Harry Potter Veela's Embrace

Draco's punishment had indeed been severe as the rumors flew around the Great Hall at dinner. The giant hourglass of emeralds which counted the Slytherin's house points was down one hundred and fifty jewels. One hundred for Malfoy and twenty-five each for Crabbe and Goyle. The rumors also proclaimed Malfoy had been assigned four weeks of detentions, one week each with Professor's Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall and Hagrid.

"Haven't seen that in a while," George said.

"Worst way to get extended detentions," Fred agreed.

"Why?" Harry asked. "What does it matter he has the detentions spread over four professors?"

"No Professor has that much bad stuff they can make a student do," George explained.

"If you get extended detentions with a single Professor, after about week, the really bad stuff is over."

"And the rest of the time is spent doing annoying but minor stuff."

"But by having the detention spread over four different professors; Malfoy will not get off easy."

"Especially with it ending with Hagrid; I expect that will be the worst week of the lot."

Hermione had pulled out her planner and was looking at the month to come. "I think it was planned that way to be exceptionally interesting for Malfoy," She said.

"Why?" Harry asked again.

"That's the week of the third task, Harry."

"You don't think Malfoy is going to put the creatures in the Maze do you?"

"No, most likely not," Hermione replied. "But you are going to have a maze with various creatures wandering around in it for quite some time," She paused for a seconds to let the implications sink in. "Someone's going to have to clean it up once it's over," She said finally with a smirk. "I doubt if Hagrid will let him use a wand, in fact knowing Hagrid, he might not even let him use a shovel."

Everyone around chuckled at those thoughts.

"Harry," Ginny glanced up from her plate as she asked a question that had puzzled her since she had heard what had happened. "How did you know Gabrielle was in trouble? I mean, if I'm not mistaken you're in Divination at the same time we're in Herbology."

Harry looked up at her and then at his three bond mates. No explanation crossed his mind. He was just about to say he had skipped Divinations when she took that excuse away.

"Ron found your book bag at the bottom of the ladder when he came down," Ginny said. "He's the one who put it in your dorm."

"Oh…uh," Harry found himself looking down the table at his former best friend who was chatting with Seamus about something. "Guess I should thank him."

"Arry, I don't want to lie to 'er," Gabrielle thoughts came through. "She's been a very good friend and I don't want to lie to a friend."

Harry looked at Gabrielle who had a pleading look in her eyes. "Of course we can tell her if you want," Harry queried both Fleur and Hermione without looking at them and they both agreed that it should be Gabrielle's choice as long as she believed Ginny would keep the secret.

In those several seconds as Gabrielle and Harry looked at each other, Ginny started wondering if Luna had been right all along. Visions of Harry being tied to a stake while Gabrielle danced around him started going through her mind.

"Ginny," Gabrielle started. "If you can keep a secret, we can tell you 'ow 'e knew."

"Pretty soon it's not going to be much of a secret," Harry muttered.

Ginny's eye went wide. "Luna was right? You're…" She said quite loudly and only the look from Harry, Gabrielle, Fleur and Hermione stopped her from continuing. In a much quieter voice she said "Oh…sorry. If you can trust me with your secret, I promise not to tell anyone."

At the Ravenclaw table a petite blonde smiled to herself as she heard Ginny's exclamation. She really hoped Gabrielle's lunar charts were accurate. She really liked Harry's hair.

Harry looked around to make sure no one was listening and especially that no beetles were in sight. "Ginny, this might be hard for you, but the only place we feel is safe enough to discuss what is going on is in the Chamber. Do you feel up to going back down there?"

Ginny paled but after a few seconds her Gryffindor courage came through and she nodded.

"Okay, then right after dinner we'll head down," Harry said quietly. "Hermione can you go ahead and warn Sirius?"

"Yes, it's Gabrielle and my time to grab food from the kitchens for Sirius anyway," Hermione looked at Gabrielle and without a word, both of them got up and left the table with Ginny looking confused.

"We'll explain, we promise," Harry said to her. "Finish eating and we'll go down there shortly. Fleur and I'll be with you the whole time."

"Thanks Harry," Ginny replied with a warm but nervous smile.

Hermione and Gabrielle made their way to the kitchen. As the house-elves busied themselves getting the food put in containers with freshness charms, Hermione looked over at the fireplace and saw Winky sitting on the same stool as before. A row of empty butterbeer bottles beside her. As Hermione watched her the little elf gave a hiccup and swayed on her stool. A wave of guilt and sadness washed over her. It had been a long time since she thought of the little elf. She had been so happy with having Fleur to spend time with and with her bond with Harry that her concern of house-elves in general and this one in particular had disappeared.

Harry was still at the table when he felt the sadness of Hermione wash over the bond. "What is it love?" He immediately queried.

"It's Winky," Hermione replied. "She's miserable and I can't do anything for her."

Harry couldn't think of anything to suggest but then looked over at Fleur, "What about asking Fleur, she might have some advice since she's lived with house elves her whole life."

"Fleur?"

"Yes 'Ermione."

"You remember me telling you about Winky, the house elf we argued about earlier?"

"Yes."

"She's still very sad and staying drunk. Do you know of anything I can do to cheer her up?"

"What does she want?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"What does she want to cheer her up?" Fleur asked.

"She wants her family back, but they probably won't take her back. In fact it's Mr. Crouch who might be dead."

"What else besides that would she want?"

"I don't know," Hermione replied.

"Ask 'er."

Hermione looked at the hiccupping elf again. "I'll try," She walked over to the fireplace and knelt down next to diminutive elf.

"Hi Winky, it's me."

"You be the one who –hic- said bad things –hic- about my Master."

"I'm sorry Winky. But Mr. Crouch is no longer your Master."

"Mas –hic-ter needs his Winky," The house-elf said looking up with bleary eyes.

Gabrielle had joined Hermione now and said, "Winky, I'm Gabrielle."

Winky closed one eye and then opened it as she closed the other trying to find one that was less blurred. "Do you –hic- know my Master?"

"I'm sorry Winky, I don't, but I thought 'e released you?"

"Master needs – hic – his Winky. He has secrets that need keepen," Winky said.

....

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