EDIT: FFN got me. Now "_" and "_" are meant to signify speech in another language. Yes, Hermione's speech pattern was intentional, and not just bad grammar. A/N at the end.

Chapter XXX

September 2, 1993

"You're trying to dodge the issue, Dumbledore, but you can't worm your way out of this!"

"And you're trying to politicize what is clearly an internal matter for the Department of Family Welfare."

The expression on Octavius Nott's face was calm, collected, and completely self-assured. "If it were merely an internal Ministry matter, then why did you not drop the child off with Ministry staff following the completion of the school year?"

"I thought it better that he not be placed in a state-funded orphanage."

Marius Selwyn stood and called out next, "And when exactly were you planning on informing us that the boy had disappeared?" He looked out over the assembled Wizengamot, not giving Dumbledore a chance to respond. "Esteemed members, I think it's plain to see that the Chief Warlock believes himself to be above the rules and procedures that govern not only our Ministry, but this body as well. How long have we been working in good faith to find the Potter Heir a fine, wizarding home, all while Mr. Dumbledore hid the knowledge of his disappearance?"

There were shouts of agreement from the Traditionalist members, and murmurs of discomfort from the Conservatives. Dumbledore could read the room. It was, therefore, no surprise when Selwyn continued, "The time for debate is over. We know that the boy is missing, and he will be found. What's important is that when he is, he has a proper wizarding home waiting for him to return to. While I have the utmost respect for House MacMillan, given the Chief Warlock's deception, I think it only proper that his favored choice step down from the custody application."

Lewis MacMlllan stood. "Neither I nor my House had any knowledge whatsoever of Harry's disappearance. The Chief Warlock's actions should have no impact on our application."

"Fruit of the poisonous tree, MacMillan," Stefan Rosier replied, standing to address the Wizengamot. "Your honor is not in question; however, how are we to trust that Dumbledore did not spirit the boy away to ensure he landed at a home of his choosing? Lord Selwyn is steeped in the traditions and heritage of our world. He will be able to provide the tutelage that Harry Potter has sorely lacked while he was confined with those muggle beasts."

There were a few more grumblings at that, though Dumbledore could not tell whether it was opposition to Selwyn's categorization of muggles, or a response to the Dursley's well-publicized treatment of Harry. "Shall we have a vote?"

Augusta Longbottom stood from her seat, "Before we decide where Harry is to live, what updates can you provide us as to the ongoing search for him?"

"Madam Bones, if you would?" Dumbledore yielded the floor to the Head of the DMLE.

"Because Mr. Potter is so well-versed in traversing muggle areas, I've had my two best aurors trained in undercover work looking through the neighborhoods surrounding his previous residence. It is unlikely he would approach any magical areas, given his fame and the ease with which most wizards and witches would recognize him. The Chief Warlock has suggested it is possible that he left the country, though neither our records nor those of the muggles show any international exit. He's likely somewhere hiding out in London, with this unnamed associate that he referenced to Aberforth Dumbledore."

"In other words, you have no leads." That was Lord Shafiq, who'd done several public appearances with Harry the prior term. "Only two aurors? That does not inspire confidence."

"We're treating this as an urgent matter. I can assure the Lords and Ladies present that it is my two best at infiltrating muggle spaces. It's an issue of 'when', not 'if' we find him."

"I think we're ready to vote, Dumbledore." This came from Lord Bulstrode, whose statement was quickly seconded by Nott.

Dumbledore grudgingly called out the members, while the Wizengamot scribe tallied the votes. In the end, the Conservative faction, their confidence in Dumbledore shaken once too many times this last year, largely abstained, and Harry's custody was awarded to Selwyn in a clear majority of votes cast.

"Very well, the votes have been tallied. Is there any other business, or shall we bring this session to a close?"

"There is one other thing," Nott stood. "In light of his clear negligence in overseeing the youth of our nation, I move that we reconsider allowing Albus Dumbledore to oversee this august body. I call for a vote of no confidence against the Chief Warlock!" The gallery buzzed and several reporters from the Daily Prophet dashed out of the chamber.

Albus grimaced at the oily smile that Marius aimed at him. For the first time, he was grateful that the Americans seemed unwilling to acknowledge Harry's presence on their shores. 'Wherever you are, Harry, it's almost certain to be safer than you'll find Britain to be…'

September 6, 1993

"You have your books?"

"Yes, for all my classes before lunch."

"And quills? How many rolls of parchment do you have?"

"Daphne!" Astoria's voice was growing irritated. "I'm fine, I have plenty of supplies."

"Do you want me to do your hair?"

"No, I'm going to leave it down."

"Okay. Your first day of class. I'm so happy for you!" Daphne looked her younger sister over, her eyes moistening. "Where is the elf that the Headmistress assigned to help you get about the castle?"

"Tilly's around, don't worry. Any time I come near a staircase she appears. You can relax, Daphne, I'm going to be fine. The Headmistress told me last night that there have been plenty of other students that use a chair that attended Hogwarts in the past."

Daphne wasn't sure about 'plenty', given there were no others currently enrolled at the school, but she nodded and walked with her sister out of the Slytherin dorms and towards the Great Hall. Sure enough, every time they approached a staircase Tilly popped next to Astoria and apparated her to the top of the stairs with her house elf magic.

"Did you tell Father you were Sorted into Slytherin?"

Astoria glanced worriedly at her sister before responding. "I sent them a letter, if that's what you mean. I'm not forgiving him. I never will."

"I'm not upset, Tori. I know they'll be proud of you, and they should be."

Astoria nodded tightly. "What do you think of what the Prophet's been saying?" Daphne had shared the recent stories involving Harry following the fervor over the publicization of his disappearance.

"I don't know. I doubt he's going to live with the Selwyns willingly. I hope he's all right."

"Me too."

They reached the Great Hall, where Tracey and Blaise were already halfway through breakfast. "You better start waking up earlier, now that classes are starting. No more sleeping in, young lady!" She took a bite and used her empty fork to waggle at Astoria, like a schoolmarm disciplining a child. "Which classes do you have today?"

"Charms, and then Potions."

Blaise leaned over. "You're going to love Professor Flitwick. He makes the lessons fun."

"I'm most excited for Transfiguration. I want to learn how to make animals, like Harry can."

Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Potter can do animated transfigurations? He never could in class."

Daphne put her hand on Astoria's leg under the table and squeezed. "He never does any magic in class, though."

"True enough." Blaise's gaze drifted past the Greengrass sisters, toward the entrance. "Look at that. Loony didn't wear shoes again. Honestly, it should be a rule not to allow her in the Great Hall barefoot. It's unsanitary."

Daphne and Astoria looked over their shoulders to the small Second Year Ravenclaw walk in on feet that were grey and smudged from traversing the stone corridors. As she sat down to take a seat, several nearby students picked up their meals and moved further away down the table. The blonde made up her breakfast, eating her meal with her head down and eyes locked on her plate. Her lips set in a firm and concerned line, Daphne turned back to her own food.

Ilvermorny was too crowded, Harry decided. It was like trying to attend school on a London street. There were easily triple the number of students that attended Hogwarts, and a great deal more faculty as well. Combine that with the Pukwudgies that worked at the school not having the ability to apparate, the corridors were a confusing rush and he found himself frequently getting turned around as he tried to locate classes.

Because all 'core' classes, such as Charms, Defense, Transfiguration, and Potions, were House-individual, Harry could pick and choose which courses he attended with no scheduling issues. The Headmaster had assured him that the professors were alerted to Harry's circumstances, and that he was allowed to attend any of the courses up to and including Fifth Year level that he wished.

With only a single term to crash-study for his OWLs, Harry had so far mostly confined himself to the library, unprepared for the higher-level courses, but needed to advance more quickly than the lower-level courses would allow. Wally and Manny made themselves available to help push him the right directions on what books to read and what sections to focus on.

There were, however, two exceptions to Harry's mostly self-directed study. Introduction to Medicine, and Enchanting. Neither elective was offered at Hogwarts (much as Divination and Muggle Studies were not electives at Ilvermorny). The electives were organized with two Houses in a class, so Harry found himself in Enchanting with Pukwudgie and Wampus, and Intro to Medicine - where he was currently seated - with Thunderbird and Horned Serpent.

"... which is why the general Healing Charm has fallen out of favor with healers. Mr. Potter, can you provide me with the incantation and wand movement for this spell?"

Professor Kelly Grayson was a fully licensed mediwitch, and her no-nonsense attitude was quite a contrast to her casual appearance, in casual lightweight brown robes and her hair loose. "Um, the wand movement is a quarter moon, counter-clockwise, and-" Melody nudged his leg with her own, surreptitiously tapping her parchment once."-the incantation is Episkey."

"That's correct, take a merit for Thunderbird, Miss Marx. However, in the future, when I ask a classmate a question I would prefer you let them answer on their own." The professor smoothed out her notes on her lectern. "Now, who can give me an example of a Healing spell?"

A student two rows back raised their hand. "Vulnera Sanentur."

"Yes, well done Mr. Rutledge. Now, Healing spells are a mixture of transfiguration and charms; you'll go over the arithmantic properties that justify why it is a unique classification, but for the purposes of an introductory class like this one, you only need understand that Healing is considered a branch of magic independent of others."

The rest of the lecture dealt with potions that were commonly used in Healing, and the importance of the freshness and quality of ingredients. Harry paid attention in a cursory way, but his thoughts drifted more and more towards the differences from this school and his last. Partly due to its size, partly because the MACUSA lacked the aristocratic structure that Britain had, Ilvermorny was… tame, when compared to Hogwarts. There were disagreements and rivalries, but nothing remotely close to the sort of social lines that were drawn between students of class, heritage, or even House barriers.

'I suppose that comes with not having a civil war in the last quarter century,' he admitted. It was more than that, though. Taking away muggleborns ('newbloods,' he reminded himself) and placing them with magical families according to a lottery meant that blood ties were weak and a family name carried much less weight. Instead, the society was highly militaristic. Only those who served in the aurors for seven years or more were eligible to vote in elections, and any candidate for the Magical Congress required twenty-one years of service in the aurors - seven and three being the most magical of numbers.

Professor Grayson was wrapping up her lecture. "I expect all of you to study the assigned theory. In two weeks we will have a practical lesson on casting healing spells, don't show up unprepared."

The students gathered their materials and began to walk out into the corridor, the teens spilling out in a burst of exuberance after the lengthy lecture.

"Where are you off to next, Harry?" Melody asked. She'd assumed the seat next to his the moment he sat down in their first class, but thankfully had not repeated her flirting from the last term.

"I'm meeting the Mastery students for their afternoon run, then lessons with Professor Batisseur."

"Oh, you're taking Runes also?"

"No, it's lessons on wandless casting."

"That must be so nice, to never have to worry about where your wand is. Where are you eating dinner? You should eat with Thunderbird House tonight, I heard from Adam you ate with Pukwudgie over the weekend."

"Sure, sounds good." He'd been interacting with the Third Years more since classes had begun, but it was harder to make friends at Ilvermorny. Wally and Manny were different; they were more withdrawn, more reserved, simply by virtue of being older. The students his own age made him, well, uncomfortable. None of them had seen or done the things he had. Beyond dueling practices, most of them had never had a spell fired at them in anger.

It had been largely the same at Hogwarts, but the difference was that he didn't go through it alone. He had Neville to stand beside him, Luna to distract him, and Susan to-, well… Susan to always just smooth over the raw and exposed hurt. She was there after the troll, after the battle beneath the Third Floor corridor, after the acromantula, and after the Chamber of Secrets. It was somehow a lot easier to be brave when he knew she was worrying for him.

Despite being so much more crowded than Hogwarts, Ilvermorny suddenly felt a lot more empty.

Hermione looked down at her notes, worriedly itemizing several gaps in the material from where she was unable to keep up with the instructor's rapid French. She was pleased to find that Beauxbatons offered instruction at as high a level that Hogwarts did; she'd been afraid that leaving Hogwarts would mean giving up on some part of a quality education.

"_Don't worry, Hermione. You can copy my notes after dinner_." Jacquelyn Bisset said, speaking slowly to comfort the transfer student. "_You don't need to be anxious, you're adjusting quite well to classes in a second language_."

"_I am lucky that Madam Maxime provide me a tutor for my French over the summer_." A Seventh Year had met with Hermione four days a week for most of July and all of August, helping Hermione with her conversational fluency and teaching her magical vocabulary that her language books couldn't provide. "_I think I will go to library after dinner to be positive of today lesson_."

Jacqueyln giggled, and waved over a taller brunette to join them. "_I think not! Nicolette, tell Hermione what you told me during lunch_."

Nicolette was a Fourth Year, a rather plain brunette with a heart-shaped face. "_Oscar Moraeu was asking your tutor if you had a boyfriend back in England_."

Jacquelyn squeezed Hermione's arm in excitement. "_He is very handsome! We'll be going to a gathering at the Fourth Year dormitories after dinner. I'll point him out to you_."

"_But, my Charms work…_"

The older girl, Nicollete, gave Hermione a wink and a sly smile. "_I think that you would be better served spending time gaining more experience with the French tongue_." Before Hermione could protest, she continued, "_And you may also have time to work on your language skills as well_."

Hermione worked through what was said, her face exploding into an embarrassed blush. "_Really? He is interested in me?_"

Jacquelyn linked her arm through the English girl's. "_He definitely is. So, still want to go to the library, or will you come with us to Nicolette's dormitory?_"

In truth, Hermione did still want to go to the library. The professor of the class they'd just completed had mentioned that emotion caused the widest variation in Charms of all the various branches of magic. It opened up a line of questions for her about whether biological functions within the body could create alterations in magical expression. Were there Charms that required a certain mood to cast?

But the Hermione Granger that transferred to Beauxbatons Magical Academy was not the same lonely girl that had boarded the Hogwarts Express her First Year. She'd had two years of friendship, two years of seeing the value in her peers as well as her books. 'They didn't have to invite me,' she reasoned. 'Where was the harm in spending some time with new friends?'

"_This Oscar boy… he is smart?_"

Nicolette squealed and latched onto Hermione's other side. "_Come, we'll discuss cosmetics and your outfit over dinner!_"

September 23, 1992

Sirius swam ashore, the sky still showing traces of dusk. He'd squeezed through the bars on his cell window and dropped the forty feet to the churning North Sea. The shock of the fall, followed by the icy water nearly drowned the weak and starved dog animagus. It was only the hatred swelling in his heart that drove his paws to determinedly paddle to the coastline.

'I'm lucky that my window faced the direction that the boats arrived from.'

Clambering ashore, shaking his fur dry, Sirius transformed back into a human. He'd heard no signs of pursuit with his canine senses, and he peered in all directions with his stronger human eyes to make sure there were visible threats. Seeing none, he spun in place and apparated away.

The next morning, both Harry Potter and the appointment of a new Chief Warlock were both pushed off the front page of the Prophet, where the paper documented the first ever recorded escape from Azkaban prison's High Security Wing.

"How is she today, Healer Doyle?"

Martin Doyle, a mind healer specializing in children's treatment, gestured to the seat in the waiting area, then sat down next to Amelia. "Susan's had some difficulties adjusting to her treatment schedule."

"Explain what you mean by 'difficulties'."

"Her anxiety seems to be preventing any progress towards confronting her losses. Madam Bones," he tried to phrase his question as delicately as he could, "why did you not bring her to us after her First Year, when her professor tried to murder her and was subsequently killed in front of her?"

"She wasn't hurt, and there were so many questions about what had happened with the professor and one of the other boys... " She trailed off. "You're right. I don't have an excuse, I should have known better, especially given my line of work."

"I'm glad you brought up her friends. I'd like your permission to have our elves set up a mail ward to redirect any owls sent to Susan."

"Is there someone bothering her? Has there been a lot of mail?"

Healer Doyle shook his head. "No, all of her friends from school have been very supportive. The problem is that your niece is arguably one of the closest people in Britain to Harry Potter. There is just all of this mystery and intrigue around him, especially given that he is tied in so closely with the root of her trauma. It isn't healthy for her to have constant reminders of him in the newspaper and correspondence with her classmates."

That made sense to Amelia. "Okay, I can support that. God knows she has enough to get through on her own without taking on the burden of that boy's tragedies."

"Excellent. Well, Susan should have just finished dinner. She's been doing her schoolwork in the evenings, so I'm sure that your visit would be a welcome break. If you need anything else, you're welcome to stop by my office before you leave."

"Thank you, Healer Doyle." Amelia stood and walked down the by-now familiar corridors to her niece's room. She gave a perfunctory knock, then opened the door and slipped inside.

Susan looked a lot better than she had in the Hospital Wing earlier in the month. She'd started to put back on the weight she lost, her filled out figure hinting at the shape she'd just begun to grow into. Her light blue eyes were alert and attentive as she finished writing the sentence she was working on before setting her quill and parchment aside.

"Hello, Auntie."

"Susan, how have you been feeling the last few days?"

"Better. Did you let them take away my mail?"

She sighed. It seemed like every time she visited Susan found another grievance against her. "Healer Doyle believes that you'd be able to better focus on your recovery if-"

"I'm doing better, aren't I?" Susan's voice was strained, as though she were trying to keep her volume level. "My friends help me to feel happy. I like to hear about the things they are doing, how their classes are, what's happening at school."

"And what's happening with Harry Potter."

Susan met aunt's gaze without a hint of embarrassment. "Yes. So what? Don't I have a right to know what's happening to my friend?"

"The healers told me how upset you were when his custody was given to the Selwyns."

"Anyone who cares about him at all would have been upset. You can't take away my mail!"

"I'm sorry, Susan. Think about it this way: if doing this helps you get better faster, then you'll be back at Hogwarts sooner and you won't need to write to your friends, since you'll be seeing them every day again."

"You can't let them block my mail. Please, Auntie."

"It's just for a few months. I'll make certain that the healers understand they are to save every letter you receive, that you might have them back when you've been discharged."

"But… but what if-?"

"What if Harry writes you, you mean? Susan," Amelia sat down on the bed and gently took her niece's hands in her own. "No one has seen or heard from him since Hogwarts' term ended last year. If he were able to send you a letter, wouldn't he have done so already?"

"He's going to write to me. But it won't matter if I can't read my mail!"

Amelia sighed. Being a teenager was difficult enough without the added pressure that Susan had placed on her shoulders. "Let's just give it a try, and see how things go, okay? If you promise to work with the mind healers and focus on yourself, we can revisit this discussion before Halloween. Is that fair?"

Susan's lips pursed. It was likely the best offer she'd receive. "Okay."

"Easy does it, let 'im bow to you first. Righ', all good t'walk up now."

Luna stepped up next to the hippogriff, running both her hands lightly along its feathered mane. The magical creature leaned into her touch, hunching over slightly to allow the small girl better access. "He's lovely, Professor."

"I ain' yer professor yet, Luna. You can still call me Hagrid when it's just you 'n me. Oh, bugger, my nex' class should be here in a few more minutes. You should run along, don' wanna be late fer your next lesson."

"It's all right, I have Herbology next, and the greenhouses aren't far away."

"Real shame you 'ave to wait another year for my class. Yer a natural with magical creatures, as good as I ever were."

"Hey Professor Hagrid!"

"'Lo boys, Yer a bit early, but you may as well c'mon over. We'll be learning abou' hippogriffs today." Anthony Goldstein and Kevin Entwhistle, strolled over.

"Professor, we were wondering if you could answer some questions we had about magical creatures that aren't in the textbook."

"Sure, always happy when students wanna know more abou' magical creatures."

"We were wondering if you'd ever heard of a snorkack?" The Care of Magical Creatures instructor screwed his face up in confusion.

"Wha'? No, never heard o' that. Where'd ya hear that?"

"What about a blubbering humdinger?"

Hagrid looked at the two boys, not noticing Luna's small fists clench against the feathers of the hippogriff. "Are you two havin' me on? I've never heard o' anythin' like that."

The two Ravenclaws burst out laughing. Hagrid had endured enough bullying on his own to realize something underhanded was taking place, but couldn't pin down exactly what, or to whom. "Settle down and take a seat. No more makin' up nonsense like that, understood?"

"Yes sir. No more made-up creatures." Entwhistle tried to say with a straight face, before snickering seconds later.

"Professor, I'd better go to Herbology. Thank you for letting me meet the hippogriff." Luna ran away before the half-giant had the chance to respond.

October 3, 1993

"Hello sir, you asked to see me?"

"I did, thanks for coming on a Sunday night, Harry. I know you likely had other ideas on how to end your weekend."

"Not really, Professor, just cramming for my OWLs as much as possible."

Professor Howe stood from his desk, grabbing his cloak and motioning for Harry to follow him. "We'll be going outside, Mr. Jimenez is already waiting for us."

"Manny's joining us?"

"Yes. Tonight, you'll be assisting us in testing an experimental hypothesis that may very well earn him his Mastery." Harry stood a bit straighter at those words, making sure to focus his attention on Professor Howe.

"What is the experiment, sir?"

"I'm sure that you, like everyone else, have noticed that spellcasting is primarily a 'line-of-sight' exercise. We cast spells at what we can see, what we can manipulate, what our curses, hexes, and charms are able to hit."

"Yes, sir."

"What Mr. Jimenez has hypothesized, however - and I happen to agree - is that limitation is one of imagination, rather than one of magic."

"I don't understand, Professor."

"Harry, your own educational background is a perfect example. Until provided a clear example of how you taught yourself to use magic, your professors could not fathom how to instruct someone in using magic without a wand." Noting Harry rising to defend his teachers, Howe held up a hand. "I am not blaming them; even with Ilvermorny's history of wandless instruction, I myself would not know where to begin to teach you the basics of spellcasting. Hogwarts employs experts, just like Ilvermorny. No one is questioning their credentials."

"So you and Manny…"

"Our goal is to use an outlier, in magical casting and ability - that's you, Harry - to demonstrate that what is seen as impossible is instead a barrier in our own minds." They were outside now, approaching the gates. The mountain air was crisp and chilly. "We'll be apparating, not far, just to a more suitable spot."

Howe grasped Harry's shoulder and the uncomfortable sensation of being squeezed through a tube passed in a moment. The two were now standing on a cliff's edge, overlooking a forest landscape, the trees nothing more than shadowed blobs in the darkness. "So what do I have to do?"

"Just a moment, let me inform our collaborator that we are in position." He lit his wand with a lumos charm, pushing more and more magical energy into the spell until it was like a spotlight shining into the sky. Far off in the forest, a dim light blinked back twice. "That's Manny's signal. Okay, let's take a seat and I'll describe your role."

Harry conjured two chairs, and sat down to listen attentively. "Manny is several miles away. So far, in fact, that were we not on higher ground, our Lighting Charm would likely be invisible through the trees. We would like you to attempt a conjuration or transfiguration that affects the area around him."

"But, I don't know what is around him! How can I transfigure what I don't know to be there?"

"Harry, I've never met anyone who had such a natural connection with the field of Transfiguration as you do. Do you know how many esteemed scholars would have called it an impossibility that an 11-year old could conjure nonverbally and wandlessly? Sometimes the hardest obstacles to overcome are the ones that they place in front of ourselves. If it doesn't work, that's okay. If it does work, then the research coming out of this will absolutely earn Manuel his Mastery. No harm in trying, is there?"

Manny had been good to him, had never turned down a duel or passed up an opportunity to provide a lesson on transfiguration. In fact, it was him introducing Harry to Professor Howe that led to the opportunity for the Third-Year to have a chance at starting his own Mastery. Harry stood from his seat and nodded firmly at Howe. "I'll do my best."

"Wonderful! Now, I will signal him once more so you can see the general spot he is in again." Howe repeated his lumos charm from before, and Manny's blinked back twice. Harry's eyes locked on to the spot he'd seen that winking light, and breathed deeply. He couldn't close his eyes, for fear of losing focus on where the Transfiguration student was, but he focused himself inward the way that Professor Batisseur had taught him. His magic responded, its tempestuousness by now familiar. Harry willed the trees he remembered, illuminated by Manny's charm, envisioning their transfiguration from wood into stone.

"Did it work?"

"Let's see." Howe lit his wand in brief pattern or long and short Lighting Charms, only to get a single blink of light in return. "No change reported from Mr. Jimenez. Were you trying transfiguration or conjuration?"

"Transfiguration. Wood-to-stone."

"Right." Howe produced a quill and a journal, jotting down Harry's words. "Perhaps conjuration might yield better results?"

Harry nodded, readying himself once more. His eyes lit up the darkness, and as he lifted one hand, faint cracking sounds could be heard in the distance. A quick staccato of blinking lights lit the area where Manny was.

"I'll be right back, Harry." Howe apparated away, leaving Harry alone on the cliff.

'Hopefully it worked out for Manny,' he thought to himself. The Head of the Transfiguration Department appeared at Harry's side once more, quickly grasping Harry's arm and apparating again.

"Harry!" Manny's familiar voice sounded. "You did it!"

Indeed, as his eyes adjusted to the light from Manny's wand, he could see for himself the evidence of that. Four stone columns had risen out of the ground, knocking over several trees in the dense woods. "How far are we from the cliff?"

"Just a second, I learned some cartographic spells just for this purpose. Professor Howe, I'll need you to go back to the casting point and light your wand. I'll jump to you once I start the Mapping Charm here.

"Understood." He vanished.

Harry looked out in the distance and could clearly make out the Professor's lumos. "Oh, we weren't that far away."

Manny didn't respond for a moment, intently muttering and moving his wand in a precise pattern. The spell completed, he relaxed and turned to the younger boy. "It seemed farther because my Lighting Spell was partially obstructed by the trees. You didn't break any records tonight, Harry, though I'll have to look up the furthest use of conjuration when we get back. Let me grab Professor Howe." He apparated away with a crack!

The two returned together a few moments later, Howe stumbling a bit after appearing. "It's been a long time since I've apparated so many times." Manny quickly conjured a seat for the older man. "So, what did we learn tonight?"

"Well, we demonstrated that we've got a wizard capable of long-range spellcasting, which makes our future tests valid. There's nothing new about using elevation to assist the range of spellcasting - remember The Great Burning was initiated from a distance of more than thirty miles - but we've confirmed Harry can visualize conjuration at a great distance. Transfiguration will need more testing."

"What was the Great Burning?"

Professor Howe responded, still sitting in his conjured chair. "The Nomaj call it the Great Fire. A wizard's sister was beaten to death by a Nomaj mob after she became involved with one of the local boys. The aurors wouldn't pursue any corrective measures, so that night the wizard apparated to a large hill outside of the city and summoned fiendfyre. It destroyed most of the city of Chicago and killed almost a thousand Nomaj."

"When was this?"

"1831. Following the incident, eldritch fire was declared Unforgivable, in honor of the seven aurors that died battling the conflagration."

Harry listened to the impromptu history lesson with interest. "And he did it from thirty miles?"

Manny took over to steer the conversation back on track. "It's the nature of that spell, Harry. It's extraordinarily difficult to control and will turn on its summoner if the caster cannot maintain control. In that situation, it was 'fire and forget'; what you tried to do in transfiguring the trees from miles away was by no means easier."

"So are we going to try again?"

"Not right now. We learned enough for the moment, and you have your own work you need to focus on. If you're willing though, we'll try this again another night."

"Okay. Why do we have to do it at night?"

"The darkness acts to guarantee you're not able to directly see what you're manipulating. Think of it like casting blindfolded."

Professor Howe stood up and Vanished his seat. "Let's apparate to the gates, then we can quiz Harry on OWL Transfiguration while we walk back. I hope that you've been putting your time to good use."

Harry grinned in response. "Bring it on."

"Diffindo!" The severing charm lanced out in a purple line, slicing into the wooden dummy and carving an indentation several inches deep. Draco lowered his wand in satisfaction while Professor Severus Snape examined the transfigured wooden object.

"You're improving."

"I practiced with my grandfather's wand over the summer."

"It shows. Five points to Slytherin." Snape took a seat at the teacher's desk in the empty classroom Draco had his weekly lesson in. "I've thought more about the questions you asked me last week."

Draco, still standing, put his wand back in his sleeve and stepped forward until he was in front of the desk. "And? Did you run off to tell my father and find out what you should say?"

"Of course not. I'm your godfather, I wouldn't betray your confidence."

The blonde's sharp features twisted for a moment. "You had no problem doing it after First Year."

"Did I? Or did I put into motion events that would allow you to realize you could be better than you were?" Draco didn't respond, Snape's words giving him pause. "We've gone off topic. There are few that would be sympathetic enough to consider the issues you raised last week, Draco."

"But if our goal is to protect our blood and our tradition, how is that served by killing the people we're out to protect?"

Snape summoned an elf for a cup of tea, waiting until it left the classroom before answering. "I will tell you what I think your father would want me to say, and then I will tell you what I think you should hear."

"I'm listening."

"The events that led to Abbott's death, and her loss in particular, have brought a great victory for those of us interested in saving Magical Britain. Her sacrifice led to one of our primary opponents being driven from the Wizengamot and Hogwarts. Muggleborns still look over their shoulders. Abbott's sacrifice allowed for a positive change." Draco thought back to Hannah's funeral. It didn't feel like a great victory.

"There, my duty to your father is complete. Now, Draco, what I want you to know as your godfather. There is no comfort in being victorious if there is no one left to celebrate it with. I think your mother is right - you will have a great future. But I think you'd be well-served to keep your humanity and not to disregard your opponents' humanity, either."

"I understand. Thanks, Professor."

He left the classroom and started walking back towards the Slytherin dormitories, to grab his bag and hurry to the Great Hall for a bite to eat. On his way to breakfast, he passed two First Years, pausing as their conversation reached his ears.

"Ugh, I hate Mondays. Defense is the worst."

"Why? Professor Savage is great. He's an auror so I bet we'll learn all kinds of cool spells."

"Yea, but you don't have to be partnered up with the crippled girl. It's a right bother, the practical is never any fun bec- eep!" The boy let out a very girly squeak as he was jerked around by his collar and slammed into the stone wall.

"Her name is Astoria, you gormless little git. Her family line stretches back two hundred years longer than your own, even more through her mother's side. That's right," Draco said, leaning in close to the smaller boy, one of his hands fisting the boy's shirt, the other squeezing his jaw to force him to look into Draco's angry grey eyes. "Did you think I wouldn't recognize your face, Dedworth? Now, I do hope that you'll learn to treat your social betters with the respect they deserve."

"Y-yes, I will." The small boy mumbled, Draco's hand still gripping his face.

"And in fact, I think you should start carrying her bag for her. It's the least you can do after forcing her to have to do classwork with a useless knob-head like you."

"Okay! I will!"

Draco looked over at the other First Year boy, who was watching the encounter with wide eyes. "I trust that the next time you two feel like teasing someone, you'll find a mudblood to bother and leave our own kind alone. Otherwise, the next time we meet I might actually get angry with you."

He released Dedworth, and the two young Slytherins took off running down the corridor. Draco straightened his robes and smoothed back his hair. Leaders had to make sure their followers weren't bothering the right sort of student, after all.

A/N: I'm back! Written comps are finished. It was terrible, but almost over.

Had a ton of amazing new reviewers. Also, I received a shout-out in The Sinister Man'sPrince of Slytherin, which was super kind.

Next chapter should be coming soon. My hope is to blow through Third Year before the end of the month.

Also, I've written out Harry's first encounter with Voldemort. I can't wait!