Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Apology: Oops! Sorry for being late, folks. For the same reason last Friday's was late, so is this one. My QNAP NAS with Raid 5 array decided for, not one, but two of the drives to decide to go 'toes' up on me last Wednesday. Anyone with experience in Raid arrays knows it's okay for one drive to die, you simply replace it and the whole thing rebuilds itself again. However, when two drives go... as well as having to replace two drives you have to reformat and start to rebuild all that lovely data. Thankfully, almost all of it was on backups to my backup - which was the NAS - on WD MyBook external drives. However, almost 6Tb doesn't transfer from external drive, into a networked desktop, across a network and into a NAS in a matter of hours. Not at approximately 6.5Mb per sec it doesn't. *sigh*
Chapter Seventy Four - Weasley Attack
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―==(oIo)==―
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About three seconds after Harry sat down from his impassioned 'speech', before Ogden even had a chance to bang his gavel to call on the next speaker, almost every witch in the visitors' gallery, together with many in the tiers of the Members, surged to their feet in loud and raucous applause and cheering approbation. It was not too much longer before many of the menfolk in the tiers also rose in applause, though some were obviously reluctant to do so.
With Harry shocked in surprise Ogden let it go on for almost a full minute before he began to bang his gavel to recover control. It took another two minutes before he got it. Even the witches on the 'Mot took at least a further minute before they sat.
Once he had relative silence again, he gave his throat a little clear and said, "Yes... well... Any further speakers?"
Harry could see there were quite a few unhappy members of the Dark... all male... who really wanted to speak in support of the emergency resolution. However, there were none who were both Dark and stupid enough to stand to speak 'for'.
"In that case," said Ogden. "With no further speakers for, we'll move to the vote.
"All those in support of the emergency resolution to have the information pertaining to the rise of birth defects and similar in pureblood infants suppressed, vote now."
Only five wands were raised. And one of those immediately withdrew when he heard a snarl come from one of the witches nearby.
"All those against, vote now."
Almost every other wand rose.
That led to cheering coming from the visitors' gallery.
It took another two minutes of trying to get control of the meeting again before Ogden was able to call, "The emergency resolution has lost by more than a three quarter majority."
More cheering, but it didn't last as long.
Finally, Ogden was able to sigh and say, "Next item of business, please."
As someone rose to speak on the issue of being slandered in the Daily Prophet, Sirius leaned over to Harry and quietly said, "You do realise, do you not, that you've now given someone the opportunity to actually draft legislation to make it illegal to marry or concubine someone who has up to and including the same 'three times' great grandparent, don't you?"
"Yes," Harry just as quietly replied with a smirk. "However, it cannot be me. I just spoke about how House Potter is quite prepared to sit back and watch those against the idea drive themselves to extinction."
Sirius grinned and said, "No. I believe the House of Black will be putting forth its first piece of legislation in over a decade and a half. After your speech, I think it's an easy pass."
Harry just nodded back. "And that way you show the Alliance you're definitely of the Light."
Sirius looked a little surprised before he smirked back. "I hadn't thought of that, but you're right."
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―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When Harry flooed back to school halfway through the double of Transfiguration, he just quietly returned to the Potter apartment, changed and made his way to his class. Professor Biffingwater knew and understood that on the third Tuesday of the month, Harry had to attend 'parliament' and would attend when he could.
It wasn't until lunch when a completely impatient Hermione, almost bouncing in her seat on the bench at the Gryffindor table, glared at him with gritted teeth and quietly demanded, "Tell me."
Harry sighed, gave her a disappointed look and said, "There's not much to tell. Mulciber tried to pass an emergency resolution to have the information listed as a High Secret and illegal to speak about. It lost.
"As for what else happened and why, that can wait until after classes."
Hermione sat back in clear relief and nodded. "Thank you."
Daphne quietly asked, "By how much?"
He grinned and replied, "By more than three quarters."
She grinned in happiness and said, "With that big a margin, the matter cannot be raised again for more than a year."
Harry smirked back and nodded.
The 'Dark' had really screwed up bringing the matter to the Wizengamot as an emergency resolution. That it had lost by such a wide margin meant that they couldn't even raise it again, even as a Bill, for twelve months. However, a Bill in the opposite direction could be raised as soon as the next session in four weeks, on the sixteenth of November. It could then become a Statute at the December session, five weeks later, and a few days before Christmas.
"Now, wouldn't that be a nice Christmas present to the witches of magical Britain from the House of Black," he softly murmured.
"Pardon?" asked Hermione.
Harry hadn't even realised that he said out loud what he'd been thinking.
"Sorry," he replied. "Just voicing my thoughts out loud. I'll explain more, once we're back in the apartment."
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―==(oIo)==―
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Ron Weasley had been working hard on getting better and better at the charms and curses in his small collection of Dark Arts books 'gifted' him by Caracticus Nott. However, his plan to deal with Potter just after the completion of the first month had to be quickly tossed out the window. He hadn't taken into consideration the sheer amount of assignments, or the extra class period each day, when he arrived back at Hogwarts.
Now he was looking to take his nemesis out around Hallowe'en. That's when he smiled and thought, 'Why not Hallowe'en itself? Potter was always getting into trouble on that day, often dragging others into danger. Besides, that day was a Sunday, this year. A day when people weren't concentrating as much, were more relaxed.'
"Now that he believes all his enemies have been defeated," he muttered. "He won't be expecting an attack."
Decision reached and with a smile on his face, Weasley set to with increasing both his speed of casting and being as silent as possible. Of course, he'd also have a disillusionment charm on himself at the time. Now he just had to find the place where he'd have both the greatest chance of taking Potter out and best chance of escaping capture and punishment for his actions from the idiots who didn't realise, or wouldn't accept, that he was in the right.
He knew just who to set up to take the fall, too - either the Malfoy or Greengrass bitches. The Davis bitch wouldn't be a bad choice, either. She was, after all, yet another slimy snake Slytherin.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Back in their apartment after classes, Harry invited both the Longbottom three and the Finch-Fletchley three to a 'pow wow' in the Potter apartment.
Once they'd all arrived, he explained in greater detail what had happened at the Wizengamot meeting.
When he finished, Justin let out a low falling whistle. "So, Lord Black is going to table a Bill in New Business at the November session making it illegal to marry or concubine with someone who has the same blood relative within five generations?"
"That's my guess, yes," he nodded.
"How will they know?"
"Through the Gringotts inheritance test," he replied. "The goblins will need to simply modify their current inheritance test potion to show a person's bloodline back five generations. Then, the two bloodlines are compared to see if there is a matching relative between the two. If there is, no betrothal or concubinage will be legally allowed. At least, that's my logical guess."
Daphne quietly said, "A simple solution to a complex problem. However, what about existing betrothal and concubinage contracts?"
"No idea," he replied. "However, if you think you know a solution to that problem, I'm sure Sirius will be very interested in hearing from you. Hell; he'd be interested in hearing from you if you have any thoughts on how the Statute should be worded."
"What about life debts and their ilk?" asked Fleur.
"They'd have to be exempted," said Daphne, cutting in before Harry had the chance to say the same thing. "The same as soul bonds and their ilk, as you put it."
"All good points," said Tracey, speaking up for the first time. Like a lot of wizarding raised children, she grew up on stories of soul mates and soul bonds and probably dreamed she'd find herself in such a situation.
Harry had a sudden thought. "Anyone know how closely our Slytherin neighbours are blood related to one another?"
That had all his friends look surprised.
Neville, first to answer, replied, "Errr... no." The others all shook their heads.
"I think we need to invite them to visit for this pow wow," said Harry. "It would be unfair on them for this information to affect them and learn of it via tomorrow morning's Daily Prophet."
Hermione quietly said, "Go invite them."
No one disagreed.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Knocking on the door of the Gibberd apartment, Harry only had to wait about fifteen seconds before the door was opened.
As soon as Gibberd, as he was the one who answered the door, saw him his face morphed into one of confusion before he quietly asked, "Yes?"
"Something of great import happened at the Wizengamot today that may very well have a significant effect upon you and your lady," said Harry, not beating about the bush. "You're invited to come and hear of it in my apartment; now, if you like.
"None of us think it would be fair on you for the first time you found out about this being via the Daily Prophet in the morning."
As he was speaking, Whitehead also approached the door from behind Gibberd to find out what was going on.
Confused and clearly concerned, Gibbered turned back to look at his lady. "Phyl?"
The two looked at one another for a long couple of seconds before Whitehead looked to Harry and asked, "Is this some sort of trick?"
"No," he was quick to reply. "It has to do with information which has been brought to light about a risk to the bloodlines. I and mine mean you no harm; you have my word."
The two looked to one another for a few moments more before Gibberd said, "Then, lead the way."
As Harry led the two into the Potter apartment a few moments later, he said, "For everyone who hasn't met them, this is Ross Gibberd and Phylis Whitehead."
Hermione stood and said, "The House of Potter bids you welcome and offers you peace and sanctuary within our walls this day."
That line surprised Harry, but it also shocked everyone else including the two seventh year Slytherins.
There was a long moment before Gibberd let out an explosive snort and said, "We thank you for the offer of peace and sanctuary within House Potter and accept." Then he bowed as Hermione curtseyed.
"Ohhh-kay," said Harry.
Gibberd said, "A rather odd place to make such an offer - Hogwarts, I mean."
"Normally, yes," replied Hermione. "However, this apartment is considered... temporarily, at least... as House of Potter property. I thought it apt."
"She's right," said Daphne, clearly surprised. "I confess I had not considered that."
After Hermione offered seats and refreshments to the two, Harry explained what had happened in the Wizengamot that morning and what was likely to happen before Christmas.
It had both Slytherins frowning deep in thought.
"The question is," said Harry. "Are you two blood related within the past five generations? If you are and you're both determined to still marry, I'll do my best to see Lord Black delay his Bill for two months; have him not raise it until the February session of the Wizengamot."
The two looked to one another before looking back. Whitehead sighed and replied, "We know we are not back four generations. I checked that far, at least. However, we are unsure of the fifth."
Gibberd said, "We will find out, though. We can both go into Gringotts and ask for an inheritance test that goes back at least that far."
"There's another problem, though," said Whitehead. She looked to Gibberd who then very slightly shrugged. "Our betrothal is now a contract. It cannot be broken, even if our Lords were of a mind to."
"Yet another area where exemptions to the Statute would need to be codified," said Daphne.
When both looked to her she said, "Veela life debts, soul bonds, existing marriages, existing concubinage... those sorts of things will all need exemptions."
"Yes, I see," said Gibberd.
Harry suddenly had a thought. "Daphne, you and I. How closely are we blood related?"
Daphne suddenly paled and softly replied, "I do not know."
"Oh, Merlin!" said a suddenly worried Hermione. "How did we forget about that?"
A suddenly worried Susan said, "And what about Neville and I and Neville and Hannah?"
Firmly, Harry said, "We'll go see Headmistress Lady Marchbanks tomorrow and say we need to go into Gringotts at our earliest opportunity." He glanced at Gibberd and said, "We'll let her know it would be a good idea for you two to go as well."
Gibberd nodded back.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After speaking with Headmistress Lady Marchbanks about the problem the next day, arrangements were quickly made for the Potters, the Longbottoms and the Gibberds to floo to Diagon Alley on the Saturday morning directly after breakfast. It was she who said there was quite a bit of inter-relationships between Britain and the continent, especially the western countries; and, therefore, the same test should be conducted with Fleur in mind, even though there was a Veela life debt bond involved.
The Daily Prophet carried the story as the lead article on the front page the next day. It was also full of very accurate and detailed information on the 'problem'. It was also very obvious that at least one Law-wizard of Record had provided the information to the paper.
Once the article was being read by the students there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth from many, especially the purebloods. Harry wasn't the only one who wondered how many established Agreements amongst the student body were now at risk due to this.
Then, on the Saturday, the nine met in Marchbanks's office at just after 9.00am. Hermione, though as a muggleborn they knew the test was not necessary for her, was insistent on going.
"Everyone's here," said Marchbanks, once Gibberd and Whitehead turned up. "Off you go, then. The floo address coming back is 'Headmistress's Office, Hogwarts'. And the password is 'Griselda Marchbanks is a lovely lady'.
While the two older Slytherins looked at her in shock, the Potters and Longbottoms looked either amused or giggled/snickered.
With an amused smirk on her face, she indicated the fireplace and said, "Off with you, then."
Harry, chuckling, was the first who moved to the fireplace and reached into the pot on the mantelpiece he knew to be the floo powder pot.
Tossing the powder in, he firmly called, "Diagon Alley," and stepped into the flames.
This time he remembered to concentrate and barely even staggered stepping out the other end and into the Leaky Cauldron.
He was quickly joined by the other eight.
With a firm nod to the others once Whitehead, who was last, stepped out, Harry wheeled about and strode from the room and out the back door with his three ladies on each side.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After going direct to the reserved teller for the Most Ancient Houses because Harry was leading the way, all nine were quickly through and into a conference room, where the required equipment was brought in to go through the test.
Gibberd and Whitehead went first, then Neville and his two and finally Harry and his three.
Harry was unsurprised to see that he and Fleur weren't related back at least ten generations, the limit of the test, but dreaded to find that he was related by blood to Daphne. Thankfully, though he was, it was back six generations through an almost labyrinthine path. They shared a four times great grandmother, Maribelle Meadowes.
Gibberd and Whitehead shared a similar relative back on the fifth generation, but it was through a blood adoption. However, they were relieved to learn from the goblin in charge of such tests that it equalled a relationship back six generations due to the dilution of blood through the adoption ritual.
"Something else to include in the Statute," said Daphne. "Blood adoptions."
Harry nodded and said, "We'll make sure the Statute includes the claim that a blood adoption equals a generation further removed."
The Longbottoms discovered that Hannah and Susan were related back three generations, but both girls already knew that. And Neville was related to both of them back seven generations through the same person, Simon Scamander, the great grandfather of Newt Scamander. Thankfully, due to both being females, the Statute would not impact the relationship between Hannah and Susan.
Finally, the Potters were tested. Hermione was last tested and learned she was blood related to Dumbledore back six generations on her side and two on his. His paternal grandparents were her four times great grandparents. It was because of him and his muggleborn wife that Dumbledore was considered a half-blood. She was born of the line of a younger daughter of that couple.
As they all sat there, stunned, the goblin said, "As neither the late Albus Dumbledore nor his brother Aberforth have produced issue, you stand to inherit the Minor House of Dumbledore if you so choose."
After a few moments, she quietly stuttered, "I-I'll... have to think about it."
The goblin merely nodded and said, "Due to the separation, you are not required to do so if you choose not to. However, it will mean the end of the Dumbledore line if you do not. You may experience pressure from within the Ministry if they learn of it."
"I still have to think about it," she more firmly returned.
The goblin just nodded back.
Finally, nine very relieved witches and wizards left after Harry, who'd paid for the tests, thanked the goblin for his time and advice. There were other relationships between the nine, not including Hermione, but they were not germane. However, they could be in the future regarding their children.
As they walked back towards the Leaky, Whitehead quietly sidled up alongside Harry and said, "Potter. Thank you." It was easy to hear the gratitude in her voice.
"You're welcome," he smiled back. "But, all I did was facilitate it."
"Still..." she said.
He just gave her a nod as they reached the brick wall magical arch entranceway.
As soon as the nine returned to the castle and after giving Marchbanks the information on the results of the tests, they left the office and split. The two older Slytherins claimed they needed to talk to members in their House commonroom about what they'd learned and the Potters and Longbottoms returned directly to their apartment. They knew Tracey, at least, had to be frantic with worry.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
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"You're the Dumbledore heir?!" screeched Tracey, staring in utter shock at Hermione once it was explained what was found in Hermione's genealogy.
"Apparently," Hermione shrugged before she lightly scowled. "I don't know what to think of that, yet."
"Bu-but it means you can save the Dumbledore line from extinction!" said Tracey.
"I know," she replied. "However, do I really want to do that? Personally, I'd rather replace it with the new Magical House of Granger, once Harry and I have at least two other children first."
"I can support that," said Harry, chipping in. "For my own personal reasons, I'd rather see the Dumbledore line go extinct. I think the history of the House, due to old Twinkle Eyes's behaviour, means the name is so close to being less than dirt it should be allowed to go extinct."
"And I think I would have to agree," nodded Hermione. "Once you write that book about Dumbledore, or have it ghost written, the name is going to be reviled around the world. I do not wish for one of my children, who would have to carry the name if the House is to be revitalised, to be treated poorly just because of his name."
Tracey frowned for a long moment before her face relaxed into a sad expression; she dropped her eyes and nodded. "Yeah," she sighed. "I can see that."
Harry thought her attitude had to do with her upbringing on how important it was to maintain the Houses, rather than any belief she had in Dumbledore as a person. He let it go and saw Hermione clearly thinking the same.
Daphne, recognising by the expressions on their faces that Harry and Hermione were not comfortable discussing 'revitalising' the House of Dumbledore, decided a change of subject was in order and said, "It still boggles the mind how each of us have thirty-two great great great grandparents."
"It's a simple progression doubling for each generation," said Hermione. "Two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents and so on."
"Yes," nodded Daphne. "However, it also means there are thirty two families from which a spouse cannot be chosen."
"More, actually," said Hermione. "That's just those who have one of the great great great grandparents in their same ancestry. You also have to include the sixteen great great grandparents, the eight great grandparents and the four grandparents. That's... sixty families. Of course, I did not include your own parents in there. That would be wrong."
"Merlin!" said Susan. "I don't know if it's possible to find someone who wouldn't be in each others list of sixty."
"We all passed the test, didn't we?" asked Harry. "It's not impossible, just somewhat difficult. And it's a difficulty that is greatly reduced when you begin to look into families overseas. None of us... and I include Gibberd and Whitehead in this... has anyone that was on Fleur's list of recent ancestors."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
During the next week and during short periods when they weren't in class, working on assignments, eating or sleeping, the combined Potters, Longbottoms and Finch-Fletchleys worked on writing up what would need to be included and exempted in any Statute that restricted handfastings and concubinage to at least a five generation bloodline separation. For these meetings they definitely did not include Ernie MacMillan.
When Hermione frowned when first told and asked why, Harry replied, "Because, while Frank thinks it was Puvingson who, as he put it, 'squealed' to the Daily Prophet about what the Tapestry Circle was up to, I think it was more likely to have been Cyril MacMillan. I don't want Ernie to tell his father what we're now up to."
"Wise," said Daphne.
Hermione groaned and said, "I hadn't even thought of that."
"Why not Puvingson?" asked Neville. His trust in his father 'demanded' he learn of Harry's reasonings.
"I think Puvingson is all bluster. However, he's also loyal to the Alliance. Once the Alliance made the decision not to yet make public the information shared by Dowager Malfoy, I can't see him going against that."
"But, Cyril MacMillan would," nodded Neville. "What did Dad say when you told him that."
"About what you just did, but he also groaned in understanding that I saw it when, I think, he didn't," he smiled. "Nevertheless, he also recognised it was a waste of effort to go on a witchhunt to find who did it, because then we'd just have to sanction that House by kicking them out of the Alliance. That's not something we want to do with an Alliance that's only a couple months old."
Neville nodded back while also deep in thought.
By the Friday, though, it had been almost two days since any of the Heirs had thought of something to include in their 'suggestions' to Sirius for his Bill, so Harry sent what they'd written down as suggestions to his 'dogfather' and let the man do with it what he wanted.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Someone else working hard that week was Ron Weasley. His plans for getting back at Potter and having the evidence point to Malfoy, Davis or Greengrass had been tightened up and he was now working to increase his speed of casting and trying to be as quiet as possible with his incantations.
He was also going over and practicing just what charms and curses he needed to cast and trying to figure out a way to... what was that term?... 'spellchain' them so they flowed one to the next to the next. The book on combat strategy he'd read said spellchains were the secret to fast casting. However, he'd not figured out how to accomplish that yet.
He also had his 'spot' picked out as being halfway up the grand staircase at the third floor, where you had to stand and wait sometimes upwards of a minute for the stairs to line up for you. He figured, if there was one place in the school where the aurors wouldn't be standing and hiding under disillusionment or invisibility cloaks, it would be there. Just as he knew it was one place where Potter and his group would have to pass through when going between those Lords' Quarters and the Great Hall for meals.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
On the Saturday night, even though he'd cooked yet another wonderful meal for the Heirs, including Ernie, Harry's pensive mood was easily picked up by the others.
"Alright," said Neville, looking directly at Harry. "That's enough. What's going on with you?"
Surprised, Harry was a few moments before he replied, "Why do you―?" But that was as far as got before he almost slumped in defeat. He wouldn't treat them like fools. Quietly, he replied, "Tomorrow's Hallowe'en."
"Ah," said Hermione, as the others, except Ernie, all suddenly realised. "You're worried something bad's going to happen tomorrow, aren't you?"
He nodded, looking down at his plate.
Daphne said, "Harry, all your enemies have been dealt with. There's now no one we can think of who would be out to do you harm; especially on Hallowe'en."
"It's Hallowe'en," he firmly said. "I've not gone a single year in Hogwarts that something bad has not happened on that day. I guess I just have a... bad feeling, is all."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
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On the Sunday morning the Heirs had dropped down to the Great Hall to have breakfast. Though he'd tried his best, Harry still wasn't in the best of spirits. So, soon after the mail was delivered, he said, "I think I might head back to the apartment to get some quiet study in."
"We're coming with you," Hermione firmly said. "While I don't believe anything bad is going to happen this year, it does not mean it won't. And we don't go places alone."
Harry nodded and waited for the others to rise. Even the Longbottoms and Finch-Fletchleys rose.
They did not see Ron Weasley carefully watching them and then leave quickly as they began to rise. He was well ahead of them and already up the stairs past the first floor before they even walked out the doors of the Great Hall and into the entrance hall.
As they made their way out the doors of the Great Hall and then up the start of the grand staircase, Ron Weasley was setting himself up in his preplanned spot on the third floor. He was only a short distance away from the statue of the humpbacked witch that was the entrance to one of the tunnels leading out of the school.
In the little nook he'd chosen to await Potter and his group, he quickly donned his disillusionment charm and waited. He knew they weren't that far behind him, as he'd seen them leave the Great Hall as he passed up the stairs from the second floor to the third.
Then, after what felt like both an hour and only a few seconds, they appeared.
Harry was, as usual, slightly in the lead. Due to the nature of the stairs suddenly shifting, it became almost an unconscious act to wait at the base of each set of stairs.
As Ron stood back and waited, he watched to see which target would be his of the three, preferably, he could use.
As Harry waited for the others to quickly join him, it was Tracey who was the last. They were congregated at the top of one set of stairs and watching the next set gently swing towards them.
At the back of the 'pack', Tracey felt as if she had just been hit with a muffling charm or something before she was suddenly hit with a reasonably weak summoning charm. It caused her to try and balance herself as she was dragged backwards, almost tripping over and onto her back as she was pulled from behind.
When she tried to cry out, she realised she couldn't make a sound.
She'd been pulled back, in shock, for about twenty feet before she finally realised she needed to help herself if she was to get out of this, whatever it was. The others were all facing away from her as she was pulled away and had no idea what was happening to her.
As she finally remembered to draw her wand, she only had it in her hand for a few moments before she felt someone grab her by the collar of her robes, halting her movement.
As she was starting to feel relief, she watched as CeeCee turned to obviously talk to her, notice she was missing and turn further around with a look of puzzlement on her face. "Where's Tr―"
Tracey was just raising her wand to attempt to dispel the silencing or muffling charm on herself when she heard an almost whispered snarl of "Deprimo!" from just behind her right ear.
A moment later a purple curse shot out from near her right elbow heading for her friends.
It was Tracey's sudden movement due to shock of hearing the curse almost snarled in her ear that saved everyone. She'd reflexively pulled away from the sound.
The blasting curse, properly used to blast out a hole in rock or the like, was just slightly 'knocked' off aim. However, even then it would have still hit Harry if he also wasn't in the process of turning to his left to look to CeeCee to find out what she was about to say.
He caught the flash of purple light in his peripheral vision and bent forward a little. Even then, it still connected with his right shoulder a 'glancing blow' from behind.
The hit, a clip, was enough to rip a chunk of flesh and the ends of his collarbone and the upper tip of his scapula completely away in a small fountain of blood, bone and flesh. The clip was also enough to continue his spin, spin him about and crash to the stone flooring.
However, even then Weasley wasn't done. He knew his curse hadn't hit Potter directly in the upper back as he'd aimed; only his shoulder.
As CeeCee screamed, the others were already in motion as Weasley tightened his grip on a now struggling Tracey. He snarled his second curse with his wand pointed at Harry.
"Defodio!" he snarled. All his practicing in speed casting was negated by the slimy Slytherin struggling in his tight grip.
Even so, this time his aim was true. However, it didn't connect.
As Harry, moments after hitting the ground in agony and beginning to right himself, spun to look at where the curse came from he could see Tracey was struggling in an invisible attacker's grip as a second curse sped his way. This one was a dirty yellow.
He'd tried to snap draw his own wand before noticing his right arm wasn't working, it was numb. However, before the curse hit him, knowing it was going to, it impacted a shield. The red flash of the impact told him it was a Protego cast by one of his friends. He'd not even heard the incantation and suspected it had been done silently.
Knowing he no longer had the element of surprise and that his ambush had failed to kill Potter, Weasley knew it was time to cut his losses and run.
Already planned with what he needed to do, Weasley cast a third curse, another but darker Gouging curse, shoved Davies forward with the hand he had hold of her with, his off hand, then sent a second blasting charm into the ground in front of the group. It caused shards of stone to shatter off the floor and be flung into the faces, bodies, arms and legs of the Heirs. Almost all of it was stopped by yet another Protego charm.
However, Weasley didn't see it as he was already casting another charm. "Fumos!" It caused to erupt from his wand a roiling huge cloud of black smoke. And he quickly waved his wand from side to side and up and down. He was just in time, as a stunner, a disarming and an incarcerous charm had come flying towards him, but off to one side.
Turning and running, he made sure he ran up the corridor along one wall, so he'd be less likely to be hit by a lucky cast.
He'd only just made it to the humpbacked witch statue, tapped it with his wand and quietly snapped, "Dissendio!" to open it.
A bare two seconds later, before the 'secret' passage through the witch's hump sufficiently opened, he was tagged by a Finite charm. He hadn't even seen it coming.
Spinning to look in the direction it came from, from where he'd come from, it was a few seconds before the humpback witch statue opened enough for him to duck through and run. He'd looked directly into the faces of Longbottom, Bones and that muggleborn 'Puff, Finch-Fletchley, just as he jumped through. They were running directly at him with murder in their eyes; his!
"Lumos! Shit!" he whispered in shock as he ran down the steep passageway, with the light of his wand leading the way.
'They saw me!' he thought-muttered. 'They know it was me! Shit! I've got to run now. If they catch me, I'm fucked! Shit, Shit, Shit!'
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
At the Burrow, Molly Weasley heard the 'Dong! DONG!' of the Weasley family clock, signalling that one of hers was now in Mortal Peril. And spun from her kitchen bench to stare at it in shock.
Of course, it was Ron's hand that was now pointing to Mortal Peril.
With her heart surging into her throat as it began to rapidly beat in fear, she ran to the fireplace to put in an immediate floo call to her husband. As she did so, she also continued to pay part of her attention into listening for the clock hand moving back. She didn't hear it.
After a quick call to her husband, who immediately declared he would make all haste to the castle, she then floo-called the Headmistress to let her know her youngest son was in immediate danger somewhere in the school.
When the Headmistress refused to allow her access when she tried to demand it, but promised her she'd be immediately tracking her son down, she then flooed to the Three Broomsticks.
One way or another, she was getting into that castle to hunt down and 'save' her son.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Back at the staircase, Harry was trying to rise with the intent of hunting down whoever had tried to curse him in the back. However, his ladies and the others were having none of it.
He knew Neville, Susan and Justin had charged through the smoke and after whoever had attacked him, but he wanted a piece of them for himself.
He was still trying to rise, not really thinking things through, when Hermione, who was now crouched down next to him, finally got through to him.
"Harry!" she barked, trying to pin him down. "Stop! Your shoulder's a mess!"
Daphne was also now down on her knees on the other side of him. "For Merlin's sake, Potter! Lay still!"
Finally, the pain got through, more than the voices of his betrothed and concubine, and he stopped trying to get up. Blood was now running down his right arm and back.
"Ohh... Oww...!"
Finally just sitting on his butt, leaning slightly to the left and balancing on his left hand he tried to bring his right arm around to rest his hand on his lap to try and support the weight. However, it was paralysed.
"Who, the bloody Hell, was that?" he demanded.
"We don't know," replied Hermione. "However, Neville, Justin and Susan have charged off after whoever it was."
"I would expect Longbottom to do so, but I was surprised to see two of our Hufflepuffs charge off through the smoke," said Daphne. "Damned foolish of them."
Beginning to feel quite nauseous, he said, "Don't let the fact they wear yellow trim fool you." He winced as a spear of pain shot through his shoulder. Gritting his teeth, he explained, "Just because the Hat sorted them into Hufflepuff does not presuppose they're not brave or foolhardy."
"Point," she muttered.
When he looked around he could see that Tracey had returned and, together with Hannah, was trying to comfort a teary-eyed CeeCee. Tracey wasn't much better. Fleur was watching over all of them with her wand drawn and staring through the rapidly clearing smoke, ready to defend them.
"Is everyone else alright?" he asked in general.
That's when the first of the aurors and staff turned up. A senior auror was running to them from down the stairs with Professor Flitwick on his heels. And medi-healer Robinson was running up the stairs from the next floor down.
"Ohhh... I don't feel so good," he muttered.
His mind trying to focus on driving the pain away, he didn't hear what Tracey and Fleur said to the auror, but did see both he and Flitwick turn and almost run down the hallway with the last traces of the smoke. In the distance, he could see through what was left of the smoke Neville, Justin and Susan hurrying back towards them.
His vision was then blocked by medi-healer Robinson crouching down in front of him.
"What have you done to yourself, Potter?" he asked.
He heard Hermione say, "He was hit with what I think was a Deprimo blasting curse."
He hadn't noticed it encroaching, but he definitely noticed his vision was beginning to quickly grey out as he started to feel quite faint. He muttered, "I hate Hallowe'en." And knew no more.
As Harry passed out and began to topple over, Daphne was able to grab him before he fell over completely.
"Well," said Robinson. "That'll make things easier."
"Is he going to be alright?" asked a worried Hermione.
"Yes," muttered Robinson, after casting a binding bandage charm on Harry's shoulder. He then stood and cast a Locomortis, body levitation, charm on him.
Turning he said, "Time for this young man to be on one of the beds in the Infirmary, I think. I've got some work to do to rebuild that shoulder."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Ron Weasley ran down the tunnel as fast as he could, expecting someone as fit as Longbottom or Finch-Fletchley to catch him at any moment.
However, he reached the other end within the basement of Honeydukes, shot out of the hidden door and hid for a few moments behind some of the stored crates prepared to curse whoever came out next. When he turned back to look, though, he couldn't even see where he'd come out.
After waiting a good two minutes for his heart rate and breathing to calm down again he realised no one had followed him that far.
Finally, after donning a new disillusionment charm on himself, he crept out of the basement and left the store. He'd just missed spotting his mother running in through the front gate of the school and heading for the castle.
Out in the street he wondered what he should do next. Even to him he knew he could not return to the school. Longbottom and those two 'Puffs would have already blabbed to Potter and the aurors who it was that attacked them.
Then it came to him. He needed to get hold of Lord Nott. The man would not like it known he was the one who gave him those books, so he should protect him.
Decision made, he headed to the Three Broomsticks.
However, once there and before the floo, but off to one side so no one would bump into him, he realised he had no idea how to contact the man. Then he had his second brilliant idea. He'd go back to Borgin and Burke's and get 'old man' Burke to contact Nott for him.
A dash of floo powder, a soft cry of "Diagonally!" and he was away.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When Weasley popped out of the floo in Borgin and Burkes, the store was actually shut for the day. However, Burke was down very quickly, as he claimed his intruder alarm wards had been triggered.
Weasley was finally able to get Burke to call Nott, but it did cost him five galleons of his small supply of gold to get the man to do that. Nott arrived fifteen minutes later.
Barely waiting for the man to ask why he was summoned, Weasley explained that, due to sheer bad luck, his attack on Potter only half an hour earlier had failed. And he now needed a place to hole up and prepare for his next attempt.
Nott was prepared to deny the boy any assistance, until Weasley said he had no intention of not carrying through with his deed.
Nott frowned and asked, "And what will you give me in return to provide you safe haven, Mister Weasley?"
"Getting rid of Potter for you should be enough, right?" asked Weasley. "What else could you want of me?"
Nott smirked back and said, "Very well, Mister Weasley. Seeing as you seem so determined to end Potter's life... and, as you surmise, it is something I would not be against... I shall provide you safe haven."
When Weasley gave a visible sigh of relief, Nott continued, "However... no one but those I deem should know will know where you are. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Lord Nott," said Weasley.
Five minutes later, Weasley was shown to a 'servant's apartment' in the basement of Nott Manor.
"You may stay here," said Nott. "Do not come up to the main floor of the house or beyond without me specifically collecting you or sending a house elf to inform you to do so."
As Weasley nodded back, Nott continued, "One of my house elves will be charged with providing you assistance and food. If you need anything else, call for an elf and have that elf send me a note."
"Yes, Lord Nott," said Weasley.
Nott just gave an amused grunt and walked away to return back upstairs without a further word.
Weasley gave a sigh of relief and began to explore his new 'home'.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When Harry woke up some time later he first asked, "Is everyone else alright?" It was the question last on his mind when he passed out. He hadn't even realised he'd asked it.
First to swim into his vision was both Hermione and Daphne.
Hermione was quick to reply, "Yes. Everyone else is fine; though CeeCee was a little shook up."
When Harry tried to sit up, Daphne frowned at him and pushed him back down flat again. "Harrison James Potter, you are not to attempt to sit up, let alone get up. Understand?"
Not fighting her, he sighed and replied, "Yeah. I understand." He then gave a frown and tried to look at his shoulder, the one that was injured, only to see it swathed in bandages. "How bad is it?"
"Bad enough," she replied.
Medi-Healer Robinson, who'd walked over from his office as they were talking, asked, "How are you feeling, Lord Potter?"
Harry frowned a bit in thought before he replied, "A little muddle-headed. But I don't feel like throwing up still... My shoulder feels like the bones are grating together."
Robinson nodded and said, "In order; the muddle-headedness is partly the residual shock and a couple of the potions I gave you, you no longer feel as if you're going to throw up because the adrenaline has burned out of your system and I've given you a light anti-nausea potion and the feeling of bones grating together is the Skele-Gro I've given you to rebuild the bones in your shoulder.
"Just so you know the bandages on your shoulder are part splint to stop you moving it about too much and part poultice containing a potion that will aid in the remaining recovery of the flesh and skin over the wound. It's going to be both tender and you won't be able to do any vigorous wand-waving for at least the next few days.
"However, I foresee a full recovery in your near future. And, no, that's not the gift of sight; that's the gift of experience."
With a sigh, he asked, "Who was it?"
"Weasley," Daphne snarled. "Ronald."
"Right," said Harry. "Dead man walking. He was given every chance to rectify his behaviour and shat on all of them. He's mine!"
"He's gone," said Hermione. "He's no longer in the castle."
Harry frowned back, quite a bit angry about that. "How'd he manage to get out?"
Hermione sighed and replied, "He used the secret passage out through the humpbacked witch and through to Honeydukes.
"Professor Murdstock believes he must have carefully chosen his place to ambush us based on how close it was to that secret passage, that it was in a spot where the aurors weren't stationed or only patrol when going from one location to another and where everyone has to wait when going up and down floors via the Grand Staircase."
"So, it wasn't just pre-meditated. It was clearly planned out well in advance," he said.
"Seems that way," she sadly replied.
Daphne said, "He was being even more clever about it, too; besides that it was close to a secret passage entrance and in a spot no auror was patrolling. He silenced and summoned Tracey to him to act as a shield; he was also disillusioned, which we haven't actually been taught to do yet and he used at least one curse that's not available in any student's text book."
Fleur, who'd been quiet until then, said, "Professor Murdstock is using some form of forensic charms to go through Mister Weasley's personal effects and where else 'e might have been in the school. The 'Eadmistress has a map of the school that shows where everyone is at any given time. They are analysing the map's recording function and believe they might 'ave found where 'e spent a lot of time."
Hermione said, "Both Arthur and Molly Weasley learned pretty quickly what Ron had done and were quickly on their way to the castle. The Headmistress somehow proved to them it was both Ron who'd attacked you and how he'd gotten out of the castle. Apparently, she used that Map Fleur mentioned's recording feature to show them. The name was clearly Ron's."
"They say 'e spent quite a bit of time in an abandoned classroom on the third floor in the corridor on the left," said Fleur. "They... the staff, that is... are going through there now to see what they find."
"Third floor, corridor on the left?" asked Harry. "That's where the Philosopher's Stone was kept in our first year."
"Yes," said Hermione. "And, if you remember, all the rooms along there are unused, even disused."
"Well," said Robinson. "It's nothing for you to worry about. The staff and aurors will track down how the boy was able to accomplish what he did."
While the others nodded, Harry asked, "How are Ginny and the twins taking it?"
After his girls all looked to one another, Daphne said, "We don't know yet. We've been in here with you."
With a frown he asked, "How long was I out?"
Robinson replied, "A touch over an hour and a half. Morning tea starts in about thirty minutes. If you promise not to wriggle about too much I'll organise tea and biscuits for you."
Harry nodded and looked back to his girls. "One of you, at least, needs to see Ginny and the twins and let them know I don't hold any of them responsible for this. This is on Ron and his mother."
"His mother?" asked Hermione, before she answered her own question. "Of course; she was responsible for raising him until he started here. Therefore, his behaviour is on her."
"Yup," he said. After a long moment he said, "You'd best let everyone else know I'm alright. But, you might want to bring CeeCee down to see me so she can see for herself I'm alright."
Fleur said, "I'll do that. I was going to go up and see her first, to let her know anyway."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After visits by CeeCee and others through the rest of the day, Harry laid in his bed being irritated by the feeling of Skele-Gro working on his shoulder. It was quite annoying, thank you very much.
Robinson had offered him a Dreamless Sleep potion to sleep through the aggravation. However, his mind was more often than not off it because of the sheer number of visitors he received. While his ladies and the other Heirs spent quite a lot of time in the infirmary with him, there were still a number of others who had to speak with him 'most urgently'.
He received a visit from Madam Bones, who had dropped in to get an 'official' statement and complaint against Weasley. Harry had not wanted to give it, but she told him off when she knew why he wouldn't. "He might have preplanned this, Lord Potter," she growled. "However, he's still a boy. He's not yet of-age. I will look most dis-favourably upon you if you attempt to hunt him down and kill him."
It took the threats of his three ladies he'd be 'sleeping on the couch for a month' if he even entertained the idea, let alone actually carried it out, before he gave her that complaint. Her parting words were, "We will find him and we will deal with him as per the law. Let us do our jobs and stay out of it."
He also received a visit from Marchbanks and Goodstone. They came in together.
Surprised, Harry said, "Lady Headmistress, Deputy Headmaster, how may I be of assistance? If you've come to ask me to lift some heavy things for you, I'm going to have to take a 'raincheck'. Sorry."
Both smiled back.
"No, Lord Potter," said Marchbanks. "I'm a witch who isn't a daft moron, remember? I know how to use a levitation charm."
Harry grinned back in amusement.
With her expression turning to a slight frown, she said, "We've figured out how Mister Weasley the Youngest was able to practice spell casting outside a recognised classroom or other allowed areas."
"I've been thinking about that, too," he said. "Let me guess. There's some form of permanent ward that's localised on the third floor corridor on the left that's hidden from the castle's wards what's cast in there; yes?"
While Goodstone looked surprised, Marchbanks just smirked. "Entirely correct, young man. Well reasoned. Twenty points to Gryffindor."
"Dumbledore's?" he asked.
"I do not believe so, no," she said.
"Then it would be Quirrell's or Riddle's; or a combination of both." he said. "Set up so any magic he cast in the area, back in my First Year, would not be detected by Dumbledore using the wards."
"My belief, as well," she nodded.
"Makes sense," he tried to shrug, before wincing from the pain it generated in his shoulder.
Marchbanks made a small "Tch!" sound in disapproval before she said, "You'd best break that shrugging habit, at least until your shoulder is healed."
"Yes, Ma'am," he grumbled.
After a nod back she said, "It would interest you to know that Mister Weasley the Youngest has now been expelled, even though he's already scarpered. His effects were searched and sent to his home... The Burrow, I believe.
"His attack has also been reported to the DMLE and, I believe, they've already initiated a man hunt for the boy."
"They have," he agreed. "Madam Bones was recently here demanding I not try to hunt the little... person down, myself."
Daphne added, "And we told him he'd be on the couch for a month if he even entertained that foolish notion."
When Harry looked to his ladies, Hermione said, "We've already been interviewed about the attack. They were especially interested in what Neville, Sue and Justin had to say, as those three saw his face before he escaped."
Giving a short hum sound of agreement and a nod, Marchbanks continued, "We also located a room in that third floor corridor where he had set himself up a spell casting self-teaching area. A number of dark arts books were found and they were collected by a couple of aurors and taken to the DMLE, rather than being sent to The Burrow."
"How are the twins and young Ginny holding up about this?" he asked. "I kind of expected the twins, at least, to come pay me a visit."
"They've been sent home for the day; taken home by their mother," she replied. "They will return tomorrow morning before classes."
Goodstone piped up and said, "All three, together with their parents, wished for me to pass on that they have expressed their disappointment in their youngest brother's actions and disavow any knowledge he would or had planned to do anything like this."
"No," said Harry. "This was all Ron; him, his jealousy of all things 'Potter' and his overblown sense of self-entitlement.
"If anything, I blame his mother. This behaviour of his should have been caught and dealt with way before he even turned up at Hogwarts as a First Year."
Marchbanks nodded and said, "Indeed."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ