AUTHOR NOTE:
I now present to you the collected and tweaked first chapter of Star Potter. I moved a few things around, tried to clarify a few other things. Expanded a couple scenes and tightened up a couple others. I'm not going to take down the vignettes that these grew from so you can compare and contrast if you're that inclined. However from now on out ALL further Star Potter adventures will be here as part of this story. As always I disavow all ownership of anything to do with anything that may or may not have been written by myself. I am just a figment of my own imagination
*Warning* Harry is GRAY. Hermione is his Lady. While there will be humor there will be darkness.
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For those who may not be aware this story is about What happens when Harry is trapped at the Dursley's after the return of Voldemort at the close of the Tournament. Instead of moping in guilt he gets angry, he watches a lot of old movies including Star Wars which clicks with him. The words of Obi-wan resonate within him and he tries to learn the Force. Discovering that magic or the force are pretty malleable he takes the thoughts that had been building in his head and turns them into action. Soon he is building his own Order of Jedi Knights and causing a rebellion of his own in the Wizarding world. I have no idea how often I will come up with new bits for this but May the Force be with You, Always.
=========xxxxxxx=========
Harry had been suffering for the last month at Durzkaban as he was starting to think of the place. He had been allowed to watch some old movies though on a tv and VCR Dudley had tired of because the tv was far too small.
Harry was watching a movie about space wizards fighting with glowing laser swords and he was inspired by this. He began watching it over and over every waking moment. Practicing the actions on the screen. Moving his hands just so and focusing his magic. If he could become that strong, that powerful. If he could become one with his magic he would be able to defeat Voldemort. When his first feeble attempts did not garner him a letter from the underage office he began to practice harder and use more energy.
He was sitting in the park after being thrown out of the house for doing nothing but watching movies and taking up electricity. He had a long broom handle he had found and was practicing the moves with it when Dudley and his gang came up.
Harry ignored them until Piers came up and tried to get in his face. Harry called on his magic and spun the broom handle up and against Pier's head. He blurred among the group smacking them, knocking them down and bruising their tender vittles. Soon the only ones still standing was Dudley and Harry.
He saved Dudley for last as he was frozen in place staring at Harry. "Your not supposed to do that out here?" He was questioning his vision and reality.
"Do what Dudley. All I did was use a broom handle to beat your friends up. Nothing major Dudders." He spun the broom handle out so it was pointed directly between Dudley's eyes.
"What are you going to do to me?" Dudley cried as he wet himself in fear.
"I'm going to let you live. Just as long as you remember I can kill you at any point I want. I won't bother with a pig's tail. I'll turn you into a hog and sell you to the butcher's."
Dudley shivered at the cold and hard way Harry said that looking into his eyes with an unblinking hooded gaze.
It started getting cloudy and chilly at that point. Harry looked around and saw three dark cloaked figures gliding across the landscape. Their trail leaving frost and decay behind them. Harry took off running for Privet drive. Dudley who had closed his eyes took a few seconds more. A few seconds longer that cost him everything as he felt such sudden despair, sadness. He saw his life flashing before him and all of the bullying and pain he had caused. He never saw the scaly, dead looking thing that pulled back its hood and clamped a wide gaping maw over his face. He felt a brief stinging sucking sensation then he felt nothing ever again.
The thing let go and moved on to catch its brethren which was still chasing their target. The wet sickly thud of Dudley's vegetative body slumping to the ground was ignored by the rapidly retreating creature as if it was nothing more than a used candy wrapper.
Harry ran in the front door, through the house and out the back door. He turned right and leaped over the azalea bush between the neighbors. He dodged and jinked and came to a corner where he stuck his wand hand out on the corner.
With a pop hiss of brakes the Knight bus appeared.
"Hullo I'm Stanley Shunpike the conductor for the knight...,
"845 Oak Avenue Crawley. And step on it." Harry said throwing some galleons from his pocket at the conductor.
Looking down he started to count out change, "You don't need to count change just go." Harry said waving his hand at the boy.
"Hey Ernie hit it 845 Crawley and make it fly."
Harry almost fell off his feet as he was thrown to the back of the bus. The last time he had ridden the bus it had beds now there were wicker chairs. Outside the windows there was a swirling green tunnel as the bus moved so rapidly through the world.
A pop hiss of brakes later and Harry skidded down the corridor to the front of the bus. Picking himself up the wizened bespectacled driver looked at him while Stanley called out, "845 Oak Ave Crawley."
"Thank you. Good day." Harry said standing and composing himself.
Walking up to the house that had Hermione's address on the gatepost in bright brass numbers he suddenly had an attack of nerves. He was opening the gate when the front door opened and his brown haired friend came charging out and glomped him in a hug. He barely had time to recognize that she was wearing a button down casual shirt and jean shorts.
"Oh Harry what are you doing here? You didn't do something to your aunt again did you?"
"Nope. I've done absolutely nothing to anyone. I just wanted to talk to you and show you some stuff I learned." he said smoothing his hair back.
"Uh mom and dad aren't here right now. So I'm not supposed to bring boys in."
"Yeah but I'm not just a boy I'm Harry Potter." He grinned at her.
Slapping him on the chest she laughed, "Oh you prat. C'mon."
Harry looked around to make sure the weather stayed warm and sunny.
=====xxxxx=====
Meanwhile the Dementors came gliding up to the house. Mundungus was half asleep still hungover from last night's effort to pickle himself alive in fire whiskey. He heard the Potter kid run through at full blast. Figuring that he and his cousin were playing some game he settled back against the fence again. It was when he started shivering in the cold that he realized something was wrong. A second later he felt the deepest pain of his life as all of the horrible things he had done began to replay themselves. He had only regressed a few years when the mouth that sucked his soul out of its body struck.
The other two creatures entered the house. The beings within wondering what the Potter kid was doing now. What sort of freakish behavior...Was the last thought the large lump of fat laying on the floor would ever have. The tall thin horse faced body collapsed in the living room looked like it actually might have been resting if it wasn't for the horrible rictus of fear frozen and contorted on its face.
The three creatures gathered in the front yard and communicated in their way. They had been sent to absorb all living beings at #4 Privet drive Little Whinging. 3 muggles and 1 magical. They have completed their task they determined after consultation. Their presence was no longer required so they left. Gliding over the streets ignoring any other targets.
=====xxxxx=====
"Harry welcome to my home. I hope you like it."
Harry looked around. It was a nice place with books sitting on tables, a large bookshelf dwarfing a small television. Several comfortable chairs with reading lamps next to them. A small fireplace and a nice carpet. A dining room and a kitchen beyond he could see as well.
"Nice so where's your room?"
"Upstairs but you're not seeing that."
"Oh leave your dirty knickers sitting around did you?"
"No I am very neat and tidy. What's going on Harry you're acting different."
"Well I've had a lot of time to think. Especially since no one told me anything of what was going on."
"Yes well Professor Dumbledore told us not to. He said it would be too dangerous now that he's back."
"Voldemort?"
"Yes him."
"Hermione don't tell me they got to you too about saying the jerk's name."
"Yes well sorry. I've trained myself not to say it over the last month as they get very upset if you do at." She stopped talking.
"At?"
"I can't tell you Harry."
"Why not?"
"Because its protected by a deeply powerful magic and I cannot tell you. I am physically and magically prevented from telling you."
"Why would they do that to you?"
"Its to help keep us safe. If I cannot tell anyone then I cannot reveal the secret."
"Yeah and the bad guys can just torture you to death or keep on torturing and raping you for the fun of it because they get mad that you can't tell them that. Way to go Dumbledore putting you in far more danger."
Hermione opened her mouth to argue but closed it as she worked through the point Harry made.
"Its not for my safety like he said its for theirs."
"Yep. Everything Dumbledore has done has been for HIS safety not mine, not yours. His and his precious world."
"Well I guess its good that you came here and I was home. I had to come and get a few things for there." She looked like she had tried to say something but her mouth moved and nothing came out.
"Don't worry about it."
"So why are you here?"
"I spent the last month thinking and realizing a few things and studying a new form of magic."
"You studied magic?"
"Yeah." He waved his hand and her buttons popped off her blouse as it flew open. "Wandless."
She shrieked and grabbed her shirt shut. Slapping him on the arm with her other hand she shouted, "Harry Potter what do you think you're doing?"
He saw a can of sugar free soda on the counter and held his hand out it floated across the room to him. "Here you might want to calm down and listen."
She had stopped yelling at him and was staring with her eyes wide open. "How did you learn to do that?"
"I used the force."
She shook her head like she hadn't heard him properly. "You what?"
"I used the force. Like in the movies. Its kinda like magic and the way he was presenting it in the movies made sense. So I tried practicing and developed it."
"Really?"
"Yeah pretty much all the stuff they could do in all the movies I can do. And it doesn't set off the trace."
She licked her lips, "Could you teach me?"
"Maybe if you were my girlfriend."
"Ron has been pushing hints that he and I should get together." She said with a frown.
"Ron is a prat that doesn't deserve someone as nice as you. He has never been nice to you unless he wants something. He probably wants you to be some kind of housewife and baby maker. Think about it Hermione. Search your feelings you know it to be true."
She looked at him with a raised eyebrow at the cheese of that line but thought about things. Ron had always been a bully. A casual bigot making snide remarks about muggles, even though she was a muggle born. The way he treated girls was very old fashioned chauvinistic. Plus he was a mamma's boy and prat. Harry on the other hand had always treated her nicely, respected her and while he did beg her to help with his homework he didn't expect her to do it for him like Ron did.
"So you'll teach me this. All this that you learned how to do in a month. The only price is if I'm your girlfriend?"
"Yes my young apprentice." He whispered maniacally at her then grinned.
She shrugged her shirt off exposing a creamy bra and knelt before him. "What is thy bidding my master."
=====xxxxx=====
Dumbledore was holding a meeting at Grimmould when he felt the wards at Privet drive collapse. He called out for the members there to come with him and be ready for trouble. They used the Floo to go to Figg's residence and found many muggle vehicles with red and blue lights flashing on their roofs.
Snape raised an eyebrow, "Sir those are police, fire and rescue units. They are the muggle equivalents of auror's."
"This is bad. We should retrieve Miss Granger. Alastair remain here and determine what happened."
=====xxxxx=====
Harry and Hermione had retired to her room. A quiet peach walled neat and tidy room as she described it. A few feminine touches softened the décor of bookshelves, dressers, nightstand and a comfortable bed.
A very comfortable bed that Harry and Hermione were testing the compression rebounding effect of the springs upon. So they did not hear the front door bell.
Sirius, Minerva and Severus unlocked the door and entered. They heard noises from upstairs. Hermione's voice crying out in supplication to a supreme deific being. Sirius and Minerva looked at each other while Snape rolled his eyes. None of them virginal they reluctantly snuck up the stairs.
The closer the got to the room the deeper the clothes were starting with a cream color bra followed by a white masculine T-shirt. Sirius began to grin and had to be glared at to stop from laughing out loud especially when the came to a pair of white boxers and pink knickers tossed haphazardly.
Standing outside the bedroom they performed an ancient mystical rite of rock, paper, scissors to determine who would peek into the room. Severus lost and he glared before he girded himself.
Pushing open the door he saw a side of Harry potter that he would remember for the rest of his life. Unfortunately it would be in his nightmares. Underneath him was a very healthy and obviously happy Miss Granger. The two of them showed surprising athletic ability as she performed some sort of maneuver and she was suddenly astride Potter.
Snape withdrew before he was spotted, not that the energy in the eyes of the Granger girl was focused on anything but Potter. Snape was not certain but Voldemort might not have distracted them they were that focused. He would be using his occlumancy to remove this mental image at the soonest opportunity.
Minerva looked at him questioningly. He sighed and using his hands shooed them back the way they came. Sirius tried to peek but Minerva grabbed him by the arm and dragged him backwards.
Once back downstairs the three gathered in the living room. Severus shivered, "They are both quite alive and quite healthy."
"Yeah Hermione sounds like she's got quite the lungs on her."
"She does appear to be rather athletic."
"Alright you two perverts. I take it they are engaging in sexual relations."
"Well they are not studying charms." Severus snarked.
"I will have to tell Albus that Harry is safe. Do you have any idea when they will be completed?"
"Well if Harry's anything like James and Hermione anything like Lily it could be this time tomorrow." Sirius said honestly.
Minerva raised her eyebrow in disbelief.
"No joke. Remus and I timed them once. 15 hours 16 minutes and that was counting a few minor naps and re-hydration breaks. I swear the man was a beast. And James told me Lils had no pleasure threshold at all. A mere mortal would have died."
Severus looked at Sirius in concern but shaking his head silently cursed his youthful stupidity.
Minerva pursed her lips in consternation but pulled a mirror Sirius had provided the Order and contacted Albus.
"Yes Minerva. Is Miss Granger well?"
"I would say she is quite well."
"Oh have you spoken to her?"
"No she was otherwise engaged."
"With what. You should have interrupted her, We still do not know what happened to Harry. He was not at the Dursleys thankfully."
"Oh he is with Miss Granger."
"Well that is good news. Confusing but good. I suppose you can bring them in now."
"When they are done."
"Well what are they doing that is so important that you cannot disturb them."
"They are studying Albus. You know how I feel about interrupting students studying."
Exhaling through his nostrils in frustration Dumbledore was becoming frustrated, "Well what are they studying that requires such attentiveness."
"Anatomy Albus. They are studying anatomy."
"Yeah each others old man." Sirius barked out and then began laughing uncontrollably as Molly Weasley began squawking in the background in abject disgust at the temerity of them. How it was horrible and they should stop them. Albus had to turn the mirror to the wall and calm her down. Ron had come in and heard his mother screeching about that scarlet woman Hermione. When he figured out that Harry and Hermione had joined their forces he began becoming upset which led to Ginny joining the fracas. Sirius pulled the mirror over so he could watch.
Harry walked into the living room from the stairs wearing his boxers. He stopped when he saw the two professors and his godfather. "Oh hey."
Sirius looked over, "Hey pup. How's it going?"
"Uh really good."
"You and Hermione have a good study session." He said wiggling his eyebrows.
"Yeah she wanted something to drink so uh I'll talk in a few."
=====xxxxx====
Several minutes later Harry and Hermione were dressed and standing in the kitchen of #12 Grimmould place. Harry had been given the secret at the last minute once it was discovered he had not been told by anyone yet.
The fact that Molly, Ron and Ginny were all three glaring at the two of them holding hands casually did not bother Harry. Hermione with a large happy grin on her face and giving a soft sigh every so often leaned against Harry quite contentedly and unconcerned with the ire of the Weasleys. Arthur and the twins though were trying not to laugh.
Albus looked at Harry, "I'm sorry to say but it appears your family was killed by Dementors."
Harry shrugged, "The Dursleys weren't my family. They were my prison guards. Hermione is really my only living family."
"She's not your family Harry," Molly started standing in his face.
Harry waved his hand dismissively in front of her, "Hermione is my family."
Molly sighed "Hermione is your family."
"You're happy for us." He waved his hand back again.
"Oh I'm so happy for the both of you." She said hugging Harry and then Hermione.
Albus tried to detect what spell Harry had cast. It had looked like an Imperious by the way Molly was acting but he wasn't holding his wand. He also hadn't said anything and there wasn't really a flash of magic.
"Hey what am I chopped liver?" Sirius interjected.
"I don't know what little interactions with you have been less than thrilling dude. You were a barely coherent psychotic with Pettigrew. Since then I've had a few postcards and empty letters with barely platitudes. Why not just put a five pound note in a birthday card and send it to me."
When no one reacted he sighed and looked at Hermione who shrugged.
"Fine moving onward. Remus you've been a piss poor family member too. Best friend to my parents and the first I see you is on the train to Hogwarts in my third year. You never talked to me about mom and dad much. Told me what was going on. SO yeah you're NOT family either."
"And NO offense Arthur I like you, The twins are okay but the rest of your family annoys the crap out of me."
Ron jumped up, "Hey I'm your best mate eh?"
"My best mate. Really? You've been a jealous, selfish, arrogant prat. You've been insulting to my girlfriend and lover. You have made fun of her and her parents. You've been a casual bigot. And Ginny I like you as a SISTER. Either accept that or go away. You'll never be my lover."
Ginny's mouth hung open. She started to say something then ran off crying. Harry didn't look twice at her.
Albus looked at Harry with some concern. Snape was hiding a grin as it looked like Potter had his mother's temper. Minerva was staring at Harry in shock as he tore into every person in the room.
"And as for you headmaster. I am sorry but you have lied and manipulated and told me only what you wanted to tell me. You claim you've told me the truth, but its only been the truth from a certain point of view. Yours. Obviously I am important to Voldemort." When everyone shuddered except himself, Snape, Dumbledore and Hermione he shouted, "HIS NAME IS VOLDEMORT! GET OVER IT YOU PEOPLE!"
Arthur pale and shaken, "Harry you don't understand."
"I understand you people are supposed to be full grown wizards. Capable of powerful magic and you act like a bunch of window washers from Stilton. I can understand Ron he's been cowed into it and never had any positive strong role models in his life. He's got the potential to be something if he would get his lazy butt in gear. The rest of you what's your excuse."
"Harry enough of this. What has come into you?" Minerva exclaimed.
"I had a lot of time to think while you people where all evasive and lying to my face. When I was locked in my room eating tinned cat food because Petunia bought it on sale. When Vernon was yelling at me. I had a lot of time to think about everything and Like I was saying its obvious Voldemort thanks I'm important. That he'll go to any length to find me and I want to know why. I want full immediate and total disclosure in front of everyone in this room and I will not accept anything less."
Albus Dumbledore was as shocked as if Harry had slapped him with a Haddock.
"Harry I cannot do that."
"Why? Am I too young still? I've killed a man. I've fought in a life and death tournament. I almost died saving Ginny and the school from a giant Basilisk as well as Voldemort's ghost, which by the way I looked up life debts while I was in my cell. She owes me one big time. So does Hermione from the bathroom."
"Hey that means she owes me too."
"NOPE Ron you are the reason she was there so YOU owe her an apology but she owes YOU NOTHING!" Harry growled.
"Harry please. Lets calm down and relax."
"No sir. I will have full disclosure or Hermione and I will walk out that door and either go to Beauxbatons or go find Voldemort and ask him for disclosure. But I'm done being your little pet you pull out when you need me and then put me back in the box when you're done. I'm not a dolly wally. I am a Wizard like my father before me. Hermione is with me in this fully."
She nodded and placed her arms around his waist tightly. "Where he goes I go.
Severus raised his eyebrow at Harry then cleared his throat. "Sir. My home is secured, the Dark Lord would never think to look for them there and I could give him as much information as I have until you can come up with some convincing lie, er, interpretation of the facts that will satisfy them and yourself."
Albus felt control slipping out of his fingers. Harry was positively shaking with rage. His magic was causing an oppressive suffocating sensation as Albus fought to breathe. Severus had all but accused him of lying to Harry in front of him.
"What you're not really considering going with the wanker are you. Hermione you want to stay here with us don't you?" Ron tried to grin seductively causing Hermione to look at him in disgust.
"Don't give me that come hither look. I'd rather kiss a Wookie."
"A what? We haven't learned about them yet." Ron said.
Albus sighed, "This bickering is pointless. Severus take Potter and his paramour and get them out of here. We need to consider the situation. And Harry I will think about this. Please allow me time."
"Don't take too long or I shall be forced to alter the deal." Harry spun on his heals and left the room followed by Hermione.
"Severus, try to talk some sense into him."
"He is too much like his parents Albus. I would suggest you consider your position very carefully."
======xxxxx=====
Snape and the two teens arrived at a house in an industrial town. Harry could smell the lingering sulfur of long burned coal in the air as a palpable aura. The houses had long ago settled into a sort of dingy coexistence with each other and the world, as if tired and elderly men sitting on a bench for their final bus ride.
Snape led them into one such house that was in the middle of the street. It had no better and no worse appearance than any other. Vernon Dursley would have proclaimed it the home of a perfectly normal person, from the outside.
Inside there were three walls filled with books of all sorts. Two comfortable chairs with a table holding a reading lamp between them sat in the middle of the room while a desk was pressed against a window by the front door.
Hermione immediately dropped her trunk and began to glide over the book titles to Snape's amusement. Potter of course watched him like he expected the professor to suddenly grow fangs and attack.
"Welcome to my humble abode. I believe I can trust you not to disturb anything too seriously while I do something?"
"No of course not sir. You have quite the collection of books."
"Yes. It is the hallmark of an advanced intellect to appreciate the written word." He said as he stepped through a doorway in the back of the room.
Coming over to Harry she spoke in a low voice, "Ok so want to tell me why you suddenly trust Professor Snape."
"I don't trust him. I just distrust him the least. Did you notice he was the only one who didn't take offense at anything I said?"
"True I wonder why."
Snape returned holding a glass beaker which he handed to Hermione. "Fill this with your urine."
Taken aback she looked at him, "Uh why sir?"
"Did you use any precautions this afternoon during your activities?"
Hermione's eyes grew wide, "Uh I didn't"
Harry shook his head as well.
"Then we need to determine if your liaisons have caused any further complication to your lives."
"But we just did it this afternoon. The hormones wouldn't have time to show up in my urine."
"If you were a muggle that would be true. As you are a magical your body's aura changes at the moment of implantation. It has been sufficient time since you engaged in your activities that if you are pregnant your body's aura would have changed and become detectable in your fluids. Urine is the easiest to test."
"Oh uh ok."
Snape pointed to the doorway he came from, "The loo is through the kitchen on the left."
Once Hermione was out of the room he examined Harry. "You are underweight and wearing second hand ill fitting clothes. Not the sort of thing a well fed pampered prince would be wearing. More like some pauper."
"What of it?"
"If you seek my help gaining this full disclosure you desire the street will have to run both ways as they say."
"Okay so my guardians were cheap bastards looking to make a dime off the NHS and government welfare. They claimed they were buying me new things and instead going to the Oxfam to get my things. Cheap NHS Glasses that's why they break all the time. As for food they ate like hogs while I would get a toast and wilted lettuce sandwich. If I dared try to get into their cabinets or refrigerator without permission I would get locked in my room. Why what have you heard?"
Snape growled, "I was told to my face by Dumbledore that you were with relatives of Lily's. That they treated you like a prince in their well to do muggle residence with love and affection. That your clothing choices were merely a muggle affectation."
"Wow. That is certainly a different interpretation of the truth."
"Yes it appears to be."
Hermione came back wiping her hands on a towel. "I did as much as I could. Its on the counter in the jakes I didn't know where else you'd want it."
"That will be sufficient. Take your things to the upstairs bedroom then return. It will take a few minutes for the reactant to develop a result." He said showing them how to use the secret door behind the bookshelf.
"Uh you're going to let us share a bedroom?"
Raising his eyebrow he looked at Hermione, "There are only two bedrooms in this house. As I shall not be surrendering mine that leaves us with few options. I thought you would be happy to share a bed with your lover after that performance this afternoon."
Hermione blushed, "Uh Yes sir I just thought we might have to argue things a bit more as most adults wouldn't be as understanding."
"I am not understanding. I am apathetic. As long as you do not disturb me with your physical exertions I do not care if you break him. Just do so with a silencing charm on the bed."
Harry chuckled briefly before saying yes sir a moment after Hermione.
=====xxxxx====
"Looks cozy." Harry said putting Hedwig on her stand in the corner. His trunk against the wall of the upstairs room. It was one room with a small closet smelling of mothballs. Hermione's trunk settled in beside it with Crookshanks carrier.
"Just the way I like it. Especially with you." She said putting her arms around him.
Turning around within the circle of her embrace so that he could face her Harry kissed her gently, "Sorry if I embarrassed you."
"No I think I knew and felt all those things already I was just in denial. Ron can be a nice and fun guy and make me feel good when he wants to. Its just the only times he wants to are when he wants something from me."
"Yeah. When we get to the school though we'll have to keep it up. We can't show weakness. I hope you're ready for that."
"I will be. Just each me everything you can and I'll do my best."
"You always do."
=====xxxxx====
Waiting in Snape's kitchen the two teens held hands nervously. He entered from a basement door and crossing to the sink said, "You are not pregnant. That is fortunate at least."
She squeezed Harry's hand with a sad but happy smile.
Snape came back and placed two potions in front of Harry and one in front of Hermione.
"The one in front of you Miss Granger is a monthly prophylactic potion. Since it would not be beneficial to get you in the family way each month you will take one of these until you graduate, or at least until it no longer would be detrimental to become pregnant. Then it is your choice."
"Thank you sir."
"The ones in front of you Potter are a nutritional supplement to help with certain health issues no doubt caused by your lack of proper diet at your former residence. The other is a general health tonic."
"Thank you sir. Two things. Why are you helping us so much?"
"Because it would be beneficial to myself, and I owe your father a great deal."
"Oh." Harry said hoisting his vials as Hermione drank hers.
"And the other thing?"
"Why didn't Madam Pomfrey catch this?"
"I am not certain. I will be inquiring of her that question when we return to the school. She should have noticed at some point, especially given your propensity to wind up within her domain."
Harry and Hermione both frowned.
"Now about your performance this afternoon in the kitchen. How did you manage to silence Molly Weasley so effectively. I was not certain that the Dark Lord would be able to."
Harry chuckled, "I used the force."
"The Force?" Snape dryly sighed.
"Well there is a muggle movie sir,..." Hermione began before he raised his hand to stop her.
"I am well aware of the movies. There are three of them."
The teens looked at each other in surprise then back at Snape before he actually chuckled dryly.
"You are surprised that I would know of a muggle movie such as that. Those movies even briefly came to the attention of the ICW and the various magical governments of the world. Every muggle-born in the world it seems had seen them. Fortunately for you most pure-bloods dismissed them as a fad or like certain associates of mine as just another muggle attempt to undermine our culture and traditions."
"Wow. Imagine being so petty and hidebound that a movie like that could threaten your very society." Hermione sniffed.
"Well it seems you do not know everything. The creator of those movies is the squib son of a rather prominent American wizarding family. Like many in the entertainment industry they find a way to make magic happen as they say. They slip subtle references to our world and magic in hopes of actually undermining our culture and traditions. Rather humorous actually."
"Wow. Okay. So how did you get to become a fan?"
"Your mother came back from summer break raving about this new movie. Your father had been less than interested as were his friends. They found muggle cars and rock bands for more interesting. I believe your father was rather fond of the Bond films."
"Oh. Okay." Harry found that interesting.
"Yes. Well in hopes of regaining your mother's interest I went and saw the film over the Yule break. I was entranced by it. The story, the characters. Although I was rooting for the Darth Vader character. At the time I was rather foolish. I had a totally different interpretation of the film than your mother and it just continued to drive a wedge between us. She saw herself as the plucky young princess and your father as her charming star captain."
"Wow. You have told me more about what my parent's were like in the last few minutes than anyone else in the last four years."
Snape's nostrils flared, "Dumbledore has an agenda. Even I do not know what it is and I work for him. He has convinced all of the other professors and those such as the Weasleys that he has your best interests at heart. It is becoming obvious that may not be the case."
"Yeah. I mean Dementors came for me today."
"True. That means someone at the Ministry desires you dead."
"Great so I have Voldemort, the Ministry and Dumbledore all meddling with my life."
"So it seems. Oh and Potter about saying his name. There is a very good reason."
"Yeah?"
"He placed a curse upon that title. Those who would speak his name but who were not one of his followers would reveal their location and he would dispatch a team of death eaters to murder, rape and torture anyone at that location. Soon people learned to only speak around his name, using euphemisms and circumlocutions."
"That's horrible."
"The Dark Lord does not care. He seeks power, he seeks stability and above all else he seeks immortality."
"That's why he named himself flees death!"
"Yes Miss Granger. Names have power over those who hold them. This is why you should if you plan on continuing this course of action come up with some nom-du-guerre of your own."
"Well Hermione's will be easy. Darth Librus." Harry said with a chuckle.
"Yeah well what will we call you?"
Harry thought, "I don't think they ever named the Emperor in any of the movies."
"Well dad has a copy of the books. And they said his name was Palpatine. But that doesn't fit you very well. And who said you get to be the emperor?"
"No it doesn't. And well someone has to don't they?"
"No I don't think so."
"Okay well do you have any suggestions?"
"Well since he flees death perhaps you could be Darth Mortem." Snape offered.
"Darth Mortem. Darth Death. Well Mister Flees Death here I come."
=====xxxxx=====
The next day Snape allowed them to get a television and VCR to study the tapes. Hermione focused on her learning what Harry was trying to teach her. How to access this style of magic. Once she began to feel how the magic flowed and such as he said it made sense to her. She borrowed some of Snape's books and studied things that she would never have had access to at school.
"Harry did you know that until around 300BC all magicals cast spells wandlessly. The wand was developed as a focus to enhance the magical powers of the weaker wizards and witches. Give them an ability to cast more powerful spells than mere willpower. It also throttled back the more powerful magicals by limiting the amount of power they could focus through the wand. Eventually wizarding society was using the wands exclusively to the point by 1632 it was seen as a weakness or punishment to not use a wand. That is one reason the Goblins have been denied the right to use wands, as the wand is so strongly tied to the wizard culture. It is seen as a badge of honor."
"So by us developing the ability to not use wands we are rebelling against the culture?"
"Yeah nobody uses wandless for most things. Only if they really want to cheat or not announce what they are doing. Its an almost unknown power. There are probably quite a few who could never cast another spell if they didn't have their wands."
"Well it does take a bit more effort but it's like running or gardening. You get tired easy at first but eventually you get stronger."
"So why don't they teach this at school?" She cried out.
"The ones in charge either don't know or don't care. If you control the wands you control the people. I mean the trace seems to be tied to the wand."
"What are we getting ourselves into with this?"
"A far larger universe than you expected."
She gave Harry a sly smile. "So it seems my master. We are going to need allies."
"I know. Neville might benefit. His wand work is so erratic and strange anyhow that maybe trying wandless might be better."
"What about Ron or Ginny."
"I'll have to see if they still even want to talk to me much less try and help overthrow the entire wizarding world."
=====xxxxx=====
Snape had been going out and doing tasks for Dumbledore and the Dark Lord both during this time. He told them of the actions he took in general, with few details but Harry understood that both sides were consolidating their power. As for Snape it almost seemed like he was warming up to them and having someone to share the burdens of being a double agent with made him friendlier.
Harry learned a lot more about his mother as she was from this town. His grandparents were buried in the cemetery across town. He had been a manager at the nearby mill and his mother and aunt comfortable for the era. Snape had met her one day along the canal as she was hiding and crying from something her sister had said. Snape befriended her and showed her how magic could be a special wonderful thing.
He refused to talk about his own past directly. Little things slipped through though that indicated he had deep regrets and while his obsession with Lily was a bit uncomfortable at times Harry began to understand that Snape did love her in his own strange way. That he still had strong feelings of regret for going down a path she wouldn't follow. He also recognized with Hermione's help that Snape may not have had a very good childhood either. As there was no drinking alcohol in the entire house they could see. Snape having seltzers or fruit juices available if they didn't want water. Hermione pointed out that her parents kept brandy and some whiskey in the house, even if the bottle took a year or two to go away.
They were upstairs reading some of the letters Sirius had written recently. He and Remus had a long talk and discovered that Harry was right. They had been lied to and were not acting like family to him. They hoped they could come around and work things out at some point. Dumbledore was meddling though and the Weasleys were divided about Harry. With Ginny still moping around and missing him. Ron would ignore that Harry existed or he would start cursing him and calling him all kinds of names. Molly would only refer to Hermione as the whore.
"Well that leaves Ron way out. Ginny maybe if she gets some emotional help but I dunno."
The doorbell rang which was the guest Snape had told them he was expecting and that they needed to remain silent. They listened and heard the voice of Narcissa Malfoy downstairs. They heard her and Snape laugh a bit and then it fell silent. Hermione recognized the effects of a silencing charm.
=====xxxxxx====
The week before school began they went to the Alley with Snape to get their things. They decided a wardrobe change would be a good idea. They also met Remus and Sirius, who under poly-juice was pretending to be a busty female named Mandy, for lunch.
Arriving back at Snape's home they were met by Minerva McGonnegal. Allowing her to enter they sat at the kitchen table.
She slid a pair of envelopes to the two teens. "It took some convincing but I have named the pair of you as fifth year prefects. Albus wanted to give it to Mister Weasley but I vetoed that idea. He would allow the authority to go to his head. Plus his brothers would no doubt run roughshod over him. I trust then that the two of you will refrain from abusing this privilege?"
"We will do what is required of us ma'am." Hermione declared while Harry nodded looking at the badge.
=====xxxxx=====
Exploring Cokeworth they found a small cottage on the outskirts of town by the canal that appeared abandoned and unused. Speaking with Snape they discovered that it was tied up in an estate and had not been lived in for several years. Harry and Hermione immediately claimed it as their headquarters. Knowing that they would need a home for their rebellion and safe place. Taking a page from Dumbledore's book they cast a fidelius on the house and placed Harry as the secret keeper.
Hermione and he in between their studying and preparing for the new school year repaired and upgraded the house with electricity and a complete library of video tapes. Not just the movies they had been using but others that involved wandless magic and techniques.
All too soon it was time to return to Hogwarts on the train. Snape looked at them in their new wardrobes and laughed. "You should be careful. People might think you have gone dark."
"We'll keep them guessing as much as we can."
"One thing I have to ask you though. I know Draco can be an annoying little shit but please try not to kill him unless you have to."
"What makes you think we're going to kill anyone?" Hermione asked in concern while harry simply stared ahead.
Snape looked at her with an air of derision. "You do not think you are going to pull this off without people dying Miss Granger. Honestly?"
She bit her lip and looked at the floor.
"You will be resisted. You will be attacked. Potter has already been targeted for death by members of the Ministry, the Dark Lord, and if you move against Dumbledore I am not entirely certain he would not declare you dark and strike back."
"I know sir. I just had hoped we could avoid that."
"I had hopes once as well. Good luck on keeping yours intact. One way or another you would wind up suffering. Every path you would have taken would lead through darkness. Be Dumbledore's pet, Face the dark lord. Your life was cast in pain."
"Yes sir. We'll do our best about Draco. If he leaves us no option though sir. I'm not going to risk Hermione's life or mine to save him." Harry said flat and even toned without looking at Snape.
"That is acceptable. He has to make the choice for himself as do we all. Now let us floo you to the platform and I return to the school."
======xxxxxx=====
Harry and Hermione stepped out of the public floo in the wizarding side of King's Crossing. He was wearing a black tunic with trousers and high black leather boots with a black cloak. Hermione was dressed in similar clothes except she had a skirt over her trousers. They walked with a self assured confidence that parted the waves of people. The prefect badges they had pinned to their chest the only shiny materials on their bodies. Even the buckles of their belts had been cast from a flat gray metal.
Ron and Ginny had not forgiven them for the things that had been said that day so did not greet them. Everyone else was too caught up in their own worlds to deal with them. Which was acceptable to them. Although a few did give them curious looks. Harry saw Lucius Malfoy raise his eyebrow in curiosity at him. Harry inclined his head in polite greeting a minuscule amount.
Harry and Hermione took a compartment on their own. Snuggled in and sat talking until the door opened and Draco leaned against it with his own prefect badge pinned to his robes.
"Well don't you two look cute. All cuddled back here in black. If you're not careful people might think you've joined the right team."
The two of them looked at Draco then Hermione giggled. "Was that supposed to be an insult?"
"What?"
Harry started to say something but Hermione put her hand on his arm, "Allow me to deal with this my master."
"As you wish my apprentice."
Draco was looking at the two of them strangely. Master and apprentice. What kind of game was Potter and the mudblood playing at now. Crabbe and Goyle stepped back as they didn't like the way Hermione was sneering at their boss. While Potter might start throwing punches she would throw hexes. Draco started to open his mouth but Hermione raised her hand with her thumb and fingers spaced apart. Like she was holding a tumbler. She then moved them fractionally closer together.
"Snurck, gahk hurk." Was what Draco choked out as he felt his windpipe constricting. He couldn't breathe. His hands went to his throat to claw but there was nothing there as Hermione stood there with her hand raised at him smiling gently at him.
"If you're going to insult someone Draco it should be something much more inventive. Like you're nothing but a boring, weak, little, childish, twat-waffle."
Draco was leaning against the door frame not to swagger but to remain standing as the world began to narrow.
Harry sighed, "Enough, release him."
"As you wish."
She released her hand and Draco started gasping great huge breaths. He looked at Potter who was gazing at him with a curious disinterest. Almost like a cat looking at a mouse. He decided that he would have to watch himself around these two. He staggered back up the corridor shaking his minions hands off him.
"Well done. You've grown stronger."
"Thank you my lord."
"So are you ready for Hogwarts Darth Librus?"
Hermione laughed gleefully, "Yes my Lord, but is Hogwarts ready for us?"
=====xxxxx=====
The train pulled into Hogsmeade. Darth Mortem stood and pulled his hood up after putting on his tight black gloves. Darth Librus followed him. The two strode towards the carriages their cloaks billowing behind them. The other students not sure what to think. Their eyes never appeared to move very far off of their course, flickering and glancing here and there. Occasionally settling on an individual for more than a few seconds. The lucky individual having heard what Malfoy had screamed would feel a shiver run through their spine and feel a great relief when their gaze moved on.
When they reached the carriages Harry paused looking at the strange winged creatures in the traces. A small blonde girl looked up from her magazine and spoke, "It's okay Harry. You're as sane as I am. I can see them too."
"What are they?"
"They're Thestrals. The only people who can see them are those who have come to accept and understand death."
Harry reached out and patted the warm nose of one of the beasts. It felt slightly scaly like lizard of some kind. Hermione looked at him in concern before clearing her throat.
He nodded and putting the mysterious creature out of mind jumped into the carriage with Neville and the Blonde girl. Hermione followed suit.
"That was quite impressive." Neville said about their standing leap from the ground.
"Most impressive indeed." Hermione intoned.
Neville looked at her strangely then nodded, "What's with the getup guys. You trying to impress Snape?"
"Professor Snape neither needs nor requires our impressing him." Hermione said flipping her hood back to reveal jet black hair that was pulled back in a plait down her back. She had spent the last few minutes of the trip using charms to change and control her hair. Harry flipped his hood back to reveal a shorter more severe hair style. Shaved down each side with longer hair in the back. His scar was very prominent now.
Luna blinked, "Well that is certainly a different look for the pair of you."
"A lot of things are changing." Harry said as he leaned back and studied his two companions.
Neville was stronger than he thought. His magic was erratic but with the force he might improve. He had a strong moral code so he probably Wouldn't be happy with the way things have been going. Harry looked at Hermione who had been studying him and she nodded.
Luna was an unknown. She was a slender figure with an open honest face. She felt like purity and sunshine. Glowing brightly in the aura Harry looked at her in. He elbowed Hermione and nodded to Luna. Hermione turned and studied her.
"Hey guys why are you looking at us like that?" Neville asked in confusion.
"They are studying our auras Neville. I can tell. Mother used to do that."
"What is your name?" Harry asked in his flat tone.
"My name is Luna Lovegood."
"Do you believe Harry when he says Voldemort is back?"
"Yes I do. Father runs the Quibbler and has noticed many disturbing things. He is not allowed to speak openly about the corruption and infiltration of the Ministry so he writes about it in cover terms like the rot-fang conspiracy and such. Very Dickensian in that idea."
"Neville what about you?" Hermione said turning towards their fellow Gryffindor.
"Of course I believe Harry. He's never given me any reason not to."
"What about Dumbledore?" Harry quietly said.
"Uh what about him?"
"What do you think about him? The way he has been running the school."
"Well Gramma."
"I did not ask what your gramma thought Neville. I asked what YOU thought." Harry said leaning forward to place his face only a foot away from Neville's.
"Okay well I think he's got some issues. Like keeping the school open when the Basilisk was running around petrifying people That whole thing not knowing that Voldemort was in Quirrel. He sat only feet away from the guy. And then his supposed best friend Moody was being impersonated by that filthy bastard and he didn't know for another year? He allowed that psychotic beast to roam our halls, to sit among decent people and laugh at us. To laugh at us Harry. All smug and safe up there with the other professors when he should have been ground down into potions ingredients. Fed to some of Hagrid's little friends." Neville was so angry his face was approaching Weasley red and his fists clenched tight enough to make the knuckles turn white. He was shaking in rage.
"The headmaster has been rather lax in his safety measures, plus the sheer amount of bullying and subversive activities. When everyone turned on you during the tournament last year as well as when they thought you were the heir of Slytherin Harry. That was rather rude that he did nothing. But then neither did any of the professors." Luna added.
Harry smiled a minuscule tweak of his lips. "I understand Neville. I know what happened to your parents. The headmaster has memories stored in a device in his office. I accidentally found them."
"You knew?"
"Only since last year. He asked me not to say anything, not that I knew what to say anyhow."
Luna in a sad and quiet voice asked, "Neville what happened to your parents?"
He turned to her then fighting back his anger and tears he spoke, "Barty Crouch Junior was one of the Death Eaters who captured and tortured my parents for over a day. Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband Rodolphus and his brother Rabastan were the others. They did so to get back thinking my parents had helped to destroy their precious dark lord. Instead of being killed like the animals, no the creatures they are they go life in Azkaban. I hope they rot there forever."
Luna put her hand on Neville's arm in comfort. She turned, "I feel your pain. I watched my mother die when I was 9. She conducted an experiment that ended badly."
Neville patted her hand. "I'm sorry. I wish my parents were dead. They are trapped in their own minds. Tortured into insanity they will never recover from. Only Gramma won't accept that. She believes they will wake up one day and everything will be fine again."
They were only a few minutes from the front doors of the castle so Harry simply said, "Neville, Luna we may have a way for you to help. We'll talk to you about this later. But know that no matter what they say Hermione and I are fighting for the forces of good. Do you trust me?" He said holding his hand out.
"I trust you Harry." Neville said taking it.
Luna reached over and clasped their hands, "May I join you. I can be trusted and I believe something is coming. Something bad."
"Yes Luna. You can help us. You can join us. I'll tell you more later. Right now though I want the two of you to enter ahead of us. Drop these by the doors when you walk in. One in the entry hall and one in the great hall." He said pulling some disks about 2 inches across and handing them to the two friends.
"Okay this isn't anything dangerous?"
"Not yet. There may come a time when I ask you to do something dangerous but that day is not yet."
Luna smiled looking at the disk, "I recognize some of these runes. These will play music when activated."
"Yeah there are three different songs loaded into them. Hermione has the primary coin that controls all of the others through the protean charm. Her and a friend worked that out over the summer."
"Oh okay." Neville said frowning at the coin.
"Think of it as a prank that will make the Weasley twins jealous."
"I'm not sure. I have a bad feeling about this." Neville glumly said, becoming even more confused when Hermione and Harry both laughed heartily.
=====xxxxx====
Harry and Hermione were the last ones through the doors. Standing to the side watching everyone enter with their hoods pulled and arms in their cloaks.
As they approached the doors Hermione touched the coin and a flourish and fanfare of brass instruments rang out across the entry hall. Bahm bumpa dabum pa. Its volume was such that all conversations stopped. The Muggle-borns in the crowd perked their heads up like dogs called to dinner. Looking around in confusion. The pure-bloods were simply confused as they had never had music at dinner before. The brass fanfare dropped into strings calmly carrying the tune as Harry and Hermione entered. Hermione walking a half step behind and to the left of Harry. Their cloaks streaming behind them they made their way to the Gryffindor table. Muggle-borns began to applaud at what they thought was a show being performed.
Harry looked to the head table to see Snape savagely repressing a smile. Professor Dumbledore looked like he was going to eat his beard and a very ugly pink sweater wearing creature that reminded Harry of a toad gazed at him in pure contempt and hatred. He could feel her gaze trying to burn him alive. He knew this was the one who had sent the Dementors. The one that would be his nemesis for this year. He paused and throwing back his hood saluted Dumbledore by taking his right hand and thumping it against his chest and throwing it straight out in the Roman way (not the Nazi way) with a closed fist. Dumbledore blinked in shock but returned the salute in a daze.
Across at the Slytherin table Draco was watching the two of them with great concern. They moved like they owned the castle and had no fear of anyone doing anything to do more than annoy them. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to sense the change in the two.
As the music settled down with a rattle crash of snare drums, piccolos and cymbals they took their seats and a sudden silence descended upon the hall. The Weasley twins stood up and started applauding soon joined by others until a standing ovation was crossing the tables. Harry merely giving an absentminded casual wave.
Professor McGonnegal walked into the room with the first years to this scene having missed the music. Some of the first years thought the applause was for them and smiled and waved back. The Professor though was very confused and went through the sorting ceremony on autopilot.
Dumbledore stepped up afterwards with a congenial smile. "Ah yes well it seems we are beginning this year on a rather spectacular note. Welcome back and..."
"Ahem Ahem." The pink sweater wearing creature cleared her throat and moved to interrupt the headmaster.
He turned and she started to walk to the lectern the Headmaster was at when Harry flicked his hand in a flat horizontal chopping motion. The pink toady tripped up falling on her flat face with a splat and rolling off the upper step that the Professor's head table sat on.
She picked herself up and smoothing her sweater went to go to the lectern which jumped three feet to the left. When she went to step up to it it moved back to the right. She was becoming rather aggravated and glared at the lectern. She turned the glare on the students but Harry was simply sitting there staring at her with his hands in his lap. Hermione was sitting behind him in a similar posture except she had not removed her hood yet.
She cleared her throat one more time then using a sonorous her high pitched girlish voice filled the hall. "Hello boys and girls It is rather unfortunate that we have some attention seeking reprobates who feel that disrupting the educational experience is more important than anything else. Playing games and calling attention to themselves instead of wearing the proper uniform. Which I will speak with your head of house about this. You may have been given the impression that this school is all fun and games and that you can get away with doing anything you want to but that ends. I am here on behest of the Minister For Magic himself to rectify the slipshod manner this school has been run in. To that end we will be making changes."
Harry had grown weary of her tirade and ignored her. He went into his quiet meditative zone and reached out feeling around the hall for others he might consider joining his new Order. Hermione, Luna and Neville stood out like glowing torches in a dark night. Most of the others though were flickering candles in the wind. He had a few potentials that if he nurtured he might be able to teach. He would have to move carefully though and recruit under the nose of the Ministry lapdog and Dumbledore both.
She had stopped speaking and received some desultory applause from Slytherin house alone. Dumbledore stepped up and said a few things. Nothing major from him either. This was beginning to look like it was going to be a very interesting year.
=======xxxxxx======
Dinner had gone well. When Hermione flipped her hood back people stopped talking briefly as they took in her new look. Neither of them showed off their new powers, yet. Ron glared at Harry over the table but he ignored him. Talking to Neville and getting to know the quiet boy. He had never really spent a lot of time just talking to Neville. Harry discovered that Neville had a passion within him for plants and hope that someday he would have his own greenhouses to take care of.
Lavender had asked Hermione about her new look. About what was going on with her and Harry. When Hermione declared herself Harry's apprentice and paramour publicly the ripples spread across the room faster than a Firebolt.
Harry watched and when the ripples reached the head table he saw Snape impassively yawn. Sprout got a large grin as did Flitwick. Dumbledore though got a rather pained look. Umbridge looked like she was even crosser than before. McGonnegal looked worried but happy. There was no Hagrid. Harry was surprised enough to wonder about that.
Seamus was with Ron glaring at Harry. They did not seem to want to talk to him or acknowledge him at all. The twins wanted to know how they did the music but all Harry would say was it was a Marauder's secret.
The dinner was finished and everyone sat looking at the head table as Dumbledore had to be poked in the ribs by McGonnegal to get him to stand and finished the announcements. Apparently Umbridge was the new Defense Professor. That would explain the useless book Harry had thought.
Otherwise Dumbledore had nothing new and dismissed them.
As Harry and Hermione were prefects they gathered their first years into a group. They did not resist given the appearance of them. Harry saw Umbridge fast waddling towards them and flicked his hand again tripping her. When she fell she hit her head hard enough it seemed to have knocked her out.
He nodded to Hermione who was lowering her own hand with a slight Cheshire cat smile and they led the first years quietly to the common room. The first years had no idea what was going on but felt that misbehavior would not be a very good idea.
=====xxxxx====
In the dorm that night Harry was getting ready for bed when he felt a tingle in his back and spun around ducking a hex that would have hit him. He reached out and yanked Ron's wand out of his hand.
Seamus who had been standing to the side saw harry holding Ron's wand and lowered his own. Neville and Dean stood on either end of the dorms unsure of what to do or what was going to happen.
Ron was glaring at harry, enraged but wary, Harry though was looking at the wand like he was interested in buying it.
"So Ron. You thought you could hex me from behind with impunity?"
"You asshole give me my wand back?"
"Why so you can try again?"
"You fucking deserve it. You took my prefect badge, you took my girlfriend. You took everything from me!"
"I took nothing from you. Hermione gave herself to me. She saw who the better man was Ron. You NEVER HAD HER! As for the Prefect badge. That was Professor McGonnegal not me. I had nothing to do with this. But at least I'll do my duty to the school. You can't even spell school without drooling."
"Potter what are ye going ta do with Weasley's wand?" Seamus asked
"What is it to you Finnigan." He stretched the vowels of the boy's name out.
"Well its obvious yeve gone mad. What with the lies yer tellin."
"OH I see Finnigan. You've been reading the Prophet. Or rather have you had someone read it to you since you're incapable of casting a simple Lumos without causing an explosion. So holding a newspaper would be difficult. Its amazing you can masturbate without burning yourself."
Finnigan started to raise his wand but a glance from Potter stopped him.
"I have not lied once. And while this one." Harry said pointing Ron's own wand at him, "Was cowering behind his bitch mother's apron I was training, preparing and learning. I am not going to be weak." He used his off hand to flick the window open. He spun and tossed Ron's wand out of the window as hard as he could.
"You want it dog go fetch. And if you think you have the stones to fight me then step up." Harry said taking a fighting stance.
Seamus looked at Ron who had screamed when his wand went out the window. Ron started to take a step towards Harry when Neville walked over to stand beside Harry.
"What you're on his side Longbottom!" Ron shouted.
"I just want to go to bed sometime tonight. Harry beating the snot out of you though isn't going to be quiet which will prevent that. And if you shut up you can go look for your wand before breakfast."
Ron was breathing hard with his hands flexing. Harry was calmly standing there his left hand up and right one back.
Grabbing his blankets and pillow Ron stormed off.
Harry turned and glared at Seamus, "Finnigan do we have a problem?"
"Uh no Harry. Just you keep on your own side o the room."
"Its a round room."
"You know what I mean."
Harry flicked the window shut. With a nod to Neville he went to bed.
=====xxxxx=====
On his way to breakfast Professor McGonnegal asked him to come to her office. Once there they had just sat down when the door opened and Umbridge strolled in casually.
"Well it looks like the reprobate has already started causing trouble."
"Professor McGonnegal. The issue is a purely internal Gryffindor one. Why is an outside professor invited in?"
"I did not invite her. Why pray tell are you in my office Dolores."
"I am here as an official observer from the Ministry. To determine if the punishment details are effective and stringent enough. I thought you had been told that at the meeting."
"I was told I would have full control over my classes and my lions."
"Oh yes you will. So long as your actions are within the boundaries the board of governors and Ministry have approved in the educational decrees."
Harry waved his hand "You will leave now."
"I will not young man. I have full authority to be here. And unless you wish to be expelled you will accept that."
He narrowed his vision and waved his hand again, "YOU WILL Leave." He stressed.
Umbridge glared at him, "Little BOY you are seriously beginning to strain my patience. You are just going to have to accept my presence as there is utterly nothing you can do about it."
McGonnegal narrowed her eyes at the toad as well Harry noticed so he felt that comment was not just intended for him
"Very well. Professor you wished to speak with me?" Harry said ignoring the pink clad monstrosity.
"Yes Mr Weasley has lodged a complaint that you threw his wand out the Dorm window last night."
"Yes I did."
Minerva looked surprised at Harry's admission but Umbridge made a satisfied grunt.
"And why did you do that?"
"He tried to hex me as my back was turned."
"That is uncalled for behavior. You were well within your rights to defend yourself."
"Ahem ahem He stole another students property and placed it at risk."
"Well next time I'll defend myself by throwing Ron out the window." Harry calmly said looking straight into her eyes.
"Hem that will not go well for your growing reputation as a liar and dangerous person."
"You have no idea. It might make me go up in the estimation of some people."
"Well Mister Potter. I will be giving Mr Weasley detention for attempting to hex you. As for yourself I have to agree throwing his wand out of the window was a bit excessive."
"Was I to hand a weapon back to someone who tried to harm me professor?"
"A weapon Potter?" Umbridge huffed, "A wizard's wand is a tool. It is a symbol of his superiority."
Harry held his hand out and a biscuit tin flew over to him, "Really? May I professor?"
"Uh yes please go ahead."
He opened the tin and held it out for Professor McGonnegal then took one for himself before closing the tin and floating it back to the sideboard.
"You do that now Ms Umbridge. Without your wand. I suppose we'll see who is superior then?"
She narrowed her eyes at Harry like she was trying to develop laser vision harry thought.
"I am a professor at this school. You will address me as such."
"Assigned by the ministry. And when I am in your classroom I will address you properly AS for now you are not acting as a professor so I do not have to address you as such. According to Hogwarts a History it is only courtesy that Professors are addressed as such. Many titles have been given Master, teacher, even briefly Instructor. Lord or Lady is also considered acceptable for those who hold such titles."
"Mister Potter are you telling me that you have finally read that book?"
"Hermione and I did do other studying besides anatomy this summer ma'am."
Minerva briefly smiled with her eyebrow raised but nodded. Umbridge started to say something but Minerva spoke up, "I do believe we are finished here Mister Potter. You may enjoy your breakfast."
=====xxxxx=====
Harry got there in time to finish some of breakfast. Hermione looked at him questioningly but he gave a slight shake of his head. Ron came in after breakfast was done and everyone was heading for classes. He had his wand in his hand but was glaring at Harry.
Draco noticed the breakdown of the trio and got a slight grin. Maybe he could work with this.
====xxxxx=====
Walking into Defense class Harry and Hermione looked at the pink toad sitting at the desk. She was dwarfed by the immense piece of furniture. Taking their seats they folded their hands and placed them on their desks. They briefly glanced at each other and Harry used sign language to signal her. She nodded with a hand gesture of her own. They had been very busy over the last month. From sunup to sundown and slightly beyond.
Everyone else looked at them strangely as they pulled out the thin book assigned for this year's class. Neither Harry nor Hermione moved. It was as if they had shut down and stopped.
Once the roll call had been taken Umbridge stood before the class and with a sneer started speaking in her incongruent voice, "Good afternoon boys and girls. Before we begin I must stress something. You have been fed a list of lies by those whose mental stability needs to be called into question. The statements that a certain dark lord has returned or still exists are nothing more than falsehoods designed to gain attention. Now given the lacking qualities of your previous instructors and the dangerous and unfortunate attitudes of some of them your education has suffered. We shall rectify that beginning today. Open your books to the first page and we will begin reading. You may place your wands away there is no practical aspect to this class."
Neville frowned, "NO Practical, how are we going to learn to defend ourselves?"
"You are children there is no need for you to defend yourself. No one is going to be attacking you."
"You mean like Barty Crouch last year." Neville snarled.
"Barty Crouch died in Azkaban young man. There are no Death Eaters roaming wild."
"Death Eaters were at last years world cup." Ron pointed out having lived through that night.
"A small and rogue terrorist band that was quickly dealt with by the Ministry Authority. They appropriated a dead and destroyed organization. There are no Death Eaters at large." She repeated.
"What about Sirius Black." Harry quietly asked.
"Sirius Black has fled this nation as he saw the effectiveness and skill of our highly trained Aurors."
"They must not have been trained by you then."
Neville's snicker was loud in the quiet that statement brought.
"Mister Potter, Miss Granger where are your books?"
"We did not purchase them."
"Excuse me?"
"Well if you wish to leave then you are excused of course." Harry said waving his hand at the door which swung open.
"I am the professor! I do not have to ask your permission for anything!"
Harry conceded the point by nodding his head.
"Well Miss Granger where is your book?"
"As I said WE did not purchase them"
"I did not ask you Mister Potter I asked Miss Granger."
"She is my apprentice. I did not give her leave to speak with you. Under the Ministry authority of 1154 Master Apprentice relations A master has full control over whom their apprentice may speak with."
"And Pray tell what sort of Master are you?"
"Well I hope I am a magnanimous one. I know my apprentice appreciates some of her lessons as she works under me."
A few students like Lavender tittered softly. Most though held their breath wondering where this was going. Draco stared openly at Potter. He was being rude, insolent and highly disobedient towards a professor and yet Granger was just sitting there. She usually was a lot more feisty than that. Had Potter somehow tamed the mudblood?
Umbridge looked like she was going to swallow her lips before she spat out, "What are you a Master of?"
"I am a Master of the Force."
She frowned at him. Some of the muggle-borns openly laughed before she glared at them.
"Really? What is the Force?"
"The Force is that which flows through us, surrounds us, penetrates us, binds us together."
She glared at him getting angrier that Harry was sitting there calmly holding his hands folded before him on the desk. Staring at her coldly.
"MISS GRANGER YOU WILL HAVE DETENTION IF YOU DO NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION! WHERE IS YOUR BOOK!"
Hermione looked up then turned her head to look at Harry who nodded, Before Hermione could speak Umbridge shrieked.
"DO NOT LOOK AT HIM JUST TURN AND ANSWER ME! DO NOT WAIT FOR PERMISSION SPEAK TO ME!"
"As I have been granted permission of course I will answer you. I did not purchase the book as it was being sold in the children's section. I did purchase the Malleus Maleficarum though for some light reading instead of it."
Umbridge twitched for a moment, "That is a muggle book about hunting and destroying witches."
"Yes it is. It is a fascinating depiction of how the muggle methods can overcome even the best magical defense. Something we should remember. Magic does not make us superior."
"YOU WILL HAVE DETENTION FOR THE NEXT WEEK WITH ME! BOTH OF YOU! 50 points from Gryffindor EACH!" Spittle flew from her mouth as she slammed her hands on the desk for emphasis so hard a plate with a kitten on it crashed to the floor with a yowling scream.
"Under the Hogwarts charter and Ministerial decrees I must have the specific reason and charges for said detention otherwise it is automatically invalidated." Hermione pointed out.
Umbridge's eyebrow started to twitch violently. Harry counted it at 10 twitches a second it seemed like. They stared at each other for a minute before she said, "Class dismissed."
=====xxxxx====
Students went off wondering what just happened. They had never seen Granger act that way towards a professor before. They never saw her sit that QUIET before. Did Potter do something to her. The rumor mill was in full force. They were confused and concerned by the whole thing. Some like Ron though went off just happy to have a free period.
======xxx-xxx======
Neville followed Harry and Hermione to the Astronomy tower as they stood looking out over the railing.
"Harry what's going on?" Neville asked quietly.
"Why do you want to know Neville?"
"Because you've changed. Because this Umbridge does not look like she's going to teach us anything. I mean gramma looked at this book and said it could be summed up as go run for an Auror but don't do anything yourself. And after last year I want to defend myself."
"Well your wand work is weak anyhow. So maybe the Force would be better for you."
"The Force." Harry said waving his hand as a seat slid over for Neville and them.
"Oh Wandless."
"From a certain point of view."
"Its cause I'm using my dad's wand."
"I thought the wand chose the wizard?" Hermione asked politely.
"It does. But Gram never took me to get one of my own. She said if this was good enough for dad its good enough for me. She wants me to be just like him."
"What do you want to be."
"I want to find out I don't know yet."
"We might be able to help you."
"I'd like that Harry. Luna's right. There is something coming. Something bad. And I'm not going to be any good like this."
"So if you join us Neville. There will be no going back. We are going to change everything. This country has grown stagnant. They've lost all common sense. The Blood Purity Bigotry is far too common, not to mention the magical supremacy. Did you hear anyone else when they left class talking about her words?"
"A few of the other muggle-borns did. One or two heard about that book you mentioned Hermione."
"What about Ron?"
"Ron was just glad to be out of class. That's all he was happy about."
"Figures." Hermione grumped crossing her arms over her chest.
"Dumbledore has some kind of plan that isn't very healthy for me. Probably everyone is going to suffer about it. The dark one has a plan. And the Ministry tried to murder me this summer."
"They did what?"
"Dementors showed up on Privet Drive. They killed the Dursleys that's why I was staying with Snape."
Neville frowned, "That's not right.
"No it isn't. I took it personal and started thinking. Things you've already noticed. Dumbledore isn't telling us everything. Isn't telling me everything."
"So what are we going to do?"
"We're going to form our own group. We're going to find out the truth then we're going to change the world."
"I want to help."
"I was hoping you would."
"So how do I join?"
"Well you won't have to do the same initiation that Hermione did." Harry said with a smirk.
"I have a feeling I'm going to appreciate that."
"Well kneel before me and accept your new name within our ranks."
Neville knelt and said, "am I supposed to say something?"
Hermione nodded, "Yeah what is thy bidding my master will work for now."
Neville looked at her sideways, "Its not magically binding or anything is it?"
"No. And probably won't be. We don't want to control people like Dumbledore or him are doing."
Neville nodded, "What is thy bidding my master."
"Arise Darth Sylvanus and join our ranks."
Neville stood and laughed, "Sylvanus. Cool."
"Yeah Hermione pointed out he's the Roman god of Nature. It fits you Nev."
"And we use that name when we do our group stuff?"
"Yeah which we only have three of us so that wont be for a bit yet."
"Since you already had a name picked out for me you must have an idea of who you want."
"Just a bit. I had hoped Ron would join but he seems to have decided to be a part mule part idiot again."
"Just like last year. Are you going to forgive him again?"
"Harry?" Hermione said looking at her boyfriend when he stood up and walked to the rail.
"No. He is dead to me. He had a chance. He tried to hex me in the back last night. He used to be my friend. Friendship is more than everything to me. He broke that. He ended that. I'm done forgiving him."
======xxx-xxx======
