Chapter 17

The next day, after the evening meal, Harry approached the Headmaster at the teacher's table.

"Good evening, Mister Black." the Headmaster greeted, with his grandfatherly smile. He really hoped Harry didn't plan on discussing the happenings of the previous evening in front of the whole school. "How can I help you?"

"I need a word with you, Headmaster. In private, please?" Harry said respectfully, but all business.

"Of course." Dumbledore said. "As long as it isn't for advice on the upcoming tournament?" he added for the benefit of those listening.

"No, sir. It isn't." Harry said.

"Very well." Dumbledore said as he got up. "I was done with my evening repast anyway."

As they left, Harry looked over to where Fleur was now sitting with Harry's group, her own school friends seated close-by, and she nodded, before getting up and following.

Madame Maxime noticed this and she got up and followed as well. She was aware of something having happened the previous evening and had been informed of the offence. The only reason she had not made a bigger deal of it, was because the boy assured her there would be a response from him. She had found out from most of her students that the boy was a wonderful friend and very sharp. There were also rumours that the boy possibly ran the school from the shadows, but she rather doubted that.

When Dumbledore noted the additions, he started to worry, but acted like he was in on the event. He quickly gathered his wits and started thinking of how to handle the situation.

By the time they all trooped into the Headmaster's office, Harry held the door open for the ladies and held their chairs for them, enlarging Madam Maxime's and adding comfort charms for her as she approached. "Merci, Monsieur Black." she said, followed by Fleur.

When they were comfortably seated, Harry sat down in a simple chair he conjured for himself with his 'wand'.

"Now that we are all here, would you like to begin, Mister Black?" Dumbledore asked. Trying to contain his nerves, he steepled his fingers and looked at Harry over them.

"Of course, Headmaster." Harry said. "We're here to find out how the assault, which happened last night on Miss Delacour and another girl, was being handled." They had found the boy in the Slytherin sixth-year dorm. He had been packing already, trying to flee before they came for him. A dose of Veritaserum had him singing like a bird.

"I assure you, the proper steps have been taken." Dumbledore said.

"Which are?" Harry asked.

"The person who orchestrated the situation has been expelled and handed over to the Aurors." Dumbledore said.

"By that, do you mean to say that the assault and use of an unforgivable curse on a Hogwarts and foreign student under your protection, and that of Hogwarts and our counties' ruling body has been incarcerated for life imprisonment in Azkaban, as is the law?" Harry asked.

"I'm sure that isn't necessary?��� Dumbledore asked. "The boy was merely infatuated with the girl. He just didn't know how to show said affection correctly."

"Are you saying that you, personally, forgave the boy the use of the unforgivable?" Harry asked.

"I most certainly did not!" Dumbledore objected. "I merely suggested that the boy may have been acting on emotions beyond his control." he tried.

"So the young lady, Miss Fleur Delacour here, is somehow responsible for the assault on her person and that of the Hufflepuff Prefect? She orchestrated the event herself?" Harry asked.

"I don't think that she asked for that kind of attention, no." Dumbledore said. Why did this feel like an interview with a reporter? "Harry, the boy has been punished, isn't that enough?"

"Professor Dumbledore, the fact is that I'm worried." Harry finally said. "Over the last four years, no less than seven assault cases have come through this school. I've not read about it in the papers and I've not heard of the incarceration of the offenders. I've seen everything from memory charms to mind control and love potions.

"The students know, of course, but only some of the faculty know and apparently the department of magical law enforcement has only been informed about the actual details of those situations because the students were dosed with Veritaserum, before being handed over, by myself. They have been unwilling to tell me why they can't prosecute further than minor assault charges. Did you use your position to grant them leniency?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore's eye twitched. "Harry, you know I don't condone these actions, but the boys in question are simply falling for temptation in their youth. They have less control in this developing time of their lives. Hormonally speaking-"

"So if a student is randy, that is excuse enough to assault fellow students? To cast unforgivables? In my first year, a seventh-year boy was caught trying to assault two first-year girls." Harry interrupted, with a bit of heat in his voice. "I know. I stopped the attack myself."

"It is not excusable, but we have to show some leniency, as you said. The boy in that case was obviously confused and still coming to grips with his sexuality." Dumbledore defended the vile boy who had tried to attack Harry's friends.

"Mon Dieu!" Madam Maxime exclaimed. "Surely you are not serious, Dumblydore?!"

Harry gave her a stern look. He had asked the woman to control herself and not speak. She was shocked and worried though. The students she brought were all girls, after all.

"Steps have been taken to assure things like this don't happen." Dumbledore assured her. "Mister Black himself gave a means by which the student body are monitored to several staff and outfitted our Head of Security with a marvellous security system, to protect the students further and ensure their safety."

"A Head of Security for whom I made the position and supplied his primary form of protecting the student body." Harry added.

"Zat did not stop ze assault of my student!" Maxime exclaimed. "If it 'adn't been for zees boy, we would 'ave not known!"

"Madam Maxime, please see reason?" Dumbledore implored.

Madam Maxime was not looking like she would calm down and she was about to reply, when Harry spoke up. "I will be taking steps to further ensure the safety of your students, Madam Maxime." he said. "I'll also be monitoring the happenings at this school as I was doing last night. But for now, let's look at the facts."

Harry took out his Comm and started the playback of the recording he had made. Fleur saw the playback and looked down, not wanting to see it again, since she was there and remembered where it was leading. "Mister Black, you are disturbing the lady with this recording. Please stop!" Dumbledore demanded.

"Watch the playback, Headmaster." Harry said. "Miss Delacour already told me that I am allowed to show it to you during this meeting. She doesn't want to see it, since the ordeal is still fresh in her memory and she has yet to sit with someone to talk things out." Harry had told her of how talking things out had helped him and that he knew someone she could talk to. She had yet to decide to go, but Harry would ensure that something was done for her.

Dumbledore steamed, but sighed and watched the recording along with Madam Maxime, who was seeing it for the first time. When it was over, Madam Maxime exclaimed, "It ees proof! She was bewitched!"

Dumbledore shook his head. Why did Harry insist on bringing this up? The poor lad was obviously swayed by the girls Veela powers. He didn't want to bring that up, but it seemed he had no choice. "Is it not possible that young Miss Delacour simply lost control over her allure which ensnared the affections of the boy?" he tried. He knew that that would be the defence the boy's family would be using.

"So, because she was born with a creature heritage, it's her fault that the boy cast an unforgivable?" Harry asked. "Never mind the fact that he had to learn the spell to use it and that he cast it not only on Miss Delacour, but also a Hufflepuff Prefect? This was premeditated. Even if it started off as that, the effects would have long since disappeared by the time of the offense."

Dumbledore's eye twitched again. "You are, of course, correct. I will ensure that the boys' parents are contacted, to monitor who they expose their son to." he said.

Harry sighed. "I really did hope that you would do the right thing here, Headmaster." He turned to the seething half-giantess then. "Madam Maxime, I will ensure the safety of your students. It seems the Headmaster refuses to seek justice and will use any excuse to not be blamed for the actions of his students."

"Harry! You can't-" Dumbledore exclaimed and was cut off as he was suddenly in a body bind, petrified and lifted into the air. Harry hadn't even looked at him, as his tendrils of magic surrounded the Headmaster and disabled him in under a second.

"You are only damaging your own reputation further, by not taking the proper steps." Harry said. "I can't even look at you, Headmaster. You are ruining my image of the man I had hoped you were, or at least, could be. We warned you to mend your ways a couple of years back and it seemed like you were on the right path, until this happened. I can't blame only you for my being forced to compete in the tournament, but not protecting the students as you should, and keeping the truth from the people who deserve to know, ends here."

Madam Maxime knew of the strength of the Chief Warlock. He was a legendary wizard with more accolades to his name than any wizard alive. To see him so handled by a mere boy, suddenly changed her mind about believing that rumour. Perhaps the boy was running the school, after all. "You are a disappointment to me, as well." she said, as she abruptly got up. "Come Fleur. We need to discuss security wis Monsieur Black, before we retire for ze evening."

"Please, call me Harry." Harry offered as he led the two from the room.

"Harry, zen." Madam Maxime said. "You may call me Olimpe, when zere are no ozer students around." The last thing Dumbledore heard before his office door closed and he was lowered to the chair, reasonably gently, was, "Perhaps, if 'ogwarts is leaving you unsatisfied, you may decide to change to Beauxbatons? I 'ear you 'ave quite ze following among ze female students. At Beauxbatons, we have no problem punishing students who deserve eet and we do not 'ave such lacking standards."

As they walked back to the carriage, Fleur asked, "'arry, about ze recording…?"

"I'm only keeping it as evidence." Harry said. "If I erased it, Dumbledore would simply claim there's no evidence of your being bewitched. If you'd prefer, I can always make a copy and you can hang on to it, while I erase mine?"

"Non, you may keep it." Fleur said instantly. She didn't want a reminder. She also wasn't worried. With all the girls around Harry, she doubted he was interested in looking at footage of her in her underwear. From what she could tell, he could ask and any of them would be willing to show him theirs. "I was more interested in ze recoding device. It zeemed to blink."

"Oh, right." Harry said. "My eyes are spelled to record through my Comm."

"Ze Comm can make recordings?" Fleur asked.

"Not all of them." Harry said apologetically. "I'm still working on that feature. Mine is also the only one that can access the storage medium I have set up for it on the Index."

They were still on their way to the carriage, when Harry spotted Seamus Finnegan running away from a disgruntled Hagrid, who was chasing him. Harry chucked and snapped his fingers for effect, locking the boy in place. He lifted up his guests and floated them over to the boy and other half-giant, placing them gently on the ground, next to them. Madam Maxime did not seem pleased, but Fleur had a look of wonder on her face.

"Hey there, Hagrid." Harry said. "Is Seamus getting into the Abraxan whiskey again?"

"'arry!" Hagrid said with a smile, as he noticed him, while he retrieved a canister from the boy's hand. They rarely got a chance to speak, but Harry had been wonderful in his class at setting an example for the other students. Then he noticed the guests and ran his fingers through his hair, at the sight of the large woman. "P-Pleasure to see you again, Madam Maxime." he said, stumbling over the words a bit. Then he stood there, just staring at her, while she nodded to him with a smile.

"It's not polite to stare, Hagrid." Harry said, chidingly. "I know you think she's pretty, but at least take her out for a drink if you really want to talk to her."

"'arry!" Hagrid protested.

"I'm not one to lie about these things, Hagrid. You know that." Harry said. "For what it's worth, I think she's interested in spending time with you too, even if it's only to get an advantage in the tasks for Fleur."

"'arry!" Maxime objected. Harry couldn't believe he actually saw a blush on her cheeks.

"It's not untrue and you know it." Harry said with a raised eyebrow. "I take it Hagrid has shown you what's in the forbidden forest by now?"

"How did you know abou' tha'?" Hagrid asked bewildered.

"I know everything that happens in this school Hagrid." Harry chuckled. He looked at Fleur and said, "Let's give them a couple of minutes to talk shop." Then he held out an arm for the girl to take, which she did with a soft smile, and started walking off towards the lake. When they were out of earshot, Harry turned to her again. "Can you keep a secret?" he asked.

"Of course, 'arry." she promised.

Harry nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on out. I'm done showing you what I wanted you to see." As Harry spoke a beetle crawled onto his hand, from under his collar. "You know the rules. Don't badmouth me, my friends or my business. If you can keep things factual and not make any insinuations, you get access to the stories I want to get out. You screw with me, just one time, and I'll feed you to Professor Sprout's carnivorous plants."

The beetle couldn't nod or anything, so it lifted itself up with its front legs in a parody of a nod.

"Good." Harry said. "I look forward to an informative and factual article." Then the beetle spread its wings and took off.

"What was zat?" Fleur asked looking after the beetle.

"A retainer of mine." Harry said. "She'll still embellish the article, but I doubt she could control that. When you figure it out, I request that you keep the information to yourself. It's one of the things keeping her in line."

"You 'ave many secrets." Fleur said. "Eez zees your response to ze 'eadmaster?"

"Can't let him think he runs the world forever." Harry said sadly. "He truly does mean well, but I fear he's gotten used to wielding the ultimate authority for most things, including my life and the lives of the innocent that suffer due to his decisions."

"'e will not be 'appy, when 'e finds out." Fleur said.

"No, he won't." Harry agreed. "But if he won't learn, he must feel." Harry didn't like doing things this way, but he wasn't the sort of person to hand out forgiveness over and over again. He'd given the headmaster a chance, but he squandered it. Harry couldn't allow things to carry on as they had, either. Changing the subject, he asked, "Are you ready for the dragon?"

"I 'ave no idea what you are referring to." Fleur said, looking away. The boy was an anomaly to her. He wasn't affected by her allure, but he treated her kindly and seemed to genuinely care, even though he had so many girls after him. That thought brought her out of her reverie. "Can I ask you a question?" she asked.

"Technically, you just did, so the answer is likely, yes." Harry said with a smile.

Fleur had to think about the words, but didn't get the joke, considering it was made for those more fluent in English. Deciding to carry on, however, she asked, "'ow is it zat you 'ave so many girlfriends? Zey don't seem to argue for your attention and you are kind and caring to all. Do you treat all people zat way?"

"No." Harry denied. "I treat my girls that way, because they are my girls. It started out as a form of protection for them, so they would be left alone by predators, so we alluded to a harem, but since then, I've been informed that they all intend to keep and share me."

"You 'ave plans for a 'arem?" she asked.

"No, but they do intend to become my wives. A harem has other connotations. They aren't my possessions." Harry corrected. "You saw them on the ship. They are all intent on having their fair share and have apparently decided on a pace for the relationship they are all comfortable with. Since I care for all of them and find them appealing in a multitude of ways, I don't mind the idea that much." Harry wasn't telling her that it had been Sirius's idea, since the girls were starting to push for it more than him.

"You are a lucky boy." Fleur decided. "I can also see what zey see in you. You 'ave a kind 'eart and you are powerful and intelligent. A prize to share is better zan a prize lost."

"I really am lucky, aren't I?" Harry mused, with a bit of a smile. "If it wasn't for my Occlumency, though, I doubt I'd have been so lucky. I'd probably be a stammering idiot. You've seen how pretty they all are, right?"

"Zey show potential." Fleur conceded.

"What are you two talking about?" Maxime asked as she joined them again. They had been walking away for a while and she had soon left the stammering Hagrid behind. She preferred her men with a bit more confidence, but he was powerful and kind. She could see herself giving him a bit more of her time. The fact that he was uneducated in his magic left much to be desired, though.

"We were discussing the benefits of a polygamy." Harry said easily.

"A strange subject for one so young, I sink." Maxime asked.

"Not for a boy who already has many girlfriends." Fleur said, sadly. She didn't think she'd be able to do something like that. If only he was unattached. He was quite the catch.

"I can see why." Maxime said, as she started leading them to the coach. "Tell me, 'arry, what ees eet zat you 'ave planned for ze security?" What they had just seen in the headmaster's office still had her worried. She was far from over it.

"I'll need to see inside the coach, to know what I'm working with." Harry said. "I have a couple of ideas, though, but you'll have to live without knowing how my magic works, since it's protected under family magic laws."

"You intend to share ze magic of your family?" Maxime asked in shock.

"It is my security measures." Harry smirked at the woman, who seemed much calmer after talking to Hagrid. "You didn't think it was commonplace spells, did you?"

"It is a valuable gift, zat you are offering." Maxime said. "I don't know zat I can afford such favours."

"Let's not talk about favours." Harry waved it off. "The safety of your students is more important than that." he assured her. "Tell me, are the twelve students we saw the total that you have brought to Hogwarts?"

"Zey are ze ones zat 'ave ze 'ighest marks of zeir 'ear, who speak English." Madam Maxime stated. "I was, zen, quite proud zat zey were all girls. Now it seems unwise."

"Don't worry. I'll sort something out." Harry assured her.

Madam Maxime nodded in thanks and Harry soon lifted them up to fly the rest of the way. The Headmistress's stride was far too wide and they had to jog to keep up. "'ow are you doing zees?"

"Trade Secret." Harry said.

"You say zat a lot." Fleur mentioned, as they sped along. She wondered how they were not feeling the wind, as it was quite cold here in Scotland. "Zees is also very fast." she said nervously.

"This isn't fast." Harry scoffed, deciding to treat them for a bit and started speeding up as fast as he was comfortable, while keeping the ladies inside the wind-warded area. "This is fast." he said as they shot out over the coach and started picking up more speed, flying out over the forest and bobbing and weaving as they went, around and over trees.

Madam Maxime was, at first uncomfortable, but suddenly she smiled and then, as the speed increased, her love of danger made her laugh outright. "Zees is incroyable!" she exclaimed in her glee. "'ow fast can you go?"

Harry just smirked at her and started flying in a large circle, still increasing speed. Fleur had long since gone pale, as they flew over treetops at speeds that felt really unsafe. By the time they had finished the wide circle, Harry was topping out at just under Mach one. The flight harness was never intended for the speed of the brooms and the non-rigid nature of the harness didn't help either.

It still seemed to impress Olympe, as it was faster than any broom currently available. They soon landed by the coach, and Fleur seemed glad for the firm ground beneath her feet. Olympe seemed more excited than Harry had ever seen her. "Nous devons le voler de la foulque sénile!" Madam Maxime exclaimed.

Fleur seemed in better spirits, now back on the ground, and replied in English, for Harry's benefit. "I don't sink he'd be opposed to a transfer, if we can promise to protect 'is ladies. It is zem zat we 'ave to convince."

"Ah, about that." Harry said. "While I do appreciate the offer, I also have to take care of the students currently here. You've seen how the Headmaster is. He'll turn a blind eye again and leave the school to the predators, forgiving them their every trespass."

"But you will not leave zem unprotected." Olympe pointed out, with a raised eyebrow. "Having seen what you can do, I may fear ze chances for Fleur, 'ere, but your addition to our school would be fantastique!"

"There is also the fact that I hardly attend classes, as it is, and the fact that I don't speak French." Harry pointed out.

"Pfft!" Olympe scoffed. "You could teach! Just saying you were zere for even a 'ear would be something to be proud of!"

"I'll have to consider it." Harry said. He really doubted he'd take her up on the offer.

"Wait 'ere." Fleur instructed as she went to enter the carriage. "I must ensure everyone is decent."

Harry nodded and stood there with Olympe, who was still smiling from ear to ear. "You love dangerous things, just like Hagrid." he pointed out.

"Monsieur 'agrid is a kind soul." Olympe said. "But I fear 'is attention is wasted. I could not spend extended time wis such an uneducated man."

"He can hardly be blamed." Harry defended his almost friend. "He was accused of unleashing a monster when he was in school, which killed a student and was expelled, his wand snapped."

"'e was innocent?" Olympe asked.

"Sure. I know for a fact that it was the thousand-year old basilisk that lives in the chamber of secrets." Harry said with a shrug.

"Can you prove it?" Olympe asked.

"It's a basilisk." Harry pointed out. "I'd rather not risk confronting such a beast, since its merest glance could kill me."

"You are not capable of zis?" Olympe asked, with a knowing smile.

"Actually, I'm dead certain I could." Harry mused. After all, he had the lightsabers and he could likely use his magic to manipulate the weapon. "Huh. Maybe I should do that?" he thought aloud.

"When you do, could I come?" Olympe asked.

"Maybe, on one condition." Harry replied.

"Yes?" Olympe asked.

"If we do prove Hagrid's innocence, could you offer him a position to study at your school?" Harry asked. "Our government does not look kindly on people with creature heritages. Half-giants are considered lesser beings here. I doubt proving his innocence will clear his name or grant him the right to study magic again."

"He's a half-giant?" she asked, an uncomfortable look on her face.

Harry remembered that she was sensitive about the subject, so he said, "Hagrid is not ashamed of the fact, and he gets by. He's an accepting sort and jokes about it, when asked. That being said, he's a hell of a nice guy, so if he ever mentions suspicions along those lines, I suggest you tell him straight forward that it's something you don't wish to discuss, rather than denying it." He had said it with a knowing look, but wouldn't say it, outright.

"I 'ave no idea what you mean." she said as she lifted her chin proudly.

"And I won't say differently." Harry agreed.

Fleur joined them, then. "You may come." she invited, opening the door wider.

The inside of the Carriage was a large expanded space, with two floors and many rooms. Harry suspected all the girls had their own room. That explained the amount of Abraxan they had needed to draw the carriage. He was led through the Carriage and shown all the rooms at his insistence and then he took out a pad of paper and started sketching a rough outlay for himself for later.

When he was done with the survey, he returned to the entrance hall, which seemed to function like a common room, if all the couches and worktables were anything to go by, besides the fact that it was currently filled with girls, seemingly doing homework. Some of them were trying to hide the fact that they were actually watching him. He sat down by the table, asking for some privacy. The students had all gathered out of curiosity, but the Headmistress sent them all off to their rooms, so that 'Monsieur Black' could work on the security.

It took him all of an hour to set up a quick and dirty version of the Marauders Map, having added the runes needed in specific locations as he looked around earlier, on the sly. When he was done, he added his protections and called Olympe, who was sitting nearby and reading a book. "Olympe, I've completed the project." he said.

Olympe looked up and put her book down. When she was standing there looking at the blank piece of parchment, Harry tapped it with his 'wand', twice, and an illusionary image of the layout of the carriage appeared. They could not see anyone on it yet, though.

"We'll need all the ladies to vacate the carriage and then enter again, after I've set up the last part." Harry said.

It took only minutes for the ladies to be called and asked to evacuate. Harry politely asked Olympe to exit as well and closed the door behind her. Then he cast the tricky magic which would identify the people, much as the Marauders Map did when people crossed the main gate to Hogwarts, the hidden entrances or the main doors of the castle, over the door of the carriage.

Having completed that, he opened the door and called Olympe back. The moment she entered, the illusionary map had a blue globe, identifying Olympe Maxime where she moved, as she moved to come to the map. "C'est magnifique!" she exclaimed as she inspected it closely and the students all entered, walking over to see the artefact Harry had created in such a short amount of time.

"Did you just make zat?" Fleur asked, disbelievingly.

"I have some practice making these." Harry said. "Its existence is a secret, though, and part of the security, so you can't tell anyone about it, okay? My family magic is involved, so I'm afraid I must insist."

"Oui." Olympe said quickly. "Girls, zees is to protect us, so I weel have your promise and gratitude to Monsieur Black, for the favour 'e 'as done for us."

The girls all knew what had almost happened to Fleur and, since they were the brightest witches in Beauxbatons, they could see how this would be used. There were many smiling faces, grateful nods and promises around the room.

"Weel zis work outside ze carriage?" Olympe asked.

"For a couple of miles." Harry agreed. "But it is anchored to the Carriage, so try not to take it too far." he instructed. "If you notice anyone is missing use a Comm and call me immediately. We have a similar way to find people in the school." As he said it, he pulled his own map out, deciding to share the titbit for their peace of mind. As he activated it, there were gasps at the intricacy and size of the map. "As you can see, my map doesn't show new structures, such as the Carriage's construction and layout, but it does note your general position where the carriage is. This is how I knew Fleur wasn't in the carriage and when I saw someone approach, I went there to be sure it wasn't anything untoward."

"You were watching?" Fleur asked.

Harry blushed then. "Fleur, you and your friends are the most beautiful girls currently in attendance at this school, besides my own girls, that is." he added quickly. "I have security in place for the castle and had hoped it would be unnecessary, but decided to keep an eye out, just in case." he explained.

"You expected trouble?" Fleur asked.

"No, the teachers have done a wonderful job, since I gave them each access to these." Harry said, pointing at the map. "They only have their common rooms and dorms to watch though. The head of security, Mister Filch, has security feeds from throughout the castle, so he knows what goes on where. The school nurse has a full map, like this one, but she doesn't always monitor it, either, so I needed to keep an eye out for those outside the scope of the pre-established security."

"You were protecting us?" one of the other girls asked. "You don't even know us."

"You are all students and after studying with us so much, hopefully, friends." Harry said with a shrug. "I look out for my friends."

Harry did not expect the squeals of delight from the girls, nor the descent of all of them as they all tried to hug and kiss his cheeks in gratitude.

"Chevalier." Olympe said, once the sea of raging oestrogen had passed, with a nod and smile. "Your motivations are noble, like the knights of old. Eet ees very romantique."

"I was hoping for friendly." Harry said honestly, through his blush.

"You don't understand." Fleur said. "We French love ze romance. It is not necessarily ze kind you are sinking of."

"Maybe not for you." one of the girls giggled.

"And that's my queue." Harry said, as he made for the door. The girls were standing in his way though, with smirks on their faces. Harry just smirked back and lifted up and over them. "See you around!" he called behind him as he left, flying for the Gryffindor dorm.

"He can fly?" One of the girls asked incredulously, switching to French, as they did when the English were either not around or they wanted to speak privately.

"I heard he could do that." one of the others said. "But I didn't believe it."

"What a man will such a boy become?" yet another asked. There were dreamy smiles all around.

"Alright ladies. Off to bed. It's past curfew already." Madam Maxime said. "Fleur, if you could stay behind?" she requested and the girl waited for the others to depart.

"Did you want to discuss something, Madam Maxime?" Fleur asked.

"I did." she said as she took a seat on a couch and indicated for the girl to take another. "I understand that Harry has suggested that you speak to a healer of his acquaintance about what happened to you?"

"He has." Fleur admitted, her mood sobering some. "I'm not sure I want to talk about it yet."

"I do not suggest that you wait." Madam Maxime said. "I don't know enough about such things, but I do understand that you need to face the problem at some point. Sooner rather than later."

"I know, but…" Fleur started. Her lip trembled then, as her eyes filled with tears and started overflowing. "Just the thought of what almost happened… It fills me with fear! I can't talk about it!"

Madam Maxime looked at the girl with some compassion. "Does this have something to do with your other fears?"

Fleur said nothing, but finally nodded. She had always feared a life with no real love. Very few people could resist the call of the allure. When they could, it usually meant that they had other persuasions or already loved someone else. Madam Maxime reached over and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's the same as my fear, only in reverse." She admitted. "I could see everything. I knew what I was doing, but couldn't stop doing as the voice commanded. I don't ever want to do that to someone else. I'd know they hate me deep inside."

"I know you, Fleur. You're not someone that would do something like that." Madam Maxime stated. "You should not have been put through this. What is that stupid Headmaster thinking!" she spat.

"Fortunately Harry saved me." Fleur said, with a blush.

"You like him." Madam Maxime observed. "Perhaps-"

"No." Fleur interrupted. "I don't want that. I can't see myself sharing a man, even one as wonderful as Harry."

"I'll not lie and say that it sounds appealing to me, either." Madam Maxime said. "But, perhaps your mind will change and they will be open to it. Even just for a while. As I understand it, his girls formed around him to fall under his protection, when he offered it. If you require the security of a boy, who will not push you, because he maintains control, and the company of a close-knit group of friends, I cannot think of a better place to start than that boy."

Fleur thought about it for a while, before speaking. "I will not deny that the friendship of a boy that can be himself around me is appealing, but why are you pushing for this? Are you hoping I can convince him to join our school?"

Madam Maxime smiled at her. She had not really been planning on using it that way, but changing the conversation in a direction to help the girl see a little ray of hope, where before there was just despair, was worth admitting to a lie. "Of course! You can surely turn his head and those of his coterie, simply by talking about the wonders of Beauxbatons! He never says no to his girls as far as I can tell."

Fleur narrowed her eyes for a moment, realising what the woman had done, but thanking her in her heart and mind. Madam Maxime knew the hearts of girls. "I'll not promise anything, but thank you for talking to me. Maybe I should go see a healer, if Harry suggested them? It seems talking about it did help."

Madam Maxime smiled at her student, then, a more caring smile than the lie from before. "Good." was all she said, before heaving herself up from the too-low couch, and stretching. "I think it's time for my beauty rest."

"You don't need it." Fleur called after the tall woman.

Madam Maxime just smiled again and went to her room, map in hand. She'd designate people to watch it in shifts from tomorrow. In the meanwhile, she would take the first watch and rest later, knowing the chevalier was watching over them as they slept.

Fleur did feel better, but sat there for a while, considering the last remarks of the conversation. She was spending a lot of time around Harry during study sessions anyway, when he wasn't off, no doubt being brilliant, somewhere else. Perhaps, for a short while, she could ask for temporary membership to the exclusive group. A little voice in the back of her head still wouldn't admit that she had been slightly jealous of the girls, that night on the spaceship, when they took turns kissing their man.

BTB-BTB

The next two days flew by and Harry was working on yet another project. It was a long shot and he'd have to test it, but the idea had sparked that night on the ship, as they were talking about the uses of precious stones in the spaceship, shortly after Harry had been chosen. Bill had needed to go find him some information he had needed, while he produced something new. A ruby rod.

In practice, a laser worked by putting a rod of ruby inside a mirrored chamber and a xenon flashtube, or bright light, surrounded the ruby. The light shines around and through the ruby and bounces back from the mirrors to add more light to the ruby. With nowhere else to go, the light is 'forced' through the end of the rod in a straight and intense line. Playing with lasers was dangerous at best though, so Harry needed the information.

Since he had magic, chances were, he could make the beam many times more powerful, since he could make light appear inside the crystal and simply mould a mirror around it. The process would have way less loss, but he'd need to protect from heat and probably spell every part of the structure indestructible, in case the magic somehow overloaded the gem or simply melted it.

He had successfully made the gem, after quite a few failed attempts that ended up with a pile of clear corundum crystals and a couple of translucent brown crystals. He had finally remembered to add traces of chromium and had experimented with the amounts. It really needed a very small amount to colour the stone. Bill had sent the chromium along, since there wasn't a lot of chrome plating in the wizarding world. Harry still planned on trying to extract elements directly from other elements, using transfiguration, but he'd not gotten there yet. He felt he needed to understand each element in whatever he took the element from, so that he'd be able to separate them properly, first.

For now, though, he smiled at his success. A cylindrical rod of pure blood-red ruby, just long enough to go over the palm of his hand. The tournament was the next day, but Harry really wanted to test his theory, so he completed his plan and fused a mirror over the gem, after spelling the gem unbreakable. Then he did the same with the mirror. The hole in the front, where the light was supposed to escape was very small, since Harry wanted a fine, thin laser that uses less power to create. Just in case, he covered the mirror in rubber and charmed that to negate heat. The spell wouldn��t be perfect, but that was what the second layer of rubber was for. If he felt it was heating up too much, he'd simply have to drop the laser and wait for it to cool as the magic did its job.

Now Harry needed a target. He walked out of the Room of Requirement and went for a walk around the lake. As he walked, he spotted trees and rocks, but not wanting to cause a forest fire, he moved on. He was almost around the lake when he remembered something. Didn't Hagrid sometimes have problems with flesh eating slugs? Smiling to himself, Harry rushed off to find the big man.

When he got to his hut, Harry knocked and was happily surprised to find the big man was home. Fang didn't know him as well this time as in his previous life and barked like crazy, but when Hagrid opened the door the big dog attacked Harry with a friendly lick to the face.

"Gerroff, you overgrown mutt." Harry said as he fended off the friendly greeting.

"'arry!" Hagrid said. "What brings you 'round? Not hoping for advice on your task are you?" he asked with a smile that said he'd be happy to help, if asked.

"Hi Hagrid." Harry said. "Actually, I was hoping you have a problem for me to solve. I've made a useful little tool and was just hoping you've got something you wouldn't terribly miss if I destroyed it."

"Destroy?" Hagrid asked. "You're not thinkin' o' summin' dangerous are ya?"

"Well, maybe a little dangerous." Harry admitted. "I've done the research, though, and need a safe testing environment. I was thinking a couple of flesh-eating slugs will fit the bill nicely?"

"Flesh-eatin' slugs, you say?" Hagrid mused. "I have had a few of 'em attacking the pumpkins I'm growin' for Halloween." he admitted.

"Are you still engorging them?" Harry asked with a knowing look.

"I'm sure I don't know what yer talkin' abou', 'arry." Hagrid lied badly.

"I won't tell if you don't." Harry smiled at the big man.

Hagrid contemplated it for a moment, before he smiled. Dangerous things and Hagrid got along like trees in a forest fire. "Come on, then." he beckoned to Harry as he walked out and around his hut, to his pumpkin patch. The things were already huge and Halloween was a bit more than a month away.

Harry could clearly see there were a couple of large slugs already sitting on one of the closer ones, but Hagrid ignored them. Pointing off to where a huge slug was sitting on the side of a large pumpkin. "Tha' buggers been showing up every day. Nearly ruined my harvest, he has."

"Oh, this is going to be fun." Harry said as he aimed down the laser, closing his other eye so he could take better aim. At the last second he remembered. "Oh, shit! What am I doing!?" he swore as he lowered the laser and dug around in his pocket.

"Language, 'arry." Hagrid chided him mildly.

"Sorry." Harry mumbled, before finally finding the glasses he had made from the clear corundum. He'd spelled them like his mirrors on the ship for the tinting, but he'd since upgraded the spell to self-adjust, after one too many close calls with the sun suddenly breaking past the planet's shade, to protect the eyes from bright lights. Then he realised Hagrid was there, and sighed, before he simply duplicated his new sunglasses and cast the same spell on the copy. It should last long enough for a couple of tests.

He handed the glasses to his big friend. "Put those on." he instructed. "They will protect your eyes. I'm about to shine one of the brightest lights known to mankind directly at that slug."

"Whatever yer plannin', don't miss. Flesh-eatin' slugs can move as fast as a normal person on a bad day." Hagrid warned. "Why do you think I buy repellents? If I trip and the slug catches up with me, I don't know how many bites he'll need before he's had his pound o' flesh."

"I'll keep that in mind then." Harry promised after checking Hagrid had the glasses on. They didn���t look too good on the man, but he wasn't going for fashion. Then he lined the laser up again. He applied a very small amount of magic into a lumos spell directly into the gem, through a tendril of his power and a little dot appeared next to the slug. It seemed he hadn't made the hole completely straight. But he lined the benign laser onto the slug, which didn't notice at all.

"Wha's tha'?" Hagrid asked.

"That would be the laser's contact point." Harry said. "Here's the best part." he said excitedly as he sent a pulse of magic into the spell, flaring the lumos. The slug definitely noticed that, but the split-second notice it got was not enough to attack or flee, as the lasers' beam, which became visible during the spike, seared through its translucent skin and hit its organs, which started to boil instantly. In the space of a second, the slug swelled up and popped like a particularly nasty pimple on the side of the pumpkin, which now had a scorched spot where the laser had partially dug through the slug.

"Bloody hell!" Hagrid exclaimed. "What kind of tool does tha'?!"

"One that burns with the heat of the sun, potentially." Harry said happily. "Yes!" he exclaimed then. "I works!"

"The sun?!" Hagrid asked incredulously. "You shouldn't be playing with summin' like tha'." he chastised. Technically, if it burned that hot, it could do a lot more damage than what Harry had, but he didn't intend to do that, or mention it. Then Hagrid looked at the place where the slug's remains still boiled as it slowly cooled down. "It was satisfyin' to see the bugger pop like that, though." he mused, before turning to Harry, with a question in his eyes.

"You want to try it?" Harry asked. Hagrid nodded vigorously. Harry chuckled. "I'll need to modify it so someone else can use it. Give me a couple of hours and I'll get you one." he promised. He had the process down now, after all. "I'll just need to make you a real pair of these glasses, though. Without them, it would be worse than looking into the sun. You'd probably go blind, so if I make you a laser, you have to promise never to use it around people or Fang, okay?"

Hagrid nodded. He could do that. He was just glad the dog was so damn cowardly. He never came near the cabbage or pumpkin patches. "Shouldn' you be preparin' for the tournament? You aren't planning on using this on the dragon are ya?" he asked as the thoughts jumped into his head, one following the other.

"I'm not allowed, remember." Harry reminded the man. "I'm only allowed my wand."

"O' course." Hagrid said in realisation. He really didn't like the idea of this being used on the poor defenceless dragons.

Harry kept his part of the bargain, but he played around a bit too. Making the laser look and act like a gun was just too damn perfect. He had to use a light creation rune, along with a bit of a channelling setup so that the caster, Hagrid in this case, could power the laser using their own power. He had reworked the glasses to look more like sunglasses that curved around the face, with an upturn at the end, simulating dark, heavy, evil-looking eyebrows. Then he placed an illusion on them to always look dark, even while they didn't obscure your sight. Just in case, Harry made him a spare set of the normal kind, in-case he wanted to show off for Madam Maxime.

The sun was just setting as Harry made it back to Hagrid's hut. He could hear the man pacing inside as he approached. "I'm here." Harry called in a sing-song voice.

Hagrid was instantly at the door with a huge smile on his face. "You fixed it so I can use it?" he asked.

"It still uses magic, but yes, I fixed it." Harry said. "Let's just go over the functions, real quick."

It wasn't real quick. Harry had to explain about the channelling and the trigger and even the safety. He had, at least, remembered to size the weapon to Hagrid's hand though, something Hagrid noted as he took the big, heavy steel weapon out of the leather holster Harry had transfigured for him to carry it in, with a satisfied smile. He didn't even question how Harry had carried it in the first place.

By the time they were ready to see if Hagrid could handle it, it was dark out, but Harry quickly cast a Lumos and the light hung in the air for them to work in. Then Harry made a target for him and walked back.

"Okay, Hagrid, remember your steps." Harry reminded the big man.

"Step one," Hagrid said as he looked around, "check for people. Step two, glasses." As he said it, he pulled the mean looking sunglasses over his eyes as Harry put his own on, noting that Hagrid waited for his to be on, too. "Step three, channel the magic." Hagrid focussed and waited until he saw the laser dot appear, which indicated the laser was ready to fire and acted as a perfect guide for the shot, obviously. He didn't stop there though. He continued until the dot became brighter. "Step four, aim." He lined the laser with the target. "Step five, fire." he said with a grin as he pulled the trigger.

Harry was shocked when the target was hit dead centre, not moving in the slightest as he pulled the trigger, before it caught fire and the entire thing started burning with an intense heat he could feel from where he stood. Then he remembered that Hagrid used a crossbow often and the weight of the weapon probably helped keep it steady as the trigger was pulled. "Well done, Hagrid!" Harry exclaimed happily.

"That was brillian'!" Hagrid exclaimed as he looked at the weapon in his hand with a fading smile. For the first time though, he saw it for what it was. "This is not a tool, is it?" he asked, then. "This is a weapon."

"Yours is." Harry agreed. "Mine has a lot more uses, and a bit more potential for destruction, to be sure, but I have bigger plans for mine."

"Bigger than this?" Hagrid asked as he lifted the first hand-held laser weapon. Professor Babbling would be so jealous. Hagrid's face showed some shock then, "Wait, what do ya mean, mine?"

"That one is yours, Hagrid." Harry chuckled. "Do you think I can carry that ginormous thing around and actually use it?"

Hagrid looked at the weapon again, but this time in pure adoration. "Mine." he whispered.

"Just remember the steps okay?" Harry asked. "If people can see you using it, they are too close. I'm not joking Hagrid. You will blind someone if they see it fired without protection."

"O' course, 'arry." Hagrid promised again. "I wouldn't want to hurt no one."

"Good." Harry said. "And be careful about not setting the woods on fire with it." he added. "You can see how hot that fire burns with just one hit." he said pointing at the still raging inferno, which was the target. "If someone gets hurt, it will be on my conscience."

"I'll practice the steps." Hagrid promised a final time. "No taking chances."

"If you need to use it in an emergency, you can ask people to close their eyes, but you have to be sure they are listening, okay?" Harry asked.

"Tha's a good idea." Hagrid said, as he carefully holstered the weapon in its holster, under his left armpit, inside his jacket.

"Okay." Harry sighed. He had realised, only too late, that he had gifted the half-giant with a very powerful weapon, in his excitement to make something new. Now he'd have to be sure to check up on the well-meaning, but sometimes dim-witted fellow. He absently vanished the burning target and they were suddenly in pitch darkness, as it seemed the lumos had ended while the fire was going. The glasses quickly adjusted, though. Harry took his off, and placed them in an inner pocket.

"Do you need me to walk you?" Hagrid asked. He'd left his glasses on. Harry had to admit, this pair suited the man very well. He'd hate to be Hagrid's enemy, wearing them while he pointed the laser pistol at him.

Harry just smirked and lifted up into the air. "I don't need to walk." he said.

Hagrid, having seen this feat before just smiled and waved after him as he left.

Having had a successful day, Harry landed in bed and quickly dozed off with a smile on his face. The smile didn't last though, when a dream of Hagrid running rampant with his glasses on and killing death eaters all by himself. In the strangest dream he could remember, Voldemort himself bent a knee to the giant, as he pointed the laser at his head, with a smile on his face. Those glasses looked evil, but Hagrid looked like a strange cross between a Viking, a cowboy and some sort of rock star.

BTB-BTB

The next day, Harry awoke with a strange smile on his face. "Dobby?" Harry asked and the elf appeared on his bed.

"Master calls Dobby?" Dobby asked as he appeared, map in hand.

"How did the watch go?" Harry asked like he normally did, these days.

"All okay." Dobby said with a thumbs up. "The blue girls and the red boys all stayed in their places." he said, referring to Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, respectively.

"Thanks, Dobby." Harry said through his yawn. "I really don't deserve a friend like you." he complimented. Dobby had the customary response of smiling from ear to ear before he disappeared with a sharp pop, leaving the map behind for Harry to take with him.

"Can you not have a morning meeting with the elf, every day?" Ron whined.

"You're the ones that insisted that I stop being all secretive." Harry replied, with a smile. The fact was that Harry had asked the elf to make more noise as he left, to help wake up the others, who sometimes overslept. Today was going to be a day without classes and most of them had hoped to sleep in before the first task.

"Morning Harry." Neville called as he got up as well. "You ready for the tournament?" he asked.

"Meh." Harry scoffed. He had a plan that he knew would work. Neville knew part of it, as did his study group, since he was going for shock and awe. The first part of his vengeance on both Sirius and Dumbledore.

Breakfast was the standard fair, but Harry was cheered on by the whole school as he showed up. He took it with a shake of his head and bit of a smile, but still sent a glare at the headmaster, who was smiling too. Well, up until he saw Harry's look, anyway.

After breakfast, the champions were summoned and they all convened in the tent.

"Good morningk, Harry." Victor greeted him with a nod.

"Hello, Victor, Fleur." Harry greeted.

"'ello, 'arry." Fleur greeted. "Are you prepared?" she asked.

"I have my plans." Harry confirmed. "How about you two?" he asked.

"I vould feel better if you took time to teach us." Victor said. "I haf plan, though."

"Just be careful not to let any of the other eggs break. That will cost you points." Harry warned.

"Other eggs?" Victor asked.

Harry just tapped his nose, to indicate it's something he knew, but wouldn't be talking about. He turned to Fleur, then. "You?" he asked.

"I'm prepared." she said with a nod. She had been hoping to have a talk with Harry at some point, but hadn't found the time yet. She had also hoped Hermione would have that process to protect Harry's secrets ready, before the first task, but it hadn't panned out that quickly.

Hermione had actually already figured out the magic, but was hesitant to bring it up. It felt to her that it was too powerful a magic to use. The idea of abuse scared her. She would later realise that she could claim it was a new family magic, or have Harry claim it was his and protect her processes for her, with his own magical protection. Magical contracts already existed, of course, but hers was developed by herself, so her specific process would need to be protected, in case it was new or better in some way.

The judges and ministry officials soon entered with the Headmasters. The rules were explained and Harry was happily surprised that he had drawn the same dragon. That would make his plans easier. They wished each other luck and Fleur went first, against a Swedish Short-Snout, which had been Cedric's last time. Then Victor went against the Chinese Fireball, which was the same as before, for him.

When Harry's name was called, he walked out of the tent and into the stadium, where the crowds were cheering his name. Harry stopped, just after entering and created an illusion of himself, over himself and went invisible. True invisibility was possible when you didn't move, so Harry stood still as the illusion of himself followed much the same idea as he had last time. The idea was to get the dragon to break its chain and fly after the illusion of Harry.

That part worked out fine. The dragon was soon flying away after the illusion on the illusionary broom he had summoned. Harry changed to a disillusionment spell and walked to the egg, picking it up after disillusioning it and placing an illusion of it still there in the nest with the other eggs. Then he shrunk the egg and placed it in a pocket, before moving to stand by the exit. Then he waited. The illusionary Harry had been flying circles around the stadium, drawing the attention of the crowd and when Harry was in position, the illusion flew back to the nest, from an inopportune location, giving the dragon a chance to cut him off, to protect her eggs again.

The illusion dropped its broom and started running at the dragon, in strafing motions, trying to get around it to the egg that was not really there anymore, firing real spells as Harry fed it through a tendril of his magic. The dragon breathed fire and the illusion blocked it with a spell, or at least that's what it looked like, shocking many, until the dragon stopped the stream of fire and attacked with its tail. This time the illusion did not seem to be ready, and the look of shock was still on its face as the tail severed its head from the body and fell over, the head rolling away, leaving no blood as it went.

The dragon roared its victory and there were screams of fear and shock from the crowd, until everyone froze, when the body got up, without its head, and stumbled as it walked to the head, picking it up and carrying it under its arm. The dragon also seemed shocked at this. No creature should be able to live without its head. The illusionary head smiled then as the body tossed it in the air, copied the head with its wand and started juggling it with the other copies.

Then the illusions all vanished, looking like apparition and Harry cancelled the disillusionment, before walking out of the exit, removing the egg from his pocket and unshrinking it. The crowd was dead quiet, before a massive cheer broke out as everyone saw him exit, completely unscathed and whole.

Fleur and Victor were standing there waiting, with looks of both amazement and fear on their faces.

"But you vere dead!" Victor exclaimed.

"'ow did you do zat?!" Fleur demanded.

Harry beckoned them closer and whispered to them, "I'm good at illusions, remember?"

"Zat was il-" Fleur started to exclaim, but Harry quickly placed a hand over her mouth.

"I will be calling it family magic." Harry said. "Don't let people think you know better. It's a punishment for the Headmaster and my godfather, who decided my entry into the contest was worth it. The scare of my death is meant to bring them to their senses."

"You teach dem good lesson." Victor said with a nod. The boy seemed to have had the whole situation under control. The little bit of worry he had for Harry was dispelled by his actions today, though it seemed he was going to be more difficult to beat, if he could fool an entire stadium of people like this, even if he did end up using a trick.

"Harry!" Sirius yelled, running up to him and hugging him tightly. "I was so worried! You scared me half to death with that stunt!"

"Let that be a lesson." Harry said mildly, as he broke the hug with minimal effort. "Don't fuck with me again." he insisted.

"You're watching too many American movies." Remus said as he walked up to them, followed shortly by Dumbledore.

"Harry! What was that?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry turned to him with a cold gaze as the other headmasters and ministry officials turned up, too. "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, you have asked me for information about my family magic for the last time. After your latest of many offenses to my person and my family, I have decided that should you try one more time, I'll demand an honour duel in the old ways."

Dumbledore froze dead in his tracks and stared at the boy. "I did not know it was family magic." he objected.

"You, the most acclaimed magic user in all of Europe, didn't know what I did and thought it was commonplace magic?" Harry asked, sarcastically, as cameras flashed and reporters took copious notes on the confrontation. Sirius caught on immediately and backed Harry up, both to support him and to maybe get a head-start on gaining forgiveness for the prank, which he was now castigating himself for. No matter how powerful Harry was, his parents would have haunted him if they hadn't moved on.

Dumbledore saw the flashes and the true anger in Sirius's gaze and decided to try and do some damage control. "I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do formally apologise to House Black for the offense. I should have known that it was family magic, since I was not familiar with it, and acknowledge that I have miss-stepped, even unknowingly."

"Good." Sirius said. "On behalf of House Black, I, Sirius Black, Head of House Black, accept your formal apology for this offence only."

Harry had had enough of being in the spotlight and turned to leave.

"Mister Black!" one of the officials called after him. "We still need to award your points and tell you about the next task!"

"I don't care." Harry called back. "I'm not in the tournament to win or of my own free will." Then he continued to walk off. When his girls caught up to him, Harry levitated them up and flew the rest of the way to the Gryffindor Tower, shocking the reporters and most of the spectators, alike.

Remus would be collecting all the camera discs, which had recorded all three champions at the task from many angles, which Harry planned on using to see their performance for the first time. He would also be making a record of the entire tournament, which could be sold for their upcoming release of the magical television.

The other champions stayed behind, to hear the score and get their instructions, while the crowd slowly exited the stadium, all talking about Harry's abilities and wondering how he had done them.

The girls all hugged Harry, when they landed, and, since they were alone in the tower, they kissed him deeply, all except Luna, of course, who was still not comfortable with the idea, for his success and the successful admonishment of both the headmaster and his godfather.

While they were alone, Harry quickly went to his room and returned with a couple of items he had made.

"What's all this?" Hermione asked, looking at the staves of what looked like coloured glass.

"Corundum." Harry said easily. "I needed it for a new project of mine." he said holding up the rubber covered laser.

"These are all sapphires?!" Padma exclaimed, looking at the large many hued gems scattered on the table. She remembered their conversation from their time on the ship.

"Wait, does that mean that's a laser?" Hermione asked. She remembered him talking about how you needed rubies for lasers.

"Yup.�� Harry said, putting a little power into the gem with a light spell and pointing at the ceiling with it at its lowest output.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Hermione continued.

"Only if I add too much power." Harry confessed. "With only a little power, the light spell only produces the simplest of laser pointers."

"Wait, hold on." Parvati said. "Do you mean there's a ruby, the size of these here, inside that?" she asked indicating the staves of gemstone and then the laser.

"Sure." Harry said. "Just finished the laser yesterday."

The girls all looked at the laser, which Harry was still shining and making patterns on the roof with, and the staves of precious stones on the table.

"But this one is green." Daphne said, picking the one green gem up.

"I don't really know what happened to that one." Harry said. "Something in the air in the place where I produced the gems, must have gotten in while I was making it. I'm thinking something like carbon, or iron got in that one."

"Can we use this?" Pansy asked, taking the stone from Daphne to inspect. "We could likely have some really nice jewellery cut from it, for the ball."

"Why have it cut?" Harry asked, as he summoned the staff from her and held it in his hand. Then he cupped both hands under it and focussed. The next moment, the gem split in two and shaped into, seemingly, precisely cut, large green, tear-shaped sapphires. "Transfiguration doesn't have a loss." he said as he handed the gems back to the girls.

"You can just transfigure them into shapes?" Padma asked. She picked up a pinkish red one and, using her wand, focussed on it. It didn't change. "I can't do that." she said.

"You have to take into consideration the hexagonal shape of the base crystal so that you can change it." Harry explained. "The crystal construct of the elements making it up is the key to not changing it into something temporary or reducing it to the base elements."

��Hexagonal?" Padma asked, looking at the stubborn pink gem in her hand.

"Six-pointed." Hermione said as she thought about it. She had studied her high-school chemistry as well, after all. "So, the atoms?" she asked Harry.

"Yup." Harry said with a smile at her.

Hermione smiled back, and picked up a brown gem. Using her own wandless magic, she focussed on the gem in her hand and imagined the structure as she understood it. It didn't change, but there was something there. She felt something connect, for a moment, though, so she tried again, focussing on the feeling of that small connection and the shape she was going for. The next moment the entire gem fell to pieces in her hand, some spilling out, as the entire thing changed into smaller gems of the exact shape she had been imagining.

"Nice!" Harry said, just as the common room door burst open. He quickly summoned all the gems into a pocket and put the laser away.

"Harry!" Fred and George exclaimed, running at him and pulling him up to congratulate him on his victory. The atmosphere in the room was very celebratory as the rest of the house followed them a couple of seconds later. They knew he wasn't happy to be in the tournament, but that didn't make them any less pleased at his success, or impressed with his performance. He just tolerated it, for the most part.

"Well done, Harry." Neville said, a while later, after things had calmed down a bit and Harry had been allowed to go sit with his girls again. "I mean, I know you don't like it, but that was fantastic! When you were juggling your heads, I think Ron was going to throw up."

"I was not!" Ron objected, even though he had a small smile on his face. "It was disgusting though." he admitted.

"Sorry to scare you, Ron." Harry said. "It was all an act anyway. Needed to send a message to the headmaster, for interfering in my business."

"I'm sure he got the message." Pansy said. "I watched him when you were beheaded. All the colour left his face. He looked like he was going to throw up."

"I just don't understand what's been going on with the old goat." Harry said. "He seemed genuinely sorry for his past miscalculations." Harry couldn't talk openly with so many people around, so he had to skirt around the edges, to talk about something sensitive.

"Maybe he's just old?" Susan stated. "Aunt Amelia is always going on about how it is time for him to retire." 'Likely due to him always sticking his nose into her business.' she finished in her head. Most of them understood that it was implied.

Harry's Comm decided to ping, then. He took it out and read the message. He sighed, before getting up. "Sorry to leave the celebration guys, but I have to go help a friend out." he said.

A lot of people were disappointed, including his girls, but they understood he had responsibilities. There were many waves and yelled greetings as he shot out a window, as he did often these days.

"I wish I could do that." Ron said as he stared after Harry.

"If you were a better friend to him, maybe he'd have taught you." Hermione said. She still didn't like the boy, but he seemed to have grown up a little.

"I tried." Ron said. He thought he was being honest. "Back in first year, I tried to be his friend, but he didn't like me or something."

"That's because you were telling people you were his best friend and tried to get attention that way." Neville said.

"I did not!" Ron objected angrily, but saw all the girls and Neville looking at him with disbelieving looks. "Did I?" he asked uncertainly.

"That's what Harry said." Hermione agreed. "He said he saw you talking to people and then you'd all shut up when he came closer and you wouldn't look at him, like you'd been talking about him. He also overheard you calling yourself his best friend, shortly after meeting him."

Ron was contemplative after that. He did recall something like that, but it was long ago for him, now.

"Buggered yourself with that, didn't you?" Fred said, having overheard.

"Just imagine. If you hadn't been a right pillock from the start, he may have taken you on his first flight in his saucer." George added.

"And everything else he does." Fred said.

"Too bad." they said together.

BTB-BTB

Harry was on his way to the Coach. Fleur had sent him a message asking for a meeting to discuss something, and he'd used the opportunity to escape the celebration. He landed and knocked on the door. Nobody answered, so he knocked again, harder this time. A couple of seconds later, the door opened and Harry was hit by the sound of music and chattering, as the Beauxbatons girls all celebrated Fleur's success with her.

Harry was about to excuse himself, not wanting to interrupt, when the girl who had opened the door, pulled him in by the arm and closed the door behind them. His entry had not gone unnoticed, though, and he was soon beset by the girls, who had all been upset by his seeming demise.

"You scared us!" was the most common statement, but nobody demanded to know how he had done it, since the rumours had quickly spread that it was family magic.

"Zat was bos a remarkable performance and disturbing to see." Madam Maxime said sternly, from where she sat at a tall table on an equally tall chair.

"A beet of warning would 'ave been nice." Fleur agreed, from nearby, before she too embraced Harry and kissed next to both his cheeks. Harry knew it was a common greeting in France, though some of the girls had actually kissed his cheeks.

"Sorry for scaring you." Harry apologised.

"I'm just 'appy zat you are un-'urt." Fleur said with a smile. She hadn't told anyone of his illusions. She had given her word after all.

"Come." Madam Maxime invited, pointing to a chair by her table. "Join us for a drink." she said, already pouring a small glass of wine for Harry. At his look, she scoffed, "Children in France often 'ave a glass wis zeir parents. A small glass will do no 'arm."

Harry nodded then in thanks and took a chair after holding one for Fleur. "Always so charmant." Fleur said. He always held doors and chairs for his ladies, she had noted.

"I was raised to have good manners." Harry said. "My uncle Remus may be a werewolf, but he's also a gentleman."

"Remus Lupin?" Madam Maxime asked. He was becoming famous as the man who united the wolves under the Marauders Inc. banner.

"The same." Harry agreed, as he lifted his glass and smelled the bouquet, as he had seen some people do. He had no idea what he was smelling for, but he thought it wouldn't hurt to learn, while he had the opportunity.

Madam Maxime smiled at him, knowing he was just doing as he had seen, if he had never enjoyed wine before. "It is a wonderful vintage, made at a farm near ze Pyrenees Mountains, where Beauxbatons ees located."

Harry nodded and took a small sip. It wasn't bad. "Thank you." Harry said, lifting his glass.

"You are welcome." Madam Maxime said, before changing the subject back. "I 'ear Marauders Inc. 'as many werewolves working for zem?"

"And Veela, yes." Harry said. "There are reasons, but I'm not at liberty to discuss them." he apologised.

"I am." Fleur said. "My Aunty Bella cannot stop talking about 'ow grateful she eez to ze company for giving 'er ze opportunity. She 'as more respect and earns better wages zan she was able to before. Marauders Inc. eez a generous employer." she said. "Ze ozzer Veela are just as 'appy, even ze ones who remove zere clozing." she said this last part with an upturned brow.

Harry lifted his hands in defence. "I had nothing to do with that, and I have not seen any of that myself." he quickly defended. It wasn't necessarily true. He had gone there once or twice, but he would hardly admit that now, even if he had not really looked like himself at the time.

Fleur smiled at the small blush playing on his face. At least it seemed he wasn't averse to seeing women naked. She had wondered how much of a show the other girls were putting on and if his attractions went in another direction. "Eet was likely zeir own idea. Most Veela love ze attention. Ze fact zat zey feel secure and 'ave never been attacked or 'armed proves ze security eez good."

"The wolves appreciate the ability to unwind and the resorts grow as a result of their own investments. They protect it because they made it. The Veela are also wonderful carers." Harry said with a shrug. "Bella is your aunt?" he asked then. That explained why they had been so familiar with each other on the video call.

"She eez." Fleur confirmed. "She 'as been talking about 'er work and 'er new boyfriend for a while now."

"Bill's a great guy." Harry confirmed. "He works with me on making my inventions. He's currently building up stock of my latest invention."

"Somesing new?" Fleur asked.

"Something the Magical world doesn't have, yet." Harry argued. "Television."

"You're making a Magical television?" Fleur asked.

"Made." Harry corrected. He pulled out his Comm and tapped on an icon with a box and two antenna. Only his Comm was connected to that system, since they wanted to sell the boxes with the recording crystals and rent out connections to the stations, to pay for expansion on the available channels. The rental would be reasonably cheap, depending on how many people decided to take what rental contracts. The free channels weren't charged for, after all.

A second later the display popped up over the comm and some kind of commercial station showing exercise equipment, and scantily dressed models using them, could be seen. Harry ignored the picture and turned the display so the others could look. "The sound through the Comm isn't strong and the display isn't big enough, so we're making different devices for that. Mine is connected to the channels, though, since I enjoy having the music stations on, sometimes, while I work."

"Zees eez Muggle television?" Madam Maxime asked, bending toward the display to see and hear better. "What are zey doing?" she asked, looking at the big, heavy machinery, which were being pushed and pulled around in a never-ending motion.

Harry turned the display around and looked. "It's some sort of exercise machine." Harry said. "That one seems to focus on pecs and that one glutes."

"Pecs? Glutes?" Fleur asked.

"Pecs is short for pectoral muscles or chest. Glutes is for gluteus muscles or the posterior." Harry said. "Makes the chest bigger and the ass smaller. Men use both, while ladies apparently prefer to have a shapelier behind, but chest exercises can have a negative effect on the bust."

"How interesting." Madam Maxime said. "Zees muggles 'ave devices for such sings?"

"It's still effort and training to see results." Harry said, switching the display off and pocketing the device. Then he took another sip from his glass, before saying, "I've been exercising for health, since before Hogwarts. It gives you more energy and helps keep you healthy, with just a small amount of dedicated practice a day, but that isn't why you called for me today, is it?" he asked Fleur, changing the subject.

"Non." Fleur agreed, accepting the change. "I was wondering, could you introduce me to ze 'ealer? Ze one you talk to?" she asked.

"Sure." Harry said easily, pulling his Comm out again, before Fleur could object. "Video call Poppy Pomfrey."

"Harry? Is there a problem? You never showed up for me to check over. Are you okay?" Madam Pomfrey answered and asked quickly.

"I'm fine Aunty Poppy." Harry smiled at her. "The dragon didn't stand a chance."

"Of course it didn't." she scoffed. "You could have wrestled it into submission. You should still have come." she insisted. "You hardly ever come to see me anymore."

"I'll be sure to make a turn tomorrow." Harry promised, ignoring the shocked looks from some of the gathered girls, who were blatantly listening in. "For now though, I have a new friend, who you should have met earlier today. Fleur Delacour? She'd like to schedule a bit of counselling." he said, turning the display to her.

"Bonjour Madam Pomfrey." Fleur said. "Pardon, I did not know you were ze 'ealer 'arry mentioned."

"Of course, dear." Madam Pomfrey said. "Feel free to come to the infirmary with Harry tomorrow and we'll set up a schedule for you." She had been on the scene and knew what had happened. She would have offered counselling, but the French girl had fled to the Coach, not feeling secure in the castle, which was understandable.

"Sank you, Madam Pomfrey." Fleur said, glad she had accepted so easily. She just wanted to get over this whole thing and put it behind her.

"It's both my duty and my pleasure." Madam Pomfrey said kindly. "Oh and Harry," she said mildly, "if I find out that you had more than one of those glasses, I'll be very displeased." She had spotted the glass next to Harry. Her tone was also one he'd heard before. It was one that promised a disgusting potion was in his future if he didn't listen.

"I only gave 'im a small glass, Madam Pomfrey." Madam Maxime spoke up and Harry turned the display to her. "I will not abuse your Champion." she added, with a bit of a smile.

"Oh, Harry can take care of himself." Madam Pomfrey assured her. "I just don't want to imagine the damage to the school, should that boy get inebriated. I could tell you horror stories from when James and Sirius-" she was saying, before Harry quickly ended the call. He remembered that story. It didn't end well for his father or Sirius. They both ended up being found naked in the Great Hall after literally painting the entire great hall Gryffindor red, after winning the Quiddich Cup. Sirius still didn't remember how they ended up naked, but suspected foul play.

"Zat was rude." Madam Maxime objected, realising he'd stopped the call on purpose.

"My father's drunken schoolboy escapades should not be mentioned in a room full of ladies." Harry explained. "I also know that story. Madam Pomfrey was trying to embarrass me."

"I will ask 'er sometime." Fleur said, with a small smirk, and a wink to Madam Maxime.

"That's fine." Harry said easily, before taking the last sip of wine. "I just don't want to be there, when you do." he finished as he got up.

"Are you leaving already?" one of the girls asked, looking sad at the prospect.

"Yeah, Gryffindor is celebrating the first task and I used Fleur's message as an excuse to escape." Harry admitted. "I'm working on something that I really want to get back to, for another project of mine."

"'ow many projects do you 'ave?" Fleur asked.

"Hopefully, infinite." Harry said. "There's a whole universe of things to discover and make, Fleur, and I intend to have a hand in all the fun ones." he turned to Madam Maxime, then. "Thank you for the wine and the hospitality. I'll take you up on it again sometime, if I may?"

"You are welcome." Madam Maxime assured him. "Ze girls love having zeir chevalier here."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Harry smirked. "Oh, and, if you find a moment, go say hello to Hagrid and ask him to show you the new toy I made for him." he said with a wink. "Just remind him about the steps. He'll know what that means." 'Hopefully.' Harry finished in his head.

"Is it dangerous?" Madam Maxime asked, cocking her head to a side.

"Definitely." Harry smirked again, before he bid the ladies goodbye and left.

Madam Maxime, soon finished her glass and stood up. "Ladies, if you need me, I'll be visiting Mister Hagrid." she said in French.

The girls all smiled knowing smiles and greeted her, before the music, which had been turned down, to more easily overhear, was turned back up and the girls started celebrating and talking about their chevalier's apparent ability to wrestle with, and defeat, a dragon.

Madam Maxime didn't take long to make her way to Hagrid's hut and he was very happy to show her his new toy. He even remembered the steps, since he'd turned it into a mantra of sorts. To say the large lady was impressed was an understatement. Hagrid even taught her the mantra and allowed her to use the weapon. She noted that it took her longer to charge it up, than he did. Perhaps he wasn't such a lost cause after all. She had noted his physical strength before, with how easily he had handled the Abraxan, but now she realised what a crime it had been to stop him from learning magic.

Harry, in the meanwhile, had decided to start experimenting using the laser. His theory was that magic was a form of energy, so if he used the methods used to make a laser, to project magic, he could use that as a form of long range sensor, sending the magic along the light to check if there were any obstacles in his way as he travelled with the ship. The applications of such a technology would be basically limitless. If he could send magic through a light-wave, he could revolutionise spell casting.

BTB-BTB

The next day, there was an article from Rita Skeeter in the Daily Prophet. She had waited for the first task, since she wanted to check on the facts, including finding out the names of the people who had assaulted others over the last four years and what had become of them. The article came as shock to a large number of the staff and there were objections and arguments from all of them as they turned on Dumbledore. Even Karkaroff and Maxime were scowling at the man who had assured them that Hogwarts was the safest place for the tournament.

Rita, who had been present, also noted the argument after the first task, and what had been said. The majority of people reading this were shocked at the revelation that Harry Black and Albus Dumbledore were not on friendly terms, at the moment. As the 'leader of the light' and the boy-who-lived, people had assumed that they would stand together as a combined front, against their opposition.

The article did irreparable damage to Dumbledore's image, and considering what was mentioned at the beginning of the article, people were losing faith in him, and starting to move to Harry's banner, as he seemed more interested in actually protecting the next generation, as Dumbledore was meant to do. The fact that Marauders Inc. was now visibly and actively protecting the magical world and taking steps to remove undesirable magical influence in the muggle one, only added to his support base.

Harry didn't react to the news, as he knew it was coming. Rita had purchased a Comm for herself and had sent Harry a message stating that it would be featured in the next Daily Prophet. Harry didn't mind that the offenders' names were out there. In his opinion, if you did the crime, you deserve whatever reaction occurs due to it, when people found out.

Dumbledore tried to call Harry in for a meeting that same day still, but Harry ignored the old man. He'd heard enough of his opinions. He'd likely try to guilt Harry about how he'd affected the boys' lives and that he should not have sent the information to a reporter. The article had mentioned an unnamed source, but Rita had done that to protect herself, which wasn't a problem for Harry, who simply returned to his experiments.

Dumbledore was now seriously regretting his decision to allow Harry to be put in the tournament. He had no doubt that all this would have been leaked at some point, but wasn't ready for it, and the article that mentioned both the argument and the fact that he had hidden the crimes of the boys in question, was a masterful stroke from the boy, to gain support from the magical populace. He wanted to call Harry in, to discuss what he had planned, which needed such support, but the boy had refused, simply stating that he was busy with Marauders business and left, knowing he couldn't interfere.

Dumbledore had been a symbol of hope for many generations and had also made many mistakes. He realised that he had been too forgiving and that his own past was colouring his judgement over the last couple of years. His wish for forgiveness for his own past was making him soft and he was realising that he needed to start taking the opinions of others into consideration. Harry had proven to him that he was the obvious choice for the mantle of 'Leader of the Light' to be passed on to, but he wasn't ready to pass the torch yet. He wanted to allow the boy to enjoy a bit more of his youth, before he did so.

BTB-BTB

Harry didn't achieve any success with the laser that first day, but he kept on coming back to the experiment and trying different things, like the different kinds of gem he had made. Nothing seemed to work though. It seemed that the magic, while being able to enter the gem, didn't function like light, or at least couldn't be carried by it, even if the light itself was produced magically, it wasn't magical light.

He struggled with the idea for a while, until he was watching his friends practice (read showing off) their wandless magic in an abandoned classroom. They were showing their different skills. Hermione could project her power out and use a similar form of telekinetic manipulation by now, but couldn't transmit her spells trough the extended tendrils of control, like he could.

The other girls weren't happy about the fact that Neville, and strangely Luna, were picking up the skills more quickly. They were almost at Hermione's level. Luna was the only one that could do it without her hands moving, though. Something about her mind or the way she perceived her magic was causing her to be able to direct the spells without a point of origin, as long as the effect was within her immediate vicinity.

Harry simply used his tendrils and suspected Luna's ability was likely more versatile in some ways, because of this ability.

"I just don't understand." Hermione was saying. "I see Harry doing things without even looking, but even he says he needs to project things through his telekinetic magic. Luna, you're just making things happen without any focal point or point of origin. How is that even possible? The magic has to come from you, right? It's not like you're plucking the magic from the ether and directing it. So, where does it start from?"

"Here." Luna said, simply, lifting her hands and indicating around her.

"But that's not where the magic starts, right?" Hermione persisted. "It comes from inside you, so how does it get there?" she asked indicating around the girl.

Luna just shrugged and smiled that dreamy smile of hers. "I'm not trying to frustrate you, Hermione." she said. "Maybe your magic is just used to needing to come from inside you?" she offered.

Harry jumped in there, before Hermione could argue, again. "What do you mean? Do you mean magic doesn't come from inside people?"

"Everything has magic, Harry." Luna said. "Especially here, at Hogwarts."

"So there is magic in the air that you're using?" Harry asked.

"Only my own." Luna said. "It would be rude to use yours." she elaborated, like that explained everything.

Harry considered this for a moment. Hermione had seen that look before and waited for him to ponder it out, while the others decided to go back to their practice. They were almost up to the point that the more difficult spells that they were currently practicing was attainable, while Neville and Luna had started using a stick that looked like their wands, so that they could practice the wandless magic in classes already, without people realising.

"EMF!" Harry suddenly exclaimed.

"Electromagnetic fields?" Hermione asked, not understanding.

"The human body has electricity and creates a very low level electromagnetic field." Harry explained. "But that's only what science knows about. What's to say magicals don't have an aura of magic inside or around that field?" he theorised. If it was true, he was likely manipulating that, to carry his magic. Then he looked ponderous again.

"What are you thinking, Harry?" Hermione asked after she considered the possibility. It did make a certain amount of sense.

"What do wands do then?" Harry asked. "Do they carry magic, or do they actually extent your aura to allow your magic to permeate other electromagnetic fields? I mean, it makes sense. I originally thought that the magic in space was more difficult due to no atmosphere, but I was outside the electromagnetic field of the planet, when I came to that conclusion.

"That time on the moon, it wasn't within the protection of the Earth's electromagnetic shielding either, but the lycanthropic transformation happens when energies travel between the Earth and the Moon, when the solar winds aren't affecting the moon's own ionosphere. So if the magic actually needs to travel through an electromagnetic field…" Harry trailed off as he touched on an idea.

"What is it, Harry?" Hermione asked. He had that look again. The one that said he was itching to try something.

He abruptly got up and walked to the door. "Do you guys mind if I leave? I have to go try something."

"Is it dangerous?" Hermione asked.

"Only if you had electronics around." Harry shrugged. Nobody at Hogwarts had electronics.

"Fine." Hermione said. He'd likely tell her what he found later.

Harry was off like a shot, after the others gave their consent and Harry rushed back to the Room of Requirement.

That night, shortly before curfew, Harry walked into the common room, with a big smile on his face.

"Did you figure it out?" Hermione asked.

"Kind of." Harry said with a nod. His smile was a permanent fixture though.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"Let's test it out first, shall we?" Harry asked. "Cast a tickling charm at me, please." he requested.

Using her wand, since there were people around, she cast the charm at him and was surprised when it didn't hit him, fizzling out a meter in front of him. She tried it again, to similar results. "What are you doing? Is this a shield or something?" Hermione asked.

"Performance anxiety, Hermione?" Fred asked, having spotted the failed spells.

"Don't want to hurt your boyfriend?" George asked.

"It's a tickling charm, and I'm more than capable of casting it." Hermione said primly. "Harry's doing something."

"Go ahead minions." Harry challenged. "Give it a whirl. Show me what you've got."

Fred and George, not capable of backing down, nor wanting to, now that they had permission, whipped out their wands. Their own wandless capabilities were coming along, but they weren't allowed, nor did they want to give up that advantage. Both of them cast the same charm at Harry, but they too fizzled out. They tried again, but Harry just smirked at them as they did their best to hit him.

"Struggling boys?" Hermione asked with a victorious smile. "Or don't you want to hurt your master?"

They didn't answer her, but started hurling more spells at Harry. Still small things, like stinging jinxes. After a while, Harry said, "Okay, that's enough. I'd call this a successful test."

"Successful for you maybe." Fred complained.

"We were quite unsuccessful." George added.

"And we had permission too." Fred whined.

"Let that be a lesson, boys." Harry said. "You may be great, but I'm the master."

"We shall never doubt you again, master." the twins both said at the same time. 'How do they do that?' Harry thought to himself.

"Okay, can you tell me or is this suddenly family magic again?" Hermione huffed. She really hoped he'd tell her. She was curious as all hell.

"I can tell you, but not everyone, since you'd understand it." Harry said, as he walked to a couch and took a seat by the fire. Hermione sat down next to him and he started explaining to her, after casting some security magic around himself and the rest of his group. They had claimed a permanent spot by one of the fires. "Do you know how an electromagnet works?" he asked.

"Current that moves and electrons that all move in one direction creating a polarity, right?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded and opened his hand, to show them a piece of rubber with metal plates on both sides. "Inside this, there is a coil that has been saturated in magic for many years. I don't know if that is necessary, but I used some anyway. It has two diodes that terminate at the ends. What I do is pass magic into the one side and it follows the same principle, before exiting the other side, back into myself. This closed system works much like I suspect a wand does, except for focussing the EMF out in a specific direction, it expands around me.

"The way it functions though, makes my magical 'imprint' or aura, much bigger in my immediate vicinity. Basically it extends my range and allows me more control within that range." Harry said.

"But that uses electricity and electrons." Hermione countered.

"And we use part of that, apparently." Harry pointed out, holding the small device out to her. "Makes sense, though, doesn't it? Why do you think muggle technology doesn't work around magic? Try it." he said.

Hermione looked like she wanted to object again, but took the device and did as he instructed. She took it in her hand and placed her thumb on one end and ensured it touched her pinkie on the other. Then she focussed on how she knew an electromagnet worked. Making her magic follow the same principle, much as she had with the sapphire a couple of weeks back.

When she had it, and felt something was happening, she pointed her wand and started to cast a Lumos. She had merely begun to think of casting the spell, however, when a ball of light appeared, much like when she cast it wandlessly. In fact, she was suddenly certain she had cast it wandlessly. The light wasn't stronger, since the device didn't amplify her power, merely her ability to channel, but as she stared at the glowing ball, she had to admit that that was exactly what had happened.

"Fuck me." she whispered to herself, but Harry heard.

"Maybe in a couple of years, Hermione. I think we're still a bit young, don't you think?" Harry asked with a bit of a smile.

Hermione blushed scarlet and covered her face with a pillow, at that. "I blame you for that." she said from under the pillow. Harry always swore around them. It was inevitable for her to let one of two slip out. Then she realised what had just happened and uncovered her face to look at the spell still burning merrily in the air. "I can't believe it. You really did figure it out." she said. She was still blushing, but now she didn't care. "Do you know what this means?" she asked incredulously.

"Nothing that can be shared in a room full of students all watching." Harry said with a stern look.

"But…" Hermione started before she sighed. "Of course, you're right. I hate that you're right." This could be so useful, if people wouldn't instantly use it in ways not meant for it. "Why would it interfere with other spells, though?" she asked, then.

"My EMF saturated the area much more heavily, not allowing another one to enter or change it easily." Harry said. "It's like if you tried to put two magnets of the same polarity together."

"They repel each other." Hermione said. "Does that mean all magic is the same polarity?"

"Likely, but I honestly don't know." Harry said. "I'd need to figure out a way to test it."

"Are you going to make something for that?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"I'd need time to figure a device out that is both protected from magic and measures it." Harry said. "I simply don't understand the technology well enough yet. If only I had a way to secure the knowledge, I'd be able to teach people these things and built up a staff of researchers." Harry said with a sigh. "The problem with unbreakable vows, is that they are permanent. I wouldn't want to saddle someone with such a thing unnecessarily." he said. "I also can't hire muggles in the know, since they can't make magical oaths."

"Actually," Hermione started, "I may have something for that." She had finally realised that Harry wouldn't abuse the knowledge. He had literally just implied that he didn't want to release something to the general public, since it could be abused.

And that was the start of a whole other chapter in Marauder Inc. being able to contract help, with magically binding contracts. Normal magical contracts was bound to your magic or life, but Hermione's idea was quite ingenious. The contract simply applied to anything new you learned. If the contract was broken, anything new learned about the subject covered in the contract, which was then attached to the magic, would be removed. It couldn't focus on knowledge already learned up to that point, but the magic applied to you by the contract would protect and apply itself to the new knowledge.