
It was actually quite late at night before
the three realised the time and finally
turned into bed.
Just after they doused the lights, Harry
asked, "Did you know this is the first
Halloween since I entered... re-entered...
the wizarding world when something bad
hasn't happened to me?"
Both his wives simply cuddled into him
from either side.
Chapter 343
"As Professor Flitwick said, love," said
Hermione. "Tonight, we started a new
tradition for the Potter family. I happen to
think that's a good thing."
"As do I," murmured Daphne.
The school year was just starting into
December when the Potters received a
knock on the door to their apartment.
Opening it, Harry saw it was the latest
Quidditch captain for Ravenclaw, Roger
Davies.
Curious as to why the boy, who had a
scowl on his face, was paying them a visit,
Harry invited him in.
After the boy sat down on the couch
opposite Harry and his wives - and was
offered a butterbeer, which he declined -
Harry asked, "Well, Mister Davies, what
brings you to our little demesne?"
Getting straight to the point, Davies
explained, "Chang's withdrawn from the
Quidditch team. The Ravens are now
without a seeker."
"Ooo-kaaay," said Harry. "First, why did
she withdraw? And, second, aren't
there other 'Claws more than capable of
taking the seeker slot?"
"She's withdrawn because she feels she
needs to devote more time to her
studies," explained Davies, with a hint of
distaste on his face. "Apparently, she
nearly failed last year. Something to do
with her constant fawning over Diggory
getting in the way of her completing her
assignments, or some such. Now she's
simply pining over the boy."
Diggory had completed his final year of
education the previous year, and was no
longer dating Chang. Harry didn't know
the whole story, there, but thought
Diggory might have learned of Chang and
her cohorts' predilection towards bullying
others.
"And, as to your second question,"
continued Davies, "It's the belief of the
House... and the rest of the team...
that you should be seeker."
"What about your reserve seeker?" asked
Hermione.
"We didn't and don't have one," replied
Davies.
"And, what about you? Do you want Harry
on your team as seeker?" asked Daphne.
"By the way you answered his earlier
question, it sounds as if you don't."
"Actually, yes; I do," he replied. "My...
annoyance... is in reaction to the rest of
the House practically ordering me to ask
you before asking anyone else."
"And you feel they were usurping your
authority as captain," Harry put forward.
"Yes," Davies practically hissed.
Harry laughed. "You want me as your
seeker. The House wants me as your
seeker. But you're pissed because you see
it as the House forcing you to pick me as
your seeker, thereby usurping your
authority."
Giving a grudging nod of acceptance, the
boy blushed a little before he quietly said,
"Yes."
Harry chuckled a little more before he said,
"Alright, then. If you want me as seeker
for the Ravens, I'll be seeker for the
Ravens... with the provision that, if Chang
wants her slot back, I'll step down again."
Davies shook his head and said, "I gave
her an ultimatum, hoping to get her to
change her mind. I told her that, if she
withdrew, she wouldn't be allowed back
on the team. She still withdrew. And I will
not... cannot... back down from that."
"Fair enough," nodded Harry. Turning to
his wives he asked, "So, can I play?"
"Yes," said both, almost simultaneously.
"Just... try to stay out of the hospital wing,
okay?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, love," he said, before turning back to
Davies. Sitting forward he asked, "So,
when's practice?"
After an intensive week of learning the
plays of the Eagles - the Ravenclaw
Quidditch team - Harry was near
exhausted from trying to memorise the
plays and signals one afternoon, and
putting those plays and signals into
practice the next.
Finally, the day of the match arrived.
When playing as seeker for the Lions
Harry always suffered from anxiety nausea
the morning of the match. This day, he did
not. However, that may have had a lot to
do with the... distraction therapy, as
Hermione put it... of the previous night.
All three finally fell asleep, quite
exhausted and 'sated' in the wee hours of
the morning.
The next morning, this morning, they
engaged in one final but brief bout of
lovemaking before rising and facing the
day.
It meant that, at breakfast, Harry was
happily downing a bowl of porridge with
fruit mixed in, sweetened with honey and
a good dash of milk. As a side dish he had
picked out the crispiest pieces of bacon
off the communal plate while also holding
a non-crispy piece aside for Hedwig - she
preferred it that way.
Hermione was looking on with
amusement.
"This is so unlike you, Harry," she smirked.
"Usually, you're a bundle of nerves before
a game."
Grinning back between mouthfuls of
porridge, he replied, "My last actual game
was eighteen months ago, love. Besides,
back then I didn't have two lovely wives
who were able to... shall we say... get my
mind out of the 'what if' loop of crashes
and failures I used to get."
Immediately both wives blushed.
Luna, sitting opposite, witnessed this and
began to giggle. "I take it Daphne and
Hermione were able to devise a way to get
your mind off the game," she mused.
And both wives blushed again as Harry
grinned back, causing Luna to giggle again.
The game itself was a bit of a letdown for
Harry. He was expecting the excitement,
the search and the chase of the snitch.
Instead, he spotted the snitch less than
ten minutes after the game started; and,
because the new Hufflepuff seeker was
out of position, had an unchallenged dive
and capture of the snitch moments later.
Ravenclaw won, 170 - 10. The match was
one of the quickest on record.
His spotting the snitch and capturing it
happened so quickly that Lee Jordan, in
one of his last games as commentator,
thought Harry was just going to attempt a
spoiling play of the Hufflepuff chasers -
right until he caught the snitch and held it
aloft before landing one-handed next to
Madam Hooch with a wide grin to her
look of shock.
The party immediately after the game in
the Ravenclaw common room was one of
the few times the three Potters were
together in the room. Other times were
usually only one of them, when they
entered to browse the House library for
reference material.
What Harry liked about the event was that
the 'Claws weren't as boisterous in their
partying as the Gryffindors. They still had
butterbeer, nibblies and the like; but there
was no sneaking in of fire whiskey or wine.
And the party also wrapped up early to
clear the room for those who needed to
study or complete assignments. For the
'Claws, even a party for a major Quidditch
win wasn't enough to deny students who
needed to look after their academic
interests.
Chapter 344
As they were about to leave, Davies
approached and said, "Potter, I'm sorry I
didn't think of asking you to at least be
reserve seeker at the beginning of the year.
I would have still played Chang in the
game we lost, but you'd have been better
prepared for this game."
"That's alright, Davies," replied Harry. "But,
if you need me for the final game, I'll be
available."
"Good," replied the other boy. "Because
I've already decided you're the seeker for
it."
With a chuckle, Harry left taking his wives
with him.
As they were walking down to the corridor
back to their apartment, Hermione asked,
"Feel better, getting to play again?"
"Ah, love," he sighed in peaceful
happiness. "You know me too well."
"I know you enjoy the freedom flying gives
you," said Daphne. "But, I don't know why
you love Quidditch so much."
"It's not so much I love Quidditch," he
replied. "It's that I love to fly; and
Quidditch... seeking... gives me something
to do while I fly. The Headmaster's a
manipulative old fool."
As they walked in through the alcove and
past Professor Whittaker, Daphne burst
out laughing.
"Yeah, I know," said Harry. "We really
should change the password."
"Oh, not that," she giggled. "Though, yes,
we really should change the password. No,
I'm laughing because I'd like to see the
expressions on the faces of Woods and
Davies if they ever find out you really
don't care that much about Quidditch."
Grinning, Harry ran his fingers through his
hair and said, "Wood would probably cry.
But, I think Angelina, their new captain,
would probably laugh as much as you did.
I've no idea how Davies would feel about
it. Personally, I think he wouldn't care."
Mimicking Davies's accent he said, "I
couldn't care any less than I do right now
whether or not you love or hate Quidditch.
Just catch the bloody snitch!"
That had the three of them laughing.
With the Christmas break finally upon
them, the three happily made ready to
depart the morning of the Hogwarts
Express.
As they descended into the entrance hall
they met up with other students who
were waiting their turn to head out to the
carriages that would take them to the
train. Headmistress McGonagall was
overseeing the leaving of students, while
Caretaker Filch was marking off names on
a long list.
Approaching her, Harry said, "This is
unusual for you, Headmistress; overseeing
the leaving of students."
She smiled and said, "It's one of the
pleasures I wasn't willing to surrender just
because I've become Headmistress, Mister
Potter."
"Watching people leave is a pleasure,
Ma'am?" he asked, confused.
"Not leave, Mister Potter," she corrected.
"Return to their loved ones. I enjoy seeing
the faces of our students in their
eagerness to return to their homes."
"I understand," he softly said.
As he was about to return to his wives, the
Headmistress said, "Just so you're aware,
Mister Potter, and are unalarmed; there
will be two members of staff, Professors
Vector and Bartwinkle, on the train for the
trip to London."
"Understood," replied Harry. "And, thank
you for the heads-up."
As their turn to head out to the carriages
came and they made their way outside,
Hermione asked, "What bothers you so?"
"Bothers me?" he asked.
"Ever since you spoke with Professor
McGonagall, you've been quite...
pensieve," she explained.
"Ah!" he said. "That's because of the look
of sadness I saw on her face when she
spoke of the students returning to their
loved ones. It looked so... wistful. There's
a great sadness within her."
As they boarded the carriage, Daphne
sighed and said, "During the war with
Grindelwald, members of the Order of
Walpurgis attacked homes in the Scottish
highlands during one of their rare
incursions into Britain. Minerva
McGonagall lost her husband and young
child in one of those attacks."
"Dear God," said Hermione, appalled.
"That's horrible."
"There are many stories like that," Daphne
quietly said. "Excluding the recent
muggleborns, practically everyone lost
someone close to them in the last two
wars. I lost an uncle and aunt in the last
one. And my grandfather...my father's
father... died at the hands of some
Walpurgis Order members while
defending another family in the
Grindelwald war."
"Oh, Daphne," said Hermione; her voice
full of sorrow. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," the blonde girl replied. "He
died well before I was even born. I only
know of him from what Father's told me
of him; and from what I've learned from
his portrait."
As soon as they boarded the train, and
found a compartment in a carriage up
near the front where the Slytherins sat,
the three quickly settled down for the
seven long hours of trip back to London.
The train had barely left the station when
the door was pulled open by Tracey.
"Hey!" she grinned. "Are you three trying
to hide from me?"
With matching grins of their own it was
Daphne who responded for the Potters.
"Of course not, silly! Come on in!"
"Actually, you three might want to come
back to our compartment one carriage
back," she replied. "The others are all
there, waiting."
"Oh," said Harry, as his two wives both
blushed and rose, ready to depart.
"Oops?" he sheepishly said.
Tracey just grinned back as she led them
down the train and to the compartment of
Draco, Blaise, Neville and Hannah.
Entering the compartment, she gaily said,
"Look who I found!"
As the four entered the compartment,
Tracey immediately went and sat snuggled
alongside Blaise while Hermione sat next
to her, and Harry and Daphne sat opposite
Neville and Hannah.
"Too good for us now, Potter?" asked
Draco.
"Sorry, guys," he said. "Mea culpa. We
didn't know you'd beaten us to the train
and found another compartment, nor that
you were holding it for us."
Chapter 345
Noticing the slightly uncomfortable silence
that had descended, Hannah asked, "So,
what're everyone's plans for the break?"
Deciding to be the first, Harry said,
"Christmas shopping as soon as possible
first, of course. After that, Christmas at
Greengrass Farm. Then I don't think we've
got plans."
"A visit to my parents to see little William,
my new baby brother, is one plan Harry
forgot," added Hermione. "And we'll need
to pay Sirius a visit, of course."
"Oh, yeah," said Harry. Turning to Draco,
he asked, "Still at Black Manor?"
"No. However, it's not Malfoy Manor
either," the blonde boy replied with a sigh.
"Mother does not feel it is safe, as yet, to
return to our home."
"If there's anything I can do to help,
please contact me," said Harry, making
sure his ex-school-nemesis understood he
was being serious about the offer."
Draco nodded back and softly said, "Thank
you."
"Mother's taking me back to the mother
country for Yule," piped up Blaise.
"However, we'll only be there until Boxing
Day. Then we're returning to England. I
told her I wouldn't go unless I was able to
spend some time with Tracey, as well."
That earned him a cuddle and kiss on the
cheek from his girlfriend.
The train was about three hours into its
journey to London when the brakes of the
train suddenly slammed on, causing
luggage and pet carriers to fly off the high
shelves onto luckless students sitting with
their backs to the front of the train.
Though they didn't know it at the time,
there were three students who were
knocked unconscious, and a raft of others
with concussions, broken arms and or ribs,
and a leg or two. These were the ones
who were hit with heavy school trunks
that flew off the shelf opposite and landed
on them.
Harry and his wives were spared the initial
carnage, though a trunk had flown off the
shelf opposite. Harry was able to stop it
from slamming into his torso only through
his preternaturally fast reflexes. He'd
managed to raise both hands and half
catch it, half fend it off, before the
momentum and gravity allowed him to
force it away and onto the floor.
Immediately flexing his fingers, hands and
arms he quickly asked, "Is everyone
okay?" Even as cries and screams from
those less fortunate came from other
compartments.
"Yeah... yeah, we're fine... I think,"
stuttered Blaise from opposite.
"Right, well there appears to be others
who aren't," he said. "And it sounds like
they need our help."
He was about to turn to ask one of his
wives to send a patronus message when
he saw Hermione do just that. "That went
to Madam Bones," she said. "I told her
something caused the train to emergency
brake and there are many students, here,
who're injured."
"We don't know there is that..." started
Neville, before she cut him off.
"There will be," she snapped back.
"Putting heavy trunks into the overheads
was always a recipe for disaster. Well, that
disaster is here because of the emergency
braking."
Daphne had already risen from her seat
and, as the closest to the door, had
already ducked outside. She was back a
moment later. "We've got wounded.
Almost everyone sitting with their back to
the direction of travel is injured, right
throughout the carriage."
"That means they'll be in the same states
in all the other carriages," said Tracey,
standing from where she'd fallen to the
floor.
"Which is what I'd anticipated," said
Hermione. "Hence the patronus
messenger to Madam Bones."
"Let's see what we can do to help ev..."
Blaise had just started to rise when he
looked out the window. "Death Eaters!"
he gasped.
Spinning about, everyone else looked
outside and saw what had caught Blaise's
attention. Riddle's thugs were standing on
the ground, outside and about fifty feet
back, looking back at the train.
"Shit!" swore Harry. "At least now we have
a reason for the train's sudden stop."
This time, Daphne was forming a
messenger patronus. As soon as it flashed
away, she said, "That was also a message
to Madam Bones. This time, with the
information that Riddle's masked morons
were attacking the train."
"Good," Harry nodded approvingly back at
his wife. Turning to the others in the
compartment, he said "Everyone bar
Draco, go see about helping all the injured
students. If you see a Death Eater on the
train, try and avoid them. Use
Notice-Me-Not wards on the doors of the
compartments, if you have to.
"Draco, you're probably within the top five
of Riddle's personal shit list; so, you'd best
stay with us," said Harry. "Hermione,
Daphne and I all know we happen to be
the top three of that same list. So, the
safest place for you, right now, is with us."
Draco stared back at Harry for a moment
in surprise before his expression firmed
and he said, "Agreed. What do you need
me to do?"
The others, bar the three Potters and
Draco, headed out and split in either
direction to see what they could do to
help with injuries and to tell people not to
be heroes in the face of the Death Eaters.
Harry smiled back and said, "Good man."
He glanced at Daphne a moment before
he turned back and asked, "If I pair you
with Daphne, can I trust you to keep her
safe?"
"Harry," growled Daphne in a warning
manner.
He turned more fully to her and said, "The
corridors are far too narrow for the three
of us to move together and head one way.
Hell, it's too narrow for two, really. Can
you see any other option than to break
into two teams of two and head in
opposite directions?"
She thought a moment before she sighed
and replied, "No."
With a firm nod to her, he turned to Draco
and said, "Us three have had advanced
duelling training. I need you to act as
defence for Daphne while she goes on
offence. She'll need you casting shield
charms and transfigure items into physical
shields you levitate before her to block
Unforgivables. Can you handle that?"
"Yes," Draco firmly replied. "I'll be happy
to. She'll be safe with me."
"Good man," said Harry, again. "You two
head towards the engine and see if you
can get the train moving again. Hermione
and I will head down the train and 'repel
boarders' and see what we can do to get
the older students to care for the little'uns.
Hopefully, the aurors will be here before
much longer."
Chapter 346
As the four split into pairs Daphne and
Draco headed forward towards the engine
while Harry and Hermione head towards
the rear. Clearly, Tracey and Blaise were
ahead of them, as they could see students
in the compartments they passed had
calmed down again. And a few were
looking a little fearful out the window.
Clearly, they'd seen the Death Eaters, too.
Harry and Hermione, after checking each
compartment, simply moved on to the
next without a word. Seconds later, they
were into the next carriage. It was in the
first compartment they came across Blaise
and Tracey. Both were casting minor
healing spells on a pair of firsties that
appeared to have been clobbered by a
school trunk that landed on them.
"You guys, alright?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah," said Tracey, looking up from
performing a minor episkey spell on a
small gash on a young female firstie's
forearm. "No sign of them, yet."
"Alright," sighed Hermione. "We'll move
on ahead. But, we're looking to make sure
the bad guys don't come on board."
Tracey turned to look back out the
window. Turning back, she said, "There's
still some out there. But... I think there's
less than there were."
"Why would they be just standing out
there?" asked Blaise, genuinely curious.
"They're the lookouts," replied Harry.
"They're out there to make sure whoever
they're after doesn't escape by
disembarking while others are searching
the train."
"They're hunting for someone specific,"
said Blaise in sudden understanding.
"Exactly," said Harry.
As both Hermione and Harry moved out
into the passageway again, someone
dressed as a Death Eater stepped around
the corner from the other end of the
carriage. And was immediately followed
by a second one.
"There!" called the first one, a male, as
soon as his eyes laid upon Hermione and
Harry. He then quickly drew a wand.
That same call also alerted the two Potters
that they were the target or targets, and
both also raised their own wands.
With their wands already out, Hermione
was far quicker than the Death Eaters with
a shield.
As soon as the first person raised their
wand, they shouted, "Avada..."
As soon as he heard the first two syllables,
Harry's first choice to incapacitate the
masked thugs immediately switched to
putting them down hard. With complete
faith in Hermione to defend him, he
launched his own attack.
With one Death Eater slightly behind the
other, his first attacking spell chain was
launched.
"... Kedavra!" roared the first Death Eater
as Harry's first curse flew forward, an
overpowered bludgeoning hex. The two
curses passed each other, as Harry
realised the killing curse was aimed at
Hermione.
Glancing to her he saw she easily
intercepted it with a large block of granite
before she immediately banished the
remains of the now shattered block
directly back at the Death Eaters, as per
her magical combat training.
At the same time Harry saw his
bludgeoning hex strike the first masked
thug, sending him flying back into the
second Death Eater. As his second curse
was on its way, a reduction curse, he
couldn't aim it lower to account for the
first having been slammed off his feet.
However, it was sure to either hit the
second masked thug, or cause the man, or
woman, to block it.
Harry's curse slammed into the pitiful
shield the second Death Eater was able to
erect, causing it to spectacularly fail just in
time for the banished remains of
Hermione's granite block to slam into both
Death Eaters. Luckily, the stupid student
who had stuck their head out the door to
see what was going on, only caught a few
stray fragments of rock to the side of the
head, before they yelped and pulled their
head back in again, slamming the door
closed.
By the time Harry was almost finished
casting his third curse, both Death Eaters
were on the ground and not moving.
With a glance to each other, both teens
cautiously made their way forward. As
they passed the compartment door with
the foolish student behind, Harry opened
it to look within.
Spotting a boy being tended for cuts and
small gashes to the side of his face by a
fellow seventh year, he said, "You're lucky
you only caught a few stone chips to the
side of your face. It could have just as
easily been a reduction curse or similar.
Idiot."
Not waiting for a response, he withdrew
and closed the door, to see Hermione
standing over the two Death Eaters. He
was just in time to see her levitate the two
now discarded wands and drop them into
an evidence bag. Then she withdrew a
small vial from a pocket within her robes.
And used an eye dropper to drip a few
drops onto the uncovered part of each
face of the two thugs.
After waiting a few moments, Harry then
bent down and ripped the masks away to
see two adult males of which only one he
recognised. "Flint?" he said, a little
surprised.
"How come we weren't informed one of
those who escaped Azkaban was Marcus
Flint?" asked Hermione.
"No idea, love," he replied. "But, it's
definitely something we'll be asking
Madam Bones the next time we see her."
With a sigh, he stood up and said, "Come
on. There's bound to be more of them
onboard."
The two of them then made their way into
the next carriage. This time it was they
who walked around the corner to find
themselves facing a pair of Death Eaters,
who were already halfway down the
corridor looking into compartments. They
were ignoring the cries of dismay from
those within as they were clearly
searching for one or more specific
individuals.
Looking at the pair, Harry called, "Looking
for me, shit for brains?"
Both Death Eaters immediately turned to
his voice. As one cried, "It's him!" The
other tried to snap fire off what looked
like a stunner.
A stunner, which was immediately batted
aside by Hermione as Harry launched into
a not-so-lethal spell chain.
Harry started with the banishing charm,
the disarming charm, a tongue locking hex,
and a hog-tie binding charm on the closest
Death Eater.
The first was batted aside, the second was
attempted to be batted aside but failed
leading to the masked thug losing his
wand; then the tongue locking hex and
binding charm hit him, causing him to
topple to the floor.
Seeing his 'friend' quickly losing the short
duel had the second Death Eater attempt
the torture curse, which safely impacted
on Hermione's granite block, leaving only
a scorch mark.
Chapter 347
As she levitated the block back out of the
way, and because the thug fired off an
Unforgivable at him, Harry used his first
semi-lethal spell chain of a tongue locking
hex, confounding charm, piercing curse,
and blasting hex. Then moved directly into
another spellchain leading with a patronus,
hesitating to let his stag patronus gallop at
the thug for a moment, before then firing
off a second piercing charm, the disarming
charm, the petrifying charm and rope
binding charm.
The Death Eater was able to avoid, block
or bat away everything until the patronus.
He didn't see the follow up piercing charm,
which hit him in the elbow of his wand
arm, rendering the arm useless. And he
wasn't then able to switch wand hands
before he was disarmed, frozen like a
statue and bound before toppling to the
floor on top of his 'partner'.
Again, the two teens moved forward with
Hermione allowing a couple of drops of
Sleepy-bye potion to drop onto the bared
chins of both Death Eaters while Harry
stood guard.
They were just going through the trouble
of stripping both of their wands and
portkeys when two aurors quickly
rounded the corner, to be met with the
pointed wands of both Potters. Both
aurors immediately stopped with their
hands raised. Both with their wands
pointed skyward.
"Whoa, there, Mister Potter," said the first
auror, who Harry immediately recognised
as Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Seeing who it was, Harry and Hermione
lowered their wands as Harry said, "Auror
Shacklebolt; nice of you to pay us a visit. I
take it those of Riddle's thugs who were
keeping watch outside have been dealt
with?"
With a nod the tall dark-skinned auror
said, "Those that we could catch; yes."
Stepping forward with his partner,
Shacklebolt looked down at the two Death
Eaters and said, "Nice job."
"Thank you," said Hermione. "These two,
plus two more in the next carriage, have
been dosed with the Sleepy-byes potion. I
take it Madam Bones now has the
antidote for it?"
"She does," replied the tall auror with a
smile.
"In that case, and since you've obviously
come from the back of the train, these are
probably it for who was on the train," said
Harry.
"Mind if we take possession of them?"
asked the auror.
"Go ahead," said Harry, before he smirked
and said, "Seeing as we've just got
through gift wrapping them for you."
Shacklebolt then turned to the younger
auror who had kept silent but had been
looking between Shacklebolt, the Potters
and the Death Eaters while they'd been
talking. "Magic suppression cuffs, Blake.
Then portkey them back to the holding
cells."
The younger auror simply nodded and
reached into a pocket of his robes as he
stepped forward and crouched down. A
few seconds later, both unconscious Death
Eaters had been portkeyed away.
"Where are the next two, Mister Potter?"
asked Shacklebolt.
"Next carriage," replied Harry with an
indication of the direction with his head.
"Come on. We'll show you."
As the two headed to the previous
carriage, Hermione held out the two bags
of four wands and portkeys. "These are
the portkeys and wands they were using,"
she said, holding up the bag. "I'm guessing
you'll need them for evidence."
"Thank you, Missus Granger-Potter,"
replied Shacklebolt with a nod of his head
as he accepted the bag.
"You'll also find at least one killing curse
and one torture curse were very recently
cast using two of those wands," she
added.
With a slightly surprised expression on his
face, Shacklebolt said, "Did they really?
Well, that'll help to see them locked away
for a very long time."
As soon as the first two Death Eaters
Harry and Hermione had dealt with had
been portkeyed away in 'cuffs, Harry
asked, "Are the injured students being
seen to?"
"Healers should be here already," said
Shacklebolt. "We forced them to hold
back for five minutes until we could deal
with the masked idiots."
"They're here now, Senior," said the young
auror, finally speaking up for the first time.
"I saw them portkey in outside about two
minutes ago. They should be onboard by
now."
"In that case, it's time we got this train
moving again," said Shacklebolt. He
seemed about to turn around and head
for the front of the train when he paused
and looked at the two Potters. "Again, you
two... plus Missus Greengrass-Potter and
young Mister Malfoy... seem to have dealt
with the biggest problem of those of
Riddle's thugs who were actually
threatening the students. So, thank you
for your quick action.
"However, I need to go and make sure this
train starts moving again. I don't like the
idea of it sitting here, out in the open,
when we could have it moving to London
while injured students are being treated."
"Then, by all means, go," said Harry. "I'm
not too comfortable being out in the open
like this, either."
The trip from the ambush site to Kings
Cross remained uneventful. A team of
aurors and healers remained on the train
to respectively protect the students for
the remainder of the trip and to continue
to treat light injuries the students had
suffered.
Harry was surprised to learn that, though
attempting to portkey or apparate onto a
moving train was inherently dangerous,
portkeying or apparating off such a train,
as long as the destination wasn't moving,
was no less safe than if the train was
stationary at the time. As they journeyed
to London, three students were portkeyed
off the train direct to Saint Mungo's due
to their injuries. Their parents or
guardians, who were likely to be awaiting
them at Platform 9¾, would be informed
once the train arrived.
Having returned to their compartment the
group settled in shortly after the train had
begun moving again.
In the silence, it was Draco who spoke first.
"Well; that was interesting."
Blaise snorted in response as Tracey
looked a little surprised by the comment.
"A rather typical Slytherin
understatement," smirked Hermione.
"And what would you have expected?"
smirked Draco right back.
Once the train finally made it to Kings
Cross, over forty minutes late, Harry
watched as he saw a half dozen aurors
moving through the crowd identifying the
parents and guardians of the injured
students. So far, none had been killed.
However, there was at least one critical
injury. A second year female Hufflepuff,
who had a dislodged trunk hit her in the
head. She was unconscious when the
healers portkeyed her away.
Chapter 348
Scanning the crowd, Daphne was the first
to spot her parents. "There!" she pointed
them out to her spouses.
Turning to look where Daphne had
pointed, Harry saw the Greengrasses. Just
as his eyes laid on them he saw Matthias
look back, smile and wave them over.
Smiling back, the three Potters walked
over. However, they made sure to keep
their eyes roving the crowd as they moved
across the platform.
As they approached, Matthias said, "You
three move like a trained hit wizard
squad."
"What was the first memory I ever
showed you, Matthias?" Harry
immediately asked.
With a curious frown, Matthias replied, "It
was... of Sirius's innocence."
He then seemed to understand, "Oh! A
security question; of course."
"It comes from the combat training
Professors Flitwick and Snape have been
giving us, Dad," said Harry, his eyes still
moving about and checking their
surroundings.
"It appears to be working, the three of you
look dangerous," mused Matthias.
"We're all here. We should leave," said
Deece, after Astoria joined them.
Matthias nodded and said, "Sounds good.
Let's go."
After moving to the portkey point further
down the platform, the six of them
portkeyed back to Greengrass Farm. It
wasn't until they arrived, and the house
elves confirmed no one else was present,
that the three Potters finally relaxed.
One of the elves popped away with
Astoria's trunk while Dobby popped in to
tell them he'd already brought the Potters'
trunks from Hogwarts.
"Merlin, you three are tense," said Deece.
"Please; come into the kitchen and we'll
have tea."
As they walked into the informal dining
area they didn't say anything until Deece
called one of the elves to serve them tea,
and they were all seated.
"As I said, you three are tense," she
continued. "The three of you move with
a... precision... a sort of... fluid grace. It
speaks of a sort of contained lethality. And
it's frightening."
"Mum," began Daphne. But, she couldn't
seem to find the words that needed to be
said.
"Mum Greengrass," said Hermione. "We
move as we do... not because we want to...
but, because we need to... right now.
When out in public, we have to be ready
for any sudden attack. Once Riddle is
gone..."
"That's just it, isn't it?" the older woman
suddenly snapped. "'Once Riddle is gone.'
In the meantime my daughter is losing her
youth..."
"Mum!" exclaimed Daphne. "I think
you've forgotten I'm a nineteen year old
woman in the body of a fifteen year old,
here. I'm not as young as I look,
remember?"
Deece closed her eyes with an expression
of pain for a few moments as she willed
herself to calm down.
When she opened her eyes again they had
the beginnings of tears suppressed under
her iron will. "No. You're right. I forgot.
"But, why does it have to be you
three? Why does it have to be you?" she
pleaded.
"Because, in order for the wizarding world
to see us as their saviours - so that they
will then follow us as the mindless sheep
they constantly prove themselves to be -
we need to become the indisputable new
Leaders of the Light, just as Dumbledore
was supposed to be before us," replied
Harry. "And we can only do that by facing
and destroying forevermore Tom Marvolo
Riddle, and proving his blood based
bigotry is naught but a lie."
With a slight snort he continued, "Look at
us three. A pureblood in Daphne, a
halfblood in me and a muggleborn in
Hermione. We represent the three
so-called blood statuses. And, yet, we see
each other as both equals and partners."
"We three represent the trichotomy of
magic users in the wizarding world,
leaving aside squibs," interrupted
Hermione.
"Trichotomy?" asked Daphne before she
suddenly understood and said, "Oh! Three,
instead of two, as in dichotomy."
Hermione smiled back.
"Our expert on multisyllabics," smiled
Harry, which earned him an arm-smack
from Hermione, before he returned to the
previous topic. "The first act in the cosmic
plan of the three Fates and Destiny was
him rendered... discorporeal in 1981. The
second was his... revivification - I refuse to
use resurrection - last June. The third will
be his second and final death. For the time
being we need to face and overcome the...
adversity... he currently represents.
"And, I promise you, the first hint I get of
him finally coming out into the open,
where I can get at him, I'll be there to
blow his bloody head off."
"'Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for
wise men say it is the wisest course',"
Hermione suddenly quoted. "William
Shakespeare; King Henry the Sixth, act
three, scene one."
Harry wryly smiled and said, "Sometimes,
adversity is what you need to face in order
to understand your true strengths."
"Wise words," murmured Matthias.
"Shakespeare wasn't the only one who
can utter wisdom in verbal form," grinned
Harry.
"We know when he goes after the
prophecy orb..." began Hermione.
"Not any more," disagreed Daphne. "The
timeline has now been well and truly
botched."
Agreeing, Harry nodded and added, "We
don't even know if he's going to go after it,
now. We only suspect he will, based on
what we know of him and his desires."
"And without you getting the visions you
got in the old timeline, we don't even
have that to alert us," sighed Hermione.
Harry immediately perked up and looked
like he just received inspiration. "That's
it!" he almost crowed. "Hermione, you're
brilliant!"
"Okay," she carefully said. "Why?"
Turning to her more fully, he explained,
"We think I might no longer receive the
visions because the soul fragment that
was behind my scar is now gone. But,
what if it's because of the Occlumency we
now share? What if I can lower those
barriers to start receiving them again?"
Surprised, she blinked back a moment
before she asked, "Could you? I mean, the
Occlumency is a part of our bond, isn't it?
It's a natural component rather than a
purposefully mastered skill."
Chapter 349
"Yes," he agreed. "But, what if lowering
the barrier could also be a purposefully
mastered skill? A sort
of... reverse Occlumency."
"Harry, I don't like the sounds of this,"
warned Matthias. "You're talking about
opening up your mind to Riddle..."
"No, I'm not," interrupted Harry, turning
to him. "I'm talking about opening my
mind only as far as getting the visions I
need. I control the gateway, not Tom.
"In the previous timeline Tom
only deliberately used the gateway once
that we know of. That was to convince me
Sirius was being tortured in the Prophecy
room at the Department of Mysteries.
However, unbeknownst to him, I used to
get visions from him when he was
particularly happy or angry. At those times,
his control on his Occlumency slipped
enough for me to 'see' what he was up
to."
"What sort of things did you see?" asked
Deece.
"I knew, for instance, when he broke his
followers out of Azkaban, when he killed
Madam Bones, when some schmuck of a
Death Eater failed a task and Tom killed
him for it... that happened a few times...
and saw through the eyes of his familiar,
Nagini, when she attacked Arthur Weasley
- who was acting as unofficial and
unauthorised guard for Dumbledore
outside the Dee-oh-Emm. Each of those
times I was usually stressed, asleep or just
plain tired.
"The difference, this time, is he doesn't
know about the connection. And, this
time, I'll be controlling when it happens. If
I can open the connection... and it's a big
'if'... it'll be a priceless spying tool on what
ol' Snake Face is up to."
"I still don't like it," growled Matthias.
"However, you're right. It'll be a valuable
intelligence tool..."
"Matthias!" exclaimed Deece.
Quickly holding up a hand to forestall
Deece's building rant, Matthias explained,
"He's right, dear. As long as he can control
when it happens, it'll be a valuable
intelligence source. It'll save many lives!"
Deece looked like she really wanted to
disagree and was clearly pondering a
reason to do so. Eventually, she sighed
and quietly said, "You're right. However, I
don't like it. What if Riddle becomes
aware of it and begins to use it to either
trick or tele...pathically attack Harry?"
Understanding, Matthias turned to Harry
and asked, "Well?"
"It's a valid concern," he shrugged.
"However, as I now know Riddle had the
ability to send me false visions in the
previous timeline, I'm also now aware of
the risk of it and will be on guard for the...
connection being used to do that again.
"However, if there is a possibility Riddle
could use it to mentally attack me, I've no
doubt he'd have done just that last run
through. As he didn't, I doubt it's a valid
method of attack this run through either."
The next morning, when Harry rose, he
remembered a dream he had where he
figured out how to open the connection at
will. He was also beginning to strongly
suspect the dreams were being caused by
either their angels or some other heavenly
being who was being helpful.
As he and his wives sat down for breakfast
with the Greengrasses he explained what
he determined, or his dreams showed him,
he would need to do.
"I have to get in touch with my magic," he
explained. "I have to meditate and find my
magic. That's part of learning Occlumency
the normal way, anyway. Once I've done
that, I need to find the Occlumency
barrier and figure out how to lower it at
will.
"When I've accomplished that, I then need
to find the connection between my magic
and Tom's. And then follow the
connection to Tom. If I do it right, and
carefully enough Tom doesn't detect it
and shield himself from it, I should then
be able to see what he's up to.
"The fact this new body of his isn't
anywhere near as magically strong as his
original one, because of our interference
in his revivification ritual, it means his
Occlumency should also be just as weak."
Harry thought about that for a moment
before he quietly said, "I'm also
wondering if he's managed to hide the
fact he's magically weaker from his
lickspittles."
"That would be something he'd want to
do," mused Matthias. "Perceived
weakness, for someone like Riddle, could
easily mean his death at the hands of one
of his own. That's something I could
definitely see Malfoy wanting to capitalise
on, if he was still alive. So would Dolohov...
Rodolphus Lestrange... Nott..."
With a very unladylike snort, Deece said,
"I think it would be easier to name the
Death Eaters who wouldn't want to knock
him off and take over. And the only one
that really fits, or fit, that particular mould
would be Bella Lestrange."
"And we're getting off topic," said Daphne.
Turning to Harry, she said, "I can help you
with magical meditation techniques to
find your core, as can Mum and Dad. Its
part of the training both Mum and Dad
gave me when I needed to learn
Occlumency before the bonding."
"She's right," said Matthias. "And I like to
think of myself as a pretty good instructor
in the mental arts. I taught both girls
before they went to Hogwarts."
"Then it looks like you and Harry have a
project for the break," said Hermione.
"Though, I hope you allow me to learn, as
well; as I've heard that learning
Occlumency... even if we don't actually
need it... helps with mental recall, and
aids in learning."
Matthias smiled with a short nod and said,
"It does. And I'd be happy to teach you
both."
"But, not right now," said Deece. "Today is
about Christmas shopping; and, if time
permits, the ladies and I need to do a bit
of clothes shopping."
As Matthias winced and Harry groaned
and lowered his head, Daphne and
Hermione almost nonchalantly reached
out and lightly smacked them both in the
back of their heads.
Then, as both wizards surrounded by four
witches glanced at one another, both
males broke into laughter seeing the
expressions on the other's face.
"Wizards," tsked Deece with a sigh.
"Yeah," piped up Astoria for the first time.
"Why can't you be like us
and like shopping?"
"Because wizards, Stori... well, all men,
really... are essentially not all that far
removed from cavemen," explained
Hermione. "They still think with a
'hunter-gatherer' mentality. The men
would go off to hunt meat or 'war', while
the women spent their time gathering
fruits, nuts, berries and the like."
"Hey!" complained Harry, mock hurt by
the not too far off the mark comment.
With a wry grin, Matthias just said, "Ugg!
Me hunt. Me kill."
"Errg. I've got this sudden craving for
Mastodon steaks," grinned Harry right
back.
Chapter 350
About an hour later both Sirius and Remus
arrived from Black Manor. Theoretically,
they were there to add extra wands to
defend the Potters and Astoria from
another attack while in Diagon Alley,
similar to what happened the previous
summer. Personally, Harry thought any
excuse to see him and his wives for either
of the two men was okay by them, and
him.
"So, Harry," began Remus. "Get up to
much mischief at school this past term?"
"No," grumbled Sirius. "Not one prank.
Not one, Moony. I was ashamed on
James's behalf to be related to him."
"No pranks, Padfoot?" grinned Harry.
"Who said we didn't carry out any pranks?
Just because you never caught us in any,
does not presuppose we
weren't involved in any."
Turning to his godson with a wide grin and
a sparkle in his eye, Sirius asked, "Oh? And,
pray tell, which ones were yours?"
"The one that had Snivellous walking
around with the theme song for the
muggle cartoon Batfink playing, and that
only he couldn't hear," replied Harry,
beginning to tick things off on his fingers
as he walked.
"The one that had Crabbe and Goyle
following Ginny Weasley all over the
school and swearing their undying love for
her," smirked Hermione.
"Wait," said Sirius. "That was you three?
We had a seventh year Gryffindor for
that."
"Misdirection," said Daphne. "We set him
up after he tried to pinch my bum. A
minor compulsion charm on him had him
cast two major compulsion charms at a
wall in a vacant classroom. That set him
up to have the two charms that Hermione
and I hit Crabbe and Goyle with show on
his wand with a Prior Incantatem."
Matthias, who'd been listening in, gave a
sudden snort of amusement. "And, as the
boy's wand displayed two major
compulsion charms being cast, the
teaching staff had no reason to look any
further. And thereby punishing both
young Miss Weasley and the fiend who
took liberties."
"Precisely," smirked Daphne.
"What else?" asked Sirius, clearly happy to
learn the three Potters were maintaining
traditions.
"The third one we got in trouble with Luna
about," sighed Hermione. "Remember a
lot of the walls in the castle turning pink
for an afternoon?"
"Oh, yes," laughed Sirius. "That was you?"
"Yes," replied Harry, trying not to laugh.
"These two lovely ladies figured out how
to use a protean charm to temporarily link
one of the anchoring runes for the magic
suppression fields in the corridors to all
the others throughout the castle. Then
they simply turned the one wall pink and
allowed the protean charm to turn the
rest pink."
"But Luna figured it out pretty quickly, as
it only turned those walls pink that she
knew had already had the anchoring runes
carved, and nowhere else," added
Hermione. "She was pretty irate about it
and explained how it had a negative
impact on how the magic suppression
fields worked; and made us cancel them."
"So that's why none of the staff could turn
the walls back to normal," laughed Sirius.
"We all thought it was a charm of sorts
when, all along, it was rune-based.
Clever."
"But, that was all we did," said Hermione.
"I'm still not happy with committing
pranks. It's too... anarchical for me."
"It's not 'committing', Hermione,"
disagreed Sirius. "It's 'pulling'! And,
of course it's anarchical; that's
the whole point."
"It's rule-breaking," she grumbled back.
"We harmed no one, love," said Harry,
trying to soothe her. "We promised our
pranks would not target anyone,
specifically... except Professor Snape. And,
even then, it did no harm to him. The one
on Weasley and Atkins was more in the
form of punishment, than a prank."
"Except make them laughing stocks for the
day," she muttered.
Harry and his wives were surprised that
their shopping outing went off without a
hitch. There were no sudden attacks by
Riddle or his thugs out to do mischief, and
no major events to distract them from
their tasks. The only downside was the
general behaviour of the entire alley, with
many store owners and shoppers being
furtive and very wary, even with it being
the Yule season.
After switching off with adults and
forming different groups, everyone was
able to buy Christmas presents for
everyone else without them being around.
When Deece declared she, Hermione,
Daphne and even Astoria would be
spending a bit of time in Madam
Primpernelle's, everyone knew what it
was for. That Astoria was joining them saw
Matthias quite unhappy about it, but he
didn't say a word. That Astoria had only
just turned thirteen was clearly playing on
the man's mind.
To distract him from his thoughts, Harry,
Sirius and Remus dragged him off to
Quality Quidditch Supplies, where Harry
engaged him in a serious discussion about
the hopes of the next season of the
professional Quidditch league teams. It
helped that Matthias was an avid
supporter of a team that was a rival of
Harry's favourite team, the Caerphilly
Catapults.
When Harry mentioned that the Catapults
were favoured to win the league, this year,
Matthias shot back, "Oh, come on!
Caerphilly have done nothing of much
note since their oh-so-wonderful win over
the Karasjok Kites in 1956 to take the title.
Since Dai Llewellyn left in 1962 their
limited successes have only been the
result of luck, more than anything!"
Harry just scoffed back and said, "And the
only thing the Tutshill Tornadoes have
going for them is a good seeker. Their
chasers are appalling, their keeper isn't
much better, and their beaters are average
at best. Put a decent seeker against them
and they'll end up being relegated."
"Blasphemy!" exclaimed Matthias, at the
slight to his favourite team. "Bond or no
bond, I don't know what my daughter sees
in you; honestly!"
"A person who's not blinded by the pretty
blue the Tornadoes wear because they're
a Johnny-come-lately team in a league
where all the good colours had already
been picked," huffed Harry.
"A rich, half-millennium history
does not make them
Johnny-come-latelies!" glared Matthias.
While Harry and Matthias were having
their 'debate', Sirius and Remus had
joined the store proprietor, Phineas
Quincy, over by the counter.
"Is this usual?" asked Remus, indicating
the two.
"Nope," said Sirius as Quincy said, "Yep!"
Realising the misunderstanding, Quincy
elaborated. "It's usual for my store. I don't
know about usual for those two."
"Harry's just distracting Matthias over
how his youngest daughter is currently in
Madam Primpernelle's to pick up some
of those potions," said Sirius. "He's doing
a pretty good job of it, too."
"His youngest?!" exclaimed Quincy, trying
to keep his voice down. "Isn't she...
what... nine?"