Chapter 17

The delegation of the Knights of the Order of Merlin was an impressive sight. Most wore their own heraldry, but with the same style of dueling tunic. Comfortable, practical, and more than a little intimidating to those who might think a knight an easy mark.

Albus Dumbledore was not at the high table where the Supreme Mugwump sat. The other six delegates of the council were there and a slight oriental lady in pink kimono was in Dumbledore's place.

Sir Harry, as youngest member would normally be sat in the last seat furthest back. But he was in physical and psychological danger here. He was at the Knight Commander's right hand. Sir Hector was on Harry's other side.

The woman took a stone, and slammed it down on the table, the sharp rap stopping all chatter.

"We come in session for a most unusual case. Normally what happens within a country's borders is private unless that country requests help or some international law is broken. Charges today have been leveled against Britain's Wizengamot for passing an internationally illegal law and for endangering the statue of secrecy.

"At the center of this controversy is control over a young boy. A child of prophecy."

Harry reacted to that, looking to Sir Hector, but not getting any answer, he tried to put on a stoic face. Murmurs were stopped with another bang of the stone.

"Albus Dumbledore has lost his position here. I won't debate why! The decision was made in private in the counsel. We honor him for his century of public work, and grant him emeritus status with one exception. He is not allowed to sit a voting seat, and not allowed to present new plans, ideas, events or legislation before this body." She ended that judgement with a stone whap.

She looked hard at the delegates from around the world.

"You know our purpose here! To maintain peace through diplomatic means! The Knights of the Order are not policemen! Nor Aurors! Nor Hitwizards! They go where they are requested to go. They handle challenging problems with a different sort of diplomacy.

"They put their lives on the line to protect innocent magical life."

She bowed low to the High Commander who stood and returned her bow.

"My name is Sakura Kimura. I have been elected Supreme Mugwump. The council has decided on a cap of a decade service to the council as Mugwump, and we will rotate positions. As a result, I will serve for a year, and we will rotate. We hope that this will prevent blindness to the issues at hand. I will take no questions during this emergency meeting, however, if you write them down, and leave them on your table, they will be addressed in a brief sent to all."

She bowed and whapped the stone.

"I call forth Harry Potter, previously of Number Four Privet Drive, Surrey, England."

Harry stood, walked up to the council table and bowed. He was directed to a chair. He was not bound, so took that as a good sign.

He had to make various oaths that he had not taken anything that would counteract truth serum.

The three drops hit his tongue, and Harry thought to himself 'finally'.

**OO**

Millicent Bulstrode pulled the weft thread too tightly, and now her weaving was all bunched up!

"Urgg! This is not cooperating! How do you enjoy this, Luna?"

Luna's design was very colorful, where Millicent's was black with touches of red.

Luna went very still.

"You must not abandon the innocent at Hogwarts. Death, destruction. Pain. Save the children from death on golden wings. Save the innocent from fire. Fire and death come."

"Are you alright, Luna?" Milli asked. "Should we go to the hospital?"

"No, I'm not alright. I saw green wings and flames. Oh! I'm scared, Millicent Bulstrode. You shouldn't go to Hogwarts; you'll be in danger!"

"Don't be scared Luna." The larger girl held the other in a warm hug. "That's what we train for. Sounds like dragons. We need to warn the others."

**OO**

An ICW auror came up to their group as they were leaving. The young woman asked: "Mr. Bulstrode? Your presence is requested. You may bring your friends if you wish, but I would prefer not to have to arrest you. Especially after your memories and testimony at the World Cup."

The Knight Commander was not unfamiliar with ICW politics. "If we come with you, will we find out why Dumbledore was suddenly sidelined?"

The lady's blush told all it was so. "I'm sure that I'm not in a position to ask. You might inquire there, good sir knight."

She didn't recognize his rank, but did recognize their tunics, and didn't show any disrespect. The high council looked to Graham, but he was clearly eager to find out what was going on.

They all trooped into the Supreme Mugwumps' private offices for a chat.

**OO**

"Those conniving, backstabbing, evil...people!" Sir Hector exploded, without swearing. Sister Giselle's early training was not easy to overcome.

The Knight Commander had assembled them at their quarters in Paris. It was a in a small section of the great Cathedral of Notre Dame, allowing foot access to the nearby Rue Magique. Harry had been sent to chapel, to allow the elders to talk alone.

Graham Bulstrode's family had already moved to the compound. Hearing that there was an arrest warrant for him in Britain had them all scoff. Memories of his ICW questioning into the disappearances of the young witches, his testimony of the World Cup fiasco, and even testimony that he had never practiced Dark Arts and would have no idea how to transfer magic from one person to another were all included.

After that, Graham was sent home via special portkey, and told to stay in Italy. The arrest warrant was completely bogus, and had not one shred of evidence at all.

"Yes, now saying that it was an execution for crimes against a magical child!" Monseigneur Brown wondered. "And selling tickets! Imbibing beverages, nibbling snacks, and cheering?! That was clearly a brutal coliseum type blood sport. No government sanctioned execution. Where were the last rights? The reading of the charges? How did they know about the early abuse anyways? Evil most vile!"

"Likely Poppy made a report back when Harry was there at Hogwarts that was then quashed."

"We knew from the healer's scans. And that is no reason to kill the teenager for crimes committed before he was eight."

Eight years old was the minimum age of accountability in the wizarding world, and should have been applied to the boy as he was a squib, not a true muggle.

"I will have Captain Dan Granger report this to the Prime Minister. With a pensieve and copy of the World Cup 'entertainment' memory if the muggles can stomach such barbaric savagery. Graham Bulstrode risked his life to bring this evil to our attention. I'm moved both he and his wife into the compound for now. She loves children, and is happy to volunteer in helping with the younger ones. Graham has been harvesting animal parts for potion ingredients for a living. He can safely do that in our Italian greenhouses, and we can pay him. A lot of the animal reserves are on private islands nearby. No one will think to even look for him there."

"At least the ICW voted for sanctions against Britain. They have to revoke the new muggle-hunting guidelines and put the law back into place making it a crime to kill a muggle in cold blood. But since such a law passed, doesn't that show how corrupt the government truly is?" Monseigneur Brown asked.

The Knight Commander looked to Sir Jerome and Sir Hector. Dame Rebecca was back from her mission, and spending some quality time with her squire. Hermione was turning fifteen soon, and Rebecca didn't want Miss Granger letting her hormones to lead her by the nose. Especially now that Harry's were kicking in.

"I don't like this, my lord, not in the least." Sir Jerome said. "One of the booths clearly had Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy playing courtiers to a hooded figure on a throne. I fear whom that may be."

Monseigneur Brown got up and went to the window. "Remember what Kreature said about the missing house-elves at Malfoy manor? I think that the Malfoys are hiding someone there. Someone that they are trying to keep quiet. For now."

"Are we still going forward with the mission?" The administrator asked.

"The school was invited. It allows the older students not taking Orders to visit Hogwarts. We have never been welcomed in that country, or that school before.

"It is a good opportunity to recruit Durmstrong as well. They TEACH dark arts. Perhaps some can be saved. We have never been nor would ever be welcomed at their school."

"No, we would not be welcome there. What percentage of incipient dark lords had at least some schooling there?" Charles asked. "Half? If not more?"

Sir Romano looked cold and sad. "There is great evil in Britain. Dumbledore invites our school, and I honestly fear for our safety there. No one is to wander alone. Put a bell on Potter. I can't tell you the number of times he's been caught out of bounds. Regulus! Rethink this now. What if our worst fears are true?"

"Until we have proof, one sighting, I will say nothing. I can't." Monseigneur Brown said.

"Will you take the girl, Graham's daughter um, Millicent Bulstrode?" The Knight Commander asked. "I don't want her in unnecessary danger due to her father's testimony."

"Yes. Dame Rachel Flores is coming. She schooled at Hogwarts, as did Professor McGonagall. They want to try and raise our witch recruiting, and they know several people in the country who are being repressed that are not even aware of our ranks. Or have only been told a foul story."

"Did they agree to shortening the time frame?"

"They did. First trial Sept 24th, second Oct 12th, third on Halloween. I tried to get it moved but with no luck. Our submitted task will be first, however."

"Does Potter know?"

"Not yet. He doesn't need to win, just survive, and help us contain the living bit of Voldemort until we can catch the last piece. Didn't the scrying put it at the World Cup?"

"Yes, we suspect some poor innocent seller. Someone like what Edward Long appears to be.

"And so, the book made its way back? That will help." Sir Jerome opined.

"We'll teach you all the spells, but we doubt it's at Hogwarts. We will be checking the Alley and Hogsmeade. I'd inform the goblins, but I don't trust them to not extort half our holdings for it." Sir Romano said.

"I'm sending one of the portals with you. No argument! I things get bad, I want to be able to have safe and reliable troop movement. The mandate signed by the Prime Minister is our invitation to the ball.

"No one under fourteen is allowed to go, and put the protections on everyone against mind control who is not under Oath.

"Questions? Dismissed. I'll give Captain Granger his orders." The Knight Commander said.

Hector and Jerome went to collect Harry and go home. The revelations of being a child under a prophecy didn't really change anything. Luna gave the Order prophecies all of the time. They were all children of prophecy if you looked at it from a certain angle.

"Has Draco called the elf yet?"

"Just recently. Kreature was most distressed to be serving Black blood with no honor. Grimmauld Place is a mess, and Draco must have finally gotten around to visiting it. I didn't really pay attention. I'd like to keep my elf here, but can't as he's entailed to House Black."

"Does he obey the Potter boy. Potter boy! Ha! Sir Harry is no boy for all that he is stuck in a child's body. At least he'll grow now, according to the healers. His mind is keen. And that truly is a knight's greatest weapon."

"Yes, Kreature will obey him. Despite the theft, Kreature knows who is supposed to be Lord Black one day."

"That elf will be an asset to him then."

"We can only hope."

**OO**

Harry looked at the letter the headmaster had given him from the Knight Commander. Both Hermione and Millicent were summoned, and neither of them looked happy.

"Why does Alain Delacour continue to pursue me, my lord? This is not the first time he has asked for a favor. Escorting his daughter? Shouldn't someone older, say Sir Jerome be put in charge of her security?"

Monseigneur Brown choked on his good English tea he was drinking, and Sir Hector patted him on the back to get him breathing again.

"No, Sir Jerome, just because he is Veela should not be in charge of another veela, especially a member of the opposite gender. As for why he is asking for you? You saved his daughter Gabrielle, well, not personally, but because you answered her letters via elf, and turned a fan into a friend."

"Gabrielle and I are friends! I remember what it was like, being labeled a freak, and no one to talk to. She and I may not have everything in common, but we have enough."

"Fleur is head-strong, and wants to go to a Britain controlled by evil. I think he wants you to be there so that WHEN she needs rescuing, you are there. Not if. When."

"My father rescued this girl's mother, and saved both lives. I now know how to make portkeys too. Oh sure, they made it illegal for me to do so, Dumbledore sent me a letter warning me. But I can do it if needed. Ones that work getting out of the wards though?" Harry asked.

"Just needs a drop of your blood. Be careful! Blood magic can be very dark, and people can try to use it for sinister things. Don't do this except in dire need!"

"Of course! The sword of Gryffindor! Hogwarts acknowledges you as Godric's heir." Hermione surmised.

"It sounds to me like Miss Flower wants to be wife number three. Not that she would receive a warm welcome in Britain for being of 'creature heritage'. It hurts, those comments." Millicent stated.

"I mean no disrespect, but I truly plan on only one real wife, and it's not for anything other than love. I want to be very clear about that." Harry stated.

"Miss Bulstrode, I wish that you would reconsider going. Please stay." Monseigneur Brown begged.

"I can't. Luna told me that people would die if I stay. Innocent children. If I do that at the beginning of my career, how can I take my vows later? Not when I can help. And, like it or not, I am sacred twenty-eight. That matters."

"Alain Delacour has begged Harry's escort and protection for Fleur, and Luna feels that this is important as well. Gabrielle was kidnapped once. You have the code of conduct. Veela she might be, but the Veela court holds our Order in high regard. They could have lost face with Jerome's and Joseph's birth.

No one said boo about his father, and there were ugly rumors. Other than knowing his mother was a young princess, and his grandparents acknowledged him, not much else was said.

"You want me to act as bodyguard and escort. There has to be another reason for her to go?"

"Something. I feel like strings are being pulled, and the only Master I want to dance for is the Lord of the Dance."

Harry stifled an inappropriate laugh. "My apologies, sir. Muggle thing. Riverdance. You mean from the hymn of course. Our Lord. Truly sorry sir."

"Forgiven, young knight. Do you ladies accept this? I would not ask, but honor is impossible to maintain in Britain except that we keep true to our code and ourselves. It will be judged against them for breaking the commandment to bear false witness.

Hermione looked at her friend. They shared some non-verbal communication.

"Alright. But if she tries to kiss him, I'll remind her that he's betrothed." Millicent stated, taking a page from Hermione's book. She hit her left hand loudly with her clenched right fist. "And I won't be doing it in French!"

**OO**

"Thank you for taking my appointment, Mr. and Mrs. Bulstrode." The French solicitor said. "I have been sent by Alain Delacour. He understands that your daughter is currently under contract. Perhaps to someone that she would prefer not to marry?

"He was wondering if you would consider a contract with Joseph Kerveil. The terms and bride price are in this letter."

Graham and Belinda spoke silently with thoughts and points to the parchment in question. Both knew that Joseph liked her, and both knew that while Harry liked their daughter as well, he had been perfectly clear that they had no future as a family together.

"Can her current contract be broken?" With Algie Longbottom's death, at least there was no threat of horrible things happening to Hermione if they were able to get the girls free of both contracts."

Graham Bulstrode explained the first two contracts as the solicitor took notes. Belinda left for a short time to go get copies of the parchment for the lawyer.

After reviewing them, and checking a book he had brought, he looked up.

"Yes, I think that with the Oaths of Knighthood, that the contracts can be broken."

They both smiled at that. The Grangers would likely be relieved as well. Marriage contracts were supposed to protect children from predators, not hurt them.

"As long as Joseph is happy with it, we are happy to talk to our daughter about this. But she does have a personal say in this."

The Bulstrode's were very happy about this. This felt right, and their best hope for their daughter's future happiness.

**OO**

"Don't forget to use the strength of your mount, Hermione! Hippogriffs are amazingly strong! You can take potions and go through rituals to strengthen yourself temporarily, but these magics can fail in certain fields! The engineering of the saddle is true. Brace the lance, dive on the target, you can do this!"

Miss Granger, future Lady Gryffindor was strong for a girl, wickedly clever, and had a much higher than average amount of magic. There was only one little problem, and it had messed up her first attempt at the trials.

Hermione hated heights. The only thing that she hated more than heights was diving from them on a beast that she was sure hated her.

"Can't we go do the battle simulation with Professor McGonagall? She was so impressed with that lion defense."

"That because she invented it, improved it, and taught all of us the improvements. I was in her advanced class after all."

"You got your mastery." Hermione stated, clearly impressed with her mentor.

"We can go. After you impale the target! Pretend you're hungry and it's dinner."

The target was the size and shape of an adolescent dragon. Sure, Harry had healed the Welsh green, but others might have decided to kill it to protect people, and since that was not easy, one had to practice.

Over and over and over again.

"Rebecca! I am hungry and it is way past lunch." Harry whinged. "Come on Hermione! You can do it!"

"Just hit the target and we'll be done, squire!

Hermione dived, and focused . Her magical goggles protected her eyes. She braced the lance, she was there.

It was a perfect hit! But the saddle was new, and the lance got caught in the webbing, pulling it off the mount. The safety release did its job, saving the flying creature from injury, but Hermione was paranoid, and had done extra strong sticking charm attaching herself to the saddle that was now falling to the ground rapidly. And towards a large pointy rock!

Rebecca called out a warning to the ground crew, and more than one person cast to help the flailing and falling squire. Hermione, despite the help that included Harry's casting, took a bad tumble, and wound up on the hard ground, unconscious and bleeding.

Unseen by others, Harry's knight's emergency portkey activated when he went unconscious in magical exhaustion.

**OO**

Dan Granger quickly exited the hospital room on Neville's heels. He was still working from a muggle perspective, and was used to working with military and civilian doctors, not medical staff that had taken sacred vows.

Neville's dulcet tones were still ringing down the hallway.

The stinging hex worked on both even as Dan apologized for his language. They were both still was shooed away.

Harry had an invisibility cloak, and had used in to sneak in to see his betrothed. He was supposed to be resting himself. Harry had overdone his spell in trying to help Hermione. Seeing he had taken sacred vows; the knights had come up with a unique code of conduct for this situation. Harry and Hermione, well and technically Harry and Millicent were the first couples ever so bonded before orders.

Harry really wasn't supposed to be here.

He held Hermione's hand gently.

"Harry? Are you going to shout at me too? Ohhh. My head."

Harry knew the procedure. For a lot of these things, the student patients, unless badly injured, were supposed to take care of themselves. Sure enough, there were potions with a #1 and #2 and times written on it. Harry helped her take both.

"No. I'm sure that Dan was just scared. Neville too. I'm here to see how you are. The boffin who made the improvements to the new saddle is so upset that she's crying. She just visited me. She's so smart. She got the rune release in the wrong order. She not only asked me to apologize for her, she bought you a new transfiguration book as an apology. McGonagall's new book came out a month ago, and she must have bought a case of them. All autographed, but yours has a dedication. I'm just so glad you're okay." This was all said very, very fast. But Hermione was used to it. He pressed his lips to her hand.

He had been so worried. He looked up into her warm chocolate eyes, seeing love and pain there. He kissed her lips gently, praying that with that kiss he took her pain into himself.

"I'm alive. You know that if you get here in that condition, the chances are that you stay that way." Hermione reminded.

"I suppose. You are to rest. Would you like me to read to you?"

"Yes, something light, please." Hermione asked.

"Alas, I have no great, huge, heavy books with me. But I do have a good one. It's a murder mystery set in the 12th century." Harry said, and started to read to his friend.

Emma came in to check on her daughter and saw the scene.

Rebecca has sent her Patronus to the Grangers when she was injured, and was not surprised to Harry there. She was later than her husband as she had been feeding the baby, and wanted to get her settled first.

The art teacher interrupted the story for only a few minutes to exchange careful hugs, and then settled in a chair, happy to listen in.

After Hermione was asleep, Emma pointed to the door. She clearly wanted to talk to Harry, and they were met going to a sitting room by Harry's brother-in-arms.

"Neville is trying to get Hermione's squire oaths revoked." Sir Hector informed the group. "I came to tell her as Dame Rebecca is being treated for shock. It's hard to watch a student get hurt."

"It's not his decision to make. That big rock in the field alone! If Hermione had hit that before my spell, I mean before the spell hit it to scatter the molecules…" Harry started to say, but was interrupted.

"That's why there was powdered rock everywhere, but she wasn't more hurt." He had been about to use a 'splatted' metaphor, but changed words to his audience. "Harry! That's amazing! You have to teach me that spell! You have to teach all of us that spell! We could walk through walls! Think about the applications! Heavily warded doors? No problem, make your own!"

Charles was looking at Harry's blush.

"I'll have to figure out the arithmancy so that I can make it into a proper spell. I just kinda, I don't know. Did it. It was an emergency! Hermione was going to crash!"

Emma got up from her chair and lifted Harry to his feet. She embraced him warmly.

"You not only gave us a second child; you kept our first one here. Thank you." Emma said.

"How is Daisy? I imagine she is with, um Daisy?"

"The elf is embarrassed to share the same name as her mistress, so has asked to be called Day now. I've found that somehow intent is involved as I can be cooing over the baby saying her name, but when I want the elf, she comes to her original name."

"As long as everyone is happy, that is the important part."

Harry didn't know why, but had inherited the elf Daisy when Brother Paddy died. The animagus had bought her to watch over and help the Grangers, so Harry freed her, and paid her to do the same job.

"I better get back to the compound. I'm going to be late." Harry said, hugging Emma one more time. "I'm really glad she's okay."

"The Order will take care of the medical arrangements, Mrs. Granger. You don't have to worry about that."

Sir Hector grabbed Harry's arm, and started towards the front doors.

"You disappeared from the field without telling anyone where you were going! Again! You can be put to work in the stable, you know. On a mission in the field, someone disappearing is a nightmare! Were they kidnapped? Did they fall in a hole? Did they get caught in a trap! You need to always be with a partner, never go anywhere alone, and check in especially after an accident where people are sent to the hospital. Clear?"

"Honestly, Charles! It was my portkey! I must have fainted and then…"

"There you are! When you come into the hospital, you do not leave until a healer kicks you out of your bed! I don't care if you are a knight, bishop or the King! You people! You will listen and obey me because I will not be ignored!" The nun shouted.

She sounded so much like Sister Gisele that Harry had a tear in his eye, but then so did Charles.

"Yes, sister." The knights said together, though Charles wasn't the one yelled at.

Harry handed her a small bag. "I know that I don't need to pay, but I want to. I want to pay for Hermione too. I'm sorry for making you worry, sister."

The nun took it, and in turn handed him a familiar small bag. "No magic for a few days. I mean it! I have a monitoring charm on you. Sir Hector, you were this child's knight? Quiz him later to see if he still remembers. It's important!"

"Yes, sister." Again, in harmony, they turned and headed the few blocks to the Knight's compound.

The sister walked back to talk to the girl's mother. She was going to be bedbound for a week and she would make it clear that Neville had gotten himself banned from said hospital for yelling at a nun. He would be allowed back in to apologize, or if he was injured, and that was that.

**OO**

Luna showed up at the hospital, so very sad.

"If you go to Hogwarts, you might die. It's not just that your relationship with Harry is known. They're hunting you."

Hermione nodded. "Neville was planning on going, but I don't want to go. I think he wants to get cuttings from all of the greenhouses at Hogwarts."

"Please stay here. Learn battle magics, study them hard, future Captain Granger. You are so good at it! And you have a wonderful teacher!"

Hermione nodded, and Luna pulled out the same mystery Harry was reading and started where she had fallen asleep. Not where Harry had marked the place when he noticed she was asleep.

**OO**

The preparations were done. The team was ready.

"Should we leave Buckbeak behind?" Sir Hector asked.

"Who, besides Hagrid or Harry, would remember one Hippogriff from another?" Sir Jerome asked. "Besides, Harry has been teaching it tricks, and it's the only one that can do that injured wing decoy."

There were a dozen boys going. Two girls. It was roughly the same percentage of the knight population, though someone cracked wise and suggesting splitting someone it half. That didn't go down well with all of the recent reported muggle violence that the Prime Minister had been reporting.

Lisa Turpin was going, and happy to be able to go back and report about this wonderful school. Despite her late start, she had caught up quickly, and had taken her NEWTs. She wanted to be a potions mistress, and after a terrible half-year at Hogwarts had gladly transferred to Ecole Merlin. She was not a squire, but had taken hand-to-hand from Mrs. Granger and could hold her own. The other girl going was Millicent. She looked nothing like she had when she was a first year. She had insisted that she needed to go. Luna had nodded at that.

Luna was staying as well, unhappy to be left behind, but with the sharp assurity that doing so was saving her from pain and torment.

Fred and George Weasley were awaiting them, as were some other secret helpers.

They were taking the portkey to Wales, and flying from there. It was too cold to go over the Alps astride.

Final preparations done. Sir Hector and Sir Harry wore matching split tunics that had the personal heraldry of the Queen of Italy. A cross botany or, four unicorn rampant to sinister, or, on a lozenge sable.(2) Her personal motto 'En servicio Dei" was clearly visible. The striking black and gold trimmed tunics were a sight. They assembled on a bit of land that Harry had saved out for himself. The perfect warm late summer day was bright and clear. The assembled group mounted.

On to Hogwarts!