Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Except where I might use some song lyrics which I will call out at the time and give proper credit. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.

Also, if you have not read my story, Harry Potter and the Muggles' Daughter, you are going to be lost. That is the prequel to this. But hey, if you haven't, BONUS! You've got a whole story you can go read before coming back here!

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

Illusion Shattered: Part II

Harry stood at the center of the group. A rather large number were gathered for Kaa's funeral. His mum, Mr and Mrs Tonks, Remus, Sirius, the Grangers, Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Bill, Tonks, her boyfriend and Ginny's brother Charlie, even Director Bones had come and he'd only ever spoken with her twice. They had gathered in the pasture under a tree whose branches Harry had spent many hours in. Beneath it was a large rock Kaa had liked to sun herself on. Sirius had constructed a funeral pyre and Kaa's body lay coiled on it.

"Would you like a moment before we begin?" Mum asked.

Harry took a deep breath and stepped to the pyre. He hesitated for a second before reaching to stroke Kaa's head. Eventually Hermione stepped next to him and took his free hand. Ginny stepped to his other side and Luna crowded behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Thanks," Harry croaked.

Ginny reached to stroke Kaa's head as well and Harry's fingers tingled with soothing energy when they touched. "You don't have to if you don't want," Ginny said hesitantly, "but Bill's earing is a dragon fang." Harry glanced at her. "Just if you wanted something to remember her by."

Harry tipped his head slightly before turning back to Kaa. He pulled his hand from Hermione's. Kaa's mouth opened easily and her fang practically fell out in his fingers. Harry offered the fang to Ginny. "Will you do it?"

Her eyes widened. "You want me to—"

"Please?"

"But I don't know how."

"It's plenty sharp. Just push it through."

Ginny glanced at Hermione, then Luna and then Harry's mum. Mrs Potter gave a small nod. She turned back to Harry. "You're sure?"

"Please."

Ginny took the fang, and reached for Harry's ear. Positioning the fang she took a breath and pushed. Sharp as it was, it went through with almost no effort and Harry didn't so much as flinch. She pushed it through to where the fang thickened, bent his ear slightly and made the second piercing. She examined her work for a second. "It looks good."

Harry smiled at her and took her hand. "Thanks."

She gave his hand a squeeze. "You're welcome."

Harry turned back to Kaa, giving her a last stroke before he took Hermione's hand again and backed away. "Alright," he said.

Mum stepped forward. "I know I speak for more than myself when I say Kaa was a surprise. I think, perhaps for all of us but my son, our first reactions to her were of fear and distrust. Kaa never once condemned me for this.

"I am regretful to say my relationship with Kaa did not come quickly, nor did it come easily. To my shame I alone bear responsibility for this and I must admit that for a very long time, she was far more patient, and a far better friend to me than I to her. I stand humbled by the spirit that taught me how wrong I was. It is also with relief in my heart that I bid farewell to my friend; for she knew just how much I had come to love her before she heroically gave her life.

"I do not know if Kaa ever considered her death and what mark she would leave behind, what words would be used to describe her? I doubt, since her passing, more than a few minutes have gone by before I returned to that question. What words would I use to describe her? There are many; kind, patient, brave, intelligent, loyal, I could go on. But the one I keep coming back to is one I have already used.

"Heroic.

"Kaa came into Harry's life at a desperate time. The very first act she took in relation to Harry was to give up part of her very being to protect him. The final act of her life was spent the same; protecting my son, and three very dear young ladies. Between these two acts were countless others. She truly was heroic."

As she spoke, Mum began to move slowly about the gathering. "But the debt I owe Kaa is so very much deeper than in the lives she saved. Without her, I would have woken from my ordeal to find my son dead." She stopped in front of Ginny's brothers. "Bill and Charlie, we have only just met, yet the bonds of friendship have taken root. Already they run strong and deep." She turned from them. "Luna and Ginny, whom I already grow to love as daughters of my own. Sirius, would I have even cared that you were innocent? My dear friends, Amelia, Andi and Ted, and their daughter Tonks, what cause would there be to have brought us together? Mali, David and the daughter of my heart, Hermione, the same question must be asked. And how very empty would my life be without all of you?" She cupped Hermione's cheek. "Especially you, Hermione."

Hermione wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight. "I love you too, Lily."

Mum kissed her crown before untangling herself from Hermione's grasp. She swiped a tear from Harry's friend's cheek before turning to Remus and taking his hand. "And you, my oldest, most dear and trusted friend, I shudder even to consider where we would be should Kaa not have come into our lives."

Remus squeezed her hand. "Me as well, Lils. Me as well."

Mum turned last to Harry. "And you, my son, for whom Kaa did everything… What she leaves behind is a story of friends, hope and love that, without her first being, simply would not have been written. Her absence will be profoundly felt." Mum bent and kissed his crown. "I am sorry, Harry," she said softly.

Harry gave a shaky nod. "She loved you too, Mum." Mum pulled him in and they embraced tightly. "Would you like to say something?" she asked. Harry nodded against her chest. "Take your time, Love." Harry held onto her for another minute or so before letting go. He swiped the renegade tears from his cheeks and began haltingly.

"I – I guess I sh–should thank you all for coming…" Absently he rubbed his arm where Kaa had bitten him. "I don't really know what to say. K–Kaa was my friend. I – I never thought I'd be wi–without h–her. We – we were a part of each other. And I ju–just feel emp–empty. It just hurts," he finished in a broken whisper. Hermione, Ginny and Luna crowded around him, wrapping around him in a protective cocoon.

"It's alright, Harry," Hermione soothed.

"You don't have to say anything else," Luna said.

Mum wrapped her arms around all of them. "It gets easier, Love, I swear."

"I d–don't want it to get easier."

Mum kissed his crown. "It doesn't mean you forget, Harry, just that you can function."

Harry shrugged his way out of their embrace. "I don't want to talk anymore. Can we just get on with it?"

"If you're ready."

Harry triggered the release for his wand. "I just want to be done," he bit out.

"Alright then. If everyone will form a circle around the pyre." The group quickly followed her direction and stood with wands ready.

Mrs Tonks began, "Magicis venimus magica revertamur."

"Magicis venimus magica revertamur," the assembly intoned.

"Ut repetere possim," Mrs Tonks said.

"Ut repetere possim,"

"quod dedi universi," Mrs Tonks finished. A lance of white flame flashed from her wand to the pyre."

"quod dedi universi," Nine lances of flame joined the one from Mrs Tonks' wand in igniting the pyre. Mum, Mali and Mr Granger each tossed a small pellet of accelerant onto the pyre and the flames leapt up to consume Kaa's body. With the large number of sorcerers feeding it, the process took little time at all and the pyre soon collapsed in on itself.

"Rest in peace, our friend," Mum said. Harry was the last to break the spell. When he did, a sealed sarcophagus of white marble remained. "Remus," Mum said, "we'll wait for you to activate the wards." Remus turned on the spot and was gone with a sharp crack. He was back in less than a minute and before Harry knew it they were at the cemetery in Godric's Hallow and he was staring at the headstone marking his father's gravesite. He noted Remus had already placed his customary yellow tulip for the unknown woman who shared his father's grave on the stone before his eyes traveled down to the inscription.

THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH

Even though he'd not quite understood the phrase, he'd always been a bit obsessed with it. Now though, thanks to Hermione, he felt he understood. The last place his eyes traveled were to his mum and dad's names. His stomach turned. As much as it helped him feel a connection to his father, seeing his mum's name engraved in the stone sickened him; as such he had only visited twice. He turned away and his eyes fell on a hole in the cold ground and Kaa's sarcophagus set next to it.

"I wish we could linger, Harry, but it's too dangerous," Mum said.

"I just want to be done," Harry answered. Mum nodded to Remus and he quickly levitated and then lowered the sarcophagus into the ground. Mum approached the grave. She stood in silence, peering down into it for a few moments before she bent to grab a handful of dirt from the pile. She tossed the dirt in. "He is both our son. I will keep him safe now. Be at peace, my friend," she said before backing away.

Hermione quickly copied her actions. "Thank you for being my friend," she whispered.

Everyone quickly followed suit, with Bill and Charlie going last. "Rest easy," Charlie said.

"We'll protect him now," Bill added.

"Harry?" Mum asked. Harry shook his head. Mum nodded and Remus quickly levitated the dirt back into the hole and replaced the sod. "Let's go," Mum said.

"Not yet," Harry stopped her. He quickly stepped to the head of the grave, set Hermione's bag down and used his wand to levitate the obelisk from it.

There were essentially two types of headstones; carved and transmogrified. Transmogrification was the permanent changing of an object to something else. It was exceedingly difficult magic that only the most skilled sorcerers could manage. For nearly everyone else, transfigured objects slowly morphed back to their original state. It was therefore considered a great honor to have a headstone that was not carved, but transmogrified. A few sorcerers would perform the service if desired, but it was a rarely chosen route. One could always tell the difference between a stone transmogrified by hire verses a stone done so by one who had a deep connection with the deceased. The moment he read it in the tome Hermione had shown him, Harry had determined Kaa would have a transmogrified stone if it killed him, and Hermione had given him the perfect inscription as well.

Sending his wand away, Harry stood in front of the obelisk and placed his hands on the stone. Closing his eyes he delved into his memories of Kaa; good and bad, joy and pain, friendship and loss, bravery, fear, forgiveness, anger, searching for everything he felt, and could ever remember feeling, in regards to Kaa to power his magic. And it responded to him; like never before. It coursed, roiling, swelling, welling with intent and surged up from his core into his chest to his shoulders, down his arms and poured from his hands like liquid light. His magic spread to cover the stone before forcing its way inside. It happened suddenly; the stone going from solid to malleable in an instant, merging with his magic it became an extension of himself. Harry gave an experimental push and the obelisk shrank accordingly as he widened the base, creating a place for the inscription. Pleased, he shoved and two spikes of stone stabbed into the ground, creating an anchor for his creation. There was still plenty of stone left and Harry set the picture of what he wanted firmly in his mind. Stone ran like water, pooling at one edge it took the shape of a tree that had taken root next to a standard headstone. The tree grew around the stone, becoming one with it, branches formed and spread, draped on the main branch of the tree he created a perfect representation of Kaa. Buried within the obsidian, was a tiny impurity, a small bit of graphite that Harry isolated and compressed, squeezing it with the weight of a mountain. With the very last of his strength Harry left a spark of magic behind in her diamond eyes. Finished, his magic retreated back within him. Harry staggered back, utterly exhausted.

"Harry!" a half dozen voices cried. Mum rushed to him.

"I'm fine," he gasped. He allowed her to support him.

"Lily," Remus urged gently. "The ward was never meant to cover something like that. We need to go."

"I'm fine, we can go now," Harry said.

Albus Dumbledore apparated to the cemetery in Godric's Hallow and cursed his luck. He just hadn't been able to respond quickly enough when his monitoring spells had gone off; whomever had been there was gone now. They had obviously not lingered. The source of the disturbance wasn't difficult to find. The residue of recently performed magic permeated the very air. The stone was truly astounding. The formation was flawless and the depiction of Kaa draped on the branches, her eyes sparkling with lifelike realism, was perfection. It was enough to give one pause before touching it. He let his hand run over the surface before backing away.

KAA

1986-1991

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND CRY;

I AM NOT THERE; I DID NOT DIE.

"More than impressive, Mr. Potter," he said and apparated away.

HPHPHP

Bill Weasley was what the Muggles called an Unhappy Camper. He was at his wit's end with his mother and four youngest brothers. It had been difficult to believe Ginny's version of their mother's visit while she was in hospital. But after reading the letters his mother had written Ginny this year, he'd reluctantly been forced to accept the truth. There hadn't been a word of comfort spoken to his sister. Worse, it was his mother's bloody damn howler that precipitated the fight that had placed Ginny in the toilet in the first place. He was fed up and he was going to get to lay down the law once and for all… Just as soon as he dealt with his brothers.

"Glad it's you, Mate," Charlie said.

"I'm gonna need you to try and keep things in line, I can't keep coming back like this. The goblins are getting a bit irritated with me."

"I'll do what I can, Mate. But I'm a quidditch player. I'm not exactly stable either."

Bill drummed his fingers on his leg. "I think I might bring Ginny to Egypt over Christmas."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Bill stood up and started pacing. "Where are those bastards?" On cue the door opened.

"Inside with you," Professor McGonagall said. She followed Percy, the twins and Ron into the room."

"William, Charles," Percy said, clearly surprised to see them. "What are you doing here?"

Bill glowered at him. "Oh, I don't know, something to do with our sister being in hospital," he said.

Percy paled, the twins shifted uncomfortably, Ron proved he hadn't learned to think before speaking. "Bloody Slytherin."

Bill grabbed Ron by the front of his robes. "Ginny is your sister!" he said through clenched teeth. "The same sister who gave you a hundred and fifty galleon broom. Have you forgotten about that you ungrateful little sod?" Ron spluttered and Bill gave him a shove, sending him stumbling back. "Against my better judgment I let you keep that broom. It's gone. I'll be taking it with me when I go."

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

Bill advanced on him. "I can and I will, and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. You'll get it back when I think you understand family is a whole lot more important than whatever bloody damn house you're in. Further, your marks stink. Professor McGonagall runs a study hall three nights a week. You'll be attending till she determines your marks have sufficiently improved. Last, if I hear one more word about you harassing Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter or your sister, you'll find yourself removed from Hogwarts for a period of one week. You'll spend that week with Charlie. I'm fairly certain he can find ways of making you see the light." Bill glared at his youngest brother. "Say something, Ron, I dare you." Ron kept his mouth shut and Bill turned on the other three.

"Not that I expect any of you to care; it's not like you could be bothered to visit her in hospital or anything, is it? But your sister is fine. She did receive a rather nasty cut though. It's along her left jaw and was deep enough that it actually gouged the bone. She'll have a scar from it." Bill gave a little shrug. "But hey, just a half inch lower and it would have sliced clean through her jugular. So, you know, I guess I'm not going to complain about not having to plan her funeral. Ron was probably too angry to have even heard what he'd said, but Percy and the twins exchanged uneasy glances. Bill focused on Fred and George. "But then you two wouldn't have bothered going to her funeral, would you?"

"Of course we would!" they protested.

Bill smirked and went for the kill. "So then Ginny didn't overhear you in the library telling Lee that she was dead to you." The twins paled.

Percy rounded on them. "YOU DID WHAT?"

"Shut up, Percy, you've hardly been any better," they shouted

"I never," Percy blustered.

"Stuff it!" Bill cut them all off. "The four of you have done everything you could get away with to make Ginny's life miserable. It ends now. Ron, you're dealt with." He pointed at Percy and the twins. "The three of you have lost Hogsmeade privileges. To ensure none of you get it in your head to try sneaking there, you will all report to professor McGonagall's office instead. Fred and George, Professor McGonagall assures me you both could stand to improve your marks so she will have appropriate assignments for you. Percy, giving you extra revision isn't a punishment. You will sit there. You will not read, you will not write. You will do nothing but contemplate just what it means to be family. The three of you will suffer this till professor McGonagall and I determine you've learned your lesson." The three in question looked at their feet.

"I have one further thing to add," Professor McGonagall said. "Percy, you are a Prefect. I warned you already I expected better of you. To be perfectly clear, this is your last warning. If I do not see marked improvement in your behavior, your status as a Prefect will be rescinded.

Percy swallowed. "Yes, Ma'am… Is that all?"

"Yes," Bill said. "And because I can't stand the sight of any of you right now, Percy, take Ron and get that broom. You have ten minutes."

"You can't have my broom!"

"Ron," Bill said, "if that broom isn't in my hands in ten minutes, I'm taking you out of Hogwarts for a week."

"You can't have it!"

"Professor McGonagall," Bill said, "It's becoming apparent to me that my brother may not be mature enough to attend Hogwarts at this time. Would you concur that it might be for the best for him to spend a week with Charlie while he thinks things through? He can always start again next year, can't he?"

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

Bill silenced him. "Simple choice, Ron," he said. "The broom, or a week with Charlie… And if you shout again, the decision will be made for you." Bill waited another moment before canceling his spell.

"I'll get my broom."

"You have ten minutes." Ron didn't move. "Well, what are you waiting for?" Ron turned and quickly left. Bill turned his attention to Percy and the twins. "Pray I don't have to come back here again," he warned. "Now get out of my sight." The twins were gone in a blink. "Go Percy," Bill snapped, "before I think of something else." Percy hurried from the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

"How'd I do?" Bill asked.

"Did your father ever need to physically assault you?" Professor McGonagall said.

"We aint dad," Charlie said. Bill thumped me. I thumped Percy, we all thumped the twins and everyone thumped Ron. It's just the way it worked. You know that, Auntie."

"That may be the case with brothers. But, William, you especially, are now the father and I would suggest you would do better with Ronald to cease behaving like his brother."

Bill sighed. "I understand what you're saying. I don't know how I'm going to do that but thank you for your counsel… How about the rest of it?"

"I feel your punishments were appropriate. Percy in particular was a stroke of genius. He usually only spends a few hours of a Saturday in the village anyway. The rest of the time he is in the library studying. There are weekends he does not go to the town at all. He will be most aggrieved when it sets in that he has lost five hours or more of time he could have spent on his revision."

HPHPHP

"Well, Potter's gone so she'll be alone," Theodore Nott said.

Sirius stiffened. Andi had been right. Ginny could avoid her housemates for only so long. Sooner or later she had to go back to the Slytherin common room and there would be a gauntlet to run before she reached her room and the warded area around her bed. He shouldn't have been surprised. He well knew the manner in which his family had expected him to treat outsiders. And outsiders who refused to be cowed by their betters, well, let's just say it wasn't pretty. Harry being gone was the perfect opportunity for the little monsters of Slytherin to teach Ginny a lesson.

"I don't know," Blaise countered, "Potter's got some kind of ward on his stuff, I can't get anywhere near it."

"Greengrass," Pansy called.

A very pretty blonde girl turned icy blue eyes on the dark haired girl. "I don't know anything about Weasley or her stuff. I do not speak to her, she does not speak to me."

"You were listening to us!" Tracey Davis accused.

Daphne gave her a withering glare. "Of course I was you stupid cow." She ignored the girl's outraged spluttering – she was far beneath her status – and turned her attention to Draco. "Honestly Draco, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole of Gryffindor know you're planning something. Please do try to be more discreet in the future and for Merlin's sake do not involve my name in anything that might bring Potter's wrath down on me."

"You're frightened of Potter!" Draco exclaimed.

"Despite your delusions Draco," she retorted, "In the two months since we arrived at school, Potter has proven himself to be physically, magically and intellectually superior to you. Despite my, and the whole of Ravenclaw's best efforts, he and his little harem are top of our class in every subject. He is a Parselmouth who arrived at school with a Familiar; the first to do so in more than a hundred years. He and his little sycophants also recently killed – I'll repeat that for you – killed a fully-grown mountain troll… Oh, and he was responsible for stopping the Dark Lord when he was still an infant." She pushed her plate back. "I'm cautious, Draco. You would do well to be so also."

"I'm top of our class in potions," Draco snarled.

Daphne laughed. "That's what you took from that. Well then, you go right on believing that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Daphne rolled her eyes. "If you can't figure it out, I'm not going to explain it to you."

"You better watch yourself, Greengrass," Draco threatened. "If you don't start showing me the respect I deserve I might decide to teach you a lesson as well."

"You better watch yourself, Draco," Daphne fired back. "There is a reason the Dark Lord was cautious in his dealings with my family."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Are you going to run and tell Daddy on me, Draco?" she taunted. He turned scarlet. "If I find my name associated with anything you attempt regarding Potter or Weasley I will tell my father. And he will be most displeased." She turned and walked away with her small group of friends hurrying after her.

Seething, Draco watched her go. "She'll get hers. I promise you that."

"Are we going to do it then?" Blaise asked.

"We'll catch her outside the common room."

Sirius lurked in the hallway outside of the Slytherin common room. He'd managed to sneak into Gryffindor tower where he'd circumvented the ward that prevented boys from entering the girls' dormitories before breaking into Hermione's trunk and stealing her copy of the Marauder's map. He counted eight Slytherins hidden in the corridor waiting for Ginny. The eighth name was a surprise; as was the ninth. Snivels was directly across from him, and his presence could make this extremely difficult; because Ginny was coming. She was late, past curfew, and it seemed to have been deliberate on her part. For the past ten minutes she'd been waiting in an alcove two levels up. There was no doubting the girl's instincts. She knew she was exposed and was probably hoping that by being late she'd be able to sneak in and get to the safety of her room before anyone could bother her. He held his breath as she turned the last corner. He'd planned to just put the lot of the bastards to sleep but Snivels was making that impossible. What the hell is he doing here anyway?

Ginny hurried to the hidden passage to the Slytherin dungeon. She only had to make it a bit further and hope Snape had already cleared the common room. It wouldn't take her but twenty seconds to dash to her room and the safety of her bed and the ward that protected it. Luna had been very concerned for her and only the threat of being expelled had prevented Ginny from spending the night in her friend's bed in the Ravenclaw tower. Luna had brought her in the tower a few times and she loved the bright airiness of it. She truly hated the Slytherin dormitories. They were dank and dark and there was always a bit of chill. The only window was in the common room and it looked into the great Black Loch they'd crossed on the night of their arrival at the school. A cold, diffused green light filtered down through the water to the window and made the whole place even gloomier. Even when the light filtering down was at it's brightest it just served to emphasize the fact that she was missing out on seeing a glorious day. "Bloody damn hat," she muttered.

"Well well," Draco stepped in front of her, stopping Ginny cold in her tracks. "Look who's all alone."

"There are two of us Draco," Ginny retorted. "Neither of us is alone. Though I'll admit it was far preferable to being in your presence."

"Oh, I'm not alone, Weasley." Crabbe, Goyle, Blaise, Theodore, Pansy and Tracey stepped out from their hiding spots. "Bring her," Draco said. Crabbe and Goyle grabbed her by an arm each.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, Ginny berated herself. She should have stayed with Luna. "I'm warning you, Malfoy."

"You are hardly in a place to be issuing threats, Weasley."

A number of things happened very quickly. Marcus stepped from his hiding place behind Theodore and Blaise, grabbed them by the sides of the head and slammed their heads together. The two boys didn't even have time to let out so much as a peep in surprise before they dropped, unconscious to the floor. Meanwhile, Ginny was going through her options. Nothing Harry and Hermione had yet taught her was going to get her out of Crabbe and Goyle's hands. They were too big and strong and she just didn't have the skill yet. But they weren't her only teachers. Bill and Charlie had taught her as well. And their lessons were a bit different. They had taught her to fight dirty. And they had done things; things like magically harden the heel of her shoe for just such a situation as this. She picked her foot up and stomped down on Goyle's instep. She was rewarded with the distinctive sound of bones cracking. Goyle screamed and dropped to the ground. Freed from his grasp, Ginny was able to turn and lift her knee into Crabbe's bits. She didn't hold back at all and he was unconscious before his head smacked the flagstones. She felt someone behind her and spun around.

"Don't hurt us!" Pansy shrieked.

"They made us!" Tracey cried.

The proper technique of how to throw a hard jab wasn't particularly difficult to master. Two of them in quick succession broke two different noses and two more of her attackers collapsed, whimpering and dripping blood, to the ground. Ginny whipped around to find Theodore and Blaise in a pile on the ground and Marcus with his hand clamped around the back of Draco's neck.

"Well shit," Marcus said. "Kinda wish I'd waited to see if you even needed help."

"W–where did you come from?"

"Had a bad feeling with Potter being gone. Got a bit worried when you disappeared earlier but I was keeping an eye on this lot all day so I figured you and that Lovegood girl had made yourselves scarce like you seem to do. What should we do with this one?"

"You can't touch me," Draco cried. "My father—"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Harry's right, you really are a Nancy, Draco." She stepped close and kneed him in the bits, lifting him clean off the ground. His eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor with a satisfying smack to his head.

"Your brother teach you that?"

"Yes."

"Appreciate if you'd never do it to me."

"I won't… Thank you, for helping me."

Marcus looped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards the Slytherin common room. "Yeah, well, if I let them hurt you then I'm down two of my starting slashers."

"What do you mean two?"

"I don't know what the little troll was planning to do to you, but the second Potter found out about it, he'd murder Malfoy and I'd lose you both."

"I don't think he'd murder him," Ginny said.

Marcus chuckled as he led her through the passageway. "Trust me. Now get to bed. Considering that lot is all going to be in hospital overnight I doubt you've got much to worry about tomorrow, but I'll meet you in the common room at eight to walk you to breakfast."

Ginny looked up at him. "You know, I told Charlie I made the team and that you were the captain. He said you were an alright bloke. Were you friends with him?"

Marcus shrugged. "Maybe just more respectful of each others' ability than friends."

"You're really serious about quidditch, aren't you?"

"I want to play professionally."

"I'll tell Charlie. Maybe he can help."

"Thanks. Now get to bed before Snape or one of our idiot Prefects comes looking for a culprit for that lot out there."

Ginny eyed the entry nervously. "What if they tell?"

"They won't."

"Are you sure?"

"Malfoy is still living under penalty of expulsion after the Broom Bashing. Parkinson too. This little incident will be more than enough to see him booted. Besides, Slytherin doesn't work that way. If the truth of what happened gets out at all, they'll be laughing stocks. It'll be even worse than that because they ambushed you and you handed them their arses."

"But I wouldn't have if you hadn't helped."

"You took out four of them without any help from me. Trust me, they aren't going to say a word."

"Alright," Ginny agreed. "They're going to come after me again, aren't they?"

"We both pretty much made life long enemies," Marcus said.

Ginny nodded slightly before sticking her hand out. "Thanks again."

Marcus shook her hand. "You're welcome. Now get to bed." Ginny smiled before turning and hurrying to her room. She closed the door and quickly crossed to her bed. She really wanted to check her ward but Daphne was watching her and she didn't want her roommate to see her doing it. Ginny scowled at the blonde girl and yanked her bed curtains closed.

Concealed from prying eyes, the events of the night quickly came back to her and she began to tremble. It wasn't that she'd ever felt particularly safe at school, but having Harry around was more of a security blanket than she realized. She was too dependent on him. Tonight was proof of it. She'd let Harry intimidate the rest of her classmates into leaving him, and by extension, herself, Hermione and Luna alone. No more, she resolved. They were due to begin studying shield spells in DADA. Starting Monday her classmates, particularly Draco and his little band of suck-ups, were going to learn messing with the sister of a Gringotts' curse-breaker was a dangerous proposition.

Severus waited a minute or so before stepping out from his hiding spot. While Gregory, Pansy and Tracey were still in various states of recovery from the injuries Ginny had inflicted, Vincent, Theodore, Blaise and Draco were still unconscious. "Not one word," he hissed at the three. A flick of his wand woke the other four. Theodore and Blaise groaned and they immediately held their heads gingerly. Draco and Vincent howled in agony that eventually turned to whimpering sobs. Severus silenced them. He then waited.

"Sir," Pansy asked, her voice all nasally.

Severus rounded on her. "I did not say you could speak," he snarled. She recoiled fearfully. He returned to waiting but patience was not one of his virtues. He ended the silencing spell on Draco and Vincent. "Stop your pathetic whimpering," he snarled.

"W–Weasley," Pansy whimpered.

"Get on your feet before you speak to me! All of you get up! I don't care if your foot is broken, Goyle, get on your feet. Nott, Zabini get him up!" Parkinson and Davis scrambled to their feet while Nott and Zabini hauled Goyle up. Crabbe managed to get to his feet but remained hunched over while leaning against the wall. Draco barely moved. Severus reached down, grabbed him by a handful of his robes and hauled him from the floor. "I said stand up!" He let Draco go and the boy promptly collapsed again. "Pathetic," Snape snarled. He rounded on Parkinson again. "I will say this only once. You were returning to your dormitories when Goyle tripped on the stairs. He crashed into the rest of you and you all fell down them. That is how you were injured. If you contradict this story and attempt to blame Weasley or Flint in any way, the governors will demand memories of the altercation from all of you. They may even question you under veritaserum. You and Malfoy will be expelled and there is nothing I, Lord Malfoy or your father will be able to do to stop it. It may even be possible that they decide to snap your wands and you will spend the rest of your lives living as squibs." He rounded on the others. "You five will likely escape expulsion but even the smallest future infraction will see you expelled as well." He stopped and glared at them. "Have I made myself perfectly clear?"

"Yes, Sir," Pansy whispered. The others nodded.

"Mr Malfoy?"

"My father—"

Severus levitated him from the floor. "Yes, do go on and tell your father," he mocked. "I'm sure he will be most pleased to learn his son not only disobeyed his direct order but, is also so incompetent as to be bested by a blood-traitor and a bumbling quidditch star." He floated Draco in front of him and set off for the hospital wing. He didn't doubt the others would follow so didn't bother ordering them to do so.

Sirius stayed hidden till long they had left. Of course he'd had to pick his jaw up off the floor after it was all said and done. He rather doubted Ginny would have had quite the success she did without Marcus' help, but she had still taken out four of her attackers. And bloody hell it had been beautiful! What could he say, he liked women who could take care of themselves and he'd wanted to grab the girl up and twirl her around. Hell, he was still going to the first chance he got. But as proud as he was of Ginny there were serious questions he was asking. Flint was one of them. Harry and his harem had all reported the Slytherin captain had been indifferent to fair in his treatment of them, but he was certain the boy's father had been a death eater before Lily had put a stop to the Dark Lord with the Heart's Shield she had cast on Harry. Sirius knew he was living proof you could break free of your family history, but he was going to have to do some digging on that subject.

But the bigger question was Snivels. He'd been vile in his treatment of Harry, Hermione, Luna and Ginny. So what had his deal been in being in the hallway? Did he know Malfoy and his friends were planning to get to Ginny? If he did, was he there so he could put a stop to it? If so, why hadn't he? Had Marcus' presence caused Snivels to wait and see just like the presence of both of them had stopped him from putting Ginny's attackers to sleep before she made her appearance? Snivels' handling of the aftermath seemed to indicate he was trying to protect Ginny. He was keeping the truth hidden and made it perfectly clear that any retaliation against Ginny or Flint would be dealt with harshly. What was Snivel's game?

But of everything on his mind before he apparated back to the Briar Patch, the question most concerning to Sirius was, why Lucius Malfoy had ordered his son to leave Ginny alone… What did he want with her?

HPHPHP

Author's notes.

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND CRY; I AM NOT THERE; I DID NOT DIE.

Is taken from a poem written by Mary Elizabeth Fry.

Latin translations:

Magicis venimus magica revertamur. Ut repetere passim, quod dedi universi,

From magic we came, to magic we return. May the universe reclaim what it gave.

A lot happens in a very short time. I think the most important thing to note is Harry and his friends just might have some hidden allies in the school.