Disclaimer: I own nothing you may recognise in any my stories.

Word Count; 3,716

Chapter Twenty-Nine: A New Day, A New Beginning.

New Year came and went with a flurry of house parties for which the staff had been split into four groups to supervise… which went down well with the students. Harry and Julianus were particularly peeved when Dumbledore split them up; Julianus to be with his Slytherins and Harry to supervise the good old Gryffindors. Ok, so Harry didn't mind being with the Gryffindors and maybe Julianus didn't mind being with the Slytherins… it was the principle of the matter, that's all.

As it stood though, the pair couldn't decide which house they wanted to be at together enough to complain to Dumbledore, so they left it and did their duty. Harry had smirked though when he thought about just how big of a party the Slytherins could actually throw. If the few he went to were anything to go by, then he certainly wouldn't have objected to being placed as supervisor of Slytherin. He just about thought he could scrape through chaperoning Gryffindor though.

Just about.

Of course, in true Gryffindor fashion, the night was talked about for days… weeks after.

The party had been a good party even before McGonagall had gone to bed after being assured that yes, Harry would stay there until the last student was in bed. If wasn't his fault if no one heard him when he said "Right, parties over folks." It wasn't his fault no one was in the bathroom when he said it. Not his fault at all. When the Gryffindor head of house left, a silencing ward was placed on the walls of the entire tower and the party really started. The music was turned up and Harry managed to slip in a few muggle tunes that had Lily and other muggleborns giggling and dancing while the purebloods and magic reared of the students merely danced anyway because the tune was danceable.

Harry was forced to break up Sirius and Remus when they were just about to get closer than clothes would allow on the padded bench of one of the study tables. He broke up a number of couples before they publicly copulated their relationships, apologising and rationalising after each time of course. Sirius and Remus just snickered while Harry rolled his eyes and turned back to the party.

Around an hour after McGonagall left, Julianus made an appearance at the common room door, dressed quite sexily if Harry said so himself. He had long incredibly form-fitting robes that hugged all the importance places just right. A few of the Gryffindors… namely Sirius and James… wolf-whistled. Harry sauntered over to the modestly smug Slytherin and pulled him into a long slow kiss.

"I've wanted to do that for hours," he whispered when his lips weren't engaged any longer.

It turned out that the Slytherin students had ordered their head of house to leave and with an amused laugh and a bow to his students, Julianus did just that. His students may not be the favourite of the school, but he trusted them not to destroy it, and they in turn, never betrayed his trust.

So he stayed in Gryffindor with Harry and chaperoned.

The party itself wound down around three. Julianus and Harry carried Sirius and Remus up to bed as they'd fallen asleep on the sofa. The stairway leading up to the 6th year dorms was wide enough so it wasn't too difficult to manoeuvre the young couple in their unconscious state. When they arrived at the dormitory, they bypassed the war zone that evidently was Sirius' bed and moved to the immaculate one that was Remus'. Harry wandlessly moved the covers and settled Sirius down on the mattress. He carefully removed the boy's outer robe while Julianus repeated the process with Remus. The boy's shoes and socks were soon gone too. Almost immediately, the two boys seemed to seek one another out and pull as close as they possibly could.

Smiling, Harry conjured a camera quickly and snapped of a picture developing it straight away and leaving it on the night stand along with two bottles of hangover cure, a note saying 'Just in case' next to them. The two professors covered the boys up and went back down to the common room, thankful that James and Lily had rather conveniently fallen asleep in one another's arms on James' bed. They saw the last few students off to bed and called up the house elves, who were thankful that the party had finally finished. Harry gave one of the elves a jug of hangover potion and asked her to leave it on the coffee table with a few cups and a note saying 'just in case' for the rest of the house when they wake up in the morning.

Harry and Julianus then made their way to bed.

Three days later, the rest of the school returned from the Christmas holidays, lessons were on the verge of staring again and Harry was stuck in a staff meeting, listening, or partially listening to Dumbledore as he spoke about the goals for the term. The defence professor himself was filling in a few spots and altering random class topics, moving things around in his schedule.

"Professor Prydis," Harry hid a pleased smile but didn't look up yet. "Do you have anything to add on the matter?"

"Indeed," he spoke up, surprising a fair few of the surrounding staff members who were under the impression that he wasn't listening to the Headmaster at all. Harry finished off a notation and looked up. "The Hogsmeade visits should be reinstated." He waited, and wasn't surprised at the level of opposition his blunt statement had brought. Waiting patiently for people to see that he was actually waiting for them to shut up and them actually doing so, Harry felt his lovers hand rest on his knee. Smiling a little half-smile in acknowledgment, the room had finally silenced. "Thank you. Anyway, as I was saying, Hogsmeade; I propose only the top three years be allowed to attend, only stay in groups of 5 or more and have 1 professor to a group. But, as we're talking about teenagers, then I suggest they be left to their own devices for one and a half hours to two hours. Professors would remain on the streets in pairs or threes and not in the Three Broomsticks." He looked around and raised an eyebrow at everyone. "I'll leave you to think on this, but I have schedules to touch up, I'll see you at lunch." He inclined his head to them all and left the room, slipping a note into Julianus' hand before he did so telling him he'd meet him later.

When he arrived at his office he sighed and set his papers on the desk. He removed his outer robe and rolled his head, getting rid of the kinks in his neck.

"Martayn, my Lady, I've neither the time nor the patience for sneak attacks, so don't bother trying," he said, pouring himself a drink and sitting on one of the chairs near the fireplace. He watched as a tall being with long hair that was the colour of liquid silver, eyes a striking blue that were accentuated by arched eyebrows. The being was dressed as Harry remembered the High Lady of the elven realm to dress; a long dress that just hung beautifully on every curve of her body. She carried a pair of concealed fighting knives, a pair of concealed throwing knives as well as a long sword that would have been strapped to her back had she not been planning to sneak attack Harry with it.

"You know your title, young Harry, and it is far above my own." The elf lady inclined her head when he gestured the seat across from him.

"Of course I know my title, just as you know when exactly I am."

"Indeed."

"I still don't understand how you know me now, but we have yet to me-" he cursed and downed his drink. "Why am I always caught out on that one?" When an elf is born, all other elves in the elven realm are immediately aware of the new birth. With Harry, it was when he arrived that he was brought to the attention to the elves. They no doubt had picked up on stray thoughts of his regarding his being an elf and his history. "Halance will never let me live it down." The High Lady chuckled and shook her head.

"You know that while it is a pleasure to meet you in person for the first time, despite having been presented a number of your memories, it is not you that I have come to discuss." Harry nodded.

"Lily Evans does not want to be a part of the elven world right now. She is happy here, she's content." The elf nodded.

"I am required to come despite this, you know this."

"I do, but she specifically asked not to be approached at school or at home."

"She is of the Royal line, just as you are…" Harry just rolled his eyes.

"I join the elven realm, you have seen this, I accepted my role but I would not be taken from my home… no matter how dire things became. Lily Evans does not want to be separated either and I know for a fact that nothing outstanding is happening in the elven realm at the moment. I'm just wondering why you are here in person. I had Feawen to introduce me into the world… why did you not come then?"

"I had, will have, a meeting," she deadpanned smoothly and Harry snorted none-too-elegantly.

"In any case, Lily has expressed her wishes to you and as the only one in the school who knows of her heritage, she has asked me to speak for her while I am here." Martayn sighed but nodded her head.

"Very well. Then I will leave you. It has been a pleasure to meet the future of our realm, Harry Potter," she smiled and he was thankful that he had a silencing ward up in his office. A second later, she had disappeared.

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"Welcome back…" the first day of lessons in the New Year was full of 'Welcome Back's and recaps on material learned the previous term. By the first break he was positively shattered. Being back at work after a holiday and having things so full on really took it out of him and by Lunch time, he was about ready to drop. He supposed he was lucky enough to have an extended lunch due to no lesson after it and so made his way rather sluggishly from the dining room where he and Julianus spoke over lunch, to his office where a mass of homework essays awaited marking.

He'd just sat down and picked up a quill when there was a knock at his office door. Not bothering to get up to answer it, he waved his wand and the door opened, revealing Remus and Lily. "You will have to forgive me for not standing as etiquette demands," he said, gesturing the pair inside and closing the door behind them with magic. "I'm a tad shattered right now I don't think I could get my leg muscles to work at all." Remus and Lily smiled and each took a chair and sat down on the other side of Harry's desk. "So, what can I do for you two, today?"

"Well, Professor… we noticed your fatigue at lunch and decided that as we have a free period now, we'd come and offer our help with the younger years homework marking." Harry just looked at them as Remus stopped talking, sitting back in his chair and clasping his hand together with his elbows resting on the chair arms.

"Remus, you're a good liar, I'm a better lie detector," he said with a small smile and Remus shook his head, amused. "There's that, and there's the fact that I know that you currently have a lesson with my meddlesome partner. Am I to assume that it was he that sent you to me?"

"He suggested it, Professor," Lily spoke up for the first time since entering the room. "But we did notice you didn't look right through lunch. James and Sirius wanted to come but Professor Austin had the distinct impression that they just wanted to get out of doing their work." Harry chuckled and ran a hand down over his face, sighing heavily.

"I don't know what's wrong," he admitted quietly. "I'm never sick, but I feel oddly lethargic and that doesn't suit me at all."

"Have you been to Madam Pomfrey yet?" Remus asked curiously.

"No, why?"

"Professor Austin was mumbling something about 'calling Poppy to straighten you out'," the young werewolf said easily and this time, Harry groaned.

"Ah," Harry mumbled, looking back up at his students. "Remus, you can mark 2nd year Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff holiday homework," he handed over the pile of parchment that sat at the very edge of his desk and picked up another one. "Lily, you can mark 1st year Gryffindor/Slytherin. I've done 1st year Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff and am just starting 2nd year Gryffindor/Slytherin. Are you two sure you are alright to miss a NEWT Potions lesson?" The pair nodded before they all got to work with the marking.

As luck would have it, when the bell went for the beginning of the second afternoon lesson, Remus and Lily had their piles completed while Harry was half way through 3rd year Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw. The Defence Professor idly wondered if Dumbledore would ever change the class arrangements. A few minutes after the bell had actually sounded, Harry heard his classroom door open and frowned, wondering just which student was presumptuous enough to let themselves in. His answer came in the form of his frowning Slytherin lover as the Potions Professor opened the door to his office.

"Remus, Lily, thank you for your help. Can you wait with your classmates for me to come through shortly?" The two students nodded silently, set their papers down neatly, gathered their things and left the office, closing the door softly behind them. Harry got up and walked up to Julianus. "You worry too much," he smiled gently, his smile widening a little when it was returned.

"Do not give me cause to worry and I won't. It's simple really," the Slytherin shrugged, pulling Harry into his arms. "Though this time I do think something is wrong. You have not tired so quickly once this school year; what makes now so special?" He pulled back and looked at Harry.

"Give me a anti-poison potion, just in case…" Harry grinned but Julianus frowned in serious thought. "There really is nothing wrong with me, honestly. I'm completely fine. Now, don't you have students to terrorise?" he asked pointedly and the other man sighed, shaking his head.

"You're no doubt correct, but I can't-"

"I know, you can't help but being concerned. And for that, I thank you. You are a wonderful, kind man Julianus Austin, Potions Master at Hogwarts School of the Psychotic and clinically insane." They shared a laugh and exited the office via the door connecting to the classroom where the students had all taken their seats. The sight of this made Harry raise an eyebrow at them all; Lily and Remus had an excuse but the rest of them…

He walked Julianus up to the still open door and whispered a few words into the man's ear before letting his go. He then proceeded to stand at the door, still open, and simply wait silently. He waited for five whole minutes before he heard a sigh, the scraping of a chair, the rustle of a book bag and feet walking towards him. He saw Peter Pettigrew pass in and out of his field of vision and stop just outside the door. A few seconds later, a few more students followed his example, then a few more and so on until the entire class was lined up outside the classroom door as they should have done in the first place.

After another few seconds, he turned and addressed the students. "I hope you had an enthusiastic start to this New Year now, please enter and take your seats." When everyone was back inside and sat down, wands set on the desks before them along with text books, Harry stepped inside himself and closed the door. "Today, instead of a recap as I've been doing all morning, we will be attempting none-verbal magic…" The class went on to be rather interesting. It turned out that most of the pureblood students excelled at none-verbal magic. James, Lucius Malfoy and Peter managed to get a full spell to work correctly after a few tries. James confessed that his parents had explained that the skill may be important in the coming years, an explanation that was mirrored by Peter. Lucius just said it was natural for a pureblood to excel in such areas. Then a few seconds later, Lily managed to charm the hair on the stuffed animal she'd been given from brown to neon pink.

The class was an over all success and Harry demanded a foot on how none-verbal magic works and what its advantages and disadvantages may be. When the end of lesson bell chimed, Harry said bye to his students and waited for the next lot; 7th year Hufflepuff/Gryffindors. At the thought, he shrugged. Maybe Dumbledore deems them trustworthy when they grow up. Rolling his eyes, he waited for the day to end.

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January passed with relative ease. Harry had managed to convince Dumbledore and the rest of the faculty to continue the Hogsmeade visits and was subsequently cheered when Dumbledore announced that the reason for the continuation was in fact, the Defence Professor. Hell, even the Slytherin upperclassmen cheered. The 3rd and 4th years pouted but understood the risks in the world at the moment. The first visit of the year was to take place on February 12th, just in time for Valentines Day. Dumbledore had refused the request made by the Head boy and girl to have a Valentines dance for the whole school but agreed to have house parties that ended precisely at 12 midnight. Realising they would only hit a brick wall if they continued bugging the old man, the Head boy and head girl thanked the man and went to deliver the news to each house via a notice on the notice board in each common room.

The atmosphere in the school was relatively carefree; lessons continued as normal and new skills were mastered. Homework was done and handed in, detentions were served… life went on.

Harry couldn't help but feel that something was wrong, a sense of dread building inside him. Things were too quiet, even for Hogwarts without Harry Potter at the centre of attention. It reminded him of the calm before a storm. There had to be a catch somewhere; the good times just couldn't last.

And last they didn't, as on February 10th, Voldemort and his Death Eaters struck a mixed village (where both magical and muggles lived) in North Yorkshire, demolishing all the houses that had no wards and even a few that did. The magic residents were forced to watch as Death Eaters and Voldemort himself tortured and killed every muggle man, woman and child of the area. A few witches and wizards managed to escape, but the rest were killed; either burned alive or simply given a quick Avada death.

Harry remembered reading about the atrocity when he was in his 6th year. It made him want to throw up.

The survivors were questioned and released to loved ones with orders to receive special counselling from the Minister himself, on his bill. Those without loved ones were offered beds at St. Mungos and while a few took the offer, others returned home, their lives a mess.

Harry was reminded once again of how much he hated Voldemort. The only thing that saved him from going out and killing the bastard was the knowledge that he would get him in the end. He'd lose everything in the process, but life had dealt him his hand and he couldn't request a better one. This was his and he'd live with it.

On the morning of the 11th, Harry received a letter during breakfast, which he had decided to take in his rooms that day. Staring down at the black envelope that lay in stark contrast on the white table cloth, he waved a hand over it, searching for any hex, jinx, curse, spell or dangerous substance. When he found none, he spelled the letter open, thanking Merlin that Dumbledore had requested a morning meeting with Julianus regarding his position at Hogwarts in the next school year.

Dearest Professor Prydis,

Did you enjoy the show? Your little bed mate is lucky he has no family
left to speak of and you… well you're an enigma I'd like to break wide
open. But I have a proposition for you; it is quite simple. You do not get
involved with me, and I will not get involved with you.

Think on it a while,

Lord Voldemort

Bastard. Harry glared at the elegant script and tore the parchment into mere fibres before disposing it on the fire.

He decided not to answer; just to ignore, which in reality he knew to be a pretty stupid move and he knew that it would be someone else that would pay the price for his ignorance. He sighed, running both hands through his hand and fisting tightly until the pain began to give him a headache.

After the letter, it was a surprise to Harry, a pleasant one though, that nothing untoward happened on the Hogsmeade visit. Girls bought frocks, guys bought small tokens of affection, a few bought gifts with genuine love behind them. Harry and Julianus decided not to get anything for each other, having themselves to give was gift enough for them. Besides, they had been selected to supervise the house parties again.

This time, Harry had no excuse he could use to break up snogging sessions. He was just glad it was over at midnight.

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Written by Messrmarauder