Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters created by JK or intend to make any galleons from this.

AN: Thanks for taking the time to review. I think that the next chapter will start getting to the heart of the matter.

Chapter 10

Sunday night turned out to be a very long night for everyone. Amelia sat with Augusta until she had finally exhausted herself and fell asleep. Even then, she was very restless. Amelia had been in contact with Minerva and knew that Susan was fine and was taking care of Neville. Minerva's report on both of the young men was a little unsettling and required a good bit of her willpower not to run off to the castle to check on them. She settled down into a chair with a book for the night, her mind kept asking the question of whether the rewards were worth the risk to Harry and Neville.

Minerva had not heard anything from the three young ladies all evening and thought it best to go check on them once again. When she got to the suite, it was still quiet except for the low murmuring coming from both rooms. When she checked on Neville, she found him sitting against the headboard with Susan curled around him and whispering to him. Every few seconds, she would reach up and wipe the tears from his eyes.

She said "You seem a little better Neville. Do you want to talk about it?"

"I…I…don't know what to say. You should be angry at me for almost costing you Harry. I should have never agreed to it."

"Neville, first off, you did not drag my grandson there. He went willingly because he loves you and would do anything for you."

"I know and that makes it even worse. I know how badly he was hurt and do you know what he said? He said we will be back next weekend to try again. I can't do it."

"Why not?"

"Because I am weak and scared. I'm not Harry. He is the bravest person I know and can face anything. Nothing scares him."

A low voice was heard in the room. "There is plenty that scares me Neville. My biggest fear is losing my brother."

Susan jumped up and gave him a hug. "Harry! How are you doing?"

He stepped over to Neville's bed and then sat down. "About as good as Neville." Harry looked at Neville and said "You feel guilty for me being there but where else would I be? You didn't let me go through all the crap that happened this year alone and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you."

Neville said "But she could have killed us."

"So what. I don't have a death wish Neville but I am the bloody boy who lived. Hell this year alone I should have died twice already but for some reason I keep coming back."

Hermione came up behind him and put her arms around him. She said "Let's not forget once as a baby, twice in first year. Once in second year. And I don't know how many times in third year. One thing I learned Nev is that when you're with Harry, life and death situations just seem to happen. The other thing I learned was that as long as I am with him, whatever it is that protects him will do the same for me."

A small grin appeared on Harry's face. He said "So now I'm charmed?"

She smiled and said "No you idiot, you are not charmed, you are a survivor."

"Well one of these days my luck is going to run out. Besides, it was Neville who thought of a way to get us out of there. I was just following his lead."

"It's because I couldn't let you down."

"You could never let me down."

They all sat there in silence before a small grin appeared on Harry's face. "Is it too early to talk about next weekend?"

Neville snorted.

Susan huffed and said "I don't believe you two. Here you are barely recovered and now you are thinking of another way to do it. At least do all of us a favor and give us a chance to rest before you go off and try to kill yourselves again."

"Neville?"

"Yeah"

"I'm starting to think that Sue would miss us if something happened."

Smack.

"Ow, Sue, that hurt."

"Serves you right mister."

"Nev?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't think it's me she'd miss."

That was all it took and Susan tackled him to the floor. With a grin, she sat on his chest and said "I'd miss you too you big prat."

Minerva looked at the kids and said "As much fun as this is, Augusta took this kind of hard and Amelia is sitting with her. Maybe a quick visit will put her at ease."

Harry jumped up and ran to his room. After pulling on some clothes, he met Neville at the fireplace and they dove through. Amelia heard the floo go off and then heard feet running through the manor. When they got to her room, they opened the door and crept in. Neville said "Gran?"

She groggily sat up and said "Neville? What are you doing here child?"

Harry said "Nana said you didn't take our condition too well. We came to check on you."

She held out her arms and started crying again as they both hugged her. She said "I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. I have decided that no more attempts will be made. I can't see you go through that again."

Neville stepped back and said "Gran, I love you but it is not your choice. Yes, we had a rough time of it but we decided before we ever started that no matter what that we would stick to this through the end."

"The risk is too great. I can't lose you too."

Neville said "Gran, I have Harry 'the boy who lived' Potter with me. How can we fail? You won't lose us. I promise."

Amelia shook her head and asked "How is Susan?"

"Tired but good enough to still slap the fire out of my arm and then tackle me to the floor."

"What did you do?"

"I might have teased her."

"Are you going to do it again?"

"Probably."

"Fine then, your death warrant. I don't care if you are Harry Potter. Suzy is quite scary when she is mad."

"Yes she is. Now Gran, don't worry anymore. We came so that you could see for yourself that we were okay so you can rest better. We love you."

"I love you too."

Neville said "We best be off. Nana said something about tanning our hides if we didn't come right back."

**HV**

When they arrived back in the suite, Harry said "Suzy, go tuck Nevy into bed and kiss him goodnight." They both blushed at his comment.

Minerva asked "Be nice Harry. How is Augusta?"

"Better now she has seen us. I don't think she could handle another weekend like that."

Minerva said "But they are going to happen, aren't they?"

"Yes they are."

As soon as she and Fleur left, Harry visibly sagged. Hermione wrapped her arm around him and led him to his room. As she undressed him and put him in his bed, she said "Nice acting."

"I thought so. I have to keep up my image you know."

"Talk to me Harry."

"I don't know what to say. I heard Neville and couldn't let him beat himself up over it. Then I heard Gran had a breakdown and couldn't let her beat herself up either. The rule is I'm the only one allowed to beat himself up over stuff."

"Then who will be there for you?"

"I was hoping you would do the job for a while."

She smiled and said "You know I will."

"Thanks for that. Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Harry"

She left the room and went and got ready for bed. Before she climbed in, she walked back over to Harry's room to check on him one last time and found him staring out the window. She wrapped her arm around him and led him to his bed. When she put him in, she climbed in right beside him and said "It's my turn." He settled in her arms and drifted off to sleep.

**HV**

Fleur was surprised when Harry showed up the next morning for their run and workout. She looked at him and asked "Did you get any sleep last night?"

"Yeah, Hermione held me down and made me."

"Good for her, I guess it's my turn now." She shoved him forward and led him on the run. The girls had worked out a plan where Hermione would attempt to settle his mind at night while Fleur would use the workouts to push him physically and work off the anxiety he was feeling. After a few laps, she showed him some exercises that had been taught to her by Jake. For the first two weeks, they were to just work on toning and endurance. The second two weeks would be strength training. For their dueling practice that afternoon, they would be working on getting Harry up to her level in spell knowledge and then move forward with the list that had been composed by the adults. Sirius, Jonathan, and Jean and also given them some exercises to do to familiarize them with dodging and quicker movements.

Both were dragging by the time they made it to breakfast but Fleur was happy in their efforts. Hermione's plan was to not give Harry time to think about anything. Her hope was that they could move him past what he felt was a failure before he even realized he had done it. If there was one thing you could say, Hermione knew Harry very well.

Breakfast brought forth a new challenge in the form of the return of Ron Weasley. As Harry sat down, Ron came over to him and said "I know I've been a right bastard to you this year and wish to apologize for my actions. Hermione, all I can say is I am sorry and that I don't know what came over me. I don't deserve your forgiveness and won't even ask as what I did was unforgivable. I hope you both can see your way past it one day."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away. Most of the group didn't know what to say and just continued eating. Classes resumed and Hermione made a point to keep Harry as busy as she could. She could only hope that Harry and Neville could stay out of trouble while they weren't being watched over by Fleur, Susan, or her.

**HV**

Between attending classes and training with Fleur in every spare minute, the week flew by and much of the guilt from Sunday evening had faded away. It had probably helped that Harry and Neville had found some time to themselves and talked through some things along with making plans. Once Friday evening had arrived; Harry, Neville, and Susan were sneaking off with Fleur. She had several tasks this weekend of which the first was getting them into the Beauxbatons' carriage to use the floo to go straight to Delacour Manor. Once her first task was complete, Fleur returned to the castle to do her second task which was keep Hermione occupied and try to hold the rest of the family at bay.

Fleur had argued against Harry's decision to continue with Alice but he had defeated her with logic. His simple logic was that until he completed this, then his focus would not be fully on the tournament and that might get them hurt or killed and in the end, Fleur begrudgingly agreed. As it turned out, Appoline had even failed to tell Jean of their plans. She didn't lie to him but she didn't want anyone from the family accusing him of keeping secrets. Her defense would be that Harry and Neville had extracted an oath from her about their plans.

They were greeted by Gabrielle and Appoline upon arrival and after a quick hug between Harry and Gabrielle; they turned and used the floo to go to the hospital. The plan was for everything to be ready for their arrival so that they could start the procedure as soon as they got there and before the rest of the family found out. Harry and Neville's talks had left them more determined to see this through and they presented a united front to try and convince Susan. In the end, she finally agreed if only to keep from having to stay behind and hide it from everyone. Their talks had also given them a new idea to handle the situation without giving Alice the opportunity to trap them once again.

With the same setup as before, the boys entered Alice's mind but had Susan and Gabrielle's arms already wrapped around them to give them the comfort and strength they would need to proceed with their plans. A little research this past week led them to believe that once they were in Alice's mindscape, they could do almost anything and had based their plan of attack on this.

They looked to the light and both thought themselves right outside that door. Upon arrival, they looked behind them and saw several more doors had been opened but many others were now glowing with a blue energy. Harry cast a shield around them as Neville called out "Mum?"

"Neville? You came back after what I did. I'm so sorry. I thought about what happened and realized I almost caused what I was hoping to protect you from."

Harry said "Aunt Alice, would you come out here?"

"I...I don't know if I can. It took so much to open those other doors. I just don't think I am strong enough. Why don't you come in here?"

Neville said "I'm sorry Mum but we can't do that. I won't risk losing Harry like last time. We have an idea. It will be painful but we promise to be with you the whole time and give you our strength."

She sobbed "I can't."

Harry glanced at Neville who raised his hand and said "Accio Mum." One of the things they realized is that inside the mind, you didn't need a wand to use magic.

She was pulled through the door into the hallway screaming and fighting the whole way. When she landed in Neville's arms, she tried to run back into her room but Neville held her in a firm hug until she settled a little bit. Once she was calmer, they explained their plan.

Harry stepped to the first door and waved his hand unlocking the door. He then grasped the handle and felt like he was being electrocuted. He fought through the pain and shoved the door open. They fought through ten doors like this while alternating between holding Alice and opening a door. Although painful for Alice, the unlocking of memories was bringing back the woman she used to be. It was after the tenth door that she had led them along the hall towards another door. Even though she was sobbing, she said "This one next. I think I will be able to help you once we open it. I want to warn you though; I think it will be the worst one yet."

Neville said "Let me do it."

"No, I don't think so. You just had the last one and I feel that somehow Gabby can help me with this. You hold onto your Mum."

Harry stepped to the door and again unlocked it with a wave of his hand. He took a deep breath and then gripped the door handle. The pain that he experienced was incredible. It lit up his nerves like his whole body was on fire and drove him to his knees screaming. Much like electrocution, Harry's hand acted involuntarily and contracted around the door handle. Frozen in place and not being able to release that which was tormenting him, his eyes managed to drift over to Alice and Neville who were also on the floor in agony. Appoline was having all her senses assaulted much like the other healers but managed to open her eyes. What she saw terrified her as she saw Neville jerking in spasms and Susan holding on tightly to him with her mouth open in a silent scream. She looked to Harry and saw the same thing but her daughter was fighting through the pain and was emitting an aura that was pushing itself into Harry in her efforts to keep him sane. A quick look at the clock showed them to have been at this for seventeen hours.

Far away in England, Dobby and Sirius were touring Potter Manor when he suddenly stopped. With an expression of fright on his face, he said "Master" and disappeared. Sirius knew Dobby well enough to know that for him to act like that, something was very wrong. Dobby's reaction scared Sirius enough for him to apparate directly to the front gates of Hogwarts. He wasn't aware of any plans for the weekend and thought it to be the place where Harry was. He burst into the Great Hall during lunch and headed straight for the head table. When he got there, he asked Minerva "Where's my son?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since dinner last evening."

He turned and frantically looked for anyone who might be able to give him the answers he needed. He spotted Fleur and Hermione and ran to them. "Where is he?"

Hermione said "They left me a note saying they had some business to take care of and would be back this evening. Oh No. You don't think?" She turned to Fleur with a hard glare.

Fleur said "They went back to help Alice."

Sirius exploded "AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME? Damn those two. Dobby just disappeared from me in a panic."

Fleur stood in a panic and grabbed his hand. She said "Are you coming Hermione?"

Albus said "And just where do you think you are going?"

Sirius said "Sorry Headmaster, family business."

"And just where is Lord Potter?"

"Again family business, Headmaster. If he wants to tell you, he will."

The three ran to the carriage and disappeared through the floo. Fleur grabbed Jean as they arrived at Delacour Manor and then flooed to the hospital. Once they had cleared the fireplace, Jean commanded "Where are they?"

Dobby was drawn to his Master and Mistress's distress. He instantly knew what he needed to do and wrapped his arms around Harry and was drawn into Alice's mind with Harry and Neville. What he saw horrified him as Harry was lying there screaming with blood dripping from his nose and ears. Neville and Alice were also lying on the floor in pain and screaming but weren't nearly as bad off as Harry. One look at the door and Dobby banished it. In his rage that something would hurt his Master, Dobby threw up his hands and blew every door in the hall apart. They would no longer hurt his Master and Master's brother.

Dobby's actions had the desired effect and Harry and Neville were no longer thrashing about on the floor. Now, they were just lying there very still and very exhausted. What caught his attention now was brother's mother was screaming even louder. She was holding her head and he could feel that it was due to her mind reasserting itself. A few moments later, he saw Harry crawling over to her and along with Neville, wrapping his arms around her giving her what little strength and comfort they had. Dobby watched over them as they lay there with her until she calmed. A few minutes later, her eyes opened and she said "Boys, thank you but you need to go back before you don't have the strength to leave. Dobby stepped forward and "Dobby will take them back."

""I don't know you. Who are you?"

"Dobby is Master Harry's bonded elf. Dobby always takes care of Master Harry and his family."

"Thank you Dobby."

Dobby levitated both boys and guided them back out. Once they arrived, the healers along with the four teens all collapsed just as the door flew open and Sirius, Jean, Fleur, and Hermione all piled in the room. They took in the scene and saw Appoline and the healers with dark circles under their eyes lying on the floor. The next thing they saw was a very pale Susan and Neville with their arms about each other also lying on the floor with the same dark circles. The next thing they saw was a very pale Gabrielle who was lying there holding on to Harry for dear life. She had a faint light blue aura that was somehow flowing into Harry. The most horrifying thing was when they saw a deathly pale Harry with blood trickling from his ears, nose, and eyes. Sirius was the first to notice Dobby standing over them fretting and saying "Dobby will take care of Master and Mistress. Mistress will wake soon and then she can help Dobby."

Jean turned and yelled for healers who poured in to the room. All the commotion had stirred Alice who opened her eyes. She looked around and said "Sirius?"

"Hey Alice."

She said "When I get my hands on you" and then fell asleep.

Sirius looked at the others and said "Looks like they did it."

**HV**

In their brief moments of alertness, Alice and Appoline demanded and large room where the whole family could gather and where they could see their children when they were awake. They had left the four teens together as they found it nearly impossible to separate them. It was a few hours later before Neville, Susan, and Gabrielle started to stir. The rejuvenating potions were having the desired effect and were working their magic.

Jean briefly left the room to inform the rest of the family and it was a much frazzled looking Augusta, Minerva, and Amelia who were the next to appear. With tears in her eyes, Augusta checked on Neville first. The healer told her and Amelia that they were just exhausted would be awake soon. Augusta then made her way over to her daughter in law. As she approached, Alice opened her eyes and said "Mother Longbottom" Augusta broke down in tears and hugged Alice tightly.

Minerva joined Sirius who was waiting by Harry's side. She asked "How is he?"

Sirius looked up and said "Magically exhausted with some physical trauma. When we got in the room, he was lying there with blood trickling from his ears, eyes, and nose. The only thing I can compare it to is over exposure to a torture curse."

"The others?"

"We are waiting for them to wake up so that we can find out what happened and then maybe we will know what to do."

**HV**

Appoline was the first to wake up. She took in the room and then got up and went to Neville and Susan. After waving her wand, she saw the results she wanted and then went over to Alice. She studied her for a minute and then touched her forehead. Alice's eyes gently came open. Appoline said "Your son is about to wake, I thought you might like to be there when he opens his eyes."

She smiled and was helped up by another healer and made their way over to Neville's side. She said "Neville, it's time to get up honey."

He opened his eyes to his mother sitting there smiling at him. He jumped up and engulfed her in a hug. He asked "Are you okay?"

"As good as can be expected. Maybe you need to wake up your young lady there."

"That's not just any young lady Mum. She has stood beside me throughout this whole thing. I know without a doubt that she will be my wife one day."

A sleepy grin appeared on Susan's face and she said "I'm going to hold you to that Mister."

Amelia jumped up and had Susan in a hug. "Don't think that you all are going to get away with this stunt. I can't believe you would sneak off without telling anyone."

She smiled sweetly and said "It was Harry's idea."

Appoline had moved over to Gabrielle. After a quick diagnosis spell, she raised an eyebrow and then moved to Harry. She waved her wand and grew concerned. She performed another diagnosis and then smiled. At this point, she had everyone's attention and had just become aware of it. "He is mostly fine but it may take a little while for him to wake."

Sirius asked "Why?"

"He wasn't magically exhausted like the others. It was more a case of being overloaded. My guess is that Harry and Gabrielle shielded everyone else from the magic that was released."

"Where did it go, we didn't feel anything?"

"Well, Gabrielle shielded Harry somehow and then pulled the magic into her."

Fleur asked "If she pulled it into herself, where did it g….she didn't."

Everyone asked "What?"

Appoline said "It seems our little Gabrielle will be quite a powerful witch when she matures. It seems that she channeled that magic into her core which doubled its size. It is something that could only happen during the form of puberty that Veela go through."

Neville sleepily said "From what Fleur has taught us that kind of makes sense."

Sirius said "How so?"

With a smile on her face, Hermione said "If what you all have said is true and that Harry and Gabrielle are bonding in some way and will end up together, based on what Fleur has taught us, her Veela magic is instinctually making her better suited to her mate."

Appoline turned to Fleur with a smile and said "I am very proud of you my daughter. They have a better understanding of Veela than most everyone else."

Fleur smiled in response.

Amelia asked "I still don't understand."

Susan laughed and said "Harry is more powerful than Hermione is smart."

Minerva beamed and Hermione blushed.

Sirius grinned and said "Imagine a fully corporeal patronus able to drive away one hundred dementors and that was in third year."

Amelia's jaw dropped. "Merlin, if I didn't know and love the rascal, I would be afraid of him."

Neville said "As interesting as all this is, what is going on with him?"

A croaking voice said "I was meditating and enjoying a good cuddle with Gabby. So if you all wouldn't mind, I want to enjoy this while I can."

Alice left Neville long enough to hug Harry. "Thank you for coming for me Harry. I'm so proud of both of you."

Hermione asked "Meditating?"

"Yeah Mione, thanks to Sirius, my Black blood gave me natural mind defenses. My time in Aunt Alice's head gave me some ideas and I was working on them."

Alice asked "Um…Harry? Just what did you see?"

He rose up and looked her in the eye. "Everything behind that door passed right through me. I have been sorting ever since and had to build a new mindscape to handle it."

Alice paled and then looked at Appoline. She asked "Would you move you daughter for a minute? This is important."

Appoline nodded as Alice climbed on the bed and straddled Harry. Minerva said "What on earth are you doing?" But before she could do anything, Augusta pulled her away and said "Alice will never hurt Harry intentionally."

Alice took Harry's face in her hands and stared into his eyes. They connected without a spell and Harry let her in. She found herself on a Quidditch pitch with snitches and quaffles flying all around. She asked "You created a mindscape from this. You are such a man."

Harry appeared next to her and said "I thought it was a good idea."

"Where are the memories hidden?"

"The snitches of course."

"Anyone can catch a snitch."

"Want to bet on that?"

To the rest of the room, Alice spoke "Is Harry a seeker?"

Neville said "Mum, Harry is not a seeker; Harry is 'THE' seeker. He hasn't been beat yet at least not really."

Back in the mindscape she asked "So what do you know?"

"I know that you and Mum were Unspeakables and I have a general idea of what you were working on and why both our families were targeted and it wasn't because of some bullshit prophecy. You and Mum figured out Tom's secret and were the real threat to him."

"Yes Harry. That is why that room was protected better than any others as I had locked it away so that no one could access it or even obliviate it away. So now that you know mine and Lily's secret, you know that through our blood, the secrecy oaths fall on you too. Once they find out, it will only be a matter of time before you are recruited and if I am correct, Jean is probably high up in the organization."

"Yes ma'am, I kind of figured all of that out."

"Now, they say you are a pretty good seeker. What are your protections?"

"Well, the quaffles hold basic memories and knowledge. The snitches are set from beginner to professional and then impossible. They hold the important stuff. The impossible snitches hold what you are worried about and it will be some time before I will be able to catch them."

"People can alter their abilities in a mindscape."

"Yes I know and even if they catch any of them, they will never be able to open it or figure out how to. Even if I were to catch one of them, they won't open for me until I am ready to handle it."

"That's really good work. To an occlumens, it would seem that you are a weak minded jock."

Harry laughed and said "I guess I shouldn't tell you about the dementors and bludgers that will get you if you get too close."

She laughed "Merlin, you are so much like Lily."

"Thank you."

"No Harry, thank you. I can just imagine what mine and Frank's condition have been like for Neville and it seems you have had a good influence on him. He is no longer the timid withdrawn boy I would catch glimpses of when he came to visit us."

"He has had just as much influence on me."

With that said Alice drew herself out and then got off the bed. She turned to the rest of the room and asked "Where's Frank?"

Appoline said "Are you sure?"

Alice nodded. When Neville and Augusta started to protest, Harry said "Let her handle it, she knows what she is doing."

Appoline led her to the room she and Frank had been sharing. Alice turned and said "Give us a little while. I'll be fine. Just put up some silencing wards please."

With a devious smirk, Alice went over to Franks' bed and started disrobing. She then pulled down his blankets and raised his hospital gown. She smiled as she thought of the horror if Augusta ever knew that her son's libido was just as bad as James' and Sirius' ever were. The only consolation was that he had set his sites on Alice early and they had learned together. She started stimulating her husband and was soon rewarded by what she had missed for longer than she wanted to think about. She climbed on top of him and once situated, started rocking on him gently. Her next move was much like she did to Harry where she placed her hands on his face and then dove into his mind. With her knowledge, she brought him out of his safe room and destroyed the barriers that were holding him in. His extraction was much easier as she had him completely distracted by her ministrations. When he started actively participating in the act, she knew he was back with her. The stories about Sirius were nothing in comparison to her Frank, his stamina was incredible and he kept her busy for another hour. Their eyes had been locked the whole time and he knew everything she did. After a quick rest, he said "Guess we had better go see everyone."

Frank and Alice stepped over to a wardrobe and found a change of clothes and got dressed. They walked hand in hand and back into the room where the rest of the family was. Frank said "Hello Mum" and Augusta promptly fainted.

Appoline said "How?"

Sirius looked at them both and burst out laughing. He said "I'd recognize that look anywhere. Quite ingenious Alice."

Due to the time they spent together in Harry's mind, it only took a second for Harry to understand what he meant while everyone was still trying to figure out what Sirius meant. Harry said "Thank god I woke up when I did."

Sirius started roaring in laughter as most of the women, especially Alice, grew bright red. She retorted "I was wrong about you; you are James Potter through and through."

Sirius laughed again and said "He's worse. He is the both of them rolled into one."

Harry joined Sirius in laughing just as Frank was engulfed in a hug from Neville. Alice joined in and they stayed that way for quite a while. Not really wanting to break up the reunion, Harry said "Um...could someone wake up Gran, she might like to get in on that."

That sent the whole room into laughter and then a mad dash was made to wake up Augusta. Once on her feet, she was brought into the family hug and Harry had tears streaming down his face in happiness for Neville. Even if he couldn't get his parents back, he was happy that Neville had his once again.

After a quick diagnostic test by Appoline, Harry and Gabrielle quickly left the group and went back to Delacour Manor where they took a long walk on the grounds. Even though they walked in silence most of the time, they never let go of the others' hands. They had finally come to a stop at a spot overlooking the lake when Harry turned and pulled her into a hug. He said "Thank you. I never would have made it without you." He followed this up with a quick kiss on her lips.

They knew this would be their last time seeing each other for a while since the third task was fast approaching and he and fleur would be using all of their available time to train and get ready for it. They could see movement around the house and knew that everyone was returning from the hospital. She led him back inside where he bid his farewells and stepped into the floo but not before sharing another small kiss with Gabrielle.

Harry's arrival at Longbottom Manor was quickly followed by Hermione, Sirius, and Minerva. Before they could turn around and floo to the castle, the Longbottoms along with Susan and Amelia arrived. Susan said that Fleur was going straight to the carriage from home and would see them in the morning. Sirius pulled Harry to the side and quietly admonished him for what he had done but at the same time gave him a hug and told him how proud he was. Before he could leave, Alice once again pulled Harry into a hug and thanked him along with asking him to stay the night. With a quiet 'your welcome', Harry declined saying that Neville needed this time without him around. With a smile to Neville, he stepped through the floo and into Minerva's office.

Minerva followed quickly and before he could leave her office, she pulled him into a hug. She said "I'm very mad at you and very proud of you at the same time. Can I ask why you didn't take Alice up on her offer?"

Harry sighed and said "I don't know. I felt like I would be intruding on their time if I stayed."

"Nonsense, even though it may not seem like it to you, Alice thinks of you as her own child just as much as Neville thinks of you as his brother."

With a few tears leaking down his face, he said "Its just so…..damn….I am happy for Neville. More than you can imagine. I felt if I could do this one thing for him then maybe I will have made up for all that he does for me. And then we do it, and I feel jealous because he got his parents back and I can never do that."

She grabbed him into a hug and said "Even though James and Lily aren't here, you are no longer alone anymore."

"I know it's just not the same. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for you and Sirius but after today, I think I miss them even more."

Harry was in the process of giving Minerva a tight hug when the door flew open and Dumbledore stepped through just as Hermione stepped through the fireplace. He said "I demand to know what is going on. Lord Potter, from now on, if you have business outside the castle, you will have to get MY permission to leave."

Minerva bristled and said "Back off Albus. He is my responsibility and is an adult so you have no say over his comings and goings as long as it doesn't interfere with his classes."

She turned and looked at Harry with a questioning look and got a nod in return.

Harry said "Even though it is none of your business Headmaster, I will tell you that Scion Longbottom and I have been working with mind healers in an attempt to improve Lord and Lady Longbottom's condition. I am pleased to say that we were successful today and at the present time they are recovering with Neville and Augusta at their home. Scion Longbottom and Scion Bones will return to the castle tomorrow."

"Frank and Alice are awake?"

Minerva said "Very much so."

A scowling Harry said "If that will be all, I would like to return to my quarters now that is if I have your permission Headmaster."

"Of course Lord Potter, I was merely concerned for your safety."

Harry glared at Dumbledore before saying "Why the concern all of a sudden? You weren't too concerned over my safety before I came to Hogwarts."

"Lord Potter, I have offered my apologies for my failures. I had hoped we were past this."

"But yet you come here and say that I am required to ask your permission before handling the affairs of my family. The more things change, the more things stay the same. In your eyes, I will always be the orphan boy who you hid away and let his relatives abuse and starve. I wonder Headmaster, are you that desperate to control me?"

Dumbledore stood there pale and silent.

Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and strolled out of the office. As he left he said "I guess I have my answer then."

After they had left the room, Minerva glared at Albus and said "You just can't help it can you? You might as well go ahead and sign the transfer papers after your little stunt tonight."

"I won't allow it."

"It is no longer your decision as he can make his own. He has the loving support of a family now which is something you denied him in his earlier years. Another mistake on your part and I will personally help him fill out the transfer papers along with anyone else who chooses to go with him."

**HV**

With Frank and Alice on the mend, Harry was able to put his distractions behind him and focus intently on his training and every available minute was used in getting ready. After a few weeks, the results of Jake's physical fitness regimen was showing results as Harry and Fleur were easily the most fit people at Hogwarts. For Fleur, it only enhanced her already incredible features and made her even more desirable to the males of the school. It proved to them that physical strength had a direct relation to magical strength as her allure became even more pronounced. Harry was often quite amused by the idiots who walked into walls whenever they passed them in the halls.

Fleur wasn't the only one that the conditioning affected. While Harry's body had improved due to the adoptions ritual, the results of the workouts were giving him a much more defined physique which had more than a few witches around Hogwarts drooling. Their evening spell work and dueling practice had also seen Harry improve greatly. After three weeks of practical spell work, Harry had reached Fleur's level and by her teaching him, her spell work had gotten even better. The fourth week had them working on the lists given to them by the adults in the family.

The bad thing was that they had spent so much time catching Harry up that they were quickly running out of time. They knew that practice with the adults would have been a big help but after Harry's last encounter with the Headmaster, he was being stubborn and refused to go anywhere near Dumbledore. This especially included the indignity of having to ask permission to go spend time with his family. Over the course of the past few weeks, Harry had repeatedly ignored all of the summonses to the Headmaster's office.

**HV**

Albus called Minerva into his office and asked "Why hasn't Lord Potter responded to my summons?"

"He asked me if there were any school related issues that had come up regarding him and when I replied 'No' he said something about not listening to an old goat shoveling a bunch of dung. Can I assume he was referring to you?"

"I have invited him to my office several times to try and clear the air between us."

"Albus, Lord Potter has made it quite clear that he wants nothing to do with you ever again based on the fact that you and you alone have done more to ruin his life than Voldemort ever did."

"That was never my intention. I only wanted to keep him safe."

"I'm sorry Albus but he doesn't see it that way anymore. You little tantrum in my office destroyed any chance of reconciliation between the two of you and where he once thought of you as a potential ally, he now sees you as a threat to his family."

Albus hung his head as she walked out of the office.

**HV**

As the weather started warming up, Harry and Fleur had taken their training outside in the evenings. They had chosen to wear shorts and tank tops as their workout clothes and had attracted quite a following by the various witches and wizards of Hogwarts anxious to watch two of the hottest people at the school as they got sweaty from all the physical activity. Most nights, they were followed by the other members of the 'family' who would work to keep everyone away. One particular night, Victor and Cedric had decided to watch and spent the whole time ridiculing them as they practiced dueling and their agility training.

Cedric made the comment "What a couple of pathetic losers" which was followed by the laughter of their groupies. Susan glanced up and saw Hannah laughing right along with them and it broke her heart and enraged her at the same time. Before Neville could grab her, a red faced Susan had approached Cedric and smacked him soundly. If that wasn't enough, she got right in his face.

"I will tell you what pathetic is. I was pathetic because I used to love this boy who was kind and sweet and never said harsh words to anyone except in defense of others. Before long, I came to look upon him as my big brother and he saw me as his little sister. Over the years, we grew really close. Sadly, the young man I thought of as a brother died this year when he let his ego run away with him. I really miss him but thankfully, I found a new brother who acts much the same way as the other one did. The best part is that my new brother has the power to back up what he says."

Hanna said "Says the little slut who moved in with two boys and is probably spreading her legs for both of them."

Harry and Neville both went after her at the same time only to be stopped by Fleur and Daphne.

With tears in her eyes, Susan turned and focused on Hannah. She said "Miss Abbott, I am under contract to Scion Longbottom. As those of you who know the rules and laws governing the Most Ancient and Noble Houses, at the time of my marriage, I am required to be a virgin at the time of my marriage. This may come as a shock to you but there is nothing I want more in my life than to complete this contract so along those same lines, there is nothing I would do to risk it. This year you tossed me aside over some boy and I just wonder what happens next year when your hero is gone and you find yourself all alone. Your actions this year and the things you just said about me just reaffirmed by choice of removing you from the wards of my home. I will have Tippy gather all your belongings at my house and return them to your parents."

She turned on the spot and went back and sat down with the others. All the while, Cedric and his groupies were looking at her incredulously as Hannah looked as if she had been struck. Without really having anything to say in response, they turned and walked back towards the castle.

Harry asked "Sue, you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks Harry. I guess I just let them get to me."

"Don't worry about it. I don't mind scary Suzy when it's not directed at me."

Neville said "Damn right."

That broke the tension and everyone chuckled.