Chapter 9

Anyone who knew Harry well saw that he was waiting for something to happen.

"Is someone going to be pink?" Seamus asked, watching the head table.

"Maybe." Harry said. That was his answer every time a prank was about to go off.

The twins had been threatening to turn Harry's hair Weasley red and bringing him in as their long-lost triplet.

Neville wouldn't even look at Hermione. While intellectually she knew that he had nothing to do with her recent slavery attempt, she was not happy with his family.

Her scowls had been daggers in his heart.

Suddenly, a parliament of owls came in, unexpected at this time of day, and Harry became fascinated by his soup.

The explosion of noise, shouting, the sound of girls gasping and cries, were loudly interrupted by a cannon-blast spell.

"Harry, my boy! You promised to talk to me. My office, now." Dumbledore stated in a disappointed voice and disapproving look.

Hermione took his head in her hands and gave him a quick peck. "For luck!"

Harry stood, and bowed to her, kissing her hand. "Stay safe, my princess."

"We'll guard her. But who's going to guard you from Tonks?"

Harry looked over to the 'Puff table. Sure enough, their friend was wailing theatrically that she had lost the love of her life.

Harry shook his head, but took advantage of the noise to prep his mirror. Just in case he needed backup.

**OO**

Things settled down. Dumbledore was furious that Harry had taken up the Gryffindor ring without consulting him.

Harry had allowed the man to be disappointed in him without saying much.

The Knight Commander was the one who told Harry not to tell anything more to the Leader of the Light. A woman had gone missing who was set to testify, her two daughters at Hogwarts had heard nothing from her, and while she had taken shelter in their safehouse in Hogsmeade, the woman had continued to go to work in Diagon Alley.

Until she disappeared the morning of the trial.

Aurors weren't allow to even question Lucius Malfoy! And Albus Dumbledore's lack of action disturbed the Order greatly. Not that he should investigate, himself, but help. Something.

Since the woman was placed in danger in order to help a member of the Order, they were honor bound to try and rescue her.

Fortunately, Sir Hector had been able to extract the woman quietly from the dungeon she had been in the same day she disappeared. Dobby made it look as though the woman took her own life. Persephone was now at Ecole Merlin, and her children would transfer at Yule.

Sir Romano had decided to keep this quiet, and declared the action secret. The children didn't know, only Sir Hector and Dobby did. The Order were watching the politics. They wanted to see how Britain would react. They knew that Mad-eye was furious, the Director of his department had been stopped by the Minister Fudge. He prevented all investigations.

To the British Ministry of Magic, she could have been murdered and no one seemed to care. Fortunately for her, someone did.

The woman had wanted a large family, and was already helping in the orphanage at night. Her talents had immediately been put to use and she was put to work.

And progress was being made on a different front as well.

The auction that helped fund aurors equipment and medical needs had a record amount of donations.

Antique brooms, old weapons, cases of old empty bottles that could be used for potions. Various trunks, and lots of interesting jewelry from antique to modern had been donated.

Mad-eye thought he saw Harry smirk at that when he mentioned it to Pinky, but if the boy wanted to donate some of the useless junk he had left, let him. Alastor kept very austere quarters himself. He had no idea that the donor had been Sir Hector and not Harry.

**OO**

"Charles, you worry too much!"

Persephone Smith was now attending to Sister Gisele's secretarial duties at school, and doing a far better job at it than her, reassured Monseigneur Brown. Without once yelling or sending stinging hexes.

Sister Gisele's healing at Gringotts had complications. Complications that they covered, at no charge! But she was old, and feeling older by the minute.

Charles Hector asked his 'auntie' a question.

"I'm debating staying in the order, taking final vows. I'm getting to the age where if I don't leave now, I'll be too old to be a father. I don't want to run around after toddlers when my body is in its sixties like Charlus Potter did."

"Yes, it's a shame that Harry's only living magical relatives were older and wanted nothing to do with him. Partially due to the energy a young child requires, of course. But also, the embarrassment of admitting a squib child. They did not want to acknowledge the relationship between them and Lily Evans. But we were talking about you."

He was stretched out on the couch, so she went over, and he instantly sat up. She sat down, and pulled his head to her lap, massaging his skull.

The older woman took a deep breath and let it out carefully. She was in so much pain! But the potions weren't working. She felt so weak. She concentrated on the child in her lap, her precious Charles.

"You don't have to have children of your own body to mentor others, Charles. Look at your work with Harry and his friends! I know that you have enjoyed that. But children younger than that can be trying. Why not spend some time at the orphanage? Help out with the little children? If you feel the pull of fatherhood, you can easily find a witch. Goodness! Any knight's lady would help you find a lady of your own in a trice!"

"You used to get me to take my nap like this."

"A sabbath nap is sacred. And very needed for an active boy."

"Yeah, and you make us eat our greens too."

"Well, it's all a part of the project."

The knight was soon asleep, and her ministrations had soothed them both.

The weather was turning colder in Britain. A large amount of gold had been raised selling Harry's dirty dishes and worn furniture. Please! Even his baby bottle fetched an astonishing high price.

Not that his personal vault had been repaid, but there was enough gold in the new one in Gringotts Rome it for several years' worth of expenses without touching anything else. And Harry's muggle money plan! Gracious! He had sent the new secretary a huge amount of muggle money in order to buy muggle food. It was enough to feed the Order for the year!

And the best part about it was the way he did it. Anonymously. The only reason that Sister Gisele knew was because Harry had used the paper that she had given him for Christmas last year. He likely figured the new secretary wouldn't know it, and she didn't.

The sister leaned back. Her capture had been so very hard on her. Such bad memories. Family lost. She had missed her mother so much.

Thinking of the woman seemed to conjure her. "It's time, my darling. Time to come home."

Sister Gisele started having trouble breathing.

Charles was awake in a moment, and without hesitation, took her with his emergency portkey to St. Michael's, knowing that the children had Mad-eye and Tonks as a backup if needed.

But Sister Gisele was being greeted warmly by the Master Healer on a far higher plane before she was seen by a healer on the lower one.

**OO**

Knight Commander Chariton made an appointment to see Ragnok, head of the Goblin Nation in London.

It took bribing the non-human clerk with a few goblin-made items from the Black vault, given to him by Headmaster Brown to get the appointment moved from mid-December to the next day.

Dropping Harry Potter's name in the mix might have helped a little.

Somehow Dumbledore had heard of this visit and was waiting in the lobby when the man came in, a full half-hour before his appointment time.

"Romano! How delightful to see you again!" The elder wizard held out his hand, but they had battled together, so Albus was grasped in a warriors' embrace.

"How are you? How is your school?" Romano asked.

"Oohh, you know. The same troubles all schools do. Not enough gold, too many demands on teachers' time. Teenage troubles."

"Indeed. And how is young Neville faring? I need to see him after this. I assume you are here as you got my note requesting a visit there."

"No, no. I heard that you were going to be here in a different way. Alas, I am a bit behind in my correspondence. I did hope to have a chance to talk to you about Neville. What remarkable progress, especially since his family thought him a squib."

"Yes indeed."

"Well, the thing is. This is awkward. I hoped to appeal to you to get the boy to pay his tuition bill. Augusta doesn't mind wasting hundreds on clothes for his betrothed, but doesn't have access to his trust vault. Says that she won't pay it from the family vault."

"When Neville was recruited for Ecole Merlin, he was given a full scholarship. He flourished there. Neville has recently claimed his Head of House Ring, but is denied his seat and the family vault by his grandmother, who is once again his guardian. He was also denied access to his seat by the Chief Warlock. Isn't that you, my friend?"

The Knight Commander gave him a very pointed look, but continued.

"I suggested to Neville that payment of his tuition from his limited trust vault would appear that he accepted that he had to attend Hogwarts. He doesn't like the classes, the weather and the only saving factor is your outstanding greenhouses. What nearly happened to one of his friends is simply inexcusable. Forcing muggles to sign a contract like that! And no prosecution as no one thinks anything of it! Now, I don't want to be at odds with you, Dumbledore. You are a great man. But this isn't personal! He isn't rejecting you! In fact, he told me that he admires you very much.

"He doesn't like the school, and when I deliver this current news, well. I feel that he will never feel safe there again."

"Neville is far too young to sit his seat and vote properly! He is a child!"

"Then there should be an age requirement or something in place. Your Dark Lord Voldemort killed his own followers as well as other purebloods he labeled traitors. Look at the Wizengamot the next time you go! The ancient and aged, too impotent to fight, too weak to be a target. Nearly everyone of worth is gone. Entire lines wiped out!

"You know I offered our services! We could have helped save your people!" The commander added vehemently.

"Your help would have cost purebloods their lives! You believe in an afterlife. Where is the time to repent if they are murdered?"

"Albus, we've had this discussion before. It is not murder to kill to defend the innocent if they are in mortal peril. You feel that all innocents will be protected and saved in the afterlife, and only the unrepentant cannot be redeemed. But where is justice? Mercy? Where is the protection of the innocent?"

"Why don't you just stun people then? Capture them!"

"We do so when it is safe for our people. You know this. But we will not endanger innocents if deadly force is required. After any such actions, every knight's memories are reviewed. They face the judiciary every time they go out. And why do they do this? To ensure justice and not revenge, not savagery was meted out. We do our best to save the innocents of the world. We have to save magical blood."

"Ha! But you take vows of celibacy, and keep your bloodlines from helping society." Albus argued.

"You know that most knights serve a decade and marry. Most of those have large families! Yes, some of them stay longer, but what about your people? One child? Neville reports that many children there are only children. There are more first line heirs at Hogwarts now than have ever been there before. I'm not saying that the situation is your fault! I know that you fought this monster! That Neville's parents, even Harry Potter's parents were with you. Brave, brave people. But how many of your Order of the Phoenix are dead or worse than dead?"

"We should do something in the Wizengamot about marriages. You are right. Nothing forced! Just incentives of some kind."

"Albus, you are missing the point. I wish I could convince you to let us help. You only see some of the problem. Let me tell you a name, and see what you say."

Albus nodded.

"Lucius Malfoy."

Albus stroked his bead. "A young child at home. We needed him to help rebuild. To show that people could be given a second chance."

"But Albus, he didn't repent. And there is the difference between us. I'll be up at the school to visit with Neville. We will be fighting Augusta Longbottom's guardianship. She signed him over to us. That, and I have some upsetting news to deliver. A loss of a family member."

"Oh? Illness."

"No. She was killed by Lucius Malfoy. He kidnapped her, and caused her serious injury. She was held prisoner in damp and fetid conditions for several hours without heat or food or any sort of comfort given. She was tortured, Albus. A body part removed. You know what stress that can do to a person. I was going to give you this as Chief Warlock, so you can have the report now, or later. As you wish."

Albus looked very sad, and took it. It was the report of her death at St. Michael's.

"I understand your country's stance on not persecuting people for the crimes of murdering muggles. But this lady was a witch, and had worked with me for a time. She was a contracted employee at the time of her death. She was working in England legally, Albus. Tell me. Is her death going to be swept under the rug? Look at her injuries. Tell me how a hundred-year-old woman, delivering sad news with gentleness and kindness, was a threat?" The commander choked a little at this. Sister Gisele could be quite sour, but he wasn't going to break her cover, not even in death. "Tell me how he can possibly justify her torture and death? And to gain money? What has to happen, Albus, before you say 'enough and no more'?"

"Why was this not reported at St. Mungo's?"

"She was visiting an active knight, one of her special charges from days past, when she developed breathing problems. She had been seen at Gringotts for follow-ups. I can see about getting those reports released if you want them but I warn you now, Albus. They'll have magical scans on file. If you request them, you will find out who hurt her."

"No one will take goblins seriously!" Dumbledore stated, a little too loudly, and at exactly the wrong moment.

"Wizard, begone from this place of business, and find somewhere else to bank for your future needs if you can't be respectful. Don't return this day."

"I didn't mean me! I was referring to the Wizengamot." Dumbledore tried to defend, but he was seen to the door by insistent guards.

The knight commander felt goblin eyes on him. He had come alone, and unarmed but for a small boot knife that was below their limitation rules, and his wand, which he was allowed to carry but not use without permission.

Sir Romando stood straight and tall, and waited for the goblins to decide what was going to happen next. It wasn't the first time that he had faced such odds, but usually he had brother knights with him.

"You brought goblin silver?"

"I did. It's shrunken in the bag at my waist." The smart man had still made no move, no gesture.

"You are far more clever than most wizards."

"Most wizards in my position would be dead having acted...inappropriately."

"Even If the so-called insult was taken out of context?"

"Dumbledore has done nothing to change that situation for forty years! No, more like fifty years! He's had time to at least try. Changing Samhain to Halloween, and Yule to Christmas didn't help. He doesn't want the bloodshed of war to continue. He saw too much in the campaign against Grindelwald. He's a good person, but he is not willing to do what needs to be done to actively fight evil."

"And you, Sir Knight?"

"Our order fights evil every day. We lose people every day. Gertrude Wagner used to work for us, and was a maternal figure for several orphaned knights. Neville Longbottom has yet to be notified of her death, but she and the boy were close. I understand that she took some contract work here, just to be close to him during his time at Hogwarts. An excuse to be allowed in the country for an extended period of time."

"And now, that job has led to her death." Ragnok sneered, clearly expecting an accusation.

"I place the cause of her death with the man that hurt her. No goblin warrior did that. In fact, I understand that goblins tried to heal her."

"Did heal her! Well, as best they could with someone her age."

"I meant no disrespect."

"And you gave none. Here, let us talk in my office. When I heard Dumbledore was here, I was concerned that there might be a fight. I didn't want to miss it."

"Oh, if there's going to be a battle between us, I'll give you advance notice. I want a cut of the ticket sales for the Order though!"

"A wizard with a sense of humor? Impossible! Now, let's talk about Madam Wagner in private, shall we?"

**OO**

Harry looked up at his best friend. "Neville?"

Neville still hadn't talked much, other than to say thanks for rescuing Hermione from the contract his gran had tried to foist on him.

The Longbottom boy even got out of marrying Millicent. She had been told Harry's plan upfront, and was surprising accepting of it. She wanted to be a knight, and had never thought to be able to marry for love. Both boys had offered their sincere friendship. That was as good as she expected.

But Neville had lost everything, even if he knew that his family would never approve of anyone of Hermione's 'bloodline' to be acceptable.

Fortunately, the press had been focused on Harry and Hermione. Madam Longbottom was under the impression that Neville still had to marry Millicent, and while the Bulstrodes were selling everything getting ready to move to Italy, they had promised to say nothing to any Longbottom about anything.

Harry handed Neville a vault key.

"What's this?"

"Look. I feel that I stole Hermione from you. I know that you said it was good, but still. I talked to Sir Hector. This is enough gold to build another greenhouse at school and stock it. We got a lot of galleons from worn baby blankets and such. I know gold can't replace the loss, but maybe if you contracted with someone now that you liked, you wouldn't be forced into anything else when your family finds out the truth. You have gold for a nice bride price in there too."

Neville turned his head, trying to hide his tears.

"Daphne Greengrass' family owns a bunch of apothecaries, and orders plants from around the world." Neville offered.

"She's nice, she's smart, she's really pretty. Plus, she can't stand Draco." Harry pointed out.

"You have your solicitor's name?" Neville asked.

"Yep. He's expecting your owl. Just keep it quiet until the news breaks. You can sign on your own now that the elves found your ring and gave it to you."

"Too bad I didn't have it before."

"I'm really sorry."

Neville shuddered at what at nearly happened to Hermione. "Thanks Harry."

Daphne was so much better than Millicent as a bride for him, but it didn't say it aloud.

**OO**

Albus Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts most distressed. The woman mentoring Neville Longbottom took a local job just to be near the boy in case of need, and then Lucius targeted her? The implications were not good.

It was then that he remembered that she had asked him to talk to his deputy about her. He had forgotten! And now it was too late! Oh dear! He should have written it down. The number of times that Minerva had covered for him or helped in some ways were innumerable.

The headmaster called for an elf and sent for his deputy. The boys would be in potions class on a Friday morning, no need to upset Severus by sending for them as well. Well, sending for Neville, but the Potter boy had clearly bonded with his godbrother. Not that they weren't friendly with all of the classmates.

It distressed the man to hear the other students asking Neville questions about the 'wonderful' Italian school that they went to. Sometimes, in order to promote peace, one had to promote a level of complacency, yes, that was the word. He knew that Tom got the blame for the so-called curse on the DADA position.

It was just a bit of alchemy.

The more exposure, the more one wanted to get away from the class.

Competent duelers were to be discouraged! People needed to focus on charms for the home, and useful spells. Really! There was no need to learn how to cast dangerous spells or learn to brew the Draught of Living Death!

Albus truly cared for all of the people of Britain, and wanted them to be safe. Secure. Well.

The transfiguration teacher came in and saw the headmaster's face.

"Who died? You didn't fight with Rom, did you?"

"No, though I didn't know that you knew him."

"Know him? Of course I know him! He used to rescue some of my muggleborns for me during the worst of the war. Of course, sometimes once I had talked to them, they would change their minds…"

A flash of guilt went across the Headmaster's face.

"Albus! Tell me you had nothing to do with that!"

"Now Minerva! How are we to improve our world if the best and brightest move?"

"Marlene McKinnon was threatened by a Death Eater! I convinced her and her family to move. Then three weeks later, they were slaughtered!"

"It would have revealed that we had inside information, Minerva!"

"The threat was made in public, Albus! But I am done arguing, as it will do no good. I knew that you meant well at the time. You added wards to her house, you thought that we'd get there in time if there was a problem." She took a deep breath. "What can I do for ye? I have class in a few minutes, though I left Mr. Percy Weasley in charge if needed."

"I'm so sorry to say this, but your friend, I can't remember her name, the one here working at Gringotts to be near Neville, she's just passed away. I'm so sorry, my dear."

Minerva got to her feet.

"She was a strong witch! Strong as me or better! She was not young, nay, but neither was she close to death when she came here. Strong and vibrant. That Malfoy brat! I should have expelled him when he was a student."

"Now, Minerva, we don't know for sure. I'm mean, we need proof." He said cringing a bit for being hypocritical. His conversation with the Knight Commander had been interrupted, but apparently, the goblins had evidence. But that wouldn't be good enough for the Wizengamot.

"PROOF! You saw the proof when I gave it to the aurors! It was his writing! His magical signature on the paper! I taught that pouncy princling for seven years! You don't think I know these things! Lucius Malfoy tortured her Albus! Not some muggle! A witch! A WITCH!"

"Lucius Malfoy is a very influential figure in our world. If he could be turned, the rest…"

Minerva just looked at him. Her nose twitched. A rodent of some kind had just come in, but she ignored it for now. The small brown creature just poked enough of his face in to listen.

"I thought I knew ye. But I didn't. I thought that ye held a different standard, and ye do. You think that evil is allowed to get away with whatever they want, and only the weak and innocent will suffer. You have until Christmas to find a new transfiguration professor, but I will teach until then. As for Deputy. Ha! I've been an 'acting' Deputy for years with no extra salary for all I do, and far too much of the work are things you could and should be doing except you have politics to play.

"I'm done, Albus. Done. I'm not salaried or under contract for that job, so no more."

"I have to leave now before I really lose my temper. He killed her, murdered her. You are the Chief Warlock, and you are going to allow him to get away with it."

Neither witch or wizard noticed the small brown furry animal in the corner at first, just coming out a small hole in the wall, attracted by the yelling.

The very upset cat animagus left the room quickly. She smelled a rodent of some kind nearby, but when she saw it was the errant niffler, she sniffed at it, turned, and stalked away.

The marsupial took advantage of the headmaster's distraction to open and remove a package from a drawer, and then leave the room.

If 'Snuffles' had heard the earlier part, he would likely have revealed himself, The Headmaster had returned some of his family's treasures, but not the Head of House ring or the cloak.

Harry needed to get out of there quickly and make a call. Surely Monseigneur could use a teacher of Professor McGonagall's caliber at the school.

And they would pay far better than Hogwarts!

**OO**

When the Knight Commander of the Order showed up at Hogwarts that night, Neville and Harry shared a look. They knew that they were not to break cover unless absolutely necessary. They would wait and see what happened before they took action.

Things were slowly thawing out between Neville and Hermione, but she was not happy with his family.

Only Neville had openly been known for going to the military school of Ecole Merlin. The best school in the magical world for potions, and would soon be rated in the top three for Herbology, partially due to the prodigy that had been attending.

Sir Romano was with Professor McGonagall, and they seemed to be in deep discussion.

"Harry asked his new betrothed, and didn't that unexpected situation warm his heart. "How's the recruiting drive? And what about the library project. How's that going?"

"As for my second mission, for Ravenclaw, Lisa Turpin for sure is on board. Several others are waffling. The law has them scared. Most of Gryffindor would be willing to come if their parents allowed, I think. If things start to get difficult here, any muggleborn will at least know that there's an alternative. The fact that there are other magical schools is not well advertised to us with muggle families.

"The main library is done, and Ravenclaw, and several personal libraries copied as well. Including the Malfoy library. The elves have no problem with 'borrowing' family books for us to copy as long as we have no intent to steal. And they can tell somehow. Malfoy still hasn't changed you as the House of Black heir. Lots of relatives with great books. And Neville gave me the Longbottom library. The originals. I had elves shelve the copies." Hermione stated.

The gift of the library was made to clear the air. It helped.

"Nice. Didn't your father go down fighting Death Eaters? And the prejudice goes on." Harry spat. He was not happy with Madame Longbottom turning on him. At least she lost the Black seat vote. Dumbledore was still voting the Potter seat, and Harry was fine with that.

Until there was a new Minister of Magic, Harry wasn't welcome back at all.

"I think that she thinks that my magic is a trick. She hardly spoke to me in the weeks I was home before school. She certainly didn't want to pay for my things since the other school was free. She's not being logical or…"

But whatever else Neville was going to say was cut off as the witch and wizard made their way to him.

Gryffindors recognized his military honors and rose as one. Several other students rose as well. It filled Harry's heart with pride to see their defense group all honor this warrior knight.

The Knight Commander nodded to the other tables first, and then Gryffindor. He motioned them all to sit, except for Neville.

"I've been talking to your head of house. I understand that you have made friends here?"

"Harry Potter is my godbrother sir. And a good friend. And this is Miss Hermione Granger. The smartest witch in Hogwarts."

"And a strong witch. Pleased to meet you, Miss Granger, Heir Potter. He bowed his head to the lad. "Longbottom, we need to talk, and you may want your friends with you. It's not happy news."

"It's Gran isn't it? Is she finally dead?" Neville asked with both dread and hope in his voice.

"Let's go somewhere quieter. I'll have a meal served. Sorry to interrupt your supper."

Say what you will about fighting men, having gone through much deprivation, they would never willingly make a child miss a meal. Not even as punishment.

"Neville, your Gran is fine, well, a battleax who seems to waffle about her feelings towards you but fine. You do know that she refuses to pay your tuition here? The Board of Governors will expel you for that unless you go to them and plead indigence. I'm told that Lucius crows for days after making Arthur Weasley beg."

"He doesn't!" Harry blurted.

"Oh, but he does." The Knight Commander said. He had given permission to Monseigneur Brown to recruit all of the Weasley students after Harry's request. Of course, Harry offered to pay their tuition at Ecole Merlin.

They entered what appeared to be a private dining room.

"We have a few minutes to talk alone, so speak quickly. Report, squire!" Sir Romano commanded. "Any problems with the Cerberus?

"No sir. I have done as directed, and used the precautionary potions. I have not been bitten, and have made good friends with the dog. I quite like Fluffy, sir."

The commander muttered under his breath, but waved the boy on with his report.

Harry took out his notebook, and showed the Knight Commander.

"Impressive list of inventions Mr. Potter."

"Not just mine sir. I've been working with the twins. Fred and George Weasley. I wrote to the headmaster of our school about them sir. They may need some remedial training, but they would be excellent craftsmen, inventors, boffins for the unknown. They are amazing."

"Did you get your invisibility cloak? House ring?"

"I have not yet recovered the ring. Moody doesn't know where it is stored, and Dumbledore has not answered either of our queries." Harry cleared his throat before continuing. "Um, the cloak. I may have gotten it in a non-direct manner, but didn't steal it as it is mine. Sir.

"I'm not going to like being your commander, am I squire?"

"Not in the slightest bit sir."

"Except you will like his results!" Hermione defended and then blushed.

There was a knock at the door, and Professor McGonagall joined them.

"Sit down, children, and let's break bread together. I want to hear of Neville's impressions of Hogwarts so far, and see where we are here.

**OO**

The trio had moved to the antechamber to be near a comforting fire. Harry had scared away the card players using the same tactic as last time, which allowed him to stand closer to the fire to hide his tears.

"It's all my fault. We taunted him to get him to react in public! I wasn't paying attention to the danger!" Harry blamed himself. "It's all my fault!"

"No, it wasn't. You heard him. And we know just who cast the spells. And wrote the note. They told us!" Hermione reassured.

A ghostly grim came, circled, and sat by the fire.

"You miss Sister Grumpypants, too, don't you, Paddy?" Harry said sadly.

"Harry, did Paddy ever see Snuffles?" Neville asked.

Double-checking to make sure that the coast was clear, Harry turned into a half-grown niffler.

The ghostly dog sniffed it, then came back and sniffed him again.

"Maybe we should call you both Snuffles!" Hermione offered, and sniffed herself.

This caused a bit of laughter. They shared hugs of comfort then went up to chapel.

Hearing that Professor McGonagall was selling her private property in England, and applying for citizenship in Italy had made them much happier.

They were just waiting for Neville to get kicked out of school for lack of payment. Harry had a couple of ideas for getting expelled himself, but he really wanted his family ring back!

**OO**

Cordelia Greengrass dismissed the St. Mungo's Charity counsel meeting with a wave of her wand. While most of the ladies left the room, she quietly cornered Narcissa Malfoy.

"I'm surprised to see you here, you haven't returned my floo calls, nor responded to my owls."

"I'm behind on everything. You know. I had been busy, getting everything ready for the auction."

"The auction is just what I wanted to talk to you about. You see, Xenophillus Lovegood was there with his daughter and her godfather. You know, Mad-eye Moody? Well, the Quibbler reported two hundred thousand was raised for St. Mungo's Aurors fund, whereas The Prophet said twenty thousand was raised."

"A misprint."

"Yes, that is what I thought. At first. But Xeno reported it himself, and I double checked with Gringotts. Guess who reported the numbers to The Prophet? No? It was you, Narcissa.

"You have a choice. Put two hundred thousand galleons in the proper account by midnight or I will report this to Mad-eye Moody. Just because he was a witness and all."

"You can't! You don't understand! I need the money to get something I donated to one of the previous auctions by mistake! Please! My husband was looking for it everywhere! He's already killed one elf a few years ago for something small. Please!"

"You should have come to me if you were in trouble! Are you that afraid of your husband?"

Narcissa didn't answer and then finally nodded.

"So, it's true. He really did kill a pureblood witch. Narcissa, killing muggles is one thing. Most people of breeding look on it as nothing more than hunting. Oh certainly, it's in poor taste, and if Arthur Weasley's bill gets passed, it will be illegal as well as immoral. But she was a witch! And she worked for Gringotts! She was only here in Britain because she had semi-adopted Neville Longbottom. You know Augusta wouldn't let anyone near him who wasn't a pureblood. What was he thinking?"

"That he can get away with it. He saw her hug Harry Potter, so thought they had a relationship."

"Ha! He and Neville made friends on the train! Daphne and Tracey both talked about it. Neville told stories of his wonderful school, and Harry found out Neville was the son of his godmother. He thought she was dead. If that elderly woman was close to Neville, don't you think she would embrace his friends? Your husband killed a witch over it! Was he that desperate for gold?"

Narcissa held her head down.

"I want nothing to do with you, Narcissa. No quarter. That witch had none. Return the money, or be branded a thief in public, just like your husband and son. You'll at least have company."

Shedding silent tears, Cordelia Greengrass left the room. But she didn't know who she was crying for. Herself, her now dead friendship, or the horror she felt at listening to Narcissa's tale.

She should have never gotten involved with a Black ever again.

**OO**

"Lucius! Listen to me! You need to leave the country! You can't believe the pressure on me! Your wife is now accused from stealing from St. Mungo's. Alastor Moody was there! Master Auror Alastor Moody attends all of the charity auctions. He makes sure to keep an eye on things as the aurors rely on these funds for healing. You need to take her out of the country!

"And the rumors! Even with Dumbledore's help, the pressure is being raised to at least investigate the death of that old woman."

"She died in a foreign country; she was from a foreign country. Look. End of story. She was old, and died, it was sad. Boo, hoo. This thing with Narcissa, though. It was just a misunderstanding. The bag of gold was accidentally put in my vault. The woman was too distraught to ask me about it. I'll send an elf to Gringotts right now to straighten the whole thing out."

"I want your oath. Your magical oath."

"Of course. In fact, I'll call an elf right now."

**OO**

Narcissa was recovering from her husband's 'chastisement' in the ladies' parlor.

The wards told her that he was back, but she couldn't bring herself to care.

He stalked into the room. "You will gather every bit of goblin jewelry that you own right this minute. Everything. We have no daughters to pass your crown onto anyway."

'Andi has a daughter' she thought to herself as she managed to get up without passing out. Only a bit of blood was left behind on the cream fainting couch as a secret memento of her shame, his brutality.

She left the room to obey. She was very good at transfiguration, and took a different tiara, one with precious gems, and made a respectable copy of the goblin made one. She then sent her personal elf to her living sister, with a note to hide the object, but not at Gringotts.

She piled everything up, goblin jewelry in one mess, all other pieces in a different pile.

She should have done this when she had a chance at escape. Now, it was unlikely she would make it.

She brought the goblin jewelry to Lucius and waited for the floo to indicate he was gone. Waiting for just a touch longer in case he came back, she rushed to his secret hideaway.

Yes! The jewelry and muggle money from his victims were still there. Accioing the gold, then silver, she put the rest back, taking the largest of the notes, and none of the coins.

She and Andi had secretly met enough that she knew that.

Putting the regular jewelry in a pile, she had forgotten the necklace she was wearing. It was goblin made.

She called an elf.

"Is Lucius at Gringotts?"

"No Mistress. Hims in nasty shops in Knockturn."

Dare she?

She called her elf back, and left a note for Lucius saying that she was going to Paris to recuperate with her great aunt.

Going to the floo, she called out in a small voice "Aunt Calladora?"

And she too left Malfoy Manor.

**OO**

Harry couldn't sleep that night, and he wound up sneaking into the unlocked Chapel. The charms on the place protected from any who might harm anyone there.

He was surprised to find it occupied.

Neville had beaten him there.

"She was so nice to be. I mean, sure, in a grumpy way. But she never put me down. She made me better. She cared about me as a person, even when everyone thought I was a squib. She visits squib children that she cared for when they were younger."

"Bellatrix took my mum from me and the brutes took my father, now Malfoy takes her. What is WRONG with these people?"

A sleepy friar came out of the nearby office. "Dear me, is it time for prayers? No. Oh, yes. I heard. Sister Gisele, a Sister of the Cloth, murdered."

"Shhh Friar Benedict! No one knows that, only that she took a job at Gringotts to be near Neville."

"I see. But you boys were missing her. I'll be right back."

Harry and Neville lit some candles, and did their personal prayers separately and broke off when he returned.

"My boys, she arrived Home safe and sound! She sends her love, and begs you to not seek revenge for that is the way of evil. Let justice prevail. They are those ordained for that role.

"She is happy, at peace, and is getting ready to sing in choir practice. Young and beautiful. Oh! How lovely was the music there! I really need to work on that. I wonder if Professor Flitwick might be interested. Of course, we'd have to keep the frogs out of the holy water. Goodness!"

"Friar, if you can visit her, why can't you stay?"

"Because I have unfinished business here, young Harry. There's a prophecy. Tricky, tricky. But one day, I too will go Home."

He did a special midnight requiem mass for Sister Gisele just for the two of them, and they said their prayers, and promised to not seek revenge.

But both boys were thinking the same thing.

'I won't seek a confrontation, but work hard so I'll be ready for the next one.'

**OO**

Neville was looking very sad, a new contract in hand. Ron came in on his practice in front of the full-length mirror. Flowers and ring in hand.

"I heard about Hermione and Millicent. Wow. One is like the purest of bloods and no doubt the ugliest, and the other is amazing! Smart, nice, and wickedly funny. Great at chess, but you know. New witch. New blood?"

"Harry's contract pre-empts mine. Thankfully." Neville stated. And he was happy that she was out of the slavery contract with him. He just wished. Well.

"Oh? I thought Dumbledore was trying to get Harry's and Hermione's contract revoked."

"Yeah, but I hope it doesn't work. I really like Hermione, and the contract gran and Uncle Algie came up with for her isn't very nice. Not marriage."

"Yeah. I know. No one I know except, I don't know, Potters or Weasleys would be allowed by their families to marry her. Fred was acting as though you had stolen from him. No joke. I think he has a crush."

"I wouldn't be surprised if half or more of the school did. She is amazing. And now, she'll hate me for the rest of my life. Thanks Uncle Algie. He couldn't kill me, so he just destroys my future."

"Maybe he's trying to get you to top yourself." Ron said pensively. "Don't do it mate."

"Of course! That's his plan! And now I have a way forward! Thank you, Ron. You're a good friend."

His meeting with Daphne went well, and now she sported a betrothal ring of his house. She promised to keep it hidden though, but actually seem relieved that it was him.

Apparently, Malfoy Sr. had been putting pressure on her family to give Daphne to Draco. Now, they could say that she was already betrothed. No one dare ask to whom, as that was just not done.

Now, he had a letter to send, no two. One to Sir Hector, and one to Monseigneur Brown.

**OO**

The school year limped along. Professor McGonagall sat on the very far edge of the head table. None of the other teachers took the 'invitation' to be 'acting' Deputy just until the Headmaster found someone else. Snape was the current odds favorite to become it, but he was holding out for the money.

Minerva had warned everyone of her forty-year stint as temporary deputy.

And then one of the school governors came to call that was not Lucius Malfoy.

"Gran." Neville whispered. They were half-finished with breakfast and Neville had them up and heading to potions.

"Millicent, I need to talk to you, please." Neville stated. He needed to share a couple of secrets. Harry nodded in understanding. He liked the troll-girl, and was happy that she was convinced to join them at Ecole Merlin. They were just waiting for the right time.

"I'll save us seats." Harry said, and walked with Hermione to the dungeons.

Neville spotted a likely alcove, and started whispering in her ear. One magical oath to keep secrets, and they went to join their friends.

**OO**

Professor Snape seemed particularly vicious that day. "I've heard the good tidings that one of our glorious school governors is here. Likely going to stop and visit her special little darling grandbaby."

Pansy made kissing noises, and Goyle laughed, but no one else joined in.

Daphne spoke up all of a sudden, her new ring hidden but there. "I think it would be nice to have a school governor come visit. Mr. Longbottom has done nothing but be polite to you, professor, and yet you treat one of the Sacred Twenty-eight as dirt on your shoe. If his godfather was alive, he would surely challenge you."

"Oh, and who was this pureblood paragon of virtue."

"No one you would have associated with, sir. Just James Potter." Daphne said.

Harry gasped and looked at Neville for confirmation.

"Nev! Is that true? What didn't you tell me?"

"You said you wanted us to be godbrothers when you found out that my mum was your godmother. I thought you knew."

"My Aunt Petunia told me he was a wastrel on the dole! I haven't a picture of him. I've never seen his face." Harry shared. "I know so little about him!"

"You don't? Now that's pathetic Potter!" Draco stated.

"Your dad stole all his stuff, so just shove it Malfoy!" Ron declared.

"That's enough speaking out of turn. Five points each from Longbottom and Weasley, twenty-five from Potter. Now get to work." Sneered the professor in charge.

Harry had learned long ago that the recipe was different between book and board. Sometimes the book was better, other times not. He took even breaths and concentrated on the potion.

He had never gotten extra points for making a superior potion but he didn't let the Dursleys get him down. He wouldn't let this unfair treatment get him down.

Suddenly the great woman was sweeping in.

"Neville! You didn't come to the entrance hall this morning."

Harry wanted to turn into a wolf pup and chew on her sensible shoes.

"You are right. I went to class." Neville said, and then turned back to his potion.

His gran had done everything possible to ruin his future. The contract with Millicent was one thing. It at least was honorable. But the one with Hermione was horrific. Madam Longbottom would be given the minimum respect in public until he was old enough to mete out justice.

"You shouldn't let your slaves do the work of others for them, and goodness me! What a nightmare of hair! I think I'll have her shorn rather than embarrass the family with such horrid locks. You really should be seated with a better class of people." She sniffed at Ron. "Some of your friends haven't learned how to bathe yet. Not every family can afford a bath."

Harry had to endure just another six weeks, and he could go home. He would not create a fuss when freedom was so close.

The future Lord Potter bit his tongue and watched over his potion. Hermione, having been warned by the Commander himself was also clearly struggling to keep her temper in check but stayed silent.

"I refuse to pay for a squib's tuition when you will do far better just getting a job. Pack up your things. We're leaving."

Nothing, no laws were ever going to force Harry back here again. Rejecting the Potter seat would put a cool million galleons in his vault. The Knight Commander would likely put up with him with better grace knowing that. Maybe.

"No thank you, ma'am. I'm staying." Neville stated softly. Politely

"I've come here to take you home. I refuse to pay for your schooling here."

"Have you talked to the Headmaster, Madam? Or Professor McGonagall?"

"Why would I need to talk with either half-blood about my grandchild? Besides, there's a proper pureblood that is a hundred times better than you in every way in the wings. He would be far better as Head of the House."

While this harangue was going on, the professor whipped out his wand and sent a Patronus message so fast that Harry barely saw it. It was a doe, just like his mother's Patronus.

"Honestly Professor Snape, I don't know why they allow such riff-raff in the classroom. Things born in dirt will never rise above their lowly station. Adding water just muddies things, don't you know." Madam Longbottom glared at each muggleborn for having the audacity to be there.

It was not well known that Professor McGonagall was not a pureblood, but no one called the Headmaster a half-blood. Even if it were true.

The Headmaster, Severus himself, McGonagall and Potter were the four most powerful magicals at Hogwarts too. Not that he would tell Potter that.

Harry double tapped his mirror, and called for Charles in all of the hubble-bubble caused by that proclamation.

"Harry?"

Harry double tapped again, and beat out a sort of morse code that let him know that they might need aid soon but were not in physical danger.

Well, at least he knew of.

Charles Hector was suffering from guilt. The 'if only's' were getting to him, but he went on full alert with that tap. He quickly washed his face, and debated what to do. He listened in to the conversation, and on a different mirror, contacted his commander.

"Sir, it appears that the grandmother is attempting to remove the boy from Hogwarts."

"Excellent! I denied her request for funds. Don't worry, Cherry Hill has elves that are loyal to Neville personally. And the wards have so many holes, it's no wonder Death Eaters got in. As long as no violence erupts, let her. Then, we let the politicians fight it out. My bet is that Dumbledore won't let her. Not after his law." Sir Hector said, and Harry tuned back into the conversation happening in the room.

The woman was having no luck bullying Snape, and honestly the verbal barbs were getting a little raucous for first years.

"Madam Longbottom! Is this how you conduct your inspection? Shouting and insulting a potions-master?" Dumbledore had joined in the fray at last.

"She wants to take Neville away!" Millicent shouted. "And she accused Harry of cheating, and called Hermione the M word."

Snape raised up his hands in frustration. "Ten points to each student for not taking and throwing things at our guest. Pack up and go, I'll have my students in detention clean up."

Neville Longbottom glared at the woman, and while she reached for him, she was blocked physically by the two men.

"Did everyone get crazy potion in their juice this morning?" Hermione asked. "This is not a funny prank."

"The law states that Neville has to stay here, Madam. I will not allow you to drag him away. This is best handled in the Wizengamot. Not by interrupting lessons. Go on children, it's lunch soon." The Great Wizard commanded.

There was no way that Harry was staying inside, despite the cold weather. He had to get away from Madam Longbottom, Dumbledore, everyone. He headed for the front door. But Hagrid met him first.

"Harry, Hermione, Neville, Millicent! You gotta come see the pumpkins!"

"Let's grab a picnic first, we cut breakfast short."

"Sure things. Hey Mips. She's the elf in charge of helping me. Can I get a picnic for four, plus me and can you bring it to my hut please? Thank ye. Helpful and kind ye are!"

The elf laughed and popped away. Hagrid didn't have a mean bone in his body.

"Okay, we're going to be with Hagrid." Harry closed off the mirror

They admired the oversized pumpkins, played with the baby nifflers, and just generally had a nice tea with him, and then made their way back to the castle for the rest of the classes.

The trio planned to get together that night to plan. Things were going sideways.

**OO**

The trio had become a quartet with the addition of Millicent. It wouldn't be fair to her to keep her out of planning. Especially since her parents gave her permission to switch schools to stay with her betrothed.

"Harry, why are all of the adults acting so oddly?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know why Gran is trying to pull me from Hogwarts when she told me that she didn't want me coming to the manor." She was gone from the castle when they got back from visiting Hagrid.

"I think it is a diversion. A distraction by the enemy. Remember how Sister Gisele's memories were messed up? I mean, why is Lucius Malfoy so panicked over money that he would kidnap a little old lady."

Harry felt so guilty about her death. All of the squires and knights did, even the ones in other hotspots of the world.

"Harry! I think I know. Algie Longbottom! He's a blood Longbottom, just from a cadet branch. The law says that you can't get your seat if you aren't schooled at Hogwarts! He is trying to steal Neville's inheritance!" Millicent stated.

"But he and Aunt Enid never had kids. Well, she didn't bare him any." Neville blushed scarlet, and made it worse by not-looking at Millicent.

"What?" Harry asked, clearly clueless.

"He fathered an illegitimate child" Millicent stated.

"Yeah. Aunt Enid has mentioned it once or twice. Really hacked off that he would cheat on her. I've never met the mother or my cousin though. I have no clue who it is." Neville admitted.

"That's one of the things that your grandmother meant about a stronger child, than the proper heir. But she's so completely messed up Neville! Your magic is strong. Amazingly so!" Harry stated firmly.

"I think that she's afraid now that she is going to lose control of you, or is afraid because she did lose control." Millicent said carefully, reasoning it out. "Same reason Malfoy acted so oddly. He had control, lost it, or thought he did, and now, they are trying to get back on top. You threatened them, somehow. One of you? Hermione too. Or they wouldn't have included her in the contract. I'm so sorry Neville and you too Harry. I always thought I would have to share a husband with a sister wife. I never have seen anyone use a concubine contract to hurt the husband before.

"Both of us. All of us. This would have really hurt Hermione, you, Harry and me." Neville stated. He was acting mature beyond his years, and everyone knew it.

"Sister Gisele would still be alive if we had never been forced to this place. Neville! I can't stand up to Dumbledore on this, but you can. Tell him! Ask him where the investigation is on her death. Ask him about the attacks on us verbally! The disappearance of the witch that was supposed to testify! I don't feel safe! Do any of you?" Harry asked.

"No, and poor Charles is going nuts! Being on high alert with nothing to do for too long is very stressful. We need to figure out how to give him some down time." Neville opined.

"The castle celebrates both Samhain and Halloween. Let's invite Mad-eye here for the long weekend, and see if Sir Hector can go home for a rest. I'd go with him." Harry stated.

A plan made, Mad-eye called, and group went to chapel and did homework, and just tried to relax that Friday night after a very upsetting and crazy day.