Chapter Forty Seven - Revision and Negotiations
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
A/N: Once again it seems I need to remind readers that, at times, Harry can be a right arse. He's not perfect, not by a long shot; he's human. In this story, my Harry can be and sometimes is a wholly unlikable person, but not evil. If you want a story where Harry is always a little angel, go read the great many on this site where that is the case. Personally, I find such Harrys to be boring.
Chapter Forty Seven - Revision and Negotiations
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Though tired the next morning, both teens managed to climb out of their beds, get themselves ready and head down together to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Dropping somewhat bonelessly onto the bench, Harry groaned, "I feel like I got stomped on by a hippogriff."
"Eat," Hermione demanded. "Just nothing too heavy. You need brain food, so I recommend eating at least one banana and carrying one on you in case you get hungry before the next break."
"Double Charms," Harry muttered. "I don't think Professor Flitwick is going to allow me to munch on banana during class."
"He might," she said. "Especially if you tell him you have an exam to sit before lunch."
Harry eventually added a banana to his breakfast and stuffed another in his pocket. It would not hurt to carry it.
When the mail arrived and on top of the Daily Prophet he received a couple items. After scanning them first, he read them.
One was from Samuel Greengrass. From the tone of the letter, Harry could almost feel the gratitude oozing off the page. If Ted had not contacted him that day, he'd be contacting Ted. He wanted this done with all haste.
The second was from Ted, thereby rendering his first thought moot.
It was a copy of a standard Concubine Bond Agreement, but with the amendments Ted thought Harry wanted. He wanted Harry to read it and, if there was something he specifically wanted to not be included, he was to send him a message by house elf as soon as he could.
He also said that, even if he didn't receive news from Harry, he'd be contacting Lord Greengrass this day to set up an appointment. He hoped to have that appointment within the next week.
Harry thought, from the tone of Greengrass's letter, he'd be lucky to hold the man off from wanting it immediately.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Riddle was furious. He had just finished reading the article in that morning's Daily Prophet that stated Potter was back at Hogwarts, safe and sound. MacNair had failed him.
"Wormtail!" he wheeze-yelled.
The ugly, dumpy man quickly scurried in and asked, "Y-yes, Master?"
"Get a message to MacNair," snarled the homunculus "He is to be before me no later than the sixth hour after noon; tonight!"
"Y-yes, Master!" Pettigrew was quick to reply, before he hurried back out of the room.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
As a class with a Professor who wasn't new to staff, in Charms they only had a short period of revision before they moved onto new material. However, Flitwick also warned them they were now operating under an accelerated learning curve, as they were doing work they should have done six weeks earlier.
Neither Harry nor Hermione had any problems with that. And Neville, with his new wand, was almost vibrating in his seat next to Hermione in anticipation.
Glancing to him, Harry quietly chuckled.
One of the first they tried was the Summoning Charm, Accio. It seems they were working in reverse order, as that was the last charm they were working on before the first task.
The Professor had set up a series of small cushions under the desk and began asking students to attempt to summon them. As they were all in the first row, they were among the first to try.
When it was Neville's turn, he looked with almost anticipation before he firmly intoned, "Accio cushion!" And all dozen or so of them flew straight at the boy.
As Harry tried to dive under the bench he heard Hermione give a little "Eep!" sound and saw Neville look almost horrified before all of them hit the three of them with some force.
Harry was lucky enough to have ducked far enough under the bench only to be tagged by a single cushion that clipped his shoulder, while both Hermione and Neville found themselves knocked back off their stools and onto the floor behind from the force of the hits.
"Oh, I say!" exclaimed the Professor.
Chuckling to himself, Harry was able to help Hermione to her feet again as Neville scrambled to his, looking both sheepish and smug.
While the rest of the class were apparently stunned by the power the boy demonstrated, Harry already knew what the likely outcome was - he remembered about the mass stunning of the owls before they left for the unanticipated long break. It was why he was quick to duck under the desk.
Hermione then grabbed one of the cushions - one that had remained on their desk - by a corner and gave the sandy-haired boy a whack with it.
"Neville!" she snapped. "Haven't you got all that power under control yet?" Then gave him another couple of whacks.
Neville was doing an admirable job of blocking her strikes with his closest forearm, but was clearly pleased. "Sorry," he said, grinning away.
"Miss Granger!" barked the Professor. "Please cease with your attempts to beat young Mister Longbottom half to death with a cushion!"
Hermione jumped in surprise, spun to look back to the front and the Professor, dropped the cushion and exclaimed, "Sorry!"
However, while the Professor was doing his best to try to display a stern expression, he couldn't maintain it and laughed.
When he got control of himself again he said, "Forgive me; but, that would have to be one of the funniest things I've witnessed as a Professor. And I've seen some doozies."
Harry had already bent back down and started to stack all the cushions on their side of the desk onto their desktop. After about three he just resorted to tossing them directly onto the floor under the blackboard. After all, they were just conjured cushions.
After that, Neville focussed on getting his power back under control by casting repetitive Lumos charms and regulating the amount of magical energy he was pushing.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After Charms came morning tea. Then they were on to Ancient Runes.
Though he'd given all outward signs he was unconcerned about his chances in the exam to Hermione - all to keep her calm, which didn't work - Harry was actually somewhat worried.
He realised Hermione was right in that, while he'd read and studied the assigned texts and others while self-studying, he'd not had access to the class notes and the like.
Thankfully, Hermione remembered where she'd stored them at home and called Betsy to go and get them for her.
When the little female elf popped in and Hermione told her, she replied, "But, Mistress Herm-i-o-ne, Betsy did packs them. They be in your room." And indicated towards Hermione's room.
Surprised, Hermione looked to the door of her room before turning back to the elf. "Thank you, Betsy. Would you mind getting them and bringing them in here, please?"
"Yes, Mistress," the elf replied. It popped away and was back a moment later, holding the notes and offering them.
Accepting them, Hermione smiled at her and said, "Thank you, Betsy. You may return to what you were doing."
Once the elf popped away yet again, she went to sort them out and realised they already were. Then she handed them to Harry.
"This is all my notes and assignments from Third Year," she explained. "Read through them and, as you're going, if you don't understand something just ask me and I'll try to clarify it for you."
Those notes, as he expected, were extensive. And he did have quite a few questions.
Now it was the next day and he was sitting in the Ancient Runes class while the class was revising.
Before they entered he'd managed to snag Daphne and asked her if she wanted to sit next to him.
"I know that's not something you can do in our other classes," he said, "But, you're the only Slytherin in this class. Hermione told me you've sat with her the past year and a bit, so it won't look odd if you sit with her, this time. I'll just be joining you."
Her smile back showed she was happy with that. And did join the pair of them.
He expected her to sit on the other side of Hermione. However, she chose to push him along where he sat at the end of the desk and sat next to him on the other side from Hermione.
"That's going to send a message," he quietly muttered to her.
"That's the intent," she muttered back and smiled.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Once the class was done, the Professor called him to come and sit at the front row of desks.
He was just sitting down when he heard her say, "Do you need anything, Miss Granger, Miss Greengrass?"
"Errr... No," replied a now blushing Hermione. "We were just waiting for Harry."
The Professor said, "The exam will take about an hour. I suggest you wait for him back at your apartment."
Both witches gave a nod of agreement in return and quickly left.
When he turned back from seeing the girls out it was to see the Professor drop the multi-paged exam on the desk before him. As usual, it was face down.
"You'll need quills, ink and a couple of sheets of blank parchment in case you need to work something out and prefer to see it with your own eyes," she explained. "Once you have those out you may not retrieve anything else from your bag. It must remain on the floor until you are done. Understood?"
"Yes, Professor," he replied, quickly pulling out the necessary stationery.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Fifty five minutes later Harry sighed, laid his quill down, looked to the professor and said, "Professor? I believe I'm done."
She quickly checked the time, smiled back at him and said, "Very well, Lord Potter. You may go. I believe there are two ladies back in your apartment who are most eager to learn from you how well you believe you did."
Packing his stationery away, he stood, shouldered the satchel and gave the professor a little bow. "Thank you for you efforts in assisting me, Professor."
She smiled again and replied, "You're welcome, Lord Potter. I should be giving you the results at or by dinner, this evening."
He gave another nod, spun about and calmly walked from the room. As he pulled the door shut behind him and headed for the Lords' Quarters, he needed to massage the quill cramp out of his writing hand. He'd written quite a bit.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Checking the time, himself, he saw that lunch had just started. He hadn't even heard the bell. So decided to hurry a bit.
As he was climbing the stairs from the fourth to fifth floors he met both girls coming back down.
Hermione almost brought both herself and him into tumbling down the stairs when she gave a little girlish 'Squee' and dived at him for a Hermi-Hug. He'd managed to catch them both.
"Easy, Hermione!" he exclaimed. "You nearly had us both tumbling down the stairs."
But, it seemed she hadn't even realised what she'd nearly done or what he said, as she'd already launched into Hermione-babble of old. "How did you do, Harry? Were there any questions you missed? If so, was that because I didn't think to cover them? I'm pretty sure I covered all of them, but I could have been wrong. Did you provide enough information for all the questions? Did you get the names of all the runes right? Oh, I do so hope you did well. It'll be nice to have you in the class with us."
Instead of trying to answer, he just held her in his arm and let her wind herself out. Once she was done, he pushed her away to arms length and looked her dead in the eye.
"I believe I did very well," he calmly replied. "I do not believe there is anything more we could have done preparing me for the exam. I am confident I will be approved for placement in the class. The Professor will let me know before or at dinner. Worrying about it now is pointless. Now, we just wait. It won't be long. Alright?"
With her eyes cast down in embarrassment - she knew she'd slipped back to her old ways - she more calmly replied, "Yes, Harry. Sorry. You're right." Then looked him back in the eye.
His smile back relieved her.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After lunch they were back in the DADA classroom with a double. Again, they were revising and Harry was having fun. He'd completely forgotten he was waiting for the results of the exam.
And the class was over even faster than he anticipated.
As they walked out, again with Neville accompanying them, he looked to Hermione and said, "That was fun!"
Neville chuckled and said, "Yeah, it was. Dad had me revising a lot of my work as an attempt at helping me get control of my magic before school restarted."
"Oh?" Harry smirked. "So, what happened in Charms, then?"
The boy blushed and led them off to one side. He quickly looked about to see if they'd be overheard and leaned in. Quietly, he said, "Believe it or not, that was deliberate." And grinned.
Hermione stared at him in shock as Harry let loose a big belly laugh.
Once he'd managed to calm down again, he leaned in himself and said, "You did that, to show everyone you're not really a squib, after all. Didn't you?"
Neville grinned back and said, "Guilty."
That had Harry laughing again as Hermione laid 'girly' punches on Neville's arm. "That wasn't nice!" she said.
Again having to fend off getting hit, he explained, "It wasn't my intention you'd get hit, Hermione. That part was an accident."
She gave him a glared frown of, 'I'm still not happy with you,' but dropped it.
Thinking for a bit, Harry asked, "Hey, Nev. Wanna grab your two girls and meet Hermione and me in the library for some research and assignments?"
Though Hermione was surprised, she didn't say anything. However, Neville smiled and replied, "Actually, that was already our plan. Coming out of the apartment to join us lesser folk?"
Harry just blew him a raspberry in retaliation.
As they began to head to the library, Hermione asked, "Where will they meet us?"
Neville replied, "In the library."
Hermione, a little worried, said, "I need to go up to the apartment to collect my assignments."
"Is there some place you keep them?" asked Harry.
"Yes, on my tallboy," she replied.
"Duck into a vacant classroom or broom closet on the way and call Betsy to get them for you," he said.
Hermione sighed. "I'm going to get lazy."
"No, you're really not," he disagreed. "It will give you more time to start making an effort towards other research and study. You also need to work more on your Occlumency."
"I do that every night when I go to bed," she said.
He was surprised and said, "I didn't know that. But, there's still what you need to learn of the nobility. The wife of a Lord needs to know everyone of importance. It's important for when the Lord and Lady of the House are entertaining, plus much more."
Hermione nodded and said, "I did make a start on that. But, other things keep cropping up."
He gave a nod and said, "That's going to happen."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Just before they reached the library, Hermione spotted a broom closet, popped inside, called Betsy and had her elf collect her assignments for her. The elf was back with them in moments.
All up, she was only in there for less than twenty seconds.
When they walked into the library it was to see the two 'Puffs already there and working on assignments.
As soon as they spotted the three, the two 'Puffs split apart to give Neville room between them. And Harry and Hermione sat opposite.
After quiet greetings, in case they earned the ire of the 'dragon of the library', Madam Pince, they were soon hard at work on their assignments. They were even quietly helping each other out with advice on what to look for, or suggestions on where to go.
It was a couple hours later when Pince walked past and suggested they hurry to the Great Hall. Dinner had already just begun and she wanted to close the library up while she ate, herself.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Once in the Great Hall and heading for their seats, Babbling intercepted Harry as he was about to walk around the head end of the Gryffindor table and handed him a note with his results. She was smiling.
As he quickly unrolled the note, she quietly said, "Very well done, Lord Potter."
Harry discovered he'd scored a low Outstanding. Still, it was actually above what he expected - an Exceed Expectations.
He smiled back and said, "Thank you, Professor."
She gave him a nod and went back to her seat two to the left of Marchbanks and sat down, as Harry finally rounded the table and sat next to Hermione.
She was bouncing so much in her seat in excitement he had to offer the note to the girl before she slipped and snatched it out of his hands. That would mean he'd have to berate her again; and he really did not want to do that.
After dinner they returned to the library and returned to their assignments. And had to be, yet again, 'tossed' from the library when the time was quickly approaching curfew.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Once back in their apartment, Harry was quick to pull out the concubinage agreement Ted had sent him that morning
He and Hermione read it through before he started to list down a few of the changes he wanted to see included in his and Daphne's; and clauses he wanted removed.
He listed down on a spare sheet of parchment clauses for both of them to easily void it if they'd not had sex. Then clauses she - but not he - could void it if they did have sex. Then clauses they could void it if they'd had sex and she'd fallen pregnant from it. Each one more restricting than the previous.
It took a while to write that as he was blushing furiously the whole time. It was only employing his iron will and determination to do what was right that had him continue.
He then included the rest of the information he'd already told Ted he wanted to see included.
Once he was done and Hermione had read what changes he wanted included, she smiled at him and said, "I cannot see any changes I'd like to see included in what you've written. Send it."
With a huge sigh of relief, he had Dobby take it up to the owlery and send it off using Hedwig. It was already too late in the evening for him to have Dobby just deliver it direct.
With that out of the way, they both headed for bed.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
For the Fourth Year Gryff's, Friday's classes ended at lunch unless you also attended Muggle Studies. The entire afternoon was theirs to do with as they wished.
But, they still had a pretty full morning: A single of History of Magic with the 'Puffs, a single of Charms with the 'Claws, morning tea and wrapping up with a double of Potions with the Snakes.
After getting an earlier night's sleep both teens were up and ready in plenty of time for breakfast.
As they were ready and about to leave, Harry suggested, "How about we have breakfast in the apartment tomorrow?"
"That would be nice," said Hermione. "But, what about mail?"
He thought about it for a moment and shrugged, "It'll be there at lunch, as usual for those who don't show up for brekky."
Closing the door behind them while Harry paused a moment, she said, "It'll upset Hedwig."
"I'll figure something out," he said.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
MacNair almost had to call in sick, that morning; but, he couldn't. The Dark Lord had given him a new task to do relating to work in the Ministry and he had to get it done that day.
The previous evening, the Dark Lord had been very generous with the Cruciatus upon him. He was not happy to learn that MacNair had found where he believed Potter to be staying, but did not think he had sufficient evidence to take back to his master.
After much yelling and a few Cruciatus curses, the Dark Lord then attacked his mind with brutal force Legilimency. Again, the pain was almost excruciating, but of a different form.
When the Dark Lord withdrew it was so sudden MacNair collapsed to the ground, panting in agony.
"You've been obliviated, MacNair!" the Dark Lord sneered. "Multiple times. And also had Compulsion charms laid on you.
"Believe yourself lucky I discovered that or Nagini would now be enjoying her dinner of you!"
"Y-y-yes, M-master!" gasped MacNair, wishing he could just curl up and die.
"Since you were a failure at this simple task, I have another for you," sneered Riddle. "Consider this one a test. Fail at it and your life is forfeit."
"Y-yes, M-master!" he gasped.
"You are to go to the Ministry and discover just what wards have been placed upon the residence you've been monitoring for the past few weeks," explained Riddle. "You are also to discover how many, and which, aurors have been assigned to watch over the property now that the Potter boy is back at Hogwarts.
"Once you have that, you are to ensure the information reaches me with all due speed. I will be unhappy if it is delayed even a single hour.
"Y-yes, Master."
"Succeed at that and I will have more work for you to do. Now, begone!"
"Y-yes, Master!" he gasped yet again, as he tried to stand. He couldn't properly and was forced to almost crawl out of the room. He was thankful that, as soon as he was out of the Dark Lord's sight, Pettigrew half-carried him out.
He thought the man was showing a rare moment of kindness, but he was not. Pettigrew just wanted him gone, lest the Dark Lord's ire again rise and be directed at him.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After breakfast for the students of the castle it was the morning classes, then morning tea and then on to Potions.
History of Magic was another new Professor for Harry and Hermione. At breakfast Neville had told them the new History of Magic Professor was also the new Deputy Headmaster.
"We were a little wary of him, at first, but he's actually alright," explained the boy. "He also makes the subject interesting now. But, that might have more to do with how he refused to focus on goblin wars.
"He said we've more than adequately studied those and it was beyond time for us to spend time on other historical events."
"What did he focus on last Monday?" asked Hermione.
"The foundation of the Ministry of Magic and the Wizengamot," replied Neville.
"Awww, damn," said Harry. "And I missed it?"
This time the professor focussed on the formation of the ICW and which member nations were the charter members of the then fledgling organisation.
Their new Deputy Headmaster and Professor of History of Magic was both staid and excited about his subject. It was like watching a rocket on the pad as the jets fire up, but the rocket doesn't move. He spoke clearly and concisely with almost a drawl, but at the same time spoke with enthusiasm. He was a vocal contradiction.
Harry loved it.
When they left to head for Charms, Hermione was clearly just as excited about the class. "That was wun-derful!" she exclaimed. "He clearly really knows what he's talking about. I'll have to see Susan and Hannah and see if I can get a copy of their notes for the first class they had with him on Monday."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Dumbledore was entering his fourth day under the dubious care of the medi-witches and Healers of the DMLE secure ward at Saint Mungo's and had yet to figure out how he was going to get out of having to answer the Bones woman's questions under Veritaserum, let alone get out of her clutches completely. And he knew he was getting well enough he'd soon be moved back into a holding cell in the DMLE at the Ministry.
In his mind he'd already run through many ideas and calculations. After all, what else could he do? He wasn't even allowed a copy of the Daily Prophet to read.
All he was allowed was a quill, ink and a few sheets of parchment. And he knew those were only given to him on the off chance he would write something that would aid Bones in her interrogations.
Each time a medi-witch or -wizard came in, he'd ask her or him questions to try to find out what was going on out in the wider wizarding community. Each time, they would respond with bland answers that provided no information, at all.
The one time he flat-out asked if anyone had asked about him, he was told simply, "No one, but Madam Bones."
To him, that meant they were either lying to him, or no one knew he was currently an unwilling resident of the DMLE secure ward, or even in Saint Mungo's at all.
Each morning, the Bones woman would come in, find out his progress in person and leave again. She was due any moment.
Sure enough... the door opened and she walked in.
"Madam Bones," he quietly greeted her.
"Well," she exclaimed. "It seems you can teach an old dog new tricks, after all."
When he scowled, she asked, "Does this new attitude towards employing proper respect when speaking with others also come with a change of attitude towards answering my questions, Mister Dumbledore?"
"As I have said before, Madam Bones, I will happily answer what I can," he huffed. "I will not answer any question related to the security of the realm."
"And since you will not answer any questions relating to Lord Potter, means you consider the matters surrounding Lord Potter to be a security of the realm issue," she said. "Thank you, for that. It gives me an angle through which I can research."
He gave another huff of annoyance and looked away. 'Damn it!' he thought.
Smirking at him, she said, "By the way, Albus; you should be congratulating me."
"Why is that?" he snarked, which only made her grin even more.
"I am in the final stages of seeing to my niece, Susan, being bonded through a Concubine Bond Agreement to young Neville Longbottom," she explained. "She is very happy with that arrangement, as it's what she's wanted since she was a little girl."
She did not know why, nor cared, that this news made the old man angry. However, he never said anything. She had no idea, yet, that Dumbledore considered young Neville the 'alternate' to go after Tom if Harry failed to properly sacrifice himself to the man. And that such a Bonding would mean young Neville would be even more unlikely to sacrifice himself for the Greater Good than without one.
"See you tomorrow, Albus! We're getting closer and closer to that custom version of Veritaserum for you!" she over-cheerily said to him, before she walked to the secure medi-witches' station and knocked on the door. She was let in a moment later.
"Blast it!" he muttered.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
In Charms, the professor only revised back to the beginning of Third Year. That was done by about halfway through the second half of the second class of the double period. He then told them they'd be focussing on the Banishing charm.
"Some see it as the opposite of the Summoning charm, but it's really not," he explained. "The Summoning charm will summon an object to you from a specific spot, while the Banishing charm will just send the object away from you. That may or may not be in the direction you wanted it to go, or as far as you want it to go. That sort of control takes finesse you're not expected to achieve yet."
They then used the same cushions they used for the Summoning charm to banish them towards the blackboard. Harry was carefully watching Neville. The boy gave a slight smirk, at one stage, then clearly shook his head and applied normal power.
Harry thought, 'I think he might have been tempted to put the cushion through the blackboard, for a moment there.'
That's when Harry got the idea of banishing the cushion towards the blackboard, then immediately summoning it back, before again banishing it.
Flitwick watched him and then laughed, "Yes, Lord Potter. Five points to Gryffindor for alternatively using the banishing and summoning charms on your cushion."
That had others then copying him. Another fun exercise to end the class; and, for the Gryffindor Fourth Years, the week.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Straight after class, Harry suggested to Hermione they immediately head back to their apartment and change.
"Why?" she asked.
"You need to start being comfortable wearing upmarket, but casual, wizardingwear, Love," he explained. "I know you prefer jeans, jumper and trainers for this time of year; however, for a little while, you need to project an image. For at least the next few weeks, I'd like it for you to be aware of your status as Lady Presumptive in front of these kids and the staff."
"I have a class on this afternoon, Harry," she replied. "Arithmancy."
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "Sorry. I completely forgot you were also taking that class.
"Actually, that's not quite true," he corrected himself. "I just didn't know when the class was on."
She smiled back and said, "I have a double Arithmancy on Friday afternoons, and a single on Mondays immediately before lunch."
"Thank you," he replied. "I'll note that down on my schedule. And I apologise for not being a good betrothed and asking you when those classes were for you.
"I still want to get changed, though, if that's alright with you."
"Of course it's alright," she smiled.
"However," he said, "After you finish Arithmancy, I still want to see you change into wizardry casual, alright?"
"Alright, Harry. I'll do that."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Walking into the Great Hall they'd only entered when, within fifteen seconds the noise of all the children and staff dropped to about a quarter of what it was. Again, they were being stared at.
They found Neville again already waiting for them. He was still in Hogwarts robes.
Sitting down they both greeted him and began to build a lunch each. However and unusually, even he was looking at them in surprise.
"Errr... Harry?" he asked. "Why aren't you wearing Hogwarts uniform?"
Harry calmly replied, "No classes this afternoon for us Gryffindor Fourth Years, Neville; except those doing Arithmancy such as Hermione, here and, probably, those doing Muggle Studies. We're done for the week."
With an expression that showed dawning understanding, Neville was about to say something when Professor Babbling came down and said, "Lord Potter, why are you not wearing your Hogwarts uniform?"
Harry looked to her and said, "I have no classes on this afternoon, Professor. I'm done for the week."
She frowned and said, "It is a school rule that you must wear Hogwarts robes, Lord Potter."
Harry looked confused for a moment before he stood and said, "Professor, please step over here." And gestured to a spot out of the way near the wall and between the head table and the Gryffindor table.
Without even waiting for her to agree, Harry stepped over the bench and walked over to where he said. Then waited for her to join him. She was still frowning with both confusion and determination.
Knowing they were being watched by both students and staff alike, he flicked up a privacy bubble and said, "Professor, why do you believe I have to be wearing Hogwarts uniform?"
"It's in the school rules, Lord Potter," she replied.
Harry gave a small snort and calmly said, "Professor, you seem to be operating under an error of fact. The school rules state that all students must wear Hogwarts uniform for, 'A', the school feasts - this not a feast - and, 'B', for all classes, unless leave is otherwise given by a member of staff with the authority to grant such leave - and this is not a class.
"As such, as per the school rules, I am quite within the rules of the school to be wearing civilian wear right now. My school day is done. Actually, since this is a Friday, my school week is done.
"Do you have any questions for me, Professor, concerning the information I have just clarified for you?"
As Harry spoke the Professor's face changed from confusion to shock. He knew she wasn't being malicious with her question to him about his lack of uniform, so he'd chosen to remain polite and gently lead her through to the truth.
"Errr... No, Lord Potter," she eventually replied. "Thank you. I shall endeavour to update my knowledge on the school rules with some measure of haste."
He gave a small abbreviated bow and said, "That sounds wise, Professor."
When he returned to the table, a worried Hermione immediately asked, "Are you in trouble?"
"No," he replied. "The Professor was operating under a misunderstanding of the rules of the school. I clarified it for her."
Surprised, she asked, "She didn't know the rules?"
He smiled back and said, "Do you?"
Confused, she asked, "Sorry?"
He smirked and asked, "Tell me, Miss Granger, what is the first rule of the school rules?"
As she tried to remember she suddenly realised she had no idea, and looked back at him in shock. She quietly replied, "I... don't know."
"The first rule of the school rules is that all students and staff must read, understand and obey the school rules," he replied. "Have you breached that rule, Miss Granger?"
Shocked even more Harry saw her try to figure that out before her expression suddenly closed and she looked at him with suspicion. "You have a copy of them, don't you?"
"Of course," he grinned. "And, before you ask, I'll give it to you once we're back in the apartment."
She scowled back for a moment before she switched to her own smirk.
She turned to the side and softly called, "Betsy."
When the elf quietly popped in she said, "Could you locate for me a Potter copy of the Hogwarts school rules and put it on the table, here?"
"Yes, Mistress," the elf curtseyed and popped away again.
She spun back to Harry and smirked at him. Harry quietly chuckled and gave her a little quiet clap.
About five seconds later the elf was back with a copy of the book that contained the school rules, the history of the changes to the rules and the charter of the school.
She immediately flicked it open and began to read the first few pages.
"Lunch, first, Hermione," he chided her. "The information in the book is not going anywhere."
She gave a small blush and said, "Just the introduction, Harry. I promise."
Knowing the introduction was only a couple of paragraphs he nodded.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Meanwhile, up on the head table as Babbling returned to her seat, Marchbanks asked, "What was that about, my dear?" Though, she actually had a fair idea.
Babbling continued to sit and then leaned forward to look around Sinistra to answer. "According to Lord Potter, the rules state he does not need to wear his Hogwarts uniform to meals other than the feasts."
Marchbanks frowned and said, "Of course not. Whatever gave you the idea he did?"
Blushing in embarrassment, she replied, "I believed they did because they always do."
Marchbanks made a little 'Tsk' sound of annoyance and said, "Have you not read the Hogwarts rules for yourself, dear?"
"I did not know they were written down anywhere," she replied.
That made Marchbanks frown even more. "Of course they are. How can you expect the students, or even yourself, to obey the rules if they and you do not know what they are?"
"I... had not thought of that," she shamefully admitted.
"Well!" huffed Marchbanks. "It appears we need to correct that knowledge with some level of alacrity!"
She then looked to Harry and watched as his young lady summoned an elf behind her. A few moments later, what she recognised as a copy of the rules even from this distance, appeared on the table before her.
'Clever,' she thought.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
As lunch broke up due to students needing to get to afternoon classes, including Hermione, Harry asked her to show him where the Arithmancy classroom was.
"Frowning in confusion, she asked, "Why?"
"Because I'm just curious?" he asked right back.
"You've never... oh," she replied. "That was the old Harry."
"Yup," he replied.
"Are you thinking of also adding Arithmancy to your schedule?" she asked.
"No," replied. "I won't have the time. I've no doubt I'll have enough work to do with the added load of being the Lord of One of the Seven."
"Well, alright then," she replied.
He was glad she didn't push it, as the reason he wanted to know where it was had to do with his promise to Wendell and his personal desire to protect her. He felt he'd have an easier time of it if he knew her approximate location during classes throughout the week.
Though Marchbanks had made it clear to all her views and the new punishments for attacks within the school, there would still be those who thought themselves above that sort of thing; or thought they'd get away with it, if they were caught. Harry had no intention of Hermione being the one attacked by those who thought they could.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After finding out the Arithmancy classroom was in the same area of the school as the Ancient Runes classroom, he saw her enter the room and walked off.
He hadn't even realised where he was headed until he realised he was walking up the corridor towards the Headmas- Headmistress's office gargoyle.
'Hunh!' he thought. 'Why not?'
Approaching the gargoyle he said to it, "Lord Potter to see the Headmistress, if she's available."
The gargoyle didn't move for a few long seconds before it suddenly, nimbly hopped aside, as the stairs beyond began to rotate upwards.
Stepping through and onto the stairs, he patiently rode them up to the top. Then knocked on the door.
"Enter," he heard from within.
Opening the door and walking in, he saw the woman sitting behind her desk at the other end and calmly walked forward. She appeared to be writing something down.
As he did, she glanced up for a moment and conjured a comfortable cushioned chair before her desk. "Good afternoon, Lord Potter," she said. "Take a seat."
As Harry sat down, Marchbanks finished up what she was looking through, set it aside and asked, "What can I do for you?"
"Something I had meant to mention to you much earlier that this, but had slipped my mind," he began, "Are you aware Dumbledore removed from the mandatory book lists for First Years the need for a copy of the school rules?"
"I am now," she replied. "After your short discussion with Professor Babbling about the school rules, I asked her why she did not already know that. She, apparently, had no idea the rules were even written down.
"That led me to coming up here and checking the booklists. Though I guess I should not have been, I was surprised to see the book was... as you just pointed out... not included in them.
"It will be back on them for next year. Actually, I'll be putting it on the booklists for every Year for next year."
"Thank you," he said. "That saves me having to convince you to do it. For your information, though, my research a couple years ago identified Dumbledore had removed it from the booklists about two years after he first became Headmaster. That was about 1957. That's why Professor Babbling, who didn't attend her own first year until well after then, did not know it was supposed to be there.
"I do recommend, though, you alert Obscurus Books, the publisher of the text, you'll be putting it on the booklist and that you'll be needing about four hundred copies. As very few now even know about the text, I don't think they've been publishing all that many over the years."
"Well reasoned, Lord Potter," she replied. "I shall do just that."
"My next point," he said. "I seem to have lost my auror detail. Except for one, that is. Is there something I need to know about that?"
She smirked back and replied, "You have and have not. You still have aurors watching after you. However, now it's the entire school."
Harry gave a snort and muttered, "Disillusioned."
"Possibly," she murmured. "I will neither confirm nor deny that supposition."
Again he gave a snort. "Next, Alliance Secret time. Two points."
"Go on," she said.
"First, Heir Longbottom has informed me about the negotiations for the BA and CBA between his father, Madam Bones and Mister Abbott. He expects that negotiation will be completed by the end of the weekend. Later, I advised him to request access to the Lords' Quarters direct from you. He was hesitant, but I told him that all you would tell him if he couldn't have said access was 'No'; and it didn't hurt to ask. I think I've convinced him enough."
"Well done," she said. "For your information, Lord Longbottom has already been in contact with me to inform me he, Madam Bones and Mister Abbott will be visiting the school tomorrow afternoon. There's little doubt as to why."
"No, I guess not," he replied.
"Next?" she asked.
"Ah! Secondly, I have already been approached by Heiress Greengrass on behalf of her father to float the idea of a CBA between her and I. From that, I have contacted my Law-wizard of Record, Ted Tonks, to act as my negotiator for this; and Lord Greengrass that I was open to the suggestion and he should contact Ted if Ted had not already contacted him.
"Yesterday, Law-wizard Tonks sent me a modified standard Concubine Bond Agreement and asked me to list down what other changes I wanted. I sent that back to him last night."
"Good," she firmly stated. "The news of Heiress Greengrass the elder entering concubinage will take a lot of pressure off Samuel."
"That's why I'm willing to go through with this," he agreed. "However, I've told Ted it's a deal breaker if the Agreement does not include easy, no-penalty escape clauses out the whazoo."
Leaning forward a little she stared directly at him and asked, "And what if she falls pregnant? Will the escape clauses still be in effect?"
"Hell no!" he blurted. Calming a little he added, "That is, escape clauses may still be there, but different ones that are a great deal harder to execute. The easy ones included are there for if nothing... ummm... physical happens between us. They're for if she's uncomfortable with concubinage, after all."
She sat back and stared at him for a few moments as her face relaxed to a smile.
Eventually, she said, "You're an amazing young man, Lord Potter. I very much doubt there would be many who would be so kind."
Harry blushed and had to look away. He shrugged and said, "I can help. But that doesn't mean I can... will... take advantage of the situation. It wouldn't be right."
Looking back, he said, "It doesn't even matter to me that Greengrass is an allianced House; but, it certainly helps."
"Indeed," she smiled.
"Oh," he said. "I think this is going to happen pretty quickly. Do I have your advanced permission, with Lord Greengrass's permission once this is done, to ask Heiress Greengrass to move into that third bedroom of my Lord's Quarters?"
"Of course," she replied. "That is, after all, why I warned you of that third bedroom."
"Ummm... yeah," he softly said. He'd temporarily forgotten that. His embarrassment made him forget.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After meeting up with Hermione as she came out of the Arithmancy classroom, Harry asked her how it went.
"Mar-vellous," she smiled. "Arithmancy is my favourite subject."
"Good," he replied. "She wasn't too upset with you for missing the first class on Monday?"
"No," she replied. "Monday was just an overview of what was planned for the year. Daphne gave me a copy of her notes. She's about on par with me when it comes to taking notes in the class."
"Anything you need to do now before we return to the Lords' Quarters?" he asked.
"Just assignments and I need to copy Daphne's notes so I can give hers back to her," she replied. "But, we can do that in the apartment."
"Then, let's return to the apartment and continue with getting assignments out of the way," he suggested. "Though 'fake' Harry didn't care, 'real' Harry really doesn't like the idea of having assignments hanging over his head over the weekend."
She smiled back and said, "I really like this part of the 'real' Harry.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ