Author Note: We see serious Sirius. Some more of Dumbledore and get to see what Snape is up to oh Snap. I do not own any of the concepts within this product. All concepts are the property of William Shakespeare who created the entire concept of English literature and wrote every story trope that could ever be thought of by the human race. (Oh and someone name Rowling too.)
===xxx===xx(Chapter begins)
Hermione sat beside Harry as they looked over their family tests. Harry tracing the lines over and over from his name back.
"Its a big change knowing who your family are." Hermione said.
"Yeah. I have a lot more history than just being the boy-who-lived now. I have a family and all kinds of stuff." Harry said with a strange sad tone.
Hermione looked over his shoulder at the lines. "I recognize some of these names from history books I've read. Like Ralston Potter. He was a major player on the Wizengamut. And Linfred of Stinchcombe. He was a major potioneer."
Harry smiled, "No wonder Snape is treating me a lot nicer."
"Well he probably expects you to be able to brew potions a lot better than you do." Hermione said with a stern smile.
"Are you trying to be like Professor McGonnegal?" Harry chuckled.
Her smile softened, "Maybe. Oh did you know Ginny peeked on you in the shower?"
Harry sighed, "No, but I'm not surprised."
"You don't seem all that upset." Hermione teased, "Enjoy putting on a show."
"Well. No. Maybe. I dunno." Harry said blushing. "I just feel kinda responsible for her being dead so I guess I.
Hermione sighed, "You're not responsible for her dying Harry. She's even said that." Hermione comforted him.
He sat with his head down, "I know but it still doesn't make it hurt any less that she died. I mean Ron keeps writing to her Telling her whats been going on and how they have been getting along. So does Molly. It just feels weird being part of a family like that."
Hermione sighed, "I suppose it would be. The grief they feel must be awkward on top of your own, and the fact she's back as a ghost. I have no idea how to even understand or deal with that."
"Ron said its happened before in some families. They've had members come back to watch over family or guide them during tough times." Harry explained.
Hermione thought for a moment, "I suppose that makes sense. Family would be willing to do that, although if that's true then how did Ginny wind up anchored to you?"
Harry thought about that but could not come up with a good answer. At least not entirely one he wanted to consider right now.
===xxx===xx
Severus Snape had been invited to Malfoy manor by his dear friend Narcissa. They were sitting over tea discussing things.
"Unfortunate that you were forced to leave your cushy position at Hogwarts." Narcissa was saying as she lounged in her day dress.
"Yes well after Dumbledore's ouster it was inevitable." Snape sighed boredly. "The other professors did not enjoy my companionship."
"So what have you managed to do now? Have you managed to get out from under Dumbledore's thumb?"
"Mostly. He still has me brew potions for him, however I am tutoring the child of a rather rich eccentric that prefers to remain anonymous." Snape took a sip of his tea as he leaned back and stared at Narcissa's frame.
"Oh? Is he of the right sort?" Narcissa leaned forward interested. This allowed her day gown to reveal a bit more of her decolletage.
"Of course. I would not bother wasting my time on them otherwise." Snape sneered, "Especially as it is now my time to decide how I spend."
"Oh really? Well that is interesting. I suppose you cannot tell me who it is now?"
Snape looked at her in disappointment, "You know that my oaths prohibit me from revealing who my clients are."
Leaning back Narcissa laughed, "Of course. Of course. The galleons don't hurt either do they." Snape nodded in agreement, "Although I am disappointed that you are no longer there. Draco may not be treated as fairly and politely by the replacement. And after he is so broken-hearted right now."
"Oh what happened?" Snape asked as sincerely as he could.
"His favorite house elf Dobby died. Such a shame really. As sensitive as Draco is he was very upset." Narcissa sadly shook her head.
Snape nodded sympathetically. Observing as Narcissa crossed her long slender pale legs.
"And where is Draco right now?"
"He is spending the day with his friend Theodore." She said with a smile.
"How excellent." Snape replied with a smile.
===xxx===xx
Sirius Black huddled in the corner of his cell. He had been there for far longer than he could remember, or even think. The door had not opened once in the eternity that he had been here yet it opened today. Was he awake or was this a dream, or did it matter.
Two guards came into the room and took positions as a third person wearing a white uniform entered after they nodded to them. Sirius blinked in confusion as they looked real, they sounded real, the person in the white uniform even felt real when they helped him up off the floor.
They took him from the cold cells, the only sound the screams and mutterings of the inmates. The gentle srussing hiss of the Dementors as they glided along the corridors, neither flying nor walking. They entered a portion of the ancient fortress that the Dementors did not have access to. This area was painted in the government lime green that so many institutions use. There was a wall dividing the room with a countered window. The two guards parked Sirius on a yellow line in front of the counter and waited.
A bald guard with glasses and a mustache walked up holding a clipboard. He looked up at Sirius with a distasteful expression. "What prisoner?" He asked in a clipped professional tone.
"7474505b" The guard on his left stated in the same clipped bored tone.
"What wing?"
"Maximum wing Block 9"
"Reason for release?" The guard asked in the same tone as he looked at the clipboard again.
"Parole by order of the Ministry." The guard stated without any inflection.
"Wait there." He said then went back into the storeroom. He came back with a medium sized box.
Sirius stood there calmly and smiled at the man who glared back at him slamming the box down. Opening the box he began to pull items out as he did he named the item in the same inflection less clipped voice.
"Wand, 15 inches reed. Timex watch, broken. One unused muggle prophylactic. One white shirt, ruffled front. one suede fringe jacket, tan. One pair denim trousers. One pair boots, tan. One pair of sunglasses. Twenty galleons, three sickles, and seven knuts. Sign here." He said sliding the clipboard around to Sirius who took a quill and signed his name.
Taking the items he was led to a white tiled room where he was allowed to shower and dress. Leaving the dirty prison uniform on the floor he followed the guards feeling a bit closer to human. Entering another part of the prison they turned and left him without so much as a good day.
Sirius looked across the room as he saw a tall long white haired wizard he thought he knew stand and turn towards him with a sad smile. "Dumbledore?" He asked hesitantly, after clearing his throat twice from disuse.
"Ah yes. Good to see you remember me. How are you young Sirius?"
"Alive I think."
"Well come along we have a great deal of work to do." Albus said with a smile.
===xxx===xx
Harry was getting ready for bed with Ginny hovering nearby. She was staring out the window again.
"Ginny we need to talk." Harry began as he sat in his bed.
"I know. Hermione told you I peeked on you in the shower. I'm sorry I was just curious about. I was just curious since I'm not going to get to have a boyfriend."
"Right. Well I can understand and forgive you okay. Just I would like to set some boundaries alright?"
Ginny turned and hovered to the bed. Sitting on the mattress beside Harry she smiled at him. "You're not mad at me?"
Harry shook his head understandingly, "No I'm not mad. If the situation was reversed I probably would have done the same thing. I just would like to shower in private please. I mean you can interrupt me if its something important but its rather rude to just come in and stare or peek like that."
"So if you're out here I can watch?" She asked.
Harry blushed, "I probably won't do anything out here."
"Oh." Ginny sheepishly said.
"Sorry I feel awkward about that idea right now." Harry said forgetting himself and reaching out to pat Ginny on the arm. His hand going through her again he pulled it back and rubbed it.
"Yeah sorry." She apologized again.
"Its okay. I should have remembered." He fell silent for a minute, "So have you figured out why you became a ghost yet?"
Ginny looked out the window rather than say anything.
"Ginny?" Harry prompted.
"No. I haven't." She finally said looking at Harry. "Can we not discus it?"
"Right sorry. Still a bit of a touchy subject." Harry said quickly.
"Yeah. So what did Professor McGonnegal want in her letter?"
"Just to check up on me and see how things were going."
===xxx===xx(Monday July 26 1993)
The next few days went well. Hermione was talking to Harry in their off moments about the plan her parents had made for their trip. They had wanted to stop and meet Ginny's parents as the route they were going to take was through Ottery Saint Catchpole.
That Monday dawned brightly as Harry rose and went through his usual routines. Ginny and he had talked and she said she would respect his privacy in the bathroom. Breakfast went well and he had just finished packing his bags when the doorbell rang. Ginny came floating through the floor with a grin, "Hermione and her parents are here."
"Okay. I'm just finishing packing." Harry said. "Can you let her know I'll be right down."
Ginny sighed, "Oh I suppose I could."
"Could you please?" Harry asked politely.
"Okay Harry. Because you asked nicely." She said with a giggle then sunk through the floor.
Turning to Hedwig he sighed, "Okay girl I left the window open so you can fly and hunt. Remus said he'd check up on you and make sure the Dursleys were feeding you. I trust him not them."
The owl ruffled her feathers at him as if in agreement but otherwise stood aloof.
Harry grabbed his bag and went downstairs.
===xxx===xx
The drive was quiet for the first few miles. The green Range Rover traveling down the road in steady rhythm of the tires.
Dan sighed, "Well this is actually quite a bit quieter than when I'm in here alone."
Harry pulled his face back in from the window he had been staring out of, "Sorry sir. I just haven't been on many car trips."
"Oh well that's understandable. Your uh, aunt and uncle didn't seem like the sort to do that." Dan said with a chuckle.
"We have taken Hermione on tours and such since she was a baby." Emma added. "And always took in the Stratford on Avon festival in the summer. Although recently it has been becoming far too touristy."
Harry nodded. Ginny was floating in the back area of the Rover over the luggage looking around.
"So how is your friend Ginny doing?"
Harry looked up at the grinning Ginny, "She seems to be doing okay."
"Yeah I'm having fun."
Hermione laughed, "She says she's having fun."
"Well that's good. So she hasn't been blown out the back window or something."
"No I think because she's anchored to me she can travel with me. Although we haven't tried the floo or portkeys yet." Harry said.
"What are those?" Dan asked.
Hermione began to explain the various forms of travel which passed the time. After that they all began to chat and relax.
===xxx===xx
The first day of the trip was taken by going to Dover where Harry was excited to see the coast of France through the telescope. They explored the cliffs and the city before spending the night in a hotel. Harry and Dan in one room with the girls in another. The next day they spent driving west towards Cornwall and Devon.
Reaching Ottery Ginny had to direct Dan through Harry and Hermione to the Burrow on the muggle side of things. When they reached the front yard Dan looked at the odd structure. "Now that's a magical house."
"Yeah it is." Ginny said shooting through the front windshield and up to her family who had come out to meet them.
"Now dad. Try not to let Arthur mess with things too much. He means well but he doesn't have a full understanding of how muggle things work."
"Okay pumpkin."
Soon Dan and Arthur were discussing the various aspects of the engine while Emma stood by politely smiling at Molly as she talked a mile a minute about the various foods she was preparing and the potions she had brewing and other household lives of the Weasley clan.
"Your mum is kinda quiet Hermione." Ron laughed as he watched the two women enter the house.
"Well the way your mother talks she'd have to get her drill out to get a word in edgewise." Hermione huffed. "Besides its not like they have much in common."
Ron looked at her funny, "Wot cha mean?"
"Mother doesn't cook or can goods and of course she doesn't brew potions." Hermione explained.
"Yer mother don't cook? Then how do you eat?" Ron exclaimed in confusion.
"Well dad cooks or mother uses the microwave or we have take out. There are quite a few nice places in Crawley."
Ron looked disgusted, "Well that ain't right. The wife's supposed to do the house stuff."
Hermione crossed her arms and glared at Ron, "Well how traditional." The way she said the word traditional made Harry thing of when Uncle Vernon would say something polite but meant something that would get Aunt Petunia gasping at him.
Ginny laughed, "Yeah that's Ron. His girlfriend is going to have to be just like mum. He'd love to marry mum."
"You hush you." Ron said taking a swat at Ginny as she danced out of the reach causing Ron to chase after her.
Harry quietly said, "I don't mind cooking."
Hermione turned to him, "Thank you Harry. I know. I don't really mind the idea of cooking either, just that I do want to do something more than be just a housewife and mother. Although those would be important to me too."
Harry smiled as he watched Ginny and the twins begin to chase Ron. "Yeah. Hey I don't see anything wrong with that. Although we should probably finish school and defeat the dark lord and all before we think about that."
Hermione watched Ron get his foot in a bucket that Ginny had pulled out of the shed with her telekinesis. "True. So should we save Ron or help Ginny and the twins."
"Got any popcorn?" Harry said with a grin.
===xxx===xx
Ron was wringing out his shirt as Harry and Hermione sat beside him. Ginny had managed to lift him up and dunk him in the duck pond to the applause of the twins who wandered off afterwards. "Thanks a lot guys."
"Well I'm sorry Ron. I'm just a girl so I didn't want to interfere in your manly display of prowess there." Hermione sweetly said.
Ron just glared at her "Fine, but what's your excuse Harry?"
Harry laughed, "I don't have one. I just found it funny." He said winking at Ginny, "Besides it helps Ginny develop her ability to interact with the mortal realms."
Ron frowned in thought then shrugged, "Yeah okay."
Ginny was hovering nearby, "No hard feelings brother?"
"No I guess not." Ron laughed, "At least its a hot day."
"Is it? I can't tell." Ginny sighed, "It all feels the same to me."'
"Oh yeah." Ron's face fell. "Sorry."
"Don't be." She smiled at him, "So you got a new wand?"
"Oh yeah. Its pretty cool. We had some money show up and dad got me a wand to replace my broken one."
"Oh. What do you mean money just showed up?"
"Well same day my stupid rat vanished a bag of galleons appeared on the dining room table. Dad thought it was someone who visited but wanted to leave it anonymously.
Ginny sighed again, "Oh. That must have been useful."
"Yeah that's were mum got the stuff to can and to replenish some of the potions cabinet. My wand was a pretty common one so it wasn't too expensive." Ron said like he was ashamed to admit it in front of Harry and Hermione.
"Well that's good I guess." Ginny said. "Hey I'm going to go bug Percy. You guys have fun."
"So you treating my sister okay?"
"I guess so. I mean she's a ghost so how could I mistreat her?" Harry asked perplexed.
"Well I mean you cold ignore her."
"I talk to her, I play chess with her, We go to our tutoring with her. She's not ignored." Harry declared.
"Oh That's good then."
Dinner was an excellent if simple meal. All of the Weasleys passing food around, rolls being thrown the length of the table until Molly yelled at the twins for passing rolls that way. Harry laughed at the way things were so chaotic although Hermione looked awkwardly around at her parents.
"Luna was going to come over but her and her dad got word someone saw a snurckle cack over in Sweden so they ran off to try and find it." Ron said buttering a roll.
"Its a Snorck Ack." Ginny corrected.
"Snorck ack. Snurcack. Its all imaginary." Ron shrugged.
"So was trolls until I came to the school." Hermione said.
"Yeah but at least Harry killed that one." Ron said.
"Yeah shoved his wand up its nose and blasted its brains out." Fred or George said.
"That's not quite the way it went." Harry tried to say but the twins launched into a much more outlandish tale of the battle of the loo.
"There stood the troll smelling of poo.
"Into the room strode the hero of our tale.
"Harry Potter and his sidekick Ron the pale.
"To save the fair maiden Granger
"Though she was a stranger
"The battle was fought
"and won all by the loss of a booger."
Hermione's parents looked at Harry who suddenly became very interested in his meal.
"So do trolls get into the castle very often?" Emma asked politely.
Arthur shook his head, "Oh no that was a special case where a professor was possessed by a dark spirit and let it in."
Emma put her fork down with a clink, "And does that sort of thing happen often."
"Not very. Most people are aware of how possession works so they take precautions." Arthur said with a grin. "I work in the Ministry so am around a lot of the aurors. Things aren't that bad. Besides you muggles have all sorts of criminals and violence and such."
"Not all that much." Dan stated in defense.
"Maybe we had better get on the road dad if we're going to make it to Exeter by sunset." Hermione said sharply.
"Yes perhaps we should." Dan said wiping his mouth on the napkin.
Molly spoke up, "Oh nonsense. Why go to all the bother of staying in one of those places. You could stay here. And we could visit. And Ginny could talk to us and visit." Molly's voice ran out of steam it seemed like as she she looked at Ginny.
"Yes well thank you for the offer of hospitality but we already made reservations and need to get there as they're non-refundable." Emma politely said.
"You're still welcome to come to the Dursleys Mrs Weasley." Harry said, "All of you are."
"Really? Your uncle seemed rather put out when we all showed there the last time." Arthur said.
"Oh that's just uncle Vernon. He's always rather high strung." Harry waved away the thought dismissively.
"Yes being a muggle I suppose he would be. Well we can make arrangements to visit again then. And Molly they already had plans so we shouldn't interfere."
Molly had begun to cry as she stared at Ginny, "Right of course. Well I'll pack you something for the road. So just wait a minute."
"Sorry about that. Molly is still a bit upset from the way things happened with Ginny." Arthur quietly said with his own sniffle. The boys all fell silent, even the twins.
"Well we understand. A tragic accident like that would be rough on a family." Dan said sympathetically.
"Yes. It was. But we will persevere and weather this. Eventually." Arthur declared.
"You'll be fine daddy." Ginny told her dad.
===xxx===xx
Once the good-byes had been finally said and the Grangers plus two were back on the road Emma turned in her seat to Hermione. "So how much of what happened at that castle have you been leaving out of your letters?"
"Uh a little bit." Hermione confessed.
"And by a little bit you mean anything life threatening or dangerous?" Emma requested for clarification.
"Well maybe a little bit of it. But there was important reasons I did mum. Hermione declared.
"That tears it we will discus everything that has happened in the last two years and then determine if you will be going back to that place or not." Emma declared.
Ginny frowned angrily, "No. She has to go back. Its important!"
The engine of the Range Rover sputtered and died. As Dan coasted to the side of the road he noticed the windows started to rime over with ice. "Uh guys could you ask you friend Ginny to calm down a bit please."
Harry cleared his throat. "She seems to disagree with you about not letting Hermione go back."
"Oh and why is that?" Emma asked, "Didn't she die there?"
"Yeah I died there but it wasn't their fault. If Hermione doesn't go back bad things will happen."
"What kind of bad things?" Harry asked ignoring Dan and Emma's expressions.
"I don't know what. I just know it'll be bad. You'll have a lot more troubles." Ginny said to Harry. Turning to Hermione she begged, "Please get them to understand. You're important to Harry. He needs you there beside him."
"I'm important to Harry?"
"Very. Please Hermione. Please Promise me that no matter what you'll stay with Harry and help him."
"I. I will Ginny. Just please calm down." Hermione said nodding. The fog of her breath showing that the temperature was dropping rapidly.
"What is going on?" Dan asked urgently. "Things are getting a bit intense here."
"Ginny says that Hermione is important to me. That if she doesn't go back bad things will happen." Harry explained.
"Is this some kind of supernatural vision stuff?" Dan turned around in the seat.
Ginny stared at Hermione, "Make them understand please." She begged.
"Mum, dad look Ginny says its important I go back. I have to help Harry with something."
Emma shivered in her light blouse but said, "Fine. We'll not take you out of the school, as long as you do not hide anything from us. No more half truths or leaving things out."
Hermione nodded, "Yes mother. I agree."
"Good now could we have some heat in here please?" Dan asked.
Ginny seemed to realize what she was doing and concentrated. "Sorry. They just upset and scared me. I didn't mean to hurt them but I don't have control over everything right now."
"She's sorry. She doesn't have control but you upset and scared her when you threatened to take Hermione out of Hogwarts." Harry quickly explained as the windows began to clear up.
Dan tried the engine which started once more.
Emma frowned, "Alright but she needs to understand that doing things like this is not going to help us look favorable on her."
"She can hear you. And she's only eleven. She's going to be eleven forever." Harry firmly stated. "She didn't mean to hurt anything or anyone."
Dan reached across and patted Emma on the arm, "No harm done. We're back on the road." he said pulling out and joining the flow of traffic once the windows had thawed enough to see.
Emma looked doubtful but nodded, "I'm sorry. Its just we're not used to the idea of ghosts and trolls and all of this stuff. We are people of of science and reason. When Hermione manifested her abilities it came as quite a shock. One we've been trying to reconcile with our world views ever since."
Dan chimed in, "We don't exactly fear you Ginny. Just you need to know you could hurt us. And that is bit concerning. And we don't feel any less love for Hermione or you Harry. We just don't understand, but we're trying."
Harry muttered something under his breath.
"What was that Harry dear?" Emma asked.
"More than what my aunt and uncle ever did." He said sadly.
Emma looked at him compassionately. "Some people are better able to handle change than others."
Ginny shrunk into a small ball in the back by the luggage. Harry turned and tried to coax her out which took most of the way to Exeter.
===xxx===xx
Sirius was admiring himself in the mirror. He was back in Grimmould Place but this time he was lord of the manor. Shaved, bathed and with his hair cut and trimmed he felt like quite the human being. He had ordered Kreacher to find a way to remove the hideous painting of his mother or he would destroy the entire wall to get rid of it. He had also ordered the malevolent little toad to start cleaning the place up or else.
Pausing outside his brother's room he sighed. He had few regrets in his life but the way he had parted from his brother was one of the biggest. The last fight they had when Sirius ran away to move into Potter House with James and his parents was bitter, it almost broke down into a duel. Sirius had tried to convince him that the dark lord, the Death Eaters, the whole blood supremacy ideology was insane. Regulus had sneered back over his drawn wand that someone had to stay loyal to the family, to the cause of honor and duty. That their family motto meant more than brotherhood, especially as he had no brother. Sirius touched the nameplate on the door briefly then steeling himself turned and walked downstairs. He had work to do.
Entering the lounge he saw Dumbledore enjoying a glass of his claret. Walking over he poured himself a glass as well before sitting down.
"Ahh so do you feel better Sirius?"
"Yes I do. Now what is the work that you sprung me over?" He said sitting in the great wingback chair and crossing his legs.
"Well as you are still the head of the Black family I need you to do a few things."
"Such as what?" Sirius asked with a suspicious look.
Go to Gringotts and speak with your accounts manager. Have him go over the betrothal agreements for Narcissa and Bellatrix. See if there is any way to claim their vaults. Once that is done you will need to go to the Hall of Heralds and disown them. While reinstating Andromeda."
"While I don't exactly see a problem with disowning those bitches why pray tell should I claim their vaults?"
"I believe one or the other of them may have in their possession an item of great and powerful darkness that must be destroyed." Dumbledore explained.
Taking a drink of his claret Sirius leaned back, "After what happened to James and Lily. After my spending the last twelve years inside the joint I feel like I need a bit more information before I agree."
Dumbledore nodded, "I am sorry that I was unable to do anything to prevent you going to Azkaban. You have to agree the circumstances of your arrest were a bit incriminatory. Plus the environment of the time. I tried but Bagnold refused to listen, it would have been political suicide to pardon you. And with Barty Crouch in control of the courts." He left the rest of the comment unsaid.
"I know. Barty Junior spent several years screaming about how his own father betrayed him. How blood should have mattered." Sirius recollected. "Still though Albus. There is that prophecy you warned Lily and James over. The thing that got them to go into hiding and trust you over."
Albus nodded, "Yes it would seem that the prophecy has not been fulfilled yet."
"And what are you doing about it?"
"Ensuring that Harry is being trained, and is being given the help and support he needs. Which is why you are here now that I have the ability to do so."
"Great so how did you manage this feat?"
"By handing Pettigrew over to the Ministry." Albus said with a smile.
Sirius stared at him for several long seconds before giving an awkward maniacal high pitched laugh. When he had composed himself. "So Pettigrew finally got himself caught did he? How did you manage that?"
"He made a few mistakes." Albus sipped at the wine.
"Figures. Petey wasn't the brightest candle in the chandelier. Now you still haven't told me what I asked."
"Yes I know." Albus nodded in agreement.
Sirius grinned as he gave that maniacal laugh again, "Still think we're going to play the same game. Remember who you're talking to old man. I've had a lot of time to sit and think. I'm not going to just go along with the schemes and machinations of you blindly. You want my help I get info and told what's going on or I walk."
"Yes. Walk right back into a cell in Azkaban. It is only through my efforts that you are sitting here." Albus downed the wine in his glass. "It is through my efforts that you could just as quickly return to your rather depressing abode."
Sirius glared at the senior wizard, "I'm not going back. Don't even try to threaten me with that old man." He stated with a degree of finality that left Albus no doubt as to the seriousness of Sirius.
Albus and Sirius held a brief contest of wills before Albus finally gave a slight nod, "Very well. I will tell you what you need to know and nothing more. I shall not lie to you or disseminate. However you will agree to show self-restraint and refrain from going off like a loose cannon. We will work together for the greater good. I will not save you. Even from yourself."
Sirius nodded back as he said, "I can live with that. As long as Harry is safe and sound."
"He is. He will be until the appointed hour when he must do his duty. By then he will be strong enough and prepared. However until then we must do a great deal of work to help prepare for that day." Albus leaned forward with his glass which Sirius refilled.
"Alright, what sort of work? What is so important in the vaults that you need my help for."
Albus inhaled uncomfortably, "To answer that I must reveal a deep secret of immense darkness. Something that if it was ever revealed could cause our society to descend into panic and chaos. It must never be spoken of to another person, ever."
Sirius looked at Albus tiredly but said nothing.
"Tom Riddle the man who the world knows as Lord Voldemort," Albus said the name with disdain, "created several items that would anchor his soul here should his body die. I do not know how many or what they are, I can only confirm that they are one after they have been found."
"Well isn't that convenient." Sirius frowned as she said that in disgust.
"No it isn't really. All I know is that the items must be kept somewhere safe, secure and hidden. Yet they must be easily recovered by the creator or his followers to be used in the ritual to return him to life. Until they are all destroyed his soul will remain on this world, able to take over the weak willed."
"Well that's wonderful. So how many of them does he have to have on hand to come back?"
Albus shrugged, "I don't know. I doubt he would throw any of them in the ocean or bury them in the arctic or a building's footings. As he weakened his soul with each one he became more irrational."
"And ugly. I remember the last time I saw him. Those freaky red eyes, that pale sallow skin. Looked like a ghoul straight out of hell." Sirius gave a shudder at the mental image.
"Yes. So while they are probably not hidden in plain sight they are not irretrievably lost. They can be found and we must do so." Albus implored in a strong whisper.
Sirius set his lips as he considered things, "And Harry is safe and getting training?"
"Yes. He has friends who are going to help him in the battle. Just as you and James did." Albus agreed.
Sirius put the glass down, "Give me the rest of today to get my head straight. I'll get the family business dealt with by Friday. Then we can see about the treasure hunt."
Albus nodded with a smile. "Good. I will leave you to it."
===xxx===xx
In their hotel room in Exeter the Grangers sat on the bed opposite Harry and Hermione who sat on the other. Ginny hovered slightly above the sheets on Harry's left. They had spent the last hour and half after dinner talking about everything that had happened at the school. From the day Hermione had walked through the barrier the first time to the most recent trip home and everything that has happened since then. Ginny had maintained her calmness but could only say that it was vitally important for Hermione to stay at Hogwarts as Harry needed her.
"Okay. So all of this stuff is happening because some terrorist killed Harry's parents and tried to kill him. His followers are a bunch of magic Nazis who want to kill all of us non-magical people and our daughter is vital to help Harry and has to remain in the middle of it or very very bad things are going to happen but none of you can explain to us what that means." Dan summed up.
"That's the way it seems to be sir." Harry said with a nod.
"Right, well. That makes me so much more comfortable with all of this." Dan quipped. "Just when I was getting used to the entire concept of magic, now we have a magical civil war."
"Its actually more based on bigoted qualities concerning purity of blood and magical strength related to such." Hermione started to say before Harry elbowed her.
"Not helping Hermione."
Emma frowned, "So what do you think about this?"
"Mum. I don't know what else we can do. Ginny says Harry needs my help and that without Harry we lose. So I want to stay. Because Harry has to stay." Hermione said honestly.
Emma exhaled with a frown, "Hermione I believe you. I really do. However there are quite a few logic gaps in the entire thing. Its like someone is using the two of you in a giant chess match."
Hermione sighed, "I know but I don't see another viable option."
"Well turning you into child soldiers or making your life a living hell isn't that great an option either." Dan pointed out.
"Hey the magical world is not that bad. There's a lot of wonderful things that muggles will never know about." Ginny exclaimed.
Dan shivered, "Let me guess Ginny disagreed with that."
"Her family grew up in the magical world. She doesn't see things the same way." Harry explained.
"Well that leaves us with three main theories as to whats going on. " Emma said thinking, "One. Somehow Harry is like King Arthur chosen by the fates themselves to carry out the task against the forces of darkness. Two: Your family somehow really peeved off these people and they have a real problem with letting things go. Or Three. Somehow you are being used and manipulated by two different forces as some kind of catspaw for one or the other. Unfortunately the evidence we have right now could be appropriate for any one of them."
"Or all of them, but then I doubt the universe would hate you that much Harry." Daniel said with a smile, "At least I hope not."
"That I can agree with." Hermione and Harry both said. Ginny just nodded.
"So what can we do about this?" Daniel asked. "There was that place in Andorra. Beauxbatons we found out about."
Ginny shook her head, "No that won't change anything the darkness will follow Harry."
Hermione frowned, "What darkness? What do you mean it'll follow Harry?"
"I can't explain it. But when I look at Harry I see, something, I don't know what it is about him. There is something attached to him. Something that is like a tendril of darkness." Ginny was frowning in confusion and frustration.
Hermione quickly explained for her parents what Ginny said then looked at Harry. Studying him as much as she could.
"You can't see it from the mortal realm. You can only see it from the verge." Ginny said.
"The what?" Harry and Hermione both asked again.
"The Verge. The place in between." Ginny said trying to explain. "Its kind of like you have your world. The mortal relam which I can visit but have trouble interacting with, then there's the afterlife which is a one way ticket. Once you go there you cannot usually go back. In between is the verge. Its where reapers, and ghosts, and other spirits can exist. Its like a shadow of reality."
Hermione repeated that for her parents who looked flabbergasted.
"You know if I didn't believe in the afterlife I am certainly starting to do so." Daniel said in a whisper.
Ginny smiled, "I like him. He's kinda like dad only muggle."
Hermione laughed, "Yeah dad is pretty open minded."
"I take it she complimented me?" Daniel laughed.
"Yeah. She did." Hermione said with a laugh.
Daniel perked up proudly, "Well thank you then."
Emma rolled her eyes, "Don't let it go to your head."
"So you're not going to pull Hermione from school?" Harry asked in a concerned tone.
"I suppose not." Emma said looking to Dan who nodded his agreement with her. "We will however take a closer look at things and do all we can to be more involved. AND you will both, er rather all three of you, will be nothing but honest with us in what is going on."
Hermione looked upset, "Mum there are a lot of people involved that won't like two muggles poking their noses into things."
"Well then I suppose we'll just have to hope that there are plenty who will not mind. That Professor McGonnegal seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, plus she's Scottish." Daniel declared pointedly.
Harry was confused, "What's that got to do with anything?"
Emma laughed, "Nemo me impune lacessit is the Scottish national motto. No one provokes me with impunity is what it translates as. To put it into the vernacular Don't start a fight unless you want a fight.
Harry nodded as he understood Professor McGonnegal a little bit better now. "Still are you really sure you want to get involved in this. I can deal with it.・
"I don't think so Harry.・Hermione huffed. Are you really going to rely on Ron helping you?"
Ginny nodded reluctantly, "Ron's cool and he does have some good things about him but he's not really going to help you as much as Hermione will."
Harry sighed.
Daniel laughed, "Let me guess both girls getting on you?"
Harry just gave him a wry look.
"Hermione gets her stubbornness honestly. And after meeting Ginny's mother I'd say she gets a fair share from her too. Probably wise to surrender." Daniel suggested. Emma grinned briefly before composing herself.
Harry looked from the living girl to the ghostly one and sighed, "Fine. I give up."
Hermione looked supremely pleased with herself as Daniel leaned over to whisper in Emma's ear, "The boy learns quick, I think our little pumpkin has him hooked and just needs to get the gaff."
Emma just nodded with a pleased look of her own.
===xxx===xx
The rest of the trip went rather well. Harry was happy to see a lot of places that he had never seen before. The Grangers had relaxed some with Hermione and Ginny talking about the magical history of some of the locations.
They had visited a ruined castle where Ginny met a small boy who was a ghost there trapped because he was too scared to go on. He had died alone and forgotten but when Ginny tried to talk to him he ran.
The visit to Glastonbury Tor had been quite enjoyable and disturbing for the Grangers as the amount of supernatural energy there almost made Ginny able to be seen by the Grangers. Flickering in and out of their sight, especially if they were not looking at her. Fortunately it seemed like no other muggles saw her. She said the experience felt like drinking a Pepper-up potion.
The end of the week they wound up back at The Dursleys where a birthday party was going to be held. The Grangers, the Weasleys, Mr Lupin, Hagrid and even professor McGonnegal would be there. Harry was not sure how he should feel as he had never had a real celebration of his birthday before. The Dursleys always ignored it completely. Thinking about it Harry decided he was going to be happy.
===xxx===xx(Review Responses)
bahnannah: The entire concept of wealth and poverty in the Wizarding world is confusing and annoying. We have families like the Malfoy's who are apparently so rich they have hot and cold running politicians in their pocket, a huge estate etc. Yet we never get told what sort of investments, inheritances or what the deal is with Lucius. Being a terrorist must pay pretty good I guess. Yet we have the Weasleys who have seven kids, live in a magically expanded house where everyone except the twins have their own room, and enough food to feed them all. They can take trips at Christmas to Romania. Use lotto winnings to go to Egypt and have fun (although they do buy Ron a new wand which is rather required.) But Ron has to make do with hand me downs, second hand robes, used books as does Ginny and they are generally described as a paycheck away from doom kinda what we call stateside redneck or hillbillies in someways. This is in a world where magic can do all kinds of strange and wonderful things. We have seen a spell that can repair broken glasses. Worn books should be easy. But then we get no publishing because everyone repairs the same book forever. But they have bookshops. Used book shops. sigh...One reason I try to figure out a way to make it make sense. At least in my own stories. Say the magic wears out the molecules or something and there is only so many times you can repair or rebuild something before it turns to dust. Either way in this story they are going to be depicted as not quite as reckless with money and closer to the working class poor families I know and live with here in Appalachia.
Dennisud: His wealth will play a small role at some point. He's not going to be buying and selling the universe as he's not that rich (Not even in the Forbes 100) but he is very nicely well off and will use that money to do good.
OfficerDonNZ: I do try to spread around the bashing. Snape is a very complicated person and I like playing with the way he acts in stories. At the end of the day though the one person he cares about the most is Severus Snape. Oh yeah. I would love to see a video of that. Sad the man who played Vernon crossed over a few years ago. He was excellent in the role. Sirius is going to be getting a lot of things. As for Fudge even a stopped clock gets it right twice a day. Draco is going to be very Draco. I can either make a nice Snape or a nice Draco but not both in the same story. As for the Heritage tests they will be referenced again.
Jadesabrexiv: Ah yes the thousand yard stare, my brother and I are quite familiar with it. As for ghostly perversions being undead, never needing to sleep, eat, and the only other physical contact is with ghosts can drive a spirit a little bit over the edge. Especially in a school where the sexual energy of several hundred teenager in mixed company would be. That would explain the presence of peeves as the old granny women of the region have tales of the spirits getting roused by folks going sparking. Poltergeists have along been associated with that in the spirit lore.
Oh yeah Luna and Ginny are friends so she is not going to let that slide. Ginny just has to be careful not to cross into being a vengeful spirit as that could be bad.
I never had a evil teacher in my life. Sorry for your luck on that. I still hold several of my teachers in the highest esteem. Went to the funeral of one a couple years back and he had 500 people show up.
Timekeeper: Oh yeah she is playing matchmaker the way gramma jones does.