1998

Hermione was crying, hysterically. She had been since she'd apparated into Harry's living room five minutes ago. Harry was at a loss, he'd never been good with crying girls. One of things he'd always liked about Hermione was that she wasn't a weepy sort of girl. He'd only seen her cry a handful of times and he didn't think he'd ever seen her cry quite this much. Grabbing her by the shoulders Harry shook her gently.

"Hermione!" he exclaimed "Tell me what's wrong."

She sniffed obviously trying to get herself under control. She began to speak in a shaky voice.

"Oh Harry! It's just so awful!" And she was off again sobbing into his shoulder now and no doubt leaving a heavy slime on his his brain he realized Hermione had only ever really cried because of one person.

"Has Ron done something?" he asked. Hermione nodded and opened her mouth as if to speak but erupted into another bout of tears. Harry patted her back trying not to seem as awkward as he felt. Taking a breath Harry said what he'd been holding back ever since his and Ron's falling out a few month's prior.

"Look Hermione I know you've loved him since you were like twelve but Ron's changed a lot since the war. Heck even during the war he was a bit of a prat. I love you and I'll always support you but don't you think you might want to consider finding someone else to love? Someone who doesn't make you cry like this?" Harry bit his lip scared to look at Hermione's face in case she was angry about what he'd said. He heard her sniffle again and after a moment she stepped away from him red eyed and no longer crying.

"I am done with him!" She said with such passionate disgust that Harry was a bit taken aback. "But oh Harry, he's done something really terrible and it's got nothing to do with me!"

"What's he done?"

"He's been sneaking around a lot lately and I thought he was seeing another woman. So I-well I put some trackers on him."

"Trackers?" Harry asked in surprise. Normally those spells were restricted to auror use. Hermione shrugged.

"Yes well it's a good thing I did. It was a visual and audio spell on his Order of Merlin pin. You know he wears it everywhere." Harry did know, since the day it had been pinned onto him, Ron had even pinned it to his pajamas and slept with it. It had annoyed Ron to no end that Harry refused to wear his pin especially when Harry had got a first class award and Ron only got a second.

"So he was cheating then?" Harry asked but Hermione shook her head.

"I wish he were cheating. Harry he went to a meeting." Here Hermione dissolved into tears once more. Harry narrowed his eyes in confusion but he let Hermione cry for another moment before prompting her to continue.

"A meeting with who Hermione?" Hermione took another moment to compose herself before she spoke.

"Percy along with Amos Diggory, Judas Prawdyce and Rowlings Humbright."

Harry gaped at her. Ever since the war Prawdyce and Humbright had been very outspoken against Harry. They'd insisted they needed more information about the final battle and Harry's involvement in it. They insisted that the only way Harry could have survived was through the use of dark magic. Both men were members of the Wizengamot but for the most part had been ignored by the wizarding populace. Harry was their hero after all and they did not want to hear a word spoken against him.

"Whatever for?" Harry asked flabbergasted.

"Harry, Ron told them about the final battle about how you were a horcrux. They want to hurt you Harry. I'm so afraid for you! I think you should run Harry, please run!"

"We should just kill him," Diggory spoke in a rough voice as he leaned across the table. Ron shook his head.

"Idiot! Haven't you been listening to me at all? Harry can't be killed! I don't know how he did it but not even the killing curse affects him. What we need is a way to contain him, if we can lock him away out of sight, people will think he's abandoned them. They'll stop caring and as long as he's gone he won't be able to hurt anyone."

"But how are we supposed to do that? We can't put him in Azkaban, his public would never tolerate it and all it would take was one loudmouth guard to get him released." Humbright pointed out.

"Are you certain he's already hurt someone Ron?" Percy's voice was soft and hesitant. He was only there because Ron had needed an introduction to Prawdyce and Humbright. Now he knew what the meeting was about he was less than thrilled to be pulled into it.

"He's dangerous Percy. He had a bit of the Dark Lord's soul in him his whole life! He still speaks parseltongue even though he claims the horcrux is gone. You've seen how much he's changed recently, look at what he did to Ginny!" Percy bit his lip. He didn't know all the details about Harry and Ginny's break up but his sister didn't exactly seem torn up by it. On the contrary she seemed to quite enjoy all the attention being Harry Potter's ex girlfriend garnered her.

"Listen Perce and the rest of you listen up as well. Harry was my best friend for seven years. I know him better than anyone and I know he's changed. He's not the man he was trust me when I tell you if he weren't already on the path to evil he'd be asking us to do this himself."

"So how do you suggest we capture him Weasley? Since you've known him so long." Diggory asked with a sneer.

"We'll never be able to take him head on. The only way to take him will be to get him while he's sleeping or when there are civilians around." Ron told them.

"See that's just what I'm talking about. He won't fight back if innocent people might get hurt! That doesn't sound like a dark lord to me Ron." Percy exclaimed. It was Amos Diggory who answered.

"Look you little prick, we're not here to debate whether or not Harry Potter needs to be dealt with. Potter is responsible for the Death of my son. You should have known what this meeting was about when your brother asked you to bring him here. Whether you're 'sure' about it or not you're involved now and if you're thinking you won't be condemned just as quickly as any of us if you go running to the Aurors or the Daily Prophet think again. You're here that makes you one of us so sit down and shut up if you have nothing constructive to add."

2008

As the youngest Head Auror in the history of the Ministry and the proud recipient of an Order of Merlin 2nd Class Ronald Weasley thought life was pretty sweet. True Hermione had broken up with him years ago but he knew she had to be regretting it now considering who she'd ended up with and in the meantime he was quite happy with Romilda. She was annoying as all get out of course and he hated the collection of Harry Potter memorabilia she insisted on displaying in their front room. She had great tits though even after having three kids.

He had just settled in to complete some paperwork on a case his aurors had just completed. He'd told them to sweep in and capture any stragglers and three of his men had ended up in St. Mungo's because of it. He was thinking hard about how to make it appear it had been the auror on scene who had mucked things up. After all just because Ron had technically given the order to go in Seamus ought to have taken better care to ensure there were no dangerous spelled objects or wards before rushing in.

Ron frowned, Seamus might end up kicked from the department for this. Since Ron had taken over the injury and casualty rate of aurors had gotten higher than it had been since the war. Ron knew Kingsley was becoming increasingly bothered and someone would have to go soon. He supposed he could pin it on Walters he'd died during the assault so it wouldn't really do him any harm. Ron considered it but ultimately decided not too. It was tasteless pinning things on the dead and everyone knew Walters had never had the stones to take the lead anyway.

A loud -POP- caused Ron to capsize his ink, spilling it across the forms he'd been so painstakingly filling out. He looked up then down to find his house elf cowering in front of him. The thing was uglier than most but had been born to Romilda's parents elves when Romilda was a child. She'd named it Sparkle and had insisted she bring her along when they married.

"What is it? Are the children ill?" Ron demanded as he vanished the ink from his parchment. Sparkle shuddered at his harsh tone and if possible cowered even closer to the floor.

"No Master Head Auror Weasley Sir,"Sparkle's high pitched voice had Ron's head throbbing already. "Sparkle is coming about Sparkle's other charge sir, whose name we is not to be saying."

Ron immediately jumped from his desk and rushed to ward and silence his door with the strongest charms he knew before rounding on the elf.

"How dare you speak of it here! Stupid creature!" Ron exclaimed shooting a stinging hex at the still cowering elf.

"Sparkle is sorry master Head Auror Sparkle is sorry!" Twisting it's ears, tears dribbling from it's huge green eyes. "Sparkle is being very wrong and will wait until Master Head Auror Order of Merlin Weasley is at home!"

Ron scowled but couldn't help but feel a bit more forgiving when the elf showed such respect for his person.

"Since you are here you may tell me your news Sparkle but I expect you to punish yourself when you get home alright." He told her kindly.

"Yes Master! Such a kind Master you is. Sparkle is going to take bread and cheese to Sparkle's other charge today. Wednesday is a food day Master Weasley." Ron smiled nodding to himself. He rarely thought of Harry these days but he'd taken their long friendship into account when it came to Harry's captivity. Harry was fed three times a week and Sparkle was allowed to use cleaning charms once a month on his clothes and body. Of course Sparkle was never to speak to Harry.

"Is he refusing to eat again. I've told you not to worry about that if he decides not to eat then all the better for us because you'll no longer have to look after him."

"No Master Weasley it is worse than that. Sparkle is going to take food but Sparkle's charge is being gone Master Weasley." Ron's heart stopped beating and for a moment he could only gape when he finally managed to speak it was with a harsh whisper.

"Gone? Are you certain he hasn't just moved? It's a very large castle." Sparkle shook her head.

"Oh no Master, Sparkle's charge has not left his room for many years but still Sparkle is looking in every room. Sparkle is even using magic to be searching. He is gone."

Author's notes: Again thanks for all the lovely reviews. We'll see more Harry in our next chapter so don't you worry your pretty little heads about that. Don't forget we've still got a madman on the loose!

I would like your opinions lovelies Who would like to see more Sam/Harry interaction in the past? I had planned to be done with that bit but someone asked. I can certainly work in some cute Harry/Sam together moments(from 2001-2002) if you want to keep seeing them.

Please REVIEW and Let me know PLEASE!