Chapter 57

During the summer Harriet blamed her feelings and actions on newly emerging hormones and an unexpected proximity. She wasn't attracted to Harry, at least that's what she kept telling herself, it was just a matter of convenience. He was their age, he was a boy, he hadn't grown up with them, they were going through puberty.

Thus, her brain pointed him out as if to say, 'Yes, him, he's something to be lusted after.' But she had dismissed it, tried her best to ignore the way her heart accelerated, the sweat on her palms, the heat just below her stomach.

And it had been working. Throughout the summer she managed to avoid doing anything embarrassing or saying anything that would tear their relationship as siblings apart.

There were the occasional slip ups, of course, such as Amy kissing him, but those were all natural. Brothers and sisters kissed, at least according to her dad and godfather.

But then she had been told about the apprenticeship. After a bit of research, she had been upset. It wasn't difficult to find out that there were often expectations, that those involved were often put into situations that simulated a relationship, that an escalation of such wasn't unexpected.

What if he did end up being with her, enjoying being with her? Professor Riddle was considerably older than them, but she had heard some boys liked that, liked the maturity and security offered by an established woman.

What if he chose Grace Riddle instead of someone else his own age, someone like her?

It should have disgusted her, to admit such feelings. Instead, she kissed him after he had gone out with the woman. At the time there had been a slight justification in her mind, though she couldn't remember it after that evening.

The remainder of the summer had been, mostly good, a cooling of emotions and feelings, a willful ignorance of what was happening in their lives. Summer was simple, summer was easy.

Everything changed, however, when they returned to school, when Riddle became a major part of his daily routine once more.

It was that first night back when she noticed her sister's mood. Morose, defeated, and without a single word spoken she knew, understood.

"Harry?" A privacy curtain was drawn even as she sat down on the bed.

Amy looked up from where lay, staring back into her own eyes as if trying to decipher the meaning. Then, the redhead nodded. "Are we… bad sisters?"

Were they? Harriet quickly debated both points of view in her mind. Really, it could go either way.

"We just want the best for him." There it was, the reasoning she had been searching for. It wasn't that she wanted Harry so much that it hurt, it was that she wanted the best for him. She wanted him happy, to have as much choice in his life as possible.

And yes, she wanted him to be whispering her name as they laid naked in bed, entangled with each other.

But why shouldn't she? "This thing with Riddle, it's too one sided. She doesn't care about him, doesn't understand him. This is just a trade, Harry receives training, political support, and an escort to adult gatherings along with options for his future. In return she gets to spend time with him, to pretend they have a relationship."

"It's wrong" Amaryllis spat, irritation evident on her face, obviously taking the logic to where she had as well, "his first time shouldn't be with someone like that, shouldn't be with some older woman."

The raven-haired witch nodded in agreement, "He should be with someone his own age, someone who loves him, someone who cares about his feelings and about making him feel good rather than just herself. Someone who sees him as a person not just an object to show off."

Silence fell in the room, the two girls staring at each other in silent conversation.

"Should we..."

"Yes"

"We should both…"

"I agree"

The deal was made, and the planning had begun.

****

"So, how old is Harry Potter?"

One question, it had taken just one question to silence the group of educators and focused all of their attention, along with more than a little mistrust and perhaps annoyance, onto their newest member.

Before any of those 'in the know' could give a proper response, likely along the lines of minding her own damn business, Aurora Sinistra spoke answered, "He is a second year."

"He will not be taking any electives until next year at earliest." Grace noted, with a slight edge in her voice. "Even then his parents have made it clear that he will be focusing primarily on Defense and Dueling."

Her response was clearly not satisfactory to all, but none commented further save for Lockhart, herself, "Well that isn't a problem now, is it? I myself am quite the accomplished duelist and I have been around the world several times in my ongoing battle against the darker threats."

Most rolled their eyes, some more discreetly than others. Snape, naturally, sneered in aggravation. For Riddle, however, her gaze narrowed, "Odd, I don't recall anything spectacular from your time in my class, nor your participation in our club."

If her plan had been to catch the woman in an embarrassing lie it failed, and the newest instructor merely waved the facts away, "I simply did not come into my own until leaving Hogwarts. Clearly, I needed a wider perspective to realize my talents, something I am certain young Harry will be able to benefit from as well. That, and a gentle, guiding hand."

"Mister Potter," McGonagall easily corrected, "is not eligible to take your class until his next year, at earliest."

Gordana crossed her arms in clear annoyance at the rules, "Surely exceptions can be made, especially if he is as talented as the rumors make him out to be." Here she looked directly at the highest authority, Dumbledore, who had remained silent thus far to see if the situation would resolve itself.

Clearly, it would not, as several other heads turned to her as well.

Letting out a, clearly unhappy, sigh the woman removed her glasses to rub at the bridge of her nose. Not even a week in and conflict was already brewing amongst the staff. "Exceptions can be made…" Here Lockhart grinned in victory, "but they are extremely rare and only occur when a student shows remarkable talent in an area offered by the elective. Since mister Potter's expertise is solely in Defense, there is no justification for early admittance into the study of Magical Creatures."

Now the newest professor's smile fell, while Riddle's lips twitched upward.

Sitting back in her seat, the woman crossed her arms with the semblance of a pout, "Then I will just have to write his parents directly about an apprenticeship. Talent such as his should not go to waste on technicalities. He needs someone who can appreciate what he has to offer."

The comment earned an uncomfortable silence as more than one looked over to where Harry's current mentor sat, eye twitching slightly with restrained anger, "Harry," she all but seethed, "is already receiving lessons and instructions from me. I have spoken with him and his parents in person and have already begun expanding his knowledge to the finer points of Magic."

"You have been a teacher since before I was in school, perhaps your knowledge and skill has stagnated."

Eyes widened in surprise and several professors leaned back in their seats to avoid any collateral that might occur when Grace decided to paint the walls with the newcomer's insolence. Instead, her fists clenched and unclenched in slow measured motion.

"Enough, both of you." The oldest among them demanded, "This is not a competition, this is a place for learning and growth of the students. If you cannot be civil towards one another…" Dumbledore trailed off, allowing the two adults to easily understand the unspoken remainder.

Even as the conversation shifted to the upcoming school year, to lesson plans and the various classes, the two 'rivals' merely exchanged glares of promise.

It might not have been a competition before, but it had just turned into one.

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