(Writer's note)

Firstly, thank you to all who have read and supported the first three years. Now it is time for year 4 (Something I never planned to write before lol) which is being written a whole year after I wrote the original three. So, that means my style might have change a little, but know that I am approaching this with all the love and care I gave the first three. Year four is going to depart from the original Harry Potter universe like never before and this first Chapter will bring a whole new dynamic to Harry, Draco, Neville and Hermione's friendship. Also, I will be introducing two Characters called Charles and Bella Swan. For those familiar to the Twilight Universe, yes, it is them. They will only be part of year four, but will lay the ground work for a seperate story I plan to write that takes place after Year seven of Tales of the past (Yes, I'm going that far). Charles and Bella wil both be wizard and witch and their original selves will be changed drastically to suit the wizarding world. I hope you enjoy their presence in this story. So, without further ado, I present to you. Tales of the Past, Year 4. Enjoy.

Year 4

Part 1

New York

Harry woke bright and early on the Saturday morning of his birthday feeling that little bit older, a touch bit wiser and all the sleepier than he was the day before. Finding it easy to slip out of bed, he walked to the window and grabbed the long length red curtains and pulled them back wide.

"Good morning, New York," He said with a bright smile on his face.

The Dragon Breath Inn was located 100 feet above Riker's Island and from Harry's own window, he could see from the Empire State building and all the way to the Statue of Liberty. This had been the sight he had seen every morning since he'd arrived in New York two weeks ago.

Opening the window, he breathed in that fresh sea air and got a good lung full of it, enjoying the sounds that emanated from the city. These were truly peaceful times for him. After three years of non-stop excitement, it had been nice to get away and enjoy a new place, a new time and really get to know what a quiet life felt like.

"I'M TELLING YOU DRACO; I'M NOT GOING TO ANY FASHION GALA!"

"IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FASHION!"

"I DON'T CARE!"

"BUT HERMIONE WON'T GO WITH ME!"

"THEY'RE BORING, THAT'S WHY!"

Harry breathed a sigh and smiled wryly as he listened to this morning's argument. There was a Veela fashion show in town and Draco had been desperate to go because one of his favourite Wizard models would be appearing there. Harry had gracefully declined the offer, stating that he was spending time getting to know his Godfather. Hermione spent most of her time studying and visiting all the known wizarding places of interest with Lily and Hestia, which left Neville who really hadn't taken to New York all that well. And Neville was the last person who would want to go to any kind of Gala, unless it was about plants, Harry thought.

The argument was still going on when Harry had closed the window, gotten dressed and had just been pulling on his t-shirt when his bedroom door opened, and Hermione slipped in, closing it behind her silently.

"I swear," She said, sighing in frustration, "If those two don't get a grip soon, I'll curse the two of them!"

"Good morning," Chuckled Harry. When Hermione turned towards him, she flashed a wide smile and practically tackled him onto the bed.

This had been the way of things since Hermione left England with Harry five days ago. The 4 weeks that Hermione had spent with her parents had been some of the longest of Harry's life. The constant back and forth of letters had not been enough to placate either of their need to be around each other. This resulted in an unusual, and what Draco and Neville felt, an extremely dangerous amount of snogging. Not that Harry minded. It was the highlight of his day when he was alone with Hermione and it was only highlighted more by the fact that she was just as eager to kiss him as he was to kiss her.

"Did you open your letter for school yet?" She had asked, doing so once she removed her mouth from his.

"You really know how to kill the mood; I'll give you that." He replied, grinning at her when she batted him lightly on the chest, "Anything exciting for us to look forward to going back?"

"We're not going back," She beamed.

"Ha," Harry laughed, "knew it was only a matter of time before Dumbledore expelled us. I knew he couldn't get us out of fighting off those Death Eaters last year,"

"No," She said, impatiently. She leapt off the bed and walked over to the desk in the corner of the room. On it, sat a letter with the usual Hogwarts insignia on it, addressed to Harry, floor 86, room 23 and at the bottom of it with the Gryffindor crest stamped nicely in red and gold print, "Look for yourself, it's so exciting, your mother and Sirius are already contacting the others,"

"Others?" Harry asked, confusion filling his head as he caught the letter when Hermione tossed it to him.

"Remus, Tonks, Andromeda, Ted, Augusta," Hermione said, making it sound obvious that these were the others to whom she meant, "There is no point spending a whole year in America if they're all stuck at home as well,"

"A year?!"

"Just read the letter," She told him, smiling patiently. She then kissed his forehead and said, "Then come join us for breakfast, Sirius has some exciting news, but I can't imagine what could beat this!" Hermione then squealed in obvious excitement and ran from the room, closing the door behind her.

"Strange girl," Harry said affectionately when Hermione was gone, then chuckled and shook his head, "Love her though."

He then got to work opening the letter, put aside the book list and things he'd need for his fourth year and unfolded the letter that was written in Albus Dumbledore's own hand.

Dear, Mr Potter

I am pleased to inform you that you will not be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year. You and a few handpicked students will be attending the Ilvermorny school for Magic, as part of a worldwide student exchange programme. I know you of all people will happily rise to the task and will do your utmost to represent Hogwarts to the best of your abilities. Should you have any questions about this, feel free to contact your Hogwarts head of house. I am sure you will take all the time you need to prepare for venturing into your new school and I hope you have a wonderful time learning all that Ilvermorny has to offer. I look forward to seeing you again in your Fifth year and hearing all about your experience.

Best of luck

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts.

P.S Try to stay out of trouble, I mean it this time.

"It's like he doesn't trust me," Harry frowned, turning the letter over to see if there was anything on the back, "What could possibly go…" He stopped himself, laughing a little and shaking his head, "On second thoughts, I won't finish that sentence," He chuckled.

Harry suddenly felt overly excited about the prospect of attending a new school. He would miss Hogwarts there was no doubt about that, but the chance to meet new students, learn from them, get to know them, make friends with them and inevitably beat them all I a duelling competition, was far to good to ignore. He practically leapt off the bed in the same manner that Hermione did, grabbed up the school list and his wand and rushed for the door.

When he reached the kitchen on the other side of the apartment room, Draco and Neville were no where to be seen and things were unusually quiet. Hermione was sitting with a book called "Ilvermorny A History" while eating her breakfast and Sirius, who looked up and smiled at Harry, was on the other side reading his paper.

"This is amazing," Harry said matter-of-factly, holding up the letter to show Sirius.

"Tell me about it," Replied Sirius, giving a small bark of a chuckle when he saw the look on Harry's face, "This is the first of it's kind, there has never been a student exchange in the history of…"

"Ever," Hermione cut in, "According to this, a student exchange was cancelled in the early 1900's because one of the students failed to make it to the other school alive,"

"They died?!" Harry asked in alarm.

"You'd die to if you stopped to poke a dragon in the eye," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"I don't know," Said Sirius thoughtfully, "I'm sure Harry would give fighting it a good go. How many times have you thought about duelling the Ilvermorny students since you read that letter?"

"About 6 or 12 times," Harry answered.

"That's my boy," Sirius said proudly and barked a laugh and kicked out one of the chairs for Harry to join the table, "Your mother and Hestia are getting all your school stuff, they didn't want to risk all of us getting caught up in the crowds."

"It's fascinating to know that their subjects are similar to ours," Hermione said, speaking between chews and not noticing the orange juice dribbling down her chin as she looked at Harry, "The only difference is, Xylomancy."

"The resurrection of dead Xylophones?" Harry asked, raising how brow. Sirius chuckled and continued reading his newspaper, while Hermione just rolled her eyes at Harry.

"No, it's a form of Divination using Twigs," She explained. Divination wasn't one of Hermione's favourite subjects, in fact it was the only one Harry had ever known her to drop simply because she hated it, "It's an extracurricular class so we don't have to take it if we don't want to, but it would be nice to take a look and get the American perspective."

"Is the, 'American Perspective,' something we all have to look at?" Harry asked her, giving her a playful smile.

"Dumbledore wants us to learn as much as possible," She chided him, "Do try to get involved."

"I will," He promised her, then grinned, "As soon as I find out if they have a duelling club."

"It's called a sparring club and you need to fight your way into it," She told him, giggling when she saw the spark of excitement in his eyes.

"There are four houses, Draco and we'll all have to be sorted into them, we might not even end up in the same one," Neville appeared ahead of Draco and waved at Harry as he passed. When Draco appeared, he gave Harry a wink and rolled his eyes at Neville who continued to talking, "There's, Horned Serpent, which represents the mind and favour scholars, Wampus who represent the body and favours the warriors,"

"I already know where I'm going," Harry said, giving Hermione a playful nudge under the table. She just smiled and shook her head, looking back down at the book she was reading.

"Thunderbird, who represent the soul of a witch or wizard, often favouring the adventurer and finally, Pukwudgie, who represent the heart and favour healers," Neville finished and sat down next to Harry with a plate of food, while Draco sat nearer Sirius in an attempt to get some distance from Neville, "I think we'd all be surprised where we end up."

"And how do they sort us, oh mighty knowledge of the plant?" Draco asked him.

"I don't know," Neville frowned.

"The sorting ceremony involves standing on something called the Gordian Knot, there are statues inside a large circular room that represent the four houses, the one that reacts is the one you go to."

Everyone stared at Harry as if he'd just said a load of swear words. He felt it was rather insulting that they would all, including Hermione and Sirius, look at him in such surprise when he'd spoken so easily of a school, he knew nothing about.

"I work in a bookshop," He told them, "there isn't much to do after 11 am to 11.30am rush."

"Well," Sirius said, amused and getting to business at the same time, "The exciting surprises are just going to keep coming because, we've been invited to," He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out 7 tickets that were silver and decorated in fancy patterns and letters, "The Veela Gala this evening!"

"Yes!" Draco cheered.

"Why?!" Harry, Hermione and Neville all demanded.

"The Headmaster of Ilvermorny invited us, she's apparently a big fan and thinks it would be a good start for us, since some of the students you're going to be in class with are both attending and in the show,"

"I knew I was going to hate this school," Neville huffed, digging into his breakfast.

"It will be fun, it's not just about the clothes," Draco told him, "There are exhibitions on herbology,"

"Really?" Neville perked up.

"Ancient runes,"

"How interesting!" Hermione too perked up.

"And duelling,"

"I knew there was a reason I wanted to go," Harry grinned.

"And loads more," Draco enthused, "The Gala is one of the biggest events of the year, it shows off everything from new spells, inventions, one of the main reasons people go is for the parade,"

"I have always wanted to see it," Said Sirius, "it should be an eventful evening," He then cleared his throat and leaned forward, "however, there is one thing I've been asked to talk to you all about,"

"Behaving?" Harry guessed, grinning when Sirius grimaced.

"Look," Sirius sighed, "I'd much rather it be Remus or even Severus who gave you this talk, but Lily's got me doing it now, so it has time to sink in. So, pay attention. Under no circumstances are you four to…"

"Fight mountain trolls?" Draco asked.

"Battle possessed students?" Hermione said.

"Engaged in battles for the soul with psychotic ginger girls?" Harry asked.

"Not to mention not picking fights with Death Eaters, that's always a bad one I'm told," Neville said.

"It's good for your cardio though," Draco chuckled, "Let me tell you, I can run marathons after last year,"

"QUIET!" Sirius shouted, slamming his fist onto the table.

"We're listening," Harry chuckled.

"Things are sensitive enough right now with you four accidently starting an international war or sticking your nose in other people's business. You were all selected because unfortunately, you're the highest scoring students at Hogwarts academically in your year,"

"Just our year?" Draco asked, frowning in disappointment.

"Actually, I saw our scores, we outdid some of the seventh years," Hermione beamed.

"Go us!" Neville boomed.

"STOP TALKING!" slamming both fists onto the table.

As much as Harry was watching Sirius try to be the serious parental figure for a change since he'd fully embraced his role as God father to Harry, Sirius was starting to turn a shocking shade of red and so Harry, gave all three them gentle kicks under the table.

"Thank you," Sirius sighed, placing both hands flat on the table this time, "It's simple, you're all going to learn everything you can before you go to Ilvermorny," He pointed at Harry and Draco, "No exceptions, I want that book," He pointed at Hermione's Ilvermorny book, "Embedded fully into your head before we leave for Ilvermorny in two weeks. And you will behave, you will have fun, you will make lifelong friends and for the love of Merlin, don't and I repeat don't…solve any mysteries or get into any battles for your lives, PLEASE!"

Harry raised his hand.

"Yes?" Sirius asked him.

"Where is Ilvermorny school?"

O

Once Sirius had kicked all four of them out of the apartment and told them not to come back until dinner time when they would get ready for the Gala, Hermione and Neville expressed a desire to visit Central Park, which was good considering they now had an exceptional amount of homework to get on with. They had all found a quiet spot under a tree, enjoying the summer sun while Hermione, gladly read to them from the Ilvermorny book she had been reading a breakfast, while the boys lounged around her. Except for Harry who was standing and pacing around them in a protective way, a habit he had picked up over the years.

"The school is located in Massachusetts, on the peak of Mount Greylock and started off as just a little shack with the founders, Isolt Sayre and her No-maj husband, James Steward as teachers who wanted to home school their adopted children, once they had success, more students came from the local native American tribes and more wands were produced to help train them, the school itself has been built up into a huge castle and is protected by enchantments, along with the protectors and maintenance workers known as the Pukwudgie,"

"A Pukwudgie is a thing?" Draco asked, lounging across the grass.

"They are short, grey, creatures with large ears that are distantly related to goblins," Hermione explained to him.

"Goblins aren't the friendliest of types, why would they work for Wizards?" Asked Neville.

"Actually, it says here that the Pukwudgie are both helpful and mischievous, meaning that they'll protect a wizard but also play pranks on them,"

"Think I just found one of those lifelong friends Sirius mentioned us getting," Draco chuckled.

Hermione was going over some information on how first year students only got their wands at Ilvermorny back in the old days, and how the law had changed that, but the waving of the wand didn't happen until the students had come to school. Harry was only half listening because something odd had caught his eye.

He stood staring at girl who was sitting alone. She had light brown hair, muddy brown eyes, pale skin and was wearing a pair of jeans and a thick jacket while she read a book. At first, Harry thought he had found Hermione's long-lost twin, but the differences were subtle enough that he knew that wasn't the case. He didn't know why he was staring at the girl and was about to turn his back when two men, dressed in black cloaks with their hoods up, suddenly apparated out of nowhere and grabbed her.

"Let go, you're hurting me!"

Hermione, Draco and Neville quickly leapt to their feet, but Harry was already charging towards the scene with his wand at the ready.

"Harry, not in public!" Hermione screamed, but Harry was already flying across the park, chasing the two men as they dragged the girl towards a car.

"We're supposed to be behaving!" Neville called out.

"Dibs on not telling Sirius about this!" Shouted Draco, who was falling behind.

Harry ran as fast as his legs could carry him, trying desperately to find a clear shot at one of the men's backs, but the girl was putting up such a good fight that she kept getting in the way of Harry's aim. The two men finally managed to shove the girl into the car and Harry fired a stunning spell at one of them, but the man was too quick and had blocked it, sending it flying back at Harry. Harry ducked and rolled, not breaking stride as he got back to his feet instantly and kept running.

"Who is this guy?!" Harry heard one of the men shout.

"I don't care, get in the damn car!" The other one ordered.

The two men climbed into the car, one wrestling with the girl as she tried to make a break for it. As it pulled away from the sidewalk, to Harry' surprise, it started to lift into the air. Thinking it was rather cool to see a car fly, Harry got that thought out of his head and lunged forward, leaping over a railing then up a wall until he was high enough to leap and…exploded into a shimmering cloud of white light and smoke, flying into the air after the car.

"Where the hell did, he learn to do that?!" Draco demanded, skidding to a stop.

"You really think kissing is all we do?!" Hermione shouted. She hadn't stopped running and in the same way Harry had done so, she got as high as she could and then, leapt into the thin air, the same thing happening to her body as she called back, "Get Sirius!"

"I knew it was a bad idea letting them be alone together," Neville panted.

"I'm still not telling Sirius," Draco huffed.

Meanwhile, in the air, Harry was flying in and out of the streetlamps, lifting higher to get some air, dodging pigeons as they flew past him. The car was in sight and making a quick escape, but Harry knew he was faster like this and fired himself forward like a rocket. Harry figured the two men must have seen him, because one of the car doors opened and he saw a small figure appear. A moment later, a barrage of spell fire came at him and Harry was forced to twist, turn and dodge stunning spell after stunning spell. Eventually, flying forward so fast that one of the spells bounced off the magic that surrounded his body, his fist appeared out of the cloud and he punched the wizard that was shooting him and grabbed on to the open door.

"Who are you?!" The girl asked when Harry's body took shape again.

"Harry Potter, pleased to meet you, and you are?"

"What?!" The girl shouted, strangely looking confused by Harry's arrival.

"You appear to be getting kidnapped, would you care for a…"

"GET OFF THE GODDAMN CAR!" The driver shouted, turning the wheel hard and rolling the car over, making Harry lose his grip.

Harry spiralled out of control, unable to form the white aura around him again. He was close to falling down the way, until something grabbed him by the arm and yanked him in the air.

"What took you so long?!" He shouted over the heavy wind, when he looked up and saw Hermione's hands holding onto his.

"Gee, I'm sorry, I didn't think we were chasing kidnappers today!" Hermione shouted back at him sarcastically.

"Well, it is a Friday!" He chuckled.

"It's Saturday and you need to learn how to fly properly!"

"Moan, moan, moan," Harry teased.

"I'll get the girl; you figure out how to get the car on the ground again!"

"I figured I'd just…"

"WITHOUT BLOWING IT UP!"

"Always the spoil…SPOOORRT!"

Being tossed directly at the back of the car wasn't what Harry had in mind. Nor had it been welcome, the girl screamed at the loud bang and the man Harry had punched was back up again and glaring at Harry through the back window, nursing a bloody nose. Harry grinned and waved in a friendly manner, which earned him a few creative words, followed by a wand being aimed at him.

"ALOHAMORA!" Harry shouted, pointing his wand at the trunk. The trunk flipped open and whatever curse that man had fired at Harry shot right through the metal, leaving a big hole. Harry them climbed into the trunk and kicked his feet out against the back seat, it slammed forward, and he squeezed through the gap to get inside, instantly being greeted by the raging kidnapper.

"YOU AGAIN!"

"Hey, the criminals in my country get just as annoyed when they meet me," Harry chuckled, throwing himself forward to cause as much chaos as possible, "It's like they hate being stopped from doing bad things!" He shouted, shoving his foot in the face of the wounded man and diving over the seat to grab onto the driver. The car instantly started to spin and wobble, lift up and down and then finally turn upside down.

"HOLY CROW, YOU'RE GOING TO GET US KILLED!" the girl shouted, clinging to the backseat for dear life.

"Ha, the amount of times I've heard that," Harry chuckled, feeling a blow to the side of his head, "Ow! who punches someone in the ear?!"

The driver had been the one to punch Harry, while the man with the bloody nose had grabbed him by the shoulders and attempted to pull Harry off his partner. The Car turned the right way up when the bloody nosed man wrapped his arms around Harry's neck.

"Don't…you know…that…chokes…people!" Harry gasped, struggling against the man's grip.

"Yeah, kid," sniffed the man, "That's the point!"

"TONY HURRY UP, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!"

BANG!

The passenger side back door blew right off the hinges and Hermione streamed passed the car at top speed. Her own white aura spun in the air like a firework and whirled round, flying directly at the car.

CRACK!

"Ow, son of a…"

"Good shot!" Harry said appreciatively, when he realised that the girl had bashed the man on the back of the head with her book, she gave him a wary smile and he nodded, "Right, I've never been thrown out of a car that was flying above a city before, but I can't imagine it's going to be fun if you're afraid of heights!"

"What on earth are you…AAAAGGGHHH!"

Harry had timed the shoving of the girl out of the car just as Hermione was making her pass. Hermione took a nosedive and went after her, while Harry turned his attention on the driver.

"You stupid kid, have you any idea what you've just done?!"

"Nope!" Harry chuckled, "That's the best part of being me," He said, grabbing his wand tight and aiming it at the back of the driver's head, "Now, back to where you took off from!"

"You're going to regret this, kid!"

"Oh, so you've met my mother?" Harry chuckled, knowing exactly how much trouble he was about to be in.

When the car finally landed, Harry expected some kind of welcome, a cheering crowd, perhaps Hermione rushing into his arms and them sharing a public kiss that made Draco and Neville feel awkward. Instead, the minute he got out of the car, he was arrested. He'd attempted to demand the Aurors tell him why they were snatching him and Hermione, but they had said nothing except to inform Harry and Hermione that they were under arrest. They were taken to the Ministry located in downtown New York. Both Harry and Hermione had been marched right through the doors with their wands taken off them. Once they had been guided down into the lower levels of the Ministry itself, they were able to talk once the Aurors lifted the silencing spells.

"What was all that about?!" Hermione fumed.

"Shouldn't I be asking that question?" Asked Harry, rubbing the back of his neck and arm.

"They shouldn't have arrested us or treated us like that," She growled, walking over and checking Harry's neck and the rest of him, "They should have known we were trying to help that girl. They snatched her right out of the air and then arrested me. I tried to get them to explain why, but they silenced me and just waited for you, like they knew what was going to happen."

"Do you know where they took her?" He asked, wincing when she touched at his throat and side of the neck.

"No," she replied, "Like I said, they came out of nowhere, it was like they were waiting for her to be taken."

"Well, I'm not staying here all afternoon, have you been practicing your wandless magic?" Asked Harry.

"Not enough to fight our way out of the second most powerful magical building in the world, no,"

When they heard people approaching the door on the other side, Harry purposely put himself in front of Hermione and the pair braced themselves. When the door opened, a man stepped through and Harry and Hermione felt nothing but complete and total surprise.

"Wow, we're really in trouble," Harry said, impressed by the level of punishment that the American Ministry had cooked up in such a short time.

"Yes, Harry," Said Albus Dumbledore, his twinkling blue eyes and soft smile present as he gazed down at Harry and Hermione, "I would say you are in a great deal of trouble, though I must ask you, what part of my letter did you not understand?"

"You know, I only read it the once and…"

"Merlin's beard, stop talking!" Hermione told Harry, jabbing him in the ribs and moving to stand at his side, "Professor, forgive me, but why are you here?"

"The Gala of course," Dumbledore replied, "I never miss it, but I do believe my holiday plans shouldn't be your main concern at the moment, Miss Granger. I was on my way there when I was informed that two young wizards were flying through the air, chasing two kidnappers and honestly, I just had a small feeling it was you two. Did it occur to either of you to send for help?"

"Well, no, but Harry and I just saved…"

"I think you'll find that there is more to this story than meets the eye, Miss Granger," He said, giving a small sigh and stepping to his left, "I'd like for you both to meet, Charles Swan, current President of the Ministry of magic,"

The man that stepped forward looked nothing like Cornelius Fudge. Charles Swan was tall, thin, had a thick black moustache and a short haircut. He looked quite young to be an elected official, but he had the same air of a politician about him and was dressed in a grey suit with red tie.

"Hello!" Harry said brightly, "Let us out or we'll start a war,"

"You're not wrong Albus, the kids got spirit," Charlies said, giving a throaty laugh,"

"I'm sorry, Mr President, he's just recovering from his first time flying," Hermione defended Harry.

"That was your first time?" Charles asked, then looked at Hermione, "Yours as well?"

"Well," Hermione flushed, "Yes, we'd been practicing, but being out of school we couldn't…"

"Careful Albus, I might keep them," Charles chuckled.

"You won't be pressing charges then, Charles?" Dumbledore asked him, smiling in amusement.

"Charges for what?!" Harry demanded, "We risked our lives to save that girl from those two…"

When the two men appeared at the door, the driver, a small skinny man with black skin, shaven head and a grumpy look on his face, the other a tall man, wider and his nose healed up and brand new, Harry was realising that mistakes might have been made.

"Harry, meet Tony and Wayne," Charles said, "Two of the best Aurors we have,"

"Debatable," Harry snorted.

"Harry," Dumbledore said in a stern voice, Harry instantly started to behave.

"And the girl?" Hermione asked, curiously, but fully aware that there was trouble coming their way.

"My daughter, Isabella," Charles explained, "She's under the impression that you and Harry were trying to kidnap her, but realised midway through the exercise, you had no idea that it was actually all fake,"

"A training exercise?" Hermione asked, She then sighed and Harry waited for the explanation, smiling politely when she looked at him, "during the summer, American students can take extra training, one of those courses I believe," She looked to the President, "Involves apprenticeships with the Auror office, I'm guessing your daughter was supposed to escape herself?"

"Very good, Miss Granger," Charles nodded, "While I applaud both of your efforts, I believe a few No-maj saw your daring rescue attempt, my people have dealt with it, but I do ask that while you're in New York, you reframe from anymore cavalier antics,"

"Yes, sir," Harry and Hermione said together.

"Albus, I'll leave them in your care for now," Charles nodded to Tony and Wayne who both gave Harry a sneer before they turned and walked away, "Have a good day," The President said, turning to leave the room.

"Oh, no need Charles," Dumbledore said, he looked to Harry and Hermione and smiled at them both, "Please do stay out of trouble, as for now, I will leave you to you real punishment," He nodded his head to the pair and turned to leave. Just as he did, someone else charged into the room.

"Hey, it's Sirius!" Harry beamed.

"45 Minutes?" Sirius growled, "YOU LASTED 45 MINUTES!"

"Now you know how Lily feels," Said Hermione. Needless to say, Sirius didn't take that comment well.

Now completely confined to the apartment and not allowed to go anywhere until the Gala this evening. Harry, Hermione, Draco and Neville, were discussing what had happened after Harry and Hermione flew off to save the day.

"Charles Swan," Draco said thoughtfully, "Yeah, I've heard of him, he was an Auror back in the war, he arrested more American Death Eaters than anyone else in the whole Ministry combined, he's meant to be as powerful as Dumbledore. When they needed a new President, he was the first choice and has been the President longer than anyone else has in history,"

"He must be doing a good job if they keep voting him back in," Neville said. He was sitting on Harry's bed, helping Hermione to sort out the mountain of books that Lily and Hestia had brought back with them.

To Harry's surprise, Lily hadn't been angry when she found out what had happened in the park today. He thought that perhaps Sirius had done enough shouting in the Ministry, that Lily didn't feel the need to do any at all. It was her idea to keep the four of them locked in the Apartment until tonight, but she was blissfully at ease when she'd come back from her morning with Hestia. Harry wasn't going to complain, one less person shouting at him was a bonus.

"Oh, the guys a real American hero and his kid is a dead cert to fill his boots," Draco nodded.

"Isabella Swan," Hermione said, "4th year pupil at Ilvermorny School of magic, she's the highest in her year, captain of their duelling squad, excels in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology and Creature Care, she's been studying to become an Auror since she started school and is known to many as one of the greatest young duellists of her age,"

"Where did you get all that?" Neville asked her.

"It's in the Ilvermorny book I've been reading to you all," She sighed, shoving the book at Neville, "They treat her like she's some kind of…"

"Harry?" Draco suggested, "Only, I've never seen any books on Hogwarts, boasting about how great he is,"

"Some of us are just more modest, I suppose," Harry chuckled, "Still though, she's the same age as us and it's like…"

"She's nothing like the girl you thought you were saving?" Hermione asked him. She sighed as if not wanting to share what she was about to, but she reached for another book and offered it to him, "I thought we should get to know what Voldemort had done here, you know, just in case there are any surprises,"

"And?" Draco asked her.

"Isabella Swan's mother was killed by Voldemort," Hermione told him, "He broke into their home in Forks Washington and attempted murdered Renee Swan, then attempted to kill Isabella,"

"Just like Harry," Said Neville, "She's a child of the war,"

"And we all know what happens to children who are targeted like that," Draco said, "They become total nutcases,"

"Thanks," Harry frowned. He was still looking at the book before handing it to Hermione and shaking his head, "I don't want to know, I'd rather be surprised."

"Alright, but do you really believe Dumbledore is here on holiday?" She asked him.

"Nope," He snorted, walking over to sit on the chair by his desk, "The Veela Gala is a good excuse, but I'd bet he's seen it a thousand times. Also, he's not going to leave Hogwarts unattended, not since the Weasley's and Yaxley all broke out of jail, there is something going on."

"You think Sirius, or your mum might know anything?" Draco asked, walking over to take the book from Hermione. Curiosity about other Death Eaters always got the best of Draco and Harry knew he'd want to learn anything he could.

"Would they even tell us if there was something up?" Neville asked, "They're really going for it with trying to keep us out of stuff lately,"

"They'd probably tell us to mind our own business," Harry told them. He then smiled, "But I know someone who might know what's going on,"

"You've heard from her?" Hermione asked, frowning like she always did when they got onto this subject.

"Not lately, but I'm due to send her a letter," He told her, "If anyone is going to know what's going on elsewhere, then it will be Erica,"

"There is still something I don't get," Draco said, his eyes lingering on the book, "If it was just a training exercise, why did they go so far to arrest you and just let you go?"

"Dumbledore," Hermione said, as if the headmaster's name was more than enough of an answer.

"Hermione, he doesn't have the power to mess with the American laws, technically you and Harry should have been fined or something," Said Draco.

"Which is why we think something else is going on," Harry told him, shaking his head and placing his hands on Draco's shoulders, "Think about it, if you're going to send 4 students to represent Hogwarts as a respectful school, why on earth would he send us?"

"He's got a point there," Neville chuckled, getting up as well, placing a hand on Draco's shoulder and then on Hermione's shoulder.

"I guess we better get started in disappointing Sirius and Lily." Hermione sighed, smiling at all three of them.

Harry chuckled and said,"Meh, we were never really going to behave anyway,"