A/N: I am still here, not abandoning you or the story. This chapter was very difficult for me to get to feel right, but maybe I'm just being picky.
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter or any other referenced fandom.
Chapter 13
The morning of September second found Harry, Fleur, and Nym meeting in the crypt beneath Potter castle with Ron and Hermione. Due to the removal of furniture for use in the growing tent city outside the castle, enough space had opened up for Harry to set up a table and chairs within the castle crypt. From the walls and various stands around the crypt, the Potter portraits were able to look down on where the living were meeting. Harry's encounter with McGonagall the previous night had driven home to him just what he had done. So this morning they were discussing their new duties as school administrators.
"Zo," Fleur, sitting at Harry's left, began. Fleur was awake, alert, and smiling, definitely a morning person. "We weel need to figure out 'o can be teachers before classes can start. Are zere any suggestions?"
"I'll contact my mum about Potions." Nym volunteered. Nym was seated at Harry's right and, unlike Fleur, was barely awake and clutching a mug of coffee like a life preserver. "She's been a Medi-Witch for ten years. She got certified to brew her own potions because she says the ones sold by St. Mungo's are rubbish since they keep the best for themselves. Also, Dad is really good with Transfiguration, was supposedly top of his year when he was in school, I could ask him about that. Since Tom started running around again mum has been trying to convince dad to go into hiding, this could help her to convince him."
Fleur made a note on her spiral pad with a ball-point pen borrowed from Hermione, she still marveled at how handy muggle pens and notepads were.
"We do want to make sure that we get qualified people to teach." Hermione interjected. "I don't know if 'good in school' is a qualifying reference."
"Yeah, like that's been a concern before." Ron sarcastically remarked. "Lockhart was hired because he was popular, Umbridge was appointed by the Ministry because she would do what Fudge wanted, History has been taught by a Goblin obsessed ghost for who knows how long, and don't even get me started on Trelawny. Meanwhile Harry, with help, was able to tutor almost two entire years of students good enough to pass OWLs and NEWTs. Plus however many students were there from other year classes."
Ron paused, looking thoughtful. "Harry could continue the DA this year." he suggested. "It worked well last year. That could take care of Defense."
"I don't know how much time I would have." Harry said uncertainly. "Fleur, Nym, and I will be training, I still have to find the final Horcrux, and then deal with Tom."
"Just two meetings a week." Ron cajoled. "Most years only get one class per week. Put all of the houses together, the post OWL students one night, then the younger another. The older students could help out with the younger students."
"Fleur and I could even help out." Nym suggested. "That way it would even be like our normal training sessions. Let's face it, these kids are going to need to be able to protect themselves."
"Right," Fleur piped up. "We weel need to zink of teachers for Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Divination, 'Istory of Magic, and Muggle Studies or zey weel 'ave to be self study."
Hermione vigorously shook her head. "Some of those classes would probably be ok as self study, with the proper resources. But that really won't work for Arithmancy or Ancient Runes. In those classes you need someone to review your work and give you feedback. The results from any mistakes in the practical applications could be disastrous."
"I think I know where you could get some help." Came the voice of Lily Potter from the row of portraits.
Surprised, everyone turned to look at her portrait. James and Lily were in the front of the painting watching the meeting attentively, though James's face was a little flush with embarrassment. A closer look revealed why, Sirius Black was in the background of the portrait, in a British Airways pet kennel. Where the kennel came from nobody knew, and nobody seemed to want to question Lily about where she got it.
"The portraits here in the crypt would be excellent sources for History. The Potters have been at the forefront of many significant events in British history, Magical and Mundane. Also, unlike people, their memories do not fade from the time they were created." Lily explained, gesturing around the room.
"Nym," James picked up, "instead of Transfiguration have your mother ask Ted about teaching Ancient Runes. He was the top of that class. Talk with Narcissa about Transfiguration, she was better than Ted." Nym nodded.
"You might ask Fudge about Arithmancy." Sirius' voice came from behind Lily, who huffed in annoyance. "He might have been a disaster as Minister, but he was very good with numbers." Sirius finished.
"It doesn't hurt to ask." Harry rushed to cut off the response Hermione's dark expression forebode. "We can also ask around with the other refugees to see about filling the open spots."
"And what about OWL's and NEWT's?" Hermione asked. "Those tests are Ministry administered."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Harry deflected. Hopefully the current situation wouldn't last that long.
Harry nodded, then turned to Ron. "Talk with Draco, see if you can get his help talking with Fudge and the other adults. He may be our age, but he is Lord Malfoy now so that could give a little extra sway." Harry looked to Fleur next. "Check with the other refugees and see if there are other necessities they are missing. We may find some here, but I'm thinking I'll ask Dobby if there may be a few things we could get from Hogwarts. They won't have nearly a full student body this year after all."
Having reached an agreement, the meeting broke up. Ron and Hermione left to track down Fudge and then circulate around the adult refugees looking for teachers. Harry was about ready to leave with his wives to inspect the progress on the castle construction when James' portrait called to him.
"Harry," The portrait of his father began. "I know we haven't had a chance to talk much yet. How much about the Potter family has Dumbledore told you?"
Harry sighed internally. He knew this would eventually come up from the moment he found his parents' portrait and told them of where he had grown up. He didn't wish to speak ill of the dead, especially since he still harboured some respect for the man, but Dumbledore had definitely failed in his duties as Headmaster and guardian to Harry.
"Nearly nothing, I didn't even know about the Castle until a couple of days ago." Harry admitted to his father. The reaction was instantaneous as James' face became stony and he stormed into the background of the painting, swearing sulfuriously. Lily's response was quite a bit more calm.
"I was afraid of that when you told us of where you grew up." Lily sighed. "You will need to set time aside for private lessons in the Potter family magic from the portraits here. It would be best if Fleur learned them as well, since she is the Lady Potter."
"Belatrix mentioned something along the same lines about the Black family magic." Nym spoke up remembering her aunt's comments while she was rampaging through Malfoy manor.
"Portraits can do that?" Harry asked incredulously after glancing at Nym.
"To an extent." Fleur spoke up. "If we 'ave ze family grimoire, ze portraits can function az tutors. Eet ees built into ze mageec in case zere ees no one too train ze heir."
"And where is the Potter grimoire?" Harry asked his mother's portrait.
"Here in the crypt." Lily pointed toward the tapestry. "Hold your head of house ring to your name on the tapestry. It will place the grimoire into your hand."
Harry walked over to the family tapestry and held his ring against his name. After a moment, he felt his hand fill with weight and was suddenly holding a large tome. Quickly, so as not to drop the ancient book, he brought his other hand up to support it. He pulled the tome back to his chest, almost reverently, and turned back to the portraits who were nodding in approval.
"Good!" James exclaimed. "Be back here in the morning with Fleur and we'll begin your training."
"Just Fleur?" Harry asked, slightly confused. "Why not Nym too?"
"Eet ees because ze family mageec can only be taught to family members." Fleur explained. "I am Lady Potter, but Nym is Lady Black. The Potter magic will not accept her."
"But both of you are still my wives." Harry protested.
"Doesn't matter," Nym spoke up. "Fleur is not part of the Black family and I am not part of the Potter family, irregardless of us both being married to you. The only way a family magic can be brought into another family is if the last member of the family is female and marries."
Harry nodded his understanding, disappointment clear in his bearing. He looked to Fleur and Nym, "Well, good thing we will be having the DADA class meetings twice a week. If nothing else it will give the three of us a chance to train together."
"Now that's settled," Sirius added from his kennel, "talk with Bellatrix and Narcissa about teaching you and Nym the Black family magic."
-BREAK-
In the hours before breakfast, Minerva McGonagall walked purposely through the halls of Hogwarts on her way to the Headmaster's office, a stack of papers in hand. The rapid, sharp clack of her heels on the stone floor echoing through the nearly empty halls. She snorted at the ridiculousness of it all. The castle was nearly empty, over three quarters of the students gone, and the full staff was still in house because of their employment contracts. Now that the staff had quite a bit of down time, Minerva had put together a list of long overdue repairs and improvements for the school, along with a couple of items which she hoped would help Mr. Potter, for the Headmaster to sign. Hopefully Severus wouldn't look too closely at what he was signing.
She approached the Gargoyle guarding the stairs to the Headmaster's office, which promptly stepped aside, and ascended the stairs to the Headmaster's door. Knocking, she was quickly granted entry to the stark interior. Glancing around, she took in the walls adorn only with the portraits of past Headmasters, the large simple desk, and the side counter full of potions ingredients and apparatus. Minerva couldn't help noticing the contrast to when Albus had been here. Severus Snape, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sat behind the desk in a simple, high-backed chair. Leaning slightly forward, his elbows were resting on the desktop, fingers steepled in front of his face as he regarded her across his desk. He was flanked on either side by Amycus and Alecto Carrow, and the expressions on their faces indicated that they were less than pleased.
"What may I do for you today Professor McGonagall?" Severus Snape's resigned tone drew her gaze back to him.
"Just some standard start-of-term paperwork for your signature Headmaster." McGonagall eyed the Carrows warily. "As well as some requests for long overdue improvements and repairs. I thought that as our staff currently has large amounts of free time, it would be a prudent use of their talents." She handed the stack of papers across the desk to him then stood there waiting.
Severus took the stack of papers and slowly sorted through them signing each before going to the next, Amycus and Alecto looking over his shoulder. Part of the way through the stack, Severus stopped when Amycus placed a hand on his shoulder. Annoyed, Severus glared at the hand, then directed his glare at the man it belonged to.
"What is this authorization allowing tutors?" Amycus asked, ignoring Severus' glare. "With so few students, why would tutors be needed?"
"In case of injury." Minerva replied. "Should one of the students injure themselves sufficiently to require an extended stay in the hospital wing. A tutor would be needed to catch them up." While a plausible explanation, in reality Minerva had written the form so that Harry and his friends could teach the other Hogwarts students without them loosing a year of classes.
"Surely the teachers would have enough time to see to this themselves now." Amycus objected.
"If they are outside of their classes, the school sees them as tutors." Severus, ignoring Amycus visibly prickling at the interruption, explained before Minerva could. "Making the permission forms still necessary." Severus went back to the stack of parchment, but didn't get very far before Amycus stopped him again.
"Authorization for underage students to use magic while at school?" He asked Minerva.
"This is why I do not just let you take over as Deputy." Severus Snape snapped. "The student list must be filed with the Ministry. Until you are familiar with how the school and it's magics work, you would be even more useless than you are now. I may have been directed to name you Deputy." Severus continued with only the barest of glances at Minerva. "But until you gain that familiarity, Professor McGonagall will continue in her capacity as Deputy."
Minerva stifled a gasp as she heard that bit of news. She had been Deputy for nearly twenty years, and now she was going to be replaced? By a Death Eater no less? Her Scottish temper began to swell and she had to work hard to stamp it back down and school her face.
Shrugging Amycus' hand from his shoulder, Severus signed the parchment and proceeded through the stack. Finally he handed the completed stack to Minerva who, with a slight bow, promptly retired to her own office.
-BREAK-
Ginny Weasley left the Gryffindor sixth year tent with purpose. Luna had promised her an explanation and she was going to get it. After their arrival at the Castle the previous day, so much had to be done that she and her old friend had been working in separate areas of the encampment. But today, with the camp set up and nothing to be done until classes were arranged and schedules handed out, she would find Luna and get her explanation.
The past month had been an emotional roller coaster for the youngest Weasley. Bill and Remus running off, Harry getting married...MARRIED, the attack on the train, Luna giving cryptic messages to Malfoy, so many things had happened in a short time that her emotions were spinning. She really needed someone to talk to, and Luna was her best bet right now.
Before long she spotted Luna near the dining tent, talking with Draco Malfoy. Again, Ginny was confused as to why Luna was talking to the blonde Slytherin. But before she could reach the pair to demand an explanation, they were approached by Ron and Hermione.
"Oi! Malfoy!" Ron shouted about fifty yards before he got to the pair. "We need your help for a bit."
With a visible sigh, Draco left Luna to join Ron and a visibly wary Hermione as they diverted to walk toward the section of the camp housing the adult refugees. Luna, turning to leave, spotted Ginny and gave her a bright, slightly dreamy smile as she waited for the redhead. As Ginny approached, she noticed that her friend was a bit thinner than usual, and there were a few scrapes on her arms and face that had not been there last school term.
"Hello Ginerva." Luna greeted the redhead. "How are you this morning?"
"Looking for that explanation you promised me." Despite her emotional state, or perhaps because of it, Ginny couldn't help but smile at Luna's cheery disposition. But Ginny's brief smile didn't last long.
"Ah, yes." Luna's smile didn't waiver. "What would you like an explanation of?" Luna tilted her head to the side inquisitively.
Ginny stared at her, did she honestly not remember her promise the day before? "How about what happened on the train yesterday, between you and Draco, that bit about making a choice?"
"Oh, that. Well," Luna began, turning to walk toward the tent designated as a study area. Ginny fell into step beside her. "While I was being held at Malfoy manor, Draco would come talk with me. I suppose he was lonely, being the youngest person there, and just wanted anyone his age to talk to."
"Wait," Ginny interrupted, almost coming to a stop in surprise. "You were being held at Malfoy manor? Why?"
"They didn't like daddy's support of Harry. To stop him they snatched me one day while we were shopping." Luna explained. "Anyway, Draco's visits started off with his usual bluster, but he didn't seem to be all that emphatic about it. He kept visiting, gradually opening up more and more and talking about his feelings and fears."
"Then one day, one of the older Death Eaters had decided that he wanted to have a little fun with me. Draco arrived just as my knickers were ripped off. He reminded the man, somewhat forcefully, that the Dark Lord had ordered me left alone. As he followed the man out, I told him he would soon need to decide if he would simply follow or find his own path."
Ginny looked at her friend with wonder. "Did you have a vision or something?"
They reached the tent and Luna paused to look at her friend as she held the flap aside to enter. "Some things are obvious to those who pay attention."
-BREAK-
Harry looked around the entryway of 12 Grimmauld Place, alert for any sign of trouble. He had apparated directly into the hall just behind the front door in order to not alert the house's occupants that they was here just yet. Just because Narcissa and Bellatrix had abandoned Riddle, did not mean Harry trusted them. A moment later, Nym apparated in beside him.
"Kreacher," Harry called quietly.
The elderly House Elf popped into the hall by Harry. "Master Black calls?" Kreacher queried with a half bow. His attitude had really changed since Harry brought the Ladies Black back to the old family home.
"Yes, thank you. Where are Narcissa and Bellatrix?"
"Mistress Narcissa is in the upstairs study reading. Mistress Bellatrix is in the third floor loo, being sick." Kreacher replied. Harry exchanged a glance with Nym, then looked to Kreacher.
"Please ask Bellatrix to meet us in the uptstairs study with Narcissa when she is able." Kreacher bowed again at Harry's instruction and left with another pop.
"I wonder what the problem with Bellatrix is?" Harry just shrugged at Nym's musing as they made their way through the hall to the stairs.
With Kreacher's change of attitude, he had also seemingly taken to cleaning the house with gusto. The extra cleaning along with the House Elf heads removed from the stairs, the house was beginning to not feel as dark and oppressive as it once had. They weren't even accosted by Mrs. Black's portrait as they passed it, despite Nym tripping over the umbrella stand. Then again that may have something to do with his earlier "shut it" order. Soon they entered the second floor study, Narcissa rising quickly at their entry.
"My Lord Black," Narcissa bowed to Harry. "To what do we owe the...pleasure of your unexpected visit?"
"Please Narcissa, don't call me 'My Lord'. I'm not Riddle needing sycophantic idiots to massage my ego." Harry waved her off as he took a seat on the opposite side of the fireplace from her. "I need to discuss some Black family business with you and Bellatrix once she joins us."
"What do you need to discuss?" Bellatrix's voice came from the door. Harry turned to see the witch glide into the room gracefully despite still looking nauseous.
"Are you ok Bellatrix?" Harry inquired. He did not necessarily care if either Black was ill, but Bellatrix being ill could hamper his fight against Riddle.
"Just a temporary condition." she dismissed with a wave.
Harry shrugged. "Bellatrix, you had mentioned training in the Black family magic to Nym while we were at Malfoy manor."
Bellatrix' smile was positively frightning.