herumtreiber (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
herumtreiber) wrote2011-10-20 09:11 am
herumtreiber) wrote2011-10-20 09:11 am
Entry tags:
Windbound 28/35
Title: Windbound - 28/35
Chapter: Twenty-eight
Author:![[info]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/645e27cdd7f5/936704-158980/l-files.livejournal.net/userhead/16)
herumtreiber
Genre: post DH, slash, romance, adventure
Disclaimer: The world and characters of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling. I don't make any money from writing these stories.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Epilogue compliant? Epilogue complaisant
Chapter length: ~3,600 words
Summary: Draco/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Hannah/Dean, Justin/Daphne, Ginny/??? My take on the Marriage Law. Should they obey the government’s edict or fight it the Muggle way? This leads to marriage equality. Plus there’s a twist exploring how a Horcrux operates. Good!Lucius, finally:) Hufflepuff house is amply represented here.
Table of contents
Chapter twenty-seven
January 25th 1999
Hogwarts
The Hogwarts students were knackered. They'd spent a truly gruelling Monday reviewing older material to be ready to sit their final exams in a few months.
When Arithmancy class finished, Draco wiped his brow, thinking about taking it easy. He was aware of a brown blur who grabbed his hand and hauled him forcefully to the Library. Hermione explained she wanted to do research, intimating she was on to something that could help them.
When they got to the Library, Hermione promptly sent Draco to look up tomes having information related to 'magical containment fields.' Draco thought it wouldn't prove very useful but the relentless Gryffindor would not change her mind.
Ron approached Hermione whilst Draco was searching the aisles at the back of the Library. The redhead sat down diffidently besides her, taking out his Divination material and quills. He prepared to do his homework.
Hermione sought a way to get rid of Ron. She usually liked his company, but he'd become very clingy lately. Furthermore, she strongly suspected him of taking part in Harry's shenanigans; she recalled when they caught him spying under the Invisibility Cloak.
The brunette turned to look at Ron, feigning nonchalance she causally batted her eyes. "Oh, I forgot to replant my mandrake! It won't be ready for my presentation about better horticultural techniques! Whatever shall I do, Ron?"
The redhead shuddered as he thought about his options. He could just walk away and leave Hermione on a lurch, or he could help her with the damned mandrake and get brownie points. Sighing, Ron said, "I'll replant it for you! Where is it?"
She kissed his cheek. "You're wonderful, Ron! It's on Greenhouse #3. Now I can fully devote myself to my homework."
Ron stood up and when he was getting ready to leave, Hermione opened her bag and took out dog-eared earmuffs which she gave to Ron. "You'll have to wear these. This mandrake is especially loud and obnoxious. It hasn't got any control at all!"
Draco came back to Hermione after making sure the Weasel had gone. He had an armful of dusty tomes. He plopped down on the chair next to Hermione. "Anything else you command, oh bushy one!"
She snorted and playfully punched his arm. "No, dear gelled one! By the way, do you still have your vial of the Tempus celeritas potion we brewed early?"
"Yes, I kept two vials. Are you planning on doing something with the time-speeding potion?" The blond held up his hands. "Don't answer! Hope it's intricate enough to fool the old Headmaster."
Hermione grabbed one of the books Draco courteously brought her, squinting at the title 'Magical Fields for dummies by Sesyeux Verts.' She quickly took out her parchment and her favourite sugar quill from her gargantuan bag and started taking notes.
oOoOo
Two hours later, Ginny and Harry were talking in the Library. She was growing increasingly irritated by Harry. It seemed the brunet still wanted to marry her but was afraid of asking. He didn't want to be rejected again. Moreover, he was behaving like an old patriarch of yore, demanding that she should fully care for any future babies, forsaking her career! He expected to have a large family, and had all their names planned. Of course, from his side of the family!
Ginny increasingly felt like hexing him with the Bat-bogey Hex. She was reaching for her wand when Harry was saved by the bell in the form of a trembling Ron. She quickly made excuses and left the pair, inwardly raging.
Ron was shuddering from his encounter with the mandrake. He couldn't believe anything would be so annoying. He still could discern the cries of the vegetable even through the earmuffs. Ron had no idea how Hermione managed to care for the thing. Probably all she had to do was show up and the mandrake would be rolling around for her! How typical!
Ron frowned at his best friend. "So the Marriage Law didn't work! Aren't you angry, like Dad and Percy? They hate the fact that the Muggles dared interrupt the proceedings."
Harry answered with twinkling eyes and a secretive smile. "All is not lost. With a decisive move, the hunt might yet succeed. It's like a game of chess; it's not over until the King is lost." The brunet smirked. "Maybe it's time for their King to suffer a crushing defeat."
"I would challenge you to a game of chess, but it's not as much fun when I always lose. Never knew you were such a great player, Harry!"
Harry's fingers lightly massaged his chin, as if unconsciously trying to comb his fingers through a beard that wasn't there. He answered jovially, "That's the beauty of living. Things always turn up in different combinations. What is one colour today may be a different tomorrow."
Ron sneered, fingering the book next to him. "Do you want me to follow Malfoy and Mione using your Cloak?" Harry motioned angrily with his hand, "No, both of them are aware of the Cloak and know how to evade you. It's that damned Map of Draco's!"
Ron growled. "Bloody Malfoy! Always interfering."
Harry said musingly, "I wonder…" He abruptly stood up and left the room whilst Ron hastily followed. The two went to the Room of Requirement where Harry put strong privacy charms. They even affected Ron so he wasn't able to hear what transpired.
Harry conjured his Patronus to call someone. When he finished and before the Patronus could depart, he said thoughtfully, "Dad, you would be proud of me, I'm fighting Slytherins with guile." He took the Marauder's Map out of his robes, he wanted to find his lover and his best friend and snoop on them.
oOoOo
Draco and Hermione met in what they had playfully dubbed the 'Hufflepuff den.' This room was the gang's refuge, located near Hufflepuff and refurbished by them. The two found Susan and Justin in the room, whom they forcibly evicted.
The sputtering Head Boy and Head Girl were courteously told to 'stuff it' and to give them five hours alone. Needless to say, the Hufflepuffs were angered and curious. Hannah didn't tauntingly call them 'the cloak and dagger brigade' for nothing.
The blond and the brunette had discussed their plans for two hours, when Draco took out the Serpent's Map and perfunctorily glanced at it. He grabbed Hermione's hand and placed it on the Map. She saw that beyond the door was the icon of a calm lion, beneath it the name Harry Potter, hors crux.
She bravely went to the door and opened it, to find Harry trying to unobtrusively hide an Extendable Ear. Hermione invited him whilst she prayed that the privacy wards had been strong enough to prevent him from hearing their conversation. "Come on in, Harry! This is the Hufflepuff den. It is a place to relax and be yourself. What brings you here?"
Harry gazed intently at Hermione but the brunette had her Occlumency shields up. "I've come here to find a bit of quiet, Mione. It was a coincidence finding you both here."
She grabbed two butterbeers and gave one to Harry. "Since you're here, you can help us. I say that the Snitch as it flutters near the ground, moves making the figure eight. Draco says it flies randomly. Want to help us find the truth?"
Intrigued, Harry nodded. Hermione turned to glare at Draco, warning him not to give away plan. She took out a small silver snitch from her huge bag and put it over the table. "Watch it as it flutters, Harry! Try to see the pattern it makes in your mind! Concentrate on the silver snitch!"
oOoOo
Susan and Justin duly came back at the allotted time, fuming because of the cavalier treatment they had received. As they entered the Hufflepuff den, they could hear Hermione saying, "When you hear the words, 'Lemon drops' you will remember everything I've said, Harry. Now you feel calm and content. I will count backwards from ten to one and when I reach one, you will awake feeling refreshed."
Hermione duly counted, and when she got to one, a calm Harry woke up.
He went out of the room after greeting Susan and Justin, looking quite peaceful. The 'cloak and dagger brigade' wanted to know what was going on but Draco and Hermione remained tight-lipped.
oOoOo
In Gryffindor tower, an increasingly irate Dean Thomas was talking to Seamus Finnigan. The black Gryffindor said, "Grow up, Seamus! What have you got against Hannah?"
The Irishman replied, "She consorts with the enemy. The traitorous Hufflepuffs welcome the snake in their midst!"
"Malfoy's no longer the enemy. You continue living in the past and you let other people guide you. Just like you obeyed your mother, going against Harry in Third year. You always look to others for guidance, you don't look inside yourself."
Seamus growled. "I listen to wise people. There's nothing wrong with that!"
Dean waved his arms. "The Hufflepuffs act according to their code. They're faithful to their schoolmates. They aren't hung up on cliques, like us. To be sure, Smith and Ernie MacMillan are just like you, they react based on prejudice whilst pretending they're pure and noble."
Seamus punched angrily the pillow. "It's not true! What do you truly know about them?"
"Why don't you join my soccer team? It'll be quite interesting. If we can get enough people for the teams, then we'll have matches against the neighbouring villages. It's a great way to meet people!"
Seamus frowned resentfully. "And I suppose in your team you will have bloody Hufflepuffs!" "Of course, if they are selected. I'm sure Hannah and Terry will, though I'm not sure about the others."
Seamus snorted. "And I'm sure the snake himself will be on it, prancing around like the git he is!"
Exasperated, Dean replied as he fingered his wand, "Give it a rest, Seam! Even your vaunted Harry supports him! Shouldn't that count for you?"
"Harry's just using Malfoy! He told me himself. It's all misdirection, or something like that."
oOoOo
After they finished their breakfast, Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and said goodbye to their friends. They went to he Gardens. Finally they reached a tall birch and sat down under its shadow. Draco took out the Map and looked for intruders. Finding none, he nodded.
"What was that all about yesterday, Granger? I recognized hypnosis techniques. I hope your reasoning is right because if it isn't we just gave Dumbledore the advantage."
Hermione frowned. "If I'm right, and I know I am right." She stared fixedly at Draco. "Dumbledore' soul is joined to Harry at a conscious level. There are some parts of Harry he can't control or he would have taken command long ago. I'm betting there's no connection between the free portion of Harry's consciousness and Dumbledore's sliver of soul."
Draco fiddled with his wand. "And?"
"Therefore, when the time is right and the conditions propitious, Harry will know the whole truth. He'll be in a position to do exactly what needs to be done. All we have to do is provide him with the right circumstances."
"I don't follow you exactly, Granger."
Hermione brushed aside her curls. "Something Harry said recently gave me inspiration and I researched the issue extensively. I believe I've found a solution, it's what I was telling you before Harry arrived."
oOoOo
Meanwhile, Dean and Hannah were walking hand in hand to the Lake. Hannah sensed that the usually playful Gryffindor was in a serious mood. "What's the matter, Dean?
"What are you doing after graduation, Hannah?"
The brunette replied jokingly, "That won't happen until next year, remember? I might become a Healer like Susan." Grabbing his hand tightly, she asked, "What will you do, Dean?"
"I might join a soccer team but I haven't played it as much as those blokes have. They are better. I think I might go to art school and become a painter. I'm good at drawing. Some people say I'm really good."
Hannah shuffled her shoes on the grass. "Have you made any drawings of me?"
Dean lowered his eyes. "I've made a few. They are in my trunk in Gryffindor tower but I have one with me."
Dean took out a parchment from his robes. He unfolded it and passed it to Hannah. The petite Hufflepuff saw the drawing. It depicted her, looking wistfully out the window at the frozen fields of a cold December morning in Malfoy Manor. The colours were tentative, as if applied with a very light touch. Hannah's fingers traced her features wonderingly. Dean had taken extreme care in capturing that alluring essence of strength and vulnerability that was so uniquely hers.
She looked up to Dean and asked with shining eyes, "Can I keep it?"
"Sure, Hannah." Then he kissed her, in a moment filled with passion and longing of what might be one day.
oOoOo
Susan was sitting at her desk in her Head Girl office, trying to juggle things just right for the upcoming Graduation ceremony in June. So far the only recalcitrant points were the boring wait for the scores of the final exams and the seating arrangements for the ceremony itself.
Robert Lehmke was seated by her side. He was perusing a letter, staring intently at Harvard's tuition fees. He said mournfully, "I don't think I can afford Harvard for more than a year, Susan. It's too costly. I'll have to move across the ocean, live in a new environment, study and get good grades. Now add the tuition and it is not a pretty picture."
"How did you get into Harvard if you are a wizard?"
"I always was interested in the Muggle way of doing things. When I started coming here, I read every book I could find on Muggle science. Aunt Liz hired several tutors for me and I was able to learn science more in depth. I kept this up during my Hogwarts years. Then I applied to Harvard, presented the exam and passed it." He put the letter on the desk. "Still, the problem is the money or lack thereof."
"Silly Robert! You've done wonders and you worry about doing hard work? You're accustomed to that by now. I dare say that if things were too easy for you, you would be bored." She shrugged, holding up a parchment for the Headmistress. "As for the money, I am sure Draco and Justin would be pleased to be of use."
When Robert started to protest, Susan gestured to let her continue. "Of course it would be a loan with interests. It would give you the freedom to pursue your goal."
oOoOo
Ombudswoman Liz Lehmke was having tea with Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. The situation was tense to say the least. It was so foreboding that several headmasters' portraits had pleaded they had invitations elsewhere and left precipitately, leaving empty frames behind.
Liz stared at McGonagall. "If I may ask you, Headmistress, why is Headmaster Snape's portrait unavailable?"
McGonagall sniffed haughtily. "Unfortunately, the portrait doesn't seem to work. Snape is unresponsive."
"Yet you've refused my help before. You won't let me see it. I wonder what you fear, regarding this portrait. Can it be that Severus remembers how he was driven out of Hogwarts by the treacherous Heads of Houses, including you? Can it be that you just want to let sleeping dogs lie?"
"I assure you it's nothing like that. I recall distinctly how treacherous Slytherins have behaved throughout my life. It's them you should chastise, not me!"
"At any rate it is unseemly that a Headmaster is denied his rights to participate in Hogwarts' life, even as a portrait." Liz stared at the empty frames of the cowardly headmasters. "Portraits counsel the living Headmistress. They also serve as inspiration to the students of certain Houses. They look at the proud portraits and think that if they act correctly, some day they might end up there, too."
McGonagall muttered to herself, "I don't need you to tell me what portraits do!"
"I care about my nephew, Minerva. Robert has few role models as a Slytherin. Don't you think it is important for his education that he knows that Snape served Hogwarts in the darkest moments? He charted an unknown road to the future. Severus helped enormously to Harry Potter's victory."
"I can do nothing else, Ms. Lehmke. It's out of my hands. Besides, as an ombudswoman, you should be more concerned about the plight of the living!"
Liz snorted as she replied angrily. "Of course I'm concerned about the living! I want Hogwarts students to know that there are distinctions, that not everything is black or white. I also want them to be aware of the wry, sarcastic wisdom Snape possessed. I want them to grab the future and continue the past. Even though Snape was haunted by war, they have his unparalleled heroic figure, the man whom no one acknowledges and whose actions saved us all."
McGonagall touched her bun, snorting. "He was hardly fair as the Head of Slytherin."
"As for you, my dear Minerva, can it be that you don't want Severus around because you feel guilty for his death? After all, he was safe in Hogwarts, as safe as anyone could be, until you and your three pitiful rebels chased him out. He went to a dangerous place where he fell to Nagini's bite. Who knows, he might be alive if he had been allowed to remain here!"
"That's hardly relevant to Hogwart's life today, my dear Lehmke!"
"If you don't put Severus's portrait where it belongs within 48 hours, I will file a complaint against you and suggest that a Special Inquisitor be appointed to Hogwarts again. I wonder if any of the Umbridges would apply."
Liz got up and went out of the room, glaring at the row of empty frames signifying the craven headmasters of yore.
oOoOo
After dinner Draco received an Origami letter. It was very strange. It was bright green and had the shape of a snake. Intrigued, Draco opened it and read:
Meet me in the Hufflepuff den in ten minutes.
HG
Wondering what Hermione wanted, Draco looked at the Gryffindor table. Granger was engaged in a heated discussion with Ron and Harry. Finally she was rescued by Ginny and Dean. She appeared contrite as they left, but she sported a smirk once they were out of the Great Hall.
Draco made it to the room and tried to get another cola from Justin's box but the wily Hufflepuff had learned from his mistakes and magically sealed it.
Instead, he went to get a goblet of pumpkin juice, grabbing some chips that the curly-haired Hufflepuff left around. He didn't have to wait long; Hermione appeared in less than five minutes.
She went and sat on a chair across from Draco, crossing her arms. "Tell me what you know about magical fields, Draco!"
The blond frowned. "It's not much. As you know, there's an electromagnetic field, a gravity field and so on. They are useful to explain the actions of electricity."
Hermione nodded as she lifted her gaze to the ceiling. "I've read that the behaviour of distant stars can be determined through their electromagnetic spectrum, so those fields can be known across light years."
Draco took a sip from the pumpkin juice. "There's also a magical field. It surrounds every magical object or being. Apparently electrical fields can function when the number of magical objects is small. Up to a certain threshold, the magical field is more powerful and affects the electrical field and so Muggle electrical devices cannot operate." Draco huffed indignantly. "Which is why we couldn't see movies during the holiday!"
"You're not missing much, Draco. I've watched some awful films lately."
Draco shrugged as he ate a chip. "Anyway, Robert and Terry are fighting about the concept of magical containment fields. If the magical field could be restrained within a certain space then it would be possible to seal a room so it is impervious to magic. It could hold all sorts of electrical devices. Wouldn't that be neat?"
Hermione she stole a chip from Draco's dish. "You appear to be knowledgeable about such things, why don't you discuss them with Terry and Robert?"
Draco smiled self-deprecatingly. "I do know a bit about such things, but I'm afraid Terry and Robert are way beyond me. When they start discussing the 13 physical dimensions and the 11 magical dimensions, I know I'm out of my league." He smirked and continued, "Things get too esoteric for me."
Hermione frowned, her voice acquiring a certain solemnity. "I'm afraid I also have some bad news, Draco. While perusing the books you got me, I was looking at the covers. I was curious about who had read the books before me. I found that many of them had been taken out by Harry. It seems my best friend is way ahead of us."
Chapter twenty-nine
Chapter: Twenty-eight
Author:
Genre: post DH, slash, romance, adventure
Disclaimer: The world and characters of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling. I don't make any money from writing these stories.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Epilogue compliant? Epilogue complaisant
Chapter length: ~3,600 words
Summary: Draco/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Hannah/Dean, Justin/Daphne, Ginny/??? My take on the Marriage Law. Should they obey the government’s edict or fight it the Muggle way? This leads to marriage equality. Plus there’s a twist exploring how a Horcrux operates. Good!Lucius, finally:) Hufflepuff house is amply represented here.
Table of contents
Chapter twenty-seven
January 25th 1999
Hogwarts
The Hogwarts students were knackered. They'd spent a truly gruelling Monday reviewing older material to be ready to sit their final exams in a few months.
When Arithmancy class finished, Draco wiped his brow, thinking about taking it easy. He was aware of a brown blur who grabbed his hand and hauled him forcefully to the Library. Hermione explained she wanted to do research, intimating she was on to something that could help them.
When they got to the Library, Hermione promptly sent Draco to look up tomes having information related to 'magical containment fields.' Draco thought it wouldn't prove very useful but the relentless Gryffindor would not change her mind.
Ron approached Hermione whilst Draco was searching the aisles at the back of the Library. The redhead sat down diffidently besides her, taking out his Divination material and quills. He prepared to do his homework.
Hermione sought a way to get rid of Ron. She usually liked his company, but he'd become very clingy lately. Furthermore, she strongly suspected him of taking part in Harry's shenanigans; she recalled when they caught him spying under the Invisibility Cloak.
The brunette turned to look at Ron, feigning nonchalance she causally batted her eyes. "Oh, I forgot to replant my mandrake! It won't be ready for my presentation about better horticultural techniques! Whatever shall I do, Ron?"
The redhead shuddered as he thought about his options. He could just walk away and leave Hermione on a lurch, or he could help her with the damned mandrake and get brownie points. Sighing, Ron said, "I'll replant it for you! Where is it?"
She kissed his cheek. "You're wonderful, Ron! It's on Greenhouse #3. Now I can fully devote myself to my homework."
Ron stood up and when he was getting ready to leave, Hermione opened her bag and took out dog-eared earmuffs which she gave to Ron. "You'll have to wear these. This mandrake is especially loud and obnoxious. It hasn't got any control at all!"
Draco came back to Hermione after making sure the Weasel had gone. He had an armful of dusty tomes. He plopped down on the chair next to Hermione. "Anything else you command, oh bushy one!"
She snorted and playfully punched his arm. "No, dear gelled one! By the way, do you still have your vial of the Tempus celeritas potion we brewed early?"
"Yes, I kept two vials. Are you planning on doing something with the time-speeding potion?" The blond held up his hands. "Don't answer! Hope it's intricate enough to fool the old Headmaster."
Hermione grabbed one of the books Draco courteously brought her, squinting at the title 'Magical Fields for dummies by Sesyeux Verts.' She quickly took out her parchment and her favourite sugar quill from her gargantuan bag and started taking notes.
Two hours later, Ginny and Harry were talking in the Library. She was growing increasingly irritated by Harry. It seemed the brunet still wanted to marry her but was afraid of asking. He didn't want to be rejected again. Moreover, he was behaving like an old patriarch of yore, demanding that she should fully care for any future babies, forsaking her career! He expected to have a large family, and had all their names planned. Of course, from his side of the family!
Ginny increasingly felt like hexing him with the Bat-bogey Hex. She was reaching for her wand when Harry was saved by the bell in the form of a trembling Ron. She quickly made excuses and left the pair, inwardly raging.
Ron was shuddering from his encounter with the mandrake. He couldn't believe anything would be so annoying. He still could discern the cries of the vegetable even through the earmuffs. Ron had no idea how Hermione managed to care for the thing. Probably all she had to do was show up and the mandrake would be rolling around for her! How typical!
Ron frowned at his best friend. "So the Marriage Law didn't work! Aren't you angry, like Dad and Percy? They hate the fact that the Muggles dared interrupt the proceedings."
Harry answered with twinkling eyes and a secretive smile. "All is not lost. With a decisive move, the hunt might yet succeed. It's like a game of chess; it's not over until the King is lost." The brunet smirked. "Maybe it's time for their King to suffer a crushing defeat."
"I would challenge you to a game of chess, but it's not as much fun when I always lose. Never knew you were such a great player, Harry!"
Harry's fingers lightly massaged his chin, as if unconsciously trying to comb his fingers through a beard that wasn't there. He answered jovially, "That's the beauty of living. Things always turn up in different combinations. What is one colour today may be a different tomorrow."
Ron sneered, fingering the book next to him. "Do you want me to follow Malfoy and Mione using your Cloak?" Harry motioned angrily with his hand, "No, both of them are aware of the Cloak and know how to evade you. It's that damned Map of Draco's!"
Ron growled. "Bloody Malfoy! Always interfering."
Harry said musingly, "I wonder…" He abruptly stood up and left the room whilst Ron hastily followed. The two went to the Room of Requirement where Harry put strong privacy charms. They even affected Ron so he wasn't able to hear what transpired.
Harry conjured his Patronus to call someone. When he finished and before the Patronus could depart, he said thoughtfully, "Dad, you would be proud of me, I'm fighting Slytherins with guile." He took the Marauder's Map out of his robes, he wanted to find his lover and his best friend and snoop on them.
Draco and Hermione met in what they had playfully dubbed the 'Hufflepuff den.' This room was the gang's refuge, located near Hufflepuff and refurbished by them. The two found Susan and Justin in the room, whom they forcibly evicted.
The sputtering Head Boy and Head Girl were courteously told to 'stuff it' and to give them five hours alone. Needless to say, the Hufflepuffs were angered and curious. Hannah didn't tauntingly call them 'the cloak and dagger brigade' for nothing.
The blond and the brunette had discussed their plans for two hours, when Draco took out the Serpent's Map and perfunctorily glanced at it. He grabbed Hermione's hand and placed it on the Map. She saw that beyond the door was the icon of a calm lion, beneath it the name Harry Potter, hors crux.
She bravely went to the door and opened it, to find Harry trying to unobtrusively hide an Extendable Ear. Hermione invited him whilst she prayed that the privacy wards had been strong enough to prevent him from hearing their conversation. "Come on in, Harry! This is the Hufflepuff den. It is a place to relax and be yourself. What brings you here?"
Harry gazed intently at Hermione but the brunette had her Occlumency shields up. "I've come here to find a bit of quiet, Mione. It was a coincidence finding you both here."
She grabbed two butterbeers and gave one to Harry. "Since you're here, you can help us. I say that the Snitch as it flutters near the ground, moves making the figure eight. Draco says it flies randomly. Want to help us find the truth?"
Intrigued, Harry nodded. Hermione turned to glare at Draco, warning him not to give away plan. She took out a small silver snitch from her huge bag and put it over the table. "Watch it as it flutters, Harry! Try to see the pattern it makes in your mind! Concentrate on the silver snitch!"
Susan and Justin duly came back at the allotted time, fuming because of the cavalier treatment they had received. As they entered the Hufflepuff den, they could hear Hermione saying, "When you hear the words, 'Lemon drops' you will remember everything I've said, Harry. Now you feel calm and content. I will count backwards from ten to one and when I reach one, you will awake feeling refreshed."
Hermione duly counted, and when she got to one, a calm Harry woke up.
He went out of the room after greeting Susan and Justin, looking quite peaceful. The 'cloak and dagger brigade' wanted to know what was going on but Draco and Hermione remained tight-lipped.
In Gryffindor tower, an increasingly irate Dean Thomas was talking to Seamus Finnigan. The black Gryffindor said, "Grow up, Seamus! What have you got against Hannah?"
The Irishman replied, "She consorts with the enemy. The traitorous Hufflepuffs welcome the snake in their midst!"
"Malfoy's no longer the enemy. You continue living in the past and you let other people guide you. Just like you obeyed your mother, going against Harry in Third year. You always look to others for guidance, you don't look inside yourself."
Seamus growled. "I listen to wise people. There's nothing wrong with that!"
Dean waved his arms. "The Hufflepuffs act according to their code. They're faithful to their schoolmates. They aren't hung up on cliques, like us. To be sure, Smith and Ernie MacMillan are just like you, they react based on prejudice whilst pretending they're pure and noble."
Seamus punched angrily the pillow. "It's not true! What do you truly know about them?"
"Why don't you join my soccer team? It'll be quite interesting. If we can get enough people for the teams, then we'll have matches against the neighbouring villages. It's a great way to meet people!"
Seamus frowned resentfully. "And I suppose in your team you will have bloody Hufflepuffs!" "Of course, if they are selected. I'm sure Hannah and Terry will, though I'm not sure about the others."
Seamus snorted. "And I'm sure the snake himself will be on it, prancing around like the git he is!"
Exasperated, Dean replied as he fingered his wand, "Give it a rest, Seam! Even your vaunted Harry supports him! Shouldn't that count for you?"
"Harry's just using Malfoy! He told me himself. It's all misdirection, or something like that."
After they finished their breakfast, Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and said goodbye to their friends. They went to he Gardens. Finally they reached a tall birch and sat down under its shadow. Draco took out the Map and looked for intruders. Finding none, he nodded.
"What was that all about yesterday, Granger? I recognized hypnosis techniques. I hope your reasoning is right because if it isn't we just gave Dumbledore the advantage."
Hermione frowned. "If I'm right, and I know I am right." She stared fixedly at Draco. "Dumbledore' soul is joined to Harry at a conscious level. There are some parts of Harry he can't control or he would have taken command long ago. I'm betting there's no connection between the free portion of Harry's consciousness and Dumbledore's sliver of soul."
Draco fiddled with his wand. "And?"
"Therefore, when the time is right and the conditions propitious, Harry will know the whole truth. He'll be in a position to do exactly what needs to be done. All we have to do is provide him with the right circumstances."
"I don't follow you exactly, Granger."
Hermione brushed aside her curls. "Something Harry said recently gave me inspiration and I researched the issue extensively. I believe I've found a solution, it's what I was telling you before Harry arrived."
Meanwhile, Dean and Hannah were walking hand in hand to the Lake. Hannah sensed that the usually playful Gryffindor was in a serious mood. "What's the matter, Dean?
"What are you doing after graduation, Hannah?"
The brunette replied jokingly, "That won't happen until next year, remember? I might become a Healer like Susan." Grabbing his hand tightly, she asked, "What will you do, Dean?"
"I might join a soccer team but I haven't played it as much as those blokes have. They are better. I think I might go to art school and become a painter. I'm good at drawing. Some people say I'm really good."
Hannah shuffled her shoes on the grass. "Have you made any drawings of me?"
Dean lowered his eyes. "I've made a few. They are in my trunk in Gryffindor tower but I have one with me."
Dean took out a parchment from his robes. He unfolded it and passed it to Hannah. The petite Hufflepuff saw the drawing. It depicted her, looking wistfully out the window at the frozen fields of a cold December morning in Malfoy Manor. The colours were tentative, as if applied with a very light touch. Hannah's fingers traced her features wonderingly. Dean had taken extreme care in capturing that alluring essence of strength and vulnerability that was so uniquely hers.
She looked up to Dean and asked with shining eyes, "Can I keep it?"
"Sure, Hannah." Then he kissed her, in a moment filled with passion and longing of what might be one day.
Susan was sitting at her desk in her Head Girl office, trying to juggle things just right for the upcoming Graduation ceremony in June. So far the only recalcitrant points were the boring wait for the scores of the final exams and the seating arrangements for the ceremony itself.
Robert Lehmke was seated by her side. He was perusing a letter, staring intently at Harvard's tuition fees. He said mournfully, "I don't think I can afford Harvard for more than a year, Susan. It's too costly. I'll have to move across the ocean, live in a new environment, study and get good grades. Now add the tuition and it is not a pretty picture."
"How did you get into Harvard if you are a wizard?"
"I always was interested in the Muggle way of doing things. When I started coming here, I read every book I could find on Muggle science. Aunt Liz hired several tutors for me and I was able to learn science more in depth. I kept this up during my Hogwarts years. Then I applied to Harvard, presented the exam and passed it." He put the letter on the desk. "Still, the problem is the money or lack thereof."
"Silly Robert! You've done wonders and you worry about doing hard work? You're accustomed to that by now. I dare say that if things were too easy for you, you would be bored." She shrugged, holding up a parchment for the Headmistress. "As for the money, I am sure Draco and Justin would be pleased to be of use."
When Robert started to protest, Susan gestured to let her continue. "Of course it would be a loan with interests. It would give you the freedom to pursue your goal."
Ombudswoman Liz Lehmke was having tea with Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. The situation was tense to say the least. It was so foreboding that several headmasters' portraits had pleaded they had invitations elsewhere and left precipitately, leaving empty frames behind.
Liz stared at McGonagall. "If I may ask you, Headmistress, why is Headmaster Snape's portrait unavailable?"
McGonagall sniffed haughtily. "Unfortunately, the portrait doesn't seem to work. Snape is unresponsive."
"Yet you've refused my help before. You won't let me see it. I wonder what you fear, regarding this portrait. Can it be that Severus remembers how he was driven out of Hogwarts by the treacherous Heads of Houses, including you? Can it be that you just want to let sleeping dogs lie?"
"I assure you it's nothing like that. I recall distinctly how treacherous Slytherins have behaved throughout my life. It's them you should chastise, not me!"
"At any rate it is unseemly that a Headmaster is denied his rights to participate in Hogwarts' life, even as a portrait." Liz stared at the empty frames of the cowardly headmasters. "Portraits counsel the living Headmistress. They also serve as inspiration to the students of certain Houses. They look at the proud portraits and think that if they act correctly, some day they might end up there, too."
McGonagall muttered to herself, "I don't need you to tell me what portraits do!"
"I care about my nephew, Minerva. Robert has few role models as a Slytherin. Don't you think it is important for his education that he knows that Snape served Hogwarts in the darkest moments? He charted an unknown road to the future. Severus helped enormously to Harry Potter's victory."
"I can do nothing else, Ms. Lehmke. It's out of my hands. Besides, as an ombudswoman, you should be more concerned about the plight of the living!"
Liz snorted as she replied angrily. "Of course I'm concerned about the living! I want Hogwarts students to know that there are distinctions, that not everything is black or white. I also want them to be aware of the wry, sarcastic wisdom Snape possessed. I want them to grab the future and continue the past. Even though Snape was haunted by war, they have his unparalleled heroic figure, the man whom no one acknowledges and whose actions saved us all."
McGonagall touched her bun, snorting. "He was hardly fair as the Head of Slytherin."
"As for you, my dear Minerva, can it be that you don't want Severus around because you feel guilty for his death? After all, he was safe in Hogwarts, as safe as anyone could be, until you and your three pitiful rebels chased him out. He went to a dangerous place where he fell to Nagini's bite. Who knows, he might be alive if he had been allowed to remain here!"
"That's hardly relevant to Hogwart's life today, my dear Lehmke!"
"If you don't put Severus's portrait where it belongs within 48 hours, I will file a complaint against you and suggest that a Special Inquisitor be appointed to Hogwarts again. I wonder if any of the Umbridges would apply."
Liz got up and went out of the room, glaring at the row of empty frames signifying the craven headmasters of yore.
After dinner Draco received an Origami letter. It was very strange. It was bright green and had the shape of a snake. Intrigued, Draco opened it and read:
Meet me in the Hufflepuff den in ten minutes.
HG
Wondering what Hermione wanted, Draco looked at the Gryffindor table. Granger was engaged in a heated discussion with Ron and Harry. Finally she was rescued by Ginny and Dean. She appeared contrite as they left, but she sported a smirk once they were out of the Great Hall.
Draco made it to the room and tried to get another cola from Justin's box but the wily Hufflepuff had learned from his mistakes and magically sealed it.
Instead, he went to get a goblet of pumpkin juice, grabbing some chips that the curly-haired Hufflepuff left around. He didn't have to wait long; Hermione appeared in less than five minutes.
She went and sat on a chair across from Draco, crossing her arms. "Tell me what you know about magical fields, Draco!"
The blond frowned. "It's not much. As you know, there's an electromagnetic field, a gravity field and so on. They are useful to explain the actions of electricity."
Hermione nodded as she lifted her gaze to the ceiling. "I've read that the behaviour of distant stars can be determined through their electromagnetic spectrum, so those fields can be known across light years."
Draco took a sip from the pumpkin juice. "There's also a magical field. It surrounds every magical object or being. Apparently electrical fields can function when the number of magical objects is small. Up to a certain threshold, the magical field is more powerful and affects the electrical field and so Muggle electrical devices cannot operate." Draco huffed indignantly. "Which is why we couldn't see movies during the holiday!"
"You're not missing much, Draco. I've watched some awful films lately."
Draco shrugged as he ate a chip. "Anyway, Robert and Terry are fighting about the concept of magical containment fields. If the magical field could be restrained within a certain space then it would be possible to seal a room so it is impervious to magic. It could hold all sorts of electrical devices. Wouldn't that be neat?"
Hermione she stole a chip from Draco's dish. "You appear to be knowledgeable about such things, why don't you discuss them with Terry and Robert?"
Draco smiled self-deprecatingly. "I do know a bit about such things, but I'm afraid Terry and Robert are way beyond me. When they start discussing the 13 physical dimensions and the 11 magical dimensions, I know I'm out of my league." He smirked and continued, "Things get too esoteric for me."
Hermione frowned, her voice acquiring a certain solemnity. "I'm afraid I also have some bad news, Draco. While perusing the books you got me, I was looking at the covers. I was curious about who had read the books before me. I found that many of them had been taken out by Harry. It seems my best friend is way ahead of us."
Chapter twenty-nine