Chapter 54 – Consultations
Luckily for one Harry Potter, the adults and professors in his life decided to think about what they had witnessed in Dumbledore's pensieve for a few days. Harry was allowed at least a week's grace to think over the battle himself before they all got together to discuss the failures and successes they had all had witnessed or participated in. That decision made Harry breathe a big sigh of relief so he was completely relaxed when Sunday morning came around and it was finally time for the Potters had to say goodbye to Petunia, Dudley and their friends. Everyone ported into the Trans-Pacific Airlines crew lounge and Harry pulled out something from the back pocket of his jeans. "I changed your tickets just a little to avoid you leaving the country the same way you arrived."
Aunt Petunia gave a puzzled look to her nephew but didn't hesitate to take the ticket that was handed to her. "This is for Aer Lingus?" she asked a little worriedly. She shrugged then passed out the other three tickets to Dudley, Bethany and Audrey
"It's a very good airline according to some of our Irish friends at school" Ginny said.
"Hey, these are 1st Class tickets!" Beth exclaimed.
Harry smiled. "I hoped you wouldn't mind travelling in roomier seats Miss Cosgrove. Couldn't have you all squashed up with Dudley for that long, long flight, could I? Think of all you could have got up to all cuddled up together like that."
"That's enough of that!" said Dudley as he circled his girlfriend's waist with his arm.
"We'll make sure we keep an eye on them both."
"Aunt Audrey!"
Everyone was laughing at the pair's blushes. Harry looked around and wasn't too surprised when Petunia stepped forward to give him a hug. "Thanks for everything you have done for the four of us Harry and I'm really glad that you are able to talk to Lily and James now. Are you sure that it's okay for us to keep the picture frame that we found in Vernon's security box?"
"Yes, I very sure you can take the picture frame with you. Professors Flitwick and Dumbledore said that they could enchant a few other pictures that are at Hogwarts for them to move around to. So, keep the blank frame in a safe place. I can't guarantee how often mom or dad will show up but I'm sure you can call for them anytime. Your plane flies into Montreal and there's a connecting flight right to St. Johns."
"Harry, it's time!" Hermione called out with more than just a little emotion. She had been overjoyed to see how happy her husband was when he had most of his Privet Drive family around and she actually felt a little disappointed that the foursome was leaving. Glancing around Hermione could see that Ginny, Daphne and even Astoria had some of the same feelings as she did. There was a round of shared hugs and goodbyes and Harry and his family joined his aunt, cousin, their neighbor and girlfriend in their walk to the Irish airline counter to turn in their luggage. A few minutes' walk brought them to the base of the escalators up to the passenger gates. Petunia set down her purse and travel bag and then turned to her nephew. "Harry, I…"
Seeing as his aunt was tearing up Harry stepped forward and gave her another hug. "I am glad you came and visited us even though the reason was not so good."
"I am glad too nephew. It is your turn to visit us now. I hope your busy schedule allows you and your wives to come to Canada soon. Of course, I'm not positive we have enough bedrooms for all of you."
Harry's mouth opened to protest that last bit but he saw suddenly that his Aunt Petunia was grinning at him.
"We'll make do with whatever the arrangements are. Have a great flight home Aunt Petunia."
As his aunt moved toward the escalator, Audrey took her turn of giving Harry a hug. "You've been a great host Mr. Potter and I'll try to send you one of those blackberry tortes Beth boasted about as soon as I get back to my own kitchen. I've already told your ladies to take good care of you as gentlemen and husbands of your caliber are few and far between."
Harry fought off his blush in response to Audrey's words. "I thought we settled the name thing a long time ago Mrs. Teller?"
"Well, I suppose. Take good care of yourself Harry until we see each other again."
Harry nodded and Audrey went over to stand next to his aunt. The two looked at each other for a few moments and then stepped onto the escalator and waved back to all the Potters. Still watching his aunt rise away Harry was surprised by a quick and fierce hug that was given him by Beth. Harry smiled at her and gave her a squeeze back. "Does your boyfriend condone your accosting strange men in airports?"
"No he gave me permission for that." Beth grabbed Harry by his ears and brought his face down for a quick kiss on the lips. "Ginny gave me permission for that."
"I guess I'll have to speak to her about loaning my lips out."
Beth laughed and smiled. "I am so going to be the talk of the school when I get home. I've met Harry Potter and I actually got to kiss a magical British lord. I won't say however that they are one and the same person."
"Thank you for that Beth."
Beth nodded her head but then reached into the backpack that was hanging over her shoulder. "I also have a replica of the only authenticated Goodlemerhoxx now in existence." She brought out the stuffed toy Godzilla Hermione had created and held it up hopefully. "Care to autograph for me Harrikins?"
Everyone still around them was laughing as Harry just shook his head in resignation. "No, NO and NO! Dudley come collect this poor excuse for a girlfriend you have. I'm not sure how you ever put up with her?"
Dudley gently extracted his girlfriend and gave her a little push away. "She has her good moments and that's okay. Harry, I wish now we could have got along better as we were growing up."
"Past history now Big D. Take good care of your mother."
"I will." Dudley seemed to about to stick out his hand to his cousin but sighed, shrugged and gathered him up in a hug. "Thanks for everything Harry. This last week and everything before."
"We're family Duds."
"Yes we are and I'll remember that."
"Dudley?"
"Coming Beth." Dudley turned away from Harry but Harry's wives enveloped him and Bethany in hugs before they let the pair get to the escalator. The four stood together and waved at Dudley and Bethany until they couldn't see them anymore.
"I guess it's time to go home now" Harry said sadly.
"How about a small side trip to Diagon Alley first?" Astoria asked.
"Flourish and Blotts?" Daphne asked her sister.
"No, I thought an occasion like this called for a stop at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. My treat this time."
"I'm in" Ginny said.
"Me too, especially if Tori is breaking out her purse" Daphne said as she grabbed her sister and gave her a small hug.
"Sounds like a plan then" Harry said. "let's go back to the Trans-Pacific Airlines lounge and leave from there."
Ginny took up Harry's hand as they started walking. "I've a pretty good idea how we can work off those calories from the ice cream later dear husband."
Astoria stopped walking in her shock. "I so heard that Ginny! Ewww! Why do I go anywhere with you people?"
Harry laughed. "Because you like where we take you. Besides, I think your sister probably already thought of that also Tori!"
"Double ewww then! I'm going to need extra hot fudge to get rid of these mental images."
"Of course Tori."
Xxxx xxx
Three Potters were getting dressed after their morning shower the next morning (a Monday) when a knock came to the door to their bedroom. Harry looked around and seeing he was the most dressed he went and cautiously cracked the door open. He saw Vika standing close to the door with a smile on her face. "Can I come in?"
"I guess it's okay, I've still got to button my shirt and get my robes but the girls are only halfway finished." Harry opened the door all the way and Vika walked into the bedroom."
"Morning ladies!"
"Good morning Vika!" came from Ginny and Hermione. "Is there something special you had to see us about?"
"Well, neither Myrtle or Josh wanted to chance coming in to your bedroom and let you know that Professor Maruyama is waiting outside your door. Something about not seeing too much of their lieges."
"And you of course don't have any problems barging in if we are dressed or not?"
"Lord Gryffindor I've already shared the bath with all three of your ladies and they said that…"
"Oh Merlin! Never mind what they said Vika. Go tell Myrtle to let the professor in and we'll be right out." Vika vanished and Harry turned to look at his two grinning wives. "What did you three give her permission for?"
"And ruin the surprise – like someone else just said a few days ago?" Ginny said with a smirk.
"I'm just going to go out to talk to the professor and see what he wants." Harry grabbed up the robe that had been left out for him and went out to the living room. He closed the door carefully behind him before greeting his 'official' advisor. "Something about the Tournament and, or the next task you needed to see me about Professor Yoshi?"
"Something totally unrelated to either but something we have talked about before."
Before Harry could ask 'What?' he heard the door open behind him. "Good morning Professor Maruyama. Could we offer you a cup of tea or coffee?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, thank you but no. I just stopped by before breakfast and before you got busy with classes today to see if you were still interested in trying to become Animagi?"
"Yes!"
"Of course."
"How long is this going to take?" came the pointed question from Hermione who was thinking of her planner chock full of classes, homework, workouts, etc. for the rest of the spring.
"Please wait before you answer that question Professor. We're forgetting someone important."
"I'll go fetch Daphne Harry." Vika had already disappeared before Harry could get the words out of his mouth to thank her. She was gone about a minute before she reappeared with the 3rd Mrs. Potter.
"Good morning everyone. Vika said there was a family discussion going on?" Daphne came over and gave Harry a kiss to the cheek before sitting down on the arm of the chair Ginny was in.
"I was just about to tell them how long it will take to brew the animagus potion if you are still interested Lady Daphne."
"Yes I am professor. I'm not going to let these three go wandering off in whatever form they have without me. But you don't need to be so formal while we are not in public. A simple Daphne would suffice."
"Of course, Simple Daphne." Daphne snapped her fingers and Harry felt an invisible cuff to the back of his head for his cheeky remark.
Professor Yoshi was chuckling at the sight he saw. All three of the ladies were scowling at their husband but he was looking at them with just delight in his eyes. "That's one point for Mr. Potter."
"Thank you Yoshi!"
"And three points FROM Mr. Potter!" Daphne said.
"Well, I've got the rest of the day to make them up" Harry said with a wink and a smile.
"Please ignore your school's Champion for the moment professor. How long does the Animagus potion take to brew?"
"Let me tell you first that it is a long and complicated potion. The first stage takes 5 weeks to simmer to the point where you can take half of it to find out what your animagus actually is."
"Five weeks for the first stage? That's a lot." Ginny said.
"Both Professor Blacks, Professor Runnels and McGonagall will be advising of you of all the directions and procedures along the way. Lady Hogwarts has assured me that there is a spare room on the 6th floor that can be converted over to a potions lab just for you four to use."
"You said first stage Professor. What happens at the end of the first stage?" Harry asked.
"You drink half the potion you have prepared and go on the equivalent of a 'Vision Quest'. A deep sleep where you will find the form your animagus or the animagus form will find you. The second stage from there includes adding ten drops of your blood to the remaining potion and a few other ingredients and letting it simmer and be stirred for 3 additional weeks. You will have a lot of supervision when you take the final potion to make sure that your transition goes smoothly and that you can come back to your human form."
"I've heard that some people have trouble reverting once they have turned into the animal" Daphne said.
"That is why you will be supervised."
"And use the same spell we saw that Sirius used to reveal Peter if we can't change back" Harry said.
"Can we see the potion ingredient list and directions before we start Professor Yoshi?"
"I have it right here" said the professor as he reached into his pocket. "You will take care that no one else gets a hold of this. Despite the actions of your fathers and their friends all those years ago Harry, students should not try this without supervision. The consequences could be… regrettable."
Harry took the list from his advisor and handed it immediately to Hermione. "I think we understand that Professor. Could some of our friends join us in undergoing this endeavor?"
"That is a question open for discussion with your professors and those other students. Think carefully about who you might want to join you." With that Professor Yoshi stood up. "It is getting to be time for breakfast. Shall I and Professor McGonagall come back this evening to see when you want to start and the other topic?"
"I'll ask Sirius to come too. About seven maybe?"
"That will be a good time. Lady Vika would you mind escorting me down to the Great Hall?"
"If you don't mind talking with me over the meal Professor."
"I am looking forward to that. Perhaps you might make me more aware of the history of the school." Professor Yoshi looked over his shoulder to Harry. "Especially the last three or four years."
Laughter rang out from Vika and the three young ladies around Harry. He looked up to the ceiling and just rolled his eyes as the door to the Hearth closed behind the two visitors. He sat down in the nearest chair and the Ginny, Hermione and Daphne also found seats.
"So we're definitely doing this then" Ginny said.
"Yes."
"Who are you thinking of asking to join us dear husband?"
"I'm not sure. I…we've got plenty of friends that have done enough for us to include but I'm just not sure if we could or should ask any of them."
"So a discussion before tonight then? asked Hermione.
"Let's have lunch here in the Hearth to talk about it. Hermione, could you 'read'' us the potion directions over breakfast if not too much else is going on?"
"Of course, my lord and master."
An invisible hand swatted a certain brunette's bum and generated a yell and a smile. Hermione came back over to kiss Harry. "I deserved that I suppose."
Ginny started walking to the staircase. "Let's get going Daphne before our husband offers to kiss Nonnie's bum and make it better!"
"Phhhttt!" was directed at the redhead as Daphne started laughing and catching up with her sister-wife.
Before supper was served that night Harry informed Sirius, Minerva and Professor Yoshi that they had decided to start brewing the Animagus potion on the following Saturday but they had come to no conclusion as to if or who they wanted to select from their friends to join them in the process.
Xxxx xxxx
Since there was no longer Quidditch practices due to the Tournament and the winter weather, Thursday nights were combat nights. Well, to be truthful practice combat preparation nights for the Potters and their closest friends. This second Thursday in January was just a little different for everyone because Harry had talked to Astoria about her friends. As a result of that talk, Daphne was walking towards a rarely used corridor on the 7th floor with her sister an hour or two after supper. Astoria had received permission to bring her roommates Jessica Crandiff, Becky Hubic and her friend Adam Porcher. They had been told to wear old clothes with trousers and to wear their trainers as they were going to participate. Astoria was making her friends a little apprehensive as she wouldn't say what kind of participation they were going to undergo.
Daphne and Astoria finally pulled their guests aside to look at the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls to dance ballet. "It was the last thing he supposedly ever did. After 2 hours of 'instruction' the trolls grew impatient or hungry and bonked him with their clubs" said Daphne. "Of course, with Barnabas being who he was he might have made the whole story up to enhance his reputation."
"That's still a horrible way to go" Becky said.
"I thought so too three years ago. That's why I was so happy Harry and Ginny came to save me from a mountain troll when it trapped me in the girl's loo."
Everybody whirled around at the voice that called to them and the three 2nd years stared as they saw Hermione Potter talking to them from a door that had simply appeared from a wall that was unmarked and unbroken just a few seconds earlier.
"There's no way that could happen. A door simply just can't appear out of nowhere" Becky said.
"That's where you'd be wrong Becky" said Astoria as she threw an arm over her friend's shoulder. "It's magic. A special type of magic."
"There really was a mountain troll in Hogwarts?" asked Adam while he started looking around as if he expected a troll to appear at any second. Hermione told the Hufflepuff second year to calm down. "It's a fact Adam; just ask anybody that's a fourth year or above. Our DADA professor that year interrupted the Halloween dinner to let everyone know that there was a troll loose in the dungeons. Dumbledore changed the wards after that incident so no more could enter."
Daphne continued the explanation. "And Harry and Ginny went and saved Hermione from being killed by the beast. Of course, 'officially' the troll was extremely clumsy and knocked itself out by colliding with a wall."
Adam looked to Astoria for confirmation and she nodded. "They've showed me the memory. But you can't tell anyone; Harry doesn't really like all the attention."
"That's something of what we're going to start learning tonight?" Jessica asked.
"Yes, but there are conditions about how much you'll be learning. Come on and get inside though; we don't want anybody seeing the door and finding out what we're doing."
Astoria pulled on Adam's arm and led him through the doorway while Daphne followed with Becky and Jessica. The second years stopped just inside the door in shock as they saw the activities that the people in the room were doing. To one side Harry was in a three-way battle of quarterstaffs with Neville and Susan Bones. Looking in another direction Adam saw that Ron Weasley, Hannah Abbott and Hermione aiming on a number of balloons that were flying randomly across a closed off partition. They had longbows and were calling out their targets before they fired off each arrow. Becky broke out in laughter when he saw that there were pictures of Hogwarts professors and some of the more memorable people in the magical world. "Look, there's ex-minister Fudge, Draco's father Lucius, Merlin, and oh my goodness – Professor Snape!"
Jessica pointed to a few other sections of the room. "There's Madame Black, Draco and Tracey sitting by that bookcase; looks like they are studying. The Weasley twins and Miss Lovegood are brewing something over there on the other side. Why are they wearing those weird looking glasses?"
"Those are Spectrespecs and Luna says that you can judge the effects of any potion by the color of the flumes that no one can see using regular sight."
Before anyone could make sense of that statement, the balloons suddenly disappeared as the occupants of the room became aware of the newest visitors. All the older wizards and witches came over to greet the second years except for Luna who was furiously writing notes down on a pad while the concoction they had mixed up started shifting in color from orange to green and back again. "Hello!" was the greetings from almost everyone but George and Fred came running over and scooped up Astoria like they hadn't seen her for a couple of years. They picked her up and carried her away while she yelled and struggled to get away. Her screams suddenly turned into hysterical laughter which suddenly shut off as if they had walked through a door and shut it behind them.
"She'll be okay" Ginny said to Astoria's wide-eyed friends. "She'll be back soon."
"Sooner or later" Neville corrected. "I'm sorry – I haven't met everyone yet. Daphne?"
"Ok, I'll do the introductions. These two young ladies are Jessica Cardiff and Becky Hubric – Slytherins and my sister's two roommates. This is Adam Porcher, a second year from Ravenclaw, who my sister hopes to have accompany her to the next formal dance."
Adam blushed and turned awkwardly to stare at Daphne. Harry came over and laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Forget what Daphne just said. She likes to get a rise out of people when she isn't scaring them half to death."
Daphne also came over to Adam's side. "I apologize. I shouldn't say statements like that when I can't properly take the mickey out of my sister at the same time."
"You people are different when you're not out in public I guess" Adam said slowly.
"You have no idea" Ginny said with a smile.
"One of you want to go rescue Tori so we can start with these three?" Draco waved his hand and ran off toward where the twins had disappeared with Astoria.
"Start what with which three?" Becky asked suspiciously.
"Training you up so you can defend yourself better" Harry said.
"… and help defend your friends from other people."
"Astoria is with you three a lot so we thought we start including you in our training too" Hermione said.
"We're going to learn how to fight with quarterstaffs and bows and arrows?" Adam asked excitedly.
Harry smiled at the younger wizard. "Sorry not tonight Adam but we hope you'll get to those skills by the end of the year. Tonight, you're going to start learning how to fall and dodge spells."
"I know how to fall down" Becky said defensively.
"You do it all the time but you don't do it when people are throwing spells at you." Becky looked around to see that Astoria was walking back toward the group while Draco and the Weasley twins hurried back to the activities they were doing when they had entered the… the..? "What is this place?" she asked suddenly.
"It's properly called the Room of Requirement or sometimes the 'Come and Go Room' by the Hogwarts house elves. It's where you can command the magic to do some pretty amazing things." Astoria said.
"It's also where the Potters first met me" came a voice out of nowhere.
The three second-years spun around quickly. "Who said that?" Becky asked as she raised her wand.
"That would be me" said the voice as the air shimmered and a familiar figure appeared next to Astoria.
"La..Lady Hogwarts" Jessica stammered out as she began making an awkward curtsy and Adam made a deep bow. Becky hastily hid her drawn wand behind her back.
Vika smiled. "Un-uh. None of that now; if Harry and the others trust you enough to invite you to come to their private training then you must just call me Vika when we are here or alone in other parts of the castle."
"Okay, if you are sure of that."
"I am sure Adam. But you must keep the secret of this room from other people as you must keep a secret of training and other things that you learn while you are here. This goes for you two as well, Revecka and Jessica."
"It's just Becky ma'am."
"What did she just say idiot" Astoria asked as she cuffed her friend on the shoulder.
"Sorry… Vika."
"That's okay Becky. You'll get used to it. Part of the reason the three of you are here is that Tori knows about a lot of private things and Harry and his wives didn't think it was exactly fair that she couldn't talk to any of her close friends about it."
"So, were going to hear…"
"Right now you're going to learn how to fall… and dodge" said Ginny as she grinned at the three young people. "Harry will be here for a bit and he will tell and show you how to get out of the way."
"Out of the way of what?" asked Adam.
Ginny smiled. "Tori, a hand please."
Astoria held up her hand and a small spark jumped from Harry's wand to the young blonde's hand. She shook out her hand and then stuck out her tongue at her brother-in-law. Harry laughed. "A simple stinging hex. Not very painful but enough to hopefully get on your toes. I think ten minutes of that apiece will do for now. Later if you aren't too tired out we'll later teach you the paintball spell for getting back at young Miss Greengrass."
"What's a paintball Lord…. Harry?" was the next question from the trio.
"Don't hit me!" Astoria yelled quickly.
"Okay. TRACEY?"
"Yes Harry?"
"Hold up a spare book if you would." Harry looked around and motioned the three youngsters closer. "Please, never tell Hermione what I'm about to do" he whispered.
Harry stood up and pointed his wand again and a streak of red left his wand and hit the bookmaking a red splotch on the cover. Tracey looked at the marked book and then checked her hand for the color mark. She laughed and waved her wand vanishing the mark on the book before going back to her reading.
"That's a neat spell. Can we change the color of the paintball?"
Harry smiled. "Yes, you can. It's just a simple variation of the basic spell of 'Adpingus'." Harry had a strange look upon his face as if he had suddenly thought of something significant. "A simple variation… a simple variation of a normal spell…"
"Harry?"
"What's he doing Tori?" Jessica whispered.
"Harry!" Ginny took a step over and shook Harry's shoulder.
"What… what happened?" Harry asked as shook his head as if waking up.
"Your mind wandered off again." Ginny turned to the 4 second-years. "Sorry guys. Harry and Hermione sometimes get distracted and concentrate on the idea or thought they have suddenly thought of to the exclusion of everything or anyone else. It's very annoying."
"Especially in bed I would imagine" Astoria whispered to her friends. Jessica and Becky sniggered and Adam blushed and pretended he hadn't really heard the comment. Harry stared at Tori for a long couple of seconds like he might want to hex her but then smiled. "Lucky for you Metrice - it's your friends' first night here so I won't chase you around or ask for a mock duel."
"You really shouldn't make fun of anybody as powerful as your brother-in-law Astoria" Adam whispered quietly.
"He knows I'm just kidding!"
"It didn't sound like that!" Becky answered.
Harry held up his hands. "Enough. Do you want to learn or do you want to argue?"
The two girls stopped glaring at each other and Harry thought for a second and a large padded mat appeared on the floor near them. "All right. First lesson - falling. Anybody can fall down but you have to do it in a manner that makes sense. Survival sense."
"Makes sense?"
"Yes. Do you want to fall down and end up hurting yourself or just lay there so that somebody can take another shot at you because you broke your wand or something even worse?"
'What's worse than breaking your wand?' Jessica thought but then Harry started speaking again and she knew she had better start paying attention. Especially if someone was going to be shooting a sting or one of those paintball things at her later. She looked at her friends and Astoria was watching and listening just as much as the others. The lesson was very quick and surprisingly thorough. Astoria told her friends while Harry was demonstrating how to fall and recover that she had the same speech from Harry when she had started her own training.
Jessica wondered how this evening was really going to go. And what were some of the secrets that her roommate really knew about the Potters? She jumped when Harry eventually pointed his wand at her and said 'Bang'. She fell over as instructed and smiled when she saw Harry clapping his hands. She got to her feet as Adam was next to demonstrate that he had been listening and watching. Becky took her own turn and Harry nodded.
"Okay Tori ten minutes of dodging and you can get one of us to replace you and the first target. You can then go wandering around and see what the rest of us are doing until everyone has taken a turn." Harry clapped Astoria on the shoulder and he and Ginny went back to their other activities.
Astoria looked at her three friend and thought for a second. "Okay Becky, you're first!" she said with a wicked looking grin.
Xxxx xxx
Hermione snuggled up to her husband's side. "It was nice including Tori's friend tonight. They seemed really enthusiastic about what everyone was working on."
"And it was good that they seemed to take it seriously about keeping the secrets of our training" Harry responded as he watched Ginny getting ready for bed. She had already slipped on her sleep shirt and was checking the clothes they had all laid out for Friday morning.
"I think it is nice of Daphne to explain magical vows and their consequences to them" Ginny said as she climbed up into bed and kissed both Harry and Hermione quickly. "That leaves you to talk to a slightly intimidated Adam."
"I think Daphne was right about the three of them just signing a pledge of privacy and trust. That way they will only lose their specific memories of our secrets if somebody tries to force it out of them. And I like Adam; I just told him and the others what some of the other Houses I head. None of the Founders and none of the other major ones though."
Ginny giggled. "He still looked to be very shocked that you shared that information on the first visit. I can't imagine what he'll do when you change into Robb Loxley."
"That's why Daphne is talking to them all now before curfew. The three of them are more familiar with her then us. Did Daphne say if she was coming up here after she finished talking to them in the Greengrass quarters?"
"No, she said she had some business correspondence to get out before the weekend so she was staying down there and double checking her Ancient Runes homework."
"It's a wonder we're all not balmy between all these assignments and outside activities. I can't begin to guess how busy it's going to be next year for our OWLS."
"That's what we have Nonnie and her ever-expanding planner for" Ginny said as she winked across the bed at her sister-wife.
"You keep thanking me for working out our schedules though" the brunette replied with a smiled.
"I don't think we need to talk any more about homework or other outside activities" said the only male in the room.
"You have other things to do with your, or our mouths then Jamie?"
"Maybe."
"NOX!" was shouted out by at least one voice and the sudden silence of the dark was replaced by the sounds of lips meeting and then other sounds that had nothing to do with talking.
..~~ ..~ ~...
Harry found himself suddenly walking down the Grand Staircase heading for the Great Hall when he saw a bright light shooting out around the door to the nearby antechamber. He hesitated for a second but slowly walked over to the door and felt it carefully. It was cool to the touch so it wasn't a fire illuminating the outline of the door and Harry neither heard or felt anything out of the ordinary as he tried to figure out what was going on.
Harry pulled his wand and carefully turned the doorknob and watched the door open slowly. The entranceway was filled with a white-greyish fog that swirled and eddied out to collapse to the floor and run across his boots. Harry watched the fog for any sort of indication that something was hidden in its depth. He tried mentally calling for any or every one of his wives but could only get the response he knew indicated that they were all fast asleep. Shaking his head at his own curiosity Harry raised his wand and cast a shield around himself and took a step into the whiteness. There was a flash of darkness and stars and then a greyish day appeared with his second step as he stepped out of the darkness. He had been transferred somewhere else. Someplace he knew he had been once; St. George's cemetery. And at a time he had been through already – Vernon's funeral!
The service seemed to have just concluded as people were walking up to say some words to Aunt Petunia, Dudley and Vicar Dilbey. Harry watched silently as the crowd disappeared along with the choir and the officiant until there was only his family, their guests and Mr. Hardee left in the cemetery. 'This is when it all started' Harry thought to himself.
"It actually started a little before now if you really think about it."
Harry felt a very warm breath on the back of his neck and he dived into a sideways roll and came up brandishing his wand at… an extremely large black panther! His Rupa– slightly larger than the patroni of his three wives and with green jeweled eyes.
"It's about time you came here. You've been stressing and rehashing about this battle all week!"
"You … you can talk?!"
The Rupa sank down to its stomach and looked at Harry. It shook his head finally and the somewhat familiar voice came out of the very mobile mouth. "Maybe not in this form then."
The Rupa disappeared as a cloud of shifting magic appeared, surrounding and hiding the form. A few seconds later another figure walked out of that magic to approach Harry. And to confuse him even more it. Harry seemed to be looking at a mirror image… sort of… and of … Harry Potter himself. His fully grown adult self but with a few differences when Harry looked longer. This Harry's hair was longer than his own and even farther away from appearing manageable. His black locks stood out willy-nilly as much as before but they were also in the locks of the hair of his three Gems mixed into the mess. Some of the hair appeared to be two, three or four- toned as the two figures regarded one another.
Harry was feeling a little overwhelmed by this meeting and nervously started reaching for his wand. The other figure held up his hands and kept them up. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Harry relaxed and moved his hand away from his wand. "Okay that works as an identifier. So, who are you and why are we here again?"
Harry watched as the other(?) person(?) scratched his head in a familiar manner before looking around at the rest of the cemetery. Harry followed his gaze and was not too surprised to see everyone frozen in place. A pair of chairs with opened umbrellas strapped to their back appeared and the messier hair person sat down and looked up at Harry. Harry sighed and pulled the other chair around to face himself(?) before sitting down.
"I'm your Id, your subconscious, your unconscious… I guess I'm a part of you Harry."
"What? I don't understand."
"Let's try this again with something that you might relate to. How about I'm the mental, and right now physical, representation of the bond magic you have with the others."
"Sort of like Vika and the Hogwarts magic?"
"Exactly. As best I can figure out."
"So that being that, what do I call you? Calling each other Harry seems rather redundant and too Weasley twin like. Do you call yourself anything different? Are you self-aware is the question I guess I'm asking.
"Yes, I know who and what I am. And who you are in relation to me. How about this? You can call me Al."
Harry chuckled and his counterpart did the same. "Anybody I know then?"
"Just one of your favorite singers even if the girls don't let you sing his songs very often."
"Yeah, Weird Al Yankovich. Great funny songs. So, we're really here to review the battle together?"
"Yes, because you're so confused and conflicted about what you did and didn't do during the encounter that it's all mushed together and not making any sense to you. Besides you know Sirius and Dumbledore will be calling on you to do the same thing any day now."
"So where do we start?"
"I'll get to that in a few minutes. There's a few other subjects I'd like to mention while I have your undivided attention."
"Okay. Hey, do the girls have versions of their magical selves?"
"I can sense they do but you have more raw power and their versions aren't as far along as I am. They might not manifest themselves for a while."
"Can I tell Ginny, Hermione and Daphne about you and what is coming about in them?"
"That's your call. I'm not here to give you the answer to every question you have. But here's something you may want to think about for the future." Al brought a hand up to cover his mouth and when he removed it there was a handlebar mustache under his nose. It was black with a few grey streaks in it and had a tiny curl at the very end of each side. Al pointed to his new face adornment. "Hermione isn't aware of it but she really likes this style of mustache on men. Thinks it's very very dashing. Part of it comes from her looking at every history book she could find while growing up. The other part comes from the stories Dee told her about your wife's great-grandfather. There's a couple of pictures in a family album that show Sherlock Galton and they all had him with that mustache."
Harry grinned and shook his head. "It figures Hermione had an ancestor named Sherlock. It must run in the family. I think I'll hold off on asking my three their opinions on a mustache for a few years. Is there anything else?"
"Yes, your patroni."
"What about them?"
"You need to name them. They will appear quicker if you add that personal touch to their creation. You've probably have already guessed that Ginny has named her Rupa."
"What's her name for it?"
"Ask her, she might not be too embarrassed to tell you."
Harry stared at Al for a second and then closed his eyes.
"You don't need to name your Rupa now Harry. Just the next time you call on your patroni. Any six of them."
"What…six? I only know three so far."
"I'm only guessing at that number 6. You haven't tried summoning a patronus using just Quirrelmort's wand, the wand you got from Knockturn Alley or wandlessly summoning one. I guarantee you will be surprised by what you see. You should be able to conjure more powerful versions of them with the staff you've made too."
"I'll try to remember that for when I wake up then."
"Just so you know Harry you can meditate to reach for me at any time. Since you can touch and feel your own magic and the bond magic, I'm right there in the mix."
"This is a lot to take in."
"Maybe we best get on to the battle then. Okay?"
"Whenever you're ready Al."
The magical entity stood up as did Harry. The chairs disappeared and Harry could see the drizzle coming down as the people still left in the cemetery started to move. Harry looked around to see where the first shot would be coming from and suddenly he heard Al clap his hand once and then again.
SNAP!
. . . .
Time reversed itself as Harry watched the afternoon run backwards with cars reversing up the drive and the mourners getting out of them to walk backwards toward the covered tent held an increasing amount of people. The choir from St. George's school and Vicar reappeared as the rain dribbled upwards as the afternoon headed backwards.
Harry and Al watched as Remus reappeared with Marge and then Sirius and Gracie also reappeared. The service ran through backwards and Harry was glad the show was silent as he didn't wish to hear how anybody's singing was backwards. The reverse show continued until Harry saw himself and his group walk back from the group under the tent to the limo they all had arrived in. Harry and Ginny were the first to return walking backwards and Harry saw himself speak to The Unspeakable Laurie Hardee and then back up to kneel just next to the open back seat of the car.
"This is where you could have made the first change Harry" Al said.
"Don't run everything forward and back like that - it makes me dizzy. And get rid of the stupid mustache too."
Al nodded as his face adornment vanished. He walked toward the limo but indicated Harry should follow him closer to this point in time.
(Excerpts from Chapter 51 designated by [[…]])
[[Harry knelt as if to tie his shoe but Ginny heard him softly call out for Knop. The head house elf appeared with a little pop but Harry quickly put a hand over his mouth to cover up anything that Knop might have said. Harry brought the house elf closer to whisper in his ear and Ginny saw that Knop looked around worriedly but soon disappeared without a sound.]]
"What did you say to your major domo?"
"I told Knop to go back to the Manor and bring back a half dozen elves and keep invisible to take Tori and our guests back to the manor if fighting broke out. And to keep Hedwig and Harmionny at the Manor."
"Good idea Harry but a little incomplete wouldn't you say?"
"WHAT? Why did you say that Al?"
"Take a good look around Harry. Do you think you forgot about something?"
Harry looked around at all the people at the funeral and then slapped his forehead – hard. "The regular people. Holy Merlin! What would happen to them if the attackers came before they left?"
"Exactly! So, what should you have told Knop?"
"I should… I should have told him to bring all our house elves save those who weren't watching their children to come back here invisibly. If fighting broke out while the mundanes were here our house elves could have taken everyone up to the church and sealed the doors to keep everyone inside."
"Or? Come on Harry, use your brain for strategy…"
"I… could have told the elves to steal the Death Eater's wands and portkeys IF… when they appeared. Or stun them outright since the house elves can be so incredibly fast."
"Very good. I'm sure Hermione, Ginny or Daphne could have other suggestions at this point."
"On to the next chance to change things then? Don't clap your hands again to reverse time – just move there!"
"It's your memories chum!" Al looked at Harry until he caught his eye and held up one hand. Harry saw what he did next.
SNAP!
. . . .
[[ "Behind you Harry!"
Harry turned, pulling his wand and saw that a dozen wizards with black cloaks were running at them from the row of pines that bordered the cemetery. The first spell that their driver launched went into the sky instead into the rushing wizards however. Seeing Hardee's seemingly errant blasting spell hit something, Harry was thunderstruck to see a broom and a wizard suddenly appear and fall to the ground in a spray of blood and wooden bits.]]
Harry turned to his counterpart with a bit of puzzlement. "Yes, so? What did I do wrong there?"
"Ever hear of a shield or ward? You should have told everyone to protect themselves first off instead of watching the battle come to you."
Harry winced. "Ooh, that's a very good point. I guess I should have reacted better."
"What have the two Moody's been trying to drill into you all year?"
"CONSTANT VIGILENCE!"
Al laughed. "Yes. Anything else you think you should have done before now?"
Harry looked at the ground and at the figure on the broom that was caught exploding in middle of the air. "I'm such a dummy."
"You're not and you know it . What things could have been done before the funeral started?"
Harry thought for a few seconds before answering. "Me or the girls or Laurie could have put up silent wards to let us know if someone was apparating in as we were leaving the car. "
Al cocked his head a bit before he spoke. "Or shown up with a Disillusion spell on themselves. Don't look at me like that Harry. I've been thinking about things too"
"I know, I know. I feel like such an idiot now…"
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You haven't been in that many fights and you haven't discussed strategy and actions with the Gems at all. We're just talking about alternative choices you could have made. You know Sirius, Mad-Eye and Dumbledore are going to mention things like this."
"Okay, next spot please."
SNAP!
. . . .
[[Harry winced as he saw and heard Hardee dive out of the way of one dark spell only to receive a cutting curse that was cast at him by one of the flyers. Harry saw that his knee was bleeding quite freely and quickly transported himself to the Unspeakable's side. Harry grabbed him and then saw a small cluster of headstones that would give his friend some shelter. Harry moved them both there and cast a quick healing spell at the damaged knee but saw that it was still bleeding. He tore off his tie to wrap around the knee to slow the blood loss and ask the man if he wanted to continue to fight.]]
"What was wrong about that Al?"
"Nothing at all. But was that the best way to handle a battle wound?"
Harry hung his head and then looked up with a sigh. "Ginny could have done a much better job of healing Laurie and I could have shielded them both while she worked."
"Do you think a little bit of training in magical healing should be in order for the ENTIRE Potter family then?"
"Yes. I'm sure Madame Pomfrey would object a little but considering the circumstances…"
"Moving on then?"
"I guess so. I hope I remember all this when I waked up back at the Hearth."
"I'll make sure you will."
SNAP!
. . . .
[[Harry appeared sprawling next to Ginny and started shooting at the targets he could see.
"Can we get out of here now?" Ginny asked without looking at her husband.
"Laurie's hurt and I'll not leave him and the others to fight alone."
"We could take them with us."
"Or we could do something else" Harry replied as a dark green spell went over their heads to obliterate a tombstone 20 yards away.
"What?" Ginny asked then yelled in triumph as another of the Death Eaters (they thought) was hit and fell over into the wet lawn. Harry closed his eyes and concentrated as Ginny tried watching what her husband was going to do. Harry turned over on his back and Ginny smiled a little as she saw Harry's staff appear in his hands.]]
"I thought that was a good decision" Harry said.
"I never said it wasn't but could I bring up a little bit of strategy from a prior encounter you all had that could have worked also?"
"Where?"
"Havenmyst."
Harry's thought turned back to their visit of the centaur's home in the Forbidden Forest and what had occurred there. "The acromantula invasion. Sorry but I didn't have a hippogriff appear at the funeral to ride into battle."
"But what were you and your wives doing before Buckbeak showed up?"
"Popping here and there to attack the spiders and keep them confused. I see what you're getting at; that might have worked a lot better than taking the defensive positions we took."
"I'm not complaining. There was nothing wrong with what you all did. Combat means reacting and choosing a plan. You all did well in shielding yourselves and casting spells at the attackers. Oh, by the way, you may want to check in with Madame Bones to see if the DMLE got any information from those that were captured or injured."
"Good idea Al; I…we should probably ask her to come to whatever review Dumbledore wants to have anyway. I'm sure she would have a lot of ideas about strategy for us poor little defenseless Potters."
Al snickered and held off cuffing the back of Harry's head. "Ready for the last bit?"
"Do we really have to?"
"No but it's the one you've been kicking yourself about the most."
"Let's get it over with then."
Al tried to look very sympathetic but just…
SNAP!
. . . .
[[A deafening roar suddenly went over the graveyard and rattled the stain-glass windows of St. George's church. Everyone paused in casting spells and looked around to see where (or what) that sound had come from. The voice roared again and one of the attackers screamed and pointed to an area behind them.
The creature was taller than the steeple of the nearby church and Ginny thought it might be higher than the Astronomy Tower back at Hogwarts. It appeared out of the rain as a ghostly figure towering over the nearby houses and trees. A few of the attackers screamed out that a giant dragon was coming but as the figure got closer no one could say that they had ever seen a dragon that looked exactly like this.]]
Harry lowered his head in embarrassment. "Go ahead and laugh at me then and get it over. It was a bad choice."
"Actually, Godzilla appearing was a good choice. It shocked the attackers into stop casting spells for a bit. None of you also noticed one of the flyers plow into the ground trying to get away from the monster's sudden appearance."
Harry smiled. "Then you don't think it was wrong?"
Al smiled. "No but I did like the other choice you thought about making."
Harry looked around and started blushing again. "It was silly."
"Even sillier than Godzilla?"
"Well…"
"Just for grins, how about we take a look about what that might have done?"
Harry started to protest but…
'Snick!'
. .
[[Harry turned over on his back and Ginny smiled a little as she saw Harry's staff appear in his hands.]]
Carefully shaped metal objects began falling in the rain and whistled shriller and shrilled as they got closer to the ground. Ginny looked up but Harry pointed towards their attackers. Ginny was amazed that their opponents seemed transfixed by the shapes but never moved out of the way. The objects began hitting the bad guys with various clunks and clangs and the sudden silence was only broken by the screams of those who had not been killed.
'Harry!'
'Yes Hermione?'
"Are those what I think they are?'
'I don't know. What do you think they are?'
Just then Shacklebolt and Tonks came out of their positions to check on the fallen. Shacklebolt shook his head after checking on two or three of the victims while Tonks went around to Stupefy those who had survived and were conscious. Ginny transported back to where Mr. Hardee was awkwardly standing up and started to heal his damaged knee. Shacklebolt came up to where the three remaining Potters were standing together.
"Never in all my days" he began.
"Strange weather we're having today, isn't it?" Harry answered trying to suppress a grin.
"Anvils, all anvils struck down all of them."
"That's seems unlikely Mr. Shacklebolt" Hermione said. Harry glanced at her to see she had her lower lip firmly tucked in between her teeth to keep herself from giggling.
"Stranger still they seemed to have been manufactured by the same company."
"What company was that?" Daphne asked. "Maybe I know the manufacturer and could talk to them about picking all these up."
"Acme… Acme Manufacturing" Shacklebolt said. "Well, I better get down there and start confiscating wands. Hold here for a few minutes; I'm sure our backup will be here shortly."
"BEEP! BEEP!"
Shacklebolt looked around. "What was that?"
Harry shook his head. "I didn't hear anything. Did you hear anything Hermione?"
"No dear."
'Snick!'
. .
"That would have been a classic Harry" Al said.
"And Nonnie would have kidded me about it until I was as old as Dumbledore."
"Probably."
"No probably about it."
"You want to look at some of the other possibilities that went through our heads Harry?"
"Do we have time?"
"This is all happening in your head Harry. Of course, we have time."
"Okay… I guess so!"
Snick!
. .
A fifty foot Dumbledore was the one to stride through the trees casting spells at all the attackers.
Snick!
. .
A large yellow machine ran up the road to the cemetery, turned, and began enlarging as it faced and then ran down the followers of Voldemort.
"Hey, isn't that…?"
"Yes, the steamroller you found in that garage in Cairo. Works well for taking care of opponents, doesn't it?"
"Quite well."
Snick!
. .
Appearing suddenly over the far end of the cemetery a certain starship representing the United Federation…
SNAP!
. . . .
Harry found himself sitting in a chair across from Al where they had originally stopped to talk. He slumped back slightly disappointed. "That would have been a nice scenario to see the result of…."
"…as would have some of the more aggressive plants that Professor Sprout grows in Greenhouse #6 but our time here is almost over Harry. I've gone about as far as I can now."
"Too bad. This was fun"
Al stared at Harry very pointedly for a couple of seconds...
"And a very fine source of information on top of that" Harry finished a little weakly.
"It's almost time for Nonnie's alarm to go off so you all can get up and do your morning run."
"So, when can we meet again?"
"I'm not quite sure about that; it took a lot of effort to reconstruct your memories and for me to be here and talk to you like this."
"Guess I'll have to do a lot more meditating and exploring my magic then."
"That's the ticket Harry and you can explain to Daphne why you didn't even once reach for that little doodad on your lapel. She's been wondering."
Harry looked down at the lapel pin that was now handing on his chest. Crossed silver scimitars with a stylized gold capital G's that served as their handles…
"The goblins! I forgot…"
"Try not to do that again. It may cost you a member of your family Harry."
"…Harry…"
" …. ry…"
"…r y…"
"Harry! Wake up Harry!
Harry shook his head and opened his eyes to see that Ginny and Hermione were sitting up and looking at him very anxiously. "What happened?"
"We're not sure."
RING!RING!RING!
Hermione waved her wand at the alarm and the clock went quiet. She looked down at her husband. "You suddenly started thrashing around and yelling Red Alert and for everyone to put up shields."
Harry blushed as he remembered one of the last scenarios of the meeting with his counterpart. "It was a dream… a vision maybe… or… I may have found a boyfriend for Vika!"
"What?"
Ginny felt Harry's forehead. "He's not running a fever as far as I can tell."
Harry threw back what few covers were still on the bed. "I have a perfectly reasonable explanation that I'll explain as we get dressed."
Hermione looked at Ginny and she shook her head back at her. "I reserve the right to judge what is 'reasonable' dear husband."
"Okay, here goes. I was walking down the Grand Staircase when…"
Xxxx xxx
A knock sounded on the study door and Yaxley, being the closest to the door, was waved to open it. He opened it up and listened for about a minute and nodded. Turning around he went over to the chair by the fireplace and went to one knee. "It's Macnair my Lord. He brings news from the Ministry."
"About time. Send him in."
Macnair, even for the size of him, walked in timidly and went to his knees three paces from the special chair and walked on his knees to approach the ugly construct that was Lord Voldemort. He bent and kissed the edge of the robe that the Dark Lord was sitting on. "My Lord, I'm sorry for my delay in reporting to you about the victims of the failed attempt to get Potter."
"Yes, yes. What did you find out?"
"My apologies Lord but there were only three survivors out of the missing fighters."
There was a scream of rage from the tiny misshapen figure and someone fell to the floor in pain as a 'Crucio!' flew by Walden Macnair's head and impacted a person who had turned to talk to his neighbor about the development. Macnair breathed a small sigh of relieve as he wasn't punished for bringing the bad news.
"Who failed me in not fighting to their last breath? And where are they now?"
Macnair kept his head respectively bowed as re answered the questions. "It took three bottles of Firewhiskey my Lord but I finally wormed the information out of one of the Senior Aurors who were assigned to guard the prisoners in St. Mungos."
"Who were the survivors? Tell me or face my wrath!"
"Leclerc, Sinica von Rausbescu and the girl Estos."
There were many exclamations and shouts throughout the room as those names were announced. The loudest came from Sinica's father Jyndrik and Bellatrix. For totally different reasons of course; this was the first confirmation that Jyndrik that his son was alive and Bellatrix wanted to punish the girl who had abandoned her daughter.
"So, they are still at the hospital?"
Macnair shook head. "I'm sorry my Lord but no. Leclerc had his wand snapped and was sent back to the French Ministry of Magic this morning. Von Rausbescu and his girlfriend are being escorted by Healers and Aurors back top Bulgaria to face charges there. They are still incapicated and unconscious from the battle are bedbound according to what I heard."
"When?" Jyndrik shouted as he strode forward.
"I…I'm sorry I do not know when or where they are departing from" Macnair replied fearfully.
"You fool! Crucio!" Twin beams from both Jyndrik and Voldemort hit the ministry executioner from two different directions. He fell over screaming and twitching.
"My apologies my Lord" the elder Von Rausbescu said as he knelt close to the chair. "May I go make other enquiries about the location of the two failed warriors? I have still some contacts in the Bulgarian magical government that may lead to those two being returned."
"Go. Go if you have to Jyndrik. Try and retrieve our two fallen members but you are to make sure that they do not divulge any information about us. Remove Macnair until he can bring us some better information."
Jyndrik nodded and motioned to some other followers in the room to gather up the executioner. Standing up Jyndrik exited the room with some haste. Bellatrix made to follow him to see what he intended to do but was called back by Voldemort.
We have much to discuss Bella about this latest news. Primarily if this is a ruse by the DMLE or not. And what are response should be in either matter. Let Jyndrik take care of his family for a while. We have revenge and justice to plot for our fallen."
Bellatrix nodded slowly and stepped forward to enter into the discussion her Lord wanted to have.
