|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Author: Shamrock Holmes Story: Harry Potter and the Torch of Caelum Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 2 Words: 59,803
When the group reached the village, Ron and Hermione disappeared into a wizarding art gallery, while Neville and Luna headed into Broadmoor's Botanicals again and Susan excused herself to join a group of sixth and seventh-year Hufflepuffs, but promised to meet them in the Three Broomsticks for a drink later. Left alone, Harry and Ginny stood together for a moment, and looked around, not quite sure what to do. "I need to pop into the Post Office," said Harry. "They're holding a package for me from Quality Quidditch Supplies. Will you come with me? I'll only be a minute." "It's not a problem, Harry." True to his word, Harry was only in the Post Office for a few minutes. When he came out, clutching a medium-sized, rather squishy, parcel, the couple linked arms and walked up the road to Honeydukes' — where Harry bought some chocolate — then continued on to Gladrags Wizard Wear. "Maybe you'll stop stealing my socks now," Harry suggested with a grin when they leave the clothes shop about ten minutes later. "I doubt that, but thanks for the socks anyway, they should be nice and warm." "Would you like to see Jedrec's Jewel Emporium?" Harry asked. "I might get you something for Valentine's Day if you do." "I'd love too, Harry," Ginny said. "My cat necklace is beautiful." She touched the charm, which hung around her neck as it had been almost constantly since receiving it on her birthday. Nodding, Harry hooked his arm in hers and steered her down Faber's Lane. As they entered the shop, Harry noticed the shop next door was a rather expensive weapons store called Schmied's Swords. I must have a look in there some time, I need a polishing kit for my weapons. Jedrec was behind the counter as usual. "Hello again, Mr Potter. Another Weasley?" "Yes Jedrec, this is my girlfriend, Ginny Weasley." "Ah, yes. I see the necklace now," said Jedrec. "Are you buying today?" "If Ginny sees something she likes." "Well, in that case... what can I show you, Miss Weasley?" Ginny looked up at Harry. "Can I have some earrings?" "You can have anything you want, love," Harry told her. "You deserve the best." "Coming right up," said the goblin. Ducking under his counter, he produced two trays of gold earrings — one with inset rubies, the other with inset emeralds — most of which had a cat theme in one way or another. "How about one of these?" Ginny bent down to get a better look at them, and fingered one or two pairs on each tray. After about twenty minutes, she finally decided on a pair of cat's-head studs with minute rubies in the eyes. Harry handed over twenty Galleons (Jedrec had initially quoted the price as thirty-five Galleons but Harry broke him down) and they left the shop. "Do you mind if we go here, Gin?" Harry asked, indicating the shop next door. Ginny shook her head and the couple walked inside. Unlike the jewellery store, which was brightly lit and filled with glass display counters and a bright cream-and-white paint scheme, the sword shop was panelled in dark wood and dimly lit. When the shop-owner came out of the back room, it was obvious to both of them why: Schwartz Schmied was a stocky, black-haired, black-bearded dwarf. "Vat can I do for you?" he asked, in a gruff voice thickened by an accent that reminded Harry a little of Viktor Krum. "I need cleaning kits for a sword-stick and a pair of glaives," Harry told him. "Vat are zey made off?" "Argentium steel. They're from the Avalon Armoury." The dwarf grunted with satisfaction. "Good workmanship zat is, dwarf workmanship, almost as gut the blades I make. Do you haff zem vith you?" "I have the glaives with me, the sword-stick is back at Hogwarts." "Can I see zem?" Schmein asked. "It will help me decide vot to recommend." Harry nodded, and reaching under his coat, unsheathed the weapon. Schmein took and turned it around a few times, examining it from all angles. "Very nice, very nice… You must haff paid a lot off gold for zem? Ja?" "They were Christmas presents," admitted Harry. "A cleaning kit?" "Ja, ja. Von moment, bitte." After a minute or two searching, the swordsmith found what he was looking for and slapped the small wooden box on the main counter. "Zis should be fine for you," he said to Harry. "Does the sword-stick have zis maker's mark also?" he asked, pointing out a stylised KS at the base of one of the glaive's blades. Harry nodded, and took back his glaive, tucking it into its holster at his belt. "How much?" "Forty Galleons to you, Herr Potter." "How did you…." began Harry, then he sighed. "Never mind. Here's your money." "Danke," said the dwarf, accepting the handful of coins with what could have been a grimace — though Harry it was probably an attempt at a smile. "Come again." "We will," Harry assured him. "Would this kit work for a Fairbourne?" "Ja, if it is Silbewerker's vork." Harry glanced at Ginny, who nodded. Satisfied, the couple left the shop. ---- Twenty minutes later, they entered the Three Broomsticks. Neville, Luna and Susan were already seated at one of the larger booths along the wall. "Why don't you go and sit down, Gin? I'll get the drinks." Ginny nodded and headed over to their friends' table, stopping briefly to say hello to Professor McGonagall and her group of staff who were seated at their usual table. Harry watched her for a moment, then smiled to himself and turned back to the bar. "Two Butterbeers please, Rosmerta," he asked when the woman stopped in front of him. "Coming right up, Mr Potter." Harry handed over the required sum of silver, took the two mugs of warm, frothy liquid and headed over to his friends. Setting down the two mugs on the small table, he slid in beside Ginny, putting his arm across her shoulder and drawing her in close. "Ginny was just telling us about her Valentine's Day gifts, Harry," Susan said. "They're really beautiful." "I wish you won't be so generous, Harry," moaned Neville. "You're showing the rest of us up." Harry laughed, "Don't worry Nev, I'm sure whatever you get Luna has as much meaning for the two of you as any piece of jewellery." Luna nodded and the five of them chatted comfortably until Ron and Hermione arrived about twenty minutes later. As Susan moved round to make room for them, Harry eased himself out of the booth. "Butterbeer?" Ron and Hermione both nodded, Ron slightly reluctantly — he was still a little uncomfortable with the idea that his best friend had a lot more money than he did. However, when Harry returned a few minutes later with a tray full of Butterbeers, he realised that having a rich friend had some advantages. They stayed in the bar until it was almost time for dinner, then they headed up to the castle in a group. At the Entrance Hall, Susan split off from the others and headed down the dungeon stairs to her common room, while the others headed upstairs with Luna breaking off from the Gryffindors when they reached the seventh floor, she headed west while they headed east. When they entered the common room, Harry pulled Ginny into a dark corner of the room out of prying eyes and kissed her. When they broke apart he smiled. "I had a great day today, Ginny." "So did I, Harry," Ginny told him. "I'll see you at dinner, okay?" Harry nodded, and watched as his girlfriend disappeared up the girls' staircase. He touched his lips and smiled. Harry Potter, you are a lucky man. A very lucky man. ---- «Harry! Harry!» Harry jerked out of his bed on March 1st, «What is it, Jonas?» «We have a Priority-Three Emergency, another student is down. Rendezvous with the rest of the Defence Council at the Hufflepuff Quidditch changing room.» «I'm on my way,» Harry told him as he leapt out of bed and grabbed his clothes. ---- Ten minutes later, Harry arrived at the Quidditch pitch to see Madame Pomfrey, Professor Sprout and Jason Draper float a limp form in a canary-yellow Quidditch uniform up towards the castle. Most of the rest of the Defence Council — Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Dr Chrystan — were standing outside the changing room, waiting for Harry. «What's the situation, Sparky?» «The victim, Scott Summersby, was found half-an-hour ago by Mr Smith,» answered the headmaster. «Meredith and Jonas are checking the scene now, and Healer Malone and Mr Draper will be checking over Mr Summersby.» «This is Jason Draper on the telepathic link.» «Good ahead, Mr Draper.» «We have something, but I'm not sure how much use it will be,» Draper continued. «I'll meet you in your office. Thomas and Professor Sprout will stay with Summersby.» «Very well,» said Dumbledore. «Filius, Rex, could you please remain here for the moment? Minerva, Severus, Harry, please follow me.» ---- "What have you got for us, Mr Draper?" asked Dumbledore a few minutes later when the five of them were gathered in Dumbledore's office. "Just these," said Draper, and took out a Muggle evidence bag from his pocket, inside were a couple of chips of wood. "Ebony, and from the look of it I'd say it came from a broomstick." "Ebony is not used very often for broomsticks," Flitwick pointed out. "It's too expensive." "Harry, your thoughts?" "Professor Flitwick is right, Sparky. Ebony is almost never used to make broomsticks, the only company that uses it is the Nimbus Racing Broom Company, and even then only on the Two Thousand and One." "What about your broomstick, Potter?" asked Snape. "That's not a Nimbus Two Thousand And One." "Correct Severus, it is not," agreed Harry. "It isn't made of ebony either. The Lightstrike is made of rowan coated in a paste of black diamonds, not polished ebony." "Thank for that clarification, Harry," said Dumbledore. "So we know what broomstick it came from, but how does that help us?" "The Nimbus series are professional standard brooms, Sparky," Harry reminded him. "Only a Quidditch player would fork the money for one." "You may be right, Harry. However, we have over thirty Quidditch players at Hogwarts so we need to narrow it down." "Well, none of the Gryffindor team flies the Nimbus series at all. Katie flies a Cleansweep Six; Ginny and Wilhelm fly Firebolts; Ron and Harvey have Cleansweep Eights, David and Shaw have Thunderbursts, and Kirke, Sloper and Sharon are using Comet Two-Sixty's. And I have the Lightstrike. Plus Oliver Wood's old Cleansweep Six is locked up in our changing room. I'm not sure about most of the Hufflepuff team, but Summersby himself flies a Cleansweep Seven and Zacharias Smith has a Nimbus Two Thousand. As for the Ravenclaw team… Cho flies a Comet Two-Sixty and the rest of the team use Cleansweeps as far as I know…" he glanced at Flitwick, who nodded. "So, we come back to…" "Slytherin." "Yes, Severus, we do," agreed Dumbledore. "Are you sure it is one of them, Harry?" "Almost entirely. I know the other members of the Hufflepuff team… most of them are in the DA. It's got to be a Slytherin, I'll stake my job on it." "Indeed? How do you propose to proceed?" "Question Malfoy, if it is a Slytherin, he'll know. And I think I can get it out of him." "Potter…" "Do nothing illegal, Harry." "I won't, Sparky," Harry assured him. "But, I will find out what he knows." ---- Harry contacted Jason Draper using one of the spelled mirrors and asked him to escort Draco Malfoy to his office at one o'clock that afternoon, and then headed for the dungeons. Entering the kitchens, he located Dobby and slipped a small glass vial containing a clear liquid into the house-elf's bony hand. "Could you make sure a little of this gets in Malfoy's goblet at lunchtime? At least two drops but no more than five, and don't tell anyone, okay?" "Of course, Harry Potter sir, Dobby is glad to help," Dobby assured him. "No-one will know sir, Dobby promises." Harry nodded, "Good, Civis or I will be down for the vial by tomorrow morning." Dobby nodded vigorously and returned to his work. After a minute or two, Harry left the kitchens and hurried up to the ground floor. The students were still eating breakfast and Harry slid into his place at the Gryffindor table between Ginny and Jamie. "Sorry I'm late, I had one or two security matters that I needed attend to." "Anything serious?" asked Ginny. "You could say that, another student was attacked and he's in a bad way. Professor Sprout, Madame Pomfrey and some of the others are working on him on. Grubbly-Plank'll be covering Herbology and Professor Dumbledore is going to get Leona to come down and cover Snape's classes." "Who was it?" "Scott Summersby, the Hufflepuff Seeker." "Will he be okay?" "Not in time for the match against Slytherin in two weeks." "Now that timing's not at all suspicious is it?" commented Jamie. "Nope," agreed Harry. "But I think I've persuaded Snape that the problem's coming from his House at least. He's also agreed that I can have a quiet word with Malfoy, just in case he knows something he, err… forget to mention?" "Good work, Harry," said Jamie. "I knew you'd solve it." "Thanks, I wasn't sure I would myself," he admitted. "Hermione?" Ron and Hermione were sitting opposite Harry, Hermione looked up. "Yes, Harry?" "Do you know what we'll be doing in Transfiguration today?" "Finishing off hair transfiguration spells, I think." "Well, I've already managed that," pointed out Harry, brushing his hands through his now shoulder-length — and somewhat controlled — hair. He had mastered the Hair-Lengthening Charm over the holidays with help from Sirius and Draper. "What's next?" "Bone growth, I think." Harry winced, "That sounds painful." Hermione nodded, "According to Katie, it is." "I can hardly wait." ---- Harry ate a quick lunch that day, and hurried up to his office. After settling himself down, he spoke. «Jonas, Malfoy will be coming to my office shortly. Standby.» «Standing by.» At precisely one o'clock, there was a knock on Harry's door. «Come in.» After a few seconds, Draper and Anderson entered dragging Malfoy. Anderson pushed the blond Slytherin into a chair and stood back. Malfoy looked like he was about object to the rough handling, but a glare from the green-eyed woman changed his mind. "You can go, guys," Harry told them. "Malfoy and I are going to have a little chat." The two Guardians nodded and left, closing the door behind them. "If you think I'm going to…" started Malfoy, rising out of his seat. "Sit down, Malfoy," said Harry, when Malfoy didn't he pulled out his wand. "Incarcerous!" Ropes shot from his wand and bound Malfoy to his chair. "Now where were we?" "If you think you can get away with this, you're wrong, Potter!" snared Malfoy. "My family has friends in high places!" ìI doubt that, Malfoy," said Harry. "If you did, then your father would probably not be rotting in Azkaban." Malfoy sputtered indignantly for a minute or two then fell silent. "Now, I expect you're wondering why I've asked you to come here?" "You didn't ask me, Potter. You had two of your goons drag me here!" Malfoy pointed out. "If you say so, Malfoy," conceded Harry. "The Defence Council and I have determined that the recent attacks on younger students have been carried out by one or more Slytherins. Is there anything you might have... forgotten to mention about the attacks that you would like to share with me?" "No," said Malfoy, whose voice was starting to slur a little. "Only that they deserved what they got. Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers all of them." Harry stiffened at the comment, but didn't react. "It was pretty clever the way the first three attacks were covered up, whoever organised them was pretty smart. They fouled up on the last one though, one of the Guardians spotted them." Malfoy smirked. "Well of course they were spotted, those two idiots are too stupid to tie their own shoelaces without help!" "Crabbe and Goyle?" queried Harry. "Of course it was Crabbe and Goyle, Potter!" said Malfoy. "Who else could it have been?" "Good point," admitted Harry. "What about the other three attacks? They managed them okay." "The only reason they went off without a hitch is that I told them exactly what to do. Nott and I had to show them with that brat Clayton." "Thanks for that, Malfoy." All of a sudden, Malfoy seemed to come to his senses. "What did you do to me, Potter?!" "Oh, just a few drops of Verboloserum in your juice goblet at lunch," Harry told him. "Dobby was happy to help." "You can't hurt me, Potter," Malfoy snarled. "You can't prove anything. Only you heard what I said!" Harry clucked, "Oh, can't I?" he asked and reached behind him. Taking a small mirror from the shelf opposite, he turned it so that Malfoy could see it. "Say hello to Jonas Johnson, he's an Inquisitor in the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol, and he's been recording everything that you've been saying." At this the blond Slytherin uttered several choice words that Harry knew that Hermione and Mrs Weasley definitely wouldn't approve of and tried to break free. "Jonas, could you ask Draper and Anderson to come back, and make sure that Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape hear your recording immediately?" "Of course, Harry." ---- Ten minutes later, Harry and Malfoy — accompanied by Draper and Anderson — arrived at the base of the stairs up to Dumbledore's office. Harry gave the password ("Blood pops.") and they went up. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout were already waiting for them, and by the looks of things had been there for some time. "Sit down, Mr Malfoy," Dumbledore told the Slytherin, from where Harry was standing next to Fawkes, Dumbledore looked more serious than he ever had — apart from possibly when he told him about the Prophecy. "I cannot impress upon you the seriousness of the acts which you have committed. Were you appearing before the Wizengamot on criminal charges, it is likely that you would be sent to Azkaban for a considerable period of time." he paused for a minute to let this sink in. "However, you are not and that must be taken into consideration... Professor Snape and I have agreed that it is no longer appropriate for you to serve as either a House Prefect or as your House's Captain of Quidditch, therefore I must ask that you surrender your badges and cease all activities concerned with same. That includes your employment of Mr Bern as Slytherin team coach. Furthermore, one hundred points will be taken from Slytherin and you will be suspended for a period of two months at which time you will be permitted to return, any further transgressions will result in your expulsion." Harry smiled, This is good, this is really good. But Dumbledore hadn't finished. "Messrs Crabbe and Goyle will be suspended for a period of one month, and another seventy-five points each will be taken from Slytherin for their part in the affair. Mr Nott will also receive a one month suspension, and fifty points will be taken from Slytherin on his behalf." Harry glanced at Snape. The expression on his face was one of carefully hidden rage and Harry was glad that he didn't have him for Potions until Monday. ---- When Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room, most of his friends were clustered around Ron, who was busily unwrapping his birthday presents. Glancing over the pile of already opened presents, Harry could see that his best friend had already opened the signed Chudley Cannons robes that he had left with Jamie to give to him. He waited until Ron noticed him and looked up. "Ron, I've got another present for you..."
A/N: I'm sorry it's been such a long wait for the next chapter, but life been pretty busy for both of us recently. Sock-stealing!Ginny belongs to Imogen of Elenarda and is being used without permission. The next chapter will be up as soon as Minerva and I can manage it. Keep reviewing!
|