Right. I have not forgotten this story, but I have too many stories being juggled at once. I'm going to have to put one or two of them on Hiatus, so I can concentrate on making the ones I keep working on right. PoE, SoG and one other I will continue, depending on which one you want me to continue. MM&WS, BoB, 101 ways, HP&SP or SoM is going to have to go on Hiatus. Let me know which one you would prefer to keep going right now.

Muggle Magic & Wizard Science

Chapter Three

Decisions

OoOoOoO Harry, Hermione and the Longbottoms, Longbottom Estate. OoOoOoO

Harry appeared at the Apparation point for the Longbottom Estate with Hermione and started toward the house. He stopped after a few steps and looked back. "Are you coming with me?"

Hermione sighed. "I have to," she said without conviction. "I know what we have to do, and how it can be done. I need to be there so I can answer Neville's questions." She continued to stand still though, and Harry came back to face her.

Harry raised her chin so she was looking him in the face. "Big rewards require big risks. In Neville's place, would you take this chance?" Harry waited for Hermione's answer.

"Of course I would, Harry, but I understand the technology behind the cloning and the magic side of it. Neville doesn't understand the cloning, and I doubt he knows much about Dementors."

"Who does?" asked Harry wryly, only to blink as Hermione tried to look away. "Hermione?" he said, making the word a question.

Hermione blushed and tried to pull away, only to find Harry was a bit stronger than he looked and not willing to let go. "Do you remember that hideout we raided, the one where we caught the Lestranges?"

Harry blinked at the odd question but nodded. Hermione sighed. "While we were waiting for the Aurors, I was searching for anything to help us, remember?" She looked away again. "I found a couple of books that had fallen under a dresser."

Harry stiffened. "You never told us about them."

Hermione nodded. "I know, but they were not important to what we were doing and the information in them was very interesting." She looked at Harry and sighed. "They were scribbles, mostly, Voldemort's notes on various things. One of those things was Dementors. I think he studied them more than anyone else ever has, trying to find a way to recreate their effect, without having to have a Dementor around."

Harry shivered as he thought about what Voldemort would have done with that information.

He pushed that away to look at Hermione. "Relax, Hermione. If you say there was nothing in those books that would have helped us, I believe you. You might want to keep your possession and study of those books quiet though. I don't think many people would be happy to know that anything he wrote is still out there."

Hermione nodded. "I know that. If it hadn't been for this project, I wouldn't have told anyone."

Harry frowned at her. "I hope you know you can tell me anything."

Hermione looked at Harry and smiled. "I know that, Harry."

"Are you two going to stand there all night, or are you going to come in for dinner?" They both turned. Neville was standing on the lawn, looking at them. Harry took Hermione's hand. "Come on. You have to come with me. I can't answer half of the questions he's going to have."

They walked up the gentle slope and Neville watched them approach. He frowned thoughtfully. Something was up. Harry had that look to him again.

It wasn't a glare, or anything like that, but after years of watching the Trio getting into trouble, and then joining them in some of that trouble, Neville knew when Harry was doing something he considered a bit dodgy. There was an air of tension around him and he seemed to coil up, as if he'd spring on anything that wasn't right in his mind.

He greeted them casually, certain that they would tell him about it sooner or later. He noted a large lump in Hermione's robes, just where she used to carry her notes on whatever she was working on at the moment and frowned thoughtfully again. Whatever this was, Hermione was going to be behind it. Neville was very happy with Luna, and he was the only person besides Luna that knew he'd once liked Hermione, in a small crush type way.

He'd never acted on those feelings, because it was obvious to anyone with half a brain that Hermione was going to end up with Ron or Harry, or possibly both, depending on the boys. He noted the hold Harry had on her hand and smiled to himself.

He led the way inside, although Harry at least, had no need of a guide. Since the two of them were part of the clique of Wizengamot members that wanted to make a few changes, Harry had been over here to talk strategy a hundred times.

Neville frowned as he thought about that. "Harry. The Fogeys are making another push at the Race bill."

Harry smirked. "Let them. I want them tied up in defeating that bill."

Neville frowned at Harry. "You introduced a bill that would give all races parity with humans, even had a press conference to announce it, and you want it beaten? Would you mind explaining that?"

Harry grinned as they entered the study. He went to the love seat he normally sprawled on while they planned their next move in the Wizengamot. "I know that we don't have the votes to pass that bill. Hell, half of our allies would vote against that one. Did you happen to notice that Arthur Weasley introduced a bill the same day?"

Neville frowned, thinking back. "Something about the Muggle Protection Act, wasn't it? The Bill modifies it somehow, doesn't it?"

Harry nodded. "Basically, it will amend the Act to include the use of spells on Muggles. It would make it a crime to use a spell on a Muggle unless you were an official of the Ministry."

Neville frowned. "I don't understand."

Hermione had been filled in by Harry during their dinner. "Think about it, Neville. How many Wizards and Witches get by in casual contact with Muggles by using spells? This law will make them by more cautious about their interactions. If they want to drive, they'll have to get actual permits. If they have to be in the Muggle world, they'll have to get ID cards instead of just spelling one up."

Neville looked blank for a minute and then his eyes cleared. "Making Wizards learn at least a bit about Muggles."

Harry nodded. "Exactly. And as they learn about them, maybe we can get a few Muggle things in the Wizard world. Cellular phones are far better than owls for quick notes and communication."

Neville nodded. "And by focussing the Fogeys attention on the other bill, you hope to slip this one through with a minimum of hassles."

Hermione looked at Neville. "Harry didn't mention 'Fogeys' when he briefed me on the Wizengamot. Who are they?"

Neville smiled. "Is that what that was? A Wizengamot briefing?"

Harry and Hermione blinked. "What are you talking about?" Harry asked.

Neville went to his desk. "I take it that the two of you have not seen the Daily Prophet today."

He tossed Harry the paper and Harry opened it.

The top half of the front page was a picture of Harry and Hermione in the restaurant. Harry was smiling at Hermione and Hermione was looking at Harry with a smile. Every so often, Harry's hand would reach out and touch Hermione's hand as they both laughed.

The rest of the page was a short blurb in large print.

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger seem very close as they dined at Nostradamus, leading this reporter to wonder how close the pair are. It was learned that they did not leave the restaurant until two in the morning, and according to sources, neither of them was seen until well after noon the next day.

Some people may recall that this reporter told everyone about the feelings they shared during the Tri-Wizard Tournament some years ago, and Miss Granger's fickleness then. One wonders how long she will play with Mr. Potter this time, before dropping him for another. Given the number of times they have appeared at Ministry and social functions together without showing this level of closeness, one might also wonder how the effect was achieved. Of course, one does remember that Miss Granger was capable of making a Polyjuice potion in her second year, and received an O on both her OWLs and NEWTs in Potions.

Perhaps Mr. Potter should watch what he eats.

Harry snarled and threw the paper at the fire. Hermione had been watching his face and was expecting something like that. Her wand came out and she caught the paper with a Summoning charm. Harry didn't even notice as he stood up and began pacing, muttering something under his breath that Hermione didn't need to hear.

Hermione read the article and frowned. "Rita Skeeter." She looked at the article again. "Is she really implying that I used some sort of Love Potion on Harry? Is she stupid, or just ignorant?"

Neville snickered. "Don't ask Harry to answer that. She was smart enough to read your book, but apparently, she missed the bit where Harry can throw off mental compulsions."

"She didn't miss it. It doesn't make for a slanderous story if we're just friends enjoying a dinner together, so she ignored it." Harry's voice was low and very cold. Hermione swung around. She'd heard that voice before, and it always meant Harry was about to do things to people. "I think the time has come to teach our Ms. Skeeter about the foibles of the public."

Hermione frowned. "Harry, we have more important things to think about than the vile rambling of a mental defective."

Harry looked at Hermione and bit his lip. He looked at Neville and nodded. Visibly pushing his anger away he agreed with Hermione. "Neville, would you get Luna, please? I think you'll both be needed for this. It will affect both of you."

Neville nodded and pulled his wand. He sent a whisper spell out the door and a few minutes later, Luna came in. Dressed in the sky blue and pink robes she favoured, she was a sight to see. "You wanted me, love?"

Harry sighed. "Actually, I wanted you here. We have a rather startling thing to tell you, and we thought you might like to hear it."

Hermione sat back down in the chair and Harry paced for a minute longer. "Out with it, Harry. I know you've got something big going on, and I would prefer to know what it is."

Harry looked at Neville with uncharacteristic grimness. "You might not want to be so eager, Neville. It's about your parents."

Luna took Neville's hand as he paled. "What about them? They haven't changed, and I was there just yesterday."

Harry sighed. "I know, but we may be able to change that."

Neville stared at Harry for a second, absorbing what he'd just said. He paled even more, closing his eyes. Harry waited until he opened them again. "Hermione was the one that found this bit, and unlike the MediWizards, she's not limited to Wizard ways or Magic."

Neville blinked and then his face shone with hope. "Muggles have something they can do for them?" he exclaimed.

Harry shook his head. "Not exactly. They will start the process but magic will continue it and end it."

Neville sighed. He looked at Hermione. "Why don't you explain what you mean, and I'll ask questions later." He sat forward, watching Harry.

Harry took a deep breath. "It all started during the awards dinner."

Harry led them though Hermione's thinking and her plan, explaining everything just as she explained it to him. He went slower than Hermione would, falling unconsciously into the lecture mode he had used during the DA sessions and laid it all out for the Longbottoms.

When he was finished, he sat down and watched Neville. Neville was chewing on his lip while he thought about what he'd heard. Luna was looking at the ceiling and Harry wasn't even certain she'd heard what he was saying.

Neville looked at Hermione. "This cloning thing. What can you tell me about it?"

Hermione frowned and handed Neville the magazine she'd found the article in. She had marked the page and began talking as he looked at it. "Cloning is the process of taking a cell, or a group of cells and creating a genetically exact copy of the original body. Normally, if you allow the clone to grow properly, it will become a person in its own right. What I plan to do is stop that development and age it magically, until we have two perfect copies of your parents without any mental personality or thoughts of their own."

Neville looked at the magazine and put it down. "I'll take your word for the Muggle part of this, although it sounds more like magic than anything I learned at Hogwarts. What about the rest of it? Do you really think you can control the Dementor that well?"

"I can't, but we've all seen Harry's Patronus stop multiple Dementors, and he's already done this once, without the controlled scenario advantages we'll have this time."

Neville sat back and thought. "This is a lot to take in. Let me think about it for a couple of days." He looked at Hermione. "I assume you have a set of notes I can keep and look over?"

Hermione nodded, pulling the bulge out of her robes that Neville had seen before. She handed it to him and he set in on his desk. He stood up. "For now, I believe dinner should be ready."

Dinner was quiet as Neville thought about Hermione's plan. It was insane. It was foolhardy and mostly, it was an act of desperation. One chance in five that he would have his parents back soon. One chance in five that he would get them back, but it would be a long time down the road. One chance in five that they would remain the same. One chance in five that they would die. One chance in five that they would be destroyed by the Dementor's Kiss.

One chance in five. That thought kept running through his head. One chance in five. Neville was a pragmatic young man, and that did not, on the surface, sound like the sort of odds he should be betting his parents on.

He said good night to Hermione and Harry distractedly and went back into the study. He took Hermione's notes out and started studying them as closely as he had ever studied anything in school.

Neville was just finishing the notes, and had a couple of pages of notes and questions of his own when the sun came up. He sat back and watched the sky without actually seeing the sunrise.

He would have said no last night but for one thing; Harry trusted Hermione, and Harry thought they could do this. Harry had been doing the impossible since he was a first year, and he was not that scrawny little boy any more.

Luna entered the study and sat in his lap without saying anything. They sat there for a while and then Luna laid her head back on his chest. "Do you remember the Battle of Hogwarts?"

Neville blinked. "Of course. It's not the sort of thing one forgets after all."

Luna snuggled a little closer. "It was so nice to have it all over with, wasn't it? The sense of completion, that it was done."

Neville sighed, remembering what he'd done, and his eyes flickered toward the hidden space where a very private souvenir sat. "Yes, it was."

Luna turned her face up and kissed him gently before getting up and walking toward the door. "Knowing that you have done what needs to be done, no matter how it turns out is a good thing. I haven't caught a Crumple-Horned Snorkack yet, but I know I have done everything I can."

Neville sat and stared at the wall. It would be nice to have something besides this unending limbo his parents were in now. He sat forward and began making a new list. First, he'd have to talk to the MediWizards at St. Mungo's.

OoOoOoO Hermione, Diagon Alley. OoOoOoO

Hermione took a deep breath and stepped into the last store in Diagon Alley she would have ever thought of entering.

"Hello and welcome to Fashions and Fads." Lavender Brown blinked. "Hermione? Is that you?"

"Hello, Lavender." Hermione said, while wondering who else it could be.

Lavender looked at Hermione, and suddenly smiled. "You've got man trouble."

Hermione blinked. "Not exactly, but I do need a few things, and since Harry said you did the robes for the awards dinner, I thought I'd come here."

Lavender smiled. "Come in back, and have a cup of tea, while we discuss what you want." She led Hermione to a small cosy room with four chairs and a table. "Padma, we have a special guest."

A few minutes later, Padma Patil came in, carrying a tray. "Hermione, how are you? Congratulations on your Order of Merlin."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you, Padma. That award is what brings me here."

The three of them sat down and Padma poured tea for them all before replying. "Let me guess," she said thoughtfully, "you want some clothes for your appearances in the Wizengamot."

Hermione nodded. "Yes. Half of the Wizengamot is appearance and image, and as the youngest Witch there, I cannot be less than perfect."

Lavender sighed. "Pity you're not a redhead. There are some new styles that would be perfect, but your colouring would just clash."

With that, Lavender and Padma launched into a conversation about styles, colours and fabrics that made Hermione wonder if they were speaking a foreign tongue. "Excuse me," she said finally, "what are you talking about?"

The other two blushed. "Sorry, Hermione," Lavender said, "we forgot that you're not up on the latest things."

Hermione shrugged. "I'm not the type to worry about it. I was always more about serious learning."

Padma grinned. "And a good thing too. We could not have done half of the things you did for Harry."

Hermione blushed. "I didn't do that much."

Lavender choked on her tea. When she recovered, she stared at Hermione. "What are you talking about? I read your book on what the three of you did, and even between the lines, anyone that knows the three of you knows that it was you that figured out how to destroy a Horcrux without damage to yourself."

Padma held up her hand. "That aside, right now, Hermione needs some decent clothes." She frowned at Hermione. "I will ask you to do one thing for us. Once you start wearing our designs, please don't be seen in public in that stuff you normally wear. Someone might think we made it, and we do have a reputation to maintain."

Hermione frowned at her. "Let's see what this is going to cost before I make any promises. Unlike Harry, I'm not super rich."

Lavender and Padma shook their heads in unison. "Hermione, you're one of the three who stopped You-Know-Who, a holder of an Order of Merlin first class and the youngest Witch in the Wizengamot. The advertising we'll get just by you wearing our designs will offset any cost we have, so we're not planning on charging you much, mostly just the cost of the fabric."

Padma smiled. "So unless you want something exotic, this is going to cost you less than Harry's stuff. He refuses to be seen very often, and won't discuss anything about himself, so we don't get much word of mouth from him." She smiled again. "Although that front page picture of the two of you at the dinner, and then on your date was nice."

Hermione blushed. "It was not a date. Harry was merely briefing me on the Wizengamot." She frowned, remembering what Harry had said later that night. She looked at the two girls. "In fact, according to Harry, I'm not a woman, just Hermione."

Lavender stared at her. "He said that?" She read the answer in Hermione's frown and shook her head. "I knew Ron was blind, but I thought better of Harry." She stood up. "Right. Let's make you a couple of things that will open his eyes, shall we?"

Hermione held up her hand. "Please remember my dignity, will you?"

Padma grinned. "Of course we will. We pride ourselves on making the best clothes for each person."

Lavender smirked. "Except when it comes to your under things. If Harry is seeing them, your dignity should be the last thing on either of your minds."

Hermione sighed as she followed the two down the hall. "What have I gotten myself into?"

OoOoOoO Harry, Auror Headquarters. OoOoOoO

Harry sat in front of Auror Mike Bradley, a Muggleborn Wizard from Ireland. "I need to know if a specific prisoner is still alive in Azkaban."

Auror Bradley looked at him. "Aye? And who would you be wanting to know about?"

"Raul Yonkers," Harry said.

Auror Bradley frowned. "That name rings a bell, but I canna place it." He turned to a book and wrote something in it. He read whatever response he got and raised his eyebrow and the response. "Would you mind telling me what you're needing that devil for?"

Harry sighed. "I cannot, not yet. I just want to know if he's still there and able to communicate."

Auror Bradley nodded slowly. "Aye, he is. The Dementors haven't gone near him in years. Some of the people that have spoken to him think it's because the black hearted scoundrel has no feelings to feed on."

Harry frowned and got up. "That's all I need to know for now. Thank you for your time, Mr. Bradley."

"Mr. Potter, should I be expecting a request to meet the man some time soon?"

Harry paused at the door. "I don't know yet. There is a possibility that something he knows will allow me to help someone, but I would honestly prefer not to learn what he knows." Harry sighed. "But then, there have been a lot of things I would have preferred not to know."

Auror Bradley nodded. "Aye, I know that feeling."

OoOoOoO Neville Longbottom, St. Mungo's Long Term Care Wing. OoOoOoO

Neville was watching his parents as he talked to the Healer in charge of their care. "So, short of a miracle of some sort, or some sort of revolutionary break though, they will not change."

Healer Tanya Robears nodded sadly. "I'm sorry, Mr. Longbottom, but after this long, if they have not changed, they won't, without some new stimulus coming from outside. The physical damage to the nervous system must simply be too great for repair."

Neville frowned. "I thought you couldn't repair the nervous system."

"We can't," she agreed, "but the body is a wonderful thing. There are many reported cases of people that have had severe damage getting most of their functions back." She looked around and lowered her voice. "You didn't hear this from me. Muggles have a way to see the brain, and according to their healers, the brain can make new connections to avoid the damaged areas, if the damage is not too great, and the nervous system can do the same."

Neville blinked as he regarded the Healer. "Why wouldn't I have heard that from you?"

Tanya looked around again. "Because this is St Mungo's," she said in a tone of bitter sarcasm, "and they are simple Muggles. They couldn't possibly have anything better than we have." She looked at Neville. "The hospital is run by a committee, and they are all old money names."

Neville sighed. "I see. I think I may have to do some private research."

Tanya nodded. "If you should happen to do any of it in the Muggle world, the words you should look up are Neurology, pathological conditions and sensory deprivation."

Neville looked at her again. Tanya Robears was a short Witch, with brown hair and the most unusual eyes Neville had ever seen in a human. They were clearly a shade of purple. Not dark blue, or anything like that, but purple. "How do you know so much about Muggles?"

Neville was expecting her to be Muggleborn, or to have a close relative that was, but she surprised him. "I swore an Oath, Mr. Longbottom. I swore to help my patients to the best of my ability, and that does not mean ignoring possibilities because of some Pureblood notion of superiority. I have already started using a few physical therapy routines on the patients."

Neville nodded. "Ms. Robears, if anyone attempts to remove you from my parents' care, I want you to owl me immediately. I may have a few words to say, and a big wand or two in my closet."

Tanya blinked as she looked at Neville. "You've been coming in here every week, at least once a week for the fifteen months I've been here, and you've never looked like this, or asked these questions before," she said thoughtfully. "Has something changed?"

Neville looked at her. He smiled slightly. "Not yet, but there are miracles, and then there are miracles. Thank Merlin I have a couple of miracle workers for friends."

Tanya went about her routines with a thoughtful frown. Something was going to happen soon. She could feel it. She resolved to keep an eye on the Longbottoms. Mr. Longbottom was only worried about his family, but she had an entire ward of people, and if whatever he was planning would help them, she wanted to know about it.

OoOoOoO Harry, Hermione and Ron, The Wizengamot. OoOoOoO

Harry stood in the Wizengamot's room. By long custom, a seated holder of the Order of Merlin first class introduced any new members with the same distinction.

"Wizards and Witches of the Wizengamot, it is my duty to introduce the newest members of the Wizengamot." Harry barely managed to keep a grin off of his face as he watched a few of the Pureblood bigots snarl under their breath. Two new members, and already allied with Potter and his faction was not what they wanted. "It is my duty, but also my pleasure. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were instrumental in helping me rid us of Lord Voldemort, and this is no less than they earned."

Harry turned toward the member's door and waved his hand, listening to the mutters with a glint in his eyes. It had taken him a very long time to be able to do even that little bit of wandless magic, but it was worth it, since not one Wizard in a thousand could do that much. He smiled openly as the doors opened, looking at Ron and.

Harry's brain stopped for a minute. Hermione was wearing clothes, quite appropriate for the Wizengamot, but while they were covering her, they clung and swirled in a way that left no doubt that Hermione was a Witch, not a Wizard. Harry shook it off after a second. He had a ritual to finish.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, come forward."

Ron stepped into the chamber and stopped about three metres in front of Harry. "Mr. Weasley, you have been given a great honour, and a greater responsibility. Are you prepared to shoulder the care of your people?"

Harry knew what Ron was going to do, and he was looking forward to it. "Wizard Potter," Ron said, "I am willing to do so, however prior commitments prevent me from assuming my seat at this time. I beg the indulgence of the Wizengamot, and ask that Harry James Potter hold my vote until such time as I am free to assume the responsibilities of this August body."

Harry nodded. It was rare, but holding another's vote was allowable by the rules. "I will hold your Vote, Mr. Weasley, and hope that your duties will allow you to take it back soon." Harry grinned at the flash of panic in Ron's eyes at that.

OoOoOoO Flashback, the day after the awards dinner. OoOoOoO

Harry had gotten Hermione and Ron together for the required historical pictures of the three Orders of Merlin. After the ordeal was over, Harry had taken them to a local restaurant for lunch. "So Ron, when are you planning on taking your seat? I have to introduce you, so I'd like to know in advance."

Ron had stared at Harry in confusion. "I am sitting down, and who are you introducing me to?"

Hermione had choked on her tea, her eyes dancing with humour and Harry grinned. "Ron, how did I end up in the Wizengamot?"

"You have an Order." Ron's words cut off as his eyes went from the medal on Harry's chest, to Hermione's and finally to the one on his own chest. "Oh bugger."

Harry and Hermione grinned at him. "So, when are you taking your seat?"

Ron sat up. "I can't do that, I have practice and games, and practice and travel." He glared at his smiling friends. "Laugh it up, you two. I happen to want to keep my position and that is a lot of work." He smiled. "We have a shot at the League Cup."

Harry rolled his eyes. The Chudley Cannons had a decent Keeper, true, but their Chasers were only so-so and their Seeker had caught just three Snitches in the last season. They did have good Beaters, though.

That still wouldn't give them a shot at the League Cup, not unless something changed.

Ron was looking at Hermione. "You knew about this, didn't you? That means you've studied the rules. Get me out of this, please, Hermione?" Harry had sudden memories of Ron trying to borrow essays and homework from Hermione during school and he sat back to watch.

Hermione managed to look shocked and disapproving at the same time. "Ronald Weasley, how can you skive off something this important?"

Ron shuddered visibly. "Give up Quidditch to sit around and talk all day? I'd go nutters in a week." He looked at Harry. "Other than Harry and my father, I don't even know who's on the Wizengamot, or what we actually do or anything."

Hermione smiled at him. "That's OK, Ron. I have pages and pages of notes I'll let you borrow."

Ron looked at her with something close to panic in his eyes. "But Hermione," he nearly whined.

They were interrupted then. "Look, it's Keeper Weasley!" Their table was suddenly surrounded by a group of younger kids, most of them wearing robes proclaiming their allegiance to one Quidditch team or another. "Mr. Weasley, can I have your autograph?"

The speaker was a slightly built boy wearing a Chudley Cannons shirt under his robes. Ron smiled at him. "Of course. Who am I making it to?"

Harry and Hermione watched as Ron signed a dozen autographs and talked Quidditch with the kids. They looked at each other. "He'd never be happy in the Wizengamot," Harry murmured.

"I know, but I was going to have such fun teasing him." Hermione watched Harry. "Do you think they'll ever notice us?"

Harry winced. "I hope not," he said.

Ron was talking to the boy with the Cannons shirt on. "So what position do you want to play?"

"I want to be a Seeker. If not that, then a Chaser. I don't have the right body for Beater or Keeper."

Ron nodded and smiled at him. "I just happen to know a man that never failed to catch the Snitch unless something prevented him from finishing the game. Maybe you could get a few tips from him."

The boy smiled. "Really?" He frowned then, thinking hard. "I can't remember anyone with that good a record. Who is it?"

Ron grinned. "Well, he was never able to play professionally, but he was the youngest Seeker for Gryffindor in a century when he played at Hogwarts."

The boy's eyes widened and he turned to the others. "Did you hear? Mr. Weasley might be able to get me a chance to talk to Harry Potter about being a Seeker."

Ron was smirking at Harry's frown. "I think it might be fairly easy. I can almost certainly say that Harry is closer than you think."

The boy stopped looking at Ron and looked at the other adults sitting with him. "Oh, Merlin." His wide-eyed surprise at who Mr. Weasley was sitting with was enough to make Harry smile. "I'm sorry, but I didn't even see you and."

Harry held his hand up, cutting the frantic flow of words off. "It's not important. Not like Quidditch is. Tell me, how are your reflexes?"

Harry drew the boy out, using the skills he'd learned teaching people in the DA. He talked about the skills you needed to be a good Seeker and what was more important. "Mind set. That is the single most important thing. When you go out there, you have to be positive that you are going to get the Snitch, if you do your job right."

Hermione sat back and watched Harry. It was a pity he wasn't teaching flying. He had a knack for it, and a good rapport with kids of all ages. She was musing on that when a tug on her sleeve made her look around. A young boy, maybe nine or so stood there. "Miss Granger, may I have your autograph?"

Hermione blinked. She'd gotten some fan mail after the Battle of Hogwarts, (and some offers she never told anyone about, that appalled her.) but this was her first autograph. She wrote her name out for the boy, finding out that his name was Hamlet Dane. She looked at him. He shrugged. "My parents are rabid collectors of his work." He rolled his eyes. "At least I got off better than my brother and sister. His name is Oberon and hers is Titania."

Hermione smiled. "King and Queen of the Fairies. I can see where those might not be the best names in the Wizard world"

The boy looked at her seriously. "I'm going to Hogwarts next year. Is Hogwarts really that dangerous? I read your book."

Hermione sighed. "It's only that bad if you have a Dark Lord trying to kill you every year. Do you?"

The boy grinned. "No, although sometime I wonder about my brother."

Hermione grinned back. "I never had that problem. I'm an only child." She sobered. "The only reoccurring problem you may run into is the Gryffindor Slytherin rivalry."

Hamlet shook his head. "I'll be in Ravenclaw," he predicted. Hermione raised her eyebrow. "I'm not very brave, my loyalty is reserved for people who earn it and I have very small ambitions, mostly to have a whole year away from Oberon." He smiled shyly. "I have gotten three special recognitions for Scholastics, though."

Hermione smiled. "That's very good," she praised. "But be aware that the Sorting may not go as you think. The Ceremony may find something in you that you didn't even know you had."

He shrugged, smiling impishly. "I doubt the Sorting Hat will find anything I didn't know about already."

Hermione grinned. "No, not if you're smart enough to find out how you get sorted already."

Harry was in a bind on the other side of the table. The young Quidditch fans had teamed up with Ron and gotten a promise out of Harry to spend a Saturday with the Cannons, showing the boy what a Seeker did.

The children finally left and Harry glared at Ron. "You're going to pay for that."

Ron smiled. "I don't think so. I haven't said anything, because I know how you feel about publicity, but the management has been after me to invite you to the Charity Team Meet this year." Ron smirked. "And since it just happens to be on a Saturday."

Harry glared harder. Ron sobered. "It's for a good cause this year, Harry. The proceeds are going to help the victims of the Voldemort War."

Harry sighed, defeated. Too many of the people who had been attacked were still without parents or able to make a living, and more were homeless, after the scorched earth policy Voldemort had used at the end, burning down entire Wizard communities. "I'll be there." He glared at Ron. "But you're still going to pay for this."

OoOoOoO End Flashback, Harry, Hermione and Ron, The Wizengamot. OoOoOoO

Harry watched Ron take the seat that was his now and turned back to the door. "Hermione Jane Granger, come forward."

"Miss Granger, you have been given a great honour, and a greater responsibility. Are you prepared to shoulder the care of your people?"

"I am." Hermione looked calm, but there was a whole butterfly convention going on in her stomach.

It only got worse when an older Wizard stood up. "I protest this member."

The Wizengamot buzzed with low conversations. Protesting a member meant that you thought they were unfit to sit in the Wizengamot. If it was proven, that person was barred from ever sitting in the Wizengamot.

Harry turned cold eyes on the Wizard that had spoken. "By what token will you prove her unfit to sit among us?" If looks could kill, Harry's gaze would have skewered the Wizard.

"She is too young, being a Muggleborn, to know the customs and laws of this exalted body. Without that knowledge, she is easily led by those who have evil intentions." The Wizard sat down.

Harry stared at him for a minute. "We shall test the member, as the law requires. I must recluse myself from this test, as I am a biassed judge." He frowned, searching his memory. "I believe that in this case, Ron Weasley would be the next judge."

Ron blinked and shook his head quickly. "I am as biassed as Harry. I pass on this."

Harry was expecting that and smiled. "As there are no other living holders of the Order of Merlin first class, there is only one option left. The challenger and the member challenged will both be asked questions out of the current by-laws handbook. The first one to fail to answer their question within a reasonable amount of time will be the loser of this challenge."

Hermione walked to her seat. "I am ready to answer the challenge." She looked at the challenger. "In fact, I believe I can end this right now. Since the by-laws do not disallow me asking my challenger a question, I wish to ask the first question."

The Wizengamot buzzed as dozens of Wizards and Witches checked Hermione's statement. Wizard Markus Inkee stood up. "As the oldest holder of an Order of Merlin second class, I will judge this contest. I find Miss Granger is correct. She may ask the first question."

The Wizengamot buzzed again. The old Wizard stood. "My esteemed colleague is correct, and I should know. I wrote the book we are using. Miss Granger, your question."

Hermione nodded. "Since you wrote the book, you know what chapter seven, paragraph two, by-law thirteen-sixty four is. I challenge you to answer it."

The old Wizard frowned for a second, thinking. "Ah. Every member must be aware of the other members of the Wizengamot. To facilitate this, every member must know the names and parents of every other member."

Hermione smiled. "Correct. I wish to hear you state them all."

The Wizard frowned. "That will take some time. Must you ask such a long question?"

Hermione smirked. "Allow me to make it shorter. Sir, name my lineage. I am a member of this body, unless I fail this challenge, which means you have to know my lineage as well as anyone else's."

The Wizard blinked. "But you have no lineage, you're a Muggleborn."

"Sir, that is of no importance here. I have parents, and by your own laws, you must know their names." Hermione waited.

The Wizard sighed. "I cannot name them. I cannot answer this question."

Harry stood up, smirking. He knew Hermione's study habits as well as anyone. "Miss Granger, I must wonder if you can answer that question."

Hermione cocked her head. "Would you like the list in Lineage age, alphabetical order, time in the Wizengamot, age of the person, or number of Wizengamot votes cast?"

Markus Inkee blinked. "I think we will stipulate that Miss Granger can answer the question, if Mr. Potter will allow it. As was previously stated, the list is quite long, no matter what order you put it in."

Harry sat down. "I am satisfied."

"Then let us get down to business. Mr Grunion, would you take your place?"

Harry grinned as the familiar procedures started. He'd listened to Hermione fussing over the rules of the Wizengamot ever since she found out she was going to have a seat, and he'd known that she knew all of the members, and as much about them as she could find in public records.

He looked at her again and was struck by her again. Hermione didn't have the classic beauty of a Cho Chang, or the arresting beauty of a model, but there was a quiet strength and character that blossomed into beauty, when she smiled at you.

Harry shook his head. What was he doing, thinking about what Hermione looked like? Was he going nutters or what? He pushed her out of his head and concentrated on the meeting. It worked, mostly.

OoOoOoO The Cannon's Charity Day. OoOoOoO

Harry soared above the crowd, smiling broadly. He rarely got the chance to fly for fun these days, and he was making the most of it. He soared to three hundred metres and let the broom drop.

He fell, spinning and watching the earth rush closer. A scant one hundred metres from the ground, when the crowd was beginning to make itself heard over the rush of air, Harry pointed his broom back into the air and started flying again.

For one split second, he thought he'd waited too long. The broom was trying to go up, but gravity had a grip on it, and Harry was barely two metres off the ground when the Firebolt broke gravity's hold and started back up into the air.

He took a deep breath as he got some air under him. He'd wait a bit before trying that stunt again. Like possibly forever.

A whistle broke his concentration and he came back down. As he got closer, he heard the Cannon's announcer speaking. "Ladies and Gentlemen, today we are graced by three of the best Seekers to play the game! From the Bulgarian National team, Victor Krum!"

The crowd roared their approval as Victor flew out, speeding around the edge of the stands, letting everyone get a good look at him. He waved at them, smiling and obviously enjoying himself.

"From the Holyfield Harpies, Alexandria Star!" Another roar, as the best female Seeker in fifty years broke from the ground, arrowing straight up and spinning like a dervish until she was level with Victor Krum. She paused, holding her Broomstick perfectly still and posed like that for the fans.

"And our special guest, who has never played professionally, but has never failed to catch a Snitch, if he finished the game, Representing all the victims of the Voldemort war, Harry Potter!"

Harry was still above the other two, and he fell again, watching and braking hard so he stopped even with the other two. He nodded to Victor and glanced at Miss Star. She was a dark-haired woman with brown eyes and a challenging glint to her eye.

"I am informed that we have another Seeker as well. Charlie Weasley led the Gryffindor Lions to a seven year winning streak, and he is here to watch over the dragons in the viewing area. Let's see if we can get him out here."

OoOoOoO Neville and Luna, The Longbottom Estate. OoOoOoO

"I'm going to let Hermione and Harry try, love."

Neville was sitting and brooding, staring at the fire. Luna sat on his lap and kissed him. "You shouldn't brood. You just aren't as good at it as Harry is. Leave the brooding to the professionals." She nibbled on his neck. "I, on the other hand, am having an urge."

Neville blinked, his attention captured by that statement. "Oh?"

Luna nodded. "I want to swim in the pool and make love on the edge."

Neville smiled. Luna loved the small stream and the deep pool in it at the back of the Estate. "I think we should follow your urge."

Luna stood up. "I'll go and get the towels." She stopped in the doorway and looked back. "Neville, please bring some Gillyweed. I may not wait until we're done swimming."

Neville blinked as he stared at the door his wife had just gone though. Just when he thought he'd heard everything, she came up with something new. He hurried out to the greenhouse.

OoOoOoO The Charity Seeker Match. OoOoOoO

It took a few minutes, but Charlie was soon flying with the rest of them. "Hey Charlie!" Harry called. "How have you been?"

"Decent, but I'm going to kill Ron for this. He had to have ratted me out."

Before Harry could reply, the announcer was back. "Folks, I have a surprising announcement. Fred and George Weasley, of Weasley Wizard Wheezes, have offered to bet anyone one thousand Galleons that Harry Potter can catch the snitch before the other three Seekers. They'll put that one thousand Galleons toward the charity of the winner's choice."

Harry groaned, even as he looked at the other three. Bad odds here. Charlie was as out of practice as Harry was, but the other two were professionals, in training and fit as they could be. He looked at Charlie, to find Charlie looking back. "I'm going to kill all three of them."

Harry froze at the next announcement. "The Weasley's have stated that if they win, the money will go to the Ginny Weasley Memorial Scholarship Fund at Hogwarts."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a taker on Miss Star. Mr. Botts, of Flourish and Botts has bet one thousand Galleons on her."

"And we have a better on Mr. Krum. Mrs. Davenport is betting on Victor Krum."

"We have a better on Mr. Weasley. The owner of the Chudley Cannons has put his money on Mr. Weasley. Would the competitors please land?"

Harry was not listening to the announcer any more. He followed the others down. Hermione was sitting next to Ron and the Quidditch kids that had talked Harry into this. She was watching Harry with Omninoculars and she swore under her breath. "Ron, look at Harry," she said urgently, passing the Omninoculars to him. He focussed on Harry.

Harry was blank faced, going somewhere deep inside himself. Hermione and Ron had seen this face many times during the war. Harry was gearing up to do whatever it took to accomplish his goal.

Ron looked at Hermione and both of them turned to watch Harry, concern pulsing with their heartbeats.

Harry heard the call to go as if from a great distance and lifted off, pushing his broomstick for speed, trying to get above his opponents. He started scanning for the Snitch. Fred and George had known exactly what button to push on Harry. He had started the Ginny Weasley fund, and it was his personal project, even drawing him out into public when needed.

A thousand Galleons would be a great boost to the fund, and Harry was going to get that money.

A glint of gold sent him arcing over, until he realized it was merely a cap some spectator was wearing. He paused, checking on the opposition. Victor was cruising on a level with Harry, but going in the opposite direction.

Miss Star was slightly lower than the two of them, making figure eights that gave her a constantly changing view of the Pitch. Charlie was between the three of them, making tight circles in the middle of the Pitch.

Victor suddenly dove, and the other three followed, searching the area ahead of them for the snitch. As they got lower, Harry suddenly remembered the only game he'd ever seen Victor play in. He eased off, falling back slightly and was rewarded as Victor snapped up, narrowly missing the stands as he climbed again.

Miss Star was right on his tail, and her robes brushed the stands as she followed him.

Charlie's broom wasn't on the same level with the other three, and he was far enough back when Victor came out of the Wronski Feint to break off.

Harry, having slowed down, was the highest now, and he searched the sky frantically. This was his best shot.

The Snitch didn't make an appearance though, and they went back to their patterns. Harry blinked as he recognized something. The two professionals were constantly moving, trying to make unpredictable jumps in their flight. Harry realized they were thinking about Bludgers. They had always played with a full team, and practised against a full team.

Harry suddenly stopped, holding his Broomstick still. Without his movement complicating things, it was far easier to search for the Snitch. He scanned the Pitch, one section at a time, and was rewarded with a glimpse of the Snitch. It was too far away for him to break after, but he could provide the others something to think about.

Harry turned his Broom toward the northern goals and took off. The stunt he was about to pull had been foolhardy the first time he did it, but he'd had three Death Eaters on his tail, and it had worked.

"Potter is off, closely followed by Weasley, Star and Krum, who had been the furthest away. He's headed for the goals, but I haven't seen the Snitch yet, unless it's playing hide and seek in the goals."

"The other three are catching up slowly and neck and neck with each other. Potter isn't slowing down at all. He's heading for the goals, aiming at the middle one, with the others just a few metres behind him."

Harry steeled himself, pushing physical feeling away from his mind as he shot through the centre goal, slowing as hard as he could. The others were just even with him when he reached out and grabbed the goal.

His arm wrenched hard and Harry vaguely felt something in his shoulder give way, but the way was clear now, as he was facing the way he'd come and the others overshot the goals and started turning in more conventional ways. Harry kicked his Firebolt back up and was a quarter of the way across the Pitch, the Snitch the only thing he saw as the others followed.

Ron and Hermione had figured out what Harry was going to do, having helped him to the Infirmary the last time he did it, and they watched as Harry hit the goals and turned, sharper than anyone could, under normal circumstances. Ron was up and running for the Cannon's Healer with Hermione just behind him.

Harry had the Snitch in sight, but it was playing hard to get, as it took off, shooting straight up. Harry followed it, unaware of the others cutting a sharper angle and closing the distance.

Suddenly, the Snitch reversed its course, shooting by Harry, and Harry reached out, grabbing it with the hand he hadn't used to turn on the goal.

He caught it, but before he could hold it up, he was falling. In his determination to win, Harry had forgotten the pain in his other arm. Without his good arm, the dislocated shoulder simply couldn't hold on to the Broomstick at these speeds, and Harry fell, tumbling though the sky.

OoOoOoO Victor Krum. OoOoOoO

Victor had realized what Harry had done as soon as Harry did it. His admiration for the man rose. Harry had been an unwilling but truly worthy challenger in the Tri-Wizard's tournament, and that had not changed. He tore after Harry as fast as he could and was gloating when he started up. By cutting the angle, Victor was gaining ground, until the Snitch went backward.

He saw Harry catch it and slowed, sighing. It took him a second to realize that Harry wasn't on his Broomstick any more, and he swore violently as he dove. He was far too high to have a good chance to stop him before they both hit the ground, but he'd be damned if he'd let that man fall without trying.

OoOoOoO Charlie Weasley. OoOoOoO

Charlie had been as taken in by Harry's turn as the other two, and he was far behind them as they shot after Harry. He knew his Broomstick wasn't a match for the other Broomsticks out here, but it was for charity, and he'd give it a go. He saw Harry catch the Snitch and start to fall.

Charlie watched in panic as Harry fell. His Broomstick would never get him there in time. Charlie still started that way. He had a goodly knowledge of Healing spells, as all Dragon handlers did and they would be needed.

The Weasleys owed that man at least four Life Debts, and Charlie was not going to let him die without a fight.

OoOoOoO Alexandria Star. OoOoOoO

"He's crazy." That had been her thought when she figured out how he'd made that sudden turn, even as she turned and shot after him. She saw the Snitch and realized that he'd done it deliberately, to draw the rest of them out of position. She shook her head as she angled up to follow him. "It's a good thing I don't have to face him in a Match."

She saw him catch the Snitch, and shook her head again. She frowned and gasped as she realized his Firebolt was still going up, but Harry wasn't on it. She pulled her wand and dove, knowing she couldn't get there, but she could get close enough to cast a cushioning spell on the ground.

She hoped.

OoOoOoO Ron and Hermione. OoOoOoO

They had the Healer and were returning as Harry caught the Snitch. The roar of the crowd drowned out Hermione's scream as he started to fall. Ron swore and started running onto the Pitch. Hermione stopped, pulled her wand, looked at the Pitch and Apparated.

OoOoOoO The Crowd. OoOoOoO

"Whoa! A sharp turn by Mr. Potter has him going the other way and he's picking up speed even as the other three try to turn. I'm not sure how he did that, but I've never seen a sharper turn! There! The Snitch is directly ahead of him, and Mr. Potter has a clear shot at it, with the others at least forty metres behind him. The Snitch is going up, and Potter is right behind it, but Krum is cutting air from him and catching up quickly! This is turning into quite the race!"

"The Snitch has reversed itself and Harry Potter catches." The announcer broke off. His next statement was a mere whisper, audible only because of his Sonorus charm

"Oh Merlin, he's falling!"

OoOoOoO The Author, Here and Now. OoOoOoO

Hehehe. I'm very sorry to leave it like this... What am I saying? This is the perfect place to leave off. Ah, the joys of finding a good cliffie. I love it. Neville will say yes, and next chapter, we'll find out how long Harry is going to be in the hospital, if he is, and Hermione is going to figure something very important out.