Note: 7/4/2016, minor editorial and misspelling corrections update.

24. The Five Stages of Grief

The Headmaster's eyes twinkled, his grandfatherly aspect to the fore, as he said, "You needn't worry about that, everything is well in hand."

Professors McGonagall and Sprout were staring at him in disbelief. From the set of the Transfiguration's professor's mouth, one thin angry line, Harri suspected that no one had told her that mature mandrakes were available. Professor Snape was, as usual, a blank slate and giving away nothing of his thoughts. The other Professors were in various states of surprise, all echoing the sentiments expressed by Harri — why hadn't the Headmaster ordered Mandrake Potion given to the petrified Wizards?

Clearly, the Headmaster was not going to say anymore.

Adults. Useless, the whole lot of them.

Harri turned back to the rest of the Great Hall. "Finally," she continued, "Neither myself nor Miss Parkinson will be answering any questions regarding our marriage contract. Unless either I or Miss Parkinson tell you anything regarding our Contract, consider what you hear or read to be a lie told in either ignorance or malice. Anyone spreading rumours will hear from and deal with our solicitors.

"What we are willing to tell you right now is this: A Marriage Contract between House Slytherin and House Parkinson was created in 1347. Its provisions were to be activated when one or both Houses were reduced to a single heir, and where both Houses had children of suitable genders and ages for marriage. The Contract was recently activated because of my gaining the Lordship of House Slytherin, By Right of Conquest, which made me the sole Wizard Heir of Slytherin. This Contract, due to its age, supersedes any other marriage contracts or betrothal agreements."

The Slytherin table erupted into a chaos at hearing that Harri was Lord Slytherin. A few of the smarter ones, as Harri had heard in November after her Parseltongue ability had surfaced, were wearing smug smiles — their logic had been right.

Gryffindor was just as loud and it took a cannon-blast from the Headmaster's wand to restore quiet.

"As you all know from what happened yesterday," Harri continued, "the Contract came as a complete surprise to both myself and Miss Parkinson. Any words or actions taken yesterday were done so in the passion of the moment, and we request the forgiveness of anyone who was offended. And we forgive anyone who may have said or done anything yesterday that would normally be considered slander or an attack on our Houses.

"That is all we will say on the matter."

She turned slightly to look at the twins behind her and nodded. Then did the same to Hermione, Ron, and Neville. She looked at Pansy and in a low voice said, "Come with us, there are some things we need to discuss."

She led the same group down the center of the Hall and out the doors. The students watched them leave in silence. No sooner were they past the doors then the room behind them erupted into the noise of hundreds of conversations discussing what they had just heard.

The group stopped at a small and empty classroom on the third floor. The twins did the honors in silencing the room from anyone trying to eavesdrop.

Pansy dropped Harri's arm as if it were on fire and stalked to the opposite side of the room. She silently stared out the windows.

Harri studied her carefully, like she would a new client brought to the hotel. She had become quite good at reading body-language in the hotel, it had saved her much pain being able to anticipate what the men or women expected from her. Pansy was rigid, that did not bode well.

As Neville had explained the previous night in Harri's Clubroom, pacing back and forth in front of them, "That Pansy is betrothed in a Marriage Contract to Lord Slytherin easily eclipses her parents' attempts to wed her to Malfoy House in terms of social ranking. That Lord Slytherin is also Lord Potter merely strengthens that ranking. The only House that outranks those two together is Black. Maybe." He looked up at Harri.

She gave him a wan smile, and said, waving a parchment delivered several weeks ago by a very cold tropical bird, "Sirius has made it quite clear he is totally uninterested in any of the daughters of Noble or Ancient Houses. He's actually on an island somewhere, he says, and is quite enjoying the tourist and native girls', uhh, 'lack of a social agenda.'"

That made them all smile.

"I'm sure, that as soon as he hears this news he'll be right back here and demanding to know what happened. And laughing himself silly over the whole mess. We'll have to send him a letter tonight."

Neville nodded his understanding, resumed pacing, "And the Contract," he held it up, "clearly voids any agreement between the Malfoys and Parkinsons, so the Malfoys have no legal standing whatsoever.

"The fact that Lord Slytherin is a Witch is merely a detail to them. To most Pure-bloods it is the title that matters. And if the Goblins say that you, obviously a Witch, are a Wizard, well, then, they really can't object on the grounds that two Witches or two Wizards can't marry. If magic declares you a Wizard, then according to the law, you are a Wizard, regardless of appearances. For all they know you could be just hiding behind a glamour or super-powerful polyjuice.

"I'm sure Pansy's parents will make it perfectly clear to her that she has to act every inch the 'Perfect Princess' with you, her betrothed. There are forces in play that Pansy, and all of us, know nothing about, and that could destroy House Parkinson if even the littlest mistake is made by her or her parents." He again stopped and looked over to Harri. "I don't think we can trust her any more now than we did before, but for your own protection you need to make it clear through your actions that you consider Pansy a part of your family. Otherwise, people will try to get at you through her, if they think you aren't paying attention. And this Marriage Contract obligates you to extend your protection to her."

He stopped and looked at Harri. And for once, she had not shred her clothes on entering the Clubhouse. That alone indicated how distracted the situation had made her.

"If the truth were to be known, I'm sure her parents will be relieved that you, as Lord Slytherin, are a Witch and unable to take advantage of the Marriage Contract by demanding your betrothal rights. Unlike what I'm sure Draco Malfoy would do."

"Wait! What?" interrupted Harri, sitting up straight on the couch.

Neville made a face as if he had something distasteful in his mouth. "Yes, in some old contracts it wasn't unusual for it to require the betrothed couple to . . . do things . . . in order to determine that both parties were capable of fulfilling the obligations of the contracts." The Wizard was blushing fiercely. "To make sure that the male could perform his duty, and that the female was capable of bearing children. In a few rare occasions the Witch was required to become . . . to bear a child . . . before the marriage could be completed. If she failed to do so before a time limit, the betrothal was canceled."

He resumed pacing. "In any case, it is now customary to allow the husband-to-be visits with his intended. Should she turn up with child, well, then, so much the better. Also, now days at least, should the Wizard take such liberties and then call off the marriage, heavy penalties are levied to compensate the Witch for her loss of . . . 'purity.' And the damage to his social position is in direct proportion to her former standing. That is, the higher up in the social strata she is, the more harm he causes himself if he cancels the marriage without a clearly justifiable reason."

Harri looked at the twins, who were both nodding solemnly.

Neville took a deep breath, "Well, anyway, as long as Pansy doesn't violate any of the Marriage Contract terms before the actual marriage, she stands to inherit Slytherin House should something happen to you. And that is a goal well worth working towards, from their point of view. They can only hope someone will eliminate you and leave them near the top of the U.K. Social Ranking as their daughter inherits the title Lady Slytherin. Should you die without other wives, then Pansy would also inherit your other titles as well. And then Pansy would be free to marry someone her family considers a proper Wizard and continue both lines as the Contract requires. If things went perfectly her children could start a dynasty where she's the mother of houses Black, Potter, Gaunt, and Slytherin!

"Considering that everyone now knows that Harriet is Harry Potter, it is not inconceivable that the Death Eaters who hold a grudge against Harri for removing their leader would come after her. The Parkinson's wouldn't have to do a thing except to be patient and drop vague hints that they wish their daughter were free to choose a 'proper' spouse."

He looked at them all. "I think the only real decision here is just how much we will tell her of your secrets, if any.

"I mean, do we tell here about the Clubhouse? If we do, do we make her give us an oath to keep the secret of the Come-and-Go Room?"

Silence surrounded them for several minutes as they considered the ramifications of telling the Witch about the Clubhouse.

"I don't think we have a choice," Hermione said. "She's not stupid. With the amount of time she will be spending with you she's bound to notice you disappearing with us when we come here to study. We either tell her about the room, or we stop using it."

They all made a face of disgust at that thought, for a variety of reasons.

Hermione and the twins because the room gave them access to books and materials not in the Library.

Ron and Neville? Well, Harri was their reason — they knew that there was no way Harri would give up her naked time.

Which brought up the question of how Pansy would react to that!

Neville wondered if it would be possible for the room to make Pansy think Harri was dressed when she wasn't. Sort of a reverse clothes invisibility spell.

Neville resumed pacing. "And do we tell her about your other Lordships, and that you control the Hogwarts Enchantments? I think we shouldn't. She knows about Gaunt and Slytherin, let's leave it at that." He looked up. "How should we word the oath?"

That took them another hour, and more or less turned the normal etiquette rules of betrothal into an Oath. If the Witch took the oath, she would be unable to communicate to anyone not in their group about any of Harri's secrets, including the Clubroom and anything that took place in there. All Harri had to do was declare something a secret, and the girl was silenced. How that would play out was up to Pansy.

And then they had started dissecting what might happen at breakfast, what they should do to prepare, and what things Harri should and should not mention when giving her speech in the Great Hall. Pipsy had been sent off to Sirius with a letter explaining what had happened that day. They expected he would return as fast as possible, but his travel arrangements could take a few days. Pipsy wouldn't be able to POP that distance with a passenger. And even delivering the message might take her a several steps.

And that brought them to this. Harri took a deep breath. "Pansy . . ."

The Witch flinched slightly, but turned to face, her face distorted with anger. "I HATE you!" she screamed, her hands at her sides in tight fists. "You've ruined my life! I was supposed to marry Draco! It was all set up years ago! He LOVES me! And you! You're just a filthy Half-blood!" She stared at them, her eyes shining. Then she fell to her knees. "And he LOVES me. I know he does. And now it's all ruined. You've ruined my life," she half-whispered in despair. She buried her face in her hands, crying.

Harri was shaken to her core. Of all the reactions they had expected, this one wasn't one of them. They had expected anger, because of the interference in her life. They had expected her to hate Harri, because she had already made her feelings plain that she disliked the "Muggle-born" girl. They had expected resentment over being associated to associate with Gryffindors. But that the Witch might actually want to marry the obnoxious git Draco had never occurred to them. That she might have a deep down emotional connection to the Wizard that would raise up and blast their plans. That she would categorically reject the entire situation and refuse to work with them to circumvent the Contract. That she would actually work in her own worst interest.

All because of Harry Potter.

Harri stood stock still for a moment, her mind racing as she had an epiphany. Yes, of course Pansy hated her, rejected her, and wanted absolutely nothing to do with her, that anything was better than being in her company — she was, after all, just a whore. Who would want to marry her? Not even her titles as Lord Slytherin and Potter could overcome her past. As her Uncle had said repeatedly, she always had been and would always be nothing more than a whore.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you, you stupid slag?" Hermione demanded, furious. "This is not Harri's fault!" She was shaking and holding her wand at her side.

The Gryffindors all stared at the infuriated Witch — Hermione had cursed? That . . . that was unheard of! She never cursed.

She wanted to disappear right then, to walk away from everything. But that would leave her destitute and on the streets, and she knew how that would turn out — back with the Dursleys. She needed the money in her vaults to live, and she would only have access to her vaults if she stayed in school.

"If anything it's YOUR family's fault for making that stupid contract," Hermione was in full rant mode, waving her arms around wildly. "The Potter's did not make that contract, and Harri got the contract defending herself from a homicidal manic trying to kill her, so it's that MANIAC'S fault the Contract went to Harri. If you want to blame someone, blame HIM AND YOUR FAMILY! They're the ones who made the contract and forced it on Harri and you."

Pansy was staring at Hermione, shocked at what she had heard, her face blotchy and red from crying.

She could sneak out of Hogwarts and head to Gringotts. Once there she could take out as much of her vaults as they would let her grab and convert that to British Pounds. Stuff it all into her trunk and hightail it away.

Hermione continued, "God! You're acting like a spoiled six-year-old Muggle girl told she can't have her candy!" She paused as the other Witch recoiled at what she perceived as a disgusting comparison. "No, that's not true. I've seen plenty of six-year-old girls who didn't act like this. If you're an example of Pure-blood sophistication and tact when under duress, then I must say I am NOT impressed!"

"We brought you in here to see if you would meet us half-way so we could work out an arrangement that would keep the Contract and us happy while we tried to find a way around the Contract."

Yes, that would work. Her godfather had said he had a hidden island that nobody could find. With her apartment trunk and all the gold and Pounds she could grab, she could set herself up where no one would ever find her. She would have money when she needed it. If she took a house-elf, he could do all her shopping for her. It might be lonely, but she'd never have to deal with people again if she didn't want to do that.

"Clearly, you are too much of useless witless over-emotional lump," Hermione raged on, "who thinks with her fanny — and who's going to stuff it — for that plan to work, so here's what we're going to do."

"You're going to give an oath that you will keep any secrets about Harri, her Lordships, and her Houses that you learn unless Harri gives you permission otherwise; you will not knowingly act in front of other people in any way that will reflect badly upon Harri, her Lordships, or her Houses unless Harri gives you permission otherwise; you will not knowingly act in any way that might aid her enemies in any way, shape, or form unless Harri gives you permission otherwise. That permission will be accompanied by the code phrase, 'she killed me with science,' which you cannot divulge to anyone."

It was too late to sneak out tonight. She would have to leave a letter releasing her friends from their oaths before she left, though. Besides, she needed to check with Gringotts to see if she had an island somewhere. And what she needed to do to make sure no one ever found it, or her, unless she wanted them to.

"These things are all required in the Contract, they just aren't part of an official oath. Do you understand?" Hermione had her wand up and out, pointing at the other Witch like an accusing finger. The others had likewise drawn their wands. Harri hadn't moved a muscle. She hadn't noticed the few tears slowly making their way down her cheeks.

Pansy's expressions went from despair, to shock, to anger, and finally, when she saw the array of wands raised against her, resignation. She and Professor Snape had discussed the Contract quite thoroughly the previous night. She knew that the things mentioned in the oath Hermione was demanding were indeed mentioned in the contract, but they were not magically enforced except in the severe cases of betrayal of the Contract terms. Harri and her friends just wanted an Oath to prevent her from even minor bending of the terms.

Why hadn't she thought of this before — just running away? Oh, yes. She had had the faintest hope that here in the magical world of Wizards and Witches she might find a degree of acceptance. Silly of her, that. Sure, she had a few friends, and she loved them all, but five friends out of all the people in the U.K.? Five out of sixty million? And she was acknowledged as one of the richest and most politically powerful? How sad was that?

"We require that oath," Hermione said, "because your family and House were on Voldemort's side in the last war and we're not going to give you the chance to be the back-stabbing little slag we know you are."

Pansy stared at them. "No," she said. "You can't force me to make an oath, it won't take. And I refuse to make an oath with . . . with . . . that Half-blood mongrel." She raised her chin and looked down her nose at them.

Well, if she was going to do it, she would need more than a week to pull everything together, she realized. The only problem was, how was she going to keep it a secret from her friends? She was sure that once they discovered her plans they would dump her fast. When they understood that she wouldn't be around for them to manipulate, they would quickly find a new friend, one who wouldn't desert them.

Hermione waited a beat. "Fine. Get out. We'll leave you alone. And when you screw things up and get killed, Harri will be out of the contract without having to risk her life to save yours. The contract doesn't obligate her to protect you, just to come to your aid should you request it. And if we see any notes demanding ransom or her presence we'll assume you went along with it in an attempt to trap her."

Pansy stared at them, wiped her face with her sleeve, then wiped her face with her hands. Still keeping a watchful eye on them she headed over to the door, sidling along one wall as far from them as she could manage. The twins removed their silencing spells when she was half-way to the door, so she wouldn't think they were about to do something to her. They all watched as she reached the door and ducked out of the room.

She would miss her cuddling with Hermione the most. Cuddling when she had been a catgirl had been fun, Hermione had never complained about the petting and stroking, she had just let her indulge herself. Hermione had never told her to quit it or tried to prevent her from doing that when the fur disappeared. The Witch was probably just putting up with it because she was Lord Potter.

Moments later the Slytherin Witch had disappeared down the corridor, either to her first class or back to her dorm, probably the later.

"What now?" asked Ron.

Hermione pursed her lips, huffed, and stared out the door after the other Witch. "We hope she comes to her senses before it's too late. Harri has announced she's under her protection so she should be safe. In the meantime, Harri follows the courting rituals as best she can. I think her being the confirmed Lord of Slytherin will get us some slack from most of the Slytherin students, but it will also incense a few of them beyond rational thought. We'll have to watch our backs." She gnawed her lower lip with her teeth. "Nobody travels alone." They nodded agreement.

Neville spoke up, "Harri, you should make her have at least one meal a day sitting with you or it will cause doubts about the Contract. And that could lead to trouble."

Harri was still staring at where Pansy had been standing. The others probably thought she was looking out the windows.

She shook herself. This was not the time to break down. "Yes, of course," she said, slightly hoarse from the choking sensation in her throat. She hefted her book bag from the floor where she had dropped it. "We should head to class." She turned and quickly left the room. After exchanging puzzled looks, the other followed her into the corridor and classes.

X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X

At noon, to Harri's surprise, Pansy and her parents were waiting in the Entry Way to the Great Hall. The two adults were watching the students file past them, with many of the Slytherins and Pure-bloods in the other Houses giving them a polite nod of acknowledgement. Pansy was standing at their side, staring at the floor. Her hanging hair hid her face, but most could feel her embarrassment and dismay at being so obviously on display. Lady Parkinson was watching the students with a rather wistful expression, clearly remembering her days in these hallowed halls.

Headmaster Dumbledore was standing beside Lord Parkinson and exchanging a few words. Lord Parkinson kept his expression carefully blank in response to whatever the older Wizard was saying, nodding occasionally or murmuring a soft reply.

Of course! There hadn't been a letter to Pansy this morning in the parliament of owls. Harri should have realized that meant they were coming in person. They had probably met with their daughter after breakfast, and spent the morning with her laying down their expectations on her conduct and their situation. Not to mention developing strategies for how they might get rid of Lord Potter-Gaunt-Slytherin without actually betraying the contract.

The Headmaster raised an arm and beckoned her to come over as soon as he spied her group. For a moment she thought to pretend she hadn't noticed him, but realized it was too late for that, she had been staring at them too long. Sighing, she started to make her way through the throng with Hermione and Neville trailing behind her. One of the twins was standing at the doors to the Great Hall. He waved to someone inside and started towards the Headmaster and his guests as well.

Even though they were wearing their school robes, their House Crests and affiliations were on their sleeves — only the Hogwarts Crest was allowed on the breast of the school robes. Harri deliberately slowed her pace so that Fred, and a moment later, George, had time to get join them as they reached the Headmaster and his guests.

Dumbledore smiled, eyes twinkling, as he said, "Lord Parkinson, this is Harry Potter," waving his hand at the girl. "Harri, Lord and Lady Parkinson," he finished his half-assed introduction.

Harri frowned at him and turned to the guests. "Lord and Lady Parkinson," she said formally, bowing as an equal, "Heir Parkinson," she added, nodding at the other girl who was still steadfastly staring at the floor. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Lord Harry Potter-Gaunt-Slytherin." She turned to Neville, "This is Heir Neville Longbottom, beside him are George, Fred, and Ron Weasley." They used the deeper bow of children introduced to adults, the Weasleys deeper than Neville because he was an Heir. "And this is Miss Hermione Granger, the smartest Witch in Hogwarts." Hermione curtsied deeply while a faint pink blush suffused her cheeks.

Harri smiled at the adults. "I imagine you are here to consult about the Marriage Contracts and our options for the foreseeable future." Pansy shot a brief glare at her before returning to her study of the floor's stonework while her parents produced almost convincing fake smiles. "Yes," started Lord Parkinson.

"Excellent," interrupted Harri. She turned to the Headmaster. "Excuse me, sir, but could you have the House-elves set up the East Side Hall for a private luncheon meeting for nine so that we may discuss our Houses' business?"

"Perhaps we could adjourn to my office for that, instead?" offered the Headmaster, half-turning to lead them.

"No," interrupted Harri, again. "I don't think your office is the appropriate setting for a luncheon." She paused a moment before adding. "Nor is it appropriate for a private meeting between two Noble Houses."

The Headmaster turned back to her, his eyes not twinkling nearly as much.

"If that is inconvenient for you," she continued, "We will go to Hogsmeade and rent a room at The Three Broomsticks." Which would make the Headmaster look bad for being petty. If it were only the Parkinsons, he might have done it, but with so many students watching, and especially the Weasley twins, that would be a bad political maneuver as word of his deliberate and public slight to the Dark family would spread quickly.

"No, that won't be necessary," he said, his smile a bit forced. "This way, please." He led them across the Entry Way to the East Side Hall, the same Hall that hosted the Firsties before they were conducted into the Great Hall on September First. The crowd that had gathered at the Great Hall entrance to watch the show headed to their House tables.

Only a minute later, they were in the East Side Hall where the house-elves were putting finishing touches on the oblong table surrounded by ten chairs. As they walked to the table, Harri turned to the Headmaster, "Thank you, Sir. We'll try to finish this quickly so that we don't miss any afternoon classes. If it looks like we might need more time, I'm sure the Parkinsons won't mind terribly if we schedule a second meeting for either tonight or perhaps this weekend."

Dumbledore blinked in surprise at her obvious attempt to dismiss him.

"But, Harri, as you magical guardian I need to advise you on your options with this magical contract. . . ."

"You're right, Headmaster, I do need an adult's advice!" She stopped and thought a moment.

The Headmaster, confident he had won his argument, started to head for the seat across from the Parkinsons. Finally, he would be able to steer the headstrong girl in the proper directions and get this silly Marriage Contract declared invalid.

"Pipsy!" called out Harri.

There was a long pause, then POP. The house-elf that appeared wasn't the one she expeteced. "Tibby is here, Lord Potter-Gaunt-Slytherin," the diminutive house-elf said. "Pipsy be too tired." Harri blinked a couple of times. It hadn't occurred to her that Pipsy might not have recovered, yet.

"Tibby, would you please go to Mrs. Tonks and explain that I'm having a luncheon meeting with Lord and Lady Parkinson right now regarding the Marriage Contract she received a copy of yesterday? If she can come, bring her back with you. If she has another engagement, please go to Lady Longbottom and beg her indulgence in assisting me."

"Tibby goes!"

The Headmaster stopped, more than a little miffed that she dared to reject his assistance. He looked at her. "Then why are these other here with us?"

Harri could see that the Parkinsons were equally curious.

"They have sworn affiliation with House Potter and by extension, Houses Gaunt and Slytherin. And they will be involved in securing Heir Parkinson's, my betrothed's, safety here at Hogwarts."

"Surely you don't think that Hogwarts is dangerous? Its protective enchantments are second to none and it is the safest place in Great Britain!" Dumbledore was more than a bit insulted at her implied criticism.

She stared at him, eyebrows raised in astonishment.

"After having a Troll almost kill Hermione, being attacked by a Dark Unicorn-slaying creature during a detention, and having our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor try to kill me all last year, never mind a monster wandering the corridors petrifying students this year, how can you say Hogwarts is the safest place in England with a straight face? I'd be safer with the Dursleys, they've only seriously tried to kill me once!"

The Parkinsons were looking alarmed at her question, while her friends were all nodding in agreement.

"And don't call me Shirley," Harri added.

Hermione choked slightly and gave her a dirty look.

Dumbledore, seeing the Parkinsons' expressions, hurriedly said, "I assure you everything is under control and that Hogwarts is as safe as it has ever been."

Harri snorted disbelievingly, "After last year I must say that it must not ever have been very safe! Tell me, have you caught the creature that's petrifying the students? Have you caught the person who has claimed to have opened the Chamber of Secrets and seems to be controlling it? Have you even closed off the entrance in the First Floor's Girls' Toilets to the Chamber of Secrets, yet? If you haven't done at least one of those things, then I must say it can't be very safe here!"

"Are you serious?" interrupted Pansy's father.

She barely stopped herself from saying Sirius was in Bermuda. "Yes."

"Merely the exaggerations of a child," said the Headmaster dismissively, trying to head off what he knew would be a disaster.

Hermione stared at the Headmaster disbelievingly. "I almost get killed by a Troll in the Girls' Toilets last year and you call that an exaggeration?" she said in astonishment. "I suppose the two petrified boys in the Hospital Wing are just figments of my imagination, too?"

"And I presume you will say that when I was taken prisoner by the Dark Wizard possessing Professor Quirrell last year never happened as well?" added Neville.

"I don't know about anything in the Forbidden Forest, nor about what happened to Professor Quirrell, but I do know a Troll was loose inside the Castle last year," Pansy said quietly. "And it's also true that some kind of monster petrified a Hufflepuff and Gryffindor Second-year this year and they're in the Hospital Wing."

Before more could be said, though, there was a POP and Tibby reappeared with Harri's solicitor in tow.

Dumbledore was most disappointed when Lord Parkinson stated that the discussion planned was private and involved family business only, and requested that the old Wizard leave them. As soon as the door closed behind him, Harri and Hermione began putting silencing enchantments on the walls, floor, ceiling, and doors. While doing so, Harri said, "All the portraits report anything they hear or see to the Headmaster, as do the House-elves. And we have found listening charms in many of the public rooms in the Castle where one might expect people to have private conversations." Just for added security Harri added the muffliato spell and made sure to include only the ten people present. Any house-elves or listening charms on or under the furniture would hear nothing. Hermione then casted detection charms on everyone, quickly dismissing the ones they always found on Harri, Hermione, and Ron. To their surprise they found charms, one each, on the Parkinsons as well.

Lord Parkinson was not happy to realize the Headmaster had put eavesdropping charms on him and his wife.

It was a very productive meeting, from Harri's point of view.

Pansy would definitely toe the line, and her parents supervised her taking the magical vow prepared by Hermione. Considering Harri Potter's notoriety and the Headmaster's obvious attempts to control her, even Lord Parkinson had to admit formalizing the contract's House restrictions with an oath was not unreasonable.

When the adults left, they took their daughter with them. Until Lord Parkinson was positive the stories told by Harri and her friends were either exaggerations or lies, he wasn't about to risk his only child in what sounded like a very dangerous place. He also planned to consult with the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X

Over the next week, the Hogwarts' student body remained mostly bewildered — especially the Slytherins — slowly dividing into three main camps and several smaller ones. One group, mostly made up of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Houses with a significant number of upper Year Slytherins, took the attitude that the Goblins knew magic and law better than they did, and therefore gave Harri the deference one of her rank should receive — regardless of their individual opinions of the black-haired girl. This was the largest group by far. They were courteous and they almost never spoke directly with her. These were the students who had a firm grasp of politics and self-preservation, and the smarter lower Years in the other three Houses made up the rest members.

Graduation was quickly coming for the upper Years. They didn't want to be on the wrong side Harri Potter-Gaunt-Slytherin and perhaps not get that choice job they wanted because they had said or done something insulting that her friends might have noticed — and remembered. The Pure-bloods whose families had proclaimed they were politically neutral and had tried to sit out the last war were especially careful.

Her alliance with Longbottom was duly noted, and that Lord Black was her godfather was of bigger importance. If she took an interest, she could make or break a Wizard's or Witch's career with only a word or two to the right or, from their perspective, the wrong person. And, of course, with the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s for Fifth and Seventh Years coming up, those students didn't really have time to get wrapped up in the drama surrounding the black-haired girl.

Many in that group expected to make overtures to the little Witch as the year went on in the hope of advancing their careers. But for now, they quietly observed, trying to learn her character and seeking weak spots they could use to their advantage. Previously they had dismissed her as just another Second-year, albeit a famous one. But now, she was a major political player, even if she didn't recognize that truth herself.

So, if she happened to catch their eyes, they always gave her a nod of acknowledgement while maintaining a neutral expression. Sometimes they added a deferent, "Lord Slytherin."

The second main group, the smallest and at the opposite end of the spectrum from the largest, acknowledged she had taken the Lordship By Right of Conquest, but that the "true" Heir to Slytherin would appear and take it back at some point. Almost all of these were the children of Death Eaters and in Slytherin House. That group took the tactic of treating her neutrally as the Head of an Ancient and Noble House in public while deriding her in private — or at least when they thought they were in private. Someone, or more likely several someone's, had taken to sending her school owls with updates on the antics of the second camp and the maneuverings of the first with the hope of using those missives to curry favour in the future.

The second camp didn't dare do anything, though, that the "true" Heir might take offense to when he returned. He just might decide that their failure to treat his Lordship with the proper respect do it deserved a reprimand — and they all knew his favorite punishment was the crucio. Claiming they were merely chastising the pretender might not protect them from the Dark Lord's ire at them disrespecting his rightful title.

The third, middle, camp just pretended the whole thing was nothing they needed to be concerned with and tried to avoid thinking about her at all. These were usually students in the First through Fourth Years. The First years were all equally intimidated, except fan-boy Ginny who couldn't believe her hero was a girl and Luna who was just plain strange. The Third and Fourth Years were merely wary of her.

This middle group was comprised primarily of those not yet concerned with what jobs they might seek after graduation. For those not in her Year, it was fairly easy to do. If they did meet her, they just maneuvered a bit so that another student was between them, giving them plausible deniability that they hadn't noticed her. It was amusing to watch a group of Slytherins maneuvering so that the lowest in House status were the ones closest to Harri. It was like watching a school of small fish trying to avoid the notice of a larger predator.

Of course, there were several small groups, no more than a ten members each, stuck between those positions. A dozen or so students from all houses began to hang around her whenever possible, regardless of their actual Year — which she found rather creepy. They were attempting to sneak into her confidence or to use her presence to scare off others who might prey upon them — or had been abusing them — as a result of their lowly status in the social rankings at Hogwarts.

It was kind of like seeing the five stages of grief acted out all at once across Hogwarts' students: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

The immediate effect of this was that most Slytherins ceased any and all antagonistic actions against the Gryffindors — except a small number who were deeply outraged that a Gryffindor was the legal, acknowledged Lord Slytherin! Draco Malfoy was one of those, with his pets Crabbe and Goyle following along blindly. If it weren't for the fact that she thought he hadn't yet hit puberty she would have thought the three of them were in a ménage a trois — they were his boyfriends despite his previous betrothal to Pansy's.

Oddly enough, it was the Gryffindors that gave Harri the most grief. There was a large block of them through all the Years that simply couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that just because Harri had won her title by conquest didn't automatically mean she was evil. They seemed to live in a black-and-white world. All Slytherins are evil, Harri is Lord Slytherin, therefore Harri is evil. How they managed to square that with House Potter is good, Harri is Lord Potter, therefore Harri is good and All Gryffindors are good, Harri is a Gryffindor, therefore Harri is good was something she didn't understand.

The Daily Prophet had a field day, every day for a week. First, when the Goblins were questioned by a reporter they pointed out — just before pitching the Wizard down the bank's steps — that if their heritage tests were flawed — which they weren't — it meant the heredity and inheritance of every Noble and Ancient House would be called into question.

All the Pure-blood Houses — perhaps for the first time ever — quickly fell into line supporting the Goblins' spellwork, and declaring that Harriet Potter was Lord Potter, Lord Gaunt, and Lord Slytherin, her physical appearance be damned!

Next, The Daily Prophet blasted Headmaster Dumbledore for failing to inform Lord Potter of her Heritage, and for failing to train her properly in her position. That the Heir to House Potter arrived at Hogwarts without any idea of Wizarding customs, traditions, and expectations was a major scandal. The brouhaha over her Owl Mail was rehashed, in harsher tones, as another failure of judgement. And his negligence in regards to Lord Sirius Black was brought up, yet again.

Somehow, a reporter managed to get the details on the Troll and Unicorn incidents from the previous year — Harri suspected Lord Parkinson had a hand in that — and that became another nail in the coffin for the Headmaster's public reputation. Thank god they somehow missed Hagrid's dragon egg stramash so at least he was safe from being dragged through the mud along with Dumbledore. Although it could just as easily be that word of her friendship with the half-giant insulated him from the attacks on the Headmaster. She thanked god no one had investigated just how "close" she was to the giant.

When the missing Quirrell situation was investigated, the story came out that he had died in an attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone and put Lord Potter in the Hospital Wing for several days. Very unkind things were said about Dumbledore's suitability as a Headmaster. Notably, Lord Parkinson led the attack on the Headmaster and decrying his apparent disregard for the safety of the students. After all, how can you say you have the students' best interests in mind while storing in the school something you know every Dark Wizard in the world wants? And know that each of those Dark Wizards wouldn't hesitate to blast their way through any students they might meet?

And then the story about the Chamber of Secrets hit the public. Up to this point, none of the published stories regarding the school had come as a surprise to the Hogwarts' Board of Governors — that was why the Headmaster had been given a warning at the start of the school year. A few of them were quite pleased in the public drubbing the Headmaster was getting, though. Lord Malfoy was in a joyful mood at the Headmaster's predicament. It would take quite some time for Dumbledore to restore his reputation — and it might never recover to the levels it had been before.

However, finding that two students had been petrified and that the Headmaster could have cured Colin Creevey and Justin Finch-Fletchley two months previously but had deliberately avoided doing so, was the final nail the Board. They had not been amused. That he had so blithely ignored the warning they had given him in Summer regarding compromising the safety of the students incensed them. That the Headmaster knew of the Chamber of Secret's entrance and hadn't tried to break through it nor to block it off from the rest of the school merely made their decision that much quicker. And even if the evidence that Myrtle's toilets were the entrance wasn't the best, sealing off a disused room was hardly a hardship! Especially if it had the potential to protect the students.

By Wednesday noon Dumbledore was no longer Headmaster. The students were amazed. Malfoy was delighted — it hadn't taken any bribery on his part!

Professor McGonagall was promoted to temporary Headmaster for the rest of the term. She had two Seventh-year students take over teaching the First and Second-year students to give her the extra time she needed. And sealed the door to the First Floor Witches Toilets by removing it and making it a solid stone wall. Myrtle was uncertain if she should be happy that no one would ever bother her again, or unhappy that the room was sealed away. By supper it was all done.

To the delight of Harri and her friends, Hagrid was reinstated as a proper Wizard. As the so-called villain at the previous opening of the Chamber of Secrets, Hagrid had been hauled in by the Aurors and questioned under veritaserum about this year's incidents. They had quickly discovered how he had been unfairly accused and that his pet Acromantula, Aragog, couldn't have been responsible for the Myrtle's death. This became another black mark against Hogwarts, and by extension, Dumbledore.

Although Dumbledore wasn't directly involved in Hagrid's expulsion, the reporters — primarily Rita Skeeter — concluded that because he was on the school's staff that that marked the beginning of the school's decline. She actually dug into the school records and showed how the number of Potion's graduates coming from the school had fallen by almost two-thirds since the dismissal of Professor Slughorn. And asked why things such as Alchemy, Sympathetic, and Gemstone Magic were removed from the curriculum while he was Headmaster.

The various professors, with the exception of Snape, promised to assist Hagrid over the summer in passing his OWLs. In the meantime, the professors took turns, one each night for an hour, reviewing what he remembered from his classes. His extensive knowledge of magical beasts and their care gave him a N.E.W.T. almost immediately, and he was recognized as the foremost authority in Great Britain on that subject by the Ministry soon afterwards.

The Slytherins tried to keep Malfoy and his few followers under control. If the Dark Lord didn't return, then they didn't want to burn any bridges they might need in the future. If he did return, they didn't want to have done anything that would make it more difficult for him to succeed. That, and only a complete idiot annoys the richest and most powerful House in the United Kingdom, Sirius Black, without a bloody good reason. But at first they weren't very successful. Malfoy, after all, thought his father the richest in the country and couldn't countenance the thought that that might not be true. So, why should he care about Sirius' influence? His father, as he frequently stated, would take care of things for him.

The First-years just took it in stride and didn't know what had changed. The second years were truly conflicted. Draco, with Goyle and Crabbe, didn't seem to understand that tangling with Harri had the potential to cause far more damage than gain. And while Draco understood all about manners and social standing, he couldn't quite make the leap of logic that insulting the godson/daughter of Lord Sirius Black was a very bad idea. Of course, losing his potential marriage to Pansy, whom he regarded as his personal property, probably had something to do with that.

"What a joke," came the snooty voice of Draco from behind as Harri and company headed in to the Great Hall for supper that Wednesday. "The Boy Who Lived is actually a girl!

Harri stopped and turned. "Yes. Isn't it amusing that a tiny baby girl just fifteen months old killed the Dark Wizard that everyone said could not be beat. I guess he wasn't that big a deal, was he?" She wasn't going to mention he was a wraith, trapped between life and death. "Careful, Malfoy, she added tauntingly. "If I could vanquish a full-grown powerful Wizard when I was just a little girl, and again last year as a Firstie, I just might squash you like a bug if you annoy me enough."

Malfoy's face darkened in anger. "You're lying!"

She smiled. "Oh, so not only are you reckless in annoying someone far more powerful than yourself, you're also delusional and denying things that everyone else knows to be true." She knew it was her mother's protection that had saved her both times, but he didn't. And she wasn't above playing that to her advantage.

Malfoy's face started turning the same colour of purple she used to see on her Uncle Vernon. She didn't take her eyes of his but kept his right hand in her peripheral vision in case he started to draw his wand. Fate intervened.

"Is there a problem?" intoned the deeper voice of a Seventh Year. It was a Slytherin Prefect, a Seventh Year she didn't know. Malfoy stiffened and the purple faded from his face.

"Nothing, sir," said Harri politely. Ron and Hermione beside her smiled and nodded agreement. "Mr. Malfoy was merely noting that, yes, indeed, I am a girl. He apparently only just discovered that fact. He's a little slow that way."

Ron snickered. Crabbe frowned, as if unsure what was happening. Goyle, she was surprised to note, was barely suppressing a smile.

"Come with me," said the Prefect, putting his hand on Malfoy's shoulder and shepherding him towards the upper year end of the Slytherin table, Crabbe and Goyle following in their wake like ducklings following their mother.

"My father . . . ," she heard Malfoy start, only to be interrupted by the older student, "Shut up, Mr. Malfoy!"

X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X

That night, after everyone else had gone to sleep, Harri decided to give up on the diary. Nothing they had tried had yielded any sort of result in revealing what was in it. She might as well put it to the use it had been intended. Harri slipped out of Hermione's bed and returned to her own. She sat cross-legged, the diary open in front of her, and wrote, Harriet Potter, followed by the date.

She paused and considered how to start the next sentence. When she looked down, what she had written was gone and instead was written, Hello, Harry Potter. My name is Tom Riddle. How did you come by my diary?

An hour later, she sat stunned on her bed. Hagrid had told them all about his experience at the Ministry, so she knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Hagrid had had nothing to do with the Chamber of Secrets, as Tom had implied in the memory he showed her. She knew where the entrance to the Chamber was, and it was nowhere near where Tom Riddle claimed it to be. The thing that came charging out of that box of Hagrid's had been a spider. Spiders had fangs to bite with, she had certainly been bit enough times while gardening to know that fact. And Moaning Myrtle did not say she was bitten, she said she saw great big yellow eyes staring at her. And spiders have eight eyes, not two.

Tom was lying, presenting the information in such a way as to make it look like something it wasn't. She had enough experience with the salespeople at Grunnings to recognize that tactic. They frequently used it to tell their wives on the phone that they were in special tag-team training meetings at the hotel with their colleagues, comparing techniques, or schmoozing with clients private rooms. A few even went so far as to say, "And I promise you that there aren't any women here who aren't my co-workers or their relatives." That they were training an underage girl how to shag two or three men at the same time wasn't mentioned. Nor that their tag-team training meant more than one using her and not two or three salespeople talking in turn to a recalcitrant client. Or that the schmoozing meant making sure she kept their client happy by being as compliant as possible. Oh, yes, she had heard plenty of examples in misdirection using completely truthful statements.

Tom clearly knew the truth of the matter of the Chamber of Secrets and was using his knowledge to shift the blame to another.

That left the problem of just what the bloody hell this diary was. She had never heard of anything like this. The enchanted mirrors and portraits at the castle could hold conversations with you, but to be able to pull you in and share a memory? And neither the mirrors nor the portraits gave her the feeling that she just had to write in the diary. There was a compulsion spell of some kind on the diary. And it appeared indestructible. And the indestructible part made her think of the locket that Kreacher had tried in vain to destroy for a decade. Could this be similar — a Soul Anchor? If so, this made three of them! Good grief, it was like the whole Wizarding world was littered with the damn things.

Her friends were appalled at the story she told them at breakfast next morning, but what could they do? The useless adults were being useless. Or they had an agenda that didn't include keeping their students safe and alive! Except maybe Headmistress McGonagall. She had been a great help at first last year, until the very end when she had ignored their warning about the Stone. This year she had been mostly neutral. Could they chance taking the diary to her? She had closed off the Myrtle's toilets, and announced that the use of the term "mud-blood" or "blood-traitor" was an automatic 5-point deduction. The Slytherin House had quickly discovered, after losing fifty points late yesterday afternoon and early evening, that this wasn't restricted to the hearing range of staff but included all portraits, statues, and suited-armours, including those in their common room. They were not happy.

But would McGonagall take them seriously? Serious? Sirius! Perhaps he would have an idea! Borrowing a parchment from Hermione, Harri quickly wrote a message to her godfather explaining what she had found and what she has concluded. As a postscript she added that Dumbles had been booted out and replaced by McGonagall. With any luck the letter would reach him just as he arrived at Grimmauld place.

Before she could head off to the owlery though, she saw the Parkinsons enter the Great Hall. She stood as they came over to her.

"Lord Potter-Gaunt-Slytherin," said Pansy's father, formally, "I place my daughter in your care." He bowed slightly as Pansy curtsied.

"Thank you, Lord Parkinson," replied Harri, also formal, "I shall regard your daughter as the treasure she is." Harri bowed to the Wizard.

"My Lady," Harri turned to Pansy, "Have you broken your fast, yet?"

"Yes, My Lord," she said quietly.

"Heir Longbottom," Harri turned to Neville. "Would you escort Heir Parkinson to her House so that she may retrieve her school supplies for the day?" Harri held up the folded parchment. "I must send this off post-haste." She turned back to Pansy. "I shall meet you outside your House to escort you to your first class of the day." Harri turned and bowed again to the Parkinsons, "Excuse me, Lord, Lady, but I must hurry off if I am not to be late to my class." She turned and quickly walked out of the great Hall, Hermione at her heels. If they hurried, they could make it to the owlery, send the letter, retrieve and escort Pansy to her first class, and just barely make it to their own class.