Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter Franchise or its characters. All characters used are the property of their respective owners.

Rated M for violence, language, & sexual themes.

Note: If you play the Hogwarts Mystery IOS game there was a small hint as to who the new Potions Professor for Hogwarts will be.

Harry Potter & the Dance Macabre IX

Grimmauld Place, London, G.B.U.K

Thursday 27 June 1996

Harry Potter woke up with a start, this was nothing unusual for the fifteen-year-old, he'd been waking up startled and scared for over a year. It had started in the days following the end of the Tri-Wizard's tournament, he'd fall asleep and find himself once again in the graveyard. He'd try to save Cedric only to watch him be murdered once again, he'd hear a cold cackle from behind, but before he could finish his spin around to face the voice, he was struck down by a killing curse. As his world went black Harry shot up in bed, drenched in sweat. The first few times Harry had woken his dorm mates with his screams until he learned how to put a silencing charm around his bed from Hermione.

Harry felt his way to the ensuite and showered, washing a night's worth of sweat off his body before emerging to face the mirror. The young man who looked back at Harry was not the man who had scoffed down pizza with Hermione and her family the previous night. Harry looked drawn from lack of food, he ate as much as anyone else at Hogwarts, except for Ron, but most of it came up again shortly after he finished. He had heavy rings under his eyes, and the scarring on the back of the right hand was more prominent. Harry walked back into his room and returned moments later with his glasses on and wand in hand. Waving his wand over his face, he applied a cosmetic glamour. He applied the same spell to his hand fading the blood quill scars.

Harry smiled bitterly. "Thanks, Katie," He whispered. Katie Bell, one of the Gryffindor Chasers trio, had taught him the spell after a particularly brutal Quidditch practice before he was thrown off the team by Umbridge. Harry had been worried Hermione would freak out if she saw the bruise on his shoulder and neck from a bludger hit, he took from Fred Weasley. Fred was equally worried Hermione would kill him for hurting her Harry. Of course, he knew Katie, Angelina and Angelica would be horrified to see him using the spell they'd taught him to hide his deteriorating condition from Hermione and Sirius, he'd already spent all year hiding his nightmares from his dorm mates and his exhaustion from the Quidditch team.

Harry eventually emerged from his room to be greeted by Nymphadora Tonks at the top of the stairs. "Wotcher Harry."

Harry rubbed his face wearily. "Hi, Tonks."

Tonks blinked peering at Harry's face. "Are you ok, you look exhausted?"

Harry shrugged. "Tossed and turned, I'm ok."

Without another word, Harry slipped past Tonks and walked downstairs to the kitchen. He paused when he realised Hermione and Emma Granger were sitting together with Sirius and Narcissa Black picking over a breakfast prepared by Dobby the House Elf and sipping coffee. Harry squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. "Good morning."

Hermione smiled brightly leaping out of her seat to envelop Harry in a hug. He winced but forced a smile onto his face as Hermione led him around the table to a seat beside her. Emma covered the smile on her face by bringing her cup of coffee to her lips as she shared an amused look with Sirius.

"I thought we could start our holiday homework today," Hermione announced as she began dumping food onto Harry's plate.

Harry gave her an exasperated sigh as his forced smile morphed into a genuine one. "Sure, we should invite Neville to join us," Harry added.

Hermione paused for a moment, a fork full of egg halfway to her mouth. "Oh, uh, sure, sounds good."

"We should also go visit Ron, properly this time instead of just sticking our heads in to find Mrs Weasley asleep by his bed," Harry added.

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Well, if Neville is coming over maybe we could take a few minutes and meet your Godmother."

"That's an excellent idea, Hermione, Alice adored you when you were a Pup, Pup, she'll be thrilled to see you all grown up."

Harry ducked his head a little. "Are you sure Mrs Longbottom will be up to seeing us?"

"There's only one way to find out Harry, ask Neville," Hermione offered.

Harry nodded and was about to walk to the Floo when he felt Hermione's hand on his arm. "After breakfast."

"Oh, uh, I'm ok. I'm full," Harry assured her as they both glanced at the seven pieces of bacon, scrambled eggs and four pieces of toast left of the ten pieces of bacon, five pieces of toast and scrambled eggs he'd been served by Hermione.

"Prongslet…" Sirius said in a warning tone.

"I said, I'm fine, lay off, ok?" Harry protested as he stomped out of the room, Tonks falling in a step behind him shaking her head.

The kitchen sat in silence for a few seconds before Hermione spoke. "He's not fine though…"

"He's thinner than I've ever seen him," Sirius added picking at his plate with a fork.

"Ron…" Hermione began rolling her eyes. "Thought it was another attention stunt, he tried to argue that the blood quill business and the weight loss were just him attention seeking just like with the Goblet at the start of the fourth year."

"I was under the impression the three of you were inseparable…" Narcissa observed.

Hermione shook her head. "Not anymore, not after what happened with the Tri-Wizards Tournament…" Hermione began quickly surmising the situation for the adults in the room. "So I take it this is why Heir Longbottom was seen around you and Harry most of last year and all of this one?"

Hermione nodded in answer to Narcissa's question. "It should always have been Neville by Harry's side. We know that now, he's the epitome of the best traits of Gryffindor."

Sirius rubbed his hands together raising them to his face. "Hermione, before we start, I want you to promise to give me total honesty in response to my next question…" Hermione nodded, so Sirius continued. "Neville said something last week when we were at St. Mungo's, what do you know about Harry's life between when he was left at the Dursley's and when Hagrid brought him his Hogwarts letter?"

Quietly Hermione rose and walked out of the room, adding a passing "I'll be right back" when asked where she was going. About ten minutes later Neville arrived looking bleary-eyed but determined. "Hermione said you wanted to discuss Harry?"

Sirius nodded. "Let's take this to the Lord's office. I don't feel like this is going to be a happy or casual conversation."

Once Neville, Hermione, Emma, and Sirius were seated, Narcissa cast some silencing charms over the door. "We're good my Lord."

"Thank you Cissi, so, Neville, Hermione, the floor is yours."

The two friends glanced at each other silently discussing who would speak first. Eventually, Neville nodded and turned back to the three adults. "I guess, we should go back to the start of our first year at Hogwarts. Harry was always very careful about not letting the rest of us see him without his shirt on or in shorts. I knew something had to be wrong because whenever he wasn't in his Hogwarts robes, he wore these tattered hand-me-downs that were way too big for him. I wanted to say something but whenever I tried Ron was there to stop me. I think he liked the idea that he had nicer clothes than the heir to the Potter name…"

"Forgive my ignorance but if Ron Weasley was such a jerk, why were any of you friends with him?" Emma asked incredulously.

Neville and Hermione glanced at each other with Hermione speaking first. "In my case, I was friends with Ron because Ron was friends with Harry. Harry's relatives staved him of love, his cousin chased away anyone who would show him affection or become his friend. That left him vulnerable to someone like Ron who was always outshined by the rest of his family, even Ginny who is younger, is smarter and more popular than him. With Harry, Ron could glom onto Harry's fame and be popular by proxy, without doing the hard work of being likable or nice. I used to think that there was a good person buried beneath the jerk, but in the end, he's as bad as Malfoy, just on the other side of the coin, uh, s-sorry Miss Black."

Narcissa waved her off. "There is nothing to apologise for Hermione. I am aware of my son's shortcomings."

"Back to the point at hand…" Sirius added.

"Yeah, so, even though Ron is a jerk, he occasionally showed signs of caring about Harry. One day Harry came out of the shower in only a pair of boxers. Ron, Dean, Sheamus and I were all in the dorm room at the time. This was shortly after Halloween, so Harry had already felled the Troll on Hermione's behalf. His back was littered with scars I think from a belt, I tried to make Harry tell me but he refused, it became a three-way argument with Ron and I trying to make Harry tell us where he got those scars. Eventually, it ended up with fists being thrown and Ron and Harry sharing matching fat lips."

"That was the first time after Ron, and I became friends that he got into a strop because I took Harry's side over his. I wanted Harry to tell me what was going on, but I knew that demanding the truth from him would make him dig in and refuse. My relationship with Harry was so new, I didn't want to risk my one proper friendship…"

Neville reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand. "Harry can be a jerk sometimes, but I know even if you'd fallen out, he would have come around eventually. He cares about you way too much to let something come between you permanently."

Hermione let a small smile grace her lips, squeezing Neville's hand. The two continued detailing all the occasions they noticed scars on Harry both old and new. Hermione shared all the times Harry had let something slip about his home life. "He was their servant and Vernon's whipping boy. Dudley played a game he called 'Harry Hunting' with his friends after which they would beat him. Of course, no matter how well he cooked or did his other chores he was still beaten and chucked into his cupboard under the stairs. Even after Harry started at Hogwarts, they mistreated him, they put bars on the window of his room and left him there to survive on scraps. If Fred and George hadn't come to rescue, I'm not sure they would ever have let him out to come back to Hogwarts."

Sirius rubbed his face considering the other adults in the room. Narcissa was lent back in her chair hiding her eyes behind her hand. Emma had crossed the room to gather a tearful Hermione in her arms slowly stroking her hair. "Please don't tell Harry about this, I will discuss it with him when I feel it's appropriate."

"What are we going to do about Harry's relatives?" Narcissa asked.

A dark shadow passed over Sirius's face. "I don't know yet. But I think we should collectively come up with a plan to thank the Dursley's for taking care of Harry."

The smile Narcissa gave Sirius made Hermione very glad she wasn't a member of the Dursley family. From Neville's expression, he was having similar thoughts.

St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies

Department of Magical Law Enforcement Secure Ward

Thursday 27 June 1996

Amelia Bones and Kingsley Shacklebolt entered the hospital room of Bellatrix Black, passed the two Aurors who were stationed as guards on Prisoner 7. This was Bella's designation to everyone outside Amelia, Kingsley and Andromeda who oversaw her sister's treatment. Bella was sat up in bed with Andromeda casting diagnostic charms with her wand.

"How is the patient?" Amelia asked.

"Healthy enough for you to toss her through the veil," Andi replied venomously.

"Bellatrix is an escaped prisoner; standard Ministry policy is all escaped prisoners of Azkaban are to be sent through the veil upon capture. Unless extenuating circumstances apply," Shaklebolt recited grimly.

"Sacrificing most of her remaining life to bring back the Longbottom's isn't extenuating circumstances?" Andi protested.

"In this case, yes," Amelia replied.

"Oh…" Andi replied dumbly, Bella smiled elbowing her older sister in the ribs.

"Officially Bellatrix Lestrange will be sent through the veil at midnight. Unofficially Bellatrix Black will be sent home to Grimmauld Place to live out however long you have left. You will be confined to that residence, any attempt to leave without my express signed permission will be viewed as a breach of the agreed conditions, and you will be detained with extreme prejudice. Is that understood Miss Black?"

"Yes, Madam Bones." Bella agreed to sign the documents Amelia had placed in front of her.

"I was initially against this, but the Longbottom's were insistent. They reasoned you've suffered enough, and Alice added that while you may have helped take away the first fifteen years of her life with Neville and Frank, but you returned the rest of her life. It doesn't absolve you of the other crimes you committed but sending you back to Azkaban or through the veil would be considered cruel and unusual punishment."

"I will speak with Sirius on my way out to arrange for him to collect you both later today. I'm sticking my neck out for you Bella, and that's only because we were friends at Hogwarts before… well anyway, please don't make me regret it."

"I won't, I promise, thank you, Amelia," Bella replied.

Amelia replied with a curt nod and left, leaving Shackleholt and the two Black sisters to plan their exit from St Mungos without scaring half the population.

Grimmauld Place, London, G.B.U.K

Thursday 27 June 1996

Harry sat on the end of his bed at Grimmauld Place, cradled in his hands was a beaten and battered Walkman and the connected headphones that were carefully taped together. Harry switched on the Walkman and slid the headphones over his ears but due to the ambient magic in the air all Harry got was static. Harry pulled the headphones off his ears and switched the Walkman off with a sigh. He'd found refuge in music during the long years trapped in the cupboard under the stairs. Harry had found the Walkman, battered and almost broken in the bin shortly after Christmas in 1984. The cassette functionality had been destroyed by Dudley, but the AM/FM function remained intact, despite his cousin's best efforts. Anything destined for the bin was routinely ignored by Aunt Petunia, so Harry felt it safe enough to smuggle it into his cupboard. It was useless at first until Harry found a twisted and broken pair of headphones in Dudley's spare bedroom. Judicious use of masking tape made the headphones functional.

Harry carefully place the Walkman and the headphones back in his Hogwarts trunk, wrapping the device in an old Dudley hand-me-down. Harry had to steady himself on the edge of his trunk as his stomach ached in pain. He'd managed to eat just enough that he wouldn't go hungry but not so much he'd throw up. He knew deep down that Hermione was simply worried about him. Unfortunately a decade being Vernon Dursley's punching bag led to significant trust and self-esteem issues. A year suffering at the tender mercies of Dolores Umbridge had only reinforced those issues.

Harry met Neville on the stairs as the two walked down to the ground level of Grimmauld Place. Harry had emerged from his room, eventually, after leaving breakfast in a huff accompanied by his constant shadow, Nymphadora Tonks. Neville was walking down from his meeting with Sirius and the others in the Lord's Quarters.

"Hey Nev, when did you get here?" Harry asked.

"Just after breakfast, since you'd gone to lie down, Hermione wanted someone to study with, I think she's in the library if you're looking for her."

Harry shook his head. "Yeah, ok, only if you come with me. I think Hermione might be cross at me."

The two walked through the house to the library where Hermione was curled up pouring over her Transfiguration essay, making notes in the margins with a quill for later. Hermione put the essay aside as the two boys entered. "Hello, Neville, Harry," She said stiffly.

Harry frowned dragging his fingers through his messy black hair. "I'm sorry Hermione, I shouldn't have bitten your head off at breakfast."

"No, you shouldn't have," Hermione snapped before allowing her features to relax. "Harry, I'm worried about you, even Sirius noticed you're thinner than he's ever seen you."

Harry sighed walking away from the two. "I haven't been well recently, Umbridge, Voldemort, Snape… All the stress I've been under, I just feel drained, and that was before OWL's."

Hermione walked up behind Harry putting her arms around him. "I understand Harry, but you can't bottle everything up inside. Neville, Sirius and I are here, we care about you Harry," Hermione pulled Harry towards them cupping his face gently with her hands. "Those horrible Dursley's made you bury your feelings inside because they didn't care, we care, Harry, please remember that."

Harry smiled gently resting his hands-on Hermione's wrists. "I know, I just… sometimes I have trouble remembering that. It's so difficult…"

"Well, I'm not going anywhere, so if you need reminding…" Hermione replied tapping Harry on the head.

Harry smiled looking up at Neville who had backed away to give the two space. "Um, sorry, Nev."

Neville laughed nervously. "It's ok. I feel the same way as Hermione, but without all the touchy-feely stuff."

Hermione blushed walking over to punch Neville in the arm as Harry laughed. "I understand."

The three friends smiled at each other as they sat down to work through their holiday homework. A couple of hours past before the three packed up and joined Emma for lunch. As they sat down, Sirius entered. "Good Afternoon Neville."

"Good Afternoon Lord Black."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Don't you start, I've only been Lord Black for a week, and I'm already thinking about turning the title over to the Prongslet. Lord this, Lord that, Betrothal Contracts by the bagful…"

Hermione choked on her Pumpkin Juice. "Betrothal Contracts…"

"Standard practice at this level of Wizarding society Miss Granger. I don't expect you to agree with it, I certainly understand why you wouldn't, given your upbringing but please try to respect our traditions," Narcissa admonished as she entered the kitchen behind Sirius.

"Y-yes, Miss Black."

Harry frowned while blushing. "Uh, Sirius, I don't… have, well…"

Sirius's mouth curved into a wide grin. "Oh, by the bagful Prongslet, by the bagful."

Harry groaned burying his face in his hands as Neville patted his best friend on the back. "It's to be expected my Lord, not only are you the boy who lived and conquered you are also the last male heir to the Potter line. Many witches would be eager to become your wife, and their fathers would be eager to elevate their status in Wizarding society, you've also grown into quite the handsome young man," Narcissa explained as her cheeks turn a light shade of pink.

Harry groaned again. "Is there any good news?"

"You'll probably end up with a hot wife," Sirius offered only to get smacked in the back of the head by Narcissa, Emma and Tonks.

"I think I'm safer not replying to that…"

"Good call, Harry," Hermione commented, scowling.

Sirius rubbed the back of his head as he lifted his head from the table. "In other news, I spoke to Ami earlier, Fudge has agreed to let Bella stay here for however long she has left. We're supposed to escort her back here once we're done with our visits at St Mungo's."

"Oh, right," Harry replied as his head shot out of his hands turning to face Neville. "Nev, I was wondering, do you think your parents are strong enough to see visitors. Sirius suggested I should introduce myself to my Godmother. But I don't want to overwhelm your parents…"

Neville's smile brightened. "You're in luck, Mom has been nagging me for the last couple of days to invite you to visit. Mom and Dad are going to be moved to the Longbottom Manor in a few days."

"That's great,"

Sirius nodded. "Ok, it looks like our plans for this afternoon are settled. Let's finish lunch and then Floo to St Mungo's."

St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies

Recovery Ward

Thursday 27 June 1996

Emma and Hermione Granger, Harry Potter with his bodyguard Nymphadora Tonks, Neville Longbottom, and Sirius and Narcissa Black, emerged from the Floo into Saint Mungos. Sirius and Narcissa broke off to check on Bellatrix and Andromeda while Neville went to organise his parents and meet up with his Grandmother. Emma followed Harry and Hermione through the corridors towards the room they'd visited a week previously.

Harry knocked on the door and was quickly greeted by Molly Weasley who wrapped him in a bone crushing hug. She quickly turned and performed a similar hug on Hermione. Molly smiled. "Ron is still in a coma, but I'm sure the presence of his best friends will re-assure him regardless," Molly pontificated dragging Harry and Hermione to either side of the bed, she reached out scooping up Ron's hand and placing it in Hermione's while she smiled at Harry. "It's a shame you just got here Harry dear, Ginerva was just here an hour ago visiting Ron. It will do my heart good to see the four of you re-united when Ron finally recovers. I had words with Sirius, Amelia and Professor Dumbledore after finding out what horrible things you had to endure in the Department of Mysteries. You're all much too young to face He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, that's best left to adults."

Harry frowned as his eyes travelled from Ron to Hermione finally settling on Ron's hand resting in Hermione's. Harry took a deep breath tearing his eyes away and turning them towards Molly Weasley. "Mrs Weasley, with respect, I would happily leave the defeat of Voldemort," He ignored Molly's flinch. "Unfortunately, circumstances make that impossible. He will come after me until one of us is dead, as much as I wish I could change that I can't."

Harry turned away from the bed and left the room rubbing his left arm. Molly shook her head clutching her chest. "That poor boy, that Godfather of his has been filling his head with thoughts of revenge. It's not healthy. I think I'll speak to Albus again, he can convince Sirius that the best thing for Harry is to stay at the Burrow with us."

Hermione scowled placing Ron's hand back on the bed. "Mother, would you like a cup of tea from the stand down the hall?"

Emma eyed off her daughter with concern. "Yes, I think that would be best, Molly, would you like anything?"

"Oh, no thank you, dear."

Hermione hurried out of the room leaving the two women alone with an unconscious Ron. The two sat at the end of his bed watching him in silence until Molly spoke. "My Ron is ever so fond of your Hermione, Emma."

"Is that so?" Emma asked trying to keep the disgust out of her voice.

"Oh yes, in fact, I think they would make the perfect couple. Oh, I know Ron has acted childishly at times towards Hermione, but he is only but a boy, he's about to come of age in our world and take on the responsibilities of an adult. By the time he turns seventeen, he'll have matured into a fine young man, all of the girls will be after my Ron, Hermione as his friend has the perfect head start."

"Between us Molly, I think Hermione's eyes are drawn in another direction," Emma explained.

Molly laughed condescendingly. "Oh, poor Harry's future is already decided. My Ginerva has already staked a claim on his heart. It's only a matter of time before Sirius, and I sit down to draw up a Marriage contract for those two. Hermione is a beautiful witch, but that beauty can attract the wrong sort of attention, she'll need the protection of a noble old house, and while the Weasley's aren't rich, we still have standing and respect amongst our peers. Just being Harry Potter's friend won't protect Hermione from the reprobates in our world but being married to my Ron will."

Molly leaned in uncomfortably close to Emma Granger's face. "Being friends with Harry Potter is a dangerous game, many purebloods would love to make an example of your daughter to hurt him. No matter what he may think, poor Harry is just a boy, and his Godfather isn't that much older in terms of maturity. They can't protect her, my family can. Please remember that the next time you look into your daughter's eyes."

A visibly shaken Emma Granger stood, backing away from Molly Weasley, jumping almost a foot in the air as Hermione re-entered the room. "Mom, are you ok?"

"Y-yes, yes, of course, I am, t-thank you dear," Emma replied shakily taking the cup from Hermione. She stared at her daughter for a moment before looking down at the teacup in front of her. "Hermione, dear, you forgot the sugar."

Hermione blinked in confusion. "Sugar, you don't…"

"Could you please see if the cart with the tea and coffee has any sugar, Hermione?" Emma pressed.

"Oh, uh, ok, sure," Hermione responded leaving the room.

Emma Granger considered her tea carefully placing it on the small table set between the two chairs at the end of the bed. "What would a betrothal contract between my daughter and your son, entail?"

Narcissa Malfoy looked up, startled at the noise that had heralded the arrival of her employer. Harry stumbled into the room, catching himself on the chair in front of him as his hand shakily dragged itself through his hair and then returned to the left arm which he rubbed reflexively. "My Lord, what's the matter?!"

Harry's hand slid off the chair he was holding, almost causing himself to fall again as he began pacing, dragging his fingers through his hair. "N-no, no I can't, I can't lose her. I don't want to lose her, but if she marries Ron I'll lose her. I can't lose her, don't make her go away, all my friends go away… all…"

Harry turned around to look at Narcissa as if he'd just realised she was there. Harry clutched his left arm again and then his chest. Harry's eyes widened as a scream escaped his lips as he tumbled forward onto the floor, knocking the table in front of him over. Narcissa was by his side in a flash.

"NURSE, DOCTOR, HELP!"

To Be Continued…

So originally I was going to let Harry off easy in the early chapters, he was going to happy shiny Harry until things returned to Hogwarts. He was going to get the girl(s) and win a bunch. But then I remember this is ME writing so *evil grin*. Readers of my Persona stories will know that once I've chased the protagonist up a tree, I usually follow up by setting it on fire, and then I work out how to get them down. Harry is up a tree at this point in the story, I haven't lit it on fire yet. You'll know when I light the fire, trust me.

So that's partly the reason it took so long to get this chapter out. It wasn't among my pre-written chapters. I had to start this one from scratch and it fought me a little, there's a bunch of little things that need to be done before the next major set piece of this fic starts. I need everyone to move onto their marks.

Frank, Alice and Neville will re-appear in the next couple of chapters, but a bunch of stuff is going to happen in the meantime.

Oh yeah, I've given up on the idea of Ron being redeemable. He's a git, I've held that view for almost 20 years. I wanted Harry and Hermione to be a thing since she kissed him on the cheek at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban.

Thanks to the following for reviewing:

Jkarr

FinalKingdomHearts

Kingslayer98 (Were there 97 Kingslayers before you? That's a lot of dead kings…)

Decadenceofmysoul

Zer0-sama

Aidansidhe

Review Responses:

HPFanFictionIsGreat: You'll have to have a word to Word, it doesn't like that spelling of Alastor. But I will go to change it soon.

SherlockHolmes4884: Well, we'll have to see how Harry responds. As for Ginny, Molly, as is made clear in this chapter, still thinks Ginny and Harry are, will be a thing, even though that hasn't been true for quite a while. Molly doesn't know Ginny is a witches witch and that's just how Ginny likes it.

Charlee56: It could be interpreted that way, but Elias has other motivations at play. I may have already hinted at them in a previous chapter, but they will become clear soon.

Reader of Harry Potter: Luna does have a place in Harry's life, it's just not as one of his lovers.

Harry Thomas Riddle: Neither have any of the other girls, be patient mate, it's only chapter 9.

Dault3883 Baron Backlash: That won't be the last time F1 is mentioned in the story, but the next time will be much further down the line.