"Oh, hi Draco." Harry said as he walked back to the hospital wing, spotting Draco along with Crabbe and Goyle on the way.
"Potter," Draco nodded in greeting. "have you seen my father?" Draco asked. "I had heard he was in school."
"Oh, me and him talked for a bit." Harry said with a smile. "He left a few minutes ago." Harry added just before walking past them. Eventually Harry reached the hospital wing where he saw everyone was still where Harry had left them, with the exception of Dumbledore who had left.
"Mr Potter," Mr Weasley said upon seeing him. "pardon me but may I ask what you were talking with Mr Malfoy about?" He asked with a hopeful look in his eye. Harry quickly realized that the red head was hoping for something that he could use against Lucius.
"I apologize but that, Mr Weasley, is between Mr Malfoy and myself." Harry said before he walked past everyone, he glanced at Angela, who was still asleep, before he stopped at Roman's bed where he was lying down. Roman gulped upon seeing Harry stand in front of him.
"Y...yes?" Roman asked in a worried voice as he sat up.
"I...am rather proud of you." Harry admitted.
"I...wait what?" Roman blinked, not sure if he heard right. "You...you're proud of me?"
"Of course," Harry nodded. "you did get possessed but you also fought off a very powerful dark wizard for the better part of a year. You did good, don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
"You can't be serious!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed.
"Mum!" Ginny protested.
"He attacked everyone!" Mrs Weasley said, ignoring her daughter for the moment.
"And he was possessed by a dark artifact," Harry calmly pointed out. "if you believe it is such an easy thing to overcome then I am sure Professor Dumbledore can recreate or have someone else recreate the object so we can attempt to see how well you can resist it." Harry offered. Mrs Weasley blanched at the idea. "I assumed not." Harry added. "Now, Mrs Weasley, your daughter has been in a terrible situation. Might I suggest focusing on her." Harry said before he walked over to the Carrow twins, Hestia was still in bed while Flora was sat next to her. Harry waved his wand once he was close enough.
"What was that?" Hestia asked.
"Just a spell so we can talk without the red banshee overhearing us." Harry explained as he sat on the bed, next to Hestia's feet. "Now, are you okay?" Harry asked.
"Hmm," Hestia hummed. "I think so."
"Good," Harry nodded. "I'd like to ask you two girls to do me a favour and please don't do anything to Roman."
"Why?" Flora asked.
"Flora!" Hestia hissed.
"I'm not saying that we were planning to!" Flora said in a defensive voice. "And for the record I don't intend to do anything to him, but I just want to know why?"
"Roman is in unique situation," Harry began explaining. "three quarters of the school hate him because of his house and parents while the last quarter hates him because he is a halfblood. Now, I managed to avoid most of these problems by being the parslemouth boy-who-lived and being able to wrap the public around my finger with a few words. Roman is not quite so lucky, do you understand?"
"I think so." Flora nodded after a moment.
"Good, you two don't have to be friends with him but at least don't go and make the kids life worse." Harry said before he cancelled the privacy charm. He stood up and gave Ginny a small nod, he'd speak to her another time when her parents weren't around to interrupt. Harry walked back to Angela's bed, he pulled up a chair and sat on the opposite side of Mrs Zabini who was holding Angela's hand in one of her own while gently stroking her hair with her other hand.
"My daughter has told me about you," Mrs Zabini commented. "she's told me a lot about you."
"Good things, I hope." Harry replied.
"Very good," Mrs Zabini nodded. "I will admit that at first I was worried about my daughter becoming a vassal, but when she gets a 'good idea' in her head it is hard to convince her to change my mind. For the first time, I find myself happy that she chose you. You are a good man, Harry Potter, and I hope that you continue to care for my daughter." She said, her eyes locking onto his.
"Always." Harry said without hesitation.
"That's good to know." A sleepy voice said, Harry and Mrs Zabini's heads snapped towards the direction of Angela who slowly sat up and began rubbing her eyes.
"Are you okay, baby?" Mrs Zabini asked in a concerned voice.
"What happened?" Angela asked in a tired voice. "I...I don't remember what happened...I was called into Lockhart's office and then...everything went black." She frowned and looked between Harry and her mother.
"It is a bit of a long story." Harry sighed before he began spending several minutes explaining everything from Flora finding him to arriving back in the hospital wing. Angela looked horrified when she learned about what Lockhart was doing to her, she and Harry missed the brief look in Mrs Zabini's eyes. As Harry continued Angela felt a swarm of different emotions such as fear for Harry, worry and concern and disappointment.
"I...I am so sorry," Angela said in a low voice as she looked down. "it...it's my job to assist you, to serve you...I...I have failed you." She said as tears dripped down her face. "If...if you wish to be rid of me then I will understand." She gulped as she looked at him. Harry stared back at her for several seconds, he was unblinking and unmoving, Angela shifted under her gaze. Eventually Harry raised his right hand and brought it in front of her face before he flicked her forehead, hard. "Ow." She naturally blurted out before she registered what had happened. "What was that for?" She asked as she rubbed her forehead, Harry thought it looked quite cute but didn't voice that opinion.
"I am not getting rid of you." Harry said as he used his hands to wipe her tears away. "Your skills and abilities are important but so is your loyalty, I'd rather have a loyal muggle than an un-loyal witch. Lockhart took you by surprise, it happens, he will suffer and we will both use this as a lesson. Despite how powerful and skilled we are, the next time we will not underestimate anyone."
"But...but I failed you." she said in a quiet voice.
"Yes, yes you did." Harry nodded. "Now, you have a choice, learn from this failure and get stronger for me or don't. There's an important word you need to remember, it's called consistency. You failed now, do your best to not do it next time."
"T...thank you, Harry." She said, breathing heavily, a teary smile on her face.
"You might be my vassal, but I do care for you, and I don't intend to abandon you." Harry said in a firm voice.
"Thank you," Angela said once again, she stared at him for several seconds before she spoke again. "I suppose I must thank you." She said in a quiet voice.
"Huh?" Harry blinked. "What are you talking about? You already did thank..." Harry found himself cut off as Angela grabbed him by the collar before she pulled him in close and pressed her lips against his. Harry's eyes widened as he felt Angela kiss him, it was an odd experience, feeling her lips against his, but not an unenjoyable one. A few seconds later she released him. She didn't see her mother smirking from behind her and she ignored the gaping from everyone else and instead looked at the shocked face of Harry. "W...what?"
"That was my proper 'thank you'." Angela smiled brightly at him. Harry shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind, he was about to respond when he heard the sound of clapping. Harry looked at the hospital wing and saw Ted, Andromeda and Tonks standing in the doorway. The former two looking relieved while the latter was the one responsible for the clapping.
"Older girl Harry!" Tonks cheered. "Well done." She said before she suddenly rushed over and pulled him out of his chair and pulled him into a hug. "I was so worried about you!" She said before she suddenly frowned and let go.
"Tonks, I...Ow!" Harry blurted out when she punched him hard in the arm. "What was that for?"
"That's for worrying me!" Tonks hissed at him, her hair briefly turning red. Harry was about to say something when Tonks had another personality shift and quickly pulled him into a hug again. "Never do anything like that again!" She said as she hugged him tightly.
"For the record, don't really plan to." Harry said as he hugged her back.
"We were really worried about you, Harry." Ted said as he and Andromeda walked over, Ted had barely pulled him into a hug just before Andromeda ripped him out of Ted's grip and pulled him into a tighter hug.
"What the devil were you thinking?!" Andromeda hissed once she let go of him.
"Depends on when you mean, because if it was during then mostly my thoughts were somewhat along the lines of 'die motherfucker, die motherfucker, die'." Harry admitted while rubbing the back of his head.
"Harry." Andromeda said in a warning tone.
"Okay, okay." Harry said before he sat down. Ted waved his wand and created a chair for each family member to sit in. "Alright, it started with a first year Slytherin girl coming over to me." Harry said as he began explaining what had happened.
"You fought a fucking basilisk?!" Tonks blurted out once he was done.
"I killed one, yes." Harry nodded as if it was a common thing to do at his age.
"He did it to help me." Flora said as she walked over, she looked at Andromeda and Ted. "I begged him to help, and I wouldn't wait for him to get a teacher. Please don't be mad at him." She said in a quiet voice. Andromeda and Ted looked between Harry and the other girls that he had rescued.
"I..." Andromeda paused and let out a large sigh as she looked at Harry. "...am not happy at all that you ran into the chamber of secrets but I understand, Merlin help me but I understand. With that being said you are still in trouble, but...I will be lenient."
"Thank god." Harry said under his breath.
The next day the Wizengamot was gathered, the modern Wizengamot functioned as a combination of court and parliament, today they were acting more as a court. Today was the trial of Gilderoy Lockhart AKA as 'dumbass' in Jet's case. A great many people, including a lot of reporters, had shown up so they could witness the trial of Gilderoy Lockhart, the man who was quite famous for the 'heroic deeds' he had performed. It was pretty much a given that this was not something that you would miss if you could help it.
In the room today were the Wizengamot members, which included many noble house, also attending was Cornelius Fudge the Minister of Magic, and with him was Dolores Umbridge, undersecretary to the Minister. Umbridge glared at him, clearly remembering the last time they had met.
The other most noticeable attendant was Albus Dumbledore who would be doing his duty as Chief Warlock. Funnily enough Lucius Malfoy did not attend, Harry couldn't possibly imagine why. Though the smirk on his face said otherwise.
Harry was here with Andromeda today for two main reasons, one of which being the fact that he was involved in the incident. Harry thought that his current look was quite impressive, he was wearing expensive looking robes that were black with the Potter crest on the right side of his chest. That plus the fact that Harry had Jet on his shoulders made a big impression. Harry would like to take his place here but unfortunately he had to wait until he was of age.
Harry glanced to his left and saw Angela sat with her mum.
"The Wizengamot is now in session," Dumbledore said as he banged his gavel on the desk. "before we begin, is there any business that needs to be addressed?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, there is." Andromeda said as she stood up. "I have been appointed as regent for the Potter house." She said, that being the second reason Harry was here today. He couldn't become a member yet but he could appoint a regent, and Andromeda was the best choice he could think of thanks to her being a pureblood (which would please the darker families) and as a Black she was knowledgeable on these type of things, and the fact that her husband was a lawyer certainly helped.
Her words may as well have been gunfire as many began shouting and protesting.
"Order! Order!" Dumbledore shouted as he slammed his gavel down repeatedly.
"Chief Warlock, there must be a mistake of some kind." Augustus Longbottom protested, she thought it was bad enough that Harry Potter had been sent to live with the sister of Bellatrix Lestrange, but now she had become his regent. She obviously must have forced him. "There is no way Mr Potter would make her his regent."
"Mr Potter?" Dumbledore asked as he looked at Harry who stood up.
"I, of free mind and without coercion, name Andromeda Tonks as the regent to the Potter family, until I am able to take my position as Lord Potter." Harry stated without hesitation before he nodded to Dumbledore and sat back down. Many people complained under their breaths but knew they couldn't do anything to prevent it.
"Very well, Andromeda Tonks, do you accept the position of regent to House Potter?" Dumbledore asked "Do you swear to act in the houses best interest and in the best interest of the future Lord Potter?"
"I do." Andromeda nodded.
"You are now the regent for House Potter," Dumbledore stated with a slam of his gavel, Andromeda nodded before she sat down. "now, is there any other business we need to discuss?" When nobody answered after several moments Dumbledore took it as his signal to continue. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Wizengamot, today we will deal with a very serious problem. With us today is a man, a well known man, who is being charged with the attempted rape of an underage Hogwarts student." Many people didn't even bother to hide their disgust at that. "Bring him in." Dumbledore ordered, a few seconds later Gilderoy Lockhart was dragged into the court room.
A few people gasped as they saw him, he was dressed in his gold trousers and shoes from before but the upper half of his clothes had been burnt and were thrown away. And he couldn't wear any normal clothes on the upper half of his body due to the burns he had suffered so therefore who was in charge of dressing him had simply waved a wand and covered the non-burnt parts of his upper body up in bandages. Many people felt sick as they saw the burns that started from his hand and ended at the side of his face. Gilderoy was placed in a chair in the middle of the courtroom.
"Sir," One of the aurors who brought him in spoke. "I feel like you should be aware that the healers have numbed everything that has been burnt so he won't feel any pain. He might have difficulty speaking but should be understandable."
"Thank you," Dumbledore nodded before he looked at Lockhart, there wasn't even a hint of a twinkle in the headmaster's eyes. "Madam Bones, if you please." Dumbledore said to Amelia Bones, the head of law enforcement.
"Gilderoy Lockhart," Amelia said as she stood up. "you have been accused of the attempted rape of Angelina Zabini, a fourth year student, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty!" Lockhart screamed, though the affect was slightly ruined by the lazy right side of his mouth. "They are crazy, they attacked me!"
"So noted." Dumbledore said. "Madam Bones, you may continue." Amelia nodded to him before doing just that.
It was half an hour later when Angela had finished making her statement, she told everyone how she was summoned to Lockhart's office, and entered only to be blinded by a bright light before she found herself waking up in the hospital wing. Then it was Harry's turn to come to the witness stand.
"Mr Potter," Amelia Bones said. "in your own words, what happened?"
"I was with a younger student who needed help with a personal problem, Chief Warlock Dumbledore knows which students and which problem." Harry began, everyone looked at Dumbledore who nodded to say that Harry was right. "I told her she needed to go to a teacher and she went to Lockhart's office. When I entered I found Angela unconscious on his desk while Lockhart was trying to unbutton her shirt. I was considering listening to his side when he pulled his wand out, so I took him out."
"Ahem." A girly voice interrupted with a cough. Harry could see Dumbledore looked as calm as always, though Harry suspected the man was resisting the urge to slam his head down instead of the gavel.
"So anyway," Harry continued as if he had heard nothing. "once I had dealt with him, Angela was then..."
"Ahem." The same voice with the same cough interrupted again, just a slightly bit louder.
"Taken to the hospital wing," Harry continued. "and that's about it, really."
"Mr Potter," Dolores Umbridge said in an annoyed voice. "you have no right to ignore me."
"Oh, my apologies, I did not intend to ignore you. I was under the impression that you merely needed a cough drop." Harry said with false sincerity, a few people chuckled at that, causing Umbridge's face to go slightly red. "Perhaps it might just be different life experiences and teachings but I was always told that if someone wished to speak then they would politely raise their hand and/or stand up and/or speak. But if coughing is your preferred method of communicating then I will try to remember that for the future." Harry said with a small smile.
"Mr Potter," Umbridge continued in the overly sweet voice of hers, looking like she was resisting the urge to growl. "you mentioned how you 'dealt with' Mr Lockhart. So silly of me, but it sounds to me like you are claiming that you beat a powerful wizard such as Lockhart."
"That is indeed silly of you." Harry agreed with a small nod.
"Mr Potter..." Umbridge paused and took a deep breath. "I am trying to ask you how you supposedly beat Lockhart when as we all know he is a great wizard, far beyond the abilities of a twelve year old." Harry couldn't help it, he snorted out loud.
"Mr Potter, you disagree?" Amelia Bones asked.
"I do," Harry nodded. "Lockhart's lessons mostly consisted of him trying to advertise his books to us. I spent most of the year self studying, as did many others. In fact in Lockhart's first lesson he ended up letting a swarm of pixies loose in the class before running away and leaving us to deal with it."
"It is true," Dumbledore stated. "there have been many complaints throughout the year about Mr Lockhart's teaching."
"They're just jealous of me!" Lockhart shouted.
"Chief Warlock," Amelia Bones spoke, ignoring Lockhart. "if Lockhart is so incompetent then why was he made a teacher? Why was he kept as a teacher?"
"For several reasons," Dumbledore sighed. "firstly due to a lack of people applying, I did have one candidate in mind but he was out of the country and was unable to attend this year. The board of governors, especially Mr Malfoy, also insisted that Lockhart remain as they thought it would be better for the school to have someone with his reputation." Many members nodded since they were also on the board, and those that had argued for Lockhart to stay now felt sickened.
"It does bring up an interesting question though," Harry spoke up. "is Lockhart a fraud? Because all of the things he claimed to do seem far beyond someone with his abilities."
"You believe that he has been taking credit for other people's work." Amelia Bones noted. "Hmm, that will be investigated once we are done with the attempted rape allegation. Now, Mr Potter, how did you deal with Lockhart?" She asked.
"He drew his wand and I responded with a fire blast, though I was rather angry so it was a bit more powerful than I intended." Harry admitted. "I then kicked him in-between his legs and stunned him, I then stomped on his groin twice." Harry added. Many members gave Harry appraising and impressed looks, though of course there was one member that had to speak her mind.
"Mr Potter, a stunner is far too advanced for someone of your age." Umbridge commented.
"I am advanced for my age, if you wish then I can demonstrate." Harry offered. The 'on you' part was left unsaid.
"Mr Potter is indeed very advanced for his age," Dumbledore said before Umbridge could reply. "several teachers have told me how he has been preforming spells from higher years even during his first year at school."
"Well IF that is true then that means that unjustly attacked Mr Lockhart." Umbridge replied, Fudge winced as several people began screaming at his undersecretary.
"Unjustly?!" One woman shouted. "He tried to rape a child!"
"Madam," Harry spoke once the noise eventually died down. "I was well within my right to attack Lockhart. He pulled his wand out on me."
"But the amount of violence you used was far more than needed." She argued.
"I am well within my right to inflict pain on anyone who dares to attack my vassal." Harry glared at her.
"Your vassal?" Amelia Bones asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Miss Zabini is a vassal, she serves me. It's her duty to serve me just as it is my duty to protect her." Harry replied. The room went silent before several people began whispering to each other.
"Harry...how long is this shit going to last?" Jet asked in a bored voice.
The answer was half an hour, after a large amount of questioning and some truth serum it was reveled that Angela had just dodged being Lockhart's fifth victim of the year, Lockhart had done the same thing to four other girls before wiping their memories. It had also been reveled that he had wiped the memories of other people before taking credit for their work in his stories. Lockhart was sentenced to life in Azkaban, unfortunately for him a certain woman decided that wasn't enough. Oh no, Lockhart's suffering was far from over.
A.N: Hi guys, hope you enjoyed the chapter. I feel like it could be better but I am not really at my best at the moment. I'm not sick or anything, just very tired since my shifts at work have changed and I arrived home at midnight yesterday and in half an hour I am going back to work. And these days jobs are in short supply.
Anyway, I think that the fanfic problem is fixed now, hopefully it won't happen again. Some people have been asking me to update trickshot, I am writing the next chapter, it's just taking longer than I thought it would. My update plan is the following :
1) Next chapter for Harold Wayne
2) Next chapter for Silver king
3) Trickshot
4) Silver king
5) Reborn
Again this is my plan, this might change but it's what I currently hope to do. Alright guys, I've got to go to work now. Have fun, hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to leave a review.