Author's Note:

And now the conclusion to Harry's third year at Hogwarts. I'm very excited to be at this point of the story since it's where I've wanted to be from the beginning and it feels like all of the background is done and I can just have fun with this story. Perhaps that is what I should have done since the beginning. *Sorry for taking so long*

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Here is my disclaimer that says I do not own anything Harry Potter related. Everything belongs to JK Rowling, except in universe 47837. Probably.

Harry looked around at his followers. Ever since Trelawney had completed the shape his core had wanted to take, magic itself had felt different.

Easier, and more tantalizing.

Which made the edges of Harry's lips curl upwards. Unleashing his power had never been truly difficult – not even a little bit; it had always seemed like the most obvious thing in the world.

Now though, he almost didn't have words for how natural his magic felt. It was almost like he was feeling and seeing magic for the first time again.

For the first few days since he had amassed his seven followers, each time that Harry cast even the simplest of spells the feeling that passed through his body was ineffable.

He had never felt so alive.

Something within him had awakened and it took all of his willpower and focus not to get carried away with it. Now more than ever, no one else in Hogwarts could know what he and his brood were capable of.

But here, in the privacy and comfort of their secret room, Harry could relax and enjoy the company of those who had pledged their magic and lives to him. Here were all the people that he had unexpectedly come to care about, to treasure.

Without even meaning to, or knowing anything that was happening to him in detail, he had come to love these seven people.

They were his to care for and his to protect, and now they were bound to each other in a way that was only made possible by magic.

And it was the best feeling in the entire world. Well, second best – Diary Tom was something else entirely.

The connection with his followers, now complete, only made him want to teach them as much as he knew and as fast as he could. He wanted to test the limits of what they could do, to push them, encourage them to reach the potential they had in Trelawney's vision.

Therefore, Harry stood before his chosen – well, he didn't know if chosen was the right word.

Unexpectedly but irreplaceably collected perhaps would have been a better term.

"Tonight will be our last scrimmage of the year."

Their faces were expectant, yet solemn.

"However, we will be doing things a little different this time."

His words caused some of their eyes to narrow curiously.

"Considering that we have begun to get a sense of what each other is capable of individually, it is time we began to understand how we work as a team… does anyone have any thoughts as to how we could go about that?"

Harry wanted them to be able to think for themselves, to know that they could be capable without him.

"We could get into teams of two," Cedric said at once.

"But there is an uneven number," Ginny followed up with quickly.

"Unless that person pairs with Harry or goes it alone."

"Harry isn't normally one to take part in these exercises."

Neville's comment caused Justin to think out loud.

"We could always modify how we do the scrimmage then. Two or three people could be partnered together and face everyone else – we would then keep track of how long each team can last to ten or even twenty hits and monitor progress that way."

"And," Roger quickly built off of what Justin had started, "it would be just as informative for everyone since we will learn more about a person's complementary fighting style, how they work with one person versus how they work with another. It will provide valuable information for what will work with this pair or group as opposed to another."

Harry nodded thoughtfully and turned to Luna and Sybil who had yet to comment. In particular Harry focused in on his newest addition. Not only was she nearly two decades older than he was but she had a flair of unpredictability that rivaled Luna.

"Do you have anything to add or refine, ladies?"

"It might not be a bad thing to at some point add in handicaps in case one of our partners is not at one-hundred percent – or under the effects of potions or cooking sherry."

She said it with all seriousness.

"I agree, Harry," Luna's mellifluous voice spoke up. "We should focus on what it is like to pair with someone at the best… and when they are… restricted in some way. Like perhaps the Nargles got to them."

The barest of smiles touched everyone's lips.

No one could deny that they had been good ideas – even if they had come entirely out of left field.

"I think we will hold off on dueling under the effects of alcohol or Nargles for the first few attempts, but I think we have a solid foundation to work off of for the time being."

Harry moved to stand in the center again.

"We will take turns, in pairs of two to start, with their backs against that wall there."

Harry pointed to the far part of the room and wall that had been removed of all furniture and clutter. They were in the largest room out of the five and it reminded him of one of his Muggle gym classes in which they had played dodge ball – or because of state regulations because of litigious individuals looking out for their children, avoidance ball.

"The goal will be to last as long as possible against the rest of us. I'm particularly excited about this because it will give you the chance to experience what it's like to work with someone who can do offense while you can do defense and vice versa."

Harry raised his eyebrows at the group and saw each of their minds prepare him or herself. While they wanted to make each other proud, they needed to make their Lord proud.

"Cedric, Justin," Harry intoned with a smirk.

"You two are up first."

For the next several hours they took turns partnering with different people. Not every single combination was possible given the time that they only had one evening but it was a start.

It was incredible to watch them begin to work in sync, one casting a partial shield and the other moving to strike back at the attackers. Harry knew that the magic that connected them had something to do with how quickly and wordlessly his followers performed.

Over the course of the evening Harry became prouder and prouder that these were the people that he was working with. Each had their own fighting style, their own proclivity for certain spells, but the truly amazing thing was how effective the combination of their strengths made them.

It made his magic sing to see them like this. The feeling of content bubbled in his chest, moving outward as a weightless peace passed through him. Harry had never been this calm, this relaxed.

And his magic began to leak out again, but this time Harry was aware of what was happening.

He didn't panic or try to force his magic to tell him anything; rather, he let the tendrils that wrapped around each and every follower – while leaving them otherwise unaware that his magic was inside of them – speak to him.

The feeling he got wasn't much; all his magic told him was faintly who the person was and not really anything more.

But it was enough for Harry to contemplate the extraordinary situation and implications of what he had just stumbled upon. Had he just found a way to feel things with magic while remaining undetected?

It didn't matter how little his magic was able to tell him; the fact that he was able to get anything at all was wildly significant.

Perhaps the most significant thing that he had discovered so far!

There was only one question that remained: how to control it.

And Harry already had an idea. Thinking back to the similarities between the first time that this had occurred and the present there was only one common denominator: Harry had been completely calm and relaxed and NOT actively trying to feel with his magic.

Rather, he was letting his magic just exist without any input from him at all.

Was it really that simple? Well, there was a simple test if it was.

Looking at his followers engaged in battle, Harry put the barest hint of feeling and thought in his magic. Unlike before, where Harry unleashed the full effect of his power all at once and nearly unraveled Cedric and Justin in the process, this time Harry let it out gradually.

The change was instant and soon his followers had noticed that the smallest portion of Harry's magic was mixed with theirs. The strength of his touch spurred them onwards in their battle and everyone's output suddenly increased twofold.

A smile took over Harry's lips before he focused intently on removing his control over magic.

It was difficult; very difficult since this was the first time that he was doing this willfully and consciously. But like everything that Harry put his mind to he soon achieved it and the bliss that his magic caused while mixed with their cores faded.

Harry exhaled with a very content, almost euphoric sigh.

His mental energy was spent but that didn't matter. He would learn to control this just like he had honed his other skills. There was simply no telling how useful this would or could be in the future.

A devilish grin soon took over his face and he lost hold over his concentration and his core exploded outward.

Again, his magic was suddenly noticed inside of their bodies. This time, it just wasn't a simple nudge but the full force of Harry's might.

The scrimmage ended as each fell to their knees.

When they locked eyes with Harry, what they saw made their hearts quiver. Never before had they seen their Harry, their Lord, look this pleased.

It was the happiest moment of their lives.

Later that night, after Harry had dismissed the rest back to their dorms, Harry sat alone with Sybil in that same room.

Since the Divination Professor had so recently became one of his he had needed to spend some additional time with her to make use of her unusual talents. His plan for Pettigrew and Lupin would be even better with Trelawney's involvement.

After they had discussed her role Harry worked with Trelawney a little on Occlumency.

Not only did he want to make sure she was on the path to safeguarding her mind, and thus her activities with Harry but he also wanted to relive the prophecy again.

Even though Harry had already memorized the entirety of what she had said – not like he could have forgotten it given its supreme importance for his future – he was curious to take note of the way her voice changed this time as it went through every syllable and every word.

From what he had worked out on his own – since he had learned nothing in her class on account of her being a dramatic fraud, which he was surprisingly okay with – the words mattered just as much as how they were delivered.

It was quite similar to how the meaning of a sentence could change depending on which words were stressed.

For instance, 'she said she did not take his money' as opposed to 'she said she did not take his money.' In the first example, his money was taken but it was done by someone else while in the second sentence she admitted to taking money, only not from him.

Or so he hoped would be true to this prophecy.

Only, after Harry watched the woman's unaware memory of her connection with the future, he could only detect a single change in tone.

Thus, "It has begun. Seven was the number of perfection, seven gods, seven demons, seven sins, seven virtues, and always in pairs. But it was severed, corrupted. Soon the pieces can be made whole and restored unto its original and glorious form. One protects each seven, and the two reunites the kingdom. However, a choice yet awaits that could cause the tears of Isis to flow once more. Should the wrong Riddle be answered and the Other not defeated, neither equal will live because neither equal can survive in an incomplete form. A choice approaches… the kingdom… awaits," was all he had to work with.

Still, it told him something and that was better than nothing. Now all he had to do was figure out who or what the Other was referring to.

But at this point the night was getting quite late and he was rather tired.

Besides, the sooner he got to sleep the faster tomorrow would come – and the world would be very surprised with what he had planned.

It was a Saturday evening. O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s had just finished that morning and the exams for the other years had yet to start.

Naturally, with a portion of the hall feeling very relieved that their big exams were over while the rest of the students were having a sense of dread it was an awkward time in the Great Hall to say the least.

There was no more perfect time for what Harry had planned.

From where he sat at the front of the Hufflepuff Table, sandwiched between Justin and Neville with Cedric sitting across from him, Harry had a direct, visual line at both the Head Table and where Ginny sat next to her brother Ronald over at the Gryffindor Table.

Dinner had yet to start and both students and faculty were still making their way to their seats.

Harry had been planning this moment ever since he had gone into Pettigrew's mind. Of course, he had already taken care of the rat's memories from the last several months – he couldn't leave any evidence of just how useful Peter had been to his followers and their practice of magic.

It was an incredible feeling, sitting there, being the one of a few that knew what was about to happen. And being the cause of it all made it even sweeter.

Out of the corner of his eye Harry could just see Dumbledore move to signal the start of dinner, no doubt beginning with some words of congratulations to the fifth and seventh years for finishing their exams.

However, just as he was about to quiet the hall, the most unlikely of Harry's followers opened the giant double doors. Seeing as how the woman never joined them for meals – not even at the beginning or end-of-the-year feasts – the presence of Sybil Trelawney naturally got everyone's attention.

As the woman shuffled down the center aisle at a clipped pace Harry could only imagine what everyone was thinking.

She made it past his table and Harry got a strong whiff of what had sort of become her trademark smell: incense and cooking sherry.

Soon, all eyes were on the most irritating and confusing woman inside of Hogwarts as she took the empty seat between Professor McGonagall and Professor Lupin at the Head Table.

"So sorry for being late, Headmaster," Trelawney explained with an over-the-top grandeur that was perfectly in character for the woman.

"I was sitting in my tower and gazing into my crystal ball," she continued on dramatically in a voice that Harry was sure the entire hall could hear.

"The most mundane and usual of things passed through my consciousness when suddenly my inner eye saw that I was in the Great Hall and witnessing two people that hadn't spoken in a long time."

She poured out a measure of something that suspiciously did not look like tea into her cup. Then she turned to McGonagall.

"It was such an obvious and easy decision that I ran through the castle at once, you know. I didn't want to miss such a heartwarming reunion of such close friends."

She moved to clink her glass against the Transfiguration Professor's goblet and took a swill of her sherry.

Harry could have kissed her. He couldn't even imagine a limit to what he would be able to achieve with his followers by his side. Literally no one would see it coming.

"You don't say?" Minerva huffed out with more of her Scottish lilt showing than normal.

McGonagall moved her goblet over to the other side of her plate and gave the Headmaster a glare that would have made even Aunt Petunia proud – well, before her behavior had been corrected.

"Yes, Sybill. Seeing an old friend, a colleague even," Harry found it humorous that the man took what looked to be a difficult swallow under Minnie's gaze, "is always worth a trip down to socialize with others."

"Now then," Dumbledore turned to the students and was promptly met with a sea of confused stares.

"I think a hearty congratulations and well-done are in order to our fifth-year students for completing their Ordinary Wizarding Levels…"

An enthusiastic applause broke out, and Harry could see that the Weasley twins were now standing atop the Gryffindor Table and doing a lively dance.

Roger joined in the merriment from his table, and Harry knew without a doubt that he had achieved nothing short of Outstanding.

"Yes, most well-deserved."

The ancient wizard applauded politely and then moved on.

"I'm sure our seventh years are also very glad," and another round of joyous yells rang out in the Great Hall.

"I would like to be the first to wish you a well-deserved break in which to enjoy your remaining time at Hogwarts… and what better way to start than with a feast."

With a wave of his hand the food appeared and everyone hungrily dug in. Harry savored each and every bite of his meal, making sure to catch the eyes of each irreplaceable witch or wizard that had a special place within his magical core.

He was proud of them all; they had come so far. Even Trelawney in such a short amount of time.

And their faces gave nothing away, which was a testament to their devotion to him because he knew that they were looking forward to this moment just as much as he was.

Finally, it was time for dessert. The moment that the dishes were switched out and a medley of delectable sweets appeared, Ginny surreptitiously reached into the feather-light and bottomless satchel that Harry had given her.

"Ouch!" she said in an unexpectedly loud shriek.

As expected though, no one gave her much attention aside from the Gryffindors who were closest to her.

"You okay, Gin?" Ron somehow managed to get out through a mouthful of food.

"Something bit me," she replied.

Then she pretended like she was looking under the table.

"Ron!" she squealed excitedly.

"Look, it's Scabbers!"

Ginny lifted the rat and showed it to Ron who suddenly was sputtering bits of chocolate pudding all over the place.

"Scabbers!" he cried in a louder tone than Ginny had used previously.

A few more people looked his way, including some of those around Harry at the Hufflepuff Table.

But the most important person to have noticed was Trelawney.

"Oh look, there it is!" she said like the happy drunk she was only pretending to be.

"The Weasley boy found his pet rat. Isn't that great, Remus?"

She nudged the Defense Professor next to her.

As expected, the weeks and weeks that Harry had primed the man into thinking nothing other than the possibility that Pettigrew – not Sirius – had been responsible for the deaths of his friends came to a head.

A cold fury swept through Remus and his eyes yellowed fiercely as the wolf in him wanted nothing other than revenge.

"Peter Pettigrew, you murderous traitor!" he shouted at the top of his lungs while jumping on the table, wand drawn.

Instantly the hall went silent and the clinks and clanks of dropped silverware were heard as Remus flicked his wand to produce a white flash of light that careened towards the rat in Ron's frozen hands.

Acting on instinct, Remus lept forward and began to run with an intense purpose that startled those he flew by.

However, the biggest surprise was when Ron suddenly found himself to no longer have been holding a rat in his hands, but was face-to-face with a dirty and overweight wizard that was in serious need of a bath.

The Gryffindors closest to him had fallen backwards and scrambled away from the sudden appearance of this strange man.

"How could you!" Remus screamed at Pettigrew.

"James and Lily trusted you. Trusted you with their life, with their child… with Harry…," Remus' voice had broken as he approached his target, "and you betrayed them to the Dark Lord!" he shrieked and leveled his wand, ready to end the rat's miserable life.

"Silence!" the voice of Dumbledore boomed throughout the hall.

The Headmaster's wand was quickly moving in all sorts of different patterns. Immediately, brightly colored ropes bound Pettigrew to the Gryffindor Table. Only, Ron remained frozen in place, unable to wrap his mind around the fact that he had shared a bed with an unregistered Animagus for all these years.

Remus had also been rooted to his spot with magic, and with the wind out of his sails – as well as his wand - he realized the horrible spectacle that he had caused. At once, his eyes traveled painfully slowly as his upper torso twisted backwards to look at Harry.

Tears were streaming down the man's face as he whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Harry, for his part, was doing everything that he needed to give an authentically shocked performance. There was the appropriate bewilderment on his face, the lack of color to his cheeks, and the dreaded realization that everyone was looking at either him or the man who used to be a rat. Justin and Neville played the dutiful friends who tried to shield him from everyone's view.

"Prefects!" Dumbledore's voice announced like thunder in the Great Hall once more.

"Please escort your houses back to the common rooms at once!"

Given that Harry was close to the front he heard the man say in a much softer voice, "Harry, please, I know this must be difficult but you should remain as well."

Harry also heard the Headmaster quietly direct several of his staff to inform the Ministry at once. Harry wanted to smile at how he played them, but he held it in.

His followers did the same as they left with the rest of the student body; though he did manage to lock eyes with them again as they passed through the large, double doors.

Harry had to work extra hard at keeping his magic in place, a task that became a little easier at the sight of just how much power and might Albus had wielded to control the situation. Now more than ever he needed to not offer a single thread of evidence that any of this could be traced back to him.

The Dark Lord had been weary of the man for a reason and Harry would not move against Albus until he was one-hundred percent positive that he would win.

"Harry," Remus choked out after his legs had freedom again.

He headed straight to Harry amidst the nearly empty hall.

"I'm so sorry you had to find out this way."

"Yes," Dumbledore inquired now that he had moved down from the dais.

"How were you able to work things out so quickly, Remus?"

Dumbledore eyes moved from the rat to Harry to Remus.

Remus' eyes had given it away as he painfully met Harry's uncomfortable and confused stare.

"Harry and I have been talking this year about his parents, Headmaster."

Remus's voice was thin.

"He came to me in February. He'd been having dreams of me from before… before that Halloween night."

Remus moved closer to Harry.

"He remembered that I was a Werewolf… he had heard his parents call me Moony."

McGonagall and Sprout gasped and their eyes began to water.

Minerva moved closer to Harry as well and reached out to put a hand on his shoulder while Remus continued and Harry remained looking like the gears in his brain had stopped working a long time ago.

He looked like a deer in headlights.

"We ended up chatting about Lily and James; Harry wanted to know more about them … aside … aside from how much he looked like them. I told him how they met and how his father and Sirius and … became Animagi for me."

Tears were falling freely down Remus' face now. Tears that he never thought he would ever have to cry, again.

"He also told me of another dream that he had been having this year… it was a perfect description of the Fidelius Charm, and Pettigrew… not Sirius, had been present."

Remus sank to his knees in front of Harry amid the gasps from most of the teachers that were present. Severus, true to form, had not reacted at all.

"Harry, I'm so sorry that I said the dream was nothing, but without evidence I didn't want to give you false hope. I couldn't add any more weight to what you had already gone through… and now… I did the very thing I was trying to protect you from."

Magically encouraged tears began to form in Harry's eyes as he took it all in while Dumbledore laid out the final piece that connected everything together.

"And from the moment you saw the rat, you knew without a doubt that it was the truth."

Remus nodded amid the tears; he thought he had failed Harry.

But then Harry surprised the man and everyone else and fell to his own knees and hugged his Defense Professor, putting the appropriate mask onto his throwing-caution-to-the-wind way that his arms gripped onto Remus.

Of course, everything that Harry was doing was calculated and for a purpose, including what left his muffled lips next.

"So Sirius is innocent then? I can have a Godfather?"

Harry sobbed into the man's chest, feeling slightly bad for how he had played Remus. He made a mental note between making a show of catching his breath that Remus would one day be rewarded for his staring role.

McGonagall and Sprout were holding each other for support since neither trusted their own legs at the moment.

Dumbledore, however, watched the scene unfold with a warm heart and the most infuriating of twinkles. Of course, he soon turned his attention to the rat and subsequently instructed Severus to fetch some Veritaserum for when the Ministry showed up. He wasn't entirely sure that Sirius was completely innocent of killing the Muggles in the street that day but he didn't have it in him to bother Harry with that.

So they just waited the five minutes until it took Cornelius Fudge, Amelia Bones, and basically everyone else within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to show up.

It would be a long time before Harry was offered a Dreamless Sleep Potion in the Hospital Wing that night so that he didn't have to deal with facing Hufflepuff House. And as he closed his eyes in the empty room the corners of his mouth turned upwards and couldn't wait until the next time that he got to play.

In the aftermath of what was widely regarded as the most memorable dining experience that had ever been held in the Great Hall, life for Harry Potter was suddenly very different.

The front-page articles – courtesy of one, Miss Rita Skeeter – that followed in the Daily Prophet laid out myriad personal details of the lives, betrayal, and deaths of Lily and James Potter – or as Rita had christened it: the Scandal of the Century. Special attention was given to the buildup to that Halloween night and the day after their deaths, diving deep into the juicy and tantalizing details of Sirius Black being innocent and Peter Pettigrew admitting under Veritaserum that it should have been him rotting in Azkaban.

Sirius had been promptly pardoned and labeled a free man.

Everywhere he walked in the castle, Harry was met with either borderline silence or calculated stares from those in Slytherin or treated like his parents had just been killed from everyone else. The overwhelming sensation of pity was nauseating.

In reality it was slightly odd for someone who had put such a great deal of effort into fading into the background to stage such a public display; however, in this case the benefits far outweighed any temporary stretch of celebrity that Harry subsequently had to endure for the rest of the year.

Harry had hidden in the shadows to learn and develop who he wanted to be without any of the pressure that came with being the Boy Who Lived. Now though, things were different: he had amassed a powerful circle of loyal and devout followers who would do anything he commanded. Never mind that his own magic was growing more powerful than even he had expected it to.

Plus, he had been slowly laying the groundwork in revealing his unparalleled abilities. Ever since he had promised Severus Snape to apply himself so as not to be a Dunderhead a year ago he had kept true to his word. A few insightful questions during class here and some truly outstanding essay responses there and some of his teachers were beginning to take note. Now he just had to figure out the best way to capitalize on this revived public interest in a way that didn't draw too much attention to himself too quickly.

He just wanted the right amount.

Luckily he would have the entire summer to think on this matter. The last few weeks at school went by relatively quickly on account of exams being canceled, and the unfortunate incident of someone letting slip that Remus was a Werewolf.

Harry was very annoyed with Severus but entirely unsurprised at the man's inability to get over the past. Perhaps a little playtime with Snape would be one of the ways that Harry could reward Lupin in the future. Yes, he was sure Remus would appreciate that opportunity.

But that would still be several years in the future and he was most concerned with the present.

Speaking of which, with all the extra free time since they had no pretend studying to fake or busywork to do, Harry spent that time with his followers, and he was glad because a part of him was unsettled at the thought of leaving them for the summer. Especially given that his core had just become whole and complete; their magic was more a part of him now that it had ever been.

It would be unbearable to part for the summer.

Harry put off thinking about that for as long as possible and would just have to come up with a way to see them from time to time. He was sure both he and they would go insane if they suddenly went cold turkey for two months.

However, a very interesting but expected consequence of Sirius being cleared of all charges presented itself the last day before the end of term. It was part of the reason for staging Pettigrew's appearance, after all.

Harry had been summoned to the Headmaster's office just after breakfast. He was then introduced to Sirius Black. It was a touching moment and the Headmaster was thrilled for them. Sirius had then offered to be everything that a Godfather was supposed to be and invited Harry to come live with him – something that Harry readily agreed to.

Of course, Dumbledore had some suggestions to that – all in the name of 'making the transition easier' he called it. He thought it would be best for Harry to return home to Privet Drive for the beginning of the summer – something about not wanting to deprive Harry of the chance to see his Aunt - while Sirius worked to make Grimmauld Place habitable.

Harry left wondering what Albus was trying to manipulate this time, and he simply chalked that up to one more thing he needed to figure out about his wily Headmaster.

But that too could wait for the summer.

For the moment Harry wanted to spend the last night of his third year at Hogwarts with his people. They spent the rest of the day in their forgotten part of the castle, only breaking for the End-of-the-Year Feast before immediately returning to their room again.

It would turn out to be a very special night.

"You should all be very proud of yourselves," Harry intoned.

It was a tone that he reserved exclusively for them.

"This year was successful in many ways and we have each come so very far since September."

He was sitting in his usual spot and each of his followers were scattered about the room, their room, in what had become their usual spots as well.

Their faces were relaxed as they enjoyed what time remained to them, but their eyes shone with all their devotion and loyalty to their Lord.

"And now our circle is complete…" his words hung on the air.

"Our magic is strong and connected; we are united by magic and I don't think there is anything we can't do if we put our minds to it."

Bits of his magic leaked out of his core, and he purposefully guided his tendrils to the ones they called to. The room dimmed but a little and if one looked close enough one could see a faint and shimmering green thread that linked them all together.

"But something is coming," his words had an icy feel to them.

"And we have much to do to prepare for the future, our future."

Each one of those who had pledged their lives and magic to him sat up a bit straighter and leaned in.

"I have expectations for you this summer; it is vital that you continue your training as much as possible. Know that I too will be doing the same. Forces are at work and I do not know how much time we will have before we need to face them. However, I do not doubt for a moment that we will overcome."

More of his magic leaked out of his core and the green thread became even easier to see.

His followers were all thinking the same thing: they wouldn't let him down.

They would rather die.

From somewhere behind Harry seven shrunken trunks appeared and soon floated over to the one they would go home with.

"I've taken the liberty of ensuring that each of you have the necessary capacity and discretion to continue onward with magic over the summer. These trunks have been filled with all the materials you will need and a place for you to practice magic, even with your wand. I spared no expense in having these made."

Seven reverent faces gazed back at him.

"Succeed in this because there are things you must know, things I need you to be aware of for us to have the highest possible chance of succeeding."

Three years ago Harry would never have thought he needed anyone for anything. He would never have admitted to that weakness because he had no use for others. What he wanted he made happen, it was as simple as that.

But then he had seen and felt their magic, and understood at his most basic level that these people belonged to him. They were an extension of his own being and though he may not have completely understood his connection to them, he trusted it as much as he trusted himself.

Therefore, he trusted them in ways that made him uneasy if he spent too much time thinking about because it went against his very nature. But he trusted them nonetheless because they were his to care for and his to protect.

He would lead them to the greatness he had seen in Trelawney's mind – but for that he needed them all to be at their very best.

There would be no second chances in securing his future and he would not screw up.

"I have a final gift before we part."

His previous gift to them had been carefully set aside as Neville, Justin, Cedric, Ginny, Luna, Roger, and Trelawney rose without thought in the order they had come to him.

"I will miss seeing your faces every day and interacting like we have – and I will find some way for us to all to get together over the summer. However, since I carry a part of you in my core that lets me feel you even when you are far, it is only right that you should carry a part of me."

The idea had come to him one night in a dream, something that had felt so right that he didn't mind parting with seven insignificant slivers of his own magic. This was something that was only made possible by the bond they shared.

Suddenly the room grew very dark and the connection between them was the only thing illuminating their faces.

Focusing on the seven-point star in his core Harry then willingly and freely bound the smallest little tendril of his green magic that he could to each of their points. Then he breathed in deeply and exhaled outwards as the smallest bit of himself that he could give followed the glowing thread outward.

The seven bits of Harry's magic were very small but extremely bright, and followed each connection to its new home.

Once inside each of their bodies the green of Harry's magic was hungrily and rapidly absorbed into that particular core.

And the effect was overwhelming as Harry's followers dropped to their knees as a small bit of Harry's power became forever bound to them.

It would take them a while to become used to the constant presence of Harry within them but from that moment on they would always be able to feel him, and thus each other. For the rest of their lives they would never remain alone.

The lights in the room flickered back to life and seven pairs of eyes, now speckled with the barest hint of green, gazed upon their Lord, their Harry.

Now, they too, were complete.

Well, there goes Year 3. Hope you enjoyed. Year 4 will be fun :)

I can't thank you all enough for the kind words and love you've shown this. I never thought I would have this many readers and it is good incentive to plow ahead and finally get to Tom. Again, I imagine that his appearance will be the halfway point and hopefully I will be able to get the second half of this story a hell of a lot faster than I got the first half out.