This took a lot longer than expected to get out, sorry about that. I've decided to keep all of the years together as a single story, after weighing the pros and cons. It's easier on the readers that way.

Once they arrived in the kitchens, they were quickly approached by the house-elves there. They were adorable, in an ugly-cute kind of way. Their huge eyes staring at them in surprise? Confusion? Will wasn't sure. Ron had floated deeper into the kitchens, probably to get a feel for the place, so he would know it better if/when he came back while awake.

{Hello!} Will said, {We're here to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind.} The elves looked at each other, then one stepped forward.

{We's don't mind!} He said, using the connection instead of out loud, {You's can speak like us! I be Toddle! How can I be helping?}

{It's nice to meet you Toddle!} Hermione said, floating forward, {I was hoping you could answer some questions for me, okay?} Toddle nodded, ears flapping. The other elves had returned to what they were doing before.

{I be happy to!} Toddle said, beaming.

{Well, we were wondering,} Will began, {Why do house-elves choose to serve?}

{Why not?} Toddle asked, {We is happy this way, we gets the help we need, and we is making our masters happy.}

{Yes, but what about sick days, payment for services, or vacation?} Hermione asked.

{Do you even want those things?} Will cut in, shooting Hermione a look. She was pushing too hard too quickly.

Toddle was starting to look nervous, {We isn't needing those things. We is happy the way things be. We can't be accepting payment for serving, for we is not paying for our magic then.} He was fiddling with his ears in a distressed manner.

{But that's-} Hermione burst out, before Will pulled her away for a moment to talk.

{You're pushing too hard, Hermione.} Will said.

{But I don't understand how they can just accept this!} She said, shaking her head angrily.

Will considered for a moment, {I think you're trying to force human values onto a non-human species. They clearly don't have the same desires as us, and I don't really think it's fair to try to force them to.}

{But it's slavery!} Hermione cried, {They're being taken advantage of, and someone has to protect them.}

{I agree with you,} Will soothed, {But I think you're going about this in the wrong way. Instead of trying to get them more rights, which would only make them unhappy, how about we work towards making sure they are protected and allowed to do as they please.}

Hermione stopped, considering. Neville and Harry had joined Ron towards the back of the room. Harry probably because Will seemed to have this well in hand, and Neville probably because arguments made him nervous.

{I know there are laws protecting elves, but they're currently being laxly enforced. People are getting away with abusing house elves in their care, and that is definitely not okay. So I think we should first focus on making sure elves are safe, before tackling anything else, okay?}

Sighing, Hermione nodded, {I've been told I can get a little gung-ho about topics I'm passionate in, and can take off without knowing all of the facts. I try to make up for this by knowing as much as possible, but that doesn't always work.} She turned to face Will, {You're right, one step at a time. We need to make sure house-elves aren't being abused before anything else.}

{Unfortunately, that's going to be a long uphill battle,} Will said, {We're not going to really be able to do anything about it until we're adults.}

Hermione sighed again, {It seems like the more I learn about the Wizarding World, the more problems I find.} She muttered.

Will turned back to Toddle, {You said something about paying for magic by serving. Can you elaborate on that a bit more?}

Toddle nodded, still looking nervous, {Magic always be asking for a price. The price house-elves be paying is that we can't be using magic without serving someone. Our magic is to be used for our masters.}

Will nodded, {Like genies then, you can only use your magic in service of someone else.}

Toddle nodded, ears flapping, {If we is not having a bond, our magic be fading away. We is needing that magic to live!}

Hermione looked surprised, {That's terrible! You die without someone to serve!? That's so unfair!}

Toddle nodded, {That be the price to pay for us.}

{But that's so unfair,} Hermione said, {Why does it have to be that way?}

{A long time ago, house-elves not be needing the bond,} Toddle said, {Back then, it be common for house-elves to die from our magic going out of control. We was too strong. The bond is being what saved us. It be giving our magic focus, stopping us from losing control. Over time, the bond is becoming part of house-elf magic. Becoming necessary for house-elves.}

Will frowned, {I've heard of house-elves without masters before, though. They didn't die immediately.}

Toddle looked pensive, {It be possible to live for a while without the bond, if you be saving what magic you have left. Living in very magical places be helping too, like Hogwarts. A House-elf could be living maybe five years more, like that.}

Will was surprised. Dobby had willingly chose to die, rather than continue under the service of the Malfoys. Gives you some idea on just how bad it was, huh. Though it was always possible Dobby was hoping that Harry would bond with him, once he was an adult. Either way, Will was going to help him, this time.

Hermione looked sad. {That's awful. I'm so sorry that it's necessary for you. Maybe someday, someone will make it so you no longer have to serve to live. Has there been any research into the bond done?}

Toddle looked confused, {We is happy this way, though? We be enjoying taking care of others. As long as we is able to do that, we be satisfied.}

Will nodded, pulling Hermione to the side, {Thank you Toddle, that's all we needed to know.} Toddle bowed, then returned to whatever he was doing before.

Will turned to Hermione, {We're not going to be able to change their minds in just one evening. Maybe someday they'll be willing to pick who to serve, or if they want to serve at all, but if we push more right now they'll just pull away from us. For now, let's do some research into bonds.}

Hermione nodded, looking serious, and Ron floated over, Harry and Neville following. {You guys done? I've memorized where the kitchens are, so let's get going. We're going to need to sleep for real eventually.}

Will nodded, and Hermione followed suit after a moment. {There's an easy way to get back to your body,} Will said, {Just tug on the cord, and it will pull you back. You'll be asleep before you know it.}

Harry demonstrated, and soon after, the others followed suit. Will waited until everyone else was gone before pulling his own cord.

The next day they went down to visit Hagrid, who wept and apologized profusely. After they made sure that Hagrid knew they didn't blame him, Hagrid wiped his eyes and pulled something out of his pocket.

"I got yeh somethin', Harry. I took the day off yesterday to fix it fer yeh, as an apology present."

Harry opened the book as Hagrid explained, "I contacted friends o' yer parents from school, and asked them fer photos, d'yeh like it?"

The others peered over Harry's shoulder, looking at the tiny images waving up at them. Will threw an arm around Harry, giving him a sort of side hug as Harry looked at Hagrid and nodded, choked up.

"Who did you send letters to?" Will asked, curious. Remus Lupin was probably one, but Hagrid had said more than one person.

"A friend of Harry's dad name o' Remus Lupin, and a friend of his mum's named Hestia Jones." Hagrid said, nodding. Will frowned, Hestia Jones? The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it.

That night was the end-of-year feast, and they all headed down together. Gryffindor had won the house cup, probably due to Harry, Hermione, and Neville not losing one hundred and fifty points and Gryffindor winning the Quidditch cup this year. The mood was ecstatic, even Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw getting in on it, happy that Gryffindor had broken Slytherin's winning streak. Dumbledore didn't give out any last minute points this time, strangely.

Next was everyone getting their exam results. Hermione was first in the year, of course, but Will was right behind, in second. Harry was in fifth place, Neville in eighth, and Ron in tenth.

As Hermione had noticed before, Will had been pushing everyone to do better, and it had paid off. Will was a bit older than the others, mentally, and it showed in his writing, pushing his essay assignments up a bit grade wise. He'd done pretty well over all, all Outstandings.

Harry had done better as well, Mostly O's with an EE in potions, but that was probably a given. No way was Snape going to give Harry an O. Neville was doing well as well, his stellar Herbology score making up for his low EE in Potions. Even Ron was doing better, though his rather lackluster History and Potions grades were causing him to trail behind. All in all, Will was satisfied.

Not too long later, they were all packed, and on their way back home. They rode the boats back across the lake and boarded the train.

"You know, I'm going to miss Hogwarts," Will said, a while into the train ride, "It might have been a bit dangerous, but it was definitely not boring."

"Me too," Hermione said, "I'm ever so glad I decided to give it a chance."

"Me three," Harry nodded, "I'm going to miss all of you as well, not just Hogwarts." Hermione looked touched.

"Well, you're always welcome to stay over for part of the summer," Ron said, "My parents would be delighted."

"At my place as well," Neville added, "Longbottom Manor gets kind of lonely, just me and Gran."

"You live in a Manor?" Will said, surprised.

Neville blushed. "Uh, yes. Is that a problem?"

"No!" Will said, "I was just surprised. Your family must be pretty well off, huh?"

"Will," Harry said, trying not to laugh, "Your house might as well be a manor, so your family isn't doing too bad either."

"I don't live in a manor," Will said, blushing, "Manor's are big buildings with multiple wings, large sprawling complexes that can house tons of people!" Neville blushed again.

"You have four guest rooms." Harry replied, smiling.

"Hey!" Will said, "One of those is yours now, so technically we only have three."

"Anyway!" Ron clapped his hands, bringing them back on subject, "You all are welcome to stay over at my house this summer! It may not be a manor, but we've got a swimming pond and a spot to play quidditch!"

"That sounds pretty neat, actually!" Will said, "I'd love to stay at your house Ron, and Neville's as well!"

"I'd offer as well," Hermione said, "But I'd need to talk to my parents first."

"That's okay," Harry said, "We'll keep in touch through owl post, yeah? We can work everything out later."

"That reminds me," Will said, "Hermione, what's your address?"

"What?" Hermione asked, confused, "Why do you want to know? Owl post doesn't need an address."

"Just in case," Will said, "Something weird is going to happen over the summer, so it might be useful." Hermione gave him a look for a moment, then wrote her address down and gave it to Will. "Thanks," He told her.

After a while, the Hogwarts Express pulled into Platform Nine and Three Quarters, and with a loud hiss, came to a stop. As Will disembarked, he saw his family waving to him. He waved back, beaming. They were standing with the Weasleys, and they all headed over.

Mum grabbed Harry and Will into a big hug as Dad helped with their trunks.

"Ooh, it's so good to see you!" Mum said, "I've missed you two." She leaned back to get a better look at them. "Introduce me to your friends."

Harry smiled, and gestured over his shoulder, "That's Ron," Ron was in the middle of getting a big hug from his mum, "You've probably heard about the Weasleys in our letters."

"Yes, that's how we recognized them earlier," Dad said, loading the trunks onto a luggage trolley.

"Neville is.." Will said, looking around, and spotting him walking over with his Gran, "There he is."

"Neville Longbottom," Neville introduced himself, "This is my Gran Augusta Longbottom." Augusta was wearing her vulture hat, Will noticed.

"Have we met before?" Neville's Gran said, shaking Mum's hand.

Mum pondered for a moment, "Yes, I think, briefly in Diagon Alley, but I don't think we were introduced. I'm Helen Nelson, and this is my husband Brian."

"It's wonderful to meet you both." Augusta said, shaking Dad's hand as well.

"There's Hermione and her parents!" Will said, and Hermione came over with two adults. She looked a lot like her mum, and her dad was a dark haired man with kind eyes.

"I'm Henry Granger," He introduced himself, "And this is my wife Jean."

"You must be Will's parents," Jean said, "It's lovely to meet you. Your son has been a good friend to our daughter."

"Mum!" Hermione blushed, probably embarrassed. As they were talking, Mr and Mrs. Weasley had wrangled all of their kids as well, and walked over.

"And you must be Mrs. Longbottom," Henry Granger added, "It's wonderful to meet you as well."

Augusta shook his hand as well. She turned to Dad again, "Neville has told me you have been taking care of Harry Potter, is that true?"

Mum and Dad looked at each other, seemingly confused, "Sort of," Dad began, "It's a long story."

Neville's Gran nodded, "I'm aware he was placed with his aunt and uncle, as Neville has informed me, and that they were not good guardians to him. I wanted to thank you, as my son and his wife were good friends to the Potters."

"Were?" Mrs. Granger asked, "Did something happen?" Will winced.

Augusta paused for a moment, "I suppose you wouldn't be aware, would you?" She sighed. "I forgot how much there is you wouldn't know, having lived solely in the muggle world."

"Does this have something to do with the war?" Mum asked, "We're aware that there was a magical war that ended about a decade ago."

Augusta nodded, "This really isn't the best place to talk about this, though. Why don't we pick a time to get together someday this summer? I can fill all of you in what you need to know going forward."

"We can help with that," Mrs. Weasley added, "Why don't you all come to the Burrow?"

Will pulled his friends away from their parents, so they could talk.

"My mum can talk forever, so we probably have a bit before we need to say goodbye." Will said.

"She seems nice," Neville said, "And according to their conversation, we'll be meeting even sooner than expected."

"Good," Hermione said, "We'll have more time to spend together that way."

"Don't forget to practice your Occlumency while we're apart," Will reminded, "And don't travel too far in Astral form, it tires you out the further you get from your body."

"Yes, mum," Ron snorted, and Harry chuckled. Will tried to put on a disgruntled face, but couldn't help smiling.

"Will!" a voice called. Will turned around to see his siblings approach.

"Guys, this is my brother Liam, he'll be starting next year." Will said, gesturing to his brother, "And next to him is my sister Alice. She'll be starting our fifth year."

Liam waved, and Alice smiled shyly at them.

"Alice is my mum's name," Neville said, surprised.

"Really?" Alice asked, smiling a bit wider. "I like my name."

"It's a good name," Neville said, smiling a bit sadly.

"I've felt a bit like an Alice myself recently," Hermione said, "Hogwarts certainly was a wonderland." Neville and Ron just looked confused. "You've never read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?" She asked, scandalized.

"They have different stories, I told you." Will said, "They definitely haven't seen the movie either."

Alice gasped, "That's my favorite movie! How could they have never seen it?"

"What's a movie?" Neville asked.

Harry frowned, "We'll have to fix this," He said to Will.

Will nodded, "It looks like there's a movie night at our house in the future." Harry and Hermione looked excited at the prospect, but Neville and Ron just looked at each other, bemused.

Suddenly, there was a squeak from behind Ron. It looked like Ginny had been sidling over to try to get closer to Harry, but had tripped over a trunk.

"Ginny!" Ron said, exasperated, "Were you eavesdropping?"

"No!" She blurted out, looking embarrassed, "I was just-"

"Is this your sister, Ron?" Will asked, trying to head off any conflict.

"Yeah," Ron nodded, "This is Ginevra Weasley."

"Don't call me that, Ronald!" She said, before stomping on his foot.

"Ouch!" Ron bent down, nursing his toes.

"Will you be starting Hogwarts next year as well?" Liam asked.

Ginny looked at him and nodded, "You as well?"

"I'm glad I'll know someone in my year ahead of time," Liam smiled at her.

"Me too, I-," Ginny started, before noticing Harry standing next to Liam and squeaking again. Backing up with a startled look on her face, she turned and left, heading to where Fred and George were talking with their friends.

"What was that about?" Harry asked, bemused.

"She must be a Harry Potter Fan," Hermione sighed.

"She is," Ron confirmed, "Big time."

Harry's face cramped. He was definitely still uncomfortable with his fame.

Will looked over to see his mum waving to him. The parents must have finished their talk then. "Time to go guys," He said pointing at the parents who were now approaching them.

"Alright," Hermione nodded, "I'll see you all soon, okay?"

"Of course!" Will said, and he was looking forward to it, too.

After saying their goodbyes, they all went their separate ways, heading for home.

Once they were all in the car, Mum turned to Will and Harry, "Now what was all that I heard about from Professor Mcgonagall in the end of year report? Something about you being in the hospital wing, Will? Twice?"

Will groaned. What was he going to tell them?