AN: Just a quick note here to say thank you to all of you who had let me know about the formatting problem with the recent chapters. I have no idea as to the cause of the issue. It might have been because I tried to upload while sitting in an airport lounge while I was travelling for work I don't know. But thank you for the heads up.

Now that I have managed to get a recent exam out of the way for work I'm hoping to get some more chapters posted soon. Once again thank you for following along with this my first fanfic story and I hope it continues to entertain you.

This chapter will hopefully answer some questions I have been getting regarding certain characters. Hope you enjoy it.


Following the interviews of the two Minister of Magic (and the revelation of the 'editing charm'), we all turned our attention to lunch. As we were all hungry, especially after the battle out the front of Gringotts.

During lunch, Xenophilius entertained everyone with his stories about the strange creatures that he believed in. Even more entertaining was his reaction to learning that Dave's family had several groups of Bunyips living on their various properties. Apparently, even to Xenophilius, Bunyips were creatures only of myth and legend.

He pressed Ivan for answers to his almost inexhaustible supply of questions, he was visibly delighted with each and every response. Luna looked to be enjoying herself only slightly less than her father.

Eventually, Luna steered the conversation to a topic that she apparently wanted to know more about. This proved to be the topic of Sandra growing up in a country so far from her family and her home. Initially, Sandra was a little taken aback by the question, but once she recognised the honest curiosity in Luna, she responded in kind. When she had warmed to the topic, I glanced over at Molly to see her with tears in her eyes as Sandra described her heartbreak at being kicked out and disowned by her family. Then the added hurt of having to move to the far side of the world.

Apparently, her only source of comfort during this time was the kindness shown to her by the distant relative who had rescued her (she couldn't at the time recall who it was). Then by the compassion and understanding of the wonderful red-headed gentleman who helped her out of the country. She now knew this to be Arthur's father. When Sandra was explaining this part of the story, it was Arthur's turn to have tears in his eyes. But they were tears of pride, for his father's compassion and kindness. The rest of the Weasley family were displaying similar emotions.

Sandra also explained how she had been able to keep in touch with her brothers, Fabian and Gideon. Apparently, as the realisation grew that Sandra would be considered a Squib by the family, they had formulated a plan to stay in touch through the muggle mail. This was to enable them to communicate in the event of Sandra being forced to go and live with muggles. None of them knew when they made this plan, that her family would actively disown her and cut her off completely. At the same time, they didn't want to get into an extended argument with their parents and family about their plans either. So, they just chose to tell no one.

This proved to be fortuitous because once Sandra had been kicked out of the family no mention of her was permitted. Anyone who refused had their memory modified to remove all trace of her. Fabian and Gideon complied with the families wishes on the surface. Behind the collective backs of the family, however, they did everything that they could to support their big sister. They had all agreed early on to make no mention of other family members to each other, this was done with the aim of limiting any pain that might be caused by mentioning names of people who had supported Sandra being cast out.

Sandra recalled the joy she felt when she was able to tell her brothers that she had learned that while she couldn't do traditional magic, she could perform Sorcery, House Elf magic, as well as the Healing Magic of the Mind and Soul. She hoped that this news would encourage her family to allow her to 'return to the fold'.

Sadly, when her brothers raised the possibility of someone being able to do those forms of 'magic' with the family, they were severely punished, for even suggesting that it might be possible for someone to be able to do those forms of magic. She told us that she could actually sense their heartache in their letter as they told her of the family's reaction.

We also learned of Sandra's initial reaction to meeting Douglas and Lilian for the first time. While she was still deeply hurt by her family kicking her out, she knew that she had just met and been welcomed into a new family that would love and support her wholeheartedly.

Sandra's description of meeting Ivan for the first time also brought a good deal of laughter to us all. The way she told it, Ivan had apparently just come in from the beach, where he had been surfing for most of the morning. He was still quite wet, carrying his surfboard and dressed only in his 'board shorts'.

She told us that she had no idea what the object was that Ivan was carrying (this turned out to be his surfboard). When she asked him about it he was dumbfounded, he couldn't comprehend the fact that someone wouldn't know what a surfboard was. To rectify this, he immediately offered to teach her how to use it. When she replied that she didn't know how to swim, Ivan was by all reports both shocked and horrified that she didn't know how to do that either.

The next thing she knew Ivan was marching her off to see one of his many sisters to see if they had a bathing suit that she could borrow. In short order she found herself dressed in a rather modest bathing suit and having her very first swimming lesson in a convenient and sheltered rock pool.

This story brought smiles to all of us gathered around the table. Ivan and Sandra also shared some absolutely adorable looks between them during the telling of the story too.

"Was that when you decided to 'set your cap' for Uncle Ivan?" Ginny asked Sandra to several sets of laughter.

"I may have subconsciously done so." Sandra replied with a mysterious little smile on her face, "But I think I didn't admit those sorts of thoughts to myself until after I saw him in his Quidditch uniform and in action on the pitch." She chuckled at a now blushing Ivan.

"Was he a 'keeper'?" Ginny asked with a sly smile to both me and Ron.

"Yes, he was actually." She chuckled, "In both respects." She added as she drew Ivan into a hug and a kiss.

"How about you Uncle Ivan. When did you 'set your cap' for Aunty Sandra?" Ginny asked with her eyes alight with curiosity. "Was it when you saw her in play Quidditch?"

"Sort of," Ivan replied with a chuckle at the slightly horrified expression on Sandra's face. "She had just fallen backwards off a broom and landed flat on her back in a mud puddle." He explained before having to laugh.

"The look of determination on her face as she dragged herself out of that puddle and took off after the broom that had just deposited her there was absolutely adorable." He told us as he smiled very fondly at Sandra.

"When was that?" I had to ask them.

"It would have been in our first year at school together," Ivan replied as Sandra nodded in agreement.

"When did you tell her about how you felt?" Ginny asked with her eyes full of mischief.

"It wasn't for another three years," Sandra told us before she had to laugh at the sheepish expression on Ivan's face. "Even then he only admitted that he 'liked' me and the embarrassment from that looked like it was about to kill him." She recalled with a joyous laugh at her husband. "Eventually in our final year of school, he officially asked me out. Although I did have to enlist the help of his sisters to enable him to 'get the message'." She explained with an evil chuckle.

"What took you so long?" Audrey asked Ivan as she was getting caught up in the story. "Did you have to fight off her other suitors first?" She enquired just as Sandra burst into more laughter.

"I never had any suiters during my time at school." She told us once she got herself under control. "I was all skinny legs, knobby knees and skinned elbows." She explained to us as we all looked at her in disbelief. "Even in my school photos, I looked a mess."

"I was what is called a 'late bloomer'. So, it wasn't until much later that other boys began to notice me in that way." She said still wiping tears from her eyes while looking at us all staring at her. "We all go through that awkward phase where we would do anything to hide photographic proof of it ever occurring. Don't we?" She asked us all.

"I know I have hidden those photos away." I had to admit with my ears glowing.

"Me too," Ron replied.

"Don't worry Ron, I know where they are hidden," George assured him. Much to Ron's horror, and my delight, as they still make me laugh when I look at them (I feel I must add here a thank you to George for such a wonderful birthday present as those albums).

"I'm lucky in that respect, my 'family' never kept or purchased my school photos," Harry admitted with a mixture of resentment, embarrassment and relief.

"Be thankful for that." Dave advised him, "As you really wouldn't want anyone to see them." He assured Harry in an offhand manner.

"How would you know about Harry's school photos?" Ginny asked Dave as the rest of us registered just what he had said. Even Dave's parents and sisters were looking at him wanting an explanation of that remark.

After looking around at the questioning faces that were directed at him, Dave recognised that he wasn't going to escape this question.

"I came across Harry's school records and photos as part of some background research I was doing on him," Dave replied to a visibly stunned table. "I wanted to know more about him, so I set out to see what factual information I could learn." He explained apparently hoping that this would be enough to satisfy us.

It wasn't.

"Just what sort of research were you doing?" Ginny asked Dave with a very intent look on her face. The rest of the Weasley's were also displaying similar expressions. The Delacour's looked to be curious as well. I'm told that I was showing a similar emotion myself.

Taking in the questioning expressions of those around him Dave replied, "I can see that I'm not going to escape without the full story. Am I." He said with a trace of embarrassment.

"No, you're not," Ginny told him firmly. But also with eagerness in her voice and hunger in her eyes.

Dave smiled at Ginny and took another mouthful of his drink. He then sat back in his chair and was gathering his thoughts when Gabrielle took possession of his free hand and gave him a look of encouragement.

"You could say that I grew up with a 'certain view' of the Potter family." Dave began with a sheepish grin at Harry. For his reply, Harry gave Dave an understanding smile, along with a questioning expression. "As I grew older and began to experience firsthand, the unique challenges that were a direct result of certain past events that view began to change, to one of resentment. At a personal level."

"Over time that resentment began to change into an extreme dislike." He explained, "I'm told that discussions on the topic of the Potter family tended to lead to angry outbursts from me at times." He said with embarrassment. Dave's sisters were indicating their agreement while Ivan and Sandra were displaying knowing but sympathetic expressions.

"When I began to go through puberty, I experienced the first 'level up' episode that could be called very bad." Dave explained, "It was while I was recovering from that experience that my feelings about the Potter's began to take a rather dark turn. Especially when I was told that it was extremely likely that I would have to endure episodes like the one I had just gone through for the rest of my natural life."

"How old were you when zat 'appened?" Fleur asked Dave.

"He was 11," Sandra answered, and the sadness could still be seen in her eyes. Dave nodded in agreement.

I had a burning desire to ask Dave about these 'level up' episodes that we had heard mention of. Sandra must have been able to sense what was that I wanted to ask. As she caught my gaze and gave me a small shake of her head, to indicate that now wasn't the time for those questions. I nodded in agreement, and I could read the gratitude in her eyes.

"During my recovery, Emma and I had many conversations around what was happening to me and what we thought were the reasons why it was happening," Dave said looking at his and Gabrielle's hands. "We also talked about the Potter family and their role in this situation." I could see Harry shift in his seat visibly uncomfortable at this, statement, but he was still focused on Dave and his story.

"Emma began to get rather alarmed at the intensity of my responses about the Potter's, as well as my views as to what should be done about the situation." Dave explained, "Eventually she took steps to stop my thoughts from going too far down the path that they had started on."

"We had a rather 'intense' discussion about the situation," Dave recalled with a small half smile. There were some understanding expressions on display from the married men at the table. "Emma told me in no uncertain terms that she wasn't going to stand by and watch me turn into another 'Mad Malfoy' over those 'Bloody Potter's' as she had taken to calling them."

"She was very firm about it and very successfully got her point across to me," Dave explained with an embarrassed look at Harry. Harry acknowledged Dave's look, he didn't judge him for it, but he did indicate that he wanted Dave to continue on with the story.

Ron, however, had noticed something that the rest of us had missed. "Mad Malfoy?" He asked Dave with genuine curiosity.

"I think I mentioned once before that Australia and New Zealand get a lot of 'escapees' from the 'old world'?" Dave asked him.

"You did," Ron replied with more enthusiasm than he usually showed in most conversations.

"Well because of that we have representatives from virtually all of the 'old' wizarding families from the UK in our countries," Dave explained. "Including a good selection from the so-called 'Sacred 28' families. We even have a good selection of representatives from 'old' families from other regions of the world as well." He added.

"In this case, the Malfoy in question was Mathias Malfoy. He would have been an uncle to the Brutus Malfoy that we heard about at Ollivanders." Dave advised us. Those of us who hadn't been with the boys at Ollivanders requested to be told what they had learnt about Brutus Malfoy.

There were a few chuckles when the story was retold, even Ivan couldn't completely hide that the corners of his mouth were twitching into a smile. It was also quite interesting to get confirmation of a group of families that could be eliminated from our search. Dave then continued on with the story.

"He was kicked out of his family for being a 'true' Squib as he was unable to make a connection to any sort of magical energy. Luckily for him though he realised that his family's offer of a small house in the country, was a ruse. He instead took off with the money that they had provided him and made his way to Australia."

"He eventually settled into life in his new country, but he never fully let go of the anger he had towards his family for throwing him out. Eventually, he met a young lady, who like him, was supposedly a squib. But she could actually perform the House Elf style of magic. The two settled down, and he went to work in her father's bakery and catering business." Dave explained.

Ron meanwhile almost had his eyes bulging out of his head. "You're telling me that a Malfoy actually had to work for a living?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes, he did," Dave replied very simply. "He and his wife both worked extremely hard, and they built the business up to be one of the most successful magical catering operations in the country." He explained.

"In fact, Grandma Webb is great mates with the mother of the current head of the Malfoy's in Australia." Dave told us, "They are her favourite caterers and are used for most of our large family events. Including her upcoming 90th Birthday party." He told us to looks of disbelief.

"So, you mean that at your Grandmother's 90th Birthday we are going to be served by members of the Malfoy family?" Ron asked with an almost beatific look on his face.

"More than likely, as they often have several of their grandkids or nephews and nieces in their employ for larger events." Dave told him, "But I do feel the need to let you know, that comparing the Malfoy's here to the ones at home, is more akin to comparing chalk and cheese."

"The Australian Malfoy's are a very down to earth, loving and caring family. They are also VERY open about their dislike of their 'cousins' back in the UK." Dave told him with a serious note to his voice. "Mathias's brush with the 'caring' side of his family knocked all the pompous, pureblood crap right out of him. He passed this 'adjusted' attitude onto his children." Dave explained.

This new information seemed to fascinate Ron (as well as the rest of us). He did, however, convey his understanding of what Dave was trying to tell him.

"What happened to 'Mad Malfoy' that had Emma concerned?" I asked Dave.

"For a very long time, he let his anger at his family eat away at him. It turned him into a rather bitter old man in many respects. It wasn't until the arrival of his first grandkids that his attitude began to change along with his disposition." He replied.

"Before he died he was able to regain almost all of his former good nature, but he had lost a great many years in the bitterness of his anger at his family," Dave explained. "Emma didn't want me to end up going down that same path." He said with his own embarrassment showing.

"I think she was also trying to get the message across to me that it is dangerous to let your own anger to make your decisions for you."

"As decisions based on your own anger and preconceptions almost always turn out to be wrong in some significant way." He added with another sheepish look at Harry. "Mostly because you end up seeing what you want to see. Not what is actually there in front of you."

"What did she do, to get you to change your views?" Harry asked, "As you clearly don't harbour those sorts of thoughts anymore. Going by the conversation we had in your tent the day after your arrival, you had apparently been advocating in favour of my family no longer being a threat to yours?" He asked with his eyes alight with a desire to know.

"The first thing Emma 'encouraged' me to do was to read, and in a lot of cases re-read all of the information that Grandpa had collected on your family." Dave explained, "But she also wanted me to make my own notes of information that either supported my views or counted against them."

"During that work, I was forced to take a long hard look at myself and the views and preconceptions that I was carrying around with me." Dave admitted, "In the end, I was left with the inescapable conclusion that I didn't like what I found inside myself. Even so, it wasn't an easy thing to admit." He said in a way that reminded me of a man confessing his sins.

Looking around I could see everyone was regarding Dave with understanding and even approval. Dave, however, was very clearly embarrassed in telling this story, but I think it was his honest embarrassment that made it even more meaningful.

"By the time I had finished going through Grandpa's information on your family, I had a rather thick file of my own. Although as far as I knew at the time, it contained information on people who were long since dead."

"It was around this time that I finished school and had my encounter with the shark at the surfing titles. During the time I was in the hospital with Emma, we had a great many conversations that dealt with your family and what I had learnt. I think Emma was pleased that my views were beginning to retreat from their former darker position. But she was still not pleased with my thoughts as they were." He explained.

"When I was finally able to escape from the hospital full time, I was at a point where I was improved in regards to my earlier position and views on the Potter's. However, I still had quite a way to go on my journey towards fully letting go of my anger at what was happening to me."

"Finding myself in a position where the only real job option available to me was that of being an Auror wasn't something that I had expected. It was Emma who pointed out a potential silver lining in the situation to me, however." Dave explained with a lopsided grin.

"Was it that you could use what you would learn about investigations to find out more about those 'Bloody Potter's'?" Ginny asked Dave with a cheeky grin at both Dave and Harry. Harry happily returned her smile while Dave did so somewhat sheepishly.

"Almost word for word," Dave replied. Ginny seemed to be very pleased with herself at this.

"While I was at the Auror Academy I read a fascinating newspaper article about the resurrection of an old interschool magical tournament in Europe," Dave said with a knowing grin at Harry. Ginny, Ron and me immediately also grinned at Harry eager to see his reaction. He was displaying his own look of embarrassment.

"It became even more fascinating when I read an article that was in the afternoon paper the day after my birthday. Because this article listed the people, who had been named as the four champions in a tournament designed for three."

"Imagine my surprise when one of the named champions was listed as a Harry James Potter," Dave said with a look of wicked delight at Harry. "Even more interesting was the names that were listed as the parents of this Harry James Potter. They were names I recognised and knew very well." He added.

"I discussed this development with Emma, and we both came to the conclusion that this was a wonderful birthday present for me," Dave said with a bit of a chuckle at Harry's rather surprised response. "Because I now had a chance to investigate a 'living breathing' representative of those 'bloody Potter's'." He explained with a laugh at Harry's expression.

"We even had a bet on the outcome not only of the tournament. But also what I would find out about this Mr Harry James Potter." Dave chuckled.

"Did you bet on Harry winning the tournament?" Ginny asked with a look of evil glee in her eyes. She then had a good laugh at the look on Dave's face and that of his family.

"Ah…. No." Was Dave's reply. Harry tried to look disappointed at this, but he didn't quite carry it off.

"Who did you bet on then?" She asked.

"I put my jelly beans on Cedric Diggory," Dave answered.

"Who did Emma bet on?" Ginny asked.

"Do you even have to ask?" Dave replied as he looked over at a now grinning Fleur. There were a few chuckles at this news.

"Why didn't you bet on Fleur?" Ginny asked, "I'm sure all your sisters did."

"You're right they did. Along with virtually all the blokes in my Auror class." He replied with a chuckle as Fleur looked both a little surprised as well as pleased. She gave Dave a questioning look and indicated that she wanted to hear the rest of the story.

"We had a group of 8 women in our Auror class who were all either half Veela or part Veela." Dave explained, "Once they realised that one of the champions was also part Veela they pulled out all stops to convince as many of their classmates to support you as well." He chuckled.

"How many were in your class?" I had to ask Dave.

"We had twenty in total. 11 women and 9 men." Dave replied.

"Who did the other three women support?" Ginny asked just before I could. Dave's only reply was to roll his eyes over to Harry. We all had to laugh at this, along with Harry's expression.

"How many of the blokes supported Fleur?" Bill asked Dave.

"Seven of them did." He replied, "There was only me who supported Cedric, and Stan who supported Victor."

"So, the three girls who supported Harry ended up with all the jelly beans then?" Ginny asked.

"No." Dave replied, "They had to share them with me as the official results that we saw, recorded the tournament as a draw." Dave replied with a look of understanding and support at Harry.

"As it should have," Harry replied with a note of finality in his voice.

"Agreed." Quite a few of us replied.

"So, what did you do now that you knew about Harry competing in the tournament?" Molly asked.

"I contacted Uncle Dave Blanks (Cassy's dad) who was serving as the Legal Attaché in our London Embassy at the time to see what he could find out about Harry for me." Dave replied, "As I guessed correctly, that he would have received an invitation to attend the tournament at Hogwarts."

"Once he knew why I had asked, Uncle Dave readily agreed to 'make a few enquiries' for me. Not only at Hogwarts, but also in the Ministry as well as in Magical London."

"While he was waiting for the date of the first task to arrive Uncle Dave spent some time in Diagon Alley. It was there that he was able to 'play the tourist' as he called it and basically interviewed several people who claimed to know you quite well." Dave reported.

"Who did he manage to interview?" Harry asked, his own interest in the story looked to be getting the better of him.

"Of the ones that he spoke to, the people that he considered 'reliable' sources were, Florean Fortescue the Ice Cream maker and old Tom Abbott who ran the Leaky Cauldron," Dave said as he watched Harry's face. "You had by all reports, apparently spent several weeks living on your own in Diagon Alley in the summer of 1993. Virtually every report agreed that a good deal of that time was spent eating Ice Cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour." Dave informed us.

Harry looked a little surprised and even slightly impressed at this. "Correct I did." He replied, "The Ice Cream Sundaes were my favourite ones." He admitted.

"What did they say about me?" Harry asked as he intently watched Dave for an answer.

"They both reported that you were a charming, kind, humble and a very likeable young man. That you were a delight to be around and very easy to talk to and get along with." Dave told Harry, "Naturally at the time reading these reports was more than a little infuriating." Dave said with a rueful expression. Harry had a good laugh at this, and so did the rest of us.

"What was Emma's reaction to them?" Ginny asked, "As I'm sure you showed them to her?" She enquired.

"Correct, I did." Dave replied, "I'm sure that you can guess her reply also." Dave said with a resigned look.

"Told you so!" Ginny stated with a very smug look on her face as all the ladies had a laugh at Dave.

"Close enough." Dave answered, "She also lectured me a bit about judging others based on the past actions of their ancestors. That one hit very close to home and forced me to look more closely at myself and what I believed."

"The next set of reports that came in were around the time of the first task. Here I thought that I had found what I was looking for." Dave said with an evil grin at Ron and Ginny, "As my Uncle had overheard a very heated conversation between a red-headed boy and a fiery red-headed girl."

"Their discussion was apparently about Mr Harry James Potter and his eternal need for glory and the spotlight of the press," Dave reported as Ron turned an interesting shade of red and Ginny was struggling to get control of her own blush. "The 'red-headed lad' as my Uncle recorded him was apparently Harry's dorm mate for the duration of his time at school and had formed a somewhat critical opinion of young Mister Potter. Was the gist of my Uncle's report on the overheard conversation."

"The fiery red-headed young girl was equally passionate in her defence of young Mister Potter," Dave said just as Ginny started to lose her battle against her own blushing. Harry found this to be very amusing. "Although Uncle Dave did suggest discounting her arguments as she was clearly biased in her views of Mister Potter most likely due to her infatuation with him," Dave added as Ginny turned almost the same shade of red as Ron.

Her family swiftly offered her their 'support' for the predicament that she found herself in. Once the laughter had died down, Dave was able to continue on.

"At last, I felt that I had a chance to secure an interview with someone who would tell me the unvarnished 'truth' about this Mister Potter," Dave told us while giving Harry a guilty look. "Uncle Dave also felt the same way as he made a note to track down and speak to the 'red-headed lad' after the completion of the first task."

"The next lines of the report ran, 'The red-headed lad's views on Mister Potter appeared to have suffered a significant correction during the first task. As at the completion of the first task he was of the opinion that Mister Potter was indeed his friend. Not only had their friendship been sorted out, but the 'red-headed lad' was now of the belief that Mr Potter's life was indeed in danger, simply from being entered in the tournament against his will. My Uncle seemed to think it might have been the fact that the first task involved dragons that led to this change in the views of the 'red-headed lad'." Dave chuckled at the VERY embarrassed look on Ron's face. I did notice that Ron was quite adorable when he blushed like that.

"After abandoning his attempt to speak to 'the red-headed lad,' Uncle Dave circulated among the other dignitaries at the event. He avoided the then Minister Fudge as he knew him to be a 'bag of hot air' from personal experience." Dave said, as there were some knowing smiles and laughs around the table. "During this time he heard some rumours that it was suspected that the champions had known about the Dragons before the first task. To learn more about this Uncle Dave headed off to speak to the Dragon keepers."

"He soon learned that there was an Australian working with the Dragon keepers, so he sought him out."

"That would have been Liam Canterbury," Charlie suggested to Dave.

"Correct." Dave replied, "When he found Liam he was able to have a great chat with him."

"Liam passed onto Uncle Dave a rather interesting story. Apparently, the Headmasters for both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were caught spying on the dragons before the first task." Dave reported with a questioning look at Harry, "The Hogwarts groundskeeper was also frequently seen making 'calf eyes' at the dragons as well." Harry, Ron and I all had a laugh about this as we well remembered Norbert or Norberta as she should rightfully be called.

"A short time later Uncle Dave had a chat with someone who he initially thought was dad's old mate Mad-Eye Moody. This Mad-Eye impersonator told him that he had overheard young Harry tell Cedric about the dragons."

"This put my views about the 'bloody Potter's' into doubt as it was a decent and honourable thing to do. Especially as Harry apparently knew that the other champions also knew about the dragons." Dave remarked with a look of theatrical frustration on his face. Harry was grinning at him, however. "Naturally Emma made sure to point this out to me. Several times." Dave informed us, as we all had a laugh.

"Before the second task was carried out, I was able to go through the numerous newspaper and magazine articles that had been written about the various champions and other related characters," Dave reported gleefully grinning at Harry, as Harry put his head on the table and covered it with his hands and groaned. Ginny seemed to find this rather amusing.

"Don't worry Harry, my own family is only all too aware that what is often written in the news media only has a passing acquaintance with the truth," Dave told him.

"Sorting out the facts from the bull…, I mean dragon dung." Dave said after a quick glance at the disapproving expression on his mother's face, "Was one of the first tasks that needed to be done with them. When that had been done, there wasn't much in those articles that could be used."

"Annoyingly what was there, and that could be independently confirmed, painted a picture of Harry as a decent kind of bloke."

"Naturally at that time, this news frustrated and annoyed me no end," Dave said with a chuckle. There were quite a few smiles around the table at this remark.

"But it didn't frustrate or annoy Emma?" Ginny gleefully asked.

"Not in the slightest." Dave said with a resigned look, "She was thoroughly enjoying this investigation of mine. As she could see it was forcing me to look at, as well as challenge long-held views, and pre-conceptions that I had been carrying around. Emma also strongly 'suggested' to me that if the opportunity ever arose to talk with this Harry James Potter, I should take it and have a good chat with him." Dave explained with a slightly sheepish look at Harry. For their part, Harry and Ginny were both grinning at Dave.

"Even so I was still determined to keep on looking for 'the truth'. I kept on telling myself it was still out there somewhere."

"Then the second task was held," Dave remarked, and once more he had that overly dramatic look of frustration on his face. "Harry actions during that task struck very close to home as you might say," Dave said as he switched to a serious look on his face as he regarded Harry.

"My family have all been involved with Surf Lifesaving back home since my Grandpa and even longer through Grandma's family. So, we have an intimate knowledge of the dangers of water-related activities (magical and muggle) and the accidents that are all too frequently linked to those activities."

"Harry's actions in that particular task couldn't be interpreted in any other way. Only someone who was genuinely concerned about others and had a deep desire to see that no harm would come to them would have done what he did."

I noticed that as Dave was saying this to Harry, the other members of Dave's family who were present were showing their agreement with him and were also regarding Harry approvingly. Harry was trying his best not to blush.

"By the rules of the tournament the 'hostages' might not have been in any danger, but Harry most assuredly was," Dave said as he held Harry in his gaze.

"Why do you say that the hostages not in any danger?" Ginny asked Dave.

"They were not in any danger because the magical sleep that they were put under not only kept them from drowning. It also protected the hostages from the extreme cold in the lake and from any risk of 'the bends' from being so far underwater for so long." Dave explained.

"The bends?" Arthur asked Dave.

"It is a condition that occurs when a human body is exposed to higher than normal pressures for a long period of time. There is a build-up of excesses gasses that are dissolved in the blood." He explained, "Given the amount of time Harry spent underwater and the reported depth that he went down to, there was a genuine and significant risk that as he came back up to the surface, he would have experienced bubbles of excess nitrogen gas forming in his blood as the pressure was released."

"Not even the use of Gillyweed is guaranteed to protect against such a scenario."

"So when Harry stayed down at the bottom of the lake to ensure that Ron, Cho, Hermione…" He said as he turned to look at me, "and Fleur's little sister…" He began to say as a thought hit him and his eyes opened wide, and he quickly turned to look at Gabrielle with an expression of surprise and delight on his face.

"Oui, I was Fleur's 'ostage at ze bottom of ze lake." She told him with a beautiful smile.

"The name of Fleur's hostage was never reported in the articles that I read," Dave said while still gazing at Gabrielle's beaming face. He then held his hand out to Harry across the table and said "Thank-you." With genuine warmth to Harry as they shook hands. Ginny and everyone else around the table, were all delighted at this.

Harry was trying his best not to be embarrassed by this, but at the same time, he did look to be somewhat amused by it.

"So, what happened after the second task with your investigation?" Ginny asked Dave as she prodded him to continue on with the story.

"Well, as I was being forced to consider the idea that Harry was actually a decent bloke I wanted to know more about him and his background. Past what was often bandied about in the press as I was willing to bet that wasn't correct." Dave remarked with an amused glance at Harry.

Harry was nodding in agreement with Dave, but he also had a slight look of concern on his face. I was very sure that Dave picked up on this as he seemed to hesitate slightly before continuing on. I also got the impression that he was leaving out a great deal about what it was that he was going to say.

"Looking into Harry's background and upbringing was a real eye-opener for me." Dave began as he continued to carefully watch Harry's face. "To say I was shocked would have been an understatement," Dave stated. Molly began to watch Harry rather closely herself, as she had her own suspicions about how the Dursley's had treated Harry. But as he had never spoken directly about his treatment she had nothing to confirm her fears with.

The looks on the faces of both Harry and Dave hinted very strongly that they were communicating without speaking. Apparently, they had done this once before when they met for the first time. My suspicions were proved to be correct when Dave next spoke.

"As you wish," Dave replied in response to an unspoken request from Harry. This agreement seemed to cause Harry to relax and let out a sigh of relief. Ginny, however, was displaying a look like she was determined to get to the bottom of what the two boys had discussed.

"I will say, however, that for you to turn out as you have despite what you went through growing up. You must have the heart of a dragon and the soul of an angel." Dave stated as his eyes went entirely golden and he stared at Harry for several long moments. This made Harry more than a little uncomfortable, but he held Dave's gaze and calmly returned it.

When Dave's eyes returned to normal, he gave Harry a look that clearly conveyed his approval and respect. This pushed Harry over the edge and caused him to blush with embarrassment. Ginny clearly enjoyed seeing Harry blush, but like the rest of us, she dearly wanted to know more about what Harry went through while growing up. Harry indicated for Dave to continue with his story.

"With this new information, there was no way I could possibly hold onto the preconceptions that I had been carrying around with me previously," Dave explained. "I also felt compelled to pass this information onto Jimmy, Dad and Grandpa. That proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated." He said with a nervous little laugh.

"That's an understatement," Sandra remarked as she looked fondly at Dave. There were a few amused looks on the faces of Dave's family at this comment.

"Jimmy seemed to be willing to consider the new information that I had uncovered about Harry." Dave reported, "He certainly took it and carefully read through it. When he had finished, he didn't disagree with me, but I think Jimmy needed to get it all sorted out in his own head first before he would say anything openly."

"Dad was a little bit more stubborn than Jimmy," Dave said as he grinned at his father who had the grace to look a little embarrassed, "But with Dad, I could cheat." Dave chuckled.

"He means he got me to read his report before he showed it to his father," Sandra told us.

"Correct, I did. That way when dad got frustrated with what I had written, as I knew he would. Mum would be prepared for the discussion that would inevitably occur."

"I think it only took Dad about 3 months to come around to my viewpoint," Dave said as he regarded his father rather smugly. Ivan found himself on the receiving end of some good-natured teasing at this point.

"With Grandpa, I followed a similar tactic. I got Grandma and Great Grandma on my side before I tried to raise the subject with him. Sadly, Grandpa was rather more stubborn than either dad or Jimmy."

"Yes, we all frequently heard just how stubborn he was," Shelly said with a mysterious little smile on her face.

"For quite some time it strained our relationship, sometimes quite badly when I tried to discuss this with him," Dave said, and the pain in his eyes at recalling these memories was obvious to see.

"It wasn't until after I was accepted into the Australasian Auror Service, did Grandpa very reluctantly admit that there might be a remote possibility that Harry might not be as 'evil' as his ancestors." He reported as he looked at his parents with sorrow in his eyes.

"Those first four months of service I bounced around our region so often I didn't get much of a chance to talk to Grandpa or Emma or anyone. When I did eventually get back home and was again able to see my family I was informed by my spies…" He said as he was interrupted

"He means his Grandma and Great Grandma," Sandra told us to several sets of chuckles…

"That Grandpa had actually read through my report and hadn't been able to poke any holes in it," Dave stated happily. "He wouldn't admit this to me or anyone else though." He added with a chuckle.

"It wasn't until just before his passing did Grandpa tell me that he thought that I might 'be onto something'. This delighted me in a way I never expected." Dave said as his eyes went rather distant for a time. "Sorry about that, Grandpa wanted to tell me something." He said with a smile on his face. I could make a good guess as to what it was, and the others looked like could as well.

"After Grandpa passed away and Jimmy and I took up the role of caring for his soul I was absolutely delighted to discover that I could still talk to him. We hadn't expected this, and at the time I couldn't allow him to see through my eyes or use my voice like I can now. But I could at least relay messages back and forwards."

"Although Grandma took some convincing that I couldn't pass her kisses onto him." He said with a laugh. I couldn't help but laugh at that comment myself. Several of the others also had the same response as well.

"With Grandpa now as my 'captive audience' so to speak I was able to take my time and get my point of view across to him," Dave reported.

"You mean, you nagged him, don't you?" Ivan asked with a cheeky grin.

"That's one definition." Dave replied loftily with his own cheeky grin, "Eventually I think Grandpa began to come around and started to consider my arguments objectively. Especially once I was sent to the UK with Jimmy's team. As it gave me the chance to do some snooping of my own."

"Snooping?" George asked Dave with a twinkle in his eye, "I thought you said it was an investigation."

"It was still an investigation." Dave explained quickly, "Snooping is merely a different way to describe it." Dave replied with a cheeky look in his eyes.

"Where and when did you do your snooping?" Harry asked Dave.

"Not long after our arrival here we got word about a Kiwi family that had been taken only two blocks from the New Zealand Magical Embassy." Dave told us with a sombre look about him, "We tracked their supposed whereabouts to an area of Surrey called Little Whinging." He said as he watched Harry's face for his reaction.

"There were four possible locations in the area where they could have been taken. So we split up to conduct surveillance on them all. One of those locations was a supposedly abandoned factory across the street from St. Grogory's Primary School. This was the one I was assigned to check out along with Mick and Fireball."

"That's my old school," Harry said in surprise.

"I know." Dave answered, "Given the openness of the immediate area the only place to conduct covert surveillance with any real chance of success was from inside the school itself. So I needed to devise a ruse that would enable me to spend as much of the day as possible inside the school itself."

"Given the number of wards and alarms around the building we were interested in, setting up magical surveillance would have taken far too long and a muggle style one would have been too obvious to be effective. So an old-fashioned stakeout was the only viable option in the time we had available to us."

"The decision was made for me to enter the school. Then use a ruse to spend as much time as possible in the spare front office, and watch the building over the road. With the aim of trying to either identify our targets, or someone who worked there that we could use as a way in."

"Walking to the front door of the school I had the idea of impersonating a Government Investigator to see what information I could get my hands on. Then take my own sweet time going over that information in that spare front office."

"Who did you tell them you were investigating?" Harry asked Dave.

"Vernon Dursley," Dave said with an evil grin.

"What!" Harry asked as he tried to hide his laughter. "What did you say you were investigating him for?" He wanted to know.

"I never explicitly told them why." Dave replied smugly, "Headmistress Roemmele thought I was investigating him for some big government contract that his company was bidding for. While some of the teachers thought I was looking into his past taxes."

"The school nurse thought that I was from 'social services' and was investigating his conduct as a parent," Dave told Harry with a deadly serious look on his face. "It was the school nurse who was the most helpful actually. She provided me with a great deal of information. So much, so that had I truly been from social services, Vernon Dursley would have found himself in a world of hurt."

"What sort of information did you find out?" Molly tried to ask. But Dave and Harry were once more communicating silently. Harry looked to be almost pleading with Dave. After several moments they ended their conversation.

"If that is your preference Harry, I will abide by it," Dave replied with an inclination of his head to Harry. "The forms, however, have already been filled out and only require your signature, and to be turned over to the muggles should you change your mind," Dave advised him. Harry looked to be VERY surprised by this.

"Many long nights on very boring stakeouts, Harry," Dave replied with a grin. "I needed something to occupy my time after I had finished my letters to Emma and Abe. Filling out that paperwork was almost therapeutic in many ways."

"I see," Harry answered. "Is that how you got my school photos?" He asked.

"Correct," Dave replied. "The school nurse kept them as a way of tracking your progress over the years, and she happily gave me a copy of them. Especially when I told her that I would use them to fill out the paperwork I mentioned earlier."

"May I see them?" He asked Dave.

"Certainly." Was Dave reply. He then extracted his wallet and removed from it a huge file. It was bigger than a phone book. Harry's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head when he saw it.

Dave slid the file over to Harry. "Is this all about me?" He asked Dave a little fearful.

"Yes," Dave answered simply.

"Why does it say Target Information File?" Ginny asked Dave as she was eagerly looking at the folder that Dave had given to Harry.

Looking slightly embarrassed at the question, Dave answered. "When I started this file on Harry I used the process and structure that we would utilise when we are hunting a hostile target." He explained. There were several looks of surprise at this news.

"If I'm honest, I would say that at that time deep down, I harboured a secret hope that I would be issued a hunting licence with Harry's name on it." He admitted with an embarrassed look at Harry.

This really rattled Harry for a few moments until he could read in Dave's expression that he no longer harboured those thoughts. After focusing on Dave's face for several moments during which I'm sure they were again talking with each other, Harry turned his focus to the file that Dave had given him. While looking through it, Harry became quite alarmed at the information that it contained.

"I would certainly hate to try and hide from someone who had this sort of information on me," Harry admitted to Dave.

"Let's hope you never need to," Dave replied while giving Harry a cheeky grin. Harry returned his smile after a moment of surprise.

"Where are the photos?" Ginny asked Dave with her eyes alight with mischief.

"The pocket inside the back cover," Dave replied as Ginny grabbed the file out of Harry's hands flipped to the back of the report and dug out the photos.

As she got out the first photo, the smile that appeared on her face was tinged with sadness as she realised how thin Harry looked. Especially when compared with the other kids in the class photos. The few pictures of Harry at school events also visibly showed him being underweight.

Molly also looked to have immediately picked up on that fact as well. Each photo she looked at only made her angrier. Eventually, she looked at Dave, and the rage in her expression was evident.

"Is it only Harry that can sign those muggle forms you filled in?" She asked Dave. Sandra, Apolline and Dave's sisters who had been looking over her shoulder also were of the same opinion as her going from their expression.

"Harry or his guardians are the ones who should sign the forms in question," Dave replied in a calm voice as he looked at Harry. "Given that they are about his so-called guardians, that leaves just Harry," Dave stated.

"However any 'concerned citizen' who knows Harry could potentially sign them," Dave advised. "But I do think that this really should be Harry's decision."

After considering Harry for several moment's Molly reluctantly agreed. Everyone else looked like they would happily sign the forms and submit them. But they all also agreed to abide by Harry's wishes. I think this touched Harry more than he cared to admit.

"When did you finally manage to convince your Grandfather about your views on Harry?" Ron asked Dave.

"I didn't." Dave replied, "Harry convinced him the day they met." He stated. This was news to those of us who were not in the tent that day.

"Stubborn bugger," Ron replied under his breath. When he realised that everyone else had heard him, he turned an unusual shade of red.

"That he is," Dave replied with a chuckle. "That he is. Then again if he weren't, he wouldn't have lived as long as he did." He explained. Ron (and the others) looked to accept this answer.

"How about you Dave?" I had to ask, "How are you dealing with what you have learnt? Since you started this journey that you described to us?"

Dave thought for a few moments. "I'm still trying to work everything out." He replied thoughtfully.

"If I can figure out the why of it, I think that will help a great deal."

"Have you had any more 'level ups' as you called them since you started on this journey?" I enquired, as I was very curious in his answer. Several of the others also looked to be interested in his answer to this question.

"Yes, several." He replied with a bit of a haunted look in his eyes.

"Do you still blame the Potter's for them?" I asked him.

"Not fully." Dave replied with a slight trace of embarrassment, "But I do frequently call them all sorts of names while they are occurring." He told us with a guilty look at Harry.

"What are they like? What actually happens?" I asked before I caught myself.

"Painful." He eventually admitted, "Even the mild ones I would happily swap for someone performing the Cruciatus curse on me." He stated. Looking up to his parents I could clearly see the anguish on their face that fully confirmed Dave's reply.

As someone who had personally experienced the full force of the Cruciatus curse, I couldn't believe that a person would willingly accept that as an alternative. These level ups must genuinely be terrible for Dave.

"What 'appens when you 'ave a bad one?" Gabrielle asked Dave. She was displaying a mixture of interest and concern. I could tell that he didn't want to answer her. But she definitely seemed to have a hold over him that no one else did as he didn't avoid her question. She smiled encouragement to him, and Dave eventually answered.

"I usually end up screaming for a day or two straight. My magic and my body go wild, almost out of control during the 'level up'. Then I take several days to recover." He said looking at his hands on the table. Gabrielle wrapped her arms around him and just held him tight to her.

"When did you last have a 'bad one'?" Harry asked Dave.

"Just after Christmas in 96," Sandra replied. "He lost his voice for almost a week. Even with his accelerated healing, it took three days before he could get out of bed and walk again." She told us as she looked at Dave.

"When did he last have one?" Molly asked.

"Just before Christmas last year," Sandra told us. "It was a minor one, and he was only 'out of action' for around two day's total."

"So, they occur once a year?" I asked Dave.

"Every 8-12 months." He replied. "Although they do seem to be getting more frequent and more intense lately."

"What can be done about them?" Molly asked.

"Nothing. As no one, we have spoken to knows the 'why' of them or even what exactly is happening to me when they do occur." Dave told us. "All that can be done is to have a safe, soundproof location with some very significant wards on it so that I don't hurt anyone during them. As my magic goes haywire for a time when they happen."

"Zere must be somezing zat can be done?" Gabrielle asked Dave. The answer she got was a pleading look from him that clearly showed that he dearly wished that there was. She hugged him tighter to herself in reply.

No one knew what to say next. There was an awkward silence for a few moments until Kingsley spoke up.

"The warehouse that you mentioned you were watching. Did it contain the people you were looking for?" Kingsley asked Dave with an intense look on his face

"It did," Dave replied when Gabrielle released him from her hug.

"And then some," Mick added with a small chuckle. Seeing Kingsley's questioning look, Mick explained further. "We retrieved 237 people from that building who were being held there against their will."

"237?" Arthur asked in shock, "How many people were there guarding them?" He wanted to know.

"There were only about 17 guards," Mick replied.

"Why so few?" This time the question was from Kingsley.

"Because the prisoners were kept chained to the walls in their cells at all times," Mick replied with a deceptively calm voice. Only his eyes betrayed his thoughts.

"What did you do with the guards?" Kingsley asked.

"Syd convinced most of them to surrender," Mick answered with an amused expression on his face. Everyone turned to Dave for an explanation.

"I was able to impersonate an individual who we had observed coming and going from the building. When I got inside, I reported back on what I saw. I was also able to disable most of their alarm wards. This enabled the others to get into position to raid it." Dave explained.

"When I saw one of them start to beat a young girl who had knocked over her toilet bucket accidentally I reacted rather forcefully to create a diversion for the others."

"A diversion?" Fireball asked showing her amusement at the description. Most of Dave's team shared her amusement. "That's one way to describe it I suppose." She stated as Dave started to blush.

"When the rest of us got in there we found 7 of them already neutralised. Syd was in the process of 'dealing' with one of them, and all the rest were begging us to arrest them so that they could get away from Syd." She chuckled.

"What did you do to them?" Ron asked. Dave's only reply was a thoroughly evil grin.

"Whatever it was, they were all very talkative and extremely co-operative with Torquemada and his team," Mick explained to us all.

"As long as we promised to keep Dave away from them that is," Shelly explained to several sets of chuckles. Bill and Charlie seemed to approve of this judging by the grins on their faces.