CH 53

He was immediately accosted by all seven suddenly standing and pointing their wands at him. He turned white in shock with his mouth gaping open.

"Mister Weasley!" yelled Neville right back, beating Harry to it by half a breath. "Were you not paying attention to what happened at breakfast yesterday morning? Has your hunger so befuddled your mind as to strip it of all sense? The Headmaster made it quite clear that students are allowed to sit at any House table with the exception of the Sorting and Leaving feasts!"

"Excuse me, Mister Longbottom," said Professor McGonagall, coming forward. "I'm sorry to interrupt; but I find I need a most urgent word with Mister Weasley, the youngest." "Of course, Professor," replied Neville in a calmer but no less carrying voice.

"With me, Mister Weasley," said the stern Professor in a no-nonsense tone, grabbing him by the upper bicep and half carrying, half dragging him back out of the Hall.

The seven, seeing the youngest Weasley dragged back out of the Hall, again took seat.

Just as they did so they were joined by the Weasley twins who stood just a little apart.

"Our apologies on behalf of House Weasley to you all," said one.

"... But, most especially to you; Lady Tracey, Lady Daphne and Lord Potter..." said the other.

"... Our idiot brother appears to have taken one too many bludgers to the head..." "... That, or he was dropped on his head as a baby..."

"... Be that as it may..."

"... Yes, indeed..."

"... We will attempt to curb him from making such utterances in future."

Together, both bowed slightly before moving off again.

"What is his problem?" asked Harry of Neville.

"I think he had his heart set on becoming the friend of the Boy-Who-Lived," replied Neville with a small smile. "At least, that's the impression I got, having to listen to him in the Gryffindor common room and our dorm. He was really not happy to discover you're not interested in befriending him."

"Oh?" asked Daphne. Neville nodded and said, "Last night, he was saying something about how it wasn't right the Boy-Who-Lived was with a snake. And how her family must be using dark magic on Harry to turn him dark. And how he should be with a 'Light' family such as, of course, the Weasleys. I get the impression he wants to rescue him from the clutches of the dark families before it's too late."

Harry snorted and said, "In other words, he's barmy."

Neville gave a bit of shrug in response.

"He has at least the girls in my dorm upset," said Hermione. "I think a couple of them even fancy you, Harry."

Thinking a bit, Harry said, "If he opens his yap about me and Daphne again, please make sure you tell him - in public - that Daphne and my betrothal contract was drawn up and signed by our parents when we were infants. And - that it would be very unwise to stick his freckled beak in where it was both unwanted and unwarranted. The Noble and Ancient families will not stand for it; be they 'Light', 'Dark' or in-between. That should also get the girls to calm down."

"Alright," said Neville with a firm nod.

"Actually," said Daphne, "See if you can have a chat with his twin brothers. They seem to be fully aware of the customs, so may be able to talk some sense into their brother."

Neville nodded again.

"Was this another of those situations where you could have killed that boy?" asked Hermione, clearly a little worried.

Firmly shaking his head, Harry replied, "No, definitely not. First, he only called Daphne a 'filthy snake', which is something a lot of the other houses call, or refer to, the Slytherins. Besides, they're also known as the House of the Snakes, and they wear the snake motif on their robes as part of the House Crest.

"Secondly, Mister Weasley the youngest is a minor. He is not considered to be entirely responsible for his own actions. I could have had a go at his father, though; for not educating him properly on etiquette when dealing with the Noble and Ancient Houses.

"Thirdly, as Professor McGonagall is seen as his Head of House, even if it is only his school House and not his family House. And that she is considered to be in loco parentis - in effect, his parent - while here, at school; I'm willing to allow her to address his - behavioural problems - for now," he said, before dropping his voice and grinning, "as I have no doubt she is currently doing with great - energy."

That made the others laugh.

Professor McGonagall currently had the aforementioned red head in the same disused passageway as Daphne had ushered Harry into two nights previous.

"Of all the ill-thought, idiotic, stupid things you could have done, Mister Weasley; even I doubted you could possibly have done something so unwise as I just witnessed in the Great Hall," she ranted at him. "Did you not see only yesterday morning what can happen when you interfere in the betrothal practices of an Ancient House?"

"But, he's Harry Potter, Professor!" spluttered-whined the boy. "He can't be with someone like a Greengrass! They're Dark!" "Irrespective of your views on the matter, Mister Weasley," she snapped at him. "He is betrothed to her, I assure you. The Headmaster has gone direct to the Ministry and has seen a copy of the betrothal contract for himself! It is unbreakable!

"If they even think you're attempting to interfere in the betrothal, the Ancient Houses will not hold back in coming after your family!" she ranted again. "You know this, so stay out of it!"

"It's not right, Professor," snarl-muttered the boy.

"I don't care!" she shouted. "Stay out of it and keep your opinions to yourself! It is very clear Mister Potter takes his role of protecting Miss Greengrass very, very seriously. If you attack her, in any way, he will come after you with the power of the Ancient Houses behind him. At that point I doubt I'll be able to protect you from your own idiocy!"

With a heavy sigh, the boy sullenly muttered, "Yes, Professor."

Professor McGonagall visibly calmed herself down and said, "Heed me well, Mister Weasley. And that will be twenty points against Gryffindor for your behaviour. Plus, you will write a twelve inch parchment researched into the rights of the Ancient families regarding betrothals. It will be due in two weeks.

With that, the Professor stormed back out to the Entrance Hall heading back to the head table in the Great Hall.

She left the silently fuming red head behind in the corridor. A boy who was rapidly coming to the conclusion you shouldn't mess with Harry Potter.

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