Chapter 17:

Back to Hogwarts

The rest of the holidays passed and it was soon time to return to school. Harry looked over at Ginny, "Are you ready for classes to start again?"

She grinned, "Not really, but I'm ready for Quidditch and the Dueling Club to begin, again."

Harry looked at her and said playfully, "Suck up. You're just trying to get brownie points with the teacher and captain."

She nodded, "Is it working?"

He shook his head, "No, you already have the maximum amount of brownie points possible. It doesn't do you any good to try and get more. I appreciate the sentiment, though."

Molly came storming through, "Ron Weasley, will you hurry up? I don't know why that boy can't seem to pack the night before." She bustled off still murmuring to herself.

Harry and Ginny exchanged glances and laughed. Finally, the four students were standing ready to head to King's Cross. Lupin drove them to the station. They all went onto the platform without incident. Molly hugged them all good-bye and Lupin waved farewell. They got onto the train, and found a compartment. They were joined a few minutes later by Neville and Luna.

Harry grinned, "Hey, Neville, how was Christmas?"

Neville smiled enthusiastically, "Great. Luna came over to visit during the holidays. My Gran actually likes her."

Harry tried not to laugh, "That's a relief."

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny snickered which was odd, considering that Ron and Hermione had been rather cool with Harry since he and Ginny had returned from Potter Manor. The six students continued to discuss their Christmas presents and the holidays. Neville's eyes widened when he was shown the necklace and bracelet. Luna merely stared dreamily at them and said, "They are very nice."

As it was inevitably expected, the six students finally heard the drawl of Malfoy's voice outside the compartment. He opened the door, and said, "My, my, Potter, I see you have given the charity case some more attention." His gaze was riveted on the necklace. Harry locked his eyes onto Malfoy and frowned. Something was different. Harry was getting the sense of presence that he only detected when he was looking at a Death Eater. Then it hit Harry. Malfoy had the Dark Mark. Harry aimed his wand while Malfoy continued to dish out insults, and Neville and Ron tossed them back at him. He cast a low level movement charm and inched Malfoy's sleeve back. The Dark Mark was there. Harry could see it. He returned his attention to what Malfoy was saying. "I don't think that the money you spend on the weasel's little sister will much matter when the Dark Lord is through with you and all your Mudblood loving friends, Potter." This statement was Malfoy's last for the day. Harry whipped his wand up and around. He cast a Banishing Charm on Malfoy and his two cronies. They slammed back into the wall.

Harry advanced on them. "I have warned you entirely too many times, Malfoy. Your warnings are over. Send this message back to your father and your precious Dark Lord." Harry sent a flurry of hexes at Malfoy that left him lying on the ground unconscious. Crabbe and Goyle looked at Harry nervously. Harry glared at them. "Take this piece of scum, and get him out of my sight." The two quickly hastened to do as Harry said.

Harry walked back into the compartment and shut the door. Hermione was on him before he sat down. "Harry, are you crazy? You can't assault a prefect like that. You're going to get yourself expelled. As a prefect, I have to report what has happened to Professor McGonagall."

Harry looked at her without concern, "You do that, Hermione."

Hermione appeared as if she were about to say something else when Ron grabbed her arm. "Hermione, drop it for now. There's nothing we can do about it. What's done is done."

She sat down in a huff, pulled out a book, and refused to speak to anyone else for the remainder of the train ride. The train pulled into Hogsmeade station shortly after dark. The students got out and got a thestral pulled carriage to themselves. Hermione was still refusing to speak. Ron seemed to be in a foul mood over it, so the carriage remained quiet.

After the carriage came to a stop in front of the castle, the students filed out and walked in through the double doors into the Entrance Hall. McGonagall was standing there waiting for them. "Mr. Potter, you must come with me." Harry nodded, and began following her.

Once they were out of earshot, Hermione sniffed, "I told him that he was going to get in trouble."

Ginny rounded on Hermione, and slapped her full across the face. "I have had it with the way you treat Harry. Both of you." She looked at Ron, too. "Both of you have ignored him and then apologized. He'll forgive you, and then you will do it again. I'm tired of it. The two of you need to get over yourselves. You're not important enough to help Harry. Let him do things the way he wants to."

Ron's ears reddened, "The way you talk, Harry is the most important person on this planet."

Ginny looked at him steadily, "If you weren't so dumb, then you would probably know what I do, and not question that statement. Harry is the most important person in the world."

Ron snorted, "He may be the most important person to you, Ginny, but the rest of the world doesn't care that much."

Ginny returned hotly, "Well, they should, because without Harry, Voldemort will kill or enslave everyone." She spun around and stomped away.

Ron looked at Hermione and asked, "What was she on about? She acts like Harry is the only person that can beat You-Know-Who."

Hermione looked to be deep in thought, "What if he is?"

Ron shrugged, "I think that it's a load of crap."

Hermione merely nodded and headed for the Great Hall. Ron followed behind her, while Neville went off with Luna looking troubled.

McGonagall and Harry arrived in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office. "Honeydukes." McGonagall said.

Harry strode into Dumbledore's office confidently. Dumbledore appeared to be disappointed. "Harry, why did you attack Mr. Malfoy on the train? I know that his father is a Death Eater and that the two of you do not get along, but you can not attack students for no reason."

"I had reason, Professor. Draco has taken the Dark Mark." responded Harry easily.

Dumbledore and McGonagall gasped. McGonagall asked, "Are you sure, Potter?"

Harry nodded, "I sensed it, so I used a charm to pull up his sleeve while he was distracted to check. The burning was still fresh and easily visible. That means he has passed his initiation rites. It also means that he will probably be participating in the attack on Hogsmeade. We have a Death Eater in Hogwarts."

Dumbledore looked grim, "This is bad. With the news that Severus gave us over the holidays, this is really bad."

Harry nodded, "I've been waiting to ask you, sir. What else did Professor Snape find out before you pulled him out?"

Dumbledore looked up sharply, "How did you know that Severus discovered something else?"

Harry grinned, "It was just a suspicion. One that you just confirmed."

"Professor Snape has discovered that Voldemort has a spy in the Minister's office itself. This makes getting Auror help somewhat difficult." answered Dumbledore.

"I see. We will just have to leave Fudge out of the loop. He's an imbecile anyway." stated Harry.

Dumbledore nodded, "We need to discuss the defenses we are going to employ in Hogsmeade."

Harry shook his head, "You need to give me some sort of punishment first."

Dumbledore asked, "How about detention for a week? Hagrid wants to do something in the forest. You could serve with him."

Harry nodded, "That will work. It needs to seem to the governors that I am receiving some sort of punishment for attacking Malfoy. Now, let's get down to business. I expect Voldemort to send anywhere from five to fifteen Death Eaters. They will have Dementors as backup. I figure fifteen to twenty of them. They might bring some dark creatures, but I doubt it."

"So, we are going to need at least a dozen defenders." stated Dumbledore.

Harry nodded again, "That sounds about right. Who do we have already?"

Dumbledore ticked off on his fingers, "Bill Weasley, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Sturgis Podmore, Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin, Fred Weasley, and George Weasley."

"So, that's eight including me. We need about four more Aurors. I don't think that the Dementors will be that much of a problem. There are several members of the D.A. from last year that can cast Patroni. At least of few of them should be able to pull it off when confronted by a Dementor." commented Harry.

McGonagall asked, "Who else should we approach?"

Harry replied, "I say that we approach some of the same ones that helped us at Platform 9 ¾. Amos Diggory, Dawlish, and that Adams bloke seem trustworthy enough. You can have Kingsley speak to them, since we have to keep things away from Fudge's office."

Dumbledore leaned forward, "That leaves us needing one more."

Harry shook his head, "No, I would leave it there. We don't really need to spread things any farther around. Too much chance of a leak. Unless a current member of the Order becomes available for duty, then I say that the eleven of us should be enough. I figure once they actually see Death Eaters, some of the villagers and older students will join in the fight anyway."

Dumbledore sighed, "Very well, I will contact Kingsley and tell him to speak to the people we mentioned."

Harry nodded, "If there is nothing else, I think I will get back downstairs before Ginny tears the castle apart waiting to see if I have been expelled."

Harry ran back down to the Great Hall, and found Ron and Hermione eating together. "Where's Ginny?"

Ron and Hermione shrugged, but didn't speak to him. Harry sighed in exasperation and went off to look for her. He found her in the common room, sitting by herself. "What's the matter, Gin?"

She looked at Harry with tears glistening in her eyes. "I got into a fight with Ron and Hermione over you."

"What happened?" asked Harry, patiently.

Ginny leaned into him, "Hermione made a comment about telling you so. I slapped her and then yelled at both of them. I kind of let slip the fact that you were the only one who could beat Voldemort."

Harry raised his eyebrows, "Let me guess. Ron scoffed, and Hermione went into deep thought mode."

Ginny nodded, "I stormed away after that, but that seemed to be where they were at when I walked away."

"Did you really slap Hermione?" asked Harry. Ginny nodded. Harry shook his head, "I guess those two aren't going to be speaking to us for awhile."

Ginny sniffed, "No, I suppose not. Its just as well. They need to get their priorities straight."

Harry chuckled, "Come on, gorgeous. Let's go down to the kitchen and get something to eat. I need to talk to Dobby anyway."

Ginny got up and followed him, "Why do you need to talk to Dobby?"

Harry replied, "I have a proposition for him. Oh, and I have detention for the whole week for attacking Malfoy."

Ginny raged, "Detention! Why did they give you detention? Malfoy was provoking you. You had every right to attack him."

Harry grinned, "Calm down, Ginny. Its just to appease the governors. I'm actually going to help Hagrid with something. I don't seem to spend enough time with him lately. That will serve as my detentions."

Ginny deflated, "Oh. I guess that's okay, then."

The two of them stopped in front of the painting that led to the kitchens. Harry smiled, "Would you like to do the honors?"

Ginny smiled back, while she reached out to tickle the pear. The door opened and the two stepped in. Harry was immediately bowled over by Dobby. "Harry Potter, sir. Harry Potter is coming to see Dobby, sir. He has brought his Miss Wheazy with him."

Ginny laughed at Harry while he was sprawled on the floor. Harry gave her a dirty look.

"Dobby, do you think that you could let me up?" asked Harry.

Dobby immediately jumped off of Harry and began to brush him off. "Dobby is sorry, sir."

Harry smiled, "That's okay. I came down here to thank you for cleaning up the house for me."

Dobby beamed, "Dobby was glad to do it, sir. Dobby likes to look after Harry Potter."

"I'm glad you said that, Dobby. I have to ask you something. I was wondering if there was anyway that I could convince you to leave Hogwarts?"

Dobby's face fell, "Leave Hogwart's, sir?"

Harry grinned down at the forlorn house-elf, "Yes, I was wondering if I could get you to come work for me at Potter Manor once I finish school."

Dobby did a double-take, "Harry Potter wants Dobby to come work for him. Dobby would love to. Dobby would be honored to take care of Harry Potter and his Miss Wheazy."

Harry nodded, "Good, I won't be returning to Potter Manor until after next year. So, you will have to remain here at Hogwarts until then. After that I would be honored if you would come to Potter Manor with me."

Dobby bounced up and down, "Dobby is going to be Harry Potter's house elf. Dobby will be a good house-elf."

Ginny smiled, "You already are, Dobby. You already are."

Dobby beamed, "Miss Wheazy is too kind to Dobby."

Ginny continued to smile, "Dobby, call me Ginny."

Dobby nodded, "Ginny Wheazy is truly a great witch."

Harry waved his hands, "Enough with hitting on my girlfriend, Dobby. Can we get something to eat? We don't want to go up to the Great Hall."

Dobby smiled, "Dobby is getting it right away."

Ginny and Harry ate in the kitchens, and then headed back up to the common room. Both of them decided to go ahead and go to bed, rather than deal with the other Gryffindors.

A/N: Sorry, I know it's a short chapter, but I just needed something to fill in before the attack on Hogsmeade. I'll have it up on Sunday.

Captuniv: Don't worry, I'm not going to keep Ron and Hermione dangling on a string forever. They will finally figure things out. The visits to Potter Manor will have to wait for summer, and my alternate Book Seven. I chose the name Weatherby for that reason. The first name is a skew of mine. Davis for Davy. Thanks for the review.

Dragonstorm316: The conversations with the portraits will wait for summer. I'm currently planning on not showing them when they happen. When it becomes appropriate for the knowledge he gains from the portraits to enter the story, I'm planning on doing it as a flashback. I haven't forgot about Pettigrew either. The life-debt will come in to play in my alternate Book Seven. Thanks for the review.

Athena kitty: When Harry unlocks his power, you will know. Harry always finds a way to win. That much should be obvious. The suspense comes from how. Thanks for the review.