Chapter 28: The end of the term

The end of the year finally came, with the final quidditch match. Sadly, Gryffindor had won. Charlie was now maximising his speed and his agility with the training that was being provided by his coach. He was packing on more muscle mass, and was far more agile. Of course, Charlie's sudden win was because of another trick, that he had discussed with Harry.

Harry had taken Charlie through mental exercises to detect the snitch, with his eyes blindfolded. He was required to cast his magic out and try to feel the presence of the item. It was something that Harry often did when he crafted items. Harry had used this approach when he had taken a look at the design of the snitch. Harry was wondering if the patterns could be predicted when he realised that the item had a distinct but powerful magical signature. From there, Harry taught Charlie to sense his environment, and to sense movement. During the match, Charlie had only taken fifteen minutes to feel the snitch out, and fly in an unconventional pattern to trick Cedric Diggory, who was fairly talented himself.

Ronald however, had not failed to deliver. Gryffindor had only won by one hundred and fifty points – Ronald had blocked every shot at the Goalposts like a giant wall. In some cases, he even allowed bludgers to hit him if necessary. He was strong enough to shrug the pain off in any case. The Hufflepuffs had not managed to get pass Oliver Wood either, and only Charlie had truly decided the outcome of the match.

As the Hufflepuffs walked into the changing room, Perkins decided to congratulate the puffs in any case.

"Team, good match. We have never been this good. Ordinarily, we would have won, but I know that Charlie is being trained to confront Krum. And he is getting there. So even though we lost, he might be our ticket to the World Cup."

"Hey, our redhead held them off! I think next year will be our year. Ronald, thanks for keeping the lions out?" Emma laughed.

"I guess the Weasleys decided the outcome of the game. Maybe if the snitch was not worth so many points eh? That has been a controversial discussion everywhere?" Cedric wondered.

"Next year is the year!" Marigold insisted.

As the group got changed, they found themselves shocked when the Gryffindor Quidditch team were not too far off. And they had pizza, takeout and all the other favourite things that the team liked. The Puffs reasoned that Fred and George had been involved, but they said nothing.

"Hey you!" Charlie said, before he hugged Ronald.

"I guess you got us?" Ronald laughed, as some of the other Hufflepuffs gathered around.

"I did. But I think you as just a firstie are the real hero. We got some food for the lot of you. Come and have some Pizza us, we don't have to be impolite?" Charlie suggested, before Watson open his hands and smiled.

"Hey team, we lost but the lions are giving us a peace offering? And you know we like to eat?"


Pomona and Minerva who were looking for their teams were surprised when they found both teams in a classroom having a good laugh as Katie, Angelina and the rest spoke to Ronald, as a fellow Weasley. The rest of the puffs met Fred and George, and Charlie as Ronald's older brothers. There were some laughs between both teams as the professors made themselves comfortable and helped themselves to the pizza.

"I say if we are going to the World cup between both of our Houses, fine by me. I think we will all win, in the end?" Melvin suggested.

"It would be nice if we could get a claw and a snake. I shall ask Lady Hecate to help us with that?" Charlie joked, as Minerva and Pomona smiled. Later that evening, Minerva had been only too happy to relate the event to Albus, and he too was pleased. Ronald was the glue that could summon Hufflepuff to work with Gryffindor.

"Perhaps Minerva, the young man is who he is. I have no doubt after this year, that those five students are inseparable. I hope the group gradually becomes bigger?" Albus wondered.

"I hope so too, Albus. Percy's idea has cost Gryffindor the House cup this morning. Two of my lions were severely punished for bullying Slytherin girls. But at the end of it all, if this sacrifice will help towards fixing some of the divisions, so be it. Godric would make any sacrifice, for righteous reasons.

However...this Quidditch season was mine, indeed!" Minerva laughed.

"It was! We will see what happens next year. I do hope you have a plan for that Minerva? Charlie will not be here?" Albus laughed.

"Please Albus, do not remind me. I am already considering how to deal with that reality..." Minerva answered.


The end of year feast at the Great Hall had been terrible for House Slytherin. The Hufflepuffs of all the people had won the House cup. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had followed, with Slytherin in last place. Some of the purebloods were wondering if Draco's control of house Slytherin was beneficial – his reckless hunting of the Trio had impacted their chances. When one of the older boys had confronted Draco about this issue, the silver-haired boy had merely reminded the older snake about his father's influence and that had silenced the disgruntled snakes.

Daphne and Tracey were celebrated – whatever decency Slytherin had remained had been contributed by the pair. Daphne's genius was being talked about, as she was the firstie who was 'ahead of the trio'. Daphne accepted the compliments, as she laughed – she knew that the following year would be very different under Harry and Hermione's plans. The puffs were quite happy to see the Great Hall decorated in yellow, and Ronald continued to be the man of the moment who strangely seemed to suddenly disappear when surrounded by the ladies. Some of the boys even wondered if he was swimming in offers from different Hufflepuff witches. Many of the older year two and year three girls wanted to date Ronald Weasley. As he left the table, Ronald and Luna departed, and the rest of the school came to accept that the trio was an item, and part of Hogwarts.

With the end of the academic year, things were quiet. Neville and the rest received their exam results, soon after. For them, obtaining outstanding in all of their exams was not anything unusual. The group was convinced that doing NEWT level exams (With Harry and Hermione's assistance) was perhaps the better option. Being out of the public sphere, as they prepared for the final war would be far more beneficial.

Once again, the five students were the topic of conversation. While the professors discussed the group, the fivesome was having a laugh. Packing their items for departure was not a relevant thing for them, as they relaxed at the apartment.


As the group embarked on the Hogwarts Express, it did not feel like they were leaving Hogwarts. For others, Hogwarts was only accessible by train. For the group, it was a matter of pressing a button on a teleporter. And better yet, the apartment in Hogsmeade would allow them to visit the area even if they were outside of school. The train ride was to ensure that they did not arouse suspicion, and even that was being debated. Hogwarts students were not particularly observant.

As the train made its way through the countryside, all the conversations and giggling that occurred were silently recorded. While it was unethical, Harry and Hermione did not care. Intel was important. The rest of June, July and August would be spent in intense training and tactics – the group already understood that Harry and Hermione would shape them into formidable Wizards and Witches. And yes, it would be painful and psychologically taxing.

"Well, not a bad year at all. For you snakes, the fun only started after Christmas?" Neville joked, over the communicators.

"The Slytherin section is quite reserved. I heard Shirley Temple and associates are on the lookout for the Killer Bunny Rabbit. Not one bit of activity on the map. Feels nice to be unbothered." Daphne laughed.

"That is one of the best pranks that they ever did. The rumours are circulating and some of the normies were asking if the Killer Rabbit was always part of magical society! That movie was pretty good! Tim the enchanter is the man, indeed!" Tracey giggled.

"As Harry always says, Wizarding England is pretty braindead. It was kind of nice to watch Charlie leave via the boat. Minnie got her to win, and she is happy about that. Slytherin looked very glum during the House Cup ceremony." Ronald commented.

"I was a bit sad. We could win the House Cup if they focus on scoring points, instead of plotting. I am not sure if Tracey and I can do any more. We were both responsible for three hundred points out of the three thousand, two hundred and twenty total. That is almost ten per cent between both of us." Daphne replied.

Ladies, you can do no more. Ronald, how is the keeper practice going with the national team?" Neville asked.

"Difficult. I miss a lot of the times with the professionals. If it wasn't for Harry, I would have dropped dead from the workout. But I like it. England deserves to go to the World Cup. My job is to keep that Quaffle out, and that is what I am going to do."

"Would you consider playing professionally, for the English and Irish league?" asked Tracey.

"Maybe? I don't know. The national team practice is enough. Besides, I need time for the band and other things. I have some personal goals too I guess?" Ronald wondered.

"Hey if the Quidditch doesn't work out, you can do music full time. I am excited for band practice over the hols. Wizarding England needs a heavy metal band. I can't hear any more of that Wizarding Punk, that the Weird Sisters sing. I mean they are great, but it is a bit repetitive. The drumming doesn't have any variety too. Thank Lady Hecate Harry fixed us up with iPods and computers." Tracey explained.

"Have Harry and Hermione heard your practice sessions?" Daphne asked.

"Hermione has never heard us. Sometimes she gets stressed. She is pushing hard on getting mum and dad sorted out. I told her to take it easy." Neville replied.

"Take it easy? Oh please. Never happening. As for the hols, we can practice at our house. We have an extra room on the ground floor that is unused. A good place to have fun?" Ronald suggested.

For the rest of the train ride, the group talked about some of the more casual activities they could enjoy. Harry and Hermione had explained that they had a week off, and then they would be pushing straight into September of Year Two. The priority would be combat readiness and high intensity studies. Daphne on the other hand would work with Hermione as they refined the RuneOS. She was also excited to learn how to fly. She would be receiving classes with Fleur and Lord Ragnok.


Now that the Hogwarts students were home, Draco was summoned into the Malfoy study. Lucius was pacing up and down, as he seemed to focus on a small but ornately decorated chest that was on the mahogany table.

"Come Draco, sit."

"Yes Father."

"You have been dishonest with me."

"Father, I don't understand?"

"You explained that Neville was almost a squib. That he and his friends were merely the headmaster's favourites. I have found this to be true. But he is certainly powerful. He was skilled with a sword. Of course, Muggle weapons are not powerful, but when used with the right type of treachery…"

SLAP!

Draco was now crying, and within the muted room, and Narcissa was none the wiser. Draco was now on the ground from the force of the blow.

"Stupid boy! I almost lost my head. Lord Parkinson could have been injured! And to think you and Pansy have merely complained when you should have collected better intelligence.

GET OFF THE FLOOR!" Lucius thundered.

Invictus had been monitoring the situation, and he tuned Harry and Hermione into the affair. For the pair, an account of what had occurred was a new low for them. It seemed that magical England was a barbaric society.

"If I find out that you have failed me one more time, I will make you receive double the pain. Are we clear Draco?"

"Yes Father," the boy answered dejectedly, as he held back his tears.

"Take your leave. The Dark Lord does not tolerate failure. As for Neville and his friends, don't worry I have something special planned for them. We are the purest of blood, and we reign supreme…."


"Harry, did one pence Legolas just slap Draco? Sounded like a fairly hard blow." asked Hermione.

"Yes. And this is a great thing." Harry suggested.

"I don't get it?" Hermione queried.

"Narcissa can be used as our pawn, as long as we can provide her evidence of Lucius' behaviour. She might be able to save the boy. I would prefer not to kill him. But if he takes up a weapon or a wand against me or anybody else, do not think I will hesitate…." Harry explained.

"I don't blame you," Hermione replied.

"I think sacrifice in war is necessary. I just believe the evil people should be made to pay the cost. I should technically be sympathetic to Severus. And my father did genuinely terrorize him. My father bullied and picked on him. And yet I might have to beat the snot out of him and dismember him. Pranks orchestrated by my father, do not equate to willingly serving a Dark Lord. No, he always had a mean evil streak long before he even entered Hogwarts. Too bad we have the bigger stick."

"True enough. Well Harry, what now?"

"The next big project is the development of the Synthetic wand core. We are also tracking the drugs. Uncle Cyrus says that there is an international magical crime syndicate. They specialise in everything under the sun. If they are magicals, we will find them and root them out. It looks like they specialise in child pornography and prostitution. Our favourite…Your father is putting together the operation."

"Oh, I will speak to him. Well, we are crime fighting superheroes now. Batman and Batwoman?"

"I guess? More importantly, it is the right thing to do. Perhaps we can develop methodologies for infiltration and more covert items. I think it might be time to sort out the railgun and some more silent options that we can use at range."

Harry paused.

"Alright. Time for Gringotts. King Ragnok just called. They want us to visit a new project. Let me get Sirius."


Ronald and the rest of the Weasleys had arrived via their trusty flying car, earlier that evening. Hermione and Harry had retrofitted the entire building with invisibility emitters and it seemed as if no changes had occurred to the old Weasley house. Anyone could visit the Weasleys and not be aware of the massive building that was behind the wooden house. The house was now finished. The house was utterly luxurious, and it was littered with Luna's art and silly pictures that the fivesome had taken over the term. Later into the night, the Weasley children found the brand new BMW X7 and the Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 that was parked in the garage. Apparently, Arthur had taken driving lessons, and a long underground concrete tunnel was being built from the new manor to a winding road in the countryside that nobody hardly used. This would allow them to eventually access the highway.

"Oh, you have grown so much Ronald!" Molly commented.

"Yes, Harry's exercise program is brutal. And the national coach does not go easy on me. Those Quaffles come at double the speed of Hogwarts ones. Hermione's pain potion saved me from dealing with the skelegrow pain. Multiple times."

"You broke bones at National quidditch practice?" Molly asked.

"Many times. I can even shrug off the pain. But I can see the value of tolerating the pain. Allows me to continue playing under injury." The boy explained.

"Are you happy?" Molly asked.

"Mostly. But I am concerned about the war. I plan to put my best into my studies and my combat readiness. All of us are actually planning to sit NEWTs at an accelerated schedule. Those two will teach us."

"Son, I am very proud!" Arthur interjected as he entered the kitchen.

"How was work?" Ronald asked.

"Excellent. Today I was at the office with Cyrus and Reginald. We sold a fair bit of replacement parts. And all of our portfolios are doing well. The orders for all the Quidditch supplies are steadily climbing. Fred and George are going to work with Remus in the manufacturing shop over at Harry's for the holidays."

"They want their own machines at the apartment, so they want to earn some extra galleons. By the way, I want the empty room to use for band practice?"

"I would like to hear this new music you are playing. Seems you got all of them involved?" Molly smiled.

"Oh yes, I would like that. A word of warning mum, it is extremely…..heavy…?"

"Does your band have a name?" Molly asked.

"We chose the name, Burning Shores. According to Tracey we are going to light the nation on…..fire…..."

There was collective laughter that came from the kitchen.


Xeno was speaking to his daughter, who seemed quite content with her new painting. It happened to be a portrait of Harry and Hermione as they had appeared in the apartment with their full armor, and she had chosen to go the non-magical route.

"Hello, daughter. Is that what they look like in their armour?" Xeno asked.

"Not really. They don't look this serious because they are always smiling and laughing, even when their eyes are solemn. A magical portrait would not look threatening. But like this? This is a piece to remember. They look imperious."

"I think so. I am happy that they reached out to us. I always wanted to run a successful newspaper. With the facilities that we possess, I feel like a much more competent journalist. I will not be pandering to what the public wants. The media is supposed to be objective. Rita Skeeter was displeased when I explained that we were not interested in her sensationalism." Xeno explained.

"She has been useful toward Harry and Hermione's long-term goals. Lorna probably has a noose over her neck?" Luna commented.

"I believe so Luna. Harry has organised a lot of coordinates to special places. I was hoping we could find some of the more special creatures?" Xeno suggested to his daughter.

"I hope so too. Some of them can talk, and some of them are dangerous. We will see. Crumple-Horned Snorkacks are next. I understand the correct mundane name for the original creature is Meganeuropsis. It is an insect with a two feet wingspan. A big one."

"Oh, I will have to look at your memories, as I can't see them myself?" Xeno replied as he continued to make his new favourite meal, Honey-Siracha Chicken. Xeno enjoyed cooking and was fairly competent. Luna dug around in the refrigerator and decided she wanted to eat waffles.


"Well Lills, that is the end of the school year. I would say it was a good one." James explained, as he looked at his son and Hermione as they busied themselves with teaching Daphne.

"It was. He has grown so much. He is a great wizard. No, they are all great Wizards and Witches. As for his extended family, they are good people too. He is spoilt rotten, you know that right husband?" Lilly explained.

"I would have it no other way?" James replied.

"He will bring the change that we need. He will do all the things I dreamed about. He is my son after all."

"Well, he did lop Quirellmort's head off. I wonder what type of threat is next?"

"Husband I do not know. All I know is that they will use their talents and a lot of humour to solve the problem. The Killer Bunny Rabbit is one of the best pranks I have ever seen. Perhaps they are…marauders."

James smiled as he prayed to the old Gods that they would watch over his boy. Lilly prayed as she hoped that the good Lord Jesus Christ would protect his soul. Priya during her evening prayer also prayed for her family, her son, and all of his extended family and friends.


Lady Magic looked upon all, and whispered, "All will be well…" as she looked upon certain events in the galaxy and she realised that there was more to Harry Potter's confrontation with Tom Riddle.

No, he was being groomed to deal with something far worse, if her intuitions were correct. The patterns were there. Many civilisations were being burnt to the ground by some unknown force. Suddenly Harry's rapid development and his ability to co-opt people without resistance began to make sense. It seemed that her masters, the Illuminmators had picked humanity to battle a galactic threat and to bootstrap them. They would be provided with precognition of the oncoming darkness. They would also be able to bootstrap complex technology, based on their magical gifts.

"They think he is to be underestimated? Ha! He will carve his name out in History. Keep working at it, Harry," she whispered as she considered that the real long-term goals of the Illuminators had been revealed.