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The day had been good, Lunch in a shady spot by the lake with the smartest witch of the year, and the just as smart but seriously cheesed off about the final standings, witch that took second place. Watching Daphne as she inevitably rubbed Hermione’s nose in the fact she had finally beaten her in the rankings. Even watching the hopefully friendly witch on witch wrestling match that followed. Harry had been about to step in and stop the wrestling, then Daphnes top had ripped open, displaying her rather impressive chest, that was the point when harry decided that getting involved this argument was unwise.
The witch wrestling match had been ongoing for some minutes and now both of them had lost their shirts and there was something odd going on with Daphnes skirt. Harry’s attention was diverted from the pair of nearly naked witches by a slight cough behind him, looking around to the source of the noise he noticed the Bloody Barron floating in the shade of one of the trees.
“I have news Lord Black” rasped the Baron, these days he spoke so rarely that many wondered if he remembered how.
Arching an eyebrow, “My Lord Baron, what news is so dire that you leave the castle?” Harry enquired.
The baron nodded, “Those under mine care that care not for either your relationship with Miss Greengrass, nor her relationship with one of presumed lesser blood, plot deeds most foul against thee and thy ladies”
Harry frowned and stood, approaching the Baron, “I beseech thee, brother in magic and fellow peer of the realm, prey tell what ill humour these miscreants do plot?”
“It saddens me that my report is thin milord, I overheard speech of acts no gentleman would consider proper, but woe, I arrived too late to the conversation to glean knowledge of the time and place their dastardly plan was to be enacted.”
Harry nodded, “I understand my Lord Baron, please accept my humble gratitude for furnishing me with this knowledge, your service is valued”
The baron bowed and turned to leave when another ghost appeared and approached rapidly, the young boy was one of the many nameless ghosts of the castle, the young ghost can to a stop looked back and forth before sinking to a knee, “Milord, the ones you told Timmy to watch, they are coming this way and their numbers are greater.”
Harry looked at the young ghost, “How many?”
A ghostly blush spread across the ghost’s face, “Timmy be sorry lord, I don’t know, I was never learned me numbers sire.” Timmy looked down at where his feet should have been.
Harry nodded, “that’s ok, you have the look of a shepherd boy, more or less than a small flock?”
Timmy thought, “About the same as a small flock, about what I could shear before lunch.”
Harry looked at the Baron “so about ten then.”
The baron nodded,
Harry stood and addressed the ghosts, “I hold myself in the debt of you both for this information. If ever you have need the houses of Potter and Black shall come to your aid, or perform service in payment.” He bowed from the waist and turned back to his girls.
Hermione and Daphne were standing and dressed again, both looked resolute and had obviously heard the exchange with the ghosts.
Harry nodded to them, “It appears we are to have company with ill intent, what say we prepare to give them a welcome”
Daphne nodded and Hermione frowned as she flicked her wand into her hand.