The Apprentice Piece
by Jardyn39
Part One of "The Apprentice Piece"
Chapter 7: The Regiment's Challenge
When they had almost finished dessert, Professor Flitwick and Harbinger entered the hall. Professor Flitwick lead the way up to the head table. He had a wide smile on his face. Harbinger had paused upon entering the hall to look around before following.
As Harbinger approached head table, several house elves appeared looking displeased. He was surrounded. One held up a warning finger. "Master Harbinger is a bad boy. Master Harbinger did bad things. Master Harbinger is not welcome here! You will go now!"
Dumbledore held up his hands and the elves turned to him.
"That happened a very long time ago. It was an accident, there was no malice. Every witch or wizard here tonight has or will at some point do something rash. I have asked John to join the staff as our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. However, if you have any concerns I would be happy to discuss …"
The house elves turned as two more people entered the Great Hall. One of the elves said, "We will discuss this later," and gave Harbinger a dark look. With a snap of their fingers the house elves were gone with a loud crack. Harry had never seen the house elves so assertive.
The two uniformed figures approached the head table and gave short bows to Dumbledore.
"Sorry to interrupt but I need to hurry. Dumbledore, may I introduce Lieutenant Davis, he will be staying here to supervise the initial set-up," said the older man.
The Headmaster rose again and shook hands saying, "Welcome back Lieutenant."
"We've just returned from the Fen stores. We found about 300 tents. According to the inventory there were supposed to be over a thousand in store but we can't find them. We did find two field hospitals though and we found that old Auror training tent you wanted."
"The training tent will be useful. Did you find any wands or weapons?" Dumbledore asked.
"No. It was cleaned out. We caught a group of goblins we thought had been stealing from the stores but they had an official release. I've no idea why Fudge would give them anything. I am going to try and track down some of the missing equipment but I'd like to leave a contingent here to start putting up some of the tents and one of the field hospitals. I know we can't staff it yet but it could come in handy."
"Quite. Please restrict your people to the area of the grounds we agreed."
"Yes, about that. You are going to have a lot of people wandering about the grounds shortly. Not all of them will be trustworthy. Is there a way you can enchant the castle to reject anyone other than staff and students?"
Flitwick nodded to the Headmaster.
"Yes, we will do that," confirmed Dumbledore.
"We don't have anyone qualified to put up that training tent though. Are you sure you want it? I'd just burn it if I were you."
"Thank you but we will take every precaution."
"I'm sorry to rush but …"
"I quite understand. Good luck, Colonel." The Colonel bowed again and left in a hurry. The students were chattering to themselves by this time whilst keenly observing the comings and goings.
Dumbledore stood and raised his hands. Everyone in the hall went immediately quiet to listen.
"Hogwarts will shortly be playing host to a number of families who will be coming here for protection against Voldemort and his followers. They will have access to the grounds but not the castle. Voldemort will undoubtedly send spies amongst them. Please make sure you are never alone in the grounds at any time. There will also be a curfew in place when they start arriving."
The Headmaster then introduced Harbinger as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and Lieutenant Davis to the students.
"Is there anything you wish to add, Lieutenant?"
"Well I would just thank you for playing host to us and make it clear that we quite understand that given the circumstances Hogwarts will not be able to accept the traditional challenge of Regiment. I'm sure everyone will understand," said Davis with a small grin.
Dumbledore smiled back. "Well unfortunately I won't have time to dedicate myself to such a challenge." As he spoke Peeves turned to him in shock, McGonagall nodded gently. "However, I don't think Hogwarts has ever declined a Regiment's challenge and it's certainly won't now." McGonagall was shaking her head now and muttering. Peeves was bobbing gently up and down in excitement.
The Headmaster turned to Peeves. "Peeves would you do us the honour of taking command of the Hogwarts defenders."
Peeves looked shocked, "Me?"
The Lieutenant pulled out a glove from his belt and threw it down in front of Peeves. Peeves hesitated for just a moment before diving down and picking it up. He handed the glove back to the Lieutenant who was grinning at him.
"Sir Nicholas, would you act as Second?" asked Dumbledore.
"I would be honoured. Lieutenant please have your Second contact me to agree the rules of engagement." They bowed slightly to each other.
"That's settled then. I will arrange for a suitable prize," finished Dumbledore.
*
Luna came over to the Gryffindor table at breakfast and sat down next to Harry.
"Hi, Luna," he said, "are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thank you, Harry," she said quietly. "A strange thing just happened though. Three boys cornered me this morning and said I had to accept their apology. I eventually got them to admit that you had their wands and wouldn't give them back."
Harry smiled and reached into his pocket. Laying the three wands on the table he said, "Here, give them back to them if you're satisfied with their apology."
"Thank you, Harry," said Luna picking up the wands.
She was about to get up when Ron rushed into the Great Hall and sat down next to Harry on his other side, completely ignoring everyone else. Without pausing to get himself some food he said very seriously, "Harry. I need a word."
"What is it?" asked Harry, putting down his toast. Harry glanced up to see Luna get up and leave with an almost sad expression.
"It wouldn't hurt you to say good morning to Luna, you know," said Harry before he caught Ron's serious look.
"I don't want you practising Quidditch with anyone not on the team and definitely not with anyone not in Gryffindor."
Harry laughed with relief. He had thought Ron was going to tell him something terrible. He was about to go back to his toast when he realised Ron was not laughing.
"Joke, right?" Harry asked still smiling but feeling something was wrong.
"No," Ron said getting up and leaving.
Harry was too surprised to call after him to ask if was going to have any breakfast. When Ron had gone Harry turned back to the table to see both Creevey brothers watching him.
"Harry, if you don't want to practice with us, it's okay," said Denis.
"Don't be daft, Denis," said Harry, "I said I would practice and I will. I wish I knew why Ron had a problem with it though."
Colin and Denis exchanged a look and Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Well, we heard him talking on the train. Talking about Quidditch. Ron thinks he is going to be made Captain because Katie Bell said she wants to concentrate on her exams this year."
"Katie isn't playing this year? Shame, she's really good," said Harry. "Ron, Captain? I suppose after Katie he has the most experience."
"Yeah. That's what he thought," said Colin bitterly. "He's conveniently forgotten that you won the first game last year, not to mention all the other matches you played in."
"The thing is, Harry," Denis said dropping his voice and the three of them lent in to hear, "that's not all he was saying. Lots of stuff about not standing for any lack of discipline. Anyone not towing his line would be off the team."
"Ron? Tell me you're kidding, please," said Harry. They both shook their heads.