Luna's POV
The five Hogwarts students were sitting worried about their friend. It was about this time that the fight should have been over, and they hadn't heard anything yet. They tried to call either Harry or Sirius on the mirrors that Harry had given them just the day before, but neither answered. Remus did answer, and he told them he was just as concerned, and that he would let them know the second he heard anything. They tried to focus on their homework, but soon settled to talking about the Ball in a privacy ward that Hermione invented. It was much like a Mufflito, but instead of buzzing it sounded like whispers that were just out of hearing range.
When talks of the Ball faltered, they turned to the prank they were going to pull. It had gone from a few small things, like what Harry and Sirius had done at the Ministry, to something that would affect the whole school. There were drawings and layouts passed between them and each person kept adding more and more. It was going to take a few nights just to set everything up. Good thing they could all turn invisible. The plan was to have it all go off at the same time, on Christmas Eve morning, it would last the whole of the year, perhaps longer. When they noticed that others were trying to listen in, they packed it up, dropped the ward and settled for chatting about mundane things.
Right before dinner, there was a commotion near the doors of the Great Hall as a woman they had never seen before was making a fuse over Malfoy. He looked terrible, his hair was in complete disarray and his clothes were once again replaced with a barrel with the flashing word 'bully' writing all over it. Only this time chimes went off with each flash, causing everyone to giggle and point.
The woman tried to dispel whatever caused it but could not. The more she tried the angrier she got, until she grabbed the barrel as if to pull it over his head. Of course, Malfoy loudly protested, calling her stupid woman, and that his father would hear about it. This started a tug-of-war between the two, making everyone laugh harder.
Everyone would have thought that Draco would have learned by now not to pick on others, but it looked like it was going to take a few more times to get it through his thick head that he was not king of Hogwarts. Since it was just a barrel, he did learn to only use words. The last time he tried to curse someone, he was left in the Hospital Wing for a day and a half.
Even Ron, who still had the emotional range of a teaspoon, had learned to curb his words. However, it did take an entire week for him to stop bluntly saying everything that came to mind. The poor boy still couldn't look at the girls on the Quidditch team. They never found out what he had said, but he had spent a day with the words 'Potty Mouth' written in bright red on any shirt he put on.
The anti-bullying ward had done wonders for the moral of the school. Fred and George didn't need to pull as many pranks. Well, that was until McGonagall had kicked Harry out. Without Dumbledore and Harry here, everyone was feeling anxious. They had no idol to turn to and it was making them feel vulnerable. Hence, the need for the big prank.
The woman was marching Draco to the front of the room. Dragging him by the arm, since he was fighting her every step of the way. His face, and what parts if his body they could see, were redder then a Weasleys hair. She looked over the school of giggling children and teen and sniffed. "I want to know who did this to this fine upstanding young man," she demanded, like they hadn't had Snape for a professor. This woman looked like a wet cat, and not very harmful at all, well you might get a few scratches, but you'd survive. Whereas, Snape always made you feel like you would not survive any confrontation with him.
Flitwick tried to interrupt before she made more of a fool of herself. "Madam Sterns, it is the wards of Hogwarts. It will wear off on its own in a few minutes. Mr. Malfoy must have been bullying again. That is the only time the wards go off. We've checked," he squeaked, yet his voice had a tone of knowledge that demanded to be heard.
"Fiddlesticks, there is no such ward, or we, the Board, would have heard of them," she stated, looking down on the Charms professor. She never like goblins, and had not wanted this… man hired, but Dumbledore went over her head, since she wasn't the Chairperson at that time. Nor was Malfoy, or none of these half breeds and muggleborns would have been there. With that thought her hair turned a bright purple and frizzed out to the side, like a demented clown, making the students laugh harder. The fact that she didn't seem to notice, made a few students fall to the floor. "Enough of this," she yelled to be heard, producing a bang from her wand. "I want to know who is doing this to Mr. Malfoy, or I will have the whole school in detention."
"Madam Sterns, we have guests," McGonagall stated, looking smug and pointing to the two foreign Heads, who were giving the purpled-haired woman a look of disdain. They knew it was the wards. Many of their students had commented on them when they had been about to be bullied, and for her to dismiss one of the professors so rudely didn't speak highly of her. Both were thinking of putting them on their schools.
Sterns sniffed again and then gently pushed Malfoy to his table as his clothes returned to him. She then turned back to the student body and all but sneered, which looked frightfully stupid on her face that was surrounded with bright purple hair. "I am Abigail Sterns, Provisional Headmistress of this school. From what I've seen in the few minutes I have been here, I think you all need discipline. What happened to Mr. Malfoy is unexpectable. I will not tolerate such actions against purebloods…"
Suddenly she stopped talking and felt an overwhelming need to leave the school. She fought it with what little will she had, and slowly started taking steps towards the doors to the Great Hall. She started to run when she made fifteen steps and fear started to lace through her. She never felt so unsafe in all her life. The quicker she got out of the school the better. Someone else would have to take over. She was going to get to the bottom of this… after she left.
"Well, looks like the wards work on adults too. That means we'll never have another Snape. I hope they last a long, long time," Neville said as dinner filled the table.
"They will," Luna predicted. She was going to have to talk to Harry about keeping some things a secret. Like his power, only an overly powerful person could enhance the ward stone of Hogwarts. Perhaps, they wouldn't be able to teach the magic to everyone. It might prove better for the Wizarding World if they didn't share. If someone like the Senior Malfoy knew how to wield such power, then no one would be safe. She shuddered at the thought of men like You-Know-Who knowing. No, this might have to start being classified as family magic. Meaning he would had to keep the books in the family vault. This thought brought her back to Harry's fight, she wondered who won. All she could see was that Harry was alive, beaten up a bit, but alive.
Moody's POV
The talks had gone well, and the treaty was hashed out. Middleton left to draw it up all legal like, and she would return in the morning for it to be signed. Moody took the queen to show her were they would be living. He wanted her to talk to her 'generals' and let them know where their troops would be patrolling and what they would be doing. He went over the training they would receive and even showed her the mini obstacle course he set up. It had bobbing hoops and buzzing projectiles for them to dodge. There were even some on the ground for them to exercise their legs, in case they ever lost use of their wings. With four arms to use, a target range was also there. He'd train them to survive, and get the job done.
The part for the tunnels set aside for the nest was in a junction on the second level. While Alastor had been stalking the tunnels, he cleaned them. Knowing they were going to be used for spying, he didn't want anything to interfere with that. A sneeze could distract you, and then you'd miss something important. The place he picked out was near the atrium, that way the doxies would be able do see who came and went. It was far enough that the noise wasn't that bad, and there could be draperies hung on the walls to lessen it still. That and it was what they ate anyway. It would be up to the Head of the DMLE to make sure they were refreshed when needed.
Bones had made sure the part of the DMLE was made in magical oaths. Like the muggle Prime Minister, it was something that came with the office. If someone decided they would use the doxies as something other than spies, the reigning queen could take her people and leave.
Harry's POV
Inside Harry's head, he was on the bed in the medical bay. McCoy was running his medical tricorder over the wounds healing what he could. Cuts closed, and bruises lessened. His sore muscles relaxed some, but he would feel like shite when he woke in the real world.
"Well, there's was only one broken bone, so that's a plus. You might want to take it easy for a day or two. Your ribs are going to hurt," the doctor said, putting his equipment down. "You're still going to feel like you tried to bench press a hundred pounds," he added with a smirk. Okay, so his bedside manner never was the best.
"That's alright, it's probably better that I do. I grossly underestimated him. Who would have thought such a small being could pack such a punch," Harry said as he gingerly sat up. "Who do you think won?" he asked Worf who was standing next to his bed.
"It is hard to tell," the Klingon said thoughtfully. "You both fought valiantly, and there were a great many good moves throughout the fight. You had the superior magic, as shown by your shield. Had you not dropped it, there would have been no fight. Snarlfist, however, was a better warrior. He kept you on the defense most of the battle. If the goblins are honorable, they will weigh both and declare it a draw."
"Ah, man, really?" the boy whined. "I thought I did pretty good."
"Your aim was sloppy, and your strategy weak. You rushed in and missed more times then you hit. You maintained a good defense and used his height against him, like I taught you. But, he was the better fighter," Worf stated as fact. He had to admit the boy had come far from two nights/weeks ago, but he would never be a hand-to-hand fighter. No his strength laid with magic. Remembering some of the memories retrieved, this teen would do well in life to death situations. The things he came up with were amazing. The luck he had was awe inspiring.
"Well, bugger. Oh well, it's okay, at least now that particular goblin won't see me as a kid anymore," the now mostly-healed teen conceded. He really didn't care if he won, he only wanted to get his point across. It was something he tried to tell Sirius since this started, but the man was too worried to listen.
Worf suddenly looked very uncomfortable. "Harry," he said reluctantly, a grimace on his face, like what he was about to say was unpleasant, "for an unskilled warrior, you did well." He looked like someone had yanked the words from his throat. Klingons did not compliment others often, so when they it was high praise.
"Thanks," Harry said with a beaming smile. "I own it all to you."
"Yes, well… I have duties to preform," the large man said, turning sharply around and marching out the door.
"Well, I never thought I'd see the day when Worf gave a compliment," Bones said with a chuckle.
"It did seem to hurt him to do so," the teen said still smiling. "So, when can I get out of here?"
"You're all set," the doctor stated. "You can wake up at any time."
So, he did. Harry blinked his eyes at the bright lights in the room. Just like the medbay, this room was also very clean and bright, though the bed was shorter. He blinked a couple of times and when he could see he looked around. There didn't appear to be anyone in the room, but he could hear people talking just beyond his door.
"What do you mean it's a tie?" Sirius exclaimed loudly. "Harry bloody well won that fight. Didn't you see his shield? He won, I tell you." Now that the fight was over he was determined that Harry got his due. He never did place a bet, he had been too worried. However, he would have lost anyway seeing as he would have bet his entire fortune on Harry, even if he didn't think the boy would win. He was raised that goblins could wipe the floor with one wizard. They may have lost most of the wars, due to the sheer number of wizards, but one-on-one it was supposed to be a no-brainer. He did learn from all of this, never to underestimate his godson again.
"We have to take everything into consideration," the king answered. "There were many variables, but all things considered, Snarlfist got in the most blows. It is only due to your godson's magic that it is being called a draw." Ragnuk was not any happier with this than the man in front of him. He wanted his warrior to win, but they had been to lax lately and now he was going to have to up everyone's training. The paperwork alone made this an unpleasant thought.
"Sirius," Harry called to the door to stop the argument. "It's alright. I did what I wanted."
His godfather rushed into the room and made his way to his side. "Harry!" he shouted. "You did great." His face was grinning with pride.
"Yeah, I held my own," the teen stated proudly. "What happened to Snarlfist?"
"He passed out a few minutes after you did. But for some reason your wounds healed up on their own. Like that Wolverine guy in that comic book you leant me," the excited man said, all but jumping in place. He really like Wolverine. He just hoped Harry didn't get the claws. There would be no way to explain that.
"Yeah, it's new to me too," Harry said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. He wasn't about to tell them about the doctor in his head. "Anyway, so they're calling it a tie?" he asked diverting the man's attention.
"Yeah, something about you being better in magic, and him being better in fighting. I don't agree, I thought you did really good out there."
"They're right though, Snarlfist was better," Harry said, not wanting to fight about it.
"If you say to Harry."
"So, contract?"
"Waters is outside," the glamored man said. "I'll go get him. Unless you're up to getting out of bed."
"I'm fine," Harry said, standing gingerly and taking a tentative step forward. He found he was sore, but not wobbly. "Let's get this done, so we can go home."
"Sure, Harry. I could use a firewhiskey right about now."
The contract was hashed out and Harry was quite satisfied. He would be continuing his education, via tutors paid by the goblins. He would sit for his OWLs when the time came, and as more and more of his memories returned, he would learn faster.
He made sure to let his friends know that he was fine, and the fight was a draw. They all yelled at him for not answering his mirror, then understood that couldn't because he had blacked out. He didn't tell them it was due to blood lose. Padfoot had left his mirror at home.
Snarlfist, when he woke, even grumbled a compliment. Stating that no rematch was necessary. The goblin did say he still wanted Harry's magic explained for the wards, and the teen said that he'd tweak the wards to prevent any magic from being used in the lobby and the vaults, and only goblin magic would be used in the offices. This made Ragnuk happy.
Harry would be set for a long time with his employment with Gringotts. He got to meet Bill and they got along well.
Harry spent the night in his head going over what he could have done better, if he ever had to do that again. And he made plans for the future. He and Sirius, along with Remus, would finish cleaning Grimmuald Place and sell it, since the line was declared dead. Sirius said that if it wasn't a townhouse he'd burn the place down, as it was they had to cast a charm for all the street residents, old and new, to remember number twelve. The people would think it had always been there, just vacant. With the cleansing of the building of magic, it should sell quickly.
Thinking of the future, his thoughts drifted to certain blonde seer. He wondered if it was time to start a bit of romance. His memories were returning, and he didn't feel any different. Well, maybe he wasn't as much of an arse, but he still felt like him.
McGonagall's POV
Noon the following day, Minerva quickly made her way to Hogsmeade. She looked around for robe that matched Albus' description. When she found him, he was sitting at a table in the Three Broomsticks, sipping tea and eating lunch, as if he wasn't on the run. He looked much younger, with no beard and shorter dark hair. His brother might recognize him, but no one else would.
"Albus," she whispered, a bit frantic, as she took a seat next to him, "you would not believe how relieved I am to see you. The whole school is falling apart without you. When will you clear your name and come back?" she asked with a tone of desperation. The last two people the Board had sent ran from Hogwarts like Sterns had. She was starting to believe that the school had fallen under some sort of spell. She was sure it was Potter's fault. Oh, how right she was.
"Alas, my dear, I do not believe I will be returning to Hogwarts. Perhaps it is better, I have been having trouble with my memory lately. I cannot seem to find my wand and can only conclude that it was taken from me. If my theory is correct then young Mr. Pot… do try the stew, my dear. It is most hardy and filling. I can say I have not had the likes in many weeks. Oh, how I miss the elves cooking," he said gentility, taking a spoonful of the bowl in front of him.
It was then that Madam Rosmerta show and asked if McGonagall wanted anything to which Dumbledore answered she'd have some stew and tea.
"Albus," Minerva hissed when the barmaid disappeared. "I didn't come here to speak of stew and tea. What is wrong with you? Did Potter do something? I knew that boy was trouble." She discreetly case a finite on him, but there was no glow indicating the end of a spell. Perhaps he was just getting old.
"Worry not, Minerva, I have everything completely under control. Young Harry is not an issue at this time. Although, I do believe he has my wand…" he got out before he asked her how she like is robes.
"Quite blathering about your wardrobe, Albus. What is this about Mr. Potter having your wand?" McGonagall snapped. It was worrying that Mr. Potter might have the Headmaster's wand. What she knew about it, was that it was powerful and had been owned by a few Dark Lords. Grindelwald being the last.
"Never you mind," he answered, waving a dismissing hand. "Tell me what has been happening in my school, though I cannot call it mine anymore," he said sadly as he continued to eat his stew. It really was delicious and filling. He missed a good British stew. He had had to eat out of the country or in the muggle world. While both did have lovely food, Madam Rosmerta did something to hers that made it just right.
"I tell you there's a curse on the school. A few teachers feel uncomfortable there, and some of the students are being humiliated," she answered with a bite in her voice. She was started to get nervous when in front of her class. Whenever she started to snap at an unruly child, she had to curb her words to something kinder. It was causing havoc with her nerves. The few professors that weren't affected in the least, were Flitwick and Hagrid. Though, Hagrid had had an impulse to change his entire curriculum. There would be no more Blast-ended Skrewts. It had made him sad initially, but he soon enjoyed teaching about the gentler beings.
"That is most disconcerting," Dumbledore said, going to stroke the beard that wasn't there. "Have you checked the wards?"
"That's another thing, the ward room is shielded. We tried to change them, since the anti-bullying ward is causing so much trouble, but we cannot get into the room. I was hoping that you could tell me how." While it was satisfying that the Board was thwarted as well, it was beyond frustrating for the staff of Hogwarts.
"Alas, no, the last time I visited the ward room was when I first took the position of Headmaster. They were fine then, so I saw little reason to adjust them. I do wonder though…" he drifted off, thinking about what Tom or Harry could have done in the guise of revenge. Then thought about how he was going to get his wardrobe back. He turned to Minerva and asked, "Did you bring my robes?"
She just sighed in defeat and handed the bundle over. This was going to be a long tea.