Chapter Seventy Two - A Broken Oath

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!

Chapter Seventy Two - A Broken Oath

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―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

It was late morning, while Harry and the others were working on assignments, when there was a rapid banging on the door. Harry, the closest, was quick to it and yank it open. It was a slightly panicky Neville.

"CeeCee's been attacked!" he blurted.

As the girls behind him all gasped in shock, Harry barked, "Where is she?"

"Infirmary by now, I'd think," he replied. "I've already let Justin and Tracey know."

"Right," said Harry, breathing a little easier. "What else do we know?"

"Nothing much," he replied. "I was in talking to Justin when Raggy popped in and let him know. Justin and Tracey were out the door before they asked him anything else."

Nodding in thought, Harry was only a moment before he called, "Raggy!"

When the elf popped in a few moments later and before he could say anything, Harry asked, "Did you see the attack, Raggy?"

"Yes, Master Harry," replied the elf, clearly sad and a little afraid. "Raggy see it, but couldn't stop it before Miss CeeCee was cursed. Raggy popped Miss CeeCee straight to Infirmary, though.

"Then Raggy go back and get Miss CeeCee's friend, Miss Nat'lee. Raggy take her to Infirmary, too."

Harry, though angry, said, "It sounds like you did good, Raggy. There will be no punishment."

Daphne asked, "Raggy, did you see who cursed her?"

"Raggy did, Miss Daff-knee," replied the elf. "T'was Slythers boy."

"Where is the Slytherin boy now?" she demanded.

"Raggy did use elf magic and stunned him, Miss Daph-knee," he replied. "Raggy was angry. Raggy thinks he still be on floor where Raggy stunned him."

"And where is that?" asked Harry.

"Not far from Griffers tower," replied the elf.

"Right," said Harry. Turning to the others, he said, "I'll have Raggy pop me to where the dead-man-walking currently is, to see if he's still there―"

"Don't kill him!" Hermione cut in and demanded.

"I won't," he scowled. "However, I'm going to make sure he's secured and unable to scurry off and hide, trying to escape just punishment. Elf testimony is unaccepted in a criminal trial.

"You lot might want to wait for me down in the Infirmary. Once I've secured the mongrel, I'll be heading there next."

Before anyone could say anything, he held his off-hand out to the elf with his wand drawn and held in his wand hand and said, "Pop me to where the attack occurred, please, Raggy."

Without a word, the little elf grabbed his hand in his own and both popped away.

As he disappeared in a white flash, Daphne said to the others, "Come on. Let's hurry down to the Infirmary."

As the girls quickly shut up the apartment, they had to stop at the Longbottom apartment to collect Hannah and Susan. Neville hadn't had a chance to tell either of them yet. However, it was only a long moment before both girls were joining the others in their rush to the Infirmary.

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―==(oIo)==―

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Meanwhile, Harry had appeared in a flash of elf magic in the corridor not far from the Gryffindor common room and, apparently, where the attack had taken place. Already there were the Slytherin boy he now recognised as Seventh Year Adrien Pucey and Professors Flitwick and Goodstone. The boy had clearly just been revived.

Not noticing Harry yet, the boy was answering a question. "I don't know, Professor," he replied. "I was minding my own business, while on a walk about the school, when I was attacked."

"You lying piece of shit!" Harry barked.

That had the boy and both professors whirl to him in shock, as none of them had noticed him until that point.

Pucey immediately raised his wand in fear, but got no further as Harry was prepared for it and immediately summoned the wand from his hand.

Instead of touching it, though, he simply side-stepped it and glanced towards Professor Flitwick for a moment.

With his own wand still raised and pointing straight at the Slytherin boy, Harry snarled, "Professor Flitwick. If you wouldn't mind summoning that wand and performing a prior incantation charm on it, you'll find what was most recently cast with it. Then I suggest you head down to the Infirmary, where you'll find both Miss CeeCee Wilkins and Miss Natalie Fairbourne. Miss Wilkins was hit with a curse. I just bet you'll find it was the same curse that your prior incantation will show was cast using that wand."

Without a word, the Professor did just that, summoning the wand from the floor from behind Harry to his hand. The prior incantation charm then displayed the last three magics cast with it; the 'hardening' charm, Duro, was the last; the disillusionment charm was the previous one to that.

"You tried to turn her to stone?!" barked Harry, staring with hate at the older boy. That had the two Professors give gasps of horror.

Without waiting for a response, Harry turned slightly to the side and called, "Raggy!"

With an almost silent pop, the elf appeared where he was directing his gaze. "Yes, Mast―"

"Raggy," he said, overriding the elf. "What was the colour of the spell that hit Miss CeeCee?"

"Dark grey, Master Harry, Sir," the elf immediately replied.

"That's the one," snarled Flitwick, before he whirled to stare at the boy with his own hate-filled eyes.

"Did he say anything as he cast the spell, Raggy?"

"Duro! Master Harry, Sir." The elf immediately replied.

"Right," said Harry. "Professors; please take into custody that... piece of shit. I have no doubt Lord Finch-Fletchley will want to deal with him, soonish. And, if he doesn't, I or Lord Black will. Pucey is an of-age wizard, having attained seventeen years of age.

"Miss Wilkins is the magical ward of Lord Sirius Orion Black the Third, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black... and One of the Seven; just as I am!"

He didn't see the no-longer disillusioned auror run into the corridor from behind until he was almost on them.

Staring back at Pucey in hate and with his own wand pointing at the boy, Flitwick snapped, "Unless you have anywhere else for this walking corpse to be, Professor Goodstone, I suggest we escort him to the Headmistress's office."

"I'll take him to the DMLE, Professor," said the slightly puffed auror, walking up.

"No, you will not," said Flitwick, after only a glance at the auror. "Lord Finch-Fletchley, Lord Black or Lord Potter will be dealing with him... 'soonish'. I will not aggravate any of those, especially the last two who are both of the Seven, by allowing him out of my personal custody without their direct order."

"Now, Professor―" tried the auror.

"Leave it, auror," snapped Goodstone. "Unless, of course, you want to take on those three Lords, yourself?"

"Errr... no," replied the auror. Thinking a bit, he said, "At least let me manacle him."

"N-No!" cried Pucey. The boy was white and trembling in shock. "I-I was... I was under the Imperius!"

"That's not going to work," snapped Flitwick. "Claiming Imperius will not save you from facing One of the Seven in a duel to the death. Want to try again?"

While Pucey was trying to rack his brains with some way to get himself out of the bind he was in, the auror stepped in behind him and affixed manacles to his wrists.

"N-Nooo!" the boy finally started to struggle. "You don't understand! My father was being blackmailed! I had to do it!"

Harry said, "I'm going down to the infirmary to make sure medi-wizard Robinson is aware of just what curse 'Pukey-boy' here hit her with."

Without a further word, or waiting to see if either Professor or auror said anything back, Harry held out his hand to the elf and popped away again in a flash of white light.

"No longer claiming being under the Imperius, I see," sneered Flitwick. "At least you're not a complete coward."

As the boy was spun about and pushed to start walking towards the stairs, he babbled, "My father was told that, if he didn't make me take care of the problem, he'd be killed! I had to!"

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―==(oIo)==―

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Harry had just barely been popped into the infirmary near where medi-wizard Robinson was treating CeeCee, when he said, "Pucey hit her with the hardening charm, Duro."

From the other side of CeeCee's bed he heard Hermione reply, "He knows, Harry. He had that figured out pretty quick."

Robinson only gave a grunt of acknowledgement. He was still working on CeeCee at the time and didn't even look up.

Noticing that the man was still working hard, he asked, "What can I do to help?"

Robinson, still not looking up, said, "Give Miss Fairbourne a calming draught. She's in shock and I don't have time to deal with her at the moment."

Without saying a word, Harry walked over to the mobile potion cabinet, saw the labelled vials and removed the right one. It contained a pale green draught.

He quickly opened it, gave it a sniff, determined it was the right one and walked over to where Fairbourne was sitting on a nearby bed. She sat with her knees tucked under her chin, her arms around her legs and was rocking back and forth in a bit of a daze.

Getting her attention after a couple of attempts, he held the opened vial to her lips and firmly commanded, "Drink!" Then tipped the vial into her mouth.

As soon as he saw her swallow a couple of times he took the now empty vial away.

She immediately wrinkled her nose, gave a slight shudder of revulsion and firmly declared, "Yuck!"

Harry empathised. It was practically the same response he made when he woke up in Marchbanks's office after his burgeoning panic attack on learning about Fleur's life debt.

"Calming draught, actually," he returned.

After first putting the empty vial on the bedside table, he then stepped in close, leaned in and wrapped the girl in his arms.

"You did good, Natalie," he firmly said. "It's over."

She started to softly sob in his arms and burrowed into his robes on his chest, clearly feeling sorry for herself. While the calming draught brought her out of her shock, it did nothing much for how miserable she was feeling.

Harry had stood there for about fifteen seconds before Fleur stepped in and softly said, "I'll take her from here, Harry."

It then took a few seconds to untangle the girl from out of Harry's robes before she was transferred to Fleur's arms; and Harry could back away.

Finally free, he turned to see Robinson had clearly finished with CeeCee. He had a tired, but satisfied, gentle smile on his face.

"No long term damage," he said. "I was worried about that."

"I don't understand," said Hermione. "Why would he, whoever it was, use something like the hardening charm to attack someone?"

"Because it's a charm and not a curse, Hermione," replied Harry. "He... and it was Adrien Pucey, by the way... he probably thought that, because it was a charm he used, it wouldn't be picked up by the curse and dark arts detection wards now on the castle and grounds."

"But..." she spluttered, "That's... that's―"

"Daft," Harry firmly said, cutting in. "Yes."

"Pucey, eh?" called a soft male voice.

Turning to look to the bed on the other side of where CeeCee was now sleeping peacefully, Harry saw Justin sitting on the edge of it next to a no-longer-crying Tracey, holding her hand while staring in pain at CeeCee. It was he, who'd asked.

"Yes," replied Harry. "He's just been escorted to Headmistress Lady Marchbanks's office by Professors Flitwick and Goodstone, wandless and in custody."

"He's mine, Harry," the boy quietly said, still not looking at Harry.

"I think you'll have to argue that point with Lord Black, Justin," said Harry. "He is CeeCee's magical guardian, after all."

Justin thought about that, for a moment, before he said, "Raggy was supposed to―"

Cutting in, Harry firmly said, "Raggy couldn't act until the boy actually attacked. He did everything he could when the boy did, though.

"He stunned him, grabbed CeeCee, brought her directly to Healer Robinson, then went back and got young Natalie, here.

"As soon as he'd done that, he went and informed you. What more would you have of him?"

Robinson piped up and said, "And if he hadn't gotten Miss Wilkins to me as fast as he did, I might not have been able to save her. That charm would have very quickly moved to her lungs and heart, hardening and stopping both."

"So," said Harry. "It was a fatal cast, only proven not fatal because you were able to get to her in time?"

"Definitely," the man immediately responded.

"That's all I need," said Harry. "Thank you."

Turning back to Justin, he said, "Justin, come with me. We're going to the Headmistress's office to relay just that information to her and whoever else is there."

The boy gave a firm nod and hopped off the bed, still looking at CeeCee. "And then we call in Lord Black."

"Why wait?" asked Harry. A quick messenger Patronus and he turned back. "That was a message to Lord Black to meet us there."

As Justin finally looked at him with a somewhat haunted look in his eyes, Tracey was apparently coming with. She wouldn't release her grip on Justin's hand.

Turning to his own ladies, he said, "Would you three please stay and keep an eye on CeeCee and young Natalie? I don't want you three separating from one another, at the moment."

"Alright, Harry," said Hermione. "Stay safe." She knew not to argue the point about being left behind at that time.

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―==(oIo)==―

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Without a word between them the entire way, Harry led the way up past the gargoyle guardian at the foot of the stairs to the Headmistress's office. Those they had passed in the corridors between the Infirmary and the gargoyle had enough survival instinct not to get in the way, or otherwise accost them, as they walked. They all made like wall fixtures or standing-in-place suits of armour as the trio passed.

A quick knock on the door and a bid to enter from within, Harry opened the door and led the way inside.

Immediately, he noticed that Lady Marchbanks was sitting propped against the front edge of her desk, Pucey was sitting in a hard wooden chair with his hands manacled behind him and over the back of it, Sirius was standing near the fireplace, scowling away and Narcissa was in not a little shock, but also looking murderous. Others in the room were two 'junior' aurors, standing as if to both guard and keep at wand point Pucey; Madam Bones and Professors Flitwick and Goodstone. The last two were standing off to one side, opposite Sirius and Narcissa. Marchbanks, both Professors and Bones were all staring at Harry.

Walking further in, Harry said, "According to medi-wizard Robinson, CeeCee's going to be okay; but it was a close thing."

That had Narcissa sag in relief, at least.

"If Raggy hadn't acted as fast as he did in getting CeeCee to the Infirmary," he continued, "CeeCee would not have made it. The Duro charm would have killed her by solidifying her lungs and heart before he could have cancelled the effects of the charm and reversed the damage.

"That means the attack was effectively a fatal one. It was only the quick actions of a house elf and that Robinson was able to quickly figure out what happened that saved her. If either had been any slower... Puke-boy, there, would now be guilty of the murder of a rightful Head of a Magical House. As she lived... that makes it attempted murder of same."

Sirius snarled while staring with pure hate at the young man. Padfoot was only barely below the mental surface.

"All the evidence needed for a very successful prosecution of this case, if it goes to trial, is there and waiting to be collected or already collected," he continued. "The man, since he is of age, was found at the scene of the crime. His wand was checked and showed the curse used to commit this heinous act. The only person to have otherwise touched it is Professor Flitwick, when he cast the prior incantation charm upon it in the presence of myself and Deputy Headmaster Goodstone. Medi-wizard Robinson has already confirmed for me that she was, indeed, hit with the hardening charm, Duro. That charm would have killed her if he hadn't been able to get to her as fast as he did. And it was apparently witnessed by Miss Natalie Fairbourne, who is currently sitting on a bed next to the victim."

"What do you mean... if it goes to trial, Lord Potter?" demanded Bones.

"As well as being the magical ward of Lord Black, here, she is also a Black by blood," he calmly replied. "As there are so few left, that makes her also an Heiress of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, One of the Seven. Bloodline wise, she's fifth in line. And that means you're going to need permission from Lord Black to even take him to trial. Lord Black just might want to deal with the walking corpse... personally."

As Sirius's look of hate and loathing turned into one of a death's head grin, still staring at the boy, Pucey whimpered and turned away.

"Then again," he continued, "Maybe Puke-boy might like to beg mercy and protection from the Director of the DMLE. So long as he promises to be fully forthcoming with both the truth of exactly why he chose to attack Miss CeeCee Wilkins... and swears to plead guilty at his trial, of course... then, maybe Lord Black might let the DMLE take charge of the matter and take it to trial, after all."

With the exception of Sirius, who was still staring with hate and murderous intent at Pucey; and Pucey himself, who was sitting in the chair facing away from him and with his head hung down; just about everyone else looked back at Harry in shock. He couldn't see the expressions on the faces of Justin and Tracey, though, as they were still behind him.

Unsurprisingly, Madam Bones was the first to speak. "That... just might be doable," she quietly said.

"He's mine!" snarled Sirius.

Harry shrugged and said, "According to Puke-boy here up on the sixth floor corridor near Gryffindor tower, he told Professor Flitwick his father was being blackmailed by another. That blackmailer demanded of Pukey senior to order Puke-boy to kill CeeCee.

"Puke-boy knows the identity of that blackmailer. If he coughs up who that is, then you've got the one who initiated this. If he doesn't, then that blackmailer will probably just demand little Miss Fourth Year Pukey, Pukey-boy's little sister, to take a shot."

Pucey wailed, "I swore an oath on my magic not to give up the identity of... that person."

"Well, then," said Harry. "You have a bit of a conundrum, don't you? You can give up your life... because Lord Black will kill you, have no doubt of that... and then put your baby sister into the exact same spot you're in now; or, you can save your sister from what will be her fate, sacrifice your magic and probably save your own life in the process. Plus, giving up the identity of the blackmailer will mean he'll no longer be able to blackmail your father... mother... sister... anyone else in your family... Got the idea, yet?

"Currently, the choice is apparently yours. Choose fast, or it won't be. Are you going to be the hero of your family and save them from a blackmailer, or the coward you've already demonstrated yourself to be."

The boy still had his head down and was pitifully sobbing. No one else said a word and waited to see what would happen. Eventually, the boy, young man, wailed, "It's Corban Yaxley! Corban Yaxley is blackmailing my father!"

A moment later there was a huge flash of magic that exploded as light out of the boy and he slumped forward, unconscious. It had almost physically knocked people off their feet. Most, including Harry, staggered. Only Pucey's hands, manacled behind the chair-back, held him on his seat.

"Sweet Merlin!" someone gasped.

Flitwick ducked forward, as did Marchbanks, and both waved their wands over the young man.

A few moments later, Flitwick said, "I've no idea if he's lost his magic or it's just magical exhaustion. He's alive, though. I recommend getting Peter up here to take a look at him before anyone does anything else."

Bones rounded on Harry, furious. "Well. It looks like you've just cost this young man his magic. Are you happy?"

"Happy? No," Harry calmly replied. "Satisfied? If he's, indeed, lost his magic; most definitely.

"And... I'll remind you, Madam Bones... all I did was talk. If he's lost his magic, he did it to himself.

"I'll also clarify for you, you could have easily stopped it from happening. Stunning him would have been one way. Simply speaking out and telling me to stop would have been another. The same applies to everyone else in this room. No one chose to do any of that. Clearly, you all chose not to.

"Now, is anyone going to call medi-wizard Robinson up?" he asked. "Or, since he already has two patients down in the Infirmary under his direct care, are you going to take Puke-boy down there?"

Eventually, they chose the latter; but not until Madam Bones berated Harry for a further half a minute for his supposed cruelty.

Harry, though, was obviously unrepentant. He thought it was 'Just'.

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―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Leading the way and with her two aurors levitating a still manacled and unconscious Pucey down to the Infirmary, Madam Bones ordered, "Put him on a bed at the other end, away from everyone else."

The three teens were next and Sirius, Narcissa and the two Professors were bringing up the rear of the procession.

As the two aurors complied, Robinson said, "Hello. What's this, then?" And moved over to begin examining the boy.

"He deliberately breached a magical Oath," said Bones. "I need you to clarify whether or not he still has his magic."

Robinson gave her a short look of shock before he turned back to his task. A moment later he asked, "Do the manacles inhibit his magical core in any way?"

"Damn," said Bones. "Inhibit his magic, yes. I don't know if it affects the core, though." Turning to the senior of her two aurors, she ordered, "Remove the manacles. He's unconscious, so he's not going anywhere."

The Senior gave a nod, rolled Pucey onto his side and removed them. With them off, he let Pucey roll back onto his back. He left his hands behind him, though; so he was lying on them.

Robinson returned to working on him.

A few moments later, he said, "There's a spark of magic there. However, I don't know if that's because that's all there is; or if it's severe magical exhaustion. I'll need to monitor him overnight."

"No," said Bones. "We'll transfer him to Mungo's and into the DMLE-secured ward there. I don't want to leave him in here where his victim is recuperating." And cast a glance towards CeeCee, where she was still sleeping.

Meanwhile Sirius, Narcissa and the three teens went to or returned to near the two beds that contained CeeCee and young Natalie. Both Sirius and Narcissa were making sure for themselves that CeeCee was going to be alright.

Goodstone and Flitwick were standing apart, but near Bones, quietly talking to one another and watching what Robinson was doing.

As soon as she saw her Aunt walk in, Susan only waited until she saw she was not occupied with a task before going to her and giving her a hug.

While she was gone and everything else was going on, Justin softly explained to the others what had happened, including Harry's part in it. That then had Hermione look to Harry in awe. So did Daphne, but hers had an underlying expression of fear mixed in.

Harry knew it was because of a pureblood's fear of losing their magic. For a great many, they'd rather lose their lives than their magic. It was why Harry said to Pucey that 'the blackmailer' would probably put his little sister and other family members into the same predicament if he didn't breach the Oath and tell them who it was.

It led Harry to a decision. Turning to his godfather he said, "Sirius, I know she's a Pucey, but if Puke-boy over there really has lost his magic we need to do something to protect his sister from the fallout of her big brother exposing Yaxley as the blackmailer. Their father can go fff... flip off, for all I care."

Sirius looked ready to snap out a denial before he then seemed to think about it and gave a begrudging nod.

"Honestly, I think it's doubtful he has," said Harry.

Sirius frowned and asked, "Why?"

"Magic's all about intent, remember?" he replied. "If he was forced to give the Oath, it was not his intent to risk his magic. However, if he was then forced to breach the Oath, he might have. But, again, he might not. If magic truly is about intent, then I doubt he has; or, at least all of it, at any rate."

Sirius thought about that for a few moments before he said, "I'll be back." Then walked over to Bones and started to quietly talk to her.

A long few seconds later she whirled to stare at Harry in surprise. He just gave a half-hearted 'I dunno' shrug back. Then she walked over to quietly talk to Robinson as the two aurors were re-affixing the manacles to Pucey's wrists.

He, too, then looked surprised before he obviously dropped into deep thoughts. He was a long few moments before he gave his own shrug to her.

Once Pucey was ready for transport again, he was again levitated by the two aurors. Robinson activated the Infirmary floo for them and, with Bones leading the way, the four all disappeared through it.

Once they were gone, Flitwick and Goodstone also left, but by way of the doors claiming they needed to report back to Headmistress Lady Marchbanks what had happened.

That left Sirius and Narcissa to spend time with the Heirs, including CeeCee and Natalie. The latter was staying until she felt ready to go back to Gryffindor tower. She seemed in no rush to do so, claiming she wanted to watch over CeeCee too.

Narcissa spent a bit of time with the girl, softly talking to her. She was telling the girl not to feel any blame for what happened, as no one else held her to blame.

Eventually, as lunch time approached, Robinson threw them all out of 'his' Infirmary, telling the teens to at least go and eat lunch. However, Sirius dug his heels in and Robinson knew he wouldn't win that particular 'battle' of wills, so the two adults, the magical guardians, remained.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Although they were late to lunch, it was a Sunday; therefore they did not have the usual difficulties in finding a seat at a busy time. The group of nine found a suitable enough and wide enough gap on the Ravenclaw table, about where the fourth years would sit at one of the feasts, and sat there.

Because of Harry's very public ire towards Roger Davies towards the end of the previous year about 'having' to sit with your own House for meals, none of the 'Claws said a word about the group sitting there. However, he found out later that Justin caught one of the girls, he thought a Sixth Year, scowling at them. And he glared right back until she hurriedly looked away. Not a word was said, but the girl had obviously known she'd just been royally told off.

It was while they'd been sitting there for only a few minutes that Luna Lovegood came over, found a gap in the group and plonked herself down in it before looking to Harry.

"Harrison Potter," she calmly said. "I'm Luna Lovegood. But, you already knew that, didn't you?"

Smirking at the girl with a cocked eyebrow he replied, "I did actually, yes. What brings you to visit?"

"I wanted to see if you really are a wealthy old spinster or widowed witch, or not," she replied. "You don't look like one to me."

When everyone else appeared confused, he tried to imitate the confusion for a few moments before he asked, "And what, pray tell, would lead you to such a... curious state of affairs?"

As she built herself another lunch, she said, "Because the mind-healer lady who visits me on occasion and who talks with me to help me work things out said it was a wealthy old witch who paid for her to come and do so. I both believe it was you and that you are not a wealthy old witch."

Unsurprised the girl had figured it out from what he knew of her, but still surprised she would be so forward about asking, he was a few moments before he thought about an answer. He said, "It sounds like this wealthy old witch, whoever it is, did not want you to know who they were. Otherwise, they'd have told you; yes? Maybe they don't want you to feel beholden to them."

Luna paused to think about that for a while before she gave a firm nod back and said, "Very well, Lord Harrison James Potter, wealthy old witch, I'll not press you to tell me it's you." Then returned to her lunch.

As Luna was dragged into a conversation with Hannah a minute later, Hermione leaned in to him and softly whispered, "You'll be explaining that, tonight."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After their lunch, Harry reminded Justin he could work on his assignments even in the Infirmary, if he was of a mind to.

"Just go and collect what you need from your apartment before heading back to the Infirmary, first," he suggested.

Justin gave an almost distracted nod back and replied, "Yeah; thanks, Harry."

However, keeping a closer eye on the boy as they walked up to the Lords' Quarters, Harry could see his new'ish friend was clearly blaming himself for the harm that befell CeeCee.

Finally, once they hit the fifth floor and were walking down the corridor to the Lords' Quarters door, Harry grabbed Justin and dragged the boy aside.

"Justin," he firmly said. "Stop blaming yourself for what happened to CeeCee."

"My fault," said Justin, miserable.

"No, it wasn't," Harry firmly shot back. "This was entirely the fault of Adrien Pucey, his father and, as we now know, Corban Yaxley. Madam Bones will soon have the other two perpetrators in custody. Hells, she might have the two already there!"

"We should have foreseen they'd try something like this," the boy sadly said.

"We did," said Harry. "And, clearly, so did you. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had Raggy invisibly tailing her about.

"No, this is more on me, than you. I knew no elf would pro-actively attack a witch or wizard. I knew they could only act aggressively if a witch or wizard had already attacked one or ones considered their family, or one their master has told them to protect.

"This now means I'll be bringing yet another elf to the castle and giving them all stronger orders relating to defence when it comes to CeeCee and those she'll be with, such as young Natalie.

Justin whirled on him and said, "You knew Raggy wouldn't attack first?"

"Of course," he replied. "They simply can't!"

Justin stared at him for a long moment before he asked, "Then what sort of orders are you going to give a second elf? I want to give the same to Raggy."

Harry nodded and said, "I'll be telling them that, should a curse or charm be cast at them, they are to immediately put something like a stone block in the way of it to block it. However you, me and medi-wizard Robinson will be excused from that.

"Next, I'll be telling them that, as soon as they block that charm or curse, they are to render unconscious the person who did it and bind them.

"Third, they are to get CeeCee away from the area to somewhere safe. Preferably, your apartment or mine. Unless CeeCee's injured; in which case they're to pop her directly to the Infirmary and inform the medi-wizard, just as Raggy did this time.

"If there are any other conditions that might change or be added to that, I'll let you know."

Calmer now, Justin nodded and said, "I'll also give thought to it and see if I can find any improvements."

The two boys continued to head to the Quarters, catching up with Neville and the ladies in short order.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Without any further discovered long-term or lasting damage, CeeCee was released by Robinson on the Monday morning before classes started. And, on being collected and welcomed with open arms by both Justin and Tracey, was quick to rejoin both in the Finch-Fletchley apartment. She did need to change, after all.

After classes, Harry was surprised to find Madam Bones knocking on the door of the Potter Apartment. Hermione had answered the knock and let the woman in a moment later.

It was obvious she was in a bit of a hurry as she immediately looked to Harry; who sitting on one of the couches, working on homework and just rising; and said, "You were right. Young Pucey did not lose his magic breaking that oath. However, his magic has definitely been permanently depleted. The healers estimate he's lost about a third of it."

Finished standing, Harry nodded. "I figured as much. I could not see how a person could be forced to make an oath when magic, as was explained to me, was all about intent.

"I could, however, see how he'd lose some of it, because there was probably something in the back of his mind that actually wanted him to make the oath. Otherwise, there would not have been the tell-tale flash of magic to show the oath... 'took'."

She nodded and said, "That's pretty much the same explanation the healers gave me for how it happened."

"Anyway," she sighed, "That's neither here nor there as to why I'm here." She firmed up a bit and said, "Both Ambrose Pucey, young Mister Pucey's father, and Corban Yaxley have been arrested. I can't get anything out of Pucey Senior, because I couldn't convince him to give up the name of his blackmailer. However, it proved unnecessary. When I told him Mister Pucey the younger proved willing to sacrifice his magic to give up the name of his blackmailer and did just that, Yaxley knew he was sunk. That's when he finally admitted to the blackmailing and then gave us what hold he had over Pucey the Elder in revenge. Both will now be heading to Azkaban; after a trial, of course. That will be next week."

"Do we want to know what it was?" asked Hermione.

Bones hesitated a moment before she replied, "No; I don't think you really do."

"We don't need to," said Harry, giving Hermione a firm look before turning back to Bones.

"Thank you for letting us know," he said. "Have you been in to see the Finch-Fletchleys yet? They're in Apartment Nine."

She nodded and replied, "I've just come from there."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After Bones left, Harry followed her out and stopped at the Finch-Fletchley apartment, knocking on the door.

Tracey was quick to open it and let him in. He didn't even realise his three had followed him before Hermione slipped past him and went to sit and talk with CeeCee, who was sitting on a sofa doing homework.

From close nearby, Justin looked to Harry and smiled. "Greetings, Lord Potter," he said. "How fare thee?"

Harry gave a snort of amusement and replied, "I fare well, My Lord of Lonsdale. And, may one as humble as I enquire; how art thou?"

That was it for Justin, he burst into laughter; which had Harry chuckling, as well.

What Harry saw, though, was something that made him happier. CeeCee was trying to smother a case of 'the giggles'.

"That one's a classic!" said Justin, starting to calm down.

"So, what brings you to visit?" asked a calmer Tracey.

Harry replied, "We just got a visit from Susan's aunt."

"Ah," said Tracey. "Good news, wasn't it." She didn't say it as a question, more a statement; and the others knew it.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Harry had no idea they'd done it, but Neville and his two quietly alerted the rest of the school that Harry had put Adrien Pucey into a position where he had no choice but to breach an Oath. And that it was because the young man had attacked CeeCee. Plus, that was why the boy was no longer in school. Harry suspected they used the same method they 'outed' Daphne and Harry entering a relationship agreement.

For purebloods, losing their magic was a horror they didn't even want to contemplate. Deliberately doing it to themselves... That concept gave them nightmares.

For the many who had heard and believed it now meant that any fomenting plans that were about bringing harm or other mischief to CeeCee were immediately discarded, with all evidence of it even vanished lest Potter learn of it and come and deal with them in a similar fashion. Killing someone was one thing; it was a whole different magical duel to force them to give up their magic.

What they didn't know, as it was not something the Heirs wanted them to know, was that Pucey had not lost all his magic - just some of it. However, he wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts. Instead, there was no doubt he'd be convicted of the attempted murder of CeeCee and sent to Azkaban with his father and Yaxley. His own admissions would see to that.

He, his father and Yaxley would be facing the Wizengamot sitting in judicial review the next Tuesday morning. In the mean time, he'd be cooling his heels in the secure ward at Saint Mungo's while his father and Yaxley sat in DMLE holding cells. As it was a capital crime, they'd not be released on their own recognisance before the trial.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

No longer focussed on nothing but food while sitting at the table during meals, Ron had heard the rumour and decided it was more than believable. To him, it further cemented for him that Potter was a dark lord just waiting to take over the wizarding world. Forcing someone to give up their magic, he thought, was probably the most evil act of which he'd ever heard. Not even the Death Eaters had been that cruel.

And yet, people still thought that, while Potter had become dangerous, the boy was still a hero.

'Hadn't they learned anything when it was discovered Dumbledore was actually a hidden dark lord?' he wondered. 'Why can't they see Potter was just like him?'

He now resolved to take even more time in practicing the dark curses and the like in the books Nott had 'loaned' him. He was beginning to see it as his duty to wizarding Britain, as a light wizard, to deal with Potter.

Already, he had figured that the dark magic detection wards did not cover the unused classrooms, only the corridors.

While disillusioned he'd walked into one and cast a single curse before running out, crossing the outside corridor and slipping into a broom closet. He then waited there for a good five minutes to see if one of the teaching staff hurried up to see what had happened.

When the five minutes passed, he left the broom closet, re-entered the classroom and cast two even darker curses, before again quickly exiting and jumping into the broom closet. When, again, no Professor turned up, he knew he had his 'training room'.

That room was in the once banned third floor corridor 'on the left', not far from the room that used to hold Fluffy.

What he was unaware of, nor was anyone left alive who knew, that entire corridor had been separately warded by Quirrellmort with the use of runes. The man... men, when considering two souls... had set it all up just before the beginning of the 1991/92 year. He/They did not want any magic cast in that area to be detectable by Dumbledore. So, to that end, he/they created a self powering runic array that blocked the detection of such magics covering the entire floor of that 'wing' of the castle. Then, after what went down in the room with the Mirror, Riddle promptly forgot about it; or no longer cared.

With that runic array in place and still active it created a null field in the magical wards that related to cast magic. But, only relating to that third floor corridor. The runic array was 'nested' within the wider wards that covered the entire school and, therefore, overrode the castle's wards for that particular area.

Ward and Ancient Runes Masters would be able to better explain it but, simply put, Ron Weasley had unknowingly 'lucked out'. He had somewhere that was now considered 'disused', where he could practice casting dark and deadly curses and no one would detect it and intervene.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The next morning Sirius and Narcissa, together with a couple of aurors, had turned up to pick up both CeeCee and young Natalie. They'd come to collect both to take them to the DMLE to be interviewed over what happened on the Sunday morning on the sixth floor.

They were both back just as the 'Heirs' were sitting down for morning tea at the Hufflepuff table. And room was quickly made for both of them. Natalie joined them.

The first to be ready to ask, Justin quietly asked, "How'd it go?"

"It went well," replied CeeCee. "Uncle Sirius and Mum Narcissa were with us the whole time. It wasn't scary, at all."

Natalie said, "They gave us some special water to drink. It had these potions in it that made it easier to talk about."

Neville said, "I remember that. It has a mild truth potion and calming potion in it. A couple of drops of lemon juice, too."

"That's the one," nodded CeeCee.

Natalie added, "The auror, Connie I think her name was, said that the person who forced the situation... along with that Slytherin boy and his father... are all under arrest and won't be released until after the trials. Even then she didn't think they'd be released, as she thought they'd be found guilty and sent to 'Azzer-kah-ban', the prison."

Harry heard Hermione quietly mutter, "Azkaban." However, it was not loud enough for either of the two younger girls to hear. She was definitely doing better.

CeeCee said, "She said the trials would be held next Tuesday morning and both Natalie and I will need to be there for it. Uncle Sirius and Mum Narcissa are going to come and pick us up for it."

Harry smiled and said, "I'll be there, too, ladies."

"Me, too, if I can swing it," said Justin.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

For the rest of the school week there were no further attempts of harm directed towards CeeCee, or even young Natalie. However, Harry was definitely experiencing people not within their group staying as far away from him as they could get and still remain students within the school.

Again, students were afraid of him; just as they were in second year and after what happened the previous school year when Weasley was withdrawn from the school.

However, this time he had a much larger group of friends around him; not to mention the three beautiful witches who often individually warmed his bed.

Though he had worried about the initial reaction from Daphne, it passed within less than a day. She was also eager to share his bed on the Tuesday night to show she wasn't afraid of him, after all.

Again, Harry made sure she knew she didn't have to do 'that'. However, she smiled with slight exasperation and said, "Harry; I love you. I know you're not going to hurt me. I think it's about time you accepted that and let me decide whether or not I want to sleep with you; alright?"

Chagrined, Harry smiled back and nodded. "Sorry," he muttered.

By way of apology, he slid down the bed as he pushed her to lie flat on her back with her legs spread.

Moments later, Daphne no longer cared. "Ohhhh... M-merrr-LIIIIN!"

Hermione joined him the next night with the excuse that, since they both had Astronomy that night, it 'made sense' they slept together so they'd ensure they'd both make it.

It made Harry laugh, but he didn't turn her away.

When they returned from Astronomy, this year it was at 10.00pm, they both snuggled down together and were quickly asleep.

Thursday, like Wednesday, had the first period a 'free study' period. Unlike Wednesday, though, he didn't also have the free period in fourth period. That was the one where Daphne and Hermione were studying Arithmancy. Though, by the end of the day's classes, he still ended up exhausted. Thankfully, he knew Friday didn't have a class for him until the fourth period, when he had Ancient Runes.

For Thursday night he was in bed by 9.00pm and asleep by 10.30pm, though. The delay wasn't because he was restless, but because Fleur joined him within ten minutes of him going to bed. He tried to make sure she was content to drift off to sleep before doing so, himself; and, he thought, failed.

The next morning, Friday morning, he apologised to her for going to sleep so fast. She laughed and said she'd expected it. Then demanded he immediately make up for it with morning sex. A 'penance' he was happy to accomplish.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After the final class on Friday afternoon, a single of Transfiguration with the 'Claws, Harry, Hermione and Neville made their way to DADA, where the other girls and Justin were just coming out. Theirs was a combined Hufflepuff and Slytherin class.

They also knew that CeeCee had finished her last class for the day, Arithmancy, an hour earlier and that she'd already be up in the Lords' Quarters. For the whole week Fleur was disillusioning herself and waiting outside whatever classroom CeeCee was in for the sixth period and tailing the girl back to the Quarters.

She was also happy to tell Harry and Justin that, as well as Natalie, CeeCee was making further friends in the third year Gryffindor girls' cohort. They were Lucy Hurst, Anna Mirfield and Kate Olney. However, that last one was not as close as the first two and definitely not as close as Natalie. Further, a boy named Michael Karume was often with them. He was, as Fleur put it, 'sniffing' after Hurst.

It seems the other girls were all afraid of Vane and Holmes destroying their reputations with vicious rumours. Now that CeeCee had publicly put both girls in their place, CeeCee was now considered somewhat of a hero among the rest.

This was all good news for the Heirs. It meant, within her House and year cohort at least, they did not consider her a 'dark' witch. It also helped that CeeCee was also a very likeable young lady.

Personally, she'd only already made two enemies, Vane and Holmes, but both were far too afraid of what Harry or Justin, let alone Sirius, would do to them if they tried anything. Harry was happy with that. He didn't mind others being afraid of him and what he could do to them if it kept his friends and bonded safe.

Until then he was completely unaware, however, that Fleur had been up to the third year girls' dorm in the Gryffindor tower and set a number of rune warded protections about CeeCee's bed and trunk. His other two bonded did, but all three decided it was something Harry need not know.

In that, Fleur had been clever. She'd taken a leaf out of Harry's 'play-book' and only warded CeeCee's bed and effects with wards triggered by ill-intent. She did tell Harry she put up a 'notification' ward, but it was linked directly to her.

When Harry was about to say something, she smiled back and said, "I know what you are thinking, 'Arry. But, think about it. It's in the girls' dorms."

"Ah!" he said, understanding.

If the alert ward was set to him, he'd not be able to get up to CeeCee's dorm room, anyway. He wasn't female.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

That morning, Harry rose as early as usual and joined everyone for breakfast.

After breakfast finished he was then all set to escort his ladies to their first class when Daphne poked a finger into his chest and said, "Sit!"

When it looked like he was going to speak out in denial, she cut him off and said, "Look at how many of us there are now, Harry. There are no classes, now, where we'll be unaccompanied at all times. We do not need you to watch over us every waking moment."

Frowning, he eventually gave a nod as Daphne pulled her finger away. "Then, what do you think I should do?" he asked.

She immediately replied, "Make Friday mornings the time you work on House of Potter business and catch up on what you miss at the monthly Wizengamot meetings. You spent practically all of last Friday morning going over the Potter Gringotts accounts, yes?"

It was the Friday after the first Monday of the month, so Harry had received the documents on the Monday, but didn't have time to deal with them until the Friday morning while 'his' ladies were in classes. Even Fleur was out and about in the school - he suspected her of tailing CeeCee.

Hermione, waiting, said, "That's a good idea, actually." Looking more direct at Harry, she said, "The reason you chose to pull out of Muggle Studies was so you had the time to work on House of Potter matters, right? When better when you should have been in Muggle Studies at that time."

With a sigh, he nodded and said, "You're right. It's a perfect time to work on that."

So, that morning it was exactly what he did less the working on missed classes due to Wizengamot meetings or the like. He hadn't missed any yet. But would on the coming Tuesday due to the trials.

After having worked on the finances of the House the previous Monday, this day he was working on improving his share and property portfolios.

Property-wise he had Pottermore, Potter Cottage in Godric's Hollow and Lily's Retreat in Cokeworth, plus the few rental properties, but wanted to also acquire a couple more nice places for when his children came of age; or even something nice for Daphne for if and when she wanted to move out after she bore the Greengrass heirs and decided to part ways with him. It would be a nice 'going away' gift.

Thinking further on it he wanted to see if the goblins of Gringotts could organise an international property consultant for him. He was thinking about purchasing a 'holiday' property near Delacour Manoir in France, another near CeeCee's folks in Western Australia that could double as an emergency retreat for them and something in MaCUSA within New York and near what he knew of the 'garment' district there. He'd heard there was good shopping to be had there and thought his ladies might appreciate it. That one might need to be a penthouse, though, if he wanted it in New York City. Then again, he'd heard nice things about a place called 'The Hamptons', which were not that far away on that Long Island of theirs. That could also be 'do-able'.

Shares-wise he couldn't see any changes he'd like to make. Everything was doing fine. So, contrary to his 'itching' desire to make improvements, he knew any changes he made would unlikely be such. With a sigh he left it alone.

With his instructions to Ted Tonks, rather than Gringotts, to look for an real estate consultant for him sent off using Hedwig, Harry made his way out of the office to go over his assignments for the week to remind himself what was done and what was still left to do.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ