Posted 8 July 2019

As usual, unedited and not proofread.

-/-

"What's the point of this?" grumbles Ron, shoving his hands in his trouser pockets as they follow Hermione into the room with the trapped Peeves.

"It is an excellent opportunity to work with masters of their trade, Ronald," she responds with a roll of her eyes. Honestly. Seeing an empty table along the side of the room, she moves into claim it for them. "Besides, you have the opportunity to work on your homework- Harry, what are you doing?"

"I dunno," Harry mumbles, eyeing the undead being sitting cross-legged in the middle of the dome, spinning in idle circles. For the first time ever, Peeves looks bored. He glances at Hermione absently. "It just seems kind of wrong, you know? Peeves never really hurt anyone, and now he's trapped and put under a microscope."

"Oh, I suppose," Hermione's lips purse in thought, and both of the muggle raised teens ignore Ron's questions of micro-what. Her ethical and moral spirits clashing with the academic in her.

"I'm going to keep him company," Harry resolves suddenly, if not a bit apprehensively. Inwardly, he agrees with the disbelief on both of his friend's faces, but he remembers being locked up with nothing to do. Bracing himself, he approaches the barrier and makes himself comfortable on the floor. It takes only a moment till Peeves rotation brings him to look in that direction, the undead eyeing him for a moment before floating over.

"Potty wants something?" Peeves questions curiously.

"I just thought you might want some company," Harry poses, it took all his Gryfindor courage to approach. Peeves face twists thoughtfully.

"Peeves is rather bored," Peeves finally responds, staying silent and focused on Harry.

"Do you want to hear what they've figured out so far?" Harry finally asks awkwardly. Peeves gives a nod. "Well, they know you aren't a poltergeist, you've just disguised yourself to mimic one."

Peeves grins at the statement, admitting. "Peeves has been with the castle a long time." He gestures Harry to lean in closer as he whispers. "Peeves would take this form to protect the castle. He would prank and play and eventually they would go away."

"So, the castle really wasn't built as Hogwarts," Harry catches quickly at the confirmation of what he and Hermione had been researching. "So, why didn't you drive the founders away, than?"

Peeves looks thoughtful, tapping his chin briefly, and for a moment, Harry thinks the undead will not provide an answer. "The castle was never meant to stay empty forever. It was meant to be called home."

"It's my home," Harry agrees quietly, without really thinking about it. Peeves is beaming at him then, at Harry cannot bring himself to regret the personal admittance.

"Now, Potty tells something to Peeves," the undead being demands, quid pro quo.

Harry shifts, a bit weary. What if Peeves wanted something personal, that could potentially be used against him should Peeves escape? Best to approach the demand with caution. "What do you want to know?"

"How is lil miss? Does she miss Peeves? Peeves hasn't seen her whiskery face in weeks," Peeves inquires eagerly. Harry is a bit dumbfounded at the question before it dawns on him.

"You mean Missus Norris?" blurts out Harry, Peeves nodding eagerly in confirmation. "I didn't know, I mean, you and Mister Filch are constantly at each other's throats."

"Ah, but Peeves and lil miss play around the castle. She must be so lonely without Peeves," the undead does a rather fantastic job of looking genuinely remorseful that the two beings are separated.

Harry curses himself inwardly after he offers absently. "I can try to sneak her in, if you want?"

Peeves eyes practically sparkle at the offer, and the grin on the undead's face widens in glee.

Oh, yes. Harry really, really regrets the offer.

-/-

Peeves' eyes follow the Golden Trio as they leave the room, taking glee at what the teens' slumped shoulders show. They are preparing for the inevitable and doom.

'Did you really just give a quest to three teenagers to catch Aithusa?' the question is both disbelieving and full of amusement.

'Oh, yes, I did,' agrees the undead gleefully. 'Give them hell, Aithusa. I want to see their resolve.'

'They will be like large mice,' Missus Norris responds across the link easily, gleeful as she prepares to play with her prey.

'It's almost cruel,' comments Mister Filch, though not seriously.

'It can be apart of their training for the war. Practice in strategy and evasion and-'

'You're a sadist.'

'Guilty as charged, mate.'

-/-

As Hermione helps disinfect the scratches across Harry's face, arms, and hands, he watches Peeves and Missus Norris play with a barrier between them.

"It was worth it," Harry decides, seeing the joy from the two beings.

Ron snorts a laugh. "You're a nutter, mate."

"Well, despite your injuries, they do seem happy," Hermione sighs, putting the supplies away in her bag. Harry gives her a grateful smile, and she huffs a laugh. "You did a good thing, Harry… incredibly foolish, but still good."

"I don't regret it," Harry grins, wincing slightly as a cut pulls on his cheek.

"Potty," calls Peeves suddenly, the undead pausing in his game with the cat. He and Missus Norris trail along until they are at the barrier in front of the trio. Peeves leans close. "Peeves wants to tell you something."

Harry's brows furrow, and the three lean forward towards the barrier at Peeves' motion. To Harry's surprise, Missus Norris is purring, looping around the three affectionately.

"Yeah, Peeves?" Harry asks, once he realizes the undead is waiting for his full attention.

"If you ever find yourself in an unwinnable situation, and only in the most direst of circumstances, take lil miss outside, spell her asleep, and tickle her belly," imparts Peeves, causing three flabbergasted expressions. The undead gives one last grin to the trio. "Now be off, Gryfindories. Lil miss and Peeves must play now."

Peeves waves them off, and Missus Norris hisses. The trio quickly gather their belongings to get away from the deadly, demon cat. As they reach the doors, Peeves calls out to them.

"And, remember what Peeves said! Toodles, Potty and ladies."

Harry and Hermione pull Ron from the room before the humiliation and redheaded anger could kick in.

'I like them,' admits Peeves, absently.

'I'm beginning to as well,' admits Mister Filch, grinning from his spot in the shadows. 'Would you like to see the chase Aithusa lead them on?'

'Do you really have to ask?'

-/-

Does anyone have ideas for more of fifth year or should I just skip to the end of the year?

I have to state that Gwaine will be revealed shortly (and the reasons why he is undead), while Aithusa and Merlin will really only truly interact with Gwaine for now. It's a different approach to the other crossovers I've seen for HP and Merlin.