Chapter two

Harry was sitting at his desk again waiting for his aurors to turn up. It was almost eight, so he picked up everything he needed and stepped out of his office and saw them all standing there waiting.

'You all know what you have to do and what's involved. There's not much more to say, let's just head to Hogwarts,' Harry led the way out of the office and down to the atrium. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the twenty one aurors led by Harry Potter and every single person had the same though. They made an impressive sight and also made them all feel very safe.

They got to the apparition point inside the atrium, then one by one they apparated away still with all eyes watching them. Once all the aurors were outside the gates of Hogwarts, Harry walked over and nodded to the caretaker, Simmons who had taken over from Filch five years ago. He opened the small gate and watched as all the aurors filed through then sealed it again.

Harry led the way up the long drive to the castle. He had explained to the aurors that Minerva had told all the students and staff to be present in the Great Hall that she had an important announcement to make. Harry and the aurors all stopped at the doors of the Great Hall to wait until Minerva was ready for them. The aurors all spread out behind Harry in lines of four and waited until Simmons opened the doors.

Harry glanced at Ron, raising his eyebrows, then faced the doors again. After only five minutes, Simmons opened both doors and Harry led his twenty aurors inside. Every student fell silent as they watched the impressive entrance as Harry Potter and his aurors all walk up to the staff table. Some of the students sat there with their mouths hanging open, some looked nervous, while others instantly started talking excitedly to their friends.

As Harry stood in front of his aurors facing the students of Hogwarts. He caught a glimpse of his children and noticed James looked angry, where Albus and Lily gave him a smile. Harry noticed Hugo and Rose smiled at their father as well, then noticed that some of the other aurors children smiling at their fathers and mothers who stood behind Harry.

Minerva McGonagall stood up. Harry saw how old she looked and dreaded the day he heard that she had passed on. He hoped that whoever took over as headmistress or headmaster would make her and Dumbledore proud.

'Good morning everyone. Now as I'm sure you have just witness, we have Harry Potter and his aurors with us who will be staying here for the foreseeable future and there is a reason for this. Hogwarts has been threatened by dark witches and wizards that wish to take over our school and basically turn it into a pureblood training school for their own version of death eaters. So from this moment on, seven aurors will be here during the day and seven of a night. They will be questioning everyone, staff included. They will be searching every area of Hogwarts, and that includes all house rooms and dormitories. They will also be observing classes. Minister Shacklebolt has given them permission to interrogate anyone Auror Potter thinks has information in regards to this plot. They are also here to make sure every one of you are safe while you are inside these walls,' Minerva turned to Harry and nodded.

Harry stepped forward and with a very serious look on his face, gazed around at the students before speaking.

'Good morning, our primary concern is your safety. We will do everything in our power to keep every one of you safe. But as students of Hogwarts you will hear things the staff do not. So I urge all of you that if you hear something that doesn't sound right or even if you have a suspicion to come forward and speak with any one of us. You may hear something that might not sound important, it very well could turn out to be the most important thing there is. Do the right thing and speak up, do not do the easy thing and keep quiet. I know it's not always easy to get involved in dangerous situations and we will make sure if any of you come forward with any information you will be protected. Find the courage that is inside all of you to help keep this school a free and safe place to learn. Some of the best witches and wizards have done that very thing for hundreds of years, so continue on their tradition.

'Hogwarts has been threatened before, quite a few times and we have been able to stop it and we will again this time. We will try not to disrupt your everyday lives while we are here, but I'm sorry to say there will be some disruptions. As of now I can't tell you what they are. Please just remember what I have said, you will all be safe, but again if you know anything, come and speak to one of us, or even a staff member if you don't feel comfortable talking to an auror. Thank you for your patience and time,' Harry nodded, then stepped back with his aurors.

'As Auror Potter has just stated, if you know anything, please come forward. Now I know you might be a little intimated by speaking with one of the aurors behind me, there is no reason to be as they are here to help. But you can come to any staff member if you wish and we will pass on the information you give us to the aurors. Just remember, they are here to find out who is planning all this and to keep you safe at the same time. So now that announcement is done, it's time you all head off to your classes,' Minerva turned and faced Harry, 'I hope this doesn't go on for too long Harry.'

'So do I Minerva, we just need a bit of patience and see how it plays out.'

'Dad,' Albus said as he stood a little back from him.

'Al, Lily, shouldn't you both be heading to class?'

'Yeah, we're going. Are we really safe though? We all know what happened in the past, death eaters have gotten inside Hogwarts.'

'Yes they have, but I meant what I said, we will keep all of you safe. You don't need to worry.'

'Okay, but it's going to be strange having my father here,' Albus sighed and walked off.

'I noticed James wasn't very happy when he saw me, looks like Al isn't either.'

'Don't worry dad, they just don't want everyone to start asking them things about you. You have got a reputation here you know and James is still trying to break your quidditch record. You aren't going to be spending a lot of time near us though, are you?'

'No, but I will be keeping an eye on everyone, that includes who you're with. So is there anything you want to tell me now before I find out some other way?' Harry gazed down at his daughter and noticed she blushed.

'Fine, but you better not intimidate him, but I have a boyfriend. I have to get to class, see ya,' Lily quickly turned and ran from the hall.

Ron stepped up beside Harry and put a hand on his shoulder, 'Keep it under control Harry, you knew that was a possibility.'

'She's thirteen for merlins sake, but he better keeps his hands to himself or he just might find out what I'm really like.'

'Harry, your children need to have a normal student's life here even if you have to be here, that includes them snogging their girlfriends or boyfriends. You can't play the big bad dark wizard killer with your children's friends.'

Harry scowled, 'I'm not going to, but I will be having a quiet word with this boy when I find out who it is. I'll let you get back to work Minerva and I'll meet you in your office later,' Harry closed his eyes for a minute, then faced his aurors. He had seven head back to the office to keep trying to find out any information they could, then had another seven head home to try and sleep so they will be alert and awake tonight. Once Harry was alone with Ron and the five others, he assigned them their duties, 'Come on Ron, let's go.'

Harry and Ron left the Great Hall and headed for the room of requirement. Harry walked past the wall three times, then they both stepped inside. Harry and Ron pulled their wands and started to cast revealing charms over everything. When they never found anything dangerous, Harry went over to the old passage way that had been sealed right after the Battle of Hogwarts. He placed new charms on it to make sure no one could come through.

'Just the old vanishing cabinet next, let's get it done, then we can check the other old passage ways,' Harry and Ron walked off into the huge room, then stopped in front of the cabinet, 'Go ahead Ron, disable it.'

Ron waved his wand at the old cabinet for a few minutes and they both saw a golden shimmer go all around it.

'So which passage first boss?'

'We'll start with the one behind the one eyed witch, then just kept making our way around the school until we get outside to the whomping willow.' Harry and Ron left the room of requirement and started to seal the other six passage ways inside the castle, then the one that led to the shrieking shake. 'You know, I might check the old map, see that no more have been added over the years.'

'Did you bring it with you?'

'Yeah, dug it out last night, including my cloak, those two items came in handy when we were here, they just might again.'

'They sure did, so where to next?'

'Third floor, Minerva told me most of those old rooms still don't get used. Then we'll check down in the dungeons. You never mentioned what Hermione said about being here.'

'She was fine, just told us to be careful. But she did ask who was going to be checking out the Forbidden Forest.' Ron glanced up at Harry.

'I thought of that and I can't really ask any of you to go in there if I don't. So I'll go with William and Sandra, but I'll get Hagrid to come with us.'

'Will you be right to go in there Harry, you haven't since that night.'

'Won't know until I do it, but it is different now. The year we came back to finish it was just too soon after. That was twenty three years ago, so I should be right.'

'Did you ever tell your kids what happened in there?'

'No, I never wanted to frighten them. Only you, Hermione and Ginny know exactly what happened and that's how I want it.'

'How have you kept your other scars from them then?'

'They never see me without a shirt on. The three of them have asked why I do that and I just say I've got some old scars I don't like to show. After about the third time, I ended up yelling at them and they never ask again.'

'There older now Harry, they could probably handle it.'

'Probably, but I don't want to have to answer all the questions about it. The kids know I don't like to talk about that time, so they'll learn what they need to from here.'

'James probably is already. Didn't Minerva say all that happened that night and leading up to it would be sixth and seventh year lessons.'

'Yeah, so if James is hearing and reading about it, then he'll know and won't have to ask me. Look Ron I know you understand why I'm like this and I don't want to be reminded. It's taken me a long time to put that part of my life behind me.'

'I know mate, but if you're here, you just might get asked, we all might. Neville works here, Seamus, Dean and Cho are going to be here on certain days.'

'Let's just see what happens, now the last passage, then I'll check the map,' Harry waved his wand at the whomping willow and it stopped moving, then he looked at Ron who performed their charm sealing the tunnel. 'While we've got some privacy,' Harry pulled out the very old and worn parchment, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,' he tapped it with his wand and watched as Hogwarts appeared before him, 'Let's take a look, shall we,' Harry and Ron bent over the map, going over it very carefully.

'Look,' Ron pointed at a section on the map, 'heading down to the dungeons.'

'Yeah, alright, well I can't see any more, so let's go seal that one.'

Ron and Harry headed back into the castle and down to the dungeons, they found the other secret tunnel but Harry turned to Ron.

'We should see where this comes out Ron. Why don't you go get Daniel and Cho, they can do it while we stay here?'

'I'll be right back, be careful though,' Ron turned and hurried quickly from the dungeons. Harry put his back to the wall and kept his wand in his hand. Harry never knew it, but someone was watching him, someone that was angry that his tunnel had been discovered and wondered how Potter had found it. He would need to contact his boss, work on a new way to let everyone in when the time was right. He quietly left his secluded spot and headed back to the main part of the school with thought of aurors being here and hoping it wasn't going to delay their plans.