AN/ We're moving into the regular school year. Things are definitely starting to diverge from canon and we are solidly into an AU. Hope you enjoy it. Please remember to drop me a line and let me know what you think:
Unfortunately, Hermione having the furthest to travel was the last one to make it to Harry's home. And of course it proved difficult to locate as she searched and searched for the address unable to find the drive. It wasn't until she saw some strange movement under a footbridge across a slowly moving stream that she thought to use her wand.
Taking it out, she cast a quick Revello charm that allowed her mind to peel back the glamour that had been placed on a huge country home style mansion. Smiling slightly to herself she carefully crossed the bridge that had changed into a stone structure, far more elegant than the wooden footbridge she'd seen before. As she stepped off the other side, she turned back to see a troll dressed in an old-style livery sitting under the bridge carefully whittle a small log. He looked up, waved to Hermione and then went back to his work.
Shuddering at the memory of the troll in the girl's bathroom several years ago, she quickened her steps toward the front of the mansion. There, she was met by a short elegant man with quite pointed ears, and vulpine features. He was dressed in an English butler's uniform. "Welcome to Muriashome, Miss Granger. I am Lugh, Master Harry's estate captain. Master Harry and the rest of your friends are in the library."
"Thank you," Hermione said handing the man the umbrella she'd brought lest it rained.
Taking it, he said, "If you would follow me." He directed them out of the foyer to a large set of wooden doors at the back side of the house. "I must commend you on finding your way through the glamour. Messrs Weasley, and Longbottom as well as Miss Weasely required me to go out and fetch them."
"Luna figured it out?"
"Miss Lovegood had no trouble penetrating the glamour. But that doesn't surprise me," Lugh said.
Before Hermione could inquire further, Harry's voice shouted, "Hermione!" Then rising, he crossed the room and pulled her into a tight hug. "I've missed you."
"Me too," she replied returning the hug and was surprised at how good it felt.
"We were just discussing the letters we got from school," Harry said.
"Harry knows something, but he's not telling us." Ron's voice had an accusatory tone to it.
"I didn't say that, Ron. I said I wanted to wait until we were all here before I said anything. I don't like having to repeat things."
"Fair point," Neville said.
"So, did you get the same letter?" Ron demanded.
"Wait a moment, Ron." Harry said holding Hermione at arm's length as he seemed to study her. Evidently liking what he found, he said "You are looking good. Was your trip difficult?"
Hermione smiled at his improved manners and said, "Thank you. No, it wasn't difficult. It took me a few moments to discover the entrance to this place." She looked around at the formal library, stacked two stories high with books and journals. The large study table, and the comfortable chairs, desks and low table all spoke of wealth, class, and maybe just a bit of bachelorhood. There were few feminine aspects to the room. "This is wonderful, Harry. You live here now?"
Harry smiled and nodded vigorously. "I do. And you and Ginny don't have to share a room. Neither do Ron, and Neville and I."
Hermione grinned and said, "I think you might be a bit house-proud."
Harry shrugged and said, "I guess I am. I never in my wildest dreams thought anything like this could happen."
"Can we get back to the owls?" Ron asked. Hermione thought he sounded just a bit sharp, and maybe bitter.
Harry directed her to one of the comfortable chairs in front of a low table where a tray of snacks and drinks sat. "Lugh had the kitchen prepare regular food while you were here."
"Regular food?" Ron asked.
Luna took some crisps and sipped her butter beer and said, "Yes. I would say that Harry now eats most meals of fae food."
Harry nodded and said, "I do, Luna. And I feel so much better for it."
"It shows," Neville commented. "Although I'm not sure how you're going to deal with regular food when we get to Hogwarts."
"Regular food is good too. I've lived on it for years," Harry said.
"What's different about fae food? Why can't we have any?" Ron demanded.
"Fae food has unexpected side effects on mortals, Ron," Luna said. "You might eat an apple and wake a hundred years later, an old man, naked and dancing in the moonlight. That happened to my great great great uncle Abernathy, you know. He ate a strawberry given to him by a fairy."
Ron's eyes grew big. "I think I'll pass."
"About the owls," Ginny said. "What's going on? All of my classes and teachers have changed. McGonagall isn't teaching transfigurations. Who is Slughorn? What is the Alchemy Department, and why am I taking muggle studies? I have no interest in how muggles live." Then realizing to whom she was speaking, she quickly added, "No offense meant."
"And what's this about muggle-born students being forced to take a class called, "Living in the Wizarding World?"
Harry took a deep breath and said, "There's a movement in the Ministry to replace the politically motivated governors with ones whose only concern is the education of the students. They've revamped the whole school to bring it up to ICW standards. Evidently Madam Maxim and High Master Karkov were not impressed with Hogwarts during the Triwizarding Contest and wrote letters to the ICW. Most of the new professors are coming from outside of Britain."
"I don't like it," Ron said darkly.
"It sounds like a good idea to me," Hermione told him. "Politically driven teachers have been half our problems. This makes Hogwarts more like a real school, and less like a throwback to the medieval period. It says here that they will be using the latest in muggle teaching models."
"What can muggles teach us?" Ron demanded.
"Manners for one," Neville said uncharacteristically coldly. "You're sitting here with two muggle-born witches who with a little help from their friends are more than capable of learning and keeping up with the wizarding world. Can you say you could do the same in their world?" It was one of the most confident things she'd ever heard the quiet boy say.
"Neville has a point," Luna said. "Did you know the muggles have been to the moon and back?"
"Nobody's been to the moon!" Ron protested.
"The muggles have," Harry said. "The Americans did it over twenty-five years ago. They have weapons that can instantly destroy London and everyone in it with one blast. They can communicate instantly across the world. They are quickly leaving the wizarding world behind. I love your dad dearly, but even though he specializes in muggle devices, he had trouble navigating a simple turnstile at the train station in London."
"What's that got to do with anything happening at Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.
"Don't you see? These new governors are trying to make Hogwarts a better school. They're trying to make us better people, better wizards, and give us more chances to survive in the world." He looked over to Hermione and then back to Ginny before asking, "How many muggle-borns are able to rise very high in the wizarding world?"
Ginny shook her head and said, "Not many. Even Dad says that they get passed over for promotion at the ministry, and a lot of shops won't hire them."
"Exactly," Harry said. "And I hate to say this, but after seven years at Hogwarts, we don't have the background to make it in the muggle world either. We haven't had grammar, physics, biology, economics, history, rhetoric, and we don't have a school record we can take to university. Hogwarts is really a lose/lose proposition for all but the most talented muggle-borns."
"So we all get stuck with classes in these subjects?" Ron demanded. "How's that fair?"
"A wise muggle once said, 'with great power comes great responsibility," another voice said from the door. Hermione and the others looked up to see Harry's cousin, Hunter standing in there, a tray of muggle foods in his hands. "I thought you would like to try some muggle foods."
"Please don't take this question wrong, but is it appropriate for a Prince of the Realm to be carrying a serving tray of food?" Luna asked.
The man smiled and brought over the tray and set it on the table. Then raising a conspiratorial finger to his lips, he said, "Shh. If you don't tell my mother, I won't."
"You're secret is safe with us," Neville said with a grin and then quickly added, "And thank you."
"What are these?" Ron asked looking at the tray of crisps, soda, and the two large boxes of pizza, tacos, and burgers. All of which were from famous brand names."
"I don't think I could eat all of this in one sitting," Luna said.
"Don't worry," Lugh put a preservation charm on it. The Coke will stay cold, the pizza, burgers, and fries remain hot, and it shouldn't spoil."
"You are spoiling me, Hunter," Harry said with a smile.
"You've earned it Harry. You've been working very hard. You deserve a little time off with your friends."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got several meetings, and I'm expecting a guest."
"A guest?" Harry asked.
"A friend from America. He's asked to study the merfolk in the Black Lake."
"Whatever for?" Ron asked.
Hunter stopped and smiled, revealing the sharp vampire-like fangs. "Because like me, he's very long-lived and has a curious mind. He's a scholar, a warrior, and an adventurer. He's also a professor of marine biology at Miami University."
"Is he fae?" Ginny asked.
Hunter smiled and said, "No, Miss Weasley. He's something far different from anyone in this room."
"Isn't he afraid of You-Know-Who?" Ron asked.
"No, I don't know who," Daire replied.
"You know, the Dark Lord." Ron's tone was insulting.
Hunter shook his head and said, "No. Although Sean isn't a mage, it is Voldemort who should fear him. Voldemort is after all, only mortal." He then turned and left the room in stunned silence.
"That was rude, Ron," Hermione said.
"What?"
"Questioning his friend. Prince Hunter has done a lot for Harry, and you seem to go out of your way to be insulting." She looked at the spread of food the man had brought them. "And he just personally brought you a treat like you are unlikely to ever try otherwise."
"What are these?" Luna asked picking at the warm fries. Hermione thought it was appropriate that the man brought them food from a fast food chain with royalty in its name.
"Those are chips," Hermione said. "Sliced potatoes, deep fried. They're terribly bad for you, but sinfully good."
Luna tasted one and then smiled hugely. "Quite good!"
They all began to dig into the food with Harry and Hermione enjoying being able to introduce their friends to muggle food. It was a unique experience that she rather enjoyed.
About half an hour later, Prince Daire appeared at the door again and asked to speak to Hermione and Harry in the other room.
Excusing themselves, they followed him into a parlor-like room that was again decorated in a style befitting an Edwardian gentleman. He frowned and closed the door. "I'm sorry for calling you away from your friends. I just had a couple issues I needed to discuss with you before I left. One of them is in regards to your friend, Miss Lovegood."
"What?" Harry asked.
Hunter frowned and asked, "Does the young lady seem a bit off to you? I mean does she seem to have her head in the clouds half the time, and at others talk about seeing creatures that nobody else can see?"
She and Harry looked at each other and then back to Prince Hunter and Hermione said, "That's a very good description of Luna."
"I thought so," Hunter said. "If I didn't know better, I'd say she was a fosterling. Seeing as that's not likely, perhaps the offspring of one?"
"A fosterling?" Hermione asked.
"When a mortal child is taken into fairy to be raised, upon their return, they are changed. The change can be at a genetic level. They can see into fairy and communicate with its denizens. Your friend seems to have that sight. According to Lugh, when she arrived at the drive, she looked around, smiled and then skipped across the bridge taking time to stop and speak to Garvin the troll who lives under the bridge, and then walked right up to the door. She can see the world as it truly is."
"Could that be what the nargles and wrackspurts are?" Hermione asked. "Could she be seeing into another reality, and not knowing the names of what she sees, she's giving them names from her childhood?"
"Very possibly," Prince Hunter said. "Lugh tells me that that the sprites and pookas in fairy are rather fond of her. They just can't figure out why she doesn't play with them when they steal her things."
"This explains so much!" Harry said with a grin.
Hermione laughed and said, "Yes it does. Do you think her mother might have been the fosterling? Nobody knows much about Pandora Lovegood before she married Xenophillus."
"Might be," Harry said. "Maybe we need to talk to her."
Hermione shook her head and said, "Not with Ron and Ginny here."
"Why not?" Harry asked.
Hermione frowned and said, "That's a discussion that we need to have alone." She looked at Harry's cousin and said, "I meant no offense, Your Highness. It's just some things are best kept between friends."
The man smiled and said, "I understand completely." He sighed and added, "As to the the othe issue." He reached for a copy of the Daily Prophet on the table and handed it to Harry. "Mission accomplished."
Harry opened the paper and smiled widely. Hermione stepped around next to him and read the headline: Lucius Malfoy Sacrifices Limb To Turn State's Evidence. Renounces The Dark Lord. Wife Narcissa, and Son Draco Are In Hiding. There was a picture of a dead arm and hand twitching on a table just under the headline.
"The Prophet is admitting Voldemort is back?" Harry asked.
"It's kind of difficult now, not to," Daire replied. "I think I'm about to become very busy."
"Why?" Hermione asked. "What do the fae have to do with the war with the Dark Lord?"
"Nothing," Daire replied. "But as for me, he killed my aunt, and wants to kill my cousin. I take that kind of thing personally."
"Avada Kedavra!" the sound of the spell going off sent chills down Tonk's spine as bright green light splashed across something in front of her.
Looking down, she realized that she should be dead. Nobody survives a killing curse, well one person does, but she wasn't Harry Potter. Yet, here she stood, the light playing across a fading blue shield that appeared out of nowhere.
"Don't stand there like an idiot! Take cover!" the voice of a witch she didn't recognize yelled at her.
Coming to her senses, Tonks dove behind a cart just in time to avoid a stunning curse aimed where she had stood just seconds before. Shaking her head, she took stock of the situation. Three death eaters had just crashed through the front windows of Olivander's. With the exception of Tonks and the mysterious witch across the street from her, everyone else immediately ran. Smart of them, if you asked Tonks.
They had Tonks dead to rights, her wand holsters and standing in the street staring like a first year rookie. Only the strange spell conjured by the witch had saved her. Looking across the street, she realized she could make out little of the witch's appearance. She was short with raven hair, and was dressed in a strange leather like armor made up of plates of dust blue and grey. A long dark cloak hung from her back, its hood up. A pair of metal bracers made up of ribbons of golden metal wove up her forearms, studded by precious gems. What was most remarkable was that instead of a wand, she had a long gleaming sword in each hand.
"Get ready!" the witch hissed at her. When they come out, do what you can to protect the shopkeeper! I'm going to engage the hostiles!" The witch spoke like an American—an American who was accustomed and trained in team combat.
Tonks nodded her head as two death eaters came crashing out the front door, poor Garrick Olivander struggling between them. "Now!" the witch shouted.
Much to everyone's surprise, the witch stood and shouted, "Hey uglies! Boyevoy!" Then she hurled one of her swords at the death eaters. Withdrawing her hand from the throw, she gestured toward Tonks, and Garrick ripped from the grasp of the death eaters and was hurled in her direction.
The flying blade hit its mark, catching one of the death eaters in the chest. He screamed once and collapsed to the ground, grasping at the blade now embedded in his body. Tonks shook wondered at the sheer strength it took to pull that off as she dove once again, this time to catch poor Garrick.
The other death eater spun on the witch and wordlessly flung a spell at her. She wasn't there, and the spell hit an abandoned cart, blasting it through the window of the shop behind it. Suddenly the witch appeared behind the death eater and asked, "Isn't that sheet the wrong color?" Then, with a flourish worthy of Gilderoy Lockheart, she leapt up and ripped the hood and mask from his face, hurling him backward into the bricks of the wand shop. He hit the wall with so much force, that the whole building shook. It took a moment for Tonks to get a clear look at his face as he slid down the wall, smearing a trail of blood behind him. "Rabastan Lestrange!" Tonks shouted.
Quickly checking Garrick over, she found him to be scared out of his mind, but mostly unharmed. Stepping out from behind her cover, she watched as the witch held out her hand and the sword in the other death eater's chest removed itself and flew to it. "Mir," she said softly. Then looking around she smiled at Tonks. "You okay?"
"There was a third one," Tonks said looking around, her wand ready. 'Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."
The witch smiled over at her and said, "How's the old man?"
"Scared, but okay." Tonks looked around for the next attack.
"Any civilians hurt?" the witch asked.
"Not that I can tell," Tonks replied. Then she asked, "Civilians?"
"People frown on calling them crunchies," the witch said as she too scanned the street and the shop for more threats.
"Just who are you?" Tonks asked. "You sound like an American, and an auror!"
"A friend," the woman said.
"How did you know about this attack?"
"I didn't. I was in the street doing some shopping when these Klan wannabes attacked."
"Klan wannabes?" Tonks asked.
"Sorry. American hate group called the Ku Klux Klan. They wore robes and masks and pointed hats to scare poor blacks and Republicans during the Civil Rights movement."
Tonks shook her head and said, "Sorry. I'm still at a loss."
The witch said, "Don't worry about it. You secure the shopkeeper and the street, and I'll clear the building."
"Do you know how?" Tonks asked.
"I've done it a time or two," the witch smiled at her.
"You still didn't tell me your name."
"No, I didn't," she replied slipping into the building as Kingsley Shacklebolt and a small squad of aurors arrived on the scene.
"What happened?" the tall black man asked.
"These two and third attacked Olivander's. Tried to kidnap him. One of them tried to kill me but this strange witch shielded me. Then when they tried to escape, the stranger killed that one," she pointed to the death eater on the ground, blood pooling around him. Then she nearly knocked Lestrange through a brick wall.
"Who is that?" Shacklebolt asked the young auror checking out the body of the still masked death eater.
They young woman removed the facemask and said, "Rodolphus Lestrange. He's quite dead."
"What can you tell me about this witch?"
"She was dressed in some kind of magical combat armor, and had two swords. One of them seemed to act as her wand, the other, well, it looked like a mythical sword I read about at Hogwarts."
"What mythical sword?"
"The Kladenets."
"Never heard of it," Shacklebolt said.
"It's Russian and it's a dancing sword. It fights on its own. She spoke to it in Russian, at least twice."
"Where is she now?"
"She said she was going to clear the building."
Kingsley nodded to two of his aurors to check the shop. "Are you okay?"
Tonks nodded and said, "Yeah. But I wouldn't be if it wasn't for that weird witch. Rodolphus had me dead to rights. He cast the killing curse, but she shielded me."
"How?"
"Don't know. I've never seen that spell before. She didn't parry it, she created a shield, like the one around Hogwarts."
"She warded you in battle?" Kingsley asked in awe.
"Yeah," Tonks said. "And I never saw her wand, just her swords."
"I've never heard of a sword acting as a wand."
"Nor have I," Tonks replied. "What took you so long to get here?"
"Operation at Amelia Bone's place. We just barely got her out of her apartment before the Dark Lord showed up. He burned down the building, killing several muggles and aurors."
"Oh," Tonks said. "Is she alright?"
"As well as can be expected. We lost five aurors in that fight."
"Anybody I know?"
Kingsly nodded and said, "Yeah. Too many."
"We've lost five, Voldemort's lost seven. We can't keep trading people like this, Kingsley," she said. "We'll depopulate Britain of wizards and witches inside a decade."
"I know," Shacklebolt said. "I know."
Several minutes later, the aurors came out of the shop, one of them carrying something small in their hand, both staring at it in confusion. "Nobody in the shop, Mr. Shacklebolt. The place is a wreck. We did find this, though." He handed the head auror the object in his hand.
Tonks peered at it next to him. It was a small oval shaped stone with a flat back. Behind its curved surface, she could see the tiny form of a man pounding furiously at the inside. Looking closely she could make out the features of Agustus Rookwood. "What is it?"
Shacklebolt tossed the gem into the air once, caught it firmly and put it in his pocket. "Just like the other five attacks. I think your witch is responsible for stopping the Brockdale Bridge from collapsing, and the attack on the Quibbler. Whoever she is, I think she's on our side."
"What are those things?" Tonks asked nodding toward Shacklebolt's pocket.
"Best we can tell, they're a portable prison cell. The person inside it doesn't need to eat or drink or even sleep, but they're trapped in a small grey room with nothing else."
"What kind of magic is that?"
"Very powerful," Shacklebolt said. "And dangerous."
Returning from his "seminar" at the University of Exeter, where he'd spent a great deal of time studying the warded home where Harry Potter now resided, Albus was shocked at the changes in Hogwarts. The interior walls had all been scrubbed and polished to a high sheen. The wooden floors had been sanded, polished and a thick coat of some clear protective material had been applied. Bright tapestries, spelled to absorb sound were hanging on the walls. Even his podium had been cleaned of candle wax and polished like he'd never seen it.
The dorms had been stripped, polished and refurbished with new furniture, new curtains for the beds and windows, and tapestries hung to again absorb sound. New magically charged chandeliers had been hung, and a complete library of reference books on subjects both magical and muggle were added to the common rooms.
Slytherin had been moved from the dungeon, and Hufflepuff from near the kitchens, and both placed in the fully repaired towers opposite Gryffindor and Ravenclaw respectively. All the classrooms had been cleaned, all the plumbing repaired and the toilets and bathrooms freshly painted. Doors were secured, and walls that had been damaged by Umbridge's Inquisitors had been replaced. In short, decades of work, and hundreds of thousands of galleons worth of improvements had been added to the school. Even the faculty housing had been updated not only to accommodate the new teachers, but to improve the facilities for the established instructors as well. It was all bright and shiny. It was all new, and it felt like a gilded cage.
Most surprisingly he found Elder-Warlock Greengrass awaiting him along with several of the new governors. Most of them were from grey families at best, families that had sat out the last wizarding war, and were likely to sit out this one. There was a verse in the Bible about people who are neither hot nor cold, and Albus found himself thinking of it at this time.
"Ah Headmaster," Greengrass greeted him. "How was your trip to Exeter?"
"Enlightening," Albus told him. And if he were to be entirely honest about the situation, that was true. His school could use with an update of the teaching model, and the "experts" had made some valid points. "I'm looking forward to seeing how those models are incorporated into Hogwarts." Two could play at this game.
"Very good," Greengrass said. "I'm glad to hear it. I know my granddaughter, Daphne is looking forward to seeing what has been done here."
"Might I ask to what Hogwarts owes this particular visit, Scaravanger?" Albus asked politely.
"Ah, right. You have work to do to prepare for the students arrival next week. I understand. I will keep it short. Two things actually."
"The first being?" Albus asked.
"As you know, Minister Fudge has been asked to resign."
"And?"
"He's agreed," Scaravanger said. "We had three candidates to consider in his place."
"And who did you choose?" Albus asked. "You will have to excuse me, I've sort of been tied up with a muggle seminar." He hoped to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
"Yes, yes," Greengrass said. "I understand. I think you'll be pleased with our choice."
"Who?" Albus demanded.
"Amelia Bones," Greengrass replied.
Albus had to admit that he was. Amelia Bones was about the best choice possible. She was fair, and level headed, even if she wasn't a member of the Order, she was at least sympathetic. "Good choice, Scaravanger."
"You sound surprised," Greengrass replied.
"I am in that you were able to convince her. I understand that she was recently attacked by Voldemort's forces."
"She was. Only an anonymous tip let us get there in time. Still, we lost five aurors in the process," Greengrass replied.
"I'm looking forward to her level-headed leadership," Albus said.
"She's ready to make the announcement that the Dark Lord has returned and put the ministry on a proactive footing," Greengrass told her.
"That's good news," Albus aid surprised that he genuinely meant it. Then he asked, "And your other reason for coming?"
"Ah yes," the Elder-Warlock said with a smile as he stepped back to reveal one of the men with him. He was tall, well built, and had hair the color of straw. Unlike the others, he was wearing a muggle suit and jacket and carried with him a leather valise. Albus couldn't help but notice the small points to his ears that peeked from under his hair. "This is Professor Sean Matthews from the American Muggle University of Miami."
"Muggle?" Albus asked alarmed.
"The university is as you call it, Professor, a muggle one. I however, am not."
"You're a wizard then?"
"Not quite," he said. "I'm not exactly sure what I am, and there are some rather frustrating people who know that won't tell me, but I can assure you, I'm very well aware of magic, and other powers. My abilities just fall into another area," the young man said, offering his hand.
Albus looked at it, noticing the small webs at the base of his fingers. "I'm sure you do, Professor Matthews. How can I help you?"
"I would like your permission to study the merfolk in the Black Lake. I've made a study of merfolk all across the world, and would like the opportunity to study them, their culture, and their songs."
"You speak merish?"
The man nodded and said, "I do."
"You are aware that there is a giant squid that lives in the lake?" Albus asked.
"I'm aware. Another area of my interest would be how a creature adapted to life in the deepest ocean trenches fares in a freshwater lake in Scotland."
"And you are unafraid of these creatures?" Albus asked.
"I have a healthy respect for their power, Headmaster."
"I'm unsure," Albus told him. Then turning to Greengrass he asked, "What do you think, Scaravanger?"
"He comes with the highest recommendations from the Americans, Albus."
Albus took a deep breath and said, "Very well. But you will be responsible for your own safety, room and board, and you will not interfere with the students."
The man smiled and said, "I understand completely. I've taken a small house in Hogsmead from which to conduct my research. Thank you, Headmaster."
"You're welcome, Professor Matthews." Looking at the other governors, he said, "If there is nothing else, ladies and gentlemen?"
"I think that covers it," Greengrass said.
"In that case, I have a faculty orientation to conduct. Please excuse me." With that he left them and headed back into the castle.
