The Secret Society Chapter 30

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AN: Just a reminder that I would recommend you read the publicly available chapters outside of Patreon (If you ever want to reread.) I edit them before posting to the public, sometimes adding extra sentences to polish the chapter. Nothing that will change the plot, but it will generally be a better read.

Harry was back inside his Slytherin dorm room, staring at the books that were casually placed in front of him on the bed.

It was almost anti-climactic to get the Book that easily, and with how pointless it suddenly seemed when Dumbledore would give him instruction in the mind arts. Of course, Harry planned to study the Book before letting the Headmaster test his mind to provide himself with a layer of comfort. Still, it wouldn’t have an actual defense against the man. Sometimes, peace of mind was enough of a reason to do something.

As for the other book that Harry took from the library, it had an actual name, unlike the one dealing with the mind arts.

Creatures.

A simple, single word as the title. Harry could also feel the disdain of whichever Black family member named this book so... dismissively. Still, Cassandra did say that most of her knowledge had originated from the book and that most information it contained had been verified. However, one needed to read past the writer's disgust for the ‘creatures’ he was writing about.

Harry intended to read it after he was done with the Book. Especially since Dumbledore had informed him that the reason Sirius Black was so eager to have him installed as the heir was Draco Malfoy. Apparently, that ponce would automatically get the property if nothing was done.

Never being one to trust authority, Harry needed to imprint both of these books before something could possibly change.

That brought up the man that made all of this possible.

Sirius Black.

Harry wasn’t sure what to think of the man. If he happened to be such great friends with his parents, why was it that he had never heard of the man? Even that sorry excuse of a wizard named Remus Lupin was known to Harry, and that was before the man showed up to act as their professor for a year.

He hadn’t wanted to believe the information he dug out was accurate about a ‘great’ friend of his parents, but when Remus Lupin couldn’t look at Harry, a third year, in the eyes while simultaneously looking like a guilty wreck, he had to face reality.

The only other one Harry knew of when searching for his parents' past was someone called Peter Pettigrew. And that one hadn’t been seen since years before Harry was born.

That was why Harry couldn’t bring himself to trust the kindness that emanated from Sirius Black. He suspected something else afoot… though he had no idea how making him the inheritor of the remaining Black estate played into it.

He had a thought that Dumbledore might be playing with some poor man’s life, creating this story to raise the trust Harry had toward him. Of course, it was so outlandish, and the suspicion itself was full of holes that could be easily disproved, so it was a passing thought that held no weight.

In the end, Harry decided to do what he knew best. Smile and play along while he gathered the information required. Sirius Black might not exist in the public Hogwarts records, but he knew from the bragging of the pureblood heirs that they had the privilege to access Ministry records through 'connections.'

Harry had no intention of doing so himself, of course not with the Dark Lord having free reign to keep watch over the Ministry with the Malfoys in his pocket, but he would soon have a convenient fodder that would do his bidding, no matter how dangerous. One that could travel freely outside Hogwarts.

He stored the new valuables in the pouch he always carried at this point. Far too many things to risk by leaving in his room when he wasn’t there.

It was time to settle Thompson so she could be useful to him. Before that, Harry wanted to see what else he could squeeze out of Greengrass. He had never done this after making a deal with a client, but since Greengrass had a sister like Davis, he would make an exception just for her.

There was a chance that he might be wrong with his assumption that Davis was the rat, but as mentioned before, he would rather make apologies instead of making the mistake of letting go of someone that could possibly be at fault.

Harry exited his room and walked into the common room with a relaxed pace, heading toward Greengrass and her little clique. He noted that Davis was conspicuously absent. Hopefully, that meant she was taking his anger seriously, but more likely, Greengrass was putting on a show of displeasure.

Not only that, but he even expected some form of retaliation after their deal with Thompson was completed. It would be uncharacteristic if she didn’t, with how protective Harry knew she was about her sisters.

Harry silently stared at the boy, Striker… or was it Starker? Whatever the name was, he was sitting in the seat next to Greengrass. Harry hid the smirk that wanted to escape when the boy stood up with a pale face. The hidden smirk wasn't necessarily because Harry could scare him into following a silent order, though that was fun, but because he did it before Greengrass gave the go-ahead.

Harry could almost see why Malfoy strutted around and ordered people about. Unfortunately, he could tell it would quickly get old if done too often. However, Greengrass’s lackeys would be perfect to use it on to get rid of the itch.

“Didn't expect you to talk to me, Potter. So you found out my sister didn’t do what you’re accusing her of?”

Harry raised his eyebrow at Greengrass at the greeting before eying the listeners around them. He nodded after she cast muffliato.

“Let’s not spoil the mood by talking about your rat sister,” Harry waved her off casually, ignoring how she bristled, “There seems to be a complication with Thompson.”

“Her again?” Daphne sneered, “It seems you are rather incompetent with matters more than the usual school annoyances.”

“I’m hurt,” Harry said blankly, “Did you know the Headmaster has an eye on her?” When she seemed to clamp up, Harry’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “So you did… That explains so many questions I had.”

The biggest one being why this fell on his lap. Dumbledore was the answer. The Greengrass’s parents could do nothing.

“Then I don’t have to tell you that getting rid of her permanently is impossible. Do I?”

“I know this, Potter,” Daphne ground out, “There’s a reason I said I don’t care as long as she is gone from Hogwarts.”

Harry hummed, his fingers going to his ring to fiddle with it. He noticed Greengrass’s eyes follow his hand and stare at the ring before looking back at his eyes. Harry immediately knew this was a habit that he had to kill before it became even more challenging to stop. It was unlikely that the ring had been recognized by Greengrass, but drawing attention to it like that was the height of foolishness.

“What is there to think about? Don’t forget that the penalties of the deal will start soon.”

“Inconsequential,” Harry lied with a straight face, “If need be, I will gladly accept them with what Davis has done.”

“I already told you, Potter,” Daphne said with a strained voice, “She did nothing wrong.”

“So you’re telling me she didn’t ward off a girl she viewed as a potential rival by telling her all the ‘bad’ things I’ve done?”

“Rival?” Daphne repeated in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“Come now, Greengrass. Davis can’t stop staring at me. I ignored it since I viewed it as harmless, but I didn’t expect you to feed her information!”

“What?! I did no such thing!”

Harry narrowed his eyes slightly, his instincts, along with her shock, screaming at him that Greengrass truly had no clue.

“Whatever the case, I expect you to find out and let me know how we can deal with it. But that is another matter. Let’s focus on Thompson.” Harry waited for her to snap out of her stunned state, now convinced she didn’t have anything to do with this, at least not directly.

“While I can’t harm her, I can promise that she will never target your family again.” Harry waited for that to register before continuing, “But it will cost you extra for what I need to do.”

“No.”

Harry blinked, not expecting such a firm rejection. “I see, so you have a plan in mind of what to do with Thompson when she is outside the Headmaster’s sphere of influence.”

When Greengrass simply stared at him without replying, Harry took his guess as fact and nodded. “That could work, if it only could be so convenient.”

“And what do you mean by that?” Daphne asked sharply.

Harry was always happy to use his practiced smile, pleased at the slight flinch he saw Greengrass make before composing herself. Draco finally made himself useful to Harry, though he had to be broken in the process. There were pros and cons to everything, he supposed.

The silence finally broke Greengrass’s limited patience. She asked angrily, “What do you need from me to make this happen?”

“I’m not asking for much. A reasonably sized house that is unplottable would be enough.” Harry let that sit between them for a few seconds before adding, “I’m aware that you can’t decide this. Or maybe you can. I don’t particularly care. Let me know what the answer is by tomorrow. I’m working to move her fast.”

With that little incentive, Harry stood up and brushed his robes to straighten them before nodding at Greengrass, not worrying about the murderous glare shot at him. Even if he intended to make Thompson his personal errand girl, he would prefer not to foot the bill.

And what sweet way was it to solve that minor issue by making the Greengrass family pay for it. The same family that almost had their youngest daughter turned into something worse than a muggle, in their view, by the very person they would be keeping safe.

Harry relished the thought of witnessing their impotent rage when they realized nothing could be done. As for if they would pay his price, there was no doubt about it. After all, it would keep something like this from happening again. It was almost as good as killing off Thompson.

Speaking of the crazy girl, Harry needed to meet her next to show that his words weren’t simple bluster. He returned to his room, giving a surly Zabini a nod on the way back. The hopeless wizard had retreated back into his shell since the day he returned from Paris.

Harry would usually use the chance to draw more money from the hapless fool, but he was practically a kept man these days with Fleur behind him. He frowned at that thought and shoved it as deep into his mind as possible.

While focusing on amassing influence other than Gold was far less shameful to Harry’s ego, he hated that such a thought that had a basis of dependence on Fleur existed in his mind. Even if it was mainly in jest.

Harry made the show of returning to his room before covering himself with his invisibility cloak and headed out of the Slytherin common room. He made the trip to Ravenclaw Tower in record time before sneaking into the common room.

He ignored the few students scattered around and headed straight to Thompson’s room, knocking as quietly as he could. When the door opened, Harry stepped back in shock at the horrendous state the girl was in.

It took a second to gather himself before whispering, “It’s me. I have good news for you.”

Thompson’s expression had no change whatsoever, but she stepped aside to let him in. Harry gripped his wand tightly before cautiously entering, though he knew he should be safe with the deal they had in place between them.

After Harry took off the cloak, he said, “I can help you deal with the issues of the curse.”

“I see,” Emma acknowledged with a dead tone, “Will you be able to get it to me by tomorrow?”

Harry reached into his pouch and pulled out the box containing the Sorrow Stone. He carefully handed it to her and stepped away, firming up his mental shields as much as possible. “There’s no need to wait. Open the box. It should be the cure for you.”

The sick, baleful aura immediately spread throughout the room, with Harry barely able to keep a natural expression when it washed over him. In contrast, Thompson finally seemed to have found a balm for whatever she was going through.

“… This is familiar,” Emma muttered as she hugged the open box closer to herself.

“Is it? That should be impossible since that is a restricted artifact,” Harry commented smoothly, “In fact, if you take it where there are other students, it could be a guaranteed Azkaban stay. I recommend you hide it here.”

“Thank you,” Emma stared at him with wide eyes, “I-I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate it.”

“Please, don’t,” Harry stopped her thanks with a raised hand, “While I might have fixed the issue due to the curse, I just got word that the Greengrass family knows what you have done. They want your life.”

“Okay.”

“What?” Harry asked, stunned at the casual acceptance of impending death, “What do you mean ‘okay?’ Did you hear what I said?”

“It’s fair,” Emma shrugged, “If I were them, I would want to take my life too.”

Harry blinked at the confusing sentence and shook his head roughly. “No, I have a place where you can be safe. I can provide the necessary materials for self-study since you will be leaving Hogwarts. I didn’t go through the trouble of saving you just so you can be killed by the Greengrass family.”

“Okay.”

Harry stared at Thompson, exasperated at the disregard for her own life… then again, perhaps this was a gift for him. He needed fodder on the outside, and what better than the girl that didn’t seem to care for anything other than making the suffering go away.

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