Alrighty then! This is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Wizards of Waverly Place: the Stone of Dreams. It's probably better to read that first, as there are numerous references to it. But even if you don't, you'll probably still be able to follow most of it.

I started out with one story, and ended up with something completely different. I had been planning on a magical smackdown between werewolves and centaurs in the Forbidden Forest. But that fell apart as the characters were determined that I stick with them, and not distract the reader from what this story is really about-which is about what happens when Alex Russo joins Harry and Hermione when they choose to return to Hogwarts for the 7th year which they had missed out on entirely.

So, sorry if you're looking for the Action story. That will be the next follow-up which I am already working on. And I promise, that one is definitely shaping up to be more of an Adventure. But THIS particular story is primarily about relationships.

Again this story contains mature content, but has been written in a manner suitable for teens.

A quick note: Taken at face-value, this might appear to be a Ron Bashing story. But, just to be perfectly clear, in case it isn't, Ron is suffering a bit from PTSD brought on by the war and the effects of the locket. The events so far in this series have been very Triggering for Ron who is in a very vulnerable and fragile state of mind.


Harry Potter and the Wizards of Waverly Place: 7th Year at Hogwarts

Chapter 1

Harry was used to people talking about him in hushed tones when they spotted him. So he ignored them until he sat with Hermione and Alex Russo in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express by themselves. Harry drew the curtain across the compartment's door windows with a sigh of relief. Alex groaned and slumped on one of the benches with her face in her hands.

Only Hermione looked serene, but with a hint of a smirk. Harry thought she seemed to be quite enjoying herself. Well, Hermione had never been particularly shy, he supposed. Harry also detected a hint of that determined-to-annoy-someone look in her eyes which she'd had when she had gone to Slughorn's party with McClaggen.

Alex began to wonder why she had ever agreed to this. She was mortified by the whispers and stares she got. She was so anxious that she gripped Harry's arm tightly until they had found the empty compartment. Alex wasn't used to people gawking and talking about her right in front of her. This was worse than the time she had pissed off the entire student body of Tribeca Prep and her best friend had been Principal Laritate.

That had been a positively awful time for Alex because her fellow students had shunned her-with good reason she thought (though it had still been entirely Justin's fault). This felt completely different, much more humiliating. She heard many of the comments about her and Harry.

"...Is it true?"

"...I heard she was his girlfriend"

"...I thought Hermione was his girlfriend now..."

"...maybe they're both..."

"...weird"

"...no way"

"...eww..."

"...American..."

A few students had even glared at her and she was certain she'd heard a sneeze that sounded like 'slut' and a cough that sounded like 'whore,' and some other choice words under their breaths. The only person to ever do that to Alex's face before was Gigi, but as Alex hadn't cared what Miss Queen Bee thought of her, she'd never given Gigi any credence-and nobody else in Tribeca Prep did either. Even Mason had been decent enough to use stupid words like "strumpet" when he had broken up with Alex.

These kids had never even met Alex, but they were already judging her. As soon as Harry had finished closing the curtain, Alex stood up again and vented her outrage.

" What was that all about? I don't get it! What did I do to them? They don't even know me but they hate me!? Why do they even care about me? Ugh! Why am I even here?"

"Try to ignore them... I know it's bad now, but it'll get better. Believe me, I've been through this before..." Hermione said, remembering when Rita Skeeter had humiliated her publicly by making out that Hermione was a tart playing with Harry's affections. Hermione had put up with weeks of stares, glares, and rude names before getting her revenge on Rita.

"Yeah," said Harry rolling his eyes, "We've both been through this sort of rubbish before. It takes a while to get used to though. Hermione and I have your back Alex, so I think you'll be fine."

"I know I will," said Alex glaring, "because I'm going to hex the next asshole who says anything."

Harry grinned at her.

"That's the spirit, Alex." Harry said approvingly. Then Harry looked thoughtful, and frowned, "But how did everybody know? George told me that Ron's been dead silent on the subject ever since that day he caught us all snogging on Bill's doorstep. Won't say a word to anybody apparently."

Hermione looked slightly uncomfortable for the first time on the journey, thinking about that day, and the days which had followed. Hermione had thought that must have been horrible for Ron, George setting him up for a shock like that. She couldn't believe that George would be so mean-until Ginny had told her everything Ron had said about Harry and Hermione before she and George had come looking for them. After that, Hermione felt that perhaps George had been more restrained than he could have been.


Harry, Hermione, and Alex had settled in at #12 Grimmauld Place for a few weeks after seeing Ron and Bill Weasley at Shell Cottage, particularly as there really wasn't anywhere else to go. Harry was considering selling the place, which was an option as Bill Weasley had pointed out. It was a grim house indeed, and Harry doubted the stain of Dark Magic could ever be wiped off it.

But some other wizards might be thrilled with it. Harry began to wonder if this house had ever hosted Blood Rituals. Given all of the shrunken heads of house-elves on the wall, he was beginning to think that it was entirely likely.

Alex and Hermione both quickly agreed that if Harry wanted to sell the place, then he should by all means. Alex was thoroughly creeped out by the house. She had made herself feel better over the last several weeks by dragging Hermione and Harry through fashion shops and spas in London by day, and dragging them to nightclubs by night-which she had done mostly to give them make-overs and show them off.

Alex's naturally exuberant personality was given free reign. Without her brothers and parents to annoy her, she really felt free to just be herself. Harry and Hermione were following Alex's lead while they lazily took their time figuring out what to do next.

Harry and Hermione finally started to loosen up and just enjoy themselves. Alex was doing them both a world of good. Their moments together without any outside stresses had been few, and now for the first time in months-perhaps more than a year Harry thought-they were beginning to truly feel happy more and more frequently.

Then one morning after about 3 weeks at #12, Harry picked up the letter which an owl had just delivered through the letter slot. It was addressed from Professor Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts. Harry flipped the envelope over as he entered the kitchen, wondering what Professor McGonagall wanted.

A few minutes later, after he had finished reading the letter, Harry just sat there in stunned silence.

7th Year? Harry and Hermione had both been thinking they should just move on to the advanced magic by themselves and train up Alex a bit. But the Headmistress of Hogwarts had other ideas for them-well, for Harry and Hermione anyway.

Professor McGonagall's plan for Harry and Hermione made sense, thought Harry after some consideration. It would be easier to train at Hogwarts... then there was the matter of the Headmistress asking Harry to come back as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor.