DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$

A/N: Only two more chapters to go. One will have Sensei and be about their real reason for Hogwarts. One will include their final summer in Japan. I am debating whether their trip to Diagon Alley for (unecessary) school supplies will be at the end of this or the beginning of the sequel...

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: THE REAL DUMBLEDORE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th, 1990 – HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.

"He's barmy, I'm telling you," the witch said. Her name was Elmira Chastain and she was barely three weeks into her first term as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Thought he was off when I was but a lass here, but he's totally 'round the twist." She looked at the rest of the faculty for some agreement. True, she was new here, but she believed she had a right to be concerned about the Headmaster of the School who was once again "fashionably late" to the faculty meeting he had called.

"No more than usual," Pamona Sprout replied.

"You mean he's always like this?"

"Great man 'as loads on 'is mind," Rubeus Hagrid said. "Always 'as." Technically, Hagrid was not on faculty. He was the gamekeeper for the school. Yet, having been on staff for almost fifty years, he was the longest tenured staff member at the school aside from Silvanus Kettleburn, who taught Care of Magical Creatures; Professor Binns, who was a ghost and had been for close to two hundred years and the Headmaster himself. "Wha' wi' all tha's 'appened las' few years, you'd be a bit barmy yerself if'n yer 'im."

"Good morning," the voice of Albus Dumbledore called out as he entered the staff room.

Whether he was barmy or not, Minerva could see he was looking very tired. He had not looked this bad even during the War. Clearly, the stress of everything that seemed to be happening was affecting the man. This could make her job easier, she thought. "Are you okay, Albus?"

The man sighed as he sat in a chair. "It would seem my other duties are taking more of my time than I would like for less result," he replied. "I must apologize if I seem distracted. Now then, first item of business I should suppose is next year's class?"

Minerva nodded.

"How large?"

"Forty-one," she replied.

"So few?" another asked. "This year's crop was only fifty and there're less?"

"It was, I fear, the darkest time during that War," Dumbledore replied. "People were cautious."

"Or left the country," Pamona added.

"Regardless, it is as anticipated. I do regret it will be the smallest class at Hogwarts since the time of the last Goblin War. Still, we will make do and see to it they receive the high standard of education that we provide all our students. How many this month, Minerva?"

"Three turn eleven this month," Minerva replied. "Letters have been sent to two raised in our world and the third is a Muggle Born."

"Any names we should know?"

"Nothing of note, Albus," Minerva said. That was not true. Luna Lovegood was one of the three and as the daughter of and Ancient and Noble House, her name would be of interest to the Headmaster. She was also born in September 1980, about three weeks too late to have been offered a letter for next year under ordinary circumstances and Albus might well pick up on that. It was best he learned of the departure from tradition later, given as he had yet to take any specific interest in the composition of next year's entering class.

In reality, had Minerva merely sent out the letters that corresponded to the names in the registry book for entering year 1991, there would only be thirty-nine students starting out. Luna and Clarice made it forty-one. Minerva was not about to separate Harry, Hermione and Clarice (and privately hoped the Sorting Hat would not separate them as well). As for Luna, first of all as she already had her O.W.L.s, N.E.W.T.s and would have at least two Masteries by next fall, she could easily handle whatever course work there was. But more important, as Luna, Hermione and Harry were the magical heirs of all four Founders, Minerva thought it was best to keep them together. Voldemort was still out there somewhere, she knew. The last time, he had viciously targeted the Founders Lines that he knew of for termination – including her own family.

And that meant there were two September "Children of Interest" had Minerva decided not to play ignorant. Hermione would be another as she was both descended from one of the oldest lines of witches in Britain (being Minerva's Great-granddaughter) and the magical heir of Rowena Ravenclaw. However, unlike Luna, whose importance came from her name (Lovegood), Hermione's was not readily apparent simply by looking at the student list. The list classified her as a Muggle Born. This, of course, was not true. But Minerva knew why it was so.

The Hall of Records accurately recorded both all magical births in a year, identifying the true birth parents, as well as all births from any magical parent. Thus, if the class lists were truly tied to the births registered in the Hall, it would include Squibs. Long ago, the school lists were created using a different kind of magic. A child's name would not appear on the list at birth, rather it would appear upon detection of the child's magic – almost always in the form of an outburst of accidental magic. When that happened, the list provided the child's name, the name of the "parents" with whom she lived and their current address, which was updated whenever said child moved. While few knew, it was the only time a child's magic was actually detected as the system detected some kind of change in the total magical output of the country and located it. Once that change occurred, the system was bind to further outbursts from the same known magical potential, or some such. Minerva did not fully understand the "mechanics" of it. She did, however, understand the effect. Hermione's first "outburst" occurred when she was about eight months old and long after she was the Granger's adopted child. Since she lived in the Muggle World and with Muggle parents, she was a Muggle Born in the eyes of those records.

"And the third one? The Muggle Born? When are you planning your visit?" Albus asked.

"Today is her eleventh birthday," Minerva said. "I was planning to pop around this evening." She would have anyway. She had never missed Hermione's birthday and was hoping Dumbledore had not noticed the fact that she always took some time off each September nineteenth.

"Capital," Dumbledore said with a brief twinkle in his eye. "Now, we were unprepared last year for the full fallout from the Time Changer revelations…"

Many in the room quietly groaned.

"… but, despite my inability to sway the Wizengamot, I believe there are measures we can implement both within the law and within our existing rules that should see a reduction in the use of the chamber this year."

"Measures that will fall more upon my House than any other," Severus Snape the Head of Slytherin House grumbled.

"Alas, it is your House that is a greater problem in this regard than any of the others. A reduction across the board would be nice, but a significant reduction in the carnal activities within your House should have a positive effect. However, I do not expect you to shoulder the entire burden, Severus…"

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th, 1990 – POTTER HOUSE, LONDON, U.K.

More than two weeks had passed since the Longbottoms had been portkeyed away from St. Mungo's and rescued from their Mindscapes. Still, for both of them recovery seemed to be a long way in the future. They had been bedridden for almost nine years and considering the high quality of care in the Long Term Care Ward, it was actually a near miracle they were alive at all. Now that their minds were restored, however, their bodies had to recover from years of immobility and neglect. Even with magic, this would take time. They were only just beginning to learn to use their arms again – or at least have them do something close to what their minds wanted. They were only beginning to eat, and even then it was baby mush as they were still learning to use their jaw muscles and those were weak from idleness. About the only thing they could do, and even then not for long, was talk. Well, they could listen too. And they had both done a lot of that over the days.

The previous Saturday had been a big day for them in this new life. It was the first day they had left their beds or their bedroom for that matter. They had both been strapped gently into wheelchairs and were wheeled out onto a balcony that overlooked Hyde Park in London. The weather was sunny and cool and their Healer had suggested they should spend some time in the fresh air. Their chairs were parked side by side and the elf who served as their nurse – named Dasha and part of the Longbottom House staff that had moved to London with Neville and Augusta – made sure they were wrapped in blankets and that they were holding each other's hands. They were still incapable of truly doing so without help. Still, for the both of them it was a wonderful day and the only complaint either had was their son was not around. They knew he spent three days a week somewhere else, but really had not asked where or why yet. He did spend hours with them. He read them books, told them stories about a faraway country, fed them or just sat with them. He told them for now they had to get better and later, when they were ready, he would tell them about his life.

They were both anxious to learn of what they had missed. They both could tell their son was not what they had expected in many ways, but neither knew why. He seemed far more mature than he should be at this age. Then again, so did the other children they saw at the house. The truth was, they still did not know exactly where they were. What they did know and what did make them happy was that this was truly real. They were truly together and their son was truly with them. Alice, of course, told Frank that it really should be they who were taking care of him (it took her a while to say this). Frank could only barely nod in agreement but replied: "Better this than before." As bad as things might have seemed being near invalids, that statement was true for they both knew their current condition was not permanent. Still, for two people who had lived very active lives, it was incredibly annoying.

On this Wednesday morning, it was again warm and sunny out and they again found themselves on the balcony of the large house where they were staying. They were left alone together for a time to enjoy the sun.

"Where'd y' think we are?" Frank asked.

"Donno," Alice replied. "Not certain."

"Guess?"

Alice nodded. "Potter House? James. Lily. Wedding?"

"London," Frank nodded. "Could be. Wonder why?"

"Because this is the best place for you, for now," a voice answered and they saw they had been joined by Frank's mother Augusta. "You might not believe I could say that," she continued. "But I fear it is true. The War is both over and still ongoing. There are evil plans afoot as we speak 'though few know of them and even fewer know them. For better or worse, we find ourselves here on an island amidst a gathering of storms."

Does he know?" Frank asked.

"Who?"

"D-Dumbledore?"

"You need not worry about him anymore, my Son. You are safe from him here."

"I don't understand…"

Augusta knew that back during the War Frank and Alice had been among Dumbledore's most loyal supporters. Other's had questioned the man's true motives, mostly behind his back. Frank and Alice never had. Then again, as compared to some of the others, they never had reason to question. While others took time in deciding whether to join the Order of the Phoenix, Alice and Frank had not hesitated. They believed the Order was the only organization trying to stop Voldemort and Dumbledore the only leader of consequence who saw Voldemort as a threat. Even James and Lily Potter had spent at least a few days thinking about it.

Augusta too had thought Dumbledore was the only sane voice at that time. But she began to have her doubts not long after Neville was born. She shared those doubts with her son and daughter-in-law, but they thought she was just a little paranoid. However, now she knew even she had been far too trusting. Voldemort had to be destroyed; that much had not changed. But Augusta now believed that a victory under Dumbledore was only a slightly better outcome than total defeat. If her grandson was to have the life and future he deserved one day, Dumbledore could not be a factor. Augusta knew that the first priority for her son and daughter-in-law was to break their faith in Dumbledore.

She then began to tell them of their son's life. Before he was eight, it was not as pleasant as she would have hoped. He did not have any friends. Augusta wanted him to, but she knew few people who had any children anywhere near Neville's age and after what had happened to his parents, was by her own admission overly protective. Both her family and her husband's did not have any children near Neville's age either. Then there was the concern she and others in the family had that he might be a squib. Until he was eight, Augusta had no reason not to believe that was a possibility as the boy had never once displayed any accidental magic. It was possible he had, but she was unaware of it. The Longbottoms were aware how well magical children tended to treat squibs and could understand her concerns.

Then, when Neville was eight, three children entered his life and everything changed. Those children were Harry Potter, his younger sister Clarice Jameson and their friend and housemate Hermione Granger. Alice and Frank were unaware that Harry had a sister and so, they found out, was most all of the wizarding world. They had been deliberately separated as babies by none other than Albus Dumbledore. Harry had been sent to live with his mother's sister and Clarice had been set up for adoption.

"But that's not what they wanted!" Alice said.

Augusta then began to tell of Dumbledore's strange fascination with at first both Harry and Neville and then Harry. Wasn't it odd, she said, that the only three people left alive who knew that Harry was not supposed to be placed with the Dursleys or separated from his sister – other than Dumbledore – all met such odd fates? Sirius Black was locked away in prison without a trial for it turned out crimes he did not commit; the only person to suffer that fate in over three hundred years. Every Death Eater ever caught got a trial. Sirius did not. Then there was the attack on Alice and Frank. Only Augusta and Dumbledore knew where they were living. Even with the Wards down, there was no realistic way for anyone to find them unless either they or Augusta or Dumbledore told someone. Yet within a day, four Death Eaters show up and Frank and Alice were imprisoned in their minds. As Augusta had said nothing, this left only one person who could have tipped off the attackers: Dumbledore.

And why would Dumbledore want the Longbottoms out of the way? Because, like Sirius Black, they knew they were supposed to get custody of Harry (and Clarice) should anything happen to the Potters and would question Dumbledore's authority in defying the clear intent of the Potter Will. Dumbledore wanted Harry sent to his vile relatives, who tortured the poor boy for years. And yes, he knew. The foul excuses for humanity beat the poor boy almost to death and it resulted in a very public investigation wherein Dumbledore admitted to placing Harry with those people, admitting knowing about the abuse at least in general, and the man still had the nerve to say that it was what he thought was best for the boy!

But Dumbledore no longer had the boy, the Grangers did. They sent Harry, his sister (and Augusta explained how Clarice came back into the family) and Hermione to a school in another country to learn magic. The kids came back and taught others what they learned, including their new friend Neville. Neville went there the following summer. And oh what a school it is, August told them. Their son, who she thought might be a squib at one time, now had his O.W.L.s, N.E.W.T.s and his Defense Mastery, not to mention he completed non-magical school as well and would go on for his Univeristy degrees and more. The boy could do wandless magic and knew mind arts. He also had two animagus forms and was one of the better duelers in school. It was clear Augusta was proud of her grandson and that she despised Dumbledore who was publically on record as opposed to allowing any British child to receive an education in a foreign land.

Augusta went on to tell the Longbottoms about all of Neville's closet friends, all of whom had already been harmed in one way or another by their Leader of the Light. Hermione was descended from a long magical line, but had been raised by Muggles because she was born to underage parents. Dumbledore supposedly knew of the policy and knew that there were wizards and witches from distinguished lines who had lived or were living their lives as Muggle Borns. True, as Head of the Wizengamot Dumbledore had seen to the passage of some laws that supposedly helped Muggle Borns, but they were still for all practical purposes at the bottom of magical society. That was the fate this society would have in store for both Hermione and Harry's sister Clarice. Even though Clarice had a full brother the world would recognize as a half blood and heir apparent to an Ancient and Noble House, because Clarice was born in hiding and had not performed any accidental magic before she was adopted by a Muggle couple, in the eyes of Dumbledore's laws she was a Muggle Born. Finally there was Luna Lovegood. She had but one friend for a long time until Dumbledore decided that her friend should not have friends. How many lives had been ruined in the name of Dumbledore's Greater Good?

And what had Dumbledore really done as leader of the Light? True, he had been one of the first to both recognize Voldemort and the Death Eaters as a threat and urge the Ministry to take them seriously. But he had also opposed the laws that would have allowed Magical Law Enforcement to use lethal force against the Death Eaters. He had said that the damage to pureblood society that killing off many lines far outweighed any short term benefit and, of course, the Wizengamot had followed his lead as many of them certainly had family members in Voldemort's ranks. He had hand picked every Minister for Magic since he became Chief Warlock save one. During the War, being Dumbledore's man and Minister for Magic meant two things: first, the person was a pacifist who would oppose violent methods against the Death Eaters and second, he or she was usually dead within a year. Only the current Minister was not a Dumbledore pick and that was only because Dumbeldore was out of the country when her predecessor was assassinated and she was selected for the post. It was under her that the Auror's were finally allowed to use lethal force, a measure Dumbledore still opposed even though the Ministry was on the brink of defeat. In effect, whatever his Greater Good was, he had almost single handedly handed over Britain to Voldemort.

"And one other thing," Augusta said as she finished her rant about their so called leader of the Light, "Dumbledore is extremely concerned about what became of the two of you. He wants you back in St. Mungo's long term care where he believes you belong and wants whoever took you locked away for a long time. That means Neville. He's the one who brought you here. Magical Law Enforcement has made it top priority as he used his Chief Warlock status. I, for one - and I am sure Neville will agree with me on this - I will not let that man destroy my family a second time!"

Augusta did not know whether she was truly able to convince them that Dumbledore was not to be trusted, particularly when it came to Neville and his friends. But one had to start someplace.

The truth was that Alice, while not necessarily accepting what Augusta said as the truth, was not willing to trust the man with her son again. She would err on the side of caution. Frank was leaning that way as well. If what his mother said was true, the one person he had always thought was completely trustworthy (other than his wife) had let them suffer for some unfathomable reason. He might still be willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt on some things, but not when it came to his family.

____________________________________________________

It was Hermione's birthday. She turned eleven today. Or, more accurately, today was the eleventh anniversary of the day she was born. In reality, she was eleven, twenty-three and ten. Still, her family and friends celebrated this day as if it was truly her birthday. She had spent the day at Camp W as it was the meeting day for the "Juniors" in the Club. There was a large cake at lunch as there were whenever someone's birthday fell on a Camp W day. (All others had a party on the last Sunday of the month.) She got a few presents, but only from close friends who would not be attending the family party later that evening.

The party would be largest Hermione had known. Everyone now living at Potter House, aside from Frank and Alice Longbottom, would be there. Augusta and Neville would be there, along with Lord Black, Sirius, Sophie and little Emily. (Hermione hoped she would choose today not to be fussy. On the rare occassions when she was awake and not eating, Elaine's favorite pastime was crying, it seemed. Rose told her that was hardly unusual for a baby barely a month old.) Remus would be there as well. Then there would be both the Greengrass family and Harry and Clarice's Aunt and Uncle and their kids. (Except Eddie, who was still stationed in Germany with the British Army.) Luna and her family were going to be there as well.

Hermione arrived home from her day at Camp W before and of the others had arrived. This was partly because Harry and Clarice were involved with Quidditch which would run well into the afternoon. It was mainly because it was her birthday and she had taken a liking to birthdays since Harry and Clarice had come into her life. Before those two, it was just another day, although she never complained about cake and presents. With those two, however, it became almost like a holiday for her. She so looked forward to it now.

Neville followed sometime after Hermione. He wished her a happy birthday as he headed up the stairs to spend more time with his parents. Neville was eager, as always, to spend time with them. But he knew that today Augusta would be telling them as much as they could handle so he could too, he hoped. Oddly, he thought, it was all Hermione's idea. She had said that she wanted the Longbottoms to begin finding out what was going on and had suggested it would be a great idea for her birthday.

Neville smiled when he thought of that. It was so Hermione to be thinking of others rather than herself. This was only the second birthday of hers he attended and while she always got presents, she really did not expect any from invited guests. In this regard, her wishes were generally ignored, but it was not like she was showered with gifts either. Neville and his Gran had bought her a small collection of books that they knew she did not have. True, both the Potter and Black libraries had them. The Potter library had actual first editions which were probably worth a small fortune now, but it was not the same as having her own set of hard backed Jane Austin books. (Harry had suggested the gift.)

The "party" took place during and after dinner. Hermione was very pleased with the gifts she received, although she complained about how much Harry's present may have cost. The truth was, Harry spent about as much on his sister as he did on Hermione, yet she always said it was too much. Not that her opinion on that subject would ever deter Harry. It was after dinner and presents, after most of the guests had left and just after Minerva arrived that something different happened.

"Take a look at this," Sirius said carrying an old looking book from someplace in the house. With him were Lord Black, Robert Granger and Mike Evans. He laid the book down on the table opened to a particular page. It was clearly a photo album of some kind and there on one page was a picture of an old airplane. On the other were four relatively young men all in uniform.

"What's this?" Hermione asked wondering why she should care about what were clearly old war photos.

"Best guess it's Charlus Potter's photo album from the War," Lord Black said.

"World War II," Mike Evans added.

"Harry and Clarice's Great-grandfather flew fighters in the Muggle Air Force," Lord Black continued. "Fought in – what was that?"

"Battle of Britain," Mike Evans said. "Although this photo is from 1943 when he was a fighter group commander in Italy."

"So?" Hermione asked.

"The man next to him is Squadron Leader Daniel Ryan according to this," Lord Black continued.

"What?" Minerva asked looking at the photo. "Sweet Merlin! It is!"

"Who's Daniel Ryan?" Hermione asked.

"He was a Muggle," Minerva said. "His son was a wizard and he married your grandmother in 1961."

"My great-grandfather?" Hermione asked.

Minerva nodded. "On your Muggle side."

"There's more," Mike Evans said. "The two younger pilots. One is my dad - Harry and Clarice's grandfather."

"The other is my dad," Robert Granger said. "Knew he flew fighters in the War, but this is a rather ironic photo when you think about it."

"How so?" Hermione asked.

"Well, your great-grandfather and grandfather by adoption and Harry and Clarice's non-magical grandfather and magical great-grandfather serving in the same war, practically in the same unit at the same time? Considering everything else, it seems…"

"Appropriate?" Minerva offered.

"Something like that," Robert said. "And with that in mind, there's something I want to show you." Robert pulled out a large handgun, a revolver of sorts and placed it on the table.

"What's this?" Hermione asked.

"A revolver," Harry replied.

"I can see that! I mean what's so special about an old handgun?"

"It's a Webley-Fosbery," Robert replied. "One of the only semi-automatic revolvers ever made. The company that made them provided the service revolvers to the British Army for decades, although the Army never fully adopted this one. My grandfather bought it in 1915 when he was an artillery officer during the First War. Took it with him to France. When Dad went off to war in '40, he took it with him. Dad gave it to me when I became a Lieutenant in the Para's. Still kept it as a back-up when I moved on to the S.A.S. After all, it seemed to keep two Grangers alive during two nasty wars, although I have no idea if it ever fired a shot in anger. I know I never had need for it."

"Never?" Harry asked.

"Granddad was artillery," Robert said. "Never went over the top or got closer than a mile or two from the Gerry's, even when they had to retreat in the spring of '18. Dad would only have needed it if he was shot down over enemy lines. He was shot down once. Battle of Britain. Bailed out over England and landed in a garden. Almost worse than landing among a bunch of Gerrys, he said as the woman of the house was less than pleased with the resulting condition of her cabbages. I never had need for it really, although the .455 caliber round would have been better at knocking down an enemy than our nine millimeter stuff. When I had some ops during the last magical war, I did carry. Had some specially loaded rounds from Office W just in case one of the bad guys turned out to be a Were."

"Silver bullets?" Remus asked. "That would leave a mark."

"Lead. The jacket was silver."

"Still."

"Why are you showing me this?" Hermione asked.

"Well, 'cause it's been in the family and at War," Robert replied. "We all know another War is coming someday. I hope that someday is years from now, still… We Grangers have served Her Majesty's government on and off most of this Century and in practically all its wars. I show you this piece of family history because I feel it will see War once again."

"I hope not," Rose said. "She's just a girl."

"Regrettably," Minerva said, "our Wars are fought without regard to witch or wizard. The last one did not spare children either."

"Still," Rose said.

"Hermione is better prepared today than most of the 'adults' in our world, Rose," Sirius said. "That Defense Mastery is beyond even our own Auror training in some things and as good as in others – save law enforcement stuff. Throw in her other Masteries and she would be quite capable. All of those 'kids' will be in time."

"But children?"

"Mum, only my body is eleven as you well know," Hermione said. "I'm really twenty-three. I'll be twenty-eight this time next year."

"Yet we still have a bedtime," Harry quipped hoping for a change of topic.

"And, you still have this," Minerva said handing Hermione an envelope.

"What's this?" Hermione asked.

"Open it."

Hermione did and pulled out a letter. She began to read it aloud:

"Ms. Hermione Granger: We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…

"I totally forgot we still would be…" Hermione began.

"Don't I get one?" Harry asked.

"Letters go out once a month," Minerva said. "This month it's for potential students with September birthdays. July and August birthdays receive their letters in July."

"Why the August ones?" Clarice asked.

"As the letter says, all students must reply by July 31st in order to attend."

"So they don't know about me yet?" Harry asked.

"Professor Dumbledore has never looked at the prospective class roster this early in the year," Minerva replied. "By May, he'll probably take a look; maybe as early as April. I doubt it'll be sooner. Good thing, too."

"Why?" several voices asked.

"Because I've added two names to the list. Those two students are technically too young to attend starting next fall, but I feel they should anyway."

"Who?" Clarice asked.

"You and Ms. Luna Lovegood," Minerva replied. "Can't break up the set now, can we?"

"Is this a problem?" Rose asked.

"Ms. Lovegood might tip the Headmaster off," Minerva replied. "He knows her family at least by reputation and might know that Luna is too young. I doubt it, but it'd be a moot point if she already had accepted. As for Clarice, I don't think he'd make that connection. Assuming he remembers Harry and all, he will assume this is another Clarice, not Harry's younger sister."

"Wouldn't the records show their birthdates?"

Minerva shook her head. "Actually, the official class lists do not. The list the Headmaster reviews is my copy of the official list. Only I have access to the original."

"Why only you?" Rose asked. "I mean, he is your superior."

"By law and magic, only one member of the staff may have access to the prospective class lists, arguably to prevent exactly what I am doing. Normally it would be the Headmaster. However, Dumbledore is also very busy with other things and delegated much of his usual responsibilities to me long ago, to include this as well as introducing each year's Muggle Borns to our world."

"What do you mean by prevent what you are doing?" Hermione asked.

"I'm adding two students to the official list. Neither one of them is due to receive an invite until next year, if at all. While Ms. Lovegood is most likely to be 'invited' next year, I cannot say the same is true about Clarice. Statistically speaking, it is more likely she would be invited to attend St. George's as she is considered a Muggle Born living within St. George's District. The Muggle Born's who are sent to Hogwarts are selected from each of the other schools' lists by a sort of magical lottery. This was done long ago because the other schools believed we were taking the best of the lot."

"And me?" Hermione asked. "I'm a Muggle Born two, correct?"

"That's what the Ministry considers you," Minerva nodded. "Rubbish. But try as he might, Dumbledore is beating his head against an immovable object. Seems that the powers that be do not want to change that. Anyway, you are on the official Hogwarts list, Hermione. I had nothing to do with that."

"I still don't understand why they have to attend at all," Rose said. "After all, it's not like they need that education."

"Sensei has said my attendance is important even under such circumstances," Hermione said. "Harry and Luna's as well. We are the magical heirs of the Founders and somehow that's important."

"And if you think they're heading off without me," Clarice began.

"But we don't really know why it is important, do we?"

"Two of the horcruxes are still there," Harry said.

"But you don't need to be students to get those, do you?"

Harry shrugged. "Actually, I don't think we really be students in any event. Not for long."

"Why not?"

"Just a gut feeling," Harry said. "That and as a student Dumbledore might feel free to try and point me in some direction. However, as a legal adult – and I will be by then – and possibly as an owner, it would be another matter. Still, won't that list tip him off?"

"I can't say for sure," Minerva said. "For safety reasons, I think we should assume that it will."

"And what would that mean?" Rose asked.

"Worst case scenario is that Dumbledore would remember everything about Harry Potter he has forgotten," Minerva said. "The good news, however, is that knowledge would not include how to get to him or bypass the Wards on this house. He would be unable to 'tamper' with Harry prior to Harry's arrival at Hogwarts."

"And will be in for a rude shock should he try to do so then," Hermione growled. "He already tried to ruin Harry's life once, and Clarice for that matter…"

"And Luna, and Neville," Harry added.

"We're not going to give his a second chance. We go to that place on our terms, not his."

"There still time to place a wager in the Weasley boys pool?" Sirius asked.

"What pool is that?" a few voices asked.

"The month and year the Club is no longer secret," Sirius replied. "I'm down for October 1993. Might want to change to September 1991."

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12th, 1990, HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.

Albus Dumbledore stood at the door of a small hut located at the edge of a forest. It was the home of Rubeus Hagrid and had been since Hagrid was about fourteen. Hagird had been a student at Hogwarts but had been expelled by the then Headmaster for something Dumbledore knew he had not done. The problem was, while he had argued on Hagrid's behalf, he would not say how he knew Hagrid was innocent. For him to reveal that he suspected that the brightest and most popular student at the school was dabbling deeply into the Dark Arts, especially considering he had no real proof at the time, would not have gone well for anyone. But he was at least able to keep Hagrid on as gameskeeper and when he became Headmaster he used Hagrid for certain errands he would not trust to anyone else, such as the one that landed him upon the "threshold" of Hagrid's home.

The door opened and a giant of a man with long, wild hair and a matching beard stood before him. If one did not know Hagrid, one might assume he was both vicious and dimwitted. Both were patently false assumptions. Hagird was a half-giant, something Dumbledore had always known. Unfortunately, so had Headmaster Drippet which was probably why the man was more than willing to believe his Head Boy and not the combined counsel of his staff as to Hagrid's "guilt." Drippet claimed until his retirement that Dumbledore had tricked him into admitting a half-giant and was probably looking for and excuse to expel the lad from the moment he first showed up.

"Evenin' Professor Dumbledore, Sir," Hagrid said.

"You asked to see me Hagird?"

"Aye Sir! Got somethin' ya should be seein'. Come in."

"Thank you."

"Cuppa?"

"No thank you. Now what do you have?"

"Yes sir! Ya asked me t' fin' an animal ter guard somethin' valuable an' dangerous. A creature that mos' wizards wouldn't get past?"

"Indeed."

"Got one. Come 'ere Fluffy!"

A large creature came from the back of the Hut. It was actually a little larger than Hagrid's pet Boarhound. One might think it was a dog, at least until one realized it had three heads. The creature growled at the intruder.

"Nuff 'o tha' Fluffy!" Hagrid said firmly. "He's me guest."

The dog like thing stopped and lay down on the floor.

"Tha's a good boy," Hagird said.

"A Cerberus?"

"Aye," Hagrid replied. "Jus' a pup, though. Got 'im of an' Irish feller down at the pub few months back. E's trainin' up nicely, tha's fer sure. Be full growed come next fall."

"Excellent, my friend."

Dumbledore was still planning his trap for Quirrell/Voldemort. He had decided that it should appear to be a well defended place to keep the fake stone. No defenses and his quarry might become suspicious. A Cerberus, fabled guardian of the gates of Hades, (the Greek version of the afterlife) would be a convincing defense. Of course, it would not be the only one. No point in making it too easy to get to where the stone would be hidden. But it should not be impossible either.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27th, 1990 – POTTER HOUSE, LONDON, U.K.

Harry and Hermione were sitting in the Parlor on the Ground Floor reading shortly after breakfast. Christmas had been wonderful and they had enjoyed their presents immensely. But it was over and Clarice had just left for the clinic. Neville had a cold and had returned to his room as soon as he finished hoping to get over it without nasty potions in time for the next Club meeting the weekend after next. Neither of the children initially noticed Alice Longbottom entering the room. It had only been about a month since Neville's parents had been strong enough to climb the stairs in the house.

"Harry?" she asked.

Harry looked up from his reading. "Morning Lady Alice," he said. He was never asked or told to call her this. She was his Godmother and had merely asked him to call her "Alice," but he called her "Lady" in no small part because he could get the older woman to blush almost without fail.

"I've been meaning to ask this for some time," Alice said. "Harry, do you know anything about your parents?"

"Fair bit," Harry said. "Sirius and Remus made sure Clarice and I knew as much as we could about them."

"Do you miss them?"

Harry did not respond directly. "Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering. This must be difficult for you, you know."

"What?"

"That's our Neville was able to get us back and you and your sister…" her voice faded. "Do you ever think about them?"

"Of course," Harry said. "Clarice and I visit them once a year now. Tell them what's happening and stuff."

"I mean do you wonder?"

"What it might have been like had none of this happened?"

Alice nodded.

"Used to all the time," Harry said. "Back when I lived with the Dursleys. I tried not to believe what they said about them."

"And what did they say?" Alice asked. She already knew that Harry knew he was never supposed to be sent there and had some idea about how bad it was for the boy.

"They were lazy, penniless, on the dole. Bunch of other mean things as well," Harry replied. "Back then, I wanted it to be a lie. Turns out it was. I also hoped all the time that someone from that life would come fetch me away from the Dursleys. Never thought it would happen, but I hoped. But now? No, I no longer really dwell on that."

"Why not?"

"What would my life have been like had they lived? Would it have been better? Certainly 'til I was almost eight it would have been. But since I came to the Grangers? I don't know. I like to think it would have been a nice life. But better?

"Clarice and I grew up very much alone. True, not in the same way, but alone none the less. Same's true with Hermione. Until we met each other when I was in hospital, none of us had any friends. I'd like to think maybe that would have been different…"

"You would have known Neville," Alice said.

Harry nodded. "Still, things could well be different. I would have grown up with an annoying little sister and she would probably have thought something similar about me. I have seen that, you know. Instead, we met when we were desperate for friends and both very scared. I was scared because of the Dursleys and I never wanted to go back. She was scared because she had just lost her family. I think we are much closer than we could have been had our lives not been as messed up as they were.

"Add to it that we would not have met Hermione. Not yet at any rate. Would she and I be friends had we met at Hogwarts? Would Clarice and she be friends? I can't say. I can say I'm glad that we are and every day since we all met and became a family has been a blessing. We probably would not have met Luna either. All in all, I like to think I am better off now than I might have been."

"I'm glad we met too," Hermione said with a hint of tears in her voice.

"And don't forget it was your parents who decided to send us to the Watanabe School," Harry added. "Something tells me mine would never have thought of that."

Hermione nodded.

Harry looked at Alice. "I have no memory of my parents. Neither does Clarice, nor Hermione as to her birthparents. I really cannot beat myself up about what might have been. This is the life I have. I happen to like it a lot, thank you.

"And as for Neville? We are all very happy with how things are turning out. We can't get our parents back, but he was determined to get you and Frank back and he succeeded. Even a small victory for our friend is a victory for all of us."

"Still," Alice began, "I mean it's just that I was supposed to… I would have never let what happened occur if I could."

"I know," Harry replied honestly. "I know. Sirius would never either. But it did happen. That can't be changed. I don't blame either of you and I never have."

"And this doesn't bother you?"

"It did," Harry admitted. "A long time ago, it did. You must remember, however, that for me the Dursley's were like fifteen years ago, not two. I have spent more than twice as much of my life here with Hermione, Clarice and my friends…"

"Or in Japan," Hermione said.

"Or in Japan, than with the Dursleys. That was a long time ago for me. Would I have wished they never happened? Of course. No one should ever have to go through that, certainly no kid. But when I think of all I have gained since then, I think I prefer this life to what might have been. Then again, this is the only life I know," Harry added with a bit of a smirk. As far as he knew, the Longbottoms did not know about Sensei. Neville did. Neville and Luna were among the handful of people who had seen and heard the "other Harry." Whether Neville told his parents, Harry could only guess.

"You don't blame me?"

"You didn't do anything wrong," Harry said.

"We got …" Alice began.

"The spell that was used on you and Frank would be an Unforgivable if it were known outside of the Black family. It was a part of their closely guarded magic. You could not have defended against it, short of killing all four of them…"

"Which would probably have gotten one or both of you killed," Hermione added. "You're back now. In the end that's all that matters."

"The only person I blame for any of that mess is Dumbledore," Harry said. "Everything that happened he allowed because he believed he was right. He was not and is not. Far from it."

"And You-Know-Who?" Alice asked.

"Voldemort?" Harry replied earning a gasp from Alice. "I really do wish people wouldn't do that. Give's the git more credit than he is due. Dumbledore probably could have nipped that little problem in the bud had he bothered. He didn't."

"How could he have?"

"Riddle was a student of Dumbledore's. From what we've read, it was not as if the guy didn't leave any clues about what he was becoming. Should have been tucked away in Azkaban forty years ago at least. Yet no one did anything and we know the results. The whole policy of the government – and by that I mean Dumbledore - when that cockroach finally crawled out of the woodwork is laughable. They should have been hunting down and killing Death Eaters from day one. The notion of social disruption, the official reason for treating a bunch of psychotic murderers with kid gloves, is so much rubbish. If that's the society we should protect, than perhaps it should be done away with altogether."

"You're suggesting we should have stooped to his level?"

"His people killed innocent men women and children. They raped and murdered Muggles for fun! I hardly think killing animals is stooping to their level. That's what they were and are, the ones who are still out there. No one has ever accused a rat catcher of murder. Dumbledore is only marginally better."

"How can you say that?"

"He allowed it to happen," Harry replied. "Thousands died in that last war both needlessly and in vain."

"In vain?"

"The conditions and prejudices that gave rise to Voldemort and his Death Squads still exist. Those same conditions prevented any form of decisive action. The next Dark Lord will find this Country just as fertile ground as the last one. Or at least he would have."

"I don't understand."

"The next time, he won't face a population of easily mollified sheep incapable of defending themselves," Hermione said. "The next time, he will have to deal with our generation. In a few years, there will be two thousand or more of us quite capable of destroying a Dark Lord and his minions. Not without losses on our part, but it will not go well for them at all."

"And my Neville?"

"Bellatrix LeStrange had better pray she never meets Neville on opposite sides of a conflict," Hermione said. "She won't last five seconds!"

"You lot don't think much of our society," Alice observed.

The two children shook their heads. "It can be changed," Harry said. "It must be changed. For our future generations, it must change."

"When?"

Harry shrugged. "Sooner rather than later, but it needs to want change for change to really work. At least, that's what history shows us."

Alice had heard something similar from Neville and to her surprise Augusta. She did not know what to make of it. Still, everything she had learned since she had been "awakened" made her question everything she had believed as truth before. Dumbledore was not the wise leader she had believed. Magical society was seriously flawed. Even her own education was seriously lacking as compared to her own ten year old son. How much of her life had been based upon lies?