~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 14: A Declaration of War ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry sat in the corner listening to another meeting of the Order.  The wheels in his mind were turning.  He interrogated the suspects from Hermione's attempted kidnapping and found that they were in fact not Death Eaters.  They claimed that they were trying to capture Hermione to collect the reward.  Harry and Ron didn't buy it, however a word from Mr. Montgomery to Cornelius Fudge bought the men their freedom.  Montgomery convinced Fudge not to charge the men as it would discourage other wizards from turning in wanted criminals.  Much bigger criminals.  Fudge sealed the men's fates with a strong advised word to Kingsley.  The aurors were powerless to stop it as the men were released. 

"Let it go, Harry." Kingsley had told him.

Harry already disliked Montgomery, this only reinforced it.

He snapped out of his train of thought as Snape delivered the latest news on Voldemort.  Apparently, Voldemort still had no idea that Harry was back.  This puzzled Harry.  Why hadn't Malfoy told him?  He did have connections to Death Eaters, didn't he?  He doubted that Malfoy would pass up an opportunity like this.  The Order was busy trying to locate where Voldemort was training his new Death Eaters. Snape had no clue since Voldemort told none of his older Death Eaters of the particulars of this part of his plan. 

All too soon, the weekend was over and Harry was back at his office going over Hermione's file.  He hadn't talked to her since that afternoon at the zoo.  He gave Ron a vague account of what happened.  Harry wasn't quite sure himself what had happened.  Things were left in a sort of limbo between them.  But one thing was sure, friends or not, he was going to protect her from whatever danger lay ahead.  Someone knocked on his door before walking in.  Neville Longbottom worked in the Experimental Plants department of the Ministry.

"Neville!  How are you doing mate?" Harry asked him standing to greet him.

Neville had a nervous expression on his face as he looked back behind him toward the direction of Malfoy's office.  He closed the door behind him and cast a silencing charm over the office.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

Neville swallowed nervously.  "Krum sent me here.  She's gone, Harry."

"Who's gone?"

"Hermione."

Harry's face blanched as he sat back down on his chair. 

"She hasn't been home for two days.  No one's heard from her." Neville continued.  "That's not all.  Ginny's missing too."

Harry's hands cradled his head.  "Does Ron know?"

"No.  I wanted to tell you first."

"Thank you.  I'll go get him."

Harry got up from his desk and walked to Ron's office.  His second day on Hermione's case and he had already lost her.  Hundreds of scenarios of what could have happened to her were playing over and over in his head.  If she was harmed in any way, someone was going to pay dearly.  He opened Ron's door and walked inside, followed by Neville. 

"Hey guys.  What's going on?"

"Hermione and Ginny are missing." Harry announced.

"Missing?  Since when?" Ron asked confused.

"Know one's heard from then for a couple of days." Neville said.

"Mum just talked to Ginny this morning.  She said she was going on a vacation for awhile."

"And what about Hermione?" Harry asked.

"I don't know.  She didn't say anything about Hermione."

Harry turned around and headed back to his office with Neville and Ron in tow.  Draco was walking toward them, coffee in one hand, his other hand was opening a letter he had just received.  Harry recognized it as a letter from Gringott's before Malfoy ducked into his office.  Harry was just about to comment to his two friends when Malfoy burst out of his office and ran past the receptionist.

"I'll be back.  I just need to take care of something." He said shortly as he ran past.

Harry looked at the other two before walking into Malfoy's office.  His coffee was untouched and the letters all unopened except for one.  The letter from Gringott's was missing. 

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"The withdrawal was made early this morning.  The account had been untouched for years before she came in and withdrew nearly half of it.  Changed it into muggle money." The goblin told Draco.

He was sitting in the arm chair, his hand cradling his forehead.  She left!  I can't believe she left, was the only thought that kept running through his head.

"Can we trace the money?" he asked the Goblin.

"No.  We can't trace the muggle money, she wanted it all in cash."

"Fuck!" he cursed as he shot up from the chair and began pacing the room.  He could keep the Death Eaters away from her on his command; he hadn't even told Lord Voldemort that Potter was back for fear that he would use her to get to Potter.  But there seemed to be someone else after Granger and he had no clue as to who it was.  It wasn't Death Eaters that had kidnapped Hermione.  He was concerned for her safety, she was the brains behind him amassing his fortune.  She had advised him, provided him with muggle relations.  He was merely concerned about losing his business partner, right? Yes, yes that's all it was, he told himself.  For her help, Draco had set up a satellite account in his name and put her on the list of authorized users.  No one knew about this little arrangement.  Not even his mother.

He walked into her room as she was busy packing her clothes into a small trunk.

"So I hear you closed the deal." She smiled brightly at him.

He nodded and walked up to her.  "I wanted to give you something.  You know, to say thanks for everything you've done to help me."

She stopped mid action and gaped with her mouth open.

"Don't get any ideas that I'm starting to turn a new leaf or anything.  This is only a one time deal." He said as he handed her a small jeweled box.

She took it from him and cautiously opened the box.  She reached inside and pulled out a silver chain with a silver key with emeralds attached to it.  She looked up at Draco quizzically.

"I opened an account for you at Gringott's in my name.  You will continue to get a percentage of the profits of my enterprise.  You should be well taken care of." He shifted uncomfortably in her presence.

"Oh Draco." Hermione whispered as her eyes began to tear.  It was the first time she had called him by his first name.

"Well don't think I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart.  If we are to be business partners, then you should at least live decently.  You living and looking like you do reflects bad on me."

She smiled and began to walk toward him. 

"I'm not normally like this you know.  I'm only dropping this pretense once." He rambled out.

"And since we are dropping pretenses just this once…"Hermione continued as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug.  His arms followed suit as they held each other for awhile.  Then she kissed him on the cheek before slowly pulling away.

"Thank you." She said.

Draco surprised himself by immediately missing the feel of her in his arms.  He shook his head.

"Going somewhere?" he asked when she began to resume her packing.

"Viktor is taking me to Paris for a few days." She said dreamily.

"Oh.  Well, I'm going to get going.  Have a good time." He choked out.

"Bye!" she called out after him as he left her room.

He had never wanted to be Krum more in his life than he did right then.  He hated Krum suddenly.

"Do you want me to take her off the list?" the goblin asked Draco, snapping him out of his memories.

"No.  No, keep the account open for whatever she needs.  If she does make another withdrawal, notify me immediately of where the request was made."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry sat back in his chair ready to open the contents of the envelope Gringott's had sent him.  He had asked for full investigative monitoring privileges on the account of Draco Malfoy.  Call it a hunch but Harry thought that Malfoy was hiding something about Hermione's "disappearance".  It had a week since she had left.  The stress was beginning to get to him, between this investigation, Krum asking for any news everyday and Malfoy being an even more irritable co-worker.  Harry pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and his forefinger.  Neville had shown him a letter Ginny had sent him.  She was in Paris and Harry knew that Hermione was with her despite her cryptic letter.  But he didn't go after her no matter how badly he wanted to.  He felt that emptiness inside him that he felt when he first left her side.  But she needed her space to sort things out and he was going to respect that despite his screaming on the inside.  The only thing he could do was try and keep certain parties from knowing of her whereabouts.  Certain parties like a blond haired Slytherin.  Malfoy wasn't a happy camper either.  Nastier than he usually was since Harry had seen him get a letter from Gringott's.  Speaking of which—

Harry perused the contents of the envelope.  Mr. Draco Malfoy had a sizeable account, separate from his parents', it seemed.  The only money he had received from them was a sizeable trust fund.  It looked like he had three different accounts.  The first one was rather large and only had his name on it.  There was no way he made this much on being an auror alone.  He looked at the deposits and found that the largest sums came from a muggle company.  Harry made a note to check on that.  He was disappointed to find that there were no unusual transactions.  Money was drawn for food, drinks, clothing and other luxuries.

The second one was in his and his mother's name.  It wasn't as large as his, but Mrs. Malfoy was still living comfortably.  Withdrawals on this one were the same as her son's, although Gladrag's was on the list a lot. 

The third one was much larger than his mother's.  Mostly because regular deposits were made, but no withdrawals except for one large one dated this past Monday.  Harry checked the name on the account.  His heart nearly stopped.  The account was opened by Draco Malfoy, but had Hermione's name on it.  He closed his eyes and shook his head, only to open them and confirm what he had read earlier.  Harry jumped out of his seat and headed to Ron's office.

"Please tell me that I am seeing things or can no longer read English" Harry told Ron.

Ron took the piece of paper from Harry's hand and scanned over it.  His eyes widened and he made a motion to the door, but Harry stopped him.

"We can't ask Malfoy about this. He'll know we're watching his accounts."

"What should we do?  He's got to know where she is now."

Harry shook his head.  "I don't think so.  Look here." He pointed toward the bottom of the paper.  "It says that he is to be notified immediately of the location of the next withdrawal."

"So we've got to sit back and just hope that Hermione doesn't go broke."

"Well, I'll get a notification the same time he does.  I just want someone near her, to get to her first just in case this was to happen."

Harry rubbed his temples.  He could feel a headache coming on. 

"Why don't you go to her?" Ron asked.

"No" Harry said quickly.

"You're right.  If she would've wanted you with her, she would've asked for you." Ron said without thinking.

Harry winced at his words.

"I'm sorry mate.  I didn't mean for it to sound like that" Ron noticed Harry's reaction.

"No.  You're right" Harry said defeated and sat down on a chair.

"Don't beat yourself up over this.  You did all you could do.  Things may be over between you two in the romance department, but you can work at a friendship now.  Just give her some time.  She'll come back." Ron continued to cheer Harry.  "But in the meantime, you have a life of your own to tend to.  You've been working too hard this week.  It's Friday!  Tonight, we'll go out."

"I don't know Ron.  I have a lot of work to do."

"Bollocks!  Hermione can wait.  Tonight is all about you.  Now."  Ron sat down on his own armchair, "Where do you want to go?"

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation as Cho Chang popper her head in.

"Oh, Ron!  I'm so sorry.  Am I interrupting?"

"No.  Come on in."

"Well, you see.  My friend Luna has two extra door passes to The Cellar and I was wondering if you and your friend here would like to join us?" she asked timidly.

"No."

"Yes!"

Both men had spoken simultaneously.  Ron threw Harry a severe look.

"Yes.  We'd love to go" Ron answered for the both of them.

"Great!  Well, then, we'll meet you at the door around nine?"

"You know what?  We'll take you two to dinner.  How about Giancarlo's at seven?"

"Wow!  Even better!  We'll meet you out front then." Cho turned and left his office.  Harry got out of the chair he was sitting on and rounded on Ron.

"You really are a git" he hissed at him.

Ron laughed and slapped him on the back.  "Come on, let's go get ready."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was crazy.  No, she was crazy.  She'd never done anything like this in her entire life.  Nearly a week ago she fled London with Ginny.

"What do you need my help with?" Ginny asked.

"I want to get out of here.  I want to start all over again with my life.  I want to do and see things I've never done before.  I want to do what a 23 year old would do if she had the means to do it" she concluded fingering the key around her neck.

Ginny's eyes widened.  "No way!  Are you serious?" she squealed.

Hermione nodded.

"Give me an hour to pack and we'll get out of here." Ginny took off for her flat.

They had gone to Gringott's together where she took out a large sum of money and exchanged it for muggle money. 

"So where should we go?" she had asked Ginny.

"Well, I've always wanted to go to Paris" Ginny said shyly.

"Then Paris it is."

Ginny squealed with excitement. 

They stayed in Paris for about a week, enjoying the sights, visiting the opera, eating the food, falling in love with random Parisian men for only a day.  Ginny had convinced Hermione that in order to make over her life, she was going to start with a make over of herself.  And what better place to do it than in Paris; the beauty and fashion capital of the world.  So Ginny and Hermione spent one entire day at a salon and spa, then spending the next few days in the stores and boutiques hunting for clothes to take home and stuff their wardrobes with.  Hermione had no problems with sharing her money with Ginny, she was grateful to her for coming with her on this "sabbatical".  And she was having the time of her life.

They were currently dancing the night away in Cannes, meeting all sorts of new people.  Hermione was spending some of her trip building up her alcohol tolerance as she sipped on her drink at the bar.  Ginny was dancing with a very handsome guy on the dance floor; Hermione had left her to grab a quick drink. 

"Well what do we have here?  The lovely Miss Granger" a familiar voice spoke behind her.

"Ashton" she said dryly.  "Did Viktor send you here to find me?"

He laughed. "No.  I'm here to join the party circuit like you.  Don't worry; your secret is safe with me.  What have you done with yourself, you're gorgeous.  Not that you weren't before, but…wow."

Hermione had straightened her hair, added highlights, actually put on some make up, and her wardrobe now ventured daringly into showing off a body that Ginny swore would be the envy of every woman.

"Now" he said as he plucked her drink from her hand and set it back on the bar, "you're going to dance with me.  And I won't take no for an answer."  He led a smiling Hermione back onto the dance floor.

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Harry was not happy to be sitting there at Giancarlo's waiting for their dates to arrive.  There were better things he could be doing, cases he could be working on.  But Ron wouldn't let him back out of this and forced him out of the door.

"Just relax and have fun for once" said Ron.  "Look here they come" he said as he rose out of his seat. 

Harry looked over to where Ron was staring and his jaw dropped.  Luna wore a blue strapless dress of floaty material that fell to her calves, her blond ringlets fell just past her shoulders.  Ron couldn't take his eyes off of her.  But Cho, she looked stunning in a red spaghetti strap dress that hugged her curves and came to her knees.  Harry knew that Cho always looked great to him, but tonight, she had really grown up.  Ron nudged Harry, who snapped out of his stupor and pulled out her chair for her to sit on. 

"Wow.  You guys look great!" Ron said to the both of them.

"You don't look so bad yourselves" Cho said as she flashed Harry a smile.

Harry's stomach gave a small flip.  Maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad after all.

Harry had never had so much fun dancing.  Granted all his dancing experience came from Hogwarts and that was nothing to really go on.  But he was having a great time.  At first shy and awkward dancing with each other, they had slowly progressed over the night to dancing a little bit closer, letting their touches linger a little bit longer.  A slow song had come on and Harry pulled a willing Cho into his arms, holding her close.  Her head rested on his shoulder as he rested his head on hers.  He didn't know if it was because he hadn't been with a female companion for so long, or the great time he was having with her, but he had an overwhelming desire to kiss her.  She must have been thinking the same thing because she lifted her head to look up at him.  Their lips inched closer together as Harry closed his eyes.

Beep!  Beep!  Beep!

Harry and Cho's auror badges beeped at them.  They hastily broke apart looking for Ron and Luna who were running up to them.

"What do you suppose is the matter?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, but we should go." Harry said as he led the group out of the club.

Luna couldn't go with them so Cho said she would take her home and meet them later.  Harry and Ron held onto their badges that acted like portkeys that would take them wherever they were needed.  With a familiar tug of the navel they arrived to a scene of chaos.  A building was burning as its occupants ran out with what little possessions they could grab.  The dark mark could be seen in the sky above the building.  Why had these people been attacked? 

"Another attack on muggles.  It's a muggle apartment building.  Hardly any wizards live here.  The muggle fire department is going to arrive soon.  But for now, we're scouting the place for any dark wizards." Kingsley stepped up to inform them before taking off to report to other aurors apparating in.

Harry pulled Ron aside. "Are there any wizard buildings or businesses around here?"

Ron thought a bit.  "Yeah, actually there is one a couple of blocks from here.  Why?"

"Come on, let's go.  Show me where it's at."

"What's going on?" Ron asked as he led Harry.

"Misdirection" Harry simply stated.  "A magician's greatest skill."

Ron led him to a small building tucked amongst other muggle businesses, its insides dark having closed for the weekend.  Harry took out his wand and whispered a few words.  A burst of light shot out of it and hit the building, splattering. 

"No alarm" Ron whispered.

"Probably disarmed" Harry guessed.

They slowly walked to the door, opened it and stepped inside the building.  It was pitch black except for some wand light that barely illuminated a room up ahead.  Harry and Ron stepped silently over to the room.  It was filled with Death Eaters tossing the room apart looking for something.  There were ten of them that Harry had counted.  The odds were not in his and Ron's favor.  Something from inside the room dropped and rolled out toward where Harry and Ron were hiding.

"Well, go the fuck out and get it" he heard one Death Eater say to another.

Harry and Ron looked at each other and pressed themselves up against the walls in the darkness.  A Death Eater came out into the hallway searching on the ground for the item that he had lost using only the tip of his wand for light.  Harry watched as he crawled around Ron's hiding spot and stopped when he saw a pair of shoes in the dark.  He quickly stood up to shout but Harry pounced from behind to silence him as Ron quickly stupefied the Death Eater.  They didn't move a muscle as they listened to the Death Eaters inside the room.  They didn't notice the scuffle outside and were continuing to tear the room apart.

"Now what do we do?" Ron whispered to Harry.

Harry set the stupefied auror down and checked his forearms.  No.  No marks.  He took of the Death Eater's robe and threw it on himself.

"Are you crazy?" Ron hissed at him not liking the new look Harry was sporting.

Harry pressed his finger to his lips in a gesture of silence, picked up the object that the Death Eater was chasing and walked back into the room. 

"Took you long enough," Harry recognized the voice as Marcus Flint's.  "The last thing we need right now is for you to lose our portkey to the meeting point.  That thing is set to go off in a few minutes, so keep searching.  We need that list!"

Portkey?!  A fucking portkey?!  Harry did not want to be holding this object in his possession right now.  The last thing he needed was to be transported directly into the heart of Death Eater Central by himself.  And this thing was set to go off any minute?  He had to get rid of it.  He quickly set it down on the table.

"Uh-uh. That's how you lost it last time" Flint scolded.  "This will help you."

He grabbed Harry's hand and cast a binding spell on it before placing the portkey back into Harry's hand.  Harry shook his hand but the portkey remained attached to his hand.  A slight panic began to build inside of him.  He looked into the darkness for help, hoping that Ron was seeing all of this.  Another Death Eater ran into the room.

"Heads up!  We've got company!" he shouted.

Flint looked out of the window.  "Aurors!"

Wands blasts shot into the room from the aurors outside as Harry took cover.  He tried vainly every spell he could think of the get the blasted portkey off his hand.  Aurors ran into the room as Ron ran to Harry, who was taking off the robe so he would not be attacked by one of his own.

"Can't you get it off?" Ron asked desperately.

"No.  No I've tried everything!"

A wand blast sent Ron flying back against the wall.  Harry ran to him.

"Are you alright?"

"Just got the wind knocked out of me" Ron said as he staggered back to his feet.

"He's got the portkey!" he heard a Death Eater shout.

Harry spun around and stunned the Death Eater that had lunged at him.  He quickly overturned a table and hid Ron on the other side of it.  Tonks ran up to them.

"I've got him.  You go ahead.  We've placed anti-apparition wards all over the building."

Harry nodded and took off after the fleeing Death Eaters, he was after Flint.  He saw him run into the stairwell, probably to get to the roof, along with the other Death Eaters.  Harry opened the door and quickly dodged a wand blast that went whizzing by his head.  He shot back at them, luckily hitting one.  He ran up the stairwell followed by several aurors.  They chased the Death Eaters up the stairs, firing wand blasts at each other.  Harry and the aurors reached the door to the roof.  He flung out his hand to stop the aurors behind him.  He motioned for them to stay up against the wall.  With a flick of his wand, Harry opened the door.  Wand blasts hit where they would've stood.  Harry dropped to the floor and rolled to the other side of the doorway where he and another auror issued wand blasts to let the aurors pass through. 

"You three to the left.  You guys go right" Harry barked out orders.  "You will come with me" he told the auror next to him.

Wand blast, shouting and chaos prevailed on the rooftop as Harry and the aurors fought with the Death Eaters. 

"Williamson's down!" he heard someone shout.

Harry spotted Marcus dueling with another auror and he ran to join.  Flint made a slashing motion with his wand.  The auror wasn't quick enough to jump away as the blast slashed at him slicing him.  The auror fell to his knees in surprise before keeling over.

"Henry's down!" the auror next to him shouted as Harry threw a blast at Flint. 

But Flint had turned at the last second so the blast hit only his arm, his wand arm, but it was a bad hit as Marcus grabbed the bleeding wound.  He looked at Harry surprised. 

"Yeah, I know a few tricks too" Harry shouted at him.

Flint sent a blast their way but it was weak with his injured arm.  Harry and the auror jumped out of the way easily.

"Matthew's down!" he heard another auror shout.

They were dropping like flies, Harry had to stop this and get the aurors out of here.

"Retreat!  Everyone get out of here.  Take the injured!" Harry shouted aloud. 

A metal ball dropped into where Harry and the auror were hiding.

"Get out!" Harry shouted as they both dove out of their hiding place as a large blast followed.  The shockwave of the blast hurtled Harry into a wall nearby as he sunk to the ground feeling the trickle of blood fall down the side of his head.  He was coughing and disoriented.  He heard someone approach as he searched for his wand in the rubble.

"Avada Kedavra!" he heard Flint shout as a green jet of light passed through the auror that was with him.

Harry didn't bother with his wand as he tackled Flint to the ground knocking his wand out of his hands.  They rolled on the ground dealing each other blows.  Harry realized that Flint was after the portkey still in Harry's hand.  Flint didn't have his wand so he couldn't unbind it therefore he was struggling to hold onto Harry until the portkey was activated.  Harry gave a great shove propelling Flint over the edge of the roof.  But he still held on to Harry dragging him with him by the force of gravity.  Harry was sliding over the edge desperately grabbing for anything that would stop him as he slid off the roof.  His hand grabbed the ledge stopping his and Flint's fall.  Harry was dangling sixty feet above the street by only one hand, Flint was still holding on to Harry's other hand.

"Let go of me!" Harry shouted at Flint who was desperately clinging to Harry's hand that held the portkey. 

Harry wanted to kick at him, but the flailing movements of Flint were already putting strain on Harry's grip on the ledge.  He could feel his hand slowly slipping before it gave way.  Suddenly a hand reached down and grabbed Harry's arm.  Harry looked up to see the last person he'd ever expect to see.

"Duck!" Malfoy shouted at Harry who promptly obeyed.

Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry's hand and unbound it releasing Flint who still held on to it.  They watched as Flint fell away, but in an instant disappear as the portkey finally activated.  Harry looked back at Malfoy who was looking down at him.  His expression was unreadable, but his eyes showed nothing but loathing.  Voices could be heard behind him as aurors began to run in their direction.  Malfoy pulled Harry up over the ledge and onto the roof.  Ron and Tonks ran up to him.

"Harry!  Harry, are you alright?" Ron asked as he ran to Harry's side to help him up.  Tonks also assisted handing him his wand.

"Yes, I'm fine." Harry said as he looked at a retreating Malfoy.  Harry wasn't sure whether Malfoy had saved his life or Flint's.  Maybe both.  But he was sure that if Ron and Tonks hadn't run up in time that Malfoy would have dropped him too.  It was in his eyes. 

"We got lucky" Kingsley was telling Harry outside of the building as a medi-witch was attending to him.  "We got nine of them, one got away."

"But we lost an auror" Harry said thinking of the auror that Flint had killed.  "And many more are wounded."

"It could've been worse, Harry.  A lot worse.  It has before."

Harry was not comforted by this.  Kingsley seeing this clapped his hand on his shoulder.

"Come on" he said.  "Let's get to the Order."

Harry nodded and walked away.  He stopped though to look at the activity around him.  Medi-witches patched those up who were injured, readying them for transport to St. Mungo's.  The nine Death Eaters were bound waiting to be taken to the Ministry to be held.  Harry looked back two blocks away where the green Dark Mark was slowly fading in the night sky.  Harry looked back to the building he was in and took out his wand.  He tapped it on his head revealing himself.  He then walked over to one of the Death Eaters and yanked him up by the collar then released him from his binds.  The Death Eaters eyes widened in recognition and fear as he stared at Harry's scar.

"Get out of here.  Go and give Voldemort a message for me" Harry growled as the Death Eater flinched at the mention of his master's name.  "You tell him that if he wants a war, Harry Potter will give him one."

Harry shoved the Death Eater away from him who promptly scrambled away into the night.  Harry then pointed his wand to the sky and said an incantation as a bright gold light shot out of it, and then he walked away.  Gasps could be heard as witches and wizards gathered in front of the building saw a ghost from the past walk past them.

"Harry Potter!"

"Look!  He's back!"

Above the building, just like the Dark Mark, a golden lion glowed bright in the night sky.