A Cloak & Dagger State of Affairs - Chapter 10

MISSION HOGWARTS

Chapter 3 - Networking

Severus Snape was a man not to be trifled with. He commanded obedience and Hermione Granger had yet again disobeyed and landed herself in detention. To make matters worse, a mirror image of his childhood tormentor was roaming the halls of Hogwarts like he owned it.

His sneer twisted as he thought more about the pretentious little brat who had the audacity to call himself an Auror and ride on the miracle of Lily Evans. Stupid James Potter and his brain dead spawn, he spat mentally. The lines around his eyes tightened as his hate overpowered him and his thoughts grew darker.

It was the sound of silence that brought him out of his depressing reverie. Granger had stopped scrubbing and he suddenly realized he had snarled out loud.

"Back to work Miss. Granger," he said icily. "Perhaps having to clean Gremlin guts off the bottom of a cauldron will teach you never to spill another student's cauldron."

"She was asking for it," Hermione retorted hotly.

It was at this moment Harry chose to cancel the listening charm and phase through the walls as silent as a shadow and he took shelter in its comfort. He was disillusioned and had drawn a web of silence around him with Amazonian magic. It had taken him six months to learn how to cast a proper web of silence and two years to manipulate his body with magic and waltz through walls with impunity. The drawback was he drained a lot of magic to phase through walls and he couldn't use magic effectively for fifteen minutes thereafter. It mattered not to Harry. He was confident in his abilities and didn't doubt the former Death Eater's faith in the wards on his door.

He had listened first and almost decided to abandon the raid because of the unscheduled detention. But when he heard the name Granger, Harry's interest in the girl overrode his instinct of flight and he now crouched beside a small wooden cupboard watching the girl scrub the bottoms of cauldrons diligently. She looked very boyish, Harry realized. More than before now that she was getting her hands dirty with a look of deep resentment etched on her pale thin face. Looking at her arms Harry didn't think she ate a lot. She felt almost fragile from a distance and Harry wished he could look in her eyes.

There was so much to learn from the eyes. There was no mask that could cover the eyes and Harry's recent foray into the magic of mind reading taught him how to feel emotions in others. No matter how much anyone tried to hide their feelings, a look into their eyes and he could read them better than he could read himself.

Unfortunately her back was to him and her arms shifted back and forth until all the twenty five cauldrons were shining bright. Harry was amused when Snape pointed out a spot she missed and Hermione's leg twitched with an impulse to kick out.

It didn't escape the hook-nosed professor's notice and he gleefully deducted ten points from Gryffindor.

Harry waited and watched until Granger was finally done and stood waiting at his table for her note to avoid punishment from Filch; the caretaker.

"Do not upend your neighbors cauldron the next time they sabotage your potion Miss Granger," Severus Snape sneered.

Unresolved daddy issues or maybe a victim of bullies.

Harry silently drew conclusions about the man he was observing after Hermione Granger left. Snape had not retreated to his chamber but he sat at his desk looking troubled and pensive. A couple of minutes later, he sighed and removed a bottle of wine and a thin stemmed glass from the cupboard in the desk.

He poured a glass full but did not drink and instead chose to swirl the red liquid around absently. Something intense was going through the man's mind and Harry felt annoyed that he could not hear it. Hugo had trained his mind magic to the extreme. He probably had a dozen PhDs in mind magic and as a result his eyes had undergone a sort of transformation. He could influence lesser people with a suggestion and read surface thoughts without eye contact. Harry was aiming for similar heights as a metamorphmagus. There was precious little to study about them and Harry was determined to push his abilities to the farthest reach of his human mind.

Harry definitely wasn't expecting the fireplace to roar and Albus Dumbledore to step out. He slipped out of his hiding place and relocated closer to the pair and sat with his back to a cauldron.

Light up a joint partner. Tyson's voice echoed in the depths of his mind. This is going to take a while.

Any other moronic suggestions you got Tyson, mocked James.

Shut it, all of you, Harry commanded and the voices stopped.

"Drinking Severus? What has brought this on?" asked Dumbledore, surprised and amused.

Severus's lack of reaction at the headmaster's presence told Harry these two were quite close. This was news to Harry because he hadn't had much data to go on over Snape's relationships. There weren't any at all.

"It's growing darker Albus," Severus said unhappily. "Karkaroff has been panicking ever since the boy showed up. He is quite convinced the boy's coming is an omen." Severus spat the word boy.

"Yes, the boy," Dumbledore murmured. "Quite interesting isn't he? Croaker has trained him quite well."

Harry's eyebrows shot skyward. Dumbledore and Snape were a lot closer than anything he could have suspected! They were talking about him and his connection to the Department of Mysteries. Harry narrowed his eyes dangerously and kept his ears sharp.

"I'm not buying this spy theory of yours Albus," Snape snorted. "He's a dunderhead just like his father and he is no more a spy than Longbottom is Potions Master."

"Your hate for James has severely clouded your perception of Harry," Dumbledore said.

Holding on to childhood grudges get you nowhere Mr. Snape. You and Arthur Weasley are the same.

"What do you want, Albus? Snape asked sourly.

"You are the one who asked me to see you, Severus," Dumbledore reminded chuckling.

Snape sighed. "Karkaroff has half a mind to flee, Potter has come to Hogwarts and the dark mark grows stronger. Please tell me you know how to connect dots."

"But I can't see the dots between the dots," Dumbledore sighed. "Why did Harry's name come out of the Goblet? Who put his name inside? Who is helping Voldemort recover? Alarming events are occurring one after the other and we are blind Severus. All I know for sure is that Harry is here to find out the same and so far you, Crouch, Bixlow and Karkaroff are on his list of suspects."

What the fuck?! How does he know that! Is the mother fucker spying on me?! But how? I ensured I wasn't followed! Harry realized he had to be more careful. Dumbledore was more resourceful than he thought.

"Why Crouch and Bixlow?" Snape muttered, not really surprised he was on the list too. "What have they done that is so suspicious?"

"I thought you said the boy is a dunderhead, Severus," Dumbledore said with a hint of amusement.

Snape scowled. "He is. Tell me what you know," he deflected.

"I don't know but I intend to find out," Dumbledore said.

Silence reigned supreme as both men dwelled into their memories.

Harry felt let down. So even Dumbledore had no answers and if he and Snape were two dicks in the same pod then neither of them knew anything. They were useless to him.

"Do you think Black's death in Prison might have anything to do with this?" Snape asked suddenly. "His death was celebrated and from that point events began to spiral."

"Black passed on last year," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "The Dark Mark reappeared six months ago. Is it possible that his death was a signal? Or motivation?"

"All possibilities," Snape spat. "And I still don't believe that turd had the balls to turn traitor for power. It just doesn't compute."

"Stranger things have happened Severus," Dumbledore sighed. "All we can do now is keep our eyes and ear sharp and start preparing for the worst."

"What about Harry Potter? Where does he fit in? There is a prophecy after all."

"Harry knows the prophecy," Dumbledore said abruptly. "I cannot do anything unless I know everything about him. No one, not a single person in the Ministry can find anything beyond what is on paper. I can't imagine the purpose of Croaker taking such drastic measures. I don't know what they have done to the boy but his scar no longer is cursed and he is far too confident in himself."

"Arrogant, not confident," Snape said lazily. "You're looking beyond reason Albus. Croaker is a mystery freak. He wanted the boy to study the curse scar and once they were done he was passed along to the Aurors so that they could keep an eye on him. It's that simple."

"My instincts tell me otherwise."

Snape ignored Dumbledore. "Their experiments probably addled his mind," he said, relishing the thought. "So they trained him like a dog and inserted James Potter in him." Snape chuckled darkly.

"He's half Lily, Severus. Don't forget that," Dumbledore said softly.

Harry couldn't see them but he heard the snarl.

"Do not speak to me about her. Ever!"

A glass slammed on the desk and Harry knew it had just been emptied.

"Forgive me," Dumbledore said. "Perhaps you should reach out to the old crowd and search for answers."

"I will look weak and scared and that is unacceptable. Karkaroff is the only marked Death Eater who has flapped his mouth in panic and he will die if the Dark Lord rises. I, on the other hand, do have an attachment to life."

A sad, pathetic life.

Harry pitied Severus Snape. Wrapped up in the darkness he was alive but miserable. It wasn't a way of life Harry would recommend.

Dumbledore sighed. "Keep your ears open and I shall pull some strings in the old crowd. It might be time to get the Order back together."

Snape didn't reply.

"Good night Severus," Dumbledore said softly and the fireplace roared three seconds later.

Harry stayed put and carefully tracked the Potions master's footsteps. It made a dull click against the stone floor and it sounded like he was pacing. A while later, the sounds stopped and started to move away until a door sounded and when it shut all was quiet. Harry rose to his feet and searched for human traces and concluded he was alone. He let his invisibility drop and squinted through the dim lights the candles were radiating.

Harry held his palm open and a small orange sphere, swirling with orange light manifested. It floated at a fixed radius away from Harry and gave enough light for him to see clearly. With the silent ball of light floating around him, Harry browsed through all the potions in the potions cabinet and mentally marked the ones he thought could be useful. He glanced at the numerous old Potions books in the book cabinet and took a look at the dated Potions Journals stacked together.

Finding nothing of interest, Harry moved on to the ingredients cabinet and began to catalog the useful potions he could make with the available. There was nothing to try anything exotic but it was enough for many types of healing potions.

Harry had to resist the urge to steal the Ashwinder eggs and find some opium.

Running a critical eye over the work place one last time Harry turned to cross the room and rummage through the desk. It had one drawer and one cupboard. The cupboard, he saw, had whisky and the drawer, had nothing but neat piles of assignments and detention notes.

Snape was clean in his personal habits but his current state of mind was a different story altogether.

Harry decided to keep a close eye on the greasy man and left the same way he came. He had no desire to tempt the nasty wards on the door.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

The next morning, regardless of how late he slept contemplating the mystery of Bixlow and the methods of Dumbledore, Harry was awake at five; as always and he went about his morning rituals. Splash water. Gargle. Brush teeth. Clockwise. Counter clockwise. Cold shower. Towel. Dress.

By half past five he was deeply inhaling the morning draught that howled through the dark castle. A jog before the day began was perfect for making plans and agendas. The gloomy sunrise filtering through the windows put Harry in a good mood and he began revising all he knew.

He was called back from the States because his name came out of a Goblet. He didn't have to compete in the tournament nor make it his problem but apparently the department now had its own plot to catch the plotters and they were hoping it was Voldemort and they knew there was someone at Hogwarts who put Harry's name in the Goblet. It was now his job to find said person and turn the names to the Department. This was the scope of the assignment.

Harry sidestepped a passed out suit of armor. It had a wine bottle cradled in its metal arm and wine drenched the floor.

Harry chuckled at the scene and turned left to the exit of the castle.

It was far colder outside and teeth chattering, Harry tightened his cloak with a tight grip. It had snowed at night and the landscape was painted a pure white with green peeking out mischievously. Harry spotted abnormally thick furred squirrels racing across the brown branches and large birds shaking up the foliage, making snow fall in clumps.

The rising sun brought along a mist as ice began to thaw and blue began to bloom on the horizon.

This was an experience worth encountering, Harry thought suddenly and realized there was so much truth in the Chief Warlock's words the first time he returned to England.

The castle with the powerful magic that brought it alive. The mysterious forest with the given name of Forbidden. Ghosts and Poltergeists. A lake that housed a giant squid. Students who actually had personalities worth exploring. Inanimate objects with animated behaviors. Harry was suddenly overwhelmed with feeling.

He awoke with plans and schemes but suddenly he was appreciating Hogwarts and the beauty it resided in.

The moment didn't last for long and he returned to plotting his day. He had dinner plans with the French and lunch plans with Daphne's club.

Two seemingly insignificant events but events that needed careful handling nonetheless. He wanted informants in the Club and was in uncharted territory with the French. Fleur could become significant yet.

His jog took him over to the Pumpkin yard and he crossed a fence that housed fowl in a magically warmed patch. He turned back when he caught sight of the Whomping Willow; a famous tree he read about, and headed back to the castle, edging the dense part of the forest.

Somehow the air felt thicker and much more biting when he threaded its edge. It had a dangerous presence that urged Harry to explore it further. He had a liking for possible life threatening activities and the thrill of surviving them was something else.

Resisting the urge he walked back into the castle and shook his cloak and boots to get some of the snow out. It was now almost seven and breakfast would be served. He hoped to run into Granger.

She wasn't in any club and avoided human company like the plague.

She wasn't there and Harry wolfed down his bacon and eggs and took some more.

"Planning to wipe the table clean before the rest of Gryffindor awakes?" inquired a laughing voice.

Harry looked up to face Susan Bones. "Eating is living Bones. A good appetite is vital for a good life."

She slid into the space next to him. "You boys always come with the strangest reasons for dirty table manners."

"Slicing bacon into four pieces, putting them on bread neatly and taking dainty bites is not manners Susan," he said, rolling his eyes.

Susan blushed. "I do not take dainty bites," she protested. "And I'm surprised you noticed."

Harry wolfed down some more eggs. "Did Daphne put up a notice yet?"

Susan frowned. "Not yet. But the word is you're joining the most boring club of Hogwarts and inviting guests along."

"Well I wouldn't put it that way," Harry said. "Your club's ideals somewhat coincide with what idea I had in mind when I came to Hogwarts."

"The young eyes of the Ministry," Susan joked. "He has come to mighty Hogwarts to whisper words and steal maiden hearts."

"Is that what people are saying," Harry said dryly.

"You have a long line of ladies waiting to be your Yule date."

"Not a problem," Harry said confidently. "I'll enter with a few and dance with them all."

Susan's mouth opened in laughter and her eyes shone with mirth. "You think too highly of yourself Mr. Potter," she laughed. "Not all the women are swept away by your silly face."

"Been talking with Bitchy Bones have you. She's the only one who calls me silly boy or silly face or silly something all the time. Thinks I'm a menace and a money drain to her department."

Susan blushed and averted her eyes. "She's not your fan, that's for certain," she laughed quietly. "But they are definitely you fans," she added, nodding towards a bunch of Ravenclaws.

Harry suppressed a grimace and eyelashes batted at him over make up and lip gloss. Fourteen year olds didn't look flattering in makeup, Harry decided, ignoring their call for attention.

"And that's my Aunt you're talking about by the way," she said sternly.

"Apologies galore, Bones," Harry said, giving her a very insincere look.

"Prat," laughed Susan, lightly patting his arm and letting her fingers linger longer than necessary.

Feeling full and heavy, Harry got up and stretched. "I was feeling really hungry for some reason."

"Maybe all the sweet talking took its toll on you yesterday," she said blandly.

"There's going to be a lot of that at your club meeting alright," Harry chuckled. "Anyway, your friends seem to be giving you the evil eye. I have to head to Transfiguration and I want to get there a bit early."

"I told them to join me but they're scared of talking to you," Susan said, glaring right back at her housemates. "They don't know what to say to you is their excuse."

"Talk to Daphne and prepare the guest list," Harry joked. "Maybe you can bring along one of your quiet friends."

Harry waved, strolling out of the still mostly empty Great Hall and Susan smiled, returning the gesture before walking back to her own house table.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Harry enjoyed Professor McGonagall's early morning class. The woman knew her magic and she had answered all Harry's queries about human transfiguration patiently. She warned him, human transfiguration was not strictly legal but there was no hard and fast law about it. It was severely frowned upon in the transfiguration community because of its propensity to end up killing the victim. Harry politely asked about the stance of the transfiguration community about animal transfiguration and he got a cold look in return.

Detention Mr. Potter, she had said and she never said why.

"Detention huh," Daphne said sympathetically. "Boy wonder gets punished by day two," she mocked, her tone light and humorous.

It was the politics club meeting and they were gathered in Harry's warm classroom or The Potter Lounge as the rest of the school had started to call it in jest and jealousy.

His lounge was a lot more crowded than last time. There were four from every house including the three club members. Daphne had a scowl etched since the time the prefects had waved a signed letter from the Headmaster in her face, overruling her demands. Harry smiled at her apologetically.

When Harry spoke to Dumbledore about it, the venerable Headmaster had said the students stood to learn a lot from his experiences and he could motivate them to pursue greater things than the narrow vision that showed them just the Ministry and its Auror division. Harry couldn't find any faults with Dumbledore's logic and he acquiesced.

"How many of you are familiar with the Muggle education system?" he asked, sitting cross-legged on a cushion at the head of the long table.

Hermione Granger and Penelope Clearwater raised their hands.

"And how many of you are familiar with Magical Education after Hogwarts?" he asked.

Hermione, Daphne, Percy and Susan raised their hands.

"Just as I suspected," Harry said, chuckling. "Our world is sorely lacking when it comes to further studies and that is what I want to talk about today."

"Why would we want to study further?" blurted Ron Weasley.

Harry didn't bat an eye and replied swiftly. "Because what you learn in Hogwarts is cute. Magic doesn't end at making things fly, turning toads into bulls, crafting potions that cure and kill or mastering spells that keep dark magic at bay. Magic is complex and truly enchanting if you study it well enough."

To make his point Harry flexed his fingers and the quill Hermione was taking notes with jerked out of her hand and flew to Harry's open palm.

He snatched it out of the air and swept his eyes across everyone in the room.

He could feel the awe radiating from them and smiled.

"Magic," he said quietly. "Is energy that you don't really know until you make an effort to understand it. To join as an Auror trainee is easy, but to graduate from the academy you need a mastery in molding magic with intent and understanding. Every arc you cut with your wand, every flick of your wrist and jab of your wand has meaning. School teaches you mimicry, Aurors teach you creation."

He caught every eye in the room and they were entrapped in his voice. Even the hard hearted Hermione was rapt with attention.

"The Department of Mysteries requires a whole new level of mastery. OWLs and NEWTs mean nothing to them. They demand a technical degree from a muggle university and three years of experience in spell crafting. They deal with magic so arcane that it will make your eyes curdle if you so much as turn your toe the wrong way.

"Nimbus District; the home of Enchanters and Warders; has a very special school which accepts only those with Outstanding grades in Charms, Transfiguration and Potions. They are the ones who create the spells your mothers find so useful in their kitchen. They create ward schemes that are adopted by security firms and they enchant the brooms you find so thrilling to ride on.

"Now I could go on and on about the wonders beyond Hogwarts but I think you get my meaning. Most of you have had career guidance and so have I. But the guidance your professors give you is based on your marks and what you think is your choice. So without further ado, please bombard me with intelligent questions," Harry finished.

"How do you go about earning a mastery?" asked Percy Weasley.

"You gain a NEWT, travel in search of a master who will have you, prove your worth to him...

"Or her," added Maya Burke of the Slytherin house.

"Or her," Harry acknowledged. "And become an apprentice. You are paid by the guild of your chosen field and when you become a journeyman you can join the Ministry or an independent company to further your experience in your quest for a Mastery. It is a powerful road full of breathtaking discoveries. Professor McGonagall is a grand master in Transfiguration and she is the head of the British Transfiguration guild. Your Professor Snape on the other hand, earned his mastery without studying under any master. That is the other road, where you stand before the guild masters and ask them to test you. If you win their approval you are awarded the title of Master. If not, you can never show your face to them again."

"Snape might have cool titles but he's a hateful bastard who delights in our misery," grumbled Susan.

"And if you were smarter you would let the insults bounce and leech the knowledge out of him," Harry pointed out.

"Professor Flitwick is a Master too," piped Luna Lovegood, her voice high and dreamy.

Harry looked at the small girl with large eyes and pale blonde hair. Her father ran an entertaining newspaper and her mother was an enchanter for Nimbus before her unfortunate accident.

"Filius Flitwick: The flying Demon," Harry said with a broad grin. "The man might be small but he holds four Masteries and the one he is most famous for is Duelling."

"He was an undefeated champion wasn't he?" Ron asked eagerly.

"Yes," Harry replied. "He was young, arrogant, powerful and then one day he took a life and threw away all his hard work to take up educating youngsters."

Many in the room scoffed. "What a coward," said Roger Davis. "He killed someone in a duel, it happens all the time."

"Taking a life is nothing to jeer at Davis," Harry said harshly. The weight of his own kill weighed down on him from time to time. It was a burden a murderer with a hint of conscience carried. The only way to make it disappear was to accept it and become a killer. Harry would never accept it.

Harry noticed Daphne shifting in her seat sullenly. "Is something the matter Daphne?"

"The topic for today is The Effect of Muggleborns on magical development," she said through clenched teeth. "Seeing as this is our club time we were hoping to have a debate and not listen to your lecture."

"Shut it Greengrass," Ron said hotly. "Don't interrupt Harry."

Harry ignored the ginger. He was of no value to him yet. "Their effect is immense," Harry said. "Muggles grow up romanticizing magic and when they discover it's real, they come with a mind full of dreams and fantasies."

"They come and they destroy," interjected Draco. "They spit on our culture and take away all our jobs in order to fulfill their silly fantasies."

"And those fantasies have been responsible for all the great inventions the past decade," Hermione said softly. Her voice cracked like a whip and for a moment everyone was contemplating whether to retort or not.

Draco had no such qualms. "Our society was built on our blood and sweat. We carved a world where everyone was happy, rich and full. We worshiped our gods and savored our fruits. But then muggles started to get magic and they left our society in shambles. Reserved positions in the ministry, disdain for our way of life and pushing for rights for lesser creatures," he spat. "What do you know about magic mudblood."

Outrage erupted and wands were drawn. All was for naught when Harry raised his arm and all the wands flew to him at once.

"This little skill, summoning without a wand was made popular by Charles Sanders. A dirty mudblood as some of you would call him. The Pureblood society turned their collective noses at him and today, I can guarantee there's not a single pureblood who can match a wizard or witch open to what muggle can teach us."

"We need them," agreed Daphne. "Just as they need us. Different worlds with different thought patterns have a lot to teach each other. But the muggleborns in our world refuse to adapt to our ways because they too turn their nose at us."

"Exactly," said Percy. "They say our worship of the elements is nonsense and some even try to impose their stupid teachings on us. As if we'd want anything to do with Christ and his book!"

"The bible can teach you more than you can imagine," Justin said furiously.

"We are not talking about religion," Harry interrupted. "I don't believe in any god or religion. All I believe in is magic and logic. Together magic defies logic and logic defies magic resulting in a lovely cocktail of discovery. This is all that matters."

"Fresh blood and fresh minds," said Susan. "Malfoy and his ilk are stupid to call muggleborns mudbloods. They are newblood and we need a system where they learn and understand what world they are becoming a part of."

"We should have a new subject," added Luna. "Wizard studies for the newbloods."

Harry chuckled. "A marvelous idea. What do you think, Miss Granger."

"I care little for prejudice and change," she said, holding her chin up and brown eyes cold with indifference. "I came here to listen at the request of the head boy and that's all I shall do."

"That attitude will get you nowhere beyond the walls of Hogwarts, Hermione. Here you may cow your classmates with your ruthless nature and wicked wand but outside everyone is a wolf."

"And I am a Lion," she retorted. "People like Malfoy are there in the muggle world as well and I know who to deal with both sides. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an assignment to complete."

Hermione left with hisses of bitch and prude trailing after her but she ignored them all and left with her head held high.

"I never should have forced her to come," lamented Percy. "Forgive me Mr. Potter."

"I like her," announced Harry, to their shock. "She's right in a way. If you have the courage to endure insults, betrayals - " Here Harry looked pointedly at the Gryffindors. "- Injustice and still have the strength to rise then it is no wonder someone with her brains ended up in the house of Lions."

"The only path for her is isolation," declared Daphne. "Social circles are important in a society as small as ours. Whether it is a job or pursuit of a Mastery, connections are priceless."

"And therein lies the conflict with pure and new blood wizards," Harry said softly. "Just like Hermione said, there's not much difference in the two worlds after all. Ego rules no matter what you're capable of. A middle ground must be found and for that to happen the purebloods must open up to the muggle borns or the conflict will never cease."

He saw comprehension dawning on most of them. "Nothing in our society is achieved by merit and that is the true problem in a small society like Magical Britain. A muggleborn in our society has nothing but a wand and that is why they demand muggle rights."

The discussions turned towards more positive outlooks with the search for a solution gaining momentum.

Harry sighed internally and felt like kicking their arses. The solution was right there, staring them in the face. Prejudice had to go but such a task, Harry felt, was impossible for humans.

An hour later the visitors slowly dispersed but Luna, Daphne and Susan lingered behind.

"Did you want something?"

"We want to know more," Susan confessed. "What was it like growing up for you?"

"Strict," Harry replied. "Not much time to goof around and lots and lots of reading was involved."

"Sucks," Susan said sympathetically.

Harry shrugged and ushered them all out of the room. "I never saw it that way. I suppose calling me a nerd would be appropriate," he said humorously.

"A powerful famous nerd," Susan joked.

"And handsome too," Luna piped. "The gasums attached to women seem to love your presence."

Harry chuckled. It wasn't hard to decipher that. "Yours too?" he asked cheekily.

"I'm afraid you're not good enough for mine," she replied sagely.

"What are you two talking about?" Susan asked, confused. "Gasums? A new species Luna?"

"Oh they're quite old and very sensitive creatures."

Daphne realized it finally. Her blush was the only indication of her understanding and she glared at Luna for making the stupid innuendo.

"I don't get it," Susan said exasperatedly.

"I'll explain later," Daphne grumbled.

"Well my quarters are coming close. I'll see you girls around," Harry said, smiled and walked away.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

3.00 PM, Defense against the Dark Arts.

The class with Bixlow was quite surreal. The man seemed to have a thing for Harry and he was constantly called to the front to demonstrate the proper way to defend against physically damaging curses.

By the end of an exhausting lesson Bixlow was at the top of Harry's list of suspects. The man had it out for him and seemed eager to engage him in conversation. He quizzed him on dark spells, spell theory and seemed obsessed with his Lethifold patronus. It was such a contradiction to the definition of a patronus and by the end of the class it was concluded that Harry was so powerful that his patronus took on the visage of the only species that were a threat to dementors.

Harry never wanted to show his patronus because he knew people would take it the wrong way but he never thought they'd think it was incredible to have such a dangerous and carnivorous magical beast, a creature that people in the tropics feared terribly, as a patronus. His status in the eyes of Hogwarts went from prodigy to badass prodigy by the end of the day.

"So did you enjoy your class Mr. Potter?" Bixlow asked, his face abloom with the joy of meeting Harry.

"It was very good, professor," Harry returned politely. "Your explanation about the patronus and the meaning behind their manifestations was quite brilliant."

The tall man with blonde hair chuckled. "I did it so that it wouldn't cause a panic."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Thank you," he acknowledged. "But truth be told I wasn't keen on having it revealed. Patronus' are very personal and aren't meant to be made a public spectacle."

"Oh, I agree," Bixlow said, "But wouldn't it cause you problems if you chose to keep it hidden, you know, being a celebrity in a class that was teaching the patronus charm? I think I've done you a huge favor actually," he said, smiling broadly.

Harry resisted the urge to curse him.

"Then my sincere thanks to you professor. Now if you'll excuse me, I have dinner plans with the Beauxbaton headmistress."

"Ah, of course," he said quickly.

Harry headed for the door.

"Harry!" Bixlow called before he could exit.

"Sir?"

"If there's anything you need, anything at all. Don't hesitate to come to me. I'd be glad to help."

Harry smiled. "Thank you for the offer professor," he said and shut the door on his face. There was something about the man that didn't quite sit well with him.

He needed to talk with Hugo.

But before he could find a quiet place to talk he was discovered by Ron Weasley and his gang.

"Hey! Harry! Harry! Wait up!"

Harry sighed.

"Hi Ron," he said brightly. "What can I do for you?"

"We're off to the library for some fun. You wanna join?" Ron asked hopefully.

Dean, Ginny and Romilda were with him and Harry wanted to say no. But he hadn't yet seen the famous library and decided to accompany them.

"How do you have fun in the library?" Harry questioned, bemused.

"Oh you'll see," Romilda said giggling like it was a huge mystery. Her voice was sugary sweet and her hair full of curls. She had strategically applied makeup and long eyelashes that batted every time he made contact with her brown eyes.

"The library is great Harry," Ginny interjected confidently. "But be careful of Madam Pince. She has a mastery in the use of the stinging hex."

Everyone dissolved into peals of giggles while Romilda glared at Ginny. The byplay didn't escape Harry's notice and he rolled his eyes and wondered if either girl had even reached puberty.

The trip to the library was a short one and Harry's jaws dropped when he entered.

It was massive. The dome shaped ceiling was almost as high as the great halls and as soon as they entered, the door disappeared and was replaced by columns of shelves stacked to the brim with books and had ladders the length of a four storey building.

A heavy smell of parchment and leather wafted around Harry and he closed his eyes to breathe in deeply.

"Amazing," Harry said. All around him, in a circular fashion, the shelves disappeared into the darkness and in the center of what was obviously the central sitting area was a huge desk behind which a stern lady with narrowed eyes sat watching their every move.

"Come on!" Ron beckoned, leading Harry to the ladder. "Climb," he said, gesturing up.

Curious, Harry climbed.

"Now hold on," Ron said with an evil grin. His friends were trying hard to suppress their glee too and that made Harry wary. "Row Z!" shouted Ron.

Harry had to hold on for his life as he embarked on a thrilling journey.

The ladder zoomed across the gaps between the rows. It took sharp turns and magically contracted in small gaps! Harry started to laugh. His eyes watered because of the speed and the ride was over before he could fully appreciate it. He now understood the attraction of the library to the dunderheads of Hogwarts. It was incredibly fun!

A minute later, the rest of the troops reached him, screaming at the top of their lungs in delight.

"Awesome isn't it!" Ginny laughed. "And not to mention it annoys the crap out of all the bookworms and Pince!"

"Speaking of which," Harry said dryly. He knew they shouldn't have screamed, for on another ladder, rolling towards them at a moderate pace, was Madam Pince.

"Out! Out! Out!" she was screaming. "The ladders are not for your amusement! Get out! Out I say! OUT!"

"Madam Pince," Harry began politely, preparing himself for a sincere apology but he didn't get the chance. The librarian waved her wand and all of them were banished out of the room and dumped at the entrance.

Ron and his friends were still giggling and Harry felt quite annoyed. But he restrained having to snap at them and grinned back. He was supposed to be a fourteen year old after all and this was what fourteen year olds in Hogwarts did he supposed.

"Wanna go back in?" Romilda gushed happily.

"No thanks," Harry said dryly. "I'd rather not be kicked out the next time I actually need to use the library."

"How about a game of Quidditch then," Dean said quickly. They didn't want to lose the boy who lived.

"Actually I have dinner plans with Madam Maxime," Harry said apologetically. "And I really need to get ready for it. Maybe next time."

"Are you going back to the common room? We could accompany you," Ginny insisted.

Harry shook his head, "Got detention with Professor McGonagall in fifteen minutes," he lied. "I better get going so see you around!"

Harry took off before they could protest or follow him along. A small pang of guilt hit him at the thought of leaving his housemates behind and he stopped short a distance away.

"Don't get attached, Harry," he said to himself sternly. "They're kids. They're allowed to act like idiots. You're more than that so stay focused!"

He had to leave Hogwarts before it was too late for his psyche.

-x-x-x-x-

Beauxbaton Headmistress' Carriage

Harry was at the door at sharp 8.00 pm and rapped the door three times firmly.

It was promptly opened by a young and fair boy dressed in the blue Beauxbaton uniform and he bowed. "The Headmistress is expecting you," he said.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Thank you," he said and stepped into the carriage.

The insides were bright and gold. White embroidered curtains adorned the windows of the carriage and a lush red carpet covered the floor. At the center was a dining table fit for four and already seated and waiting were Fleur, a man Harry recognised as Mr. Delacour and the headmistress herself.

So this dinner is more than just a dinner eh.

"Ah, Mr Potter," said the man, rising to his feet. "It is an honor to meet you again."

Harry strode forward and shook France's head of magical cooperation department hand. "You too, Mr. Delacour. The last time we met was quite long ago wasn't it?"

"France has been trying to talk with you for ages Mr. Potter," Delacour said, sitting back down. Harry sat at the opposite end, both men at the head of the table.

"I'm well aware," Harry said smiling. "But I'm in the dark as to why."

"Your mother, Mr. Potter," said the headmistress. She didn't bother with the pleasantries. She was known to be straight forward and brutal at times. "Lily Potter had a dual citizenship which was given to her due to her close ties with the Delacours. After graduation, Lily became an apprentice of Appolline Delacour and was obliged to live under the roof of the rune mistress for five years, but unfortunately, due to terrible circumstances, she couldn't honor her responsibilities to the fullest and died young."

So they don't know about her work at the DOI or that she was working at the ministry. Go mom!

Fleur sat still and quiet. She had no idea what this all was about but she knew it was important. Her father brought her in on many meetings and it had taught her how to read situations and people. But looking at Harry, she couldn't get anything out of him. He had a hint of a smile and was rapt with attention but she couldn't figure anything out about him. It made her interest in him grow.

"This is the first time I'm hearing about this," said Harry. "Although I do not understand what this has to do with me."

Mr. Delacour smiled. "My wife had lent several priceless books to Lily. Books that contain rare and obscure magic. The books disappeared with her death and are in the possession of your ministry no doubt. According to the international guild rules, any information and research conducted by an apprentice must be turned over to the master in the event of the apprentice's death. But Britain is claiming ignorance and our best efforts have failed to find any information."

Harry absorbed all of this silently. "Again, I do not understand what this has to do with me."

Delacour continued. "We want you to get back what is ours. You are her son, her legacy and with your pull at the ministry you can find what we want. In return we will reward you with 5000 Galleons and we will restart the negotiations with the ICW and Britain can get the credit for our re-involvement."

"What you're offering is generous Mr. Delacour. I must confess, I didn't expect all this when your lovely daughter invited me to dinner. I was under the impression Madame Maxime wished to talk to me about my mother but I had no idea the conversation would go like this."

Harry leveled a stare at the headmistress who stared back, her gaunt face etched with indifference.

They are desperate to get those books back, which means the value of those books is worth more than what they're offering. Could they have anything to do with the runes on my bone?

"Well Mr. Potter?"

"Britain is not interested in restarting negotiations," Harry said firmly. "We are quite happy with the way the ICW is being run. Besides, haven't you considered the possibility that my mother just hid the books and no one has ever found it?"

Delacour's expression turned cold. "My wife was at your house a day before it was destroyed. Lily and Appolline were closer than you can imagine and we know for a fact that all your property was taken by your ministry. Don't you have a desire to get it back? I thought you were an honorable man, Mr. Potter."

So Appolline Delacour knew the location of my home? This is very interesting.

"I am not mincing my words Mr. Delacour. All I'm giving you is the facts. I respect you and I thought you'd appreciate me not beating around the bush. Even if the ministry has those books, they will not be swayed by your offer. And if they know the value of those books, which I'm betting they do if they have them, then they will accept nothing less than France's unconditional acceptance into the ICW at the behest of Britain along with all the smaller countries they control. In simpler words, you'd have to figuratively surrender to Britain to get what you want and I'm sure that is something that will never even be considered."

"Then how about an offer to you and just you," Delacour said. He had expected the offer to be shot down and now he brought out the real deal.

Harry listened.

"We are aware you have been emancipated. How would you like to be nominated as the ICW representative to the countries not under their wing? It is a title and a post that would mean huge political points for you and it could also lay the foundations for the youngest minister for magic in Britain."

Harry's expression never flickered but his aura suddenly encompassed the room. It was threatening and powerful. To offer such a post was nothing to be joked about and Harry was making it clear that negotiations were entering a volatile state.

Sweat rolled down Delacour's forehead. Fleur and Maxime were frozen in their places, their eyes wide. They could literally taste the magic. It trapped them in their place and commanded fear and respect.

And suddenly it was gone. The women breathed easy but Mr. Delacour never broke eye contact with Harry. He wanted, no, he needed those books back.

"Forget the Galleons," Harry said mildly. "I will inquire and return these books to you and in exchange you lobby for my placement as the ambassador to all non ICW countries plus you restart negotiations with Britain."

Delacour pursed his lips and then sighed. "You have a deal Mr. Potter." That said his mood and eyes changed from solemn to cheery. "Now shall we eat? I'm sure Madam Maxime is dying to share her experience of meeting Lily with you. From what I hear she was quite the lady."

The mood abruptly changed from intense to light hearted.

"Ohh, she certainly was a passionate one, that Lily," Maxime chuckled.

The rest of the evening was a blur. It passed by with heart warming stories and mouth smacking delicacies. Harry found himself eager to hear more about his mother and it had nothing to do with her legacy in the DOI or as a prodigy in the study of runes.

For the first time in his life, he felt a strange connection to his mother and he liked it.

-x-x-

It was late by the time dinner ended. Mr. Delacour had left soon after concluding his business with Harry and it was just Harry, Fleur and Maxime at the table. Maxime, too, retired to her room, feeling light headed after all the wine she had leaving Harry and Fleur alone.

Harry offered to walk her back to her carriage.

"My fazzer does not back down so eazily," she said softly as they trudged through the snow to her private carriage at the edge of the forest. "And I didn't exzpect you to play hard ball."

Harry chuckled. "I've been playing ball with politicians for a while now. And I dislike it immensely. I would have returned the books to your father with no questions asked but I hope you understand because of my position I can't."

Fleur shivered when a breeze blew by. She was wearing a thin, form fitting blue dress that was sleeveless and ended at her knees. Her hair was carefully bunned up and her diamond earrings glittered under the moonlight.

She was beautiful.

Harry removed his coat and draped it around her shoulders.

"Thank you," she said, with a slight blush. The entire evening had radically changed her opinion about Harry Potter. She couldn't see him as a stuck up and spoiled ministry boy anymore. All she saw was a man with the power to shake her father. She knew he was shaken by the display of magic even though he didn't show it. Hell, even she was scared when his magic flared like fire on oil. The feeling it left behind when it receded was intense.

"Don't mention it," Harry smiled. "You need it more than I do."

Awkward silence filled the air until they reached her carriage.

"Have you decided whom you are going to the ball with?" Harry asked before she climbed inside. "I hear almost every boy in Hogwarts has asked you."

Fleur laughed. "They have and I turned them all down. On the other hand, I too have heard all the girls in Hogwarts and Beauxbaton are lining up to ask you."

Harry rolled his eyes. "No one has approached me yet and I'm thankful for that. Which is why I would love to have you as my date."

"What?" she said, her mind going blank for an instant. She didn't know if it was shock or excitement. "You want to go to ze ball wiz me?"

"It would certainly go a long way in getting the kids to abandon their hopes of snagging the great Harry Potter," he joked. "And I'm sure it would help you get rid of the pests overrun by your charm," he added.

She made up her mind in a snap. "I would love to," she said, smiling beautifully, "Yes, I'll be your date to ze ball."

"Brilliant," Harry grinned.

"Well good night zen," Fleur said, slightly red in the face and it wasn't because of the cold.

Harry closed the distance between them.

Fleur's heart skipped a beat. He was an inch taller than her, she observed. His hair was thick and blended beautifully with the dark. His eyes shone bright and he had a comfortable warmth radiating out of him.

Harry leaned forward and lightly kissed her at the corner of her lips. "Good night Fleur," he said. His lips lingered for a couple of seconds before he withdrew and turned around. "See you soon," he said and began his long trek back to the castle.

Fleur opened the door to her carriage, shut the door behind her and leaned back on it, her eyes clenched shut, a huge smile tugging her lips and an inexplicable feeling of happiness bubbling in her gut.

She hadn't felt like this in a long time. She felt like a little girl once again crushing over a dreamy heartthrob and it was making her want to scream out in joy.

She was falling for Harry hard.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Harry took a detour into the forbidden forest as soon as Fleur disappeared and once he was certain there were no eyes and ears around him, he dug into his pockets and removed a lifelike plastic ear.

"Hugo, it's Harry."

The ear morphed into a mouth and began to speak. "So how's Hogwarts," the mouth drawled in the voice of Hugo.

"It's nice," Harry said blandly. "Very cheery and magical."

"What news?"

"So far it's been quiet, however there are certain things you need to know about."

"Go on."

"Dumbledore knows I'm a metamorph and he thinks Croaker is training me to be a spy. He and Snape are working together. He's reactivating his Order and his knowledge about me is a little too much."

"We've got a man on him. Don't worry about it."

"Mind telling me how he knows so much and how he is spying on me in the castle?"

"No idea," said Hugo. "Figure it out and let me know too."

"What man have you got spying on Dumbledore? It would help if I knew who it was."

"No it won't," Hugo replied curtly. "What else?"

Harry sighed. "Bixlow is a suspect. He's got my parents and my picture in his trunk which is definitely suspicious."

"We'll look deeper into his background. What else?"

"I had a meeting with Mr. Delacour."

"What? When?!"

Harry explained the details.

"Well this is quite a surprise. The books are definitely with Chekhov and he's never going to hand them over. Whatever is in there is dangerous."

"But it could mean a huge political plus if Delacour delivers on his promises," Harry argued. "He's got to hand those books over!"

Harry only wanted to know more about his runes and the books held the answer which in turn were invariably in the hands of Chekhov. He felt like cursing the man.

"I'll see what I can do," Hugo said.

It was the most Harry could expect from the man.

"Anything else you got?"

"His daughter; Fleur, has got a crush on me. I'm taking her to the Yule Ball and she could be a good source of information on her father. I suppose I could get something out of her that we could use as leverage against him."

"Good work, what else?"

Harry sighed. "That's all you stupid dick. Now it's your turn. Did you find anything on the fat guy I saw in Crooked Corner?"

"Yeah. Good work on that by the way. We got an ID on him."

"Who was it?"

"Good night Harry."

Harry sighed. "Fuck off you prick," he grumbled and stuffed the ear back in his pants. "Good work my arse."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-