Harry briefly wondered why he was lugging around a pair of trunks while it was clear Cressida and Mia had some kind of magical solution to deal with the issue that is luggage. His thoughts of inquiring how they did it fled as he saw Draco in the distance bully his way past a few first years and into the train.
He stepped into the train himself and followed the girls into a cabin. They barely had time to settle down when Luna drifted into the cabin as well. "Hello Harry." She greeted him shyly. "Hello Luna. Any big plans for the holidays?" Harry replied politely in return. Wondering if the girl had dire news since she had been avoiding him.
"Only the usual snorkack winter hunt. If I find something in my family library, can I send an owl?" She asked in turn. "I should be in the UK for the entire holiday." Harry replied as he instantly understood what the girl was asking. "I will then. Thanks Harry!" With that the eccentric girl skipped off. "She is still researching something for you in divination?" Hermione asked skeptically. "She is, I do not want to purely trust Witenagemot on this." Harry lied on the spot.
Hermione gave her boyfriend a sceptical look who looked a bit guilty at hiding something from her. "I am sorry Hermione, but I can't tell you." he apologized. "He is right, Hermione." Mia cut in and she grinned to take out the sting of her next words "If you are worried about him cheating with anybody, you really should be suspicious about me. I am around him all the time." she stretched out the 'all' for emphasis.
To Mia's surprise Hermione actually cringed and muttered an apology before hiding behind a book. Harry was left blinking that Mia's tease apparently hit the spot dead on. Cressida pinned him with a look before he could open his mouth and subtly shook her head. Taking this as an advice not to pursue the matter Harry followed it despite wanting to voice the question to confirm it.
'It must be a girl thing then.' Harry concluded after stewing over it for a while. He was actually flattered in an odd way that Hermione was so possessive over him. That he could have felt insulted that she thought he would stray never entered his mind.
"A lot of aurors hanging around the station today. Are they expecting trouble?" Harry asked worriedly as he looked outside the window and spotted the uniformed robes with ease. Mia immediately checked that the sword of Gryffindor was ready for use. Brewing trouble and Harry tended to result in immediate screaming trouble that had to be handled by Harry if the past patterns held.
As they exited and carted off by a relaxed Sirius Black and Remus Lupin they allowed themselves to slightly relax. "Your parents are waiting back home Hermione. When I got through the grapevine that aurors were staking out for Malfoy junior in case his parents would show up I decided it was safer for them to sit back."
"What happens to Malfoy if his parents don't show up?" Harry asked curiously. He could half imagine the boy being stuck waiting until the train went back and then had to explain to the professors why he was back at the gates of Howards. The thought made him smile slightly. "He'd either go to his friends or ask the 'friendly' aurors to take him back to Hogwarts. His parents are on the watchlist for immediate arrest now."
"You'd think he'd be smart enough to stay at Hogwarts." Remus muttered with a shake of his head. "I don't know. Maybe all those people who he and his father bullied over the years are getting back to him? Without his father in the position he was it would be a bit hard to say 'If my father hears of this!' without looking stupid." Harry offered in return. It was fair justice in his books.
He shrugged after a moment. "In the end, it's Malfoy. I am not going to worry more about him then it is needed." "Good answer Harry." Sirius said approvingly as they piled into a taxi. "Any problems with Umbridge?" "Not really. She is doing the odd demonstration now, but she still is horrible at teaching, treating us as little children and trying to curry favor."
"I wonder why though." Harry paused thoughtfully. "Isn't Fudge rotting in a cell somewhere?" "Along with the rat and the supposedly dead guy, yes." Sirius answered softly. "Bones is pumping them for every bit of information she suspects he has. There have been purges in some departments. Some unmarked people for example were responsible for the floo system failing during certain attacks."
"Considering her own strident opinions on Werewolves she knows the winds have changed. Once the curse strikes and she is tossed out of Hogwarts she will find the ministry quite unwelcoming." Remus noted with grim pleasure. "I suspect she labours under the idea that Madam Bones is cleaning house with your mandate. Instead of just doing what she wanted to do for ages but was always blocked."
"Was Fudge really that big of an obstacle?" Harry asked, surprised that a single buffon of a man could cause so much trouble. "Normally no. But with most of the suspected core death eaters out of the country for business, she had time to prepare and act." "Well good for her." Harry agreed with some disinterest at the end of Remus's explanation. The right people seemed to be doing something good so he was happy enough.
Hermione however was interested and took over the conversation. Grilling Remus and Sirius for extra information. Harry just sat back and hoped that the taxi-driver was either a wizard or so thoroughly charmed he didn't notice. Obliviating a guy for being at the wrong time was a bit too harsh in Harry's opinion. 'Maybe I should encourage Sirius or Remus to get a driver license? It would save them temporarily extending a vehicle every time I need to be moved.'
One drive later they piled out of the taxi, paid the driver and piled into the Granger home who was more than happy to see their daughter. Emma especially was pleased to hear that they were indeed going to a ball. Much to Harry's puzzlement.
He would later find out from a frazzled Hermione that her mother liked the idea of dressing her daughter up. Despite his own attempts to find out more he could not find out what she would be wearing. Only that his choice of colours was decided for him.
Voldemort was doing his best to hide his displeasure. His recovery was significantly slower than he had anticipated and acting like he had fully recovered already had slowed it even further. Even worse that his hideout was slowly filling up with cowering followers as Madam Bones was hunting them with unheard efficiency and fairness.
The liberal use of truth potions, cross verification of facts and her removal of those in the ministry who could obstruct or obfuscate things meant that the pile of lies and bribes that got a part of his core followers scot free fell apart with disturbing speed.
The endless clamor to strike down the woman was beyond annoying as well. It left him wishing he could crucio the purebloods until they started to think or became drooling idiots. In the latter case he felt that these days he hadn't lost much. As tempting it was to deal with the woman, it would not only reveal his existence to all to see, there was a good chance she'd escape now that his silent supporters had been rounded up.
And once he was out in the open, Potter could get the Wizenagemot and the Witenagemot to act against him. He was mighty yes, but sheer numbers would still crush him. 'Not that I would tell my followers that if they were not smart enough to figure that out themselves.' The Dark Lord grumbled in his thoughts, hating to admit to any weakness.
Now with Dumbledore willing to fight him he would have at least two opponents who could face him in a duel to the death and walk away alive. And he knew that another defeat would make the least loyal of the 'noble pureblooded' rats looking for an exit.
So recovery of another soul fragment was vital now that Dumbledore was hunting them. The one in the locket was perhaps the most 'actively' secured. But with enough time the defences could be dismantled and the horcrux could be taken. Malfoy had already admitted he had given the book to a Weasley and it was subsequently destroyed.
The man was still unable to do more than moan in pain as a result of his actions, long in the past they might be. Voldemort was certain that it was because of this act of stupidity that Dumbledore was on the trail in the first place. Getting the cup meant freeing Bellatrix as she was personally required to be there. The Diadem meant waltzing into Dumbledore's home base. So that was out as well.
So although it was not his first choice. It was the only one he could make without throwing this shadow war into the open. For some reason that escaped Voldemort, Potter and Dumbledore had not done so. 'They must fear that the ministry would fall apart once I am revealed, still unstable as it was cleaned thoroughly by Bones.' Tom thought, but as he mulled it over it seemed too thin to be the real reason.
'It must be something my followers don't know, don't realise I don't know but I need to know or something that they think is an issue which it really is not.' Tom concluded, annoyed at the lack of answers. 'Mayhaps I should get the rat to fetch me the Daily Prophet issues of the past few years. He paused as he remembered that the rat got caught and he needed to find another lackey to do so drudgework.
His path set, as reluctant as he was to take it, Tom told his minions he'd be busy and made his silent exit. He carefully plotted a path that would see anyone following him meet a rather unpleasant fate. Descending to the entrance of his hidden area was harder than it should be, the sea having worn away the platform he had used when constructing the place.
With a grimace he gave his own protections the blood sacrifice they demanded. He had considered dragging along Malfoy for this and the second part. But decided against it as he did not trust the man or any other followers to stay coherent enough not to stumble into the pool filled with infiri. His first choice for sacrificing limbs was languishing in a ministry cell at the moment.
Despite no-one around to see it he was secretly relieved to find the inferi standing motionless under the water as he expected with the small rowboat untouched. If he had known that Dumbledore had spent three seconds looking at the area before whipping out a broom and zooming carefully over he'd be mad with fury.
So Voldemort took the way over the water as he had planned it to happen. Well aware by the time the small boat hit the shore the inferi underwater would be fully roused and ready for action. He walked up the top of the small island and looked into the bowl to find it empty. Both of the potion and Horcrux. He blinked twice and then tried to dispel whatever illusion was spelled over the bowl.
He found nothing, absolutely nothing. He tried more spells to find out how the bowl was emptied without a delirious fool for his inferni to feast upon. He then focused on whatever remnants of the potion he could find to see if it was neutralised somehow, yet again he found nothing. Rage nearly overtook rational thought just as he remembered that it should have set off the inferi.
He took a few deep breaths to balance his humours. Instead he focused his attention on the wards and protections he had set up. Searching each and every one of them for any tiny hole or weakness that had been exploited for the heist. He found none and with a grimace he acknowledged there was another way he was not aware of. The two ways around it was to use a sacrifice or having drunk the right antidote beforehand, one only he knew.
Severus Snape might have managed to reverse engineer the antidote. But Voldemort knew the man had sworn on his magic to never research or reveal it. 'Dumbledore, this just reeks of your skill.' He admitted grudgingly. After a moment it hit him now that he was no longer focused on the 'how' but instead his thoughts led back to 'what' had happened.
He fumed silently in the dark on the tiny island. With no-one around to feel his wrath he could only rage and rant in his mind. He then realised he had a pool full of inferi with no current use for them. 'How typical of you headmaster. Focusing on the big issues first and leaving the cleanup as a project for later.' The smile on his noseless face became unhinged as he raised his wand to alter the magics controlling the creatures.
"The ladies always leave it to the last minute, Harry." Dan said with a good natured grin as he, Harry and Sirius waited in the living room. The upper floor had been declared a forbidden zone by both the female Grangers and Cressida. Mia had disappeared up there as well but Harry thought it was more for moral support than actually dressing up.
Not wishing to leave the entire evening to the control of the Witenagemot Remus was currently driving a hired van to the Granger house. "In the old days I would say the women were doing some magic ritual that took a lot of time. But I know better now…" he paused when he saw Sirius nod. "...there is magic for that?"
"A better question would be asking if there is something magic cannot do." The ex prisoner said with a grin. "Although I suspect they are mostly gossiping about us menfolk here." Dan smiled as he started to ask all kinds of things if magic could do that. Sirius was more than happy to show off his knowledge, the only thing stopping him from showing off with his wand was the risk that Hermione would get dinged for underage witchcraft.
Harry listened in while refraining from plucking at his suit. It was more comfortable than the overly elaborate dress robes from the yule ball. He still felt like a suited up monkey. He perked up when he heard heels clack on wood and he turned towards the door he expected the womenfolk to emerge from.
He didn't have to wait long. Mia came through first looking ready for battle as always. Her polished and reflective armor almost looked wrong in Harry's opinion. Usually it was dulled so it wouldn't give her away like a beacon. It took him a moment to notice that the clothing underneath was of much finer quality instead of the rough stuff meant to take damage.
'Maybe I should ask to get some proper combat robes.' Harry told himself as he realised the last time he got into a fight, he was either in his casual wear or school clothing. Neither suited for the rigors of combat. Cressida emerged next, looking every inch of nobility she was. Hermione was close over her heels followed by her mother and once more Harry had to stop himself from staring.
"I always called Hermione my little princess… and although she isn't little anymore, she certainly looks like a princess now." Dan said with clear pride. "Hermione, you look enchanting." Harry tried to say smoothly as Dan's words had given him enough time to recover his wits.
"Thank you dad, Harry." Hermione clearly wanted to say more. But her mother took charge and for a moment Harry had to resist if there was a relation with the Creevy's as he had to blink away the stars from the flash. The rest of the group was not spared, nor was Remus when he came in to say that the van was at the front.
It was Hermione who reminded her mother she had a ball to go to and with great reluctance they were released. With unseemingly haste Harry led the charge into the van. "Sorry." Hermione mumbled as Remus all but raced away. "I knew mom was a bit peeved at herself for not having a camera the last time you visited. But I didn't expect this."
"It is a good warm up. I am certain there will be plenty of people who want to take pictures of us at the ball." Harry assured Hermione. He then realised what he said and grimaced. Hermione took one look at the display of emotions before breaking out in giggles. "Your mouth figured it out before your brains did?" she asked teasingly.
"Well at least I am not putting my foot into it." Harry grumbled in his defense. "Which is an improvement Harry." Cressida agreed pompously. Harry decided not to respond before the three girls would gang up on him. To his relief his girlfriend took pity on him and a smooch on the cheek quickly evolved to a snog much to his pleasure.
"So…. do they do that during class as well?" Remus asked with a far too large grin. "I can't imagine Snape or McGonagall to be happy with that." "No, they usually wait until they can find a broom closet or Harry's common room." Mia replied. The pair received a rude hand based gesture for their comments from Harry. He had more important things to use his mouth for at the moment.