Sidhe Rising ch 19 NaNo 2007 winner

warnings = mental Hermione torture, starting to set the stage for slapdown



Gathering her belongings Minerva walked down the hall towards the meeting point in time to see Severus grabbing a hold of young Draco in anger. Quickening her pace she stopped when one of Harry’s guards punched the man causing him to double over in pain before kneeing him in the face. Running up she hoped she was in time as she noticed that the guard who was attacking Severus had pulled some type of blade. “STOP,” she screamed as she halted near the trio.


“What is going on here?” Minerva sternly glared at everyone, noticing that Severus was very much unconscious, “Well?”


Draco who had been shocked when Professor Snape had roughly grabbed him, yanking his arm yelling at him to come with him muttered out in disbelief, “He attacked me,” before stronger and louder, “He attacked me, gabbed me and yanked me practically off my feet yelling at me to come with him,” paling he thought Harry was not going to like this, when he found out he would himself restricted more than ever he glumly thought.


Seeing Draco pale, Minerva still shocked and vowing to bring this up with the headmaster later on looked a the guard who was slipping his lethal looking blades back into his…now just where did they disappear too she wondered, “Do you think you can refrain form attacking any one else as you escort Mr. Malfoy to the infirmary to be checked over or do I need to escort you to your…” not finishing the line as several more of Harry’s cousins guards appeared she sighed before motioning to one of the other guards, “Do you think you can take the Professor to the infirmary for me while I go meet Harry,” and find out what the bloody hell is going on she thought.


Seeing that Draco had disappeared with the over eager guard she started to walk away before catching out of the corner of her eye the smirks on the faces of the other guards and yelled out, “ALIVE, and in one piece.” Rubbing her temples as she continued down the hall Minerva thought this was going to be a long year, it was only the third bloody day.


Walking down the stairs leading to the Great Hall Minerva glanced around looking for Mr. Potter, not seeing him she looked into the great Hall and sending a glare up towards the head table she turned around and moved closer towards th front doors. Spotting Harry standing near the open door on the top of the steps she walked over, “Ready Mr. Potter?” Before walking down the steps walking towards the front gates.


Sighing Harry started after her, his guards moving in behind both of them, constantly looking around for threats. “You know professor there really is no need for this trip, I am sure I can make due…”


Sighing Minerva opened the gate before turning back, “I know Mr. Potter, you made that very clear during class, and I want to know why? But we will take care of that explanation after we get to London, we will actually be having lunch where we can discuss things without being overheard, from there we will go to Ollivander’s and get you a new wand blank so that your secret on being able to perform magic without one stays that way.”


Glaring towards the professor without any visible emotion Harry decided he had no one to blame but himself, he knew how she could put facts together, and he did forget where he was for a moment during class and let a little more slip then he should have, at least he should have erected the charm before she came inside the perimeter so she too remain unaware of what they were doing.


Realizing the shear power that Harry wielded Minerva was uncomfortable, it was like he was trying to decide how much of her memory he was going to leave her with, she had seen that very look on some Oblivilator’s faces before, sighing in relief when he nodded his head and started to move towards her again she picked up her pace, “we can floo form the Three Broomsticks, from there it will be a short walk to a café just past Ollivander’s where we can have lunch and not be disturbed.”


Harry had a different idea, “Professor,” he called out causing her to stop and turn, “I really am uncomfortable traveling by floo or port key, how about we travel by something a little more sane,” he held out his hand for her to take.


“You are to young to be legal…” about to tell him he was not legal to Apparate she remembered that the was a legal adult now and was legal, though he should not know how to do so yet, unless… Minerva slowly stepped back, “I assume your cousin taught you to Apparate also.”


Confused for a moment and letting it show on his face Harry smirked getting a glint in his eyes, “why no he did not, he taught me something a might bit different and much more enjoyable,” he extended his hand once more.


Not liking that look or trusting it as she had seen his father have that very look on more than one occasion, and it promised one that a prank was forthcoming Minerva sighed and reached out for his hand, not sure, “Mr. Potter your father had that very same look on his face right before every one of their big pranks went off.”


Mentally reaching out to find the flow of energy leading in the direction he wanted he quickly sent the image of the strand he was picking up to his three guards and grasped his professor hand, “It won’t be that bad Professor, all one needs to do is feel around them and step…” Harry told her as he stepped on the energy strand putting them both dead center in Diagon Alley, “and there you have it, we have arrived.” He wanted to laugh as Minerva let go of his hand twisting around in shock at being transported.


Staring at Harry in wonder, that was definitely not Apparation and besides being soundless it happened much faster than Apparation, he was able to pull of the travel in the space between words for Merlin’s sake. Calming her nerves she tried to keep her voice steady, “this way if you would Harry,” leading the way she thought she needed to take control before he ended up killing her through shock.


Harry was amused as they walked down the alley, he had flapped the unflappable professor and it was all he could do not to break out laughing. Glancing around at the shops and the people he started to be saddened at how stuck they seemed to be in the thirteenth centaury. Noticing one of his guards talking to the professor before moving ahead of them Harry made a mental note to get to know each of them, this pointing like a hey you was not proper, he would have to take care of that tonight when they got back to the Sithen.


Seeing the door they were headed for opening Harry was startled seeing Neville’s Gran walking out of the door, “Hello Mrs. Longbottom how are you today?”


Turning towards the voice that called out a greeting Augusta smirked, remembering the expression on the young mans face a few days ago she decided to tweak his tail a little more as he did have the most expressive face at times, “And good day to you your highness, Prince Harry.” Laughing at how quickly he jumped as he looked around to see if anyone overheard her comment she would have to thank her grandson later at being able to tease the young man so easily.


Minerva frowned as Augusta laughed and noticing Harry scanning the area to see if anyone overheard and the fact that Harry did not seem to be bothered by the bodyguards or think they would be against the school rules started to add up all the odd things happening around Harry and was coming to a startling conclusion, “Augusta could you spare a moment and join us, I think we need to talk,” she looked at her sternly.


Cutting off her laughter Augusta quickly became worried and nodded her head as she turned and went back inside the café.


Scanning the room as he entered Harry quickly pointed out a dark corner that was unoccupied, “Over there I think, far enough away from the rest of the tables, that my guards will be able to keep others away,” he informed them as he moved around Neville’s stunned grandmother and made for the seat in the corner, so his back would be to the wall and he could easily see every movement in their direction.


Noticing the three extras in Minerva’s company that screamed body guard Augusta paled wondering if what she had taken as Neville’s joking was not a joke but fact.


Sitting with his back against the wall Harry let his senses roam, feeling the energy flowing around and wished he could be sure he was doing the right thing, if he could truly trust both of these witches with the answers they sought, and some of his secrets. To many people had betrayed him so easily in the past and he muttered under his breath to soft to be heard by the two witches approaching, “Ancient Powers that walk once more guide me.” Along with the now familiar scent of roses and leather that meant his plea’s were being answered Harry felt the rippling in the energies around the café and felt the presence…no many presences move in the shadow and two of them make their way towards him.


Bringing up the rear Alex felt fur move past him and then smelled the scent of roses, glancing around he noticed the movement in the shadows and caught sight of the huge hounds flowing in and out of the shadows as the power awakened another creature of Fairy, the Cwn Annwn walked the earth once more and he smiled as the fables from his old world were brought to life in his new one, he so loved large dogs.


Sniffing the air as she sat Down Minerva glanced at Augusta who was copying her movement, “Do you smell roses?”


Feeling the soft brush of fur on either side of him Harry reached around and hugged two massive hounds as they appeared out of the shadow, the powers had answered his plea it seemed. Seeing both women pale and the professor whisper out, “Hell Hounds.” Harry smiled as he petted the two dogs heads as they leaned forward placing their massive heads on the table, eyes closed in pleasure, “Actually, they have white ears instead of red, which makes them oath hounds, though they still are of the Cwn Annwn.”


Hands resting on top of the massive dogs heads, one on either side of him Harry stared intently at the two witches, “Before we go any further…your oaths…your oaths to keep what you know and find out about me to yourselves!” he commanded, absolutely no give in his voice.


All the pieces fell into place for her, she being a Ravenclaw back in her youth knew exactly the only one the hounds would act like this with, she remembered back to the ministry banning the history books, wanting to rewrite history to suit themselves, she remembered how this summer she had found Neville looking through the books she had liberated from the Ravenclaw common room before they were destroyed while her head of house looked the other way. Hand shaking she reached for the glass of water in front of her, not knowing or caring when it appeared and almost spilled it as she picked it up and tried to quench the sudden parched feeling in her throat.


Gryffindor through and through Minerva while knowing what the beasts were did not have the same grounding in history as Augusta did had never seen the other so shaken before, turning to face Harry to give him her oath, something she was going to do anyway her eyes traveled across the table and were captured by the hound closest to her, not able to break eye contact Minerva faltered for a moment then, “You have my oath Harry, I will not knowingly betray you like others have to my shame, I let you down in a way by allowing Albus to always override my good judgment where you were concerned, I failed you as your head of house and I will do better in the future, I do not plan to fail you again.”


Augusta hissed out loud as she drew in a breath in shock, the oath Minerva just made…clearly she did not truly realize what they were dealing with. Shaking her head she cleared her throat, “may one ask…may one ask,” thankfully she was interrupted by one of the guards placing plates in front of Minerva and Harry, giving her time to collect her thoughts. Seeing the hound glaring at her out of the corner of her eye and not making eye contact until she could make her oath properly, “I will also give you my oath in a moment as it is clear to me Neville was preparing me all summer long for this day, But can I ask which court you are prince of so I may do so properly.” She nervously took another drink of water trying to loosen up her throat.


Putting his sandwich back on his plate Harry picked up his napkin and making to wipe his face hid the brief laugh behind it, “You know I am going to have to slap my cousin for starting all this in the first place, I mean I know I would have to take up my station in life and all that rot, but I had hoped to keep it secret until Yule at least, safely away from this world with all the answers on why the headmaster has done to me what he has.”


Augusta still in shock was rudely nudged out of it by the dog closest to her and turning as was natural to see what had nudged her was captured by its eyes and felt the command coming from the animal to give the oath now, no more stalling. The or else part was unspoken, “I Augusta Longbottom, give to you Harry my oath to keep your secrets until released by your own words.”


Satisfied when the oath hound perked back up Harry went back to scratching their ears in between bites of the sandwich he fed them while waiting for Professor McGonagall to finish, tired he just wanted to go back home to the Sithen and have a nice relaxing supper while soaking in one of the hot springs getting to know Deven more intimately. Laying back as the two women talked and compared notes he wondered when the questioning would start.


XXX


Hermione was having a bad day, first she had been shown up for the first time in transfiguration this morning, while she might have been able to accept it if it was any one other than Ron Weasley it would have still hurt, the fact it was Ron and he did so using magic totally unheard of to her, but beyond that the library had not given her even a slender clue of what she wanted to know. Not only that the nerve of that boy to infer that there was something she could not do, why the professors themselves had given her the title of the brightest witch of her generation, and by god she would not let anyone take that from her.


Slamming through the portrait she craned her neck around as she looked for her quarry, finding it or rather him talking to Neville over in the corner she stomped over, “Ronald Weasley you have a lot to answer for,” she ranted, hands on her hips as she stood glaring towards the red head in question, “how dare you embarrass me like that this morning. How dare you, well I am waiting.”


Blinking as he looked up at Hermione who was being quite mental, “Well what?” Ron looked back to see if Neville had a clue to what she was yelling about.


Throwing her arms up and waving them wildly around causing others passing by to duck, “What…I will tell you what I am waiting for the apology you owe me for telling me I will never be able to do something, and for keeping me from joining you this summer when you went to Harry’s and…” Hermione stopped her rant in shock when her voice suddenly cut off, looking around she noticed Neville of all people had hexed her as he was putting his wand away.


Ron angry and wanting to hit someone stood up and starting pacing in front of the fireplace, trying to calm down, if he hit Hermione like he wanted to his mother would have his head, though he was weighing the options on whether he could take the restrictions and the howler.


Leaning back into the chair eyes narrowed in anger, not so much at Hermione and Ron fighting, Merlin knew they were all used to that, no he was angry because she was blurting out information about Harry she should never have even breathed about knowing how the press treated him and especially how much of a rumor mill this school was, “Listen up Granger, you crossed a line, A line that being friends the past four years with Harry you should never have crossed, you also have yet to apologize for your actions last year at the end of term. Your behavior is what those raised in the magical world base Muggles on, and help fuel the hatred of the pure bloods,” standing up now he ignored her wild waving of her wand or her tears silently falling, “I don’t care if you were raised Muggle or that you are a bookworm or at times bossy and a know it all. But I do care about the lack of common decency you show to those different than you, or less studious than you.”


Shaking his head Neville started to walk away, “Come on Ron its time for lunch,” as he got to the portrait he turned to look over his shoulder, “Go back to the Library you love so much Hermione and research what Harry can do to you for your lack of remorse over what you and Ginny did last term,” Glancing at the red head in question he sighed, “I know deep down Ginny craves Harry demand the price of her for her indecency.” He told her and the silent room watched on in fascination as Neville walked out of the door followed by Ron, the girls eyes all eager as the ran up to their dorms to gossip about this latest development, that and write letters to their mums to find out what Neville was referring to.


XXX


Minerva after hearing the latest answer to her question sat and thought a moment before something totally unrelated popped into her head, “this new found friendship with Draco goes beyond house unity doesn’t it Harry?”


Nodding is head Harry smiled, “he carries my son.”


That simple statement caused Minerva to go cold, she had related the events of Severus’s conduct and the rescue by one of Harry’s guards when Severus attacked young Draco, after what happened with the front doors after Albus’s attempt of control she feared for the students lives, especially now that she knew she was dealing with the Sidhe. Cradling her head in her hands she took several deep breaths to control her fear.


Seeing how distraught the professor had become Harry smile still on his face, “That’s ok professor the students are not in any danger, your potion professor on the other hand, well if he starts anything tomorrow, and I assure you he will as he has not let a day go by without making my life a living hell, he will need to be replaced maybe as soon as tomorrow, as I do plan to kill him slowly and oh so carefully. We would not want him to die to easily now.”


Shocked at the smile but understanding that some people had to answer for their crimes no matter how sanctioned Augusta pulled the envelope she was going to mail to Neville when she returned home and opening it added a few names now that she knew that Draco was pregnant and sealed it, “Mr. Potter can I impose on you to deliver this to Neville tonight, it will save me having to owl him,” smirking before laughing, “it is the list of prospective people to date in the hopes of marriage that he asked me to make for him,” seeing the look she was getting from Harry she had to add, “I just wish I could be there to see his face when he reads that letter.”


Curious Harry took the letter, “I will deliver it first thing then and make sure I am near enough to watch his face when he reads it then, thank you for the warning,” he told her as she stood to leave.


Now alone Harry turned towards his head of house, who he thought had suffered one to many surprises today, sighing he stood up, “Shall we make our way to Ollivander’s to buy a wand blank so we can return, at a decent hour before any more disasters strike.”


Standing up tiredly Minerva looked at the green eyed hounds that were blending back into the shadow, “Merlin forbid.”


Looking up into the afternoon sky as he exited the café Harry scanned the crowd on the way back to Ollivander’s, “what do you know about the defense professor?”



Minerva was confused at the change of topic, “She was sent by the ministry, by a ministerial decree when Albus had not filled the defense spot by the end of June,” she snorted the position could not have been filled by the end of June as they wished seeing the opening only became available officially at the end of June, so I have to assume this is the ministry’s bid at controlling Hogwarts


Stopping at the door to Ollivander’s Harry held off opening the door, “Did you know the defense professor is torturing the students verbally, she is mainly targeting half bloods and Muggleborns, though with the slander she has been spouting off about me I have to wonder her true motives. And how long it will be before she takes the verbal torture into the realm of physical”


Shuddering in horror, afraid of not being able to save her students, “then there is nothing the staff can do Mr. Potter, our hands would be tied and to fight the ministry right now would leave the students without the little protection we can offer them.”


Shaking his head as he opened the door Harry’s words both gave her hope and frightened her, “I do not think my temper will survive her, I know she won’t survive mine.”


Later on as they walked back towards the castle no longer caring if the news of his ability to do magic without a wand came out and a length of blood wood for McGonagall so she could have a blood wand crafted for her stopped on the rise leading to the front gates, “I need answers,” he trailed off still looking at the castle, “Professor would you be so kind as schedule a meeting with Dumbledore for this Saturday, he has much to answer for and he has answers that I need.” Continuing down the path he remembered something, “Oh by the way professor, please remove my name from the rolls of Hogwarts, as an adult, not to mention one who could pass any test given by the examiners, I need to alter my status for my and Draco’s protection.”


Reaching the steps leading into the school Harry remembered he needed to invite her to his quarters, “Professor if you get with Ron or Neville in the morning, early, they can show you how to get to the rooms Hogwarts prepared for my use. Now if you will excuse me I need to check on Draco,”


Entering the hall Minerva nodded her head as she tried to remember if Filius had a class right now, “Sounds Fine Harry, I will let you know about the meeting with Albus in the morning then, I would think form the condition Severus was in when I left that your class with him first thing will be canceled so expect to have an extra period free for study,” she told him as she vowed to herself, if he was not injured enough to stay in the infirmary she would make sure he did not make a recovery before lunchtime.