In the Headmaster office, Dumbledore sat behind his desk after he told his Deputy that she should watch the students as it was her house after all who was celebrating the most after this win. And as the end of year exams were close by, they would need to go to sleep early enough for them. He looked up to his guests, who were sitting opposite of him on the comfortable wingback chairs he conjured when they arrived. Well, two were sitting as Locke was standing by the entrance and listening for any dangers coming up the stairs. Even after Dumbledore assured him that they were safe, he stood resolute there and told the headmaster that he wanted to make sure for himself.
"Now, Captain Lasky, I guess you are here because you wanted to talk with me? Is it about the stone in your care?" Dumbledore folded his hands on his desk, looking at the other man with interest. He could not read him as easy as other people, but he liked the challenge the man brought with him.
"Yes, it is one of the points I wanted to talk with you, Professor Dumbledore. But I have more questions, for example, why do you still store a fake one in this castle? And why didn't you tell us that you had a suspicion that your DADA teacher is carrying the essence of Voldemort with him? And yes, we know it. Do not underestimate our intelligence service. They do their job wherever they are. And they find out everything." Lasky looked directly at the headmaster, happy to have caught him of guard.
"Also, we got the report from Doctor Halsey about those Horcruxes and now I want to ask you, do you think he made more than one? As Harry would be an accidental one," Lasky leaned back in his chair, noticing Yen watching Dumbledore.
Dumbledore took a deep breath and thought about it. Should he really tell them everything he suspected what Voldemort did when he terrorized the wizarding world? He was still not sure what they could really do, he could just witness how strong John and the other Spartans where after all, but this intelligence service was news for him. He guessed that their secrecy was their strength, so he decided to tell them what they wanted to know.
"Captain Lasky, I must confess, I have underestimated you. To answer your questions in order, the reason I store a fake philosopher's stone in this castle, the only people who knows that the real one is with you are all in this room. And I want to keep it that way, as any who try stealing it could lead to more people being found that were hiding all this time. As for the second question, I did not tell you because it was just that, a suspicion. But this was a reason why I asked your Michael to look out for Tom Riddle, as that was the Voldemort's name before he changed it himself. Until now he found out where he was from, but as off this moment he is not in the forest of Albania as the rumors suggested. So, he must be with another person he could possess, but to not alarm the wards of this school he would need to have the free will of his host. I have my man on it, so the students should be safe. As for your last question, I am also certain that he made more than one, but I do not know how many or where he hid them. Could your intelligence service look for them when we have more information?" Dumbledore lifted his hands to his chin, looking at Lasky over his spectacles.
"They can do that for sure, as they even work right now on finding more information about Riddle. Now for what we are going to do with Quirrell, I hope you will not stand in the way when we apprehend him whatever happens. As it stands right now, Harry is in great danger, and we have to act before something bad happens. As the finals are right around the corner, I ordered the Master Chief to keep a close eye on Quirrell and act when necessary. Aside from that, we will prepare our forces in case they need to be quickly deployed. This is just for your information, Headmaster. Well, I did tell you what I needed. I wish you a good day." Lasky stood up and waited until Yen was also standing and walking back to the door. Dumbledore asked himself why she did not open a portal but thought that she may want to visit Harry as she was here already.
As Yen walked with the other two man through the castle, she took out a small pendant from her pocket and was looking at it over one more time. It was like the pendant Ciri got back in Kear Mohen from Triss when they were fighting against the Wild Hunt. It had a spell impudent in it, but instead of a fireball falling on him, it would open a portal to Kear Mohen so they could quickly help him when needed. After she had talked with Lasky, she made it to protect Harry as she saw him as her son after all this time. She thought he would be in the Great Hall, so they walked down through the castle. They were catching some interesting looks from the students, especially Yen caused some older male students not looking where they were going and almost falling down the staircases. She was wearing her usual black and white color scheme, but her short skirt and tight top did accent her body, while her black stockings and stilettos did show up her legs mouthwatering pretty for the male population in the castle. On the other hand, Lasky and Locke were the reason some older female students had to be sent to the hospital wing as they fainted. They were wearing their uniforms, but as they had so many muscles due to their training and occupation that they filled it out rather well.
When they arrived in the Great Hall, Lasky was in wonder how the ceiling showed the sky without any holographic projectors in the walls. Locke was looking out for any dangers, ignoring all the students watched them as well some curious glances from the teachers on the staff table. Yen meanwhile was looking over the tables for Harry, spotting the Quidditch team by the table still celebrating. So, she walked over there, still causing some male students almost falling of the benches as she was walking by. When she arrived there, she noticed Hermione and Daphne sitting there with two other girls sitting beside them, still cheering as Harry lifted the trophy up in the air even if he was the youngest in the team. So, she waited until they noticed her, ignoring some catcalls she received.
Fred was the first who saw the mature woman standing with them, he of course did not know her and tried to flirt a little.
"Hello there beautiful, can we help you? Just so you know, I am the better looking twin." He smirked and winked, getting the others to look at Yen to see who Fred was talking to. While his male teammates were now ogling at Yen, the girls were also looking in awe at the beauty of the black-haired sorceress. Hermione and Daphne of course recognized her, greeting her happily what then caused a pandemonium of questions for these two girls while Yen took Harry of to the side to talk with him alone.
"You are not one to come into the room without catching every eye in the room, right Aunt Yen? How can I help you?" Harry, the young boy he was did not really understand why the other students reacted that way, but he understood that he would have too when he got older and would not know Yen as he was placed with them.
"Well Harry, sometimes even I must come out of the castle. Now to the reason I am here to see you, I just visited the headmaster with our friends over there…. who are now surrounded by girls, huh? Well, they can save themselves." She laughed a bit before she looked back at Harry and gave him the pendant. "Harry, this is something for you in case of an emergency when even Callie cannot contact us. Just take it into your palm and concentrate your magic on it, and it will open a portal to us, but it can only be used once. So please, think hard if you really need it okay?" She had to kneel a bit to be on the same eyeline as Harry. He was still so short in her eyes, but she knew that he would grow up soon enough.
"Thank you Auntie, I will keep it close. But I do not think that I would need it so soon that you had to give it to me today. Nevertheless, I am grateful for this gift." Harry took the chain of the pendant and clipped it around his wrist and pushed it into his robe sleeve. He then was pulled back from George, glaring at him angrily.
"Harrykins, please don't reserve all the beautiful woman in this castle forever. You still need to celebrate, so I will accompany this beautiful enchantress out of the castle." He then held his arm out to an amused Yen, who looked at him with wide eyes for the bravery of this young redhead. He wiggled with his eyebrows as he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, so he turned his head ready to look once more angrily at his twin brother, only to see a dark blue shirt over a chest. So, he looked up slowly and then paled as he saw the stern eyes of the dark-skinned man who came into the Great Hall with her.
"I am sorry young man, but she is already in company with us. So please leave her be." Locke looked sternly at George, conveying the message that he should not just harass any woman in his eyesight.
A pale George was now trying to apologize to the big man in front of him, until Locke began to laugh out loud and set him straight, that he was not her man but that they were here as a group. George got some color back and then asked Harry how he knew her while Yen, Locke and Lasky said their goodbye and left the castle.
Harry laughed a bit sheepishly as he explained that he grew up with her and her husband. At the question if it was Chief Wulf, Harry denied it, telling him that the other woman, Triss, was trying to get him to notice her.
"Ah, another beautiful woman taken. The world is not fair, my dear brother." After another theatric performance from the twins, they decided to celebrate the victory until McGonagall came to their spot and told them that they should now go to their common room, as the other houses are getting impatient for some quiet in the Great Hall before dinner. Daphne just wanted to say goodbye for today, but Hermione noticed that she looked a bit sad to leave them to celebrate. She walked over to her and asked her if she would be in the library later or going to the grounds to enjoy the nice weather.
Daphne was glad for the question, but she told Hermione that she would meet up with Tracey and then maybe study in their common room for the exam's that soon would start. Hermione nodded, seeing the reason in this endeavor as the rest of Gryffindor began to walk up to their tower. As she arrived in the Slytherin common room, she found an angry mood as they just lost both cups for the school for the first time in seven years. Of course, she was a bit disappointed, but Gryffindor was just better this year, as well in Quidditch and students than Slytherin and deserved the win this year. Her housemates just had to do better next year if they wanted the cups back in their common room.
"How dare you, Greengrass. How dare you to come in here after you were with the filthy Gryffindors celebrating their victory. You should be ashamed of yourself, and your blood status should be revoked." It was Malfoy who talked, seemingly having finally achieved his goal to gain the control of the House, well except Daphne and Tracey and few other first and second years. Daphne was looking over the heads of the other older students, as Tracey stood by her side and looked angrily at the others.
"I was a good loser and congratulated the winner of the match, as it would suggest being good sportsmanship. I know that it used to be this way in the olden days when a House won that not just the school would congratulate them, but the other Houses too and even asked them if they could learn what the other Houses did better than themselves. And Malfoy, I still remember who I am and to who I owe my loyalty, and it is not you. Stand aside and I will ignore the overstep from you and not tell Professor Snape or Headmaster Dumbledore about it." Daphne was ready to walk into her dorm room, as Crabbe and Goyle stood in her way and flexed their arms. Tracey stood in front of Daphne, ready to defend her. Their intimidation was not very effective, as other first years stood beside her and behind Daphne, keeping their eyes to the other students of the room.
"You don't want to do this Greengrass; our strength is greater than yours. Now you will follow me if you do not want to be hurt or worse, dishonored." As he said that, the door opened that lead to the common room and Professor Snape as well as John and Professor Dumbledore came through it. While Malfoy seemed shocked like the rest of the House, Daphne had a suspicion how they knew what was happening inside the common room, as she put her hand into her pocket to search her device with Sissi on it, feeling it vibrating to signal her that she was working. But she looked around and saw some Portraits over the fireplace looking as stern as the teachers did.
"Mr. Malfoy, as I am sure that you thought you would do what your name and your house demand of you, but it is not honorable to both on what you just did. Never in my career as a teacher or Headmaster I meet someone as vile as you tried to gain the control of your House and bully the other students who was not in the same mindset as you are. I had closed my eyes to your bullying to other houses as long it was not bodily hurtful or caused other permanent damage, as children needed to test their boundaries. But as you just had threatened another student, it is my duty to punish you accordingly. Beginning of next year, you will report every evening to your Head of House, and you will receive your detention work. Also, while I don't take any points from your house as it was your own responsibility, you cannot gain any points next year and every loss from you will be counted double. As for your fellow friends, let this be a warning, this punishment can be extended to you too. By no means would I order you to cut your ties but think about what you would do when he asks you something not up to code. I will write a letter to your parents Mr. Malfoy and hope, that this will be a lesson you will not forget so soon. Severus, I leave the rest to you." Dumbledore turned around after nodding to the Portrait and thanked him for informing him. As he looked over to Daphne, he had a small, knowing smile on his lips and left soon after.
John stood inside the common room, having crossed his arms over his chest and watching the students for the safety of Snape as he walked to Malfoy and grabbed him by his arm.
"As I will not add anything to the words the headmaster told you, just know that I am also disappointed in you as your godfather. I thought that your father had raised you better, but it seems that I must step up and educate you on manners to your fellow man. Miss Greengrass, Miss Davis, you are free to go. If any student wants to hurt you, I demand that you come to me or the headmaster immediately, am I understood?" Snape was furious, never in his live did he think that a student would be this stupid and did what Draco did in front of so many possible Witnesses who could rat him out. As much he hated the other houses, he never wished them any harm. For Draco even thinking about it to a fellow Slytherin, Snape had to talk seriously to his father for raising him with the golden spoon in his mouth.
Daphne just nodded and walked to her destination with Tracey as Crabbe and Goyle stood aside after the Snape was watching them. When Daphne arrived by the door, she noticed that the name plate had fewer names on it as Pansy Parkinson was removed from their room and probably placed elsewhere. Not that those two girls minded, it just meant that they would have their peace in the future. When they closed the door, Tracey let out her breath that she was holding since Snape came into the common room.
"I think we need to watch them in the future to not get hurt. Even if we can tell Professor Snape, I do not think that this would hinder some of the students to come after us." Tracey laid down on her bed, noticing Daphne writing a small letter to her father. She did not ask what was in it, as she could guess that it was a report to what happened before. Maybe she even could have Malfoy being suspended as her father was also one of the school governors. But she did not get her hopes up as Malfoy's father would just use his money to buy the votes for his son to stay.
Daphne herself was thinking about what they could do in case Malfoy did not listen to the headmaster, as a quiet beep took her from her musing. Daphne looked down to her pocket of her robe, as she stood up and told Tracey that she had to go the bathroom, which was right beside their room. Tracey just shrugged and laid back down.
As Daphne arrived in the bathroom, she took out the device from her pocket after making sure she was alone and closed the door. She placed the device next to the sink and looked at herself in the mirror as Sissi activated the projector and looked at her with worry in her digital eyes.
"Sorry Daphne but I made the decision to call for Cortana and John. If it is any consolation, the situation looked bad enough to trigger my response to make sure that my partner is safe. When I reached out for Cortana, she told me that when they arrived in the headmaster office, Dumbledore seemed to already know what was going on after he talked with one of the portraits in his office. It seemed to be the same person over the fireplace who is watching for such things. After I asked Callie, it seemed that in every common room a portrait like that is placed for the case something like this happens. Either way, I am glad that they could at least defuse the situation for today, but I will be vigilant in the future." Sissi took a break from her report, as she noticed Daphne breathing heavily.
"Thank you, Sissi, yes it was close. To be honest, I was afraid for what would happen. They were ready to hurt us until we gave up, I saw it in the eyes of Crabbe and Goyle. I just hope that Malfoy now backs down, but to be honest it is maybe a futile hope. We must talk with the staff for the safety of all the students in Slytherin and the other houses, could you organize it through Cortana and Chief Wulf?" She looked to the small projection of Sissi, who nodded and shut her device down once more as Daphne grabbed it and left the bathroom. She decided that she would talk with Harry after the finals, maybe he also had some ideas to solve this problem.
Sissi meanwhile was going through the digital plane that was the connection between the AI in Hogwarts, finished wondering why sometimes there was a small tentacle here and there. She soon arrived at her destination, where she found her brother and sisters on a digital conference table discussing what happened in the Slytherin common room, as Sissi already told Cortana the details.
"Hello, you all, sorry for my lateness, I just wanted to make sure that Daphne is safe before I came here. Cortana, she asks if we could organize a meeting between the students and the staff so this would not happen again. Even when they are kids, they need to be shown the boundaries." Sissi sat down on her place next to Luke.
"Yes, we are already talking with them." Cortana opened a window to the proceedings outside in the staff room as McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout were talking with John and Headmaster Dumbledore over as it seemed some papers. Snape was still down in the dungeons it seemed, to make sure that the other students would not try something stupid.
"But John asked me to switch of the microphone as he thinks that all the information will be shared soon enough so that we would not need to inform our partners. As for we are talking, we need to exchange the reports and working out some changes for John to bring forth. For one point, I would suggest we tighten the security. But that would need some time and can be put in place by the next winter at the earliest. The captain must wait for the next rotation that would take place in the autumn so he can't place marines on the ground inside the castle until then. But as for right now, John asked if he could go into the common rooms during his patrols, as he is here for the security." The other AI nodded at that notion, promising that they would keep taps on their surroundings in case something bad would happen.
The next few weeks where uneventful as all the students studied for the final exams of the year and would rather stay in the library or the common room for those. After the last test was done, Harry places his quill down and breathed out, glad to be finished for a while. Callie did upload everything he experienced in her report for Doctor Halsey so she could look at it for future reference. Parvati and Lavender were jumping from happiness outside the classroom while Hermione was looking up something in her book, nodding happily as she answered the question correctly. Ron and Neville were pale, but it seemed that they did good enough to scrape through.
They decided to go for dinner, as Harry was approached by Quirrell with the pretense to talking with him about some answers he wrote. Callie of course had warned him about the Professor, but Harry knew that he could not raise suspicions for what he knew in front of the others, so he walked with the Professor while he told Callie to keep John and Cortana on the line. They walked down to the office that Quirrell occupied while he was in the castle.
Quirrell opened the door and stood aside for Harry to walk in before him. That was alarming for Harry, preparing himself to fight in case Quirrell really wanted him to die. As he placed his dagger by his wrist since Callie told him that the possibility existed, he crossed his arms so his hands were in his robes and his hands could grasp the dagger and his wand, ready to draw them. He walked into the room, looking over his shoulders as Quirrell was looking up and down the corridor in front of his office.
"Now, Mr. Potter, please take a seat so we can discuss the test-answers you wrote." It happened in a blink of an eye, Quirrell drew his wand and pointed it towards Harry's back, as Harry ducked, and the spell flew past him. But the second spell did hit him, making him unconscious. To his luck, the sheath for his dagger was tight enough so it could not fall out so easily and Quirrell did not know what he had in his robes.
"Soon, master. Just a bit more time." Quirrell bound Harry with ropes he summoned, ready to carry him down to the place where the stone must be hidden.