A/N: This is just about my largest chapter to date at just over 9,600 words. Enjoy!
Chapter 7 – Professor Potter
1 September 1998
The older students filled the Great Hall in a noisy fashion whilst waiting for the new First years to arrive with Professor McGonagall. It lacked the pure chaos a similar scene would have held with the Weasley twins in attendance, but the Weasley-free Hall was loud enough.
Harry sat talking to Professor Flitwick about the coming year. The two professors had already planned to coordinate some of their spell lessons so the two classes reinforced the skills learnt in the other class. Tom was discussing the Quidditch schedule with Madam Hooch. Snape sat splitting his time scowling at the two men and sneering at the students not in Slytherin. Around the table, the other professors either sat quietly or talking to their neighbors.
The large doors of the Great Hall swung open to admit Professor McGonagall followed by the First year students. It was a rather large group of fifty-two students. That meant each House would be getting thirteen students on average. That was a huge increase when Harry thought about the eight students Gryffindor got his first year.
The Sorting Hat sat on his traditional stool waiting for the new students. His song was rather similar to what Harry heard his first year. At least until it got to the end.
Now that you know the Houses four,
We closed last year with a warning to all,
Now I add to Destiny's call.
The Houses united must remain,
As poles reverse friend becomes enemy,
And enemy friend.
Open your own mind to choose what's best.
The students muttered uneasily at the Hat's odd ending. It was relatively mild after some of the Hat's warnings in Harry's student years, but surprising to these students.
Minerva moved to her spot next to the Hat and called the first student, "Adamms, Robert."
A rather tall young man moved over to the Hat and became the first new Ravenclaw of the year. The House clapped politely as he moved away and 'Buckknee, Cynthia' moved to replace him on the stool.
Harry idly watched the Sorting. Since he was not a Head of House, he had no serious interest in where the majority of the students went. At least until Minerva called out, "Potter-Evans, Michele". Tom and Harry exchanged a quick glance.
Michele smiled as she almost skipped over to the Hat. Her Veela-aura wouldn't develop until puberty set in but her enthusiasm brought a smile to more than a few of the older students. She paused to wave at Jimmy, Sally, and their friends, which brought a chuckle from the watching students.
The Hat settled over her eyes. After a moment, the Hat muttered, "Not another one." The staff and the nearby students that overheard started whispering about what it could mean. The Hat's comment quickly made its way around the Hall.
Two minutes passed without a Sorting. Harry noticed Filius had an old-fashioned watch in his hand and he was getting excited. The students muttering grew louder after Michele had been sitting for five minutes. Harry saw her shrug her shoulders. It seemed she and the Hat were arguing about her placement.
Suddenly the Hat yelled out, "Hufflepuff!"
Michele jumped off the stool and placed the Hat back down. She paused to pat it like a puppy before skipping off to the shocked Hufflepuff table. With most of the Potter clan in either Gryffindor or Slytherin, no one expected the new Headmaster and former Head of Slytherin House's granddaughter to be Sorted into the 'Puffs. Only the Headmaster and the new Defense professor were grinning.
"Andrea wins the pool," Tom commented to Harry.
"I was sure she was headed for Ravenclaw," Harry said with a fake frown. "After all the questions she asked me when she helped me last week, I was sure of it."
Pomona Sprout frowned at her new collogue, "Is there something wrong with my House, Professor Potter?"
"Of course not," Harry smiled. "But I think Michele could have been in any of the four Houses. I would love to know what she and the Hat talked about."
Professor Sprout seemed a bit mollified. "Hufflepuff does not just get the leftovers."
"Keep an eye on her for your Quidditch team too," Harry added. "Her cousin Thomas told me last week she is a better flyer already than he was his first year."
"Really," Sprout commented whilst looking across the Hall at her newest student with a predatory expression.
"So, the Potter nepotism continues," Snape sneered. The other professors ignored him although Sinistra rolled her eyes at the comment.
'If Bella could change so much in this timeline, why was Snape still such a git?' Harry wondered to himself.
The remainder of the Sorting went smoothly with no surprises. Tom stood to give his first welcoming speech as the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Harry half listened as he watched the students. Ginny was the new Headgirl and a Ravenclaw boy Harry didn't know was the Headboy. It was odd to be sitting here looking out at students Harry remembered from his own days as a student. In some ways things felt weirder now than when he taught in the 1930's.
Jimmy and Ginny were holding hands and making eyes at each other. Jimmy had given her a promise ring on the train to Hogwarts. Arthur knew it was coming because Ron let it slip. He was happy for his daughter but told Harry he planned on giving Jimmy a hard time when he asked for permission to propose. Harry was just glad he didn't 'feel a monster in his chest' as he watched them
Tom dismissed the students to their dorms as the meal ended. The normal chaos around the main doors ensued as most of the staff left via a private side entrance. Harry sat on the edge of the staff table as he watched the students filtering out of the Hall. Michele waved as she left with the new friends in Hufflepuff. Ginny was busy with the Prefects while Jimmy walked out with his friends.
"Hi, Professor Potter. I see the finkershins managed to capture you."
Harry smiled as Luna walked up to him. Her wand was tucked behind her ear and she had a fresh radish necklace around her neck. Her earrings looked like tiny strawberries. "Hello Ms. Lovegood. And how was your train ride?"
"Fine, my trunk seems to have gone on holiday though. I hope it comes back in time for classes."
"Is that still going on? I thought with Cho and the older girls gone that would stop."
"They passed their tinklywarts infections on to the younger years."
A scowl crossed Harry's face. "Dobby," he called out.
A small pop and a voice asked, "Master Harry calls Dobby?"
"Hi Dobby. Who is the head-elf at Hogwarts now?"
Dobby rubbed his hands together, "Scour is Head-Elf."
"Can you have Scour join us here?"
Dobby nodded and popped away. An instant later Dobby returned with a fussy looking elf in tow.
"Professor asks for Scour?" The house-elf had an unusual air of authority and seemed rather solemn for an elf, but his eyes lit with excitement at seeing Harry.
"Thank you, Scour. Can you please have the elves collect Ms Lovegood trunk from wherever it has been hidden and return it to her room. Also please keep an eye out if any of her stuff it taken; please have it returned to her."
"Yes, Professor Potter," the elf agreed, but Harry could see some of its excitement wane. "Was there something else, Scour?"
Scour dropped his head and shuffled his feet. "Scour was young elf when Professor had elves clean Chamber. Was hoping we was to do it again. It not been cleaned in many years."
Harry had to smile at that. "I'll tell you what. Do what I told you and you can clean the Chamber tomorrow. And invite Dobby if he wants."
The two elves looked ready to explode. "Thank you, Master Harry!" competed with "Professor Potter is the bestest!" Then the two elves popped away.
Luna smiled dreamily, "That should surprise my House mates. Thank you Harry, but you didn't need to do that."
"You are my friend, Luna. The only one that remembers what we went through. I'd do anything to help you."
"I know Harry. You should have been a Puff with your great-granddaughter." Luna sighed. "I just hope I can do NEWTS this time. It's my third time through and I haven't gotten to take them yet." Luna's face suddenly lit up in a smile. "Professor Flitwick is giving his speech now. Time for me to make my entrance! Bye, Harry!"
Harry sat stunned for a minute as his brain tried to work through what Luna said. Third time through? What in Merlin's name did that mean? Before he could form a coherent question, Luna had already made her escape.
"Ms. Lovegood makes my brain hurt too." Harry looked over to see the Sorting Hat still sitting on its stool. "Sorting her was the oddest experience of my thousand years at Hogwarts. Even odder than young Ms. Potter-Evans."
"Give you a rough time, did she?"
"They all do, but Ms. Lovegood was on a whole other plane." The Hat snorted, "Our new Headmaster seems to have forgotten about me. Get an old Hat a ride back?"
Harry picked up the Hat and dropped it on his own head as he walked out of the Great Hall. He could feel the Hat rooting around through his Occlumency shields. Harry mental smacked its' 'hands'.
"Sorry, old habits you know," the Hat muttered. "The Potter clan is always so much fun to sort. None of you fit perfectly into any one House. Did you know that your grandsons often switched places? I wanted to put them both in the same House but they thought it would be more fun to compete with one another."
Harry snorted. That fit Thomas and Albus.
The odd pairing walked through the school heading to the Headmaster's office. They were having an enjoyable conversation about the various pranksters Hogwarts had seen over the years when Harry heard a commotion coming from up ahead.
Harry rounded a corner to find six Second year Ravenclaws trapped in a corned by a small poltergeist throwing dishes at them. Tom told him that the spirit of Tweaky the House-Elf still did not remember anything of its former life.
"PEEVES, YOU WILL STOP THIS AT ONCE!"
The poltergeist turned with a grin and prepared to throw a plate in Harry direction. But then it paused as an odd look crossed its face. "Yes, your Countship!" It dropped the plate and zoomed through a nearby wall.
The Ravenclaws were looking at Harry with stunned expressions. They had never heard of anyone but the Bloody Baron command Peeves successfully before.
"Get back to your common room," Harry told them. "That is enough excitement for the night." As the students moved away, Harry overheard enough to know this story would be all over the school by breakfast. Just what he needed, more attention.
--BD--
2 September 1998
Harry's first class was the Third year Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students. The Ravenclaw girls claimed the chairs in the front center of the classroom led by a certain redhead. Harry kept his face solemn as his sister smiled widely at him. Her eyes had the same mischievous sparkle in them their father got when he planned a prank.
Harry stood up and walked around to the front of his desk. He sat down against the edge and smiled at the class. "Good morning, I am Professor Potter. This year your Defense class will be split into two parts, dueling and dark creatures.
"For the dueling potion we will be learning a variety of hexes, curses and their counters. Shield Charms will also be worked on but primarily in your Charms class with Professor Flitwick. We will then combine them and hold a dueling tournament at the end of the year. The top four students from this class will then face the top four from my Slytherin and Hufflepuff class." That led to an excited stir amongst the students.
"For the Dark Creatures portion we will talk about the different creatures, their powers and why they are considered dark. I have secured a visit from a werewolf and am working on a vampire. Some of the creatures we will cover include Dementors, nundu, basilisks, harpies, banshees, and acromantulas. As a class we will develop criteria for judging a creatures 'Dark-factor' and attempt to sort the creatures we discuss by those criteria." Now the stirring was a bit uneasy.
Harry smiled briefly, "Before I go into details, does anyone have any questions so far?"
A Gryffindor raised his hand. "Yes, Mr. …?"
"Stonehouse, sir. Are you really Sally's older brother?"
Harry expected this would be the first question and so was prepared for it. "Yes, I am one of those Potters. Also, Ms. Potter-Evans who was just sorted into Hufflepuff is a cousin."
A Ravenclaw started, "Professor, how,"
"How can I be fair and impartial to members of my own family?" Harry interrupted. He smiled to show he wasn't offended.
"Yes, professor."
"Actually, I think my brother, Jimmy Potter is more concerned about it going the other way." Some of the class laughed at this. "However, that is a fair concern. So I will make you this offer. If you think my grading is biased, I am willing to allow the Heads of House to review it. Their collective average will then be your grade. Fair enough?"
The students nodded or murmured their agreement.
"Besides, I can use anyone with the last name of Potter as a practice dummy and not have to worry about having parents sending me a Howler," Harry quipped. Sally gave him a mock scowl as the rest of the class laughed.
"Good, now that that is out of the way, open you texts to page 30…"
--BD--
5 September 1998
The broom dived out of the sky from a height of six hundred feet. The form on the broom was a blur as it sped down. At the last second it pulled up, spun around and accelerated against its momentum. The broom's bristles were a bare foot away from the wall of the house when the broom came to a stop.
"You're insane," an observer said from the porch of the house. "And I thought James was insane. At least I know where you get it."
Harry grinned, "I have been stuck in a castle with a couple of hundred hormonally charged teenagers. They are good kids mostly but Sally and Michele are having way too much fun tracking how many crushes students have on me. The girls are bad enough, but the three male crushes send them into hysterics."
Jonas laughed at his grandfather's comment. "Michele sent me an owl and might have mentioned that."
"Your daughter has already secured her place as the princess of Hufflepuff," Harry commented as he walked onto the porch. "She pulled all the First year Puffs into study sessions and helped a couple students get through bouts of homesickness. Sprout is beaming about how they all came together and credits Michele."
A proud smile crossed Jonas's face. He changed the subject. "Thank you for letting me stay here, Harry."
Harry waved the thanks away. "I'm not here all week. Besides, Potter Manor can get crazy with all the traffic."
The two wizards walked into the house. Once the door was closed, Jonas asked, "Why fly down? You could have used the cabinet to go straight to the 'office'." The Weasley twins started referring to Harry's house under the Fidelius as the office and the name had stuck.
"I wanted to fly anyway," Harry explained. "Besides, this isn't a secret destination. If I came that way I'd have to leave the same way or someone might get suspicious."
Jonas shrugged. "Well, your four apprentices are waiting for you with James, Remus and Sirius. They want to show you their animagus progress."
"I'm looking forward to that," Harry commented. The two wizards walked into Harry's room and into the Vanishing Cabinet.
"Harry, you're here!" Fred called out as they stepped out of the Cabinet. "Oi, George! Come see who just came out of the closet!" Four Stinging Hexes hit was Weasley twin; three from the Marauders and one from Harry.
"Hey! That's not fair!" the hexed redhead protested.
George popped his head into the room. "Does this mean we can start a prank war?"
Before the Marauders or their pranking descendants could say anything, Harry yells, "NO! I need this house standing!" The prankster-wizards all looked at one another silently before Sirius started to chuckle. Soon everyone was laughing and the impending prank war was averted.
"I don't have much time now," Harry said as they settled down. "Show me your progress."
"Let's go into the training room," Thomas suggested. They followed him into the magically expanded room that had once been a young Michael Potter's bedroom.
"Al, why don't you go first," James Potter suggested.
"Okay, Uncle James." The young wizard walked into the middle of the room. He paused for a second as a look of intense concentration crossed his face. A sudden pop of displaced air and a large horse was standing where Albus Potter had been standing a moment ago.
Harry looked on in surprise. "You've managed your transformation already?!"
"We still need to work on the speed of the transformations," Thomas answered. "It takes too much time and effort still."
Harry walked around his transformed grandson. Harry's head only came to the large stallion's shoulder. The horse was pure white but had the bright green Potter eyes. Harry could see powerful muscles that looked ready to run.
Finishing walking around Al the Horse, Harry looked at the small group of grinning wizards. "So, how many 'hung like a horse' comments has he made so far?"
That brought a chuckle as James commented, "Too many. He's as bad as Padfoot."
"Hey! I am not!"
"Really? Who suggested we throw him a 'bridle' party for him after he finished his transformation the first time?"
"At least we are sure who will be holding the reins in his marriage when he gets hitched," Sirius commented in a thoughtful tone.
Al opened his mouth to respond when Harry interrupted, "One more bad pun and you'll be a gelding." Al looked momentarily shocked as he crossed his legs to the delight of the other wizards.
"Okay, Thomas. Let's see yours," Harry said. "Stop it!" he yelled as the other Potter twin started to loosen his trousers. Thomas looked up with a grin "Show me your animagus form," he said with a sigh in his voice.
Thomas moved to the spot his brother had just vacated with a grin on his face. The grin dropped away as a look of concentration crossed his face. When his human form disappeared, Harry's jaw dropped in shock.
"I didn't think you could have a magical form."
"Theoretically, you're not supposed to have more than one form either, Count," Remus replied pointedly. "But technically, a three-head dog is not a magical animal. The breed may have been magically created but have no magical skills or powers. Myths and popular stories have them as magical because the ancient Greek wizard Hades used his dog, named Cerberus, as a guard on his house. That dog was so famous that most now refer to the entire breed as Cerberuses. The breed is not as large as popularly believed but they do respond well to Engorgio charms and similar potions which may be where the belief came from."
"Thank you, Hermione," Harry commented absently. Remus flushed as the other two Marauders laughed at him.
Thomas the three-headed dog was a bit larger than Sirus's grim-like form but smaller than Harry's wolf. It was all black but again had six bright green eyes. The three dog heads were giving him matching dog grins with tongues hanging out.
'I wonder if Albus had magically enlarged Fluffy during my First year,' Harry wondered. 'It may explain how they got him into that room and back out of the school again.'
"Neither of you are very subtle?" Harry commented aloud. The left of Thomas's three heads started barking at him as the other two started to howl. After a moment of this, Harry said, "Great, you can be your own chorus."
Thomas returned to human form and asked, "Can I have a Scooby snack?"
"What about you two clowns?" Harry asked the Weasley twins.
"We'll do it together-" Fred started
"since we share the same form." George finished.
"What form is that?"
"Pongo abelii"
"What?"
Fred and George walked out onto the training mat and turned to face Harry. With identical grins that changed into their animal form.
"Bloody hell," Harry choked back a laugh. "A pair of orangutans?"
The reddish-orange pair of apes clasped their hands high above their heads with their long arms, pumping them in a sign of victory. Their large grins hadn't changed from their human form.
One of the orangutans waddled its way over to Harry with his arms still raised above his head. Suddenly it reached up and grabbed Harry's head and pulled him down to a loud kiss on the forehead. Harry pulled away sputtering while the two apes wrapped their arms around each other in celebration.
"We found them hanging from the porch roof when we went outside yesterday morning," Remus commented dryly. "They've already mounted bars and climbing ropes in their room."
"It fits their personalities," Harry commented whilst wiping of the orangutans slobber. "Although I think they should have been baboons." The celebrating orangutans stopped to stick their tongues out at Harry.
--BD--
Once the Weasley twins had returned to normal, relatively speaking, the Marauders said their good-byes and left for Potter Manor via Vanishing Cabinet. Harry moved his Unspeakables team down to a small conference room that once was Tia's room.
"Have we turned anything up?"
Al answered, "I stopped in to see Croaker today. He suspects the opposition has gone into hiding until after the election. A lot of the Aurors are pulling heavy overtime providing security for Crouch and McNualty."
"Diagon Alley is getting heavily patrolled," Fred added. "I bought lunch for an Auror that was in school two years ahead of me. He told me the rumor on the Auror force is the Ministry is afraid that someone will act to disrupt the election."
Harry nodded, "Ed Nott has said pretty much the same thing to Tom. The DMLE says it has credible evidence from its informants that the opposition is moving to influence the election. Has Croaker seen anything?"
"I think he would have said something," Al replied. "We still don't have a lot of domestic informants that might have turned up something."
George looked thoughtful for a second and then said, "We received an order today for a bunch of our charmed defensive products; shield hats, Unsummonable wand holsters and the like. The order came from the Ministry. I'll talk to some of the other merchants on the Alley and see if they got similar orders."
"How much stuff?" Thomas asked.
"Probably enough to outfit half the field Aurors, I'd guess," George answered with a shrug.
"Sounds like someone is going to war," Thomas muttered.
"Who ordered it for the Ministry?" Fred asked his brother.
"It came out of the general Ministry Procurement," was the answer. "Ima Fallguy was the bureaucrat that signed the purchase order. I pretended to have some questions on the order but she would not tell me the name of the person that placed the order. Said I should submit my questions in writing using the proper Ministry forms and they would get back to me."
"In other words, you'll get an answer six months after the delivery is due, if ever," Al commented cynically.
Remember his experiences preparing for the war against Grindelwald, Harry muttered, "Just as bad from the other side."
The meeting continued to the next thirty minutes with nothing really getting accomplished except for scheduling a standing meeting for 22:00 every Wednesday night to discuss anything they discovered. Magical communications mirrors would be used for any emergency contacts.
--BD--
16 September 1998
The Daily Prophet
"Crouch Party wins Largest Bloc in Wizengamot!"
By: Jaune Journalisme
Bartemius Crouch won the Ministry of Magic in a historic vote that appeared driven by voters' positive response to his Law and Order message. Our soon-to-be new Minister announced the victory last night in his headquarters on Diagon Alley. Our Minister said, "I appreciate all the trust and support the magical community has placed in me and I assure you I will be tireless in the pursuit of maintaining my campaign promises."
Members of Mr. Crouch's party won a total of 45 percent of the Wizengamot seats making it all but impossible for another party to claim the Ministership. The Wizengamot will meet tomorrow at noon to seat the new Members of the Wizengamot (MW). The members' first act will be to vote for a new Minister and will officially elevate the new Minister to his well-deserved office.
Mr. McNualty's campaign was running close in the polls but lost ground in recent days with voters. Mr. McNualty gracefully congratulated the winner and requested that all of wizarding England fully support our new minister.
The career highlights on Minister Crouch – pg 3
Workings of the magical election process – pg 6
18 September 1998
The Daily Prophet
"Minister claims Dumbledore Murdered!"
By: Jaune Journalisme
On his first full day on the job, Minister of Magic Bartemius Crouch shocked the veteran wizarding press corps when he announced the results of a secret Ministry investigation.
"Your Ministry has conclusive proof that Professor Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of our age, was murdered through the use of a slow acting poison that damaged his heart leading to his fatal heart attack."
The evidence presented to the press proves a Muggle poison ingested over a nine month period did the deed. The DMLE Investigations Unit has been investigation this shocking crime under heavy secrecy. Minister Crouch decided when briefed that the time for secrecy has ended now that the election is completed. Over a dozen witnesses have been questioned including the three members of the Potter family that were at the beloved Headmaster's deathbed.
Further evidence was presented…
"Minister Announces Elite Dark Wizard Hunter Corps"
By: Venenifer Penn
In the same press briefing where he announced the murder of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Minister Crouch called for the formation of an elite corps of Dark Wizard Hunters. Numbering only twenty and pulled from the best of the Aurors, Hitwizards, and other specialties, the new unit called Black Watch will root out all the Darkness that is infecting out nation. Their first task will be to bring the murderers of the 'slayer of Grindelwald' to justice. In conjunction with that task, the Black Watch will take steps to prevent Darkness from completing the prophecy made last spring at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Wizengamot gives new Minister full support – pg 3
The Life and Times of Albus Dumbledore – pg 4
Diagon Alley's Reaction to the Minister Announcement – pg 7
--BD--
"Professor, what do you think the qualifications will be to join the Black Watch?"
Harry glanced at the student asking the question. This was the Seventh year NEWT class's first meeting since Minister Crouch's announcements. The school had been abuzz with shock at the announcement that their previous Headmaster was murdered, and excitement about the new elite force.
"I have not heard anything directly, Ms. Miller, but I suspect, based on the Minister's comments, that you have advanced skills in a needed area to be offered a position with the Black Watch." Harry smiled briefly, "I would guess that best start would to be to score very well on your defense NEWT." That garnered a brief chuckle from the class.
"Why is the Black Watch so small, professor?" Jimmy asked.
"Legal reasons I would guess," Harry answered. "The Black Watch is being formed outside of the DMLE and will report to the Minister directly. The Minister may create these special task forces, but the law prohibits them being greater than twenty people in size."
"Professor, were you questioned about Professor Dumbledore's murder?" This came from one of the two Hufflepuffs in the class.
"Yes, the investigators talked to me because I was there when the professor passed away. They wanted to know if I saw anything odd or that could help them in their investigation. It is standard procedure in a situation like this." Harry paused a moment. "I've never been an Auror or Investigator, but if the class is interested I will see if I can get a guest speaker in to talk to you about how the Ministry conducts investigations."
An enthusiastic approval met this proposal. "Very well, I will look into it. Now, we will continue the lesson we started last week on subduing Vampires in the grip of a feeding frenzy. Who can…"
The class diverted off the topic of Dumbledore's death and continued the class.
--BD--
26 September 1998
Jimmy stopped in his older brother's office a week later on Saturday afternoon. The Potters had developed rules for their conduct. In the classroom, around other students, or when dealing with school matters, they remained strictly teacher/students. In closed offices, particularly over the weekends, things relaxed.
"I can't believe you gave me a detention!" Jimmy protested as the office door closed.
Harry looked up from his desk with a smirk. "You were the one riding his broom inside the school. And at least it wasn't with Filch or Snape."
A grimace crossed Jimmy's face. "Have you ever done a detention with Flitwick? It's almost worse. He says he's disappointed in you and has you stand in the corner! Feel like an ickle three year-old!"
"I was warned my First year to never get a detention with our Charms professor," Harry commented. "I always got one of the gruesome twosome."
Jimmy snickered as he dropped into a chair opposite Harry. "Hey, I heard something today from Gin about the investigation into Uncle Albus's murder." Seeing he had Harry's attention, Jimmy smiled, "Seems Hermione was the one that figured out what poison was used. The DMLE potions masters couldn't find anything but she convinced them to let her take samples to the Muggle Scotland Yard.
An odd look crossed Jimmy's face. "Why is it called Scotland Yard if it's in London?"
"It was the name of the street in London where their offices were first located," Harry answered absently. "What did the lab turn up?"
Jimmy shrugged, "Gin didn't understand most of what Hermione was talking about- something about mycosopes and deenay analysis."
Harry interpreted this to mean microscopes and DNA analysis revealed the poison. Jimmy might be a halfblood too but he had never encountered much in the way of Muggle technology.
"Any word on any suspects?"
Jimmy shrugged. "Hermione was all excited about the research and stuff. You know how she is. Besides, she would have taken the investigation's confidentiality seriously." He snickered a bit. "Hermione and her rules. Did she try the whole PUKE thing in the last timeline?"
"PUKE?"
"People United for a Knowledgeable Experience. It was her attempt at an all-school study group."
Harry laughed at that. "Nah, we had SPEW. Society to Protect Elvish Welfare." At Jimmy's questioning look, Harry explained a bit about Dobby and Hermione's introduction to house elves.
"Reckon it's a good things she met the elves at Potter Manor first this time," a laughing Jimmy commented. "We had enough fake vomit incidents around the school as it is."
--BD--
31 October 1998
Halloween fell on a Saturday this year. The students flocked into Hogsmeade to enjoy some time away from the school and enjoy the magical village's holiday decorations. Just about every student in the school except for the First and Second years were filling the various shops and restaurants.
Tom started assigning staff members to be present in Hogsmeade during the student visits. The Head Boy and Girl, with the assistance of the Prefects, were responsible for making sure the student visitors followed both village and school rules. But the new Headmaster also wanted staff on hand in case of trouble.
It was wandering around Hogsmeade with Filius that Harry ran into the Black Watch for the first time. They wore sharp looking silver robes with black trim. The way the robes flowed around their feet, Harry knew they had an anti-tangling charm on them. Neither of the two wizards approaching them had their hoods up and Harry recognized one of them.
"Auror Shacklebolt, it is nice to see you again," Harry greeted him. In this timeline, they had met at a party Ron Potter threw for his Aurors.
"It is Watchman Shacklebolt now, Professor Potter," the large wizard answered with a small, proud smile.
"So formal, Kingsley? Do I have to call you that too?" Flitwick asked in his happy, chirpy voice.
Kingsley smiled down at the Charms Professor and replied, "You may call me anything you like, professor."
"I told you to call me Filius!" the quarter-goblin protested. "You've been out of my classroom for long enough to get over that formality rubbish."
Harry noted the disapproval on face of Shacklebolt's partner. This wizard was smaller and looked to have a bit of Asian blood. He had cold eyes, Harry noted. They reminded Harry of the eyes he had seen on certain Muggle solders or Unspeakables back during the war. They were the ones that liked the fighting too much.
Kingsley followed Harry's gaze. "Professors, allow me to introduce Watchman Rezna. He was one of the most successful Hitwizards in the world before he accepted the invitation to join the Watch."
"It is very nice to meet you, Watchman Rezna," Flitwick offered with a small bow. All he got in reply was a grunt. Flitwick ignored it in his normal cheerful fashion. "So, what brings one of my favorite former students here today?" he asked the former Auror. "Nostalgic for the old days of Hogsmeade weekends?"
Kingsley smiled at the insinuation. "Merely a familiarization tour. The Minister wants the population used to seeing us and knowing we are on the job. There is another patrol being done in Diagon Alley."
"Would you be interested in speaking to some of my students?" Harry offered. "I wanted to get an Auror in to speak to my NEWT classes and I've had a lot of questions about the Black Watch. This would kill two birds with one stone." Harry always liked Kingsley and knew he would interact well with the students.
For his part, Kingsley looked intrigued. "I'll have to clear it with my superiors but that sounds like it would fit perfectly with their public efforts. I always did like teaching at the Academy." The bald wizard smiled. "I will talk to them and owl you next week with some dates."
"Excellent, I won't tell my students until we set a date, but I'm sure they will be excited."
The professors took their leave of the Watchmen. Harry watched them walking away out of the corner of his eye as he and Filius continued on their way.
"Something bothering you, Ja-Harry?"
Harry smirked at his friend's near slip. "I'm not sure. I knew Kingsley before and he is a good man. One of the few things that reassures me about the Black Watch is his inclusion. But it reminds me a bit too much of my time in Germany during the war."
"Surely not!" the charms genius said in shock. "You don't think the Minister would do something like that! Harry only shrugged. "Maybe you are just too sensitive about it," Filius suggested.
"Maybe," Harry admitted. "By law, the Minister must put his task force up for review every forty-two weeks. Stupid number that. If he does it according to the law, than I will feel better about it."
"The Minster did put Senior Undersecretary Cresswell in charge of the Watch. He is a Muggle-born so the Pureblood agenda is right out, and I know Goblins liked him, so he is not a Speciesist," Filius pointed out. "He is the one putting a human face on the Ministry because Merlin knows Crouch is a cold fish."
"He did put his son, Barty Jr, on the Watch," Harry shot back.
Filius was well aware of Harry's alternate timeline background now. A sly grin crossed Flitwick's face. He looked like a goblin spotting unclaimed gold. "And isn't your daughter-in-law Bellatrix Black Potter? You know, the mother of those two little clones of yours?"
"Oi, that's low," Harry muttered but he couldn't suppress the grin. "And Thomas and Albus are both taller than I am."
"I guess you were the runt of the litter," the diminutive genius sniffed.
"You're evil. I hate debating with you," Harry sighed. "Come on, I'll buy you some of that disgusting coffee you drink whilst I have a civilized tea."
--BD--
15 December 1998
Harry was walking through Hogwarts with Neville when they came across Snape tearing into a pair of Gryffindor Fourth years about damage done to an unused classroom they had just left. He recognized them from his Gryffindor-Slytherin DADA class. Both boys were Muggle-born and Chasers on the House Quidditch team. When Harry arrived, Snape had just taken fifty points from Gryffindor and assigned a week detention when the students returned after the holidays.
"But that's not fair!" the shorter of the two boys protested. "We told you the room was like this when we got here!"
"A likely story," Snape sneered.
Harry motioned for Neville to wait while he walked up to the three. "Is there a problem here?" Harry asked in a mild tone as he walked up.
"Professor Potter, we didn't do it! We found it like this. Honest!"
"Go away, Potter," Snape seethed. "I am a Head of House, therefore I am your superior. Your opinion is not wanted here."
"Really," Harry drawled. He noted that a small crowd was gathering to watch the confrontation. It was a well-reported rumor amongst the students that the two professors did not get along.
"Maybe we can take this into the classroom in question," Harry suggested. "It is not professional to discuss this in public."
"There is no discussion, Potter! My punishments stand!" Snape turned and stalked away.
The boys started to protest to Harry their innocence. The watching students broke out in hushed murmurs about what they had seen.
Harry held up a hand for silence. The students all quieted immediately. The students loved his class but they also knew not to disobey him. Even Neville looked a bit intimidated at Harry's expression.
"Scour," Harry called.
A pop occurred near the floor. "Professor Potter calls Scour?"
"Thank you, Scour. Do you know who damaged this classroom?"
Scour's face dropped. "Peeves do it, sir. We's too slow and not get to it yet."
Harry smiled, "Its okay. I was just checking. You can go back to work now."
The elf had just popped away when Harry heard, "Peeves? Do someone say Peeves? Here is Peeves!"
A barrage of pies appeared out of nowhere heading directly for Harry and the two Gryffindors. A negligent wave altered their course towards the watching students. The protests rang out as the pies made impact.
Harry merely smiled and said, "Constant Vigilance." He was pleased to see only a bit of the pie managed to hit Neville through his shields.
Then he turned back to the floating little man. "Peeves, I won't ask if you damaged the classroom." Harry turned to the two boys. "I can't do anything about the detention, but 100 points for being honest and standing up for yourselves." The boys smiled and started to thank Harry.
Peeves decided to interrupt. "Potter, you rotter! You…"
"Peeves!" The poltergeist looked shocked as he stopped his little rant at the professor's command.
Harry grinned, "Come with me Peeves. I need to have a word with you."
The students were even more shocked as they watched the terror of Hogwarts float obediently after their Defense professor into the classroom. Then the door shut ending their observation, although not their speculation Harry was sure.
No one could ever prove that Professor Potter was the instigator behind Peeves sudden focus of pranks on the Potions Master. Snape threatened all kinds of vengeance, but even the Bloody Baron claimed he was powerless to prevent the ghostly imp's rampage. It was noted that the pranks ended on the day after the two Gryffindor boys' final detention.
No one could prove it, but everyone knew. It actually impressed all four Houses. Gryffindor was obvious. Hufflepuff liked the way he stood up for the students even to a more senior professor. Ravenclaw simply wanted to know how he did it. And Slytherin appreciated the way he took revenge that was both public and also couldn't be proved. (They also appreciated that their House was not included in their Head's torments.)
The only three who knew the truth were Harry, Tom, and the being that once was Tweaky the house-elf
--BD--
1 January 1999
The home of Sirius Black, Grimauld Place, bulged with Potters, Prewetts and Weasleys. A number of other guests including the Tonks family and several Hogwarts professors filled in the few empty spaces left in the large townhouse.
James Potter stood up from his place at the dinner table. "Ladies and gentlemen. We are here today having witnessed the most amazing event in the history of the wizarding world. A day many hoped for and feared at the same time."
"Hear, hear!" Remus called out.
James's gin grew larger. "Yet, it came on us anyway. The day the great bachelor of Hogwarts was brought down in his prime! I – OW!"
The Stinging Hex hit James in the back of his head causing him to stop his speech. "He was too far away to smack," Lily muttered to Harry. Her quasi-son smirked back at her.
Rubbing his head, James glared at the pair. "As I was saying, I present to you, Sirius and Mary Black!"
The room cheered as Sirius led his bride into the room. Sirius was impressive in his dress robes but Mary was stunning in her wedding dress. The happy couple paraded into the room to the applause of their guests. Harry thought he had never seen Sirius happier.
Harry didn't know anything about souls, alternate timelines or dimensions. Practically, it didn't matter whose theory of time and destiny was correct. What mattered was here and now, Sirius was getting the life he deserved in any time or dimension. The Sirius of the here and now did not have the weight of losing his best friends or Azkaban on his back.
Sipping a glass of Champaign, a sudden thought made Harry choke on a laugh.
Somehow, if this wasn't the same Sirius Black, Harry was sure the old Snuffles would be floating around here playing voyeur. Harry hoped it wasn't true. He loved his godfather but the thought of dealing with two of him was more than Harry could handle.
Harry wandered over to where Jimmy and his friends were gathered. The Hogwarts students were joined by Ron and Hermione. Harry snorted as he remembered Mary, his granddaughter, was Ron's cousin.
"Harry!" Jimmy called out with a smile as his brother approached.
"Hello, Harry," Ginny smiled.
"Ginny, you shouldn't address your professor by his first name," Hermione admonished. "I know we met him before he became a professor but it is not right!" Harry laughed. Hermione sounded exactly how he remembered. It brought back a lot of memories.
"It is okay, Hermione. This is a family event," Harry reminded her. "We are cousins of a sort, after all." This seemed to settle the bushy haired witch a bit.
Harry decided to try to divert her. "By the way, congratulations on your work identifying the poison used on Professor Dumbledore." Oddly, Hermione's body language closed up at Harry's compliment.
"I can't talk about that," she muttered whilst turning her head away. Harry seemed to remember her acting like this when she was hiding something. Harry suppressed a grin. Hermione never could lie very well.
"'Mione has been real quiet about the investigation," Ron commented around his mouthful of food. "Won't tell me a thing!"
Hermione shook herself and asked, "How are your classes?"
"Brilliant," Ginny answered before Harry could. "He is definitely the best Defense professor we've had yet. We've had Martin Sebastian, the current European Dueling Association champion and a Watchman in to our classes already. I bet everyone in our defense year gets at least an EE on their NEWT."
Hermione looked impressed at Ginny's enthusiasm and started to ask a follow up question when Harry was assaulted from behind.
"Harry!" the tiny witch yelled as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I missed you!" she giggled.
"It's only been an hour, Michele," Sally remarked dryly as she joined the group.
"I have to store it up for when we go back to school and he starts to act all stuffy again," the First year girl said with an impish grin.
"Hermione was just asking how Harry is in class," Jimmy spoke up.
"He's great!" Michele all but bounced in her excitement.
"Whoa, cut back on the sugar there, Michele," Harry heard Ginny mutter. He grinned over at the redhead and nodded his agreement.
"He is my brother, but I have to agree with the excitable one here. My Third year has already had a werewolf and vampire visit. In the spring we are going a field trip under the lake to see grindylows in their natural environment."
Hermione's face showed she was impressed with what she heard. She turned to Harry with a question on her face.
"I've never been one for theory and books," Harry commented. Seeing a cloud cross her face, Harry held up his hand, "I'm not saying they are bad or wrong, they definitely are an important part of the educational process. But I've found that practical, real-life exposure can drive home the lesson better than a dozen lectures or homework assignments.
Harry shrugged, "If nothing else, the change makes the average student pay better attention to the class."
Hermione nodded grudgingly as she accepted his point. "How did the class respond to Watchman Shacklebolt?"
The rest of the group wandered off whilst Hermione continued to ask Harry detailed questions about all aspects of his class. Harry enjoyed getting to spend some time with his former best female friend. Even if she didn't remember him, she still meant a lot to him.
Eventually, Ron came to reclaim his girlfriend and Harry moved off to mingle with the rest of his large extended family.
--BD--
14 February 1999
Harry stepped out of the Vanishing Cabinet at the safe house in Hogsmeade. The owl message from Fred and George called for the urgent meeting tonight. To anyone else reading it, the note sounded like a simple business report. However, certain stray marks on key words gave a very different message.
The two sets of twins were waiting in the conference room. The room seemed a bit tense as Harry entered the it. The four young wizards all greeted Harry as he walked in. Harry was clearly the boss, but all five were also family of some type.
"So, what have you turned up?" Harry asked as he took a seat.
"I had a meeting today with one of my suppliers for potions ingredients," Fred started. "He told me that certain ingredients were suddenly in short supply causing the prices to shoot up like a broom."
"I checked with some of our other suppliers and found it was true for them also," George added. "We looked at the potions list and come up with three known potions that use most of the ingredients. The problem is some of the potions don't use all the ingredients so it is possible a mixture of the three."
"Wolfsbane, Dayglo, and Aristide" Fred supplied.
"I know Wolfbane," Harry said, "What are the others?
Thomas answered, "Both of them were developed in the last twenty years. Dayglo is a restorative that restores the body's mental, emotional, physical and magical balances. It is called Dayglo because it leaves the drinker with what looks like a deep suntan.
"Aristide releases the mind from the body allowing astral projection. The projections are wardable but you have to use a certain ward that is not very common. Obviously a Fidelius is still proof unless the person knows the secret, but otherwise it is a near perfect spying tool."
Harry winced, "Ouch. Does Croaker know anything about this?"
"He said no," Al replied. "He seemed upset at the news. Particularly about the Aristide. It is a Ministry-regulated potion and even the formula is classified. Most of the truly sensitive areas of the Ministry are warded against it, but a lot isn't."
Harry nodded. He could completely understand that. "Can you get me the ward scheme for that? I want to put it up on my room in the public house, Patter Manor and my Hogwarts office. Also, pick some houses in the village to also ward.
"Does the Phoenix Foundation still give out Wolfsbane potions?"
"I checked with them," Fred said. "They aren't stockpiling right now. The do have a six month supply on hand though. Also, now that most of the anti-werewolf laws have been repealed, they charge three galleons a month to help defray the costs.
"Also they told me the werewolf population has actually decreased over the years because of fewer out-of-control wolves biting people. Actually, Remus was one of the last five to be infected by a rogue wolf."
"You mean people are getting bitten on purpose?" Harry asked incredulously.
Al shrugged, "With the potion so common, a few people that don't want to go through the work of becoming an Animagus have gone that route."
Harry was gob struck by this concept. He shook his head to clear it, "Okay, if Wolfsbane is that readily available, I think we should concentrate on the other two options. I'm not sure how Dayglo fits in, but I want to focus on who is gathering up these ingredients and why. We know of three uses, they may have other ones."
--BD--
14 June 1999
The Leaving Feast was in full swing. With exams, OWLS and NEWTS completed, the students felt relieved and were ready to relax. The normal rules were relaxed for the Leaving Feast and students were moving between tables to talk with friends.
The last half of the school year had passed quickly for Harry. Classes went well and the examiners had expressed how impressed they were with the level of performance they saw for both the OWL and NEWT students.
Harry took a bit of a scare when Professor Marchbanks gave Harry a little wink and whispered, "I still remember your NEWT exams too, Mr. Evans." Before Harry could recover, the old witch had laughed and walked away. She never mentioned it again. It still bothered him a week later.
"Have the scollywoinks infested you, Harry?"
Harry grinned at the short, blonde witch that had just drifted over to stand by him. "Just thinking about the past year."
"Hermione was right. NEWTS were a lot of fun, but I don't think the Magical Creatures examiner was much of an expert. He didn't know anything about cryptozoology. He didn't even know about the nargles! He reminded me of Hermione really. She never really believed me either but at least she never made fun of me."
"Maybe, you should write a book, Luna," Harry suggested. "I'd buy a copy."
A pensive look crossed Luna's face. "I'm not sure I'll have time. Maybe the next time." The happy expression returned to her face. "I can't wait to see what happens next. I've never been here before."
Suddenly, Luna gave Harry a hug and kissed him on the lips. Harry was stunned as the Great Hall let out a collective gasp. A lot of the older female (mostly) students had fantasized about doing just that but no one thought Looney Lovegood would be the one to really do it.
Luna leaned back and looked Harry in the eyes. Her gaze was sharp and serious, but he could see the compassion in her eyes. "Be careful. You are the only one that can put it right. Be strong."
Before Harry could utter a word, Luna stepped back and smiled. She looked over her shoulder at the stunned students and said, "The name is Lovegood." Then she giggled and skipped out of the hall.
The students and staff watched her go as a glass was slid in front of Harry. "Here, drink this." Tom said.
Harry drank it without taking his eyes from the retreating Luna Lovegood. It was horrible. "What's in it?" he gasped.
"It's my Luna Lovegood relief potion. It'll cut down on the headache caused by any extended conversation with her."
"That was supposed to make me feel better?"
"Well, it made me feel better to have you drink it rather than me," Tom answered with a cheeky grin. "After all, Fred and George gave it to me." Harry looked panicked for a moment before Tom started to laugh.
"Little brat. Knew I should have punished you more."
"You say that a lot," Tom observed. Harry felt his son cast a wandless privacy charm. With the same smiling expression on his face, Tom asked, "What did Ms. Lovegood have to say?"
Harry looked at him and answered, "She said it is about to begin."
--BD--
15 June 1999
Harry sat in his office working his way through a new Defense text written for Fifth year students. The book focused a lot on formal dueling technique rather than actual magical combat, but that was okay for the students now. Impressively, several of the shield spells included in the text were taught as part of the Auror curriculum. It was light years ahead of the text he had in his Fifth year.
Deciding to use the book for next year's Fifth year class, Harry placed the text on his bookshelf and looked out the window.
The Hogwarts Express left an hour ago for London. Jimmy, Ginny and the other students finished at Hogwarts took the train as one last nostalgic trip even though all of them could have Appartated straight to their homes. Michele opted to ride the train also. Jonas would meet her at King's Crossing with a Portkey to bring her back to Hogsmeade.
With the students gone, many of the professors had left for the summer holidays as well, so the school was very quiet. Harry decided to wander over to Tom's office to see his harried son. Tom had informed him several times over the school year that the Headmaster had more paperwork to complete than the Minister of Magic.
Harry had just opened his office door when he heard Minerva calling from him on the floo. "Harry! Are you there?!"
Hearing her panicked voice, Harry hurried over. "Minerva, what's wrong?"
"We just got word that the Hogwarts Express is under attack! The conductor got a short message off before he was cut off! The Headmaster just left. I'm leaving too but he told me to call you first."
"I'll see you there," Harry said abruptly.
Grabbing his Firebolt, Harry shot out his office window accelerating and gaining height rapidly. In seconds he reached the outer edge of the Hogwart's wards. He was about to land and Apparate to the approximate location of the train, but he could see smoke just off in the distance.
Knowing that nothing was in that direction except forest and train track, Harry knew that it had to be the train. Harry made a quick decision and changed his course to make for the train. It would be quicker to land and Apparate, but arriving by broom would allow him to access the tactical situation.
The miles flashed by on the broom. Harry decided on doing one high speed pass before landing. With one hand on the broom and his wand in the other, Harry passed over the train. He could see Tom with the four Heads of House with Sinistra standing near the train's engine. A huge tree lay across the tracks behind them blocking the train's passage.
Harry flew over them towards the rear of the train. What he heard chilled him. It was a howl. The howl of a werewolf.
Passing over the rear of the train, Harry could see six of the furry creatures entering the last car. A stunned Harry Potter brushed off the question of how they transformed in the middle of the day and fired off his first Reducto of the battle.
The overpowered spell exploded on the chest of the targeted werewolf, knocking it back from the train with its chest caved in. Harry was landing as he heard more than a dozen Apparation pops behind him. He glanced over in case they were more opponents. He recognized their robes.
The Black Watch had arrived.
The screams coming from inside the train captured Harry's attention. As his second wand dropped into his off-hand, Harry ran into battle.
A/N: Hopefully, no one got hurt by the cliff at the end there! evil laugh Please send me reviews with constructive criticisms or issues. Let me know what you think I am doing right or wrong in the story!