Chapter summary: It's another night of detentions with Umbridge then off to bed. When Harriet wakes up she forgets her dream as usual but is left with an odd feeling that goes with her through the morning and into her Career Advice interview.

Chapter 14: Another Night and Career Advice

I must not tell lies.

I must not tell lies.

I must not tell lies.

Detention wasn't put on hold for Easter Break and so Harriet was obligated to spend another night writing the words over and over to be carved into the back of her hand. The worst part were how many of her friends were filed in around her being forced to do their own lines. There were so many of them present that Umbridge had to seat them not in her office but in the Defense classroom. Harriet had good memories in that room once but they had all been tainted by the months they had been claimed by Umbridge.

The only positives to come out of these detentions was the experience Harriet got testing the control and restraint Snape was teaching her and the inspiration it gave George and Fred. They'd created a flood of new products from funneling their desires to get back at Umbridge into in fueling their creativity. Harriet didn't know how long they could go on redirecting their energies though. She didn't think any threats or reason could hold them back till the end of the school year if Umbridge kept up like she had been since Dumbledore was run off.

They needed to go on behaving. They all did. They could see that met with a lack of resistance Umbridge was beginning to loose pleasure in tormenting them. Where their detentions had started the Easter break lasting right up to curfew the length had been waning with each passing day. Soon enough she would loose interest all together if they went on behaving, or so Harriet believed.

"Enough," Umbridge said distractedly as she went through paper work on her desk in the from of her room. From the look of it she'd found something to see to which couldn't be done while over seeing them. She was already heading for her office as she said, "You are dismissed."

Harriet's skin prickled as she set her quill aside. It would be so easy to cause a fuss and bother. They could do all kinds of damage to the room with just there wands and a few quick spells. They could toss the quills out the window. They could lock Umbridge in her room… They could set the door on fire and see if she could make it out a live. There was so much they could do but Umbridge didn't see them as a threat, because they were neutered. It was by choice. They were choosing not to do anything. That they were choosing it somehow made matters both better and worse.

The Toad was torturing them and she didn't even seem to really care. It was just routine now. The same as it was routine for them that they head down as a group to Snape's classroom for treatment after. He started with Dennis, the youngest of them before moving on to Collin, then Ginny, continuing working his way up through the group by age, skipping Harriet as she needed it less then the others. The pain didn't bother her as it did them. The quill didn't cut as deeply for her as it did through their skin.

"Potter," Snape said holding her back as the others were dismissed. "Your next lesson will have to be cancelled."

"Sir?"

"Duties," Snape said putting a stress on the word, "will keep me away tomorrow morning."

"Not Professorial duties," Harriet guessed,

"Sadly not," Snape drawled. "Should you have need of immediate assistance you would be best served going to your own head of house as I will not be on the grounds."

Harriet nodded in understanding. "Good luck Sir," she said though she wasn't really worried. Voldemort hadn't been sending Snape on any kind of missions or hurting Snape in any way that left evidence for Harriet to see.

"Good night Miss Potter," Snape replied.

Leaving the classroom behind Harriet joined the others and together they saw Luna back to Ravenclaw Tower before making their way to their own. Along their path they came across some trouble from a few members of the Inquisitorial Squad but gritting their teeth they bared their taunting and bullying before continuing on. There was a mass sigh of relief when they walked through the portrait whole into their own territory. Passing through the common room they headed up to congregate in the boy's dorm room picking up other members of D.A. as they went.

Once they were locked away with privacy spells in place, Ron complained, "I don't know how much more of this I can take.

"Two more months till the end of the school year," Neville said sounding weary rather than optimistic.

"She'll let up soon," Lavender said cradling her own hand which bore the phrase 'I must not gossip.' Words chosen after being caught in the hall talking to Parvati about Harriet's interview.

Ron snorted. "She's the Headmistress now. She doesn't have to do anything but what she wants."

The twins nodded their agreement.

On that note, with little energy in them for happier subjects the group soon divided off to settling into their own rooms for the night.

After seeing to her nightly routine Harriet retrieved her vanishing box from its hiding place. She'd written to John that morning after her training with Snape and his response was waiting for her inside. Crawling into bed she cuddled down to read it. Putting her troubles aside she let herself focus only on John's news.

Auror training was going well. They had paired him with someone extremely loyal to the Ministry and the Minister but they were playing nice, trying to win John over to their way of thinking. John was playing nice in return since he wanted things there to work out. He didn't enjoy it, he looked down on all the people he was 'making friends' with, but much like those at Hogwarts were doing what would cause the least waves so too did John.

Hagrid was still doing well on the property John had gotten for him and his creatures. He wasn't happy about leaving Hogwarts but the Order was keeping him busy and when they weren't John made sure he was. His spirits were lifted by the fact that Grawp was doing better in his new home than he had in the Forbidden Forest. The giant had spent his first few days there testing the boundaries to see if he could make an escape but since realizing that wasn't going to happen he'd stopped trying to get out and instead focused on exploring his new space. Having room to move around and things to entertain him was helping his disposition and Hagrid was finally making some progress with him. Unfortunately he was still too rough in his 'play' with Hagrid which Harriet wasn't thrilled to hear.

Trelawney was greatly enjoying the hotel John had put her up in. It was a place he had stayed himself in magical France. Out of the Ministry's reach they didn't have to worry about her getting set up or falsely accused as Harriet had been. When she had reached the limit of the time she could spend in France John had a list of other places to send her. She was spending her days being pampered with the occasional break where she would provide John with readings and predictions in regard to his business ventures.

Harriet had been interested to learn that most of those ventures were happening on the muggle side of things to avoid the Ministry's awareness and her opposition interfering. He promised when Harriet came of age he would help her to do the same but Harriet was thinking she would rather invest in people like the twins who wanted to start something new then the established companies John focused on. It was riskier but she felt it would be more rewarding to see a return on that investment then helping a big businesses grow bigger.

With this particular letter John had sent word of his latest acquisition which turned out to be a controlling share in Grunnings. They had talked about it in the past but Harriet hadn't thought John would be able to actually follow through with it. The Grunnings took pride in it being a family business. John wouldn't have used magic to make them more suggestible. He wouldn't risk giving the Ministry something like that to use against him. Without magic it would have come down to money. Harriet didn't want to imagine just how much he must have offered to make them even consider selling and John even admitted in his letter that it was for the best she didn't know. He advised she instead focus on the fact that she now had leverage to use on the Dursleys as her cousin was now Vernon's boss. She could remember the peace that came as a result of the Dursley's assuming she could do magic outside of school before Dobby ruined that. It did give her some relief of mind to think they might go back to that kind of relationship again when she returned that summer.

After the news about Grunnings the letter didn't have much more to say. Having finished with reading Harriet set about writing her reply, choosing to leave out any talk of Umbridge and her detentions as she didn't care to think about them or to make John think about them either. By the time she finished her response the others were all asleep. Once her letter was sent and the vanishing box returned to its hiding place Harriet followed them to dream land.

...

Harriet was anxious about something but she didn't know what. Her stomach was all tangled up and it was putting her off her food. Pushing her breakfast away she looked up at the enchanted ceiling above her. She lost herself in the golden overcast until Hermione placed a hand on her arm.

"Harriet, it's time," she told her.

Looking around Harriet could see the food was gone and the other students were heading off. Nodding to Hermione she got to her feet and followed her through the halls until they got to McGonagall's office. Taking her place at the head of the line Harriet waited to be called inside. Her head of house was seated at her desk while Umbridge sat lurking in the corner.

"It is time, Miss Potter," McGonagall said. "What have you decided?"

Harriet looked down at the pamphlets laid out in front of her. She found gaze drawn to the one showing the ministry's atrium. That decided her answer even if she wasn't thrilled about it. "I'll go to the Ministry."

McGonagall nodded solemnly while Umbridge sneered.

"Well I should hope so," The Toad said haughtily. "Everything's been arranged."

Reluctantly McGonagall seemed to agree. Reaching out she placed her hand over Harriet's. "It will all be for the best. In the end… It will be for the best."

Umbridge checked the clock in the corner. "It's time," she said impatiently.

McGonagall looked as well. "It's time," she agreed.

Rising from her seat she guided Harriet over to the fire place. Collecting a box containing floo powder from the mantel she held it out to Harriet.

"It's your choice," she assured but Harriet didn't feel like it was a choice. This was for the best. This was what she had to do, not just for herself but for everyone else as well.

Taking a handful of powder Harriet stepped forward calling for the Ministry of Magic.

As the floo took her Harriet saw visions in the flames. They flashed by too quickly for her to absorb them all but what little she could see was quickly forgotten as the floo spit her out onto the pavement.

Looking around she spotted the visitor's entrance she had used with John and Mr Weasley to get into the ministry. Stepping into the phone booth Harriet went through the process to gain entrance. When asked her reason for coming the answer fell automatically from her lips. "It's time."

She didn't clearly remember traveling down into the ministry. One minute she was in the booth and the next she was in front of the fountain. When she'd first seen the thing she'd wanted to rip it down. Everything it represented disgusted her. She'd almost said something to Mister Weasley before John suggested they make a wish for her trial to go well.

Off to the side a clock rang out ominously. She turned to seek out the time but found there were no numbers or hands on the face, only a declaration. "It Is Time."

There it was again but time for what? Harriet felt she the answer, but she couldn't remember what it was.

A sudden attack of horror coursed through her as something twist around her ankles. With her body frozen her eyes tracked down to see a giant snake tangling itself around her legs. Recognition calmed her fear. It was only Nagini. As quickly as recognition had calmed her confusion slipped. She didn't understand why she wasn't afraid. She didn't know why she would be happy to see Voldemort's familiar but she was. She was as happy to see Nagini as she would be to see Hedwig.

A thought whispered in Harriet's mind. 'Because she is a part of Voldemort and Voldemort is yours.' The voice and cadence reminded Harriet of Trelawney when she was delivering a prophecy. She was so preoccupied thinking about the voice that she failed to process what it had said.

"This way Mistress," Nagini said. As she started to head off the long length of her body slid along Harriet's legs.

Memorized by the way the snake's body moved Harriet watched and followed.

"Nine," Nagini instructed.

"What," Harriet asked coming back to herself to find they were in an elevator.

"We must go to level nine," Nagini answered tilting her head up to look at the elevator controls.

"Right," Harriet agreed. Reaching out she did her best and succeeded in operating the unfamiliar controls to get them going down.

They arrived at the ninth floor with a ding and the doors opened on their own.

"This way Mistress," Nagini told her.

Out the snake went and again memorized by the motion of her body Harriet followed after her down a black tiled hallway to a black door and beyond. It was only the sound of whispers traveling through the air that eventually drew Harriet's attention away. Following the sound as more and more whispering voices joined the choir Harriet made her way through a several rooms until she came to one full of rows on rows of towering shelves filled with glowing orbs. The weight from the magical presence of the thousands on thousands words of prophecy was consuming. Harriet lost herself in them as they played out, drawing her own magic forward to answer their call in the same way it rose to answer the call of her spells.

"Harriet," a familiar voice called enticingly. A cold hand cupped her cheek. It felt familiar. It felt like home and relief. "Harriet."

Slowly she opened her eyes to find Voldemort looking back at her. He was crouching down making them almost of a height. This allowed her to look straight on into his red eyes.

"It is time," he told her.

"For what," she asked feeling dreamy and distracted by the whispers and the power of all the prophecies that surrounded them.

"For our final battle," Voldemort answered.

That was concerning to hear. "But I don't want to fight you."

Voldemort looked at her with sympathy. "I know, but your future shouldn't be burdened with a Dark Lord. You will rule as a Light Queen with a Dark Knight at your side."

Harriet scowled. "I don't want to rule," she argued. The words felt familiar to her. She thought they might have had this argument before.

Voldemort smiled amused with her. "You don't have a choice. You want to help others. You want sense and order to the world. You will only get it if you are the one guiding things. People are already looking to you."

Looking off at the wall a determined expression came to Voldemort's face.

Following his gaze Harriet saw a clock hanging above the door. Just like the clock in the atrium the numbers and hands were missing and in their place was a message. "It is time."

"Harriet," Voldemort said drawing her attention back.

Cupping her face between both his hands Harriet laid her own over his to hold them in place. His hands were so large that they could cover most of her head. She basked in the touch and the coldness he radiated but Voldemort didn't let her indulge.

"Harriet," he repeated more sternly. With her attention focused on him he continued earnestly. "Remember, the plan and do not falter. No harm will come to you and when it is over, we will be together," he promised.

Harriet tried to think what plan he could be talking about but panicking couldn't recall them ever making any plans. "I don't know the plan."

"You do," he assured her. He tapped a finger against her temple. "It's all here, inside your head. You just have to trust your instincts."

Nodding Harriet swallowed. "I can do that." It's how she lived most of her life. Doing the opposite and fighting her impulses was where she struggled.

"Good girl," Voldemort told her smiling with the softest expression Harriet had ever seen directed her way.

With his message accepted his body began burn from the inside out becoming a black husk which flaked away to crumble into ash.

"No," Harriet shouted in horror. "No. No!"

She tried desperately to grab hold of him but he only crumbled quicker under her touch.

"Don't leave me," she begged but it was too late. He was gone. Only the ash remained, covering Harriet's front down to a pile spread out on the floor. Staring down at it Harriet trembled. With tears rolling down from her eyes she whispered brokenly, "Don't leave me."

"Never," John's voice assured her as his arms wrapped around her from behind.

Letting out a hiccuping sob Harriet fell back into him. With relief chasing the grief out of her veins she reached up to hold on to him but it wasn't enough. She was desperate to see him. Turning herself in his arms all her breath rushed out of her lungs as she took in his face, his whole and alive and undamaged face. He was there. He was alright and alive and there standing before her in his human form with Nagini draped over his shoulders.

"Lord Voldemort's time must come to an end," he told her, John who was Voldemort. With her brain muddled by the trauma of what had just happened Harriet was thoroughly confused and horrified at the idea of John in association of an end.

"I don't understand," she confessed.

"You will," he promised her. "When it is done you will. Just follow the plan Harriet."

"But I don't know the plan," she shouted feeling shaken and small by having Voldemort crumble in her arms even if John was still there. Because they were the same. Voldemort was John and John was Voldemort. They were the same person and she'd just seen him crumble in her arms. The ash he had become still covered her.

"You do," Voldemort insisted with vehemence. "We been over it dozens of times. We've practiced the dance. You know your steps."

"But I don't remember!"

Voldemort's face showed his pain at her upset. With a cold thumb he wiped away her tears. "Shh. Shh," he comforted her. "Even if you don't remember. You know."

"But why don't I remember," Harriet asked feeling helpless and lost.

"Because, if you remembered you would have to lie about what you know," Voldemort told her.

That was not an answer that helped Harriet to understand. "Lie about what," she demanded thoroughly exasperated. She was done with this all. She just wanted answers. She just wanted to know what was going on so she could do what was best and keep everyone she cared about safe. That was why she was there.

Something shook her shoulder. She turned to look but she didn't see a hand to explain the sensation.

"Harriet," a voice said, a voice she should have recognized but couldn't.

She turned to Voldemort feeling a sudden sense of urgency. "Lie about what," she demanded again.

"Just know Harriet."

"Know what!"

"Harriet!" Hermione shouted giving her another shake.

It worked as Harriet was pulled into wakefulness. She found herself panting where she lay in her bed with Hermione looking down on her with concern.

"What," Harriet asked her voice thick with emotion.

"You were crying in your sleep," Hermione told her.

Blinking Harriet tried to adjust to the reality of her surroundings.

"Hermione," she asked still reeling.

"You were having a nightmare," her friend explained rubbing at her arm.

Harriet thought about it. Was it a nightmare? Already she could feel it moving further and further from her. Closing her eyes she latched onto the dream while blindly reaching for her dream journal. She wasn't going to let it get away. She'd been at the ministry. John had been there… there was something she needed to remember. No, that wasn't right. She needed-

Hermione put her dream journal and pen in her hand and Harriet started scribbling away what details she could. Unfortunately they were few and far between. When she'd gotten down all she could she sighed and hung her head. Realizing her face was wet with tears she scrubbed them away.

"Harriet," Hermione asked in concern.

As Harriet looked up at Hermione the memory of the dream traveled completely out of her reach.

"Are you alright?"

Harriet nodded. "I'm alright," she said even if she didn't feel it because she was. She was alright. There was nothing physically wrong with her and while she could feel the physical marks that she had recently been upset she didn't feel the emotions any longer. There was however something still nagging at her, a feeling that wasn't fading.

She had the sense there was something she was meant to remember from the dream but she couldn't. There wasn't much she could do about that though. She had already tried everything she could think of to remember her dreams and none of it ever worked.

With no lesson with Snape to occupy her that morning, she should have been able to sleep in. But once she was awake, with that feeling nagging at her she was quite incapable of falling back asleep. With nothing to distract her she lost herself to uncertainty and a mounting itch. Giving up on any hope of sleep she called for Dobby and asked him if he could take her to the Room of Requirement. Even if she didn't have a lesson it didn't mean she couldn't practice on her own. After a brief bit of wand work she indulged in a morning swim before returning to the dorms for her shower and the rest of her morning routine. Unfortunately when all was said and done the itch was still present. Usually all her lotions and products and potions helped but that morning they just weren't proving up for the job.

Looking to give her the distraction she needed Hermione dragged Harriet down to the common room so they could discuss what would be going on with the future D.A. meetings. With Harriet's detentions she could no longer attend the ones that were happening during the week so they were having to find work arounds. It was a subject that worked well for keeping Harriet thinking about other things.

When the time finally came to head down to breakfast the others quickly noticed something wasn't right with Harriet.

"I just have this feeling," she explained.

With a hint of nerves Neville asked, "What kind of feeling?"

"I don't know. It's… hard to explain." The others gave her time to find the words but they just wouldn't come. Sighing with frustration she scratched along her cheek.

Reaching out to pull her hand away, Hermione chided, "Harriet."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," she admitted dejectedly.

When they got down to breakfast Hermione and Neville started their check to make certain there weren't any Gryffindors missing. With nothing to do herself until Umbridge was satisfied with attendance and their meal was served, Harriet thought to get out her wolly bag but something stayed her hand.

'Not here,' her instincts whispered. 'Not yet.'

Harriet didn't understand it. Why would it be better not to know what was coming? Wasn't being prepared better?

'You are prepared.'

Well, she didn't feel prepared… but, there had to be a reason why she felt this way.

Listening to her instincts Harriet left her wolly bag alone and distracted herself with making conversation until the breakfast arrived. With a limited mealtime she tried to force herself to eat once there was food in front of her, but she just found she couldn't. With each bite she took she was feeling more nauseous. Giving up she handed her barely touched plate over to Ron.

"Not hungry," he asked sounding rightly shocked. They were about even most days as to whose appetite was more insatiable.

Harriet shook her head and ignoring the concerned looks she got turned her gaze up to the enchanted ceiling. A blue cloudless sky stretched out above them. Somehow Harriet was surprised by that. She didn't know why she should be. It was hardly out of the ordinary, but somehow it didn't feel expected. With yet another thing creeping up that Harriet didn't understand the monster under her skin roared. Despite the cooling enchantments on her things and having seen to all her morning routine she felt the itch taking her scalp, arms, nose, eyebrows, and feet.

Frustrated Harriet reached to retrieve for the booster potion she was meant to take when incidents like this happened.

"Is Umbridge looking," she asked her friends casually as she didn't want to draw attention to herself.

Ginny snuck a look while turning like she was talking to Colin. "You're good," she declared.

Harriet quickly downed her booster. A few minutes later her emotions were more level and the itch was tamed if only slightly. Just to be safe Harriet spent the rest of breakfast sat on her hands to avoid scratching.

As the meal was cleared away and the students rose to leave the hall, Hermione reminded Harriet, "Don't forget. Half past two you have your appointment with McGonagall."

Nodding Harriet rubbed at her forehead before forcing herself to pull her hand back. She had in fact forgotten about the career advice she was supposed to receive that day. She wasn't happy about the fact that it would cause her to miss Divination especially as she didn't expect her head of house to entirely approve of the plans Harriet had for her future.

"It's going to be one of those days," Harriet grumbled.

The twins pat her on the shoulders sympathetically.

"Think of it this way," Fred told her.

"At least you aren't heading off to Defense," George concluded.

Frowning in sympathy for them, Harriet pat each on the shoulder in return. "Good luck," she told them. "Keep your heads."

The pair rolled their eyes but nodded solemnly. Harriet hated to see them so dejected. Slowly but surely living under Umbridge's oppression was tainting their mischievous spirits into something darker while snuffing out their spark.

Taking a deep breath Harriet reminded herself that soon Umbridge would be gone. One way or another Voldemort's curse on the Defense Position would see her removed from Hogwarts.

Not thinking to question how she knew of the curse and how it worked Harriet headed with her friends down to Potions.

"Cheer up. Just think," Ron said bumping his shoulder into hers. "Next year we don't have to take potions."

This started a debate as Hermione argued the merit of taking the class even if they weren't overly fond of Snape. Harriet had to agree. In classes Snape still acted the same greasy Potions Master they had come to despise, but even so his tutoring and their time brewing together had instilled in Harriet an appreciation for the subject that his classes had previously killed. Her intention -much to Ron's disbelief- was to continue on with the class, if she could get the requisite O.W.L. grade required.

"I can't see how I'd manage the Outstanding needed to carry on the class," Neville admitted glumly. "Thankfully I shouldn't need the N.E.W.T. unless any of the Master I apply to apprentice under require it. It isn't likely, but there is that chance."

"There is always independent study," Hermione pointed out.

"It's helped me," Harriet said backing the idea as they entered the Potion's classroom.

Along the way to their seats they passed Draco sitting ostracized to the back of the room, alone as he had been for all of the year. The Slytherins rejected him for preservations sake and as far as the rest of the school was concerned Malfoy was still the same git he'd always been. Those who knew better had to pretend they didn't. Unlike Cedric Draco truly had to stand on his own. Their was no D.A. to have his back from the shadows. Draco looked sickly when he showed up on the Hogwarts express in September but as the months went on he was only looking worse. He wasn't holding up well under the stress of everything with no one to brace him up.

Fighting down her bizarre guilt for his circumstances, Harriet allowed herself a quick look at him before settling in at her seat.

...

Potions class went by without incident as did lunch but still Harriet couldn't shake the feeling she didn't have a reference for. It wasn't excitement or anticipation but it wasn't dread either. She was a little nervous but not much. The closest she could think to describe it was the feeling she got right as a game of Quidditch was starting, when they all readied themselves to kick off the ground.

Despite Hermione's warning she was so distracted with trying to dissect what she was feeling that she almost forgot about her meeting with McGonagall. Thankfully she was still there on time. Unfortunately as she walked down the hall she saw Umbridge headed her way with clipboard in hand. Harriet had a sickening feeling she knew what was going to happen. It was be just like Umbridge to use her authority to sit in on this meeting.

Nodding her head to Umbridge as they met at McGonagall's door, Harriet greeted her, "Headmistress," and fought down the bile that undeserved show of respect caused.

Umbridge's chest swelled as her eyes flashed with satisfaction. She put on her usual artificially sweet smile but didn't bother to say anything in reply before heading into McGonagall's office.

Closing her eyes Harriet leaned back against the wall besides the door making it look like she was just patiently waiting.

Back in the autumn John had sent her a book he'd found on his travels about mastering ones astral form. It was old and hand written but the instruction it gave her was invaluable. She no longer had to rely on a mirror or ritual to project her astral form out into the world. It still scared Harriet some to embrace her ability to disconnect her awareness from her body but it was a part of her and far too useful a skill to ignore.

Leaving her body behind Harriet floated through the door to spy on the going-ons in McGonagall's office. As much as she would have liked to see her head of house standing up to Umbridge she acted the same as she did in the halls and around her students. Besides learning her suspicions were correct, Harriet also learned that not only would Umbridge be sitting in on her meeting but she had also taken over assigning when students would meet with their head of house. Harriet would bet her shares in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes that The Toad had only done this to ensure her schedule was free to sit in on the meetings for her special interest students like Harriet and her friends.

Just in case anything interesting came up Harriet waited around to catch every word and only returned to her body when McGonagall made to call her in.

"Potter," she said briskly from within her doorway.

"Professor," Harriet returned, moving to follow her into McGonagall's smartly decorated office. The pair of them settled into their seats completely ignoring Umbridge's presence in the corner even with the incessant sound of her quill scratching away at her clipboard. Harriet couldn't stand it. In her delicate state knowing that woman was at her back made an itch break out all over Harriet's body. Carefully she opened her inner eye to keep a watch on Umbridge. It was extremely disorientating. Her inner eye wasn't limited like her physical or astral form. For one thing, it wasn't directional and it didn't care very much about how solid an object was. Everything was at least slightly translucent to Harriet through this view, including her own body which she could see. What was most disorientating to her was all the none physical elements she could see. Magic for one thing. The magic in herself, McGonagall, and Umbridge were clear to her as well as all the enchants in the objects around them and even Hogwarts itself. Then there were other things like the things Luna had been able to see since her mother's accident. Most of them that weren't quite on their plane or merely lacked a physical form. It was a trippy way of seeing the world around her. Harriet still couldn't keep her in eye open for long without getting a headache. At least unlike when she was projecting her astral form she stayed connected to her body and didn't forget to to do things like breathe and blink and respond to the stimuli around her in the way she often still did when astral projecting.

With Umbridge in her view it was easier for Harriet to relax and focus on McGonagall even with all the distracting things she could see along with The Toad now that her inner eye was open.

"Well, Potter, as I assume you know this meeting is to talk over any career ideas you might have. Then we will discuss which subjects to continue through your sixth and seventh year," McGonagall said tersely. She had never been an overtly warm or jovial person but having Dumbledore gone and Umbridge loitering on made her disposition more frigid. Harriet figured McGonagall had to go cold to keep her composure. "Have you had any thought about what careers you might be interested in?"

Harriet took a deep breath. "Actually I hadn't planned on having any kind of career," she admitted.

Behind her Umbridge came to a stop in her writing as she looked up with interest.

Across the desk McGonagall looked surprised but not shocked. "Your intention is to pursue starting a family after you leave Hogwarts?"

It wasn't an uncommon thing in the magical world. Those with the means or relatives to support them could and did put off finding employment to look for a spouse instead. It wasn't just girls either. The boys would do it too. It left a person free to travel abroad or to step into a roll at their spouses family business if there was an opening. Unfortunately generally finding work after getting married was mostly the boys lot not the girls. The girls were often continue to go without working as they took care of the home and focused on starting a family. This wasn't looked down on in the magical world any more than it was for a witch to devote herself to her career or craft. Harriet didn't personally look down on those who chose it either. She respected Mrs Weasley as much as she respected McGonagall. It just wasn't what she wanted for herself.

"Er, no. I'm not thinking about that. At least not yet," she added. She wasn't willing to completely discount the possibility that one day she might want to have kids just because it wasn't in her plans for the moment.

McGonagall's brow pinched. "Then what is it you intend."

Feeling awkward Harriet shrugged. "I don't quite know yet."

A look of comprehension came over McGonagall's face. "That isn't unheard of for someone your age and of your background. Having little exposure to the magical world you wouldn't know what is avalible."

Bypassing her pamphlets McGonagall reached into her desk and pulled out a thick book which she placed between them. Harriet recognized the volume immediately. It was a book listing all the occupations available in the magical world. John had sent her a copy from every country he visited so she could see what was available where and compare how different magical regions differed.

"Now then," McGonagall said focusing the papers in Harriet's folder. Proudly she reported, "I see your performance has improved in all your subjects this year."

Behind her Harriet could see Umbridge didn't agree with something about what McGonagall had said. Off in her corner The Toad cleared her throat to get their attention. It was a very tiny cough which McGonagall ignored so Harriet did as well.

"I myself have noted a steady advancement since the start of the school year."

"Thank you Professor," Harriet replied, timing her words to cover Umbridge's forthcoming cough from being heard. She smiled as Umbridge frowned behind her. She may not allow herself to prank and outwardly rebel against the woman any longer but that didn't mean she couldn't have her little pleasures.

"Even Professor Snape has noted an increase in your skill. With your chosen electives and the expected grades you should receive on your forthcoming O.W.L.s there are many options available to you."

"That is nice to hear," Harriet said speaking again before Umbridge could clear her throat. It would be easy to let McGonagall tell her what options she had and pretend she wasn't certain yet, but instead she went with the truth. "But, I do have an idea of what I want."

"You do," McGonagall asked perplexed by what she perceived to be contradicting statements.

"Yes… I don't I intend to work."

McGonagall's brow creased to the most severe degree Harriet had ever seen from her previously. She had to worked very hard not to shrink under the disapproval she felt coming her way.

Breaking the silence that sat between them Umbridge cleared her throat. Gratefully Harriet turned away from her head of house to face The Toad.

McGonagall, unable to pretend she hadn't heard Umbridge asked, "May I offer you a cough drop, Dolores?"

"Oh no, thank you very much," Umbridge declined the offer, tacking a simpering laugh onto the end that induced an itch behind Harriet's ears.

Full of false concern she turned her attention from McGonagall to Harriet. "Miss Potter, how exactly do you intend to get by if you are not married, not working, and have no parents to support you? Surely you don't expect others to step in and look after you?

"No Headmistress," Harriet said forcing her jaw to remain loose despite her frustration. "I intend to invest leaving my days free to use them as I wish whether that be volunteering, travel, or continuing my education."

There was a tick in Umbridge's cheek.

"You intend to invest the Potter family fortune," McGonagall asked sounding skeptical. It wasn't an unheard of thing to do. For some, like the Malfoys, it had served the family well. For others it had led to ruin after generations of prosperity. The Potters had traditionally never invested in anything but themselves. Every generation found their passion and used it to maintain if not expand the inheritance they received for those who would come after. But just because something was traditional didn't mean that was how things had to stay.

Before Harriet could respond Umbridge cut in. Some of her sour center was showing through her sweet facade. "Do pardon my saying so but given that James Potter and his wife never worked there cannot be much of a fortune left can there?"

Harriet was under no obligation to reveal this but she felt the need to defend her parents. "Quite the opposite Headmistress. The Potters have never felt the need to flaunt our wealth or to spend it unwisely, and while my Father and Mother had not yet chosen to pursue a career before their deaths they were both very inventive individuals and sold some of their work on."

"Had they," Umbridge asked unhappy with this revelation.

"They had," McGonagall said supporting Harriet's claim.

Though she'd physically been looking at Umbridge, with her inner eye still open Harriet had been able to watch the surprise take McGonagall's face as she remember that which Harriet was talking about. When they'd graduated it was true that her parents hadn't gotten jobs. They were too busy fighting for the Order in the war. It wasn't until they were stuck in hiding that they turned to innovation and invention to help fill the days and give them an outlet. Many things they kept to themselves and the Order but some of their discoveries they did sell on.

McGonagall was giving Harriet a considering look. "Very well Potter. Given that you do not intend to pursue a specific career you needn't worry about meeting requirements. I would prefer to see you take at least five classes, but what you choose to continue or not is entirely up to you. "

Taking a deep breath Harriet put forward, "I'd like to continue with all my class to NEWT levels ma'am but to take Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic as self-study."

McGonagall blinked at her with shock. Harriet felt a little thrill at having so thoroughly blow her over even if Umbridge was rolling her eyes and pursing her lips in the background as she went back to her scribbling.

"All," McGonagall asked to confirm.

"All," Harriet agreed with a confident nod.

Folding her hands on her desk McGonagall leaned forward with concern. "Harriet, I am happy to see that you wish to continue taking your studies here at Hogwarts seriously. However, eight N.E.W.T level classes would be strenuous for the best of students and ten may very well prove to be too much.

Harriet shrugged. "If it's too much I can drop a course or two. Besides, when time for testing comes I don't have to sit the N.E.W.T.s for all the subjects I'm eligible for. Some of them can be put off for the summer sitting at the Ministry or for years down the line.

"I see you've given this some thought."

"And talked it over with several people."

"Well then," McGonagall said settling back in her chair. Harriet could see she was thinking about something. By the way McGonagall's eyes flickered to Umbridge and her clipboard Harriet had the feeling there were things she wanted to say but wasn't willing to in front of their new Headmistress. "It seems everything is decided. Given that you get the requisite O.W.L. scores you will be continuing with ten classes next year Potter."

Harriet smiled at her and saw a hint of a smile in return.

"Dismissed," McGonagall declared.

Harriet bowed to her deputy and head Mistress before heading out into the hall. When she pulled the door shut behind her she closed her inner eye and projected her astral self back the way she had come to spy on the pair inside.

McGonagall had already lost her smile and Umbridge was looking smug.

"It is a shame," Umbridge said started in on a goading rant about how little Harriet would be able to accomplish in life and how she was setting herself up for disappointment and failure. McGonagall gave a calm headed rebuttal but Umbridge persisted until McGonagall snap with The Toad following right behind her. Voices were raised. Accusations were thrown around. Umbridge per usual was a paranoid Ministry sycophant and it was clear that McGonagall was feeling the strain of the year.

Pulling her astral self back into her body Harriet took a deep breath and rubbed at her forehead. For once it wasn't about the itch, though that was there. Between her upset at seeing McGonagall pushed so far and the strain of leaving her inner eye open for that length of time a headache was blooming in her temples.

From her bag she pulled out her pocket watch to check the time. She could still make it to Divination, but wasn't certain she wanted to go. Hitting the hidden release on the cover of the watch she opened to its secret second face. There was a miniature version of a clock like the one the Weasley's had with the hands each representing a person Harriet cared about. Unlike the Weasley clock hers did not say where a person was, only how they were doing. Her own hand was in the well range but leaning towards the side that pointed towards some level of discomfort, pain, or upset. John's was in a similar positioning which Harriet wasn't pleased to see. The rest of the hands on the clock which Harriet had spelled with Bill's help over the holiday showed that the rest of the people she cared about were spaced between well leaning towards happiness and other good feelings.

Closing that face Harriet looked at the time again. She should go to class, but feeling itchy and in pain and still off as she had been all day, she decided instead to head off to the room of requirement for a quick second swim. Harriet hoped that the cold and the exercise might help her feel better but those hopes weren't high.

...

Sitting on his throne Voldemort looked down on his followers bowed before him.

"My Lord," Lucius said trying his best to hold still but unable to stop the slight trembling running through his body. "Everything is prepared as you requested. Our way has been secured."

With his voice projected out through the once opulent ballroom Voldemort declared, "Then my friends tonight we shall reveal my return to all and change the future of the wizarding world forever more."