AN: Again, thank you Danielc for your excellent beta-work!
And to you all readers... I'm sorry, that I took so long to update but I had some stress during the last weeks. I hope it will be better soon but for now there are still some struggles. But keep faith! I will upload this story until the end.

Chapter 11 – Trouble is calling

By August 28th; the day Harry and his friends went to Diagon Alley under the guard of Moody, Moony, and Tonks, Harry and Bella had managed to kill off half of Voldemort's inner circle in their raids.

Even with the increased activity Dumbledore wasn't any closer to discovering the identity of 'The Dark Avenger,' as Harry was now being called in the press and by the Order.

Despite the revelation of his relationship, to Hermione and Remus, Harry still kept his distance from his friends. He had managed to push them away and he wasn't going to loose that advantage. He only needed his anchor now, and that was Bella but she couldn't be with him today. It would cause too many questions.

They headed down Diagon alley. Hermione had her arm locked around Ron's and chatted happily with him and Ginny. Harry always stayed a few steps ahead of them and never really joined in on any of the conversations.

"Hey, Harry! Wait for us!" Ron yelled to him as he swept past the quidditch store without so much as looking into the window. Even Hermione was shocked at that. That wasn't the Harry she knew. In the past he wasn't as obsessed with quidditch as Ron, but he still used every opportunity to look in the quidditch shops.

"Why didn't you want to go into Quality Quidditch Supplies?" Ron asked.

Harry turned back to them and scowled, "You don't buy anything anyway. Why even bother?"

With that he swept around again and hurried further down the alley to the book store.

"What? He... argh! HARRY!" Ron yelled but followed him anyway. He knew Harry was right. He couldn't afford anything in there but he didn't have to be so cruel about it.

In the bookshop Harry found his books faster than everyone else, Hermione included, and he had even picked out more books than her. Harry had definitely changed. First, ignoring the quidditch shop, and now, buying more books that Hermione.

"Where next to?" Hermione asked.

"I already have my potion ingredients and new robes." Harry explained, "But I still have to buy one more thing. You guys?"

"Well, I don't need to get potions stuff, but I don't have my robes yet." Hermione said.

Ron shrugged, "I got the robes from Fred and George and Mum already bought my potion ingredients."

"Same here." Ginny said.

"Good. You guys go with Hermione and I'll meet you guys at Fortesques' for ice cream in about twenty minutes. We can walk part of the way together since I'm going that way anyways." Harry declared.

"What? We aren't letting you go anywhere by yourself Harry!" Hermione said sternly.

Harry only smirked, "We shall see. Now come on!"

Harry, once again, led the way. With his new and improved height also came a longer stride. His longer stride caused the others to struggle to keep up. The girls had to jog to keep up with him and Ron and they all nearly ran into him when he suddenly stopped.

"What..? Oh no you don't. You're not going down there." Hermione scolded him, when she saw where he had stopped to go.

Harry was looking directly to the dark entrance of Nocturne alley.

"Well, it's your decision if you want to follow me, but I wouldn't recommend it. You would be a welcome target for the hags and other shady folks that linger down there." Harry stated coldly and pulled up the hood of his coal black cloak.

His friends gasped when they saw him in that clothing. He looked just like a Death Eater without the mask. Without hesitation he stepped into the dark narrow alley. They followed him for a few steps until they saw the shady creatures in there.

Suddenly as if a switch was activated, Harry was emitting an aura of truly dark power causing them to shudder. Incredulously, they watched as all inhabitants of the alley fled away and avoided him at all costs. Harry only laughed in a chilling voice that made his friends slowly retreat.

"What now?" Ron asked.

"We wait here. Where are the guards when you need them?" Hermione asked.

"Bloody hell! Where are they anyway?" Ginny cursed and looked around through the alley.

"We're right here." Remus said as he joined them at the junction.

"We couldn't keep up with his fast pace, at least not without giving ourselves away. He didn't go in there, did he?" Remus asked shocked.

"Yes." Ron said disgustedly.

"Damn! How could he walk into that rat's nest?" Remus cursed.

Hermione looked grimly but said "He is fine, Remus. He scared the shit out of this scum."

"You're right about that!" Ron scowled, "But not only out of them. He has turned dark!"

"Maybe, but he is not evil. There is a difference, Ron. And he has to kill Voldemort. How can he achieve that with light magic?" Hermione asked.

Ron nodded "You are right, as always. But I still don't have to like it. What, if he becomes the next dark lord?"

"He wouldn't." Ginny said fiercely, "He would never hurt an innocent."

Ron contemplated that and nodded, "Right. But who is guilty in his eyes?"

"Everyone who is a threat to the people he cares about and everyone who stands in his way." Remus said with a far away look.

"And does he care about us?" Ron sighed.

"Not anymore." Hermione whispered in a guilty voice, "Maybe about Remus and maybe about us again if we continue to stay on his side. We can only hope."

"Well, do we stand up for him?" Ron asked seriously.

"Yes!" Hermione, Ginny and Remus answered at once.

Ron nodded, "So it is decided. We help him and stand up against all others."

"Why do you ask us that in such a serious manor?" Ginny asked him.

"Because we will have serious problems. He is dark and all students will shun him and accuse him of siding with you-know-who. Furthermore he is much more powerful now and Dumbledore is going to try to get some control over him. He won't allow that a wizard more powerful than him is running around freely, especially if it is a dark wizard." Ron said in a no nonsense voice.

"You are right about that." Remus mused, "Let's keep it low against Dumbledore and spy for Harry on him but stand up against the students. So Harry sees that you are loyal to him."

Hermione nodded, "We have to be careful, very careful."

Screams suddenly echoed from the walls of the Houses.

"DEATHEATERS!"

Instantly, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Remus turned around.

"Oh Shit!" Ron cursed. There were at least twenty Death Eaters closing in on their position. They fired cruciatus curses everywhere and at every witch or wizard in their way.

"At least they're not killing." Hermione muttered.

"Not killing them. Being Harry's friends, we may not be so fortunate." Ron said before yelling, "STUPEFY!"

A red beam flew out of his wand towards the closest Death Eater, but he blocked him with a fast "PROTEGO!"

Order members of the 'Guard' were coming from other directions but even with them the group was still outnumbered nine to twenty and the Death Eaters were good enough to block their stunners.

"Enough of this! REDUCTO!" Ron yelled as his temper flared. The golden beam struck at the feet of three Death Eaters and the following explosion hurled them away.

Even with the three of them out of the fight they were still losing. They had to find cover, because the Death Eaters were beginning to use more harmful spells even if they hadn't started with the killing curse yet.

"Where's Potter? Tell us and we might let you all go!" one of the Death Eaters yelled.

"DOLOHOV!" Hermione cursed "INFLAMMEUS!"

A white hot fireball seared towards the Death Eater but he just laughed and dispelled it with a stream of water.

A chilling voice came from the left, at the entrance to Nocturne Alley. "Are you looking for me?" the voice asked.

The Death Eaters stopped and stared at the tall, black cloaked, figure. He still had his hood up and his face was covered in shadows.

"Po... Potter?" Dolohov gasped.

Harry removed his hood and his piercing green eyes locked with Dolohov's. "You're the bastard who hurt my friend at the ministry?" he asked coolly.

"The mudblood bitch? Of course I did, and I'll have my fun again once we're through with you." Dolohov sneered and laughed.

"I think not." Harry said in a harsh whisper, but it still reached the ears of the others and its cold final tone made them shudder and forget that he still was only a teenager.

Fast as lightning he had his wand in his hand and gave it a short jab and muttered "Diffindo!"

Dolohov seemed to want to scream but only bloody foam and a gargle came out of his mouth.

His hand flew to his throat and pressed against it but they all saw the blood leaking out of the large gash directly across throat.

Seconds later his lifeless body sunk to the ground.

Everyone was gaping at the black haired teenager whose eyes were seemingly made of steel.

Another flick of his wand with a loud "Reducto maximus!" brought the fighters of the light out of their stupor but dismembered some of the Death Eaters.

He took advantage of their momentary confusion and fired several fireball, exploding, and bludgeoning hexes. All of them were effectively disabling the death eaters despite the fact that he had yet to cast a dark curse. It wasn't long before every death eater was unconscious or dead. All that remained was a large cloud of dust and smoke, lifeless bodies in black robes with white masks, and gaping audience who all looked disbelievingly at the black-haired teenager responsible for ending the raid.

Nobody had a chance to say anything as seconds after the fight ended Dumbledore himself apparated into the alley along with some aurors and reporters.

"Who's responsible for this?" the head Auror bellowed.

Harry shrugged and put his wand away, "I guess that would be Me." he said coolly.

Dumbledore looked extremely disappointed. "Harry, you aren-"

"I still haven't given you permission to call me by my first name, old man." Harry cut in.

"Mr. Potter. The use of the dark arts is not something that will be tolerated by me or the ministry of magic." Dumbledore said without the usual twinkle in his eyes.

"First, I never used and dark spells during this battle. Second, the ministry approved the use of any means necessary to deal with Voldemort and the death eaters. And third, you have no authority outside the walls of your school. You're no longer the Supreme Mugwump. You're on the same level as me, authority wise, outside the walls of Hogwarts." Harry said smirking.

"He's right." Shacklebolt admitted grudgingly, "Fudge, issued the decree last year." Then he turned to the witnesses, "Did he use any dark magic?"

"No, he didn't. He only used light spells." Remus said as a matter of fact.

The aurors examined the bodies and bound the ones that were still alive.

"Shacklebolt! Dolohov's here!" one of the aurors yelled.

"What? Bind him and take him to the ministry for interrogation!" Shacklebolt ordered.

"I can't, sir. He's dead. It appears he died from extreme blood loss. His throat was cut open."

Dumbledore whirled on Harry, "Ha... Mr. Potter, did you do that?"

"Yes," he said resolutely. He was the one who hurt Hermione at the ministry. I don't appreciate it when death eaters attack people close to me. A simple 'Diffindo' took care of that." Harry said easily before he shrugged and turned to Hermione. "Are you okay?"

She nodded and muttered, "Thank you."

"No problem." Harry said and winked at her.

"Ha... Mr. Potter! I can not condone such heartless behaviour!" Dumbledore bellowed.

Harry growled and then made a wide arc with his arm to the gathered reporters. "Did you hear that? He's scolding me because I defended myself and my friends! He scolded me, because I did something against the scum that is terrorising the Wizarding world. You there, is that the right thing to do?" he pointed at a random reporter.

"No... No, Sir."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, Sir."

"If you ask me, he can invite them for tea and biscuits if he wants but I will fight them when I see them. And I do seriously ask myself which side he stands for if he is scolding me because I fight them! That is active support of the dark forces and you may quote me here!"

Dumbledore gasped, "How could you?"

Harry smirked, "Me? You were the one who wanted to punish me, because I defended myself. I think that question should be redirected, HOW COULD YOU?"

Then he turned to the white-faced auror, "Do you need us anymore?"

"No."

Harry turned to his friends, "You wanted to buy something, didn't you? Then let's go! I have everything I need."

He went visibly slower this time so his friends could easily follow him. But they were still too stunned to say anything; instead they focused on finishing their shopping quickly and without any more distractions. They didn't even stop at the Fortescue's as they had planned."

Harry and his friends were brought home to Grimmauld Place by the Order. Of course, Harry excused himself after a few minutes and disapparated.

"Where's he going now?" Ron growled.

"To his girlfriend" Ginny muttered, obviously still jealous of this mystery girl. She glared at Remus, "I bet you know by now who she is."

He shrugged, "Even if I did, I wouldn't betray his trust again."

"Remus, who is she?" Ron begged.

"I said NO!" Remus groaned.

Ginny turned to Hermione accusingly, "and why are YOU so quiet?"

Hermione gulped.

"WHAT?" Ron bellowed, "YOU know too and... Hermione? I'm your boyfriend! You have to tell me!"

She gulped nervously before her eyes gained a determined glint, "No, I don't. Harry asked me to keep it quiet and I won't disappoint him again."

"But he's my best friend and you're my girlfriend!" Ron whined.

"No, you aren't his best friend anymore; neither am I. He didn't tell me anyways, he caught me eavesdropping." She admitted and pleaded with Ron, "And yes I'm your girlfriend but I promised him. Please, don't make me choose between you."

He blanched. Maybe he was a little thick with girls and all around, but he did love her and he did realise, that she wouldn't budge on this matter. If he forced her he would lose her.

"Alright. You're right. If he trusts you to keep it secret, then you should do it." he sighed.

Hermione smiled and hugged him fiercely, "Thank you Ron. I love you, but I won't betray his trust in me again."

He nodded and smiled, "I know."

Ginny growled before storming off.

"Poor Ginny." Hermione sighed.

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Because she's in love with him and doesn't realise that she's far from the level of Harry's girlfriend by many means." Remus stated as a matter of fact.

Now Ron growled, "Ginny's a nice girl and she beautiful too. What does his girlfriend have that she doesn't!"

Hermione smiled, "We know that, but Harry needs a girl who can protect herself and assist him on his task... and his task has become dark, bloody, and dangerous."

Ron nodded and sighed, "We'll be there for her. Maybe she'll understand if we explain it to her."

"I hope so." Hermione sighed.

Harry was surprised that Bellatrix was not at his manor when he arrived but he wasn't worried. He closed his eyes and examined his bond with her. She was calm but far away. She sent him an impulse that told him everything was alright with her.

Knowing she was safe he decided to finish up, so he unpacked his things. He had bought some dark arts books in Nocturne Alley. He un-shrunk them and placed them in a secret compartment of his new trunk. Nobody but him could access to this trunk.

It was after sunset when he received a 'distress-call' from Bella. Cursing inwardly, he concentrated on their connection to get her location before switching his concentration to his staff, which instantly appeared out of nowhere and landed in his hands. His staff had become so much apart of him that he could summon it at will no matter where it was.

He waved it one time and he was in his dragon hide trousers, dragon hide vest, and his dark red cloak with the face-shadowing charm.

He concentrated once again on their bond to make sure she hadn't left again before he left.

He found the signal and muttered, "Ut barathrum!"

The Dark Avenger disappeared in a black swirling cloud before he reappeared one second later in a dark corner in a suburb of Manchester.

The black owl swept down to him and changed back to Bella.

"What's up?" he asked concerned.

"I followed a Death Eater for half the day. He met with some of his 'friends' and I overheard them talking about an attack."

"A special target?" Harry asked.

"The Grangers."

"Shit!"

"Yes. They want to lure you or the Order out, I think, or they simply want to hurt you."

"How many?"

"Ten for now. They're attacking in a minute. We have to hurry!"

"Alright. Change and show me the way! I love you."

She gave him a peck on his lips and changed. She jumped into the sky and led him to a house not even hundred metres away.

John and Katherine Granger just sat down in the kitchen to eat their dinner together.

Suddenly they heard an explosion from the front door. The door was shattered and the pieces were hurled into the house.

"What..." John stammered.

Ten black robed figures burst into the house. They had their faces covered with white masks.

"What do you want?" John asked and stood protectively between his wife and the intruders. Katherine cowered behind the kitchen counter, shaking. The figures emanated terror and cruelty. Both muggles were eyeing the wands in the hands of the intruders warily.

"Not much. We know that your daughter's a mudblood witch. She also sided with Potter and Dumbledore. Since we can't get to them directly, we figured we may as well attack them by attacking people close to them. We'll kill you and that'll break their spirit, at least Potter's."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Aww! Your little daughter didn't explain the war that's brewing on the horizon in the wizarding world?" teased a Death Eater, "Our master, the dark lord, is coming and he'll clean the world of all mudbloods and muggles like you."

"Enough of this. Time for a little fun." another Death Eater said and brandished his wand at John, "CRUCIO!"

John had never felt such pain in his life and fell to his knees screaming. Another Death Eater fired a hex at the desk and it shattered into a thousand pieces; some of them hit John and Katherine causing small wounds.

"Crucio!" the Death Eater said in a cold voice so that Katherine was now screaming along with her husband.

The two Death Eaters stopped after a few seconds.

"Bastards" muttered John still on his knees and breathing heavily.

Suddenly the ear piercing screech of an owl sounded throughout the house and the Death Eaters looked around nervously.

John and Katherine jumped away to the walls of the kitchen as a black cloud formed in the middle of it.

They shuddered because the cloud was reeking of evil and darkness, much much worse then the Death Eaters.

A tall wizard appeared, covered in a dark red cloak and he had a magnificent staff with a blood red crystal embedded on the top. The crystal was pulsing like an evil heart.

"The Dark Avenger!" one of the Death Eater's muttered in fear.

"If that's what you're calling me these days." a deep reverberating voice said.

Then he waved his staff once and a whip of pure darkness came sprouting out of the crystal and it seemed to be underlain with a dark red tinge.

He flicked his staff expertly and the dark whip was searing through the air. It drew a circle around the wizard in the air and with minimal movements of his wrist it branded forcefully down on the ten frozen dark wizards.

As they were hit, they began to scream ten times worse than John and Katherine had. Before he finished his first attack he had dark tendrils come from the whip and wrap around the wand hands of all ten death eaters. With a thought the tendrils collapsed severing their hands from their bodies, causing the wands to clatter to the ground.

The stranger muttered "Verbero of flamma!" and the whip of darkness was covered in red flames.

As the dark wizards were hit now, the whip sliced through anything, including their bodies.

It wasn't even half a minute after he had appeared in the kitchen of the Grangers and all ten death eaters were nothing more than ten mutilated and lifeless bodies lying on the floor in a large pool of blood.

With a wave of the staff the whip disappeared. The stranger turned around. Where his face should be, there was only black shadow, but for a moment, two green piercing eyes seemed to light up in the shadows. A black eagle owl seared through the shattered door and landed on the shoulder of the wizard.

"Mr... Mr. Dark Avenger..." John stammered once more he stood protectively between his wife and the stranger.

The stranger laughed, "That's not my Name, Dr. Granger, but I'm afraid I can not reveal my real name."

"You sound fairly young." John remarked.

The green eyes of the stranger lit up dangerously causing John to shudder.

"It would have been better if you hadn't noticed that." the wizard stated in an icy voice.

"I'm sorry. I won't tell it to anyone." John stammered afraid. The stranger may have saved them but he was surely not one to cross and if he deemed his identity important... he doubted that he would hesitate to protect himself... in a final way, John realised.

"No you won't and that especially includes the old fool."

"What? What old fool?" Katherine asked.

"Dumbledore." the stranger sneered.

"Now, on to more important matters. Are you hurt, besides the after effects of the curse?"

"Just a few cuts and scrapes. Nothing that can't be taken care of."

"Well, I think it would be better if you went to a more secure place. I am going to take you to the secret hideout where your daughter is. Do you agree to go?"

"Yes!" they both answered simultaneously.

"I warn you, it won't be a pleasant experience." the stranger stated, "Because of the nature of the protection there, we will have to take a path that bypasses the wards."

"How do we do that?" John asked interested.

Again the green eyes lit up, "The easiest way is to take a detour through the underworld."

"WHAT?" Katherine screamed.

"Well, I think you will feel a little bit sick for a short time afterwards but it's the only way." the stranger explained.

"Alright, we'll do it." John said firmly and helped his wife up.

The cloaked wizards grabbed the hands of the two muggles and turned his head to his owl.

"Talon, you know the way! We'll meet later."

The owl took flight after rubbing her black feathered head on his for a moment and disappeared, with a screech, into the night.

Then the Grangers felt a gut wrenching jolt of fear and evil as they disappeared in a dark cloud.

Remus and Hermione were just coming down the stairs and entering the entrance hall. They were discussing the death of Voldemort's supporters and Harry's actions in Diagon Alley.

They stopped amidst the steps as a familiar, yet unwelcome, dark cloud appeared and radiated darkness. They shuddered but had their wands out instantly.

"What the hell..?"

This time not one but three people appeared out of the cloud and Hermione gaped.

"Mum? Dad?" she whispered.

The aforementioned people let go of the stranger's hands and threw up on the floor.

"What happened? What's wrong?" Hermione nearly sobbed.

"There's nothing to be afraid of!" the shallow voice of the stranger reassured her, "That comes with the method of travelling."

With that he disappeared but this time with a crack.

Unknown to them he appeared in the same house but in Sirius' room. His reappearance masked by the silencing charms he had placed on the room earlier in the summer. He took off his cloak and banished it and his staff back to his trunk.

He got down to the others and played the surprised teenager when he saw Hermione, hugging two white-faced strangers, sobbing.

"What's up?" Harry asked Remus to keep up appearances.

"They were brought in by the Dark Avenger." Remus answered, regarding him with a raised eyebrow and a knowing glint in his brown eyes.

"How did he come through the wards and how did he know about this place?" Harry asked as Dumbledore and Snape appeared.

"Hermione there's been an attack... oh." Dumbledore stopped clearly surprised.

"I KNOW THAT ALREADY!" she yelled.

Ron, Ginny, and Molly came into the hall, alarmed by the ruckus.

"And you didn't deem it necessary to protect them? I warned you that this would happen but you did nothing!" she yelled to the frozen headmaster.

"Miss Granger, please, calm down!" he said in a soothing voice.

"CALM DOWN? Are you insane? My parents were tortured with the Cruciatus curse and nearly killed by ten Death Eaters and you think I should calm down? I'll tell you what I'm going to do! Never ask me for help again! You didn't help me, and I won't help you! We're finished! You could have simply protected them with a Fidelius charm but you did nothing! If it weren't for that strange wizard, the Dark Avenger, or whatever you call him, they would be dead!"

With that the angered young witch turned around and hugged her parents.

Harry poked Remus with his elbow and he jumped.

Remus cleared his throat, "You both are welcome to stay here. I assure you that it is safe."

"Thank you." John said.

"I could protect your home." Harry said coolly.

"You? You are nothing but an overconfident teenager." Snape sneered.

"Hey, greasy git, what're you doing here? You should know by now that you aren't welcome here anymore." Harry said smirking and looked questioningly to Remus.

"Uhm, Albus, is there a meeting now?"

"No, why?" the old wizard asked.

"Severus, I ask you to leave instantly. You are only welcome here if there is a meeting." Remus said with a sickly sweet voice.

Severus growled but disapparated.

"Rem..." Albus began but Harry interrupted him.

"Have you cleaned up at the Grangers already?" Harry asked.

Albus nodded, "The corpses were taken away and the damage is repaired. Mister and Miss Granger, I could prot..." but Harry strode over to the Grangers. He looked John deep in the eyes and saw satisfied that his eyes widened in recognition.

He winked at him and turned to Hermione, "Hermione, I know we had a hard time in the last months, but I assure you, I have learned a lot. Do you trust me to protect them?"

She looked to her parents and they nodded reassuringly. Hermione straightened herself and nodded, "I do. Will you help us?"

"Of course." then he turned around to face Dumbledore, "I already said this once in regards to my own safety, you had your chance. Now the time of waiting is over and the time of action is coming. Thank you for your help, and have a good evening, Professor." he said in a dismissing voice.

"But, Ha... Mr. Potter. There are complex charms necessary to protect the house."

"Trust me; I know what I am going to do." Harry said, "Remus, bring Dr. And Dr. Granger to the guest room!"

"Sure. Would you follow me?"

Dumbledore sent Harry a disappointed glare and disapparated.

"Harry. What do you have in mind for the house?" Hermione asked.

"Fidelius, Anti-Apparition, Anti-Portkey wards for the basics. And then I have some surprises ready from the Black Magic combined with the Potter Magic." he replied grinning, "Interested to watch me?"

Hermione's eyes lit up and she nodded eagerly.

"Then I trust that you know where the house is? Apparate!"

They disappeared with a crack and left two disappointed redheads behind. "Do you really think he can do that?" Ginny asked disbelievingly.

"I'm beginning to think he can do a lot more than that and if he really uses the Black Family Magic, we should pity every Death Eater who comes near the Grangers again."

Unbeknownst to them, Harry had called for additional help, and it was him together with Bellatrix who put up some of the more ingenious wards around the house. To Hermione's surprise, it was Harry who cast the more complex and most powerful wards.

Bella apparated to the Black house ten minutes before the other two.

As Harry and Hermione appeared with a loud crack in the centre of the living room, both parents of her started.

Hermione nearly jumped up and down with excitement.

She hugged them both and said with a proud look to Harry, "Something like that will never happen again, Mum and Dad."

"Why? What have you done?" Dr. Granger asked.

"Me? Nothing. It was all Harry's and... uhm... Talons work."

Both parents shared a knowing look but said nothing.

"Harry, dear, what have you done?" Katherine asked.

"Well your house is protected against apparition and portkeys. And ask yourselves... where is your house?" Harry said grinning.

"What? It's... what the hell?"

"JOHN! No cursing!" Katherine reprimanded him.

Ron only laughed and Molly looked with a proud smile to Harry, "You've already mastered the Fidelius?"

"Yep."

"Who's the secret keeper?" she asked.

Harry looked all gathered people in the eyes and finally to Hermione and shrugged, "Your decision."

"Harry! I trust them! As for the secret itself, only tell my parents!"

"Sure. I'm the secret keeper." Harry said easily and gave the Grangers a note with the address.

"Read it! It will burn itself when you are ready." Harry explained.

Some seconds later, the two notes went up in cold blue flames.

"Those were the most important defensive charms, but there are some more offensive too. You felt the pain of the Cruciatus. If there any wizard with the dark mark comes near the house, he will feel the same, and if he should come IN the house by any means whatsoever... let's say, he won't live long enough to feel any pain." Harry explained in a voice of steel.

Molly gasped, "But that's dark magic!"

"Sure." Harry said coolly, "But the Grangers are safe that is the only thing that matters."

Hermione nodded supporting.

"We're at war, Molly." Harry declared, "And I for my part don't have any problems beating them with their own weapons."

Then he turned around to the Granger's and handed them both a simple bracelet made out of silver.

"If you're ever in danger, say 'Sirius is watching over us' and you both will instantly be brought here. I charmed them to work simultaneously, that way neither of you gets left behind. Are you ok with that?"

Both nodded, "Thank you, for everything you've done today."

Harry smiled, for once, a real honest smile.

"No problem. Even if I have problems with my friends at the moment, I do watch out for them. Remember your promise! Now, if you will excuse me, there's someone waiting for Me." he said and winked at his friends. He disappeared with a crack.

"Who's waiting for him?" asked Katherine Granger.

"His girlfriend." replied Hermione with a smile.

"Oh. He should use his last two days then." John said grinning.

"He won't have problems with him being at school, I think." Hermione said grinning, "He isn't a marauder for nothing."

"Hey, does he already have a name?" Remus asked.

"Sure. His girlfriend slipped... again." she said with a wink to Remus.

"Poor dear. I bet she got an earful again." he sighed.

"You can bet on that. But she gives more than she got. She's a hard teacher, I tell you." she said with a groan as she remembered her own lessons in Occlumency with the dark witch. She was truly at least as intelligent and studious as herself but she was a hard and nearly cruel teacher, more so than even Snape, but at least, she could really teach and she was fair. Hermione couldn't imagine that she had ever anything learned faster than with her.

"I can imagine. Now, spill it!" Remus demanded.

"Alright, I have clearance for that from Harry. His name is Drake. But don't ask me which form he has. I don't know that."

"Drake. Not bad and it suits him." Remus said grinning.

"Hermione dear, do you know who his mysterious girlfriend is?" Molly asked interested.

"Yes I do and Remus does too. But we promised them not to reveal it." she said, her voice laced with determination.

Molly nodded, "I suppose it would be best not to lose his trust again."

"Thank you. Mum, Dad, the house is safe again. You could get back now, but I would appreciate it if you could stay here for the last two days." she said hopefully.

"Sure thing, dear. Now let's relax. It's been a hard day for us."

She smiled and hugged her parents once again.


Ut barathrum - To the Underworld

Verbero of flamma- Whip of flame


AN: thank you for all your reviews! I heard that it isn't anymore allowed to answer your questions here? Well, I would do it anyway as usual, but I had a hard day and I'm tired ;-) So if you really want to know something, mail me! Otherwise wait for the end of the story. I'm sure, most of your questions will be answered along the way ;-) Maybe I'll answer some questions after the next chapter, at leat if I am in a better mood than today.