Here we are again, originally this chapter was supposed to be longer and it's missing a final scene, that scene will appear in the next chapter as I'm not entirely sure how I want it to go yet!

But for now, enjoy.

Also, I don't own Harry Potter.

As Lily, walked out of the kitchen she spotted Harry and Sirius at the end of the hall talking in hushed voices. As Sirius looked up and noticed her, Harry went quiet and turned to look at her. Worry written all over his face.

"Mum, how-how is she?" His voice barely a whisper now. This must have really shaken him, it was a lot knowing that he was in danger. The knowledge that that now spread to his friends might be too much for him.

"She's going to be ok, she's a tough one, you should go see her," she waved him off before he interrupted her, "Sirius can tell me what happened, I gather that's what you were just telling him." She saw him nod, "good, now go see your friend."

Again, he just nodded, but this time he slowly moved past them. Giving his mum a hug on the way, bracing himself before entering the kitchen.

When he was out of ear shot Sirius immediately asked, "Is she really ok?"

"Like I said, she's tough. They just need to talk, you saw his face, he's blaming himself. What happened Sirius? This attack isn't making any sense, why block their own exit? What were they planning? More importantly, how the hell did they know he was gonna be there?"

"I can at least answer one of those, Harry said they were counting down for something to happen. I expect a portkey. You know, hold them while they wait for reinforcements to take them away.

"As to how they knew, beats me Lily, lucky guess? Everyone now knows he's alive, we all know what this day means to h- to all of us."

"So they caught a lucky break… Shit! If they were waiting for someone then they would have arrived by now" She barely finished saying it before a Patronus came through the wall.

"Culprits dead. Amelia wants to question you. Be ready."

The message delivered, the silvery patronus disappeared into a fine mist.

"Tying up loose ends. We can't have the ministry knowing it was Harry that used magic. They would insist on putting the trace on his wand and we can't have that."

Sirius just nodded, letting Lily run away with the plan. She was better at this than him. He was glad they were dead, that way he didn't have to do it himself. There was a time where the thought of killing someone, anyone would have him grimace in disgust. Now, if someone came for Harry, god help them if they were still alive when he got his hands on them.

"I'll take Harry's wand and go to Amelia, explain I have two wands. In case they check for spells cast. They'll know we haven't killed them.

"They shouldn't be surprised that we were there. No one but Dumbledore, Harry and his friends know he's out of the castle. I'll make sure he asks Harry's friends not to say anything. The longer we can keep this from getting out the better.

"Right, if we're going to the ministry I'm gonna shower and change," she said as she headed for the stairs, "Oh and Sirius? Tell Remus to thank our little friend for the tip." She finished with a wink making Sirius laugh.

Hermione sat at a table by the window. The sky was darkening outside, her eyes however glued to the mug of hot chocolate in her hands. She hasn't lifted it up yet, worried that her shaking hands will make her spill it all over her.

She didn't hear Harry enter, so when he spoke her name it made her jump a little.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Can I- do you mind if I join you?

She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes, "This is your house Harry, but sure" she motioned with her hand.

"Thank you, though you know, I have never actually been in this place before. Mum must've found it after sending me to Hogwarts."

He sat opposite her, growing quiet again. He looked at her trying to find the right words.

"Hermione, I- I'm so sorry. You should never have been there. I knew how dangerous it was, hell the danger has been drilled into me since I was a child, I just- I didn't want to go alone again. I'm sorry this has happened, it's all my fault-"

"Harry, I don't blame you for what happened. I-I'm scared, and I never want to feel so helpless again. I froze and didn't know what to do. It wasn't until- until I saw you struggle, and fight, that some courage seeped into me." She snorted a little, "some Gryffindor I am."

"What happened, the way you responded, Hermione, in a situation like that, when you're not expecting it, not used to it, it doesn't mean you're not brave. The fact that you're scared, but at the same time don't want to feel that helplessness, it shows your bravery."

They sat quiet for a few moments. Hermione taking a sip of her hot chocolate, feeling the warmth spread through her, making her feel better. Sometimes a hot drink is more magical than any potion when it comes to alleviating anxieties.

"Thank you, that- it means a lot coming from you. And Harry, I really don't blame you," she waited to make sure he was looking at her before she continued, "so please don't blame yourself." She reached out and squeezed his hand for a few seconds.

"This wasn't the first time you were in a situation like that was it?" Hermione asked. At his questioning look she carried on, "the way you were so ready to fight, like you said, without experience I don't think you'd be able to do that."

Harry sighed, "no it wasn't the first time. There's been… incidents in the past."

"Do you- Can you tell me? What happened, how did you, you know, handle it after"

Harry looked to Hermione seeing that this was something she needed, he nodded. He started his story, he didn't like to relive it, but after what happened to her she should know.

"It was Summer, just before my 13th birthday…

"Sirius, honestly, I'm not gonna tell mum that you used magic if you just get us out of here. Come on it's been three days, admit that we're lost and apparate back." Harry pleaded with his uncles, as they hiked through a small Norwegian town. Neither able to speak the language enough to understand the signs. This was supposed to be a lesson for Sirius. He wanted to prove to Lily that he can do the whole survival thing as a muggle. Which he clearly couldn't, and Harry got roped in to go with him - "It'll help your skill to Harry and you can keep an eye on the mutt so that he doesn't try to cheat and use magic."

That's how they ended up in a middle of a forest. Lily told them that they were in Norway, gave them a map and told them she'd meet them in a village 150 km away. They were supposed to get there 3 days ago. Lily called them on the mirror every few hours to check in, but the petulant child that was Sirius would not give in and stayed adamant that they'd find their way back.

"Honestly, when we get back, you guys are teaching me apparition." Harry huffed.

"Oh cheer up Prongslet. This is fun, we're out in the wilderness, hiking through beautiful places, forests and mountains. Come on, you know you love that stuff." Sirius retorted, his constant optimism was not helping Harry at all.

"Yes, I do. When we're prepared for it, not when we have to scavenge for food since we don't even have money in the correct currency!"

Harry was hoping that they could find someone who spoke English in this town, or French, or even Polish so that he could get a few words across to them and get some directions. He tried showing people the map and so far he's gotten three completely different answers as to how to get to their destination.

That's how they found themselves camping on the outskirts of town. Their only consolation was that the weather was warm as they had no tents to sleep in. Another night under the stars.

That night, however, things turned south. A group of hooligans from the town trailed them as they walked around. Thinking they found some unsuspecting hikers, they'd rough them up and see what they can take.

As they were sitting around a small fire that Harry managed to start. Their luck turned sour. Harry barely even saw a glint of it as a rock hit Sirius in the back of a head, throwing him forward and disorientating him. Harry reached for his wand but before he could pull it out, five men rushed into their small camp, one grabbed Harry and pulled him to his feet the other four rushed towards Sirius, who was just getting to his feet. Even in his state he managed to catch one of them on the jaw. Though he was quickly overwhelmed, as they punched and kicked him, shouting things that neither Harry nor Sirius could understand.

Seeing Sirius like that pushed Harry over the edge. His anger until now, bubbling under the surface directed at his uncle for this disaster, turned into a primal rage focused on their assailants. He screamed and quite frankly, exploded right there and then. A wave of magic that he had no control over shot in all directions. Everyone was knocked out and thrown back, the fire was snuffed out and Sirius was thrown into a tree. Harry rushed to him and grabbed a mirror from his pocket.

"Mum, mum… help.." were the last words he said, as he collapsed from magical and emotional exhaustion clutching to Sirius.

Hermione stayed wide eyed. As Harry reached the climax of his story.

"Sirius spent a month in a magical hospital in Germany. Whether it was me or those guys, we don't know, but his ribs were shattered. He was severely concussed.

"I- it wasn't the best time for us. We all blamed ourselves. Mum, she couldn't help to think it was her fault for goading Sirius into this. Sirius, well he blamed himself for stupidly not using magic, a simple ward around the camp would have been enough he said. And-and I- I can't help but think I hurt Sirius…

"I'm sorry I didn't act quicker today, I was so worried I'd end up hurting you that it paralysed me and I thought I'd be physically able to get out of their hold.

"After that, I focused hard on my anger. I know it's always there, I'm angry at so many things. At least now I can control it and direct it somewhat."

"Can't believe you had to go through that when you were twelve!" Hermione replied, her eyes glistening with tears once again. She moved to wipe them away. "What happened, to those men?"

"I wiped their memories, called the police, and confounded them to confessing to all their crimes, they're in jail for fifteen years."

Harry and Hermione both turned their heads to see Lily walking into the kitchen, drying her hair after shower. She was dressed formally, yet as a muggle not in dress robes.

"Harry, I'm gonna need your wand, there's a situation at the ministry-"

"Harry's not gonna get in trouble is he? He only used magic in self-defence, and that's allowed even for underaged wizards, and I can testify too, if they don't belie-" She stopped as she heard Lily laugh.

"Harry's fine, the ministry won't even know he was there." She told them.

"I also don't have the trace on me, by not registering to Hogwart's at eleven, they never applied it to me, figuring the country I was residing in would do so", turning to his mum he continued, "So, I wasn't there? I guess you need my wand for whatever they recover from the scene?

"Well here you go, will you be taking us back to Hogwart's when you're back?"

"Actually, no, I shouldn't be long, but I thought that maybe Hermione would like to speak to her parents?" Turning round to Hermione with the question/

"Oh that would be great Mrs Potter, thank you, I was worried I would have to explain it in a letter, or wait till Christmas break. Thank you, I'll write down the address for you." As she wrote down the address and handed it to Lily with a smile, Lily told them both that she should be back within an hour.

"Oh and Harry, don't forget the thing you asked me for." She shot at him as she left the kitchen.

"Oh my god! Thanks mum!" He shouted back to her and started fumbling in his pocket for something.

"What did your ask your mum for?" Hermione queried.

"This." As he pulled something out and enlarged it on a desk, it looked like a book. Though definitely a home-made one. Pages were irregularly sized and it looked rugged. "Happy late birthday Hermione. I had this whole thing planned to give it to you after speaking to my dad. But with everything it slipped my mind.

"I asked my mum to put together her spell research into a book. She got a little excited and went a bit overboard so you'll find not just her research but also all the information she used, either directly or just as references.

"She also added these blank pages after each section for you to put your own notes in." He grinned at her shocked expression as she started stroking the cover of the book tentatively with the tips of her fingers.

"Harry, this is- this is incredible, you really didn't have to get me anything!" Harry's grin just grew wider as Hermione started slowly flicking through the pages, not noticing that he responded to her. 'You're gonna have a hard time topping that for Christmas Potter…', he thought to himself.

He watched her as she flipped through the pages for a few minutes. Her eyes, darting left and right as she followed her finger along the lines of text. Her eyes growing wider in parts, and her brows furrowing as she thought deeply about other sections. Eventually she looked up.

"Why is this not taught in Hogwarts?" She asked incredulously.

"Which part?"

"The whole thing! The section about magic and how it's formed, and how we use wands, to direct it, and incantation to focus our intent. How is this not on the first year curriculum? This would make spells so much easier to cast if we were told how casting actually works, and why we say the spells and do certain wand movements."

"Hermione, you're telling me this isn't taught? That's… that actually explains a lot…"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you remember our charms lesson, about using more or less power for spells to change them? I figured it would be something everyone does, but no one in the class did. Nor did they do it in any other class either." He laughed out loud now, "it also explains why Sirius was there in all my lessons. It wasn't to keep me company, he was studying alongside with me. Oh that's brilliant."

"But Harry, if it's not taught… how did your mum know this?" She asked as she flipped through some more pages in the book absentmindedly.

"Well, I assume it's from her research into spells and origins of magic.

"What? What is it? You're hmming thoughtfully and that usually means you have some crazy idea, or you're about to push me into the lake. Again."

She laughed, "Come on that was funny, I called your name three times and you completely ignored me! But, I'm thinking, maybe you should start like a study club? Teach these things to us? You've been an amazing tutor at duelling. I know I've improved a lot, and you've seen how well Neville is doing."

"A club? Hermione, I've not made that many friends at Hogwarts, and of those I have only you and Neville will come. I'll happily share what I know with the two of you."

"What if I told my friends, and asked them to spread the word? Would you mind if there were more people? I just think it would help everyone so much to understand magic, I know the professors do their best, but they have to stick to their curriculum and this probably totally deviates from it. It might also just be something that they intuitively know from years of experience, and aren't really able to share it." Hermione continued laying out her rationale for Harry.

"Well… oh come on you can drop the puppy-dog eyes act," she smiled at him as he sighed, "fine, fine. Though I still don't think anyone will bother. I've noticed that learning doesn't seem to be a priority for most at that school"

This time both of them laughed, and their conversation slowly dissolved into talking about their classmates and how few of them actually seem to enjoy learning.

"Good evening Amelia"

"Evening Mrs Potter, please take a seat."

Lily sighed as Amelia Bones addressed her as Mrs Potter. Thinking to herself that this was going to be more formal than she anticipated with her old friend. Lily sat down across from Amelia and took in her surroundings, the office was large, but felt cramped with the amount of paperwork stacked all over the place.

"We should just start this. I'm going to ask you to hand your wand over so I can run a preliminary check on it. If there's anything out of order, or anything I find suspicious I will hand the wands over to be investigated further.

"You can also start explaining your view of what occurred at the graveyard in Godric's Hollow." She finished and reached her hand out for Lily's wand.

It's been a few years since Lily has last seen Amelia. Their last meeting wasn't exactly pleasant, but she didn't like the brusque tone that she used, like the two haven't been friends for years.

"I have two wands," she said as she handed both over to Amelia, "here, though I won't be able to tell you which one I used so feel free to check both." Amelia raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything as she took the wands from Lily.

Lily began her story, telling Amelia how she visited her late husband's grave on the anniversary of his death. How she was ambushed by the wizards, how she attempted to disarm the wards before she turned to fight them. How she called Sirius on her mirror to help her.

Amelia, listened as she checked the spells cast from both wands. The story corroborated what the forensics found, and no lethal spells were cast with either wand. Amelia turned her attention back to Lily as she finished her story.

"Do you visit your husband's grave often?"

Lily narrowed her eyes but responded to the question, "On important dates to me, yes."

"Why didn't you call for the aurors straight away?"

"I was busy trying to dismantle the wards and called Sirius instead. He called the aurors as soon as he arrived. Sent a patronus.

"After the fight, Sirius took me home, settled me with a drink and intended to go back to the scene. But we already got a message saying that the aurors arrived and you wanted to see us."

"Why do you have two wands?"

"Irrelevant-"

"Answer the question."

"How about you ask questions without being clouded by whatever grudge you're holding against me!"

"I am not holding a grudge!"

"Then act like it!"

Both women were now standing glaring at each other. Lily was the first to speak.

"You are treating me like I'm a suspect when you know full well that's not the case. You've got my wands and you've seen the spells I've used. These men were still alive when Sirius and I disapparated.

"I know why you're doing this, and I sort of get it Amelia. But you're better than this, you wouldn't let your own feelings get in the way of doing your job. So get over it," and in a calmer voice she added, "I think you've got everything you need, I'll take my wands back." She took the wands from Amelia and pocketed them. "I would also like to invite you to a meeting between Dumbledore, Harry, Sirius, you, and I. I want it to take place after New Year's before Harry goes back to Hogwarts. It's important and confidential. You'll see why when you attend."

"I'll be there," Amelia replied curtly.

Lily nodded her thanks and she turned and started to walk out her office.

"Lily, wait, I'm s-"

"Save it Amelia, I know you are, but it's not me who you need to direct that apology at. I'll see you in January"

With that she left Amelia's office, leaving the woman sitting back at her desk with a pensive expression on her face as she tried to put her thoughts and emotions in order.

I'm not entirely happy with how I portrayed the story in Norway. I had this grand idea, but couldn't put it down. So it's likely that I'll rewrite it at some point in the future,

Next chapter we introduce the Grangers and have Harry teach magic (my way of explaining the magic system to you guys). The chapter after will be Christmas, and then we have the meeting.