A very big "Thank you!" goes to fredfred for betaing. His help has improved the story a lot.

Chapter 26: Preparations

Bay of Islands, New Zealand, December 27th, 1996

Oliver Anderson usually loved his job - mainly because being a customs official in Magical New Zealand didn't involve much actual work. Especially at his post in the Bay of Islands. These days most travellers either took an International Portkey to the Ministry in Wellington or a muggle plane. Few ever used ships any more, and few of those who did sailed to the Bay of Islands. The only reason the Bay was still staffed was its historical significance. And the fact that the Australians still used the place to drop off their unwanted muggleborns - which meant all those of non-Aboriginal descent, of course - in accordance with the treaty of 1892.

But that only happened once a year, and the diplomats from the Ministry handled most of the work on those occasions - which was just fine with Oliver; no sane wizard wanted anything to do with the Australians.

Other than that, there were just enough travellers to keep Oliver from dying of boredom, but not so many that he had to work every day. Which meant he could spend most days reading and listening to the Quidditch broadcasts from Wizarding Britain in his office, conveniently kept cool with a few charms.

Most days, but not today, he thought, when he heard the chime informing him of a visitor. Probably a tourist wanting to go sightseeing. Or a muggleborn coming to visit the spot where they had arrived in New Zealand - some of them did that as if doing so would give them their memories back. Sighing, he turned the wireless off - it wouldn't do to make a bad impression on a visitor - and slid the latest Quidditch Weekly into his top drawer before getting up and heading to the entrance hall.

It wasn't a tourist, he realised with a gasp as he saw the man through the glass door. It was the Supreme Mugwump - Albus Dumbledore! Waiting in front of his office!

He ripped the door open in his haste - you didn't leave the most powerful wizard in the world waiting. "Sir! Welcome to the Bay of Islands! How may I help you?"

"Hello, my boy." The man smiled at him, teeth flashing in the midst of his thick beard. "I've just come to borrow one of your ships."

"One of my ships?" Oliver blinked. What use might Dumbledore have for one of the old ships the customs office kept around? If not for their use by tourists, they would have been scrapped years ago.

"Yes. Even I can't apparate to this particular destination, and this is the closest harbour with a ship available." Dumbledore hadn't lost his smile. "It's been a while since I took my last trip on a ship, but it'll come back to me quickly once I'm at sea."

"At sea?" Oliver blinked. Dumbledore couldn't mean… "Are you going fishing?" he asked, then wanted to hex himself for his inane question.

The other wizard laughed. "No, no, I'm not going fishing. Although once I'm done with my other business, I might take a little vacation." He leaned forward and lowered his voice. "I need to visit Australia, you see."

"What?" Oliver didn't trust his ears. No one went to Australia. And those who did didn't return. Not alive. Dumbledore had to be joking. After all, he was still smiling widely.

"I need to visit Australia," Dumbledore repeated. "And I need a ship to take me there - riding a broom over such a distance wouldn't be comfortable, not at my age."

"But… the dangers…"

"Oh, pish!" Dumbledore frowned. "Nothing I can't handle."

Oliver gulped. He had no doubt that trying to tell the Supreme Mugwump what he could and couldn't do would destroy his career. And he was Dumbledore - the Vanquisher of Grindelwald. If anyone could survive an encounter with the Australian wizards, it would be him. Hadn't Barry from the office in Wellington told him repeatedly that even the Australians were stepping lightly around the ICW these days, all because of Dumbledore? "Alright then, sir," he said. "Let me show you the best ship we have available…"

"...and this is how you control the ship's speed," Oliver finished his explanation. "However, it is advised not to sail without a full crew, including a navigator." Not just 'advised' - regulations prohibited the use of the ships without a full crew. But Oliver had been in the employ of New Zealand's Ministry of Magic long enough to know that you couldn't tell that to the Supreme Mugwump.

"Navigation shouldn't be a problem," Dumbledore retorted blithely. "I just have to head west and I'll make landfall sooner or later."

"Err… yes, sir." Oliver grimaced. There was no helping it - Dumbledore seemed determined to take this 'trip'.

"Good, that's settled then!" The man still hadn't stopped smiling. "I'll be off as soon as you're back on the pier."

"Right, sir. Err… do you want me to pass on anything to the Ministry? The Ministry in Wellington, I mean."

"Ah… just tell 'em that I am off to Australia on private business."

"Private business?" Oliver stared. What kind of private business did anyone have in Australia?

"Yes." Dumbledore looked up at the sky. "I think you better disembark - I want to use the remaining daylight to follow the coast up north. Unless you want to come with me?"

Oliver apparated to the pier.

London, No 12 Grimmauld Place, December 27th, 1996

I could reach out and torch the paintings if I wanted, Harry Potter thought as he descended the stairs from the first floor to the ground floor of his home. Even when he didn't focus on it he could feel the power his mum had left him. It was like a constant presence in the back of his mind, tempting him to use it. And he couldn't. He couldn't waste it. He could only use it against Voldemort. He almost wished that he hadn't accepted Dumbledore's offer - if he had discovered the power himself, it might feel more natural. Less like a pressure cooker about to burst.

"Open your mind, Harry," Dumbledore had said. And Harry had done so. Had stared straight into the Headmaster's eyes, unflinchingly. Hadn't moved when Dumbledore had raised his wand and aimed it straight at his head. Hadn't squeezed his eyes shut when he felt him enter his mind.

But he had gasped when his mind had suddenly been filled with a vision. Not a vision of Voldemort murdering people. A vision of himself, as Dumbledore saw him. Or Dumbledore's spell saw him. Or felt him - it had been more than a picture. It had been knowledge. He had known what Dumbledore knew as if he had cast the spell and examined himself.

He had suddenly known the power the Dark Lord knew not.

Learning how to use it had been easy - the power, despite its origin, was not really different from the energy produced by the other ritual. But to know it, feel it and not use it… that had been hard. He suspected, but hadn't asked to have it confirmed, that it was because of his Occlumency training that he could never truly ignore the power's presence.

Harry shook his head when he realised that he had stopped in the middle of the hallway. He couldn't act like this - Sirius, Hermione and Jeanne would grow suspicious. And Dumbledore had been adamant that Harry couldn't tell anyone about this. Or about the Headmaster's plan.

He sighed. He knew why he had to keep those secrets. He understood the Headmaster's reasons and agreed with them. If anyone else knew about it the whole plan could be put in jeopardy. But to leave his family and friends in the dark still felt wrong.

But as Dumbledore had said - in war, you were often forced to do things you didn't like but which were necessary. And Harry knew that his friends were keeping secrets of their own. Sirius had never told him what he was doing for Dumbledore, but Harry had his suspicions. Sirius was a skilled fighter, and there had been rumours about fights in Knockturn Alley, according to Moody. And he didn't expect Hermione to tell him what she was doing for Dumbledore if Dumbledore himself didn't tell him. Although, once again, he had his suspicions - he knew what Dumbledore was researching, after all.

He entered the kitchen, noticing that no one else but Kreacher was present. And Crookshanks, who was too busy stuffing his face to even glance at him. Hermione would be sleeping in - she did that a lot, Harry had noticed. She even took frequent naps during the day. She must be staying up, reading or researching, far too often. But it was probably needed for the war. And Sirius and Jeanne would have stayed up late doing… well, what Harry would like to do himself if Romilda were living with him.

He grabbed a croissant - warm and fresh - and had Kreacher fill his teacup. He missed his girlfriend. He truly did. Maybe… It wasn't as if he had anything to do but wait. Wait and do nothing. Especially do nothing with the power he knew he had. A little distraction would only help him do what he needed to.

Smiling, he summoned a sheet of parchment and called Hedwig. He had a letter to send to his girlfriend.

Hermione Granger yawned as she entered the kitchen. It was far too early for any self-respecting cat to be up, but any later and she'd miss out on breakfast. Everyone else was already there. Sirius and Jeanne were feeding each other, Crookshank was waiting for her to feed him, as usual - he was such a good cat - she ignored Kreacher as he ignored her and Harry was… frowning at a letter?

"Bad news?" she asked, sitting down next to him and stretching her arms over her head, then rolling her neck. Which had the side effect of pushing out her chest. Which Harry didn't even notice.

"No," he said.

"Yes," Sirius said. "He wanted to meet his girlfriend today, but she is busy with family."

"Oh." Hermione buried her first thought - the little witch probably didn't want her family to know what she had been doing with Harry at Hogwarts - as she took a sip of her tea.

"It's not bad news," Harry said. "We can meet next week."

"At the New Year's Ball, right?" Jeanne said, smiling at Hermione.

"Ah, yes." Harry looked surprised.

"You didn't forget about the ball, did you?" Hermione asked.

"No, of course not." He stared at the letter again. He had, she thought. Boys! He'd probably spend the entire ball snogging in the winter garden. Well, if Romilda was alright with missing out on dancing, then it was her own fault.

"Chérie, do you know if your friend, Miss Merriweather, will be attending the ball?" Sirius asked suddenly. The dog was smiling with that expression of innocence that didn't fool anyone who knew him.

"Miss Merriweather?" That was Harry.

Jeanne frowned. "Ah, I don't know. I haven't had much contact with her since she went back to the New World."

"Ah." And Harry was back to brooding. Just because he couldn't spend the day snogging with Vane.

Hermione scoffed. She was of a mind to attend the ball in disguise again. Just to test her skills, of course. And maybe establish another fake identity. She'd need an invitation, of course, but she should be able to get one without too much difficulty. Only if she wanted to go to the ball, of course.

London, No 12 Grimmauld Place, December 29th, 1996

Dumbledore missing! Ministry Cover-up!

Harry Potter winced when he saw the headline of the Daily Prophet, even though he had expected it. Dumbledore had told him it would happen, after all. But only him, and no one else. And today of all days everyone was early to breakfast!

He could hear Sirius mutter a curse under his breath as he started to read the article. "Seen in New Zealand... headed to Australia… Australia?" Sirius put the newspaper down and shook his head in apparent disbelief. "Merlin's beard, why would he do that? It's full of Australians!"

Hermione gasped. "Australia? My parents are there!" Harry felt guilty when he saw her scared expression. "Did something happen to them?"

"He would have told you," Harry said quickly. "He wouldn't have gone off without a word to you."

She bit her lower lip. "But… if it was an emergency…" She stood. "I have to call them!"

And she dashed out of the kitchen as if her robes were on fire. Harry clenched his teeth. He wanted to tell her she didn't have to worry about her parents, but Dumbledore's instructions had been explicit on the matter.

"This could be a trap," Sirius said. "A way to find her parents. Dumbledore said he would be away for a few days at least, but..."

Harry flinched under his godfather's gaze. "I can't tell you," he said.

But judging by Sirius's expression, he had told him enough anyway. "Hell! Australia?" He suddenly frowned. "Did he send the Grangers there in preparation for this?"

"I don't think so," Harry said. Not in the way Sirius meant, that much he knew.

"But you know what he's doing." It wasn't a question.

Harry slowly nodded, pressing his lips together.

Sirius sighed. "And you can't tell us."

He shook his head.

Sirius cursed again. But he didn't press Harry for an answer. Instead, he picked up the Prophet again and continued reading. "How did Skeeter find out about this?"

The Headmaster had arranged that, Harry knew. He shrugged anyway. "Coincidence? She might know someone in New Zealand's Ministry who overheard something. News of Dumbledore travelling there would be a big thing, wouldn't it?"

Sirius snorted. "Hell of a coincidence." He shook his head again, and continued reading.

"Should we let Hermione go out alone?" Jeanne asked. She looked worried, glancing at the door through which Hermione had left.

"She's going to muggle London," Harry answered. He tried to smile confidently. "Unless she's going to her home, she'll be safe." And she was too smart to go to her home to call her parents.

He still felt guilty for not telling her. And making her and the others worry.

London, Greenwich, December 29th, 1996

Hermione Granger clenched her teeth as she listened to the dialling tone and gripped the receiver of the payphone so hard that her knuckles turned white. Her parents should be at home - at their hotel. She had their travel itinerary memorised. Unless they had changed their plans on a whim without telling her in advance. That had happened before.

She pressed her lips together. How long would the reception desk take to pick up the phone? Bloody Australians!

"Hilton Darwin, Makepeace speaking. How may I help you?"

Finally! She forced herself not to yell and instead speak calmly. "Hello. I'm Hermione Granger. I would like to speak to Mr and Mrs Granger."

"One moment, please."

"Thank you." She slid a few more coins into the phone. Just in case. And bit her lower lip.

"Hello? Hermione?"

Mum! That was Mum's voice! "Mum! It's me! What did I do on my sixth birthday?"

"You had a tantrum because your aunt had sent you a children's book as a present, and not a 'real book'. What did I tell you?"

It was Mum. Hermione smiled. "That I couldn't blame her since I had never told her what I wanted. How are you?"

"We're fine. We've been touring the city. We're planning to go to the Kakadu National Park next."

They were sticking to their itinerary, then. Good. "I'm happy to hear that." She hesitated a moment. Should she worry her parents? They would have told her if Dumbledore had contacted them, wouldn't they? Or would they assume that she already knew about it? "Mum, did anyone contact you?"

"You mean one of your friends?"

"Or acquaintances." Any wizard or witch, actually.

"No. You're the only one from home we've been in contact with - other than a few tourists like us, of course."

Muggle tourists. So, the Headmaster hadn't contacted them. In hindsight, that was rather obvious - Dumbledore would have asked her how to reach her parents before taking off. Hermione shook her head, berating herself. She had panicked and acted like a fool. But she was still relieved that her parents were fine.

"Dad wants to talk to you, too," her mum said.

"Alright."

"Hermione? How are you doing? Are you planning anything for New Year's Eve?"

"The usual," she said. Which wasn't exactly a lie. Her parents just didn't know what she usually did on New Year's Eve.

"You can read a book at any time, dear. You should go out and have fun."

"Dad! I'm going to have fun! Just my kind of fun!" she retorted, smiling despite feeling a little guilty. If her parents knew what she was doing… But they didn't, and they were safe.

Half an hour later, back at Grimmauld Place, Hermione Granger's good mood had disappeared entirely. "The xenophobia of Magical Australia is widely known," she said, frowning. "And while the Headmaster is a very powerful wizard, and has dealt with similarly feared wizards himself, I doubt that he would risk a conflict with the Aborigines unless he had no choice."

She saw that Harry was pressing his lips together and wasn't looking at anyone else in the room. He had to know what Dumbledore was planning! "Harry?"

"I can't tell you," he said. "Sorry."

She opened her mouth and drew breath to tell him that he very well could tell her, but Sirius cut her off.

"We understand," the dog said. He glanced at her, and she frowned as she met his eyes. "Don't we?"

He started to glare at her, and Hermione pressed her lips together. They were also keeping secrets from Harry, and her friend hadn't complained about not being told what exactly Hermione was doing for the Headmaster. And yet, she wanted to know what Dumbledore was planning! But she sighed and nodded. If the Headmaster had wanted her to know, he would have told her.

Dumbledore knew what he was doing, after all.

London, Ministry of Magic, December 30th, 1996

Sitting near the lift, outside the Wizengamot Chamber, Hermione Granger watched the last members of the Wizengamot arrive for today's special session - an emergency session in all but name - to discuss Dumbledore's disappearance which had so scared Wizarding Britain. Including many members of the Wizengamot - she could tell despite their attempts to hide their fear; thanks to her cover as Sirius's secretary, she was familiar with a number of his 'esteemed colleagues'. Of course, any member of the Order of the Phoenix would have good reason to be concerned - they knew that the Dark Lord was back. But even wizards and witches she was certain were not involved in the war were scared. Like the Minister, she thought as she spotted him leaving the lift.

She narrowed her eyes when she saw who was walking at his side - Lucius Malfoy. The man who had framed her as a thief. The man who had gotten her expelled from Hogwarts and driven her family to ruin. The man who was one of Voldemort's most important supporters.

He would pay for all of that, she thought as she hid her face behind a sheet of parchment and tried to catch what they were talking about.

"The people are demanding answers, Lucius!" Fudge prattled as the two wizards passed her, "And I can't give them what they want without Dumbledore!"

"And they shall have them. Dumbledore might be ignoring the turmoil in the Prophet - his opinion of it is well known, after all - but he will not ignore a formal inquiry by the Wizengamot."

"But what if he doesn't know what we are doing?"

"Please, Cornelius! You know as well as I do that his friends will inform him."

They passed through the entrance and the privacy enchantments of the Chamber cut off their conversation. She bit her lower lip. Usually, such conversations were protected by privacy spells. Fudge might be not the sharpest wizard in Britain - Hermione didn't quite share Sirius's opinion of the man; Fudge was an experienced politician, after all - but even if he might have forgotten to cast a spell, Malfoy wouldn't have. But had Malfoy recognised her, and this was staged so Sirius would draw the wrong conclusions, or had he not expected her to be present?

She couldn't tell. She knew Malfoy was a Death Eater, though, and he would want to check for his master whether or not Dumbledore was still alive. And seeing how scared everyone was - even the Hit-Wizards guarding the Ministry seemed nervous - Hermione had no doubts that Malfoy would succeed in having the Wizengamot formally require Dumbledore's presence. Something the Headmaster couldn't easily ignore without consequences. Whether he abandoned whatever he was currently doing - which had to be very important - or not, the Dark Lord would profit. Just like Malfoy would have planned.

And if Dumbledore was dead… Hermione clenched her teeth. He couldn't be dead. Once again, she wished Harry would tell her what he knew. He would if she and Sirius pressed him. But they couldn't. It would be wrong. Only an idiot would try to break security that way.

And yet she wanted to know what was going on anyway. Very badly.

Half an hour after the session had started, the lift doors opened again. Hermione Granger looked up from the draft of a proposal for next week's session. A good thief had to keep an eye out, after all, as Mr Fletcher always said.

"Hello!"

Hermione blinked. "Luna?"

"Yes!" The blonde witch quickly joined her on the bench.

"What are you doing here?"

Luna held up an oversized notepad. "I'm here to report on today's special session of the Wizengamot. Daddy couldn't come - he's investigating another Nargle sighting, although since you can't see them, it might not be correct to call it a sighting, right?"

Hermione blinked. "I don't think that's how it works," she said.

"Exactly!" Luna beamed at her. "We'll have to invent a new word, then! Maybe 'hearing'?"

"That's not a new word," Hermione pointed out.

Luna pouted. "It would fit perfectly, though. And it would make sense."

Hermione shrugged. As expected, Luna quickly cheered up. "So, what do you think will happen in the session? Will they pass the emergency bill to ban Dumbledore from importing drop bears?"

"What?"

"Dumbledore was last seen heading to Australia - which, as everyone knows, even muggles, is the home of the deadliest species known to the Magical World. It's logical that the Wizengamot would be concerned about the danger of an invasive species being introduced to Britain's ecosystem as a result of his trip."

"I don't think that the Wizengamot is concerned about that," Hermione said. "As far as I know, the Wizengamot has assembled to discuss formally requesting Dumbledore's presence."

"To answer charges of smuggling protected species?" Luna asked, leaning towards Hermione with an eager expression on her face.

"I don't think so."

Luna huffed. "It seems that despite the progress made concerning the threat from invisible creatures, the Wizengamot continues to display an appalling lack of concern about the dangers to Wizarding Britain's ecosystem." She shook her head. "Daddy was correct; this is an important issue about which the public needs to know!"

Hermione sighed as Luna started to scribble down notes for an article Hermione was certain she didn't want to read.

Sirius was in a bad mood, Hermione Granger noticed straight away when she saw him leave the chamber. That meant that the proposal must have passed. As Malfoy had planned.

"Mr Black! Can you tell us if the Wizengamot has taken measures to protect the ecosystem against invasive Australian species?" Luna piped up, apparently unaware of the man's dark mood.

"What?" Sirius stared at the witch.

"Luna's concerned about Dumbledore bringing drop bears to Britain," Hermione explained.

Luna nodded. "And other Australian magical creatures. They might make good pets and perfect souvenirs, but one must not let one's love of animals blind oneself to the danger they represent to British species."

"I think that's a question the Minister and Mr Malfoy should field," Sirius said, pointing towards the entrance to the chamber. "They called the session, after all."

"Alright!" Luna nodded eagerly.

Hermione cast a privacy spell as soon as Luna had marched off to ambush the Minister. "What happened?"

Sirius sighed. "No one knows where Albus is. Not even Doge has any idea. New Zealand's Ministry doesn't have any information and the Australians have ignored our inquiry. And so the Wizengamot approved Fudge's proposal. Albus has a week to present himself to the Wizengamot or he might lose his position as Chief Warlock."

She muttered a curse. That would help Voldemort immensely.

"He should have made arrangements in case there was an emergency session of the Wizengamot. The Chief Warlock cannot be incommunicado." Sirius frowned.

"He wouldn't risk losing his position, would he?"

"I don't think so." He pressed his lips together.

Hermione knew what he was thinking. There was one explanation for Dumbledore's absence. But that would be a catastrophe.

Kent, Smith Manor, December 31st, 1996

"Australia? I can't believe..."

"...Dumbledore's been missing for…"

"...Zealand's Ministry claims that…"

Harry Potter fought not to frown as he led Romilda to the dance floor. He was heartily sick of hearing everyone talking about Dumbledore's disappearance. Especially since that seemed to be the only thing everyone wanted to talk about with him - that he had received special lessons with Dumbledore wasn't the secret it should have been.

At least they couldn't bother him on the dance floor - that would have been the kind of faux pas that led to not being invited to the next New Year's Ball. He almost sighed with relief when the music started and he could finally dance with Romilda.

"You're a good dancer." She smiled at him.

"I can but strive not to embarrass you, milady." He flashed her a smile of his own. She blushed. Sirius's lines still worked, he noted. But then, he hadn't really used any 'old school charm', as his godfather called it, on Romilda yet. If only it were a slow dance, he thought as he led her into a turn.

"Can we explore the Winter Garden?" she whispered as the song came to a close. "I've heard you can find some marvellous things there." Her smile told him exactly what she meant. "You brought your Cloak, right?"

He felt his smile slip. "I would love to, but Sirius told me not to leave his sight."

She frowned in that cute, pouty way of hers. "Isn't he aware of what we do at Hogwarts?" She glanced over her shoulder at Harry's godfather, who was chatting with Jeanne and an old wizard Harry didn't recognise. "Or doesn't he approve of me?"

"No, no," Harry was quick to reassure her. "But with Dumbledore missing, he worries about my safety. I was attacked a year ago, remember?"

He felt her tense. "Yes." She turned around herself, then returned to his arms. "But that was in Hogsmeade. We're safe here."

She didn't know that there were several Death Eaters or sympathisers among the guests. And she didn't know about Voldemort. So he quoted Moody. "Nothing and nowhere is safe."

"Really?" Romilda didn't look like she agreed with him. "Not even the arms of the Boy-Who-Lived?"

That was a perfect set-up if Harry had ever heard one. He grinned and leaned forward slightly. "Especially not my arms," he whispered with a wink as he moved his hand a little lower down the small of her back.

She drew a hissing breath and he could see her cheeks gain some more colour. But she recovered quickly. "Well, your godfather could watch," she retorted with a toothy grin.

Sirius would probably agree to that, Harry knew. But the thought of snogging while his godfather - or anyone else - was watching… He snorted. "We could go to my home, first, before I take you back to yours."

"Mh." She smiled as she slowly nodded.

Maybe he'd be able to forget all about Dumbledore's plan for tonight.

Hermione Granger didn't frown as she watched Harry and Vane dancing. She was too skilled in maintaining her cover for that, no matter how obvious it was that Vane wanted to drag her friend off to the garden or a dark corner elsewhere in the manor. If they were at a muggle club, she'd probably be humping his leg right there on the dance floor, Hermione thought.

At least Sirius and Jeanne were keeping an eye on Harry. It would be utterly irresponsible for him to go snog Vane with the Headmaster missing and Voldemort gathering his forces. And she was keeping an eye on her friend as well. She raised her glass to her lips and took another sip of the excellent wine.

"Are you enjoying the wine, Miss Davis?"

She nodded at Smith - Fairfax Smith. A cousin of Zacharias Smith's. "I am, yes. Excellent vintage."

"In these dark times, my uncle has made every effort to make this ball memorable."

He was laying it on rather thickly, she thought. She had expected that, of course - he had done the same when trying to seduce Miss Merriweather. "It's very impressive."

He smiled as if it had been his gold that paid for the ball. "Are you certain that you're not related to the Davis family?"

She managed not to frown. She'd get her revenge on that family as well. But she had to play her role. "Oh, I don't actually know. My family emigrated to the New World a few generations ago."

"Ah." His smile grew wider, as she had expected. Implying that she was a pureblood, yet had no close relationship to the Davis family would make her even more attractive to a wizard from an Old Family looking to have an affair.

Unbidden, Jeanne's 'advice' flashed through her mind. She dismissed it - again. She wasn't looking to have an affair. And if she were, it would certainly not be with Smith. She glanced at Harry, who was dancing a little too close to Vane to be proper. She'd want someone with more intelligence and less bigotry. On the other hand, a dumb bigot would be ideal for an affair without any attachments - she certainly wouldn't feel guilty for dumping him after she tired of him.

She blinked. Was she actually considering Jeanne's advice? Certainly not! She had no need of a meaningless affair. Especially not when Dumbledore was missing and Harry was in danger.

Speaking of which, she should probably make contact with Harry. It would be far easier to keep an eye on him if he and Miss Davis were acquainted. She emptied her glass and looked around for a place to put it down. There was a tray floating nearby.

"Allow me!" Smith said, holding out his hand.

She handed her glass to him, and he turned towards the tray. She would have to ditch him before she could 'meet' Harry. Without being rude, too. That would require a little more time, she thought. But it didn't look like Vane would succeed in dragging Harry off any time soon.

Smith returned and she was about to mention her wish to dance - that would get her close to Harry, and allow her daring robes to catch his eye - when she noticed a commotion near the entrance. And Sirius was moving towards Harry, without a care for the other dancing couples that he shouldered his way past.

He wasn't the only one, either - she saw Amelia Bones march out, followed by Rufus Scrimgeour.

She clenched her teeth. What was going on? She couldn't ask Sirius, not while disguised… But there was Mr Fletcher. She slowly made her way towards him, not bothering to hide her approach.

As soon as she stood behind him, she heard him whisper: "The Australians claim that they killed Dumbledore. They delivered his wand as proof."

London, No 12 Grimmauld Place, December 31st, 1996

Harry Potter heard his godfather sigh as soon as they were in the entrance hall of their home. Safely behind their wards. "Was that really necessary?" Harry asked as Jeanne closed and locked the door.

"What do you mean?" Sirius glanced at him.

Harry shrugged. "Leaving the ball early. Apparating home. Sending Romilda back with Tonks." He hadn't even been able to properly kiss her goodbye. He hoped that she would understand and not blame him for Sirius's actions. And getting dragged away by his godfather wouldn't have looked impressive either, he realised with a frown.

"Yes. Your safety takes priority." Sirius didn't quite glare at him.

"The Smiths' home was safe. You said so yourself," Harry objected. Voldemort wouldn't risk exposure by having one of his followers among the guests attack Harry and the Thief's Downfall at the entrance would defeat even Polyjuice Potion and the Imperius Curse.

"That was before I heard about Dumbledore's... wand." Sirius pressed his lips together. Jeanne squeezed his shoulder.

"Do you really think Voldemort would attack the ball?" Harry didn't quite snort, but he came close.

"Better safe than sorry," Sirius shot back. "At least until we know more. Dumbledore's wand…" He shook his head.

Harry clenched his teeth. Everyone knew that if the Australians had the Headmaster's wand, odds were that they were telling the truth about his death. Just as… He saw something move near the stairs and drew his wand before he realised that it was the stray. The cat was staring at him, seemingly frozen for an instant, before darting up the stairs.

Harry sighed and lowered his wand again. Hermione might claim it wasn't her cat, but the stray certainly didn't act like that was true. Then he blinked. They were still standing in the entrance hall, and his friend hadn't shown up yet. "Does Hermione know about this already?"

"I don't think so," Sirius said.

"I'll go tell her then," Harry said. Hermione would want to know about this at once, he knew.

"Ah… she might already be asleep," Jeanne said. "Or indecent. I'll go fetch her."

Harry snorted. "She comes to breakfast in her pyjamas." And he had seen her naked thanks to his glasses anyway. Several times, he thought with a guilty feeling.

"Oh, you want to catch her naked? By all means, go ahead then!" Sirius said with a sudden leer.

Harry glared at him as Jeanne walked towards the stairs.

A few minutes later she returned with Hermione - in her pyjamas, as expected - in tow.

"Harry! Are you alright?" His friend moved towards him and, for a moment, he expected her to hug him. She stopped short, though, and looked him over.

"I'm fine," he responded. "Sirius overreacted. Almost dragged me away from the ball."

"Oh."

He nodded, then frowned. Was that perfume? But she had already been in bed. Probably a new shower lotion, he concluded. "Romilda wasn't happy to have her evening cut short either," he added.

Hermione shrugged. "Better safe than sorry."

He snorted. If Romilda didn't understand that it was Sirius's fault, Harry might end up both safe and sorry.

London, No 12 Grimmauld Place, January 1st, 1997

"...and Ollivander also confirmed it: It's Dumbledore's wand. His grandfather made it." Tonks grimaced as she finished her report.

Harry Potter wasn't the only one who winced upon hearing that. Everyone in Sirius's living room did. Hermione reached over and squeezed his knee, and he felt another pang of guilt shoot through him. If she knew…

"Mate," Ron said, looking grim. "You know what this means."

"He'll come for me," Harry said. As expected.

"And he'll have to go through us to get you." Ron nodded and clasped Harry's shoulder. "With the Headmaster… missing, you're our only hope."

Harry had to laugh at that, despite the situation. He glanced to his side and saw that Hermione was smiling. Ron looked confused. "What?"

"Nothing," Harry said. "Just thought of something funny."

Ron huffed.

"There's more," Tonks said. She looked at Harry. "Your presence is requested at the Wizengamot session tomorrow." She sighed. "Sirius is talking to Fudge, that's why he didn't come back with me, but he won't be able to reverse the decision even if he manages to convince Fudge. The Wizengamot's panicking. At least the ones who aren't Death Eaters."

"Are they so scared that they want Harry to protect them?" Jeanne asked. She could sound a little less incredulous, Harry thought.

"They've heard about your special lessons with Dumbledore," Tonks nodded at him. "And Malfoy's been telling everyone that you'd know more about the Headmaster's disappearance and that you have to appear to be interrogated."

"Bloody bugger," Ron muttered.

Harry expected Hermione to tell Ron to watch his language, but she nodded in agreement instead.

"This looks like a set-up," she said with a snarl. "Malfoy demanding that Harry has to appear before the Wizengamot? It's a trap!"

"You can't go!" Ron agreed.

"That's probably what Malfoy wants - if Harry doesn't go, he'll be a wanted wizard," Tonks said.

Steps in the hallway made everyone tense, but when the door was pushed open, Harry saw it was Sirius. His godfather seemed spitting mad - he slammed the door shut. "That useless bloody fool!" He sat down in his favourite armchair and Jeanne moved to sit on the armrest. They held hands for a moment. "Did Tonks tell you?" he asked, looking at Harry.

"That Malfoy wants to lure me into a trap? Yes," Harry said.

"Yes." Sirius bared his teeth. "Fudge wouldn't budge - Malfoy must have paid him a fortune. And the rest are scared. Even Doge voted to question Harry!"

"He doesn't have to go," Hermione said. "Even if the Wizengamot has the Aurors hunt him he'd be safer than there." She stood. "We can move to a safe house."

"There's no house that's safe with Dumbledore dead," Ron said. "We should…"

Everyone froze as the door opened again. Then gasps and curse words filled the room.

"The reports of my death have been slightly exaggerated."

The Headmaster was alive! Hermione Granger almost cried with relief. He must have succeeded at whatever he had been doing, and returned in time to counter Malfoy's plots. Then she noticed that Harry wasn't looking surprised. Nor really relieved. That meant…

"This was planned!" she blurted out, glaring at her friend. He had known the truth and hadn't told her while everyone had been afraid and worried! "You knew the Headmaster wasn't missing!"

Harry cringed, but before he could answer, Dumbledore spoke up. "Indeed. I apologise for deceiving you, and for having Harry keep my secret while you were left ignorant and worried, but I needed your reactions to be genuine to fool Voldemort." The Headmaster slowly nodded with a faint smile.

Hermione blinked. "It's a trap, but for Voldemort?"

"Yes, Miss Granger. What better way to trap him than by using his own plans?" Dumbledore's smile grew.

"With Harry as bait!" Sirius stood, almost causing Jeanne to fall to the ground as he bared his teeth and snarled. "What are you…"

"I volunteered," Harry cut in, standing as well. He was staring at his godfather "And no, I can't wait until I'm an adult. Mum's protection won't last forever. If we don't do this soon, I'll be defenceless against him."

Sirius clenched his teeth. If he had been in his dog form, he would likely have been growling loudly enough to scare a dragon. Even so, he made a decent effort, Hermione noticed.

"Please, Sirius."

Dumbledore, probably wisely, didn't say anything as Harry and Sirius stared at each other. Hermione held her breath.

Slowly, Sirius nodded and pressed his lips together. He was trembling. Harry stepped up to him and hugged him, but even then Hermione saw that it took Sirius half a minute before he started to relax. Jeanne was looking at them with a rather sad smile but didn't move closer. And Ron looked like he wasn't certain whether or not he should be present as Sirius and Harry whispered to each other.

After another minute, Sirius sighed, then released Harry and glared at Dumbledore. "So, what exactly is your plan?"

Dumbledore took a seat in an armchair he conjured - with a different wand than his usual one, Hermione noticed. Had he sacrificed his wand for this deception, or did he plan to recover it before tomorrow? "Voldemort will not be able to resist the opportunity with which he has been presented. In one fell swoop, he not only rids himself of Harry - the only one who can threaten him, or so he believes - along with the Order who will be protecting him, but also terrifies the Wizengamot and the Ministry by triumphantly announcing his return. And when he makes his entrance, Harry and I will face and defeat him while the Order and those among the Ministry's wands willing to fight will take on the Death Eaters with him. With the Dark Lord defeated, his followers will break."

Sirius scoffed. "The Aurors are worthless."

"Hey!" Tonks glared at him, her wand twitching.

"Present company excluded," he added hastily. "However, what makes you so certain that he'll appear in person? He was defeated twice by Harry. He could just as well simply send his Death Eaters. Or use some imperiused Auror to try and kill Harry."

Dumbledore shook his head. "He will not let someone else upstage him. Even if he might plan to avoid facing Harry directly, he will have to be present for his return to have the greatest possible impact on the country." With a slightly grim smile, he added: "We have a spy in his inner circle."

"It's not Snivellus, is it? The Dark Lord would be an utter idiot to trust that git again after his first betrayal," Sirius said with a sneer. Hermione had to agree.

"It's not Severus," Dumbledore answered, stressing the name.

"Who is it, then?" Tonks asked. "I'd rather not curse an ally by mistake."

"If it's a spy like Snivellus, then curse away. They'd deserve it," Sirius muttered.

"They will reveal themselves once the trap is sprung; do not worry," Dumbledore said.

"I think you are going a little overboard with the secrecy," Sirius said in a bitter tone. "Do you even know everything that's going on any more?"

Dumbledore sighed. "I would rather err on the side of caution than risk exposing our plan to the enemy." He held up his left hand. "I do trust the Order members not to betray us, but it is better to be safe than sorry."

Sirius flinched slightly at that. Hermione wondered if he'd realised that he'd be a hypocrite to complain about being kept in the dark while keeping secrets of his own from Harry. Not that she was any better - she wasn't telling Harry everything either. But they could have told her. She was a good actress - she wouldn't have let anything slip! They could have trusted her. It was probably the Headmaster's fault.

"So, you're calling the whole Order for this?" Tonks asked.

"Those among the Order who can fight. I have taken steps to ensure that we can use the Floo Network to enter the Ministry while our enemies will be stuck once the trap has been sprung." Dumbledore leaned back. "That will also allow you to familiarise yourself with your allies, and avoid confusion during the battle."

"Good." Sirius nodded. "We'll be the vanguard then?"

"Yes." Dumbledore nodded at the gathered wizards and witches. "With the exception of Mr Weasley; his presence might tip off our enemies."

"Like hell!" Ron jumped up. "If they know about Harry's special lessons, then they know that I've been with him all the way! I'll be with him."

Dumbledore looked at Ron, but Ron didn't flinch. After a moment, the Headmaster nodded. "Very well. I am certain your mother will understand."

Ron flinched at that but pressed his lips together. "Harry's my best friend."

Dumbledore chuckled, once. "And I somehow doubt I or anyone else could stop you from coming along anyway. Very well."

"But Hermione should stay at home," Harry said. "We can claim she's sick."

"What?" Hermione glared at him and bared her teeth. How dare he!

"Be reasonable! You can't fight as well as the rest of us. Putting yourself in danger for no gain makes no sense at all."

"I can fight well enough!" She was tempted to demonstrate right then how well - on him.

"No, you can't!" Harry looked at Sirius. "Tell her!"

When he didn't correct Harry at once she glared at the dog. "If I'm not with you then Voldemort might suspect a trap. I'm your secretary." Officially, at least.

"We can claim she's sick."

Now Harry wasn't even talking to her again? Hermione huffed. "I can take care of myself and you know it," she told the dog.

He coughed. "Well, you're harder to hit than you were when you trained with Harry, but you're not on the level of him or Ron. Or Tonks. I think you shouldn't be fighting."

She was about to tell the dog what she thought of his arrogance when Dumbledore spoke up: "I have to concur with your friends, Miss Granger. While you have been training hard with Sirius, your training focused on escaping when attacked - and tomorrow, we will be the ones attacking the enemy. Your presence might be exploited by the enemy to distract Harry at a crucial moment. Further, while you are correct in that you would usually be present at Sirius's side, our enemy does expect Harry and his guardians to be scared after my apparent demise. It would not be very suspicious to leave you at home under those circumstances."

Hermione swallowed her angry retort - with some difficulty. She couldn't yell at the Headmaster. That would be pointless and make her look childish and stupid. And as much as she hated to admit it, he was correct - and yet not. She wasn't as helpless or as useless as Harry thought. But he didn't know that and he would worry about her. And that might get him killed.

But knowing that didn't mean she liked it. Or wanted to admit it. Not that she thought she could say anything without yelling. So she clenched her teeth until they hurt, sat down and glared at her stupid friend and the stupid dog as they planned the ambush tomorrow.

Hermione Granger was about to go to bed - she'd have to get up early tomorrow to prepare - when she heard someone knocking on her door. "Yes?" she said, after a quick check that nothing incriminating had been left in the open.

The door opened and Dumbledore entered. "Good evening, Miss Granger. I am glad that I caught you before you went to bed."

She tensed. She could handle Harry, and the dog would approve of what she was planning - anything to protect Harry - but the Headmaster… When he closed the door behind her and cast a privacy spell, she bit her lower lip. "How can I help you?" she asked, sitting down on her bed.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped over to her desk and sat down on her chair. "It is about tomorrow."

She frowned. "You've made your opinion clear. I don't like it, but I have to agree: We can't risk Harry being distracted by worrying about me during the battle." Which her stupid friend would.

He smiled. "While I applaud your wisdom, I have to point out that what you said doesn't mean that you agree that you should stay away from the Ministry."

She didn't flinch - she was a good actress. And a good thief never admitted anything, even when confronted with the truth. "What do you mean?"

His smile only grew wider. "You would not be planning to sneak into the Ministry tomorrow in disguise, would you?"

She pressed her lips together. Why had she thought that she would be able to get one over on the Headmaster? He knew exactly what she was capable of. "That would be reckless."

"Without a doubt." He inclined his head. "But you have not denied it."

She hung her head in response. "I can't just sit here and wait. I'm not as bad as he thinks I am."

"I trust you did not plan to enter the fight disguised as a stranger."

"No!" she retorted. "That would be foolish."

"What was your plan, then?" he asked in a calm voice, as if he was asking after her homework.

"Sneak in, ambush a straggler or two." And keep an eye on Harry.

He shook his head. "I think our cause would be much better served if you put your talents to a different use."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Allow me to explain."

London, No 12 Grimmauld Place, January 2nd, 1997

Harry Potter couldn't help feeling nervous as he waited in the entrance hall of his home. Soon he would be headed to the Ministry to trigger Voldemort's ambush. That Dumbledore was already there - Sirius had checked twice through a mirror - was not as reassuring as it should have been; Harry knew it would come down to him to defeat Voldemort.

And that Hermione was frowning at him didn't help either, of course.

"I'm sorry," he said.

She huffed and looked at the fireplace behind him. "The Headmaster was right."

She didn't say that Harry was right, he noted. "Well…" he trailed off. He didn't know what to tell his best friend. She couldn't come with him, but leaving her to wait like this felt wrong as well. He shrugged instead.

She bit her lower lip for a moment, then lunged at him, hugging him before he could react. Hard, too - but then, he knew how toned her body was. "Stay safe, you hear?" she whispered.

"Of course," he said, patting her back. He hoped he wasn't lying.

She sniffed - or sniffled; he couldn't tell - and released him. Ron had a moment to brace himself before she hugged him as well. Harry could see him tense, then nod.

She released Ron as well and took a few steps back, facing them. "Remember: Stay safe. Don't do anything foolish." She nodded sharply at them, then marched off before they could say anything in response.

Once she had disappeared upstairs, Ron sighed and looked at Harry. "Luna was the same, yesterday."

Harry nodded, then looked at the clock on the wall. Still not time to go. The Order would have already gathered at Hogwarts, at least those members who had no excuse to be at the Ministry.

"We're not to go until Dumbledore gives us the go-ahead," Ron said. "Percy has to secure the Floo Network first, or we might get rerouted."

"I know," Harry said, trying to hide his irritation. "I wouldn't go without Sirius anyway." He sighed. The waiting was the worst. Maybe he should have sneaked out last night and visited Romilda for a last snog. Or something more. But even if he had managed to evade Sirius and the others watching over him, her home wasn't safe. He snorted. And Sirius and Hermione would have cursed him.

Ron polished his wand again as if that would help him fight. Harry looked at the clock again. Was it even working? He wanted to go now. To get it over with. Before he lost his nerve. Stick to the plan, he reminded himself. Everyone was counting on him.

When Sirius and Jeanne arrived in the hall, Harry was so startled he almost drew on his godfather.

Sirius didn't seem to notice.

"Dumbledore called. It is safe to go to the Atrium, but he hasn't spotted Voldemort yet."

Which meant Harry had to be the bait to draw him out and couldn't simply wait until Dumbledore had engaged the Dark Lord. He nodded, swallowing dryly.

"Let's go then."