Preface

The characters in this novel, except those newly created by me, were created by J.K. Rowling and are her copyrighted property, as are the plot background and physical settings borrowed from her. The new characters and plot created here are mine. Neither of us wants our ideas filched. This novel may not be copied, published or entered into commerce.

It continues the Hogwarts saga from the exact point where J.K. left it in book seven (excluding the epilogue). While she provides a satisfying conclusion, it struck me that having the hero of the Wizarding world and his best pals be high-school drop-outs would not set a good example. Harry must graduate. And so, we have the seventh year for Harry and his friends, and a chance for them to attend classes with Ginny and Luna. This tale is told largely in Ginny's voice. This made sense, because Ginny was such an undeveloped character in JK's canon that the reader was left wondering what in the world Harry saw in her. Since Ron and Hermione are both developed characters, it is harder to explain why Hermione ended up with Ron. I take a shot at answering that question.

This is version two and contains significant changes, incorporating my new ideas as well as suggestions from readers. The rest of this preface should give you a better starting perspective and explain why I chose to ignore some of the comments from version one. Feel free to comment and disagree. Mainly, just enjoy my attempt to fill in some of the holes in the canon story.

I am true to the canon of the novels, but make no effort to be consistent with the movies or what Rowling revealed later. This novel is consistent with the epilogue. Although I may morph into an AU offering by the end of Part Three, I claim it to be a plausible extension and elaboration of canon, when viewed through adult eyes and the full sci-fi/fantasy genre.

Harry and friends played the decisive role in winning the Voldemort War, but don't really understand the motivations of the other participants in that war. Either out of a kindly desire to shield them or a more sinister desire to manipulate them, the Order kept them in the dark. They don't know what will happen now that the war is won or if they will be allowed to share in the fruits of victory or be told to go back to being children. They don't even realize that the death of Voldemort is not the end of their adventure. More fighting and scheming lie ahead and there are other mysteries to solve.

The Voldemort War was a civil war and a revolution. Many of the victors don't want to go back to the Fudges and Scrimgouers as Ministers. A successful revolution is a new beginning, not an ending. The American, French, Russian, and Egyptian revolutions show that killing doesn't end with the victory. Nor is the final form of the new society and government clear. The vanquished are not wholly vanquished. The revolutionaries are not of one mind. In fighting to achieve the rights of the many, the fights for the rights of specific groups were set aside. After victory, the struggle for others' rights resumes.

Will the revolution yield progress and democracy, or a new dictator? Who will lead? As with the American revolution, the major battles to resolve the big issues among the allies may come long after the revolution ends. Or, the guillotine blade may fall before the victory celebrations are at an end.

What is the role of young adults in the new Wizarding world? Does the Order, which excluded them, still exist?

While at least initially appearing a bit different than J. K.'s characters, I think my versions are reasonable extensions based upon what the canon says about them. That may not become fully apparent until Part Three. Rowling revealed her characters through the eyes of children. As those children grow into full adulthood, they perceive these characters differently. They also will find that they have been changed by the battle and slowly will change further, as they give themselves permission to change and choose their own paths, largely independent of adult direction.

They may or may not choose to rise above the prejudices and petty jealousies of the adults who shaped their childhood. Loathsome children can remain loathsome or grow to be likeable, responsible adults. Dumbledore and Rowling believed every child is redeemable. Likewise, goody-good children can turn into bad adults, given the new temptations of adulthood and a whiff of power.

Some claim Harry did not kill Voldemort – his own rebounding curse did. This is narrowly correct, but wrong from a larger perspective. Harry's actions caused Voldemort's death. Harry actively sought to kill Voldemort. That was the whole purpose of the hunt for the horcruxes – Harry sought them out so that Voldemort could be killed. Harry dueled Voldemort, thinking only he could slay him. He or Voldemort must die at the other's hand. That Harry can't use a killing curse shows his distaste for killing even someone as evil as Voldemort.

Some suggest that because of his experience with Dumbledore, Harry could never possibly allow himself to again be manipulated by anyone. This is unlikely - an adult viewing Harry after the battle will know how shaken and vulnerable he is. It will take time to regain his metal strength. Ingrained behavior patterns are difficult to break in the best of times. Dumbledore has trained Harry to accept manipulation.

In the canon, we see the Wizarding world through the eyes of children. This view matures as Harry matures, but it is still only a child's view. By the end, reality intrudes into Harry's idealized world. He is disillusioned and he starts to follow his own lead. Still, Harry is a very sheltered kid, without deep understanding of either our world or the Wizarding world. He is intelligent, but not at all learned. He has survived on bravery, emotion, instinct, and more than a little guidance from Dumbledore and protection by other adults, including at times Voldemort.

My tale is told through Ginny as she emerges into adulthood. She is far less sheltered than Harry. She understands the Wizarding world better and is not hemmed in by his self-doubt. She is as brave as Harry, but brasher.

As in the canon books, the language, plot, and content become progressively more complex and adult with each part. Harry, Ginny, and their friends learn how the Wizarding world actually is, not how it is presented to Hogwarts students. Maturity is not merely a factor of age and you are the best judge of whether this novel is too old for you. I rate it PG-13.

Chapter 1 – Problems Anew

"Try to hold on Barty! We just need to make it through that break in the wall and... freedom to live another day and continue our fight. I know you're hurt, but just a few hundred feet and I can apparate you to my house in Wales. Lean on me, if you must. I will be the strength for both of us. To freedom, and then I must think of the best way to , had let loyal Witches and Wizards know that the true Minister of Magic still lives."

Barty's injuries were worse than Thicknesse had realized and leaning was soon not enough. He delayed his flight to perform a couple of healing spells to stop the loss of blood once again and to give Barty a bit of extra energy. This would have to do, until they reached the safe house. He picked up the limp sack which was Barty, and toted it over his shoulder to the gap in the wall. He moved as fast as he could. They were in great danger. To be surprised before they cleared Hogwarts' apparation barriers meant death for both of them. Azkaban was breached. British Wizard law did not permit summary execution. If their foe found them, two quick Avada Kedavras would end their lives. Toting the increasingly heavy Barty, he had no hope of defending himself. He'd likely be cursed in the back, anyway, so his Barty-burden hardly mattered. This thought did not anger him. This is what he would have done had Voldemort killed Potter. Both sides knew that this had to end in a decisive victory for one and utter devastation for the other. He had seen two other small groups of Death Eaters fleeing Hogwarts. It hurt to see Death Eaters fleeing for their lives, but he didn't regret ordering the retreat. The unexpected death of the Dark Lord had shocked the Death Eaters. It would take time to teach them to resist the new order and to see him as the capable replacement for Voldemort.

He should have cursed Lucius Malfoy when he found him cowering in a corner with his family. He assumed that Voldemort would want to deal with Lucius personally. The Dark Lord wanted to slay Draco as his father watched in horror and then slowly and most painfully squeeze the life from the grieving man. Had he time to do the job himself after the Dark Lord's death? Perhaps not - perhaps he was guiltless. Things were so chaotic and there were worthy Death Eaters to protect. Still, Thicknesse feared that he lacked the Dark Lord's ability to deal brutally with slackers among his own troops. He and the Dark Lord had been wrong to trust one as weak and selfish as Lucius. Voldemort was not infallible. He had chosen Lucius. Lucius would continue to be a problem.

Worst of all, Thicknesse had seen the short figure of Delores Umbridge leading three masked Death Eaters to freedom. Umbridge, the embodiment of his sacrifice in service and loyalty to the Dark Lord - it would have been far better had she died. She was now a rival. He had kissed up to her, even kissed and bedded her, because that was what his Dark Lord commanded. The fool Umbridge thought she had Imperiused him to her purpose. She was wrong. The Dark Lord had personally won his loyalty. The Dark Lord had also shielded him against the worst of Umbridge's Imperius. That may not have been so kind. Sex with Umbridge might have been less unpleasant, had her Imperius not banged up against the protections the Dark Lord had fashioned in his mind. How could so much lust coexist with all that pink and all those pussycats?

His musings were interrupted as he stubbed his foot upon a splintered stone. He had made it past the apparation barriers. He drew his wand and found himself tumbling toward Wales.

Meanwhile, back at the Hogwarts' headmaster's office, the victorious three were together.

"I've had more than enough excitement and trouble for my lifetime," Hermione echoed Harry's thoughts. "We won and I'm proud of what we did but... just so much death, and at Hogwarts. It has quite ruined this place for me. I'm not sure I'll even be able to find the old Hermione. I've seen too much. I've done too much. I may have killed. I'm not at all the little Hermione who rode the magical train to Hogwarts.

"I know what you mean," Harry seemed to find a little energy in a newly recognized kindred spirit. "I died. I was reborn. I killed. I don't feel like Harry. My head feels different, somehow. I mean it really doesn't feel like my head has felt my whole life. I also feel like there was a secret magical purpose to my whole life, and that, that it's over - that I was meant to die with Voldemort, that fate or Dumbledore fashioned me for just one purpose. That purpose wasn't to live life as an adult. I miss Ginny and I hoped for a life with her, but that was another me. Why am I still here?"

"You're here because you're a good person who deserves a life, after all of your sacrifice. We needed you. Without you, we'd be dead, or worse - Voldemort's slaves. And... I'm not sure that all the trouble is quite finished.".

They all jumped at the loud "Nor am I," coming from the top of the stairs.

"Professor McGonagall, you startled me."

"This is now my office, Hermione, but I don't begrudge you its use. If you and Ron will wait here, I want to borrow Harry. Unless Harry objects, I suggest that you view the memories in the pensieve."

"Umm, okay," Harry replied.

"Good. Put on your cloak and follow me. I'll leave Hermione and Ron with two thoughts to ponder. First, you might consider how Hermione's Muggle knowledge can help our cause. Second, consider the creative powers of youth, and the power of SectumSempra and improved potions making. Don't give me that look, of course I knew about that. I am your Head of House."

Professor McGonagall led Harry in silence down the stairs. and through the Entry Hall. The short time in Dumbledore's office had returned Harry's nose to a sense of normalcy – the pleasant smells of polished old wood, old stone, and aging manuscripts. Now, his nostrils were assaulted by the rank and bitter odors of pulverized stone and mortar and decaying blood. He grimaced as he maneuvered around bits of broken stone and other debris, his vision impeded by the cloak. Harry spotted Ginny ahead of them, her arms around George and Molly, but her head cocked to the side as if scanning the crowd for someone she'd lost. A quiet "ahem" kept Harry moving away from the Weasleys.

Harry was focused upon avoiding rubble as they turned a corner and did not see the figure who screamed 'expelliarmus', sending the professor's wand flying behind her. When he looked up, he saw Eva Duerr, a sixth-year Slytherin, pointing her wand at Professor McGonagall's chest."

"You were always against us, always Dumbledore's best ally, always so sure you knew just exactly what was right, you stupid old Witch. Now you're going to die."

"You don't really want to kill me, Eva. The battle's over. Your side lost. Don't destroy your life for nothing."

"The battle is not over. It will never be over. I won't let your side destroy our way of life. I can at least kill you, then I'll slip away. 'Avada…'"

'Petrificus Totalus' mouthed Harry, causing Eva to fall in a heap.

The professor led him forward in silence, not speaking until they reached the base of the Astronomy Tower. "Thank you Harry. My tiredness made me a little careless. Don't worry about Eva, your spell will wear off in about ten hours. I'll send someone to deal with her."

Atop the astronomy tower, the words just poured out of Professor McGonagall. "Dumbledore's was my best friend and the Wizard I trusted most, but I'm having very uncharitable thoughts about him. I am grieved to think how much pain and responsibility Dumbledore thrust upon your young shoulders.

"I could never ask a student to surrender his life. I always believed a professor's greatest duty is to protect her students - to provide a safe atmosphere in which to grow up and to learn in a safe way from your little failures. So, I want you to know how sorry I am that I failed you as your Head of House.

"I also... pay attention Harry! I know you're tired, but this is important. I must warn you that as the new leader of the Order, I will ask you to face danger. That would have been inappropriate when you were a child, but you are now an adult. Like Dumbledore, I wear two hats. I was your teacher, but I also lead the remnants of an army - an army whose fight is far from finished. I think Dumbledore was too willing to let you assume he was always the protective teacher. So, be fairly warned: don't ever assume that I am only your protective teacher."

Saying that seemed to lift a great weight from the old professor's shoulders.

"It's alright, if there are still Death Eaters, I want to help you fight them. How can I shrink from danger, when so many good people died here trying to protect me?"

"Thank you, Harry. There are many things left for you to experience and to accomplish. I want to prepare you to accomplish them. You, Ron and Hermione have been a great team and I hope you will continue working together. With your permission, I'd like to also include George, Miss Weasley, Neville, and Luna in the circle that I talk to. If you agree, I'll ask them to go to my office and view the Pensieve".

"Of course Professor, I trust them totally and they all fought for me. They deserve to know everything."

She made four slashing motions with her wand. Each time, a cat Patronus sprung from the wand and raced away. "And so they shall, Harry, although it wouldn't be fair to burden you, or them, with every bit of everything right away."

"Professor, you said the troubles weren't over, and now you are talking as if we need to be ready for another battle. Won't the Death Eaters go back into hiding again, now that Voldemort is dead?"

"I don't think so. We are entering a period of great transition. The Death Eaters won't just wait to be captured. They will disrupt the interim government to get a permanent Minister who will grant them amnesty and allow them to be a political force. Others will fight to improve their station, as the killings and removal of Death Eaters will create several decades' worth of advancement opportunities. Many people have scores to settle - all ample reasons for more violence.

"The Death Eaters see the Malfoys as traitors and seek revenge. Lucius will hide among the Muggles. His arrogance, power lust, and appearance are viewed as only slightly eccentric in the world of Muggle bankers. He is not entirely happy with Narcissa's actions. They are barely speaking and Narcissa needs to go into hiding in our world - she could never pass among the Muggles. She is not mentally strong at the best of times and has come unraveled. Common decency requires that I protect her.

"In return for certain actions, which I will explain later, I promised to protect Draco at Hogwarts. I know it's a lot to ask, but I hope you and your friends will help me keep my promise. I need you to convince your friends that this is the best thing to do. Draco was never really evil, just a spoiled rich kid trying to look tough. He won't have Crabbe, or Goyle, or even tough girl Pansy Parkinson. He won't be very tough without them."

"Um, no, just no! I've seen how evil Draco can be."

"I didn't say he was good, Harry. I just don't believe he is all bad, or that the evil parts aren't redeemable. I have to believe that. Dumbledore was determined to save Draco. He convinced me that saving Draco is important to all of us. Wizards can't keep fighting among ourselves. We are already almost too few to survive. Either we will vanish or the Muggle government will vanish us. There will be no peace for any of us, unless we can turn the Malfoys to the good. I call this my Malfoy Project. Arthur has given me permission to at least give it a try."

"Well... if Arthur... perhaps I can help. I don't want to fight forever. I agree that Draco isn't all evil. I'm not totally opposed to helping him, while I can. I couldn't have beaten Voldemort without his mother's help. I owe a debt for that. I was there when Draco was unable to kill Dumbledore, so I do see some goodness in him. Still, I don't trust him. I thought Dumbledore was a fool to trust him. He died because of that error. It doesn't really matter what I think. I can't protect Draco at Hogwarts for long, because I won't return to Hogwarts."

"That would be a serious mistake and I hope to change your mind. I freely admit my self-interest in avoiding the bad example for young students, if their hero dropped out of Hogwarts, less than two years after the Weasley twins dropped out to start a glamorous business. Most children really do badly need to complete the seventh level, and you and your friends would also benefit from that education. Hogwarts was not always as you knew it. Once it was a force for peace and unity in our world. Our community has many urgent needs, but none more important than fixing Hogwarts. I need your help with that.

"You still have more to learn than you realize. Some of the courses that appear the driest can be exactly what you need in life. It was unfortunate that Dumbledore allowed a ghost to teach Wizard History. It made a dull subject even duller. But it's still a very important subject for a Wizard who was raised in a Muggle household. You don't realize how much the past governs what Wizards do today and how much the whole community is stuck in the past. You've focused solely upon Voldemort, without considering the conditions which made Voldemort possible. We can't be truly safe until those conditions are changed.

'You need to understand the history of the Great Families, and the past wars among the different magical peoples. You've observed that we live in a world of House allegiances at Hogwarts, but you haven't seen how much those House and family allegiances dominate the entire adult Wizarding world. Slughorn isn't the only Slytherin for life. To understand any Wizard, first understand his family history, and then understand how he gets along with his family. You generally don't have to look any farther than that.

"Your lack of knowledge puts you at peril and reduces your effectiveness. To go to battle, or into business or politics, without this historical knowledge of yourself and your opponents, is to be at a profound disadvantage. Voldemort couldn't have been defeated without Dumbledore's knowledge of the Gaunts. It's a shame that Dumbledore made politics seem dirty to you, since that is where your best future lies. Dumbledore needed a soldier and solver of mysteries. Now the Wizarding world needs you to be a leader and healer."

"I know that I have more to learn. I can continue to learn as an auror trainee."

"You can still do that after you graduate Hogwarts. You must stay for Ron's sake. If you leave, Ron will leave. It will not be as easy for Ron as it will for you. Ron's not famous, but he's made as many enemies as you have. For Ron to have anything approaching a life that will make Hermione content to stay with him, he must finish Hogwarts. As his friend, you must push him in that direction."

She waited for Harry to object, but as Harry merely gave her a worried stare, she raced ahead.

"The third point is a bit delicate, and I hesitate to raise it with the Wizard who defeated Voldemort, but I must. I think we need to have you thoroughly checked out. We don't know exactly how much Voldemort took out of you."

"What's the problem? I feel tired and too over-excited to sleep, but there's nothing the matter with me." And I'll be damned before I admit to you that my head feels different.

"Please, let me be the judge of that. Umm... I know that Voldemort left a part of himself in you as a horcrux. I know that he killed that part. What we don't know is how many of your former abilities died with that horcrux. We don't know if you can defend yourself. The Death Eaters know that you own the Elder Wand, and will want to take it. None of the Death Eaters followed Voldemort out of love. Many saw themselves as little Voldemorts. With the Elder Wand, they may think they can become as big as him. Dumbledore guarded the secret of his wand until his final year. You announced the secret in front of hundreds. I fear for your safety."

"I don't plan to keep the wand. I'll hide it. I can protect myself. I just beat Voldemort, and he was the most dangerous Wizard of all time."

"That victory may not be all it seems. Your link with Voldemort and your connection with Dumbledore's wand made that a special case. 'Expelliarmus' isn't a curse that should have that effect. There's no record of it ever being a killing curse or causing the fatal rebound of a killing curse. This is the second time a killing curse has rebounded off you and struck Voldemort down. It wasn't your dueling prowess that did in Voldemort that first time."

"So you think I may not have my Wizard powers anymore?"

"You still have many of them. You just protected me from Eva Duerr. We don't know how many of them remain, but we had better find out, before a less friendly person does. Today is the first time that you killed someone. That can have a terrible effect on the mind, especially for one as young and good as you."

"Okay, when do we start?"

"Tomorrow is soon enough. I want to talk about one last matter regarding the settling of scores. The Goblins are considering putting a price on your head. They are very angry about the break-in at Gringotts and the loss of their dragon. I fear that the disappearance of the Gryffindor sword has upset them further."

"What can I do to satisfy them?"

"We have time, before you turn 18, which is the age of adulthood for Goblins. Their King is willing to treat you as a child and less accountable for your actions. They view their age of adulthood as more correct than ours. They have a complex technological society that requires a lot of training and emotional discipline. They say our age of maturity makes sense for Wizards, because 'how difficult can it be to learn how to shake a stick?' Goblin pride also may work to our favor. The heist is not common knowledge and the Goblins don't want to damage the bank's reputation.

"You'd have a better appreciation of the Goblin situation if you hadn't daydreamed so much through the history lessons on the Goblin-Wizard wars. It really is a classic case of different belief systems leading both sides to view the other as lying cheats and thieves.

"Now, let's get back to my office. I'll tell you everything that the Order knows -no secrets and no more lies. I think it best not to dump it on you all at once.

"One more thing, I have a very special favor to ask of you, one that is important to what you and the Order have been fighting for. It would be best if you didn't mention this to Ronald or the others. If you'll summon Kreacher for me…."

They turned and began a leisurely stroll back toward Professor McGonagall's office. Professors Trelawney and Flitwick approached them in a rush, with a very agitated Terry Boot, Lisa Turpin, and a third student, whom Harry didn't recognize, in tow.

"Our common room has been destroyed," said Lisa. "The Carrows have escaped and torn the place apart", continued the unknown girl.

"They were disarmed, and I had them completely restrained," Professor McGonagall replied. "They couldn't have escaped without help and only a Professor or a Ravenclaw could have entered that common room. Lisa, you and Erin should go back to your common room and calm the younger students. Terry, round up any Ravenclaws who are wandering the corridors."

"This isn't that large a school," commented Harry, "but there are still so many students whom I never got to know. I don't think I really know even twenty Ravenclaws. For instance, who is Erin?"

"That's Erin Device, although the boys have tagged her with a less polite surname. She's a sixth year. Her father is the head librarian at the Ministry and they're descended from the Pendle Hill witches. I like to think she is deep and immersed in her own thoughts, rather than unintelligent."

"Harry walked along in silence, not wishing to admit that he had no idea who the Pendle Hill witches were or even that the Ministry had a librarian.