Chapter 25

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Disgaea. This should be rather obvious.

0x0x0x0

"Luna's doing a good job of keeping Hermione from being a nervous wreck," said Harry.

Etna was silent, laying her head on Harry's chest.

"OWLs weren't that bad. Then again, I don't think you have all that much to worry about, do you?"

"No, I suppose I don't," replied Etna. She stood up and stretched. "Come on, we're sneaking out."

"Sneaking out where?" asked Harry, sitting up to follow her.

"Hogsmeade," replied Etna, pointing towards the gates. "You've got that map, don't you?"

"It's not a Hogsmeade weekend, though," said Harry, already standing up, and heading back towards the castle.

"So?" asked Etna.

Harry smirked.

0x0x0x0

The proprietor of Honeyduke's didn't pay one iota of attention to who Etna and Harry were, more than happy to have paying customers. Well, he at least hinted they shouldn't be out and about on their own. He didn't even realize who Harry was, for which Harry was grateful.

"Probably because it's healed," said Etna.

"You think so?"

Etna shrugged.

"People pay attention to the big things. If they don't see a scar, they don't see a Boy-Who-Lived."

"It's still there."

"But it's not as obvious," replied Etna. "People look for obvious. They look at the surface. They don't look beneath the surface, and they especially don't look beneath the beneath."

Harry was silent. He knew Etna was imparting wisdom, therefore shut up. It was an easy rule to follow.

"Finding out what's beneath is a simple task. You're gotten pretty good at figuring out what people are really doing. The trick, however, is figuring out why they're doing what they're really doing. What motivates them? What in their heart of hearts drives them?

"It's a bit more of a task, but it's possible. What do they want? That question is tempered with 'How will they get it?' and 'What are they willing to do?' You can learn quite a bit about a person by finding answers to those questions."

"So Voldemort for example..." began Harry, thinking about it.

"Mm-hmm."

"He wants to rule the world."

"Eh... that's questionable. Answer the last two questions, and you'll have the first."

Harry asked himself what Voldemort was willing to do. Anything. That terrified him a little bit, that answer. Someone willing to do anything, anything at all? So what had he done?

He'd delved into the Dark Arts. He'd started a war. And he'd created the Horcruxes. And that seemed to answer everything.

"He wants power, and he wants to live forever. And he'll do anything and everything necessary to get those two things."

"You got it," said Etna, turning onto a side street. "Now, let's stop talking about the big things, and talk about the little things."

Harry furrowed his brow, as Etna's hand found its way to his. He looked up, and saw a simple cafe that Etna was leading him towards, and he knew he was rather hungry.

"Beneath the beneath," he muttered.

"Correct, Harry. This is a date, and you're buying me lunch."

Harry laughed, but went along with it anyway.

0x0x0x0

Lavender Brown was torn.

Hermione Granger was doing something strange and unnatural. She was dating a girl. Sure, it was Looney Lovegood, but that didn't change the facts.

Obviously, this was a problem.

Except, well, Lavender didn't want to change the new status quo. Quite frankly, the new status quo was helping her. It was helping her a lot, in fact.

Hermione Granger hadn't flipped her shit over OWLs.

Last year, she'd been nagging, bossy, and condemning to anyone and everyone who wasn't studying for finals. Same as the year before that, and also back in first year. This year?

She realized it when Hermione was getting ready for bed, and turned to them.

"Lavender, Parvati?"

"Yes?" began Lavender.

"Did either of you need any help studying for OWLs?"

"No," said a confused Parvati.

"Not really," added Lavender.

"Okay."

They watched her go off to clean her teeth with a muggle brush.

"That's the first time I've heard her mention OWLs," said Lavender.

"Merlin," said Parvati. "Do you think they're... you know..."

"I don't see how," replied Lavender.

"I can't think of anything else that'd loosen her up, though," said Parvati.

Lavender nodded.

That had been two months ago. Since then, Padma and Lisa had been dragged back in, and they'd discussed it in bewildered confusion. After a mutually embarrassing discussion that would never be mentioned ever again, a decision was reached.

This was a status quo that Lavender and Parvati didn't want to disturb. Padma and Lisa, being Ravenclaws, could understand. So they all agreed to keep quiet about it, even if it was wrong. They'd mention something over the summer.

0x0x0x0

Draco Malfoy was certain he was making progress. He was keeping watch on the Dark Lord's daughter, and trying to learn her plans. He knew he was close to success, and he'd achieve it the beginning of next summer.

0x0x0x0

Severus Snape wondered when Etna would stop being amused by Draco, and just kill him. He also wondered if she'd share the pensieve memory.

He was also fairly certain he'd figured out that Liver Restorative Draught, and without any complications over the summer, he'd have it ready just in time for September 1st.

0x0x0x0

"So what are we doing over the summer?" asked Susan, as they all gathered into a compartment on the train.

The end of the year had been a surprise for her. When Ron approached her, she figured she'd be doing a little bit of Defense Against the Dark Arts work. Instead, she'd gone through something that made Auror Boot Camp look like a picnic. She'd had a small repertoire of effective spells drilled into her head, from piercing and cutting hexes, all the way to the Patronus charm, and Harry Potter himself even taught her a messenger variant of it.

"Unless you can get a waiver out of your aunt, nothing," said Neville.

"I doubt I'd be able to get there, anyway," added Ginny.

"I don't know, Mum and Dad are letting Elizabeth stay over for the summer."

"Yes, but that's staying over, not going someplace else," said Ginny. "

"I can ask her, but I doubt it. I'll owl you guys if anything does come up, though."

"All else fails, dodging drills," said Elizabeth.

Everyone else shuddered. Elizabeth's preferred spell was the piercing curse. "You dodge faster" was her reasoning.

Which then lead their trains of thought to the time Etna did it.

Everyone in the compartment, even Elizabeth, showed a look of fear, as though she would burst into the compartment and start casting spells. It wouldn't be the first time she and Harry had done that. They took "Constant Vigilance" to a whole new level, Susan found. Susan also learned that, despite the endless viciousness Etna used, she pulled her punches. And sometimes those were literal punches.

Susan thought she was powerful, especially once she really got into the "this is a fight, not a duel" lesson that Ginny literally pounded into her head. She felt she was on par with Ginny, given that she could keep up with her. Well, keep up with her one time in five... or maybe it was more one time in fifteen. Susan didn't think she could pull off all the transfiguring that Ginny did in a duel with such dangerous effect. In fact, most of the time, she didn't think she'd be able to keep up with Ginny at all if Ginny stuck with straight up cursing and charms.

"I started learning to back up Harry, so I wasn't in his way. Now I do it because it works well on multiple enemies," commented Ginny on her style. "That, and it keeps you guys on your toes."

She didn't really understand how someone could back up another wizard. I mean, Ginny could take all of them except for Elizabeth, and that was because Elizabeth was ruthless.

But when she watched Harry and Etna go at it? She understood. She understood that there were witches and wizards, and then there were people like Merlin, and Voldemort, and Dumbledore, and Harry Potter.

Etna could keep up with him, but it seemed like she was fighting with skill, while Harry was flattening things with raw power. Both of them used a nasty assortment of spells, but Etna could stay ahead because she knew more, and she was a nasty trickster. Harry, however, could power through them, or knew enough to take them apart. There had been a rumor he cast the Patronus Charm that chased off a hundred dementors, and originally she'd laughed it off. Now she believed it.

But now they were on a train away from Hogwarts. OWLs were done (and she'd done better than she'd expected, especially on her practicals), she'd be heading off to chat with Hannah in a few minutes, and she hoped to never have Etna assault her again.

"I don't think I'll take you up on that offer," said Susan to Elizabeth, standing. She put her hand on the door, and tried to open the door.

It wouldn't open. She spun, a stunning charm on her lips, when her hands snapped to her sides, her feet locked together, and she fell to the floor.

She sighed, as she recognized Etna's boots under the invisibility cloak. She swore it must have been the Deathly Hallow itself, if it was that good.

"Just figured I'd give you one last go. What's-His-Face is out there, and he won't stay quiet much longer. Do what you can to stay safe, alright?"

Susan found she could nod, so she did.

"Good to know. Maybe you'll see me next year, alright?"

Susan wasn't sure if she wanted to or not.

0x0x0x0

Etna returned unscathed to the compartment were Harry, Hermione, and Luna sat. She dropped into a seat next to Harry, and immediately leaned up against him.

"Done being cruel?" asked Harry.

"For now," she said. Her wand was still out.

"Alright, now, heads up, I'm going to cast a bit of magic on you."

"Why?" asked Hermione, still not trusting her with it after the dragon incident.

"I'm removing the trace," replied Etna. "Which I may or may not have learned how to do from our dear headmaster, after I mentioned it to him for our summer vacation."

They all nodded, and each of them found it was a bit like being beaten over the head with a cricket (or beater, in Luna's case) bat.

"And no one in the Ministry will notice?" asked Hermione.

"Not really," replied Etna. "The department's pretty heavily auto-magiced, according to Albus. Most of what they do is work with the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad."

"I'd have thought they'd pay attention to me," said Harry.

At this, Etna shrugged.

"Hope for the best, expect the worst," commented Harry.

"I guess. I just don't like not having a plan," said Hermione.

"Hermione, when have we ever had a plan?"

"Sirius, the first task... and... umm... oh, I know there's another one! Hagrid! Hagrid and Norbert!"

"Norbert?" asked Luna.

"Hagrid's dragon," muttered Hermione.

"He had a dragon, and he named it Norbert?" asked Etna.

"Yes."

"You'll have to excuse us, Hermione, but you never told us the story of Norbert."

At this, Hermione sighed, and then launched into the tale of Hagrid and Norbert, with occasional added commentary from Harry.

0x0x0x0

The platform was tense, as Harry and Etna gathered their things.

"Luna, where's your father?" asked Hermione.

"Oh, he's in Scandinavia at the moment, following up a lead on Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. He'll be home in two weeks."

"You'll be at home alone?" asked Hermione.

"Hmm? Yes, I suppose I shall."

"You can come with us to Grimmauld," said Harry. "I'm sure Sirius won't mind."

"Hmm... I suppose that'll be easier," commented Luna. "How are you three getting there?"

"The Knight Bus, I guess," said Harry, leading them towards the exit from the platform. "Come on, let's find your parents, Hermione."

"Oh, that'd be wonderful!" said Luna. "I'd love to meet them."

Hermione seemed rather nervous, all of a sudden.

"Harry!" came Mrs. Weasley's voice, as soon as they stepped through the barrier.

Harry ignored her, and instead watched as Hermione and Luna went to talk with the Doctors Granger.

"Harry!" said Mrs. Weasley again.

"So how long do you think Dumbledore will take before shipping us overseas?"

"Harry Potter!"

"A few days, it seemed like. He wanted Hermione to see her folks before stealing her away again."

"Harry Potter, you will look at me, young man!" said Molly Weasley, grabbing Harry's arm.

"Let go of me, or I'll fetch a bobby to have you arrested for assault," growled Harry.

"Harry, stop this nonsense. You're coming with me straight to the Burrow," said Molly, releasing Harry's arm.

"And I've spent enough time in places where I'm not welcome," replied Harry, and turned away from her. "Knight Bus?" he asked the others.

"That's not safe!" shouted Molly. Ron and Ginny had caught up, but both of them shook their heads, unable to do anything.

"If I cared about your opinion, I'd ask for it. Etna, Luna, come on. We're leaving."

"You are coming to the Burrow!" said Molly.

Harry put down his trunk, walked up to Molly, his eyes glowing with power.

"And I told you no," he said. "I told you I would never set foot in your household for as long as I live, and I meant it." With that, he spat on the ground, and walked away.

"I told you, Mother," said Ginny.

"Good job, Mum. I suppose now's the time to say the Twins apparated away without saying a single thing, huh?"

"They... they WHAT?"

0x0x0x0

"Harry! What are you doing here?" asked Sirius.

"I said I was coming straight here," said Harry.

"Where's Molly?" asked Sirius.

"No idea," replied Harry, shouldering his way into Grimmauld Place.

"Etna, good to see you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister Boardman," said Luna, from behind Etna and Harry. "I'm glad to see you're in good health."

"Thank you," replied Sirius. "You'd be Luna Lovegood?"

"That's correct."

"I'll be questioning you later about your intentions with Miss Granger."

"I intend to corrupt her, sir."

"Excellent! I'm glad to hear that, Miss Lovegood. I think we'll get along smashingly."

At this, Luna smiled.

0x0x0x0

Three days later, Hermione had rejoined them.

"Ready?" she asked, more to herself than anyone else.

"No time like the present," said Harry.

"You sure you want to do this?" asked Sirius.

"No one else can, Sirius."

"You still won't tell me why, you know."

"I know. And it's better you don't," replied Harry.

"Listen... take care of yourself, alright?" Sirius asked.

"I will," replied Harry.

"And that goes for you, too, alright?" said Sirius, pointing at Etna.

"Hey! He gets into these situations all on his own."

At this, Sirius smiled.

"Ladies? Gentleman? Sirius?" said Albus. "Here are your portkeys. These will bring you directly here."

Each of them took a rainbow colored sock.

"The return phrase is 'There's no place like home.' It will deposit you in the living room. Please use them as soon as you need to, and not a moment before, as I imagine the pair of us will be rather worried until you arrive. Now then, take a hold of Fawkes's tail feathers."

"Good luck, Harry," said Sirius.

Harry nodded, and then the four of them disappeared in a flash of fire.

"You think they'll do it?" asked Sirius.

"They will, Sirius. They will."

0x0x0x0

An owl took off from the residence of Lavender Brown, headed for Ottery St. Catchpole.

Author's Notes: Writing this chapter was pretty interesting, because it solidified some of the things I know were going to happen over the summer. It also solidified, in my mind, some of the events that would happen (or wouldn't happen, in one case).

And with the school year wrapped up, we can finally get to what I've been wanting to throw Harry and Etna at what I've been wanting to write since I started this fic. Well, and Hermione and Luna, too.

The deep-end starts next chapter.

Due to ongoing PC Problems, this chapter was beta'd by Luan Mao. Go read his stuff, it's amazing!