Chapter 12

Dolores Umbridge was in Heaven. She had helped to bring about the resurrection of the Dark Lord, and was keeping it all quiet while quietly helping to recruit more followers. The ones who displeased her had to feed the dementors. Literally.

Her Lord was being careful though, staying in shadow. He was both attracted to Hogwarts and wanted to return there, and afraid to return as due to Dumbledore being there. It was only a matter of time.

There was a concern about some prophecy, and after the first time, and getting backhanded hard, she never had asked again.

"I'm not afraid of Harry Potter, or his master, Dumbledore."

She bowed, and backed away, and recruited.

The Dark Lord was clever in the making of gold, in all sorts of ways, and she was well funded in her efforts.

**OO**

Millicent wasn't with them for this morning's OWLs. She had taken Herbology and Potions earlier in the week, but wasn't ready for Defense against the Dark Arts, today's exam, or Transfiguration tomorrow.

Millicent had done very well catching up, but her strength lay in other areas. One was in riding and the more physical attacks. She also had a strong talent for any potion ingredient, and Neville pointed out that might be considered a family trait.

But she didn't have their education before Hogwarts so wasn't ready.

The instructor quirked an eyebrow at both Harry and Joseph coming in, but asked Sir Hector rather than confront 'little boys' for being in the wrong place.

The wizard clearly was dubious when he saw that it was 'Harry Potter' turning in his OWL test for Defense. Again, he said nothing to Harry, but Joseph told him later that Harry should consider that man an enemy.

The practical OWL DADA exam was so much fun! First was the typical run and obstacle course. Scoring was based on not only speed and accuracy taking out targets, but negative points were taken for not putting down something dangerous or hurting something innocent. No real animals or evil villains were hurt, all training dummies. Good ones.

Then he had to identify several actual magical creatures and show how to deal with them.

Really, a hippogriff just wasn't fair to the students who were home-schooled, but Ecole Merlin held OWLs and NEWTs testing for any students who wanted to come.

Harry set a record for speed and accuracy, and had gained every bonus point possible! The course record was now set, and until they changed it, Harry's record would stand.

"I was warned me about you, Mr. Potter!" The unnamed proctor stated. "There is no way that a child like you could get a perfect score on both the written and practical! You not only don't gain your OWLs for ALL of the tests; you are banned until you are fifteen before trying again. Cheat again, and you will have your magic bound and your wand snapped no matter who you are!"

Sir Hector had come in to escort the visiting testers to the dining area, and heard the last part of his rant.

"HOW DARE YOU! I challenge you to an honor duel! My squire is not just getting training from me and the rest of the knights at this school. He is Mad-eye Moody's apprentice! He is talented and has magic that would make Merlin jealous! What is your name, so I know what to tell the aurors when they come for your dead body or the healers if you don't perish?"

The man puffed up importantly. "I am Thornton Hargrove, the Third! I'm on the ICW Council for Education, and help oversee tests all over Europe. You can't challenge me for telling the truth!"

The shouting had attracted attention, and it wasn't just Monseigneur Brown coming in. Several junior knights accompanied him, some pulling on tunics as they ran in.

"Headmaster Brown, good. You're here. Perhaps you will just expel the brat and send him to someone like Dumbledore. He knows how to deal with miscreants like this."

Sir Hector took a deep breath, clearly ready to enter more of the verbal fray. Regulus' upraised hand stopped him.

Students all around them took a step back as they saw their fairly laid-back headmaster get truly angry.

"Of all of the insults that I have heard against this boy, that has to be the worst. The most vile. And to level that insult here? What do you think that this place is? The fact that the wards didn't expel you is testament that you truly believe that what you say.

"You are being used, little man. Used to try and bring a good boy, a servant of Light, under Dumbledore's thumb. To be trained to 'forgive' his enemies, and shoot flower spells at them instead of putting them down.

"You go back to your master and tell him that you failed in your task. I can prove that Harry earned each and every point today."

"Well! If you don't believe me, then I will just come back with a commission…"

"You, Mr. Hargrove the Third aren't going anywhere. My secretary is on the floo as we speak finding out just who you report to. We'll have answers today, or by all the Saints I will know why!

"Sir Hector, take Harry and his friends to that side room. Let none of them leave."

Harry at this point had his hand held by Hermione on one side, had Rock with a comforting arm him on the other, and had his initial embarrassment under control.

Now, all he was feeling was anger.

The group moved into the side dining area that had been opened while the long tables had been used for tests. This left them a good view of the dining room, and watched adults scurry around.

Several high officials from Paris streamed into the school. Not all were involved with education. Some were ICW International Aurors.

Sir Hector exchanged nods with one of his counterparts there. Many knights had taken the exams in order to wear Auror robes where they had operations. The tall dark-haired man came over.

"Trouble in paradise, Charles?" Harry recognized a Surrey accent and was surprised by that.

"James Matheson, this is Harry Potter. Harry, this is ICW and French auror James Matheson." Sir Hector introduced.

"French? Not British?" Harry asked.

"Oh? Surrey too? Well, you've seen some of the prejudice I faced. I wanted to work in the magical world, and France was still close enough to home to visit regularly."

Harry got it. Muggleborn.

"Sir Hector is your knight, young man?"

"Yes, sir! I am very grateful for such a mentor." Harry stated.

"How did you two meet?" the auror queried.

"Charles rescued me sir!"

"Oh? I thought you were raised in a magical castle." Auror Matheson stated with a wink.

Harry scoffed at that. "Yeah, but I was the house-elf"

The man patted his shoulder in understanding. "I was lucky. My family thought I had psychic powers or something. Free spirits, and didn't mind a bit that I was a 'witch'"

Charles and Harry both chuckled at that.

"I won't compromise that investigation by questioning you myself Harry. Charles and I have worked together before. Did he ever tell you that he helped rescue an actual princess?"

If Charles could pale, it would be now. "Um, not in front of Joseph or Sir Jerome, now!" the knight warned.

The man's eyes goggled a little at that secret shared, but did a motion of zipping his lips.

"I'm glad that you had a Sir Hector in your life when you needed it, Mr. Potter. He's a good friend. Or is that Sir Harry?"

"Not yet, good auror. Not yet. But I'm working hard at it. I promise!"

The men chuckled, and a very serious, no-nonsense witch in red descended on them.

**OO**

To Harry's disappointment, the obstacle course for OWLs was changed for the first time in many years. Not that the pattern wasn't kept secret from the apprentices. It was. It just meant that he lost his record. Several people were helping with the new one. Professor McG helped adding some 'interesting' features even as she scowled at the necessity of it.

"I want the same proctors tomorrow! No one will be accusing the son of one the greatest apprentices I ever had in Transfiguration of cheating! As if I would stand for such!"

"Don't forget to message me during the practical young man!" The cat animagus demanded.

"Yes, ma'am!" Harry said, but the proctor getting things set up did actually look a little chagrined at all of this.

Harry was allowed a pepper-up, as he had been in testing, and allowed a snack, but that was it.

A healer came in and tested him for any other potions, he had to take off all jewelry, whinging about taking off his betrothal ring before giving it to Hector for safe keeping. Even his emergency kit was taken. Not all squires wore them, but Harry had been threatened before.

Time to begin!

**OO**

The written test was done, and off being scored. It had been odd to be given different quills at random times, and have so many people watching him.

At least no one commented on his block lettering that helped him write readable answers.

The practical began with other magical creatures than normal. Harry thought he had caught of glimpse of Newt Scamander, and hoped that Luna got a chance to see her idol before he left. He correctly identified how to deal with them all, and they moved to the front grounds.

The young squire knew this meant something dangerous or unusual, as the wards were different here.

Harry saw a priest standing by. That was unusual as well, and put two and two together. He quickly conjured a small flask and filled it with aquamenti. He went over to the priest, as the trials had not started, and asked him for a blessing. He opening asked the priest to bless the water as well, and no one said anything against him.

He then showed the holy water and flask to one of the nearby proctors and asked him to watch the next spell. The woman nodded, and Harry went to the indicated spot.

Several students stood nearby to watch this trial, and were taking notes.

A small child's pool was brought in and Harry groaned. He didn't have enough time to make that much Holy Water! Something to put on his to-do list for later. Apprentices were put to work to fill it with conjured water. They were then sent back to the sidelines. The team then released the cage, and something ugly and scaly splashed into the water.

"What is that, Squire? And how will you deal with it?"

"May I have a flawed crystal from my kit? That's a Kappa, sir, a water demon, and they aren't a natural creature to this world. Some Japanese sorcerer summoned them, and they got out of control. We have a mandate to banish all such to their normal realm."

"Describe the ritual without performing it." The proctor required.

So, Harry did, and the proctor was suitably impressed.

The Kappa, however was impatient, and the pool wasn't deep enough. It sensed warm blood nearby and jumped out at a curious Juliette Smith who had gotten too close to the pool.

"NO!" Harry yelled jumping into action as the girl was dragged into the charmed pool. He successfully summoned the girl, handing her off to a nearby matron, and dived in with the holy water. When the kappa went to bite him, Harry shoved the flask into its mouth and apparated back to the pool edge.

He then activated the portkey.

"Where did it go?" The proctor asked.

Before Harry could tell him, the woman that he had reported to in his prep work stepped up.

"If my calculations are correct, he sent it about halfway to the moon." The woman said.

"Actually, not that far up. Just high enough where there's no atmosphere, and it will burn up on re-entry."

"Won't the muggles notice?" One of the proctors asked.

"It's pretty small, and should be gone already. They can be killed, but I didn't want to get close enough to go hand-to-hand. They are dangerous, sir, ma'am."

One of the team looked around. "You! You killed an innocent creature!"

"No, I killed a demon. You knew how I would react before you brought that thing here. And I warned your people."

"He did indeed. I approved the portkey." The woman stated.

"But the Japanese Ministry! What will I say?"

"Ask that the bounty on the creature be shared with the Order. It was one of our squires that dealt with it after all." Monseigneur Brown stated firmly.

"Bounty?" The man asked in a quiet voice. "I brought a creature that has an international bounty for an OWLs test? Headmaster, I am so sorry! Mr. Potter, you have my apologies as well. This is supposed to be a nice challenge, nothing more. It the girl alright?"

"Miss Smith is shaken, but not bitten. You might want to check who suggested such a challenge." Sir Hector opined.

Harry took this opportunity to send a message to Professor McG that he had banished a kappa.

The proctors clapped, and one of them took out a trunk.

"Would you like to earn a few more bonus points, Mr. Potter?" The woman asked. "What do you think is in here?"

"Well, I doubt it's a dementor, as that is a small trunk. Could be a boggart, and you think it will become one for me. I think its most likely a lethifold as they like small, dark places."

The woman nodded, then counted down. Harry was ready. Or thought he was.

The brolly-like creature attacked without warning, and Harry's patronus was interrupted. He dodged to the side, and with a loud 'Expecto Patronum' a large wolf-like creature was attacking the umbrella with abandon.

The creature was moved back into the trunk as the students around the field applauded their most famous fellow student.

"Well done, Mr. Potter!" The woman stated.

Sir Hector came up and handed Harry an approved energy drink.

"Ready for the new and improved obstacle course?"

"Broom or hippogriff?" Harry asked.

The proctors debated a moment, and decided broom.

Harry's grin was wicked and scared Sarah Smith. "Harry! This doesn't have anything to do with your new broom? Does it?"

Harry had used a minor part of his latest inheritance to buy a Firebolt.

"Maybe." Was all he said.

**OO**

The Knights of the Order wouldn't stand for cheating, and would have been able to detect it. Thorton had committed career suicide after listening to the vitriol that Dumbledore brought to the Education committee. Of course, Albus Dumbledore could be sanctioned for it, and if the charges proved false, he had better be!

Harry had done well on the new obstacle course. It wasn't a perfect run, the collapsing wall had nearly got him, and had tagged his new broom. It would be alright one repaired, he just lost a few bristles.

He fell into bed that night without staying up for the results. He was one tired boy!

As requested, the proctors returned the next day, and gave him his test results after earning his OWL in Transfiguration.

Professor McGonagall had hugged him hard after that practical.

"Just like your father! Oh, my boy! I'm so proud of you!" The cat animagus beamed.

The proctors looked a bit sheepish. "The veritaserum questions proved that Squire Harry Potter in no way cheated on the written, and we were all witness to his practical. Due to the unusual circumstances, and the political nature of the accusation of cheating, we have determined that the perfect score stands for the OWLs. The test we provided yesterday is normally for NEWTs, although without the Kappa. We thereby grant Harry Potter an O with distinction for his NEWTs as well. Very well done, Squire. All of us are very impressed."

The woman from the previous day spoke up. "For what it's worth, we are sorry that you were accused. A simple oath could have prevented the whole mess. We will be lodging a formal complaint. You and your headmaster should think about doing so as well."

Harry bowed to the proctors "Thank you all. I think that the headmaster already has ideas for a protest ma'am. But my honestly earned OWLs are truly my best revenge."

The woman nodded in understanding. "A life well lived? We'll be watching you, Squire."

Twelve OWLs, two with O's with distinction, and a NEWT in DADA before he was fourteen? The education committee wouldn't be the only one watching this prodigy.

**OO**

With Professor McG here at school, Harry had learned so much about his parents. Not the hero stories that other's told. But how James suffered from night terrors when he was younger, and stood up to Death Eater wannabes even as a firstie. How he had been good friends with other pranksters, and made people laugh in difficult times.

It was summer. Their friends back in Hogwarts would be starting their third year in a couple of months, and the apprentices had finished taking their OWLS a few weeks before. Harry made an A in any subject that didn't have a military application, and scored such a high DADA mark that he had been accused of cheating.

Harry laughed. He had wand rights in Britain now. He sent a copy of his OWL scores to Dumbledore with a request for his Head of House ring and any other property of his that he might have. He did inform the Headmaster that they found the diadem, and there was just two things left keeping Voldemort alive.

He received a polite no. The ring was not available. Again.

**OO**

Time went on, and Sir Hector gave all of the boys a book to read, and in individual sessions quizzed everyone on it.

Neville fumbled and reddened the most. Rock had taken him for a long walk and was heard muttering about the gratitude of certain witches being far, far away.

Harry got all of the answers to the test right, but at the end of it looked sideways at the knight.

"Sir? I'm not sure I get the big deal. I mean, I liked kissing Hermione the few times when we were first betrothed and all. But it's no problem to not kiss either."

Joseph Kerveil, the younger brother of Sir Jerome, had a similar problem to Harry's. He physically looked much younger than his years, and he too was confused why they had to study this.

"Squire Joseph, when you mature, there are potions available to help you with your natural veela urges. There's nothing immoral or unnatural about them. They are nature's way of ensuring the next generation. We just keep control of our minds and bodies while in service."

The very good-looking little boy nodded, but just didn't understand what the big deal was. Joseph was growing at a normal rate for his kind.

Harry, however, was not.

Charles took him back to the healer, and Harry was put on an experimental potions regime to see if it would kick-start puberty.

It didn't work.

**OO**

On September 19, 1994, Hermione's fourteenth birthday, Algie Longbottom showed up at Ecole Merlin with his mistress, a solicitor, a contract, and shackles.

He was invited to the front grounds, where those of ill-intent could be dealt with without allowing them into the school wards. It had allowed a demon, this vile man was allowed as well.

Several nuns clucked and dithered, using their decades of experience to scold the man in an attempt to get him to stop.

A runner had been sent for Hermione to report to the headmaster's office.

"Rescued princesses belong in towers. Get thee hence to the nunnery!" Monseigneur Brown commanded.

Hermione did not take the humor well and muttered under her breath. "Stupid old warrior monks. I can fight!"

Persephone raised an eyebrow and let fling a stinger. "Detention, Squire. The first-year cohort needs help with flying lessons. Holding their hands, stabilizing them in flight. Tomorrow."

The girl nearly argued, but didn't want to do more than one lesson and wisely stayed quiet. She made her way to the indicated tower.

At least she'd have a good view from the cloister windows.

Squire Harry Potter, looking so very young, but arrayed in dueling robes arrived with his mentor and few friends. They stopped at the edge of the field, but he continued on.

Hermione, with her own knight and a few sisters waved from one of the towers of the cloister.

"Algie Longbottom, you are nothing but a stain that needs to be removed. I challenge…"

"Hold Potter! This is my fight, not yours!"

Neville came out to the field with his knight. Rock stopped at the sidelines as well. Neville too was wearing practical dueling robes. He took off his left gauntlet and whapped his uncle on the cheek with it. Hard. Hard enough to draw blood.

That's what the little metal points on the glove were for after all. At least they hadn't been poisoned.

Algie dabbed at the blood. "I accept! A little squib like you should have been drowned at birth. If that had happened, my son wouldn't have been murdered by you! This should be over quickly."

Zora Zabini was there. She was still wearing all black, her version of mourning robes. Her black lace veil again covered her face.

Neville bowed to her. "I swear on my magic, I did not kill Blaise Zabini, nor did I know of our relationship in terms of blood. I counted him a friend. I mourn his loss."

The widow nodded. She had been at the trial, but had been heavily potioned at the time. She had trouble remembering what happened. The outcome had been misrepresented in the British press.

Sir Hector came out to the field. "Algie Longbottom, you have been challenged to a duel. This ends when you are dead."

"What? What about Neville?"

"If you kill him, I guarantee you that his knight Sir Rodney will challenge you next. Should you prevail still, it would likely be that Dan Granger will challenge you next for what you did to he and his wife, what you tried to do to his daughter. And then there's Harry Potter. No. You came here with shackles and a forced contract to try to take away a young maid from her family and friends. Anyone can apply for sanctuary here. She did."

The details of her contract with Harry had deliberately had not been made public, just that they had contracted. Algie Longbottom obviously ignored the Daily Prophet, but didn't know that the contract was invalid. They had never notified him, just in case of today happening.

"Well, then I'll be going." The man stated, but his solicitor started to whisper to him.

"WHAT?" The man cried out. "But that's robbery!"

"Oh, just finding out that challenging a squire or knight of the Order, and then trying to back out has financial obligations? Too bad you didn't consult a lawyer." Harry informed him, getting glares from both visitors.

"Never mind. I will fight the squib. I hope that Augusta will forgive me when I kill him."

Neville took deep breaths and bowed to the watching Hermione, and saluted the ladies with his wand.

Sir Hector counted them off, then got out of the way.

Algie started with something a deep nasty purple, but Neville was casting too.

"Segmegtum" Neville whispered. He wasn't quite up to silent casting but he was working on it.

The powerful spell shattered Algie's hastily raised shield, but he had no time to cast either shield or attack spell as Neville had cast the same charm again.

"Segmegtum!" Neville shouted, forgetting in his rage to try for silent casting. All of his pain at all of the contant insults, all of his pain for losing Hermione as a potential spouse, all of the rage for everything this man had done to him went into the spell.

The evil man was severed in half.

Algie Longbottom was dead. Killed by the same spell used to harvest potions ingredients.

Neville turned to the dangerous witch on the sidelines, but she merely curtseyed to him.

"I wish I had sent Blaise here instead of Hogwarts. You have freed me, Neville Longbottom. Freed me from a terrible contract. Bless you. What boon would you have of me?"

This surprised all of the adults, and Harry was left to wonder if Algie and other British wizards had hurt other witches this way.

"My friends and I want to serve the world. I would ask that you do us no harm."

The woman made a magical oath that was far deeper than that, and promised shelter if asked.

"That jealous man killed every man I ever loved, but would never marry me. He just wanted me his slave, and blamed me for their deaths. After the third, I stopped trying to find love."

"Well, maybe you can now. And you are young enough to have children if you wish." Sir Hector stated.

"Who would dare? No, I will be viewed as a courtesan or worse. I will make a small donation to your Order. Thank you."

Sir Hector nearly said 'I would' to the beleaguered woman. He could feel the truth of his words, but couldn't say anything now as a knight in service. He had extended to stay with Harry, but once Voldemort was gone. Well, time would tell.

Her 'small donation' turned out to be a hundred thousand galleons. Proof enough for anyone that she was grateful.

Algie's body had been professionally processed while they spoke to Blaise's mother, and would be taken to the local aurors with memories of the duel, a copy of the contact, and witness statements from the headmaster and deputy.

The woman had not shed one tear or looked in the least upset about Algie's death.

Harry walked over to Neville. Hermione was no longer in the window. He suspected that the knight was taking care of her squire.

"Alright there, Nev?" Harry asked concerned.

"I wish I had done that before Blaise had been killed. Other than that, I'm good."

Sir Rodney came up to take Neville to the Knight Commander's office for combat review.

"What kind of person am I that I'm happy he's dead?" Harry asked his knight softly.

"One who serves the Light and knows that there are many innocent lives unblemished, many happier because that blot did not hurt them."

Harry nodded, and decided right then and there that he no longer wanted to be like Dumbledore.

The Potter boy went to the chapel to say prayers for the dead; his beloved Sister Gisele and Brother Paddy, and then spend the rest of the day helping with the babies.

**OO**

"I'm sorry, Sir Knight. We can't find out what's wrong with him. Have you tried a muggle specialist? If he can't afford it, I know a patroness who will pay for him." The healer said.

Harry's growth was progressing. A bit. But he still was a child, and uninterested in either of his future brides other than as friends. Which was good. In one way.

But for a boy approaching his fourteenth year?

Not so much.

**OO**

"Mister Rosier."

"Lord Malfoy?"

"I hear that you have contacts in different ministries of the world. We're looking for a family of squibs. Here's the information. Find them."

"Yes, my lord. This could get a bit expensive."

The man was handed a small bag of gold.

"This is for something very important to us both. Don't waste what is given, and don't ask for more."

The man nodded. Message received.

"I'll be in touch my lord."

"Sooner is best."

The man bowed and went to track down something worthless for something important. Rituals likely, but he was smart enough to keep questions to himself.

**OO**

Minerva McGonagall ran for cover as another lion exploded. She unshrunk her broom and took to the skies.

Hermione, Harry, Millicent, Joseph and Neville looked at each other as the lions were still stocking them, and now their target had gone airborne! Much harder to hit.

Sir Hector and Dame Rebecca had no advice. Or were staying quiet on purpose.

Rock's eyes were twinkling in mirth, but as judge, he had remained quiet the entire time.

Harry's eyes gleamed and he began muttering in some ancient language.

Neville, Hermione and Millicent went back to taking out conjured and configured animals.

Joseph started casting red sparks at the woman to distract her.

Minerva soon found herself flying a banana! A bright pink one!

It startled her so much that she nearly fell. Control of the animals was lost, and they turned on each other.

The knights started clapping after they realized that the animagus wasn't falling. They had had spells ready to catch her.

"How? You can't transfigure a broom! There's wards to prevent loss of function!"

Harry shrugged "I didn't stop it from being a flying magical device. I powered its new appearance rune. Let me tell you, it's hard to activate from here!"

Rock, as judge, went over to inspect said banana, urm, broom. The other two knights started laughing so hard, they wound up on the ground. The three of them received light stingers. Dame Rebecca yelped.

"I won't have it! Prank me again at your peril Squire Potter! I dealt with the Marauders, and I will deal with you!" Her Scottish accent was always strongest when yelling at students, and she looked angry indeed.

The professor started to stalk off.

"Oh, and fifty points to Gryffindor. You could have unseated me, or stunned me, and that would have hurt. You took me out of the fight. Excellent work, Harry."

"Full marks, Squire Potter. I don't know how you triggered it from the ground." Rock said, and the broom looked like a broom again. "Well done, indeed."

Sir Hector shook his head, but their mentors' smiles warmed Harry's heart.

**OO**

By the time that they got the call out, it was too late. Another magical little girl was kidnapped and likely killed before reaching eight years old.

If only they could get a handle of exactly where the girls were taken! Most dark rituals had some kind of time requirement.

The rituals were held all around Britain, almost as if baiting the knights to invade. Calls to the Wizengamot were ignored.

It was time to petition the ICW for action.

**OO**

Millicent snapped at the sister that she was helping.

"I'm no girly girl who's going to sit at home doing magical embroidery while the men go off and fight dragons or slavers or whatever.

Sir Jerome and Sir Rodney had been called to deal with something nasty, and Sir Hector stayed with the squires.

Some of the older sisters remembered a time when ladies pursued the gentle arts, and wanted to pass down her wisdom before she too passed away into history.

At a hundred and fifty, she had a lot of history to pass on.

Hermione soaked it up, and actually enjoyed the meditative therapy that was this artform. Her squib mother Emma had enough magic to enjoy it as well.

Millicent was shown a picture of Harry on Fluffy. "Wouldn't that make a lovely gift to your betrothed?"

Millicent showed it to Hermione, who immediately said yes. The Granger ladies pounced on the project, and Hermione abandoned her rose bouquet in favor of the Cerberus.

Sister Agatha sighed and released the girl to go flying.

Later seeing her and Luna together did warm her heart. Hermione looked up and shuddered.

"Do you want to join your friends, Hermione?" Emma asked. They were in a round tower on the edge of the training fields, and had a perfect view of the training flights.

"No thank you, mother. I'm content to sit here and sew. And listen to Sister Agatha."

The woman knew the ends and outs of magical politics better than anyone, and had such great storytelling skills.

A pleasant time was had by all there, from the youngest girl of three learning to make neat simple stiches to the oldest, and all the girls in between.

Millicent sighed, seeing Hermione sitting inside the windows, the picture of the perfect princess.

"I wonder if I will ever be loved for me?"

Just then Squire Joseph flew by. He completely ignored the girls in the tower.

"Hey Millicent! They just reset the obstacle course. Grab a bow! Wanna race?"

"You bet!"

Joseph beamed at her. "I'm so glad you came out. I can't imagine being held captive in a tower like that. We'll rescue the princess from her durance vile later. But right now, I think she's serving detention or something."

Millicent smiled. She liked Squire Joseph a lot. Both of them would have thought being stuck there sewing was a punishment.

**OO**

Gabrielle Delacour was now a first year at Beauxbatons, and enjoyed everything about school except one thing.

She looked like an eight-year-old when everyone else was much taller, more mature looking.

Other veela attended school, and she was not as teased as she expected to be. And she was related to the queen, though her mother kept that very quiet for security reasons.

The entire first year was on a field trip to an ancient ritual site. At first, they were all tightly grouped together, but over time, the group spread out, and Gabrielle went to ask one of the docents about the runes on the main stone.

Suddenly, without warning, the blonde woman reached out and grabbed her arm. Before Gabrielle could do much but scream, she had been port-keyed away.

Terribly frightened, the young girl landed and was quickly bound in tight ropes, her wand taken.

The blonde witch looked familiar, but Gabrielle stayed quiet, as the woman had clearly heard something from upstairs. They were not alone wherever they were, though their current surroundings were clearly a dungeon cell.

The smells coming from the room made it clear that it had been occupied, perhaps not recently, but it was not a relic.

The girl became very afraid, and tried to think of a way home.

The woman took out her wand and waved it twice.

"You're pure, but the age is wrong."

"I will be twelve soon." Gabrielle said softly. She had been taught how to act if such a thing every happened. Always best to cooperate until you could escape.

"AACCK You! You're a creature! Veela chick, not a witch child. You're useless!"

Gabrielle would rather have waited until she was alone, but the vile woman had been talking about how to cover up her death. She had to act now before it was too late.

The woman started pacing, but Gabrielle had a friend to call. "Soda?" she said, very softly.

The great Harry Potter himself had responded to HER letters, and had sent his elf more than once with them.

"Mistress is…"

"Avada Kadavra!" The witch shouted, but missed. Soda had dived to the ground before turning and snapping her fingers, flinging the woman to the stone dungeon floor, her wand breaking upon her fall.

Soda got up and grabbed up the crying child, but the woman had a dagger in hand.

Elf and child and weapon disappeared with a pop.

**OO**

"Potter, your elf is in the hospital, along with a friend."

Sir Hector and he made their way to St. Michael's. His little elf had had a ritual dagger removed. How she survived to get to Notre Dame was one thing. A knight had brought her here, knowing the sigil.

Soda was a very light mint green, far too pale, and asleep. Harry stoked her hair gently before backing out of the room.

"Is she going to be all right?" Harry asked before being interrupted.

A little blonde missile attacked suddenly in rapid French. "Soda came even though I put her in danger. I couldn't think what to do. If she dies, it's my fault!"

"You are supposed to be resting, little miss. Your mother and father are on the way." The sister scolded.

"Gabrielle, you are my friend. I would have tried to rescue you, and my elf friend here knew that. You aren't at fault." Harry reassured her, pulling her in for a hug, and kissing her forehead.

"If I wasn't your friend, if I didn't have her to call, I would be, would be…" The little girl burst into tears, and was gently held by the future knight.

"She really should be in bed, squire." The healer stated, unsure of what to do. This was clearly an emotional situation.

"Gabrielle, let's follow the sister back to your room. You need to listen to her. You do not want one of them to be mad at you. Not ever!" Harry explained.

Just for good measure, the sister scowled at the boy, but her heart wasn't in it.

Gabrielle gave him a watery smile, and the healer too, and went back to her room.

"I'm glad you are safe. Sir Hector, may I stay with my friend until her parents come?"

The knight looked at the sister who nodded. "Of course, squire. I'll go check on Rock, and let him show off his newest scar.

Injuries were too common in the field but Harry would be safe here with the girl.

No one would be kidnapping her from here!