Echoes of Time (Harry Potter)

April 13, 1943

Tuesday Evening

Harry's eyes narrowed despite her attempt of distracting him with a soft tone and gentle touch. He'd learned over the Yule break about the Hallows, and while there was still much to learn about them, he wasn't nearly as naive as she seemingly thought him to be. Not least of all if the stone presented to him alongside the ring was what he thought it was… he hadn't toyed with either item, he had no plans to until his understanding of them was higher.

Still, he knew the basics of what each piece of the hallows should do. There was more information on them too, he knew as much thanks to his time at Peverell Manor. He wouldn't forget the conversation with one of the elves, the one that mentioned there being books that were missing or unaccounted for that even he lacked access to. Until he found those recordings, of which there was surely information on the Hallows that the public lacked, he wouldn't try messing around with them.

Even answering questions as she was hoping he'd do right this second was a dangerous thing. Elaine was naturally intelligent, perceptive and well-learned. Any attempt to lie to her, especially if she attempted to peer into his mind or use her 'lie-detector' as Aster had called it, would result in anything he said having its truth determined.

Yet, with her hand roaming across his body and the way with which she silently watched him told him there wasn't a way out of this that didn't involve surrendering something. He feared what she'd do otherwise - not for himself, she wouldn't hurt him, but she could take it out on others if it pleased her. Aster had already mentioned only moments earlier how bad her attitude was, the anger in which she'd initially held as they spoke didn't lie either.

"What would you like to know that isn't overly intrusive?" Harry asked, his eyes still narrowed.

"You'll truly answer?" Elaine asked, her hand slithering its way up to Harry's closer shoulder. "I half expected you'd tell me no," She mused, an ear to ear smile making its way to her face.

Harry felt the need to remind her of his wording, and so he did. "I did say as long as it isn't intrusive."

Elaine rolled her eyes and increased the pressure she massaged his shoulder with, those cold hands of hers feeling too good for Harry's liking. "I'd like to know about the other two items, and if you're feeling especially charitable, the truth behind the rumours on what happens if you should have all three of them."

Ah, Harry thought to himself. She wants to know about the rumours regarding owning death or the shite close enough that everyone regurgitates upon meeting me.

He hadn't expected Elaine to buy into such… weird rumours. Then again, the fact he'd met her opposite in his Second Year thanks to a book that possessed Ginny wasn't lost on him. Magic could do great and terrible things, that very same journal being on her lap as it was acted as a wonderful reminder.

"You know what they are, the items I mean, don't you? I would certainly think you do, considering you passed one of them off to me… you've never told me why that was either, why give up something as important as it is?" Harry played his hand in its entirety based on the information he knew.

As far as he was concerned, looking stupid wasn't nearly as bad as missing out on the wealth of information he could receive. Hadn't she practically confirmed the authenticity of the item when she'd given it to him anyhow? Had it been a bluff, one that she knew he couldn't confirm or deny?

Elaine cocked her head and scrunched up her perfectly kept eyebrows, the face she pulled made it seem as if the answer to his question was incredibly obvious. "I know of the items according to legend, yes. I'm aware of their powers too, we as well as many others in the world are, but that awareness hasn't been confirmed by a Peverell, has it?" Elaine swung her legs up and over the chair until they rested in his lap, her skirt rising slightly to reveal more of her paleness in a way that only he could see. "Why give you what I did? I suppose a variety of reasons guided me into that course of action, each more elaborate than the last. If you'd like simple terms, very simple that is, it's because that specific possession belongs to you as much as I do."

He could feel his eyes widen at the same instant his pulse quickened. Those words, her hand resuming its roaming again and her thighs as openly visible as they were to him… being a teenager filled with urges hadn't sucked any more than it currently did.

Elaine had to know that too, she was using it against him without a care in the world - her words had come as easily as those actions. So did the follow-up words she spoke. "And you, Harry James Peverell, are equally as mine as I am yours. Never, never forget that."

More sinister words he had never heard, especially from a girl as beautiful as Elaine; from the blush evident on her face that crept down her neck, the shyness she portrayed by the slight shaking of her thighs down to the worrying of her ring. Had he not known her background or the accompanying personality, Harry would've thought the dark-haired girl in front of him a picture of innocence.

"If you're mine," He started, swallowing his nerves and forcing eye contact. "Why not tell me everything? From before Hogwarts such as where you came from to this exact moment, everything ."

"You want my history?" Elaine questioned with a sighed laughter.

"Yes," Harry stated.

If she wanted to learn about him, about the secrets of House Peverell beyond what the public knew, she would have to give something in return. He may have little information over the public, most of which had come from one book in particular back at the Peverell Mansion, but she didn't know that.

Besides, in his eyes, anything he could learn about her could prove pivotal in understanding how she worked. Once he understood Elaine, her motivations, ambitions and so on, he could better formulate his plan to stop her. From then on, it would be made much easier.

When Elaine leaned in, eye contact still held and a serious expression on her face, he half thought she agreed. He hadn't expected her to say the words that came out of her mouth, the warning… no, the knowing tone of it worried him to his core.

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours, my love."

No sooner had the words exited her mouth did Harry feel the hot flushing sensation throughout the entirety of his body. Everyone knew the one and to Harry, he most associated it with being caught doing something he wasn't supposed to by a Professor or the Dursleys… with Elaine, the feeling felt much more dominant and disabling. As high as the stakes were, it wasn't surprising.

He wasn't sure how to respond as the seconds passed them by. His throat had gone dry, his words wouldn't work and all the thoughts he had were that he'd been caught. It was only then, when he felt like he was completely and utterly done in, that pity was had. Elaine wasn't the one that had it either, he doubted she would ever be despite how much she wanted him to believe she cared for him. Merlin, it hadn't even been a person coming over to them.

What happened as his silence continued and Elaine's rubbing returned, had to have been an act from whatever greater power had sent him back. There was no other way to explain the leg of Elaine's chair giving out at the same time the torches and fireplace flickered in sync with one another.

For the first time, with Elaine grappling onto him and swinging her body up completely onto his as her head snapped around, Harry thanked the being. So often he would curse them for doing what they had, and even if it hadn't been them that'd just helped him, they would get his thanks in place of whoever had.

Elaine had been distracted by it, the serious tone of their conversation lost as she wiggled her hips on his laps and grinned down at him. "Would you find it agreeable if we kept this seating arrangement? Fixing the chair seems like far too much effort to ruin the closeness we're currently sharing,"

Harry debated for all of one second telling her, no, but with her letting the previous subject drop as she had, he figured maybe… just maybe, he could allow her just this once. It wasn't as if she could get up to anything too nefarious with their housemates in the common room as they were. There was also the benefit of it getting back to Walburga as he knew it would, the girl deserved to be made angry for her attempt of using magic on him with that book.

He would have to thank Corene la- Merlin!

"Elaine?" Harry said as he looked anywhere but at the girl occupying his lap.

"Yes, Harry?" Elaine returned, her tone conveying nothing.

"Would you mind stopping the wiggling about?" He knew she felt what her actions had caused, she was anything but stupid. Then again, Harry had yet to see any action taken by Elaine that was without purpose, her movements included.

"Oh, my apologies, I hadn't realised it was bothering you," Elaine ceased her moving after she turned in his lap so she could better look at him. "Embarrassment aside, wouldn't you agree this is rather comfortable?"

Harry shrugged and offered a small 'Yes' which seemed to be enough to appease Elaine. Moments such as the one he found himself in right that second thoroughly confused him; there were so many times Elaine had been deadly serious, her body language and tone conveying as much, but a few seconds later she would be all cuddly with not a care in the world as to what others thought.

Which Elaine was the real one out of all that he'd seen? Was it a mixture of them all?

Twenty minutes later with Elaine's head resting on his shoulder, her soft breathing and the occasional groan telling him that she'd fallen asleep, he doubted he'd ever been further from the truth.

A further forty minutes later when Harry was finally back in the boys' dorm for his year after saying goodbye to a cute, semi-bashful Elaine when she'd realised she'd fallen asleep on him, he found himself confronted by a very impatient group of his year mates. Aster stood at the front of them, with Reinhard over his right shoulder and Abraxas surprisingly over his left with two others he didn't know all that well behind them.

"So?" Aster asked once Harry had closed the door behind him.

"So what?" Harry parroted as he threw his hands up, the wet patch on his shoulder from Elaine's drool pressing against his skin.

"Did you calm Elaine down?" Abraxas questioned, his nose held surprisingly high for a butler in Hogwarts robes.

"She wasn't all that upset in the first place," Harry held up his hands when voices began to show their disagreement with his words, voices that were quickly silenced by his gesture. "But yes, everything should be fine, none of you need to worry about her saying anything mean to you tomorrow."

Harry could barely contain his laughter at the exhales. He hadn't a clue why they'd been so worried about her, his personal experience had shown him an Elaine more heated during a few of their lessons than what she'd been during their conversation.

April 19, 1943

Monday Evening

"Good evening, Harry," Cade greeted as soon as Harry entered the room, the boy stood in front of a window overlooking the Hogwarts grounds. "You're early, the others have yet to arrive aside from Robin."

Harry looked where Cade had glanced when the older boy mentioned his fiance and saw that she'd set up a temporary medical area, not unlike the previous one from his time spent with them. It hadn't been explained in too much depth when he'd initially arrived on that visit, but towards the end of the lesson, it made sense. Going to Madam whats-her-name too frequently for injuries sustained from spells would only draw suspicion as to where they came from.

Robin glanced towards Harry and caught him looking at her little corner of the room with Cade beside him. She gave Harry a small smile once a second had passed, she didn't wait for him to return anything.

"Don't be too surprised if she'll not speak with you all that much," Cade said with a shrug as he directed Harry towards a table with half a dozen cushioned seats surrounding it. "Robin tends to tease whoever she speaks with regardless of who they are, Elaine being as fascinated as she currently is with you would make such interactions difficult, to say the least. Now, why don't we discuss whatever it is that had you arrive nearly half an hour earlier than we usually begin?"

Cade didn't seem bothered by Harry's arrival as he might have expected, then again, there wasn't anything in his tone that suggested he was entirely pleased with it either. It was odd considering how his other lessons would go; Elaine would flip personalities in an instant depending on what was said or done, Druella would usually treat him as if he were younger than he truly was and Sarah would smile whenever he answered regardless of its accuracy as a means to encourage him. Cade didn't have any of the fire the others did, nor did he seem to have the same personality or drive that they did. He simply taught in that near-monotonous voice with patient movements and carefully worded instructions.

"You know dozens of more spells than I do," Harry started, receiving a nod from Cade. "I want to change that," He was quick to the point in a way that he knew Cade would appreciate, his hope was that would help his case some.

"That's a lot to ask, more than our weekly meetings," Cade said as he eyed Harry critically.

"What would you want in return?" Harry wouldn't be had off here, if the demand was too steep, he would pull back his request.

"Time," Cade said without missing a beat. "Until I get to know you more than I currently do, a vast amount of the spells I know could result in issues for myself if they were used carelessly. Ones that wouldn't need that same level of understanding between us, I could start teaching you this very lesson."

Harry nodded his head slowly. Cade's answer was more than he'd hoped for, it was filled with potential so long as he kept at it. Now he only needed to worry about what would be asked for in return. It didn't take much time in Slytherin to learn how things worked with those who weren't considered friends; trades were far more a currency than Galleons.

"You're wondering what I'd like, aren't you?" Cade asked, no semblance of irritation or any other emotion in his voice as he gave word to Harry's thoughts.

"Yes," Harry answered honestly. He didn't see a reason to lie, it would only prolong the conversation before the teaching began… so long as his price wasn't too steep.

"Nothing," Cade said. "Until we get to the spells that require more finesse, time and care, the ones I'll be teaching you will go hand in hand with our current duelling practise. I'd already agreed to help you improve on your repertoire so that it was higher than the first time you'd visited me. It'd be terribly uncouth of me to request anything in return for harder lessons with more spells taught."

Harry's respect for Cade rose immensely as there wasn't a doubt in his mind that most people in Cade's shoes would've tried to squeeze more from him. Slytherin seemed, by large, a house full of those who wished to reign over the others by whatever means necessary. He knew it had to be less ruthless than it'd been in the past thanks to Elaine's presence, and as a result of that, the Slytherin he'd gotten to know was likely a watered-down version - the time she'd spoken about stopping her followers squabbles until such a time that it wouldn't risk her ambitions put stock in those thoughts.

"Thanks," Harry said, that one-word answer expressing all that he needed to.

Cade nodded once to Harry. "Duelling, fighting, whichever way you call it doesn't change that it's a passion of mine. That's why I'm sure you'll understand that I'll not be entirely happy should you not devote yourself to these lessons."

"I'll take them seriously, you have my word," Harry assured. He wouldn't waste the opportunity given to him, there was absolutely no chance of that.

"As good as that is to hear, do you have the time should I give you additional work to do on your own? It's no secret that you spend hours day after day with Elaine, nor is it the time in which you spend with Goldhorn and those from outside Slytherin," Cade's tone wasn't accusatory regarding Harry's time with those not of their house, the older boy didn't have a leg to stand on if it was. Genuinely, he seemed to think Harry lacked the time for additional work based on the knowledge he had.

As much as Harry wanted to deny that without a second thought, he couldn't. Cade was perceptive enough to know that Harry's schedule was relatively packed even if he didn't know the details therein. Harry, knowing the details that his tutor didn't, couldn't argue all that much against it; he spent scores of time with Elaine to keep her appeased, nearly eight hours weekly with Sarah as well as those around her to strengthen his ties with that group of his peers, more time with Aster and Reinhard to keep them from Elaine's influence… what remained of that would often go towards Corene and Slytherin's journal in addition to the occasional reviewing of Yaxley's journal.

"How much work would you give me per week after these sessions?" Harry inquired. As much as he wanted to improve, he didn't see anything he could sacrifice that was worth losing in exchange for the lessons he would receive. Elaine would remain an option in addition to his supplementary lessons with Druella, though the whole point of learning from Cade had been to avoid Elaine knowing all of his combat prowess down to his fighting style or arsenal.

"I should think after your last showing that a few hours of work weekly would be beneficial for you. If that's doable, then we've a deal," Cade extended his hand towards Harry and held it only a few inches from him.

To Harry, that amount of time and the benefits of it were too good to pass up.

He shook Cade's hand.

"Ready for some more practical time then, Harry?" Cade questioned as he stood up from his seat with a groan as he stretched.

For the last hour and a half, Harry had spent his time at a desk alongside Cade while the others of the group went about varying tasks. Angelique had fought Andre thrice, each bout ending with a similar result of the latter winning on account of his higher stamina. Andre seemed to know fewer spells, however, which made his victory very interesting to an observer such as Harry - it was clear had the fight continued, Angelique would've slowly gained the upper hand if her body hadn't failed her with all the dancing around she'd been doing as well as the sheer volume of spells that were fired from her wand.

Robin hadn't been needed thus far either. She would glance towards the fight from time to time, only when it looked like it could've had an injury caused due to the occasional dangerous spell used. Once such an instance would pass, she would return to her little station aside from the couple times she'd come over to bother Harry or Cade. Victoire had been with her too, working on various items unknown to Harry aside from a faint recognition thanks to his multiple stents in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts.

What it looked like to him was Victoire was trying to learn the spells that Robin knew, likely on account of this being the final year they had together whilst in the school. Briefly, Harry wondered if he too should attempt to learn more healing spells than Episkey… then the realisation struck him that his plate was full enough as it was, especially after Cade had said he'd be assigning him more work.

"Yes, more experience would be nice," Harry said once he stood up and rolled his neck around. "Are we doing something similar to our first session?"

"Not in the slightest," Cade said, instantly bringing forth a sense of anxiety in Harry, one that was very quickly washed away with the follow-up words. "You'll not be fighting me, our skill differential would be too high for you to learn from your mistakes, much less have the opportunity to make them. Victoire will be your opponent, she's the least combat-focused out of the rest of those in the room and due to that, the rules regarding nothing serious being cast will remain in place for the safety of you both."

Harry nodded his head a couple of times. Cade was smart, this was all meant to better one's self and as a result, injuries due to recklessness weren't welcome. He wasn't naive enough to think the motive was entirely altruistic though, the earlier warning regarding going to the nurse rather than Robin assured him of that.

With nothing more to say, Harry followed Cade to the centre portion of the room where all fights were had. Angelique and Andre had finished only moments prior, the pair of them were taking large gulps of water whilst seated in wonderfully comfortable chairs as Victoire passed them by with a skip in her step. From a first look alone as the girl made her way over to the pair of them, Harry could see that she was very excited for the fight they were about to have.

Unlike her, he was going in completely blind as to what her capabilities were; he'd fought in front of the other four when Cade had him show off what he could do, Victoire hadn't fought his first lesson and certainly hadn't for this second one.

"Are we ready, Cade?" Victoire questioned, her soft, incredibly girlish voice making her seem like anything but a threat. Her soft beauty worked in tandem with that too, making the girl seem the epitome of friendly and harmless when he knew that was likely very far from the truth based on who her friends were.

He hadn't forgotten a very good saying he'd heard earlier on in the year; 'You are the sum of your five closest friends'. Considering he hadn't seen the girl with any others but those in the room currently with them, it was a safe bet - or so he thought - that the other four counted towards her five.

That wasn't a good thought in the slightest for Harry.

"Yes, I believe we are," Cade said with a nod as he motioned for Victoire to start opposite of Harry a good two dozen feet away. "On my go. Three… two… one… begin."

Cade's 'begin' had to have been the quietest start to a fight Harry had ever witnessed. Victoire seemed as if she had barely heard it too, the girl not actively engaging despite the fact the fight had started. If anything, she seemed more relaxed than when her tension-ridden body had made its way over to her starting area.

Such a lack of reaction made Harry wonder what her plan was… if she had one. Cade may have paired him off against Victoire as a test, the girl could very well be similar to Robin in that she abhors violence more than was let on. He would feel terrible for using anything beyond simple spells to take her down, should that be the case; Harry would still take her down though, he wouldn't avoid stunning the girl if she refused to do anything.

So, with a leisurely flick of his wrist and a silent-casting of his former signature spell - Expelliarmus - he figured he'd end the fight. Angelique could be next, she seemed tenacious from her bouts with Andre.

"That was cute!" Victoire called to him with a girlish giggle, now a good few feet from where she'd previously been.

"She's fast," Cade said flatly from his position a dozen paces away when Harry looked towards him.

Fast. Harry repeated in his mind. Fast didn't explain how she'd moved that quickly.

"Do another one! Make sure you watch this time my little gardener snake!" Victoire's tone was mocking.

Harry felt the urge to retort rise in him. She hadn't even raised her wand yet, it still hung limply at her side whilst she stuck her tongue out at him, face contorted in a childish expression. That was more insulting than anything she could possibly say, the lack of being treated as an equal was infuriating.

How could she even make those expressions when she was the one avoiding the fight?

He took in a calming breath as he readied himself, she wouldn't get to him. Victoire's plan likely relied on that very thing happening, as it'd make him reckless and give her an upper hand in their fight. Had he been his old self, the urge to rise to her challenge as presented may have been too strong to ignore.

As he was now? Well, he'd make sure that she regretted taking the piss… after he learned how she dodged as quickly as she had. His spells weren't slow or miscast, he had more than enough proficiency in offensive magic to know that.

Harry smiled at Victoire, showing that her words hadn't had their desired effect at the same time he launched a second Expelliarmus at her. He didn't look away as he had last time, he kept his eyes firmly on her after he took one step to his right, ensuring a clear line of sight. His expectations had been much grander than what happened in reality.

Victoire, her wand still at her side, used a spell that summoned a gust of wind to slide her across the floor; whilst not weird in and of itself, the lack of movement from her lower body as it glided, was. Her shoes had to have some form of sticking enchantment on them, one strong enough to keep her grounded at the burst of wind hitting her body but weak enough to let them zoom across the floor.

He wanted to learn it, whatever it was.

"Like it?" Victoire asked, her head cocked and lower lip bit.

"It was a fancy trick, that's for sure," Harry said with a shrug.

As good as she thought herself to be with prolonging the fight, she couldn't do so indefinitely. There would prove too many spells cast for her to dodge once he switched to a volume-focused style, and then, it would only be an eventuality that she moved incorrectly. Cade had to think less of him than the boy had initially let on, why else would Victoire be across from him?

"Are you going to fight, or will you stick to dancing about?" Harry asked.

Victoire's smile grew, her dimples visible despite the distance between them. "I'm not much of a fighter, you'll just have to get me before you get too tired," She took on an overly cutesie pose. "If you can."

If that's how she wanted it to be, then who was he to deny her?

Harry levelled his wand at the girl and fired off spell after spell; from leg-locking curses to binding charms, all the way to more recent spells he'd learned of that lock your joints. He knew the last one was painful if you forced movement, hopefully, she recognised that too. Ah well, at least Robin was present with her store of treatments whatever the cause of them.

Each time Harry would fire a spell, for the half-second in-between, he would move to his left or right. As good a mover as Victoire was, he needed to ensure his volume of spells were semi-close to her, lest the girl has too easy a task in dodging his offensive. Surprise surprise, it was a good thing he'd done that. Victoire's showing to him had been slower than was normal for her, as the girl would slide across a dozen feet within the same period he cast two spells.

Fighting her, if it could even be called 'fighting', was the single most frustrating thing he'd ever done. At least in the Chamber against the Basilisk or his many dealings with Elaine, his opposition was clear cut and decisive. Here, it felt like he was trying to squish a fly as it buzzed about his cupboard back when he'd lived with the Dursleys.

Harry stopped again, his breathing heavier than before as he took the girl in; Victoire was taking deep breaths in just as he was, she even seemed sweaty based on the sheen her exposed bits of skin had.

"You're fast," Victoire said, a teasing smile on her face despite the effort she'd exerted. "Elaine's either a very lucky, or very unlucky girl."

Angelique and Robin's laughter was easily heard. Andre didn't seem to have any verbal reaction to Victoire's words, and Cade, he simply scoffed loud enough that Harry heard. Still, that scoff served as a reminder that there were spectators to their fight. What was going on in their minds as they watched Harry miss spell after spell sent towards the elusive girl?

Did they think him incompetent despite the strength and strategy he'd used against Cade?

Merlin's beard, you're a dolt! Harry thought to himself, the answer on how he could beat Victoire clear-cut. She slid across the floor easily enough, the girl barely used a shield charm or cover as she showed off in hopes of building his rage. Towards the end of his volley, it'd begun to work too. Harry had been made angry enough that his spells had gotten more serious in nature from the light-hearted, painless ones he'd begun with.

If she refused to use her cover and rarely used shields in favour of her gliding technique, he would change that or make her pay the price.

Harry smiled again as he looked at Victoire, the look reflected with a tongue poking out of her mouth.

With a bow, Harry cast a smoke-summoning charm to provide cover for his next action. It didn't matter if she gusted it away in two seconds, he simply needed long enough to transfigure the ground around her into a series of bumps, walls and jagged edges. As he predicted, she did exactly that.

One strong burst of wind, strong enough to send his robes flying, and his smoke was dispersed into the corners of the room - that it made the previously laughing girls cough only further reduced his annoyance. What did so stronger was the lack of time Victoire had to react to his series of spells sent towards her, as she hadn't the time to counteract his transfiguration to use her usual technique.

Victoire didn't last too much longer following that. She threw up one shield spell after another, her shoes and the very ground around her throwing off her balance with every move she took. From the look of things as he watched her try to move, only a portion of that issue was caused by his transfiguration.

"It's over," Cade said loudly, one second before Victoire fell on her arse. "Nicely done, Harry. You took longer than I expected to recognise how you could beat her."

"Why didn't she fire a spell at me?" Harry questioned, not bothering with excuses as to why it'd taken as long as it had.

"Victoire is rather inefficient and inadequate when it comes to magic that would assist her in a fight such as the one the two of you were in. Had you tired or been overtaken by rage as her strategy had been, your incapacitation would've come in the form of a laughing hex and possibly something partnered with it that prevents you from doing anything more," Cade looked across to Victoire as the girl skipped over to them, unbothered by her loss. "Isn't that right, Victoire?"

She nodded her head. "Oui!"

"English, Victoire," Robin reminded with a roll of her eyes as she joined the other three. "I still say you should let Cade teach you the basics, how else will you defend yourself?"

"I have friends," Victoire said with a wide, beautiful smile as if that was all the answer she need give. When Robin tried to speak again and was interrupted by a climbing-hug from her, he figured that may very well be the case.

Cade seemed happy enough to leave the two girls to themselves as he brought a hand up around Harry's shoulder and led them over to their previous desks in the room. Once they were there and seated again, the older boy spoke. "You recognised what was needed to beat her too late," he said bluntly.

Harry nodded. "I did."

"Most of those you face won't be near as incompetent as she, and those few that are will have the same strength that she does, friends," Cade shook his head with the final word, clearly unimpressed with her response to Robin's question. "I suppose some form of congratulations for eventually identifying it is in order, however, as I half-expected you'd fail to do so. Would you rather I tell you what she did to dodge as well as she had or give you a spell that you'll need to practise alone?"

Harry very nearly went with the first option, as such a skill could be very useful; then again, with the ease in which he'd defeated it once recognised, maybe not.

"A Spell, please," Harry answered.

"As you wish," Cade then began digging around through his satchel, knocking aside book after book until he came across what it was that he was looking for. Based on the look of it, the leather cover nearly falling off and the writing of it indecipherable, the spell within was ancient. "I'll have the two pages required copied for you… I would practise discretion with this in your possession, some of the newer Professors prefer to organise magic into an inherently positive or negative image."

"And this would be the latter?" Harry questioned tentatively.

"Without question," Cade said in response as the writing began on two blank pieces of parchment.

Thirty minutes later, the two pieces of parchment stuffed at the bottom of his satchel and goodbyes said, Harry found himself deep in thought as he made his way back to the Slytherin Common Room. Most were mundane, though the one regarding a strategy to beat his next opponent was far from that category.

Angelique was far, far greater a threat than Victoire - she wasn't near as built up as Victoire had been either, the former could truly fight.

April 23, 1943

Wednesday Evening

"Harry!" Veronica yelled from the other end of the hall, getting his attention enough to make him stop his walking as she caught up. Once she was close enough to speak again without yelling, she did so. "Haven't chatted with you in a while, have I? Figured now's a good time, what with Marcus off spending some time with those blokes that always follow'em around and Sarah studying for that upcoming Potions class."

Studying for Potions didn't sound like a bad idea considering it had quickly become his weakest subject now that he'd finally caught up on Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Neither of them was horrible, or so he thought. Ancient Runes had even become his second favourite subject, behind Defence Against the Dark Arts. As soon as he realised the sheer amount of possibilities Ancient Runes opened up in terms of Ward schemes or the like, he made it his goal to become equally as proficient in that as he was in DADA.

It'd even come to bother him that he hadn't let himself get talked into taking the course by Hermione, as his progress would've been amazing had years of work not been squandered.

Veronica's groan brought him back to reality. "Don't tell me you want to study too," she said petulantly.

Harry couldn't help the short, barking laughter that escaped him. Veronica reminded him so much of Ron at that moment, and someone like him outside of Elaine's reach was sorely needed in his life - Aster and Reinhard, great as they were and similar as they were, still did as Elaine asked of them. It hadn't escaped his notice how they'd looked to him more recently when responding to her, he doubted it escaped hers either, but he wasn't sure how deeply rooted those loyalties ran.

"No, I don't want to," Harry said when it looked as if Veronica was about to whinge again. "What do you have in mind?"

Veronica's sigh of relief nearly made him laugh again when she understood he didn't want to study. His question that followed up his assurance was met with a thoughtful look that turned into a tentative smile. "Pub?"

Harry blinked at her, Elaine's very early words about the trouble Marcus and Veronica often got into flashing like a muggle business sign through his mind. "How'd we go about doing that without getting caught?"

"Marcus and I only get caught once every dozen or so times," Veronica said in a pleased, bragging tone as if one-in-twelve was a good thing. "Hasn't happened once this year either. Know all about the passages to and from Hogsmeade, we do, I can promise you that. Don't forget it's daytime either, Prefects and the other goodies aren't going to be suspecting us breaking the rules, now are they?"

"Breaking the rules?"

"I like the sound of that, how about you, Henry?"

Two new voices, ones that were very easily recognisable spoke up as they rounded the corner.

"Bugger off, Prewetts," Veronica grunted, elbowing the closer of the two tall Weasley twin lookalikes. "That wasn't an invitation for the both of you."

Jericho, the older of the two Prewett boys, raised a hand to his chest with a mock-offended look on his face. "Why Veronica, that's very hurtful, my lovely cousin."

"Reckon she's trying to steal Peverell from Elaine, don't you?" Henry asked his brother, a look of contemplation on his face as he rubbed at the wisps of ginger hair on his chin.

"You may be on to something, Henry. She could be trying to get Harry drunk whilst they're out from the school, he'd have to rely on her to get back so she could quite easily extort him for a snog - poor Peverell, he'd b-"

Whatever else Jericho was going to say was caught off with a loud thud as Veronica hit him open-handed against his chest. Harry could tell by the outrageously red quality her face had taken on that their words had gotten to her, and rather than using her wand to do anything about it, she'd settled it the muggle way. It was easily discernable that neither of the two Prewett boys knew how to react to that with their jaws hung open as they looked at their shorter cousin.

"Have that you arseholes," Veronica said in response to their looking, her nose held high despite the blushing of her face.

Harry looked between the three of them with a feeling that something was to come; they were so similar in appearance to the Weasleys of his time that he couldn't help but compare them. Jericho and Henry Prewett were tall, pale, freckled boys that looked very much like the two Weasley Twins, their personalities were much the same though it seemed the two of them were more studious. Veronica seemed a mixture of Ron and Ginny, with her love of consumption being the factor that made him think of her as slightly more Ron oriented.

Combined, her personality against the two boys would result in a prank war or spellfire. He could try to stop that… or he could watch. Harry liked the latter option more.

When Jericho finally made to move, his left arm moving to prod at where he'd been struck, Harry thought it was right about to happen. Instead, after a small wince, he shrugged and looked to his brother, where the both of them promptly broke into fits of laughter. To say that Veronica was less than amused with their reactions would've been an understatement, yet she didn't escalate the situation.

She simply chose to watch them as the seconds ticked by, until eventually, she gave up and started pulling on Harry's hand. No words were exchanged as he allowed himself to be pulled away by her, the Prewetts didn't follow them either. Veronica just led the pair of them off, away from the hidden passages that he knew of until they were stood looking at one of the Hogwarts courtyards where a few peers milled about.

"Pub prolly wouldn't be the best idea with those two blabbermouths knowing about us going on a trip. They'd end up telling half of our house, which would only get out to the others until Elaine found out about it," Veronica sighed, a pout settling on her face as she undoubtedly dreamed of the pints they could've had. "With that off the table, what do you wanna do? We could talk about family, though I bet you talk about that a lot. Quidditch could be fun, Rowan's a right bi- annoyance whenever it comes up."

"Rowan's the Gryffindor Captain, right? Taller than Henry, muscular, long-hair?" Harry wasn't sure if that was who he thought it was having only spoken with a good deal of Marcus' or Sarah's friends once.

Veronica nodded her head and teased him with her reply. "Fancy her a bit too? Tall girls with attitudes seem to be what you aim for, too bad Lil Sarah or Indigo don't fit that."

Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes and snort. Veronica was definitely a mixture of Ron and Ginny, but he may have to rethink his earlier assessment that she took more after the former. "Maybe - too bad for you, isn't it?"

"Prick," Veronica said through a few giggles, her elbow connecting with his ribs though no force was put behind it. "I heard from Marcus you learned a bit about his family, can't have been too long a conversation considering how small his has gotten in recent years… want to know about mine too?"

"If you're willing to offer, sure," Harry responded.

He didn't need to learn about the Weasleys, not really. As helpful as it could be in building a bond with Veronica, it was of tertiary importance. Marcus' family, his family, was far more important considering the pitiful knowledge he had about them. In a way, he supposed it felt like getting to know his family even if they'd never look at him like that. Still, he didn't need to be rude and decline Veronica's offer considering how close she was with people he needed on his side.

"I'll offer it as long as you'd like to listen, not many secrets with us Weasleys," Veronica huffed and glanced back to where they'd come. "Prewetts either, they're a very close family to ours - could probably tell that by looking at us, couldn't you? Same hair colour, freckles, a lot of common relatives and the few businesses we have stakes in are shared."

Businesses ? Harry had to fight himself to avoid shaking his head in pure confusion. Since when did the Weasleys have even one business aside from the Twins one that was fledgling in operation? He nearly asked if they were wealthy or where they lived, what it was like even, but any one of those questions would've likely been considered more intrusive than was appropriate. But Merlin, really, it was insanely odd to think that the Weasleys only fifty years prior weren't dirt poor as they'd been when he'd known them.

"I figured you and the Prewetts were related to some degree, closer than most Purebloods at least. As you said, the looks gave it away," Harry replied with a smile, his fondness for the Weasley name making him feel more relaxed around her than he felt towards many of their peers.

"Our families are both huge, we're way larger than the average Pureblood one, that's for sure. I think us Weasleys alone number nearly forty, all in all, other branches included. Prewetts are pretty big too, thirty-something I think - we intermingle across one branch every generation, occasionally the Bones marry into one or both of our families too… you'd think it's this huge conspiracy to keep our gingerness!" Veronica laughed when she finished, undoubtedly that had been said to her before.

"That'd be something, wouldn't it?" Harry said, joining her in laughing for a brief moment. "Your families are that big? Truly? Does that include the people who married into other families and the kids they have too?"

Veronica had nodded her head at his first question and shook her head at the second. "Nope, don't count them unless it's Christmas or some other big family event! If we did though, we could have maybe sixty? Don't know, not really, it's not often we take counts… All I can tell you is we're bigger than most other families that are right and proper British."

Harry imagined she meant British born, and so with a shrug, he went on to ask a question that didn't involve how large her family was. "What businesses do you co-own with the Prewetts? Your family, I mean."

Hopefully, the way he worded the question didn't make it sound like he was fishing for her wealth - he was just very curious about it. With any luck, he could learn why they'd lost it and help avoid that touch of fate coming about. It was the least he could do for the Weasleys with all the kindness they'd shown him, and if Ron came about, the boy wouldn't face any of the bullying he had.

None of them would.

"Two of them are restaurants, my mom's a right good cook, most of the girls in my family are - Tried telling Sarah to work with us too, I did. She nearly caved too, the other place just offered too much. Our other business isn't anything special either, just a general store, bit weird huh?" Veronica, for the first time since Harry had met her, sounded self-conscious.

Harry couldn't fathom in the slightest why… her family worked in tandem with the Prewetts to operate three businesses!

"Not at all," He assured her with a smile. "Seems pretty wicked to me, having three businesses."

Veronica looked away from him, her cheeks as red as they were earlier with the Prewetts. "Two," She said quietly. "One will be closed before too long, one of the investors backed out not two months after we launched it this summer… arsehole."

He perked up at that, his earlier promise already coming to fruition. House Peverell had the Galleons to spare, and he wanted to get into investing to build the power of the family if it meant making stronger friends in the future.

"I think I could help."