Someone's Said But Who's To Know:
"Miss Weasley?" Professor Dumbledore asked entering Ginny and Hermione's bedroom. "Might I borrow Miss Granger for a moment?"
Hermione had only just finished placing her things in their new closet and drawers; and showing Ginny everything that she wanted to see when Professor Dumbledore appeared in the doorway.
Ginny smiled at Hermione letting her know she would be fine, and watched as Hermione gave a smile of her own and turned to follow Professor Dumbledore.
Hermione followed Professor Dumbledore to the previously sealed Black Family Library where she was informed of the discovery that Kreacher had been the one responsible for sealing it; and the copious heirlooms and knick knacks that had been found inside were his hoard. She was also told that most of what the elf had been collecting and hiding had been disposed of, as it had mostly been related to the darker aspects of the Black Family
Hermione's instantly filed that information away for a later time when her eyes discovered for themselves the prospect of being able to go through another magical family library; Harry's library had been very informative and she had yet to read all the volumes it contained, but the Black Family was sure to have many more 'obscure' and forgotten tomes.
Albus led them to a study table in the middle of the library, and took a seat while waving his hand to pull out a seat for Hermione to sit in.
Hermione complied and sat cordially expecting to talk either of Harry or her parents. She was expecting the subtlety of an apology and then moving on to Harry, but neither topic was one she was keen on discussing; as she held Harry's confidence, and her parents were... a sensitive topic.
Hermione did not harbor any sort of resentment towards Professor Dumbledore, despite her own thoughts that she should in some way. She understood that he had done his best; providing protection for a family marked for death by association with Harry, but his best had been for not as her father was dead and her mother in St. Mungo's permanently.
Professor Dumbledore reaches his hand out and places it atop Hermione's, "Miss Granger... I am terribly sorry."
"Thank-you Professor, but you had my safety as a concern. There's nothing to apologize for," Hermione replies doubting her own words as she speaks them.
"It would seem that you were better taken care of by young Harry," Professor Dumbledore said dispiritedly but staring directly at Hermione.
Hermione sighed lightly at Professor Dumbledore's tone but closed off her mind as Professor Dumbledore switched the subject so quickly to Harry.
"Harry has been very kind to me; everything I've needed he's provided," Hermione said wanting to emphasize that it was indeed Harry and not Professor Dumbledore as it should have been; although she was almost too polite for that.
Professor Dumbledore gave a nod to Hermione's confirmation and adopted a pensive countenance as he recalled Harry's salutation, 'fixing your mistakes'.
Hermione noticed the professor's thoughtful look and switched the topic to what they should have been discussing, "Sir... Professor, I'd like to start planning a funeral for my father."
"Miss Granger, I apologize, Auror's collected your father's body..." Professor Dumbledore started, going stoic.
Hermione suppressed a shudder when Professor Dumbledore mentioned her father's 'body.'
"... the Ministry with no means to contact you, performed a ceremony for him."
Hermione looked completely stupefied when she asked tentatively, "cremated?"
Professor Dumbledore just tilted his head in affirmation, with a slight twinkle to his eye that Hermione had studied this particular aspect of wizarding culture.
"The remains?" Hermione asked, still too shocked to show any signs of emotional response.
"The Muggle Parliament is in possession, and will relinquish control when you claim your father and collect..."
'Possession? Control? Claim? Collect?' Hermione asked herself not believing a human being can be thought of in this way.
"... Your home was sold in your mother's name as she is receiving care at St. Mungo's. Your family heirlooms and all possessions have been placed into storage under your mother's name as well and will remain there until you choose to retrieve them. Your parents surgery has been closed, the building they owned and operated sold under both your parent's name, the revenues from these sales Professor McGonagall as your head of house placed into a vault at Gringotts in your name. The inheritance your father's insurance policy that was to be left to you and your mother is being used at the current time to afford your mother her stay in St. Mungo's indefinitely."
Hermione had her hands in her lap the entire time Professor Dumbledore informed her of all that she had missed in so little time. Her head was still tilted downward, eyes closed tightly in an effort to stay the tears that were begging to be shed. She was only now realizing that she hadn't yet properly grieved for her parents, everything that had happened had offered some sort of welcome distraction.
Albus wanted nothing more at this moment for Hermione to let out all the suffering he had caused; the way he had seen her act with Harry... the way he wanted everyone who had been through this to act when he knew it was his fault... the way that no one acted, save for one.
Hermione looked up, and through bloodshot eyes asked, "May I go to see my mother now, please?"
"Tomorrow that can be arranged. I am sorry to say that the members present right now would not make a sufficient guard."
"Guards did not appear to make that much of a difference if 'young' Harry can come and take me away," Hermione scornfully replied.
Albus made no sign that the words cut him, but inwardly he agreed with all of his heart with Hermione's assessment of the situation. 'The risk is too great, however correct she may be.'
Hermione started to cry when she looked into Professor Dumbledore's un-twinkling eyes, "Oh Professor... I'm so sorry; I shouldn't have said that... I... I, I'm sorry."
"Quite alright my dear, I had the opportunity to watch the interaction between yourself and Harry when you first met this summer. I am surprised that I was not met with the same reaction," Professor Dumbledore said with a small smile trying to curve it's way onto his face.
Hermione sniffed and rubbed the tears from her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper before asking, "What happened between you and Harry, Professor?"
Professor Dumbledore answered quickly and in his opinion honestly, "Harry is very confused about his life right now, Miss Granger."
Hermione gave a small laugh at Professor Dumbledore's explanation.
"I must admit I am curious to know why you find that to be amusing. Would you care to explain?"
'Persistent... perhaps Harry was wrong, and Professor Dumbledore was a Hufflepuff,' Hermione thought as she decided to go along and try to push off thoughts of her parents.
"Professor, Harry is no way confused," Hermione said.
Professor Dumbledore seeing the possibility of learning more of what Harry has been doing ask, "Would you please correct me in my thinking that Harry is indeed confused?"
Hermione gave a small check to her acquiescent occlumen's shield like Silus and Harry had taught her and watched as the surprise of her doing so appeared in Professor Dumbledore's widening eyes; Hermione offered a small smile at his surprise of her personal achievement.
"Harry is well beyond Hogwarts curriculum sir, at least in my opinion. In all honesty, I've caught him reading our sixth and seventh year texts as leisure material... that's when he's not writing in the margins."
Professor Dumbledore interrupted Hermione's starting explanation, "Do you know what he is writing in the margins?"
Albus had a notion that Miss Granger could not help herself and found out what he had indeed been writing.
"He was trying to correct certain aspects of the text." Hermione answered, expecting another question waiting for her.
"Trying?" Professor Dumbledore asks trying to be as vague as possible.
"I've seen Harry perform many incredible feats Professor. For him, well, it's a bit like Einstein isn't it? He's had the hardest time with some of the simpler spells, but with the advance studies he's had almost no problem, from what I've seen; though he's let me in on very little anyway. Now, he has no problem with any of it, and when he's trying to correct the text- he's correcting it solely for himself I believe; the way he finds it easiest, but the way that would be near impossible for the rest of us."
Professor Dumbledore raised his right eyebrow but otherwise remained stoic with the thought, 'It appears I was correct then.'
Hermione paused for a breath and then continued, "He's beyond seventh year material in most of the courses offered at Hogwarts, and with his help my own studies have progressed partly into seventh year studies; I admit though I had already read the previous year's sixth year reading list. Of course you know about his occlumen's skills or you wouldn't have asked me what I know of his studies; he was the one who taught me. His real skill, is his new affinity for learning; I swear he just absorbs those tomes now."
'One who taught; how many were there? Absorption techniques perhaps?' Albus considered the possibilities to himself, the fact that Harry was ahead of his year and the year ahead of him was no surprise.
"Oh, I almost forgot. You should know this, Harry told me, 'Magic is Magic'."
Professor Dumbledore's stoic expression broke and he chuckled at Harry's quip.
'She is progressing almost as well as Harry in hiding her true emotions,' Albus thought looking at Hermione now smiling, only minutes after having been told what happened to her family while she was away.
Professor Dumbledore regained control of his emotions and asks, "Is there anything else you would care to share with me?"
Hermione, still smiling with the thought of Harry in her mind says, "No, sir."
"Well then, would you care to further your own occlumen's skills when you return to school this term, you might have some knowledge that would be better protected with increased self awareness?" Professor Dumbledore asked knowing that Harry might have shared something inadvertently that would make Hermione an even larger target.
Hermione nodded, knowing that this will open her mind completely to the professor and that by that time Harry will have already been studying with him. She assumed that Harry would be sharing everything with him while they worked together anyway.
"Professor Dumbledore, thank-you for your time. Would you please excuse me?" Hermione asked knowing that there was no more point to this conversation.
"Of course my dear," Professor Dumbledore said, and then stood as Hermione did and watched her leave the library.
Albus took his seat once Hermione was gone from view and sat in silent contemplation, analyzing what Hermione had told him for something more in her words he had possibly missed. His private thoughts were interrupted when the sound of Alastor's clunking steps created an echo as he entered the expansive room.
"I'm curious to know why the lass didn't ask about what happened that night," Alastor asked turning to eye the door Albus was staring at, his magical eye hovering in sync with the real one.
Dumbledore stood once more, next to his old friend and told him before leaving the room, "She does not want to know."
Alastor grunted his acceptance of Albus' words and watched him leave. He then reached a decision about writing what exactly went wrong to Potter, the lad he thought needed to know.
Hermione returned to her and Ginny's room where Ginny was modeling in front of the mirror with one of Hermione's new dresses.
Hermione said to Ginny when she saw the younger girl become embarrassed and start to put the clothing back, "You know you're welcome to all of this right?'
Ginny blushes lightly and asked, "You sure?"
"Of course," Hermione answered still having trouble with the dichotomy of her thoughts.
Ginny noticed the odd look on Hermione face and asks, "Are you ok?"
Hermione looked up from the floor and for the first time in her life snorts, "No, not in the least."
"Do you want to talk about it?' Ginny asked while she put the dress back on her bed, crossed the room and closed the distance between her and her friend.
Ginny took Hermione's hand and lead her to Hermione's bed where they sat side by side in silence for a few moments.
After a while of just listening to the collective sounds of their breathing, Hermione chose the darker of the two minds she was about and progressed to tell Ginny everything she was thinking and feeling.
'Who are they, and how the hell did they get here?' Harry asked himself as he followed the two robed figures he had spotted from his roof top observatory.
The figures abruptly came to a halt in the clearing of the woods and turned to confront their stalker.
Harry found his heart beating wildly and prepared himself for a possible fight, he could hear the pounding of his blood in his ears, taste the adrenalin his body was producing and feel nothing but the sense of justice that was sure to come.
"I'm dreaming... aren't I?" Harry asked not sure whether or not he wanted the answer when his prey lowered their hoods.
Harry found himself staring into his eyes... his mother's eyes. Lily Potter stood not more than eight feet from her son, with her husband behind her and gently resting his hand on her shoulder for support; her own hand atop his.
She did not speak, just stood with tears in her eyes looking at her son; and Harry begged that she would just say one word to him, it didn't matter what word- just that he could hear her voice without her screaming.
Harry heard the voice he had heard scream for him to be spared so many times speak softly in his mind, 'Yes, and you need to wake up now.'
Harry looked behind him surveying the dark forest and then turned his attention back to his parents. He saw his father, older than his portrait but still very much the same; and his mother... she was more beautiful to him than any photo could have ever prepared him for.
"I don't... I want to stay here... with you," Harry said to them and starting to cry when he realized he had no choice and the words he had begged for had such a horrible price.
'Fuck fate,' Harry cursed in his mind.
Lily opened her arms and Harry rose from his knees and started towards his mother with his own arms open.
"Wake up Harry," Remus said shaking Harry out of his sleep.
"NO!" Harry screamed then rounded on Remus with a right hook.
"FIVE MINUTES... I'VE NEVER EVEN SEE THEM IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN A PICTURE FOR FIVE MINUTES AND YOU BLOODY WAKE ME UP!" Harry screamed as rolled off the bed and squat above Remus, holding the man by his collar and started to beat the living hell out of him.
"WHY!?" Harry screamed as he hit Remus again.
"Harr...," Remus spat out blood in-between the blows, trying to raise his own arms in some sort of defense.
"TELL ME BLOODY FUCKING WHY!?" Harry screamed again and hit Remus hard enough to knock him out before the older mans legs wrapped around him and threw him off.
"WHY!?" Harry screamed towards the ceiling as he rose from Remus. "TELL ME WHY! I NEVER WANTED THIS... I NEVER WANTED ANY OF THIS... TAKE IT BACK... PLEASE!"
"I don't want this... please... take it back," Harry whispered and slumped to the floor next to Remus.
There was no response, from Remus or otherwise and the silence was too much for Harry to bear any longer.
"I DON'T WANT IT!" Harry released one final scream.
With Harry's primal scream the very room warped... the windows exploded... the furniture was set afire... and Remus' body was thrown clear across the room away from him.
"Merlin! What in the name of the god's was that?" Mafalda Hopkirk asked her second when she ran from her office down the hall at the sound of the E.A.M. alarm being initiated.
"I don't know ma'am, all we know for a fact is it was accidental magic," the young man named Ian Banhurst replied. "But look at the reading, that can't be right, can it?"
"Where was it reported coming from?" Mafalda asked her second.
"You're not going to like that either," Ian said noticing the look of anger crossing his boss' face when she came in at the sound of the E.A.M.
"Well?" Mafalda asked impatiently and crossing her arms across her chest.
"We don't know?" Ian said cringing in expectance of some sort of attack.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Mafalda asked quickly.
"We don't know where it came from, best guess is somewhere un-plottable."
"YOUR BEST GUESS!?"
"Yes ma'am," Ian said and cringed again this time fully expecting a curse or hex his way.
Harry was just sitting in the middle of the room hugging his knees to his chest. He wasn't crying, he just sat there staring at the fire that was about to go out when it consumed the last of his bedroom's sofa.
Remus was somewhere close to the fireplace and Harry knew he was safe from the fire, just unconscious and lying there, and at the time Harry couldn't find the sense to go over and revive him. His knuckles were bare and bleeding from the skin tore off by Remus' face, causing his hands to shake against his own volition.
Remus lied on his right side, his first conscious thought at the sudden onslaught of pain coming from his head was, 'What the hell?'
He lost consciousness again with that thought.
James, wanting to see what was taking so long with Remus waking Harry appeared in his portrait in Harry's destroyed bedroom to find his son entranced and one of his best friend's lying on his side unconscious.
Speaking in a calm but forceful voice to bring Harry out of his apparent stupor, "Harry, what happened here? What happened to Remus? What happened to you?"
Harry changed his focus from the charred sofa and looked up at the portrait of his father, and just stared.
James asked again but slowly, worried that Harry was not in control, "Harry what happened?"
All James was given was, "I had you both, and he took you from me."
James looked down at Harry expecting him to explain more.
Harry reclaimed his constitution and wiped the tear tracks from his cheeks then summoned his wand.
Pointing his wand at Remus Harry said, "Integro Maxilla Oris, Redintegrare Facies."
James turned his attention from Harry's spell casting to the subject of the spell and watched as Remus' facial bones were first healed and rest and then the rest of his face was completely restored to its previous state before whatever had assaulted it.
Harry stuck his wand in the waist band of his white silk pajama bottoms spotted with blood and spoke while watching the still unconscious form of Remus, "I was talking to mum... and, you were there, and I wasn't planning on leaving. I was about to touch her... then Remus shook me."
Remus regained conscious again, remembering his last attempt he was slightly nervous but when only the dull ache of a bruise was all he felt he rolled onto his back with a groan. One leg stretched out while the other was bent at the knee, his arms flailed out to his sides and his head titled back slightly while his mind attempted to rationalize why he had been taken completely unaware and off guard by Harry's unprovoked attack and had taken Harry's wrath.
James looked from Harry to Remus and then back to his son.
"Harry it was just a dream."
"NO! I don't know what it was, but it wasn't a dream," Harry responded and then answered the question forming in his father's mind before it was spoke. "This wasn't Riddle."
"You know this for a fact?" James asked skeptically.
Numb to the skepticism he was receiving Harry answered honestly, "No, there was no pain and all my mental shields haven't even been touched."
James sighed, happy with Harry's explanation and looked to Remus stirring near the fireplace still, "Take the day off son, but practice while you're out."
Harry wasn't entirely happy with his own answer though. He was skeptical of how assured he was that it was not another attempt by Riddle. There had been no pain, no stinging of his scar- why would Voldemort try to show him that dream anyway; what did he have to gain? The house and all its wards; Harry and all his training should be enough to prevent even Riddle from entering his mind as Albus himself could not find his mind here. Had Voldemort found someway to reestablish the link between them through all of these defenses? The dream spawned too many questions, and Harry couldn't bring himself to care about anything more than being so close and hoping that tonight they might return.
Harry walked over to Remus and said, "Enervate," while waving his hand towards the older man and giving him the energy to full open his eyes and function.
Remus opened his eyes, raises his head up and groaned when he saw Harry. He decided right there that it wouldn't matter if he raised his own defense and simply let his head fall back onto the floor with a thud and asked, "Mind telling me what all of that was about?"
"Sorry," Harry said and offered his hand to Remus to help him stand.
Remus took Harry's hand and they used each other to stand and he said, "Thanks."
"The least I can do," Harry said softly and looking into his mentor's eyes.
"Do I want to know?" Remus asked hoping this time his question about the assault on him would be answered.
Harry brought his left hand behind his head and entwined his fingers with his hair looking sheepish, "Probably... but I'm sorry, Prongs can fill you in later. I don't feel much like talking about it."
Remus looked at Harry in what could almost be described as completely disbelieving and then to James who just nodded, but there must have been a good reason for what happened so he dropped it and told Harry to get changed for this morning's circuit; they could discuss it in the gym better than...
'WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE!?' Remus screamed in his own head with his eyes widening when they focused on Harry.
"Sorry... again, I was just given the day off."
'You've got time for a run don't you?' Remus asked.
'Just go away Moony,' Harry thought to himself, still checking his mental defenses and surveying what he did to his bedroom.
"Not this morning Moony," Harry said with a look pleading for Remus to just let him be.
Remus caught the look, graciously nodded and left the room leaving Harry to himself.
James spoke up once Remus had left the room, "You should be the one to explain this to him."
Harry didn't even take his attention from the door that had just closed behind Moony, "I know, just... not now."
Harry didn't have to see his father's portrait to know that James had nodded in agreement with him.
"I'll need to see you later tonight Harry," James said to a now despondent Harry.
Harry shook himself and turned to face his father again, "Yes sir."
"I'll have Tory bring you up something to eat," James said as he left the portrait in Harry's room.
Harry wasn't paying attention to what his father was saying as his mind was preoccupied with what he was going to be doing today.
He took an exceptionally long shower, mulling over the meaning of his dream while the hot water cascaded around him easing his nerves.
'Fuck fate,' he thought more than once while the water scalded his back.
He dressed in elegant black wizarding robes, tied his hair black with a silver ribbon and disapparated to the apparation port at Diagon Alley.
Harry's first stop was to his mail drop which Tory had seen to for him. There he retrieved the massive amount of post he had received over the summer; under the guise of a personal representative sent by Mr. Potter on this errand. After the clerk sorted them for an additional charge, Harry found that only twenty three letters were actual pieces of post he cared to read; as the rest were threats and curses waiting to be opened and activated.
"You should let Mr. Potter know that he's got a couple of bags in the back as well," the clerk informed Harry after handing over the mail Harry had chosen to take.
"Sorry?" Harry asked, watching as the clerk took the unwanted mail and placed them into the proper bins labeled- 'THREATS', 'CURSES', 'HEXES'.
The clerk turned back to Harry after dropping the pieces of post into their proper slots, "seems that Mr. Potter can't be found in the muggle world, unless you count Hogwart's of course. The owl's that couldn't find him dropped his mail here; it's been piling up for ages."
'A letter would have been nice every once in a while at the Dursley's, even if I didn't know why I was getting them,' Harry thought, annoyed that he had also been denied those letters.
"I'll let him know. I'm sure he'll send me back to collect them later, or he'll send an elf," Harry said with a small smile and outstretched his hand to thank the clerk. "Mr.?"
The clerk looked somewhat embarrassed and took Harry's hand, "McClaggan, Bruce McClaggan."
"Thanks Mr. McClaggan," Harry said turning to leave the post office.
"Anytime… say hi to Mr. Potter for me," Bruce shouted from behind the counter as Harry left without looking back.
Harry walked the alley enjoying the freedom of not being recognized but still thinking of another thing that had been denied him; and this for no other reason that Harry could find than to not upset his relatives.
He stopped in front of what used to be Gambol and Japes Joke Shop, but was now a restaurant. Harry decided that this would be just as good as going to the Leaky Cauldron and entered hoping to find a quiet table where he could go over his mail.
Harry looked around the podium where he was sure the maitre'd was supposed to be, "Hello?"
"Oh, hello there," a pretty young witch with dark brown hair said popping up from behind the podium. "How many?"
"Just one," Harry said.
"Follow me please," she said turning on her heel and disappearing around the corner.
Harry followed her around the corner and then up a flight of stairs to a table seated right in front of the window overlooking the alley below and offering a view of most of the residential area as well. He finally got a look at her name tag, "Thank-you Ellen."
"Not a problem sir, enjoy your meal," she responded with a smile and disapparated with a loud crack.
Just as Harry was sitting down there was another crack, and a different witch appeared next to his table.
"What can I get you to drink sir?" she asked congenially.
"Pumpkin juice please," he responded accepting the menu she handed to him.
The waitress left to retrieve his beverage and Harry set the menu off to the side, then he opened the first letter he pulled out of his inside robe pocket.
Mister Harry James Potter
Cc: Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Dear Mister Potter:
Let us first express our deepest most sincere apologies…
Harry didn't even finish the sentence when he tossed the piece of parchment onto the plate that would have been used if Harry had been there with another person.
He pulled the rest of the letters from his pocket and set the stack next to the right side of his plate, then picked up the next piece of mail marked from…
M.o.M
'No,' Harry cursed the ministry not even bothering to break the seal and read what they wrote.
His personal sentiments towards certain key politicians of the current Ministry of Magic's higher offices held no weight when innocent witches, wizards and muggles were put at risk because of his personal feelings.
'Politics,' he muttered in disgust and threw the letter onto the plate with the other letter.
The waitress returned with his drink and spotted the endearment at the top of the Daily Prophet's open letter and she then she looked at Harry, "Are you…?"
"Yes," Harry answered looking to her and then finally picking up the menu.
"You don't look like him, I saw a photo of Harry Potter in the Daily Prophet earlier this summer and you don't look a thing like him," she stated upset that someone would claim to be THE Harry Potter and stealing his mail no less.
Harry looked back up at her from the menu and blinked, lowering his mental projection and allowing her to see the Harry Potter she thought she knew. Harry blinked again when the waitress brought her hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp of surprise, and raised the projection once more.
Now focused on the menu instead of the girl, Harry said, "Shepherds Pie, with Treacle Tart for pudding."
A single serving of shepherds pie appeared on his plate, with the tart on a separate but smaller plate off the right and up a bit from the main course.
The waitress smiled at him and held out her hand expectantly.
Harry gave the girl a small polite smile and handed the girl his menu saying, "Thank-you."
He noticed that the server beamed at him for showing interest and then opened his napkin to retrieve his fork as she disappeared. He took a bite of his food, experiencing euphoria at food that contained taste, and then set the fork down while he opened the next letter.
To his chagrin the next fifteen letters were all from foreign ministries: Spain, Australia, Denmark, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Andorra, Sardinia and Burkina Faso… this list went on; Harry had not even heard of some of the countries requesting an audience with him.
There were even a few of the letters that had been sent on behalf of the ruling family than ran the ministry with marriage proposals for their daughter's. Harry couldn't imagine why they were also sending lists of family holdings and their wealth along with these proposals, especially when each lacked a single photo of the proposed girl.
Harry set the marriage proposals aside thanking Merlin that as Harry's wizard guardian Albus hadn't promised him to one. He finished his shepherd's pie and moved onto the next two letters, which had been sent by Neville and Luna.
Neville had written to express his gratitude for Harry's help the previous term, as it had helped his Grandmother to see him in a new light; not the bumbling boy squib she had previously seen him as. He mentioned his father's broken wand and his 'Gran' taking him to have it replaced; where Ollivander informed him that many of his problems with magic at school had been caused by using an improper wand- as his father's was not suited to him. Neville's new wand, which he wrote he couldn't wait for Harry to get a look at next year during D.A. sessions, was made of Yew with a griffin talon core.
Harry was pleased that Neville was doing so well this summer and that his grandmother had a change of attitude. From the way that Neville was writing, it appeared that Harry was not the only one to make a few changes, as the letter was written with a good amount of confidence.
Luna's letter, rather her written dictation of random thoughts, had mainly informed him that she and her father had recently returned from Sweden on their expedition; they were unsuccessful in locating and capturing the elusive Crumple Horned Snorkack. She changed topics as quickly as she would make a comment to someone and then disappear behind her Quibbler, and Harry was more than happy to sit and read about absolutely nothing to learn so much about his friend. Luna finished her letter with returning to the main subject and informing him that they had been mislead in thinking that the Crumple Horned Snorkack's natural habitat was in Sweden, rather than its true home in Norway.
Harry added Luna's letter to the pile of finished post with traces of a truly genuine smile on his face, he laughed silently to himself when he found himself turning the envelope upside down in order to see if she had sent him a butterbeer cap because of the indentation of the spiked cap on the parchment of her letter, and found none.
The first of the remaining four pieces of post had been from the Ministry again only the label on the parchment read…
M.o.M.
Magical Games and Sport
Mister Harry James Potter
Cc: Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Mr. Potter:
This notice is being sent to inform you that, in accordance with Education Decree number 25, passed by former Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic Dolores Umbridge and former High Inquisitor of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which your life-time ban of Quidditch has been recorded with the Ministry of Record's.
Subject to the stipulations of Education Decree number 25, a life-time ban on the sport of Quidditch can not be enforced. The High Inquisitor had only instated herself to, 'have supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions, and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions, and removals of privileges as may have been ordered by other staff members.' As the decree is only applicable to students of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry your ban will only be enforced while you remain a student at the aforementioned educational institution.
However, the validity of the decree's written by former Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic and former High Inquisitor of Hogwarts Dolores Umbridge and passed by the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge have come under debate with the High Court of Wizengamot overseeing the Minister's exercise of power not afforded him in the current charter for establishing powers and responsibilities for the offices of the Ministry of Magic- England. Should you so wish, you may contest the current ban on your ability to play Quidditch while attending Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Should you choose not to contest, said ban will remain in place until the time that you have graduated or left Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
William Basil,
Interim Department Head of Magical Games and Sport
'I thought Bagman ran that department?' Harry asked himself as he set the letter down. 'I know what I'm doing after lunch now anyway.'
The second to last letter had come from Fred and George, the assortment of different inks used to label the parchment letter had given it away when Harry had first spotted it at the post office. It was actually from their business instead of just a letter from Ron's brothers, Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.
Harry decides to put the letter back into his robes pocket for later. Even though the clerk at the post office, Bruce, had scanned it for anything dangerous he wouldn't put it past them to 'charm' the letter in a completely 'innocent' way.
The next letter came from Neville again. Only the parchment the envelope was made of was coloured completely black and extremely foreboding- Harry reached out with senses to see if there was something more to this letter, some sort of subterfuge that Mr. McClaggan had missed.
Harry didn't find anything wrong with the letter, but still opened it defensively; expecting and unexpected curse to have been delivered under the guise of a friend's name.
Opening the letter and unfolding the parchment still nothing had happened and Harry slightly relaxed, remembering without thinking what had happened to Hermione during their fourth year and her encounter with post-curses.
Harry,
I don't know if you'll get this, as you haven't responded to my previous letter. My Grandmother was murdered last night during a death eater raid... I am hoping that you will stand with me at the send off at the end of this week.
I don't know who else to ask other than Luna, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and yourself.
Neville.
'How long ago had this happened?' Harry wondered as he frantically checked the letter for a date.
Harry quickly rechecked all the letters he had received and found that all of them had only been delivered within the past week. Then it dawned on him that no mail could have been delivered to him prior to setting up the drop, and the owls must have returned to their owners unsuccessful, but then when Tory re-opened the drop for him the owls simply redirected the mail there.
'Did Albus insure that letters to me this summer weren't to be left with the post office?' Harry asked himself coming up at a loss for an explanation as to how his post problem came about and worked out.
Harry slipped Neville's letter into the inside pocket of his robes and moved on to the last letter he had, which was from Hogwarts.
The standard letter asked him to pick his classes immediately and was signed by Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.
Harry conjured a quill and quickly checked off the courses listed that he was eligible to attend this coming term and then slid that letter into the inside of his robes as well.
Finished his Treacle tart and the rest of his pumpkin juice, he paid for the meal and left.
Harry placed the unwanted letters in a bin outside the restaurant and cast an 'incendio' on them, watching to make sure they were completely ash before he left for the post office once more.
Once back at the post office he rented two owls. One he sent directly away with his response to Hogwarts, and the other he had wait for a few moments while he wrote a quick but sincere reply to Neville assuring him that he would be there for the sending to stand next to his friend. Harry then sent the bird on its way.
Back out in the alley Harry wandered again for a bit, thinking of the attack on Neville and his Grandmother; he needed a copy of the Daily Prophet to see what he had missed. He received a few odd stares from those who thought they recognized him as someone else and pointed him out, but he paid it no heed and continued musing to himself about the future and what it held in store.
Harry found himself sitting on a bench outside of Madam Malkin's just watching the customers come and go, some noticing him and saying hello, but most avoiding him- content to just stare from a distance and question everything they had been told.
Harry had been lost in his own thoughts for what must have been at least two hours before he was approached by a team of aurors; more specifically order members. Tonks and Kinglsey Shacklebolt were curious to know why Harry Potter was just sitting on a bench in the middle of the day in Diagon Alley; where anyone could come up and attack him.
"Harry?" Tonks asked surprised beyond all belief that Harry was simply sitting in the middle of Diagon Alley. This also struck the two members pride again as it was part of the job Dumbledore assigned them to protect Harry, although Harry seemed to be deeply concerned about something other than his own safety at the moment.
"Earth to Harry, you there Harry," Tonks said waving her hand in front of Harry's unblinking eyes.
Kingsley was keeping watch on all the wizards around while Tonks was trying to communicate with Harry.
Harry blinked out of his private thoughts and looked straight at Tonks and asked, "Why don't you just wave your arms in the air while your at it and scream my name for everyone to hear?"
"I don think she needs to," Kingsley said not looking at Harry but at the rest of the crowd that was watching Harry and the two aurors and trying to make it seem like they weren't.
"You two are the only ones around her that can see who I really am," Harry replied light heartedly. "Confused?"
"Uhm, yeah," Tonks replied completely missing how Harry was concealing himself.
"Good," Harry said without any discernable tone. "What are you two doing here?"
"You're dissembling," Shacklebolt muttered, still looking around the alley.
"Patrol for the ministry," Tonks responded cheekily to try and snap Harry out of his stupor.
"Job well done," Severus Snape said appearing behind Tonks and in-between her and Kingsley- neither of them knew he had been there.
Harry had seen him coming, noting how easy it was for him to slip past the two aurors.
When Snape's eyes met his, the older man was sure that Harry would have said something to the aurors but was surprised when he surreptitiously raised an eye brow and let the show play out.
Harry clapped his hands when both Tonks and Kingsley spun in surprise to see Severus standing in-between them, sneering at both of them for being completely incompetent.
"Taking lesson's Potter?" Severus hissed.
Tonks and Kingsley both shared a look asking each other silently, 'What the hell are these two doing in Diagon Alley in broad daylight?'
Harry smiled in an effort to bait Severus, "Excellent projection."
Severus recoiled, but only Harry had seen the minute movements he had made; although Harry wasn't sure if Kingsley had noticed as he made no biting comment.
Harry apparated from a sitting position to behind Severus before the potions master could blink. He grabbed a handful of greasy black hair and kicked out the man's knee, bringing him to the ground and exposing his neck.
Thankfully the crowd at Diagon Alley did not see the interaction between the four people as the main event was shielded by the bodies of Auror's on patrol.
"Just thinking…" Harry breathed in deeply mocking the older man, "… just thinking."
Harry pulled the older man to his feet by his hair with no sound being made by Severus- his pride too great to make a sound for Voldemort and definitely too great for Harry Potter; and released him.
Severus whirled around his wand at the ready, "How dare you," he hissed.
"I'm glad my father saved your life." Harry stated stonily, catching Severus off-guard.
Severus wanted to show shock but years of emotionally staidness protected him.
Tonks and Shacklebolt looked at each other questioningly and then the rest of the crowd that still seemed to be oblivious. Shacklebolt nodded to Tonks, who reached into her pocket unnoticed by Harry and Severus and activated a summoning beacon for Albus.
"This is really unnecessary," Harry said crossing his arms across his chest in defiance to Severus' apparent threat.
"Afraid… Potter?" Severus asked keeping his wand raised.
Harry smirked, "Now I know who else he gets it from."
Harry looked at the two confused aurors and said one name as if it was completely obvious what he was thinking about, "Draco."
"What is the meaning of this?" Albus Dumbledore interrupted Harry's explanation.
People stopped going about their business and turned to see why it was that Albus Dumbledore had just appeared in Diagon Alley.
Albus quickly removed his wand from the inside pocket of his right sleeve and cast an 'Illusio' charm to conceal their actions from the public.
Severus lowered his wand and turned towards Albus, "Headmaster, Potter physically attacked me."
"Again," Harry added cheekily; also turning his attention to the headmaster.
Albus Dumbledore fought the urge to laugh at Harry's attempt at defiant humour.
"Ms. Tonks, Mr. Shacklebolt, would you care to explain?"
"Well ya see Professor," Tonks started, "Snape 'ere snuck up behind us and…"
Kingsley cut her off in an attempt to be more diplomatic than he was sure Tonks would have been, "commented on our surveillance skills of Diagon Alley, and then young Harry here decided to comment physically on Snape's own surveillance skills. We're not entirely sure why Harry and Severus are here in the first place."
Harry happy to have this distraction from the thoughts of this morning was more than willing to force this confrontation on and hopefully escalate it. He smiled and gave Kingsley a thumbs up for his accurate description of what had transpired between the student and professor on holiday.
Snape had replaced his wand to the holster he had attached up his right robe sleeve and also looked pleased that the auror had not immediately sided with Potter.
Albus looked between Harry and Severus for a sign as to which way this should proceed. He shouldn't even have been here; this was not a matter for him to have been directly involved with as he had more pressing matters back at the Ministry today.
"Miss Tonks, if you would be so kind in the future as to remember that that beacon you carry is for an emergency only," Albus also looked pointedly at Kingsley.
Harry looked to both the Auror's and made a mental note that they were now carrying emergency beacon's, as well as whatever else Fred and George had invented for the order.
"There are more pressing matters to be dealt with, and I would appreciate it if the two of you," Albus said looking at Harry and Severus with disappointment- neither seemed affected, "would remember that you are on the same side."
Harry cut in as soon as he was done and turned to look at Severus, "For now."
As scathingly as he could muster after Harry's cutting and extremely foreboding remark that seemed more fitting of the dark lord than a sixteen year old boy, "What is the meaning of that?"
Harry turned away from the potions master with a menacing grin instead of explaining himself.
"Do not," Severus venomously started, "… presume to think I will be baited by a child."
Harry only continued to smile as it seemed to incense the man more than words would have accomplished.
Albus ended this as soon he found Harry had discovered an even more direct path to incensing Severus, "Harry, a word."
Harry turned his attention away from Severus and fought the thought sitting on the end of his tongue to say, 'Only one?'
"Of course," Harry said shaking off his momentary Slytherin side.
He was loathe to play his Slytherin side, as it made him feel unclean. Any longer and he was sure that he would have cracked and resorted to attacking physically.
Harry and Albus put a good distance between themselves and Snape, Kingsley and Tonks before speaking.
"Harry this must end between Professor Snape and yourself, you are fighting for the same cause," Albus said forcefully and putting a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"You may trust him, but I don't. I never have and I never will. I do not know what evidence you have to support yourself in trusting him, but until you're willing to share…" Harry left the statement hanging for Albus to fill it in for himself.
"Aren't you needed at the Ministry?" Harry asked.
Albus looked thoughtful, "There is no changing this Harry?"
"He has done nothing to change my opinion, what does he do for you now in the first place? He can not return to Riddle without being killed on sight, so what does he do; operate out of Knockturn Alley and report any rumours he hears back to you and the order?" Harry asked.
'Operate,' Albus noted the way he spoke and filed it away as another thought on what Harry had been doing this summer.
Not really wanting an answer he knew already, Harry changed the subject hoping to find out what was happening at the Ministry, "What are you doing at the Ministry today?"
"Harry, have you not read the Daily Prophet?" Albus asked almost shocked.
Snape, Kingsley and Tonks were all looking at the interaction taking place between Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter.
Harry tilted his head up slightly to meet the eyes of Dumbledore asking him silently if he really just asked if the boy who had been ridiculed and verbally hung by the public read the rag that committed those acts.
"Forgive me; I understand your reluctance to read that particular periodical. However Harry, information is information even if you have to read between the lines on occasion," Albus said, a twinkle in his eye and then he lowered the 'Illusio' charm and apparated back to his meeting at the Ministry.
Harry's natural curiosity came into full effect and he wandlessly summoned an issue of the Daily Prophet from the nearest bin. The issue had been a few days old, but the headline could not have hit Harry harder than Remus taking him unnoticed.
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-NAMED RETURNS TO WIZARDING WORLD WITH FIRST STRIKE!
There was a photo beneath the headline of an old mansion missing the entire left side of the building, smoke still billowed from the rubble that was still on fire and the rest of the smoldering building was having the fire put out by Magical Reversal Squad Officials.
The description below the photo read…
Prominent Pureblood Families First to be Struck
Harry reasoned these must have been the families unwilling to side with Riddle or the Ministry. He had heard from his father of the old wizarding families that had no need to be entwined in the battles raging for Pureblood Supremacy, as they were secure in their position no matter what the outcome.
Then the thought hit him, "Neville!"
"Harry only had to look at the article once to take in all the pertinent information, Longbottom Estate was the first to be attacked three nights ago, sequentially the
MacDougal Estate, the Zabini Estate, Gentry Castle, Kettering Castle, all of the Tiberion Estates- as well as Snape Castle.
'That's what the greasy git is doing here,' Harry thought about Snape being out of Knockturn Alley.
Harry binned the paper once more and walked over the two aurors, "Snape head to the Ministry?"
Tonks touched her nose and Harry nodded in return.
Harry disapparated after having his suspicion confirmed by Tonks, leaving behind a couple of confused Auror's who set about discussing between themselves what kind of concealment Harry and Severus had been using.
Once past the ministry's apparation check-in point- Harry was thought for a moment they were going to ask him to produce a license, but they had let him pass- and he found himself standing in front of a completely refurnished reception hall. The fountain of 'Magical Brethren' had been completely re-sculpted back to its original magnificent form, and everything else that had been destroyed or transfigured had been returned to its original state as well. The only thing there that had not been repaired was him, and he found it funny to think that all of this could be fixed so easy.
Harry queued up in a line waiting to be checked in by the wizarding guard; he was fifth in line.
After a short wait in line and the sudden quiet that grew when people would suddenly recognize him as Harry Potter and not the man he had been leading them all to see previously and start their huddled conversations Harry was at the head of the queue.
Once in the Ministry of Magic Harry found that he had no desire to hide who he was, and lowered the projection he was sending out; walking with his head held high.
"Name and nature of your visit to the Ministry of Magic on this day August 16th, 1997," the bored security guard asked, Harry thought he looked familiar and was possible the same guard from his previous visit to the ministry last summer.
"Harry James Potter, Deliberations Committee on the Recent Pureblooded Wizard Attacks," Harry said forcefully.
Eric, as the security guard's badge read, had heard this response all day; the only difference was the significance of the name.
'It is the same guard from last year,' Harry thought when he finally got a good enough look at the man.
"Excuse me… er… Mr. Potter," Eric said now standing and taking the bow he reserved for very few that passed through the Ministry.
Harry tilted his head in respect for Eric's own bow, earning a smile from the security guard.
The rest of the queue behind Harry watched eagerly at the interaction between the most popular wizard in the entire world and the simple security guard who earned a bow in return.
Eric quickly ran the golden rod up and down the length of Harry's form, finding nothing and said, "Yes sir, the committee is meeting in room 4 on the 6th floor."
"Thank-you," Harry said passing through the check point and taking a right towards the elevators that would take him to the appropriate floor.
The elevator doors opened on the 6th floor and Harry stepped out of the elevators to find there were only a few witches and wizards waiting in the hallway. The all appeared to be upper class given from the state of their dress and Harry assumed that all of them were here for the deliberations, although Harry was only looking for Neville.
Harry found Neville right across from the doors leading into Room 4 sitting next to a very broken looking Blaise Zabini.
"Hello Neville," Harry said breaking the boy out of his own private thoughts.
Neville looked up through bloodshot eyes and being able to recognize Harry anywhere pulled him into a brotherly hug.
Harry responded hoping to help Neville and hugged his friend in return in his time of mourning.
"I just heard, I'm sorry Neville, really, I am," Harry said conjuring a chair and sitting front of Neville and Blaise.
"Thanks Harry," Neville responded although his voice was devoid of any of the previous boyishness and uncertainty it had once possessed.
"I mean it, if there's anything I can do," Harry started.
"Thanks again, but there's nothing that anyone can do, and if it hadn't been for you I wouldn't even be here today," Neville said staring at the floor.
Harry was floored by what Neville had said, he shouldn't have been, he had gone through the same thing with Hermione… and it was his fault that Neville had come with him to the Department of Mysteries that night.
Harry didn't say anything and Neville instantly regretted what he said and spoke quickly when he looked up and saw the look in Harry's eye, "That not what I meant Harry, sorry, what I meant is that I wouldn't be alive…" and then Neville went very cold with his tone in an effort not to feel the emotions connected with that night.
"No one's told me how they did it yet Harry, I mean bypassed all the wards and gotten in, but once they did, they came in and killed my gran in her sleep. At least I can be thankful for that, they didn't torture her into madness as well… just outright killed her; no pain right?" Neville asked looking at Harry for confirmation since he had been the only one to survive the killing curse.
Harry responded quickly with the answer he knew Neville wanted to hear, "Right, no pain."
"After they killed her, I guess they assumed the manor was empty and just started destroying it; that's what woke me up. I sent our owl with a message to the Aurors, but it didn't get there in time and I ended up having to run for it. A few broken bones, no serious curses though, and I got two of them when three cornered me… I thought that was it and I stunned one and full body bound another, and then the aurors showed up and helped fight them off, but the estate was already half gone and most of the death eater scum had apparated away to another target that night." Neville said tilting his towards Blaise.
"You alright mate?" Harry asked knowing it was a stupid question.
Neville gave him a knowing smile, "I will be when this is all over with Harry."
Neville and Harry had both lost their parents for the same reason, Neville just didn't know about it. Now the last of Neville's family was gone and he was just like Harry and Harry couldn't help feeling guilty that he had wished once that everything that had happened to him had happened to Neville instead.
"Do you need a place to stay?" Harry asked.
'Thanks, but I'm all set, the manor's been rebuilt and Professor Dumbledore has been out with a team of aurors to fix the wards and install some new ones."
'Order members,' Harry thought when Neville spoke of Albus arriving with a team of Aurors.
Harry had an idea and asked, "Do you mind if I drop by your place soon, I might have something you're interested in."
"There's only one thing I'm interested in Harry and you know what that is," Neville replied coolly.
It was like seeing a mirror of his own emotions from when the summer started when Harry looked at Neville now; it was uncanny and disconcerting.
"Then you won't mind."
Neville gave him a small smile because of the thought that he would have retribution for his whole family. He knew Harry had something to do with all of this, and eventually he would be there when it was all said and done, something just told him this, but he didn't know what part Harry had to play.
Harry turned his attention to a still crying Blaise, knowing he had absolutely no idea how to talk to her when she was in this state. Hermione had attacked him and then fallen asleep, and Cho had run away; crying women he had no problem admitting he was bad with.
"She's the same as us Harry," Neville said seeing that Harry didn't know what to say.
Neville's explanation to Harry only seemed to make Blaise cry harder than before.
Harry placed a hand on her shoulder, and she felt the same warmth that Hermione felt when he touched her and started to relax her shoulders.
Blaise lifted her head and looked through the matted auburn locks of hair in front of her eyes at Harry.
They did not speak words as neither knew what to say to the other. Harry being the Gryffindor beacon of light and Blaise being the Slytherin Pin-Up, but they both understood the feeling of loss and that was enough to calm Blaise and stave off the tears.
Blaise brought her hand that was covered in an oversized grey wool jumper and wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks and sniffed lightly.
Harry noticed that she really was quite pretty, and imagined if she was cleaned up that she would be the epitome of every rumour he had heard being said about her.
Harry looked intently at her, and Blaise seemed to acquiesce and moved over to make space for him between Neville and herself. Harry moved in-between them and Blaise placed her head on his shoulder and drifted off to sleep after almost 65 hours of insomnia after losing both her parents, her younger brothers who were twins and about to start at Hogwarts this term, her aunt and uncle that had been visiting that day, along with their children- her cousins, and with the recent loss of her grandmother the year before… she was the sole living Zabini. She wanted to laugh that she was sleeping with her head rested on the shoulder of THE Harry Potter; although she felt kinship towards him as well as Neville- they were all now related in this current war through the same act; something she did not know where it would take her and at the moment could not care about.
Neville couldn't help but smirk at the current situation.
'Harry's comforting a Slytherin,' Neville thought hoping to be able to use this as teasing material one day when he had the need for it and the want.
"Are you going to be alright here alone?" Harry asked Neville quietly.
"Yeah, this whole thing is just a committee on what should be done. We all were summoned here to give testimony for the record."
"Alright, I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Harry whispered.
"Thanks mate," Neville said offering his hand and wearing a somber expression.
Harry took his hand and restricted his own strength in doing so to actually shake Neville's hand like an equal, like the boy that almost had to deal with everything Harry was going through.
"You mind?" Harry asked smiling and pointing towards a sleeping Blaise.
"No worries," Neville said sliding into Harry's spot as Harry held Blaise' head until Neville was in place and the lowered it to his shoulder.
"What'll Ginny think?" Harry asked mockingly knowing this would lighten the somber mood.
Neville didn't even blink, "Whaddaya mean? I don't like Ginny."
Harry was caught off guard, "I thought you liked Ginny, because of the ball and everything?"
"Nah mate, Luna and I've been writing this summer, shite, do you mind telling her where I've been?"
"I'd be happy to," Harry said thinking that Luna wouldn't worry about anything, even if she was forced to.
"Besides Ginny likes you."
"What are you talking about? Never-mind, this isn't the time for that, sorry."
"Glad for the distraction Harry." Neville said with a smile.
Harry noted again how he himself was looking for the distraction with Snape earlier… uncanny.
"Right, I'll just go deliver your message to Luna then."
Harry turned to walk back the way he had come and was stopped when Neville called out for him quietly but loud enough for Harry to hear, "Thanks again, Harry."
Harry turned and gave Neville a smile, turned back and walked back through the doors he had come through to get here and back to the elevator.
Inside the elevator he looked for the button that would take him to the floor where the Department for Magical Games and Sport was located.
Harry pressed the button for the seventh level and waited for the lift to raise him one floor.
There was no one on the floor outside of the lift and Harry's shoes clicked on the white marble floor as he walked the distance to the double wooden door entrance to the offices of the Games Department.
Harry placed a hand on each of the handles the doors had and swung them open. Stepping in he saw that he had startled the young witch working as a clerk in this department.
Seeing that there was no queue or anyone already seated and waiting, Harry strode to the glass desk where the now nervous witch was waiting for the famous Harry Potter to come and talk to her.
"Hello," Harry said in a friendly voice to calm the girl down.
"Oh… er…yes, Hello, Mr. Potter." She stammered.
"I see you recognize me, so is it safe to assume you know why I'm here?" Harry asked smoothly.
"Uhm…" she responded then bit her lower lip.
"I'm here to have my life-time ban on Quidditch lifted."
She nodded and wrote a message on a piece of paper, pointed her wand it and muttered something Harry made sure to remember, and watched the note fold itself into a paper airplane and zoom into the back of the room to the appropriate wizard it was addressed to.
Regaining her composure she stated, "It'll only be a moment Mr. Potter."
"Harry is fine…Ms.?" he looked at her questioning for her name in return.
"Anna, Anna Trioble," she said smiling at him.
"Thank-you Anna," Harry responded and left to have a seat in the lobby of the Gaming Department.
"Harry Potter!" a shocked voice came from around the corner.
Harry rose from his seat and waited for the surprised voice to show the person it was attached to.
A small rotund and balding man came scurrying around the corner to meet Harry, holding his hands out hurriedly to shake his hands.
Harry offered his hand which was grasped in both of the man's pudgy fingered hands. Harry fought the idea of wearing a disgusted look and wiping whatever fluid covered the man's hands on his pant leg.
"I'm William Basil, acting department head, what can I do for you Mr. Potter?" he asked clearly proud of his title and meeting Harry.
"I'm here to contest my life-time ban on playing Quidditch," Harry stated with a no-nonsense attitude.
William Basil immediately took to Harry's attitude and responded in the same, "I am afraid, Mr. Potter, that you can only formerly contest the ban here. The actual decision you will have to take up with Headmaster Dumbledore at Hogwarts. Other than filing a few pieces of parchment there is nothing that can be done on our level except to redirect you there."
"I see," Harry said already planning what he would do.
Mr. Basil offered his apologies, but from the look of Harry he saw that they weren't really necessary. The young man seemed to be unfazed, "I am truly sorry Mr. Potter."
"Thank-you Mr. Basil, good-day to you," Harry said with a believable smile so he could avoid shaking the man's hands once more.
"Bye Harry," Anna called from behind her desk as Harry exited the Department- robes billowing behind him.
'Press Corps, where would the Minister keep his press-corps?' Harry was asking himself and then he saw Albus Dumbledore at the end of the opposing corridor followed closely by Minister Fudge, 'Brilliant!'
"Ah, Mr. Potter," Albus said his eyes twinkling greatly.
Harry was starting to accept this as Albus' version of winking in a knowing fashion.
"What brings you here?" Albus asked.
"Well, the idiot behind you placed a moron at Hogwarts this previous term and some rather unfortunate pieces of legislation were passed as law and official decree," Harry said scathingly.
Harry had no problems with showing open disgust for the poor excuse of a man who had personally ensured his life remained a living hell last term.
"Ah, I see," Albus said stepping to the side and bringing Minister Fudge into clear view from where he was attempting to go back the other way down the hall. "Minister, would you care to comment."
"What… oh… yes… my former undersecretary, very unfortunate yes Harry," Fudge stammered.
"Mr. Potter," Harry glared at the bumbling fat man.
"Yes… of course… I see, Mr. Potter," Minister Fudge again stammered.
Harry did not even feel the smallest satisfaction at seeing the Minister of Magic flail in the presence of both himself and Albus who had clearly sided with Harry at the end of his fourth term. Instead he felt pity for the man.
Harry wondered silently, 'how can someone be so corrupted?'
"Harry, the Minister and I were previously discussing many of the decrees that were passed during my tenure and after I was, well, asked to vacate my position as Headmaster."
Harry wanted to hit himself, this whole summer Albus held no position at Hogwarts, although clearly he had recovered his previous position now.
"We have agreed on all but your ban," Albus stated knowing that Harry would have wished to deal with this on his own now.
"I see. Why would there be any other decision to make other than to have this ridiculous ban lifted as it directly relates to Educational Decree number 25?" Harry asked pointedly.
"Mr. Potter, you did attack another student?" Albus asked still smiling.
"After he insulted my family, and impugned my honor- all of which came from the son of a very prominent Death Eater you consorted with so freely." Harry spat towards Fudge.
Minister Fudge was already Albus' puppet, and the mention of his familiarity with the Malfoy's was just another curse to be thrown at him.
"Consider your ban lifted," Minister Fudge announced.
"It is not your decision to make Minister," Harry scathingly replied. "It is the Headmaster's."
Fudge looked completely stupefied at Harry's remark.
"Consider your ban lifted Harry. Provided you do not attack another student, of course," Albus offered.
Harry didn't even look at the Minister instead he focused on Albus, "Thank-you Albus, I trust you'll also be taking care of the matter concerning the High Inquisitor's use of blood-quills?"
Albus had not known of this and showed true surprise to which Harry showed absolutely no concern.
Harry just lifted his hand to show the markings of 'I will not tell lies' etched into his skin and spoke, "I don't know how many others, but I know of at least one other. I didn't even know they were illegal at the time."
Albus turned to Minister Fudge and seemed to grow an extra foot, and glared menacingly down at the man before him.
Harry left before the painful altercation he was sure to take place occurred. He turned down an empty hall and attempted to apparate number 12 Grimmauld Place in search of Ginny. Harry was momentarily stunned as to why he was still in the main ministry building when the thought of anti- apparation wards came into his mind.
'Idiot,' Harry cursed himself and started searching his robes for a portkey.
Harry couldn't find one that was destined for number 12, but instead reprogrammed one that was supposed to take him to the Ministry in the event of an emergency.
"Fudge," Harry said and disappeared.
He searched the kitchen first as he also wanted something to eat; the day so far had burnt off all the energy he had taken in from the shepherd's pie and treacle tart.
Harry fixed himself a cold chicken breast sandwich and sat at the island enjoying the silence and thinking of the stories his father, Sirius and Remus had told him revolved around this very house.
Harry was finishing the last bite of his sandwich when the very girl he was looking for came through the door looking rather happy.
"Hello Ginny," Harry said sending his plate to the sink where it began to wash itself under Mrs. Weasley's already emplaced charms.
"Harry!" Ginny all but screamed.
Harry looked sheepish at having scared Ginny, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just give me a minute," she said and brought her hand to her chest. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you actually?"
"And why are you looking for me," Ginny said getting her normal breathing pattern back under control.
"I need your help."
"What do you need my help for? From what Hermione's been telling me you seem to be pretty much self sufficient Harry."
"How is she?"
"Talking a lot. Ok I guess, the news about her father hit her hard though. She would have liked to have been there for the sending, but you know you did a great thing don't you?"
"What happened with her father? What sending?" Harry asked completely confused.
"The ministry gave him a ceremony since Hermione wasn't around, and her mum didn't have much to say… oh!" Ginny gasped and brought her hands to her mouth.
Harry shook his head sadly, "you're ok Gin."
"I shouldn't have said that," Ginny said looking downcast and ready to flee the room to apologize to Hermione.
"This is all my fault," Harry said putting his elbows on the island and propping his head up with his hands.
"No Harry it isn't, so don't think that. Hermione wouldn't have been in any state to arrange for a muggle funeral even if you hadn't gone to get her. She is having a cemetery plot bought on her father's behalf and she'll bury the remains and set up a headstone."
"I see."
Ginny smiled at seeing Harry cheer up slightly when he realized he hadn't completely made a mess of things by running off this summer and taking Hermione with him halfway in.
"Has she gotten everything else out?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ginny, you can't not blame her father and mothers' death on me. She was attacked because she was my friend and now she's paying for it, do you think I don't see that every time I look at her?"
"Harry," Ginny started and reached out and grasped the palm he had laid down on the island; she too felt the warmth spread through her at touching Harry, just as Hermione had described.
"It's alright Gin, I know its Riddle's fault," Ginny shudders at the mention of Voldemort's real name that used his old diary to possess her. "But I have my part in the blame for this as well, and Hermione needs to deal with that; something I couldn't help her with, that's why I'm glad she's got you now."
Ginny winked at Harry and gave him a small smile.
"I'm off topic anyway," Harry said looking into her eyes.
'Why does he have to look at me that way now?' Ginny asked herself.
"Do you know where Luna lives? She lives near you in Ottery St. Catchpole right?"
Ginny went defensive for a moment, "Why do you want to know where she lives?"
"Neville asked me give her a message," Harry said seeing the spark ignite in her eye and then go out almost as quickly as it had been lit. "Everything alright Gin?"
"Sorry, yeah everything's fine, is she seeing Neville now?" Ginny asked calming down.
"I don't really know, I spoke with him today at the Ministry and he told me they had been writing to each other over the summer while she was on her expedition in Sweden with her father. I'd say it's a fair bet he fancies her and she him."
Ginny gave a light smile and relayed the directions from the Burrow to Harry.
"Thanks Gin," Harry said and kissed her on the cheek before disapparating. "See you on the express, right?"
"Hmmm," Ginny thought out loud to the empty kitchen, questioning what she was going to do about Harry.